tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26583223727159408812024-03-13T05:17:50.023-07:00Running ArtsThe realistic run-up of an average guy, fundraising for Team Fox, headed for the 2014 NYC MarathonAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-44465961507890531852014-06-10T13:21:00.000-07:002014-06-10T13:21:20.925-07:00RunningArts.org is Live!!!<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hzMv4DEyK7rST3VPxEnAOqXupEi6AXzePI8hKzJFJ9ZgTom_B3FPhS29shyf5EH02Ph-rScY0UKX1xeKwTjsGF3vgnF5pfm9XxOhW7d5nezZvsPRdqnCGESfQvt5-qBxBRB8zbqIk0bA/s1600/FOX+ON+RUNNINGARTS.ORG_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hzMv4DEyK7rST3VPxEnAOqXupEi6AXzePI8hKzJFJ9ZgTom_B3FPhS29shyf5EH02Ph-rScY0UKX1xeKwTjsGF3vgnF5pfm9XxOhW7d5nezZvsPRdqnCGESfQvt5-qBxBRB8zbqIk0bA/s1600/FOX+ON+RUNNINGARTS.ORG_crop.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">All foxes love RunningArts.org</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So
it has finally happened! </span><a href="http://runningarts.org/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">RunningArts.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> has gone live. It only took
two days of screaming at html before it finally relented and mostly
obeyed me. The final product is a very simple, yet what I hope is
elegant, resource for our humble little group!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpGWJN23yjUuRyAjhBf1I46oRcj7PAWHupXMrThyphenhypheny6geILTBIpe1iKSbBDlbAjjL5U7g30ZQdml4rDbtrhfL2DDVeTIXI7fF_1aD5B6oT0VrhXpKiNwE3-XR8Y2oszo3A4DozoGK6yL-h/s1600/FOX+ON+RUNNINGARTS.ORG_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Q-JedgFOJh_HiSmVOwIV1G2VZswS5mgZTSqcZUZTxynIASTirKIZM62BsY7rw3W3IZDZtA7CoEuwT2xIIiodXIjsegi84VlyDf9HacuQue_gJYzM_fAOjtbOE-uwVIG3F9HwbQt-yq0a/s1600/fox5k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Q-JedgFOJh_HiSmVOwIV1G2VZswS5mgZTSqcZUZTxynIASTirKIZM62BsY7rw3W3IZDZtA7CoEuwT2xIIiodXIjsegi84VlyDf9HacuQue_gJYzM_fAOjtbOE-uwVIG3F9HwbQt-yq0a/s1600/fox5k.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: xx-small;">Run Like a Fox 5k Coming this Summer!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
launch of the site is honestly just a steppingstone for the pending
Run Like a Fox 5k which we are planning for later this summer. If I
get my way, before we are done, it will not only be an amazing little
race for around 500 participants, but will feature a time-traveling
DeLorean, and a cuddly red fox...yes, I really located a volunteer
fox kit! </span>
</span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">A
few nights ago I found myself wondering how I could find a way to do
nothing but this type of philanthropy for the rest of my life. The
answer may seem obvious, no. However, I think of it this way, I have
just spent months working toward this gigantic goal of making my
donation goal for Team Fox, I've slept less than ever before, still
maintained my “real” job, and I've never felt better about my
purpose on this planet! So truthfully, yes, I can keep this up
forever. This feeling is addictive, and even without millions of
dollars, I know this is where I am supposed to be!</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">So
what is next? Well, more running first off... we are getting too
close tot he TCS NYC Marathon, and now I don't have to sit in front
of this screen all the time. Second, assuming the amazing folks at
the City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation Dept. come though
on my preferred venue for the Fox 5k, I am going to be spending more
time recruiting sponsors for the event! Sounds like a regular next
step, but as a first time race director, I know I am going to have
5000 tasks to plan and accomplish, and I'm probably only going to get
to half that. So that brings us to step 3, which is recruit talented
volunteers!</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">I've
actually been exceptionally luck in this regard, from Boy Scouts, to
Blue Key, to Disney Voluntears, I have some excellent contacts. That
being said, I'm still going to be pounding the pavement seeking more
generous folks who are going to be there on registration and race
day. The great news folks, is that this is a wonderful family to
join!</span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">So,
that about sums up my next three months. I know at the end of this
summer we are all going to be successful, proud, and on our way to
New York!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;">In the mean time, please continue to spread the word of the beautiful work of RunningArts.org, and keep the donations coming!!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;">Did I mention that everyone who donates over $10 to my <a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR?px=1893295&fr_id=1570&pg=personal" target="_blank">Team Fox</a> page before the official race launch will get a complementary entry?? </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;">Pass it on!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-13845230676522458202014-06-09T17:59:00.000-07:002014-06-10T13:07:34.351-07:00SUMMER VACATION SWEEPSTAKES!!!!!!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Jokerman, fantasy; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Finally
Announced...</strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Gentium Book Basic; font-size: x-large;"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Gentium Book Basic; font-size: x-large;">
<span style="font-family: DaunPenh;"></span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Gentium Book Basic; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: DaunPenh;"><span style="font-family: DaunPenh;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: 48pt;">RunningArts'</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Gentium Book Basic; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: DaunPenh;">
