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fun facts about YOU

May 1st 2007Nicole Jordan
Nicole JordanGoddess Readers Speak Out

In KarenHawkins’s recent Match Quiz, I learned some astonishing things about my fellow resident goddesses. I was shocked – shocked, let me tell you – by some of the disclosures.

Claudia is a brazen streetwalker. Karen Rose is a felon. Suzanne has an alien ear fetish. Sabrina could be foaming at the mouth right now (shudder). And Jello and strawberry pie played significant roles in Rachel’s and KarenH’s lives (I’ll bet they haven’t even shared the whole juicy stories yet.)

Alas, as an engineering geek, I’ve led such a tame life in comparison. I’ve never been to Guatemala, let alone been night-train.jpgthrown in prison there. The closest I came was taking the overnight train through East Germany to Berlin with my highschool tennis team and watching guards carrying machine guns walk the tracks in case one of us tried to escape the locked train (as if we would ever want to.)

I’ve never had Top Secret clearance, either, although my bro did when he worked at the Pentagon. I’ve never had rabies shots (thank heavens) or been to Oman. Although I have ridden a camel before and think it’s tres cool that Julia had a namesake (I’ll bet she was really cute, too, in an ugly, smelly sort of way.)

I’ve also been a London Streetwalker before, but I’m streetwalker.jpgsure I wasn’t nearly the floozie that Claudia is. I hated my one law course in college, so I would never willingly choose to work in a law office, even though I love to watch lawyers on TV because of the ironies and absurdities. And I couldn’t sell anything, especially cars, to save my life. I’ve never had to waitress (also thank heavens since those poor souls work so dang hard for so little pay). In high school I babysat to earn money to pay for my horse. And in college I answered phones at the Student Center and took student photo id’s of other engineering geeks and was a parking attendant for big events at the Atlanta Omni.

But I think I have a right to know whom I’m cohabiting with on Mt Oly – felons are okay, serial killers are not welcome. So in the interest of full disclosure… now that we resident goddesses have exposed some of our deepest, darkest secrets, it’s our fellow goddesses’ turn.

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Name one or more crazy/fun facts about you that would be hard for the rest of us to guess!

92 Comments »

92 Responses to “fun facts about YOU”

  1. jessie on 02 May 2007 at 6:59 am #

    Once when I was 11, I got stung 84 times by yellow jackets. It was awful at the time, but now it makes for a great story.

  2. Kelly Ann on 02 May 2007 at 7:19 am #

    When I was 11 I learned to Scuba Dive. My 1st big dive after I was certified was in the Keys. I loved growing up in Florida!

  3. Claudia Dain on 02 May 2007 at 7:54 am #

    Ahem, dear fellow goddess Nicole, just because I walk the streets…make that STRUT the streets of London, doesn’t mean I’m a strumpet.

    I’m pretty sure.

  4. Keri Ford on 02 May 2007 at 8:29 am #

    One time when I was ridding my horse bareback, he stumbled and I flipped over his head and landed on the ground at his feet. We’d been running, so he was ready for the next step. Lucky, he stopped moving and froze with his hoof about 4 inches above my chest. Not only do horses have a complete blind spot right in front of them, but my horse was totally blind in his left eye. My only guess is that he felt me fall over him while he was stumbling or he didn’t feel me on his back any longer. Either way, I’m darn lucky he didn’t crush my entire rib cage into my heart and lungs that day.

  5. Caren on 02 May 2007 at 8:32 am #

    Whatever you say, Claudia. I’m sure your…strutting…attracted some attention in London! Anyway, that was a cheat because it wasn’t really a “secret”. Come on, ‘fess up.

    I’ll give you one. My best friend in jr high and high school, Nancy, had a very funny, dry-witted accountant dad. He had taken us for pizza one night and, inspired by our limitless teen vanity, he penned a poem for me on a napkin: “Caren, Caren, beautiful Caren. Humility, humility, who needs it?”

    Ha! He was truly a hoot and taught us both to drive in a cemetery in Nashville. I guess everyone was safe, since they were dead already. Sad to say, he passed away several years ago. But his poetry lives on! :LOL:

  6. Sherri Browning Erwin on 02 May 2007 at 8:44 am #

    I slept with a rock star.

  7. Nicole Jordan on 02 May 2007 at 8:53 am #

    Wow, Jessie, it’s a wonder you’re still alive! And you’re right, that does make a great story.

    Keri, that was so great about your horse taking such good care of you. I think horses who love their humans go beyond the extra mile to pay back our love.

    I never learned to scuba dive or even snorkel, Kelly Ann. You must have been a fish to do it at such a young age! Where in Fl did you grow up?

    “I guess everyone was safe, since they were dead already.” LOL! Caren, that’s a hoot, both learning to drive in a cemetary and the poem. Your friend’s dad sounds like a very special guy.

    And Claudia, I’m pretty sure you’re not a strumpet, too. But your hair is a lot sexier than mine, so you could fill the role better than I could if you wanted to try. I couldn’t wear killer boots, either. I’m tall enough that I would tower over all my clients. So I think I’ll just leave the streetwalking to you.

    NicoleJ

  8. Nicole Jordan on 02 May 2007 at 8:55 am #

    >>>I slept with a rock star.

    Seriously, Sherri??? We have got to hear the story behind that.

