August is such a funny month. Everything outside is winding down. The sweet corn is done. The zucchini plants look tired. The beans have been decimated by Japanese beetles. The flowers are beginning to look leggy and spent. But things on the inside are just starting.
Kiddo 1 started school yesterday. We love his teacher and are excited about the new year.
Kiddo 2 started her second season of soccer yesterday, too. I don't know where my brave little girl disappeared to. She would not go out on the field unless I went with her. Definitely not what I expected. If I had, I wouldn't have worn flip flops.
Today I helped welcome the 1,900 students in the freshman class to Northern Illinois University. A team of students in the program I work with were chosen as one of two in the entire university to be featured at our academic convocation. They presented a project they completed for McDonald's last fall and did such an amazing job! Watching the university leaders and faculty present and singing 'Forward, Together Forward' in the NIU fight song gave me chills. 'Forward, Together Forward' became the university mantra after the 2/14 tragedy and the last time I saw the university leadership in that kind of context was for the memorial service.
Tomorrow I will run my first fall 10K. I challenged my 26 year old male colleague to the race. I know he's going to win and I'll have to reward him with his Monster Energy drink. My real challenge is to beat my own time. Hopefully all my training will pay off.
Monday my students will return and I'll start my last semester working closely with students. It will be bittersweet.
How did the race go?
ReplyDeleteI ran my best 10K! I didn't beat Matt but it's a starting point for my next race at the end of October.
ReplyDeleteAmy: 1:00:47
Matt: 59:09
I was so pumped yesterday! The weather was amazing, about 60 degrees and no humidity. Running the hills in 85 degree humid weather definitely helped! Now I just need to start training in the country in the wind to get ready for the pumpkin run!