Well, hello there.
Forgive my absence this weekend! I was in Woodstock, NY, volunteering at a fantastic vegan event that will get full coverage here on Choosing Raw in just a few days. In the meantime, I’m interrupting a work night with some random facts about myself that will most likely bore you, but may possibly provide you with a few moments of distraction if you happen to be procrastinating at work.
Not that any of you do that. Not that I do that.
Last week, my dear friend Diana awarded me not one, but two blog awards! I’m not worthy of either, but since she was generous enough to share the love, I’m going to keep the torch burning. The first was the Over the Top badge.
This honor requires me to respond to the following questions with a single word. As impossible as it is to characterize, say, one’s goals with a single word, I gave it my best shot:
1. Where is your cell phone? Kitchen
2. Your hair? Clean
3. Your mother? Kindness
4. Your father? Amusing
5. Your favorite food? Avocado
6. Your dream last night? Forgotten
7. Your favorite drink? Water
8. Your dream/goal? Fulfillment
9. What room are you in? Living
10. Your hobby? Recipes
11. Your fear? Emptiness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Exhilarated
13. Where were you last night? Car
14. Something you aren’t? Shy
15. Muffins? Muffins?
16. Wish list item? Vegetable Garden
17. Where did you grow up? Manhattan
18. Last thing you did? Dishes
19. What are you wearing? PJs
20. Your TV? Small
21. Your pets? None
22. Your friends? Family
23. Your life? Blessed
24. Your mood? Productive
25. Missing someone? Mom
26. Vehicle? Shoes
27. Something you’re not wearing? Bra
28. Your favorite store? Montmartre
29. Your favorite color? Blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? 7:05 PM
31. Last time you cried? Yesterday
32. Your best friend? Chloe
33. One place that I go over and over? Met (Opera)
34. One person who emails me regularly? Mom
35. Favorite place to eat? Home
The second act of kindness was the Kreativ Blogger Award:
Which asks that I tell you all seven things you didn’t know about me. Get excited.
1. I’m an only child (and a very typical one at that), but I’ve had nine various stepsiblings (if you count a parent’s long term monogamous relationships, marriage notwithstanding, as capable of bestowing step-relatives upon one, which I do).
2. I don’t like pets. There, I said it! Shoot me, OK? I’m still a dedicated vegan, I promise. I like babies a lot, does that count?
3. I’ve lived in the same forty block radius my whole life. I guess I like my zipcode.
4. My best friend from college and I were born on the same day in the same year, and at roughly the same time. We’re also both geminis, which makes the whole “twin” resonance even, well, creepier.
5. My bellybutton is pierced, and it’s very un-me. New beaus and beach companions are always shocked.
6. I’ve never ventured further west than Chicago in this fine country of ours. Which means I have a lot of raw restaurants to visit in L.A..
7. I hate garlic and onions. Oh wait, you guys knew that.
OK OK, how bout this: I used to spend most summers and great parts of the year in New Hampshire. My rural childhood included such activities as hay-bailing, maple syrup collecting, and even cow-milking. I watched a goat give birth once. So don’t let the whole diehard New Yorker thing fool you.
And now, it’s time to pass these sweet honors on to seven other bloggers. This is a cruel and impossible task, to choose, but I’m just picking a few friends whom I don’t recall winning these same awards in the recent past. Ready, set:
1.VeggieGirl Liz
2. Heather of Be Well & Take Care
3. Rose of On a Lobster Placemat
4. Elise of Hungry, Hungry Hippie
5. Leslie of The Whole Plate
6. Sabrina of RhodeyGirl Tests
7. Biana of Vegan Crunk
Can’t wait to hear what they say!
Thus concludes this brief exercise in sharing intimate and random details about the life of Gena. Surprised by my answers? Not surprised? Want me to shut up and show you some food photos already?
Fear not, friends. Tomorrow is a new day.
xo
I'm a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, a former book editor, and a post-baccalaureate pre-med student at Georgetown University. I'm passionate about helping people to discover and enjoy plant based foods in a simple and healthy way. My name is pronounced like "Jenna." 
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
very cool! I also get a lot of shocked friends at the beach! i love my belly ring, even though I question the necessity of it.
Oh, the opera, there is one I have been wanting to see and needing a buddy for, will email soon
xoxo my love
yes! first comment! i win!
Jealous you go to the Met regularly! As a classical musician, I’d love to go once! I must get myself up to NYC sometime.
No pets … gasp!
You simply must make it to California at some point, if nothing else for the fine, locally grown veggies 
Great info, thanks for sharing.
Definitely wasn’t bored and definitely was genuinely interested in reading all about Gena. Ok so the 2 biggest surprises to me- that your belly button is pierced. Was this a product of being 16 once, or just something you like? And the other is that you’ve never been further west than Chicago. As much as I HATE the city of LA, I’ve gotta say that you are missing out. I’m born and raised in Southern California and went to college in San Francisco. San Fran and Norther Cal are way cooler than So. Cal., but I have to admit the weather and crop availability in So. Cal. is absolutely amazing. We are so definitely spoiled. Come meet me in Santa Monica, and prepare to be amazed as I lead you through the farmer’s market. I promise you’ll love it.
cool post! I love your blog Gena!
I loved this! I’m sorry you cried yesterday.
Muffins?
OK, that was a) surprise. The survey asks about your parents and goals, and then about muffins? WTF? b) a nod to my friend Cassie, who is so deep into the vegan/cleansing lifestyle that when someone recently mentioned muffins around us, she got a puzzled look and said, “Muffin? What’s a muffin?”
