This little piggie…

Went to bed!

There was lots of carb loading, packet picking up,and falling back on half marathon routines.  Namely setting everything out the night before… 

spi belt (for hold my camera and gu packs), pants, wicking shirt, gu packs, shoes, socks, wicking hat, poncho (which we won’t need!), and Flying Pig t-shirt with bib number.

It was a long day and it’s time for bed.  I’ll be sure to post a full recap tomorrow.  Right after I sleep for a couple hours, get stuck in an awkward position and have my thighs, calves, and all other muscles in my body sieze up.  Night!

Omnivore, Carnivore, or Herbivore?

Happy Friday y’all!

I am very happy it’s Friday, even though I just got back from a four day conference.  I kinda still want to be here…

with these lovely people…

I am at my last class for this semester and am very happy about it.  Tonight is due for lots of packing as I am getting on a plane tomorrow morning to go back to Cincy for the Flying Pig Marathon!  It’s finally here!  I got some pink sunglasses and bracelets that I am going to wear during the race while in D.C.  I will be very festive!  I gotta say that I’m kind of nervous about this half.  I didn’t get as much training in as I wanted.  Remember this…yah.  It’ll be good.  I know this.  Plus I get to walk with my momma, so how bad can it be?

School News

The kids had a quick science quiz today.  One of the questions asked, “What type of diet do you have (omnivore, carnivore, herbivore)?”  A student answered…Germy (Germany), Spanish, black male.  So apparently this particular student is a cannibul…awesome.

Daily Post

Describe your first experience with a celebrity.

My first experience with a celebrity was in New York City in Central Park.  Leanne and I were walking around the park, ya know, as you do.  While walking this kid and his dad were walking toward us.  The kid had football, which he could not hang on to.  As we were getting closer he lost control of the ball and dove for it, right toward Leanne’s feet.   Concerned, his father came running toward him.  His father was Mark Ruffalo…  so Leanne almost punted Mark Ruffalo’s kid, whatev’s.  Mark seems like a very nice man, I mean when his child is not in danger.

And I’m back!

Hey all!  Sorry for the long absence.  I was spending some time here…

That would be the Gaylord Convention Center at National Harbor in Maryland.  I was there for a conference that my school so nicely paid for us to go to.  It was a really good conference and I definitely took away some info that I want to use.

As of right now, I’m spent!

This week was great, but not a whole lot of time to think about the Flying Pig.  I did, however, buy some pink sunglasses and pink bracelets to wear in the race.

Tomorrow it’s back to work, then class, then bright and early on Saturday I’m flying back to Cincy for the Pig.  It snuck up me so quickly!

I hope you all had a great week!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everybody!  I hope you had a great day!

Yesterday Leanne, Phil and I went to the Easter Vigil.  It was about 3 hours of sitting…which isn’t too surprising since there were a lot of people getting baptized and confirmed.  Some fun things that happened during the Vigil: An altar boy getting reprimanded by the monk by getting the job of holding the folder for the priest the rest of the mass.  It didn’t matter if the priest didn’t need to folder…he was going to hold it.  The guy next to me picked off all the wax drippings from his candle and stuck them in shelf attached to the pew…nice.  Also, there was a little girl in the pew behind us who had an accident while she was sleeping…oops.  They left in kind of a hurry after that.

Before church there was egg dying to be done!

Finished products!

After dying the eggs we headed out for some Easter errands.  At the Honey Baked Ham store, look what they had!

A flying pig! Reminders are everywhere!

And yes, I know this picture makes me look like a humongous dork.  I don’t care.

Today we took it easy.  Cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

Shhh, they're sleeping.

I somehow never get a picture of the finished product.  They are just that good.  I used this recipe.

The rest of the day involved taking a 4 mile walk…and more eating.  I mean what else are you supposed to do on Easter?

As you can see it was a very stressful weekend…

Happy Easter!

100 question survey

100 Random Questions!

here, this is the original list.

