That before and after thing

S'up, bitches? :D

Okay, so I know I told y'all I'd be doing a before/after thing of the 300x30, but it seriously did nothing (outwardly visible.  My abs are noticeably stronger).  But I did start running seriously at the end of August, and here's what happened between then and now!

So yeah, that's pretty bitchin'. 

Now then, onward to research projects!  Huzzah grad school!  This is getting progressively more sarcastic!

All the worst parts of goodbye

Losing someone you didn't have to lose and knowing you'll never get them back is one of the worst feelings in the world.  "Goodbye" is the hardest thing to say.

Love every moment you share with those around you.  Never leave words unsaid.



(P.S., everything's fine with the fiance.  I had to say goodbye to a friend who I may not be able to speak to for a very long time to come.  The last two days have been a constant bombardment of all the worst parts of nostalgia.)

Crunches, India, and Coffee

Day 17 of 300x30, and I could be more impressed.  I have seen minimal changes to my body thus far, and most of them are coming from outside exercises (running, weights).  Still, daily crunches isn't a bad habit to get into.  I'll still finish out the 30 days and do comparison pictures.  It could just be that I can't observe changes that gradual without comparing photographs.  Meh, whatever.

On the job front, I'm SO EXCITED for this week!  We had to forgo talking about Mexico last week because our class was double-scheduled for camps and we never had time with the kids together (they're two ages groups, but we teach them together) and I never saw the older group outside of lunch.  BUT!  That should all be changing this week and our country is.... India!  Tuesday they'll get a powerpoint covering general facts and interesting things, lots of pictures, etc.  Wednesday we'll probably watch some Bollywood clips, talk about song and dance.  Thursday we'll probably talk about clothing and holidays.  And then Friday, I'm bringing them roasted chickpeas and maybe rice with yoghurt, and we're going to have our own festival of colors!  I'm coloring flour this week to use for the event, and we'll ask our kids to dress in something old that they can rough up a little (since I don't know if my flour dye will stain their clothes).  I really hope they're as excited about everything as Rachel and I are!

Now, it's off to enjoy my morning and a cup of coffee.  If captain lazy pants ever wakes up, maybe we'll go play some tennis. =)

Progress!

Woo!  Day 10 of 300x30 and I'm feeling awesome, and yesterday Tristan and I settled on a church and a date!  The wedding is officially officially happening!  Can't wait for June 29th, 2013. <3

In other news, I really need to start posting some of what the kids I work with say.  For example:
Student: Miss Lisa, what's "the bush"?
Me: In what context?
Student: Like, if someone said "I'm going to punch you in the bush."
Me: @_@

I seriously had a minor heart attack trying to figure out how to reply to that.

Well, gotta go pack a lunch and head off to the monsters for the day!

Summer Thus Far

Woah, I'm not quite sure what to do with this new blogger format. It feels like Wordpress in an uncomfortable way. =\ Meh, whatever.

SO! Sorry that I haven't posted anything in forever. It's been a hell of a few months. First, I finally graduated with my BA in art, and now I'm taking summer classes to kick off my graduate degree in education. Along with that, I have a summer job as summer school teacher. The kids, while stressful and, well, kids, are amazing and I love my job. We're doing our lessons in an "Around the World" theme, so last week was Kenya and this week is France. Next week, we're headed to Mexico! :D I'm seriously loving this. As I type, I'm reviewing a movie for them to watch on Friday (our "free day" in which they get to watch a movie, eat some French food, and play outside).

 Also, I'm doing the 300x30 challenge, which is where you do 300 crunches a day for 30 days. It's day three, and I've completed my first 100 (I do them in sets to keep from hating everything). So far, so good. I imagine the first week will be the hardest (usually is), and if I can make it past day three, I can do the whole thing. Today should be the day I am most sore, and boy do I believe it. Also promised one friend we'd do weightlifting at the rec this afternoon and another friend that I would go swing dancing with him tonight, so I'm probably going to just collapse into bed as soon as I get home. Today will be long, tiring, and incredibly fun, so here's to coffee, the cool breeze coming in my window, and the promise of sleeping in tomorrow because my boss doesn't need me to take over the class til 11. :D

 In regards to the 300x30, I will post before and after pictures, but bear in mind that I'm also weight lifting and occasionally dancing and always eating a healthy vegan diet during this, so who knows how much my results will vary from the norm. So yay! That's my summer thus far. Tristan will be here on and off (currently off, D:), but otherwise it's just me and the students and the spiders in my house (whom I've sadly grown accustomed to). Ciao!

y0

Okay, semester from hell, everything is crazy, but I have to leave you with this song. It is keeping me going and calming me down from the psychotic mess that has been the last four months.

y0 dawg

Hola, long time no see. Apparently, this is going to be the semester that kills me. Despite the fact that I'm right on schedule for completing my senior show, I feel like I'm behind schedule. I have a solid three-day block with pretty much zero time for homework, meaning I need to complete all homework over the weekend and try to keep it straight for the next week. I'm about to start student teaching on Wednesdays in a room full of gradeschoolers who are probably aware of how much they intimidate me. I'm planning my wedding (btw, we're engaged!). I'm coordinating my singing group's spring festival. I haven't completely given up on my dream of continuing to have at least a meager social life (read as: dancing probably once a month and having the freedom to watch a movie with a friend on occasion or have my roommate kick my ass at Mario Kart). I'm not asking much, life. Just let me stay sane through May and it'll all work out. (Right? Right.)

On an unrelated note, huzzah! I've been vegan a year now and still going strong. Here's a fantastic (and short, 12 minute-ish) video about the social and environmental impact of a vegan lifestyle.

A Life Connected: VEGAN from NonviolenceUnited.org on Vimeo.

Love yo faces (and yes, I watch too much PhillyD).