Straight from the mouths of the little ones...

Despite all the chaos of the weeks' events..... IEP meetings, trying to find the bottom of my desk, and trying to give my students the impression I have my head screwed on tight, this week has gone by real fast.

I thought I would share a few comments from my world.... from my students.

Coming from a fourth grade student after giving me a hug.... "You smell like my Mom," she says. ...... "Does your Mom smell good?" I asked.... "Yep," she says. I sort of felt relieved after this. I had to remind myself that I was wearing Very Sexy from Victoria Secrets.

In a discussion about arm hair (don't know how we got there)... a fourth grade boy says to me ... "It looks like your going through puberty." Interesting how he relates my hairy female arms to puberty. I wanted to tell him that I knew another female with hairier arms than me!

When wearing a long, shiny necklace yesterday, one of my first graders asked to see it. So I took it from my neck and handed it to him... He was playing with it and says "My Grandma would love to meet you!" ... I responded with "oh really?" ... and he says, "you should buy her one of these!". .... "are you going to buy her one of these and give it to her when you meet her at conferences?" .... "Um, probably not. She will have to buy one for herself." ... okay kid.

When working on homonyms with students, another teacher was discussing the difference between steak and stake. One of the girls said she knew of another kind of "stake/steak"... ... The teacher thinking "oh really?"... The student shared that there is the "stake" when you mess up on your work. You know... mis-stake! Except she doesn't call it mistake... she says "stake". too cute.

Kids are great. Very unpredictable!

Tomorrow I plan to spend some time in the pool... nothing fast... just taking my time to really work on my technique. From there I will be heading to work. Most likely I will spend the entire day there to get caught up. Did I mention I need to find the bottom of my desk? Complete 2 IEPs? Edit an Integrated Written Assessment Report? Write of a Positive Behavior Intervention Plan and create a daily Point System sheet? Finish Progress Reports? Make copies? Do some laminating? Update progress monitoring Graphs? Organized Binders? Correct assignments and update grade book? Work on file-folder language and math games? Yeah, I think I have a few things to do tomorrow.

I will definitely be ready for a drink tomorrow evening!

Yesterday's Brick:
24.45 mile spin (longest bike ever)
2 mile run

Today's Workout:
2.65 mile run

What's in your gym bag?

Somedays I feel like I spend more time getting ready for the next day's workout, taking stuff out of my gym bag, putting in into another, adding stuff to the gym bag....etc. So, in the process of putting together my gym bag for today, I was wondering if anyone else feels as if they are constanting filling and emptying their gym bag... So after work, I have a scheduled spin session with a short run afterwards.... and then to a friends for grey's anatomy night. Here's what's in my gym bag today....

• heart rate monitor and watch
• ipod
• two pairs of socks
• underwear
• three pairs of shoes ( 1 for cycling, 1 for running, and then tennis shoes for afterwards)
• tank top
• sports bra
• shorts
• a pair of jeans
• a long sleeved shirt
• shampoo and conditioner
• shower gel
• towel
  
• mousse
• headbands, bobby pins, and ponytails (can never have too many)
• lock for locker
• two packs of sports beans
• water bottle
  
• gatorade

What's in your gym bag?

Set in stone or written in sand?

Today's scheduled "longer" run didn't go as I would have liked. In fact, I cut it short by about a mile. My legs muscles were stiff from top to bottom. They weren't sore, just felt tight. I know I probably didn't hydrate myself in the past two days as much as I usually do. On top of the stiff muscles, my right knee just wasn't having it. It was tired. I was tired. I don't think my body is used to running 3 days in a row. .. ... with a swim thrown in there.

I have to remind myself that my "training" isn't set in stone. I chose to do 16 weeks of training for a reason.... to take the time I needed to build my training and make sure this triathlon is possible. Therefore, it is written in sand. Change is inevitable. I have mentioned my thoughts on changing around my swim sessions, and after tonight's run, I think I need to take into consideration what I am capable of doing or pushing myself to do in a weeks span. I have the time, and I am going to take it.

Thanks for all the advice... much appreciated.

Today's Workout:
3.35 mile run
strength training
abs
picture found on Google Images

pondering the possibilities

Monday night swims. I don't know if I am feelin' it. Yet.

• You see, it's just soo late.
  
• I have a hard time eating before I swim, and I don't like the idea of eating at 9 when I get home. ... only to go to bed in less than an hour later.
• I have been pairing it with a run before-hand, and I am afraid the run is taking most of my energy away from the swim.
• and to be honest, I like to be able to come home in the evening and just chill for a few hours.
  

