So far, summer has been amazing. All 4 days of it. I could get to like this.
Friday, school let out, and I got a hug or two, but mostly saw the backsides of a lot of kids as they sprinted off as fast as they could. I, on the other hand, was asked to not "go crazy", but "do the best I can scraping mounting tape off the walls." After an hour of scraping, I was starting to go crazy, especially after being told, "this isn't good enough, but don't go crazy". I walked out of there and didn't look back. I love my job, but I had spending hours scraping tape off the wall.
I drove directly to the pool, and put in a solid 2000 yd workout. It felt nice (and I confirmed that my engagement ring would be safe on my finger while swimming).
Friday night EMS was busy, a little sad, and a little disturbing, but I'll share that story next time. I also had a Saturday standby, so I was at EMS until about 4PM Saturday. That left me with enough time Saturday to relax, rest, and eat. Tim and I had a nice dinner, at the dining room table like fancy people.
Sunday, I failed at an 8-mile run. I forgot to bring water with me, and it was just too hot. I took the heart rate monitor, just for fun, and noticed that my heart rate was getting pretty high at the halfway point. I assumed it was due to the heat, and turned back early to finish up at 5.3 miles. I justified it by saying that I'll deal with the summer heat and keep my joints healthy by doing longer short runs and shorter long runs. Besides, I'm in much better shape than 2009, when I last did the NYC Tri.
After my run, Tim and I piled into the car and drove to LI to explore wedding venues. Like dress shopping, it was less thrilling than I had imagined. We looked at two different places, both of which would be fine for the wedding. Neither was perfect, but both were satisfactory. I think the party will be awesome at either place (or, somewhere completely different, that we look at in two weeks). Dinner with parents, then back to NJ.
Yesterday, I met a colleague (it's summer, I should probably just call her a friend) for a bike ride. We did an easy 20-miler on the canal path, and it was a blast. Riding is so much more fun when I can chat the whole time. Afterwards, we went back to my apartment, where Tim had made us caprese sandwiches. I even managed a 1.5-mile run in the evening, as the heat was breaking, and before my core workout. I managed to catch a few raindrops, and it felt good.
In between those two workouts, Tim and I went registry shopping. At first, we were baffled by the sheer variety of dishes and flatware, but we ended up having a fantastic time wandering around Crate and Barrel and making a wish list. Hopefully, this time next year, I will be the proud owner of a new blender, rice cooker, and cooking torch. Also, some dishes and a bar set. Also, the time in which to experiment with creme brulee and martinis.
This morning's interval run was tough, but a lot of fun, and I did a good job up until the last interval. The heat was really getting to me. I know I need to drink a lot of water in this heat, so that's a big focus this week. I'm feeling really sluggish while running outside, so I hope I acclimate to the summer daytime weather soon. I have a big workout load anticipated for this week, so I need to take it easy so I don't burn out.
This week (starting the week on Monday), I have already completed nearly 2 hours of biking, nearly 1 hour of running, and 15 minutes of weightlifting, for a total of 3 hours of training. My goal this summer is to build up to 12 hours per week, so I'm off to a good start. It's challenging balancing motivation with overtraining, but I think I've learned a lot this year.
Upcoming workouts:
Today - 1500 yd swim
Tomorrow - 4 mi easy run, core workout
Thursday - 2 hour bike ride, 1 hour swim
Friday - 8 mile run
Sunday - 30:00 trainer/4 mile run brick
This week, I am hoping for a total of 10.5 hours of training. Whew.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Hempstead Harbor Tri 6/16/13 - Race Report
Hempstead Harbor Sprint Triathlon
750 m swim, 11.5 mi bike, 3 mi run
Training:
I have trained more over the winter this year than ever in my life, which is to say that I trained over the winter. It wasn't quite as much as I had hoped, due to getting my feet wet at my new-this-year 60-hour/week job, but it was something. Running had been my priority, with a half marathon PR of 2:33:46 in April and building up (safely) to 17 miles per week this spring. My 2012 average was 7 miles per week. My 2013 average is 11 miles per week so far, and steadily increasing.
For biking and swimming, my goal this winter was to do anything, but consistently, which is new for me. I had hoped for 2 days per week on the trainer, 30-45 min, which I had done pretty well through the winter. As the weather got nicer, though, I was not completely successful at moving one of those rides outside with any consistency. I did, however, become comfortable riding alone on the quiet suburban roads in my town (which eliminated several excuses to avoid riding) and even got in one 20-miler last month.
