Gift Cards

Whoever thought of gift cards was a genius. I love getting them. I have received several from my students this past week and have really enjoyed getting them.

So, to you, I pose the question: If you knew someone was going to give you a gift card for $100, from where would you want it to be?

New Blogger

Has anyone switched to the "new blogger". I'm scared it might be like the "New Coke". Wow, that was gross. Let me know what is so cool about the new blogger. I would hate to switch to the "new blogger" and then have to switch back the the "Blogger Classic".

What's Your Magic Number?

As long as I can remember, I've never woken up and thought, "I'm so glad to be awake." I've always wanted to sleep just a little bit more, snooze 10, 20, 30 more minutes. I'm not a fan of waking up.

I've always wondered, what is the magic number of sleep hours I need to wake up and feel great? Well, the last two nights, I've gone to bed at 8:30 and woken up at 5:30. That's it, ladies and gentlemen. 9 hours of sleep and I feel great. I wake up and am ready to get up, eat breakfast, and be productive.

What's your magic number?

Jingle Bell Run

I ran again, however this time I had a head and chest cold. It wasn't quite as much fun because I didn't feel so hot. I had already registered and paid the fee so I went ahead and bit the bullet. Wasn't able to run the entire 3.1 miles due to hacking and coughing.

Despite feeling under the weather, the event was very festive. Santa was there and there was a d.j. playing fun Christmas music. (Robert and Shelly would have loved it!) One of the runners was dressed up like a Christmas tree and another like an elf. Lots of runners had on santa hats which added to the festivities.

If you would like to see pics, click on the link to Suzie L.'s Blog. She has our pictures posted. I've been having trouble posting pictures lately. Not sure why.

I'm a runner.

O.k., so really I'm a jogger. I ran a 5k today in a Turkey Trot in Frederick, MD. I am new to the whole running thing so my time is still really slow. I finished in 41:56. I know this is a lot of time, but I finished it still running and still alive. I also wasn't last which was my main goal. I had a lot of fun and hope to make this a tradition. Here are some before and after pictures. Notice my really red face in the after.

In December, I plan to do a Jingle Bell Run. In this race, everyone wears jingle bells as they run. I love the sound of Jingle Bells.

I feel like traveling.

I'm so wanting to go somewhere!!! We are not planning on going to Texas or Oregon until Summer, but the cool weather and holidays are making me want to be a tourist. I think Jason should take me to Philly. It would be a quick, inexpensive day trip. And besides, I've always wanted to try a Philly steak and cheese sub (never had one). If you think Jason should take me to Philly, then please post a comment on my blog saying so.

Thank you for your support.

Why I Haven't Blogged

5:45am -Wake up and get ready for school.
8:00am to 3:20pm- Teach.
3:20pm to 4:00pm- Attend boring faculty meeting. (They've got great snacks though!)
4:00pm to 4:45pm- Drive to go and tutor.
4:45pm to 4:55pm-Wait for student to show up.
4:55pm to 5:55pm-Tutor.
5:55pm to 6:45pm-Walk with my friend Jodie.
6:45pm to 7:00pm-Drive Home.
7:00pm to 8:45pm-Come home cook, eat, and clean.
9:00pm--Should have graded papers, but went to my friend Suzie's house. Will have to get up at 5:15 tomorrow to make up for not grading tonight.
10:00pm-Shower.
10:45pm-Bed time.

I'm sooooooooo ready for Thanksgiving Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Acne

Why is it that I am 30 years old and I am still battling acne? What's up with that?

GRRRRRR!

Giant Pumpkins

Every year, I am always intrigued by giant pumpkins. I love seeing the picture in the paper every year of the farmer beside his prized pumpkin. It seems unreal that a vegetable can get that big. Also, once you grow it, what do you do with it.

I was surfing and I found this picture of a giant pumpkin kayak race. Evidently, these farmers carve their pumpkins into kayaks and then race them. Pretty cool.

Sometimes it pays to be old

Last night, Jason and I went to Wal-Mart at 10:15. As we were walking in, the greeter told us the doors were closed and we couldn't come in. We went back to the parking lot and got in the car. As we were leaving, a car pulled up to the door and the passenger got out. She was an older lady with a cane. I couldn't believe it, but the greeter let her in. I told Jason that I am going to begin keeping a gray wig and a cane in my car so I can buck the system.

weather.com

I love weather.com. I check it at least once a day. My favorite is the hour-by-hour forecast.

Library Card

I have a library card!!!! I haven't had one in years. Since I am tutoring at the library, I decided to get one.

Here is my first check-out:

Portuguese Language Tapes--(hoping to better my portuguese)
Trader Joe's (a book on how the business came to be and the inspiration behind it.)

I'm off to read!!!!

Things that Amuse a Language Person

Since I love languages, it is very difficult not to read even when I know that what I'm looking at aren't words. For example, I always have trouble reading the signs that say POW / MIA. I always have a picture in my head of a cute girl named Mia that is getting beat up.

I also always try to pronounce the letters on blogs that are used for security verification. Sometimes they can be really funny. Here are a few for you to try. Let me know your favs.

Extra dough

I have a tutoring job 2 days a week. Woo Hoo! I little extra cash never hurts.

Let me hear you say woo hoo!

Public Restrooms and Cell Phones

I always feel a little weird going into a public restroom and happening on someone who is talking on their cell phone. It happened to me twice tonight.

Anyone else with me?

Voice Lessons

Today I am starting voice lessons. I'm only taking 2, 30 minute lessons a month from the wife of our pastor of Community Groups. I am sooooo excited. I've always wanted to take but never have had the opportunity.

Todd--I hope she'll help me perfect "Victory Chant". (Even though I don't know how it can get any better.) :)

The Taste of Food

So I read in this book once that if you want to get the most taste out of a meal then you should eat one bite of one thing and then eat something else on your plate. If you don't do this then after the 2nd bite or so of the same thing, your taste buds aren't suprised anymore. What do you think? Do you eat all of one thing before you move on to the next or do you like to mix it up?

Women's Retreat

I went on a women's retreat this past weekend and had a fabulous time. Sometimes it is a gamble going on things like this because sometimes they can be cheesy and too emotional. This wasn't at all like other women's functions that I've attended in the past. The speaker was solid and there wasn't a huge cry fest at the end. I loved it. I've attached a picture of me some others that were there. We look a little weary because we took an interpretive dance class. I fell more than danced. I just don't think I have what it takes.

Super Suppers

I'm so exited about this place. There is a new one in Hanover, PA (30 min. from my house). I happened to go by there and see they were having their grandopening. I pulled in and they were giving away 1 free entree. I got Parmesean Crusted Talapia. Mmmmm!

Check it out ladies. It might be putting the end to the question, "What am I going to fix for dinner?"

http://www.supersuppers.com/

A Day Off

I am out of school today becuase it is a voting day. All the polls are located in the schools so we can't go. Today I plan to work on a quilt that I started last year. I got bogged down because I ran out of a certain fabric and then we moved. I sent a swatch of the fabric to my mom and she found it. They have a huge fabric store in OR that has everything.
Well, I'm off to quilt.