So, I guess I will have to renew my car tags after all. :(
I made a joke today at the pre-shift huddle, that on Saturday we will all say, "I guess I am going on my diet for reals."
Let's see, what else do I have to do since we are not going to be in the Rapture....
Grocery shopping (hiss)
Pay bills. (hiss)
Well.... that sucks.
W. :)
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
This is me challenge: part 4
Marriage:
*How did you meet your spouse? Was it love at first sight or did it take some time?
I met my husband, William, while working at Dr. Slavin's office. He came in to work as a medical assistant intern, and I was the receptionist. He had called to get directions before coming in, and I, being a horrible direction giver, directed him in the exact opposite direction from where he needed to go.
When we met, there was an immediate attraction on both our parts, but I would not call it love. Willie was exactly the opposite of anyone I had ever been attracted to. He was dark, hairy and Hispanic, not very into culture, music or dancing, and probably, most importantly, not gay.
We met on July 8, 1991. We started dating on August 8, 1991. Our first date was dinner at Fuddruckers and going to the Improv comedy club. Bobby Slayton performed.
*How long did you date before you got engaged? How long was your engagement?
We had talked about marriage a lot after dating for about 6 months. Willie asked me to marry him on May 16, 1992. We married on August 14, 1992. We eloped and got married at the Miami Beach courthouse. After our little ceremony, we visited some friends and went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant and to the movies. Our church wedding was actually on our first anniversary.
*How did you get engaged? (The story.)
I graduated from Navy bootcamp on May 16, 1992. Willie and I had dinner at the Olive Garden with my family. After dinner, we went back to his hotel (Days Inn), and "reunited." As we lay basking in the afterglow, the most romantic words ever spoken dropped from his lips: "So, do you want to get married or what?"
I can't wait to tell my grandkids that story.
*Who did most of the wedding plans? Who helped?
I did all of the wedding planning. We had a very limited budget, and did everything ourselves.
*Who were your bridesmaids/best men?
Bridesmaids: Lisa Smith, Dorothy Mayse and Maria Marrero (Willie's sister)
Groomsmen: Joseph Dowling (My cousin), and Christopher Morris (My best friend, who also walked me down the aisle)
*Describe the details of your wedding: the colors, the cake, the decorations, etc.Where did your wedding take place? Who performed the ceremony?
Our wedding took place on August 14, 1993, at the MacArthur Memorial Chapel in Miami Shores, Florida. My dress was ivory. My bridesmaids wore peach colored gowns. Willie and the guys wore morning suits. My bouquet was osiana roses and stephanotis. The bridesmaids carried tiger lilies.
The wedding was small. The pastor who married us was sick and had to frequently wipe his nose. Dorothy brought her year and a half year old son with her (after I specifically asked her not to), and he started screaming as soon as he saw her and he did not stop until my boss asked his father to remove him from the church.
Our reception was held in the backyard of my landlords. The food was set up buffet style in the screened in patio. We set up a canopy with tables and chairs on the lawn. The decorations were crepe streamers, balloons and tissue paper bells. The favors were plastic swans with jordan almonds.
Our cake was a three layer buttercream cake from the Publix bakery. I made the topper with a statue I had purchased. My mother-in-law made the boutonnieres, and provided the napkins.
*Who attended your wedding?
We had about 60 guests. We had only wanted to invite friends and family, but my grandmother insisted I invite every person I worked with.
*Where did you go on your honeymoon? What adventures did you have?
We went to Universal Studios for our honeymoon. We stayed at the Ramada Inn Resort. We had a great time.
Children:
*Give your children's full names, birth dates and places.
We have one son. His name is David Angel. He was born on December 11, 1996, in Aventura, Florida.
*How did you choose their names?
Well, if the baby were a girl, the name would have been Gabrielle (after the angel Gabriel) Rachel. David was named after my husband's two best friends. He got each of their middle names.
*What were the circumstances of each child's birth?
I did not find out I was pregnant with David until I was 24 weeks along (long story). I had a very short, pleasant pregnancy. The due date I was given was December 8. I was having frequent contractions, but no pain. I went to the OB for my weekly appointment, and the decision was made that I would be induced the following day. The doctor arranged for me to deliver at Aventura Hospital, as I was originally planning to deliver at North Shore Hospital. I had hoped for a completely natural birth.
I went in to the hospital that evening. My husband helped the nurses start an IV (I have terrible veins.) and I was hooked up to the monitor. In the morning, the pitocin was started, and the contractions started right away. They were strong, but tolerable. At 2 pm, the doctor broke my water, and the pains got so bad...... I had to ask for something for the pain. They gave me Stadol in my IV, and I was out like a light. I would wake up during the contractions (I had terrible back labor), and then fall right back to sleep. I remember at one point, when a particularly bad contraction hit, and I could not get Willie's attention, because he was watching "Baywatch."
Finally at 4, they checked me and said it was time to push.....I said, "I guess it's too late for that epidural now." I was so out of it, I couldn't figure out why my doctor was putting on gowns and hats and stuff. She said, "I'm here to deliver your baby." Oh, ok (zzzzzzz).
I pushed and pushed and pushed......finally, they had to get the vacuum extractor, and two nurses had to help push the baby out. David came into the world at 6:36 pm. He weighed 9 pounds 1 ounce. He was born on a Wednesday.
