Manga Review: 20th Century Boys Vol. 3

Book Description

Series: Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys | Publication Date: June 16, 2009

R to L (Japanese Style). It turns out that the Friend's plan to destroy the world was dreamed up long ago by a gang of boys playing "good guys against bad guys"...And now, the only one who can stop this diabolical plot from succeeding is the one who came up with it--Kenji!Kenji races home and picks up the newspaper: sure enough, the mystery microbe has hit London. He thinks back over everything that has happened and what he and his childhood friends dug up, and is forced to face the unbelievable truth--someone really is putting into motion the story Kenji made up as a child, and people are dying because of it!

My Thoughts

Out of the three volumes I have read in this series, this one is my favorite. I read this in one sitting. I was not able to put it down. There were a couple little surprise factors that really drew me further into the story. 

Not being a huge manga fan or I should say not having read many, this series is really taking a hold of me. I was hooked with Volume 1 and really enjoyed the storyline line development in Volume 2. I have more volumes awaiting me to be read. I only hope the series continues to get better and better like it has done so far.

The plot is starting to thicken and some very interesting events are starting to unravel. Based on what Kenji discovers I can only guess at what is to happen next. 

As mentioned by the other reviewer on Amazon, I think what I like best about Kenji is that he is just a normal person. He has so super powers(at least not that I know of). He is one that we can relate to while we read about his adventures.

Time to track down the other volumes in this series. I need more!!!!

Training - 19 Days Until LHF Race

Got out this morning for a great run. The temperature was perfect. Very little wind and it was nice and calm out. This was a needed run. I don't know what my deal has been lately, but my eating habits have been terrible. With a little less than 3 weeks until the race I really need to tune in my eating and knock off a few pounds.

With that being said, I really wanted a run yesterday. With all the little stresses in life I did not make it out the door yesterday. I typically run in the morning, but the rain came and sitting in the rain watching Aiden play his final flag football game of season I was not motivated to go back outside. So yes, I made excuses and was not strong enough to battle my way outside.

This morning I was strong enough. I took off for a 5 mile run and ended up running 6 miles. I finished the run in 47:55 for a 7:58 pace. The last mile I really pushed my body and mind to endure being tired. I need to push myself. I need to get my mind right and get focused. This little test was just what the doctor ordered.

Mile 1: 8:30
Mile 2: 8:16
Mile 3: 8:13
Mile 4: 7:55
Mile 5: 7:33
Mile 6: 7:19

I am planning for a at least 20 miles running and 25 on the bike this week. Off to a great start this week.

Amazing job to all the runners this weekend at state. I have followed many of you and your hard work all season shows in the results. There are too many of you who are not only amazing runners, but amazing people.

Useless Fact For Me To Share With You

No word in the the English dictionary rhymes with "MONTH".

Goodnight y'all. I am off to bed after spending my Sunday night on school work prepping for my next two project based learning units for my ELP class. Can I just say eggs and Rubik's Cubes? Wowsers that sounds like some good learning coming down the pipeline.

Book Review: The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen From The Future

Product Description from Amazon
Now with super-cool foil covers! Shiny! Fun! In this all-new graphic novel, George Beard and Harold Hutchins present the sensational saga of two silly caveboys named Ook and Gluk. Ook and Gluk have a pretty awesome life growing up together in Caveland, Ohio, in 500,001 BC—even though they\u2019re always getting in trouble with their nasty leader, Big Chief Goppernopper. But Ook and Gluk\u2019s idyllic life takes a turn for the terrible when an evil corporation from the future invades their quiet, prehistoric town. When Ook, Gluk, and their little dinosaur pal, Lily, are pulled through a time portal to the year 2222 AD, they discover that the world of the future is even worse than the devastated one they came from. Fortunately, they find a friend in Master Wong, a martial arts instructor who trains them in the ways of kung fu, so that they may one day return home and make things right again. And, like the other Captain Underpants books, The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future features the world's cheesiest animation technology, Flip-O-Rama, in every chapter.

My Thoughts


I needed a nice easy read. My brain has been on overdrive so I picked this off my bookshelf as I continue my quest to read all the hundreds of books I own that I have yet to read. I was not quite sure what to make of the book to start. I knew it was going to be cheesy and appeal to a lower level audience than what I am used to. However, I found myself really liking this book.

The things I enjoyed were the humorous bits, the language used, and the story line. I am beginning to think of of books and how they would be appeal to my six year old son. He is not ready to read these by himself, but it won't be long and this would be a book that he would get a kick out of with the dinosaurs, action, humor, etc.

The funny thing is that when they met with the Kung-Fu master I actually wrote down some good quotes to use. This was the last thing that I thought I would take away from this book, but I was surprised.

