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Most people call me Vivian, but I’ve known a nickname or two. One special person calls me “babe” and another special person (much shorter than the first, with striking resemblance) calls me “mama”. I play with a “little prince”, but I don’t live like a queen. I plan events for money and try not to plan anything in my free time. I used to love Starbucks but I’m not sure I knew what good coffee was until Stumptown, even after working in coffee shops for 7 years. I eat chemical free and I can’t drink milk. In the last year, I moved to Portland, OR from central FL. I joined a book club where we have done things like read, talk, and drink. I have a bunny named Peter and three chickens, named Cocoa, Paprika, and Ginger. I have an insatiable appetite for LOST, wine, and raw tuna - though not necessarily at the same time or in that order. Sometimes I put make up on to prove to myself that I still look 24, and I alternate between letting my gray hair show or not. That is what motherhood will do to ya. Or so they say. Who? They. Nevermind.

At this stage in life, I approach the world still very much a student of it- I find humanity and creation quite lovely and captivating, even in it’s strangest forms it can still be so heartbreakingly beautiful. I write almost as much as I talk, which I don’t think works the same way. You can’t say, “I write too much”, because most people find a person that writes a lot to be a lofty, high-brow character. I am not. Just the opposite, in fact. But I still write a lot, so there it is.

Want some more Mamafacts? You asked for it!

Mamafact Q & A:

