200 Useless Pieces of Information

I saw this activity on Mary's friend's site and loved her list. Then, as I worked on mine, I read Mary's, which was awesome! Here's a list of 200 random things about myself:

1. I don’t mind being 34.
2. I don’t feel 34; I feel 24!
3. I love Alfred Hitchcock movies.
4. I hate pretentious people.
5. I drink black coffee every morning.
6. I hate flavored coffee unless it’s in the evening.
7. Smelling Funyuns makes me nauseous.
8. I am proud to have a 7th grader who still hugs me around his friends and says, “I love you, Mommy”at bedtime.
9. I love having boys.
10. I sometimes feel sad that I don’t have a girl.
11. I get over it and count my blessings!
12. I hate straightening my hair but do it anyway twice a week or so.
13. I would rather be in New York than anywhere else.
14. I love my house and feel very satisfied with it.
15. I am impressed with Barry and everything he knows and knows how to do.
16. I really love my in-laws.
17. I remember when my brother came home from the hospital and what it felt like to hold him that first time. I wasn't even three yet, but I remember the love I felt for him instantly.
18. I am jealous of both my sisters – in- law’s legs!
19. I am self-conscious in a room when I first walk in, whether I know people or not.
20. I love not teaching an EOG subject.
21. I miss being on stage.
22. I adore my brothers and I don’t think anyone has better siblings.
23. I adore my parents and I am grateful to them for everything they have done and continue to do for me.
24. I hate shorthand texting. My texts are usually in proper English.
25. I am closer to some of my cousins than some people are to their siblings.
26. I am happier now than any other time in my life.
27. I would love to be a blues singer in a nightclub once a week.
28. I don’t like that so many churches have tossed aside old hymns for these generic “praise songs” or choruses! Bring Back Power in the Blood, He Leadeth Me, and Sweet Hour of Prayer, people!!
29. I am a registered Independent.
30. I pride myself on being able say I have NEVER picked on or bullied anyone ever.
31. I have traveled to the Dominican Republic, Italy, Germany, Curacao, and Canada.
32. I have a passion for tango. I love the dance, the music, the lifestyle and any books, movies or articles pertaining to it. It is a beautiful art.
33. I love watermelon and limes.
34. I love really loud music.
35. I hate new country music. It’s ridiculous.
36. I love old country music.
37. I pierced my ear at the top once in college and my mom wouldn’t speak to me all day on Christmas Day after she saw it.
38. If I could change one thing about High School it would be that first cigarette.
39. I am glad I told my kids that I have struggled with smoking so that I can make a stronger point about how addictive it is.
40. I get very stressed over birthday parties. I’m always afraid I won’t get everything done in time or that something will happen while kids are at my house.
41. I am trying to learn some basic Korean so that I can communicate with one of my neighbors.
42. I already learned some Vietnamese so that I could communicate with a different neighbor!! Tham biet!
43. I love when my students hug me. I get an average of 25 hugs a day!
44. I hate bullies.
45. I do not understand most people’s obsession with ice cream.
46. I love Mike and Ike’s.
47. I love most candy.
48. I won first place in both the Regional and State Forensics Competition in High School for Poetry Interpretation.
49. When I bombed my audition for Governor’s School in 11th grade, it crushed me.
50. I wanted to be a psychologist until I realized I’d have to take more math that I felt comfortable with.
51. I felt like a complete failure from 17 until I was 20.
52. I think #51 explains how I got into my first marriage.
53. When I was 13, I was babysitting my youngest brother when he threw up- I physically could not clean it up- scrambled eggs!- and had to call my aunt to come do the deed!!!!
54. I love to dance.
55. I love to write.
56. I love to act.
57. I love to sing more than anything.
58. My mom is my hero.
59. I hate most things about public schools.
60. I want to adopt many of my students because their parents don’t know what they are doing- or care.
61. I love to take silly quizzes and personality tests.
62. I rarely talk on the phone because I really don’t HAVE time and always feel guilty- like I should be doing something else.
63. I lost a baby ten years ago.
64. I feel like everybody forgot. That makes me sad sometimes.
65. Because it would have been a scheduled c section, I know the birthday would have been December 15.
66. My baby is with the Lord and has a name that I have never told anyone.
67. I have friends who make me nervous and make me feel like I’m not as smart or savvy as they are.
68. I like my eyes. I like my eyelashes and the fact that my eyes are green sometimes and brown other times.
69. I hate my double chin and frizzy hair.
70. Every day at school I try to teach my female students how to act like LADIES.
71. I never wear white shirts.
72. I wear a lot of black.
73. I love black and white together- black and white floor tile, black and white outfits, black and white photos…
74. I love tap dancing.
