Out of the Loop

During my six years of teaching, I've worked really hard to stay in-the-know. I watch news clips of American Idol. I hop into conversations about Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. I even nod along when my kids tell me about their favorite tv show/movie/band.

But I had to put my foot down somewhere. And that somewhere was Justin Bieber. Not my style, not my taste, not my kind of music. But what does Justin Bieber have to do with me being out of the loop? I obviously know who he is. Well...

Each week I send home a weekly newsletter on Fridays. This helps my families stay organized and to know what's coming up the next week. However, a couple years in I noticed the newsletters weren't being read a lot so I decided to do something to get more readership. I found myself a package of Mad Gabs and scoured through them trying to find a nice easy one to start. Fast forward four years...

Well, it turns out those Mad Gabs are the hot ticket. They look forward to them each week and now I've even been told they're getting too easy. And this past week's was no exception. So when I handed the newsletter out at the end of the day and all the kids were in the hallway saying, "It's so easy." "Bieber..." "It's Justin Bieber."

To which I confidently responded, "No, it's NOT Justin Bieber."

"Yes it is."

"No it's not, read it to me."

"Never say never."

"Right, that doesn't say Justin Bieber!"

"No, Mrs. D, it's a song BY Justin Bieber!"

Sigh.

Research and Reviews

Because I am a procrastinator I had to work my little tail off this week. I had to get 15 hours of research on an Action Research project (happens to be small group work-guided reading) and then write a Literature Review on the same subject. But guess what? I turned it in today. All done. Let's hope I don't need to revise it. I really don't ever want to see it again.

I officially graduate May 21. It's reeeeeally close.

And now...I'm on vacation. It's my yoga retreat weekend. Last October we went to The Leaven Center. We were set to go back there again and there was some sort of scheduling conflict so now we're headed to a new place, one of which I don't remember the name. I'm so looking forward to it though, it's a good, good time.

I'll be blogging more. I'm sure of it. I think.

Ha.

A Short Story, in Pictures

This is me...procrastinating. I have three hours of research left and a Literature Review to write...before Thursday. And here I sit, frustrated about it all. So I thought I'd let you know what that all looks like.

Be forewarned, I'm a dork.

And someone's going to give ME a Master's Degree! Watch out. Hide ya kids, hide ya wife, and hide ya husbands!

MLK Day

What did I do with my MLK day...or Records Day as my district announces it? I slept until 8:20 and that was nice. Once up I did my 6 Week 6 Pack and then decided it was best to do my 5k training right then. So I took to the frigid streets (24 degrees with a windchill that made it feel like 10) for training day three. One major problem of running outside, in Michigan, in winter was the snow-covered roads. Shortly after my warm up walk began I realized this wasn't going to be easy. It was literally like walking/running on sand. So today was snow-resistance training.

I found one block in our neighborhood that was fairly clear and ended up doing circles after a while. Even without the extra resistance, today was tough. I'm chalking it up to the cold temperatures...and the little icicles that formed on my lashes from the cold, which made my eyes water like mad.

Last week at school we read another book about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, had the opportunity to watch some great interviews with Rosa Parks, watch Dr. MLK, Jr's I Have A Dream Speech, and then followed it up with an art project.

A few years ago I drew a picture of Dr. MLK Jr and wrote, "I have a dream..." across it. The kids traced their hand and wrote one dream they had for the future. Most of them came up with great ideas! But of course there was one, "A million dollars," and one even more bizarre, "To play every winter sport,". Sigh.

Today I came across a quote that was Tweeted and ReTweeted on Twitter that I'm quite a fan of. If there is school tomorrow ("Ice Day, Ice Day, Ice Day") I'm going to put it up for the kids to think about: "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." -MLK, Jr. "

And that's all she wrote, folks.

Waiting

It's Saturday, a snowy Saturday. The hubs and I made our way to a local shoe store for their Sidewalk Sale--a momentous event. After trying on what seemed like 15 pairs of shoes...oh wait, it felt like 15 because it was!--I finally settled on a new pair of Sauconys at a very reasonable price. They were $45 dollars off their normal price, the price they will be again on Monday. Thanks to a Visa giftcard for Christmas I spent nothing out-of-pocket. One of the perks of this store is their 30 guarantee. You can wear them inside and out and if they don't work for you, you can take them back for an exchange.