</span></span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Gentium Book Basic; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: DaunPenh;"><span style="color: #073763;">Proudly Presents:</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Gentium Book Basic; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: DaunPenh;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">
</span></div>
</span></span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman, fantasy; font-size: x-large;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Jokerman, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: 40pt;">Summer
Donation </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Jokerman, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: 40pt;"><u>Drive for the Prize!!!</u> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Jokerman, fantasy; font-size: large;">You
could win one of <u><span style="color: #990000;">three</span> </u>hotel stays</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Jokerman, fantasy; font-size: large;">and</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Jokerman, fantasy; font-size: large;">attraction tickets in New York
or Orlando!!!!!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8Qo_KidTBuk7AwUtZv06MR7rQZHTKdnkYQVT08z9KA4sCJHiv7YVYN6fafFwsCrsfBraiIQsa_VuSJARTr3NO5X8JkT65oz9rcE6pvbWAZboaRp9pejFEHmqPeqnpIU1JLEiWVCTFJWn/s1600/Times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8Qo_KidTBuk7AwUtZv06MR7rQZHTKdnkYQVT08z9KA4sCJHiv7YVYN6fafFwsCrsfBraiIQsa_VuSJARTr3NO5X8JkT65oz9rcE6pvbWAZboaRp9pejFEHmqPeqnpIU1JLEiWVCTFJWn/s1600/Times.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Times Square NYC</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We at RunningArts have been working
very, VERY hard to secure some wonderful gifts for giveaways, and we
are off to an amazing start!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is what we have planned in order to raise
the remaining donations...SO FAR...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Between now and June 30<sup>th</sup>, all donors will be entered in a random drawing with</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Jokerman, fantasy; font-size: large;"><u>MULTIPLE
GRAND PRIZES!!!</u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Nyala;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Nyala;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Nyala;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Nyala;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Jokerman, fantasy;"><u>Grand
Prize Number One:</u></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Nyala;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Nyala;"><span style="color: #990000;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Nyala;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Nyala;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Nyala; font-size: large;">One night Four Star
hotel stay off Times Square in NYC!!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Nyala;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKxkLKre8h1H7TnM-LcN6tGIjbnZ4g3I7FusqxmrUu7VBr3OpYriDgjDmk759nfx1rqx2WkbpPKRlSqMXYC68UqeFI4bBfWF2RcJhF0lCbb7Ehgr-LyKvGm9fzr2MpqTcxl5Lh-ypt1PJ/s1600/Washington+Arch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKxkLKre8h1H7TnM-LcN6tGIjbnZ4g3I7FusqxmrUu7VBr3OpYriDgjDmk759nfx1rqx2WkbpPKRlSqMXYC68UqeFI4bBfWF2RcJhF0lCbb7Ehgr-LyKvGm9fzr2MpqTcxl5Lh-ypt1PJ/s1600/Washington+Arch.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Washington Square Park - Greenwich Village</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Jokerman, fantasy;"><u>Grand
Prize Number Two:</u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Nyala; font-size: large;">One night Three Star
hotel stay in Greenwich Village/Bowery, NYC!!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Jokerman, fantasy;"><u>Grand
Prize Number Three:</u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Nyala; font-size: large;">One Night Orlando, Fl hotel stay
in the attractions area!!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCJ0Q8LsNzCB8gRnp__vGf6KMu-RR1EsOFBcwMl_43Pdox0XI-Zsujn0kN8NIXyKqF-ypjrkU-xqeln-xttLmraacwhostGTomd0eUaUgCSX0CYMLDA7FqkzJsAwuEt4sf8J8UUJlpj7U/s1600/Orlando.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCJ0Q8LsNzCB8gRnp__vGf6KMu-RR1EsOFBcwMl_43Pdox0XI-Zsujn0kN8NIXyKqF-ypjrkU-xqeln-xttLmraacwhostGTomd0eUaUgCSX0CYMLDA7FqkzJsAwuEt4sf8J8UUJlpj7U/s1600/Orlando.jpg" height="138" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Orlando, Florida</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We are currently supplementing these
donor premium gifts</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">with one pair of local attraction tickets as available!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>HOW DO YOU RECEIVE YOURS???</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Jokerman, fantasy; font-size: large;"><u><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank">DONATE,DONATE, DONATE!!!</a></u></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><img alt="www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvphOH8gPtKc5nIeuGKPq511KN-LVUgft38dIDBmuVqmOQjoEaL4C18av6p9YxpI1q1lBNNqG8Cp6VnNHYd-v5RZpnAIKAHU1UhUuNGfNyNx5jMvTxZ35SK55OnVdz04AoXBphKxjLOGIg/s1600/fox+crop.jpg" height="79" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Team Fox - Michael J. Fox Foundation</span></td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Considerations are made for each fully tax-deductible $20.00+
donation at my<a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"> Official Team Fox Donation page</span></a> !!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Donation Amount Sweepstakes Entries<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> $20 1</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> $40 2</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> $60 4</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> $80 5</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> $100 7</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fantastic donations over $100 adds these amounts on top of
the given 7 Entries!!</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So you can see, the more you donate,