    NicoleJ

  9. susang on 02 May 2007 at 9:35 am #

    In an alternate life I have been a Gypsy slut, a potato farmer, a simple minded servant, and a Palladin in service to the Duke, sent to fulfill a quest. My adventuring takes place in the mystical village of World’s Edge, in a land where dragons live in the swamp kingdom and mermaids live in the lake. Otherworld has been a part of my life for many years now (and long before Kelley Armstrong started writing about its women). You can hear about the adventures at Otherworld.org– a place where goddesses are very welcome. Susang

  10. Kasey on 02 May 2007 at 9:38 am #

    This is hard, but I will try to list a few:

    1. I danced on stage in a bar with my best friend at her bachelorette party a couple of times. That same night we also went to a karaoke bar and I sang “Baby Got Back.”

    2. I broke my middle finger in a basketball game in high school, so I got to flip people off for 3 weeks why it was in a splint and there was nothing they could do about it.

    3. I worked Customer Service for 2 years a cell phone provider and was asked out on a couple of dates, to go on a trip to Las Vegas, and even proposed to once.

  11. MJ on 02 May 2007 at 10:33 am #

    Hmmm can’t top these!
    I’ll contribute three that are at least weird….

    1) I sang Mass in St. Mark’s Basilica (Venice) on the day Pope John Paul ll died. Nothing ELSE bad happened and it wasn’t my fault.

    2) I’ve sung Evensong services in a Cassock and Surplice in several UK Cathedrals with only lacy underwear underneath (it was HOT and it WAS clean underwear).

    3) On a school geology trip, I was lost in the woods for about 18 hours…nearly overnight. On Hallowe’en night. Saw no ghosts, but did meet a bear. Maybe he thought I was a ghost, ’cause I froze and he ambled in the other direction. I was so lonely at that point, I almost followed….

  12. Kasey on 02 May 2007 at 10:47 am #

    MJ - I was just at St. Mark’s a little over a month ago. It is such a beautiful church, that must have been amazing to sing there.

  13. SuzyQ on 02 May 2007 at 10:54 am #

    When I was little I won a bicentennial coloring contest for my school, county and state.

    I can roll quarters on my stomach. I think I should have been a belly dancer :)

    Sherri, we really need details!!!

  14. Stacy S on 02 May 2007 at 11:03 am #

    Let’s see- I’m adopted. My mom & biological mom have the same first name. Also, have a brother & biological brother that have the same first name.

  15. TheNightPoet on 02 May 2007 at 11:28 am #

    For the past three years I’ve been talking to/kind of dating this guy (we are not boyfriend and girlfriend, though sometimes we act like we are.) from New Jersey via the internet. We met in a chat room on talk city and have kept in touch ever since. That’s all I’m going to say too. lol

    Andrea

  16. TheNightPoet on 02 May 2007 at 11:38 am #

    P.S. I would secretly loved to get one of my friends on “What Not to Wear”, but I’m afraid she’d take it as a bad thing and I’d end up hurting her feelings.

  17. MJ on 02 May 2007 at 11:45 am #

    Kasey - The concept of singing there was pretty intimidating…until you realized that you can’t be seen but only heard (if you’re on the end of the loft, and it IS a loft!- was quite a climb!, your feet can be seen by some of the worshippers below, but that’s the extent of the visual). We were fortunate that our conductor was both Catholic and spoke Italian so he spent his time hanging over the loft edge and suddenly would turn and … cue - stage whisper “Kyrie” and you burst into song…

    The strangest memory? You look down on the ‘hood’ over the high altar…and it’s littered with little bits of paper and dust/debris..so you picture all the singers up there over decades or even centuries, dropping stuff over the edge….

    Wonder if I should tell their housekeeping staff? (-; MJ

  18. KMB25 on 02 May 2007 at 11:57 am #

    Ok…well I already shared my jello splash story in a previous posting. (See the match game stories)

    I’ve had some pretty interesting things happen in my life. Let’s see…I’ve skinny-dipped on a florida beach (at night of course!)

    I’ve donated my hair to Locks of Love..and now it’s getting so long I’m getting ready to do it again!

    I’ve been a camp counselor at a children’s camp for a week in the summer for 13 years….my mom did it too and directed the camps and so I practically grew up there!

    I went in a hot air balloon ride a few years ago for my mom’s birthday (my aunt and I took her) and it was fabulous!!! I recommend it to anyone–it’s so gentle and the views are BREATHTAKING!!

    ~Kim

  19. KMB25 on 02 May 2007 at 11:57 am #

    Caren,

    Are you still anywhere near Nashville??

    ~Kim

  20. Claudia Dain on 02 May 2007 at 12:02 pm #

    Andrea, I know what you mean.

    What Not to Wear, you get $5000 and a pro to do your hair and makeup, shop in NYC, but…the whole world clearly thinks your mommy dresses you funny!

    It’s a tough trade-off. I mean, to stand in a 360 mirror and have Stacy and Clinton tell you that your butt looks like a broken donut in those pants…ouch. Or that your favorite high heels make you look like a streetwalking strumpet…hey! Wait a minute!!!

  21. Cail on 02 May 2007 at 12:04 pm #

    from April to October I live, breathe, dream the Yankees.

  22. dbrown3400 on 02 May 2007 at 12:14 pm #

    When I was 22 my girlfriend and I came to Manhattan so she could get an abortion. She sure couldn’t get one in Tulsa back then. She was pretty cavalier about it so we went clubbing and sightseeing, at night, in NYC, two naive kids from Tulsa. We decide we want to see the Empire State Building, at night. We ride to the top — how beautiful — coming down, we meet two neat guys on the elevator. Of course, we pair up and do more clubbing. No bed time, but how we didn’t get our throats cut is a mystery to this day. How she didn’t end up in a house of horrors is also a mystery.