*What are some funny things that each child does/did or says/said?
My son is extremely funny.... it would be impossible to pick just one thing about him. He is also very easy going, and willing to be my PIC (partner in crime). One of my favorite moments was a couple of Halloweens ago, we came across a banana costume in Target. Of course I made him put it on, and he was so awesome, he immediately started doing the PB&J dance!
*What do you love most about each child? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
As, I only have the one.... I love that David shares my sense of adventure and love of travel. I love his creativity. I love his sense of humor. I love his love for me.
His strengths are his strong moral compass and his sense of humor. His weaknesses are his lack of empathy and his unwillingness to see the importance of education.
*What are your children involved in?
David is involved in a video game club at school. Other than school, he draws, paints, does graphic design work on the computer.
*How do you spend your time with your children?
Our favorite thing to do together is travel, even if it is just driving along a road we've never taken and seeing where it goes. We also like to go hiking together, or even just walking. Just being together, and talking. He is great company.
*How did you meet your spouse? Was it love at first sight or did it take some time?
I met my husband, William, while working at Dr. Slavin's office. He came in to work as a medical assistant intern, and I was the receptionist. He had called to get directions before coming in, and I, being a horrible direction giver, directed him in the exact opposite direction from where he needed to go.
When we met, there was an immediate attraction on both our parts, but I would not call it love. Willie was exactly the opposite of anyone I had ever been attracted to. He was dark, hairy and Hispanic, not very into culture, music or dancing, and probably, most importantly, not gay.
We met on July 8, 1991. We started dating on August 8, 1991. Our first date was dinner at Fuddruckers and going to the Improv comedy club. Bobby Slayton performed.
*How long did you date before you got engaged? How long was your engagement?
We had talked about marriage a lot after dating for about 6 months. Willie asked me to marry him on May 16, 1992. We married on August 14, 1992. We eloped and got married at the Miami Beach courthouse. After our little ceremony, we visited some friends and went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant and to the movies. Our church wedding was actually on our first anniversary.
*How did you get engaged? (The story.)
I graduated from Navy bootcamp on May 16, 1992. Willie and I had dinner at the Olive Garden with my family. After dinner, we went back to his hotel (Days Inn), and "reunited." As we lay basking in the afterglow, the most romantic words ever spoken dropped from his lips: "So, do you want to get married or what?"
I can't wait to tell my grandkids that story.
*Who did most of the wedding plans? Who helped?
I did all of the wedding planning. We had a very limited budget, and did everything ourselves.
*Who were your bridesmaids/best men?
Bridesmaids: Lisa Smith, Dorothy Mayse and Maria Marrero (Willie's sister)
Groomsmen: Joseph Dowling (My cousin), and Christopher Morris (My best friend, who also walked me down the aisle)
*Describe the details of your wedding: the colors, the cake, the decorations, etc.Where did your wedding take place? Who performed the ceremony?
Our wedding took place on August 14, 1993, at the MacArthur Memorial Chapel in Miami Shores, Florida. My dress was ivory. My bridesmaids wore peach colored gowns. Willie and the guys wore morning suits. My bouquet was osiana roses and stephanotis. The bridesmaids carried tiger lilies.
The wedding was small. The pastor who married us was sick and had to frequently wipe his nose. Dorothy brought her year and a half year old son with her (after I specifically asked her not to), and he started screaming as soon as he saw her and he did not stop until my boss asked his father to remove him from the church.
Our reception was held in the backyard of my landlords. The food was set up buffet style in the screened in patio. We set up a canopy with tables and chairs on the lawn. The decorations were crepe streamers, balloons and tissue paper bells. The favors were plastic swans with jordan almonds.
Our cake was a three layer buttercream cake from the Publix bakery. I made the topper with a statue I had purchased. My mother-in-law made the boutonnieres, and provided the napkins.
*Who attended your wedding?
We had about 60 guests. We had only wanted to invite friends and family, but my grandmother insisted I invite every person I worked with.
*Where did you go on your honeymoon? What adventures did you have?
We went to Universal Studios for our honeymoon. We stayed at the Ramada Inn Resort. We had a great time.
Children:
*Give your children's full names, birth dates and places.
We have one son. His name is David Angel. He was born on December 11, 1996, in Aventura, Florida.
*How did you choose their names?
Well, if the baby were a girl, the name would have been Gabrielle (after the angel Gabriel) Rachel. David was named after my husband's two best friends. He got each of their middle names.
*What were the circumstances of each child's birth?
I did not find out I was pregnant with David until I was 24 weeks along (long story). I had a very short, pleasant pregnancy. The due date I was given was December 8. I was having frequent contractions, but no pain. I went to the OB for my weekly appointment, and the decision was made that I would be induced the following day. The doctor arranged for me to deliver at Aventura Hospital, as I was originally planning to deliver at North Shore Hospital. I had hoped for a completely natural birth.
I went in to the hospital that evening. My husband helped the nurses start an IV (I have terrible veins.) and I was hooked up to the monitor. In the morning, the pitocin was started, and the contractions started right away. They were strong, but tolerable. At 2 pm, the doctor broke my water, and the pains got so bad...... I had to ask for something for the pain. They gave me Stadol in my IV, and I was out like a light. I would wake up during the contractions (I had terrible back labor), and then fall right back to sleep. I remember at one point, when a particularly bad contraction hit, and I could not get Willie's attention, because he was watching "Baywatch."
