A Good Thriller discussion

Here's some random facts:
1. My favorite music is Country Music, and my favorite song of all time is The Dance, by Garth Brooks.
2. My personal record for bench press is 365 pounds.
3. I once ran over an opossum down a country road outside Donalds, SC going 118 mph! Later on when the mechanic was repairing my car for another matter, he asked "Sir, did you hit some kind of dog or something? Ya got gray fur caked up under here pretty good."
4. I have been to some unique places in the world; 2 of which are Oberammergau and Possum Kingdom.
5. I am the only police officer from my department to ever rip off a door handle.
6. Summer after I graduated high school I discovered what causes appendicitis: 14 pancakes, followed immediately by two hours of pickup games of basketball, chased down with a can of nacho cheese with some nachos while watching OJ Simpson run from the law.
7. There are more than 30 routes to get from Greenville, SC to Due West, SC - and I have probably taken them all.
8. I have sung baritone and tenor in the two cathedrals with the highest spires in the world (located in Ulm and Cologne, Germany).
9. Junior year in college I punched out the window of a fire extinguisher case (nope - there was no fire).
10. Guilty pleasure - I like to fold my clean laundry while singing out loud to country music.

You are a fascinating dude, Jason. Great list (except for the poor possum)!

Ha! My mechanic said the same thing - regarding the possum :)

This still is one of my favourite threads.

Struggling to find ten more things, as I have listed 20 so far.

But here is a few off my head, so not sure if mentioned before.

1/ I started full time work at 16 years old.

2/ By 19 years old I was a qualified hairdresser.

3/ while hairdressing, I trained and boxed every night, and as mentioned had over 140 fights. Won 88 fights by knockout, and won over 120 fights. Was never stopped or put down.

3/Love scuba Diving on holiday

4/ Scuba -dived in Hawaii, Mexico, Cyprus, California, Florida, South Africa.

5/ I love looking at beautiful and expensive homes.
(enjoying Homes by the Med on TV at the moment)

6/Love war films and westerns

7/ Love crime noir films

8/ I cry a lot when it's happy or sad films/tv

9/Coming up for 37 years marriage.

10/ Happy to have paid our mortgage and cars off in December

Congratulations on #9, Sean!

Congrats on 9 & 10 as well, Sean! Both things to be so proud of...as I'm sure your boxing career was too!

Jason's # 10 made me laugh. Haha

I am happy and proud and have great memories of my boxing, but also over the last 30 years winning 48 tennis titles in singles, doubles and mixed.

Proud of 37 years of marriage as well, we married so young, and still together, I was 21 my wife was 19 !

I loved the lady previous' #3...so true! <3

That is truly one of the biggest accomplishments! I love couples who stay together through it all. It's hard work and so worth it! For those who don't, that's fine too! Sometimes it's too great a pain.
Congrats on your tennis titles as well!

I hadn't really read this thread! I love these members lists! DarksLyric and Wolfrott...here's looking at you two! <3

Sean, now THAT could make an interesting story...the hairdresser who moonlighted as a boxer. Unique combo, sir. Stout record, too.

Thanks, a long time ago.

Although my boss hated it if I came in with a black eye....LOL

I bet your clients did a few double takes on those days, Sean!

Sure did, when I was washing some of our lovely older ladies, I was only 16 -17 !

"Oh dear Sean, what happened to your eye" !!

Ow. I can imagine the looks on their face when they heard you'd been boxing...if you told them that, that is.

I did, yes it sure shocked them.

I'm sure that as you improved as a boxer, the number of times you came in to work with a black eye went down appreciably.

Let's do this again...my first ten were fun. Here's 10 more:
1. I once locked two frozen pizzas in an oven, thinking I was turning the light of the oven on to check on the progress, when what I really did was set the oven on self-cleaning. You should have seen the charred black discs that came out, once we were able to open the oven again :)
2. I have floated on the Dead Sea.
3. I had to get tased in order to carry a taser on duty; in the process I sounded like the Incredible Hulk and Chewbacca combined (with a colorful word at the end).
4. The first time I hit a golf ball, I didn't use the right grip on the club, and the club went further than the ball.
5. My younger brother almost drowned when he was little, and I saw my dad help save his life.
6. I have sat in a spot where I had one cheek in Tennessee, and one cheek in Kentucky at the same time.
7. When I was young, my best friend and I were chased through several back yards by a juvenile tiger. Seriously - some dog breeders were helping out the local zoo by helping raise the cub, and we thought we could antagonize it through the fence - because hey - we knew the dogs couldn't clear the fence. Note to self: young tigers can out jump golden retrievers,
8. I have helped hold a 19 foot long, 245 pound reticulated python.
9. My brothers and I made a short music karaoke video for my parents when we were younger; the three of us sang along to Garth Brooks's Friends in Low Places. My dad surprised my mom with the old video on their 30th wedding anniversary.
10. My son did a science fair project this past year that tested the penetration of various calibers of bullets versus different length of gun barrels. Good times were had by all involved.

