What’s pink and furry and keeps going and going and going?
It sounds pretty disgusting, whatever it is.
So…Woman At Work. Don’t put that sandwich in my hardhat!
A couple of “school” related questions for you since both of my series have to do with women who teach in some manner…
1) What was your favorite subject in High School?
2) Name one bully from your Junior High school days.
3) Name one teacher who influenced your desire to be a writer — or just influenced you (there is more to life than writing, they tell me).
4) Who was your best friend in Kindergarten?
5) Did you ever walk to school? In the snow? In the snow and bare feet?
And my answers are:
1 - Journalism in the 10th grade — I was editor-in-chief of my school paper
2 - Cindy Brown — working in cahoots with my ex-best-friend Diana Brownell (I know! All these similar names!)
3 - Ms. M. or the divine “Motts” in High School. Mrs. Miller in the third grade, Miss Scheck, Mrs Kaynor….wow! So many wonderful teachers.
4 - I didn’t go to Kindergarten, but Karen Otzen was my best friend (she lived next door) at that age.
5 - I walked to school with Norman Ayott and his brother Stewart (or was it Dwight?) for a couple of years. I had quite a crush on Norman — who I seem to recall had a terrific sense of humor. Or maybe I had the terrific sense of humor, and Norman had the sense to laugh. Anyway, this was fourth or fifth grade….
Okay, what about you? School Days, School Daze…
-
1. Probably English. Maybe German or French. Or Norwegian. I liked languages. Still do.
2. Nina Olsen.
3. Lorentz Hermansen - 9-12th grade. Taught English, Norwegian, and history. Brilliant man. Young, long-haired, played the sax and knew lots of writers - bestselling ones - one of whom came to speak to us.
4. I didn’t go to kindergarten either, but Liv Christensen was my best friend at 5 and 6. She lived two houses down.
5. Every day for 12 years. Snow for 4-5 months of every year. No bare feet, though. Two or three pairs of socks and heavy winter boots the likes of which I haven’t seen since I was a kid.
(You can tell where I grew up, can’t you? 
)
by JennieB on May 19th, 2008 at 7:38 am
-
1) Senior English, Geometry, Art and Band. (I don’t remember now which was the ultimate favorite.)
2) Diane P. (Her last name is unusual enough not to put it here.) - Some twisted thing inside her made me her favorite target for any nasty little trick she could think of.
3) My 10th grade English teacher told me I should try to get my work published, but it was my College English 201 prof who really showed me I could write (and how to do it correctly).
4) I don’t really remember kindergarten too well, so I couldn’t say who was my best friend then.
5) I grew up 5 miles from our local schools, so walking was flat out. I did enough walking in college to make up for it, though. ;o)
by B.E. Sanderson on May 19th, 2008 at 8:27 am
-
1) Computer Education (programming). I could finally command something to do my work if I knew how to ask.
2) Mark Machete Yes, that really was his name. He could be on WWE wrestling.
3) I never aspired to be a writer, and no teacher influenced me to write, except of computer code. Mr. Schoenecase was my high school Computer Ed teacher and mentor.
4) Dale Dixon. Last I heard, he still hasn’t gotten out of the big house.
5) I walked to grade school every day. About a mile each way. Rain/snow, didn’t matter. My Mom didn’t drive and the Catholic school (St. Hedwig’s) I went to didn’t have bus service. My father left each day long before we had to leave. It was uphill in only one direction and we did have shoes.
by Will Bereswill on May 19th, 2008 at 8:37 am
-
1. Junior year English or any of my IB-specific classes. I didn’t have the best grades in the classes but I loved the teachers!
2. Janae. Or a girl named Ashley who had 5 piercing up each ear that she’d remove and place on the desk in all her classes.
3. Mrs. Priem (Junior English)
4. Ryan H. or maybe Jared M. I was such a little flirt.
5. I Never walked to school!
by Stephanie J on May 19th, 2008 at 9:25 am
-
1. My favorite subject in high school, much to my shock, was “American Scene.” It was a more “modern” history class that was taught sans book. We learned about the Manson case, the Lindberg kidnapping, Vietnam, etc. Awesome class. The teaching style made us feel more grown-up I think. Plus it was just fascinating.
