People, Places & McNuggets
It was only 8 weeks ago that I published my first blog post! It quite frankly feels like it has been longer than that. Maybe that is due in part to averaging about two hours less sleep each night as creative thoughts and ideas swirl around my twisted, little brain? Is that how time works?
Anyway, I thought this blog post would best be served to describe/overview some of the people and things that have been featured in previous posts. I’ve also added a few random bonus items, as well. Because in my blog life and my real life, I am random.
So, please…enjoy the show and tell of my so-called blog life…
People and Animals
Mom and Dad brought me into this world back in the ’70s. I was born in Boston on Valentine’s Day and the only child that my mom was allowed to deliver with an epidural. I think this gave me an advantage over my siblings to the status as the favorite child. They deny this, but I wish they would just admit to this already.
My parents are loving, generous, and incredibly funny people that I look up to not just as a daughter but as a friend. They recently snowbird-ed in Florida, so I was able to spend a lot of time with them over the winter and spring. Although they are now back home in Maine, I know I will get to see them again soon. I love you, Mom and Dad!
- These two adorable people recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. For the record, my Mom did not wear a cone to mark the occasion.
Kelly is so much more than my older sister. She and I were born 7 years apart, so we didn’t grow up super close. Would you want to hang out with a miscreant that liked to stick her dirty fingers in YOUR make-up? Didn’t think so.
My sister is nothing short of amazing. She’s one of the smartest people I have ever known. Hardworking, passionate, impeccably organized and detailed, knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas and oh so helpful. She’s the family “go-to” for so many questions and needs, especially when it comes to technology.
I never expected for her to become one of my best friends, but to be able to Facebook message, text, and talk on the phone daily with her is a real gift. And she also allows the poop emoji (my fave!) to be the mascot of our Facebook conversations. I’m forever grateful (about everything…not just the poop emoji thing.)
- I think we need to recreate this photo when we Girls Trip in Vegas, Kel.
Jared the Man. That’s what it says whenever I log onto Netflix. And it’s true. This man has a heart of gold, the mind of a steel trap, and an artist’s soul. He’s one of the most loyal and caring people I have ever met. I am grateful that puts up with me as I blunder my way through the blogging world (it takes serious TIME). I am doubly thankful that he knows how to deal with my “hangry” (he carefully hands me food).
I love you, Jared! I don’t know what I would do without your love, support, handyman capabilities, and horrible Boston accent. 🙂
Nicole is my best-est friend in the world. I met her just over 7 years ago at a party of a mutual friend (that is no longer friends with either one of us…DRAMA!). During our first conversation, she was wearing an oversized, fuzzy pink hat that had a Jamiroquai-like quality. Fast forward, and although the mutual friend and that weird a$$ hat are gone, I still have her.
Nicole, as my Dad said to my Mom on their second date, “If you don’t get rid of me now, you will never get rid of me.”
“Momica“ is Jared’s delightful mother, Monica. She is a world traveling, straight shooter with a big, booming laugh. We enjoy blowouts (for hair), wine, temporary tattoos, wine, girl talk, and wine (red for her, white for me). My constant puns make her constantly groan, which is why you will see me call her out whenever I go pun-tastic in a post.
Jolie is my Shih-Poo that has been by my side for 14 years. When I got her, I was told she was a Toy Poodle. I called shenanigans, so I picked up a DNA kit to “Maury Povich” her. I opened the results and read them to her…
“MALTESE…you are NOT the father!” She looked confused.
“CHIHUAHUA…you are NOT the father!”She kept STARING at the dog treat in my hand.
“SHIH TZU…you ARE the father!”That dog’s eyes remained fixated on the d@mn treat.
So I gave her the treat. The end.
Wednesday & Pugsley are two dogs that came into my life as part of the “Jared Package.” Two street-rat thug doggies found in a Los Angeles alley. They are a fiercely loyal brother and sister that quickly captured my heart. I mean…look at them!!!
Cookie is my parent’s 14-year-old dog. She’s been added at the request of my mother or as my father refers to her “She Who Must Be Obeyed.” I was there the day my parents chose her when she was the wee-est of wee ones. I love lavishing her with love whenever I go home. I almost don’t mind it when my Mom calls me “Cookie” by mistake. (Seriously, Mom? Get. It. Together. Or I am going to wear a nametag next time I go home.)
Things in My Life
Lady Parlor – I love this space in my home so much I’ve written about it twice (I’m shameless!). Check out the posts here and here
You have come into my life and made me whole – Kenny Rogers
Rue – You’ll learn more about my bike in a future post. She’s purdy, and she thinks she is French. She only knows three French words – rue, fromage, and baguette.
