I received some nice blog lovin’ from Svasti over at Svasti: A Journey From Assault To Wholeness as she passed on to me this Meme Blog Award. Please pay her a visit if you haven’t already done so—you’ll love her. From childhood reminisces to yoga studies to her ongoing recovery from a horrendous assault, Svasti presses on, and she’s a real inspiration.
So, she has tagged me to list seven tidbits about myself. Hmmm, seven tidbits…seven tidbits…okay, I’m not terribly interesting, Svasti, but here ‘ya go…
1. I avoid team sports. That’s why I like cycling—I have only myself to answer to. When I was a kid I must’ve been yelled at during a softball game for making a boo-boo, and I didn’t like the way that felt—the yelling or the boo-boo. This probably fed the awful people-pleasing personality that I now own. Any psychologists out there are welcome to jump in here…
2. I’m afraid to fly and haven’t been in a plane since the 80′s. I used to fly into an airport in the Appalachias, and you’d think I would’ve quit then as I looked out the window and saw the wing flapping up and down off the edge of the mountain as we taxied. No, I was a brave soul (as we passengers are called and why is that?) and continued flying, drinking as many of those little bottles as I could. Not many flights later, I did a self-imposed grounding. Psychologists welcome here, too…
3. Almost cut my hair… A great song, and yes, I cut my own hair. I used to go to The Maestro in one of those froufrou salons where I was totally out of place, but didn’t care because he was that good. After the cut, he would insist on poufing and spraying and doing all sorts of awful stuff to my head. “You know, don’t you, that when I get home I wash all this crap out?” I’d ask him. “Humor me.” he’d say. So I did. I let him have his way with my locks. Then one day he just disappeared—no forwarding address, nothing. Since then I’ve cut my own hair and live by the mantra, “It’ll grow back.”
4. I’m a college dropout, I’m ashamed to say. Having obviously not enrolled in that southwestern Virginia school with higher education in mind, I did learn a few things, although useless and too late…things like grain alcohol does a job on a linoleum floor, and if you think the band’s lead singer at that party looks like Eric Clapton, then it’s time to hop into that van with the other 10 frat brats you came with and git awn back ta yer own skool. Under no circumstances should you go on the road… This probably deserves some explanation…at another time.
5. I used to be a pastry chef. Yes, I went through cooking school and for a few years worked as a pastry chef at a D.C., caterer, gourmet deli and finally, hotel. Although I loved playing in sugar, butter and chocolate 12-14 hours a day, I quickly grew tired of plating up hundreds of half-melted sorbets into the wee hours and walking on eggshells around the head chef, aka, ticking time bomb. Did I mention insolent customers? A commercial kitchen is no place for the weak, or in my case, the intolerant.
6. I’m a cousin of George Washington. Yeah, that George Washington, Father of Our Country and first President of these here United States. Related by way of my maternal grandfather who was a descendant of George’s mother, Mary, I’m a fifth cousin, four times removed—or is it the other way around?—I always get that mixed up. Anyway, a family member did the genealogy research thing and wrote a book on it. And no, I do not look like him, with or without a powdered wig.
7. Lastly, out of 8,142,277 StumbleUpon members, I am the only one who listed Spencer’s Mountain as a favorite movie. How in the hell can that be? Written by Earl Hamner, creator of The Waltons, it is a great movie about an early 60′s Wyoming family and their trials and tribulations while trying to raise tuition money to get the oldest of nine kids into college. I guess I’m the only one who had a crush on Clayboy (James MacArthur, aka, “book ‘em, Danno”) and adored Clay Spencer’s (Henry Fonda) heathen ways. Geesh… Then again, maybe it’s my farm roots.
Thank you, Svasti (I think). I’ll break the rules here and not pass this on, at least not right away. But, soon.
Grace
T
8noodles
Anita
justin
YogaforCynics
Twitter: plasmanc
Hi Holly,
Well I can’t let 7 little bits of info about you go without commenting on each and every one.
(1) Avoid team sports – I don’t play team sports any more but I loved football (soccer). I used to get yelled at because I’m short-sighted and can’t see a huge bright orange ball about to hit my head until it’s too late. Still, I’m the kind of person who hates being yelled at so I used to yell back – not a good idea knowing how sadistic PE teachers can be :0)
(2) That’s a real shame. I’ve flown so many times that I’m immune to it now. You’ll have to visit Europe/UK on a slow cruise ship then :0)
(3) Let’s not talk about hair …
(4) I was too much of a swot to do that (sadly)
(5) I would last an hour in that job if I were lucky.
(6) Bloody hell – how brilliant is that? I would love to say that I’m related to royalty but I can’t.
(7) I don’t think I’ve seen “Spencer’s Mountain”.
Cheers
PM
Plastic Mancunian´s last blog post ..Procrastination – The War Begins
I’ve been a bit suspicious of those family trees lately. We crashed a family reunion on vacation and they had some gigantic family tree hanging there for everyone to see. The dude actually had God, Adam and Eve, pharoahs, and Charlemaign on there. Really?? Pharoahs??? And they settled in Kentucky??! Really??
Not that I don’t believe you, you just gotta watch those family tree makers. I’m just saying……
Lin´s last blog post ..Rebellious Love
I’ve got Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson’s overseer, and Clark (or Lewis and…really oughtta find out his first name) in my family tree…as well as both slaveowners and Quakers involved in the underground railroad (though, alas, mostly the first). Never heard of Spencer’s Mountain, but will look it up…
YogaforCynics´s last blog post ..Stuff That’s In the Way
Yeah, you’re really boring Holly. NOT!!
