13 Things

On Facebook there was a challenge that when some body gave you a number, you had to share that number of things about yourself that people might not know about yourself.  I got the number 13.  It took me a long time to come up with 13 things about myself that I thought was both unique, and was willing to share with the world.  I learned a lot about myself doing this so it's an interesting process.

1. I love elephants! I think they are beautiful!
2. My favorite color is purple. Just NEVER pair it with gold! ... Purple is very closely followed by crimson/red as my second favorite color.
3. I hate conflict of any sort! I will avoid it almost at all cost. However, if I am riled enough to cause or get in the middle of conflict, watch out! I don't back down easily!
4. Politically, I look and research my options and vote for the person/idea I most agree and relate with. I tend to lean toward republican even though I was raised in a democrat house.  However I HATE discussing politics with people.  I feel it's almost too personal, and I feel that I believe what I believe and it's my own business.  Very rarely will I discuss politics with others outside of my circle of friends and family, and I rarely discuss it with them as well.
5. I truly care about other people and how they are feeling. Often times this means I will do anything to help them and help them feel better. I hate to tell people "no" even when I'm inconvenienced.
6. I've known how to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious since third grade.
7. I'm a reader. I love to read. But once I've started reading a book the first time, I'm absorbed in it. Every spare moment I have, I'm reading that book until it's finished. I will also not read a series of books until all of them have been written and released. Then I will sit and read them all. I have to know how things end!
8. The above being said, I will re-read a book I enjoyed multiple times, but I'm not as obsessed after that first read. Many times I'll immediately re-read a book/series after finishing, but slower the second time, and catch the smaller details I missed the first time through.
9. I like my coffee hidden in chocolate and with some fruity flavor. My favorite is black cherry mochas. Yummmmmmm!
10. I love my children unconditionally and irrevocably. But I refuse to stop and do everything for them.  They need to learn how to problem solve and figure things out for themselves, therefore, I will not make them the center of my world. That may sound harsh, but this explains what I mean exactly: http://themetzfamilyadventures.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-my-kids-are-not-center-of-my-world.html?m=1
11. My favorite number is 9.
12. I love to play cards. I'm excited that Natalie is finally getting to the age she can learn rummy and cribbage.
13. I worried too much in doing this about offending people (see #3 & 5 for reasons why). But this is me and take me as I am... (I wish it were easier to have that motto in life...)