Six Question Saturdays: Random Mix

Just random questions today...it's been a long couple days. To put it simply, it is becoming the life story of Marie that I seem to always come out as "second best." It's been that way since maybe middle school? Just getting really tired of it all...

Anyway, questions, shall we?

1. What's your favorite candy bar?
I really like Three Musketeers...but Swedish Fish take the top spot for regular candy.

2. What's the last movie you saw?
In theaters it was We're the Millers (really funny, highly recommend it.) On TV, I'm watching The A-Team right now.

3. How many books are you reading right now?
Currently I'm reading two. Winter's Bone (reading for free at Barnes and Noble on my Nook when I get there) and The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes (the second in the series. I finished the first one earlier today, but need to see the movie again before I write my comparison review. They're quite different from each other. That will probably be posted in a few days, so stay tuned!)

4. What are you looking the most forward to in September?
I'm going to the Toronto Gluten Free Expo in the middle of the month. I was really excited about it primarily because it's at the same time as the Toronto International Film Festival, and I was hoping that some of my favorite actors and actresses would be there promoting movies that they were going to be in coming up, but sadly their movies aren't being shown there, or at least they're not on the schedule. But I'm still excited about getting to try and learning about new products coming out that will make being gluten free even better.

5. What would you do with $100 right now?
Buy new clothes and books. Most of my autumn clothes are too big now. (Yup, this girl now can buy jeans at the regular stores, and they're not even the largest size available in the store! Woo hoo!)

6. What are your plans for the holiday weekend?
Well...I'm working tonight. All day today I read my book and slept on and off, oh and complained about my mouth hurting (I had a root canal redone Thursday for the third time...tired of this tooth hurting!) Tomorrow, I'm finishing up redoing my bathroom. Already, I've taken down the wallpaper, painted, gotten rid of the 1960s vanity, lights and mirror, and had a new medicine cabinet and lights put in. One more coat of paint should totally do it, thank goodness! And Monday...no clue yet what's in the cards.

Six Question Saturdays: Who Doesn't Like The Movies?!

1. Where in the theater do you like to sit when you’re at the movies?

I prefer to either sit right in the middle of the row or right on the end, with no one sitting in front of me so I can put my feet up on the seat in front. Usually more towards the back or so that my eye level is directly in the middle of the screen.

2. What characteristics does the ideal movie companion have?

I think that someone who is able to laugh at the same parts that you laugh at is good...the sense of humor needs to be there. And someone who will tolerate me making random comments about the movie at various points in time is important too. Especially if watching it at home like a rental...

3. What memory do you have of things not going quite as usual at the movies?

When I went to see Titanic for maybe the 7th time (yeah...don't judge!) the film itself broke just as Jack and Rose were floating waiting for help (and Rose's eventual murder of Jack.) They tried to fix it and were successful for another five minutes of the scene, but it broke again because they had played it so many times. We all got free tickets to see it again sometime in the next week.

4. What are your feelings about commercials and movie previews playing before the film you’re there to see?

I love previews, and think it's kind of amusing how different theaters will show different previews before the same movie. I hate commercials though, and the ads for buying at the concession stands. It always says "concessions provided by..." but no one is giving me free concessions!

5. Who is an actor or director whose involvement in a film is enough to make you want to see it?

Bradley Cooper...duh! How else do you think I forced myself to sit through A Place Beyond the Pines?! (Ryan Gosling isn't bad either in it, but he reminds me too much of a certain ex-boyfriend. Ryan Reynolds is great too, not only to look at, but his snarky attitude that carries through is fabulous.) As for director...you know that anything by Todd Phillips is going to be funny too.

6. What was the last movie you saw in theaters and at home?

I saw Turbo with my campers on Tuesday...it was pretty great. At home...I just watched Thor for the first time last night. Not really too much a fan of that one...Natalie Portman kind of annoys me.

Six Question Saturdays: Eenie Meenie Minie Mo...

1.The Seven Dwarfs are Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Grumpy, Dopey, Happy, and Doc. Which would be the easiest role for you to play today?

Today would be Sleepy. I just got home from two weeks of conferences late last night and had to be up early this morning, plus I have to work the night shift tonight...this girl is tired!


2. Santa’s eight tiny reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. Which would be the most apt nickname for you today?

Dancer. I'm always Dancer...because I'm constantly dancing around.


3. The kids on Eight is Enough were David, Mary, Joanie, Susan, Nancy, Elizabeth, Tommy, and Nicholas. Which of these names have you known the highest number of? Which of these the least?

I know a lot of Elizabeth's, but I don't know many Joanie's...


4. The creatures in the Chinese zodiac are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, goat, horse, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Forget which one you are according to the calendar; which one do you imagine yourself most like?

I imagine myself most like the one that I actually am...the dog. Loyal to my friends and family, reliable, easily excitable, and able to find fun in nearly everything.


