A Dearybury Of A Day

Happy Anniversary

2012-03-01T10:04:00.008-05:00

On March 1st, 2010 when I took that first step down Cool Water Ct., I am confident that I had no idea what I was doing. I was wearing a pair of worn out New Balance sneakers that were scuffed on the sides to the point that the Chinese made foam which made the puffy rim of the shoe was exposed to all things America. My 100% cotton socks were already wet from sweat because I had worn them all day, and my legs wanted to hide their winter nakedness rather than be exposed to the warm spring sun. Yet, I went anyway...

The shirt was no microfiber, wicking, aerodynamic masterpiece. It was some .99 cent Goodwill special I pulled out of my "mission trip" clothing drawer because I didn't want to mess up my good clothes. The shorts were a pair of too tight, size 31 basketball shorts that I pillaged from my roommates bottom drawer. I was a size 36. I was no athlete. Never had been. Never wanted to be. This clothing was as foreign to me as a steak is to a vegan. Yet, I went anyway.

Something drove me out there in spite of my clothing inadequacies. I am not sure if it was the desire to look fit in my bathing suit that summer, the need for healthier habits, the desire to eat a Krispy Kreme without worrying over the calories, or a combination of all of those topped with a dose of curiosity. Curiosity of could I really do this; Could I really change the outward appearance of myself to match the fun, excited, out going person that lie beneath the pounds that hid me??? Fearful and full of self doubt... Yet, I went anyway.

2 years later as I type this blog and think about the wonderful journey that started as I trotted off down my street that day, I cannot help but be overwhelmed by the Amazing Grace that has carried me every step. I did indeed change that outward appearance, but more importantly the inside changed as well. Once insecure, unworthy, and defeated, I now feel empowered, victorious, and confident. It's almost surreal to think how this new person, that had been there all along, emerged as a result of that first mile on March 1, 2010. I'm so glad I went.

Happy Anniversary to me!!!

Reflective Vest

2012-02-29T23:32:00.001-05:00

Tonight in the middle of nowhere in Aiken county, my old college buddy Chris and I did a six mile run around 9:15. The last mile greeted us with a downpour. It was a great run. The air was a bit muggy, but the atmosphere made for a perfect run. I honestly felt like I could have gone on forever.

Congrats to Chris for having his first 6 miles under 50 minutes. It could have been the dogs around mile 2 that sped him up. Or, it could have been that he was afraid the rain would melt him during mile 5. For all you worriers about night running, fear not. Chris was wearing his protective reflective vest for all 4 cars we passed out here in this abandoned land. The dogs and lightning were much more of a threat.

Dessert

2012-02-28T21:33:00.001-05:00

Can you guess which one I had for dessert???

Plankin' WIth Sophie

2012-02-26T17:16:00.000-05:00

Name That Toe

2012-02-21T20:02:00.003-05:00

A great friend of mine has told me more than once that I am the happiest person she knows. When she says it, I take it as the best compliment. I then chuckle inside because I know how "un" happy I can get sometimes... I get made when the underdog is mistreated... Lord help me if there is an injustice occurring and I am nearby... And just forget it if someone is being disrespectful to a service employee at a restaurant.

That said though, most of the time I am a happy person. I enjoy life. I am alive, life is short, and I don't want to waste one moment of it in a toxic waste dump. I am learning more and more everyday how to take the lemons and squeeeeeeze the heck out of them to make that ever so sweet lemonade! It hasn't always been that way for me, but the older I get the easier and much more necessary it becomes.

Take this toe for example...

To you this may look like the toe of someone who is a few fries short of a happy meal. It may appear that I was entertaining myself in the Podiatrist office. It may even seem like I was creating friend for conversation. Regretfully, these stories are not the truth.

True story... I am trying to make the best of a bad situation. As a result of the marathon on Saturday I experienced what is known as a Subungual Hematoma... AKA: Runner's Toe. Calm down. It's nothing major. It sounds horrific, but it is basically just a bruise under the toenail from the constant pounding while running. They usually heal on their own, but often times the toenail is lost. You can't really tell from this picture because he just got out of an hour long Epsom Salt bath, but the nail is very dark in color; a brownish blackish color.

It wasn't hurting too badly, until a kid slammed his foot down on it today at recess. He didn't mean to, but it hurt so bad it brought tears to my eyes. I have never had to restrain my words quite like I did at that moment. Thankfully the salt bath did him well, but he is still a goner in a few days.

To make the best of this bad situation, and to continue to be a happy person, I decided to draw a face on the toenail for his last few days with me... The only thing is... I needed help naming him. Any ideas?

Here's to lemonade!

Recovery

2012-02-20T20:16:00.007-05:00

When you run 26.2 miles your body needs time to heal. The muscles tear, the glycogen is depleted, and energy is zapped. Most people take anywhere from a few days to several weeks off before hitting the pavement again. After marathon number 2 in November I waited 2 days before getting back out there, and I seemed to do pretty well. I am debating even as I type if I will head out tomorrow after school. The drive and motivation to run will most likely win tomorrow about 3:30ish.

Once you get in the routine of running it so hard to respect and observe the recovery time needed for your body to heal, yet it is so crucial to the next race. I always make sure to have a massage within a day or two of the race. I went today for my normal post marathon hour, and let me say... OUCH! It was more like an hour in a medieval torture chamber than a healing massage. My muscles were a mess! More than once I screamed...ok, maybe not a scream, but it was a definite bellow of extreme discomfort. The only thing that made me enjoy it was that I knew it was helping me for my next run. Of course this was expected after 26.2 miles, but that did not diminish the pain any less. Regardless of the pain, I remained in that euphoric state of happiness with my accomplishment Saturday.

The recovery just adds to the high. It let's me know that I worked hard, achieved an amazing feat, and helps me to look forward to the next big run! Maybe a 50K or 50 miler is in my future yet....who knows?

Myrtle Beach Marthon Moments

2012-02-19T20:58:00.002-05:00

I still can't believe I ran my 3rd marathon yesterday. The feeling of completing the first one was amazing, but the third was equally awesome! I cannot imagine this ever getting old. The thrill of the race morning, waking at 4:30AM to shove down bagels and peanut butter, being surrounded by runners who are experiencing the same grueling task and pain as you, hearing cow bell after cow bell as you pass by cheering onlookers...there is just nothing like it! Yesterday's race was just a thrill from the beginning. Here is recap as best I remember.

Start line: The announcers blew a fuse and the mics went dead about 1 minute before the start. We were all awaiting a count down when all of a sudden a loud cannon fired. In the blink of an eye the race was under way!

Mile 1-4 was kind of a blur... It usually is when I am running a longer race. It is during this time that I am trying to get my pace settled in and smooth out the breathing. I do remember lots of people on the streets saying, "looking good." My only thought to them was, "Duh, we just started...check me out at mile 23!"

Mile 5 I was very humbled. I past by one of the crank chair participants. Those men and women are amazing athletes. They complete the entire race from a bike/chair that is propelled by cranking pedals with the hands. I cannot imagine how difficult this is, yet they make it look so easy.

Mile 6 I had my first family sighting. It is so good to have fans to cheer you on. It gives your brain something to look forward to each mile because you never know where and when they will be waiting to cheer.

Mile 7 I was headed towards the Grand Strand, and I passed a friend of mine who was back at mile 5.5. It was neat to actually see someone else I knew running during the middle of the race.

Mile 8 started on the main drag at Myrtle Beach known as the Grand Strand. It was so cool to be able to run right down the middle of that street. Lord knows I have driven up and down it a 1,000 times. It was a whole new perspective.

Mile 10- I felt a nasty blister forming on the front arch of my left foot. I immediately began kicking myself for not getting the new shoes I needed 3 weeks prior to run. I just got busy and didn't do it.

Mile 11- Some lady yelled out that she liked my red shoes. It got my mind off the blister.

Mile 12 The dreaded split... This is the moment that has been the hardest for me in all 3 marathons. It is the split where all those running the half marathon turn to go to the finish and you realize you are not even half way through. There is a huge mental battle that takes place with me right there. To make it even worse, the volunteers at this point always say... "You're half way there. Keep going! What made this spot special though was that this was family sighting number 2!!! They must have know I would need them there!

Mile 13.1 Half way point... Time was 1:30:40. I was feeling good, but knew that I had to focus to to get to the finish. I still had a ways to go.

Mile 15 Some lady had a poster that said "Chuck Norris never ran a marathon!" I loved it! If you ever go to a marathon, make a sign. They really do entertain us while we are running.

Mile 16-19 I started to hear a group of feet behind me. At this point in the race it's not normal to hear a group. Runners have usually spread out by this point. I knew that this must be the 3:05 pace group. I originally signed up to run with this group but didn't. Sure enough, it was them. I held my own with them until mile 19ish, but just couldn't hang. It was here that I started to really fight that mental battle... Had I gone out too fast? Could I make it the last 7.2 miles without falling on my face? The worries quickly faded though as I saw my mom and Chuck jumping up and down in the street. Family sighting number 3 was perfectly timed! I finally took off my gloves and toboggan and hurled them their way as they cheered me on.

Mile 20 it was starting to get warm. Temperatures had to be in the 60's and the sun was warming me up pretty good. As I approached the water station, I yelled to to the first volunteer to throw the water in my face. His face lit up with excitement. He seemed more than happy to oblige; He, and every other volunteer in that tunnel of workers. When I emerged from that station I was SOAKED!!!!!! I panicked a bit that the water weighted shirt was gonna slow me down so I immediately pulled it off. I rung it out really good and decided to keep it off for a bit. Most people do not run a marathon shirtless, but I figured it was the best thing to do in the moment.

Mile 22 I heard a familiar sound. It was church praise band set up along the route encouraging runners as the forged ahead. They were singing the song Everlasting God. We have sung it many times at church. I had a moment as I ran by there. At mile 22 you are starting to just be slap worn out and with me, emotions abound. I burst into tears for at least the next half mile. It was a good soul cleansing cry though. No worries.

Mile 23 I got rejuvenated and had a little spurt of energy. I managed to get my shirt back on. I passed a couple of runners that I remember had passed me when the 3:05 pace group went by. I felt pretty good about that and tried to start pushing.

Mile 24 I realized there was not a lot left to push. I wanted to so badly. I tried...but the legs just wouldn't go.

Mile 25-26 I was able to hold a respectable 8:30ish pace as I entered the last stretch. During this time you start to pass other finished racers along the sides. They are proudly wearing their medals and eating bananas and doughnuts. They are walking back to their cars, cheering you on, basking in their finish of the half marathon, and you simply want to smack that doughnut out of their hands. While you appreciate their cheers, you are just ready to be done!

26.1-26.2 I entered the finish corral and made the last turn. The finish line was in sight, and so was family. This was the first of the 3 marathons that I actually saw them as I finished. I ran over to the boundary and high fived my my mom. The clock said 3:10:45. I knew I had to hurry to keep it in the 3:10 time. Somehow... I did, 3:10:53!

As I have at every finish, I found the medal passer outter and told her that I had been looking for her for 26.2 miles. Even though I am sure they heard it a bazillion times, they laughed at me like I was the first one to say it. I quickly found the Krispy Kreme doughnuts and inhaled one, along with 2 pints of chocolate milk, 2 bottles of water, an orange, and a bagel.

We took some photos. Then, just as quickly as we started, it was over and the Waffle House and the All-Star Special was before me as I settled into the euphoric afterglow that follows a wonderfully awesome, painfully grueling 26.2 miles! I can hardly wait til the next one!

Myrtle Beach Marathon

2012-02-18T21:33:00.001-05:00

My "Love" Of Running

2012-02-13T00:00:00.001-05:00

In honor of the big day Tuesday a running blog I follow is having a contest for runners who blog. The entry form? A simple blog with 10 things that I love about running.

1. It keeps me healthy. Who knows how big I would have gotten by now if my feet hadn't met the pavement?

2. It is focus time. Helps me reflect on my day and spend some time getting things straight!

3. It has helped me meet lots of amazing people!

4. I have been places I would have never been other wise. There are roads I have passed a 100 times in a car that I have never been down. My feet love those roads!

5. It is contagious. I have many friends who were nonrunners before I started who are now runners!

6. It gives me a reason to buy shoes. I love the crazy colored ones!

7. Pizza!

8. The soreness. I know this is weird to most of you, but the soreness lets me know that I worked hard and my body is reaping the healthy benefits.

9. I like the attention. Who doesn't? People think I am crazy when I tell them I run 26.2 miles for fun. I love to watch their reactions. Makes me want that ultra all the more. (An ultra is anything past 26.2)

10. It reminds me every time I go how blessed I am and how thankful I am to have my health and the ability to be active. Lots of people would love to run!

Before You Speak

2012-02-12T17:31:00.007-05:00

... imagine yourself in their shoes.

... imagine you have their problems.

... think of what the Lord has done for you.

... think about how you didn't deserve His grace.

... think about how He loves/loved/will always love you in spite of yourself.

... think of what He would say.

