Woohoo! I got tagged. It’s my first time. (Yes, I am a dork.) 
Thanks, Katie!
– NINE DREAMS BEFORE DEATH –
1. have a family of my own
2. see my mom happy, healthy, and stress free
3. travel to Mainland China
4. see all my students go on to lead fulfilling, productive lives
5. take my students to visit the Louvre (and then Disneyland!)
6. finally be fluent in Mandarin
7. see art, music, and P.E. programs restored in the schools
8. learn to say no and not feel guilty
9. see someone special one last time … and find someone who will make that loss make sense
9 1/2. attend the Sound of Music singalong at the Hollywood Bowl … okay, it’s dorky, but I soooo want to go!
~~~~~
– NINE THINGS I CAN’T (won’t) DO IN THIS LIFETIME –
1. be perfect
2. be a rock star (although it is my secret fantasy)
3. prostitute myself
4. be an Olympic medalist
5. betray a loved one
6. cheat
7. live in Las Vegas … YUCK! (2 days at a time are plenty for me, thanks)
8. eat straight mayonnaise … I can’t even wash dishes with mayo on them without gagging
9. be on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition
9 1/2. shop at Wal-Mart
~~~~~
– NINE THINGS THAT ATTRACT ME –
In a partner:
1. integrity
2. laughter
3. intelligence
4. broad smile
5.
Asian men (I’m with Katie on this one … I actually find all kinds of
men (read Johnny Depp) attractive but seem to attract mostly Asian men
… and that’s okay by me)
In general:
6. book stores
7. sales
8. open house signs
9. places that aren’t Los Angeles
~~~~
– NINE THINGS I SAY –
1. Aiya!
2. Good morning, fishfaces! (to my fishies, of course)
3. No, you come here
4. It’s get-it-yourself night (in response to the question “what’s for dinner?”
5. Don’t be a fish-giver! (in my classroom … we don’t give people fish … we teach them to fish)
6. Sure, I’ll do it (while kicking myself)
7. Oh my goodness! (as well as “my word!” and “goodness gracious!” … it’s a teacher disease)
8. Hello, Taj Majal reservation desk …
9. I like how [insert name here] is … (yep … still works every time!)
~~~
– NINE BOOKS THAT I LOVE –
1. Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol … this book changed my life
2. my Chinese dictionary and Lonely Planet Taiwan guide … my constant companions during the biggest adventure of my life
3. Little Women
4. anything by Bill Bryson … that guy cracks me up!
5. Little House Series and Anne of Green Gables … old friends
6. Chronicles of Narnia
7. The Distant Land of My Father
8. To Kill a Mockingbird
9. Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells … P.S. So Does May
~~~
– NINE MOVIES THAT I LOVE –
1. To Kill a Mockingbird
2. Life is Beautiful
3. Kikujiro
4. Good Will Hunting
5. Chocolat
6. Coalminer’s Daughter
7. Dirty Dancing — “nobody puts Baby in a corner”
8. Joy Luck Club, Last Emperor, The Wedding Banquet, Lost in Translation
9. Lilo and Stitch
I won’t tag anyone because I know that the novelty has worn off for all of you veterans. 
Poisoned by Fairy Tales 
I like your nines. Over half your books are my favorites too so I guess we have the same taste in Lit. I would have to add The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings to that one, I don’t know why but I read all 4 of those at least once every two years. I just never get tired of them.Fluent in Mandarin would be so cool. I’m not fluent in anything, not even English, lol. (A little joke there.) When we lived in Spain I wanted to be fluent in Spanish, now I want to be fluent in German, I sure wish Star Trek would hurry up and get those universal translaters on the market. Wouldn’t the Turkish shopowner across the street be surprised? And I would love to be able to talk to my German neighbor down the road. I counted one time and I want to know 11 languages, I doubt that will ever happen, but how cool would that be.I say, “Oh my!”
ahhh i love johnny too… and oops i got to redo my list how could i foget ‘ pushing hands’ ang lee…lol ahh where is my guy (asian guy) i am seeing no one at work being locked up..this is ridiculous…my life is getting so small i will be in a box and no one will find me if i leave this world..lol well at least some of you might notice my xanga quiet..ahahhhahahahha warmth and LOVE …tonight is a long one now and for the days to come…and oh i would love to meet u should be on my list too…<3
Thank you for your priceless comment. I am glad that you visit my xanga. I am one of Katie the poet’s admirers. The differences in opinions make Xanga a more interesting forum to discuss interesting subjects.
Thanks for visiting my xanga! I, too, was beginning to think that I’m the odd-man-out here. I grew up in a time when a pocket calculator was a big deal – now they give them away and they are as thin as business cards. Strange days.
the MOON THE MOON DID YOU SEE IT LAST NIGHT…I ALMOST FELL OVER SO HUGE…okay i was a little kid but all i could think was damn i want LOVE with that moon….lol well it was wonderful….have a good day girl..off to sleep now….nitie nite…oh okay good morning to you…warmth and LOVE…<3