Monday, March 29, 2010
Sweet Tea
Since I have been eating healthier I have not had a glass of sweet tea... Not even one drop since Halloween. I am craving it today and I know it will get harder as the weather gets warmer. Save all your, "put Splenda in it" comments because it just ain't the same. I think I like the way this restaurant serves it the best! I bet I could get in there and swim around! YUMMY!!!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Awesome School
This week was a HUGE week for my school. We were the recipients of 2 MAJOR state awards. I was privileged enough to be present at both award ceremonies, and I can tell you it was one of the most exciting things I have ever been a part of.
The first award was the Closing the Achievement Gap Award given by SCATA, which is the South Carolina Association of Title 1 Administrators. To earn this award, our school had to close the gap in test scores between black and white students, and boy did we!!!!!! The white students improved from 80 to 97 percent, while the blacks improved from 45 to 85 percent. That is a HUGE HUGE improvement. We had the highest percentage increase out of all 514 SC Title I schools. WOW!!!!!!!!! We were all so excited to have won this award because it meant our students were successful!!!!
Later on the same day, our school was a finalist for the Carolina's First Palmetto's Finest Award. To receive this award our school went through a year long application process, and we were visited by 2 teams of judges throughout the year. It was a very grueling application process and the visits made everyone a bit nervous. It was honor just to get 2 visits and be a finalist, but like every school there, we wanted to be one of the award winners...and .... WE DID!!!!!! We were the last school to be given the award. I do not think I could have taken one more second. The anticipation there at the ceremony was very exhilarating. When they finally called our name, we went nuts!!!!!
To receive 2 such honors in the same day was incredible for our faculty, staff, students, and district. I am so proud to be a part of such an AWESOME, AMAZING school!
The first award was the Closing the Achievement Gap Award given by SCATA, which is the South Carolina Association of Title 1 Administrators. To earn this award, our school had to close the gap in test scores between black and white students, and boy did we!!!!!! The white students improved from 80 to 97 percent, while the blacks improved from 45 to 85 percent. That is a HUGE HUGE improvement. We had the highest percentage increase out of all 514 SC Title I schools. WOW!!!!!!!!! We were all so excited to have won this award because it meant our students were successful!!!!
Later on the same day, our school was a finalist for the Carolina's First Palmetto's Finest Award. To receive this award our school went through a year long application process, and we were visited by 2 teams of judges throughout the year. It was a very grueling application process and the visits made everyone a bit nervous. It was honor just to get 2 visits and be a finalist, but like every school there, we wanted to be one of the award winners...and .... WE DID!!!!!! We were the last school to be given the award. I do not think I could have taken one more second. The anticipation there at the ceremony was very exhilarating. When they finally called our name, we went nuts!!!!!
To receive 2 such honors in the same day was incredible for our faculty, staff, students, and district. I am so proud to be a part of such an AWESOME, AMAZING school!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
5K
On April 10th, (My Birthday!) My church is holding our first ever 5K for Missions. The cost is 20 bucks, and of course there is an awesome free t-shirt. I registered to run, and I am excited about actually doing it.
I have never actual ran in anything like that. I use to run in college. I would do about 2 miles a day but never anything more than that. Today after school I was feeling sick from all the food I ate at our staff "Goodie Day," so I decided to head out for a run. I have been running off and on for a few weeks now and it has been very hard...
Today was a bit different. It was warm, I had on my iPod, and there were no dogs in sight... Next thing I knew I had ran almost 4 miles. I was shocked that I actually ran that much. I never did that even in college. It was a great feeling to accomplish that. I doubt I will be able to run the whole 5K at the church because of the "hilly" neighborhood where the run is, but it feels good to know that I did the distance today!
I have never actual ran in anything like that. I use to run in college. I would do about 2 miles a day but never anything more than that. Today after school I was feeling sick from all the food I ate at our staff "Goodie Day," so I decided to head out for a run. I have been running off and on for a few weeks now and it has been very hard...
Today was a bit different. It was warm, I had on my iPod, and there were no dogs in sight... Next thing I knew I had ran almost 4 miles. I was shocked that I actually ran that much. I never did that even in college. It was a great feeling to accomplish that. I doubt I will be able to run the whole 5K at the church because of the "hilly" neighborhood where the run is, but it feels good to know that I did the distance today!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Random Student Sayings
The other day a little girl in my class brought a picture of her mom's ultra sound to class to proudly show off her new baby brother or sister.... The little girl was bombarded by students who wanted to know if it was a boy or girl. She put her hands on her hips and said.... "People, we don't know what it is. It ain't got no parts yet."
Today a 5th grader asked me if I was Asian. I said, "no." She said well are you Mexican. I said "no." She said well are you a Filipino because you are the same color as her and she is a Filipino. The girl she pointed to said, "I am not a Filipino. I am Philadelphia." The girl responded back... "DUH, That makes you a Filipino."
