Run Log: December & year end 2012

Run Club didn't run at all this month.  I ran on my{insert sarcasm} favorite treadmill at the YMCA most of the month.  And I took WAY too many days off and ate WAY too many cookies...I'm afeared to get on the scale that says I weigh WAY too much!  Interesting note, my foot hurt worse during the times of non running that when I ran.  If I ice & stretch it recovers quickly from the pounding. {I'm going with that as a great positive for now}  My top distance is still 5 miles (last done 12/8...UGH) but my foot is no worse.
My favorite run was yesterday when Mike {training for his first full marathon} guilted me into running 3 EZ miles outside.  It was right about 30 degrees with a light snow falling.  A little breeze that got colder as we ran west, but was just fine when we turned around and headed east again. It was peaceful and beautiful and we ran SLOW {since it was an EZ run} without headphones so we could even chat a little bit.  It was the best run in a few months.


Decembers's totals:
38 miles for the month 
656 miles for the year
0 biking miles for the month
347.5 biking miles for the year
146 miles in my pretty white & blue Asics...which are amazingly still pretty white...{is that a positive for the treadmill?}

2011 YEAR TOTALS:
Bike:     383 miles
Run:      564.5 miles

2012 {repeated} YEAR TOTALS:
Bike:  347.5 miles
Run: 656 miles (a palindrome!) 
Time to start all over ~ at two big zeros tomorrow morning ~  If my foot continues to not worsen (I'd love to say improve, but am afraid that is not going to happen) I would love to run the Cleveland half this May.  I will attempt to run as if training for that...and we'll see where it gets me.  I really REALLY want to lose these 10 pounds around my middle & on my hips {& arms}, and running is my best shot at doing that {Since NOT EATING CRAP is not really going to happen!}
Some interesting facts:
Longest run this month: 5 miles 
Favorite place to run this month: the little 3 mile to the end of the sidewalk {done in the road because of the snow} with my hubby ~ see above.
# of bags of Candy Cane Kisses left in my cabinet: THREE
# of books I read this month: Four!  I love vacation reading :)
Monthly mileage record: 80.5 miles March 2012
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  13.1 miles ~ May 16, 2010 (Cleveland 1/2) 


PR's:
5K: 22:45 (Rabbit Run 10/30/11~ but I think it was a short course)
10K: 52:02 (Cleveland 5/15/11)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:55:04 (Cleveland 5/16/10)
marathon: 3:50:05 (Akron relay {team run} 9/24/11)

blizzard bust

The national weather service, doubtless, has saved many lives because early knowledge of storms has allowed people to prepare.  But I think that they enjoy their, I- can-bring-everyday- life-to-a-halt power.
Remember our Christmas day blizzard emergency alert?  ended up bring 6 to 8 inches.  it was really pretty coming down as fast as it did, and the roads were snow covered and slippery.  But a blizzard, not so much.

The top picture is as the snow was starting.  The bottom picture is this morning, after the storm had passed.  I do love the look of the trees when the branches are covered with snow.

a haunting

Here's the honest to God story.
We were sitting around the dinner table last night yappin' our doodles.  Jacob dropped something or made some loud noise and we all turned to look at him and Mike freaked out.  "Did you hear that?"
We were all like, "yeah, we heard Jacob make that crashing noise..."
Mike said, "No the deep sigh.  Right in my ear.  Did you hear the deep sigh?"
None of us had...except Jacob said he did [but he's a teenager, so who knows.what he heard]

Here is a picture of Mike pretty soon after the mysterious deep sigh and the area over his left shoulder, where the sighing took place.  No mysterious orbs or faces or anything...rather disappointed with the lack of photographic evidence, but the freaked out look in Mike's face is scientific proof of the existence of ghosts.  (I'm using the requirements for scientific proof that is used in the acclaimed Big Foot Hunters tv series.)

It's Not Your Birthday

That was the title of a sermon Pastor Tom gave at the beginning of Advent.  It's a phase that has stuck with me as I've rushed around trying to {again} make the 'perfect' Christmas.  I've come to many conclusions this year:
1.  There's no such thing as a perfect Christmas.  Each is really remembered for it's imperfection.
2.  I need more work when it comes to thinking about others.
3. Grumpy does not belong in shopping.  Finding Joy...Finding Joy...

Christmas Eve 2012

Another December 25 has come and is quickly leaving...Patrick has a 32 gig iPod Touch.  Jacob has a fancy tennis racket and bag & chose a PS3 game over an iPod touch...{Dad took pity on the kid who 'lost' his at school and bought him a new one on Christmas Eve ~ and we gave him the choice of the PS3 game or the new iPod...which he decided he didn't want.  He now has Patrick's old one & the game & the hope of 'finding' his old one}  I have a fancy tennis racket with PINK strings {amazing} and Mike has a Kindle Fire.  I hope he really likes it.

We were awaken by our 17 year old little kid at 6:30 am yelling, "Christmas is here.  Christmas is here."  I find it heart warming that even as a really big kid, he still is excited for Christmas morning! 

Then we went to the Herzig's for Christmas afternoon and dinner...yummy ham & wonder salad {because you wonder what is in it, according to Dan}.  Lots of desserts...and I need to quit eating sugar!

The most exciting thing is that we are under a BLIZZARD WARNING.  Here's the Emergency Alert we ALL got on our cell phones at 2:41 pm {funny to hear that buzzing noise coming from almost every cell phone and iPod in the house}

Blizzard Warning this area til 7:00 AM EST Thu. Prepare.  Avoid Travel.  Check media. -NWS

I'm really looking forward to a Blizzard.  We can hunker down, play games, watch movies & eat all this food in our house.

