The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (and a random memory)

Today has been a blast! This morning, we slept in and enjoyed that (almost) last moment of spring break. Sure, we have most of the day tomorrow, but then Dan goes back to USAFA, and I go to bed early for work on Monday morning. Boo. This break was busy but fun.

This afternoon, Dan and I went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for the first time. I am a zoo freak, so I can't believe it's taken me almost two years to get there. It's right up the street, and we had a couple free passes that were well worth it. Actually, it would have been well worth it to pay full price as well! It was such an incredible time. I got to play with the giraffes (and I paid to feed them)... we got a TON of cool pictures, but I haven't uploaded them yet, so I'll make a post about our trip to the zoo soon. For now, here's one from my phone of a very tall buddy I met today:

Afterward, we came home and made dinner. We had fettuccine alfredo with broccoli, garlic toast, salads, and green beans cooked in butter and garlic. It was delicious. The only reason we didn't grill, though, is because there is a ban on ALL grilling right now in Colorado Springs because the fire danger is so high with the dry air and winds. We've been on a grilling kick lately, so that's a bummer, but the dinner was still delicious! 

Following dinner, we decided to start organizing the guest bedroom because it is STILL full of boxes and random stuff from last August when I moved. We have been tackling that for a couple hours now, and it's looking much better and less overwhelming. We did find Dan's binder full of letters from USAFA Basic, though, and it made me think about that time. It was his third basic (and our second one together -- I wasn't with him when he went through Army basic), so I got kind of nostalgic and put together a small collage of pictures from that time. The pink letter is the cover of his binder. The picture to the right is the sign I made to hold up at the Cadet Chapel wall while he marched to lunch each day (it's symbolic so he wouldn't get in trouble for me singling him out!). The ones on the bottom are of us right AFTER basic ended when we hiked Eagle's Peak together. The one on the bottom right is one that WebGuy (the man who takes pictures of cadets through basic and their time at USAFA) captured of us while I was dropping Dan off at Doolittle Hall to inprocess. There were so many emotions going through me at that time. I was proud of him for what he was doing but fearful to live alone in a new city without him. I was happy for his incredible opportunity but sad to have to be away from him for so long. In the end, it all worked out, and we survived with no problems! It's always fun to look back. :) Here's the collage:

Well, I better get back to work! 

Day 7 of 30

Well, I just finished a very productive hour and a half working through the "Teach Like a Champion" book study I am doing online to receive my Professional License early. I was several weeks behind (oops!) and just caught up AND got ahead. Go me! Now, I am going to write some more by answering Day 7 of 30's challenge. If you'd like more information about this challenge, click here. It's fun! :)

Today's Challenge: 7. What is your dream job, and why?

This one is easy. It may surprise some of you because it's not what I went to school for. It's something I have ALWAYS wanted to do, though, for as long as I can remember. I want to be a novelist. A writer. An author. It doesn't matter what you call it. I want to turn my thoughts into words and put them on a page. I want to develop characters, plots, settings, and story-lines. I want people to read my books and devour them like I do so many others. I want people to hear my name and think, "I wish I could write like her." My biggest inspiration is Jodi Picoult (who you can read about by CLICKING HERE). She combines tons of research with interesting family dynamics, which is exactly what I'd love to do.

I majored in English Education in college because it was practical. I knew I would be able to get a teaching job with that degree. (And yes, the irony is that it has been VERY difficult to find one each year and keep it for more than one. I know.) My passion is writing, though. While I love working with adolescents, it's not my absolute TOP choice for a career. If I could stay at home typing away at Word documents all day, I would be happy. I have a way of setting schedules for myself that would be perfect. And heck, I probably WILL do that when we are moving around all the time and I can't find full-time employment. Until then, though, I will just have to relish in the fact that I did complete a novel that I am quite satisfied with in 2010. It isn't the best, I'm sure, and I have a long ways to go, but writing relieves my stress and lets me get my creativity out. If only I could publish something...

I'll keep working on that and get back to you! (Seriously, though... I am planning on finding publishers after editing the novel I wrote in 2010. It's going to take some time and a lot of work, but it's a goal I've had since I was very young. As an avid reader, I've always wanted to be on the other side of the book as well.) Have a wonderful weekend!