75. I love Grace Kelly and I think she is the most beautiful woman who ever lived.
76. I think it’s weird when my mom says something negative about her looks, because she is slim and gorgeous, and my whole life other people have complimented how my mom looks! I even had a High School boyfriend say that my mom was hot, which at the time made me mad, but hey- that’s a pretty awesome compliment from a 17 year old boy, huh??
77. I am afraid of the dentist.
78. I never had a cavity until I was pregnant with Reese, now I have had 7 fillings!
79. I cannot, and never could, do a cartwheel.
80. I am impressed that Holly and Barry still can!!!
81. I love being at the beach with my family.
82. I love raspberry seltzer water.
83. I love to tear my Chik Fil A sandwich into pieces and dunk them into the Polynesian sauce.
84. I love going to the movies, even not so great ones. I just love the experience.
85. I am proud that I danced in and won a competition with a broken toe.
86. I have a huge crush on my husband and I think he is the sweetest thing ever.
87. I love black olives and jumbo green stuffed with feta.
88. I will not drink a regular drink. I will drink diet even if it is accompanied by 4 pieces of pizza or a greasy burger!
89. I wish I could still stay up late at night and read, but I try and after 5 minutes, my face is planted in the book as I drool…
90. I think I had a perfect childhood.
91. I hate that I hurt my parents in high school.
92. I love to proofread and edit.
93. I hate when people comment on how handsome one of my boys is when they are all three standing there!
94. I am allergic to nickel.
95. Barry gave me a tiny gold cross when we first got together that he got when he was in the Navy and in Israel- and it somehow came off my chain one day and was lost. He had saved it all those years and never gave it to anyone else. I hate that I lost it. Hate.
96. I hate the ridiculous names that parents give their children nowadays. I have had students with the worst names you can imagine. ex: Sha'money
97. On our honeymoon, we went to the Met to see Romeo and Juliet, and I honestly felt like I was in a movie! It was the most romantic thing ever.
98. Barry proposed to me with the boys’ help! They held signs that read “Will you marry me?” Wonderful memory!
99. I love getting cards and letters.
100. I am proud that people say I am a good listener.
101. I do not think I am that interesting! I am afraid people will read this and fall asleep.
102. I get really nervous before I sing.
103. I love to cook for my family.
104. I have written a collection of one-act plays that I need to submit, but I am afraid of rejection.
105. I am frequently sad over things I see and hear at school. I want to fix everything.
106. My 7 year old neighbor was killed in a car accident when I was in Kindergarten, and I had nightmares about her up until I was in college. I dreamt that I would play a prank on her and it would kill her.
107. I remember when Cole was born, Mary came from Hargrave with her stage makeup still on because she had rushed to the delivery room from her play!
108. I love Rock Band. Awesome game.
109. I love that my colleagues and I cut up sometimes like we’re in high school. I love the teachers on my floor.
110. I believe that when you ask for no mayo they put extra mayo on purpose!
111. Although I am not naturally very organized, I have worked on correcting that flaw so much that I actually am pretty organized now. Only my car is still embarrassingly dirty and cluttered…
112. I am both annoyed and fascinated by Oprah.
113. I do not fear death for myself, because I know that I will be with God in heaven. But I do fear losing others to death and I am afraid of how I would handle losing someone.
114. I love Asian food.
115. I love Travel Channel, especially Anthony Bourdain.
116. I am fascinated by other cultures.
117. I never speak out in faculty meetings and I try to disappear into the woodwork. I wish I could just not worry about expressing my opinion in public, but I’m always afraid of sounding like a complete moron!!
118. I am horrified by American children’s lack of reading and writing skills.
119. I am horrified by the dropout rate in this country and by our apparent lack of alarm over it!
120. I don’t like the way my speaking voice sounds when I hear it recorded.
121. I hate unloading the dishwasher.
122. I always make instant mashed potatoes now because when I made them the first time, my boys said they were the best potatoes I had ever made!!
123. I hate green peas.
124. I think it’s weird that Barry likes them so much. I think it’s gross that he will drink them from a can (He only did it once!).
125. I cannot believe how smart my kids are.
126. I am a secret worrywart. I probably should be on my prescribed anxiety meds but I choose not to take them.
127. I am mostly afraid that my children will not grow up as happily and peacefully as I did. I worry about things I cannot control, which is wrong.
128. I talk to my mom every day, and if I don’t for some reason, I don’t feel right.
129. I remember being picked on in school for my bra size, and being called names that alluded to my large chest. I never really talked to anyone about how much it hurt, because my friends thought it was a compliment that boys said that crap and it was too embarrassing to tell your parents.
