I Can't Believe It!

Blog Prompt: I enjoy ______ now, but if anyone had told me that years ago, I would never have believed them.

The answer would be hiking. I didn't start to hike until about 15 years ago. When I was growing up I was never allowed to get dirty. My parents believed I needed to be a little lady. My family was never into any kind of exercise or outdoor activities so I never knew anything about hiking. The only people who hiked or backpacked were boy scouts that I had read about. After my hair all fell out, I started really getting into exercise and read about a hike in the local newspaper. Since my hubby always spoils me and gives me what I want, he went along with me on the hike and I've been hooked ever since.

I'm Different

Blog Prompt: What sets you apart from the crowd?

This is easy! I'm Loony! Loon was actually my maiden name so you can imagine what kids in school did with that. Plus I was the only Chinese kid in my classes all through school which made me stick out like a sore thumb. Kids are not kind to those who are different. Since I was called loony, I decided that I needed to get a good sense of humor which has kept me out of many "fights" growing up.

Now that I'm grown up (at least by chronological age), I am different. I seem to have a different perspective on teaching than many of my colleagues. Every year I spend a lot of time working with parents and families to help my kids be successful. My husband and I support the athletic teams even though I don't teach the kids.

I seem to have an eclectic group of friends who are very different from one another. Some times many of them clash but I get along with them all. I don't see to fit in a particular clique but have different friends to do different activities with. I have friends who just graduated from college and I have friends who are 90 years old and friends who are ages in between the two. I guess my life is a lot like the quote: "Strangers are friends I haven't met yet!"

Escape

Blog Prompt: Where do you go when you want to get away from the pressures of life, family, work, etc.?

This one is easy! I have 3 places I go (depending on my mood and what I'm able to do at the time):
1- computer for scrapping
2- books
3- hiking

Hardest Person for Gift Buying

Blog Prompt: Who is the hardest person to buy a gift for and why?

The hardest person to buy a gift for is my husband. First of all, he hardly ever says he wants or needs anything. If he ever does need anything, we usually get it then. If he ever wants anything, he usually changes his mind because he hates to spend money on himself. He is really picky about his clothes so I can't buy him any as a surprise. He collects stamps but I have no clue as to what to get him or how much things are worth. So, I have started to scrapbook some of the memories from our trips we have taken and he seems to enjoy that. I guess it will have to do!

Christmas Meme

Let's have some fun today with a Christmas meme that's making the blogging rounds:

Christmas Questionnaire

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Definitely Hot Chocolate. (Egg nog makes me shudder!)

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? No wrapping! Isn't that why God invented gift bags??

3. Colored lights or white lights on tree/house? I grew up with colored lights but now I only use white lights everywhere because it makes me think of twinkling stars.

4. Do you hang Mistletoe? No, but there are tons in my trees around the house so hubby uses it as an excuse to kiss me whenever we get out of the car to go into the house or leave the house (even though he doesn't need an excuse!).

5. When do you put your decorations up? Up until this year, I start Nov. 1 because I have so many. This year I just got lazy and ran out of time.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I really don't have one but I love chocolate kisses so during the holiday season I buy the ones that are green and red and silver wrapped.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Going to the Christmas eve candlelight service at church

8. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? When my children were little, we opened all of our gifts in South Carolina on Christmas Eve. Then we drove all the way to Florida and opened gifts there on Christmas Day.

9. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What truth? I am going to write Santa right now and ask him if he forgot to tell me something.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I change the theme every couple of years when I get tired of it. For a few years it was covered in red bows, red apples, gold bells. Then I covered it in all gold: gold ornaments, gold bows, gold garland. Now I'm into glass antique ornaments and gold garland with a big gold bow on top.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it here in South Carolina. You enjoy it for a day or 2 and then it melts before it gets dirty.

12. Can you ice skate? I think so. I haven't done it in years.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? No, favorite because I love them all!

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Seeing my parents in FL

15. What tops your tree? Sometimes an angel, sometimes a bow.

16. What’s your favorite holiday tradition? Going on vacation

17. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Definitely giving.

18. What is your favorite holiday dessert? NOT fruitcake! I love chocolate.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? YUM!!

