When I started this blog I was unaware of peer recognition awards in the blogosphere. The direction of my writing career led me to blogging so I dived in with a butt-load of hesitation and reluctance.
But now, almost two years later, I can say with all honesty I feel at home here. And what makes me feel at home is the remarkable peer recognition I receive from fellow writers, bloggers, friends, and colleagues.
M.L. Swift (Mike) is one such remarkable person who makes me feel at home. He has graciously awarded me the Very Inspiring Blogger award for which I’m truly grateful. Grateful because this award, in particular, speaks to my goals for this blog—to inspire, uplift and entertain. Therefore, this award is very appropriate for that mission.
In order to accept this award I have to reveal seven random facts about myself, so grab your hip boots and try not to step in all the manure I’m about to dish out.
1. I cry at Babies R Us.
On the rare occasions I find myself in the aisles of Babies R Us, I get misty-eyed and melancholy of days of old. It reminds me of the tremendous amount of time I spent there when my boys were babies and of how their new baby smell, their toothless grins, their innocence is now forever gone. It deeply tugs at my heart.
2. My girlfriend and I went to Chicago O’Hare airport to pick up cute guys.
Back in my early twenties my girlfriend and I hopped in her Volkswagen Bug (or maybe it was my Buick Skyhawk) and drove to the airport hoping to meet some handsome, rich, jet-setters to whisk us away from our routine Illinois lives. Of course we found no jet-setters worthy of our time.
3. I jumped off a cliff into a lagoon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
My husband and I (and other tourists) were riding horseback on a guided tour in the mountains (at the base of the mountains, not high up). One of the activities on the tour was cliff jumping. And considering I’m a mediocre swimmer, jumping off a cliff into a bed of water was stupidity and crazy madness. But I did it. Though I never would’ve, had there not been life guards at the bottom of the cliff waiting to save us from drowning.
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4. I speak fluent Spanish.
Not! But I would like to, and I plan to once I get my Rosetta Stone Foreign Language system.
5. I walked right past a snake in my house.
I thought it was a stick on the floor one of the kids brought into the house (like they always do) so I walked by it and thought nothing of it. Then from the corner of my eye I saw its head lift and its body slither down the hall. I stood screaming as I watched it slide under the doorway into the hall closet. Long story short, it was killed (not by me or my snake-fearing husband) by local southerners who are used to these kinds of incidents. Unfortunately, that’s something I’ll NEVER get used to here in the south. I’ve had way too many snake and other weird critter encounters since moving here, which I’ve never experienced back home in Illinois.
6. I hit a man with my car.
Well, sort of. I was on a one-way street in the downtown area of my community and stopped at a red light. Needing to make a right turn, I checked the traffic to my left to see if it was safe to proceed, totally oblivious of the sign that read “NO TURN ON RED.” And of course there’s a stupid nice young man on the corner at my right waiting to cross the intersection and walks out in front of my car just as I take my foot off the brake and turn my head his way. The car rolls to a near miss of his legs as he leaps out of the way and I slam back on brakes. Of course, I was in the wrong. Of course, I apologized through my partially opened window. And, of course, he gave me the finger and shouted obscenities as he scurried to the other side of the street.
7. I’m in a fitness DVD.
Yes, it’s true and no autographs, please. In this DVD I’m decked out in my Nike sportswear garments and showing off my cycling, Zumba dance, and kickboxing skills. Okay, sure it’s just a promotional video for my local gym. And sure, it’s not just me but a crowd of other gym members strutting their stuff, too. And sure, you’d have to look very hard to even spot me. But I’m there. And my 15 minutes of fame is indisputable.
So there you have it, wayyy too much random info you didn’t need to know about me. Thanks again to M.L. Swift, and take a moment to stop by his blog for a friendly visit.
A well-deserved award. I loved learning the random facts. I’ve never been in a video before. Wow, I think Mike said he was in a movie once. I’m so unworthy…
Julie, you are definitely worthy. It was a fluke I ended up in the video at all. It was one of those “in the right place at the right time” type of deals. Mike’s movie debut is what sparked my memory of the fitness video.
These were absolutely delightful snippets into your life. You’re a remarkable baby-crying, cliff-diving, aerobicizing woman!
I speak fluent Spanglish. I can read and understand most things in Spanish, but my conversational is awful. Good goal to have! I still own a copy of “Spanish Made Simple” from the ’70’s.
It never dawned on me about the airport as a pick-up spot, but I guess it makes perfect speed-dating sense. They have restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, jewelry stores … and usually there’s a hotel nearby. How slick of you. 🙂
Your blog IS quite inspiring, thus the bestowing of the award. Here’s to another year of inspiration!
Thanks, Mike, you’re quite remarkable yourself. Plus that airport thing was a hair-brained scheme two hot chicks (yes, I said hot) cooked up at the spur-of-the-moment for lack of nothing better to do. We never even considered nearby hotels. We weren’t those type of girls. At least that’s the image we tried to portray. LOL
Plus, I had to dig REAL DEEP for some interesting random facts about myself. Truth be told, my life isn’t very interesting.
LOL. Yeah…I didn’t think you were that kind of girl (and evidently a hot girl at that). Just had to tease you a bit.
