Tuesday, August 5, 2008

You asked for it.

I decided to honor one of those common blogger traditions as I reached my 200th post mark. I asked you guys to come up with questions for me to answer. I'm only going to answer a handful right now. And, I held an impromtu photo session with myself in my good ole cowgirl hat just for the occasion.

Jen asked: What is with the pink cowboy hat? It's really cool, and I was wondering what it means to you?

Well, Jen, I wore this cowboy hat ten years ago in my first rodeo where I competed in the barrel racing event on horseback. My horse, an Appaloosa named Indian Runner, slipped on the last barrel, but we pulled it off and made it back to the gate in record time. My hat flew off and into the stands, and some random guy caught it. I won first place in the competition but I barely noticed because the random guy who had my hat was Brad Pitt!! I was given a trophy and a huge shiny belt buckle for winning, but it paled in comparison to that hunky guy. The hat has been special to me since then (don't tell my hubby!) and it's been good luck ever since...

Ok, that's not true. I made it all up. Here in Texas we tell stories, tall tales perhaps, which some might mistakenly call lies...you see the difference though, don't you?

Really, I bought that hat for myself when I published my first short storyin a magazine! I was so excited and wanted to celebrate in a special way...and I'd been wanting a pink cowgirl hat for a while.


Kystyn asked: Are your toenails painted now? Are they always painted?

My toenails are blue right now. A bright, beautiful, vibrant blue. They tend to stay painted in the summer, but come winter, not so much. If I was good at painting my toes, I would have them painted all the time, but I'm not so great at it. I love coral, red, bright blue or purple.

Karen and Jules asked for my most embarrassing moment, so I guess I'll have to share one or two of those.

I tooted once in the middle of Latin class in high school. I immediately denied it and lied. One of the few times in my life I have lied. I'm pretty honest most of the time but I was one of only two girls in that class, and I wasn't about to confess to the crime in a room full of huge guys. I have boys now, two sons, so tooting is considered pretty cool. Remy laughs like a maniac at any bodily noises. I'm a rock star in his eyes.

I fell off the stage in our middle school musical, which was totally embarrassing. I cut up my leg and had to hobble away. It was awful, and I was in the poodle skirt. I'm super clumsy.

Jules asked me what things I don't think I'm good at. Sheesh, Jules, the list would be way too long for this post, and I'm trying to keep this short so I don't bore everyone.

I stink at cleaning, organizing, losing weight, and making money.

What am I good at? Making my kids laugh, making my husband crazy, making messes, taking way too many photos and writing nutty stories.

Kat wants to know what smutty books are in my bathroom. Ok, I don't normally kiss and tell, but I'll share this time. Guilty Pleasures, the first book in an awesome dark, urban fantasy series by Laurell K. Hamilton, Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn, Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, and The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison.

My favorite genre of books to read is dark, urban fantasy with mystery and romance mixed in. That's my guilty pleasure. I'll read all kinds of subjects, don't get me wrong, but I LOVE this area. Now you know. My secret's out. I read the first three books in the Twilight series, just gobbled them up, and now I've just bought the fourth and final book in the series to read. Reading is a huge passion of mine, as is taking lots and lots of pictures and blogging!

I'll get around to answering more questions in another post! And, coming soon, recap of my trip to the family reunion in Hunt, Texas.

37 comments:

Cathy said...

I could never pull off a cowboy hat. I don't look good in any hat.. I love the hat.

Anonymous said...

Love the hat! I'm just north west-ish from Dallas...probably pretty close to you! :)

This is such a fun post! I'll have to do one of these sometime too ;)

Oh and I totally had to write down these books you've listed...they sound intriguing...I still haven't made it to the library here in TX. It MUST be a priority this week :)

Jules said...

I'm with ya on the books and the way too cute pink hat.
And what courage you have....... posting the most embarrassing moments. I have way too many...... and I've tried to forget them all. LOL

Jennifer P. said...

I do love hearing people's embarassing moments!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I pick out your pink hat on the SITS role call all the time and always read your comments :)!

About my 10th reunion---it just wasn't what I thought it would be. No one i wanted to see was there. There was lots of drinking and bragging and attempts to hide bald spots and post-baby bodies. I just don't think 10 years was enough to get the high school out of most people! Now at the 15 year mark and still running into old HS friends from time to time, I don't know that 20 years is enough either :)!

Mama Dawg said...

I have a smutty book to send you! Want me to mail it off? I don't want it back. I'm done with it and really don't feel comfortable sending it to my very small town library. They'll probably burn it.

Jen said...

Oh you look so cute! Love all the posses. Awesome. I think that you should just stick with the first story of the pink hat, no one but us has to know the truth.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Fun stuff! Nice hat!

