Running theme

I realize that these days I write about 1 of 3 things: work, our wedding, or running.

I'm trying in every possible way to collect items for a scrapbook of sorts chronicling our year of being engaged. It certainly only happens once and I want to remember all of it. I do have to admit that on some days, it has taken over my work day (oops) but I don't know how you can help that. I'm at work early and leave late, so I don't know when I could make some of the calls if I didn't do it during the work day.

We've gotten a lot done so far: booked a place for the reception, I got my wedding dress, and we've been collecting information on photographers, DJs, and limos, hair, makeup, and working towards the ceremony. Unfortunately, the ceremony location is going to have a lot to do with the weather which kind of stinks.

I dream about things related to the wedding and I just can't wait. We were watching a show where one of the couples were saying there vows and I just got the chills knowing that that is going to be us soon. Today does mark 3 years and 2 months together. It's so crazy to me.

Anyway, this has just been a lot of babbling today.

Sidenote

On a sidenote, I got my butt out of bed again this morning and went running. Everyday has some improvements.

For people who get up at 5am to go running are probably thinking to themselves, so what? But I am proud of myself. In no way shape or form am I a morning person so this is a MAJOR improvement for me.

Day 3 o'running

I had decided that I would come in to run before work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. However, I just couldn't get out of bed yesterday morning, so I brought clothes with me to run after work. After all, it was supposed to be a light day, no home games, and practices typically end by 5pm so that the kids can get on the late bus. However, soccer decided to go late and I didn't even finish with that until almost 6pm. Staying here after that to go run just wasn't an option.

So instead, I went this morning and improved a little. It's getting a little bit easier running, I'm at least getting my wind back quicker this time than I have in the past. Since the temperature gauge in my car only read 40 degrees, there was NO WAY I was going running outside. I've done all of that in past, running through all types of weather, and I just can't run in the cold anymore. It hurts to even think about it.

However, treadmill running I feel can be a little deceiving. It is certainly not the same as running outside because you may be in the best shape on the treadmill, but then you go run outside and it's a shock. That's what makes me a little nervous about running indoors on the treadmill. My friend and I have decided to start doing road races together because we've both done them alone in the past. I enjoy doing them, but it's not as much fun if you don't have someone to run with. I just don't know if I'm going to be able to get myself outside now that it's officially cold.

Speaking of cold. I am VERY excited to be going to a Rutgers football game on Sunday, however, it's at night which means it's going to be very cold. That proposition scares me. We went to the Army/Navy football game last December and it was COLD. So cold that my body just HURT. It will be worth it though to finally get to go to a game :)

Can you believe it???

Can you believe it??? I got my wedding dress this weekend!!! It's such a surreal feeling to have tried on wedding dresses and to have found the ONE that is meant for ME :)

Needless to say I'm MORE than excited!! Things seem to be coming together a little bit more and more. I also picked out the bridesmaids dresses and just love them. My parents had an engagement party for us at our favorite restaurant in my hometown with my grandparents, aunts and uncles and 2 cousins. It was so much fun and it's fun that they are so excited as well.

We also got to spend time with two of my closest friends and their new baby. Well, I suppose he's not so new anymore, but he's just adorable. He's so good and happy!! I could have sat there with him all day and just watched him.

I had a great weekend and just wanted to share my happiness!

Random

Today I'm having a bunch of random thoughts running through my head.

It's day 2 of being miserable for SEVERAL reasons, many of which pertain to my job. However, it is also day 2 of my running for the week and today went a lot better than day #1. Since it was raining heavily this morning when I got to work, I decided to run on the treadmill instead. I ran 2 miles and had such a great sweat going on that it outweighed the fact that I only ran 2 miles in the amount of time I used to run 3 miles in. That is quite sad to me, but I kept reminding myself that this is only the 2nd time running since the first week in July when everything went downhill for me in the running department. I was happy to be back on the wagon with running but it does produce a couple of negative effects.

