Do or Do not

Personally, I would have taken the Yoda.

"Spectacular always takes so much out of me."

Have you ever seen the movie "The Slipper and the Rose" starring Richard Chamberlain?  He's a handsome prince searching for his princess.  Its my favorite version of Cinderella.  Everafter would have to be second place (sorry Ave and Sam).  You can't find it on video or DVD very often.  And if you can, its fairly pricey.  Awhile back, I was cleaning out my VHS tapes and Graywhale-ing them.  For some reason I thought I had a DVD copy of my movie and let my VHS Slipper and the Rose be sold.  Months later I went to watch it and discovered my gigantic mistake.  I was sick.  However, my sister managed to get me a transferred copy on DVD.  I loaned this copy to my friend, Aleisha.  You've heard me talk about her before... amazing writer, great hair, mother extraordinaire, fantastic shoe collection.  When she returned the DVD, she also sent me an email with her running commentary through the movie.  I have kept that since she sent it because it made me laugh so hard!  I hope she'll forgive me for posting her words, but I re-read it again this morning and still just giggled.  I hope you've seen the show so you can appreciate all she wrote.

Aleisha's Observations/Commentary on the enchanting cinematic treat, "The Slipper and The Rose."

1. The opening credits scene makes me want hot chocolate. (Have you tried that Stephens Candy Cane hot chocolate? YUM!!)
2. The King is HILARIOUS!!!!!
3. Richard Chamberlain has very pretty ringlets.
4. A trapeze act performed in a crypt by men in tights is not weird at all. (Oddly enough, that scene was very familiar to me! It seems I've seen this flick before..??? maybe as a kid???)
5. The cousin/nephew who is desperate for a love interest freaks me out! HA HA! He's hilarious too...kind of like a big, weird chipmunk in a ponytail!
6. Wicked stepmother wears a killer shade of hot pink lipstick!
7. I'm thinking about rockin' a painted-on mole on my face!
8. Cinderella is adorable...whether a brunette or wearing that platinum Marilyn Monroe-esque wig!
9. Cinderella's frilly pink dress that she wears to the ball makes me want a cupcake BAD...with lots of pink icing!
10. OH MY GOSH, I LOVE the Fairy Godmother! LOVE HER! She's delightful!
11. Dang! Those glass slippers are FANTASTIC! A girl can never have too much sparkle/bling, that's for sure!
12. Ahh, the dance at the ball between Cinderella and the prince...very dreamy.
13. Hmm...Princess Incognita. Not very subtle, right? HA HA! Might as well have been "Princess Not-Really-A-Princess-I'm-Just-Pretending"...but that's a bit too long! HA HA!
14. Sending Cinderella away was a little twist in the story that I had NOT seen coming. I will say I wish she had tried on the glass slipper for handsome princey-poo, instead of dancing with it in a field!!

Krank it up!

You've heard me refer to my krank class a couple of times.  Its the reason I get up at 4:30 and head to the gym most mornings.  (I can't say that's every day anymore, but I would say 4-5 times a week).  I was getting bored with the treadmill and weights.  Plus, your body needs some change and cross training if you're going to see a difference.  My neighbor and good friend, Jenna, suggested we try the Krank class.  (for those of you thinking I'm referring to illegal drugs, you're not the first).  I had no idea what to expect.  Neither did Jenna but hey- why not try something new?
The best way I can explain Krank is to tell you its like spinning for your arms.  But it doesn't just work your arms.  Its a full body workout without you realizing it until hours later when its too late.  I won't go into how it came about or was developed.  You can read that HERE. 
Our first class was unreal.  I think I can still burn about 100 calories just thinking about it haha  My arms were like jello.  Later on in the day, Jenna emailed me to see how I was doing because she couldn't lift her arms.  I giggled back my reply by saying I couldn't even reach the mouse!  But when I giggled, that just made it worse because my abs were so sore!  The funny thing was that we thought it was a half hour class.  That's what the schedule said.  But since there's not a class after us, the class usually goes for 45 minutes!  haha I'm telling you, this getting in shape is killing me!  There's a song they play with every workout mix for some reason.  It doesn't matter which instructor it is, they all include Animal by Neon Trees.  Unfortunately, when I hear it on the radio, I become somewhat like Pavlov's dog and feel the need to air krank wherever I am!
Since then Jenna and I have become some what of the regulars at the 5:00 a.m. Krank class.  We know each of the instructors and have our favorites.  We've made a few acquaintances.  I've been able to "krank up" my resistance on the wheel and I might, just might, be able to say I have something that resembles arm muscles. I thought I should tell you about it and make mention of it after my trampolining expose.  I can be coordinated- just not in the air.  Trampolining made me long for Krank class.  That should tell you something.
Anyone want to join me? :)

I tried something new... LOL

Trampolining.  Yes, my friend, Maryanne, and I went trampolining Saturday morning.  See how talented and coordinated this child is on her tramp?  We were not like that at all LOL

Through my friend, Kris, we heard about a class called "airobics."  Aerobics + a trampoline + a company called Airborne = Airobics.  We thought it would be a fun (or funny) experience.  So we did a little investigation.  I emailed to find out about times and cost and what to bring.  I was told bring lots of water, a towel, the first class is free and to get there early because they weren't sure how many people would be coming.  Ok.  We can do all of those things.  Class started at 9:00 a.m. so Mars came to my house at 8:15.  We arrived at Airborne at about 8:35...(crickets chirping) Not a soul in the parking lot.  We giggled about how funny it would be if we were the only ones there... haha!  Never fear- we were.  Unless you want to count the instructor's twin sister and her boyfriend.  So we're nerds.  We show up early.  No problem- we'll show you our mad skills on the tramp and that will make up for being the early nerds.

