Bloody Perfection.

I have had a GREAT last day and a half. It all started when my middle school girls played basketball yesterday and we were tied 2-2 at the half (yeah middle school) and it went into overtime when we were tied 7-7 (again, yeah middle school) but well, we did lose 8-9. But still so fun. I do love my middle school ballas.

So the most awesome part of this was that the Hubbards/Mott were here to see the game. And we did the same thing we always did when I was playing at Gordon. We went out to dinner, spent the night at a hotel, then went out to breakfast in the morning. Then they left. This is lovingly called a "Hubbard Extravaganza." I can totally take credit for the title. Just sayin'...but just the fact that they pretty much came to watch me not only coach, but coach 6th-8th graders...for about an hour. Awesome.

I knew that I had a glorious snow day today as of 5:30pm last night, so there was no waking up early this morning. So I could go and be fun with the family without the pressure of turning back to mature sooner than later.  So we went to Sylvan Street Grille for dinner. I totally go there solely for the Brickle Pie. Mama Louanne's Brickle Pie, to be exact. Eating dinner is just the obstacle to getting there.  But anyway, we requested that they possibly cut it in half so we didn't have to struggle doing it ourselves (it's a task, let me tell you) but they said they couldn't do that; they come pre-cut that way. And then I wondered, "but isn't Mamma Louanne back there making them? Can't she cut it smaller for us?" I felt like I did when I found out Santa wasn't real when I found out that in fact Mamma Louanne is NOT back there; that's just the title of the dessert. I've been living a Sylvan Street Grille lie.

Then in the morning we ate breakfast at my favorite breakfast place, "Depot Diner." It's in Beverly and it's SO GOOD. I always leave feeling 100% satisfied and ready for anything. It's like magic in that restaurant. And don't tell me that breakfast magic doesn't exist. I've had enough let-down for one day.

I love my family. I always love our Hubbard Extravaganzas. And I love that they sacrificed the extra time they knew it would take to get back home today in the crazy weather:) 

But then my day continued and I was in my room and doing support letter stuff and Team in Training stuff and just being so happy. And the fact that I didn't turn the TV on at all!? Some kind of record. I admit it. I'm not proud of it. But it's huge.

I have a coach and then I have a mentor through Team in Training while I train for this marathon and I spoke with my mentor for almost an hour today, getting to know more about him and the group. And he is Scottish. And said bloody hell and called me "mate" and "love" more times than I can remember. And I loved it every time. Chris, if you are reading this, I'm a huge fan already.

Then I worked out. Ran on the treadmill and was in a muscle conditioning class. It's the kind of class where if I were in it with good friends, I'd have a hard time not laughing at the things we're doing and at the intensity with which the instructor explains moves and stuff. It's priceless.

And then I came back home and ate salad and peanut butter M&Ms. With friends. I am 100% rejuvenated for the 2 days of school left before the weekend. Er...I have class this weekend Friday from 5-10 and then Saturday from 8:30 to 4:30. But other than that, how has my last day and a half gone?

Bloody perfect.

Margaret!?

It's 6:14 on Saturday morning and my body thinks its time to get ready for school so I am up. HA, body, you think you're so smart. Well...I am spinning soon so I guess my body is wicked smaht.

I woke up, though, because I thought I had heard Amy up pouring herself some cereal in the kitchen. Which would make sense since she's crazy and is going to NY this morning for 24 hours or even less. But anyway, I then realized that there was no light on and no other movement or sounds. And then I started thinking about Margaret and how we had had a whirlwind of chips and salsa last night. 

Now, Margaret may be dead. An anonymous person named Meggo decided to take matters into her own hands and bought mouse poisoning. That was soon vetoed when we thought about the whole dead-mouse-in-the-wall-stink-up-the-house possibility.  But I don't know. Margaret has not been seen for the past 2-3 months.

I think she is dead.

HOWEVER. Do you think it's ironic that the book I am reading with one of my toodees is called Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary, about a mouse named Ralph (hello, coincidence? he has a name TOO!?) who befriends a boy named Keith and loves to ride his toy motorcycle. Which, needless to say, is a perfect size for him. Again, coincidence? There I sit now, from 12:25-1:15 with my toodee Monday through Friday stepping into the shoes, er, paws, of a mouse named Ralph.  And obviously the readers come to love this little mouse and wants him to be safe and have fun and be able to eat Keith's crumbs and ride his motorcycle without getting eaten by that pesky dog down the hotel hallway.

Is Beverly Cleary playing with my mind?

