Another getting to know you thread

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Sue and Oliver (GA)

Sue and Oliver (GA)

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I have so enjoyed these threads and especially the tangents that spring from the original question.

So: Where were you born? Any "unusual" circumstances?

Mine is fairly uneventful, as far as I was told. We were a military family and were stationed in Greenvile, So Carolina for a couple years, so that is my place of birth. I have lived in Colorado since 5th grade so it seems out of place.

My mother and her best friend were pregnant at the same time and both liked the names Nancy and Susan. I was born last so got the left over name: Susan. Not sure if I'd make a good Nancy or not.....
 
My birth was uneventful too. I was born in Baton Rouge, La, moved to suburbs of New Orleans when I was 7. Lived there until college when I moved back to Baton Rouge. Now live in Ms because land is cheaper and I wanted horses. My name was supposed to be Laurie, until my mother saw the movie The Parent Trap. I have an older sister, Susan, so I'm Sharon. Not sure that I'd have made a good Laurie either...
 
I was born in Battle Creek, Mi and was the first child and then four brothers thereafter. Nothing unusual. My name was going to be Sharon but my mom's friend named her daughter Sharon first so I got Cindy. When I was a teen, I changed my name to Cindi. Can't remember why other than probably it had something to do with independence. I lived in Michigan till 30 then moved to Bloomingon, ILL, West Lafayette, IN, Scotts Mills, OR then finally Phoenix, AZ all due to work. I always had horses too where ever I lived except for Bloomington, ILL.
 
I too was born into a military family. My Dad was stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC at the time of my birth. It was hurricane season and I was born on Sept. 19th 1955 smack in the middle of Hurricane Ione. The hospital lost power and was on back-up generators and there were so many births happening then that they had my Mom on a gurney in the hallway. She had been sleeping most of the time and when she awoken to pain, she flagged down a nurse and said she thought she was ready and the nurse basically berated her, " Mam, YOU have been sleeping out here for hours, now we have babies to really deliver" And off she went. My mom finally got a little Candy Stripper to actually look and see that my head had crowned and got my mom attention.

My Dad wanted to name me Ione after the hurricane, YUCK. My Mom wanted to name me Elizabeth after Elizabeth Taylor. ( I would have liked that) Neither won, they decided on Bobbie after my Mom and Joe after my Dad ~ Bobbie Joe. After moving up to Yankee land in Jr. High, I got teased a lot for my double southern name and dropped the Joe.
 
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I really love these threads! I was just thinking the other day we needed to start a new one, but before I could come up with an idea, work hit. And it has been quite a week...

I was born into a military family, too. I was born in Torrejon, Spain. Unfortunately, I have no memory of it since we left when I was around 6 months old. I hope to visit someday.

The most unusual thing about my birth was that my father knew we were leaving. He'd gotten orders to Korea and rather than bring his family to such an unsettled place, he was going remote (so he was going to Korea for 1 year and we were going to move back to PA to be near my mom's parents). He also had a broken leg and a walking cast...as he described it, the kind that had a wooden peg out of the bottom of it. After I was born, he checked me out of the hospital, walked me across a ditch to the place to get my photo taken for my passport, walked me back across the ditch, and checked me back in. It takes awhile to get a passport, so he wanted to get it started ASAP. I still have that first passport somewhere....with me as a baby.

My mother wanted to name me Jacqueline, but my dad said no. I'm glad...that wouldn't have been a good name for me. Unfortunately, they both wanted to give me an "unusual" name, but chose Rachel. They only knew one other couple with a daughter named Rachel and just don't understand how they didn't know the name was so popular. As I reminded them...they were in Spain.
 
Rachel said:
I really love these threads! I was just thinking the other day we needed to start a new one, but before I could come up with an idea, work hit. And it has been quite a week...

I was born into a military family, too. I was born in Torrejon, Spain. Unfortunately, I have no memory of it since we left when I was around 6 months old. I hope to visit someday.

The most unusual thing about my birth was that my father knew we were leaving. He'd gotten orders to Korea and rather than bring his family to such an unsettled place, he was going remote (so he was going to Korea for 1 year and we were going to move back to PA to be near my mom's parents). He also had a broken leg and a walking cast...as he described it, the kind that had a wooden peg out of the bottom of it. After I was born, he checked me out of the hospital, walked me across a ditch to the place to get my photo taken for my passport, walked me back across the ditch, and checked me back in. It takes awhile to get a passport, so he wanted to get it started ASAP. I still have that first passport somewhere....with me as a baby.

