Woo hoo Ran again

This time with the dog and only just over a mile... But I am trying to stay positive- it was SOMETHING!  Ran more than I walked (yeah!).  And I did some core work (which I DESPERATELY need!!)

Tomorrow is back to work for the first time in 5 days- I don't even want to think about how much work I have to do.  I am ignoring the forecasters who say there is another mess coming in Tuesday- I really don't want to miss more school days.  It is the end of the semester which is a NIGHTMARE time for counselors anyway with students needing new classes, or wanting new classes... Topped off with next year course selections - AHHH!!  *whew* that felt good to get out before I go back tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the last day for me to finish this 5k!!
  I had better get my butt in gear!!!


Off to get ready for my work week- may it not be interrupted with snow, ice or any such crazy weather.

Snow, Snow, and finally a Run!

We have had an interesting week... a foot of snow and a 5 day weekend! The first snow day was nice- the second we were getting on each others nerves and by the end of Friday I was starting to panic about any work I have piling up! But we did have some fun!!

Munchkin' s Snowman masterpiece - the funniest thing- later that night taking Gir out - he freaked out and barked and barked...

I did get some things done- cleaned a little, re-organized some more (I don't think I will EVER get this tiny house organized the way I like it).. and worked on my online class a bit. So I don't feel like these days off were a total waste. I really am not looking forward to being in school until July though. The weather forecasters keep scaring me with "more winter weather headed to the Mid Atlantic" - ummm no I have had enough winter.. bring on the spring now please!!

And today our running skirts came in I ordered Munchkin and I matching skirts! I need to lose 5 pounds for me to feel totally

comfortable in mine (ordered a different skirt than last time and this one fits differently). But Munchkin is ADORABLE!!

So we headed out for a run this evening. I have been doing more speed walking than running- but Munchkin LOVES

to run.. So she was off.. and I was behind. There is nothing better for a mom's self esteem than her 7 year old to tell her she needs to practice more -and maybe try to lose that weight you are always talking about- that would help you keep up too... Ahhh yes that was awesome! It was close to dark and we

didn't have good reflective gear on- so we only did .60 of a mile. It was enough that I wanted to go back out, and I see the need to get my butt out there more before this 5K in.. gasp 5 or 6 weeks!!

Maybe one day I can keep up - or even Pass the 7 year old!! *sigh*

Perfect!

I just found this card in Munchkin's room (I wonder why she had it!)

And it sums up my attitude this week - one that I hope I can keep...

Another week

Make it through the weekend! Munchkin and I were a little grumpy with each other for a bit- but we made it through our girls night and sleepover.

I received all the materials for my online class - I admit I thought it was going to be kind of easy... HA! I don' think it will be extremely hard- but I am actually going to have to read the books and think a little bit in my responses. Hopefully I will learn a little too.

Didn't walk or run today at all :( Tomorrow I am going to though! At work the PE teacher is going to open the weight room once or twice a week for faculty to use- I think I am going to try to make a point to go; maybe drag a coworker or two along. I am definitely a social gym person- I need friends with me!

Munchkin just came in while I was writing and picked out every single typo -- gotta love smart 7 year olds!

Her joke of the day yesterday:

"Mommy how do you wake up Lady Gaga?"

"pokerface!"

Ha ha ha munchkin- that was a good one!

Now she came in with her pajamas inside out- she is really hoping for a big snow this week! I am hoping for a big snow next week... I could use a day off.

Ugh

It has been a long two weeks... I took over testing for my school this year- and these last two weeks were the MD High School Assessments for the January Term... AHHH!! It is much more stress than I thought it would be! Put on top of that two snow days and two delay days where I had to figure out what to do with testing rooms, teachers, etc - I have never been more glad for a week to end!

On top of that it is my maudlin time of the year anyway... There is just something about winter- when the earth dies - that makes me miss Geoff more than usual... A more constant dull ache in my heart for 2 months or so. I always figure it goes along with winter- dark, cold, makes death and loss more real and in the forefront.

I have been walking more - a sort of speed walking with random bots of running thrown in. Nothing official or huge yet- but enough that I haven't totally given in to sadness or depression. Which is very nice! I have even been attempting to reorganise some parts of the house that I just don't like.. OK - some of the organising is self-serving... I picked out two treadmills (one cheap one not so cheap - depends on tax returns) so I am trying to figure out where one can go in this old small house...