1. I was for a nanosecond the youngest person in the world...so were you.
2. I'm colorblind...didn't have a chance as both grandfathers were too.
3. First job was dishwasher, ended up managing hotels for most of my adult life.
4. Moved 13 times in 11 years in most of the Midwestern states in the U.S. managing hotels.
5. Married 34 years.
6. Wake up every morning with a song in my head, usually not the same one.
7. My wife and I built our home except the electrical and plumbing...I didn't want a toilet to flush when I flipped a light switch.
8. Managed a perennial plant nursery for 4 years.
9. Survived cardiac arrest brought on by a 70 mile bicycle ride that I had not trained for.
10. Quit smoking 9 years ago as a result.

10 more random facts/thoughts - this is fun!

1. blue is my favorite color today - it changes with my mood and the weather.
2. i took two film criticism classes in college and my family believes i am movie snob.
3. i have a sunburn from saturday that still stings.
4. music and books are my favorite pastimes.
5. walking 10,000 steps daily helps bring me to my happy place.
6. acne and wrinkles together on the same face is just wrong.
7. if life was fair, birthday cake would have no calories.
8. i love my job...it's nice to be able to say that since it's not always been true.
9. champagne in a juice glass isn't as good but juice in a champagne glass tastes better.
10. it is my belief that every happening in life has a theme song.

Great to bring this back to life.....

Two ladies studying our group in great detail, marked this as a thread/post that was different from many groups.

Book Social(our two lady members) are writing a book about book clubs, and there research has discovered that as a group we are doing many things right.

Our group will be mentioned I am sure in there new book and also in all there research.

They have the thread "General" folder called " What Makes This Group/Club Your Home"

Please do and have a look.

Alright, Ill give this a try as my first post in this group.

1) I've been to culinary school
2) Unfortunately, i've developed a painful spinal disease that has cause my weight to drop for 120 to 86# in about a year, despite eating thousands of calories a day--don't ask me why--the doctor said it was a reaction to my medication that I would overcome...yet, it's never happened yet:( This has left me exactly 30# underweight, and sometimes provokes the most idiotic comments such as: "I know you need to gain weight, but that type of body looks really good in a bikini." By the way, this person had accompanied me to the doctor who said I was extremely malnourished...No joke, I was SHOCKED....this is the first year I have not DARED to put one on!
3) I have a service dog--though I've been unable to keep up with his training, he's still a wonderful gentle giant who seems to react strongly to how I feel--pacing when I cry, or laying still, moping all day in a state of depression, refusing to eat his food on my bad days
4) reading is a great distraction--the best, Especially during huge thunderstorms,
5) I've been in an extremely controlling marriage, where I was cut off from everyone and everything...hidden away, unable to answer doors for even the postman--not sure how I let myself get there, but it was a slow process that is probably difficult for anyone to understand who does not have a strong grasp os Stockholm Syndrome. Trust me, I entered the marriage a straight A student--this did not happen because I was not smart...again..it took time to develop Stockholm Syndrome. And he was a pro.
6) Things that happened in my marriage are probably partially responsible for my physical condition, along with heredity.
7) I'm obviously a very (many say too) open and honest person,
8) loyalty and kindness are high on my list of qualities I look for in friends (even here on Goodreads).
9)After I share very personal information about myself I get a bit afraid of how I'll be seen. (therefor this list might be deleted pretty soon and replaced with innocuous information, such as my favorite flowers,etc)
10) my favorite flowers are huge blue hydrangea blossoms.

Gordon wrote: "1 When I was young my mother tagged all my things Gordon's chair, Gordon's toys and apparently (I don't remember) I nearly died when I got into Gordon's Gin.
2 I would really really love to be able..."

Oh my gosh, I LOVE number six!

Christy wrote: "Alright, Ill give this a try as my first post in this group.

1) I've been to culinary school
2) Unfortunately, i've developed a painful spinal disease that has cause my weight to drop for 120 to ..."

{{Christy}} I admire your honesty and openness. That is the only effect your list has on how I see you!

Christy, honest and open does not begin to describe you. Add brave, strong, and persevering. Wow!

Perri wrote: "Christy wrote: "Alright, Ill give this a try as my first post in this group.

1) I've been to culinary school
2) Unfortunately, i've developed a painful spinal disease that has cause my weight to ..."

Thank you, Perri! Wow--I really appreciate your comment. Makes this feel like a safe place.

Jean wrote: "Christy, honest and open does not begin to describe you. Add brave, strong, and persevering. Wow!"

Oh my gosh Jean. I love hearing those words describe me! Thank you. I actually have tears in my eyes!

Brave, strong and persevering indeed, Christy! Welcome to the Good Thriller family!

You have nothing to fear here, Christy. Love your open approach. Great list of facts. Thank you. :)

Stephanie wrote: "I love your honesty, Christy!! I also have commented I some things before and felt a bit ready to delete based on people's reactions or feeling uncomfortable.... So glad to "meet" you!!"