    That isn’t the only tight spot we got into, but I can save those tales for another day. There was London . . .

    Donna

  23. dbrown3400 on 02 May 2007 at 12:15 pm #

    Claudia - My mom DID dress me funny.

    db

  24. Nicole Jordan on 02 May 2007 at 12:28 pm #

    Oh, these stories are great! They made me laugh, sigh, shiver, and raise my eyebrows.

    I can only imagine how it felt for you to be lost in the woods, MJ, or to sing like you can. The first is awful, the latter sounds wonderful.

    Kasey, I presume you didn’t accept the proposal?

    I wish I could roll quarters on my stomach, Suzy, lol! My only trick like that is being able to tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue.

    Now I want to know what “Locks of Love” and “What Not to Wear” are!

    Also, since I have the blog floor today, I’m wondering if you rock music fans saw American Idol last night, and if so what you thought of Melinda. I thought she was great, but then y’all know I’m a little prejudiced *G*.

    NicoleJ

  25. Julia London on 02 May 2007 at 12:34 pm #

    Cail, you have opened the door to my world. Its not the Yankees, its the Astros and baseball in general, and its not me, its my husband — he disappears into that baseball fog for 6-7 months every year.

    Claudia, I have been DYING to get on that show! My only problem is that I am too vain to be outed to the world. But I am desperate for someone to teach me how to dress my middle-aged body in a way that does not make me look like my grandmother. Loved her dearly, but a fashion maven she was not!

  26. Karen Rose on 02 May 2007 at 12:37 pm #

    Nicole - Locks of Love is a non-profit group that donates hair pieces/prosthetics to kids who’ve lost their hair due to medical issues. My friend did it and I’m so proud of her! My hair’s never long enough - I think it has to be 10″ or something.

    When I was a teacher one of the boys in my class did it. He had the most gorgeous curly, wavy hair and one first day of school he comes in and it’s really short. I didn’t recognize him. He said he donated it to Locks/Love and all the girls went “SIGHHHHH.” He was a good kid although I suspect the girls’ reaction had something to do with his decision, ha.

  27. Karen Rose on 02 May 2007 at 12:39 pm #

    Can we do some fun facts, too? My husband once tested positive on a pregnancy test - truth!

  28. Kasey on 02 May 2007 at 12:44 pm #

    Nicole - I did not accept the proposal, but the way things are going, it might be the only one I get.

    Julia & Cail - I am a HUGE Twins fan. I start out slow in April and as we get closer to October I just become more and more obsessed.

  29. Susan K on 02 May 2007 at 12:47 pm #

    1. I am happiest when I’m organizing something. When I’m upset I’ll go home and reorganize a cupboard or closet.

    2. When I was little I was a mascot on the neighborhood high school pom pom squad because my babysitter was the captain of the squad. I had my own little cheerleading outfit and pom poms. My dad took me to get some ice cream after a game once. A woman behind us saw me and said, “Oh she’s going to be a heartbreaker when she grows up.” I was very insulted and with my little fits on my hips I stood up and said, ” I’m not going to be no heartbreaker. I’m going to be a pom pom girl.” Then I sat back down and finished my ice cream.

    3. I love Disney and the last time I went I acted like I was a kid again as soon as I Stitch. I ran up to him to get his autograph and a picture with him. And proceeded to tell him that I loved him and I’d watched all his movies and his tv show. (Did I also metion I was wearing Stitch ears that I had bought the night before!?)

  30. Susan K on 02 May 2007 at 12:48 pm #

    4. I am also an avid Columbus Blue Jackets fan. (NHL) Even though we suck and haven’t made the playoffs once since we got the team.

  31. MJ on 02 May 2007 at 12:58 pm #

    Karen…. please do tell us…. Why did he take the p. test to begin with??? (Gotta be a good story here….)

    And Susan… I wish you lived nearby. I need some training in organization. Or at least some motivation. I keep meaning to start turning my cupboards out for spring cleaning….but my TBR pile is just too large…. and people keep mentioning titles I haven’t yet read on blogs I’m spending WAY too much time on…. yes I know, any excuse will do.

    I think I’m missing a link here, Nicole! (not for the first time!! But perhaps this predates my blog-sitting, which is less than a week now) - Melinda is a friend? relative? goddess of some sort? (Sorry if this is old news, but I’d love to know).

  32. Cail on 02 May 2007 at 1:05 pm #

    Kasey and Julia: Baseball really is amazing. My dad and I used to watch games together when I was little going to the occasional game. Nowadays we hit up close to 15 games a season together! It’s our little bonding activity. Of course it can really be depressing when you see things like last nights bid for a no hitter by 20 yr old prize pitching prospect cut down by ANOTHER hammy injury to the pitching staff. UGH.

    I’d love to go to an Astros or Twins game at home! Heading out to Chicago next month to see some baseball!

  33. Sabrina Jeffries on 02 May 2007 at 1:05 pm #

    Y’all are making me crack up! I loved the middle finger in a cast. :-)

    I was chased by a baby elephant once (which is on my website) at a rural zoo in Thailand. It was usually chained, so I patted it on the butt. It turned around and came after me. Turns out it wasn’t chained that day, for whatever reason. It chased me until the older brother of the kids who’d brought me drove the jeep up so I could jump in.

