Why Thank You!

SO GOOD

First Step

I updated my yearly readings, so that's a first step to REALLY updating the blog.

It's coming, I'm just building anticipation, right?!?

RIGHT??????

Four Miler

I just had a great run with one of my favorite ladies, Kiki from Pinch Me.  I haven't run a road race since...2008?  That one was a 10K in Maine with my friend SP.  

Today's race was a 4 Miler down in Arlington and it was great.  

Credit: http://pacersevents.com/fourcourtsfour/index.html

The course was downhill for the first mile, then pretty flat then almost 100% hill for the last mile.  Woohoo!  And I was pretty pleased with my time.  

I'm certainly not at a point that I'm worried about running a specific time, but felt good with just over 10min/mile pace.  

939 496/864  270/430   1594 Sarah V.  27 F Silver Spring      MD 41:45.3 40:25.3 10:07

I do have to brag on Kiki for a minute.  She's running a half soon and another marathon in the coming months (yes?) and she ran eleven miles BEFORE we started the actual race.  She is AMAZING.  :)  And running with her may be the only way anyone could motivate me to run longer races.  

Maybe that IRL Half Marathon will happen after all.  MF?  Mrs.?  Jenna? Kiki?

Things I Love Thursday...

Title blatantly stolen borrowed from Gala Darling.  She's fabulous.

So, the things I love...

1. Wren's ears.  Seriously, if any dog ever had cuter ears, I'd like to know.  I want to frame then.  It's a sickness.

2. Kelley C-W's amazing voicemails.  To know love, you must hear her voicemails.

3. Hot showers.  Hot coffee.  Hot soup.  Anything hot, especially on a cold, wet, miserable day like today!

4. NPR.  Yes, yes I've said it before.  Ad nauseum.  But I do love them.  And Netflix.  I could live without cable, gaming systems, or even (gasp) internet if I have NPR and Netflix.

5. Grilled ham and cheese plus tomato soup (tomatoes Mom!) for dinner.  With Hubster as an added bonus.

6. Blog stalking.  :)

Alright...I'm 99% certain we will be losing power in the next 15 minutes thanks to the MONSTER storm that's about to roll through.  So, later!

Scattergories

Brain is running wild with random things...

1. Hubster and I are in the initial stages of planning a trip to Argentina's wine country late in the fall (so spring/early summer in the Southern hemisphere).  We're trying to work it out for both our Moms and my Uncle (DOU!) to join us.  I'd be lying if I didn't say that I could get used to this planning a vacation every 6 months thing.

2. I'm going to be speaking today at a mini-forum on education, the achievement gap, and my education-related passion.  It's a group of W&M kids in one of Drew's classes.  Do any of you know Drew?  He's amazing.

3. The above point reminds me I have a post on education, the achievement gap, etc. etc. that I've been wanting to finish and post.  I'll get on that.

4. I've had a bit of free time of late and I can't seem to make myself get the painting done.  I just have a few touch-up jobs around the house and then our bedroom.  But UGH it's hard to motivate.  Sometimes I want to paint EVERYTHING.  And sometimes I say screw it.

5. I may have even more free time than I had anticipated (hoped or wanted) because of another "delay" with the job.  Thanks to you who have offered advice.  I'm definitely keeping my name in front of everyone I can.  It just looks like paperwork is tied up with City Council or some CFO of the department.  Frustrating to say the least.

6. Because of the ridiculousness of now waiting 2.5 months for this job, I have resolved to start looking for another job.  On Monday.  Right after I paint.

7. There's been a lot of talk about kids in my life lately.  I have a ton of friends who are pregnant, will probably be pregnant soon, or are talking about having kids in the foreseeable future.  Some days I'm on that bandwagon.  Some days I'm not.  And last night, Hubster and I talked for awhile about WHY we want to have kids.  And it brought up a lot of questions like "Is it something I feel we have to do because it's socially desirable?  How will kids change our relationship?  Is having kids something I absolutely want to do and if so how (adopt? have our own? etc...)?"

8. I really adore coffee. Have I mentioned that?

And I'm out.  Happy Sunday!

I have a husband, who knew?

I don't think I've told you all (er...you two), but I have a HUSBAND!  Really, the last month you could have said that to me and I would have laughed.  Hubster spent all of February covering two services at the hospital and generally was out of the house from 5am until 9pm seven days a week.  It SUCKED.  But I was thankful we got the CT/Vascular rotation for the shortest month of the year.  woot!