Memories:

The gloves with the 'diamond' rings

The POOpourri ~ spray in the loo before you go #2...

Mom H and her MOUND of Christmas presents!

"Put the cell phone down, Terri, or I'm taking from you."

#36

Love Love Love the romantic novels of Nora Roberts.  I can't believe I hadn't discovered her before I stumbled across one on my Kindle.  #36 is Book Three of the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy The Perfect Hope.  And it was the perfect Christmas vacation read (that only took me three days to read ~ so there's more time for other books!)  In this one the Innkeeper & the third brother fall in love in a very straightforward, yet very romantic way.  The mystery of Lizzy, the ghost, is also solved in, of course, a romantic {if not sad} way.  The reason why I love these books...the happily ever after.

good quote: p 160 ~ "Tool bests are also hot", she explained.  "They're like gun belts--Old West cowboy gun belts.  When a man's wearing one--naturally--a woman knows he can handle himself."

fl: With a few groans and sighs, the old building settled down for the night.  ll: She glanced back, blew a kiss to the bride, then walked down the steps toward the promise.

#35

A recommendation by my college girl, Beaner.  #35 is Remarkable Creatures: A Novel by Tracy Chevalier. (library magic on my Kindle)  It's set in Lyme Regis in the early 1800's about Elizabeth Philpot and Mary Anning who were fossil hunters at a time when the finding of fossils and thinking about extinct animals was considered blasphemous by many.  It was an interesting tale of society, class, women and geology.  And then I finished the story and come to the postscript.  The characters were real people, fictionalized in this story, but Mary Anning was a real live person who discovered many of the prehistoric fossils we know today.  Amazing.
fl: Lightning has struck me all my life.  ll:We are silent together, each in her own world, knowing the other is just at her back.

Happy Winter Solstice :)

20 days into December

I don't post much when I'm stressed & anxious & generally unhappy, so I haven't posted much this month.  Lots of not fun stuff going on in the world of education.  Not so much in the classroom {thank Goodness I have a great class this year.  They will keep me sane}…but all the other "stuff" has got me even questioning myself as a teacher.  It's really been a rock-my-world year, so far.  Last weekend, after much discussion with Mike, I decided that I would indeed survive this professional crisis and I would become better for it.  It really boiled down to the fact that I just couldn't complain any more.  And the very next day I received my cross country coaching evaluation ~ which put a little salve on my wounded self- esteem.  It was glowing.  And I was so very thankful to read that I have actually had a positive effect on kids.

And now it is Christmas vacation.  A delightful word, vacation.
I sit here with only the light of this Kindle and the white lights of our Christmas tree, listening to the rain...hoping it actually does turn into the 6 to 10 inches the forecasters have been promising for two days.  {I didn't go to weather college, but I think I can safely say,  it's not going to happen if temperature remains at 46 degrees.}
But I am hopeful, for that is the person I choose to be.

9 days into December

Nine Days into December and much is going on:

1. My Christmas Tree is up and beautiful. And I am enjoying playing with my photo editing apps on my iPhone.  My boys don't particularly like putting up the Christmas tree {led by Head Grinch's anti-Christmas attitude}  But they are good enough men to suck it up for Mom and do their duty ~ with smiles and everything.

2.  We celebrated Mount Union Christmas on December 2.  It's been a tradition for many many years that we all get together to celebrate ~ Used to be Anita, Kirsten, Becky {me}, Sue, and Stephanie {when she was not in Alaska}.  It's down to the first three since Nut IS in Alaska & we're not on speaking terms with Sue any more...{sad story about the death of friendship...No one is to blame, it just happened and happened quite ugly, in this case}  But we still get together, eat, toast the season & share our creative presents.  I'm so thankful for 'old' friends.  People who really know what a dork I am, and love me anyway.  Bean told me she'd untag herself if I tagged her on facebook ~ but here it is, on my blog {that no one really reads, so she's safe}

3.  Indoor soccer has started.  We are at Spire this year...playing against men.  Not real sure why high school boys are playing against men, but there we are.  Lost the first game & are struggling to get players...I just hope I don't end up paying over $200 this year {was stiffed by a parent last year ~ Who does that?  I could tell you, but I don't think that would be right...my mom did say that two wrongs don't make a right & for once, I'm going to listen}

4.  School ~ First:  Patrick was accepted into The University of Cincinnati!  I'm much more excited than he is, but now it's time to look for scholorships & all that jazz.  Second: My work has been lots of crazy stupid not-so-fun stuff.  We had our big meeting with the Department of Exceptional Children {side note:  I especially like the term exceptional children} from the Ohio Department of Education for our Special Education audit.  It was one of the most nerve wracking anxious moments of my career, but I think it went ok.  {We have a summary meeting coming up ~ so until then, I'll assume I was amazing}  It was such a relief when it was over, I called up Janice & we went shopping!  Then we went to The Melt ~ the new one in Mentor.  I ordered the same sandwich I ordered the first time I went to Melt ~ the Northcoast Shores ~ a crab cake grilled cheese.  So delish I don't think I can ever order anything else.  Much like the seafood nachos at Compadres...the one time I ordered something else, I really wished I was eating seafood nachos the whole time. 

5.  Patrick & Jacob had their first Academic Challenge meet.  It was ALL DAY long at Case Western Reserve University.  {Patrick came home and told us it was at Case West.  Even after I corrected him ~ 5 times ~ he called it Case West.}  We went to see the last session...and it was very interesting.  Very laid back.  Lots of laughing & commenting.  I can see why they like to do it.  It's like trivia night...but without the food and beer.

