Zenaida Arroyo

02
Dec
2022

Fit Five Friday and December 2022 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Wow, how is it already December? And that 2022 is almost over?!? Right now the countdown is for December 22nd, the last day of school before Winter Break. It may be December but I feel like this school year is dragging. This is only the 15th week of school. How? On a positive note, I’m starting off the weekend with a little catch-up over the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah. So grab a mug of your favorite beverage and let’s chat for a bit!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that during Thanksgiving Break I relaxed but also worked. I was observed on Wednesday and I had to work on my portfolio. Yeah, as much as I don’t like to procrastinate, I did drop the ball and had to get it done last week. I had to review my lesson, answer some questions about it, and upload a bunch of artifacts. I will be observed every 3 years so if I am planning to retire in 10-11 years, then I am looking at 3 or 4 more observations.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that last week I got both the shingles and covid vaccine and felt awful the next day. I was very tired and had a fever. I spent most of Wednesday in bed and on the sofa reading and watching TV. I only got up to eat and go to the bathroom. But I felt like a new woman on Thursday!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I got my free birthday cake/slice from Portillo’s. I enjoyed it as a lunch meal when I was sick last week. No shame. Remember that one time I had mashed potatoes and wine for dinner?

Let me add that while Starbucks did gift me a free drink, I could have sworn that the expiration date was 11/21. When I used the app to order the drink, the offer was no longer available. I ended up using my stars for it. I know I didn’t have to get the drink but I wanted it anyway.

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you’ve watched the “Wednesday” series on Netflix. I didn’t think I was going to like it but I did. It is so good! I loved it and cannot wait for season 2. My favorite scene was the dance scene.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you after years of entering the lottery, I will finally get the chance to run the NYC Half Marathon! I am happy and excited about it. Two of my nephews live in NYC so I am looking forward to seeing them too. Plus, I hope one of them will let me stay at their place.

Now I need to start running again and train for it. I have no finish time goal. I just want to finish so I will be using Hal Higdon’s Novice 2 training plan. Soon I will be looking into flights but the “only” bad thing is that I have parent/teacher conferences on the 20th. The question now is do I come back Sunday night or Monday morning? I don’t have to be at work till 11:30am.

Thanks for linking up with us again this week! We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites! Join hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please add your link below. I am also linking up with Running with Perseverance and Confessions of a Mother Runner for the Ultimate Coffee Date.

29
Nov
2022

Tuesday Topics: Thankful for many things

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic. Feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes and comments. Life may not have turned out how I had planned or expected, but I am still lucky to be able to celebrate another birthday.

Before I talk about the many things I am thankful for, I will talk about my birthday giveaway. In this case it will be a belated birthday giveaway. I cannot believe I completely forgot about it. 🤦🏽‍♀️ 🤦🏽‍♀️ There will be one prize for a $50 gift card to one of the following stores: Zappos, Dunkin’ Donuts, Running Warehouse, Amazon, or Starbucks.

Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. This giveaway will run until December 4th at 11:59 pm. The winner will be selected on December 5th. The giveaway is open to US residents only. All entries are verified, so please be sure to complete them or a new, random winner will be selected. GOOD LUCK!!!

Now let me tell you what I am thankful for. There are definitely many things but for this post I will pick 5.

💖 I am thankful for my health. I am young and healthy. I can walk, run, and dance. Ha, I was dancing my heart out on Sunday at my cousin’s birthday party.

💖 I am thankful for my family and friends. They make me laugh and smile. I always have a good time with them.

💖 I am thankful for the opportunity to be active. I may not be running as much as before but I’ve been walking more and taking more Peloton cycling classes.

💖 I am thankful for my cats. My fur babies! They’re both adorable and I love them so much. Now if only they would love each other like I love them.

💖 I am thankful for my job. I have my good and bad days at work. Everyone does. At the end of the day, teaching is still very rewarding. My students also make me laugh and smile.

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

Tuesday Topics

a Rafflecopter giveaway

22
Nov
2022

Tuesday Topics: This is 50!

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic: Tell us why you’re thankful for running this year! You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

I am deviating from this week’s topic to write about this past Sunday when I turned 50. I wasn’t planning to do anything for my birthday but at the last minute decided to have a small gathering/dinner with family at Home Run Inn Pizza. We had a good time. We ate, talked, and laughed.

The weekend was full of emotions and thoughts. Let me share them with you.

🎂 Really, 50 is just a number. I do not feel “older”. Society has us believing that 50 is old.

🎂 My mother remembers when she turned 50. I have a vague memory of that day. She mentioned that she didn’t think she would live long enough to see us turn 50. I told her that she has one more child to turn 50.

