Before and After

I hadn't been posting much because my photos wouldn't load...then I tried Google Chrome and "wha-la!" IT WORKED!! So photo time...

 I have an itty-bitty backyard. We recently had two giant redwoods cut down....there was one in each corner of the small year. They were 50 years old and planted apparently when the house was first sold. One was rotten in the center and was dying...one good storm and it would have toppled. The other was pulling up our tiny patio and the roots were in our plumbing....so down they came. I posted photos of the workers scaling the tall trees 4 stories high...it was amazing! After the trees came down The Captain and I had the yard leveled and terraced. A small part was set aside for my cactus garden. So when the weather hit summer yesterday, (80 degrees!) I headed to Home Depot for cactus soil and thick gloves. I removed soil and then worked the cactus soil into the area. I whacked off the two large cactus and buttons off my barrel cactus out front. Then I walked the dog to the park and got a few starter pieces from there.

BEFORE

Then I added deocr....horse shoes, lava rock, horse skull and jaw, hummingbird feeder and rocks that we have collected on vacations over the years....all I have left is to add some small rocks that I plan to get from the soil and rock store next weekend.

Those nasturtiums wandered over from our neighbors...they will get to hang our until we decide what to plant there that doesn't take a lot of water.


Oh...and if you plan to transplant some cacti, keep some tweezers in your pocket.

*LIVSTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*PLANT YOURSELF SOME FUN*

So I am only 4 days behind...

...but I will make up for it...Lent that is. I was baptized a Catholic, made my First Holy Communion, did a stint in Agape Youth Group and then bailed. But in preparation of celebrating Mardi Gras, I was explaining Fat Tuesday to my class. I love second grade because not only do they listen for more than 1 minute, they also come up with some pretty darn good questions. "What are you giving up?" Who me??? Nothing!


Later that day I heard about 40 Bags....GIVE AWAY!! Help others!! Clear the clutter!! The idea is to give a bag a day away to Goodwill or the likes. So today, I took my huge, 4' tall paper bags, (that I got from the free compost section at our local dump,) that were waiting in the garage for a while now, to Goodwill. Each day I will clear out my closet, my dresser, a drawer, etc...40 days worth!! I did my own version of this a few summers ago where I got rid of one item each day....and when I had exhausted all my extras I started organizing one thing a day. I have too much...STUFF!! so 40 days should put a dent in it.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*PURGE*

Read Across America

You're never too old,
too whacky to wild
To pick up a book
and read to a child.
                                                                   Dr. Seuss


Go ahead....you read it...MONDAY!
Read-Across-America!


I have the superintendent, a policeman, the director of the club where I work out, a board member, the principal, the art teacher all reading to the 2nd graders. They will let the kids know how they use reading in their jobs, why reading is important and best of all, what they read for fun :)

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SEUSS*

The Day That Wouldn't End

I generally enjoy the first day back to school after a break...but today wasn't one of those days.


A co-worker is out as her mother-in-law is about to pass away...so I said I would make her plans for the week...and when I went to work on Saturday to make copies and clean up from Valentine's Day I set off the alarm...and the alarm wouldn't accept my code....and the police came and checked my ID...(Like I would break into the school to do work?) so I was only able to work in my classroom and not go into the main building.

Soooooo I got to work early to do all of the things I needed to do....I made the copies, set up my room. then got the warm ups CD set because I led warm ups this morning....and then I went to my co-worker's room to set up...it smelled a little when I opened the door...and then I put out the plans, put the spelling on the board and then checked the hamster....which wasn't moving...there was plenty of food and water...it was just old...and dead....and one more thing to deal with....I had to find a bag and a box and get him out before Running Club which was starting in 15 minutes....and the tone for the day was set....although there was nothing else dead to deal with.

I was so exhausted by the end of the day...The Captain picked me up and we went to our friend's post office to mail a package to our Kiwi...there were only 2 people ahead of me in line but the first person in line was mailing A LOT. I waited 15 minutes and decided to leave....we got to the club and I decided to swim over working out inside. That was a great decision because it was a beautiful sunny day and rain is coming on Wednesday....so I got dressed only to find my lock fell apart and wouldn't work...so I had to bring my backpack and purse out to the pool deck.


