Monday, April 6, 2009

10 Things About You

Tell us 10 things about yourself. Likes or dislikes. Good qualities. Bad qualities. Whatever you want to share.

If you have more or less than 10 that is fine by us, we still want to read them.


164 comments:

Mom said...

Ooooooh, this might be my first time being the first comment!

1.) I'm 1/4 Lebanese, but I can't stand olives! I do, however, love other middle eastern food!

2.) I've written a children's book and am currently looking for the right literary agent.

3.) Blue is my favorite color.

4.) My nickname growing up was "noodle" as that was about all I would eat! (And, I wonder why my little one is a picky eater.)

5.) I love all kinds of linens - towels, sheets, PJs, curtains, etc.

6.) I collect old wedding photos. (Yes, even of people I don't know.)

7.) I have two labradors, one yellow (who is 12) and one black (who is 5).

8.) I love real life "who done it" type mysteries. Thank goodness for ID on TV.

9.) The Godfather (I & II) are my favorite movies. Goodfellas is a close second.

10.) The last book I read was the DaVinci Code. LOL! I only have time for short articles with a 2 year old!

Lizzy said...

Mom, I would love to see some of the pics you collect :).

Well here we go...

1) I love soundtracks to musicals because they tell a story. Right now I am hooked on the soundtrack the Seussical the Musical (which I saw Saturday night) but I am also a huge fan of Les Mis and Wicked for the same reason.

2) My second toe is longer than my first toe on both of my feet. Some have said it means I have royal blood, others think it means I am supposedly smart. I just think it means I could never be a prima ballerina (en pointe does not work when the longest toe is not the biggest one!).

3) I got a fish recently which is still not named officially.

4) I taught myself how to play guitar by learning a few basic chords then finding songs I knew that used those chords. I then learned new chords by adding to the repertoire gradually.

5) I love going for long walks and hikes. They make me feel free.

6) While I am thrilled to be almost done with my Masters, I am more excited to start my own consulting firm next year.

7) One of my guilty pleasures is watching kids movies or re-reading old books I used to love. I adore "Enchanted" and every once in awhile can be seen reading my favorite parts of "These Happy Golden Years" (from the Little House on the Prairie books).

8) I have no favorite color, but I have favorite color combinations (pink and black, blue and orange, green and purple).

9) A few friends and I just got tickets to see Taylor Swift in concert this coming fall. We all agree she may not be the best vocalist in the world, but her music is fun and adorable.

10) Today I taught my nephew how to sign "Please" and "Thank You." We had worked on it in the past, but he has been sick the past month (ear infections, allergic reactions, viral infection, etc) so we stopped worrying about it. Now that he is doing better I tried again and he picked it up right away. It feels good to be teaching politeness to a 1 1/2 year old!

Jacelynn said...

Hmmm...... lets see what I can come up with. :)

1.) I love dogs, I have a 1 year old lab/pit bull/ german shepherd.

2.) My husband and I love to "explore" the farm with our kids on sunny days.

3.) My mouth tends to run when it shouldn't, but I think once people get to know me Im not so bad.

4.) I love to read, mostly YA books.

5.) Fall is my favorite season.

6.) Im a bit of a homebody.

7.) Im what the ladies in my community call a single, married mom. lol, Because my husband is gone for 2+ weeks at a time in the oil field.

8.) I love to bake, nothing complicated just yummy stuff.

9.) I cry at the drop of a hat. And I love watching sappy movies even though it usually means Im crying buckets at the end.

10.) My kids and husband are the most important people in the world to me.

CincyMom said...

Mom--I recently met a children's author AND publisher, Kat Shehata. She has written lots of books and publishes others as well. She said the main part of the business is to try to tie the theme to something that will alwasy have a sellable factor. Her book about the sea lions in San Francisco's Pier area are sold right there, her book about some famous guitar player in Hilton Head who plays under a tree is sold all around there and "Seabiscuit" was released as a children's version to accompany the movie release. I liked hearing her business sense related to the industry, because I have a book unwritten in my head and it could help me focus it better.

Sorry putting this here, but wanted to make sure you saw it if you wanted to look her up!

Thanks for your fun answers.

Weed said...

Okay - I’ll give this a go…

1. My nickname growing up was Weed hopper. Not because I’m tall and skinny but because I had a crush on a boy who was called Weed and I got the Weed hopper ‘cause I followed him. Although now it’s been shorten to Weed. I owe this moniker to my brother, Thanks Jeff!!
2. My family is the most important thing in my life. I would lie down and die for my daughter. I lost my mother the year before she was born – I had been told my entire life that I would not be able to have children, my mother passed away in January 1984 and in January 1985 I found out I was expecting my miracle child. Although I nearly lost my life during the pregnancy – I honestly believe my mother’s spirit had a big hand in the pregnancy.
3. I’ve developed a strange habit of “can-hunting”. My sister is down on her luck and I used to save my husband’s coke cans and she would take them to recycle – now my husband and I walk every weekend and hunt for cans. I’m actually scaring my husband because I go crazy if I see a can while driving – I’m looking everywhere for cans!! None are safe from me, anywhere!!
4. I’ve had the same job since I was 16 years old! I can retire in 9 years when I turn 55 with 80% of my high-three year’s salary. Not bad – some of the best advice my mother gave me was to TAKE the job. My idea was to take the job at the local garage but no, she talked me into taking the uncool Government job.
5. I absolutely adore my husband – since the children moved out we have rediscovered why we fell in love and it’s great.
6. I constantly stress out about things I cannot change. I am a worrier to the point it drives me crazy that I can’t let things go.
7. I LOVE MY DVR!!! Best decision I’ve made ‘cause I’m a t.v. junkie. My only problem is that it just records 2 shows at a time – and on Monday nights that’s a problem!!
8. I love true crime shows and books. I’m totally into serial killers (yes, it scares my husband with how much I know).
9. I’m the crazy old cat lady in the neighborhood. I have at least 6 strays that I feed and I have named them all.
10. I have OCD about light switches – especially in my house. They have to be all in the same direction when turned off or on. My daughter knows this drives me crazy so after she visits – I have to check the switches and dang-it, she’s screwed them up and I have to go around and put the switches in the correct direction!!

I have plenty more but I didn’t want all the crazy to come out at once. You might have barred me from ever posting again :-)

CincyMom said...

1. I have a drinking problem and no one knows. (I am working on it but just want to keep it private).

2. I like stationery.

3. I would eat yummier, healthier foods if my family would. I think I'm just going to force them and make my choices. No longer 3 against 1!

4. We want a dog but just don't know when we'll do it.

5. My heart is still pounding from typing No. 1 but I feel good.

6. My trip to Belize with my husband 8 years ago was the coolest trip I've ever taken.

7. Reading is a wonderful thing (and my second worst addiction ; )

8. I love the sound of my kids 6 and 7 year old voices whenever I talk with them on the phone. They sound like they are 2 years old!

9. I have a phobia of using other people's bathrooms and public bathrooms.

10. I want to buy a bike and take rides this summer with the kids.

Eileen said...

Oh, CincyMom, best of luck. Good for you, admission is the first step. My oldest has a very bad drinking problem, it under control right now, one day at a time. We're very proud of him, it was a tough road. My oldest daughter was a heroin addict and was living out on the streets of NYC of two years, it was a nightmare, I don't know how we survived that one. But God's been very good to us, we are so Blessed.

I tried to post a list before but it didn't go through for some reason.
I have to get my grandson off to school, maybe I'll try again later.
I just wanted to wish CincyMom well. And now you know two things about me that you didn't know before anyway!

The Travel Mom said...

1. I'm crabby, I have been crabby for a while. Which is making me hungry for crab as I write this.

2. I was a hot sexy piece once. I swear. It was in college when I bought clothes instead of books and food. So I was broke, starved and barely made it though college. (I had no books)

3. My biggest life experiences was when my parents moved away and I struggled to live life in Manhattan and went to school at F.I.T. And by struggle I mean my parents getting me in an apartment and paying for everything and by moved I mean they went to Jersey..

4. I have only tasted alcohol less than 5 times in my life. Beer is nasty and drinking isn't for me.What is for me? Coke. Coke is my crack and I will never go back.

5. My saddest moment was when my computer crashed this past summer. I hit F10 and erased 7 years OF MY LIFE. Thank God for Snapfish.

6. We were on HGTV for a room make over show. They did a crappy job and I had to repaint the mustard walls. Those shows aint what they’re cracked up to be. But then again, neither is my house ;)

7. I dated a guy that thought he WAS Vanilla Ice. I swear. Just thinking about that makes me pee in my pants.....My cousin was like .. “are you freakin kidding me?” my taste in men was odd.

8. My recent baby arrived after months of several IUI’s and one blessed In-Vitro. We currently hold the record for the largest baby born at our Hospital. Ava was born 12lbs. 11oz.

9. I am happiest when I’m scrapbooking all the fun things I do with my husband the girls. We love Amusement Parks & Disney! Thank goodness Daddy loves them too. I’m also happiest when my parents take the kids for the day.. ;)

10. “They say love is blind...and marriage is an institution. Well, I'm not ready for an institution for the blind just yet.” -Mae West

Anonymous said...

Good luck CincyMom! Oh Eileen that must have been hard, I can't even imagine what I would do if anybody I knew was living on the streets, let a lone my daughter.

Nina Bell said...

CincyMom

Good luck to you. I am glad you stuck around. I appreciate your input and honesty.

Theresa said...

1. I eat Turkey Hill Rocky Road ice cream everyday. Most often it's my lunch. I love it.

2. While I like and am happy I am in my dream job/the job I went to school for, I am getting tired of it. Waking up early is taking a toll on the ol' gal.

3. I would love to get into PR at one of our Children's hospitals.

4. I still look for Honesuckle Rose everytime I go into Victoria's Secret, even though they've discontinued it years ago!

5. I get in ruts when it comes to exercise. Today am lazy. Other times, I over exercise. I cannot be in a happy medium.

6. I am told I am a nurturer.

7. My older brother is a licensed pyrtotechnician and he's taught me how to shoot off firewords. I have lit several cremora fireballs. For the last five July 4th's, I have squibbed fireworks for our community fireworks show.

8. My favorite musical groups are The Eagles, Journey, Earth, Wind, & Fire, John Legend, and Alicia Keys.

9. I love the smell of Jasmine.

10. I have had more than my share of Pajama Saturday, where I stay in my pajamas all day and watch sappy Lifetime movies. (Thanks hubs for watching the kids!)

Mom said...

Cincymom - Thanks for the publisher and thank you for sharing something so personal. Remember, there is lots of support out there. Don't be afraid to seek it out! I LOVE stationery, too. In fact, I love writing little notes and sending them to people just because!

BabyMama - #7 cracked me up! Lord, I remember those guys! The guys I dated in the early nineties! Oy vey!

Jacelynn - I'm a cryer, too. Wah!

Liz - what kind of fish? He needs a name!

Lizzy said...

Cincymom, add me to the stationary lovers! I am a huge fan of any office supplies-- especially pens that click and post it notes. I can't wait to get my own business cards and stationary for my company. Also, my thoughts and prayers are with you in your journey- I am so glad you are honest and up front about your life in your posts. Hope you stick around and keep us updated!!

Mom, my fish is a red betta who is male. He is unofficially named "Mr. Darcy" and we are just hoping he does not end up being named "Floaty" as most of my fish end up. I think the Michigan weather and our drafty old house have a lot to do with the high death rate amongst our aquatic beings. The water temp is pretty important for bettas, so here's hoping this one sticks around long enough to have a proper name!