🎂 Being 50 brings me closer to retirement. I am giving myself 10-11 more years to work. I cannot see myself being in my 60s and still being a classroom teacher. Teaching is hard now and with the way things are going, it will get even more difficult. Plus, I will not have the patience to deal with kids.

🎂 I hope I can travel more. I did a lot of traveling in my 30s and in my 40s. My last trip was a race in Atlanta in 2020.

🎂 Sometimes I compare myself to others that are the same age as I am. I know I shouldn’t do this but I cannot help it. Many people I know are married and/or with kids. Sometimes I feel left out or that I am missing out. Sometimes I feel as if I am not succeeding in life. I know it is absolutely ridiculous! I shouldn’t feel this way because not every woman is supposed to get married and/or have kids.

🎂 I am grateful that I am healthy and I hope I stay that way for a long time. I look at my mother and all of her complications due to diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Well, it is mostly diabetes that has caused the most complications for her. Deep down I hope I do not require as much assistance as my mother.

🎂 During my run on Sunday I thought back to how I celebrated when I turned 10, 20, 30, and 40. Well, I have no recollection when I turned 10. For 20, I was in college. It was then that I learned the term “Golden Birthday”. For 30, I went to dinner with friends and I think to a club. That was what we used to do back in the day. For 40, I went to dinner with friends (again) and then played Bocce. It was my first and last time.

🎂 I am excited to see what this new decade will bring.

🎂 I never pictured that I will be living with my sister and taking care of my mother. Sometimes it is difficult. Sometimes it is fun. Sometimes I am resentful that I am in that situation. Does that make me a bad person? I remember years ago thinking that one day I would love to live in a condo close to the lakefront. Maybe when I retire I will.

Topic for next week – Free Topic. Feel free to write about any running related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

12
Nov
2022

12. Friday and weird dreams

categories: NABLOPOMO2022

I am doing NaBloPoMo this month. 30 blog posts in 30 days. Come join me. #nablopomo2022

Who doesn’t love Friday? To me it is one of my favorite days of the workweek. I also love Mondays. Well, I love it when I don’t have to go to work.

The day went back quickly. In the morning the students painted with watercolors and listened to music by Selena. I love that many of them know who she is and have heard her music. I danced for a little bit with one of my students. In the afternoon I subbed for another teacher. It was my first time in that classroom and I got to see many of my students from last year. I see them occasionally in the school but it was my first time in their classroom. After school I stayed late for a bit to do my lesson plans for Monday. I will be off that day because I am taking my mother to the doctor.

This morning I woke up after having a very weird dream. This is what I remember:

It was my birthday and we were in a cafeteria.
There were friends of mine from college.
We were at work. That is even more weird because I do not work with any of my college friends.
A friend was making lemonade using Gatorade.
Somehow I had two chickens on a plate.
I then had to cross a pool/river (some kind of body of water) to pick up my students while holding the tray.
Somehow one of the chickens fell inside the body of water.
I realized I didn’t have to be in the water but instead walk on the cement/sidewalk to get across.
I was very late picking up my students and hoped that another teacher picked them up for me.

That dream makes no sense at all. Well, the one thing that makes sense is my birthday since it is coming up.

11
Nov
2022

11. Sunrises in the morning and making a decision

categories: Fit Five Friday, NABLOPOMO2022

I am doing NaBloPoMo this month. 30 blog posts in 30 days. Come join me. #nablopomo2022

One of the best things about waking up in the morning is seeing the sunrise. I enjoy it. I love the beautiful colors. It gives me a warm feeling and somehow makes me feel like everything will be all right.

I saw these yesterday.

Work was OK. One kid misbehaved in the afternoon and that left me in a bad mood. He is a cute and funny kid. He makes me smile and laugh. He also likes to hug me. But sometimes his behavior is horrible. I’ve talked to him and to his mom several times. But I am a firm believer that kids act out for a reason. I am determined to figure out his reason.

I decided not to move forward with purchasing the house. I felt very overwhelmed with all of the repairs. I thought about it a lot. I reviewed carefully the inspection report. I was reminded that the house was on the lower end and that many houses will need repairs. Yes, very true. But deep down inside it just didn’t feel right anymore.

As much as I want to buy a house, I have a fear of being a home owner. Years ago I bought a condo and don’t remember being this scared/nervous. I feel like owning a home comes with more responsibilities. I will still keep looking because I know the “perfect” house is out there for me. But I am hoping it is one that won’t need too many repairs.

Thanks for linking up with us again this week! We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites! Join hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please add your link below.