5K

So, I have been working out for about a year now. I have dropped 2-3 pant sizes and I'd still like to drop another. Last Spring, I was going to Shan's, they gym in town, every morning at 5:30am to work out and did a video every evening with mom at the Claremont School. Over the summer, I continued going to Shan's and walked 3-4 miles every evening with a friend. This fall, I went to Shan's for about a month and just decided that the $30 could be better spent else where and I would have to become creative on ways to work out. We continued to walk every evening until it got too dark. So now my working out ways have really been cut back. I started going to Kickboxing every Monday and I love it! It really works every element and muscle of your body.

Since Samantha moved out, Mom and I have decided to make her room into an exercise room. We are doing that tomorrow and I am so excited about it! So her and I are going to get up every morning and have our own little workout session! And the best part is that we don't have to get out in the cold..because it's in our own house!! :-)

So my evening workouts have went to running..jogging..walking. I am up to a running a solid mile! And my mentor at school, Tammy Powers, has been training to run a 5K and she runs 3 times a week and is up to 2.75 miles! So after talking with her and doing some research, I think I am going to try to run my first 5K this summer! I can't wait! And I'm even excited about training for it! There is a program called Couch to 5K in 9 weeks. They even have a PodCast for it! So that is my plan for tonight! To go home and download the 1st weeks PodCast and start training! The website is http://www.c25k.com/ and it is full of great information! Stretches, PodCasts, and much more! I encourage everyone to check it out! The PodCast is basically like being with a trainer for 20 to 30 minutes, 3 days a week. He tells you when to walk, when to run, when to stop, everything! Who needs more motivation than that!

This is a huge challenge for me but I am extremely excited about it! I love to work out but I love to walk even more! And I haven't ran a mile since I ran Cross Country in grade school! I know of several 5Ks around the area and am already planning to be in 2. ERFAEs is in June(if our honeymoon doesn't conflict!) and there is one in Robinson in the Fall.

So if anyone is needing to know something to get me for Christmas...exercise gear! I get a lot of my stuff from Kohl's because it's cheap and good stuff! I'm going to invest in a pair of UnderArmour leggings next weekend along with a mock long sleeve top. That way I don't freeze to death EVERY time I run.

Wish me luck! I'll keep everyone posted on what races I am in! By the way..I'm running to finish..not to compete...at least not yet! Come cheer me on!

Field Trip

I took my first field trip yesterday! All by myself too! I took 5 juniors from my Web Design I class to Olney to check out their WTGR News equipment and sit in on their Web Design class. The kids loved it and we got some really great ideas! During Mrs. Caraway's prep period, we created a video of our own, added in some footage in front of the green screen, edited the timeline, put in some music, and viola..we have a movie to show the rest of the Web Design kids today! I am so excited to incorporate video production into Web Design II next year. To get the kids geared up for it and give everyone a little taste of what's in store for next year, I think we are going to create a really cool commercial to advertise the Saddie Hawkins Dance in the Spring.

I thought the day went really well and so did the kids. We all learned more than I thought we would and it was a very productive day! We even made a bloopers video from the day spent at ERHS! It was neat going back to my high school. Things have changed a LOT though. Rules are not as strict, cell phones are basically okay as long as they are not used during class, new teachers, rude students, and many other things. It's different when you step away from things and look back at it all. The departments that were strong when I was there still seem to be the strong departments now...especially Ag! Wow! Very popular!

Anyways, our day was great and I cannot wait to show my Web Design class, colleagues, and administration what we learned!

BarackTails Anyone?

Oh yes! It was a late night last night for me. Didn't go to bed till 10:30. YIKES! That's late for me. We knew all along Barack would make us proud! Change is what we need and change is what we will get, along with history in the making. My family and I are huge Obama supporters and we were so excited last night when he won! He took states that haven't voted Democratic in decades! Leslie, Samantha, Rhett, and I watched the Road to 270 while Pat drank BarackTails(instead of cocktails). Then he headed into the Court House, Democratic Headquarters, and VFW with mom. What a night! We knew he would pull it off!! We have been behind him since he ran for the Senate in 2004. Mom and Pat have went to see him several times. We have buttons, stickers, magnets, and t-shirts that show our support for him. We only hope that we will prove the McCain supporters wrong and turn this country around.

Rylan and I were talking last night, and many of our students swear this world is coming to an end. Many students only see what is shown in the commercials and on TV. However, I have a few students that prove their peers wrong by pulling up the candidate's websites for the truth! It amazes me how the students really are involved in the politics.

Congratulations Barack Obama on a successful election! I look forward to see the changes that he has in store for us in the future!

Photography Blog

My best friend and I have started a blog that we can publish our photos on. I encourage everyone to check it out! http://amy-n-erin.blogspot.com/