If I had a blog...

Non-bucket list....

2011-02-14T17:09:00.000-08:00

Things I will never do before I die:

5) Succumb to best commercial marketing scheme ever: Valentine's Day. It makes me want to vomit and not because I am not in love. I am all about sharing the love, except when it's a commercial mastermind scheme. I am sweaty from track practice starting today, and we just ate leftover pizza. Now I'm grading papers. All in rebellion of this stupid 'holiday'. Take that, V day.

4) Own a minivan, no matter how many kids I pop out. Taking the driver's test to get my license in my mom's AQUA Lumina was enough for me.

3) Call Brent hubby. Even "my husband" in lieu of his name makes me cringe, although sometimes it's unavoidable.

2) Like John Mayer

1) Own a mounted animal. (or even pet on for that matter).

*** I know I just set myself up to deliver a taxidermist's valentine creation to my hubster while listening to John Mayer's latest lyrical masterpiece in my red lumina. Bring it, future.

Running....

2011-02-03T18:23:00.001-08:00

Here you have it. The much awaited running blogpost.

A friend of mine recently asked my advice about running, and while flattered, I had to set the record straight that 15 miles a week does not make me the most hardcore runner. I boiled down the basics of running for me, though, in a few thoughts.

#1) You burn roughly the same # of calories running as walking (100) a mile, so if you don't like to run, walk. You just burn them faster running.

#2) To stick with any sort of workout, you have to do what you like. I don't love every single run, but I must like something about it because I have been running at 5 AM most mornings for 2 years now. What works about that for me is a) I like to run b) I am tired and lazy after school so I just don't work out and c) I don't like to get dirty twice in a day; once I've showered I want to stay clean.

I know tons of people who don't love to run. And I get that. I am a firm believer that people can be converted to runners, but I am not convinced that everyone IS a runner. If you're on the fence, read "Born to Run" or register for a 5K and try it out. You might surprise yourself.

She did.

A tribute, of sorts..

2011-01-20T17:04:00.000-08:00

The cliche saying is that you never get over loss. I think that's true, in one sense. Cliche in another because it doesn't even come close to capturing all the emotions that go with loss. Life does get easier, but there is always some part of the loss with you. I know it's insanely selfish to wish that people could stay around earth on my account, but I am always surprised when the loss catches me off guard.

My friend Pam's thirtieth birthday would have just happened recently. She only made it to 26. Two memories of her have caught me off-guard in a lovely way in the last few days, as if to celebrate her birthday.

#1: We went to NY last weekend. I told Brent I'd only been once before: chaperoning a group of 13-year-old band students. We walked to Battery Park to see the Statue and I had this bright memory I'd totally forgotten about. One year in college, I went to see Pam in New Jersey for her birthday and New Year's. We drove into the city for one night. It was freezing and we parked the car and RAN to see the statue. That was all we did. That, and sit in a coffee shop for awhile because it was too cold to do anything else.

Memory 2: Patty Griffin's song Rain just randomly shuffled on and that reminds me of senior year of college. I can remember listening to it over and over in our funny little college apartment. I can remember Pam saying she wanted to dance to the last song on the album, the one is Spanish. Ironically Rain comes as close as any song to truly capturing the overwhelming nature of grief. (Another favorite on that album is Nobody's Crying).

Life is beautiful and surprising, even when the grief catches us off guard. Guess that's the point, right?

And it's 2011...

2011-01-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

Don't worry. My NYR is not to blogpost more. I have a hard enough time keeping up with the pace of my non-cyber life, so I didn't attempt to add the pressure of posting a blog that no one reads to the list. (although I do have some good posts floating around in my head about running and my non-bucket lists -- the things I am sure I WON'T do before I die).

But, I have some important thoughts on hair. Which apparently I think about annually. This has to do with male facial hair. And since I can't grow it, I thought I'd write about it.

#1) I generally like facial hair (no surprise there), but there is a line that I advise you not to cross.

#2) That guy I live with can do anything with facial hair and I still like him. But that's because I already love him.

#3) If you're trying to impress someone/meet the love of your life, you shouldn't have facial hair that looks like this. She's never going to fall for you.

That's all.

Addendum

2010-09-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the insanely miserable blogpost from earlier. I am feeling better about the world now. I case you didn't read it, here's the bottom line: Teachers are not purposely failing students. We are overwhelmed with all that's thrown on our plate. That's all. Now, go watch the Waiting for Superman preview and feel really good about the state of things.

The state of the err.....

2010-09-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

I rarely post about education and teaching. Today, I will. Some days I feel like I am cut out to be a teacher: organized, dedicated, caring-hidden-behind-a-bitchy-exterior. Other days I feel like it's the worst job for me: I hate 5 am, I care too much, I want to occasionally feel good at my job. Which is what makes it exceptionally difficult, because no matter how hard I work, how much I invest, how many workshops I take, there's still more to learn and know and do. Teaching is an endless climb. Next week I have a conference with a parent who feels her child isn't being challenged enough. I also have students who can't read. I must cover writing and use technology and show my students how to collaborate. Oh wait, and grammar and social skills and community service. And I am encouraged, no expected, to reach them all. Every day.

The state of things nationally is not encouraging either and I hardly have time to follow the politics of education. No, I haven't seen Oprah's episode on education. No, I haven't seen Waiting on Superman. You guessed it: no time. I understand that I am in charge of someone's child every day. I understand that the single most important determining factor in a child's educational success is his teacher. I understand that students are not prepared for life outside of high school, whether that's college or a job. I guarantee that no teacher intentionally let's her students down. We're not wired that way. At least, I'm not. I want nothing more than for my students to succeed. What more than likely happens, as is does for me, is teachers feel overwhelmed by all that they are expected to miraculously do and they shut down. At some point, I have to call it a day. There is this moment of daily surrender where I realize I won't get everything done, I feel like a failure, and I throw in the towel for the day.

Clearly, I am dedicated to the profession: I have spent 8 years teaching middle schoolers, I have my masters, I completed my national boards last year (awaiting news on that). But the state of things is about enough to make me question my job. And while I am thankful for a job, the silver lining for the unemployed might be teaching. I think, at the rate things are going, there are going to be positions left available when the current, great teachers throw in the towel for good.

Half Pints

2010-08-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

I had the adventure of traveling to 4 countries in one month. There is a lot to process about those experiences. I plan to blog in bits and pieces about my travels. One aspect that I found most interesting were the universal similarities and differences. One such difference involves beer and the glasses that it's served in.

"A pint is a pint is a pint is a pint," is what I argued about the service of beer in bars. I assumed that a pint was a standard measurement. Turns out it's not. American pints are 16 ounces. English pints are 20 ounces. (With that and the rule that you don't tip your bartender if you're just drinking, beer is much more economical there, and well, better, but that's beside the point).

And then there are half pints. I learned about halfway through the trip that proper English girls drink half pints.

Clearly I am very posh. Or not.

Dollar, dollar bills ya'll.

2010-06-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Brent and I had a 'discussion' about money last night. And the bottom line of this discussion was that I have to forgo these dining room table chairs for car repairs and vet bills. We are fortunate that we don't fight about money often, especially considered I'm a teacher and Brent's an architect.

BUT....

Every once in a while.

I'm convinced there is a conspiracy going on.

Much like this:

So, here are my oh-so-clever and high-income-generating ideas to get back at the system.

#1 - I just rented the Rug Doctor to clean our rugs. I've got it for 24 hours, so I'm attempting to rope someone else into cleaning their rugs and splitting the cost. Take that, Dr. Rug!

