The Raiders are the Commoners Team

These are the Oakland Raiders.  They play in Oakland.  Which is sucky but not as much as they used to be.

They are the Bay Area's better team right now with a good quarterback.

They are stuck in a crappy stadium but will probably get to move to LA

It's actually true that they are easier to get to from San Francisco than the 49ers.  

Their fans are crazy and scary but yet they don't have much violence like other teams

We will miss them when they go.

Happy Thanksgiving and be Politically Correct

This guy's in trouble.
He owns a bakery and hung up this sign.
So here are 5 of my thoughts.

He didn't have to have a sign he could have just lived his thoughts.

What's the difference?  Say what you want.

He's getting free publicity and that's awesome for him

Why are we so touchy feely?  Say Merry Christmas if you want.   Don't be offended if you don't celebrate.  Not all my mornings are good but I still say Good Morning.

It's Thanksgiving.  Be thankful there are bakeries.   They are awesome.

ECOLI Costco Chipotle And the Commoner

What is EColi?  Does it just give you a stomach ache or does it kill you?  I'm not even sure.

But poor Chipotle!! I love Chipotle and now Chipotle is sad.  I don't know what to say to them to make them feel better.

Poor Costco!! Those 4 dollar chickens are so awesome!

Where can we eat?  What is causing this outbreak?  Should I care?  Can I just eat the chips?  It it coming from the veggies?  My moneys on the vegetables.  They always look suspicious.

Have a great day-I'm off to McDonalds

OCD But not The Cleaning Kind

We all know that the paper should go over the top.  Otherwise people are putting crappy hands on clean toilet paper.

This is my thought of the day.  I won't actually switch your toilet paper because I'm lazy by nature.  But

I will judge you!

The Commoner's Idea for Education

During knee rehab -which is now over.  My knee still hurts yes but I am back at work so suck it up.  Wow-long sentence.  During my knee rehab I became, among other things, a blog junky.

Read lots of them.  Fashion, running, decorating, and teaching.  The teacher blogs are amazing.  If you ever doubt that teachers never give up and are a great addition to man kind, read some blogs.

So I'm in a blog hop.  It took me a long time to get to write it because I didn't even understand what a blog hop was.  But here it goes.

My philosophy of education which I've pondered for two years of my master's program is easy.  Every child can learn.  If they aren't learning it is our job to make sure they do.  It is our job to figure out why.  It is our job to fix it for every child.

It is true no one may be helping them at home or they are lucky to get to school with or with out food.  We have to look through that and make sure that they know that education is their open door and we need to support them through it.

Pretty simple.

I think you should hop over to this blog.  If you follow the hop-your faith in the world will be restored or refueled.

Have a good weekend.


Hi! Of course, I'd love to help. 




Jennifer Regan Two Little Birds http://twolittlebirdsteaching.blogspot.com/?m=1

I hope that works

Friday Favorites July 2015

So these are my favorite things from this week.

Stitches out of my knee

That's the first day of the surgery.  They mark your knee so they operate on the correct one.  My question is who was the unlucky person that deemed this so necessary 3 people checked before I had Anastasia   

Home made popcorn.  Okay you take a brown lunch bag put some popcorn (real stuff) and microwave it for 2 minutes.  YUM.  

Apple Music
Let's face it-you can't just watch the Office 24/7 when your knee hurts.  Sometimes I put music on instead.  I own a ton of music.  I always have.  So when I received the three month trial of Apple music service I was not impressed at first.  But over time Apple has figured out what I really like and given me access to some pretty amazing full length albums and mixes.

I've always liked Pandora and I'm going to be honest I can't figure out Spotify.  But this is pretty Applishish in it's ease.  Tonight I'm listening to U2 ballads.  

My Dogs
My dogs have been so awesome.  They are pretty use to having me home now and follow me everywhere I go.  Today they were shocked that I was leaving the house.  I'm trying to get out and walk around a little more even though it hurts.  This was there reaction as I was leaving today.

Finally I got to go to the US Navy base in Monterey with my son.  He had to drop off a uniform to be cleaned and I begged to go.  He also made me walk  almost a mile altogether .  Which wasn't too bad but I paid for it later.  A mile not even.

Have a good night y'all

(I'm not southern I just felt like saying that.)

The Commoner's Summer 2015 Edition

I don't know what to say about this summer.  It was kind of a bummer and over taken by knee surgery.  I did get to go to Austin and that was fun.

Except for the knee which hurt and the Uber Identity theft I had to deal with.   It was awesome.  I really liked Texas and I liked the heat a lot.