On top of it all- I am taking online grad courses. I have to take a few to keep up certification, and I want to try to get my Master's Plus 30 in before the county does away with the raise for it! I only need 7 credits, so I found an online professional development college that my system accepts, and signed up to take three in a row. I am giving myself 6 weeks to finish one before the other starts. I am hoping getting my brain a little in gear helps me get moving. I got my books for the first class today!

J is gone this weekend- he is helping chaperone the youth group trip. I wish I had gone- I dont' get away and do fun things like that enough... I am a little envious- I have always wanted to be more involved- the three girls I mentor all went; but somehow he is one of the main adults helping with stuff now! How did that happen!!

Munchkin and I have been having a good girls and GIR (the dog) weekend though! We are going to watch a movie and have a sleepover tonight!! :)

To be a runner or not....

I walked my first half marathon last year - The VA Beach Shamrock Half in March 2010. It was sort of on a lark. A few friends from church had decided to go (they are "real" runners) and one of the wives doesn't run, but was going to walk... she asked if I would walk with her... "sure I will" I said- and then realised that yes- that is over 13 MILES... I was 50 pounds more than I wanted to be- hadn't REALLY worked out seriously in years -- but I do like to walk and hike...

I found a training plan and from November to March trained (not all the time, but most of it)...

We walked it in 3.34.. Could have been a little faster but I cramped up in my left calf from miles 9-11 then it just ached... But the experience- AWESOME! EVERY person out there was awesome- the people you walked past that chatted with you as you walked, the people cheering on the sides; the hysterical TNT banana, gorilla, etc... The most amazing thing to me was when we were at about mile 11 or 12 - I am thinking -- good grief I should not have skipped out on some of those longer walk (I did do my 10 miler though!) -- and the marathoners started running by - you know the people that were going to run TWICE what i was WALKING... they were already at mile 15 or so - I was at mile 11.5 -- AND THEY were cheering US on as they ran by!!!! Holy cow!! What awesome camaraderie! It blew me away.. It was about that point- at the same point I was wondering why on earth I decided to do this- that I started thinking about becoming a runner.. I wanted to belong to this group of people - that cheered for strangers- that cheered for newbies and walkers the same way they cheered for the dude that ran 26.2 miles in less than I walked 13.1!!

Over the last 10 months I have thought about it- started running, stopped running, started again - had my first asthma attack ever- got scared - stopped... Half way started again but not with the same commitment I trained for that walking half...

Now it is time again- the same group (this time with two less runners as we will have two newborns going with us) are going again. I put off signing up for the half again- (money worries and being nervous that I couldn't run it) until it was too late..

But there is a Shamrock 8K... I think I could do that.. I could run that smaller race- have a smaller goal to learn to run (NOT WALK) that smaller distance... Still participate in the weekend, still get a goody bag, still have a weekend away.. I think I could do that.

I have to decide soon before THAT race fills...

The Early Year Races I am thinking about doing this year:

12-14 Feb 2010Virtual LUV Day Run (World Day run)

- Just to get myself a mini goal in Feb

13 March 2011 Baltimore St Patty's

19 March 2011 Shamrock 8K

2 April 2011 Frederick Wild Women 8K

13 April 2011 - Main Street Mile with munchkin

1 May 2011 - Gettysburg North/South relay

*if I can get a team together

7 May Flower and Jazz 5k

Hopefully having a plan and races to look forward to will help me!

Now I just have to eat better! Baby steps!!!!!!!!!!

101 in 1001

101 in 1001

Start date: 3 January 2010

End Date: 30 September 2013

Personal

1. Create a blog (3 January 2010)
2. Post on blog every week
3. Re-read or read classic literature
1. Shakespeare
2. Austen
3. Dickens
4. Hemmingway
5. 3 other books
4. Finish all my half done scrapbooks
5. Live with 35 articles of clothing for a month
6. After #5 pare down wardrobe and donate/sell as much as possible
7. Drink a bottle of wine from every continent (2 / 6* no Antartica)
1. North America – Many
2. South America -
3. Africa
4. Europe
5. Asia
6. Australia - Shiraz
8. Using Tim Gunn Essentials List as blueprint; redo wardrobe
9. Get a pedicure every 5 weeks in summer
10. Be adventurous with hair at least once
11. Save up $1,000 and go on a clothing shopping spree
12. Attend 1 event for every team/organization at my school:
1. Football
2. Girls Soccer
3. Boys Soccer
4. Field Hockey
5. Volleyball
6. Golf
7. Girls Basketball - 21Jan11
8. Boys Basketball
9. Wrestling
10. Cheerleading Competition
11. Track
12. Tennis
13. Girls Lax
14. Boys Lax
15. Softball
16. Baseball
17. Play - 6Jan10
18. Chorus Concert
19. Band Concert
20. It’s Academic competition
21. Art Show
22. Dance-21Jan11
23. ROTC event
13. Counting above as 4 total numbers
14. – above
15. – above