Jamie (kind, sweet, tiny instructor) was so very patient when after about three minutes of warming up, Mars and I are already asking for a water break.  Now keep in mind, I've been attending the krank class at my gym three times a week at 5:00 a.m.  I would think I've built up SOME sort of cardio strength.  Nope.  Jamie decided to start us off with something simple- like jumping from tramp to tramp around the room. Again, coordination is key and apparently I've got to work on mine. hee hee first jump?  I biff it and roll onto my back where I just want to lay and giggle.  Patient, skinny Jamie bounces over like Tigger and tells me she'll HOLD MY HAND until I get the hang of it.  (I can't make this stuff up, people). 
Onto the workout- crunches and pikes and holding foam balls over your head while doing snowboarding moves and oblique work.  Don't forget the leg ups and more jumping from tramp to tramp as you throw the ball at the side tramps and keep jumping. 
Finally.  FINALLY! I think she's cooling us down as she says "Follow me down the stairs." Ok.  At this point I'm alone because Mars has dismissed herself because she thinks she's going to be sick.  So I follow Jamie and am very proud of myself when my legs actually get me down the stairs...only to have to go back UP the stairs to The Foam Pit.  Yep- jump off the tramp, into the foam pit, crawl across the foam to the other tramp and pull yourself out. "Only three times!" says cute little Jamie that I now want to punch in face (thank you, Lou, for that reference).  I jump and land in four feet of heavy foam.  I honestly thought "My goodness, this is where they will need a crane to get me out.  I will become one of those very large people Jerry Springer has to get out of their homes by removing a side of their house!  I know what was eating Gilbert Grape!"  But no... I pushed on and army crawled my over 35 body out of that pit, dang it. 
The remainder of the class was back on the tramps doing sit ups and hand stands on the side tramps. (please don't ask me to explain how that works).  I can honestly say, that's the hardest thing I've ever done as a workout and I have an entirely new respect for trampolining as an Olympic sport.
Here's the funny thing... we have plans to go back with more friends.  I'm not sure if that's because we enjoyed it so much or we just want to watch them and giggle, too. HA!

Happy Mother's Day!

Well isn't this fun?

I received a letter in the mail last week informing me that I had been nominated for the district's Teacher of the Year. hee hee It made me giggle because I just don't see myself like that.  I've been doing this now for 14 years and I still feel new and wobbly in a lot of ways.  However, a woman on my team thought enough of me to write up a lovely nomination and I've thanked her 100 times for it.  The superintendent took all the nominees (one from each school) to lunch today at Red Lobster (I had the maple chicken, in case you were wondering) and told us that the final announcement would be made at next week's board meeting.  He doesn't even know the final decision.  I haven't said much about it because its embarassing and humbling and has had me looking over my shoulder every minute wondering if this is something the teacher of the year would do! LOL So I've tried to put it out of my mind.  Regardless, I am truly honored for the thoughtfulness of Patti and her kind words.  This afternoon was a delight and just enough for me :)

Just Part of my Uniform

Being a home ec teacher has its perks.  You get to have access to 7 ovens, microwaves, kitchen aids and stoves at once.  You get to have a fridge and freezer in your room.  You get to have a washer and dryer in your room.  You also get to wear really cute aprons on a daily basis!  As you can see, I've got six at my disposal.  These are MY aprons haha The kids know they can't wear them, regardless of how cute they are.  It adds a little bit of fun to my day :)  The kids really like my pink one with the zebra stripe.  My personal favorite is the green and white polka dots.  It just makes jr high cooking so much more fun when you look cute doing it!

There's an entire line and I don't have them all.... but I'm working on it.  If you want one, you can visit my resource at this website.   The company is called Gloveables and rumor has it (from a very reliable source) they are coming out with a new line in the next couple of weeks.  Yay!

Fight for the Joy

I would like for you to meet Sunshine. She's the one on the left, in the stripes. Sunshine is her real name.  And she's every bit like you would expect her to be.  Bubbly, warm, bright, positive, cheerful and full of joy. I met her a couple years ago through Rachael, the one in the middle.  Rach was in a book club and knows how much I love to read.  So she suggested that I start coming with her.  The other women in the group are connected through all sorts of life experiences.  My first meeting of the book club was a little intense.  Sunshine is a well-read, literary wonder.  She was leading the discussion and we had read "The Physiks Book of Deliverance Dane." (such a disappointment, by the way).   She came in wearing the best witch's hat I'd ever seen, these amazing red lips and was gorgeous.  I was immediately intimidated. HA!  But meeting her that night has created one of my favorite friends and relationships I could have asked for.

Several months later, Sun invited some of us over to her home for treats and chatter.  She has this fantastic, quiet backyard and a huge dog that I love to cuddle with named Boo Radley.  It was a warm summer night and we had covered every topic possible, I think.  Since the inital book club, I had been around her a little more and most of the intimidation had gone away, but I was still in awe of her attitude and ability to befriend people.  In the course of the conversation that night, Sun said something that I have repeated over and over in my head on so many occasions.  In relating a story, she said that she learned you have to get up and "Fight for the joy" every day.  And that's what she does.

I know alot of people will tell you to try and find the positive.  Look for the best.  Do what makes you happy.  But I'd never heard anyone acknowledge that some days it literally is a FIGHT to find the joy in the day.  I've told Sun several times since then what a difference those four words make in a day and being the spitfire she is, she'll tell you its the truth and to keep fighting. Love her for that.

So- now that I've probably embarassed her and professed my admiration of her, I just have to say get out there and "Fight for the Joy!"