And so it begins....

Well, I won't say that my blogging friends made me, but I was certainly influenced to get this thing going by my dear friends at work. They all have their own adorable blogs, and I can see the value in having somewhere that our out of town friends and family can check in with to see what shenanigans we're up to from one day to the next. Hopefully, this can catch people up on our little familia without having to spend hours on the phone (I speak to some of my distant friends so seldom, unfortunately. But when I do speak with them, we talk for AGES. Perhaps this can minimize the old, sweaty phone ear!).
And for those of you who know me well, I promise to watch my mouth. Well, I'll try. Let's say I promise to keep it to anything allowable on network television (which, of course, eliminates my favorite words - oh well. I must remember that Joe and I are teachers!).
So, I guess I'll get things kicked off my taking a cue from Brooke. She made a list of 100 things you may or may not know about her. So, here goes. I might get a little too wordy and have to wimp out early, but we'll see.
1. I was born Katherine Lee Sitten. Joe was born Joseph Lee Dyer. Yes, we have the same middle name - Joe's name comes from his grandfather and father, mine is an old family name which also lent itself to the naming of this county. Jacks was born Jackson Chandler Dyer. He was originally going to be named Jackson Lee Dyer, but I felt like that sounded a little toooooo confederate. So, we used Chandler because we're such huge fans of Friends, and that Chandler Bing is such a delight. JUST KIDDING! Joe's late mother's maiden name was Chandler, and I think it is lovely.
2. Joe and I have been together for nearly 10 years, married for 7. We met when I was in college taking an art class for elementary majors. I had to observe an art teacher, and I was told to observe Joe Dyer at Opelika Middle School. I showed up a little late, and I couldn't remember the name of the teacher I was supposed to watch. But, when I finally reached my destination, Joe made my heart race, my cheeks blush, and my tongue twisted. He twinkled when he smiled at me. We went out on a date within the next few weeks, and we have been inseparable ever since.
3. Our 7th wedding anniversary was on Monday of last week, March 24th. We both forgot.
4. We always said that we wanted to be married for 5 years before starting a family, and that is exactly what we did.
5. We live in the house that my grandparents built in the mid 50s. It is small and frustrating, but my grandmother raised 3 children in this house. And since she was and is my role model and favorite person of all time, if she can do it then I can do it. Now if I can just get a fraction of the energy, talent, and motivation that she had well into her senior years.....
6. Our son Jacks is a genius. No really, he is. He is also fabulously good looking, wonderfully witty, a hit at all parties, and the epitome of gentlemanly charm. I'm not making these things up - he is the whole package. Not that I'm biased or anything.
7. My favorite movie of all time is Rushmore. Joe's favorite movie is The Godfather Part II. However, we are both huge movie buffs, so be expecting a post about our favorite films. The lists are long and wide.
8. I can't really talk about movies without mentioning Christmas movies. I adore a good holiday movie. My favorite is A Christmas Story, although Elf is rapidly becoming a family classic. Joe's favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard. Yes, I know....
9. I love foods of all kinds, but my favorite food is turkey and dressing. I have a short list of foods that I will not eat. Those foods are raisins (and most dried fruits, really. I'm against them), cherries, artichokes, and pickles. I think there is one more things on that list, but I can't remember what it is right now.
10. I teach 6th grade at Drake Middle School, and Joe teaches high school art at AHS. I started my career as a 6th grade teacher, then had a mid-twenties crisis which involved a lot of grad school, a GTA job teaching undergrads, some time off, a retail job, only to get right back to where I started as a 6th grade teacher. I guess I always knew what I was supposed to be doing, but I had to take a little journey to get there. Joe started his career as a banker in Birmingham, and his mid-twenties crisis led him to a second degree in art education (his first is a liberal arts degree in fine art) which brought him back to the Plains to teach.
11. I was born and raised in Pensacola, FL. I graduated from high school in 1994 when I was 17, and I have not lived in Pensacola since. Life took me to Fairhope during the summers to work at my beloved Camp Beckwith, then to Montgomery to college at Huntingdon, and finally to Auburn to finish my college experience.
12. Joe was born in Gadsden, AL. Before he graduated from Shades Valley High in Birmingham in 1987, he lived in Huntsville, AL; Miami, FL; Cocoa Beach, FL; and Hermosa Beach, CA. He started college at Samford, but quickly transferred to Auburn when his college basketball career at Samford ended with 2 broken arms.
13. When Joe lived in California, he was a huge surfer and skateboarder. He was a little young to be one of the original Z-boys, but he was part of the movement going on at that time. He was an extra in the movie Hardbodies. Very cool.
14. I have one sister and one brother. My sister, Carrie, is the manager of her husband John's design company in Gainesville, FL, and they are parents to my fabulous nieces, Laura (8!!) and Jean Louise (5). Both girls are extremely creative and brilliant. My brother, Bob, is a copy editor for the best newspaper in Florida, the St. Pete Times. He is father to my other fabulous niece, Emily (7). Emily is an actual genius who has been reading flawlessly for many years, now.
15. My parents still live in the shit storm that is Pensacola (oops, already broke my promise!). I still have lots of love for my hometown, but I could never, ever live in the eye of that hurricane ever again. I am fascinated by my childhood friends who love it so much that they refuse to leave. I can't understand it! I wish Mom and Dad would move up here.
16. Joe and I are both registered Democrats, but since we live in Alabama, we are somewhat closeted about it. Nearly everyone we know, even the teachers, are Republicans. To each his own, I guess, but it still amazes me to no end. I was a Hillary fan, but I've shifted to Obama (since my fave John Edwards is out). I guess I could live with McCain as our next president. I can appreciate the great things he's done in his life. I'm just grateful that Hucka-crazy is out. It made me a little sick to my stomach that he got as far as he did.
17. Joe and I are taking a 7 year itch trip to Negril, Jamaica in July. And we. can. not. wait!!!!
18. My mother was born and raised in Auburn, and I have a ton of family checkered around the county. It is pretty easy to find someone around these parts who is related to me, even if it is distant. Mom's side of the family has been here since before Auburn was Auburn. Although I have a lot of family here, we are not all that close. My cousin Lee and I are trying to change that.
19. Since my family is so Auburn oriented, I am a natural Auburn fan by default, even though I don't really care for football. In fact, I don't care for any sports at all. I am a non-athletic. These things do not move me at all. My versions of sports include shoe shopping, yoga in my living room, football tailgating with lots of beer and snacks (only to return home before the game and avoid watching it on TV), and the Westminster Dog Show.
20. Joe is a huge sports fan, and he has a preternatural understanding of all the rules of all the games. When a flag is thrown in a football game (that happens, right?), our friends will turn to Joe to see what it was for. He could be a referee or an umpire or a line judge, or whatever those stripey shirted guys are.

Ok - it looks like we're going to have to stop at 20. Were you really going to stick around for 100 facts about the Dyer Family? I mean, I know you love us, but come on!!! I talk too much to keep this going on and on and on. Maybe I'll continue the count in another post sometime.
And to all my fellow bloggers out there, tell me how to work this thing!!! Love to all - K