Miscellaneous Missives

68º NNE 5mph It's official.  I biked all thirty days of April and blogged a bit about it.  Today's weather and ride was the perfect way to end the month. Today was also National Poem in Your Pocket Day.  For the last several years our entire school has participated in this great day because the language arts PLC (professional learning community) has organized the event.  This year I brought it up at several meetings, but no one seemed to have any ambition to do anything about it.  Instead of giving up on the day completely, I celebrated with my students and asked staff to listen to poems if they were asked by students.  As usual, it was a great day.  The principal, who rarely stops by my room, even stopped in to read a poem.  Many teachers had poems and told me they shared them with the students.  Maybe next year we'll be able to do it school wide again.  The kids really do seem to enjoy it. Also today one of the deans stopped by...

Yep, the pictures horrible although the flowering tress are pretty.  I meant to take a picture of me parking my bike at Galactic Pizza for happy hour, but I took my gloves off and the wind blew them under a parked car.  By the time I crawled around and searched under the car, I forgot about taking the picture and my self esteem.  BTW, I don't understand this April showers thing.  Did they mean wind showers.  April has been WINDY.  It's difficult to believe that tomorrow is day 30 of #30daysofbiking.  I will say the majority of rides have been enjoyable to quite enjoyable.  Thanks #30daysofbiking for the motiviation.

64º NWN 10 mph Dear Weather.com, I depend on you each day as I plan my bike ride.  You help me plan my route and clothing for the days ride.  In reality, it's more than merely planning the route for the day.  Looking at the ten day forecast gives me an idea of what rides to do on which day.  If I were to guess, I look at your wonderful app at least six times a day, and I appreciate your help.  Unfortunately, you have features that I do not need.  The pollen index, for one, is not helpful.  Do you really think I need you to tell me that the tree pollen is high?  Let me help you with the answer, "No, my nose, throat, eyes, and sinuses do a find job of letting me know when tree pollen, or any other pollen, are high."  Maybe you could use this space for something more helpful.  Since I do love your help, this is a small complaint.  Thanks for helping me during #30daysofbiking. Sincerely, MM

67º  9mph NW Wow!  Today's bike ride was gorgeous!  I'm eating my smoothie and geeking on the internet.  Also, I've been thinking about adding whey protein powder to my smoothies, but the powder seems to have a lot of calories.  I could eat food with actual protein for the number of calories in the powder.  Am I thinking about this incorrectly?

57º E 5mph At the beginning of this week, I was asked if I'd lead a discussion about the movie Ingredients as one of the 11:00 classes at church.  Although I didn't have time to pick up and preview the DVD, I said I would facilitate the class.  The portion to watch had already been selected, and I watched along with approximately 15 other people as we thought about the food we eat and purchase.  Recently, I've started buying my produce from the coop because they seem more fresh than the produce I buy at Whole Foods.  Watching Ingredients let me know that I was, indeed, making the right choice.  Ingredients also has me looking into a CSA this summer.  Maybe I'll be a little more adventurous with the produce I eat.  Plus, May 2 is opening day at Midtown Farmers Market.

start 42º NE 14 mph   end 60º E 15mph After today's 60 mile ride, I was feeling good about the accomplishment especially since we ended in the wind.  Then, I looked at Facebook.  My friend Al rode a century ride from Atlanta to Jacksonville and is halfway on the century ride back.  Really?!  Oh well, I'm eating an entire burrito from Chipotle to make up for feeling inadequate.

47º ESE 16mph Today was the last day of testing.  I finished yet one more book while they were testing.  Instead of being tested about reading, I wish they could have merely sat and read as I did.  BTW- I liked the book and would give it 4 out of 5, but it didn't have chapters and this drove me crazy.  No chapters?!  This is absurd.

54º NW 8mph Testing resumed today.  It gave me the opportunity for me to finish Edge of Eternity:  Book Three of The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett.  It's a historical fiction novel which dates from 1961 to 1989.  At the end the epilogue dates November, 4, 2008.  As I read the epilogue and finished the book, tears formed in my eyes.  Anyone remember November 4, 2008?  I thought the world (at least the United States) was about to change. As I sat down for lunch, I knew I would finish the book today and need reading material for tomorrow.  My choice for next month's book club is Lila by Marilynne Robinson.  I've had the Kindle copy for awhile, but I can't use my iPad during the testing tomorrow.  Knowing I needed reading material, I looked for the book at the library, but there are holds.  Talking to Magers and Quinn , I realized the paperback doesn't come out until October, and I needed to buy the hardcover.  J, my intel...

