5 Q F!

Hard to believe it is Friday again already... but I'll take it!! :)

1. If you could buy any car, money not an option, what would it be? Gosh am I boring. I would totally buy my current car. I *LOVE* it! The only thing I might change is the exterior color - I really like the black. I think it is rich looking... but the reason I didn't choose black is because during the winter it shows alllll the dirt and yuckiness. And with the winter we had, I'm glad I went with the metallic green! I may also have added a few extras with the interior, but overall.... i just love my 2007 Volvo XC90!!

2. What was your worst first date ever? Again, I'm super boring. I have only had 2 "official" first dates. My FIRST first date wasn't until I was in college. Ryan and I had been friends for a good year and a half before we both were honest and admitted there was some serious chemistry there. He came down from Middletown (where he lived) and went to a mutual friend's cottage in Mystic. Our friend's family hosted an awesome party where we spent the whole day just hanging out, playing games, and going out on his boat. I still think of that day and smile. It was definitely a stand out day... and I guess what makes it super horrible (which of course I didn't see it as super horrible when it happened, just now when I look back on it) would be the fact that he was "knee driving" because he was so busy smoking pot! Ack! I was so dumb and naive back in the day :)

3. How old were you when you fell in love for the first time? I think I was about 24. It was definitely with the guy mentioned above! We basically couldn't keep our hands off each other and were spending every spare minute we had together. At the time we told each other we loved each other all the time... but looking back I know I was in love with the man he had the potential of being. Of course he was selling and I just KNEW i could change him. Yeah. I got REAL smart about 2 years later. :)

4. When was the last time you reconciled your checkbook? I don't "balance" my check book very often, but I check my bank account daily to see what has cleared and what hasn't.

5. If you were going to fashion a "wanted" ad for a best friend, how would you word it? Wanted: Super cool person (male or female, but preferably male!) who can make me laugh! Loyal, trustworthy, honest, and someone who has goals for life but is also ok with doing nothing on any given night a must. expect to call and get my voicemail. if i like you i might call back. texting preferred. foul language users, back stabbers and general low lives need not apply.

5 Question Friday!

1. What is your favorite Easter tradition? Church. There is NOTHING like Easter Sunday morning! I usually cry every year - the hymns are just so emotionally moving to me. Dinner with the family is a close 2nd favorite tradition :)

2. Are you a "shower" or a "long, hot bath" type of person? First of all, I'm not sure why these questions are in quotes. I digress. I am a shower person, unless it is a cold, winter night... in that case I will take advantage of the 'rents whirlpool tub!

3. Can you parallel park, and if so, when is the last time you did? I can! I had to in order to pass my driving test. I think it's easy, but some people have a tough time.

4. What is your favorite Easter candy? Cadbury mini eggs! They used to only be available at Easter, but this year I noticed they came out with green, red and white balls.

5. Easter: Do you go all out with the Easter Bunny or focus on the religious part of the holiday? Well, seeing as I don't have kids I do focus on the religious aspect of the holiday. I would like to have a good mix of both for my kids when and if I am blessed with them. I think the Easter Bunny part of Easter is fun... but I would really like to focus on the meaning of Easter, which essentially is the making of my faith!

Five Question Friday!

I can't believe it is already Friday! and i'm on the verge of vacation!!!!!

1. What is your favorite sign of spring?

I would have to say my favorite sign of spring is the longer days. I love that we now change our clocks a few weeks earlier, so that adds to the loveliness of the season! Another sign I love is the smell of rain after a warm day. I was running errands last weekend and it wasn't super warm, but the sun was strong enough that it had warmed up the pavement and we had a quick shower... i just love that smell! Or the smell of fresh cut grass... which I haven't smelled yet but Yankee Candle has a candle that comes awfully close! OK, I was only supposed to name 1 favorite sign...

2. What was your best birthday ever?

I would have to say 29. My friends made the day so fun and I felt very special! I was loving life and working out regularly and it showed. Overall it was a great year where I learned a lot.

3. What is your favorite dessert?

Anything to that involves chocolate. My current favorite is fat free sugar free Jell-o brand chocolate fudge pudding. Super yum.

4. What is the best excuse you've used to get out of a ticket?

Never gotten a ticket... but I've come close. I was driving home from Michigan and got pulled over in Ohio. The officer was super nice and I told him I didn't realize the speed limit changed from 75 to 65. He let me go with just a warning. Let's hope I can avoid any flashing lights in my rear view mirror on this trip!

5. Do you wake up to your alarm, with your alarm or after hitting snooze several times?

All of the above! I wake up at least 2 or 3 times a night. Sometimes it's the dog that wakes me up to let her out - especially the past month since she's been on medication that makes me drink more... which of course makes her have to pee more... so I guess that counts as waking before my alarm. I obviously wake up with my alarm - some days just before it goes off and some days as it goes off. And some days... it's just necessary to snooze a few times.

Happy weekend!! :)

Five Question Friday!

1. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Only 1 thing? I would change the fact that I love food so much... I mean really... why does it have to be so good? I would like to have more self control :)

2. Write about a time when you got lost.

The first thing that comes to mind is my road trip with Dishmoney to pick up Christie after her cruise. I think we crossed the Geroge Washington Bridge 7 times within the course of an hour... and somehow ended up in Harlem.

3. Camping or 5 star hotel?

Never been camping (although I would LOVE to try it!) so I'm going to have to go with 5 star hotel... although I've never been in one of those either.....

4. Have you donated blood?

Never. Want to, but haven't done it yet.

5. Do you have a budget or do you 'fly by' most months?

Definitely not a budgeter. Need to do more of that. I'm sure I'd be amazed at how much money I "waste" if I sat down and wrote a monthly or even bi-weekly budget.

Five Question Friday!

I'm a bad, bad blogger.

In order to have a regular, weekly post, I'm linking up with Mama M for 5 Question Friday! I'm hoping this will get me to blog at least once a week!

1. Have you ever had surgery?

I have had minor, day surgery. About a year and a half ago I had my gallbladder removed. I reported to the hospital at 6am and I was home by Noon. I dealt with the pain for about 3 years thinking it was an ulcer. Not having that pain any longer is AMAZING!

2. Ever ride in an ambulance?

I have not!

3. How are you in a medical emergency? Panicked? Calm?

I can't think of a medical emergency that I have had to take part in... but I think I would be calm. For me, the panic and stress usually sets in a bit after the emergency occurs.

4. Do you have a garden? Flowers or veggies?

Um, Poppa Muck has a garden! He does an elaborate vegetable garden every year and has already started his 2011 garden! Living at home makes me a lucky beneficiary! Tomatoes, Squash, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spaghetti Squash, Beets, Eggplant... those are the regulars. This year he is trying to grow BRUSSEL SPROUTS!!! yumma!

5. When did you move out of your parents house?

ha! I moved into a house with 2 close guy friends in East Hartford in the spring of 2004. After graduating from college I decided I wanted to get a job closer to home and moved home "temporarily" in January 2005. Now, that was over 6 years ago. **SIGH**.

sensational seven

it's late and i'm tired! but here's a bulleted list of 7 positive things that happened this week:

1. i started working with the autism kids after school. they have their own club, so i get to see these kids that i absolutely adore 3 afternoons a week!
2. wednesday i broke up a fight at school. it was in the hallway during a transition, and i didn't get hurt! seriously, i went to bed thinking how it was possible that i didn't get punched in the process of getting in the middle of 2 7th grade boys throwing punches at each other. God definitely protected me!
3. wednesday night we conducted a successful business meeting at church. i'm so blessed to be a part of ghbc!
4. thursday was john & gabe's SIXTH birthday! doesn't seem possible. got to skype for about an hour with tim and luke while bridget put the birthday boys to bed.
5. mom & dad celebrated 49 years of marriage thursday. almost unheard of this day and age.
6. i'm 5 days of school away from vacation! AND we actually got a FULL WEEK of school in this past week. first full week since january 3rd (even though we had a half day monday and an early release tuesday for parent teacher conference... it wasn't a full week for the kids but it was for teachers).
7. got to spend this afternoon and evening with some GREAT friends! had a blast celebrating Brennan's 1st birthday and then got some girl time in with rachel and kathryn while kyle, clint and lauren went out for a bit. it was a much needed, very relaxing evening!

super!

seven sensational things from this past week:

1. it is currently thundering! it sounds like spring or summer outside... but it definitely still looks very much like winter! i don't think i will ever get used to thunder while there is snow on the ground... but it's pretty cool. the snow on the ground makes the lightning SO bright, too! oh, how i long for the snow to be gone. soon enough i'm sure i'll be complaining about the heat and humidity. add the previous two sentences to the list of reasons why i love living where i do and being able to experience all 4 seasons!

2. speaking of snow... we had 2 more snow days this week! i'm still amazed at how these storms keep coming... one after another. the jet stream is locked into a perfect track for us to be bombarded. and we have been! right now my last day of school with students is monday, june 20th. we have a rescheduled FULL day (shoot me now) of professional development to make up. so, my last day is tuesday the 21st. from what i've heard about the weather pattern, it is supposed to be changing after this coming week and they're talking about a warming trend. (is my weather geek factor completely off the charts, or what?).

3. i *COMPLETELY* forgot to mention in my post last week that my very best friend from high school... stacey lee orenstein gordon... affectionately referred to as "slo" or "jew girl" (yes, my inappropriateness did indeed start in high school)... had a BABY on 1/23/11! i don't think it is possible for me to be happier for her. she and her husband, lee, are going to be great parents! how do i know this? because little michael benjamin was a VERY wanted baby. i don't know personally the struggle with trying to conceive, but i can relate to being at the same place in life and having that biological clock tick-tick-ticking away... and how it feels to walk past the baby aisle in target or wal*mart and want to cry because it seems like it will never happen. i know this baby will be SO loved... and i wish there were more people in the world like them.

