2013 in Review Part 1

We're 4 days into the new year and I've been thinking about 2013.  It wasn't a terrible year.  It wasn't a great year either. But overall, I can't complain!

January wasn't anything special.

February was ok.  I presented in front of the board of education at my district.  I had previously been warned that my tenure was on the line.  Apparently some teachers in my building thought I was worthless and went to the superintendent to voice their concern.  Funny that they never came to ME with any problems they had.  So I had to fight for my job and show them just what I do and how valuable I am.

In March, the superintendent finally called me in for a meeting.  Apparently she didn't want to not give me tenure.  But she didn't know me well enough to give me tenure.  So she started asking all these questions about what I do for the district and what I do to further my library knowledge.  This is when I leaned that either my principal had done nothing to fight for me or the superintendent just didn't care for him.  I figure she just didn't care for him.  The meeting ended with her telling me she was going to be around.

And she was.  She came in and observed me with 2 classes.  She didn't want to see my plan book or anything else.  Came back later in the afternoon and told me she would recommend me for tenure.  What??  After all that? Anyway, until it was actually approved by the board, my stress wasn't over!

End of March brought the death of a friend.  It was very sudden and unexpected.  She wasn't a close friend, but I liked her a lot.  I had seen her a few weeks before and we had talked about getting together for a dinner date.  I was looking forward to that.  I still think of her often.

April was still a lot of nothing.  Boot camp, running and biking.  Biking was happening a lot more.  I had registered for the 45 mile Ride for Roswell at the end of June and I had never biked much more than 30 miles before!

May brought my final portfolio presentation at school and the faculty play.  We did Jack and the Beanstalk Bandstand.  I was Duck Clark.  It was as ridiculous as it sounds, but the kids loved it and it was fun!

May also brought my first 5K of the season.  I had been meaning to do the Holland Tulip Festival 5K for years, but the weather was always crap.  Well, the weather was crap, but I still went and did it.  And I set a 5K PR.  I also participated in the Buffalo Marathon Relay with 3 ladies I hardly knew!  I ran the 3rd leg, which was about 6.25 miles.  It was colder than usual but an experience I'd repeat!  And I also started participating in Ride for Roswell training rides.  Finished the month with the Gay 5K.  No PR, but a ton of fun!

June brought the end of school, more biking and another 5K PR.  This time in the Girls on the Run 5K.  The Ride for Roswell was great.  I had no problem with the distance.  It was fun and I'd do it again!

 

June also brought a seizure for Barkley.  Rushed him to the emergency vet.  Never did I think he would go before Jeter and I was almost certain he wasn't going to make it.  By the time we got to the vet, he was starting to come around.  Because no one witnessed what actually happened, the vet can't say for certain, but because of how he was acting after the fact, a seizure was assumed.  It took him a few days to return to normal and all his tests were normal, so no idea what caused it.  He has not had another.

 

Ended June with a trip to Charlotte.  Hadn't been in more than 3 years!  So good to see all my friends!!  It was hot and seemed to rain any time Stephie and I planned outdoor fun!  So we went shopping.  And out to eat.  A lot!



Check tomorrow for the last half of 2013 in review!

Airport Observations

Yup.  More than 6 months since my last post.  Buy hey, I did better than 2013!  And hopefully, 2014 will be better...

Anyway, Pat and I traveled for Christmas this year.  We went to Orlando to visit his parents and then we stopped in Charlotte on the way back for a wedding.  We had a lot of time in the Charlotte airport headed home...

1. The answer to skinny jeans is always no.  Just don't.  Most who wear them shouldn't and even if you can, don't.  How is that even comfortable?

1a. Men in skinny jeans.  Really?

2. Still not understanding the black and brown together.  When I was growing up, this was a fashion faux pas.  I guess it isn't anymore, since they make black boots with brown trim.  But I still don't like it.  I must be the only one.  Black leggins with brown boots.  Not for me.

3. Leggins??  When did these become pants?  Aren't they meant to go under dresses or skirts?

4. If you have to run for your plane, tighten your belt.  Saw a guy with his pants almost to his knees.  You'll be faster if you're not fighting your pants!!

5. It can't be easy to travel with little kids. But please, don't treat your kid like dirt!  And don't tell the person you're talking to on the phone how you can't stand your kid right now.  Especially WHEN YOU'RE REALLY LOUD ON THE PHONE! And your kid is sitting right there. If I can hear you, so can your kid! You might be on your last nerve, but the people sitting next to you in the food court see you as a mean horrible mother!