I had my eyes on a very cute pink and paisley (on the tongue) pair of Sauconys but they did not fit me. The ankle was too high and the arch the same. I was this close to sacrificing comfort for looks. Instead, I purchased what I consider to be a very unattractive pair. Ho hum. They have a white mesh thing on top that almost made me say no. But they're comfy and very light.

Now on to the waiting. I'm waiting for all of this hard work to start showing itself. Granted, my pants a fitting less snugly but there is nothing drastic. I should probably take some time this evening to reread my own blog posts from last year at this time, I know I should be more grateful but gosh, I'm working my tail off to stay pudgy!

I've now completed 15 days of Jillian Michael's Six Week Six Pack, still going strong with my Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday yoga, and have only just begun my 5k training with Podrunner-successfully completed 2 days.

But when will it start paying off? Last year I just had so much excess fat that it took forever to turn to muscle and begin to tone. I'm 20+ pounds lighter and smaller but it doesn't look like I've done a darn thing.

I know there is a big phase of frustration but I don't like it. I am, of course, going to keep going. But I just wish I had more--or less!--to show for my work. Stupid thighs and still pudgy belly, c'mon!

I'm done complaining now. I should be thankful I'm able to do all of this and I am doing it. I know it's only a matter of time before things catch up. Persistence.

5K

And so it begins. I met at our local high school with a coworker and did my first, full-length, run with Podrunner. And I made it-I didn't collapse, I didn't die, and I feel great. Because of my Master's schedule I will be on my own on Mondays to do the run but we'll run together on Wednesdays and Fridays. I'm excited. She's more advanced in the running department than I am but she's willing to put up with me.

Can I just say, I love being able to touch my toes. With straight legs. With my hands flat on the floor. Thank you exercise.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading.

Gone Since November

What's changed? New chiropractor is out of network so buh-bye good chiropractor. Still not pregnant, no biggie. I started a new Jillian workout. This time I'm doing her Six Week Six Pack.

Today was day 11. I do want it to be clear, I began last year...December 31, to be exact. I don't like the New Year vibe. Anyway, the workout is rough but good. There are a few moves that I struggle with, two that I really struggle with being able to actually do (Spider and what she refers to as herkies, sp?) and one that really pushes me to the max-side plank knee lifts. And it's not so much that the move is difficult, my wrists start to really hurt. And then Jillian has to go and stack the wrist moves together, ouch.

I'm still going to yoga. My Thursday night Master's class has moved to Monday for a couple of months which allows me to go to Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday yoga. I had a recent epiphany while stretching. Never before in my life has stretching felt so good. Before it's just been something I tolerate for 8 counts. Now, it feels soooo good.

I'm beginning another adventure this week. Well, I tried to start on Sunday evening and there was a snafu. Some friends from my favorite online community recommended Podcaster Intervals. If you're not familiar it's basically a podcast of a running system--a way to get you running. It starts at week one and alternates walking and running, set to music with a particular beat, to get you to a 5K (there are others, but I'm doing the 5K).

So I downloaded, what I thought was, week 1 and set to the frozen streets. When I looked down at the time it said 47 minutes, instead of the 29 I was expecting. Turns out I snagged the week one challenge instead of the basic week one. So I walked for five minutes to warm up, yogged for 10, and then cooled back down for two minutes.

Tomorrow I'm taking my workout gear to work and I might head to the middle or high school to try this run inside. My lungs were not too happy after I got back in the other night (and I won't get into all the neighbors who have NOT shoveled their walk in days), lots of coughing.

Anyhow, if it all works out I will 6W6P 6 days a week, yog on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, and yoga Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I will be fit. I refuse to be fat.

Did I tell you, I'm no longer shopping at my fat lady store? All done. There's only one shirt remaining that I can actually wear from my fatter days...and it has a tie in the back so I can make it fitted. I'm excited to see what this new workout brings me. I can already feel myself getting stronger. The 6W6P is, obviously, a 6 week program. I'm into my second week. I can do this.

I'll try to write me. It helps keep me on track too.

Happy *snow* everyone!

The Chiropractor

I recently changed chiropractic offices when I began feeling a pain in my side awfully reminiscent of last year's rib-out-of-place debacle. I woke up on a Sunday morning with what felt like a stitch in my side (do you know what that is? My hubs claims it doesn't exist!), or a bad cramp, and it just wouldn't quit.

