Time of My Life

"Life sucks and then you die. You go all through life and then you get hit by a fucking bus." Or so says my mom after her heart fluttered picturing herself and Patrick Swayze Dirty Dancing together at a mountain resort in upstate New York in the early 1960s.

While fanning herself, her dream was interrupted by the realization that such a reality may never come to pass due to Mr. Swayze's unfortunate bout with pancreatic cancer. And thus the basis for her pessimistic statement about human existence.

In a way, I think the same thing. We're born, we live, we die. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I mean it's not good that The Swaze has a life-threatening illness, but you can't say that he didn't lead a good life while he was here. I mean the guy can act, dance, sing (She's Like the Wind still makes this guy's pants fall off at an alarming pace), was a stud in his heyday and world famous. So when the topic of his cancer came up, my mom thought of the "fucking bus," but I didn't see it that way.

My mom is right though in that a bus could just come along and run you over, or a badger could target you in a woodland killing spree, or you feel the need to defy reason and try and beat Jumanji.

Alot of people have asked me if I'm scared or nervous and aside from some anxiety over whether I left something important at home, I'm not really at all. People worry about bears and cougars, and I'll do my best not get eaten but if it's my turn to go, it's my turn. And like The Swaze has Dirty Dancing and Ghost, I'll have the PCT.

But I wouldn't have the PCT without the help and encouragement of my friends and family. I know that my decision wasn't received well initially, but in time everyone in my life came to see how important going on the hike was to me and offered words of encouragement and support right up until I left.

My family really took to Hike4Autism and at this point it feels like they've done more to promote it than I have, so an extra special thanks and an I love you to Madre and Padre, Young Z and the Useless Dean.

I also want to say thanks to Kile Garguilo for driving me to the airport at 4am. He works in the upper reaches of the Comcast Center (Philadelphia's first green skyscraper) with a nice view of City Hall, loves gardening and is a homeowner. Grab this one ladies before he gets away!

It would be infinitely more difficult (not to mention very infrequent) for me to post these stories to my blog without Joe Mohne and Andre Laboy who have agreed to handle the emails I'm writing while out blazing trails.

I could thank many more people specifically but I'd hate to leave someone out, so just know that I appreciate all of the support and help of everyone. It took a lot to get me here and you really eased my path.

Alright Minions, we're in the air and this thing isn't even supposed to be on (at least the FAA's investigation will be short) so syonara and I'll talk to you from the Golden State soon.

Down the Hatch

Just in case anyone didn't get the Facebook invite, I'm having a going away party April 12 at Down the Hatch in New York. It's $20 all-you-can-drink and free wings from 1:00pm-6:00pm. If you didn't get the invite and want to come just let me know.

I originally booked it for 7:00pm-10:00pm, but Down the Hatch's regular special is cheaper, goes for longer and you get free wings. All the more reason to show up.

We Have Liftoff

My minions, we have our first donation courtesy of my good friend Matt.


Ladies, he's single and currently serving our country in the Sooner State. Wrangle this wild one if you dare.

New Mommy Rant

I want to give a shout out to New Mommy Rant, the blog of someone I know that deals with becoming a new mother, the stress of daily life with a newborn to take care of, the constant concerns/worrying and some of the unexpected and funny situations you'll find yourself in each day. Here's some of my favorite stuff:

We were having a good ol' time doing Super Baby and then I felt something wet in my eye. Eliza is a drool queen so I figured it was just drool. The she started coughing and formula shot out of her nose and mouth. I am not sure how I could see this because I had a pool of vomit in my eye. GROSS! We ran to the bathroom and got cleaned up. Needless to say, that was the end of yoga for the day.

I don't know what happened to my placenta- and I don't care. haha I have seen people cook it on TV.

So check it out and thanks to 30 Minute Mommy, DH and Eliza for their support.

The Witch All Up in This

The roads this blog will take me down. Check it out. I'm sitting on my porch the other day. I see little old Mrs. Richmond walking up the street. She's on her way to buy cans of tuna for her cats as usual. I wave, she waves, but then she makes a turn up the front walkway.

"How are you today, Bradley?"

She has one of those creaky old lady voices that takes a while to get to the end of a sentence.

"It's a little cold today, but the kitties are hungry so I need to get them some tuna. They love their tuna."

I figure she might need a ride being that it's a bit of a walk to the Mine Hill Market for an old lady, but she says she doesn't need one.

"When a woman turns 39 she needs to start thinking about keeping in better shape. So I'll walk."