6.  My brother Bill was here this weekend to discuss business & what the heck Mike and I are going to do with the mess that is our business, but we managed to work in some fun too.  I bought a Groupon to go tour A Christmas Story House...so we picked up the boys from Case West and drove to Tremont.  I really thought this would be the cheesiest thing...and we drove up to witness a LINE...stretched down the street!  I guess everyone wanted to have a cheesy Christmas memory too.  I knew that my boys would NEVER wait in line to do something I was forcing them to do in the first place...So I suggested Bill and I jump out and take a picture or two before we left.  My brother Bill can recite the moving word for word.  It's always been his favorite, so I was a little disappointed I couldn't share this with him, but I think we had fun just seeing it.

7.  Mike is really into watching Duck Dynasty on TV.  And I have to admit, out of all his stupid shows, this one is HYSTERICAL.  You should watch it, Jack.

8.  The CLEVELAND BROWNS have won THREE games in a row.  And they've looked good doing it.  The University of Mount Union Purple Raiders are going to the Stagg Bowl for the 16th time.  That's impressive.

9.  Let's end this with a great movie quote from John Wayne as Hondo:  "Everybody gets dead.  It was his turn."  Not the best Christmas quote.  But I heard it this weekend & it's stuck with me.

#34

I like the easy read-happily ever after that is Nora Roberts.  #34 is book two of the Inn Boonsboro trilogy The Last Boyfriend.  I love the trilogy romance.  The second of the brothers falls in love the the second best friend.  Ah, Avery & Owen :)  Can't wait to read the third one when the last of the brothers will fall in love with the last of the best friends and the three couples live happily ever after all together.  Life is NOT a romance novel.  Which is WHY I love to read them.  Escape.  As I have said many times before, life has enough trials and tragedies, I don't need them in my ENTERTAINMENT.  And I do believe in happily ever after.  I have that with my man.
I must comment on how my view of print has so changed.  I had to actually read this one in BOOK FORM. I was looking forward to having pages in my hand...and I MISSED my kindle!  There were a few times I found myself touching a word...only to remember that the definition was NOT going to be displayed for me.  The pages would stick together inturuptng my reading flow.  I'm such a DIVA.
fl: A fat winter moon poured light over the old stone and brick of the inn on The Square.  ll: Symbols, all of them--of unlocked places, and lasting love.

#33

I've found a series that I really really like (not quite love, but pretty close & probably will be there after another book).  Book #33 is Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear.  Maisie Dobbs is a really unique and likable character.  She's smart, a trailblazer of a woman, and has very human frailties.  I did figure out who-done-it, but not until the very very end!
This one ended with a little cliffhanger...she's on her way out for a supper date...but who with?  Seriously!?  I almost bought the next book right away! {but I've got an actual BOOK from the library I have to get reading!}

Quotes:
p100 ~ {In reference to the fact that Maisie stands in an unique spot in society...she used to be a hired housegirl, but now she is in residence of the same house, where does she 'belong'? is a theme throughout the entire book} ...terrain to be negotiated with great care.

p105 ~ cool word which reminds me of a funny story. ~ Watching a news clip about something...I don't recall the story...the newscaster was interviewing a Mount Union student who said, "He was the epitome of..." except he pronounced it ep-i-tome.  Took me a minute to realize what he'd been trying to say...Think it was written for him what his line should be?

p106 ~ to solve a problem, take it for a walk.

p212 ~ another cool word ~ which means: one's sphere of operations or particular area of interest...kinda like a wheelhouse

p264 ~ Stories, Maisies, are never just stores.  They contain fundamental truths about the human condition.

p305 ~ Wisdom comes when we acknowledge what we can never know.

fl: Maisie Dobbs shuffled the papers on her desk into a neat pile and placed them in a plain manila folder.  ll: And talking of powers of deduction, I've just taken on an interesting new case.

run log: November 2012

One race this month, the Turkey Day 5k, and a pretty consistent weekly mileage.  My foot is weird.  There are times, still, when it bothers me.  I can't say it's a pain, but I can certainly feel it.  I ran 5 miles this month...and it felt great the whole time.  I stopped and started walking for my cool down...Step, step, OUCH.  and there went my foot again.  I skipped a day running, and it's been ok since.  I guess I'll just keep on working it.
BUT, I have included a weekly YOGA class to my routine & I've added a day of P90X+, Total Body Workout.  Couldn't walk for two days after the first day in the workout room, but after the second time, it's not so bad.  I HAVE to keep up working out ~ especially this time of the year.  Because I can't stop chewing!!


November's totals:
46 miles for the month 
618 miles for the year
0 biking miles for the month
347.5 biking miles for the year
108 miles in my, for over 100 miles pretty white & blue Asics...

