The Friday Five

TGI-kick off to the long weekend-F!

It's back to school and back to blogging as the new year is ready to roll just on the other side of the Labor Day weekend. Friday's have meant many different things in my blogging world. For a while, they were just another day. Then, they became Friday Kudos, my weekly dose of gratitude and acknowledgement of the awesomeness happening around me. After that came the Friday list, which was pretty cool, but had nothing to do with either heels or sneakers most of the time.

So, here at 'Going the Distance' I'm once again changing the Friday format to a sort of blog catch all called 'The Friday Five.' 'The Friday Five' actually comes from an idea I've been using in my classroom for the last two years which I call Two Things Tuesday. "TTT" was two random things with which I'd start class in an effort to counteract recent scientific findings that Tuesday is the most depressing day of the week. (Hate Mondays? Think I'm making it up? Read this.) Coincidentally, on my end of the year student surveys, most of classes though the best (and sometimes only) reason for coming to my class was "TTT," so even if they learned nothing about literature, or grammar, or the art of public speaking, at least they weren't depressed on Tuesday!

That worked great in a block schedule when taking six or seven minutes at the start of class was no big deal. This year I'm switching to an 8 period day, and that will require rationing my class time a little differently. I'd hate to ditch the whole idea because, let's face it, Tuesday will still continue to be depressing, and  students will continue to enjoy things that have nothing to do with the subject they are in class to learn about. So this year "TTT" has become "That One Thing" where I will share that one thing that you see every week that's so unbelievable that you just have to see it again.

And what does any of this have to do with 'The Friday Five'? Well, every week I had about 5 things that I could have used for Two Things Tuesday, and now that I'm cutting it down even further, where will I share my internet findings and follies? Good thing I have this blog space that people inexplicably subscribe to and read!

So the Friday Five could be a kudos, a random finding, this week's "one thing," or anything else that seems vaguely relevant to just about anything. Like I said, it's a catch all, and did you catch these things this week?

1. First, a kudos, and a big shout out to my new colleagues at Pine Island High School who have been back at it and helping me get comfortable and organized the last two weeks. The school feels like a pretty good fit, and I'm working with terrific people so bring on the new year!



2. From the department of 'we got bored, did something, and became an internet hit,' the people at BrainJet cut a bunch of everyday objects in half, photographed them, and posted them on their blog. It's actually a pretty simple concept, but some of the results were pretty darn cool. In fact, this camera lens is downright amazing!

 

3.  YEEESSSS!!!

4. This one time...the creator of Hello Kitty came out and told the world that Hello Kitty was not a cat but was actually a human girl. This really happened! Read it! I don't think my mind has been this blown since the day I realized my sister's fluffy, white stuffed animal (non-creatively named 'Lamby') was actually a seal!! (Making the name Lamby much more interesting!)

5. I googled "Fuzzy Lamb Seal" trying to find a picture of the mysterious child's toy so that you could all appreciate the confusion. No luck, but I did find this!

 

That little icon on the top isn't actually to far off!

Go long weekend! Look for the school stories to start next week!  

Happy Trails, 

 

Heels or Sneakers is now...

To my dearest readers: 

Happy late summer greetings one and all, and welcome to the new face of 'Heels or Sneakers'!

Three years ago, I started 'Heels or Sneakers' as a running record (and a "running record") of my journey into teaching and distance running. I wrote my first post on a day much like today...just a few days before teacher in-service started, and just a week or so after the Madison Mini Marathon, which, at the time, was my very first distance event. I had no idea how long it would last (that is the blog...and running...and teaching...all at the same time), but three years later, 'Heels or Sneakers' has over 35,000 page views and a commendable little internet following.

As I looked back over the last three years of posts, it was funny to see how the tone, attitude, and personality of my writing evolved along with the evolution of my career and my personal athletic endeavours. Though the intent of this blog was to follow the exploits of teacher and runner, at times it has commented on politics, personal stories, friends and family, and life in general. On the whole, I tried to stay true to my original purpose, as I grew into my role as teacher, my pursuits as runner, and a better understanding of myself as an individual, I found my themes expanded into an array of topics beyond just my launch into young adulthood. As I look to the year ahead, I can only imagine the realm of stories and experiences will continue to expand. I'm starting a brand new job. I moved. I'm planning a wedding. I'll launch a new theatre program in a brand new auditorium.

'Heels or Sneakers' saw the trials and tribulations of a first year teacher. It saw 10 half marathons, 5 triathlons, and Chicago 2013. It saw 6 sets of director's notes and main stage productions. 'Heels or Sneakers' saw me become the person I wanted to be when I first sat down and decided to tell my stories. In essence, 'Heels or Sneakers' has done its job and can be retired.

But there are bound to be more stories! After all,there's the 2014-2015 school year, the new challenges of a new 'first year,' another marathon, wedding plans and future plans, and the bevy of other life is destined to throw into the mix. Thus, we've come full circle to the aforementioned "new face" of the blog. Re-branded and re-launced, 'Going the Distance' is everything 'Heels or Sneakers' once was, plus the exciting new adventures on the horizon. More stories, more miles, more Friday lists, more race recaps, more of the good things in life with the good people I share them with.

Come walk another mile in my shoes...you can still pick the pair!

Happy Trails,