Finally at 4, they checked me and said it was time to push.....I said, "I guess it's too late for that epidural now." I was so out of it, I couldn't figure out why my doctor was putting on gowns and hats and stuff. She said, "I'm here to deliver your baby." Oh, ok (zzzzzzz).
I pushed and pushed and pushed......finally, they had to get the vacuum extractor, and two nurses had to help push the baby out. David came into the world at 6:36 pm. He weighed 9 pounds 1 ounce. He was born on a Wednesday.
*What are some funny things that each child does/did or says/said?
My son is extremely funny.... it would be impossible to pick just one thing about him. He is also very easy going, and willing to be my PIC (partner in crime). One of my favorite moments was a couple of Halloweens ago, we came across a banana costume in Target. Of course I made him put it on, and he was so awesome, he immediately started doing the PB&J dance!
*What do you love most about each child? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
As, I only have the one.... I love that David shares my sense of adventure and love of travel. I love his creativity. I love his sense of humor. I love his love for me.
His strengths are his strong moral compass and his sense of humor. His weaknesses are his lack of empathy and his unwillingness to see the importance of education.
*What are your children involved in?
David is involved in a video game club at school. Other than school, he draws, paints, does graphic design work on the computer.
*How do you spend your time with your children?
Our favorite thing to do together is travel, even if it is just driving along a road we've never taken and seeing where it goes. We also like to go hiking together, or even just walking. Just being together, and talking. He is great company.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Today is my birthday.....
My mother did not forget this year.... which is a plus. (Last year it was totally like "16 Candles.")
I am going to go see "Pitch Perfect" and then out to dinner with the boys. Husbeast is making me a cake.
43..... at one point, that age seemed impossible. I realize I am now older than my mother was when I met my husband.
This has been a crazy year... full of life lessons.
I have to make my list of goals for this year. There will be many.
W. :)
I am going to go see "Pitch Perfect" and then out to dinner with the boys. Husbeast is making me a cake.
43..... at one point, that age seemed impossible. I realize I am now older than my mother was when I met my husband.
This has been a crazy year... full of life lessons.
I have to make my list of goals for this year. There will be many.
W. :)
This Is Me Challenge: part 3
College years:
*Did you attend college or a trade school of some sort?
I had really, really wanted to attend the International Fine Arts College to major in fashion merchandising. (I had big dreams to be a buyer.) However, with the application fee being $300 and the tuition at $17K per semester (which was huge in 1987), that was not going to be my path.....
After high school, I tried college for a year, and that was a dismal failure. My transcript from that year is a B in English Composition, and the other classes are all withdrawals and failing grades. I just hated my school (Miami Dade Community College).
The following year, I enrolled at National School of Technology (now Everest) to study business... mind you this is back when computers were just becoming standard office fare.... we learned MS-DOS, which was all prompt driven software. (Wordperfect had not even arrived on the scene, yet.) Our information was stored on 5" floppy disks. The screens only came in amber and black, or green and black. I learned accounting, business writing, and all sorts of clerical stuff. It was a year long diploma program.
I did not attend school again until 2001, when I went back to school for my nursing degree. I was, once again, in the clutches of Miami Dade College, but this time I graduated in 2007 with honors. Paid my way through, and finished with no loans. Yay!
*How did you choose what you wanted to be when you grew up?
I am still undecided. When I was a child I wanted to do something with sewing (did not understand fashion at that time). When I was in high school, I took marine biology, and fell in love. For a time I thought I wanted to be a marine mammal trainer. Then there was IFAC. However, I ended up an office worker for the first half of my working career. And, now I am a nurse.
*What did you think was the hardest thing about your chosen profession at that time? Did it turn out that way?
I resisted being a nurse for a very long time. (Working in medicine is kind of a tradition in my family.) I am not fond of the fluids that come out of peoples' bodies. But, after working for 20 years in administrative functions, I felt that my job really had no purpose. It didn't really help anyone. So, after going to school for six years to earn my "two-year" degree, (I paid my own way, sometimes only taking one class per semester if that was all I could afford.)I graduated with honors from nursing school.
I always new that I did not want to work with adults. My heart belongs to the babies. I did a year in pediatrics, which was very interesting and fun. Then I did a year in pediatric transplant.... which was incredibly emotionally difficult, due to the long stays and poor prognoses of the kids. Then I moved into Maternity and the NICU. I have been in those departments ever since.
My biggest fears were hurting the little preemie babies. When you have to manipulate an intubated baby that is the size of a soda can, it can be terribly frightening the first time. However, once I did it once, it was never difficult, again.
*What dumb things did you do during those years?
During college?? Well, as I was in my 30's, married and a mother during my college years, I guess the nothing dumb. Oh, except professing my crush on a schoolmate. (Nursing school wreaked havoc on many a marriage in my class. Stress will do crazy things to a relationship.) And, I got my one and only tattoo at that time.
*What good things did you do?
Completing my program with honors was pretty significant.
*Did you live on your own? How well prepared were you for that?
As I stated before, I was married and a mother. However, I lived on my own before I got married. I got my first apartment at age 19.
*What life lessons did you learn?
Don't profess crushes to classmates, especially when you are married. Not that anything happened, but it sure was messed up at the time.
*What choices did you make that affect where you are now?