Thank you Stephanie....I can't tell you how many times iIve spent hours writing reviews (by the way--my disease really affects my right arm, making typing hard a lot of the time) only to erase them....I have one half finished (on Stockholm Syndrome), that I walked away from over a month ago....problem is it has "likes" and is on the first page, but I went back and erased half the thing and am trying to build myself up to return so it's not left incomplete! I got an email just yesterday asking if part of it was missing! I was sure what I had said was putting others reviewers down in some way...

Christine wrote: "Brave, strong and persevering indeed, Christy! Welcome to the Good Thriller family!"

I'm getting overwhelmed! Thank you! I really do feel welcome!

Janet wrote: "You have nothing to fear here, Christy. Love your open approach. Great list of facts. Thank you. :)"

Thank you, I am so glad I joined this group! I had joined two others and never had a response....of course they were not personal, but all the same--such a difference here.

Christy, here you are a new member, and your first post here on A Good Thriller shows as mentioned an honest, kind and brave woman.

Like I mentioned in our PM's we have a band of lovely people who do care.

Net Galley posts, Janet will help you.

Enjoy the group Christy.

Christy, I could just hug you!! Writing that post was so courageous! You picked a great group to open up to. We don't judge or criticize or ridicule. Welcome to our family!

Sean wrote: "Christy, here you are a new member, and your first post here on A Good Thriller shows as mentioned an honest, kind and brave woman.

Like I mentioned in our PM's we have a band of lovely people who..."

Indeed! Any questions, just ask. :)

Normally, I do this on another thread. Christy, your "Welcome to the Family" URL is
Chuck Berry: Johnny B. Goode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFo8-...

Christy, welcome, and thank you for showing such transparency. Much respect from someone who hates when someone else takes advantage or victimizes others. God bless you, and I pray you continue to find healing.

Brenda wrote: "Christy, I could just hug you!! Writing that post was so courageous! You picked a great group to open up to. We don't judge or criticize or ridicule. Welcome to our family!"

I can see that! This really is a wonderful group! Thank you so much.

Tim wrote: "Very brave, Christy. I hope you find sharing a cathartic experience. If I could give you a real life hug, I would. Look yourself in the eye and wink. You deserve it."

Oh, now that was cute, it made me smile. You guys are great. I am so glad that I joined! Thank you.

Jason wrote: "Christy, welcome, and thank you for showing such transparency. Much respect from someone who hates when someone else takes advantage or victimizes others. God bless you, and I pray you continue to ..."

Thank you Jason. I do need those prayers!

Amber wrote: "Normally, I do this on another thread. Christy, your "Welcome to the Family" URL is
Chuck Berry: Johnny B. Goode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFo8-..."

Very uplifting! really made me want to get up, even at one of my hardest times of the day....Thank you:)

Janet wrote: "Sean wrote: "Christy, here you are a new member, and your first post here on A Good Thriller shows as mentioned an honest, kind and brave woman.

Like I mentioned in our PM's we have a band of love..."

Thank you.....oh my gosh. I know I will have a lot. I'm not very computer literate, but it is now my link to the outside world! I know I'm interested in the read alongs, especially if they are offered free or for a special price....I love this group already and need to learn to navigate it well.

You can ask as many questions as you like, Christy. Members here will take you through step by step patiently. Take your time, no rush, and just absorb it at a comfortable level for you. Enjoy!

Right okay, who's next with their top ten random facts !!

I mean I can contribute RANDOM facts all day. I guess I already gave you my top ten

I know , I hope we can get some new members post on here.

Okay, here we go
1. this acutally reminds me of an icebreaker game I used to play when I taught English here in Spain. It was called 'Lie detector'. I'd write four sentences about myself; two sentences were true and two were lies, and then the students had to work out which was which. I promise I won't lie here, though ;)
2. We have two cats, Keiko and Habibi. Both names mean 'beloved' or 'darling' in Japanese and Arabic respectively
3. earlier this year I caught up with my estranged brother whom I hadn't seen in 18 years. It went well
4. when I was 19 I took anti-malaria tablets when I was backpacking. Turns out I was alergic to them. I was seriously ill for 3 years, spent months in hospitals and nearly died. As a last resort the doctors wanted to try chemo on me which I declined. In the end I found a doctor who taught me how to mediate and I effectively cured myself over the following nine months
5. I think nobody writes better thrillers than the Americans
6. yesterday I went to the dentist for the first time in seven years. I'm not proud of it but after my earlier experiences I don't like going to the doctors very much. Anyway, I needed five fillings and it took two hours to do them. I did it without anesthetic and in the end I had such an adrenalin rush that the crash afterwards was probably just as unpleasant as the drugs would have been... My wife thinks I'm nuts
7. my all-time favourite film is 'North by Northwest' - Hitchcock at his best and Cary Grant in widescreen
8. I'd love to be able to time-travel but I can't decide where (or when) I'd go if I had the choice
9. the end of summer makes me melancholic
10. we haven't owned a television for five years now

Thanks Magnus

Magnus - I'm with your wife on #6...yikes! And welcome to the group

Jason wrote: "Magnus - I'm with your wife on #6...yikes! And welcome to the group"

like I said, I'm not proud of it, but anesthetics buckle my knees and the pain was bearable... and I won't be passing that message on to the wife, thank you very much ;)