Random Thoughts of a Runner

 I just finished running 5K (that's 3.1 miles for those of you who don't run).  Not bad for a 58 year old.  Especially one who didn't start running until she was 54.  Four years ago I began running and eventually was running 5K on a regular basis.  I even ran in a couple of races.  Not to say that I can run at a very fast rate, but I do run.  Then life got in the way of my running, job, family stuff, bad weather and I got out of the habit.  I have been trying lately to get back in the habit, so it feels good that I ran as far as I did, even if it wasn't very fast.  Some people think that as you get older (notice I didn't say old) you have to stop doing a lot of things you love.  To a point that is true, but I think that if you persevere then you can do those things longer.  I hope to keep running as long as my knees and health allow.  Maybe this will help keep me healthy for a longer time.  So far I have been fortunate with my knees.  I don't seem to have the issues a lot of people my age have.  So maybe this year I will be able to run in a couple more races.  Not to win but to finish.  Sometimes that is what life is all about.  Not "winning", but finishing.  We look too much to who is #1 and don't look at all the people working to do the best they can until the very end. In finishing what they set out to do, they are winners in every sense of the word. So to any who read this, what ever it is that you desire, keep working on it until you have completed what you set out to do.  Press on to the finish line with all you have.

Christmas Vacation

My first day of Christmas Vacation.  I spent today buying and wrapping presents.  I have been so busy with school and activities associated with schools that I have not had time to shop until today.  I managed to get presents for everyone on my list and get those presents wrapped in one day!  I love this time of year (at least once school is out).  I love thinking of what to buy for the people I love and deciding what they might like.  I love wrapping presents while I listen to Christmas music.  I love the chance to get together with family and friends.  Plus this year, I get to watch two baby girls as they experience their first Christmas.  I can't wait for Scott, Beth, and Elli to be in Prairie Grove.  They will spend the next 5 days in Hot Springs and then have 5 days here.  I won't feel like Christmas has begun until they get here.  I am so thankful for the family I have.  So, I'll just spend the next few days with the family that is here, going to Christmas Eve services, and waiting for the rest of my family to be in Prairie Grove.  Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful Christmas.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

I have so many things to be thankful for this year.  At the moment, everyone in the family is healthy and well.  That is always a reason to be thankful.  I have a wonderful family.  A husband who loves me, and who is my soul mate and best friend.  Two sons and their wives who are all there for me in times of need and who don't mind hanging out with a couple of old people.  Three grandchildren who are my world.  My grandson who is my buddy, cookie making partner, and game playing friend.  Two granddaughters who were born this year healthy and well.  They have brought immense joy to my life.  My parents who are still around to give me support.  Siblings who are not just relations but also my friends.

I am also thankful this year to have a job in an economy where many people are without work.  And not just a job but a rewarding career where I have an impact on the lives of young people.

I am thankful that Mike and I were able to go on a trip of a lifetime to Cortona, Italy.  We will always remember how peaceful and fun filled this trip was.

I am thankful for a Church where I can go to restore my soul each week and for God who is the one who allows me to have all that I am thankful for.

My prayer for all is to have  a year that is full of much to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Life Is Good

Just finished visiting with my new granddaughter, Ellinor Olive, on the computer.  Well, and we visited with her mom and dad too.  Since they live so far away, I am very thankful for the technology that allows us to see and hear them.  It is not as good as getting to hold Elli in my arms, but at least I get to see her and hear the sounds she makes.  I love getting to see Scott and Elizabeth learning how to take care of their daughter.  It gives me a warm feeling inside.

And this is not all that makes life good.  Of course, Isaac and Caroline help make life good.  Any day when I have the privilege of seeing them is a good day.  And seeing their parents too.  Isaac is growing up so fast.  Being in fourth grade means that he has a different teacher for each subject.  It seems like only yesterday when he and I made cookies together for the first time.  He was only 2 years old at the time.  And darling Caroline.  In a little over 4 months she has changed each time we see her.  She is about to get the sitting up thing managed.

It is not only family that makes life good.  I have a job that is challenging , but very rewarding.  I truly love interacting with teenagers and having an impact (I hope) on their lives.  When I watch the news and see people who have lost their jobs and aren't sure how they are going to pay bills, it makes me very thankful for the job I have.  And most days I love it.

 I still enjoy spending time with my husband and having evenings together.  We will get to go meet Elli in person in a couple of weeks and our entire family will be together for a few days.

So life is good.

Back to School

It's been a while since I have posted anything.  Since getting back from vacation I just haven't seemed to have anything to write.  I've done fun things, like keep grandson Isaac for a week and babysit with granddaughter Caroline a couple of times.  For some reason, I just haven't felt like posting.  Probably because I was on the down people feel after getting home from a big vacation.  Well, here I am again, ready to share.

