Unique Swappies /Original post January 2007

[TamieJP]

Forum URL: http://www.theswap.com/dcforum/dcboard.cgi
Forum Name: Over the Backyard Fence
Topic ID: 37428
#0, What's different about you?
Posted by kellyds on Jan-17-07 at 10:38 AM

There are two things about me that cause people to ask lots of questions when they come up in conversation. One is that I've never had a cavity. (Neither has my adult son, just for the record.) The other is that I've had ten miscarriages.
Is there anything about you that seems like a record-breaker, or is at least eye-raising enough that it becomes the focus of conversation when you mention it?
From what my two are, you can see that I live a boring life. I'm looking forward to hearing we have beauty contest winners or something on the Swap. Or, maybe someone is double-jointed and can kiss their own elbow.
Oh, when I was skinny, people used to find the fact that I had lost sixty pounds interesting.

#1, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-17-07 at 10:52 AM
In response to message #0
I am double jointed - it's actually not double jointed but called ligament laxity. My fingers, ankles, etc bend in interesting ways.
My dad died when I was 3.
I am the only girl in a family of 5.
I've had a headache since October 18, 2003.

#2, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by kellyds on Jan-17-07 at 10:55 AM
In response to message #1
I've had a headache since October 18, 2003.

#3, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by KateTheRiot on Jan-17-07 at 11:07 AM
In response to message #2
People usually mention my hair. It's fairly long, doesn't look too obviously colored , and is shiny and healthy.
The other thing that comes up all the time is the Lime Disease. But anyone who knows me knows that I tend to be a "walking poster child" for whatever is happening in my life. When hsing, I talked about that all the time. I've always been pretty up-front about my faith. When working with the prolife movement, that was always on my lips. I'm a natural "educator" in that I teach people about whatever interests me at the time, and I do it openly and freely--even if they don't want to know.
Oh, the other thing that comes up throughout my life is how frank I am. Some folks find that offensive and/or intimidating, but almost always, once they get to know me, they really like me. And, after that initial put-offing, they will tell me they were put off but that they now like that about me. In fact, I've often been told that my frankness is the one most endearing quality I have, because people feel safe with me. They know I'm not hiding any agendas and that I genuinely care about them and *will tell them the truth* coated in real love.

#4, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by DMarieC on Jan-17-07 at 11:32 AM
In response to message #3
Hmmm, I'm pretty ordinary. I'm a bit shy with folks so thay are shocked to learn that when I sing in church I'm a dynamo. I sing with all my heart and love it.
Sometimes folks find the way I grew up to be a bit strange. My dad believed in living off the land as much as possible and we ate what he hunted.
I still have four of my baby teeth. That's only comes up at the dentist.

#5, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by renna on Jan-17-07 at 11:37 AM
In response to message #3
Questions like this make me feel so boring as I struggle to come up with something interesting about myself or my life. However, your question was "different", not "interesting", so.... Considering I'm pretty shy by nature (nowhere near as bad as I used to be, though), I don't tend to talk about myself much, at least not in person (here, I talk too much ). Consequently, not much about my past comes out in conversations. Here are a few things that might eventually come out about me if someone were asking about my life. Some are facts I'd just as soon were not part of my past, but what's done is done.
My biological dad was murdered when I was in my early 20's.
When I was 3, my Sunday school teacher asked my mom if I had been born mute. I had been in her class for over a year and never uttered a sound (told you I was shy).
I went through a somewhat wild phase in my early 20's (though I was very much a goody-goody through high school). I experimented with some illegal substances, most of which I only tried a time or two, settling with a particular one which I did for a few years.
My family once traced our roots back to either the Hatfield's or the McCoy's. Unfortunately, my mother can't remember which family, and my grandmother and her sibs are all long gone. I'm sure if I researched I could find the information again.
My biological dad once spent a night with Robert Mitchum (really big movie star at that time)....in the drunk tank.
My stepdad once drove his car over both my legs, though not on purpose. I was lying on the ground beside his car, with my legs hanging off the curb. Not knowing I was there, he backed up and right over both my legs. Actually he heard me scream and stopped and hopped out of his car while parked on both legs. I suffered no injuries, praise God!
While praying, God gave me a vision showing me I should marry my current dh. It was the only time I've ever had a vision. God knew I had concerns about dh's past (three failed marriages). That was 17 years ago, and we have a wonderfully blessed marriage!
When I was a youngster, I dreamed every night that I was flying over my neighborhood. I still remember the day, many years later, when my dream world and reality met, and I realized in my wakened state that I really could not fly.
When I was about 10 or 11, I had a condition (has a name, but I can't remember it) which caused me to pull out my eyelashes. It was very embarrassing, but I couldn't stop. I did finally will myself to stop, though.
I have quite a few OCD tendencies, even still, though not any which truly, adversely, affect my life.
My best friends have always been extroverts. As they say, opposites attract.
That's all enough to bore anyone to tears, I guess.

#6, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-17-07 at 11:44 AM
In response to message #5
Renna it sounds like your life hasn't been just interesting but fascinating! Reading about the McCoys and Robert Mitchum and flying - wow!
I used to dream I could fly all the time too. I have no idea what the dream is supposed to "mean" but I loved it.

#7, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by renna on Jan-17-07 at 11:50 AM
In response to message #6
Jeannie, I've always meant to look in a dream book about the flying thing, though I'm not sure if I'd believe what I read, anwyay, which reminds me, I also tend to be a skeptic , though not about God's Word. I believe it!

#8, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-17-07 at 11:52 AM
In response to message #7
Me too. I always dreamed I could fly to school and to friends homes. It was always peaceful. Maybe that's why I liked it so much.
My home was anything but peaceful.

#9, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by renna on Jan-17-07 at 11:55 AM
In response to message #8
"My home was anything but peaceful". Mine either, during that time period, Jeannie. I guess it was our means of escape.

#11, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by dmcheckers on Jan-17-07 at 12:04 PM
In response to message #3
>The other thing that comes up all the time is the Lime Disease. Scurvy?

#12, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by KateTheRiot on Jan-17-07 at 12:06 PM
In response to message #11
You are tooo funny! Did I mention that the Lyme Disease affects memory and cognition and that this once-spelling bee champ has trouble spelling simple words now???

#14, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by renna on Jan-17-07 at 12:11 PM
In response to message #12
"Did I mention that the Lyme Disease affects memory and cognition and that this once-spelling bee champ has trouble spelling simple words now???
Kate, I'm also a former spelling bee champ. I've struggled with spelling simple words for several years now. I blame mine on age.

#10, Hey, Kelly!
Posted by renna on Jan-17-07 at 12:04 PM
In response to message #0
I'm sure there are alot of newbies here who don't know about your past "accommodations". Personally, I found it fascinating when I first heard about it.

#13, RE: Hey, Kelly!
Posted by kellyds on Jan-17-07 at 12:09 PM
In response to message #10
Oh, yeah, I was a live-off-the-lander when I was in my early twenties . . . grew all my own food (almost starved! ) and lived in a teepee.
Didn't shave my legs or underarms . . . wore a knife strapped around my calf . . . dug my own outhouse . . . that kind of boring stuff . . .

#15, RE: Hey, Kelly!
Posted by renna on Jan-17-07 at 12:12 PM
In response to message #13
Boring......roooiiiigght.

#16, RE: Hey, Kelly!
Posted by saintintraining on Jan-17-07 at 12:28 PM
In response to message #15
Let's see... I only have a minute.
My mom committed suicide when I was 25.
I have had 5 horrible pregnancies.
All 5 of my kids have had severe reflux.
We moved from Dallas to Duluth for no reason.

#17, RE: Hey, Kelly!
Posted by Cha on Jan-17-07 at 12:44 PM
In response to message #16
I don't know about "different". I haven't shared some of my life, but just to encourage someone reading this that God is good, here's some eye-raisers that God brought me through and some boring stuff.
I never had a real friend until jr. high, then I had 5 close friends. We were the "Little Rascals". (The reruns of reruns were on tv in the late 70's) All dropped out of my life completely.

