Waiting

Isn't that a hard thing to do?

There are so many places we wait: the grocery store, the doctor's office, amusement parks, the bank, restaurants, on hold with technical support. The list could go on forever.

Then there are things we wait for: dinner to be done, the check in the mail, vacation time, birthdays, Christmas.

There are people we wait for: kids after school, friends who need to text us back, family coming over for dinner, those who are late for a meeting.

While all of these things are part of our daily lives, they are so minuscule compared to things that people are waiting on right now... the healing of a loved one, the safe return of family member from war, the return of a prodigal son or daughter, a job, the adoption to be finalized, emotional wholeness after years of abuse, deliverance from.... (you fill in the blank.)

During yesterday's church service I was reminded that waiting is part of the journey. We are all waiting for something, whether we realize it or not. It is what we do with the wait time that makes us who we are. I am waiting on whole long list of things. (Wouldn't you like a blog on those.) I know He has heard, hears, will hear all of my prayers, but while I am waiting, I will serve and worship the One who is in charge of all time and timing. Until then.... I will wait.

QR Codes

Have you see these things around? They are called QR Codes. Click here to learn more about them. QR actually stands fro Quick Response.

Unless you have a Smart Phone, you have probably never paid these much attention. I have a Smart Phone and really just considered them a novelty for my awesome phone. I scanned a couple of them at amusement parks before and once at Chick-Fil-A, but never really thought about using them for anything else. Until now.

This week I found out that you can generate your own for free at this site:

http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ . Once you have your own QR Code, you can print it and stick where ever you want to drive people to your website of choice. As an educator, my mind began to go nuts with ideas for my classroom. Below this code are just a few of my ideas.

1. Copy and paste the code on to my class newsletter to remind parents about my class blog.

2. Create and post book review videos on YouTube, then print a QR code and put them on the books that go home for homework. Students will be able to go watch the video when they read.

3. When I start a new math unit, I can add a QR code to a note home to direct students to helpful math sites.

4. I saw online where some teacher made the codes and kept them in the room for kids to take home. She made different ones for all the web pages they used in class. Laminated them and the kids could take them.

5. Another guy online added a QR code to the back of his business card. I have to present at a conference in a few weeks and I will definitely have a few to pass out.

Can you think of any other ways to use? Let me know your thoughts. Oh, by the way, if you have the app on your phone that scans the codes, scan the one above. I know... I know... I am a dork, but I don't care!

Happy Weekend Run To Me!

Dinner.

Dessert!

Follow me on Pinterest for these recipes. They are not my own, but I am sure gonna enjoy eating them!

Listen To Your Cone

Tonight as I ate this delectable, 150 calorie, 3.5g of fat, bit of frozen goodness, I heard the cone speak. Here is what it said...

1. It's Not About You! The role of the cone is to hold up the ice cream. It is the feature of the movie and it is what everyone came to see! It is ok to be in a supporting role. Find your niche and get in it!

2. Be Supportive! Lift up those around you. Hold them up! You are much stronger than some. The ice cream is weak and needs you to make it strong. Without you lifting it up, it will fail!

3. You Might Start At The Bottom, But Eventually You Will Be At The Top! As the ice cream gives way to the constantly licking, you will be standing firm. While you started as a supporter, your time will come. You will eventually be on top! Keep faithful in the small supporting role and then you will rise!

4. You Are Important! The ice cream could not function without you. You ever see the results when someone tries to hold their ice cream without a cone? Don't ever let anyone tell you that you don't matter!

5. Good Things Come To Those Who Wait! Yep, everyone starts at the top. They dig into that ice cream and you just get left at the bottom. But, after lots of licking, the cone is there to finish off a wonderful snack. You will have your time! Don't worry about those who try to rush you... Patience is a good thing!

If you listened, you heard it speak too. I hope you will never eat ice cream the same again!

Attitude

When most people hear the word attitude they probably think negative thoughts. I can immediately think of 3 sayings that people use on a regular basis that cast a negative light on the word attitude.

1. Lose the attitude!

2. Don't get an attitude with me!

3. He/She's gotta tude!

Unfortunately I have heard all those said to me at some point in time. All of them are anything but flattering for the word attitude or the receiver of the quote. They make it sound like if you have an "attitude" that you are just short of the plague and you deserve to be banished from creation...Ok, maybe not that bad, but negative vibes are implied.

Today however, I am writing this blog in hopes to give a public face lift to the word attitude. I want people to look others and say. "Get his attitude!" "Give me more of that attitude!" "I want an attitude like his!" I want people to have such a contagiously GREAT attitude that all of the negative vibes with that word turn into chaff and get blown away! I don't want to apologize for it, I don't want have to defend myself, I just want to ooze a POSITIVE attitude. The world is so full of junk and badness why can't I, right here on "Dearybury of a Day" lead the change? When I started this whole blog it was to make people laugh and encourage them. How better to do that than with a positive, contagious attitude?