130. Breast reduction was a wonderful thing.
131. I am truly, finally, completely happy.
132. I hate when I see I have emails and get excited and then I see they are special pizza deals and pictures of cats eating cake and dogs wearing little shirts that say TGIF.
133. I hate cute dog and cat emails.
134. I love reading Mary’s blog. Sometimes she is so funny that I think she should have a syndicated column or write for a major website where millions of people can be entertained by her sense of humor.
135. I love Amy Tan books.
136. I hate not finishing a book, even if it is boring. It may take years, but I will read it.
137. I love new school year supplies.
138. I felt bad that I didn’t cry over True going to kindergarten. Wasn’t I supposed to?!?! I was just really proud and happy that he was so happy.
139. I love blues music.
140. I love metal, reggae, swing, latin, jazz and old r& B, too.
141. I loved that I got my wedding dress for less than $200.
142. I hate faculty meetings.
143. I love Spongebob Squarepants.
144. I love bananas, Cool Whip., and chocolate syrup mixed in a bowl.
145. I have never seen Dumb and Dumber. My little brother says it’s a classic and I have to.
146. I am very picky about comedies.
147. I love when I have a good class period and the kids are really learning and connecting. After they leave I feel pumped up and hyper! I love those days at work.
148. A student whispered that I was a “f-ing b**” to one of her friends at my last school because I wouldn’t let her get her notebook out of her locker. It really hurt my feelings.
149. I am scared of disappointing people.
150. I wish I had known my husband when he was little.
151. I love dancing with him.
152. I get really blue in the winter months. I think January through March is useless and I hate cold unless it is connected to snow or Christmas!
153. I love make up.
154. I love to be outside.
155. I love war movies.
156. I love heels, even though I realize they are bad for my feet!
157. I am very proud of my kids.
158. I always want to try darker hair in the winter, then I always hate the way it looks on me.
159. I hate empty apologies.
160. I hate when people think change is always the answer. Sometimes, perseverance is the answer.
161. I love watching Let’s Make a Deal. It brings back so many memories of the 70’s portion of my childhood!
162. I remember riding in my dad’s red work truck when he was a plumber. I loved being with him on job sites and felt very important.
163. I have a very smart and laid back dad.
164. I feel like I am really bad at styling my hair.
165. I do not understand cheaters.
166. I love doughnuts. I really love jelly doughnuts!
167. I feel horrible every time I am even slightly grumpy to Barry!
168. I realize nobody’s perfect, but he is close to saintly in my book.
169. I never wear yellow or orange.
170. I love libraries.
171. I wish I could afford to travel frequently.
172. I think the waltz is a boring dance, even though Barry says I’m good at it. Guess I’m good at being boring.
173. I want to learn more samba.
174. I love knowing the histories of the dances I learn.
175. I want to work as a professional actress one time before I die.
176. I hate to see people bite their nails.
177. I am a hugger!
178. I am thankful that I have grandparents who are alive and love me.
179. I am attending Sunday School for the first time as an adult!
180. I taught second grade Sunday school for 8 years.
181. I love pickles, especially gherkins.
182. My favorite smells are honeysuckle in summer, cookies baking, and my children after their baths.
183. I love to be barefoot.
184. I love Christmas mornings at my Grandma’s.
185. I also hated Mary’s wedding photographer.
186. Barry, Cole, Reese and I have a tradition on Saturday nights: watching a classic movie like Rear Window or Dial M For Murder after True goes to bed.
187. I love making pancakes on Saturday mornings for the boys and the last batch always includes one in the shape of their initial. I remember making a “b” for Barry the first time and how happy it made me.
188. I loved my wedding photographers: Kristen, Ya, and Holly.
189. I never feel like I wish I had a sister. I have Mary, who grew up with me just like a sister without the sisterly drama, and now I have Holly, Ya and Carrie, too.
190. I have no desire to travel to Alaska and I don’t understand how someone could enjoy a cold cruise.
191. I still want my parents’ approval.
192. Green is my favorite color.
193. I loved being in Florence; it was the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen.
194. I love talking to elderly people. I loved everything about working at the nursing home except for the sadness.
195. I think I would have been really good at math if I had not decided early on in school that I could not be.
196. I wish I had known my Great Uncle Bill better and longer because I loved being around him.
197. I love reading on the beach.
198. I have found the great love of my life and I know it was God’s Plan to bring us together.
199. I am afraid when birds get too close to me.
200. Although I complain about my job, I believe I am in the right place for now and I believe that I am needed in that school community.