Waiting so long to attend school.... I mean, every decision I could have made would have put me on a different path than where I am now. If I had not attended vocational school, I would have not been working at the doctor's office where I met my husband. I would not have my son. So, what happened was meant to be the way it was.
Work:
*What jobs have you had? (Give details of the dates, places, responsibilities, etc.)
Aside from high school jobs....
1989: I was an Au Pair in Sweden. (Best opportunity ever!!!) I took care of two little boys.
After my return, I worked at Shoe Works, Amerifirst Bank, and Biscayne Pet House.
1990: I worked for Douglas Slavin, MD, cardiologist. I was the receptionist/biller. This was where I met my husband.
1991-1999: I was in the US Naval Reserves. I loved every moment of active duty, and hated every moment of reserve duty. I was a yeoman (fancy navy word for secretary).
1991-1994: Lessner and Troner, MDs. This was an oncologist office. I was a receptionist, biller.
1994-2004: Video Monitoring Service of America, which was a new information service. I was the office manager, in charge of billing and invoicing, human resources, and supply procurement. I left this job because I was unable to manage the more than full-time hours required, along with nursing school.
2004-2007: Barry University. I was administrative assistant to the athletics department. I actually loved working at the university. If I had not graduated nursing school, I would have stayed there for years.
2007-2008 Broward General Hospital - pediatric nurse
2008-2009 Holtz Children's Hospital - pediatric transplant nurse
2009-2011 North Shore Medical Center - maternity/NICU nurse
2011-present University of Kentucky - newborn nursery nurse
*What dumb things did you do during those years?
Hmmmm..... the dumbest thing I ever did as a nurse.... well, during my first nursing job, we had a patient that wanted to leave AMA (against medical advice). However, they had just connected the child to a Holter monitor, which is a portable recording device that monitors the heart for 24 hours. Having worked in physicians' offices for years, I was used to sending the patient home with the device. The patient's mother assured me they would drop off the machine the next day. And, of course, I believed them. So, off I sent the patient with the $$$$$$ piece of equipment, which we never saw again.
*What good things did you do?
I have saved babies lives on more than one occasion. It is amazing how when the panic sets in, you just rely on the training to get through the moment.
*Have you used any of that knowledge in later years?
Yes.
*Who were your bosses? Did you like them/get along?
I have never had a problem getting along with my bosses.
*How did you get along with your co-workers?
Well, working with a female majority staff can get tricky, if you know what I mean. Having previously always worked in pretty culturally and sexually diverse settings, working with only females is not really my cup of tea. But that goes with the territory of being a nurse.
I loved my co-workers at VMS, Barry University and North Shore Hospitals. In my current job, I am pretty much locked in one room most of the time. Getting to know people has been difficult, to say the least. I am not a very gregarious person, and tend to be introverted. But, it is getting better... and I have only been there over a year!!!
*Which was your favorite job?
Barry University by far!!! The coaches and faculty were wonderful. The atmosphere was relaxed. And, I made several good friends there.
*How many years until you retire?
Too many. I figure I will work in nursing as long as I can, and then retire, and become a greeter at Walmart. Our dream of retirement used to be to sell the house and use the money to buy a winnebago, and then travel all over the US. If we needed money, we would get a job at a Walmart or something, and then be off again.
*Do you have any big plans for your retirement? (If retired: What have you done since retirement? What's next?)
I really want travel as much as possible.
*Did you attend college or a trade school of some sort?
I had really, really wanted to attend the International Fine Arts College to major in fashion merchandising. (I had big dreams to be a buyer.) However, with the application fee being $300 and the tuition at $17K per semester (which was huge in 1987), that was not going to be my path.....
After high school, I tried college for a year, and that was a dismal failure. My transcript from that year is a B in English Composition, and the other classes are all withdrawals and failing grades. I just hated my school (Miami Dade Community College).
The following year, I enrolled at National School of Technology (now Everest) to study business... mind you this is back when computers were just becoming standard office fare.... we learned MS-DOS, which was all prompt driven software. (Wordperfect had not even arrived on the scene, yet.) Our information was stored on 5" floppy disks. The screens only came in amber and black, or green and black. I learned accounting, business writing, and all sorts of clerical stuff. It was a year long diploma program.
I did not attend school again until 2001, when I went back to school for my nursing degree. I was, once again, in the clutches of Miami Dade College, but this time I graduated in 2007 with honors. Paid my way through, and finished with no loans. Yay!
*How did you choose what you wanted to be when you grew up?
I am still undecided. When I was a child I wanted to do something with sewing (did not understand fashion at that time). When I was in high school, I took marine biology, and fell in love. For a time I thought I wanted to be a marine mammal trainer. Then there was IFAC. However, I ended up an office worker for the first half of my working career. And, now I am a nurse.
*What did you think was the hardest thing about your chosen profession at that time? Did it turn out that way?
I resisted being a nurse for a very long time. (Working in medicine is kind of a tradition in my family.) I am not fond of the fluids that come out of peoples' bodies. But, after working for 20 years in administrative functions, I felt that my job really had no purpose. It didn't really help anyone. So, after going to school for six years to earn my "two-year" degree, (I paid my own way, sometimes only taking one class per semester if that was all I could afford.)I graduated with honors from nursing school.
