A true moderate (perhaps my most self-centered post yet!)

I think that I am a good mix of many things. Despite my Obama flagwaving, I'm actually quite moderate in many ways, and I do have some conservative tendencies (in the denotative sense of the word, if not the political connotation). I value hard work, honesty, integrity, good old fashioned family values. 

Although I think compromise can be a virtue, and moderation in all things is a worthy mantra, sometimes I wish I was less scattered and more intensely a person with a recognizable point of view.

Meaning, I can be chameleonic, so that when I'm around my crafty friends, I talk scrapbook angles. When I'm around my foodie friends, I swap Pad Thai recipes. When I'm around my pop culture addict friends, I reference current movies and shows. This duality might stem from my Gemini zodiac sign OR my innate desire to please the people I am around OR a genuine interest in many things. In any case, I have a wide variety of interests (from Antarctica and pre Cultural Revolution China to Fisher Price Little People toys from my childhood to Lindt truffles and Cheetos).

I yearn for high culture opportunities but am much more likely to be found listening to HSM with my kids than opera or reading a Banksy book rather than an art tome. I read voraciously, but about a third of what I consume is either lit-junk (Shopaholic books, anyone?) or easily consumed newspaper articles (hello, New York Times online!). I am both hard-working, as with my teaching responsibilities, and incredibly lazy, as evidenced by my total lack of a fitness regime. I am an environmentally-concious steward of the earth who buys organic milk, and a junk-food lover who eats Cool Ranch Doritos purchased at the Shell Station. Oh, the shame. 

I love to sing, dance, and play the piano or violin, but I don't consistently practice my talents enough to feel competent. However, I can honestly say that if my mom lived here or I lived there, I would sing all the time. It's just that I'm somewhat limited since I am my own accompanist! Also, I don't have a good floor for tap dancing. I am fashion conscious in the way that a Project Runway fan can be, yet settle for wrinkle-free spray when ironing seems like too much work. I am a mindful parent who really considers what my children need and a harpie who loses her cool over dirty socks.

I have faith that God knows our hearts, and this gives me great comfort. When I pray at night, I ask God to look into my heart, because despite my many failings, I want to do good and be good. So despite my shifting self, I feel that my inner justice/mercy compass is actually pretty steady.

So do you have any interesting dualities or guilty pleasures that might surprise those who *know* you?