I thought it might be fun to get to know my wonderful readers. Just because it’s my blog, doesn’t mean I have to be the one chatting all the time. I know there are some amazing people in my Shaking Off the Dust group and I’d love to know more about you. Or any one that happens to come along, spill. It doesn’t have to be 10 things…you can stop at five or seven.
Here is your chance to tell all of us everyday things about you. Or fun and fascinating things you’ve seen or done. So here you go!!
Rhianna Samuels
Hi, Rhianna! O.k., I’ll go for it! Ten Random Facts About Me:
1. I’m left-handed. Since there are 7 other people (1 husband, 6 offspring) in my immediate family, all “righties”, I feel a little outnumbered sometimes–until I remind myself that “only left-handed people are in their right minds” . Of course, some people would say that 6 kids is an argument against that statement! LOL
2. I’m the youngest in my family, with a large age gap, so I’m closer in age to some of my nephews than to their mom (my sis). There’s a similar gap in my kids’ ages, so my two youngest have nephews nearer their age than their oldest brother and sister.
3. In my “wild youth”, I lived in the basement of a theater for part of a summer. I shared the space with a friend who was gay and who occasionally cross-dressed. We used to swap clothes sometimes, LOL.
4. My family all loves music, and my dad (a part-time church music leader, who’d been a drummer in a swing band when he was younger) raised us listening to EVERYTHING. Because of him, I could sing along with a good bit of Handel’s Messiah by the time I was 4 years old.
5. My first major in college was Theater Arts, but I got my degree in Anthropology. Then I started a Master’s degree in English. I like to think of myself as “eclectic”…some people say I just can’t make up my mind .
6. When I was finishing my Anthro degree, I was pregnant. Final exams came less than 2 weeks from my due date, and some of my classmates in my Statistics course (we called it “Sadistics”) tried to bribe me to fake labor during the final.
7. A week after the birth of my third child, I had an emergency apendectomy…on Mother’s Day.
8.My oldest son works as a prison guard, and plays bass guitar in an alternative rock band in his time off.
9. I live in the country, and raise dairy goats, so I’m learning to make goat’s milk cheese–goat’s milk ice cream is already a family favorite!
10. Last year, I won Brenda Novak’s contest for a free registration to RT 2007, in Houston. It was amazing!
Comment by escondita — February 20, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
Um…by the way, where are YOUR ten facts, Rhianna? *raised eyebrows*
Comment by escondita — February 20, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
Ten things about me
1. I do reviews for RomanceJunkies.com, mybookcravings.com and manicreaders.com
2. I have been sick since Jan. 9th
3. I am happily married
4. I have an associate’s degree in Accounting
5. I do not work for pay
6. I am a poet
7. I have lost 100 lbs in less than a year
8. I love country and oldies music
9. Instead of children I have two dogs.
10. I love meeting new authors and checking out their work
Comment by Robin — February 20, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
1. I was a tomboy as a child for about one summer.
2. My greatest ambition as a child was to be a trapeze artist.
3. I played clarinet in the high school band.
4. I only weighed 83 pounds as a freshman in high school and 96 pounds when I started college. You should see me now!
5. One branch of my family has been in the US since 1755 when Dr. John Lynn left Ireland for the US.
6. I graduated at the top of my nursing class.
7. I read more books in grade school than anyone in my class.
8. I love antiques and art glass.
9. I went to interior design school in my forties, but never worked in the field because I was afraid to give up my day job as a nurse and go to work as a low-pain design assistant.
10. I’ve lived in Music City since 1970 and loved it.
Marie-Nicole
Comment by Marie-Nicole Ryan — February 20, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
My ten facts are on the next blog down.
escondita- Wow, What a fun thing to do, living in a theatre basement. I will admit that I was at one time a theatre major. I did commutity theatre and then college plays until I dropped out the first time around. I sang at a few clubs here and there. Those days are all over, unless someone wants me for a older character acting job. Steven Spielberg please call. I have had gay cross dressing friend since I was 17 and have lost touch with most when I moved to southern Indiana. It’s not the most cosmopolitan area, in fact we got dissed by Madonna when she was hear filming League of thier own. Though I admit that since working this ER (16 year) two men have cut off thier members, but I think that’s extreme cross dressing. Some of my dearest friends are gay.
What does goat milk ice cream taste like- sounds interesting. Thanks for participating.
Hi Robin- you must do a lot of reading. I used to read a ton, but now I spend my reading time writing, though I admit I still read my autobuys. I am sorry you have been sick. Our ER has been overwhelmed with flu patients…it is miserable. I love to hear poetry read, when it’s the right voice. Reminds me of bueaty and the beast.
Okay, spill about how you lost the weight. I was doing so great on my diet until I realized I couldn’t afford the RT covention this year and all my will power took a dive.
Thanks Robin, I’m so glad to hear from you…feel free to explore Shaking Off the Dust.*g*
Marie-Nicole – Hi! Marie is a fellow Samhellion Author and a new friend to me. We met for lunch a few months back and she is such a lovely woman and so gracious. It was well worth the drive. I love discovering details of authors, I’m a fangirl.
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — February 20, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
Hey, Rhianna! Come back down to Texas, and I’ll make you some ice cream . I feel your pain about RT–I’ve had so many friends tell me I HAD to come…well, it’s not happening unless I win something again! LOL And this time, I can’t just catch a ride down with my s-i-l (he’s a paramedic, and works in Houston). I ended up at your blog after you posted on ManicReaders; I plead guilty to not “reading up” on you until AFTER I’d posted my “Ten Facts”. Seems as if we shared a state until you moved north! I live 15 miles from nowhere, about 30 miles north of Bryan/College Station (Texas A&M).
