Well, TGIF. (Feb 24th)

Hooray for today :) I got caught up on all the blogging I needed to. I keep a handwritten journal and this blog, so I had to do some transferring! I emailed Smithville again yesterday, and will be doing so again today. No response yet, but fingers crossed. I did, however, get a response from someone at the MS Society! They did not have any freebies to give me :'( but that's okay. I just have to budget for all of that :) I am hoping to have around 75 runners. I am going to create a survey and distribute it in Mr. Lindner's band classes. It will ask takers if they would be interested in running, for how much, or if they'd want to volunteer. :D

Park Date with Emauro and DA BRUISER (Feb 23rd)

So, we went to the park :) I love it here so much! We took Eric's pug mix to walk the green and red trails. We had to carry him up the stairs. Which reminds me...Smithville has stairs. Is it safe to run on stairs? I really don't think so...but I'll continue emailing them repeatedly. They'll probably say no or will want me to pay big money. Both of which mean I have to find a new location.

I also emailed one of the National MS Society people. Hopefully, I will get a response from them and they may be interested in giving me freebies!

Not getting my hopes too high, but definitely working hard. :)

Hello, Wednesday. I don't want to work today :( (Feb 22)

Well, Mr. Lindner didn't really yell at me, except for not really reading those links yet...but I will! I promise. There's just so much to do :( He quite enjoyed my beautiful letter. We emailed it to Smithville Park and I was instructed to attack it from every angle possible...Helloooo sending many many emails :) I can work on my harassment face :D Hahaha, not really, but I am really hoping to elicit a response! Someone needs to recognize me. We discussed shirt prices, which are $3 for a blank shirt, plus $1 per color per side...sounds good :) I met Mr. Potts today too, accidentally, but it still counts :)

Once upon another Tuesday (Feb 21)

"1979" and "Tonight, Tonight" by the Smashing Pumpkins are wonderful letter-writing songs. I have been writing that dreadful letter. It's about time :) It turned out really well. Can't wait to share it with Mr. Lindner. It makes me feel like a good soul. This week needs to go by so I can have my interview on Monday!

And because I have to do this, Here are people I'd like to interview:
- Mrs. B, my mommy's boss and a fellow 5K planner
- Mr. Hirsch
- Maybe Amanda H? :)
- A few people who have run 5Ks!

Also, because I have to, here are my essential questions:

- What about a 5K brings people together for a cause?
- What kind of planning goes into a 5K?
- How does a 5K (whether running or planning) exemplify a person's morals and ideals?
- How much advertising does a (small-ish) 5K take?

Monday is no fun day. (Feb 20th)

So, I have solidified a cause. Rather than Burlington County, I have officially decided to focus on Multiple Sclerosis. This website is my life:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/get-involved/index.aspx

:) I will be talking about this at my mentor meeting on Wednesday! Mr. Lindner best be excited. :)

5K Funday Sunday (Feb 19th)

I went to my first 5K today and it was so lame.
SO LAME.
There were like 5 runners. :( That is an exaggeration. I lied. It was like 17 runners. Registration took place out of a car. No water was offered midway through the race. Lame. Super lame. No t shirts. No volunteers. All self-timing. No cause.

Goodness. Well, there's always next week.

A bunch of links that Mr. Lindner sent me. :D (Saturday 18)

NOW HE CAN'T HATE ON ME.

Link One

Link Two

Link Three

Link Four

Link Five

Link Six

Friday Shmiday (Feb 17th)

Friday is a good day :) I work today 4:15-9:15, but I'm reading a few books I got at the library, namely The Idiot's Guide to Project Planning :)I am working on planning my project. I've set an ideal date for my event! Either Saturday May 12 or Sunday May 27 :) If it is on May 12, I will hold the 5K around 10AM, and if it is on May 27, it will be at 1 PM :) Yay!

I spit the truth (Feb 16)

Words cannot describe how much I dread this letter.

I like this backwards blogging type deal. (Feb 13th)

I had bowling today :) It was the scotch doubles tournament with the special ed kids, and it was wonderful! I got to bowl (for the first time in forever), and was placed on a team with the sweetest seventh grade girls confined to power chairs, Jilly and Cali. I had SO MUCH FUN! I can't believe I don't spend more time with these guys.

