Exciting Friday!

Yesterday I went to the Monument Avenue 10k expo to get my bib and bag of goodies.  The bag of goodies actually only included a shirt and a random booklet, soooooooooo that was disappointing.  I got there just after the expo opened and it was already packed with people, but I guess that should be expected knowing there’s 44,000 runners.  Wowzers.

The expo itself was nothing special.  I didn’t get any free GUs or PowerBars or anything else cool that every other expo seems to hand out.  It looked pretty much just like the expo for the Richmond Marathon, so I got in, got my stuff and left quickly. 

Then, I hurried to my hair place because it’s the time of year to get blonde.  Or blonder, I should say. 

I was trying not to draw attention to myself… I’m not sure it worked.  Plus it kind of looks like I have a lazy eye.

Anyway, after being way busier than I like to normally on a weekday, I ate dinner and fell asleep, only to wake up to a 30 minute coughing fit at midnight.  So annoying.

This morning I woke up really early, turned off my alarm, and then got that feeling of guilt so I dragged my butt to the gym for the first time in a few days.  I had a sloooooooooooow three mile run plus 40 minutes on the elliptical to get the day started.  It felt great, but it’s so hard to get the motivation to go to the gym even after taking just a few days off (at least for me).   Does anyone else feel this way?

At school, we had a really fun surprise for the fitness club kids.  I know I’ve told you before about the morning fitness club that my PiC and I do with the girls (there’s a separate one for the boys too) and the grants we’re begging people to give us to get the school more active and healthy next year.  Well, we teamed up with Sportsbackers a few months ago to get some of our kids entered in the Kids Run tomorrow that goes along with the 10k.  They emailed us about a week ago to say that they had a few people who’d love to come speak to our groups today as inspiration, motivation, etc.

Enter Bart Yasso, editor of Runner’s World magazine (and completely badass) and Ricky Flynn,  an amazing elite runner who finished 12th at the Olympic marathon time trials in January.

They spoke to the kids, answered a bunch of questions about running (among other things), and were kind enough to spend an hour at our school today. 

It was awesome.  The kids asked some great questions, so that’ll be in a separate post… but I was just so excited I had to share!

Needless to say, it made me feel like a complete loser when they were talking about how fast they are, how Bart’s been chased by a rhino and all the first place finisher medals Ricky has won.    I’m like, ummmm I’m hoping to run without breaking my ankle, so that’s cool, right?

Anyway, it was great and since this is the first year I’m not going to be completely anal about my 10k time (read= may not even bring the Garmin woah), I think it’s time to celebrate the day with some beers in the sunshine. 

Happy Friday!

Three Things Thursday

1.  My friend Roz made a goal to run 40 miles during Lent.  Well, I’m proud to say… she hit that number with 2 weeks to go, and it’s all thanks to this guy.

This is the rhino Roz runs past (whew alliteration) during her runs in Lincoln Park Zoo.  Hello Mr. Rhino.  You kind of scare me a tiny bit with your huge horn.

Bud, you are awesome!

 

2.  It was beautiful in Richmond yesterday.  I drove home thinking about my nice long run I was going to have outside (and get a little tan while I was at it). 

And then this happened.

 

And I fell asleep on the couch and I missed my run but at least now I’m well rested. 

And this made me miss college.  And oddly, futons.

 

3.  I found my new favorite drug.  Mucinex.  That is some good shit.  Cleared my nasal passages like a gem.

It tastes like death and I still have no voice, but at least I didn’t wake up in the middle of the night thinking I was going to die from not being able to breathe.

 

What do you miss about college?

Chicken and Green Curry

So last night I tried a new recipe and it was so easy (under 20 minutes) and delicious (no leftovers).  I got it out of my Williams-Sonoma colorful cookbook (or something like that).  I modified it a tiny bit and no one got sick, so it’s a win in the cooking department.

Chicken and Green Curry

• 1.5 tbs oil
• 1 tsp Thai green curry paste
• 1 package boneless skinless chicken tenders
• 1/2 tsp Asian fish sauce
• 1 cup light coconut milk
• 3 tsp low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 long green chile, seeded and minced (I forgot this…whoops)
• 1 package snow peas, trimmed
• 1 package sliced mushrooms
• Brown rice for serving

Heat oil and Thai green curry paste for about a minute over medium-high heat.  Add chicken and cook until white, about four minutes.  Next, add Asian fish sauce and 1/2 of coconut milk and simmer for 2 minutes.  Add the rest of the coocnut milk and chicken broth (and chile if you want it) and cook for 6-7 minutes.  Finally, add snow peas and mushrooms and cook for another 1-2 minutes.  Serve over brown rice.