Day 6 of 30

Today is Thursday, and that means that I HAVE to answer a writing prompt... which brings me to Day 6 of 30 on my 30 Day Blog Challenge. You can find out more about that by clicking here.

Today's Challenge: 6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

Well, that's easy, and it's not something I need to write about again. I wrote a blog post about it on March 4th, which is the anniversary of my father's death. That was single handedly the most difficult thing I have ever gone through.

You can read more about it by CLICKING HERE.

Is that cheating? Did I just NOT answer this post? Well, if so, I did it for good reason. I don't feel like getting all worked about it again, and I have a massive headache tonight from filling out (er helping Dan fill out) teaching job applications (yes, he is doing most of the work for me... what an amazing man I have).

Oops!

Well, it turns out that I didn't blog yesterday. I completely forgot with all that was going on, and when I woke up this morning, I almost ended the blog because of one day missed. Instead of throwing it all away (yes, I am very much an all or nothing kind of person), I decided to blog twice today to make up for it. I'll have this post now and another one this evening.

Yesterday, we went to the Olympic Training Center and took the tour again. It never gets old because I love that kind of thing! Then, we headed to Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. for lunch, and it was as tasty as always. Dan and I are thinking of maybe having our rehearsal dinner there before our wedding. We're still early in the process, though, so we'll see. Then, we headed to Garden of the Gods again so we could get some of their fudge that is oh-so-good! I took a few pictures while we were there (poor quality from my iPhone 3G), but I made a collage of them anyway.

I'll write more tonight!

Tuesday is for Tourism

Tourism: something I enjoy greatly but never have time to partake in... until today, that is. While my family is out visiting, we have enjoyed seeing quite a few things that Colorado Springs has to offer. We began with heading to one of our favorite spots for lunch, Heart of Jerusalem, where the wonderful people who work there were just as great today as always. We had tons of food to share and our own meals as well. Afterward, Dan and I took my mom and grandma to the Air Force Academy for a nice tour. We took them to the airfield first to show them the airplanes Dan flies. Then, we went to the Cadet Area, the Visitor's Center, and the Cadet Chapel. We also stopped at an overlook to take some more pictures.

We also took a nice drive through Garden of the Gods park, but the shops were already closed, so we'll head back there tomorrow. I love having it just up the road! :)

I'll write more when I have time... I need some ZZZs!

Busy Monday

Today was pretty eventful! Dan and I are playing host to my mom and grandma. They are staying in my apartment this week as they visit beautiful Colorado Springs! :)

This morning, we went to Manitou Springs to eat at Uncle Sam's Pancake House for breakfast, a place we all enjoyed. I never eat out fo breakfast, so it was different, but who doesn't love a place with chile rellenos?! Then, we saw a little bit of Manitou Springs with them and headed out to Woodland Park to show them Farish Recreation Area, where we plan on having our wedding. It was as gorgeous as ever, and I absolutely cannot wait for that day to get here! From there, we went to Cripple Creek and enjoyed the mountain drive (took lots of pictures) and gambled a bit at the casinos! It was a lot of fun showing them what we do on a regular basis, so the day was good.

Dan has been a HUGE help to me this spring break by helping out (ahemactuallyfillingout) teaching job applications. He is SO AMAZING and has no idea how much stress he is alleviating from me. I LOVE THAT MAN.

Well, tomorrow morning I am heading to the movie theater with my grandma to see The Hunger Games... finally! I cannot wait. I've been dying to see it since Thursday night, and I am sure I'll write all about it tomorrow. The books are SO good! Also, I finished Jodi Picoult's Lone Wolf recently, so expect a review soon.

My Family Is Here!

Wow! It's 10:15 PM, and I almost forgot to post on here today. That would have made me super sad when I realized it since I have made it every single day of 2012 so far -- and that's almost 25% of the year!

Today, Dan and I went to church, and then we ran several errands that needed to be taken care of. We then cleaned up around my apartment and started dinner. My mom and grandma arrived much earlier than we thought they would, so that was a nice surprise.

We had a lovely dinner and then talked for a long while. I'm wiped out now and ready for bed. Luckily, tonight is not a normal Sunday night, for it is spring break! Tomorrow we plan on going to breakfast in Manitou Springs and then heading on to Woodland Park to show my grandma our wedding spot! :) We will probably head to Cripple Creek for a while after that and then have dinner somewhere when we get back to the Springs.

