Saturday 9: Melancholy Man

1. Are you more melancholy on occasion?  Yes, I am...that's why they make Paxil...

 2. What did you think you looked like when you were a teenager?  I was fat and freckled!

3. Whose advice are you least likely to listen to? my dentist's...


4. Tell us about a job that you liked when you were younger.  I was the babysitter for the best family I had ever known, and Carl and Krista were my first children!  I still have a special place in my heart for them...

5. Would you lie to someone if you knew the truth would end your friendship or relationship? That's a hard, hard question, so I'll just say 'maybe'....

 
6. What do you have little or no patience for?  Let me say right off the bat that I am a very patient person.....but I have little to NO patience for people who are lazy, shiftless, rude, and those who think the world owes them a living...


7. What is there never enough hours in the day to do? LAUNDRY!!

 
8. What is the most productive thing that you accomplished in October?  Hmmmm...maybe my long-range plans at school...

 
9. What have you always wanted to learn but haven't yet?  I've always want to learn to play the piano and knit....of course, not at the same time :)

Happy 50th Birthday to Me!

Today's my birthday...

and I'm

! ! ! ! !

Half a century..

Five decades...

Two score and ten...

There....I said it!

What does 50 look like?  On me, it looks like this...

I'm thankful to be alive, healthy, and

! ! ! ! ! !

My daughters stopped by between classes to say Happy Birthday. 
I've gotten lots of Facebook messages and emails wishing me a good day.
Here's one of my students singing to me...

Here's to the next

! ! ! ! ! ! !

Coffee Klatch Friday

This is a new meme for me....and I'm excited about linking up with Vicki for

COFFEE KLATCH FRIDAY!

Please list 10 random things that you have never done.

~~  I've never been out of the United States.

~~  I've never taken piano lessons.

~~ I've never been unfaithful to my husband.

~~  I've never forgiven myself for not spending that last night with my mama at the nursing home.

~~  I've never had the desire to go on a cruise.

~~  I've never understood why my immediate family fractured after my mama died.

~~  I've never wanted to be anything other than a special education teacher.

~~  I've never told anyone about the house payment mistake I made years ago.

~~  I've never ridden on a train.

~~  I've never been able to turn a cartwheel.

Please share with us something that you do to prepare for this changing weather.

There's not a whole lot we here in the deep South have to do to get ready for the changing weather.  We are currently having our first snap of cooler weather, meaning that the low is in the 40's and the daily high is in the upper 60's, and those temps will settle in and are pretty usual for most of the fall and winter.  I turned on the heat pump for the first time today...and let the dust burn off of the unit.  I'll just set the thermostat on about 68 degrees and leave it alone for the rest of fall and for most of the winter.  We'll probably buy another truckload of oak to burn in the fireplace, but that's mainly for ambiance, not heat.  Of course, if the weather ever threatens to snow, we Southerners have to go to the grocery store and buy a carton of milk and a loaf of bread...gotta love snow-induced panic shopping in SC!

We Want to Know Wednesday

I love linking up with Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama for

WE WANT TO KNOW WEDNESDAY...

 

{1} When was the last time you lost your temper?  I actually lost my temper on Monday...with a student.  I did not yell or scream or holler....I calmly spoke with him about his misbehavior, wrote him up on a discipline referral, and had the school resource officer come and escort him from  class....all the while my internal temper flared!!

{2} What 3 words best describe you?  Patient, tolerant, and crafty...

{3} What movie could you watch over and over again and never get tired of?  The Wizard of Oz....my FAVORITE!!

{4} If you could do something dangerous, just once, with no risk, what would you do?  I would so skydive....

{5} Which is more important intelligence or common sense?  As a teacher, I know that both are important, but to make it in life and in relationships with people, common sense rules.

Saturday 9: I Put A Spell on You

Saturday 9: I Put a Spell On You

1. If you could put a spell on someone, who would it be and why?  I'd put a spell on my son Charles, and I'd make him more driven in things other than hunting, fishing, and firefighting....


2. If you could go back in time and relive one moment, what would it be?  I'd relive my wedding day because I would like to take everything in and savor the moments and the beauty of the occasion.

3.If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?   I'd go back and change the evening that my mama died.   I would recognize that she was close to death and I would spend the night with her so I could be with her as she draws her last breath.


4. What movie/TV character do you most resemble in personality?  I resemble the the movie Cheaper by the Dozen....I love my children and their friends, and see a lot of humor in their actions and activities.


5. If you could push one person off a cliff and get away with it, who would it be?  I'd push several of the bullies at school off of a big, tall, steep cliff....


6. Name one habit you want to change in yourself.  I eat too darn much!


7. Describe yourself in one word.  Real


8. List your top three memes that you like to respond to.  Miscellany Monday, What I'm Loving Wednesday, and It's OK Thursday...


