Eight Random Facts

I've been tagged by Joyful Woman, author of the best blog I've ever read. I'm to write eight random facts about myself, then tag eight others to write their own list of facts. So here are eight things about me that I sometimes find amazing:

1. I have climbed all the major peaks in Southern California: San Jacinto, Mount Baldy, San Gorgonio, San Bernardino, Whitney, Half Dome, etc. Since putting on middle-age poundage I haven't been able to climb, but I very much want to start hiking these again.

2. One of my early ambitions was to own and operate an orphanage in Mexico. It seemed that being a nurse and therapist, I should be well equipped to do this. Although my ideas have changed--both about this as an interest and my ability to run an orphanage--I remain captivated and warmly attracted to children of Hispanic descent. I would adopt several if I had the opportunity and means.

3. I have the perception of myself as being inarticulate, stammering, and incapable--of being a complete blank when asked questions. This makes me second guess myself quite frequently.

4. I have lived in eight states and traveled to twelve countries outside of the United States. I would go back to five of them to live in a heartbeat: Ireland, Switzerland, France, Holland, and Belgium.

5. Baking bread is therapeutic for me. A happy break from work and life's exigencies would be a week of baking.

6. A guiding principle of my life is that I am responsible for doing the right thing--regardless of whether it feels good, pays off, or improves my situation. This is not an easy belief system, but as the moral of a bedtime story reads, "I can sleep on stormy nights" because my conscience is clear. Most of the time.

7. Nothing could induced me to ever go down into the ground inside of a cave. I feel claustrophobic even thinking about it!

8. I collect blue and white pitchers and teapots.

Now, there are eight isolated, random facts about me. I don't have people to tag at this point, so the readers are welcome to list their own eight random facts, since I'd love to hear about you.