5 Things You May Not Know About Me

1. My middle name is Marlain, which you may already know...

You may also know I was named after my Grandma Byrd. Her name is Marlain, but she goes by Lanie.

What you may NOT know, however, is that she was named after the Old Hollywood actress, Marlene Dietrich. So, how did Marlene turn into Marlain? My Grandma's doctor jacked up the spelling on the birth certificate. Thus, she legally became Marlain and passed it on to me.

Marlene Dietrich

2. The only bone I've ever broken is my jaw.

Well, I didn't necessarily "break" it in the sense where it snapped or anything (I cringed as I typed that). I really just cracked it...and I have the scar to prove it.

It happened on the playground during recess in kindergarten. Does anyone remember those 3-tiered bars on every playground? I LOVED swinging around those things! At that age I pretty much stuck to the middle and low bars, but that day I must have felt ambitious because I graduated myself to the high bar.

I was talking to another kid on the swings across from me when I started doing my typical gymnastics twirls. I forgot I was on that damn high bar.

I let go mid-swing and dropped chin first onto the white gravel rocks. I'll spare you the gory details.

A couple knocked out teeth, x-rays and a teddy bear from my Dad later, I got the good news that my mouth wouldn't have to be wired shut. I was young enough and the crack wasn't bad enough that Doc said I would heal quickly.

Felt like forever before it was back to normal (or so I think...some of my memories could be a little reconstructed to meet my imagination). I do know I had a strict straw diet containing of chicken broth and milkshakes. Hearty.

I bounced back, though, both mentally and physically. I didn't let that fall stop me from getting back up on those bars. I took up gymnastics a couple years later, where I became a bar-swinging fool. 

I consider myself rather adventurous, with too many thrilling things left to do in my life.


3. My favorite candies are Strawberry Laffy Taffy and Tootsie Rolls. 

Once I start eating them I can't just have one...it's a problem.

I literally just walked out of Target last month with two bags of Easter Tootsie Rolls...and ate them all...without sharing...without shame.

Tootsie Roll Heaven

4. I HATE pears!

Cannot stand the taste. Cannot stand the smell. 

The fact that I got spanked by my babysitter when I was little for refusing to eat them makes me loathe them even more. 

KEEP. THEM. AWAY. FROM. ME.


5. I love playing games...any kind. Drinking. Board. Card. Video (eh, sort of).

Love me some friendly competition...no explanation necessary. 

Pictionary: circa Summer of 2007

Drinking + Pictionary. Typical Summer night in Topeka during college.