Have you read this book? This is what started all this attitude talk. (Remember now, that word attitude is not bad. :o) I had to lead a faculty book talk about it. I rarely read as you frequent blog guests know, but something about this book got a hold of me. It changed my perspective on attitude. I read it in an hour, so you are probably able to finish in 30 minutes. I highly recommend it.

Not long after I led the book talk I met this guy, Ron Clark, who started one of the MOST AMAZING schools ever. Talk about a contagious POSITIVE attitude. Google him right now... No, YouTube it first, then Google! You will be changed, inspired, and want to start a school!

As if these 2 things did not impact me enough, my principal has gone nuts with helping us have a positive attitude. She has plastered quotes about good attitudes all over the building. Here are 2 of my favorites.

1. "Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you."

2. "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort!"

As of today, I am taking charge, and hopefully it won't annoy you. But, if it does, get over it and get a hold of it!

Ultimately though, this is my motivation...

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus."

Philippians 2:5

Am I annoying you yet? I hope so!

Easy Button

If life really had an "easy button", when would you hit it? Today I think I would have hit it too many times and sent it into overdrive. It definitely was a Monday, but nothing a little positive attitude and an 8 mile run couldn't handle.

After I finished running, I posted this as my Facebook status: "I think my easy button musta done broke." It got me to thinking about all of the things that occur that make me want to smack an easy button. Here is a list I thought of.

1. On the morning when you can't find your keys and you over slept.

2. When the computer freezes up during the middle of a lesson and the administrator is in there watching.

3. When I cook something for a group of people and it completely fails.

4. Any time I am on the phone with customer service.

5. When I see that squirrel eating my cushion and I can't find the BB gun.

6. When I sit here blogging on January 23rd and I see my naked Christmas tree still staring at me... Don't judge!

7. When I sit here blogging on January 23rd and I know that there is one more naked tree in the front bedroom... Don't judge me again. LOL!

8. When I am on mile 16 of a marathon realizing there is 10.2 more to go!

9. When I realize I left the laundry in the washer and I have to rewash because it stinks.

10. When you are going out to dinner with friends and everyone is in the mood for "I don't know, I don't care, or It don't matter."

When are you gonna smack your button?

It's The Little Things

I hear people say this all the time. Usually in reference to someone being thankful for something that seems so minuscule in the whole big picture of life. Often times when someone says it to me, it is said in a way to kind of mock what I am thankful for. I must hear it a lot to be authoring this post, but I was thinking about this topic on yesterday's run. I think if more of us would learn to be thankful for those "little things" it would make us even more grateful for the BIG things and change our perspective on EVERYthing.

I find myself looking for the little things to be thankful for. They will quickly change a bad attitude. They make me happy, they are usually easily done, and they hardly ever cost anything. You know the things I am talking about right? If not, here is list of "little things" I am thankful for.

1. I am thankful when I remember to put a new bar of soap in the shower before I am actually in there needing soap.

2. I am thankful for bedroom shoes.

3. I am thankful when I go to make copies of class newsletter and I pull out exactly 22 sheets of lime green paper.

4. I am thankful when I saved a piece of trash (ie: some empty container, lid, box, bottle, etc.) that someone ends up needing for some "Pinterest" or crafty idea.

5. I am thankful for little sticky notes of encouragement from friends.

6. I am thankful for having nail clippers in my pocket when someone has a hang nail.

7. I am thankful for getting done with a run right before the rain comes.

8. I am thankful when I have the exact change.

9. I am when I pour my cereal and I don't spill a piece!

10. I am thankful that good friends and family like to come to my house to eat sharp cheddar cheese and brown cows.

I am sure you have your own list if you will take a minute to think about it. It's kinda fun to think about all of them, and it's kinda hard to stop when you start!

Get Up And Go!

This morning as I dug deep down into my covers there was a battle raging. I was scheduled for a 16 mile run, yet there were dark ominous clouds about to rupture right outside my window. Should I go or should I stay? Do I risk it and possibly trudge through 16 miles in sopping wet clothes and dodge lightning bolts or do I wait for the storms to pass and head out later?

I checked the radar on my phone and quickly realized that if I was going I had to go right then. The time was about 845. I jumped up, got my clothes on and headed out the door. I got to my starting point at about 9:20. The radar still looked very threatening, but the storms were still over Atlanta so I figured I had time. 16 miles takes me about 2 hours.

