Running-The Ode to Summer

First off, this is not me.  I wish I had her nose though!  I digress.

For my final installment of the best of summer I'm telling you it was running.

Running was the trend that I stuck to all summer long.  Actually I've stuck to a schedule for months but in summer it became something else.

In summer it's easy because you throw on shorts and a t-shirt (I DO NOT run in my sports bra-well I do , but I put a shirt over it)! And you are out the door.  Well some sort of quick dry shirt.

In summer the whole day spreads out before you and you can run at your leisure.  I usually would be out there by 8:30AM.  I found that the temperature 57 was my favorite-you're not to hot but you still work up a sweat. 

 Obviously this particular time won't work for me starting next week as that is the exact time the bell rings and school starts.

I'm not a natural runner, but I'm a runner.   I'm not a fast runner , but I'm a runner.  I finally came to peace with the fact that I was always going to run around the same pace (somewhere in the 10 minute/mile range).  It doesn't really matter what I do to get faster because that's my pace.

I'm okay with that.  I'm not trying to win the Olympics here or even my age group. I want to finish the races I enter.   I like being outside, I like setting and reaching goals, I like the mental discipline, and yes I like the fresh air and sunshine. 

I learned that watching my form (I run flat footed and stomp if I'm not careful) and running to the beat of my workout play list allowed me to enjoy running so much more than worrying about breaking into the 9s.  In fact sometimes I would spend hours working on my playlist-oh summer.

Even though I didn't get to New York to run with my cousin Ironman Charlie! I did get to run in Lake Tahoe (well not IN the lake)  that was beautiful.

This fall I'll be running the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon.  That's 13 miles!  The training is already starting to get rigorous.  I'll be up against my 60 hour work weeks and I'll still run.  I'll do it in the morning or I'll do it after school but I'll do it.

This summer-the best part of summer was believe it or not was running!

Next week my summer is over and before I settle back into a once a week blogging routine, I'll be sharing with you The things I love most about teaching. 

Ode to Summer-The Beefcake Review

One of the trends of the summer was mommy porn.  Now I have no problem with 50 Shades of Grey or Magic Mike but I did not partake in either of these phenomenons.

 There was something about the pride women took in letting you know they were reading it.  It was almost always Too Much Information for me really.  If you were one of those that enjoyed it Good for you!  It just wasn't for me.

 Magic Mike just looked stupid so I passed on this one as well, just to make some point or other.  

 In spite of all of this I somehow became the keeper of women every where and their thirst for Beef Cake as I called it as I started to post -The Beef Cake of the day.

 
I'm not sure how it started but it had to something to do with my old friend from Islip Patricia.  I think she actually posted the first one.  Then I would find one or another on my facebook page and I would post it for every one.  Usually I would say 'good morning ladies'.

The biggest requirement for  making the beef cake status tended to be a guy having their shirt off and having muscles.  I didn't really go looking for them they would just appear-like visions and I was responsible for sharing them with the world.

It just so happened that this was the year of the summer Olympics so there were tons of options among hunky Olympic athletes, mostly swimmers-who became candidates.



Picks ranged from David Beckham, Ryan Lochte, Swimmers I didn't know, cowboys, Daniel Craig (for a little class), the infamous Tim Tebow running it the rain picture,  unknow pecs of all persuasions, divers, track stars.  I even started taking submissions. 

 Everyone got in on the action-men as well.  There were debates and suggestions from unexpected people and places.  But I think we could all agree it was a lot of fun.


But by far the most popular beef cake was someone not all that beefy really, someone who holds some unexplainable appeal to women all over the world and of every age, and honestly some of the men as well.  That would be the Beef Cake of summer Adam Levine.





This was a big responsibility and my gift to women every where.  I'll try and keep it up as the year goes on, but it's up to all of you-submissions for beef cakes are ALWAYS welcome.

Pampered Chef-The Ode to Summer

One of my favorite things about this summer was Commoner Kristen's new career as a Pampered Chef Consultant.  (Don't worry -she still teaches-commoners often work too jobs).

Kristen mentioned to me in June that she was thinking of starting this new adventure and would I have a show.  Of course I said YES!!.  I love parties, I love eating, and I actually like Pampered Chef a lot.  I used to sell it myself  (3 parties and I was done).

I invited all 500 of my closest Facebook friends.  I E-vited everyone in my contact list and set the date.  Alas my party netted close to 1,000 dollars in sales and spun off 3 parties of it's own.

