My first night-running accident

Sometimes, I don't have a choice but to run at night.  Sometimes that "night" running is super early in the morning before the sun rises, and sometimes (like tonight) it's after sunset.  There are some great things about running in the dark (quiet, not so hot, you feel like you're in your own world, etc.), but then there are some things that suck.

Tonight, I needed to do some interval training.  Since I'm done teaching at the community college for the semester, I wasn't about to drive 25 minutes to campus and run on that track.  Instead, I thought I'd run on one of the local high schools' tracks.  My first choice was occupied tonight by graduation ceremonies.  Luckily, the track that's actually closer to us was open and available.  So, I headed over there.

It's a nice track, and I'm sure it's wonderful to spend time on, but I just had the worst luck tonight.  First, I couldn't find a way through the fence onto the track without walking completely around the stadium to the main entrance.  Then I found the back entrance - it was slightly hidden, and I didn't walk on that side of the track.  Damn.  Second, the lights that I thought were lighting up the track were, in fact, actually lighting up the tennis courts on the north end of the track.  That meant that after the sun went down, the only area lit up and really visible was from 25m to 75m (0m = starting line).  Beyond that, there were a few random obstacles in the lanes (i.e. hurdles, benches, a desk?!), there was hardly anyone else out there (scary!), and I left my head lamp in the car because I thought it was all lit up.  Too lazy to walk back to the car.  Irony, eh?

I did my 1-mile warm-up lap, then did two 400 sprint/400 jog combinations.  At that point, I decided to walk a bit to catch my breath, drink some water, and move my water bottle somewhere a bit closer to my stopping mark.  So, I started walking across the infield area where it was paved with track.  It was flat, it was black like the track, and it looked fine.  All of a sudden, my right leg plunges into this unseen hole filled with water.  I was soaked up to my knee and it twisted my leg.  Turns out I had stepped right into the point at which the pole vaulters would stick their pole before going up to go over the bar.  However, with it being so dark and flooded, it looked just like the surrounding area and so I mistakenly took it for more flat track area.  Well $hit.  I hate interval training as it is, and now with this, I just said F* it, I'm going home.

At least it's not a terrible horrible injury, and I'll probably be able to run in the morning with the girls no problem.  However, it just irritates the crap out of me.  Next time:  head lamp, water bottle elsewhere, and hopefully no more obstacles to dodge!

River running

Dearest E,

While strapped into the jogging stroller, do not attempt to turn around and get out of your seat while Mama is jogging.  You'll get entangled in the straps, be in a weird uncomfortable position, and get tickled by your sister.  Also, your crying at this doesn't make Mama feel sorry for you - in fact, I actually get a little irritated because you did it to yourself.  Mama loves you, and you're usually so good in the stroller, so the fit you pitched there and when we got home were totally unnecessary. 

Love, Mama

PS - In the future, sit like a good girl in the stroller and sing songs like you usually do.  <3

Sweet blissful child-free freedom

My in-laws took the girls overnight yesterday, so the husband and I were free to do as we pleased.  After we dropped them off in the afternoon, we took in dinner at Applebee's.  After we arrived, the entire fire station nearby showed up at the building next door to put out a fire.  Fire hoses, full gear, lots of firetrucks and firefighters, police - the whole shebang!  It was very entertaining for dinner.

Then, we saw Star Trek: Into Darkness in theaters.  It was a pretty typical Star Trek movie for me.  I liked the previews beforehand, and then I liked the impossible science that they inserted into the movie.  Ha!

The husband played video games last night and this morning, and I got to sleep fitfully all night and actually slept in until 7:30am.  Can't beat that!  We picked up the girls, had lunch with the in-laws, and then came back here for the rest of the day.  The girls and I made a strawberry pie, the hubby brought home Chipotle for everyone (except himself - still touchy on the tummy), and had a relaxing evening.  YAY for kids staying with the grandparents!

Midjudging running routes...oops

Last weekend, I intended to go on an 8-mile run on Mother's Day.  Due to a miscalculation on my part, it ended up being 10 miles.  Not a big deal, but...oops.  2 extra miles, 20 extra minutes, and a little bit of the when-is-this-going-to-end mentality near the end. 

Today, I meant to run a 7-mile route.  I'd done this route before (I thought), and I was just going to run it in reverse and side step one portion on the main road for the same thing on a side street.  I ended up going 7.7 miles.  Oops again. 

I think I need to actually map things out on paper (computer) instead of just estimating in my head.  Good thing I'm not in charge of laying out a running course for anyone else!

May 17th stuff

May 17th seems to always have something going on with it in our family. 

First, my in-laws were married on May 17, 1978, so they are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary today.

Then, we moved into our lovely house we still live in on May 17, 2007.  I still remember spending the first few nights on the air mattress in our bedroom, and using the girls' rooms as storage (and we never went over there either).  Ha!

