Jammin' Out While Running!

First things first...PLEASE DONATE TO TEAM FOR KIDS!

http://www.runwithtfk.org/Member/PublicPage/2472

I still need to raise $2,070 by October 8th. (The marathon isn't until November 7th, but the deadline for fundraising is October 8th!) I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!!!!

People are always saying to me, "Allison, what do you do while you are on your runs?" (Actually, I don't think anyone has ever said this to me--as I'm sure they assume I run on my runs--but it's a nice segue, isn't it?) So this entry will focus on the special DANCE MOVES I do when certain songs play on my iPod. I'm sure that people look at me strangely when they see my awesome moves, but I need to have FUN when running, especially if it's before dawn!

I'm going to briefly glance through my alphabetical list of songs and describe some of my best moves!

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"--When the line "ain't no mountain high enough" plays, I thrust my hands in the air...when the line "ain't no valley low enough" plays, I push my hands down toward the ground...and then--and this is the most important part--when the line "ain't no river wide enough" plays, I outstretch my arms and make a river-esque movement.

"Don't cha"--This one's fairly simple. I just make a questioning motion with my hands every time the words "Don't cha" play.

"Jump" (both the Van Halen song and the Pointer Sisters song)--This is extremely simple. I just JUMP every time I hear the word JUMP! It's really funny when one of these songs plays at the end of a very long run. I'm creeping along at a snail's pace and then BAM...I jump!

"Like a Prayer"--This one's not too hard. I just make sure I make a little praying motion at least one of the times I hear the words "Like a prayer." I don't imitate Madonna. I imitate Sue Sylvester (from GLEE!) imitating Madonna. Haha.

"Poker Face"--I spread open my fingers in front of my face and give my best POKER FACE. (I stole my moves from Lady Gaga on this one. Sort of. Picture a less sexy and more ridiculous Lady Gaga. Replace sensual moves with jerky ones. Add 40 pounds and darken the hair. Now have her running...THERE YOU GO! That's it!)

"Single Ladies"--I indicate my desire for an engagement ring (which doesn't work as well now that I actually have one!)

"So What"--My moves on this one look sort of like my moves for "Don't cha." The funniest part is that I sing: "So what? I'm still a TEACH-ER" (instead of "rock star").

"What a Feeling"--THIS SONG IS MY JAM! No matter how tired I feel, it always PUMPS ME UP. Seriously, if you are driving in Perry Hall and see a girl FLAILING HER ARMS...it's probably me! I get so inspired by the words: "TAKE YOUR PASSION AND MAKE IT HAPPEN!" In fact, that's what the sign above the entrance to my classroom says this year. On the first day of school, I'm BLASTING "What a Feeling," and the students have to fill out their PASSION IN LIFE on a card that says: "My name is ______________________ and my passion is ____________________!" Heck yeah!

(No transition.)

Ugh. I have to go. I've been going at 150mph (hyperbolic metaphor), and I have to wake up in less than 7 hours (hmm...it's technically supposed to be "fewer than," isn't it?) because I have to run six miles before attending a meeting with the superintendent and professional development sessions. HOLLA!

P.S. I wasn't sure if "Jammin' out" was the exact phrase for which I was looking, so I looked it up on Urban Dictionary. Here's the entry:

Jammin out:

1. when you and your friends hang out, rock out, etc.

2. when a person, preferably a hard-core rocker, gets onstage and totally kicks butt at playing the guitar or drums

3. when a person makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and loads all of the jelly in the jar onto his/her sandwich, and bites into the sandwich, and the jam falls on his/her lap and he or she doesn't know it

Haha. Definition #3 is the funniest.