I'm somebody now

(Remember the scene in Steve Martin's movie, running down the street with a phone book shouting, "I'm somebody now :)

Marchel Peterson & Liz Carter.  "Diva" Deb Brooks getting a kiss from Rhett Butler.  Photos taken at the Texas active rain gathering in April 2008. 

I've read a lot of memes with the writer protesting about having to write about themselves.  Honestly I was a little bit hurt that I had never been meme'd...did no one think enough of me?  OK, so I've been a little sensitive lately, but I've been on active rain for over a year, I became a part of the AR family on March, 17, 2007.  Then I got meme'd twice in one day...somebody loves me, in fact two ladies I call friends, Marchel Peterson , my partner on our group Texas Real Estate, and "Diva" Debra A. Brooks another Texas friend who is also now in the active rains makeover 2 takeover challenge with me too.  So I'm all better now, and feel the love.

1.  Who is your favorite musical artist? 

I am well rounded in that department, or either I can't make up my mind...let's go with well rounded!  I love music everything from rock n roll-country-blues/jazz-to opera.  We went on a dive trip once to the BVI's and chartered our own sailboat with another couple, one of my best trips ever.  We wore out Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton and Tina Turner.  Then there is Elvis and Aratha Franklin, gotta have some Willie Nelson too.  Pavarotti, what can you say maybe the best voice of all times.  I love the song," Time To Say Goodbye" sung by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, and that's the one I picked to put on my meme, so turn up the volume and enjoy.

2. Who is your favorite artist? 

My taste are varied there also, the Impressionist rank at the top.  I spent an afternoon at the Met in NY just in the Impressionist room, Pissarro, Monet. Cezanne.  While in Paris I spent a day at the Louvre (you need weeks), but I preferred the smaller Musee d' Orsay where I enjoyed another full day, and was all by myself.  Bill, who is not an art fan and choose to go to Normandy, it was a delightful day, and since no one was with me I could stay as long or short as I wanted in front of a masterpiece.  I also love Andrew Wyeth, the girl lying on the hillside, "Christina's World".  "Master Bedroom", the one with the dog on the bed and the open window is another favorite.  The first time I snorkeled in Cozumel (and got hooked on the wonders of the ocean in 1978); I thought it was like God had taken a paint brush down and hand painted all the beautiful tropical fish.  The colors and designs are simply breathtaking to me.  My passion has been scuba diving even since, and that is me in the picture on AR holding the sold sign.  Bill took it while we were on a dive trip in Roatan, Honduras.

3.  Who is your favorite blogger? 

I'll start with the three mischievous musketeers, Jason Crouch, Adam Waldman , and Paul Slaybaugh for their wit, humor and writing skills. Hey guys, why don't you "Jack" this blog?  I want 1,000 comments too:).  Bryant Tutas Broker, who has been called "the voice of reason", and his hysterical Blogging Bertha.  "Diva" Debra A. Brooks is always entertaining, varied and very skilled. Marchel Peterson  can make you feel like you have "been there" with her localism post and makes market reports entertaining. Lenn Harley the rock of real estate always tells it like it is and gives great advice. I have the utmost respect and enjoy these three icons of Active Rain's Missy Caulk   ,Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman  and my friend Gena Riede who was one of my first "meetings on the rain".  The ever insightful and knowledgeable Gary Woltal . Nestor & Katerina Gasset for sharing their strong faith in God, caring, helpful tutorials on everything, and always a pleasure to read posts.  Five of the nicest,  talented and down to earth people on the rain, Brian Block ,Mara Hawks, Duane Marlink and  Melissa Grant,  Ricki Eichler .  I enjoy reading, love to "get lost" in a great book, learn, laugh and lots of folks on AR do that for me too.  Not enough room to get all my favorites in here, you know who you are forgive me, but I'm out of room and I'm sure everyone has stopped reading by now J .I have discovered I also enjoy writing, and as you can see have a hard time being brief.  You all have been crowned...Paul it looks smashing on you :). 

4.  If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them? 

Johnny Carson, he could crack me up just with one of his looks.  Carson could express more with his eyes than anyone I've ever known or saw.  Funny, now that man was hysterical and a class act too.  Plus he had interviewed the world, so I would not only be able to laugh my a__ off, but would get the skinny on all the wonderful and terrible people he interview all those years.  When he went off the air I had a hard time learning to go to sleep without Carson in my bedroom.

Another one would have been Mark Twain, the great American humorist/writer.  Brilliant!

5.  What did you want to be when you grew up? 

Something with animals, I would bring home strays all the time.  Mother let me keep some, with the promise I would take care of it...she always ended up doing all the work.  Mama was an easy touch when it came to animals she loved them too.  One time we nursed a Canary after it had gotten out of its cage and ran into something.   Daddy brought home some baby Armadillos, and we fed them with an eye dropper, but they only made it a couple of days.  I was the only kid in school with a "pet" Armadillo for a couple of days though. No e-mails, the mom got killed while they were digging on a site and uncovered the bunch of Armadillos

6.  What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know?

Pigeons' produce milk to feed their young and it's richer than any other milk.  As with most birds they mate for life also.  One more, I love trivia, Mark Twain's famous quote, "The report of my death was greatly exaggerated", is not accurate, he wrote, "This report of my death was an exaggeration", in May of 1897.

7.  If you could live in any point in history what would it be and why? 

My dog's name is Rhett Butler, if that gives you a clue.  I envision myself sipping mint juleps' while swinging on the veranda under towing magnolias and oaks on a warm summer day at my Southern Plantation, Tara.  Gone With the Wind, early era, life was idyllic, no worries, horseback riding through the countryside, and a big party in the music room that evening.  Complete with waltzes, and you had a dance card, and wore a stunning gown, romance was in the air.  Life was sweet, conversations lively, card games in the evening by a roaring fire, or curled up with a good book in the library.

8.  What is the most interesting job you have ever held? 

 A bartender, what a perfect job to prepare you to become a Realtor.  You learn to listen, and you meet some strange people, a lot like Real Estate...kidding.

A super 8 meme torch is supposed to be passed to eight other bloggers I'm told, so guess we will all be reading lots about our fellow bloggers for some time now J...

Tag you're it:

Sondra Meyer

Elizabeth Ramsey Cooper

Susan Mangigian

Cheri' Smith

Gena Riede

Paul Slaybaugh

Greg Nino

Mara Hawks

Joshua Lazaro