James 1:19 says to "Be quick to listen and slow to speak."

Whitney Houston

2012-02-11T20:24:00.004-05:00

I do not post about anything pop "culturey" here, but I just felt compelled to post these tonight.I cannot judge anyone, because I have never walked in their shoes. As the news broke about her death, I immediately saw some harsh tweets and outrageous statuses that shocked me. She is now free from all the mess. RIP Whitney Houston.

Modern Marathoner

2012-02-10T22:35:00.000-05:00

Marathons

2012-02-09T22:06:00.002-05:00

No, I am not talking about the 26.2 kind tonight. That will be next week as I gear up for the Myrtle Beach Full. I am talking about a TV marathon. I don't remember these growing up, but it seems that they have really become common place over the last few years.

I must admit that I LOVE a TV marathon. It really doesn't matter what the show is; if I get hooked, I am there as long as I can stand it. I ashamed to tell you the list of marathons that I have gotten sucked into lately. It usually happens on a Saturday after a long run when I am tired and in a lazy mood. I know that is not an excuse that would justify me watching 5 hours of the Kardashians, but it has happened. Doggone... I told you that. I wasn't supposed to.

I live in the real world... I know there are others of you who get sucked into these just like me. You are most likely just as ashamed to tell that you watched 7 episodes of Hoarders in a row! That is one of my favorite marathons to waste a day with. Others I like are:

1. Law & Order (Any of the 500 they have.)

2. Deadliest Catch

3. Clean House

4. Cake Boss

5. America's Next Top Model (LOL!!!!! NOT... Just seeing if you are reading!)

What are some TV marathons that you have been sucked into?

It's Not How You Finish, It's How You Start!

2012-02-08T21:24:00.002-05:00

Go ahead and read that title again... It doesn't say what you think.

Today as I was running, I was thinking about finishing as I often do when running after a long hard day of work. I do love to finish a race strong. There is nothing like finishing a run in a full sprint. It tells me that even when I am tired and dragging that I can still find some strength within to step it up for one final push. The only way that I can finish the race strong though, is directly related to how I started. If I start out in a full sprint, running a 5 minute mile, there is no way that I can hold that pace for many miles. I would grow weary, my muscles would be beat, and my lungs would be on fire. I would not have the stamina to finish the race that still laid ahead of me. The start of the race is indeed just as important as the finish.

When I was growing up it seemed that I heard this phrase often; "It's not how you start, but how you finish that counts." It is a great statement that encourages us to forget our past mistakes and press on towards the finish without any hindrance. While I understand the statement, and agree with its meaning, I am convinced since becoming a teacher, and now a runner, that the beginning of anything is directly related to the finish.

If the foundation of training for a race or the lifelong journey of education is missing key cornerstone pieces, the finish is sure to be miserable. Try learning algebra without first learning addition...Try learning to write a thesis without first learning to read... Try to explain world history without first learning that you live on planet Earth... Try running a marathon without first putting in the hard work and building up those legs. All of these things would surely end in a horrible mess regardless of how strong you finished them.

A good start is crucial and vital to a strong finish. Next time you blaze a new trail or begin a new adventure, think about that start. It does matter. A good foundation will help make your strong finish all the better.

iPad Blogging

2012-02-07T21:25:00.001-05:00

About 2 months I go I received an iPad from some very generous donors at DonorsChoose.org for my classroom. I was ecstatic to get it, and now I am hooked. I want a whole class set of them. Hopefully that is gonna happen soon. We will see.

I have had to spend a lot of time getting apps downloaded for the class. There are some great apps out there, but I want to learn how to create my own. I am currently enrolled in an email class where I learn how to write HTML code and maybe I can teach myself how to create an app.

I am actually using the iPad to blog tonight. It is different, but it's like anything else...it takes time and practice to get used to. Just in the time that I have been typing this blog my typing has gotten faster. I was just exiling away with one finger and now I am going like faster like on a regular keyboard. The only thing I don't like about it is this particular blogging app I downloaded. I think I am going to find another one.

See y'all tomorrow!

Super Bowl

2012-02-05T19:45:00.002-05:00

In honor of the big game, here are my favorite things to put in a bowl!

1. Honey Nut Cheerios- I have a had at least one bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios everyday since November of 2009. I am addicted. I have driven to the store at 6 in the morning to get some more when I realize that I am out.

2. My favorite meal at the daycare I used to go to was Tomato soup with saltines and burnt cheese toast. I had this for dinner just yesterday!

3. Since I became a runner, I love all things pasta. My favorite is ice cold pasta salad with salami. My friend Pam Ray makes the best!

4. My favorite flavor right now is blueberry followed closely by strawberry. I could go for a bowl right now!!!

5. A few years ago my friend Kim Lord made Chicken Chili for dinner. She invited me over, and I have been a huge fan since. I can't make it like she does though. I think she puts her foot in it! Doggone it is GOOD!

Number 3

2012-02-04T22:10:00.003-05:00

2 weeks from today I will run my third marathon in Myrtle Beach. I am beyond excited to run another one. It seems like yesterday that I was running number 2 in Savannah. I had my last 20 mile training run today in preparation of the big day. Below are a few random things that happened today as I pressed on through the 20 miles.

Mile 1- Some homeless man yelled at me that my form wasn't right. He said I needed to get my legs up.

Mile 4- I accidentally lost my gum. I was breathing through my mouth and out came the gum. I juggled it around a bit but ultimately it hit the ground.

Mile 8- It started to mist pretty heavily and my glasses got all blurry.

Mile 10- I shouted out loud that I was half way through and some lady in her yard looked at me like I was crazy. She should have heard me having a conversation with myself at mile 11!

Mile 12- I had a bit of a coughing fit when I swallowed funny. You don't realize how many muscles you use to cough until they are all hurting from a long run. OUCH!

Mile 13- I ran through a special event in the YMCA parking lot. I felt like I was not supposed to be there. GladI was moving on.

Mile 15- Someone who knew me passed by and was just waving away, but I had no idea who it was because it was raining pretty good by that time. If it was you, tell me!

Mile 18- I jay"ran" for the humpteenth time. I just don't see standing there waiting if nothing is coming.

Mile 20.1- Finished in the Krispy Kreme parking lot where I started. The smell was fantastic, the light was on, but I stretched and went home!

BB's Baking Beauties

2012-02-02T22:12:00.002-05:00

Perspective

2012-02-01T21:25:00.004-05:00

The other day during class, my student teacher was trying to get the students to understand the meaning of the word perspective. She asked them each what they saw in front of them. Because all of the students were facing the teacher at the front of the room, most of their perspectives were the same. She then asked them to think about her perspective; did she see the same thing they did? The students quickly caught on and understood the concept that everyone's perspective is different. As they talked they realized that in actuality, their perspectives were a bit more different than they first thought. They started to realize that some of them saw the teacher's right side better than the left. Some saw the board at a different angle. They went on and on for a few minutes. My student teacher then reminded them, "while they all had different perspectives, they were all still in the same class and they were all in it together." The point was to let them learn that each perspective was needed to make our class the awesome place that it was.

I am not sure where you are as you read this. It may be nighttime or noon. It may be bright sunshine or a deluge of rain. You may be working in your cubicle or in the hammock enjoying the day off. You may be at the top of the mountain or deep in the valley. Regardless of where you are, know that just because your perspective may be different, there are 4 billion people spinning around this ball with you. You are not alone. The world needs you to make it a better place.

Waiting

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Isn't that a hard thing to do?

There are so many places we wait: the grocery store, the doctor's office, amusement parks, the bank, restaurants, on hold with technical support. The list could go on forever.

Then there are things we wait for: dinner to be done, the check in the mail, vacation time, birthdays, Christmas.

There are people we wait for: kids after school, friends who need to text us back, family coming over for dinner, those who are late for a meeting.

While all of these things are part of our daily lives, they are so minuscule compared to things that people are waiting on right now... the healing of a loved one, the safe return of family member from war, the return of a prodigal son or daughter, a job, the adoption to be finalized, emotional wholeness after years of abuse, deliverance from.... (you fill in the blank.)

During yesterday's church service I was reminded that waiting is part of the journey. We are all waiting for something, whether we realize it or not. It is what we do with the wait time that makes us who we are. I am waiting on whole long list of things. (Wouldn't you like a blog on those.) I know He has heard, hears, will hear all of my prayers, but while I am waiting, I will serve and worship the One who is in charge of all time and timing. Until then.... I will wait.

QR Codes

2012-01-29T00:00:00.000-05:00

Have you see these things around? They are called QR Codes. Click here to learn more about them. QR actually stands fro Quick Response.

Unless you have a Smart Phone, you have probably never paid these much attention. I have a Smart Phone and really just considered them a novelty for my awesome phone. I scanned a couple of them at amusement parks before and once at Chick-Fil-A, but never really thought about using them for anything else. Until now.

This week I found out that you can generate your own for free at this site:

http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ . Once you have your own QR Code, you can print it and stick where ever you want to drive people to your website of choice. As an educator, my mind began to go nuts with ideas for my classroom. Below this code are just a few of my ideas.

1. Copy and paste the code on to my class newsletter to remind parents about my class blog.

2. Create and post book review videos on YouTube, then print a QR code and put them on the books that go home for homework. Students will be able to go watch the video when they read.

3. When I start a new math unit, I can add a QR code to a note home to direct students to helpful math sites.

4. I saw online where some teacher made the codes and kept them in the room for kids to take home. She made different ones for all the web pages they used in class. Laminated them and the kids could take them.

5. Another guy online added a QR code to the back of his business card. I have to present at a conference in a few weeks and I will definitely have a few to pass out.

Can you think of any other ways to use? Let me know your thoughts. Oh, by the way, if you have the app on your phone that scans the codes, scan the one above. I know... I know... I am a dork, but I don't care!

Happy Weekend Run To Me!

2012-01-28T17:03:00.001-05:00

Dinner.

Dessert!

Follow me on Pinterest for these recipes. They are not my own, but I am sure gonna enjoy eating them!

Listen To Your Cone

2012-01-25T21:56:00.003-05:00

Tonight as I ate this delectable, 150 calorie, 3.5g of fat, bit of frozen goodness, I heard the cone speak. Here is what it said...

1. It's Not About You! The role of the cone is to hold up the ice cream. It is the feature of the movie and it is what everyone came to see! It is ok to be in a supporting role. Find your niche and get in it!

2. Be Supportive! Lift up those around you. Hold them up! You are much stronger than some. The ice cream is weak and needs you to make it strong. Without you lifting it up, it will fail!

3. You Might Start At The Bottom, But Eventually You Will Be At The Top! As the ice cream gives way to the constantly licking, you will be standing firm. While you started as a supporter, your time will come. You will eventually be on top! Keep faithful in the small supporting role and then you will rise!

4. You Are Important! The ice cream could not function without you. You ever see the results when someone tries to hold their ice cream without a cone? Don't ever let anyone tell you that you don't matter!

5. Good Things Come To Those Who Wait! Yep, everyone starts at the top. They dig into that ice cream and you just get left at the bottom. But, after lots of licking, the cone is there to finish off a wonderful snack. You will have your time! Don't worry about those who try to rush you... Patience is a good thing!

If you listened, you heard it speak too. I hope you will never eat ice cream the same again!

Attitude

2012-01-24T22:31:00.001-05:00

When most people hear the word attitude they probably think negative thoughts. I can immediately think of 3 sayings that people use on a regular basis that cast a negative light on the word attitude.

1. Lose the attitude!

2. Don't get an attitude with me!

3. He/She's gotta tude!

Unfortunately I have heard all those said to me at some point in time. All of them are anything but flattering for the word attitude or the receiver of the quote. They make it sound like if you have an "attitude" that you are just short of the plague and you deserve to be banished from creation...Ok, maybe not that bad, but negative vibes are implied.

Today however, I am writing this blog in hopes to give a public face lift to the word attitude. I want people to look others and say. "Get his attitude!" "Give me more of that attitude!" "I want an attitude like his!" I want people to have such a contagiously GREAT attitude that all of the negative vibes with that word turn into chaff and get blown away! I don't want to apologize for it, I don't want have to defend myself, I just want to ooze a POSITIVE attitude. The world is so full of junk and badness why can't I, right here on "Dearybury of a Day" lead the change? When I started this whole blog it was to make people laugh and encourage them. How better to do that than with a positive, contagious attitude?

Have you read this book? This is what started all this attitude talk. (Remember now, that word attitude is not bad. :o) I had to lead a faculty book talk about it. I rarely read as you frequent blog guests know, but something about this book got a hold of me. It changed my perspective on attitude. I read it in an hour, so you are probably able to finish in 30 minutes. I highly recommend it.

Not long after I led the book talk I met this guy, Ron Clark, who started one of the MOST AMAZING schools ever. Talk about a contagious POSITIVE attitude. Google him right now... No, YouTube it first, then Google! You will be changed, inspired, and want to start a school!

As if these 2 things did not impact me enough, my principal has gone nuts with helping us have a positive attitude. She has plastered quotes about good attitudes all over the building. Here are 2 of my favorites.