9. Why do you blog?  I blog because I am  trying to chronicle my family's day to day activities, my thoughts and feelings, and our life.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 20

Day 20: Picture of Yourself

I hate pictures of myself....

(Go link up with Katie and join in!)

Buzz....

 

1. What’s your sign?  Scorpio....with an upcoming birthday!  The big 5-0!!

2. Is your style more modern or traditional?  I think I'm a combo of the two, with each taking precedence at certain times....

3. What's your favorite game to play?  My favorite computer game is Flowerz...addicting yet pointless...

4. What’s your favorite book?  My favorite book lately has been Water for Elephants.

5. Name one celebrity you would love to be friends with.  Ted Danson...I loved him in "Cheers" and now that he's on "CSI" we would have a lot to talk about!!

6. What brand of makeup do you own most of?  I don't wear make-up....I'm "naturally" beautiful!

7. Do you like reality shows?  YES!  I was so excited to see "Survivor" start last night and sad to see "Big Brother" end...

8. What’s your favorite flavor of kool-aid?  Lime!

9. What’s your favorite type of gum?  Winterfrest!

10. Do you prefer an A-line, Empire, Mermaid, or Princess style gown?  My wedding dress was a Princess style gown....and I am SO NOT a princess!!

(Go link up with Rebecca....I did!)

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 3

Day 3:  Tell us about your job

First of all....it's not just a job.

It's my career.

It's my passion.

It's my calling.

I'm a special education teacher.

This is my 27th year teaching, and I love it more today than I did in August of 1984 when I first started.

I've taught every grade level, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Currently, I impact lives and impart knowledge to 9th - 12th graders at Marlboro County High School.

Go Bulldogs!!

I teach self-contained Family and Consumer Science and self-contained Health and Wellness to wonderful students who try really hard to do their best. 

Truthfully, I cannot think of anything I'd rather do with my life and my time than to spend it with students, kids, children, teenagers, adolescents....whatever you want to call them.

They keep me young and current and alive!

My students show me how to be a better person and how to appreciate small things.

They teach me patience and tolerance.

They teach me as much as I teach them....if not more.

(Go link up with Katie and join in!)

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 1

Katie has started a

30 Day Blog Challenge
for the month of September!

Maybe I'll give it a try...

Day 1:  Introduce Yourself

Hey y'all!  I'm Jo.

I'm a

mama,

wife,

aunt,

teacher,

Carolina girl,

dog-lover,

friend,

and blogger.

I love to

cook,

sew,
teach special education,
watch my children play sports,
talk to teenagers,
drink diet Coke,
craft and create,
text,
and sunbathe.

I believe that

everyone can learn,

being polite and well-mannered has never hurt anyone,

we all want to be loved and accepted,

you should not ask for my opinion unless you are prepared to hear it,

natural beauty is most beautiful,
my children are my finest works,
random acts of kindness to others will ome back to you,
and most importantly,
I am a child of God,

We Want to Know Wednesday

Hosted by Mamarazzi and Alicia aka Queso....go link up!

 1. What is the best advice someone has ever given you?  The best pieces of advice given to me came from my mama....she molded and shaped me into who I am today.  She mostly imparted old sayings, and her delivery was always right on time....thanks Mama!  I miss you so much!  

2. What is your greatest accomplishment?  My greatest accomplishments are my three healthy, well-rounded, independent children, and my Ed.S. degree in Special Education.

3. Who do you admire?  I admire many people, especially my husband, my siblings, and my parents.

4. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?  I would change my weight....wish it was easy, but it's definitely not....

5. How do you want to be remembered?  I'd like to be remembered as someone who made a difference in the lives of my family and my students.

We Want to Know Wednesday

 {1} If you could spend a day with a blogger, who you haven't met in real life, who would you choose?  I don't know one in particular, but I'd like to spend a day with a blogger with a lot of children...

{2} What website do you check first when you go online?  I check my email...hotmail first and then my school email account...

{3} What is something you are saving money for right now?  I'm trying to save so I can redo my bedroom....

{4} What is your go to silly face when a silly face is needed? (post a pic of it and be entered to win a prize from Mamarazzi)

{5} How do you relieve stress?  I cook....and eat....

Hosted by Mamarazzi and Alicia aka Queso

Saturday 9: The Devil Went Down to Georgia

Saturday 9: The Devil Went Down to Georgia


1. Do you believe in the concept of the devil? Yes!


2. What's your favorite nickname that you're called?  JoMama


3. What would you do if someone cheated on you?  Kick them to the curb....


4. Do you ever cry at a movie?  Not often....


5. Have you got “a ball & chain” or are you single? Are you happy with your status?  Yes, I'm happily married.... :)


6. Who do you got to for advice?  Usually no one....I just try to think about things, wait a while, and then decide for myself what is best.