I always new that I did not want to work with adults. My heart belongs to the babies. I did a year in pediatrics, which was very interesting and fun. Then I did a year in pediatric transplant.... which was incredibly emotionally difficult, due to the long stays and poor prognoses of the kids. Then I moved into Maternity and the NICU. I have been in those departments ever since.
My biggest fears were hurting the little preemie babies. When you have to manipulate an intubated baby that is the size of a soda can, it can be terribly frightening the first time. However, once I did it once, it was never difficult, again.
*What dumb things did you do during those years?
During college?? Well, as I was in my 30's, married and a mother during my college years, I guess the nothing dumb. Oh, except professing my crush on a schoolmate. (Nursing school wreaked havoc on many a marriage in my class. Stress will do crazy things to a relationship.) And, I got my one and only tattoo at that time.
*What good things did you do?
Completing my program with honors was pretty significant.
*Did you live on your own? How well prepared were you for that?
As I stated before, I was married and a mother. However, I lived on my own before I got married. I got my first apartment at age 19.
*What life lessons did you learn?
Don't profess crushes to classmates, especially when you are married. Not that anything happened, but it sure was messed up at the time.
*What choices did you make that affect where you are now?
Waiting so long to attend school.... I mean, every decision I could have made would have put me on a different path than where I am now. If I had not attended vocational school, I would have not been working at the doctor's office where I met my husband. I would not have my son. So, what happened was meant to be the way it was.
Work:
*What jobs have you had? (Give details of the dates, places, responsibilities, etc.)
Aside from high school jobs....
1989: I was an Au Pair in Sweden. (Best opportunity ever!!!) I took care of two little boys.
After my return, I worked at Shoe Works, Amerifirst Bank, and Biscayne Pet House.
1990: I worked for Douglas Slavin, MD, cardiologist. I was the receptionist/biller. This was where I met my husband.
1991-1999: I was in the US Naval Reserves. I loved every moment of active duty, and hated every moment of reserve duty. I was a yeoman (fancy navy word for secretary).
1991-1994: Lessner and Troner, MDs. This was an oncologist office. I was a receptionist, biller.
1994-2004: Video Monitoring Service of America, which was a new information service. I was the office manager, in charge of billing and invoicing, human resources, and supply procurement. I left this job because I was unable to manage the more than full-time hours required, along with nursing school.
2004-2007: Barry University. I was administrative assistant to the athletics department. I actually loved working at the university. If I had not graduated nursing school, I would have stayed there for years.
2007-2008 Broward General Hospital - pediatric nurse
2008-2009 Holtz Children's Hospital - pediatric transplant nurse
2009-2011 North Shore Medical Center - maternity/NICU nurse
2011-present University of Kentucky - newborn nursery nurse
*What dumb things did you do during those years?
Hmmmm..... the dumbest thing I ever did as a nurse.... well, during my first nursing job, we had a patient that wanted to leave AMA (against medical advice). However, they had just connected the child to a Holter monitor, which is a portable recording device that monitors the heart for 24 hours. Having worked in physicians' offices for years, I was used to sending the patient home with the device. The patient's mother assured me they would drop off the machine the next day. And, of course, I believed them. So, off I sent the patient with the $$$$$$ piece of equipment, which we never saw again.
*What good things did you do?
I have saved babies lives on more than one occasion. It is amazing how when the panic sets in, you just rely on the training to get through the moment.
*Have you used any of that knowledge in later years?
Yes.
*Who were your bosses? Did you like them/get along?
I have never had a problem getting along with my bosses.
*How did you get along with your co-workers?
Well, working with a female majority staff can get tricky, if you know what I mean. Having previously always worked in pretty culturally and sexually diverse settings, working with only females is not really my cup of tea. But that goes with the territory of being a nurse.
I loved my co-workers at VMS, Barry University and North Shore Hospitals. In my current job, I am pretty much locked in one room most of the time. Getting to know people has been difficult, to say the least. I am not a very gregarious person, and tend to be introverted. But, it is getting better... and I have only been there over a year!!!
*Which was your favorite job?
Barry University by far!!! The coaches and faculty were wonderful. The atmosphere was relaxed. And, I made several good friends there.
*How many years until you retire?
Too many. I figure I will work in nursing as long as I can, and then retire, and become a greeter at Walmart. Our dream of retirement used to be to sell the house and use the money to buy a winnebago, and then travel all over the US. If we needed money, we would get a job at a Walmart or something, and then be off again.
*Do you have any big plans for your retirement? (If retired: What have you done since retirement? What's next?)
I really want travel as much as possible.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
This is me challenge: part 2
Growing up, early years:
*Where did you grow up? Describe it.
My very early childhood, we lived in my grandmother's house. I don't remember much about the house, except that it had a pool. I would spend a lot of time in the pool with my aunt, Gloria (Glo).
After my father and mother married, we lived in a duplex in North Miami. I remember holding the football so Eddie could kick it. From there we moved to a motel on Biscayne Blvd. I remember this motel had a pool, and I would jump into it without knowing how to swim. I nearly drowned so often, I had to wear a life jacket all the time near the pool.
When I was in first grade, we moved to Wilson, North Carolina. It was very different from Miami. Very small town. We lived in a big old house that had been converted to 5 apartments. Ours was downstairs. The apartment was set up like a long rectangle. From the living room, you'd have to pass through the master bedroom to get to the one and only bathroom and then to the kitchen. It had a screened in pack porch. I remember washing my Barbie clothes and hanging them on the clothesline during the winter, and them being frozen solid.
