This is a little game that circulates around the bloggers, but it's usually 8 things. I think 5 are plenty. Just some things about yourself that would surprise someone who knows you or are unexpected. I'll go first.

1. I almost booked a ticket on Flight 800 out of New York that crashed under mysterious circumstances in July of 2006. Scary!

2. I got to meet Oprah Winfrey and shake hands with her. She's very pretty in person.

3. One of my hobbies is genealogy. I have many relatives that lived to be over 95 years old, and several 100 years old as far back as the 1700's.

4. Crowds scare me to death and I avoid them. It's kind of a phobia.

5. I've had a few encounters with the paranormal as in ghosts.

How about everybody else?

1. I was in 2 commercials in the 80's when I was much younger and skinnier! They were for local companies.

2. I was in the US Navy for 4 years as a Data Processing Technician.

3. I mentioned to a friend recently that one of my great great grandfathers (not sure of the # of great!) served under General George Washington in the Revolutionary War and she said I may be eligible to become a member of Daughters of the American Revolution.

4. Not so much about me but . . . my daugher tells everyone she was "Made in Japan" as that is where I was stationed when I got pregnant!

5. I do not like crowds . . . . . . and I have a weird phobia of "clusters" - hard to explain but they freak me out.

6. I am a recovering alcoholic.

7. I have decided to return to college and finish my bachelor's and get my masters in counseling. I've only been thinking about it for 25 years! I've applied every semester for the last 2 years. This time I AM going in January.

Robin

Hey Robin, me too on the DAR. I just haven't gotten around to filing the papers. It's a service organization so it's not just a matter of joining up. Some day when I have more time. I love history so I would probably enjoy it but there's just so many hours in a day.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with crowdaphobia.

Melodie, I started looking at what was required for DAR and it was more than I wanted to take on at the moment! Right now I am focusing a lot of my time on my new WOE and weight loss. My next step, as mentioned, is returning to college. (at age 45 - better late than never, right?! )

There is a big race every year in Spokane, Bloomsday, that I would love to do but the number of people who run/walk it is overwhelming! I don't go watch the Ironman Triatholon (sp?) either because of the amount of people. Once in a great while I'll go to a concert but it has to be someone I REALLY like!

Robin

I've played this game twice at my blog over the past year--here and here.

I'll play!

1. I once went to a KISS concert - in full makeup! (No, I'm not gonna post the pics, but they do exist...)

2. The only food I really don't like is regular cucumber, because the seeds squick me out.

3. I'm not afraid of crowds per se, but I want to freak out when waiting in a very long line at the cash.

4. I usually address all pets (mine and other peoples') in a high, squeaky voice. And I use baby talk. Oh yes I doooooze!

5. Despite the fact that I am the citiest city girl who ever citied, I have driven a tractor on a farm in South Dakota. (You're not seeing those pics, either!)

1 - pet rescuer
2 - we have gone back to family history to 18oo"s
3 - Quilter and Beader
4 - Delivered 2 babies
5 - Been with people when they died, so they werent alone

O.K....here goes.....

1. Lived in a haunted house when I was a child and I was the only person in the house the ghosts appeared to. (found out years later when I told my mom that she never saw any, but, always heard strange noises when she was in the house alone.)

2. I traced our family tree back to the 1500s and found out that we had an ancestor that was captain of a ship that followed the Pilgrims to America.

3. I have a fear of crowds just in store aisles......(I know, I am weird). If an aisle is too crowded, I will make the hubby go down and get what I need while I go find an uncrowded one.

4. My tonsils were put in a medical journal back in 1965 because they were so huge. (well te picture of them not that ACTUAL tonsils....yuck....)

5. O.K. this is one I regret, but, I missed a total of 150 days my last 3 years of high school and I managed to miss the top 10 of my class by .10....*sigh* What can I say, I was a fat girl and hated to go to school so I skipped a lot and had friends get me notes for tests.