Yeah…I had to dig deep with the double uvula. All the way into the back of my throat. I thought your life was fascinating. :o)
BTW, Mike, that uvula thing is scary. Especially when you said it parts and hisses at you when you breathe. Not cool, Man, not cool at all. Anything snake-like scares the bejeebies out of me. And for the record, I knew you were teasing about the airport thing. I totally set myself up for that jab. I even saw it coming while I was writing it. 😉
I’ve known you how many years and I did not know these things! I am so impressed.
Well, Lynn, members of my critique group aren’t privy to this information. You might develop an unhealthy opinion of me while critiqueing my work and get even more crazy with your “wicked red pen” all over my manuscripts. It’s in my best interest to keep a low profile. 🙂
Great stories here. Love the airport idea! Such a dangerous concept nowadays, so hopefully no desperate wanna-be-married ladies will try that!
You’ve got galls for jumping off a cliff too. Crazy… 🙂 Congratulations on the award.
Nancy, it wasn’t one of those HUGE cliffs like you see in the movies, but it was still way too high for my liking.
Thanks for stopping by, and I don’t recommend the airport thing to the desperate wannabe’s. Even though on that day we couldn’t find a handsome man with a ten foot pole. So it was a bust for us. 🙂
Well, I am just glad you did not air all our dirty laundry. LOL!!!!! Just kidding. It is so wonderful to see how you are opening up more and more. You are kind of interesting. Gotcha!!!!!!
Sharon, you’re a hoot. I would never air dirty laundry, not intentionally anyways. And if I ever did, I would definitely omit using names. Or at best I’d use fake names to protect the innocent. Gotcha, back!!!!
Interesting stuff, my friend. The story of you almost hitting an innocent pedestrian made me think of how that’s always been a fear of mine. I’ve had a couple near misses myself. Although not as near as your’s.
Okay….driving all the way to Ohare airport to pick up men?? Really, D? How sad….but yet funny.
Guess I’m no longer the only cry baby. Good to know one of your soft spots.
Demetria –
I thought that was you in the Chicago airport! I was wearing my best double-breasted jacket and ascot, only you weren’t paying any attention to me because you and your friend were laughing so hard. I thought at first you were amused at me, but then I realize that yoo and your friend must have told each other a very funny joke. What was that joke?
Anyway, congratulations on the award. I agree with everyone who beat me to it. You inspire us!
Starla, you’re a hoot, too, just like that ShaRan. You know what’s even sadder about that airport deal? It’s how the owner (my girlfriend) of that royal blue Volkswagen “Beverly” Bug that we drove in was the originator of the whole hairbrain idea. So technically, I was just an innocent bystander going along for the ride.
That dumb car always had cat paw prints on the windshield. I really should learn to pick better friends, don’t you think? 🙂
OMG, Joseph, that’s hilarious. If memory serves me right, I do believe we spotted you in the baggage claim area.
I begged my girlfriend to stop eyeing you so I could have a shot. Then we both broke out into laughter at the absurdity of fighting over a man wearing an ascot.
You’re a funny guy, Joseph. Thanks for that laugh.
Congrats, Demetria! You deserve it!
I must say, I’m very impressed that you jumped off a cliff because I would never, in a million years, have enough gumption to go through with it.
P.S. I am from the “country” and believe me, I don’t “do” snakes.
Melissa, I had no gumption either. I was being peer-pressured by the tourists behind me waiting to take their turn. I felt like I was holding up the group because I stood on that cliff so long trying to ready myself for the jump. I kept saying “okay, here I go, here I go, here I go,” but never went. Finally, after bowing to the pressures of the impatient people behind me, I said a prayer, shut my eyes, and jumped.
Also, glad to know I’m in good company when it comes to snakes. Although if you’re a country girl, you probably have a higher tolerance for them than I would. But I’m sure no one wants to run into them in their house.
Hey, we’ve got a lot in common. I speak fluent Spanish. Not! too.
AND, I love snakes.
AND, there’s plenty of people I’d like to hit with my car.
AND, I used to head to the airport to pick up men. (Actually that last one’s a lie.)
A thoroughly well deserved award. Congratulations, Demetria.
Erica, that is so funny and come to think about it, there’s plenty of people I’d love to hit with my car, too. Also, I’m sorry about your love of snakes. Do you take medication for those symptoms? You may want to see a doctor about that. Snake love is one love I just can’t do. Maybe I should see a doctor. A love doctor. 🙂
D, I forgot to send my congrats. Congratulations! I cannot believe it’s been that long already. I’m getting lots of laughs on the comments and your responses from this blog. Love it!!
Thanks, Starla Rae, for the congrats. Also, I have big fun with the comments and interaction here, too. Loving your participation as well. The community here is a blast.
Oh, the things we don’t know about you. It wasn’t Jerome you were trying to hit, was it? 🙂 I know what you mean about the melancholy feeling about going into baby departments. I did love those stages. I can’t believe how fast it all goes. I liked only working in the morning and then I would have the afternoons with my little guys. Very fond memories and sad to see how fast it goes by.
Ellen, no it wasn’t Jerome, but wouldn’t it be nice to hit our husbands with a car every now and then on days when they utterly frustrate us. 😉
I absolutely adored the early stages of my kids lives, now they’re turning into young men and I’m having a hard time making the transition.