Giving Happiness

In my last post I wrote about my dad, whom I love, cherish, and worry about.  This post is dedicated to my  mom.  My mom and I have not had a blissful mother-daughter relationship, and it's been a rocky road for as long as I can remember.  She's still my mom, and I love, cherish, and worry about her too. One of the greatest gifts I could give her this Christmas was the opportunity to come visit me in South Carolina for the holiday(s).  I will not deny that I didn't have many, many reservations about this.  Afterall, we do not see eye-to-eye on life, and I don't understand any of the choices she has made in the last 20 years. However, I knew that if she could get a glimpse of my life, she would rest easy, and know that she did raise me with the confidence to be who I am today. That I'm healthy and happy and for the most part, well adjusted.  Which unfortunately is a luxury, I know this.  I'm incredibly grateful for the upbringing I had, and I often think about the children who aren't as fortunate. I also think about the people who haven't gotten through their growing pains, and can't seem to get past pain in their life.  I'm not religious, but I'm faithful, and I know that things happen for a reason, but sometimes reasons are unknown, and that's when you have to "pick yourself up by your boot straps" and forge ahead.  Maybe it's easier to do when you are so far removed from the places in life that caused  you pain. I don't know.  When I look at my mom I see a very attractive, mature lady who has class and style.   She keeps a positive attitude, but there's always a sadness in her voice that I can sense.  I believe that everyone deserves happiness.  I also believe that everyone has to create their own happiness.  This is the one thing I wish for my family... create your own happiness in 2012. Take the good, leave the bad. Break the chain and make your own life for you, not everyone else. Celebrate little things. Look ahead, don't look back, but learn from the past.
I used to always fear becoming so much of a perfectionist like my mom.  As I've grown up, and really grown into my own person, I no longer fear this.  I have all of the good traits from both my parents, and I try to be conscious of the traits I don't want to have, and I work to overcome the weaknesses that I see. No one is perfect, I'm certainly no exception. My mom isn't perfect either, but she was a good mom during the most formative years of my life. She and my dad both gave my sister and I a lot of unconditional love that many children today don't experience. This past week, she continued to give me that unconditional love, even in my own house, where I'm sure I don't do things the way she did/ would. All in all, it was a long week, for me... but I know that it was one of the most joyful weeks in my mom's life. Knowing this, knowing that I could give her a brief week of happiness was worth the little bit of discomfort for me.

Welcome to the 21st Century!

In the midst of being thankful, cooking a family feast, and celebrating with my husband's family, there has been a lot going on with my very own blood relatives on the opposite coast.  When I made the move across the country 6 years ago, I never imagined the worry and anxiety I would feel periodically about how my own parents and sister are faring in life.  Ridiculous, I know.  I dedicate this post to my father!  My dad has owned and run his own restaurant for 24 years. I respect him immensely, even though I haven't agreed with every decision he's made.  I love him. He's the man that always told me I could do whatever I set my mind to!  He's the man that taught me life isn't always easy, but if you work hard, and treat people kindly, good things will come.  He's also the man who has run his restaurant sans a computer and works 7 days a week, constantly spinning his wheels.  He's also the man who hasn't taken a true vacation in probably 15 years (maybe more).  With all that being said, his life is about to change drastically, hopefully for the better because he's finally stepping into the 21st century.  My sister and I have taken it upon ourselves to just buy him a computer and get him set up so that he can make some changes to his business, and hopefully be able to slow down a bit.  I guess because I consider myself a life long learner, I am constantly learning new things and embrace change.  This I'm sure I did not learn from my father.  We've been trying to convince him to get "computerized" for a decade. Easier said then done. Well... "V" for VICTORY because  this past weekend my sister took my dad to the Apple Store and he's entered a whole new world!!!!! I'm proud of him for embracing this new technology and can't wait for him to see how much easier his work life will become.
Running a restaurant is no easy feat.  I've watched first-hand how other people's enjoyment in dining out is my father's daily grind to make sure it is enjoyable. And doing this alone is definitely no easy feat.  Even though I worry about my dad, and think of him everyday, I know that he's a workhorse and perseveres through the toughest of times.  I'm thankful him and my mom, even though separate now, were selfless in giving my sister and I the tools and the confidence to conquer the world, or atleast go after our dreams!  Now it's our turn to help our parents.  Which isn't always easy when you live 3,000 miles away.  The computer will definitely help though!!!! I'll end in saying that last night when I called to wish my dad a Happy Thanksgiving, it was a relief to hear him excited about his new computer. It was a relief to hear him refreshed and looking forward to making some much needed changes to his restaurant. Most of all, it was a relief to hear him happy to join the 21st century!

