10 Things About Me Meme

Aldara has tagged me to join in this meme. :) Thanks, Aldara!
I think I've done something like this before, but I'll post 10 things here, anyway. Let's see...

1. Ha! Apparently my blog is banned in China, also. I didn't even know about this until I read Aldara's #1. So I'm copying her. I'm guessing all blogger or blogspot sites are going to be blocked. Here is the site to check if yours is also banned.

2. My blog is titled The Bird's Nest because my siblings used to call me Birdie. It stems from this: Sharon to Sharona; then Sharie-Canary. Canary is a Bird, so they started calling me Birdie. My wonderful, teasing-siblings enjoyed this so much. If they bothered me, they'd say my feathers were ruffled. Go fly away, etc. So this is my spot to come ramble. So it's The Bird's Nest. My own little place. It has nothing to do with actual birds. I'm not a bird-lover or anything like that.

3. I'm the youngest of 8 living children, but my mother was actually pregnant 13 times. So I'm really one of 13! She has a stillborn daughter, and 4 miscarriages. I'm the youngest living, but I remember her being pregnant when I was 6. Large families are cool. (but I don't think I'm meant to have that large of a family!)

4. I love to travel. I spent a semester in Europe in 1999, and since then, I have the travel bug. I've been to many different countries throughout Western and Eastern Europe, as well as Ireland. I was very fortunate.

5. I'm scared of the ocean. I love to listen to it and look at it, but I do not like to swim in the ocean or be in it. Even on our honeymoon in Hawaii, I never went past my knees in the ocean. And that was very brief!

6. I watch too much television. Shows I watch: The Amazing Race, The Office, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Law & Order SVU, Gilmore Girls, LOST, Monk, The Closer--I'm sure I'm missing another. Thank God for dvrs.

7. I'm short-tempered and not patient enough. Plain and simple. I feel bad for my kids that I am not more patient.

8. In my fantasy of my better-self, I am an active vegetarian, eating organic whole foods. That dream-self-of-mine also has a regular exercise routine. It includes jogging, swimming laps, and dancing. Oh, and that dream-self doesn't love Coke, either!

9. I have a special place for the mentally ill in my heart. One of my brothers is schizophrenic, and that has taught me so much. Next time you see a "homeless" person on the streets, don't just assume they're a drunk or druggie. God help them, it may be something much worse, something out of their control.

10. I blog so much because I find friendship in this world. Like-minded people. Not always, but often. :) I am lonely in real life. I don't know many other moms. Most of my friends are in other states. It's something that often makes me sad. So I blog, browse blogs, and enjoy getting to know all of you through blogging.

Oh gosh, tagging people. I don't have ten, that's for sure! Anyone who would like to play along, please do! I'd like to see the following join in, but no pressure. :)
-Jennifer
-dcrmom
-Stacey
-Angie
-Mary