This month!  Oh this month is altogether different and amazing!  At least for me.  Hubster is board out of his mind doing GI procedures all month.  Yep.  Eight hours a day of colonoscopies.  Sounds fun, huh?  But he's out the door by 6:30am and back by 4pm...sometimes earlier!  It's a miracle.  :)

And, bonus, it means that he won't be sleeping through our upcoming vacation!

Who knew being married to a doctor could be so great?!?

Antsy

Credit: http://www.4seasonsoutdoorservices.com/mnlawnpests.html

I'm officially getting antsy about this whole job thing.  I've been told my start date will be March 28th, but as I haven't signed anything or received more than bits and pieces verbally and via email, nothing is certain.


My subconscious rebelled this morning and forced me to eat a giant piece of cake for breakfast.  I'm taking it as a subversive move against my personal and professional desire to improve nutrition.  Apparently subconscious Sarah says "ha! NO!" to that.  Oh well.  Back on the bandwagon tomorrow?

This American Life

Have y'all seen this show?  I'm pretty sure it was only in production for two seasons but it is AMAZING.  I've mentioned before that I love NPR and This American Life is one of their radio shows that was made into a TV show a few years back.  It's now on Netflix Instant and you should check it out!

Credit: podingtonbear.com

Reasons why TAL is the best:
1. IRA GLASS
2. Crazy men who don't fully understand the implications of cloning a pet bull.
3. They're short enough to not bore you, but engaging to capture your attention.
4. Ira's voice.
5. The great conversations that always start.
6. Talk to an Iraqi
7. Ira's glasses.

JAMAICA!!!!!!!!

Pretend like these pictures are of Hubster and I and you'll get a preview of a blog post coming your way in about a month!!!  Wooooot!!!

Credit: http://www.jeweldunnsriverresort.com/

Yep.  We're going to Jamaica!!!  It's a bit last minute, but we found a DEAL and we got a yes from Uncle Sam.  So we'll be off!  Now, to spend the next 4 weeks making sure I look like that in a bikini.  ;)

So Inspired

This weekend, I attended Teach for America's 20th Anniversary Summit.  More on all of that later, but here's a piece of inspiration.

John Legend and KIPP Orchestra perform "Shine" from TFA 20th Anniversary Summit on Vimeo.

Consolation Message

MMS from Hubster:

I am sorry my dog is a bad pooper... Thank you for being so wonderful and patient... We can BBQ Sammy this weekend.




He always knows how to make me smile.  :)  And I've got the BBQ sauce ready.  Anyone want to join us?

Kind of Crappy

(WARNING: Grossness ahead.)

Literally.  Like, of the dog poo variety.  But more on that later (and why I'm such a bad puppy parent).

I feel blegh.  Really just icky.  Usually I'm the one in our little family that deals with being sick and sucks it up and kind of ignores it.  I think this cold/whatever is the last few months catching up with me.  That and probably some nasty bug that Hubster brought home with him from the hospital.  Boo aches and sore throats and bad sleep and feeling crappy.  :(

And boo to all of those things making me a horrible parent.  Our pups NEVER have accidents in the house.  Well, I can count on two hands the number of times it has happened in almost 2 years of being puppy parents with two mutts.  So, really not bad.  Except that when it does happen, it always happens on carpet (because that's what we have in our casa).  And a brand new wool rug (2 month old).

Said rug:

In my general malaise, I waited (and waited and waited) to take the pups out this morning.  And when I finally did, it was like 7 hours after Hubster took them out before heading to work this morning.  Don't judge, he leaves really really ridiculously early.  Apparently that didn't sit well with Sammy and when I came back in the house I was grossed out by smells.  SMELLS!  Checked shoes.  No evidence.  Checked dogs.  No evidence.  Checked brand new rug.  EVIDENCE.

CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!

Probable offender:

And at this point, I couldn't help being mad at the pups.  I'm just being a VERY lazy parent.  And, unfortunately, the other half of this parenting duo isn't exactly available all the time for walks.   So I'm in a weird state of pissed at myself/irritated at the dogs/miffed with my busy husband.

Good thing the carpet cleaning guys can come today to get the rug.  Bad thing it will cost about a quarter of what we just paid for the dumb thing.

I think it's time to crawl back in bed.  As soon as I take these poop-machines out on a walk.


***************
Have you ever felt like a horrible (puppy) parent?  How do you combat the it's freezing/raining/dark and I really don't want to go out in this weather/deal with responsibility feeling?

