Name Tag!!

Amy from www.myzoebug.blogspot.com tagged me to participate in the name tag...

I'm supposed to list one relevant fact per letter of my first name and then tag as many people as the number of letters in my first name to do the same on their blog (or in a comment here if they don't have a blog.)  So here I go!!

(And by the way, if you haven't seen Amy's gorgeous felt hairclips, go to her etsy shop on her site.  Lisa and I are addicted to them!  See the "sold" section for past clips too...there's some adorable spiderweb halloween ones she sold out of today!!  I bet she'd make you some more!)

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M- Mom...Yes, I'm a mom, but I also consider myself to be a spinoff to some degree of my own mom.  As I get older, I feel like I understand who she was more and more.  And I really identify with a lot of aspects of her personality.  My mom was down to earth, easy to talk to, and frank, but not brutally so.  She just let you know how she felt and gave you heartfelt advice when needed.  She was raised in the country during the depression by her very strong and loving grandmother and mother.  She was athletic (o.k., that's not so much me!), loving, unpretentious, funny, and open.  I could and did tell her absolutely everything about my life.  She loved me unconditionally and let me know how precious I was to her everyday.  I miss her (and my dad, who's a whole other blog entirely!) so much all the time, and if I had one wish it would be to introduce her to my children. 

E-  EAT!!  If you know me, you know I'm not a froo-froo count every calorie and flip out kind of a gal.  I enjoy food.  If I didn't eat it, my life would suck!  I love cheesy, salty, or spicy anything.  I like full-octane Coke.  I like to snack.  My dad loved food too, and he loved nothing more than taking me to get frozen lobster tails at Krogers to steam at home, spitting watermelon seeds out over our deck together, or going for a donut run to Ralph's when the mood struck.  And man, could we chow down on grilled steak (that is, when he didn't set it on fire!!)  By no means am I a cow, nor am I pencil thin.  I'm pretty happy being me, and I'm happier still when I'm full!! 

R-  Reading...  I adore reading, and I love reading to my kids.  It's my all-time favorite parenting activity.  I love children's books too.  I love reading chapter books to Aron and Hannah every night that we can.  I love going to the library and the used bookstore and any other bookstore on earth.  Heaven for me is lunch out on the town and an afternoon hunting through stacks of books and magazines.  I love so many authors, but a few always pop up when I think about favorites:  Anne Lamott, Jodi Picoult,  Rebecca Wells, Kate Moses, Judy Blume, Martha Beck, Vicki Iovine (so funny on the kid-rearing thing!), Kate DiCamillo, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and on and on.  SO many favorite magazines, including Country Home, Country Living, Romantic Homes, Mary Englebreit's Home Companion, Real Simple, US Weekly, Martha Stewart, Sew Simple, and on and on and on!!

E-  Embroidery, sewing, knitting...  I had longed for years and years to possess some skill at handmade crafts, and I watched my friends jealously and decided I just didn't have the knack for it.  But guess what?  I must be having a middle-aged renaissance (or crafty crisis), because since March 2006 I have been dabbling in learning a little of everything.  I used to make fun of the gals who meandered around the craft stores with piles of fabric and yarn, and now I am one of them.  Do I have a knack for it?  NO way.  But I love it, and I stubbornly work my way through it.  I am a perfectionist by nature, so to say I make mistakes and still try  and enjoy the imperfect process of something is a big deal for me.   For now, I love being on my own with my sewing machine (when it behaves) and a really pretty fabric or my latest embroidery design. 

D- Determined...  I tend to be stubborn.  And determined.   And if I want to do something or want to make something happen, I really try to make it happen and work hard for it.  (This of course does not apply to housekeeping, no matter how much I'd love a clean, organized home!!)

I- Idealistic...I think people should act a certain way.  And even at this stage of life, I'm always still surprised and displeased to see how ugly people can be to one another and strangers.  I believe in being kind and polite to one another.  I believe in driving safely.  I believe in being honest and fair and not trying to take advantage of others.  And I know that's too idealistic, but it's how I feel.  That's why, when some idiot m*(&^%-f&%#@!* cuts me off on the road or I hear someone treat a waiter or cashier rudely, I still feel shocked, appalled, and steamin' mad!!    Because I worked for years in a "service" type position (dealing with parents and children), I know a little kindness and compassion can go a long way.  So when my world view is shaken a bit, I tend to become another I-word...IRATE!!