6. Seeing a dog when unexpected puts a smile on my face!  Lots of people traveled with dogs this holiday season.  Being a dog person, and someone who had to board her own dogs because they are too big to fly, thank you.  Flying is stressful.  And seeing you with your dog in the airport made me smile and relieved some stress.  Thank you!

Reading, Biking and Running

So, it's been a little longer than I would prefer, but these things happen.  I've been busy.  The school year is winding down.  The Ride for Roswell is 10 days a way.  And I've run a bunch of races.

I'm so happy school is almost over!  We've all had enough!  I'm looking forward to reading lots of books that I want to read.  For ME.  Not for school.  I have a huge 'to read' list.  I don't even know where I'm going to begin!  But I'm excited!

As you may remember, I'm doing the 45 mile Ride for Roswell on June 21st.  I've passed the minimum for donations, but if you'd still like to donate, click here.  I'm riding in memory of my Aunt Renne.  This past Saturday, I did my first ride longer than 20 miles (this season).  I've been doing some of the official training rides.  It was rainy and me and another guy were the only ones to show up.  So we basically did the ride.  We went just over 41 miles.  We returned on the bike path instead of the roads, like we will on the day of the ride.  Without police presence, we thought it safer to take the path back.  The last 10 miles were a struggle.  My thighs were on fire!  But I got back to my car.  I was sore the rest of the day, but other than a little leg fatigue, I felt fine on Sunday!

My running has been progressing.  Memorial Day week, I did 3 races.  I did the 3rd leg of the Buffalo Marathon Relay.  As long as I've been paying attention, this day is always HOT!  This was an exception!  It was freezing!!!  Ok, it was actually perfect for running, but since I wasn't running until mile 12.4, I was freezing while waiting my turn.  The first mile was just working out the stiffness from waiting around, but after that, I felt really good.  One thing that did bother me, and this is totally a me thing... not long after I started running, it was just me and the marathoners on the course.  Every time a spectator cheered me on, I felt bad.  I just started running.  These other people are running 20 miles more than me!  And anytime I passed a marathoner, I wanted to yell out that I was just a relayer... not one of them.  But anyway, that's just a me thing.  My leg of the race was 10K (6.2 miles).  Not sure how, but I ran almost 2 minutes faster than any of my previous 10Ks!

On the Thursday of that week, I did the first Gay 5K in Buffalo.  It was awesome!!!  That's me on the left!

Buffalo's first Gay 5K

They better have this race every year!  For a first time, it was very well done.  Everyone was very friendly and very welcoming.  The after party was great.  It was a very hot day.  Probably the hottest I've run in so far this year.  I finished Sub-30, but it wasn't a PR.  However, and this has nothing to do with the race, I do have one complaint.  I was disappointed by the people I call friends, who were horrified that I would support "those people".  "Those people" are my friends.  "Those people" are my family.  They are PEOPLE.  And they deserve the same rights everyone else has.  And just who are you to judge??


I ended that week with the Girls on the Run 5K.  I've done this race in the past.  It's not a great race if you care about your time.  But I totally support the cause.  Wish I could start a program at my school, but we're a poor district and our families just can't afford the $150 per girl.  Anyway, it was a rainy day.  Not really raining at the time.  It had rained and was going to rain again.  Very windy.  And very humid.  I was tired and I felt like death.  Girls were stopping all over the place.  A lady from the Checkers running club kept running right on top of me.  Every time I moved to get away from her, she followed.  It's like she was stuck to me with glue!  Ugh, get away from me!  I just wanted this race to be over!  When I finally crossed the finish line, I looked at my Garmin.  29:19.  20 seconds faster than I've ever ran a 5K.  What?  How is that possible?  Was it a true 5K?  Yup... 3.13 miles.  Holy crap!  Imagine if I didn't feel like death!

So, I'm definitely getting faster.  I'm trying to figure out why.  I haven't run as many miles as I had at this time last year.  I don't do speed work when I do run.  The only thing I'm doing different this year is Boot Camp.  I've been going once a week since the beginning of December.  Maria and I tried it last Spring when we saw a Groupon.  I enjoyed it, but at the time, I was always exhausted by the time I got to my long runs.  So after the Groupon ended, I didn't join.  But I knew I needed something, so I went back.  It is expensive, but i enjoy it and it keeps me accountable.  And I'm running faster!  So, it's working!

Ride for Roswell

On June 22nd, I am riding my bike 45 miles in memory of my Aunt Renne in the Ride for Roswell.  The ride benefits Roswell Park Cancer Institute, here in Buffalo.  Aunt Renne lost her battle with ovarian cancer in November 2008.  The night before Pat and I got engaged...  She left behind a husband, 2 kids, 6 grandkids, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, all who miss her dearly.

