Swap-bot Time: November 10, 2024 12:24 pm
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catlingmex

catlingmex
Original Member
Last Online: November 10, 2024

Country: United States
My Website

About Me

My name is Robin, and so far I've been alive for over half a century.

Born and raised in Indiana, USA, I lived the first 20+ years of my adult life in Mexico City, Mexico, then in Costa Rica (Central America) for a couple of years, then in South Florida for 5 years or so, now in a small town in in my native state. I'm female, 100% bilingual English-Spanish, joyfully Roman Catholic, happily married to a man born and raised in South America. This is all pretty exotic for an introvert who grew up in a monolingual Midwestern milieu! [chuckle]

I've worked at quite a variety of jobs in my lifetime, including teacher of English as a foreign language at a college in Mexico for many years, airline reservations agent, direct in-home support to adults with developmental disabilities, big-box store cashier, clerk at a thrift store, call center agent, and church secretary. I would love to retire from a day job someday, but unless a major miracle occurs, that will not be possible.

In addition to the usual 9-to-5, I spent 7 years developing recipes and writing (in Spanish and English) about authentic Mexican food for thespruceeats.com. Now the hubs and I maintain our own blog, where we share recipes from North, Central, and South America: comboplate.net

Languages

Fluent in English and Spanish. Have studied some Italian, Portuguese, German, and Polish. I love language, languages, and linguistics! However, I am not usually very talkative at all -- go figure. I do tend to be more loquacious in writing, as evidenced by the length of this profile! lol

Miscellaneous LIkes

Likes/loves include

  • FOLKLORE, popular culture and festivals, local history and quirky local places, the history and traditions of HOLIDAYS of all sorts (I adore Groundhog Day, for example.)

  • Cooking, baking, COOKBOOKS; reading, talking about, trying and developing recipes.

  • chocolate (the darker, the better), MINT flavors (all kinds), teabags (black or herbal, green not so much), anise-flavored things (not licorice candy), real CHEESE, all kinds of cookies, avocados, aromatic herbs and spices, interesting hot sauces

  • TURTLES (freshwater), fireflies/lightning bugs, llamas, cats, lizards/iguanas, otters, honey bees, dragonflies, ladybugs, butterflies, groundhogs, and robin birds (especially since my name is Robin). My husband is an enthusiast of sloths, pandas, and bears in general.

  • Sunflowers, DANDELIONS, suns, smiley faces, the color yellow and cheerful things in general

  • PUZZLES, crosswords, word search, mazes, jigsaw puzzles, kaleidoscopes, board games

  • visiting MUSEUMS of all kinds, also botanical gardens, conservatories, etc; also birdwatching and simple gardening, especially succulents and anything in containers.

  • ART and artistic and artsy craftsy stuff in general; ancient art, cave art, folk art, "primitive" art, and outsider / visionary art are particular favorites

  • artistic ATCs and all sorts of snail mail postal joy

  • Americana (USA) and anything Latin American and/or Caribbean

Occasional creative endeavors

Linoleum print carving, mini-zine making, drawing, painting, cross stitch, creative writing, adult coloring, zendoodling, woodburning, very simple sewing, papercrafts, floral arranging; would love to try a lot more things.

Not particularly into ...

I am totally not cool. On most days I'm pretty much okay with that, though I do apologize for any discomfort my dorkiness may cause. [winsome smile]

Sorry, but I am not really into gothic/dark, tattoos/piercings, girly things like make up and spa treatments, Disney, video games, cynicism, political bashing, anime, manga, New Age, erotica, vampies or zombies, kawaii, or gourmet coffee. I'm not big on shopping (except for groceries, I do enjoy grocery shopping! oh, and thrift stores) and I am working on being less sarcastic.

However, I'm really not at all as crochety and dour as I know that last paragraph makes me sound. :-) While I do strive to be the best me that I can be, I do not believe that perfectionism is healthy.