5. Each of the Five Chinese Brothers had a special talent: One could swallow the entire sea; one had an iron neck; one could hold his breath forever, one could stretch his legs as far as he needed; one could withstand fire. Which of these peculiarities would have been most useful to you this past week?

Holding my breath forever...that way, I wouldn't have had to smell the disgusting water at the first conference and the mold in the AC in my hotel room at the second one.


6. Which Harry Potter character are you the most like, and why?

Hermione definitely resonated with me. She can get herself out of pickles by using her brain, and she's good to her friends.

Six Question Saturdays: Spinning Spinning Spinning

1. What’s had you spinning ’round in circles lately?
I can't seem to turn my brain off lately and just...be...

2. When were you last on a bicycle?
I ride the bike every once in a while at the gym...oh, you mean real bike? Ages.

3. Who’s the best storyteller you know?
My friend Rimme...she can turn anything into an amazing story.

4. How well do you handle carnival rides?
I won't go on any prop-up ones. Amusement park is one thing...but having seen carnival rides being put together and up, no thank you!

5. What do you think of TV gameshow Wheel of Fortune?
Ehh...it's nothing special. I'm amazed it's lasted so long on TV as it is.

6. What are your thoughts on Spinning classes at the gym?
HATE them! No, seriously! My butt hurts from the seat, I can't get myself up out of the saddle, and I get bored during the 30 minute class. Went once because my personal trainer begged me to, and I told her afterwards that I wouldn't be going anymore.



Thanks Aleisha for helping me be lazy and not have to come up with my own questions! lol

Six Question Saturdays: What's for Breakfast?

It's late, I'm tired, so I'm stealing this from Aleisha and adding one more question.
Weight's stayed the same (well, tomorrow is the official weigh-in day, but as of this morning, it was the same.) Blind date went awesome...seeing him for the fourth time hopefully tomorrow. :-)

1. What was your favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?

I always liked Apple Cinnamon or Honey Nut Cheerios. We weren't allowed to have sugary cereals when we were little, and those are the sugary-est we could have.

2. What’s your favorite breakfast cereal now?

Glutino Frosted Corn Flakes

3. Where does cereal rank on your list of favorite breakfasts?

Meh...it's okay. Not my favorite, but good in a pinch or when in a hurry. 

4. What serial novels or films have you most recently enjoyed?

I'm currently reading the sequel to "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" which is a really good series. 

5. What recently surreal experience have you gone through?

Hmmm...blind date actually working out?

6. What are you planning on having for breakfast tomorrow?

I might make tater tot-cheese-sausage casserole...depends on what I'm doing the rest of the day...

Six Question Saturdays: Mish Mash

So a couple updates before I go ahead and answer the questions for today.

First off...I broke past the barrier on the scale today for the first time in about four years. Yes folks, I weigh less today than I have in four years! Big woot! There's more where that came from!

Second...I went to the knee doctor on Thursday. He's worried that I tore my medial patellofemoral ligament, what helps keep your kneecap in place. They did a MRI, but weren't sure how well it would work since I have two or three screws in that knee from the first surgery, and metal can mess up MRI images. But, he told me that he would call the next day if I needed to wear a huge brace, and he didn't call yesterday, so is that good? I'm still worried though, because it's hurting more now than it has in a while...almost constantly. He said we can't consider any form of replacement (partial or total) for at least another ten years, and the only other surgery would involve basically tying down my kneecap which would greatly limit mobility. Umm...no thank you! So, I'm supposed to live like this with it going out about three times a day on average? That doesn't sound good to me either. I'm not allowed to go to the gym for two weeks, and I'm not allowed to do too many stairs...basement is okay, but I need to take the elevator to go to the bathroom at work. Pathetic! Ugh! I have another appointment bright and early on Wednesday, so we shall see what comes of it. In the meantime, ice and Tylenol.

Third...Gonna have a blind date at some point in the next couple days. Yeah, I know, I know, we shall see here too how it goes. Don't want to say anything else, otherwise I might jinx it.

Question time, question time!

1. What's the #1 most played song on your iPod?

I don't know for my iPod, but on my laptop it's "A Thousand Years."

2. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?

Sarah Silverman. It's happened quite a few times...

3. When you have 30 minutes of free time, what do you do?

Usually read...there's always a book around me somewhere...

4. What's the weather like where you are?

Snow...we've gotten about five inches since early this morning. Usually the lake effect hits the southtowns, but this time the wind is coming from the southwest instead of the northwest, so the northtowns (myself included) are getting it. Fun fun!

5. Did the groundhog see his shadow?

No he didn't, so hopefully spring is coming sooner rather than later!

6. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

I would love to learn how to speak a ton of different languages. Learning languages was never my forte...and it only gets worse as you get older. I can speak a few words of Irish, and I took German and Latin in school, but I'd love to learn more. Welsh especially...don't know why, but yeah.



I'm not bothering with a menu plan this week. Mom and I were sick for quite a bit of the week, so we didn't eat or make the majority of what was listed for the week. Tomorrow night I know we're having pizza (Chebe!) and chicken wing dip...

