Beware of blood-borne pathogens...

A beautiful thing happened this morning. For the first time in months, I actually had something to wake up and go to in the morning! It was the orientation for substitute teachers in Allen. It wasn't anything to be excited about--sexual harassment videos, payroll information, etc...but I could barely sleep last night! It felt like the anticipation of the first day of school (which I've always enjoyed, probably too much). By the way, the first thing we watched when we got there was a video about blood-borne pathogens, which showed a bunch of kids with ungodly wounds all over their faces or all down their arms...and then the video warned us about being in contact with their blood and how we could get HIV from it. Don't worry, I have no plans to touch any children's lesions anytime soon.

Anyway, I'll start subbing hopefully next week, just for elementary schools. I don't have the strength to substitute for middle or high school. The high schoolers would probably bully me and stuff me in a locker. Yes, I am that weak.

In other news, official training for the half marathon has begun. We are 2 days in. Josh and I ran 3 miles on Tuesday and it just about killed me. Then we ran intervals last night where you are supposed to run fast for a lap around the track, then rest, then another lap, etc...so I ran "fast" for about 20 feet and I was TOTALLY winded. Like, couldn't catch my breath. So my fast lap ended up not being too terribly fast. It's good that these intervals are a part of training, though, because I think they'll really push me to improve my speed, which I desperately need to do. To give you an idea of just how slow I run, I was watching the new season of Biggest Loser the other day, and the very first challenge for these 300-475 pound people was to run one mile. The winner's time was the same as my time when I run a mile! Recap: 350 pound man. First episode. 1 mile. Same as my time. Lovely.

In related news, I am drinking Dr. Peppers again. I had not had a sip of any soda for a little over 3 months. But within the last couple weeks, I decided I was ready to inch back into drinking sodas every now and then. I had a can of Coca-Cola, and decided, Ya know what!? That's not even worth it! I think I've broken my addiction to sodas, they're not even that good!................but then............I had a Dr. Pepper. And I swear, there is something illegal in Dr. Peppers...they are, I'd venture to say, life-changing? Anyway, my attempt to "inch back into drinking sodas" hasn't so much worked out. I might need to chill out on the Dr. Peppers again. But not yet. I KNOW Kacy and Kristy feel me on this one.

P.S. I haven't watched any afternoon tv last week or this week! And I don't have the feeling that I'm missing out on anything, which I think is a huge step for me.

The Renewed Mind is the Key...

First of all, I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement through these difficult times of lethargy and indolence in my life.

I think Saturday was my last blog. Well, I want you to know that Sunday, I had a real turnaround. I became disgusted at the way I was wasting my life! I also became disgusted with my 5 pound weight gain(excessive tv + lots of oreos + no running for a week + eating corny dogs for lunch = weight gain for Leslie, duh) But anyway, I want to just tell you a little bit about my new plan for living.

1.I'm going to start waking up early.

2. I'm going to run in the mornings(the half marathon is still on, and Josh is definitely going to do it now!)

3. I'm not going to watch afternoon television. At all.

4. I'm going to take away distractions while I study, so I can actually get stuff done in a shorter amount of time. (Brilliant, isn't it?)

5. I'm considering reading for fun--but only really really good books. If you have recommendations, do share. Just don't say Harry Potter or Twilight--I won't do it!

6. Stop eating total crap.

So, Josh and I have been going to Watermark in Dallas for church for the last few weeks. We really like it a lot, and we're wanting to get involved there. There's a huge group of young adults/singles which is neat. Most churches do not have this (case in point: First Baptist in Sulphur Springs) I want to get involved in a small group for girls my age (I think). Watermark does a whole lot with serving the community, so I would like to be a part of that too.

Speaking of Watermark, got a story for ya, Ags: So Josh and I have gone for the last 3 weeks and we pretty much just go to the service and leave right after, and we don't know anyone there yet. But THIS week, we were drinking coffee and chit-chatting in the foyer before church, and who do we see but Bret Peterson and Sheryl (Burk? Burke? Burks? Burkes?)!!!! Then after the service, we saw Ryan Clinkscales and Tim Ennis! I didn't know they all went there. I was very excited. Gosh, it sure is good to be around fellow Ags. The Aggie Spirit was at work in our lives that Sunday morning, that's for sure!