I am about brain-dead this morning.  After driving 10 hours yesterday and not being able to fall asleep last night, I don’t have a whole lot to offer this morning.  Read and enjoy people, read and enjoy

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4. “…pulled out a ragged catcher’s mitt.”  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can, What can you touch?
   a candle, nail polish, picture frame, VA DMV notice
3. Before you started this survey, what were you doing?
   texting, doing laundry, and watching Oprah
4. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
   Uh,Oprah
5. Without looking, guess what time it is
   Um, around 9?
6. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
   Ha!  8:56
7. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
   The dryer, TV, and helicopter outside
8. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
   Around 6…I had to change a fuse in my car.
9. Did you dream last night?
   I’m sure I did.  Do I remember it? Um, no.
10. Do you remember your dreams?
    See above
11. When did you last laugh?
    Today.  One of my students told me not to get too excited about Spring Break.  
12. Do you remember why / at what?
    yes, yes I do.
13. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
    A poster of NYC, old pictures of my grandparents and great grand parents, Gwen Frostic Prints, a Georgia O’Keeffe sunflower print, and a painting
14. Seen anything weird lately?
    sure, an albino squirrel
    
15. What do you think of this quiz?
    This is a quiz?
16. What is the last film you saw?
    Limitless with Bradley Cooper and Al Pacino.  Pretty good, go see it.  If for no other reason that to see Bradley Cooper.
17. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
    Hmm, anywhere?  It would have to be somewhere by the water…I don’t know where exactly.
18. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
    A new car, new iPod (lame I know), a house…
19. Tell me something about you that most people don’t know.
    Well, if I told you than a lot of people would know and then what is the point?
    
20. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?  I would change the education system.
21. Do you like to dance?
    Not really
    
22. Would you ever consider living abroad?
    Sure why not?
    
23. Does your name make any interesting anagrams?
    Ylime.  My brother calls me that sometimes
    
24. Who made the last incoming call on your phone?
    Hmmm, Leanne
    
25. What was the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?  I don’t know why this is slashed out…can’t change it.  It was probably iTunes  or something.
    
26. Last time you swam in a pool?
    It’s been a while,  I honestly can’t remember
27. Type of music you like most?
    Most?  I’m on kind of an Indie/Folk kick right now.
28. Type of music you dislike most?
    Rave/Techno/Electronic music
29. Are you listening to music right now? No, now I’m catching up on my DVR
30. What color is your bedroom carpet?
    Beige
31. If you could change something about your home, without worry about expense or mess, what would you do?
    Well, I’m renting…but… I’d put it by the ocean and then I’d fix all the crazy things they did in this house.  Like the outlets don’t really hold the plugs in place.  Ya know little stuff.
32. What was the last thing you bought?
    Food at Whole Foods
33. Have you ever ridden on a motorbike?
    Nope, and I don’t really want to.
34. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
    I’m leaning more towards maybe
35. Do you have a garden?
    No
36. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem?
    Yes
37. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
    Really, I have to get up already?  Snooze!
38. If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be?
    Joseph Gordon Levitt
39. Who sent the last text message you received?
    
