25 Things about ME!!!

So, I've decided since I changed over from Livejournal that I would make an effort to blog more. Not that I think the world is desperate to hear what I've gotta to say, but you know, just for kicks and giggles.

With that said, I saw this on someone else's blog, and I decided to do it. Here's 25 things you need to know about me! I could probably ramble for at least fifty, but I censored myself, lol.

(1). My favorite movie is It’s a Wonderful Life. I love it so much I have the Christmas villages of the places in the movie. Sometimes I’d love to keep them out all year!

(2). After an acclaimed performance as Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz, I dreamed of being an actress, and I still feel the theatrical pull from time to time. I usually achieving that desire by talking to my students in different accents, lol.

(3). I have a half way decent voice, and I love to sing at church, in the shower, etc. Many times you’ll find me cleaning house and belting show tunes to Evita, The Sound of Music, etc.

(4). I love going to the Fox Theater in Atlanta to see musicals. I’ve seen The Phantom of the Opera twice, Les Miserables, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The King and I, Cats, Chicago, and Evita. I’ve also seen the Nutcracker.

(5). I’m a huge Shakespeare fan! Not only do I love his plays, but in my classroom, I have a Shakespeare bobblehead doll, an action figure, pop-up book, calligraphy set, and bust. He’s the man!!! I also love going to the Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta. I’ve seen Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet there.

(6). Since I was a child, I’ve loved Scooby Doo. I collect figurines and other memorabilia. I have a Mystery Machine, Bobble head, pillows, character dolls—even Christmas ornaments, etc. It’s a CRAZY obsession!

(7). My faith and spiritual beliefs are the most important aspects of my life. I’ve attended the same church since I was a baby. Both my mother and father’s families go to the church, and my grandfather was a minister there before his death.

(8). I never moved houses until I was nineteen. Since then, I’ve moved twice. I grew up next door to my dad’s parents and one street over from my mom’s parents.

(9). I’m a child of the old Southern storytelling. I grew up hearing stories from my Papa Ashe and Big Mama about their childhoods. I was also a huge family nerd, and I loved hearing stories and “yarns” about my ancestors. Those stories greatly influenced The Road to Damascus, my adult literary fiction book.

(10). I started teaching when I was barely twenty-two. Since then, I’ve taught 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th graders at four different schools in two different counties. I’ve even taught some Adjunct College class. A cool fact is I’ve taught students that my mom taught their parents back in the day.

(11). I won an WXIA 11Alive News Class Act teaching Award. I was featured on a morning news segment teaching my kids with a highlight of using the song Colorblind to apply poetry terms. For the most part, the kids who were interviewed didn’t boast of my wonderful teaching ability…instead they talked about my sense of humor and how I made their day!

(12). I’m a huge animal lover and a firm believer in animal rights. I can watch a movie and see 50 people die, but if the dog or cat gets it, I’m outta there!

(13). I’m a firm believer that anyone who harms animals, children, and old people has a place in Hell….just saying!!!

(14). All three of my furbabies have interesting stories on how I adopted them. My cat, Sassy, was a bottle fed kitty after her mother was killed. She and her littermates were only 24hrs old when we started taking care of them. My cat, Sam, was one of a group of kittens that were born in the ceiling of the school I was teaching at in Forsyth County. The way we found them was we heard meowing in the bookroom. Then my dog, Chance, was found on the side of the road one morning on my way to school. He was just an eight week old puppy who’d been left by a major highway. There was two weeks to school being out, and my principal was nice enough to let me bring him. He was a celebrity!!!

(15). I love inane comedies like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Robin Hood Men in Tights, Hot Shots Part Deux, and Scary Movie!!!

(16). According to my mom, I wrote my first story when I was four…although it was mainly pictures. It was about three cats creatively named Mat, Dat, and Lat who went on a camping trip.

(17). When I was in 5th and 6th grade, I constantly wrote stories. Most of the time I tried to illustrate them—poorly since I’m no artist. Some of them memorable ones were, “The Mystery of Captain’s Overlook”, “Life of a Divorced Kid”, and “Switched at Birth”.

(18). When I was twenty-eight, I finally got to achieve a life long dream of going to Europe. I got to go to London and Paris for six days. I’ve also been to Mexico twice, and I got to experience real Mexican culture when my goddaughter was baptized. I was serenaded by a Mariachi band at 6 in the morning, and I partied on the roof until 3 am.

(19). I’ve been blessed to be a part of a family of strong women—aka Steel Magnolia. My great-grandmother raised thirteen children primarily on her own during the 30’s and 40’s. My grandmother is a rock of faith and courage. In their twenties, both my mom and her sister were diagnosed with Mytonic Muscular Dystrophy and faced many obstacles because of it. My aunt eventually passed away from it at the age of fifty.

(20). I am not a fan of camping. As a child, I was forced against my will, and I have no tolerance for not having bathrooms or running water, lol.

(21). I love learning about other cultures and denominations/religions. I’ve been to the Temple in Atlanta, Midnight Mass at Transfiguration Catholic Church, and I’ve gotten to experience real Mexico at a Baptism and Quinceneara.

(22). Even though I’m an only child, both of my maternal grandmother’s came from large families so I have a butt load of cousins—most of who live close by and I see on a regular basis. Family is very important to me….they’ve seen me through some of the toughest times of my life.

(23). It has been my dream since I was a little girl to have a large family. I hope someday to have at least three children.

(24). For me, death has very much been a part of my life. I’ve lost a great-grandmother, two very beloved grandfathers, a grandmother who I barely got to know, both my parents, and my mom’s sister. My dad also owned a marble and granite business and made gravestones for a living. I grew up in cemeteries going with him on jobs. I also find that cemeteries have great writing karma!

(25). I’m a firm believer of laughter through tears, and I’d rather find the humor in a situation than the negative aspect. My sense of humor has gotten me through some dark times of my life.