Mind you that meant I received a lot of free items.  I don't even know how many-a lot though.  What this also meant?  I went to those 3 Pampered Chef parties and then all the parties spun off of those and all the parties spun offered by Kristen's new under consultant  (someone she talked into being a salesperson)

By this point in time I own everything in the catalog almost.  I'm also really good at being Kristen's side kick at her parties.  Since I own everything and love to talk I jump right in with the funny comments and people actually buy those products that I relish with my humor.   We are like a tag team-except I don't make any money and help Kristen book more parties.

I've eaten countless garden cheese pizzas and microwave rocky road brownies in the red baker.  They are both yummy.

What's funny about this is that I don't really cook.  Hardly ever.  In fact I told one of the crowds I  liked the stoneware best of all the items  because it was great for frozen pizza, frozen fish sticks, chicken fingers and french fries.  But now I have tons of items.  Like the simple slicer and the food processer.

Wait do you even know what Pampered Chef is?  I'm not sure you do.  It's like a Tupperware party except it's all items for the kitchen.  I get the chef part not sure about the Pampered.  

It's like a pyramid scheme because Kristen and every consultant above her get percentages of sales, hosts get discounts, I don't know how they make money.  This stuff must cost 5 cents to produce.

Never the less it was fun going to all these parties, watching Kristen put on a show, visiting with people and meeting new people.  It was one of my favorite parts of summer.

If you want to have a party contact Kristen, if you want a guest at your party Contact ME!

The Commoner's Ode to Summer-The Weaher Edition

I've been here in California for 16 years.  It's a long time.  I'm just starting to figure out the strange weather patterns that we have.

The seasons are skewed a little differently than in traditional climates.  Each season lags a season behind. 

Because our climate is so dry, the colors that change for us are the hills.  In the summer and fall they are brown, in the winter and spring they turn green.  These are all things I've learned not to fight against.-I'm not in Kansas anymore-or Westbury.

Typically June and July are cool and often breezy.  You don't get to really enjoy the warm weather of summer.  You usually have to wear long pants or a jacket.  

In August -the very week we go back to school it heats up.  It's hot and sunny and dry and it stays that way pretty much until Thanksgiving.  (Easter is the coldest of the holidays if you ask me-you asked right?)

I just want to get up in summer-throw on shorts and a t-shirt and not carry a sweater around all day.

Well this summer?  I got it.  Beautiful days of sun shine and warm but not hot temperatures-oh and never, ever, humidity.

I know we'll make up for this with a wet winter or a colder than normal spring-or best yet an earthquake.  But this year,  Northern California offered me pristine and magical days of bright sunshine.

So in the summer of 2012 one of my favorite things was our days after day of glorious weather.

The Commoner's Farewell To Summer

 

In keeping with past themes like The Commoner's Favorite Things.  I'm beginning a bittersweet ode to summer of 2012.  

The best thing this summer was I decided NOT to work.  I swallowed the guilt of money not earned and decided I really needed a mental vacation.  

I'm so glad I did this.  I'm recharged, refreshed, and ready for the next 175 work days (less if the initiative fails).  

This week I'm going to do a rare daily posting as I look back fondly at the best Summer 2012 had to offer  (Trip to NY not included).

Well here is one of the  things I loved about this summer.  I present to you Coffee.

I disappeared from Starbucks this summer.  I never really passed by one and certainly wasn't going to get in my car in the morning and drive there.   

I'm an early riser-up with the sun and the birds.  That's all year long 7 days a week.  But in the summer  you can make a cup of coffee at that time and you can sit on the couch and watch TV-(Still ESPN-no local news for me).  

You can read a magazine, or a book (more on that another day), do  a puzzle, play face book and then go get another cup.  Then you can decide what to do.  It doesn't matter you have all day...

So my first offering of what I loved about summer 2012-My morning cup of Joe.

The Commoner Watches the Olympics

 

Some years I love the Olympics, some years I hardly pay attention.  This year I'll say I'm paying attention but not sure if I love them.

I've often said that I really liked the Winter Olympics because they were so different.  Not every one skis, or skates.  Most people never go on a snow mobile or bobsled.

But its fair to say that everyone has-at one point in their life, run, jumped in a pool, rode a bicycle, swam, or did a cart wheel.  That makes the summer Olympics the commoner's games-sort of. 


But I have some observations from the Olympic Games like only a commoner could.