The one thing that I did not like was the spelling of words. Several times the words are spelled incorrectly. I think it is to go with the cavemen theme, but being that my son struggles with spelling this would only create more of a headache trying to explain that the book spelled words wrong.

Overall, this is a nice little surprise. I laughed at words like "poo" and this was just the read I needed. I can see why kids love this series and the Captain Underpants.

Training - 21 Days Until LHF Race

Jumped on the bike early this morning to get another 25 mile bike ride in before the weather turns for the worse and forces my workouts to be inside.

I headed out a little before 8 waiting for the sun to rise. I met up with Chad at his house and we took off for the bike path. It was cold out in the beginning. My bald head was frozen and I think my brain had a permafrost on it. As we continued to ride we lost feeling in our toes and fingers.

We made good time considering we are far from bike shape and it took some time for my body to warm up. I purchased some bike shorts to help with the seat area, but I was still a little sore from the ride last week.

It was nice to have someone to ride with and shoot the breeze with while riding. As the sun continued to shine it was pretty nice on the ride back. We had the wind working with us and we finished up nice and strong. I continued riding home from his house to wrap up my 25 mile ride. My legs were tired so I was not going as fast as would have liked.

It was a great start to the weekend. Hope to get out for a nice run tomorrow. Enjoy the weekend.

25 miles in 1:38 for  3:56 pace.

Products of Design - Some Great Thoughts To Consider

Products Of Design: Thoughts From The Faculty from MFA Products of Design on Vimeo.


I loved the comment
         "....it is about giving them the power to change themselves"

Manga Review: 20th Century Boys Volume 2 by Naoi Urasawa

Manga Description

R to L (Japanese Style)
Failed rock musician Kenji's memories of his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that's been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.

The Friend, an enigmatic cult leader who plans to destroy the world, declares, "The cosmos has begun choosing those who are true friends." Meanwhile, horrifying incidents are taking place: the emergence of a mysterious virus, the death of a detective, the revelations of a man on the run... Kenji tries to find out who this Friend is, but the answer is still far ahead. The footsteps of doom slowly creep closer and a shadow falls over the city...

My Thoughts

After reading volume 1 in this series and finding myself really enjoying the story line I just had to keep on reading. Luckily, volume 2 was readily available at my library so I was able to snag the next volume within a day of reading volume 1.

I am really getting involved in the story line. The character development is strong. I truly have my characters I like and don't like. I feel committed to continuing with the series to find out the many answers to the questions I have. I like the main character Kenji. He is a well balanced main character that helps move the story along at the right pace. He is a good counterbalance to some of the other dynamic and one sided characters.


I am not sure what else to share in the review without giving away too much plot. I will simply state that if you give this series a try and enjoy volume you will not be disappointed in volume 2. Not off to find volume 3.

Missing: Squirrel with no tail

If you happen to see a squirrel without his tail please contact me as I have found it in my yard.

Manga Review: 20th Century Boys Volume 1 by Naoki Urasawa

Product Description

R to L (Japanese Style)

Failed rock musician Kenji's memories of his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that's been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.
Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren't for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns. This is the story of a gang of boys who try to save the world.

My Thoughts

I have jumped backed into the manga scene. I realized after a series of comments on one of my Amazon reviews of a manga(Peepo Choo) that I have not really given this genre the time and energy needed to really distinguish the good from the bad.

One of the comments from one of the reviewers posted the following:

Anyways your really closing yourself off if you think that this represents manga.
How about you reading from legends,award winners,people who are considered the best of the industry ... instead of some guy where the only reason it got any attention is because it's from a non Japanese person and got published in Japan.
Read Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys then you might see why manga is great.

So I put the first volume of this manga series on hold at my library and a few days later it was available. I read this with hesitation as much as I tried to read it with a clear mind.

I loved this story. This was a great story with a great plot line that I really found rather intriguing. I liked the characters and especially how the story bounces back and forth from present times to when they were kids. In a sense it reminded me of my childhood with the secret forts, symbols, and handshakes.

I have now gone in pursuit to track down the rest of the series. I would like to continue reading this series to see how the story develops.

I am thankful that my Amazon review sparked a communication with others who know their manga and offered this suggestion.

I know it sounds simple, but the symbol discussed in the storyline really intrigued me. I really found it fascinating.

I have renewed my interest in manga and would love further suggestions to find out and discover some more great manga.

Board of Inspiration 10.27.11

Livescribe Pen Test: Topic - Making Students Say "Hello!"

I am testing out the Livescribe Pen. I wanted to test one out as I begin to change how I assess and provide feedback to my students in class. I created this little notebook page to see how everything operates. I think the topic is an interesting one. Please view and I welcome any comments and ideas.

