A few things about me

Things you might want to know about Nonlinear Girl and her family:

Chris is my husband. We met in college and amazingly still get along as well as we did when we first met. Better even, because neither of us are now nervous that the other person will come to his/her senses and dump us. He is smart, funny and beautiful. Plus, he is a terrific cook.

Ada is our first child. She was born in June 2005, after several years of trying to get pregnant the "normal" way and then with the help of doctors. Eventually the expensive, painful way worked and the girl has been strong and lively since she started kicking the crap out of me in utero.

In May 2009 (after a year of failed IVF attempts and one successful try) I gave birth to twins, Mira and Ian. Further proof that sometimes you have to give up before things work out.

We live in Portland, Oregon. Chris and I lived here in college, and left for ten years before returning (thanks to a job offer). We are thrilled every day (even after 73 days of straight rain) to live in such a beautiful, environmentally and socially progressive, crafty, beer-centric place.

We are surrounded by friends and close to family. We finally have what I call furniture friends; we share food (oops, I bought too much at the farmer's market, need some veggies?), borrow books and toys, call at the last minute for baby-sitting, bbqing and commiseration. It is as close to nirvana as a girl can expect in this life. And since I don't believe I'm getting another chance, I am happy to have this one.


And now some things you could easily have lived without knowing:

My toes and feet crack. I think I broke a few bones as a child, and Just moving my foot around makes a terrible crunching noise. It feels good though, so I keep doing it.

I talk to my parents almost every weekend. They tag-team me on the phone, which can be difficult. Even worse, sometimes they'll start a side conversation and need to be reminded that they are calling to talk with me.

As a child I was always tall, wore thick glasses and had buck teeth. The teeth eventually went back to the "correct" position without orthodontia, I got contacts the summer before high school, and eventually at least some of the boys I knew stopped being so short. Still, I my sense of self as the ugly girl was pretty gelled in junior high, and I tend to be a bit insecure about my looks. Despite this, I don't wear a lot of make up and find it is all I can do to blow-dry my hair once or twice a week.

I love bread. I'm one of those people who fills up on the slices they bring to the table at restaurants. Then I eat my full meal and walk out with a stomach ache.

I have a hard time getting rid of books. Even ones I hated get carted across the country with me. Even ones I use as door-stops, they stay. Am I ever going to read my copy Herodotus again? Unlikely. Will I sell or donate it? Nope. We have two copies of Strunk and White, so I will consider tossing one of them. Then again, we've had both copies for at least 10 years.

I climbed my first mountain in 2003. I climbed another one in 2004. Then I was pregnant, and then it was not convenient. I am really hoping to climb again soon.