    Apparently, I didn’t quite learn my lesson, because a year or so later, I patted a horse on the behind. I can only assume it kicked me, because the next thing I knew I was lying on the ground flat on my back staring up at the sky and wondering what the hell had happened as I rubbed my sore belly.

    Moral of the story: When around animals, leave their butts alone!

  34. Susan K on 02 May 2007 at 1:09 pm #

    Sabrina, that is so funny! I would also stay away from geese. I was at the zoo with some friends and a goose decided to chase me. I climbed onto the top of a nearby wall and wouldn’t come down until my friend came and helped me. I hate geese to this day!

  35. SuzyQ on 02 May 2007 at 1:19 pm #

    Nicole - I watched AI last night. How could I miss Bon Jovi - being a Jersey girl and all. Melinda is always good and the judges are right in that she does remind me of Tina Turner. I also thought Blake’s rendition was very unique. They all did OK, except for Jordin. I really like her but last night was not a good song choice.

  36. SuzyQ on 02 May 2007 at 1:20 pm #

    Karen R - LOL! What did your husband say to that one???

  37. Keri Ford on 02 May 2007 at 1:27 pm #

    men taking a pregnancy test must be a thing with them! my husband wanted to take one to play when I was taking them, I told him to go buy his own and that lost his interest in the idea of it all.

  38. Kasey on 02 May 2007 at 1:38 pm #

    Oh the animal stories made me thing of a few and both of these occured when I was rather young. I too used to be chased by geese, and often. I grew up on a farm and my grandparents had a farm a couple of miles away and they had geese and chickens when I was about 3 or 4. The geese would chase me and the rooster would charge at me when I was gathering eggs. I think it was because I was about there size. To this day when a goose or a rooster comes at me I turn and run.

    My other story took place at a circus. My grandman, my mom, my aunt and a couple of my cousins and I went to the circus when it was in town and afterwards we had to walk by the giraffe on the way to the car. Well the giraffe leaned down and started to nibble on my grandma’s hair. My cousin Ryan did some quick thinking and grabbed some grass and held it up for the giraffe to eat and then looked at my grandma and yelled, “Run grandma!” My cousin Grant and I who were about 5 or 6, just watched and laughed.

  39. Kasey on 02 May 2007 at 1:40 pm #

    Cail that is awesome - I have only seen games at the Dome here in Minnesota. I heared that the deal went through this week so we are getting a new stadium. I am a little sad because I grew up with the Dome and really like it.

  40. Nicole Jordan on 02 May 2007 at 1:42 pm #

    That is too funny about the KR’s husband testing positive on the preg test! Didn’t know it was possible.

    And I lol’d about the elephant and the horse and the geese and the giraffe.

    MJ, I did a blog a few weeks back about my fave American Idol (TV show) contestant, Melinda Doolittle (if you’ll go down to the bottom of this page and click on previous page, you can scroll back to the blog). Several goddesses here responded that they know Melinda or have friends who know her. And the rock fans here loved rocker Chris Daughtry last year on AI. Last night was rock night, with Jon Bon Jovi mentoring, so they all had to sing one of his songs. I really enjoyed the whole night, even though hard rock isn’t my thing. But I wondered how the real rock experts veiwed M’s performance.

    NicoleJ

  41. Nicole Jordan on 02 May 2007 at 1:47 pm #

    Cail and company, I am shaking my head over your love of baseball. It just seems so slow to me! Although I got really jazzed years ago when the Braves went all the way to the WSeries. My bro-in-law is a techical director for CBS, who broadcast the ballgames then, so he was able to get us playoff and WS tickets to a lot of the games. It really was great. But then the Braves starting losing again, so me being a fickle, fairweather fan, lost interest.

    I suppose, however, that I can see how you can get hooked on the sport and one team in particular. I like basketball a little better, and now that the Utah Jazz are in the playoffs, my dh has been watching religiously, so I watch too.

    Oh, and I found out a few weeks ago that my b-i-l does the technical direction for Americal Idol now! Fox Network rents the sound stages from CBS, so he sets ups all the tech production. But regrettably, I doubt if his privaleges extend to getting me tickets for the show.

    NicoleJ

  42. Julia London on 02 May 2007 at 2:43 pm #

    SuzyQ — I thought Blake’s song was so HOT last night. He was fabulous. Jordin…I’m sort of worried about her. Not good at all.

  43. SuzyQ on 02 May 2007 at 2:56 pm #

    Julia - yeah Blake really pulled it off. I was sort of worried when I saw the beginning clip but it turned out great. I’ve never seen a contestant change an arrangement so much before. As for Jordin, I really like her and would hate to see her go home because of one lousy song. We’ll see tonight . . .

  44. ladydawgfan on 02 May 2007 at 3:05 pm #

    Fun facts first: I am left handed. Because of this, I can “mirror-write,” which is basically holding a pen in both hand and writing the same thing at the same time, with one sentence going forward (left hand) and one mirrored. Coincidentally, this is the only way I can write with my right hand - if I try to write normally with it, not only can I barely hold the pen, I don’t know how to form most letters and it is completely illegible to boot!!

    As to AI: keep in mind that Jordin was phenomenal last week, and those votes count towards this week. I think that she has a strong enough fan base that she will be okay. And I LOVED Blake’s song last night!!

  45. Sherri Browning Erwin on 02 May 2007 at 3:19 pm #

    Okay, I’ll dish on the rock star comment but it’s going to be a real letdown after the build-up. LOL! So he wasn’t quite a “star”- slight exaggeration. He was the drummer of the well-known (but not quite A B or even C list) indie band, Dinosaur Jr. We partied in his dorm in college and my friend had too much to drink, so we slept in his room. I shared his bed, but nothing happened. I swear!