My dd & I have some interesting parallels in our lives:
My mom and dad divorced when I was 2. She remarried when I was 3.
My 1st husband divorced me when my dd was 2 and I remarried when she was almost 3.
(God blessed me with David when I remarried.)
I married first at 16 and it wasn't even a shotgun wedding.
My dd married at 17. Her marriage is great.
I've lived twice in ,and given birth in, Germany when it was "West".
Now my dd may be going back there to live for her 2nd time.
I tried to commit suicide in my early 20's. God is good, He answered my frantic prayer that I'd changed my mind.
People can't believe I don't color my hair, yet. Highlighted recently.
One of my legs is a little longer and bigger.
I'm a butcher's daughter so I'm paranoid of raw meat bacteria but not afraid to eat moldy cheese.
Even though I grew up pretty shy and believed maybe God used evolution to make everything, I now irritate some and amaze others with my growing knowledge of creation science and eschatology.
I LOVE asking people if they know that there are stalactites growing under the Lincoln Memorial and in some subway tunnels or that there are things such as fossilized modern hats.
I can make my own dirt. (God really does the work, I just pile it up)

#18, RE: Hey, Kelly!
Posted by Lucy on Jan-17-07 at 01:15 PM
In response to message #17
I homebirthed all nine children and am an RN. That pretty much silences most people actually and is how my dh sometimes introduces me!
I have internet friends called "Swappies" (that does sometimes raise an eyebrow) some I've known for over 10 years! And, some I've met!
I'm weird in my quilting circles because I *LIKE* working with small pieces. Everyone expects my quilts to have at least 9" ninepatches, but I like 3" ninepatches and log cabins with logs no bigger than 1.5 inches. And, I handquilt.
At church, everyone wants to tell me about which of my children they've come to appreciate and how that child has tickled them or blessed them.
The biggest conversation starter I have is the nine children, especially when they hear they have the same mom and dad! I'm told we are QUITE an oddity in this town. One time a lady I didn't know came up and said, "Are you Lucy?" after she counted out all my children...she knew my name after hearing about us from the dentist! He also told her I smile a lot!

Oh, I have veneers on my teeth because my teeth were VERY yellowed from tetracycline as a child. The dentist straightened them and realigned them also. I SMILE a LOT now...of course, I have good reason to smile and am more than willing to tell that reason...JESUS is my Saviour.~
I easily start conversations...shutting me up is another story.

#19, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by RobinS on Jan-17-07 at 01:37 PM
In response to message #0
Like Renna, I am terribly, painfully shy. Unlike many shy people, I actually really love public speaking. I would rather give a speech to 200 people than mingle one-on-one at a party. A lot of people think I am kidding about this, but I am deadly serious.
I talk to myself a lot. This drives my dh nuts. I also talk to inanimate objects. ("Stupid thing! Why do you keep snapping out of place?" etc. etc.) I was tickled pink recently to find someone else that does this. I thought I was the only one.
I am a huge fan of logic puzzles and board games. People who hear this, and learn of my very logical nature, generally assume I like chess. They are wrong: I hate it. I think this is because there are so many possible moves and so many possible outcomes that my brain can't process them all. (I like games with a "right solution," like Sudoku, or those where you can measure which moves are better than others--e.g. Scrabble, where you can count points for each word possibility.)

#20, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Janeen on Jan-17-07 at 01:49 PM
In response to message #19
Mrs. Robin, I feel like you about chess...I don't mind playing it, but I'm horrible at it. I've beaten my brother ONCE in my life, and I have a feeling he let me win. I like other logic puzzles though.
me:
I've never met my father. Ever.
He died nine days before I was born.
My mom's best friend was mom's coach when she was in labor with me, and mom's best friend was pregnant with my best friend. SO my best friend who is three months younger than I am was present at my birth.
well, for only being 18, I guess that will do.

#21, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by renna on Jan-17-07 at 01:54 PM
In response to message #20
Kara, that is so cool, about the best friend thing!
"I talk to myself a lot. This drives my dh nuts. I also talk to inanimate objects. ("Stupid thing! Why do you keep snapping out of place?" etc. etc.) I was tickled pink recently to find someone else that does this. I thought I was the only one"
Robin, get pink again, and add me to the list of people you know who do this. It's not a rarity at our house, though. We all do it.

#22, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Janeen on Jan-17-07 at 01:58 PM
In response to message #21
*cough* I often tell things to behave and stay....especially if it's something at the top of an unsteady pile, or something round that wants to roll away.

#24, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by AbundantLifePrep on Jan-17-07 at 02:09 PM
In response to message #20
I learned to read when I was 3 years old. I still love to read. I taught my oldest daughter to read when she was 4.
I was born again when I was 7 years old. Combine that with my love of reading; and I sometimes surprise people older than myself, with how well I know and understand Scripture, and how committed I am in my faith.
During my teen years, I went to space camp, to New Brunswick, to orchestra camp, coast to coast US, and to Barbados. Later, I went to Hawaii(honeymoon), to New Orleans, to Orlando, to San Francisco, and to the Bahamas.
I have tried several strange foods and liked them: rotis and flying fish in Barbados, and alligator sausage in New Orleans.
I have been married for 6 1/2 years, and we're about to move to our 7th home. I am 26 years old and expecting my 3rd child.
That's all I can think of for now.

#23, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Tamie_in_MI on Jan-17-07 at 02:03 PM
In response to message #0
I'm quite a germaphobe enhanced by having an extreme micropreemie. I'm getting back to my "normal" level of germaphobia but Monk has nothing on me. I'm always pointing out how I know he really is not a germ a phobe. He's just acting.
Infertility has been a strong issue in my life. No birth control, 25+ yrs marriage = 3 children, 4 PGs. My goal in life was to have not less than ten but hopefully at least 13 kids. (I've had many more than that through daycare but I don't get to keep any of them. I'm still considering adoption though that would be news to Mark.)
I am a walking, talking miracle. Starting from prebirth. The Dr thought he heard 3 heart beats, then decided I was just two. I came as only one. Mom had to birth me w/o anesthetic intervention (common for that day) since they didn't know how many I was.
2) My Otolaryngologist and his Audiologist have declared me as DEAF except I hear. The Otolaryngologist stepped accross the room, slapped his forhead and said, "I don't get this. I cannot believe that you can hear anything." He was speaking of my left ear only. It is very sclerotic from tons of ruptures and surgeries. The Audiologist was beckoned to my side. He asked her to test my hearing. We walked accross the hall to the soundproof test booth. She began her exam by running a Tympanometry test of the right middle ear. That tests the functioning and measuring the flexibility of the eardrum. Immediately she responded, "I see why you cannot hear in this ear. It's too floppy." When I told her that it's the left ear he was convinced I could not hear with, she was confused too. My hearing tests have always been within normal range but do not follow a normal pattern. (I do have near constant ear pain, ear infections and such but I HEAR!)
Now, this is very odd for any family... See if you can follow it;
My birth mother and father divorced.
My birth father married Lawanna.
My birth mother married Thomas who had been married to Phyllis and engaged to Lawanna before marrying Phyllis but never married her.
My birth father divorced Lawanna.
My birth mother divored Thomas.
My birth father married Phyllis
My birth mother married Ron (She's out of the circle)
Thomas married Dianne -- Ron's sister (The circle is redrawn).
Thomas is now a Christian and married to PeeJay. She goes by the name Candi Cane and is not related to anyone else in this mess. EG calls these people G'ma and G'pa. The oldest two call him G'pa.
My mother is divorced. She is called G'ma by all the kids.
My birth father was assumed dead for about 7 yrs. Someone has decided that he is still alive. Mark has never met him. He doesn't know any of my children.

What's funny, at the sink today, I was thinking of posting something about myself that no one knows or would think of. I had a clinging baby and could not get to the computer. Now I cannot remember what it was. I'm considering going to stand at the sink to see if I can remember. -- Nope, I went to the sink and cannot remember what it was.

#25, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Barbara on Jan-17-07 at 02:25 PM
In response to message #23
I don't have any wisdom teeth and neither does ds.
I could tie my shoes when I was three and dd and ds#1 could too. I had to remind dh when we worked with 5 years olds that wasn't the norm. He kept telling them to tie their shoes and most could not. DS#2 came along to remind us that it wasn't the norm. We put him in velcro.
I feel what I hear. After my c-section I thought I heard that pain medicine was in the IV. Never had any pain. Upon discharge the doctor commented he wasn't giving me any pain medicine since I had never asked for any. I said "wasn't it in my IV?" They said no.
I am a little on the excessive side of owning stuff. My own sister was surprised at my three crates of knitting/crocheting and cross-stitch books. I have never counted my punches after reaching 300 so my dd can't tell people "you should see my mom's punches, she owns... of them."
#26, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by lisaf4 on Jan-17-07 at 02:40 PM
In response to message #23
Kelly,
I don't have any cavities and I've had 10 pregnancies. I'm 47, so maybe I've not had cavities longer than you haven't had cavities.
I think I mentioned this before, but I KNOW I'm the only one that was the first female, big game hunting guide in Wyoming.

#27, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Toni_foster2adopt on Jan-17-07 at 03:00 PM
In response to message #26
-I was our town's festival queen (and won a trip to NYC).
-people often are very interested to hear about our foster/adoptions.
-A former friend is serving 22 years in prison for having one lov#r kill another (worked with her at Eastern Airlines).
-I saved an 11yo boy from drowning while watching another drown in front of me at the same time, helpless to save him as well.
-I'm quite uncomfortable with new people (not so "different", I suppose, but definitely me).
-I see beauty in very strange things.

#28, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by ClaireMom on Jan-17-07 at 03:05 PM
In response to message #26
I feel so uninteresting! I can't think of a thing that's "different" about me. I'll go ask dd - she thinks I'm "different," so maybe she can come up with something.

