You know you're in Corvallis when:

• Within 2 hours of being in town you run into 10 people you know including your second grade teacher, parents of your friends from middle school, and your high school counselor [who has no idea who you are].
• You eat at the new, chic restaurant and the people next to you are in pastel tank tops, khaki cargo shorts, and Birkenstocks.
• You go to a play on campus and know and/or went to school with at least 5 people whose names are on the program.
• You buy a really cute headband at your favorite store and 3 hours later when you're enjoying your gelato at Francesco's you see someone wearing the exact same headband.
• You see a bride and groom leaving their wedding reception...at American Dream. [Why would you celebrate your wedding there?? Why?? And at the risk of offending 95% of the Corvallis population I have to admit I don't even really like their pizza]

I can't believe that all of above happened in my quick, less than 24 hour visit! Oh, I love coming home! Happy Birthday Dad! (as if he even knows I have a blog!)

MamaNirvana's MeMe
1. Besides your family, what is your most prized possession?
Is it a total cop-out to say I cherish my memories most of all?! I don’t really have any ‘thing’ that’s super important to me…it’s just stuff. I do really like the painting I’ve been ‘borrowing’ from Kim for years. She painted it during her ‘red stripe’ movement and I love it.

2. If you were on death row, what would your last meal be?
Mom’s fried rice, french toast, twice baked potatoes, Veda’s rolls, Betsy Rolls, orange-sherbet salad, corn on the cob, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, tossed salad with lots of cheese, flourless chocolate cake, strawberry lemonade, and ginger ale. (I’m on death row, who cares about calories and/or if the food ‘goes’ together?!)

3. At a party, would you be hiding in the corner or hanging out at the punch bowl talking it up? And, what food item would your bring to the party?
Depends who’s at the party. If it’s a bunch of people I know I’d be at the punchbowl. If I don’t know many people I’d be in the corner talking to those that I know. If I didn’t care about impressing anyone I’d probably bring a bag of chips.

4. What is the most "girly" thing about you?
People.com, high heels, & coats

5. What is your favorite piece of furniture in your home?
Right now: My wine rack from Dania (yes, a nice LDS girl with a wine rack...). It's actually the perfect bookshelf and has a great compartment at the top to store my blankets! But…if you asked me this question in 4-6 weeks I guarantee my favorite piece of furniture will be the Westin Heavenly Bed that I bought on Saturday. Can’t wait for it to arrive!!

6. What is most likely to be painted -- your toes or your fingers?
Toes.

7. If I was going to buy you a bottle of Bath and Bodyworks lotion, what scent would you want?
I don't really like scented lotions...if you're going to buy me a bottle of lotion I'd prefer Aveeno. But, if you had a gift certificate to B&BWorks and had to buy my gift there I'd want their clover scent which was sadly disconintued...so I guess I'd choose cherry blossom.

8. Do you like to nap? If so, how often do you get to during the week?
Yes I like naps but I only get one about 4 times a year. I don't think my boss would appreciate me sleeping at my desk! Check back in 4-6 weeks though and I might be sneaking in some more naps in my new favorite piece of furniture.

9. Do you have a place in your house where you "hide"? A place where you can have a long phone conversation with a friend without interruption? Where is your quiet place?
Anywhere I want to…one of the joys of no husband/children/roommates.

10. At this point in your life, are you living the life you imagined back when you were in high school/college?
Hmm…Whenever my brothers and sisters tell me I'm not old I like to remind them that by the time our mom was my age she was married, living abroad, had 3 kids, and cancer (go Mom!). So, I guess I thought I might at least have a husband by age 26 :0) But so far I haven't been too disappointed with where I've ended up. Oh, and when I was in high school I wanted to be a civil engineer-slash-architect. I'm glad that goal changed.

11. Would you ever get plastic surgery? What would you have done?
I’ve never wanted it but I guess I’d never say never.

12. What have you accomplished (besides having children) that you feel most proud of?
I don’t have children, does that mean I have to come up w/ 2 answers for this?! I like the sound of Diana R. Baumgartner, CPA.

p.s. My ultra-high-tech hairdryer died yesterday morning. No Joke. I think Revlon should remiburse me not only for the cost of the hairdryer but for the time wasted trying to figure out Ion Select (TM) dial. *sigh*