TIRED

Does this week seem long to anyone but me?

The End of the Trail

The 2009 Trail Run Series officially ended Saturday with the third and final run. In this series you could run a 5K (about 3.2 miles) or farther. I chose to run the 5K in all three races. Are you kidding me? I would have never attempted anything more. In the first one, I lurched along this vicious course in 29 degree weather with a wind chill factor of 19. I fell and there was no one there to see/help me as I was in the wilderness and far removed from the rest of the pack. Yes we do indeed have wilderness in San Angelo. Who knew? In fact, I thought the "trail run" meant we would be running on a trail.......like a dirt road. NO! NOT EVEN CLOSE!!! It was rocks, rutted roads, grass, rocks, old four wheel drive trails, rocks, motocross trails and rocks. Did I say rocks? As I started on my first run, I became furious that I had gotten myself into this mess and with my niece as "my partner" I did not feel like I could quit. I did seriously think of quitting, however, after I fell (for what seemed like two minutes). BUT there wasn't anyone around to CARRY me back so I had to keep going. I think that is part of the plan. When it was over and I had crossed the finish line (finally) I was surprised to find that I had finished first in my age group. And I WASN'T the only one in my age group. Felt pretty good (except for the growing bruise on my leg and knee from the fall). So, I agreed to run in the next one. Fast forward two weeks. The weather is beautiful and the number of runners has increased dramatically. The director announces that he has "changed the course" a little. Once again I am furious. BUT, this second trail was so much easier. UNTIL I fell AGAIN!! And this time, a real ouchy!!! Ripped my leggings and a portion of my leg AND my hip. But I persevered and crossed the finish line SEVEN MINUTES faster than I had previously. Finished first in my age group...........I am starting to like this.............. A LOT!!! Fast forward two more weeks to this last Saturday. It is freezing cold with winds out of the north at THIRTY NINE MILES PER HOUR. They have changed the course AGAIN and much of it is going to be on a road BUT we are running INTO that wind. It was so cold. I decided to just "coast." I had already asked God the night before and that morning to hold on to me and not let me fall. So, I just got all calm (except for the incessant shivering) and hit the trail. Came in first AGAIN and DIDN'T FALL OR EVEN SLIP ONCE!!! For all of the drama, I felt such a sense of accomplishment and pride that I had managed to complete this series and stay in one piece. And of course getting the water bottles, winners' certificate, and the T-Shirt didn't hurt either. So, I left that morning at what I thought was the end of the trail. But not so. There are 5K fun runs every month starting in March and going through June at least. Some months there are more than one. I not only plan on running in some, if not all, of them but also plan on running in the 8K (5 miles) Run in the Sun in May. Who knows, one day I might even do a half-marathon. See you on the road and Happy Trails!!!

Bite-Sized Candy

This is a problem. I have decided that it is an evil plot designed by men OR people who are overweight. At lunch EVERY DAY, we DRAG out the bags of "bite-sized" chocolate. Much of it is dark chocolate because my friend, Dusti, says it is "better for you." Like any chocolate could be bad but never mind. The idea or marketing behind the dark chocolate is that because it is more bitter you won't eat as much. I EAT every bit as much and just scowl through the bitterness as I down 5-6 pieces. And as for the milk chocolate............well, it is so small ...but when you eat 10 pieces, it is MORE than if you had a single candy bar. I have had a hard time losing weight lately. I am running and I KNOW muscle weighs more than fat but hellooooo, I look at my legs and don't see muscle so am pretty sure it is FAT!! At lunch we all pretty much eat BOX meals (you know those little entrees that come in a box) that are supposed to be low in calories. Or in my case low in points which is what weight watchers members live (and die) by. So I try to keep my meal (along with my piece of fruit) down to about 6 points maybe 7. Are you impressed? Well don't be. Today I started adding up the "bite-sized" candies I was eating and I had eaten a total of 8 points.....MORE THAN MY MEAL!!! This is scandalous and the people behind this plot need to be exposed for what they are. Diabolical plotters who are exploiting women's craving for chocolate and desire to be thin. They are hitting us from both angles. And as I say this I have SIX chocolate kisses on my desk. After all.............they are really small.