Starter Notebook p. 19
brought to you by Livescribe

Training - 23 Days Until LHF Race - 5Mile EZ

Had a nice easy run this morning. It was a little cold to start, but ideally it was the perfect running weather because you don't have to worry about getting hot and overheated.. Ran with a buddy and we knocked out the 5.28 mile course in 47 minutes for 8:54 mile.

This nice easy run was needed. It felt good to run, but my legs have been sore and my right hamstring is still pretty tight. I needed a run that was just nice and relaxed. It is great to be able to still get outside to run.

I feel like my running legs are finally back after shaking out the rust. I have had some good runs lately. It is important to not push it every single time.

I am starting to finally realize how important it is to really listen to your body. Once you can get dialed in with the signals the body sends your way, then training really does become enjoyable.

Another long day of teaching and parent teacher conferences again today. Have a great Thursday.

Coffeechug Drive Home Podcast #3: 10.26.11

Basketball Card Talk

I am working on an upcoming basketball practice talk series when my season begins. What I have in mind is that once a week or perhaps more I would pull out a series of basketball cards that all tie into one topic. I would go and rate my top players in each category. I am asking for some ideas now as I need time to gather the basketball cards necessary to complete the talks.

 This is going to take some serious prep and work, but I think it will be a great way to add some fun to the beginning of practice and establish some good relationships with my players.

Some current ideas that I have gathered would be

• best guard, shooter, dunker, post
• best nickname
• best mullet
• best shoe
• best tattoo
• best eye glasses

I am in need of some clever topics. If you have a good suggestion please fill out the form below. Thanks

Be Spontaneous and Do Your Thing

This video reminded to make sure that you stay original, be yourself, and just enjoy life. Don't get caught up in all the little dramas that surround us each day. Take a moment and embrace what we have while we have. If that means doing a little dance, then do a little dance.

Take a moment and Do Your Thing. Make a video of it and send me a link and I will post it here.

Project Based Learning - Idea for Possible Social Studies Project - Anyone Want to Help Create?

I was reading the latest updates on one of my favorite sites when I came across this image prompt

This got me thinking about how I can further challenge my students. I was thinking about creating some sort of project where I provide them a lesson over a time period and they have to figure out which things I share with them are incorrect.

Then I was thinking I could take it one step further and turn this into a project based learning unit where they would have to create a presentation of some sort. What the other students would have to do would have to identify what is correct/incorrect. This would be a double assessment in terms of my students understanding the material enough to secretly throw in some incorrect info while the audience has to try to identify what is wrong.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Collaboration options?

GETTING IT DONE: A Fantasy Read Connects to Me Personally

This weekend I finished reading the fantasy novel A Wizard of Earthsea. While reading this book I started to bridge the story line to my personal quest of achieving my goals.

Basically, the book is about a mage named Ged who is on a quest to correct his mistakes in life. Along the way he faces many obstacles that try to stop him in addition to battling his own mind. I won't go into any greater detail as many of you could probably care less about a fantasy book, but I am going to explain how this book caused me to reflect on my personal journey.

In the book Ged must learn early on to accept and come to terms with the power that he possesses. How many times in our own lives do we not give ourselves enough credit with what we are able to accomplish? I think about my journey of training for the marathon. I had so many times where I was in self doubt about what I  was capable of achieving. I was able to overcome that negative talk and prove to myself that I was capable. I am currently going through the same process again as I muster up the courage to really commit to my next goal. This is a tough one. Sometimes I think ignorance is bliss where it would be great to just go after something without any thought to prior experiences that I think hinder our thought processes.

Later in the book Ged realizes that he must confront his past mistake and instead of running away for the rest of his life he has to turn around and tackle the challenge set in front of him. Once again, how many times do we run away from a goal or challenge because we fear the unknown? We make excuses, we run out of time, we quickly find something less challenging to fill the void. People never really understand what they are truly capable of because they fear the risk of making a mistake, falling down, being wrong, _____(you fill in the space). We become so entrenched in a daily routine that we cannot leave our space. That is sad because all of us are capable of so many great things. I think to teaching and how many times we teach students to try something new, push themselves to new limits, don't be scared, etc., yet we don't heed our own advice. I am to the point that I need to turn myself around and begin to face my fears of swimming, biking, and training for a long endurance event.

Lastly, I will make one more point connecting goals and the book. Ged fails time and time again to conquer his mission. The quote about how close people are to achieving their goals right when they quit is so true. Failure is part of the process. Being wrong, making a mistake is where most of us learn best. While out riding my bike this weekend, I literally had zero idea about how to shift gears. However, when I shifted the wrong way going downhill and my legs flew off the pedals I learned right then and there how to shift the right way. Failure and making mistakes is what most of us fear the most. However, you have to endure these moments to understand the greatness within us all.

