Probably More Than You Want To Know

Yesterday Beth made a list of 100 things about herself on her fitness blog.  Today she decided we should make a list of random things about ourselves, but only 10, since this is the Top 10 List, after all.  All I can say is.....THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.  I would be here for the next six months trying to think up 100 semi-interesting facts about myself.  You can sign up on Beth's blog if you want to join in.

10 Facts About Me....Okay, here we go:

1.  I am a Christian.  Jesus is my Savior.  I believe He is the ONLY way to an eternity in heaven.  I do NOT believe the Bible is open for interpretation.  It is the Word of God and it stands alone.  I believe God exists in three persons...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

2.  I am political.  As an American with the privilege and freedom to vote, I believe it is my duty to be informed and exercise that right in a responsible way.  I am registered Republican, but my thinking these days runs more toward Libertarianism.  I am no fan of President Obama, but I will give him the respect he is due as the elected leader of the United States.  That does not mean I have to agree with his policies.

3.  I am patriotic.  The United States is still a great country.  I still believe in the ideals of our Founding Fathers.  I show respect to the flag by saying the Pledge of Allegiance with my hand over my heart and by standing during the singing of the national anthem or when the flag passes in a parade.  The flag flies at my house.  I applaude ALL of our veterans and their families for the jobs they have done and continue to do and the sacrifices they have made.  I am proud to be American!

4.  I am all about my family.  Tim and I will celebrate 27 years this November.  We have a (soon to be) 25 year old son and a 19 year old daughter.  Our granddaughter is 2.  I'm an only child from a small family with few aunts and uncles or cousins.  Tim is from a family of 7 kids, who produced 10 children (not counting steps), and now those children are starting their families.  So, we have holidays both ways.  Small and quiet with my family and large and loud with Tim's.

5.  I live in southwestern Pennsylvania in the Laurel Highlands, not that far from Pittsburgh.  My town is the birthplace of Arnold Palmer, Fred Rogers, banana splits, and while we lost out to Pittsburgh on having the first professionally paid football player, the first all-pro football game was played here.  The Pittsburgh Steelers hold their summer training camp here.  Yes, we (and I include me in that we) take our football seriously.  We could have had the Pro-Football Hall of Fame here, but for some reason the town council at the time voted against it.

6.  If I could pick anywhere to live, it would be near the ocean.   I love the Eastern shore.  I love the beach so much I have a beachy kind of tattoo (with a little fishy, a starfish and shells and seaweed) on my ankle so I can have a bit of my happy place with me all the time.

7.  I am a reader and collector of books.  I read all the time.  I will read anything that's handy.  I have books everywhere.  I have a Nook.  I buy new books.  I buy books at used book sales.  I buy books at garage and yard sales.  I will buy boxes of old books at auctions.  And yes, I do read the old, moldy, falling apart books I buy.  I like to collect First Editions, complete works of authors I like, and my favorites to collect are old books with inscriptions from the giver.  Some are amazing.  I have a few books that are autographed by the author...the prize there is one by Dale Evans.  You know...Roy Rogers and Dale Evans?

8.  I love to laugh and will pick comedy over pretty much any other type of movie.  My sense of humor tends to be sarcastic, dry, and a little bit smart butt (okay....a LOT smart butt).

9.  My music of choice is country, though I will, and do, listen to just about anything.  The only types of music I'd say I really can't find anything to appreciate about them, are gangster rap and death metal.  My favorite singer, performer, and my not-so-secret celebrity crush is Toby Keith.  (That's important.  You need to know that.  Make a note.  It will save you much time on memes.)

10.  I will always be a student.  I love to learn and there is so much I don't know.  I'll be starting a class through seminary soon and I'm excited (okay, and a little nervous) about that, but I'm always sitting in a class at church or at the community college or wherever.  I intend to do that for the rest of my life.

That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and I could probably come up with a few more, but I'll spare you.  If there's anything else you want to know, just ask me.