Imagine the Possibilities

“Knows a little bit about a whole lot.”

I have a knack for remembering all kinds of random tidbits.

My favorite album is Jason Mraz’s “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.” In that one album, I learned that nothing is going to stop me but divine intervention, happiness is a beautiful mess, and I’m keeping the heat in like a fish stick. How can any other album compare? #WordsToLiveBy

My family had a strange tradition around Christmas that involved a tall aluminum pole, feats of strength and airing of grievances. It’s hard to explain.

If I had a million dollars, I would buy a sailboat and spend my days on the ocean and my nights at the tiki bars having beer and shrimp.

Pirates of the Caribbean because it’s a classic live action Disney movie that’s still entertaining to watch.

Organic vegan gummy bears. Sounds healthy, and I don’t feel guilty eating them.

Strictly Ballroom – it’s a love story, it’s a comedy, it’s about overcoming your fears and going after what you want even though everyone else is trying to stop you, it’s about accepting people for who they are, it has great music, it has great costumes…I mean, what’s not to like?! I’ve seen it more than a dozen times, I can quote bits of it by heart, I laugh at all the same places every time, and I cry at the end. EVERY. TIME!

“We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?”
—Steve Jobs

This quote speaks volumes for how I try to live my life both personally (husband, Dad, son, friend) and professionally.

It’s not a completely hidden talent but not very many people know that I can play the guitar.

My hidden talent is cooking. I really like experimenting with different recipes and incorporating vegetables and herbs that I’ve grown in my garden.

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster.  I don’t really have a favorite book, but this was a favorite book in my childhood.  My best friend and I even made a board game version of the book!

If I could be any fictional character, it might be fun to go with Tony Stark. He’s like the more happy, outgoing Bruce Wayne. Plus who doesn’t want to be a genius billionaire, who also happens to be Iron Man?

For as long as I’ve had birthdays, my birthday dinner request has been tacos. I probably love other foods more, but 40 years of celebratory taco dinners makes for a lot of nostalgia, so they’ve become the food of my heart.

The year that cemented it: When I was in 6th grade, my family lived in Jamaica for a year (sabbatical). Shortly after we arrived, the island was hit by Hurricane Gilbert, which knocked out power and water for a few weeks. My birthday came in the middle of that stretch. Somehow my mom made it work: she accio’ed Birthday Tacos made of pita bread, some kind of shelf-stable faux meat stuff, and cabbage. Best tacos ever.

Contribute towards establishing more full-day early childhood education programs in Chicago Public Schools. The importance of early-childhood education is invaluable — particularly for families of lower socioeconomic status. In previous employment experience, I’ve seen first hand how difficult it can be for working parents to enroll their children in a half-day preschool program. Unfortunately, many families often wait until Kindergarten to enroll their children in school, which puts them at an unfair disadvantage. Accordingly, establishing a greater number of full-day preschool programs is extremely critical.

If I could travel anywhere I would return to the Greek Islands and to Athens. Greece is beautiful, Greek people were very friendly, and I feel somewhat of a fascination with respect to Greek history.

Salmon. Properly cooked salmon is one of the best things ever and I can use it to make different dinners.

Dr Strange – I find that having this unique ability to “see” really fast moving things, slow them down and make a holistic picture emerge in one’s mind across realms is so cool. Not much unlike the realms of business problems that a client could have and making a picture emerge.

In the winter I’d go to Steamboat Springs or Vale, because a long ski weekend would be the perfect get-away were it easy to do on a moment’s notice. In the summer it’d be Bozeman, where a friend of mine is always ready to be the local fishing guide.

Beatles, Revolver. What a great start!

Amelie. A pure joy to watch.

In recent years, my favorite movie has been Arrival. I love this movie because for a science fiction production its thematic focus is very unique – how language shapes our reality. Communication is shown to be a tool to build and deconstruct ideas, fears, and hopes. I found the movie to be enthralling and moving, and am always up for re-watching it.

With a million bucks I’d try building an aquaponics farm to help promote sustainable farming and good eating practices.

I would build a huge animal shelter, because there are so many animals in need.

Batman: no actual superpowers, just skill, knowledge and hard work

The first CD I ever owned is Speakerboxxx/Love Below.

The first album I owned was U2’s Joshua Tree.

My hidden talent is that I can sing like Darius Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish.

The Fault in Our Stars, because it really makes you appreciate the little things in life!