The Dalton Report

Hey, everybody! Hope you're well and happy...

The boys all started school this week and it seems we're off to a good start! True got on the bus on his first day yesterday without a backwards glance- the boy isn't afraid of anything! He said kindergarten is "cool" and "awesome" and that Ms. Ketner is "nice" and the cafeteria is "fun". Those are the only pieces of info I can drag out of him...Reese likes his teacher but did point out that she was much nicer at Open House when parents were around. Cole has already made friends at his new school, so I'm feeling very thankful right now for all these good things!!

Barry and I found out that we received an award at the competition after we left Saturday night! We won "Best Amateur Couple"! Hate we missed it, but we enjoyed being home asleep...

Reese had a great birthday Sunday! Can't believe he's 9!!! Where do the years go? I remember when he was born, and Dr. Maute looked at him and said, "Uh, oh, April, you got yourself a mad little redhead!" He came out positively screaming but was a really good baby. It's so crazy now to look at that blonde head and imagine it any other color!!

Soooo...my week with new students has been interesting. The 8th graders are awesome and I love having the Advanced 7th grade Acting.

Then there's the 6th graders.

I don't even believe in 6th grade anymore. It should not exist.

Keep them at home, parents. They are not fit for public interaction. Yes, I have a few that are adorable. However, I can't pay much attention to them due to 120 % of my focus being trained on the other type.

Boo, 6th graders. Smarty-pants, know -it -all, dirty- doggie -smelling, need-a-spanking, act -like -a -baby -but -think -you- can -talk- to- me- like -you're -grown 6th graders...

If you have a 6th grader, I apologize. No, no- not because of what I said!

Because you have a 6th grader. Hey- I had one last year! Trust me, I'm experienced in these matters. I am unfortunately a Middle Schooler Expert!!

Here are some pictures for you! Love you all!!

And the results are in...

Barry and I are very happy to announce that we took first place in all of our categories!! Granted, a few of them were uncontested, but we'll take those awards, too! Seriously, we beat out other couples in our Open Cha-Cha and Rhumba, which meant the most to us because those were original routines we worked hard on. Barry actually choreographed most of the Cha Cha, so he should be doubly proud. I am doubly proud of him!

Mom, Dad, my aunts Angie and Debbie came to watch the heats Friday night, and I was happy to have them there! I was afraid they would be bored by the endless dancing, but there were enough tattoos, face lifts, dangerous cleavage, and ridiculously ugly dresses to keep everyone entertained!!! Dad hopefully has some good pics on his camera; each and every one of us dancing taken with my camera is too blurry to see.

Somehow I was able to get through dancing for a two day competition on a broken toe, which was extremely angry at me afterwards and let me know by turning purple and looking like a Lil Smokie. I know a lot of you prayed for me, and I appreciate all those prayers, but there was one of you I thought about when I was about to dance Saturday. Every step was painful and I was trying to ignore it but worrying about the three dances in a row we were about to perform, and I remembered Kristen said she was praying for me. It just popped in my mind and comforted me! Thank you, Kristen! Thank you, God, for getting us through it all.

We will now return to our regularly scheduled life, which is fine with us!! We're tired!!!

My hairstylist, Marjie, did such a beautiful job on my hair that I

wanted you guys to see her hard work!

above: a pic from our open rhumba routine

This is it!

Tonight is the start of the competition! We dance at 6:30 tonight and around 10 or 11 a.m. tomorrow. I am very nervous because my toe is still acting up, but we know our routines and all I can do is my best. So, I will post results when I know them!
This week has been very tiring due to returning to work, Barry's start of school, and rehearsing for the competition all happening at once! Next week, at least the comp will be over and we won't have quite as much stress.
Cole had Open House last night at his new school and I very impressed. It was highly organized, the teachers seemed knowledgable and warm, and he has good classes. At Lincoln, you choose a "major" in addition to the VSN curriculum. I just knew he would choose Visual Arts, Guitar, or Band. He chose Drama, and he got it! My child is a drama major- Cool! He has surprised me with his sudden interest, and I can't wait to see his productions!
Reese has a birthday Sunday- he will be 9!! Hard to believe...
Ok, I have to jet off to Winston. My classroom looks good, but I have nothing planned for the students to do, so today is plan-making day!
I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Sorry!

