Me at 56...I can be a bit unusual...not your ordinary kind of girl

 I do not care for old furniture especially claw foot items or chairs with wood legs like pegs. I like modern woods and square edges. And no furniture placed crooked in a room. My world is square.

I laugh hard at shows where bloopers are shown. I ugly cry when I watch shows with families reunited. Shhh..don't tell anyone I got something on my contact. 

I do not like Ketchup....at all. And no BBQ sauce for me either. I will sometimes do a little on hashbrowns or eggs. Rarely. 

I dream in vivid color and usually have haunting dreams. It's best if I wake in the night after dreams to just stay awake. Of course then comes the worry of every possible thing I can imagine. 

I do not enjoy musicals...do not break out in song and dance while I am in the middle of a drama. I will walk out of the theater or turn the channel....just no. Total drama girl here. 

I will not eat Miracle Whip. It is salad dressing and just plain yuck. IT IS NOT MAYO!!!! Nuff said. 

I do not like to wear a dress. My reason for hating church as a child...in the Southern Baptist Chuches God Required you wear a dress. Nope. So I grew up miserable on Sundays and chose a Christian church when grown where the rules and rituals mean I can wear jeans or shorts or even teva sandles. I am there to worship not be judged for not wearing a dress. Does God really care what you wear? And honestly I have enjoyed staying home and watching church online during the pandemic...no real plans to return any time soon at this point. 

I never smoked. I tried it a few times but Asthma wins. I confess I have never tried drugs of any kind. Oh I have had a margarita or two but not often and years pass between them. A drink for me just means an early bedtime. 

I am not a big hugger. Mostly because of social anxiety. I don't mind them but don't offer them much. Socially awkward since birth. It's the truth. When I turned 4 mom had me a birthday party. When everyone sang I cried and crawled under the table. Each year when she asked if I wanted a party the answer was no. Never had one growing up again. Introversion is innate...not just something you get over. The socialites out there can never wrap their head around it. 

I sleep with no socks and one foot outside the covers. And I still give a running jump to go to bed...the thing under the bed might get me. 

I don't mind scary movies but prefer not to watch. The nightmare thing. 

I prefer historical books with strong female heroines and real men. Yes I said it...I love Alpha men because my personality it a bit much for most men. Not sure how Chuck Turner does it. 

I do not care for plants mostly due to fear of spiders and bugs. And it's all I can do to keep children and pets alive...so no plants in the house...besides the cat would try to eat them.

I love to camp. I prefer a camper to tent but have done both. I enjoy cooking outside and sleeping with the sound of the creek. Yep seen bears too. I also bait my own hook and take my fish off myself. Been doing that since age 3. Ain't skeered. 

I get motion sick easily....Harry Potter Ride...couldn't even stand up after that one. Red cross blood drive on a bus about did me in...the vehicle rocked and again I had to lay in the grass outside the bus...or puke. Car sick. Sea sick. Air sick. It's all the same. Don't Rock the boat baby and no long drives please.

I sometimes feel sorry for my daughters cause they got a tomboy, tell it like it is mother who is older than the moms of their peers. Strangely I just never had anything in common with younger women always into their hair and nails and polished world of girl stuff. And rules they set for their 2.5 children like no TV or social media. Get a grip. My girls grades are good. They are well balanced and they watch TV and do social media as they wish. I censor little but we talk a lot about the dangers. Aren't there enough rules out there?

I can still smack a softball. Played a lot of years and every time I have a chance to go into a batting cage I am there, yeah at 55. My all time favorite movie: A league of their own. Brings back memories. 

I have social anxiety. I stress over having to speak in crowds. Run a meeting at work...stressful.  Meet new people...anxiety. And my cup is emptied fast over a crowd. Too much energy leaves me. I guess I am an Alpha girl...never really need anybody but me though I protect the pack. 

I am filled by piddling around my home and getting things done or doing crafts. Writing included. My cup runneth over. Though I am a horrible house cleaner because it just isn't priority to me. Clean enough works. I have other fun thing that are calling me.

I do not like to drink water....I make myself drink it but I prefer diet teas....not unsweetened tea...ick. Southern thing. 

I fear flying. I do it anyway when I have to. Thats when I pray....a lot. 

I love animals. The end. You do not leave them or rehome them due to life happenings. If you have a pet you should take care of it for life. Pets are family and my life is better with them. If you can't love a pet I doubt your ability to love humans. 

My favorite dessert....Flan. 

I have read the Bible through. And I am doing it again. I love Jesus. Again I do not love organized religion. My reason for getting married outside and one day the reason I only want a graveside service for myself. I don't prefer church. I prefer Jesus. Chuch is just another awkward social anxiety thing for me that zaps my level of energy and people fatigue.