the greater the chances of an amazing escape getaway!!</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you are already a donor you are
already entered, but please feel free to further your donation for
better chances!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Final prize drawing will occur Monday
June 30<sup>th</sup>, 2014, and donors will be contacted by email
with their gift details!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank">Please Donate Now to this amazing
charity</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank">for these amazing prizes!!</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Official Rules:</span></div>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">No purchase necessary. Void where
prohibited by law. Only donors over 18 years of age are eligible once
considerations are met. For alternative entry, 100 personal volunteer
hours at pre-approved Team Fox events may be substituted for one
entry. For pre-approval please contact RunningArts at
mikeesgrfx@gmail.com. Valid only in the United States. Sweepstakes
run from 005/01/14 to 06/30/14. Each Grand Prize includes one
complimentary night hotel lodging room and tax only, room category at
property's discretion, and one set of two adult tickets for local
attraction based on availability. Grand Prizes DO NOT include airfare. Estimated
donation value of each Grand prize is estimated $300.00. Gifts are solely offered through in-kind arrangements with RunningArts for existing and future donors, and are not in any way provided by Team Fox, or The Michael J. Fox Foundation. RunningArts does not accept, handle, or collect any payment or monies of any kind. Odds of
winning are dependent on number of donors/entries. All prizes offered
will be awarded based on random third-party automated selection
process. Winners will be notified by email, and have 30 days to claim
digital vouchers. A list of winning donors will be available at
</span><a href="http://www.runningarts.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">www.RunningArts.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">
after 07/07/14.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-74894123124594180932014-05-26T15:45:00.001-07:002014-05-26T15:45:35.834-07:00Rising Eagles!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaAkMzK2MYq1cduZgl7DxgDUHK08K7rzP7NBL87KACTJlKYcFMZuuUQWCTUsntkBPoO3TuJnX_b5T2fyT_zBHlCPMmfwANOHK1cODkcv7aTa1gE56M0hDFArnl1tIUzdohTgJ1F9zTPLT/s1600/ga1.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">My Vintage '93 Eagle Scout Ribbon w/ Gold Palm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaAkMzK2MYq1cduZgl7DxgDUHK08K7rzP7NBL87KACTJlKYcFMZuuUQWCTUsntkBPoO3TuJnX_b5T2fyT_zBHlCPMmfwANOHK1cODkcv7aTa1gE56M0hDFArnl1tIUzdohTgJ1F9zTPLT/s1600/ga1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In some ways I felt guilty about being on vacation, and being lucky enough to spend time with so many loved ones. Our family hasn't been untouched by strife, but we definitely, as a whole, do not take enough time to celebrate the little things along with the big events.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMViaERmMYA7q6_CtQQOpgDaep5S2V73dNoukJGJJcxHzxH2B-rQb_qzzSJjD4NtL9Na_PzUvQpNZ71KyW7exmqCy0sNGwCP94rptwTjDhSVpvnRsuVAsE5r0hoHF4zwEDRvFdgFvrxK34/s1600/DSC_0443.JPG" height="211" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Eagle Candidate is Prepared!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;">This past week has seen my oldest nephew graduate high school, go through his Eagle Scout ceremony, his mother, my Sister, celebrate her birthday, and my youngest nephew as King Triton in his school play. In attendance for all has also been uncles and aunts and a stack of Grandparents. All focused on those big events, but also trying so hard to celebrate the smallest accomplishments.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMViaERmMYA7q6_CtQQOpgDaep5S2V73dNoukJGJJcxHzxH2B-rQb_qzzSJjD4NtL9Na_PzUvQpNZ71KyW7exmqCy0sNGwCP94rptwTjDhSVpvnRsuVAsE5r0hoHF4zwEDRvFdgFvrxK34/s1600/DSC_0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My mother, an amazing painter, was just commissioned, by the city of Gainesville, to paint a portrait of a fallen serviceman for whom the new station is being named. My Dad, still rather wobbly, is up and moving around, and smiling to be in such a beautiful part of the country. The rest of us, I believe, are truly just happy to observe the tribulations.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TuppiVNom4LUddowc5-zEM6aghOlYDoBEbQxNlijGzsr6IyhwJ-61PU8pnq7gX7IsQHgGBwTtW7JA-mBjJ_buF_25L3swcLF8ma-4EMvXcIJsaKBvdV4lLIH1TCAuV1M8ut6hTK2PK5j/s1600/ga3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TuppiVNom4LUddowc5-zEM6aghOlYDoBEbQxNlijGzsr6IyhwJ-61PU8pnq7gX7IsQHgGBwTtW7JA-mBjJ_buF_25L3swcLF8ma-4EMvXcIJsaKBvdV4lLIH1TCAuV1M8ut6hTK2PK5j/s1600/ga3.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Smallest Oconee Bluegill Ever</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">For me, when I am asked why I'm always happy or optimistic I say it's because of these little things. Of course I am always proud of my family's accomplishments, but I'm also happy for the small victories. I love the sunshiny days on the lake, or now that it's clouding up, I'm happy cause the fish are gonna start biting. Moreover, I'm pleased to share those things with my nephews and parents while we all have this opportunity. Perhaps that is the real reason my Dad is smiling lately, cause he has always known the value of relaxing and letting the world bring happiness to those who are ready to discover it!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhaSz4eRRjjlX9sNKovNy0zkBKPYSIu4ZQwkgwdX4yszoNGJpZGVVN83_0c2aEPnEGCsPDGSTkPueTavwPTuWQmHOd55tsKPtn5c8jDiOPEAA7qDAbYETwf9pDEV34t3vmCTfYQyfXcA4/s1600/ga2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhaSz4eRRjjlX9sNKovNy0zkBKPYSIu4ZQwkgwdX4yszoNGJpZGVVN83_0c2aEPnEGCsPDGSTkPueTavwPTuWQmHOd55tsKPtn5c8jDiOPEAA7qDAbYETwf9pDEV34t3vmCTfYQyfXcA4/s1600/ga2.