  46. Kasey on 02 May 2007 at 3:23 pm #

    Tricky Sherri! So, when you said slept you actually meant that you only were sleeping. Too funny!

  47. Susan K on 02 May 2007 at 3:32 pm #

    I loved American Idol last night! Love Bon Jovi! I don’t want to see anyone go tonight. And I may miss it! I’m supposed to go see someone about wedding invitations.

    Anybody watch Dancing With the Stars? This is the only season I’ve watched and it’s only cause Joey Fatone from ‘Nsync is on it. Gotta support my ‘Nsync boy! Right now I don’t want to see anyone go. Well, maybe Billy Ray Cyrus. Sorry but he stinks.

  48. TheNightPoet on 02 May 2007 at 3:40 pm #

    Claudia, that’s the thing about “What Not to Wear” that would probably hurt my friend’s feelings. She wouldn’t like Stacy and Clinton telling her her butt looks like a donut in this outrageous pants that are too short and too tight for her body type. You had me laughing when I read your comment about someone’s mommy dressing them funny. lol My friend’s mom DID dress my friend funny. My friend still wears some of her mom’s hand-me downs from who knows when!!!

    Nicole, “What Not to Wear” is a show on TLC where friends of someone who dresses majorly bad, nominate the person to be on the show. Then if you they are chosen, the show secretly films the unsuspecting badly dressed nominee. Then they give you $5,000 to go on a shopping spree to buy a whole new wardrobe and they teach you what looks good for your body type and age group as well. It’s great! You should watch it sometime. :)

    Andrea

  49. Caren on 02 May 2007 at 3:40 pm #

    Kim, unfortunately I am no longer in Nashville, but I grew up in Inglewood (our road dead ended at Briley Parkway!). I still have friends in Nashburg, since few people seem to actually move away from there! I have a friend who lived in Hungary, Oman and California and, when she had the chance, she moved back to Nashville. It’s like a sickness!

    It still feels like home every time I’m there, though, so I completely understand it!

  50. colinfirthfan on 02 May 2007 at 3:46 pm #

    We believe ya Sherri!

    Awesome stories everyone. I am laughing so much I had to shut my office door.

    I was bitten by neighbours dog when I was 15. She chewed up my shoulder and arm pretty good. I got 3 rabies shots in the butt (Luckilly a new french vaccine had just come out so I didn’t have to do the 16 in the stomach)

    I looove Bon Jovi so I had to watch last night. I thought all of them did pretty good. Jordin should’ve chosen “I’ll be there for you” instead of Livin’ on a Prayer.

    Maybe that’s why the Warriors lost to the Mavericks last night? I will be watching on Thrusday night when they are back here in Oakland.
    Go Warriors!!!

  51. Suzanne Enoch on 02 May 2007 at 3:54 pm #

    You guys have way more exciting lives than I do. Of course I was on a TV special once. But you probably know that already. *g*

  52. Caren on 02 May 2007 at 3:54 pm #

    American Idol: LaKisha owned her song last night, though Mindy Doo was very strong, as well. Phil can go home anytime or Chris. Jordin stank, but she was great last week, so she’ll probably be okay.

    Another little known about me: I don’t watch TV, but am mesmerized by American Idol, so I go to http://www.ew.com and watch them dissect the show every Wednesday, then tune back in on Thursday to find out who was eliminated!

  53. Karen Rose on 02 May 2007 at 4:49 pm #

    My icebreaker at parties is always the Guatemalan prison - my DH’s is always the positive pregnancy test. To preface this - he’s fine now, considered even cured now. This falls under one of those life headings “You gotta laugh or you cry.” My DH has one of the best attitudes of any person I’ve met on this planet.

    My husband had testicular cancer 17 years ago when our daughter was 6 weeks old. The marker for the cancer, then anyway, was the hormone that’s present in pregnant women. Because women don’t get testicular cancer (unless you’re that she/male model on HOUSE), it’s an effective test.

    Long story (verrrrry long story) short! So life is good and it’s sweet. I always get a little poignant about it this time of year as our daughter’s bday is in May.

  54. Karen Rose on 02 May 2007 at 4:59 pm #

    Sherri - verrry clever! You had me thinking up cool things like Aerosmith or Shawn Cassidy.

    Kasey - loved the giraffe story. What would have been hilarious (except not for grandma) is if she’d had a hairpiece…

    Susan K - I’m a Disney lover too - I got my pic with Pooh last time! Once we went to the Princess breakfast at the castle and got a family pic with Sleeping Beauty. Apparently she was quite buxom and gave my husband quite an eye-ful. He looks totally embarrased in the photo, lol. I was too short to realize it because I couldnt see that angle. Every time we go and see Sleeping Beauty walking around, he blushes!

  55. DebMarlowe on 02 May 2007 at 5:01 pm #

    When I was a teenager I got to drive around town in a DeLorean (is that how you spell it–the stainless steel car with the doors that swing up?) for a few weeks. And that was when Micheal J Fox and Don Johnson made them cool. I got a lot of looks, and of course, I loved it.

    Missed AI last night! But it was worth it!

  56. SuzyQ on 02 May 2007 at 5:02 pm #

    Karen - what a story! So glad that your dh is fine now. Being a cancer survivor myself, I know that having a positive attitude can do a world of good.

