365 Days of Impacts

The very first haired animal I ever had the pleasure to love was by beloved Buckwheat. "Buck", Buckus Wheaticus,Buckles,Fluffball,Bupi-doo - she had many nicknames. Because Christy had asthma as a kid, we didn't have any haired animals. Buckwheat was my first real pet that was not a fish or a turtle. The day I got her, I went with Chantel to a co-worker's mothers apartment. She had a himilayan and a persion cat who had gotten preggers and had a litter of little fluffballs. Chan wanted a kitten, and she was visiting from Charlotte when I lived with Harnsberger. We went in looking for one kitten, but they were so sweet and precious, I had to get one too! This was right around the time eddie murphy was parodying Buckwheat from the little rascals on SNL. O TAY! When she was mewing looking up at me I was like - you look like buckweat! And that is how she got named. Buckwheat was the sweetest kitty. Yes, she was fluffy, but when she had her mouth closed, all y...

In high school of course I was in Choir - I've already told you about Mr. Skiba. I auditioned for the choir that was more specialized that the regular choir and it was called Concert Singers. The guys had to wear suits, and the girls wore long dresses. We did more showy tunes, whereas the regular choir did just straight up choral music. I was totally surprised I made it in as a sophomore in HS, and most people didn't make it in until Junior Year. I'm pretty sure voice lessons helped me make it in auditions. Regardless, this was the first time that I was in a partner oriented choir - where we sang and danced with a partner. This choir was where I really became a choir geek. We were all really tight. My partner in the choir for the first year was Kurt Kromroy. He was a year older than me. He was a bass baritone. I had a huge crush on him and at one point, I thought we were a thing. But then at one of those infamous high school parties, I found out he had the hots for someon...

April 4th 1958, Dennis Dale Williams was born in St. Louis Missouri. for the last 14 years, this day has become a huge impact on me and my life. I celebrate Dennis on this day. There are many stories but 10 years ago, I took Dennis to Ireland on his 50th birthday. Dennis had spent so much of his time providing for the family in his first marriage that he had sort of lost sight of his own adventures. This is not a bad thing because it is in Dennis' nature to take care of everyone else first and himself last So, early on in our relationship I made him make a bucket list to see where it was that he would like to go. Ireland was at the top of both of our lists. So Ireland it was for Dennis' 50th. Most of you know I have asthma - and this was early on in our relationship where I did not have a nebulizer machine, only my rescue inhalers. So the trip was great! I had no asthma issues. But on the way home I did not have my rescue inhaler, I had packed it in my bag which was in the bell...

One of my favorite artists is Lady GAGA. What I like about her is that she doesn't give a flip about social acceptance, she accepts and loves herself just as she is. You may have hated her meat dress, or think she looks asexual. But that is why she is so cool. She doesn't conform to red, blue, republican, democrat, gay, straight, aethist or devout catholic. She follows the promptings from within that are in accordance with her true self. Besides that she has a wicked set of pipes! Besides, she is a woman after my own heart - she has better costumes than I've EVER had. It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M Just put your paws up 'cause you were born this way, baby My mama told me when I was young We are all born superstars She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on In the glass of her boudoir "There's nothing wrong with loving who you are" She said, "'Cause he made you perfect, babe" "So hold your head up ...

On the way to Scotland, I had the time to watch plenty of movies. So I picked one that I thought Dennis wouldn't want to watch with me which was the musical "the Greatest Showman". This is the story of PT Barnum and how he created the greatest show on earth. I literally had tears streaming down my face on the pinnacle song where all the sideshow 'freaks' sing about who they are - whether or not society accepts them. "This Is Me" is how I've felt my whole life - I don't care what other people think - I'm just me, no apologies. Take me or leave me. I love myself for who I am. It took me probably 35 years to get to that point. I hope everyone else is able to get to this point in their lives as well - it is so much easier when you love yourself with all of your flaws as you are working through them rather than continuing to discount yourself. Feel your value. Today, not tomorrow. Lyrics from from "The Greatest Showman" soundtr...