ME :0)

So, today is my birthday! I will confess my age - 39. I really don't mind sharing my age because I can truly say it does not matter to me, it is simply a number and not who I am. Today, I choose to be selfish & post only about me! I know, it may be insane for a grown woman to just talk about herself, but it's my birthday, my blog and that is what I choose to do today.

If you go here, you will find I confessed my real name is Tonda. Yes, I am aware it is a little unusual and some of you may wonder where did such a name come from. Well, today, I will tell you.

I am the second born of three children - I have an older sister and younger brother. Of course all those years ago my parents had no idea until I arrived if I was a boy or a girl. Apparently my parents could not agree on a name for me - they had several picked out, but did not agree on any of the girl names. So, I had to have a name and they were getting no where. My maternal grandmother, who I talked about here, wanted to name one of her grandchildren and had mentioned that several times. So, with no name in agreement, they allowed my grandmother to name me. My name is Tonda Yvette (pronounced e-vette, no y sound). Where did she get such names for a little country girl like me?

Tonda - she chose this name because it was one she had liked for many years. Grandma was a nurses aid and had come into contact with many people over the years. At one point, she worked with, in her words, "a beautiful Indian lady" (meaning Native American) who was named Tonda. My grandmother thought a lot of this lady and loved the name; so it became my name. I am told (though have a hard time finding this) that Tonda means "little princess". I do love my name and would not change it, but try finding a key chain, or anything already made up with that name - not gonna happen! On vacations, I love to dare/bet my kids to try and find something with my name on it and tell them I will give them 20 bucks if they do, even used to do this when I was a kid when we went on vacations - hasn't happened yet, I still have that money in my pocket! I do know I am not the only Tonda in the world, I have heard of others on occasion, and I have met one (however, she uses her middle name & not the name Tonda). Also, on myspace there is a page I was asked to join - "For Tonda's Only". It was started by someone who shares my name looking for other Tonda's in the world, there are actually over 500 registered on the page and 5 in Arkansas - unbelievable. My name is mispronounced often - I am called Tonya, Tonka, Tonto, and I could go on & on, but I will only answer to Tonda - I mean how hard is it to see there is a "d" there! :).

Yvette - Grandma chose this name because there was popular actress from her time with that name. It is french in origin. I have discovered that my grandmother's grandparents were immigrants to the United States from France! So, I have a name to reflect my family heritage. And, yes this name also gets mispronounced often.

Yes, I have strange not so normal names, but I love them - they are me!

I am actually writing this post on Monday night the day before my birthday, but because I can choose the date & time to post you will see it on my birthday. That being said, I can not share with you yet how my day has gone, but I will give you an update and share later.

On Saturday, we went out to eat for an early celebration dinner at one of my favorite restaurants - Texas Roadhouse, the speciality is steak - my favorite!!!! It was yummy and we had a good night. I have also received several cards in the mail from friends already. Monday, 2 friends that I used to work with took me to lunch - it was great to see them. Tonight we will go to my in-laws house for a birthday dinner and cake. My mother-in-law cooks a special dinner for each of us on our birthday and lets us choose what kind of cake we want, I have chosen Kahlua cake - I can't wait.

So far, I have had a great birthday! Thank you for letting me talk about me today & being selfish on my birthday.

CHICKADEE TAGGED ME!

Chickadee tagged me, so here goes my turn. Check out how she did her random things; I'm going to do it a little different because since I am still a fairly new blogger I'm not sure I know anyone well enough yet to give hints, and also because I think that some of you may have already been tagged.

The "rules" of the game are as follows:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Write 6 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
4. If you're tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag.

Here goes - 6 random things about me:

1. I hate gum. I do not like the sound of it when someone is chewing it in any close proximity to me (I have been known to ask them to please spit it out); I do not like the sound it makes when I chew it, and I do not like the way it feels when I chew it (I never chew it anymore, but used to at one time in my life). I can not stand to see someone pulling it in & out of their mouth, or when someone puts it on the side of their plate to pop back in their mouth later. I do not like to see bubbles being blown. I'm not a germ crazy person, but I think gum is just a disgusting, noisy, germ magnet!

2. I love summer! I love heat, I do not like to be cold.

3. I love being an Arkansan. I have never really wanted to move away to another state, I am perfectly happy living in Arkansas forever!

4. I L.O.V.E. country music(especially George Strait)! But, I also love Bon Jovi & Jimmy Buffet. So, I guess, my tastes run a little everywhere.

5. I am convinced that some day I will be the next Mrs. Jon Bon Jovi. (LOL - everyone needs a crazy fantasy!)

6. Some day I would love to write a book. This has been a dream of mine since I was a child.

Now it's your turn. I am tagging Leigh Ann, April, Heidi, Aubs, a boy a girl & a pug, & love you a google. Please play with us, it is fun learning new things about each other!

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

This weekend I will attend my 20 yr. high school reunion. We were the class of 88 and we were great! I think there is a part of me that is still in shock that it has been 20 years. It's not that I think I am still 18; it's really more that it doesn't feel like it's been 20 yrs.! I want to share a little with you about my high school, and the life of those days.