Day 5 of 30

I am so happy to be on spring break. Today is pretty laid-back. Dan and I took the fur-babies to the vet this morning for their booster shots, and once again, Gilligan was a very good boy, and Stormy tried to take off everyone's faces. That's what I expected, though. They're now lounging around, while Dan is at the woodshop making my birthday present (I know it's not till July; I'm confused as well). I am just unwinding from a busy week. I decided to post Day 5 of 30 today, since my mom and grandma get here tomorrow. I'll still update, but I don't know if I'll have time for any big updates. If you want to see what this blog challenge is all about, click here.

Today's Challenge: 5. What are the five things that make you most happy right now?

Ooh! I love thinking about happy things. This one will be fun. Here goes, in no particular order:

1. Dan. This one seems obvious, but not everyone realizes how supportive he is. When things aren't going well, he tries his very best to be the problem solver that I need him to be. Knowing that we have made it over so many hurdles in the past three years and that I am lucky enough to marry him in just over two years makes me speechless. I can't believe he is mine.

2. Running. I always feel 100% better after a run, even if the run doesn't go so well. It hurts, and it's tough, but when I accomplish what I wanted to, I feel great for hours. Maybe it's the runner's high, or maybe it's just how it makes my body feel... but either way, it definitely makes me happy.

3. My Cats. Gilligan and Stormy always cheer me up. They greet me at the door every single day, and they follow me around, sit on my sleep, cuddle with me, and sleep in my bed with me. Those two are pretty needy sometimes, but they are just so cute and sweet.

4. Reading/Writing. I decided to combine these two together because they KIND OF go hand in hand. Reading is something I do each night to calm myself before going to bed. It allows me to stop thinking about everything going on in my own life and focus instead on the fictional lives of the characters within the novels. Writing is something I also do each day (through blogging and otherwise) because it lets me get everything out that I need to.

5. Food. Did anyone NOT see this one coming? I love eating. It's a struggle because I love food so much. It doesn't have to be unhealthy food, though. I love fruit and veggies just as much as the junk, if not more. I could snack on chips and salsa all day, and making smoothies is something I enjoy almost every day. I look forward to what I eat, and I plan what I know I need.

Job Fair

Today, I took a day off of work and headed to a teacher job fair. It was my first one, and I didn't know what to expect. I was nervous last night. As I prepared everything I needed, I drank a couple glasses of wine to calm myself down. I woke up four times in the middle of the night because I was nervous. I have no idea why, but I was.

I  got there this morning and was completely overwhelmed by the crowd. There were HUNDREDS of teacher applicants at this fair, and the space was not exactly huge. I didn't know what else to do to distinguish myself from others than to throw myself at them. I was outgoing, bubbly, friendly, all smiles, and ended up landing SEVEN interviews. Yes, seven. I overheard many people complaining that they only got one or two, so I'd say I did pretty well.

I had all of those interviews today, and most of them went really well. There's one I don't feel so great about, but there are three I'm REALLY hoping for. We'll see what happens, and I will update as I find out.

In other news, it is officially spring break, and I picked Dan up from the Academy at about 4:40 this afternoon. We came back o my apartment and grilled dinner. Then, we watched Drop Dead Fred (because Dan had never seen it -- what?!) and ate ice cream. Now, it is 8:45, and we are seriously considering going to bed. Yes, we are THAT old couple. Oh well. Sleep will be nice after an exhausting day.

Day 4 of 30

Today is Thursday, so it's Writing Prompt Day! This is a welcome distraction from all of the job applications I've been dealing with. If you want to find out more about this challenge, click here.

Today's Challenge: 4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self if you could.

If I could talk to my 16 year old self, I would have a lot to say. Here goes:

1. Just keep running after high school. Seriously. It's far too difficult to have to start all over a few years later.

2. It's okay to date around. And more importantly: it's okay to date someone in the military. They're not ALL bad, and they're not gone ALL the time.

3. When your math teacher claims that you'll always need to know algebra, she's lying. You don't. You'll never use it, and that's why you'll marry someone who is good at math. 

