Tell All

I've been tagged by the remarkable tangobaby (thank you) and I have to follow this procedure (for real?):

1. Link to the person who tagged you. tangobaby "check, check"

2. Post the rules on your blog. "in process"..."check"

3. Write six random things about yourself. "just a moment"..."check"

4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them. "check"

5. Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog. "in process"

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up. "in process"

Random Things About Myself

(Note: I already scare people with my over-the-top self-disclosures and Dears, I've already told too much about myself in this blog...but I'm in...I'm all in...so here it goes...)

1. As a teenager, I competed with over one hundred girls to have the privilege of escorting Santa in the Southland mall. My job as a Christmas Pixie during the holiday season entailed wearing a little green skirt trimmed with faux white fur. Santa was too happy about the winners; he smelled faintly of alcohol and cigarettes and clutched my arm too tightly during our daily walk to the sleigh.

2. I have a tendency to get addicted to things...for example, when I was an older teenager, I got addicted to romance genre novels. I felt appalled with my behavior but they were around and I kept reading them. In order to ween myself off of them, I gave myself permission to read romance novels that were historical, or taught me about the environment, or considered classic in the Gothic sense. Finally, I lost the desire to read trash romance books. I was nineteen.

3. When I was twelve (and deciding to no longer eat meat), I met a vegetarian with long thin brown hair. He was gaunt, determined and an over the top fanatic. Nevertheless, I discussed his reasons for eating only raw uncooked fruits, nuts and vegetables. I remember that he said he would never eat white crackers because they were dead food. I asked him about bread, "No, it's cooked and usually made with white flour." He seemed impatient with my questions. I realized that some people are so committed that they need to be.

4. When I was fifteen, I was a drum major and co-student leader of the high school band. One night, when the bleachers were full because it was the homecoming football game, I had the most embarrassing moment of my life. During the opening number, it began to lightly rain as we marched across the field. I furiously twirled my baton and kicked my proud exposed leg high into the air and promptly fell on my a-rump! In pain, I gathered my composure and marched on with the uproariously loud and humiliating laughter coming at me from the stands. Upon arrival to our place of performance, the co-leader, M, continued to laugh to my great humiliation and discomfort. I angrily insisted that he stop, took up the baton, and with as much dignity as I could muster, led the band in, "The Washington Post March."

5. I have studied non-stop for my entire life. I think I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to go to college and it has pushed me to continually need academic validation. I have many degrees, credentials, certificates, and yes, I'm still in school.

6. I hate to wear shoes and socks. And I hate to have dirty feet! (see above!)

This bonus confession is for tangobaby. The only time I ever picked up a hitchhiker was when I was seventeen years old and driving across the United States with my sister. Why did I stop? He was holding a chubby puppy in one hand, he pleadingly got down on one knee, took off his cowboy hat in a sweeping gentlemanly manner. (Please refer to the romance novel addiction problem to understand my behavior.) My sister and I both laughed. We let him ride the truck because after all, we too were traveling with a dog for protection.

Here are my six-ish tags:

Lala/My Castle In Spain

High Desert Diva

Vicki/French Essence

Sarah Laurence

Nature Remains

Pink Cowboy

Passion4Blue

Boy that was a lot of work! I think I approached it as a school assignment. Now, it's your turn...