I could make a few more connections, but I think I have made my major points. I hope you gained something from this as I have from reading this novel. Never stop striving to GETTING IT DONE!

Book Review: A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthcycle, Book 1)

From Powell Books Website

Earthsea 
Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea cycle has become one of the best-loved fantasies of our time. The windswept world of Earthsea is one of the greatest creations in all of fantasy literature, frequently compared with J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth or C.S. Lewis's Narnia. The magnificent saga begins with A Wizard of Earthsea, continues in The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore, and concludes with Tehanu — each book a treasure of wisdom, wonder, and literary wizardy.

A Wizard of Earthsea
Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.

My Thoughts

I am restarting my journey of reading the hundreds of books on my bookshelves that I have purchased over the years that I have not made time to read. This book was the start. I have been wanting to read this book for years. I bought it quite some time ago and finally found some time this weekend to give it a read.

This book was published in 1968. I was interested to read the book to see how many elements of fantasy have been taken from her work. The book is short being under 200 pages. In the fantasy world it is not uncommon to read a 500+ page book in a long series. 

I will admit that I struggled at first stay interested in this book. It is all about personal taste. It was not so much about the writing or story line as it had everything I typically like. However, it just did not grab me. I almost felt bad for thinking this way as hundreds of people just rant and rave about how great this series is. I posted at about page 109 on Goodreads.com that I was thinking of putting the book down.

I am glad I did not. I decided to finish the book to give it the proper time it deserved. One Ged finally turned himself around and went after his main voyage I became quite interested. I think it was because the journey paralleled the many thoughts and ideas of my personal goals I create for myself. I was able to relate to his mindset. I am actually in the process of applying this novel to some principle of my GETTING IT DONE blog series and book I am writing.


I am glad I read this book. Not a favorite of mine, but one that I think deserves to be read by and fantasy fan. I can see why so many would like this book and series. I think many middle grade students would love this story. It is a great stepping stone to the much larger volumes. Despite myself not liking this story as much as I had hoped for, please don't let that deter you from reading. I think many people will really like this story. I guess I need to jump back into the A Song of Fire and Ice series and begin book two to satisfy my cravings.

Board of Inspiration 10.25.11

Coffeechug Concepts Diigo Updates 10/24/2011

• Science PBL Example - Clean Water
• Favorite iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch Audio Editing Apps (October 2011)
  tags: ipad ipod photo audio
• Elements of Grading Review
  tags: book_review education
• Welcome to iPad 2.5: Presentation Machine
  tags: ipad education presentation
• Moving at the Speed of Creativity - Podcast380: The Summer of Podfading is OVER: Let’s Talk eBooks!
  tags: podcast projectbasedlearning
• PBL Social Studies Project Ideas | Best Kids Educational Websites
  tags: projectbasedlearning social studies pbl SocialStudies
• Project-Based Learning
  tags: projectbasedlearning PBL resources
• The Innovative Educator: 5 ideas for responding to what kids want the nation to know about education
  tags: educator ideas education kids
• Cybraryman Internet Catalogue
  tags: collaboration web2.0 cybraryman mindmapping Tools education blog
• » Two Truths & A Lie – The Lesson Plan
  tags: education classroom socialstudies history lesson plan
• DocsTeach
  tags: PBL education learning socialstudies history
• Coolest Little League Coach [VIDEO]
  tags: coolest little league coach
• The 50 Fastest Guitarists of All Time: Guitar World Readers' Poll Results | Guitar World
  tags: guitar
• Can you name the album (for 2 points) or the artist (for 1 point) where each song first appeared? | Online Games & Trivia by Sporcle
  tags: online games games trivia
• Our class of 10,000 students from 127 countries lasting 21 days - Ewan McIntosh | Digital Media & Learning
  tags: class students education learning
• Gadgets for the Classroom: by Jesse Langley
  tags: gadgets classroom
• Improv In Toronto Ninja Video | The Mary Sue
  tags: ninja improv
• “How to Get Better Grades in School and Discover the Secret of Smart Students” According to Terry Small - Ridgeview News
  tags: grades education
• When You Are the Facilitator — Seven Tips for Success | L e a r n i n g 3 . 0
  tags: education classroom success tips
• School swapping projects - Swap objects and skills with schools around the world
  tags: classroom swap projects school world
• keep it real | lifebyme
  tags: education classroom
• You Can’t Teach Give a Sh*t - Millennial CEO | Millennial CEO
  tags: education classroom teaching
• curiosity counts - TieSight – ingenious desktop/laptop app that syncs...
  tags: curiosity desktop
• Don’t Blink: Lego NXTs and an Android Smartphone Just Solved Your Rubik’s Cube | GeekDad | Wired.com
  tags: blink lego android smartphone education
• TikTok+LunaTik
  tags: ipod watch
• Classroom seating habits » InfoGraphic-a-Day
  tags: classroom seating education

