Things I'm Kicking A** At:
1. Crossfit
By Crossfitters standards I'm certainly not kicking ass yet. I'm still the last finisher. I still lift less than everyone. But...to any sedentary person's standard, I am a BAMFette in that gym. I lift it. I run it. I pull it. I thrust it. I jerk it. I press it. I push it. I do it.

2. Whole 30
Everyone says, "How are you doing this?" I just am. I made the choice to do this and NOTHING will make me mess it up. The people who started The Whole 30 wrote, "THIS. IS. NOT. HARD. Cancer is hard. Eating healthy is not hard. Don't even think about cheating. You don't "have" to ever cheat. You are an adult and you don't fall face first into a pile of cake. You make a choice. This is not hard." I say that in my head al the time...and guess what, it's not hard. And guess what else, I have never felt this good in my life. Here's to eating what my body needs!


Things I am Perfectly Awful At:
1. Dating
I need help. I need an intervention. Come along with me and take a jump into my head...be careful, it's a little crazy in here.

This conversation goes on in my head almost daily:
Ugh, if I read ONE more GD post about one of my friend's perfect lives I am going to break my computer.
Why am I not dating anyone?
Because, jack ass, you're a teacher and you never meet men.
Gotta get online.
I HATE online dating. So lame.
-I get online-
I HAVE to go on a date with SOMEONE, ANYONE who writes me.
I look and hate everyone on there. Why am I on THIS site...one of the questions is: Do you have a car? Ummm, seriously?
What happened to the days that I had tons of guy friends?
Oh yeah, I acted kinda slutty and kept making out with EACH guy in the group. Opps!
Then, they got married.
So...back to the drawing board. I wish I had a personal dating assistant that would screen guys and set up dates for me. Anyone? Anyone?
I wish I could just pass a note to the boys I liked.


So...Ladies and Gentlemen...I repeat, I need help. I SUCK AT DATING.

Fact: I'm not where I want to be, physically.
Fact: I can get there.

Plan: Begin with the 30 Day Paleo Challenge. Straight Paleo, no cheating. 30 days.

What's Paleo?

5. Salmon
I have a TON of Wild Alaskan Caught Salmon in my fridge. I know all of my Paleo addict friends are having orgasms right now. Yes, fresh caught salmon. It comes to me every year. It's caught by my dad. It's delicious. I love it. I need to eat it way more than I do.

4. Allergy Attack
I'm allergic to everything. I get a negative reaction to just about every processed thing I put in my body. Bloating, sinus shit, lethargy. It's high time I start listening to my body.

3. Good Workouts + Bad Food = Bad Body
That's NOT my goal. I bust my ass in the gym. I wanna LOOK like I bust my ass. I'm leaning towards the end of the CF480/180 Challenge...and my body has not change 180 degrees, maybe 30.

2. Fitness Goals
My 2012 Fitness Goals include 3 5Ks and at least 100 miles on my bike...hard to do when I'm swallowing mucus induced by gluten (sorry for the gross visual)

1. Vainity
The smaller I get the prettier I am. Period. Hate all you want but you think the same thing. It may sound vain but who the hell isn't vain?!?! And I wanna look super cute in all the outfits I put on Pintrest...like these cut-offs (sidenote: Sister, do you LOVE? I thought of you when I saw these!)

I'd love to have some people join me in this challenge. Anyone? 30 days. Let's do it!

It's interesting that the closer I feel I am to death, the more inspired I am to write.

As I walked into the gym, half awake, I saw Lauren and her first words were, "Oh, just you wait!" Not hello. Not, "It wasn't bad today." "Just you wait. Go look at that WOD." This is what I saw, only my eyes only saw the walking lunges.

Remembering that last time I did those in a WOD I was sore for a week, I got nervous. Then Lauren pointed at the top and bottom. Are you f***ing kidding me?
No, really, I almost walked out. Just as I starting moving backwards to go back home, Derek saw me. Shit, I was trapped. I had to stay.
Ok, next goal. Just finish the WOD. I haven't not finished in months. I had to finish.

