I've Been Tagged!

Last night I had one of those nights where my brain just wouldn't stop - I didn't fall asleep until nearly 2 am, and the anxiety crept in around one o'clock - what if I can't sleep at all? What if I can't fall asleep until 5 am again? (This just happened to me last week, right after our MLK holiday, and I literally had a break down at an ACL show my boyfriend and I were at, because the day before I had woken up at 5 am, so to not fall asleep until 5 am the next day meant I had about 6 hours of sleep to get me through 3 days - I was so sleep deprived and tired that I started shaking and crying; it was awful and so embarrassing!)

Anyway, I finally did fall asleep, but I woke up with a horribly scratchy voice and a thick feeling in my chest. I didn't actually feel bad, but I sounded terrible, and I swear it made for an easier day of teaching - the kids were so concerned about me being sick that they were really on the ball today! Guess I need to sound sick more often! This evening, I finally got around to reading my blogroll and figuring out what all I need to do now that I've been tagged! Amber from Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher has tagged me, and I'm so glad she did - yay for third grade! Thank you, Amber! So, to keep me from writing more about my sleep problems, here are the rules: 

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.

4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.

5. Let them know you've tagged them!

Here are my "fun facts": 

1. When my parents were getting divorced, things were obviously not the happiest of times, but my mom would laugh when she watched Will Ferrell on SNL. So, when I was 15, I wrote him a letter just to tell him thank you for making my mom laugh. I never expected anything in return from him (obviously, who would?!), but about a year later, I received a package in the mail from him - two autographed pictures, one for my mom (hers said "Keep laughing!") and one for me. Best guy ever, that Will Ferrell. 

2. My closet is color coordinated, and within the colors, my dresses and shirts are organized by sleeve length (pants are also hung according to leg length). 

3. I have 6 tattoos (if you look back to my very first post, there's a picture of one of them + more random info about me!).

4. I met Ryan Phillipe on my 21st birthday at a bar in downtown Austin. I didn't even know it was him; I had been walking up to strangers all night to inform them that it was my birthday, and I told him this on my way out of the bar - it was then my friends realized that he was NOT just some stranger, so we came back inside to take a picture:

(He was obviously less than thrilled.)

5. I have one sister; she's 19 months younger than me. I have one (half) brother; he's 17 years younger than me (he's actually a third grader this year, which is more fun for me than it is for him, I think). 

6. I hate - HATE - raw tomatoes. 

7. Goodwill is my favorite place to shop. 

8. I haven't had red meat in over 10 years (maybe longer?). 

9. The only phone number besides my own that I have memorized is the home phone number of my best friend from elementary school - I used to dial it so often, I still know it by heart. 

10. I'm a compulsive list maker. 

11. I don't like coffee, and I think it's due to the fact that I accidentally snorted coffee grinds in the 4th grade.

12. I've played golf all my life, and I was the only girl on my high school's girls golf team (because of that, I lettered in freshman year). But - my handicap is ~100, so I didn't really deserve that jacket. 

Now to answer Amber's questions: 

1. Polka dots or stripes? Depends on what we're talking about! All the border for the bulletin boards in my classroom are polka dotted, but I have TONS of striped shirts - I became addicted to striped tops when I was in Europe two summers ago.

2. What is your favorite thing about teaching? Witnessing the aha! moments of kids and getting to experience their genuine curiosity every day. Also helping them overcome any struggles they might have is really fulfilling - I just love seeing kids realize their potential!

3. Guilty Pleasure? The Real Housewives of Atlanta/New Jersey. I don't have cable, but I find ways to still watch that terrible show.

4. Drama or Comedy? Comedy, for sure.

5. If you could teach your students one thing, what would it be? To always be accepting of others. I tell my kids that they don't always have to be best friends with everyone, but they MUST treat everyone with love and respect, no matter what.

6. If you won a million dollars and had to give it to one person, who would it be? Any children's charity.

7. Cats or Dogs? Cats - I have two right now; I've never owned a dog, but I'd like to at some point in my life.

8. Favorite fruit? Strawberries!

9. What technology do you have in your classroom? 1 teacher computer, 1 student computer that doesn't work, a document camera, and a projector. I also have a DVD player and a TV, if that counts; I also bring my own personal iPad to school for my kids to use. There are Flip Cams and slates that we can check out to use, though, so I've been using a slate in my room for the past couple months.

10. What is one thing you couldn't live without? Probably a toothbrush and toothpaste - I really hate it when my teeth feel dirty!

11. Where were you born? Baton Rouge, Lousiana.

12. Where did you go to college? The University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'Em!). 

Here are my 12 questions: 

1.What is one food/drink you could eat/drink every day?
2. What is the best thing you've ever baked/cooked? 

3. If you could have a shopping spree at one place, where would it be? 

4. What is a pet peeve of yours? 

5. Where is the best place you've ever been on vacation? 

6. What is your favorite subject/lesson to teach? 

7. How do you balance the demands of teaching with your at home, personal/family life? 

8. What is a memory you have that is linked to a specific song? 

9. Where is one place you'd like to visit before you die? 

10. Who has influenced you the most as a teacher? 

11. What is the most worn piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

12. If you could trade places with one person for a day, who would it be and why? 

Now, to the teachers I've tagged! If you've already been tagged in this little game, I apologize; you obviously don't have to respond (unless you want to!).

1. Heather @ Heather's Teaching Heart

2. Katie @ Adventures of a 6th Grade Teacher

3. Mandy @ First Grade to the Core

4. Amanda @ One Extra Degree

5. Lauren @ The First Grade Diaries

6. Caitlin @ Ms. Preppy

7. Ashleigh @ Ashleigh's Education Journey

8. Kacey @ Doodle Bugs Teaching

9. Misty @ Third Grade's A Hoot

10. Sarah @ Kindergarten Korner

11. Abby @ Third Grade Book Worm

12. Mrs. Lottermoser @ Life With Mrs. L

As for me - time for a shower and a good night's sleep! Happy Monday, y'all!