So back to this morning, I wonder if Margaret (may she rest in peace....and if she's not dead may she rest somewhere other than my apartment) indeed was digging into a bag of Tostitos? Reveling in a bowl of leftover salsa? Getting all her friends and family to dig in with her, there's plenty of chips and salsa for all of us?

I, for one, need to clean up after myself more often. The three of us (some are better than others) are always, for some reason, rinsing out our dishes and rather than turning our bodies ever so slightly, opening the dishwasher door and inserting the dishes, we seem to think that step is a little too daunting so we keep them in the sink.  The sink is full. The dishwasher? Not.  Well anyway, I think I am the second best at putting my dishes away. 

Unless, of course, Beverly gets me to love Ralph so much that I am willing to offer my crumbs and toy cars (that are all over the place; my mom keeps telling me to clean my room) to any old mouse wandering around the apt. If I were to choose, my loyalties obviously belong to Margaret.

So either Amy is back to sleep after a hearty meal of cereal during her sleep-walking (that she doesn't do), or there is a mouse whose family is very pleased with his/her discovery of a sink full of Tostitos crumbs and salsa chunks. At least they'll get a well-rounded diet. 

Some Things

Some Things....

-"You've lost your mind: A.) 26.2 miles B.) Seattle, Washington C.)$4,300"  This is a direct quote from my dad. And I totally agree with him. And yet, I'm going for it. Go big or go home. 

-I need to stop burning the popcorn. It stinks in here.

-Today I needed to jam my foot into my mouth 5 seconds before I said something. That is one of the worst things in life.

-I am known as a Landmark staff with a sense of humor (honored), so therefore I get kids who make jokes and should be enjoyed in that way....with humor. By 8th period, I've realized ever since I got this new tutee for the new semester, that my patience is gone and I am not in the mood for jokes. Direct quote from him my first day with him: "You can't take a joke, can you?" NO.

-I don't know how to react to people sometimes. But I do a mighty fine job acting like I know. Don't worry, I'm not talking about you.

-My dad needs to be here to say, "snap out of it"...."it" being a funk.

-Those huge cookie cake things that are nothing but a huge cookie with frosting on the top, totally not worth it. I don't understand why they're so popular. Gimme a peanut butter thing, brickle pie, or good ol' fashioned ice cream cone over that any day.

-Those cinnamon disk candies make me cough. Not worth it.

- I only REALLY want to read when I know I have to be somewhere else. But now, for example, I have all the time in the world yet I'm tempted to turn the television on. Hm.

-The dishes need to be done SO badly but the one time I'm free to do them...like now...I am not. Nor am I reading. 

-I'm not very funny right now. Sorry friends...we'll put the LOLs on hold for now:)

Jaq will be Jam n' Joggin' at the Rock n' Rollin' Seattle Marathon

I had that same feeling this morning that you might get when stealing a peppermint patty at the drug store (I was 5 or something, don't we all do something like that in our lives?), or right after buying a running jacket for WAY too much money, or after starting your car after it did a 360 off the highway in crappy weather.

My heart was beating fast, my hands were shaking, I was sweating a little.  Because, folks, I did it. I officially signed up for a FULL marathon. Like a FULL one. I mean, like, the ones that are 26.2 miles long. That kind of marathon.  And I decided to go big or go home. That is, I'm running the marathon in Seattle Washington. There is a marathon in Vermont that is big; my sister ran it a couple of years ago. There is a marathon in Boston, not very well known, you have to be wicked fast or something. Which I totally am (I could probably beat the Kenyans), but I thought I'd enjoy traveling somewhere different other than places I call home. And that's when Seattle WA (actually pronounced, "WAH", rhyming with "spa" if you were to read this aloud to your family or something...don't say the 2 individual letters; that's so lame) called out my name.

June 27th is the big day. The big day of lots of miles. I signed up to do this with Team in Training, which is an organization that coaches and trains and mentors participants for marathons and century bike rides and triathalons. Participants raise money during their training and 75% of the proceeds go towards cancer research. So....the intimidating number of the year is $4,300. Yikes. I went into this "informational" meeting subconsciously knowing that I would leave having signed up for a marathon. But I told myself I was just going to see what it was all about.  So yeah, I left having signed up and also suddenly I found myself in debt $4,300 more than before. 

So chances are you will probably find an email and/or fundraising letter in your box, be it inbox or mailbox. Just warning you. Fundraising is one of those things that DOES get old. Gets old FAST. Oh well. It's time for the creative juices to flow. And the otherwise non-existent hosting capabilities to appear. I am desperate for good fundraising events/ideas. Comments are appreciated, donations are also appreciated. Eyes that do NOT roll at the phrase just stated are also appreciated, but if your eyes DO roll, I secretly totally agree. Fundraising is stupid.