Weed, I am the same way about serial killers, and so is merryway! We have had many a discussion about True Crime stories both on the Internet Psychology Dossier site and via email. If you know of any great stories I should look into, let me know-- it is just fascinating to me.

Baby Mama, I think Coke Zero is my crack. I can't go a day without either Coke Zero or Diet Coke. I get headaches without the caffeine. I would drink the 'real' stuff but try really hard not to drink my calories so I stick to the diet kind :).

Theresa said...

Oh my God Liza Beth, I'm in heaven when I'm in an OfficeMax store! Give me supplies over shoes any day!

MommyZinger said...

Cincymom,
Good luck to you. You can overcome it and thanks for sharing.

Weed,
I don't know you but I am glad you and your daughter are here and healthy.


Here's mine:


1. I have three kids under the age of 5. Some days I don't know if I'll make it.

2. I smell things - paper, clothes, new babies. I love the smell of gasoline.

3. Most embarassing moment. I peed my pants when I was twelve from laughing too hard. I was in ballet class wearing only a leotard and tights.

4. I love the taste if porkchop fat.

5. I love rock climbing.

6. My favorite band is the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

7. I knit.

8. My favorite TV show is LOST.

9. I've been a nail biter my whole life.

10. I sucked my thumb until I was 7.

themrs said...

well, here goes. many of these are most likely influenced by reading yours!

1. all four of my children were born on their due dates. only two of which were induced.

2. i'm completely addicted to twilight. seriously, i'm trying to watch tv to distract myself from finishing the final book because i'm sad it's almost over. who uses tv to distract themselves from reading?

3. i grew up with john legend (well, here he was just john stephens :). i don't know him personally though, we just grew up at the same schools.

4. i have phobias of having my feet touched, using public bathrooms and fire.

5. i'm a recovered crystal meth addict (ten years clean!) which led me to a degree in social work and chemical dependency counseling. cincymom- i'd be more than happy to listen if you ever need an ear, i got clean on my own also. the mods here have my personal email if you want it :)

6. i have six peircings and three tattoos, yet i am an extremely conservative republican. most people are confused by that :)

7. there is no one in this world who "gets" me like my husband. we have so much fun together sometimes we have to remind ourselves to interact with other people.

8. i've gained 50-75lbs with ALL FOUR pregnancies and lost it each time. not easy!

9. i'm addicted to music. i grew up singing in church and local theater so i sing all day long a(although not in public anymore). i have more music than any one person should have. it's like air to me.

10. i have a serious shoe fetish. i lOVE LOVE LOVE shoes. i have almost as many shoes as i do music :)

Eileen said...

Okay, I think I fixed my computer problem (after a phone call to my husband). We'll see.

I already told you two very sad things about my life, there's a lot more sadness, but I choose not to dwell on it, so I'll skip over those episodes.

I love spending time with my family and friends.

I like taking family vacations to Disney World.

I am a good listener.

I have learned coping skills, I like that I don't fall apart anymore.

I love my home.

I am not athletic.

I am not very smart.

I am quick to judge at times.

I am a control freak.

I am a procrastinator.

I was never a 'hottie'. I went from being Twiggy to being an Amazon in just a few months time (never lost the 'baby weight' after my last son was born, and just continued to gain).

I like my height (5'8" which helps hide the fact that I weigh a ton!).

I like sitting in the sun (even though I know it's not good for me) in my backyard.

I like junk food (hence, the weight gain).

My nickname is Leenie.

I used to love to collect things, but now I am trying to live a clutter-free life. I don't think I'll succeed though. We'll see.

My eighteen year old nephew just landed on US soil last night (Maine), home from Iraq!! I'm breathing a sigh of relief!

Anonymous said...

lol, themrs, I am completely addicted to Twilight too! I loved all the books and the movie. :) I am also addicted to shoes! Congrats on 10 years clean!!

Since we all seem to be addicted to some type of drink I think I should confess that I am 100% addicted to Dr. Pepper :) Seriously I can't go a day without it.

Theresa said...

Eileen, that is great news about your nephew being home! A good friend of mine's son came back last year. Three months to the day he came back he was married. They had to wait two years for their wedding day. (he was shipped out five days before the original date). At the wedding, she sang "At Last" to him. Very nice.

And, I think you're smart...from what I gather here reading your posts. I learn a lot from the moms here.

Eileen said...

Oh, Theresa, thank you for your good wishes. We're all really happy. My sister-in-law said he might even make it for Easter dinner, that would be a real Blessing! I'm so happy for your friend's son too, what a nice story!

And thank you for being so sweet. That is something I was always insecure about, school was a constant struggle for me! I've made my peace with it though, we can't all be Einsteins, and I think I've been Blessed with common sense.
Thanks again, I appreciate it. Everyone here is really very nice, and very supportive. It's a nice place to visit each day.

CincyMom said...

These have been interesting reads! It makes me think of the many ways people are the same and different.

Thanks for all the support--I think the nicer spring weather and kids being off school during summer and all the fun things to do will be good distractions. Both my parents are very open recovering alcoholics (20 years now). I just prefer to try privately because I don't really want the "how are you?" and concern everytime people are around to get in the way of regular relationships. We'll see. The Mrs. thanks for your sharing as well. I can't imagine what you went through. I'm always amazed at what else could be done with all the money wasted on addictions.

On the topic of true crime--we had a big media story here the past month for a trial of a guy named Ryan Widmer. I don't know if it got any national play. He was accused of drowning his wife in the bathtub four months after their wedding. He (and many family members, including her own) said she fell asleep in the tub often. I can't remember the verdict but he was found guilty of one of the lesser charges but still a murder charge I think...

Samantha@IW said...

1)I love rain. Short of flooding, the more the better- especially at night.

2)I can't swim and I'm considering swimming lessons for adults- guess what the class is called? Chicken of the Sea!

3)I'm a compassionate person- I love people and I can't even watch sad movies bc they break my heart, BUT confession: I can't stand people who cry about every petty little thing. My sister in law drives me crazy, she cries about everything. Everything is dramatic- last year when she flew home, her guitar (no clue why she brought it) got sent to another airport and even though they had someone drive it the 200 miles to our door, she cried about it like they lost her child. It was so annoying I wanted to smack her.

4)I hate watching movies more than once, with the exception of a few. It seems like once you know what happens- whats the point?

5)My family knows Robbie Benson (Ice Castles) and my daughter has his daughter's old canopy bed. She loves the movie Beauty and the Beast and Robbie was the voice of the beast in the movie. Belle is her favorite princess and she thinks its so cool that she has the "beast's bed"

6)When I was pregnant I craved burnt frozen pizza.

7)Growing up my uncles called me Sambo

8)I LOVE 80's music

9)My favorite restaurant in the world is Carrabbas

10)Random tidbit: My hands are exactly like my grandmother's minus the wrinkles, I can't look at my hands without seeing her and I wouldn't change them for anything.

Darlene Williams said...

Okay, lets start this list...

1) I live by Music..always have some form of music on during the day..lately it's been kids music but it's still music!!

2) I grew up in Nova Scotia Canada in a small town where everyone knows each other.

3) Moved to the West Coast USA in 2000. Lived in California for 4 years between 2003-2007 in the Bay Area. Didn't like it!

4) I met my Hubby over the internet in 1998. My family and friends warned me it was dangerous but I was a stupid 23 year old and I got lucky.

5) I was adopted when I was 5 years old along with my two older sisters. I have 7 half brothers and sisters I didn't grow up with.

6) I feel bad for my kids when they think it's fun hanging out at the Doctor's office because of all the Doctor's appointments I have.

7) My fear is dying and my hubby becoming a single father.


8) I love to travel but I haven't really gone anywhere other than around Canada and the USA.

9) I have no tattoo's because I'm afraid of needles even though I have to stab myself on a daily basis with insulin.

10) When I was in Nursery School my life ambition was to work at McDonald's.

11) Oh I have two kids, girl age 4 and an almost 2 year old boy.

This was fun!

Darlene Williams said...

Oh my addiction is Diet Pepsi. It's so bad the other night the hubby drank the last one and I made him go to Walgreens at 1 am to buy me some for the morning.

CincyMom : recovery is hard, I quit drinking cold turkey in January 2003 because I fell over a bench and fractured my left upper arm. It was one of those life lessons and a wake up call.

Anya@IW said...

1) I tend to be a pretty anxious and overly emotional individual. About 4 years ago, I finally went on depression meds (though I never considered myself depressed). It has helped balance me out, though PMS is still a #$@ for me.

2) I have a lot of phobias (see #1), but my biggest one is rats. If my house were ever invaded, I'd have to move out for good.

3) I hate hate hate smoking. It's killed too many people that I love and the smell is disgusting.

4) I am shy and take a while to warm up to people and trust them. When I do, however, I consider myself very loyal.

5) I am a good listener.

6) What I consider my best physical features: green eyes and thick hair....What I *wish* I had: great bone structure and a hot bod!

7) Biggest regret: not being a better daughter to my mom when she was alive.

8) I was raised in a very liberal household. I sort of became a conservative in my 20's and now I am back in the middle - leaning left (particularly on social issues).

9) I read a couple of books a year in my 20's to mid 30's. Now I am never without a book. My favorite place in the world is a bookstore.

10) I always thought I wanted a bunch of kids, but I have one and I think that's enough. I really enjoy my alone time.

Anonymous said...

Anya, I HATE smoking too, my mom smokes and it kills me that she doesn't even try to stop. lol, I always thought I wanted just one baby, now I have 4. :) But I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Anya@IW said...

Weed, love your can-hunting. Sounds like you would do well to come to some of our houses with our diet coke and pepsi addictions!

You have me beat on the job! I have been with the same company since I was 19, but 16, that's very impressive. Good for you for sticking it out in the 'uncool' job.

Eileen, the world needs more people with common sense and less people who are (or think) that they are smart. The number of people I have come across in my life with college (sometimes advanced) degrees who can't think critically or analyze a situation is truly astonishing.

Samantha - Chicken of the Sea. Love it. I totally agree with you on movies. Once is enough.

Ann said...

Good luck, CincyMom. You are very brave.

Congratulations on your nephew coming home safely from Iraq, Eileen. Our family shared that particular joy at Christmastime.

BabyMama, #7 and #3 are hysterical. Really funny. Good list!

1. I like reading children's books and young adult fiction best. I hope to have an personally autographed copy of Mom's book someday.

2. I also love office supplies. My husband sold a business right before I met him. He had lots of supplies related to the business still. I used to tease him that I married him for his office supplies.

3. I come from a big family that is very close. I'm a middle child.

4. I've never been in school or worked on my birthday, and I never intend to do so.

5. I love Pride and Prejudice. Sometimes I use lines from the book in my real life. They just pop out in the right situation!

6. One of my nieces knows one of the Gosselins' old babysitters. I have absolutely no "insider information" except that the kids are incredibly cute and the babysitter liked her job. I heard that second-hand, and I have no video to back it up! Lol!

7. I hate wearing make-up and jewelry, and I don't like to shop.

8. My husband is a foot taller than me.

9. I love being Catholic. I love the order it gives to our lives. I love that there is always something to celebrate or anticipate. I love the mass and the sacraments, the prayers, songs, scripture, and the theology.

10. One of my brothers is a Catholic priest, and I have trouble calling him, "Father." I can't get him to call me "Saint" either.

merryway said...