1. "Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you."

2. "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort!"

As of today, I am taking charge, and hopefully it won't annoy you. But, if it does, get over it and get a hold of it!

Ultimately though, this is my motivation...

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus."

Philippians 2:5

Am I annoying you yet? I hope so!

Easy Button

2012-01-23T19:54:00.003-05:00

If life really had an "easy button", when would you hit it? Today I think I would have hit it too many times and sent it into overdrive. It definitely was a Monday, but nothing a little positive attitude and an 8 mile run couldn't handle.

After I finished running, I posted this as my Facebook status: "I think my easy button musta done broke." It got me to thinking about all of the things that occur that make me want to smack an easy button. Here is a list I thought of.

1. On the morning when you can't find your keys and you over slept.

2. When the computer freezes up during the middle of a lesson and the administrator is in there watching.

3. When I cook something for a group of people and it completely fails.

4. Any time I am on the phone with customer service.

5. When I see that squirrel eating my cushion and I can't find the BB gun.

6. When I sit here blogging on January 23rd and I see my naked Christmas tree still staring at me... Don't judge!

7. When I sit here blogging on January 23rd and I know that there is one more naked tree in the front bedroom... Don't judge me again. LOL!

8. When I am on mile 16 of a marathon realizing there is 10.2 more to go!

9. When I realize I left the laundry in the washer and I have to rewash because it stinks.

10. When you are going out to dinner with friends and everyone is in the mood for "I don't know, I don't care, or It don't matter."

When are you gonna smack your button?

It's The Little Things

2012-01-22T20:32:00.003-05:00

I hear people say this all the time. Usually in reference to someone being thankful for something that seems so minuscule in the whole big picture of life. Often times when someone says it to me, it is said in a way to kind of mock what I am thankful for. I must hear it a lot to be authoring this post, but I was thinking about this topic on yesterday's run. I think if more of us would learn to be thankful for those "little things" it would make us even more grateful for the BIG things and change our perspective on EVERYthing.

I find myself looking for the little things to be thankful for. They will quickly change a bad attitude. They make me happy, they are usually easily done, and they hardly ever cost anything. You know the things I am talking about right? If not, here is list of "little things" I am thankful for.

1. I am thankful when I remember to put a new bar of soap in the shower before I am actually in there needing soap.

2. I am thankful for bedroom shoes.

3. I am thankful when I go to make copies of class newsletter and I pull out exactly 22 sheets of lime green paper.

4. I am thankful when I saved a piece of trash (ie: some empty container, lid, box, bottle, etc.) that someone ends up needing for some "Pinterest" or crafty idea.

5. I am thankful for little sticky notes of encouragement from friends.

6. I am thankful for having nail clippers in my pocket when someone has a hang nail.

7. I am thankful for getting done with a run right before the rain comes.

8. I am thankful when I have the exact change.

9. I am when I pour my cereal and I don't spill a piece!

10. I am thankful that good friends and family like to come to my house to eat sharp cheddar cheese and brown cows.

I am sure you have your own list if you will take a minute to think about it. It's kinda fun to think about all of them, and it's kinda hard to stop when you start!

Get Up And Go!

2012-01-21T20:40:00.005-05:00

This morning as I dug deep down into my covers there was a battle raging. I was scheduled for a 16 mile run, yet there were dark ominous clouds about to rupture right outside my window. Should I go or should I stay? Do I risk it and possibly trudge through 16 miles in sopping wet clothes and dodge lightning bolts or do I wait for the storms to pass and head out later?

I checked the radar on my phone and quickly realized that if I was going I had to go right then. The time was about 845. I jumped up, got my clothes on and headed out the door. I got to my starting point at about 9:20. The radar still looked very threatening, but the storms were still over Atlanta so I figured I had time. 16 miles takes me about 2 hours.

I headed out from Krispy Kreme. I know...a bit of irony huh? Who starts a 16 mile run at Krispy Kreme? I quickly got into my pace and settled in for the run. For those of you from Spartanburg, I ended up going all the way down to Floyd's Greenlawn Cemetery over at Hillcrest. I stopped by and paid my respects to my granddad and Maudie then turned back. At that point I was at 9 miles. The clouds still looked heavy but not one drop had fallen.

Thanks to a Christmas gift from my friend Matt, I was wearing a new running wallet. Since I actually had some money on me, I decided to stop by Chick-Fil-A for some water and a biscuit....plain, no butter. I knew this was a risk, but I was hungry. I stunk to high heaven! I am sure the people in there were praying it would rain on me so I could wash up! I inhaled the biscuit and took off.

When I got back outside the clouds seemed to have dropped. They hung low like a helium balloon that was just about to give out. I was getting a bit nervous that I would soon be a soggy runner. I tried to turn up the speed, but after 9 miles in hilly downtown Spartanburg I just didn't the speed. Endurance I have... speed is not always there.

I had 7 miles to go, dark clouds looming, the air was moist, people were looking at me like I was an idiot, my glasses were foggy, and I could not have been happier. Something about running against the elements heightens the fun of it all. I had some huge hills ahead of me, which would slow me a bit, but the last 3 miles would be flat. I kept on pounding!

Finally, the glowing hot and ready sign was on the horizon and the clouds were the darkest they had been. My GPS watch hit the 16 mile mark the moment my foot hit the parking lot. I toweled off my face, stretched and hopped in the car. The moment I got in, giant rain drops began to fall. Within a matter of minutes I could not see a thing because of the deluge that was pouring around me. I had just barely made it...but, I did make it! Shewww!!!

All the way home all I could think about was the timing of the whole morning. Had I literally spent 1 more second digging into those covers my run would have ended in a flood of rain. So glad I went when I did! Sometimes it pays to be patient, but sometimes you just gotta get up and go!

Wall Of Fame

2012-01-20T17:06:00.002-05:00

I never played sports when I was little. I disliked most of them, so none ever even interested me. I did succumb to pressure around 6th grade and embarrassingly struggled through little league baseball for a season. It was awful. I cried before every practice, I looked like a porker in the uniform, and the only girl in the league was on my team, and she was way better than me. They put me so far out in right field that I only touched the ball once all season. I did manage to get a hit one game. They told me after the inning was over that I should have stopped at 1st, but I somehow made it all the way to 3rd without getting out. At the end of the season I received the complimentary, self-purchased, want everyone to feel good, unearned trophy. (That is a whole other blog.) Who knows where it is today?? I am sure I held on to it for a long time before it ended up in the landfill. I never really earned it so I guess it didn't mean that much.

Now that I am all grown up, and over the bitterness (haha, not really huh?) that was little league, I finally have my "trophies" that I am so proud of. Below you see a pic of my "Wall of Fame." This is a wall in my guest bedroom that has a picture of me from every race I have run, along with my medals and race bibs. When I look at this wall I just beam with pride. Not in a boastful arrogant way, but in a humble, wow, look what the Lord has allowed me to do way. Every race has a tale behind it and this wall is a real life story book that I can go read and remember all the cool things that I have done and who I have done them with. There are pics of my family at the finish line, students I have run races with, and even a pic of one of my pastors covered in mud! You want your pic up there? Sign up and run a race with me. I would love to add you to my wall!

Kidblog.org

2012-01-19T18:09:00.003-05:00

I am not sure how many of my readers are teachers. I think the ones I work with probably avoid my blog like they plague because they hear me ramble on at school all the time. But if you are a teacher, here is a site that you need to know about. It is called kidblog.org. I ran across this the other night as I was catching up on twitter. A teacher that I follow from Colorado tweeted that she did this with her 6th graders.

I have wanted to try blogging with my 3rd graders for a while now, so I checked the site out. It is VERY user friendly for both teachers and students. You do not have to be tech nerd to figure it all out (although I am). I sat down and created student accounts and passwords in about 5 minutes. Next I printed up cards for each student to have with the website, username and their own password. I must admit I was a little hesitant about teaching this in our school computer lab. Sometimes a lesson like this, coupled with a bunch of kids who may or may not be listening given the time of day and the fullness of the moon, can crash in burn in a ball of flames only comparable to the A-bomb!

I am happy to say that the lesson went off without a hitch. The kids hung on my every word as I walked them through step by step instructions of how to log in, create a title, write the blog, edit, and post. I even taught them how to comment on their friends' blogs. I explained to them that blogging was simply writing online. They were hooked!

Because it is a kid friendly site, it is very safe. NO ONE can see any of their blogs without a username and password issued by me and all of their posts and comments have to be moderated by me. I logged on last night to moderate their comments and read their blogs and I was shocked at how many of them blogged again last night after they got home...about half the class. It is the same way tonight. They cannot get enough of it. No, all of their posts are not perfect, but they are loving the learning of it all. Isn't that what school is all about?

Here are just of few of their comments about their new found blogging hobby.

"Blogging is totally awesome."

"Blogging is way more fun than writing on paper."

"Blogging makes me feel alive."

"Blogging is the best way to write."

"Blogging makes writing fun."

Sandwich Maker

2012-01-18T21:25:00.002-05:00

Today at lunch my student teacher and I were talking. She asked me if I ever got tired of eating the same ole thing for lunch everyday. I eat a peanut butter and jelly on wheat with Cheez-its and a banana religiously. The only substitution would be to have turkey on wheat when the peanut butter runs out and I havent been to the grocery store.

I told her that I didn't mind eating the same thing, but I sure got tired of making it every day.

A student sitting beside me piped up and said, "that's why you need a wife." I asked how a wife would fix that, and without hesitation he said, "because she knows you are busy and would make it for you." I then gave him a lesson on chivalry and told him that I wouldn't expect my wife to make me a sandwich. He kept insisting that a wife was the only solution.

By this time, the whole lunch table was involved in the conversation. Most of them sitting by giggling at the thought of me with a wife. I decided to turn the discussion into a little mini lesson right there at the table. I asked the to help me come up with ways to get my sandwich made without having to do it myself. Here is there list.

1. Invent a machine to do it for me.

2. Ask my mom to do it.

3. Get a sandwich making machine from the store.

4. Buy a robot, that will be as good as a wife!!!

Number 4 was by far the best idea! Now if I can just figure out where to buy one!!!

Resting My Eyes

2012-01-17T17:17:00.002-05:00

When I was little I spent a lot of time at my grandma Maudie's house. If you have been a blog reader for a while then you have heard about Maudie before. If you are new her and want to get caught up go here and check it out.

Maudie, like any elderly person, had many sayings and quotes that she said quite often that made me laugh every time I heard them.

She would often say, "You can't beat an old head." She would say that when she wanted me to listen to her wisdom. She knew her "old head" had all the answers... it usually did!

When she would answer the phone she would not say hello like the rest of the world. Instead, she would answer with, "Alright." I can still hear her saying this even though she has been gone for years. She would say it like... "alright, you got me on this thing, now what do you want?"

I loved to hear her talk about going to Georgia... She never said it like it was supposed to be. In her best old southern lady dialect she would say, "Georg-eeee."

When she wanted me to keep a secret she would always tell me to "put it in my pocket." That little saying came about because she was usually slipping me some money that the other grandkids were not getting and she would say, "put it in your pocket" so they would see it. Yes, I was her favorite. Mainly because I spent the most time there though...not that she didn't love the rest of them just as much.

The funniest thing that she used to say was right about 8 o'clock every night that I spent there, or at about 1 on Sunday after church. I would be just talking and talking to her about who knows what when I would notice her eyes closed. She would be snoring and just sawing logs. I would say her name and she would jerk herself awake and swear she wasn't sleeping, just "resting her eyes!" I would just laugh every time.

It still makes me laugh when I think about it today. Mainly because I finally get it. Sometimes when you are just plum tuckered out... You have to rest your eyes!

Happy Dance

2012-01-16T16:13:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I went shopping with my sister. I was looking for some new jeans to wear for Friday jean day at school. The next 2 Fridays are jean days, and I only have one "nice pair" to wear. The others are like my bum around jeans. Make sense?

Anyway, I was going through the jeans on the sale rack first when I cam across a pair of 36x32... MY OLD SIZE! I held them up beside me and just could not believe that I used to be in that size before I started running and eating healthy. I was wearing 38's in some pants. I had a moment right there in Banana Republic. I must admit I did a little happy dance as I threw those down and dug around for a size 30. I know its been 2 years since I started losing the weight, but sometimes its like it all just started. It made my 10 mile run this morning worth it even more!!!

I realize that I have picked up some new readers from my Donors Choose and Twitter friends as of late so I thought I would give you a peek at the former me. These pics hardly do it justice, but they let you see what I was. These pics were from the summer of 2008. I started losing weight in November of '09 and lost 85 pounds by July of '10. It has been a healthy, active, difficult, wonderful journey!

New Look

2012-01-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

After hours and hours of frustration, countless mess ups, and a few choice words, I am proud of the new look of my blog. I would love to know what you think. I wanted a clean fresh look coupled with my favorite color...Any guess what that color might be?

