Camp Hole in The Wall

In November, I will run the New York City Marathon.  I am running on behalf of this organization.  The video is long, but worth it!  If you are inspired, perhaps you will consider making a donation to the organization.  My homepage is http://www.teamholeinthewall.org/Page.aspx?pid=582&frsid=2331

Because we all should.....

This morning this came in my inbox.  I have a RoadID shoe tag and I don't always have it on my shoe....ok, I rarely have it on my shoe!  I am going to go find it or perhaps get a new one.  If you ever hit the road alone, you should get one too.  And look at this, I even attached a link and a discount to boot!  

Be Safe!  

http://www.active.com/images/newsletters/roadid/04282009/april09v3_roadIDlinks.html

It's not about me....

I believe that angels are all around us….guiding us in situations. We merely have to ask the angels to be with us.
When I run long distances I carry this angel coin in my pocket. My work colleague Ann gave it to me before my first marathon. It comforts me.

Last weekend I was in Phoenix to run the Rock and Roll ½ Marathon. I took the medal with me and placed it in my pocket as I got dressed the morning of the race. I actually forgot it was in there until about mile 10. Perhaps I was done with the running, tired and a little worn out. Regardless, I remembered that it was there.
I touched the medal and said….”be with me Gabby”…Gabby is one angel I know by name because I knew her when she was here on earth. It made me feel a little better and I then remembered asking her to run with me my last 3 miles of the marathon last year. Might I add, those final 3 miles were quick ones in my book! Angel Gabby or adrenaline….you choose….
So about mile 10 this past weekend I touch the medal…and smiled…and then you know what happened? A man started to swerve in front of me. He seemed a little dazed and confused, perhaps dehydrated. He started to go down, and I helped to stop him. He seemed to bounce back with relative ease and we both continued with the race.
Another mile and a half down the course there was a man heading towards the sidelines with his head down. There was another runner behind him ushering him off the course. I stopped and asked if he was ok….well duh, he was not! I got his number and ran up to the next aid area telling the volunteers to send help to him. Not feeling super confident that he would get the help he needed, I stopped to tell a police officer who was minding the intersection to send someone to assist.
I continued on, enjoying the sun, the run and the thickening crowds as we neared the finish line. I started sprinting when I saw and heard the end. I raised my hands in victory and in hopes that the race photographers would snap a decent shot. I looked down to stop my watch just in time to see another man going down. This one ended up on his back. I proceeded to help him as a medic came and took over….

I think to myself…Are you kidding me….did this really happen? Three people stumbled or fell in front of me the last 3 miles of this race!
Did these runners need me? Maybe.
Was Gabby there with me? Absolutley.
And then I realize, this race was not about me, it never was.

1st Grader....

Today while at one of my schools I offer to go pick up the students from specials. It's something that I like to do when a teacher has given up her entire planning time to meet with me. This particular class had not met me yet, so I had to introduce myself. As soon as I do I notice that a little boy towards the front of the line is checking out my boots. He then looks up at me and says, "Tall boots, high heels, zing-zing" I about lost it...

You know that 1st grader made my day...where did he learn that? He's 6!

I am going to lose it....

What is it that I am going to lose you say? Are you wondering if I am going to say my mind, or better yet my virginity? Ok, I am not going to lose my mind, yet. And I lost my virginity....wait....I don't need to write about THAT. Suffice it to say that has been gone for a LONG time.

Are you waiting...here we go. Today it is 3 weeks post Chicago Marathon. I had some nasty blisters on my left foot after I was finished. I thought that I might post a pic of the blister, but that is kind of gross. If you really want to see it, tell me and I will email it your way. After the event I did the proper draining, releasing the pressure and making sure that I used enough neosporin to ward off infection. I did all the right things. Well, I thought that I did.

So, tonight I was taking a bubble bath and I look down to my feet to see if I am ready for a pedicure yet. As it turns out, if I go for a pedicure they may give me a discount because they will only have 9 toenails to take care of.

Yes, I am losing a toenail...and I am bummed!