I spent one Halloween night in Salem. It was the only time I ever had to miss trick-or-treat w/my kids.

For awhile, I developed a horrible fear of flying. It lasted about 8 years and then I got over it again.

I used to love to water ski.

I love cartoonists and have several collections. Bloom County and Calvin & Hobbes are my favorite. I am a fan of Matt Groening and Mike Judge as well as others. I have to through the old Mad Mags in there as well.

I have the dummy copy of a well-known underground comic. It was a gift from the artist.

Hey Elizabeth, I have been to the Laura Ingalls Wilder home in Manson MO. I'm a big fan the Ingalls clan and love their family history. For something to read, you could try to grab Rose Wilder Lane: Her Story. It was written by her and Roger Lea MacBride.

My hot water has been going in and out for weeks. It is finally and for really true fixed this time.

My favorite flower and smell is Hyacinth

My ears are pierced, but I only put earrings in 2-3 times a year.

We might get a new puppy soon.

Mom said...

Saint -

Ditto on #7, 8 & 9 for me. I didn't know your bro was a priest. That's awesome!

I'm a cradle Catholic! I don't think I appreciated it as much as I do until about 10 years ago. I love the rituals and the significance of symbols during the mass. Aaaaaah, the smell of incense. Love it!

Mom said...

Saint -

P.S. I could always have a slumber party on my birthday as the following day was a Catholic holiday - "the Immaculate Conception" on December 8th!

Ann said...

Indianprincess, you and your husband have to be one of the first Internet marriages. That's 11 years ago!

Darlene Williams said...

Saint, we've only been married for six years. My hubby thinks it's funny when he said he got a mail order bride from Canada..lol. He's a couple months older so we were both young at the time we bumped into each other over the internet. I typically didn't tell people how we met early in our relationship. It was long distance and my friends thought I was crazy and weird.

Guinevere said...

I still need to do mine, but I have to respond to some of the interesting stuff that's come up!:

P.S. I could always have a slumber party on my birthday as the following day was a Catholic holiday - "the Immaculate Conception" on December 8th!

I guess you're one of the few people who know that the Immaculate Conception doesn't refer to the Virgin Birth, then! So many people get that wrong!

The Godfather (I & II) are my favorite movies. Goodfellas is a close second.

I love all three of those movies! I could watch the Godfather movies over and over (and do; they're on TV all the time). I've gotten more sensitive about violence, even fake violence, as I've gotten older, which makes Goodfellas a bit more difficult, but it's still a great movie.

I cry at the drop of a hat. And I love watching sappy movies even though it usually means Im crying buckets at the end.

I used to be a much bigger crier than I am now. In some ways I miss being an easy crier - it could be so cathartic. I still cry easiest at movies, though, rather than books or real-life stuff. I cried at the end of "Gran Torino", "Benjamin Button" and "Milk", all of which I saw a few months ago.

I love the taste if porkchop fat.

I like animal fat way too much - especially pork and beef. I grilled steaks last night and I gave myself the one with the most fat on it! (I do NOT need it.)

I am not very smart.

Bullshit (excuse my language). There are different kinds of smart, and I've seen enough of you to know that you are perfectly smart. (It's the ones who think that they are smart but aren't that you have to watch out for, anyway.)

I can't swim and I'm considering swimming lessons for adults- guess what the class is called? Chicken of the Sea!

Are you scared, or did you just never learn? I had swimming lessons at 7 at the YMCA, but I did it with a friend, who was scared; the result was that we got out of the pool to "go to the bathroom" constantly. As a result, I can swim, but it's not a pretty, elegant thing. I've never been able to tread water, but I float really well.

themrs said...

indianprincess- my husband's best friend met his wife on the internet. he shows up at our house one night, tells us he met this girl online and he's going to marry her, then says he wants us to meet her when she comes to visit. we're thinking he's lost his mind! (we were all early 20's, although we were already married). he brings her over and she's absolutely stunning. (i couldn't help wondering how she had to resort to the internet to find a man, LOL) she's smart, funny, educated, just a fantastic woman. they've been married for six years now and have two kids. i still love to hear their story!

Guinevere said...

1) The drink I’m addicted to is diet Canada Dry ginger ale, which is sadly hard to find.

2) I eat ice cream just about every day (at least a few spoonfuls); my favorite is anything with caramel in it.

3) I am a picky eater – I hate fish (the food, not the aquarium animal) and tend to be very particular about what I’ll eat. You would think this would mean that I’m thin. You’d be wrong.

4) OMG, enough about food!: I’m left-handed.

5) I’m so self-conscious I have trouble watching awards shows or talk shows – anything where people are talking off the cuff – because I have an empathetic fear that they may say something embarrassing.

6) I have a lot of trouble being assertive unless I’m angry, at which point it’s too late: I will probably cry or act totally irrational and my point will be lost. I need to work on my confrontation skills, for sure.

7) I have a phobia about hanging. Once, I saw something on a newsbreak when I was fastforwarding through a TV show, and it featured a quick shot of a videotaped hanging, and I got so hysterical I hyperventilated. I have to remind the dentist not to touch my neck or even the underside of my jaw if he can help it because I freak out.

8) I’m anxious and have OCD tendencies – checking that the door is locked and that the burners are off, and the minute I think I might not have checked – even if I kind of know I did – I have to do it again.

9) My mom died five years ago and my dad died two years ago. I grieve for my dad but don’t miss him; he was hard to feel close to. I miss my mom every day and dream about her all of the time.

10) I’m pretty germ-phobic. I won’t wear second-hand clothes. I won’t walk barefoot on hotel room carpets. And I don’t really like eating at other people’s houses that much (I am able to turn that part of my brain off at restaurants, for some reason).

Okay, half of this list is about food and the rest about my many neuroses. Geez.

Anonymous said...

I have to admit numbers 3,5,8,10 of Guin's lists could be copy and pasted to mine. :) Oh Guin I could totally send you some diet Ginger Ale, the little town where I live has a small, rinky-dink, grocery store and they carry diet ginger ale! I don't like ginger ale though, I think its because my mom thought it was practically medicine every time I was sick as a child. Now I cringe at the thought of Ginger Ale.......

Darlene Williams said...

I believe things happen for a reason for I just went for it and moved to the USA. My family thought I was crazy and should have met someone closer to home. When the hubby was transfered to California I didn't want to move because I already moved from Canada so we went and found a great medical team and had two wonderful babies and moved back to Oregon. When we were looking for apartments in Oregon to move into a friend of my hubby's family was selling their home so we bought it just like that. I didn't think a house was in our future. Call it faith or luck but things happen. I think if you think positive, positive things happen.

Anonymous said...

I completely agree indianprincess, things really do happen for a reason, even if the reason doesn't make sense at the time.

Fanny said...

Be strong, Cincymom. I've been through that with some family members and the best thing you can do is stay positive. You can do it.



Ok,

I married my best friend of nine years. I didn't know I loved him until he went to iraq. I married him 6 months after he came home.


I got married, had my first child and bought my first house in 7 months.


My dad and uncle are identical twins. My dad left when I was 6 and I was raised by my uncle. Most of my friends never knew the difference.



My grandfather is a baptist preacher and has been for as long as I can remember. Before that, he was a drinking, smoking, tatooed wildchild. Or so they tell me...


I would love to be a professional pastry chef. I make formal cakes now when I can just for fun, but I'd love to do it full time.


I have a sister who is 7 years older than me who I get mistaken for all the time. I still can't figure out if I look her age or she looks mine:-)



I stress over EVERYTHING. Seriously.



I love to decorate, and I get bored with certain rooms in my home very quickly. I think my hubby might divorce me if I ask to redo the kitchen one more time.



I take a bubble bath almost every night. Usually with a book or Cosmo.



I love going to yard sales and almost always end up buying something I will never use.

Guinevere said...

I have to admit numbers 3,5,8,10 of Guin's lists could be copy and pasted to mine. :)

Oh, it's so nice not to be alone in all my little idiocyncrasies!

Oh Guin I could totally send you some diet Ginger Ale, the little town where I live has a small, rinky-dink, grocery store and they carry diet ginger ale! I don't like ginger ale though, I think its because my mom thought it was practically medicine every time I was sick as a child. Now I cringe at the thought of Ginger Ale.......

Well, it has to be Canada Dry; I tried Vernor's once and it was gross (see, me being picky). I can understand cringing if you had to drink ginger ale every time you were sick! I didn't have chicken soup for years after one cold where my mom kept making me drink it and I drank so much I threw it up. Bad associations!

Darlene Williams said...

Guin, I didn't know I had OCD until my therapist told me I had it. Mine is more of a tidy thing. Everything has to be in it's place. I've learned to deal with it because of the kids. I have anxiety over everything. I can relate to a lot on your 10 things.

I did a class about food once and now I can't eat leftovers. Oh the horror!!!

I know where I get my tendencies from through therapy. My parents really messed me up but I'm dealing with them.

Anonymous said...

Guin, It is Canada Dry, thats the only brand I would even consider drinking, lol Im not sure why......?

Fanny, I love to redo rooms too! I am constantly rearranging and asking my husband (he says nagging but I don't think so) my husband to help me move furniture. :) I haven't redone anything major because we built our house just a little a year ago but Im sure one day I will want too.

Anonymous said...

Wow, look at the errors in my last comment!!! Opps, sorry guys.

That should be only one "my husband" and "a little over a year ago"

Eileen said...

Oh, Guin, I love ginger ale, I'll drink Schweppes, Seagram's, and Canada Dry, but the only diet I tried was Seagram's and I hated it. Maybe I'll give Canada Dry Diet a try.
Thanks too for your kind words.

And, Jacelynn, really, ginger ale is good for an upset stomach, I drink it a lot after a meal, and I drink ginger ale and take ginger pills for seasickness, it really works.

Don't get me started on how neurotic I am, I will be writing all night. That should be it's own thread one day.

EveryoneLovesErin said...

1. I listen to all types of music from country, to hip-hop, classic rock, and even a little Jazz.

2. I've been working with kids forever. Started out babysitting very young and have worked in various other capcities (running programs, mentoring, etc) since I was 18. I educate my first-time moms on their babies but I have no kids myself (yet).

3. I'm a huge Philly Sports fan. The Phillies and the Eagles are my teams.

4. I think Anthony Hopkins is pretty sexy for an old guy (I know, I know).

5. In keeping with Anthony Hopkins theme, love Silence of the Lambs. One of my favorite movies of all time.

6. I think that part of me is built to do what I'm doing but there is also a part of me that was born to be a cop. I think forensic psych is fascinating and I watch crime shows all of the time.

7. For some reason I'm drawn to bitchy women. Maybe I identify? LOL! Nancy Grace, love her though she is a bitch at times.

8. I DVR Judge Judy every day. I am a nerd...yes indeed.

9. I was on a Sesame Place commercial when I was very young. I was just randomly chosen from the crowd.

10. I have this goal of going to all 50 U.S. states. I've never traveled outside of the U.S. but I'm at 25 states. I've been to every state on the East...I lived in Texas and Ohio for a little bit too (not long).

Anonymous said...

Thanks Eileen, I know its good and as much as I hate the stuff I have to admit it does help at times. :) But I mostly stick to my Dr. Pepper, Iced Tea and Water.

Theresa said...

I love the taste if porkchop fat.