Comment by escondita — February 20, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
1. I am an erotic writer. I have two Silk’s Vault Publications, ‘Explorations’ and ‘Self’s Blossom’.
2. I have had published a collection of erotic verse and prose, ‘Romantic Undress.
3. I have erotic poems on the net: ‘Lovers Undress’ and ‘Beach Girl’.
4. I am also a singer-songwriter – best known albums ‘Bricolage’ and ‘Bacteria Shrapnel’.
5. Collected poetry and prose ‘Pricklibng Counterpoints’
Comment by David Russell — February 20, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
My ten random Facts:
- I was in the Navy for 4 years, and saw some of the most beautiful places on Earth that God has ever created.
- I have 3 children, well 2 human kids and one canine kid
- I am a major Tomboy and have been one all my life, but on rare occasion I do get dressed up.
- The last time I wore a dress, was for one of my best friends wedding….2 years ago.
- I named my daughter after a character from a movie…Kaiya…the wife of Willow from the movie of the same name.
- I write romance reviews for The Long and Short of It.
- My sister is my BEST friend!
- I have a mojor love of useless information.
- My family resembles MY Big Fat Greek Wedding, only minus the Greek part. They scared my husbamd when he first met them.
- I live near Vail, Colorado…and I hate the snow….beautiful irony.
Comment by Briana — February 20, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
Ten random things about me:
1. One of my distant ancestors was the first governor of Massachusetts
2. When I was young, I wanted to be a veterinarian. This lasted until I took 10th grade biology, and discovered that I actually kind of hated it.
3. I love studying languages. To date, I’ve taken three years of French, three years of Latin, a year of Ancient Greek, a quarter of Arabic, and half a year of American Sign Language. I’ve also taught myself a handful of Gaelic for writing purposes, but never had a chance to study it formally.
4. I love arts and crafts. As a child, I crocheted. In college, I taught myself to knit. When RSI injuries from work forced me to stop, I took up quilting.
5. My grandma and grandpa are second cousins. (My grandpa likes to say that that’s why the rest of us are all freaks.)
6. I started writing on a whim. I had just finished The Sleeping Dragon by Joel Rosenberg. I set the book down and declared, “I’m going a book like that.” And I did. (Well, okay, it was only kind of like that.
)
7. If I’m walking any distance at all, I’ve got my nose buried in a book. Since I don’t have a car and most of my transportation is on foot or by bus, I do this a lot. Despite the concerns people have when they hear this, I’ve only ever almost run into somebody once.
8. I can’t stand coffee. I never have been able to drink it. I am, however, a huge tea drinker, and I get very grumpy if I can’t have my chai in the mornings.
9. I don’t go anywhere without a notebook. I’m also very particular about the kind I’ll use — hardcover, college ruled, spiral bound, with a large enough spiral to clip my fat pens to. No flaps or other fancy gizmos that get in the way.
10. I have been known to threaten to thwack people with my notebook when they’re being obnoxious. I have also been known to follow through on this threat.
Comment by Aislinn Kerry — February 20, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
1. We will celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary in July.
2. We have 3 sons, 2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons.
3. I love to read. (Who’d a thunk????)
4. I went to college when I was 43.
5. My GPA was 4.0 (If I can do it anyone can do it – you just have to persevere and study.)
6. I learned to drive a car when I was 45.
7. I work part-time as a class room aide for Head Start.
8. I love children and do NOT like the empty nest. (Can you tell – that is why I work at Head Start.)
9. I do all types of needlework except macrame and tat – although I am DETERMINED to learn needle tatting.
10. I design my own knitting, crochet, counted cross stitch, needlepoint and plastic canvas items when needed.
Guess I have bored everyone enough for now –HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT DAY.!!!!!!
Ruth
Comment by Ruth C. — February 20, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
alrighty then….here’s my 10 things about me.
1. I’m a stay at home mom who is never at whom.
2. I’m a clog dancer and have danced for about 6 years now.
3. I’m 28, but don’t confirm that with my daughter cause she’s a stinker and tells my real age.
4. I’m a reviewer and a new one.
5. I’m a volunteer at church, setting up the stage area for our pre-school kids programming and occasionally I do puppets.
6. I have volunteered for 18 years now for the Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade, 17 of which working with bands and this year as a member of the administration team. Hey I’ll pretty much do anything to drive a golf cart and get a free shirt!
7. I love the mountains and would love to have a cabin near Asheville.
8. I also love the ocean and would love to have a house on Tybee Island near Savannah, GA.
9. I have my paralegal degree but don’t use and probably won’t ever again. Lawyers are crazy. *g*
10. I love technical gadgets and just got a new one, an eReader. How have lived without one of these!!!
Comment by Laura J. — February 20, 2008 @ 10:44 pm
1. I don’t watch TV
2. I read an average of 15 or more books a week
3. All of my children are left handed but both my guy and I are right handed.
4. There had never been a time in my life that didn’t have at least one pet.
5. I started going grey in my teens.
6. I love the cold (even sub zero)
7. I didn’t learn to drive until I was 22
8. I never cook anymore because my guy cooks better than me and WANTS to.
9. Last year was the first time in 36 years that I had been on a plane.
10.I’ve lived in the house i’m at now longer than I have ever lived anywhere else in my life.
Comment by ingrid — February 20, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
1. I don’t do or say anything until I’ve had a cup of coffee in the AM. And if I’m bothered before that cup, I can’t take responsibility for what I might say or how I’ll react. It isn’t pretty.
2. My favorite colors are black and purple, although I love all bright colors. I once wore only black for one year and I got pissed off with people who thought I was depressed because of it. That’s such a cliché. I feel really good in black.
