compare and contrast challenge

I was tagged by The Gal Herself!

The Rules:
FlutistPride's 

Compare and Contrast Challenge Rules:

• Do not compare and contrast yourself with yourself. That defeats the purpose of this challenge.
• You are not limited in your amount of comparing and contrasting, but please keep your post coherent and readable.
• Link to the blogger you intend to take the compare and contrast challenge.
• The challenged blogger must be informed via comment section or E-mail order to be obligated to post. If they explicitly decline, they are no longer obligated to participate.
• Do not vex anyone who declines.
• The Compare and Contrast Challenge is not intended to be demeaning to any party. Do not use belittling remarks, even if they are jokes. Save your viewers the headache of trying to read your intentions through a screen.
• There is no particular time frame the challenge should take place in.
• Let the other blogger know you compared and contrasted yourself to them. Invite this person to challenge others.
• Tag your post Compare and Contrast Challenge if you are participating or challenging someone else.
• No one has to challenge you in order to participant

I'm choosing to tag Cat--she posts at Sweet Memes!

First, we compare

• Cat and I are voracious readers
• Cat and I love the band U2
• Cat and I are meme fans
• Cat and I do the things we do without expecting praise, and are awkward with being publicly mentioned
• Cat and I are both library fans
  

Then, we contrast 

• Cat is married and a mom while I am single and not a mom
• Cat has to deal with peculiar people at her job while I deal with teenagers
• Cat drinks Diet Dr. Pepper while I drink Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee
• Cat lives in an urban-ish area while I live hours from civilization
• Cat follows sports teams while I only cheer for the Patriots to get free coffee after they win

the sisterhood

Here are the rules for the The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award:

1. Thank the blogger that nominated you, and link back to their site.

2. Post the award's logo onto your blog.

3. Answer the 10 questions you've been asked.

4. Nominate 10 other bloggers and ask them 10 questions.

What a treat to get a blog award from my new blog buddy, Cynthia at Bingeing On Books!

Her questions for me:
1. If you were a character in a book, who would you be and why? I would like to be the main character in a Jill Mansell romantic-comedy
2. What are you reading right now? I'm reading Lucky Us by Amy Bloom, my book group's February selection
3. Who is your favorite author? Stephen King, Maeve Binchy, JK Rowling,
4. Describe your favorite reading spot. I like to read in bed
5. What is your favorite book to movie adaptation? the Harry Potter movies
6. What do you like most about blogging? I like rambling about whatever's on my mind and answering meme questions
7. Which book do you recommend the most and why? lately I've been recommending All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
8. Do you prefer coffee or tea? I prefer coffee
9. Fun fact about yourself! I've already filed my tax return and received my refund.
10. Rough estimate, how many books are in your TBR pile? I just checked my Nook and that has 401 books on it, so I would say that probably 275 are TBR

I'm nominating you! Yes, you! So, answer these questions:

1. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
   
2. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
3. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
4. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
5. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
6. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
7. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
8. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
9. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
10. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

And don't forget to link back because I'd love to see your answers!

tagged

My blog friend Paula at Smidgens, Snippets & Bits nominated me for the Liebster Award!

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself.
2. Answer 11 questions asked by Paula.
3. Nominate bloggers with less than 200 followers to do the same.
4. Let those bloggers know that you chose them.

Random Facts About Myself:
1) I fall asleep on my left side.
2) I wake up with one foot out of the blankets at least once per night.
3) I have an irrational fear of body odor.
4) Hugs make me happy.
5) I do not enjoy talking on the phone.
6) I have learned to screen my phone calls since I got caller id.
7) I like extending holiday/birthday celebrations.
8) I miss my sisters. And their families.
9) I don't mind traveling by myself.
10) I often drive in silence, unless I'm on a road trip.
11) I am vain about my wardrobe.

Paula's questions for me:
1. Why do you blog? I started because I was having a hard time writing in my physical journal and my therapist suggested I try a blog
2. How did you chose the name of your blog? It's a line from one of my favorite movies
3. What makes you laugh out loud? frequently, my students do
4. Are you a morning person or a night owl? I am a former night owl who has turned into a morning person
5. Favorite TV show and why? currently it's Gracepoint on Fox
6. What do you want to be when you grow up? happy
7. How do you cope when things are not going well in your life? I get quite, retreat, and sleep on it
8. A Favorite quote? "Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." -Voltaire
9. Your favorite food to snack on when no one is around. plain potato chips
10. What is your favorite social media? Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads
11. What is one destination that you dream of traveling to? I would love to go back to Ireland--and I need to go to Italy

Nominating: the usual suspects.