Collaboration

Have you ever felt like you're repeating yourself over like a broken record?  Have you ever thought to yourself, "Yeah, that's a great idea, but it needs further development?" My entire experience as an educator has revolved around looking for great collaboration.  Not just among myself and fellow educators, but in students as well.  Collaboration is the foundation of great teaching and learning!  In my current position, I am often challenged to coach teachers and administrators in the instruction of Mathematics.  What I feel like I'm really coaching them in is COLLABORATION!  This isn't something I take lightly.  Yes, traditionally, teachers have just shared great worksheets, cute projects, and sometimes the occasional thematic bulletin board to catch the attention of all passers by.  But my friends, this isn't collaboration, this is simply SHARING.  What does collaboration look like? What does it sound like? How does collaboration impact student achievement?  Or does it?
The World English Dictionary defines collaboration as "the act of working with another or others on a joint project."  So I ask you, is educating students a joint project?  They say it takes a village, so why in "the village" do we not collaborate about; assessing learning,  further learning, and the data that shows learning has taken place?
I recently heard a phenomenal new principal talk about the tough conversations that she had to have with her veteran staff upon taking on the role of principal at her school.  Tough conversations are just that TOUGH.  But does that mean that we shouldn't have them as professionals in order to increase student achievement and our own professional growth? 
I truly believe that people do the best they can with what they know.  However, how does one ever know more, if tough conversations are not started?  I also truly believe that all teachers want to do what's best for students, and sometimes that means having a tough conversation with the student, the parent, or our own colleagues. 
I work with so many talented educators and many who have ideas I could only hope to think of, yet, there's a void in the work they are doing.  That void is called collaboration.  So I challenge all educators, new and veteran, administrators, and teachers to look deeply at the level of collaboration you are engaged in.  Do you take constructive criticism personally or do you take it and do something about it because it does impact student achievement?  Work smarter, not harder!!!!!
If our common goal truly is to raise student achievement and educate young people to be thinkers and life long learners, then why do we often take the ball and run in the opposite direction from our own teammates?

This One Was for Me!

It is not often that we set out to do things just for ourselves, atleast it's not that way for me.  This morning my 10K race was just for me though!  I've just started my new position at work this week, and felt like I was running on adrenaline and a little bit of nerves all week long, but my only training for this 10k was a few runs the last 2 weeks.  By few I mean I totaled about 9 miles over 3 days. With ridiculous training like that, I told myself just to run my best and finish.  My last 10k was the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC and I had the pleasure hassle of running with a backpack while hubby took off on a good time.  I wasn't completely disappointed with my completion of 1:12:37 in that race. 

Hubby thought a before race stretching shot was necessary.



When I signed up for this HOG JOG in Charlotte, I figured the name alone was enough to  make me run faster, and I figured I could probably do atleast as well as I had in April sans the backpack.  I had no time goal, and just wanted to finish the race feeling good.  I was pleased to start out at a good pace and keep it between 9:30 and 10:00 minute miles at first, but about half a mile into the race I realized my Garmin watch wasn't started, so my time had not been going.  Oops! I also had no idea what the course was going to be like, seeing how I JUST got the map last night and was too tired to really focus on it.  But again, I told myself as I listened to the lyrics of Beautiful Day by U2 that it was a beautiful day and I was going to keep running!  The course was a little hilly, lots of curves, which I think I now might prefer over a long, straight stretch of course.  I think the miles pass quicker! The race wasn't very crowded, which I like!  I tend to run alone, I don't mind people near me, but I get in my groove and today that groove was all about me!  Running is one thing that clears my head and makes me feel great, even if DOMS sets in a day or two later.  This race gave me time to process all the information I had coming at me this week in learning about my new position.  It also gave me the opportunity to reflect on all that I have accomplished in my career to get this new position.  On this morning's run I learned that it's okay not to have expectations all the time, and that sometimes when you don't have them, you end up doing better than you thought!  And that is why I'm very pleased satisfied with my  1:09:32 finish!  I looked at the official results, and I could give you the details about my place in the total race, where I finished next to others in my age group, but today it wasn't about them, it was about me!  I don't need to finish first, I usually don't finish last, and that is good enough for me!

This would be my "Finish Strong" sprint to the finish line face.

