1. Write your bucket list

 

Kitty: 

Visit Egypt, Visit Ireland, Visit Morocco, Visit Nepal, Climb to the first base camp at Everest, Visit a Buddhist temple, Learn ASL fluently, Start or drastically improve a charity, Docent an art exhibition, Compete at Prelim in Eventing, Compete at a one star, Have a library in my home, Have a hidden room in my home, Publish a book, Be published in the AVMA journal, Speak at a convention, Pet a red panda, Climb a volcano, Visit all 50 states, See Mount Rushmore, Visit the Smithsonian, Visit the San Diego Zoo, Visit Steve Irwin’s Zoo, Go hang gliding, Learn both types of skiing, Learn to snowboard, Learn to drive stick, Swim with the bioluminescent jellyfish, Swim with whale sharks, Learn guitar

 

Alex:

Bungee jumping, “I do things as they present themselves”, Go to Asia, Make my own origami model, Speak at public programming conferences

 

 2. What is one thing the other person does that you love?

 

Kitty:

Alex really listens. He pays attention to what I say I like or don't and he tries to remember. He will go out of his way to be thoughtful and caring, remembering an offhand remark, even years later, and surprise me with something wonderful whether it is a gift or a date or a tea as a pick me up.

 

Alex:

Kitty goes above and beyond to take care of her friends and family. She is always offering to help out if people need something, She is thoughtful and caring, from helping someone out in their time of need, to making sure all her guests and friends are taken care of when they come over.

 

 3. What is your favorite childhood story about the other?

 

Kitty:

I love the stories Sarah tells about Alex when they grew up together. He is the same happy, goofy kid that I love now. Also when someone was mean to him in gradeschool and he told her he wished he had a wand so he could cast Avada Kedavra (the killing curse from Harry Potter) on her and he had to write an apology in the principal’s office. He was always so well behaved, this story is so funny! It takes a long time to get Alex angry.

 

Alex:

When Kitty punched a kid “in the dick” (it was a suckerpunch to the stomach) and then went down the slide. ***

***To clarify, I was three and at a pre-preschool class party and I wanted to go down the slide. I’m afraid of heights, but like to challenge myself. I got to the top of the slide and was scared so I hesitated. Someone’s older (~5 years old) brother was behind me and started yelling at me to “Go down the slide already!” and tried to push me down the slide. I turned around, pulled my fist back and punched him as hard as I could in the stomach. He doubled over, I turned around, straightened my skirt, and went down the slide. To be fair to Alex, this is a pretty accurate story for my personality

 

 4. Would you rather go to a lake or a beach and why?

 

Kitty:

I love my memories of going to Clearwater Beach as a kid, but I love lakes. They are more secluded, I love cooking on an open fire, and I love the noises of nature.

 

Alex:

I would rather go to a beach, it's nicer and hotter.

 

 5. If you could live in any fictional universe, which would you choose?

 

Kitty:

I would like to live in the Harry Potter universe, but I would love to live in the Sevenwaters series’ universe. The magic is ancient and deadly; the people survive despite the magic. The humans are stronger without powers than with them.

 

Alex:

I used to fantasize about the Seven Towers universe. It was a caste system based on colors of your stone. You had a shadow that helped you and you could battle to move higher in the caste system.

 

 6. Which character is most similar to the other?

​

Kitty:

Alex reminds me of Puck. He can be a bit mischievous, but always well-meaning. He always fixes his mistakes, and even when things go sideways, everything works out for him in the end.

 

Alex:

Mulan. She fights for what she wants to do.

 

 7. When did you first realize you loved each other?

 

Kitty:

I watched Alex and saw him be patient, generous, and loving to everyone. I knew that there were very few pure hearts out there, and I was lucky enough to have found one. His sense of humor sealed the deal. I knew I couldn't love someone I couldn't laugh with.

 

Alex:

It’s hard to nail down an exact time or place it happened. I had never felt that way before for anyone. It might be cheesy, but from the first night we laid under the stars, I felt it.