    
40. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
    Anthropologie or Lululemon
41. What time is bed time?
    During the school week it’s around 10.  If I’m not in school, it’s whenever I want! Muhahaha
42. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?
    Eck, no
43. How many tattoos do you have?
    Two
44. If you don’t have any, have you ever thought of getting one?
    Why yes I have
45. What did you do for your last birthday?
    I was at our Lake House
46. Do you carry a donor card?
    I don’t think so
47. Who was the last person you ate dinner with?
    Mi madre
48. Is the glass half empty or half full?
    Um, it’s half full at some moments and half empty at others
49. What’s the farthest-away place you’ve been?
    Toronto Canada
50. When’s the last time you ate a homegrown tomato?
    Probably last summer.
51. Have you ever won a trophy?
    Sure, in singing competitions for high school.  Even then they weren’t really medals they were just sheets of paper.
52. Are you a good cook?
    Yes, I think so
53. Do you know how to pump your own gas?
    Yeah, why wouldn’t I?
54. If you could meet any one person (from history or currently alive), who would it be?
    John Lennon, too cliché?  
55. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school?
    No!  Public school kid!!
56. Do you touch-type?
    Yeah, but sometimes I misspell the words.
57. What’s under your bed?
    At times a cat, other than that bags from half marathons and luggage.
58. Do you believe in love at first sight?
    We’ll see…
59. Think fast, what do you like right now?
    Cinnamon bread, coffee, chocolate
60. Where were you on Valentine’s day?
    Uh…I think I was at home…?
61. What time do you get up?6:00 if I have to be somewhere early or 6:30 if I’m feeling lazy.
62. What was the name of your first pet?  Sippy!
63. Who is the second to last person to call you?
    Leanne
64. Is there anything going on this weekend?
    Don’t know, maybe
65. How are you feeling right now?
    Discombobulated
66. What do you think about the most?
    Life and where it’s going
67. What time do you get up in the morning?
    Um, look at the other question
68. If you had A Big Win in the Lottery, how long would you wait to tell people?
    Not too long.  I can’t keep that type of information to myself!
69. Who would you tell first?
    My family, that counts as one person, right?
70. What is the last movie that you saw at the cinema?
    Dude, I just answered this earlier…
71. Do you sing in the shower?
    yep, I do
72. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
    Seriously, just answered this…
73. What do you do most when you are bored?
    Surf the Interwebs, catch up on the DVR or read
74. What do you do for a living?
    Teacher of young impressionable minds
75. Do you love your job?
    Yes, sometimes, sometimes, yes.
76. What did you want to be when you grew up?
    A baker, a gymnast…
77. If you could have any job, what would you want to do/be?
    I would love to be a children’s book author or a baker…
78. Which came first the chicken or the egg?
    egg
79. How many keys on your key ring?
    A lot!  Six, I think
80. Where would you retire to?
    somewhere by the water where it is warm.
81. What kind of car do you drive?
    Ford Focus baby
82. What are your best physical features?
    Ugh, I don’t know.  My dimples…?
83. What are your best characteristics?
    Caring, witty, and loving
84. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go?
    Australia 
85. What kind of books do you like to read?
    Anything, ooh except textbooks, those I don’t like to read. 
86. Where would you want to retire to?
    Answered already
87. What is your favorite time of the day?
    The time of day when I know I can go home
88. Where did you grow up?
    SW Ohio
89. How far away from your birthplace do you live now?
    10 hours SE, depending on how fast you drive
90. What are you reading now?
    A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
91. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
    I can be either
92. Can you touch your nose with your tongue?
    Yes!
93. Can you close your eyes and raise your eyebrows?
    Yes…
94. Do you have pets?
    Bond (cat) here in VA, Cleo (cat) in Ohio
95. How many rings before you answer the phone?
    Ummm 2
96. What is your best childhood memory? Rubbing pepper seeds in my eyes.  Oh wait, no, that’s the worst memory…
97. What are some of the different jobs that you have had in your life? Bob Evan’s hostess, data entry person, admissions office slave, teacher
98. Any new and exciting things that you would like to share?
    I’m taking a summer Masters class!?
99. What is most important in life?
    My family
100. What Inspires You?
     The creativity of others.

Travelin’ Thursday

Today I am traveling back to Virginia.  It’ll be a lovely 10 hour journey back.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it goes quickly.  While I’m driving I thought I would keep you entertained with a few pictures from Ohio.  Enjoy!

Did I mention that it rained while I was home...?

Crab Apple Tree outside my window

Pretty flowers in my room...thanks mom!

New Flying Pig shirt! (I love Flying Pig!)

A two siren kind of day

First off I want to say welcome to any new readers from seeing me on Freshly Pressed!  Hiya and welcome!

So today started very early.  I mean very early.  At about 1:00 AM I was awoken by the melodic sounds of tornado sirens.  It’s such a beautiful sound that I decided to, ya know, just stay awake.  While staying awake I heard another tornado siren at about 1:45/2.  Fun stuff. 