So, causes for my 5K ideas? Parks, of course. Autism awareness? Disabled children awareness? Or one that affects me a little more dearly...Multiple Sclerosis awareness?

My aunt Kelly has suffered from MS my entire life. She has to inject herself with multiple needles daily, and had the hardest time getting pregnant, and couldn't medicate and it was a fiasco. Recently, my cousin Tracy has been suffering from numbness from her toes to her belly button and loss of function in her fingers and legs...sometimes she can't even move. What better cause than a horrible family-destroying disease that no one really understands?

The cause of MS isn't even known.

I like this idea. It'll be in the back of my mind, definitely. Until next time, zai jian.

Wednesday.... (Feb 15th)

I had a field trip today and to be super honest, researching wasn't my main priority...but I did anyway. :)

What I learned: 5Ks are only "legit" if they are USATF sponsored. They need to be pretty darn accurate and fancy and insured to be USATF regulated...so that's not for me :) My 5K will not be "legit"...but it will be legit :)

Emailed Hirsch! But guess what...that guy is M.I.A. He's building schools somewhere for a good cause, which sucks for me but is really cool on his end. Can't blame him.

I guess that's it for today. Need to stop being a bum. Gah life.

Zai jian.

The Library is my Friend (Feb 16th)

So...for everyone in my SRS class, I told you he would yell at me. And he did :( I did not accomplish what Mr. Lindner told me to do for this week, and he didn't like it very much. But I kinda deserved it. I feel like mentor meetings should happen every other day because I dislike disappointing him.
Anyway, he yelled at me to go to a 5K this weekend, so I will. It would be cool if I didn't work tomorrow or Saturday (or ever) but I do. :( Sunday looks like it will be the day I attend my first 5K, but as per Linderp's orders, I will not be running. I will be taking lots and lots of notes and lots and lots and lots of pictures. This is a wonderful idea. I like it.
So, plans for this week:
- Write that letter!
- Know what it is that I actually need
- Figure out some back-up locations
- "let google be my friend"
- Feel accomplished by next Wednesday. <-- I like this one.

Until next time, zai jian!

Valentine's Day. :) (Feb 14)

Not much progress today. Week resolution: do lots and lots of research. I started working on my letter today. Problem: I meet with my Mentor on Wednesday and we have a field trip tomorrow. AGH. I WAS SO EXCITED. Hopefully Linderp's down with Thursday :( This makes me sad.

Anyway, I am going to research a lot this week, so by next week my mentor and I can talk about the logistics and the workings of the 5K. I want to know how to set one up and what to avoid and what to specifically do. I need to decide lots of things, like how many runners CAN I have and do we need t-shirts and prizes for first place and second place.

I feel like I've done so much, but I have SO MUCH TO DO. Can't wait to go over my email for the Park. Even if they say "no" (and I know I'll cry about it if they do), I'm confident that I can find somewhere COOL TO RUN.

Optimistic today. Heading to the Library! WEE. One of my favorite places. Can't wait to get stuff done. Not even saying "zai jian" because I'll see you again.

Sunday Funday Not-a-Run-day. (Feb 12th)

Well, rather than have an optimistic day, today was so pessimistic I'm not even sure how to handle it. But I made a list of problems I've had/probably will have, sooo:

- I've never run a 5K
- I LACK TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS
- None of my ideas are good enough for a large scale...

But then, I watched Something Borrowed and Speak with my best friend's family, and I felt better. So, I thought about why I want to run and why I want to learn from it.

Any project I've ever done of my own free will has NOT involved other people. I always get scared of failing and letting people down, so I only ever do projects on a teeny tiny scale. This is NOT like that. I have to complete this project and feel like I've done something meaningful to better the only part of the world that I actually know, my community.

I want to run, specifically, because running shows dedication. Anyone can roam around the school with a decorated jar begging for donations, but it really takes dedication for someone to RUN. A jar doesn't teach anyone anything or change anything that's happening. But running educates. It has the potential to actually make someone think differently or at least put a little voice in the back of their heads saying "You're fortunate you have a bed to sleep in every night, unlike the shelter dogs" or "you're lucky you have food to eat unlike people who rely on food banks" or "you're so lucky you have wonderful places to be and go any time you want"!