4. Spend more time with your family. They won't always be there, and you'll miss that time.

5. Stay true to your convictions and give up meat now. You'll do it for good in a few years anyway, so you might as well start the vegetarian lifestyle now instead of giving up every time you try.

6. Put more effort into Debate. You love it, so why is it only a hobby? Make it a priority that you work hard for.

7. Take a photography class. You will always wonder why you didn't take one in high school. You enjoy taking pictures, so follow that dream.

8. Thank your teachers for teaching you (and apologize for talking during their classes). You will once wish your students cared enough to say those few words. Make them smile on a regular basis.

9. Try to become friends with your little brother. He's the only one you've got, and you don't want to still be at odds when you're adults. 

10. Write that novel you've wanted to. You'll do it after college, so it's okay. But why not get it done early when you still have the time to edit it and be serious about it? Plus, that would be a major accomplishment for a high school kid.

It feels so weird to reflect in that way, and it reminded me of Brad Paisley's song "Letter To Me" -- and you can find a video of that by clicking here.

Because of all of that reflection, I decided to dig up a handful of pictures of myself from when I was 16, just a sophomore in high school. Enjoy! 

Tired

This is really just an update to say that I did. I don't want to miss a day of writing, but I am scrambling trying to get my cover letter updated and ready to go so I can print it (well, 20+ copies of it) tomorrow to be ready for the job fair on Friday. Microsoft Word is driving me crazy because it won't format properly, so I keep having to send drafts to Dan to fix, and I am frustrated out of my mind. On top of that, I was at work until 7:30 tonight because of our Family Literacy Night (which was fun, but now I'm tired) so I really just need some sleep. I will write more tomorrow night.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

I will find out this Friday if I am able to keep my job at my current school. Well, I should know Friday, but I am taking the day off for a Teaching Job Fair because I can't be too sure. I want to cover my bases, so I am taking the day off (and losing a day of pay since it's the day before a school break) and heading to a local high school to meet with quite a few districts. I am nervous because I have never been to a job fair. I didn't go to any in college because I knew I was moving to Colorado... so I found it pointless to go to a job fair for teaching jobs in Missouri. Now that I need to go to one, I feel weird. I have all of my documents ready to go and my skirt suit waiting for me. I'll update about how it goes after it's over.

Luckily, as soon as the job fair is over on Friday, I am able to pick up Dan from the Academy, and we will both be on spring break for an entire week! I hope that I am able to enjoy break without stressing over TOO many job applications. I won't complain, though; at least there are a few open positions to apply for.

In other news, track is going well. I'm so happy to be coaching a great group of kids. The REAL practices start after spring break, and the first meet is only one week later! Wow! Time flies. I can't believe it's already the second half of March. It's unbelievable.

Day 3 of 30

Today is day 3 of 30! I know you're excited! :) To see what this is all about, read this post.

Today's Challenge: 3.  Describe your relationship with your parents.

This is a complicated question. My father is no longer living, so I will write about my relationship with him when he WAS alive, and it's been a while (just over six years).

I'll start with my dad since I already brought him up. He unfortunately passed away when I was 18, but up until that point, I had a fairly good relationship with him for most of my life. Yes, we argued a lot, but I was in high school. That was normal. I was also Daddy's Little Girl, though, and we had a special bond. I looked like him, and I acted like him. We got along for the most part, and we hung out quite a bit while I was growing up. We used to go running together, and we talked a lot. I don't know how else I can describe our relationship, so I'll stop now.

My relationship with my mom has improved a lot since I moved to Colorado. I know that's weird, and most of you are probably wondering how that is. Well, we don't necessarily get along all the time, especially when we were living under the same roof. Being away at college helped that, but we still saw each other so often (most weekends) that it was almost like I was still there sometimes. Don't get me wrong -- we have great conversations -- we just never got along as well as my dad and me. However, now that I am an adult and live 650 miles away from her, we talk on the phone each weekend and have good conversations. Maybe it's the fact that I'm 24 or maybe it's because we rarely see each other (a couple times a year)... I don't know. But whatever it is, I'm glad that our relationship has improved. What we bond over is shopping and food. What's not to love about appetizers and drinks, followed by shopping for deals? NOTHING. 