Sue

I'll play. I've done this on my blog, but I'll post some different stuff here.

1. I used to cuss like a sailor and drink like a fish (this one may be on my blog, I can't remember)

2. I'm related to Nathan Hale.

3. My great-grandfather was in the 101 Ranch Rodeo (which originated in Oklahoma) he was a trick roper known as Little Dickie Turpentine.

4. I don't own a TV (ok..who just passed out at the thought of not owning one.. lol)

5. I once had an opportunity to audition for Joe Diffie's manager (I didn't end up going)

I love these little factoids about everyone. These are great, keep them coming!

1. I grew up on a ranch and worked outside with my Dad all the time I was growing up.
2. Have been married 3 times.
3. I have been an Alanon member for 14 years
4. I used to be very shy and quiet
5. I read a lot of mysteries and frequent the library almost weekly.

Here's the first 5 things I can think of:

1. I play the fife and was in a fife and drum corps for a number of years. It's a family thing--my dad's a snare drummer and my mom's a fifer.

2. My newest passion is mosaics. I'm still very new at it and have only made picture frames and mirrors but what I'm working on now is a fine art mosaic piece.

3. I'm an Arthurian legend nut.

4. I once worked for a publishing company that deals with role-playing games involving vampires, werewolfs, mages, etc.

5. I worked as a barista in a coffee house in Las Vegas back in 2004-2005 and on one memorable day I met: Oscar Goodman, the mayor of Las Vegas, John Wayne Bobbit, and a group of 6 Elvis impersonators. Surreal.

4. I don't own a TV (ok..who just passed out at the thought of not owning one.. lol)

we havent had a tv for over 16 years
sense 9/11 we had a little one for emergencies, but its not even out of its box lol
I just feel better knowing it is here in case.
sandi

Sandi,
We figure we have the interent, cell phones, radio and the neighbors TV if we really need information on something serious. You've got me beat! We got rid of ours 10 years ago. It's funny. It's kind of like high-carb foods. Once you get them out, you find you don't miss them.

My boys felt bad growing up, they would hear talk about "TV" shows
and feel left out.
I did have a few fights with teacher's who were assigning a TV program as homework, which was on late, so they couldnt go to a friends house to watch it.
I live close enough to the Twin towers, that I saw the smoke and smelled the burning. But I am not in the city. SO it was really close to home, I knew people who were in there. I just feel better having the TV here and we use the radio more.
I will say I don't miss the news, it is always so sad
sandi

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss of friends Sandi. My kids don't mind not having a TV, but then we homeschool so they don't have the kind of conversations your boys had with their friends at school regarding it.

Ok, I'm in

1. I was offered a position with NYC EMS in April 2001. I declined because my mother put a guilt trip on me about leaving. Still cannot tell her thanks enough for that one.

2. I am a closet finance junkie, and enjoy playing the stock market.

3. For 10 years I had a subscription to Cosmopolitian Magazine, because I thought it would make me understand women better.

4. I enjoy watching chick flicks and rent them on a regular basis, but take them to my mom's or my sister's to watch them, so I don't feel so weird about it.

5. Once I am in bed, the last thing I do before I try to sleep is scratch my butt.

Some things are just left to TMI, Simon!

I agree, Jimmy, a little more than I really wanted to know, Simon!

What did I say?

Oh, I dunno.

Well, that'll teach you all to ask me to tell you things that most people don't know!

Si,



I really needed something to laugh about!

Robin

1. I am a comic geek, and Anime lover.

2. Batman is my favorite D.C. character

3. I just recently went through 2 days of filming to be a extra in The Dark Knight
(The Batman Begins sequel)

4. That even after seeing him close up while smoking a cigarette running around like a maniac with green toussled hair, white makeup and smeared red lipstick I STILL think Heath ledger is he is HOTT!

5.I love the feel the fell DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) the day after a tough workout.