#29, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by vicki on Jan-17-07 at 03:31 PM
In response to message #28
Everyone here already knows all my weird stuff.

#30, Hey Claire
Posted by renna on Jan-17-07 at 03:35 PM
In response to message #28
You're a notary public, aren't you? It's not all that common.

#31, Nothing
Posted by Lily on Jan-17-07 at 03:38 PM
In response to message #30
I am a very common person with nothing unusual or notorious......

#32, Perspective
Posted by renna on Jan-17-07 at 03:45 PM
In response to message #31
I think alot of what we find interesting or boring is in our perspective.
Living down here in Texas all these many years, I find the fact that you live in New York state and grew up in Vermont rather interesting, Lily.

#33, Lisa
Posted by kellyds on Jan-17-07 at 04:11 PM
In response to message #32
Lisa, I turned 47 four days ago. Glad you assumed I was younger.

#34, unusual things
Posted by CKM on Jan-17-07 at 05:25 PM
In response to message #33
Most of you know this stuff, but here goes, I'm 6 ft tall, maybe 6'1. I wear a size 12 shoe. I'm an only child of an only child -father. My mother only had 1 sister who had one child who had one child. I'm a Chemistry teacher( unusual for females) and a seamstress, although not a tailor. I was 11th in my hs class of 273. I've been to Japan, Hong Kong, Communist China, France, England, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, and Canada. I love Star Trek, in all its forms and speak french and pig latin. It's come in handy with my mom's home health aides. Some are from Cameroon where they speak french. I fought a baby bull as a hs tourist in Spain, wore red and it headed straight for me every time. And I'm loud, and generally socially clueless.

#35, RE: unusual things
Posted by ClaireMom on Jan-17-07 at 05:30 PM
In response to message #34
Oh yeah, I am a notary public, and I perform loan signings, so I'm also considered a "signing agent" - but here in CA, we're a dime a dozen!
I did think of something kinda notorious. When dd was 5 (about seven years ago) my kids' pediatrician murdered his lover (they were both married) when he found out she was pg! We loved him, and were so shocked and saddened. That was a biggy in our lives at the time.
I even wrote a letter to the court, asking that he be released while awaiting trial so that he could support his young daughter. Rather unfortunately, the letter was published in a book about the murders! It has my full name and everything!
Edited to give you the link to the book:
http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=0312977948
I also have to say, they describe him as a woman magnet. He is good looking, but wasn't sleazy acting. I hate to defend him, but I now understand why people have a hard time believing it when someone they knows commits murder.

#36, RE: unusual things
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-17-07 at 05:32 PM
In response to message #35
That is definately different Claire!!
How sad that is about the dr.

#37, RE: unusual things
Posted by ClaireMom on Jan-17-07 at 05:35 PM
In response to message #36
Jeannie, check out my edit.
#38, RE: unusual things
Posted by Birdy on Jan-17-07 at 06:12 PM
In response to message #37
I can't think of a single thing. I've lead an incredibly ordinary life.

#39, RE: unusual things
Posted by vicki on Jan-17-07 at 06:23 PM
In response to message #38
I think Claire wins.

#40, RE: unusual things
Posted by ClaireMom on Jan-17-07 at 06:29 PM
In response to message #39
No way, Vicki, you silly!!! That's one incident in 41 years; I think Lucy's at-home births (for instance) are much, much more interesting (and I'm a little jealous, too!) And all your adventures growing up in So Cal and rubbing elbows with celebrities - way more interesting than my kids' murderous pediatrician.
I just love learning more about my cyber-friends. Swappies sure are a wild and wooly bunch!

#41, RE: unusual things
Posted by Conan on Jan-17-07 at 06:32 PM
In response to message #38
Nothing really interesting but different.
I have been married 16 years and have live in 17 different house some of them for more than 2 years each.
I am a reformed introvert. I was as shy as Renna growing up. Never speaking to strangers(or often times people I knew). NEVER. Not even to protest really bad things going on in my life. I am better now.
I have all girls.
I lived in a 29 foot motorhome with 8 people and a dog for 3 months, on purpose.
I was 15 the first time I ever went to a movie theater or to the mall. (wasn't even sure what a mall was till then).
I was "in love" with Kirk Camron and Kevin Von Erich when I was a kid. I thought wrestling was real.
I can sew great and make all kinds of really neat things (just finished a diaper stacker with pockets) but for the life of me, can not read or understand a pattern. I make my own patterns out of newspapers.
I used to carry a bowie knife to school in my boot. (that is when my name was changed from Connie to Conan). Times were different back then and this was really rual area. You never know when you might need a tool like a bowie knife.
My Graduating class had 28 people.
I got married while I was still a senior in highschool and I WASN'T pregnant. Actually I was still pure and we got married because we had dated for 3 and 1/2 years. He had already graduted 2 years before me and had a job and his own house. We were just ready to get married.

#42, just a few things
Posted by gc on Jan-17-07 at 07:08 PM
In response to message #41
oh wow! where do I start, hehehe
but, just a couple things.
I was voted 'non conformist' of my senior class in highschool. Then I promptly got married and had kids (well actually it was non conformist, all my friends went to colleg first)
my dh and I believe God allowed the gas shortages in the early 80's just so we could meet ( he started going to my church because it was closer to his home )
dh and I are BOTH native to our area of CA and have been married 25 years!!!

#49, RE: unusual things
Posted by Toni_foster2adopt on Jan-17-07 at 09:24 PM
In response to message #35
I hate to defend
>him, but I now understand why people have a hard time
>believing it when someone they knows commits murder.
I understand (per my post above about my former friend).

#43, not much
Posted by Jean on Jan-17-07 at 07:23 PM
In response to message #0
I may be the only swappie who attended a one room schoolhouse with no running water and outhouses down two different paths--one for the boys and one for the girls.
I attended 9 different schools between grades 1 and 12--including 3 different schools in the 8th grade alone and another 3 in high school.
I missed being a teenage bride by 5 months--and we celebrated our 36th anniversary this past summer.
I'm a native Floridian for several generations back--and there aren't many of those around!
&
Jean

#44, You asked for it
Posted by bkmomto3 on Jan-17-07 at 07:40 PM
In response to message #0
My hubby didn't propose to me and I didn't propose to him. Instead, he asked me to come live with him in CA while he was going to dive school. I told him that I wouldn't live with him unless we were married. The next night he called me and said, "OK, let's get married".
When I was in first grade, I mooned my class.
I taught my hubby to burp on purpose.
I entered a Brady Bunch look alike contest in 1990??? Originally, I was going to be Cindy Brady, (with curls). My curls came out, so I went in the bathroom of the bar where the contest was, and brushed my my pig tails smooth so that I looked like Marcia from the first season. Each Marcia contestant had to repeat some lines that the radio DJ's gave to us. I guess that I sounded snotty enough because I won. My prize was:
The radio station flew dh and I to Indianapolis from Akron, OH, (that's where we lived at the time), for Valentine's Day. They also gave us two tickets to see Paul McCartney in concert, (the concert was on Valentine's Day), $97.50 mad money, and they paid for our hotel stay. It was great!!!!! We used the money to pay for a limo that we shared with some other couples that we met.
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

#45, More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by Tamie_in_MI on Jan-17-07 at 08:05 PM
In response to message #44
I was a teen bride.
Jean, I have you beat in moves, BY A LONG SHOT! We moved about 4 times a year. I didn't know why until after I was married about 4 yrs. My dad was bad at paying bills so every time the bill collectors came knocking at the door, we moved.