I have always wanted my own unique header and I finally just took the time to look it up on Youtube and of course there a bazillion videos on how to do it. I have been wanting to do these for a while, but just kept putting it off because I knew I was gonna get frustrated. Now that it's done, I can say that it wasn't that bad...but it definitely is not for the short tempered. :0) Here's to the new look!

You Are Crazy

2012-01-14T17:57:00.003-05:00

This morning I set out on my Saturday long run like I do every week. Sometimes I start from home. Sometimes I drive to the Rail Trail. Recently, I have been parking about 2 miles north of the Rail Trail at the local Krispy Kreme. For some reason that seems like a good spot for a former "heavy weight" to use as home base for his long run. The smell of the hot and ready Kremes is good prerun fuel!

This morning it was pretty cold as I started. The official temp. according to my iPhone was 29. I wore my usual attire for that temperature: shorts, long sleeve under a short sleeve, gloves, and a hat...of course my shoes and socks too, but I am assuming my readers are smart enough to figure that part out. It was a bit chilly as I started, but as anyone who works out knows, it doesn't take long to get warmed up, thus my wearing shorts. I have a pair of running tights, but it has to be really cold for me to use them.

About a quarter mile into the run I passed 2 people walking. Of course they were bundled up from head to toe. One was chain smoking (I swear he had one cig. in each hand.) and the other was about 200lbs. overweight and eating a box of doughnuts. As I passed them, I could feel their stares and hear the conversation... It went something like this...

Overweight Lady: "What in the world is he doing?"

Chain Smoking Man: "I don't know. What is he thinking?"

Together in Chorus: "Man, he is crazy!"

I could not help but chuckle as I ran off down the street towards the 14 miles that awaited me thinking about the lesson in irony that I had just been a part of.

So, now publicly on this blog let me reverse the irony... You, chain smoking man, and You, overweight lady eating a box of doughnuts are the crazy ones!!!

Who Has The "Runs"

2012-01-13T23:06:00.003-05:00

The other day I was asked by a Twitter running friend to participate in an interview for his website "Who Has The Runs." These are the questions he asked, so I thought I would share them with you here.

You can see others and myself he has interviewed here or follow him on Twitter here.

Why do you run?

I run for so many reasons I cannot even begin to type them all. At first, I ran to lose weight. Then I ran because I felt better. As I kept going, I ran so I could eat... Now, I run because it is who I am! I LOVE IT!

How long have you been running? How did you get started? Why did you choose running over other activities?

March of 2012 will be 2 years of running. I got started to lose weight after bad bloodwork. I chose running because it was the fastest and best way to get off the weight.

How do you motivate yourself to run regularly? What about on the days the weather is bad or your are feeling particularly lazy?

My motivation to run on the lazy, cold days is that I know that I would feel worse for not running than I would if I just endured the weather and the laziness through the run... So, I get out there and do it!

Do you use a running coach, or read any books to aid in your training?

I have read all of Dean Karnazes books and Born To Run. I am addicted to Runner's World and Running Times. I often reread the old issues while I am waiting on the new one to come.

How do you fit running in with your daily schedule?

I am a school teacher so it is very difficult to get the run in before school. I pack my running gear everyday and take it to school. When the last student leaves, I change like Superman in a phone booth. I get my work done and then I am out on the road!

Do your friends and family support your running or think you are crazy?

At first, they thought I was insane... Now that they see this new, improved, healthy me, they want to get in on the fun!

What is your favorite running terrain (road, trail, treadmill)?

I like the road. The cars, people, and places that pass by keep me entertained. I get kind of bored on the trails here, and the tread mill is about the worse form of torture known to man!!!

What is the hardest race you’ve run to date?

Last summer I was in Kentucky on mission trip with my church. It was Late June, VERY HOT and VERY HILLY. I attempted to run 8 miles everyday after hanging sheet rock for 8 hours a day. I about killed myself. My pace was HORRENDOUS, but I ran nonetheless!

What is the most enjoyable race you’ve run to date?

It would have to be the Lake Lure Dam Run 10k in Lake Lure North Carolina. It was a VERY CHALLENGING mountainous road race, but the finish line was on the shore of a man made beach nestled in the mountains. The atmosphere at the finish line was the best. Very family friendly, lots of activities for the nonrunners, and good food for finishers.

Have you ever been injured due to running? What were the ramifications?

I had a strained IT band the week before my first marathon. I ran the marathon anyway and it just made it worse. I saw the chiropractor and massage therapist almost daily for 2 weeks. It took about 5 weeks til I was running normal again.

Do you use any music or run tracking devices when you run, or are you a naked runner.?

Naked all the way!

How do you get yourself through the difficult parts of your runs? Do you have a personal mantra or do you just give up?

Honestly, I just picture the old, over weight me, and I just push through!. I don't ever want to go back!

A lot of runners know that “Who has the runs” has a double meaning. How do you deal with the occasional “problem” that plagues every runner at one time or another?

To quote the world famous runner Mr. Gump, "When I had to go, I went!"

What advice would you give to someone thinking about taking up running?

Even if you run just half a mile, that is farther than you went sitting on the couch! GO FOR IT!

What is your next big race?

Myrtle Beach Full Marathon, February 18th

What is your immediate running goal?

LOL... To get through my 14 miles in the morning in spite of the 20 degree forecasted low!

What is your ultimate running goal?

I would love to conquer a 50 miler or longer. I don't have a specific run in mind though. Maybe I will just run the distance one Saturday for fun.

Do you have a way we can keep track of your progress (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, etc)

Blog: www.mrdearybury.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mrdearybury

Twitter @mrdearybury1

Running On Empty

2012-01-12T20:45:00.002-05:00

Step one today was difficult. Mile 2 a little harder. Miles 3-7 were downright sluggish at best. Yes, I have run 2 marathons, countless other races, and many many miles further than a 7 miler, but today's run felt as if someone had poured concrete in the veins of my legs. Every step weighed 1,000 pounds. As if the weight of my legs wasn't enough, it began to rain at mile 6 and the wind was blowing as if I was about to be lifted into the sky to land in Oz. I wanted to quit. I thought about taking a short cut back to the car more than once. I didn't though. Something just wouldn't let me. That inner runner voice kept chanting to me, "Press On." "Push!" I was literally running on empty, but I kept going. The peanut butter and jelly from lunch and had long been gone and my energy was depleting with every step. After an eternal 56 minutes, I accumulated the 7 miles needed for my training today. It sure wasn't easy, but as I sat down after I finished, the reward was the greatest feeling of satisfaction and pride. Satisfaction that I met my goal for the day, and pride in myself for not quitting in the face of adversity. I may have been running on Empty, but I finished full!

Whatever you did today, or whatever you doing tomorrow... Don't give up, don't quit... The reward at the end is worth the pain. You will finish full!

Mexican For Dinner

2012-01-10T21:36:00.002-05:00

Tonight I had Mexican for dinner. There are certain things that I like about eating at a Mexican restaurant and it seems that they are all the same.

1. I eat my weight in chips and salsa. I am a big fun of the individual salsa bowls. Mild sauce!

2. The cheese all over the rice is about the greatest thing ever. I run extra for that.

3. If you order a quesadilla, tell them you want grilled chicken or else you get that nasty, shredded, I can't believe this is chicken chicken.

4. Even though I don't drink sweet tea anymore, their sweet tea is always good.

5. They always warn me the plate is hot!

Feliz Lunes!

The Finish Line

2012-01-09T06:26:00.002-05:00

This was supposed to post yesterday but didn't. My apologies to the 3 that read daily.

One of the most exciting parts of every race that I have ever been in is the finish line. As you approach, people all along the way begin to cheer and encourage you on as you fight to get to that magical stopping point. Those folks don't care about how you got to that point. They don't care about the sweat, the nastiness of your clothing, the snot that runs down your face. They are there to cheer you on to the finish. I still remember the voice of one sweet lady as I neared the finish of my first race..."You can do it Jed, just picture yourself winning."

You know if you can just make it there you have accomplished your goal and that food and water are just feet away. Your body can slow down, your breathing can ease, and your sweat spigot will shut down. Your body will instantly start to recover from all the pain.

The closer you get to the finish the more fixed your eyes become on the line. That is the destination you have been thinking about for the entire length of your race. Finally, you cross the line and an overwhelming joy sets in. All of the folks who were waiting on you meet you to give out hugs and pats. They squeeze you tight in spite of the mess that is oozing from every pore of your body.

People you have never seen or meet give you high fives and congratulate you on your great finish. People who were awesome during the race and got there in a much better fashion you now stand side by side with you as you enjoy the race celebration. You have finished the race and the journey is complete. It truly is an amazing feeling.

Race For The Grasshopper

2012-01-07T23:33:00.001-05:00

Today I volunteered at my first race. It was at the Cowpens Battleground, called The Race for the Grasshopper. It is a celebration of the end of the battle there where 2 American soldiers raced to get a cannon (grasshopper) after the battle. This was the 237th celebration.

It was a different experience being at a race and not being there to run. I was itching to "toe the line." I had a great time though. I had several jobs: I got there early enough to help set up, I passed out the race bibs and tech tshirts at registration, then I stood out on the course almost at mile 3 to point the runners in the right direction. It was a lot of fun to be able to check people in and then go cheer them on. Cheering for people is a lot if fun and it lifts you up while you are doing it. If you ever want to have a great morning, look for a local race and sign up to help. Trust me, you won't leave empty.

While you are volunteering you never know who you'll run into. One of my best friends ran the race and I got to cheer for her as she rounded towards home. Great job Molly!!!

After the race, the race the 70 January weather called to me to do some of my own running, so I headed downtown and pounded out 12 miles of my own. The run was awesome and it ended with my usual Waffle House feast: waffle, sausage, grits, eggs, and wheat toast. It was completely inhaled in about 5 minutes. Hope your Saturday was as great as mine.

Why Do Today...

2012-01-06T00:00:00.001-05:00

What I can do tomorrow??? This is not normally a mantra of mine. In fact, most days I am wide open and get everything done because I hate procrastinating. Most of the time people who procrastinate annoy me to the point that I do not even like to be friends with them. I find that people who procrastinate suddenly turn their last minute, hurry up and get it done jobs into an emergency that I some how get sucked into helping them with. It bothers me. I don't like it! Yet here I sit tonight, blogging with a whole list of things on my mind that I should be doing. I should be...

1. Washing the dishes.

2. Putting all the junk mail in the recycle bin.

3. Putting the large cardboard box that my new trumpet case came in out in the trash.

4. Clipping my toenails.

5. Cutting the "box tops" off the Honey Nut Cheerios.

6. Washing my running clothes that are piled up in the bathroom.

7. Taking the tree down.

8. Foam rolling my right leg because it is a hot mess of knots right now after the week of running I have had.

9. Reading that stack of half read books beside my bed.

For some reason, this has become a bad (or good?) habit that is developing with me since I have been running. Running, ironically, has caused me to slow down, not worry, and realize that this whole list of stuff will be waiting on me tomorrow. So for now... I will indeed wait, and complete this list of chores TOMORROW!

Winter Came!

2012-01-05T00:00:00.002-05:00

Winter has almost been nonexistent this year. It seems that the heat has not run at all. My gas bill is down and I am blowing all that money I am saving on running stuff that I don't need. I have worn shorts everyday to run, and my new electric blanket is looking at me with this sad, pitiful, neglected look! The last couple of days however winter has reminded us all that she/he/it (whichever gender you prefer to call the evil being) is here, present and accounted for, in spite of the warm temperatures.

I have seen many pics like this one below from various cold and Arctic regions. I have even seen sights like this one here in the deep south after a long cold spell. What I have never seen is a fountain freeze up as fast as this one. Monday afternoon I ran right by this fountain on my route. As I passed it, I thought to myself how nice it was. The water was shimmering in the sunlight and it was calling me to get a drink. I was somewhere around mile 9 when I saw it so I was ready to jump in!

Today, 2 days later, this is what I saw. I was shocked that it froze up so fast. I knew it was cold, but this is a moving fountain of water. It takes more than a mere 32 degrees to freeze up something like this! The water no longer shimmered and it definitely wasn't calling me. If anything, it was saying, "Get the heck inside. It's too cold to be out here!"

I guess that goes to show you how quickly things can change... It's good to know though, that soon the warmth will come, and all will be normal again... Yes, there is a lesson there. Hopefully, you will hear it and be encouraged!

Have You Ever?

2012-01-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

Tonight at dinner we started this whole conversation of "Have you ever...? We laughed til we cried over some of these as we shared stories around the table and in the car ride on the way home. I decided some of them were just too good not to share. I would love to know.... Have you ever...

1. ...worn your shirt backwards all day and didn't know it?

2. ...laughed so hard you shot water out of your nose while sitting in a restaurant?

3. ...told the waitress it was your birthday just so you could get the free desert?

4. ...stood at the gas pump, nozzle in the tank, for 5 minutes, only to realize that you never started the pump?

5. ...tried to unlock your house with your car key remote?

