Stolen (again) from Katie B

What is your favorite kind of weather?

What my dad refers to as "open window night" weather. When it is warm enough to have the windows open, but cool enough to still cuddle up. The best.

Dream occupation when you were little?

I wanted to be either a teacher or dermatologist. Go figure.

What was your favorite toy from your childhood?

I remember the character's name was Patty Rabbit, but I cannot remember what show she was on...I thought she was cool because she wore a bracelet? necklace? anklet? around one of her big bunny ears.

What is the best thing about your family?

I can turn to them for absolutely anything. Also, we all genuinely like each other, which, as I have come to realize, is a rarity in most families...

What’s your favorite album for a rainy day?

Probably some sort of Broadway musical album, but I'm not sure which? OBC Les Mis? Maybe Rent.

Do you prefer texting, emailing, Skyping, or old fashioned mail?

Texting is quick and works for short conversations.

Emailing is great because I can really think about my words and use them wisely.

I do not Skype, but I FaceTime; does that count?

Old fashioned mail is awesome. One of the reasons I love Christmas so much is because of all of the snail mail that comes every day - it's better to get letters from loved ones than mail from credit card companies!

If you could change one thing about the last movie you watched, what would it be? 

I would change one thing in Django Unchained, even though I know why Tarantino did this. Won't discuss here because I do not want to spoil it for anyone!

 Who do you consider to be the greatest fictional villain ever created?

While I'm on the topic of Tarantino, probably Col. Hans Landa from Inglourious Basterds. He is so evil, but so calm and collected. Gives me the shivers.

From literature, probably--not to be lame or surface--Voldemort from the HP series or Alexander Zalachenko from the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. 

What’s the one TV/movie/book series etc that you see all over and are sure that you will never, ever get into? 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe series by C.S. Lewis. Couldn't do it.

A band/ singer/ artist decides to write a song about you; which band/singer/artist would you like that to be?

Adele, just because I LOVE her voice.No, strike that. Julie Andrews, because she is a diety.

What’s one book you wish you could have written?

One of the early Tracy Chevalier books (Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Virgin Blue, Falling Angels, The Lady and the Unicorn). I love those.

What was the most memorable book you read in 2012?

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Love the time travel. Love the kilts. Love the love. Mmmmm.

What did you find was the biggest let down of 2012?

I cannot say that I really had a let down in 2012. I got married, went on an amazing honeymoon, was able to get pregnant quickly, and just generally have a great time doing it all. No complaints, but am excited for what lies ahead!

What did you find was the biggest pleasant surprise of 2012? 

Learning that I was pregnant in October. Other than that, getting tickets to Wimbledon Centre Court and watching my husband in a state of giddyness for 8 hours straight!

What is one thing you’re planning on doing this year?

Becoming a mother. Woah.

What do you want to achieve this year?

I want to have a healthy baby and a smooth pregnancy and delivery. But more than anything, a healthy baby. It's really crazy to think about, even though I am almost 14 weeks pregnant. Wow!

Waiting

Waiting for information is tough. Whether it be waiting for news from a college or waiting to get results back from a test, waiting can drive a person crazy.

Patience and trusting that everything will work out the way it is supposed to is key.

But until then, I still have anxiety.

Book Survey

1. What book are you reading now?  
Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck and Curriculum 21 by H.H. Jacobs
I'm currently listening to The Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

2. What are your favourite books?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Harry Potter series

3. How did you learn to read?  
In first grade from Mrs. Gibboney. It was awesome and fun.

4. What foreign languages do you read? 
I wish!

5. What’s the funniest book you ever read? 
Bossypants by Tina Fey

6. What books have changed the way you look at the world or the way you live your life? 
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
AK because it was the first really long book that I tackled, and I also remember the change I felt toward the protagonist (I LOVED her in the beginning and HATED her by the end!). This made me realize that you can change the way you feel about people in the world. In regards to The Hunger Games, a much more recent read, it just made me think about how whacky and crazy the world we live in is...could our world turn to the world of Panem?

7. What books have affirmed what you believe about life or the way you look at things? 
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, for sure. Anne Shirley is optimistic and kind to all (except Gilbert when he was being mean to her in school). She's an incredibly optimistic character!

8. What are some of the scariest books you ever read?
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. SO SUSPENSEFUL! It starts out kind of slow, but then turns kind of terrifying. Also, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Erik Larsson. Very suspenseful.