Six Question Saturdays: It's Not Unusual...

I'm trying to figure out where all of the readers come from on here. 12 views today alone, but it won't show where they're coming from. Show yourselves!!!!!!

Taking this from Aleisha and adding one more question to it, cause I'm tired. Yes, it was Regents week at school, but my brain is fried after working on my SLOs (student learning objectives...where we attempt to predict what our students will get on the end of the year 85 question multiple choice and short answer exam based off of how well they did on a 20 multiple choice question test at the "beginning" (AKA December) of the year.) 16 pages later, it's done, and let's just hope it gets approved so I don't have to rewrite it all. Cause yeah...teachers should be graded out of 100% with these kind of things...we're totally 100% responsible for how well our students learn. *please note extreme sarcasm*

1. What’s the most surprising or unusual thing to be found in your wallet, purse, or backpack?

I love when I find money in credit union envelopes that I didn't know I had...but that's not really unusual. Umm...I still have sand from Egypt in the purse I used there.

2. What’s the most surprising or unusual thing to be found on your computer’s hard drive?

Some of the music that I have is really surprising...

3. What’s the most interesting thing hanging on your walls?

In my room? I have a papyrus painting from Egypt, a Snow White painting, a Degas painting, and two paintings done by Surapa the elephant at the Buffalo Zoo.

4. What’s the most uncharacteristic thing in your fridge?

Uncharacteristic? Meaning that it doesn't belong in the fridge under normal circumstances? Candles and aloe vera gel.

5. What’s something you’ve done in the past year that you thought was going to be awful but turned out pretty good?

Working at the Science Museum...I wasn't sure how much I would like it, but now I volunteer there every once in a while during the year and hope to go back there to work during the summer months again. The group that I got to work with is awesome!

6. What's something that you're thinking of doing now that is unusual for you?

I'm contemplating joining up on Match.com...seriously. I'm through with POF.com and other free sites, because they seem more like for hookups that I'm not looking for. I'm wanting something serious, and wondering if a paid site is more along that speed. But at the same time, I don't want to pay that much for nothing to come of it, you know?

Six Question Saturdays: Myers-Briggs Results

In lieu of answering six questions, I instead answered about 30 to figure out what personality type I have according to Myers-Briggs. I'm pretty rare...awesome!

INFJ: The Protector

(Introverted Intuitive Feeling Judging OR Introverted Intuition with Extraverted Feeling)

http://www.personalitypage.com/html/INFJ.html

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex, and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world full of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.

You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener with almost infinite patience. You have complex feelings, and you take great care to express them.

In love, you see relationships as an opportunity to connect and grow. You enjoy relationships when they are improving and changing. You can't stand stagnation.

At work, you stay motivated and happy...as long as you are working toward a dream you support. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

How you see yourself: Hardworking, Ethical, and Helpful

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Manipulative, Weak, and Unstable

Typically have the following traits:

Intuitively understand people and situations

Idealistic

Highly principled

Complex and deep

Natural leaders

Sensitive and compassionate towards people

Service-oriented

Future-oriented

Value deep, authentic relationships

Reserved about expressing their true selves

Dislike dealing with details unless they enhance or promote their vision

Constantly seeking meaning and purpose in everything

Creative and visionary

Intense and tightly-wound

Can work logically and rationally

Orderly and systematic

Use their intuition to understand the goal and work backwards from it

Extreme dislike of conflict and criticism

Extremely insightful, seeing things that are not obvious to others

Have difficulty fitting into our society because they don't fully know or understand how they come across to others 

All I have to say is...yup, yup, yup. That is me.

Six Question Saturdays: Randomness

Random today...

1. If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?

Bali and the rest of Indonesia. I want to see the jungles, the crystal clear water, the temples, and all the rest of it!


2. What ability or skill do you wish you had?

Hmm...it would be nice to tell whether people are lying to me or not. That way, I could pick out the fake people and kick them to the side.


3. What was the last thing you drank?

Well, I'm currently drinking a glass of water. But if we're looking for past tense, it would have to be a Tim Hortons caramel latte.


4. What was your least favorite subject in school?

This all depended...I never was a fan of math, until I reached calculus and it just made sense. I hated required reading in English class, but I love to read so I don't really dislike English. I did hate economics and chemistry...let's go with those two.


5. What's the biggest problem facing the world in your opinion?

People's lack of taking responsibility for their actions. Everyone wants to play the blame game, and it does nothing but constantly have it be a circle of fake guilt. Nothing actually gets done then.


6. What is your dream car?

I think that Aston Martins are absolutely awesome...though I'll never be able to afford one. Rolls Royces scream greatness too. My dad had one, and he was great. Again, they're another kind of car that I will never be able to afford. I'd love to have a Mercedes Benz someday though, and that might eventually in many years be possible.

Six Question Saturdays: Worst Is Far Away

1. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in the past six months?