My mother wanted to name me Jacqueline, but my dad said no. I'm glad...that wouldn't have been a good name for me. Unfortunately, they both wanted to give me an "unusual" name, but chose Rachel. They only knew one other couple with a daughter named Rachel and just don't understand how they didn't know the name was so popular. As I reminded them...they were in Spain.
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Wow, another military family!
 
I was born in a smallish town in Northern Indiana -just south of Michigan and east of Chicago. My Mom wanted to name me Rose but decided not to as that was the name of her mother in law (:)) Good thing too as I have rosacea. I've lived in W Lafayette, IN, Indianapolis, IN, Milwaukee WI, Denver CO, Atlanta GA, Chicago IL, Phnom Penh Cambodia and then though stationed in US, worked for months on end in India, Almaty Kazakhstan, and Botswana in addition to a few other spots. Now I'm back in Northern Indiana taking care of my 95 year old mother
 
I feel like I don't have a good story compared everybody else. :-) I was born in Livingston Montana. It's a small town about 50 miles from Yellowstone park. My dad was in the hospital in Wyoming the night that I was born so my mom took my brothers to the neighbors house and walked to the hospital. My name was always going to be Lisa. My paternal grandfather is from Czechoslovakia so my last name is kind of complicated. Therefore my mom gave all of us kids easy first names. Where I live now is the farthest away I've ever lived from my birth town. It's 172 miles down the road. :-)
 
Born in CT.
Lived in NJ 'til about age 4 or so.
Moved to Ohio and didn't fit in, so I read books during grades K - 12 (which does nothing for social skills).
Started college in Nevada, MO.
Had a spinal fusion summer of '76 (I've been plastered 3 times, in as much as 20 lbs of the stuff.)
Transferred to Ohio U in Athens, OH to finish the BA.
Snagged MA Ed in Counseling and an MS Tech Ed in teaching of research from U of Akron.
Worked a crisis hotline for 4 years.
Had a short job as a student actuary - really bad fit for me.
Found a job at the Ohio Dept of Health and have been there since, crunching numbers from vital statistics and from various health surveys.

I sing 2nd Alto in the Columbus Symphony Chorus.
 
Likameow said:
I feel like I don't have a good story compared everybody else. :) I was born in Livingston Montana. It's a small town about 50 miles from Yellowstone park. My dad was in the hospital in Wyoming the night that I was born so my mom took my brothers to the neighbors house and walked to the hospital. My name was always going to be Lisa. My paternal grandfather is from Czechoslovakia so my last name is kind of complicated. Therefore my mom gave all of us kids easy first names. Where I live now is the farthest away I've ever lived from my birth town. It's 172 miles down the road. :)
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Your mom walked to the hospital because you dad was in the hospital! That's a great story!!
 
BJM said:
Born in CT.
Lived in NJ 'til about age 4 or so.
Moved to Ohio and didn't fit in, so I read books during grades K - 12 (which does nothing for social skills).
Started college in Nevada, MO.
Had a spinal fusion summer of '76 (I've been plastered 3 times, in as much as 20 lbs of the stuff.)
Transferred to Ohio U in Athens, OH to finish the BA.
Snagged MA Ed in Counseling and an MS Tech Ed in teaching of research from U of Akron.
Worked a crisis hotline for 4 years.
Had a short job as a student actuary - really bad fit for me.
Found a job at the Ohio Dept of Health and have been there since, crunching numbers from vital statistics and from various health surveys.

I sing 2nd Alto in the Columbus Symphony Chorus.
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Numbers! No wonder you are so good with the dose breakdowns!
 
Likameow said:
I feel like I don't have a good story compared everybody else. :) I was born in Livingston Montana. It's a small town about 50 miles from Yellowstone park. My dad was in the hospital in Wyoming the night that I was born so my mom took my brothers to the neighbors house and walked to the hospital. My name was always going to be Lisa. My paternal grandfather is from Czechoslovakia so my last name is kind of complicated. Therefore my mom gave all of us kids easy first names. Where I live now is the farthest away I've ever lived from my birth town. It's 172 miles down the road. :)
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Your Mom walked to the hospital to give birth to you? That's an amazing story -
 
Haha, I would have been an excellent flamenco dancer! ;)

I ended up in AL through military moves. When my dad came back from Korea, we moved to Hawaii...spent a few years there, and then headed to Germany. We were supposed to be there 5 years, but when the Berlin Wall came down, they rearranged things and sent us to South Dakota. 3 years after that, we moved to AL. My dad retired here, and they considered moving but decided against it. That turned out well since he got sick about a year after he retired and there were some really good doctors nearby. My mom moved back to PA to be near HER mom a couple years after he passed away.