#2 - In our disgust at being hustled while trying to rent from the always extensive video selection at Red Box, Brent and I headed over the only standing video store around: North American Video, nestled very indi-film-like in the basement of a Cameron Village Shop. It comes complete with a video store girl with red highlights who you have to coax into paying attention to you long enough to sign up for a membership. Videos are about $4 from there. But, you have them for a week. So, I intend to let the world know what video we've rented and offer rentals from us for a night for only $1. I might start toting videos in my purse, along with everything else.

Watch out. We're gonna be your rich friends soon.

An ode...

2010-05-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

Allergies, oh allergies.

You make-a me cough,

You make-a me sneeze.

I am on my knees

begging please:

Let me be.

In the genes....

2010-04-27T16:21:00.001-07:00

My grandfather, Vincent, owned a bowling alley. Every once in a while, when I bowl, I wonder if I have some special bowling genes. I don't wonder that because of my talent 'cause I'm quite awful at bowling. But it's one of those things where I think I could be good if I actually bowled more than twice a year. Perhaps bowling is my long-lost talent. Okay. Maybe not. Regardless, this adorable man at Western Lanes gave us bowling pins last night. It made me wonder if my Grandpa Arnold ever gave cute young ladies at his bowling alley bowling pins. Or whether his only inspiration from worn out bowling pins was to make coffee tables out of them. Either way, the legacy continues. We now have a bowling pin decorating our house.

Conversion.

2010-04-21T13:54:00.001-07:00

I have to admit that I'm a late-to-the-game conversion Avett Brothers fan thanks to BHeth218 and his '09 compilation CD, the Fishes' insistence, and some good nights at Kyle and Anna's with it playing in the background. I find, often, that I'm the sort of die-hard hater of something who eventually converts. Facebook. Twitter. This blog, to name a few.

There's one that I'm not converting on. Ever. And I am saying that out loud and will endure the endless criticism if I ever convert. I can even admit that once liked him. Until I saw him in concert:

(and I didn't even have to google "John Mayer sex face" to get this pic.)

"For me, it has never been about f*cking lots of girls. I could have f*cked a lot more girls in my life if I hadn’t been trying so hard to get them to like me. If I have a conversation with a really hot girl that lasts all night and she says, “Wow, I had no idea I was going to like you this much,” that is the equivalent, for me, of getting laid."

So noble. I love it when guys can restrain themselves for sake of a good conversation.

Who says I can’t get stoned?
Call up a girl that I used to know
Fake love for an hour or so

What's not to love.

Undeniable manliness bottled into one wonderland of a man.

Does it make me a grandma...

2010-04-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

that I am really excited about the azalea bushes in our backyard?

Moving into this house is sort of like paying it forward. I am reaping the benefits of someone else's hard work, and just now noticing. We have beautiful plants on this property. (property rolls off my tongue like we live on this huge estate). I bought this house, if not primarily for, at least strongly for the pine tree in the front yard that I envisioned wrapped in lights at Christmas. We bought in July, though, so I didn't know about all the other plants. We have this tree-like thing on the side of the house that blooms hot pink flowers. And we have one in the front yard that blooms stems of pink flowers. And, now, Azaleas of all colors in the back yard. So much fun.

Wonder what good deed I'm going to have to do in the future to continue to pay it forward?

Things people are good at....

2010-04-03T07:23:00.001-07:00

As I may have mentioned before, I have no talent. BUT...I really like seeing other people use their talent. It's amazing to see people do something that you could never do really well.

Let's take the band, The National, for instance. It's a good thing that they have talent because they don't have a lot else going for them. We saw them in concert about a year ago and they were amazing. But they are the most homely (that's a nice way to say ugly) group of musicians I've ever seen. (And I've seen a lot of musicians). They've got Animal on the drums. Literally. Twins who are eerily similar to the point that it creeps you out and the only differentiating factor other than long hair is a unibrow. The guy in the Hawaiian cat T-shirt. And all of them missed the memo that my glasses from 3rd grade are not cool OR hipster. This band photo does not do them justice. Go see them in concert.

But man can they write/sing/play some amazing music. And the lead singer is no eye-candy, but at least you don't get distracted by his physical prowess and start writing blog posts about him instead of listening to the show.

Having said all of that, I really like to see people do things they're good at. That's all.

Grammar.

2010-02-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Independent Business Owner:

I am concerned for your business. Not because of your product or because of your location. I am worried for you because this is printed on the awning for your store: Babiology - the study of you and your babies needs. Either, A) you didn't think to have someone proof this and didn't realize for yourself that it was wrong or B) had someone equally as inept as you in grammar proof your sign prior to printing or C) noticed and hung your sign anyway. I will not shop there. You didn't even get me in the door for the implied needs of all my hypothetical babies. At least you know enough to update your website: www.babiologyonline.com

Yes. I teach English to 13-year-olds. No. I am not anal about the English language, unlike an 8th grade teacher at school who is referred to as the Grammar Queen. I'm generally quite tolerant of careless conversational errors or typos. I get really annoyed at blatant grammatical errors on things that have been proofed by someone whose job it is to proof things. You know, the type of things that someone paid for.

These things definitely bug me. A lot.

#1 - Pretty sure 'weekend' doesn't have a hyphen in it. I've never looked that rule up or anything, but that word looks ridiculous with a hyphen. Then, though, there's the word/phrase 'all right'. Just learned last year that it's really spelled as two words (like a lot -- another annoyance).

#2 - Also apostrophes. I'm clearly annoyed when they're left out. Perhaps even more annoyed when they're added in the wrong spots. My current favorite is at the Flea Market (I know, I have high expectation for a Flea Market.) The sign reads: No Dog's Allowed. Nice. Almost as disturbing as the logo printed on an awning in Five Points.

At least I've got job security.

HW: Check out the in-the-stall bathroom ads. Not the graffiti, the actual proofed, printed, paid-for ads. Those things are notorious for being fraught with errors.

Get Fit

2010-01-28T14:36:00.000-08:00

(no this is not an ad to buy a Honda Fit, although you certainly should).

This is about today. Because today was monumental. Today was amazing. Today I made leaps and bounds towards my 2010 goal of eating healthier. (and you'll see why I need this goal in just a moment). For the first time in my life today, I...........................................

WENT TO WHOLE FOODS! (with half of Raleigh due to the *impending* snowstorm).

Pathetic, I know. I bought all the things my Glamour magazine recommended in their great new healthy purge section. As a COMPLETE sidenote, I started receiving Glamour when Domino went under (and I don't know how I started getting Domino in the first place), but I secretly love it. It's ironic on so many levels that the least glamorous person in the world receives Glamour.

Anyway, I've decided that since 2009 was my year of running (see earlier blogpost) -- and I am getting so old that despite exercising the recommended 2.5 hours a week AND doing a triathlon in '09, I am still beefier than I'd like to be. (The annual weigh-in at the docs this week confirmed that.) 2010 is my year to grow up and learn to eat healthier. Notice I did not say, learn to cook. That's never going to happen, BUT I've decided there are lots of ways I CAN eat healthier.

These are things I cannot and will not give up on my healthy food kick:
#1. meat
#2. bojangles
#3. lilly's bbq chicken pizza
#4. beer (unless it's Lent)
#5. El Rodeo

These are new things I intend to try:
#1. More eggs, walnuts, avocados, and blueberries. All are supposed to be amazing.
#2. More healthy snacks throughout the day (nuts, hummus, veggies)
#3. Greek yogurt
#4. More fresh everything
#5. There's also the possibility of cutting Gluten for a bit to see if I'll stop farting. (yes, Brian, girls do fart. now that you're getting married you need to know that).