49º NW 24 mph  Gusts 32mph Last night as I was reading different news feeds, I read an article about MCA testing problems.  Since my students are in the process of testing, I was interested.  When I saw someone from our district office quoted, I was confused. "In the Bloomington public schools, test coordinator Dave Heistad had already cancelled testing for the day before state officials did the same statewide."   Since I tested all day, I was wondering what he was talking about.  Last night I was having difficulties sleeping and checked emails in the middle of the night.  A message had been sent out at 10:30 that said we weren't testing today (Wednesday).  The sender was not at fault since she didn't receive notification from the district until 9:30 and shouldn't be expected to check her school email at home.  Anyway, since I read the email I was able to be ready to teach today.  If I hadn't read the email, I would've shown up to scho...

29º NWN 24 mph (snow, sleet, gusts to 34mph) "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."  ~Henry Pankey "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor wind, nor gloom of afternoon stays this rider from the completion of her appointed mileage."  ~mm As I started out on today's twenty mile ride it was wet, snowy, and cold.  I decided this ride was a mental ride and not a physical ride.  If I was going to enjoy it at all, I needed to start with a positive attitude.  By mile 11, my right foot was completely numb and my left foot was tingly, but the crosswind was helping me pick up my speed a bit. As I was beginning to feel that I could actually finish without hating today's ride, I was "stopped in my tracks."  Actually, I had survived the snow and sleet (straight at me) and was coping with the wind when the sun came out.  Unfortunately, I missed beating this train by les...

plus light snow/rain mix = super short ride My ride today was short to quite short due to the unsatisfactory weather.  It was cold, windy, and not super enjoyable, but day 20 is finished and I am 2/3 finished.  Fortunately, testing today was not as miserable as I had expected.  I finished the book I checked out (He's Gone).  In fact, I finished it before lunch.  Currently, I've been reading Edge of Eternity:  Book Three of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett.   Book and Glasses are OK.  Computer is not OK. At lunch, I looked at the internet since I'm not able to use electronics during testing.  One of the libraries close to my school had a copy in the shelves.  I left quickly, so I'd have reading materials for the afternoon and forgot my library card.  The librarian was very nice and helpful.  She let me check it out without the library card and joked about the heft of the book.  Honestly people, this and my in...

58º  WNW 15mph Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver      Source of all that is and that shall be,           Father and Mother of us all,                Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom      sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,      now and forever.  Amen. ~from today's service I love the service I attend at church.  Today we celebrated Earth ...

71º E 12mph This morning a couple of friends and I participated in the Hot Chocolate 5K.  Honestly, we didn't run; we merely did a brisk walk.  During the walk we discussed next week's testing.  I need to give the MCA reading test during my class next week.  As a test monitor, I am not allowed to use any electronics which means I can't work on school work since I can't use my computer.  It also makes reading difficult because all of my books are on my iPad (Kindle).  Last week I decided to reserve a book at the library, so I would have something to read (do).  With perfect timing, today I received an email from the library saying my book was now available.  Day 18 of biking was a trip to the library and back.

74º NW 8mph After school J and I met at my house for our 50 mile ride.  The weather was beautiful.  Green growth and chirping birds were everywhere on our ride.  Towards the very end of our ride (less than two miles left), I yelled, "Stop."  The sunset was amazing and I wanted a picture.  After I got off my bike, I tried to take a picture without the power lines and ended up with this tree.  A man was walking up the path, and I asked him if he could move the power lines for me.  I think we all know his answer, but I do think he was a bit humored.

72º SW 10 mph Today is National High Five Day. Who knew?!  I'm blogging while I eat pizza after today's ride.  In five minutes I must get in the shower, so I can leave in time to make it to the school musical.  Why should you care?  You should care because it's causing me to have another weak blog entry.

70º SE 17mph Ride 15/30.  Enough said?!  I hope so because it's all I have for today.  

68º SSE mph My ride tonight was another short and sweet ride because I was starving and wanted to have dinner.  I had to bike after conferences which ended at 7.  My last conference walked in the door at 6:55 and didn't leave until after 7.  The student explained that he didn't like to do things my way because his was faster.  I tried to explain that his 33% showed that perhaps his day wasn't working, but he had a bad attitude (so did I).