3. I wasn’t allowed to go to the movies when I was a child because my parents were strict fundamentalist Christians, so the first movie I did go to was “The Sound of Music” when it was re-released for the 10 year anniversary. My friend and I sat through 4 showings of it in a row. I was totally in love with Capt. Von Trapp, but by the last showing, we were laughing hysterically over all the love scenes.
4. My first car was a 1962 Volkswagen Beetle, which I bought for $200 with my own money six months before my 16th birthday. Things were kind of funky on it, but it ran like a German tank and I totally loved it. I sold it 2 years later for $300. Another little fact, my mother gave me a valium to take my drivers road test because I was so nervous. I pasted on the first time.
5. I met my husband, a Japanese American, online on a message board for Japanese cultural interests. The first time we talked on the phone, we talked for 8 hours straight and only stopped because it was like 4 AM. The next night it was the same thing and so on. We didn’t get much sleep in those days.
6. I believe in fate and that the right people enter our lives when we are ready to learn or experience something we need to for our growth.
7. I’m currently on Weight Watchers, AGAIN, and my new favorite every afternoon decadent snack is a sugar free (splenda) Jell-O brand chocolate pudding cup, mixed with ½ cup of some type of whole grain cereal, a banana, and fat free whipped cream. It’s orgasmic! And only 3 pts. I’ve lost 10 lbs since mid Jan. yeah!
8. I once took the Trans-Siberian train from Beijing to Moscow and for 6 ½ days my friend and I were stuck on a train getting hit on by drunken Russians and dealing with crazy Chinese people, selling goods at every stop. My two Russian words, Russki Nyet, were used all the time to escape the fumes and slobbering. It was an experience, that’s for sure.
9. I’m the oldest of 3 girls and my sisters and I are very tight. We always have been. One lives in NJ and is gay with a life partner. The other is in OR. She married her junior high school sweet heart and has two boys 17 and 21(who just came out as gay), and is still happily married. We don’t get to see each other often unfortunately, but when we do, it’s not stop laughter. We are also, all three, totally pervy middle aged women. LOL I’ve been thinking lately that perviness must be something genetic.
10. I have a bowflex, total gym, treadmill, and exercise ball in a huge room downstairs. And like many Americans with such things, I don’t use them because that would mean I would have to actually dust them first, which is already too much work for me! : )
Comment by MB (Leah) — February 20, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
Rhianna, why did you stop acting and singing?
Comment by MB (Leah) — February 20, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Sounds like fun, Rhianna!
1. I had foot surgery Jan. 10. The pins were finally removed today! Yay!
2. I am addicted to America’s Next Top Model.
3. My collection of rocks and crystals is exceeded only by my collection of books.
4. I once went to court without a lawyer and proved a state high patrolman wrong when he cited me at fault for an accident. [pumping fist]
5. I have had both hips replaced.
6. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
7. I’ve eaten paw paw cactus ice cream.
8. Despite being of Scottish heritage and traveled to Scotland, I have not eaten haggis. [hanging head in shame]
9. I dropped out of band in 5th grade – hated the clarinet – but spun a flag in high school marching band.
10. I never got picked for any solos in high school choir, but sang solo with a symphony orchestra a few years later.
Comment by Carolan Ivey — February 21, 2008 @ 12:03 am
Ten things about me:
1. I published my first book, Loyalty’s Web, a medieval novel/romance/mystery, in 2007.
2. Loyalty’s Web is a finalist for a Whitney Award (to be announced March 22–wish me luck!)
3. I have a BA in history, specializing in–what else?–the Middle Ages! from the University of Arizona.
4. King Henry II of England is one of my historical heroes. (Sorry, Eleanor of Acquitaine fans!)
5. I have a blogsite on medieval research, at http://medievalresearch.blogspot.com/
6. Two summers ago, I got to go to Spain and see a special collection of medieval illuminated manuscripts still hidden away in their archival files. I was in heaven!
7. If Henry II is my historical hero, then Tchaikowsky is my musical hero.
8. I have two cats, Clio a tabby and Glinka-Rimsky-Korsokov, a Maine Coon mix who looks like a Russian hat (hence his name).
9. I’ve taught piano lessons for 22 years.
10. I’m currently addicted to Monk on TV. (”Here’s what happened…)
Comment by Joyce DiPastena — February 21, 2008 @ 12:11 am
What a fun post, so many interesting people!
Comment by MB (Leah) — February 21, 2008 @ 1:29 am
Wow, I went in to work for the afternoon and came home to all this good reading. YOu guys are awesome.
Escondita_ My dad was a Texas A&M graduate. I took him to his 50 year reunion four years ago in april and he died in July. It was the last trip I had with him. He enjoyed it so much. He knew every aggie joke ever told and believe me I got hear him tell them. My older brother and sister were born in Bryan Texas while he was in school. I have a lot of family in texas. If I ever get down your way I’ll be stopping by for goat mild ice cream.
I was not secure enough in my singing. I discovered that I enjoyed singing here and there, but when it became a job of hours at a time, I wasn’t really into it. And I discovered when I lost my hearing on one side, that it affected my pitch. So, I don’t sing. I had a big voice, show tunes girl. But when I was singing piano bars it was more folk song days. Leaving on a jet plane, john denver, beatles.
Welcome David…I suspect there are a lot of writers out there that have musical talents. I couldn’t write a song, that is a very special talent. I have a relative that graduated Juliard and has been making music and writing songs for 45 years. I’ve seen him sit at the piano and write a song and it’s like watching a communion into some
spirtual place. I envy that ability. Your life sound interesting, you should finish off the last five items with more on you.
Briana…Your family sounds like a treat. I am from a strange combination of Texas home boys and my moms family is Massachusetts french. She was in total shock to meet My dads family, all ten of his brothers and sisters.
