Hi there! Thought I should write because I've had a few days off and have neglected to do so. Spring Break was great but not nearly long enough. I'm ready for summer vacation. The students were done on Tuesday, teachers had inservice on Wednesday to do grades. The bonus is that doing my grades took all of 45 minutes to finalize because I keep up on them daily. All I had to do was check hard copy against computer copy. The rest of the day was spent listening to public radio and working on a puzzle some students started.
I had off from both school and JCP on Thursday and Friday, worked JCP 9-3 on Saturday, and then had Sunday and Monday off again. I guess it was tanking up for the next couple of weeks. We head back to school tomorrow (Tuesday). I work JCP Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Music Boosters and Conferences on Thursday, and work on Friday. I guess I'll really be looking forward to the weekend as it is my scheduled weekend off. I'm also really looking forward to dinner at Dad and Mary's Sunday night...it's been a while. Maybe if the weather holds Duane and I can take a ride on the bike this weekend.
We did ride on Thursday. It was awesome. Enrique brought Bernadine over on his bike and the four of us took off for Features and enjoyed a lovely dinner. It was a wonderful way to spend a few hours and we're looking forward to doing it again soon.
Other than that...what's new? The BIGGEST news I have right now is that I have switched fitness clubs. SNAP is a good club and the people were nice but we have been dealing with their inability to get my insurance to work for a year now AND I lack the discipline to make my own efficient routine. So, I joined...
LOVING IT. I was a member a long time ago and loved it until I plateaued. The difference I think now is that I'm going more often (trying for 5-6 times per week instead of 3) and the club is smaller than the one I was in before. The people there take an interest in each other and the owner is always doing different contests and stuff to motivate and keep it fresh enough to prevent the plateau effect. For example, she is holding a special "Zumba" class on Monday's starting in a couple of weeks. I won't be able to participate in this class because the notice is too short to request off from JCP and there is at least one Monday night school event in the those 8 weeks...BUT...I will do it in the future. First up is the weight-management class that is totally FREE. It is being run in conjunction with a "booty camp" starting the last week in April. I WILL be taking part in this. I'll have a few weeks to get used to a routine and then take a huge jump with the Curves diet, class, and camp all starting at the same time. I hope Duane likes the food, the recipes look great and awfully similar to the stuff I've been making for supper lately anyway. What will change is I'll have a better grasp of ways to prepare things lightly and calorie/portion control. I'm sure you'll hear more about it because I'm pretty super stoked. In fact, I've been a member 6 days and I've been in 5 times (they were closed on Easter so I took Brandi walking instead!)
So speaking of eating well...Festival had some Asparagus on special the other day that just LOOKED good. So I bought it and checked out a new recipe. While I started the chicken I marinated it in a baggie (took less oil to coat it and was a lot easier in cleanup.
Tinfoil is my new best friend. I cover my pans with it when I bake chicken (and cover the chicken for the first half of cooking...keeps it juicy) and I put it on a cookie sheet to bake veggies. Asparagus for ten minutes on the top rack at 450 degrees makes for just browning still crisp asparagus. YUM. (We also love the "STEAMERS" veggie combos...SO easy and actually fresh tasting).
I think that's about it for right now. I've got to get back to the laundry I neglected until now.
Just to be cute, I'll leave you with a parting shot of our princess doing what she does best...ripping the stuffing out of things and pretending to be innocent about it. (The living room looked like a pillow exploded!)
This is the Harley Holiday Party in Mason City this last winter. It was the night Duane bought me my leathers so I could be a real passenger.
This is the new "baby". It is a VERY comfortable ride. Hence the barcalounger title on the post.
These are pic's from the flood run that Duane went on with some friends on April 17. I would have LOVED to have gone, but I had to work.
Pit Stop!
