Getting to Know Me

[velvetpage]

The problem with LJ: we all think we are so close, but really we know nothing about each other.

I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about.

Ask away. Then post this in your LJ and find out what people don't know about you.

Stolen, most recently, from bard_bloom.

Comments

[beetiger.livejournal.com]

What inspired you to get into teaching?

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

This is a hard one. Most days I have trouble remembering.

The first reason is that I believe very deeply in communication as a cure for many ills. I teach communication, in French and English, and I love those parts of my job.

The second reason was a desire to serve my community. I believe that a community is defined by how it treats its children, and I wanted to be part of the solution that was making my community a better place to be. That's why I will always teach in the public education system, in the city where I live.

The third is that I really do like kids, though I've had to learn to understand them. I don't think I really did understand other kids when I was one of them, but it's an aspect of communication that I've developed as a teacher. As with anyone else, there are kids I'd be perfectly happy never to see again as long as I live, and I think I've had more than my fair share of those for five years. But I've also taught some wonderful people, and I know I've taught them valuable lessons about life and how to live it well. I've made connections, and I've made a difference. That was what I wanted to do.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

What do you want for Christmas?

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Didn't I send you my list?

You're really good at picking out gifts I haven't asked for. Be your usual creative self, and life will be good.

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

What color are your eyes?

I can't tell in any of the pictures.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Ooh! She has coooool eyes! I should take some closeup shots one of these days.

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

Purdy pwease!

Oh, so she has those kind of light eyes that do more than one thing?

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Nope, but they are very distinctive. I shall let Erin tell.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

They're a very light blue, grey in most lights and expressions. The right one has a little hazel fleck in it, inherited from my maternal grandfather. I've always loved my eyes. They're far and away my best feature. And it seems I've passed them on to Elizabeth, complete with hazel fleck (though in her case, it comes from Piet.)

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

What pleases you most, in your everyday life? And what displeases you most?

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

It's hard to narrow it down to one thing, so I'll give you the thoughts that occurred to me, in the order they occurred.

Elizabeth. 'Nuff said.
Scintillating conversation with people who can be trusted not to take offense if I disagree with them.
Music in general, classical piano and choral vocal in particular.
A well-written book with characters that capture my interest.

As for things that displease me most, this afternoon, that's easy. It's people who insist on creating friction for no other reason than to make someone else unhappy. Like my students were doing all week. (It should be noted that this is very different from people creating friction over a real problem that needs to be solved. That I don't mind.)

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

Aren't you worried about the sort of questions you might get?

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Well, yours was an easy one.

If anyone asks me something I refuse to answer, I'll tell them so. Most have been pretty reasonable, and one or two were things I needed to think about anyway. :)

Do you have a real question?

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

Hard to say really. I know you like classical music with an emphasis on Tchaikowsky....
That you are married with a daughter who is at the "vocabulary expansion" stage of development...
Or am I totally off beam with assumptions made after misreading posts?

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

So far, you're right on. The Tchaikovosky (or however that name is really spelled) is my favourite orchestral music. I also love the vast majority of romantic-era music, especially the piano stuff, and choral music both sacred and secular. My favourite CD is the third Charlotte Church one, called "Enchantment" - lots of Broadway hits on it in a voice I wish I had.

My daughter is 19 months old, almost. She's absolutely marvelous, really smart, affectionate, and generally as well-behaved as you can reasonably expect of someone her age. Piet and I congratulate ourselves on having brought a wonderful little person into the world. :)

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

Got one! Got one!
Being a web strip addict m'self, do you read webcomics, and if so what are your favourites?

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm not into comics of any description. Piet is, though. I think it's because I'm an oral learner. When I read, I'm hearing the words in my head. When the message is as much by picture as by word, I end up working harder to get it. Mostly, I'd rather just read a novel.

Got a few that might change my mind?

Strips ahoy!

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

Wellllll....
I'm a sci-fi type so I usually check out the daily http://www.schlockmercenary.com/ by howardtayler and Mark Stanley's http://freefall.purrsia.com/ which is a M/W/F.
Another M/W/F which is cute is Amber Panyko's DMFA http://www.missmab.com/
Another must for me is Dave Hopkin's JACK but as that deals with furry Sins/Angels/retribution/repentance and has a deal of strong language, I'll not list it with a link. Suffice to say it's not for children, although overall it has a high moral tone.
Schlock is a Keenspot comic, but a good comic resource is the Belfry www.belfry.com/comics ...just remember that the rating system is there to HELP.

Re: Strips ahoy!

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

BTW the mug behind "Figment" in the pic is a "Freefall" mug for what it's worth....