Wednesday, September 14, 2011

My Confessions

It has been said by those wiser than I that confession is good for the soul. I'm taking a blogging challenge to give you five confessions about myself.

1. I am a leadfoot, pure and incorrigible. If the speed limit sign says 70, my mind automatically ups it to 75, which allows me to then travel at least 5 miles an hour over that, which means about 80. A note: I have had only two tickets in my life, both for speeding, and the last one was when I was 19. I thank God every day I've never been involved in any accident, either. I may drive fast, but I know when to slow down and how to be smart about it. I am known as a very good driver in my circle.

2. I am unnaturally afraid of mice. I can face down the biggest bull when we work cattle, but I am scared witless of mice. I teach in a very old building underneath which mice abound at certain times of the year. One day while my students were testing, a mouse was bold enough to RUN ACROSS MY FINGERS while I typed on my keyboard. The ensuing scene is one my former students still remember 10 years later and may or may not have included me throwing my keyboard into the air, jumping on my desk and then running down the hall. I choose to block out that day.

3. I sometimes put our Christmas trees up in October. I think the Christmas season is fabulous, and I love all that is associated with it. I put up multiple trees and my family has learned to love them, too.

4. Call me Annie Oakley. I actually don't like guns. I come from a family where hunting was a part of life, and my husband was fully engaged in hunting for many years. I don't shoot anything but skeet or a target, and then only when they cajole me into it. However, for some reason, my accuracy with pistol and rifle is always to such a high degree that it causes amazement and wonder in those who've never seen me shoot.

5. I haven't been to a dentist in over 16 years. And, in the last 30+ years, I've only been one other time. I just don't like dentists and work hard to take the best care of my teeth I can. You can see from the picture below I still have them all.


So, my blogging friends, if you'd like to take the confessional challenge, here's what it is. Dedicate a blog posting to confessing five little known things about you to your blogging audience. It's a great way to get to know more about your blogosphere friends.

24 comments:

  1. Confessions by definition are supposed to reveal "bad things", no?? I highly endorse every item on your list!! :) It's fun to get to know you better--you're obviously a person worth knowing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Felt Family: You are always so very kind! Thank you! And, well, the dentist thing and the speeding thing are probably bad- old habits die hard, though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are wonderful and very personal confessions, Shelly. Good for you! A motorist who drives fast but safe is better than one who drives slowly and foolishly. Most accidents in Florida are caused by elderly drivers who go so slowly that they create a highway hazard. Others drive off a pier into the water or plow through a store front because they step on the gas instead of the brake. I hope you're not going to un-friend this old Dell rat because you have a fear of mice. I promise not to bite! I used to hate seeing Christmas decorations going up so soon but if it gets people to mellow out and creates a spirit of tolerance and generosity then why not? Maybe we should start the Christmas season right after Easter or just leave the tree up year 'round to remind us to love instead of hate. I am much like you in that I don't like guns especially when they are used to kill. However, I was also a very good marksman shooting targets. I also won a fly casting competition at Penn State in which you had to land your weighted line on a target on the floor. I just really had a knack for it. You are a beautiful woman and have pearly white teeth that anyone would envy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Shady: Oh, you are so nice! And, with the influx we area already having of the Winter Texans, also known by some as the Q-tips (white hair and white shoes), I know exactly what you mean about slow drivers causing just as many problems as the fast ones.

    Mice will never be my friends, but only the 4 legged ones. :)

    That is really amazing about the weighted line- I don't even know how you could develop that- it must take some raw talent.

    And, I won't start wishing you a Merry Christmas until we are into December!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't imagine anyone reacting any differently to the mouse incident!!! Ahhhhhh!!! Mice are dirty, disgusting little animals and they are so sneaky and quick, why wouldn't someone be afraid?

    I hope you got some De-Con after that!!

    I've only been to the dentist maybe 4 times my whole life and one of those times was to remove my wisdom teeth. I have no cavities, as of last summer and they told me I didn't have to come back for at least a couple years.