I headed out from Krispy Kreme. I know...a bit of irony huh? Who starts a 16 mile run at Krispy Kreme? I quickly got into my pace and settled in for the run. For those of you from Spartanburg, I ended up going all the way down to Floyd's Greenlawn Cemetery over at Hillcrest. I stopped by and paid my respects to my granddad and Maudie then turned back. At that point I was at 9 miles. The clouds still looked heavy but not one drop had fallen.

Thanks to a Christmas gift from my friend Matt, I was wearing a new running wallet. Since I actually had some money on me, I decided to stop by Chick-Fil-A for some water and a biscuit....plain, no butter. I knew this was a risk, but I was hungry. I stunk to high heaven! I am sure the people in there were praying it would rain on me so I could wash up! I inhaled the biscuit and took off.

When I got back outside the clouds seemed to have dropped. They hung low like a helium balloon that was just about to give out. I was getting a bit nervous that I would soon be a soggy runner. I tried to turn up the speed, but after 9 miles in hilly downtown Spartanburg I just didn't the speed. Endurance I have... speed is not always there.

I had 7 miles to go, dark clouds looming, the air was moist, people were looking at me like I was an idiot, my glasses were foggy, and I could not have been happier. Something about running against the elements heightens the fun of it all. I had some huge hills ahead of me, which would slow me a bit, but the last 3 miles would be flat. I kept on pounding!

Finally, the glowing hot and ready sign was on the horizon and the clouds were the darkest they had been. My GPS watch hit the 16 mile mark the moment my foot hit the parking lot. I toweled off my face, stretched and hopped in the car. The moment I got in, giant rain drops began to fall. Within a matter of minutes I could not see a thing because of the deluge that was pouring around me. I had just barely made it...but, I did make it! Shewww!!!

All the way home all I could think about was the timing of the whole morning. Had I literally spent 1 more second digging into those covers my run would have ended in a flood of rain. So glad I went when I did! Sometimes it pays to be patient, but sometimes you just gotta get up and go!

Wall Of Fame

I never played sports when I was little. I disliked most of them, so none ever even interested me. I did succumb to pressure around 6th grade and embarrassingly struggled through little league baseball for a season. It was awful. I cried before every practice, I looked like a porker in the uniform, and the only girl in the league was on my team, and she was way better than me. They put me so far out in right field that I only touched the ball once all season. I did manage to get a hit one game. They told me after the inning was over that I should have stopped at 1st, but I somehow made it all the way to 3rd without getting out. At the end of the season I received the complimentary, self-purchased, want everyone to feel good, unearned trophy. (That is a whole other blog.) Who knows where it is today?? I am sure I held on to it for a long time before it ended up in the landfill. I never really earned it so I guess it didn't mean that much.

Now that I am all grown up, and over the bitterness (haha, not really huh?) that was little league, I finally have my "trophies" that I am so proud of. Below you see a pic of my "Wall of Fame." This is a wall in my guest bedroom that has a picture of me from every race I have run, along with my medals and race bibs. When I look at this wall I just beam with pride. Not in a boastful arrogant way, but in a humble, wow, look what the Lord has allowed me to do way. Every race has a tale behind it and this wall is a real life story book that I can go read and remember all the cool things that I have done and who I have done them with. There are pics of my family at the finish line, students I have run races with, and even a pic of one of my pastors covered in mud! You want your pic up there? Sign up and run a race with me. I would love to add you to my wall!

Kidblog.org

I am not sure how many of my readers are teachers. I think the ones I work with probably avoid my blog like they plague because they hear me ramble on at school all the time. But if you are a teacher, here is a site that you need to know about. It is called kidblog.org. I ran across this the other night as I was catching up on twitter. A teacher that I follow from Colorado tweeted that she did this with her 6th graders.

I have wanted to try blogging with my 3rd graders for a while now, so I checked the site out. It is VERY user friendly for both teachers and students. You do not have to be tech nerd to figure it all out (although I am). I sat down and created student accounts and passwords in about 5 minutes. Next I printed up cards for each student to have with the website, username and their own password. I must admit I was a little hesitant about teaching this in our school computer lab. Sometimes a lesson like this, coupled with a bunch of kids who may or may not be listening given the time of day and the fullness of the moon, can crash in burn in a ball of flames only comparable to the A-bomb!

I am happy to say that the lesson went off without a hitch. The kids hung on my every word as I walked them through step by step instructions of how to log in, create a title, write the blog, edit, and post. I even taught them how to comment on their friends' blogs. I explained to them that blogging was simply writing online. They were hooked!

Because it is a kid friendly site, it is very safe. NO ONE can see any of their blogs without a username and password issued by me and all of their posts and comments have to be moderated by me. I logged on last night to moderate their comments and read their blogs and I was shocked at how many of them blogged again last night after they got home...about half the class. It is the same way tonight. They cannot get enough of it. No, all of their posts are not perfect, but they are loving the learning of it all. Isn't that what school is all about?