#46, RE: More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by Jean on Jan-17-07 at 08:07 PM
In response to message #45

Those were just different schools, Tamie--there were seveeral different houses in each town. But I'm sure you still have me beat!
&
Jean

#47, RE: More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-17-07 at 08:26 PM
In response to message #46
I was telling dh about his and he said I should include this
Following this is a press release from 2000. You'll find my name down in the middle. Because of this I did a radio advertisement, a newspaper ad and got a trip to Toronto for the Awards banquet. (I've taken out everyone's last names.)
MEDIA RELEASE
Canada's Wireless Industry Honours its Heroes
Five Canadians to Receive a Wireless Safety Award
For immediate release - May 23, 2000
Toronto, Ontario - As part of Canadian Wireless Safety Week, May 29 to June 2, five brave and quick-thinking Canadians are being honoured for saving the lives of fellow Canadians by using their wireless phones. Donna _____ of Burlington, Ontario, Terrence ______ of Downsview, Ontario, Ed ___ of Vancouver, BC, Jeannie _____ of ______, Alberta and Rhea ________ of Calgary, Alberta will receive a Wireless Safety Award for their extraordinary efforts to summon help in an emergency situation. The award presentations are taking place at a special dinner in honour of these heroes at the Canadian Wireless 2000 convention in Toronto on May 29, 2000.
Each year, Canadians with wireless phones make millions of calls that help to make their communities safer. "Just about every day, I learn about how one of our wireless customers was able to quickly help others in an emergency situation," says CWTA President and CEO Peter Barnes. "We know that mobile phones can be a lifeline to others in need. The extraordinary people we are honouring with these awards dramatically illustrated that fact through their courageous acts."
The following summarizes their stories:
o Donna _____, the leader of the 7th Aldershot Cubs, was on a camping trip with her troop of 10- and 11-year-olds in March 1999. After they were all fast asleep one evening, the furnace backed up sending noxious carbon monoxide fumes throughout the cabin. Donna awoke dizzy and disorientated, tried to make her way upstairs to the children, but collapsed, fell down a flight of stairs and struck her head. Unconscious and bleeding, she awoke again two hours later, struggled upstairs, got the children up and out of the cabin. Sick, exhausted and weak, she managed to dial 9-1-1 from her cell phone in the car, but couldn't finish her conversation. One of the children took over and fire, ambulance and police responded immediately. All were treated in hospital and later released.
o Terrence _____, on his drive into work in January 1999, noticed a man having a seizure in a mall parking lot and immediately pulled over to help. He called 9-1-1 from his wireless phone and help was dispatched right away. However, the ambulance team had trouble locating Terrence and the victim in the huge parking lot. Fortunately, Terrence had left his wireless phone number with the driver of the ambulance and directed the paramedics to their exact location. Just in time, the ambulance reached them. The victim was treated immediately and has since recovered.
o Ed ___ was hiking the popular "Grouse Grind" trail that travels up Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver last winter when an avalanche hit. Ed slid hopelessly backward, head first, down a steep slope for 300 feet, before he finally managed to grab on to a tree and quickly climb up. A river of snow rushed by him, but undaunted, he called emergency services from his wireless phone, becoming the first person to report the incident. Shortly thereafter, a second avalanche hit. Ed still clung to the tree, made more calls to emergency services throughout the rescue operation, giving them vital information on the whereabouts of other hikers.
o Jeannie _____ was on the Internet one night chatting online to a friend in a nearby city when her friend said she was going to commit suicide. Jeannie knew she had to maintain her telephone connection to the Internet to keep communicating with her friend during this critical situation. Fortunately, Jeannie's husband arrived home with their wireless phone and she quickly dialled 9-1-1, explained the situation and gave the emergency operator her friend's phone number and address. The emergency team arrived in time, saving her friend's life.
o Rhea _______had her car stolen while she was volunteering for a local charity. She reported the robbery to the Calgary Police who let her know that, typically, stolen vehicles turn up within a couple of days. As she was driving to downtown Calgary with her husband later on that day, she spotted her stolen car travelling down the opposite side of the road. Rhea immediately called 9-1-1 and while she and her husband followed the vehicle, Rhea provided the 9-1-1 dispatcher with the car's direction, speed and location. Four patrol cars surrounded the vehicle and forced it to a stop. The criminals, known crack cocaine dealers, had outstanding arrest warrants and were considered armed and dangerous.
In addition to honouring Canada's wireless heroes, the Wireless Safety Awards are designed to raise awareness of how wireless technology can be used to provide assistance and offer comfort in emergency situations. These awards are also part of the CWTA's "Connected to the Community" program, whereby Canada's wireless industry promotes and celebrates the use of wireless technologies in improving the lives of Canadians.
The Wireless Safety Awards ceremony takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on May 29 beginning at 5.30pm
The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) is the authority on wireless issues, developments and trends in Canada. It represents cellular, PCS, paging, fixed wireless, mobile radio and mobile satellite carriers as well as companies that develop and produce products and services for the industry.
For media information and interview opportunities, contact:
Marc Choma, Director of Communications, CWTA
(613) 23*-****, ext. 107

#48, RE: More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by MomsBus on Jan-17-07 at 08:48 PM
In response to message #47
Okay, I'm boring. REALLY boring after reading about everyone else.

#50, RE: More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by Cha on Jan-17-07 at 09:41 PM
In response to message #48
Oh, come on. Everyone's got a story. If I can tell you the boring fact that one leg is bigger than the other.

#51, flying in dreams
Posted by afarm on Jan-17-07 at 10:07 PM
In response to message #50
Now I know why I always could fly in my dreams when I was younger.
My interesting thing is that I am the new, proud owner/manager of a coffee shop!!

#52, RE: More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by Toni_foster2adopt on Jan-17-07 at 10:08 PM
In response to message #50
Cha,
One of my legs is 1/4" longer than the other (and I have the Scoliosis and back pain to prove it).
And, like Jeannie, I'm double jointed. I can turn my arms over a full 360º rotation (palm down to palm up to palm down again). Jim Carey is the king of double joints though.

#103, RE: More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by Craft Lady on Jan-19-07 at 06:11 PM
In response to message #52
>Cha,
>One of my legs is 1/4" longer than the other (and I have the
>Scoliosis and back pain to prove it).
>
My mom also had one leg shorter than the other. They discovered this and corrected it during her hip replacement surgery.
MaryAnn

#53, RE: More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by DollyM on Jan-17-07 at 10:15 PM
In response to message #50
I can put my entire fist into my mouth. (Actually, that's a lie: I could really do it when I was 17 but as I grew/matured my ummm. . . my fist gost bigger ...yeah, that's the ticket ... anyway I can't do it anymore.)
I can put $5 in quarters on my elbow, flick them all off at the same time and catch them all in my hand. No, really: I can do this.
I had 15 different home addresses from ages 0-24, then ONE SAME HOME ever since then.
My fathers' great uncle was the "LANGTRY" for Lillie Langtry. My sister was married to the drummer in DickDale & the DelTone's Surf Band. That same drummer husband was a member of Charles Mansons "family."
The month I conceived my DD I produced 17 perfectly good eggs from my ovaries. Thankfully only the perfect ONE became fertilized. (Can you say, "massive quantities of fertility drugs ....")
I have swum with a dolphin. With my mother. On HER 80th birthday.
Okay. That's enough.

#54, RE: More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by saintintraining on Jan-17-07 at 11:01 PM
In response to message #53
A few more:
I won a spelling bee and was runner up for our district. I went to the 3rd biggest high school in the nation.
My dad killed someone.
My best friends think I'm really funny, but I don't. At one of our homeschool meetings, they suggested I do stand up comedy.
I'm quite proud of this one! I have NO stretch marks after having 5 kids and getting really huge with each one. I always amaze the nurses!
I still dream I can fly at least once a week. I dream in color.
My dh and I grew up across the street from each other. And his parents grew up behind each other.
I won a national contest to meet Michael W. Smith when I was on strict bedrest with pregnancy #2. I begged my OB to let me go and I had to go in a wheelchair. I was picked up in a limo, ate at Reunion Tower (in Dallas), went to a concert in the front row, met him backstage and then got to stay in a fancy hotel for the night. I went straight from the hotel to my OB office the next morning to make sure everything was still ok. I think I was about 30 weeks.

#55, RE: saintintraining
Posted by quitepossiblymaybe on Jan-17-07 at 11:48 PM
In response to message #54
>I'm quite proud of this one! I have NO stretch marks after
>having 5 kids and getting really huge with each one. I
>always amaze the nurses!
Can I thump you on the head for this one? Gently of course.
Genesis

#57, RE: More about me reminded to me by others.
Posted by renna on Jan-18-07 at 00:03 AM
In response to message #53
Dolly, my dd, Nikki, can also put her entire fist into her mouth, and I know how big her mouth is, so.....

#56, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by quitepossiblymaybe on Jan-18-07 at 00:01 AM
In response to message #0
Hmmm...what's "different" about me? Well I'll start with the obvious, which is my name. Everyone always asks if it's my *real name (it is).
I have never met my biological father and have never wanted to.
I was very intelligent in school and they even wanted me to skip a grade ahead but my mother wouldn't allow it. Don't know what happened to all that intelligence.
I graduated a year early.
I didn't go to my prom because I'd rather spend that extra money on furniture for my new town home I just got w/ my first husband.
I'm an only child and I like it.
Taught myself to read before I entered kindergarten and was reading encycopedias when I was five yrs old.
Was almost kidnapped as a young child.
Met Gavin Rossdale, lead singer of the rock band Bush in March 1997. He's a very nice man too.
Had my tongue pierced twice. Took it out when I just felt that God would rather I not have it.
A relative of mine was the mayor of Tampa waaay back when and you can still see his name on some sidewalks in Ybor City...Nick Nuccio.
I lost my very last baby tooth last year at the age of 29 and there is no new tooth to replace it.
I've never broken a bone...never had chicken pox...never been seriously injured.
Felt God actually embrace me once in my life after I did something terrible. I knew at that moment I was forgiven and was very much loved by the Lord.
Genesis

#58, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by renna on Jan-18-07 at 00:16 AM
In response to message #0
I forgot something which I think does make me sort of different. I thought of it when I read about Genesis being nearly kidnapped once.
I have come very close to death a number of times, though not through illness. Well, actually, I was hospitalized quite ill with pneumonia as a toddler, but I don't know if I was close to death or not.
I nearly drowned when I was about 3 or 4 years old. My parents were swimming in a small lake with another couple and didn't notice I slipped from the mossy edge out into the deep water. My brother saw my waist length hair floating on the water's surface and swam over and saved me. He was only 2 1/2 years older than me. I can remember the indident quite well. I'd held my breath as long as I could and sensed I was about to die.

