GEAR PUMP ASSEMBLY

I will happily participate by uploading a photo (against my wishes, but what is fair for one is fair for all I suppose!) and my 16 things. I am supposed to tag 16 friends, but I must say, I have seen a disinclination among my flickr friends to be tagged so I will decline to do that part of it. I hope this doesn't upset anyone.

My sixteen things:

1. I am 51 years old, the youngest of 7 children. Five girls, two boys. My mother is 89. I lost my father to cardiac arrest when I was only 21.

2. I was born in California and grew up there most of my life until I met Tommy online at age 33. I moved to Georgia to marry him and the rest is sort of history.

3. My name is Judith, but my name was originally Cheryl. It was changed the day after it was entered on the birth certificate because my father was not present when my mother named me and disliked the name, insisting on it being changed to Judith. (I would have preferred Cheryl.)

4. I always made fun of people that had small, yappy 'lap dogs' that bring their dogs shopping at Petsmart and put 'stupid outfits' on them... and I swore that I would never, ever be one of THOSE. Well, one little white dog changed everything, when I met and fell in love with Trevor, a gift from my sweet Tommy. Katie followed, and the rest is, again, history. I have become one of THOSE people!

5. I am mildly dyslexic and have difficulty with directions, math and some other tasks in life. Strangely enough, because of being dyslexic, I can pack suitcases and load a truck perfectly, figure out difficult puzzles and love video games that require strategy.

6. I studied art in middle school and high school and learned to draw and paint, and take photographs. I have been taking pictures since I was 9 years old, when my father gave me a Kodak Brownie Bullet camera. He later upgraded my camera to a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye when he saw how much I loved photography. I was bitten by the Shutter Bug and never looked back.

7. My father was a sportsman and a deep sea fisherman, so I spent a lot of time on the beach as a child and teenager, and even young adult. I went fishing with him throughout my childhood and never used any sort of sunscreen (they didn't really have it then) and got so tan in that California sun. Strangely, I cannot go into the sun now. I burn severely and even get sun poisoning, so I avoid it. My eyesight is very bad due to sun damage, as well. I also have cataracts in both eyes and will have to have surgery sometime in the next few years. Thank goodness for autofocus cameras. :)

8. My first car was a 1972 AMC Javelin. Lots of fun getting my daughters in and out of their carseats in the back of that 2 door!

9. I was a tomboy growing up and loved to do 'boy' things. I can change a tire, change my own oil, do a tune up and always pump my own gas, among other things. I helped Tommy to build a deck on our old house. I once fiberglassed a boat with my father, and many other things. Strangely, I am now a Girly Girl. I love pretty things, and surround myself with them. I still like to be around when Tommy works on the car or the Harley.

10. I do not consider my photographic skills to be above mediocre. I think my daughter, Ronni, is far and away a much better photographer than I am. She has an eye for it and I think she will end up being phenomenal.

11. I am German, Scottish and French, in that order.

12. I do not eat beef or pork, or extremely rarely - preferring chicken and fish and lots of vegetables.

13. My dream is to own a small farm or ranch and live out my old age in a simple country way of life with Tommy. I'd like to raise chickens only for the eggs, have a pot-bellied pig and a horse. Westies, too... always Westies.

14. My husband Tommy was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer of the kidney last August (2008). He is now cancer free, and we are hoping that he continues to be. His outlook is good but he must have frequent tests to screen for any recurrence.

15. I am best friends with Tom's previous wife, whose name is also Judy, and she is on Flickr, as Georgia Blue. She is a great, talented and beautiful lady and we have loads in common. I love her to pieces.

16. I am a conservative, support our military, have always voted Republican, am pro-life and Christian... but do have to say, I am impressed with Obama and think (hope) that he may do a wonderful job as our President. Now would be a good time for that to happen. Our country needs him.