Here are just of few of their comments about their new found blogging hobby.

"Blogging is totally awesome."

"Blogging is way more fun than writing on paper."

"Blogging makes me feel alive."

"Blogging is the best way to write."

"Blogging makes writing fun."

Sandwich Maker

Today at lunch my student teacher and I were talking. She asked me if I ever got tired of eating the same ole thing for lunch everyday. I eat a peanut butter and jelly on wheat with Cheez-its and a banana religiously. The only substitution would be to have turkey on wheat when the peanut butter runs out and I havent been to the grocery store.

I told her that I didn't mind eating the same thing, but I sure got tired of making it every day.

A student sitting beside me piped up and said, "that's why you need a wife." I asked how a wife would fix that, and without hesitation he said, "because she knows you are busy and would make it for you." I then gave him a lesson on chivalry and told him that I wouldn't expect my wife to make me a sandwich. He kept insisting that a wife was the only solution.

By this time, the whole lunch table was involved in the conversation. Most of them sitting by giggling at the thought of me with a wife. I decided to turn the discussion into a little mini lesson right there at the table. I asked the to help me come up with ways to get my sandwich made without having to do it myself. Here is there list.

1. Invent a machine to do it for me.

2. Ask my mom to do it.

3. Get a sandwich making machine from the store.

4. Buy a robot, that will be as good as a wife!!!

Number 4 was by far the best idea! Now if I can just figure out where to buy one!!!

Resting My Eyes

When I was little I spent a lot of time at my grandma Maudie's house. If you have been a blog reader for a while then you have heard about Maudie before. If you are new her and want to get caught up go here and check it out.

Maudie, like any elderly person, had many sayings and quotes that she said quite often that made me laugh every time I heard them.

She would often say, "You can't beat an old head." She would say that when she wanted me to listen to her wisdom. She knew her "old head" had all the answers... it usually did!

When she would answer the phone she would not say hello like the rest of the world. Instead, she would answer with, "Alright." I can still hear her saying this even though she has been gone for years. She would say it like... "alright, you got me on this thing, now what do you want?"

I loved to hear her talk about going to Georgia... She never said it like it was supposed to be. In her best old southern lady dialect she would say, "Georg-eeee."

When she wanted me to keep a secret she would always tell me to "put it in my pocket." That little saying came about because she was usually slipping me some money that the other grandkids were not getting and she would say, "put it in your pocket" so they would see it. Yes, I was her favorite. Mainly because I spent the most time there though...not that she didn't love the rest of them just as much.

The funniest thing that she used to say was right about 8 o'clock every night that I spent there, or at about 1 on Sunday after church. I would be just talking and talking to her about who knows what when I would notice her eyes closed. She would be snoring and just sawing logs. I would say her name and she would jerk herself awake and swear she wasn't sleeping, just "resting her eyes!" I would just laugh every time.

It still makes me laugh when I think about it today. Mainly because I finally get it. Sometimes when you are just plum tuckered out... You have to rest your eyes!

Happy Dance

Yesterday I went shopping with my sister. I was looking for some new jeans to wear for Friday jean day at school. The next 2 Fridays are jean days, and I only have one "nice pair" to wear. The others are like my bum around jeans. Make sense?

Anyway, I was going through the jeans on the sale rack first when I cam across a pair of 36x32... MY OLD SIZE! I held them up beside me and just could not believe that I used to be in that size before I started running and eating healthy. I was wearing 38's in some pants. I had a moment right there in Banana Republic. I must admit I did a little happy dance as I threw those down and dug around for a size 30. I know its been 2 years since I started losing the weight, but sometimes its like it all just started. It made my 10 mile run this morning worth it even more!!!

I realize that I have picked up some new readers from my Donors Choose and Twitter friends as of late so I thought I would give you a peek at the former me. These pics hardly do it justice, but they let you see what I was. These pics were from the summer of 2008. I started losing weight in November of '09 and lost 85 pounds by July of '10. It has been a healthy, active, difficult, wonderful journey!

New Look

After hours and hours of frustration, countless mess ups, and a few choice words, I am proud of the new look of my blog. I would love to know what you think. I wanted a clean fresh look coupled with my favorite color...Any guess what that color might be?

I have always wanted my own unique header and I finally just took the time to look it up on Youtube and of course there a bazillion videos on how to do it. I have been wanting to do these for a while, but just kept putting it off because I knew I was gonna get frustrated. Now that it's done, I can say that it wasn't that bad...but it definitely is not for the short tempered. :0) Here's to the new look!