Some interesting facts:
Longest run this month: 5 miles 
Favorite place to run this month: ? still a question ~ probably with run club...
# of bags of Candy Cane Kisses left in my cabinet: TWO!!  So happy to see them in the store!  I bought a BIG BAG and have eaten half of it (or more) and have two littler ones in the cabinet.
# of books I read this month: Three ~ still love my kindle :)
Monthly mileage record: 80.5 miles March 2012
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  13.1 miles ~ May 16, 2010 (Cleveland 1/2) 


PR's:
5K: 22:45 (Rabbit Run 10/30/11~ but I think it was a short course)
10K: 52:02 (Cleveland 5/15/11)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:55:04 (Cleveland 5/16/10)
marathon: 3:50:05 (Akron relay {team run} 9/24/11)

putting stuff in your mouth

A couple of funny stories from this week:
1.   Tuesday Grace and I were on our way to school.  We were traveling down Bennett Road, talking about that song we heard on the radio ("I'm the boy with the drum drums drum...) that we can't find to play for our families.  This is really off topic, but it's such a BAD song...and we can't find it to make fun of it...
Grace takes a sip of her tea and kinda freaks (I think I would have freaked more).  I look over and there's a BEE hanging out of the hole in the lid.  She says, "It was in my mouth."  Poor Grace.  How does a bee get in her tea...in November?
Here's the phone conversation I have with her mother.
"What kind of tea did you give your daughter?"
"I think it was Earl Grey."
"There was a bee in it."
"No, I'm pretty sure it was Earl Grey."
"You're not hearing me; there was a bee in it.  A bumble bee."

2.  Last night I was watching tv when I got a text from a coworker asking if I wanted some shrimp alfredo for lunch the next day.  I don't turn down food, so I say yum yum yum, feed me.  She was in a meeting all day, but I caught her kind of on a break and asked when she was eating lunch.  She replies, "We're eating in here."  I'm thinking, "What about my food?"  But I'm also thinking, "Did I miss something here?"  Lunch comes and there's no food.  Thank goodness for leftovers from birthday party yesterday & people willing to share.  So did she notice I'd gained 10 pounds and just wanted to do her part to help me eat less?  I'm not ever falling for that trick again.  I will always bring my lunch!

3.  Our lunch bunch had a winning powerball ticket...worth $7.  (about 40 cents each)

It SNOWED

Finally...after a few days of teasing flakes in the sky...we woke up to a layer {albeit thin} of snow on the ground.  Snow is so peaceful.  It's like a blanket from God, snuggling around you making you feel protected & loved.

Thanksgiving

I give thanks for my world.

(and my iPhone which takes panoramic pictures)

Today started with the Second Annual Turkey Day 5K.  A beautiful fall morning...sun shining by race time.  Jacob (22:30) was the big winner for the family, followed by Patrick (22:48), Mike (24:04) , who just took off after claiming he was going to "take it easy and not get hurt", then me (7th in my age group ~ official time 24:39 ~ watch time 24:33), Katie (28:06) & Megan (32:12), who proudly ran it all except for the water stop.  The end was rather interesting as the finish chute was about a tenth of a mile long...and BACKED UP.  After I finished the line into the chute started before the finish.  The workers kept yelling, "keep moving in the chute"  Except you can't really go any faster that the person in front of you.  There were so many people, they need to chip the race next year.  But I will still run it, even if they don't.  It's a great way to start the holiday of stuffing yourself.

As I said the weather was beautiful.  I heard of a weather forecast that they were predicting we'd have the warmest Thanksgiving in 30 years.  "Wow, I thought.  Great day."  Then I heard on another weather forecast that they were predicting the warmest Thanksgiving since 1982.  "Huh, I thought.  I guess I heard that other forecast wrong."  And I went about my day.  Later I was telling Mike how warm they were saying it was going to be...and it hit me.  1982 WAS 30 years ago.  (DUH...and I'm OLD).

Family celebration in Newbury was yummy and fun.  We ate & played Beersbee (well, we watched Katie & Mike play Patrick & Jacob).  We couldn't find anything to put the bottles on, so they used sledgehammers.  Which worked well enough until the bottle was knocked off and shattered on the hammer!  We LAUGHED.  Katie was so afraid of the frisbee she would duck and make Mike catch it.  At one point the frisbee came zooming toward her, she hit the deck (almost concussing herself on the ground) screaming like she was being fired upon. Her and her sparkly butt crack me up.

giving thanks day 20

Today I am thankful for:

1. A hearty staff breakfast, while under attended, quite a pleasant social way to start the day.
2. A crazy mix-it-up day meant to promote anti-bulling...by having kids mix up where they sit at lunch.  Very well done and promoted by our superstar assistant principal...lots of kids and teachers dressed in their mixed up clothes. I actually had trouble with this...but did look delightful with different socks & shoes.  The very bestest part was the one braid and one pig that I wore on my head.  Brought me joy all day.
3. THANKSGIVING VACATION   certainly a highlight of the year.

gt day 19

Today I went to my annual health screening and found out for sure what I already knew; I'm much fatter this year than I was last.  My BMI, while still in the 'desirable' range...is 3 points higher.  My waist is 3 inches bigger.  I'm quickly headed in the very very wrong direction.  That's what I get from taking a break from running, not adding any different exercise & continuing to eat like I was working out.
Then I went to the surgeon to check on my scar (pictures another day).  It's healing nicely, but there's another spot he wants to take off (the dark freckle by my right eye...) so that's happening in January.
I am thankful that he's not concerned about the two areas on my nose that I was worried about.  Then he kinda made fun of me (in a very professional way) for being so worried...Such is me.

So today I am very thankful for:

giving thanks day 18

Today I was all set for my thanks giving.  I was going to be thankful for the great banquet that we went to to honor Patrick being named Academic All State for soccer.  We went to the banquet hall...only to be met with the news that they cancelled the banquet...after they cashed our $78 check!
So we don't have the Academic All State certificate.
We didn't get to hear a really rockin' speech {I'm sure}
We didn't get to eat a $78 meal.
And we don't have our $78.
I am thankful that Patrick was recognized for his academics.  And I'm thankful we didn't have to sit through the banquet {I guess}.