 

A few other things I learned along this course:
1) Running Skirts ROCK
2) Pizza isn't the best night before meal (I just felt heavy)
3) Speed work is KEY to a race
4) I love having my hubby at the finish line!

When All Else Fails

When all else fails, do what feels good!  Stay true to yourself and remember that this too shall pass! This post seems a bit cliche, but lately, the last 5 days to be exact, I've had more anxiety over things that are out of my control than I remember feeling in a very long time.  So I'm reminding myself to take deep breaths, ride the ride, and do what feels good, which for me is RUNNING.  Well, running and eating some dark chocolate, but not in that particular order.  Exciting news can also be overwhelming, especially when there are unknowns involved.  Sunday morning I woke up way too early for a Sunday, so I took that energy and went for a run.  3.2 miles made me clear my head and feel more relaxed about decisions that are being made right now.  I also decided to take this anxious energy and sign up for a 10K in two weeks.  TWO WEEKS!!! Considering the only running I've done all summer has been 1-2 miles a few times a week on the treadmill  dreadmill, it's time to kick it in high gear and get outside for a few miles.  But I've told myself that this 10K is just a nice, easy run.  I'm not going for a PR, my only goal is to finish and feel good about doing the race.  My last 10K was in April (Cooper River Bridge) and I ran that with a backpack on full of stuff, so I should be able to do atleast as well as  I did then! 

Makes Me Say WOW!

In my last post I wrote about searching for answers.  Over the past week some of those answers started to reveal themselves.  Last weekend I had a much needed dinner date with my husband!  While getting ready, I looked in my closet for something "new" and different to wear out.  I came upon a pair of white capris I bought in 2008  but haven't had the courage to wear since the day after I got married.  I thought, "I've been working out hard, let's just try these on and see." Any human woman will tell you that's not always the best idea before going on a date... whether it's with your hubby or not, it just isn't good if they don't fit! Well color me happy because  I shimmied my hips into those white capris, buttoned, zipped and all!!! Thank you Stephanie Sawyer at Ciarla Fitness http://www.ciarlafitness.com/ for kicking my butt and making work outs so much fun!! Sign me up again! That was a nice start to the week and gave me the answer that although it takes quite a few hours of time each week, the drive to Ballantyne and back is well worth every mile and every penny spent!

Another WOW this week was an easy, yet elegant weeknight meal. Every week when I create my menus I try to do some meatless meals and disguise the veggies for my husband.  I also try to cook recipes that are fairly quick and easy, that don't use a lot of fancy ingredients but the meal seems special.  This week I tried a recipe for Spinach and Parmesan Souffles out of the June 2011 issue of Cooking Light magazine and they were a HIT! 



Here's the recipe:
Cooking spray
1 1/2 TBSP dry breadcrumbs
6 oz. fresh baby spinach ( I substituted with about 1 1/2 cups frozen chopped b/c that's what I had)
2/3 cup  fat-free milk
2 TBSP all purpose flour
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigianno-Reggiano cheese
2 large egg yolks
4 large egg whites
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

Place a baking sheet in the over and Preheat to 425 degrees. Coat 4 (6 oz.) ramekins with cooking spray, sprinkle evenly with breadcrumbs, coating sides evenly and completely. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Light coat pan with cooking spray. Add spinach, cook for 2 minutes or until leaves are wilted, tossing constantly.  Place spinach in a colander, let stand 5 minutes. Squeeze excess liquid from spinach. Coarsely chop. Combine 2/3 cup milk and the next 4 ingredients in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.  Stirring with a whisk until smooth.  Cook 2 minutes or until  mixture is thick and bubbly, stirring constantly.  Spoon mixture into a large bowl and let stand for 10  minutes. Stir in spinach, cheese and egg yolks. Combine egg whites adn cream of tartar in a large bowl and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Beat with a mixer on high speed until medium peaks form. Gently stir 1/4 of egg whites into spinach mixture, and gently fold in the reamining egg whites. Gently spoon mixture into prepared dishes on preheated baking sheet. Return to oven, then immediately lower oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake souffles at 350 for 21 minutes or until puffy and golden brown.  Serve immediately.

163 Calories, 6g Fat, 13.2g Protein, 14.6g Carb, 1.4g Fiber
I served these tasty little pillows of goodness with a mixed green salad. I plan to experiment some and try adding shallots next time, or carmelized onions.  Souffles really are easy once you try them, so don't be intimidated by the fancy term Souffle.  Go for it, the possibilities are endless!