I love these! It is always so much fun to learn more about people, especially people as interesting as you! Thanks!
procrastination? me? huh??
I am currently infatuated with a product you should not come within a 10 ft radius of. Creamy Garlic Paste (found at WF and my coop) is vegan and raw and 6x winner of America’s Best Food Award. Ingredients: fresh raw garlic, flax seed oil/omega 3, safflower oil, lemon juice, sea salt. Tastes yummy in or on just about everything. Next up: trying to make my own. Just thought I’d mention it for everyone else
Also, you should trek out west whenever you have the opportunity! It is beautiful here!
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew
Aww girl. Give garlic and onions a chance. They are the best! ;P
Great to learn more about the girl whose recipes and lifestyle I so admire! Thanks for sharing
I completely understand #1–I have a crazy family background, too–but I wouldn’t have it any other way
And I’m also with you on #2 but SHHHHH don’t tell!
More pet-free solidarity here. People like to tease me about it (and wave photos of their beloved cats in my face). My usual line is ‘yeah, I dislike animals so much I don’t even eat them’. I’d make exceptions for farm animals if I lived in the countryside (owning, not eating!).
I loved reading more about you!
I’m not a fan of pets either (although I have them, shh!) and I also don’t like babies. People always think I’m crazy!
Did your piercing hurt? I want mine done soon!!
No way! Absolutely painless, though I must disclose that I was inebriated at the time. Also, I was comparing it to piercing the cartilage in my ear, which was excruciating!
I know it’s very Britney circa ’98, but I still kinda dig it. Go for it!
I’m with you on #2 except for Chooey, of course
and I’m with you on friends = family.
THank you so much for passing along the award!! Although I am not worthy – YOU are. xo
I love learning more about you! I also dislike pets, and most animals.
I’m an only child too! I have no step siblings though, unless you count step-siblings-in-law.
This was a lot of fun to read!
Belly Button Ring?!?! WOWOWOWOWOW!
Thanks for these awards pretty lady!
I love seeing more about who you are!!!! Thanks for sharing.
You crazy only children growing up in Manhattan and staying here
You and The Huz are two peas in a pod in that way – and he’s only been further west than Chicago once (to California as a little kid). All his travels have been Europe-bound! I suppose this means you’ll have to meet at some point!
Hope all is well!
Funny about the belly button ring, my best friend (and soon to be sister in law) just told me she has a tattoo. I’ve known her for 5 years, been to the beach and on vacations with her and never saw it! LOL!
Yep, I believe it is a prerequisite that once the PJ’s come on the bra comes off! Babies doooo count…and a Greek that does not like garlic??
A belly button ring! That is great, I was too scared to get one years ago and now it just seems like it is too late.
Love learning more about you! xo
aw, gena, thank you so much! this really made me smile.
i’m not a pet person either, but i also can’t really deal with babies, so you’re a step ahead.
i wonder if i’ll ever get over that?
i hope yesterday’s tears were happy ones? and hope your tuesday is beautiful!
Aw, this really just made my day. Thanks, Gena!
Wow, the twin thing IS creepy. Haha. I know even know anyone personally who has my birthday. =\ Poop on a stick.
Yay so glad you did the awards thingie! The navel ring is inDEED a surprise, though I’m not sure why, come to think of it…
Considering that even my basil plant is currently languishing, I am with you on the no-pets thing. Don’t tell the boyf.
PS loved your Fitnessista guest post! I kinda want that post’s recipes to be my meal plan for today. Starting now. Let’s see what I have in my desk…
Fruit. Blast! >:(
i DO find random stuff about you interesting. so interesting in fact, that i enjoyed this post in the SFO airport last night…and your braless comment had me laughing and my neighbors confused. cest la vie. thanks for the award. i shall start my random tid bits brainstorming now…
Nice light hearted post. I enjoyed reading it. Not sure if you noticed what I pointed out about the Blue Diamond Almond Milk or not, but it does contain soy. Soy lecithin to be exact, that form is chemically processed too. I’m not sure if any other brands have them without soy, but I will be looking. I will be using rice milk until then though and making my own almond milk.
JUST got my new VegNews Mag and saw your name in it (I got so excited!)
I don’t like pets either, I fess up. Which is hard when your 3 year old keeps asking for a dog. Or a baby sister.
i love your blog Gena and loved reading your guest post in the fitnessista!!
Hi Gena-
Fun facts… If you don’t mind me asking – where in New Hampshire did you spend time? (Not that it is a very large state or anything…
)
Thanks, Gena! I’m still wrapping my head around the dislike of garlic and onions. I simply don’t understand your kind
I agree with you with friends = family. I am not sure where I would be with out my family and sisters. I wish you liked garlic and onions… they are some of my favorites. Love learning these cute things about you!
I cry almost everyday. Though I do laugh a lot too.
Very fun to learn something new….I am putting together a Harvest Potluck on my blog for NOV 1…and hope some vegans will add to the joy….? Then I am going to learn how to write and e-book and publish this feast for $5 and give the money to UNICEF….because at 60 I do not go trick or treating any more and I do not get one of those little boxes any more and children all over the world need some good food to eat…
I do not have a pierced belly button, but I do eat raw and vegan right now…would love to find a great recipe for almondaise…exploring your site…
and San Francisco has the best vegan restaurants second only to Seattle and I used to live in Cleveland and NYC….
Happy Eating
Do more of these!
weird guacamole is my least favorite food
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