Saturday, February 11, 2012

My 25 Things

I have really enjoyed reading all the great 25 Things Blog Posts this week and decided to participate.  For those who have no idea what I am talking about...a blogger named Shaunna over at Perfectly Imperfect is hosting a linky party that requires bloggers to list 25 random things about themselves.  So here goes...

1.  I have a very difficult life outside my blog world raising two teenagers that often makes it hard to produce work and keep my blog going.  I purposely hide this from my readers because my blog is a refuge away from my daily struggles.  Here they are at their "best."


2.  I am often conflicted about what to write about because what I like to do, doesn't always jive with what the blog world wants.  I painted a Console Table last year and was so excited about it.  Not only did it get very little attention, I got a few borderline negative comments about it like, "Well...I guess this is nice, but it's not my taste."  Here is the table...


3.  I shave my eyebrows.  I don't pluck.

4.  I am a serious political junkie and am a roll-your-sleeves-up political activist in my community.  I hide this from my blog community so not to annoy anyone who doesn't agree with my politics!!

5.  I have three dogs, all Shih Tzus...Coco, Ruby and Sasha.  Coco never leaves my side and is sleeping right next to me as I type this. Here is a image of Sasha...


6.  My hubby is an avid golfer and for some reason it annoys me.  There is something about the elitist nature of it that turns me off.

7.  I am not good at taking care of myself.  This past November I had to give myself a challenge to get up to date on all my routine yearly tests.  I hadn't had any of them in over 5 years.  I completed the challenge by year's end only to find out that I have high blood pressure, 22 bi-nine cysts on my breasts and a cholesterol level that was out of control!  Can't stress it enough.....Go get your self checked out!

8.  I have a sister whom I adore.  We are both loud and opinionated and seriously close. She is an amazing fourth grade school teacher.  Together....we are The Power of Two!  Here is a picture of us at a younger time... (gotta love the 80s)

9.  I have two brothers whom I am estranged from because of drugs and alcohol.  I understand that it is their problem and not mine.  It has taken many years to come to this place.  I am at complete peace with it.

10.  Bullies have played an active role in my life and the life of my kids in making life harder.  I don't like bullies.  I think there is a real problem in our country with bullies that is not effectively being addressed.

11.  If I could live anywhere it would be Southern California.  I love it there and would move in a heartbeat if I could.  Image of our family on our last visit...



12.  I love wearing junk.  Right now I am wearing a neat necklace that is filled with vintage Cracker Jack charms.  It's like a hug.  I got it from French Hen Farm on Etsy.


13.  I was a jock in high school and played on a girls basketball team that placed second in the state.

14.  I was married young and divorced.   He was a loser and an abuser.  I got out.  Good thing because I have an amazing hubby now.

15.  We watched Rain Man last night as a family.  I love every movie Tom Cruise ever did.  Well, except for that vampire one.

16.  I loved Michael Jackson and never believed any of the allegation against him.

17.  I have a hot tub in my backyard and I love sitting in it.  Here is a shot of my daughter and a few of her friends having fun in the hot tub.


18.  My legs are hairy a lot.  I think this goes back to my point that I don't take great care of myself.

19.  I used to avidly ride my bike.  I miss it, but just don't have the time in the day.  I don't.  So don't tell me to make the time.  Because if I did make the time, there would be no blog!!

20.  My favorite part in making whole chicken dishes is sneaking the heart and the liver of the chicken.  I love them and I know they are bad for my health, but I just don't care.

21. If I have an empty water bottle or drink can in my car, I toss it out into the landscaped island in my yard.  My hubby picks it up and throws it away.  It's a fun joke between us.

22.  I am stunned when someone gives me a compliment or thanks me for something I have done.  Those things just don't come my way often.  I am a confident women. Perhaps they don't think I need those things.

23.  I love to travel and have spent a significant amount of time and money doing so.  My kids have seen more places than I had ever seen at their ages.  They took their first trip to Europe this past summer.  I plan on taking them back again soon.  I don't view travel as an option, or something someone should get around to affording.  To me, it's as vital as water.  One life, one earth.
Paris, Rome, Grand Canyon,Niagara Falls, Key West, Boston,
San Francisco, Sedona,  San Diego.
Not pictured...Alaska, Los Angeles, NYC, Tuscon,
Arizona, Blue Ridge-NC, Jamaica,
St. Thomas, Cancun, Cozumel, Cayman Islands, Haiti. 
24.  My closet is pitiful. I don't buy myself enough clothing, partly because I am cheap about that.  My husband' side of the closet is filled with stuff.  Perhaps I should do something about that.

25.  I live on a canal ten minutes from the ocean.  We have a boat that we never take out.  I prefer to go out on the dingy for rides on a sunny afternoon.  Here is an image I took on a recent dingy cruise...



Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
Gonna go link it up over at Perfectly Imperfect.

