Brad and I both had our birthdays a few weeks ago and Rachel did little birthday surveys of us. It was really sweet of her. I wanted to include them here on our blog.
BradWhat do you do?
1. Husband
2. Dad
3. Serve
4. a. Sell medical devices
b. Boston Red Sox Fan
Describe your perfect day.
Sleep in. Southern California, 77 degrees, beach, clear skies, good food, whole famdamily over for dinner at the house. Maybe watch a good game at night. No phone. No email. No blackberry.
If you only had time to watch one tv show a week, which would you choose?
ESNP Sports Center and catch The Soup during commercial breaks.
(Mmmm, I love me some Soup!)
What's something people would be surprised to know about you?
I like to draw, but suck. Wish I played an instrument.
(Lies, he's a great artist, just never shows anyone anything.)
When you've had a really bad day what makes you feel better?
A good run, but on the 364 other days of the year something greasy, followed by something sweet. When that fails, Nad always is there to pick me up.
Who's your celebrity crush?
Female: Marissa Miller
Man crush: Dan Patrick
What's one of your favorite childhood memories?
Sports with Dad and Jason. Fishing with Jason.
What's one of your guiltiest pleasures?
Snowballs, and maybe rap. I mean, am I gonna listen forever?
If you could change one thing about the female race what would it be?
That's a no-win.
You've been married for over five years. Is there anything that still surprises you?
How little I know.
If there was one year you could go back and relive, either to make changes or just because you had so much fun, what year would you pick and why?
Probably second or third year back from my mission. It was a lot of carefree fun and I would make a few changes.
What's one of your favorite things about living in Boston?
Great city, great sports, great people, great feel.
What's your favorite part about being a dad?
Seeing the hope and love in her eyes and countenance.
What book are you currently reading?
Just finished a good one, The Expedition, and just picked up The Bourne Identity.
If I gave you $100,000 with the stipulation that you couldn't save it or invest it, and had to spend it within a week, what would you do with it?
Buy a hacienda...is real estate an investment?
What is a piece of modern technology that you could not live without?
Crackberry
Where is the most beautiful place you've ever been?
Is Rome, Austria, Costa Rica, Havasuppai a place?
What book should be required reading for (every American) everyone?
Jesus the Christ
(Parentheses around original question.)
You've got two roundtrip tickets anywhere in the world. Where do you go and who do you take?
Egypt, Nadster
What three material possessions do you value most?
Journal, picture books, MJ autograph
What are you looking forward to?
Closing the next deal.
What are three things on your "bucket list"?
Travel: Walk the Great Wall/Explore the Pyramids
Accomplish: Run a marathon with kid(s)
Learn: Water ski barefoot
Who is someone who has changed or shaped your life for the better?
Nad
What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
Fight for everything. Even the little things.
What do you know to be absolutely positively true?
The gospel, and I'll always hate the Yankees.
NadiaDescribe your perfect day.
My perfect day would consist of being surrounded by the people I love. Of course, we would spend the day at my summer home in Greece, swimming and sailing in turquoise water, then lunch with the locals and off to the Hellenic Festival, for theater and dancing…
If I could give you front row tickets to any concert, what would you pick?
Until a few days ago it would have been Michael Jackson – without a doubt. Now that that’s not an option, I still love Brit. So I guess Brittney Spears.
If you only had time to watch one tv show a week, which would you choose?
TMZ
What's something people would be surprised to know about you?
I hate surprises, I know it sounds weird. It’s not like I don’t like the “surprise I got you a gift, for no reason” it’s the surprises that need planning – visitors, trips… also, I’ve realized half the time I don’t even know what I want, so I’m very hard to buy for. It takes a special person to know what I will like.
(Except of course visitors from New York showing up on your doorstep, right?:)
When you've had a really bad day what makes you feel better?
A cozy blanket and a good movie or book.
Who's your celebrity crush?
Bear Grylls but that’s no surprise. Sooo I’ll add another - Christian Bale.
What beauty product can you not live without?
Just one?? How about 3 - Mascara, lip stuff and lotion
What's one of your guiltiest pleasures?
I’ll give you two, one for the tummy and one for the funny bone. See’s Chocolate and Katie and Peter, if you don’t know it you are better off – trust me.
If you could change one thing about the male race what would it be?
I wouldn’t mind if they took a little better care of their feet. A quick pedi wouldn’t hurt.
You've been married for five years. Is there anything that still surprises you? Or would you say you and Brad are perfectly predictable?
Well, of course there are always surprises. I think on the outside looking in we are pretty predictable, but we have our little quirks just like everyone else.
What's your favorite comfort food?
Carbs – Is that a food? I love bread, potatoes…all that stuff. And I’m always up for a lil Mexican Food. LOL, for real I LOVE Mexican.
What is one trend you just never quite understood?
Skinny jeans for guys …
What's one of your favorite things about living in Boston?
The Red Sox, not just the team but the games, the players and the people who cheer for the team. Those people make the Red Sox who they are. The people here are amazing. If you have never been to a game at Fenway Park I highly suggest it. It’s an awesome experience whether you like the teams that are playing or not.
What's your favorite part about being a mom?
Being a mom is the thing that brings me the most happiness I have ever known. One of my favorite things is seeing the world through Maddie’s eyes. Everything is so new and exciting.
What book are you currently reading?
Beyond the Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc (plus a few others on the side.)
What is a piece of modern technology that you could not live without?
Computer (we have a love hate relationship) oooh and my camera!!
Where is the most beautiful place you've ever been?
Costa Rica - The Rain Forest.
What book should be required reading for every American?
Oh man, I love to read! I cant possibly pick one. Follow the River by James Alexander, The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
You've got two roundtrip tickets anywhere in the world. Where do you go and who do you take?
Ummm, ok can I make a few stops with those tickets? I would go all over Europe, Africa, Egypt, Greece and Peru (and I mean anywhere and everywhere.) And I would take Brad.
What three material possessions do you value most?
My wedding ring, because it’s from my sweetheart. A life time worth of pictures; But most of all, recent gift from my dad that his dad (my Grandpa) had given to my Grandma at a very special time in their lives. Both my Grandparents are gone now which is part of the reason I value this more then anything.
What are you looking forward to?
Learning and having as many new experiences as I can, and watching my kids grow up.
What are three things on your "bucket list"?
Skydive, bungee jump and travel to as many countries as possible. I’m trying to talk Brad into “the ticket around the world” (and yes there really is such a thing.)
(I may join you on that round the world ticket, I've been checking those out as well! I'm obsessed.)
Who is someone who has changed or shaped your life for the better?
My daughter Madeline. I’m not the same person I once was. Being a mom has changed me in a hundred ways, and I wouldn’t change any of them. Also my mom, I could go on for days about her but instead I'll just say, if I can be half the mom she is to me I will know I have given my kids the best of me.
What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t worry so much about what other people think. Take care of yourself and the people you love and the rest will work it self out.
What do you know to be absolutely positively true?
I know that if I live this life to the best of my ability I can be with my family for all eternity. Nothing makes me happier than knowing the people I love will never be very far away.