In this very impromptu blogpost, I've divulged that my 2010 NYR is all about me, that I fart, and I've never been to Whole Foods. So this is why people have blogs...

2010-01-28T11:40:00.000-08:00

"You may have gathered from all of this that I am not encouraging people to try to be writers. Well, I can't. You hate to see a nice young person run up to the edge of a cliff and jump off, you know. On the other hand, it is awfully nice to know that some people are just as nutty and just as determined to jump off the cliff as you are. You just hope they realize what they're in for."

- Ursula K. Le Guin

That's how I feel about teaching. Isn't it funny that we work in a profession that we would not recommend to others?

Hair

2010-01-21T18:21:00.000-08:00

Yes. Mine. I don't post for a month plus and then I decide to post about my hair.

Well, I cut bangs. Yes, Pedro-inspired-"I-like-your-bangs" type. I didn't actually cut them; Brent's brother Dave's amazing girlfriend Kaitlyn did, as a Christmas present. NICE.

So, far, though I've been compared to several things. You can decide for yourself.

#1: Cleopatra.

#2: Zooey

#3: Brunette Barbie

#4: Then there's this

You can decide which has the most similarities to the real deal.

Running..

2009-12-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Apparently I've past my one year anniversary with running, unannounced. I've been a quasi-runner since my older sister talked me into running track my freshman year in high school. (Being talked into a sport is pretty much how my oh-so-stellar basketball career began also). I hate being guilted into things, but that's a whole 'nother blog post. This is about running...

I've been a full-fledged runner for one year now. I used to train for races and claim I was a runner, but spend as much time excusing myself from a run as actually running one. I attempted to train for a half-marathon about two years ago and ended up in Physical Therapy for my knee. After working back into running shape last fall, I made a commitment in November to be a regular runner. I figured running 3 miles a day in a healthy, consistent manner for the next 20+ years was better for me than overdoing it with a half-marathon. So, I've done exactly that. I've been running 12-15 miles a week for the last year, consistently. I'm not fast or particularly threatening in the sneakers, but I'd say, for the first time, that I'm really a runner. I've done one 10K and a few 5Ks, but nothing more than that. And I love it. There's something about being the only crazy person running at 5 am with your even crazier dog that's refreshing.

Maybe one day I'll get to the marathon that's on my Bucket List. Until then, I'll keep at it.

El Cucaracha

2009-11-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

I feel as though must set the record straight, for fear that Brent has portrayed me in a bad light. I have not read his blog, yet, but feel certain you will feel worse for me than for him upon further information.

This morning I almost didn't make it to school. Because I almost couldn't put my shoe back on. Because I almost couldn't shake the image of what I'd experienced.

I went to put my shoe on this morning - barefoot, mind you - and there was a LARGE SQUIRMING COCKROACH in my shoe. He slimed his little legs all over my foot in the split second it took me to register that something was moving between my foot and my shoe. I pulled my shoe off and crushed him with it. And, I'm sure Brent has told you this, I left him on the ground. Finding him in my shoe at an hour previous to 6 am was punishment enough.

And we already know I don't like cockroaches.

Triath...long

2009-10-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

Kate, Amy, Emily and I did a triathlon together this weekend. It was the first for Kate, Emily and I. Amy is was our seasoned veteran with all the advice (and the one who legitimately looks bad-ass in this pic). It was quite an experience. I'd liken it to a half-marathon.

Here's what I learned:
1) One should never underestimate a 500 meter swim.
2) I should invest in a road bike.
3) Everyone in life should have their age written on their calves, for the competitive part of all of us.
4) Perhaps for future tris (and there will be future ones) I should actually train. :)
5) And, most importantly, everyone in their life needs to do a triathlon with Emily Aker at some point or another. Priceless. It helps if Emily is also registered as number one.

As promised...

2009-08-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

Bad Ass ---The picture, perhaps, does not do our bad-ass-ness justice and if you've never backpacked, you probably don't know how hard it is to walk into the woods with everything you need on your back. I got a chance to get out in Pisgah with some girlfriends from Asheville earlier this week. We had some veterans to backpacking and some newbies and could not have had a better time. We did a good bit of hiking in the rain, but it was worth it for the sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains with mist sliding in and out of the hills. It it so good to get into the woods. There is something both humbling and liberating about nature. The highlights of the trip were certainly:

- hiking in the rain for most of one afternoon and the entire hike out
- sharing more than enough info on bowels and birth control over smores
- fetching our own water from a spring
- realizing that at "the point of confusion" we did, in fact, choose the right direction to set up camp
- watching a sunset on the blue ridge mountains
- eating well-earned smores
- meeting Steve, the well-intentioned hiker who Sarah was certain was going to kill us in the night
- seeing our car again after trying to wait it out then finally hiking out in the rain

I am ready to go again. Who's with me???

And then there's this...

2009-07-29T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Old North State

2009-07-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

Or the one shaped like a hand where things are pronounced funny and you tell people your location by holding your hand up. Bag is bahg. Macinac (island or bridge or ice cream) is macinaw. The UP, well, it stands for the Upper Peninsula. This is funnily enough the chosen vacation spot for the Arnold family. My dad grew up in Ohio, so it was a meager 8-hour trip every summer for him. Then my parents moved to NC, where they raised their kids and made the epic 18-hour drive in a blue Astro conversion van for a two-week vacation in Michigan every summer. I've only missed coming to Michigan in the summer twice in my life: the summer of Governor's School and my honeymoon. Brent and I had decided that we wouldn't come up this summer, for multiple reasons. Then, my dad sweet-talked me into riding up with him and back with my sister. I couldn't resist, so I rearranged my schedule and drove overnight last Friday. Somehow the trip only takes 14-15 hours now, but it's still a haul. If you've never come, plan it as your next vacation. I'd love to help. It's worth the drive.

My Favorites:

#5 - Cherries. I know the Teet has Washington cherries on sale right now and when I thought I wasn't coming up here I bought some. But Michigan cherries (and all other fruits, really) are phenomenal.

#4 - Lake Michigan. Our family's house is not on Lake Michigan; it's on a small lake. But we go to see the sunset (and take a myriad of pictures) each year at Lake Michigan. Being from the east coast, it's especially nice to see the sunset over water. And the Great Lakes are indeed great. Somehow, without a tide, they still have waves rolling in all the time. It feels like the ocean.

#3 - The Wet Burrito. We go to a local joint here called Ruthie's. They have killer ice cream and a wet burrito that's unlike anything in the world.

#2 - Speaking of ice cream, we make it our job up here to eat as much of that as we can. I don't know what people in Michigan do in the winter, but they consume some ice cream in the summer.

#1 - Being on our lake. I love to ski. I love to swim. I love to lie by the lake. Today it's about 75 degrees, if not cooler. I'm sitting in a sweatshirt and I've been cold, like the beach in the spring, all day.

This year has been exceptionally cold. Normally, we're only in our sweatshirts at night while by the campfire or playing games, but this year I didn't bring enough warm clothes. Right now I'm wearing my dad's Petosky sweatshirt. It's refreshingly amazing. It's been so windy that I haven't gotten my dad up for early morning skiing, which is unusual. That's normally my thing: skiing in freezing cold water by 8:00 am to get the glassy lake and going to the very end of the dock in the morning to read. One year I slept on the dock, but that's another story.

I love it here. And I'm convinced you would, too.

Love/Hate

2009-07-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

Love:

I love the greenway more and more. I've ridden a good bit of it. I love that I pop out on streets and realize where I am in Raleigh and I'm always amazed how I got there. I love exploring new parts of the greenway. I love that it's so stinkin' close to my house. I love that Raleigh thinks I'm a really good biker because they love to include dark tunnels and insanely curvy/hilly boardwalks. I love that, because of the greenway, I don't fall off my bike sideways when I stop nearly as often anymore.

