Kreativ Blogger Award

I am just flabbergasted. I just received a "Kreativ Bloggers" award from Natalie at This Purple Crayon  and I am ecstatic. I admire Natalie and her blog, so having her nominate be is really an honor. 

Thank you so much Natalie. I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate that you chose me.

Here's how the award works:

• Thank the person who gave this to you.
• Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
• Link the person who nominated you.
• Name seven things about yourself that no one would really know.
• Nominate seven "Kreativ Bloggers."
• Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.
• Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.

Seven things about me:

1. I have worn many hats in my life, I was a military journalist in the 70's, a nurse, and now a teacher. Of all my  jobs teaching is the most rewarding. It is a job that even after 16 years I still love getting up and going to work.

2. I love learning. I have attended a lot of different school have two masters (the last one I took entirely on line), and wish I could afford to take more classes. If I could support myself as a professional student, I would do this in a heartbeat. One of the subjects I would love to learn more about is web design. I really enjoy using Html and I wish I knew more about it.

3. One of the greatest gifts I have in my life is being a grandmother, and I was lucky enough to help raise one of my grandsons during the first two years of his life. This was one an extraordinary experience and much different than being a mother because the stress was not there. I was able to just enjoy the milestones from a much different perspective. Another one of my grandsons is in second grade and already reading on a fifth and sixth grade level. I bought him the Lightening Thief gift set for Christmas this year, and he loves the books. It is exciting to have a young person to share books with.

4. I am a huge fan of Jazz. I love listening to a variety of Jazz artists especially some of the greats like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Theolonious Monk, Charles Mingus, and John Coltrane. I also enjoy listening to NPR's Piano Jazz with Marion McParkland because of the format. She has guests on and they do a lot of improvisation, which I find very interesting considering I have no musical talent whatsoever.

5. I have always respected and revered the art of poetry. It is one of my favorite subjects to teach, and I enjoy reading and writing poetry. When I read poetry I get lost in the imagery and marvel over the way a poet is able to use words that speak to me in ways no picture could ever do.

6. I treasured the art of telling a story and consider it a true gift. As a child, my father was a great story teller. He often would sit and tell me tales of his boyhood and between his adventures, the characters that made up his world, and his rich, textured voice, I was allowed to enter into his world. I definitely have him to thank for my love of reading.

7. Finally, I am a wordaholic. I  actually read the dictionary and am amazed at the richness of words. I collect old dictionaries (the big thick ones), and have one that has half a page describing the word freedom.

Not too exciting of a life, so I will move onto some bloggers, who I feel deserve this wonderful award.

Beth at Beth Fish Reads. I really love reading Beth's reviews, they are very informative, insightful, and beautifully scripted.

Jen at Books at Midnight. Jen is a high school student with loads of talent. Her blog is beautiful and her reviews Rock! I would love to have a whole classroom filled with students like Jen.

Tabitha at Tabita's Reads. Like me Tabitha is fairly new at blogger. What I most appreciate and admire about her reviews is how clearly her unique voice can be heard, and her blog is really lovely too.

Brain Lair. I have a very special place in my heart for librarians, and I think the Brain Lair is a very special place. Her reviews are heartfelt, and I always find something new each time I visit.

Sandra at Musing of a Book Addict  was one of the first blogger to leave a comment and has been doing a great job highlighting all of her stops during the comment challenge. I go over often to see who she has visited, so I can visit too.

The Reading Zone. This is one inspirational teacher. Her post are often about her classroom and all the wonderful lessons her students are engaged in. If every student had a teacher like her then I think the state of public education would be in much better shape.

Last, but far from least, I am nominating J. Kaye at J.Kaye's Book Blog because her blog has helped me find my footing. I have gained an enormous amount of information by reading her posts and consider her a mentor.

Thanks again to Natalie for nominating me. Knowing that you read my blog is high praise. Hugs!