saturday 9

You Belong With Me

1) Like the girl in this song, have you ever been in love with someone, but was afraid to tell them? oh, yes

2) Taylor Swift has been known to write songs about her real-life lovers. If you were to write a song about the most recent person you were romantically involved with, what would the title be? "It's Me Or The Bottle, Chum."

3) Ms. Swift recently turned 23 and has already won VMAs and AMAs and Grammys. What were you doing when you were 23? (If you aren't 23 yet, where do you see yourself when you hit it?) I was finishing college, student teaching, had a thriving social life, and thought I was madly in love (with someone who it turns out wasn't madly in love with me)

4) When you were a child, did you sleep with a plush toy? (If yes, please include its name in your answer.) I had a Teddy named Teddy who was a wind up bear that played "The Teddy Bear Picnic"

5) I'm making a Starbucks run. What can I get you? a medium hazelnut coffee with cream and sugar

6) It was 60 years ago that Clarence Birdseye first marketed frozen vegetables. Now it's your turn: Share something you learned recently. today is Thomas Jefferson's birthday

7) In junior high, were you class clown, teacher's pet, a geek, a jock ... or did you just melt into the background? junior high was so difficult--I don't know where I fit in but I know I wasn't class clown or class jock

8) Was your most recent ticket for parking illegally or was it a moving violation? I've never had a ticket

9) Tell us about the last museum you visited. It was the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum in Vermont and my class took a historical tour of it. Lots of gorgeous art, I found myself wandering aimlessly just staring

just curious

Which tattoo should I get?  On my ankle/foot


A.  I think I would get it upside down so the little paisley is going up my leg

















B. probably different colors--maybe keep the blue but have more purple and green












C. Again, I might change the colors and I'd have it start on my foot.
















And option D: the knitting knuckle tattoo:

friday fill-ins

Join the fun here!


1. Right now I'm starting to get annoyed by the students' inane conversations.

2. OCD is my well known quirk.

3. Are you ready for vacation?

4. Label the states first, then color the map!

5. That's why I get annoyed.

6. MASH is one of my favorite tv shows ever!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include The Breakfast Club and Sunday, I want to get my laundry and errands done!

day 12: senryu

Senryu (like a haiku, but about human behavior):

Crisis averted
I found my keys in my desk
Panic attacks stink!

how nice!

I was given this wonderful award from my blog buddy Paula. I've read Paula occasionally over the years, we do a few of the same memes. But I really got following her during the March Challenge. And now I read her daily. Thank you!!

The rules to accepting this honor are:

• Post the award on your site
• Announce your win in a post with a link back the site of the person who nominated you
• Post 7 interesting things about yourself
• Nominate 15 fellow bloggers that you think are deserving of this award
• Leave a comment on all 15 sites to let them know you've nominated them

So here goes…

1) I've misplaced my school keys. I pride myself on not losing anything so this is really driving me nuts.

2) I found out today that I was approved for an AP Institute in July. It will be a return to St. Johnsbury Academy.

3) Next week I'll be on vacation. I'm heading to Portland to see my friend's play, Love/Sick. We made plans to hang out after the show.

4) I'm also making plans to meet up with Mrs. Chili! We've been blog friends for years and I can't believe it's taken this long for us to connect.

5) And I'm thinking about getting another tattoo while I'm down south. I just can't decide.

6) I got an amazing deal on my hotel. I used one of the discount sites that you don't know which hotel it is until you've paid. It was worth it!

7) My book group meets tomorrow to talk about a really good book--The Language of Flowers. Can't wait to talk about it!

Ok, I'm not going to nominate 15. But the usual suspects know who they are!

day 11

Kimo:

I'm approved for an AP Institute
Now the planning phase begins
Paperwork's no fun!

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Class being rescheduled, interfering with my knit night.

w.w.w. wednesday

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? I'm listening to Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson and I will finish Life After Life by Kate Atkinson tonight!

• What did you recently finish reading? I finished a quick, fluff: Terri DuLong's Spinning Forward. And I finished the book I was reading at school: Teaching Argument Writing, Grades 6-12: Supporting Claims with Relevant Evidence and Clear Reasoning by George Hillocks, Jr.

• What do you think you’ll read next? Next up is: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.

day 10

Tanka style:

Not really working
On the assignment today
But I do not mind
Because vacation is soon
And then nothing will matter.

ten things tuesday

Ten things I would say to my teenage self:

1) Develop a study strategy that works for you. Even though you don't think you need it, you need it.

2) Weight will be a life-long issue so make peace with it now.

3) A haircut is not a permanent injury. Do what you want with your hair during college. Asymmetrical styles will make a comeback.

4) One day you'll have a kick-ass wardrobe. Try to look nice. Pleated pants are gross, don't wear them. Tapered pants are ugly, don't wear them.

