Teacher of the Year Banquet

If you keep up with my blog, you probably know that my Mom was selected as Teacher of the Year for her school, and then nominated as one of the 3 finalists to become Teacher of the Year for the whole county. Well, the banquet was on Tuesday night, and we got to find out who was the big winner. It was a big and fancy banquet, with 630 people there. My sister and I wore dresses, my dad a coat and tie, and my Mom looked very pretty in a navy blue dress and silver high heels. It was, like, the 15th dress she tried on until she found the one that was perfect. A lot of people from my school were there. My principal, Mrs. Sparkman, my vice-principal Mrs. Callaway, the teacher of the year, Mr. Ryan and his wife ( who is actually one of our P.E. coaches), Mr. Anthanseas, our maintenance supervisor, and our 2 Deans, Mr. Gifford and Ms. Cooper (ps-she's only 34!). And I also got to see a lot of teachers from my elementary school that I haven't seen in a while, so that was nice. So Mom and Mrs. Miller, a pretty 2nd grade teacher who's our Rookie teacher of the year (teacher that's taught for 3 years or less), sat together and awaited the 2 big announcements. Mrs. Miller didn't win, and Mom didn't either :(. But she's happy for Mr. Dodd, the guy that did. He teaches music at St. Augustine High, and Mom was glad that a music teacher won, because they sometimes get overlooked. So, that's the story of our big night. It was a fun (and suspenseful!) one, and one that we will probably remeber forever.

Ann Reinking

Have you ever heard of her? She's an American actress, dancer, and choreographer. If you've ever seen the movie "Annie" (the well-known one made in 1982), Ann Reinking stars as Grace Ferrall, Mr. Warbucks' private secratary. She choreographed and was in "Chicago". She was also in "Goodtime Charley" (a Tony award winner), "Dancin' ", "All That Jazz" (winner of 4 Academy Awards) and "Fosse", which was loosely based around her life and her relationship with Bob Fosse, another famous choreographer. She's won a Tony Award, A Drama Desk Award, and a Bob Fosse Award. But I like her best in "Annie". I think she did a great job on the role, and seemed to work well with Aileen Quinn (the girl who played Annie) and Albert Finney(who played Oliver Warbucks, she had to kiss him in the end). I also think she looked very pretty in the movie. Well, times have changed, and she's almost 60 now. I just hope she never forgets her famous career as a talented actress, singer, and great dancer. And I hope people don't forget her, either.

Check her out in these scenes (ps- she's the brunette):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBwyANWjyls We Got Annie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nM_-CFRBS8 I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRnXvPQVtaE Cheek To Cheek (not from Annie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVasewV7OpA&NR=1 Jagger And Gideon! (All That Jazz)

Updates

I'm really sorry I haven't posted in a while!! It's been kinda busy around here lately (and I've been on C.W. recovery). But it's the start of a 4-day weekend, and I thought I'd give you some updates:
Teacher of the year banquet-feb 19. Get to see if Mom is the county winner!
Celtic Woman- Lisa (my 2nd favorite celtic woman) will not be at the concert either, because she is expecting a new baby. Also, sometime between 2004 and 2005, Meav got married and had a baby girl named Anna (didn't think she was married before because in this concert dvd we have of them made in 2004, I looked and I didn't see a ring). There are 2 new ladies taking their place named Lynn and Alex (who I think is only temporary for Lisa).
Valentines Day- is today! Didn't get a heart gram or a carnation flower (which were on sale), but I did get a box of chocolates and a card! Tonight after dinner, each member of the family is opening their own valentine box filled with cards, not having a clue what they are! Yay!
Jenny- my little sister, who just turned 11 years old today! Yes, her birthday is on Valentines Day. Pretty special, huh?

I'll try to post more blogs, but for now, Hasta Luego!

Why Meav, why!?!?

If you keep up with my blog, you probably know that I am obsessed with Meav Ni Mhaolchatha, one of the soloists on Celtic Woman. But here's the thing. She's taking a full-time break from Celtic Woman to focus on her solo career. I know that she's probably all happy about her new cd, Silver Sea (coming in the spring) and all of the concerts she'll be having, but what about me and all of her other adoring fans??? How does she think that makes us feel?? I mean, I want to be happy for her, and it wouldn't really matter as much as it does if we didn't have Celtic Woman concert tickets. I'm gonna go, and my favorite person in the world isn't going to be there like I had thought? Yeah, I was upset. This lady named Lynn Hilary is taking her place. And I know that this is Meav's dream, it's just, well, she kinda ruined mine.

Good Friends Come To Visit

It's Saturday, and our good friends Jim and An Golterman have come to visit for a week! My dad has known Jim since they were in the US Army Chorus together. His wife, An (ah-n) is from Korea, and she doesn't speak english very well. But she's gotten much better after the 3 years we say them last. They are great to have around, but unfortunatly, Me, Jenny, Mom and Dad still have to go to school and work. But Mom says they're used to it and they'll be fine.

Teacher of the Year updates

We've had 2 three-day weekends these past 2 weeks, so that's kool. Right? I mean, it's Friday right now, and I'm sitting in Wards Creek elementary school (where I live half my life), when I should be at home. Not kool. Right? Oh, well. Me and my sister brought some stuff to entertain ourselves. See, my mom's a music teacher here, so she has an inservice day, and we had to come with her. And my sister is a fifth grader here, too. But guess what happened to my mom!? She's teacher of the year!! And she's also one of the 3 finalists! So, that means that she might be teacher of the year for our whole county! And then she can move on to our whole state!! It's all really exciting! So that's kool. Right?

Candy Land

Have you ever played it? It's a kool game, and there's a lot more to it than just moving your figure along a path of colored bricks. IT'S A WHOLE OTHER WORLD- King Kandy, the Imperial head of Bonbon and Grand Jujube of Candy Land has disappeared. The king and his castle were simply no longer where they should be...
Plumpy, the last of the PlumpaTrolls, says "It's just so distressing." as he takes care of his plum trees. Mr. Mint, a peppermint lumberjack, says his peppermint picolos have been rather off key ever since the king disappeared. And Jolly, the official Gumpdrop Mountains Greeter, says that the mountains just don't glow like they used to. But Gramma Nut, who lives in her peanut-brittle cottage, says that a very special boy and girl will cetaintly find the king. "But who will they be?" she asks. "The Candy Land kids of course!," Princess Lolly of the Lollipop woods. "I just know they will find my father." But Lord Licorice thinks different. "They'll never find the King or his castle," he says. "For I have hidden them out of sight so all of Candy Land will be mine!" The villian (of course) has always had a heart like rock candy. "Utter nonesense." Queen Frostine says of Lord Licorice's evil plan. "The Candy Land kids will certaintly find the king." as she sits adrift a peaceful float in the Ice Cream sea. "When the Candy Land kids pass my molasses swamp, the king and his castle are sure to be found." Says friendly old Gloppy, the Molasses Monster.
So all of Candy Land is willing to help (except for Lord Licorice) find King Kandy. But you know how the rest of the story goes, right?
I WIN!!!