I have some friends that were career Navy. I think I’d like Navy or airforce. That is such a neat thing to be able to have experienced. I envy your world travels. I’ve been to about 35 states and seen quite a bit, but I’ve only been to Mexico and Cananda only in terms of international travels. Sisters make great best friends. You have to learn to get past arguments and such, because they aren’t going anywhere. I’m glad you have someone that special. I shouldn’t say this because as a nurse I know it’s not true, but about 90% of information is useless, it’s my favorite kind.
a girlfriend and I went to Vail in the way back and still laugh over the fact that we went horse back riding on a very narrow path and both our horses must have been fed something gassy before we got on board. because they lifted tail and farted continuously. We argued over who had to take the second position and rotated it several time. I It is lovely there. I lived in Denver for a year back in the seventies and then again in the eighties.
Comment by Administrator — February 21, 2008 @ 2:11 am
Aislinn- Are you political? That is such a cool thing to be able to pull out of the air in a conversation. I have no talent for languages, you are lucky. learning new languages are supposed to be taught when you are young, at least that’s my excuse. Are you mathmatical? I read somewhere that people who are good at languages are also mathmatical.
I am so picky about notebooks too. What you said, except I like the fat spiral on top and not on the side. It’s hard to find a hard cover for a top spiral, when I do I buy a lot. I love coffee. I like tea too, but usually iced. think country girl. Arts and Crafts…that is great. I was given no talent with them and a large black thumb, I can kill a plant in less than a week. And that’s truely trying to take care of them. Some people just need to be thwacked.
Laura J… Clog dancing…I have visions of what… German or Austrian type dancing or Irish? What age does your daughter divulge for you. Youj are a Kentucky girl? I am in southern Indiana, but finding that Kentucky is a lovely state. It’s that accent that cracks me up. It’s so thick with some of the people I work with and they only live twenty minutes away. how is that possible? You will need to tell me if I should get an e-reader and which one is reasonable to buy. Thanks for coming to play.
I am having so much fun. I hope it is intersting for all of you. Anyone who wants to should feel free to respond or comment to the posts here. I would love it to be as interactive as a group loop. So speak up.
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — February 21, 2008 @ 2:34 am
Hi all – well 10 things about me…
1. Born and raised in Louisville, KY but have been a Hoosier transplant for 10 years now.
2. Picked up by Samhain with my first ever book to come out May 6, 2008 Midnight Reborn. This is book 1 starting off he Watchers series. Currently I have 10 ready for this series.
3. I am a former computer geek – worked about 10 years in the IT field before deciding to cool off my brain and get away from the stress. Now I am a secretary for a federally funded clinic as the secretary for the Director of Nursing.
4. I have a wonderful husband who I have been married to for eighteen years and two children that I have been blessed with. They are well behaved…and I’m not being sarcastic. My daughter is 17 but looks 14 (but is very level headed/mature and smart) and my son is 11. He’s another story. He is very into professional wrestling..need I say more?
5. I am totally addicted to coffee and I am very anal about where I drink it. I LOVE McD’s coffee and coffee shop coffee. Some of the other restaurants are okay..but trying to make it at home, drink it at work, or get it from a gas station is a “no way” for me. I also won’t buy it from any other fast food restaurant except McD’s.
6. I love animals! I have an indoor cat and two small indoor dogs. I also have two fainting goats and a disabled miniature horse. They all can be seen on my site http://www.dmcentire.com
7. I love vampire stories, movies, etc. I wouldn’t dare miss a Buffy or Angel show when they came on. I also loved Brimstone but it wasn’t on for very long (arrgh).
8. I don’t have much in the way of hobbies – besides now I am writing stories. I do love to tan and ride the four-wheeler as fast/far as I can go. If I owned a normal sized horse, I’d ride every chance I got.
9. I am fascinated with hawks. Not a day goes by that I don’t see one. Today there were two. Whenever I am driving it is like I can instantly spot them. They are so beautiful that I’ve included on in book 3 of the Watchers series.
10. A wish I keep in my heart is to one day visit Scotland. I love to hear them speak. If I was ever lucky enough to go…I would sit outside with a drink and just listen..and enjoy.
Oh..almost forgot…there is a #11…I’m nuts! (my family will verify that)
Diane McEntire
Comment by vanced99 — February 21, 2008 @ 2:46 am
I am taking breaks to let others have a chance to comment too. I don’t want to hog the comment box.
Ruth…Why do I want to call you Ruthy…Where is that from. I have so much respect for anyone who feels there is no age limit to learning an knowledge. I thought I was doing good to 3.4 or 3.5 when I went back to school for my nursing degree. I am one of those people who have to study so hard to do well. It’s not easy for me, as my editor will tell you. I get it and eventually it all sinks in and because natural. I have found as an educator, that having to learn new things to teach others is the best way for me to learn. Kids grow up so quickly. Soon there are adults and have thier own lives. I absolutely understand that empty nest thing happening. You are another one of those crafty people. I am jealous. I don’t know what my life would have been like with books to occupy my mind.
Ingrid- Aren’t lefties suppose to be more creative or something? That is so odd that all your children are lefties and you and your husband are not. Sadly, I am TV addicted. It’s on right now, but it only gets a small percentage of my attention, it’s usually noise in the backround, unless it’s one of MY shows. Is there a particular genre you enjoy the most? I never minded the cold until the last couple of years, I’ve always been one of those obnoxious people who are always too hot and want the air conditioner on 65 degrees. I still am in the summer, but now in the winter the cold does get to me at times. Where did you go on your plane ride?
Leah (Madame Butterfly) – What a wonderful life to have been able to travel to such amzing places. I have to have caffene in the morning too. Not always coffee….because I like a diet Mountain Dew or diet coke sometimes. I like to drink cold drinks in the morning when I work. On my days off, I can have leisurely cup of coffe and I do. I werar a lot of black. it’s so slimming and at my weight its all about illusion. My sister and I laugh about how the treadmill became a clothes line. Wow your parents were strick t I can see how you went wild and were eager to see the world. Great stories to tell.
