Mr. Atoz Meme

I've been tagged with the "A to Z" meme (thanks David for the excuse to write something light and fun for a change!), so here's Mr. Atoz himself to introduce my responses. Since this meme was going around last week when I was on Pesach vacation, I figure I'd better get cracking - or to quote Atoz himself: "You're very late! Where have you been??"

So, with no further ado:

Accent: USA mid-Atlantic, but not Joisey - or anywhere else where they bizarrely pronounce "gone" to rhyme with "con" instead of "lawn". Hearing the former pronunciation was one of the hardest adjustments of my marriage to a joisey goil!

Booze: Dry or semi-dry wine (red or white) on Shabbos, occasional beer during the week. Nothing stronger than beer or wine, pretty much ever.

Chore I Hate: Cleaning bathrooms

Dogs/Cats: One dog ever in my life, Sandy, a lhasa / maltese mix. We got her just two years ago, after 18+ years of Debbie's slow but persistent convincing! Read about it here.

Essential Electronics: Computer, cell phone. Still in the stone age regarding IPODs and the like. I do have a digital camera but haven't had the heart to use it much this year; Aaron was our chief family photog.

Favorite Perfume/Cologne: I'm allergic to cologne or any fragrances so I never wear any. But whatever Debbie wears smells good on her.

Gold & Silver: All that is gold does not glitter.

Hometown: Born in New York City, but raised since age two in Silver Spring, MD, so I consider the latter my home town.

Insomnia: Mostly I sleep fairly well, considering. But whenever I have to get up by a certain fixed time, or have an unusually difficult decision on my mind, I toss and turn all night.

Job Title: Product Manager (telecom)

Kids: Sigh... that innocent question that makes Debbie and me cringe these days. Four; three of them still, thank God, with us.

Living Arrangements: Family home in the 'burbs of NJ - in a populous Jewish neighborhood, but on the fringe, not the "fishbowl" section. And that's how we like it.

Most Admired Trait: Verbal skills. Just think of me as a benign Saruman.

Number of Se[xual]parate P[artners]eople who altered, responded jokingly, or otherwise avoided the original question for this item: Pretty much everyone so far, so why should I be any different?

Overnight Hospital Stays: To get my tonsils out at age two, some growth testing at age 14, nothing to speak of since then.

Phobias: Ants and bees, all dogs except for Sandy (though admittedly less so since getting her).

Quotes: I have so many I like, but just two for now:

"Given the choice between accomplishing something and just lying around, I'd rather lie around. No contest." - Eric Clapton

"I am what I am... and if there are self-made purgatories, then we all must live in them. Mine is no worse than someone else's." - Spock, Star Trek - "This Side of Paradise"

Religion: Jewish ritually and emotionally, if not always socially

Siblings: Younger brother David, younger sister Tova.

Time I Usually Wake Up: ~6:15 am on weekdays, later on Shabbos/Sunday depending on what minyan I'm going to. When I was in college I used to be able to sleep until 11:00 am every day. Boy I envy that guy!

Unusual Talent: Memorizing lines from my favorite movies/books. I guess that's not all that unusual for us geeks, but so be it.

Vegetable I Refuse To Eat: Tofu. If I even smell it I have to leave the room.

Worst Habit: Losing my cool during minor crises, like a messy spill. In (God forbid) real emergencies, I'm much better.

X-Rays: My foot - I broke the same little toe two or three times. That's what I get for running around the house barefoot.

Yummy Foods I Make: Chicken, Chulent

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Most of the people I'd usually tag with this have done it already, but I'll tag Jerusalem Cop and Ruach MeMalelah.