Also while living there, one Easter I got a bunny as a present. It was black and white, and I named him Thumper. Thumper had to live on the back porch. One day my mother told me to let Thumper out so he could exercise, and wouldn't you know that rabbit hopped away as fast as possible, and I never saw him again!
*What was your earliest memory?
My earliest memory is sitting in the shopping cart while my mother did groceries. I vividly remember swinging my legs. I had on Dr. Scholls sandals. Mine were red. And I was wearing courdoroy pants. My sandals kept flipping off my feet, and I remember my mother getting mad, and throwing the sandals into the shopping cart. We were in the dairy aisle.
*What games did you play as a child?
I don't remember playing games as much as I remember playing with Barbies. I also loved playing with my Easy Bake Oven, Sew Perfect sewing machine and my Knit Magic! I was kind of a loner kid, even back then.
*Where did you go to school?
I moved schools a lot. I went to Bethany Covenant (FL) for Kindergarten, Gratigny (FL), Adams (NC), Margaret Hearne (NC), Macklesfield (NC), Ojus (FL), William Jennings Bryant (FL) and Sabal Palm (FL) elementary schools.
*Who were your friends?
My best friend as a child was Wendy O'Dwyer. She lived in Wilson, NC. Her mother, Linda, was a nurse. Her father was also named Eddie. He rode a motorcycle. She had a brother named Robbie.
*Who were your favorite teachers and why?
In kindergarten, I loved my teacher Ms. Ethel. She was an elderly woman. I used to go spend the night at her house. Other than her, I do not recall having a favorite teacher until high school.
*What were your chores?
Never had chores at this time.
Growing up, teenage years:
*What activities did you participate in? (Sports, dancing, music, arts, etc.) Explain what you did with each activity.
Did not participate in extra-curricular activities. However, I did volunteer as a candy-striper at Mount Sinai Hospital.
*How did you learn how to drive? What kind of car did you have?
Well, I took driver's ed in high school. We used to go off campus for lunch, and one day while we heading to lunch in a friend's car, we got crashed into by a tourist. It made me very nervous about driving. So, I did not get my license until I was 19, and I had to get it before I moved to Sweden. I did not have a car of my own. I like to say my car was the metro-limousine. (BUS)
*Who were your friends?
I had a little group of friends... Dorothy Mayse and Lisa Smith were the two main-stays. There were others that came and went...Ellen Bregman and Katie Martin. My best guy friend was Cyril Cohen.
*Did you have a girl/boy friend? Talk about him/her (if your spouse is okay with it!).
I did not date much in high school. I had "boy friends," but no one I would call a boyfriend.
*What did you like/dislike about school?
I sometimes feel like I went to a school out of a John Hughes movie. It was very clique-ish. The hardest was getting picked on about my clothes. We did not have a lot of money, and for the first two years of high school, either my mother bought my clothes or I had to wear hand-me-downs.
The other part I did not like was that at the time I did not see the point of it. Now, I regret not putting in my best effort.
I really started liking school in my junior and senior years. I took classes I found interesting, and that was when I started getting better grades. However, if I was not interested in the subject (government and civics...I am look at you), there was no hope for the class.
*What was your first paid job?
My first genuine tax-paying job was at Woolworth's. I was 14 years old. My next job was for Burger King. I worked at Burger King for a year during my senior year. I worked double shifts, opening the store at 6 in the morning, working until 1 or 4 in the afternoon, then coming back at 8 in the evening, and working until close at 1 in the morning. I did this for $3.85 an hour for a year. When it was time for a raise, they gave me a nickle raise. I told them to stick it, and went to work at Winn Dixie.
*What were your chores at home?
I was in charge of laundry. My mother would drop me off at the laundromat every week with all the clothes while she went to do the groceries. I am still a great laundress.
*Where did you grow up? Describe it.
My very early childhood, we lived in my grandmother's house. I don't remember much about the house, except that it had a pool. I would spend a lot of time in the pool with my aunt, Gloria (Glo).
After my father and mother married, we lived in a duplex in North Miami. I remember holding the football so Eddie could kick it. From there we moved to a motel on Biscayne Blvd. I remember this motel had a pool, and I would jump into it without knowing how to swim. I nearly drowned so often, I had to wear a life jacket all the time near the pool.
When I was in first grade, we moved to Wilson, North Carolina. It was very different from Miami. Very small town. We lived in a big old house that had been converted to 5 apartments. Ours was downstairs. The apartment was set up like a long rectangle. From the living room, you'd have to pass through the master bedroom to get to the one and only bathroom and then to the kitchen. It had a screened in pack porch. I remember washing my Barbie clothes and hanging them on the clothesline during the winter, and them being frozen solid.
Also while living there, one Easter I got a bunny as a present. It was black and white, and I named him Thumper. Thumper had to live on the back porch. One day my mother told me to let Thumper out so he could exercise, and wouldn't you know that rabbit hopped away as fast as possible, and I never saw him again!
*What was your earliest memory?
*What games did you play as a child?
I don't remember playing games as much as I remember playing with Barbies. I also loved playing with my Easy Bake Oven, Sew Perfect sewing machine and my Knit Magic! I was kind of a loner kid, even back then.
*Where did you go to school?