I went to a very small school - kindergarten thru 12th grade was on one campus with approximately 450 - 500 kids total at that time. My graduating class consisted of only 27 kids, and 11 of us had been together since kindergarten, and many others joined us in the elementary years. I truly feel like most of us were more of a family than just classmates. (You can visit 2 of my classmates that were with me from kindergarten to 12th grade graduation here & here - we even knew each other before we started school because at that time we all went to the same church.)

I have so many good memories of all of my school days it would take me days and days to share all of them with you. Of course on the other hand, I do have some bad memories too, but overall I think I have many more good memories.

I wonder as I get ready for the reunion, what does everyone remember about me?? Do they remember the shy girl I was in the very early years?? Do they remember the me who wanted to be the mediator and wanted everyone to be friends?? Do they remember the me from the later years who was more outspoken?? And which of these do they expect to see on Saturday??

I am still all of the people I mentioned above - I still have my shy moments, I still want to be the mediator and for everyone to get along, and I am probably even more than ever that outspoken girl (but have learned to reign it in to some degree). But, even though I am still all of those things, what side do they expect the most? Regardless of the answer, I know I can only show up as me. That is all I am, just me. At this point in my life the me that is, is the me that is the wife, the mom, the daughter, the sister, the aunt, the friend, and the list could go on and on...

I thought as the date came closer, I would be anxious, nervous, apprehensive, etc.... basically worried about what everyone would think of me - how I look now (wow look at the weight she's gained), my life (am I successful, have a good family, good job), etc... But, I do not have any of those feelings, I am simply excited to see everyone and have a good time of fellowship. I believe, I thought I would have those feelings going into this reunion because I have had them at each previous reunion (we have had one every 5 years.) I also, believe I do not have those feelings this time because I am finally comfortable with who I am and with my life. In my eyes, I know I have a good family (great marriage, good kids), I am happy in my job, and I feel I am successful. My success, may not reflect success to others and I am ok with that also, I will just pray that someday, they can be comfortable with who they are and know that when that happens they are successful - it is not at all about the prestige of a job, the perfect husband/kids, or any material things we could possess. So, as I prepare to attend this reunion, I can only go as me and have the best time ever reminiscing, catching up, etc..... I pray that my fellow classmates all have safe travels to the reunion, and attend only being themselves.

Well, that may have been a little more deep than I intended, but it was all thoughts I have been having and really wanted to share them, and have wondered do others face these same thoughts as they get ready to come face to face with their pasts?

I can't think of any good stories to share at the moment, but I will come up with something (even if it might embarrass me) and share it with you when I do. If my friends here & here want to share any stories (or pictures), I promise I am ok with it.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately - lol), I do not have a working scanner at the moment so I can't share any pictures of me from those days. I do promise to take pictures on Saturday to share them with you in a post after the reunion. I also promise (mostly to myself) that I will attend the reunion only as me with only the goal of having fun and reconnecting with friends I haven't seen in years!

(Love to you all, and I pray that you have found the self you are comfortable with -it is a great feeling! All you have to do is pray about and let go and God will help you get there.) :0)

The Family - part 1

I want to introduce you to my family, but think it is best if I start by introducing myself a little further. As I said, in my "all about me" I am a wife and mother, and I do work full time.

My Blog Name: You may have noticed I sign my blog with the name "Shortone." There really isn't a deep mystery to my blogging name, I chose it because it sums be up, and has been my nickname in some form or other for most of my life. Yes, you guessed it, I am not very tall. I believe I reached my full height around the 6th or 7th grade; that height is just under 5', but I do fudge a little and list my height as 5'. This lack of height is not something that has ever bothered, me and I have been known to use it to my advantage at times (i.e. short people can get through large crowds virtually unnoticed!)

My Job: I changed careers around a year ago. I am currently self-employed - an independent agent for a very well known insurance company (think about a duck!) I love this job; it gives me an independence that I never had before. It brings something new each day, and gives me the flexibility to be with my children when needed - I can set my own schedule, and I don't have to answer to anyone. The flip side of that is that if I don't work, I don't make money. So, I do still work as much as possible.

The Rest: I am from a very small southeast Arkansas town. My parents still live there and it will always be home to me. I left when I went to college. I ended up in a very large central Arkansas town via college, and marrying someone who is from that town. We actually live in one of the smaller suburbs of the larger town. We live approximately 5 miles from my in-laws, which is awesome. I am very lucky and have some of the greatest in-laws ever; and of course this makes it easier for the spoiling of their only 2 grandchildren. For the most part we love where we live, but do hope to get back to the country at some point - I am still a small town country girl at heart.

A little more: Just a few more fun things to know: I LOOVVVEE country music (not obsessed with it like I was when I was younger, but love it!) A few of my favs are Alabama, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride. On the flip side of the charts, I love 80s music, especially the hair bands, and mostly Bon Jovi (Jon Bon Jovi just gets better looking with age!) I also love to cook, watch Razorback football (and basketball sometimes), I'm a Girl Scout Leader, and will chase my kids to any activity they are interested in at the time (more about that as I introduce my kids to you.) I love my husband as much now as when we first got married, and probably more! Of course most importantly, I am a Christian, and believe in God.

This gives a little peak into me, and I will share more as we go. You will also learn more about me as I introduce my children, husband, and on occasion other members of my family (siblings, nieces, nephews, etc...)