Morning Meme
1) What do you typically have for breakfast?
I don't usually eat breakfast.
2) What was your favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?
Frosted Flakes
3) Orange juice, tomato juice or cranberry juice? Orange
4) What time is your alarm clock set for? 5AM
5) Do you have any tips for preventing stress and making the morning go more
smoothly? I lay out my clothes and I have all of my shower products on
the sink ready to go.
1) Number 1 on the charts in August 20 years ago, "We Belong Together" is about the end of this romantic relationship. Mariah sings that now she won't have anyone to talk to on the phone until the sun comes up. That was then. Today many people prefer to text than to talk on the phone. Are you one of those people? Yes, it is so weird, because I used to love to talk on the phone and now I hate it. I think it is because it seems like I get caught on the phone for a long time and I have things to do. I text a lot though.
2) The video for this song features an elaborate wedding. Tell us about the last wedding you attended. It was my nephew's wedding and that was a few years ago. They are expecting a baby now. Here is a picture of them. I go to more funerals these days.
3) Mariah believes she inherited her musical gifts from her mom, who was an opera singer and vocal coach. When things were hectic in their household, Mariah recalls that music helped bring her and her mom closer together. Share a happy childhood memory featuring you and one of your parents. I have a lot of fond memories of my dad taking me to the gas station and we would get me an orange soda in the glass bottles. He would also take me to the grocery store to get candy. I miss him so much. Here he is walking me down the aisle.
4) After graduating from high school in Long Island, Mariah Carey went to Manhattan in search of stardom. While waiting for her big break, she enrolled in beauty school and waited tables. Both stylists and servers receive gratuities for their services. Do you consider yourself a good tipper? yes
5) The Fresh Air Fund operates six camps in the New York area to provide kids with a chance to learn and explore outdoors. They named Camp Mariah in Ms. Carey's honor to thank her for her support. Here's your chance to toot your own horn. Tell us about an honor you received. (Anything from a major award to a handmade drawing that says "World's Best Mom" counts. We want to hear about it.) I have won employee of the month in the past and several music awards for singing when I was in school. I have lots of World's Best Teacher mugs.
6) Mariah has mentioned she enjoys pizza and red wine. Will you be enjoying either pizza or red wine this weekend? no
Let's look at the summer of 2005.
7) The biggest news story that summer was Hurricane Katrina. This deadly and destructive storm killed over 1,000 people and did more than $100 billion in damage. Have you ever endured a natural disaster (such as hurricane, flood, landslide, tornado, blizzard, wildfire)? We have floods and tornados here a lot. We have so far not had damage from any of that weather. I did have hail damage on my car about two weeks after I got it, but we got it fixed.
8) Popular that summer was Kingda Ka, the new roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Jackson, NJ. At the time, it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. Have you been to any fairs or amusement parks this summer? no
9) Award-winning American figure skater Alysa Liu was born in August of 2005. NBC Sports and their Peacock network report that figure skating events get high ratings. What's your favorite sport to watch on TV? KC Chiefs football. I love the St. Louis Cardinals also, but I haven't watched them much the past couple of years. I am hoping that changes some starting next year.
Some of you know I started school on Tuesday. I was really nervous because my class last year was very difficult. Well, my group this year is amazing. I love these kids so much. Don't get me wrong, I loved my kids last year very much, but they made me so tired. I am praying for a really fun year. I just wanted to update those of you that knew I was experiencing some stress about starting school.
1) Number 1 on the charts in August 30 years ago, "Colors of the Wind" is from the Disney hit, Pocahontas. Have you seen it? Yes, I enjoyed it very much.
2) This song celebrates the glories of nature. Have you spent much time outdoors this summer? If yes, what have you enjoyed doing? Not really. The mosquitoes eat me alive. I will be getting out more at school for recess starting next week though.
3) Lyricist Stephen Schwartz said he was inspired by the works of Chief Seattle, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Who is your favorite author? I really enjoy Abby Jiminez for romance. I enjoy Riley Sager for thrillers. Kristin Hannah for historical fiction. I like a lot of authors, but those are a few.
4) This week's artist, Vanessa Williams, came to national attention as Miss America 1984. In the talent competition she sang "Happy Days Are Here Again." Over the years, contestants have sung, recited original poetry, danced, twirled batons, performed gymnastics and demonstrated martial arts. Which of your talents would wow the judges? I really do not have any talents that would wow people.
