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A family tradition I have always enjoyed would have to be the perilous search for pickle ornament in the Christmas tree. When I was a child, the simple pickle ornament would be placed within the bowls of the Tenenbaum. On the count of three, my siblings and I would struggle to recover the ornament first. Why the rush, you ask? The winner of the frantic search gets to open their presents first, as well as the giant family present. If I recall correctly, I recovered the ornament first the year we received our treasured Nintendo 64. I would like my children to experience the same joy and elation I experienced on Christmas Day.

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For my honeymoon, I would like to go Alaska. My future wife and I will have no trouble finding solitude in the artic tundra and year round cold temperatures. No running into annoying tourists or little kids, either.  Future wife and I would cuddle up in a cozy cabin in the middle of a winter wonderland. The cabin would be adorably adorned with all the knick knacks and bearskin rugs you’d expect in such a place. Braving it in the wilderness is probably the opposite of what most women would want to do on a honeymoon, which is why I will probably remain unmarried for a very, very long time.

Image by Andrew Feinberg via Flickr

I suppose I’m no Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg in terms of achievement. I hold no records and I haven’t competed in any sort of competition since high school. My greatest achievement would have to be the many, many great friends I have met in my life. I am very grateful to be surrounded by a group of pals that I have no doubt I will know for the rest of my life. Even if this isn’t true and we part ways, I know that we will meet again, somehow and somewhere. I hope my effect on their lives is as profound and gargantuan as their effect on mine.

If I had to live underwater for two years, there is no doubt in my mind I would want to be a shark. Why would you want to be anything else? If I chose pretty much any other animal besides a Great White, I’m automatically bumped to the bottom of the food chain. No thank you. I’ll take my razor sharp teeth and bloodlust anyday. Moreover, I can tell all my friends what people taste like when I assault a beachfront Jaws-style. Just kidding, I would be one of the nice sharks. If I was feeling generous that day.

My idea of heaven is a giant, nonstop party. Contrary to what happens at actual parties, these heavenly get togethers would not involve debauchery, booze, throw-up, or any of that nonsense. We would just chill and float around like the heavenly beings that we were. And be contented with doing absolutely nothing. Down time is when I feel most at peace with the world. When I go on a hike, my favorite time doesn’t involve the rough terrain or sweat. It’s finally getting to sit down and rest, and see how far you pushed yourself. When I die, I want to RELAX.

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If I could tell my best friend one thing that I can’t stand about her, I would tell her that I hate her smile. When she smiles, her nose scrunches up and looks like a fat button sitting on top of her face. She has a pretty face, but I prefer her to frown- it looks much better. She loves her smile; she takes hundreds of face shots and posts them on facebook. It may be a bit obvious how I feel because I comment on pretty much all of her photos- except those. If I were brave enough to tell her this, her reaction would be pure shock; then she would fire back with a list of things she doesn’t like about me, effectively ending out friendship and possibly leading to a fist fight.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Sure, when I was a child, I gave into the peer pressure of fighting for no cause. I was the most popular girl in my middle school and my best friend was the second most- popular. We were a duo who usually minded our business and kept out of trouble, but when my best friend decided she did not like another girl because she “looked at her funny”, I decided to join her meaningless directive. After all, part of our popularity was based on us being an inseparable team. When she fought the girl, I joined in for a double team. I regret it now because it was stupid, un- lady- like and childish.

If I had to eat only 3 things for the rest of my life, day in and day out, I would choose my all time favorite meal; home-made macaroni and cheese (made from scratch, not from the box), a chocolate birthday cake with vanilla frosting, and a green salad. The reasoning behind the first two choices is simple- they are my favorite things to eat. So much so that I only eat them rarely and when I feel they are deserved. They are specialties for me. As for the green-leaf salad, I chose it to break the fat between the first two. Sometimes, even I get tired of eating such rich foods and that is when I turn to something organic, like lettuce and greens.