From the previous one, my lie was: allergic to dogs.

1. Where were you born? Hackensack, NJ

2. Your favorite vacation spot? I'd have to say France. I love Paris

3. What do you do for a living? I work part-time as a concierge at the Apple Store here in Calgary and take care of the family- dh, 3 kids (8,7 & 4) as well as a dog and cat.

CanadaMel, your climb on Mt. Fuji must have been awesome. Do you want to do it again someday?

CruiseCat - I went to grade school in Vienna, Va.

I was born in Denville, NJ.

My favorite vacation spot is anywhere with a beach. We had a great vacation in Cabo San Lucas two summers ago.

I work as a teaching assistant in a special ed. classroom. Before I had kids I worked as an Art Director for a grocery supply company. Our department created catalogs.

Yes, CanadaMel -- do tell about your Mt. Fuji trip. Also, Japan in general -- what took you there? Do you speak the language? I did a semester in Japan in college and used to be near-fluent in Japanese, but I've lost most of it.

I'm considering doing a Mt. Kilimanjaro hike with my sister in 2011. We did a high-altitude trek in Peru 2 summers ago.

That is cool about Japan Mel and newleaf! We had a foreign exchange student stay with us a couple years ago from Fukushima. He didn't speak any English and we didn't speak any Japanese so we did a lot of pointing and using a translation book. He was only 12 and stayed for 6 weeks. It was through a 4H program. I can't imagine sending my 12 year old halfway around the world to stay with someone I didn't know!!

Wow...where do I begin? Do I do both? I guess..

Two truths and a lie:

I am one of six children
I met my hubby at a wedding
I have had two children and never was in labor

Where were you born?: Washington D.C.
What is your favorite vacation spot?: Bermuda...but I love Williamsburg, Virginia!
What do you do for a living?: I am a computer tech at an elementary school.

Yes Mel we want to hear more about Japan.

NewLeaf - Peru is #1 on my bucket list. Mack and I would like to do Machu Picchu in the next couple of years.

OnMyWay - I grew up in McLean and worked in Tyson's Corner when I was a teen.

Hatti22 - I lived in Williamsburg for 13 years before moving to California in 2002. It was a great place to raise my son. I still go back at least once a year even though my son and his wife now live in Myrtle Beach. I will be there in May.

Hatti - Is your lie being one of six? Also, how long did you stay in DC?

Hatti - I don't think you're 1 of 6.

CruiseCAT - Machu Picchu is incredible. I highly recommend it! I went with my sister, and I can't wait to go back with my husband and children. Maybe in 6 years, when they are 14 & 16.

Beemer - how neat to take in a foreign exchange student! Although that must be so difficult when neither of you speak the other's language... And no, I can't imagine sending my 12 year old half way around the world!

I'm working really hard today to push past 182.9... I ate great -- Basic 4 cereal for breakfast, Lean Cuisine Mac & Cheese for lunch (well, that part's not so great, but not bad) and tilapia steamed in mix of water, olive oil, lemon juice, and white wine, with a nice salad for dinner. No snacks, lots of tea and water.

On the exercise front, I did 35 min on the elliptical, which makes 5 days of cardio workout in a row.

So here's hoping...

Yay - I finally pushed past -- 181.9 this morning!

Way to go newleaf! That is great news.

Hattie, are you really one of 6 children?

Hattie- I guess the lie is that you met your husband at a wedding.

So re: Japan. After dh finished his PhD, he had the opportunity to do a 2y post-doc in Japan. Some friends were already there on a similar program, and were begging us to join them. Since the job opportunities for dh were bleak then, we went for it. We lived ~20min west of downtown Tokyo in a town called Higashi Koganei. We're both chemists & I did research for the first 6 months or so, then switched to being an 'English' secretary for our professor as well as 'teaching' conversational English on the side.
We made a lot of great friends that we still keep in touch with even though it's been over 10 years since we were there. It was a great experience for us...though we didn't learn much Japanese as much as we tried with weekly lessons :(
The climb up Mt. Fuji was wild. You start ~ half way up the mountain at the 5th stage. We started at ~10pm and you're not alone. Your pace is dictated by the people ahead of you. It was neat feeling like you were above the clouds. Along the way at the different 'stages' there are huts where you can rest- pay $ to sleep on a futon for a while. When you get to the top & there are restaurants & vending machines!

Newleaf- I'd love to go to Peru to see Machu Picchu & the Galapagos. Way to go on the exercise- keep moving!

My Lie Is ...Drum roll....

I met my husband at a wedding...

I met him at a bar..I have been married to my Best Friend for 27 years.

I am one of six. We were the Brady bunch..sort of.. Three girls and three boys.

I grew up in Maryland until I was 13 years old. Then we moved here to CT. We went on field trips every year to DC. I loved it and really miss the cherry blossoms in the spring. My Dad was in the Air Force..stationed at Andrews. I miss Maryland!

Congrats Newleaf!! :carrot::carrot::carrot:

I don't think hiking up a mountain is something I will ever do. I have a big fear of heights. I admire people who can though.

What ?s next? That was fun!

Congrat newleaf on pushing past!! Sometimes it can be quite hard to get unstuck at a weight! I too love the cherry blossoms Hattie. I believe they were a gift from Japan right? We went there 2 years ago on Spring Break and it was just beautiful. My husband lived in Arlington at one point so they went to DC a lot. I have been twice now and love it but I can do without the traffic, LOL! CAT and I have done some questions already who is next? Go ahead someone. I think it is fun as well!