Attitude is Everything

If you like to be in control like I do, you will understand this feeling I'm about to describe.  Have you ever wanted something to be within your control, but it just isn't possible?  Recently, I have been on a quest for answers, but it seems every corner I turn, there just aren't any answers.  This is frustrating.  Especially for me, someone who has been in control, and been incredibly fortunate all of my life.  I feel like I position myself for good things, and I like to think that I'm deserving of good things.  I am a believer that good things come, and that positive thoughts are necessary.  I also think that I have learned from each one of my mistakes in life, and hope that I'm a smarter person for this.  When you do all the right things, you say all the right things, are you not destined for goodness?  I can only hope.  There is so much I'm questioning right now, yet they are things out of my control, but I can feel them within my reach, so this waiting is killing me.  One would think that because I'm such a planner, my life was all planned out... however that has never been the case.  I like to plan events, and little things, but when it comes to my life.... I've only seized every opportunity that's come to me, that's how I've landed where I am in life... none of it was planned.  So I guess I believe that the best laid plans are unexpected, but right now, I have some expectations and I just wish I knew what the plan was.  Does that make any sense?  This feeling is uncomfortable for me.  I want to wake up in the morning and know what "the plan" is, but right now I just have to wake up every morning and see what happens.  It's ALL out of my control right now, except for my attitude. 
They say what happens to you is 10% and your attitude for dealing with it is 90%!  I have many friends who live this so well, so I'm going to join them and keep my attitude positive!  Because that IS in my control right now!

When I get answers, you'll hear about them!

The End of a Season

As I write this post temperatures are slowly creeping up into the 90s, however my summer season is quickly coming to a close.  It feels like it's been a whirlwind of a summer, and  I haven't any idea how I ever thought I had so much free time and was yearning for some project to keep me busy, which is what I wrote about back in June.  Here are some highlights from Summer 2011:
1. Molson: has brought much joy, lots of smiles and laughs, and is a constant creature of energy.
2. Cooking: didn't do any fancy cultural menus this year, however it was a pleasure to savor the tastes of homegrown tomatoes, basil, and fresh South Carolina peaches!  I tried my hand at baking a bit more than usual and found out I make a pretty tasty peach crisp, and delicious cupcakes. Homegrown tomatoes and basil also kept the salsa and bruschetta flowing, which are two of my favorite snacks!
3. Spending time with family and friends: we've had more than the usual amount of houseguests this summer, which kept my cleaning and tidying up at an all time high, however it was all worth it to get to spend time with them!  We await one more short visit from Bop and Kevin's brother Phil in about a week, and then things will quiet down around here. Even with all the hectic scheduling around here this summer, I managed to enjoy a few nights out with friends for drinks and chatting, as well as some lunch dates with friends I only see a few times a year!
4. Exercise:  Once the temperatures started to rise, it's been a little tougher to just get out and run, but my twice a week training sessions with Stephanie at Ciarla Fitness http://www.ciarlafitness.com/ have kept me building strength and toning up, as well as helping me stay on track for staying fit.  I'm sure the exercise has also been what's helped me keep my energy up to par with Molson's. 

Even though I thought back in June that I was sitting idle, my summer has been a busy and memorable one sans any special project!  I look forward to cooler temperatures and new opportunities around the corner with Fall.

Is This Working?

I have zero merit when it comes to child development other than the fact that I've been in education for 13 years, and have taught children from the age of six to the age of 15.  Other than that, I don't have children of my own, so do I really know what I'm talking about?  I believe I do!  I am a firm believer that you do whatever it takes to help a child learn, however at what point do you decide that enough is enough?  For me as an educator, I look for other resources that might help.  What does a parent do?  When does a parent decide to ask the question, "Is this working?" and stop paying for a service that isn't working for your child?  To help with this decision, here are a few things I can relate it to...
*I pay a personal trainer to work out twice a week, if I wasn't seeing results I wouldn't pay her anymore.
*If I pay a housekeeper once a week, and I don't see vaccuum tracks or a clean toilet bowl and shower, I wouldn't pay her anymore.
*If I hired a lawn care service and my yard is dead and full of weeds, I wouldn't pay for the service anymore.
*If I dine out at a restaurant and the food is awful and the service is mediocre, I wouldn't dine at there again.
My case in point, when does a parent decide that enough is enough with hiring a tutor for a child that continues to make poor grades, and lacks any motivation to succeed in school?  When does a parent decide that there might be something more than tutoring that a child needs?  If the child hasn't been evaluated for learning disabilities, then take that road.  If the child has been evaluated and nothing has been identified, then at what point does a parent consider counseling for their child? 
I am not an advocate that something is wrong with a child... I just believe that if a child has been given all the tools, has the support system in place, and STILL isn't showing progress in school, then there might be  something else that merits some looking into.  Or it might just be part of the growing up a person does, learning to fail and overcoming failure.
I'm relieved to report that as I was writing this post the parent sent me a text, "I've decided after we talked, I'm taking your advice and we're going to take a break from tutoring."
So maybe I'm not completely ignorant when it comes to what students need?!