5) Her family tree includes William A. Fields, who served in the Tennessee House of Representatives in the late 19th century. Are you interested in genealogy? Yes, I think it is so interesting.
6) Vanessa supports the non-profit Dress for Success, which helps unemployed and underemployed women prepare with career coaching, networking and professional attire. Have you ever gone into a job interview found yourself unprepared? Or, if you prefer, tell us about an interview you confidently aced. Oh yes, I have done both. I left my first teaching job and went to a different school to interview and got really nervous. That was a good experience because the next time I did well. If you interview to be a teacher, it is a process. You fill out an application online and they will have you do a video interview that you submit online. Then it goes to the interview team and they choose who they want to bring in to interview. Then the candidates teach a lesson in a classroom and then we take them to do an in-person interview. I am on the interview team, there are about 5 of us that ask questions to the candidate. When I interviewed, I got to teach a sweet pre-K class and I knew the interview team because I had worked at the district as a para. It is kind of a lot to go through. It all worked out though.
Let's look at the summer of 1995.
7) 1995's best-selling new car was the Ford Taurus. That summer, dealers were promoting a 6.9% APR loan or $1,500 cash back with purchase. This summer, drivers with good credit might get a better deal because the average APR for new car loans is a little lower. Do you keep your eye on fluctuating interest rates? No, but I think my husband does.
8) English yachtswoman Lisa Clayton made history by sailing solo around the world. It took her 10 months. Would you be comfortable spending months and months alone? I could do it. I think I would even enjoy it for a few days, then I would get lonely.
9) Legendary New York Yankee Mickey Mantle died in 1995. How is your baseball team doing this season? Ugh. I am a St. Louis Cardinals fan and they are so bad I haven't really followed them this summer. I sure hope they can get it together.
Here is a picture from Open House Thursday night. There are three pre-K teachers, so here we are. I am the one in the middle.
Let's Do Our ABCs
A. Auto- Toyota Camry
1) Number 1 on the charts in August 40 years ago, the lyrics to "Shout" encourage us to "let it all out." When is the last time you raised your voice? I visited my mom on Wednesday, and she cannot hear very well, so I raised my voice so she could hear me.
2) This week's featured artists, Tears for Fears, were a duo -- Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith -- who met as teenagers in Bath, the largest city in Somerset, England. Bath has been named one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe. Popular spa treatments include massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, mineral baths, manicures and pedicures. If you could treat yourself to a spa treatment today, which would you choose? I could go for a massage right now. My back is so tight.
3) When they first met, one of the things Roland and Curt bonded over was that they were both raised by single mothers. Who was your best friend during your teen years? What did you two bond over? My best friend was Britteny. I think we mostly bonded over pop culture. We liked the same music and tv shows. We spent so much time at each other's houses. We also worked together at McDonalds. We loved to giggle and talk about boys. We were friends since elementary. She lives in Alaska now.
4) Curt's wife, Frances Pennington, has had a long career in marketing, beginning in the record business and transitioning to fashion. Which industry do you think you'd enjoy more -- music or fashion? When I was young it would have been music, but now I am more interested in fashion...only because I work and need to buy work clothes.
5) Roland married his childhood sweetheart, Caroline Johnston. They were together for 35 years, until her death. Do you know whatever became of your childhood sweetheart? He lives in New Mexico and owns a gym.
Let's look at the summer of 1985.
6) That summer, Chicago teenager Balu Natarajan won the National Spelling Bee. Are you a good speller? yes
7) Tinker Bell took her first nightly flight at Walt Disney World in Florida. Do you recall which Disney movie introduced us to Tinker Bell? Peter Pan?
8) Derek Hough was a baby in the summer of 1985. In 2007 he became a regular on Dancing with the Stars, acclaimed for his ballroom dancing. Are you good on the dance floor? goodness no.
9) In 1985, Michael J. Fox became the first actor to have the #1 movie at the box office and the #1 TV show in the ratings. The movie was Back to the Future and the TV show was Family Ties. Have you seen the movie? Were you a fan of the show? I have seen and loved both. Michael J. Fox was a favorite at the time.
I have started working on my classroom at school. The kids return on August 19th. We start meetings next week.
