Talena Winters

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Eight Things About Me

Well, I've been tagged. So here goes:

1. After my kids go to bed, I find it more refreshing to spend some time doing an activity I find fulfillment in, that relaxes me, or that I just simply enjoy, rather than sleep right away, even if I am dead tired.

2. My most embarassing moment (that I will actually admit to) was in grade 4, when I accidentally came out of the change room into gym class wearing my tights under my shorts still (I had worn a dress to school that day.) I went back and changed again, this time emerging with my legwarmers, shoes, no tights--and my undies! I had forgotten to put my shorts back on! I didn't even notice until I had joined the other students in the activity circle, and my friend leaned over and whispered in my ear that I had forgotten my shorts. It was like one of those moments when the whole world just rushes in at you--and all I could see was the face of the boy I had a huge crush on staring at me, agawk, with a huge smirking grin on his face. I felt like SUCH an idiot!

3. I didn't learn how to whistle until I was 10 or 12 or something. My dad is a fantastic whistler. Even now, I kind of suck at it. Apparently, I didn't inherit his whistling skills and muscles.

4. I love it when the sun is low in the sky, under the clouds, but there is a drizzle of rain falling down. It is just so amazing, so dazzlingly pretty.

5. My Grandma Hilman was my hero. She died in '98, but by then she had accomplished:

-54 years of being happily married to the same man
-Helping 8 boys and 1 girl to survive to adulthood, and be contributing members of society
-I never once heard her complain, despite the loads of work she had to do being a farm wife and busy mom, being actively involved in her community, and the various aches and pains that beset her in her later years. She was always cheerful and encouraging.

6. I won honourable mention in the Stephen G. Stephenson poetry contest for two years in a row (grades 3 and 4).

7. When I was in grade 12, my uncle and aunt flew me to Disneyland to look after my then-9-year-old cousin while they were at a business conference. I secretly really enjoyed going on all the "kiddie" rides like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Peter Pan--rides I would most likely have skipped had I not been with a young kid.

8. If I had unexpected company pop in, and got to choose between having a messy house and wearing no makeup, I would choose to not have makeup on. (In fact, although at one time in my life I wore makeup religiously, I seldom ever apply it anymore. I'm just happy to get my face washed in the morning.)

9. I am normally a very organized person. My CD's are organized by style and into alphabetical order. My clothes are organized by type and colour. My DVD's are also in alphabetical order. But when it comes to board games, that part of me says, "This falls under of the category of 'just doesn't matter,'" and I let my game pieces run willy-nilly all over the area of the table where my things are kept. I organize my cards and Monopoly money, but the boats, roads, hotels, houses, soldiers, elves, or whatever other pieces there be in the "jeu de jour" are in haphazard piles around me, like mini-representations of the carnage we are trying to produce ON the board.

Oops. I guess that's nine. Apparently, the tenth thing about me is that I have short-term memory loss!

Two more things before I sign off for today:

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband. I wish I could write a tribute half so touching as the one you gave me on mine, but it will have to wait--right now I am too distracted by kids and dog and paperwork and dishes to find the right words to describe how much you mean to me. I love you so much, though, and am looking forward to celebrating many, many more birthdays with you.

Also, I would like to introduce you all to my friend Candice. This is not the same Candace whose name keeps appearing in this blog. This Candice is the wife of an old e-mail pen-pal of mine from college, whose name is also Jason. They live in the States, but I was thrilled to meet them a couple of years ago when they came up to visit her family in Alberta. She is so sweet. They have just had a baby boy, and PLUS! she just started blogging. So pop on over there and welcome her to bloggy-land, if you have time. (And oogle over their super-cutie!)

Happy Monday, everyone!