I went to college in state (better tuition!). Got my teaching license and taught high school for a couple years. I didn't go back North with my mom because I had a good job. Of course, a few years later I couldn't teach anymore because jobs are pretty impossible to come by. I'm still here because I found another job here...though I'd like to move. I'm not really a Southern girl...it's too hot! But until I get some money and a job somewhere else...I'm pretty stuck!

You all have some interesting stories! I really enjoy reading these. :)
 
I've lived in the south all my life, and yes it is too hot! I'm still not used to it!

You're in Bama country, how's the atmosphere ahead of the big game today?
 
Thanks. I'm actually more analytical/logical than mathematical., which works well for figuring out how to get my computer programs written in SAS to do what I want them to do.
 
Rachel, you can always start now. Our daughter went to Spain around age 40 to learn. It's a great weight program, I guess. Not like I ever tried it.

We would need pictures!
 
Rachel -I do feel your pain - I've worked for CDC forever and was in Atlanta for 10 years and found the weather absolutely miserable - there was also some Southern culture shock (this was back in the 80s) - so I begged for a transfer to Chicago. Of course, the irony was that I ended up living in Cambodia which makes the heat and humidity of any southern summer pale in comparison - there were times I opened my balcony doors in Phnom Penh at midnight and it felt like I opened the door to a 500 degree oven. I actually love winter - you can always put on more clothes, but only so many you can take off.
 
Hahahaha!! If I ever decide to take up flamenco, I'll be sure to post pictures! Not sure anyone would want to see that though...
 
Carol C said:
Rachel -I do feel your pain - I've worked for CDC forever and was in Atlanta for 10 years and found the weather absolutely miserable - there was also some Southern culture shock (this was back in the 80s) - so I begged for a transfer to Chicago. Of course, the irony was that I ended up living in Cambodia which makes the heat and humidity of any southern summer pale in comparison - there were times I opened my balcony doors in Phnom Penh at midnight and it felt like I opened the door to a 500 degree oven. I actually love winter - you can always put on more clothes, but only so many you can take off.
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The flamenco costume might work for that?
 
@Sharon14 the atmosphere is tense here! I'm not a football fan, so I'm just comfortably sitting on my couch knitting (though I do have a wedding to head to later...where they plan on watching the game). But folks down here are surely feeling all kinds of feels about football today!
 
What football game? Who does Alabama play? I'm in Golden Dome country (although not a huge fan - I like Blackhawks hockey) actually - that would be a good getting to know you thread - favorite sports teams
 
If I moved to Cambodia, sounds like the flamenco costume would be perfect! I don't know guys...feels like a new stage in my life is starting. ;)

Bama plays LSU. The only reason I know this is because it's all anyone talked about at work the other day. I plan to exit the wedding before the game starts and come home. We had a team outing at work to a baseball game once...I brought my knitting and worked on a scarf while everyone else watched baseball. :)
 
Bama VS LSU. the game of the week. It's all anybody down here's talking about too. I went to LSU, GEAUX TIGERS!!! They are both in the top 5 in the nation. I figured you couldn't avoid it living in that area. Football is a religion down here especially SEC football.
I kinda like hockey too, but not a lot of it down here! Started watching it during the 1980 Olympics.
 
The only thing I don't like about winter, is trudging through the cold rain to feed the horses. I love spring and fall. Right now it's 80, with high humidity. Too hot, but a cold front is on the way to bring seasonable temps.:)

Carol C said:
well then, GEAUX TIGERS!!
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Thanks, we need it, we haven't beat Bama in several years!
 
Rachel said:
Haha, I would have been an excellent flamenco dancer! ;)

I ended up in AL through military moves. When my dad came back from Korea, we moved to Hawaii...spent a few years there, and then headed to Germany. We were supposed to be there 5 years, but when the Berlin Wall came down, they rearranged things and sent us to South Dakota. 3 years after that, we moved to AL. My dad retired here, and they considered moving but decided against it. That turned out well since he got sick about a year after he retired and there were some really good doctors nearby. My mom moved back to PA to be near HER mom a couple years after he passed away.

I went to college in state (better tuition!). Got my teaching license and taught high school for a couple years. I didn't go back North with my mom because I had a good job. Of course, a few years later I couldn't teach anymore because jobs are pretty impossible to come by. I'm still here because I found another job here...though I'd like to move. I'm not really a Southern girl...it's too hot! But until I get some money and a job somewhere else...I'm pretty stuck!

You all have some interesting stories! I really enjoy reading these. :)
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The last place my parents lived together before my Dad passed was Huntsville, AL. What part are you in?
 
I've worked at the Ohio Department of Health since 1989.