"Heather, I don't think I'm going to finish."
"Oh, you will finish. I won't let you not finish. My goal is just to not walk at all."

Ok, that will be my goal too. I'm ok with being last, I just can't walk at all.



3...2...1...Go!

LPIMH as I look at all the triathletes in front of me: Why the eff do I choose to workout with these people?!? I need to start working out with fatties. Then I might not be in the back of the pack.

Jog and jog and jog and jog. Totally in last place but kept jogging and every 5 steps I hear,
"Come on Katie."
"You can do this."
"Good job Katie."

And Ellie, in front of me, the whole way,
"Come on. Keep going. Don't stop running. You can do this. We're almost done."

She's a dentist and I'm sure she's a damn good dentist but I think she should get a side job as a motivational speaker. Love her!

Kettle bells. Hand-stand push-ups. Push-ups. Pull ups-PS. No more ring rows for this girl! I'm finally on bands!!!

Last 800 meter run. Done.

TWENTY SEVEN MINUTES AND TWENTY FIVE SECONDS. I was doing WORK for 27:25. Hardest WOD I've ever done in my damn life. I almost cried. I almost quit. I didn't.
Did you think about working out today? Get up. Get your shoes on. Get out the door.

All year I have known I was in school, getting a degree in Ed. Leadership. I have known that I would be applying for jobs in the leadership rehlem but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I really realized what that meant.

There I was...teachin' my kids, doin' our thing...I didn't even notice my boss walk in until a bit after he was in there. Kept teachin' my kids and doin' our thing. It was a pretty lame lesson if I do say so myself. Reviewing for a test and not even in a fun way. White boards. Blah.

When he had seen what he needed to, we started chatting for a bit. He gave me some good tips about my teaching (yes, former admin of mine...good advice and I just took it. I didn't ask for research. I didn't argue, I just took it).

Here's what else he said, "Katie, I know your days in this classroom are numbered, so you need to soak up every second of this, because it will never be like this again."


As I walked back into my room, I had tears in my eyes because sometimes I forget how much I love this job, these kids.

I can't believe that I will soon begin my next chapter. I will miss it so much.

I will miss...
* Morning handshakes that tell me exactly how they're feeling when they walk in our room.
* Class chants about the importance of college, said with enthusiasm and belief in their voices.
* Community Meetings where I learn so much about my kids.
* Academically apathetic students turning into kids who are super excited to be in school, in one lesson.
* Friendship Soup Day where all of my kids work together for a common goal.
* Warm Fuzzies on Valentine's Day where you can feel the love as soon as you walk in the door.
* The minute I watch a kid who doesn't think he's smart "get it."
* Meeting with Kindergarten Buddies
* E-mails from former students...do Principals still get those?
* Brain Gym before tests
* Tracking folders when kids graph how much they've improved throughout the year on each test
* Kids "arguing" books or math or Chess.
* Big hugs from the parents of former students
* Kids making fun of me...to my face (is that a weird thing to miss?)
* Hearing a kid tell me they hate me 15 times a day to telling me only twice a day...to crying on the last day.
* Reading "Oh the Places You'll Go" 3 times a year.
* Stealing ideas from amazing teachers

Oh how I will miss it because of every part of my body was born to teach.


So, when my kid bullies another kid for the 10 millionth time in year OR when the girl "forgets" her homework again OR when they're so noisy my eardrums hurt...remind me...I love this job and it will be done before I know it.

None of us will do our jobs forever. I hope you have a job you love and I hope you can try, along with me, to stay in the moment and enjoy it.

It's officially 2012.

Sometimes I want to go from being funny-self-deprecating-negative to real-live-wtf-is-going-on-with-my-life-negative. So, on those days I choose not to write because those days pass quickly.

As I read all of the thousands of posts,
"We're engaged!"
"We're expecting...again."
"I'm in love."