Hate:

La Cucaracha. Brent and I had an epic battle with the first one of the season in our bathroom this morning. Brent almost stepped on it. We staked it out on both sides of the sink and then the freak of nature that he is appeared out of nowhere. And I screeched. Battle-weary Brent grabbed it and flushed it with only a thin sheet of toilet paper between the beast and his fingers.

10:2

2009-07-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

That's the ratio I work as a teacher: 10 months on, 2 months off. That should be the ratio that everyone works, to be honest. I have a second job at Great Outdoor Provision Company, but I hardly count that as work because it's so much fun and because I don't let it interfere with my summertime activities. I have no shame in saying that I'm the really fun version of myself in the summer months. This is the time of the year where I become Brent and he becomes me. I can stay awake, much less out, on an given night. I'm nice because I'm not stressed out. And I am generally in pretty decent condition all around. I wish I could always be summer-time Jessie. I think Brent wishes that, too.

Sweet Tweet

2009-06-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

@Twitter:

Here are the reasons why I do not tweet, twit, twirp, or twist:

#1 - The whole concept of twitter supports that American ideal that each individual is the center of the universe. Honestly, who cares what we are doing every second of every day? Why do we have the need to feel that someone does?

#2 - Twitter gives me the creepy feeling that I'm eavesdropping on someone else's conversation. It's sort of like the awkward inside joke that you don't know, but feel compelled to pretend to laugh at. If you want to share something with someone, why not share it with only that person? Why share it with the rest of the world, as well? Heck, that's what DM is for, right? (Case in point: Either right now you're feeling included because you know what DM is or you feel excluded because you don't. It's Twit terminology for Direct Message. No worries, I had to ask.)

#3 - It creates community where, in fact, there is none. With Twitter, often the people who read the updates are unknown to each other. I hardly care what I'm doing each minute of every day, much less what people I don't even know are doing each second of every day.

That's why I'm not on Facebook, either. I'm not sure I like living in an era where 'social networking' is literally done on a network. I like to be hard to find. Maybe one day I'll join the crowd. For the rebel in me, though, most of the reason I haven't is simply because everyone else has.

That's beat up...

2009-06-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

After recently recovering from my injuries sustained while kicking tail at the three-legged race with Brent during the Hathalympics, I have beat myself up these last few days.

I hiked 12 miles in my new Chacos and added some serious blisters to the huge ones I already had from breaking in my new running shoes.

I beat my hand up the other day demonstrating how I play Wii. (I was not acutally playing Wii; just showing how I play Wii.)

The AC in my classroom broke and I sliced my hand open while moving some file cabinets from the flood that ensued from the broken AC.

The best yet, though, is that I busted on my run earlier this week. I went back to 5am runs since it's so freakin' hot in the afternoons now. I tripped over a crack in the sidewalk and wiped out. Probably looked pretty funny, but thankfully no one else in my neighborhood is awake at 5am. Tahoe was pretty startled, I knocked the breath out of me, and have a few minor scraps and bruises. The part that makes me feel really old is that today I am sore all over - abs, back, arm muscles.

With 28 looming right around the corner, I better start taking better care of myself. I think a hip replacement is highly possible.

Hello June...

2009-05-31T18:36:00.001-07:00

Kate, Brent and I had an epic hiking adventure yesterday with Larry and George. (Yes, since moving to Raleigh we've befriended a Fred, Larry, and George who are all roughly our age.) On this epic adventure, which appropriately was set in the town of Troy, NC, the five of us set out on a spontaneous 12 mile hike beginning at 4:30 and ending, in the dark, at 9:00. We explored the Uhwarrie National Forest - which is a surprising treat. If you are unfortunate enough to live far away from mountains, this is a good substitute. Of course, a road trip that should have taken us an hour and a half took almost as much time as it takes to get to Asheville and a light afternoon hike turned into 12 miles, so you might not want to take my word for it.

It was a much needed reprieve for me. Today = recover. Tomorrow = bikeride on the greenway, another Raleigh area favorite.

I love SUMMER!

Telling stories...

2009-05-25T07:20:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to a lot of new and old Snow Patrol recently, and I was thinking about how a lot of their songs are stories. I think it's really tough to tell a story well in a song. Death Cab for Cutie does a really great job of it. Matt Kearney does not. (I'm hopeful the new Matt Kearney does not have a lot of that spoken word crapola). I know some people have no idea what the words are in songs. Anne once thought the words to that Amy Grant* Wanna Live Like a Believer song were, "Wanna live like Cousin Beaver." Who doesn't, right? Many only listen for the music side of it. I'm the opposite; generally if I can't understand or don't like the words to a song, I don't like the song. Radiohead being the exception to that. (Half the time I can't understand Thom Yorke, but part of the fun there is hearing a song I've heard thousands of times and finally realizing what he's saying.) I think the reason I like lyrics is that I am an English fanatic and generally fascinated by writing. What makes a classic a classic is the English major's eternally debated question. (Coincidentally, I once argued that this, my favorite book of all time, was a classic.) One quality that generally makes a work a classic is having a universal theme that most can relate to. I think the same is true of lyrics. When a songwriter eloquently captures an emotion that I've felt, and maybe even one I thought I alone had experienced, that's good songwriting.

*Keep in mind that my lack of any sort of musical knowledge -- like confusing Billy Joel and Phil Collins -- comes from being raised on mostly Amy Grant. Thanks, Mom.

A truth...

2009-05-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

It's a lot easier to be the one leaving than the one left. A co-worker of mine is moving to South Africa because her husband's company transferred him there. Today was her last day. I realized today on my way home from telling her good-bye that I hate this time of year. I have a job where years are clearly marked and each one comes to a distinct end. Perhaps that's not the best idea for someone like me who has serious qualms with goodbyes. I tend to have difficulty with emotions, but missing someone is one that I've never struggled with. Perhaps it's the only emotion that I truly know and can express. It's like I cannot express emotion for people until they are gone, and then I feel the hole left and realize what they meant to me. Last year, I was the one leaving my job and I was the recipient of the "good-bye" toast. That was different because mixed with good-bye were all these emotions of excitement for a new start. When you're the one left behind, you don't get anything but the emotion of loss.

Phobias

2009-05-13T18:16:00.001-07:00

If you know me, you know I have some pretty intense phobias. One is mounted animals.
No, not that kind. This kind:
Not sure why. There is certainly some psychological reason for it, though. I've literally had to close my eyes and be lead through rooms before. As an adult.

My other phobia is heights - although generally only when hiking. I can look over Eiffel Tower edges and ride rides and drive over bridges. Twice I've wondered if I could make it. Once when bouldering with Anne in Yosemite, although I did later talk myself into repelling down a cliff. And, most recently, when hiking to Angel's Landing in Zion with Brent. I am literally paralyzed by fear.

Phobias are the weirdest things. There is nothing rational that makes them go away. I don't believe all that face your fears crap. There is no facing a phobia and winning. I've tried. You can ask Brent how nice I was while cursing and gripping onto a chain that was preventing me from falling off what I perceived as the edge of a cliff. And, you won't see me petting Bambi on a wall anytime too soon. The best you'll get is me in the same room and only if I know the mounted animal is there. None of this surprise-there's-a-swan-in-this-impossibly-small stairwell business. (Who mounts swans anyway?) Sometimes friends get to run reconnaissance missions before me into joints I've deamed "possible of having mounted animals." None of that, my friends, is rational.

