all about me

A sleepy b&b in Loket, Czech Republic, June 2012

Taking a leaf from Amanda's and Kali's book, and telling you all kinds of things about myself, whether you want to know or not. A strangely relaxing exercise.

1. What are you wearing? 
Lounging at home in an batik cotton dress which I also sleep in. It's a lazy Saturday.

2. Have you ever been in love?
No.

3. Have you even gone through a horrible breakup? 
No.

4. How tall are you?
1.79m

5. How Much do you weigh? 
65kg

6. Do you have tattoos? 
Yes one. Alphonse Mucha's "Music" on my upper back.

7. Do you have piercings?
Nope. I did use to want an eyebrow ring, for some reason.

8. What is the ideal couple to you? 
I once met a couple on on diving trip - if love was a competition, they would be champions. They were in a relationship for almost 20 years before marrying in their late 30s, and have two young children, and I loved that they appeared to still find each other very entertaining, interesting and attractive. It was lovely to see them together.

(They were also funny, nice and smart people to hang out with, leading interesting lives - mountain climbing, diving, with children in tow where possible - and appeared to have successful careers. Damn they're good at life.)

9. Your favourite TV show? 
Oh dear, where do I begin? I'm currently working my way through the Gilmore Girls again - in my youth, this show misled me into thinking I could just say inappropriate things out loud and get away with it, like Lorelai. I was wrong.

To pick a more recent TV series that's ended, it would be "Breaking Bad".

10. Your favourite band?
Argh, too many. The bands I've stayed faithful to since I was a teen are AC/DC, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, No Doubt and U2. The bands I've listened to a lot in recent years are The Killers, The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes. The band I'm really exciting about coming to Singapore next year is Little Dragon.

(I also listen to a lot of pop, but never one band/singer consistently.)

11. Something you're missing?
Scuba diving and being at sea.

12. Your favourite song? 
Last night when I was waiting for a cab with a friend, I played The Strokes' "I'll Try Anything Once". Classic song for me on late nights.

Currently, I'm listening to "Partition" by Beyonce a lot. I can't make of what I feel about the lyrics of her songs but I haven't stopped listening to the album since she released it last year.

13. How old are you? 
30

14. What's your astrological sign? 
Seriously?

15. An essential quality for a boyfriend? 
The capacity to handle lots of sarcasm.

16. Favourite Quote?  
"Really? I already have a drink. Do you think he'd buy me mozzarella sticks?" - Liz Lemon, "30 Rock"

17. Favourite Actor?  
Surely no one has just one? Right now, it's Michael Fassbender.

18. Favourite Colour?  
Navy.

19. Do you listen to music at a low or high volume?  
High.

20. Where do you go when you are sad?  
Back to bed.

21. How long do you stay in the shower?  
About 15 minutes.

22. How long does it take to get ready in the morning? 
30 minutes to leave the house. 15 minutes if I don't have breakfast.

23. Did you ever get in a fight?  
A physical one? Only when I took MMA classes for a year back in university. One lecturer thought I had an abusive boyfriend. It's quite an experience, being punched in the face. Like bungee jumping. Of course this would not be funny or welcome in a situation of actual danger.

24. Something that seduces you in a man?  
Self-assurance.

25. The most repelling thing in a man?  
I also find the same quality repelling in a woman - selfishness.

26. Why do you have a blog? 
To decompress. These thoughts need a place to go!

27. What are you afraid of?  
Dissatisfaction.

28. The last thing that made you cry?  
The look on my friend's face when he told me he was afraid his father was dying.

29. The last time you said "I love you"? 
Out loud? It's been a while. But I usually think it when my mother cooks for me.

30. What does your blog name mean?  
Shopping. I'm such a consumer - I love taking things out of the bag when I get home from a shopping trip.

31. The latest book you read?  
"The Handmaid's Tale", by Margaret Atwood. I didn't love it, but I think it's because I read it after hearing too much about it/

32. What are you currently reading? 
Haven't found a book to start on yet.

33. The latest TV series you watched?  
I'm watching The Good Wife, Homeland and The Walking Dead. But if I were to just pick one show I've found consistently impressive in recent years, it's Veep.

34. The last person you talked to?  
My mother.

35. Who did you last text with?  
One of my best friends.

36. Your favourite food? 
This is impossible! Something Chinese and broth-y with noodles in it.

But I also never say no to cheese and chocolate.

37. Places you want to visit? 
Too many. I'm headed to Nepal in December. Next year, I've put down Palau for scuba diving. Iceland, because it looks epic. Indonesia for a mountain-climbing trip. And perhaps California, to visit a friend. But I usually just pick whichever destination that has a cheap fare going on.

38. The last place you visited?  
The Maldives

39. Are you currently sweet on someone?  
Yes. Although it's mildly embarrassing to use that phrase...

40. The last person you kissed?  
A person I don't speak to anymore.

41. The last insult you were told?   
Ohhh this one really stung, because it just happened at work this week. "When did we get so boring?"

42. Your favourite candy flavour? 
Something tart.

43. Do you play an instrument?  
Nope. I took violin lessons as a child but none of it stuck.

44. Your favourite piece of jewellery?  
A gold ring that belonged to my mother.

45. The last sport session you practiced?  
Yoga (Vinyasa).

46. The latest song you sang? 
"XO", by Beyonce (I told you I was listening to the album a lot).

47. Your favourite catch phrase? 
"High-fiving a thousand angels" (I am a serious Liz Lemon fan).

48. Have you ever used it?  
Yes.

49. Your last evening out?  
Last night. Crawled to a bar after work (I work nights till midnight), stayed till they closed at 2am, continued sitting by the river and talking till 4am.

50. Who are you tagging?  
Don't wait to be asked, go for it! I promise it's fun.