I've been really busy and it was impossible to find time to blog- sorry! I hope you are all happy and feeling good!!

Since there was that ONE complaint that all of my music is to be despised on the last poll, I have added some new songs!! Please take the poll today, because I strive to bring you guys great customer service and your satisfaction is key.... By the way, I love every single song on my player!!

We had a fantastic vacation, the perfect way to end the summer. I am not ready to go back to work, but in a way, I'm prepared. Does that make sense?

I broke my toe at the beach in an unfortunate and ridiculous accident! I fell getting off a lounge chair on our deck. Now, does that sound like a Paris Hilton injury or what? No sporting disaster, no harrowing tale of an animal chasing me, or fighting to survive in a blizzard, just a lounge chair accident. Anyway, it was cracked at the tip and sprained, as well, and it hurts pretty badly!! Competition next weekend- PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This weekend marks my parents' 37th wedding anniversary!!! Congrats to them!!

I want to share something with you. One of my co-workers passed away last week of cancer. Here's the thing- I didn't even know she was sick! It wasn't a topic of conversation at work, apparently, because she had been fighting it for 8 years and people who had worked with her a long time assumed everyone knew. All last school year, she received chemo and radiation off and on, without ever acting as if anything were wrong. My co-workers explained to me that she requested for her chemo to be scheduled on Fridays, so that she could leave work a little early, take her chemo, recuperate over the weekend, and be back bright and early Monday morning. I was in shock at the bravery and strength of this woman.

Looking back and fitting it all together, I realized that during one round of her chemo, she and I had been working at the band rehearsal supervising rowdy children at Winston- Salem State together. We were the only teachers there to supervise, and there was plenty to complain about together- and we did! Looking back, I feel ridiculous that I stood there and acted to her like it was the end of the world that I had to give up my planning period or take a ten minute lunch.

She was dying.

On the other hand, maybe it was nice for her to be able to have a conversation with the one person in the school who didn't know, didn't look at her in pity, and could just stand there and simply be a couple of ticked- off teachers together!!

At her funeral, I learned that Joyce was a Christian who touched many lives in her 50 short years. Wake Forest's Wait Chapel was packed with people who came to honor her. She had been a point guard for the very first professional women's basketball league, from which she retired to get married, and her husband, Jeff, is the Associate Head Coach for Wake Forest Men's basketball!

It is sad that I didn't know Joyce better when she was alive, but I am glad I know about her now. By all accounts at her funeral, and many were given, Joyce was a godly woman and she is now with our Lord. Please pray for her family, especially her 14 year old son.

RIP Joyce Battle

Dalton Report

Hey, everybody! Hope you are all healthy and happy!



Here are 9 things you may want to know about the Daltons this week...

1. We got two gorgeous kittens- Lars and Layla! I know, I think I'm crazy, too, but we were planning to take only one and the more I thought about separating a brother and sister...







2. We are headed to the beach today for one last hurrah- I report to work on the 18th! BOOO!!!!!!!!!!



3. Barry took his placement tests for GTCC and registers this week. He placed into the classes he had hoped- and aced the English placement with a 99!!! Such a smarty. Pray for him as he starts school.



4. Tickets for the Carolina Challenge competition where Barry and I will compete are $25 and can be purchased at the door on the 22nd or 23rd. We do not know yet which night we will dance which dances, but there is a BIG possibility we will only be dancing Saturday night, the 22nd, since we are only competing in Latin.




5. Yesterday was Haircut Day! I cannot believe how different True looks-and how much he looks like Cole! Of course, my little hippy decided to keep his hair...







6. Try Mary's Shredded Chicken Recipe she posted last week- DELICIOUS!



7. Still pray for Carrie! She is just having a rough time- we all know what that is like. Pray for her strength and patience.
8. Apparently, brussels sprouts are the most hated veggie! Not a surprise, I actually predicted that one- but I like them with vinegar! Most of you thought my music was interesting and one person hated it! Really??!! All of it? It's such a crazy mix of different styles and genres that I believe this person just doesn't like music! Anyway, I will try to add new songs soon just for fun...


9. I miss you guys!!