There is a student who has a bit of speech problem and when the other students heard her talk they asked why she sounded that way. One student spoke up and said, "It's ok ya'll... She is British!"
The other day we had "popcorn chicken" for lunch... A student asked why we were having popcorn with our chicken.
The other day I told some one during indoor recess if they misbehaved during recess time that they would "get the boot" from playing for a while. A little girl who was wearing big brown boots took hers off and said, "Here Mr. D... You can use mine!!!!!"
I LOVE MY JOB!!!!!!
Today a 5th grader asked me if I was Asian. I said, "no." She said well are you Mexican. I said "no." She said well are you a Filipino because you are the same color as her and she is a Filipino. The girl she pointed to said, "I am not a Filipino. I am Philadelphia." The girl responded back... "DUH, That makes you a Filipino."
There is a student who has a bit of speech problem and when the other students heard her talk they asked why she sounded that way. One student spoke up and said, "It's ok ya'll... She is British!"
The other day we had "popcorn chicken" for lunch... A student asked why we were having popcorn with our chicken.
The other day I told some one during indoor recess if they misbehaved during recess time that they would "get the boot" from playing for a while. A little girl who was wearing big brown boots took hers off and said, "Here Mr. D... You can use mine!!!!!"
I LOVE MY JOB!!!!!!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Old Friends
Don't you just love old friends. I got a call from one of my oldest and dearest friends tonight. Her name is Jessica. We talked and talked about stuff that is going on in her life and mine. It was so good to catch up. I haven't seen her in about 13 years. I miss her badly, and tonight she told me she is coming into town this weekend. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (That was me screaming from excitement.) I am so excited to see her. We are gonna go out to eat Sunday night and then cookout Monday evening here at my house. I cannot wait to see her!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
5:00 AM
I think I am getting old...... I have been getting up for a few months now at 5 AM to exercise. I really have started to enjoy getting up at this time because I work out for an hour then eat breakfast, and I can take my time getting ready.
The other night I got so tired at around 8:30 that I feel asleep without turning my alarm on. No worries though, my "old man" built in alarm clock woke me up right at 5. It was weird to get up that early on my own without the help of an alarm clock. I can honestly say that, that was the first time that has ever happened. I am usually knocking the alarm clock off the nightstand to get it to hush.
Gotta go now... It is past my bed time... It is 9:06 PM!!!!!!!!!!!!
The other night I got so tired at around 8:30 that I feel asleep without turning my alarm on. No worries though, my "old man" built in alarm clock woke me up right at 5. It was weird to get up that early on my own without the help of an alarm clock. I can honestly say that, that was the first time that has ever happened. I am usually knocking the alarm clock off the nightstand to get it to hush.
Gotta go now... It is past my bed time... It is 9:06 PM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
2nd Grade Love
Today a little girl in my class noticed that a piece of candy had been left on her desk while we were packing up. She asked her group where it came from and everyone told her it was the little guy who sits next to her. Immediately her voice said, "Awwww thank you _____. That was so sweet of you to give me candy." She is a bit smitten with him I think. You know how kids are.
As she went to eat it, all of her group shouted "No...No... Don't eat it." Apparently the little boy who gave it to her found it on the floor and put it on her desk in hopes that she would it. Her 2 seconds of feeling special by her little "boyfriend" quickly faded away. All the little boys just died laughing. It quickly reminded me of how innocent they all are. It was too funny! I love my job!
(Editor's Note... The next day she forgot all about it and no one was harmed. Just kids saying and doing the darnedest things... Gotta love 'em!)
As she went to eat it, all of her group shouted "No...No... Don't eat it." Apparently the little boy who gave it to her found it on the floor and put it on her desk in hopes that she would it. Her 2 seconds of feeling special by her little "boyfriend" quickly faded away. All the little boys just died laughing. It quickly reminded me of how innocent they all are. It was too funny! I love my job!
(Editor's Note... The next day she forgot all about it and no one was harmed. Just kids saying and doing the darnedest things... Gotta love 'em!)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Proud Papa
Yesterday I hocked my high school ring so I could get a grill. I have been a homeowner now for 5 years and never had one. I figured if I was gonna keep eating healthy then a grill was a necessity. Below is a video of the first grilling... Teriyaki Shrimp Skewers. THe baked sweet potatoes were in the oven.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Reintroduce Myself
Good Morning. My name is Jed. I am 31 about to be 32. I live in the greatest part of the world and have a great family. I love my job and I love my students. I love my job so much that I often do not make time for my own personal hobbies like music, travel, and of course blogging....
I have fallen victim yet again to the tragic but true disease of... "Oops I missed my blog again yesterday so no need in writing today." syndrome. It is a very contagious disease I see. As I traveled through all of the blogs I frequent I noticed that many of my blogging friends have not blogged since August or September. It gives me comfort to know that I am trying to at least get over my sickness while they are still stuck. (Please do not take offense to that if you are the one with the illness. I got caught up in the metaphor and had to go with it. I hope you understand.)
