My life

So I'm sitting down to blog right now, and I am realizing that my life really isn't that interesting. I'm not too keen about posting stuff that is about work, due to confidentiality issues. Our district is pretty strict. However, I think I'll share funny things that kids say every once in a while. Today, I got this gem:

High school sophomore is sitting across the room from me at a computer. All of the sudden, in a quiet study hall, he shouts out, "Mrs. Graci, what does castrate mean?"

He definitely was the only person in the room who didn't know; the rest of the kids just busted out laughing.

Also, why does my spell checker keep telling me that "didn't" is not correct. I'm pretty sure it's broken.

Blog is back

Ok...so Sammy and everyone else gives me crap for having a blog...but it's an easy way to communicate with everyone who has decided to up and move to ANOTHER country!! Or to Cali, which is pretty much another world from here anyways...

I've been reading a lot of buzz about people who have decided that Critical Masses are cool again...well guess what...they still aren't. The best way to raise awareness about bicycle safety and advocacy is to do it in a responsible way. All critical masses do are clog roadways and make drivers even more pissed. Not to mention it usually results in an injury or two. Join a bicycle advocacy group in your area, or even better yet, start one...but don't ride around like an idiot.

The only time I will make an exception to the rule is the Halloween and St. Patty's Day rides in Marquette...these aren't done in the name of advocacy, and since people are dressed up, they obviously are doing it for another purpose.

A letter to the editor in a Winnipeg newspaper states all this much more precisely than I ever could...

Dear Lindor,

Thank you for your article today on Critical Mass. I am an avid cyclist who puts on a 1000 km+ per year riding with a group of friends who feel that Critical Mass is an embarrassment to cycling. It is hard enough to get respect on the road as a cyclist and we have all had close calls from drivers intentionally or unintentionally trying to bump us from the road. I stopped commuting to work on a bike because I felt it was not worth the risk.

A friend in the group rides year round and attended critical mass rides in the beginning. He advocates for cycling paths and lanes. He thought he could assist in guiding the group to support this worthy cause, to no avail. The organizers are not interested for the greater good, they are interested in doing what they do ÔøΩ riding in rush hour traffic to stir things up, and thatÔøΩs all.

It is a great disappointment to see how many cyclists are joining these rides. Please tell your readers NOT to support this. It will only make it more difficult to be heard when rallying for causes that could benefit the public/cyclists like road lanes, or the MS Ride, etcÔøΩ.

If what you say comes to pass (police are attending critical mass instead of a real emergency), and someone dies as a result, these critical mass cyclists should be charged. I hope it rains hard on critical mass today.

Sincerely,
Anti-Critical-Mass Cyclist

Sooo cute!

I'm in Grand Rapids for the MACUL conference and I am mentally and physically exhausted from the hustle and bustle of the travel, the conference, thinking about job situations, and Sam's dad's health. After my chat for my online class, however, I dragged my butt to the gym since I didn't get a chance to run outside this morning. I slept past my alarm until about 7:15 and then had to get downstairs right away.

Anyhow, I get to the gym and there is a college-age kid working the desk, and lo and behold, I get in for free!! "Don't worry about it, its on me," he says. (The Amway Grand Plaza ) hotel charges a $5 fee for using their awesome fitness center. As I'm running on the treadmill, I see guest after guest come in and I am definately the only one who didn't pay or fill out a room charge form. I'm awesome and soooo cute. Ok, maybe not, but I sure did feel it tonight.

*Edited to add: Gosh, I look tired...
Oh, also it was half hour run and then some lifting. Nothing major, but I needed to move.

Disposable shoes.

I'm in Lansing right now, waiting to go to Grand Rapids for a technology conference. It is another super sunny day. I took my parent's dog Coco with me. She's a Chihuahua/Beagle mix, but don't let size fool you. I think her PR for the 5k is 19:30, which isn't too shabby for a dog. We only went about 3.6, since that's all the plan called for. We headed out to a few paved trails near my parent's house and they weren't too icy. All in all, a good run!


Everytime I go on a trip, I tend to pack too much, or bring back more than I started with. A few years ago in cross country, I started a new habit. I pack disposable clothing. Socks with holes in them, old underwear that needs to be tossed, or an old pair of running shoes on it's last leg. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't dress like a scrub on trips, but I do have some clothes for lounging around moments that are about headed for dumpster heaven. On this trip, I brought an old pair of Asics GT 2100's. My run with Pam was near my top distance so far, and the speed was something I haven't run in over a year and a half, so needless to say I was a little sore. That being said, an old, broken-down pair of shoes was probably not the best choice for a speedy recovery, but it will have to do.

Day off

Day off today to drive downstate.  I didn't even take pictures as I was in quite a hurry to get here.  I didn't leave Munising until 5:15!  I'm hoping the conference will leave me sometime to get quality runs in down in Grand Rapids.  We shall see...

Productive run

Pam Weier and I went for about an hour yesterday to discuss the prospects of a shop team here in Marquette. It was sunny, but there was tons of ice everywhere. Went about 6.82 at 8:20 pace. Comfortable, but almost pushing it. Good to know I can still run that pace.

Another Sunny Saturday

Did 6.12 on my own this morning. Sammy opted for riding his bike on the trainer instead...its so hard to get him out of the house in the morning before he has to go to work.

I'd have to say I took some nice pics for not knowing how to set my timer. :)