Reality

So, reality has sunken in.  This is what I'm going to be doing in approximately 16.5 weeks (please note my new, fancy-schmancy countdown for the exact numbers):

What in the world am I thinking?

To Heart

Monday was a day spent recovering from Easter and dealing with technology - so, it was not such a fun day.

Tuesday was approximately a million and a half times better.  After school, See Us Run Des Moines had our first race: the Grand Blue Mile in downtown Des Moines.  It was so much fun, and we did so well!  All of the students finished between seven and 13 minutes, and my mentee and I were right in the middle of the pack with 10:17.  It's definitely not the fastest mile in the world, but honestly, it's my fastest in several years!  I was really proud of the two of us.

(Initially I was paired with a girl who - allegedly - can run six-minute miles.  Imagine the panic I felt upon that realization.  Whoa.)

After work today I decided to do a little cross-training and hit the Y for a spin class.  I was less-than-impressed: while it was a good strength workout (and I rode 16 miles in 38 minutes), it did not feel like a cardio workout at all.  I mean, my shirt was covered in sweat, but I wasn't huffing and puffing like I usually am during/after spinning.  And, she totally cut our class short and didn't even say goodbye or thanks for coming - not cool.

BUT, I'm headed to bed now.  I'm taking a car-full of girls on a road-trip after school tomorrow to hear my personal hero, Erin Gruwell, speak.  It's going to be a loooooooooong day - but, I'm sure, an amazing one.

The Sun Will Rise Tomorrow

Sorry about yesterday.

That apology goes out to two groups of people, only one of which is probably reading this: first, I would like to apologize to YOU for failing to post yesterday.  I was on a roll, and I failed.  Second, I would like to apologize to my three best friends - with whom I went to book club and dinner - for being a total Debbie Downer.

As you may know, I teach ninth grade in an urban high school; my kids are 14- and 15-years-old.  I'm not going to go into detail here (duh), but suffice it to say that sometimes really, really shitty things happen in their lives, things that are absolutely unfathomable and so intensely heartbreaking.  I cannot help but internalize some of their pain and sadness - I care too much.  And that gets so emotionally draining.

Yesterday was the day I just broke down.

My children just should not have to experience half of the things they do.  And I wish I was not so utterly helpless.

And now I'm going to apologize about today.  After putting all of that down on "paper," I just don't have the energy to write anything else.

Source

However, I want to include this picture because of something my best friend said today, something that stuck with me.  She is a substance abuse counselor and led one of her groups on the second step: turning troubles over to a higher power.  I asked her how that step worked with individuals who are not religious, and she said the "higher power" can be anything that the person trusts:

"I trust that the sun will rise tomorrow."  

While I do believe in something greater than I, I also find it comforting and reassuring to know that the sun will rise; tomorrow will come.

A Sense of Pride

Yep.  That's me.  Well, that'd be me if I were a boy and of the Pavo cristatus variety.  But you knew what I meant.  Anyway, I'm pretty proud of myself today.  (Get it?  Peacock?  Proud?  Okay, good.)

Source

Obviously you know about my awesome workout last night.  Well, this one tops it.  Because of the weather today (approximately 20 degrees below zero and pouring bullets), I hit the gym instead of the trail for a 5k run.  I started by walking for two minutes at 4.0 to get warm, and then I started jogging; granted, I was only moving at a 5.0 pace (12-minute mile) and going at a 1% incline, but I was moving.  When half a mile hit, I thought to myself, "Emily, you can go another half-mile."  Then when one mile hit, I didn't feel the need to stop.  At 1.8 miles, I told myself that I would listen to one-and-a-half more songs and then take a short break.

Side note: I love The Boss.  He makes a workout easy.

When my songs were over, I had already run 2.5 miles, so I figured, "Why not?"  I ran the whole stinkin' thing.  First. time. ever.  At 2.5, I even upped my speed to 5.5, and with 0.3 left, I upped it to 6.0.  I finished in 00:36:51.  While it definitely wasn't fast by any means, I was pretty darn proud!

The only reason I stopped the run today when I did was because of my legs.  My lungs felt good, my heart felt good, I felt good.  My legs, however, did not.  They didn't hurt too bad during the actual run, but as soon as I stepped off the treadmill and moved into the runner's stretch, the knives jabbed into my shins.  I'm going to be a hurtin' unit tomorrow - considering I already am right now.

In other news: I've been eating like a horse today.  (I've also been drinking more water than I can keep track of - let's just say that I've spent nearly equal time in and out of the bathroom today!)