 

 8. Describe your partner in three words?

 

Kitty:

Alex is Warm-hearted, Sincere, Jovial

 

Alex:

Kitty is Determined, Fighter, Caring

 

 9. What quality do you share with each other that annoys you?

 

Kitty:

We can both be pigheaded when we want to be. We usually agree or compromise, so when we both pull on the rope, it is unusual, and always feels alien in our relationship.

 

Alex:

We are both messy.

 

 10. What quality do you admire most in the other?

 

Kitty:

His forgiveness. Anyone can tell you I can be of the salt-the-earth category, so his ability to forgive what I would feel is a deep breach of friendship always humbles me, and I try to be more like him in that way.

 

Alex:

She doesn't give up easily.

 

 11. What is your favorite memory together?

 

Kitty:

I love our trip to Omaha. It was our first trip alone and we were completely on sync the whole trip. It was wonderful exploring the city together, trying new things, and giving in to Alex’s relaxed idea of “planning” a trip.

 

Alex:

 

I remember going to the children’s museum in indiana when we had first started dating. It was fun to mess around with the nerdy science exhibits and to just mess around and goof off with her.

 

 12. What is something you would love to splurge on if cash was no issue?

​

Kitty:

I would love property (10 acres) near a major city where I could keep horses but not miss out on city comfort.

 

Alex:

I would love a beach house near a city. A nice car (I wouldn’t spend good money on a car unless i had excess). A room of tech gadgets (changes by the year)

 

 13. What do you want to do when you retire?

 

Kitty:

I can't see myself ever retiring. I want to teach until they drag me out of the school. I would love to volunteer at a zoo or be a docent at an art museum. I will definitely be involved in charity work, and would like to foster children.

 

Alex:

Origami, programming (hopefully, after a lifetime of doing it for a job, i hope i still enjoy it). Maybe Jiu Jitsu if I get back into it.

 

 14. What are your three biggest fears?

 

Kitty:

Knives cutting me, snakes in the wild, getting sick again

 

Alex:

Bugs or things that sting are a no-no. Public speaking.

 

 15. What would you want as a last meal?

 

Kitty:

Chicken risotto. It just tastes like coming home.

 

Alex:

Steak, BBQ, pizza, beer, whiskey. A bit of each.

 

 16. Where would you like to live?

 

Kitty:

I just want it to be green and have snow on Christmas. Probably Midwest. I’m so not an east coast girl (can we please say hello?), and the west coast is a little too unstructured for me (maybe not say hello to everyone?).

 

Alex:

Somewhere warm would be best. I wouldn’t be opposed to actually moving around a bit while we are young and doing different jobs. But when we have kids, I would want to settle for stability for them.

 

 17. What pets do you want?

 

Kitty:

Cats, dog, chinchillas or guinea pigs, horse for me (speedy and brave), horse for Alex (calm and obedient ).

 

Alex:

1 dog, a cat (only 2). No horse, I can just borrow or rent one when we want to do dual riding.

 

 18. How many kids do you want? Do you have names you like?

 

Kitty:

1 or 2: boy and girl. Liam, Evelyn

 

Alex:

1-2. No names, I haven’t thought about children too much.

 

 19. Who is your favorite superhero and why?

 

Kitty:

I love the wit of Deadpool. I love the fourth wall breaks and the meta-talking. I also like that he is not always clean cut. He has a code and sticks to it, but he can be a morally gray character.

 

Alex:

Thor, I love his attitude. He is goofy and does strange things, but true and helpful to his friends.

 

 20. What is your favorite Disney Movie? Regular movie? Action? Romance?

 

Kitty:

        Disney: Tangled

        Regular: Brothers Grimm

        Action: Italian Job, Sahara

        Romance: Moulin Rouge, Stardust

 

Alex:

       Disney: Star Wars (they own it now, it counts)

       Regular: I don't have a favorite

       Action: I can't pick one!

       Romance: Deadpool, it was a valentines day romance movie.

 

 21. What is your favorite physical characteristic of the other?

 

Kitty:

I'm a sucker for Alex’s bright green eyes.

 

Alex:

Her smile when she is really happy and her cheeks rise up.