Yet another tag

Now that I am attempting to be a blogger, I actually like tags. For one thing, as Ann-Michelle pointed out, it's always fun to talk about myself. For another, no pictures are involved! It's not that I don't like pictures, I just keep forgetting to take them at opportune moments plus I really haven't figured out the right way to post them. You may think I haven't tried, but you haven't seen all the posts I've had to delete because my "picture" came out as a bunch of numbers. Ok--here goes---

20 years ago... 1988 - I was living on Ruthie Lane in Redding, California busy planning and contemplating a 3 week trip the upcoming summer to Israel and Egypt.
10 years ago: 1998 I was in my 2nd year of teaching at Lincoln High School and shocked that I was old enough to have a newly engaged daughter!
5 years ago: 2003 - I was in my 3rd year at Lake Stevens High School and the middle of my service as the Granite Falls Ward YW pres.
3 years ago: 2005 - I had just begun teaching at Marysville Junior High in Marysville, WA. This was towards the end of the period when the entire DeArton clan (at least our part of it) was living in western Washington.
1 year ago... 2007 - This was in the middle of my first year back at Lincoln High School. It really didn't take too long to readjust since not much had changed in my seven year absence! This was also about 6 months into my quest to become an actual runner (still working on it).
So far this year...2008 - It's been a busy, but good time with lots of family activities so far. (If any non-family members are reading this, we've all migrated to the intermountain west.) Our first family activity of 2008 was New Year's at the Hansens, followed by Jacob's homecoming from Russia 3 weeks later, followed by Jake's homecoming address at church and celebration the following week, followed by Graham's blessing and celebration the following week, followed by Todd Flatland's 25th birthday party the following week . . . It's a bit too quiet now, but I'm sure we'll come up with some activities in March!
Yesterday I.. insanely (I stole that part from Ann-Michelle) ran around the river twice which is just short of 5 miles. It wasn't too cold, but there was still quite a bit of ice and mud on the trail. In fact, I slipped at one point and had mud all up one side of my pants leg. I forgot about that when I stopped by Wal-Mart on my way home and ran into one of my neighbors. He kept looking down at my leg . . . After he left, I looked down to see what the big attraction was, and yep, there was all that mud. Oh well!
Today I . . . ate Jacob's Russian food for breakfast, went to church, had a nice dinner made by Greg and joined by Greg, Jacob, Caitlan, and Allison. Caitlan left for Provo, everyone else is taking a nap, and I'm typing away on the computer!
I am tagging no one. Everyone I know in the blogging world has already been tagged!

Another tag

Where were you born? Kansas City, Missouri
Middle name: Ann
How old will you be this year? 51 (what kind of a question is that???)
Nicknames: I actually can't think of any.
Are you taller than your mother or father? Neither!
Do you cry often during movies? Not so much--every once in awhile though.
Favorite color: Green
Favorite foods: Teriyaki chicken, pretty much anything with coconut
Favorite beverage: water (I'm not lying)
Favorite cold cereal: Kashi
Favorite Smells: cinnamon for the house
Favorite time of day: early morning
What brand of shampoo/conditioner do you use? Bath and Body Works' Orange and Ginger--something like that. It's supposed to be energizing.
Make-up products? Mary Kay
How many pillows do you sleep with? 1
Do you play an instrument? piano
Have you ever been skinny dipping? maybe when I was 2
Did you do any sports in High School? volleyball and soccer at school, church basketball
What was the last movie you saw in the theater? Enchanted
What is your favorite article of clothing? Right now my lined jogging pants. Ask me in the summer--I'm sure my answer will be different.
What is your dream vacation? Switzerland
What was your first impression of your spouse? That guy has to be the biggest flirt I've ever seen.
If you were an animal what would you be? a cat (owned by a nice family of course)--They do pretty much whatever they want, and they're always clean.
What is your favorite "me- time" activity? reading
What is your dream car? 2008 Toyota Avalon
What is one of your weaknesses? procrastination
What do you fix for dinner when there's nothing to fix? leftovers
If you could live in a different decade/era which one would it be? I think now is the best.
Do you consider yourself outgoing? No
What is something you are constantly working on? organization
Any hidden talents? If I knew what they were, they wouldn't be hidden.
What is a word or phrase you overuse? ?
What was the hardest thing that happened to you this past year? child's medical issues
What is the best thing that happened to you this past year? same as above--things are 100% better
What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year? become a lifetime member of Weight Watchers (although I don't know how they'll pay the rent here if I actually earn "free" status)
Who are the 6 people you are going to tag to do this survey? No one. I only answer these things.