AGE 42 MARITAL STATUS Married OCCUPATION Sales Executive HOMETOWN Annapolis, MD
Biography
Trish Dunn was born and raised in Lanham,
Maryland, and currently lives in Annapolis,
Maryland with her husband and nine year-old
twins, Reilly and Molly (they'll be 10
on Sept. 21). She is currently employed
as a sales executive and has always
worked in sales, whether it is media,
advertising or investments.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree
from the University of Maryland (where
she was also a cheerleader and
a gymnast) and completed some graduate
business administration coursework at
the University of Baltimore.
Her favorite hobbies include marathon
running, bungee jumping, rock climbing,
hiking and anything that challenges her
(she recently learned how to snowboard).
She describes herself as focused, competitive
and loyal. She is most proud of her solid
marriage and being happy. She is a member
of the Washington D.C. Ad Club, Mothers
of Multiples and the Annapolis Striders.
Her favorite sport is long-distant running
(she's completed 24 marathons,
including ten Boston Marathons). Her hero
is her mom who she says taught her to
like herself, be kind and caring, but
also competitive and confident. Trish
believes she's ready for SURVIVOR: PEARL
ISLANDS because her athletic skills make
her a viable and useful tribe member.
She describes herself as extremely competitive,
an excellent swimmer, a born leader and
a gifted problem solver. Her birth date
is October 29, 1960.
Colors: Red
Scents: Lily, Leo's cologne, hot fresh-baked cookies, steaks being grilled outside
Flowers: Tulip
Board Games: Monopoly, Scattergories, Pictionary, Trouble
Video Games: No favorite
Sports to Play: Running, basketball, tennis, skiing, biking, kayaking
Sports Teams: Maryland Terrapins, Redskins
Outdoor Activities: Running, gardening, touch football, hiking, Frisbee
TV Shows: Will & Grace, Frasier, Seinfeld, SURVIVOR, Saturday Night Live
Movies: Glory, Rudy, Dangerous Beauty, The Exorcist, Gone with the Wind, The Sound of Music
Actors: Russell Crowe, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Colin Farrell
Actresses: Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Meg Ryan
Music: Annie Lennox, Bruce Springsteen, Dead, No Doubt, Avril Lavigne, Matchbox 20
Magazines: Outdoor, Runner's World, Vanity Fair, People, Simple
Books/Authors: Ken Follett, Amy Tan, Into Thin Air, Not About the Bike
Cereals: Cap'n Crunch with Crunchberries, Blueberry Morning
Fruits: Strawberries, apple, plum, cantaloupe, grapes
Snack Foods: Pringles, Twinkies, Ding-Dongs, Gushers, Doritos
Cookies: Chocolate chip, chocolate chip, chocolate chip
Candy Bars: Score, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, PayDay, Baby Ruth
Alcoholic Drinks: Corona with lime
Non-Alcoholic: Diet Coke, water
(Note:
I do not in any way know any of these
survivors.
I am totally making all this stuff up
as if I actually have a clue.However,
I've received emails from past Survivors
complimenting me on my insight. So, although
I make this crap up, sometimes I actually
get things right.)
When I first saw Trish, I thought, "Oh
my gosh, this is America's sitcom Mom!"
Just look at her. Doesn't she exude "Now
you just sit down right there while I
make you some breakfast." And as
we all know, every sitcom mom was a cheerleader
in high school and college. (Yes, college,
because now sitcom moms go to college
-- all of them.)
And she has a career. Of course, we never
actually see her on the job because sitcom
moms haven't achieved that status yet.
Oh sure, they HAVE the careers and the
good jobs, but we never actually SEE her
going or coming from work because sitcom
moms are relegated to doing only family
things, baking (not cooking, though she
does talk about it), being both witty
and loving, and solving all the problems
because TV has taken a full swing the
other way and now dads are complete idiots
who drink a lot (but are never drunk),
are unable to help with the kids' homework,
have mediocre jobs, and are not nearly
as attractive as their supermodel-disguised-as-a-normal-woman
wives.
And so, somehow, Trish has been able
to run (and train for) 24 marathons, rock
climb, bungee jump, raise twins, join
clubs, AND have a career as a...
That's right, kids. You guessed it: A
career as a sales executive; that mysterious
job title that's given to those whose
jobs aren't really normal, who don't have
normal working hours, and whose job can't
really be considered a "job"
job. It's quite possible she sells Amway,
Tupperware, or maybe those cool candle
party things.
But you know, so what. This 42-year-old
woman bungee jumps and runs marathons.
I have respect for anyone who runs marathons
because it's so much more than just physical
ability. And she has run 24 of them. Marathons!
The next time you get in your car to go
somewhere that's 30-40 minutes away, stop,
get out, and just run all the way because
that's roughly how long a marathon is.
I love her response to favorite cookie:
Chocolate chip, chocolate chip, chocolate
chip.
Because, really, there is no other cookie
in the same league as chocolate chip.
When people bake cookies at home... sugar
cookies for Christmas; sure, OK. Peanut
butter, oatmeal raisin (especially oatmeal
cookies with butterscotch chips baked
in); these are acceptable. But there's
nothing at all that compares to eating
hot, melting, just-out-of-the-oven chocolate
chip cookies.
And again, can't you just see Trish peek
her head into the living room while the
kids are with their friends playing video
games; she's wearing an apron, one of
those glove pot-holders, and she's holding
a tray of chocolate chip cookies. "I
baked some cookies!"
But with Trish, it would be a little
different...
"I baked some cookies! Now I have
to go run a marathon!"
Talented, versatile, in super-shape 40-something
women have done extremely well on Survivor
and I fully expect Trish to continue the
pattern. Now, if I could only stop thinking
about still-hot-from-the-oven chocolate
chip cookies...