Another time I was sledding down an icy driveway with my young son and his friends when our neighborhood was covered in ice. Just as I slid into the street, a car came careening down the hill toward me, unable to stop. Her front tire missed me by inches.
Besides the number of really close calls in automobiles, there was one or two other incidents that were far too close for comfort.

#59, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by FuzzyLiz on Jan-18-07 at 05:42 AM
In response to message #58
To all of you I'm different because I'm English and living in England - but to everyone around here I'm just the same!
I love some of your stories. My life seems quite uninteresting in comparison!
I was born in England, should have been a blue baby but wasn't. When I was a few months old we went back to Kenya on a boat - in those days missionaries travelled by boat not plane. The sea was so rough and Mum was so ill that Dad tied my cradle up to one of the overhead pipes - it broke!
I lived for the first 4 or 5 years of my life in a very remote part of Kenya amongst people who mostly wore nothing - we were the only white people for miles around and so were considered oddities by them!
I came to boarding school in England whilst Mum and Dad still lived in Kenya - that was a difficult time for me.
Dh was my first and only boyfriend - we decided the night that we agreed to go out together that it was with a view to getting married.
I too have nearly died a few times - but through illness - just got things very badly!
I used to 'fly' downstairs in my dreams but to used to wake up with a jolt that felt like I had landed! Wierd!
I can remember a dream I used to have until I was about 8 - of going through a long tunnel out into the light - I am sure it was a dream of my birth experience - again - wierd!
It appears that we do have links to royalty but on the wrong side of the bed so to speak!! And very far removed.
Having 8 children around here (in real life not cyber life!) is quite an oddity and that makes people talk.
I don't think I would do well with a much more interesting life - not sure how I would cope with what some of you have dealt with in life.

FuzzyLiz

#60, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by SarahAdmin on Jan-18-07 at 06:06 AM
In response to message #59
Like Liz, my parents were missionaries, and I was born six months after my parents arrived in Japan. Except for a couple of furlough years, I grew up in Japan until I graduated from high school (a boarding school for missionary children in Tokyo). My parents ministered on the southern coast of the island of Shikoku, so I speak that dialect as well as standard Japanese.
I didn't meet my grandparents or other relatives until I was five years old.
I never quite believed that the toilet would really, really flush, due to having tried to flush paper towels down my grandparents' toilet!
I've done a little live interpreting, and a tiny bit of written translation, but I really dislike it. I'd much rather teach English as a second language, and did so on a part-time basis for many years.
Two of my siblings are professional translators.
Both of my children were born in Canada, and both have chosen American citizenship.
When I go to the local Chinese buffet, I always start with the sushi, even though it's usually not "real" sushi -- but it's comfort food for me.
I've never broken a bone. I had measles and mumps at the same time, and I have a chickenpox scar.
I've never been to a football game. However, I've been to Germany, Austria, and Korea, and seen the airports in Honolulu, Anchorage, Peking, and Karachi.
My four or five pairs of regular chopsticks live in the same partition as the dessert forks in my silverware drawer.
I learned to read on a ship. It was "(Richard)and Jane."
In college, I was a poor scholarship student in one of the richest towns in America -- Malibu, CA; and went to the beach exactly twice during my college years.
I was a tour guide for a couple of summers in Niagara Falls, NY and Canada, with a few Toronto assignments as well.
I'm sure I could dredge up more, but that's enough!
Sarah

#87, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by RobinS on Jan-18-07 at 03:40 PM
In response to message #60

>When I go to the local Chinese buffet, I always start with
>the sushi, even though it's usually not "real" sushi -- but
>it's comfort food for me.

I can attest to this.
Chinese food is my comfort food!
#61, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Amy on Jan-18-07 at 06:15 AM
In response to message #59
I am soooo boring!!!! This has been such a fun thread!!!
Ummmm...
1 ~ I donated my bone marrow and stem cells to a stranger 5 years ago. The bone marrow donation took place two days before my 1st wedding anniversary.
The recipient died. I am good friends with her best friend, Mary Lou. She lives in NH. I wish we lived closer.
2 ~ I was the first Christian in my family.
3 ~ My mother did day care from the time I was 5 until I was in my 30's (I think). She took care of a sweet preemie by the name of Hannah, that I adored. One day, Hannah's mommy came to pick her up. I was holding Hannah and loving up on her. The mommy's name is LaurieS. and we have been best friends ever since. That was 22 years ago.
4 ~ Laurie found the Swap first, but I posted first.
5 ~ I've been to 4 Barry Manilow concerts. Now that dates me!!
6 ~ I am estranged from my brother and sister. I consider myself an only child. I never fit in with my family.

#62, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Lori on Jan-18-07 at 06:59 AM
In response to message #61
I'm so impressed with all of you. I am pretty stumped for myself. One thing:
I played guitar and sang for Mamie Eisenhower twice. I was a student at Eisenhower Elementary School and our little chorus always performed on her late husband's birthday at a ceremony at his library in Gettysburg. She told me a did a good job.

#64, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Renda on Jan-18-07 at 07:30 AM
In response to message #62
Many years ago, I was standing in a check-out line. The lady in front of me asked to charge her purchase to a certain account. When asked her name, she replied that she would write it. I just had to look over her shoulder and discovered that I was standing behind a real princess. After all these years, I've forgotten the name, but it was Princess ? of Denmark. I'm thinking Margaret. This was in an area of Florida where it was not uncomman to see "famous" people.
I've never tasted alchohol or tobacco.
Blood type is AB-.

#63, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by LindaR on Jan-18-07 at 07:17 AM
In response to message #61
I saw the post yesterday and couldn't think of anything different about me, but after reading through I thought I would give it a go...
I spent my JH (1967-1969)years in Mogadishu, Somalia. The U of WYO had a contract with USAID and Dad was the dryland small gains specialist.
Dh and I were basically 29 when we got married (turned 29 the following two months). We were both told by our Dr's that we couldn't have children....WRONG! We had 4 in 5 years.
There are 4 children in my immediate family (2 boys, 2 girls), my husband has 3 siblings (his family: 2boys, 2 girls), we had 4 children (2 and 2).
I am a cancer survivor.... I think that is the end....
Oh; I, too, am very shy and I talk to myself and inanimate objects all the time. I also talk in the third-person.... drives my family nuts!

#65, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by vicki on Jan-18-07 at 07:31 AM
In response to message #63
Renna--I didn't know you were in the hospital w/pneumonia? I was hospitalized at least twice as a 4 yr old (pneumonia and measles) and remember those incidences very well.

#66, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Kathleen on Jan-18-07 at 08:30 AM
In response to message #65
Let's see. I've had to think about this to come up with something. I thought that attending 5 different schools in 3 years was different, until I read Tamie's and Jean's posts. LOL. They have me beat!
My mom says I was completely potty trained by the time I was ONE year old. Out of diapers and in big-girl pants! I was her first and she had a LOT of time on her hands as she and my dad were living out of motels (his job included traveling). On top of that, she had to wash my diapers by hand in the bathroom sink!
I earned the Wo-He-Lo medallion in Camp Fire Girls (the highest award they have).
Hmmm.... I know I thought of something else, but can't think of it now. I'm glad that's not unusual -- I'd hate to think I was the only one!
I got to decorate some of the Christmas trees at K-Mart one year when I worked there (long, long ago, when I was in highschool).
I was a Camp Fire Girls camp counselor two summers in a row, and played the guitar there as well.
I enjoy logic puzzles too, but also like chess (although I'm not good at it and seldom play it). I like games, but dh doesn't so I only get to play games when my mom or dad visit.
That's all that comes to mind right now....
Oh, I'm sewing a wedding gown now for a friend of a friend, sort of. Does that count?

#67, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by quitepossiblymaybe on Jan-18-07 at 10:44 AM
In response to message #66
Kathleen's post reminded me of something that my mother thought was *different about me. I started walking at 8 months. She said everyone thought I looked very strange because I was this little baby walking around.

Genesis

#68, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Kathleen on Jan-18-07 at 10:48 AM
In response to message #67
I walked at 8 months, too!

#69, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Tamie_in_MI on Jan-18-07 at 11:15 AM
In response to message #68
When EG started walking, she was about 24 inches tall. Talk about STARES!! Oh, and Ooohs and Ahhhs.