But I'm not going to lie.  This summer was all about my knee and it overtook every decision and action leading up to and after it.  So while this was not an ordinary summer by any means it was still a summer.  Here are some things that happened because I couldn't really run before the surgery and I couldn't even walk after it.

I Read A Book

That's right a book.  Not a book about educational leadership or reclassification.  Not a book about running.  Not even a kindle book.  A real book and I couldn't put it down.

The book was The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah

It's about two sisters living in France during World War II.  You should read it.

I binge watched The Office

If House of Cards got me through my Masters Project and Scandal got me through all my job interviews it was The Office who was the perfect accompaniment to  my rehabilitation.  I don't know why I never watched The Office. I kind of thought I did.  But it was perfect.  Quick, funny, witty, and 9 long seasons.  It was perfect for long hours on the couch and late nights when my sleep was messed up.  I have 1 more season to go and I work on Monday so the pressure is on.

I really would like to work there, I think I liked Scranton.  

I started commenting on celebrity Facebook comments

So I read a lot of Facebook and Instagram.  Two things happened.  I became obsessed with Earthquake and El Nino warnings posting them constantly -much to the dismay of my family.  But hey, I'm house bound (couch bound really) I have to do these things for my family and friends who are having summer or working.

Since I knew I didn't want to constantly comment on my knee I commented on almost everything else including celebrity sites.  Kit Harrington who is John Snow on Game of Thrones was no exception.  He super cute with curly hair and a killer fur (sorry peta) and he died at the end of the year.  We are all devastated.  

He face books a lot and there were pictures of him in Belfast where they film Game of Thrones.  I commented that I hoped he was coming back in a dream sequence blah blah blah.  88 people liked that.  That's a record.  88 people including JOHN SNOW HIMSELF.
Here's the proof.

That was really it.  That's how I spent my summer vacation.  I also got really good at reading torn meniscus MRI photos and photos from the operation.  I learned how to use crutches  (mostly to scare the dogs away from my knee).  I almost cleared out my DVR playlist.  

I learned how to undo summer plans

This is the list of things I cancelled due to the knee

• an overnight shopping trip to San Francisco with my daughter
• a trip to the spa with commoner Kristen
• a trip to Atlanta to visit my friend.

Okay I could have gone to Atlanta if I didn't mind 2 weeks of blood thinning injections.  I did mind them.  I didn't go.  

Yes it was a good summer.

Binge Television Watching

I am the person who simply must have the TV or radio on to do my homework.  It has always been that way.  But finishing my master's will for sure be known as the binge watching to end all binge watching opportunity of my life time.    

I haven't taken up smoking yet-although this month and the big finish may drive me to it.  But I love Mad Men and the series is ending and I digress.....

There have been two very opposite shows that have taken me through this last semester.  The first was Parenthood.
I have avoided this show because all the wholesome people I know what it and I usually steer clear of manipulative wholesome programming.  I'm much better with dirty stuff like the Sopranos.

Shows that make you feel tough enough to do things like run marathons, finish master's projects, and handle work related politics.  

But so many people raved about this show and come on who doesn't like Craig T Nelson.  A familiar face from the 80s.

So I learned lots of things from this show which sucked me right in.

• No one in this family married anyone else with a family
• They managed to include almost every group of person there is
• They all seemed to make a lot of money even though work was sporadic.
• That chick from Gilmour Girls still annoys the crap out of me
• Will any of these actors ever work again.
• There were 1000 episodes.  I'm not kidding.

I also was inspired by them to re do my back yard.  

And yes I cried at the end.

The second show -more suited to my taste.  This show was House of Cards.

Holy Crap is all I can say.  

• Almost every episode I find my self saying OMG Did I just see that?
• Tony Soprano on steroids.   That's what this show is
• The relationship between him and Robin Wright is amazing-okay the characters anyway
• Do they really do this in Washington?  Why yes I think they do
• Seriously I can't take how good this show is.
• How did they get the Princess Bride to look like a man.  Seriously love her style but she is very man ish.  Which really does suit her character anyway.  She's a strong woman
• What made these great movie stars say Yes I'll do a show for the internet.

Hold on though.  We also got a decorating idea from them too.

I'm totally redoing my bedroom to look like this.

So now I've been cheered on enough by Craig T Nelson to get through the work of my masters and toughened up and espionaged enough to ready myself for whatever it is that comes after.

Suggestions for my next show to binge watch ?

The Streets of San Francisco

I was looking for pictures for today's blog and I found this video.  It's super cute.

Anyway!  This race is no joke and out of all the many races we do in San Francisco this one more than the rest embraces the hills.  Meaning HILLS tons of them-all Kinds of them.

13 thoughts for 13 miles

1-Most races start in the city and end in the park.  This one starts at the beach and ends in the city.

