Vintage79: Mind@Play

from thefridayfive

1. Who was your favorite teacher?
Mrs. Taylor. Ronnie Taylor. She was awesome.

2. Why was that teacher so special?
When my best friend and I entered her class in the 6th grade she had taught our older sisters. Both of us were stressed out about that because both of our sister could be serious problems. But she loved both our sisters and us. Our social group loved her and she knew it. She kind of played favorites and let us stay inside the air conditioned class during recess where we'd talk or play with some kind of sack (it couldn't have been a hackey sack). She was strict but as long as we were good she was fine.

She loved an old show called Rider's in the Sky and I remember her and her love of that western. She also loved the California Raisins. She had a bank or statue of a California Raisin. While we were playing with that sack or ball we broke it. She'd stepped out. We were horrified and we didn't hide it. I remember Diane who actually through the sack being so upset Mrs. Taylor would hate her. She wasn't even mad. She did tell us we shouldn't have been throwing the thing in the classroom but I remember her hugging us and telling us we were already forgiven. We did try to glue it together for her.

She used to invite her students over (in groups with parents permission). I never got to go over but many did. I don't think my mom was against it. There was just never any time. When I was an adult and was visiting the area my best friend and I stopped by her house. She was outside in her yard. She immediately recognized us and though she was tiny she hugged us fiercely. We talked with her for a while.

Debbie (my BFF) texted me last year, I think, because she found that Mrs. Taylor had died. We were so heartbroken. It felt worse to me that she was only a couple hours away in Reno. I could have gone to see her but I was a year too late.

Still she was a teach that made all her kids love her and she was never far from your thoughts.

3. Do you think teachers get paid enough?
I don't know what teachers get paid all over the country but in California they make enough. They don't work the whole year and still make much more than I do. If I made that I'd have so much more financial freedom.

4. Do you have a favorite year of school?
Despite loving me 6th grade teacher. My favorite year was my freshman year of highschool. Most people act like that was the worst year for them but I loved it. I loved the rallies. I loved most of my classmates. I loved the friends I had and I enjoyed going to school. I gained a good group of friends in junior high and while a lot of them didn't go to the same highschool as I did... I was able to "collect" some great friends. We had a blast together and made great memories. Unfortunately, I didn't get to have the other 3 years with these friends because we moved. And I continued my highschool in a tiny school. I hated it.

5. If you could travel back in time and tell yourself something now that would have helped you get through school, what would you say?
Fight harder to go to the regular highschool. Don't give up on college just because it is boring as hell. And maybe be less afraid of what people think of you. Be you and if they don't like it then it is there loss.

New show called The Black Dagger Brotherhood. Based on the book series by the same name written by J.R. Ward. This book series is one of my favorites. I still read them religiously and have re-read the series. There are some things I don't love about the series but overall I have enjoyed Ward's writing and several of her series.

A couple of years ago, Ward announced an agreement to put her series Black Dagger Brotherhood into a television format. This happens and then doesn't actually happen. Took over a decade for Outlander to actually be made. But things moved pretty fast and yesterday the first episode debuted on Passionflix.

I don't know how I missed this one.

from thefridayfive

1. What was the best gift you received?
When I was a kid it was probably my HitStix but as an adult it was money for my birthday trip to Disneyland.

2. What was the worst gift you received?
Easy. I got a tall vase and a crappy poster of Elvis (like the ones you can win at fairs). It wouldn't have been that bad as I was like 14 and into Elvis at the time BUT it was stuff from my cousins room. Like crap you'd put in a yard sale. Stuff I knew was hers. And her mom is the one who gifted it to me. My aunt who had the money to buy a real gift. If it has come from my cousin it would have just been thoughtful because she had no money. But the same aunt gave my 12 year old sister a paperweight that looked like an ashtray. When my sister opened it my Uncle (the aunt's husband) blurted out... "why did you get her an ashtray?"

Oh wait. That same aunt once gave me a book on losing weight for my birthday. Bitch! Like she should talk.

From thefridayfive 

1. What sets you apart from your friends?
Distance mostly but I get what your asking. Not having kids. Maybe my willingness to do different things and try stuff. They are always telling me I'm crafty or outgoing and I'm really not. They just aren't likely to do any of those things normally. My bestie in TX, however, decided to try staining her own furniture. Turned out well and I was super surprised because normally she wouldn't attempt it. Heck, I wouldn't attempt it.

2. What sets you apart from your family?
I'm sane. They aren't clinically mentally ill but having to deal with them, I'm positive most of them are. I probably have tendencies but they can be so manipulative and traumatizing.

3. What sets you apart from your coworkers/fellow students?
Same as #2 because unfortunately I work with a lot of family.

4. What is the one thing about you that is most unique?
I have no idea. I don't see myself as unique.

5. What is your most interesting quality?
These self reflection questions are the worst. I guess my ability to figure out technical things. I guess. 

Disney has been on a live action kick. Don't get me wrong there are Disney movies I would love to see as live action. I want to say Cinderella (2015) was the first but I think that was when they really became a big deal. Because before that they had The Jungle Book (1994), 101 Dalmatians (1996), and Alice in Wonderland (2010).

I, personally, loved The Jungle Book with Jason Scott Lee. I remember watching it over and over. And Disney has done a halfway decent job with most of the live-action. But the one the never needed to make apparently is Lilo & Stitch. I loved the cartoon. I laugh every time I watch it. But this movie was underwhelming.