But, I survived my first day of Driver's Ed. And I'm now more grateful than ever before that I am HOMESCHOOLED!!!!! *high fives to all homeschoolers* *gives pat on back to those who've survived going to public school* I really don't know how you've done it!! :)

The not-so-good points of today:
::This class has nearly 50 students (48 if you wanna get technical). For a quiet girl like me who is nothing like the typical teenager, you get lost in the crowd far too easily, yet still stick out as a "stare" object for those bored persons who care nothing about the class or studying (and that'd be the majority of the class, if I judged correctly)
::The language those kids use...and the *things* they talk about (oh, and did I mention that only 3 other teens taking this class are 16 or older?)...me thinks I need to buy some ear plugs before tomorrow
::I really don't enjoy sitting in a classroom studying, writing down notes, and listening to lectures for 6 hours straight, with only two breaks(morning break and lunchtime). It was great to have an actual classroom setting, but not for that time period.
::I also dislike corny 80's and 90's driving videos with horrible actors.
::There are several "creeps" in the class (though I expected that, I did not think there'd be this many). My definition of "creep" includes (but is not limited to): hair any color but those which God chose to bestow on the human race (especially bright red); piercings anywhere but the ears; pants sitting anywhere below where they are supposed to sit; black fingernails, etc.
::I don't think any of the other kids actually care about taking the class...all they want is the piece of plastic with their face on it that gives them permission to drive.
::I abhor red hotdogs.
::After those six hours at the high school (which began at 8am and ended at 2pm), I came home to, only an hour later, find myself madly cleaning the entire house for someone who is coming to look at it this evening. (Edited to add: The guy seemed to love the house...*prays hard*)
::It's my week to do the litter boxes (Yes, "es". With three cats, it's absolutely necessary), and that means cleaning them, scrubbing, and changing out the litter out in the hot sun...probably my least favorite chore (though I'm getting a better attitude towards it, slowly). I don't know why I even felt compelled to mention that :)

The good points:
::Two of the girls were kind enough to ask if I wanted to sit with them, when they saw me by myself (and coincidentally, they were two of the, um, creepy, girls...but I was too glad to finally have a place to sit to worry about that) at lunchtime...not sure whether I'll take them up on their offer to sit with them again, but it was nice of them :)
::The instructor is extremely nice (though very strict, but a good kind of strict) and I suspect he's a Christian
::I learned a lot, which is always nice :)
::Mom let me make a frozen mocha when I got home! :D
::My main "good point" of today...See, the instructor is very strict, and at the beginning of the class, he laid down the law: you talk or misbehave in class when you're not given the "ok" for talking, you get a warning. Second time, you have to write a 5 page essay (and he's NOT kidding!!), and if you either A) don't turn in your essay, or B) get in trouble again, you get kicked out of the class and have to re-take it again after a certain amount of time. And I'll repeat: HE IS NOT KIDDING!!! So, after lunch, he left us all in the classroom while he had to go to the office to do something, and told us to be quiet and study our books while he was gone. The second he closed the door, the other kids (every single one of them. I checked.) started whispering. Then they started laughing and talking louder. By the time he got back, some were even yelling jokes at each other across the room. It's not a very good atmosphere when you're trying to study, let me tell ya. So, he, Mr. Rowes, walks back in the classroom, and, after finally quieting everyone down, barks, "All of you have a 5 [he might have said 2, but really I can't remember] page essay due first thing tomorrow morning!!!" I was rather disappointed, and kind of upset, since I hadn't been talking, but then the girl next to me (who just so happens to be the dirtiest mouthed of the bunch) raised her hand and said, pointing to me, "But sir, she weren't talkin'! [love her grammar, don't you? *wink*] She was like the only one..." I could've hugged her when he told me I didn't have to write the essay!!! :) I would've written the essay, and really it wouldn't have been that big of a deal, but I was still glad he knew the truth, and that I'm not getting punished for something I didn't do(and would never do....not even if one of my best friends was in the class with me!)! :)

Edited to add: I remembered another good thing about our instructor that I'd wanted to mention: He stressed the importance of good morals, and even gave we girls some good advice for protecting ourselves (most of which I'd heard before, but most of the others hadn't). I looked up really quickly with a huge grin on my face when he told one of the girls at the front of the room that he advised against dating, and especially during high school. :D So yep...I really like our instructor! He pretty much makes up for having to put up with the kids. :)

5) Once, when I was five, my little next door neighbor/friend came over to play with me in the backyard. She accidentally tripped me, causing me to scrape one whole side of my face up. My five-year-old self just knew she'd done it on purpose, and I made sure everyone at church that night knew it as well.  *blush*

6) When I went to private school in kindergarten, I only ever got in trouble with my sweet teacher once, for chasing one of the boys around the classroom under the desks (hey, he's the one who pulled my hair! He chose the wrong day to do it ,too).

