Thursday, January 17, 2008

Tag, I Am It! Seven Random Things About Myself

I have been tagged with a fun meme by Katerina Fiore of Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino (for those who don't speak Italian, that means Olive Oil and Dreams of Wine - great blog name, isn't it?)

I am to describe 7 random things about myself.

I am a Gemini, going in many directions at once, have always lead a very diverse life, and therefore find it very difficult to stick to 7 things.

* I love, love, love to be in Venice by myself. Venice, to me, is like a lover. You can roam the streets anonymously, getting lost in its sensuousness and beauty, devouring it as it devours you.

* Mountains speak to my soul. My favorite range is the Alps which I once flew over in a very small plane, alone with the pilot, in the dead of winter. The feeling of being so close to those majestic peaks was incomparable. I have camped and hiked alone in the Canadian Rockies and was awed at their splendor. I have traveled across and through the Himalayas, and the power and altitude of its peaks are overpoweringly beautiful. (And, yes, seeing Mt. Everest was one of the penultimate experiences of my life!)

* My first real job was on a pig and turkey farm. I'll leave that one at that.

* I studied for one semester at the oldest college in the Western Hemisphere - El Colegio de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, otherwise known as the University of Michoacan, in Mexico, founded in the 1590s.

* I just had a book dedicated to me. China by Herbert Paulzen, unfortunately is only published in Dutch. Herbert is one of the best known travel writers in the Netherlands and one of the most fascinating human beings I have ever met. We met in Kathmandu and traveled to Tibet together. I was moved to tears by his dedication.

* I like being around dying people. I have a difficult time putting into words this feeling, but when I am with a dying person, all pretenses are stripped away, and life is boiled down to what is really important.

* I am a yoga teacher and have done yoga, every day, for over 16 years. I am so grateful to have this practice in my life.

Okay, I'll stop myself there.

If you are reading this and would like to participate, consider yourself tagged. We would all love to read random things about each other, so play along!

14 comments:

katerinafiore said...

wow the himalayans....amazing...How great of a feeling to have been dedicated in a book. Wow you just fabulous...love learning more about you!! baci

Chloe said...

Wow Jeni! You must have so many great stories to tell. Oh please…do tell us more! I have never traveled alone but have fantasized about it for years.

erin said...

This was a great post! I loved reading all the fun facts...you had a lot of very interesting things to tell!

Bella Baita Marla said...

Interesting details indeed. I do hope if you get to visit this autumn you can give me a few yoga pointers. I have always hoped to have have yoga and painting reteats here, maybe someday...

Katie Zeller said...

As much as I love travleing with mon mari, and after 20 some years we do it pretty well, together, I really love traveling alone for a bit. I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but the few days I've spent on my own in Barcelona, London, etc. were wonderful.
As to the mountains - I also love them. There's something about finding a pass and coming into a totally remote valley....
Fascinating bits!

M'nMs said...

Lovely to read...something about what you wrote and how you wrote it that makes it so..so real... am going off on the deep end here but it made me stop and think.. :)
Still have to get to Venice!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I have to agree with wow. You will have to do another meme with more of your life's encounters....not enough room in one post!

Laurie Constantino said...

Jeni, you are living a truly fascinating life. Thank you for sharing bits of it.

Unknown said...

This meme has really done the rounds and has revealed so many tidbits about blogging pals. Loved your list - and I so relate to the effect that mountains have - the Himalayas must have been staggeringly awesome.

Anonymous said...

It's always nice getting to know our food blogging buddies a little better. Thanks :) You are amazing!

Susan said...

I love the mountains, too. The air and light are different up there.

Thanks for sharing, Jeni!

The Passionate Palate said...

I am sorry to be replying to all at once by I have been sick this week and not wanting to be at my computer. Your comments are all so sweet. I hope you all consider yourself tagged so I can read some about your lives!

glamah16 said...

Amazing life so far. I can only imagine more great things for the future.You are one advertursome, wise, gutsy woman,

The Passionate Palate said...

Glamah - I love the way you make me sound and hope that I can live up to that!