best of times, worst of times

I ran my first race in Budapest today! It was a 12k (7.2 mi), and I ran it in 1:04. I haven't been very consistent in my training, especially after being sick all winter and having to contend with weather up until now. So, when I clocked 8.8 minute miles for 7.2 miles, I was very pleased. I was so nervous beforehand, especially since I can't really communicate with people here still, or not very well, anyway, and before the race I had no idea where anything was or how they had things set up. But I made it to Margit Island, the site of the start and finish, with plenty of time to spare, so I just wandered around and figured everything out before hand. The race itself was hard but therefore so good. We ran all through the city, so there was plenty to see along the way. A TON of people were out and about, as it was a gorgeous, sunny day, just a little cool, perfect for exercising. Many people were present for the races, (well over 1,000 people participated in the 12k), but so many people were just out to enjoy the parks on Margit. I ran by some guys fully suited out in American football gear, shoulder pads, helmets and all, running plays. I don't know how necessary the gear was, as there were only 6 of them...they weren't playing against each other, no tackling going on... But everyone and there dog was out to take in the sun. I loved it. And I ran across some little old ladies selling tulips on the way back to my car, so I brought home a bouquet of red and yellow for our dining room table. Just a perfect Sunday afternoon!...

...until I started doing my taxes. Granted, the deadline is almost upon us, but don't think that I haven't done anything up until this time. I have tried to work on them, but constantly run up against a wall, if not 6. I tried again today, and I want to throw something through a window I'm so frustrated. How in the world are you supposed to file when: you live in a foreign country for most of the year, but less than 330 days, but your income is from a US source, but you're not employed by an organization, but you are not self-employed either? Furthermore, you need to file a Wisconsin return, but you're a nonresident who worked in Illinois, and your permanent address is now in Kansas? It's so complicated that the spiffy software put out by the spiffy online tax filing services can't even handle it. They are making me print something out and mailing it in... The day started off great, and will end on a very bad, low note. I hate taxes.

crazy kids

In Biology class we are studying plants. I was trying to come up with a good review assignment that would tie in all the various vocab words that they are learning regarding structure and types of plants. The night before I had NO idea what to do, but as I was falling asleep I had a brilliant idea pop into my head, which I carried out the next day in classes. I had my students make up a plant. I told them to imagine they were in an unexplored area of the rain forest and came across this crazy plant. They had to draw it, name it using binomial nomenclature, label it using all our vocabulary words, and then describe the plant using the vocabulary words as well. I wish I could scan some of these in, but as I can't I will just tell you a few of them, as they are hilarious.

Mason, and avid basketball follower, "discovered" Lebronus jamius, an angiosperm with red and gold flowers in the shape of a '23'.

Robert discovered Flyus swattus, a flowering plant that looks like a fly swatter and catches flies. It is a carniverous plant.

and my personal favorite...the iPodus, discovered by Tina. It is also a flowering plant in the shape of, you guessed it, an iPod. It's outstanding feature is that it actually plays music! to attract bugs.

Okay, so it was somewhat of a silly assignment, but these kids are just so funny. And I was sick of grading multiple choice worksheets...