I think it is possible to switch my swim the morning. That is only 1 day a week, possibly twice down the road. And, if I still want to run that day, I can do that in the afternoon after work... causing me to switch gears and think about 2-a-days. I am more of a morning person anyway. I would just have to adjust my mindset a bit. I know if I want it, and it is required as part of my training, it will happen.

Now for those of you who have commented on my post from yesterday... "In Heaven There Is No Beer".... It is a song/cheer we sing after the Sioux make a goal. It goes something like this....

In Heaven there is no beer.... (no beer!)
that's why we drink it here... (right here)
and when were gone from here...
our friends will be drinking all our beer!

Today's workout:
2.25 mile run
600M swim

Moment of Truth Monday

Well. I posted my weight last thursday, so I didn't expect much change from then to today. Especially with a weekend of eating out and beer drinking.

Last thursday's weight: 150
Today's weight: 150.8

Not too shabby for all the crap consumed this weekend. Hopefully this will go down over the next week!

In Heaven there is no beer...

The weekend with the family in the Greater Grand Forks was wonderful! Friday night we vegged and watched the Sioux kicks some butts on the ice. Saturday Dad and I hit up some almost-too-good football. UND beat St. Cloud 59-14. We are now ranked 8-1. It will be interesting to see how we are once we get into D-1 next year! Later that evening we all were ready to watch some more butt-kickin' .... live. Unfortunately, that wasn't what happened. We got our butts kicked. We lost... 1-4. It was rediculous.Overall, it was a fun and relaxing couple of days.

My Mom and I were discussing how this is the best time of year for running outside but it is the shortest season. You don't have to worry about the intense weather of the summer that can involve sunburns, being overheated, humidity, bugs.....and you don't have to worry about the other extreme ....winter; slipping on any ice patches and going back and forth between outfits, trying to determine whether your going to wear just 2 layers or 3 layers.

Today was perfect. Some might disagree with me.

I went out for my run around 12pm. The temps were in the high 30's with light sprinkles on and off. There was dense overcasting that gave the impression of other sorts of precipitation not too far away. It is November. Our precipitation can switch from rain to s*** anytime now. I would like to enjoy what we have (or don't have), while it's here. Even though I thought it was nice, I did have to turn the heat on in my apartment for the first time this fall. That's definitely a sign that weather is changing!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Today's Workout:
3.25 mile run (outdoors)

Finally Friday

Yesterday I hurried from a day long "meeting/training" to get to spin. Luckily I was able to grab the last of the better bikes. Boo-ya! My training schedule stated that my workout would consist of spin with a 1 mile run afterwards. ... done and done!

This weekend I will be out of town and in the Greater Grand Forks area. The whole-fam-damily will be heading there to catch some hockey! I am SIOUX-per pumped! I promise not to drink too much beer (in one evening) or eat too much (junk food). But, I have to have a grinder from the Red Pepper.... it's a trade mark of the city! It was the best after a night of partying...

Due to being away for the weekend, I squeezed in my workout at the butt crack of dawn today! Can you believe it? This morning's workout was a wonderful nice recovery run and then some brief lifting and ab work. I have on my schedule a 3 mile run tomorrow, but I have given myself the option to save that for sunday if necessary.

Yesterday's Workout:
20.87 mile spin
1.55 mile run

Today's Workout:
2.05 mile run
strength training
abs

Have a great weekend, y'all!

"Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams."

Thursday "Moment of Truth"

Well, y'all.... I am offically joining P.O.M. in her "Moment of Truth Monday". I wasn't going to do it because I am not fond of sharing my weight, especially since it shot up 10+ pounds since last spring (despite the clothing fitting the same). But, who better to share it with and get great motivation from then all my friends out there in bloggerland?!

It's not so much that I really want to lose weight, I think I am more bothered by the fact that I have gained weight when working so hard at the gym. But, I find that this will be helpful in getting myself to eat better. I have already given up soda... why not try eating better!?!

Here's the criteria:

• Post current weight
• Post goal weight
• Post reward if goal is achieved by February 2008

Here's what I got... gulp:

• Current weight: 1 *cough* 5 *cough* 0
  
• Goal weight: 135
• Reward if achieved by February 2008: Massage after completing first Triathlon!

I will be posting my progress... if any, on monday in the "Moment of Truth Monday" weigh in. Yuck. Take it or leave it people! Hopefully there will be some progress. It's definitely a moment of truth.... time to cut back on the cupcakes and beer!

Any tips on easy and healthy lunches, snacks, and dinners for "traithlete's in training" would be helpful! I don't have time to spend stand around the stove!