I got a YMCA membership and swam in crowded lanes (4+ people at varying speeds, some 10-year old kids practicing butterfly) all winter. It wasn't the once per week I had hoped, but I averaged about twice per month plus one open water swim, which is a huge improvement on last year's nothing (I think I had gone swimming twice before this race last year).
The two weeks prior to the race were tough; I had forced time off due to work business, stress, and general frustration with training. Two weeks before the race I had done an awful 5K, and came home so upset that I decided I needed a few days off from training. Most of that week was a school trip to Boston, which was a ton of fun and a ton of walking, but no formal training (although I was able to get away with a "Who wants to race the teacher around the track?"). Immediately after I returned from a nearly sleepless few days in Boston, I got engaged, and then came down with a cold. I took another very easy week to rest up for the race.
Pre-race:
My A goal was 1:40:00. This was a 10-minute PR over last year's performance, which I didn't think would be possible after the lost two weeks and the poor performance at the 5K. My B goal was 1:50:00 (just beat last year's time), and my C goal was to not die.
Transition was open from 5:45-7:10, so I decided I would wake up at my normal work time (5:45) and get there when I get there (about 5-10 min away). Of course, I beat my alarm clock by quite a bit (which was fortunate, I realized when my alarm went off at 5:45 PM that day) and managed to leave the house easily around 6. I had eaten half a kaiser roll and drank a tall glass off water. There was some race-related traffic (I found out later that they didn't open the parking lot until 6:10) and I was parked and walking to transition by 6:20.
I got my timing chip and went into transition. Transition was not numbered, so I could put my bike anywhere. I've never seen that, but I guess it rewards early arrivals, so I put my bike right next to the swim entrance, to minimize the amount of wet-barefoot-on-asphalt time. While setting up, I met a very nice woman who suggested that I use vegetable oil instead of Body Glide to lubricate my wrists and ankles. Lubrication helps take the wetsuit off, and while I haven't had huge problems, it's not the easiest part of the triathlon. I took her advice and rubbed some vegetable oil on my wrists, ankles, and shoulders, and slowly pulled on the wetsuit.
I always thought triathlon would be a little bit more interesting if the timer started before the athletes started putting on their wetsuit.
I walked over to the race start with about 15 minutes before the start. I jumped into the water to acclimate. I haven't quite mastered the warm-up, but I swam about 25 yards slowly to adjust to the open water. It's scary swimming in murky water without a clear route marked with a black line along the bottom. Surprisingly, I felt awesome, with none of the usual tight throat, leaky goggles, and panicked lungs I usually get in the open water. I guess the open water swim last month was really helpful in that regard.
On my way to the start line, I heard my name called - my Daddy came out early on Fathers' Day to watch! That gave me the boost I needed, and I confidently strode over to the swim start.
The Race:
Every part of the race went smoothly. The end.
Nah, just kidding. I like writing more than that.
The gun went off and I waited a second or two, and then jumped in. I swam pretty easily, but steadily. I went as fast as I could without getting winded, and had to stop to catch my breath about two or three times. The new sighting technique I had learned last month worked well, and for the first time in my life as a triathlete, I managed to stay with the group the entire time. I never thought I'd be so proud to be kicked in the face the entire time. I looked at my watch a few times and noticed that I was ahead of schedule, and tried to slow down. I got out of the water feeling good, right in the middle of my wave, and made it to transition at 16:50. Way ahead of schedule! (I was hoping for 20:00.)
Last year's T1 took 4 minutes, so I hoped to do it in 3. I worked quickly, while making sure to catch my breath. The vegetable oil worked like a charm. My wetsuit came off, socks came on, bike shoes, helmet, and sunglasses, and I was running the bike out of transition. 2:56.
My goal for the bike was 13.8 mi/h. By about 3 miles in, I had hit that average, so I felt good. I was riding strategically: pushing it on the flats and downhills, and changing gears early for the uphills. I tried to keep my cadence high and backed off if I felt my quads burning. I soon learned that the last mile of each of the two loops was downhill, so I could push it at the start and pick up time later. I finished in 47:05, for an average of 14.7 mi/h. Possibly the best bike ride of my life.
T2 was thrilling, but I cut off 30 seconds from last year. Elastic laces were definitely a good decision. 1:27.