Tia

Hey Tia, that's so cool you got to be in a movie as an extra! I had the opportunity this year too being on the set of the upcoming George Clooney/Renee Zellweger/John Krasinski 1920's football romantic comedy film called Leatherheads. Check out all my pictures and memories of my time on the set by clicking here.

Great pics Jimmy! You are soooo right about the cattle thing lol.

Tia

1. I ride a motorcycle - harley davidson
2. I own a bar & grill
3. I have no children
4. I have been with dh for over 20 years
5. I am a master pool player

This is a great way to learn about people!!

Simon you are too funny. I used to be a stock broker. I had to quit when I finally wised up and figured out the company I worked for was ripping people off. Watch the market, sometimes Texas Hold Em is just as much fun and you make more money. Just kidding, sort of.

Best recent chick flick was "The Lake House". Very romantic!

Si, You're killin Me!

Ok, now most people don't know this stuff about me, so don't tell, ok?

1. I steal magazines from Dr's offices ( Nothing else from anywhere)
2. I sometimes listen to Jazz
3. I'm afraid of the dark
4. I am an EXCELLENT judge of character, intuitive, psychic like
5. I do nice things for people without telling them it was me

okay.. I'll play

1. I climbed a volcano in Guatemala when I was 15!

2. I was an extra in a music video that same year (on the same trip!)

3. I once "trespessed" on a small airport and "hung-out" in a small private airplane. (2 seater)

4. I'm TERRIFIED of spiders... I've been bit twice by wolf spiders, and my son was bit by a brown recluse!

5. I lived for 4 years in a drug/alcohol rehab center!!! (parents worked there.. we lived on site!) Great place to be as a teen! LOL.. not the greatest choice of boyfriend material!!!

6. My earliest ACTUAL memory is from when I was 1.... I burned my feet on the cracked pavement in San Fransico... the only time I was ever there.

7. I've seen an angel. (honest to God truth)

8. My Dad was physcially healed from an incurable disease called RSD that had him in a wheel chair for 10 years.. and diabetes too.

I like this---it's a quick way to get to know people

1. Jim Nabors--"Gomer Pyle" is a distant cousin

2. I'm the 13th generation direct descendant of Samuel Morse---inventor of the Morse code---my grandmother made all us learn it---couldn't even call for help now if my life depended on it

3. My paternal grandmother lived to the ripe old age of 106

4. I have enough Native American in my blood to have myself declared a minority--I only need the marriage license--above grandmother was 1/2 Cherokee

5. I've visited states as far away as New Mexico and Montana and Wyoming and the Dakotas and Minnesota---but I've never been to the Smoky Mountains and they are in my own back yard---the closest I've been is Chattanooga and north Georgia

6. I'm terrified of bridges---whenever I cross over one I roll down my window in case I plunge into the water so I can escape

7. I lost a baby girl when I was six months along---she would have turned 14 last month

8. A class mate and I infiltrated our local KKK in high school to do a term paper on the organization for history class

9. I was made a manager at Hardees when I was only 18---it's why I dropped out of college---I returned to school after my son was born

10. I'm an amateur splunker---I love caves---have been to the meccas for all splunkers---Carlsbad in New Mexico and Mammoth Cave in Kentucky

I know that is twice as many as you asked for but I was on a roll

Okay, I'll attempt this...not sure I can top the scratching my butt one, though...

1. I am afraid of heights but LOVE roller coasters and tall buildings. IE: I've parachuted and parasailed and loved every second of it...

2. I am going to apply for Law School and scared to death of rejection. It wouldn't make or break me, but I don't like rejection...

3. I am extremely nostalgic...about everything.

4. I am a romantic at heart.

5. I am both a slave to expectation and like variety/spontenaiety...

Sounds like you've gone a long way towards conquoring your fears. as in parachuted and parasailed. How could you leave a perfectly good airplane.LOL

My palms sweat just thinking about it for you.