SO EASY…and that’s actually my picture.  Sorry for the blurriness but I have to say the presentation was top notch.   Although when I make it again I’ll make more of the sauce- so more coconut milk, chicken broth and fish sauce.  I feel like recipes always jip you on the sauce, and this recipe definitely did.

 

Sooooooo I lost my voice.  I sound like a 15 year old boy when I talk…. kind of like Zack Morris when he’s trying to impress Kelly.

The kids are taking full advantage of this, pretending like they don’t hear me when I talk.  I think tomorrow we’re going to have a sign language day and no one is going to be allowed to speak.  At all. 

Speaking of the kids, I thought I was being super cool teacher yesterday when we made cup-o-dirts- obviously to teach them the five different layers of soil.

There are the rocks (chocolate covered raisins), clay (vanilla pudding with red food coloring), silt (crushed oreos yum), sand (crushed nilla wafers) and humus (chocolate pudding). 

Plus gummy worms and gummy bugs, just for fun.

You’d think the kids would LOVE this activity- Free food that every kid loves, fun project instead of boring Miss B teaching… well nope.  I had a few complainers today when I asked them to tell me the different layers.  Rolling eyes and loud sighs galore.

Geez… I’m just so annoying when I’m actually trying to get them to learn something.  Just trying to do my job, kids.  Just trying to do my job.

So, after work I ran off all my annoyances in a 5 mile 41 minute run.  It was pretty tough, and I had originally planned to do 6, but I decided 5 was enough on a day where I’m feeling less than stellar.  I had to stop and blow my nose three times, but other than that, my legs felt like they enjoyed moving, which is a good thing.

I’m running in my favorite 10k this weekend.   I usually shoot for a time, but this year I’m just going to enjoy it and try not to break my ankle on the cobblestones. 

Anyone else running this weekend?

How to scare Derby.

Only one more Monday until spring break.  Wooooooooooooooo.

Yesterday was BRUTAL.

After getting about 4 hours of sleep (this includes the zillion times I woke up and the one time Derby had a mental freak out at 3am by running across my bed like an insane and possessed animal), the last thing I wanted was a class full of crazy kids.  Usually Mondays are peaceful- everyone’s still really tired from playing World of Warcraft all weekend—but today they were craaaaaaaaaazy busy and tattle-y. 

I made it through the day AND I cleaned off my desk, sooooooooooo it’s a win.  I was barely able to put off making edible soil until Tuesday (pretty sure I didn’t have the patience to put five layers of cookies and pudding together). 

After work I dragged my toxin filled body to the gym where I managed an hour of cardio, split between the elliptical and stair thingy (I don’t like calling it the StairMaster… it feels too 1981 for me).   I feel like I lost all of my endurance in one day… it was really tough yesterday, but having beers and eating out twice on Sunday will do that to you. 

When I got home it was my mission to make Derby just as scared as she made me at 3am.  So what else could I do besides open a new garbage bag (that really gets her moving).. but vacuum. 

There she is….hiding in the corner behind my noisy fan.  Can you spot her?  Wimp.  When I get the vacuum out she gets this look in her eye…and goes running for cover.  She’s learned that under the bed is no longer safe from the dreaded noise machine… hiding in the corner behind a fan will always keep her away from the suction.

Last night was also wine night with the girls… except this girl didn’t want any wine, which is a first for me.  Instead I filled up on cheese, triscuits and little tiny quiche-like thingys.  I know, I’m lame.  I’ve heard it all before.

Do you have pets?  Are they scared of the vacuum or is it just my 15 pounder?

Iamtired.

Woah Monday morning, you come too soon.

I am exhausted right now.

Friday night I had to stay up past my normal 10pm bedtime to watch Kentucky beat the Hoosiers in the Sweet 16 of March Madness.  The first half I was up and screaming at the TV…and the second half I was falling asleep each time-out.  I am the lamest person ever on Fridays.

 

Saturday, after a long workout with the fave, we headed down to go outlet shopping in Williamsburg.  It was rainy and gross outside, but everyone within a 30 mile radius seemed to be doing the same thing.  I bribed the fave with one of these to shop with me.

