AuburnChick's Adventures

Hey y’all!  I’m back after a two-week hiatus.  Joyce has some fun, Spring-y questions for us today, so I couldn’t resist joining in!  Thanks for visiting!  I’ll try to pay you back in kind when I get home after physical therapy.

1.  April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Has your April been filled with showers? Do you carry an umbrella, wear a slicker, or make a run for it? Besides rain, what else has filled your April? 

We have had a few showers around these parts.  I’ve always got an umbrella, or two, or three.  I might be a little obsessed…with not messing up my hair, that is.  Ha!  I need to cover up because I cannot make a run for it because my ankle hasn’t healed enough for that.  As it is, I have to walk extremely slowly when the ground is wet so I don’t slip and injure myself again.

What else has filled the month?  Testing.  Lots of it.  Because I’m a teacher in this great U.S. of A., where those in ivory towers think we should test our kids to death.

I’ve also been rehabbing my ankle.  Every week.  I love that part of my month, though, because I am getting a little better…most weeks, anyway.

2.  What’s something you could you give a 30-minute presentation on at a moment’s notice and with zero preparation?

I could give a 30-minute presentation on how to foster a love of reading in teenagers.  It’s what I do very well, thanks to great mentors who taught me everything they know.  My students cannot wait for silent reading time.  They love the library I’ve built up over the years and the fact that I’ve read a lot of the books myself.  We have wonderful discussions.  I love sharing my passion and ideas with other teachers.

3.  Share with us a favorite food memory from childhood.

I remember lazy weekend afternoons when my step-dad would grill out.  I loved sitting on the porch, smelling that wonderful aroma that means summer is full-on.  We used to plate up the steaks with fresh tomatoes and baked potatoes.  Although I haven’t eaten meat since 2010, I still fondly remember those days.

4.  What’s a song you thought you knew the lyrics to, but later discovered you were wrong?

I am drawing a complete blank.  I don’t think I really messed up the lyrics of songs.  Now the actual tone…if I tried to sing…well, you know.  We can’t all be Carrie Underwood.

5.  According to one travel website, the most overrated tourist attractions in America are-
Niagara Falls (NY), Hollywood Walk of Fame (California), Times Square (NYC), Epcot (FL), Seattle Space Needle (WA), and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (Boston). How many of these have you seen in person? Did you feel like a tourist? Did you care? Tell us about a place (not on the list) you’ve visited that might be considered a tourist trap, but you love it anyway.

I have been to Niagara Falls (the Canadian side) and Epcot.  I did feel like a tourist at Niagara Falls.  I was a kid and don’t think I cared one bit that I was a visitor.  I have never felt like a tourist at Epcot.  I mean, I’ve lived in Florida for nearly my entire marriage.  Epcot feels like home.

Las Vegas is a total tourist trap from the moment you get off the plane.  We went there a number of years ago for one of Chicky’s tournaments.  In fact, it’s the first time that Rebecca commented on my blog.  Do you remember that, Rebecca?  A friendship was born!

I remember that she told me to just have fun.  I was mortified at how commercial it was.   I wouldn’t mind going back now that I’m an empty-nester.  I might enjoy it a little more since I wouldn’t have to worry about people shoving girlie cards into the hands of my sweet son (which is what happened the last time we went).

6.  Your signature clothing item?

I am a summer dress girl.  I love my sundresses, paired with cardigans to keep things professional, and live for the warm weather when I can wear them.  I love dressing up for school, and my students seem to appreciate the effort.  A few years ago, I wore dresses every day for over a month.  The day I finally wore a pair of pants, one of my students said, “Thank heavens!  You’re finally wearing something different!”  Ha!

7.  What’s an experience you’ve had you think everyone should experience at least once? Why?

Well, it’s certainly not breaking an ankle.  I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, even with the blessings that have been showered on me since it happened.

I think that an experience everyone should have is attending a basic training graduation.

You might remember that last Memorial Day, I got to attend my sweet Rooster’s graduation in San Antonio.

I got to hear over 700 new Airmen recite the Airman’s Creed, professing their loyalty to the United States.

It was awe-inspiring.

The entire weekend was incredible.  Seeing people stop my son at the mall…at Riverwalk…wherever we went…thanking him for his service and then watching him humbly offer thanks in return filled my heart with pride.

There has been so much negativity since the election.  I think people are starting to forget what a privilege it is to live in this country.  They’ve taken for granted the freedom that others fought to establish and continue to fight to protect.

You can’t walk away from a graduation without a renewed sense of patriotism.

Shout out to my sweet boy for what he does…what he sacrifices…because he wants to make a real difference.

❤

8.  My Random Thought

We have five and a half weeks of school left.  But who’s counting.  Ahem.

I’ve been busy writing lesson plans through the rest of the school year, getting copies made, and straightening up my room one area at a time.

After the bad week I had (last week) with my ankle, I am eager to have the time off…time when I can put my foot up if it’s not doing well…try new recipes…read to my heart’s content…and rest from the hard year I’ve had.

Six Mondays, y’all.

I’m determined to finish strong before I hibernate for the summer.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: Wednesday Hodgepodge |