Ten Things About Me

Tina in Connecticut tagged me in a recent blog post; challenging me to do this post. The rules are that you are to share 10 things about yourself that no one or only a few people know about. So, why not on this gorgeous sunny Saturday spend a few minutes talking about ME? I hope the 10 things are supposed to be random, because mine are certainly just that!

1). Not because my parents didn't try, or were neglectful, but I am a lousy swimmer. I wouldn't go so far as to say I can't swim, but I am not good. OH, okay, I can't swim! I might be able to save my life with a back float but I would not want to be plunged into the middle of a lake to find out. I will only go in certain pool depths, always wear a life jacket while on a boat or raft, and never venture far if beached by a lake or ocean. My children, thankfully, really do know how to swim. I've been challenged by my mom in the last few years to take private swim lessons ... I took Tina in Connecticut's challenge ... I might take my moms.

2). I played the song Faithfully by Journey during a wedding ceremony when I was a junior in high school. I had to accompany the Groom's Uncle who sang the solo. He had a little country twang to his words and voice tone, it just wasn't the same, but I will always remember that song with that wedding.

3). Famous Elle J quote circa 1984: "Their not home right now, but they said they didn't want any." Spoken when my mom made me answer the front door for practice after a solicitor rang the doorbell; while my mom was safely around the corner at home. Could you tell my mom was onto something? My quote didn't make sense! Not only that, I gave away the number one error, never admitting that you are home alone (even though I wasn't). Needless to say, I had to answer a few more solicitor door bell rings that summer. Now, I don't even answer.

4). The first time I got my hair bleached, it was my mom's idea and she took me to the beauty salon in ninth grade. I went from dusty brown to bleach blonde over Spring Break as my birthday gift. I kept the blonde color from that moment forward until about six years ago when I turned to reddish brown.

5). I went to one sleep away camp one time in my life; just two nights for Campfire Girls Club and I could not stand a single minute of it. I was homesick and it rained and the musty smell and dirt of the cabin creeped me out. However, I went away to college and stayed in a dorm room with zero people that I knew on campus, and enjoyed every.single.minute of my college years.

6). I always wanted to be a Surgical Nurse for an Opthamologist; but the intense science background and wearing a mask "all day" turned me off. Why did I zero in on such a specialized field so young and not switch my dream until the bitter end? Because I wanted to work in the medical field, but did not want to see any person unrobed. I figured that only left me with either the teeth, or the eyes. The eyes seemed more mysterious and interesting.

7). My biggest pet peeve is gum smacking. I was a participant of this habit up until two years ago when I got orthodontic braces put on and then stopped chewing gum. Funny what you tune into when you no longer participate in something. I can hear a gum smacker from a long distance away and it is like finger nails on a chalkboard to me. Even though my braces are off, I have not gone back to chewing gum.

8). I should take over Oprah's job when she retires at the end of this season. I could sit and listen to someone share their life stories and interests all day long. I love to interview people and get the scoop about their life. I am truly that interested in others and I firmly believe that every one has a story to share. College days brought me to a Communications Major because I had my sights set on working for a newspaper or television to be the likes of Barbara Walters; who was the woman in that profession when I was growing up.

9). I got my best Grade Point Average-ever during my Spring Semester, Sophomore year, at college. The extra sweet spot was that I accomplished it while being away from school for 4 weeks nursing myself back to health after being diagnosed with Mono and Strep. I did not attend classes, but would get myself to the Professor to pick up my work (pre-internet) and get myself back to my parent's house to complete the assignments between sleeping. Two years later, I graduated with Honors. Boo-Ya!

10). I have always dreamed of living in the country ...