One thing I'm not phobic of is snakes. For once, I get to look at something most shudder at and not blink an eye. I saw some really impressive ones at the zoo with my students last week (yes, we take 7th graders to the zoo) and I ran across two black snakes on my run last week.

Phobias: 2
Jessie: 1

Family Matters

2009-05-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

We went home this weekend to welcome the newest addition to my already huge and complicated family. Zoe. (she has the two little dots over the o, but I can't figure out how to type that). It was a great weekend. My entire family was there.

Some of the highlights were:
- Meeting my new niece, obviously.
- Playing with 8-week-old Bernese Mountain Dog puppies.
- Watching my sister being a mom. It's fun to see your sibling doing something you've never seen them do before. Both of my sisters are great moms.
- Watching Brent play drums with my family.
- Driving back and forth from Raleigh to Lexington 4 times in 3 days....oh wait, that part was not fun at all.
- Running a 5k with my sister and placing first in my age group (that's a first).
- Eating BBQ (not a first, I'd do that daily if I could).
- Borrowing my sister's clothes....just like old times.
- Getting to see my other sister's prom dress that she and my mom made.

Overall, it was a GREAT weekend.

Being a kept woman

2009-04-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

While debating with a co-worker about how I had, in fact, filled out my own bracket instead of having my husband fill it out for me, we stumbled upon awkward territory. He told me he thought of me as, how could he word it, not being a 'kept woman.' I wasn't quite sure what that meant and whether Brent or I should be the offended one. I decided that perhaps it leans a little to the right of "wearing the pants" in the relationship. This got me to thinking about my brackets. I finally checked those today because I was on Spring Break and don't do anything productive during that time. I am very happy to report that I got 2nd in the Visio bracket and 4th in the bracket at school. While I didn't win any money, I suppose I gain one point for womankind in proving that, yes, in fact she can fill out a damn bracket without the assistance of a man. Watch out glass ceiling. As a side note, my friend - and fellow female Carolina fan - Emily Aker got first in the Visio bracket with an impressive 99.something % correct.

And.......

GO HEELS!

Then there were two...

2009-04-08T17:10:00.000-07:00

I am a runner. I'm not a fast runner or particularly competitive. I'm just a runner. There are lots of reasons I run, but one of them is to run races. I forgot how much I love running races. There is something healing and inspiring and solidifying about running a set distances with 40,000 people just because you can. Cooper River Bridge Run is the last race I ran, in '08. Then I jacked my knee up. I cried through appointments with the Orthopedic Surgeon who told me my body is not built for running and what my surgery options were. Then I went to a physical therapist, who told me I had the core strength of an 85 year old lady and even weaker hip flexors. I did exercises all summer. In November, I started running again regularly and I've become a consistent runner since then. Much more regular about it than I ever was before. I'm only doing about 12-15 miles a week and I've given up marathon dreams. And, this last weekend, I ran a healthy 10K.

Folly Beach has become one of my favorite places. It's where Brent and I got engaged and where 'we' began. This weekend, when yearly two of my favorite things (running and basketball) are combined has become sort of an epic, annual tradition to get to the beach, run my tail off, get a little sun, relax and watch the final four. This is the 6th year I've run and it's almost more of an anniversary marker for my relationship with Brent than the typical anniversaries are.

Here's what I can sketch together about this same weekend over the last few years:

In '03, I finagled a ride to Charleston with Brent for the race because we had to leave later than the rest of our friends (and because I had a serious crush on him). We got in really late on Friday night and I ran the race on hardly any sleep because I was so excited about just having spent 4 hours in the car with Brent that I couldn't sleep once we finally arrived. It was also my first 10K.

In '04 and '05, the details run together, but I know we ran with lots of college friends and it became a quasi-reunion getting to see everyone that weekend for a few years. Always good times involving final four and oyster roasts at Corinne's parent's place.

'06 - this must be the year that it poured and I ran in my big North Face jacket. It was an awful race. Lots of our friends ran it, although most of the ones who stayed with us skipped the race and Forde cooked them breakfast instead.

'07 - We ran with Anna and Jeff.

In '08, due to moves across the country and other events, it was only me, Brent, and Heang.

This year, just the two of us ran. I really had to talk Brent into running it because of the fee, but it was so worth it.

There are rumors of racing in red tutus next year. Any takers? It's never too early to start training.

Lent

2009-04-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

This year, I gave up beer and sweets. Ironicallly, beer is the much harder thing for me.*** I'm tempted daily and I've done silly things to avoid them, like drink champagne at my first trip to the Boylan Bridge Brewpub (figures that establishment would finally open a few days after lent started). The bad news is I've discovered that lent does one of two things to me, neither of which are the desired results. Either I am bitter that I'm missing out on something that everyone else gets OR I'm prideful about how good I am for sacrificing things and showing such self control. Hmmm....I don't think that's they had in mind with Lent. Pretty sure it's not supposed to make me more of a sinner. I might be doing something wrong.

*** (Can't wait till I'm pregnant. I think, based on this experience, that I'll be REALLY good at cheerfully abstaining for 9 months, especially with nausea, exhaustion, and weight-gain as my companions. It's enough to make me re-think the whole kid thing.)

addendum

2009-03-19T18:16:00.001-07:00

And I came home to Gin + Tonics and pizza today after a long day of track time trials.

Every once in a while....

2009-03-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

things in life line up. I officially live with my two favorite people and 3 favorite animals.

Here are the benefits, thus far:

#1 - My clothes that I got used to wearing for 5 years are back. About an hour into the road trip with Kate I asked, "Does this mean the poppy skirt will now be in our house again?"

#2 - Someone else can split Brent's 24 pack of PBR since I've given up beer for lent.

#3 - Miraculously, I had a packed lunch sitting in the fridge when I got home from work tonight.

#4 - I've finagled kate into coming to help me with time trials at track practice tomorrow. I mean, who doesn't want to spend the afternoon clocking whining middle school girls?

#5 - The quadrant is complete.

Downsides:

#1 - The world might implode.

Sunshine, slices, and seasons

2009-03-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

Sunshine: I've always suspected that I mildly suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Basically, I'm fine in the winter, but not nearly as fun as I am during the other three seasons. I think, anyway. This weather is so amazing. 80 degrees. Sweet. I get paid (granted it's pennies) to stand outside and get sunburned while I yell at kids to run harder on days like today. Not a bad gig.

Slices: Pizza, that is. Pizza is the ultimate sharing food. You join with others and order a big pie and dig in. I've recently wondered who thought that was a good idea. I, honestly, eat anything on pizza. Except maybe anchovies. How many times have you sat ordering with friends and it becomes this either insanely awkward process or the most random concoction of ingredients everyone can either live with or pick off. We have a few friends who make pizza ordering difficult. Both of whom are about to make the triumvirate a quadrant. Pat only eats meat. Kate, no meat at all. And, I, liking everything refuse to eat only cheese. Move over Jack Sprat. Maybe we'll add our vegan friends, the Tonellis, to the mix and create pure insanity. Or maybe we'll go to Pizza Hut and get personal pan pizzas.

Seasons: The NCAA is gearing up for the most exciting part of the season. That made me realize how lucky I am to live in ACC-land once again. One of the things I like most about Raleigh is how many sporting events there are here. Asheville only has the Tourists. Well, and middle school football. Since moving here in August, we've gone to a Carolina football game, a State football game, a Carolina basketball game, and a State basketball game. Not to mention, but totally unrelated, the Hurricanes hockey game. I love it. We've taken advantage of living in the city of tickets. On another note, we've seen The Tempest and we have some killer concerts lined up and are looking forward to some Durham Bulls games. That, my friends, I like. Hello March Madness. (Go Heels!)

