25 Random Things About Me

I updated #24. Couldn't help myself!

I got tagged on facebook to write 25 random things about me and I can't figure out how to do it. Since I have not posted in over a week I decided to do it here.

1. I was born 12 minutes to 12 on March 12th.

2. I started to school in Cuba and learned to read and write in Spanish before English. Can I speak it now? Nope! One of my many goals is to relearn Spanish again.

3. Fractured both my feet at drill team camp and didn't know it for 2 weeks.

4. Was in the Rose Bowl Parade - all 8 miles of it.

5. Have lived in 9 states, 1 country and been in Dallas for 35 years.

6. Saw my dad graduate from college. LBJ was the speaker.

7. Like to dip my potato chips in cold water.

8. Have been legally deaf since I was in my 20's. This has made interesting "wrong" interpretations of song lyrics and funny looks from people when I sing them!

9. A witch doctor told my fortune one time. Among other things, he told me my husband was just around the corner. I met Tom a very short time later at a restaurant called "Mr. Greenstreets" Moohaha!

10. Tom and I married 4 months after we met.

11. Our honeymoon was in Las Vegas and between the two of us we hit 7 - $100.00 jackpots.

12. I have lived in the same house for 26 years and it looks it.

13. I have become totally disorganized and clutter is swallowing me up. I need a jumpstart to clean and purge.

14. Was told many times when I was younger that I looked like Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman) now it's Diane Keaton. Ha!

15. My Bone Density test says I have the bones of a 21 year old. I told my Dr. I wish I had the body too!

16. Even though I work, I cook dinner on the average 6 days a week. That's probably why I don't have the body of a 21 year old and why my house is disorganized!

17. I have worked in the same laboratory for over 20 years.

18. Love to tease my family and friends. Maybe it's really taunt?

19. Am very fond of cats. We communicate well. Skipper could say "mama".

20. Have a daughter who looks like and acts like me. "What goes around. Comes around."

21. Am going to write a story about a creepy event in our lives. It would make a great Lifetime movie. Maybe Diane Keaton could play me?

22. Talk to my mom everyday. She is my "best girlfriend", we laugh a lot!

23. Have the most wonderful husband, kids, family and friends in the whole world. Love them dearly!

24. All I ever really needed to know I learned in kindergarten, "Boy's Are Stupid." My brother is smart most of the time, but climbing a ladder to the second story of his house at 1 am in an ice storm with nobody home to pick up the pieces except Dawson? Hellooooo!

25. Am really really bummed that the Dallas Cowboys are not playing in the Super Bowl! Think I will hit Walmart today. They had Romo jerseys on sale for half price.

Maybe next year?

Two Things I Do

This is where I work!

Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX is a huge complex of hospitals and specialty centers all connected to each other. They are ever growing, about half of these buildings weren't there when I started to work there 30 some years ago. I helped build the tallest building which is called the Roberts Hospital. It is 17 stories of patient floors, ICU's, transplant units, surgery, meeting rooms, etc. I'm quite proud of the fact that I donated a dollar out of my paycheck to help fund this project and had a coffee cup to prove it. The cup had "I'm building Baylor University Medical Center" on it. I used it for years until it broke.



I started to work here back in 1972 in the Transfusion Services Lab making $450.00 a month. Yes, I paid for my apartment and living expenses on that salary. (Mom and Dad paid for my car and insurance thank goodness). Transfusion Service is exactly what the name says. This laboratory prepares and supplies all the blood and blood products patients need in this hospital. I still work in the same department and have seen many tragedies and so many miracles in all those days. Our hospital alone transfuses over 6,000 blood products a month!

That brings me to "One Thing I Do".



I am Blood Drive Chairman for Baylor Health Care Systems 7 hospitals. I also coordinate 4 blood drives a year at my hospital. Getting donors is an extremely difficult task and I applaud the Blood Centers and American Red Cross who deal with this on a daily basis. You are about to be bombarded with lots of facts!

1. I already told you how many blood products my hospital uses a month. Now think about how much the entire Nation uses.

2. Someone needs blood every 12 seconds.

3. 70% of us will need to be transfused in our lifetime.

4. You can give blood every 56 days.

5. You will "NOT" get a disease from giving blood.

6. It's the one charitable thing you can do that does not cost you a penny.

7. I've heard every excuse there is for not giving blood.



I bet most of you know someone close to you who has had to be transfused. I was transfused with 2 units of blood after Molly was born because of post partum bleeding. My mother who is anemic had to be transfused with 2 units last summer. So where does the blood come from? YOU! I don't know who wrote this, but it sums it all up.