  57. Julia London on 02 May 2007 at 5:19 pm #

    Sherri, I am flat out disappointed. I have been waiting all day for a really juicy story. Harumph.

  58. Karen Rose on 02 May 2007 at 5:24 pm #

    Go SuzyQ! I’m so glad you’re a survivor too. We have lots of stories where we had to laugh or cry. Lots of times I cried, but we laughed too. Maybe I’ll blog about it sometime… My husband is a hoot. I was a shy bunny before I met him - didn’t say boo to my own shadow. He’s a driving force of nature, baby, lol.

  59. Sherri Browning Erwin on 02 May 2007 at 5:47 pm #

    Shawn Cassidy and Aerosmith at the same time! Now that would have been a tale.

    A Delorean, Deb- cool!

    Karen, I had no idea pregnancy tests were helpful that way. Happy birthday to your daughter. I’m also a big Disney fan. In fact, Julia London’s Perils is really reminding me of Beauty and the Beast(loving it!). Speaking of JL, I’m off to nominate her for What Not to Wear (and yes, that includes denim overall shorts).

  60. Kay on 02 May 2007 at 6:03 pm #

    Karen R’s husband is the funniest person I know. His students are so lucky

    I did the “Locks of Love” in November– 13 inches. Karen R is right, they ask for a min. of 10 inches. My hair is short for the first time since HS—that would be measured in DECADES—but it was for a good cause. I think I’ll do it again when it all grows back. My husband was shocked, but I told the kids about it ahead of time.

    I was (breifly) a magician’s assistant.

    I lost my hat at Marineland (FL in ‘89); it blew into the dolphin tank, and one of the dolphins brought it back to me.

    When I was in HS, one of my Father’s coworkers, who was a receint immigrant, wanted to BUY me — to be his wife! LOL I will never live this down in my family! :-)

    We have hosted 8 exchange students. We get our 9 th in August. Only one has been a disastar.

  61. Nicole Jordan on 02 May 2007 at 6:05 pm #

    Yikes, maybe that preg test story isn’t so funny after all, KarenR! But at least you can make it sound funny now. My heart goes out to you and Suzy. Very very scary.

    That is such a lovely lovey program, donating hair to cancer patients. Don’t know where I’ve been since this is my first time hearing about it. I applaud you all!

    And yes, that was a tricky hoot about your sleepover, Sherri, lol.

    Ladydf, that is so cool about you being able to write with both hands. I can barely write legibly with one.

    Also very cool about the car, DebM! Some friends of ours have one now but I’ve never ridden in it. And you have to tell us why it was worth missing AI last night!

    You see, that’s why I love my dvr… so much that we got a second one. Now I never watch anything live so I can fast foward through all the commercials. I even tape the Super Bowl so I can see the best commercials again.

    NicoleJ

  62. dbrown3400 on 02 May 2007 at 8:03 pm #

    I, too, love baseball, also learned from my dad when I was little. Then it was the Yankees. Our teacher brought a B&W portable into class when I was in fifth grade and we got to see Don Larsen pitch the perfect World Series game.

    I’ve watched games in seven stadiums where games are no longer played, including the Astrodome the year it opened, Jarry Park in Montreal and Candlestick in San Francisco.

    Now it’s the Mets with an occasional peek at Oakland to see how Piazza is doing.

    Donna

  63. Kelly Ann on 02 May 2007 at 8:31 pm #

    Nicole, I know it’s been a very long time since you asked, but I grew up in Punta Gorda, Fl. From the time I was 4, until last June. (I had actually lived in Cape Coral before we moved to Alabama). And yes, I was called a fish growing up because I was always in the water.

    You guys are crazy! I have laughed hysterically through this whole blog! I rode on an elephant once, thank god it didn’t chase me! It probably wanted to! And the giraffe, oh my gosh! Too funny!

    I have one more, when I was 7, I was snorkling in the Keys (my 1st snorkle trip that wasn’t @ the beach) at the Christ of the Abyss (I think in Marathon) and I had a huge shark swim right under me. At 1st I thought it was a baracuda, but as it got closer and I looked down I realized what it really was. Crazy but I wasn’t scared! My poor dad was diving near me & about had a heart attack when he saw it so close to me. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen down there!

  64. KMB25 on 02 May 2007 at 8:42 pm #

    Nicole, you should check out the website: http://www.locksoflove.org/

    I first did it a few years ago…but here’s the weird part…I wanted to grow my hair long enough that when I cut it for donation, it would still fall to at least the tops of my shoulders. (I don’t think I look very good with much shorter hair!!)

    So anyways…I’m almost ready to do that again..(I’ve just got to wait till I can walk normally again and make the appointment. I hurt my back the other day and since then have visited the chiropractor three times and have to go back again tomorrow…anyone know where I can get some good muscle relaxers?)

  65. KMB25 on 02 May 2007 at 8:43 pm #

    Caren, I teach at an Arts Academy in Inglewood!! Cool neighborhoods over there in East Nashvegas!

    ~Kim

  66. Karen Hawkins on 02 May 2007 at 9:21 pm #

    I’ve been gone today, but wow, you guys are AMAZING! Great stories, all!

    Let’s see what I can add. Hm … I once saw Rupert Everert and almost tripped him. Oh, and I saw River Phoenix a few months before he died.

    And of course, there’s me and Hugh Jackman . . . but that’s a blog for another day.

