Randomness... at it's best..

Where to start?

I went out for an easy/slow run this morning. Easy and slow because I didn't want to push it, and I knew that I would be switching my long run from sunday to tomorrow to run with the 'rents. I took a few walk breaks, due to feeling hot, thirsty, and a bit queezy in the last half mile or so. Here are the stats.

Time: 10:00am
Temp: 74 degrees
Humidity: 57%
Wind: SE at 17mph
Distance: 3.42 miles
Duration: 42:27
Avg Pace: 12:24
Avg HR: 162
Max HR: 178

Tomorrow, I think we plan to do at least 5 miles. Hopefully I can get the 'rents out of bed before it gets too warm..It will be in the 70's by 9am..

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Sports Commentary:
So there we were. Me. My Mom. My Dad. Sitting at Buffalo Wild Wings last night enjoying our wings and somewhat paying attention to the NBA Draft. It was pure craziness. I don't know how anyone can keep their head straight while watching that. I am not a bandwagon fan for the most part, I have a few of my favorite players and teams that I like to really watch.... KG & the Timberwolves, Steve Nash & the Suns, Kirk Hinrick & the Bulls, Shaq & the Heat, and I do like the Lakers but Kobe Bryant bugs me.

So anyway. There we were. Watching it. I was making a comment on how much I really enjoyed watching the Bulls last season and how far they have come. Then I made a comment on how that should be "MY" team... just like it was when I was 12, 13, 14 years old. When Michael Jordan and cry-baby Scottie Pippen played. Then, all of a sudden they were talking about Noah. You know, the guy who played for Florida?! The annoying one? The one who is good, but really annoying. You either love him ... or you hate him. I seriously dislike him. And... before I knew it, they drafted him. THEY picked NOAH! THEY as in THE BULLS picked NOAH! I hope the Bulls will teach him a few things... maybe Ben Wallace will walk all over him...and give him a few pointers in the process!!

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Time for a little reflecting:
I spent the last 8 years in a city that I didn't really care for from the beginning of my college career. It was wonderful for college and meeting new people. But, it was not somewhere that I wanted to start my career, and it was definitely not somewhere friendly for runners... bikers... or swimmers.

During this past school year, while I was completing my masters and my internship at school, I thought a lot about where I was going to apply for jobs. A LOT. Those of you who have been following my blog on a regular basis could agree. I was ready to get out of the state. Or so I thought. I knew I needed a fresh start, and I thought that leaving the state, even if it was for just one year, I would be pleased.

In the process of applying for jobs, mostly out of state, I learned a lot. Each state is so different. Different calendars, different ways of doing paperpwork, different terminology for the different positions. It's very hard to apply for jobs when you have little idea of what you are getting yourself into.

In april, I was offered a position in NC, my dream state. I don't know what it is about that state that draws me to it, but it was someplace that I had dreamed of moving to for a long time. As anxious and excited I was about the offer, I was scared at the same time. Not to move away, but the thought that I was offered a position without even having to interview. I know I would have been up for the challenge, but I was not ready to spend my first year as a teacher working in a school district that is low on qualified staff... 1500 miles away from home.

Then, once the school year was over, I had more time to apply for jobs. I started to apply for jobs left and right in CO. As well as in MN .... mostly in the area of the Twin Cities and Rochester. I had two interviews with CO, the same district. They were both phone interviews and both less than 10 minutes long. Not a great sign. Then I had an interview in Rochester, which required me to drive and put 1000 miles on my car within two days. I thought that interview went really well, but I was somewhat worried that if I was offered the position, I would not have the resources I would have liked. I would have been on my own with 15-20 students and no paraprofessional. If anyone has a background in special education, you know that this is near impossible.

I had also received a couple calls asking me to apply for a position within their school district. They had gotten my name from the education department on campus. I think I was the only RT left that hadn't gotten a job yet. I was flattered, but I was not ready to move back to GF. Like I said, GF is not a place for me!

Then I went a week and a half without hearing from any other schools, until I got a call this past sunday. I was invited for an interview right here in ND. So I drove to the location wednesday night and had my interview yesterday. It went really well, and I felt really comfortable with it. They told me they would notify me by monday or tuesday of next week. My phone rang at 9 this morning... and sure enough, it was the principal calling to offer me the job. I took it. This is one happy Teacherwoman.

So, as much as I was ready to leave the state, is seems as if this North Dakotan girl is staying put. And I am perfectly fine with that. I look forward to doing some traveling. I hope to use races as an excuse to get me out of state on a regular basis. I hope to get to England next spring/summer to visit my cousin and her boyfriend...

If you look over at my sidebar, I have made a couple changes. I have a countdown to when I start work...and a countdown to the Nike+ Women's Half Marathon. (Thanks Leana for letting me know about this!) I wanted to do that race so bad, in San Francisco, but new I wouldn't be able to travel that weekend. So, with my Nike+ that my sister bought me as a gift for participating in her wedding, I will be running the 13.1 miles her in ND and logging it online before midnight. I will then recieve my Tifanny's necklace and t-shirt in the mail. It won't be the same as being there...but I thought it would still be fun! Anyone else want to join?!?!

Thanks for all the best wishes on my interviews and job hunting process! Now it is time to decide what kind of place I want to look for!

Happy running, y'all!