Until running becomes more natural for me again, it kills me when I run in the morning because then I am dragging the rest of the day from just feeling so exhausted. This week has been a rough week to begin with, so when you add on early morning workouts, it doesn't make the week go by any quicker.

Between yesterday and today I've had several work matters that have driven me crazy. I am reminded over and over again how much things have changed when it comes to children competing in athletics and parental involvement. When my family participated in athletics, we were fortunate to have parents who tried to make it to every event we participated in. They did this even if it meant that they had to leave work early, take a half day, etc. I loved that my parents were always there to support me. Even this summer when I ran a race, my parents were there at the finish line to cheer me on (along with my wonderful fiance).

However, my parents were involved because they were there for us and supportive of us. If we came home and complained about the coach, they listened, but also sided with the coach if they knew we had an attitude, or were in the wrong. These days, parents call the school over every single negative thing (I stress thing because it can be anything right down to a dirty look). It's amazing to hear things that parents call the school over to complain about.

In my department, I must call parents to inform them if their child is injured. There is a certain amount that I will draw the line with because I feel that high school teenagers should have enough responsibility to relay the information I give them to their parents when it comes down to home care. I have even made several papers to send home with kids for specific injuries. However, there have been parents who have called to say that they needed a call, they should've gotten a call, etc. It's amazing. Do kids take responsibility for anything anymore?

Anyway, I could go on and on with that because I had issues with parents yesterday who didn't seem to care what I had to tell them. So either way, it's a lose lose situation.

I've noticed a ton of fruit flies and regular flies in my office and today I found the source. It was DISGUSTING to discover this and annoying to know it was because my office is neglected in the cleanliness department in this place.

Either way, this is the end to 2 crappy days in a row and I know that things aren't any better with the other half. We need a good weekend.

Relating to teenagers

I had my orthodontist appointment today and my doctor told me that in three weeks I will have my braces completely off. This is very exciting to me to have a nice smile, and to be done with the metal in my mouth. It has definitely been an interesting experience having braces as an adult because I've been looked at as a teenager. I work in a high school and I've been asked where I was going, why I was late to class, and where my pass was!

On the flip side, it has also been something to relate to the teenagers with. I was fearful the day I got them on because of experiencing metal mouth as an adult working in a high school setting. If the kids said anything to me, it's not that I would really care, but in some sense, I thought I would. To be honest, not ONE kid said anything to me when the braces first went on. Then eventually, little by little, it became a conversation piece. Teenagers WITH braces would ask how long I had to have them on for, we would discuss complaints because of the braces, etc. We were sympathetic TOWARDS each other but not ONCE did any of them make a comment about me wearing them as an adult or even tease me in a fun way. All the ADULTS did that.

When I started school up again in August, I had already had the top row off by then. Lots of kids made comments about the fact they were off and even told me I had a nice smile. I just found it interesting to relate to teenagers over something so silly and how they were actually sympathetic as opposed to even friendly banter about them.

It's funny the kinds of things you can relate over.

Back in the saddle

Today was my first day back in the saddle with running. I had been doing so well up until the middle of the summer and had gotten to the point where I ran a five-mile race. However, I succumbed to lack of time and gave up on it.

When I'm not running, I miss it, and when I AM running, I hate it. I found a place to shower at work, so I really didn't have any more excuses as far as not running. I decided that for now, I'm going to start with 3 days a week of coming in to work early, running, and then showering. Today was my first day and I have to admit that it sucked, I'm tired, and cranky now. I know that's just the first day and that it will get better. It just reminds me how much I hate starting all over again.

I'm counting down the days to the weekend because we have a bye this week in football so no weekend work for me! Saturday I'm going to try on wedding dresses and try to find a bridesmaid dress for my girls. I'm super excited, but as a result, my week has been dragging on. Saturday evening we're having an engagement party with my close extended relatives at one of my favorite restaurants. We're on tap to have a great weekend and I just can't wait.