4. last night i got to pick up my recently-turned-10-year-old niece briana from cheer practice. this place is unreal! i walked into the gym and was greeted in the lobby by a sign that read "practice is closed to spectators :) ". um, not THIS spectator! i proceeded to walk into the gym... and holy macaroni! my niece is seriously AMAZING. they have a competition next weekend in hartford that they are preparing for... as well as a competition in FLORIDA in the coming months. these 4 girls (one of which is a former student of mine... she's in 9th grade this year... pretty cool) take my twig of a niece and toss her up in the air while she proceeds to do a kick mid air, add a toe touch before she SPINS TWO FULL ROTATIONS before landing in these 4 girls' arms. i know they may have their reasons why practice is closed to spectators (distractions for the kids) but now i know why practice should be closed to worrying aunties. crazy worried or not, my niece has some SERIOUS talent! so proud of her!!

5. i am just two short weeks... (or 8 full days plus 1 half day and 1 early release day, but who's counting?) from winter break! i'm excited to spend some time with mike and thea both on my way to and back from virginia! speaking of virginia... amanda... i'd like to put an order in for some warmer weather. i'll take 50-55 degrees. don't even need sunshine... just warmer temps. you've got 2 weeks, i expect you to come through.

6. can i just mention how much i love staples? as in, the store. this past week i went to get ONE thing... and ended up getting a few things to further help me organize my room at the middle school. it seems i could easily spend my paycheck each week (ok that may be an over exaggeration) on things to get me organized... but i just love it!

7. i just finished making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and they're delish! been on a baking kick lately. so far i've made 2 loaves of bread and these here cookies since yesterday afternoon. now i need to start giving it away so i don't eat it all myself! :)

tears

i literally have tears rolling down my face from laughing so hard! i think 2 consecutive snow days has made me a little loopy!

cept

(thats french for 7) :)

so, it's 11:30 and i just realized i havent posted 7 super things yet! ack!

1. house! call me crazy, but i love saturday nights because of the house mini marathon every week. i just love his character! it helps that he's super good looking and easy on the eyes... and he sings... and plays piano.... and dabbles in guitar... need i go on??

2. my niece natalya turned FIVE years old last week. FIVE. and she still refers to ME as her best friend. love that girl.

3. speaking of nieces, briana turned 9 friday. i still remember walking back to the band building after a men's basketball game and calling home to find out she had arrived! love that girl.

4. 3rd week in a row with a snow day! not quite sure how i'm going to handle a full 5 day week when the time comes... thought this week might hand me a snow day, but now it's trending towards rain. we'll see.

5. i'm officially going to virginia for my february vacation!!!!!! i cannot WAIT to see amanda, josh and adah... and to meet miss michaela!!!!!! 2 weeks from friday i start the drive down! SO EXCITED!!!

6. i'm super blessed to have a great church family and i'm reminded of that on a weekly basis. my church family truly is my 2nd family and i cant express in words what they mean to me!

7. january is coming to an end and i'm about 7% done reading through the Bible! i'm really enjoying this chronological plan. annnnnnnnd of course i'm realizing NOW that i have yet to do it today, so i'm off!

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7

1. This week in my chronological Bible reading i read through the story of Lot in the book of Genesis, and it reminded me of back in September when Angie from Bring the Rain posted about it (here). i found it so cool that this time around, it had a totally different significance for me. i LOVE that about God's Word!

2. i had another 3 day work week this week! Monday was a holiday and Friday was supposed to be a PD day but because of the snow it was called off. The only downfall is that now we have to make up the PD day at the end of the year. We've only had one full week of school so far this year... I'm beginning to forget what it's like to work 5 our of 7 days a week!

3. I got to sit with Brennan tonight! That little bugger is so stinking cute! I just love him to pieces and was thrilled to be able to spend a little time with him before he went to bed! I also was thrilled to be able to give Kyle & Rachel a chance to go out!

4. Last night was a Ladies Game Night. They happen every 3rd Friday of the month, and last night was my first time attending. It was fun! We played Dicecapades, Buzz Word and Pit! It's always good to fellowship with people I hold in high regard and that are great Godly examples for me.

5. Things are work continue to be extremely stressful, and this week the Lord used Rachel to remind me of one of His great promises. She posted here about memorizing scripture, and the verse she had talked about was such a great reminder of the Lord wanting us to cast all of our cares and worries on Him. Not only will He take care of them, but He will sustain us! Can i get am AMEN?! :)

6. I'm thankful tonight for safety for my brother and sister in law along with my niece Briana. Friday morning my sister in law lost her brakes on her car and was able to "crash" into a snow bank, avoiding a much worse scenario. Due to her car being out of commission, my dad let them borrow his truck to travel to Providence for a Cheer competition for Bri. Chris ended up rear-ending another vehicle... the officer on the scene said it was unavoidable and no one was at fault. I'm thankful for the Lord's provisions once again.

7. I heard this week about a one year Master's in Nursing program right at UConn - Avery Point!!! Holy Moley! It's so close and convenient! With my job security being extremely low for the upcoming 2011-12 school year, this is something i am praying about and would appreciate your prayers, as well as i seek God's will in my life! Nursing was my 2nd choice (to teaching, of course) for a career in high school and i'm really excited (and scared) about this possible new venture in life!