2. Brian Lock.
3. I’m responsible for my desire to write. But I had some great teachers who took my drive and nurtured it. Mrs. Yomazzo and Mrs. B.
4. I’ll go with Sandy Lionetti. There was another one, too, but her daddy was in the mob so I’m thinking I should keep that name to myself.
5. Walked to school every day for three out of my first four years of school. Don’t remember the snow. But I DO remember the damn train tracks between home and the school building. If you didn’t time it right, you were late.
by Laura on May 19th, 2008 at 10:53 am
-
How sad is it that I can’t remember the answer to any of those questions. 
by Tori Lennox on May 19th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
-
1. History was always my favorite subject, and though you didn’t ask, I really hated math-yuck.
2. I’m sure there was one, but I don’t remember.
3. I don’t think any teacher inspired me to be a writer. However Ms. Wishart, Ms. Denton and Ms. Harmon did inspire me to do my best in whatever I did.
4. My best friend in kindergarten was Robbie McCook. He lived across the street from me, and we were best friends until I moved after fourth grade.
5. I walked home from school in the first or second grade as a drill for a nuclear attack. (We also had to wear dog-tags all the time.) In the fifth, sixth and seventh grades, I walked home from school every day. My friends and I would stop at the grocery store and buy candy and something to drink. I don’t remember what we did when it snowed.
by Becky H on May 19th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
-
How sad is it that I can’t remember the answer to any of those questions
What?! NONE of them?
by Diana Killian on May 20th, 2008 at 11:55 am
-
(You can tell where I grew up, can’t you?
Yeah. Someplace that wasn’t Florida. 
by Diana Killian on May 20th, 2008 at 11:57 am
-
Diane P. (Her last name is unusual enough not to put it here.) - Some twisted thing inside her made me her favorite target for any nasty little trick she could think of.
Let’s hope she grew out of it and now suffers remorseful pangs for being such a horror.
by Diana Killian on May 20th, 2008 at 11:59 am
-
History was always my favorite subject, and though you didn’t ask, I really hated math-yuck.
Oh Becky, I’m with you. I LOATHED math in all its splendid variety.
by Diana Killian on May 20th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
-
I’ll go with Sandy Lionetti. There was another one, too, but her daddy was in the mob so I’m thinking I should keep that name to myself.
Funny. Now there would be an interesting YA plot. 
Or has that one been done too?
by Diana Killian on May 20th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
-
Dale Dixon. Last I heard, he still hasn’t gotten out of the big house.
Funny, Will.
by Diana Killian on May 20th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
-
Janae. Or a girl named Ashley who had 5 piercing up each ear that she’d remove and place on the desk in all her classes.
Oh Lord. I wonder what she’s removing these days. Well, maybe she grew out of it, Stephanie. 
by Diana Killian on May 20th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
-
Sorry I’m late to play
1) I liked accounting because it made sense. Loved a language arts class where we talked about the orgin of words. And history, I think because of the story telling.
2) Scott Rose. He fell off the monkey bars and broke his arm and everyone was happy. I told him that once when I met him as an adult. (beer was involved.)
3) Influential teacher? My FHA adviser because she was greek and my first model of a working woman.
4) Didn’t have kindergarden but my best friend was Zandy Evans. She lived two blocks away and I had to go past a haunted house to get to hers.
5) I was lucky enough to walk to school my first three years before we moved to the farm. The school was four blocks away and when they tore it down, they built a Walgreens. Then it closed. I don’t remember walking in snow although I guess I did. I do remember the smell of the lilacs as I walked home in the early spring.
by Lynn on May 20th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
-
I was lucky enough to walk to school my first three years before we moved to the farm. The school was four blocks away and when they tore it down, they built a Walgreens. Then it closed. I don’t remember walking in snow although I guess I did. I do remember the smell of the lilacs as I walked home in the early spring.
8O
Lynn, those are all such good answers — very evocative.
by Diana Killian on May 28th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Loading ...