21. What is your favorite Christmas special/movie? Miracle on 34th St. (original with Natalie Wood)

Using my 5 senses today

Blog Prompt: Using your 5 senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste), what will/did you experience today?

Sight: teenagers (some happy, some sad, some excited, some mad. Of course these moods can change at a moment's notice)
Sound: lots of voices (students and teachers)
Smell: lunchroom food and pizza (the kids love pizza)
Touch: Paper and pens and computer keyboard (love my computer)
Taste: Diet pepsi, everything bagels for breakfast, ramen noodles for lunch, Italian food at a fancy Italian restaurant (dinner meeting tonight)

Peculiar Gift

Blog Prompt: What's the most peculiar gift you've ever received? Describe what happened when you opened it and your reaction.

I'm not sure this is so peculiar as disappointing. Back then I was disappointed but now I think I was so idealistic that I set myself up for disappointment. I was about 9 or 10 years old and all I wanted was a horse for Christmas. I prayed for one and even asked Santa Claus for one. For some reason I just KNEW that I was going to get a horse for Christmas because I believed in both God and Santa Claus. As a child, you don't think of zoning laws or real life reasoning so I told everyone that I was getting a horse for Christmas. Well, on Christmas morning, I rushed to the window to look outside in the snow. There tied up to the front railing was a Palomino horse (just like I asked for!). Unfortunately it was about 18 inches tall and made of plastic. My parents told me years later, that they wanted to get me a horse and didn't want to disappoint me but they couldn't afford one and our yard wouldn't hold a horse. At the time, I thought it was a cruel joke and was horribly disappointed. But in our family, you didn't act this way when you were given a gift, so I just smiled and thanked everyone. But I will remember that gift forever.

Holiday Songs

Blog Prompt: Do you have a favorite holiday song? Which one(s) drive you crazy?

This was easy because I was actually thinking about this the other day on the way to work. My favorite one is Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. I'm not sure that is the official name but that is what I've always called it. I grew up listening to Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and Andy Williams singing Christmas songs. We used to watch the TV specials that came on hosted by them.

The one that drives me crazy is the Barking dogs barking out Jingle Bells. I actually change the radio station if that comes on.

Blog Writing Time

Blog Prompt: At what time do you normally write your blog entries? Does it make a difference in what you write?

I don't really have a set time. I prefer to write it first thing in the morning when I'm in a positive happy mood. I usually write my best in the mornings and tend to write too much or get boring in the evening. Also, if it is a tough one, I like to see it early so I'll have all day to think of a response. If I get a chance, I will try to answer during my planning periods which is at the end of the school day. But if all else fails, I get on the computer after dinner and write. I really love to read what everyone else writes and it is so relaxing to do this in the evenings. I feel like I'm part of someone's life when I read these blogs. I also worry about some people when they have trouble or feel joy when they have happiness.

Wonderful Weekend

What a wonderful weekend I'm having! I actually dreaded it because yesterday would have been my sister's 60th birthday if you had been alive. She died in 1974 when I was just a teenager but I still miss her and her birthday just makes me sad sometimes. Well, even though I love my husband to distraction, he usually isn't the most sensitive about things like this so I was pleasantly surprised how caring he was yesterday. He spent the whole day watching Christmas chick flicks on TV with me. I scrapped 2 pages and he never once complained about all the time I was on the computer. We went out for lunch and for dinner, he never once whined about what was I cooking for him. He ended up fixing himself some soup. It was a truly relaxing and fun day which was a relief because I had been dreading that day all week. So, this morning I woke up early and baked banana nut bread before he ever got up. I made 4 loaves: one for the fire dept., one for police dept., one for my hubby's office, and one just for him. Every year I make the bread for the fire and police depts. and there is never one for hubby so this year I decided to surprise him. He loved waking up to the wonderful smell!

Lucky?

Blog Prompt: Do you feel lucky?