This is not my best blog post, and I feel like it's a really weird one for this challenge. I have been thinking about writing this one since Saturday, but I put it off because I didn't like the prompt. I knew I had to suck it up eventually and write this out, so here it is. Number 4 will be much better, I promise. 

Lazy Weekend

It was so great being able to pick Dan up at the Academy last night. He went out of town the previous weekend, so it had been two weeks since we'd be able to really hang out, and I know that's not much time apart, but we weren't used to it. Yeah, yeah, we've done 11+ weeks apart, but it was so long ago that it was so nice to just be in his arms again.

I couldn't pick him up until 6:30, so we stopped by Whole Foods and picked up what we needed to grill some dinner, and it was a lot of fun. We made beer brats (Tofurkey brand for me), and we loaded them with spicy mustard and sauerkraut! Yum! Home-brewed beer also hit the spot with our first grilled meal of the warm season.

We had a good time! :) 

After dinner, we just hung around my apartment together watching TV and talking. It was so nice, but Dan was wiped out from Recognition training (but he had a blast being on the other side this year!) so we went to bed pretty early. Today we had a pretty mundane day, but it was nice being back to normal, hanging out around my apartment, doing lots of laundry together, running a few errands, and just hanging out. 

For dinner, we met Olly and his cousin at Biaggi's at Briargate because he was in town, so it was nice seeing him and catching up. It's always fun to see people from home out here! Plus, Biaggi's is one of my favorite restaurants, so it was a double win! 

This week is the last week before spring break, so I have five school days to make it through before enjoying an entire week off! I couldn't be more excited. It will be great to sleep in and spend each day with Dan. My mom and grandma are coming to Colorado Springs for part of the week, so I'm excited about seeing them and showing my grandma around (since it's her first visit). I'm also stoked to see the Hunger Games with my grandma! May the odds be ever in your favor... 

I'll end with a sweet picture of my adorable cats! 

Dan's Birthday Party in 2009

Today is Saturday, and I am home alone until Dan is finished at USAFA for the day, and I won't be able to pick him up until 7:00 this evening. I decided to make a throw-back blog post today (remember: I have a list of events I want to remember, and I'm going through them in order until I catch up; it'll be a while).

Today, I am going to blog about Dan's birthday in 2009. We had been dating for about a month and a half, and he was leaving the next day for more Air Force training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, so I was a bit bummed about that (he went there for about five weeks before returning, and we were dreading being apart since we hadn't even been together very long).

The night was complete with beer pong, shots, cupcakes, college friends, and a few of Dan's friends from back home in Columbia. We had a blast just hanging out with friends, and the night was definitely a good time! The next day? Not so much, as I had to say goodbye to Dan for the first time (of many) in our relationship. Oh well; it was good practice, at least.

Of course I took a billion pictures. Would you expect any less of me? And I think I was worse in college with camera (meaning I took WAY TOO MANY pictures) than I am now, and that says a lot. It was tough, but I picked my favorites from that night to post here. Enjoy! :)

The birthday boy with his first of many jello shots

the happy couple

Dan with a double alcohol jello shot, courtesy of Justin and me

before our shots of Southern Comfort

during our shots of Southern Comfort

after our shots of Southern Comfort

Dan with Katie at the beer pong table (I refuse to be his partner because, well, he SUCKS)

aww

being presented with his cupcake shot

cupcake time!

after shot-gunning a beer -- you can tell he only partially succeeded, as evidenced by the liquid on his shirt

aww

one of the best pictures ever! Dan passed out from too many jello shots, and all of his friends crowded around... HAHA! We had to carry him to bed... it was so pathetic.

Okay, well it was nice to re-live Dan's birthday party in Warrensburg! I have now spent three birthdays with him, and his big 23rd is coming up in just a few weeks! I'm looking forward to that because I ordered him a nice gift that will hopefully last a lifetime. :)

Relaxing Friday Night

Today is Friday, and for that I am thankful. It was so much easier getting out of bed this morning knowing that it was my last work day of the week. Although I would love to hang out with Dan tonight (especially since he was out of town all last weekend), I am REALLY enjoying the relaxation I am getting tonight. It's so great to hang out with myself (I know that sounds weird, but I do love alone time).