I like animal fat way too much - especially pork and beef. I grilled steaks last night and I gave myself the one with the most fat on it! (I do NOT need it.)
_____________________

I'm with you on this ladies. Did you happen to see that new chef on Foodnetwork this past Saturday? Her name is Clair Robinson and the show is 5 Ingredient Fix. She made Yorkshire pudding with the greasefat as the base. It looked delicious. (she made a rib eye roast and used it's fat.)

Here's the recipe....

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/thyme-for-yorkshire-pudding-recipe/index.html

Eileen said...

Jacelynn, that's so funny you said that about moving furniture around all the time, I do that every few months! I get tired of things so fast. Just this past weekend we were cleaning out our back room (three season) and getting it ready for the nice weather and I wanted to switch everything around and my husband thought I was nuts. I was just writing about that!
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this compulsion!

Nomoredrama, Anthony Hopkins is a good one, but I think Sean Connery is better!

Lizzy said...

Theresa, I meant to catch that show and was not able to!! It looked really good though-- I will have to remember to catch her another time.

I am right there with those of you who enjoy switching things around and reorganizing. I am a fanatic about being prepared for whatever happens, so while my room and office may not seem organized they actually are. Ask me where something is and I can tell you right away.

The funny thing is that my nephew has the same mindset-- one of his favorite things to do lately is put thing into containers and take them out. He loves to put the cap onto my water bottle. The little guy even picks up the pens on my desk (when he sits on my lap so we can watch Sesame Street clips online) and puts them into my pen cup. We joke around that he is a little engineer-- kinda like Collin Gosselin!-- and its so funny to watch the little wheels in his head turn and figure things out.

Anonymous said...

Eileen, it is nice to know your not alone! I never thought I would have so much in common with the ladies here, but its a very nice surprise.

Guinevere said...

My dad and uncle are identical twins. My dad left when I was 6 and I was raised by my uncle. Most of my friends never knew the difference.

Wow, that's interesting. My mom and aunt were identical twins; my aunt is like a second mom to us because of that.

Guin, I didn't know I had OCD until my therapist told me I had it. Mine is more of a tidy thing. Everything has to be in it's place. I've learned to deal with it because of the kids. I have anxiety over everything. I can relate to a lot on your 10 things.

I did a class about food once and now I can't eat leftovers. Oh the horror!!!

I know where I get my tendencies from through therapy. My parents really messed me up but I'm dealing with them.


I just assume it's a control thing. I don't think my OCD tendencies are strong enough to effect my life in a negative way, luckily. My anxiety is. I wish I could go around on a continuous Valium drip!

For some reason I'm drawn to bitchy women. Maybe I identify? LOL! Nancy Grace, love her though she is a bitch at times.

I think I'm drawn to bitchy women on reality TV, if not necessarily IRL. I think I'm the only one who still likes Kenley from last season's "Project Runway" - especially after she got arrested for throwing a cat at her boyfriend!

But I mostly stick to my Dr. Pepper, Iced Tea and Water.

I've never gotten the Dr. Pepper love. That and root beer. Root beer tastes like dirt to me and I don't know why anyone would drink it.

Anonymous said...

lol Guin, I don't like root beer but I dunno theres just somethin' about Dr. Pepper, to me anyways!

Darlene Williams said...

Oh I love Root Beer..diet of course..I don't drink it often but once in a while I crave it. I'm going through an orange craving at the moment. No one touches my oranges. lol

Fanny said...

Wow, that's interesting. My mom and aunt were identical twins; my aunt is like a second mom to us because of that.


I always felt like we were very "Jerry Springer" lol. When my dad would come to visit and my friends were around I'd be like "This is my dad" and they'd all look at me like "Duh". lol



I'm very ocd, and yes, I agree that it's a control thing. It generally acts up when I'm really anxious about...well...whatever. Isn't it funny how so many women suffer from anxiety? I think we tend to put a lot on ourselves. I know I personally have a lot on my plate and feel a responsibility to keep it all in check myself even though I have lots of people around me to help. I can tell by some of the posts here that I'm not alone in that.

Anya@IW said...

Theresa said...

Here's the recipe....

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/thyme-for-yorkshire-pudding-recipe/index.html


Thanks, Theresa. I think I'll give that a try with a diet Coke to wash it down! Must watch figure!
:-)

Anya@IW said...

Fanny said...I would love to be a professional pastry chef. I make formal cakes now when I can just for fun, but I'd love to do it full time.

That sounds like so much fun. Bet your family and friends love you. I wish I had talent like that. I think I lack the "patience gene", however. I tend to lose interest when I don't do something perfect the first time. Not my best quality.


NMD: I DVR Judge Judy every day. I am a nerd...yes indeed.

Hey, who are you calling a nerd? Seriously, you know I share the love!

Theresa said...

Thanks, Theresa. I think I'll give that a try with a diet Coke to wash it down! Must watch figure!
:-)

April 6, 2009 4:16 PM


LOL! :) I don't like to drink my calories either Anya.

erin said...

I really like this thread, a few comments first: 1. CincyMom--good luck, and good vibes! 2. Guin--I totally thought I was the only one who got embarrassed at the speeches on award shows. I like hearing random stuff about people.

1. I have an alcoholic, abusive mother who had an alcoholic abusive mother. Oddly, my dad is a juvenile counselor who specializes in abused children and juvenile sex offenders. He wasn't home enough to see what happened.

2. I once overdosed on benzos, sleeping pills, and muscle relaxers. I had to drink liquid charcoal and was so out of it they almost put a tube down my throat.

3. I became a lawyer on accident.

4. I know the person who coined the phrase "pop culture," sort of. There is a conflict as to who coined the term but I know the person who is widely credited as one of the greatest pop culture minds ever. One of my universities is known for its popular culture department (with an actual major), one of the largest collections of vinyl, and the home of the Journal of Popular Culture.

5. I worked at my college library and secretly stole books from the lost and found to sell back for extra cash.

6. I have red hair.

7. I lost more than 70 pounds when I was 21 and have kept it off for 8 years, no diet, no clubs, no surgery.

8. I am an incredibly devoted euchre player. My sister in law and I rock as a team, because we know each other so well. Turn up is luck, bid is skill.

9. The oddest compliment (?) I have ever gotten was that I act "Just like a man in court."
Oddly this came from more than one person, and usually came during times I was stoned on anti-anxiety meds. I am terrible at evidence, witness questioning, etc. I used to take Ativan before going to court hearings because I was so anxious, and had my greatest "triumph" trial moment after taking 6 mg of Ativan.

10. I can hand toss a pizza, a skill that never fails to impress.

Anonymous said...

erin, Congrats about the weight loss! And can I ask how you accidentally became a lawyer?

erin said...

Sure! How I accidentally became a lawyer (kinda long, sorry):

I have an undergraduate English Lang/Lit degree with a Soc. minor. I wanted to get a Sociology masters/PhD or a Masters of Library and Information Sciences. I took the GRE, and my boss suggested also taking the LSAT and the MCAT (the latter I didn't take). I enrolled in graduate school at the same school I did undergrad and was happily working my way towards a masters degree when a friend told me he was going to law school in my home town in two months, saying I should come with him. I said "Maybe" but applied a month later and got in (only to later find out I got in without problem when others were wait listed, leaving 10 spots open for late applications that were more desirable). I said originally "I'm not going to go" but was talked into it by the academic dean, who would later talk me down (two times) from dropping out of school.

By the time I got to the end of law school I figured I couldn't very well graduate from law school and not take the bar, so I took it even though I had no intention to ever practice. When I found out I passed the bar I still didn't look for jobs in the field, instead looking at consulting jobs and library jobs.

I met my current boss, because my dad knew her, came just to talk to her about being a "real" lawyer and she said "great, you are hired, now we have to be in court in 20 minutes, grab your bag." I went to three courts with her to introduce myself to the judges and be put on the court appointed lists. So even though I never wanted it, never really planned on it, attempted to avoid it I still ended up as a lawyer. All by accident (or maybe dragged kicking and screaming into).

rain88 said...

1. I have an identical twin sister. When I got pregnant with my daughter I begged her to get pregnant as well. Her son is 5 months younger than my daughter. They are very close. My daughter's first word was her cousin's name.

2. I am left handed so I taught myself to write backwards. I also read all magazines back to front.

3. When I eat popcorn I bite off all the crunchy bits first and save a pile of the soft stuff until the end.

4. At one time I had a used staple collection until I finally realized how stupid it was.

5. I'm also a true crime junkie, especially ones about murder. Reading Helter Skelter got me hooked.

6. I've never met a person that draws as badly as I do.

7. I rarely cry, but I don't think I'm a hard hearted person.

8. When I was 22 I took the train across Canada and spent time in every province, even Newfoundland.

9. My sister got a thyroid condition and lost a lot of weight. We could now be the before/after pictures for Jenny Craig.

10. I love softball. My daughter played until she was 18 so I now follow US college softball on my computer to keep my fix satiated.

Mom said...

Rain -

The staple collection and popcorn had me laughing. I'm a true crime junkie, too.

The Travel Mom said...

Guinevere~ I had to tell you quickly that I almost had a heart attack wearing a turtleneck once. I NEVER wear any clothing that is against my neck. My flotation devices must be front & center at all times in case of an emergency..(I mean COME ON a plane did land in water here you know!) (lol)

I loved everyone's lists so far! I love Cherry Coke the best followed by Vanilla!

Darlene Williams said...

I never been to Newfoundland but every other province. I was a room attendant when the Swissair crashed off the coast of Nova Scotia in 1998. Most of the families stayed at our Hotel. It was the only time it was hard going to work for me. Loved my job!!

Guinevere said...

I had to tell you quickly that I almost had a heart attack wearing a turtleneck once.

Turtlenecks (shudder).

I loved everyone's lists so far! I love Cherry Coke the best followed by Vanilla!

Flavored coke is not of the Lord.

tintin said...

Interesting thread.

The point about so many women having anxiety issues really got me wondering. Is it because women are expected to do-it-all? Look great, like sex, bear the kids, raise the kids, keep the home, be the second bread-winner, and at times, the primary one? Hmmm....

1. That said, my first on my list is that I am happy to have a blessedly positive disposition. I have a history of depression in the family and I'm glad it skipped me.

2. I currently love checking out the site Truuconfessions.com for Military wives as people just confess the most terrible and interesting things there. For the record, I am a new military wife. Hubby just joined last Dec.

3. I am way more comfortable in social situations now than I was just a year ago. I was just hopeless during high school years even though I was relatively attractive and smart. My parents are very very bad with normal social skills and I was very insecure (wasn't allowed to go anywhere, and do anything). Good thing I had my sunny disposition :)

4. I obsess too much about my weight and how I look even though I'm normal BMI and shape. AND I HATE IT! I just want to turn off that part of my head that's always thinking about how I look and saying I need to lose weight. I want to tell that voice to Shut the F up but I can't turn it off for good. (I have no eating disorders or anything,just so frustrated right now). You know what though, if a size 2 thinks they still need to lose weight, is it any wonder bigger women, the rest of us, feel the same thing?

5. I am not exactly a feminist but I love kick-ass females, in TV literature, and in real life. Strong, no nonsense, no drama, intelligent women. I hope to raise one too.

6. My favorite TV show EVER is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Don't laugh.

7. I secretly love the Silhouette Blaze novels. They're romantic and they don't play coy on the sex talk. :)

8. Even though I said what I said about my parents in #3 I love them and get along great with them now.

9. I have always considered my relationship with my husband to be one of those you read in a book. He is awesome. He is better than a lead in the book or movies because he's real. Hehe.