Family & Home

16. Develop and use effective household filing system
17. Use household binder regularly
18. Create habit - weekly to do list with review of list at week’s end
19. Clean & organize Basement
20. Clean and Organize Attic
21. Clean and Organize Spare Room-22Jan11
22. Complete a house de-clutter day every 2 months
23. Hold a garage sale twice a year
24. Complete on time Spring and Fall Cleaning with in 12 months
25. Utilize OAMC cooking strategies (work on saving time and $)
26. research and utilize 3 Green household ideas
27. Create a family mission statement
28. Hold weekly family fun nights – munchkin led
29. Go on a couples date night every month(1/33)
30. Go away with J overnight twice a year
31. attend a marriage seminar/retreat/weekend
32. Go on a canoe/kayaking trip
33. Go hiking 5 times
34. Make a list of what I like about J and munchkin and share it with them

Friends

35. Hold an annual picnic
36. Hold a munchkin play date quarterly (1/13)
37. Do something secretly awesome for 5 friends
38. Send appreciation cards to 10 people with reasons I appreciate them in my life
39. Cook a meal for a friend who is stressed out
40. Go with N the next time asked – even if I hate it
41. Volunteer to babysit for friends so they can have date night (0/10)

Finances

42. Pay off debt
43. Triple savings
44. Sponsor another child CI or WV
45. Anonymously help someone in need
46. $5 in savings for each goal met(1/101)
47. $2 in munchkins account for every goal met(1/101)
48. Pay for Christmas and vacations in cash
49. Begin to save for Madagascar trip
50. Pay cash for everything for one month
51. Go grocery shopping twice a month only for three months
52. Spend LESS each time I grocery shop for 4 trips

Faith

53. Memorize 20 Bible verses that are important to me (1 / 20)
54. Truly Tithe for 6 month
55. Complete a family devotional
56. Hold a consistent Family Devotion Time
57. Complete Chaos to Calm study
58. Create a prayer space and hold consistent prayer time
59. donate to local food pantry/shelter quarterly
60. Unceasingly pray for requests (0/5)
61. Leave 5 Operation Beautiful notes

Knowledge

62. Take 5 grad classes toward certification
63. Begin NBCT
64. Begin NCC
65. take a wine tasting class
66. Learn and Make a new all natural recipe every month
67. Watch 20 movies from AFI 100 Greatest American Films
68. Write a grant
69. Learn to play guitar with munchkin
70. Read 5 non-fiction books on 5 different topics
71. Learn to do basic plumbing repairs
72. Learn to do basic Car maintenance
73. Donate 5,000 grains of rice on Freerice.com

Health

74. Lose 25 pounds and keep it off for 10 months
75. Run without walking a 5k
76. mostly run a half-marathon
77. Run a sub 2:30 half marathon
78. PR Annapolis Zooma 10k
79. Warrior Dash
80. Take a Zumba or Yoga Class
81. Complete the 100 pushup challenge
82. Complete the 200 sit-up Challenge
83. Eat Vegan for 5 days (can be non-consecutive)
84. Fast 24-48 hours ever quarter
85. Drink only water for 3 weeks (can be non-consecutive)
86. transition family to all whole grains
87. transition to less carbs, low meat, paleo type diet
88. buy low to no processed foods for a month
89. Join a CSA – use all foods
90. Learn to use more fresh foods/Herbs
91. Plant an herb garden

Travel

92. Visit Las Vegas
93. Visit New Orleans
94. Take Munchkin to Boston
95. Take munchkin to Williamsburg
96. Take Munchkin to Creation Museum
97. Go on a family Cruise
98. Go on a mission trip
99. Visit BIL/SIL and family in WA state
100. Visit sister in WI every year
101. Go White water rafting