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">My Brother empowers the Trident</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So why share this now? Well, without too much grandeur, when I run and hit the wall, I try to find the things that are going well, perhaps my knee isn't acting up, or perhaps it is noticing the ancient bricks I'm treading on are the same as the ones in St. Augustine and Greenwich Village. Further, and more to the point, There are only so many days in this fight against Parkinson's. I can continue a campaign every year if needed, but for my father, his battle is going to be so much shorter, so I'm glad we all get to see him smile!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If this sounds familiar, or if you believe the same way that I do, then please <a href="http://www.runningarts.org/" target="_blank">donate now to this Team Fox campaign</a>! We are getting closer every day, and we need your help!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thank You!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-91710470355202783592014-05-11T14:55:00.000-07:002014-05-11T14:55:33.826-07:00Mother's Day with Parkinson's<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Happy Mother's Day!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKi1MXkCtzh8jJGaZnQYIGRP4QGP8n11xp5QifhkV50jKyQklXfdh0wBIbtCvxnIlRmh8kKL42SLj0gdSjHJrbec5RA_UGUoiLjWt92jEMGWGT3mozlSvODvvU_g0IGVDW_iLLKLfekwd/s1600/day+lillys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKi1MXkCtzh8jJGaZnQYIGRP4QGP8n11xp5QifhkV50jKyQklXfdh0wBIbtCvxnIlRmh8kKL42SLj0gdSjHJrbec5RA_UGUoiLjWt92jEMGWGT3mozlSvODvvU_g0IGVDW_iLLKLfekwd/s1600/day+lillys.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Day Lillys, Mom's favorite!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I totally failed to write yesterday as
promised, my apologies!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">To make up for it, I figured a Mom's
Day special would be a good challenge. However, as my Mom doesn't
run, this post will be a bit about a Mom dealing with my Dad's
Parkinson's.</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My mother, Marsha, grew up all over the
Southeastern US. She is the daughter of talented migrant farmers, and
if you want a wholly depressing idea of what that means, read a short
story titled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angel-City-Patrick-D-Smith/dp/1561645672" target="_blank">Angel City</a>, by Patrick D. Smith.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That being said, everyone always told
me that my Grannie Berlie loved her three kids more than anything,
and would “give up her last penny” for any of them. So, my Mom
was always very loved, no matter what circumstances they were brought
up in. Mom passed that love on to all three of us boys.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We were very lucky having a
“stay-at-home” mom for much of our childhood. Whether it was
staying up till midnight to help finish a pasta map of Australia, or
being up early to start laundry while fixing school lunches, Mom
never really complained, at least not to us. I am sure, though, that
Dad got regular earfuls of how we tortured her, or each other, or the
cats, hamsters or turtles. It has been twenty years since the last
baby left the nest, and now Mom once again deals with all that,
except now she is taking care of my Dad.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, it's a good time to say that for
all the challenges Dad has, he is not too bad yet. Mostly, his
balance and his short-term memory are the culprits. However those two
things can present a world of unforeseen caveats when it comes to
something simple, like laundry.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Imagine if you will, Mom will come home
from a full day at work, and she will find fourteen tons of laundry
filling the living room. No real order to it, and in the middle is
Dad slowly folding clothes that may, or may not, be clean.
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is what might have happened: Dad
wanted to help out around the house and feel useful, so he started on
the job Mom likes the least, laundry. In the midst of this work he
over-exerted himself, possibly fell but definitely felt dizzy, and he
sat down to rest while the wash was running. Then, he forgot he was
doing laundry. You get the idea. The end result is Dad frustrated
that he no longer sees himself as able to provide, and Mom is
frustrated first out of sympathy fro the man she loves, then out of
bother because of the amount of work now ahead of her. Also, there
was probably a red sock forgotten in the whites.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENAZeudkkFB0U6bDRxMEUihpRJRVhyphenhyphenxZPdHrciwg-AKO_EogORVxi-OyYiHbEXpDhwC1wrXBVvcg1xUWwvl1GJZNXEBFI0PXed-TpBlSzdk4m2L-Ribm2nbcT9Q8GBYEgWJJt8R_y6g8K/s1600/red+sock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENAZeudkkFB0U6bDRxMEUihpRJRVhyphenhyphenxZPdHrciwg-AKO_EogORVxi-OyYiHbEXpDhwC1wrXBVvcg1xUWwvl1GJZNXEBFI0PXed-TpBlSzdk4m2L-Ribm2nbcT9Q8GBYEgWJJt8R_y6g8K/s1600/red+sock.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">That one red sock</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The above exceptionally simple
description applies to so many things around the house: the dishes,
the trash, the mail, even dinner. All these things become mountainous
challenges, daily, all because of Parkinson's.
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What truly must frustrate the most
though, is that when you're a teenager's mother, you know they are
learning and developing, and will eventually grow up and move out.
The torment will be over. For the wife of a Parkinson's patient,
though, it's almost a Benjamin Button effect, where the person you
care for the most in this world, slowly devolves, and there is no
graduation day to look forward to; there is just more pink laundry to
fold.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, now that I've induced melancholy, I
shall try to explain why all this is a beautiful thing on a day like
today.
