Martin,

This is a great idea. Thank you for sharing so much about yourself. One RAK a day is absolutely amazing. I wish I had that dedication. It's actually quite motivational. I also wish I had your green thumb. I like to joke and say I have a brown thumb. Every plant I touch dies. So, after a lot of thinking, here's my list.

1. I have had glasses since I was three years old. When I was seven, I decided I wanted to be a surgical ophthalmologist and for years told everyone that's what I wanted to be when I grew up.

2. If money were not an issue, I wouldn't live in my house for most of the year. I'd travel. I'd see all the places that I've always wanted to see, but never had the money to visit.

3. I've been a geek since birth. When I was two, I threw a tantrum because I wanted to wear my spiderman shirt to my birthday party. When I was in Middle School, I read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit. They were my favorite books, much to my mother's dismay. (She wanted me to read the Babysitter's Club and wear ruffled dresses).

4. I'm a military brat. We moved a lot when I was a kid and, to this day, I have never lived in a house more than three years.

5. I was often called a sponge when I was growing up. I was a fast learner, remembered everything I read, and could recall it when I needed it. I had a thirst for information that still drives me. If I could be a permanent college student and take classes without having to pay for them or worry about GPA, then that's exactly what I would do. I had a hard time picking a college major because I wanted to learn about everything (and that's not really an option in college.)

Well, that was my five. I'm not sure how much that really tells you about me, but I'm pretty sure that's stuff that you all don't know. :)

-Iggy

Nothing I can blackmail either of you with! ha

1. Believe it or not I use to be extremely bashful. If someone even looked my way I blushed which made me blush. Teachers were a nightmare!

2. I lived on $2400 for a year waiting on my workers comp settlement. They thought they'd starve me out, I not only had a permanent injury, but I got to the point where it was for the principle of all fighting the big insurance companies. Hard times! I didn't have water in my house for 7 months! Hey I had a State Park real close by with showers ;)

3. My living room is all cowboys and Indians. Yep this single woman has a very masculine living room. Love cowboys and once upon a time I use to search for arrow heads and such, I have a pretty good collection. Trail of Tears came through here. Found a few graves, but never touched them, honored them unlike many.

Some of you knew it, some of you do now.

Toni

Five things? Okay, these are pretty weird but I will share them anyway.

1. The first thing I remember wanting to "be" was a push lawn mower.
2. I was a single parent of 4 (now grown) children, and had to work through all my cancer treatments and illnesses in order to keep health insurance on them.
3. I've been married to my husband 12 years, but we pretend it's been always. (We both had "learners".)
4. The second thing I wanted to be was a boy, but when I was 14, I figured out that wasn't going to happen and i would be relegated to doing lame girls stuff.
5. I started out college in pre-med, and switched to Theater (costume design). (As a parent, what a ridiculous decision!)
6. My father was my best friend and told me he hoped I would live to make a million mistakes (which I am right on track with)
7. I am very, very shy -- a introverted extrovert.

Not things I usually share <3 Annie

All righty here goes

1. I left working for a Fortune 500 company to drive an 18 wheeler cross country hauling explosives. In a year & a half I saw all the states except for Vermont & Maine & obviously Hawaii & Alaska. I had an absolute blast!! Thankfully not literally LOL!

2. When my first hubby & I were married he was laid off & money was really tight. I trapped & skinned Muskrats with him. Back then you could get $40.00 for a good pelt 5-10 good ones a week was common & welcomed.

3. I started working & collecting a paycheck at the age of 11. I continued to do so until I was 37 & had my first back surgery & ended up on disability.

I'm having a total brain fart right now Lol! I can't think of another thing.

