2008/07/03

About Da Goddess

DaGoddess @ 06:46

I am, for all intents and purposes, just another blogger. Da Goddess was a funny pseudonym handed out by some random friend about a million years ago. Some of you know my real name, most of you don’t. I try to keep it that way for a reason. (Don’t worry, I know the vast majority of you are very nice people who mean no harm. Some do, though.) I have been blogging since May 16, 2002, even if my archives don’t reflect some of those earlier years. Trust me, they’re around and will be grandfathered in at some point when I have more patience and plenty of Jim Beam.

In addition to blogging, I write articles for a magazine or two (which you’ve probably never heard of or have any interest in). I’m also a freelance copy editor and photographer. I was once a nurse, but that’s not something I can do any longer, at least not in the capacity I did. I miss it. Life goes on, though.

I have a family. They’re quite nice, thankyouverymuch. There’s Mom, Dad, Big Sis, Bro-in-law, Little Sis, Uncle Lil Sis, Mojo (daughter), Little Dude (son). There are lots of friends who show up from time to time, too. I love them all. And they tolerate me. Most of the time.

Music is incredibly important in my life. Not just as some odd soundtrack (with my own theme song, of course!), but as amazing inspiration and motivation to do anything and everything. I like a wide variety of music, but I most love the Blues. I’m a blues junkie and I admit it freely. I don’t want any 12-step program; I have my 12-bar program already in place.

For those who truly want to get to know me, here are some “fun” facts:

  1. I am a Taurus.
  2. I love iced tea.
  3. I like ice water. Even in winter.
  4. I once had to scream for a job interview.
  5. I have been kissed by a kangaroo, helped raise a wallaby, a llama had a crush on me, and almost married a guy who worked with all these animals. I realized I loved the animals more than I loved him. I gave them all up.
  6. I was scratched by a mountain lion when I was 7 and I wasn’t afraid.
  7. I once had a babysitter who owned a raccoon.
  8. I would rather rescue and relocate a rattlesnake than kill it. And have.
  9. I like animals and they usually like me back.
  10. Rhinos and orangutans are two of my favorite animals.
  11. I started messing around with cameras when I was really little. I was pretty good for a kid, too.
  12. I got my first 35mm SLR when I was 11.
  13. I took my first photography class the summer between 5th and 6th grades.
  14. The teacher for that class later became my photography teacher in high school. He thought I had a good eye and told me that it was more important to trust my instincts than to rely on formulae for shooting.
  15. I used to develop my own negatives and print my own photos.
  16. I gave my first 35mm SLR to a boyfriend many years later and not long after that we broke up.
  17. I should have kept the camera and given him away.
  18. I’ve been engaged several times. Married only once.
  19. My grandfather used to play with Kay Kyser. My grandfather could play almost any instrument. He was talented.
  20. I used to play the organ.
  21. I used to play clarinet.
  22. I gave it up because my 6th grade band teacher would use my mouthpiece and reed to demonstrate how to play something and it grossed me out. He was gross.
  23. I took three guitar lessons and then realized my fingers were too short for the guitar.
  24. I do not sing in public.
  25. The only way I can carry a tune is in a plastic CD case.
  26. Several people have attempted to get me to sing for them, insisting I can’t be that bad. Oddly enough, only one has said “you ain’t too bad.” That was Rob, of Gut Rumbles fame, and he’s gone. I swear, it wasn’t my singing that did it.
  27. I have a mandolin. I think it’s the most beautiful of all instruments. Someday, I plan on learning to play the damn thing.
  28. My favorite numbers are 7, 9, 12, 21, 42.
  29. The most I’ve ever won gambling is $380. I don’t gamble often so there’s little chance of me besting that win.
  30. I grew up with a slot machine in the house.
  31. I used to go trash pickin’ with my folks. It was the 70s. Ohio. People put their “good” trash out near the “trash” trash so neighbors could dig through and pick what they wanted. It was easier than organizing a garage sale and the stuff was free.
  32. That might make me white trash. I don’t care.
  33. I used to go junkin’ for car parts with my dad. He restored old cars and I was his helper. I was the son he never had.
  34. Because of the way my dad cooked, I have to have my scrambled eggs cooked to the point of being scorched. Hey, it only takes one plate of runny eggs to make this girl throw up.
  35. I played softball for 10 years. I was good, too.
  36. I was the first person in my family to play organized sports. My sister was the second. Other than my daughter playing one season of girls’ basketball, the trend seems to have died off.
  37. Sports I’ll watch on TV: football. Maybe baseball. Occasionally, some Olympic something or other. Car racing, for those who believe racing is a sport, which I do.
  38. Among my favorite shows are Deadliest Catch and Duck Dynasty. I love ’em. I just do. Also, Criminal Minds.
  39. Things I will never be able to do again but once enjoyed doing: bowling, horseback riding.
  40. I like being a mom.
  41. I like being a girl.
  42. Someday, when I grow up, I want to write and publish a book of stories and photographs. I might have to write more than one because I have a lot of stories to tell.