You Are Crazy

This morning I set out on my Saturday long run like I do every week. Sometimes I start from home. Sometimes I drive to the Rail Trail. Recently, I have been parking about 2 miles north of the Rail Trail at the local Krispy Kreme. For some reason that seems like a good spot for a former "heavy weight" to use as home base for his long run. The smell of the hot and ready Kremes is good prerun fuel!

This morning it was pretty cold as I started. The official temp. according to my iPhone was 29. I wore my usual attire for that temperature: shorts, long sleeve under a short sleeve, gloves, and a hat...of course my shoes and socks too, but I am assuming my readers are smart enough to figure that part out. It was a bit chilly as I started, but as anyone who works out knows, it doesn't take long to get warmed up, thus my wearing shorts. I have a pair of running tights, but it has to be really cold for me to use them.

About a quarter mile into the run I passed 2 people walking. Of course they were bundled up from head to toe. One was chain smoking (I swear he had one cig. in each hand.) and the other was about 200lbs. overweight and eating a box of doughnuts. As I passed them, I could feel their stares and hear the conversation... It went something like this...

Overweight Lady: "What in the world is he doing?"

Chain Smoking Man: "I don't know. What is he thinking?"

Together in Chorus: "Man, he is crazy!"

I could not help but chuckle as I ran off down the street towards the 14 miles that awaited me thinking about the lesson in irony that I had just been a part of.

So, now publicly on this blog let me reverse the irony... You, chain smoking man, and You, overweight lady eating a box of doughnuts are the crazy ones!!!

Who Has The "Runs"

The other day I was asked by a Twitter running friend to participate in an interview for his website "Who Has The Runs." These are the questions he asked, so I thought I would share them with you here.

You can see others and myself he has interviewed here or follow him on Twitter here.

Why do you run?

I run for so many reasons I cannot even begin to type them all. At first, I ran to lose weight. Then I ran because I felt better. As I kept going, I ran so I could eat... Now, I run because it is who I am! I LOVE IT!

How long have you been running? How did you get started? Why did you choose running over other activities?

March of 2012 will be 2 years of running. I got started to lose weight after bad bloodwork. I chose running because it was the fastest and best way to get off the weight.

How do you motivate yourself to run regularly? What about on the days the weather is bad or your are feeling particularly lazy?

My motivation to run on the lazy, cold days is that I know that I would feel worse for not running than I would if I just endured the weather and the laziness through the run... So, I get out there and do it!

Do you use a running coach, or read any books to aid in your training?

I have read all of Dean Karnazes books and Born To Run. I am addicted to Runner's World and Running Times. I often reread the old issues while I am waiting on the new one to come.

How do you fit running in with your daily schedule?

I am a school teacher so it is very difficult to get the run in before school. I pack my running gear everyday and take it to school. When the last student leaves, I change like Superman in a phone booth. I get my work done and then I am out on the road!

Do your friends and family support your running or think you are crazy?

At first, they thought I was insane... Now that they see this new, improved, healthy me, they want to get in on the fun!

What is your favorite running terrain (road, trail, treadmill)?

I like the road. The cars, people, and places that pass by keep me entertained. I get kind of bored on the trails here, and the tread mill is about the worse form of torture known to man!!!

What is the hardest race you’ve run to date?

Last summer I was in Kentucky on mission trip with my church. It was Late June, VERY HOT and VERY HILLY. I attempted to run 8 miles everyday after hanging sheet rock for 8 hours a day. I about killed myself. My pace was HORRENDOUS, but I ran nonetheless!

What is the most enjoyable race you’ve run to date?

It would have to be the Lake Lure Dam Run 10k in Lake Lure North Carolina. It was a VERY CHALLENGING mountainous road race, but the finish line was on the shore of a man made beach nestled in the mountains. The atmosphere at the finish line was the best. Very family friendly, lots of activities for the nonrunners, and good food for finishers.

Have you ever been injured due to running? What were the ramifications?

I had a strained IT band the week before my first marathon. I ran the marathon anyway and it just made it worse. I saw the chiropractor and massage therapist almost daily for 2 weeks. It took about 5 weeks til I was running normal again.

Do you use any music or run tracking devices when you run, or are you a naked runner.?

Naked all the way!

How do you get yourself through the difficult parts of your runs? Do you have a personal mantra or do you just give up?

Honestly, I just picture the old, over weight me, and I just push through!. I don't ever want to go back!

A lot of runners know that “Who has the runs” has a double meaning. How do you deal with the occasional “problem” that plagues every runner at one time or another?

To quote the world famous runner Mr. Gump, "When I had to go, I went!"

What advice would you give to someone thinking about taking up running?

Even if you run just half a mile, that is farther than you went sitting on the couch! GO FOR IT!

What is your next big race?

Myrtle Beach Full Marathon, February 18th

What is your immediate running goal?

