Life Runner

Friday, August 1, 2014

How cool is my school?

Together, we can achieve the impossible. Sounds super cheesy, right? But it's true. Today, the faculty at my school got to see that in action. Together, we were able to move an 18,000 pound vehicle! What!!!

My administration is great. They did an amazing job setting this up!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

5K Etiquette

Gibson 5K Start

Recently, I completed the Memphis Summer Race Series.

It was 4 evening races throughout the city of Memphis.

Zoom through the Zoo (4 miles)

Harbortown 5K

Gibson 5K

Stars and Stripes 5k

For the most part, they were fun.

EXCEPT for the beginning of each race.

Every single race was difficult to start. Unusually difficult. I run a lot of 5ks. These were the worst when it came to 5k etiquette.

In truth, it was likely because there were many people running who had never done so in a race format before.

Walkers and stroller pushers started at the beginning. People tried to run in huddles.

Each race was a mess at the start. The worst BY FAR was Zoom through the Zoo. I know I felt that way about the race. It was confirmed by a group of people I was standing in front of waiting to use the restroom at Stars and Stripes.

So, I thought I'd make a list of the 5 bits of 5K Etiquette Advice.

1. If you haven't run 3 miles in the last 6 months, get your butt to the back of the start.

In every single race, I would be about a quarter of a mile in when people would start dropping like flies. They would be panting, hands on hips, trying to figure out what happened.

If you haven't been for a run in a while, you aren't going to magically be able to run a full 3.1 miles. I admire you for trying, but don't slow down everyone else by being at the front of the runners.

2. If you have a stroller, get to the back!

I witnessed a child get clipped by a stroller because some dude though the could just plow through the crowd with his 2 year old child in a stroller.

What the heck? You know that your timing chip will give you your accurate time. Why would you try to be up in the huddle with your precious child. It's not worth it.

Truly, I think strollers should be in a separate division and should have a separate start time. Many races don't allow them.

3. Don't wear perfume.

YUCK! There is nothing worse than trying to take a deep breath while you run and being forced to inhale someone's awful Walmart perfume.

A race is not the place for it. We all stink. Get over it.

4. Don't wear the race t-shirt. Everyone will know you're a newbie.

This doesn't really annoy me, but I thought I should share.

No one who has ever participated in a 5k before actually wears the race shirt to the race they are running. Just a little tip from me to you!

5. Be an encourager.

I have told this story numerous times. I was dying at the end of Zoom through the Zoo. I wanted to walk. A girl came up out of nowhere and just started cheering me on. She was like, "You can do this! Finish strong!" She completely changed my outlook. I am forever grateful to her.

Sidenote: I tried to encourage a guy at my last race. He was walking right at the end. I was like, "You've got this! Come on!" He was clearly embarrassed. Which was the exact opposite of what I wanted to do. He started telling me about how he had just worked out legs yesterday and that it probably wasn't a good idea. So, maybe you should just encourage people of the same gender. I don't know. Maybe it actually helped him.

Just do your part to help everyone get across that finish line!

Done!

Well. I'm done with grad school.

For the most part.

I just finished my last assignment. I have to present it Friday. Basically, it's over. Finally.

I now find myself feeling the way I did in May of 2006 when I graduated with my undergrad.

What now?

My degree is in instructional leadership. My prayer is to one day work in administration.

It's not easy...at all...to get a job or even an interview for an administrative position.

So, how long do I wait? 1 year? 2 years? 5 years? 10 years?

I don't know.

I'm happy teaching. I adore my school. I'm just ready for a new challenge.

Patience is not my strong suit.

I know whatever is meant to be will be.

I hope my head can tell that to my heart.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Stitch Fix #2

Yay! My second Stitch Fix arrived!

http://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3452408

In case you don't know what Stitch Fix is, it's a clothing service.

You go to the website that I've listed above, fill out a survey, pay $20, and wait for your Fix to arrive.

Once it arrives, you have three days to try on your stuff and decide if you like it. If you do like one item, your $20 fee is applied to the clothing item.

This is my second Stitch Fix and it was fun!

See my items below!

This is my favorite by far! I would never pick this out, but I absolutely love it.

The only thing I'm unsure about is the waistline. I think I'm over that now though. I'm keeping this.

Okay. The white pants and the shirt. The pants are so comfortable, but a little too tight. The shirt was just okay. It pulls in a weird way across my chest.

I like this shirt, but it's a little boring. I don't know if I am keeping.

Denim Jacket - I really really like this. I can' t decide. I can get a denim jacket anywhere, but I love the cut.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Scalp Psoriasis

I have scalp psoriasis. Since high school, it has plagued me.

This is what my skin looks like under my hair...

This is not my head. This shows what it looks like. Fortunately, my hair covers all of mine.

I itch CONSTANTLY. If I scratch, I have flakes everywhere. It's impossible for me not to scratch. Michael has been trying to get me to stop for years. It doesn't work. The itch is that intense.

I have had embarrassing situations happen many times. I'll wear a jacket with a hood in my classroom, go outside and put the hood up, and my flakes will go everywhere. Several of my teacher friends have started noticing.

Basically, I can't wear anything dark on the top half of my body without fear of embarrassment or without being extra extra careful.

It was terrible when I was working in TV, because there's nothing better looking than a black blazer. I had to be extremely careful and "dust" myself off during commercial breaks if I was anchoring and wearing dark colors.

I have tried numerous treatments from my dermatologist. I think because my hair is so thick and it's so difficult to get to my scalp, all those treatments have failed.

I went back to the dermatologist a few weeks ago. She gave me a new treatment. I am determined to make it work.

I've also been watching youtube videos from people who've had a similar issue.

This girl has a lot of good advice. She actually shaved her head to treat her psoriasis. She says she found a remedy that would have not required head shaving. Her story is cool.

So, I'm praying my psoriasis clears up. I really want to start wearing black again!

100 Things to Eat in Memphis: Uncle John's

I'm just here for the bread pudding. I am an ADDICT.

So, when I saw that there was a new list of 100 places to eat in the Memphis area and that bread pudding was on that list, I had to jump in the car and get there as fast as I could.

This bread pudding is unique, because it's made with hamburger buns. It gives it an extra extra fluffy feel.

It's pretty good. I would put it in the top 5 I've ever had. (The top spot, by the way, is Sucre in New Orleans.)

This post is from Spring Break, so it's been a minute since I visited Uncle John's in Crawfordsville, Arkansas.

Second Line

Finally, Second Line, we meet! I have really been wanting to try this place. New Orleans is my favorite city, and this restaurant gets its name from a New Orleans' tradition.

Overall, the experience was cool. The food was great. My favorite was absolutely the appetizer...

The Star of the Show - Pimento Cheese Fries (Pimento cheese is just one of the many ingredients here.)

One problem I had, there was only like one highchair between both Second Line and Restaurant Iris next door. There was a table using the highchair, but the kid wasn't in it. So, we had to wait and wait and wait. Finally, I went up to the table myself, because the hostess wasn't going to do so. I asked if we could use the chair, and they said I could. Still, as the customer, I don't think I should be the one dealing with that. So, other than that minor annoyance, we had a delicious time.