But cancer research is not. Putting ones body through 26.2 miles at one time? It's still up for debate.

I am SO EXCITED though. That is all. Sorry for the days upon days that I haven't blogged. I've been busy with hovering basketball parents, puddles of tears (it was a tough week) caused by one attitudinal math student, semester changes, and oh yeah, heart palpitations due to a signature worth 26.2 miles and $4,300.

Awesome.

Why Shouldn't I Cry Over Spilled Milk?

I can't stop spilling. And it has this hold on me that I don't understand. In the last, eh, month, here is just a sample of what I have spilled, with the first 3 things being in the last 2 hours...

-chicken juice onto the floor

-hot chocolate onto the counter

-cold coffee onto the back of my sweatshirt (I'm talented)

-salad and pasta and oily dressing all over the front of my new work outfit, at Landmark in front of kids and staff alike...I mean, my whole, FULL, plate

-all of my pills into a crevice between my bed and the wall, and I can't find 3 of them...I'm not supposed to have lost them...ya know?

-french vanilla creamer all over my work stuff (that one hurt)

Okay fine so I don't remember it all but I've been affected quite a bit today and it needs to stop. Now and forevermore.

At least I've seemed to have completed the phase of ME spilling onto the ground. Off my bike 3 times, off my feet 2 times. I guess I'm not sure which one is the most humiliating and frustrating.

I guess I just spilled the beans.

No Way, No How.

I am presently watching one of those hour-long shows about ice cream shops around the country. And I love it. I have a few thoughts, though...

-As much as I'm known for loving ice cream more than the next guy, and the next guy, and the guy after that, ice cream eating contests are disgusting. I was told I should enter a contest like that with Cherry Hill. The prize was something as crazy as it was awesome...like free ice cream for a year. NOT worth it. I've eaten too much ice cream plenty of times (I am a Hubbard) and compared to a contest, those times are like scratching the surface.  The Hubbards even have a name for the overeating ice cream post feeling....an ice cream coma. I'd be ice cream dead if I participated in a contest. I'd win, of course, but that's not the point now, is it!?

-You know the movie, "Waitress" and how the main character creates pies depending on what's going on in her life? I think I'd be good at that. Like Friday's ice cream flavor would be "Fourth Period Welcoming the End" ice cream. It would be made with 2 layers. The top layer would be a chocolate (my least favorite base flavor) base with pecans, gummy bears, and M&Ms (because that's gross and M&Ms in ice cream make me mad because you can't even taste them because they're frozen) and the bottom flavor would be coffee (because I get a jolt of energy when I realize the period is coming to an end) with oreo and Kit Kat (because break me off a piece of that music to my ears...the bell), with a golden wrapped piece of rich chocolate at the bottom. Because math class is over and I deserve the best after it's over.

-I wish that Waitress 2 would come out and it would be, not to be repetitive, about making ice cream flavors. I could star in it. I'm a pretty good actor. That's a lie.

-The most expensive ice cream in the world is $1,000 and is made from the most expensive ingredients flown in from around the world. There's lots of gold involved. The nerve of people. I also waste money on crap, but there has to be a line drawn somewhere, right? Wonder how many people could be saved from that money. Oh, no, you had the sundae? And it took you 10 minutes? You just killed 10 people. Wow. That was so judgmental and hypocritical of me. At least I'm admitting it.

-There is now a show about doughnuts on. Ah the beauty of Sunday mornings snowed in.

-I love ice cream. What do you love!?

A Day On a Roller Coaster

Today. Whew. 

The roller coaster was going up as I put on my jeans, long sleeve t-shirt, and sneakers in honor of $2 dress-down day at Landmark. Not much beats a dress down Friday.

It went down as I realized I had to do a tedious math skills checksheet thing in the morning, therefore didn't get planning done for next week. In other words, I have a lot of lesson planning to do this weekend.

Went up when I realized I have a good housing option when my roommates leave me and I don't have money to pay for a 2-BR apt on my own....yay!

Went up some more when I announced our girls game to the rest of the faculty during what's called "milkbreak" when all the faculty get together and talk about mature school things while the kidlets play and....drink milk and...have a break. I guess I was funny when I was talking about it; everyone was laughing. Don't know why, but I'lllll take it. Unless they were laughing AT me. Quite possibly.

Went down and I screamed out of absolutely terror when math class went HORRIBLY HORRIBLY HORRIBLY.

Went up on just a little incline when a co-worker said after I said to her, "sorry I'm in a bad mood every time you see me at this time" (because it's at the end of my math class when I'm leaving and she's coming in) and she said, "it's the highlight of my day." Warm fuzzies are appreciated. Especially on days like my day.