What Good Is A Blood Donor?

A blood donor is good for people who go through windshields and red lights. For someone with cancer, hemophilia, or anemia. Or hepatitis. Or ulcers. For people being operated on. For people into feudin and fightin. For people who are almost out of life because they are almost out of blood. For a little girl who doesn't know that leukemia has happened to her. Or why. For a little boy who needs something revved up that wound down. Like energy. For people having open heart surgery. For people who need a blood donor and also an organ donor - a part as well as a pint - a new heart or new liver, a lung or a kidney. For new babies needing new blood. Or new mothers needing a transfusion. For little kids who get into poison or fall onto something sharp. For people who fool around with something that explodes, goes off, bites or shatters. For people burned pretty bad. For daredevils. Tree climbers. For people in the wrong place at the wrong time. A blood donor is good for people who are in a lot worse shape than most people you know. Someone needs a little of your blood a lot!

I am fortunate enough to be able to give blood. When I donate I think about all those patients and miracles I've seen over the years like the young girl (Julie) who survived a torn aorta after a car accident. Her heart stopped for 7 minutes in surgery but survived it with the expertise of a gifted surgeon and lots of blood. The student pilot who was the only survivor of a plane crash. Seeing him that day in the ER I knew I could handle just about anything. A young woman with a liver shattered after a motorcycle crash who married the nurse who took care of her in ICU and paid us a visit later with their new baby. The fireman who was kept alive for 48 hours without a liver being massively transfused with over 300 units of blood waiting for a donor. After his transplant he came in the laboratory to thank us and to autograph his new tennis shoes.

Donating blood is the 2nd thing I do. I feel really good about that!

"Think About New Shoes"

I love new shoes! Most of the women I know do too. I firmly believe this is embedded deep in our chromosomes and somewhere there is a tiny genetic marker in the shape of a shoe.

The first shoes I remember being drawn to were on my cousin Melanie's feet. She had on the cutest, brightest little red Keds. I talked her into letting me try them on. Unfortunately I had to give them back after Melanie ran into grandma's house crying "My shoes are running across the street." Nabbed!

When I was about 7 I saw the movie "The Creature From The Black Lagoon".

Needless to say, that night I had a horrible nightmare. My mother trying to divert my attention away from the dream said "Think happy thoughts. Think about new shoes." Boy did it ever work and from that point on there was no turning back.

I have been through a lot of shoes in my lifetime. Remember the black patent T-straps or Mary Janes bought for special occasions and holidays? In elementary school it was black and white saddle shoes. Weejuns (Bass Loafers) were a must in Jr. and Sr High. They looked great with knee socks and skirts. (We couldn't wear pants to school back then.) In Hawaii we took our old weejuns and cut pieces out of them with a razor blade to make them into sandals. I've never heard of anyone else doing this. They were too cool.

In college during my hippie days, I had a pair of navy blue suede ankle high desert boots. I painted a white star on the toe of each boot. I absolutely adored them. A boy in my English class noticed them. He later told me he was looking around the room and saw these blue boots with stars and just had to look up to see who was wearing them. He painted a white star on the gas tank of his Harley for me. Everybody now ..... Awwwwwwwwwwww!

I have been through all the fads and I'm proud to say I've even worn platforms and "too high" heels and not fallen off of them. I'm not very graceful so that was quite a "feet" for me. Ha!

I have since graduated to comfort. Nothing makes me more miserable or ornory than having my feet hurt. Thank goodness the shoe makers have realized how important comfort is to us. There are so many brands and styles to choose from and I can still indulge my shoe addiction.

Last year I got these Me Toos. The insoles are like marshmallows and the leather is soft and flexible like a moccasin. They are so comfortable.

I reverted back to my childhood with these pink plaid sneakers. Melanie would be so jealous and don't tell Kelly I bought them at Target!

My most recent buy from "Trinity Expressions" adds a little bling to my wardrobe. I just love these flip flops! See they even sparkle!!

The old saying still goes "What goes around, comes around". Mary Janes, Platforms, even Top Siders are back. Are dessert boots back yet? A pair in blue please.

What was inborn and lovingly instilled by my mother still works for me today. Happy thoughts and new shoes can chase away any old nightmare and we all know for sure.....