Personal Meme - Manhattan Mama

1. I live in: a 1960s concrete box in the lower east side of New York City.
2. I was born in: St. Louis, Mo.
3. If I could live anywhere, it would be: In a home tucked along the cliff of Big Sur, where I could bike each morning to the Big Sur Bakery for coffee, hike to Pfeiffer Beach to write, swim and paint, then grab a glass of Syrah and a steak outside at Nepenthe with The Prince and The Kid. Yes every single day.
4. My favorite escape:  See above. But in New York it's the 42nd Street Library's Rose Reading Room in winter weather, and Bryant Park in Spring. At night? The Pearl Lounge at Beauty & Essex, tucked into a banquette, Emerald Gimlet in hand.
5. 5 things to do before I die: write (and publish) several books, wear a couture gown to a formal event, learn to surf, watch my daughter grow up happy, sentient and fulfilled, and see the Palio.
6. I most regret: some things I can't mention here. 
7. Most random experience: Meeting Milton Berle and having him ask me if I would light his cigar.
8. Last iTunes download: Taio Cruz -- Dynamite
9. 5 most played iPod tracks: Cee Lo Green -- F**k You, Frank Black & The Catholics -- Do You Feel Bad About It, Katy Perry -- Firework, The Decemberists -- The Crane Wife 3, Mark Knopfler & Alan Clarke -- Wild Theme
10. 5 things that annoy me about myself: my tendency to curse (every day), my tin ear for music (see above), my pessimism, my distaste of exercise, and overall distrust.
11. 5 least desirable qualities in other people: rudeness, insensitivity, selfishness, having a lack of humor, and being myopic.
12. Personal qualities I value the most: loyalty, a dry wit, kindness, generosity, honesty.
13. Dream dinner party guest list (dead or alive): Lucille Ball, Mark Twain, Thierry Henry, Madeline Albright, Clay Felker, Ann Richards, my great aunt Gert, Cher, Pauline Kael, Walker Evans, Jimi Hendrix, Stan Lee and Cleopatra.