6. ...sent the WRONG text to the WRONG person?

7. ...passed gas in public and tried to play it off as your shoe?

8. ...used a linen napkin or table cloth as a blanket in a cold restaurant?

9. ...pulled into a driveway to visit a family yard sale only to realize that the yard was just junky?

10. ...ignored a cell call in public only to realize that the person calling was standing nearby?

I hope some of these made you laugh as much as they did us last night. I hate to admit this publicly, but all of these really happened at some point to either me, Matt, or my good friend Kati. One of them happened last night and started this whole blog. There is a pic below that will give you a hint as to which one it was!

2011 Race Recap

2012-01-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Road Racing started becoming a hobby in 2010, but I guess you could say it became an obsession in 2011. In case you missed them, here is a look at the races I ran in this past year.

In March I completed my 1st full marathon(26.2 miles):

Georgia Publix Marathon. Time-3:29:12

It was VERY challenging. You can read more about it here.

After several weeks of recovery, I entered my first ever Mud Run in Greenville. Matt, Asheton, and Clint were my team members. We blazed through the course in about 42 minutes. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!

When school got out, I had one running goal: Break 20 minutes on a 5k. This race right here is where it happened. July 2nd, 2011 I ran a 5k (3.1miles) in 18:15 at Furman University.

2 days later on July 4th, I broke 20 again on this HILLY course in Columbus, NC

The 2nd week of school I headed up to Lake Lure on a FRIDAY evening after teaching all day to run in the Lake Lure Dam Run 10K (6.2miles). BY FAR, the HARDEST course I have ever run. HILLY is not the word!!!! Finish time 40 minutes even.

In celebration of my first race ever, I signed up to run the 2nd annual AMRBC Race For Missions at my church. This was the first 5k I ran back in March of 2010. This year my buddy, Andy Cockrell ran his first race ever. I was so proud of him! He deserves a shout out right here! I saw him out running on the Rail Trail with his family just yesterday. He was blazing a trail towards a 4 mile run! RUN ANDY RUN!!!!

BTW, I ran this 5k in 18:08 breaking my previous best!!!!

In November 2011 I ran my 2nd Full Marathon, the Savannah Rock and Roll. It was an incredible race. They have bands playing and rocking you through the race at every mile marker. It gave your something to look froward to through each mile. I was able to complete the race much faster than my first marathon. This one was over in 3hrs. 12 min. 53sec.

In 2010 when i started running, my best friend Matt and I decided that the Spartanburg Turkey Day 8k would become a tradition. This year we completed our 2nd one. 8k is 4.98 miles. This year I improved my time from 31 minutes to 28. It was a great run!

Overall I am ecstatic about my year of running, but this year, 2012, promises to be even better. I ran a 10 mile race called Hair of the Dog in Spartanburg on New Year's Day. I am running a full marathon at Myrtle Beach in February, Reedy River 10k in March, Cooper River Bridge Run March 31, and today I put my name in the lottery for the ING NYC Marathon in November. I CAN'T WAIT for this running year to unfold. It is going to be awesome!

2011 Resolution Accountability

2012-01-02T00:00:00.002-05:00

Last year, I posted these resolutions on A Dearybury Of A Day for all to see. It was a bit of transparency that I was not looking forward to because I knew that Jan 2, 2011 would come and I have to look at my list to see how I did. I am happy to say that I did really well on my goals for the year.

#1 was to continue running and make it a part of my life... Well big fat check, affirmative, yes, awesome, great job on that one right? I said I would run 2 marathons and I did!!! SO happy about that!

#2 was to learn at least 5 new dishes. I did not learn these all through the year like I hoped, and not all of them are healthy dishes like I wanted, but I did learn how to make Hashbrown Casserole, Pepperoni Pizza Rolls, Baked Potato Rounds, Italian Grilled Chicken Pasta, and Homemade Icing. I guess I can post about these dishes later.

#3 was a complete failure. So sad that I didn't get this done. Hold me accountable with this one! My mom would love this!

#4 was to read at least 3 books. REAL books, not kiddie books. For those of you who know me, you know that I am not a reader. Part of the reason why I make reading so fun in my classroom is because I didn't get that excitement for reading when I was in school and have struggled to enjoy reading all my life. I am happy to say that I DOUBLED my goal! I actually read a total of 7 books in 2011. REAL ONES PEOPLE! That deserves an AWARD!

#5 was to do more random acts of kindness. I cannot tell you about all of these, but I can confirm that I made more of a conscious effort and it was fun to do! There will be more of this in 2012. Who knows, maybe you will be a recipient!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the new 2012 goals.

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Mama!!! Go here and read all the things I love about here from last year! I still love all of these things!!!

New Year, New Blogs

2012-01-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

Who knew that way back on July 24th that "A Dearybury Of A Day" would cease to exist for the remainder of 2011? Anyone who knows about the life of a teacher knows that school was quickly approaching about that time, not to mention that I was moving to a new grade level and had LOTS to do! Those 2 things combined can literally suck one into a dark abyss of work that takes months to climb out of. Believe it or not, the holidays helped me to slow down, get caught up, and take a deep breath of fresh air. I am finally at a place where I do not feel trapped in a bottomless groundhog hole!!! To catch you up on the past few months here are a few highlights.

I went with my best friend Matt to his first ever University of Georgia football game in Athens, GA. He is a HUGE Georgia fan, but has never been able to make it between the hedges. Of course they were playing my team so we had a good old fashioned rivalry. Sad for him, but my team won. It was a nail biter though.

I completed my 2nd marathon, the Savannah Rock & Roll. It was a FANTASTIC run, and I beat my previous marathon time by 17 minutes. I completed the 26.2 miles in 3hrs. 12 min. I wasn't even sore the next day. This is one of the shots from the day. Funny story from the race. I realized at about mile 2 that my race bib was on the back of my shirt and that I would not be able to identify myself in the race photos unless it was on the front. So, mid race I turned my shirt around backwards. In this shot I am actually wearing the shirt backwards!

Towards the end of November, thanks to amazing writing and nomination from my principal, I was named Spartanburg County's Distinguished Elementary Reading Teacher of the Year. This pic is from the day when they came to my classroom to give me the award. My kids were ecstatic!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often. Leave comments and interact with me as you can. I love connecting with people from all over. Some days the posts will be inspirational, hilarious, all about my running adventures, or just plain crazy, but either way it is sure to be A Dearybury Of A Day!

Happy New Year!

The Funny Papers

2011-07-24T23:31:00.001-04:00

That's what my grandad used to call the Sunday Comics. I used to love to read them after church on Sunday. My favorite was Snuffy Smith. I doubt anyone will even know that one, but it was hysterical. It was about some backwoods southern folk. Great read!!

Anyway, as I thought about my Sunday, it would have been a perfect edition of the funny papers.

1. I messed up the ending song at church during the 2nd service after I picked on the drummer for messing up during the 1st.

2. During the message this morning, I got a shout out from the preacher for being a runner. I think he was making me sound crazy, but that's ok.

3. I was eating a Navel Orange and it shot all over my shirt twice. I looked like a little kid.

4. I was locked out of the house for over an hour this evening.

5. During the lock out, my legs became a mosquito buffet.

6. All day long I have been killing the ants in my kitchen one at a time because I don't have any spray... I'm up to 37 in the ant massacre!!!

7. While eating spaghetti for lunch, I actually got a dirty shirt out of the hamper because I knew I was gonna get spaghetti all over me and I didn't want to stain a clean shirt!!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Something New

2011-07-23T21:56:00.002-04:00

Tonight I went to Olive Garden with my sister and brother-in-law. We were all starving when we sat down and were hoping they would just bring the bowl of salad with the menus, but of course they didn't so we continued to contemplate gnawing into our arms.

While we waited on our drinks to arrive we were faced with the dilemma of deciding what to eat. Some restaurants are easy for me. I know what I want before I ever get there, but at Olive Garden I struggle because I like so many dishes there. I loved the Braise Beef, Mixed Grill, Tuscan Steak, etc. Tonight I struggled even more because I was so hungry. Don't you hate to make the wrong choice when you are really hungry?

I perused the menu and the Ravioli di Portobello caught my eye. I have never had it before, but lately I have been eating mushrooms like crazy. It is very unlike me to venture out with a new choice on a night when I was so hungry, but my gut told me to go for it.

This is a picture I found online of the dish. I would have taken one of my own plate, but honestly it wasn't there long enough to get a pic. IT WAS SO GOOD! I literally inhaled it. The mushrooms nestled inside the ravioli then covered with a creamy tomato/cheese sauce made for the most delicious flavor! I highly recommend this dish the next time you go.

The great thing too, if you are a calorie counter, the whole meal is only 670. If you order the lunch portion, 430. The fat content is a little high thanks to the cheese, but not too bad. Totally worth it though!

Water Jug

2011-07-22T22:21:00.004-04:00

For Christmas this past year, Matt got me this water jug for my stocking. It holds more than 2 liters of water. That is more that is in a "boss" Pepsi, as my mama used to call them. 2 liters is a lot of water. When I first opened the gift, I laughed and thought it was a joke. Little did I know that this thing would become a permanent . I cannot go anywhere without it. I took it to school every single day. My kids got so used to it being there that they would ask me where it was if they did not see it. I usually drink about 2 of these a day. I guess you could say I have sort of a "drinking" problem huh? If you could see me after a run in this heat you would probably tell me to drink a 3rd one.

Running+Mission Trip/Vacation=DIFFICULT

2011-07-21T21:43:00.004-04:00

Finally... I am home after 11 days of being gone. I had a great time as you can tell from the past 10 ten days of blogs, but as always, it is good to be home. While I was I gone I did everything in my power to stay on my regular running schedule. I had a lot of things working against me: added heat, extra work during the day, earlier than normal starts, extra heat, not my normal eating routine, extra heat, being tired from the extra work, and did I mention extra heat? In spite of all of the obstacles I stayed on a pretty good schedule. I thought I would share how it turned out hear to encourage those of you whose vacations still lie ahead. YOU CAN DO IT!

Sunday, July 10- The day we left, no running.

Monday, July 11- Worked all day in 100+ heat on a sheet rocking crew and managed to pull out 6.3 miles in 99 degree heat at 8 o'clock that night.

Tuesday, July 12- Needless to say I was WIPED OUT! Another full day of working on a sheet rock crew in 100 degree heat. REST!

Wednesday, July 13- Worked all day again, and ran 6.5 miles at 8:30PM in a cool 95 degrees.

Thursday, July 14- Last full day of work, no running. REST!

Friday, July 15- Traveled 11 hours in a car to Pennsylvania, then I ran 7 miles on the hotel treadmill that night.

Saturday, July 16- Drove to the Statue of Liberty, no running, but I am sure I walked at least 4 miles or so that day.

Sunday, July 17- Had a really busy day planned with family fun so I got up early and ran 8 miles on the hotel treadmill.

Monday, July 18- Spent the day in Hershey Park, no running, but a WHOLE LOT OF WALKING!

Tuesday, July 19- Got up early to run on the treadmill before our busy day at Hershey, but it was broken. I ran 5 of the hilliest miles of my life. It was 90 degrees at 7 that morning!!!

Wednesday, July 20- Woke up in DC to tour the city. No running this day, but walked about 6 miles throughout the city.

Today I was home. I have been busy doing the usual unpacking, laundry, etc. that comes with returning home after vacation. I did run tonight in hopes of getting to 30 miles for this running week. The grand total of miles for the 11 days I was gone was only 32.8 which is not the best, but I will take it. I did do 45 miles the week before I left so I guess I needed a rest. The official training for marathon #2 starts on Monday. Wish me luck!

Gettysburg & D.C.

2011-07-20T21:42:00.001-04:00

Before the family left to head home yesterday, we had one last adventure together through Gettysburg.

My 1st subway ride, the Metro into D.C.

Matt's too.

Barack was busy. Had to reschedule our lunch date.

My favorite piece to see in the Museum of American History, the top hat that Lincoln was wearing the night he was assassinated.

Hershey's Chocolate World

2011-07-19T16:31:00.001-04:00

History of Hershey in 3D

Trolley tour of Historic Hershey.

Where Milton Hershey was born.

The house he built to live near the factory.

Hershey Factory.

The large silos are where they keep the cacoa beans.

Hershey from above.

You need to Google this. It's amazing what Mr. Hershey did for the community!

Chocolate Tasting!!!

Matt and I frothing our chocolate.

Taylor votes no on the dark chocolate!

Hershey's Great American Chocolate Tour... The professionals pic...

...my pic!

Make Your Own Hershey Bar! This was so cool. If you ever go, DO THIS!!!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Hershey Park

2011-07-18T21:41:00.001-04:00

I'm on here somewhere.

Gettin' my candy on!

Matt laughing at Lawrence!

Taylor on a big coaster!

Me on the fastest coaster I have ever ridden!!! Starts out at 72mph!!!

Sophie's first coaster!

