Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Trail Run #2
Not quite as scenic (as Greensborough) but just as fun. Kathleen, Cory, Jacob and I went down to Richmond for a Saturday morning trail run. There is something about a trail race that is in so many ways more satisfying than a normal race. It was a beautiful day, a great run, and somewhat pain free race (just the hip flexers that were a little sore afterwards. Minor detail, Jacob won the entire race. Yes, number one. Five something minute miles... on a trail. No sweat. Ok that's a stretch- it was a pretty humid day. I think it was the no nonsense racing gear that did the trick... and maybe a little talent. Maybe.
After the race we scrubbed off the stinkiness, ate at the famous Mimi's that Cory had been raving about, took naps (well I took a 10 minute nap and had a great talk with Kristina and got some reading in), got some good southern cornbread in a potent butter/poppy seed sauce, went to a cemetery where some big names are buried (Jefferson Davis, Presidents Tyler and Monroe)... it was supposed to be the Arlington Cemetery of the Confederates, window shopped, ate at an amazing (slight exaggeration... just ask Jacob) deli, had froyo at a really really yummy yogurt shop (may have been one of my highlights, as evidenced by my monstrous portion. Who can pass up flavors like NY Cheesecake, PB, Oreo, Cake Batter, Chocolate... yeah I didn't pass up any of them), and watched a really deep and thought provoking movie- Diary of A Wimpy Kid II. We originally decided to watch it because the theatre was so cool but it turned out to be pretty entertaining. Just left me with a fear of someday being the mother of a teenage son who wears black eyeliner and is basically the devil reincarnated.
If it seems like our day was mostly about eating, it was. Thank you Cory for the insiders view of Richmond, and its delectable cuisine.
Pre-race candids
Kind of reminds me of a flower child, bringing in the beauty of the day:) Priceless smile Kathleen.
Number One! I think Jacob's used to this. The 24 pound 'X' trophy may have been a first.
Post-race glory. We smell just about as good as we look.
It looks hardcore. I actually made it through the race in pretty good shape. Then when I went to the 'mist tent' I noticed there was a perfect mistified spot right in the middle where there was a wide open spot. As I approached I realized why it was open, and why suddenly everyone was looking in amusement. Where there is a lot of mist, it just so happens there is usually a lot of mud where there is dirt involved.
I think Jacob said something about putting the trophy on his coffee table. Viewings should be scheduled in advance.
Nap time a la Kathleen and Cory.
Train station clock tower thing.
After the race we scrubbed off the stinkiness, ate at the famous Mimi's that Cory had been raving about, took naps (well I took a 10 minute nap and had a great talk with Kristina and got some reading in), got some good southern cornbread in a potent butter/poppy seed sauce, went to a cemetery where some big names are buried (Jefferson Davis, Presidents Tyler and Monroe)... it was supposed to be the Arlington Cemetery of the Confederates, window shopped, ate at an amazing (slight exaggeration... just ask Jacob) deli, had froyo at a really really yummy yogurt shop (may have been one of my highlights, as evidenced by my monstrous portion. Who can pass up flavors like NY Cheesecake, PB, Oreo, Cake Batter, Chocolate... yeah I didn't pass up any of them), and watched a really deep and thought provoking movie- Diary of A Wimpy Kid II. We originally decided to watch it because the theatre was so cool but it turned out to be pretty entertaining. Just left me with a fear of someday being the mother of a teenage son who wears black eyeliner and is basically the devil reincarnated.
If it seems like our day was mostly about eating, it was. Thank you Cory for the insiders view of Richmond, and its delectable cuisine.
Pre-race candids
Kind of reminds me of a flower child, bringing in the beauty of the day:) Priceless smile Kathleen.
Number One! I think Jacob's used to this. The 24 pound 'X' trophy may have been a first.
Post-race glory. We smell just about as good as we look.
It looks hardcore. I actually made it through the race in pretty good shape. Then when I went to the 'mist tent' I noticed there was a perfect mistified spot right in the middle where there was a wide open spot. As I approached I realized why it was open, and why suddenly everyone was looking in amusement. Where there is a lot of mist, it just so happens there is usually a lot of mud where there is dirt involved.
I think Jacob said something about putting the trophy on his coffee table. Viewings should be scheduled in advance.
Nap time a la Kathleen and Cory.
Train station clock tower thing.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Things that made me smile today
The guy who opens the gym was late and instead of waiting I drove home and went for a 'sunrise along the Potomac and monuments' run. It was amazing. My legs weren't loving it but my soul was:)
Wearing shorts to work. I realized just how laid back my school is when Patrish asked me as I walked out the door if it was a special dress down day.
When there was an odd number of students in one of my classes for a speaking practice and I told one of them I would be their partner and two other students asked if I could be theirs instead. Ok, I know it's not because I'm cool- it's because these are really good students who want the best feedback possible so they do well on the test... but at least I'm approachable enough for them to want to practice with me.
When the following situation occurred in seventh block:
Me: 'Lucas, que vas a hacer hoy?'
Lucas: 'Voy a destinguir con Margarita'
Me: 'Que vas a hacer?'
Lucas (with a big grin): 'Voy a destinguir... con Margarita'
Some boys laughing in the back: 'He's trying to say make out'
Me (trying not to laugh): 'Uh, that's not how you say it'
Lucas: 'Yeah it is. I looked it up.'
Me: 'No actually destinguir means to distinguish'
Then I decided it would probably be against my better judgement to tell him how to say it... although admittedly I was tempted.
