More About Me, Part 1

Dear Kelly Ripa,

So I thought you might like to know more about me. Where should I start? Home life? Credentials? I guess I'll just start at the beginning...

I was born in Maryland on Christmas Day some number of years ago. I'm 10 years younger than you, but you rock and look like you're perpetually 27. How do you do that? Anyway, I was born in Maryland.

I moved to South Carolina when I was a pre-teen. We called them pre-teens back then, now they're called tweens. What does 'tween' mean, anyway? We moved to Myrtle Beach where I hated the beach (and still do). I worked at a huge tourist location - Medieval Times. I was a wench. It was awesome. I spoke with a fake accent and everything. If you have never experienced Medieval Times, I would love to take you one day. It's the best place on earth. Even better than Disney because the knights are hot and ride horses. At our castle all the knights were Latin, and I know how you like the Latin men (don't we all?).

This was me at Medieval Times. Wasn't I adorable?

For college I went to Clemson University (also in SC, if you didn't know). I was in Tiger Band (I spent 13 years playing the trombone from grade school up through college) and the band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi. I am a very proud band geek! I majored in Communications, which apparently means nothing because I have never had a job in my field. I minored in both Psychology and Journalism.

Me in my younger years

Fresh from college I had no idea what to do, but I was engaged to my husband and he was still in school, so I stuck around (more on him in a moment). I got a job at a local portrait studio because I liked to take pictures and hey - they were hiring. Kelly, wouldn't you know I thought I had found my calling? I took more classes and became certified and opened my own photography business! I have shot many weddings. Everyone survived! (That was photography humor!) I loved capturing memories for others.

While trying to make a go of the photography thing, I got a job as a reporter for our local newspaper. I covered hard hitting stories like why a local city was named Pumpkintown, and whether or not the county council would make room in the budget for council snacks, and other such nonsense. I did not enjoy the "news" portion of my job (like chasing ambulances to accident scenes). But I did love interviewing people and doing the human-interest stories. 


Well, Kelly, I think that's enough for now. We'll cover more in a later post!

Sincerely,

Allison