10. I have lived in 3 countries my whole life.

Weed said...

CincyMom, I'm so proud that you admitted your problem and I hope and pray that you get the support and help that you need. If you felt strong enough to admit it here - I'm hoping that soon you'll reach out for more help. Alcoholism runs in my family - my father, sister and brother - my father still drinks but my sister has 15 years sober and my brother nearly as many. It's a struggle everyday but with the proper support I believe anything is possible. I'll keep you in my prayers.
LizaBeth - I'd love to join a blog that discusses Serial Killers!! you can email me with any info and I'll do the same. I'm sure we've read the same books and I'm currently looking for new books to read - so if you have any titles to recommend, send them my way!!

Samantha@IW said...

Flavored coke is not of the Lord.

Cherry coke is delicious! When we went to Disney World last year and staye don site at the park they only had Coke products- I can only take so much bottled water and coke, so I tried cherry coke and now I'm hooked! Its awesome with lots of crushed ice :)

Anonymous said...

tintin, I love Buffy The Vampire Slayer too!! I recently got hooked when a friend lent me the seasons DVDs, so hooked that I had to go out and buy my own, lol, Im not finished yet Im on season 5 I think, but its just so great!

Again I just have to say how shocked I am at how much in common we all seem to have.

Theresa said...

SamanthaNC said...

Cherry coke is delicious! When we went to Disney World last year and staye don site at the park they only had Coke products- I can only take so much bottled water and coke, so I tried cherry coke and now I'm hooked! Its awesome with lots of crushed ice :)

April 7, 2009 6:11 AM


When I was at Disney World a few years ago, that's when the Coke Black came out. Love it!! It was like ice coffee. Smooth taste.

Florida Mom said...

I love these lists--

I have to agree with Guin--Coke should be unadulterated!

1. I am a Christian. Try to teach by example--not doing that great!

2. I am happily married with two wonderful boys--one of whom is autistic.

3. I have never watched a Rocky movie--I don't know why I am proud of that, but I am.

4. I am a horrible cook. When my oldest son was 4, I asked him to get something from the kitchen. I said it is by the oven. He said where is the oven?

5. I have a huge wonderful extended family.

6. I love the beach, which makes up for all the other Florida crazy you have to put up with.

7. I would rather eat the cookie dough than a cookie.

8. Gone With The Wind is my favorite book.

9. I am a terrible driver--I fit in perfectly in Florida!

10. My favorite saying (about controversy) is "the more you stir--the more it stinks".

AAP said...

P.S. I could always have a slumber party on my birthday as the following day was a Catholic holiday - "the Immaculate Conception" on December 8th!

I guess you're one of the few people who know that the Immaculate Conception doesn't refer to the Virgin Birth, then! So many people get that wrong!


I'm such a bad Catholic - what does it refer to? In drama class (in a Catholic school, no less), my friends and I wrote and produced a really bad play regarding one of our friends who was pregnant by Immaculate Conception!

Theresa said...

Florida mom said..

3. I have never watched a Rocky movie--I don't know why I am proud of that, but I am.


I've never seen Star Wars and don't care too. I also never saw the entire Titanic movie. I thought it was so boring. Perhaps one of the most poorly directed movies. Kate Winslet was okay, but I had a hard time seeing Leonardo DiCaprio as a leading man. He seemed too young to be belieavable as someone Kate Winslet would fall in love with. Oh well.

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen a Rocky movie or Star Wars and frankly I don't ever plan on watching either. lol, I don't know why they just don't appeal to me.

AAP said...

Tintin, one of my favorite tv shows is Buffy the Vampire Slayer too. My favorite episode is where Buffy had to explain how she "killed" Angel to her friends, just as he turned back to being good.

Here's a few things about me -

1) I like Michael Buble, because he looks like David Boreanaz and can sing.

2) my kids were originally names Joshua and Mia, and my dad asked me to change them because he didn't like those names. It was in the hospital after it took me 2 days to decide on the names too.

3) I love photography and scrapbooking! I currently have more than 20,000 photos on my computer because I can't delete the bad shots, and am worried when I die that my kids will just delete the whole thing because it is way too much to go through.

4) My house resembles Amy Roloff's more than Kate's.

5) Even though I like vampire novels, I don't really understand the fanatic appeal of the Twilight series, which makes my friends crazy! Seriously, Bella is a little to whiny for my tastes.

6) I have 1 friend that I would consider has a normal family and is drama free. So I'm starting to think that normal really isn't all that common.

7) I loved my job producing theme parties and entertainment for corporate events, but don't miss the wacko ex-entertainers who seem to run all the companies.

8) I used to think traveling for work was very glamorous until I actually had to do it.

9) My husband won a free trip to Australia which was one of the best vacations of our lives.

10) My BIG secret - my husband and I have been together forever (more than 20 years, we started dating when I was young), and we eloped in Vegas (we got married my an Elvis impersonator! If you're getting married in Vegas you might as well go all out) so I could have health insurance. The plan was to come home and get married, but it came down to a choice between buying a house or having a wedding and we chose to buy a house. We had a smaller wedding for my family several years later.

AAP said...

NMD

I think Judge Judy is the best entertainment around! Don't you wish you can knock some sense into people just like she does?? Ok maybe the person on receiving end might not get it, but I think it would make me feel better.

Anya@IW said...

Tintin said...I currently love checking out the site Truuconfessions.com for Military wives as people just confess the most terrible and interesting things there.

You are my internet hero now. I just checked out this site for the first time after I saw your post. I haven't even made it to the Military Wives thread. I am cracking up on the Office one. I love it. Thank you!

Anya@IW said...

Florida Mom said...

7. I would rather eat the cookie dough than a cookie.


Oh yeah. In our household, we are lucky if half the Pillsbury dough makes it into the oven!

Guinevere said...

I'm such a bad Catholic - what does it refer to? In drama class (in a Catholic school, no less), my friends and I wrote and produced a really bad play regarding one of our friends who was pregnant by Immaculate Conception!

The Immaculate Conception in the Catholic Church refers not to the virgin birth but to the conception of his mother, Mary, without the stain of Original Sin.

Mom said...

NMD - I love #9. Do you have a tape of it? That is really neat!

Guin - NOW you take down your Mary icon avatar? LOL! Yes, for years I thought the Immaculate Conception was about Mary conceiving Jesus. I love old religious icons btw. There is one at an antique dealer here from Russia. It's really awesome, but WAY too expensive for my budget.

Mom said...

AAP -

So great to see your posts! You really have me cracking up! ;-)

Bella Donna said...

CincyMom: All the best to you. Breaking an addiction can be the worst of times, but it is so worth it! I've been 3 1/2 years clean (gambling addict) & I wouldn't trade being clean for anything!

Guin: With you on the picky eater thing. And if you saw me, you'd never, ever know it. My eating habits drive hubby nuts.

indianprincess: Hubby & I also met online.Together since 2004, married for 3 years in May.

tintin: I'll check out that site; military wife here too.


OK, I'll try this 10 things. I won't promise these will be exciting, amusing or worth knowing though ;)

1. I cannot clean my house unless I have music blaring in the background. Given my "taste", the family runs when I turn on the tunes. I am currently on a Little River Band kick.

2. On a related note, I love karaoke. I have done songs from GnR, Britney, Patsy Cline, SHania Twain, Andy Gibb, Soft Cell (Taaaainnnted Looooove). I am not saying I sang any or all of these songs well though.

3. I have been known to spend 10 hours a day going to garage sales.

4. My 15 year old son & I have been mistaken for husband & wife before. This is a tad creepy, especially for him.

5. My son has an "old fashioned" name, because he was named after my dad, who died almost 10 months before he was born.

6. My daughter was born at 30 weeks, which IIRC is the same as the Gosselin tups.

7. I had 80's hair until 2000.

8. I cried when the Vikings lost the 1998 NFC Championship game to the Falcons.

9. I have a secret crush on Justin Morneau. Don't tell hubby ;)

10. Almost every forum or blog that I've joined, I've had a screen name that had something to do with music. Bella Donna came to mind when I decided to post here for the first time, and I was listening to Stevie Nicks at the time.

tintin said...

Jacelyn and AAP, yay!

Anya: happy browsing! hehe.

tintin said...

Bella Donna: happy browsing to you too.

erin said...

I thought I would post this here, as well. I wandered over to the pig blog, since there was debate about it recently, and honestly I have a light schedule this week and I've been bored. This is my response to "Vomitus Boy," which I'm fairly certain will not be posted there:

Vomitus: The "loud of crap" (sic) that I put out there is unlikely to lead anyone to me. However, I find it remarkably odd that you think it is funny and telling that people were abused or have addiction problems. How so, if I could ask? "Alcholic" or otherwise, this is a group of people who through a website have gotten to know each other and decided to share some things about themselves, tragic, happy, and in between.

You'll have to excuse me, but the things I see on other Gosselin blogs really cause me to scratch my head. Stalking is a mild description of what they do. Defamation is another. How about a holier-than-thou God complex that is rampant on any anti-Gosselin blog? Just as a quick aside, if you are one of those sick people who wants to go up to the Gosselins and scream, yell at, or confront Kate--please don't. Child advocate to "child advocates" it is never a good idea to confront a child in front of their parents. It is to be avoided at all costs. You put the child at risk of embarrassment, humiliation, and worse still you frighten that child, more often than not. I have only once, in my entire career, approached a parent in front of a child and on that occasion it was because the mother hit the child so hard that the child fell down (this was in the frozen foods aisle of the grocery store).

In short (or long), I'm not really afraid of anything *I've* but out there being "usef" against me, but I do fear the level of crazy that is displayed by the so-called "normal" people. And I rather applaud the courage and willingness to share of those at "Giddy."

Ann said...

How about a holier-than-thou God complex that is rampant on any anti-Gosselin blog?

Erin, you hit the bulls-eye with that desciption, and with that poster. Well said.

Lizzy said...

erin, I know exactly how you feel. Honestly, I am amazed at how unaware people on that blog are of how stupid they seem. A poster on this site saw fit to email me what was said about me, and I was impressed that now suddenly I am OCD (who knew that keeping my work space organized meant someone on the internet could diagnose me as such!).

I have no respect for people who see fit to mock transparency, especially when they are so shrouded in sock puppets and random screennames with no emails attached.

Weed, we have the Internet Psychology Dossier site which is linked on my Google ID profile-- I got busy with school so there have not been as many posts lately, but I would love to know what you think! It would be great to look into some new cases where the internet played a role in crime, so if you have any ideas I would love to hear them :).

Theresa said...

Erin--great response! Of course, it probably won't be posted there. You make too much sense.

They are a pathetic, bunch of losers. They have nothing to talk about, but us. Prett sad, huh?

Btw, I am proud of my online friends...each and every poster here. We are real women who tackle real problems and do it with grace.

Theresa said...

Just to clarify...I meant it's pretty sad that they get off on deconstructing our words and posts. They have no creativeness to have their own discussions.

Lizzy said...

Lest I be accused of misrepresenting a piggy, I reread the email I received and realized that I was not being diagnosed with OCD for my cleaning habits, but being told I am obsessive about my nephew.

Wow. Who would have thought sharing that we are doing baby sign language and it *finally* caught on in his little head would have made me obsessed! Glad that has been cleared up now-- I had no idea loving a human being that I spend a lot of time with was such a bad thing. Did you guys?