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our Moms continue to make sacrifices
long after all the kids go off to start their own families. You are
always going to be loved by the person who literally gave of her own
life to create yours. Remember today, and every day, that your mother
will never stop being a Mom, and that she needs you.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hopefully, this snippet of my life has
inspired you to do two things:
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<ol><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">CALL YOU MOM!!!!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<ol start="2"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR?px=1893295&fr_id=1570&pg=personal" target="_blank">Donate to Team Fox now</a>, please, so
that one day soon nobody's mom has to discover the things which mine
does every day when living with Parkinson's.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thank You</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-15007053912914717182014-05-03T15:49:00.000-07:002014-05-03T15:52:42.707-07:00A funny thing happened on the way to the bank!<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Last night I had a very surreal experience, I witnessed a cyclist on his way home from work get hit by a driver who wasn't paying attention. It was at a full-on red light, and the cyclist, named Josh, was clearly in the crosswalk with a walk signal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DoL9ExnONha1LWPDTFGB_dpkefkwvuCyk9lJ1U-QEABUz4dYXEr-s3SBBNSksQ8yVGFeqgBTe_jFUGA6Pj8N3m2rmXY8kSvlsmfjVX4v8oTJnaYNCor59ctg9i0_czqksNKZkRmjFl5d/s1600/police+lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DoL9ExnONha1LWPDTFGB_dpkefkwvuCyk9lJ1U-QEABUz4dYXEr-s3SBBNSksQ8yVGFeqgBTe_jFUGA6Pj8N3m2rmXY8kSvlsmfjVX4v8oTJnaYNCor59ctg9i0_czqksNKZkRmjFl5d/s1600/police+lights.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Rearview</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Josh is ok! He got so very lucky, as I
am sure so many of my running fans have as well; I know I have. So,
after I tweeted about it, waiting for the police, it was suggested
that I write a road safety post...sounds good to me!!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">First let me say that there are some
fantastic guidelines available at the Road Runners site, very common
sense stuff that you probably already know or practice,<span style="color: blue;">
</span></span><a href="http://www.rrca.org/education-advocacy/etiquette-for-runners/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">www.rrca.org/education-advocacy/etiquette-for-runners/</span></a></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">They are quite general though, and as I
was brought up by a cop, a great cop, so I'll happily share some of the things I was
told on how to stay alive! As a note, these are just more
guidelines, and I'm in no way responsible if you still fail to look
both ways!!! <span style="font-size: x-small;"> *especially while reading this</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<u><span style="font-size: x-large;">*RunningArts' 7 Advanced Road Runner Rules!!*</span></u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<ol><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Everyone is trying to kill you!</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is a good reminder as you head
into traffic, especially in a city like Orlando, where I live and
run. Basically Dad means that no car, or driver, is to be trusted;
play out every scenario for every direction change a car might make,
and you’ll usually be ready.</span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Just cause their blinker is on,
doesn’t mean they are really going to turn!</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Dad put it this way, “Did the driver
just put on that blinker, or has it been on for 5 miles?”</span>
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Watch their wheels, not the
driver!</strong></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hR0NAXa9WU5Kiy2T4LVIj0M-ErE6dupi28t0ir0vzD5n7Y84hV7eMo3QLK_WemXIcBZ_JwSfj41G3jOV-CdalezWd_W3h3AlF7_3ZfUskiZBOf7hEd_pygmKrqVY6Yr7XwKbRqbHucVn/s1600/wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hR0NAXa9WU5Kiy2T4LVIj0M-ErE6dupi28t0ir0vzD5n7Y84hV7eMo3QLK_WemXIcBZ_JwSfj41G3jOV-CdalezWd_W3h3AlF7_3ZfUskiZBOf7hEd_pygmKrqVY6Yr7XwKbRqbHucVn/s1600/wheel.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Wheel Watcher</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">From a full stop, at a perpendicular
angle, it is easier to see a car's wheels begin to rotate, verses
the entire car move against the background. This might give you the
moment you need to adjust or stop as needed.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Know your route!</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I always observe the same traffic
hazard in the same place on my run. It is at a major intersection
where the forward traveling lanes have green lights, and for some
reason the right turn arrow stays red an extra 30 seconds. Everyone
runs the turn arrow without stopping. Knowing this I either avoid
ever crossing there, or I am overly cautions of the flow of traffic
there.</span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Seek alternatives, and always seek
to improve your course!</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I run along a beautiful road beside a
golf course. For the first month that I lived here I always dodged
intersections and driveways on the East side of the road. Then one
day the my regular sidewalk was under construction so off to the
West I went. What a different world, probably only a quarter of the
intersections and obstacles then lined my path. Always seek a more
runner-friendly path!</span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Always ALWAYS carry some sort of
ID and let someone know where you're going.</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Whether it's your actual DL in your
tiny keypocket that you stretched, or a <a href="http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">RoadID item</span></a>, if you can't
talk for yourself in an emergency, let your ID talk for you. Also,
whether it's telling your husband or wife which route you're about
to head out to, or a quick Tweet that you're headed out for your
“regular” run, let there be somewhere to start looking for you
in an emergency!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>For the love of all that is holy,
DO NOT JAYWALK!</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Think about it this way, IF drivers
hit you in crosswalks where they expect you to be THEN they will do
it even more when they don't have the slightest clue that they
should look up from Snapchat so they can watch your new Asics bounce off their hood!!!</span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is covered really well here:
<a href="http://www.popcenter.org/problems/pedestrian_injuries/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"> www.popcenter.org/problems/pedestrian_injuries/</span></a></span></div>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ol>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="endref61"></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> “<i>Pedestrian-vehicle
crashes also tend to concentrate at certain places:<a href="http://www.popcenter.org/problems/pedestrian_injuries/endnotes/#endnote6">6</a> </i></span></span></div>
<ul><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The majority of
pedestrian-vehicle crashes (60 percent in urban areas; 67 percent in
rural areas) occur at places other than intersections.</span></i></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Seventy-four percent of pedestrian-vehicle crashes occur
where no traffic control exists.</span></i></li>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lcXL64hic1iaWmHC0A7xRsekWehiFBWp3bFtL8xFv7Tkw5FafM4NuKkQ4utbpaTfejNGNtX5Snk6Dz9MrttVjQxRUGVKo4n35bxjVHWJSspS3mLnhK0bMwCunM5BgGp8PgwXVrfA_eQn/s1600/jaywalking+with+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lcXL64hic1iaWmHC0A7xRsekWehiFBWp3bFtL8xFv7Tkw5FafM4NuKkQ4utbpaTfejNGNtX5Snk6Dz9MrttVjQxRUGVKo4n35bxjVHWJSspS3mLnhK0bMwCunM5BgGp8PgwXVrfA_eQn/s1600/jaywalking+with+baby.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Just 10 more feet!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">DO NOT JAYWALK!!!!! USE THE CROSSWALK!!!!!</span></strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times; font-size: large;">ITS RIGHT THERE!!!!!!</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"></span></strong></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I hope that these reminders help keep
you and all your running friends just a little bit more safe! Please
share these notes with others, but remember they are just a step to
being as safe as possible!