7) I also only got in trouble with my 1st grade teacher (that was the last year I went to a private school...from then on, it was good ol' homeschooling!) one time, and that was only because she was under a bunch of stress, had a headache, and thought I was one of the other girls (who we used to joke was my twin) who'd said a bad word behind her back. Took me a year to forgive her for it, though. :P

8) I have shared a room with each and every one of my siblings at one point or another. Jeremy shared with me when we were little, and lived in a two bedroom apartment, then of course my sissies have all shared with me. The two middle boys HAD to share with me, because their crib wouldn't fit in the boys' room. And Micah shared with me for two days, while Mom was painting her room. :D

9) I'm a picky eater, though I AM getting better about trying new foods. I think I shocked Sam with the list of veggies and fruits that I do and don't like. *snickers* :P

10) We kids used to play pirates, pilgrims, the Swiss Family Robinson, and many other ship-related make-believe games with our coffee table. Until the day we broke it tossing Sarah overboard. Dad wasn't too happy 'bout that.

11) I never had a "real" (as in plastic, rather than cloth, or porcelain, or an older girl) baby doll until I was eight, and I was so elated I didn't wait around to name her. I chose the first name that came to mind, which was Jennifer (my cousin's name), as my cousin was sitting right in front of me.

12) I've never taken any dares that involve doing something dangerous. I don't think I've even been dared to do anything dangerous.

13) Once, in childrens' church, the leaders showed us a movie since they'd been sick all week and didn't have time to prepare lessons. It was a christian movie, kinda like Bibleman, but it had a lot of shooting, and was kinda intense. At least, for me anyway. I was so scared while watching it, I went to one of the leaders and asked to be taken to my parents. Not wanting to be thought of as a chicken, I told them it was because I didn't feel good (which was partially true, as fear makes me sick to my stomach).

14) In fact, that actually happened twice. Only the first time was when I was seven or eight, and the movie the people showed us was a Carman music video. It was the one for his song "Witch's Invitation" (if you've never heard it, it's a VERY good song...despite how the title may make it seem bad.), which freaked me out. That time, though, I told them I didn't like the movie, and the leader let me sit out in the lobby with her while the video finished. I don't think they were very bright with their choices of movies for us kids...

15) I remember the first time I burned myself on the stove. I was three, and reached up to grab something, touching a hot burner. It's one of my earliest memories.

16) I used to get up in the middle of the night and go crawl in my parents bed. I'd pretend to go to sleep, and Dad would carry me back to bed unawares that I could've walked. :P

17) Once, last summer while volunteering at the library in the Childrens' Room, I had a lady look at me in shock when I told her I worked there, sort of. "Oh, but you're just a baby! Why they got babies working here? Darlin', you don't look a day over 12!" I think she was a bit shocked when I told her I was 15 1/2. :)

18) I love making lists, and make at least one every day. Mostly of things I need to do, but also books to read, movies, names...

19) My siblings and I watched the Donut Repair Club videos ALL the time when we were little! As well as VeggieTales, Psalty, AiO, and I Love Lucy. :D  Oh, and can't forget Andy Griffith!

20) I've never been accused of being a "girly girl", but I'm most definitely not a tomboy.

21) I love going on walks and hikes, and take them regularly with one or more of my siblings. :)

22) When I was five, and went to the dentist for the first time, I loved the dentist so much (he was hilarious, and made the experience lots of fun) that I decided when I grew up I would marry him. *cough*

23) I absolutely love cappecinos, mochas, and frappecinos, but I can't stand regular coffee!

24) Drinking tea is my "one weakness" (you have to have seen Lark Rise to Candleford to get that). I drink it quite often. You don't want to know how often.

25) I've only ever seen one movie in the theaters, and I thoroughly dislike it. It was "Herbie: Fully Loaded" with Lindsay Lohan.