Swimmers are commoners.  They have to spend all day swimming back and forth in a pool and no one gives them a towel.  I don't think that's easy. It makes me cold  just watching them.  They don't even get to float on anything just swim, back and forth, hour after hour.  


Gymnast ARE NOT commoners.  Dare I say this?  I can tell you this because I have met elite gymnasts when I was an almost elite cyclists at many a festival.  They walk around with their noses in the air all of the time-they are the cool girls from high school. Plus it cost a lot of money to be a gymnast. 


Runners are commoners.  It's a lot of work to be a runner.  The training is exhausting, the special diets, and the starters position and pistol is especially scary-it must make them jumpy.  They are working through running injuries and must get tired, they have to.


Any event with a horse or a boat is not a sport for a commoner.  The baggage fees to bring that equipment with you are prohibitive. Plus?  Horses and boats? I don't own either.   In fact the  very fact that a member of the royal family Zara Phillips (not related to me) competes tells you this is no place for a commoner. If you're not from Old Westbury don't bother.


Beach volley ball is definitely a commoner's sports.  Who hasn't played this sport?  Party music, bikinis, margaritas, a spanish ole horn in the background?  I can't wait for Rio to host this event.  Plus no shoes!  Commoner's sport


Diving?  Commoner's sport.  All you need is a pool with a diving board.  I never grew up with one but I knew people who did, and everyone around here has one.  Commoner!


Weightlifting?  Commoner-I do this in my gym all the time.


Cycling-oh cycling.  This was my sport back in the day. Dare I say that this has crossed the line from commoner sport when I was a cyclist-to Not a commoner's sport.  The very price of those cute outfits and snazzy bikes pretty much puts it out of the reach of the common bike rider.

Now I'm really competitive-I've told you all this, and I'm watching and saying you know-I want to go to the Olympics, come on-why not-and you know there are some sports I know I can still be competitive at.

Anything you can do at a picnic is something I can compete at.  Archery for instance-my age and maturity would do me well there.  They wear great outfits and really cute hats.  I loved their uniforms.

Shooting-I'm sure I would be good at that-no need to be young and spry.  I heard there's a woman who's 8 months pregnant in that event.  


What about ping pong.  My strategy would be stand still and stick out the paddle.  It might work.

I'm pulling for bocci to become a sport-or dodgeball-how about Steal the Bacon.

In the meantime I dare say this-most of those who were commoners before the Olympics can not be called commoner's after.  They have been lifted above the ordinary. They've experienced something the ordinary can not.

Now really -the question I've asked all week?  Why do the swimmers not use towels?

Let the games continue....






 





 

The Commoner's Flight To No Where Part 2

Last I left you commoners I had gotten off my plane into Chicago and was bee lining for the Pot Belly Deli.  I love that place and I was starving.  I couldn’t help but notice long lines of people, which isn’t good because that means one thing-missed connections. But that’s not going to happen to me-that never happens to me.  I don’t really know what that means.

I notice my flight is 2 hours delayed.  That’s okay I’m starving -sandwich, sandwich, sandwich, and then outlets to charge all my I equipment.  I upgraded to a large sandwich and the airport worker in front of me asked where I was going.  Where? New York The Big Apple The Big Italian Wedding you silly man. Get the big sandwich I work that gate it’s really bad.  He was the most knowledgeable and helpful person I would meet all day.

Next I get a text -3 hours delayed.  I sit on the floor by an outlet, and a garbage can-come on you’ve all done that-when i look down and see flight cancelled on my text.  What?  What does that mean.  That has NEVER happened to me.  Okay I’m calm-no problem-this happens all the time and I’m trying to get to NY -3 airports plus Philly, Hartford, Newark, any of those they all work.

I wait on a long line with a lot of people all trying to get to New York. If I timed this it was at least an hour.  There’s one person working the counter and she’s managing flights, answering questions, calling stanby, looking for passengers.  Her job REALLY sucks.  I guess it’s a surprise to South West that they’ve cancelled half the flights out of their hub and perhaps they may need to staff  more people-how could they know that would happen.

I knew this wasn’t going to end well because I”m pretty good at listening to other people ask questions.  There was a flight to Hartford leaving right there and I almost made a run for it.  Hartford’s close, I can drive that.  Oh wait-no bording pass.

When I finally get to the counter my first question is why is our flight cancelled when the next flight to Laguardia isn’t.  Southwest is shady like that.. If they have to they will cancel flights -for fake reasons.  She says it’s not the weather here it’s where you are going-so by that answer I know this isn’t going  to end well. Because they are going to the same place!! You got that right?