I don't know if I feel lucky as much as I feel blessed. If blessed could be considered lucky then I most definitely feel lucky. I feel blessed that I wake up every morning (which beats the alternative.)I have a wonderful loving husband who shows his love in many ways. I am the healthiest person on my side of the family because lupus runs in my family. My mother and oldest sister died from it and my other sister suffers with lupus but so far I have had no symptoms of this. I think it has a lot to do with eating healthy and trying to stay physically fit. Maybe all of activities scare the lupus away. I love my job and my life and I'm financially stable at this moment. I have many friends in person and online. So when I look at everything I have, sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if this is real or a dream. I am SO lucky and blessed.

Favorite decorations.

Blog Prompt: Do you have a favorite ornament or decoration that you display at this time of year? Tell us its story!

I had trouble with this because I love all my decorations! I actually have each room done in a theme. Then I buy more at the after Christmas sales. My living room is the Santa room and I have Santas of all sizes all around the room. My dining room is my Angel room with loads of Angels all around (I figured I needed Angels around my cooking!)My office is the Christmas Toy room like drums, trains, blocks etc and my hubby's office is the Nutcracker room which he likes. I think my home looks awesome once it is decorated.

Cooking abilities

Blog Prompt: Describe your cooking skills as a newlywed. If you're not yet married, describe your cooking skills when you first moved out on your own.

First of all, let me start by saying it is not MY fault!! I was spoiled growing up and then my hubby spoiled me when we got married so I'm still spoiled.

On our first date, I invited future hubby for dinner, never thinking he would accept. It was a Sunday and the blue laws were strictly enforced in the south back then. Once he accepted, I realized I was in trouble but I was so smitten I didn't tell him I didn't have any food or drink in the apartment. When we got to my apartment I fixed him a boil-in-bag lasagna (drop bag in boiling water for 5 min.)This meal served one person and I had one beer in the refrigerator. We shared the meal but I was so in love, I didn't taste a bit. I don't know why he didn't run away but he came back for another date. When we got married I didn't know how to cook any better so Don did most of the cooking. He loved to cook and dirtied about every pot in the kitchen. I knew how to make some dishes but he complained that I cooked "yankee" and he ate "southern". So, for the past 24 years we have eaten out more than we've ever cooked at home.

Favorite Winter Memory

Blog Prompt: What is your favorite winter memory?

My favorite one was when I was in college. We had a big snow storm here in the south which is highly unusual. It was around valentine's day and my roommates and I went to the college library where there were lots of snow. We built this snowman and made him romantic by putting a rose on him and we had the best time. Boy, those were the good ol' days!

What Kind of Tree would I Be?

Blog Prompt: What kind of tree would you be?Take it seriously! Think about it and give us your reasonings. And after you've done that, follow this link: Tree Astrology, to see what tree your birth date says you are!

I think I would be a Birch tree. According to Wikipedia, they are small to medium in size which describes me. Birches are versatile trees which also describes me. I have many different talents which helps me in whatever my goal is. In Belarus, Russia, the Baltic States,Finland,and China,birch sap is drunk as a refreshing beverage, and is believed to have tonic qualities. I hope that when I meet people that I have refreshing qualities and if someone needs help, I hope I can be a "tonic" for them. Many of the First Nations of North America, prized the birch for its bark, which due to its light weight, flexibility, and the ease with which it could be stripped from fallen trees, was often used for the construction of strong, waterproof but lightweight canoes, bowls, and tipis. I also exercise and hike a lot which keeps my weight down and makes me more flexible than most people my age. Plus, I don't mind doing hard work but due to my size and strength, I can only do lightweight kinds of stuff.

According to Tree Astrology, I am:
Hazelnut Tree (the Extraordinary)
Charming, undermining, Very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody and capricious lover, honest and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgment.

Favorite Game

Blog Prompt: Earlier in the week, we talked about favorite cartoons. Now I want to know your favorite board game, video game, or card game. And who do you usually play with?

I really don't have a favorite game but any game I play is usually by myself. My hubby doesn't usually like to play games so I usually play the games off the internet from Yahoo games or MSN games. Once I bought a computer game, called Frogger, from the old arcade game and I played that. My students loved it and I used it as a reward for them. Usually I don't have a lot of time for games because I'm either out hiking, reading a book, or on the computer to check my email or scrapbooking. I guess I'm just a boring person!