I left T2 to start my 3 mile run, with 34 minutes before my goal time. If you've been following my progress, you know that I've been endlessly chasing the sub-30 5K, but have several finishes under 31 minutes. At my hardest effort, I could easily crush 34 minutes for a 3-miler, but I was already feeling tired. I kept at a steady clip, slowing down on the uphills, but never stopping to walk. Around the .5-mile point, I started chatting up a fellow racer. We kept together for a little while, and I noticed that I passed the 1-mile mark at 9:20, even faster than my 5K pace. I tried to slow down, but actually kept up the same pace for 3 miles. Including being able to chat. I was breathing heavily, and I finished with a burst, but I completed the run in 27:59. (This means that if the race had been .1 mile longer, I would have gotten my sub-30. I can run that fast, I apparently just need a warm up of a .5 mile swim and 11.5 mile bike ride.)
Total time: 1:35:56
Post-race:
Annual Fathers' Day brunch at the diner: mac and cheese bites, vanilla egg cream, fried egg on an English muffin, and a side of bacon. Probably twice as many calories as I burned in the race, but enjoyable nonetheless.
I took a nap.
This is the first goal I've met in a while, and I think I could have even done better than this. I was not totally wrecked at the end, like usual. I think I could have cranked out a couple more minutes on the bike. Still, it feels nice to achieve a goal, and it is evidence that the hard work I've been putting in is starting to pay off.
750 m swim, 11.5 mi bike, 3 mi run
Training:
I have trained more over the winter this year than ever in my life, which is to say that I trained over the winter. It wasn't quite as much as I had hoped, due to getting my feet wet at my new-this-year 60-hour/week job, but it was something. Running had been my priority, with a half marathon PR of 2:33:46 in April and building up (safely) to 17 miles per week this spring. My 2012 average was 7 miles per week. My 2013 average is 11 miles per week so far, and steadily increasing.
For biking and swimming, my goal this winter was to do anything, but consistently, which is new for me. I had hoped for 2 days per week on the trainer, 30-45 min, which I had done pretty well through the winter. As the weather got nicer, though, I was not completely successful at moving one of those rides outside with any consistency. I did, however, become comfortable riding alone on the quiet suburban roads in my town (which eliminated several excuses to avoid riding) and even got in one 20-miler last month.
I got a YMCA membership and swam in crowded lanes (4+ people at varying speeds, some 10-year old kids practicing butterfly) all winter. It wasn't the once per week I had hoped, but I averaged about twice per month plus one open water swim, which is a huge improvement on last year's nothing (I think I had gone swimming twice before this race last year).
The two weeks prior to the race were tough; I had forced time off due to work business, stress, and general frustration with training. Two weeks before the race I had done an awful 5K, and came home so upset that I decided I needed a few days off from training. Most of that week was a school trip to Boston, which was a ton of fun and a ton of walking, but no formal training (although I was able to get away with a "Who wants to race the teacher around the track?"). Immediately after I returned from a nearly sleepless few days in Boston, I got engaged, and then came down with a cold. I took another very easy week to rest up for the race.
Pre-race:
My A goal was 1:40:00. This was a 10-minute PR over last year's performance, which I didn't think would be possible after the lost two weeks and the poor performance at the 5K. My B goal was 1:50:00 (just beat last year's time), and my C goal was to not die.
Transition was open from 5:45-7:10, so I decided I would wake up at my normal work time (5:45) and get there when I get there (about 5-10 min away). Of course, I beat my alarm clock by quite a bit (which was fortunate, I realized when my alarm went off at 5:45 PM that day) and managed to leave the house easily around 6. I had eaten half a kaiser roll and drank a tall glass off water. There was some race-related traffic (I found out later that they didn't open the parking lot until 6:10) and I was parked and walking to transition by 6:20.
I got my timing chip and went into transition. Transition was not numbered, so I could put my bike anywhere. I've never seen that, but I guess it rewards early arrivals, so I put my bike right next to the swim entrance, to minimize the amount of wet-barefoot-on-asphalt time. While setting up, I met a very nice woman who suggested that I use vegetable oil instead of Body Glide to lubricate my wrists and ankles. Lubrication helps take the wetsuit off, and while I haven't had huge problems, it's not the easiest part of the triathlon. I took her advice and rubbed some vegetable oil on my wrists, ankles, and shoulders, and slowly pulled on the wetsuit.