After I got home from work, I compiled a small list of items I wanted (definitely didn't need them) from the store. I went to King Soopers and picked up the stuff to make homemade lemon cookies, and they are baking right now. My apartment smells WONDERFUL to say the least. :)

Along with those ingredients, I went to the liquor store to pick up a bottle of my favorite cheap wine (you can't buy alcohol anywhere but liquor stores in Colorado... yes, I agree... it's stupid), and when I got in there, I saw that they have a new kind, so I bought two bottles so I could try the new one too. I love Sutter Home Moscato, and tonight I found their new Pink Moscato, and I am getting ready to pour a glass to enjoy while I watch wedding shows on TLC.

I plan on going to bed by 10:00 and reading for a bit. I need to finish Lone Wolf before my mom gets out here so she can take it with her to read. Tomorrow, I will try to be more productive until I pick Dan up after he finished helping the four degrees go through Recognition at the Academy. I can't believe it's been an entire year since he was recognized himself! I'm so happy we're counting our way DOWN now... it's been a long road, but it will be well worth it in the end. <3 On Sunday, we're meeting a friend in Denver for lunch, and I'm pretty excited!

Day 2 of 30

Today is Day 2 of 30! To see what this is all about, click here.

Today's Challenge: 2.  Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

1. Fish. Yes, it sounds crazy. I am fully aware of that. I do have a story to back this fear up, though, but let me preface with a fun story from my first trip to the ocean with my family. I was 12, turning 13 that week. I stepped into the Atlantic Ocean from Florida, and I felt a tickle at my feet. Curious, I asked my mom what that feeling was. Knowing about my fear of fish, she replied, "Oh, it's just seaweed. Don't worry about it." My curiosity eventually got the best of me, though, and I put on my goggles and looked under water. What did I see? THOUSANDS (okay, probably not, but it sure seemed like it) of small silver looking fish! I immediately jumped onto my father's shoulders to get away from said fish, and I screamed and screamed, making everyone on the beach think I was nuts. I was letting everyone know that there were fish in the water, when in all actuality, it turns out that everyone already knew that, and no one actually cared. Maybe I am nuts. Anyway, the reason I'm scared of fish goes all the way back to when I was just nine years old. I got a purple fish tank for my birthday, and I decorated it with Little Mermaid figurines inside. I got a goldfish to put inside my tank and named him Chief Arrowhead (awesome name, I know). Well, one day, I came home from school and went into my room. No, he wasn't floating at the top if that's what you're thinking, but you're not too far off. Seconds after looking at him, he swam into the air filter and got lodged inside. He could not escape (unlike Nemo, who I hear this happens to as well, although he gets lucky. I refuse to watch that move, though.) Instead, poor little Chief Arrowhead was sliced in half before my nine year old eyes! It was such a traumatizing experience that I will never have a fish again. If my future kids want one, I will get them a puppy instead. 


2. War. Well, I'm not scared of war. I'm scared of Dan being in a war. I always said I would never date anyone in the military, and now I am marrying someone in the Air Force. There was a very specific day during my senior year of college that I read a certain poem for the first time. Dan was at the USAFA Prep School at the time, and I was still acclimating to the whole "military girlfriend" lifestyle. In a British poetry course, I was told to read the poem "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death" by William Butler Yeats. It is beautifully written, but can you see how someone dating a man in the Air Force who wants to be a pilot could see it as a little unnerving? Well, I went home and wrote an analysis of the short poem (which I will post below), and I woke up in the middle of the night crying and shaking from a terrible nightmare. You guessed it: Dan was that pilot. It was miserable, and he thought I was crazy. Ever since that moment, fear of war has weighed heavily on my mind. I know that I chose this lifestyle (as much as you can choose staying with someone you love), but I think it's safe to say that every military significant other feels this way at some point. It's not something I am scared of right now, obviously, but it is something that is in the back of my mind. Here's the poem: 

‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’
By William Butler Yeats

I know that I shall meet my fate

Somewhere among the clouds above;

Those that I fight I do not hate,

Those that I guard I do not love;

My country is Kiltartan Cross,

My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor,

No likely end could bring them loss

Or leave them happier than before.

Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,

Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,

A lonely impulse of delight

Drove to this tumult in the clouds;

I balanced all, brought all to mind,

The years to come seemed waste of breath,

A waste of breath the years behind

In balance with this life, this death.

