Jan 02 2009
7 things you don’t need to know about me.
Why do these memes have the look and feel of a chain letter? I haven’t ever worried about breaking a chain, and am only playing along with this because I’m nosy and want to learn more about others. I also don’t want to let Patti Harju down.
1. I was born with a ring around my middle finger on my left hand. It looks like a mark left in my skin from a tight rubber band, but it’s been there for nearly 42 years now. When I was a child my dad explained that he burnt that finger off with a cigarette when I was a baby and it grew back. I later learned that higher order creatures cannot regenerate lost body parts and dad was putting me on.
2. I was raised in landlocked Kansas. I was 20 years old, and had been in the Navy for two years before I ever saw the ocean. (I don’t count the trip to Galveston when I was 2 years old, because I can’t remember it).
3. The longest I have ever been away from Kansas was the two years I was stationed on a ship homeported in Japan. I enjoyed the travel that the Navy offered, visiting Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, Bahrain, Mexico and Hawaii.
4. I had a short stint in Hollywood. While stationed in Long Beach, I was cast as an extra in “The Hunt For The Red October” but was unable to participate because of circumstances beyond my control. I was also present at the filming of the infamous Cher video on the USS Missouri, but I’m not visible in that either. I’m somewhere in a California landfill, swept from a cutting room floor.
5. I am my mom’s cousin. It is a long story, but not as twisted as it sounds. My mother died and when dad remarried, his new bride was my mother’s first cousin. My cousin became my (step)mom. She raised me so I call her mom. But I just looked this up; she’s also my first cousin once removed.
6. I was a terrible student, hated going to school, and was probably the last person you would expect to become a teacher. I attended six different schools in five different communities while growing up. I didn’t like school until I was 28 years old and attended community college. It sort of stuck, because 14 years later, I’m still in school!
7. In high school I was heavily involved in music & the theater. I let those interests lapse for over twenty years. About two years ago, I performed in a community theater production of Carol Burnett comedy skits, and rediscovered my love of the stage. I have also sang in a high school reunion concert, and several other venues. I like to imitate Elvis, Johnny Cash and others.
In 1983 I was a Von Trapp family singer (back row, middle).
In 2008, I played Dom Dedomdom in Murder at the Brown Grand.
Well, that’s really more than you wanted or needed to know about me. Let’s learn something about some other folks. I’m tagging these twitter users.
@shaggyhill
@lilylauren
@nirak
@Holtsman
@mwesch
Edit: Just received an additional tag from Dowbiggin.
8 responses so far
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Thanks for playing. I agree these do have the chain letter feel, but more fun. It is great to learn more about these people we tweet with and read their blogs. Happy New Year!
I think it’s interesting that you hated school. It’s amazing to me because people with your experience turn out to be the best teachers. My dad’s high school counselor told him that it was a good thing he played basketball because, otherwise, he’d never get to college. 35 years later, he’s retired from a very successful and rewarding career in special education and administration. Kudos to you.
Now I understand more why you love the Heat Miser! Lots of drama! LOL
Thanks for the tag – I’m on it!
Bill – I also have a weird ring around my ring finger – left hand. My brother dropped a brick on it and I nearly lost it…. Like your story better. Too funny! You were always awesome on stage and the voice of an angel!! You should perform any chance you are given!
In the interest of full disclosure, Meredith Jones, the previous commenter, is the Von Trapp sister to my immediate left!
Thanks Meredith. You’ll always be part of my family in my heart!
I was quite a drama queen at school and wish I’d pursued it as an adult. I did a little amateur dramatics a few years ago & have promised myself I’ll go back to it when I finish my PhD.
[...] that I was going to be more outgoing with singing and performing in public. As I mentioned in my 7 things post, I went for about 20 years without doing any public performances, but I have decided life is just [...]
Bill,
I loved the info even it I didn’t need to know it. I was in two high school plays and played a wicked stepsister in a version of Cinderella in one of them. I sang with a SisterAct group back in the mid nineties. (Sonya G, Debbie C, Sarah Folkerts, and me.) We sang at the Watermelon Festival and Fall Fest and won the talent contest at CCCC. I don’t think I have enjoyed anything else I’ve done since highschool as much as I enjoyed singing in that group. You are a very talented person. I’m sure you found the structure of school too confining. I loved school and would have been happy to stay in grade school forever. I LOVED Substitute teaching because it was just like playing school when I was 8 with the kids on my block.