5) Do a great job of staying close to your friends. Friendships will evolve over the years but you'll always have a core group who know you now. Cherish the memories. Be foolish.

6) Be open to the possibilities of relationships. Be better at reading signals when guys are interested in you.

7) You're not ugly. One day you'll realize you're beautiful from the inside out.

8) Make and keep a list of books and poems you love. Add to it. Forever.

9) Be loyal to your musical tastes. One day you really will see Sting!

10) Adventures will find you. Live your mantras. Start now! Be brave. Keep the course. Don't be scared. Don't cling. Fierce with a snap (the snap is crucial) will be your favorite.

day 9

Lune style:

I couldn't sleep
Wide awake at three o'clock
Now I'm tired.

musing mondays

Click here to play along.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying about it.
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on Kate Atkinson's Time After Time. And now that I have started reading it, I can't put it down.

day 8

Another haiku:

Mother Nature's fool
Starts rainy then gets sunny
Please be consistent!

day 7

Today is a haiku:

The brisk wind blowing
Makes it feel like winter time
But it's time for spring.

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme, Part Six

121. Have you ever lost someone without having the chance to say goodbye? yes

122. How do you feel about women in politics? Success will be ours!

123. Would you rather have an indoor Jacuzzi or an outdoor pool? no thanks

124. What things are you interested in that you study or read about regularly? history and knitting

125. Would you consider yourself to be intelligent? yes

126. Would you consider yourself to be wise? yes

127. Have you ever given or received a lap dance? no and no

128. Have you ever spoken to a homeless person? yes

129. Would you ever creep into the subway tunnels to go exploring? no

130. If you could add 70 years to your life but only by making some random person die 70 years sooner would you? no


131. Can you identify any of the following lyrics?

A: Nothing to kill or die for... Imagine by John Lennon

B: Late comings with the late comin' stretcher... no clue

C: I could make a film and make you my star... no clue on this one, either


132. Are you worried about North Korea? not at the worry stage yet but concerned

133. Would you rather be a world political leader or a talk-show host? talk-show host

134. Have you ever given someone a love letter that you wrote? yes

135. Have you ever sent someone a surprise though the mail? yes

136. Are you looking forward to any dates right now? Vacation perhaps? vacation next week, my niece's wedding in May

137. Of all animated movies, which is the best one you've ever seen? Fantasia

138. What are the best bands or songs to listen to while driving? I am a fan of 70s Funk

139. What do you think is the most amazing thing that anyone has ever accomplished? indoor plumbing

140. What could a member of the opposite sex do to impress you? be honest and open and have good posture

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

just curious...

So last week I shipped a thank you gift full of Maine goodies to the historian my class had a Skype visit with, and I got confirmation that the package arrived. But I haven't heard from him. How long should I wait before I send him an email to see if he received it? And, what should I say?

day 6

The Japanese tanka is a thirty-one-syllable poem, traditionally written in a single unbroken line. A form of waka, Japanese song or verse, tanka translates as "short song," and is better known in its five-line, 5/7/5/7/7 syllable count form. - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5793#sthash.zUmJmz1r.dpuf

Tanka style:

Saturday Morning
I had the best iced coffee
Not from Timmy Ho's
Only from Dunkin' Donuts
Because it's the best

saturday 9

Whenever I Call You "Friend"

1) How did you meet your best friend? we were friends in high school but got really close during college--we were roommates in Ireland.

2) Mother Winters used to say she loved all us kids equally, but at various times she liked one of us more than the others. Does your "friend ranking" ever shift? Or is the person you think of today as your best friend always #1? always #1

3) What makes you a good friend? it's the little things--checking in, fun surprises, and listening

4) Think back to your childhood -- what games did you and your friends like to play? we were imaginative kids and constantly made scripts and recorded ourselves on the tape recorder--fake interviews, serials, plays

5) Would you rather lose your hair, or the little toe on your left foot? (Yes, you must commit to giving one up.) I would lose my hair

6) Think of the phrase, "like nails on a blackboard." What is your least favorite sound? vomiting sounds--animal or people

7) Do you add fabric softener to your wash or place a softener sheet in the dryer? sheets in the dryer

8) Showtime, HBO, or neither? I have neither but I Netfl*x HBO shows (True Blood and Girls)

9) Have you ever fired a gun? I've held one but not fired one

friday fill-ins

Join the fun here!

1. I use lots of toilet paper (sorry if that's tmi).

2. Four Weddings And A Funeral is one of my favorite movies.

3. It's finally Friday!

4. This time I'll be prepared!

5. I said I would go to the workshop, and then he said he'd go canoeing.

6. Chocolate is what I'm craving right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out, tomorrow my plans include a manicure and Sunday, I want to get my errands finished!