Finally, my brother and his wife were married on May 17, 2008.  I was about 6 weeks pregnant with L at the time, so when I tell her she was there, she asks why she couldn't see anything?  ;)

It's a great day today too, because everyone seems to be on the mend and not sick!  So grateful that stomach bug has moved on and it never got me.

Well, crap. TWO sickies.

L is sick.  Still too sick to go to preschool this morning, much to her chagrin, but the big news is that the husband has it now too.  He was up pretty much all night not feeling well and has done nothing but sleep all day.  This is highly unusual for him.  He says he feels ache-y all over, and he hasn't been awake for more than a hour straight today.  The only time he came downstairs was when I said that his PS3 wasn't working, LOL!  L has been low energy but not getting sick since about 3:30am this morning.  E is back to normal though I'm keeping her on a pretty bland diet just in case.  E hates Gatorade, but I'm making her drink it.  L, though, loves it so it's not an issue to get her to drink!  We've been watching cartoons, drawing, napping, and just generally taking it easy today.  FIL came over around lunch time today so that I could run out to the grocery store for a bit to get some essentials.  Thank goodness for that, I needed the break.  I was afraid I might be coming down with something too while I was out, but it turns out I was just hungry.  I guess taking care of everyone made me forget that I needed to eat too!  Here's hoping all is better tomorrow, but we'll see!

Sick L.  :(

...and it's BACK, damn stomach bug

E was up again last night every 30-45 minutes getting sick.  She hasn't gotten sick since 8:30am this morning, so I'm hoping that that's it for her.  L, unfortunately, woke up from her nap not feeling well and has gotten sick since about 6pm.  Every 30 minutes.  See a pattern here?  It's going to be another long night - I'm so tired.

E passed out on the floor of the family room mid morning.  Poor kid.

So flipping tired

E was up every 20-30 minutes getting sick last night until about 1am.  She couldn't even keep down water.  I felt so bad for her.  I wonder where she got the bug?  In any case, I was seriously dragging all day today.  E seems to be okay now, but was extremely low energy all day.  Here's hoping it's over and has moved out of the household.

Low energy E.  I don't like it.  :(

My most memorable orchestra concert ever

Tonight, I took the girls to the high school orchestra concert that my student was playing in.  I couldn't tell you what pieces I heard, who was on stage, where we were in the auditorium, or anything relevant to the concert.  What I can tell you is that this will forever be the most memorable orchestra concert I've ever attended because A) it was E's first concert ever, and B) E vomited spectacularly all over the front of me and her during the first group's final piece.  I got her and L to the restroom, stripped E, cleaned her up, and then attempted to wipe myself down to a semi-presentable position in order to get everyone back to the car, drive home, put E in the shower, and then put both girls to bed.  As soon as we got home, E vomited spectacularly all over the kitchen floor (thank goodness for tile and not carpet!).  I think someone has a stomach bug.  :(  At least it was easy to get in the shower and clean off, but I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to take her to a concert again.

Mother's Day 2013

Mother's Day was wonderful.  I got up at 4:30am and went for a 10-mile run, which was incredibly relaxing (except for the snake at about mile 5 that was in the middle of the path!).  Then, the girls surprised me with gifts, cards, and lots of hugs/kisses (wait, Mommy is all sweaty and smelly, can't I shower first????  no?  ...okay then).  L made me a beautiful candy dish at school, along with a sweet sweet card.  Then, both E and L gave me cards they made/drew, a heart rate monitor, Breaking Dawn part 2 (the husband was groaning on this one, lol!), and a bag of Riesens.  It was wonderful!  Then, we headed out to breakfast at Golden Corral with FIL and MIL to celebrate the day.  I love going there to eat after a long run, and I especially love hanging out with the in-laws.  After that, it was back to the house to watch Monsters, Inc. with the girls (x2?  I can't remember).  They loved it, I loved it, and we had a fun lunch afterwards and then a loooooong nap.  The husband made a fabulous dinner of hot dogs, the girls were really good at bed time, and then I watched the movie right before bed.  Couldn't ask for a better day!

L's Mother's Day gifts to me, made at her preschool.  <3

Dinner - woohoo!

Me and my co-conspirators.

Adjudicating piano competitions

Kissed the family good bye this morning and spent the day at my college judging a piano competition.  It was really fun to get back into the adjudicating side of things, as I hadn't done any judging in a few years.  I was paired with A, another pianist/teacher/judge that I had used last week for ASP evaluations, and it was immensely fun.  We had a great time conversing, listening to fantastic musicians, and working together to come up with our results.  One bonus was that we got to hear chamber music as well as solo piano!  Some students were incredibly gifted musicians - it was easy to award them the top prizes in their divisions.  Others perplexed me - how can one be so technically gifted but have no musicality in your playing?  I know my brother was like this with his piano playing, but he's a robot (LOL)!  Do you award them for playing technically perfect, or do you hope that they come back in the future to play more musically?  It still bothers me to think about.  All in all, I had a fun day and I hope I get to adjudicate more in the near future (not years from now)!