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the event that you are curious, yes,
I have been hit while running, twice!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Both times were at the same crosswalk,
crossing the right turn-lane on a “Walk” signal after making eye
contact with a slowing driver. Both times I gave myself a little
extra space in the crosswalk, and that allowed me to spring away from
their hood as the driver stood on their brakes. I was very fortunate,
and I have my<a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank"> <span style="color: blue;">Dad</span></a> to thank!!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-9250930861557364752014-04-18T20:06:00.000-07:002014-04-18T20:47:25.089-07:00Disney's Wilderness Lodge Review - Get Prepped for Run Disney!!!<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had a good running friend call me the
other day and ask where they should stay when it comes to this years
Run Disney events. I figured it would be a good opportunity to delve
into some Disney resort reviews, and dust off my old skills as a
concierge and back office staffer.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9pbRGC__5AYnNbNC4LXxaJFW3yzo5q5Lt6jLW5IemdflGI3NwmPbKkkcIfLw3ceTH_rK8ah8zFgMpwSNxvXr75_8SoC4QPgkUOxycRGJsH6U0X8wzzRdgIPY-CpMxfwVFEFxhX8yRrE9/s1600/Lodge+bus+loop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9pbRGC__5AYnNbNC4LXxaJFW3yzo5q5Lt6jLW5IemdflGI3NwmPbKkkcIfLw3ceTH_rK8ah8zFgMpwSNxvXr75_8SoC4QPgkUOxycRGJsH6U0X8wzzRdgIPY-CpMxfwVFEFxhX8yRrE9/s1600/Lodge+bus+loop.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Villas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">First for the series is one of my
unabashed favorite resort hotels,</span><a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/wilderness-lodge-resort/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Villas.</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> It is a vast property, and I apologize for the length of this
review. The short version is this, if you have the money, it's a
great value and should be your choice of Disney Resorts!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This 800+ resort consistently delivers
world-class service for it's guests. From the drive in through
imported Northern Pines, past the manicured wild flowers, and right
to the tin-roofed log facade based on lodges of the Pacific
Northwest, this property awes!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Stepping past the granite of the
porte-cochere and into the cathedral-like lobby makes every guest
stop and stare up, way up, over 100 feet to the exposed wood-beam
roof trusses. The lobby alone is a destination with ample seating, a
bubbling geyser and the unreal three-sided fireplace which displays
strata designed to replicate the sandstone layers of the Grand
Canyon. Two other fireplaces grace the lobby on higher floors
including my favorite niche for a nap, on the fourth floor right over
the entrance.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Front Desk staff is exceptionally
knowledgeable, and separates into three basic sections: Main
Check-in, Online Check-in, and Concierge. If you are arriving via
Disney's Magical Express, please be prepared for lines as many
families surge for the desk. Instead, go on and leave your bags
locked up with bell services, a complimentary service plus tip, and
walk through the property. Grab a beverage at the handy quick service
location, Roaring Fork, and relax, you're on vacation. Let the other
travelers from the bus go crazy for their rooms, and when the desk is
no longer rushed, you can walk up with it being totally empty.
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Once you have your room number, take
your time walking the halls. This building is an Urban Design Group
masterpiece, and it doesn’t let you forget it. Every corner, every
room and every wall is decorated like Teddy Roosevelt's Sagamore
hill. Details abound, and in fact, you can ask the Concierge for a
fact booklet on the Lodge and they also have a “Hidden Mickey”
hunt sheet.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmK8Xy3Ramh3xrk5G3T4q5IvbAkFm_i25yEexCxCtbnO19bkFVndcQIvCky4TL7Ox1YQU8nDO1zqHrW0DbEik1UOz_Qe01PQ6kEobByfGvueSwf5SXHPQH_1cBjM4ZQc80XcP_b4TWMjf/s1600/Lodge+JF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmK8Xy3Ramh3xrk5G3T4q5IvbAkFm_i25yEexCxCtbnO19bkFVndcQIvCky4TL7Ox1YQU8nDO1zqHrW0DbEik1UOz_Qe01PQ6kEobByfGvueSwf5SXHPQH_1cBjM4ZQc80XcP_b4TWMjf/s1600/Lodge+JF.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Well appointed Bunk Bed Category Room</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The rooms are not exceptionally large
for the price in the Orlando market. They are what I call Disney
standard size, but they have wonderful balconies, and above-standard
baths. Depending on the season, rates run from $289 to $390 for most
rooms, about double that for Club Level. Accommodations come in many,
many, far-too-many different price categories based on view and bed
appointment. In general, but not always, “Standard” view is of
the service yard, rooftops, or bus loop. “Woods” view rooms are
just that, they look out at trees. “Courtyard” may refer to views
of one of the two pools. Within these are separate categories for two
queen beds, one queen and two bunks or one king; many king rooms are
ADA accessible, and feature a lower bed and a huge zero entry shower.
Honestly, aside from needing an ice bath after a marathon, I always
go for the giant shower!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">For those who like a little extra
luxury, there are Junior Suites which sleep six, and the Club
Concierge Floor. The Club Floor rooms are run-of-the-house, meaning
you do not get to specify view of bedding, <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">it is all mixed, and no
requests are guaranteed. Also,
the 7th floor balconies and half those on the 6th floor are not slat-railed, they are privacy balconies that sort of
“pop-up” from the green tin roof. This floor also houses the four
Honeymoon suites which are just king bed rooms with a jacuzzi tub and
a private balcony. The Junior Suites are located throughout the
hotel, but none on the 7th Club Floor. All Guests staying in the suites do have card access to
the Club level and Lounge. The Lounge has several small offerings
throughout the day including a nice continental breakfast, snacks
through the afternoon, several hot items in the evening, and dessert
in the evening. Some beer, wine and spirits are available in the
evening in moderation, and your ID will be checked, so don't leave it
in your room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lastly
are the Presidential (Yellowstone) and Vice Presidential (Yosemite)
Suites. They are almost mirror images on the 7th floor.