Rating, Flakers, and Flaking

I will always rate you for a swap I received. It might not happen the very same day that I receive your item (I can sometimes go a few days between visits to the site), but it will be within a week.

I've been a member here at Swap-Bot pretty much since the beginning of the site. The first swap here that I participated in was in March of 2006! My level/intensity of swapping activity has varied widely through the years. I've seen many trends come and go, as you might imagine.

In recent years it has become quite popular here to maintain a "wall of shame" or list of people who have flaked. I choose not to do that. There have been quite a few who have "done me wrong," and, yes, of course it's unpleasant, but I consider this an issue only between my partner and myself. I have given people low ratings when warranted -- and I consider that sufficient "punishment." If your views differ on this, I respect that. Please also respect mine.

As for my own (few and long ago--over 10 years now!) 1s and 3s: I am not proud of them, and I accept them without argument as fair consequences for my actions at the time. However, I generally don't discuss those ratings with anyone besides the people directly involved.

I Can Always Use

  • postcards showing a recipe or a typcial craft/costume/food from your country or region

  • anything particular to your city/region

  • zines or mini zines (relatively clean, please)

  • small denomination banknotes or coins from anywhere in the world

  • recipe pamphlets (like the ones given out for free with a food product) or cookbooks with recipes from real people (like those made for fundraising by churches and civic groups)

  • bookmarks, epecially handmade, related to your area (touristy or not), and the freebie ones given out by libraries, museums, bookstores, etc. (preferably not too childish)

  • lip balm in interesting flavors (not strawberry, bubble gum, or dill pickle flavored)

  • plant cuttings or seeds for succulent plants (with growing instructions)

  • Catholic miscellany (rosaries, old prayer books, images of saints, etc.)

  • cassette tapes (my 2002 Honda has a tape deck), any type of music, books on tape, etc. UPDATE: my beloved Honda has now passed to a better life, but I have acquired a boom box with cassette deck. I have settled on cassettes tapes as my absolute favorite format!

  • Any sort of souvenir cotton dish towel/tea towel from anywhere. I have purchased a few of these at thrift stores for around a dollar each (apparently people buy them as souvenirs and then don’t actually use them most of the time), and have come to love them. It doesn’t matter that I’ve never been to the location featured; I get to travel around the world each time I do something in the kitchen! New or used, retro or modern is fine, as long as they are not badly stained or full of holes (small stains/imperfections are no problem). I will be joyfully using any towel I may get.

  • "discarded" pieces of cross stitch/embroidery or old crocheted doilies/dresser scarves. It always kills me when I see a stitched picture for sale at a thrift store, because some poor woman worked hard and long on it only for someone else to go and throw it out/donate it. I do understand downsizing and all, but this is the type of valuable piece that can be used to create something else (pillow, pin cushion, greeting card, whatever), so I try to "rescue" these precious items when I can and the price is reasonable.

Ratings

5
rating
Comment: what a pretty card. Thanks for great tuck-ins.
nancylee rated for Stickers and Thankfulness #1 on Nov 9, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the card and note of offbeat thanks - we are thankful when we can find any parking for a rental car within 6 blocks of our home in under 40 minutes without the cold factor so I get it. Happy Thanksgiving
inoracam rated for PH: Your Swap-bot Name? #3 on Nov 7, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the Nathan Pyle postcard - I didn't know he made any haha. I like the story of your name and like that someone else has just kept the same name for decades. Have a great weekend.
rachelgogan rated for Bad joke postcard swap #25 on Nov 3, 2024
5
rating
Comment: I love the jokes you sent me on the card and the strange plant postcard is so awesome. Thank you so much.
Catt007 rated for 2024 Recipe Swap #43 on Nov 3, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the fab recipes. 😺
riviwriter rated for LSRUS: Autumn Dreams-Int'l on Oct 30, 2024
5
rating
Comment: So beautiful! Thank you so much for all the time and effort it must have taken to make such beautifully handcrafted autumn gifts <3 The magnets are on my fridge as I type this!
Response: You are so welcome! It´s a gift just to learn that they have found a loving home. <3
5
rating
Comment: The sugar skulls are so cute. Thank you for the goodies:D
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the Halloween card, stickers, and tea!I also love the colors, aromas, and decorations that autumn brings :)
5
rating
Comment: Thank you! Happy Halloween!
7BeersIn rated for 1 Stamp - Send Anything #3 on Oct 28, 2024
5
rating
 