Best. Morning. Ever. Recap

So, I clearly meant to post this the day that contained the "best morning ever" but I was pretty busy enjoying my best morning ever.  And EVER might be an exaggeration.  It's probably more accurately titled "best morning in a really really long time."  Either way.

Hubster is on a pretty ridiculous rotation.  He's technically on call every single day this month which means he can be home from work and be called back in.  Even if he hasn't slept in 36 hours.  Even if it is 3am.  Even if we are at a party in VA (which almost happened after the best morning ever).  So when he told me on Thursday night (late, he had a long day) that he would have Friday morning off, I looked at him like he was an alien.  And then I set my alarm for 8:30am!!!  The last time we saw 8:30am together was.  Um.  Exactly. .......  I have no idea.  Even on a weekend when he isn't working, he's never up at that time.  Anyway. Back to the story.  We woke up.  And talked and took the pups on a run.  And then while he got ready for work, I made breakfast (hoooooooray eggs and banana bread toast).  We ate said breakfast TOGETHER, AT THE TABLE.  And then I drove him to work.  At 10:15am.  Approximately 5 hours later than he normally goes in.

It was a dream.  And I know that most of you probably think I'm crazy for being so jazzed up about what is normal for approximately 75% of other married couples, but, it was just awesome.  :)

It's the simple things.

Back on Track

So, it's done.  I completed all of the requirements for my MPH and it feels AMAZING!!!  I won't re-live some of the ridiculousness that occurred prior to my presentation (or during, or afterward for that matter) because it's over.  Finito.  Gracias a Dios!!

With the one teeeeeny-tiny problem that my grade is still not on my transcript!!! Grrrrr.  But, that's part of the ridiculousness that will be worked out by people who are not me.

What else...I feel like I have to turn my brain on every once in awhile since I shut it off 10 days ago.  It's been lovely.  I was home in NC visiting with friends and family.

And this little one...

...how could you not love that face???

The Bro and I hit up the ski slopes one evening.  It was fantastic.  :)  Both family bonding and night skiing.  I'd never been to that slope nor had done the night thing - actually, I've only ever been skiing 3 times.  The fact that I didn't fly straight off a snowy cliff is a miracle.  But my brother?  He seriously should ski professionally.  Or be an instructor.  He's a rock star.

And now I'm just kicking back.  I received a job offer just before Christmas (more on that when it becomes official) and am just waiting to hear more...like, a start date and all that jazz.  But I'm not stressing at all.  Just enjoying being a slave to some good coffee, good books, and the occasional load of laundry.

Life's rough.  :)  But incredible.  And I will be back more often, here and commenting where you are.

So.  Happy everything, everyone!

TODAY!

Is the big day!  

READY TO BE DONE!  :)

Accomplishments...

Today/yesterday (I haven't gone to bed yet) I have...

- Run 4.5 miles
- Drunk approximately 17 caffeinated beverages (yep, that's an accomplishment)
- Re-read (and re-read and re-read) 8 structured interview forms
- FINISHED WRITING my 57 page thesis.  Just one more (veryveryvery brief) round of edits and I'm really really done!
- PRAISED GOD.  Because it's true that these sorts of things always seem impossible until they are done...or nearly done.


And it's now 4:35 am.  Hubster should be waking up any time now to head to work (no day of rest for him).  So I think I'll wait up to give him a big smooch and then pile into bed with a puppy cuddle buddy or two and sleep a large part of Sunday away.

Cheers!!!

Red, red and more red.

I'm pretty sure that this thesis has WAY more red (blue, green, etc.) than black text at the moment.  If you've ever used track changes in Word, you know what I mean.  I can't decide if a teacher's red pen marks are worse than track changes colors all over a paper...

I finally received edits from my advisor and *gulp* the paper looks scary.  BUT, I'm diving in.  And when I come up for air, I WILL BE DONE!

My presentation (or defense or whatever they call it) will be this coming Friday.  At 2:30pm.  Any thoughts, prayers, or bottles of wine would be much appreciated.  But maybe save the wine until afterward.  :)

I'll be back, hopefully with some super exciting career news, as soon as this is over.  FINGERS CROSSED!

Too true...

Photo from http://galadarling.com/.

Almost there...

Welcome Adelyn!

Baby Adelyn Eva is finally here!  I'm so freakin' excited!!!

Congrats to Mom Erin and Dad Aaron!!

I can't wait to meet this beautiful little girl.