Could this be it?

E and I went house hunting today. Could this be the one? It's got a HUGE yard (a little more than 1 acre) and TONS of room inside. Hmmm....I'm excited!

Hopefully soon I can post pictures of our new puppy! Once we have one that is...

A political rant

So lately there's been all this news about states legalizing gay marriage. It's really exciting to think that we're progressing. Yet...at the same time, I'm so frustrated by people who seem to think that legalizing gay marriage will somehow affect their heterosexual relationships/marriages. I get it, I get that many people see marriage as their spiritual/religious union, but that's not what everyone views marriage as.

My brother sent me this link to a website about talking points for the conservative anti-gay marriage movement. I don't know if I'm just a bit close-minded in my opinion on the gay marriage issue, but it seemed like whoever came up with their talking points was arguing like a middle school/high school student would argue. The arguments just don't seem strong. I'm willing to listen to other people's arguments, but I still recognize when they're weak.

Like I said, maybe it's just because I can't possibly understand how people could condemn gay marriage (or any gay rights issue for that matter). Maybe I'm the close minded one. Hopefully not, but I'll admit it's a possibility.

:)

Currently Reading: The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov

I'm addicted

To The Biggest Loser. Seriously. They're amazing. I know it's an insane way to lose weight, but probably because I'm on my own weight loss journey, they inspire me to work harder.

Speaking of working harder?

I burned 1000 calories today. 45 minutes running, 45 minutes spinning. Ouch. Trust me, I took a long hot shower afterwards.

In lieu of a better title...

I've been a bad blogger. Every (other) day or so I think to myself, "Wow, Kate...you should really blog something." And then I think: You have nothing to say! Am I really that boring? One would hope not.

So what's been happening in my world lately?

• I am currently hosting a German. She's here with her students who are visiting from our sister city in Germany. She's their English teacher, and she speaks very good English (obviously!) So...that's going well so far - except that I feel bad kicking her out of the living room (one of two rooms in my small apartment) so I can watch the Biggest Loser. Oh well, I'll catch it online in a day or so.
• We're going to apply for a loan Friday!! Yay :) We don't have school Friday so E and I are going a couple places to get pre-approved for a loan. I'm very excited about this. Can you tell?
• The Central Missouri Humane Society is in the top 10 animal shelters - voting for the 1,000,000 $$ makeover starts on the 10th (I think!) Zootoo is the best!
• I'm a wonderful procrastinator. I'm supposed to be done with The Brothers Karamazov by tomorrow and I'm currently on page 487 of 735. Eeek.
• Above statement shows how truly wonderful I am at procrastinating. Hello? Blogging Kate?! Read!!
• Playing fetch with my cat (also currently do this) is hilarious. He's too darned cute.
• I have a 5K this weekend that I'm hoping to excel in. We shall see.

Okay, I'm off to read. Seriously.

Currently Reading: The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky

Breathing Room.

Sometimes I wonder how I'll ever have a family. Teaching takes so much time. Ha, then other times I feel like I must be a slow person...I take more time to do simple tasks it seems than other teachers. That has to be the reason I'm always there later than anyone else. Seriously. Maybe by the time I've been doing it for at least 5 years it'll get easier? Hopefully?

So some fun news. I'll be hosting a 28-year-old German named Annika when she comes to our small town to visit with her students. They get here Sunday night and she'll be staying on my futon (poor girl!) for two weeks. I think the best way to describe my feelings about this is anxious. I think it'll be fun, but I also love living by myself. Haha, selfish, I know. As long as I'm still able to make it to the gym, I'll be good. :) I'm just hoping I can find some stuff for us to do over our long Easter weekend. Suggestions? I was thinking of maybe taking her to Amish Country - at least that's what we call it - some weekend. It's pretty cool, and definitely unique.

I'm doing a 5k next weekend and I've got a goal I'm afraid to say out loud. My last 5k I ran in 25:45ish. That was on a dang hilly course. According to the results that was about a 8:19 mile pace. I've been running at least 3.5 miles at an 8:00 mile pace for the past couple weeks...so I'm crossing my fingers. Today I actually managed to run 8/mile, 7:30/mile, and then finished out my 30 minutes at an 8/minute pace. That should make it into the 24-minute range, right? That's my goal. I've said it now. Now I'll have to admit if I actually make it.

So E and I are looking for a house! I'm super excited (if you couldn't tell by the exclamation marks)!! That also means I'll get a puppy, which I'm also stoked for. The house hunt is exciting. I'm sure once we actively start viewing houses and discussing making offers it'll be stressful, too. Right now though, exciting. And I'm just fine with that :)

30 days left of this school year. Not that I'm counting or anything. It's crazy. I still have to finish Julius Caesar and cover Non-fiction with my Honors kids. Ouch.

Oh, and volleyball's over. YES! I love it, but it gets so busy. Hence the post title. I can breathe now.

Currently Reading: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

War & Peace

Title: War & Peace
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Review: I know it's no news that this book is long, but I think since I had to read it for class it just made it seem that much longer. However, I did enjoy it. I will admit (bad english teacher!) that I did gloss over some of the war scenes, because really.

Overall I'd say the character's were pretty well developed. I think my favorite was Natasha, just because she seemed naive and innocent while at the same time somewhat deceiving. My least favorite was Mary because she was such a pushover! I mean, her Dad treated her horribly and she did nothing about it!

It's been a couple weeks since I read the book, so this review stinks. Sorry. I'm glad I was forced to read it though, cause I highly doubt I would've done it on my own.

Currently Reading: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Holy Moly.

I've been a bad, bad blogger lately. If you care to hear my excuses I'll brief them real quick: teaching, night class, volleyball, and procrastination! :) That's it!

Teaching:

• So the other day I had a fun experience. The bell rang, so as per usual I asked everyone to be quiet and do the bellwork on the board. One young man continued his conversation (rather loudly) in the back of the room. "---, you're still talking. I've asked everyone to stop talking." "YOU'RE RIGHT I'M STILL TALKING!" (Pause) "Fuck this school! I'm leaving!" All the students and I just looked at each other as we watched him storm out of the room. Seriously? What? Gotta love temper tantrums. And I teach mostly seniors!
• I've been asked by our German teacher to host the German English teacher who is coming with the German students for two weeks in April. Eeek! I've never had a visitor for that long, and she'll be sleeping on my futon, but it should be interesting. She's 27 and single, so we should have at least that in common :)

Night Class:

• Done with War & Peace. Yes, I finished it! Okay, well I skipped the two epilogues, but I figured after 1000 pages, I was good to go.
• Just started The Brothers Karamazov. So far? Yawn.

Volleyball:

• So after losing our first 4 games, we won 2nd place in our weekend tournament - last weekend. Go 7th graders! They were pretty excited. And they impressed me after our win, because they refused to take pictures with their shiny new plaque until they congratulated the team who'd just beat them.
• Seriously. The middle school volleyball season is short - but crazy. Only 3 more games (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday) and I'm DONE! Until next year, anyway.

Procrastination:

• When am I not doing this? Really.

Weight Watchers:

• Core foods definitely work. After my week on the "simply filling" plan, I lost 2.5 pounds. Yay! So I've decided to stay on the simply filling technique until I reach my WW (and personal) goal. Only 4 more lbs until my WW goal. Can you say heck yeah?