Can you tolerate another list of 8 random items?

Though I was one of the first to be tagged by John G-W who started this whole thing, I seem to be one of the last to reply to his pass-along game. The delay in response is due more to the personal "crisi" I was in at the time than in not wanting to be a good sport. However, I am responding, not because I like these things (I don't!), but because I like him!

By now, everyone knows the rules... so here you go, John:

1. My grandmother's grandmother was an indentured servant in 1840s England, left orphaned to pay the debts of her parents who were banished from England forever and sent by ship to Australia as convicts. Her father's crime? Stealing bread. Her mother's crime? Eating the stolen goods! (Can anyone say "Les Miserables"?) Thus, to this day I have a rebellious yet survivor spirit...

2. My mom was a convert to the Church in the southern states during WWII. During those days, missions were disbanded and she was fellowshipped by ROTC boys from SLC. She was the first of her family to join the Church, a major step away from the traditions of her fathers. She taught me through her example and testimony. I have gained a spiritual sensitivity and an independent spirit from my mother...

3. I am an eagle scout though I did it out of obligation to my parents verses my personal quest. It was something that I was 'supposed to do', so I did it. I hated the program and everything associated with YM. Somehow, I gained a testimony of the gospel despite the abuse and harassment of the "priesthood" programs. To this day I have a distaste for scouting, but have become a huge fan of the Young Men's program and the miracles that can occur as one assists in the opening of the eyes of a youth to his spiritual potential. I've re-experienced the joys of "priesthood" programs as an adult, having served for years as a YM leader. I still have an intense sense of duty...

4. I love to travel and to discover new people, new places, new cultures, new languages and new foods. I have explored all 50 states but 1 (Alaska - and it's on the docket for next years) and much of Europe and some of Asia. I have a special affinity for Italy, Southern France, and India. I love to take photos. I feel naked without my camera. If I could figure out how to combine travel and photography and make a living supporting my family in the ways of which they are accustomed to live, I'd do it in an instance. I have an incurable disease called wanderlust...

5. I hate heights. I'm scared to death of high places, though as I get older, I'm getting better. I've been stuck on a 6" wide ledge at Lake Powell on a shear cliff some 50 feet above the water and couldn't move forward or backward and refused to jump into the water despite all the encouragement of my friends. I haven't been completely terrified to the point of immobility very often, but this was one of those times. It's funny though, I'm a sucker for a great view, an expansive vista, or especially an amazing sunset - and when it takes climbing a mountain precipice, scaling the steps of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (with no railings) or hanging over the railing at the top of the Empire State Building for that "perfect views", my acrophobia vanishes. I am conflicted and inconsistent in many things...

6. I get motion sickness very easily. I can't dance the polka or tolerate any kind of spinning. I think I was the only kid that HATED the merry-go-round. I hate amusement parks as most rides have been designed for the explicit purpose of making me turn shades of green that are beyond the natural color spectrum of skin. As much as I travel, I still get air sick, and let's don't even talk about boats! I like to be well anchored...

7. I like to create environments. I used to spend hours in my basement planning cities, laying out streets and villages, designing mansions. My communities would encompass the entire house and flow out into the back yard (I had a very tolerant mother - but my father thought I was nuts, wondering - why wouldn't I rather go play ball with the rest of the boys?) In real life, I have master planned "award winning" communities and designed buildings in over 15 states, including California, North Carolina, and New Jersey. I have an engineering degree with emphasis in structures and am fascinated with the beauty of structural form. Though I see beauty in the structures of the Spaghetti Bowl (freeway interchange of I-15 and I-80) in the photo that I took above, I don't consider that a "creative environment" (especially in bumper-to-bumper rush hour) though it encompasses my love of photography, a great view, a strong sense of structure and form, a hatred of heights (I was in a two-seater plane at the time), and I dare say I spend more time in my life on I-15 than I would like to admit). But my true love is architecture and the artistic magic of contextualism. I've been known to say: "Architecture, without passion, is just engineering!" I have a passionate spirit...

8. I hate playing any kind of sport that makes me hold, touch or associate myself with a ball. Balls make me break out in hives! Little league baseball was absolute torture! I was too wussy for football, and too uncoordinated to make a simple layup in basketball (I never could figure out with which leg I jumped, while holding the ball in which hand and aiming for what corner of the backboard?) . I hate running (flat feet = no shock absorption). Yet, I love to hike (especially with the reward of a good view - see item 5 above), bike (as long as it's relatively flat, or better yet - coasting downhill!), camp (with a decent air mattress), swim (I love the backstroke), snorkel (especially in Hawaii), and be in the outdoors. I feel peace when I'm in or around nature...

There you have it!

Since every blogger I know is tagged, I won't try to tag you. But, if you aren't tagged or don't feel that you are tagged, then consider yourself tagged.