I always thought triathlon would be a little bit more interesting if the timer started before the athletes started putting on their wetsuit.
I walked over to the race start with about 15 minutes before the start. I jumped into the water to acclimate. I haven't quite mastered the warm-up, but I swam about 25 yards slowly to adjust to the open water. It's scary swimming in murky water without a clear route marked with a black line along the bottom. Surprisingly, I felt awesome, with none of the usual tight throat, leaky goggles, and panicked lungs I usually get in the open water. I guess the open water swim last month was really helpful in that regard.
On my way to the start line, I heard my name called - my Daddy came out early on Fathers' Day to watch! That gave me the boost I needed, and I confidently strode over to the swim start.
The Race:
Every part of the race went smoothly. The end.
Nah, just kidding. I like writing more than that.
The gun went off and I waited a second or two, and then jumped in. I swam pretty easily, but steadily. I went as fast as I could without getting winded, and had to stop to catch my breath about two or three times. The new sighting technique I had learned last month worked well, and for the first time in my life as a triathlete, I managed to stay with the group the entire time. I never thought I'd be so proud to be kicked in the face the entire time. I looked at my watch a few times and noticed that I was ahead of schedule, and tried to slow down. I got out of the water feeling good, right in the middle of my wave, and made it to transition at 16:50. Way ahead of schedule! (I was hoping for 20:00.)
Last year's T1 took 4 minutes, so I hoped to do it in 3. I worked quickly, while making sure to catch my breath. The vegetable oil worked like a charm. My wetsuit came off, socks came on, bike shoes, helmet, and sunglasses, and I was running the bike out of transition. 2:56.
My goal for the bike was 13.8 mi/h. By about 3 miles in, I had hit that average, so I felt good. I was riding strategically: pushing it on the flats and downhills, and changing gears early for the uphills. I tried to keep my cadence high and backed off if I felt my quads burning. I soon learned that the last mile of each of the two loops was downhill, so I could push it at the start and pick up time later. I finished in 47:05, for an average of 14.7 mi/h. Possibly the best bike ride of my life.
T2 was thrilling, but I cut off 30 seconds from last year. Elastic laces were definitely a good decision. 1:27.
I left T2 to start my 3 mile run, with 34 minutes before my goal time. If you've been following my progress, you know that I've been endlessly chasing the sub-30 5K, but have several finishes under 31 minutes. At my hardest effort, I could easily crush 34 minutes for a 3-miler, but I was already feeling tired. I kept at a steady clip, slowing down on the uphills, but never stopping to walk. Around the .5-mile point, I started chatting up a fellow racer. We kept together for a little while, and I noticed that I passed the 1-mile mark at 9:20, even faster than my 5K pace. I tried to slow down, but actually kept up the same pace for 3 miles. Including being able to chat. I was breathing heavily, and I finished with a burst, but I completed the run in 27:59. (This means that if the race had been .1 mile longer, I would have gotten my sub-30. I can run that fast, I apparently just need a warm up of a .5 mile swim and 11.5 mile bike ride.)
Total time: 1:35:56
Post-race:
Annual Fathers' Day brunch at the diner: mac and cheese bites, vanilla egg cream, fried egg on an English muffin, and a side of bacon. Probably twice as many calories as I burned in the race, but enjoyable nonetheless.
I took a nap.
This is the first goal I've met in a while, and I think I could have even done better than this. I was not totally wrecked at the end, like usual. I think I could have cranked out a couple more minutes on the bike. Still, it feels nice to achieve a goal, and it is evidence that the hard work I've been putting in is starting to pay off.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Life Saved!
This weekend was very exciting for several reasons.
First, I had a pretty interesting EMS call. We were dispatched for a middle-aged woman, unresponsive, but breathing. We arrived and found a 300-lb, 37-year old woman lying unconscious on the ground, breathing quickly and foaming around the mouth. We (4 EMTs + 2 cops) got her in the ambulance, and she started screaming. We couldn't suction the excess liquid from her mouth because her jaw was clamped down.
Drugs? Stroke? No idea.
Two paramedics joined us and gave her 2 doses of Ativan to get her to stop screaming and flailing around. We learned from her sister, who'd been riding in the front of the truck, that she had been complaining of headaches and an ulcer, and that she'd been trying to exercise a lot more lately.
MI? Arrhythmia?