I am feeling a bit less exhausted after my swim and shower...and I am waiting for my steamed veggies smothered in cheese because....I have a lot to get ready for tomorrow...because, I have to plan for the other class and IT'S THE 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!


More fun than I can handle :)

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*SCHOOL'S A PARTY*

February Run

With February coming to an end I was thankful to find an event that I could run in ...I try to do one event a month....but without anyone to do events with it make sit easy to put it off.


Today was a 5K run for a local private school. The upside was the entry fee being only $20 including a t-shirt...even thought the shirts are the basic men's style t-shirt which I have soooo many of and rarely wear so.... The captain has another nice shirt!


Yesterday when I ran my two uphill quarter miles the sun was out...even though it was 9:00 it was too warm for me. But today was overcast and chilly at the 9 a.m. start. This was a very small run....only 55 entrants because the other 100 participants were walking the 1K which began 10 minutes later. When this run began, the youngsters took off and were not to be seen until I was on the home stretch and they were walking to their cars...but besides finishing 45 out of 55 I was proud of my finish time of 28:05....and I could have broke 28 minutes but just into the second mile a boy around 12 who was running with who I think was his sister, fell right in front of me....of course I had to slow, turn around and make sure he was okay....he was and he finished with blood running down his knee!


I was sure I would place....but the age divisions went from 5-9, 10-19 and 20-up....there is no way I can run like a 20 year old!! The last 3/10th of the run was uphill and I felt pretty strong....I guess my last 2 days of hill climbs helped. This makes me eager to want to run more than once a week...I really need to run no less than 3x...but I get lazy, or I swim or do something else....but I want to be strong for the Rugged Mudder in May so I need to keep up the running.


I am sad tonight because my mid-winter break has ended....tomorrow I go back to a very full day starting with Running Club before school and it is my day to lead the routine for 1st/2nd grade warm ups....and a co-worker is out and I made plans for her class also....back to the grind :)

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RUN LIKE A GIRL*

Just One More....

that used to be the first thing I would look at in Life Magazine...it was always on the last page.


Just one more? Yes, one more time BlogSpot has decided not to upload my photos...not because I am out of room but because a little dot comes up and makes circular moves...and won't go away and won't let me close the upload box and then I get frustrated and quit trying to make a post.


It is so hard to put up a post without some photos...and I may have to give up on this site...but for now....the GOOD NEWS is:
I HAVE HAD 10 DAYS TO MYSELF!!
(The Captain took his mom on a cruise)
the other good news:
THE CAPTAIN COMES HOME TONIGHT!


and the best news:
I HAVE THE WHOLE WEEK OFF!
(THANKS GEORGE AND ABE!)


Now to clean the house because FOR 10 DAYS...I ate what I wanted...left my clothes on the floor...baked some awesome muffins (and ate half the dozen)...haven't  picked up the yard after the dog or made the bed...BUT I did run (set a PR on my weekend 5 miler,) and I swam....and I watched the USA Mens' hockey team beat the Russians in a shootout (2x)...and watched snowboarding, downhill, curling, biathlon and ice dancing (even though I am not a fan of it)....I ate a heart shaped box of Dove chocolates, built a fire in the fireplace and moved the couch right up in front of the hearth and read a book...had a Valentine's Day drink with a friend, left the volume on high on my laptop, left the car radio on my station and drank milk out of the jug...used my gift cards shopping online and basically was a bachelor for 10 days....and I enjoyed every second of it. Now I have a week to recuperate.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*ENJOY TIME OFF WORK*

The Wooden Necklace Conference

Although it is really no longer polyester pants and wooden necklaces, the name Pumpkin delight gave it sticks. I haven't found a more appropriate name for it now...but I am sure to come up with something.


I took a break and went for a run...along the same trail I ran along last year when I was here. The new 9er Stadium is looking great...almost all the seats are in. I would post the photo I took but I cannot post photos anymore ....for some odd reason....I have been trying since Monday when I tried to post.


