I have been tagged!

Susanne aka Latharia has tagged me. Unfortunately, the only bloggers I know are the same ones that Susanne knows. So, I will play along and list the rules.

RULES: List 7 random things about me and then tag 7 others to do the same by leaving them a comment.

1. Growing up I hated children. I NEVER babysat and vowed I would never have children. My how the times have changed.

2. I was a contestant in the Miss Massachusetts pageant.

3. Yes, I drive a gas guzzling SUV, not by choice...by necessity.

4. I love to cook. My new fave chef is Paula Deene. To bad her stuff is sooo fattening.

5. I work at my optical business 12 hours a week for a vacation.

6. I am a very early riser. (4:30 am)

7. I love to sing, but am tone deaf.

FEAR this

Today's journal entry is about FEAR. I really only have a few fears, and I have had them since childhood. A shot is mynumber one fear. I gave birth naturally, because I could endure the pain of childbirth over the fear of getting a needle poked into my back (remember I have 6 children). As I get older, I do think of other things that scare me, but they have not become a fear yet!

FIRST

Well here she is...my first grader!! She is growing up so quickly, and becoming a nice young lady. She is excited to read and write and to see all of her friends again. She loves to ride her scooter and do all sorts of fancy tricks. I love her and will miss having her around during the day.

Cover

Here is the cover for my This is Me journal. Hard to believe I am 42 huh? This means you are getting older too! LOL

Secret

The bare naked truth. OK...here I am au natural! Not a common sight...not many people see me this way, but here I am. I started wearing make-up in the fifth grade. I would sneak into the girls room and apply it. I wanted to be beautiful and glamorous like the models in Seventeen magazine. Not the average girl with buck teeth. I wanted to stand out. I thought people would like me and want to be my friend if I was beautiful. Make-up does give me confidence, it does help me feel sophiscated. However, I do NOT need it to be beautiful, because the real truth is...BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP!

Play List

This challenge was your ultimate play list. I wrote down my faves, but when finished realized I forgot the BeeGees and Bonjovi. Oh well, rock on! JOURNALING: I have always had music in my life. Music can be your friend. It can cheer you up, make you feel sexy, and even help you cry. Whether it was an 8 track or cassette tape, vinyl 45 or album and now cd, I still grab my hair brush and run in front of the mirror and put on my best rock star performance! Here is just a sampling of my favorite artists that make me jam.

OLDIES: Elvis Mitch Ryder Buddy Guy Righteous Brothers MarvinGaye
Beatles

CLASSIC ROCK: Peter Frampton Doors Chicago Lynrd Skynrd Yess Styx
Kansas Boston Queen Aerosmith Eric Clapton Carole King
KISS ACDC Van Halen Stevie Ray Vaughn

Disco & Funk: Chaka Kahn Donna Summer KC & the Sunshine Band WildCherry
The Gap Band Jackson 5 Cool & the Gang Commodores
Earth Wind & Fire Luther Vandross Barry White

80s: REM Billy Idol Journey The Cure Psychadelic Furs INXS Poison U2
Prince Elvis Costello Squeeze Tears for Fears

Movie Soundtracks: Flash dance Footloose Purple Rain Saturday Night Fever
Grease Dirty Dancing Wedding Singer Caddy Shack

The daily DRIVE

Most people have NO idea what it is like to get a family of 8 into the car. It takes the kids 10 minutes to find their shoes, coat, etc. Then you hear them fight over "shotgun" and who has to sit in the way back. After we get our seat belts on someone ALWAYS has to get out to go potty and the chaos resumes. We fight over the radio; classic rock, sports talk, Radio Disney. Finally, we are driving and the bickering starts..."He hit me", "She is annoying", "who farted"...at this point I slam on the brakes and threaten to leave them on the side of the road. This madness continues until we reach our final destination. Then I thank God that I did not KILL my KIDS!

Favorite Friend of the Moment

This was a very special page challenge. I do have friends, but no one is more special than my Mom. She is my best friend and I love her dearly. JOURNALING: I have known my Best Friend, for my entire life. She is there for me in good times and bad. She celebrates all of my accomplishments and comforts me when I am in need. She loves me unconditionally, and never finds fault in my mistakes. She is a wonderful role model and the best friend a girl could ever have.

I love her with all of my heart and thank God daily for this wonderful woman. Not a day goes by that we do not call each other. I do not know what I would do without her. My Best Friend in this whole wide world is my Mom, Gerri Grzyb.

In My Honest Opinion

This journal entry was for me to give my honest opinion. I thought about this and I wanted to journal my feelings about Americans. Many days we take our freedom for granted and it makes me angry. My cousin, Major Bill Jakola is in Baghdad now flying his blackhawk helicopter. He puts his life on the line daily to protect our freedom, he and his family are true patriots and I am proud to say he is my cousin. So hear you are MHO, and that is one of the freedoms he is fighting for...I am able to speak my mind and not be thrown in jail. JOURNALING: In My Honest Opinion
I truly believe that our fore fathers would be disappointed in the country we have become. Many times it does not seem that we are the United States of America, we have become a country divided.

No longer Republicans or Democrats, conservative or liberal, we are Americans fighting each other. Pro-Life or Pro Choice, Border control or Open borders, Death penalty or Life in Prison. We can no longer have civil discussions about our differences; name calling and sometimes violence erupt. We no longer treat one another with respect and dignity.

“In God We Trust” is being removed from our courtrooms. Our founding fathers lived by this motto. Maybe if we put God back into our daily lives, the violence would stop and we would become a kinder, gentler nation.

I feel privileged to have been born an American citizen. I take pride in the American flag and I sing the national anthem with great joy. I love this country so much and exercise my right to vote. I just wish others would feel the same way.

In my honest opinion I wish more Americans felt this way. We are a great nation, and if we as Americans do not believe this…how can we expect others to believe it?

Life has been crazy.

Life at the Lindstrom house has been extremely crazy! Most of the craziness is due to our dear friend Teddy the dog. I will save my tirade for another day. Here is what has helped me keep me sanity. A journal challenge that focuses on me. This is the forward page. "This album is a glimpse of me...dawn marie laurens Lindstrom. I never imagined this would be me @ 42, but here I am! Through this album I hope you get an idea of who I am and where I am going, because some days I am not sure. I am just trying to sit back and enjoy the ride.