After she stopped screaming and kicking, we saw her heart rate was very fast. After a better exam, we noticed that her belly was swollen and distended, and her blood pressure was 90/60. Very low. It turned out that she was bleeding from a ruptured ulcer.
Altered mental status is a very late sign of hypovolemic shock, or shock from blood loss. It is very unlikely to find someone who has lost so much blood that they are altered, tachycardic (high heart rate), and hypotensive (low blood pressure) but that isn't dead yet. She probably got some surgery that night. I think we saved her life. I think an extra 10 or 30 or 60 minutes and she wouldn't have survived.
Friday turned into Saturday and I drove to Long Island to go wedding dress shopping. I wasn't ready to buy a dress. I just wanted to get a baseline so I could do some online shopping, and maybe find a dress in a few months. And everyone knows what happens when you walk into a store not ready to buy anything. After many dresses and many laughs (I do NOT look good in many things), we found the one. I didn't cry, but I was relieved. And I felt a little like a fairy princess.
On Sunday, I had the best race of my life. Details to follow soon.
First, I had a pretty interesting EMS call. We were dispatched for a middle-aged woman, unresponsive, but breathing. We arrived and found a 300-lb, 37-year old woman lying unconscious on the ground, breathing quickly and foaming around the mouth. We (4 EMTs + 2 cops) got her in the ambulance, and she started screaming. We couldn't suction the excess liquid from her mouth because her jaw was clamped down.
Drugs? Stroke? No idea.
Two paramedics joined us and gave her 2 doses of Ativan to get her to stop screaming and flailing around. We learned from her sister, who'd been riding in the front of the truck, that she had been complaining of headaches and an ulcer, and that she'd been trying to exercise a lot more lately.
MI? Arrhythmia?
After she stopped screaming and kicking, we saw her heart rate was very fast. After a better exam, we noticed that her belly was swollen and distended, and her blood pressure was 90/60. Very low. It turned out that she was bleeding from a ruptured ulcer.
Altered mental status is a very late sign of hypovolemic shock, or shock from blood loss. It is very unlikely to find someone who has lost so much blood that they are altered, tachycardic (high heart rate), and hypotensive (low blood pressure) but that isn't dead yet. She probably got some surgery that night. I think we saved her life. I think an extra 10 or 30 or 60 minutes and she wouldn't have survived.
Friday turned into Saturday and I drove to Long Island to go wedding dress shopping. I wasn't ready to buy a dress. I just wanted to get a baseline so I could do some online shopping, and maybe find a dress in a few months. And everyone knows what happens when you walk into a store not ready to buy anything. After many dresses and many laughs (I do NOT look good in many things), we found the one. I didn't cry, but I was relieved. And I felt a little like a fairy princess.
On Sunday, I had the best race of my life. Details to follow soon.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Best Day
...so I'm driving home from the car service place, on the phone with the insurance company, and I park at the apartment. I'm sitting on the phone, and I see something-someone on the balcony. It's Tim, and his friend. I know something is up. I sort-of-but-not-quite hang up on the insurance company, and get out of the car.
Tim is standing on the balcony holding my giant Post-it pad. On the pad, it says, "Hi, Robin!" He continues to flip though the following messages:
<Sorry I stole your easel>
<But I wanted to say>
<I love you.>
<I'm glad I worked those EMS shifts.>
<I have some carbon that would be better on your finger."
<Will you...>
I have tears streaming down my face at this point. Like, pouring. I run up the stairs and open the apartment door, to find Tim on one knee holding the ring. I'm crying and smiling and nodding. Tim's friend is taking pictures, and hands us each a glass of champagne. There is a plate of chocolate. Tim's friend leaves and we call everyone we know.
I'm pretty much crying just sitting here writing this (in school, in the computer lab, in a room full of students making FPT PowerPoints).
That night (Saturday), I suggested dinner at our favorite (kinda expensive) restaurant in New Brunswick, and it turns out Tim already made reservations. We go out for a fantastic dinner with plenty of drinks, but when the waitress brings our dessert, she announces that our dinner is compliments of Tim's aunt and uncle who love us very much. I cried again (okay, I hadn't slept well in several days). It was such a treat.
And thus was one of the best days of my entire life, which I couldn't have done without the help of Toyota's flaws.
And then today, I finished my lesson plans. For the year. I am done with written work. I also closed my grade book (I may have thrown out an assignment or two). 6 days of school, and it's summer vacation!