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Infographic: Planet Text

I want to start to share some of the amazing infographics that come my way via my inbox. I have permission to share these. I have created a page where I will update with new ones as they arrive in my inbox. Here is one to get things started. Check the infographic page from time to time for the latest updates.
Created by: MBA Online

Training - 25 Days Until LHF Race - 7.5 Mile Run

Got up this morning feeling tired. My legs were still slightly sore and tired from the bike ride and the 7 mile run Sunday night. I took yesterday off after a bad night of sleep. I had not put in for a rest day so I took one after going strong for several days. I am not sure if I will get the lifting made up this week with parent teacher conferences, but I think I will survive.

I headed out this morning to get a 7 mile run in. I needed a longer run as I won't be able to run tomorrow morning as I have an international teacher meeting. I have a rest day again tomorrow so I thought I could push the distance some knowing I have rest tomorrow.

I started off slow. My legs were tight. My right hamstring has been pretty tight lately and it took a few miles for it to loosen up. I was not worried about time as much as I was the last run. I just needed a nice pace and some mileage.

Here are my mile breakdowns
Mile1: 8:53
Mile 2: 8:41
Mile 3: 8:31
Mile 4: 8:13
Mile 5: 8:06
Mile 6: 8:00
Mile 7: 7:50
Mile 7.5: 3:50

I finished up the run in 62 minutes for 8:16 average pace. This was a nice run. It felt good to be outside. The weather was perfect except for a few wind gusts here and there. Looking at my mile times it always amazes me how my times go down. While out running I don't even realize that I am running faster and faster. As the body warms up it just naturally picks up speed.

Happy Tuesday and off to start a long day of teaching and parent teacher conferences.

I almost forgot to mention about how I almost literally pooped my pants this morning. I was running and I heard this noise over my headphones. I started looking around thinking it was a bike or something. Where I was running it was almost pitch black. Suddenly, I see a movement on the ground and literally about a foot from my feet there was a huge raccoon running across. I jumped like no other. It scared me half to death. It was the last thing I was expecting. That is a great way to get your adrenaline pumping for sure.

Marathon Photos Finally Arrive in the Mail

Today my cd of images from the QC Marathon from a month ago finally arrived. I have been waiting for what seems like forever for them arrive. I bought the images for two reasons.

1. To remind me of the great accomplishment I was able to achieve. I never thought I was capable of running 26.2 miles, but I did it and ran it under my goal.

2. To serve as a reminder and motivation for my future goals.

Here is a little slideshow of the images. I have a few more load, but these are main ones.




This is my favorite one. This is me getting ready to cross the finish line. I cannot describe the feeling I had at that moment. I had done it. I lived up to my mantra of GETTING IT DONE!

I hope to have more of these moments in the future.

Board of Inspiration 10.24.11

Coffee For The Brain November Calendar Images - Flickr Project

Alright people, I started this little Flickr project last week where anyone can submit images to my Flickr Group

I will be honest, I really thought this group would fill up with images. I know that many of you take pictures of nature, each other, cool things, quotes, sayings, etc.

So far, I have received zero. Maybe it is a bad project, but I really don't think so. I have been gathering some images on my phone as well as gathering some motivational images from Pinterest to use to fill in the gaps. However, I would really like a calendar that is created by my fellow readers and students.

We have this week to submit some images for the November calendar. Don't let me down. Submit some pictures. Otherwise I will create calendar, but it won't be near as cool as one created by the masses.

Don't worry, I am not quitting this idea. Once the November calendar is done, then we will move to December.

I look forward to your images.

GETTING IT DONE: Lessons from my bike ride - Building Bridges

I mentioned in my training this weekend I would be posting some images from my bike ride as sources of inspiration. This is the first one of the week.

Many times in life we come across a situation where we have to take action. Sometimes we have to be strong enough to build bridges over the obstacles to keep us from stopping dead in our tracks and sinking in the mindset that we cannot achieve.

While riding my bike Sunday I thought these thoughts while getting ready to cross this bridge. I thought back to training for my marathon and all the times I had to build a mental bridge to overcome the latest challenge or obstacle on my path to achieving my goal.

I feel like I have had to build more bridges lately to get myself ready for my next goal of triathlons. You cannot let these little obstacles stop us. Yes, they may tend to slow us down, but never let the roadblocks stop you completely.