Hi Carolyn…Another Samhellion Author. Did you fracture something in your foot? sounds painful. I love crystals. My dad was a pertroluim engineer and he would bring home Geods and crack them open. I thoght that was so amazing, the look like a round rock on the outside and inside is all this crystalized rock in purples and green and grays. My brother has his a degree in geology. and my older brother collects those fossilised ameba…I can’t remember what they are called.
why would anyone want to eat Hagis? wise move on your part if you asked me. Sometimes it just takes years for others to recognize your talent. besides singing with an orchastra is way better than a high school choir solo. You must be very self assured to go to court as your own layer. I’d be sure to stick my foot in my mouth at some point. Part of the SANE training (sexual assautl nures examiner) is going to watch court cases and then a mock trial. They guy had me dizzy with all the questions, but I stood pretty firm, but they sure can try and make you say what they want, but only allowing you yes or no answers and then framing sneaky questions. Thanks for coming by Carolyn. I know so much more about you.
Hi Joyce! Your writing sound so interesting and a degree in history takes some brain power. I alwasy enjoyed history when I was in school and I am addicted to the history channel. It’s pathetic that I sit up to two in the morning to watch shows on the incas or amazon tribes and cultures. My neice words in the rare books section of a college library, it’s all tempature controlled. She is like an expert now on how to take care of ancient books. I think I would be very excited to go to Spain and go to the actual place these documents are kept. It sounds like a great honor for you to have that experience. It was a cherished experience and thank you for sharing it with us.
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — February 21, 2008 @ 3:20 am
Okay.. coming out of lurkdom….
1. I’m co-owner of The Long and the Short of It
2. I lived three years in Brazil and kept being told I was Argentinian.
3. This because I have blonde hair (a lot of Argentinians do…thank the Germans) and spoke Portuguese with a Spanich accent (thank eight years of Spanish lessons)
4. Despite eight years of Spanish lessons, I am not fluent, though I have a killer accent
5. I went to Ireland and Scotland to do research for a book… neither of which is yet completed.
6. Did I tell you I am really good as STARTING books?
7. Along with my writing, reviewing, working on LASR various duties, and editing for a small press… my husband and I also own a tree and stump removal company.
8. Because of #7, my house is normally a mess.
9. We have four wonderful kids… Beth (27), Bekah (23), Aaron (21), and Ashley (20).
10. I’m older than 29
Okay.. back to lurkdom now.
Comment by JudyThomas — February 21, 2008 @ 3:23 am
Diane…Samhellion…I have to ask. How long did it take you to write 11 books for your series. It it takes me a long time to write a book, in between the day job. Is it just pouring out of your or have you been doing it for years and just now decided to send them out? I wish I was a computer geek. I can build a computer from the mother board up, but I the software end drives me nuts. I just had a virus try to kill my computer a couple of weeks ago. I hate that! You sound like me, I am a scottish accent freak. My brother and sister in law were there last year and just sat at a bar chatting up a couple of fellow, both of which were trying to hit on Kate. I wish I’d been there. I don’t dislike animals, but I just never had many. Being single it is hard to find people to watch over them if you travel and I was always traveling it seemed.
Thanks for stopping by.
Judy! Brazil? That seems like such an exotic locale. I know how you feel about finishing books. I have to get to the halfway point on a book before I am sure I’m going to finish it. It does take focus and I discovered I do much better if I set aside the partials and just decide that I am finishing this story before I go back to anthing else. So you must be at least forty. One of the Loretta Lin 13 year old mothers…hehe. I want to go to scotland and ireland now. I feel so deprived. Thanks for delurking to join us here. It’s something we should do on the groups. Readers are wonderful characters.
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — February 21, 2008 @ 3:41 am
I am really going to have to find a blog with a spell check option. You can see that I need it desperately!! Sorry for all the typos. I was typing pretty fast.
Rhianna Samuels
Comment by Administrator — February 21, 2008 @ 4:22 am
This has been fun reading everyone’s answers! Hum, 10 things about me?
1. I am a home health nurse in the Florida Panhandle and love it!
2. I have been a nurse for 28 years (ack!) and married for 27.5.
3. For my 41st birthday I ended up pregnant-can we say celebrated the new millenium a little too much?
4. I collect dragons and my son was born in 2000-the chinese year of the dragon. Guess this was meant to be?
5. I show and train whippets and an Irish wolfhound in obedience, Rally, agilty and lure coursing. Or at least try to.
6. I have been a lure coursing judge for 22 years and have judged in Canada and about 20 states.
7. I am a voracious reader and am more than willing to talk books with ANYONE!
8. I love to travel and eventually want to get to Europe and Australia.
9. I was in the AF for 4years and my hubby retired from the AF after 22 years.
10. I am never bored!
Comment by ElaineMcMichael — February 21, 2008 @ 4:37 am
1. I am a wife of 47 years, mother of 6,including a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, I have
9 grandchildren, and 2 grand-dogs.
2. I am a sister, aunt, and, hopefully, a good friend.
3. I am the eldest of 9 children, seven of us still living.
4. I began reading early in life and I continue to be a voracious reader.
5. I was once a nursing student and a Can Can dancer in the 1955 University of Houston
Frontier Fiesta (Patsy Swayze was our instructor.)
6. My husband named me a “professional volunteer.”
7. I was honored by our school district for 25 years of volunteering in schools. The high
school our children attended has two volunteer awards named for me.
8. I have over 30 years of volunteer time in our church, currently am a lector and church
musician.
9. My husband, our children, and our eldest granddaughter all play musical instruments.
I play the radio.
