Saturday, May 8, 2010

I Have a Life, and So Do You

Week in Review: 4/30-5/7

Total: Ran 3 days; 11.1 miles; 1:35:47; average pace per mile 8:37

My job has gotten in the way of blogging. I work in a High School classroom as a Teacher's Assistant at a private school for students with learning disabilities. The past week has been hectic. The teacher I work with had 2 PPT's to prepare for and attend, meaning I pretty much ran the classroom for two days, we had a student from our lower school (elementary) visit our classroom for a day, and we're trying to complete 6 art projects per student x 9 students before next Thursday. Did I mention that two of our students are ADHD and not on meds?! You get the idea. I used to worry about not keeping up with everyone's blogs. I would feel like I was a bad person because after all, all of you are my "blog buddies," and blog buddies read one another's blogs and support one another. Then on April 27, Anne had a very meaningful comment to a post I wrote where I apologized for being a "slacker." She said "Don't think of it as slacking, think of it as having a life :)
We'll still be here..." That helped put everything into perspective for me. I'm up to 71 "Followers", with about 20 of you loyally commenting on my posts. I in turn comment on your blogs, and whatever other blogs I have time to read. I think all or most of us understand that if we don't comment on every post we read, that's ok. If we don't write about every run and/or workout we do, that's also ok. It doesn't mean we don't care, or we're not interested in each others blogs. It simply means we have a life. I needed to be told that. So, blog buddies, I still love you all, but no more apologies if I don't post in a timely manner, or if I get behind in reading your blogs. I have a life, as you do, and at some point I will make the effort to "ketchup" on your blogs and my blog. Especially those of you who are my loyal 20 Followers. By the way, I noticed that Anne is a Psychologist. I wish I lived closer to Quebec, Canada. I sure could use her services at times. :-) Thanks again, Anne.
My running continues to go well. I'm running less miles and less days per week, but my times are steadily improving. I'm not concerned with the miles and days run at this point. My next race is a 5K in four weeks, and my half marathon isn't until June 27. My left knee continues to be annoying, meaning it gets stiff while I sleep, and whenever I sit for an extended period of time. It doesn't hurt while I run, but the stiffness and crepitus don't appear to be going away any time soon. I've joined the fitness center at the physical therapy place I've been going to (not the one with "Hot Chick"), so next week I'll begin working on strengthening my weaker left leg. "Sweet Melissa," my latest P.T., is designing a strengthening exercise program for my bothersome left leg. I'm hoping the leg and knee exercises and stretching along with icing my knee post run will be an effective solution.
Well, I'm going to see if I can get caught up reading and commenting on your blogs this weekend. If I don't, then so be it. After all, I have a life, and so do you. However, I can always promise that your comment on my blog guarantees you my comment on your blog. Meaning, thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Have a great weekend, and kick ass(phault) if you're racing.

21 comments:

Anne said...

Thanks for making my day Rick...I'm so glad my comment helped put things in perspective. As you can imagine, it's something I've had to remind myself of also. Here's to having a life and enjoying every minute :) Cheers!

BTW I have a lot of admiration for someone who works with a class of LD and/or ADHD kids...I take my sneaker off to you :)

Unknown said...

Well said! I have a life too, and won't apologize anymore for being a slacker either! I have a half marathon next week, I don't have time to blog!!

Keep up the great work at your job. Like Anne said, I have a lot of admiration for you too.

Anonymous said...

I used to feel the same way. Just the other day I felt bad for erasing my reader. But the truth is, I like to really read and thoughtfully comment on people's posts. And if I try to read every single one, I will lose sight of that goal. And that is just not who I am.

We all have lives. We cannot all be at the top of the blog chain. And Anne is right...no reason to apologize.

But if you stop reading/commenting MY blog, I'll hunt you down. Just saying.

ajh said...

Anne's comment was a good one. She is always a thoughtful commenter. Don't you just love ADD kids without meds. We had a bit of that in my classroom this week too. Well, we always do actually but one situation was much more so than usual. Good luck with your running!

Erin Conley said...

You are so right, Rick. With my life gone crazy this past week, between the dog drama and my teaching job getting even crazier as we move towards the end of the year, it does get hard sometimes to comment on all the blogs that I read and follow. I do read them all, though, if that counts! So while I'm going to try to get caught up on my end, if I don't, I don't, because sometimes life does happen. And that's a good thing! Best of luck as you prepare for your 5K!

misszippy said...

