50 More Facts About Me

Oh, friends, I know you've been waiting for the next installment to the Facts About Me.

Here they are!

1. Most of my adult life, I was 5'9". I am now 5'8.5". I guess I'm over the hill.
2. My first car was a red 1972 Nova. It was a gas guzzler.
3. I have had 2 speeding tickets. The first one was more than my paycheck.
4. I have been in only one car accident. Someone rear-ended me in a snowstorm.
5. I have lived in 5 different houses in my lifetime...all in the same city.
6. My daughter and I each have a mole in the very same place...not telling where!
7. My eyes are hazel...the same as my mom's name.
8. My father was an abusive alcoholic, but not going there anymore.
9. I love Diet Pepsi, but will not drink more than one per day, if at all.
10. I prefer a bath over a shower any day.
11.  My favorite band is the Rolling Stones. I have seen them in concert 3 times!
12. Cruising is a favorite vacation. We've gone on 4...so far!
13. We also like to travel by Amtrak. We've gone on 4 train trips too...so far!
14. I love coffee, but limit myself to no more than 2 per day. Hot and black.
15. I lack a sense of direction and can easily get lost anywhere. A Garmin is always in my glove box.
16. I've been a Christian all of my life and always will be. God has blessed me in many ways.
17. I have an uncanny way of telling people what's on their minds.
18. I also tend to be very empathic. Not always a good thing.
19. To fall asleep, I must have my ears covered.
20. I was engaged to another man when I met my husband.
21. I have a scar near my right eye when I was thrown from the back seat in my sister's car at the age of 4.
22. I became an aunt at the age of 6.
23. I won 1st place at a local Pillsbury contest and won $500.
24. I tend to be very lucky. Once in a while I'll  play the lottery.
25. My blood type is O positive. I donate blood every 56 days.
26. I get along with most people, but am easily intimidated.
27. I prefer the toilet paper to roll off from the top. I've been known to change the position of the roll in other people's houses.
28. I've always been a great speller.
29. I rarely buy anything at full price. Groceries are excluded. I love a good sale!
30. There is always a pile of books at my bedside.
31. I am NOT photogenic! Hence, there is no photo of me on the home page of this blog. Yet.
32. French Fries. I love them! This has to change!
33. Scary movies are not my thing. Neither are roller coasters.
34. I recycle everything I can. Keeping the world the best we can for others is important to me.
35. I broke both bones in my left wrist in 2007. I wore an external fixator for 5 weeks and had 5 months of PT following. I now have a 2% disability in that wrist.
36. I wore glasses at the age of 4 til 2nd grade. I was cross-eyed.
37. Now I have prescription glasses for work to help me read. At home, I wear cheaters. +1.5
38. Rainy days always get me down.
39. I am always on the lookout to help someone. It makes me happy to help.
40. I always wear a watch. It goes on my left wrist.
41. I cannot learn anything new beyond 8:00 PM. My brain is not receptive and nothing sticks.
42. I have to look at my hands to tell left from right...remember I am directionally-challenged!
43. I have never worn high heels. Nothing over 2" heels for me. I am too tall.
44. I gave birth to both of my children with NO pain killers. Totally natural. TMI?
45. I've always wanted to be a woman who loves to host dinner parties, but it's not me.
46. I collect pennies in a 5 gallon glass jug. When it's full, I take it to the bank and buy something frivolous.
47. I really don't like talking on the phone. I like person-to-person conversations.
48. I am a homebody. I can stay at home happily for days and days.
49. People who are rude, biased, close-minded, and disrespectful really bother me. I have been known to support the innocent by-stander.
50. I like making lists and usually have 3 or 4 going at once.

There you have it!

Do you see anything here that we have in common?

*Day 31 of 31 Days of Blogging Challenge (I MADE IT!!!!)

50 Facts About Me

As you might know, I've been blogging here for 27 consecutive days.

I took a challenge and by golly, I'm going to make it to 31 days!!

I hope I haven't bored you, but maybe inspired you or at least, made you smile.

Today, I am stuck.

I wanted to take outdoor photos of a few things, but the sun was not cooperating.

So, I am opening myself up.

I'm writing about myself.

Eventually, I will have 100 "facts", but today you will get half of them.

I am what I am.

1. I am a 55 year old woman
2. I've been married to my greatest blessing for 33 years
3. We have 2 children; ages 26 (Kristie) and 29 (Brad)
4. My kids do not like each other...at all.
5. I have lived my entire life in Dubuque, Iowa
6. I wouldn't live anywhere else!
7. My lucky number is 7
8. I was the 7th child of 8
9. I was born in the 7th month
10. I've held 4 full-time jobs over the course of my lifetime
11. 3 of them lasted 7 years each
12. My last job was teaching 7th grade
13. I am now a substitute teacher, by choice
14. I sub only in the elementary grades, by choice
15. My husband retired in September 2016, after working 38 years for John Deere as an engineer
16. I must have some form of chocolate to nibble on each day
17. I prefer dark chocolate over milk, or white (ick!)
18. I also prefer chicken over steak or seafood or pork
19. My peanut butter must be chunky
20. I have an incredible "sweet tooth"
21. I wear a size 10 shoe
22. I used to wear a size 9, but then I had kids and they grew, along with my hips.
23. We currently have a 3 year old Morkie named Sophie (cross of Maltese + Yorkie)
24. We used to have an AKC Bichon Frise named Quincy for 13 years.
25. I played the flute and piccolo in school from 4th grade through high school graduation.
26. I also sang in the choir in high school.
27. I now sing in the city's largest choir and absolutely love it!
28. I sing Soprano 1, but really should be a Soprano 2, but like to sing the melody. I squeak by.
29. In choir, I sit right next to the gal who sang in our wedding 33 years ago.
30. I am a fanatically addicted player of Words With Friends.
31. I usually beat most of my friends in the game.
32. I have absolutely no skills in sports nor do I have any interest in them. (Hard to believe, eh?)
33. I began sewing at a young age when my father gave me a sewing machine at the age of 10.
34. He gave my brothers each a mini-bike, but I got a stinkin' sewing machine. I was not happy.When the mini-bikes broke down, my sewing machine was broken in and I was sewing away very happily!
35. My mom and sisters were very talented sewists. I learned a lot from watching them.
36. I sewed a lot of my own clothes in high school.
37. I even made my first pair of jeans!
38. I sewed many of my children's clothes when they were young, but then they got too picky.
39. Everything I know about quilting and machine embroidery has been self-taught.
40. I enjoy learning through watching videos and reading blogs. Pictures help.
41. Flower gardening is also a great hobby of mine. In the summer, my hands are happy in the dirt.
42. I have 2 large flower gardens and multiple pots and baskets around the yard.
43. I have never, ever tried illegal drugs.
44. I do imbibe in an occasional adult beverage.
45. Margaritas are a favorite, but I need to be careful since tequila causes migraines for me.
46. I have a very quirky sense of humor.
47. Sometimes it's sarcastic, and sometimes it slap-stick, but it's always sharp.
48. My favorite color is purple. My classrooms in school were decorated in purple, like my sewing room is today. And my laundry room. I'm the only person who hangs out there anyway!
49. Spending time in the kitchen is another favorite past-time.
50. I prefer baking over cooking, but we can't all survive on cookies!

Stay tuned for the next 50!

Do we have anything in common?

*Day 28 of 31 Days of Blogging Challenge