One of my students said:'Srta., you should wear glasses more often. You can pull them off.' Any compliment coming from the most fashionable population of middle schoolers is welcome. Seriously, I have never seen better dressed kids in my life. I covet some of their wardrobes, excluding the minis that are less modest than my bathing suit. Seriously.
That my study hall class gets so excited about 'Nice Note Fridays'. I tried to skip it once because I was too busy with other things to get the nice notes ready. That didn't go over well, to my pleasant surprise. I write the name of everyone in the class on a piece of cardstock with a sticker, randomly pass them out, and they write something nice to the person.
That today was 'reading day' during study hall and even though I took up most of the time getting the nice notes ready, I had enought time to read just a couple of verses from the Book of Mormon and even that much changed me- my perspective, the love I felt for my students... and brought the Spirit in the few moments before school was dismissed.
Great day. Lately these days are plentiful. I think I'm realizing how much I'm going to miss my students this year, and teaching here, and DC in general.
Wearing shorts to work. I realized just how laid back my school is when Patrish asked me as I walked out the door if it was a special dress down day.
When there was an odd number of students in one of my classes for a speaking practice and I told one of them I would be their partner and two other students asked if I could be theirs instead. Ok, I know it's not because I'm cool- it's because these are really good students who want the best feedback possible so they do well on the test... but at least I'm approachable enough for them to want to practice with me.
When the following situation occurred in seventh block:
Me: 'Lucas, que vas a hacer hoy?'
Lucas: 'Voy a destinguir con Margarita'
Me: 'Que vas a hacer?'
Lucas (with a big grin): 'Voy a destinguir... con Margarita'
Some boys laughing in the back: 'He's trying to say make out'
Me (trying not to laugh): 'Uh, that's not how you say it'
Lucas: 'Yeah it is. I looked it up.'
Me: 'No actually destinguir means to distinguish'
Then I decided it would probably be against my better judgement to tell him how to say it... although admittedly I was tempted.
One of my students said:'Srta., you should wear glasses more often. You can pull them off.' Any compliment coming from the most fashionable population of middle schoolers is welcome. Seriously, I have never seen better dressed kids in my life. I covet some of their wardrobes, excluding the minis that are less modest than my bathing suit. Seriously.
That my study hall class gets so excited about 'Nice Note Fridays'. I tried to skip it once because I was too busy with other things to get the nice notes ready. That didn't go over well, to my pleasant surprise. I write the name of everyone in the class on a piece of cardstock with a sticker, randomly pass them out, and they write something nice to the person.
That today was 'reading day' during study hall and even though I took up most of the time getting the nice notes ready, I had enought time to read just a couple of verses from the Book of Mormon and even that much changed me- my perspective, the love I felt for my students... and brought the Spirit in the few moments before school was dismissed.
Great day. Lately these days are plentiful. I think I'm realizing how much I'm going to miss my students this year, and teaching here, and DC in general.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Outer Banks
Thanks to the persistent persuasion of some very good friends I decided to do the (in)famous LDS YSA MD getaway... DB. Translation: Latter Day Saint Young Single Adult Memorial Day getaway... 'Duck Beach'.
I knew I would be leaving the East Coast in less than two months, and that it would be a great chance to see a lot of my favorite people. It has also been tradition for the four years I've lived here, and oh yeah it's THE BEACH. I was so happy I went.
My highlights were great talks and walks on the beach with good friends, unforgettable car ride confessions, Lance's AMAZING Cafe Rio style salad (I may have had two portions and subsequently suffered an intense stomach ache), perfect weather, the view from Kitty Hawk during a rain shower, early morning runs with friends, a solitary post run dip in the ocean (so refreshing), Monday morning dance party (also tradition) and a healthy reminder that the beach is my element. That reminder was great timing as I get ready to head back to my home state and leave a lot.. A LOT of people, memories, experiences, and places that I love here in the East.
A little bit of documentation...
Me, Patrish, Morgan in our matchy scratchy very posh, very expensive shades (Target: $1 each)
Beckah, Me, Heather... one of my favorite DC trios
Puerto Rican Hammock idea didn't turn out quite as I had hoped. I think laying on that wood deck may have been more comfortable...
Sunday nap with Sar, Suz, Ash
A little blurry, and some heads are cut off. The house crew. I loved how chill our house was. Good people.
Patrish and me reunited after an agonizing 3 days of missing out on regular roommate chats. Kinda rediculous how much I missed my roommates.
I knew I would be leaving the East Coast in less than two months, and that it would be a great chance to see a lot of my favorite people. It has also been tradition for the four years I've lived here, and oh yeah it's THE BEACH. I was so happy I went.
My highlights were great talks and walks on the beach with good friends, unforgettable car ride confessions, Lance's AMAZING Cafe Rio style salad (I may have had two portions and subsequently suffered an intense stomach ache), perfect weather, the view from Kitty Hawk during a rain shower, early morning runs with friends, a solitary post run dip in the ocean (so refreshing), Monday morning dance party (also tradition) and a healthy reminder that the beach is my element. That reminder was great timing as I get ready to head back to my home state and leave a lot.. A LOT of people, memories, experiences, and places that I love here in the East.
A little bit of documentation...
Me, Patrish, Morgan in our matchy scratchy very posh, very expensive shades (Target: $1 each)
Beckah, Me, Heather... one of my favorite DC trios
Puerto Rican Hammock idea didn't turn out quite as I had hoped. I think laying on that wood deck may have been more comfortable...
Sunday nap with Sar, Suz, Ash
A little blurry, and some heads are cut off. The house crew. I loved how chill our house was. Good people.
Patrish and me reunited after an agonizing 3 days of missing out on regular roommate chats. Kinda rediculous how much I missed my roommates.
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