10. I am an occasional poet and a one-time newspaper columnist.
Pat Cochran
.
Comment by Patricia Cochran — February 21, 2008 @ 4:53 am
Here are 10 things about me:
1. I’m a mother of 8 adult children and 1 four legged child
2. A grandmother of soon to be 15
3. My husband won me in a poker game. I say he cheated, he says I was the one who cut the cards.
4. I review for Fallen Angel Reviews
5. I started my own business two years ago when our youngest moved out
6. I’ve always got a book in my hand
7. I’ve been doing genealogy for 30 yrs and have traced our roots back to 1623
8. I’m a big fan of the CSI’s and the family knows not to call unless it’s an emergency when they are on.
9. When my grandmother died, she came to me to let me know she was alright and happy
10. If I want to get any sleep, I have to go to sleep before my dog does because he snores loud enough to wake the dead.
Comment by Donna — February 21, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Escondita- I’m a leftie too. Actually ambidextrous. I’m always confused.
I love your “wild youth” story. I’ve always had gay, bi and cross dressing friends. I’ve never shared clothes though, how fun! I have enjoyed putting make up on male friends who like that though.
Very funny… your classmates trying to bribe you to fake labor.
David- I’ll have to check out some of your stuff. Looks interesting.
Aislinn- I love languages too. I used to be pretty fluent in Japanese and semi fluent in German, and of course, I had 4-5 years of both French and Spanish in school. When I travel anywhere, I use any words that I can pick up to try and communicate with the locals. Some language teacher told me that learning a language used a part of the brain we don’t normally use and that speaking another language wakes that up. I know I just get so turned on by using another language.
Robin- I love the oldies stations as well, however, now our oldies station plays a lot of 70’s and 80’s. Yuck! I love 50’s-60’s.
I love finding new authors too!
Ruth C- I went back to school when I was 43 for pre-nursing and had a 4.0 as well. I only had one more class before applying to N school, but I got really ill for a while and had to drop out and then life just happened again. What that taught me though was that I wasn’t too stupid to get through school as I had previously thought.
Carolan- I collect crystals and rocks too. I love collecting rocks from places I’ve been and you won’t believe this, but I’ve actually found crystals that people have left in places. I found one in a tree root cranny on Mt. Shasta that someone had left and I replaced it with another. I also like to leave favorite crystals behind so maybe someone else can find it. As a kid, I was always collecting interesting rocks. What’s up with that? LOL
Vanced99- I’m so addicted to coffee too and living in the coffee capital, Seattle, there is no shortage of places to get a good cup o Joe. I love McD’s coffee too! I actually prefer it over a latte many times.
I’m fascinated by Hawks as well. If I could be a shape shifter, I’d be a hawk.
Your book looks really interesting.
Rhianna- if you use Firefox as a browser it automatically underlines a word that is misspelled so you can know it’s not correct. It works on any application on the net that you need to type into. I would be so screwed without that because I suck at spelling.
Comment by MB (Leah) — February 21, 2008 @ 12:07 pm
Hey Leah,
I have foxfire, but I’m so used to word just giving me the correct spelling that I am spoiled. They say you should try to always have perfectly correct grammer as a wriieter if you blog any where, but this is my little peice of the blog world. It’s kind of a messy spot, but it is real. The rest of you feel free to add your comments. Obvious Leah and I are talkers. I know there’s more of you out there.
Rhianna_ heading to work soon.
Comment by Administrator — February 21, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
Elaine – Nurses Rock! I can’t imagine how bad it’s going to get when the nursing shortage really gets bad, they say by 2011 the shortage will double or more. But I have to admit that I am feeling my age and it’s a very hard job to do. I’m a dragon fan too. I wathced that christian bale, mathew mcconehue movie over and over, it’s still olne of my favorties. I have a partial with a dragon character, shifter. Though it’s got a fun twist. I need to get back to it. Whippets are so unusual, they can be testy can’t they? Eventually I want to get a dog, a well trained, affectionate dog and a cat. right now my mother is so anxious that she can’t be around animals. she is so afraid she’ll get knocked over or trip and break a hip. I sympathise with her, because she has been having such difficulties with her back. I personally think boredome is an illness of the young. If there is a good book to read, who could be bored.
Pat…it is so great you joined us. Wow, you have a full life. Volunteering so long for the schools keeps you young I bet. YOu always have your pulse on the changes in our society, because it seems to be evident in the youth of our nations first. There is something comforting about large families. Not to diss small famalies. believe me when I was young I used to wish I was an only child…yes, i could be a brat! News Paper reporter, talk about keeping your finger on the pulse! I always wanted to play a musical instument, but I was always the restless type when I was young, too busy imagining and my nose in a book. It takes patience to learn to be musical or natural talent…I was not gifted with than particular gene.
Donna…where are you playing poker…vegas? He better have cheated, love should never be left to chance. You should always have a card up your sleeve when it comes to love. I think writing review is a real talent. Obviously I want good ones, but expressing in just a few sentences how you feel about a book is like writing a query letter and I stress over query letters. I salute you and all the reviewers that have been gracious enough to share something about themselves here. My older brother is the geneology person in our family. He traveled all over the south tracking down records and extended family when he was doingn it. it tooks about ten years for him. I do believe in sost to some limited extended. There are so many things we will never understand. I stopped sharing hotel rooms with anyone after my last sinus surgery…now I snore loudly and I hate that for other people. Thanks for sharing!
Gotta go now…It’s suppose to turn ugly here again today. Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — February 21, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
So, Rhianna, are you taking care of your mother then? It sounds like it. She’s a lucky mom if that’s the case.