'bout damn time

2009-02-19T18:39:00.000-08:00

That I post another blogpost. Without internet, it's difficult to blog. I feel slightly guilty doing it at school - you know - because I should be planning or teaching/beating children. Here are the blog ideas that I've had in the last few weeks and haven't posted on.

#1) Community. I know it's a cheesy term, but I love living with people in close proximity in Raleigh. I love having neighbors who (whom?) we share things with. One weekend, a long time ago, Brent was out of town. One night that weekend the Hathaways picked me up, we went to dinner, and went to Jason's surprise b-day party. The next night the Tonelli's picked me up, we went to dinner, and celebrated Fred's b-day party. I was totally taken care of. Great. They both live within .5 miles of us. As should you.

#2) Talents. In my recent funk, I've once again realized I have no talents. That's okay.

#3) Guess really I have nothing to post about. Perhaps I should not have a blog. Hmmmm.

#4) This is just to make me have a post in the last 4 weeks. Shew. Thanks for reading.

#5) Lent starts on Wednesday. I'm sort of a lent fanatic. This year, I think, once again. I'll give up beer and sweets. My favorites.

#6) On that note, my '09 resolution is entitled "Spice it up." Infer as you will. It's probably not what you think. Perhaps, if you're lucky enough, you'll get to participate. And the logical side of me created a savings account only for travel. EUROPE '10.

Bad-Ass Points and Snow Days

2009-01-21T09:40:00.000-08:00

Here are the reasons that I rack up 3 B.A. points this week:
#1) I went for a run in Asheville on Saturday morning when it was 5 degrees. No lie.
#2) I went for a run in Knoxville on their greenway (which, btw, every city should have a greenway) and it was cold and SNOWING.
#3) I went for a run this morning and had to dodge ice the whole time. And it's only 20 degrees today. (I am really glad this is a post about a successful run and not about me busting my face open while falling on ice because I'm the idiot who went for a run today.)

On snow days I do things I don't normally do, like:
#1) Floss my teeth
#2) Dust the living room bookshelves
#3) Wear flannel-lined pants and waterproof boots
#4) Make Brent walk home after watching State lose just so I can enjoy the snow even more
#5) Let Tahoe off the leash so she can romp in snow
#6) Write a blog post.

I LOVE SNOW DAYS. Thank you, Raleigh, for proving me wrong.

a note

2009-01-09T12:03:00.000-08:00

R: Hey Maggie!!!

M: Hey Ruthie! Did you get the oreos out of your braces?

R: Yeah, that was kind of funny! I heart your handwriting.

M: That was really funny. Gosh.....Thanks. I heart yours too! What are you doing this weekend?

R: I'm staying

(At this point the note was confiscated by one mean Mrs. Francese.)

This makes me laugh.

2008-12-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

cold

2008-12-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

Proverb says: Those who are the coldest-natured must always be cold.

It happened again.

Despite all of my efforts to prevent it, I am sitting in the coldest house in the world. The thermostat won't even register how cold it is anymore. It stopped at 50. Our landlord failed to tell us that we had gas heat, so we never paid the gas company. They didn't like that very much. Now we have no gas. We don't like that very much.

Brent might get a space heater for Christmas in addition to his new slippers.

Denver was amazing.

2008-11-30T12:54:00.000-08:00

And, yes, I do know we are twins.

The morning is taking me back...

2008-11-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Francese: Good morning.

Student: Good morning, Mrs. Francese. Are you tired?

MF: No, I'm just fine, you?

S: Well, are you sure? You have big bags under your eyes.

MF: Nope, I'm fine....Thanks.

Camel's back is broken

2008-11-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

and apparently the straw was when Tahoe ate my ticket to go get free books for my classroom tomorrow. after shoving the couch out of the way, searching the trash, and kicking Tahoe (not really), I cried. Big baby tears. With all that's happened to us in the last two weeks, it's not the job-loss, the grandfather loss, or the big fat nasty notes the sub left about my kids that pushed me over the edge. It's the fact that my 5-year-old dog ate my homework.

Kate's paper

2008-11-15T16:34:00.000-08:00

is seriously interesting. make her let you read it. it's only 11 pages single spaced. amazing. who even knew people who did this existed? aren't you intrigued?

The Freight Train

2008-11-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

Brent has a little move that he does in bed that I like to call "The Freight Train." (okay - get those minds out of the gutter - this won't be that racy).

This move is done anytime Brent moves, really. Each and every move that he makes in the night is made with the force of a freight train. To me, the only reason you'd move like that for an itch on your leg is if a Tarantala was nibbling on you or if Tahoe had finally gone rabid and eaten your leg off.

I am not sure of the purpose of this earth-shattering move. I'm not sure why Brent looks at me with annoyance and says, "I'm fine," when after one of these moves I awake to find him sitting up in bed and ask if he's okay. I am just not sure about these things.

music

2008-11-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

I know I am encroaching on territory where I am no expert, but with all the new music that’s come out recently I’ve been thinking a lot about music lately.

Here are some of those thoughts:

#1 – Some bands can only do “their” thing. Snowpatrol has the market on relationship songs. Their last album was, for sure, a break up album. All about lost love. I could see how people loved it because everyone knows that feeling. This new albums starts with another love ballad. And they nailed it. What Snowpatrol knows is that everyone wants to be worshiped. Tough to pull of the worship-love ballad without being cheesy, but he’s done it. Every woman would love to think that someone in the world loves her enough to watch her sleeping in the morning as the sun “rays tangle up around your face and body.”

#2 – That leads to my second thought. Usually when I hear a new album, there is one song that I crave and I will keep listening to the album just to come to that song again. With Snowpatrol, it’s that first song. With Kings of Leon, it’s the whole album. With The National, it’s “Slow Show.” Usually, though, that craving wears off and that’s when I stop listening to the album in favor of the new craving. I’ve come to understand that what qualifies a really good album is when you continue to crave it. Only two artists fit into that category for me: Ryan and Patty.

#3 – And recently Ryan has shifted. He’s still creating great stuff, but he’s written more albums than I can keep up with recently and none of them (in my humble opinion) are nearly as good as Gold and Heartbreaker. I haven’t listened to Easy Tiger in ages. And, don’t get me wrong, when I put it in it’s really good, but I don’t crave it.* Patty Griffin, though, is another story all together. I always crave Patty. Any album. Some I like more than others, but I play Patty at least once a month to get my fix.

*as a side note, I am liking Cardinology so far. More and more each listen.

'08

2008-11-07T14:16:00.000-08:00

Hmmmm...judging by the fact that my previous post was posted the day BEFORE Brent lost his job, I might have been throwing myself a pity party when Kate gave me an out. She told me to list the BEST things that have happened to me since Brent and I got married.

She even got me started (hers are in italics):

1. Hayden was born and you get to look forward to baby Barnacles (and I'm not knocked-up yet).
2. You got a Master's degree (and I only failed one of my exams).
3. You discovered that you're not only awesome at teaching 8th grade, but 7th grade as well (awesome might be overdoing it).
4. Kate quit teaching so you don't have to listen to her bitch and moan about it anymore (and Brent and I got to drive her on an epic journey with Ulysses the Uhaul across the country for grad school).
5. You learned what love really looks like - in the good and bad. Something many people spend their whole lives searching for...lucky you discovered it at 26.
6. I moved to an exciting new city with a great church, good friends, and a job.
7. I got to take an RV trip with the best in-laws in the world to the best places in the US.
8. On that note, I've managed to get my out West fix for the last 3 summers in a row. Hope to keep that up.
9. I lived in the perfect neighborhood in Weaverville, outside of my still-favorite city in NC, for 2 years.
10. I'll leave this one open for write-ins. What am I forgetting?

