Pedals, strokes, and strides

I'm headed back to the gym. The leg/knee is feeling pretty good. Going to create the ultra mini-triathlon. Walk a little, pedal a bit, and swim a few strokes. Doing a complete tri is my ultimate goal. Way I figure it... a little is better than none.

Letters of Rec

So I started making my first steps toward becoming a principal a few weeks ago. In order to be a principal you have to have an admin. credential much like teachers have to have a teaching credential. One of the application requirements for the credential program is to have letters of recommendation from people you have worked with that have seen you in a leadership type role blah blah blah.

I've had to ask for letters of rec. a lot in my life because it's a big part of the post-grad and teaching profession. The thing is... I can never get use to how nice they sound. I mean in a weird way they have to be over the top in their praise otherwise you may not get admission into a program or get a job. I always wondered who reads these letters and do they really get a good sense of who the person is before meeting them. When I read the amazing letters I requested from my principal and a supervisor for our ELL (English Language Learners) program I couldn't help but think... is that me? Even the wife said, "Who are you?" I know I can be many things, (weird, funny, loud, awesome) but it's weird how I have grown professionally. The seven year ago me would never be able to recognize the present day me.

About that Triathlon...

So the three components to a triathlon are swimming, biking, and running. Of these three I cannot do one. Not saying that in a defeatist kind of way, but in a I-really-can't-do-it kind of way. A major hurdle preventing me from accomplishing this goal is that I'm recovering from ACL surgery. This rehab is taking a long, long time. I keep saying I am improving with each passing day, but man! We are like on week 10 since the surgery.

---Funny Story --- For the first 4 weeks after surgery I had to wear a huge leg brace. My second grade students asked me tons of questions and I always answered them. Confused, a student asks how they made my leg okay if the ligament was torn. I informed her and the class that they took a part from a dead person and put in me. I found out from a parent that my students think I have a dead person's leg. NICE!

Beginnings

I have enjoyed a great life, but I want to accomplish so much more. This is the beginning of a journey whereby I hope to accomplish five goals:

• Continue to be a supportive husband to an amazing wife
• Be someone's dad
• Have a house preferably with a legendary MAN ROOM
• Be a school principal
• Be a triathlete

I feel all these goals are more then attainable. The only question is do I have the heart, desire, and patience to get to my goals. I look forward to the challenge.