LOL... To get through my 14 miles in the morning in spite of the 20 degree forecasted low!

What is your ultimate running goal?

I would love to conquer a 50 miler or longer. I don't have a specific run in mind though. Maybe I will just run the distance one Saturday for fun.

Do you have a way we can keep track of your progress (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, etc)

Blog: www.mrdearybury.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mrdearybury

Twitter @mrdearybury1

Running On Empty

Step one today was difficult. Mile 2 a little harder. Miles 3-7 were downright sluggish at best. Yes, I have run 2 marathons, countless other races, and many many miles further than a 7 miler, but today's run felt as if someone had poured concrete in the veins of my legs. Every step weighed 1,000 pounds. As if the weight of my legs wasn't enough, it began to rain at mile 6 and the wind was blowing as if I was about to be lifted into the sky to land in Oz. I wanted to quit. I thought about taking a short cut back to the car more than once. I didn't though. Something just wouldn't let me. That inner runner voice kept chanting to me, "Press On." "Push!" I was literally running on empty, but I kept going. The peanut butter and jelly from lunch and had long been gone and my energy was depleting with every step. After an eternal 56 minutes, I accumulated the 7 miles needed for my training today. It sure wasn't easy, but as I sat down after I finished, the reward was the greatest feeling of satisfaction and pride. Satisfaction that I met my goal for the day, and pride in myself for not quitting in the face of adversity. I may have been running on Empty, but I finished full!

Whatever you did today, or whatever you doing tomorrow... Don't give up, don't quit... The reward at the end is worth the pain. You will finish full!

Mexican For Dinner

Tonight I had Mexican for dinner. There are certain things that I like about eating at a Mexican restaurant and it seems that they are all the same.

1. I eat my weight in chips and salsa. I am a big fun of the individual salsa bowls. Mild sauce!

2. The cheese all over the rice is about the greatest thing ever. I run extra for that.

3. If you order a quesadilla, tell them you want grilled chicken or else you get that nasty, shredded, I can't believe this is chicken chicken.

4. Even though I don't drink sweet tea anymore, their sweet tea is always good.

5. They always warn me the plate is hot!

Feliz Lunes!

The Finish Line

This was supposed to post yesterday but didn't. My apologies to the 3 that read daily.

One of the most exciting parts of every race that I have ever been in is the finish line. As you approach, people all along the way begin to cheer and encourage you on as you fight to get to that magical stopping point. Those folks don't care about how you got to that point. They don't care about the sweat, the nastiness of your clothing, the snot that runs down your face. They are there to cheer you on to the finish. I still remember the voice of one sweet lady as I neared the finish of my first race..."You can do it Jed, just picture yourself winning."

You know if you can just make it there you have accomplished your goal and that food and water are just feet away. Your body can slow down, your breathing can ease, and your sweat spigot will shut down. Your body will instantly start to recover from all the pain.

The closer you get to the finish the more fixed your eyes become on the line. That is the destination you have been thinking about for the entire length of your race. Finally, you cross the line and an overwhelming joy sets in. All of the folks who were waiting on you meet you to give out hugs and pats. They squeeze you tight in spite of the mess that is oozing from every pore of your body.

People you have never seen or meet give you high fives and congratulate you on your great finish. People who were awesome during the race and got there in a much better fashion you now stand side by side with you as you enjoy the race celebration. You have finished the race and the journey is complete. It truly is an amazing feeling.

Race For The Grasshopper

Today I volunteered at my first race. It was at the Cowpens Battleground, called The Race for the Grasshopper. It is a celebration of the end of the battle there where 2 American soldiers raced to get a cannon (grasshopper) after the battle. This was the 237th celebration.


It was a different experience being at a race and not being there to run. I was itching to "toe the line." I had a great time though. I had several jobs: I got there early enough to help set up, I passed out the race bibs and tech tshirts at registration, then I stood out on the course almost at mile 3 to point the runners in the right direction. It was a lot of fun to be able to check people in and then go cheer them on. Cheering for people is a lot if fun and it lifts you up while you are doing it. If you ever want to have a great morning, look for a local race and sign up to help. Trust me, you won't leave empty.


While you are volunteering you never know who you'll run into. One of my best friends ran the race and I got to cheer for her as she rounded towards home. Great job Molly!!!


After the race, the race the 70 January weather called to me to do some of my own running, so I headed downtown and pounded out 12 miles of my own. The run was awesome and it ended with my usual Waffle House feast: waffle, sausage, grits, eggs, and wheat toast. It was completely inhaled in about 5 minutes. Hope your Saturday was as great as mine.

Why Do Today...

