Welcome to the January edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I got a new domain for my blog.  I do like zenaida.net but wanted something different (the former still works and if you type that, it will direct you to the new one).  I really wanted a .com domain but it wasn’t available – it was over $2,000 to get it.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I was not picked to run the Chicago Marathon this year.  I read that 120,000 people entered the lottery.  I had mixed feelings about it.  I was relieved but at the same time upset.  I was hoping to run it this year but now am wondering if deep down I really, really wanted to run it or was it that I was inspired when I went to spectate in October.  I won’t pick another marathon nor will I apply through a charity, but if I get a bib then that will make me happy.  I plan to spectate again and that is ALWAYS fun.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that on Monday I went to an Amazon Fresh store.  Wow!  I felt like a kid in a candy store.  Not sure why since it is like a regular store.  I liked that I used a code on the Amazon app to get in and exit/pay.  I found a few things on sale and ended up buying all of the Starbucks Holiday Blend K-cups for me and my nieces.  Each box was $5.

I went to another one the next day and the experience was different.  I didn’t need a code to go in.  I had to use the self-checkout or the cashier to pay and exit.  There was a miscommunication with the price of iced coffee and the worker would not give it to for the price that was posted on the wall.  She told me that it was for another type of coffee (same brand) that was sold out but the sign said “All Varieties”.  I went to check again and took a picture of the sign to show her.  Then I showed it to her.  She had to go check again.  I was waiting for her to come back when another worker came by to ask if everything was OK.  I told her what was happening.  She then told me that any price discounts could not be done at the self-checkout and I had to go with a cashier (which the line was LONG).  She knew I was frustrated and proceeded to take care of me at Customer Service.

I know stores like Target would give me any discounts whether I pay with the cashier or a self-checkout.  I don’t understand why the same cannot be done at the Amazon Fresh store.  Overall, I like the stores.  They’re not close to my house but can see myself going again whenever I am in the area.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that today is my last day of Winter Break.  Two weeks off is just what I needed.  Another week would have been nice but oh well.  I created a few draft blog posts and wrote a few posts to be ready to be published.  I also read, watched TV, cuddled with my cats, and took it easy.  Next week I have a Teacher Institute Day on Monday so I won’t see my students until Tuesday.  I did miss them and can’t wait to see them again.

My next long break will be in April for Spring Break and then the last day of school is Thursday, May 30th.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I have unfriended a few people on Facebook.  They weren’t really “friends” but more like acquaintances.  I became friends for a reason but a few of them I’ve never met (I am sure you are asking why I became friends with them in the first place) and others I haven’t seen or talked to in years.  I have a friend that passed away a few years ago and her page is still there.  I want to unfriend her but at the same time I don’t.  There is one person that noticed I unfriended her and she sent me another friend request.  I rarely see her and don’t talk to her so I was very surprised to see another request from her.  I deleted the request.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 things you want to accomplish this year.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Welcome to the December edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!  

This is the last coffee date of 2023!  What a year it has been.  I wanted to participate every month but made it to all except for two months.  Not bad at all.  It is fun to catch up and read everyone’s post.  Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I was inspired while spectating the Chicago Marathon last month and entered the lottery for next year.  I will find out in a few days if I get picked.  I haven’t run a marathon since 2016.  I got a PR that year and bettered my time by 40 minutes from my first marathon in 2006.

I read my race recap and laughed.  Erica wrote about how disliked “The number of people who report being “disappointed” after running a personal best in the Chicago Marathon”.  I agree with her, but I wrote the same thing in 2016.

I may not have gotten a huge PR and I am a little disappointed in myself.  I trained hard this summer. OK, so I did miss a few runs and the last 3 weeks I hardly ran at all.  I am glad I was able to finish but I know I could have done better.  I was hoping to finish under 5 hours. Sigh. Maybe I should just stop here, let it go, and move on.  Another marathon in the books and call it a day.

I also entered the lottery for the NYC Half Marathon in March and I got picked.  I was actually surprised that I got picked again.  I am excited about it.  I hope to actually train for it and that it isn’t too cold like it was this year.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that even though I am not a big fan of Halloween, I had a good time that day.  It was wild!  I spent the morning going over reading and math, but the afternoon was all about Halloween.  We passed out candy; played musical chairs, bingo, and hot potato; we danced; and then we had a school parade.  My students said they had fun.  Mission accomplished!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that last week I got the covid and a flu vaccines along with the second shingles booster.  Last year I only got the flu and shingles and was sick the next day.  The same thing happened this year.  I had a fever and my whole body ached.  I could barely get out of bed, but I managed because I had to eat and use the bathroom.  Priorities.  On Thursday I felt so much better and felt like a new woman.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that Kim will no longer host the Tuesday Linkup with me.  Her last post with me will be on December 26.  We had a good time together and am happy for those years we hosted it together.  I am pleased that Jenn will be hosting the linkup with me.  I have been working on a new graphic for us.  It was fun creating one and I even made one with our favorite pets but, no, we will not be using that one.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I’ve been looking for a race shirt.  I’ve always liked how Erica has one shirt she wears for her races.  During a big race it is “easy” to find her.  The shirt that I originally wanted wasn’t available in my size.  I found another one in a different color but in a men’s size.  It doesn’t fit quite well.  I will keep looking and hopefully will get one soon.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 running/fitness safety tips.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!