Happy Tuesday!  Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics.  Remember to link up with us!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Don’t forget to come back for later linkers! 

Here is another post with some interesting prompts in the Jetpack app.  Ready?

• Where did your name come from?  The name Zenaida typically means “the life of Zeus” or “born of Zeus”, referencing the Greek god Zeus.  It also has associations with “God-like” or “like God”, with origins in ancient Greece.

I was named after my grandmother, my dad’s mom.  He told my mother that he wanted me to be named after his mom.

• Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home.  The furthest I’ve traveled is when I went on a cruise and traveled to Italy and France.  It was my first time on a cruise and for some reason I had watched the movie “Poseidon” and was freaking out about my trip.  I don’t remember why I watched that movie prior to my trip.

I think I was in Tuscany in the picture below.

• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?  I remember my boss told me to save for my 401k.  This was at my second job after graduation.  She told me to save even a little bit because it will add up.  I started saving as soon as I could and am glad I followed her advice.

• What colleges have you attended?  Let’s see if I remember them all.  I graduated from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL.  I also went to Loyola University in Chicago.  I also went to a few community colleges-Harold Washington College and Kishwaukee College.

• What were your parents doing at your age?  My dad had passed away.  He was 49 when he died.  My mom was a few years younger when he died and became a widow.

The topic for next week – How do you stay active through the summer vacation season? We hope you’ll link up with us!

Happy Tuesday!  Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics.  Remember to link up with us!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Don’t forget to come back for later linkers! 

Here is another post with some interesting prompts in the Jetpack app.  Ready?

• If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?  I would like to be the School Superintendent.  There are many days that I do not understand the decisions he makes.  I know it isn’t an easy job, but I think it will help me understand his decision-making.

• Where would you go on a shopping spree?  Menards and Marshalls!  They’ve been my favorite stores since January.  I know I didn’t mention this before, but the reason I haven’t unpacked all of my boxes is because I am doing some renovations in the basement and there is no room for the boxes.  The renovation is about 80% done.  Anyway, right now almost all of my purchases have come from both stores.  I’ve had to buy almost everything new since a lot of stuff I had before was already old.  

• If you could have something named after you, what would it be?  A school.  Though sometimes I wonder if it will be a cool name for a school.  My name not common and hard to pronounce.  

• What are you most worried about for the future?  I know there are bigger problems out there right now, but I will be selfish and think about me right now.  I worry about what is going to happen to me when I am older and cannot take care of myself.  As you know, my sisters and I take care of my mom.  It is a lot of work – mostly mental.  

• If you could host a dinner and anyone you invite was sure to come, who would you invite?  I would invite Barack and Michelle Obama, Des Linden and Kara Goucher.  The first two might not come, but if I promise them a delicious home-cooked Mexican meal, then hopefully they would come.

Next week is a FREE topic.  Feel free to write about any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Happy Tuesday!  Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics.  Remember to link up with us!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Don’t forget to come back for later linkers! 

Here is another post with some interesting prompts in the Jetpack app.  Ready?

• Name the most expensive personal item you’ve ever purchased (not your home or car).  Years ago a friend and I went to NY.  Somehow we ended up at the Coach store and purchased a bag/purse.  I don’t remember why I thought I needed it.  I think I spent close to $500 for it.  I still have it but have no need for it, but don’t want to get rid of it either.

•  If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with the extra time?  Right now I would use the extra time to train for my race and pack/declutter to move.  Just thinking about the packing stresses me out.  I told my sister that I will need to tackle one room at a time so that it isn’t overwhelming.  But the extra time would help too.

• Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?  Yes and no.  I finally bought a house and last year I was still looking for one.  I am still at my job, taking care of my elderly mother, and living with my sister.  

• What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?  Personally, this isn’t something I wouldn’t want to do.  The thought of living over 80, 90, or 100 doesn’t sound appealing to me.  Maybe if I didn’t have any health issues it might be something I would like to do.  But then I remember where this country is headed and it brings me back to reality.  

• What do you complain about the most?  My job.  I try not to because it doesn’t help me and it makes me more unhappy, but I cannot help it.  If I didn’t have to work, I would travel around the world, and volunteer at a school.  I know teachers could use the extra help.  I would also read.  I have a long list of books that I want to read.

The topic for next week – How to fall in love or fall back in love with running.  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Happy Tuesday!  Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics.  Remember to link up with us!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Don’t forget to come back for later linkers!

Here is another post with some interesting prompts in the Jetpack app.  Ready?

•Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?  I would re-live my college years.  I think about if my life would be different if I would have paid better attention to my studies.  I went to college to be an Accountant.  It was competitive to get into the program, and well, I didn’t get in.  Then I went back home and transferred to Loyola University because their Accountancy program wasn’t difficult to get in.  After one semester, I transferred back to Northern Illinois University.  In college I had fun and made the best of it.  I went to my classes but didn’t do the best work that I knew I was capable of (my GPA wasn’t that great).  I graduated with a degree in Marketing and another one in Spanish Translation in Business. 

• What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take, but haven’t been able to?  Quit my job or retire.  You all know about the struggles I have at work.  I’ve had challenging years, but this year is worse.  I don’t think things will get better.  There are days when I don’t want to go to work.  I know I need to change my attitude.  

• Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?  Definitely rested!  I don’t know if this is considered lazy days, but when I stayed home because I had Covid, I stayed in bed all day and read books.  During the weekend, I spend a few hours doing school stuff (I know I shouldn’t but the project I am working on helps with two of the classes I teach) and then spend hours watching TV or reading a book.

• What have you been putting off doing?  Why?  This is my 3rd year in my school.  When I moved, I brought with me a few boxes full of books.  Some of the books are mine and some belong to the District.  I didn’t unpack them because there is no time in our curriculum for the students to sit down and read a book (only the ones that are part of the curriculum).  The boxes are all in a corner shelf and drive me crazy.  It is messy and I could use that space to put other things.  I also didn’t unpack them because I don’t have space to store those boxes of books.  I should have done this before, but I asked my brother if I could store the boxes in his garage.  He said yes!  I also have a book shelf and a desk I don’t want in my room.  Basically, I need to declutter.  My goal is to finish before the end of the year.

I opened my boxes yesterday and have already made some progress.  Photo on the left is before.  Photo on the right is after (11/11).

• What would you do if you lost all your possessions?  I would cry for a few days.  Then, once I let it all out, I will think about what was that hurt more to lose and then get it again.  I am sure there are some things I will not miss.  Possessions are material things and can be replaced.  It will be like starting over.  At least I will have my health, family, friends, and cats.

The topic for next week – Holiday gift guide for runners.  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!