Some Really, Really Random Things
#NugLife – How I refer to the want, need, or the eating of McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets. Yes…I know what they are made of and I don’t care. #NugLife4Eva
Clown – One of the many jobs I had in my early 20’s was that as the clown of a restaurant chain back home in Maine called The Ground Round. As Bingo the Clown, I delighted (and frightened) children and adults of all ages with sub-par juggling and balloon animals.
Spelling Bee Champion of the World District – At the tender age of twelve, I became the champion of the S.A.D. 52 Spelling Bee beating out Betsy Briggs with the word “lettuce.” “Percolator” was my downfall at the county-wide competition – the very first word that I was given. I sat and cried throughout the rest of the bee. I stopped crying when my parents bought me ice cream on the way home.
Well, dear readers, our time has come to an end with this post. I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about the people, things, and Chicken McNuggets in my life.
I would love to learn more about all of you! If you would leave me a little nugget or a bunch of nuggets (#NugLife) in the Comments, that would rule.
Work Hard. Play Hard. Drink Chard.
Laurie
P.S. This is not an ad or sponsored post. My expression of love for McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets is of my own accord…and wallet.
67 Comments
Dr Nic
I hope we get to celebrate a 50th friendaversary! And I WILL wear a cone on my head to celebrate!
And omg the spelling bee pic. You were adorable. 16 year-old boys have cooties anyway;)
lauriegannon1
We are going to celebrate our 50th friendaversary! I think you will wear a fuzzy pink cone. I will forget to wear pants due to my age. 🙂
The spelling bee pic is classic! C-L-A-S-S-I-C
Sudipta Dev Chakraborti
Enjoyed reading your beautiful story. Very well written. Look forward to reading more posts from you.
lauriegannon1
Thank you so much, Sudipta!! What a wonderful note! I appreciate the kind words and the encouragement!
Kelly Berryman
This post was so extra! Thank you so much for the kind words. I’ll consider recreating that photo, but I’m pretty sure that I am going to demand a better angle. CHINS!
lauriegannon1
My middle name is “Extra”. I love you, Kel! And we can take multiple shots of the recreated photo. 🙂
Laura Beth
This was such an awesome post! I can tell you’re surrounded by wonderful parents, a great sister, and several amazing, life-long friends. Thanks for sharing! Also, I also do the “Ring, Ring” audible speech when I ring my bicycle bell!
lauriegannon1
Thank you, Laura Beth!!! And I love that you and I both ring and speak our bells. 🙂
Laura Beth
You’re so welcome! Hehe – That’s fun!
Laura Tortella (@LauraTortella)
Oh.My.God. You really are my missing twin sister (who just happens to be a bit younger). You called SHENANIGANS!! i always call shenanigans! And don’t even get me started on how much I love chicken McNuggets (even though I haven’t had them in the last 14 months–that’s a whole other story!) I crave them SO hard. My husband doesn’t get it. I ‘m not sure he’s ever eaten one. Chefs! They are NOT just like the rest of us! You rule, Laurie! Awesome post And and super cute doggies! BTW, my husband wears that exact same expression when we’re out and he’s waiting to eat while I snap pics! 🙂
lauriegannon1
You rule, Laura!!
Shenanigans is such a great word and is actually a part of one of my email addresses!
Okay…now I want to know about 14 months without Chicken McNuggets! And I would love to know what kind of chef your husband is! I love all the kinds of foods from kid-friendly to the “you eat that weird part?” kind.
So many questions!!! 🙂
Laura Tortella (@LauraTortella)
It’s life-changing for us, but not that exciting to the average person…my husband and I have been on a weight loss journey since April 4th, 2017. I’ve lost 85 pounds and he’s lost 62. Fast food has been pretty much out of my life–with the exception of the occasional Shake Shack burger (and by occasional, I mean once in a blue moon!) I love food and that’s never going to change, but I’ve battled with my weight my entire life. At the end of this journey, it will be the THIRD time in my life I’ve lost over a hundred pounds (naturally, no surgery). And the last time. Period. My husband is an Executive Chef who oversees multiple restaurants, but his specialty is gourmet Italian. You are actually the first person I’ve talked to about our journey. I’m thinking about writing a book– part memoir, part weight loss advice & recipes. Back when I was still in high school, I always thought I would be a writer. I was so torn when it was time to choose a college and a major — it could have gone either way. I ended up majoring in journalism and radio/television and film. Good, God, I’m droning on! I should save it or the book, right?
lauriegannon1
I think it is life-changing AND exciting to the average person! Congratulations to both of you on your weight loss success!
