General Knowledge, á la Skip.

Inspired by my friend's post over at Skippedydoodah, here is my list of Ten Things You May Or May Not Know About Me:

1. I am afraid of dolls. Absolutely, completely, thoroughly, embarrassingly afraid of them. I tried to get over it in order to buy Ruby a doll for Christmas last year, decided I really couldn't go through with it, and had to lock it in the boot of the car overnight until I could take it back the next day, because there was no way in hell I was going to sleep with that thing in my house.
2. Chocolate covered pretzels are my weakness, and the single best thing about America. Don't get me wrong, there are loads of other great things too, but chocolate pretzels win, hands down. They almost make up for the healthcare system.
3. I am in possession of a small girl who starts talking each morning practically before her eyes are open, and then doesn't stop. I adore her, obviously, but I often wish to throw her out of a window, particularly during that first ten minutes before the kettle has boiled and I have had my tea.
4. I failed my cycling proficiency. You can point and laugh now. It's okay, I'm used to it.
5. I can't cook rice. I just can't. I've tried everything, honestly.
6. I haven't read a new book in about a year. I have fallbacks: Ian McEwan, Evelyn Waugh, Iain Banks, and J.K. Rowling (yeah, I know, I'm a kid at heart) are all 'safe', but outside of that I just don't seem to have the mental energy to embark upon things I haven't read before. I'm hoping it'll come back one day. Which leads us to...
7. I rarely, oh so rarely, finish books. Short attention span + limited reading time = no qualms whatsoever when it comes to abandoning books halfway through. Cutthroat. Rah.
8. My cat, Andy, had to be put to sleep last month, while I was over here in the States. I've had him since I was 4 years old, and I feel really, really guilty that I wasn't there.
9. I take a binge and purge approach to housework. I let things pile up until I can't stand it any more, then I become a 1950s housewife, blitz the place, and live in domestic bliss for a week or two until things start to accumulate again.
10. I want to be a writer when I grow up. And open a bar/restaurant. And start a children's clothing line. And open a flower shop. And maybe a cake shop. Baby steps, right?

So, those are my Ten Things. Now it's your turn. Go on, you know you want to.