Sleep or lack of

My health-related topic is sleep. I have a lot of information on how sleep is beneficial to the body, the effects of sleep-deprivation on the body, and how to get a better night's sleep. WELL.... I'm not getting much sleep at all! If I get 5 hours a night recently, I'm lucky. There is so much homework and projects to complete I am going insane! And people say, don't procrastinate. I HAVE to because I am working on so many other things that I cannot work ahead of time. Plus I don't just have school. I work at night, and I'm head varsity track coach at a local high school. I have been busy getting our field ready for meets, solidifying plans with boosters regarding fundraisers, finding best prices for T-shirt orders, managing those missing practice, etc. I haven't done laundry in months, don't eat right, don't get to work out, and don't do anything social more than 2-3 times a month. Ahh! I'm ready to graduate!

NASPE Talk/Forum

We just turned in our NASPE copies today. I couldn't beleive how many people post on there! So many professionals are die-hards about physical education topics. It's neat to see how passionate people are and the topics posted that I hadn't even thought about. I thought my topics were relevant and interesting, but didn't expect professionals to respond. BUT!--- I had the president of an AAHPERD-type organization from Texas and Wisconsin respond to my topics. They sent me valuable information. I will consider keeping up with the list-serv. I think it will be very helpful in the future when I'm teaching and need some guidance and ideas.

Communication problems

I'm a head varsity track coach for a local high school and the kids were on spring break all week. Why high schools have a spring break is beyond me, but I still made practice mandatory. Some kids didn't show up at all and gave the excuse (well their parents even made the excuse) that "My parents were at work and I didn't have a car to get to practice and I don;t have a roster to call someone to get me." Ok... so you are going to tell me, that with Facebook, Myspace, email, text and cell phone calls, that you can't get in touch with someone on your team OR you don't have the number of one of your fellow 70 athletes on the team? What crap! With technology these days, don't try to pull a fast one on me. I even told a parent that this week, whose daughter is quite popular and tried to pull the "i dont have a ride', that with all the technology, that she could have found a ride if she needed.

Camping Trip-Outdoor Pursuits

We are going on our camping trip in Outdoor Pursuits next weekend. I absolutely love camping, but right now I am sick with a deep cough and chest cold! I am going to be in big trouble for the trip if I'm still sick. Plus, in the Allegheny National Forest it's going to be cold, we are going to not sleep much, and I'm going to be miserable. Instead of brown rice and cooked frozen chicken, I'm going to be boiling water to make Cup O Noodles. Is there anyone who has already gone on this trip and either was sick when they went, got sick when they came back, or could tell me anything else about it? Thanks.

Pens Game

On Wednesday, I went to the Pens vs Sabres game. I thought since Crosby and some other key players were out, we were going to be in trouble, but we won 7-3. It was a really good game. Our seats were in B, 13 rows up from the ice and we were surrounded by crazy Pens fans who were dancing with their bright yellow foam finger and puck hat. Of course I had my stadium food on a tray: nachos, hot dog, beer, and root beer float. I have to say that I love the Mellon Arena; it's been a part of Pittsburgh for many years. BUT we need cup holders! When Paetsch knocked out Larque RIGHT in front of us, I had to stand up with my whole tray and eat/drink from there since everyone had to stand up to see what was going on. Even the 6 year old sitting next to me was talking how he himself knocks out other players at HIS own hockey games. Sh0uld we be having hockey in gym class???? I remember playing floor hockey as a freshmen and taking it so seriously, other students would let me have the ball and score. Anyway, it was a fun game.

Skittles gets kid in trouble

Ok.. so tell me if this is ridiculous. An 8th grader gets suspended, his VP class honor taken away from him, and is no longer recognized as an honors student because he bought a bag of Skittles in school from a friend. Are you KIDDING!? Ok.. so the school had a ban on candy as part of a wellness policy. The kid shouldn't have candy in school; I get it. But SUSPENDED!? What is WRONG with this world? Give him detention. It's SKITTLES... not a gun.