7. When was the last time someone yelled at you?  It has been a while....


8. When was the last time you spoke with someone that you met online?  I haven't met anyone new online, so I guess never....


9. Where did you go on your honeymoon? OR Where would you like to go on your honeymoon?  Chuck and I went to the Isle of Palms and Charleston....it was so wonderful!

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. I am a (morning, evening, middle of the day person) middle of the day person...or as I like to say, an afternoon person.....

2. My favorite Pandora stations are    ...ummm IDK..I guess I don't have a Pandora station...

 

3. 3 of my "must-have" songs for a road trip playlist are   the Supreme's Someday We'll Be Together, Against the Wind by Bob Segar, and whatever is on the top 40 radio station.....

4. My favorite pattern is   calico, in all colors.....

5. My favorite perfume is   ummm....not a perfume person, but I do love Dancing Waters and Sea Island Cotton by B&BW...

6. Rules are       necessary in order to prevent chaos....   .

 

7. My most overused phrase or punctuation is  "No Way!" and  I also use way...too....many.... ellipses .

10 Days of BS Challenge - Day 1

I'm linking up wth Destiny, the Rockin' Mama, for this very unique blog challenge....

10 Days of Bullshit Challenge

★Day 01- A recent photo of you with a funny caption.
★Day 02- How was your first experience drinking alcohol?
★Day 03- An experience you're not proud of, but has made you the person you are today.
★Day 04- What do you lie about the most?
★Day 05- Finish this sentence. If I could change one thing about myself it would be___________.
★Day 06- Who or what is your inspiration, and why?
★Day 07- What is the difference between love and lust?
★Day 08- Has a person of the same sex made a pass at you, and what was your reaction?
★Day 09- If your life was made into a movie what would the title be and who would you cast to play you?
★Day 10- Write a letter to you at 16 years old.

So here's my photo for day 1.....

Don't you wish YOUR MAMA was hot like ME??

The Monday Minute

1 - In terms of having sex, etc, what's your 'safe word'?
"Don't!"

2 - What are you wearing?
Favorite pink nightshirt, granny panties, and glasses!  Sounds sexy, huh?

3 - How are you feeling?
Pretty good....had an exhausting weekend so it was super nice to sleep in my own bed and wake up without an alarm clock!

4 - How many and which languages can you speak fluently?
Mainly English....some French and ALS, and I'm learning a few Spanish words since L and MJ are taking Spanish at MCHS..

5 - Name at least one thing that you did as an adolescent that if you caught your child (or future child) doing, you'd get pretty mad.

Smoking cigarettes....I smoked waaaayyyy too many and I'm feeling the effects now.  Kids, please don't smoke....please....

We Want to Know Wednesday

{1} If the blogging world had a talent show, what would your act be?  Definitely not singing, dancing, or playing a musical instrument....painting or quilting, I guess.

{2} What's the most likely reason you might become famous?  I will most likely be famous because I am the mother of someone who is likely to become famous.

{3} What question are you repeatedly asked that you are tired of hearing?  "What's for supper?"

{4} What's the last thing you broke?  an egg

{5} Finish this sentence. I can't believe I used to think I was invincible.

Funk.. :(

What is the world is wrong with me today??

I'm in a terrible funk...

I'm not sad or mad;

I'm just not happy.

I'm not sick or hurting;

I just don't feel well.

I'm not nervous or upset;

I'm just unsettled and uncomfortable.

Oh well....

I'll just try to make it through today and maybe

tomorrow will be better...

...hopefully, anyway...

We Want to Know Wednesday

1. If money didn't matter, where would your perfect vacation take place? Briefly describe. My husband and I (THE 2 OF US ONLY!!) would go to Key West and spend a week or so just doing nothing....or whatever we want to do!


2. What's a bad habit that you have {or had} that is/was hard to break? Biting my fingernails!  I bit them down past the quick for years.  I tried so many times to break the habit, and then oddly enough, I just stopped without realizing it....just looked one day and my nails had grown!!!  A miracle of sorts!


3. If you weren't on a diet or counting calories, what would you like to have for dinner tonight? I would have fried chicken, rice and gravy, butterbeans, corn, sliced tomatoes, biscuits, and sweet tea!  YUM!! My stomach is growling now....


4. If you had the chance to interview anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what's one question that you would ask? I would definitely interview my mama.  I'd really listen to her stories and write them down so I could pass them on to my children.  I'd also ask her what heaven is like, and tell her one last time that I love her!

5. Describe yourself in 6 words. Crafty*Supportive*Motherly*Rational*Tolerant*Intelligent!