ArmchairBEA Introduction

Design credit: Emily of Emily's Reading Room

Hello and welcome!  Thanks for visiting my blog, and I hope you enjoy my blog :)
Today is "introduction day"

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?
Hi!  My name is Amanda, and I teach English as a Second Language to children in grades 3-5 (about ages 8-10).  Last year, I graduated with my Masters in Reading Education and I'm just crazy enough to go back to school in the fall to get another masters in Education, with a concentration in Technology and Literacy.  When I'm not reading, I enjoy taking pictures, traveling, gardening, baking and flowboarding (surfing and bodyboarding on a manmade wave---like on the cruise ships).  I'm a huge Harry Potter fan (hence the owls).  In January, I think I'll have been blogging for 3 years.  I got into blogging because I wanted to become more involved in what my students read---I wanted to become more knowledgeable about what books were out there and what they should be reading, and blogging became my outlet for all the good books that I've been reading.  
  
Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures.  
I am blogging from the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia (specifically Harrisonburg).  It is the home to James Madison University (from where both Kristen-Paige Madonia---author of Fingerprints of You---and I graduated), and something that I didn't know until I looked on the Wikipedia page---the hometown of Maggie Stiefvater (Shiver, Raven Boys, Scorpio Races), and the biggest town to author Jodi Meadows (Incarnate).  WHO KNEW ALL THESE COOL PEOPLE WERE IN HARRISONBURG WITH ME!?!?!?!?!?!?!?  And there's mountains and stuff, too....

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013? 
Ok, so I'm typing this up on Saturday night, and I'm between books.  I can't specifically say what I'll be reading on Tuesday when this posts.  But, if I think of it, I'll update...
But, the best books I've read this year so far are the Game of Thrones books.  I STINKING LOVE THEM!  

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why? 
I'd love to eat dinner with JK Rowling or Fred and George Weasley.  I'd love to just bask in the awesomeness that is Ms. Rowling.  But Fred and George are my favorite characters from Harry Potter and I think it would be a good time.  Second choice would be Ned Stark, Jon Snow, Arya Stark or Daenerys Targaryan from Game of Thrones.  Why?  Why not?  They're awesome!

 
What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?
HOGWARTS!  Of course!  And not just the studio, or the castle now...but legit Hogwarts with Snape, Dumbledore and McGonnegal.  I want the floating candles in the great hall.  I want the house elves to prepare an awesome dinner.  I want to see the whomping willow and then sneak down to Hogsmeade.