2-It starts out way early-like 6:30 and it's 20 degrees colder here than it was when we left the hotel.

3-I actually ended up wearing a short sleeve shirt and since I didn't pack one I wore the race T-which is breaking protocol for me.  But was a good investment

4-Our hotel overlooked a rooftop fitness center.  All the men decided to lay in the sun and stretch.  They didn't know I could see them so I felt like immortalizing what they looked like.  Notice there were no women stupid enough to do this.

5.  You start off so wonderfully and then about a block in you make a right hand turn and it's the streets of san francisco without the benefit of a trolley car.

6.  At every Rock and Roll Marathon there is a barefoot Elvis running.  I'm not even kidding.

7-They really have good bands at these things.  One time it was Matt Nathanson -one time it was the guys who do that song about a sweater and no not wheezer.  These guys are American Authors.  They sing Best Day of My Life.  I used to run to this song but then I wasn't having best days and i was annoyed.  This band was really good though.

8-The Bridge.  When you are running up the Presidio and you are so tired you think you are going to jump off the bridge-you see glimpses of that thing and you are charged up.  It's the FRIGGIN GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE!!

9-So I read three running blogs religiously.  Pavement Runner is one of them and he was at the race.  I was too star struck to talk to him but still-there he was-I knew it was him because he always posts his gear and he wore striped socks.

10-The weather was beautiful.  It was a beautiful glorious perfect day.

11-I didn't know how I would do.  My weekday runs are horrible.  I wish I had real housewife running time like some people do but I don't.  My weekend runs have been great.  I matched last year's time exactly

12-Because I upped my mileage to five miles a day I was feeling really strong.  For the second race in a row I was able to sprint to the finish rather than crawl.  That's such a great feeling

13-At the end Rob actually was waiting where he was supposed to. We had a stranger take a picture.

I love you San Francisco

It was The Best Day of My Life.  

Not even but it was a lot of fun

The Commoner's Common Days

I've gone missing.  I've gone missing because I'm about six weeks away from graduation and these are my days.

• wake up
• check email
• have breakfast while binge watching Parenthood
• Get dressed 
• go to work
• work
• run
• eat dinner
• do homework
• feed the dogs and binge watch parenthood
• start the wind down process
• go to sleep

That's it.  I've set aside March and April for my friends stress and nervous breakdown.  Not much to write home about.

I have a half marathon this weekend.

I ran in 90 degree heat today.  Which was supposed to be an easy make a deal with yourself run 3 miles however you want and then walk 2.

But I couldn't walk the two because I passed these two women and I didn't want them to catch me so I ran 5 with a short walk break at 3.

When it's hot and you run-you hallucinate and think a blowing leaf is a mouse.

You scream.

I'm dropping a picture in here because geesh you need to see a picture.

CELEBRATE I'm almost done with school

This is my grandfather binge watching Parenthood on our first color TV

Random picture of my mother and grandmother-

Praise Jesus it's almost baseball season

The Lenten Season

Lent along with most other Catholic traditions is very important to me.  I try to do something every year to remember what Jesus went through during the Easter Season.  

I've done all kinds of lent activities.  I gave up sugar!

I gave up Vegetables

Okay so I give those up every day.

I did Random Acts of Kindness.

But that was really hard. I ended up force being kind to people.

So this year I solicited ideas from the wonderful world of Facebook.

And it was settled.  I would go on the most epic card writing campaign.  I will send cards, written by hand, to friends who's addresses I might have.  Basically my Christmas card list I guess.

Because that's what I think people will conclude.  Therese has gone crazy.  She's sent us a cards.  How weird is that?  It's pretty weird.  So I'm going through my address book and randomly sending notes.

I don't have any great note cards at this time But i'll buy some and send them out and MAKE YOUR DAY!

So I tell you if you would like a card, handwritten by me!  I encourage you to send along your address to terry225@yahoo.com

Imagine getting a letter in the mail.  It will make your day

A Look at What's Trending on Facebook

Nothing much is happening this week-I'm on vacation and hung up on writing my Master's Project.  It's the chapter I've been dreading so I am getting really good at procrastinating.  So here are my thoughts on 5 recent stories on my Facebook news feed.

Disneyland/Disneyworld.   Everyone is there this vacation.  I was supposed to be there for a bachelorette party.  I couldn't go.  If I did I would have pictures about my trip posted on Facebook.  I just hope there are no measles.  I also wonder how people never run into each other there.

Hollister had a city hall meeting.  Whatever they call those meetings.  I've never heard of anyone actually going to one.  People are upset because they think we should enforce old laws before making new ones.  The police department is getting a new dog!  That's fun.  I wonder what they will name him?