Theresa and all else who are right there with us, thanks for the support. It is really amazing how we have built a community that supports each other here. I am constantly thankful that we not only have the chance to discuss and debate the Gosselins, but that friendships and camaraderie have been built. That is a rare thing to have on a blog, and has only happened due to the trust and honesty of our posters.

Darlene Williams said...

That is a rare thing to have on a blog, and has only happened due to the trust and honesty of our posters.
Well said!!

I don't care what some crazy says about me or care of being mocked. I'm proud of what I over came and still will overcome. So I'm addicted to diet pespi, been through a lot like abuse and I deal with medical struggles today but it has made me a stronger person so I don't give a crap what people think of me. Like Kate says "walk a day in my shoes" then you will understand. Geez, they are so lame.

Nina Bell said...

I want to thank everyone for sharing on this thread. It was a very interesting thread and I am very proud to be part of this community. I will give a shout out to Peri from the Whiner Wallow for making our close knit community even more so.

Ann said...

I'm also proud of you and the other posters here, indianprincess.

Nomoredrama said,
10. I have this goal of going to all 50 U.S. states. I've never traveled outside of the U.S. but I'm at 25 states. I've been to every state on the East...I lived in Texas and Ohio for a little bit too (not long).


I really like this goal...call me if you need a friend for Hawaii or Alaska! I counted up the states I've been to, and I am probably 20 years older than you, and I only hit 24. That includes accompanying my father-in-law's wife to Kentucky for a dr.'s appointment for just 2 hours, and just a lay-over in Texas and Illinois.

I have been to Canada and Mexico, though.

The Travel Mom said...

Me too! There is nothing worse then knowing that there are simply "mean girls" out there trying to do you wrong. I love the close knit family you have here and I'm jealous! I WANT IN!

TinTin~ Your avatar is so beautiful. I just want to eat it up. I need to get one that pretty (hugs)

Anonymous said...

Way to go Erin! They probably wont post it but still very good response.

Anya@IW said...

Baby Mama said...I love the close knit family you have here and I'm jealous! I WANT IN!

No worries, you are ALREADY in! I know keeping your own blog current keeps you busy, but I think I speak for many who enjoy it when you come over here too....

Kikibee said...

Okay, I still haven't finished my list of desert island films, but
I'll give this a go.

1. People, stay away from the piggies. I once knew someone whose puppy was killed by a sow.
They are evil (okay, not Arnold Ziffel from Green Acres, but most of them).

2. I do not like Peeps. I don't have anything against marshmallows, they are just not on my list of snack foods. At all.
This would not be a problem, except my m-i-l thinks I like them
(and now my mother does,too) so she keeps giving them to me. My kids don't even eat them.

3. I like to listen to oldies stations, because I know all the songs. And I find myself singing along to songs I never liked, because I know the words.

4. I like diet Coke and regular Pepsi. Not vice versa.

5. I like to look at pictures of celebrities around my age and find lines and things that I don't have
on my face. And I'm not airbrushed (nor have I been injected with anything). Sometimes I end up feeling pretty good about myself. From the neck up.

6. My husband is somewhat younger than I am. Somewhere between the Kate/Jon difference and the Demi/Ashton.

7. I have a dread of driving. I'll go hither, but thither and yon are right out.

8. I like to watch stupid funny things when I am alone and laugh a lot and not worry whether someone thinks I have no taste.

9. I used to be a cat person, now I
am a dog person. There are good and bad things about each.

10. My daughter has beautiful hands. Okay, I ran out of things.

Guinevere said...

tintin: I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I smile every time I see your avatar. Your baby is ADORABLE.

Wow. Who would have thought sharing that we are doing baby sign language and it *finally* caught on in his little head would have made me obsessed! Glad that has been cleared up now-- I had no idea loving a human being that I spend a lot of time with was such a bad thing. Did you guys?

You know, I totally understand this making you angry, but it's also just sad. Whoever had something to say about that really has a limited understanding of human interactions and the capacity of human beings to love. It's pathetic.

I want to thank everyone for sharing on this thread. It was a very interesting thread and I am very proud to be part of this community. I will give a shout out to Peri from the Whiner Wallow for making our close knit community even more so.

I agree. You know, opening yourself up to people, being honest - that is what fosters understanding. This has been a great thread for making us realize we aren't alone in our little (or bigger) foibles and quirks.

I've certainly noticed that many of "that" group have trouble acknowledging that they are anything less than perfect in every way - the best mothers, the best wives, etc. So it doesn't surprise me that they would judge people who are open about their faults or even just about details of their lives.

Eileen said...

I really can't believe anyone thought they were talking in 'private' on this blog.
What you put out here is for public view so you pretty much have to realize your life is an open book for all to read.

No one is asking my advice here but being an 'old busybody' I'm going to give it anyway - take hold of all the positive you gain from here and ignore the negative. We all have critics in our lives. You can't change anyone's actions/reactions, you can only decide to discard the negative and move forward.

Ann said...

Eileen,
Once again, great advice from a smart lady.

Kikibee,
Number 1...lol!
Number 2...I hate peeps, too. They make cute avatars, though, don't they? There are recipes for melting them into desserts or floating them in hot chocolate, but I prefer to just throw them out. They feel so gritty.
Number 7...I will drive anywhere, unless I have to make a left turn!

Anya@IW said...

indianprincess said...
That is a rare thing to have on a blog, and has only happened due to the trust and honesty of our posters.
Well said!!

I don't care what some crazy says about me or care of being mocked. I'm proud of what I over came and still will overcome.


Lizabeth, I second Indian Princess.

Indian Princess, you (and the others that shared here) should be proud of what you have overcome and the strength it takes to admit that not everything is perfect, but we are works in progress and we get up each day and try and do a little better.

The funny thing is we all (even the Whiner Wallow followers) have issues and struggles. If you haven't, then I feel sorry for you. Some day "something" will knock you upside the head and you won't be the least bit prepared for it.

One of the really nice things about this thread is it has been all about women being supportive of other women. We may disagree on many issues (politics, religion, whether Kate is an ungrateful bi#%@), but we are capable of putting that aside to support each other. Very nice indeed.

Anonymous said...

lol I love peeps! Always have and probably always will....

Eileen said...

Peeps make great decorations on an Easter cake. But I notice nobody eats them, not in this family anyway.

Darlene Williams said...

The one thing I get for Easter is peeps. I love them. Four times a year I let myself eat candy..Easter, Holloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day but in moderation or my diabetes get out of control and that's not good. Go Peep lovers!!!

Ann said...

My father grew up near the factory that makes Easter peeps (and other candy.) He spent a good part of his youth trying to find a way to get into that candy factory.

.

Kikibee said...

Saint, I'd almost rather make a left turn than a right turn. I'm weird.

I remembered something else I was going to say. I recognized one of the teachers from my kid's' school on a thread at GWoP once. (She used her pic as her avatar.) It was on the condolence thread for PM's "son". I keep having the urge to sidle up to her and whisper
"PennMommy was a fake!"

Chocolate rules!

Ann said...

Chocolate rules!

(Love the Penn Mommy comment, too, but, shhhh! Piggies are reading and they go hog wild, when you mention The Great Mistake.)

Anya@IW said...

Kikibee said...

7. I have a dread of driving. I'll go hither, but thither and yon are right out.


Saint said...Number 7...I will drive anywhere, unless I have to make a left turn!


I can relate and will add having to make quick lane changes on highways to the list.

I actually have a pretty awful/sorta funny story about driving. I grew up in the city and we never had a car. Long story to that, but basically you didn't really *need* one. Anyway, I didn't learn to drive until I was in my early 20's. I paid for hours of professional driving instruction before I took my first DMV test. I really wanted to be prepared. On the day I took the test, I failed the test within five seconds of putting the key in the ignition. The guy who gave me the test said I pulled out too closely in front of another car as we exited the DMV parking lot! I was crushed.

I actually had already bought (well financed) my first car in anticipation of passing the test. A couple of days later, I was feeling better about things and was planning on rescheduling and taking the test again. I very stupidly decided I was going to take my new car out even though I didn't have a license. I didn't even make it out of my driveway. I panicked - hit the accelerator instead of the brake -- and ended up knocking down a fence and causing $3,000 worth of damage to my brand new/never driven car.

Moral of the story: I eventually did my license. I did get the car fixed so it looked brand new (although I had to pay out of pocket because I didn't have insurance). I thankfully didn't harm myself or anyone else or get arrested. And I now have a kinda tragic/mildly amusing story to tell that demonstrates how absurd life can be.

Nina Bell said...

1. I was raised a county/farm girl and I am very proud of it. Kikibee, sows are usually only mean when they are in heat. They have PMS also.

2. I am a big Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badger fan (any sport).

3. I love Wisconsin. I love the people, the environment – everything about it. Heck I even love the weather.

4. I love my family. All of them. There is nothing better than family. Husband, children, parents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. Even the aunts that let you know how much weight you gained from when you were like 12 years old.

5. My favorite season is fall. Love Halloween.

6. I was raised Catholic and even attended a Catholic University. I am very thankful for my religious upbringing even though today I do not follow it very religiously.

7. I have been happily married for 32 years. I am thinking about retiring next year at the age of 55.

8. I am addicted to Diet Coke Lime. Seriously addicted. I have tried to give it up. I can’t. Also chocolate.

9. I would love to live in Alaska. I fell in love with that state also. I even sponsored an Iditarod dog sled team two years ago. I wasn’t able to go there to view the race, but I followed it via internet, an emails.

10. I am a big dog lover. I have 3 mutts. But they are my mutts

Kikibee said...

Oh dear, Anya, that is the kind of thing I'm always afraid will happen to me.

Nina Bell, the sow had a litter and she was either afraid the puppy was going to hurt one, or he was trying to nurse. My friend went into the barn and the dog was hanging dead from her mouth. He wasn't too fond of pigs, and that's about all I know about them.

Eileen said...

Fall is my favorite too, Nina, (that's one thing I would really miss if we moved down south, the change of seasons) and my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.

TLCH said...

1. I love my kids (2 daughters, 15 and 13)more than anything in the world.
2. I love the color coral and light green.
3. I like being divorced (for 11 years) and single ..lol!
4. I love candles..I burn them all the time and spend way too much money on them.
5. I love cocopuff cereal bars and could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, weird, huh?
6. I am a reality buff, I watch ALL REALITY SHOWS. Even the dumb ones! I also watch all the paranormal shows, like Taps, Ghosthunters etc. Love that stuff!!
7. I wear flannel pants every evening when I get home from work...the ones you sleep in. I love them and have a ton of them.
8. I don't take life for granted, I was in a bad car wreck when I was 18 while on lunch break and flatlined 3 times. So everyday is a gift.
9. I love all nationalities of men, even though I don't want to be in a relationship or even date. Weird again, huh?
10. I have premonitions.

That's enough..lol. I am a WF and love life and love to laugh. I put God first and my daughters are my world.

merryway said...

The best Easter candy is candy coated malted eggs, imo. Two bags are already gone. They have been my fav since I was little.

I agree w/all the comments about this blog community. I never expected to ever participate in anything like this. I haven't read many other blogs, but I do hope there are other communities that are similar. I think it's especially nice for the sahms. It's a great way to have that adult conversation a lot of us miss out on. I love being home but I miss the good things about work. My friends and I try to get together as often as we can, but like everyone else, we're all so busy.

Linda said...

Hi Everyone . . . here goes!