9. About how many books do you think you have read in your life? 
A couple hundred? Maybe two hundred? I've never really thought about this...do poetry and plays count? I read a LOT of those in college.

10. How much would you say you’ve paid in library fines in your life? 
None! 

11. How many books per month do you usually borrow from the library? 
None; with audio and ebooks, I'm pretty separate from the Library.

12. Do you read in bed?
Every night. My husband and I purposefully do NOT have a TV in our bedroom for this reason.

13. Do you ever read while walking or driving? 
No, that's dangerous. But I do listen to books while I do those things.

14. OK, let’s get real. Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever read a book? 
Huh. I have no idea! Probably some place on campus at Salisbury.

15. Do you listen to audio books? 
Yes! I subscribe to Audible.com - great site!

16. Has anyone ever read aloud to you or you to them? 
Growing up, my dad ALWAYS read to me - I'm talking from the age of newborn to about freshman year in high school.

17. What was the most difficult book to read? 
I hate to say it, but probably a few that I've assigned for freshman summer reading over the years. I have since taken those books OFF the summer reading list...

18. What books do you intend to read but keep putting off? 
A lot by local authors. I also have two from one of my formerly favorite authors, Tracy Chevalier, but her newer books are more tedious than her earlier ones.

19. Do you buy new or used books, paperbacks or hardcovers, leather or collector’s? 
I love the feel of a new book, especially hardcover, but at this point, I mainly read ebooks.

20. How do you feel about writing in books? 
I don't mind it.

21. Do you lend books?
I'm an English teacher - of COURSE!

22. What were your favourite books as a child? 
The entire Little House series by Laura Engles Wilder and Greek Mythology.

23. Do you ever read the ending first? 
Never. Mainly because I will not finish the book if I do.

Ice Cream Sandwiches

I love ice cream sandwiches. They are the best desserts.

The sheer genius of combining the simple ingredients that include a chocolate chip cookie (must be soft, JUST baked, and still a little doughy) and vanilla ice cream. These two simple, unassuming ingredients make the most glorious blend of flavors good enough for any gastronomical guru, radical restauranteur, or everyday eater.

In a pinch, those Good Humor ice cream sandwiches will do, but they do not always hit the spot. Chipwiches are better. But the best? This is a recently new discovery: Cold Stone Creamery.

I regularly avoid the Cold Stone experience, mainly because they are too expensive, but for these I.C.S., I am willing to splurge.

First, the cookie. Hardly baked and more like a flat disc of dough, it is the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and bitter chocolate. The ice cream is equally as delicious: smooth, creamy, and sweet, it can make anyone's blues blow away.

The ice cream sandwich: a great go-to dessert.

Seester.

Best friend.
Workout partner.
With beautiful brown hair.
Stress-hugger.
Confidant.
Advice-giver.
Always a baby, always my baby--to me.
Protector.
Supporter.
One who can vent (and be vented to).
Sharer of all things frozen and cream-based (preferably at the same time).
Always ready to split of can of coke.
My rock.

Proud and Excited

Dan got in to flight school. His excitement is infectious. So is his relief.

After two-plus years of Purgatory, finally - a step in the right direction!

It is hard to watch someone you love feel as though they have nothing to contribute to society, especially after a great deal of disappointment (and a little bit of heartache). And ESPECIALLY since he has so much to offer to the world (even if that involves loud farts every now and then).

But today, the winds changed, the energy shifted, and the stars aligned. This just goes to show that everything is meant to happen for a reason.

I am honored to be able to observe and support him on this next adventure.

Procrastination: Part 2

Welp, it's that time of the marking period: Interims.

Every quarter of the school year, I find that I cannot meet the Tuesday-at-5-pm deadline. I almost ALWAYS work into the night on the day interims are due, hastily giving last-minute points to already-late assignments and grading the assignments from today (55+ of them) in the hopes that those few, precious points will actually help the grades of my students. Sometimes they do, sometimes they do not.

Have I turned into the last-minute person in every aspect of my life?

I'm better at getting to school on time in the mornings - perhaps because I drive someone else to work, so that makes me accountable.

I am not better, however, at getting anywhere else on time. Meetings, dinner dates, appointments (some...) - I always seem to be running five minutes late.

Am I a professional procrastinator or is this just how I cope with the insanity that is life?