Love, Hugs & God Bless
Lisa

Hummmm....lol
What the heck,
My Spiritual/Native name is Walking Buffalo Man, I possess the spirit of the Eagle(love) and my helper is the Wolf(humility), my gifts are Spiritual Wisdom, Spiritual Vision, Healing and Leadership.
I'm empathic (feel peoples moods as well as their pain). I was always that way and it helped since I could feel dad and I knew when hell was about to break loose. I also can feel when either friends or family members either get hurt or have died or are soon to die, that's usually a 7-10hr feeling of sheer utter dread that I can't shake , only ride it out. I can never pin point who since that dread encases me, so I tell the wife to start calling around and she does since I proved myself right all the time. When I was around 16 I knew a good friend of mine would die if he left the party we were at. I desperately tried to convince him to stay and even told him he'll die if he leaves, he just laughed and said he'll be fine. Found out the next day he hit a tree at 110mph. I beat myself up for over 30 years over that since at the time I never thought of taking his keys, but finally let it go a few years back. Yet still a scar on my heart.
At 17 I stood over my dad as he slept banishing his favorite hatchet for over 20 minutes since I wanted to put an end to the families suffering, I couldn't do that beside my mom, so I put the hatchet back and took lots of dads heart medication instead. I died (briefly)(obviously) lol (My fourth death) and was sent back. I actually have died 7 times so far, the first 3 before the age of 9 by dads hand (fractured skull each time) then 4 more times by my own hand, but there's countless attempts with lots of divine intervention. Enough intervention to really piss me off! lol Yet I truly love my "helpers".
Around the age the ages of 15-19 while some would bring home wounded animals and birds, I'd occasionally bring homeless youth, they got to stay in one of the rooms in the basement and mom and me would help them get assistance, a job and their own place.
In my early 20's I promoted male and female exotic dancers. I had lots of opportunity but never slept with anyone, probably because I was dating my wife at the time, but my partner who was married made up for that.
At the time most promoters took 50% of their girls earnings including their tips, we only took 10% of what the bar initially paid the dancers and they kept their tips and we never beat the ladies like other promoters did. Word got around and many ladies approached us. That really pissed off some of the other promoters, mostly the mobsters and we had to get "protection". Our protection was basically the word was put out not to mess with us or there'd be hell to pay from Ontario's largest bike gang.
Whenever I'd bring a car load of ladies to a bar, often I'd take them back, so I had to wait the whole night. I'd usually bring a book to read if I couldn't convince Chris to come along with me. I'd sit in the back at an empty table reading and drinking. By the end of the night the table was filled with other dancers during their breaks and we'd have many lengthy conversations about everything. Maybe I'm strange but naked women don't intrigue me, what lies in their hearts and souls does. I got out it after a beautiful women, who we trained as a feature got into the coke. Bars often had lines laid out in the dressing room with a guy there keeping tally of who does it and how much and at the end of the weekend, he'd hand the ladies the bill. They get alot of "free" dancers this way since they have to dance of their bill. Our rule was stay away from the coke and don't prostitute or they be looking for a new promoter. So this feature who was dancing to make enough money for university, tried it one night and got hooked. i tried to talk sense into her, get her into treatment to no avail. I watched a vibrant, intelligent young lady destroy herself and I felt the shame knowing I played a part in it. So I walked away. Then my partner is calling me to return or I'd be dead (even said he put a hit on me) since the business fell apart after I left. He didn't know that at the time I died 4 times already and wished I could stay dead, so his threats just didn't fizz on me. I stayed away and no hit happened, shucks lol.
Around 23 or 25 got clean and sober, got back to my culture, became a well respected leader in the native community, sang on a drum and helped many get clean and sober. I've been in my share of native standoffs over land claims with the last being Ipperwash in which my good friend Dudley George was shot and killed by police, he was unarmed. That's the last standoff I was in.
Around 7-8 years ago I finally decided to deal with the wreckage of my past (3rd attempt) and vowed to myself to not run when it got rough this time. Boy was it rough, I throw away my sobriety and it contributed to near deaths 6 and 7 although this physical pain played a big factor. All theses injuries, these constant daily reminders have endless memories associated to each of them. So I had to find peace with these memories or they would destroy me. Yet I feel I've only found a "cease fire", since some of those memories come out of nowhere and hit very hard. Those are days I pretend I'm a Buffalo lol.
Now i sit here plunking away wondering what the hell happened to me. My part of this world has lots of people who need help and I'm pretty good at that, but this damn body is always protesting. So that's why I've been quiet lately, contemplating my existence yet again. I actually had enough about 5 years back, 44 yrs of pain is starting to have it's toll, but I strong, resilient and too damn stubborn, kinda wish I'd just roll over and die, but that's not in my nature....
So that's some of the "Mysteries of the Buffalo" lol
Everything we need to get us through this life, that person we see in the mirror, holds in their Heart. Get to know, understand and love that person and you'll understand the mystery of life! :)
Loving Hugszz,
Blaine

Ahhhhh grasshoppers,

Thanks for sharing. You know Toni I wasnt giving you ammo for your big guns of sarcasm right? haha
We see who the shy ones are. It can be anything silly about yourself it doesnt have to be personal. Could be you hate spiders or eat octupus anything.

Thanks

Martin of the FC

Blaine, thank you for sharing that. Worked the clubs, huh, I knew we had a lot in common (lol)

I have done many jobs over the years with just a higj school education and I'm proud of that. The one I loved the most and still eats at me is I ran a bar for 30 years. Started managing when my dad would go to Florida for his vacations at first at the age of 14. My grandfather started a nightclub on the beach up here years ago. My father retired in his 50's and I ran it for years. I still do the books and now my brother runs it, but it's nothing like it used to be. My dad was King if the City for a while, meaning no one else did the business he did or got as busy he did . On a Tuesday night, he'd have a line of people outside waiting to get in for his Free Steamer, Sausages& Corn on the Cob. Every other club in the city canceled their bands for that night because they couldn't compete with my dad's place.

I was a paralegal for a law firm for years. I used to do Real Estate Closings.

I worked at a Scrap Metal Yard

I have a green thumb, although this year with ny neck surgery, I didn't get to plant my garden.