5
rating
Comment: Thanks!
MisplacedfromPA rated for 2024 Recipe Swap #42 on Oct 26, 2024
5
rating
Comment: As always, your recipes are exactly to our families liking. We are attending a Halloween Party soon and those smore bars will be perfect. (Its a bonfire Halloween night party). Thanks for sharing all the extra recipes as well. My husband wants to try the Black Pepper cookies immediately.
Response: How delightful!
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for the postcard, Robin! I agree with you on a lot of those. Happy Halloween!
crimsonrivulet rated for TOPIC THEME SUBJECT (TTS) #53 on Oct 23, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Robin! I received your wonderful postcard today! Thank you! Great list! Loved seeing all the places you have lived and visited! ❤
starmccoy rated for Magnetic Poetry Zine & Swap on Oct 23, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Awesome zine! Thank you 😊
inventacharm rated for 1 Stamp - Send Anything #3 on Oct 22, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you! I really like the flower stickers. :)
Teraecau rated for Pass Along Swap Numero Ten-0 on Oct 22, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you. :)
mle rated for 2024 Recipe Swap #42 on Oct 21, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for all the recipes! The zucchini cookies look really good of the non-bar recipes.
5
rating
Comment: definitely random :) thanks
PapermailandMORE rated for Animal Mail #5 on Oct 21, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Such a wonderful envelope! I love the different stickers! Thank you so much for your mail which I enjoyed so much❤️🐟🐠🐡

Rating Overview

Overall Hearts Stars Hosted
4.9942 1940 33 43
Completed Fives Threes Ones
1336 2408 3 2
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Uncategorized
105 833 269 129
View all

Currently Hosting

  • the user is not hosting any current swaps

Comments

BlueberryLady on Nov 5, 2024:

Thank you so much for the Beautiful Thank you card you sent me and your kind comment about the Pincushion! Thank you too for the 2 new Teabags I can't wait to Try ! ! Hugs and Smiles ! from Jean

Mystyne on Oct 18, 2024:

October RAK - Thank you. I received the amazing box of playing cards today. They are amazing.

Mystyne on Aug 13, 2024:

AATW August 24 - Thank you for the birthday card and great stickers.

Mystyne on Aug 13, 2024:

AATW August 24 - Thank you for the birthday card and great stickers.

debbiespoms on Aug 12, 2024:

Thanks so much Robin, for granting me my wish for Fall stickers via AATW August wishlist and you sending me 3 sheets at that! How wonderful and I truly love them!

Highlander18 on Aug 10, 2024:

💕❤️💕The beautiful napkins will make wonderful covered envies. Huge thank you!

Highlander18 on Aug 10, 2024:

💕❤️💕Thank you for the awesome envie - Aug AATW. Had to research a bit to find you. Love the sugar skull stickers!! Getting prepared for Halloween.

LadyJo on Aug 9, 2024:

Thank you for the Fall stickers and the return address labels! Oh Fall soon, cooler weather! Thanks so much for sending me wishes for AATW, August!

fighterangel on May 4, 2024:

thankyou

Oh my goodness! You went above and beyond for my wish for April!!! I love everything and really look forward to using everything. Thank you so, so, SO much for all the wonderful goodies!!!!

April '24 AATW Wish

lilymonmomma on May 1, 2024:

Mailed your envelope today for the Blind fun swap

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