Accent: Some people in the Pacific Northwest say we have Midwest accents, but I don't know what that means. I'm interested in acquiring a southern accent, which spurs my interest in moving to Tennessee or Kentucky. Dan's Chicago accent comes out REAL THICK whenever he talks to his brother. He also gets louder. What's up with that?
Bra size: Dan and Rocco don't wear bras. I don't think anybody really needs to know my size. And frankly, Hobbes does not wish to share his either.
Chore I hate: I hate taking out the garbage, loading laundry, cleaning toilets, and Dan hates folding laundry, dusting, and doing dishes/cleaning the kitchen. We do these things for each other. But we both hate cleaning out the litter box and that becomes a battle of wills. Hobbes hates balancing the checkbook and Rocco refuses to do anything helpful, save eating crumbs off the floor.
Dad’s name: James & Don
Essential make-up: Chapstick
Favorite perfume: Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Eau de Parfum. I don't own a bottle, but I tear out samples from magazines and rub it all over myself. Dan occasionally wears Gucci Envy Cologne--described as "perfect for the stylish and urbane Gucci man; erotic, sensual, and masculine," but he only wears it to cover up the fact that he hasn't showered for several days.
Gold or Silver: I've always preferred silver, and my wedding band and engagement ring are silver, but lately I've been turned onto gold jewelry. After my most recent traumatic doctor visit, Dan took me shopping. We found a beautiful gold necklace of a tree, which reminds me of him because of his circle of life/tree tattoo on his back. Dan's wedding band is titanium because he's OPTIMAL MALE. Rocco prefers pearls and Hobbes' jewelry consists of a felt necklace.
Hometown: Washington, IL (Leah & Hobbes) / Lemont, IL (Dan) / Portland, OR (Rocco)
Interesting fact: Everyone fights over Leah's lap.
Job title: Sales Manager (Leah) / Area Manager (Dan)
Kids: Are baby goats. It feels like Rocco and Hobbes are our children. We hope to add to the family someday.
Living arrangements: Two bedroom condo on the third floor of a building painted the color of pale diarrhea. We just renovated our deck...pictures soon!
Mom’s Birthplace: I have no idea. My mom grew up in Staunton, IL--a small town about 45 minutes northeast of St. Louis. Char, where were you born?
Number of apples eaten in last week: 0. I don't like apples--but I drink apple-cranberry juice and eat a cup of applesauce everyday. Dan recently had an apple with his
stinky blue cheese.
Overnight hospital stays: When I was born and a small stint on the psych ward in 2002. Char, was Dan in the hospital overnight when he was born? I can't think of any other time that he was there.
Phobia: Ophidiophobia, the fear of snakes. Dan has Demophobia, Enochlophobia, or Ochlophobia --all are different kinds for the phobia related to the fear of crowds, and Acrophobia, the fear of extreme heights.
Question you ask yourself a lot: "What the hell is Hobez crying for?"
Religious affiliation: We practice no specific religion. I was raised non-denominational Christian and Dan was raised Catholic.
Siblings: Sister Rachel, brother Doug, and his wife, Rita. Rocco was born in a litter of 8 and we know that one sister, Mandy, was adopted by his vet. Hobbes was born in a litter of 5 and spent several years with his sister, Bulan, owned by Leah's best friend, Hattie. Bulan has a much more agreeable and playful disposition.
Time I wake up: Dan gets up at the crack of dawn, Rocco with him. My alarm starts going off at 7:30. Hobbes is always up before all of us, moaning and hurling glasses and books off of my nightstand.
Unnatural hair color: I don't understand this question.
Vegetable I refuse to eat: I'm not a huge fan of root vegetables, like beets, radishes, or turnips. Dan refuses squash, zucchini, and sweet potatoes. Rocco doesn't like onions. Hobbes is pissed in general.
Worst habit: Smoking, insomnia, slouching, zoning out while I am supposed to be listening to someone and then probably interrupting them. Dan: Forgetting to shower for several days.... Stinky FEET! Rocco: Biting our feet in bed at night, licking his legs until they turn red. Hobbes: Crying, moaning, bitching, wailing, thumping, tapping, and knocking things off my nightstand.
X-rays: I think we've all had x-rays.
Yummy food I make: Grilled peanut butter sandwich is all I can make. My goal is to master a kick-ass vegetarian chicken and dumplings. Dan makes everything good.
Zodiac sign: Libra (Leah) My strongest Libra characteristics are peace-loving, idealistic, artistic, diplomatic. / Aries (Dan & Hobbes) Dan's strongest characteristics are self-confidence, courage, and straightforward. Hobbes? Irritable and opinionated. / Gemini (Rocco). His strongest characteristics are social, playful, changeable, and vain.
Last weekend, Rocco was my date at Ali's birthday party. It was a red, white, and black themed event, so I wore my black boots, favorite red T-shirt (a thrifted Gap RED tee that is practically sewn to my body lately) and pearl bracelets, and Rocco wore a matching pearl necklace. I didn't have anything red for him, but nobody seemed to mind. I think he was the hit of the party! Sorry the photos are blurry...It was hard to get him to sit still!
Well, he hasn't traveled yet, but he's ready! This is one of the photos we've received of Logan over the past month, and it's our favorite! My dad found the moses style baby basket while on his service trip to the Dominican Republic, but Logan was already too big for it at 8 lbs! He doesn't seem to mind, though. He looks fast asleep and cozy. The onesie is a gift I sent, a cute little Petit Bateau piece from Spoiled Rotten, the store I worked at when we first moved to Portland. I can't wait to shower him with all of my other goodies I have piled up in anticipation for our upcoming trip to Illinois. I have to say that it is bizarre he exists so far away and I haven't met him yet. When my mom phoned the afternoon he was born and I heard him fussing in the background as the nurses cleaned him, and she told me his name...I just wept. It was one of those rare moments of pure joy and sadness wrapped up together. I have many conflicted feelings about living out here in the Pacific Northwest with so many loved ones far away. But that's for another post...
Dan was blessed with many happy birthday phone calls and messages, including a "Happy Birthday To You" from Char, Aunt Mary, and Grandma, birthday cards, and a brown sack of "luxury" gift items from his wife - Vampire Weekend & Beirut cds, smoky blue cheese from Rogue Creamery, and a bottle of his favorite Belgian saison, Fantôme.
Clockwise from the top left, this is how Logan sees his Mommy, Grandpa Don & Auntie Heidi, Daddy & Mommy, and Noni & Auntie Loola, according to The TinyEyes Engine, from about roughly 12-24 inches away. (Thanks to Christie for the link!) Oh, and don't forget Crazy Uncle Dan at a mere 6 inches:
