A Challenge from steviewren of "a little birdie told me so"

steviewren of a little birdie told me so, one of my favorite blogs, issued a challenge to me this morning.  Here is the first part:  Seven Things You May Or May Not Know About Me  -

1,  I am a Southern belle.  I was born in Columbus, Georgia.  My father, from Waltham, MA, was an Army Lt. stationed at Ft. Benning and my mother, originally from Pelahatchie, MS, was attending nursing school there.  My mother divorced and remarried and has lived all her life in

Columbus.  I went to New Orleans for nursing school but have lived the last thirty years of my life

in the San Francisco area.

2.  I was the Southeast Women's Judo Champion when I was a senior in high school.  I took judo at the Army judo club at Ft. Benning where there were only about four women so we had to work out with the guys.  They didn't cut us any slack so we got to be pretty good!  If I can find any pictures from those days, I'll post them.  I was pretty fierce.

3.  I never wanted to be anything but a nurse.  My mother worked for a general practitioner in Columbus, GA who was a Marcus Welby type.  He would make home visits out in the country to poor patients, some fifty miles away.  When I was a child, I would go along as his "nurse."  When my mother was on vacation, as I grew older, I would work in his office.  The thrill of my life was when I was home from nursing school for the summer and he got permission for me to "scrub" with him in the O.R.

4.  I am terrified of heights.  I don't mind flying at all...I can be in airplanes but a ferris wheel freaks me out.  I even get the creeps going over some bridges and I don't like to be next to the rail.

5.  When I was in my early 30's in the San Francisco area, I did some catering.  My main problem is that I did it for practically nothing, mainly for friends and I never charged enough.  It was so labor intensive, I finally gave it up.  I once did a wedding cake for a nurse with whom I worked - I didn't even like her - and I finally figured out that this wasn't for me!  It was a beautiful

cake, though!

6.  I loved my profession as a forensic nurse.  In the 21 years I was in the field, in spite of constant problems with San Francisco city government, I felt the work was so important and the support of others in this fledgling field nurtured and sustained me.  To be an integral part of the founding of the International Association of Forensic Nurses in August of 1992 and to see this specialty officially recognized were the most exciting parts of my nursing life.

7.  Writing has always been a part of my life.  Long before blogging days, I've written poetry.  I think I penned my first poem when I was about six years old and, at sixty-five, I'm still going.  My dream has been to write a novel but, thus far, it is still a dream.  The poems that mean the most to me are "Travel Thoughts" and "The Forensic Nurse," both of which have appeared on this blog.  My article "East Meets West," about my trip to Japan and meeting up with forensic nurse

colleagues there appeared in our forenic nursing publication, "On the Edge." http://www.mddciafn.org/docs/OnTheEdgeVolume13Number3Fall2007.pdf

Here is the second challenge -

Answer these questions with one word only:

1. Where is your cell phone?… charging
2. Your hair?… graying
3. Your mother?… forgetful
4. Your father?… deceased
5. Your favorite food?… Asian
6. Your dream last night?… none
7. Your favorite drink?… wine
8. Your dream/goal?… wealth
9. What room are you in?… bedroom
10. Your hobby?… travel
11. Your fear?… infirm
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?… traveling
13. Where were you last night?… restaurant
14. Something that you aren’t?… rich
15. Muffins?…dozens
16. Wish list item?… jackpot
17. Where did you grow up?… Georgia
18. Last thing you did?… cook
19. What are you wearing?… sweats
20. Your TV?… off
21. Your Pets?… none
22. Friends?… many
23. Your life?… blessed
24. Your mood?… hopeful
25. Missing Someone?… lots
26. Vehicle?… van
27. Something you're not wearing?… ballgown
28. Your favorite store?… Dillards
29. Your favorite colour?… blue
30. When was the last time you laughed?… yesterday
31. Last time you cried?… yesterday
32. Your best friend?… several
33. One place that I go to over and over?… restaurants
34. Facebook?… often
35. Favorite place to eat?… restaurants

 Now, steviewren asked a few other bloggers, beside me, to participate in this challenge and I would like to request the same of some bloggers with whom I would like to become better acquainted.  If you have time during this busy season, please let us know about yourselves!!

magiceye at Mumbai daily

Inky at  Inky's Poems

Joanne Olivieri  at Poetic Shutterbug

Bernie at On My Own 

If you four have already participated in this challenge, let me know so I can go back and read your blogs for this information!  For those of you who have not visited either of these four blogs - or a little birdie told me so, each is very special.  Be sure and check them out!  My day isn't complete without them.