And, I'm to the point that I can't reach my toes...maybe I should splurge on a pedi!

I remember one time (in HS) I had blue toenails, and the little girl I babysat told me my toes were "dirty!"

Skeller said...

Congrats on 200 posts!! Can you even remember life before blogging?!? ;-)

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

I have seen your pink hat on many of the comment posts and decide to come on by for the first time. So glad I did...fun stuff. I was just in Dallas this week...we were neighbors and I didn't even know it.:)

Anonymous said...

You are a hoot! You had me going with your story about Brad Pitt!!!

Thanks for stopping by yesterday!:)

CrystalChick said...

I couldn't wear a cowboy hat either. Well, I mean here in NJ. I think it's a law that only baseball caps are allowed. LOL
Congrats on the mag story!

Apparently I stink at cleaning, organizing, losing weight, and making money too. Those things would just take too much time away from blogging anyway. ;)

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Love all the pictures! I don't think I've ever worn a hat. Of any kind. And thanks for revealing your smutty books. Even though you didn't want your grandmother to know. And finish up Breaking Dawn so that we can talk about it!

Cristin said...

You got me with the Brad Pitt story too...I'm gullible I guess.... love the blue toenails and pink cowboy hat...you're colorful in more ways than one!!

Angie's Spot said...

Love the pics! And I was totally sucked in by the Brad Pitt story. I'm a sucker for a good story. LOL!

Hope4Grace said...

Love me some pink hat!

Hey, I tagged you over at my place.

Valarie Lea said...

You are absolutely crazy!! I too was almost believeing the Brad Pitt thing. I kept saying I can't believe Brad Pitt was at the rodeo. :)

I am on my way in just a minute to go by the fourth book for my daughters. :)

Valarie Lea said...

Have to

Valarie Lea said...

try and

Valarie Lea said...

get back

Valarie Lea said...

on the

Valarie Lea said...

top commenters!

Melissa said...

OH I feel so full on Texas Word Tangle knowledge :)

Indy said...

I love reading these. Always wondered about the hat. Fake story was fun. I totally believed you. You'd expect a person from Ohio to just believe a story like that.

KatBouska said...

Lol at Valarie for teasing you with all those comments only to find they only had one or two words each.

I have a question...how do you pronounce your name? Is it Ree-uh or Ray-uh??

Aunt Julie said...

Love the tales, tall and otherwise. You really had me a goin' on that Brad Pitt/barrel-racing story, though. And what mags have you been published in? I'd LOVE to snag a copy and read your work! I'm a high school English teacher, and I'm always looking for new material to teach. Who knows? I might even teach BLOG writing sometime! Have a great time in Hunt--my kin are from the Hill Country, and I'm jealous that you get to go on the trip instead of moi! :)

miri68 said...

Love all your tales! You are too funny! Wrote down all the titles also. I love to read and am wearing out my library. I try not to buy books cause we have way too many here, but I will find these! Check ya later!

Kelly said...

Fun post...nice to see some up-close-and-personal pics of you!
Happy 200th!

Lula! said...

LOVE the new profile pic, Rhea. I should change mine when I reach 200, however I've had my "eyes" staring out on My Space for 2 years, and for the entire life of my blog. Hmmmmm...it's something to think about.

Have you finished Breaking Dawn? I wanna hear ALL about it!

cherish.photography said...

I love the pink hat! Woohoo! You go girlie!

crushonwhine said...

Great book choices ~ if you haven't read J.R.Ward's 'Black Dagger Brotherhood' series, I think you'd really like it! Start with #1, 'Dark Lover'.

angela | the painted house said...

Love your new profile pic, you sassy thing!

Unknown said...

Love all your Pink Hat photos!

You should start a club or somethin'...

Jennifer said...

I loved all your answers!! :) I'm really fond of the first one... and I'm just going to keep on believing the Brad Pitt story b/c that is so freakin' HOTT... I can't even tell you!!

And btw since you can make up stories like this... I want to see a book from you!! :) I will buy it... I will.

I love the pink hat and all the pics you took during your photo shoot!! very cute... and you are beautiful!!

Someone just recommened the Twilight series to me... I'm going to start the first one as soon as I get to the store to buy it... :)

xoxoxo

The CDM said...

Why do I feel like someone commenting here just copied me?

Unknown said...

Ok you TOTALLY had me on the Brad Pitt story as the hubster will verify after I swore very loudly!

What a great idea - mind if I steal this one from you next week sometime?

Debbie said...

You are probably one of very few people that can pull off that pink cowboy hat. It looks great on you and your avatar pic is adorable. That was a fun read!

Karen said...

I love the hat! I didn't even know you could get them in pink. It is so perfect on you.