STOP sign

L attempted to draw a STOP sign yesterday and it came out looking like "oplilop," or something like that.  Apparently, Daddy told her last night that her school bus has a big STOP sign on the side.  He said look at that and then draw your stop sign.  This morning, first thing she did was go downstairs, grab a marker, and draw this.

L and her STOP sign.

I was floored!  WOW!  You can tell exactly what it's supposed to say!  I told her how proud I was of her effort and she was all smiles.  My little girls is growing up!

A comparison shot of her STOP sign from last night and then this morning.  Wow!

Finals night at the college!

I gave my final tonight.  DONE!  Woo hoo!  Now to just file grades!!!!!

Another visit to the Children's Museum

Since I had to go into midtown today anyway to drop off all the evaluation materials/ribbons/etc. at the piano store, I took the girls to the Children's Museum beforehand for fun.  They had a wonderful time sliding down the fireman's pole, shopping for groceries, building in the 4 and under room, having a picnic with me outside, and putting scarves into the vacuum tubes to shoot out all over the room.  Then they were enthralled by the amount of grand and baby grand pianos at the piano store.  It was heaven for me too! 

E's got the hose!

E sliding down the pole

This is fun!

L taking care of her patient in the ambulance.

Don't worry, ma'm, everything will be just fine.

Having fun in the art nook.  Do you like L's rainbow rhino?

Duo night at the college

Every semester, I make one of the final projects for my beginning piano class a duet.  Each student is assigned another student, a duet of something fairly familiar (e.g. O Susanna, Yankee Doodle, etc.), and they work both individually and together to create a performable piece.  The students always comment about how much they learn by working with someone else, and how much fun it is.  Some even say it's their favorite part of the semester!  I'm putting in one video here for you to see.  Both of these individuals started with me in January without being able to play the piano at all.  They both have come this far and, while the performance isn't perfect, is amazing when you think about how much they couldn't do before.  I'm so proud of all my students for all that they've done!

Ribbons ribbons everywhere

For most local associations, the ASP chairperson has a committee to help with various things, e.g. evaluation day, awards, etc.  Me?  Not so much.  At least I had two volunteers for my ribbon committee, and they were actually helpful!

Ribbon committee posing with everything sorted out.  E neglected to tell me it was going to be clothing optional.

L wanted to make a funny face.  She achieved it.

After two hours of work (my committee wandered off), ribbons are sorted and DONE!

Big studios got everything in boxes (or Christmas bags!)

Everything ready to go to the piano store.  The big long box underneath has all my supplies for next year.

Compiling information SUCKS

I spent practically ALL DAY compiling information from yesterday's evaluations.  I'm tired, my eyes are going cross-eyed, the data is finally adding up (after having not all day), but that's it, I'm done.  The ribbons can wait until tomorrow!

ASP 2013

Well, it was a long day, but it went far better this year than it did last year.  There were 260+ plus students, 38 teachers, 12 judges, 10 room monitors, and various others that day at the school of music.  The biggest problem I found was at 6:50am when I showed up and the building was still locked.  Luckily, that was easily solved by calling campus police!  My students didn't do so hot, but I guess everyone is allowed to have an off year.  I spent the day getting ready in the morning, checking in every hour or so during the day all over the building, trying to find my student (he didn't show up until 2 minutes before he had to play!), grading theory tests, sorting theory tests, and making sure all the judges' items were in order at the end of the day. 

After two years, I think I'm getting this.  We'll see how next year goes!

#3.  Best answer all day.

People milling about in the hallways.

My work station in the theory grading room.

Making pizza

The girls have a new-found love of making their own lunches, specifically pizza.  We use tortillas, tomato sauce, and whatever we have the in fridge (cheese, meats, veggies, etc.), and then toast it in the toaster oven.  It's been fun, but I just wish E would actually EAT what she makes!

E getting out the cheese for her pizza while L watches.

Cheeeeeese!

Pet product of the day

Oh, product, how strange you are...

No, you're not seeing things, this is seriously a can of some "supplement" for dogs.  WTF.  I found this in the clearance area of the grocery store with E this morning.  First off, WHY do dogs need to have Dog Sure?  It has great reviews on Amazon, but really?  I have this mental picture of a dog kicking back in a La-Z-Boy (La-Z-Dog?), popping open the tab, and having a chug.  Just...no wonder it's on clearance!

Reading to each other

L knows some of her stories so well that she can read them (by heart) to her sister.  That happened this morning, and I made sure to get pictures this time.  :)

"You sit on my lap, I read to you!"  And that's what E did - sat on L's lap.

"Now you sit on floor, I read to you.  See?  See?"  E ignores.

"No, I don't want read to you like this.  You sit on my lap or sit on the floor, not beside me!"  *sigh*