2 memes!

I have been tagged for two memes- and you guys know how much I love these things, so here we go.

First up, Vegan Diva tagged me to write 7 random things about myself. (As if I don't talk about myself enough!)

1. I wish that my friends and I greeted each other in the continental fashion: kisses on the cheek. Instead, most of us are huggers, and it's really difficult and awkward to try to kiss someone who's going in for a hug, so... I'm a hug-greeter. I have a few friends who always greet me with kisses, and most of my family are kiss-greeters, so I'm happy about that. But anyone reading this: feel free to go continental on me!

2. I am very voyeuristic, especially about very conservative things. When I lived in California, I used to love listening to Dr. Laura, even though I find her repulsive and disagree with 100% of what she says. I love reading the blogs of the ultra fringe: women who believe it is God's commandment to "submit" to their husbands, who believe God has commanded them to have tons and tons of babies (we're talking double digits), who believe it is a sin to send girls to college, or for women to wear pants, who believe evolution is a hoax, etc. I really don't understand the attraction, especially since these things often leave me perplexed, outraged, or depressed, but then I go back for more.

3. On a semi-related note, I am an atheist. For a long time, I referred to myself as an agnostic, because I believed it was a more tenable stance, less controversial, or more philosophically elegant. But the older I get, the more I realize that "I am so made that I can not believe" (quote by Blaise Pascal)- I am straight up atheist. Perhaps #2 (above) has helped to cement my belief. Ironically, though, becoming comfortable with the atheist label has coincided with my growing quest to seek peace, compassion, and spirituality in my life. Go figure!

4. If I had not gone into the humanities, I would have majored in political science and international studies. In the second semester of my senior year of college (i.e. very very late in the game), I took an awesome upper division course called "the politics of immigration." It opened my eyes, taught me to question long-held beliefs, and fascinated me. I did very well. And I got a glimpse into what could have been if only... On a related note, my fantasy job has always been to work for Amnesty International in some capacity.

5. I love roller coasters. I want to visit the tallest, fastest, most extreme roller coasters in the country! Similarly, I have always wanted to sky-dive and bungee jump. I love the sensation of falling. Even as a very very young child, I had a frequently recurring dream that I was floating down from the fourth floor of our apartment where we used to live, all the way down to the basement. The dreams are always very vertiginous- I don't want to fall, but then I do, and I enjoy it and am creeped out at the same time.

6. And yet, I'm also a bit of a coward. Daiku's dream is to fly planes and do similar things, but I hold him back because I'm convinced he'll die. I have a huge phobia of ferries, and being on a sinking ferry in the middle of open water.

7. Even though I am trained in art history, I often find it difficult to focus in museums and take "high art" seriously. It's much nicer to approach museums with a spirit of fun and whimsy. I have a photo group on Flickr called "Fun With Modern Art" devoted to this very concept. If you like to have fun with art, think museums are more like playgrounds than hallowed sacred spaces, and think the old masters are kind of hilarious, then please join the group and submit photos!

Ok, I'm going to tag 7 people to tell us 7 random things about themselves, I apologize if you've already been tagged! Urban Vegan, Trac, Bridget, Candi, Textual Bulldog, Mihl, and Celine, care to share?? I would love to know more about you!

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For the second meme, Samantha of Get Green Things has tagged me to name 5 blogs that I visit, that are smart and teach me things. As you can see by my wild and wacky list of blogs to the right, I visit a whole bunch of blogs on an almost-daily basis! You all teach me things regularly. It was nearly impossible to narrow this list down, so I decided to go with blogs that some of you may not have seen yet. If I mention your blog, you have been tagged to make a list of your own 5 blogs (or however many)!

• Conscious Kitchen - Emilie is a master of the cupcake arts, and also of infusing her writing with thought-provoking ideas. You come away from reading each of her posts with a hungry belly and a desire to make the world a better place.
  

• You and me and the devil make three. The personal blog of my old friend Liza. She and I have known each other since high school, and she was the same lovely, passionate, creative and talented girl then that she is now. I say this despite the fact that she knows many horrifying secrets about me (mispronunciations of my name, questionable stationary choices, crushes on old French dudes...) Visit her blog to see some of her beautiful and unique illustrations.
  

• Better Politics Through Food. From her description: a graduate student, a Quaker, a lesbian, a Brooklynite. Some of the most consistently eloquent musings about food and the multiple intersections it makes with our personal, cultural, political, financial, and familial lives.

• Neva Vegan. Again, this is a woman who delves deeply into the issues. I always come away from this blog awed by her deep compassion, wondering about my personal choices and beliefs, and convinced that I need to learn more!

• Nutrition Ambition. Roxy comes up with some of the most colorful, refreshing recipes I've ever come across. Whether ultra-healthy or super-decadent, you won't be able to get her foods out of your mind!

Thanks for participating, everybody! I realize I've just tagged 12 people... please forgive me!

2 memes!