The Affair Continues

***this was originally published on North Texas News in October 2005***


What is Autumn?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn

Autumn (often referred to as Fall in North America) is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition from summer into winter. In the temperate zones, autumn is the season during which most crops are harvested, and deciduous trees lose their leaves. It is also the season in which the days rapidly get shorter and cooler (especially in the northern latitudes), and of gradually increasing precipitation in some parts of the world.
Astronomically, it begins with the autumnal equinox (around September 23 in the Northern hemisphere, and March 21 in the southern hemisphere), and ends with the winter solstice (around December 21 in the Northern hemisphere and June 21 in the Southern hemisphere). However, meteorologists count the entire months of March, April and May in the Southern hemisphere, and September, October and November in the Northern hemisphere as autumn. An exception to these definitions is found in the Irish Calendar which still follows the Celtic cycle, where Autumn is counted as the whole months of August, September and October.
All though the days begin to shorten in July or August in the northern latitudes and in January and February in the south, it is usually in September or March where twilight becomes evidently shorter and more abrupt in comparison with the more lingering ones of summer.



What does Autumn mean to me...the continuation of an affair...and affair that began a few years back...at the Farmers' Market.

While strolling down the parking lot of Cherry Creek Mall it became clear-it was evident, it was everywhere...at every turn and at all the fresh food stations there was no doubting that the squash crops had come in. There they were-acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, buttercup, turban...beautiful to the eye-their colors vibrating. Waiting to be touched, wanting to be picked up. How could I resist. I bought one of each, my arms would not need a conventional weight work out this weekend!

And there I was...my kitchen counters taken over with my own fall harvest...Sure these squash made a beautiful display...one may even think that I was hosting my own cooking show...but no! I had an issue on my hands. I had 10 pounds of squash and NO idea what to do with them.

What is a gal to do...break open the cookbooks, call her friends, spend time on the internet...seeking the perfect squash recipes! Before the baking could occur, identification was in order. What in the world did I have? The New Basics Cookbook proved to be a great place to learn the names of my new acquisitions. And this is where the fun began...

That was 2 years ago...and I am still looking, still searching, wanting, waiting, yearning for the perfect squash recipe...I have boiled, baked, sauted, pureed, roasted...added nuts, cheese, tomatoes, onions, shallots, risotto...

Each fall I look forward to the continuation of this affair...the challenge of Autumn...I may never be satisfied...

Until then, I might suggest going to epicurious.com and searching Butternut Squash-while a bit difficult to cut, this one, dare I say, may be my favorite variety...shhh...don't let the others know...on the counter waiting to be held and experimented with are delicata and spaghetti...

Ahh...the Autumn Hash is just about ready...this one will be paired with a Pinot Noir...

Cheers...Bon Appetite!

What inspires you?

What inspires you?
As I get older I think I get more introspective. I am 40…what is it going to be like when I am 80? Let’s hope that I will be typing, or blogging, or at least talking to people then….

So the other day I went to the hospital to deliver bags of toys to kids. I try to take my turn with the delivery about once a month. This work is through a non-profit I have close ties to. I take the bags to the oncology floor, visit with a few nurses, meet one child and then head back to work. Reflecting on the visit as I drive back to work make me think of inspiration. So, a few words on inspiration.

I felt fortunate to feel a sense of inspiration that day and realized that some people may go through periods of their life where they are lacking inspiration. What inspired me that day? Sounds a little funny to say, but it was the sick child in the transfusion room. The child who had several tubes coming out of his arms, meters connected to him, and a worried mother close by. The child who smiled a smile a mile wide when he learned that a backpack with toys spilling out was for him, and him only!

Inspiration, I have learned, keeps me going. The little boy with cancer inspired me to want to help other kids….to continue with my volunteering. Inspiration can come in many different forms, and at unknown times.
Funny thing is that inspiration keeps me going…and makes me want to give more, praise more, live life…..

What inspires you…

Is it a person…a song….a beautiful day….an interaction….a discovery….a hard workout?
Whatever it is, I encourage you to look for it, name it, react to it…and then pass it on…..I am making that commitment to myself, and to you too…

PS….check out this website….http://www.forbetterlife.org/be-inspired/values