Tagged - Get to know me (and my weirdness!)

Oh my! I've been so enthralled with the "women teaching/blogging/writing" topic at Dan's and Frank's blogs that I almost missed the fact that I've been "tagged" THREE times!

Thanks to Terri, Kim, and Gayla for the tag--these are great fun, interesting/entertaining, and great for a little mental break!

Here's the "game", List 7 random facts/habits about yourself. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to tag others and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1) I have witnessed THREE bank robberies--all at the same bank in Dallas. The first two men were strung out on drugs, but the last one was "notorious"--known as "The Dapper Bandit" cause he always dressed well and only stole nice sports cars to use for his get away (this particular day he was driving a red Corvette). I noticed him in the parking lot and watched him walk in the front door--I commented to a co-worker that he was either in a big hurry or a mad customer (which I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with!) . I got distracted by someone/something and lost track of him for a couple of minutes but then noticed him behind the teller line. For a minute I just assumed he was a computer tech working on the system but when I studied the faces of the tellers I realized what was up! One of our marketing people was walking by my desk at the time and I told her, "...sit down and don't turn around, I think we're being robbed". Well, of course she turned around--she'd never worked in a bank before and been "drilled" on this sort of thing. Anyway, I tried to reach the staff in the back of the bank but no one was answering the phone!!!! As the Dapper Bandit left the bank I hunkered down and ran to the front windows so I could get the license plate number--which I did, but it was stolen and quickly ditched several blocks away. He was caught several years later in a high-speed chase through Dallas, and even seriously wounded. The bank installed surveillance cameras in the lobby not long after THAT robbery.

2) I love oysters on the half-shell. My brother used to eat them at a seafood restaurant my family would visit at the end of almost every vacation we took. When I met my husband I realized why I'd developed a taste for such things--he's Cajun and grew up near the Gulf. The evening when we announced our engagement he called one of his Uncles back in Louisiana to share the good news. Much to my surprise the FIRST question out of his Uncle's mouth was, "Does she eat raw oysters?". Imagine that! :-) I also like anchovies--my brother and my sister are to blame for that (always on pizza!).

3) I've flown "first class" just once in my life--we were "bumped" up on Lufthansa during our first return trip from Russia. The food tray was NEVER empty, my glass always full and my feet nice and warm in special little socks for the whole 8+ hour flight!

4) I didn't get chicken pox until I was 30! The little boy who "gave" them to me just graduated from college last year--time flies.

5) I love genealogy--have since I was a kid. The great-grandfather on my dad's side was named John Calvin. A great-great-great-great-grandfather on my mother's side was named John Wesley. It's no wonder I've worked so hard to refine my theology! Ha!

6) I am a "card-carrying" Cherokee Indian--from my mother's side. My ancestors were here before statehood (which celebrates 100 years this year!). While I'm proud of my heritage, I'am not at all "active" in the tribe--and gain nothing from being registered (other than a monthly newsletter!). My interest is primarily for the history/heritage.

7) I can tie the stem of a maraschino cherry in a knot with my tongue--useless, but entertaining!

Well, it's late and I'm heading to bed--I'll tag others tomorrow!