I used to be a plus size model and was fired when I jiined weight watchers abd list over 100 pounds.

I used to love rollerskating and dancing, actually taught dancing to little kids, but had to stop because of medical issues.

Well since I have "Sometimers" I don't know what I have written in the past, so you may or may not know about me.

1. Came from a family where children were to be seen but not heard. Terrible things happened and I told my mother who promptly told me to never speak of them again. Different traumas, same response. Became afraid to be around anyone or to talk to people. (Yes I have since had some counseling)

2. Owned 3 dance studios with my brother. Was in college doing well financially. My brother sold our business behind my back.(Business was set up as "and/or") Stated it was better that I find a different career. No apologies.

3. Felt I was pressured into a marriage. It was abusive and when he tried to kill me my boss put me on a bus and gave me my last paycheck with extra and told me to go as far as I could. So I got a divorce and disappeared.

4. Started a new life in a new state. Everything I did in my old life I buried. My life today is just a survival mode existence. I have owned businesses, married, and have had children. The very weird thing is that I can disconnect myself emotionally from family, people and things so easily now. My husband can not understand how I can even speak to anyone in my family, but to me I do not believe in holding grudges, they grow cancer. I hate what was done, I hate how I am treated today; however, I will work with and communicate with whoever is needed to protect and care for my father. Once he has passed over, I am sure there will be no more communication. I put my anger in God's hands. It is safer that way. "What goes around, comes around" works better than anything I could do or think.

5. I have hiked in the Alps, on the Appalachian Trail, and many others. Now I can hardly breathe if I walk over 20 ft and I have to use a walker to get that far. My Belly-dancing days are definitely over.

Funny/Weird

1. Had a carpet cleaning and Commercial cleaning business. One day one of the carpet cleaning crews came back in all upset. How could we send them to a "nudest community" to do carpet and upholstery cleaning. LOL I did not know we had a large nudest community here. People riding their bikes and working in their yards in the buff. These guys were wanting extra pay for having to deal with that job. Now I am sure if the people looked like Playboy bunnies they would have had a different attitude. :)

2. Hubby and I spent many years as boyscout leaders. One of our last large campouts was on a 60,000 acre preserve. Well as my husband finished packing our car, I checked out the last of the scouts to their parents and they left. My husband said OK let's go, where are the keys???????? He had lost them. We were in the middle of 60,000 acres, no keys, no cell reception, and our last parent had left. There were many un-lady like words used. While he proceeded to unpack and look through all of his gear I hiked a few miles toward the entrance trying to get a cell signal. Finally I got through to my son, asked him to go to my house get the extra set of keys and drive them up to us. We were 2 and 1/2 hours away and he had an event he was supposed to be at. TOUGH LOVE: Bring me keys or you will not live to see another event. He brought us keys and broke every speed limit on the road.

And life goes on .................

1. When I was nine years old my four siblings and mom and dad lived in a hotel. We had a kitchenette with one bedroom and Murphy bed that came down out of wall. All five children slept in that bed. My brother and sister below me in age and I ran wild. We threw water balloons off the roof. I used to take the maid's cart back to our room and pretend I was maid. I had a dog walking job to walk a standard poodle and I once put him in the wrong hotel room. Amazingly enough I didn't loose my job. The lobby area had a soda fountain slash drugstore and a lounge we were forbidden to go near but we snuck in during the day once or twice to check it out.

2. In my very early 20's I was Miss GE Spray Iron. I wore a banner and stood around in the department stores to sell GE products to the men for their wives. This job came from a temp agency.

3. I was a barefoot hippie in the early 70's, long hair 501 jeans and not much care given to tee shirt choices.
We smoked weed at concerts and climbed the fence to go skinny dipping in the,pool where I lived.

4. Late seventies I grew all our vegetables and canned them . I made jams and froze fruit.
I picked up pecans on the half system (owner of trees got,half and I got half ) . My sons never had fast food or junk food. We had a pig named Wilbur and we fattened him up and ate him. I had chickens for fresh eggs.
I bought milk from a dairy farmer and we bought a side of beef every year. Life was good.
The most awesome strawberry patch.

5. I have sold cars, been on tugboats, to fish processing plants on the gulf coast, hotels, plastic manufacturers, hardware, advertising agencies conducted a zillion seminars on sexual harassment,
Stressed the importance of putting some of the paycheck away into a 401(k), sold the business owner
on matching the employees contribution. I once tripped on a speed bump with a box of paperwork at 4AM in the morning and my first thought was to look around to see if anyone saw me.

Ok...

1. I love water, soft or any degree of hardness, snow , ice
2. I spent years teaching sailing on Lake Superior
3. At 12 years old I nearly died, I had a near death experience
4. I love science, I find the knowledge of facts comforting
5. I was a carpenter for a living, once I was married, did several unique projects


Just a few things I guess
Hugs
Michael