#32 & gt day 17

Today I am giving thanks for a run in the sun.  I could feel my stupid foot the full 4 & a half miles, but it was all done in the sunshine.  Beautiful day to run. {and I am thankful that I could only feel my foot, and that it didn't actually hurt...there is a huge difference!}

I also finished book #32 today.  Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear is one I actually bought from Amazon {with a gift card, so it was really a birthday present} ~ and it was also highly recommended by my mom.  Good Book.  And I'm excited because it's a series...{just bought book 2 ~ the end to my birthday money}  It's set during and 10 years after the first world war in London.  Maisie is such a unique character...from housemaid to socially equal because of her progressive employer and her intelligence.  A love story, a mystery, a history lesson, it's filled with interesting characters and lots of truth.

Quotes: {love that most Kindle books actually have page #'s}
p6 ~ ...rubbed her neck at the place where worry always sat when it was making itself at home.  [great visual]
p12 ~ cool word

p80 ~ 'nother cool word & I didn't know there was actually spelling for letters {this word is 'H'es}

p104 ~ Stay with the question.  The more it troubles you, the more it has to teach you.  In time, Maisie, you will find that the larger questions in life share such behavior.
p141 ~ There is nothing of which every man is so afraid, as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.
p145 ~ ...we are all a long time dead when we go, if you know what I mean.  This is our only ride on the merry-go-round.
p203 ~ Coincidence was a messenger sent by truth. {that's a Gibbs comment for sure}

fl: Even if she hadn't been the last person to walk through the turnstile at Warren Street tube station, Jack Barker would have noticed the tall, slender woman in the navy blue, thigh-length jacket with a matching pleated skirt sort enough to reveal a well-turned ankle.  ll: Well then, Billy--let's get on with it!

gt days 15 & 16

I am thankful for the opportunity to see Beauty and the Beast at the Palace Theater yesterday with the 'Madison Theater Club' {or whatever they call themselves.}  Quite an undertaking to organize 57 people to see a play.  It was much fun & Lydia curled my hair {kinda felt like Nellie Olsen <3 being="being" caused="caused" for="for" got="got" home="home" it="it" late="late" me="me" miss="miss" nbsp="nbsp" p="p" pretty="pretty" thankful="thankful" to="to" ut="ut" we="we" which="which" yesterday.="yesterday.">
I have a yesterday and today thankful too.  Helen handed me a glass jar of real cow's milk {STRAIGHT FROM THE COW} (and, yes, I KNOW that milk from the store is real cow's milk.}  I forgot to drink it yesterday, so I got to enjoy it at lunch today.  Kinda like drinking whole milk {which it is}  QUITE YUM.

Today I am thankful for my red cowboy boots.  They are adorable & made me smile every time I looked at my feet today.

gt day 14

Today I am thankful for run club.  After a pretty sleepless night (the benedryl is no longer working),  the last thing I wanted to do today was run.  But, because Cheryl was counting on me, I suited up...and, of course, it was just what I needed.  Four miles later I felt much better.  I really needed to go for a run!  Yea for ARC!

trying to be thankful day 13

Probably the crappiest day this year.  I started to type 'of my career'; that's  not so true.  But it certainly is up there.  So Madison is rated Excellent with Distinction, but the special ed subgroup at the middle school did not meet the state's benchmark.  Today was the staff meeting where the guy from the state came to tell us what we have to do as a staff.  The whole meeting felt like a punch in the gut.  It's so frustrating to work so hard...and fail.  And to have your principal say those exact words about you (really aimed at the sped/math staff) at a staff meeting.  Today was a first.  I couldn't stop the tears.  Couldn't talk about it most of the day.  I was really the first time that I really had the thought, "I don't want to teach any more."  That's a frightening place for me.  I don't just love my job.  I am a teacher.
Today I have to be thankful for my students.  I just went in my room, closed the door and taught.  They do what I ask them to do.  Try, for the most part.  And are fun to be around.  For reminding me why I do what I do, I am thankful for my students.

gt day 12

I am thankful for benedryl.  My poor Fonzi dog has been itching & scratching and, the worst part (because I'm a terrible person) keeping me up all night long.  I started giving him benedryl ~and it's working!  Thank goodness.
I'm reminded of this because he's sitting here licking and scratching...and I need to go get him his meds ( wrapped in yellow cheese) and go read my book...which is my favorite part of the day!

gt day #11

Today was a beautiful day in Ohio (so we drove to PA...but more on that later).  It was in the 70's, and after church I did fall clean up in my much neglected gardens, and Mike took his very fancy, fancy brand name leaf blower (I would included the brand name if it actually meant enough to me to remember, but it's a good name)  Sometimes, when I look at my yard and my house I am so totally amazed that those two young & stupid in love college kids now are successfully (crossing fingers here) raising two kids, holding down good jobs, living in an amazing home that Mike redid with his own two hands.  I am truly amazed by what we have built together.  I am beyond blessed and forever thankful.
And in PA today I bought myself a pair of red cowboy boots.  <3 p="p" them.="them.">

gt day 10

Today I am thankful for my children.  I'm still amazed that I've raised such good smart children.  I am blessed.

gt #9

I took the day off of school to attend Betty's funeral.  It was a touching service which ended with Pastor Tom saying, "I like to think that on Monday morning at five am, Smitty drove this Model T to collect his sweetheart and take her to heaven.  Life can be the fairy tale we want it to be.  And for that I am thankful.

