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Click here to see pictures of Tandi, the pug, and visit her site.

Click on picture to view Tandi's page on my site.

Easter Sunday when I was in 6th grade.

I'm reading a book, of course!

Greetings!

     I have been a bookworm all of my life and always wanted to be a teacher. My dad Jim Mayer was a newspaper editor and publisher, and my mom Marge Mayer was a teacher, so teaching and writing are in my blood.

     I majored in speech/drama and English at UNI and have taught both high school and middle school English for 31 years in this district.

     My husband Patrick is a career counselor and the creator of Matchstick Marvels. Check out his page on my site!

     *Our oldest daughter Erica has taught high school English at North Fayette for the past four years. This fall she starts a new high school position in the Des Moines area.
    *Our daughter Tara is a grad student in Michigan, working on a Master of Fine Arts degree in nonfiction creative writing, and teaching composition to college freshmen.

     *Our son Brennan will be a sophomore at the University of Iowa this fall. During the summer he is a lifeguard and water safety instructor at two pools.

     We also have a pug named Tandi.  She has her own page on my site too. Check it out!
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   *Proud Mother Comment: Our kids are fourth-generation teachers since my mother and grandmother were also teachers.
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Erica, Tandi, and Darcy admire the poppies.

Erica was maid of honor (on the left of bride)

Tara is in grad school in Michigan

Tara, in costume for an opera at Northern Mich.

Class of 2007

Facts and Favorites

Gone With the Wind -- still the most popular movie of all time! Click here.

Click on movie poster

E-mail address:

aacton@po-1.gladbrook.k12.ia.us

College: University of Northern Iowa (Speech and English)

Family: husband Patrick, daughters Erica & Tara, son Brennan

Dog: Tandi, a Chinese pug (See her webpage on this site)

Birthday: January 29 (No, I wasn't born in April.)

Favorite pastimes: reading, especially mysteries and kids' books, answering my Grammar Lady questions (see webpage), Broadway, crocheting, and the Internet

Favorite book/movie: Gone With the Wind

Favorite TV shows: American Idol, Lost, Ugly Betty, Psych, The Closer, Mad Men, So You Think You Can Dance, Robin Hood (from the BBC), and all Law and Order shows

Favorite Broadway shows: Spamalot, Beauty and the Beast, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Legally Blonde, Chicago

Favorite authors: Agatha Christie (my all-time favorite), Janet Evanovich (see photo above), Sue Grafton, Mary Higgins Clark, Meg Cabot, J.K. Rowling, Sophie Kinsella

Favorite sport: figure skating (Michelle Kwan, where are you?)

Favorite food: Chocolate

Favorite colors: purple and pink

Collections: Theme sweaters, holiday Beanie Babies, mystery books in series, Broadway memorabilia, bookmarks, snowmen, Santas, author dolls and magnets, and more. I love to collect things!

Favorite web sites: imdb.com (Internet Movie Database), Amazon.com, Broadway.com, Ebay. See MRS. ACTON'S FAVORITE WEBSITES page!

One last comment: I love

e-mail messages, but I

hate to talk on the phone!

We met our favorite author, Janet Evanovich.