Dear Santa....in April.

Dear Santa,

I know it's SUPER early...but maybe you could chat with the birthday and anniversary fairy (aka: hubby!) and see if you can work something out. I promise to be SUPER good this year!!

After attending the Health Expo in Monterey this weekend, I got to check out some merchandise that I would LOVE to have, so I'm making a list so that I don't forget!!

1. A SweatyBand: These headbands are supposed to be fantastic at staying in place! They have a velvet lining on the back that hold it down better than the sports bands I have purchased at Target. I tried one on at the expo, and I loved it! But they didn't have the best selection of patterns, so I check out the website. Viola! Patterns galore!!

I really want a red and white polka dotted one...specifically to wear when I do Disneyland in September. Totally Minnie, right?!?

2. The Stick: My BFF bought one of these while at the expo, and it absolutely ROCKS!! It is great for relieving and massaging sore muscles. You run it right over your legs or back, and the rolling beads help to work it out. I've been using a tennis ball to do the same thing for my calfs, but the stick is way better for places like your quads.
3. A Handheld Water Bottle: Since I've started running, I think having a handheld bottle might be better than running with my waist pack. Although I'm comfortable with it, it's not necessary to have the bulky pack when I'm running short distances. I do, however, need water and my iPhone (because I track my runs with RunKeeper). This one seems to have a pocket big enough for my phone, but it's out of stock at Nike right now. Oh bummer.

4. A fun tank: You seriously have to check this site out for some awesome quotes on tanks!! This one is my favorite. But there's also another one that mentions Facebook as a motivation...so funny!!

5. A running skirt: because shorts ride up!! having the skirt (with shorts underneath) help alleviate the awkwardness of shorts up your crack. Love this!!
Thank you in advance, Santa (and hubby)!

Lots of love,

Big Sur Completed!

I had a fantastic weekend in Monterey! It was definitely what I needed after a stressful week; I haven't laughed like that in so long! I love my girls to pieces, and I thank my lucky stars that I have found people like them to lean on.

Race day was great!! The weather was beautiful and the gorgeous views got us through our 10.6 miles. The hills actually weren't as bad as I had thought; I made it through!! I think all the training I have been doing really paid off because I'm not that sore. Overall, it was a great weekend, and I'm really looking forward to my next race: 5K in June...and I'm determined to RUN the entire way!!

Here are some pics documenting our race day!

before the race begin...it was frreeeezing!

look at that gorgeous view!

I'm thinking that this needs to be an ANNUAL girls trip...anyone else interested? ;)

Walkin' it out!!

I'm so looking forward to this:

and this:

Big Sur & my girls...it's seriously what I need after a week of this:

ok...so maybe not THAT much...but there were A LOT of tears this week.

We had layoff hearings this week, and it's been tough. I've been in hearings four days this week, which means four days away from my class. And these hearings are hard core. It's a HUGE boardroom full of teachers fighting for their jobs, so of course, emotions are high. The only people who testified were people who wanted to dispute a seniority date or degrees, and I was not one of them. I went mainly in hopes of hearing my name called to have my pink slip rescinded...but that didn't happen this week.

The process isn't over, and even though the outlook looks grim for education, I have a good chance of having a position SOMEWHERE teaching SOMETHING. But what was most upsetting yesterday was the fact that people with LESS seniority than me getting rescinded based on the fact that they hold a supplemental credential in another subject. This means that they can teach up to 9th grade. In the beginning, they only rescinded math and science supplements, which made sense since people who held math and science single subjects were exempt from the layoffs. But suddenly yesterday, EVERYONE with a supplemental was getting rescinded!! HELLO?!?

I felt SO cheated as I left the hearings yesterday. But today I got some much needed answers that allow me to rest a little easier. The people who have been rescinded will most likely be using their supplements and they will be teaching in that subject rather than an elementary classroom. Doing this opens up positions for the rest of us who only have multiple subject credentials to teach elementary. If there is someone who is less senior than I teaching in an elementary classroom and they were rescinded on the basis of their supplemental credential (which SHOULD NOT happen), then the union will get involved and the district will have a lawsuit on their hands. So I feel A LOT better today knowing that someone with less seniority than me cannot take a spot that I could be teaching.

WOW...I told you it's been crazy!!

But like I said, Big Sur and my girls this weekend to keep my spirits high. The view is going to be amazing, and I will have some amazing company.

And on ANOTHER positive note: I GOT IN TO THE NIKE HALF MARATHON!!!

So after I run for Mickey Ears (Disneyland in September) I will be running for a Tiffany's Necklace in October. Oh wait...not running, walking. :)

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!! I'll be sure to post pics of my weekend next week. Ooh...and the pics of my amazing classroom for Open House that was yesterday. 17 out of 20 of my kids showed up; I love what I do!!

blah

another day of hearings.

i came home and cried. no new news. still pink slipped.

not sure why i cried. i have a good chance of keeping a job. but still...

i cried. i feel so weak because i cried.

but...i have to say...it made me feel better.

