25 Things About Me

1) I have a real emotional connection to food and cooking. When I want to show someone that I like them, I invite them over and cook for them, and when I’m feeling blue, I like to spend the day in the kitchen with a warm oven and the smell of baking in the air. 2) I lived in the same house pretty much the first 28 years of my life. Then I lived in 13 places over the next 12 years. As I write that, I realize how unsettled my life has been, driven mostly by jobs and relationships. I’ve been in the same place for almost three years, and I feel like I’ve found my home here in New York. 3) In 1995 I moved from Atlanta to New York for the first time. I didn’t know a soul here, and I spent a couple of years figuring out who I was and how to make friends. Running clubs and golf became ways to meet people, and I also learned how to be alone. 4) I work to support my travel habit. I caught the travel bug late in life, but it has a strong hold on me. Sometimes I like to travel alone, set my own agenda, find my own way. Sometimes the sharing makes the adventure sweeter, but it has to be the right travel partner. 5) Given the choice between the new and the familiar, I’ll take the new almost every time. 6) Giving back is really important to me. I volunteer with New York Cares (shout-out!) as much as I can. I don’t like giving money to people on the street, but more than once I’ve ducked in a shop and bought water and snacks for someone begging. 7) Materialism is a real turn off for me. Don’t get me wrong, when I buy something, I try to make it the best I can afford, but I can’t stand people who define themselves by their THINGS. 8) I am a runner. It’s part of who I am. I have a drawer full of running things, shoes strewn on the floor, headsets draped over doorknobs, a constant nudge to get out there. I’ve done five marathons, a handful of halves and a bunch of 10Ks and 5Ks. 9) I eat vegetarian about 60% of the time, eat fish and chicken about 30% of the time, and, every now and then, I give in to bacon and a really great rare steak. 10) I’m adopted. I know a bit about my biological parents, but I don’t really have an urge to find them. Though sometimes, I’d like them to know that things turned out okay. A few years ago I learned for the first time that I was born in Nashville, after thinking that I was from Albany GA. I had two names before I was Karen, one my biological mother gave me, and one the foster home gave me. Let’s just say my mother was a hippie. 11) My first job with at Showbiz Pizza, a sort of down-market Chuckie Cheese. Because I was tall, sometimes I had to be Billie Bob the Bear. My second job was working at a graphic design shop in Atlanta, which, unbeknownst to me, would be the beginning of my current career, the result of a strange, but somehow logical journey. 12) I’m a quiet extrovert. I dread going to parties but always get a second wind once I’m there. But I almost always leave before the dancing on the tables begins. Almost always. 13) I’m incredibly impatient. More than once I’ve walked away from a checkout line, forgoing some potential much-loved purchase because I don’t want to wait in line. Yeah, I’m working on that one. 14) A few years ago I discovered that I loved speaking in public. Who knew? 15) I can be trusting and naïve, and then I can be cynical and savvy. I’m more comfortable in my trusting skin, but the cynical side has served me well. 16) I used to live a life of “I want to” and “I should’s.” Then I finished my MBA and my first marathon in the same week, and realized that I can. 17) My brother was a bit of an alien creature to me when I was younger. Then I dated one of his best friends when I was in college and we ended up spending a lot of time together, and I discovered what a cool guy he was. Now he's one of my favorite people, and not just because he's my brother. I'm in awe of his smarts and his dedication to his family and friends. 18) I love to swim, but don’t know how to dive. I am, however, physically equipped for an awesome cannonball. 19) A perfect day for me includes a great cup of coffee, a good run, time with the newspaper, connecting with friends and a good meal with a sublime wine. I’m currently in love with Montepulciano. 20) I used to hate my height, which made me stand out and look different from everyone else. Now I love my height, which makes me stand out and look different from everyone else. 21) I adore my niece and nephew so much it takes my breath away sometimes, I think they are little miracles. I’ve got friends who have amazing kids who I love, love, love. That being said, I’m still not convinced that I want any of my own. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, c’est la vie. 22) I’ve working on writing more lately. I keep a blog, where I can practice and stretch and re-write. I’m working on poetry, and thinking about trying to be published. I’m also starting a blog about love stories I see on the subway, an optimistic piece. 23) I’m an early riser, but I’m not a morning person. My mind is sharp first thing in the morning, but so is my attitude. 24) There are three things that are ALWAYS in my house – coffee, milk for coffee and TP. Pretty much everything else is optional. 25) I pretty much love my life. I’ve got a great job that I love, I live in a city that feeds my soul, I’m fortunate enough to be healthy, and I’ve got great friends here. I miss friends and family in Atlanta, but I like to think they’ll always be there when I need them.