Tim is standing on the balcony holding my giant Post-it pad. On the pad, it says, "Hi, Robin!" He continues to flip though the following messages:
<Sorry I stole your easel>
<But I wanted to say>
<I love you.>
<I'm glad I worked those EMS shifts.>
<I have some carbon that would be better on your finger."
<Will you...>
I have tears streaming down my face at this point. Like, pouring. I run up the stairs and open the apartment door, to find Tim on one knee holding the ring. I'm crying and smiling and nodding. Tim's friend is taking pictures, and hands us each a glass of champagne. There is a plate of chocolate. Tim's friend leaves and we call everyone we know.
I'm pretty much crying just sitting here writing this (in school, in the computer lab, in a room full of students making FPT PowerPoints).
That night (Saturday), I suggested dinner at our favorite (kinda expensive) restaurant in New Brunswick, and it turns out Tim already made reservations. We go out for a fantastic dinner with plenty of drinks, but when the waitress brings our dessert, she announces that our dinner is compliments of Tim's aunt and uncle who love us very much. I cried again (okay, I hadn't slept well in several days). It was such a treat.
And thus was one of the best days of my entire life, which I couldn't have done without the help of Toyota's flaws.
And then today, I finished my lesson plans. For the year. I am done with written work. I also closed my grade book (I may have thrown out an assignment or two). 6 days of school, and it's summer vacation!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Engage!
I'm currently listening to the history class discussing bullying and oppression in America. ("We need to improve America because it is the promised land." "It is not the 'promised land' for all people, because people are still oppressed..." "We see inequalities in test scores between different races...")
The trip to Boston left me sleepy. Not only were our days jam-packed with awesome activities, but we were up pretty late. On the two nights we were there, we got back to the hotel at around 10:30 PM. Kids then had about an hour to shower and dress for bed, while teachers came around with their cell phones, with a snack, to take back the cell phones, to set their alarm clocks for them, and finally to turn off the lights and tape the doors. We then sat outside their rooms for a while until it quieted down considerably. We got to bed by midnight, and then were up gathering children as early as 6:45. I got home sleepy.
Actually, I got in the car sleepy. Getting home took another 6.5 hours of driving through constant downpour, including a 15 mile stretch of the Jersey Turnpike that took 2 hours to pass. I couldn't quite run that fast, but it's close enough. It was tough.
I got home Friday night hoping for a quiet evening at EMS. Nope. Nothing thrilling, but we had calls at 9PM, 11PM, and 2AM. Just evenly spaced out enough to keep me awake all night. Yuck. On the bright side, I learned how the charting program works, so now I'm just as responsible for paperwork as everyone else.
I grumpily drove home Saturday morning and got right back in bed for a few hours. I only got up at 10:30 so I could get in a run before it got too hot. Bad choice. It was too hot already and I was too tired. It was a slow, painful 7 miles.
I came home in time to take my car in for service. The car had been leaking--that is, water was puddling up in the back seat for no good reason. I wanted to get it checked out. I waited for an hour while they checked out my car. I was then told that they didn't know what was wrong, but it would definitely require expensive repairs of water damage, that I should probably call the insurance company.
Great. Wonderful. I crankily drove home, while talking on the phone with the insurance company. Fortunately, my crankiness was soon to be cured in a big way...[to be continued]
The trip to Boston left me sleepy. Not only were our days jam-packed with awesome activities, but we were up pretty late. On the two nights we were there, we got back to the hotel at around 10:30 PM. Kids then had about an hour to shower and dress for bed, while teachers came around with their cell phones, with a snack, to take back the cell phones, to set their alarm clocks for them, and finally to turn off the lights and tape the doors. We then sat outside their rooms for a while until it quieted down considerably. We got to bed by midnight, and then were up gathering children as early as 6:45. I got home sleepy.
Actually, I got in the car sleepy. Getting home took another 6.5 hours of driving through constant downpour, including a 15 mile stretch of the Jersey Turnpike that took 2 hours to pass. I couldn't quite run that fast, but it's close enough. It was tough.
I got home Friday night hoping for a quiet evening at EMS. Nope. Nothing thrilling, but we had calls at 9PM, 11PM, and 2AM. Just evenly spaced out enough to keep me awake all night. Yuck. On the bright side, I learned how the charting program works, so now I'm just as responsible for paperwork as everyone else.