gt day 8

Went to calling hours for Betty Smith today.  Betty has been a mainstay in our lives since we first moved to Thompson back in 1992.  Her grandson, Adam is one of my favorite students ever.  Brian and Jason are two of Mike's all time favorite students.  I've always wanted to be like Betty.  She just loves you and tells you what's what.  {however, as Mike so lovingly pointed out, Betty could take it as well as dish it out...I'd have to learn to take it if I want to be like Betty.} She finally is at home, where she's really wanted to be since her Smitty died some 15+ years ago.  I know she's celebrating, but I'm going to miss her.  So I'm thankful that I knew Betty and that I got to see Adam {fresh back from Germany for the funeral} and that the Smiths have been a part of my life.

gt #7

Today is a day where I've had to really think about what I'm thankful for.  It's been one of those days.  I had tons of paperwork to do at school (some due to procrastination ~ don't judge)  some personal issues (I'm not a nice person) and a long day (conferences)  just made for a day not to be too thankful for.  However, by the end of the evening I was feeling pretty proud of myself.  I wrote 2 IEP's today.    TWO!   Yes, I will need to proof and revise, but the hard work is done.  So I am thankful for the three and  half hours I was forced to be at school today because I got so much work done.

#31 and gt day #6

Today I am thankful for a number of things:  #1  My brother, Bob is flying into Cleveland for meetings and has time to come and visit us here in Madison.  I haven't seen him since April, so it will be great to spend some time together.  I also heard that Mitt Romney and Joe Biden will also be at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport around the same time he's landing, so I hope he is able to get in and out quickly!  Which brings me to #2 I am SOOOOOOO thankful that it's election day {no school ~ so I had a clandestine rendeavu with my loving husband at McDonald's} and the political ads will END.  No more recorded phone calls.  No more annoying political commercials {here come the Christmas ones}. No more debating.  It's OVER.  #3  The SUN IS SHINING and #4 I RAN OUTSIDE.  Life is grand.

Also, I finished book #31 ~ Nora Roberts The Next Always (Book one of The Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy).  I've never read Nora Roberts and I think I've finally found my go-to summer read author.  I love a good, happy story where the good guys are good and the bad guys always get what's coming to them.  It's what you would expect in a romance that includes a ghost living in the old Inn.  Don't expect great literature ~ but it's much better written than Twilight or Shades of Grey!  Of course book two is not available from the library on Kindle, so I had to place a hold on the actual book {OH NO}, and book three comes out this week ~ so I'm number 277 in the hold line on that one.
fl: The stone walls stood as they had for more than two centuries, simple, sturdy, and strong. ll: Her boys--and his--their boys let out whoops and cheers, and ran toward him with dogs barking at their heels.

gt day 5

Today I am thankful for a husband who is up for anything.  Today is our first YOGA class.  I have wanted to take a yoga class because I think it will be good for me as a runner.  I think many of my injuries are due to a weak core (and why would I want to do core work on my own?) and lack of flexibility.  So the secretary and I decided to sign up for a class.  and she bailed.  and Mike said he'd do it with me.  We missed class #1 because we had to work bingo last Monday, so we go in a class late, not knowing what we're doing and I'm afraid I'll fart.  I told Mike that, as a man, it's his responsibility to claim my farts, but I don't think he bought it.  Nevertheless, I'm so thankful not to have to do this alone, even if I have to claim my own.

gt #4

Today I am thankful for memories.
On our way to church this morning, I look back at the kids and Patrick is playing his DS.  "Are you playing Pokemon?"  I ask.
"yep" ~ and we just laugh.  Oh the memories of my little boys playing Pokemon on their DS's in the car.
We reminisced about the time Jacob, sitting in the seat playing Pokemon, said, "We have to go back."
"Jacob, we're not going back."
"We have to go back."
"Why?"
"I forgot my pants."
Sure enough the kid was sitting there in his boxer shorts.  We went back.

And then we pulled into the church parking lot.  Mike says, "Save your game."  And Patrick replies, "A little late to be of any good."  True enough.  Mike would say that every week as we pulled into Thompson, not the parking lot.  Oh the tears, "I can't save, I'm in the middle of a battle."
Time flies, but we are left with the best memories.

giving thanks day 3

Today I am thankful for the sunshine that is trying its hardest to peek out from behind the gray clouds.  I think it's been well over a week since I've actually seen the sun.  And I miss it.  Even though it's only 40 degrees outside, it makes me want to get out there and soak some up.
Thank you, Lord, that there is always sunshine after the storm.  Even if you have to wait a long time for it, there is always the promise that it will come.

giving thanks day 2

Today I am thankful for finally getting to see The Hunger Games.  Girton and I planned on going together...but, life got in the way.  Mike is headed to the Cavs game and my bright idea was to borrow Gracie's copy and have a movie night.  I mentioned it to Chris today at work, and she can make it.  I am excited.

#30

David Baldacci's Split Second is book #30 ~ here on the first day of November {the official give thanks month}  And I am Thankful for a great book on my Kindle.  This is a library book...{How do you check out a digital book...it's m*A.g*i.C}  This one kept me guessing and thinking and trying to put the pieces together.  I was very happy that it was good, because the only other Baldacci I've ever read was Christmas Train...and that {despite the fact that I wanted to ride the train} was a really poorly written book.  I will give Baldacci a third chance...and he sure has a lot to pick from!
fl: It only took a split second, although to Secret Service agent Sean King it seemed like the longest split second ever.  ll: And they officially clinked glasses on it.

