This is my new bike from TrySports. It’s for sale! Email me if you’re interested in buying it.

It’s one fast bike! I look forward to racing it tomorrow in the Buckhorn Triathlon.

School is officially out for the 2008-2009 year. I am extremely happy that it’s summer time. I’ve needed a break! Being a Behavior Support Teacher is hard, but I definitely enjoy it. In fact, I’m lucky that I really love my job. Sure, it’s demanding… but I never dread going in to work or feel like one of those people that go to work “just to pay their bills.” It’s nice to have that kind of balance in my life. I’ve honestly never been happier.

This year completes my first full year as a teacher. Last year, I subbed during the fall and started full-time as a Curriculum Assistance Teacher in January. At this point, it’s difficult for me to reflect on everything I’ve been through this year. There’s been highs… and there’s been lows. I’m very thankful that I have a great administration and coworkers to lean on through it all, because I can’t imagine doing this job without all of thier support.

Some positives from the year:

1. 3 of my students are now back on track to graduate in 4 years after working with them this year.
2. One of the most difficult students I worked with came by my room at the end of the year after his exam just to give me a hug and thank me for all I’ve done to help him this year. He’ll now be promoted to the 10th grade after passing his English EOC.
3. One of my students came by, along with his mother, to give me a card and take a picture with me. I’ve worked with him now since last year, and he’s really grown as an individual.
4. I’ve developed great relationships with the faculty at Athens. They helped me get through. I was so impressed with all the great collaboration that we had!
5. I’ll never forget the toughest day I had this year, and how a student, my colleagues, and assistant principals supported me on that day.
6. The parents were wonderful! I am very happy to have great communication and collaboration with them as well. I couldn’t be as effective without solid support from home.
7. This was the first year that one of my students made it through school the ENTIRE year. She usually ended up on home/hospital before the year was over due to too much stress/anxiety. She made A/B honor roll her first semester.
8. A student that came to us from another high school as a repeating 9th grader is now going to promote to the 10th grade.
9. 2 students graduated mid-year.
10. My Behavior Specialist from Central Office is the BEST! I was very well supported by her, and I could always bounce ideas off of her and collaborate to come up with good lessons, and process about certain behaviors.

It’s been a good year. I’ve learned a lot. And now it’s time to enjoy the summer!!

The Open Water Swim at Jordan Lake this morning was a lot of fun! Marty and the guys with Finish Strong certainly did a great job putting on this event. I ended up winning my age group, and won a coffee mug! What a surprise! Thanks, Bri, for holding on to that for me.

I took off to do a run with Alicia after the swim was over so we could get done and I could go out to eat breakfast (priorities, ya know… ha!). I had no idea that I would win an award or anything, so I didn’t stay around for results. I’ve never considered myself a “swimmer” even though I swam growing up on the swim team and was a little fish… jeez, I was ALWAYS at the pool until I was about 15.

After filling up on scrambled eggs and blueberry pancakes, Joe and I went to PetSmart with the doggies to get some toys and treats. They are now happy chewing on peanut butter basted raw hides (yes, even my dogs LOVE peanut butter!).

Now I’m watching the Prefontaine Classic on TV… and I get to have a massage later! Wahoo! What a great day!!!

Come out for the Open Water Series at Jordan Lake this Sunday! I’m goin out to see how it goes… not been swimming much, but it should be a great workout. Then I’m doing a long run with Alicia afterwards. Should be a good day!

I’ve started swimming with the TAC-One Step Beyond Master’s group again, and I’m really loving the practices. We had a really fun workout this morning, and I got to see some people that I haven’t seen in a while (due to being so busy teaching), which was nice. I have to get out a little early to make it to school on time, but I won’t have to do that for much longer since school ends on June 10th.

Looks like we’ll have good weather tomorrow for a road ride… Summer, here we come!!!

Here is my puppy, Sheldon, after a bath.

I had an awesome ride on Sunday with Deb in the Wilson’s Creek Gorge. It’s been back to work and the real world once Monday rolled around… wish it was the weekend again already so I could be spending the day on the trail!

I have never seen so many people in Wilson’s Creek Gorge as I did on Sunday. There were tons of cars and people swimming in different sections of the river. It was funny with all the “traffic.” I was getting frustrated on our drive in and out of the Gorge, because I am not used to cars actually being around… we’re usually the only cars in there.

Persimmon ridge is a great trail off of Pineola Rd in the Gorge. Sunday was only the third time I had done the Persimmon trail, and it was actually the first time I enjoyed the trail… the first two times I did this trail was during some horrible weather. The first time on Persimmon was during the winter and it was snowing at the top of the climb… the second time was during the spring and it was raining, but it sure felt like it was snowing when we made it up to the top (at least, that’s what Tanya says…).

After the long gravel climb up Pineola, you descend a ways on gravel roads to the trail head. The single track is tight, somewhat twisty, and has a lot of roots and rocks. There isn’t a lot of steep climbing, which is nice. The singletrack links in to a doubletrack creekbed climb with tons of loose rocks, and if it’s been raining a lot (like it has lately) then the trail looks like a creek instead of a trail.

There are some great views of Grandfather mountain off the doubletrack. I need to take a camera with me so I can get some snap shots. Next time!

After the doubletrack, you hook into the lower section of Greentown trail… lots of technical downhill (rocks, gullys, drop-offs) and some river crossings (thigh to waist high if there’s lots of rain). This is where Deb leaves me behind, but I still have a great time on the downhill!

Joe took the doggies for a hike at Mortimer Campground while Deb and I rode… they were nice and tired when we got back.

Some hikers saw me and Deb on the last section of Greentown and one of them yelled to me, “You guys must have some strong legs!!!”

I just thought, “kid you have no idea…”