1. Can’t say I’ve ever been big on team sports myself. The most involved I ever was in team sports were my days as a synchronised swimmer when we’d do team routines, trying to wave our legs around while upside down at the same time. Heh!
2. I always wonder why I’m *not* afraid of flying, given the weird miracle that makes it all possible and how, if just one or two things aren’t working properly, the whole dang thing no longer works. I always offer prayers for safe travel to myself and others though, whenever flying (or driving) is involved.
3. Experimented with a little fringe cutting in my teen years but never been responsible for my own hair cuts. Don’t think I’d be that brave! I feel your pain, having your hair dresser vanish on you. Very traumatic ;)
4. I never even made it to college, so hey, you’re one up on me!
5. I’m coming over to your place for sweets sometime, okay?
6. No real famous folk in my family history, but my of my maternal ancestors had a lake named after him: Pyke’s Creek Resevoir
7. Yeah well, you’re an original, that’s for sure. And that’s the way we luv ya!
Thanks for playing, its great to learn a few more things about you :D
Svasti´s last blog post ..Letter to myself aged 12
It’s good to know a little bit more about you, and congratulation on the award!
Icy BC´s last blog post ..Wordless Wednesday–Alien Bugs
I hate flying and team sports, too. I saw Spencer’s Mountain, liked it, but would probably not list it among my favorites. I have no famous relatives I’m aware of, aside from Adam & Eve. I used to have hair down to my waist but now usually keep it slightly above shoulder length. (yes, I’m a guy.) I got kicked out of college once for being a troublemaker, and quit twice because I preferred hanging out at the beach and being a bum.
Nothing profound´s last blog post ..
Twitter: craftybird
There’s a LOT of interesting stuff here so I’m taking a leaf out of Plastic Mancunian and Svasti’s book…
1/ Team sports? Ah, no thank you. Given the choice maybe we would have been the sullen teens sat watching the others running about in icy mud screaming at each other, having had the sense to fake notes from our parents excusing us from games.
2/I’m scared of flying too but I can make myself do it if I have to. If possible I’ll always go by train, and European sleeper trains are fabulous.
3/ Having the perfect hairdresser only to lose him… that’s truly heartbreaking. I never found that perfect hairdresser. That’s why I cut my own hair, too.
4/YOU HAVE TO ELABORATE!!!! Although the little snippets you gave us are quite wonderful for firing up the imagination :)
5/ A pastry chef? Now that’s something I’d also love to hear more about. I bet you have some great stories. My dad was a pastrycook in the army which was not the same thing at all I’m sure, though he did sometimes get to make elaborate things for officers parties. I used to help him make the mince pies on Christmas eve, can still remember the delicious smell of the pies baking.
6/ I’m not related to anyone famous as far as I know… but with 12 aunts and uncles on my mums side, thirteen on my dads, and many hundreds of cousins all over the world I’m probably related to most people anyway ;)
7/ I’ve never heard of Spencers Mountain – it does sound like a feature length modern day version of “The Waltons” which I loved. you have me intrigued by this :)
Bird´s last blog post ..22 Spot Ladybirds
Twitter: craftybird
Duh, pressed the submit button before I could add that this was so much fun to read, it’s really great to find out more about you Holly!
Bird´s last blog post ..22 Spot Ladybirds
Twitter: earthtoholly
Hi PM and I loved your comment!
1. I’m glad you were a brave soul and yelled back…I envy that you don’t let yourself be pushed around. It’s good to stand your ground!
2. Oh, I also envy all your travels! I should really get help with the flying thing. A cruise does sound like a lot of fun, though.
3. Okay…
4. Not “sadly,” PM. I think it’s great that you were studious and finished school.
5. Definitely have to have a passion for kitchen work to make it…I think I have more of a passion for eating.
6. Unfortunately I can’t lay claim to what used to be his many acres in the area…oh well…
7. It’s kinda sappy so you may not want to waste your time…unless you simply loved The Waltons. Hmmm, and what are the chances of that? :o)
Twitter: earthtoholly
Hi Lin. That’s so funny. Most of my family was settled in Kentucky, too. Anyways, I believe our link to George was researched back in the 60′s, long before the internet and all of the genealogy sites, not to say my relative’s method was foolproof. My mother has the book but I haven’t read it. A long time ago, it seems that families duplicated first names a lot, which makes it awfully confusing when sorting things out.
Twitter: earthtoholly
Wow! That’s an impressive list, drjay, ‘cept I know what you mean about the slaveowners. I’m afraid that a lot of us are descended from them whether we know it or not. I don’t know if you’d go for Spencer’s Mountain…you might have to be a real fan of either Henry Fonda or sappy stories…or just stories about country folk. The Wyoming landscape is beautiful, though.
Twitter: earthtoholly
Hi Svasti and thanks for the tag…it was a lot of fun.
1. That is so cool that you were a synchronized swimmer! That seems like an amazing ability. I always like to watch them during the Olympics and wonder how they do that.
2. Oh, I would love to not have that fear…thing is, I know it’s irrational…zillions fly each day…I’m a freak.
3. Yeah, the fear is understandable…hmmm, afraid to fly, but not cut my own hair. Yeah, it’s confirmed…I’m a freak.
4. Barely, Svasti. I was so negligent with my studies, I hardly qualify as having gone.
5. Okay, come on over…blueberry pie?
6. Well, that’s pretty neat, Svasti. I’d much rather be related to a body of water…’tis more fun.
7. Thanks so much, Svasti…you’re too sweet!
I’m now thinking about to whom I’d like to pass this on…
Twitter: earthtoholly
Thanks so much, Icy BC…hmmm, I may like to hear a little about you. Watch out!
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