What place would you visit if money were no object?	If money were no object, why visit only one place?
What one person could you meet in the world – alive or dead?	Jesus
What immorality do you think is overrated?	What? Yes. No. I don’t know. Wait, can you repeat the question?
Worst habit?	Not putting my toys away when I’m done playing with them.
One thing you could change about yourself?	Be less self-conscious
Best memory from childhood?	peeing in my pants without shame. Just kidding! That’s second best.
It’s the last day on earth, what do you do?	Play with my son all day. Play with my husband all night.
Death Penalty? For or against?	Mmmm… I don’t even know how to begin to have an opinion about that.
Guilty pleasure food?	I have lots of comfort foods that are downright healthy. But the guilty one? cookie dough and brownie batter!
If you could have any job, what would it be?	I can’t decide. Something with computers, art, and fun people, but I can do most of it from home and it does not require 40 hours a week but it does pay great. LOL
Do you believe in heaven and hell?	Yes, ma’am.
A & W or Barqs?	No soda for me. Like I tell my son: “Ca-ca’s”.
Weirdest thing ever eaten?	Some kind of sushi thing with a raw quail egg on top and fish eggs for salt.
What was your curfew growing up?	Under ten: when the sun went down. Middle school: I think about 11. High school: don’t think I really had one.
Do you think your parents were too strict growing up?	Ha. No.
How many friends do you have that you talk to at least once a year?	I would have no idea. Maybe 50?
Name what movies you would bring on an island with you	Though its not a movie, I’d bring my Lost DVD’s.
Worst fashion in your closet?	If I thought it was bad fashion, it wouldn’t be in my closet.
Best feeling?	Surrender.
What’s your family like?	My husband of is half Puerto Rican and half Peruvian in ethnicity. He has a dry sense of humor that, bless his heart, only I get. We bicker like Raymond’s parents but 99% of the time its completely good-hearted and fun for us. He’s 6′ tall and a beefy hunk of love. He thinks he’s a, and I quote, “latin lover”. My son is a 2.5 year old toddler who is a good conversationalist and empathic friend. My family of origin includes a raggin cajun mom, thoughtful carpenter dad, seven total brothers and sisters, and of course a kindred spirit step-mom and four great step-siblings. My husband’s mom and step-dad are part of my family too, they consist of a Type A mom whom I couldn’t live without and a super kind-hearted policeman step-dad. All of Lil’ E’s grandparents listed here love my son to pieces.
Do you read much?	I do. Not always books but I’d say I’m technically reading something several hours of every day.
What was the last compliment you received?	My husband just caught a glimpse down my shirt a second ago. I won’t spell out the compliment.
Are you rude?	Hm. Maybe. Sometimes. Try not to be. Probably.
Do you hold grudges?	NO, but a disclaimer: I will forgive and forget quickly and try seeing the best in some one for a looooong time, BUT - if I have felt burned several times and have tried talking it out before and its not helping, I will probably avoid you like the plague.
Do you smile a lot?	Oh yes. A great big ol’ Katie Couric grin.
Do you cry a lot?	Some women get mad when they get hurt. I cry. I’d say a couple times a month on average.
What is one thing that annoys you?	Superiority complexes.
What is one quality that you really appreciate in a person?	Honesty, with self and with others.
Who is your oldest friend?	I still keep in touch with some really old friends, but the one I’m still really close to would be Stephanie. Not long after her, Karina.
How long have you known them?	Known Stephanie about…ten years?
Are you a good Kisser?	Ask my husband. Oh, wait, I can do that. His answer: “Yeah, you’re good. I’m better though.” Me: “Um, how would you know?” Him: “Because I’m Latino, of course.”
What do you wear to bed?	Um. Pajamas?
Whats your wallpaper on your cellphone?	A picture of Lil’ E sleeping.
Favorite alcoholic drink?	Red wine.
Favorite flower?	Rose.
If you could buy 5 of the things on your wishlist,what would they be?	1. My dream fixer upper bungalow, 2. A Macbook, 3. A Great new camera, 4. Adobe Creative Suite CS3 Software, 5. A boob job. SO kidding. World peace. Oh you can’t buy that. Okay, then my best friend’s dream fixer upper bungalow right next door.
An object you can’t live without:	My laptop and wifi.
Whats your favorite literary character?	Maybe Scrooge. He really has a breakthrough there at the end.
Whats your favorite food?	The list goes on and on.
What is your favorite restaurant & where is it?	The list goes on and on.
Whats your favorite class in school?	AP Music Theory. Only 6 students, we had a blast!
What name brand do you wear the most?	used.
What’s the most expensive thing you own?	Well, we don’t own a home or a car, so probably the 42″ High Def LCD flat screen tv. Hubby wanted to make sure I got the specifications right since I clearly don’t give a hoot.
How many handbags do you own?	about 5
How many pairs of shoes do you own?	about 15
What shoes did you wear today?	pink “boot” slippers.
Your first crush?	Michael Darly, I was in kindergarten and he was in 3rd grade. I was in LUV.
Could you live without sex?	Every one can LIVE without sex. I would prefer NOT to, though. After a few years, I might miss it.
Would you pretend to be someone’s bf/gf?	What’s a bf/gf? Is that a band?
How long was your longest relationship?	With Hubby, about 6 years.
Think of all your exes. Would you take any of them back?	Pufh-chaw. No.
Do you have more male friends or female?	female
This or that:
What would you rather have, a nanny, a housekeeper, a cook, or a chauffeur?	housekeeper.
Would you rather be rich or famous?	rich. I would hate to be famous.
Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?	I can hardly get to sleep without Hubby in bed.
Is the glass half empty or half full?	all I know is I’m not doing the dishes…
Rock, paper, or scissors?	rock.
Are you a night owl or early to bed person?	night owl
Sunrise or sunset?	sunset
Hot or cold?	cold.
Wine or beer?	wine.
Restaurant or fast food?	TOTALLY restaurant. fast food= puke.
Pj’s or birthday suit?	PJ’s.
Country or city?	city.
Ocean or pool?	ocean.
Hug or kiss?	hug.
Conservative or wild party animal ?	moderate?
Buttered, plain, or salted popcorn ?	salted with nutritional yeast.
Chocolate or Flowers ?	chocolate, but has to be quality.
Spring or fall?	how could I choose?
Pancakes or french toast?	pancakes
Have you ever:
Have you ever paid more than 100 dollars for a pair of jeans?	no way! I have a rule- 10 dollars or less for clothing or shoes. Rarely are there exceptions. $100 is like groceries for a week!
Have you ever flown in a plane?	duh.
Have you ever been to a casino?	yeah, to eat dinner.
Been to the other side of the world?	FL to OR is farthest distance.
Been to jail?	no.
Have you ever fired a gun?	no.
Have you ever hitchhiked?	kinda sorta.
Ever picked up a hitch hiker?	yeah
Have you ever ridden a horse?	yes
Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?	yep.
Have you ever climbed up a tree?	of course!
Ever had surgery?	no
Speak your mind about anything?	only all the time.
Ever worn PJs to school/work?	only all the time.
Touched a snake?	of course! killed one too!
Caught a fish, & ate it?	of course!
Finish the sentence:
When I wake up in the morning…	get my son breakfast, make coffee and check my email.
Life is…	like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.
Do you read the newspaper?	I like the Willamette Weekly.
Do you think tattoos are cool?	Not really.
What is the greatest amount of alcohol you’ve had in one sitting/outing/ev	If I could remember, it wouldn’t have been much. Now I’m not a lush, but there was just this ONE girl’s night… I recall we dared Ryann to sing “Black Velvet” and when I tried to make coffee I spilled beans all over the kitchen.
Are you nice to everyone no matter what their age, race or gender?	I think so.
Do you know the lyrics to more than 50 songs?	Including christmas carols, I might.
How many pillows do you sleep with?	one. Does Hubby’s body count?
What did the last text message you received say?	“I’m gonna be late for lunch”
Do you own an iPod?	Nope.A Zune.
Can you sing the National Anthem all the way through?	I think so. Ha, that makes me think of that funny SNL skit…
Would you kill someone if you had to?	to defend my life or my son’s, probably would.
Who’s the one person you call when life just sucks that day?	Stephanie.
Do you return calls when you say you will?	for work, yes, but rarely for personal calls. I’m so bad!
Do you take advice when it’s given?	If I agree!
Do you have anything on your mind right now?	I should finish this god-awfully long questionnaire and get back to work!
If you could be doing anything right now what would it be?	Spending a great night in a hotel with Hubby.