I start to wonder if I'm the only one at, what I feel like, is a stand-still in my life. I didn't get engaged. I didn't get pregnant. I'm still not a size 5.

But I did to some stuff...

In 2011 I:
1. Biggest Loser
I earned 2nd place in our BL Competition at school. It showed me that when I focus and put my mind to something I'm a little more competitive than I want to admit and through the encouragement of my amazing support system I can do anything.

2. Masters
I'm 1/3 of the Way Through my Master's. Yahoo! Who knew I'd be so competitive with school?! In high school and undergrad I was the queen of slacking. My job in college was to waitress and drink...and occasionally I went to class. Now, if I don't get an A, we have a problem!

3. Crossfit
I fell in love...not with a man (well, I did fall in love with Rich Froning ;)-ha, ha CF joke) but with Crossfit. I found something I love to do with people I love to see. The other day I was Back Squatting, repeatedly, 155 lbs. Holy heavy! I can Clean, Jerk, Press (well, let's stop and just say it's a feat to even know what those words mean :) ) more than just the Training Bar.

4. Rodel
I Was nominated for the Rodel Exemplary Teacher Award. I didn't get it but what an honor it was to stand among all of those amazing teachers.

5. Soaked it Up
A blog for another day but...I'm working really hard to soak up every second of being in the classroom this year.

6. Aunt Katie
My best title, to date, still stands. Sidenote: I write this blog as much as a record for myself as I do for others so you'll just have to bear with me :)

Philip is 3 1/2 and is, from my unbiased teacher perspective, gifted. Ok, not completely unbiased but...he is so smart! He can spell CVC words and his newest obsession is learning about the planets. He can name them, in order, tell you which ones are hot or cold and the size of them.

My niece just turned 1 and is so pretty she still takes my breath away. And...I could have sworn she said my name the other day. She's so smiley and sassy! Love, love, love her.

So...there I have it. My year. How was yours? Maybe you should write it out because I bet it was better than you thought!

Goals for 2012...
1. Run 3 5Ks, without walking
2. Go on 1 date...I'm setting the bar low so I can attain this one ;)
3. Drink 1 glass of green tea per day
4. Eat an apple each day
5. Put at least 100 miles on my bike

That's it. What are your goals? Are they in writing? Put them down! Let's help each other!

Now that I can run a mile, I need to get my first 5K on the books.
I hate running.
Crossfit has made me believe I can actually do this.
I hate running.
My coaches think I'm ready.
I hate running.
I think I'm ready.
I hate running.
I need to sign up.
I hate running.
Who's with me?!
I hate running.

Here's a list of things I wanted after I finished my Turkey Chili this evening...

Turkey Chili that I BURNT yesterday.

Now, I'm no Betty Crocker, but I'd consider myself a pretty darn good cook. I never burn anything. I BURNT my double batch of turkey chili...and I still ate it. I blame my mother. She would eat the applies that had 11 bruises, "Just eat around them!" She would cut the mold off cheese, "What?! It's made of mold Katie. You just cut it right off." When she burnt our toast she's scrape off the burnt part. I mean, waste an entire piece of bread?! Blasphemy! The woman made us eat a Price Club (it was Price Club before it was Costco. Get with the program People) sized box of Kix. Everyday. For months. "I'm not buying any more cereal until you finish these Kix." I've never eat so much as 1 Kick since. Thanks for ruining Kix forever Mother.
So, as I drained off the burnt part of my chili...I don't even think that's possible but I tried it, my mother's voice rang in my head.

Moving on...

Here's what I wanted after my dinner:
But guess what...no cake mix, couldn't make it.

No cute chocolate wafers.
No Rice Krispies. No marshmallows. No sprinkles.


I don't have shit in my house as far as sweets go. So...wanna see my after dinner treat?!
Yeah, that's right. A lifesaver. No cake. No Rice Krispy Treats. No chocolate wafer goodness.

I know my ass thanks you but I say, "Screw you Lifesavers. I want some good ol fashioned refined sugar!"