My questions for you:
1) What makes your favorite pair of jeans your favorite?
2) If someone from out of town came to visit, where would you take them to lunch?
3) When do you start holiday shopping?
4) Are you good at keeping up with routine maintenance?
5) What are you vain about?
6) Would you rather have a private chef, housekeeper, or chauffeur?
7) How do you get songs out of your head?
8) Do you like being sung to on your birthday?
9) How do you organize your shoes?
10) Cable, satellite, roku, netflix?
11) Have you celebrated a famously wild holiday like Mardi Gras or St. Patrick's Day?

shine on!

The Gal, at One Gal's Musing, has awarded me the Shine On award.

THE SHINE ON AWARD
Here are the rules of the award:
1. Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Acknowledge that blogger on your blog, and link back.
3. Share seven random, interesting things about yourself.
4. Nominate up to 15 bloggers for the Shine On Award, provide a link to their blogs in your post, and notify them on their blogs.

Now for the seven random facts about me:


1) I have been reading exclusively on my Nook for about two years. Holding a book feels weird now. I never thought I would be so hooked on an ereader. I am a book lover! Part of it is that there is no local bookstore around here. I know. What kind of town doesn't have a bookstore??

2) I love watching music videos. MTV and VH1 were my favorite channels until they stopped playing videos and music-related shows.

3) When I'm out in public and a television is on, I feel compelled to keep glancing at it.

4) I enjoy awards shows.

5) I am on a shopping moratorium. No clothing until November 1. No accessories, either. No shoes or boots. No.

6) I embrace my feminism--not that I hate men (far from it), but there are still gender inequalities when there shouldn't be.

7) I think I'm developing RLS Restless Leg Syndrome.

And my nominees:
Diana
Bookmammal
Cristy
and Paula

an award!

How this "One Lovely Blog Award" works:

1. Add the “One Lovely Blog Award” image to your post

2. Share seven things about you

3. Pass the award on to seven nominees

4. Thank the person who nominated you and add a short blurb about them.

5. Inform the nominees by posting on their blogs

So excited to receive this award from The Gal! She is one of my dearest blog buddies. The Gal writes about politics, baseball, movies, and her life in Chicagoland. I aspire to be the friend she is to her friends.

Seven things about me?

1) As a drinker, I am a lightweight. Really. It's because of the medications I take. And it's kind of funny to me. I used to be able to drink a startling amount. I went about twelve years without drinking and then I started having an occasional glass of wine.

2) I would love to spend a month in Italy and Greece. Along the Mediterranean Sea.

3) When I eat a trail-mix type of food, I like to pick out and eat almost all of the food I don't like first, then it's a mix of my favorite stuff.

4) Although I am diligent with my skincare routine, I do not wear any make up.

5) I love every second of being on vacation but I would have a hard time not doing a lot for an extended period of time. Speaking of loving every second of vacation, I think I'm really good at celebrating moments. Of being present.

6) I might investigate going on a whale watch. I haven't been in quite a few years. I don't want to go to Bar Harbor, though, it's too touristy. Maybe from Quebec.

7) I just found out Elvis Costello is going to be in concert in November. I think I must get tickets!

Ok, seven nominees:

Diana, Cristy, Paula, Cat, Mrs. Chili, Bev, and you!

old school blogging meme

Paula tagged me for The Old School Blogging Meme.
So here goes:

Five Things I have A Passion For:

reading
knitting
learning
teaching
gadgets

Five Things I'd like to Learn Before I Die:
how to edit photos
understanding html
how to write a grant
how my DVR works

Five Things I say A Lot:

Oh boy!
No way!
Say wha?
Oh yeah!
Oh wow!

Five Books and/or magazines I have Read Lately:

O, the Oprah magazine
Entertainment Weekly
Redbook
The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling
The Cukoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling's pseudonym)

Five Favorite Movies:

(maybe you have seen them Five Times)

When Harry Met Sally
Sleepless In Seattle
City of Angels
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Ocean's Eleven

Five Places I would like to Travel To:

Washington, DC
Germany
Italy
Ireland
New York City

Five People I invite to Do This Meme:

You, you, you, you, and you!

dona nobis pacem

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

tagged

My blog buddy, Endomental, posted the following questions on her blog as part of the Liebster Award!