I will spend the weekend here learning and playing....and working. Thankfully I get Monday off as a day of rest. My only dilemma is that the 9ers play the Seahawks at 3:30 on Sunday...just about the time I would leave here on my bike and head to Cal Train...so I have to decide if I am watching the game here...or trying to get home before the end of the game.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RUN PAST A NEW STADIUM*

Lady Bug, Lady Bug....

Don't fly away home....you cost me too much $$......
Finally the Lady Bug book shelf is put together and in my classroom loaded with books.

I posted last summer about my find...it all came together so well- like it was planned. I saw this book shelf at the public library on our class field trip...and I mentioned to a mom that I would love to have one in my classroom....and that perhaps my husband could make one....and the next day she gave me a $50 gift card to Home Depot to start on it!

But the Captain has so many projects on his list right now I didn't even want to ask...so I went online and found the library site that sells them....For  $1,500! (Not including the $700 shipping!) Then I googled photos of Lady Bug Book Shelf and when I continued on to that link it turns out there was one for sale in a second hand furniture store in Colorado Springs. SO I sent BIG Foot over to look at it since he is conveniently attending the University of CO there....and he said it was in good shape and was $200....and I was serendipitously given a $200 VISA gift card from the parents at the end of the year. THEN BIG Foot drove the disassembled shelf to the Captain's mom's in August and we were to drive to UT to pick it up....but summer was so full of traveling we never got there. When the Captain was at his mom's in November he looked into shipping the lady bug...but it was $300 or more. Then the week before Thanksgiving I was picking up dinner at Beli Deli when the owner asked if my son was coming home for TG....and she told me her son was driving home...from UT! ....in an SUV! So I quickly texted him and he was able to pick up the lady bug and deliver it to me before we left for Vegas....and the Sunday we returned we were going to set it up! Yay! But then I returned with the severe allergic reaction to the smoke and had a rip-roaring ear infection from all the swelling....so this Christmas break the Captain put it together....and I was able to get it organized today. I can't wait until the kids see it!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*READ A GOOD BOOK FROM THE LADY BUG BOOK SHELF* 

Happy New Year!

Two accomplishments:

*New Year's Eve the Captain and I earned our t-shirts in the Winter Warrior program at the SMAC. 30 consecutive days of working out....well, minus Christmas Day because they were closed.
 

*Then year #3 of the New Year's Day Run to End Hunger Run...this is what I get when all the rest of the runners party all night...I get 3rd in my age division.

And now it is time to eat the split pea soup I have been waiting for. I used the ham and bone from the Christmas ham to make some delicious crock pot split soup...and I turned off the crock pot, put the crock on the stove to cool so I could put it in the fridge....and then promptly went to bed- leaving it out all night. So this is round 2 of the split pea soup....had to buy a bone and a slab of ham...but it is smelling soooooo good right now.

HAPPY NEW YEAR MY BLOG FRIENDS

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH

 HARDER*HAVE A HEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR*

This is how I feel today...

It was a fine, fine Christmas....

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER

*LAUGH HARDER*ENJOY THE DAY 

AFTER...BOXING DAY!*

Made it!

After running 300 miles my next goal was to make it to the end of the week with all my marbles.
I DID!
Now the countdown to Christmas!!
Off to run 1,000 errands~

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*MERRY CHRISTMAS PREP*

I ran...I ate...

And I ordered my veggie with sausage pizza for dinner!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RUN FOR YOUR LIFE*

5 to GOOOOO!

5 miles to go. I will order a big fat veggie pizza with sausage when I make 300!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RUN FURTHER*

11 to go...

Since I have been sick- finally on a round of antibiotics that are clearing my ears- I have begun the push to make 300 miles this year...running miles that is. I know, sounds pathetic...in college I probably ran that in a summer....and I have friends who do that in a month- but seriously it was my goal this year since I would not make 1,000 biking miles.

