: 1 :
It's been a few months since I did a Quick Takes, but I figured if I'm going to start up on the blogging bandwagon then this has to be one of those things I do. Because if I can't write seven random pieces of info, well then, what am I good for anyway?
: 2 :
Jason and I went out on an honest to goodness date tonight. We rarely go out on dates, not because we aren't periodically without the girls, but because we are so ridiculously lame that when we find ourselves without kids we...*drumroll*...clean the house. I know! So much for keeping the spark alive. But tonight my parents watched the girls, and we went out to see "Looper." It was really good. Great action, excellent acting (I do love Joseph Gordon Levitt), and beautifully filmed. It was violent, yes. And sad, yes yes yes. Nevertheless, if you can get past the well-earned R rating it received, I highly recommend it.
: 3 :
On the small screen, I am happy that the fall shows have started up. Even though I am really only dedicated to half a dozen shows--and truthfully, I could stop watching all of them and it would be okay, except maybe Castle. I would really miss Castle--it's always nice when there's something new to watch on tv. We like Grimm because it's set in Portland and the characters are charming enough (the fantasy/sci-fi part of it is fine too). And then we also try to watch Fringe, Hawaii 5-0, and Modern Family. Anything that we watch beyond that is just extra. Jason is tryout out that new show Revolution, but I just cannot get past the fact that batteries don't work. The power going out, fine. But batteries? Seriously? How does that happen?
And that explains why I do not read much fantasy or science fiction. Because too often it just doesn't make sense to me.
: 4 :
Sydney has been having trouble waking up in the morning for school. She, like me, would rather have a full 12 hours of sleep, and alas, she only gets 11. Her solution?
"When you wake me up tomorrow, I want you to pick me up, shake me, and then drop me back on the bed," she asked yesterday.
"Are you crazy? No way," I told her.
"Please! Just try it! I think it will wake me up!"
So would throwing a bucket of cold water on you, but I don't think that's a great idea either. Fortunately, she woke up on her own this morning so I didn't have to try out the shake and drop method.
: 5 :
Jason has been giving state quizzes in his history class where the students have to name and locate a certain number of states.
Last week he quizzed them over 20 specific states, and one student complained. "Mr. Staley, I know where ten states are and you only picked 4 of the states that I know!"
"Well," said Jason, "let's do the math here. You know 20% of the states, and on this quiz you will get 20%. So it makes perfect sense to me."
"But I know 10 states! And you just didn't pick those states!"
"You know 20% and that's what you're getting."
It's hard being a student when you have a teacher who insists on you learning something.
: 6 :
Speaking of students, I seem to have a good group of students in my classes this semester. Both my classes are quite full, (23 in one class and 24 in the other, and the classes max out at 25) but the students are nice and most of them have been good about getting their assignments in too. Happy me. One class is bound and determined to keep me off topic--they are always asking about my running and my upcoming marathon and training and parenting and, oh hey, what do you think about the length of speeches?--which I find both humorous and endearing because regardless of what I talk about in class, their assignments are still going to be due and they'll still have to give speeches. So I figure, whatever makes them happy.
: 7 :
And speaking of running the marathon, it's coming up! On October 7, I'm running the Portland Marathon and I'm ready to be done training for it. Actually, I shouldn't kid myself, my training is not high level training. I run when I can run, and I run for as long as I have time for. The other day I ran 8.5 miles and felt terrific, so I think running 26.2 miles shouldn't be too much trouble. Ha. It will be a lot of trouble, but I will have done it and yay for me. My goal is to run it in under 5 hours, which I think is doable. Obviously, my time will not indicate in any fashion whatsoever that my brother is a Top 100 marathoner, but that's okay. We have different last names, so he won't be too embarrassed.
Now that I'm in fair shape, I'm motivated to keep running even when the weather gets bad. Although it is beyond depressing that for all this running I have managed to lose ZERO pounds, I guess the upside is that I still eat what I want and I'm not gaining weight. I guess that's an upside.
And, okay, running is good for my health and muscles will keep me strong and healthy.
*
There we go. Seven things. Done and done. Have a terrific weekend!
{More Quick Takes can be found here.}