  67. Brandy on 02 May 2007 at 9:26 pm #

    Chiming in late!
    I was on tv when I was 16 for the United Way (actually it was C-SPAN) on volunteerism.
    Other than that, I’m pretty boring.
    I DO homeschool my kids, but I don’t think that counts.

  68. Karen Hawkins on 02 May 2007 at 9:36 pm #

    Brandy, love, those of us with children BLESS you for having the strength and fortitude to homeschool. So no ‘doesn’t counts’ for that HUGE endeavor. That’s a true labor of love.

  69. Kasey on 02 May 2007 at 9:37 pm #

    My TV appearnce was very, very, VERY short. We were on our senior class trip in New York and we visited the Fox News station out there. They filmed our class standing around the news desk saying, “What’s the weather going to be like tomorrow, _____?” (I don’t remeber his name.) And then the weather man did his thing. It was cheesy.

  70. Nicole Jordan on 02 May 2007 at 9:43 pm #

    KellyA, some of my best friends live in Punta Gorda! They moved there several years ago and then almost got wiped out by the hurricane. So glad the shark didn’t get you! I once snagged an eel when I was deep-sea fishing as a kid. Yuck. But thankfully in all our visits to the Fla beaches, I’ve never seen a shark.

    Ok, Donna and Cail, etc. I forgive you for loving baseball, lol. I know how special it can be when dads (and moms) get involved with kids early on… it can influence their lives forever. My dad was like that with algebra. Which is why I ended up an engineer. And it really is great when you get invested in a team and feel as if you’re part of it all.

    Thanks for the link, Kim! I’ll go check it out. I do so admire those of you who’ve donated. My hair is too short to do it, but it’s a wonderful cause. And I’m so sorry about your back. My dh sometimes throws his out, and heatpads are about the only thing that helps, since he won’t go to a chiropractor. Btw, what do you teach at the Arts Academy? Sounds like you have so much talent!

    NJ…

  71. Nicole Jordan on 02 May 2007 at 9:46 pm #

    …. and welcome back KarenH! You started something, you know. Very cool about seeing Rupert… I’m half in love with him myself.

    And Brandy, that absolutely counts. I would go nuts trying to homeschool, but you’re wonderful for doing it yourself.

    Cheesy or not, Kasey, it’s an experience you’ll always remember. I got to be on the local version of Captain Kangaroo once for a few microseconds with my dance class and I still remember it many many years later.

    NicoleJ

  72. SuzyQ on 02 May 2007 at 9:57 pm #

    Karen H - I met Hugh Jackman too!!!

    Oh, and I marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York for several years.

  73. Karen Hawkins on 02 May 2007 at 10:00 pm #

    SuzyQ . . . you’ve (gasped!) MET Hugh Jackman? In the FLESH? Ohhhhh, BE STILL MY WILDLY BEATING HEART! Tell us ALL.

  74. Karen Rose on 02 May 2007 at 10:08 pm #

    Nicole - that is so funny that your dad did algebra with you!!! My dad was a computer whiz bang and taught me Binary when I was seven and I went into engineering, too! I think this is truly bizarre- or a great example of passing on your talents and loves to your kids.

    What is thing you all call … baseball? I’m unfamiliar with this term. No, not really. I just think watching GRASS GROW is more INTERESTING. Unless they have cute butts. Then I can pay attention for a little while. Now hockey I can get into.

    SuzyQ, I’d watch my back if I were you. KarenH has made no secret of her claim to Hugh.

    Once I sat on a plane next to a guy who wrote songs for Barry Manilow. That was very cool. Because I like Barry Manilow. Really.

  75. SuzyQ on 02 May 2007 at 10:10 pm #

    Yes, it’s true. My DH knows how crazy I am about him so for my birthday a few years back he got me tickets to see The Boy From Oz (OMG! One of the best plays I’ve seen!). So afterwards my dh grabs my hand and leads me to the stage door. Sure enough, after a short wait, out he comes. Get ready for a visual Karen - he had just taken a shower as his hair was still wet. He walked around, signed the playbills and talked with all the fans. I can’t remember what I said, I studdered something like “I loved the show - you were great - blah blah blah” I do remember he looked me in the eye, smiled and said “Thanks, luv”. My dh had to scrape me up off the pavement because I melted into a pile of goo. He still laughs over my reaction. I have pics I can send you :)

  76. SuzyQ on 02 May 2007 at 10:12 pm #

    Karen R - Don’t worry I like Barry too. I wanted to see him in Vegas when I was there in March, but his show was closed that week. Figures.

  77. Kasey on 02 May 2007 at 10:14 pm #

    You’ll have to post the pics….I want to see too!

  78. Nicole Jordan on 02 May 2007 at 10:33 pm #

    SuzyQ!!! That is fab about meeting Hugh that way. So you might have a little more claim to him than KarenH… but I shouldn’t say so, or she’ll whup me with her tennis racket.

    KarenR, we just have so much in common we could be sisters. I also love Barry, have all his albums in fact. And I got to see him live in Cinci many years ago. Didn’t get to meet him, though.

    For you rock fans, I just watched the AI results… LOVED the Bon Jovi song, almost enough to go out and buy the new album. But was it too soft and tame for you? I also agreed with the voting results tonight!