Mama finally got on the fast one!!!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Crayola Factory & Mule Drawn Canal Boat Ride

2011-07-17T21:13:00.001-04:00

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Statue Surprise

2011-07-16T22:48:00.001-04:00

Since we were only 70 miles away... Why not spend the day at The Statue of Liberty?? What a great time we had!!!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

4 States, 11 Hours

2011-07-15T23:03:00.001-04:00

Today was a long boring day in a car. We started out in Winchester, KY. The interstate wound through all of West Virginia, the entire northern half of Maryland, and finally our exit appeared just about 70 miles west of NYC in eastern Pennsylvania. My mom, Chuck, sister, bro-in-law, and niece #2 will meet us up here tomorrow for some family fun time before we all make the journey back home. For now though, I am headed to bed!!!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Lexington Legends

2011-07-14T23:11:00.001-04:00

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Muddin'

2011-07-13T17:29:00.002-04:00

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Travel Buddy

2011-07-12T22:30:00.004-04:00

My niece Taylor is traveling with us on our mission trip to Kentucky. She is having a blast. I think her BB is giving her a bit more freedom than her mama does. I let her swim in the deep end and have her very own key to the hotel room. She is big time to say the least. Shh.. Don't tell on me. I am sure that it will be hard to snap out of all this freedom once she is back with mom and dad.

All is going well with my travel buddy except for the sleeping. For the past 2 nights I have been kicked to death so tonight there is a nice pallet on the floor for her sleeping enjoyment..... and hopefully a restful night for BB in the "comfy" hotel bed.

Sheetrockin'

2011-07-11T22:35:00.002-04:00

Today was the first of 5 days that I am on a team of Sheetrock hangers here in Mt. Sterling, KY for a church mission project. Here are a few things I learned from day 1 on the job.

1. People start to stink after 1 hour of work in a 10x10 room with no ventilation.

2. When someone says "get up here and hold this while I screw it in," DON'T be the one to volunteer!

3. Popsicles are work site killers. Do not bring them out too soon after lunch or your productivity will be shot.

4. Don't eat 2 hotdogs and a burger for lunch... The Port-O-Let is quite a walk from the scaffolding.

5. NEVER TAKE THE ROUTER!

Blogging On The Go

2011-07-10T15:57:00.001-04:00

It Starts... Again!

2011-07-08T22:09:00.002-04:00

If you didn't know, I am officially starting to train for Marathon #2 in a couple of weeks. Actually running the marathon is only a small portion of the challenge. The weeks of training going into the race is what prepares you for the challenge. I feel like I know so much more about the process this go round. It's probably kinda weird to nonrunners that I would be looking forward to this process again. It is painful, time consuming, sleep depriving, and costly, but absolutely 100% worth it when you cross that finish line.

The pic below is just the start of the training. I like to lay out my runs and make sure any races, traveling, school meetings, etc. will not conflict with the training. I plan to officially start the last week of July, although some would say that I am already there since at the end of tomorrow's run I could possibly have upwards of 45 miles this week. I could hardly wait to get started... again!!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Achilles International

2011-07-07T11:40:00.003-04:00

A couple of months ago I started reading this book, First Marathons. I can hear my speed reading friends laughing at me even now, as I confess that this book has taken me a few months to read. Reading for me is like running is for most of you... slow and painful. Nevertheless, I trudge through books, and most always come out on the other end of it with a great feeling of accomplishment and having learned something too.

This book is composed of a various people's stories of their first marathons. Some of the stories are from big names in the running world, and others are from just everyday runners. Many of the stories moved me to tears, but none like that of Dick Traum. His story should have had a warning label. Long story short, Dick lost one of his legs due to a tragic accident in his mid 20s and after LOTS of hard work and training, he became the first person with a prosthetic leg to complete the NYC Marathon.

His story was so moving to me as I read. All I could think about was how badly I hurt and grunted through every step of my training for my first marathon, and that he did it with only one real leg. The first line in his story says, "When I took my artificial leg for a 26.2 mile run in 1976, I had no idea how it would change my life." No kidding it changed his life. He became an avid spokesman and advocate for those with disabilities.

As a result of that run, he started a now world-wide club, called Achilles International. The club helps those with disabilities train and reach their athletic goals. In the book he writes of those with Cerebral Palsy, no limbs, and blindness that have conquered 26.2 miles of a marathon. Their stories are just as moving as his. One guy had no use of his arms so he pushed the wheel chair backwards with his feet to move it. He did that for an entire 26.2 miles!

Below is a snap shot of the club website. I recommend you take a look at the site by clicking below. The stories and pictures you see there will no doubt inspire you to achieve whatever it is you want!

Summer So Far...

2011-07-06T15:18:00.004-04:00

MY summer started off wide open, full throttle, and it continues to be that way... that said, my apologies to the 2 faithful readers who have been checking in, anxiously awaiting my posts. I had the greatest of intentions to blog all summer. I even made some videos to post at my first beach trip right after school was out, but for some reason they would not load. FAIL!!! I was annoyed that they wouldn't and let that annoyance deter me from blogging... Never fear though... There are pics of the entire summer, and if you are my friend on Facebook then you have seen the entire summer through my feet. Take a look below at my summer so far.

The last day of school my students gave me the bet gift ever. All of my parents wrote thank you notes and pitched in together to give me a new pair of running shoes. I was SOOO surprised and overwhelmed at their generosity. I have logged over 150 miles in this summer.

About 4 days after school, my friend Teri and her husband Justin, and their kids flew out from Utah to spend the week. We went to Myrtle Beach, Charleston, then back to Spartanburg. We had a great time!!! Teri and I met 17 years ago on a tour of Europe with Spirit of America National Honor Band... We have been friends ever since!

The 3rd week of June the family went to the beach for a whopping 10 days! It was AWESOME! Believe it or not there were no fusses. That's pretty amazing considering all of the "together" time. Here a few of my favorite pics from that week!

This past week was filled with races. I signed up for 2 in 3 days, both 5Ks. My goal: Break 20 minutes... So, how did I do?

This is race 1, Red, White and Blue Shoes 5K @ Furman. I broke 20 here with a time of 18:15. I was ECSTATIC! The competition was tough though, and I didn't place. I was 4th in my age group, and 40th out of 953.

This is me running in the Firecracker 5k, in Columbus, NC. I broke 20 again, much to my surprise due to the hilly course. I placed 5th overall and won my age division. Very Excited!!!

So, now you are all caught up. Maybe now I will be able to keep it up through the rest of the summer. Let me know if you are still reading. :0)

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Miss Me Yet

2011-06-19T20:05:00.001-04:00

Has anyone even noticed that my blog has been left unattended for a few weeks now? School got out and I thought I would have lots of time. I made several video blogs down at the beach on my first trip but they wouldn't load. I got discouraged and decided to wait til I got back home. When I got home, I got busy and next thing you know the blog was neglected. At least it hasn't been months like last time. How's your summer so far?

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Bloggin' At Broadway

2011-05-31T23:18:00.001-04:00

I has a great video blog ready for today, but the connection is not good for uploading videos. Stay tuned...

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Making Friends

2011-05-29T16:31:00.001-04:00

I love the way kids make friends. They don't worry about a thing. They just get in there and play. This pic is of my nieces and some randomly little friend they met at the beach today. They have been playing and having a great time.

I wonder if grown ups could put aside our fears of rejection and the worry of what others would think, and reach out to people like children do. We would probably be surprised at the number of friends we would make.

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Beach Day

2011-05-28T21:59:00.001-04:00

Today was the first day of summer vacation, and what a better place to spend it than the beach. 6 hours on the beach will get way down deep in your soul and cure what ails you.

This is a shot of my chair and the family chaos that was just behind me. I cannot wait to get back out tomorrow.

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Leaving Your Mark

2011-05-27T23:21:00.001-04:00

Today my parents and students honored me with an amazing end of the year gift. For the past week they collected enough money for me to purchase a new pair of running shoes. I was absolutely blown away!!! Along with the shoes, they gave me new socks, the most heartfelt cards ever, and it was all wrapped up in a shoebox with a shoestring as a bow.

My most favorite part of the gift was the card that was presented to me first. The quote on the front reads... "If I pass through life without leaving a mark, for what did I live?"

I will forever remember that quote as I teach and as I run, but not because of the mark I will leave, but because of the mark my students leave on me and will leave on the world. What a great last day of school it was.

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Summer Reading

2011-05-26T22:55:00.001-04:00

Here we are...on the cusp of summer. Tomorrow marks the end of my 9th year of teaching. Finally after 8 summers of talking about reading, here are some books that I am actually gonna tackle over the next few months. I know it's doubtful, but have any of you read them?

Posted from BB's iPhone!

I Got Your Tutti Fruitti!

2011-05-25T20:36:00.001-04:00

I Am Thine

2011-05-25T00:03:00.003-04:00

It is 12:30 on Wednesday morning, or late Tuesday night, however you like to look at it. I am up late spending some time with the Lord, thinking and praying... Got a lot on my mind tonight, and He is helping me get it all sorted out, lined up, and ready to go!!! He has been up to some things lately, and I am excited about the way He is showing me the steps I need to take. Trusting Him isn't always easy, but it is no doubt the best!

All day long I have had this old hymn in my head, and tonight it is still floating around up there! I Am Thine O Lord... If you don't know it check out the words.

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Chorus: Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Two phrases that have been sticking out to me today are, "I am Thine" and "Consecrate me now."

I am so overwhelmed with thanks at the thought that I am His!!! When you think about life, and all of the "stuff" it brings, how can you have any peace aside from the fact that you are His and He is there through every step???

The other phrase "Consecrate me now," has really been on my heart as I have reflected about my teaching this year as we draw to a close of another year. The word consecrate means to dedicate to a sacred purpose. When I have sung this song in my head and heart today, that has been my prayer... that He would consecrate, or dedicate me, more and more, to the sacred purpose of such a noble profession. The only way to be consecrated is for me to draw nearer and nearer to Him as the song says...Guess that is what I am up doing even now.

If you have never heard this song, take a listen. The guy may not look like you want him to, and he may not sound the way you like it, but tonight as I sat here in my room, this video of him seemed to sing it like my heart was screaming it out.

Field Day

2011-05-24T13:31:00.004-04:00

You know school is coming to an end when field day rolls around, and today was our day!!! It was an awesome day to be outside, and thankfully the heat did not really set in til after lunch. I took lots of pics throughout the day, but this one was my favorite.

During this game kids used their toes to fish for marbles in the kiddie pool. I can only imagine the funk that was in that water, but the kids LOVED every second of this game. I stood on a chair and leaned over them to get this shot. Look closely near the bottom left and you will see a toe opened up letting the marble go into the bucket. The pic just screams out fun to me.

Being at field day all day long made me take a stroll down memory lane to my elementary days. I had 3 favorite events I always wanted to sign up for...

1. Balloon Pop- You ran with a balloon to the end of your assigned lane, then sat on it til it popped. You then ran back and tagged your team member so they could run pop theirs.

2. Potato in the Can- You put a potato between your legs and hopped so far to a tin can. Once over the can you had to drop the potato into the can. You can only imagine what that looked like. IT WAS HILARIOUS!!!

3. Hula Hoop- Go ahead and laugh, but I was the only boy who could win this one. Some boys were proud of their 50 yd. dash times, but not me... I could hula hoop FOREVER! Who cares if I couldn't run as fast as those boys... I wonder how their fast 50 yd dashes are working for them now? I can still hula hoop forever, and run a sub 6 minute mile...Did I mention I ran a marathon... HAHAHAHA!!!

What were your favorite field day events?

Running Nostalgia

2011-05-23T20:56:00.003-04:00

I told you guys a few weeks ago that I was starting to become a fan of books about running. They seem to reel me in during the first few lines, and I am not able to put them down. I cannot explain this phenomenon, because it has never happened in my entire life. Books usually lose me after the 1st chapter. I have the largest stack of books that I have only read 1 chapter. I guess I have a mild case of ADD or something. I honestly cannot pay attention long enough to finish.

A coworker of mine, who knows all too well about my running obsession, and my running genre addiction. When she was pillaging through the discarded books from the library at school, she saw this and thought of me. I thought it was a hoot to look at, but never judge a book by its cover right? Wait, didn't I do that last week on this blog? I digress...

Anyway, the book turned out to be pretty informational. Of course it was your basic running advice as it was a beginner level book, but it was a good read nonetheless.

This is the part I found most intriguing though... The copyright was 1979. That book had been floating around our library for 32 years. It was stamped with the name of the school that moved into our facility. All I could wonder about as I read was how many kids had checked it out and read all about running???? I hope a lot of them.

Now that I read this one... Can it count as book number 5 for the year?

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Busy

2011-05-23T07:05:00.001-04:00

This weekend was crazy busy. No blog yesterday! Dang!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Upward 2011

2011-05-21T08:14:00.003-04:00

Believe it or not, today is the last day of the Upward 2011 Soccer Season. I feel like we just barely got started, and here we are at the end... Time flies doesn't it? This is actually the end of my 4th Upward season. You would think by now I would feel a little more confident in my coaching abilities, but I get nervous before every game. The great thing about Upward coaching is that it is way more about building relationships with parents and students rather than winning, winning, winning. Talking, encouraging, and relationship building I am good at...winning, not so much!

