Friday, December 16, 2011

Five Things You Didn't Know About Me

These are shocking, I know. But the truth has to come out some time.

1. I once performed with a belly-dancing troupe. The keyword there is once. I was embarrassed and chickened out after one performance and quit. However, the training does make one very fit and graceful (which I actually was about thirty years ago). Learn some basic moves by watching Arabic Belly Dance for Beginners on You Tube.

2. I studied piano for nine years. I still can't play worth a darn. I do have a keyboard, and I do plan to start playing again...soon.

3. One of my hobbies is crochet. I've crocheted nine afghans from the identical pattern using different color combinations each time. Also four shawls using the same pattern but different colors. Also baby blankets I give as gifts or donate to Project Linus. Contrary to popular opinion, crocheting while I watch television does not inhibit snacking.

4. When I was a clumsy short kid (who wanted to be a ballerina), I took tap dancing lessons. For one year. That's all the dance instructor could stand. I didn't like it much either. After watching a few elder gals in the local S.O.A.P. (Slightly Older Adult Players) shows dance with energy and enthusiasm, I wish I had tried harder.

5. My current favorite book of all time, which does change from time to time, is Wind in the Willows. First published in 1908, the book is about true friendship.

"When Mole takes a break from his cleaning and wanders down to the river bank, he meets the Water Rat and a friendship is instantly formed. The two, together with Badger, spend a glorious summer messing about on the river, picnicking on the bank, and taking life easy. But when their hapless friend Toad gets into a spot of bother they dash to his aid. Soon the four friends are fighting to save Toad Hall from the dastardly stoats and weasels."

There you have it. Now hit that comment box and reveal something fun about yourself.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pat - Oh, that's so cool that you've done such fun things! How very cool! I admire your ability to crochet; I've done a little of that but never gotten really skilled. And the belly dancing - how neat! I'm impressed.

As for me? I used to do gymnastics as a kid. Never really competitively, but I did.

Guilie Castillo said...

Ooooohhh... Belly dancing! I took some lessons (like four) some time ago, and I wish I'd stuck to it--it's great exercise, but I think I would have chickened out of a performance too, hahahaha.

Fun thing about myself... Uhm... I did the fire walk at a Tony Robbins seminar once and didn't get burned (but my roommate did)--does that count? :D

Kenneth W Harmon said...

I once had lunch with Satan. He wanted to get together and pitch some ideas for my novel about him. We ate at 3 Margaritas because he said he wanted to keep an eye on the Northern Colorado Writers. And yes, he does like his food hot and spicy.

Dean K Miller said...

Here's the hard part...I only get a current visual of you in the belly-dancing outfit...not the one from years ago...forgive me ahead of time when I laugh next time I see you!!

I performed stand up comedy over the course of 6 months on open mic nights at a club in Portland, OR, called 1 Main Place. (Still have the newspaper review of one of the nights I was there.) Talk about feeling exposed...

Patricia Stoltey said...

Margot, I always envied the kids who could do gymnastics. Not many kids flunk P.E. -- I'll blame it on those bad knees. :)

Hi Gullie. A fire walk is incredible. I don't think I'd have the nerve to try that.

Ken, now that you're putting your novel about Satan into first person, I'll have to keep an eye on you. If you immerse yourself in your character too much, we might not get you back.

Dean, you can laugh all you want. No demos though...I might hurt myself. :)

Arlee Bird said...

Fun facts. My mother was a professional dancer and when I was very young my parents tried to enroll me in dance class. I pitched such a fit that they didn't force the issue after that. Years later I wished I had pursued it, but who knows what my life would be if I had. It just wasn't meant to be.


Lee
Tossing It Out

Hart Johnson said...

What fun facts! I particularly love the belly dancing one, though I might have snorted at your snacking while crocheting comment.

Elspeth Futcher said...

I loved these, Pat! One interesting fact about me...hmmm.. well, I still have my toe shoes from my ballet days and yes, I can still go en pointe. Not for long, but I can.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Arlee, you could have been on Dancing With the Stars...lost opportunities. :)

Hart, I'm just careful not to eat messy snacks like chocolate while crocheting. Pretzels are fine though.

Elspeth, now I have a picture of you en pointe. Doesn't that hurt?

Janet Fogg said...

What a fun blog, Pat!! At Thanksgiving I suggested to my sister that we take belly dancing classes and now you've reinforced that idea!

Well, as for me, I've climbed 24 of Colorado's Fourteeners, though I'm not sure I'll be bagging any more. We shall see. But shall we climb? Only the knees know...

Janet

Patricia Stoltey said...

It really is fun, Janet, and it's excellent exercise. Go for it.

The fact you've climbed 24 of Colorado's Fourteeners is amazing. My knees wouldn't stood for that 50 years ago, much less now.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You have many talents!
Umm... I can darn socks.

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Wish I were a bit more interesting. I love your fun facts! My favorite children's book is Charlotte's Web. I didn't read it as a child. My older son bought it at the Bookmobile at school and we read it together. It was a memorable experience.

Cindy Keen Reynders said...

Love learning more about you, Pat! Fun fact(s)about me: I burn tomato soup and can grow mold on Kool-aid.

Jan Morrison said...

Wonderful bits of info about you Pat!
hmmm...I was a high-lead logger on the west coast of Vancouver Island and I streaked a university pub. yep.

Jemi Fraser said...

Those are awesome!

Hmmm... about me...

I took 1 year of ballet when I was 6 and quit because they only gave me a 'pass plus' :)

Edna Pontillo said...

Pat, you are great! I don't know, I think we should let Dean belly dance at the next coffee, that's stand up, right? Maybe it could be a fundraiser? Hmmm, about me?
1) Well, there was (hope it's was and not still) a warrant out for my arrest in New Jersey.
2)I took belly dancing lessons so many years ago - even before I had a belly. They did not make me graceful!
3)Most memories in my childhood are associated with the book I was reading at the time. For example, I can't remember how old I was when I almost drowned, but I can remember that I was reading Heidi.
4)can't think of anything else of note!
Dang! I'm boring!

Patricia Stoltey said...

Alex, darning socks is a talent I never acquired. There was always a bump that rubbed a toe raw.

Jacqueline, why do I think you're holding back?

Cindy, mold on Kool-Aid is even more amazing than darning socks.

Jan, I am in awe of anyone who'd streak a pub. I did see a streaker once... :)

Jemi, at least you tried ballet. I flunked tap, for heaven's sake.

Edna, you're not only fun and interesting, but you have great ideas.

Val said...

Wow! If you were a coat, you would be of many colors!

I had to repeat Beginning Swimming in college to get my credits.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Val, I am definitely a weird conglomeration of interests and "talents." I'm not much of a swimmer either, but I'm almost embarrassed to admit my worst class in college was bowling. :)

Rini K said...

whoah, that is so cool! It's amazing how many have done bellydancing (I was in a troop for several years doing bellydancing and Hawaiian - a LONG time ago). LOL about your comment on snacking while crocheting and watching TV - I'll keep that in mind if I ever decide to crochet.