Weight loss is such a journey (sometimes requiring a few trips). I, too, love my food, but have lost my zest for doing some accompanying movement. My lack of movement is going to be a future blog post (including movement activities a.k.a. “exercise”).
I love that you droned on and fully support the memoir! I want to read it! I don’t know if you read my first blog post or not. In that post, I revealed that my best friend gave me an oven mitt with the name of my blog on it. That oven mitt led to my first post. Just let me know if you need an oven mitt. 🙂
Laura Tortella (@LauraTortella)
Hahaha –yes, I did read that post! An oven mitt is a pretty funny offer considering I’m married to a chef! You should thank that friend over and over because you are doing exactly what you were meant to do! By the way, I just told my husband about you, so we’re now “officially” internet friends.
lauriegannon1
I concur that we are “officially” internet friends as I have told my beanie-wearing fiance about you!
Now as a chef does he use a traditional oven mitt or the funky-looking silicone ones? Or does he just use his bare hands after years and years of “chef-ing”?
I am so thankful for the oven mitt “nudge”. It was exactly what I needed. I am so happy just throwing out all of my puns, rambling and ridiculousness out to the WWW. If I hadn’t started, we wouldn’t be “official” internet friends and that just wouldn’t be right! 🙂
Laura Tortella (@LauraTortella)
He uses both! He does love the silicone ones that I bought him, though! And, yes, he bare-hands stuff that makes me grimace. It’s fairly amazing how their hands are immune to scalding heat that would make you or I scream in pain! Years of practice…
lauriegannon1
My hands were built for oven mitts. I’ve grabbed the handle of my All Clad after I took it out of the oven a couple of times. I now put my oven mitt over the handle as soon as it comes out. Burn me once. Shame on me. Burn me twice. Learns to use the oven mitt.
Dominick
I love this post. Thanks for the glimps of you as an adorable child and seeing your family. You are one inspirational lady. Keep it up! Btw. Those burgers 🍔 yum!
lauriegannon1
I adore you, Mr.! Always and forever!!
Ally BA (@ally_barrett)
I absolutely love your writing style, I feel like I know you after reading all of your posts!! I love the lady parlor you have set up – that’s goals for my house!
lauriegannon1
Thank you so much, Ally! I read all of my posts out loud before hitting publish. I don’t love the sound of my voice but I want it to come across the screen. 🤓
The Lady Parlor curtsies and says “thank you”! 👸
traveloptician
Congrats on your first post and it’s nice to see all of you! I love you writing style, keep going!
lauriegannon1
Thank you, Travel Optician! This has been such a fun ride! 🙂
Christie Moeller
How fun is this- except the clown part. I am terrified of them.
lauriegannon1
Your comment made me laugh out loud!
I was also afraid of clowns when I was a child. It was really funny to transition from fear to getting a paycheck to act as a clown.
By the way…the make-up caused pretty awful pimples. Clowns suffer. I hope that helps. 🙂
Elly's diary
I really enjoy the “randomness” of your style of writing. 🙂 You seem like a very joyful and caring person. I enjoyed reading you! Keep the great work up! 🙂
lauriegannon1
Hi!! Thank you! “Random” is pretty much my middle name! Thank you so much for stopping by and the kind words! Please come back. Seriously. 🙂
Dermot Barry
I enjoyed reading this post and the comments very much. So much so that I’ll be disappointed if you don’t title a future post “Random Shenanigans” 🙂
lauriegannon1
Hi, Dermot! I enjoyed reading this comment so very much! For you, I will and a post “Random Shenanigans” but that means you will need come back, Captain Brain Sponge!
P.S. I love the name of your blog.
lauriegannon1
Dermot, you flustered me so much that I typo’d! Actually…I typo’d because my proofreading is done by Grammarly unless I am on my phone. Blast!
-Joan Cajic
It just came to me that I have actually never eaten mcnuggets and I am now very affected. This was a great post and the burger and all the food made me hungry let’s just say I am being greedy this evening.
lauriegannon1
Hi, Joan! I say be greedy and get something (or somethings!) that will make you oh so happy! Bonus points if the greedy involves tater tots. 🙂
Subomi Salami
Congratulations on the weightloss. I can tell you have very support family members and friends. Thanks for sharing your journey
Joy Melody Woods
I too love chicken nuggets!! lol! thank you for letting us into a peak of your life. I also now want a “lady parlor”
lauriegannon1
Hi, Joy! Having chicken nuggets in the Lady Parlor is quite a joyful experience (pun originally unintended but couldn’t help but include it) 🙂
Kaitlyn Neath
Omg… the clown. 😂 Great read. Thank you fur sharing! I also love chicken nuggets. 🤷♀️
lauriegannon1
Hi, Kaitlyn!! I am so glad you enjoyed it, fellow Chicken Nugget Lover! 🤡 🐓
bmcharnleyBrittany
What a fun idea. I loved learning more about you. Welcome to the world of blogging. It’s so fun!!!
lucicoo
I love the names Wednesday and Pugsley, I would name my dogs that. I’m glad to see someone else that is as happy about chicken nuggets like me.