Another day...

at the hearing! I have to go back tomorrow since nearly nothing was accomplished today. Let me rephrase that: Nothing was accomplished that affected my position. Oh boo...so I don't get to teacher again tomorrow. I am missing my little angels dearly!!

There was such a crazy turnout at these hearings that we made the news! Check it out here on News10 and then here on Channel 3.

I'll let ya'll know how it goes tomorrow!!

Legal jargon makes me sleepy

I need a dictionary to understand it. I'm currently sitting in a layoff hearing; oh the joys of receiving a pink slip! We've been here since 9, and the lawyers haven't gotten through anything past citing evidence. Over 500 teachers are in this room, and the max is 299. Someone needs to call the fire marshall!!!

So I've done nothing but sit on my bum all day. I did get some grading done, and I started reading Water for Elephants.

It's pretty good so far! I'm also keepin myself awake with sour patch watermelons and m&m's. Not the healthiest, but it will have to do. Here's to hoping I don't have to come back tomorrow!!

I'm so excited!!

and nervous...but more excited for this:
Big Sur is coming up in less than 2 weeks, and although it's been hard to get out and train, especially for the hills, I feel like I'm mentally ready!! I think I'm more excited that I'm doing this beautiful race with my two best and beautiful girls, M & K. It's going to be such a fun, just-the-girls weekend. I cannot wait!!

Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do with all these medals I'm accumulating. :)

Oh technology, how I love thee

Because of you, I can blog from my iPhone! Coolest ever; just had to try it!!

The weather today is quite blah. It's super cloudy and pretty chilly out. I'm totally being a couch potato since tonight is girls night. Should be a fun time!!

Happy Saturday, everyone!!

Beamer VS the Dyson

Last night, Hubs and I decided that we had to clean the house at 9 pm. Ok, so really I was the one who decided to start cleaning, but he totally offered to vacuum as I cleaned bathrooms. We have a Dyson Ball vacuum (which I LOVE) and ever since we got it, Beamer has hated it. This is how Hubs found him last night as he was vacuuming the family room.

Beamer apparently decided to take refuge on the buffet table.

It seriously cracks me up whenever we vacuum, because Beamer's eyes follow the Dyson wherever it goes and he totally stares it down! It's like he's saying, "Hey yellow dude, this is MY family and MY house!!" Wow, check out that death look!!
Oh, silly kitty! Thanks for providing us with some laughs!

Funny, but NOT

Check out this funny (but not really) video about what education in California could be like with these continued budget cuts. Totally laugh-worthy, but it kind of makes you wonder how far these budgets cuts are going to be taken. In my district alone, we are laying of ALL librarians and counselors, half of our support staff, and over 300 teachers. We CANNOT expect these kids to succeed without a proper education...and these cuts continue to show that it's not the priority that is should be. Is this really the message we want to send to our children, who are essentially our future??

Teaching Moment Tuesday

Forgive me, I'm a day late; but I was so dead tired after I got home from my walk yesterday afternoon! It was dinner, shower, then off to bed at 8:00 for me. Yes, I'm lame, I know. :)

So yesterday, we began our new unit on Games. Every 3 weeks we have a themed unit in reading, and we learn about and read stories about these themes. This one is my favorite one, because we learn about types of games and how to play them. I always begin units by asking my kids what they know about the topic. Yesterday, we began the morning with, "What is your favorite game? Let's make a list!"

My students began raising their hands..."XBox360!"... "Nintendo DS!" ...Gamecube!" ...Playstation!" See the pattern?? So I asked them, "Do you have a favorite outdoor game or BOARD game?" One boys raises his hand and very matter-of-factly says, "Those must be BORING if they are called BORED games."

Friday will be interesting when I break out all the games for them to play! ;)

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Run for a Tiffany's necklace...YES PLEASE!

Ok, so that's not the ONLY reason for this half marathon. The proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which is an organization near and dear to my heart. My sissy-in-law, Trisha, passed away 5 years ago from leukemia. And even though she wasn't my sissy-in-law at the time, I loved her like one and miss her dearly. So anything that benefits blood cancers in high on my list!!

I registered for the lottery to enter this half marathon today...and my fingers are crossed hoping I get in! These half marathon fees are pretty hefty, especially this one ($115), so if I get in, I'm asking mom and dad for the fees as my early b-day present. :) This race is in October, nearly 5 weeks after the Disneyland Half Marthon, and I'm pretty sure it will be my last one for the year. However, a couple of us were talking about possibly doing a marathon relay...oy-vay!

All I know is this....if I get into this half, I'm going to have a blast and run (or walk) like the girlie girl that I am!

Lots of love!