[TamieJP]

#70, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by jmlange on Jan-18-07 at 11:17 AM
In response to message #68
I grew up in a house that had a big sign out front that said:
(family surname)'s Chigger Ranch
We frequently got people stopping to ask if we really sold chiggers.
The sign was my dad's idea of a joke since we moved to that rural property from a subdivision and chiggers and snakes and groundhogs and such were new things to my citified mom.
He also had a sign on the side of his truck that said:
(Dad's name) & Sons, Daughters and Critters
There was never a lack of fun when we were growing up.

#71, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by DanaO on Jan-18-07 at 11:22 AM
In response to message #67
Seems like we did this recently, and of course I can't think of much this time around.
Here's a coincidence in my family concerning birth order and names.
My mother is the baby in her family; two boys and one girl.
My dad was the oldest in his family, two boys and one girl.
I am the first born in my family.
My husband is the baby.
Like my paternal and maternal grandparents, I also have two boys, and one girl.
My dh's father's initials were JD for Joseph Daniel.
My father's initials were JD for James Daniel.
My brother's initials are JD for James Daniel.
My grandfather's name, NOT his initials was JD.
My maiden name is a palindrome R E C E R
My father was married to my mother, Mary Jane, divorced and then married a Jane. My brother is married to a Jane, so for 5 years my brother and my father were married to women by the same names and their (dad and bro) are also the same.
My dad went by Dan or Daniel all his life. My mother is now married to a man whose last name is Daniels.

Strange stuff........

#72, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by FuzzyLiz on Jan-18-07 at 11:34 AM
In response to message #71
Oh I just remembered about the talking to inanimate objects - do it all the time! When the children were younger and maybe bumped their heads on a chair we would gently smack the chair and say "naughty chair" or floor or whatever it was. Yes we did get some strange looks and yes all my children now also talk to inanimate objects!! And remember the Walton's goodnight.....we had that but include bed, room, chair, teddy, tv, stairs, floor.....etc.
Oh and talking of KB's with royalty. We used to have a visitor when we were young, she knitted a lot and I have a knitted kangaroo did have baby roo but that got lost eventually. She often stayed and really liked it with us. Her son was married to the crown princess of Denmark or Sweden or one of those. She was such an ordinary nice lady, but there she was MIL to one of the royal houses in Europe!

FuzzyLiz

#76, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by quitepossiblymaybe on Jan-18-07 at 12:44 PM
In response to message #72
>Oh I just remembered about the talking to inanimate objects
>- do it all the time! When the children were younger and
>maybe bumped their heads on a chair we would gently smack
>the chair and say "naughty chair" or floor or whatever it
>was.

We do the same thing!

Genesis

#74, Vicki-
Posted by renna on Jan-18-07 at 12:17 PM
In response to message #65
"Renna--I didn't know you were in the hospital w/pneumonia? I was hospitalized at least twice as a 4 yr old (pneumonia and measles) and remember those incidences very well ".
Yes, it was a very scary time. The children's ward was packed full so I had to go into the nursery. I remember feeling terribly embarrassed to be in a "baby" bed in a room with babies. My poor brother had it even worse. His bed was out in the hospital hallway. I need to ask my mom why the hospital was so full of kids at that time. I guess a flu or something was going around, but I do know she told me I had pneumonia. I was terrified of the oxygen tents.
I was hospitalized for a week with double pneumonia again when I was 23.
Not that these things are "different", just responding to Vicki's comments to me.

#73, Amy
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-18-07 at 11:47 AM
In response to message #61
I want to go to a Barry Manilow concert!! I'm jealous.

#75, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Cherie on Jan-18-07 at 12:31 PM
In response to message #0
I may be the only swappie that has spent time in prison. I was horribly abused in my first marriage. I stole money to move me and my children away after the courts failed us. I was put on probation for that. Then my ex-husband with no visitation rights took the children from daycare. A missing persons organization helped me locate the children and arrange to pick them up out of state. My probation officer refused to let me go out of state to pick them up but I went anyway. This violated my probation and I was incarcerated for 9 out of a 18 month sentence.

#77, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by quitepossiblymaybe on Jan-18-07 at 12:45 PM
In response to message #75
>I may be the only swappie that has spent time in prison. I
>was horribly abused in my first marriage. I stole money to
>move me and my children away after the courts failed us. I
>was put on probation for that. Then my ex-husband with no
>visitation rights took the children from daycare. A missing
>persons organization helped me locate the children and
>arrange to pick them up out of state. My probation officer
>refused to let me go out of state to pick them up but I went
>anyway. This violated my probation and I was incarcerated
>for 9 out of a 18 month sentence.

Wow...good for you! I would have done the same thing for my children!
Genesis

#79, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-18-07 at 12:51 PM
In response to message #77
I agree - Good for you Cherie!! You've got to wonder about the court system sometimes.
Your children will rise up and call you blessed.

#83, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by renna on Jan-18-07 at 02:16 PM
In response to message #77
Cherie, I'm sure I'd have done the same thing in that situation!

#78, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Toni_foster2adopt on Jan-18-07 at 12:46 PM
In response to message #75
Gosh, I've read some very sad things here and some really funny ones as well (thank you, Dolly, for my sitting here trying to cram my fist in my mouth ). I love that your 80yo mom swam with dolphins.
And someone mentioned almost being kidnapped. There's something I wouldn't think to mention. My brother and I were stopped by a s%x offender when I was in 2nd grade (don't know if he had ever been charged but he definitely was an offender). I'm sure you can imagine what he was doing when he pulled up to us (we were on a tandem bike and he pulled his car right up to us on the passenger side). He asked us to get in his car to show him "how to get to the hospital", purposely drawing attention to what he was sickly doing. . Sadly, I was too young to even realize what was happening (mistaked the body part for something else) and never mentioned it to our parents or police.

#80, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Sue_IL on Jan-18-07 at 01:00 PM
In response to message #75

Wow, Cherie!!
It's a stretch of the imagination to think of anything different about me. I'm ordinary, but I came up with a few things with help of dh and sons.
1.) I had a duck named Polyester when I was a little girl. He used to ride around happily perched on my shoulder like a parrot.
2.) I won Best of Show in art at the 2001 Illinois State Fair.
3.) The obstetrician drove me from his office to the hospital in his sports car on the day of delivery of son # 2.
4.) Clint Eastwood is my 9th cousin--but that's not too extraordinary because our ancestors had lots of brothers and sisters. Our common ancestor came from England to VA before the Revolutionary war. Grandfather Eastwood had 4 sons. One of the sons moved to NY, became rich and uppity and became Cousin Clint's ancestor. My Eastwood ancestor ran to the hills of North Carolina during the war to get away from it and we're the hillbilly branch.
5.) I have to throw this in for Jan's sake, but I grew up on a piece of acreage known as Chigger Ridge!!
6.) I used to go to church with R.C. Sproul (Jr and Sr.).

Sue_IL

#81, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-18-07 at 01:09 PM
In response to message #80
Sue, my son loves ducks and thinks that is so cool about your pet duck! He'd loved to have had a pet like that.

#86, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by renna on Jan-18-07 at 02:18 PM
In response to message #81
Sue, you reminded me that I had a pet rooster when I was about ten years old. He would occasionally escape from his pen and an alert would go out to all the neighborhood kids until he was found and safely returned. I guess that's when my love affair with birds began.

#85, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Tamie_in_MI on Jan-18-07 at 02:18 PM
In response to message #80
I didn't know who R.C. Sproul was so I Googled the name.
Reminds me. I had a the same home church that Laverne Tripp did.

#82, After reading all these
Posted by eager beaver on Jan-18-07 at 01:11 PM
In response to message #0
I finally came up with something for myself
I had three sets of grandparents
I'm from two families with three firstborns of which I am one
Not including the community college I attended in high school, I went to three different colleges in three different states finally graduating from the third
There are seven states involved in the courtship of my husband and me
My mother, my daughter and I look identical as children. (my mother had brown eyes and my daughter and I have blue, but you can't see that in pictures)
My husband graduated from high school when I was in 6th grade
Beverly in Yakima

#84, RE: After reading all these
Posted by Yenny1 on Jan-18-07 at 02:17 PM
In response to message #82
I finally had time to read through this thread, and not only is it amazingly interesting, ya'all jarred memories for me that I'd be able to share.
Like some of you, I was nearly abducted when I was about 7.
I never broke a bone.
I wanted to commit suicide when I was 12, but the L-rd spoke VERY LOUDLY and stopped me.
I was engaged to a man 20 years older than myself and three months after I broke up w/ him he killed himself leaving a note blaming me...
Actually, I was engaged 3 times BEFORE I met dh...so including him I was engaged 4. Only married once though.
Some of you know this but G-D told me to marry my husband and told my dh as well-we didn't even LIKE each other at the time but we agreed and then fell in love afterwards- good thing too seeing as I did a lousy job trying to pick the previous three!!
I was a baton twirler and Miss Majorette of the North East in 1980 and I competed in nationals in Indiana at Notre Dame University-where I did terrible in baton competition but I took 4th in world in ballet and 2nd in world tap during that same week.
I got saved 6 weeks before my audition for the traveling company of the Broadway show Cats and I quit dance just like that-no regrets either