1) I've got an identical twin sister. I talk to her at least once a day. Our kids are about the same age and are very close.

2) I'm the youngest of 8 children.

3) For the last 8 years, I have volunteer facilitated a support group for people who were sexually abused by catholic priests and other clergy leaders when they were kids.

4) I was . . . see above.

5) I've testified before our state's legislature on changing the criminal and civil statute of limitations on sexual abuse.

6) I've been financially independent since I was 19 years old. Besides paying for my own apartment, etc., I paid for my own college and graduate school with the help of loans, scholarships, and my own hard work.

7) I've got a wonderfully supportive and kind husband as well as 2 great kids.

8) I jog/run about 4 miles about 3 -4 xs a week.

9) I want to write a book.

10) I need very little sleep . . . 6 hours a night.

tintin said...

baby Mama and Guin: thank you. my husband took the picture and it makes me cry when I look at it now because it reminds me of hubby. He's in Ft. Jackson.

Linda: I want to write a book too. my summer break i'm going to put all my energy on it.

it's so funny to me how these people are making fun of the revelations here. we all know they've got their own skeletons in their closets, but they're too intent on condemning others for not being perfect that they could never dare to admit they aren't perfect themselves.

these people disturb me and i hope they lead happier lives than what comes out of their writing.

Darlene Williams said...

Linda, good for you standing up against Sexual Abuse. One of my family members was sexual abused by my Dad, thank god I wasn't. I just got another form of abuse. I would rather be a survivor than a victim!!!

erin said...

Thanks guys, and most of you said it far better than I ever did. I was honestly going to leave it alone until the comments started about how pathetic our "cases" were. In truth, It was CincyMom's post that made me feel like it was okay to admit that I had used, and abused, prescription drugs causing an overdose. Her strength inspired my own. Honestly, that is the beauty of a thread like this. (You'll have to forgive me, I have like five minutes and then the ambien kicks in so if things go wonky I apologize) .

I like this kind of thread because it helps other people to acknowledge the bad. Not only the bad, because that is what makes each and every one of us, I imagine, look back on the good things, that we have done, or that we have accumulated (good husbands, loving families). It makes us look back and realize the bad stuff makes the good stuff that much better--because you lived through it, and know enough to keep on living and experiencing the good. People who suffer from abuse and addiction could just as easily not be here to see any of that. Contrary to popular belief, like the GWoP "Mythical Perfect Sundays" they all mysteriously had the same weekend--life is messy, sometimes it needs to be cleaned up on occasion. Lots of times we need help to do it. And if help is found here? If anything anyone said helps someone else, that is just icing on the cake. (Which Kate probably wouldn't let the boys eat. I kid. GWoP socks temporarily possessed me.}

Theresa said...

People who suffer from abuse and addiction could just as easily not be here to see any of that.

Absolutely right Erin. Admitting, learning, dealing and kicking addictions and living each day clean or trying to adds a life layer that makes decent human beings. Even admitting an addiction and not yet working on it, one has made a step in the right direction.

I pray for all of my friends here who have made this process or just realized and admitted. That's a first step and a mark of a strong individual.

I also pray for those of you who have been abused. Linda, I admire that you took a horrible situation and now helping those who are in that same situation you were. Those people are blessed to have you in their lives.

Mimi to 3 said...

1. I love to read and most of the time I have several books sitting beside my chair waiting while I finish the one in my hand.

2. I rarely watch TV -- except for Jon and Kate, of course.

3. I love the beach.

4. Favorite place to go on vacation are the mountains, generally Colorado.

5. I love our German Shepherd, Emma, who is the gentlest most loving dog I have ever been around.

6. I adore my husband of 43 years. He recently retired and it is great spending our days together doing the things we love.

7. I also adore my 2 children and my 3 wonderful grandchildren, the youngest 9 month old Samuel who is the light of all of our lives.

8. I love being a Texan.

9. I miss my mother every day of my life. She passed away 2 years ago.

10. I love summer, warm days, crystal clear blue skies. I love rain on a tin roof at night. But I hate cold weather -- cold toes!!

Anya@IW said...

erin said...Contrary to popular belief, like the GWoP "Mythical Perfect Sundays" they all mysteriously had the same weekend--life is messy, sometimes it needs to be cleaned up on occasion. Lots of times we need help to do it. And if help is found here? If anything anyone said helps someone else, that is just icing on the cake. (Which Kate probably wouldn't let the boys eat. I kid. GWoP socks temporarily possessed me.}

Erin, thanks for summing up everything with wisdom, humor and grace. A little knock at that trite and phony Sunday GWoP thread is more icing on the cake! I love icing!

Guinevere said...

Peeps are better in theory than in practice. In theory, they are cute, I like sugar and I love marshmallows. In practice, I find them to be semi-tasteless sugar bombs.

I want to applaud Erin's wise words and again thank people for being open here. It sucks that there are people who want to make that honesty into something ugly, but that's a reflection on them, not on any of us.

EveryoneLovesErin said...

AAP! Yes, Judge Judy is awesome entertainment and if I could scream at people the way she does and not get fired, I might be tempted.

Barbara,
Yes! You're a Texan. I only lived in Texas for a few months (did an internship out there as an undergrad) but I loved it. I love that the state flag is regarded in the same sense that the American one is. I love Texas and I'm usually there at least once a year visiting friends.

I once went into a bar in Dallas in an Eagles Jersey. Eagles fans HATE the Cowboys!!!!!!!!! That was fun (ha!) I did it on purpose to stir things up and one drunken lady was definitely stirred (but then wanted to be my BFF by the end of the night). Memories!!!!!

I love me some Texas BBQ....

Ann said...

indianprincess said...
Linda, good for you standing up against Sexual Abuse.


I agree. It's good work, Linda, and but not easy. Lots of amazing people on this thread.

Theresa said...

Guinevere said...
Peeps are better in theory than in practice. In theory, they are cute, I like sugar and I love marshmallows. In practice, I find them to be semi-tasteless sugar bombs.


LOL! So true Guin, so true!

erin said...

By training and nature, I have to admit, I have never been one to back away from a fight (which apparently makes me PM, a bratty teenager, or a mother and I am none of those things). I stand by the things I've said here and at GDNNOP. I'm proud of my arguments, and proud of my accomplishments. They were rational and reasoned, even on review. To be honest, and not as a judgment you can't school the willfully stupid. Since I know they read here, and a little bit as a PSA, depression and drug/alcohol abuse are the number one Ethical issue among lawyers. It comes from a job that is stressful, thankless, and no matter how TV shows it, most often low paying. If you go to any AA meeting near a courthouse I promise you half the participants will be lawyers, judges, or magistrates. The actually use or abuse is not an ethical concern but rather the lengths they go to to cover their tracks or their mistakes. Addiction doesn't make any of us bad people, it makes us sick and human.

Being as immature as I am, I'm going to take a little break from the blogging world. Just as in my life, I take things more personally than I should. And they are right about one thing, I have more to do than sit and argue with the willfully stupid. Today I had an SAR at Children's Services for a 17 yo girl who was taken out of her home because her guardian refused her medical services saying it was making the girl fat. I'll keep fighting for my kids, and stop fighting on behalf of those I have never met, at least until the sting wears off. Anyone who questions my qualifications or credibility can verify it through the blog owners, I can email them if they want. I have, and will continue to, stand up where a kid doesn't have a voice and needs one. Right now that isn't the Gosselins, at least in my mind.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear your leaving erin, even though I haven't been here long I enjoyed your comments.

Eileen said...

Erin, completely understandable. I'm not even in the midst of the blog wars and it gets to me just reading about it.
I think you are doing yourself a big favor.
All the best to you!

Nina Bell said...

Erin,

I understand also. We will see you again.

Darlene Williams said...

Sorry Erin to see you go but sometimes you just need to walk away and do what's more important for you. All the best to you.

Kikibee said...

"Just as in my life, I take things more personally than I should."

Erin,I'm (gasp) nearly twice as old as you, and it has taken me nearly this long to figure out that people like that DON'T DESERVE A MINUTE OF YOUR CONSIDERATION. Just F@ck em. They don't care what you think of them, they just want to mess with people.
They are pathetic,sad little losers.

Just live your life as you see fit and ignore anyone who tries to bring you down. Believe me, it makes things much more pleasant.

Gina said...

O.K., ladies! I finally finished reading the thread (it is a compulsion for me to read the thread in its entirety before I post, which is probably why I don't post as often as I would sometimes like!). Anyway, here is my list:

1. I have a 13-month old daughter who is my heart. If I would have known how much fun being a mommy is, I would have done it much sooner!

2. I hate clowns. I am not phobic about them, but when I see one I want to punch it in the face.

3. I am addicted to Mountain Dew. There was brief period of time during the first trimester of pregnancy when I could not drink it due to nausea, and I mourned deeply.

4. I could eat pizza every day of the week.

5. I cannot stand most condiments. No ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressing, steak sauce, tartar sauce, special sauce--nothing. I eat pretty much everything plain. It was a total bother growing up because McDonalds always made my dad pull to the side to wait for my plain cheeseburgers at the drive-thru. Thanks to microwaves, this is no longer an issue.

6. I was one of the top mimes in the state during several years in high school. This is ironic because IRL, I rarely shut up.

7. I have never had a cavity.

8. I have really long toes. I have decided this will be a good thing if I ever lose a finger because doctors would be able to transplant one of toes. (O.K., I exaggerate. They aren't that long, but still, I've gotten comments.)

9. There is no one else in the universe with my name. There are only nine people currently alive with my last name. I kept it when I married.

10. I had sex at church camp the summer before college. (I know, I know...I was soooo bad!)

Gina said...

Wow--I should have refreshed before I posted.

Erin,
Do what you've got to do for yourself, but please check in once-in-awhile if you're able. I've always enjoyed your comments.

Ann said...

Thank you, Erin,
Your arguments were well-reasoned. There is something wrong with any person who takes another's admission of a fault, even on a public blog, and, rather than 'reading and discussing,' mocks it. I believe your genteel hostess admitted that herself, first by trying to blame her own nasty behavior on us (and Kate!) and second by admitting it wasn't "nicey nice." That she isn't nice is her 'personal issue', and yes, it's out there on a public blog for all to see.

Ann said...

Glo,
A mime who hates clowns! Lol!

Gina said...

Saint,

A mime who hates clowns! Lol!

I know! [shrugs!]

A few years back, I was teaching 8th grade language arts, and dismissal was delayed because of an assembly. I was killing some time with the students miming different things, and they would guess what I was doing. I mimed lifting weights--spitting on my hands, rubbing them together, and then I squatted down--RIP!!!

My pants totally ripped from crotch up the back, and...I was wearing thong underwear.

SILENCE in the classroom, then one of the students whispered loudly, "Did she fart?" The entire class roared with laughter as I scrambled backwards to grab my big, grandma cardigan that I keep on the back of my chair to wrap around my waist. One of the students was laughing so hard, he has a snot bubble shoot out his nose.

At that moment, the announcement came to escort the students to the gym, and within 5 minutes, every student at the school heard about my pants.

A totally embarrassing moment, but, dang!, it makes a great story.

Anonymous said...

Aww GLO as embarrassing as that must have been it is a pretty good story.

Kikibee said...

They rate mimes? Are there that many of them? I had no idea.

I'm with you on the plain cheeseburgers. Hate mustard.

Anonymous said...

I hate mustard too, lol and ketchup. But I do love honey mustard.

Gina said...