Me and my bike after the Summer Sizzler 2011.

I have done the Ride for Roswell before.  I've done 30 miles four times.  It's rained at least 3 of those...  I'm hoping for a nice day this year!  I have never gone more than 32ish miles on my bike.  This is the first year for 45 miles.  It was only open to the first 250 riders who registered.  I wasn't sure whether I wanted to do the ride this year.  I so enjoyed the 30 mile route, but I wanted to challenge myself to a greater distance.  The next distance up was 44 miles and a completely different route.  What if it sucked?  When I saw that a new 45 mile route had been added, I was intrigued.  It follows the 30 mile route along the river walk and continues all the way to canal side.  Yes!  I signed up immediately.

So, I did my first outside ride yesterday. About 7.31 miles.  During a high wind advisory.  I have a little more than 2 months to make 45 miles seem like nothing! 

If my bike and I are going to be BFFs, I need to be comfortable.  I need a better seat.  I'm going to end up with an old lady seat, aren't I?  Whatever.  As long as my butt doesn't hurt!  I will keep you posted!

Every little bit helps, so if you'd like to donate, you can do it here.  Thanks in advance!

OK, For Real This Time...

So, it's been more than a year since my last post.  And in that last post, I vowed to do better when it comes to posting.  So, I'm not making any such promises this time.  Let's just see what happens.

Since my last post, I've been mostly unfulfilled in my reading life.  Most of the books I've read have been ok, but nothing fabulous.  A few exceptions:

           
Yes, they're all children's or YA chapter books.  But they were excellent reads.  I'm still searching for an adult read that is as good as these!

My running career has been pretty exciting.  In March 2012, we (me, Maria and Mary) had the bright idea to run a half marathon.  We picked the Mighty Niagara in September and training began in April.  Considering I had never ran further than 6.2 miles and I now had to do a little more than twice that, I was less than optimistic that this would actually happen.  But I paid and trained and race day came.  I was as ready as I was going to be.  My goal was to finish in less than 2:30.

I woke up and it was pouring.  Literally raining buckets.  And it was cold.  I trained in the rain.  But rain and 80 degrees.  Not rain and barely 60 degrees!  This had the makings of the worst day of my life!  I was so upset!  But I paid the money and trained for 5 months.  This was not the time to not show up.  So Maria and I went.  Just as the race was starting, the rain stopped.  Yippee!!

I started slow.  For a while, I could count the people behind me on one hand!  But I gradually started passing people.  I ran the entire race without having to stop and walk.  I missed my goal by less than 2 minutes!  But I finished.  I had run a half marathon.  13.1 miles! 

It's all about the sticker!

Time has passed and I'm ready to do it again.  September 21, 2013 is the Mighty Niagara Half Marathon and 5 weeks later, October 27, 2013 is the Niagara Falls International Half Marathon.  I'm aiming for both!  I probably don't need 5 months of training, but it worked for me last year and I was really prepared, so I'm going to do it again. 

It all begins April 16th!

What did you read over break?

That's what a 3rd grade teacher asked me in the hall the other day.  So I started telling her about all the books I brought home from school to read.  New books I bought and put out right away for the kids, so I never had a chance to read them.  As I was telling her all this, she stopped me and said, "No.  What ADULT books did you read over break?"  After having to think about it, I had to laugh.  I read 6 kids chapter books and 1 adult book.

I like this teacher a lot and she did laugh with me when I had to think about the adult books I read.  The sacrifices we make for our kids...

Anyway, the only adult book I read was Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner.  I've read several other books by her, and like those, this one did not disappoint!  She has a way of telling stories about multiple people who seem to have nothing to do with each other, but as you keep reading, you see how their lives are intertwined.  If that sounds like something you'd like, check it out!

Getting on with it...

So I haven't posted since August.  I didn't stop reading.  I just didn't really read anything that inspired me to blog.  I'm going to give it a try again this year.  But I'm not going to just do books this time around.

On goodreads.com, I did a reading challenge last year and I read more then 135 books.  I do count the books I read at my job as an Elementary School Librarian.  I don't think that counts as cheating. My goal for 2012 is 150 books.

Anyway, I'm also trying to be a runner.  I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that before.  I've done a bunch of 5K's, a few 10K's and a duathlon.  I want to do more!  On dailymile.com, I've accepted a challenge to run 366 miles in 2012 (a mile a day).  Looking at my running mileage for 2011, I was just under 300 miles (the counter also counts bike mileage).  I didn't want to pick a challenge that was unrealistic and this one seems attainable.

So the plan for 2012... I'll blog about books I love and books I hate.  I'll also blog about successes and failures in my running life.

Wish me luck!  :)