Monday morning I called my yoga instructor/new chiropractor and made an appointment for that afternoon. I, unfortunately--I felt at the time, couldn't meet with my yoga instructor but her husband, who instructs Tai Chi classes instead.

While I've gotten to be rather close with my new yoga friends, they really don't know too much about my personal life, namely my current inability to bear a child.

So, you can imagine my surprise when, as I lay belly-down on the red vinyl table, Dr. Tai Chi spoke of my misalignments in my back-namely, some that represent my menstrual cycle and ovulation.

Perk. Those were my ears clamoring for more information. I had never mentioned to Drs. Tai Chi or Yoga that I had irregular cycles or issues with ovulation.

Dr. Tai Chi asked if I ever had issues with one cycle being very heavy and painful compared with the previous month. Yes.

Then he talked about my ovaries and something about them getting tired or whatever. I don't exactly remember because I was trying to digest the million things he was saying in his South African accent while being adjusted this way and that.

Regardless, the main point of this is on Wednesday Aunt Flo arrived. Or so I thought. No, she did. It was just that the usual pain I have when she's here, wasn't. And the usual Flo wasn't usual...she packed light for this visit.

I feel I glossed over this too much...um, I couldn't even feel her presence.

Did Dr. Tai Chi have something to do with this? Can I be fixed from the outside? Is there hope for me? I seem to be seeing a lot of "hope" lately. We shall hope and see.

Ahimsa

In yoga, we've started to delve into the Yamas beginning with Ahimsa. Basically it's non-violence. And this includes no self-violence. No, I'm not a cutter nor am I physically mean in any other way (unless you count the things that Jillian Michaels makes me do...) but I am very guilty of self-deprecation. And so through the study of Ahimsa, I'm trying to live the life and be more loving of me.

I was in a discussion recently about signs. I believe in signs, I see little ones all the time. For example, my lucky number is eight. Basically, my birth date, time, and weight are all eights. Really. So I took that as a sign and eight's been my number, forever.

In the previously mentioned discussion there was a talk about 11. A person had many occurrences with eleven. So 11 became their sign. But it doesn't always have to be numbers. Sometimes when things don't go right--trying to make something turn out just so to only to have that certain something no longer needed. Sigh.

There's even the off-chance that I'll take extra work home in the midst of winter and voila, a snow day the next morning. It's like the universe is sending you little signs. It's her way of showing she cares.

So this morning, as I was working on the no self-deprecation, I was consciously thinking nice thoughts about myself ("My butt looks fine." "Those hairs that stick up on my head are probably overshadowing the 3 1/2 inches I got cut off last night." And so on.). And as I was in the main office of my work I was sitting in the chair, known as the therapy chair. It was there in the therapy chair I saw my first Ahimsa sign.

On the front desk of my friend and co-worker sits an apple-clothes pin contraption that holds the out-going mail upright. And as is very common in an elementary school setting, there was a Scholastic Books envelope waiting to be shipped off to the land of not-so-cheap books. Sitting next to the mail holder is a cup of pens. Where am I going with this whole Ahimsa-signs-of-the-universe thing?

Well, the exact position of the cup of pens combined with how I normally sit in the therapy chair--pushing myself to think kind things--partially blocked the view of the Scholastic envelope. The envelope that always has the same saying on the back, "Thanks for your buying our books at really unreasonable price..." oh wait, it doesn't say that. And it doesn't really matter. Except the first part. Today, the envelope, or the universe, said "Thanks for you."

Don't Give Up

Did you give up on me yet? I cannot believe it's been more than a month since I've written anything! I will get back into it. Surely.

Long story short--in regards to working out. Once the school year started I changed my ways a little. I am getting up earlier in the morning and working out, walking the dogs, and then getting ready for the day. Despite not liking the early rising time, it's actually working out quite well. I love being able to come home and just make dinner--not change, work out, then getting dinner ready. And most days, the pups get a walk after my workout. Too bad it's super dark that early in the morning.

Other than that, we're still on the budget. We're at $60 a week which I sometimes find hard to meet. I need to spend more time with my coupons but they're so overwhelming to me. Anyone have a good way to keep them helpful instead of drowning me?

I'm still not drinking coffee (I know!!!) but have started drinking chai lattes in the morning. I really like the warm morning beverage.

I still love my yoga class. This upcoming weekend we have a yoga retreat. I can't wait!

Okay, to make my grocery list. Happy Sunday. Happy October. Remember, share those couponing ideas!