Once you build the bridge, then you have to go forth and trust yourself that you are strong enough to achieve. Self doubt can quickly erode any bridges that you have created. Self doubt is bound to happen, but you have to believe in yourself. You have to track your data so you can go back, examine what you have accomplished to remind yourself how powerful and amazing you are.

Be amazing! Be strong! And continue GETTING IT DONE by building your bridges to overcome the little obstacles along the path to success.

Coffee For The Brain Top Post Views for Week and Month

Here are top post views from last week. Interesting how some of these are from a while back.

Here are the top posts for the month of October so far.

Training - 27 Days Until LHF Race

Tonight I finally mustered up enough mental stamina to get out and run.  I wanted to get up early and run this morning, but for the first time in a long time Ava pretty much slept through the night and next you know it was 7:00 am. We had another busy day of things to do and places to attend so the morning flew by and the afternoon was history. By evening time I was tired. I felt really worn down. I decided to give the run a try. I wanted to get 7 miles in to get 20 miles of running in for the week and to also begin to build my mindset of 7 miles for the race coming up.

Being as tired and unmotivated as I was it hard to tell whether it was my body giving me the signals to back off(I just rode 25 miles on a bike yesterday) or if I was just being lazy and needed to suck it up. I voted to get out and run, gauge my body signs, and go from there.

I took off feeling not too bad. The weather was perfect for a run. I took off on mile 1 at a 8:13 pace. I felt good. From that point on I knew that my body needed this run. It felt great just being out running. I was actually wishing I finished this run earlier in the day because I knew it was just what my mind and body needed. This was a hilly run. I battled a few hills that I have not ran in quite some time and it was good challenge. I kept a good pace running

Mile 2: 8:14
Mile 3: 8:17
Mile 4: 8:10
Mile 5: 7:44
Mile 6: 7:27
Mile 7: 7:13

I felt fantastic towards the end. I don't know what kicked into my system, but I just felt like I could run faster and faster. I wanted to push more, but I knew that I better not push too much too soon. My knees were sore from the bike ride yesterday as well as one hamstring and my bike riding regions. Man, it felt great to feel great running. I have not had that feeling in a long time. It made it even better based on how terrible I felt prior to running. I ended up running the 7 miles in 55:33 for 7:55 average pace. I have not seen this pace time in a long time.

I believe I ended up with 20 miles running and 25 miles on the bike for the week along with two circuit training sessions. I have not had a good week of overall training like this in a while. A perfect way to end the week.

Training - 28 Days Until LHF Race & My First Bike Ride on 2003 Fuji bike

Wowsers does not my butt ever hurt! This morning I decided to give the 2003 Fuji road bike a spin to test it out. Now I am clueless when it comes to bikes so it is not like I really know what to look for when riding, but my biggest concern was comfort and how I felt on the bike. This bike a buddy picked up for me on Craigslist for $80. This is a steal.

I headed out this morning for the bike path. To get to the bike path from my house I have to ride about 2 miles on some pretty busy roads. I was fine until I decided the one road was too busy for me so I went to the sidewalk. I realized right away why I don't see people riding road bikes on sidewalks. There is so suspension and it was not a good way to start the ride. My aim was to get a decent ride in with my big goal of riding 20 miles, but going at least 10 miles. I was not sure what to expect as I have not ridden a bike in a long time, am still trying to get myself back in decent shape, and this being my first time really riding this bike.

I made my way to the bike path and felt good. I was able to get into a decent rhythm while riding, but like running I had a hard time staying in that zone. The gear shifters are not on the handlebars so I was trying to get used to how to shift. There were times I needed to ease up and I shifted the wrong way and one time going downhill I needed to move to higher gear and went the opposite way causing my feet and legs to take off and I about flipped back on the bike.

Not the best picture, but he was right there on edge of the bike path.

With all being said it was a gorgeous morning. I loved the bike. I loved the bike ride. I ended up riding 25 miles. I completed the ride in 1:34 which is about a 3:47 mile pace. This does include a few stops on the way back when trying to cross some main streets and stopping one time to take a picture of a bald eagle.  My fastest mile was 3:07 and my fastest speed was 25 mph. I am still a little shaky on the bike when going fast.

I survived the bike ride. My legs are tired. My butt is super sore, but my spirits are high. Not too bad considering I have zero bike gear. I biked with just regular pedals and running shoes. I biked without bike pants so my padding was my running tights. I biked without understanding how to shift gears. And I loved every minute of it.

I think I could really get into biking. I think after this one ride I feel enough excitement to pursue my biking skills and knowledge more which is a right step in the direction of me trying a triathlon next year.