I can twirl fire-and Susan will love this, I used to be "for hire" w/ twirling fire batons for people who wanted to host luau's (sp?).
I also talk to myself and to objects.
I was an only child and so was my dh.
I had one child via forcepts, one home/natural birth, and one c-section.
My former pastor who married us and is an old friend was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a couple of years ago. He was a member of the groups Buffalo Springfield and Poco.
I worked for the writers of Guiding Light Soap Opera and a 1960's model/Playboy bunny cleaning their houses.
I detest technilogical growth and resist changes in modern advancement.
I despise materialism and feel my life is better and cleaner w/out too many things. I'd rather experience life rather than work hard to accumulate items I can't enjoy.
I want to take up painting

#88, RE: After reading all these
Posted by PamJM on Jan-18-07 at 03:41 PM
In response to message #84
Hmm, this is hard.
I am the third of 4 girls, but parents divorced and both remarried, there are 4 stepsisters. No brothers in sight. I tell dh that's why I don't understand him.
I am blonde, blue-eyed (like my Dad), all three bio sisters have brown hair/eyes like Mom.
We have traced back our heritage to: Daniel Boone, the pirate BlueBeard, and a Cherokee squaw (My Mom's side).
People think I'm different for having 8 children and homeschooling them all.
My Psy.D. degree in clinical psych.
I tend to not care about material things, except for BOOKS. My sister helped me pack when we moved and couldn't believe how many I had (neither could I).
I met Tom Hanks before he was famous. Wow.
I've never been further West than St. Louis.
I am really good at catching a ball. Hardly ever miss.
Dh and I can both "shoot" a Pringle's cap or unfortunately a beer cap (college) across the room like a bullet by snapping two fingers. The kids are learning the Pringles one.

#89, RE: After reading all these
Posted by Toni_foster2adopt on Jan-18-07 at 03:48 PM
In response to message #84
>>I detest technilogical growth and resist changes in modern advancement.<<
Oh, so do I. Ipod? Wii? Cars that parallel park on their own?
ICK!
Oh, and my coworker called Tom Hanks' kids "brats", not knowing they were his as she checked him in for his flight.

#90, RE: After reading all these
Posted by sksimons on Jan-18-07 at 04:21 PM
In response to message #89
Are y'all still reading? Great thread, by the way, Kelly!
Not super interesting but here goes:
I was the homecoming queen in highschool.
I sleep-walk in a big way. I've woken up in the wrong cabin at camp, cleaned my room (don't mind that one so much ), changed my clothes)
I have an irrational fear of using the telephone.
I was in the audience of one of Oprah's big give-away shows.
I got to sing back up for Steve Green at one of his concerts.

#91, RE: After reading all these
Posted by renna on Jan-18-07 at 04:55 PM
In response to message #90
Still reading here, and I'd say you're pretty interesting, Kelli!

#93, RE: After reading all these
Posted by Katharos on Jan-18-07 at 07:08 PM
In response to message #91
I was homeschooled. This leads to weird looks, questions about socialization, remarks that certain things such as movies are not appropriate for me, and assumptions such as that I have 10 kids in my family and am a religious fanatic.
I have taken both Latin and ancient Greek. This leads to questions on why I ever took languages so useless and what I could possibly do with this knowledge.
I listen to and play classical music. This either makes my friends 1) stare at me as if I were from Mars, 2) lead to an intelligent discussion on different composers from friends who also listen to classical music, or 3) have a profound admiration for me and call me nerdy in a cool way.
The fact that I will randomly quote philosophers while engaged in casual discussion with friends. See above for reactions.
I have memorized a ton of poems, and have been doing so since I was three years old, when it all began with "Barbara Fritchie."
That's about it. Nothing too odd about me.

#92, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by proverbsmama on Jan-18-07 at 05:15 PM
In response to message #0
Well, I guess the fact that I've been attacked by a pit bull would be different.
Also, people are surprised when I tell them that I still keep in touch with my 3rd grade teacher. She even came to my wedding back in 1988. DH and I went to visit her on our first vacation. She is also on my mailing list to receive the devotions I write.
I have 3 brothers, and dh has 3 brothers. No sisters for either of us. Not sure if that is a or a Now that I'm older, I kind of wish that I had at least one sister.
People who are newer to our church are surprised to hear that I used to sing a lot of Sandi Patty's songs. I haven't been in choir for years, so I have lost that ability.
People are surprised to hear that when I had an ultrasound done, one of the pictures was clear enough that I could tell dd had my nose, even before she was born. Nobody else could make it out that clearly.
Edit to add:
I had viral pneumonia in 8th grade. Was in the hospital for 21 days, and out of school for 6 or 7 weeks. When I approached my LA teacher to make up all of those spelling tests, she said, "Oh, you don't need to do that. I know you already know all of those words." She was right. I never had to study for spelling tests the whole time I was in school.

#94, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by Tamie_in_MI on Jan-19-07 at 04:48 AM
In response to message #92
My childhood hearing deficits caused me to come up with a way to get spelling tests done. I discovered that even though I knew the words, if I heard the teacher wrong, I'd spell the words wrong so I decided to memorize the list.
Once the teacher's pattern was discovered, going up the list backwards, starting in the middle and working down then up from the middle, skipping every other from top to bottom, or bottom to top ... Once I discovered the pattern, I'd fill my paper in with the words. This stopped the mistakes caused by me hearing an N instead of an M or whatever reason I frequently made the mistakes.
Oh, I was nearly abducted (I guess the guy was up to something when he asked me to help him read his map) at age 10. I was attacked and undressed by a young teen at about 8yrs old but I was able to get away and go into a convenience store. I then pointed out the wrong guy on purpose but I don't understand why... perhaps I felt that the adults really wanted to know "who" so I gave them a "who". THEN, I saw the right guy and pointed him out. I don't remember talking to police about it.
I was attacked by a tiny dog. It was my fault. He was on a chain in the front yard and I went to pet him. He chewed my sock up and got a bit of my skin.

#95, Forgot to add that I
Posted by proverbsmama on Jan-19-07 at 07:42 AM
In response to message #94
Used to work at a Catholic hospital. My boss used to be a priest. He married a lady who used to be a nun.

#96, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by MarilynB on Jan-19-07 at 08:22 AM
In response to message #94
My brother and I both had to have our adnoids out three times.
I had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis as a kid, but I don't show any signs of it now.
I wear an insulin pump.
My husband and I were homeless for a while in California..On a campground in Malibu, overlooking the ocean and in campgrounds near Disneyland. Thankfully this was before kids.
We used to own a pest control business, and I would help by picking up trapped animals..like skunks...I have been sprayed a few times.
Ok...next...MarilynB

#97, RE: What's different about you?
Posted by FuzzyLiz on Jan-19-07 at 10:22 AM
In response to message #96
These are so interesting! Isn't it amazing how many things have happened to a relatively small bunch of people!
Now can three more people add things and we will hit 100 with this thread - does Kelly get an extra prize for starting a thread with a 100 responses?

FuzzyLiz

#98, Renna - Flying Dreams
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-19-07 at 10:39 AM
In response to message #97
I did some looking and flying dreams are supposed to represent freedom.
For me I really believe they were more about peace then freedom.

#99, Jeannie - Flying Dreams
Posted by renna on Jan-19-07 at 11:04 AM
In response to message #98
<<"I did some looking and flying dreams are supposed to represent freedom.
For me I really believe they were more about peace then freedom">>
Jeannie, I'm sure the case was the same for me, needing peace from the chaos at home (alcoholic bio father who physically abused my mom), and an escape from it. I never felt any fear from my dad for myself (I was his little princess), but he used my mom as a punching bag when drunk.

#100, About me
Posted by dmcheckers on Jan-19-07 at 11:20 AM
In response to message #99
About me:
1. I won a Swappie prize for being the 100th poster on this thread.
2. The only people who don't think I'm terminally weird are fellow humanities grad students. And some of them I'm not sure about.
3. I substitute-taught my first college class before I finished high school.
4. My name is not Larry and I think polls are sometimes interesting.

#101, RE: About me & Renna
Posted by PinkPiglet on Jan-19-07 at 11:36 AM
In response to message #100
>About me:
>
>3. I substitute-taught my first college class before I
>finished high school.

How neat!!
Renna:
For me it was to get away from my 4 brothers, my mother who had just remarried and my step-dad, who at the time I hated with a passion. The fighting was constant. My older brother fought with everyone, my youngest brother was my step-dad's bio child and spoiled rotten and I was the one who got in trouble for EVERYTHING. I couldn't even look at my younger brother without getting in trouble for it. I hated growing up.