I grumpily drove home Saturday morning and got right back in bed for a few hours. I only got up at 10:30 so I could get in a run before it got too hot. Bad choice. It was too hot already and I was too tired. It was a slow, painful 7 miles.
I came home in time to take my car in for service. The car had been leaking--that is, water was puddling up in the back seat for no good reason. I wanted to get it checked out. I waited for an hour while they checked out my car. I was then told that they didn't know what was wrong, but it would definitely require expensive repairs of water damage, that I should probably call the insurance company.
Great. Wonderful. I crankily drove home, while talking on the phone with the insurance company. Fortunately, my crankiness was soon to be cured in a big way...[to be continued]
Sunday, June 9, 2013
"Tired" Doesn't Begin to Describe...
I have a LOT of exciting stories to fill you in on, but I'm going to do it chronologically--you're going to have to wait for the good stuff.
Wednesday, I got to school early so we could load kids on buses. I had volunteered to drive up alone, in case we needed to send any kids home early from the trip. I had an easy, uneventful ride up to Boston in about 4 hours, and met the group at the BU dining hall.
To a 7th grader who thinks McDonald's is the greatest restaurant ever, they loved the dining hall. The kids were intrigued by the all-you-can-eat aspect, and were all convinced that they were going to gain a lot of weight in college (who doesn't?). They also learned that pizza is not the same everywhere. (Tough lesson, but everyone has to learn eventually.
On the tour of BU, the kids were asking awesome questions: How much will this cost? What do I need to do to get a scholarship? I was impressed with their enthusiasm. It didn't hurt that the BU gym has a climbing wall, Olympic-sized swimming pool, and smoothie bar. My favorite part of the tour, though, was when the tour guide told said that if you step on the university seal, you won't graduate. One student asked, "Is that true?" Another shouted, "We should test it out! Let's get 100 students..." I have succeeded as a science teacher.
I also got a great interval workout during the tour. It went something like this:
"Anyone who gets caught walking behind Ms. Z loses $5!" [Jog a few feet, watch kids scurry.]
Get caught behind, jog a bit more.
Get to BU track, race kids across the soccer field. [1x100 m sprint]
"Who wants to race Ms. Z around the track?" [1x400 m sprint]
Recover by walking to the buses.
It helped me feel like I got some good exercise in, without being too taxing.
I also played a few rounds of laser tag that evening, and was sore from it for days! A few weeks ago, when the students were being pumped up for the Boston trip, the English teacher challenged them to beat me in laser tag. This started rumors that I was great at laser tag. I'm not. Some kids spent the last couple of weeks planning their strategy for teaming up on me. To make a long story short, out of sheer determination, I destroyed them all at laser tag. 1st place. It felt awesome (except for the sore abs, quads, and hamstrings).
Thursday, we went on a Freedom Trail tour (the kids loved it, I was underwhelmed) and I had some pretty disappointing clam chowder at Faneuil Hall. I travel all the way to Boston, and I didn't even find good clam chowder!
That afternoon we went to the science museum. I had so much fun seeing the kids learning and being engaged in a low-stress environment. It was almost, but not quite, as meaningful as seeing In the Heights that evening. In the Heights is a musical about a block in Washington Heights that works together to achieve their own versions of personal success with the support of each other. One of the most meaningful (to me, and I think to the kids) storylines was about a girl who had to drop out of Stanford because she lost her scholarship, because her grades dropped, because she had to work two jobs to afford textbooks. In the end, she turns down gift money from the community but accepts money her parents get by selling their car service business. The end moral is that you can only be successful with the support of your family and community.
This message is one that I can relate to (even though I grew up with every possible privilege) and one that I enjoyed sharing with the students. As a teacher, I spend every non-school moment with a little voice in the back of my head constantly telling me, "The kids would love this" "This is so appropriate for school" and "How can I share this with my kids?" This week, I didn't have to think that. I was able to share a science museum, a museum, some colleges, and more with my kids. And I loved every minute of it.
There are more stories to tell, as I'm sure you know. More to follow.
Wednesday, I got to school early so we could load kids on buses. I had volunteered to drive up alone, in case we needed to send any kids home early from the trip. I had an easy, uneventful ride up to Boston in about 4 hours, and met the group at the BU dining hall.