I moved schools a lot. I went to Bethany Covenant (FL) for Kindergarten, Gratigny (FL), Adams (NC), Margaret Hearne (NC), Macklesfield (NC), Ojus (FL), William Jennings Bryant (FL) and Sabal Palm (FL) elementary schools.
*Who were your friends?
My best friend as a child was Wendy O'Dwyer. She lived in Wilson, NC. Her mother, Linda, was a nurse. Her father was also named Eddie. He rode a motorcycle. She had a brother named Robbie.
*Who were your favorite teachers and why?
In kindergarten, I loved my teacher Ms. Ethel. She was an elderly woman. I used to go spend the night at her house. Other than her, I do not recall having a favorite teacher until high school.
*What were your chores?
Never had chores at this time.
Growing up, teenage years:
*What activities did you participate in? (Sports, dancing, music, arts, etc.) Explain what you did with each activity.
Did not participate in extra-curricular activities. However, I did volunteer as a candy-striper at Mount Sinai Hospital.
*How did you learn how to drive? What kind of car did you have?
Well, I took driver's ed in high school. We used to go off campus for lunch, and one day while we heading to lunch in a friend's car, we got crashed into by a tourist. It made me very nervous about driving. So, I did not get my license until I was 19, and I had to get it before I moved to Sweden. I did not have a car of my own. I like to say my car was the metro-limousine. (BUS)
*Who were your friends?
I had a little group of friends... Dorothy Mayse and Lisa Smith were the two main-stays. There were others that came and went...Ellen Bregman and Katie Martin. My best guy friend was Cyril Cohen.
*Did you have a girl/boy friend? Talk about him/her (if your spouse is okay with it!).
I did not date much in high school. I had "boy friends," but no one I would call a boyfriend.
*What did you like/dislike about school?
I sometimes feel like I went to a school out of a John Hughes movie. It was very clique-ish. The hardest was getting picked on about my clothes. We did not have a lot of money, and for the first two years of high school, either my mother bought my clothes or I had to wear hand-me-downs.
The other part I did not like was that at the time I did not see the point of it. Now, I regret not putting in my best effort.
I really started liking school in my junior and senior years. I took classes I found interesting, and that was when I started getting better grades. However, if I was not interested in the subject (government and civics...I am look at you), there was no hope for the class.
*What was your first paid job?
My first genuine tax-paying job was at Woolworth's. I was 14 years old. My next job was for Burger King. I worked at Burger King for a year during my senior year. I worked double shifts, opening the store at 6 in the morning, working until 1 or 4 in the afternoon, then coming back at 8 in the evening, and working until close at 1 in the morning. I did this for $3.85 an hour for a year. When it was time for a raise, they gave me a nickle raise. I told them to stick it, and went to work at Winn Dixie.
*What were your chores at home?
I was in charge of laundry. My mother would drop me off at the laundromat every week with all the clothes while she went to do the groceries. I am still a great laundress.
♫Sing along Saturday♫
This is a band I fell in love with at age 19, when I was living in Sweden. Kind of pseudo-punky pop. This particular song makes me drive way too fast! :)
This is Me Challenge...
Often my blogging lags because I just don't know about what to write. Sometimes, something will happen, and I think, "Gee, this would be good to write about." But, since I don't always have access to the internet, time goes by, and the topic seems less relevant or less funny or interesting.
So, today on the Pinterests, I found a link to this site: This Is Me Challenge . This site uses an LDS (Latter Day Saint) format to record your personal history. The Mormon church is huge in the genealogy field, and they follow family records for hundreds of thousands families, not only in the church, but outside, as well.
So, for my birthday (next week, 12/18) I thought I would start this challenge. We will start at the beginning, because that's a very good place to start: (I am not including last names, due to the possibility of ID theft, etc.)
Your birth and family:
*What is your full name and how did you get that name? Do you have any nicknames?
Wendy Leigh ... My mother had originally planned to name me Michelle Ray (after my birth father, Michael Ray) or Jodi Lynn (cute name). My mother claims that when she saw me, I just looked like a Wendy... plus, the song "Windy" was very popular (a song supposedly about an Australian hooker).
Leigh was after my aunt Gloria Lee.
My last name at birth was different, but it was changed when I was adopted at the age of four by the only father I ever knew, Eddie.
*What are your parent's full names and birth dates and places?
My mother's name is Cecilia Marie, and she was born in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. Sept 12, 1950
My birth father is Michael Ray. He was born in Miami, Florida. He was born in 1952.
My mother was 19 when I was born, and my father was only 17. My father was not there for my mother during the pregnancy, and did not come around until I was 5 months old. At that time my mother told him to take a hike, and was never involved in my life after that. Not knowing my real father has been an issue for me my whole life. I never pursued trying to find him, feeling that if he did not accept me as an adult would doubly hurt. Through genealogy searches, I believe that he is now deceased.
*What is the date of your birth? Where were you born? What are some of the circumstances (when your mom went in to labor, how long, her doctor, your dad fainting, etc.) of your birth?
I was born on December 18, 1969, at North Miami General Hospital in North Miami, Florida. (The hospital is now a Johnson and Wales University.) My mother ate fried chicken, and watched the Tonight Show when she went into labor. Tiny Tim married Miss Vicky on that show. I was born at 8:57 the next morning, by forceps delivery. My mother was sedated for the delivery, which was not uncommon back then.