I had cereal for breakfast (Organic Optimum Slim) at 7:30 - I had a curriculum meeting all day and didn't have to get there until 8:00, so I actually had time for a "real" breakfast!  Around 9:45, I got hungry and inhaled a Luna Bar in about three seconds.  For lunch, we got to pretend we were "real grownups" and headed to Panera; I had the turkey/artichoke panini and French onion soup - it was cold out today!  Then I was pretty good until after my workout.  As soon as I walked in the door, I had some leftover pasta from last night along with some cinnamon-sugar roasted almonds.  And then for real dinner around 7:00, I had spring rolls:

If spring rolls weren't so time-consuming, I'm pretty sure I'd eat them way more often.  They are healthy, they are delicious, and they are filling: three of my favorite things!

Mom: check out my fingernails.  Oh yeah!

For the rest of you, it's just one more thing I have to be proud of today.

Story: I have had the nastiest habit in the world since I was four-years-old.  Yep: I'm a nail-biter - well, actually more of a nail-picker, but it's equally as disgusting.  However, after I took off the acrylics about a week ago (I always think they're a good idea...and then get sick of them after a month), I immediately painted them with OPI Nail Envy and a coat of Koala Bear-y, my personal favorite.  They are beautiful!  I really hope I can keep 'em that way!!!

Anyway, I'm off to do some more reading:

One of my bestest friends invited me to her church for a social justice book club of sorts.  (I'll be able to explain more tomorrow.)  Anyway, we're supposed to read the first 170 pages of this book, and I am currently on page 40.  Wish me luck!

Ugh

I am going to be sore tomorrow.  But for a nice change, it won't be in my shins!  After school today (which was actually about 4:30), I headed to the gym for a good spin class followed by an abs/back class.  It's funny: even though I've only been "hardcore" running for a few weeks, I can already tell it's helped my endurance in other areas.  This was by far the best spin class I've ever done: I didn't half-ass it at all, I kept my RPMs and gears exactly where he told me to, and I pretty much kicked major butt.  I was very proud of myself.  After spinning I hit the abs/back class that I've neglected for several weeks.  The instructor is killer, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a six-pack by tomorrow.

It took every ounce of willpower to hit the gym today, though.  I don't know what it is about Sunday nights, but I cannot fall asleep for the life of me.  I lay in bed last night for probably two hours before I finally crashed.  SO FRUSTRATING.

After spending too much time at the Y, I headed to my new favorite store: Hy-Vee.  Wanna know why it's my new favorite?  Let me show you:

Oh yeah.  Bins of healthy stuff like quinoa, bulgur, and chia seeds.  I am ridiculously excited.

I went to Hy-Vee because I needed two things: rice vinegar and onion.  I need the rice vinegar to make this awesome recipe (the spring rolls, not the other ones), and I needed the onion to make white chili.  I was going to make the spring rolls last night but due to the lack of rice vinegar, decided on tonight; then I opted for tomorrow because I knew tonight was going to busy, and they are kind of time-consuming.  So...I decided on white chili.  I came home, sauteed up the garlic and onion, and went to add the beans and chilies.  Except...I didn't have ANY cans.  Ugh.  I improvised and came up with this:

I added a can of diced tomatoes to the onion and garlic, then chopped up some basil leaves, chicken, and artichokes.  Then I tossed it with some angel hair pasta.  It was pretty good, albeit quite onion-y and garlic-y!  I was pretty proud of myself for coming up with a completely random dinner, though!

Also, I discovered today that driving after a contact falls out is difficult.  And not safe.

Okay: now I'm off to compile a list of memoirs for a curriculum meeting tomorrow.  If you were me, what memoir would you be sure to include?

Productivity

I have a problem.

I cannot sit still for long and not feel guilty about it.  

Today, I had a minimal to-do list: run, do laundry, and grade tests.  The rest of the day was supposed to be spent lying on my couch, watching TV, reading books.  I tried the whole lying-on-the-couch thing and succeeded for approximately 45 minutes.

Then the guilt set in.

I cooked a rock-star breakfast for myself and BFF: banana bread pancakes.  (BFF contributed some delish bacon.)

After she went home to crash on her couch, I tried to lounge again.

It didn't work.

I messed around with my "marathon mix" on iTunes and then convinced BFF to join me for our run: three-and-a-half miles in 45 minutes.  (Don't judge my time: I'm new to this whole "running gig."  Also, my shins feel like there are knives jabbing into them on every step.)

I came home and tried to lounge again.  It didn't work.  I thought about grading tests, but that thought quickly fled from my mind.