It has been insanely cold here...and dark in the mornings...so I have resorted to a treadmill. I have only been on one once at physical therapy- talk about boring. Plus the fact that I apparently cannot run a straight line and watch the overhead TVs....I keep stepping partly on the side on the machine that does not move causing me to trip and look like a moron. BUT I am down to 11 miles left!

SMAC, where The Captain and I work out has the WINTER WARRIOR program in full swing. 30 days gets you a t-shirt- 60 days a fleece and 80 days free dues for a month! Last year I only missed 1 day for a conference in Santa Clara that I wasn't about to drive home for...and the same will happen again this year....so I keep plugging along 2 miles a day on that silly George Jetson contraption and should reach my goal next week. By then my ears should be clear and I should have enough energy to swim!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*MAKE A GOAL FOR 2014*

It's beginning to Look a lot like Christmas....

...returned from Thanksgiving so to a whirl-wind of activities....so today I am off work for a Dr. appointment and to make my house look as though Christmas is actually coming! The tree stands naked...the mantel empty and only my classroom decorated. It is about time a little cheer arrived....and will happen right after my Dr. appointment and errands are run!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*A LITTLE CHRISTMAS CHEER*

It's beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving....

25 conferences down....1 apple pie baked...one pumpkin pie baked....36 corn muffins baked....the kids were awesome with following recipes. Now one more day...and one 504 meeting AFTER school tomorrow and then I can begin my Thanksgiving holiday....but seriously...WHO schedules a meeting after school on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving break????

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*CRY OVER A MEETING I HAVE TO ATTEND WHILE ALL THE OTHER 

TEACHERS LEAVE SCHOOL*

three words...

Parent Teacher Conferences...

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*ONLY 22 CONFERENCES TO GO*

Sweet Dreams

So my alarm apparently went off this morning at 5:30...and I lay there for a few minutes then put on my swimsuit and sweats. My backpack was packed with my work clothing so I grabbed it and went up to the kitchen...where I glanced at the clock and it looked odd...battery  must be dead...then I looked at the clock on the stove and indeed it was 4:28 a.m!

I went back downstairs and there was my phone...set for 5:30 a.m....still connected to the charger. I guess I dreamed it went off...now I was too awake to go back to sleep so I went online to see when the club opened...5:30...so I got a few things done, packed my breakfast and headed out the door. I swam my mile and made it to work with time to get some things buttoned up before Running Club began.

I will be sure to check the time before climbing out of bed tomorrow morning.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*DOUBLE CHECK THE CLOCK*

Lazy Saturday

I am thoroughly enjoying a much needed Saturday. I woke up and then sat in bed with my laptop. Then I lounged around a bit and then ran. The weather is not hot so I was able to run whenever I wanted...which ended up being around 11. I ran my 5 mile loop- I thought I was sucking under but actually to my surprise I hit my last record time. On my way up the hill I passed a woman running down...when I got back to the house she was coming back...turns out she is my new neighbor and runs slow like me...we will make a date to run together...it is always nicer to have someone to run with. I am approaching 300 miles for the first time in ages...I have 42.07 miles to go for 2013!

Tonight I have a PTA event...it will be fun but I am so enjoying doing nothing. I have my sewing computer warming up and I hope to make some gifts for Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. The dog is waiting for a walk and I would love to just sit on the couch.

Tomorrow is a loooong day. I cannot eat, only drink clear liquids for a procedure on Monday....there goes my 3 day weekend but it is better than taking a day off work. Conference are coming up and I have a zillion report cards to do...and papers to score and lessons to plan and books to read. I am looking forward to a fun Thanksgiving break even though we will be traveling.

 

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*ENJOY A LAZY DAY

Time Change

Is there anyone out there who really enjoys the time changes?

I admit I enjoyed my extra hour to run in my extremely busy day...but I hate that it was dark so early...I hate that I will wake up extra early, and that my students will be cranky and ask for lunch at snack time and want to go home when it isn't time yet, but the sun is in the sky where it was when they got to go home on Friday. 

My body takes so long to adjust. I just wish we would pick a time and keep it...or split the difference by a half hour and not be tortured twice a year.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*S*@%# THE TIME CHANGE*