This list is subject to change at any time.

Comments to this site are always welcome, but I ask for common sense to prevail as well as common decency. I do not have to accept all comments and will delete as I see fit. My blog, my rules. That’s how we roll around here.

Now, feel free to help yourself to a beverage and some snacks. Make yourself comfortable. Don’t forget to tip your waiters and waitresses. I’ll be here…well, forever.

27 Comments »

  1. Do I spy WordPressiness here, young missy?

    Comment by Joni — 2008/07/16 @ 18:22

  2. Yes. Told ya I made the leap!

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2008/07/16 @ 18:47

  3. So, a Deadliest Catch, fan, eh? Well, I’m from Alaska. How do you like them apples?

    Comment by Erin — 2008/08/05 @ 18:07

  4. Good apples. I like ’em just fine. Heh. Lucky you, Erin! I’ve wanted to go to Alaska since I was a little girl. It really became a bit of an obsession when family friends moved up there to work on the pipeline. Speaking of which, I actually have some of the pig oil from back then.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2008/08/05 @ 18:29

  5. You’re the first person I’ve known who has oil from the pipeline! That reminds me…I have ash from when Mt. St. Helens blew back in the ’80’s. Anyhoo, lucky, maybe, but at least it’s a good conversation starter. Seems like everyone has an Alaska connection. Either they’ve always wanted to go or they just went on a cruise.

    Comment by Erin — 2008/08/06 @ 21:26

  6. I have ash from Mt. St. Helen’s too! Different family friends this time around though. And did you know, it erupted on my birthday? Weird, huh? What a wonderful new Internet friend! So happy to meet you. We have Deb to thank for this, don’t we? I owe her a coffee or something.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2008/08/06 @ 23:02

  7. My grandma lived in Seattle at the time and sent some up to us in Alaska. How weird that it happened on your birthday! I don’t have a cool “it happened on my birthday” story.

    Yes, Deb sure is funny. I’ve enjoyed reading her blog. Have you ever met her in person?

    Comment by Erin — 2008/08/08 @ 13:57

  8. I think I like you already. I played the clarinet, too. My daughter’s favorite animal as a toddler was the rhino (now it’s the okapi). And I simply will not eat fried eggs because no one EVER cooks them enough.

    Nice to meet you, Miss Goddess.

    Comment by foolery — 2008/08/19 @ 09:22

  9. Foolery, I have photos of my kids, er, daughter feeding an okapi somewhere. I got to pet one and, oh. my. God! They are so soft. Like an oiled velvet, if that makes sense. But rhinos and orangutans are still my favorites. Tell your daughter okapis are cool, though.

    As for eggs, scrambled only for this girl. Just so wrong any other way. I don’t like little white thingies peeking out at me or sliming up my tongue. Blech!

    By the way, I liked you from the moment I read “Howell Hughser” and saw the Reagan bandaids. (I’d read you before and obviously thought, “hmmm, I need to go back!” because I did, but those two recent posts really stuck out for me.) Oh, and Macon Bacon cracked me the hell up, too.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2008/08/19 @ 21:59

  10. If you learn the guitar, the mandolin will be much easier for you. ;)
    Great list, kills mine!

    Comment by tesco — 2008/09/14 @ 11:06

  11. Ahh, but the mandolin is smaller and easier on my hands!

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2008/09/14 @ 21:50

  12. Haha.. good point ;)

    Comment by tesco — 2008/09/16 @ 16:21

  13. Here via csquaredplus3. I’m gonna blurk for a little bit. I like what I’m reading. :)

    Comment by thedemigod — 2008/12/30 @ 12:31

  14. Well, it’s only fitting that thedemigod and Da Goddess should hang out, right?

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2008/12/30 @ 12:43

  15. So many shared coincidences here… I also used to play the clarinet & organ (along with many other instruments), but sadly only have a keyboard left, and lots of guitars that I can no longer even play very well, due to MY small hands (even though I’m 5’11” – go figure).

