Thankful #4: I didn't drown

So, about a month (or more) ago a friend of mine in my ward committed me to signing up for a triathlon.  We would talk running/swimming/biking a lot and both of us had a goal to complete a triathlon this fall.  So, we signed up for the Telos Triathlon. 

(this tri is in backwards order. Run, Bike, Swim)

I beefed up my swimming routine (meaning I went more than once a week), and Sarah helped me to be a little more efficient. (she was a great teacher, I wasn't a great student)  Really the only part of the triathlon I was even concerned for was the swimming part.  I didn't want to drown.  

Miracles occurred.  

I ate candybars for dinner the night before just in case I never got to eat again 

(smart choice right).    

I swam 350 meters after running and biking.  

I didn't drown.  

See, Miracle.  

I didn't drown. 

However

I did almost freeze to death, since apparently I was so concerned to not drown I forgot to take into account that we had, in fact, signed up for a triathlon that was in November, in Utah. Stupid? -- yes. 

I know, I know, the writing was right on the wall.  Snow was inevitable.  Freezing temperatures were a given.  Yet, I didn't even consider that -- I was worried about what I was going to look like in the pool (picture a flailing fish if you want a visual).  I should have worried that my fingers and toes wouldn't regain any type of warmth for 48 hours and that even more layers wouldn't have helped that much (especially when you have to strip down to your swimsuit outside).  I should have worried about how I was going to keep pace with the real racers if they cut out part of my strongest sport - the bike.  In retrospect, I wasn't thinking.  I was vain.  I was worried about my swimsuit (which if you are wondering, is cute and I love it and it matches my swim cap and goggles)

Regardless, I didn't drown 

(and I only sorta looked like a flailing fish).  

I finished 3rd in my age group.  

Not too bad for a non-swimmer like myself. 

This is us freezing at the start (and yes, this is the best picture out of the ones we took, which says a lot)

We survived and went to breakfast with swim cap hair.  Amazing.

  

Thankful #3

I am grateful that I am obsessive compulsive about cleaning, because it gave me something to do on Friday night when I didn't really feel like doing anything else. 

Cleanliness is next to Godliness, so I think my obsession with clean is justified.  

Mostly when I went to bed after a LONG week I was thankful for clean, 800 thread count sheets.  Nothing better I tell you, nothing.  

I may or may not have ironed my sheets and pillowcases before I put them back on my bed. 

Thankful #2: PS I love you

 

Because I am no longer an employee of Art City Elementary where Shoni has an unending supply of air freshner I had to find an alternate.  

Today I am thankful for this wonderful body spray called:

PS I Love You

So thankful

In the past 2 days I have had 3 children throw up in my classroom.  2 of those children threw up on me.  1 of them made it to a garbage can (or rather a garbage can was shoved in his very green, very threatening face).  

When Child #1 threw up the power was out, and had been for a number of hours.  

We are talking serious all over the place vomit. . . . all over the floor and all over my boots.  There is no way to clean up that kind of a mess sufficiently without a carpet wet vac, and a wet vac doesn't work when the power is out.  

So, in order to deal with the somewhat unpleasant/horribly offensive smell I sent one of my students to the faculty bathroom to retrieve a body spray.  She came back with above mentioned PS I love you and we sprayed that all over the classroom.  

The kids loved it and kept asking me what it was called.  

Of course I told them. 

Now they refer to it by name like it is a member of the family:  "Teacher, should we get the PS I Love You now?"  "Teacher, if someone else throws up we can just spray the PS I Love you."  "Teacher, you are probably going to need to buy more PS I Love You" 

PS I Love You and Miss Ostler's 2nd grade class are pretty tight.  

Especially since Child #2 and Child #3 decided today would be a good day to continue the puking pattern.  This time the smell wasn't so bad (thanks to a quicker, more efficient and effective clean up), but you better believe we sprayed that PS I Love You to our hearts content.  

I should probably tell Bath and Body works that they are getting some serious free advertising because of my misfortune.  

PS I Love You

Here's to hoping that tomorrow we are done with the sickness.  

I'm done with it.

It is high time that I start blogging again and what better time than November, right!? 

Last year I went to Boise to see a former roommate of mine and she taught me the importance of being grateful.  We were even on the news.  (We, meaning her, when I let her do all the talking).  The news-man was asking us if we were out doing our Christmas shopping and Tara emphatically informed him that, we were NOT, in fact, doing our Christmas shopping because we hadn't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet and we were going to take time to Be Grateful. 

So, that is what I am going to do.  I am going to be grateful.  

I think that I can post something every day in November that I am grateful for.  

Today I am grateful for two things:

#1 Working electricity after the power was out for 4 1/2 hours at school today.  
 #2 A custodian who will clean up the puking mess in my classroom that occurred during the above power outage and 2nd grade chaos. Seriously, puke everywhere.  I was not grateful for that, but I was grateful that the custodian took care of it (even though he thought it was a joke) while I yelled/gently suggested that all the students run out to recess. 

That said, I guess I am actually grateful for one more thing. 

#3:  I am grateful that this day is over. After Halloween on Monday -- inside recess and snow on Tuesday -- and a power outage and puking today my bed couldn't sound any more inviting.  Yep, definitely grateful that this day is over.