This bike ride was just what I needed. It refueled my passion to get back into exercise. I had a good week of training, but today really kick started(saying this phrase made instantly start singing some Motley Crue so I added the music video) my excitement to get back into the swing of things. I hope to end the week with a good run tomorrow. My goal is to go for a 7 mile run to work on building my legs back up to running a mid long distance.



On the ride back I took a few pictures and will be using those for a little mini series of motivation this week on my blog to get back to the GETTING IT DONE mantra mindset. Stay tuned. Get outside this weekend and enjoy the weather. It will soon be gone.

Book Review: My Life On The Run by Bart Yasso

Product Description

     Dubbed the "Mayor of Running," Bart Yasso is one of the best-known figures in the sport, but few people know why he started running competitively, how it changed his life, or how his brush with a crippling illness nearly ended his career a decade ago. With insight and humor, My Life on the Run chronicles the heatstroke and frostbite, heartache and triumphs he’s experienced while competing in more than 1,000 competitive races during his nearly 30 years with Runner’s World magazine.

     Yasso gives valuable and practical advice on how to become a runner for life and continually draw joy from the sport. He also offers practical guidance for beginners, intermediate, and advanced runners, such as 5-K, half-marathon, and marathon training schedules including his innovative technique known as the Yasso 800s.

     Recounting his adventures in exotic locales like Antarctica, Africa, and Chitwan National Park in Nepal (where he was chased by an angry rhino), Yasso recommends the best exotic marathons for runners who want to grab their passports to test themselves on foreign terrain. With the wit and wisdom of a seasoned insider, he tells runners what they need to know to navigate the logistics of running in an unfamiliar country.

     Yasso’s message is this: Never limit where running can take you because each race has the potential for adventure.

My Thoughts

This was a great read. I bought this book after listening to him speak at the pasta dinner for the Quad Cities Marathon. He shared some of the stories from the book and I just had to read about his other adventures.

You are not going to gain a lot of knowledge about running strategies from this book. What you will gain is an appreciation for the running world and how cool the world really is. He has been all over and has been able to witness the true essence of the human spirit.

The back of the book does contain some training plans. I have not used them, but look like something beneficial to incorporate.

If you need a good read with some great laughs, some powerful stories, some interesting characters, and good old storyteller Bart Yasso at the forefront, then this book is for you.

Coffeechug Calendar Images

Coffeechug Calendar Images, a group on Flickr.

Please submit some pictures for my November Calendar that will appear on my Coffee For The Brain blog. I need a picture for each day of the month.

Book Review: You Are An Ironman

Product Description

A New York Times bestselling author takes readers inside the Ironman triathlon.
As he did so masterfully in his New York Times bestseller, The Gatekeepers, Jacques Steinberg creates a compelling portrait of people obsessed with reaching a life-defining goal. In this instance, the target is an Ironman triathlon-a 2.4-mile open-water swim followed by a 112-mile bike ride, then finally a 26-mile marathon run, all of which must be completed in no more than seventeen hours.
Steinberg focuses not on the professionals who live off the prize money and sponsorships but on a handful of triathletes who regard the sport as a hobby. Vividly capturing the grueling preparation, the suspense of completing each event of the triathlon, and the spectacular feats of human endurance, Steinberg plumbs the physical and emotional toll as well as the psychological payoff on the participants of the Ford Ironman Arizona 2009. His You Are an Ironman is both a riveting sports narrative and a fascinating, behind-the scenes study of what makes these athletes keep going..

My Thoughts


I just completed my first marathon and have been thinking about entering the world of triathlons. This big goal of mine is the Ironman despite the fact I don't currently own a bike and can barely swim. I have started to read up on the sport and while at my library I came across this book.

This book was just what I needed. It follows the journey of six normal people who all have obstacles and challenges of their own. Through reading their journey of committing to the race, training, and finally getting to race day, the reader is able to catch a glimpse into the busy lives of those who train. I walked away from the book with a sense of appreciation for families, loved ones, and the dedication of the human spirit when pushed to the limits.

I really found this to be the perfect read at the perfect time. As I contemplate this sport I need reminders that when you believe in yourself anything is possible. These are all amazing people in this book. However, at the end of the day they are regular people with regular lives of jobs, marriage, kids, and all the chaos that life brings us.

Board of Inspiration 10.21.11

Join Flat Classroom at ASB Unplugged in Mumbai India

We're gearing up to take students to India. Here's info to join us. If you're interested in taking a class, get those applications in. I'd be happy to pair up with US schools on travel arrangements if it helps.


Flat Classroom® Conference and Live Events 
a 501(c)3 non profit invites interested schools and educators to apply now to attend the  

Flat Classroom® Workshop at ASB Unplugged 2012 in Mumbai, India.  
All details are on the wiki. (http://asbunplugged2012.flatclassroomproject.org/)

Deadline for Application: October 31, 2011
Final selection of classes completed: November 15, 2011.

