The Road Not Taken

Here is my assignment for Wednesday night's meeting first meeting of Effective Leadership at JHU. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. This is a much better way of showing what I can and would do as a school leader than simply orating.

snow day!

I have been asking for it for about two months now and today I have been blessed. It is a snow day here in Maryland (and Virginia, Pennsylvania, and NJ). I do have an early am appt, but other than that, I am looking forward to returning to my PJ's, making some bread, and working on my report cards! (Approximately 205 report cards with narratives are due next week.)

I know that many of my "working" friends and family begrudge me a good old snow day. (Let's not even talk about the guilt trips I get on summer va-cay.) But snow days are beloved by teachers just as much as students. All right, they are beloved by the childless teachers. I realize that teachers with kids (just like stay-at-home parents) do not get a break on days like today. But...the physical, emotional, and intellectual toll of the day-to-day with our lovely children can add up. Receiving a day like today is a bit of a gift that will make me a better teacher on Monday.

Coffee made, chocolate-peanut butter bread mix is in the cabinet and red stone bakeware is ready for an afternoon workout.

Hope your day, where ever you may be, is joyous and perhaps the memory of a snow day will be enough to give you a smile.

OMG Matt Damon

My dear friend posted the Sarah Silverman/Matt Damon video on her myspace page and I finally got around to watching it. I'm so thankful for the four minutes of pure hilarity at the end of this tough day. I am not going to embed it on my blog, but for those of you who want the link, here you go....Matt and Sarah.

I will also my absolute most favorite Matt Damon moment of all time. Matt portrays Matt.

I realize that none of this is profound, life changing, or deep, but I was needing a bit of laughter. Enjoy a bit of fun with my fave movie man, MD.

new shoes.

Must report that after weeks of saying, "I need new shoes" and suffering the calf cramps that are generally associated with needing new shoes...I have new shoes! One of the benefits to now working at our local and fabulous running store, Feet First, is the affordability of my new shoes.

Yea for Mizunos!

(Plus, running is a bit easier, at least on the toe, every day....now if only you could buy an in-shape cardiovascular system)

getting my butt kicked

Today was a first day back on the roads after two full weeks off running (time flies when you are sitting on your tail feathers). I had a great time running with my fabulous RP. I completed 8.5 miles, which isn't quite long enough at this time of year but at the same time, I'm happy. I don't think I will be very fast, but I will get through in two weeks without passing out.

I did however, get my butt kicked by an 18 pound four legged creature. When I got home from my run, we took a typical weekend hike on the trails and as usual, I let him lead the way. Today, we went basically backwards on our route. Generally this wouldn't be a big deal, but considering the lack of activity in the last few weeks, whew! We had a great hike, several miles, what seemed like mostly uphill. Along the way we met two new friends, a lovely lab and a dapple dachshund (a gorgeous teeny pup). That gave about 10 minutes of running and chasing, which was really nice. By the time we found our way back to the car, we were ready for a nap! But as days like this are seemingly fleeting, it was perhaps the best way to spend our Saturday morning.

the teaching i love

This week at work is defining what I love about teaching. I love integrating. I absolutely positively love the way that children's eyes and minds perk up when they see how subject matter relates together. Our school is immersed this week in Global Integration. Each of our classes has a country for the International Festival dance performance and this week all of the subjects are related to this country. I cheated a bit and started last week and two weeks ago with some of my classes, just because there is so much to cover! You can't integrate all of music in two classes.

We are listening to music, studying classical and folk music, composers, singing songs, speaking poems, and moving to music this week. I have learned a tremendous amount about music in each of my countries (Mexico, China, Thailand, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa). (I highly recommend trying to sing in Thai, whew!)

We are cataloging all of our learning on a wiki and it has been so nice to see all of the additions the teachers have made. This is what I love! Where can I go where I can do this all of the time?

Off to day three!

did you know?

Shampoo, Conditioner, and Liquid Soap, when left over night in the car....shall freeze so hard that they are unusable when one is at the gym at the crack 'o dawn. Not to give a mental image, but let's just say that foam soap does not make good shampoo.

That is the hilarity from this morning...here is the one from last weekend.

So I'm at a local Mexican take out place when I notice the order ahead of me is being picked up by the chef at the Chinese place next door. He then proceeds to take the order over to the Chinese place, where I assume the kitchen staff will consume it. What does this say about the quality of their cooking over at the Chinese place?

Hope you laughed today.

go no go for launch

One of my favorite scenes in the movie Apollo 13 is when they are preparing for launch. I love the systematic nature of "checking in" with each systems manager to see if they were "go or no go" for launch.

So today was my first attempt since the "toe incident" that I tried to run. A test launch, if you will. Unfortunately, it is a no go for launch for me. I am for sure that the toe is not officially broken, but something is definitely wrong. My dear friend and RP who just happens to be an OT suggested a sprained ligament might be the source of pain/numbness (it varies). Nevertheless, two miles with Buddy today resulted in a clear feeling of "no go" for this weekend. (My back will be happy, but the rest of me, not so much.)

This will be two weekends off.....unless I can convince myself that preemptive launch will be worth the pain.

Three weeks.

amazing.

A student of mine lost his father about a year ago. This child was age five when his father died quite tragically. Today, when writing our prayers or confessions to God during chapel, this lovely child asked me to write to God to protect his father in heaven. Could there be anything more humbling than this?

On this day of seeking absolution from God for sins both past and present, to experience a request of God that is fragile, pure, and hopeful was fairly overwhelming. I feel a deep sense of gratitude to this child, who has no idea how he impacted me today.

black and blue poem

black and blue is my toe.
my toe is black and blue.
for stubbing it was a big mistake
and now i sit, boo hoo.

no running for me this gorgeous weekend
and another week behind I get.
for B&A Half is coming up quick
and I'm not quite ready yet.

tonight as I sit my toe is quite fat
and covered with bruisy striations.
I wish that this "rest" was enjoyable
like taking a break for vacation.

Alas it is no vacation for me
just hobbling and bobbling to walk.
Unfortunately for those around me,
it has not hurt my ability to talk.

Oh please let me get, some exercise done
on mr. elliptical trainer
for without endorphins I'm afraid I'll become
as big as a house or a gator.

running by wednesday i hope and i pray
will be in my dear near future.
for B&A half is four weeks away
and I wish to do real super.