Stupid jobs! But you're right, everyone understands and is in the same boat. Have a great weekend.

Keri said...

I know all too well about how that line of work can keep you busy :) And its good to have a life...keeps the blog interesting!

Julie said...

Hi Rick,
I think we all get crazy busy with life. There are times that I feel that I am slacking too. I feel guilty at times but my family comes first. Anne does make a great point:) She is so smart...I think that she is a wise woman:) Just so you know if you took a few days off...I would still be back to read your posts:) You leave great comments and you always make me smile!

Unknown said...

No apology ever needed, we are all busy and crazy from time to time...life gets in the way and it's supposed to! I haven't been a very good blogger since Boston, I think it's the thing with it being the end of the school year, meetings, projects, parents...kids with ADD, me having ADD...you having ADD..oops, I mean, all of us just being too busy!
Hugs Rick! Maybe I'll catch you on FB this week or maybe I'll be too busy...:) !

chris mcpeake said...

Yeah that damn job thing definitely keeps getting in the way of life. Blog when you can.

Mel-2nd Chances said...

You're right Rick, and I admit to feeling guilty when I fall behind too. Another blogger commented that it's a gen-Y thing to feel the need to comment on everything, and if we were reading a magazine, or a book, we wouldn't feel the need to comment on everything. Makes sense I suppose, but I do feel a connection to bloggers... having a life makes more sense :) Hope you had a great weekend!

Anton said...

Great Post Rick. Don't ever feel the need to apologise. I don't know about you, but for me the blog started out as way for me to get my thoughts/training etc down and was done mostly for me so if I don't get time to update it I don't beat myself up for it.

Keep up the great work man...sounds like you have your hands full over there :-)

p.s...good luck with the knee

Unknown said...

I can certainly relate to teaching getting in the way of blogging. I'm up to my eyeballs in work right now and that is also interfering with my blogging.
That's the whole premise behind my writing: we all have a lot of balls to juggle; sometimes, we can keep them all up but, other times, some of them fall down.

Lindsay said...

oh fiiiiine. no more apologies? i see how it is. i turn my nose up at that. you think are too good or something? hmmmmph!!!

just kidding. i used to be concerned about reading/commenting on every post, but i just can't do that. i no longer feel guilty for skimming or skipping a comment here and there.

SeeGirlRun said...

That Anne is one smart cookie. Good post with and good reminders. Honestly. If one spends too much time at the computer? It's time to get a life!

Laura

Jill said...

I've been blog slacking lately too...sometimes life just gets in the way, we all understand! So glad your running continues to go well - yay!! Just ignore the knee (did I just say that??? hahah). Have a great week!!!

All Things Jaime said...

Working does get in the way, doesn't it! Haha. Thanks for finding me through Keri's blog. I'm training for the San Diego marathon on June 6th (which is quickly coming up, hence the 20 miler post you read). It'll be marathon number 4 and I'm hoping to make it the best (and it's on my 27th birthday - so a little added pressure to do well for myself)!

Hope you have a great Tuesday!

Sherri said...

I don't know how much of a life I have, but I still find plenty of reasons for slacking....kids, kids, kids, and kids...but I do LOVE IT...every minute! And then someday I'll have a life too! =)

I always enjoy your posts!

ihaverun said...

Since I am just now commenting on this post, I am the perfect example of life getting in the way of blogging. And I can relate TOO WELL to feeling guilty about not having time to read blogs. You can only do so much with the 24 hours in each day though. And it sounds like you go above and beyond in your everyday life so you deserve extra slack!

Leelee said...

Not sure if you are at a year round school or if it is the 9 month/180 day gig...but maybe summer break is close? The last month was always the toughest leg of my teaching year...don't worry about blogging or running...just getting through the year with a strong finish is really hard...the kids have had the heebie-jeebies since spring break...save your kick for the last weeks of school! How long til the finish line?

Ewa said...

#73 here :)
Found your blog and find it very interesting. Your last post resonates so well with what is happening in my life. Yes, a life outside of the bloggy world. It is all about finding balance and right now the scales of my life are leaning towards real life.
Thank you for your thoughtful post.