To a 7th grader who thinks McDonald's is the greatest restaurant ever, they loved the dining hall. The kids were intrigued by the all-you-can-eat aspect, and were all convinced that they were going to gain a lot of weight in college (who doesn't?). They also learned that pizza is not the same everywhere. (Tough lesson, but everyone has to learn eventually.
On the tour of BU, the kids were asking awesome questions: How much will this cost? What do I need to do to get a scholarship? I was impressed with their enthusiasm. It didn't hurt that the BU gym has a climbing wall, Olympic-sized swimming pool, and smoothie bar. My favorite part of the tour, though, was when the tour guide told said that if you step on the university seal, you won't graduate. One student asked, "Is that true?" Another shouted, "We should test it out! Let's get 100 students..." I have succeeded as a science teacher.
I also got a great interval workout during the tour. It went something like this:
"Anyone who gets caught walking behind Ms. Z loses $5!" [Jog a few feet, watch kids scurry.]
Get caught behind, jog a bit more.
Get to BU track, race kids across the soccer field. [1x100 m sprint]
"Who wants to race Ms. Z around the track?" [1x400 m sprint]
Recover by walking to the buses.
It helped me feel like I got some good exercise in, without being too taxing.
I also played a few rounds of laser tag that evening, and was sore from it for days! A few weeks ago, when the students were being pumped up for the Boston trip, the English teacher challenged them to beat me in laser tag. This started rumors that I was great at laser tag. I'm not. Some kids spent the last couple of weeks planning their strategy for teaming up on me. To make a long story short, out of sheer determination, I destroyed them all at laser tag. 1st place. It felt awesome (except for the sore abs, quads, and hamstrings).
Thursday, we went on a Freedom Trail tour (the kids loved it, I was underwhelmed) and I had some pretty disappointing clam chowder at Faneuil Hall. I travel all the way to Boston, and I didn't even find good clam chowder!
That afternoon we went to the science museum. I had so much fun seeing the kids learning and being engaged in a low-stress environment. It was almost, but not quite, as meaningful as seeing In the Heights that evening. In the Heights is a musical about a block in Washington Heights that works together to achieve their own versions of personal success with the support of each other. One of the most meaningful (to me, and I think to the kids) storylines was about a girl who had to drop out of Stanford because she lost her scholarship, because her grades dropped, because she had to work two jobs to afford textbooks. In the end, she turns down gift money from the community but accepts money her parents get by selling their car service business. The end moral is that you can only be successful with the support of your family and community.
This message is one that I can relate to (even though I grew up with every possible privilege) and one that I enjoyed sharing with the students. As a teacher, I spend every non-school moment with a little voice in the back of my head constantly telling me, "The kids would love this" "This is so appropriate for school" and "How can I share this with my kids?" This week, I didn't have to think that. I was able to share a science museum, a museum, some colleges, and more with my kids. And I loved every minute of it.
There are more stories to tell, as I'm sure you know. More to follow.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Boston!
This week is going to be crazy, so I may not be able to update. There is regular class tomorrow, and then we head up to Boston! I'll be chaperoning from 7AM Wednesday to 4:30PM Friday, with nary a moment to relax.
Today and tomorrow's classes are about evolution and natural selection, which the kids love. Today, I had to show them a video that explained why evolution is controversial. They don't understand why it is controversial. I am looking forward to seeing this new generation grow up.
Tomorrow, we are doing the natural selection lab that I did last year, and I'm really excited to see what the kids come up with in their analysis.
Due to the busy schedule for work, and a remarkable disappointing 5K race on Saturday (30:45. Blech.), I'm taking a few days off from training.
I owe you a bunch of stories. Hopefully, I'll have some moments this week to blog from my phone in Boston, but if not, I'll catch up soon. I have stories about fake lessons, puberty, and more.
Today and tomorrow's classes are about evolution and natural selection, which the kids love. Today, I had to show them a video that explained why evolution is controversial. They don't understand why it is controversial. I am looking forward to seeing this new generation grow up.
Tomorrow, we are doing the natural selection lab that I did last year, and I'm really excited to see what the kids come up with in their analysis.
Due to the busy schedule for work, and a remarkable disappointing 5K race on Saturday (30:45. Blech.), I'm taking a few days off from training.
I owe you a bunch of stories. Hopefully, I'll have some moments this week to blog from my phone in Boston, but if not, I'll catch up soon. I have stories about fake lessons, puberty, and more.
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