OK.. looks like I'm next in line for the Seven Degrees of Separation, thanks to Uppington..!  Having traced this back to Diane Gallant's blog, it seems I'm supposed to write seven things about myself.. so here goes:

1)  I actually wrote a book when I was 11.. a really bad sci fi (I still have it in a box somewhere).  My mom, being about the coolest mom in the world, sent it into a publisher for me, who of course rejected it, but with a very  nice letter.  It was my first rejection.. and fortunately not my last...

2) I recall being at lunch with some colleagues from my day job about fifteen years ago, and we were all asking each other what we would do if we could do anything.  I remember saying, "I'd love to write a novel..."

3) People often think of me as an extrovert, because I appear that way in a group.  I'm talkative and end up chatting with everyone in the room before I leave.  But inside I feel like a total introvert.   In the fifteen minutes before I go that party, I just want to die because I'm going to meet people I don't know.  Maybe it's because I'm a Gemini...

4) Two goals: a) see the whole world, b) learn to do everything.  I may or may not complete either one, but I'm sure as hell going to try... and have a great time doing it...

5) Before I left Anchorage, my good friend Jessie read my tarot.  The cards seemed to indicate that I'd be successful in my career and unsuccessful in relationships.  I tried to ignore it, but damn if those cards haven't been right...

6) The first time I went to a writing group, I couldn't even share something I'd written.  And when i finally did, I felt like I was dropping my pants in public.  It's rough...  I have a friend that write's screenplays but won't let anyone read them... So now I figure, if you want everyone to read your work, they're going to have to see it at some point.  It's like when I used to go backpacking up in northern Michigan at Pictured Rocks... if you want to get into Lake Superior in May, there's really only one way.. all at once...

7) I think I second guess myself too much.. but I'm not sure..

The last part of the challenge is for me to tag seven others, but everyone I know in the blogging world I've met through Alex, and I think she's already tagged them, so...

I'll at least try tagging Alyssa... she's a closet poet and soup eater that I know blogs around a bit (and should write more!), and my friend Pat from my writing group in Anchorage at that I'm going to try to guilt into starting a blog (I know you've got it in you Pat.)  Let's see what happens.....

Thanks Uppington!