Hmmm...that goes back to July? I can't really think of anything adventurous that I've done in that time. Am I really that dull? Geez...Umm...it was an adventure driving across New York state by myself, stopping in little places, staying overnight in Syracuse by myself. Yeah, that's what we're going to count for this!

2. What recently could qualify as a happy accident?

Getting a second job at the end of December. I'm finished with training for it, and will probably start up with it next week. Not sure how happy it is though, only time will tell.

3. When did you last experience Buyer’s Remorse?

I experience it every time I get a movie from Redbox that turns out to be awful...all over 79 cents. I've been debating with myself over at least eight months about whether to get myself a Nook Glowlight or to just stick with my Sony eReader that I've had for a couple years...afraid that if I get it, I'll have buyer's remorse. Same thing with a Vera Bradley purse...

4. In what way do people keep underestimating you?

People always seem amazed when I tell them that I'm a teacher. I don't know why. Sure, I never thought I would become one while growing up, but now that I'm doing it, I love it and I'm good at it. Once people see me in action explaining a complicated science concept in a simple easy to understand way, they realize this, but it seems that until then, they look at me like I'm a lunatic or something.

5. What have you got in your pocket?

Absolutely nothing. I'm wearing fleece lounge capris, so no pockets. I don't usually keep things in my pockets too much, because I forget to take it out before they go to the wash.

6. What are you happy to have left behind in 2012?

Bad vibes about myself and my body image. 2013 is going to be the year that I reach my goals...I can feel it!

Six Question Saturdays: Goodbye 2012

In recognition of the close of 2012 coming up soon, how about a 15 question survey about the past year? I even turned into "little miss over-achiever" and put in some photos!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

I went to my first science teachers staff development that was away from home for a week. Total nerd, I know, but it was really cool and I hope to attend one a summer from now on! I made some new friends, learned a ton about planetary science that I never thought I'd ever want/need to learn (big bang theory, how we find new planets, astrobiology, holding the oldest rocks on Earth...awesome!) and drove across NYS taking only the old route 5 instead of the thruway.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I kept up with going to the gym...some weeks better than others, but for the most part I went at least once a week. I didn't write down a single thing that I ate. And I read 61 (currently on 62) books this year, and my goal was only 40. Yay! I'll make some for the upcoming year...working on coming up with them.

3. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

Let's go with a relationship...that would be spiffy!

4. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

November 26, 2012...it's when I moved back up to high school teaching. Definitely a high school teacher more than a middle school one, which surprised me, because I always thought it was opposite.

5. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Standing up for myself and realizing what I deserve in life. It's a huge achievement for any person when they reach that point!

6. What was your biggest failure?

I really don't think that there were any failures...sadnesses and disappointments, but not failures.


7. What was the best thing you bought?

Hmm...my iPhone in February. Don't know what I would do without that thing, which saddens me in a way by how pathetic it sounds, but I'm being honest.


8. Whose behavior merited celebration?

You mean other than my own? My dog's...he's been a good boy this year. Plus, he's so damn adorable!

9. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

One of my closest friendships came to an end this year sadly it seems. It's linked to my answer for #5.

10. What song will always remind you of 2012?

My awesome friend Aleisha posted that "Call Me Maybe" was hers, and I thought...wow, yeah...that is it! Especially the US Swim Team version...

11. Compared to this time last year are you:
Happier? About the same
Thinner? I am! The scale may be the same, but I've gone down a size or two for clothes!
Richer? Hell no! Paying bills sucks!


12. How will you be spending New Year’s?

At home watching the ball drop with some champagne, appetizers, and my dog (leading up to the big event by watching some great movies.) I've gone out in the past for New Year's, and it always leaves me feeling disappointed.

13. What was the best book you read?

Hmm...okay, I'm going to list a few, cause I can't choose just one. They're all in different genres too, which makes it even harder to try to choose one.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo (stays with you and haunts you long after you finish reading it...)

Vaclav and Lena by Haley Tanner (sweet and sad, a must for anyone who teaches, especially ESL students)

The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild by Lawrence Anthony (elephants...'nough said!)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling (hilarious!!!!)

Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy #1) by Ken Follett (I'm going to read #2 this upcoming year...can't wait!)


14. What was your film of this year?

Brave...loved all of it!

15. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

Patience will bring good things to those who have faith in God.

Six Question Saturdays: Leading Into Christmas!

So...I have a voice back, kind of. It hurts deep down in my throat and all of the muscles of my neck hurt by the end of the day, but I can talk. Went to the ENT doctor on Thursday, and apparently I have laryngopharyngeal reflux. It's similar to GERD (acid reflux) which I had before going gluten free, but doesn't cause heartburn...just enough acid that goes into your larynx and throat. My vocal cords is beet red and my uvula (that dangly thing at the back of your throat) is so swollen that it is hitting my vocal cords every time I talk. The doctor put me on Prilosec (haven't been on it in a couple years now, again since being diagnosed with celiac which I thought had solved that whole problem.) We'll see how it works. I'm also not allowed to talk too much for the next week and a half of winter break in order to rest the muscles of my throat and neck. Again, we'll see how it works...at this time of year of all times to not talk! It needs to work though...because this can cause vocal cord scarring even if not treated and allowed to heal.