Run Log: October 2012

Running.  With XC ending & my motivation lacking, it's been hard to get into a routine.  A routine that is not RUSHED to be more!  The goal of running 3 times a week has been hard to do.  I get out there and want to see if I can do 4...4.5...I've had to stop myself from doing more than that.  My foot is NOT 100% {in fact, it now hurts on the arch...since playing in the student/teacher volleyball game?!?} But it doesn't hurt to run {but I can feel it} Run club has met twice {hurricane Sandy'ed out yesterday} and that has been good.  We've had a good turn out for our newly named ARC {average run club ~ or BARK if you want to be below average}We've even had a dog.
Ran a race & placed first in the old lady group :)
And did run more than September...so I'm still moving in the right direction.  Trying to see if maybe I might just run the Cleveland Half in May...possibly.

October's totals:
45 miles for the month 
572 miles for the year
0 biking miles for the month
347.5 biking miles for the year
291.5 miles in my now retired {but still worn around the yard} red & blue Asics
62 miles in my not as shiny blue Asics...

Some interesting facts:
Longest run this month: 4.5 miles 
Favorite place to run this month: ?  Bike path in Geneva?  Run Club around Chimney Ridge?  NOT the treadmill @ the Y ~ but I have run there this month.
# of bags of Candy Cane Kisses left in my cabinet: ZERO But I bet I buy some before November is over!
# of books I read this month: Three ~ and I love my Kindle ~ and, to sound like a grandma, I totally don't understand HOW this works...but I can check books out of the library digitally.  I don't know what happens on the due date.  Do they just disappear or do I get charged if I don't return them?  I returned my first book before the due date, but I have three checked out right now, and there is NO way I'm going to get them all read before they are due.  I'll keep you posted.
Monthly mileage record: 80.5 miles March 2012
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  13.1 miles ~ May 16, 2010 (Cleveland 1/2) 


PR's:
5K: 22:45 (Rabbit Run 10/30/11~ but I think it was a short course)
10K: 52:02 (Cleveland 5/15/11)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:55:04 (Cleveland 5/16/10)
marathon: 3:50:05 (Akron relay {team run} 9/24/11)

Wild Wonderful Weekend

 Sometimes you get those moments when all is good & everything is rolling your way.  As Bruce Springsteen so wisely wrote, "Hard times come and hard times go; hard times come and hard times go, just to come again."  This was a week of blessings and a weekend where hard times go.  I know they will come again, but  if you don't celebrate the good times, what's the point of having them.
Before I go into the weekend, here's my Facebook post from Thursday:
I am blessed.
I work at an amazing place that CELEBRATED EXCELLENT WITH DISTINCTION today at a WHOLE district pep rally ~ in 80 degree sunshine (in Ohio, in October)
I got to watch both my boys perform on the football field with the best high school band in the land.
I got to tour the soon-to-be new middle school. (tried to pick my room & write my name on the wall, but couldn't find a sharpie)
I celebrated a FANTASTIC cross country season with an amazing group of 35 kids and their thoughtful & supportive families.
AND I came home to clean kitchen (you should have seen it when I walked out the door) I have a gem of a man for a husband.
Life is good.
And sometimes it just gets better.
Friday night we watched the last football game ~ ending Patrick's marching career, but it was in the rain...so I wasn't so sad!  Then we went to Cassidy's to hang with Le Jeder ~ Janice is a true groupie ~ as they spent the weekend performing in Geneva and Cassidy's house party.  Unfortunately, I had to miss the house party, because I had to travel to Pittsburgh to see BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN for the ninth time.  Kirsten & I sent off, shopped at Ikea, changed our clothes in a church parking lot {close to the hood} ~ really funny FUNNY story, but not one to share here ~ went to the Marriott to have a drink pre-show, and ran into an old friend from college.  Such a small world moment.  Then we go to the show.  I know our seats are behind the stage, but I don't care.  We sat there before & you can see everything & there are always screens to see what you can't.  I usually have to watch the screens wherever I am since we're most often pretty far away.  We walk in, hand our tickets to Robert (the friendly usher), who, instead of walking UP the rows, walks us DOWN the rows, and down the rows and down the rows to the FOURTH ROW behind the stage.  There were three rows, a gap of 10 feet & then the E Street Horn Section.  HOLY COW.  We could see the entire stage, the faces of everyone on the stage, their expressions, the interactions, EVERYTHING.  AMAZING VIEW of the show.  And, as always, it was an amazing show.  I will share the set list & some pictures (Taken with my new iPhone, which I quickly have fallen in love with)

1. Don't Look Back
2. Candy's Room
3. The Ties That Bind
4. Streets of Fire
5. Hungry Heart
6. We Take Care of Our Own
7. Wrecking Ball
8. Death to My Hometown
9. My City of Ruins
10. Spirit in the Night
11. Pretty Flamingo
12. Talk to Me
13. Adam Raised a Cain
14. Because the Night
15. She's the One
16. Working on the Highway
17. Shackled and Drawn
18. Waitin' on a Sunny Day
19. The Rising
20. Bandlands
21. Land of Hope and Dreams

Encore

1. Racing in the Street
2. Born to Run
3. Glory Days
4. Light of Day
5. Dancing in the Dark
6. Tenth Avenue Freeze Out

My BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN History~ The Boss ~ I've seen him in concert at the Richfield Coliseum on the Born in the USA Tour July 9, 1984, The Tunnel of Love Express Tour March 14, 1988, The "Other Band" Lucky Town/Human Touch tour August 22, 1992; at The Gund Arena on the Reunion Tour November 14, 1999, The Rising Tour August 14, 2002; at The Wolstein Center (CSU) on the Devils and Dust Tour May 15, 2005, And at Quicken Loans Arena (same place as The Gund) on the Working on a Dream Tour November 10, 2009.  ~ where he played this song, just for me.  ~ at Quicken Loans Arena on the Wrecking Ball Tour April 12, 2012 (Best Show Ever) ~ at Consol Energy Arena, Pittsburgh, PA on the Wrecking Ball Tour October 27, 2012

Once again, an amazing show...