Went down, maybe underground? When it's not supposed to? So, maybe, it crashed? Or I fell out? When I went to report a students' actions to a case manager and we ended up leaving for a more private room because I was BAWLING. I was at that point when I couldn't stop making blubbering noises; I couldn't get it together.

Went up when she said the words, "I'll see if we could put him in another class" next semester.

Went right back down when she followed those words with, "If that doesn't work out I'll help you with behavior strategies."

Went up because I had cake. Yes. Emotional eating; I'm pretty good at that.

Went up even more because I had a great time reading with my tutee after lunch. She was reading about a boy playing with his toy car and motorcycle and made a terrible noise for the motorcycle so I told her she had to do it better or I'd make her read even more of the book for homework. For some reason she was hesitant and just couldn't manage trying again. So I followed through and literally assigned her more reading because she didn't make a better motorcycle noise. I assigned an extra half-page. If you read this and can't believe it, don't worry, we love each other, I know my student and she had a good time with the whole thing.

Went down when I was told that the reports I did (and which are due to case managers...yesterday) were done wrong and I have to go back and make changes. I almost cried again at this point but was able to hold it in. I just made sure I didn't talk for a moment or two because if I had, forget about it.

Back up, high like that peak on the roller coaster where you can see everything all around you and the people look like little ants and it's amazing and terrifying at the same time. But all-around good. I left work and my weekend officially began.

Down because I wasted time trying to decide how NOT to waste time....workout or lesson plan?

Up because I passed an older used-to-babysit-for-her-kids friend who saw that she had passed me, and called me to say hi and she passed me and how am I doing? It meant a lot.

 

Up more because I worked out and got to talk with a co-worker on the machine next to me and I enjoyed it very much.

Up some more because I made whole wheat pancakes and loved every single bite. Peanut butter included. Don't judge til you try it.

Up even MORE because I played one of my favorite games (Scattegories) with my favorite engaged couple (Nicole and Ryan) and favorite roommate (Amy) and laughed the day away.

Down towards the tunnel because the ride has to end eventually, and here I am in bed, thinking about how I'm getting up tomorrow, a Saturday, at 6:30am, because I have spinning. I always have a hard time getting up but leaving the YMCA after a hard workout starts of the day perfectly.

And now my roller coaster ride is over, the train thingy is in the tunnel, and I'm getting out and all the people are waiting to get in. Not sure any of them want to experience half of what I experienced today, but it's worth a ride to see what happens.

Blogging Burnout

Hi all. I have been thinking recently, wow I'm really letting everyone down by not updating my blog. And then I un-mute the TV and continue the mindless and ever-so-ridiculous reality show of the night. I admit it, I have been slacking. I think about updating, then don't because at the end of the school day, the last thing I want to do is use my mind. Hence the reality show madness.

But here I am. I finally gave in. Oh also was inspired by Abby commanding me to update. Yes ma'am.

Today my team lost 14-10. And I lost my sense of confidence at times during the whole away-game-transportation scene. The two of us coaches got activity bus licensed in October and suddenly we're expected to take 13 girls' lives into our hands (you might say into the activity bus) and drive them into the city, when the weather is crappy. Who do these adults think we are? Superwomen? What, just cuz' we got licensed in activity bus doesn't mean we know how to do it.

So I drove us there, and my co-coach drove us back. Once we finally got there (just Marblehead today; tomorrow is Boston and I don't like talking about it-because then I think about it and then get anxious and freak out) we had to get around long line of cars waiting in the carpool line (gotta love private schools....represent) and weren't sure how to go about it. The other coach is no help; she's as new to this as I am. So anyway, cutting to the chase, I had to back up a little when in the line so I could pull out because I had changed my mind and thought I would be able to go past the line of cars. Welp, I guess part of activity-bus-license-getting is then being trusted not to get into any stupid accidents. Failed that one. When I say accident, though, I mean I just bumped the bumper of the car behind me. No one was hurt, no scratches on the car or bus, but the whole facade I had been wanting to show that I had everything under control and I was the coach, the adult in the situation, Superwoman, if you will, was crushed. Smushed between the bumper of the bus and bumper of the car. Thankfully it was a non-issue and the woman was super nice and understanding. But geez.

Then we lost by 4, played terribly, and these girls who, may I remind you are like ages 11-13 or something, acted like they had just lost the championship game...of their senior COLLEGE year. I don't know about you but when I was their age I got psyched to have a cool shimmery uniform on and excited to walk up to the table to kneel down when I was subbing in, thinking I looked all cool. I was always bummed the game was over but never felt like I wanted to sob over the game. We had some tears today. I was so confused. As the saying I saw on a water bottle at the YMCA goes, "If you had fun, you won!" That is a CLASSIC GEM of a phrase. And forget it, throw that phrase out the window (but don't waste the perfectly good water bottle) once you get older and play college and high school ball because it just isn't true. But elementary school? Heck yes.