Cheers to the good parts of life.

smothering

2008-11-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

sometimes the depression is overwhelming. smothering really. the rain won't stop. kate is gone. my two workdays are over and 530 am is what i have to look forward to tomorrow. winter is looming. dog hair is overtaking the little space known as our house. i can't get it light enough in here; seriously about to 'try on' different lightbulbs in my various lamps. ugh.

maybe i need to go spray tanning again.

Feels like home...

2008-10-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

What I like about today:
1. Denali has busted out her winter ski vest.
2. Brent brought home flowers and cleaned the house.
3. We just went to Seaboard Station to this organic grocery store where a group of old men were playing bluegrass on the porch and we mixed our own six pack. Felt like Asheville.

What I don't like about today:
1. The last two days people have commented on how tired I look in the AM. I must be quite a sight because one person who noticed was a totally self-consumed 7th grader. Operation Take Back the Morning is not working. Abort, Abort!
2. I am trying to watch Tift Merritt on the Grand Ole Opry right now, but I keep vomiting in my mouth at the lyrics of some of these other singers and ads for songs by the "master of the power ballad." Right now the guy who is starring in the Billy Graham movie is talking about how the learned his part by watching a 'multitude' of youtube videos.
3. Tahoe ate a box of tampons. Nice. I'm sure those won't show up later.

My Family Tree

2008-10-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

This is a good reference point for many of you. OR not. It's my first attempt at photoshop. Impressive, huh!

Content

2008-10-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was trying to pin-point that feeling I had. I think it's contentment, but more easily described as the waking-up-from-a-Sunday-nap-and-realizing-you-have-NOTHING- pressing-to-do sort of feeling.

Here are the reasons I'm content:
1. My Kate is coming to visit in less than two weeks, for a whole week!
2. Next weekend I get to go home and see my whole family. I don't think we've all been together since my wedding two years ago. One sister is preggo. One has my nephew, who changes every time we visit.
3. The first weekend in November we are heading to back to our former hometown of Asheville for a the wedding of some very good friends. I hope to eat at Sunnypoint, visit with Robin's new baby, and get a quick visit to the JCREW clearance store.
4. I like Raleigh much more than I thought I ever would. My current favorite is the greenway.
5. I like my job and my kids.
6. I am excited to be excited to go to church every Sunday.
7. Brent and I still have jobs and a house and crazy dogs and a dishwasher.
8. My knee is not hurting anymore (of course I'm not really doing anything to make it hurt).
9. I only work one more full week of school until Thanksgiving.
10. It's fall.

Bad-Ass

2008-10-07T16:31:00.001-07:00

We used to try to rank people on their bad-ass-ness. (Different still from the spectrum for men and women - more on that to come perhaps). I realized recently that in addition to having no talents worth mentioning, I am also not much of a bad-ass. This weekend Brent and did EXACTLY the same thing we did the Sunday before: church, lunch, nap/watch Panthers, bike ride, dinner at MoJoe's, and drinks with friends at 8:00. The difference: we only shared about .5 miles of our bike ride. Brent wanted a real ride and I was too chicken to try the greenway by myself, so he got me started then we split ways and met up again at the end. I am such a pansy. I related part of it to a roller coaster ride, you know board walks and height restrictions, etc. I like scary things that I'm not in control of, like roller coasters. I even think I could sky dive. I cannot, though, force myself to finish the Angel's Landing hike at Zion or ride too fast on my bike. I freak out thinking of all the things I could do wrong. The bike ride was good for me - I'd done it once with Brent. I only had to stop once to avoid hitting a tiny dog that hardly qualified as being a dog. The scary part, to me, is that I'm not completely in control. When I walk, there's no worries that I'll fly out of control into the street. I know it's just biking, but my heart rate is always slightly up because I fear this. Clearly, not a bad-ass. I tried to argue with Brent that it's the ta-ta induced different center of gravity. I will barely take my hands of the handle bars to signal a turn - okay, in fact, I don't even do it. And he can flail around on his bike. I wish it was a guy-girl difference, but I think it's just fear. I hate being governed by fear. I wish I was more bad-ass and less fearful. Perhaps it comes from being so uncoordinated growing up. Maybe it's just in my nature. Thankfully, I've had good people in my life push me to do things I wouldn't ordinarily do. The fearful always need friends like that. This post, then, is a thank you to Kate, Anne, Cass and Brent, who make me do things I wouldn't ordinarily do. Even when I cuss at them for it. Go out tonight and be, or find, that friend.

Operation: Take Back the Morning

2008-10-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

I cannot claim to be the mastermind behind "Operation: Take Back the Morning", but I am proud to say that I am instituting it and pushing back my wake-up time to 5:30 am instead of 5:00 am. I am tempted, though, despite Kate's very ideal name for this endeavor, to call it Operation: Take back the wee hours that no one normally sees before the morning. But that just won't look good on a t-shirt, my friends.

And, speaking of Mastermind, did anyone every play that game? I might add it to my list of talents.

2008-10-02T16:09:00.001-07:00

he called and asked if everything was one word.

Those who can't, teach.

2008-09-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

I think that there are two classes of people: those who are naturally talented at something and those who work really hard to develop a skill. It does seem unfair that some people in the world have no talents and some get multiple talents. And even without any natural talent, it's not for lack of effort on my side that none have developed in me. Here are things in which I've tried to cultivate talents:

1. I played Clarinet for 4 years and I can read music. hmm..helpful. I even suffered through marching band for a year.
2. I took art and journalism in high school.
3. I took ballet growing up and dance and worship (thank you Will Duffy) in college.
4. I've taken a few horseback riding lessons and piano lessons.
5. I've played a number of sports: tennis, basketball, track.
6. I've studied literature and tried my hand at writing.
7. I own a camera.
8. I own a bike.
9. I've played kickball and ultimate frisbee.

Despite that impressive listing, I have no talent in any area I've tried. Even with hard work, the artwork is appalling, the poetry is cheesy, the singing is off-key, and the sports attempts are mediocre, if that. (That might be an exaggeration - I won one tennis match in 4 years of playing and my best mile time is 7:11).

Here are talents I've decided I might qualify for:
1. Being the smartest person in the '99 class of West Davidson High School
2. Getting up at 5 am
3. Enjoying beer
4. Doing ridiculous dances dealing with the wearing of pajama pants or sports teams
5. "NERTS, kiss my ass"

Here are Denali's talents:
1. Being the best dog at 627 Brighton for peeing on the gravel walkway to avoid getting her feet wet in the grass
2. Getting up on the furniture while we're gone
3. Enjoying barking
4. Doing ridiculous things like running her underbite into your knee cap
5. Sniffing asses

Oh, and the good news, we just joined a kickball league.

Firsts

2008-09-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

1. This weekend I attended my first NC State Wolfpack football game. I was astounded that so many fans - I mean TONS of fans - come out for a game that their team is destined to lose. I now understand on a whole new level what it means to be a State Fan. I thought it was just Brent, but they all have the same mentality. They know their team will lose, but they come out, ever hopeful, just in case. It did start raining, HARD, sometime in the 2nd quarter and we left and ran back to our car. I was soaked. Absolutely soaked. I don't know the last time I was that wet in normal clothes.

2. Brent and I went on our first bike ride together and I experienced Raleigh's Greenway. It's amazing. It takes all the scary cars out of the picture and it goes forever. I am a big fan. Seriously huge fan. Every city, especially Asheville, should have a greenway. In this category Raleigh wins out.

