SHARE THE ROAD

Jan Morgan and her husband David are the owners of Boardtown Bikes in Starkville. They are avid adventurers and lover of all things athletic and outdoors. I don't know them personally. I've never met them actually. But I've gotten to know them a lot over the past three weeks. Three weeks ago, Jan was riding her bike and was struck by a car from behind and thrown from the car's hood. She is in critical condition. David is by her side night and day, holding vigil. Like I said, I don't know this couple, but I can feel the love they have for each other through David's daily blog posts about Jan's recovery. Jan's accident has brought the Share the Road movement into the forefront of area running and cycling clubs.

Please read David's posts and be in prayer for her. And SHARE THE ROAD!!!

Running update...

So far this year, I've achieved two of the four running goals I set for myself. I've set new PR's in both 10K and the Half Marathon. I do plan to run a third half this year (there aren't any nearby until the fall), which will complete the third goal. The fourth goal is the one I'm unsure about. I want to run 1000 miles this year. So far I am on track. I have to maintain at least 84 miles each month to achieve this. I did 100+ in January, 90+ in February, 100+ in March, and 89 in April(I can't remember the exact numbers). This left me with a 55 mile surplus going into May. I felt great about this because I was hurting a good bit when training for the Renaissance Half. I felt like I could relax a little in May if I needed to. Well, I needed more than relaxation. I pretty much needed to stop running all together. I've had injury after injury. Once my shin and knee stopped hurting, my Achilles started hurting. Then I got Plantar Fascitis in my right foot. I feel okay today, but because I have ran only 3 miles this week! For the month of May, I will have 35-40 miles, depending on whether or not I can suffer through the pain and gain a few more over the last few days of the month. This month I'll eat almost all of those surplus miles, which means I won't have room to relax anymore this year unless I can get over all these injuries and gain it back. I haven't totally given up on my goal yet. But I've accepted that fact that it may not happen. (If I'm 10 miles shy on New Year's Eve, I'll definitely be out for a run!)

The next race is the State Games... the cross country race on June 4, and the 5K on June 18.

Alcatraz

This is a new JJ Abrams drama coming to FOX next year (2012). It looks great! Finally, good stuff on TV again!!

Youtube video

FireWire Review

yummy homemade pizza

If you enjoy a homemade pizza for lunch (like I do nearly everyday), you must try these flatbreads I found at Wal-mart. They are $2. The perfect size for a small pizza. Very Yummy!!!!

It only takes a spark....

Then....


And Now!!

This weekend at Camp Meridale was just what I needed. There aren't enough words to describe how much I needed this. It brought me back to what I knew before life got in the way. Simplicity, friendship, compassion, fun. I had forgotten how to have those things in my life. Instead of getting upset because there was no 3G service and I couldn't access my email, I put the phone down and enjoyed nature and the fellowship with old friends I hadn't seen in almost 20 years. I enjoyed the scenery and listening to the other Girl Scouts' stories from their summers spent at Camp Meridale. Stories from the 1940's. Stories from the 1970's. I loved walking through the camp and realizing the "long" walk to the treehouses, really wasn't that long at all. I remember the dinner bell being huge. I remember walking arm-in-arm with fellow campers, shining our flashlights on the path watching for snakes and other critters. I remember the treehouses being really high off the ground. At 10 years old and 4 feet tall, everything seemed larger than life. Now, despite my perspective changing, it was still a magical place. Carla, Brandye and I (girls from my old troop) immediately became best friends again. We walked around the campsites posing for each others pictures and remembering which tents, treehouses and wagons we slept in as kids. We reminisced about campfires, mock suppers, skits and songs, breakfast in the trees and the adventure course. I truly felt like a kid again.


I saw these cups in the cabinet in the old lodge and started remembering how much we used them! These cups were our drinking cups at all our meals. It's little things like this that allow those memories to come back! Carla, Brandye and I wanted to take some home with us!
Troop 16 together again! Mrs. Eloise (back) was our leader. In the middle is LaShundra and Brandye. Sitting is Tabitha, Carla and me.
This is Leslie Lee Priester. She was instrumental in organizing this reunion. She started working with the Girl Scouts in the 80's when I started camping. I remember her and Mrs. Lexie (old B&W photo below) were the camp directors. Ms Leslie Lee lead our campfires and songs this weekend.

Mrs. Lexie Muse passed away earlier this year. She was instrumental in the camp's development during the 70's, 80's and 90's. I remember her always being so strong and held together with a bunch of little girls running around. She lead Grace before meals .She was always involved with the skits and songs we sang. She entertained us with her stories and songs.

During this weekend, we planted a Southern Magnolia tree in her memory. Mrs. Lexie will definitely be missed.

This past weekend at Camp Meridale was amazing! I haven't laughed and cried happy tears this much in a long time. I still get all sentimental, days later. I feel rejuvenated and have a fresh perspective on life.

Since the reunion, I've made many new friends. Together we have come up with the idea of starting a blog to collect all of our camp memories. Here's the link. I added my thoughts already. We hope others who weren't able to make it to the reunion can add to the blog their photos and memories of their fun times in Girl Scouting. I also emailed the current director of the local Girl Scouts about volunteering this summer.