Today was the second day of school for this year.  For the most part it has been pretty smooth.  Each year when school starts, I am excited to meet my new students and get into a routine of helping them to learn new things.  This year hasn't been any different.  I have a few former students in a new class and a lot of new students in first year chemistry.  I look forward to getting to know these young people and challenging them to learn as much as possible.  So for now, looking forward to the year ahead and thinking of all the possibilities.

New York, New York

It's taken me a while, but here are some pictures of our quick trip to New York City.  Mike and I have decided that we need to go back some day and stay longer.  It was a short trip.  We rode the Amtrak train from Alexandria, Virginia to Penn Station in New York on July 4.  We walked around a little, ate a tasty lunch at Bryant Park, then went and checked in at our hotel.

Mike, Beth, and Scott enjoying lunch.

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at Times Square.  It was really nice.  We got a room on the 12th floor because we didn't want to be too close to the street noise.  A good thing since the hotel is next door to a fire station.  In fact, it is the fire station that President Obama visited after Osama bin Ladin was killed.

Times Square

After settling in at the hotel we went for a walk through Central Park.  It really is a nice park in the middle of a huge city.  It was more crowded than usual because of the holiday.

Beth and Scott in Central Park

Mike and Mary in Central Park

Before going back to the hotel we stopped in at a local pub for a couple of beers.  They tasted really good because it was really hot out.  After resting at the hotel for a bit we went to eat at John's Pizzeria on Times Square.  As good a pizza as a person can get.  And the restaurant is really unique also.  We went back to Times Square to see the lights at night then headed back to the hotel.  We watched the fireworks on TV while listening to them outside the hotel.

Times Square

Times Square at night

 The next day we took a bus tour of downtown NYC.  It was very interesting and gave us a feel for the layout of that part of the city.  After lunch we headed back to Penn Station to catch the train back to Alexandria.  It was fast, but a lot of fun. We'll have to visit again someday..

Ceramics made by school children who saw the Twin Towers fall

Empire State Building

Back in the USA

After over 24 hours in airports and airplanes, we finally made it back to the good old USA.  Needless to say we were exhausted, so I am just now finishing my Italy blog.

Arezzo piazza where we drove in old town.

We left Cortona on Thursday, June 30 and returned our rental car to Arezzo.  The hail storm the night before had really dinged the car up, but since it wasn't our fault we didn't have to pay.   Getting the car back to the rental agency turned into quite an ordeal.  Mike took a wrong turn and in our efforts to get back where we needed to be we ended up in the old part of town at the piazza of the duomo.  I don't think we were supposed to be driving there, but once you get on the one way streets, you just have to keep going in that general direction.  The good news about ending up in that piazza was that we knew where we were and how to get back where we needed to be.

After returning the car, we caught the train to Rome.  We had decided to spend one night at Fiumicino in a hotel at the Mediterranean so that it would be easier to get to the airport on Friday to catch our flight home.  On the train ride we saw many of the places we had visited in Tuscany and Umbria and got a final view of Cortona up on the hill.

Final view of Cortona from the train

 We hired a taxi at the train station in Rome to take us to our hotel.  We thought that would be easiest, and it was but it was also very expensive.  Lesson learned.  The ride was quite an experience though.  Fast driving on crowded roads with motorcycles driving between the lanes of traffic.  Motorcycle drivers in Italy have no fear.

We stayed at the Hotel Del Mare by the beach.  It wasn't a fancy hotel, but was clean, had a decent breakfast, and was right on the sea.  This was our only chance to view the sea while on our trip.  It was worth it .  We ate at an excellent seafood restaurant, waded in the Mediterranean, and saw a beautiful sunset.

Sunset on the Mediterrean

Mary by the Sea

Mike by the sea

As it turned out, we made the right choice staying close to the airport.  We took a shuttle to the airport 3 hours before our flight was scheduled to take off.  He let us off at the correct terminal, then we waited in different lines for over 2 1/2 hours.  If we hadn't gotten to the airport so early we would have missed our flight.

So after a day back in the USA, some final thoughts about our trip to Italy.  Our choice to not do any type of tour was absolutely the correct one as well as our choice of where to stay.  I am sure we missed some of the typical tourist places to visit, but we really didn't care about that.  We didn't so much tour Tuscany and Umbria as learn about the people and culture of these places.  We so enjoyed being able to set our own schedule and decide daily what we wanted to do.  And Cortona is the best town we visited.  It is a stop on tours, but most tourists stay in only the lower part of town.  Plus the town still has a small town feel.  The residents sit out on their doorsteps of an evening visiting with their neighbors.  We loved the local shops with goods made in the region.


To those who have been reading about our adventures, I hope you have enjoyed my daily posts.  I have enjoyed sharing with you.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit Italy, be sure to take time to stay a while  in Cortona.  Until next time, arrivederci.