This run means a lot to me, not only because I will be able to overcome my fears of letting everyone around me down, but because I can change something in the world that isn't perfect. I will be fulfilling my duties as a human being.

Until next time, and philosophically yours, zai jian :)

No 5K, but at least DR brought me two donuts. (Feb 11th)

So, today was the day. Not just the day...it was THE DAY. I was supposed to run my first 5K ever today. It was going to be perfect. Princeton, NJ was so ready for me to stomp all over it with angry/aggressive/running feet, and then...Mother Nature just couldn't handle it. She made it snow and rain and guess what happened...NOT MY 5K.

So, problem: I've never actually run a 5K. And I'm planning one. What is wrong with this picture. -.- I found a list of 5Ks in the near future. I will link it below. Hopefully, I will be running 3/17 in Bordentown...I can only hope.

http://www.runningintheusa.com/race/List.aspx?State=NJ

Until next time, zai jian! (And keep your running shoes ready because you never know when I'll just go run a 5K randomly).

I really like not having holographic teachers. (Feb 10)

So, I mentioned to my AP Psych teacher/SILC teacher/Bowling coach that I was hopefully hosting a 5K and he laughed. At me. In one of those "pshhh...who would run a 5K" manners. And then I had a GOOD IDEA. A legitimate good one, though, and it makes me quite happy. In addition to a 5K, I would really like to hold a 1 mile walk. DR was so much cooler with this idea and asked if his son would be invited to. :D This is far too exciting. :) Me gusta! So this is a good idea.

And then, Mr. Lindner gave me a reality check :( He pointed out that people only run for things they are passionate about...so he suggested having a secondary cause. Which is funny, because Mr. Hirsch mentioned something about a special ed teacher looking to hold an Autism awareness 5K... This means that going to see Hirsch jumps up to like...number two on my list of things to do as soon as humanely possible. I believe he has lab on Mondays so maybe Tuesday.

Mrs. Sardo, my SRS teacher had a really cool idea too though, that I like a little bit better because it's more relevant. She suggested teaming up with the Food bank for South Jersey :) Definitely looking into this!

My schedule for the weekend is pretty packed (bowling, baby shower, 5K, boy scouting, volunteering, AND pasta-dinner-eating for my band lovelies), but I really hope I can find time to do a little bit more research! :D

Until next time, zai jian! And hopefully Mr. Lindner reads this and potentially thinks my ideas are good :D

Those tacos are about to be real... (Feb 9th)

Eric Mauro said that he would take me out for Mexican food at Panchero's. Seeing as he is an almost-Eagle scout, and I am about to organize a project much like an Eagle scout project, I'm going to ask him lots of questions about project planning and where he looked for ideas/motivation. He is also a terrible procrastinator, so hopefully, I will learn from his "my-birthday-is-in-16-days-and-my-project-isn't-done-yet" mistakes. :) Until next time...and until tacos hath been consumed...zai jian :)

Today was abnormally awesome (and I really hope this blog posts) (Feb 9th!)

I'm really hoping that this blog posts because I'm at school and this is technically illegal, but you never get anything done unless you break a few rules...that was sarcasm :( I met with my mentor, Mr. Lindner, today and it was probably the greatest thing ever. I know where I want to hold my 5K, but I'm really nervous about asking them about it. Mr. Lindner had the greatest idea ever! He suggested writing up an email (without sending it) and including what I want, where I want my money to go, what I want it to go to, etc. and then he will read it! This means that I not only have the coolest mentor ever, but the smartest. Totally not even bragging for Brownie points, considering I owe the entire Jazz Band brownies... Anyway, my favorite place in the whole state of NJ is the Historic Smithville Park. It's a park with beautiful trails and canoe launches and really fat turtles in the summer. This is where I want my 5K to be, but as I said, I still have to ask. I decided that I want to donate any money that I raise to the Parks and Recreations division of Burlington County and to the Animal Shelter, because those are the places where you find the most immense beauty and probably the least amount of funding.  I have to figure out what I want my money to go to...Linderp said that I should have an "ear mark" (whatever that means) as to what I want to happen with my donations...so I will work on that!