I can tell she wants something, and all it takes to get her to tell her a story is to ask her what's new. She always has a story.

"Well, like I told you before, my granddaughter's not happy."

Like she told me before, her granddaughter is a teacher who isn't too happy with her job. She kind of hates it. So much so that she wants to write a book about it. But she figures she'll start small with a blog and go from there.

So until her blog is up and running, The Witch is going to spit some fire on that education game. But enough out of me. I'll let her tell her story:

I Have So Much to Say and Don't Know Where to Start
by The Witch…Brad’s favorite cousin (ok, so she's my cousin - I don't know any Mrs. Richmond)

Unlike my favorite cousin Brad….I HATE MY JOB! I sit here on my couch, my Bischonpoo acting as a heating pad up against my leg, shaking my head and laughing to myself because I, The Witch, can totally relate to Brad’s feeling of discomfort of being stuck in the same job position for the next 10, 20, or even 30 years down the road.

As a matter of fact, I just recently got a pension statement that showed I needed to work another 42 years before I could retire!!! I almost pooped my pants! How am I even going to make it until June? YUP! I am a teacher…an elementary school teacher.

Let me just get this off of my chest…IT IS TERRIBLE and that is putting it nicely! Unlike most holiday-sweater-wearing teachers that brag about how they taught a nose-picking child how to tie their shoelaces, I have found NOTHING rewarding about this profession. It has been nothing but a nightmare! I really do try and be positive about my job, but I seem to like my job for all the wrong reasons.

Here are some of the reasons I do like my job:

1. My 1/2 mile commute to work.
2. I can dress down whenever I want.
3. Being able to come home and share ridiculous stories from my school day with my family and laughing about it.
4. Today was “Inside Out Day” at my school. Of course, being the fun teacher that I am…I wore my track suit inside out. We were counting how many students in our class did. One girl, so innocently, told me she didn’t wear her clothes inside out because she didn’t have any inside out clothes….ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Yeah, it’s cute and funny, but COME ON! Even after an explanation to her about how you just have to turn the clothes that you already own inside out she responded by saying that she didn’t think her mom bought her any of those clothes. And yes, English is spoken at home.
5. We get unexpected days off (snow days, watermain breaks).
6. My favorite coffee joint is right on the way to work.
7. School lunches (yes….I admit….I love cafeteria food on pale yellow and green plastic trays….chicken nuggets are my fave!).
8. Free local newspaper near the sign-in book every morning.
9. Great stories from my students about “what really goes on at home."
10. And my grade level team members (without them, I probably would have quit last month).
    

I don’t believe that any of these reasons relate to educating children.

Now, don’t think I am this big slacker. I am a VERY hard worker. Since I began teaching over 4 years ago I have put 150% into the job everyday and probably have spent between $3,000-$4,000 on my classroom and supplies for extra fun crafts and activities.

I spend most nights and weekends planning interesting and engaging lessons that I know my students will enjoy…such as using real eggshells, vinegar, soda, and water (all items were purchased at my expense) to show how teeth rot if you don’t brush them. (It is AMAZING how many children admit to not brushing their teeth at least once a day).

And what have I gotten in return for all of my hard work, dedication, and money I have spent? NOTHING BUT GRIEF!!!!

Once I get my blogspot up and running (hopefully we have a snow day tomorrow…I will be wearing my pj’s inside out) I will let Brad know so he can put a link up. You can read all of my teaching HORROR stories, why the teaching profession is NOT WORTH joining, and my first blog will be sure to explain my blogging name The Witch.

Good Night J
--the witch

How to Donate

Option 1 - Click here to donate by credit or debit card.

Option 2 - Download a printable donation form and send to:

COSAC
Attn: HIKE
1450 Parkside Avenue, Suite 22
Ewing, NJ 08638

COSAC requests that you write "HIKE" in the memo line of your check so they know to attribute it to Hike4Autism.

Donate any amount you'd like. I'm happy to have you participate at any level. But if you're still wondering what a good suggested donation is, how about going by mile or state? Here's an easy list to work with:

1/2 cent per mile - $13.25	Oregon - $450.00
1 cent per mile - $26.50	Washington - $500.00
2 cents per mile - $53.00	California - $1700.00
5 cents per mile - $132.50	Pacific Crest Trail - $2650.00

10 cents per mile - $265.00

25 cents per mile - $662.50

50 cents per mile - $1325.00

All donations are tax deductible. For more information on tax deductions and COSAC, visit their Make a Donation page.