Something to Smile About

Checking out how this deck works

Playing in the grass and chewing on a stick.

I can fit under this sofa now, but not for long.

Playing with Murphy, a whole week of this!

Naps for everyone!!!!!

And I need another nap after playing with Murphy for an hour!

I have the attention span of a gnat, but this Nylabone is pretty good for now!

Really, how can you not smile when you look at him?

Molson, eh?

I'm often asked if I'm from Canada because I load my groceries into cooler bags with this logo on them.  I'm also asked where I got such great coolers, because they really are the perfect size!  Here's the story so you all will know.  My hubby is a beer snob... that's probably why we're such a perfect match, I'm a bit of a food snob and well, it just works!  Every summer when my hubby would go to his family's camp on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York, he would (and still does) cross over the bridge to Canada and makes a large (LARGE) purchase at Duty Free.  It's usually a mix of Canadian brews to enjoy for a year, and well, these large purchases add up over time, and when you're a "frequent shopper" at Duty Free, they show their appreciation by rewarding you with  cooler bags for your purchases! 
If you know my husband, you also know that he's a big hockey fan, and well, Canadians do like hockey moreso than most Americans.  I assure you he IS an American.  What is my point here?  Oh yes, so when we decided to get a puppy we bounced around ideas for a name.  I wasn't partial to anything and Kevin thru out things like; LaBatt (as in the beer), Molson, Stick, Puck, etc.  I don't know about you but the only one of these that sounded good when calling it over and over and over again was Molson.  And being that we got a Golden Retriever puppy, it seemed quite fitting to call him, Molson Golden, just like the brew! So there you are, that is how we named our dog. 

Molson is no longer just a Canadian beer. 

Molson is THE puppy!

Anticipation

Anticipation is defined as hope or expectation.  I was first introduced to the word as a young child via the lyrics of a Carly Simon song, and it wasn't until recently that I really tuned in and listened to the lyrics with deep concentration. Have a listen for yourself....Anticipation by Carly Simon
Lately I've been anticipating what it will be like to have a puppy in our house!  People do it everyday, right?  Here's the deal, I never grew up with animals IN my house, and animals we did have certainly never felt like part of our family.  My sis and I had cats growing up, and a dog briefly, but they seemed to be more of a lesson in responsibility rather than another member of our family.  When we were forced to give up the pets, neither one of us suffered from separation.  My hubby had a different experience.  He had a family dog, Jingles, that later in life became HIS dog.  He trained the dog, looked after it in old age, and even had to do the unthinkable when life wasn't enjoyable for the pup. What's the difference between having a child and having a pet? That's a good question to ponder, and since I don't have either yet, I'm not sure my opinion counts, but I'll give it to you anyway.  Both are a huge responsibility (or so I think).  A child will learn from you, grow up and hopefully be a productive member of society, it's like you're trying to make the world a better place when you have a child.  A pet might learn a few tricks from you, of course it will grow, get bigger and older, but will it make the world a better place? Also, I think the biggest difference between the two, is you can take a child with you (most of the time), it might not always be easy, but most places allow other humans!  So yes, I have agreed to get a puppy, and I'm anticipating bringing it home in about 2 weeks, but there are things I'm still pondering as we jump into this "adventure".  Most of all, I hope that this little fur ball will bring even more happiness and love into our home.  I'm sure there will be some new dynamics for us, but maybe this is someone's way of really  making sure I'm ready for the next step.