Blah.

The real start to my day started with me going to the trails by the Great Miami River.  Well, me not thinking about all the rain we had gotten last night lead to this… 

I want to go to there!

As much as I wanted to take a swim/bath in the Great Miami, I decided against it.  Sooooo…I only did two miles today!  Curses!  This weekend I will be training a long walk for the Flying Pig!

Daily Post

What would you do differently if you were president or Prime Minister of your country for a day?

Being an educator, there are so many things that I would love to see changed in the Education system.  There are so many holes within the system and policies.  Gah!  Sometimes it just makes my head hurt thinking about my day-to-day teaching life.  We should be teaching to the child not to the test.  How are we preparing the youth of tomorrow for the real word, if we are teaching to the stupid standardized tests…and stepping off soapbox…

Thank you!

I was so surprised today to learn that I was Freshly Pressed! 

I have always been jealous of those who got chosen and someday I hoped I would get the opportunity.

Well, it turns out, that day was yesterday!

So I thank you, from the top of my head, to the soles of my sequined tipped shoes!

I really appreciate all the comments and “likes” I’ve gotten.  I hope that you will all keep reading!

What goes up…

Oh Spring Break, how I have waited…and waited for you.  It is so nice just to have a break and sleep in ’till whenever I want!

This morning I got up and took another walk.

One of the things I wanted to do while home was get some hill training in.  As beautiful as Virginia Beach, there are not a lot of hills.  Who’d a thunk, right? 

Well, Middletown has plenty…

Up the hill…

and down....

 

And up again...

The last hill is called the MUM Hill.  Why you ask?  Because it’s on the Miami University Middletown campus.  Real creative, I know.  Anyway, we had to climb up and down this hill in summer gym.  It was just as brutal then…  I did three miles yesterday and four the day before.  I was planning on doing more today, but Mother Nature has other ideas…

When I got home, this guy was waiting for me in one of our trees.

The elusive albino squirrel

Although I don’t know how elusive he is…I’ve seen him the past two days. 

After walking, I did some actual work.  Crazy concept!  The week after my Spring Break I am going on to a conference in DC so I had to make lesson plans.  Fun, fun! 

 

Last night, we also went to a Reds game

Good food was eaten…

Montgomery Inn BBQ. Yes, please!

Something I found really confusing was that they made the concession stand people at the Montgomery Inn booth wear cowboy hats, cowboy boots, a bandana around their neck and checkered shirts.  I didn’t get it.  Are we really that much in the south??

Mr. Redlegs, Mrs. Red, and Gapper

 

Joey!

Joey and the rest of the Reds apparently forgot how to play last night.  Either that or they were really distraught and distracted by idiot pitcher Mike Leake.   I mean seriously, $10 shirts??

We had  great seats and the weather was perfect, but it would have been nice to have a win over the Pirates.  Ah well, next time. 

Daily Post

What do you want to accomplish with your blog?

Leanne and I started the blog so that we could chronicle our journey to do a half marathon in each state.  That is still what this blog is about, but it’s als turned into other things.  The blog is also where we can update our family members of different things happening in our lives.  It’s a place were we can do food reviews, trip reviews, and generally just rant and rave about stuff we find interesting.

How is your Spring Break going?

Bienvenidos!

Welcome!

I made it to Ohio.  Not without some roadblocks…

What you cant really see? Yeah, me either!

Seriously...?

The journey was made much better with a little help from my Sirius Radio and 9 on 90′s channel.

Kid Rock, followed by Eminem.  What more could a girl want?  The even cooler thing is that I can rewind anything I’m listening to and listen to it again!  It’s ah. maz. ing.  Seriously!

I went on a four mile walk with my mom today and am currently drinking wine and waitin’ on dinner.  Pretty good way to start Spring Break if I do say so myself.

Big shout out to Phil who ran/walked 75 miles in 21 hours!  Way to go!  Now, get some rest!