1. What period of history is your favorite to read about?
I don't know that I have a favorite, I like American history, though
2. What is your favorite genre of fiction?
I like contemporary fiction and mysteries
3. Do you choose a book by its cover?
frequently
4. Where do you do most of your reading?
in bed
5. Without looking, guess about how many books are in your TBR pile. Now look. Were you right?
I think there are 100 (including my Nook) There are 137 on the Nook and 15 others on my shelf
6. How many movies on your TBW list?
208
7. What's your favorite genre of movie?
I don't know that I have one... I like compelling, good movies
8. Do you still go to see movies in the theater?
occasionally
9. You have $10,000 and no strings or obligations for one full day. Where do you go and what do you do?
after paying off all my bills I would shop for new furniture
10. How many songs on your mp3 player?
45
11. What comes next? Monster, monkey, helicopter,
flag

tagged...

About a week ago, I was tagged by William for the Liebster award!

The Liebster Blog Award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers … and is a sneaky way to get to know the person behind the blog.

According to him:
Liebster is a German word which means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

Here are the rules for the award:

1. Each person must post 11 facts about themselves.
2. Answer 11 questions the tagger has given you and give 11 questions for the people you’ve tagged.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post. Tell them you’ve tagged them.
4. Remember, no tag backs.

So, here are 11 things about me:

1) My legs are sore because I've been walking uphill all the time on this campus and I'm not used to all the walking. Even though I used to be obsessed with walking.

2) I snore. How unlady-like.

3) When I was a teen/young adult, I was plagued with migraines. Now I get "blind migraines" where I have the symptoms but not the pain.

4) I think this is the longest I've gone without a Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee--since Sunday!

5) Even though the AP Institute is having a "lobstah" feed on Thursday, I signed up for steak.

6) I haven't completed my homework yet. It's "due" on Thursday. I kinda don't know what to do since I've never taught the class I don't have a best practice to share. But I'll think of something.

7) Spanish guitar music makes me very happy. And relaxed.

8) I'm pretty good at being brave. I try new things even when I don't want to.

9) I like looking people in the face and acknowledging them. I'm thinking about the people I don't know here at the AP Institute but when I walk by them I look at them and greet them.

10) I actually enjoy looking up words I don't know. Either in the old-fashioned dictionary or online.

11) I perspire profusely when I am anxious because of a medicine I take. And then I perspire more because I can't calm down enough to stop perspiring. And I perspire more because I am anxious about being anxious. It's a vicious cycle.

And here are William's questions:

1. What is your favourite book of all time?
hmmm... the books I've re-read most are Light A Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy and Pillars Of The Earth by Ken Follett
2. Can you read with noise going on or must you have complete silence?
I can read just about anywhere
3. Do you have a problem letting go of a book, even if it was one you didn’t particularly like?
yes!
4. What are your main interests outside of reading?
blogging, knitting and trashy TV
5. Star Wars or Star Trek?
original Star Wars trilogy
6. Who is your favourite author?
I think I have to say Stephen King
7. Coffee or tea?
coffee, preferably iced
8. Do you ever listen to audio books? If not, why not?
I've just started listening to audio books, mostly when I'm knitting, and mostly autobiographies read by the author
9. Where is your favourite place to read?
in bed
10. Do you own an e-reader? If not, why not?
yes, I have a first generation Nook and a Nook Simple Touch With Glowlight and I love them
11. Do you always finish a book, regardless of whether you like it or not?
almost always, there are so few books I don't finish... it really bugs me that I can't finish something

Here are my questions for the tagged:

1. What is your favorite genre to read?
2. How often do you read for pleasure?
3. Do you ever read books in your least favorite genre?
4. Do you snack when you read?
5. What do you do when you're in a reading slump?
6. Are you easy to talk into doing something out of the ordinary?
7. Do you follow a daily routine?
8. Where do you keep your keys?
9. What is your favorite song featuring a banjo?
10. Do you drink bottled water?
11. How old is your blog?

And now it's time for me to tag my favorite bloggers: the usual suspects: The Gal, Diana, Mrs. Chili, Princess Ladybug, Erika, Cat, Bev, and you!

award

Bev was kind enough to gift me with this award! Here are the rules:

* Link the award to the person who gave it to me.

