Running Running Running

I've been running like a beast, and I LOVE it.  I'm literally in the best shape of my life.  I beat my GOAL time from high school, that, in three years of intense high school cross country training, I never reached.  Not only did I beat it, I beat it by twenty seconds.  I'm feeling pretty good. I look better than ever (size 6 feels GREAT!!), and I feel healthy.  I finally feel like I wouldn't be looked at like a crazy person if I got certified as a trainer.

After years of talking about it, I finally registered to actually run the Crescent City Classic. I was supposed to be in New York, but after a change in plane ticket, I will be in town for that Saturday.  Needless to say, I'm pretty psyched about it!  I wish I had friends who ran so someone would go along with me in it, but I guess just getting it finished will be enough of an accomplishment.  I haven't run a road race in about three years, and I've never run a 10K (well, not racing at least, I've done PLENTY of them at practice). My goal is not extremely high.  I'm only looking to finish it in about an hour, but I am super giddy about the next two weeks of training! 

I'm Really Falling In Love With What I Do

Now that I'm establishing some routine, and I'm getting into preparing lessons and such, I am falling in love with this job.

The other day I was putting grades in the system while sitting at home watching TV, and I was remembering little things about each kid as I did it.  I realized that most of my children have at least ONE thing that I adore about them, even the ones that frustrate the heck out of me.  

Yes I have kids who have a zero average in my class even after a make-up day.  Yes I have kids who have yet to listen to a word I say, but I am doing the best I can in that respect.  I have some great ideas for lessons to come, and I'm looking forward to the next few months. 

The people I work with are fantastic and supportive, and I am blessed to be in such an environment.  

I've begun going for Uptown runs just about every afternoon.  In these runs, I get a chance to reflect on all of the wonderful things I've been handed.  I was born in the greatest city in America, and for that I am thankful.  I have the opportunity to go to to a new city this summer where I have a church that has changed my life.  I have a job that is both fulfilling and exciting.  

Really, it just doesn't get much better than this. 

Back to School, Back to School

After a week-and-a-half of waiting, I am once again, up at 5am preparing for a big day in the "real world."  Unfortunately, this is not enough real world to actually get paid for, even though I am doing more work than I will probably ever do as a paid teacher.

Over the past few weeks though, I've gotten the great opportunity to see just how much God has blessed me and my family.  Once again, though Baton Rouge has some severe damage in some places, my family and I were protected through a rough storm.  If postponing a no-name football game is the only sacrifice that had to be made, then I guess we came out okay.  During the time "off,"  I was able to catch up with some friends I don't get to see often, and watch the Red Sox play for the second time this season.  I'd call that blessing. 

We were then told that we probably wouldn't get to start interacting with students again until the 15th, which broke my heart.  We knew we'd have to report to school today, but the kids wouldn't be around until at least Monday.  This is bad, very bad, for those of us who have to log x-amount of hours in front of a class.  Then, the news reported last night that my school would be reopening on Thursday!  

In the midst of the extra couple of days "off" I got,  I took the opportunity to catch up on my running and biking, you know, get back into the routine after my week hiatus in Shreveport.  Last night, I was in the middle of one of those really really rediculously great runs, clear mind, good pace, etc...  I stopped to do some arm workouts on the big steps downtown that go from the top of the levee to the river, and to get some water at one of those nasty water-fountains.  Upon the start of my return run, I realized that my car key was not in my key pocket.  I frantically searched all over the area, thinking it must have fallen out while I was doing dips or something, but it was nowhere to be found.  So on the 3.5 mile return run, I kept my eyes on the ground, and thought of the extra distance I was going to have to run home to use the phone if my car-key was not around, and how angry my parents would be that they would have to drive to Baton Rouge to bring the spare.  About 1/4 mile before the end, there was my key, shining on the pathway, in the most obscure of places.  What a blessing.  It really helped me to refocus, and realize how amazing God's grace is.  

And Still, I sit

Friday morning, I woke up having never seen Josh Beckett in person.  Friday night, I went to bed having been only feet away from him a few hours earlier.

First thing Friday morning, KenyB and I drove to Dallas, and I convinced him to park his car so we could take the train into the city.  I hate to go to a big city without experiencing their public transportation systems (it's just one of my things).  Kenneth of course, hated this idea, but somehow he got by.  

Upon our arrival in the downtown are, we went directly to the only tourist attraction in the DFW area I've ever cared to see: Dealy Plaza.  Now forty-seven years ago, Dealy Plaza would have been just another park in a big city, but now, it is the site of one of my favorite historical events to study: The Kennedy Assassination.  For those who know me well, you know that I am ALL ABOUT Cold War America when it comes to history, so this was one of those places I absolutely had to visit.  

From there, we met up with Justin and fought traffic all the way up until fifteen minutes before gametime, when we FINALLY made it to The Ballpark at Arlington.  I then got the chance to see my favorite team for the second time this summer, only this time Beckett was pitching and we actually won!

Anyway, I am now back in the BR and it is a sad town.  Trees and power lines are down EVERYWHERE.  Some of my friends are not expected to have power for at least another TWENTY days, yes, twenty.  I feel very blessed to be in the part of town with underground power, and no trees in my yard.  As a result of this EBR Schools are cancelled until the 15th, and teachers don't have to report until the 10th, so I am taking in a couple of more days off.  Maybe I'll get around to organizing my room finally...  

I had a great run this morning, and I was once again reminded of just how much I love to run down the levee on a warm day.  I feel so fortunate to have grown up on the banks of the Mississippi, and to have had the chance to admire it every day.  It is one of the things I will miss most when I move for good.  For now, I'm going to enjoy my next few days off with a little extra running and biking time.  

Back to the Grind

After a weekend in Boston, a night in Fenway Park, a flight home, a couple of days in New Orleans , a LONG DRIVE through Texas, a week in New Mexico, another LONG DRIVE through Texas, an overnight trip to Florida, and a couple more days in New Orleans, I am BACK.

I am in the BR for the homestretch, and am excited about what is to come of it all.  In less than a week, football season will be in full swing, and I will be in a day-in, day-out routine of getting up at 5am, getting home at 4, and enjoying 7th grade gifted students and all that entails.  

I'm pretty excited about this coming semester.  I found some old books from my US Colonial-1865 class, along with some history books I read for fun from that same period.  I FINALLY have my room set up, and, after numerous trips to the Apple store to drool, I got the new computer I've been dreaming of.  

This semester is going to be challenging.  In the week I've been in Baton Rouge, I've already faced some minor setbacks that lead me to believe the upcoming few months will be full of them.  I took a couple of weeks off of running when I got back into the South, and as soon as I started back, something odd happened with my foot (possibly a pulled muscle?) and I've been unable to do so since.  I think my foot is getting better, but I'm gonna stick with the bike until I know.  This has caused a "swelling" of my legs and waist to a point that I have not been familiar with for a LONG time.  

So tomorrow, it all starts, and Tuesday, I am in the classroom for good.  The future is here, and I'm pretty excited about it.