I don't care to dance. Not really. I want nothing that means I am the center of attention...anywhere. It's the dress thing again. 

I was country when county wasn't cool and I never much liked the hat acts. It was Alabama's unique sound that got me. Of course I do like the Garth and Toby hat acts. 

I do not care for conferences even though I go to many for writing and work...the minute they want us to hold hands and get to know our neighbor I am out the door. Nope. And about dressing in costume at writing conferences like mascarade parties.... Pass. I do not play pretend well unless writing. Not wearing the dress. I might toss on my cowboy hat. 

I like potted meat and Vienna sausages. There I said it! But in the south we call them VI-eners. 

I only ever slept good under my Dad's roof. Now nights are me sleeping light and waking often. 

I love the spring sun....but not the summer mosquitos and bugs. 

I have walked out of the lives of those who do more harm than good to me and mine. And a few have walked out of my world. Probably best. 

I love a candle flame. But I don't do well with fire or campfire smoke. (Asthma)

I took a certified sailing course once. Just because. 

I only like to cook on weekends when I have time. Week night suppers just fatigue me more. 

Pass the sunscreen...I burn easy and I'd pass on wearing a swimsuit if I had the choice. Actually I wear shorts anyway. 

I imagine my stories in my head when I drive. I can get to my destination and not remember most of the drive. 

I do not care for grapes or cherry tomatoes. I peel my summertime tomatoes...I do not like peels or husks of veggies in my food or soups. 

I love coffee. I love milk. Creamers. Dairy junk...yep. 

I am annoyed at the removal of historical monuments and history. What's that saying if we erase history we are destined to repeat it?

I cannot wear flip flops. Nothing between my toes but love teva sandles. 

I am most lonely in a crowd. I would rather stay home and play alone.

I am sad my girls have grown up so fast. But its nice to see them excel in life. 

I do not care for Pro Football at all...never cared before the take a knee thing either. I hate basketball but like to go watch the Braves Play. And Roll Tide with college football. I do not care for golf or racing either. 

Why were magazine two bucks and now they cost $20....and your first born child? I love to grab a magazine but no longer do... expensive. 

I have never cared for courtroom TV or cops shows. Well except for Longmire, but he's a cowboy. 

I love the days I can now work from home. Only good thing about covid is it opened that door. In 33 years I was never allowed to work from home. So.....I like it!

I do not like to call places to fix things. Banking. Medical. Technical. Social anxiety and lack of patience. And speak English or I will ask for someone who does. 

I once made eye contact with one of the orca whales at Sea World. I once looked right into the eye of a wild humpback whale. I once swam with a dolphin. These amazing cetaceans are smart and knowing. I saw that with the eye contact of captive and wild. 

I love Banana juice. But...too much sugar. 

I rarely nap...if I do I might as well go on to bed because I am nonfunctional the rest of the day. 

I love a heavy rain minus thunder and lightening. 

I sleep on my side or flat on my face. It's I herited from my MA.

I do not like all the old Bible hymns...oh I know them but I prefer contemporary Christian music like Third Day can crank out. 

I know a lot about snakes so neighbors call me to tell them what kind. True story several times. I stayed in the snake house at ZooAtlanta to work some...I enjoy seeing snakes in a safe enclosure. That is how I learned. 

And by the way...never tell me how to drive. I will pull over and hand you the keys or scowl very nasty.

I am emotional. I cry when my girls do things or reach milestones...such a sap down deep. 

I do not wear red much. Mom said I didn't like red as a child. I do love crimson or burgundy. 

I am vanilla on all things. I like chocolate but prefer white chocolate. I like chocolate ice cream but if given a choice will always choose vanilla. I like chocolate cake but I put it in a bowl and add milk....the vanilla part. The Easter Bunny always brought me a white chocolate bunny. Strawberry runs a close second. 

I do not watch Jim Carey or Tom Cruise Movies. The end. Not a fan of either. 

I love to paint inside my house. But it's slow going. My mom taught me to color within the lines. 

I can play poker. My dad taught me. 

I usually hold things in until I have had enough then anything and everything clear back to 1966 will come from my mouth. Forgiveness is earned not given freely to those who have done me wrong. There aren't many second chances. 

I worry about a lot of things I cannot control. I am woman, hear me roar. 

I do not care for know it all big mouths. I am a skeptic. 

And I loved the years me and my family went to Myrtle Beach and hunted Sharks teeth. I have a jar full. I miss hunting those.

I keep a timeline of happenings in my life. Try it sometime. 

I hate self check out and opt out every time. The end. 

