The task: 1) Acknowledge the nominating blogger. 2) Share 11 facts about yourself. 3) Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you. 4) List 11 bloggers. 5) Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all the bloggers know they’ve been nominated. Don’t nominate a blogger who has nominated you.
Here we go!
11 Facts About Me:
1. I so look forward to retirement (only 30 years away!). Not because I don't like and/or enjoy what I do, but I'm enamored with the idea of being able to do whatever I want whenever I want and not necessarily have a ton of responsibility if I don't want it. This leads well into #2.
2. I am terrible about having unrealistic expectations about just about everything :)
3. My wife is the best. She dresses me well, puts up with the ADD and is an amazing mother! I have two (2) amazing kids that I love dearly. They are (as most are I'm sure) about as opposite as they come. W(yatt) is a serious, brooding creative builder. Kenzie is the free spirit that dances and prances just about everywhere she goes. (I smiled all the way through this one!)
4. While teaching, I had a second job leading worship at a church in B/CS. I have a great heart for leading people into God's presence through music and song. For me, I am closest to God when I engage in this type of worship. I too often forget this when the trials of life and job come, choosing to retreat within myself rather than shouting some praise to Jesus. FYI - The latter is whole lot more effective for emerging from the funk.
5. I bet it takes me two (2) days to finish these 11 facts...
6. I am a military brat. I had the opportunity to live in places from Texas, to New Jersey, to Italy and am thankful the experiences provided and gained!
7. I wanted more than anything to be a naval aviator like my dad. I took the test in college and failed the psychological profile. No, I'm not psycho...enough to be a pilot. So decided to be an elementary school teacher and administrator!
8. I am a Harry Potter fanatic! I have read the books at least a half a dozen times each and am slowly working through the John Granger (THE Harry Potter professor) books. Love the philosophy and literary aspects of such great books. Too bad these weren't around when I was in high school English classes. I might have enjoyed them more...
9. I like clothes and buying things but I don’t enjoy shopping at all. Not even a little.
10. I am an educational conference NERD. I love everything about going to a conference–the sessions the new learnings, and most especially the PEOPLE!! When I go to a conference I will not miss a session. I love every minute of it!
11. If I had not found my passion for education and kids, I would have loved to have been a television newscaster or meteorologist. The meteorology thing might have been more feasible if I had liked science and math in school. All the more evidence we need great math and science teachers!
My Answers to Jackson's Questions:
1. Why did you start blogging? See the first line of the post... While I probably do undervalue my own thoughts and experiences, I do believe in the recording and documentation of learning and reflections, which is probably the biggest reason I started blogging, and it was instrumental in my early education career.
2. What is your favorite post of your own? Why? I like my Johnny Football post. Love it when different areas of life and interest get to collide. Glad I decided to catch and put thoughts to paper.
3. What was/is your favorite holiday activity? I love Christmas light looking and always have. I won't lie and say I've enjoyed it a whole lot more with kids of my own. Their amazement and wonder and the setups and creativity of others is awesome to be a part of. W has big plans for our house after this years rounds...
4. Share your favorite sports teams. Anything and everything related to Texas A&M University.
5. In what activities did you participate in high school? I played the saxophone in the band, keeper on the the soccer team for three years, and Junior Classical League (Latin Club)
6. What makes you look forward to each day? I love morning duty. Nothing keeps me getting up than the smiles, hugs and excitement that elementary school kiddos come in to school with on a daily basis. They truly charge my battery each and every morning!
7. What is your personal theme song? Theme songs change in seasons of life. Right now it would be Sailboat by Ben Rector
8. If you were part of a pizza, would you prefer to be the crust or the toppings? Why? Toppings - that's why you order pizza, right!?
9. Share your favorite television program. Psyche or Suits...can't decide.
10. Share something you aspire to do in 2014. Looking to do some conference presenting this year on the value and benefit of social media! Look forward to it at conferences coming up! Proposals are in the works! The aspiration to the next step in my career is still in place. Waiting as patiently as I can...
11. What is one thing you don’t know how to do that you wish you could learn? Graphic design skills would be really cool. I find platform, image and branding topics as they relate to school really fascinating
My Nominations to the Homework Challenge/Blogging Challenge:
1. Carrie Ross (@CarrieRossTX)
2. Michael Ogg (@PricipalOgg)
3. Tra Hall (@tra_hall)
4. Rafranz Davis (@rafranzdavis)
5. Troy Mooney (@troymooney)
6. Ivan Reyes (@IvantheAggie)
7. Shanna Owen (@shanaowenNAVAP)
8. Paul Wagoner (@pwagnerlcisd)
9. Brett Murrey (@Sciology)
10. Misty White (@maddawgmisty)
11. Kristal Floyd (@kristalfloyd)
Questions for the challenged!
1. Best professional book you've ready lately?
2. Favorite move?
3. Tell about your favorite teacher
4. If you weren't an educator, what would you be doing?
5. If budget was not an issue, what kind of car would you buy?
6. What are you most passionate about in your job?
7. How much wood, would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
8. Name three people you most want to meet?
9. Favorite song?
10. Describe your favorite family tradition.
11. Pick one of your hobbies. What does it say about you?