For those of you who are still reading let me catch you up since my last blog. WOW, wasn't it a good last blog... I guess that is why I had a hard time writing a new one. I loved seeing my old fat self and my new less fat self pop every time I went to the blog. After that post I have continued to lose weight and get to 3lbs below my goal weight of 180.
As I posted then, it was bad blood work that led me to this change. I have since had my blood work done again and was SOOOO happy with the results. My Triglycerides went from 374 to 98, and my cholesterol went from 225 to 150. YAHOO!
If I can do it, anyone can. My eating habits consisted of fast food every night during the week and then 3 -5 big weekend meals.... I was on my way to 300lbs by the time hit 40 if I didn't change.
This has been a huge lifestyle change for me... I have had to completely give up some of my favorite things to maintain.... What you ask??? Believe it or not............... KETCHUP!!!!!!!!!
You read that right... ketchup... I have had it 3 times with a meal since Halloween. When you don't eat burgers, fries, chicken fingers, and other fried goodies you don't really need it. The few times I have had it was on a turkey burger.
I have also given up sodas, sweet tea, and the hardest one of all.... Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes over Christmas. In Christmases past I have been know to eat 5-7 boxes over the holiday... This year I allowed myself 1 cake. It was THE BEST ONE I EVER HAD!!!
Now that I have lost the weight, what am I doing to maintain? Well, I am still eating the same healthy way all week... Cheerios every morning, turkey on wheat for lunch with a healthy side, and a grilled or baked something for dinner. Friday night is the night where I can eat what ever I want. But, believe it or not I just do not find myself wanting a lot of the things I had before.
Unfortunately, as with any change, there are some naysayers around me: Those who think I am obsessed with healthy eating, those who scoff at my passing up an unhealthy snack, those who think now that I have lost weight I can eat whatever I want to. I have learned to just ignore and them and just keep doing what I am doing. I am sure some of them think that I am haughty about it, but believe me I am not... I am actually surprised that it happened and continues to happen. Praise the Lord for His strength that has helped me!
I feel better than I ever have, and I am almost 32. Everyone said life changes after 30... I agree! It gets better!
P.S. I noticed that someone from Schaumburg Illinois read last night. Drop me a line. I would love to know who you are. Hope to hear from you.
I have fallen victim yet again to the tragic but true disease of... "Oops I missed my blog again yesterday so no need in writing today." syndrome. It is a very contagious disease I see. As I traveled through all of the blogs I frequent I noticed that many of my blogging friends have not blogged since August or September. It gives me comfort to know that I am trying to at least get over my sickness while they are still stuck. (Please do not take offense to that if you are the one with the illness. I got caught up in the metaphor and had to go with it. I hope you understand.)
For those of you who are still reading let me catch you up since my last blog. WOW, wasn't it a good last blog... I guess that is why I had a hard time writing a new one. I loved seeing my old fat self and my new less fat self pop every time I went to the blog. After that post I have continued to lose weight and get to 3lbs below my goal weight of 180.
As I posted then, it was bad blood work that led me to this change. I have since had my blood work done again and was SOOOO happy with the results. My Triglycerides went from 374 to 98, and my cholesterol went from 225 to 150. YAHOO!
If I can do it, anyone can. My eating habits consisted of fast food every night during the week and then 3 -5 big weekend meals.... I was on my way to 300lbs by the time hit 40 if I didn't change.
This has been a huge lifestyle change for me... I have had to completely give up some of my favorite things to maintain.... What you ask??? Believe it or not............... KETCHUP!!!!!!!!!
You read that right... ketchup... I have had it 3 times with a meal since Halloween. When you don't eat burgers, fries, chicken fingers, and other fried goodies you don't really need it. The few times I have had it was on a turkey burger.
I have also given up sodas, sweet tea, and the hardest one of all.... Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes over Christmas. In Christmases past I have been know to eat 5-7 boxes over the holiday... This year I allowed myself 1 cake. It was THE BEST ONE I EVER HAD!!!
Now that I have lost the weight, what am I doing to maintain? Well, I am still eating the same healthy way all week... Cheerios every morning, turkey on wheat for lunch with a healthy side, and a grilled or baked something for dinner. Friday night is the night where I can eat what ever I want. But, believe it or not I just do not find myself wanting a lot of the things I had before.
Unfortunately, as with any change, there are some naysayers around me: Those who think I am obsessed with healthy eating, those who scoff at my passing up an unhealthy snack, those who think now that I have lost weight I can eat whatever I want to. I have learned to just ignore and them and just keep doing what I am doing. I am sure some of them think that I am haughty about it, but believe me I am not... I am actually surprised that it happened and continues to happen. Praise the Lord for His strength that has helped me!
I feel better than I ever have, and I am almost 32. Everyone said life changes after 30... I agree! It gets better!
P.S. I noticed that someone from Schaumburg Illinois read last night. Drop me a line. I would love to know who you are. Hope to hear from you.
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