Writer's Block

School let out not even a week ago and I'm already restless being off from work for the summer.  This is probably why I have always worked during summers, and of course last summer I traveled with Bop, so I was hardly idle.  I fear that if I allow myself to just relax and hang out, read books, sit by the pool and be "lazy" I will become a lazy person.  And lazy I am not, yet for some reason I can't seem to get this fear out of my head.  Sometimes I think maybe the reason I keep busy all the time is so that I don't have to think about my worries, my dysfunctional relatives, my problems (yes, we all have them).  I have family and  friends that would love to have this kind of free time right now, all my friends that have small children, jobs, and traveling husbands, what they would give for just an hour of time to be by themself... and yet, I somehow can't get comfortable with this time I've been given.  For whatever reason, I have been given this time to enjoy life, be at peace, be independent, do basically whatever I want without anyone else to worry about during the day and it bothers me.  Do I feel guilty that my husband gets up every morning and works hard so we can have this wonderful life? Do I feel guilty that my sister travels like a maniac and is constantly stressed? Do I feel guilty that my father burns his wick every day and hasn't had a day off (atleast a real day off) in over 20 years?  I don't think it's guilt as much as I wish I could help the people I love in some way since I have been given all this free time.  I'm sure as you read this you're thinking, "What I could do if I only had the time."  I have those thoughts too, usually during the school year when I'm running around frantically and booking my evenings solid for weeks.  But now that I have all this time, I don't know quite what to do with it.  I've had lunch with a friend I haven't seen in a while.  I've done some professional training. I will clean my house, but other than that I feel like I've got to get a PROJECT to work on.  My projects usually consist of cooking up a fancy meal, but with temperatures in the 90's the thought of turning the oven on really isn't appealing.  One project I've always wanted to do, but "haven't had the time" is to write a book.  My problem now is what would I write about?  Hence the title of this entry.  Do I write a fictional piece? A children's story? A cooking piece? A memoir or some crazy story about my life?  The possibilities are endless, and yet I can't begin this project.

The End of an Era

There is a bit of sadness in me as I write this and realize that my longest relationship besides my family, has come to an end today.  Now I don't usually get attached to "things", i.e. a car, but my little car, which I referred to many times as the "Silver Bullet" saw me through a lot of my adult life.  Naturally we bonded!  The day my father told me he would need his vehicle back, and I'd have to buy a car, I was devastated, afterall I'd only just graduated from college and was scraping pennies with my first "real" paycheck.  But I sucked it up and 2 days after Christmas 1997, I went down to Spreen Honda in Loma Linda, walked in, told the nice salesman exactly what I wanted and exactly what I wanted my payments to be, and just how much I had to put down!  It was pretty painless... and the day I wrote my last check for that car, I cheered and celebrated about not having a car payment!  Fast forward to today, 14 years after I purchased the car, 6 years after I paid it off, 161,000 miles later, I was beginning to think that a new car just wasn't even in my near future, no matter how much discussion and planning was done with my hubby!  Not because he didn't want me to have a new car, we just have had other things that have taken priority.  Besides, when your car is paid for, gets good gas mileage, and still only costs $25 to fill up... who wouldn't accept that deal?!  But recently, in the past 3 months little things have started to happen to my car, and we were calling on our trusty neighbor to help us out so we could avoid costly labor rates.  Which we thought this seemed like a pretty good bandaid, we'd call on him, he'd tell us what we needed, we get it, he'd fix the car, and we'd all share a cold brew afterwards!  Then yesterday as I went out to start my car after work, the little silver bullet was hesitant to start.  When I got home, I told Kevin. We had already done a good bit of research but we wanted to test drive all our options before making a decision, which we had planned to go test drive this weekend.  Little did I know when we left the house this morning that I actually would be saying goodbye to the car that has been to Mexico, Vegas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma,Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and the Carolinas with me!  This wasn't just a car, this was a vehicle that put my dreams into motion!
I have an abundance of memories that were made during the time I had my first "new" car, it saw me through most of my adult life!  And I always think things are sweeter when you are the one responsible for writing the check and making it happen! After a few hours of hunting, test driving, and negotiating Kevin and I had picked a new car out.  We came home to get the Silver Bullet to take it to its new home, where it would most likely just be sold for parts, whichever ones still work.  The car hesitated to start again.  If this car had a soul, it probably would know its days were numbered!  So once again, we called upon Cptn. Kerkman to help us out, he said it was just the battery, so we jump-started the car and were on our way to seal the deal.  I looked down at my gas gauge and realized I had less than a 1/4 tank of gas, thought, "should I fill it up?", but Kevin said, "No, let's just get it to the dealership."  So we cruised down to Honda Cars of Rock Hill, found our guy again, and let him take the Silver Bullet behind the curtain to determine its worth.  Kevin and I always predict the worst and hope for the best, and when Steve came back with the offer, we both almost burst into laughter.  Not because it was a joke of an offer, but rather because it was double the amount we were crossing our fingers for.  So a final offer was made, accepted, and the paperwork was put into motion.  A few signatures and 2 hours later we rode home in a new vehicle.  Now I was a bit sad, but I have to say I'm excited to see where these wheels take us, and can't wait for the road trips and adventures we have in the new, Bigger Bullet!"  (Yep, I picked silver again!)