*What are your sibling's full names and birth dates?
I am, technically, an only child. However, my mother did give birth to a baby boy when I was nearly two years old. That baby was given up for adoption.
*How was your relationship with your siblings and parents?
My relationship with my mother has been tumultuous. My mother has been an addict of some sort or another my entire life. My entire childhood was shaped by her addictions, from her disappearing for days and leaving me with my father, to having to take on the role of caretaker to her as a teenager. I love my mother, dearly, but her screwed up life gave me a screwed up life, which I still have to deal with the repercussions of today.
My adoptive father, Eddie, came into our lives when I was about three years old. My mother was working at a convenience store, and Eddie was working as a mechanic at a garage across the street. My mother would take me to work with her, and not realize that I had scampered off on my own to the mechanic shop. So, it was through me that they met. They married when I was four. Their relationship was totally demented. They both were alcoholics, and he was a mean, abusive drunk, but mostly toward my mother.
At around age 8, my mother had to leave for an extended period to care for my infant cousin, leaving me with Eddie. During this time, he sexually molested me repeatedly, which I did not tell my mother about until I was nearly 13 years old. Along with this molestation, I was also molested by several other men in North Carolina. These fucked up relationships with men has totally messed up my relationships with men today.
*What are some lessons you learned from your parents?
Good question. Don't take drugs. Keep your hands to yourself. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Sex is not love, and vice versa.
*How did you help in your home?
Well, as a small child, I don't think I did. I often remember my mother trying to get me to clean up my room. I would shove everything under the bed or in the closet. To fix that, my mother used to put everything on top of my bed, so the only way I could go to bed was to clean it up.
So, today on the Pinterests, I found a link to this site: This Is Me Challenge . This site uses an LDS (Latter Day Saint) format to record your personal history. The Mormon church is huge in the genealogy field, and they follow family records for hundreds of thousands families, not only in the church, but outside, as well.
So, for my birthday (next week, 12/18) I thought I would start this challenge. We will start at the beginning, because that's a very good place to start: (I am not including last names, due to the possibility of ID theft, etc.)
Your birth and family:
*What is your full name and how did you get that name? Do you have any nicknames?
Wendy Leigh ... My mother had originally planned to name me Michelle Ray (after my birth father, Michael Ray) or Jodi Lynn (cute name). My mother claims that when she saw me, I just looked like a Wendy... plus, the song "Windy" was very popular (a song supposedly about an Australian hooker).
Leigh was after my aunt Gloria Lee.
My last name at birth was different, but it was changed when I was adopted at the age of four by the only father I ever knew, Eddie.
*What are your parent's full names and birth dates and places?
My mother's name is Cecilia Marie, and she was born in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. Sept 12, 1950
My birth father is Michael Ray. He was born in Miami, Florida. He was born in 1952.
My mother was 19 when I was born, and my father was only 17. My father was not there for my mother during the pregnancy, and did not come around until I was 5 months old. At that time my mother told him to take a hike, and was never involved in my life after that. Not knowing my real father has been an issue for me my whole life. I never pursued trying to find him, feeling that if he did not accept me as an adult would doubly hurt. Through genealogy searches, I believe that he is now deceased.
*What is the date of your birth? Where were you born? What are some of the circumstances (when your mom went in to labor, how long, her doctor, your dad fainting, etc.) of your birth?
I was born on December 18, 1969, at North Miami General Hospital in North Miami, Florida. (The hospital is now a Johnson and Wales University.) My mother ate fried chicken, and watched the Tonight Show when she went into labor. Tiny Tim married Miss Vicky on that show. I was born at 8:57 the next morning, by forceps delivery. My mother was sedated for the delivery, which was not uncommon back then.
*What are your sibling's full names and birth dates?
I am, technically, an only child. However, my mother did give birth to a baby boy when I was nearly two years old. That baby was given up for adoption.
*How was your relationship with your siblings and parents?
My relationship with my mother has been tumultuous. My mother has been an addict of some sort or another my entire life. My entire childhood was shaped by her addictions, from her disappearing for days and leaving me with my father, to having to take on the role of caretaker to her as a teenager. I love my mother, dearly, but her screwed up life gave me a screwed up life, which I still have to deal with the repercussions of today.
My adoptive father, Eddie, came into our lives when I was about three years old. My mother was working at a convenience store, and Eddie was working as a mechanic at a garage across the street. My mother would take me to work with her, and not realize that I had scampered off on my own to the mechanic shop. So, it was through me that they met. They married when I was four. Their relationship was totally demented. They both were alcoholics, and he was a mean, abusive drunk, but mostly toward my mother.
At around age 8, my mother had to leave for an extended period to care for my infant cousin, leaving me with Eddie. During this time, he sexually molested me repeatedly, which I did not tell my mother about until I was nearly 13 years old. Along with this molestation, I was also molested by several other men in North Carolina. These fucked up relationships with men has totally messed up my relationships with men today.
*What are some lessons you learned from your parents?
Good question. Don't take drugs. Keep your hands to yourself. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Sex is not love, and vice versa.
*How did you help in your home?
Well, as a small child, I don't think I did. I often remember my mother trying to get me to clean up my room. I would shove everything under the bed or in the closet. To fix that, my mother used to put everything on top of my bed, so the only way I could go to bed was to clean it up.
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