The other thing that really bothered me today was the certain girls who looked to Aubrey and I and said things like, "Can I go in?" And, "Will I get to play anymore?" STOP ASKING!!! There's one girl in particular who's nose is browner than the brownest brown. And we were actually contemplating not putting her in simply because she was annoying us. She didn't so much show her eagerness for going in verbally, as much as she did staring me down when I'd turn to talk to Aubrey about a sub, or sitting literally ON Aubrey because she was so close to us. Well needless to say, we made it clear to the girls after the game (wonder if they could even see us through their precocious game loss tears) that they would NOT see playing time in a game if they asked us to go in.

Oh and this same girl keeps asking us when we're going to announce captains (obviously looking for a particular name to be called...and it's NOT her friend's) and we kept saying, stop asking. Well yesterday we both heard her whispering to some of the younger 6th grade girls to ask us about captains. THE NERVE.

So in conclusion, I'd like to share the most stressful things about coaching basketball, and yes I know I sound lame because these are only 6-8 graders. I'd like to see you do it.

-Subbing...keeping in mind practices attended, parents being weird about it, making sure everyone gets in at least a little bit.

-Activity bus expectations...what, just because we got "licensed," we're supposed to know how to operate that beast? Pish posh.

-Brown nosers...I like Orange nosers or yellow nosers more. Got a blue noser? Pink noser? I'll take her anyday. But keep the brown nosers away. Can't stand 'em.

-Along with subbing and brown nosers, being stared at whenever I turn to talk to Aubrey. I'm just one girl in this world, leave me alone. Look somewhere else. Like at the game.

-Boston. Tomorrow. 

-Carpool lines clogging the school entrance.

-Not being able to see directly behind me in that stupid activity bus. Shouldn't there be some way? No?

I'm going on and on. I'm going to stop. I have to get some rest before Boston attacks me and the activity bus and the girls with its city-ness and loudness and chaosness. 

Marathon Mama.

I think it was early on in my senior year of high school when I was watching Guiding Light (we all had our bad habits) and eating cheese and crackers (again, we all had our bad habits) after school on the couch.  I asked Phebe where she was going and she told me she was going for a run.  Gross.  That's what I thought, then.  At that point I was much more invested in what what going to happen to Rita's character, who had an evil clone.  Phebe didn't stop there. She told me I should go with her. Gross gross gross.  I laughed at that perposterous idea and stuck another cheese and cracker sandwich into my mouth.  Somehow I found myself, 20 minutes later, huffing and puffing next to her, totally intimidated by the 2 miles we still had left to run. But then, 30 minutes later, I found myself with my foot hanging out of her car window, drinking a well-deserved Gatorade, wearing some shades and singing along with a Dixie Chicks jam.  And the level of happy that I had never experienced before was AMAZING.  

This "happy" feeling is called endorphins. I have hearted endorphins ever since that glorious day when my sister (did I ever tell you you're my HEEEEROOOOOOoo) got my butt off the couch and my feet on the road.  

I think of myself as a runner but then I think, how did that HAPPEN!? I could never imagine my present state way back in high school. Running was just NOT for me. Guiding Light? Cheese and crackers? Now we're talking.  I am sooo happy to have a best friend named endorphin.

Well, anyway, I like organized runs. But a marathon has never been something I've thought about doing. I ran a half-marathon this fall and when I finished was SO GLAD that I didn't have to do that all over again. The thing that really intimidates me about a marathon, though, is the training. If it was a one-time deal thing, where I'd get out of bed, lace up my shoes and just go and be able to do this one time, that would be different. But the marathon is something my dad immediately shared his feeling being AGAINST when I told him about it. The body isn't "made" for a marathon.  But, Dad, that's why it's so AWESOME! To stretch the body to do something like that?  So why WOULDN'T I do a marathon? This is my thought recently.

I kept telling myself I would never do a marathon but I realize that that thought right there is exactly what should light a fire under my butt to do just that. RUN A MARATHON! Do what I think I can't do.

So anyway, I'm going to an informational meeting on Team in Training later this month, which is a group that raises money for cancer research via marathoners and triathaloners and cyclists. Depending on how freaked out I am after the meeting, I am thinking about doing it. 

Anyway, I dedicate this blog to my friend, the endorphin. Oh yeah and Phebe:)