Because my brain is still a little tired, I’m going to answer the next ten questions from the getting-to-know you post. Hopefully it won’t be too boring…

11. Your fear? Anything involving my kids getting hurt. I kind of can’t even write about it.

12. Where do you want to be in six years? Wherever my family is. I’d also love to have published a few more books and traveled to London again.

13. Where were you last night? Home. I’m rarely ever out at night–too many little bodies to get to bed. I did go for a run when my husband got home from work–does that count?

14. Something you aren’t? Patient. I’m working on it. But it’s taking so long…;)

15. Muffins? I’m not sure I totally get this question–why muffin when you can cupcake?

16. Wish list item? A little red bookshelf for the reading room.

17. Where did you grow up? In a gorgeous little town in Southern Utah. Cedar City, to be precise.

18. Last thing you did? Located the missing Lightning McQueen for my four-year-old and his playdate.

19. What are you wearing? A sweater and jeans. We’re expecting the first snowfall of the year here today and it’s delightfully crisp and chilly and cloudy.

20. Your TV? My mom won it in a fun run 10+ years ago and was kind enough to give it to us. We should probably upgrade someday–it’s the kind that’s so old there’s a VCR player attached to it. Awesome! Try not to be jealous.

Carolyn was nice enough to give me a blog award. I love her. And, since there’s a list of getting-to-know you questions that goes along with the award, and since I’m feeling like part of my brain died yesterday, I am going to answer ten of those questions as my post today.

1. Where is your cell phone?
No idea. I never know. I’ve stopped giving out my number because, as my brother has told me, it does people a disservice because then they assume I’ll answer it.

2. Your hair?
Is brown. Sorry, I just don’t have a lot to say about my hair.

3. Your mother?
Is a very, very talented woman. See some of her art here. Love her.

4. Your father?
Has the best laugh in the world. Love him.

5. Your favorite food?
Chips and salsa. Oink.

6. Your dream last night?
I was helping Richard Castle solve a murder. I was amazing, and also then we went to a cross country meet together where I introduced him to my sister.

7. Your favorite drink?
I’m a sucker for chocolate milk. And I can’t even blame it on parenting toddlers. I just love it.

8. Your dream goal?
I have a lot of them. But one is this: I would really, really, like to go on a tropical vacation with my husband. We keep putting it off–first we wanted to save money instead of have a fancy honeymoon, then we wanted to wait until after grad school, now we want to wait until we’ve paid for grad school…maybe we should just consider grad school a tropical vacation. Except it was in upstate NY, and I had two babies and he had an emergency appendectomy. Fun!

9. What room are you in?
The office/piano room/living room. Our rooms multitask.

10. Your hobby?
Running. But you probably already know that from reading this blog.

I have a friend, who, when people ask her what her talents are, says, “I’m a really good reader.”

I love that.

I always pause when that question comes up.  Can I sing?  Nope.  Play the piano?  Not as well as I should, given that I took ten years of lessons. (Cue the unfortunate incident in my church congregation in London where the music leader asked if I would fill in for the usual pianist, and I ended up just playing the top hand for all the songs.) I’m not a great chef; I don’t keep an immaculate house; my garden is a little bit sad, my craft abilities are nonexistent.  I don’t take great pictures; can’t sew or quilt; can’t draw or paint.

But my friend made me think.  We’re all good at things.  We all have talents.  Sometimes they’re just not obvious ones.

I’m also a good reader, like she is.  While I’m not the world’s best writer, I do work hard at it, and I think that’s a talent. I can write a very good lesson plan (I remembered this as I worked on some for a class to keep my teaching license current).  I am really good at reading blogs but not so great at commenting.  Okay, maybe now I’m stretching.

What are some unconventional/hidden talents you have?  Don’t be shy.