eleven.

I am fortunate to know many great folks, both online and offline.  Sometimes, I get to know them in both arenas!  Alex at Moving on in Chicago is part of almost all of my worlds-- I used to be her supervisor, now I'm a colleague, she's always been a friend, and she blogs.  Earlier, Alex tagged me in a little exercise to get my blogging juices flowing.  Here goes!

Eleven.

1. Post these rules.

2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.

4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.

11 Random Things:

1. I hate scary movies. I won't watch them and don't care how great they supposedly are.  My imagination often gets the best of me and I can't handle the nightmares and paranoia for days afterwards.
2. I own more clothes than I could ever possibly wear.  This runs in my family-- overstuffed closets are a Gray family trait!
3. My middle name is my maternal grandmother's middle name.  My sister's middle name is my paternal grandmother's middle name.  My nephew's middle name is my dad's middle name.  I love this tradition and plan to continue it when we have children.
4. I've never been more overwhelmed with emotion than the first time I saw my nephew, rolling down the hallway in an incubator just minutes after he was born.
5. I could watch reruns of Friends and Sex and the City on a loop forever.  I never get tired of either of those shows.
6. I've been told for years that I am intimidating.  It's an odd statement to me, because while I may be good at faking confidence, I'd say that in actuality, I am fairly insecure.
7. I am saddened by the fact that I have lived in Chicago for over 5 years and I've only been visited twice by my parents and once by my sister.  None of my best friends have ever visited me, either.  It frustrates me to be the one to always bear the financial burden of maintaining personal visits.
8. My dream vacation would take me to Ireland, Scotland, Italy and Greece.  Ireland and Scotland to research my family heritage, Italy for the food, and Greece for the history and beaches.
9. I hate being alone.  It's gotten worse since moving in with Jeremy.  I can't stand spending time in my house by myself.
10. I am a perfectionist with very little patience.  This is why crafting and I don't get along.
11. I'm totally a night person.  My ideal schedule would be sleeping 12am-9am and working 1030am-7pm.  I always feel tired when waking up early, no matter if I've gotten tons of sleep or not.

And now, 11 questions from Alex:

1. What is your favorite dinner meal?  Ribeye steak (cooked medium), twice baked potato, roasted asparagus, chocolate lava cake.  Please note I have never made this at home, LOL.
2. What is your favorite sports team and WHY?  The Chicago Cubs.  Though I've only lived here for 5 years, I am actually a lifelong fan!  My dad and I watched games together during the Mark Grace-Ryne Sandberg era since WGN is a nationwide channel.  The Cubs were a staple of my house growing up, so the Northsiders have always had a special place in my heart!
3. What did you always want to be when you grew up (or when you grow up?)  From the age of 6, I knew I wanted to be a nurse.  I always loved helping out anyone in my family when they were sick or in need of help.  However, after 1.5 years in nursing school (when it came to cadaver dissection), I realized I was way too squeamish for the job.  Thankfully, I finally found a way to use my caring skills otherwise!
4. If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?  My grandmother, Addie Gray.  Grandma Gray passed away when I was 12, and I feel like I didn't get to know her well at all.  I have so many questions about her life and our family.
5. What is one question you wish you could ask our President?  I would ask President Obama what his true feelings on the place of higher education in our country are.  The topic is all encompassing-- it touches finance, employment, education and policy, all in one.
6. Do you subscribe to any magazines? If so, what?  Yes.  Rachael Ray and Marie Claire.  Only because I got them for $5/each for the year.
7. What is your favorite moment in the last year?  Getting engaged!
8. What article of clothing could you not live without?  Good bras.  Being a well-endowed lady, having my boobs supported is non-negotiable.
9. What is one thing you want to accomplish in the next year?  I'd love to get our wedding completely planned, if not over with!  Getting married is not at all about the party for me, so it's a hugely daunting idea to think about planning a wedding.
10. What is the most daring thing you have ever done?  Moving 1000 miles away from my family and friends to Chicago in 2006.
11. What is one thing you miss the most from your past?  I miss being a student.  I've always loved school and miss it dearly.

My 11 Questions:

1. What is your favorite scent?
2. If you could relive one day in your life (without making any changes to it), what day would you choose?
3. Where would you like to retire?
4. What is one TV show you cannot stand, and why?
5. If you had to give up one sense (taste, smell, sight, hearing, touch), what would it be and why?
6. What is one word that you use too much?
7. Tell me one tradition your family participates in that you love.
8. What is your favorite season, and why?
9. Name something about your life that scares you, or makes you feel uncomfortable.
10. What is your favorite sport, and why?
11. Where would you travel on your ideal vacation?

Tag, you're it:

Anyone who has time!  Ellen and Amy are moms with new babies.  Stacy has a wildly successful food blog.  My sister, Pam, is uber busy with my cute nephew and work.  Sarah is juggling work, school and volunteerism.  So really, any of y'all who have a spare moment to humor me, go for it!