But anyway...let's move on to more important things. Christmas is literally around the corner! Winter break from school has just started! Some simple questions to celebrate...

1. Have you been naughty or nice this year?
I think I've been pretty nice...I can't think of anything naughty that I've done this year at least. Guess I'm a goody goody when it comes to that kind of thing.

2. What new Christmas movie have you seen this year that you really liked?
I just watched Arthur Christmas this morning and absolutely loved it! What can I say? I have a really huge soft spot for Santa Claus.

3. What do you have for Christmas dinner?
Corned beef and potatoes with chocolate pie for dessert.

4. What do you really want for a Christmas present?
I'd love a Nook...but I doubt I'll be getting one. I have a Sony eReader, but there are plenty of things that I don't like about it now that eReaders have improved so much. A Nook would be perfect!

5. What kind of Christmas tree do you have?
Artificial. It's three parts plus the base, pre-lit in white lights (I like them much better than color ones.) We have a ton of old ornaments that were my great grandmother's from Germany mixed in with a few newer ones that seem to have an Irish theme to them.

6. What are your Christmas Eve plans?
Mom and I watch Love Actually every Christmas Eve, then we go to church for the candlelight service. Granted, I can't sing this year, but there's something so magical and truly beautiful about celebrating Jesus's birthday in a dark church with just candles glowing while singing "Silent Night" in German.

And last but not least...a photo of my new haircut. Side bangs and all...

Six Question Saturdays: Christmas, Take Two!

Well...I hate this. Last week, I started up a little cold, but thought nothing much of it. Did all of the home remedies to soothe the symptoms, but there's really nothing you can do to "cure" them. If you treat a cold, it will last one week. If you don't treat a cold, it will last seven days. I slept as much as I could, drank a ton of tea with honey, took cold meds, yadda yadda yadda. It got better by Tuesday...my nose stopped running, the cough stopped for the most part, my eyes didn't feel like they were bulging out of my head anymore.

Wednesday morning? Woke up with a searing hot pain down my throat. Like, this must be what Stephenie Meyer was writing about for vampires when they wake up from the pain of being transformed, willing to kill to get rid of their throat pain from thirst. I added gargling with warm salt water, chloraseptic spray, and throat lozenges to the mix...to no relief at all. I called my doctor Thursday because there was no relief and was told to go to Immediate Care for a throat culture to check for strep throat (they don't do them in his office), so I did. Two throat cultures later, a negative on the quick result strep test,  the doctor saying that he can't even see why it hurts so badly because it's not red and there's no post-nasal drip, a $35 copay, and I was sent on my merry way with a discharge sheet saying "keep doing what you're doing and if it still hurts in a week, call your doctor again." Gee...thanks.

Friday morning? Well...that implies that I actually slept Thursday into Friday night, which I didn't because I kept waking up almost every hour with my throat burning...but anyway. My voice was very hoarse. I head into work wide eyed and bushy tailed...my students are working on one of the four required NYS labs for the Regents exam (I hate those labs, but that's another journal entry for another day.) My co-teacher and I agreed that we would switch who taught which class...I would cover 1st and 11th periods, and she would teach 2nd and 4/5th periods. 1st was rough...hurt my throat a lot, but I managed and was happy when it was done so I could stop talking. When 11th started, I felt like I was going to die, tried pushing through, but had to ask for my co-teacher to jump in and finish the period for me. I don't like asking for help like that...I don't like to feel weak or that I can't do my job because of something...but I couldn't talk anymore. I was squeaking, literally.

Now...7:23am on a Saturday morning? My voice is totally gone. There is nothing left at all except for searing pain. I'm really hoping that it's just laryngitis, and that hopefully I have my voice back by Monday, because my co-teacher isn't going to be there in the morning and I'll have three of the classes on my own (we have a very morning-heavy schedule.) My mom is worried that it's vocal cord polyps, because my grandma had them right around my age and needed them removed, and her symptoms were similar to this. I'm a singer...and this is the season with my favorite songs to sing...I get very sensitive to any damage to my throat and/or voice. So to be honest...yeah, I'm a little scared whenever something like this happens. Plus, I hate not being able to talk. My mom is keeping her cell phone on her constantly in the house so that I can text whatever I want to say. Try having a full conversation like that...fun.

Okay, enough of my complaining. I need to get to my questions!

1. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas?
I'll admit, a green Christmas is weird to me. Strange, foreign, unwelcome. It might be that I'm so used to seeing every Christmas card with snow on the ground, or that I'm in Buffalo and well...snow is expected at this time of year...but yeah. It needs to be a white Christmas. My great-grandmother used to say that if it was a green Christmas, there would be a lot of deaths the upcoming year. Now, I've never tested out that theory or counted and compared or anything, but yeah. I'm not saying that there needs to be six feet of snow...just enough to cover the grass and rooftops for me to be happy.