What I can do tomorrow??? This is not normally a mantra of mine. In fact, most days I am wide open and get everything done because I hate procrastinating. Most of the time people who procrastinate annoy me to the point that I do not even like to be friends with them. I find that people who procrastinate suddenly turn their last minute, hurry up and get it done jobs into an emergency that I some how get sucked into helping them with. It bothers me. I don't like it! Yet here I sit tonight, blogging with a whole list of things on my mind that I should be doing. I should be...

1. Washing the dishes.

2. Putting all the junk mail in the recycle bin.

3. Putting the large cardboard box that my new trumpet case came in out in the trash.

4. Clipping my toenails.

5. Cutting the "box tops" off the Honey Nut Cheerios.

6. Washing my running clothes that are piled up in the bathroom.

7. Taking the tree down.

8. Foam rolling my right leg because it is a hot mess of knots right now after the week of running I have had.

9. Reading that stack of half read books beside my bed.

For some reason, this has become a bad (or good?) habit that is developing with me since I have been running. Running, ironically, has caused me to slow down, not worry, and realize that this whole list of stuff will be waiting on me tomorrow. So for now... I will indeed wait, and complete this list of chores TOMORROW!

Winter Came!

Winter has almost been nonexistent this year. It seems that the heat has not run at all. My gas bill is down and I am blowing all that money I am saving on running stuff that I don't need. I have worn shorts everyday to run, and my new electric blanket is looking at me with this sad, pitiful, neglected look! The last couple of days however winter has reminded us all that she/he/it (whichever gender you prefer to call the evil being) is here, present and accounted for, in spite of the warm temperatures.

I have seen many pics like this one below from various cold and Arctic regions. I have even seen sights like this one here in the deep south after a long cold spell. What I have never seen is a fountain freeze up as fast as this one. Monday afternoon I ran right by this fountain on my route. As I passed it, I thought to myself how nice it was. The water was shimmering in the sunlight and it was calling me to get a drink. I was somewhere around mile 9 when I saw it so I was ready to jump in!

Today, 2 days later, this is what I saw. I was shocked that it froze up so fast. I knew it was cold, but this is a moving fountain of water. It takes more than a mere 32 degrees to freeze up something like this! The water no longer shimmered and it definitely wasn't calling me. If anything, it was saying, "Get the heck inside. It's too cold to be out here!"

I guess that goes to show you how quickly things can change... It's good to know though, that soon the warmth will come, and all will be normal again... Yes, there is a lesson there. Hopefully, you will hear it and be encouraged!

Have You Ever?

Tonight at dinner we started this whole conversation of "Have you ever...? We laughed til we cried over some of these as we shared stories around the table and in the car ride on the way home. I decided some of them were just too good not to share. I would love to know.... Have you ever...

1. ...worn your shirt backwards all day and didn't know it?

2. ...laughed so hard you shot water out of your nose while sitting in a restaurant?

3. ...told the waitress it was your birthday just so you could get the free desert?

4. ...stood at the gas pump, nozzle in the tank, for 5 minutes, only to realize that you never started the pump?

5. ...tried to unlock your house with your car key remote?

6. ...sent the WRONG text to the WRONG person?

7. ...passed gas in public and tried to play it off as your shoe?

8. ...used a linen napkin or table cloth as a blanket in a cold restaurant?

9. ...pulled into a driveway to visit a family yard sale only to realize that the yard was just junky?

10. ...ignored a cell call in public only to realize that the person calling was standing nearby?

I hope some of these made you laugh as much as they did us last night. I hate to admit this publicly, but all of these really happened at some point to either me, Matt, or my good friend Kati. One of them happened last night and started this whole blog. There is a pic below that will give you a hint as to which one it was!

2011 Race Recap

Road Racing started becoming a hobby in 2010, but I guess you could say it became an obsession in 2011. In case you missed them, here is a look at the races I ran in this past year.

In March I completed my 1st full marathon(26.2 miles):

Georgia Publix Marathon. Time-3:29:12

It was VERY challenging. You can read more about it here.

After several weeks of recovery, I entered my first ever Mud Run in Greenville. Matt, Asheton, and Clint were my team members. We blazed through the course in about 42 minutes. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!

When school got out, I had one running goal: Break 20 minutes on a 5k. This race right here is where it happened. July 2nd, 2011 I ran a 5k (3.1miles) in 18:15 at Furman University.

2 days later on July 4th, I broke 20 again on this HILLY course in Columbus, NC

The 2nd week of school I headed up to Lake Lure on a FRIDAY evening after teaching all day to run in the Lake Lure Dam Run 10K (6.2miles). BY FAR, the HARDEST course I have ever run. HILLY is not the word!!!! Finish time 40 minutes even.