A sugar-free peanut butter cup from Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory…. not nearly as good as the regular.  That’s what I get for trying to be ‘healthy’.  Should have gotten one of these instead.

I did find a pair of colored jeans I like…unfortunately they were full price and I don’t pay full price for clothes.  So, I’m waiting until they go on sale online.  They were comfortable and didn’t feel like sausage casings, so it’s a win.

After a busy day shopping and a few episodes of Dexter later, I finally had a nice 10 hour sleep.  That was good, because Sunday was a little crazy.

Kentucky beat the shit out of Baylor in the elite 8… So now we’re headed to the FINAL FOUR!!!!

BTW, who told Baylor that highlighter yellow and camouflage look good together? Or at all?

After watching the game with Richmond’s 50 most intense Kentucky fans, I rushed home to shower and get ready for the Zac Brown Band concert! 

The fave had given me these tickets for my birthday, so we got to celebrate yet another day.   After a really quick dinner, we made it to the concert and did some great people watching.  Oh, there was a really good band there too.

A few things about the concert:

I love country music.  I love country concerts.  I’m not sure I love indoor country concerts.   Zac Brown was amazing… but they played a few too many cover songs for my liking.  There were a few rock songs thrown in the mix…and although they sounded great, I would have liked to hear more Zac Brown stuff. 

Also, the woman sitting in front of us got in a huge argument with the people in font of her because they were standing and she couldn’t see.  This proceeded to her taking a picture of them, posting it on Facebook  on her phone, and then spending at least 25 minutes of the concert perfecting a Facebook post bitching about people.

So that was fun to watch.  And awkward.

Annnnnnnnnd getting home after 11 on a school night + not good sleep = tired teacher on a Monday.

What did you do this weekend?  Do you like country music?

License Plates and First Run

One reason I love living in Virginia is because you can pay just $10, yes, you read that right- $10, to get a personalized license plate. 

This means that in Virginia, everyone and their brother gets a vanity plate.  I am one of the few who does not think an extra $10 is worth having DURBEE on my car. 

Anyway, I’m always on the lookout for good plates.  What are good plates?  Here are a few examples which are stolen from my friend Michael, who not only is a huge Kentucky fan, but he likes a good laugh as much as I do…in fact, we’ve discussed a coffee table book.

Um… way to call attention to yourself, man.

 

Smart Car = Fratty?  I don’t think so. 

 

Read this one as you may… but kids on the plate too? 

 

We know what to use to get this guy drunk now.

 

Today I saw these:

I’d love to be invited to the town and country guy’s party.  Bet he’s got chips… dip… maybe even full sugar Coca-Cola.  Go craaaaaaaazy.

 

Um… homemade license plate.  Now I’ve seen them all.  This one’s from Maine, fyi.

 

God, sometimes people are really dumb.  So dumb.  I’m imagining what my principal would think if I pulled up to school with SXYBTCH or GTDRNK….and I laugh.  And I keep taking pictures because maybe one day my coffee table idea will become a reality.

 

Anyway. 

Friday was another TGIF.  It started out amazing (if you think waking up on your own at 4am is amazing) because I made it to the gym and RAN!!  Six whole miles and it felt super.  Prior to my run I layered about half of a container of Vaseline all over my arch to ensure Phyllis doesn’t show her ugly face anywhere on my foot.  It worked.  Of course I was a little tired (I can’t believe no running for a week makes my legs so sore!) and at one point I got a small side cramp, but it was good and it was fun and I didn’t hate every second. 

I’m not going to jump back into it 1,000,000% like I was doing before, but it’s nice to know I still like it.

School was busy and crazy and I am more thankful for Fridays when 4:00pm rolls around.  We had a big ol’ meeting with some bigwigs who want to give us money for our Fit4Kids and Wellness Integration programs.  We’re trying to beg people to give us grant money, and I think our sappy stories and smiling faces helped get us closer to that goal.  Hopefully we will know sooner rather than later, but it’s looking good so far!

Tonight is a big night for me.  Nope, I’m not going to The Hunger Games.  I’m actually missing it with my friends because Kentucky is playing at the EXACT same time.  Of course.  So, I really am hoping for a huge win against Indiana because otherwise, this might be the worst day ever.

Does anyone else love license plates as much as I do?  I know, it’s a real loser thing to love… but it’s awesome.

 

Is anyone still watching March Madness?  KENTUCKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!