26) The only "nervous" habit I have is that of tapping: my toes, feet, hands, fingers...it really gets on people's nerves sometimes!

27) I know how to play one poker game (without the gambling/money! Just the cards....). Not proud of it by any means, just thought it's interesting...

28) When I was eight, I went on a church group outing that included a stop at an aquarium, a ride on a tour boat, and a stop at the beach. While on the beach, some sisters disobeyed the rules and swam out around the rocks...they started drifting out to sea, the lifeguards were called in, and all of the girls (this was a girls only trip) were banned from going in the water for the rest of the day. I was mad at the girls for the rest of that day...and awhile afterwards (I'm sure my parents will readily tell you how I ranted when I got home! lol)

29) I once thought it was possible for a person to have red eyes.

30) I once got mixed up about seconds and minutes, and got into an argument with my Dad (I was four, I believe) about how long a minute is. I thought it was 1 second=1 minute. I had a vivid picture of my Mom telling me that in my mind, so I was pretty adamant...my poor Dad! lol

31) I've only met(in person) 1 of my closest friends. I've met her twice. Plannings for meeting with the rest of my dearest friends are, well, still in the "dreaming" stage, for the most part. :)

32) I've always had a full head of hair, even when I was born. Had my first haircut at four months old, with pictures to prove it. :)

33) When I was eight (lots seemed to happen at certain ages...), I had a very bad rash/sore spot on my chin for quite awhile. See, I let Judah (who was a baby) gnaw on my chin while he was teething...learned the hard way not to do that, especially after his first tooth popped through.

34) I'm not an early riser by nature, more of a night owl. I'm trying to reverse the habit, though.

35) I love cats. They're my favorite animal (butterfly being my favorite insect), and I have three of them. They all know how to say "Mama" (I'm not kidding you), and say it very obediently when I greet them each morning.

36) I used to be so obsessed by Laura Ingall's Wilder, that I read Little House in the Big Woods (the only Laura book that I owned at the time) several times over. I was elated when I got the Laura's Album book for my tenth birthday!

37) I cringe and scream inwardly whenever I see a spider. Especially a large one. And especially when I've nearly touched it.

38) I absolutely love John in North and South, but if I were to marry a literary guy, at the moment I'd choose John from OMF. :D

39) I'm a Hoodie, who is both excitedly and a little sadly looking forward to season three. Why oh WHY??!!!

40) I prefer knitting to crocheting, but my grandmother would say it's only because I don't devote half the time to crocheting that I do to knitting. I, uh, think I'd have to agree with her, at least on the latter point. ;)

41) I've never committed a murder (even a literary one...and I've even written an entire mystery novel! Don't ask how I managed to finish it without killing anyone off...this one certain character came THIS close to ruining my reputation!)

42) I love lemonade. And popcorn.

43) I miss being at camp, with Pilot Mountain right in front of me every day.

44) Homemade frappemochas are da bomb! (Frappemochas are a creation of the V. Sisters INC. please do not copy :P)

45) I have music "moods" in which I will listen exclusively to one band, one artist, one cd, or even one genre, for a certain amount of time. This can last anywhere from an hour, to a whole month.

46) I'm frequently chatting on AIM in two different conversations...and at one time I even had five going at the same time! Talk about confusing! lol

47) My favorite car is a mustang (though I know I'll probably never own one), and I love to drool over the blue ones...midnight blue, to be exact :)

48) I tend to be a very cold natured person. However, I can't sleep with socks on my feet, even in the coldest days of winter.

49) I used to be a part of Junior Bible Quiz. Went all the way to Nationals (which meant a trip to Chicago!) with my team twice, and had tons of fun the whole 5?? years I did the quiz team.

50) I love to garden, and although I don't have a green thumb by any stretch of the term, my little garden is being very successful, if I do say so myself. And I do. ;) :P

51) I miss our old piano. Even if it was 50+ years old, had keys falling apart, and could barely stay in tune for a day.

52) I LOVE popsicles. :P at Sam

53) Homemade cookie dough ice cream is the perfect treat on a hot summer afternoon.

54) I'm embarrassed as to the number of cavities I've had. Needless to say, I figured out that you really should brush three times a day, the hard way. 

55) I've been called Grannie Bananie (for sitting in our rocking chair while knitting and wearing my glasses)

56) I wear am supposed to wear reading glasses. I usually only end up putting them on when I can feel a headache coming on. Always works.

