15-20 Pages (Part II)

Well I got the skinny, business sized envelope in the mail today. You know the one that says, "Hey we liked you a lot, but we didn't love you. You will make a lovely (fill in the blank) for someone someday." UB said thanks, but no thanks. Sigh.

All things happen for a reason, right? I will need to tell myself that for the next few days.

And So It Begins

the work of getting ready for this marathon. I sent out dozens of emails (only got 3 responses...sigh) and made phone calls. I set up my web page. Today...I went on my first run. OMG! It will be a few days before I will be able to feel my legs again.

There is one thing that I did notice after I was done running (6 miles) today. I noticed that I was beside myself with a sense of accomplishment. I mean I ran (very slowly) the entire time. I didn't stop to walk either. That feeling is something that I indeed could get use to.

The Beneficiary

Now that the magnitude of my choice to run the Marine Corps Marathon has set in, I guess I need to tell you the name of the charity that benefits from my madness. The name is of the charity is Fisher House.

Whatever your personal beliefs are about the War in Iraq, the people that make the decision to fight in the name of America are real people with stories to tell. They make awesome personal sacrifices to honor that commitment. I often think about what happens when a service person gets wounded. I think about their recovery process. Medical science says that a person has a better chance of surviving a catastrophic illness, if they have the love and support from family and loved ones. The cruel irony is that for many of our service people, recovery is (I found out) many miles away from their loved ones. Organizations like Fisher House does its part to buffer that.

So here is the link, please check them out. Donate to a good cause. Oh....and thank you for your support.

http://www.active.com/donate/FisherHouse2008MCM

April Fool

But this isn't a joke. Today, a group of my co-workers sent out a group email and wanted to know if anyone may be interested in doing some charity work, while getting in shape. I answered and made the decision to run the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2008. Yikes! I purchased the book Run Less, Run Faster. I have an appointment with a running specialist to get the appropriate running shoes. Now you may ask (all 2 of you that read this blog), why in the hell are you running a marathon? Are you usually this impulsive? Can you even run? My answers are:

1. Why not? Life is so short.
2. No, I am not usually spur of the moment. But, it's never to late to mix it up sometimes...right?
3. I cant run around the block, but that is OK (isn't it?).
4. I'll be raising money for charity.
5. I'll finally really do something about getting my butt (and a rather large one at that) in shape.

Training begins Monday, April 14th.

Summer 2008

I will be spending 3 weeks in Brazil! Ye-haw! I just finalized the last of the details and finished making travel arrangements. I leave July 16th. I am so excited, I can barely stand myself. I've put all the Brazil books on reserve at the library...(I'm thinking Portuguese lessons). Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Sao Paulo are cities already on the itinerary. In the next few months, I will busy myself with the rest of the finer details. I am just too excited.

Immediately, I need to concentrate on obtaining my entry Visa for the trip. I better get on that.

Time

Ms. Shirley is one of those people that have been in my life since I can remember myself. In my seriously blended, extended and humongous family, Ms. Shirley was the lady who had the cookouts. No one's macaroni and cheese is better than hers! She had the most amazing heart and giving spirit. She was happy when you were happy (and full).

As things would have it, Time hasn't been as generous and Ms. Shirley's health declined. Time sent her to her final home on March 17, 2008. Rest in peace, Ms. Shirley. The pain is gone now.

Time
Alan Parsons Project

Time, flowing like a river
Time,beckoning me
Who knows when we shall meet again
If ever
But time
Keeps flowing like a river
To the sea

Goodbye my love,
Maybe for forever
Goodbye my love,
The tide waits for me
Who knows when we shall meet again
If ever

But time
Keeps flowing like a river (on and on)
To the sea, to the sea

Till it's gone forever
Gone forever
Gone forevermore
Goodbye my friends,
Maybe forever

Goodbye my friends,
The stars wait for me
Who knows where we shall meet again
If ever
But time
Keeps flowing like a river (on and on)
To the sea, to the sea

Till it's gone forever
Gone forever
Gone forevermore

Fall Back...Spring Ahead...

then say goodbye.

Making the jump to Daylight Savings Time means that I busy myself with activities that mean spring has arrived. That means spring cleaning, testing season at work, and summer planning. It also means increased "do you want my course?" chatter that happens every year at this time at my work.

Today, my publications partner let me know that she is heading back to Albuquerque. Her husband finally separated from the Army and they were heading home.

Yeah, I know, people move all the time. People move on. Life goes on. I'll make a new friend. It isn't like she is moving to Europe or Africa or something. But I got use to walking across the hall. I got use to bouncing ideas off of her. I look forward to getting German chocolates from her. Her giggle is absolutely infectious. She has a horse and a goat. Yes, I said a goat. Did I mention that she understands my sense of humor?

Like all things in this universe, life continues to move forward. Sometimes, I wish that I had the power to make things remain as they are. Sigh...

It is Done

I (with the help of my tremendous staff) have finally finished the 2008 Yearbook. Now I just have to sell them all when they come out on May 22.

There is a God.

The Baby Bump

I just Googled it and came up with 1,110,000 hits.

Can someone tell me when the phrase became a part of popular culture? I've sort of gotten my ears accustomed to hearing it on the entertainment news shows, but when I see it in magazines and in newspapers...I just have to wonder.

According to Urban Dictionary.com, baby bump is defined as:

1. baby bump (n.)

The abdomen area of a pregnant woman. As the fetus/baby grows so does a woman's belly. Thus it is referred to as a "baby bump."

I'll guess I will need to join the rest of the members of popular culture and add this one to my lexicon.

Girls Only Weekend

During last Christmas dinner, I got into a conversation with my famous cousin about the concept of "new normals". New normals are those life improvements and habits that you've never done before, but have figured out that the addition of them to your life will make life that much more enjoyable. My mothers birthday is February 28. Our family's "new normal" is to celebrate the occasion for the entire month with a culminating girls weekend at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa. We were there last year and had such a fabulous time that we went back again this year. NOTE: We'll probably return each year for a long time to come.

Think of this place as Ritz Carlton (the one in Paris) being dropped in the middle of rural Pennsylvania. You have everything. Your own personal butler, wine tastings, shopping, 5 star restaurants, oh...and a spa to die for.

We spent the weekend eating (a lot...sigh) and sleeping. We shopped and looked at art (they have an amazing gallery). We went sight seeing and spent the balance of time in the spa. This year we got day passes and went up to the ski lodge. I pouted because snow conditions weren't conducive for me to try cross-country skiing, but mom got some fabulous pictures of herself in her snow suit. What is the most special about our new normal is that all the girls got a chance to reconnect and...laugh. Boy, did we laugh.

I highly recommend that you check out Nemacolin (http://www.nemacolin.com/).

Be sure that you understand, that if you check them out anytime during the last week of February, that room 1121 in Chateau Lafayette is unavailable. ILP and the rest of the girls are probably going to be in there laughing and making some new normals.