The Vice has a very very large open balcony with an amazing view of
the sunrise on the lake. The Presidential has this area enclosed as
extra living space. Both have one King bed, one pull out sofa,
jacuzzi tub, and small meeting area.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
</span> </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of the most exceptional Disney
restaurants is located just off the main lobby, Artist Point. This is
a lovely change to the darker hues of the rest of the decor in the
Lodge. Whitewash beams lighten the high ceilings while huge arts and
crafts windows look out over the pool and lake. The menu is small
because it can be. Stars of the menu include the cedar-plank salmon
and the astounding bison fillet. Let me explain the fillet this way,
have you ever been to a steakhouse and the smells are so
mouth-watering you want your steak to taste just like that smell, and
instead you get a chewy piece of tasteless cow. This is the first
place, since I dined at the Belvedere Hotel in Manhattan, where I
have found a meal which tastes just like that amazing aroma, and it
is the bison fillet, medium-rare!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5MNkzs0TDYBXxH8cE7dN6p-0ZnY4IvwboKfHsHPhznroRiec69VTuPVhf7F51QYP2WbstSLOFpy1-oDVr_AgV3xJHXasrxnHma4C4ZsI5pHguFf2HYnSU3Deuxh_LjMN1Stb5jcgePoN/s1600/Lodge+carolwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5MNkzs0TDYBXxH8cE7dN6p-0ZnY4IvwboKfHsHPhznroRiec69VTuPVhf7F51QYP2WbstSLOFpy1-oDVr_AgV3xJHXasrxnHma4C4ZsI5pHguFf2HYnSU3Deuxh_LjMN1Stb5jcgePoN/s1600/Lodge+carolwood.jpg" height="145" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Carolwood Pacific Room</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As amazing as the design, the rooms and
the dining are, the biggest draw for this resort is the state of mind
it should put you in. This hotel sits just across Bay Lake from The
Magic Kingdom, but it is hard to believe it. The Lodge is tranquil
and quiet, except for the kitschy Whispering Canyon Restaurant in the
lobby, though they quiet down by 9pm every night. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaTTi8aUFAZnoro5yPScFWZSeHTI9NSyYC1-nBYDYM-0Bwy0u4bzYyk8GnJhMg4_CV6q9WRR2jS_xrN3my9HT9V9AyGeF-p2HAkZXL2vapDvQzNvrf7GFttiJ_WVJ1rFvuTr_5yHH9F3E/s1600/Lodge+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaTTi8aUFAZnoro5yPScFWZSeHTI9NSyYC1-nBYDYM-0Bwy0u4bzYyk8GnJhMg4_CV6q9WRR2jS_xrN3my9HT9V9AyGeF-p2HAkZXL2vapDvQzNvrf7GFttiJ_WVJ1rFvuTr_5yHH9F3E/s1600/Lodge+train.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Walt Disney's Private Train Collection</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you’re not
traveling with young kids, try the ambiance over in the Wilderness
Lodge Villas' lobby. There is a hidden gem getaway in the Carolwood
Pacific room where leather chairs and a warm private fire nestle
amongst some of Walt Disney's own train memorabilia. This is also
where you will find Sturdy Branches Spa and Fitness Center. Also, tucked into the pine forest out back, you will discover the smaller pool which has fewer guests, and best of all, the most incredible boil-your-skin-off sunken Jacuzzi!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYqyi6RxFV9-22rY0sgnw9xWgjqwGBrF9cXJ3nygywNepX6uZ8eMDz9Yq3AYKigU2dIm1zJy3K_qzjMxiJUX7PoZKj0Pt1SgU4k6ymrw9RrEB9Uh8LxZFiv-OaUhYI084Ij_p7QLVo_Yu/s1600/lodge+villa+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYqyi6RxFV9-22rY0sgnw9xWgjqwGBrF9cXJ3nygywNepX6uZ8eMDz9Yq3AYKigU2dIm1zJy3K_qzjMxiJUX7PoZKj0Pt1SgU4k6ymrw9RrEB9Uh8LxZFiv-OaUhYI084Ij_p7QLVo_Yu/s1600/lodge+villa+pool.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Disney's Wilderness Lodge Villas Quiet Pool</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This covers just the surface of the
</span><a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/wilderness-lodge-resort/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wilderness Lodge</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">. Put simply, assuming you do not expect a stark
white, modern-minimalist hotel, you will absolutely be pleased with
this property!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I do hope this is helpful! Other
reviews of Disney proberties will follow soon as you get geared up
for Run Disney!
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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</span></div>
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</span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">******I do have to add a big disclaimer
with this review in particular, I worked many years at the Wilderness
Lodge Front Desk and Back Office. That being said, by no means did I
soft-ball this review, but I do think I'm almost an expert. Like I said in my original posting of my
Declaration of Principles, I will not endorse a product I do not
honestly believe in!******</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-73797550605558919472014-04-14T14:39:00.000-07:002014-04-14T14:39:12.307-07:00One of My Favorite Halfs Just Opened!!!<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just announced today is the
registration open for one of my favorite runs ever! The 2014 Key
Largo Bridge Half Marathon!!
