I'm Not a Journalist

...but I can document life. And the things I like--and maybe even the things I dislike. Caution: I over share frequently, write sarcastic notes to family that they'll never see, and reblog nearly anything I find to be the least bit interesting. var sc_project=6351844; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="e0c59e19";

[notajournalist]

I haven’t logged into Tumblr in months. I got a new phone and forgot to re-download the app. I hadn’t posted anything in many months before that. I’m not promising to be super active, but if I have any followers left, let me introduce you to Vada. She’s two months old and has stolen my heart.

[notajournalist]

Get to know me

1) What images do you have set for your desktop/cell phone wallpapers?

2) Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?

3) What was your last text message?

4) What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

5) If you could be anywhere else right now, where would you be?

6) What was your coolest Halloween costume?

7) What was your favorite 90s show?

8) Who was your last kiss?

9) Have you ever been stood up?

10) Favorite ice cream flavor?

11) Have you been to Las Vegas?

12) Your favorite pair of shoes?

13) Honestly, have you ever cheated on your significant other?

14) What is your favorite fruit?

15) Have you talked to anyone on tumblr that you could see yourself dating/having sex with? If possible?

16) Are you into hookups? Short or long term relationships?

17) Do you smoke? If so, what?

18) What do you do to get over your anger?

19) Do you believe in God?

20) Does the person you're in love with know it?

21) Favorite position?

22) What's your horoscope sign?

23) Your fears?

24) How many pets do you have? What kind?

25) What never fails to turn you on?

26) Your idea of a perfect first date?

27) What is something most people don't know about you?

28) What makes you feel the happiest?

29) What store do you shop at most often?

30) How do you feel about oral? Giving and/or receiving?

31) Do you believe in karma?

32) Are you single?

33) Do you think flowers or candy are a better way to apologize?

34) Are you a good swimmer?

35) Coffee or Tea?

36) Online shopping or shopping in person?

37) Would you rather be older or younger than your current age?

38) Cats or Dogs?

39) Are you a competitive person?

40) Do you believe in aliens?

41) Do you like dancing?

42) What kind of music to you listen to?

43) What is your favorite cartoon character?

44) Where are you from?

45) Eat at home or eat out?

46) How much more social are you when you're drunk?

47) What was the last thing you bought for yourself?

48) Why do you think your followers follow you?

49) How many hours do you sleep at night?

50) What worries you most about the future?

51) If you had a friend that spoke to you the same way you speak to yourself, how long would you be friends?

52) Are you happy with yourself?

53) What do you wish you didn't know?

54) What big lesson could people learn from your life?

55) If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be?

56) What's your favorite Website?

57) What's the habit you're proudest of breaking?

58) What was your most recent trip of more than 50 miles?

59) What's the best bargain you've ever found at a garage sale or thrift store?

60) What do you order when you eat Chinese food?

61) If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be?

62) If you had to teach a subject to a class, what would it be?

63) Favorite kind of chips?

64) Favorite kind of sandwich?

65) Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

66) Have you ever been stung by a bee?

67) What's your favorite form of exercise?

68) Are you afraid of heights?

69) What's the most memorable class you've ever taken?

70) What's your favorite breakfast?

71) Do you like guacamole?

72) Have you ever been in a physical fight?

73) What/who are you thinking about right now?

74) Do you like cuddling?

75) Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

76) Have you ever experienced one of your biggest fears?

77) Favorite city you've been to?

78) Would you break the law to save a family member?

79) Talk about an embarrassing moment?

80) Are there any causes you strongly believe in?

81) What's the worst injury you've ever had?

82) Favorite day of the week?

83) Do you consider yourself sexually open minded?

84) How do you feel about porn?

85) Which living celebrity would you like to know?

86) Who was your hottest ex?

87) Do you want/have kids?

88) Has anyone ever told you that they wanted to marry you?

89) Do you get easily distracted?

90) Ass or titties?

91) What is your favorite word?

92) How do you feel about tattoos?

93) Do you have any pets?

94) How tall are you?

95) How old are you?

96) 3 physical features you get complimented on a lot?

97) Is there anything you're really passionate about?

98) Do you have trust issues?

99) Do you believe in love at first sight?

100) What are some words that you live by? Why?

[could certainly use the distraction!]

[notajournalist]

So Trolls are back. Or have they been around but I just have been lucky to have a dry spell for a while? This one created a tumblr mimicking my name just to send me a message.

[notajournalist]

From 8th grade prom to junior prom, my 'little sister' has grown up so much.

[miaoujennifer-deactivated201911]

I’m curious how everyone is on spring this week. Do you guys have off the week of Passover as well? Because I only have a 4 day weekend for Easter.

[more-midwest-mumblings]

We had spring break March 7 - 11. We get no time off for Easter.

[wincherella]

We had spring break March 14-18, we get Good Friday and Easter Monday for Easter break.

[notajournalist]

Spring Break’s always tied to Easter around here and we always get Good Friday and Easter Monday off. This year it started with a half day on 3/24 and will go until 4/4. Next year it’ll be a half day on 4/7 and go until 4/17.

[ddc4814]

[notajournalist]

With the onslaught of adulating that is hitting me lately, all I want to do is submerge myself in M*A*S*H and remember what it was like when I first started watching fifteen years ago.

[notajournalist]

Goal of the day: Memorize the ASL alphabet. I have a student who sometimes uses it to communicate (and at times is her only way of communication, but I just realized this fact). Should have done this months ago, if I had known.