T-  Taylor.  As In James Taylor.  He rules my musical world!!  LOVE THAT MAN!  I met him once after a concert and got so overwhelmed when I spoke to him that I turned around and walked directly into a tree.  Yes, I am a total smoothy. 

I always love to hear what famous people other folks have met.  I've met Doolittle Lynn...Loretta's husband, I danced with Rick Springfield onstage (thanks to Lisa), I've touched and talked to Greg Brady (thanks to Lisa),  I met my JT (thanks to Paula), the kids and I met Dan Zanes after a concert last year, I saw Duncan Sheik walk down the street right by me, I saw Carrot Top walk by once too (scary), I saw Pat Boone at our county fair when I was little, and I saw the groovy guy twins from Hee-Haw in an airport once.   As you can tell, besides James and Rick, I seem to only meet the celebs on the "Z" list of fame.  Lucky me!!  I'd LOVE to hear all the famous folks you've met!!

The Hee-Haw twins.   Try to control your jealousy!!

H-  "Honey!"...(a.k.a...Matt).  My best friend.  My husband.  My favorite person on earth to make laugh.  My partner in parenthood.  And the sweet face I look at across the den as we sit on the couches like old folks and t.v. every night.  (Yes, we live the fast life.) 

I worked with Matt and took grad classes with him for 2 1/2 years before we ever went on a date.  I loved seeing him with the kids in our program, and I always thought he'd make the best father on earth.  I was right.  He's also the best husband, and he doesn't get ruffled about much of anything (which is good.  Because I get flustered about everything!!)   He's so calm and even-keeled that I often consider checking his pulse to make sure he's still conscious and listening to me!  He's earned the nicknames "Mr. Flatline," "Captain Complacency," and "Dr. Dumbass" (yes that one's not that nice, but sometimes he forgets stuff and I have to put Dr. Ph. D. in his place!!)  All said with love.  But my favorite nickname for him has always been "Mattie."  I love my Mattie!!

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Okay, that's my name tag!  Now I have to tag eight more people.  How do I choose?  Okay here goes, and I'll list bloggers for now, but please comment here if you don't have a blog but just want to join in, OK?

Tag to Heather, Judi, Kathryn, Betsy, Felicia, Melody, Jude, and Allie.  Can't wait to see what you post!!

Happy Weekend!! 

Comments

[Kathryn]

I'm opting to do my name tag in your comment section b/c Rob's bday blog is posted in my blog today and I don't think I have eight people to tag. I'm sooooo friendless. Anyhoo....
K - karat; as I'd like to have a couple of them adorning my body in any jewel form.
A - alcohol; I like it in vodka form preferably in a martini glass.
T- TENNIS; I LOVE TENNIS!!!!!!!
H - hobbys; the only thing that keeps me sane are my hobbys. I love crafting (CROCHET, sewing, and anything that requires the use of a glue gun.), photography, if I had more time; and writing, again, if only I had more time.
R - Reading; there's nothing like a good book when you've got the time to read it! Especially a book you can't put down.
Y- Yarn. Love it. Love to look at it. Love to buy it. Love to crochet it.
N- network; my network, my brood, my family. I love my family.

[Melody]

ummm. i did mine on my blog. UNLIKE KATHRYN! rule breaker! Y was good Kathryn.. I didn't even think of it. Besides.. I don't want to be a copy catter :)

[Jude]

I'll do it tomorrow I promise. Thank goodness I only have four letters in my name.

[Amy]

Lenny Kravitz held a door open for me once...very short oddly dressed little man. Golide Hawn said "hi" and waved at Zoe last year...she dresses pertty funky too!
Jude...you think you got off easy...HA try three letters!

[Lisa]

I love it, now to go look at everyone else's blog to see what they put, since they read the rules, unlike Kathryn!!!

Way to rock the long name - Mer!!