Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Jeana Gartshore-Thompson: Twelve Question Tuesday

Today I am excited to welcome Jeana Gartshore-Thompson to Twelve Question Tuesday.  I have changed some of the questions a bit for Jeana since she is on the promotion side of things at Oak Tree Press. 

1.  Please tell me the three most important things people should know about you.
I try to turn everything that happens to me into a humorous situation. Laughing is the best medicine in any situation! I am always trying to bring a smile to someone’s day, you just never know when someone really needs that! Life is an adventure, mine just happens to be a crazy adventure!

I am very determined to provide for my family, I have four part-time jobs. Besides being the public relations manager for Oak Tree Press, you can find me in bright pink coveralls and an orange safety vest doing patrol at one of our local schools and am a recess teacher too! As well as transporting a small group of kids to a local daycare after school. Most days I don’t know if I am coming or going. But I Love each and every one of my jobs, they are all rewarding in their own way.

There is nothing I won’t try or give help with. This still amazes my boyfriend, Steven Lomprez! I am not a girly girl, I will be out helping fix a vehicle or digging dirt what ever needs done I am there doing it! But I am the worlds biggest Clutz! I can fall over literally nothing! 

Once, I went to get a hand saw that was hanging to high up in the garage, I decided to get a broom to get it down, the saw slipped down the handle on the broom and cut my hand. The same day Steve asked me to put a ear of corn on the squirrel feeder, I pushed it on and the screw went into my hand. What did Steve do? He laughed at me! Bad things happen, you can’t stop that but you just need to find the humor in it!

2.  Are you a dog person or a cat person? 
I am both, we actually have a dachshund named Dashin (that is how I pronounced a dachshund). We also have 2 older female cats, Nibbles and Sassy (Sassy is a blue tip Siamese) We also have two Big Oscar fish and a pet squirrel, Roo that I rescued as a baby. I am a huge animal lover!

3.  Tea or coffee? 
Definitely Tea! I love the smell of coffee but hate the taste! I am a huge fan of hot chocolate in the winter too! Especially when I am on the crosswalk, crossing kids!

4.  Boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, or commando? (Either what you prefer or what you prefer on others.)
I like boxer briefs on guys! However anyone that read Billie, my boss’s interview would 
know that my guy prefers commando! 

5.  If you could be anyone else for one day, who would it be and why? (You can’t be Mrs. Channing Tatum because I have claimed that one already.) 
Believe it or not I wouldn’t want to be anyone else, I am very comfortable in my own skin! Many of my friends think I am a fruit loop in a world of Cheerios!   I am a little wild and crazy but I do my own thing and enjoy this wonderful thing we call life everyday. I simply dance to the beat of my own drum!

6.  How did you end up at Oak Tree Press?
Well this is quite a long story, however I will try to give the shortest version possible. I had actually gone through my second divorce. I had not worked in 9 years. I sat here wondering how I was going to provide for my children, my father had called me and told me about an ad he read in our local paper. I immediately sent a letter to Billie Johnson, the publisher of Oak Tree Press. We met for lunch and she hired me on the spot. We actually hit it off so well that we are very good friends, I seriously miss her since her move back to California.

7.  What is your favorite book of all time and why?
I would have to say “The Scarlet Letter”  I am not sure exactly why but the story had always stuck with me. 

8.  What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
Probably the huge spider I just witnessed staring at me on my floor! I hate spiders!

9.  If you won the lottery, would you share the wealth or change your name and go into hiding?
I think I would share my wealth, I really like brightening some ones day, and giving gifts!


10.  Would you be food or fighter if the zombie apocalypse were to happen? 
I would definitely be a fighter! I can be very stubborn, I hear. I am do not give up easily at all! I certainly do not go down without a good fight!


11.  What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
Laughing at my boyfriend, Steve when I paid my children to smash raw eggs on his bald head! Was so funny I could not help myself! If you know him you know he is over 6 foot tall, I am a mere 5 foot. I would say that qualifies as the most daring thing I have done.

12.  Would you rather be rich or famous--and you could only have one-- and why?  The fame would be based on something good, not something like being the best serial killer or anything like that. 
Rich! Who in their right mind would not want to be rich? I would more than likely share my wealth though!
MY BIO:

Jeana Gartshore-Thompson is a life long resident of Taylorville, Illinois. and a single mother to three beautiful children, April (26), Jesse (16)and Benjamin(10). Jeana has a step-daughter from her previous marriage, Brittany who is attending SIUE, studying to be a special education teacher. Jeana and her children were blessed to have her wonderful boyfriend, Steven Lomprez enter their lives in 2011. He has two children Travis and Kim that add to the large family. Jeana is also a caregiver to her oldest , April, who has Cerebral Palsy.  Before coming onto Oak Tree Press' staff , she ran and operated her own in-home Daycare for 10+ years. When Jeana is not dedicating herself to Oak Tree or her children, she loves to enjoy the outdoors with her boyfriend Steve. Jeana and Steve 'adopted' many plants from Billie Johnson's garden during OTP's re-location to California, and they report the bloomers are thriving.

My websites

You can visit our website at  www.oaktreebooks.com

Or visit our blog at  http://otpblog.blogspot.com/

I am on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/jeana.thompson.12
 

Oak Tree Press Authors at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oak-Tree-Press-Authors/210979042259140

Oak Tree Press on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/oaktreebooks





12 comments:

Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredith said...

That was great to learn more about you, Jeana!

Jeana_OTP_PR said...

Thank you Marilyn ! I had fun doing this ;)

jrlindermuth said...

Nice interview, Jeana. Wouldn't have guessed you were old enough to have children of those ages. Definitely agree with you about laughter.

Jeana_OTP_PR said...

LOL john I am a ripe 45, got married when I was 18 and had my first child at 19 ! If I knew then what I know now, we have all said that at some point!

Amy M. Bennett said...

I feel like I know you personally! So cool to see someone else juggling a busy life and enjoying it! I thought I was weird!

Holli Castillo said...

Jeanna, thanks so much for letting me interview you today.

Jackie Taylor Zortman said...

What fun it was to find out so much about our PR whiz, Jeana. I, too, was surprised that you are old enough to have a 26-year-old. You certainly don't look it. Since we all work so closely with you, it's great to learn more about your personal side. Good job, both Holli & Jeana. I loved it.

Lorna Collins - said...

Loved reading about you, Jeana. You do an incredible job for us, and I appreciate it!

thonieh said...

Great fun to learn about you, Jeana! This post makes OTP so personal.

Unknown said...

I enjoyed this interview so much, Jeana and Holli. It's great to learn more about you, Jeana and to know you are a happy, busy woman who loves her family and her life.

Jeana_OTP_PR said...

Thank you so much everyone! I am just a fun,crazy, busy mom among other things. Glad I did not scare anyone away LOL

Marja said...

Terrific interview, and your personality really shines through!
Marja McGraw