This season has been fun to say the least. We haven't won a game, but the boys have had a ball. Most of the team are beginner players so we have had to learn a lot of fundamentals. Their dribbling and passing has gotten TONS better, and they are working on staying more attentive to the ball.

A BIG SHOUT OUT to Ryan Shelton from church for stepping up and being a FANTASTIC assistant in our time of need... AMRBC folks we should never be in need of coaches. If I can run 6 miles after teaching all day and then go to an hour long practice, then run 13 miles to the game on game day and coach for an hour, then surely you can find time to be there too. Sign up NOW for next season!!!

Congrats on a fun season boys. JJ, Braylen, Michael, James, Nicholas, Stephen, Mason, Gomez, "Mohawk, Austin, and Logan...Have a great summer boys... See ya next year!

Camping In The Classroom

2011-05-20T21:42:00.003-04:00

Here is a shot of my classroom this morning before the kids came in. Today was our annual Arthur's Reading Club Camp Out. The classroom camp out is our year end celebration of our reading program. This year our 4 second grade classes read over 14,000 books. That was worth celebrating right?

We had a blast in my room today. We pretended to roast real marshmallows on our pretend fire, we sang campfire songs, we ate smores (cooked in the cafeteria.) and we shared stories around the campfire. Days like this are exhausting, but so worth it. Congrats to all my amazing readers!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

The Funny Papers

2011-05-19T21:44:00.003-04:00

When I was little I remember hearing someone say, "You don't live in the funny papers." At the time I wasn't sure what the meant. I assumed they meant that I was not Blondie and Dagwood's neighbor. As I grew older I learned that it means that your life isn't like Charlie Brown, Marvin, or Beetle Bailey... meaning everything doesn't always work out perfectly, and everything is not funny.

While I do not live in the funny papers, sometimes I feel like the things that happen to me are straight out of a comedy flick! Today as I ran, there was one thing after another that kept me chuckling during every step of my 6 mile run.

1. As I got out of the car to start the run, I noticed this family walking down the street. It was a dad, mom, and their 2 kids about ages 4 and 8. They parents were pulling 2 rather large suitcases. At first, my heart ached for them as I thought maybe they were homeless and looking for a place to stay. My sadness quickly changed to laughter when they stopped right in front of me, and the dad said to his 4 year old son, "Fine! Get In!" The little boy unzipped the suitcase, crawled in, zipped it back up, and off they strolled!

2. Laughing about what I had just witnessed I headed on down the trail. Just as the comical scene with the suitcases was fading from my memory, a new bit of laughter rolled onto the scene thanks to this girl who was talking on her iPhone while pushing one of these...

...For those who do not know this is a tool called a measuring wheel. Many contractors and surveyors use them. I assume the iPhone girl was pushing this along the trail to measure how far she had walked... I guess she didn't realize that there is app for that!!!!

3. I moved on down the trail, mouth open, breathing hard, sweating good, when all of a sudden a ladybug made its way into my mouth. In a year and a half or running this was the first bug in mouth experience. It caught me so off guard I began to choke a little. I tried to spit it out, but I couldn't. I took a deep breath, swallowed, and down he went. Hopefully, ladybugs are full of protein!

4. After I hacked for a while thanks to the insect family, I notice my least favorite member of the mammal family (SQUIRRELS) that was laid out flat along the side of the trail. All you PETA fans don't judge me for this, but I was elated to see the thing all sprawled out dead like that. I just pretended that he was the one that scared me half to death last week and helped me to realize that I had Sciurophobia!

5. I was just about to take my last step of the run, when I noticed one of the funniest sites. There was an older man, maybe 85-90, running in his best old man fashion, with the daintiest poodle you've ever seen, while listening to his iPod. I only wish I would have had my phone to snap a picture.

I might not live in the funny papers, but this afternoon sure would have made for great comic!

Bargin Books

2011-05-18T20:41:00.001-04:00

Tonight I was killing time before I had to be somewhere by relaxing and perusing all of the books at Barnes and Noble. I LOVE to go in there. I feel smarter for just being in there... even more so when I sit in one of their big comfy chairs and pretend to be reading just so my tired feet can have a rest. Shhhh! Don't tell them I do that. They may ask me to get up and save that space for a real reader!!!

I have my same routine every time I go. I start out at the books about running and make my way back to the children's books. I take a loop through the teacher area and wonder through the games and puzzles. I end with a brief visit to the local author and South Carolina book section, then spend my remaining time skimming the bargain books.

The bargain books always provide me with great laughter. Some of the books are so ridiculous that it is hard for me to imagine a legit publisher taking these authors seriously, much less putting their logo on the book, however there are at least 4-6 rows of future yard sale fodder that line the B&N shelves. Here are a few pics of some of the titles that made me chuckle tonight!!

This is for that really lonely cat lover on a dateless night I guess.

They had this one out for those who are thinking that the world is really gonna end this Friday like that guy from New York is saying! Better run get a copy. This was the last one!

This one was actually pretty good. I'll be blogging later about pink flamingos.

This one just made me mad. Men are always made to be dumb loafs in sitcoms, and I am sure this book just adds to that stereotype that we are helpless creatures in need of guidance from a goddess.

... And just in case you are starting a chicken farm, there is a guide just for you... AND IT'S ON SALE!!!!

DISCLAIMER: I have not read any of these books, and I clearly judged these books by their covers. They may be genuinely good books, and I do not in any way wish to discredit these skilled writers. Go to your local B&N and purchase one today.

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Sorry Bruster's

2011-05-17T21:06:00.001-04:00

This place is so good. For all you worried about about my eating, I have been 3 times this week!!! My favorite is strawberry and banana. Have you been? What's your favorite?

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Not A Great Idea

2011-05-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

How many times have we been browsing through the store, and we find something that we think we have to have. Maybe the item will help solve some kind of problem, make your life easier, or just put a smile on your face. You excitedly make the purchase, get it home, and rip open the packaging so that your good feeling you had as you stood there on aisle 9 follows you into your home. Yet somehow, that euphoric feeling that you knew the item would bring, instead brings grief, sorrow, and a big ole let down!

That is how I feel every time I look at the towel rack hanging below my kitchen sink. I thought it was a great idea at the time. It seemed like such a novel idea... a tiny towel rack that would hang on your cabinet door below your kitchen sink for a dish towel... what is not a good idea about that???

The rack however is so light weight that every time you open the cabinet to get the dish detergent, Mr. Clean, or furniture polish, it goes flying across the kitchen, thus flinging the said dish towel across the room, only to cause you to sigh for the 100,000 time. Every time I grab the towel to dry my hands or the dishes, the rack falls on my toe. I would much rather be using the hand towel than ripping too many pieces of the Bounty Select-A-Size roll sitting right near by, but the loathing I have for the falling rack causes me to ignore the hand towel and I rip a Bounty instead!

I know what you are thinking... Why don't I just get rid of it? I guess I can't get rid of it because I paid for it... HA... that can't be it. I only paid $6.99, and I think I had a coupon for 20% off. Maybe on my next Hoarders purge, that will be the next thing to go!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Worthless Clutter

2011-05-15T18:31:00.003-04:00

I got on some kind of cleaning spree today thanks to the TV show Hoarders. Every time I watch the show I get rid of all kinds of stuff. A good rule of thumb for me when throwing things out is, if it hasn't moved at all in the past 6 months to a year, then I most likely don't need it. I found a jackpot full of worthless wires and phone chargers that were just taking up space in one of my nightstand drawers.

Can you imagine how "things" would feel if they had feelings??? These things would be so depressed... Not only do I NOT use them anymore, but they really have no value at all. They are just lost...no purpose, no meaning. Kind of like the toys that end up in the yard sale in Toy Story.

I know many of you will tell me I should recycle these, or donate them to some drive that reuses old cell phones, but as you can see from the pic, the red one is busted and the black one was fished out of the toilet back in its hay day, and it is inoperable. They are on their way to the big landfill in the sky. The car chargers and wall chargers snaking their way around the drawer are even more worthless because I don't even have the phones that go with them anymore. They have just been laying there all this time waiting on my to get rid of them... Sadly, or happily, depending on how you look at it, today these items met their fate!

Most Visited Blog

2011-05-14T20:28:00.002-04:00

One of the features that Blogger offers to blog authors, is a way to track the traffic on your site. They give you information about what site lead readers to your blog, which post that got visited the most, what country or state your visitors are from, and how many page visits per day.

Out of all the blogs I have posted over the last 5 years, this blog about the change in my diet has been the most visited post of all. Guess you readers like to know what I am eating huh? I thought since that one was the most popular that I would show you what I ate today. I ran 13.1 miles today before lunch so all of the post workout food and lunch listed was right after my run. I was so hungry. Where you see whole wheat rotini, that was some pasta salad I made with fat free Italian. I am about to go eat some more. I am still hungry!

Is The Streak Over?

2011-05-13T17:44:00.003-04:00

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to Blogger for being shut down yesterday and breaking my blog a day streak since August. I was so mad, yet so helpless. There was nothing I could do. My goal was to blog every day for a year. I did blog yesterday, I just could not post it. Some of my Facebook friends said that it didn't count because the site was down, but somehow I feel defeated. What do you say? O well, what can I do about it? Just keep on trucking I suppose. If you fall off the horse, get back on right? Try, try again.... Be determined!

Speaking of being determined. I have an app on my phone that has gives you quotes for just about any kind of topic. In honor of being determined to blog for a year I looked up quotes on determination. These were my top 3.

"If I were dropped out of a plane into the ocean and told the nearest land was 1,000 miles away, I'd still swim. And I'd despise the one who gave up."

"Little by little, One walks far."

"Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try."

Grocery Shopping

2011-05-11T20:41:00.000-04:00

Grocery shopping is not typically you do after dinner with friends, but tonight my friend Kati, Matt and I went to Ingles after dinner because we all 3 needed things for school tomorrow. I needed eggs, Kati needed popcorn, and Matt needed cereal. We were not worried about buying a lot because dinner at Wade's followed by a big 'ole cup of Tutti Frutti (Don't laugh Kati!), had left us all full as a tick! We were not however, expecting to laugh so hard as we perused the aisles.

The first thing that got us tickled was my fault. We were looking at the salads in the deli when the clerk came over and asked me if he could help us. Jokingly, I said, "Can I have a sample?" Kati was telling me about how great this salad they have called "Workout Salad" is. Next thing I know the guy scoped me out a cup full. It was good, but everything he put in the cup, (banana peppers, cauliflower, and cherry tomatoes) I do not like. So I made Kati finish it. She would let me throw the cup away. It rode around in the buggy the whole time.

As we continued along, I noticed this fruit that I have never heard of before. I don't even know how to say it.... What in the heck is it? Guess I will be headed wikipedia after the blog.

This made us laugh hard. Matt went to get cereal while we were over near the dairy. He had to walk all across the store to get it. We were still in the dairy section when he got back and put the cereal in the buggy. Immediately Kati and I noticed this box. He had picked it up and walked around the whole store and not noticed that it had been opened. It looked as if some kid had tried to dig in when mom wasn't looking. We went back to get another box, and wouldn't you know it, he picked up another open box!

Based on the laughter that came out of Ingles tonight, I think grocery shopping with friends should happen more often...Who wants to go with me next week?

Videolicious

2011-05-10T20:58:00.002-04:00

I got this new app for my phone called Videolicious. It makes creating a video of pics really easy. This is my first time using it. I am still experimenting but thought I would post it. I am such a tech nerd wannabe. I don't always know how to use the tech just right, but I like trying!

Sciurophobia

2011-05-09T17:08:00.002-04:00

Over the past year of my life I have discovered I have this phobia called Sciurophobia (ski-ooro-phobia). I am a little embarrassed to tell you what it is, but I will tell you it is real!!! Go google it, and have a good laugh at my expense.

Running helped me to discover this. No, it's not a fear of running and your shorts falling, or being chased by dogs...although it does have to do with another varmint I encounter along the trails I run. I can hear them rustling in the leaves, lurking in the shrubs waiting to pounce on me. Sometimes, along the Rail Trail downtown, they will even sit and wait on me to get right near them. Then they dart out right in front of me, leaving my already pounding heart to work overtime due to the adrenaline rush of fear that surges through me!

They literally terrify me! I think it all started with my deck cushions. I knew they were out there laughing at me as they huddled in their cozy, warm nest waiting for the next opportunity to strike again. Nothing phased them... BB guns, poison, hot sauce... They scoff in the face of the dangers I set out before them. They have even begun to attack my dreams. Maybe I will get over this soon, or else this could be the beginning of a long drawn out ride of horror.

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T22:41:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to my awesome mama!!! She is my biggest fan, and I am hers!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Hammock Or Bust!

