
Be sure to visit Two Writing Teachers for more slices of life.
Let’s get this writing party started!
This is my eighth year participating in the March Challenge and every year there is trepidation on the starting day. The question being, will I be able to do this again? Of course there is complete relief pressing the publish button on March 31. No longer questioning if I can do it, but instead joy that I did rise to the challenge and I did post some bit of writing every single day.
Since this is my eighth year, I thought I’d use that number eight to share a few fun (or would odd be a better word? 🙂 )facts you might not know about me.
- My first job (not including babysitting) was at Orange Julius. I don’t think I’ve been to one in forty-five years. I wonder if I would still like that drink.
- I can drive a stick-shift car. (Although it’s been many years since I last drove one, but I think it’s a little like riding a bike. You never forget how.)
- My mother was a beautician before she was married, so she always styled my hair. I complained often that I didn’t like it. My father told me, “One day you will look back on these pictures and thank your mother.” That’s not going to happen. I cringe when I look at most pictures of me as a child.
- Dark chocolate and coconut, what’s not to love?
- I never learned how to do a cartwheel.
- “The Sound of Music” movie was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. I had only seen movies sitting in our car at the drive-in.
- I enjoy creating/making things. A few crafts I dabbled in are: quilling (an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs), cross stitching, tole-like painting, stamping to create cards, and playing with beads to create jewelry. This month I will spend my time crafting words. 🙂
- I love Mary Engelbreit’s art, especially her Queen of Everything art. That may be a title I’ve embraced occasionally.
For new readers, I give you eight additional facts. If you are a regular reader, you may already know these bits about me:
- My name is LeAnn, but elsie is my blogging name. (My initials are LC.)
- Forty years ago I married a guy I met in Philosophy of Education during my last semester of college. He had been in other classes, but I only observed him, never talked to him.
- I have a married son who lives in Southern California and we drive out there several times a year to visit and enjoy two granddaughters (ages 14 and 3).
- I retired after thirty-two years of teaching. (I taught third, fourth, fifth grades, Title 1 reading, and Reading Recovery).
- I still work part time providing schools with professional development on balanced literacy practices.
- Most of the time I enjoy cooking. I am always trying new recipes. I’m sure there will be a food posting at least once this month.
- I love to travel! Ocean and river cruises are my favorites, but I don’t mind a road trip either.
- This month pushes me to try some different ways to write.
Thanks for reading and especially thank you for commenting. Let’s have fun this month!
Love these nuggets! Happy writing! So glad we met through our writing – and then in person!!
Can’t believe we have been doing this for eight years! And I learned some new things about you-
don’t think I knew about the quilling or that you had been a Reading Recovery Teacher. I did know about the travel, and about how you always find interesting restaurants on your travels. I love this format- thinking I might want to try it sometime. Or maybe next year, when I’m trying to think of a way to start the month. Except then it would have to be nine things…
How fun to get to know you through this format! How awesome that you continue to provide schools with balanced literacy PD. They are lucky to have you!
Hello! I can relate to #3! I never learned either. Ironically, it never bothered me either…until my girls began asking me to teach them how. Hmmm…good thing they have lots of friends to help! 🙂
I’m so shocked that even you feel a little nervous at the start of the challenge, elsie! You are such a “core” slicer… I guess it’s nice to know that even to you, it doesn’t come easy!
Also, I LOVE The Sound of Music!!! My mom’s Austrian friends wanted to bury their heads in shame when they showed us around Salzburg and we couldn’t stop singing all the songs! 🙂
What – I can’t do a cartwheel either and I can drive a stick shift also but mine was a truck. An old red beat up truck with a plow on it in the winters of Upstate NY. We named that truck Snoopy. I’ve never named my cars again…I wonder why. I loved reading both lists of 8.
I loved learning and relearning all these things about you. Your comment about your mother and your hair brings back some memories of my own, which just may turn out to be a slice! and I cannot believe that your grandbaby is now 3 years old! Oh my, how time flies.
What fun getting to know you better in this post. When I read #8, first list, I immediately thought of Mary Engelbreit’s “Queen of the Class” picture book. Love learning about your blogging name.
Fun way to introduce yourself. I would have loved to see a pic of you with the hair your mom styled. Looking forward to the month long word crafting..
I was thinking the same thing about the hair!
Not going to happen. Hopefully those pictures have been destroyed. 🙂
I have always wanted to write an “evolution of my hair” slice. From pin curls to Farrah hair! could be fun!
Do they still have Orange Julius? I had a love hate relationship to be sure! I love how you gave snippets of yourself in this post. It’s a good idea. I should try it tomorrow!
“Queen of Everything”👑 Well…duh?!?😆
Leann- Love the irony of #3 (didn’t see that coming!) and the metaphorical nature of #7 (crafting words instead of quilts). So glad I stopped by to read your piece. Thanks for this slice 🙂
What fun reading your new shares. You make the corners of my mouth turn up when I see your new post, and who knew I was expected to do cartwheels! That could explain some things.
It is always great getting to learn new things about people. I always find your posts entertaining and enjoyable. Here’s to a great month of writing.
Loved getting to know more about you. I will be stopping by often.
I’m on overload here with what I want to say! Love the sharing of 8 things for your 8th year … so intrigued by LC/Elsie … I love coconut… The Sound of Music played an important role in my childhood and is central to a pivotal mentor text I wrote with students… I cannot cut hair but neither could my Mom; my head was a little bit horrible a time or two when I was small … this was such a fun slice!
Hi Elsie! Can’t believe that it’s year 8 already! I love dark chocolate and fresh coconuts too!!!! This is a great idea, I’m thinking of doing something similar for a future post…. ;_
What a great way to start March–eight things about you. I may have to try it. Or maybe make 8 a theme for some posts. Seems like we should celebrate 8 years somehow! Anyway, here we go again Elsie!
So happy to see your post today, especially since I learned a few new things about you (I know so few to begin with)! Looking forward to sharing the journey with you.
I love the format of this post and will have to borrow it for a post of my own! I loved the part about your mom styling your hair!
Even some of us veterans learned a few things about you! Wishing you a great month of slicing. (I need to find that early morning slicer badge – thanks for the reminder about it)
So glad we’re back on this journey together for the month. Your slices are refreshing and interesting and it’s always great to learn new things. Happy writing!
I’m with you on the stick shift, the cartwheeling, and Mary Engelbreit. And my first college roommate did the quilling thing! Planning to borrow this idea for a future slice. See, even pantsers can make plans!
Eight years – very impressive! Looking forward to reading your posts this month!
Woohoo! Glad to be back and reading your slices. Many things I already knew about you, but a few were new. 🙂 Welcome back!
What a great way to introduce yourself and let us know a little more about you! I never learned how to do a cartwheel either.
Morning Slicer. Glad to be back with you. Where did you get that badge???
Loved your fun facts. I learned new things about you. I’m off to a shower- guitar lesson coming soon.
See ya in the am.
Bonnie
That was a badge TWT put out last year.
Good morning Elsie! I am warmed by the comfort of your friendly words. I wrote my first post three years ago and you welcomed me warmly to this writing community. I am hoping I can get back to it this month!
Glad to see you back! I will be looking for your posts.