Day 1: Five facts about me most people don't know

I'm having a hard time thinking of any fact about myself that most people don't know... let alone 5. I'm a pretty open book in that I have a tendency to share any and everything about myself if the topic happens to come up. So here is my best shot at 5 things you probably don't know about me

1. I studied makeup before I ever studied hair. I started back when I was in high school and even worked as a makeup artist for a short time when I was 17. I continued doing it on my own and I actually had to turn down a couple photographers once I started beauty school because I no longer had the time.

It's true! Weird to think about now... you know, now that I'm in the midst of babies and not enough time in the morning to even think of putting makeup on myself. I had a portfolio way back... here is a favorite of mine (mostly because Kami you are just gorgeous anyway)

{before}

 {after}

it's not my most impressive... but it's still a favorite. Also I didn't want to post anyone's pictures online that I couldn't get a hold of and let them KNOW they are online. After all, my portfolio is about 10 or more years old.

2. I have a disease called Lipodistrophy. I was born with it, and it is very rare. Last I heard, there are only something like 3 confirmed cases in the United States. No one really knows what the deal is with it... how I got it, what all of its implications are, if it will get worse, etc. I've been poked, prodded, and questioned by more doctors than I can count. It doesn't hurt me, it just takes the form of some weird spots on my right leg where the fat has completely dissolved (dissolved is my term for it... I don't remember the technical term). Right above my knee is a spot where you can actually feel the tendons/muscle in my leg because there is absolutely no fat left. It stopped spreading when I was about 15 or 16, although I think that in recent years it has started to spread to my left leg. Most days I forget that I even have it... the only times it comes up is if I get a massage (the masseuse always seems confused by the weird lumpiness of my leg so I always have to explain) or if I go to a new doctor. I always tell new doctors about it because there are some underlying things (like kidney problems) that have been linked to Lipodistrophy... though I once had a new doctor accuse me of lying to him. What the what!? He tried to explain to me, oh so condescendingly, "I don't think you understand, that's a very rare disease and only a few people have confirmed cases. You must be mistaken" ...yah, and I'm one of those few! Why would I make up something so random? Needless to say, I never went back to that guy.

*I should mention that there are different forms of Lipodistrophy and in more recent years there is a version some people get that is a result of being on AIDS medication. I have a type that is localized to the lower half of my body and I was born with it.

3. I was a ballerina until I was 12. I loved it, I started when I was 4 and danced up until my ballet teacher moved out of state when I was 12. We never got a new one before we, too, moved. After that it was sort of forgotten, but I have always wished I had picked it back up. I would have a baby girl just so I can have her do ballet some day and dress up in a tutu!

This isn't me - I can't find any pictures of me in ballet - this is my niece Mattie, and she is so cute I can hardly stand it. I wish we lived closer!

4. I really really want to know how to do everything. I mean everything. I want to build cars and learn how to code... I want to learn carpentry and how to be a chef. If I had all the free time and money in the world I would just learn every trade there is. My two newest additions to my list of things I want to learn: fighting (I've been looking into Krav Maga classes), and lock picking/safe cracking. No idea why, I just think it would be really cool to learn.

5. I want to write a book. I've wanted to write a book for years... but writing is not good if you don't yet know what you want to write about. A long time ago I considered a makeup how-to book... I'd love to write a novel but until a good story strikes me, I won't be doing that. Any story I try to force out probably won't be all that wonderful. A while back I thought about writing a book based on my own life and the years I spent dealing with depression. More recently I've thought about a cookie how-to book based on my sugar cookies. I also love the idea of writing and illustrating a children's book. Again, with that one I'd have to wait until a good storyline strikes me. Someday, though, there will be a book my name on it.

So how's that? Learn anything new about me? Readers who have never met me in real life will learn something new but did any of you who have known me a long time learn anything?