Aside from my well-known love of coffee, home made garlic mash potatoes with dollops of Kerrygold Irish butter is my favorite food because potatoes + butter = happy tummy.

If I were a fictional character, I think I would like to be a hybrid between Robin Hood and Pippi Longstocking. I admire Robin Hood’s courage in standing up for the little guy and Pippi Longstocking’s superhuman strength, independence, and irreverence for the conventional.

My favorite movie of all time is The Birdcage. It’s sweet, hilarious, and endlessly quotable.

Sweet Thing by Van Morrison, because it has the most amazing flute solo of all time!

Pichilemu, Chile, for surfing and black sand beaches

I love the traditional Hungarian cookie called Kifflies. They are yummy and so delicate, stuffed with walnut paste, apricot, or prune fillings, and dusted with white sugar. They remind me of my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

I would probably head down to the Fjiordland area of New Zealand – it’s amazing there and I haven’t been in a while. It’s full of clear lakes, crazy mountains and equally nutty people – perfect!

If I could travel anywhere on a moment’s notice, I would get on a rocket and head out into space starting off at the International Space Station. Growing up one of my dreams was to see the wonders of space where only a handful of people have been lucky enough to visit.

India. Because it’s less about sightseeing (although there is plenty of that) and more about experiencing a totally different culture. There is no place like it and I always come away feeling changed in some way. Controlled chaos. Surrender yourself to India, you won’t be sorry!

Superstar – I love a good underdog movie and I have an affinity for a character who flits and floats in front of the mirror, uses movie quotes to express feelings and is a lover of trees.

Pearl Jam – Ten. When I was younger I spent a lot of time listening to q101(WKQX) in Chicago and when I got my first boom box my first cd was Ten by Perl Jam as it was one of the few albums where I liked almost every song on the disk.

4 Minute Warning by Radiohead. It’s so sad and beautiful and makes me think what it must feel like to be a Syrian refugee. I once looked up the song inspiration and it is actually based on true events.

We wouldn’t have to eat Kraft dinner, but we would eat Kraft dinner. Of course we would, we’d just eat more. And get all the fanciest ketchups with it…Dijon ketchup! If I had a million dollars…I’d be rich.

If I could travel anywhere – right now I’m eyeballing a trip to Japan. The history of the country is fascinating, I love the different architecture from location to location, and immersing myself somewhere totally new is always a fantastic experience.

“The Big Lebowski” – my kind of humor, and when I grow up I want to have Sam Elliott’s voice.

Ready Player One because it’s jam-packed with 80s pop culture references!

Styx – The Grand Illusion. The words to every song will be stuck in my head forever.

Clarity by Jimmy Eat World. A masterpiece that flows seamlessly from start to finish. Clarity was the second studio album by Jimmy Eat World released in 1999 before the bands mainstream success of the platinum album Bleed American. Often thought of as a one hit wonder, Jimmy Eat World has been producing music for over 20 years with 9 studio albums and their latest “Integrity Blues” released in 2016.

It’s more the method than the tradition itself. We draw names for Christmas gifts because we are a large family. However, instead of drawing from a hat, my brother wrote a Python script to randomize the matchups and ensure there were no repeats from the previous 3 years.

My hidden talent isn’t very hidden, as you will likely hear about it if you know me for any length of time. In 1999 I took my first swing dance lesson, and I just never stopped dancing Lindy Hop and Balboa. My husband and I have friends all over the world that we’ve met social dancing, and we teach Balboa and organize dances and workshops locally in Boston. If you want to learn, I can point you to someone teaching in your area… it’s good fun, it’s good exercise, it’s good for your brain, and it’s a great antidote to the digital age.

My Opa was a baker from Germany who came to the United States in 1929 as an indentured servant. Many years later he and my Oma ran a thriving bakery in Highland Park, Illinois. My favorite cookie is his hazelnut macaroon, which my father continues to bake every year during the holidays. It’s followed closely by my father’s spitzkuchen, springerle, and my own speculaas.

Oh, this is easy: Beef Wellington. If man cannot live by bread alone… then surely filet mignon wrapped in a puff pastry should do the trick! Mmmmm.

Coconut Macaroons…I think it all started with my dad cracking open a coconut to eat when I was young. But now it is Adrienne (our official baker at the office) providing me with a little treat at work, a plate of Coconut Macaroons during the year. They’re healthy, right?

A tie between Fahrenheit 451 and Brave New World,  because the worst kind of world would either ban books completely or feature a society uninterested in reading them.

Thailand – the sightseeing, beaches, and nature.