My friend posted this.  I do love horses.  They are so regal.  If you walk down our block to the end and then make a right and take that to the end-(are you lost yet)?  You will come up to this place in the middle of houses where these beautiful horses live.  And they jump fences-Long Island style.  They aren't rodeo horses.  I like that because I always think of home.  Not that I ever had horses.

Another friend posted this.  I laugh because I literally am having a lot of those lately.  Like at The Grove where the waiter chased me to my seat with my salads.   Or like the million other scenes that could be on Seinfeld happen every day.  I can't even talk about them all because they probably involve some of you.

An Elementary School Teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!

1. Don't change horses
until they stop running.
2. Strike while the
bug is close.
3. It's always darkest before Daylight Saving Time.
4. Never underestimate the power of termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but how?
6. Don't bite the hand that looks dirty.
7. No news is impossible.
8. A miss is as good as a Mr.
9. You can't teach an old dog new math.
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust me.
12. The pen is mightier than the pigs.
13. An idle mind is the best way to relax.
14. Where there's smoke there's pollution.
15. Happy the bride who gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is not much.
17. Two's company, three's the Musketeers.
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what you put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you have to blow your nose.
20. There are none so blind as Stevie Wonder.
21. Children should be seen and not spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don't succeed get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you see in the picture on the box.
24. When the blind lead the blind get out of the way.
25. A bird in the hand is going to poop on you.
And the WINNER and last one!
26. Better late than pregnant.

Thought this was insightful. And it did not take Common Core for them to learn these.

I totally stole these.  I didn't write them.  But they are super funny.  Number 17?  Duh obviously

So friends that is what is happening on Facebook and my super thoughts about them.

A February Heat Wave

Sunday was one of the best runs I have had in a long time.  Except for one thing.  It was hot!!!

There was this girl running really fast.  Her dog was running with her.  I should have done this with Bella-she could have been a runner.  The dog looked tired.  His tounge was hanging out of his mouth.

I was not really ready to run in 70 degree weather.  But California in the winter is enjoying the benefits of global warning.  My trail doesn't have a beach but my race last week did.

I hardly notice but I'm training for the San Francisco Half Marathon.  I love this one because you run over this beautiful bridge-which ironically I was not afraid of.

You start off here by the beach by some neighborhood where people live and get to ride their bikes on paths by the bridge-it's never sunny there but somehow beautiful.  This may not be that particular neighborhood but it bears a close resemblance

I've really learned about San Francisco and it's different neighborhoods from racing there -a lot.  This is Bay to Breakers.  It's so much fun to run this one.  With the pink ape and naked guys.

Valentine's is over so it's time to focus on St. Patrick's Day.  I love St. Patrick's Day.  Rob said he wants to buy a farm in Ireland.  If I live there I can have goats, sheep, and more dogs.  I'm actually tempted.  By the way I race in Los Gatos on St. Patricks' Day.

If you live somewhere where it's cold and you are training for a marathon I'm sorry.  Come to California.  It's beautiful here.

The Commoner's First Race in the Rain

It's politically incorrect to say you hate rain in California.  You have to say Thank God for the Rain, We need the rain, I love the rain, or any of those kinds of things.  But I'm going to say I HATE THE RAIN.  I never say it out loud.  But I'm packing my bag as I speak because I'm pretty sure I'm going to be deported to another state somewhere.

Whatever...I'm over it.  I drove in it on Friday, ran in it on Saturday and like Beast mode that I am raced in it on Sunday.

Whoops

It started out great and I thought the rain would hold up.  But it didn't.  Head wind out-gailforce winds back.   Whatever.  

A six year old and her dad passed me on their way to their 5k.  I'm not kidding about that.  

This is me when I was six.  I couldn't even stand up on my own.

The little girl was breathing like crazy and crying that she never wanted to race again.  Good move dad of the year.

He actually was like "Keep going you can beat the 12 year olds."  And apparently the 51 year olds.

Speaking of age.  I think I'm getting slower.  But seriously my first race in the rain.  We didn't fool around either.  I was soaked and we were out of there.

I was just glad there were so many people behind me at the turnaround.

Anyway I suck at blogging lately.  I'm in school mode which means there is not much fun to write about.

Go forth and work out.  My vivo fit ran away.  I'm on the honor system until my new one gets here

My name on the Nike Store.  Half Marathons are my favorite.  I run the same pace at 13 that I do at 6 or 3.  

I'm suffering through the rain with my trail in mind.  It definitely needs the water.  I'll do it for you people not allowed to swim or dive.

These are my favorite shoes ever.