2011-05-07T14:22:00.000-04:00

Day Off

2011-05-06T19:16:00.001-04:00

I took the day off today to play catch up... I guess you can see what I needed to catch up on. This is a pic of me towards the end of my 2.5 hours of reading and napping in the hammock. This is how EVERY day off should be!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Butterfly Life Cycle

2011-05-05T22:45:00.004-04:00

I love my job and all the little perks that come with it. There are notes, cards, and drawings galore that adorn my classroom door, I get a thousand little hugs a day, and every now and then someone brings in a gift card to say they appreciate all the hard work I do. In fact, this is Teacher Appreciation Week, and I got a few gift cards this week as a token of appreciation.

All of that aside, I love what I get to do. Teaching the students about various things like weather, magnets, the 7 continents, 2 digit addition and subtraction, the list goes on.. is a TON of FUN!

Right now we are learning about the life cycle of the butterfly. 2 weeks ago our tiny larva arrived. Since their arrival we have waited...Waited on the larva to start pooping...waited on the caterpillar to grow...waited on the caterpillar to turn into a chrysalis. Their presence in the classroom has caused one excited day after another.

Today the excitement reached a frenzied peak! We have to wait no more as our caterpillars finally emerged as beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies! Here is a shot of the box we keep them in once the go into their chrysalis. When the kids walked in the classroom this morning, and saw that we had butterflies, I was reminded why I do what I do! They were beyond excited for themselves!

I had one student who literally sat there all day and gave us updates on every movement of the butterflies. He even alerted us when one started to exit his little home, and we all got to see the butterfly come out. It was so cool. I have taught this for years, and every time I see it I am just blown away!

One kid said it best as we all huddled around the box to take a peek at the coolness that was in the box!... "It is amazing that they go in one way and come out another. What in the world happens in there?"

I wish I could tell you that I had a great explanation that explained every specific detail of the metamorphosis that occurred within the chrysalis, but I didn't... No one has a tiny camera in there checking it all out. I didn't really need an answer though with the awesome kiddos I have... As soon as he asked what happened in there, someone piped up and said... "It's just one of God's miracles!" I smiled, and left it at that and smiled!

Overwhelmed By Peace

2011-05-04T17:21:00.004-04:00

My heart is heavy today. It has been all day long as I have been thinking about a family in my church that experienced a horrible tragedy last night. They are such a strong and resilient family who I know are trusting God in ways that I can only hope that I would trust Him if I were in the same circumstances. As I have thought about them today tears have come and gone several times. I could not wait to get home and spend a quiet moment (less 16 summer itching 2nd graders) with the Lord on their behalf.

When I got home, I put on a play list of worship music that I sometimes listen to when I fall asleep. The Lord uses every song on there to remind me of who He is. I have heard all of them a 1,000 times. Today, like He always does when I need Him, He allowed me to hear this one in a whole new way today.

It is called The More I Seek You by Kari Jobe. I encourage you to take a listen, lay back against Him, listen to His heart beat, and be overwhelmed by His peace.

Mother's Hall Of Fame

2011-05-03T18:12:00.001-04:00

This week we have been making a book for our mothers in my 2nd grade class in honor of their big day on Sunday. One page of the book asks the students to illustrate a picture of their mom. These were a few of my favorites. If only I could hear the mothers' expressions as they see their spitting image on paper. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.

Posted from BB's iPhone!

Practice

2011-05-02T19:44:00.001-04:00

This is gonna be a CRAZY WEEK!! I have practice for Beauty and the Beast Monday-Wednesday from 6 til 10 and then the show starts Thursday-Saturday from 8-10ish. It's totally worth it though. Being here, performing with a great friend of mine high school makes it so fun. These kids are a hoot too. Some of them were not even born when I graduated! I've been having an old moment tonight!

With all the practice this week and the tons of practices I have been to in my life, these are some lessons I have learned about rehearsing for anything. Keep these lessons in mind and you won't explode at your next practice.

1. It never starts on time after you rush to get there.

2. It never goes as planned.

3. Someone is always gonna forget something they need.

4. You NEVER get out on time.

5. It does not make you perfect like the old cliché says, but it sure makes you better!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

I Can't Wait To Be A Grown Up

2011-05-01T15:50:00.002-04:00

Remember saying that when you were little. It seemed that grown ups had all the fun. They had all the money. They made all of the decisions about where and what was for dinner, where you went for vacation, what time you went to bed, etc. There were lots of things I remember wanting to have or do when I was a kid that I absolutely could not wait to be a grown up for. Now that I am there, things don't seem as glamorous as my childlike mind once conceived that they were. Here are just a few things that come to mind.

1. Bed time... Then, 8-9... When I am a grown up, I can stay up as late as I want and watch TV all night Now... I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN THE BED AT 8!!!!!!!!

2. Money... Then, I got a big ole spanking in Sky City one day over a toy I wanted... When I am a grown up I will buy whatever I want!!! Now... The money is gone before I get it, and I am not really sure what it goes to!

3. Cleaning my room... Then, I hated cleaning my room. I never wanted to do it. When I am grown up I can leave my room as dirty as I want. Now... I can't keep it clean. I want to, but I must have a fear of hangars because my clothes go in the floor far too often!

4. Refrigerator... Then, we had to fill ice trays and wait on the ice to freeze because we didn't have an ice maker. When I grown up, I am having a fridge with an ice maker! Now... I have a fridge with an ice maker, and I do not even use it. I open the door and reach inside just like when I was little.

5. Listening... Then, I had to do what everyone told me. Do this do that. When I am a grown up, I won't have to listen to anyone. I can do whatever I want. Now, I crave advice, wisdom, and direction when making big decisions.

It is funny how we wish our lives away wanting to be grown ups, and now that we are here, being a kid just doesn't seem so bad.

St. Francis Mud Run 2011

2011-04-30T14:31:00.003-04:00

I ran my first mud run today, and it was 3.5 miles of the most fun I have had while running. Great team, challenging obstacles and LOTS OF MUD! I highly recommend it!

Not In

2011-04-29T22:08:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was the lottery for the New York City Marathon. Unfortunately I did not get in. There were thousands upon thousands hoping for a spot, but only the lucky ones had their names pulled from a hat. It just wasn't my turn I guess. The good news... I can try again next year. After 3 years of not getting in you are guaranteed entry, so that said... I WILL run the NYC Marathon by 2014!!!

To help ease my disappointment, I looked at this pic and smiled as I remembered how ecstatic I was as I crossed the line last month. I cannot wait to do it again!

Post Run Food

2011-04-28T21:07:00.005-04:00

Tonight I was reading an article about post run food that came to my email from Runner's World. I love getting articles like that because they always give me new ideas of things to eat after running. Fruit smoothies are a great snack that I read about tonight. I may be buying a blender soon.

Lots of people ask me what I eat to fuel my runs, and to recover afterward. These are some good snacks that I eat, and would be great for you too after any kind of exercise.

1. Wheatables- These are awesome little crackers made with whole wheat. They have a sweet honey taste. My brother-in-law, the pickiest eater I know LOVES THEM!

2. Honey Nut Cheerios- I wish I would have kept track of the number of boxes of this that I have eaten since my whole weight lose journey began. Since that day I would say I have had more than 200 boxes. Currently I eat a huge bowl full every morning and another huge bowl full after my runs. Sometimes I go back for a third bowl before bed!!!

3. Chocolate Milk- i never would have thought about this being a great snack until I started running, however, if you use a low fat or 1% milk, this is a great way to replenish your carbs quickly after exercise.

4. Bananas- I have blogged about my obsession with bananas before. I eat about 3 a day... sometimes 4. I cannot have enough. I found this pick online tonight, and thought is was a great representation of me and this blog... I love randomness!

5. Pasta Salad- I can make this from scratch very easily and keep it in the fridge for days. I do love the easy make kind by Kraft or Betty Crocker. Sometimes you can get them BOGO. I try to keep this snack made often. It comes in handy for a quick dinner too!

What Jed Can't Do!

2011-04-27T17:37:00.003-04:00

This is a book I have in my classroom library at school. I usually read it to the kiddos at the beginning of the school year, but today as I poured my post run cereal snack, it came to mind. Why you ask??? Keep reading!

It came to mind because little pieces of cereal fell out of the bowl and little drops of milk dropped to counter. I said out loud, while I was all alone, "I cannot pour a bowl of cereal." It is true, I can't! I cannot think of a time where I didn't spill a piece of cereal or a drop of milk when I am eating cereal. I eat cereal at least 2 times a day, sometimes 3. Breakfast, post run, and sometimes and bedtime snack.

As I said "I can't," a whole list of little things popped into my head that I cannot do! Hope these make you feel a little bit better about yourself!

1. I can't whistle with 2 fingers... You know, the really loud kind of whistle that everyone stops when they hear it.

2. I can't grill anything. I burn it no matter what it is...no matter the temperature...even if I stand there the whole time.

3. I can't play team sports. I have tried, and I stink at all of them. Don't ask me to be on your team. Coaching is one thing, playing is a whole different ball game!

4. I can't mop. Every time I have ever attempted I get stuck in a corner. I always feel like I am just pushing a bucket of dirty water around the living room and nothing is getting cleaned.

5. I can't use Print Shop. All my techy and teacher friends will laugh at this one. I have tried to use the software and it just doesn't make sense to me. I blog, I wiki, I create Power Point, I make flipcharts for ActivInspire, I can even write a bit of html code, but don't ask me to do something on Print Shop.

6. I can't set a little cheap watch. You know the ones you get at Wal-Mart for like 5 bucks... I have had several of those, and I always have to get someone else to set it. My students ask me to set theirs all the time, and I just have to tell them to ask their mom!

7. I can't raise one eyebrow and sink the other one. I want to so bad so I can give the evil eye to my students. Sometimes I think I am giving them that evil eye only to realize that both eyebrows are raised, and I look ridiculous! No wonder they laugh at me.

8. I can't tie someone else's shoe. Let me explain... I can if I am beside them, and tie it as if it were my own shoe. Standing across from them and trying to tie it is almost impossible for me!

9. I can't wrap stuff with plastic wrap. The stuff never sticks like it supposed to, I tear it off and it is instantly a big mess, I get mad and throw it away. I use tin foil instead. (Teri, that is aluminum foil for you!)

10. I can't get ice out of the freezer without dropping at least one piece. If I am at your house, my house, my mom's house...whoever's house, I WILL drop a piece of ice if I have to get any out... TRUST ME!

Is there anything you can't do?

Not Gonna Worry About It!

2011-04-26T21:21:00.002-04:00

This school year I took a class to learn how to teach those students who are gifted and talented. During the course of the class, the teacher more than once said, "We are not gonna worry about it," in regards to our assignments. She was saying that so we wouldn't freak out when she told us whatever it was we were going to have to do. That motto of hers just bore a deep hole in my psyche, and I am SO glad it did because there is a lot I could worry about right now, but I won't... but just in case you are wondering, here is the list of potential worries that I am ignoring even as I type....

1. I am not gonna worry about how hard the music is for the musical I am playing in.

2. I am not gonna worry that there is a patch of milkweed that seems to be taking over the side of my yard.

3. I am not gonna worry that the dishes are sitting there in the sink.

4. I am not gonna worry that there is an inch of dust on the bottom shelf of the coffee table.

5. I am not gonna worry about missing my soccer practice tonight because I had musical practice, I am doing the best I can.

6. I am not gonna worry about that pile of clothes sitting on the ironing board, that have been there for days now.

7. I am not gonna worry about the Mud Run on Saturday and lack of upper body strength for the climbs that are in the race.

8. I am not gonna worry about those caterpillars in the little cups at school. If they need more room to make a chrysalis then they should eat more of the food out of the way.

9. I am not gonna worry about putting the trash and recycling out even though will be picked up in the morning.

10. I am not gonna worry about all you readers laughing at me over my lack of worrying. :0)

10 @ 10

2011-04-25T22:04:00.002-04:00

I told you last week that I was playing my trumpet in Beauty and The Beast performed by the Boiling Springs High School Drama department. The rehearsal are from 6-10 each night that we rehearse. That is just for the orchestra. The actors put in a TON more time. In an effort to keep me in a positive mood about being at practice so late I tried to think of 10 positive things about not getting home til 10. Here are the best things I could come up with.

1. There is no traffic on the way home or in my neighborhood.

2. If I need to hit the drive-thru, there is not a wait.

3. The housework that is waiting can continue to wait. Who starts cleaning at 10 right?

4. DVR records all my shows so I can watch them the next day and actually save time fast forwarding through the commercials.

5. I get to go straight to bed when I get home!

6. Any laundry needing folded will still be there in the morning. It doesn't matter if I have to leave it in that basket in the floor or stacked up on the ironing board one more night!

7. I don't have to return any voice mails, because it is too late!

8. I don't have to listen to any bouncing basketballs or motorcycles from the neighbors because they are already tucked in!

9. It is really cool, crisp air when I walk out to my car after practice...not like that muggy mess that was here this afternoon!

10. I am not still there til 11 like the rest of the cast!