And that’s why being a teacher is also one of the hardest jobs in the world.  Earlier this school year (on labor day to be exact), we lost one of our seniors in a car accident.  It was absolutely devastating.  I’d never attended the funeral of a child before – much less a student.  While I thought that was hard, this week is turning out to be harder.

Wednesday before lunch we got the news that another of our students (one of my Honors sophomores) died in a car accident on the way to school.  Right now as I sit here is the first time I’m getting the chance to truly process what’s happened.  I can’t quite come to grips with the fact that this hilarious, beautiful, talented girl will no longer be a part of my days.  I swear to you – I have never seen this child with anything other than a smile on her face.  She’s one of the few that I’ve known since her little ‘ol 7th grade days when I had the opportunity to coach her.  It just seems unreal to me that this girl who’s so alive….isn’t anymore.

While I love my job – I just can’t handle this type of thing very well.  R.I.P. Natalie - you were amazing.

Definitely the most I’ve ever talked about Weight Watchers in such a short period of time.

After a bundle of nerves this past Thursday night I’m done presenting my first meeting as a leader.  I still have one more meeting to do in front of my Territory Manager before I’m a full fledged leader, but I can actually see it happening now…kind of unbelievable.

What I’m really enjoying about the Weight Watchers training is how much of the information can be applied in my “real” job as well.  There are so many strategies to use with members who are struggling that can also be applied to students who may be struggling, I’m really excited about trying some of them out on my students to better prepare myself for using them in a meeting!

In other news?  I’ve been using the Ultimate Three Month Tracker over the past week and I must say – I’m impressed.  I think this is definitely what I’m going to have to keep doing.  I find myself cheating a LOT less than I did when I used my iPhone WW app.  And cheating?  Never good.  I’ll have to share some pictures of a typical day of eating of mine soon.  For those of you who don’t know the Ultimate Three Month Tracker is basically a food diary that you have to carry around with you (similar to the paper tracker you can pick up at meeting locations each week – except with the U3MT you can also write down activity goals for the week, what worked and what didn’t, all kinds of useful information!).

My next goal?  To actually keep this thing UP TO DATE!

Rachel (running partner), Me & Dad!

Well, it’s over.  I did it.  That’s about all I can brag about.    But seriously, it was…okay.

Location: So the race was in Columbia, Missouri (where I basically grew up, so yay!).  The course was…okay.  And I think it would’ve been great if I’d actually have trained for the half…but, well, I didn’t.  It was mainly flat with two major hills that basically kicked my butt.

Weather: If there was anything perfect about this race it was the weather.  Awesome.

Logistics: There was a lot of difference between this and the previous half in April.  There were about 700 people and I must say, it was SO easy to get through the start.  There were tons of bathrooms to use before the race (and for all of you who’ve done a long distance race, you know the importance of that).  After about 1-2 miles the amount of people was really good.  Shoot, after 5 miles I basically ran by myself since my running partner was a little more prepared than I was.  I also got to run with my dad for the first 2-3 miles, which was kinda cool.  It was his first half – go Dad!

Swag: The shirt’s okay – haven’t worn it yet, not technical.  Besides that the main plus of this half is the free entry to the Roots ‘n Blues BBQ Festival that day which I didn’t take advantage of because I was tired.  Oh, and free pulled pork sandwiches when the race was over.  Yum.  And beer – which I didn’t have since I wasn’t feelin so hot.

Company: As mentioned above, I got to run the first few miles with my dad and my friend Rachel.  At the first HUGE hill Rachel left me in the dust.  I told her I’d catch up…but I knew as I said it that I wouldn’t.  Just didn’t have it in me.  While it lasted it was good though I’m so glad they both got to do their half, and they did an awesome job!

Success:  I finished!  That’s success, right?  And I figure…if I could finish a half marathon without really training (oh…let’s say 4 long runs in the 1 1/2 months leading up to it…and nothing else), then that’s saying something.

Results: I believe I finished in 2:07.  Which when you compare it to my 1:55 finish time in April is sad.  When I say I believe, I say that because I didn’t have my chip timing (lost it the day before the race) and my GPS watch malfunctioned at the beginning of the race…so that’s what the clock said when I crossed the finish line.  So I guess now that I think about it I’m probably under that since I didn’t cross the start right when they started the clock.  And yes, it was 2:07 exactly.  And that’s with me walkin the hills.  HA!  Oh hills, how I despise you.

