oh happy day

so there's apparently a chain letter of sorts going around in the blogging world ... and Ryan who has become a blogging aficionado received it ... and passed it on to me:

I'm apparently supposed to thank whoever gave it to me [thanks ryan!]. And now i'm supposed to write 10 things that make me happy. These are in no particular order, just whatever came to mind. Here we go:

1. Friends & Family - Although I feel like this is a default answer [or at least I hope it would be], it has to go up there. I wouldn't be where I am today without them.
   
   
2. Food - I love it. All of it. Ok not ALL but most. I love trying food from different places, and I will try anything as long as it's not moving. I will also try something odd as long as i can't tell what it is. For instance, I've had cow tounge before. Looked nothing like one and tasted just like ham; pretty damn good if i say so myself.
   
   
3. Travel - My only child-ness has resulted in the fact that i get bored easily, which in turn puts me into moods where i just want to run away. I am by no means a jetsetter but i have traveled to almost 10 countries and and almost twice as many states. I tend to look at my empty passport pages as a silent dare to see how many stamps i can get. I've got like 9 years left on it ... bring it on!
   
   
4. Friends (the show) - To this day it's my favorite show. I have the box set and i watch it all the time. Sue me.
   
   
5. Ice cream - I guess this can go in the food category but i love it so much that it deserves its own mention. Ice cream solves anything and it is never too cold for it! Want to see me instantly smile? Get me some ice cream.
   
   
6. A really good convo over a meal - I grew up having dinner with my parents every night, no exceptions. Eating dinner while watching tv or in separate rooms was something TV families did, as was eating and getting up immediately afterwards. Because of this, there is nothing that I appreciate more than having a meal with someone i care about and talking all the way through it. I am not a fan of going out to eat and leaving right when you're done. If you don't want to talk, don't have a meal with me; i'm the type to end dinner with coffee and convo.
   
   
7. Reading - Both of my parents are bookworms and they passed the trait on to me. For as long as i could remember I've had bookcases and shelves lined with books. When i was younger they consisted of goosebumps, sweet valley high, and the baby sitters club. Now i have everything from the harry potter series, to james patterson novels, to neruda, to the tipping point. I've been tired lately so i haven't been reading but trust me, there are at least 5 unread books in there just waiting for me to get into.
   
   
8. Chile - Although i am "american" by this country's definition, my love for chile runs deep. My parents raised me on chilean food and speaking only spanish at home. I've been visiting chile since i was a little girl and i fall in love with it more every time. While i doubt i could ever just pick up and move there indefinately, there is nothing like being in the place where your parents were raised and your family lives. it's like a void gets filled and nothing can compare.
   
   
9. Gadgets - Technology amazes me. The end.
   
   
10. Nature - I am by all means a city girl but i have a secret love for nature. I love zoos and aquariums, i love parks, i love flowers. The ocean scares me in regards to swimming but i think it's beautiful. I miss living upstate because i miss star filled skys and the ability to see crazy natural occurances like the aurora borealis. The concrete jungle is cool for what it is but nothing compares to the world as it should be.

that's my list! that was fun ... and now i'm supposed to tag people somehow? uuummm ... [this is when i miss facebook and its features]. i tag ... whoever reads this! :D