Then, Kirsten & I drove home (not an hour and a half...but two).  I was in bed just after 2:00 am.  Of course, with the way I've been {not} sleeping, I was up at 7:00.  The Barton Family Runners set off to Rabbit Run Theater for the second annual Rabbit Run.  A blustery, raining day, but not as cold as it was last year.  I did not repeat as second place female overall, but I did repeat as first place in my age group!  I ran it in 24:21  {details to follow when I find them on the internet}.  Patrick won for the family (22:34), followed by Jacob (22:38) & Mike (25.56) brought up the rear, making sure his whole family safely crossed the finish line.  AND, because costumes were encouraged {and I only need a slight reason} I ran in a pink tutu.  I felt like a running princess.

But the highlight of the weekend was the text Patrick got from his soccer coach:

"You've been named Academic All-State."

A positive ending to a roller-coaster season.

#29

#29 is Spoiled Rotten by Mary Jackman a Liz Walker Mystery ~ #1.  I don't think I'll be reading #2.  This is my first digital library checkout.  {SERIOUSLY, you can check out a book ONLINE ~ and it mysteriously shows up on my Kindle.  Poof.  It's there.  I wonder what happens after 21 days.  Does it just poof and vanish? or do I get fines until I return it?  I won't find out with this one because I'll be returning it...but I wonder.  I know I shouldn't be so amazed at this technology.  But, truly, I do not understand it.  It seems like magic...maybe even black magic.}
Spoiled Rotten is about Liz and her restaurant and a murder or 3.  It lacks character development.  Really, the guy who rents her a room just decides to drive her to her next destination and then comes to visit a week later?  Maybe it's just me, but I didn't get the immediate friendship connection.   "They kiss, but they both know they'll just be friends."  How do they know that?  And after meeting once, they detective is madly in love...but nothing comes of it, we learn at the end, because his wife just didn't understand.  How is there all of a sudden a WIFE & Liz takes it so nonchalantly? It's also full of grammatical mistakes and sentence fragments.  Like she bypassed the editor all together.  I did not make note of them all, because it was so bad, I almost stopped reading.
I do have two quotes:
page 11 ~ Lord of the dingalings  {What a GREAT phrase!}
page 102 ~ he was oddly consistent and consistently odd.

fl: At 8:00 a.m. my day was well under way.  ll: I had a bowl of congnac in front of me soon to be consumed and was contentedly watching the happy customers while jazz murmured softly in the background and the cat was playing with a ....CHEQUE, PLEASE!

I think my life is funny

Went to a workshop on Advanced Co-Teaching {I capitalized it because it's a TITLE ~ and it's ADVANCED}. I carpooled with a fellow co-teacher {who happens to be a fellow}.  On the way there:

Him: I'm going to ask you something rather rude.

Me: (a tad nervous...I mean I know him pretty well...but when someone ACTUALLY says they are going to be rude) Ok...

Him: I think I'm going to ditch you for lunch.  My dad works right up the street at the police station.

Me: Ok, I'll just eat with the other people at the workshop.

Him: Can I take your car?

Me: (rather relieved that I didn't have booger hanging out of my nose) That's fine.  Don't wreck it.

And so we go to the workshop and learn all sorts of amazing and wonderful things and now I'm an even better teacher than before.  {Actually there was so much information and ideas it was a little overwhelming to think I've been co-teaching all these years and still have so much to learn!}  Lunch comes and the ladies go out to eat and Him takes my car to visit his dad.  We return to the workshop & get more information & more information & more information.  About 2:00 Him leans over and says:

Him: Don't be mad.

Me: What?

Him: There's a gun in your car.

Me: WHAT!?!

Him: Actually there are guns in your car.

Me:  I'm going to jail.  {Don't really know why I thought I'd go to jail...I don't know if you can just drive around with guns in your car.  What the hell?  He's got guns in my car.}

I do a mental flip out...but at some point I realize that I'm probably not going to get arrested as no one really knows I have guns in my car unless I start showing them to people {WHICH I WON'T DO}.  Then, as we start to walk out to the car with the contraband in it:

Him: Actually, there are guns and knives and a hand grenade in your car.

Me: You're not my friend anymore.

He hops in the car & I put my stuff in the back seat.  As I open the driver's door, he's got a gun pointed at me...an OBVIOUSLY plastic toy gun.  What a dork.  His dad gave him a box of toys for his kid & he's got me freaked out most of the afternoon.

That was Wednesday.  On Friday, I'm sitting at lunch and another co-teacher {who is now also ADVANCED in the craft} says:

Her: So, is your car ok?

Me: What are you talking about?

Her: Well, did you look at your car?

Me: I think it's ok, {I drove it to work that day}WHY?

Her:  Well, people said it hit something.

Me: What?  I didn't see any damage?  Who hit something?

Her: People said that it had white paint on it after Him drove it.

Me: Oh, that's just where I keep hitting my garage.  {because it's true}

But really?  They thought Him hit something with my car...and no one said anything.  Come to think of it, I think I will just blame that spot on Him.  Way to wreck my car when I was being nice to you and all.