57) On certain days, I'll pretend to be one (or a couple) of my favorite literary characters, or real people I admire. I've been Margaret Hale, Bella Wilfer, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Gladys Aylward, Elisabeth Elliot, and a few others...

58) Once, when we kids were younger and back at the old house, we decided to plant some watermelon seeds (from a storebought watermelon we'd eaten) in our sandy driveway to see if they'd grow. As of two and a half years ago when we moved, it still hadn't grown.

59) I can do literally nothing with a yo-yo that doesn't make me look hilariously pathetic.

60) I hate Windows Vista.

61) I also hate Norton 360.

62) I love photography, and have taken one course for it. I'm still working on the second one. Again, I say, I love it.

63) I also love to sew.

64) I hate sewing a curved hem.

65) I've had two paying jobs (one was a one time thing, the other lasted for...4 1/2 years?), but currently have none.

66) I love knitting

67) I've been penpals with two of my three girl cousins, but now they're both in college and have no time for writing anymore...

68) I have two little second cousins. Both are girls, and both are very cute. 'Kenzy is 3, and Catalina is just days younger than Micah.

69) I hate that my name is so often associated with bananas.

70) I hate chihuahuas. And they hate me. Good. The feeling is mutual.

71) I get chased by a chihuahua that has a lot of nerve every time I take a walk. And I take a walk nearly every day.

72) I really hate chihuahuas!

73) I just learned how to spell chihuahua. At the age of 16.

74) I hate having my birthday so close to such a commercialized holiday as Christmas, and I don't mind saying so.

75) After doing lots of ancestry research, I found that I'm mostly German and English/British! :D No wonder I love tea so much...

76) I sometimes get frustrated with cats. Particularly MY cats.

77) I love to rollerblade, but rarely do.

78) I have ice skated only once in my life, and fell in love with it. Didn't fall down even once, either.

79) I have a neighbor who loves such southern names as "Annabelle" and "Dixie". She's had one pig (who is dead) named "Dixie", and two dogs (one of whom is also, you guessed it, dead) named "Annabelle". I would not put it past her to have two or even three dogs all named "Annabelle" at the same time.

80) I once found a robin egg in our backyard (5 years old, then), but thought it was a rock. So, since my teacher had told us about a man who collected rocks, I decided I was going to start my own rock collection with this very pretty blue "rock", and put it in my pocket and forgot about it. Mom wasn't too happy with the mess in the washing machine later.

81) Chocolate and peanut butter together are, as I like to call it, "a taste of heaven." :D

82) I'm more of a "wall flower" type...I love to chat and be girly(i.e. giggly, watching girly movies, talking a lot) with close friends and my family, but in mixed company or with people I don't know well/at all, I like to observe rather than be an observee. I'm quite content to learn other people's secrets rather than reveal my own. :P

83) I don't recall ever actually sobbing over a movie. Usually a few tears is all.

84) I've got a small appetite, so when I eat a lot Mom jokes that I must "finally" be growing. :P

85) I rarely wear jewelry, and when I do, it's usually for special occasions, or only for part of a day.

86) I love tictacs. And a whole bunch of other kinds of candy.

87) I L-O-V-E LOVE the David Crowder Band!!! :D :P at Sam again

88) I'm not very chatty when on the phone. Just ask my Dad, Sam, Amy, or Livi.

89) I own around a hundred books, but only have about twenty or so actually still in my room.

90) I never thought there were monsters living under my bed or in my closet.

91) Purple has been my favorite color for years...before then, I switched it often between pink, red, and blue.

92) I love and also dislike being the oldest. Depends on the day. 

93) I've finished one full length novel, but have not actually gone back and read the whole thing.

94) When the weather is gorgeous, I absolutely cannot stand to be inside for very long periods of time.

95) I can't write (letters, stories, poems, ANYTHING) while outside. Something inevitably catches my attention, or I have a little tag-a-long who wants to talk and talk and talk. Or I get found (when I hide).

96) I love having people play with my hair.

97) I absolutely abhore all the ads on the internet. They fall under either of these three categories: immoral, annoying, or weird/disturbing.

98) I've never broken a bone, only fractured a toe.

99) I have a sister who threatens to break my ankle so that my above statement will be a lie. (She's broken a few bones...guess she just wants to "share the love"...whatever that means)

100) I took three and a half days to come up with things to fill this whole meme thingy out.