[notajournalist]

It is mind-blowing to me that I’ve taught all but 2 of my school’s Varsity Boys Basketball team. And it makes me incredibly proud to know what good students they are in addition to being talented athletes.

[theteachinglife]

Shout out to all my fellow #teachers rocking the #staycation this week

[samanthainsecondary]

Who else gets a week off? We get one day. What is this? bahah.

[impatienteacher-deactivated2022]

A week off in February?

[artedish]

Conveniently falls at a time where everyone is sick anyways…

[notajournalist]

A week off in February? We get one day. And it’s a work day. A required work day. 

[adiemtocarpe]

Ketchup and...

Mac and cheese?

Eggs?

Mashed potatoes?

Discuss.

[dudeinthestacks]

No; Yes!; No. 

[notajournalist]

No to all!

A1 on mashed potatoes on the other hand...

[notajournalist]

Mountain Meadow and Firefly Red!

Mountain Meadow: Do you like taking care of others, or do you prefer being taken care of?

I've pretty much always done the taking care of. I get antsy when others try to take care of me and alway feel like I should be up helping. Even in a breakfast in bed situation when I was told to stay in bed, I ended up getting up and trying to help.

Firefly Red: What gives you purpose?

Helping people. Figuring out how to make things right. Working out why something isn't working. Teaching my kids. My family.

[notajournalist]

Sky blue! :)

Sky Blue: Where do you feel most at home?

I suppose the natural answer would be in my home. It's a comfy place, I've lived here for 27 years, I know the nooks and crannies better than I know the back of my hand.

But I also feel at home at my school. It's been part of me for most of the last 13 years, since I was 14 years old. I love my classroom and telling students that I sat in their seats when I was their age. I love the library and the auditorium and even the gym.

And lately I've started feeling at home when I visit the guy's place. That scares me a little because it's only been six weeks, but it's also exciting.

[notajournalist]

crayon color - all the variations of your favorite color. :)

Spring Green: How do you relax when you're stressed?

Come on here? Does that count? Get away from people, usually. When I'm stressed people just add to that. I make lists and cross things off.

Asparagus: What's an unpopular opinion you have?

Let's say this is asking about unpopular opinions I have based on the area I live in. In that case, I strongly believe that we need gun reform and that many people misinterpret the 2nd Amendment and forget that it was written in the 1700s, not the 21st century.

Granny Smith Apple: What's something everyone likes that you don't?

Bananas

Electric Lime: What genre of music do you listen to?

Jason Mraz types. A capella. One Direction, lately (oh, god, don't even get me started on the hypocrisy of that one).

Grasshopper Green: Describe the area where you live.

Small town. Large Hispanic population. White flight. Abandoned hospital. Slowly growing down town. Run down houses flowing into nicer ones as you move west.

Misty Moss: Is there anything you regret?

Yes. Too many details to get into, but yes.

Sweet Pea Green: Do you have/want kids?

I don't have any currently, but I do want them. At least two. Every year the desire to have kids gets stronger.

Brussel Sproutlet: Do you have any unhealthy habits?

Of course. Too much chocolate. Not enough water. Not enough exercise (though more than I used to get). Say yes too much.

[notajournalist]

Eggplant, Shocking Pink

Eggplant: Explain your URL and avatar.

My URL comes from my junior year of college, when I had to take a journalism class to fulfill some requirement or another. The professor kept telling us that things would be important "when we have our own beats". I hated that class and everything about it, except the easy access to computers (it was my only class ever held in a computer lab). I stumbled onto tumblr and created my blog to distract me from the class.

My avatar is a picture of me, the best one I think I've taken. Bonus fact: it's the background of the guy's phone, so I think my judgement that it's my best is good.

Shocking Pink: Is there a trait that you have that others don't expect from you?

I've been told in the past that I can be intimidating. I don't really know where that comes from (the height, maybe?), but I think some people are shocked when I'm actually not intimidating at all and couldn't hurt a fly. When I do have to raise my voice in my classroom it shocks people because it almost never happens.

[artedish]

Reminding me of @zoesomething ’s 365 O’s project

[notajournalist]

I want someone to make this for me. Oh god this looks amazing!

[eatcryteachlove-blog]

School temperature

Educhums! Teachers! People who know teachers! People who have been to school!

How does your principal check the temperature of your school? Does he/she know generally know how teachers are feeling? Is it person to person? Weekly survey? Check-ins? Do they just sit in their office ordering Pottery Barn, unaware of the grumblings of the people?

[headlessmonk]

Does my principal even know or care? Doubt it tbph. 😒😒😒

[strangenewclassrooms]

^ Well, when we would say how we were feeling we were told to shut up and deal. Sooooo.

[hithertokt]

[notajournalist]

It doesn’t matter how my principal goes about being aware (or unaware). On my hall you either have the old school heater that makes the room about 100 degrees or you have maintenance flip the cut off valve to your room and you have no heat. There is no in between unless you count opening all the windows and turning on the air conditioner (which, after two days of use in the winter, freezes up for the rest of the week). I have been fighting to get the boiler heat replaced (as it has been done in the other schools in the county) for the last two years.

[notajournalist]

We're supposed to have actual class two days this week but I'm betting it gets cut to at least 1.5 because of weather. This is going to be the worst semester. I can feel it.