You admit to snoring! Now that’s gutsy. LOL My husband claims that I snore, although I don’t know how he can tell over his freight train imitations. I do though, sometimes, as I’ve woken myself up snoring. I’m a sleep talker. No big surprise there huh? I’ve had people scream at me to shut up while I’ve been sleeping. LOL
You seem to have had a lot of issues with ear/nose stuff, having to have had operations and all that. And it seems those operations didn’t help much.
Comment by MB (Leah) — February 21, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Hi Rhianna! I’m out of my sickbed now and checking emails….
Things about me:
1) I have strep.
2) I stayed in bed for 4.5 days.
3) I have sipped so much ginger ale I’m turning into a drink mixer.
4) I have over 200 unread emails in my inbox.
5) I think I’ll stop now because I’m even tired of my whining!
Jody
Comment by Jody Wallace — February 21, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
I was living in Denver and my head was stopped up and I coughed. pop! blew out my ear drum in my late twenties. then for the next fifteen years I had several tubes put in. eventually I needed surgery on that ear. You know how they tell you 99 out of 100 patients have no problems, well that one percent is still there and I happened to get tagged that time. In my case I lost my hearing in that ear. It could have been something really awful,so I can deal with this. As for the sinus surgery it helped the headaches, I just started snoring louder after…I’m thinking loosing some weight will help with that too…Could you send me some cure for lack of will power?
Comment by rhianna — February 21, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
Hey Jodi,
I’m sorry you’ve been sick, I hope you feel much better now. You don’t have to whine, you can come back later and add five more things and leave out all mentions of illness and just tell us about you. I’m a sprite fan for sick, giger ale is to gingery. I”m allowed to make up words right? You got a great reveiw from Mrs. Giggles this week for you book, congrats!
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — February 21, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
Ten things about me: Hmmmmmmmm, let’s see …..
1) I am a married SAHM with three teenage girls.
I would really love to find my birth father.
2) I am 35 years old.
3) I love watching the 1 – 3 year olds at our church nursery.
4) I love to read. Anything …… almost!
5) I watch two adorable little boys who are 1 and 2.
6) I am having a hard time with my daughters being teens and growing up on me.
7) I wish my husband were a massuese (or however you spell it)
9) I was born in South Africa and moved to America when I was 8.
10. I feel like I need to enjoy everyday more than I currently do.
Comment by Val Pearson — February 21, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
“Will Power?” What are these words of which you speak? I do not understand.
Comment by MB (Leah) — February 21, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
Exactly! Will power…eludes me.
Rhianna
Comment by rhianna — February 21, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
Hi Val!
Learning to live in the moment and enjoy things is hard. It really is. Teenagers really make me feel forgotten. They are so much more into thier friends and socializing than hanging out with adults. We are the last choice. Funny how they seem to honestly think that adults just don’t get what it’s like and how hard it can be for them. I thank God every day that I am not a teenager. It was the most emotional time on my life.
One and two year olds are so cute, but also they are busy. I’m glad you enjoy the running around.
Searching for your birth father…I have a niece who is adopted and I wonder sometimes if she will try to contact her biological family. At this point, she has been pretty sanguine about the prospect. You came a long way from your birth place. would it be difficult to find your birth father? I suspect it would. Don’t give up on what you want, throw it out there in the universe. I am big on letting the universe hear what you need or want from it, sometimes someone you don’t expect is listning.
Thank you for telling me about yourself…Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — February 21, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
Rhianna, I’m actually a southern Indiana girl. I’m just across the river from Louisville, Ky. It was so easy in college for me to say Louisville instead of trying to explain where Jeffersonville was (where I went to high school)that is until I met one guy and he was actually from Louisville and then I had to explain that I was actually from Jeffersonville.
My daughter seems to think that 28 equals 40. Such a silly girl.
I bought my ebook from eBookwise. There is a picture of it on the main page of their site (if you search ebookwise, it should be the first one that comes up), click on the picture and you can get info on the reader. I really like mine. I need to learn how to convert pdf to html because it can’t “read” pdf. I really like that when I shut it off and then turn it back on it’s right where I left off in the book.
What part of southern Indiana? and I see there is another person close to me too! Diane McEntire–got to go check out her site.
Comment by Laura J. — February 21, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
Oops forgot one thing. Clogging has it’s origins in Irish dance. But clogging as we know it today comes from hills of North Carolina (around the Fontana area, I believe). One of our dancers dads who occasionally announces for us used to give out more information at our exhibitions but I can’t remember all the trivia he had. He really did some research on it.
Are you getting all the ice like we are? It’s a mess out there.
Comment by Laura J. — February 21, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
Laura,
I live across the Ohio from Henderson Ky. The Tristate area of Southern Indiana. Yes, please do check out Dianes website, she is another Samhellion. Your daughter is using the New Math I suspect. It is supposed to be more accurate. *wink* I will look at the ebook readers, I’ve been thinking it should be my next electronic purchase.
Rhianna
Comment by rhianna — February 21, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
Lots of ice today! who needs an ice rink when we have this weather. Clogging sounds like a blast. I keep wondering if dancing isn’t the way for me to loose weight. One of the dance studios that teach the dances from the stars. That would be a blast. That sounds like so much fun!
Comment by rhianna — February 21, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
My daughter and I went to New Orleans on our trip. It was her first time on a plane. As for reading, I like all kinds all though romance is my favorite.
Comment by ingrid — February 22, 2008 @ 12:00 am
Hi Rhianna,
As for the gambling…lol no we weren’t gambling. It was just us in our kitchen, deciding who pays what bill (we did this by who lost the hand paid the bill on top down to the last one in the pile)I had gotten so tired of everyone telling us we should get married (including him) that I told him “ok, if you win this hand we’ll get married, if I win this hand, I never hear the word marriage again”.. well as I said he won me in a poker game..lol we’ve been happy ever since.
