A Nice Suprise

So all of you readers (the 2 of you) know that on October 26th I'll be running the Marine Corps Marathon. In order to get a spot in the popular marathons, one must have a charity sponsor. You raise money for them, you get training and nutritional support from their team trainers. I am running for Fisher House Foundation.

My goal was to raise $1000. To say the fundraising has been slow is an understatement. People that I knew were financial guarantees fell through. People that I didn't expect stepped up. That wasn't more evident until a co-worker walked up to me today and handed me 3 checks, totalling $250. I am now $45 dollars off of meeting my goal.

Thanks Diana.

To see more on my great charity click http://www.fisherhouse.org/

Saturday Field Trip

I am a Wegmans convert. Today, a friend and I made the trek to Hunt Valley Town Center and spent the afternoon inside. I've been told that going to Wegmans was an experience, but I had no idea. Before we arrived, I asked my friend what was the big deal, I mean there are nice grocery stores around. Her answer, "Yes there are grocery stores and then there is Wegmans." I should have known when my friend suggested that we have lunch inside before we did any grocery shopping that she may have had a point.

How right she was. My lunch came from the Asian Bistro, my friends lunch from the sandwich shop. Our table overlooked the patisserie (later I got fresh snickerdoodle cookies from there). After lunch, we perused the kosher area, then we walked up and down the organic foods. My friend persuaded me into going to the cheese and olive bar, I passed on the Gorgonzola. The Tea Shoppe was amazing. Pat, the general merchandise manager, gave me 4 jars of pickled beets because he didn't have any on the shelf when I came by to get them. I spent $4.22 in the Candy Store (inside Wegmans) on Bit-o-Honey and Mary Janes.

I made sure that I picked up a little something to eat for tonite's before I left Wegmans. Made to order sushi (made with brown rice) seemed to be the ticket.

On This Evening...A List

1. Alton Brown's new show Feasting on Waves is now a favorite of mine.
2. I have less than 6 weeks to go until the Marine Corps Marathon.
3. Life, for me, is indeed a cycle. I have lost touch with a second set of my married friends. Unlike the first group, I am not that hurt.
4. I am physically strong. My knew motto is: Better, Stronger, Faster.
5. My new addiction is local wines. I am really digging this Pennsylvania wine called Liberty White. Yummy!
6. I am bored with teaching. I am mortified that I am even able to utter the words.
7. I love learning. It doesn't matter what it is, learning is just plane old fun.
8. I am a closet style & fashion junkie.
9. Laughing is indeed the best medicine.
10. God has given me many blessings and I am grateful.
11. I have come to detest people that are without honor.
12. I am at peace doing quiet and solitary things.

That is all.

I Wanna Be like Dana

Oprah's season premier featured 175 Olympic Athletes fresh from Beijing. Yes, Oprah talked with Micheal Phelps, she interviewed the Redeem (Men's Basketball) Team, the Beach Volleyball chicks, and all the gymnasts. But by far my favorite was 41 year old swimmer (and silver medalist) Dana Torres.

She said one thing during her interview that really stuck with me. When asked about her age and competitive swimming, Dana responded, "the water doesn't know how old you are." When asked if she would continue to swim and perhaps try for the 2012 Olympics, she said, "After an Olympics I usually want nothing to do with water for a while, but now I kinda feel like I want to keep going."

Dana is my hero.

My Birthday

Another Birthday has come and gone. I am a year older. I feel a bit wiser. Well, kinda. On sour note, I worked all day on my birthday. Because I had to do Back to School Night the work day was even longer.

I did manage to do something nice for myself in the one hour break that I got on my birthday. I got a spa pedicure. I love those things. My toe nails are bright neon pink. My big toes have hand painted flowers on them. The guy who did my pedicure said I didn't have to pay. Smile.