#102, RE: About me & Renna
Posted by Cha on Jan-19-07 at 04:06 PM
In response to message #101
PamJM "I've never been further West than St. Louis."
You can come visit me.
I didn't know I was among such interesting people.
Next...

#104, RE: About me & Renna
Posted by Craft Lady on Jan-19-07 at 07:10 PM
In response to message #102
I think I may be the only swappie that hasn't posted yet.
(As usual I'm the last one to hear the news.)
I love finding out interesting things about people. Here's a few facts about me:
My dh first fell in love with me when I was 6 mos. old and he was 3 . (We met at the doctors office during my 6 mo. check-up.) Our path's crossed again when I was 14 1/2. We married 8 weeks after HS.
We've just celebrated out 25th anniv. in Kauai, Hawaii this summer.
I attended grades K-12 in VA in the same 2 story building. Elem. was on one side, HS on the other. I was photographer and Editor of my HS yearbook, student body president.(Too shy for public speaking.)
Came in 2nd place in a free throw shooting contest with 102 fever and the flu.
I have a commercial drivers license. I use to drive a 18 wheelere w/ dh. Have visited 46 states. I won best of show in a photography contest for a picture of a red rose.
Gave birth to my dd naturally. (Too scared of needles.) dd was born face up,looking toward heaven. My blood type is AB+.

MaryAnn

#105, No one added to this and it didn't fall off
Posted by Tamie_in_MI on Jan-26-07 at 06:04 AM
In response to message #104
I was concerned about losing this thread when I didn't get to send it to myself email. Well, those of you who intended to but didn't better do it soon.
BUT - now that it's to the top again, it might get added to. I handle that by emailing it to myself again and deleting the previous email. I keep doing that until it falls off.

#106, wow
Posted by LisaJane on Jan-26-07 at 09:25 AM
In response to message #105
There are so many replies! I'm not so sure these things are that interesting but here they are:
--dh and I met on a blind date. We were set up by my sister and her boyfriend, who was dh's college roommate. She had dated this guy (R) for a year and they didn't introduce dh and me until two weeks before they broke up. Dh and I got engaged 4 months later and she got back with her former boyfriend and got engaged the same month we did. Dsister and I got married within 2 months of each other.
{Pretty good KB here, we ended up having R's brother and his wife as the youth/music pastor at our church (where dh was pastor) and now the same couple is youth/education at my sister's church (where her dh is pastor)}
--I didn't think I would be able to beat my mom on this, as my sister and I both got married within 2 months of each other, but I think I recently beat that record with my 2 sons getting married within 5 days of each other on two different contintents!
--I cut my wisdom teeth at age 11 (finally had them cut out when I just turned 13). I started losing my teeth at age 4 and by second grade had lost all my baby teeth and had all my permanent teeth, including my twelve year molars (at age 8).
--my sister and I each have large dark birthmarks in basically hidden areas (mine is on my side about the size of a very large pickle; hers covers almost her entire back and part of her side). Neither my brother nor my parents have one. Only one of my sons (neither of hers) has a small one (same shape as mine, but about 1/4 of the size, on his calf. His is a cafe-au-lait stain, not the same kind of birthmark we have).
--our daughter-in-law has lived with dh and me much longer than she has lived with her own husband (I think she has lived with us at least 5 months and has only been with him a total of one month). Her first wedding night, she slept with her mom (since he had to go back to base to graduate the next day!). It's going to be SO hard to give her up to him!!!!
--Dh has held weekly Bible studies in the largest American Embassy in the world (it's now second largest to Baghdad, and he is still doing Bible studies there).
--I had a stroke at age 42 (you all know that, but people I meet are stunned to know it was only 9 months ago!)
That's it for now
Lisa

#107, My Saturday afternoon entertainment
Posted by Denise on Jan-27-07 at 07:39 PM
In response to message #106
This has been my entertainment this afternoon. I would go back and forth from the computer doing chores. This was all so interesting. My life has been normal but there are a few things that I thought of. Here you go.
1)I was born on January 20 cuz my mom convinced her doctor to induce labor so that I could be born on her dad's birthday. It was a bit early and I weighed in at 5 lbs.
2)As a baby I cried constantly and was a fairly sickly little one. I was only 20 lbs. at 3 yo.
3)I was/am a bit shy. My family is Italian...they are not shy so I was very much in a shell most of my growing up years.
4)Speaking of Italian Al Capone's gang used to deliver food to my mom's family when they were not doing well. That's probably how my uncle got involved with the mafia. He used to open the trunk of his big Cadillac for my sister and I and it was filled with gifts for us. I don't think he bought them . He also had three bullet holes in him that I always liked poking my finger in. When Matthew, our oldest, was working for Best Buy he was talking to some Italian guy from back east and Matthew mentioned my uncle. The guy said, "Oh, my goodness, 'so and so' was your mom's uncle!!!??? There's lots of stories about him." He didn't tell Matthew the stories and Matthew didn't ask.
5)My dad divorced my mom after 25 years of marriage. He remarried and divorced Betty after 25 years of marriage. He's remarried again for 10 years. We figure cuz he's 83 he'll probably keep this one.
6)My dh and I are both first generation believers. He got saved at 17 and I got saved at 28.
7)Since I am 7/8 Italian I can get Italian citizenship. So can our boys.
8)My reoccurring dream has to do with Craig driving us off a cliff in the car. We never hit bottom.
9)Both Craig and my first car was a '63 VW bug.
10)We were married after two months of knowing each other.
11)I went to Catholic school from 1st grade through high school. HS was all girls.
Well, I better go do my dishes.

#108, RE: My Saturday afternoon entertainment
Posted by HeidiB on Jan-28-07 at 09:47 AM
In response to message #107
I don't have anything nearly as interesting as you all do but when I was 18 I worked as a bank teller and was robbed. I had to take a lie detector test to make sure I didn't know the person who robbed me. That was because I had just given my two weeks notice and was going to go live with my grandparents in Germany. It was all just too much of a coincidence for them. I passed the lie detector test but I remember being more than a little nervous about the whole thing.
Heidi



#0, Thought of something for the "What is unusual about you
Posted by eager beaver on Jan-26-07 at 04:56 PM
before I married, I was the only living proper adverb
also I've googled myself, I am the only one with my name (married and maiden) in the United States
Also I made a comment about being one of two sets of first borns. What I didn't say was, one of those sets of first borns did not include father, mother, and child.
Beverly in Yakima

#1, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by DollyM on Jan-26-07 at 06:38 PM
In response to message #0
Beverly! Huh? Say wha ???
Can you clarify what you just said.
Adverb??!

#2, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by gc on Jan-26-07 at 06:46 PM
In response to message #1
my mom was youngest of two children=boy, girl
I am youngest of two=boy, girl
my dd is youngest of two=boy, girl
cool huh?

#3, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by Jean on Jan-26-07 at 06:53 PM
In response to message #2

Larry and I are each the second of five.
&
Jean

#4, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by kellyds on Jan-26-07 at 07:07 PM
In response to message #3
Beverly sounds like an adverb . . . you know, like "quickly" and "quietly".
So, I assume her last name was something one could do in a very beverly manner.

#5, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by Domsgram on Jan-26-07 at 07:21 PM
In response to message #4
I finally thought of something too. Before I was married I was named after 5 people. Here it goes:
Jo - after my uncle
Anne - after my mom
Rose - after my aunt
John - after my dad
son - after my brother, John's son
Hence: the nickname: Jayjay

#6, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by DMarieC on Jan-26-07 at 07:36 PM
In response to message #5
I was wondering how you came to be JayJay.

#7, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by Domsgram on Jan-26-07 at 07:44 PM
In response to message #6
I use the nickname Domsgram because I'm Dominic's gramma.
Jayjay

#8, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by Beverly_VA on Jan-26-07 at 08:50 PM
In response to message #4
>Beverly sounds like an adverb . . . you know, like "quickly"
>and "quietly".
>
>So, I assume her last name was something one could do in a
>very beverly manner.

That is good for me to know, too.

My full married name sounds like a nursery rhyme

#9, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by Cha on Jan-26-07 at 10:17 PM
In response to message #8
Beverly Weverly
Beverly Neverly
Beverly Jeverly
Beverly Revelry I like this one "Beverly's Revelries" sounds fun.
Okay, I'm done now.

#10, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by eager beaver on Jan-27-07 at 00:42 AM
In response to message #1
Everyone knows that words that end in "ly" are adverbs. We'll start with that. My maiden name is also an adverb. Let's put it this way. My dad told a funny story about his brother. He had a spelling test on which the word "always" so in order not to cheat, he covered up his last name and spelled the word wrong. His last name is Always without the s.
Beverly in Yakima

#11, RE: Thought of something for the
Posted by Cha on Jan-27-07 at 12:55 PM
In response to message #10

(I guess this got too long for my email - the rest is gone.)