I love home made pizza. I love Mexican food. I love Thai food. I love ricearoni. I adore basil rolls.

And goal at 55. I am cleaning each room and tossing things. Tired of clutter. Less junk=Less cleaning. And as I have aged I care little what others think. Frankly, my dear.....and so on. So weird at 56

...probably...but I am true to me. 2022

Tomboy then and now...

 Me....still...and ongoing....and forever...

I cried every Sunday morning because God required I wear a dress to church. I never liked church until I grew up and chose a church where I could wear a t-shirt, jeans and Tevas if I wanted to. 
Oh I loved Jesus and still do...but I don't think he required a dress to learn his word. Sometimes I have been known to dress less fancy for the shock factor anyway...

Case in point...we took a cruise and you had to dress up to eat in the diningroom. It wasn't the Titantic by any means so....NOPE! Jeans with a sweatshirt and tennis shoes for me...I paid what the others sitting nearby paid...I'll have the filet mignon, thanks. If a restaurant needs dress up....for me it's a pass. 

I didn't go to my senior prom not because I didn't have a date but because....yeah the dress thing again and being formal and heels hurt my feet and I'd rather have Taco Bell than brussel spouts. I stayed home and read a book...much happier that way. 

Yep, I wore a wedding dress but I had a ballcap to match once the pictures were done. And I had a Yoo Hoo...not wine...and I was barefoot. Married on the beach. And my vows were love, honor, cherish....not obey. Didn't prefer that choice of words...but I love him still.

I sort of feel sorry for my daughters...I am not the princess type and they probably needed a better girlie girl type role model. Hair, make-up and dress up with heels....uh...pass! I'm the mama who pushed them to do things for themselves, not remain a helpless female and even now talk to them about not having to rely on a man for their future. Sure fall in love and find your partner, not one you have to take care of or one who has no idea how to hold down a job to provide. Go provide for yourself...don't set yourself up to rely on anyone. 

My Dad taught me to ride a motorcycle and drive a stick shift and change a tire. My Mom taught me to play softball, cook and paint...yes paint walls inside the house and outside if needed...a farm girl in her own rights. 

I am not too keen on bugs and certainly not spiders but I love to camp and I have fished more hours than could be counted. My Grandmother wouldn't fish on Sundays but I have no hard rules about that. 

I also played drums...not flute...why be normal? Drums were more fun...actually Xylophone was my favorite. 

I loved my Papa and Granny's farm...endless hours to explore. Horses, cows, wild kittens, fields, ponds, and I even slept on a cot on the screen front porch at times in the summer. I loved to nap there in the afternoon when it rained. 

Never was in the competition of being the prettiest with the best make up and hairstyle and clothing...ick? Who cared back then growing up or now at my age...never needed to be a princess or Barbie...for that matter I never owned a Barbie but I had a passel of G.I. Joe's. They had better stuff...trucks and guns. Not swim suits and heels. 

But Tomboy didn't mean I didn't like boys, in fact I had more friends that were boys than I ever had girlfriends. Girls were whiney drama and so God has seen fit for me to raise two of them. Stop the whiney drama and get to it. Boys were just straight forward with no drama and no PMS about who has better hair or what shade of lipstick. How boring. 

I spent hours in a tree house, thought dogs were better humans than most and still do. I played cowboys and Indians....no I didn't pretend to be Becky Boone...I was Daniel with a shotgun to boots. Ha! I was a great shot too when I had weapons that had bullets real and pretend.

I wouldn't wear red or "curly clothes" as a little girl. Still don't wear red today but maybe a few curls if I have to dress for work or some important event that I have no choice about.

I went to a slumber parties a time or two as a girl and teen...so much silly girl drama. I usually opted out of most. Stayed home to do my own thing and I am sure it was more fun since I am also a total introvert. My cup is fuller when alone and depleted in a crowd. 

I did have baby dolls and stuffed animals only because I held a weekly veterinarian clinic or had hospitals to run. Not time for Barbie dress up and all those itty bitty heals.

And foe today. I own a couple of dresses mostly for weddings, funerals or the random writing events I attend. Work? Nope. If work required daily dress up in the form of a dress or skirt I would search for a new job...I kid you NOT. 

And I am famous for...should I have to wear a dress...my biker shorts ride beneath it. Opps...Oops...TMI. Seriously, as a teen and twenty something I had shorts and t-shirts under my dress and as soon as I escaped church I pulled off that dress and heels right there in front of everyone and God and drove off in comfort. 

But all in all I suppose I am still without a doubt a Tomboy at heart. It's more comfortable there. I am just not fragile like a flower petal, I am fragile like a bomb.