Runner's High

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." -Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

As a child, I was active, but I would not consider myself athletic.  I was a dancer for a good portion of my young life, until an injury caused me to give it up, which was heartbreaking because I wanted to be a ballerina.  And I thought the minute I got my pointe shoes, I was destined.  When I put on my pink satin ballet slippers, it's like the rest of the world didn't matter.  I could completely loose myself in hours of dance.  Little did I know that there was another pair of shoes in my future that would give me that same feeling!  After my dance career ended, I played a few sports, tennis, and soccer, but never was destined to be MVP.  I enjoy team sports, and I like to encourage others,  however I am NOT a competitve individual, but in my twenties I found a sport that involves me competing with myself most of the time, and I LOVE it!  Running was not always a  favorite past time of mine. In fact, in middle school I vividly remember dreading the days Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Fouch told us we had to run around the field of Cope Jr. High.  Not only did I dread it, I always felt inadequate because I wasn't the fastest.  Those are all feelings of the past.
My running habits actually grew out of a little competitive streak in my twenties when my sister (who is always in good shape and has always been smaller than me) told me she was going to run a half marathon.  I had just lost 25 pounds on Weight Watchers and began working out religiously and thought, "If she can do it, so can I".  So I began running with a group at my local gym, it didn't hurt that the trainer leading the runs was a cutie! Our runs would go from El Segundo (where I lived in CA) down a huge hill, and along the beach!  There is nothing more invigorating than running toward the ocean with the smell of saltwater wafting into your lungs as you take deep breaths.  (Those of you who know El Segundo know that it's not always a saltwater smell around there)So there I was, I had found a half marathon to sign up for, and I began training in October 2004.  I signed up for local 5Ks and 10Ks and the passion began. The bonus in training (besides the cute trainer) was I lost an additional 15 pounds and I felt stronger emotionally and physically, like nothing I'd ever felt before.  Runner's high is no joke! As my thirtieth birthday approached I was in the best shape of my life and felt like anything was possible.  Side note, this was also the point at which I had decided I was going to make the move from Los Angeles to South Carolina.  So fast forward to February of 2005, I completed my first half marathon in 2.5 hours, ran the whole way amongst several thousand strangers, and decided this would not be my last! 
When I moved, I found it difficult to run in places where there was no beach, no saltwater air, and summers so hot that you literally have to run at inappropriate hours of the day. But, I kept at it.  Granted a few years went by where I didn't run ANY races, but that is a thing of the past.  Not only have I gotten pumped about running diligently again, but Kevin has taken it up more seriously and is enjoying it as much as I do ( I think). 
Everyone hits slumps in their exercise routines, and sometimes it takes an outside source to kick start it again... and for Kevin and me that has been Run For Your Life training classes. 
So this pair of shoes that replaced my pink satin pointe shoes are my Mizuno running shoes.  I have tried several different brands of running shoes, but I have to say the Mizunos are REALLY worth every penny spent!  I am a firm believer that the right gear is key, and I've slowly proven this to my husband.  He can't believe he ever ran in cotton clothing now that he's experienced Dri-Fit.  He loves his Mizunos too.  And last weekend we both were introduced to another piece of gear that we can't live without.  Who knew that socks could make all the difference in your run?  Let me tell you, we were given these socks by a fellow runner, and I think we might be buying a few more pairs each!  They are like having little pillows on the bottom of your feet!  There are some things in life that I am all about going cheap on, however because running is a jolt to your body, I am all about spending the money on gear that will protect my personal temple for the long haul!
A few years back, Kevin signed up for his first 5K, the Cupid's Cup which occurs every year around Valentine's Day, so we have made this a tradition.  The fees go toward the cardiac unit at CMC, and since we are not really Valentine's people, we thought this would be a good way to do something good for our hearts (and others).  Kevin did great in that first race and has gotten better ever since!
Over the past few months, I've actively thought about running another half marathon, still haven't decided on one, but I will soon.  So in preparation, I thought Kevin and I should do a bigger race.  Hence we signed up for the Cooper River Bridge 10K in Charleston.  40,000 people, a bridge in one of the prettiest cities in the US, and a weekend away with my husband!  Who wouldn't want that?  It was great!  The adrenaline rush that comes with running is indescribable. 
Even if running is not your thing, I strongly encourage you to find that one thing in life that you can do alone or with others, that allows you to forget about everything else while you do it, and that is good for your overall health.  Its' not about the time or the distance, it's about the finish!

