I got my new driver last Thursday and the hybrid on Monday. I saved about 8 strokes on Wednesday league. With the driver I'm getting about 20 more yards but instead of going straight I now have a fade. On the first hole my ball took off then faded near the end of the row of trees. Where it ended up I don't know. We never did find it.

The hybrid is better. The balls still go straight and about 15 yards or so farther than with my 3 wood.

Jodie and I went to Hankerd Hills today with Cheri and Travis. Little kids are so funny. Cheri had to keep telling Travis not to kill the ball. He hits it like he's playing softball. Jodie and I were calling him Earl Jr. after his dad.

Cheri can really smack the ball. I think girls that have a softball background do better. At least that's my excuse. I hit a good ball but I just don't get the distance everyone else does. My mom even outdrives me.

I need a little more practice lining myself up to play against my new fade but I really like this club. The ball sounds different and really takes off. The hybrid is a cool club too. I miss hit a few balls but not as many as I usually do.

The greens were superfast (we haven't had rain in a few weeks) and I ended up with some penalty strokes but I'm happy with my final score, and my new clubs.

Today was the Concord Classic. I was entered and really looking forward to being in it. I asked for the day off weeks ago. Then when it came time to wake up, my stomach and head hurt and I thought I was going to get sick again. I ended up not going and sleeping until after 1pm, even after going to bed early.

I hate feeling like I wasted a vacation day, but I'd feel worse going then getting sick out on the course. I'll probably feel worse tomorrow when I see the results and find out that I might have done well.

I swear it's work that is making me sick.

I've decided that I'm going to call the ethics line tomorrow and put in a report about the harassment and that Bitchup has had since May 4 (when she was told) and hasn't taken care of it and that it's escalating. I think I'll send another letter to EEOC and also mention that I suspect drug/alcohol abuse to be a factor. After Friday I dread going to work tomorrow since I know there will be fall out. I need to take my digital camera to work to document anything.

Yesterday was my blog's 1st birthday!!!

Happy belated birthday!!

It was also the Rose Run which even though I haven't been running, I was planning on being in. It looks like I would have done pretty well too.

But...We went to Woody's after golf on Wednesday and I got food poisoning or something. I was so sick Wednesday night. I stayed home from work on Thursday and didn't feel good the whole day. I called in on Friday then my mom called and she called the doctor for me. Realy all he did was tell me to drink Gatorade and gave me antiboitics. (my body HAS to be immune to them by now)

I had taken yesterday off for the race and felt a bit better when I woke up so I went to the pool but didn't use any sunscreen so I was hot with chills and my right thigh was on FIRE. I didn't sleep at all so I'm home to day too. Now I'm totally out of FMLA and there is still 6 months to go. I've had nurovirous 3 times in 8 months. I'm on discipline so I can't be tardy and my script scores are low so I can't get any a-time. Good god.

Mom, Jodie and I went golfing to Pine Hollow and I played sooo well. Starting this Wednesday I'm slowing WAY done. Going to take at least one practice swing for every shot and put the club away after each shot. I'm also going to get a new driver and get a new 3 wood. I'm going to keep the 7,9, 11 etc woods and probably the irons since I hardly use them. I'm putting left hand low and that is helping. I need to work on my aim too. It is getting a bit better. I'm going to try to go to the range at least once a week.

But I need to run too. Ugg.

Off and running Area girls in Girl Quest eye goal of finishing 5K event

Alyssa Rottler has learned pushing herself to be physically fit helps her study better.

"It helps me to push myself to concentrate on school," said Alyssa, 11, a sixth-grader at Napoleon Middle School.

Alyssa is among 15 girls at the school who have been participating in Girl Quest this semester.

The after-school program seeks to build the esteem of preteen girls by emphasizing the importance of physical, mental and spiritual health, and character education.

About 350 girls from 17 elementary and middle schools in Jackson and Hillsdale counties are participating in the 10-week program this semester. It is funded by various grants.

Girls in grades three through seven train to run in 5-kilometer events. The last race of the school year starts at 7 p.m. Friday at Advance Packaging, 2400 E. High St.

"The goal is finishing the 5K, and I don't care how long it takes them to do it," said Debbie Lazaroff, who coordinates the program for the Jackson County Intermediate School District.
"My mantra is to get kids running."

Colleen Hopson, 12, is one of the Napoleon girls who made new friends through the simple act of running. "It's made it a way that you can exercise and still have fun," she said.

Some of the exercises and activities are designed to help the girls learn how to adapt to their ever-changing bodies, said Jen Latocki, a Napoleon middle school teacher who coaches the program.

"I got to learn how to use my speed more wisely," said Erica Shepard, 12, of Napoleon.

Five area elementary schools are piloting a program for boys to see if it has the same results that Girl Quest has seen in recent years, Lazaroff said.

Latocki said the program has matured her team of girls.

"The bad behavior has definitely gone down," said Latocki, a seventh-grade teacher. "Self-esteem has gone up in all of them."

Latocki is assisted this semester by Jackson Community College student Jessica Page, 19, who volunteered to help.

Each girl gets a T-shirt and a new pair of running shoes.

Lazaroff said the program is in search of business sponsorships. She can be reached at 768-5238

The Advance Packaging 5000 is the 1st race of the season for me this year. It's also one of my favorite ones. I especially like it because it's at 7pm.

I tried to get the day off but instead I'm getting out 2 hours early. It won't make much difference this year. I'm working 7-3:30 so even if I hadn't arranged to get out early I would have plenty of time to get there. Also I haven't ran a step since the last race which was last AUGUST!!

Needless to say, even though I am usually last to finish, for sure this year I will not be in contention. Hee.

Another reason I like this race is because of the Girl Quest girls participating. There a ton of them. Some of them are so little!! They run in little bunches. Some take off and run really fast, then slow down, others start off slow and speed up later and others take it nice and easy the whole way.

The mentors run with them and yell out encouragement and come back to the ones who are having a hard time. The Lumen Christi (my high school) cheerleaders and running team help out and make up posters and stick them in the ground with cheesy slogans. Some of the mentors are hot guys!!

At the finish line there is a radio station and food and it's a bunch of fun. It's so much fun.

Even if I'm not a real runner it's fun and I love it. And I'll get another T-shirt for my quilt!