    We are two of the lucky ones, because my husband's mouth is full of silver!! I hope my kiddos get my teeth, so far so good. They've been twice in their lives.

    Very fun post--so fun to get to know you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, yeah, beautiful photo of you two!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jamie: I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Because of federal regulations, we can only use glue traps in school and they only end up getting attached to the kids. The mice are too smart for that. Ugh!!!

    And, you are sweet- thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well done you Shelly on telling us about your confessions. Your teeth look amazing, so you certainly don't need to go to the Dentist. I'm like you, in that I like to drive fast. I agree with Odie, that it's the people that drive slow on the roads that cause accidents, because people just get so frustrated with them. We don't really use guns over here in England! Gosh, October is very early to put up your Christmas Trees. I usually wait until early December, but I still get very excited about Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thisisme: Especially as I get older and the violence around us increases, I dislike the guns more and more because not everyone is responsible or honorable with them. But, since I am in rootin' tootin' Texas, it will probably take a few more generations for that culture to change here.

    I get the trees up early because we have a lot of visitors coming through and even a Holiday Tour of Homes that I like to get ready for. I really enjoy them up early now.

    And, I wish there was a special lane just for folks who like to creep along on the highway, and they could not venture out of it unless they were going the speed limit. It's nice to dream...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your teeth are just beautiful! it makes me feel better because as of the last 3 years I have not been able to afford dental care for me or my kids. It's so stinkin' expensive! You give me hope!! :)

    This was a fun post. I may do this challenge later this week. Not a bad idea!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Crystal: Thank you! I think good care goes a long way towards prevention. I hope you do the challenge! It would be so much fun to read what you put-

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a cute challenge to do; might have to do it some time. I loved your mouse story; although I am sure it was not funny at the time, but it sure got me laughing now :)

    I too have a great fear of mice, if that happened to me, I would be looking for another job, LOL :)

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  13. Betty: I will NEVER like mice, no matter what the situation! I would love it if you did the challenge- it would be so interesting to read!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I can just see you speeding down the highway trying to get away from a mouse. A Xmas tree is in the back of the car as you shoot out the window at the mouse. You are using your beautiful teeth to steer the car! Yep, I can see it all now.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love your teeth. I don't want to see mice in my house, but I"m not particularly afraid of them. I'm afraid of grasshoppers. And crickets.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Belle: That is HILARIOUS! I should get a t-shirt made with that picture on it just to remind me. You are so witty-

    Karen: Ok- if you have grasshoppers and crickets, call me and I'll take care of them for you. If I see another *shudder* mouse, I'll call you, if I can slow down running long enough...

    ReplyDelete
  17. can i just tell you how much i love you? i love reading your blog and your posts are just so fun! keep it up - and great confessions!

    ~ jannet

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jannet: Oh, you made my day!!! Thank you so much! I loved your confessions- the hide and seek one was too, too funny!

    ReplyDelete
  19. That's so funny about the dentist! Your teeth do look great. Dentists, schmentists. By the way, if you are really afraid of mice, DO NOT Google the mice plague in Australia. Don't do it! (Do it! Do it! It was insane!)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Kelley: OH NO!!!! I can't believe it!!!!! Of course, I did it, I think I'm going to be nauseous!!!! I am so thankful I am in Texas now and not in Australia, where I've always wanted to visit!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love your confessions, Shelly! I am especially impressed about your not having been to the dentist in 16 years and having all your teeth. That's awesome! And I loved your description of your fear of mice and that epic day in the classroom! (I won't horrify you with stories about our rat encounters while cleaning out my parents' home. I still shudder when I think of that.) Thanks for the day brightener!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dr Kathy: Thank you! I will never, ever, never, no matter what, have a good opinion of mice and rats. I think there are many of us with that opinion!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am sneeking low fat cheese in our meals thesed days. No can tell the difference.
    -Munir

    ReplyDelete
  24. Munir: And it's a lot healthier, too!

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you! I also love to comment back.