In celebration of my first race ever, I signed up to run the 2nd annual AMRBC Race For Missions at my church. This was the first 5k I ran back in March of 2010. This year my buddy, Andy Cockrell ran his first race ever. I was so proud of him! He deserves a shout out right here! I saw him out running on the Rail Trail with his family just yesterday. He was blazing a trail towards a 4 mile run! RUN ANDY RUN!!!!

BTW, I ran this 5k in 18:08 breaking my previous best!!!!

In November 2011 I ran my 2nd Full Marathon, the Savannah Rock and Roll. It was an incredible race. They have bands playing and rocking you through the race at every mile marker. It gave your something to look froward to through each mile. I was able to complete the race much faster than my first marathon. This one was over in 3hrs. 12 min. 53sec.

In 2010 when i started running, my best friend Matt and I decided that the Spartanburg Turkey Day 8k would become a tradition. This year we completed our 2nd one. 8k is 4.98 miles. This year I improved my time from 31 minutes to 28. It was a great run!

Overall I am ecstatic about my year of running, but this year, 2012, promises to be even better. I ran a 10 mile race called Hair of the Dog in Spartanburg on New Year's Day. I am running a full marathon at Myrtle Beach in February, Reedy River 10k in March, Cooper River Bridge Run March 31, and today I put my name in the lottery for the ING NYC Marathon in November. I CAN'T WAIT for this running year to unfold. It is going to be awesome!

2011 Resolution Accountability

Last year, I posted these resolutions on A Dearybury Of A Day for all to see. It was a bit of transparency that I was not looking forward to because I knew that Jan 2, 2011 would come and I have to look at my list to see how I did. I am happy to say that I did really well on my goals for the year.

#1 was to continue running and make it a part of my life... Well big fat check, affirmative, yes, awesome, great job on that one right? I said I would run 2 marathons and I did!!! SO happy about that!

#2 was to learn at least 5 new dishes. I did not learn these all through the year like I hoped, and not all of them are healthy dishes like I wanted, but I did learn how to make Hashbrown Casserole, Pepperoni Pizza Rolls, Baked Potato Rounds, Italian Grilled Chicken Pasta, and Homemade Icing. I guess I can post about these dishes later.

#3 was a complete failure. So sad that I didn't get this done. Hold me accountable with this one! My mom would love this!

#4 was to read at least 3 books. REAL books, not kiddie books. For those of you who know me, you know that I am not a reader. Part of the reason why I make reading so fun in my classroom is because I didn't get that excitement for reading when I was in school and have struggled to enjoy reading all my life. I am happy to say that I DOUBLED my goal! I actually read a total of 7 books in 2011. REAL ONES PEOPLE! That deserves an AWARD!

#5 was to do more random acts of kindness. I cannot tell you about all of these, but I can confirm that I made more of a conscious effort and it was fun to do! There will be more of this in 2012. Who knows, maybe you will be a recipient!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the new 2012 goals.

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Mama!!! Go here and read all the things I love about here from last year! I still love all of these things!!!

New Year, New Blogs

Who knew that way back on July 24th that "A Dearybury Of A Day" would cease to exist for the remainder of 2011? Anyone who knows about the life of a teacher knows that school was quickly approaching about that time, not to mention that I was moving to a new grade level and had LOTS to do! Those 2 things combined can literally suck one into a dark abyss of work that takes months to climb out of. Believe it or not, the holidays helped me to slow down, get caught up, and take a deep breath of fresh air. I am finally at a place where I do not feel trapped in a bottomless groundhog hole!!! To catch you up on the past few months here are a few highlights.

I went with my best friend Matt to his first ever University of Georgia football game in Athens, GA. He is a HUGE Georgia fan, but has never been able to make it between the hedges. Of course they were playing my team so we had a good old fashioned rivalry. Sad for him, but my team won. It was a nail biter though.

I completed my 2nd marathon, the Savannah Rock & Roll. It was a FANTASTIC run, and I beat my previous marathon time by 17 minutes. I completed the 26.2 miles in 3hrs. 12 min. I wasn't even sore the next day. This is one of the shots from the day. Funny story from the race. I realized at about mile 2 that my race bib was on the back of my shirt and that I would not be able to identify myself in the race photos unless it was on the front. So, mid race I turned my shirt around backwards. In this shot I am actually wearing the shirt backwards!

Towards the end of November, thanks to amazing writing and nomination from my principal, I was named Spartanburg County's Distinguished Elementary Reading Teacher of the Year. This pic is from the day when they came to my classroom to give me the award. My kids were ecstatic!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often. Leave comments and interact with me as you can. I love connecting with people from all over. Some days the posts will be inspirational, hilarious, all about my running adventures, or just plain crazy, but either way it is sure to be A Dearybury Of A Day!

Happy New Year!