    I meant to ask… is the photo in the sidebar of you? Are you a current (or former) Faire worker?? If so, chalk up another similarity. :princess:

    Comment by Larissa — 2009/03/02 @ 03:37

  16. Yes, the photo at the top of the blogroll is, indeed, me. It’s a remnant from a long extinct “Rack” browser (from back in the dark ages of 2002 — the rack browser featured chestal regions of both male and female, and there was even a frog, too). Go figure.

    Silly bloggers! We’ll do anything for a laugh.

    I will say, though, that I’ve always thought I should be decked out in Faire clothing. I do have the cleavage, don’t it?

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/03/02 @ 04:06

  17. Ha! Yes, I do have to profess that you would indeed fit in well at the Faire. I think that is why I haven’t gone back, myself… I worked there at *15* and got myself into MORE than enough trouble then, being so young and all… I think that now it may just be my end of all ends. :rofl:

    Comment by Larissa — 2009/03/02 @ 13:48

  18. Greetings from yet another Alaksan and the frozen freakin North. Found you via Mostly Cajun. Love your list! And I agree, you shoulda kept the SLR and dumped the dude. I still have my first, a battered and bruised Nikon F2 I bought used from my boss. I have finally been dragged, kicking and screaming, into the digital realm. Looking forward to many happy hours reading your stories…

    Comment by p2 — 2009/03/24 @ 13:26

  19. p2, digital can be very rewarding and a LOT less expensive. Do I wish I still had my film gear? Yes, but only for certain situations. And then I realize that most of that desire stems from frustration over mastering the digital functions and such. The thing is, if it were super easy, it wouldn’t be anywhere near as fun. And even though some people get lucky in “auto”, I’m not one of them. I want to own my camera not have it own me.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/03/25 @ 00:16

  20. Gotta admit, I’m not spending time in a darkened room refilling film cassettes or breathing in the heady perfume of fixer, all while doing my damnedest not to knock over my beer. I think I prefer the new stuff, but there are times you just wanna get your hands dirty……

    Comment by p2 — 2009/03/25 @ 12:21

  21. I miss the darkroom, too. But it’s kind of nice to be able to futz around in the digital darkroom while watching TV or the kids.

    Ah, the smell of developer and fix…that was enough to make me smile for the whole day. Now? I’m happy just to have a camera in my hands that I can afford to shoot.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/03/25 @ 13:43

  22. Amen to that…. And no negs, slides, or contact sheets to lose. Retouching with an airbrush or (shudder) a fine art brush, is a thing of ages past.

    Have we really progressed?

    Comment by p2 — 2009/03/25 @ 18:02

  23. you can lose your files on a hard drive! That’s happened to me. I back up everything right away. It used to be that the lost negs weren’t so bad if you had prints, but it was still scary to lose the negs and it’s scary to lose files. Back up. Back up. Back up. That’s the first rule of digital photography.

    Progress? Same risks, same end result, different physical process of getting image from mind to paper. Six of one, half dozen of the other, I say.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/03/25 @ 21:57

  24. Hey Joanie – long time no see. I just came across your Blog today. Glad to see you are still writing and I share your enthusiasm for photography.

    I am now old and retired and spend most of my time with my two wonderful grandchildren – of whom I have snapped thousands of photos.

    Best regards,

    Gary the RWT

    Comment by The Original RightWingTexan — 2009/10/27 @ 10:54

  25. I was feeling nostalgic and read your piece about Country Dick and it reminded me of the time CD came into the Star & Garter to visit with a couple of the dancers. I had just picked up Loud Plowed & Live and asked him if he would mind autographing it for me. He was happy to do it and gave me a copy of Gutterball that i treasure to this day. Guess I’ll have to dig it out and give it a listen tomorrow.

    Comment by jaytee — 2009/11/07 @ 12:20

  26. The day the music died. Grade school. They gave us a multi-choice bubble test and I started on the wrong column. I wrote piano for desired instrument which wasn’t a band instrument. Oh well.

    I do not sing in public (because I have a love of humanity and my voice is a cold war weapon.)

    Just passin’ by…

    Comment by ken anthony — 2010/08/15 @ 15:57

  27. Hi Joanie… ;)
    Eric

    Comment by Eric — 2020/08/11 @ 14:56

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