Instead, I decided that Sunday night would be the perfect time to clean out my closets - and clean out my closets I did!  I was very liberal in what I tossed and managed to pack up FIVE bags of clothes to donate to Goodwill - or, perhaps, try to sell at a consignment shop.  BFF already claimed a bag of the goods.

I feel so much better.  There is no reason that one person should have the amount of clothes that I did - well, that I still do.  I've given lots of clothes to Goodwill in the past - I clean out the closets at least once a year - but I never do as good a job as I should.  This time I think that I did.  It's amazing how relieved I feel.

And I am NOT going shopping for quite a long time!

Now I'm off to grade tests...and watch Celebrity Apprentice.  (You know me and crappy reality TV!)

Question: What songs should I be sure to include on my "Marathon Mix"?  Hook me up with some motivation, peeps!

ABC's of Me

I haven't updated for awhile, and when I was catching up on one of my favorite blogs, I saw this quiz and decided to post it for your entertainment.  :)  Hopefully I'll be back with your regularly scheduled programming this evening.

A. Age: 27

B. Bed size: Full.  I've had the same bed since college.  I bought it used from an international student who bought it brand new six months prior and couldn't take it with her back home.  While I lived with the ex, the bed was stored in my brother's basement - I can't even begin to tell you the grossness that I had to bleach off of it before using it again.  I'm pretty sure it's time for a new one.  :)

C. Cats: Chloe and Charlie - the absolute best!

Chloe - she will be turning SEVEN on Wednesday.  I can't believe it.  My ex and I got her from the Animal Rescue League for my 21st birthday.  She's my princess.

Charlie - he will be turning FIVE in September.  Long story short: after having put my kitten to sleep only three weeks prior, one of my students brought me Charlie, a six-week-old baby.  She had bottle-fed him from day one because he didn't have a mama.  He's my sweet boy.

They look like they had the same parents, huh!?

D. Dad: My role model, the smartest, bestest guy I know.

Fourth of July - 2009

World's Biggest Buffalo, Jamestown, ND - 2010

'Tinis & Tunes - Summer 2010

F. Favorite color: Purple.

G. Gold or silver: Silver.

H. Height: 5’5” 

I. Instruments you play: I played the violin from fourth grade through ninth grade.  I was in the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra and was actually pretty good.  However, due to a horribly awful teacher/conductor toward the end of my "career" (and because I wanted to focus more on the visual arts), I quit.  I kind of wish I could still play.  I also own a guitar - but need to take some lessons.

J. Job title: Technically: ninth-grade English teacher.  Un-technically: mentor, therapist, mom, coach, cheerleader, advocate, role model, friend, confidante, nurse, social worker, etc.

K. Kids: Yes.  But a husband first would be preferable.

L. Live: South of Grand:

Source

Oh wait.  This is down the street from my one-bedroom apartment.  Oops.

M. Mom: Best friend.

My pity party - February (?) 2010

Farmer's Market, Downtown Des Moines - summer 2010

Grandma's 80th Birthday Party - October 2010

N. Nicknames: Em, Emmy, B, Bimmy, Bim

O. Overnight hospital stays: Zero

P. Pet peeve: Rude, inconsiderate people

Q. Quote from a movie: "I carried a watermelon?!"

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings: One brother, one sister.

Fourth of July - 2009

Erin's Graduation - May 2010

Fourth of July - 2010

T. Time you wake up: Monday through Friday, my alarms are set as follows: 6:00, 6:05, 6:10, 6:15.  :)  Saturday and Sunday, I pretty much wake up when I feel like it - but it's usually before 9:00.

U. Underwear: Yes?

V. Vegetables you dislike: I used to despise broccoli and peas; however, I'm starting to like 'em.  I discovered I'm not a huge fan of beets - although I bet I'd like 'em if I ate 'em more.

W. What makes you run late: I don't like to waste time, so if I have an extra five minutes, I try to accomplish something - which makes me late for something else.  Oops.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Lots of teeth x-rays (and lots of pulled teeth!).  I've had ankle, foot, and knee x-rays - too many sports-related injuries.  I've also had a chest x-ray.  When I had a TB test react badly, the doctor did not believe me that it was due to skin issues, and they did a chest x-ray.  They said there was so much radiation that I couldn't have another chest x-ray for 10 years!  If only they would've believed me to begin with...

Y. Yummy food you make: Everything.  Duh.

Z. Zoo – favorite animal: I love the tapirs at the Henry Doorly Zoo - no idea why.

Source

However, my all-time favorite animals are the big cats, specifically the lions.  Love 'em.  Maybe it's because I'm a Leo...

And now you know more about me than you probably ever wanted to know.  Hope you enjoyed!