2. Have you ever had a traumatic Christmas experience?
Well, it wasn't really traumatic for me other than that I got in a lot of trouble one Christmas morning. Remember Beta tapes...before VHS? We had a gigantic (seriously, the thing was huge!) Beta video recorder, and my dad always recorded my brothers and I opening our Christmas presents. Not that we can watch them anymore, because they're all still on Beta tape, and I wish I had this on video for evidence, because I'm sure I was provoked in some way. Don't prod the bull, right? Okay, I'm going off on a tangent, back we go! It was my brothers' first Christmas (yes, plural, they're twins) and I was a jealous (see...provoked!) older sister by four years. I pushed the Beta recorder (supposably on purpose, but where's the proof?!) on Andy as he crawled by. Apparently we're lucky that he wasn't crushed by it, because I think the recorder weighed as much as he did at the time, and I spent the majority of the rest of Christmas in my room, but well...that's the story.

3. When it comes to Christmas decorations, are you more of a Griswald or a Grinch?
In between? I know what I like, and I like simple but still festive. I only like white lights, not the colored ones. I'll go look at and admire the houses with a ton of decorations, but at the same time I'll think "gee, their electric bill must be ridiculous!"

4. When do you open gifts?
Christmas morning. We go to church for the later Christmas Eve service (candlelit and Silent Night's in German,) come home, go to bed, and then wake up bright and early in the morning for presents.

5. Do you think Christmas is still traditional? What traditions does your family have?
I think that families still keep up traditions and fuse them together as they come together...but at the same time, I feel that we're losing touch with the reason for the season. So much focus is on the presents and how much money you spend or don't have to spend, when really it should be us giving the presents to little baby Jesus. Our family traditions? Well I already talked about the candlelit service for church and last week I talked about the pickle in the tree. We always do an orange in the boot of the stocking for good health in the upcoming year. We watch "Little Women" and "Love Actually" on Christmas Eve before going to church (okay, so this is a more recent (past five years) addition to our traditions, but it's still tradition!) When we sit down for dinner on Christmas, after we say the prayer, we sing happy birthday to Jesus. I don't know what other traditions we have...when you do something your entire life, you think that's just normal, right?

6. Are you a gift giver or gift receiver?
I love giving gifts, primarily for the look on the receiver's face when they open it.

Okay...that's all for today...I need to take my little man to see Santa today at PetsMart! He's super excited and has been for weeks...this is his little tradition.

Six Question Saturdays: The Holidays Are Coming!

With Christmas coming up in 24 days, I figured each Saturday, I would address a different aspect of the season. It is, after all, my favorite holiday by a long shot.

1. What is your favorite SNL Christmas skit?
Well, it's a three way tie to be honest. Schweddy Balls, Justin Timberlake as the giant soup "Ringin' on up for Homelessville," and John Malkovich reading "Twas The Night Before Christmas."

2. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
"Love Actually" has to be my absolute favorite...but I have a soft spot for "Nester The Long Eared Christmas Donkey." Ears Nester...

3. When did you find out Santa wasn't real?
Wait...he's not?! He is in spirit to me! Anyway...my "dad" played Santa for the firehall, so the whole thing got ruined for me pretty early on in life. I then took it on myself to inform the rest of the world of this fact, on local television no less while waiting in line downtown to see Santa.

4. What's your favorite Christmas tree ornament?
The Pickle!!! German tradition to hide a pickle ornament on the tree on Christmas Eve, and the first one to find it Christmas morning gets an extra present. It usually means a candy bar in my house...

5. What's your favorite Christmas song?
It's a tie between "Oh Holy Night" and "Ukrainian Bell Carol (Carol of the Bells)." They're both absolutely amazing in their own ways...the first as spiritual (plus it has personal significance in that it was my dad's favorite too) and the second is just so much fun!

6. Have you ever been kissed under the mistletoe?
No!!!! Boo!!!

Six Question Saturdays: Thankfulness

In recognition of Thanksgiving being Thursday...here we go. These are not questions, but six things that I'm thankful for. I really can't stand when people on FaceBook do this for every day in November...sure, we're all thankful for small things. But to flash it for everyone, well...I'm not much a fan. Six is a much more manageable number for me, so I'll stick with that. They're broad ideas anyway. So...in no particular order...

1. I'm thankful for my health. Sure, I have to follow a strict diet in order to stay healthy, but there is amazing food out there now that is gluten free, and I'll follow a diet any day than have to battle some of the illnesses out there that can affect people.

2. I'm thankful for a job that I love. And even more thankful that I'll be switching to full time again after Thanksgiving Break within the district.

3. I'm thankful to have a nice roof over my head with heat, water, comfortable furnishings, and warm thoughts and feelings.

