"Does the toilet in your basement usually overflow?"

Not a question I was fond of receiving by phone while at work today! Let me back up...

Gil's employer is now offering a concierge service to their employees to take care of everyday needs that employees may not have time for since they often work intense hours. Awesome for us since we had been paying for a dog walking service, but the concierge service offers dog walking.

We met the dog walker last week, parted ways with our French dog walker, Claudine, and were all set up to start with the new service today.

We asked her to come around 12 or 12:30 and walk Laila for about 45 minutes. Around 2:00, I got a call from the new dog walker. She casually posed the previously stated question. Hmmm. Immediately I started picturing ridiculous scenes of our basement flooding and being destroyed. See, like this. Yes, I'm a bit touchy when it comes to the plumbing. The fact that it was already 2:00 and she was still at our house made me imagine a big, disgusting mess.

Plumbing issues? Bad luck? I'm not really sure, but I'm not lovin' the start of this!! Ironically, I hardly hardly ever mop that bathroom floor (I know, bad homeowner) but I just happened to mop it yesterday.

Luckily I'm home and can see that no one dug up our basement and all is well here. I am a bit scared of that toilet now though...and maybe the dog walker too.

Spring Has Been Badly Needed Around Here...

Everything about the end of winter has been long, drawn out, and gray. I am SOOOO happy to be soaking up the sunshine, even if the temps are still in the low 30s.

It's been pretty terrible having indoor recess everyday. Even though my kids play inside pretty well, they've needed to run around for the past couple of months. All of that pent up energy has made teaching a bit tricky! Now that they're able to go out, I feel like we're being more productive in the classroom.

My energy level has been up and I've been getting in some kind of exercise everyday. I hadn't been keeping up with the Riverbank run training schedule and had been skipping the longer runs on Saturdays so I was nervous to do the 5 miler yesterday. But it was a great run and I even had enough energy to increase my speed for the last mile. I've been taking Laila on long walks, so she's been exhausted. An exhausted puppy is always great.

Around the house, we've had some ongoing projects- ongoing as in we haven't made any progress lately. Since we've gotten the treadmill, our desk has been laying on it's side in the guest bedroom. That bugs me. I like things to be finished. Well, today we finally brought the desk down to the basement to make a little work space and it makes me so happy. That office/treadmill/storage room has been driving me crazy. Maybe we'll finally get it organized!!

And today? We finally booked a vacation! It will be our first (besides going up North last summer) since our honeymoon in '08. We'll be heading to Puerto Rico. Can't wait. So far, spring is lookin' good!

Favorite Vacations

Gil and I have been talking about going on a vacation...we're badly in need of one. We went up North last summer, but haven't really been anywhere since our honeymoon in '08.

I don't want to spend a ton of money, so I was thinking it'd be nice to stay somewhere that has a little kitchen so we can buy groceries. It has to be somewhere warm...Florida? Gil suggested going skiing, but I vetoed that. After a long, gray, cold winter I am desperate to see the sun!!

So, any suggestions? What are your favorite vacation spots?

Morning Run: Round 2

Today I had to be up a little earlier than normal to make it to a Professional Development. But even so, I set my alarm early and successfully got up for a morning run! And surprisingly, I enjoyed it again! I felt awake and perky and had a healthy breakfast.

At the PD, they provided lunch and I kind of blew my calories on a chicken caesar wrap and a small piece of carrot cake. But the carrot cake was definitely worth it. We got out of the PD super early, so I had all afternoon off. Niccce.

Laila and I went for a 50 minute walk (to make up for the carrot cake, although sadly that didn't cover it!) and now I'm going to clean the house. I sure hope this motivation doesn't wear off because I currently feel like the energizer bunny.

Me a Morning Person???

It could've been a fluke and probably was, because let's face it, I'm NOT normally a morning person. But this morning I somehow convinced myself to get out of my warm, warm bed and into work out gear for a run on the treadmill. And you know what? I loved it! At this very moment, I'm convinced that I could do that several mornings per week. That's why it could very well be a fluke...I tend to get an idea in my head, get gung-ho and then lose interest within several hours.

However, I actually felt perky when I got to work and it hasn't worn off yet. And that was only with one cup of coffee. I think the best part of all was knowing that my run was already over and done with. I spend a good part of the day thinking, "Ugh, I should run later." It's not that I don't like running...I do. It's just that at the end of a long day of trying to keep 24 kindergarteners in line, I typically am thinking more about making it onto the couch, not the treadmill.

So far this year, I've logged 81.58 miles. Feeling pretty good about that! On Nike+Active, I just finished running through virtual Paris and am now on to Tokyo.

I have to be up earlier than normal for a Professional Development tomorrow...but I'm contemplating trying another morning run. Wish me luck!

City Life...

There are a lot of things that I love about living near a large city. There are great restaurants, concerts and sporting events. There's always something to do.

But every once in a while, I get a little sick of all the noise, traffic, and row after row of houses.

This happens too often on my way to work...There I am, sitting and waiting to get on the highway. Not a good way to start the morning, if you ask me!

Sometimes I daydream about more yard space and space between the houses, two lane highways, and the sounds of nature. I think I'm just going through a restless phase related to winter. I'm so excited for it to get warm outside- you don't even know! Sandals? Yes please.

Laila, on the other hand, is not enjoying the temperatures warming up. She has been panting since March started.