Some information about me, of no particular importance…

I am the blogger of many names. My real name is Jill, but I’ll answer to softdrink (a nickname given to me many years ago by friends of my boyfriend, whose high school nickname was hamburger). Since there seem to be some other softdrink’s out there in the internets (the nerve!), I also use fizzybeverage. Just trying to keep you all on your toes!

I was born and raised in California, except for a 5 year stint in Oregon when my parents’ inner hippies emerged and we moved to BFE and lived in an old barn with NO TOILET (which meant we used an outhouse) . I never really considered myself a California girl, though, until Hamburger and I visited Green Bay, Wisconsin (Go Pack Go) in December. I was never so glad to come home to sunshine in winter as I was after sitting through a football game in 7 degree weather.

I currently live on the Central Coast of California, in an area dreadfully lacking in book clubs and people who like to read. And although that might be a bit of a sweeping generalization, it sure doesn’t feel like it from where I’m sitting. Therefore, I love book bloggers! I love the sense of community, and the fact that there are oodles of people out there who love obsess over love books as much as I do.

I turned 41 this year (ack! I’m still wondering how that happened), but I promise you I rarely act my age. I have a huge sarcastic streak (it’s hereditary…from both sides of the family…I’m doomed) and I try very hard not to take myself seriously. You will often find bad song parodies lurking in between my posts about books. And watch out, you might even show up in one of them!

If you ever meet me in person, please don’t be alarmed by my purple fingers. My parents were not smurfs. I have Raynaud’s syndrome, which means sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) the blood flow to my fingers and toes is cut off. It totally freaks people out, and has been known to stop conversations when people see my fingers. Don’t worry…it hurts you more than it hurts me (unless, of course, I’ve been hanging out at Lambeau Field in freezing temps).

In my real life I work for our county government. Sadly, the job does squat for my soul, so let’s not talk about it. It does, however, provide me with the necessary moolah for my two passions…books and travel (okay, three…I love clothes, too). Occasionally, my blog will turn into a travel blog whenever I get a chance to take off for a few weeks. And be assured I packed lots of books for the trip!

This is me (needing a haircut) with my pet goat, Billy. Let’s not talk about the fact Billy looks more like a sheep than a goat. Unlike some of us, Hamburger never lived in BFE as a child, and evidently doesn’t know the difference between goats and other animals that make a baa-like sound.

Billy occasionally writes reviews for me, especially if a goat pops up in the book. He’s especially proud of this review, which garnered a comment from the author.

So there you have it…things you didn’t really need to know about softdrink.