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24/7 with

Jill Revelle

Theme Park Publicist ~ Tampa, FL

My family: To quote an old Sesame Street song, “Oh there are five people in my family, and there’s not one of them I’d swap. We have two sisters and one brother, and a mother and a pop.” Our family motto: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” We are all very close, and we share a very unique sense of humor – you have to have thick skin to be a Revelle.

My work: I like my work to be about my life, rather than the other way around. I have degrees in journalism and theater, and I’ve always loved animals, so when I was lucky enough to land a gig in media relations at Busch Gardens Africa, it was as though I’d written my own dream job description. I joke that I work in the “beer and monkeys” industry, but in all honesty, I find myself in that most enviable position of loving my job more days than not and getting paid to do some things that I’d just as happily do for fun.

My passion:  Entertaining people. Obviously – I work for the theme park division of a beer company and spend my days promoting fun. In my spare time I’m part of a mystery dinner theater troupe and an improv comedy group. I like being the center of attention, but only long enough to get the laugh or tell the story or see the wonder in a child’s face when she learns how much a lemur likes getting its armpits scratched.

My favorite possession: I have a collection of more than 300 Pez dispensers.

My hometown: I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri – a beer and baseball town if there ever was one, and a fantastic place to grow up with a strong sense of history, heritage and Midwestern mentality.

I’m thinking about: How I promised to have these answers to Chris days ago, and how a death in the family put this and everything else on the back burner. It’s amazing how the things we label as pressing “top priorities” can become so completely insignificant with just one phone call.

Words I live by: As John Greenleaf Whittier once said, “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: It might have been.”

I can’t live without: My support network of family, friends and pets. And my boyfriend. (I know – we all just collectively threw up a little. But seriously – he’s awesome.)

I am most proud of: How proud my parents are of me.

What keeps me awake at night: Reruns of “Scrubs.”

One thing I never want to do again: Junior High.

If I could be totally wild, I would: I prefer a more constant level of moderately wild. Keeps the hangovers and embarrassing blackmail photos to a minimum.

I am guilty of: Unadulterated pasta binges.

Right now I’m reading: “Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates” by David Cordingly and “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult.

The one item that has changed my life: My cell phone, and not for the better. I need to learn to “power down” once in a while.

Favorite web site: I’d rather read a book.

Last major purchase: Emergency surgery for my cat, who swallowed a sewing needle. Two grand later, she’s back in action.

The nickname I wish I had: I like the one I’ve got: Beaner, which evolved from “Jilly Bean.” Thanks to my Godparents for that one.

My theme song: “Imagine” by John Lennon

If I had a vanity plate on my car, it would say: JST KDNG

If I could do it all over again: I would. In a heartbeat.

The food I could eat every day: Tofu burritos from Moe’s

If I were a superheroine, I would be: Catwoman. (As opposed to “Crazy Cat Lady,” which is a dangerously realistic possibility.)

The most important thing I ever lost: The opportunity to tell certain people that I love them in person. Don’t ever let that opportunity go by – you never know how long they’re going to be around.

The best thing I ever won: The Missouri state chess championship in 6^th grade.

My best friend says I am: I’m sitting on a plane, typing my answers, and my best friend Monica – who also happens to be my sister – is reading over my shoulder. When I got to this question, she answered without hesitation “Wound Too Tight.” Whatever. She also says that I have many fine qualities that men find attractive.

I still can’t get the hang of: Rollerblading. Seriously – I can do the Electric Slide on stilts, but strap wheels on my feet and I look like a newborn giraffe. I’m equally terrible at ice skating.

I wish I’d known: How much credit I should have given my parents as a kid. It took me well into my 20s to realize what cool people they really are.

The world would be a better place, if only: People would respond instead of react.

I’d like to learn to: Play the drums. The world needs more chick drummers.

Something most people don’t know about me: I am absolutely terrified of the dark.

My mother always said: Just do your best – nobody can expect any more from you than your best.

The worst idea I’ve ever had: Two words: poodle perm.

The smartest woman I know: I won’t insult all of the smart women I know by picking just one.

My first job: Cashier at an Eckerd Drugstore. I was fired.

What are you most vain about? My mad copyediting skills.

Always... remember to laugh at yourself, especially when everyone else is.

Never... pass up a perfectly good opportunity to keep your mouth shut.

Whose diary would you most like to read? My own, in 60 years. I’m counting on a surprise ending.

Be sure to check out Jill’s blog all this month at skirt! Tampa Bay...