* Answer questions about myself.

* Nominate up to 10 bloggers for this award, and link my nominees to the post and comment on their blog, letting them know about the award.

The Questions:

Favorite number: 3

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: iced coffee

Favorite animal: dogs

Facebook or Twitter: both

My passion: reading, teaching, knitting

Favorite day of the week: every

Favorite flower: peony

Since my Virginia family is visiting, I haven't been online much so I'm going to skip the Nominations for now. I'll get back to it, though!

award!

Thank you, Katy! What a fun award!

Answer the following questions and pass them on to your Top Five Commenters.
The Questions

What is your third favorite color? bright blue

Would you rather be: a Jedi, a Pokemon Master or a Wizard/Witch? Choose ONE. Jedi, I think

Who is your favorite Doctor? my favorite fictional doctor is Dr. Watson, especially the incarnation of Martin Freeman



Can you whistle? sure can

Would you name your child Sirius Albus? doubtful, but I might name an electronic toy that name

What is the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything? 42 of course!

Do you own a lawnmower? my landlord does

Do you think Legolas is a (very pretty) pansy? I don’t like the word pansy … so no.

What’s the trashiest thing you’ve read in the last year? Trashy in this context was described to be something I’d wish someone else to read because I don’t want to do so for myself. I guess a chick-lit by Jill Mansell... but she's not trashy, really

award!

My new blog buddy, Valentina, has awarded me!

There are only 2 rules: saying 7 random things about yourself that the readers don’t know yet and pass the award on to 15 more blogs you usually follow. Easy, isn’t it?

1) I have more clothes than I need. No, really.

2) I haven't cooked a full meal in years. I'm the queen of re-heating and convenience cooking.

3) This rainy weather is bringing me down. I suppose I should be glad it's not snowing.

4) Today was a good day at school. Even though we're testing and the schedule was all messed up, I was planned and ready to go. And my students were relatively well behaved.

5) Someone else mentioned me moving classrooms. Oh boy... I really don't want to move.

6) At about 3 o'clock every afternoon, I have about fifteen to twenty minutes of being useless. It's my time of the dumbs.

7) I do not like fruity candy.

As for tagging blogs--I'll tag the usual suspects! And you! Consider yourself tagged!

dona nobis pacem

sweeeeet!

The Gal Herself has awarded this blog Irresistibly Sweet. How cool is that! Originally the directions tell us: "Now, as I understand it, for this award one is to list seven pieces of information not commonly known about themselves, and fifteen recommendations." But The Gal is a maverick and so I will also be, listing fifteen pieces of information and tagging some.

1) I surrendered in the battle with for wireless internet service and ordered a new modem/router combo thingy. I even called in my computer tech guy, George, and he couldn't figure out what the dealeo was. And if he can't figure it out, no one can. I surrender.

2) Nutella now comes in a family size jar. Why do I feel guilty buying it? I'm my own family. sure.

3) I believe I have had a drink of the Netflix koolaid. I may be a convert. I'll really know when I get my wireless internet hooked up and can stream on my iPad.

4) I am getting the Spa Pedicure today. I thought I would treat myself and go all out.

5) This is the first summer in years that I haven't had some kind of grand plan. Other than the family road trip I'm going on with my parents & niece to see my sisters, I have nothing. That's not a bad thing.

6) I'm sort of dreading Virginia in July. And Pennsylvania. Too darn hot.

7) I wish Dunkin' Donuts delivered. I would love some iced coffee right now but I'm still in my pajamas. Complete with bedhead. I can't go out in public like this. There are laws against it.

8) Gerard Butler is hawt.

9) Since I'm without Wi-Fi, I can't update Myles and therefore can't read any of the new books I bought in the last two weeks. But I'll update today at Dad's.

10) We're celebrating Father's Day today. I ordered a party sub from Subway to feed the crowd. My style of cookin'.

11) I don't actually have a gift for Dad. I am puzzled what to get him. *sigh*

12) I didn't sleep in this morning. I've been up since 7. Awake since 6.

13) I've rediscovered the joys of Mahjong.

14) I have two boxes of stale cereal I should get rid of.

15) It's still raining. I want it to stop.

And now the tags:
Erika at Endomental
Mrs. Chili at the Blue Door
Diana at Diana's Little Corner in the Nutmeg State

and more will be added later, ok?

ten more...