4. I'm thankful for my dog, Taurus. He's my best little guy in the world, my best friend. Yes...my dog is my best friend...

5. I'm thankful for my family. My mom and grandma, my (absentee) brothers, yeah...

6. I'm thankful for my true friends...I don't have many of them, as I'm picky with who I'll truly associate with and let into my life, but the ones who are here are absolutely amazing and wonderful.

I hope you have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

Six Question Saturdays: Favorites

In the interest of keeping this simple, well...let's just stick with some favorites. Especially since I'm all questioned out after yesterday's romp in the blog.

1. What's your favorite restaurant? It's a bit of a haul, but I love King David's in Syracuse...totally worth the three hour drive for amazing gluten free falafel!

2. What's your favorite scent? For perfume, I love Jimmy Choo...it's fresh yet romantic and well...far too expensive for my little teacher's salary. In the shower/bath, I love peppermint scented stuff, especially Bath and Body Works Twisted Peppermint or Philosophy's Peppermint Bark (chocolate and peppermint...yum!)

3. Which of the Harry Potter books is your favorite? Which of their soundtracks is your favorite? Which of their movies is your favorite? Okay...favorite book was the last one..."Deathly Hallows." It has some of my favorite lines in the series and the final story is just amazing and all culminating. JK Rowling said that the whole series does a loop, and the Golden Snitch says it best that "I open at the close." For the soundtrack and movie..."Half-Blood Prince" takes the prize. The soundtrack is so sweepingly beautiful, and the movie is dark and twisted but still has the smirk that the books have. (Though "Deathly Hallows Part 2" track "Battlefield" on the soundtrack wins for best overall song...closely followed by "Weasley Stomp.")

4. What's your favorite thing to eat? Ice cream...which is probably why I have such a hard time losing weight. I love it, could eat it year round, and could never give it up. And there is a huge difference between premium and light...don't get me started.

5. What's your favorite flower? Tulips...yellow ones in particular. They go really well with the bright green of the stems and just symbolize spring to me. I really love spring...

6. What's your favorite animal? What about your favorite mythical creature? For real animals...elephants! I have always loved them...they symbolize intelligence, strength, and nobility to me. They're just so majestic and beautiful in their own way and damn smart! The Elephant Whisperer (book...check out my Goodreads page) alone shows that. Mythical creature would be the griffin...blame Canisius for that. They're a half eagle and half lion, smart and strong. If I could have one as a pet, I would. Wouldn't you want one of those helping to guard your house?!

Six Question Saturdays: Polls

No matter your political affiliation, no matter which candidate you love or hate (or in my case, which one you can't stand more)...get out there on Tuesday and vote for what you think is best for the country. It's the only (little bit) of say that we get in the whole political process, and while I know that sometimes that doesn't seem like a lot, if you don't take advantage of it, you don't get to complain about who wins or loses. And if anything, see it as a party for all of the phone calls, paper mailings, Facebook promotions (or bashings), and television commercials ending!

1. What terrifies you the most?
Disappointment, losing everything, and plummeting towards the ground head first


2. Favorite fall/winter drink? 
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes...duh! I also love hot chocolate...especially with that new Baileys (NA) creamer in the spice flavor.


3. Do you and your friends have the same political views?
No...(this question was originally "you and your spouse.") I don't care for Facebook at all during this time of year, because of everyone tearing apart the other candidate. I can watch all of the gajillion commercials on TV for that. But everyone is entitled his/her own opinion for it.


4. What are your thoughts on the political climate in the USA right now?
I think that parties are killing us. I would just love for a person to not stick with their party and just go with what he/she feels is right and good for the country. Not "well the president is ___ and I am the opposite, so I can't agree with what the president says."


5. What political party are you affiliated with?
I'm a registered Republican, but I don't agree with everything the party stands for. And that's where we'll stop with this question.


6. What book are you reading right now? Is it any good?
Currently reading "Touch of Frost" by Jennifer Estep. It's a YA mythical based book...pretty good. I'm a little more than halfway through it, and it's got my attention. I believe it's part of a series, and I'd probably keep going with it.

Six Question Saturdays: Rain Rain Go Away

Hurricane Sandy is set to turn into a "frankenstorm" next week just in time for Halloween...my students think that they're going to die (a lot of them don't remember the October 2006 storm.) So let's tackle everyone in Buffalo's favorite topic (other than our sucky sports teams who love to try to get your hopes up until they crash)...weather!

1. How would you describe the climate in Buffalo?
It can go from 74 to 36 in one day (gee...yesterday?!) People think that we're a huge snow capital because of the Blizzard of 77, but we don't even get the most snow in NY. That goes to Watertown at the other end of Lake Ontario followed by Syracuse. Sure, we get a lot of snow in the winter, but it's spread out usually over several months. We get the lake effect snow in winter, and lake effect rain the rest of the year, but it doesn't rain too much usually. Our summers can be pretty hot by northern standards...this past summer we averaged about 78. We don't have much of a spring...it's very short. Our autumns are really long...they start in early September and go sometimes all the way through November.

