10 things you don't know about the Chief Blonde, Shelley Zurek

You thought you knew me but…10 things you don’t know

1. In high school, I played the bassoon…really poorly

I switched from the flute to the bassoon because I was last chair flute and I don’t do “Last Chair” very well. Plus, as a bassoonist, I got to sit in the second row with the brass players (ie. guys) which was A LOT better than sitting in front row with a bunch of girls who could were WAAAAAY better than me.

2. Julia Child is my hero

Okay, this might not be a huge secret, given that I have wrote about her here, here and here. She is “More Tigger, and Less Eyore” and I love that about a person.

3. I wear size 8.5 shoes

So if you want to start sending me presents, you know what size to buy. This is one of my Instagram photos. ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME? Would love the extra attention!

4. My hair was is really blonde

My hair was blonde in my childhood and has always been blonde throughout my life. I can’t see me ever not being blonde…gray only exists on the walls of my home (see #5 below)

5. My favorite paint color is Sherwin William Zurich White

Why do I love this Sherwin Williams Zurich white? Several reason actually.

First, I love gray. LOVE IT! Even though it’s falls in Sherwin Williams White family, it is actually a lovely light gray. I goes with every color under the sun.

Second, I have lived in Zurich Switzerland for 4.5 years when my kids were young. It seemed a natural color to choose. Plus, I am of Swiss heritage, as well. SO it’s really a ancestral thing…sort-of. My kitchen, pantry, bathroom, bonus room, and half of the basement are painted this color.

My last name is Zurek, pronounced just like Zurich…so duh.

6. When I was a tween, I raced in the Soap Box Derby

That’s me on the left modeling those snappy cupcake glasses that were so popular at the time! The EEK feeling you are experiencing right now, is EXACTLY how you will feel when you look at your photos in ten years and see yourself in those hipster glasses. Just so you know.

7. One of my bucket list items: Experience every kind of transportation

For example, I have been on an elephant, donkey, horse, carriage, train, small plane, jet, ship, boat, row boat, pontoon, hover craft, hot air balloon, bike, motorcycle, mini-bike, car, dump truck, semi-truck, earth mover, tractor, mail truck, back hoe, bulldozer, bicycle, tricycle, stilts, cog wheel train, train, street car, bus, trolley, double decker bus, cable car, snow mobile, 4 wheeler, soap box derby, ski lift, skis, roller coaster, people mover, moving sidewalk, elevator, escalator, sled, toboggan, saucer, and probably oodles more that I can’t recall. I have yet to ride on a fire truck, camel, race car, rickshaw, helicopter, sleigh, or a Segway. How about you? What did I miss?

8. Growing up, I wanted to be a librarian

But hey, now I am a super model so… (see all my outfits)

9. I have an MBA from the University of Chicago

Wow, all this AND blonde hair…

10. I used to work in Industry

In the past, I have worked for GM (Production, Marketing and Labor Relations) and with Seco Tools (Industrial PR consulting). I believe that US Manufacturing is the engine that makes our country great. I think this video from GE explains the value of industry to the world. Watch this video, A Game of Inches, from GE and visit their “Game of Inches” site, as well.