Green Thumb I Am Not

One of the things I most looked forward to when Kevin and I bought a "real" house, not my little single girl's townhome, but a full size house with a garage and a big backyard was trying my hand, or thumb rather, at vegetable gardening. Well for starters, I don't have but one or two houseplants, because I either overwater or underwater, I need hardy, tropical plants that don't require a lot of attention. But I really wanted to give gardening a shot when we bought this house, so the first Fall, I planted some bulbs in the front, which sprouted up just fine last year, and some have already started to sprout up again this year. I went with my favorites, Tulips, and a few Hyacinths.

Then last summer, I REALLY wanted to grow some fresh herbs and tomatoes, because if you know me, I could eat tomato, basil salad, and fresh pico de gallo all summer long... seriously, I don't know if I eat much else during the heat of the summer!  So on one of my trips to the Farmer's Market I purchased a great little pot already planted with cherry tomatoes and oregano!  It cost $15 but lasted well past September and the tomatoes were awesome! 

So this year, my neighbor asked me if I was interested in going in with her on an Earthbox, and she wanted to house it in my backyard because we have a fence. I looked up what an Earthbox was, and told her sure, although it looked very involved to make, but both of our husbands are handy, so I figured why not! So last weekend we ventured to Lowe's to buy the supplies, some seeds and soil, and planted. We couldn't actually buy an Earthbox, so we went with some good size pots, and agreed this season would be an experiment, and if it didn't work, we'd each only be out $30 big ones! We planted lettuce, green beans, peas, basil, and purchased 2 tomato plants! At first we were just going to leave the tomato plants as is in the containers they came in, but thanks to my neighbor's inlaws, we acquired an actual Earthbox! So with a little help from Dan, we have successfully set up the "vegetable garden" on my back deck, and hope to have a bountiful harvest!

Hopes for the New Year

Two weeks into the new year and I am finally getting around to gathering my thoughts and hopes for the new year!  (well, sharing them)  Upon returning to school from the holiday break, I was asked to write down my hopes for the new year to be posted on a bulletin board in the teacher's lounge.  ( I use that term, lounge loosely, teacher's do not "lounge" these days).  I have some silent, personal hopes, but I also have some that are worth sharing.  First, and always, I hope for health for my family, friends, and myself.  To keep this hope alive, Kevin and I joined a running class that meets twice a week.  It is organized by the Run for Your Life store in Charlotte, and although it is a trek to get over there, our first meeting last night proved it is well worth the drive.  Even though it recently snowed, and there is ice, and the temperatures are well below comfortable to me, running last night was invigorating.  I tried to envision where I used to run, along the beach in CA with a running group I used to train with, and that helped keep me moving, and warm.  Really, I am a creature who loves to run, but I  do so more intensely when pushed by others who love it, or atleast pretend to love it!  I am looking forward to next week's run, and getting psyched that I will probably train to run another 1/2 marathon in the near future!

Another hope I have for the new year is to enjoy the little things more, and have faith in things the way they are.  I am constantly seeking answers and trying to understand why things are the way they are, but I have a friend who inspires me to question my faith and who reminds me that sometimes answers just aren't there.  I want to strengthen this belief this year.  Some might believe I have too much time on my hands, or maybe I'm just a curious creature who always asks, WHY?   I like to think the latter is true.  But I'm going to try to tame that curiousity, only when appropriate of course.

My third hope for the new year is to make family a priority.... Kevin and I made a deal, well, I made him a promise that after the holidays I would NOT take on any extracurricular work.  So far, I've turned down 2 people who asked if I was interested in doing "extra" work.  It wasn't as bad as I thought, but I did find myself feeling like I needed to explain why I had to say no.  Fortunately, my boss and the other individual completely understood my committment to my husband, my family and appreciate what I already do at work!  Whew!  One thing I think this is teaching me is to find and keep balance.  I hope I can share this with my fellow teachers and friends, because I think it is something of an occupational hazard for educators.  Needless to say, all of these hopes for the new year are within reach.  I don't make resolutions, but I do think having hopes and dreams to be a better person are always reasonable.

Cheers to everyone for whatever you hope for in the new year!