The sermon on Sunday was the most challenging sermon I've heard in a long time. He talked about how we say one thing about how much we love Jesus and then live completely opposite. In our day to day lives, are we really pursuing wisdom and living by Scripture, or are we just letting the world and the culture we live in determine who we are and how we live. I'm just gonna put a link to a one minute video on here, just in case you wanna watch it. I thought it was really good.

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/14674/Plastic-Jesus

While I'm at it, I have to put this link up too. It will change your life in a totally different way. Thanks to Justin and Kacy for bringing this into my life. I'm working on my steps and we hope to perform it in church soon--heck, we might even go on tour? We'll see!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VPcPCwK_G0

A journey you won't soon forget...

I want to thank Mr. Hans for being so kind as to make a guest appearance on my blog! I'm always looking for ways to be innovative and....well, revolutionary, really. I think the use of guest-blogging pretty much achieved that.

So, it's time to get caught back up on MY awesome life. I want to take you on a tour through a day in my life. Also, keep in mind that not only is this one day, this is basically every day for the last month. Please note that I am not proud of this lifestyle, and you should not be jealous because A) I have no friends and B) I have no money (making social outings and roadtrips an impossibility.)

-10am: Wake up. (I go to bed around 11 every night, so I'm used to getting about 10-12 hours of sleep.)
-Eat a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch
-Watch TV(my standards for television aren't very high...we're talkin The View, Bridezillas, The Price is Right, The Tyra Banks show, Family Feud, Househusbands of Hollywood, E: The True Hollywood Story)
-Eat lunch(we're talkin corny dogs, turkey sandwiches, Totino's pizzas)
-Attempt to study
-Browse facebook
-More tv (we're talkin Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Oprah, etc)
-Eat approximately 3 oreos

Then my day improves 500% because that's around when Josh gets home and hangs out with me. This is about the point where I start feeling like a normal, functioning, socially participating human being again.

I thought when I started school, I was going to be crazy busy all the time. But I was terribly, terribly mistaken. My classes have turned out to be pretty undemanding, and I only have class 2 nights a week. I am going to need substitute teaching to start STAT. I CAN'T KEEP LIVING LIKE THIS!

Inside a Beautiful Mind...

Hellllllllo World!!!!

Josh Hans here guest-blogging for Leslie.

Finally, I get an outlet to express my inner thoughts and feelings. I have so much I want to go over today, I'm not sure where to start. I think I'll start with secret hand shakes.

What is it about secret hand shakes that make them soooo cool? I swear, I watch 1st graders do a secret hand shake and I try to act cool and like I don't care, but secretly I'm like "OMG I WANT IN ON THAT $#%@". I don't what it is, maybe I just want to feel like i'm on the "in" or something, but I submit to you that there are only a handful of things in the world more beautiful than a well-choreographed secret hand shake.

Which brings me to my next point. Why hasn't Bret Peterson asked me to be his best man yet? I mean, we all know its going to happen eventually. I have his bachelor party 90% planned (the Tilt, Collin County dog park, skating rink, to name a few of our activities). I am just waiting around for the official call.

Finally, lets talk about some things that I don't like. I have a reputation for hating Olive Garden commercials, and that still rings true today. Would anyone actually want to eat dinner with people like this?

Dad: "Let's continue our tradition of passing our plates to the left"

Girl: "Since when has that been a tradition?"

Dad: "Since YOU ordered THAT!"

(everyone cracks up)

Secondly, I hate speeding tickets. I got one recently for going 61 in a 45. Well local municipality, I was actually entering the highway, so of course I am going to be going over 45. Leslie and I were on our way to the Village Church on a Sunday morning and this fat cop pulls me over. He's a total tool.

Finally, I really hate Carson Daly. Well, not necessarily him as a person, more his show. I'm not even going to waste feelings towards Carson Daly, he's not worth it. But his show is so unfunny it literally makes me sick to my stomach. And the worst part is how funny Carson Daly seems to think it is. So here is some homework for anyone who reads this. Watch 10 minutes of Carson Daly. If you don't get angry and turn it off in that time, then you have no soul. In my opinion, at least.

Well I want to thank Leslie for this opportunity. We've shared some good times today and I appreciate you if you are still reading here. Stick a fork in me, cause I'm done. Stay sweet.