3. The Unknown. I know that sounds ambiguous, but I've described it before. I am a planner by nature, and I always want to know what is going to happen. This is a fear that isn't really a fear but more of a dislike... but I couldn't think of a third fear. I have funny fears but not many of them. This is something I'm working on while I prepare to be a military wife. There are many things I won't know, and I need to accept that that is okay. I have come a long way in the past three years, but I am constantly working on improving myself. 


I will post Day 3 of 30 soon, so be on the look-out! :) 

A Random Update

Today, I don't have too much to say. I'll keep it short.

- I found a very inappropriate picture on my desk this morning when I got to work. It was a lovely picture drawn by a student portraying me in a way I would rather not describe. I am NOT happy about it.

- I was called stupid by another student (or maybe the same one... I have no idea who drew the picture) later in the day.

- I got to have dinner with Dan! Yay! It was nice because he was out of town all last weekend. We ate at Subway on base, but it was nice just talking for a little while.

- I found vegetarian beer brats at Whole Foods that I will be picking up this weekend so we can grill. YES!

- Chobani Greek Yogurt now has a lemon flavor, and I am STOKED. I bought some this evening and can't wait to try it.

- I've been on a big green tea kick this week. Yum!

That's really all I have. I'll answer Day 2 of 30 tomorrow for Writing Prompt Thursday...

Running Races

Today was SUCH a long day at work. I had to be there an hour early for a faculty meeting (we have one once a month on a Tuesday morning) AND had to stay for an extra hour after school for a faculty meeting with the Superintendent (who didn't even come but had someone there in her place to talk to us). In between all of that, I had my normal six classes and an extra meeting with a parent that lasted 45 minutes. Needless to say, I am WIPED OUT.

When I got home, I almost didn't want to run. Well, I'll be honest. I didn't want to. I was tired and wanted to just push it off. But then I told myself I absolutely had to because it's been making me feel so good, and I don't want to lose that. Instead of sitting down at the computer, I quickly changed into my running clothes before I could change my mind. I gulped down a couple extra cups of water and ate a fork full of peanut butter (it's the only thing I can eat before I run without feeling sick) because it had been 6.5 hours since lunch.

I headed to the gym (yes, it was extremely nice outside, but I don't live in the best neighborhood. I really need Dan to go on a few runs with me around the area before I am inclined enough to do it alone. I also am still training myself to run at a specific pace, so seeing the numbers on the treadmill really helps me out). I ran 3.1 miles four times last week, so this week I decided to up that, and I ran 3.55 miles today. I will continue that for the rest of the week, and I'm hoping that by Easter, I am able to run at least 5 miles without stopping. That way, I know I'll be ready to push myself to run FASTER for the 5K I signed Dan and me up for.

We will be running the Hams and Hamstrings Easter Day 5K on April 8th, 2012 in Colorado Springs, and you can find information about it by clicking here.

We will also be running the Dirty Dash on August 11th, 2012 in Colorado Springs, which is a 3.5 mile run that includes obstacles to climb over and crawl under (and they serve beer in the middle), and you can find information about it by clicking here.

The BIG run that I am really working myself up for (and that I will drag Dan to as well) is the Heart and Sole Half Marathon on August 19th, 2012 in Boulder, CO. I ran my first (and only) half marathon in St. Louis, Missouri in April of 2008, and it was tough. It was ugly. But for some reason, I want to do it again. You can find information about it by clicking here.

Day 1 of 30

Well, I am going to start my blog challenge today. I will NOT be posting one of these every day. I will finish when I finish, and I have no idea when that will be. To see what this is all about, click here.

Today's Challenge: 1. List 20 random facts about yourself.

1. I enjoy teaching, but my passion is writing. I would love to be paid to write, and my (not so) secret dream is to be a best-selling author.

2. My favorite book is The Book Thief by Markus Zusack. (Check it out HERE).

3. I am a scrap-booker. I have scrap-booked over 100 pages of my relationship with Dan in just three years. I could probably make one equally as large dedicated to my cats.

4. I love taking pictures, but I am no good at it. I really hope I can take a class or two one day.

5. My favorite color changes on a daily basis. Right now it is yellow.

6. I love the flavor of lemon in anything and everything. If it has lemon in it, I'll eat it. If it smells like lemon, I will buy it to burn (candle) or put on my body (lotion/spray). It's the best.