Tagged again, here are ten more random songs:

1) One Cool Remove by Shawn Colvin
2) I Go Blind by Hootie & the Blowfish
3) Good Intentions by Toad The Wet Sprocket
4) Sexuality by kd lang
5) Shoebox by BareNaked Ladies
6) It's A Free World Baby by R.E.M.
7) Human Touch by Bruce Springsteen
8) I've Been Thinking About You by London Beat
9) Why Walk When You Can Fly by Mary Chapin Carpenter
10) Stain Yer Blood by Paul Westerberg

:-)

five & ten

INSTRUCTIONS
(1) Turn on your MP3 player/iPod.
(2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode.
(3) Write down the first TEN songs that come up--song title and artist--NO editing/cheating, please (even if letting the world know you listen to crap "Weekend in New England" will humiliate you).
(4) Choose FIVE people to be tagged. It is generally considered to be in good taste to tag the person who tagged you, since there should be new songs appearing with Shuffle every time.

1. "Where'd You Go?" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
2. "My Forgotten Favorite" by Velocity Girl
3. "Finer Things" by Steve Winwood
4. "Wait For Me" by Hall & Oates
5. "I Know A Place" by Double
6. "Get It Through Your Heart" by Robert Palmer
7. "Wake Up Next To You" by Graham Parker
8. "Consider Me Gone" by Sting
9. "Alison" by Elvis Costello
10. "You Can Close Your Eyes" by James Taylor

I don't even know how to describe my playlist--it was an 80s thing.

My five friends:
The Gal Herself
Mrs. Chili
Diana
Leesepea
Princess Ladybug

hershey's better basket blog hop

I was tagged by Boliyou

HERSHEY’S BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP RULES

* Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.

* Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.

* Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.

* Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.

* Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.

* Hershey’s is donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written by April 4th, 2010).

* Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the donation.

I'm giving virtual baskets to:
Diana, Cat, Princess Ladybug, DarlingWendy, Jensconsin, and Indigo

beautiful blogger award

I was just awarded the Beautiful Blogger award from Diana at “Diana's Little Corner of the Nutmeg State.” I am thrilled to receive this!

The award does come with the some responsibilities.

1. I must thank the person who bestowed this honor upon me.

2. Copy the award and place it on my blog.

3. Link to the bestowers’ site.

4. Enumerate seven interesting things about myself. Here they are:

1) Bananas are my least favorite fruit. Pomegranates are my favorite fruit.
2) Blogging was a therapy assignment--to try journaling online, because I was blocked in paper & pen journaling.
3) I can't have caffeine after noon, because it keeps me up at night.
4) Earth tones, especially browns and beige are my favorite colors.
5) Reality TV is addicting to me--contests, home improvement shows, What Not To Wear, and other shows like that are mindless relaxation.
6) Although I have traveled half-way around the world, I've almost always lived within a mile of where I was born.
7) I have had insomnia and sleep problems from infancy until age 40. Since I hit my 40s I haven't had any real issues.

5. Nominate seven bloggers that I find beautiful. Here are my favorites: Mrs. Chili, Erika, The NurseExec, The Gal Herself, Cat, and Tense Teacher, and my Darling Wendy!

you like me, you really like me...

The Gal awarded me and said such wonderfully kind things about my blog!
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and their blog link.
2) Pass the award to ten other blogs that you’ve discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Mrs. Chili is an inspiration--blogging and otherwise.

I always find Diana has such important things to say!

Tense Teacher is always thought provoking and interesting. Plus, she finds some kickass memes!

tulip award and a tag

Erika at endomental shared this pretty Tulip Award with me. It comes with a tag to answer some questions.

1. YOUR NICKNAME - Dad calls me Al, everyone else calls me Ali or by my name.

2. YOU ARE - a slug-a-bed-pissant.

3. YOUR MOST SPECIAL PERSON - most special? hmmm, that's a toughie, it's hard to choose just one.

4. YOUR FAVORITE SONG - One by U2.

5. YOUR FAVORITE FOOD/DISH - I love salad and I love pizza.

6. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU STRESS - money troubles, OCD.

7. YOUR FAVOURITE COLOR - earth tones--brown, beige, greens.



8. THINGS THAT YOU MUST HAVE IN YOUR BAG - driver's license and keys.

9. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED - I honestly don't remember, I got emotional at therapy.

10. TAG SIX OF YOUR FRIENDS - consider yourself tagged!