NaBloPoMo Beginnings Day 17

Which do you enjoy more - the start of a book or the end?

That is a tough question. I love beginning of a really good book. I love getting to know the characters and being swept away into their lives. I love series, because at the end of a really great book, I know there will be more, but the end of a really great series contains so many emotions in one. If it is well-written then I feel joy for the characters that they worked everything out. I may feel immense sadness that I won't be a part of these characters lives anymore, but I can take solace in the fact that they will remain a part of mine. If I miss them I can pick up the book and start all over.

NaBloPoMo Beginnings Day 16

If you miss the first few minutes of a movie, do you still want to watch the rest of it?

That's tough. It definitely depends on the movie. If I have already watched the movie before, I can pretty much pick it up anywhere, unless it is a classic that I own, like Goonies or The Princess Bride, then I will just pop in the DVD and watch it from the beginning. But if it's a cheesy romantic comedy, even one I haven't seen, I can usually begin and end it anywhere.

Thrillers/horror movies I only watch in October. Any other time doesn't really make sense.

We usually watch Black Comedies, suspense, deep thinkers, etc. and those I have to watch from start to finish, especially movies, like Inception and Tree of Life, that I may have to watch more than once.

NaBloPoMo Beginnings Day 15

What is the best first line of a book? Why?

There is no possible way I can pick just one. Some books draw you in from line 1 and some you have to skim through the exposition to get to the thick of it. But here are some first lines of my favorite novels. I will be honest that I had to look some of these up, and to my surprise some aren't as gripping as others.

"It has been sixty-four years since the president and the Consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since the scientists perfected a cure.” Delirium by Lauren Oliver

"The gunman is useless. I know it. He knows it. The whole bank knows it." I Am Messenger Marcus Zusak

"It was a pleasure to burn." Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

"There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife." The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

"Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

"There was no possibility of taking a walk that day." Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug." Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

"A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hill-side bank and runs deep and green." Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

"When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow." To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

"Benny Imura couldn't hold a job, so he took to killing." Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

“I’m ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other.” Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Ok that is enough for now! So I guess I would say that where I do believe first lines are important, they don't make or break a book for me. Now last lines on the other hand...well, that's another post for another day.

NaBloPoMo Beginnings Day 14

Tell us about your first teacher who was important to you.

As a teacher, I think about this a lot. I believe that all of my teachers were instrumental to my growing and learning. But the very first teacher who really reached me was my 3rd grade teacher. Heck, her classes were the only time in my life that I enjoyed Math, and that is saying a lot. It was because she went above and beyond to make learning fun! And it always was. She is definitely the type of teacher I strive to be. She was always fair. Her class was always structured. Our minds were always working. And learning was always fun. She even had a piano in her room! Amazing.

NaBloPoMo Beginnings Day 13

Tell us about some of your first toys.

There are so many...cabbage patch dolls, lincoln logs, little people house and farm. The one that always stands out is my Castle Grayskull. I loved it and played with it all of the time. I didn't have any brothers and sisters I had to share with so I pretty much ran my toy room. I am pretty sure barbie tried to move in a couple of times, but was always kidnapped by Skeletor, and ultimately wasn't He-man's type, since I am pretty sure he was more into Ken. Unfortunately I wasn't aware of this as a child. Interesting read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He-Man

Yes I spent countless hours with the Masters of the Universe and eventually got into She-Ra and remember fondly the Halloween I got to dress up as the Princess of Power. Looking back, I mostly remember playing with the He-Man action figures and the Castle of Grayskull. But I know when She-Ra came along, it was all over once I saw, Swiftwind, her Unicorn. I was heavily into Unicorns back in the day. . .heavily. But that is another post for another day.

NaBloPoMo Beginnings Day 12

Tell us about the first time you were in love.

Oh Troy Tredway, from the first grade. In my last post, I told a sad tale of 1st grade torture. It should only be appropriate that this one be of love. Although I don't know if it was love, but I remember swing sets and stolen kisses, so definitely my first crush. Looking back at my roller coaster of love, I feel pretty fulfilled as far as summer flings, broken hearts, tearful make-ups, tortured souls, Latino lovers, fall fairy tales, concert boyfriends (I was somebody's pit bitch at Slayer)! Oh the list could go on-the good, the bad, the ugly.

But above all, no regrets.

They all lead to the present.

I maintain that my husband is the first real love of my life. He taught me so much about love and there is still so much to learn.

NaBloPoMo Beginnings Day 11

Tell us about your earliest school memories.

I am trying to think of something positive like carefree days on the playground, moments of pure joy and silliness, etc. I am sure they are there, back in the far crevices of my warped mind. But the earliest memories are blocked by bullies. In 1st grade, I was tortured by older girls in 3rd grade. One I can picture as clear as day with her red curly hair and glasses. I don't remember her name and I think she was an older sister of a friend in my class because she is in a picture from one of my birthday parties and when I see that picture I always ask my mom how the hell she got there??

Anywho she and her friends would do things like throw my belongings in the shower, turn it on and threaten me if I told. Well one day the teacher caught me in the shower retrieving my things and I lost recess privileges for being in an unauthorized area. So I told my parents when I got home and they phoned the school AND the girls parents! WHY did parents do this?! The bully was forced to apologize and punished accordingly. Then I, in turn, was punished by her accordingly. She chased me into a bathroom stall and when I was trying to get door closed, it slammed on my finger. I never told the true story of how it happened. But I still have a scar on my finger. . .and maybe some emotional scars since it is my earliest memory of school. But I guess all early memories don't always have to be good and I definitely have some great memories later on.

And hopefully I am making some good memories for the students I teach. . .