7. I'm not very good at making decisions. In fact, Dan showed me where he would like to get married, and I said, "okay, this works" for two reasons. 1) It is gorgeous, and 2) I didn't want to make a decision, so I let him do it.

8. Reading on my Nook from Barnes & Noble has made me a lazy reader. I still read just as much as I did before (if not more), but I hate the thought of holding a heavy book in bed now. I never thought I'd see the day...

9. I am slightly obsessed with propaganda. I took a WWII Propaganda course in college, and it was probably the best decision of my life. I wrote a really cool paper comparing the propaganda of the Vietnam War to the War in Iraq, and I'm open to sharing if anyone wants to read it.

10. I love sleeping. I always have. Apparently, I slept through the night on my first day in this world, and unlike most children, always enjoyed napping. Enjoyed? What am I talking about? I still do.

11. My first celebrity crush was on Alex Trebek. Yes, he is the host of Jeopardy. Yes, he also was 22 years ago when I was just two years old, stumbling up to the television to kiss the screen when he came on.

12. I used to LOVE horror movies. Nothing scared me, and they were so much fun to watch. Now, however, I only like them in the daytime and never alone like I used to.

13. When I was in 5th grade, I had two teeth pulled so I could get my braces early. After double the amount of numbing shots, I could still feel everything. Despite my pleas to stop, the dentist claimed I was lying and pulled anyway. I screamed bloody murder and bit his hand. Hard.

14. I am allergic to beeswax. I know this because I cannot use any normal chap-stick. Every time I do, my lips break out in cold sore like sores, and it's not even worth it. Since moving to Colorado with the drier air, my lips have been awful. Luckily, Maybelline just came out with a new chap-stick called Baby Lips, and it is free of beeswax, and it works like a charm. :)

15. Instead of buying gifts that I know Dan will never use, I prefer making him things from scratch. I love being creative while putting things together for him, such as this fishbowl I made for him for our one year anniversary. It's my favorite thing I've made him so far, but I will make a post soon about the fun card book I made him for our three year anniversary.

16. I run quite frequently, but I really don't even like it much. However, I LOVE the confidence it gives me and the way it makes me feel about myself. Plus, I love food so much that I need some kind of cardio activity to make up for all the eating.

17. I am terrified of flying in airplanes. Yes, I am marrying a pilot. I know, I think it's weird too, so don't worry. (I do have a reason, though. My elementary school art teacher was on TWA Flight 800 in July of 1996 that blew up over the Atlantic Ocean. I think of him every single time I have to board a flight.)

18. I have been a vegetarian since April of 2008. I was raised in Kansas City, Missouri, the BBQ capital of the country. For some reason, though, I always pictured the animal while eating a piece of meat, and it was hard for me to get past that. During my childhood, I attempted going vegetarian several times, but it never stuck for some reason. While I was living on my own in college, I realized that I couldn't even THINK about touching raw meat... so I stopped eating it altogether. Now, it has been almost four years, and I couldn't be happier about my decision.

19. I was born on the exact day I was supposed to be. That's right: I've ALWAYS been on time. That's just one more reason to add to the list of why I was voted Miss Punctuality by my high school teachers. I never had a tardy, and I am constantly on my students' cases about being late. I have such a hard time imagining being late somewhere and not caring.

20. I once won $188 on a penny slot that I had paid one cent into at Ameristar Casino in Kansas City. That was nice, but I've never had the same luck since. 


Phew! I think you all know PLENTY about me now! :)

30 Days of Blog Posts

Yep, you read that correctly. This is a challenge of sorts, and it provides me 30 topics to blog about. Since I do not want to dedicate each and every day to these posts, I will label them accordingly so everyone knows when it is a part of this challenge or when it is just a blog post. I am excited to get into this, but I also want to continue my normal blogging... so look forward to seeing these a couple times a week until it's over with! I found this idea from my friend Michele who got it from this blog. 

THE LIST:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

I hope everyone who reads this is ready to learn a lot more about me because I will be answering each and every one of these prompts. However, like I mentioned, I will be doing it sporadically, not every day. You can expect to see the first two sometime this week! :)