62º  WNW 17mph Gusts up to 33mph April is windy.  Have I mentioned this?  This week is crazy, and it's going to be difficult to get in all seven days.  Don't get me wrong; I'm going to ride each and every day although the week is crazy.  Today I needed to get in 15 to 20 miles.  Actually I'm supposed to ride two twenties, a fifteen and a fifty plus my other random rides.  I've decided to do three 18+ rides and the fifty.  Anyway, today I kept looking at the weather.  Before today I didn't know that weather.com gives wind gusts.  I found this out and obsessed as I kept checking to see if the gusts would diminish.  Although they did not, the ride was better than I thought.   A college student observed in my class today.  She's supposedly a senior, but I'm hoping she has more classes and/or student teaching before she is in the classroom.  When I suggested she introduce herself to the class, she did it sitting b...

62º   S18mph Since I rode a long ride yesterday, today's ride was a short ride.  My plan was to ride to water.  I can get to water fairly quickly, so I had to add a little bit more to my ride.  Not only am I finished with my rides today, I've finished many of my shopping type errands and am feeling quite productive.  The weather has also helped me realize today is a day to paint my toenails.  It's going to be a productive day.

48º SSW 8mph to 62º S 15 mph Day 11 included a 42 mile ride.  Approximately 8 miles of the ride was towards the end into the wind, and I will say it was exhausting.  At least we were able to turn the corner and ride without for awhile before we headed back against the wind for the last mile or a bit longer.  The weather, however, was beautiful.  Some trees are starting to show a little green, and spring might be here for real. When I returned home, I decided to attempt installing the new light fixture in the hallway.  First, I had to call for help with the wiring.  After getting advice from a couple people, I decided I could handle the wiring part.  Unfortunately, I didn't understand that the mounting of the light would be the part that would make me sweat and swear.  After over an hour and a half, probably much over, I had the light installed.  As I went downstairs to switch the breaker back to on, I was a bit nervous and not sure ...

54º WNW 13mph As I was getting ready for school this morning, I realized that enough was enough.  I need to start counting calories and getting this weight thing under control.  It's been going off the track since December.  During Easter season, I ate bag after bag of jelly beans and told myself I would start taking care of this weight problem the day after Easter.  Although I didn't take this serious until this morning, I am once again pals with My Fitness Pal. Today's ride was 20+º warmer than yesterday, enough said.

feels like 31º/ wind N 15 mph I need to start adding a weather report for each day's picture. Part of my thirty days of biking is preparing for the Fulton Grand Fondo (Century Ride in May).  We skipped the first two weeks of a six week training and are using the last four weeks to prepare ourselves.  Last week I believe the goal was to ride 75 miles (?) with the longest ride being 35 miles.  This week the goal is 95 miles with the longest ride being 40 miles.  They plan it out for four rides, but since I'm riding every day, my miles will be a bit higher.  Knowing that I would have plenty of miles this week and knowing the weather sucks (actually snow during dinner), I decided today's ride would merely be getting on my bike and riding.  I even planned a mile route (then added a hill to make it a bit longer... 1.16).  It was a lame ride, but the important thing is I rode.  Unfortunately, I did not stop in the rain to get today's picture of the ...

I feel as though I'm doing a crummy job taking photos of my #30daysofbiking, but I will continue to try to improve.  Sometimes I see something photo worthy, but I don't want to stop.  Today I should have taken a picture of the guy practicing some kind of routine with hoops near the trail, but I was riding into the wind and wanted to keep going.  The pictures today are taken from the Sabo Bridge.   Both pictures of the new Vikings stadium construction are taken with my left hand above the fence. Day of Pink  is today and our school celebrated by asking students and staff to dress in pink.  I wore the same items I've worn for the last two or three years, pink layers of shirts, some cheap pink high top shoes from Target, and a pair of pink fishnet stockings.  During one of my last classes, a girl asked if my fishnets were tights.  I didn't really want to get into the fishnet conversation, so I said, "Yes, they are."  Basically, they a...

"I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career.  I have lost almost 300 games.  On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot... and missed.  And I have failed over and over and over again in my life.  And that is why... I succeed."  ~ Michael Jordan Our school focuses a lot on having a growth mindset .  In reality, I think teachers have always focused on a growth mindset although we didn't have the exact words to use.  Today we discussed two quotes by Michael Jordan both had the qualities of growth mindset.  Grit is another word used lately in education.  As we were discussing the quotes today, I was thinking about my negativity towards tonight's bike ride.  I knew it was going to be windy, and I was certain it was also going to be a bit rainy.  My change of attitude (mindset?) made my ride easier.  Although it was windy and sprinkling, it was a great ride.  When I finished the ride, I felt in...