I got hired for my 'computer experience' - 1 class on an Apple 2e, some mainframe work for my classes, and babysitting computer labs (typical exchange - student: 'Can you help me?' me: 'I don't know.' student: 'but you're the lab assistant!!!' me: 'but they didn't train me' and then figuring out what the student needed.)

Upon finding that out, I started cramming on PCs and taught myself a fair bit, plus learned about epidemiology (education and social science statistics overlap considerably, except for things like Mantel-Hansel chi square, rates, etc.)
 
BJM said:
I've worked at the Ohio Department of Health since 1989.

I got hired for my 'computer experience' - 1 class on an Apple 2e, some mainframe work for my classes, and babysitting computer labs (typical exchange - student: 'Can you help me?' me: 'I don't know.' student: 'but you're the lab assistant!!!' me: 'but they didn't train me' and then figuring out what the student needed.)

Upon finding that out, I started cramming on PCs and taught myself a fair bit, plus learned about epidemiology (education and social science statistics overlap considerably, except for things like Mantel-Hansel chi square, rates, etc.)
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I think that is a pretty common scenario at health depts around the country
 
BJM said:
I've worked at the Ohio Department of Health since 1989.

I got hired for my 'computer experience' - 1 class on an Apple 2e, some mainframe work for my classes, and babysitting computer labs (typical exchange - student: 'Can you help me?' me: 'I don't know.' student: 'but you're the lab assistant!!!' me: 'but they didn't train me' and then figuring out what the student needed.)

Upon finding that out, I started cramming on PCs and taught myself a fair bit, plus learned about epidemiology (education and social science statistics overlap considerably, except for things like Mantel-Hansel chi square, rates, etc.)
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@BJM Do you work in surveillance or any particular area at the Health Dept?
 
Carol C said:
@BJM Do you work in surveillance or any particular area at the Health Dept?
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I started in Chronic Diseases and got re-organized into Maternal and Child Health in the last few years. Right now, I program in SAS and do analyses of infant mortality and risk factors by various geographic regions in Ohio, plus analyze our Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) and selected Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey data.
 
I am late (again) to the party, but sure had fun reading all of the posts tonight! We sure have a lot of interesting peeps on here! I was born in Bradenton Florida, named Virginia Lynn after my mother, but was always called Lynn, I hated my old fashioned name growing up and had a hard time spelling it when I was young. :rolleyes: I grew up in West Palm Beach and we moved to Orlando when I was entering the 6th grade. My dad was so happy to be leaving touristy West Palm Beach, of course it wasn't many more years that Disney was built! I moved to Colorado when I was 19, lived in Boulder, Netherland (high in the mountains) and Denver. I had never seen snow, so was so excited the first time I saw it! Moved back to Florida for a few years, got married and moved to Minnesota, Detroit Lakes area. We bought a small cabin on 15 acres, no plumbing or running water. My first winter we were still using an outhouse, I soon learned to use a slop pot at night! :p Moved back to Florida briefly and then moved to South Dakota, bought my DH's grandparents place, 40 acres and a small house, again no running water or plumbing! I am a pro at using outhouses! lol I lived in South Dakota for about 30 years and just moved back to Florida last December. I went from one of the coldest states to one of the hottest! I miss the fall weather, but come this winter when it is 20 below in SD, I will be glad of the Florida sunshine. All my family lives here, so it is great to be back with them. That's all folks! (said with a Porky Pig stutter) :D
 
Bobbie And Bubba said:
I too was born into a military family. My Dad was stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC at the time of my birth. It was hurricane season and I was born on Sept. 19th 1955 smack in the middle of Hurricane Ione. The hospital lost power and was on back-up generators and there were so many births happening then that they had my Mom on a gurney in the hallway. She had been sleeping most of the time and when she awoken to pain, she flagged down a nurse and said she thought she was ready and the nurse basically berated her, " Mam, YOU have been sleeping out here for hours, now we have babies to really deliver" And off she went. My mom finally got a little Candy Stripper to actually look and see that my head had crowned and got my mom attention.

My Dad wanted to name me Ione after the hurricane, YUCK. My Mom wanted to name me Elizabeth after Elizabeth Taylor. ( I would have liked that) Neither won, they decided on Bobbie after my Mom and Joe after my Dad ~ Bobbie Joe. After moving up to Yankee land in Jr. High, I got teased a lot for my double southern name and dropped the Joe.
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Lol @ Bobbie Joe, I have a sister named Cindy Joe and a sister named Perri Sue, so understand about the double southern name thing. Can anyone say "Petticoat Junction"? :smuggrin: Tg I was named after my mom and just called Lynn.
 
That's a great story Lynn. When I had my house built in 2007, the contractor asked me what I wanted in the house, my reply was 'indoor plumbing'. I got an odd look from her...
 
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