Due Date- Wednesday, January 19, 2005- "ABC's of Me" Since it's a new year and we have new students, I thought it would be fun to get to know each other a little better. This will be as easy as your ABC's. All you have to do is fill in the blanks. You can be creative if you wish and change what some of the letters ask for. Also, there is an extra credit assignment below.

A - Ambition: My biggest ambitions, being happily married and a mother, are accomplished so I guess the next thing would be to have grandkids!
B - Birthday: October 12, Columbus Day
C - Computer: Dell Dimension 8300
D - Dream: Travel
E - Exercise: DVD's- see my Fit Forever pages!
F - Favorite Food: BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
G - Garden: I grow herbs, tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, etc...
H - Hobby: My blog and website
I - Idol: Don't really have one
J - Job: Elementary School Teacher (not working this year, tho.)
K - Kids: 2- Justin (28) and Jessica (25)
L - Location: Agoura Hills, California (Just a little NW of LA)
M - Movie: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
N - Name or Nickname: Darylynn, no nicknames
O - Optimist or Pessimist: Optimist but a worrier
P - Pets: Two golden retrievers, Dylan and Kali, and 3 cats, Hunter (naughty boy,) Hayley Mills and Kalani (Jessica's cat.)
Q - Quote: Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. ~Leo Buscaglia
R - Restaurant: Cheesecake Factory
S - School: UCLA
T - Talents: Can't sing, can't dance... but I'm creative and an organizer!
U - Unfulfilled ambition: I should've been a lawyer
V - Vacation spot: Hawaii
W - Wish: I wish for the good health and happiness of my family
X - X-tra fact about me: I can pick up anything with my toes
Y - Years online: At least 10. Does anyone remember when Prodigy began? It was way back then that we went online.
Z - Zodiac sign: Libra

Extra Credit: Happy New Year Follow Up- Last Year, January 2004, we had the following assignment: "New Year's Resolutions. Some people love them as a way of giving their life more direction. Others see them as a way of setting yourself up for failure. Whatever your take on resolutions, make a list of 5 things that you would like to accomplish in 2004. Or 5 things that would make you happy in 2004. Then one year from now, we will have a follow-up and see how we all did." So now it's time for the follow-up! How did you do? Is it time to pat yourself on the back or do you need to resolve to try harder this year? New and old students alike are welcome to set new goals for 2005. Also due January 19th.

Here are my goals from last year:

1. Get back to size 6
2. Exercise at least 3 times a week
3. Plan something really special for our 30th anniversary
4. Remember to tell my loved ones how much they mean to me
5. Take Dylan & Kali on more hikes and walks

So, how did I do? Pretty darn good, I'd say! See, I really believe setting goals is a good idea to help you focus yourself and decide what you need to accomplish and what you want out of life! So for #1- I'm now a size 4 or 6, sometimes even 2. For #2- I still exercise at least 3 times a week, often more. #3- Well, my regular blog buddies know all about our fantastic trip to Kauai. Did writing that goal down help it come to fruition? I think so! Okay, so here's the one I'm ashamed to admit that I did not accomplish: #4. Both Jeff and Jessica shook their heads when I was going through my list of goals from last year. I tend to not verbalize my feelings and while I know they know that I love them more than anything, I do forget to tell them. That's why I made it one of my goals and since I didn't accomplish it, I'll add it to my list for 2005. And finally, #5- I haven't been going on the hikes with Jeff when he takes the dogs but I have been taking Kali on 4 mile walks around the lake. That's a bit too much for Dylan so I'd say I accomplished that goal, too!

~ 2005 Goals ~

1. Remember to tell my loved ones how much they mean to me
2. Keep exercising and stay at 120 lbs
3. Plan a trip to some place new this year
4. Get back to finishing some of our home improvement projects
5. Get back to working in Paint Shop Pro

~ Report Cards ~