    NicoleJ

  79. Kelly Ann on 02 May 2007 at 11:07 pm #

    Nicole, that is why we moved to Cape Coral, our house had a direct hit from ole hurricane Charley. We were fine of coarse, it just took most of the roof! I remember seeing sky while huddled in the tub w/ the kids (the room had no windows) and my hubby yelling that he could see the boat lifting off the ground (he was huddled in the hall looking out windows whenever he could). We had it attached to our Jeep Cherokee! We rented, thank goodness, but after months (& I mean months) of complaining to the rental company, the mold growing everywhere I looked, ceilings caving in, not having a water softening system (blown away - we were on a well) and using pots & bowls everytime it rained, we moved. It was so crazy, I hope all of your friends were ok! It has to be the scariest things I’ve ever been through!

  80. Kelly Ann on 02 May 2007 at 11:13 pm #

    Brandy, I think homeschooling your kids in very brave! I also think it’s great and heroic and I could go on all night! I would give anything to homeschool my kids! You have a very un-boring life I’m sure! My mom homeschooled me for a year in Jr. High, we went on field trips, we volunteered & had so much fun with my school work. When I went to Private School after that I was so far ahead of the other kids my age, I am so thankful she spent that time with me, your kids will never forget it! I never did!

  81. MJ on 03 May 2007 at 8:58 am #

    Karen…thanks for sharing the reason behind the pregnancy test - very poignant….
    for a second, I was sorry I’d asked, but you know….maybe more men should trot out and get that little kit at the drugstore, as they’re often as shy about discussing lumps or bumps in private parts as we can be.

    My cousin developed testicular cancer at 17…and thank goodness had the courage to trot off to the Doctor to discuss it (although perhaps not as quickly as he could have!) He beat that, beat a recurrence in the lung (at 18), and has now been cancer-free for close to 30 years. He hasn’t children, but has a wonderful, full life, designing buildings in Chicago.

    He’s my hero.

  82. Aimee on 03 May 2007 at 11:13 am #

    I met a guy online talked for months met on my 21st birthday started dating shortly after moved in together a month later had our first daughter in jan 2002 and got married that feb hehehe so yup I found internet love

  83. TheNightPoet on 03 May 2007 at 3:11 pm #

    Aimee, now I don’t feel so shy about admitting to that for the past three years I’ve been talking to/kind of dating the guy I met via interent. (We haven’t met in realy life yet.) That’s cool you found internet love. :) How long have you and him been married now? Just wondering.

    Andrea

  84. Nicole Jordan on 03 May 2007 at 3:49 pm #

    MJ, I’m glad about your cousin!

    And Aimee, that’s a very cool story. I hope it works out as well for you, Andrea!

    I have friends who’ve met men on line. I used to be a little worried, but nowadays, I guess you can Google just about anyone and find out what they’ve been up to in the past.

    Kelly Ann, I can only imagine how scary that was, sitting throung the hurricane. My friends had a similar story, but they didn’t have kids, which would have made it even more terrifying. Glad you’re ok!

    NicoleJ

  85. Aimee on 04 May 2007 at 10:01 am #

    we have been married for 5 years and together for almost 7 he was in the army when we first started talking and then he asked for my phone number I told him I would only give it to him if he gave me his commanding officer’s number first. Then he blew out his knee and yet still thought enough of me to drive 16 hours in a big immoblizer knee brace stick shift to surprise me for my birthday.

  86. Aimee on 04 May 2007 at 10:03 am #

    we now also have the 5 year (g) a 3 year old boy and a 7 month old girl so needless to say my surprise birthday gift has given me years of happiness

  87. SuzyQ on 04 May 2007 at 10:28 am #

    OK, I created a space to post some pictures. The link is http://stardust008.spaces.live.com/

    Enjoy!

  88. TheNightPoet on 05 May 2007 at 1:48 am #

    aww That’s so sweet Aimee. Congrats on your three kids and your marriage! :)

    Thanks Nicole! I’m like you in being worried about the internet thing. One of my friends has met a few guys from the internet and ironically enough, one of those guys became a good friend of hers and is a good friend of mine. (we’ve been friends with him for 2 or 3 years now) lol But I’m very careful about what I do and do not give out, information wise about myself. I haven’t had the guts to give him much of the basics about me. By basics I mean, what college I attend, what city I’m from, my last name, etc. I’m so paranoid about it, but he respects that and is understanding about it as well. We’ll see what happens. :P

    Andrea

  89. TheNightPoet on 05 May 2007 at 1:52 am #

    P.S. SuzyQ, those pictures were great. lol Now I can see why all the goddesses love Hugh! haha I honestly couldn’t picture what he looked like when everyone would mention him. lol Please, don’t get after me for this comment all you goddesses that like him. lol :P

  90. darkshire007 on 24 May 2007 at 9:56 am #

    I cannot tie cherry stems or roll quarters but I did have an aircraft compressor stall right over my head one time. As soon as all the flames cleared out I crawled out from under it only to look up and see the fireguard laughing his butt off. The only famous person I have ever met is the owner of Silver Gulch Brewery in Fox, Alaska. Who is Hugh?

  91. MizMacgyver on 25 May 2007 at 3:55 pm #

    darshire007 Hugh Jackman is who they are talking about. Several of the Goddesses claim him as the light of their lives, rating just below their DH (dear hearts) :-) I think it was the March 13 Blog “Who Loves you Baby?” that got it all started.

  92. darkshire007 on 27 May 2007 at 9:26 pm #

    Thanks for enlightening me! I was wandering in the dark. Hugh Jackman; X-Men, right? He’s cool. I like Justin Theroux as Seamus O’Grady in Charlies Angels Full Throttle. It is the only time I like him because he is 1)hot, 2) plays the part of a bad guy really well, 3) he’s really hot and 4) the accent is awesome!