Here were my choices as presented by the lovely counter lady.  I could wait on standby the rest of today, tomorrow, and Friday, or she could book me on a flight Friday night..  Friday Night I say to her, I have to be at a wedding Friday Night, if I’m not going to a wedding there’s no point in going-are you seeing my problem?  That didn’t impress her. 

Do you  pay for hotels? She slaps some voucher thing for a discount basically through a  travel agent.  I know how that’ going to go .  Things are getting worse.  The clock is ticking people are waiting I’m stressing and I’m processing and like Dorothy on the Wizard of Oz I say I just want to go home.  Send me back to San Jose.  

She gives me a ticket in the C group .  C group means that you will be sitting between two smelly people.  Really I say?  I payed for early bird and you’re giving me a C.  She has the nerve to tell me it wouldn’t be fair to the ‘other ‘ passengers if I didn’t get a C. 

I don’t argue at airports because they are police states and any little thing gets you sent to jail and placed on the do not fly list.

Okay deal done and the trip is over and I’m not going to visit my cousins, I’m not going to go to New York, I’m not going to the wedding, I’m not living at the airport for 2 days, I’m not spending a weekend in Chicago (I don’t even like Chicago-LONG STORY) I’m not even getting Dunkin Donuts..  I’m going back to Cali where we don’t have weather.  

But wait-there’s more..

Okay your luggage.  You have to take your boarding pass and go down to luggage services get your luggage and recheck it.  Wait -what -okay, I can do that.  Why can’t you do that from here I dare to ask. She says oh security.  I guess the TSA doesn’t trust Southwest to tell their baggage handlers what to do with luggage.  If there’s no  way of tracking luggage we are all in trouble.  Shady. And remember this paragraph-because this is later proved a lie.

As I’m taking the people mover through the terminal and down to luggage I notice a super long line at security.  This makes San Jose Minetta look welll -effecient.    I think to myself, I have to get this done fast because I’m not staying here any more than I have to.  Once you leave security anything can happen.

I get to luggage and they lady-her name was Pat-says okay.  Are you on a list.  At this point I’m sure that I’m on every list there is, but which list?  Didn’t the lady upstairs put me on a list?  No you have to do it.  It will take an hour and then you have to go back and check it.  And this list is HANDWRITTEN.  You see South west thinks it’s still 1972

Now I’ve lost it.  I’m famous for never crying-ever.  But what people don’t know is that when I’m tired I will cry, I’ve just cancelled a trip to NY , I’ve been up since 3 and I’ve been on lines all stupid day.  Plus I know that when you do cry, usually it works. It freaks people out.  I’ve seen this work for people all the time and have tried to hone this skill.

 At this point I’m having a total breakdown.  I’m either going to get my luggage or get put in the clinker.  I tell her that if I did all that I would never get home and I just want to go home, and poor you Pat you have to work so hard and are so understaffed and overworked.  And I’m crying and my voice is loud-but my voice is always loud any way.

Pat was actually nice.  She worked hard at getting a supervisor and promised she would try to have them find my luggage, but actually she couldn’t promise that it wasn’t already going to Laguardia-which is strange since I was told I couldn’t go to Laguardia.  

If my luggage didn't make it on this flight then when I got to San Jose they would have it sent from Laguardia-which means I may never see my luggage.  She basically was admitting that the plan they have in place doesn’t work and if I had done the process I wouldn’t have made my flight.  Gee where have I heard that before.  

This stupid girl next to me, who’s luggage was lost and was also trying to get to a wedding that she was going to be in says-you know getting upset and yelling doesn’t help anything.  Well you know what I wanted to do?  I wanted to punch her.  But I didn’t-police state remember?  I just glared at her instead.

So here I am on the plane back to San Jose.  I don’t know what will happen to my luggage.  And I wonder a few things-why was I on  the ONLY flight cancelled out to NY, why I didn’t really give standby a try, why I ever thought southwest was a good idea, and if I ever will see my running shoes again...and finally what will I do with all those gifts I bought for the people I was going to see in NY.  Party anyone?  

I’m a seasoned traveler, and I feel a little defeated. I was beaten for once, but honestly I just didn’t want to play with them.  When I do get my luggage I will be sure that South west sees this blog.  Then I will probably be reimbursed with a ticket, and I will probably NEVER use it, because free is never free.  Not for a commoner.

By the way-did I tell you we are going to Dublin Ireland for New Years with a stop in yes-wait for it-Chicago!