Sense of Humor

2008-09-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Once I asked my Dad what traits I should look for in a mate. He told me that first and foremost he should have a sense of humor. Well, we all know who I married. But when you come from a family who creates things like this, how could I not. Here's what Anne has created most recently in her spare time:

Genius Bar II

2008-09-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

The Genius Bar was everything you'd expect and more. The trendy girl also awaiting her appointment 'up and downed' my slightly-chunkier-than-her-bright-pink-computer. Keith, who helped me out, said things like, "Well, there was sort of a recall on these plugs, so we'll just replace your since it's a hazard" and was wearing a shirt that said 'all heroes don't wear capes.' Clearly a genius, this man.

And, I did wear my glasses today just in case I had to look the part.

Genius Bar

2008-09-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

Things I love about my MAC:
2. It's easy to use.
1. Brent bought it for me to finish grad school.

Things I don't love about my MAC:
4. It won't connect to our wireless internet despite two frustratingly long conversations with the very helpful Indian named "Jason" who spoke perfectly clear and understandable English.
3. When I try to plug it in the plug makes 'snap-crackle-pop' noises that threaten to both burn the house down AND make my computer explode in confusion, therefore I had to visit the Mac Store. And I don't like the MAC store....
2. because:
a. It's in the mall and I don't like to waste fall Sundays (see earlier post) in the mall.
b. It's insanely crowed with o-so-trendy shoppers and employees.
c. It's the workplace of the Mac employee who treated me like scum because:
i. I called my iBook a MacBook and he had to show me to the other of the two plug options.
ii. I opened my mouth in a confused "what's that?" when he told me I'd have to make an appointment at the Genius Bar since I have Apple Care.

And the number one reason I don't like MAC:
1. In addition to employing snotty sales associates, they have marketing people who've chosen to name the help desk the Genius Bar. Seriously. Who are they kidding???

Fall

2008-09-21T17:49:00.001-07:00

I don't see how fall is not everyone's favorite season. It is amazing. The Perfect temperature. I love it. I should be inspired to run because of this weather, but somehow I still talk myself into being lazy.

shhh...

2008-09-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

don't tell, but I think I actually like Raleigh.

tonight we went to Krispie Kreme for donuts and milk. yum. and my house is now painted. and i'm off to bed because i have to get up at 5 am.

The Understood You

2008-09-05T03:04:00.000-07:00

For all you grammar-phobes, the understood you is the missing, but understood, part of a command. Like, "Go get my phone." The understood you is that you are saying, "you go get my phone" without saying you. Well, Pat and I were talking last night about Northerners. Nothing against them, but I work with a lot of them now. (They hire northerners like they're international staff at my IB magnet school.) I was talking about how more often than not, they come across as curt when they are stating a command. Southerners smother any statement with courtesy to be sure it's nice enough. Let's go back to the "get my phone" comment.

Southerner: "Honey, would you please go grab my phone for me, if it's not too much trouble."

Northerner: "Get my phone (biatch)."

Hence, as Pat phrased it, there tends to be the ever illusive, implied but not stated, "understood bitch" at the end of all commands from many a Northerner. Blunt is another way to put it.

**this post is not meant to be derogatory towards Northerners, really just a funny thought about the new grammatical phenomenon that is: the understood bitch. perhaps it will catch on like "in bed" at the end of fortune cookies.

Things I like about today:

2008-08-28T14:43:00.001-07:00

5. That I got to help a middle schooler open his locker today because he'd put the combination lock on backwards with the numbers facing the locker and he couldn't make it work backwards.
4. That, in one day, we have a washer and dryer that's almost working (no more laundry mat trips),we have another key to our house, and we can now enter through the front AND back door.
3. Watching the same man who was at the grocery store with his son bitching about the cost of maxi-pads also get upset because the lottery machine was broken.
2. We have a growler of local brew in our fridge.
1. I've already worked 40+ hours this week and it's only Thursday - okay, I don't like that part.

Harris Teeter

2008-08-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

scares me. And I just bought a 'local produce' green pepper from Haywood County. I laughed out loud that I had to come to Raleigh to buy local produce from the mountains. I never saw Haywood County peppers in Asheville. Thank goodness for 'local produce', right?

PAM

2008-08-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

For what I like to consider the feminist in me, I hate to admit I am working on being content when Brent is gone. I think I was spoiled with always having a constant companion since I befriended and roomed with Kate for 5 years. I also think it’s a little bit healthy for me to admit and work on this since I border on the emotionally detached side of things (I know, shocking, right?). Tonight, though, I thought about Pam while I was watching Tift. I actually cried a little (yet another reason it’s okay to see concerts alone – see above). What I missed tonight about Pam is that she did for me what being alone this weekend and going to concert has also done for me. She grounded me in who I was and made me feel okay about it. I have found that I’ve floundered around this year trying to remember that. Pam had the ability to sit at the kitchen table with you and be real in a way that made you more real. It was impossibly to be inauthentic with Pam. I needed her to do that for me a lot of the time. I sort of feel like I don’t know how to be authentic without Pam to bring that out in me. I am working on that, but it is an added challenge without the one who brought you back to who you were. And I guess perhaps the measure of a true friend: one you can remind you of exactly who you are because they know, no matter who you are trying to be, exactly who you are. Tonight I missed my friend who grounded me. Daily, actually, I miss that friend. This is just one of the things I missed about her tonight.

Things you can do by yourself:

2008-08-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Brent is out of town this weekend, so I’ve added to the list of things you can do by yourself and not feel weird about: Go see Tift Merritt. I am not sure this works for any concert, but Tift Merritt outside at the Art Museum was wonderful all by myself. I am almost thinking going alone is the way to go see shows. No one interrupts you. It doesn’t matter if you bob your head in an incredibly-she’s-so-white sort of way. You can people watch. And I got in free. I was probably an hour and a half late and had to park 1800 blocks away, but box office was closed when I got there so a nice security lady walked me in. And I had $4, the exact price of beer, to splurge on one Bud Light. (Apparently my drink of choice these days.) My favorite people were the group of high school girls (although they could be in college – now that I live in a college town I am surprised at how young they are) on the front row dancing like crazy with no reserve. V. cute. And the 60 year old lady who needed a pole to really get away with the moves she had and her husband who sat nearby completely unflustered by his wife’s seductive moves. I guess when you’ve had years of fulfilled strip-tease fantasies you get immune to it in public.

We're not in Weaverville anymore, Tahoe...

2008-08-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

On my run this morning, I wanted to take a new loop that would end up at Food Lion to get some (ahem) Cranberry Juice. (As a side note, in the land of Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, and Fresh Market, I’ve heard Food Lion referred to as ‘a discount grocery store’ and ‘Food Dog’ – these people have never even seen a GO grocery). On this run, I took a possibly sketchy street. The boarded windows and “No Trespassing” signs should have tipped me off, but instead it took a nice black man who stopped his car, rolled down the window and said, “In case you didn’t know, this isn’t an area of town you should be walking around in.” Instead of replying, “Oh, yea, I knew that. I have a death wish.” I replied “Really? Thanks.” I should clarify, too, that due to the bum knee, I am run/walking to get back into shape. After the warning, I decided it was time to run all the way home. I guess that the days of leaving the door unlocked and having to run/walk because I stopped to talk to the Weavervillians are over. Maybe I’ll start paying attention to those forwarded emails about situations women get themselves into and ingenious ways they get out of it….

this is what I would write.

2008-08-23T20:51:00.001-07:00

I guess these things don't need introductions, but I've been writing some 'blog' entries lately in Word to see if I'd really like to keep a blog. I think I would. Here it is. And it's not about babies.