Painting With A Twist

Mom & I had a blast at Painting With a Twist yesterday. Here's a few pics from our painting class. We started out with a blank canvas with a simple outline of the bird and flowers. We had 6 colors (red, white, blue, yellow, green, black) and three brushes. Julie Lee, the instructor (she has a studio downtown and some of her artwork is at Deli on 5Th) showed us what to do in steps. She helped us blend colors and showed us a few techniques. (She helped me with my bird feathers) It was really fun. I plan to go again soon. Even if I go by myself.

My finished "masterpiece"

Mom's Day with a Twist

This Sunday is Mommy's Day. I love Mommy's day! It's always fun to surprise Mom with something unique and fun. These last few years have been kinda tough because Mom has everything. She doesn't need anything. A few years ago, I took her to the movies to see the new Star Trek. This year we are going to a painting class. Painting with a Twist has chosen a hummingbird painting for its Mother's Day class. I suggested it actually! Last month, I emailed the local studio and asked about their schedule for May. They responded by asking for suggestions. I said my Mom loves Hummingbirds. When the May schedule came out, I was elated! The perfect Mother's Day! I haven't been to Painting with a Twist yet. A friend invited me to a private party a while back. I wasn't able to go because of work (wish work wasn't always getting in the way!). So it'll be a first for both of us. I'm getting excited about it actually. I'm not much of an artist. But I think I can pull this off. :) We'll see how it turns out. I'm looking forward to spending time with Mom though.

Scouts Honor...

Next weekend I will be reliving the good ol' days down at Camp Meridale! I cannot wait! When I was a girl scout, I spent several weeks there each summer. It was like a home away from home. I loved every minute I spent there. So much that (being a tomboy and not caring about my appearance) I often went a few days without washing my hair. Washing, drying and fixing my hair took too much time. They were lucky I even bathed! I was having so much fun, I didn't want to miss anything. I also remember once not telling anyone that I had been stung by a wasp (I'm very allergic) because I knew they would call my Mom. Someone noticed how swollen and red my arm was and I ended up leaving camp. I wasn't happy about that at all.

I hope to not have any issues that would cause them to call my parents this time. I think I can be responsible enough now. :) I'm looking forward to seeing the old place again. Eating in the lodge, the flag ceremony, capers and nature trails and the like. My friend Carla is gonna be there too. Her mother Ms. Eloise was our troop leader. We had some good times together. We are both staying in the treehouses again.

I promise I'll wash my hair this time. Scouts Honor.

Thanking God today...

As I sit at work today, eating my weekly Deli on 5Th Cuban sandwich and Brownie, I break into tears every time ABC news breaks into programming with another death toll update. Yesterday was an emotional day. This picture is of the tornado that ripped through my hometown, taken by Gia Kennedy, someone I don't know, but have been following on Facebook because she lives near the tornado's path and was able to get pictures of it and its aftermath. It came through just south of downtown Enterprise, walking distance from the Elementary and High schools I went to, a mile from my parents house. Thank God they weren't affected. Thank God they weren't home.

I've lived in the south all my life. I've spent many many nights in the family storm shelter praying to God to save our house and our community. For the first time in my 30 years on this earth, I know someone whose home was destroyed. I've seen it on TV so many times that I was immune to it yesterday when we were on the air for almost 7 hours. But when I learned that my friend LaWanda lost everything while I was sitting here yesterday evening wondering what I was gonna have for dinner, I became humbled and eternally grateful that my family was spared once more. LaWanda and her daughter are fine. They escaped the storm without harm. They are grateful to God for their lives.

While LaWanda and Kaitlin are safe, others are not. I've heard horror stories all day today. It's days like today I wish I didn't work in TV. I hear the things we can't broadcast, details no one wants to know. 5 people died in Clarke County yesterday. I didn't know them, but I learned today they are related to friends of mine. It's truly heartbreaking to realize how destructive nature can be, wake up in your own bed after an uneasy nights' sleep and remember that others didn't have a bed to sleep in.

Please remember the Southern states in your prayers. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing in Alabama and other more devastated areas. This event will take a long time to recover from. Many will not recover. We will definitely never forget it.

Week 4 of 5...

This Saturday's race (however small) will be the 4Th race in 4 weeks... With one more to go... 5 races in 5 weeks. I've never done that before. Maybe there's a reason.
I think my IT band knows the reason.
The Bridge Run was Race #1 of 5, setting a 10K PR and getting under an hour for the 1st time. YEAH!! Then came the Anderson Cup, which I did okay on, placing 4th in my age group. (That hill at the end sucks!). Last Saturday I ran the Lamar 10K, improving my 10K time by 2 1/2 minutes! (55:40) I ran 12 miles on the trails Sunday without much pain. Monday my IT was pretty sore and Tuesday when I tried to run with DeeDee, but it was hurting really bad. Tim made me a homemade foam roller and I've been doing some new stretches. Today I ran an easy 4 with Mindy and it felt stiff but no pain. So we'll hope for a good pain-free race this weekend (Camp Eagle Ridge 5K at Okatibbee) and take it easy next week for the Renaissance Half Marathon in Ridgeland on April 30Th.... Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky, set a new PR, and win a new Honda! :)

Last week, Pete ran the Krispy Kreme 5K . The company hosts these races all over the place. You run to the turnaround point, eat 1 DOZEN donuts (!!!), and then run back! Pete came in the top 10! WOW! I'm more proud of him for not vomiting!