Dang it, I've been Tagged!

I hate this tagging business that's going on in the blogging world. It's as annoying as those emails with the little questionnaires that you fill out and then forward to all your friends. Who starts these things anyway? And Why?? I almost never do them. You'll note I said "almost." If it's short enough, and I'm in a relaxed mood, and I like the person who sent it to me, then I'll participate. But I often don't forward them, instead I just send it back to the sender.

This Tag came from my sister, Kristen, who has an entirely different opinion of them. She actually LIKES them, and she says that getting tagged means you are part of the IN crowd. I've never longed to be part of the in crowd; in fact, just the opposite. I've always been sort of contrary. If everyone is doing one thing, I always go do the opposite just to be different. Of course, that hasn't won me many friends (or influenced many people) but the friends I do have are worth having 10 times as many.

Worse are the "tags" that are going around the business blogs, and often include some sort of bogus "award" that someone has made up. I will never participate in one of those - I don't believe for one minute that doing so would benefit my business or my business blog, and the time spent jumping through whatever hoops the tag requires, and then passing it on to 3, 5, or even 10 other business bloggers could be much better spent optimizing my website, working on marketing campaigns, specials or freebies, or writing my monthly newsletter (which you can subscribe to at the bottom of my website's homepage).

At any rate, Kristen, this is for you! The "Tag" is to List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 current obsessions/collections and 3 surprising facts, and then tag 3 more people. Here goes:

3 joys

My family. I rarely socialize except for a few close friends. My social life mainly revolves around my family. I hate to miss any family get-togethers, no matter what it is. I just love hanging with them, all of them, any of them!

My cats, Scout and Jack. They are my little sweethearts, my playmates, and my companions.

Semi-retirement: It’s awesome! No more office politics or stress, my time is my own, finally the chance to run my own little biz, and my boss lets me take extended vacations!


3 fears

SPIDERS. Just last week at my podiatrist’s office Dr. Denten Eldredge snatched a HUGE spider off my neck. He’s my Hero! I had to put my head down on the counter to keep from fainting, I was sick to my stomach for two hours, and I had nightmares that night. I still break out in a cold sweat whenever I think about it. (Edited on 08/24/08: please note, I arrived at Dr. Eldredge's office WITH the spider; I did NOT acquire the spider AT his office! I know this because I had walked in the door, gone straight to the check-in counter, and the spider was already on me. Dr. Eldredge's office is NOT afflicted with spiders!)

Clowns & Monkeys: they’re evil and sneaky, and I hate them.

Dogs. Especially large ones, running around with no owner in sight. I seek shelter, climb a tree, or just scream.


3 current obsessions/collections

Photos: I have thousands, and I spend a lot of time working with them, organizing them, enhancing them, emailing them, blogging with them, and of course, digital scrapbooking with them.

Crafts: my sewing machine is out and the projects are lined up. I bought more fabric today for a twin-size quilt. I also have knitting, crocheting, and scrapbooking projects in work and queued up.

Reality shows, especially Dog the Bounty Hunter, Jon and Kate Plus 8, and Little People, Big World. What can I say? I love peeking into other people's lives.


3 surprising facts

I got caught shoplifting when I was about 10 years old. I stole a paperback book called “Sara Smiled” from Sav-On Drug Store in Redondo Beach, CA. The store employees scared the s*@t out of me by threatening to send me to jail, then said they’d just call my mom and dad instead. I was in terror of that phone call for days, but as far as I know they never called. But you can bet I never stole anything else!

I almost never answer my “land-line” telephone here at home anymore. Nine calls out of ten are telemarketers, surveys, political messages, or a scam. So, take note, friends and family – if you want to call me use my cell phone number! Oh, and I don’t answer the door either.

I am physically unable to vomit, even when I really, really want to. The only exception was a very bad case of food poisoning.

Now I'm supposed to tag three more people but I'm going to be contrary and only tag two: Judy and Kirsten.