you shouldn't have

from Lisa at Happily Ever After in Seattle

and these last two are from Mandy at Mommy Musings

Thank you girls! Now to come up with 10 things I haven't mentioned before. . .

1.  I used to swim at the lead singer of Suicidal Tendencies' house. All the little kids in the neighborhood would somehow end up swimming in his backyard while he lounged poolside and ate carrot and celery sticks with ranch dip. He was basically babysitting and somehow all the parents were cool with us being over there? I didn't know who he was, but one of my older brothers listened to their music.

2.  When I was 18, I called a country music station to answer a question on the air (where was Mozart born?) and won "backstage passes" to Kenny Rogers Roasters. Imagine my surprise when it wasn't a concert of some kind. They made my free meal certificates look like actual concert tickets. I had never heard of the restaurant before and I don't even know if they still exist. When we got there we all had a good laugh at my expense and then ate for free. I don't remember the meal, so it must've not been very memorable.

3.  I am a weirdo magnet. While it makes for good stories, I really don't enjoy my encounters with the bizarre. Most recently there was a weirdo at the park that decided that the young moms with little children needed backrubs and their children needed tickling. As he made his way toward me and my toddler, I stood up and took a defensive position and gave him a nice glare. It surprised me how many moms let him touch them and their kids. I'm not a confrontational person, but touch one of my kids? You'll be sorry.

4.  I feel my best when I am in nature. I love the smells, the sounds, the sights. Fills me with joy. I love camping and hiking and all outdoor activities. If I see someone doing something I haven't tried before (like kayaking), I want to do it. I love that my kids enjoy the outdoors too. I love that I'm married to an outdoorsman.

5.  I love a good practical joke. I come from a family of jokers and I feel it's in my nature to tease and to trick. HF's family is the opposite. They get offended and unsure when you tease them.

6.  I am close with my family. I talk to one or more of them everyday, but I talk to my 3rd oldest brother the most. Maybe it's because he drives a taxi at night and works the same hours as HF, but we always seem to have a lot to talk about. And who could resist a good taxicab story? Also, I'm currently trying to set him up with a nice girl and he's not having it.

7.  I was once chased by a herd of cows. Come to think of it, I've had lots of animal encounters. I was chased by a giant pig in a pig pen. Don't ask me why I got in, but luckily I made it over the fence in time. I had no idea they could be so mean! I've been "goosed" by a goose, chased and pecked by chickens (Rhode Island Reds-don't like 'em to this day), attacked by a Boston Terrier (I had to buy new shoelaces I'll have you know), and while horseback riding, not only did my horse lay down while on the job, but he kept whipping his head around to try and bite my leg! AND he took off in a gallop. Scariest day of my life.

8.  We used to have a basset hound named Flash and a lamb named Lamb Chop. They were the best of friends. They would chase each other and butt heads in the backyard. Then one day I came home from school and Lamb Chop was. . . . lamb chops.

9.  It's one of my dreams to own a small bakery or cafe someday. I am working on a few recipes now. I come from a family of creative cooks. My dad and my brothers all cook and don't follow any recipes. Of course, I was naive to think that that's what all guys must be like. So when I got married you can imagine my shock upon discovering HF's skillz for the first time.

10.  My brothers used to shoot their bb/pellet guns under my bedroom door when I was pushing against the other side to keep them out. They wanted me to do a "chicken dance" like in a classic western movie. Also, two of them would hold me in place out on the lawn while one of them threw a knife at my feet. I don't remember what they called this game. Wherever it landed I had to put one of my feet against it. They would throw the knife over and over until I was just about doing the splits and would fall over. You lose when you fall. Does that sound like a fun game? Where were my parents when I needed their protection?

Now I'm going to pass on the beautiful blogger award to the newest discovered bloggers who I would love to know 10 more things about (it's optional of course):

1.  Ammo in the Dryer 
2.  Ello Minnow Pea
3.  The Rookie Wife
4.  Creative ADD
5.  Diary of a Dispatcher
6.  A Gia's Life!
7.  Ann T. Hathaway
8.  What a Nurse!
9.  Sisterhood of Police Wives
10.  Mrs. Gumshoe