jellybean5

I am a high school English teacher, and yes, I do love books. I have found that teaching English is not the same as curling up with a good book at home, but I enjoy it just the same. I like a lot of the things that you might think an English teacher would like - books, bookmarks, bookstores, stationary, poetry, discussion and analysis.

I enjoy spending time with my family and I think spending a long time over dinner is a great night out.

In general, if it is well written, I will like it. I have to admit that sometimes I do enjoy reading a brain candy book - a nice break once in a while.

These are some of my favorite books: A Fine Balance - R. Mistry; Persuasion - J. Austen; Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling; A Patchwork Planet - A. Tyler, Waiting for the Barbarians - J.M. Coetzee, The White Dragon - A. McCafferey.

These are some of my favorite authors: J.M. Coetzee, Anne McCafferey, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, John Grisham.

I also like mystery and suspense but I don't really have any favorite authors in that genre. Overall I like general fiction, mystery, suspense, chick lit, romance, epic/saga, poetry, and classics. I don't really care for sci-fi or fantasy as a whole although I am always willing to give them a try and I have read a few that I liked. I am interested in graphic novels, but have only recently begun to read them with more regularity. What I have read and liked so far: Persepoli, Maus I and II, Legends. I'm looking for any others that people enjoy and would recommend including the well-known must reads (which I don't know and haven't read yet).

I enjoy working on a variety of projects - I usually have a couple going at one time. I enjoy crafts such as paper quilling, painting, paper folding, card making, etc. - I love working with paper. I like to try a variety of things and have recently fallen in love with ATCs.

I have a couple of other hobbies that I am not very good at such as cooking and writing. That is not a bad thing in my eyes, because that just means they are still challenging, and I really enjoy the feeling of success after a challenge.

-anything that is relaxing or helps with stress relief (herbal teas, classical music, aromatherapy, candles, soft fabrics, cool breezes, spring rains, good friends, happy thoughts)

-simple and elegent design -clean lines and sharp edges (simple but not plain or minimalist) -book, writing, or word themes -brown/white/blue or yellow/white/blue -feminine pink not little girl bright pink -glass beads -bamboo (actual or design) -simple, nature-inspired Asian themes; not the red and black Chinese restaurant stuff -arabesque accents or small designs that aren't too overwhelming

-humor and wit

-dark chocolate -Chicos (chocolate flavored gummy candies) -fruit flavored teas and fruit flavored herbal teas -rooibos (red) tea -Chai tea and variations of Chai tea -biscotti -peanuts -chewy candy -marshmallow

-nature: mountains, pansies, leaves, lilacs, vistas, clouds, rain, birds, ladybugs, moths and butterflies, that new feeling that only exists early in the morning.

-henna: I do my own tattoos and I am getting pretty good at them. I like things with designs that can be used as tattoos or that will inspire tattoos. I prefer Arabesque designs.

-vanilla -jasmine -citrus -'water' scents -mild cinnamon (like cookies or tea, not hot like gum or candy)

-rap, metal, or any other heavy type of music -anime -anything emo -pastels or florescent colors -chile or very hot foods -plain caramels -gum

I vow to rate and never to flake. If I forget to rate you or your package has not arrived in a resonable amount of time from when it was sent please send me a note. I would rather receive a reminder than to let somebody down.