Lets Go Saints

Today was a rough day. Why does it seem that the day after a vacation is looooooong and hard? Nothing bad happened, it was just my attitude. I was not ready to go back to work. I have no reason to complain considering I just had 9 whole days off, and I only have 13 more school days until Christmas break.
But, its ok, tomorrow is a new day and it will be better, or I will have a better attitude. But better yet------- Monday Night Football.
Saints vs. Patriots.
I am currently curled up on the couch in my pj's watching a game that I have been anticipating for days!!! AHHH.
Lets go Saints. I went to school in Louisiana and I am a huge fan of the Saints. Besides being great on the field, the team, especially Drew Brees, have done great things for the city of New Orleans. They have really helped get New Orleans back on its feet. They have invested their time, talents, and finances to help the city, and I think that is so awesome.
Geaux Saints!!!

Giving Blood

Today P and I took our cars to get washed and detailed today. While we were waiting we decided to walk down the road and give blood. Well, originally I was going to give blood and P was going to wait, but the ladies working talked him into it. I try to give blood regularly because it is a pretty significant need. P however does not care for needles, so tends to say no when I ask him to come with me. So I was so proud of him when he decided to donate. Which, was hilarious by the way. P is a pretty tough guy, but when he decided to give, all the sudden he said his pulse went up, his hands got sweaty, and his heart started pounding. Then he started getting really chatty and making jokes. He then proceeded to eat a bunch of the snacks they offer after donations. Finally he sat down in the chair next to me, and gave blood. It was hilarious. P was so funny. But I am so proud of him for giving today.

Something Different

I love being a teacher. It is one of the things that brings me so much joy. But........lately I have been wondering what I would do if I was not a teacher.
I think I would be a chef. More specifically, a natural foods pastry specialist!
I think it would be so much fun to open up a small pastry shop filled with foods that taste great, yet are not terrible to eat.
It would be a small shop right off a downtown street. There would be small bistro tables out front with umbrellas to block the sun in the summer, and twinkle lights hanging down to set the mood at night. The smell of sugar would be intoxicating as you open the door. The walls would be pink and black, to give the effect of sweetness with a little naughtiness.
The cabinets would be filled with cakes, pies, muffins, and all types of sweet treats. There would be gluten free selections, vegan selections, and everything in between.
We would serve coffee from around the world that would transport you with each sip.
We would host a girls party once a month for the women in town to come socialize and meet others.
We would cater your parties and events with class and flair.
We would make wedding cakes to melt in your mouth, while they reach as high as the heavens.

Just a fantasy and dream to share.
Do yall have a dream of doing something else? Please share I would love to know!

Compleition

I did it! I finished my first marathon!! 26.2 miles done. Let's check this one off my bucket list!
The marathon was hard. I started getting nervous last Sunday and my nerves ate at me all week long. Once the marathon started the nerves went away and I was doing great the first 10 miles then my entire left leg cramped up, and I had to run like that for the next 16 miles. That is a really long way to white knuckle your way through something. But I did it, yet not alone.
As I pursued this goal, each training run I was on my own. P would come ride his bike next to me on my training runs, but other than that, it was a solo experience. I came into this race expecting to test my metal. Could I really do this? Could I push through the pain? Will this show me what I was made of? I think I was so nervous because every other athletic pursuit I have done has been as part of a team, group, or pair. This was the first time that I would step out on my own without a partner for support.
Yet, I did not do this alone. I have an amazing husband and great friends who did this with me, and without their support, I would not have made it through.
Before I go any further, I need to thank P. This week he has been so supportive of me. He has noticed when my nerves were getting the best of me, and he stepped in and lifted me up with words of encouragement. He dropped me off this morning at the start line, then drove to park his car, then hopped on his bike and came and saw me off. Then he spent the entire race riding around supporting me. He gave me food, water, and words of support. Thank you P for loving me so well.
I also have some great friends. They were also on their bike riding around cheering me on. At one point, my bff and former college roommate ditched her bike and ran the last 2 miles with me.
Today was just another reminder to me what the important things in life are. They are family and friends loving and supporting each other. It is being there for people in our lives. I am so humbled that there are so many people in my life who will stop what they are doing to come and support me. Wow, thank you to my sweet husband and friends.
I am now nestled into a comfy spot on the couch. My legs are sore as heck and I am drinking a ton of water, and trying to recover.Physically, my tank is empty. Emotionally, my tank is over flowing!

New York, New York

I worked from home today! I was working on a project for school and my Principal gave me the day off to finish, so it was great being at home all day on a week day!! I woke up at 5 A.M, yes, the day that I can sleep in I actually wake up earlier than normal--awesome. Anyways, I was up and at it by 5:30 and I worked non stop and finished by 9!! AHH, pure relief.
Anyways, P played hookie from work to hang out with me, so we ate a big breakfast, did some laundry, visited the mother ship (target) and then rented a movie.
We watched Phelm 123. The movie was simply alright. There was a ton of cussing and that really turns me off.
The part that I really liked was seeing New York city in the background. I have never been to New York city, and I am longing to go. I want to see it all. I want to experience the rush of New York city. Seriously, when I see New York city in movies or on t.v., I just long to go there. The excitement, energy, history of it all just makes me dizzy thinking about it. I have read so many books and seen so many movies with the city as the backdrop, and I just want to go there.
But, alas, we wont be going very soon.
P and I are saving up to go skiing with friends in December. My bff's parents just built a vacation home in Maine, so P and I, along with my bff and her hubs will be flying out the day after Christmas to go skiing for a week. I have never been skiing, and I am super excited about going, yet still part of me can't help but long to go to New York. One day I will go, and it will be amazing, but for now, I get to eagerly await my winter escape!!!

One Week

One week from today I will have completed my 1st marathon. WOW! I cannot believe that it is so close. I am finding that I am getting more nervous the closer it gets, and the more I think about it. I never thought that I would ever, ever run a marathon, and now I am. I am also finding that I am getting worried about my training. Why didn't I train harder? Did I pick the right training program? Will my right calf start to hurt again? Why about the thing on the bottom of my foot, it now hurts every time I take a step, will I be able to push through the pain? Will I be able to move those last few miles? Will I even make it to those last few miles?

I need to trust my training. I need to trust that I put in the time and effort. I need to remember that I am prepared for this. I have been training since August. I have skipped only 2 runs this entire time, I can do this. Uhhh I am nervous!!!

November Goals

I really like setting goals. I usually do it about once a year, during New Years Revolution time, and I am pretty determined about making steps towards meeting my goals. I decided that it would be a great idea to do long term, and short term goals, so here they are for the month of November.

1. Sell my 6 seasons of Friends dvd's. I used to be a big fan of the show, but I have not watched the DVD's in years. (P and I did a monster clean out last weekend, we took loads to Goodwill.)
2. Read 1 book about "Green Living." P and I have been talking about starting a compost pile, and we just need to start it, so hopefully I can go to the library and find information about it.
3. Finish redoing my curriculum for 6th grade. (My principal told us that we wont be able to leave for Christmas break if it is not done, and I wont have time to do it in September.)
4. Continue to contribute to E-Fund. (We are over half way there!!! YES for baby step 3.)

So there you go. There are probably some that I did not list, but these are it for now.
Hope yall had a restful weekend.