I LOVE FEBRUARY!!!

February is the best month of the whole year as far as I am concerned. On February 3rd my mom has a birthday. This year she was 88 years young. Her body has played out but her mind, spirit, and soul are still at the top of their game. My mom is the epitome of EVERYTHING a mom should be. And each year IN FEBRUARY, we get to celebrate another year of her remarkable life. ON THAT SAME DAY, George and I celebrate a wedding anniversary. This year we marveled at the fact that we have been together thirty one years!!! Quite an accomplishment in this day and age when we live in such a "disposable" society. And our wonder didn't come because we "made it so long" but rather that it seems like yesterday when we first started out on our adventure of life together. I guess time really does fly when you are having fun. Then the next day is my older brother's and my grandmother's birthday. My grandmother is in heaven but the 4th of February NEVER comes that I don't think of her and remember what a remarkable woman she was. Born in 1900, she lived to be 102. Saw many things over the course of her life. Was such a gentle soul. My brother and I don't see each other often but on that date, I call him and sing happy birthday and can hear the smile in his voice. What fun!! Then there is Valentine's Day. NOT A NATIONAL HOLIDAY (sorry Hallmark) BUT a day that reminds people (no matter how full of consumerism) of the people they love. We don't necessarily "DO" Valentine's Day but I think we DO make an extra effort that day. We tell each other "happy Valentine's day", we do something for the grandkids that says "nana and papa love you lots" and we send something sentimental but fun to our kids. Nothing big mind you, but the sweet thought that says "on this day when people are reminded of love, we are reminded of you!" It is nice. I might not even cook supper and get taken to dinner. Of course that statement could make almost EVERY Friday Valentine's :) Then FOUR DAYS LATER, it is my birthday!! Most people don't care enough or they care too much for their birthday. Not me. I am somewhere in the middle. I love my birthday as for me it represents another year come and gone and the journey continues. I love my birthday but don't expect others to recognize it or celebrate it. In fact, if there was no celebration other than my own inner sense of "congratulations", I would be okay with that. I am just happy that I have survived. And of course, my family does recognize it and make it important even if it is nothing more than my wonderful mom calling me first thing before I go to school and with full melody sings Happy Birthday every single year. I am so blessed EVERY month but there is so much for me in the shortest month of the year that I would just like to officically announce that I LOVE FEBRUARY!!!

Dear "Offended" Reader

Webster defines blog as follows : a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer ; also : the contents of such a site

So........my blog is made up of my personal thoughts, reflections, and comments. It is my online journal or diary. I INVITED my friends and loved ones to visit it. In fact, I didn't invite all of my friends or even all of my family as I knew that some of them would not be in agreement with my thoughts or opinions. And I was trying to be considerate. Which leads me to YOU, "offended reader". I did not invite you. In fact, you can't just "get to my blog". I tried it by typing in joyceshelton's blog today and guess what....it didn't come up. So you didn't "happen upon it" and you weren't invited. You accessed it through someone else's. Which is fine EXCEPT......you took offense at one of the entries and immediately set out to punish me for my thoughts. You printed it out and tried to harm me with it by submitting it to someone that you thought could be or would be the "blog police." Well guess what? There is no blog police. And I can't be punished for my thoughts or feelings. That is guaranteed me through a little document called the Constitution of the United States in a little amendment called "freedom of speech." I take it you are not familiar with that. Otherwise, surely, you would be contacting the Standard Times weekly about some of the horrible editorials that they print. But perhaps you realize that is all they are... editorials.......people's opinions. Sort of like a blog. One thing that you took issue with is an old time saying that I have heard my whole life from educators. In fact PART OF IT is a quote from scripture. God didn't mean it ugly and I didn't either. In fact, "offended reader", it feels less to me like you were offended and more like you were trying to "have me punished." Which makes me wonder why since I know who you are. Have we had a fight that I am not aware of? There is a place for comments on my blog and I find myself wondering why you didn't avail yourself of that option or contact me personally since we are at the same place every day. Did you perhaps see yourself in the blog? Were you just having a bad day? I was, and my blog was the outlet. I didn't lie, call names, or engage in libel or slander of any kind. In fact, I only use names with permission. So, while I feel a little bewildered and betrayed by your behavior ( I love alliteration), I am going to call "no harm no foul " as there were no repercussions to your search for punishment of me for my personal thoughts. But, I do wonder as to what you were trying to accomplish and why? So, "offended reader", let me give you a valuable lesson in blog reading. It is alot like finding something to watch on TV or something decent on the radio. If you don't like the program, change the channel. If you can't stand the song, tune to another station. And if you find me to be a moron or offensive, at the top of the computer screen on the right, there is a box with an X in it. If you don't like what you are reading.....click on it. I think this will help. As to my other faithful FRIENDLY followers.........let the journey continue.............