So, Kim's to do list:
- Test the trail I created using a Smithville Park map before I decide FO SHO that I want my 5K to be held there
- Write up this proposal email...
- Take notes at my 5K this weekend (what do they have, what do I want, what do they need, what do I need)
- LEARN TO HANDLE STRESS

Incidentally though, this blog/journal thing is a total stress reliever. I'm kinda in love. Well, anyway...Until next time, zai jian :)

I wanted tacos, but blogging is cool too.(Feb 8th)

This is a two part sesh! I had some extra time in Calculus this morning, plus I did lots of work 9th period today! Woohoo! So, sesh number one:

Thinking about omitting the canoe trip. Too much work, too much money, not enough interest, and someone would do something stupid (and I know it). Probably definitely omitting the canoe trip idea. (Decided this all by myself, by the way!) Hirsch suggested tying in the blanket/supply drive with the 5K. Participants who donate to 5K for Kitties or ____ for Puppies (I'll have to recruit John to come up with a witty name) will get $5 off their registration, or something of that nature. I really like this idea. This will probably happen. Random list:

5K Needs:

- A course

- Volunteers

- T-Shirts (maybe)

- Runners! :D (Mrs. Sardo, would you like to? :])

- A timer

- A date

- Posters

- Tables

- Refreshments

- Those weird number tag thingies that may or may not be called "bibs".

Gah, so much work. So little time. May would be a great time for this to happen. *fingers crossed I can make this work*.

Sesh Two:

The Burlington County website, by the way, is really cool and helped me see a lot of cool things. I have a baby idea in the back of my brain about the Jazz Band (or any band) playing music in the Amphitheater close to the library and getting $$$ for it, but not sure if it'll work. Maybe if Quagy writes over 9000 songs and recreational band kids with rides and instruments congregate over brownies and play...How cool would that be?! Oh wait.../dreaming. Back to reality :(

Until next time...zai jian!

(P.S. The library is such a great place if you need a little while to think about stuff and do work! Recommend it for all my SRS friends :])

Once upon a Tuesday... (Feb 7th)

I definitely did more thinking than doing today, but that's not so terrible! I was training for my first 5K last night and got excited for my project. I can't wait for this to happen! Anyway, I've made a to do list! And a few other mini-lists (of course). 

To Do:

- Figure out a time to go talk to Hirsch (a last-year's mentor, helped Amanda with her 5K!)

- Get some contact info for important places!

     x Smithville Park

     x Burl. Co. Chamber of Commerce

- Start thinking of places to hold my 5K!

- Talk to my own mentor... (but I can just send him the link to this blog now!)

Where I can find volunteers:

- NHS!

- Local boyscout troop! (Which, luckily, Emauro is in c: )

Well, that's all I've got for now...Until next time, zai jian!

Criss-cross-applesauce Journaling

A few days ago, I interviewed two classmates, Daniele and Clarissa, about their projects! Daniele is looking to organize a Flash Mob (which are not limited to song and dance, don't ya know!?) and Clarissa is hoping to have a magical Extreme Couponing event. I felt very relaxed interviewing these guys. I've known them for a long time, plus I interview lots of people for the Blueprint (NBC's newspaper...and guess who's the editor?! :]) In my experiences with the newspaper, I've definitely learned to write quickly and efficiently so that was no problem either. The questions I asked made me realize that Clarissa and I are so similar! We are both worried about changing our minds and not following through. Daniele definitely seems more determined, and it's an absolutely admirable quality. Good luck to us! Until next time, zai jian!

So...is it WISE to participate in SRS?

Well, uh, welcome to my blog, I guess. Here, I will be keeping any readers updated on the progress of my Senior Research Seminar (SRS) project. A SRS project is a mix of an independent study and an Eagle project, but with more journaling and less paperwork to worry about. I will be updating this with all of my progress thus far! My ideas include: organizing a 5K, holding a blanket/supply drive (with a cute name) for the local animal shelter, and maybe doing something fun and fancy with our school's Jazz Ensemble. We'll see what the future holds, I guess...Until then, zai jian!