Kikibee,
They rate mimes? Are there that many of them? I had no idea.

Ha! Actually, group and solo miming is a category in speech contest (I know--it's ironic), and I was very involved in speech and drama in high school.

I never wanted to mime, but got dragged into it by the coach my freshman year. Since I had an apptitude for it, I also got stuck doing it my sophomore and junior years, where I went to All-State, which is like state for sports.

Anywho, I am now the speech coach for my school, and I do goofy things like mime for the kids to get them interested in going out for speech.

I embarrass myself frequently, but I've learned over the years to be good-natured about it.

Kikibee said...

GLO, I actually once heard a funny story involving a mime. For those who don't know, Marcel Marceau was a famous French mime. Jean Kerr, who told this story was an author
("Please Don't Eat the Daisies")and playwright.

So, Jean Kerr had a play opening at a venue that had two auditoriums. She was too nervous to watch the play so she was pacing outside the theater. After a while she heard laughter coming from inside, so she thought it was safe to go in. The usher stopped her at the door, and told her she couldn't go in during the performance. She drew herself up and said "But, I am the author!"
So, he opened the doors, and there on the stage was Marcel Marceau.
Who was not in her play.

Anya@IW said...

GLO said...O.K., ladies! I finally finished reading the thread (it is a compulsion for me to read the thread in its entirety before I post

Can I just say how nice and refreshing it is to read that from a poster? Too many times (not so much on this blog), I have seen posters say something to the effect of, "I haven't read all the responses, but here is my two cents." Aaarrgh. It raises my blood pressure just thinking about it. Why should we read what you have to say if you can't be bothered to read our words. Are you that fascinating?

It has and always will be a BIG peeve of mine.

Loved your list, by the way!

Anya@IW said...

Jacelynn said...
I hate mustard too, lol and ketchup. But I do love honey mustard.


Taste buds are funny little buggers, aren't they?

I love mustard - any kind.

I hate to the point of revulsion -
mayo! I know there is at least one other person on this blog that agrees with me on that. :-)

Anya@IW said...

Saint said...I believe your genteel hostess admitted that herself, first by trying to blame her own nasty behavior on us (and Kate!) and second by admitting it wasn't "nicey nice." That she isn't nice is her 'personal issue', and yes, it's out there on a public blog for all to see.

Saint, you didn't get the memo? Everything is Kate's fault! LOL.

Kikibee said...people like that DON'T DESERVE A MINUTE OF YOUR CONSIDERATION. Just F@ck em.

Thanks, Kikibee. You wrote what I wanted to say.

In all things in life, just consider the source.

Jenn said...

A little late on the topic.. sorry! I loved everyone's lists. To those who admitted to having addictions, I commend you for being brave enough to share that!

The pig blog is full of a bunch of jerks. 'nuff said.

My 10...

1~ I am a direct descendant of John Howland who was one of the original Plymouth settlers. My dad is a member of the John Howland Society. My great-uncle has our family tree all the back to pre-mayflower. I am dying to get my hand on it!

2~ My grandmother was married to Al Jolson Jr(for a very short time) who is the son of Ruby Keeler and Al Jolson. Ruby Keeler disliked my grandmother because she was a horrid woman. My grandmother used to drag the kids to Ruby's house, place them all in front of the piano and have them sing. She desperatly wanted them to be in show biz. Instead, they are all F'ed up because they had a insane childhood.

3~ I am a reality TV show junkie!

4~ My favorite TV show is Lost.

5~ I love all types of music, but not so much country.

6~ I've only worked for 3 companies my entire life. I've never been fired.

7~ My daughters father is a registered sex offender and has zero contact with her. He's a deadbeat who hasn't paid his child support in months. My daugther has a half-sister who is 9 months younger than her. I did not know about his criminal record until he disappered one day, turns out he was in jail. I was already pregnant by then.

8~ I met my husband online. We went out on 3 dates and then I never called him back. A year later we ran into each other, went out to lunch... and the rest is history!

9~ I don't drink or gamble much because there is a history of abusing those things in my family.

10~ I recently lost over 50 pounds but have gained some of it back. I'm trying to reverse that but it's really hard.

Gina said...

Kikibee--
Cute story! Thanks for sharing.

Anya--
I always read all of the posts because I hate to be redundant and say exactly the same thing as someone else. On the flip side of that, I don't always post because someone else has already said what I would have said. :) Plus, it's just good manners to know the full conversation before jumping in. I hate it when people IRL just interject themselves into a conversation.

Eileen said...

Oh, girls, I'm sorry. I do read all the posts, but I also just jump in on a conversation with my two cents all the time.
I do it in the real world too in addition to the blog world. I'll have to keep a check on myself in the future. Bad habit.

Anonymous said...

I do it too Eileen, in "real" life and "blogging" life. lol, its a bad trait of mine but Im working on keeping it in check! :)

Eileen said...

Stop it, Jacelynn. We're going to be accused of sharing a brain soon, and that won't be a compliment to you (but it will to me!).

Anonymous said...

Eileen, lol Nope pretty sure the compliment would be for me. :)

But seriously its kinda creepy how alike we are isn't it?

Eileen said...

Jacelynn, so glad you decided to stick around.
Only problem, now my responses are probably going to be slanted even if I'm not 100% in agreement with you, I'll be like a protective mother hen.

Anonymous said...

Eileen, aww thanks. :) But honestly I wont be offended or hurt in the least bit if you don't agree 100% with me on all things. :) I don't think any two people could agree on everything all of the time.

CincyMom said...

Jenn--I am the same as you with No. 3, 4, 5, and 6! Too bad I'm not No. 9, too ; )

Eileen said...

Jenn, how did you lost the fifty pounds?
I guess you weren't filling your face with M&M's?
I actually know what I have to do, I just can't commit yet.
I'd love to hear how you did it though.

Anya@IW said...

Jenn, #1 and #2. Very interesting!

If you like history, Sarah Vowell's "The Wordy Shipmates" is an interesting and funny history of the Puritan colonists in the 17th and 18th history. I liked it a lot. I am going to go home and see if John Howland is mentioned!

I have never been fired either (knock on wood).

I am a single mom, so I can relate to you to you on the absent father issue. I am glad to hear you found a partner. Interesting how life works out.

Yeah, those fifty pounds. I know of what you speak. The hardest thing is never losing, it's maintaining....Sigh.

bigsis88 said...

Lol, I also had to read every single comment before I added one. My 10:

1. I am a spelling and grammar nut. I won the school spelling bee in 3rd and 5th grade (came in 2nd in 4th grade), and I hate typos, especially when I make them.

2. I am left-handed, and I hold a pencil incorrectly. I use my ring finger instead of my middle one, but I have no idea why.

3. I think (and people say) that I act a lot older than my age. My mom says that when I was a kid, people would say that I was the reincarnation of some old lady.

4. I have an irrational fear of Michael Jackson in the "Thriller" music video. I saw it (by accident) when I was 4 or 5 years old, and I still refuse to watch it.

5. I'm the girl who always had a bunch of friends who weren't friends with each other, which often led to awkward situations. That's not the case with my two best friends now, and it's a nice change.

6. I love the university I'm at now, but I'm not sure if we'll still be able to afford it for another year and a half. My plan was to graduate early, but I might have to transfer. :-(

7. I've always been a crybaby; being spoken to in a harsh tone by an authority figure is enough to make my eyes well up. Oddly, that's not the case with people my age. I can be a spitfire. ;-)

8. I hate onions, any kind of melon, and red pop.

9. I have a mild case of scoliosis, and I had the right half of my thyroid removed around Christmas 2007.

10. I am a big homebody. I've always planned on graduating and doing grad school right in Chicago, but lately I'm thinking about expanding my horizons. I definitely want to live (permanently) in Chicago though, 30 minutes or less from my parents.

tintin said...

I usually read all the posts before jumping in.

Losing weight is haaaaard. I went on freaking nutrisystem recently to lose 10 lbs. lost 5 and am so off. what a waste of money. It's the first time I've ever been on a diet though so I have now learned my lesson.

Way to go on losing 50 lbs. Jenn!

MrsRef said...

I am late to the party but here are 10 things:

1. I have been married to the same man for 32 years (In August) We have three children, 2 girls and a boy, 30, 28 and 25 and a wonderful son and daughter in law.

2. I am the oldest of 8 children and my husband is #3 of 8.

3. I have red hair (natural) and freckles which I hate.

4. I am going to be a grandmother in June (it's a boy)

5. I am allergic to hyacinths and every year people bring them to me on Easter.

6. I love to go to quilt shows and to quilt myself. I also have an embroidery machine that I don't use nearly enough.

7. I love Country Music. Alan Jackson, Tobey Keith and Trace Adkins are my favorites.

8. I have been estranged from most of my family since I was 18. My mother disowned me after I got married (when I was 18) She made certain that I had no contact with any of my brothers and sisters with the exception of my younger brother who also was put out (at 16) My mother has never met her grandchildren.

9. I enjoy going to broadway musicals. I have seen Les Mis, Phantom, Wicked, Miss Saigon, Aida, Cats, Lion King and Rent. My favorite recently was rent with Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, from the original Broadway cast.

10. The only bone I have ever broken is my toe.

tintin said...

LizBeth, your revelation about your estrangement is so sad. That is a long time for your Mom to hold a grudge. But it looks like you've had a successful and happy life and that is the best revenge, as they say.

Nina Bell said...

Tintin

What a beautiful picture in your avatar. You and your daughter are both gorgeous.

I think you are referring to MrsRef with you comment about the estrangement from her mother. I know LizBeth is not.

MrsRef.

I always wanted red hair and freckles. I think they are a beautiful feature on a woman.

tintin said...

Hi Nina Bell I must have misread! Sorry Lizbeth and MrsRef.

MrsRef said...

No problem TinTin. I too find it sad that my mother is like that. The worst part is that she has pit the whole family against each other. She was always like that even growing up. It is her loss.

As for the red hair, I absolutely hated it growing up. It was very very bright and I used to get called carrot top (carrot tops are green by the way) It has toned down quite a bit since I was younger and is starting to get grayish. It is more of a blond than gray and people compliment me on it and think I get it highlighted that way. If they only knew.

Quiltart said...

1. I was born in Dallas, grew up in North Carolina and met my husband in college in Nashville.
2. We've been married 38 years in June.

3. I love to read biographies and non-fiction. I usually have a couple of books going at the same time.

4. I've worked on the obit page of a major newspaper (part time) for 34 years.

5. My husband and I collect depression era kitchen glass and juice reamers of all kind. We have over 500 of them. (If you want to
see photos of our crazy obsession, I will be glad to send you a link to my website.)

6. I have hosted one of the largest quilting email lists and websites since 1995. I also have an
online jewelry business.

7. My husband and I are both Virgos and, in fact, have the same birthday, although we were born one year apart.

8. When I was pregnant with our son, who is almost 32, I was followed and filmed for a Lamaze
movie that ended up being shown in all Lamaze classes for the subsequent 15 years. It didn't
matter where we were... people would stop us on the street and say "You look so familiar. Haven't
we met someplace?" My husband would always ask how old their children were!

9. I am a huge James Taylor fan. I could listen to him forever. (My husband, who can't stand him, thinks it's a North Carolina thing, because
my sisters and my friends in NC all are JT fans, too.)

10. My favorite place in the world is Paris, followed closely by Nantucket, where we spend two weeks every summer.

Samantha@IW said...

Quiltart-

Maybe it is- I love James Taylor too :)