Frustrating

This weekend I found out what people meant when they said that it can get a little frustrating with all this planning. I'm going to reiterate again that from the beginning my whole goal was NOT to be stressed over the little things. This is supposed to be FUN. I'm not going to say that it's not fun, but it is certainly not easy either. The big important things to think of are the hard things.

It's amazing that the photography part is the most expensive. Now, I'm not going to be naive and say that I DIDN'T know it was that expensive. Just look at school pictures growing up and the packages my parents used to buy. They certainly weren't cheap. This part of the wedding is very important to me, but I also don't want to break the bank on it either. Shopping around for these services are also frustrating in the sense that you have a million questions to ask, they always want you to come in to talk to them, and it's not a quick decision. I'm a quick one...I like things decided and I don't want a ton of choices either.

But anyway, aside from that rant, on a lighter note, we signed the contract this weekend for the reception hall. I'm very excited because at least we know that that part is official and we at least have a place to have the reception. That's always an important part of the process.

I'm STILL very excited, I'm going to NOT to try to get stressed, this was just a rant on my part.

Distractions

Let me tell you, being engaged is VERY exciting. I still get giddy when I look down and see that I have a diamond ring on my finger and that we are getting married in 9 months. Everyday, I find myself pulled to the different wedding pages looking up dresses, flowers, ceremony ideas (which I still haven't found a good site for ceremony readings), etc. I could waste a whole day just browsing through the different sites.

On the flip side of the excitement, I'm at the point in the fall season where I feel I need a little break. Everyday has been crazy and overwhelming and jam-packed with lots of things. Each day is a little bit of a countdown until the next time I know I'll have a few hours to just sit around doing nothing. Of course, nothing turns into something. Yesterday I found myself BORED when I was given a few extra hours in the afternoon that don't usually exist for me. I layed on the couch and got caught up on my Thursday night shows (I am an addict of Grey's now, just wish I had gotten into it from the beginning). Afterwards, I was at a loss for what to do. I felt bored. Now, there were certainly plenty of things I could have found to do, but I didn't feel like moving from the couch, and was bored. It's funny how things work.

As far as the wedding planning is concerned, we're very much into planning for the honeymoon right now. We've never really been on a BIG vacation before, so we kind of have the feeling to make this one a long one and to really take advantage of a preset vacation. I'm excited perusing through the different options and what we can do on this vacation. Our first choice DJ turned us down last night (very close friend of mine/mentor growing up) because he just wants to be there to celebrate with us and not have to work. Now, I gave him that option, but it does feel a little stinky now because we trusted him and I wouldn't have had to go through all that extra work of finding someone that we like. I don't even know where to start with finding a DJ now.

Oh well, such is life.

Well, outside and back to work for me.

It's official!!

We set a date!! It's official!! We now have a day to look forward knowing that we are going to get MARRIED that day.

Now I can admit, I am THAT girl who has envisioned her wedding day since she was VERY young. I used to wonder what it would be like to wear the pretty white dress and walk down the isle with my dad looking into my just about husband's eyes. I can say now that it's happening!!

We went and looked at one of the places for a second time after we had decided to start looking at different dates. When we saw the upstairs room that we hadn't seen yet, we walked in and just KNEW it was the one. The room is just gorgeous with amazing views. All along we wanted to incorporate a place that was on or near the water. Two whole walls of this place are windows and have great views of the bay. I was envisioning an evening reception as the sun is setting on the water.

We both knew it was it too. We started talking about the little things, entering the room for the first time as a married couple, where our bridal party would be seated, etc. I had chills knowing that in less than a year, we would be back here having a wonderful evening celebrating.

He's just as excited as I am about the wedding. I actually know a few people who are planning their weddings at the same time and in some of those situations the significant other doesn't seem as excited with the planning. I am lucky because it is very important for me for BOTH of us to decide what we like, what we don't like, and what is going to make the day PERFECT.

This is all very exciting!!