Minakshi Bajpai
Such a heartwarming post. You seem like a very joyful and caring person. I enjoyed reading you! Keep the great work up!
lauriegannon1
Hi, Minakshi! Thank you very much for reading the post and the kind words! 🙂
Easter Babe
Congrats on your blog! It’s looking wonderful. I love the title. Your family sounds amazing and the dogs are so cute. Good luck in the blogging world!
lauriegannon1
Hi, Easter Babe! All of the puppies woofed which means “thank you” (or that someone is at the door).
Marisa
You are so funny. Congrats on starting your blog, i loved the story about your friend the most. And i love MD’s nuggets too & its totally ok. #nuglife 4-eva!
lauriegannon1
Thank you so much, Marisa. #NugLife4Real
Angel Penn
I love when people share personal stories like this. Glimpses into other’s lives is awesome. And that #nuglife picture? Hilarious!
lauriegannon1
Hi, Angel! Thank you for the blog love! I do have to admit that some (ahem…all) of the McNuggets were hurt during that photo shoot. 👩🏼
Joanna
It’s funny how you gave your dog a dna test to see “who’s the father”. 🙂 I also named my bike. We went together to work for over 2 years so it was appropriate to give it a name and consider it family 😀
lauriegannon1
Hi, Joanna! The DNA test was pretty darn fun. What did you name your bike?? And did you also give the bike your last name? 🚲
Katie- Louise
Hi, I love this blog post so beautifully written, I feel like I know you 🙂 x
Rosey
I laughed about the smoldering look really being a ‘hurry up and take the picture’ look. The life of a blogger, hahahaha 🙂
lauriegannon1
Burgers tend to be the picture that get the “smoldering” look the fastest. 😁
Leo T. Ly
This post reminds me of the commercials that I used to see on tv with the clown in it. Sorry I meant Ronald. It was fun to go to McDonald’s when I was a kid. Now my kids loves to go there too.
Lauren Becker
Wow, only 8 weeks? That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing more about you and the people (and animals) in your life. All your dogs are so adorable!!!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
lauriegannon1
It feels like it has been longer even though everything has gone by so quickly!
The puppies woofed at you. They woofed “You rule!”
toastycritic
You have such a beautiful collection of wonderful people and pets in your life. That’s so great that they are there to support and love on you. It’s the most important thing in the world. As for the nuggets. I think we all have things which aren’t good for us, which we love anyway. Diet Coke is mine.
lauriegannon1
What’s up, Single Dad!!!??? What’s going on with you and the fake news this week?? 🙂
Your comments gave me the biggest smile! I used to be a total Diet Pepsi/Coke drinker years ago but managed to break free of the aspartame-hold about a decade ago. I used to fall asleep with a diet soda on my bedside table! However, I fully support your DC habit. 🙂
Ruth I.
Interesting and awesome! My niece loves mcnuggets, but really, it’s her mama who loves it most. lol! Love the names of your pets.
lauriegannon1
Hi, Ruth!!! It sounds like your niece and her mama are my spirit animals. 🙂
Anita, Maurice Mckaney
This is hilarious! Congrats on being a blogger newbie. You are doing great. Love your honesty and refreshing humor. A lot of us know that foods and other things are bad for us, but hey….sometimes you gotta live a little! Cheers 🙂
lauriegannon1
Anita, Maurice Mckaney…your comment gave me a case of the smiles! Thank you for your kind words! What kind of “not so good for us” stuff do you like? And cheers right back at you!
Lynnette Marte
Loving the Lady Parlor room in your home. it’s super chic
lauriegannon1
Thank you so much, Lynette! I am so happy with the space! 🙂
Yonca
What a honest and inspiring post! You have amazing people around you. I don’t even remember when was the last time I rode a bike🚲🙂🖐Thanks for sharing this amazing post! 💕
lauriegannon1
Hi, Yonca! It took me thirty years to get back on a bike! I’ll go into that story a little later. I hope you come back for it! 🙂
lavandamichelle
What a wonderful article! It was such an inspiring read. It been about 10 years since I’ve been on a bike. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
lauriegannon1
Hi, LavandaMIchelle! It’s never too late to get on a bike. I took a 30 year absence! Thank you for the kind words and come back soon! 🙂