Now the grandkids love telling their friends how Grammy and Papa got married.
The genealogy came about when my grandmother wanted her great grandkids to know where they came from. She asked me to start writing down the stories of her younger years and how her family came to OK in the land rush and she hooked me.
I hope you are nice and warm in front of a fire reading/writing a juicy book.
Donna
Comment by Donna — February 22, 2008 @ 6:55 pm
Ingid, I kind of hope your trip to New Orleans was pre Katrina. The differences pre and post are pretty dramatic, even down to the feel of it. That sounds like a great first plane trip though. It’s a smaller airport there, which always surprises me. Planes are not bad, except during flu season, stay away then, it’s recycled air and I doubt they have heppa filters…that’s the ER nurse talking.
Donna…That is a great family story! He should tell everyone that he did cheat though. It sounds like he was determined enough to bind you to him. I’m glad that you are still so happy together. Sadly, that seems to be more rare than the latest generation.
I am working on several things. The sequel I hoped for did not pass muster. Though I love the story. I have set it aside for the time being. I tried a different style with the sequel, going from first person in the first book to third person, multiple POVs. For those that want a sequel to Shaking Off the Dust, I may consider excerpting some parts of it. Or putting it up as a beta read for those interested. I’m not sure yet.
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — February 22, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
Okay, now that I’ve had a chance to read everyone else’s lists ~ and wow! what a fascinating group of people ~ I figured it’s about time that I stop lurking and start posting. *grin*
1. I’ve been married to the love of my life for 24+ years; we met at a church youth-group organized dance and became good friends FAST. It took me awhile longer to realize that I like-liked Joe ~ sometimes I can be a might slow.
2. I’m the oldest of 6 kids ~ 3 girls and 3 boys. By the time I was 3 years & 2½ months old, my mom and 3 other kids… all single births.
3. I have four children ~ a son, almost 24 and three daughters, 22, 20½ and 15½; I had 5 miscarriages between the last two, so when our youngest was born she was called our miracle baby… she still is.
4. My father was in the RCAF for a few years and my siblings and I were all born in different towns ~ but all in Northern Quebec and Northern Ontario.
5. We lived in Germany ~ at that time WEST Germany ~ and Belgium for almost three years. My youngest sister was born in Germany and was 3 months premature… never got to see our little sister until she was 3 months old… then we couldn’t get enough of her. I was just a little over 5.
6. I went to France twice in high school through French classes. The first year I was in grade 11 and the only one on the trip from our school not in grade 12 … did I mention I was horribly shy? The first trip was a week in Paris… oh la la! The second year we were away for two weeks and we spent one week all living with different families in Brittany. What an experience!
7. I’m plagued with allergies and have been since I was a child. Allergies include just about every allergen known and while most are just uncomfortable ~ and unlike two of my brothers and my mother I never outgrew them ~ I am severly allergic to peanuts and walnuts… life threateningly so… and I’ve subsequently had two ambulance trips to the emergency… after the firefighters got there first ~ I LOVE a man in uniform!
8. I LOVE to read and have done so since I was five. The most books ever read in one day? Six-and-a-half; but they were all Agatha Christie mysteries, I was about 15 and I really didn’t do ANYTHING else! Last year, I read 476 books; that doesn’t include the re-reads, which I do on a fairly regular basis. This year, so far, I’m up to 57 and am on my 58th.
9. I’m a collector, much to my dh’s dismay. I have a few boxes & containers on the basement shelves containing most of my rock collection ~ the rest is scattered throughout the house; I have an extensive collection of the real Pendelfin rabbits that my grandmother started me on for my 13th birthday… that was a few years ago; I have around 1700 to 2000 keeper books and I’m *always* adding new books to the total; I have oodles of records ~ 33 and 45 ~ and now CD’s; I’m almost as bad with movies; I’m an anime trading card fan… sometimes I feel that’s a silly hobby for a *mumble mumble* year old mother, but there you have it.
10. I’ve been babysitting from my home for almost 17 years now. I started when my son was in grade 1 and my oldest daughter in kindergarten. Presently I have three children four days a week: a brother and sister pair (2½ and 1) and an only boy, also 2½; then I have an older sister-brother pair after school a couple of days a week, 10 and 6. It’s been a few years since my own kids were that little!
And wow, whaddya know? I actually came up with 10 different points… amazing!
This is a lot of fun Rhianna ~ thank you!
Comment by KathyK — February 22, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
Well Kathy, I wondered if you were going to come out to play wiht us. It is a lot of fun. I am learning so many interesting things about people. There are a lot of milityary family people here. Such a diverse group. And so many different perspectives on life. It is great that you, like several others are so children oriented. They are our immortality. I have also noticed a fair amount of larger families from this group.
You do read a lot! Make sure you get your name into as many contests as possible, becuase you need a discount on your book buying. lol lol.
I wish I had the time to read that much, though before I tried my hand at writing I was buying five and six books a week and reading them so I suspect I was close to your number of reads when all was said and done.
Gaming card collections are pretty interesting. my nephew are all hard core Magic game players. I collected the Lord of the Ring gaming cards, but I was not a fanatic about it, I have several decks and many packs. And Of cours the pokeman days. My neice had a full colleciton of those, even the japanese ones. I have no idea if she still has them, but we bought her everything pokeman.
Thanks for sharing. I do like this…Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — February 22, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
Well, crap, Rhianna.
I was really looking forward to your sequel. Usually, first person is not that liked, so I’m surprised about your sequel.
So, is it going to be a while then until your next book? I just don’t understand, your book was so much better than much of what I get in ebooks. Now I have to go and eat some chocolate and wallow. Dang.
KathyK- nice to meet you finally. What an interesting life you’ve had/have.
Comment by MB (Leah) — February 23, 2008 @ 1:49 am