Application form: http://tinyurl.com/asb2012flatclass

Don't forget also, Vicki Davis and Julie Lindsay will release their book, "Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds: Move to Global Collaboration one Step at a Time" in January 2012. Sign up for advance notice and more details at http://flatclassroombook.com


If you might be interested in possibly traveling to India, then please contact me via email or stopping down in my office ASAP. The deadline is quickly approaching and I need to see if there are students at BMS interested in this very cool educational experience

Elementary School Classrooms embrace "A Week in the Life...."

Press Release
Co-founders of the Flat Classroom® Project, Vicki Davis and Julie Lindsay are excited to announce another session of the Elementary School Flat Classroom Project. After the very successful pilot project in 2010 that included eight schools and 9 classrooms from five countries, this 2011-2 project joins together about 500 students from 19 schools and 6 countries to develop an appropriate global collaborative experience within a curriculum framework for students in Grades 3-5 of ages 8-11. For the current project, running September through December 2011, the project managers are Aaron Maurer and Cathy Wolinsky. They are assisted by Toni Olivieri-Barton (Community Manager), Tina Schmidt (Meetup Manager), and Maureen Tumenas (Media Mentor).



"We are building on the excitement and engagement of the previous project, knowing that another team of excellent educators are working furiously together to make this the best global experience possible, using Flat Classroom pedagogy supported by emerging Web 2.0 technologies", states Julie, "Not only are we connecting the students but teachers met every week and explore best ways to collaborate within and inquiry-based curriculum approach."


The project is called "A Week in the Life....." and centers around sharing what life is like for students in their respective schools and countries. It encourages students to connect and communicate to build an online learning community and to collaborate on a common set of guiding questions and objectives. For this project we are using the tool Edmodo which provides flexibility for group creation and file uploading. It also supports development of multimedia collecting and sharing skills, and awareness of collaborative learning environments through the practical application of the project wiki. Topics for the project include School Time, Languages and Clothing, Housing and Transportation, Leisure Time, Food & Celebrations and Environment.

We encourage interested teachers and supporters of global collaborative projects to review the developing wiki material at (http://aweekinthelife11-2.flatclassroomproject.org/) This project will run until December 15, 2011, by which time students will have created celebration material based on their collected multimedia.

Applications of interest are being taken now for future projects. See details at http://tinyurl.com/fcpesapplication


Flat Classroom® Projects are award winning projects that have been running for the past four years for middle and high schools students. The original project, The Flat Classroom Project, is based on the concepts found in Tom Friedman's book, 'The World is Flat', and subsequently has been included in the reprint of the book in 2007. Other projects include Digiteen Project (raising awareness of digital citizenship) and NetGenEd Project, run in conjunction with Don Tapscott (looks at emerging technologies and netgen norms of behavior). We encourage all educators and global collaborative project supporters to join our Flat Classrooms network to receive further updates on all Flat Classroom Projects. http://flatclassrooms.ning.com More information about Flat Classroom Projects can be found on the website http://flatclassroomproject.net


Participating Schools in "A Week in the Life...." 2011-2

Schools	Teachers
Alta Vista Elementary, Los Gatos, California, USA	Christy Mills & Mary Fran Lynch
American International School Guangzhou, China	Shauna Cottrell
American School of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland	Evan Chong & Catrin Barber
Berkshire Country Day School, Lenox, Massachusetts, USA	Maureen Tumenas
Bettendorf Community School, Bettendorf, Iowa, USA	Aaron Maurer
Brook Park Memorial Elementary, Berea City School District, Brook Park, Ohio, USA	Amren Fowler & Jamie Palcisko
Gilman Lower School, Baltimore, Maryland, USA	Donna Vaccaro
H.C. Storm Elementary, Batavia, Illinois, USA	Sarah Barrett
Kennard CJA, USA	Laurie Batres
Korea International School, South Korea	Jenn MacSwain
Marietta Center for Advanced Academics, Marietta, Georgia, USA	Susie Throop
Oakridge International School, Einstein Campus, Oakridge, India	Kanchan Lele
Park View Elementary, Mooresville, North Carolina, USA	Julie Buda
Shanghai Community International School, Shanghai, China	Sheri DeNeef & Ashley Holst
St. Martin's Episcopal School, Winnetka, California, USA	Vicky Sedgwick
Stone Oak Elementary, San Antonio, Texas, USA	Cindy Glenn
The Bolles School, Jacksonville, Florida, USA	Cynthia Clements
The Study, Quebec City, Canada	Lisa Jacobsen
West Tisbury School, Martha's Vineyard, USA	Valerie Becker & Mary Boyd