Question of the day: Has a race ever gotten to you?  What do you do to push through?  And how do you motivate yourself after a disappointing result?

Mmmm...these cookies are too good.

and not enough running.  Make that…shh….no running.  AHHH!

I hadn’t realized how much time a part-time job would take up during the school year.  But after a marathon day of grading (over 100 assignments, thankyouverymuch) and some homemaking (read: cookie making), I’m determined to do better this week.  And by better I mean, more blogging, more running (anything would be an improvement on both of those), and less stressing!

Happy Fall everyone!

This is my sixth year teaching, and I had hoped I would never have to deal with what I’ll deal with tomorrow – and for the rest of the school year.  One of my students died this morning.  I just don’t know how to handle this.  I’ve been saying all summer how much I love this years seniors, and it’s true.  They’re funny, smart, goofy, amazingly friendly, and they just don’t deserve this.  This student was an amazingly sweet girl, very helpful, and friendly to every one she met.  She would have been in my first hour class tomorrow, and now instead I have to help her classmates get through this incredibly tough time.  And her younger sister is in my last hour class tomorrow.

Help me have the strength to be there for my students.

The past week has been spent building new bookshelves for my classroom (which are already almost full), updating course syllabi, buying random odds ‘n ends for my classroom, etc.

I don’t know how many of you heard about the terrible tornado in Joplin, Missouri that happened on graduation day of this year.  It destroyed so much of the town and the schools are now being held in what used to be big box stores.  One thing my students and I are going to do this year is a Reading Pledge (they don’t know about this yet).  You remember when you were little and you had your family pledge so much money for every minute you jumped rope?  Or how about the one where you got pledges for every math problem you answered correctly in a packet?  Well, for this pledge the students will get pledges for every book they complete for the semester.  That way it encourages reading (YAY!) and raises money for Joplin high school, who I know could use the money.  I really think this will motivate kids, they love helping others, especially when it’s so close to home!  I’m really excited to share this with the kiddos and hope it goes well.  The entire English department is going to take part – so about 450 kids.  Think about how much money we could raise for Joplin!

WW…
Right now I’m looking at a calendar with dates of BLS trainings (Basic Leader Skills).  I’ve been asked to go to training to become a leader (ahh!), so now I just have to bite the bullet and pick the date.   Wish me luck!  Also, did you know that tracking works?  Ha, who’dve thunk that keeping track of what you eat would really work.  You would think I would’ve learned that after the first 35 pounds.  And yet, I still struggle with it sometimes.  Live and learn I guess, right?

Running…
So, I haven’t run this week (yet).  The half marathon is in…oh…20 DAYS!  Ack.  Really need to get busy on those long runs (or any runs at all).

This time I was determined to bite the bullet and get my hair chopped off.  I’d been looking at some school pictures from the past five years….and oh boy.  Oh, you want to see?  Of course you do. 

1st year:  Main thing I think when I see this?  TIRED.  I was at school every night until around 9.  Man am I glad that’s over.

2nd year: Holy chest shot.  Yikes.  Just overall, very unflattering picture.

3rd year: Must’ve had some sun that year, I actually look a bit tan.  And a bit healthier.  But did you notice?  Same shirt as the previous year, different color.

4th year: Holy crap, what happened in a year?  See what a difference a hair cut can make?

5th year: This one cracks me up.  I remember him telling me to tilt my head, and I feel like the look on my face says, “This is slightly uncomfortable, but he told me to do it, and smile.”  Also, not liking the shirt.  Since then it’s been donated to charity.  Sorry charity.

So after going down memory lane I decided the only year I looked really pulled together was the year I had a bob.  So a bob it was.  And the results??

I think it’ll be a better picture this year.  Yay! (Excuse the bags under my eyes, I only woke up about an hour before this picture…and it’s summer.  Summer = No Makeup.  EVER.)  Thanks to the WW boardies who gave the advice to go ahead and do it!

Guess I have to start running now?  The half marathon is on September 10th – yeah you read that right, only a month away.  Oops.

What do you do to keep yourself accountable?