Meme!
This one is from ratherastory. She asked me five questions, and these are my answers:
1- How did you get into storytelling? Tell me the story. ;)
It’s a LONG story! I was always into telling stories- it was something that I’d do with my friends on car rides or campouts. I didn’t actually know that it was officially called STORYTELLING, nor did I know that it was something you could actually work at doing. When I was studying to be a teacher, one of my reading classes did a lecture on storytelling. A lightbulb went on in my brain- this was something I could really like doing! As it turns out, there was a storytelling class offered, so I took it the very next semester. I’ve been involved with storytelling ever since.
I didn’t become a professional storyteller for a very long time, however. I was a school teacher, then a mother with small children. I used my storytelling whenever I could, and volunteered to tell stories for many events, always saying that someday I would become a professional. One day, I mentioned wanting to be a professional, and stopped and asked myself, “When exactly was that going to happen?” I was 36 years old, if it was something that I wanted, then when was I going to do something about it? When I was forty? A grandmother? When? So, I signed up to perform at a local arts festival, joined the storytelling guild, and launched a career. It has been such a rewarding experience!
2- What's your favourite part of being a parent?
I love being Santa, and the Easter Bunny, and the Leprechaun that comes to turn our milk green. I love planning and pulling off all of the little celebrations that make up our lives. It’s hard to pick an absolute favorite, because there are so many good things- but it ranks up there at least!
3- What is the weirdest job you've ever had to do? (Paying or non-paying)
I was once hired as a temp to work in a completely empty office fending off creditors while the president of the company skipped off to Mexico. That was the weirdest/creepiest job I ever worked. The man paid the temp agency in cash, and described the office as a lavish place surrounded by restaurants. I showed up there and it was a gated truck yard with a sign that said ‘Beware of Dog”, a trailer for an office, and a bar across the street that only sold canned beer. I fielded calls from collection agencies, and angry girlfriends who accused me of having an affair with the absent boss.
4- Apart from storytelling, do you have any other artistic pursuits? Or any that you wish you could do?
I do! I play the piano, guitar, flute, and tin whistle with varying degrees of skill. I sing, also with varying degrees of skill. I can draw an apple and have it actually look like an apple. I love crafts- I sew, embroider, stamp, scrapbook, and tole paint.
I have no clue about digital artwork at all- I see pretty banners and icons and have no idea how to even begin to create something like that. That would be something I wish I could do, but not necessarily something I want to put the effort into doing, so it’s a vain wish. J
5- Tell me one random thing that annoys you but not most people. An odd pet peeve.
Gum chewing. I can’t stand it when people chew gum. *shudder*
I'm not going to post up all the rules and suchlike, but if you do want to play, let me know, and I'll send them to you, along with some questions as well!
1- How did you get into storytelling? Tell me the story. ;)
It’s a LONG story! I was always into telling stories- it was something that I’d do with my friends on car rides or campouts. I didn’t actually know that it was officially called STORYTELLING, nor did I know that it was something you could actually work at doing. When I was studying to be a teacher, one of my reading classes did a lecture on storytelling. A lightbulb went on in my brain- this was something I could really like doing! As it turns out, there was a storytelling class offered, so I took it the very next semester. I’ve been involved with storytelling ever since.
I didn’t become a professional storyteller for a very long time, however. I was a school teacher, then a mother with small children. I used my storytelling whenever I could, and volunteered to tell stories for many events, always saying that someday I would become a professional. One day, I mentioned wanting to be a professional, and stopped and asked myself, “When exactly was that going to happen?” I was 36 years old, if it was something that I wanted, then when was I going to do something about it? When I was forty? A grandmother? When? So, I signed up to perform at a local arts festival, joined the storytelling guild, and launched a career. It has been such a rewarding experience!
2- What's your favourite part of being a parent?
I love being Santa, and the Easter Bunny, and the Leprechaun that comes to turn our milk green. I love planning and pulling off all of the little celebrations that make up our lives. It’s hard to pick an absolute favorite, because there are so many good things- but it ranks up there at least!
3- What is the weirdest job you've ever had to do? (Paying or non-paying)
I was once hired as a temp to work in a completely empty office fending off creditors while the president of the company skipped off to Mexico. That was the weirdest/creepiest job I ever worked. The man paid the temp agency in cash, and described the office as a lavish place surrounded by restaurants. I showed up there and it was a gated truck yard with a sign that said ‘Beware of Dog”, a trailer for an office, and a bar across the street that only sold canned beer. I fielded calls from collection agencies, and angry girlfriends who accused me of having an affair with the absent boss.
4- Apart from storytelling, do you have any other artistic pursuits? Or any that you wish you could do?
I do! I play the piano, guitar, flute, and tin whistle with varying degrees of skill. I sing, also with varying degrees of skill. I can draw an apple and have it actually look like an apple. I love crafts- I sew, embroider, stamp, scrapbook, and tole paint.
I have no clue about digital artwork at all- I see pretty banners and icons and have no idea how to even begin to create something like that. That would be something I wish I could do, but not necessarily something I want to put the effort into doing, so it’s a vain wish. J
5- Tell me one random thing that annoys you but not most people. An odd pet peeve.
Gum chewing. I can’t stand it when people chew gum. *shudder*
I'm not going to post up all the rules and suchlike, but if you do want to play, let me know, and I'll send them to you, along with some questions as well!