2. What is your least favorite weather?
I can not stand ice and slush on the ground...they're both really messy! The initial snow falling doesn't bother me, but when it turns into ice and slush, I hate it! (But I'll take a blizzard any day over a hurricane or tornado.)

3. What is your favorite kind of weather?
Dry heat and sun...I love temperatures of 95 and 0% humidity. Maybe I should have been a pizza in an oven...

4. What's your favorite winter accessory?
I love my infinity scarf. It's big and fuzzy, a bluish grey color with silver thread mixed in with the wool, and super warm. (A close second are my Ugg mittens.)

5. What kind of bathing suit do you wear in the summer?
Buffalo doesn't have beaches. Well, we do, but the sand is more like sharp rocks and the water is so gross that you'd never really want to swim in it. Some people have swimming pools, but because our summer is so short, you really only get two months (at most three) use out of it, and pools are a bit expensive to just get that short an amount of time for it. People do like their boats here though with two Great Lakes within fifteen minutes (and the Finger Lakes two hours away.) I was on my school swim team, and competitive Speedo crossback bathing suits are always going to be my favorite. I do like tankinis too, but not regular bikinis. But I think the last time I wore a bathing suit was three years ago...

6. Any good stories about the October 2006 Buffalo Storm?
I was actually in New York City that year...we got an inch or so of slushy rain and that was it. My mom feels the need to constantly tell me stories about it though...the best one was that she used my dog Taurus as a sled dog. She attached his leash to his harness and used him to pull a sled that she filled with firewood from one of the nearby nurseries. They were selling it for $40/pack (normally it's about $5-10/pack.) She also took my grandma to Tim Hortons and Dunkin Donuts where they were charging $3 for just plain hot water that was really only lukewarm. (She's very happy that, even though they're predicting this storm to be similar, we now have a gas fireplace insert that can work even if there is no electricity and keeps the whole house warm.)

Six Question Saturdays: Wow, So Long Ago...

It's been 12 years since I graduated from high school with the rest of the "nothings" (2000...'00.) And I taught in the same building for the past two years, so it leaves an impression on you, ya know?

1. What do you remember about high school dances?

They were filled with my friends and I running around the gym, laughing, and just general chaos. Oh, and my one locker (I had two) was right across from the gym, so everyone used it as their coat room.

2. At whose house would you and your friends usually gather after school-related activities?

We didn't really...but I guess it would be my house. After both the Junior and Senior proms, the girls slept over at my house.

3. Did you have a memorable nickname?

There were a few...I know that I had a few. ReRe Daffy was what my friend Beth loved to call me...

4. What was your high school cafeteria like?

I never had a lunch in high school included in my schedule. Little miss overachiever here had too many classes. There are two cafeterias though in my high school...the general one was large and over crowded. The smaller one for seniors only was called the Doghouse (our mascot was the bulldog) and each year, the senior class would paint a mural on one of the walls that would be up there until the next cycle (four years.) It's all redone now though...in blue and gold (school colors.) They did originally put in blue and white tiles when they redid them last year, but the principal made them take them all down (rival school colors.)

5. Your parents aren’t reading this, so what were some of the crazy (or just memorable) things you or your friends did while driving?

The only thing I can think of is that my friend Michele got her license first, cause she was the oldest out of all of us. And my 17th birthday party included her taking us all for a ride in her giant station woody wagon. My friend Shaun and I were crammed into the back hatch area and she was such an awful driver that we ended up on top of each other a few times due to her crazy turns and swerves and all.

6. What activities were you involved with in high school?

The biggest for me was Company of Song...our school's show choir. Think Glee but no mash-ups. I was in that my junior and senior years, primarily because I never really wanted to be in it so I never auditioned beforehand. Only did then on a dare (and the girl who dared me who tried out as well didn't get in.) It was awesome though...one of those things that shapes you for life. I was also in Model UN all four years (one of the four founding members for the school...and now they're regional champions!) Dance team (and manager), musical, band, orchestra, string ensemble, wind ensemble, mixed chorus (president too), National Honor Society...yeah, you get the picture.

Six Question Saturday: Colors of the Rainbow

1. What is your favorite color? I honestly don't have one...I like red, yellow, and green the best though.

2. What colors do you like to decorate with? My room is turquoise and lime green. I also like the color combination of deep red and walnut brown.

3. Is there a color that you absolutely hate? I'm not really a fan of orange too much...I don't think it does much for many people.

4. Which colors look best on you? Red...pasty pale skin and dark hair and eyes. My friend calls me Snow White whenever she sees me in it.

5. Which colors do you wear most often? Yellow probably...closely followed by blue I think.

6. Which color combination do you think is the worst one out there? Hmm...I don't care for neon color combinations. One neon color is okay, but much more than that is too much for my eyes.

Simple and short today. This girl has a blind date to get ready for!