Walking like a man, hitting like a hammer, she's a juvenile scam. Never was a quitter, tasty like a raindrop, she's got the look. Heavenly bound cause heaven's got a number when she's spinning me around, Kissing is a colour, her loving is a wild dog, she's got the look. Roxette "The Look" This morning I was lucky enough to get an appointment with the wrist orthopedist suggested by my physical therapist.  I like the orthopedist and appreciated the time she spent looking at my x-rays and talking to me about my wrist.  It seems I have a new biking look for the next month since I will be wearing this brace when I am biking.  After the appointment, I thought it seemed unnecessary to wear it all (most) of the time while at school for the next two weeks, but at the end of the day, I realized the importance of one's wrist.  Anyway, I appreciate that not once did the doctor suggest that I couldn't bike every day.  She even wonde...

Wildlife near the Bike Trail   Nay! After posting yesterday, I realized my wrist was sore to quite sore.  I started getting sharp pains, a bone on the sore wrist looked a bit higher than a bone on the other wrist, it was a bit swollen, and the icing seemed to do little.  Since I wanted to make sure all was well, I decided to go to Twin Cities Orthopedics this morning after Easter sunrise service.  As I walked in there was another couple in the waiting room, but no one else was in the building.  It was strange!  Calling only made the phones ring.  Finally, I reached an answering service, and they told me the clinic was closed.  I explained that even though they were closed, there entire building was open for us to walk around.  Knowing no one at TCO was going to help me, I went to Southdale for an x-ray.  The doctor told me it was a sprain and sent me home with a splint.  When I returned from my bike ride, the doctor called and ...

This morning's ride was chilly (thirty-something degrees at the start), but it was good.  When I rode my first ride with my cycling shoes, I posted about arriving home without a scratch.  A Facebook friend replied, "Mary, Mary, Mary. It's only a matter of time. It won't happen when you have a chance in hell of saving it. No, no it will happen it front of complete strangers that will think to themselves, 'Oh, that poor girl must be handicapped'."  Yep, that happened today.  I stopped and fell over with one foot still clipped in.  Injuries were small, and I'm not as embarrassed as I probably should be.  Perhaps it's because I was merely trying to get through the ride. Today I also started to grade the five paragraph essays.  I have one class completed.  It takes approximately two hours.  My goal is to finish one more tonight and tackle the other three tomorrow.  It looks like spring break has come to an end. Today is also the last d...

Today was a lame day of biking, but I biked.  My bike ride today took me to the doctor and the pharmacy and back home.  It seems my obnoxious cough and sore throat are merely the result of a viral infection, but I also have a sinus infection which does require an antibiotic.  Basically, I need to keep doing what I'm doing and add the antibiotic.  I'm not sure it explains why I'm completely wiped out and am having this head spinning, but what do I know? Today I give thanks for... 1) ibuprofen 2) sunshine 3) the patience of doctors with their patients C'mon... it's al I have because I really do feel crummy.

I've been feeling fairly crummy all week, so I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for tomorrow.  Today, however, I went to the pharmacy in God's Country and asked the pharmacist to recommend a good cough syrup.  He gave me cough syrup with codeine.  It seems in God's Country one doesn't need a prescription for cough syrup with codeine although maybe this is everywhere.  Perhaps I'm not up to date on what drugs require prescriptions, but I do think I should have a decent, cough free, sleep tonight. This morning's ride was short due to some health related ailments (coughing, room spinning...), but it did remind me why making a pledge to do 30 days of anything is worthwhile.  I knew I couldn't not go this early in the game.  Thirty days builds a routine.  For those walking, writing, biking, whatever, thirty days makes it become a habit, and a pledge makes one feel as though the should follow through. I pledge thirty days (all of April) to... T...

Today was day one of #30daysofbiking.  I'll take a photo each day, but I tend to ride the same trails, so there won't be a lot of variety.  After my early morning ride, I headed for God's Country.  I enjoyed dinner with a great friend looking at the white caps on the lake and watching the lightening in the distance.  Happy April Fool's Day! Today I give thanks for... 1) long time friends 2) the beginning of #30daysofbiking 3) lightening flashes over the lake