1. Leif Garrett kissed me!

2. I met my husband when we were 12 and I hated him until the day I fell in love with him when we were 16! It took awhile before anyone believed me!

3. I flew an airplane for a few minutes.

4. I had one of my babies at home.

Wow, Leif Garrett kissed you! Dare I ask how that happened? And I thought it was cool because I got to shake hands with Oprah

Having a baby at home is pretty spectacular too. I think sometimes we treat childbirth too much like an illness and not enough like something natural.

5. I love, love, love geometry proofs and sentence diagramming--so much so that I do it for fun in my spare time! LOL. Don't have much spare time anymore...

Okay. Leif kissed me at the airport in Emmett, Idaho. He was there for a March of Dimes Walk-a-thon. I was only a teenager--about 14, I think! It was the highlight of my year. Hee hee.

6. When I was born, Elvis Presley's auntie sent a card and gift to my parents. I still have it.

7. I stood on a glacier for about a half hour.

8. I have every Steely Dan cd.

9. I was a child bride (19) and have been married for almost 22 years.

10. Even though I have been married for almost 22 years, I have had a crush on James Garner since I was 10 and Kiefer Sutherland since I was 21!

11. I taught my sister to read--really read--in one afternoon. She was four and I was seven.

12. I got Botox last week! Shhhh. Haven't told anyone except my daughters and mother....

About the Botox... my smart alec, twelve year old son actually guessed it! I have him sworn to secrecy!

13. Heard of 20 Mule Team Borax? My great-great uncle, Samuel Stiles, was the man who decided to hitch up those mules all together like that to haul the borax out of Death Valley. The men who were supposed to come didn't show up and he improvised by putting more mules together to pull more wagons with less men.

14. My uncle is a decorated Vietnam War hero--Bronze Star

15. I beat my husband at target shooting--and he won an award for marksmanship in Army boot camp!

This is fun!

Who's Leif Garrett?

Here ya go Jimmy: Leif Garrett

I was being a bit facetious, but I appreciate the lesson, Amy.

Ok.. see I really didn't know who he was.. so I had to look it up. I knew the name sounded familiar... but that's about all.

Child star...before my time, though!

1) My uncles and Dad had a country band and as child the songs I knew best were things like Elvira, Rose Colored Glasses, Dirty Old City...I knew all the words and still do.

2) I'm ADDICTED to karaoke. I even have my own karaoke equipment at home.

3) I'm a published poet, just in anthologies so far, but I'd like to publish my own book of poetry one day.

4) I graduated 3rd in my college class, while abusing drugs and alcohol. Imagine what I could have done had I left those things alone.

5) I used to be pro-choice, but even before my political affiliation changed I became pro-life...the reason...my sister had a baby at age 16 and I grew to love that girl so much I knew in my heart that even those unplanned lives have purpose. (BTW...Britney is now 14years old and she is a wonderful, funny girl who I'm very glad is here on this earth because she has taught me a lot)

6) If I could be anything I wanted and still make a living I'd be a singer and a poet.

1. I'm incredibly shy and I'm always embarrassed when I have to ask anyone questions.
2. Despite being over 300 pounds, I'm pretty flexible and I can still do a back flip and a cartwheel.
3. I have four boxes and two closets full of books and I still don't have enough room for them all. There are at least fifty stacked in various places in my bedroom as well.
4. If I listen to a song two or three times, I can usually memorize the words - forwards and backwards.
5. My first "crush" was on Rod Stewart when I was 6.

Lisa,

My dad was lead singer in a country band as well while I was growing up. He used to play in a club in Stillwater, Ok. He and Garth Brooks would switch off nights. One of the guys in my dad's band had an offer to join Garth's band but said no. He said Garth stunk and would never go anywhere. Dad laughed and said "we'll see". Now my dad teases that guy about it. He'll say "Hey.. you remember that guy that was such a horrible singer? Garth somebody..."

I'd also sing for a living if I could. I'm content singing at church though.