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Reader beware!!! The title today reflects the content of this blog and so mainly it is for my benefit. My occupation is as follows.........I cast pearls of wisdom before swine for very little money. No one wants to be here, students and teachers alike. Everyone has an excuse, again, students and teachers alike. We are NOT preparing students to be productive citizens. We are not equipping them with what they need to be successful in the "real" world. Instead, we are offering them every excuse imaginable and placing "blame" on everyone under the sun for their lack of drive and ambition. Are you kidding me? They are masters at working the system. If they spent as much time working as they do with coming up with excuses for why they CAN'T, we would be a campus of Einsteins. My kids, for the most part, are good. But there is always ONE, okay, maybe TWO and they are aided by the "well meaning" people in the office who think we should try to "understand" them. I had a student a few years ago whose mom was dying of cancer. His name was Sam. He was in class every day, did his work, made good grades, AND had a job. I never knew his mom was sick. One day he told me he was going to be out for the next "couple of days" and could he get his work. I told him we would worry about it when he got back. I asked where he was going and he said "family trip." I thought that was odd but let it go. The next day there was an article on the front page of the paper about Sam and his family. How his mom was dying and how they made this special trip to New Mexico every year during the summer and since she wasn't going to be alive in the summer....they were taking the trip early. He had never said a word. He had even ASKED FOR HIS WORK!!! When he came back I told him he owed me NOTHING. The day his mom died he came to school to GET HIS WORK because he needed to "be with his dad" and he wanted "something to occupy his mind." Are you kidding me? Today, I had a student who couldn't do this major benchmark exam we are giving because "he has problems". PUH-LEEZE!!!! I have had this kid. In fact, when I held him accountable for his actions, he was "schedule changed" out of my class. Did I say he has "problems"? His biggest problem is that he is a titty baby! His home life isn't perfect but whose is? He does have some drama but who doesn't? But the "powers that be" allowed him to SIT on a bench and "collect himself" for the ENTIRE MORNING. You want to know where education is failing..........right there on that bench with that student. Are you kidding me?

No Place Else On Earth

What a day this has been!!! I have been literally glued to the television since 6:30 this morning. I cancelled my classes exam they were scheduled to take today and instead we watched history unfold before our very eyes. I have tried my best all day to impart to the future generation the importance of today. Not just an African American elected to the presidency but the democratic transition of power. No where else on earth is power transferred as it is in the United States of America. The whole world is watching today. Along the Gaza strip there is no fighting (for today) in honor of what is taking place here in America. Nobody does it like us. That is why people all across the world are so interested. A peaceful transition of power. No bullets. No chaos. No coup d'etat. No bitterness from the power that is leaving. A coming together of people from different walks of life, different beliefs, different ethnicities, different socio-economic backgrounds and different politics. What a sight. Unity. Democracy. Freedom. Every time a new president takes office, the American people demonstrate the one thing that makes us so different from other countries..we lay aside our differences and our politics to embrace a new leader. We hope that he or she (someday) will be successful. What a testimony to our forefathers and the foundations upon which this country was built. There are many wrongs in our country but on this we get it right. And even with the troubles that plague us....I wouldn't live anywhere else. After all, there is no place else on earth like us. God Bless America and God Bless our new leader President Obama.