-The End-

17 comments:

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

It is nice to get to know you better through your blog! I hope I have expressed enough appreciation to you for the kindness you show ME! I appreciate your kind words, encouragement, advice, etc...your are one of my very favorite virtual friends!!

Cassie Bustamante said...

this was so fun to read! i agree about bullying- i am very much the type of person who doesn't understand why everyone can't just be nice to each other and walk around smiling and high fiving everyone else!!! and that yellow table is one of my all time faves of yours, so that i do not get, my friend. and i like those sweet pants in that photo. ;) and i think no matter how confident a person is, compliments and thank yous are always necessary. and i love that you are who you are and you know who you are.

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

What a lovely post. I've read a few of these 25 things posts and find out things that surprise me about each and every blogger. I kind of get and idea in my head about a person by the posts they publish, only to find out that's not who they are at all! You've got a happy family life, and you're finding your place in this world and those are the most important things of all! You go girl!

WrightStuff said...

I love the palm trees!!

Great post - what an insight. Now those 80s outfits were a bit tame really. Where was your Ra-Ra skirt? (or was that fashion faux-pas just for this side of the Atlantic?)

Sam I Am...... said...

Clap! Applause!!!! Standing ovation!!!!!
This is WONDERFUL! I'm too tired to do it tonight but you and whoever started this ought to be commended!
I want to get to know REAL people...yeah we should probably keep religion and politics out of it as people seem to be "A LITTLE TOUCHY" about that lately! LOL!
Yes, there are some blogs that are just eye candy but I am looking for a connection with people...not their "perfect life which we all know does not exist regardless of how much money you have. I would hope we would all know this by now? Anyway, you are super interesting and it makes me what to get to know you more!
Thanks for having the courage to share yourself and your life and your beautiful family regardless that the teeny-boppers (did I just say that? ) tried to disguise themselves. I recognize "teens" when I see them. I raised 4 and I have the scars to prove it! Have a great weekend!

Migelita discovers Colombia, South America said...

Lesley, I have trouble lately writing my blog too! I have lots of things to write about here in Colombia, but often wonder if I can make it interesting enough..I LOVE that table!!! As far as taking care of yourself, tsk tsk!!!! Lesley I hope I have said how much it meant to me when I went through the horrible times..but I STILL made time for check ups, and just recently had a MAJOR one here..which I was extremely nervous about the results..which turned out great. PLEASE take care of yourself, lots of us love you!

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

Thank you so much for doing this! I loved learning more about you. I'm sorry about your brothers. I think it's great that you get to travel. I'm SO glad you are taking better care of yourself. Of everything you wrote that is the most important. Without your health, you have nothing...and I mean not one thing. Well done girl...hope your weekend is going great. Happy Sunday!

Deneen@dreaming-n-color said...

Love getting to know you better my friend!

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Love you, but you know that. It's hard to share intimate details of our lives, but quite often you'll find kindred spirits by doing so. I shave my eyebrows too. I also slack on taking care of myself, found out I'm borderline hypertensive, and lost a brother to alcohol abuse. I love your creativity, and the table.

Janet said...

I love your random 25! The water bottle game you play with your husband had me laughing! So glad you wrote the post. :)

Twice Nice said...

Love getting to know you better Lesley! Your yellow table is divine, and right up my alley. I always have to think the bullies of the world will get theirs someday.

Karen Isaacson said...

great post! So much fun to learn more about you. whenever I roast I chicken I stand in the kitchen and eat all that yummy crispy skin before it even hits the table. It LOOKS like I'm pulling it off for health reasons....

tofubeast said...

Even though I knew the majority of this list, it was still a great post!! And I always liked that yellow table!

Grammy Goodwill said...

Thanks for being so open with these 25 things. (2)I like that table because it's different. What I've noticed a lot in blogs is the pride people take in copying Pottery Barn or Anthropologie items. Your work is your own. (3)Shave your eyebrows? Like, off?? (6)I heard the golf coach from Tech speak last week, and he mentioned how different it is from other sports. His team members are always dressed up - no jeans. I guess there is an inherent elitist feeling there. I never thought that because we were so middle class growing up, but my dad played and my brothers were caddies forever. (7)I hope you're taking better care of yourself now, young lady.

karen@somewhatquirky said...

Ok, I'm so excited to meet someone that loves chicken hearts!!!!!! I love them. Don't do chicken livers much since I overdosed on them while I was pregnant with my daughter 24 years ago! At the time I was Grandy's (remember them?) best customer - they had the best chicken livers on the planet! Thanks for the list. AND I LOVE THE YELLOW TABLE.

Unknown said...

great to hear your up front and down to earth. Sounds like a lovely love filled and fun life.
good to get to know you a little bit.
KAT-

Lisa Montsion said...

Raising two teenagers can be a lot of fun but also stressful.

lisa