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie72hTg9L9xgNkJO2CcEHOpjA32kO9uCyBW7dnCiKgQ_JSEB9vuYA63zEOHjvO7fCvMgCwseUvjFz7RGDNkTJWnWHQXx8B123qcMHHW1X1PojMx_UtrsisZ8RDBcqCiMKAOpP_LX-BUb_w/s1600/bridge.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie72hTg9L9xgNkJO2CcEHOpjA32kO9uCyBW7dnCiKgQ_JSEB9vuYA63zEOHjvO7fCvMgCwseUvjFz7RGDNkTJWnWHQXx8B123qcMHHW1X1PojMx_UtrsisZ8RDBcqCiMKAOpP_LX-BUb_w/s1600/bridge.gif" height="320" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Key Largo Bridge Run</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Top reasons why I love this run:</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<ol><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's completely beautiful!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's not very technical! (Except
for the GIANT bridge)</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's inexpensive! (only $60 at
open)</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's a small field!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is mentally exhausting! (Cause
I like a challenge)</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ol>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Up for that challenge? If only those
five reasons hooked you, <a href="http://www.keylargobridgerun.com/Home/" target="_blank">then head to the race website</a>. They <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">have a
special early registration bonus of a free second race tee till April
21<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup>.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
The November 8th run is an out-and-back route, along the famous Florida Stretch. It's 18 miles of causeway built on Flagler's old rail-bed, and in some places appears to be a foot off the water. This race also features a 10k and 5k out-and-back that all start at the same time, so volunteers along the road literally hold up signs telling you when to turn for each distance.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The half is the most</span> sparse of the
groups. It's kind of un-nerving to be running with 1000 people who
just disappear at the 10k turn, then suddenly there are about 100
other runners scattered up the remaining three miles in front of you.
That is one of the things that make this a challenge; there are no
spectators after the first mile. At each water stop there were
amazing volunteers, of course, who cheer like crazy, but you are
pretty-much on your own.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The race starts at the Southern end of
the newly built Jewfish Creek bridge, a 100 foot tall monster. This
is the best feature though, cause right about the moment you hit the
top of the bridge is sunrise, and you can see Florida Bay to the
South, the Atlantic behind you, and see the route all the way to
Florida City! Breathtaking is not the right word.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are a few drawbacks, assuming you
don't see being all alone as one. The entire course is at about a
four degree bank up to about 14 degrees in the one big corner for
drainage. This means that to run truly flat you have to be right on
the edge of the shoulder, so there can be some discomfort. Also, I
mentioned no cheering fans; I didn't think this would matter that
much, but I really coulda used those extra voices urging me on the
last few miles of pain. The last thing that could actually be
improved, is that since the half field is so small, by the time you
get back most of the vendors have packed up.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzc4lxt7kWKFpkidiStsnr77zc78BybXgDn2YEFSCGWQDRpWjMwJ8WreB_5UWOG6oc7Lk7sV2hYDP8fS8-YJYMr8j874dfJo6E4ysd1lNx3Wb3yUYTu1rYXW_XGlbrbkPJ-LAeLR_MsIc/s1600/medal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzc4lxt7kWKFpkidiStsnr77zc78BybXgDn2YEFSCGWQDRpWjMwJ8WreB_5UWOG6oc7Lk7sV2hYDP8fS8-YJYMr8j874dfJo6E4ysd1lNx3Wb3yUYTu1rYXW_XGlbrbkPJ-LAeLR_MsIc/s1600/medal.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Key Largo Bridge Run Medal 2011</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So why do I really love having run this
in 2011??? Well, I did get a personal best of 2:19:34 for the half.
Sadly I had been on a 2 hr pace, then around mile 10.2 my piriformis
muscle started swelling and pushed my sciatic nerve against my
pelvis...Owww. So I limped most of the way back. However, even so,
the take-away of this race was a huge feeling of pride and ownership
of a race. I definitely discovered the inverse proportion of number
of people running, and personal attachment to a course. There are so
few people who have done this race, and now I stand in a small
honored club!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I really wish I could do it again this
year, but it is a week after the New York Marathon. By now you should
know that I'm running with Team Fox for Parkinson's Research on Nov
2<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>nd</sup>. In the process I am fundraising and collecting
sponsors at </span></span></span><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts</span></a></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Spread the word about both these
world-class opportunities!!!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-41316053088926366662014-04-08T14:14:00.000-07:002014-04-08T14:14:58.415-07:00Why I Love Rejection!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVptTWi016K8cFYhNRoKp7MkHxTARNXruoE2bjbBvsiuHqxD0475KjFNwsGSQSch9Jmip9tEv0v3IQ5Zu5HgXQqhV9PZbF76npGbNIdAj6Kyf5fqejkf_0erYvLNrnHDO7bREhY2ua-IBY/s1600/cyclone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVptTWi016K8cFYhNRoKp7MkHxTARNXruoE2bjbBvsiuHqxD0475KjFNwsGSQSch9Jmip9tEv0v3IQ5Zu5HgXQqhV9PZbF76npGbNIdAj6Kyf5fqejkf_0erYvLNrnHDO7bREhY2ua-IBY/s1600/cyclone.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Early days biking through Brooklyn!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A random thought occurred to me today,
and I figured it was a good way to delve into my exciting young years
living in New York, but to also tell you more about the kind of
person I try to be, and why my mission with Team Fox for Parkinson's
is so important. It starts here and now talking to prospective big
sponsors on the phone, and ends 14 years ago with a homeless man on
the subway from Brooklyn.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have finally started getting
responses from many fantastic companies and media outlets who are
sadly unable to assist me in my campaign, but always and genuinely
they wish me and my father the best of luck. I've mentioned this to
friends over the last few days and they always want to know why I'm
actually smiling about getting rejections. I explain to them it's
better than being ignored outright, and then I tell them my story
with Sonny Payne.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPGx69gosiPZg-xqBmvF45X4tnZY_4x5uC23UH80ofV_uuQ5Sh46KY6807_2a0T4B3lXEaSMU6xW27R48flu5b_XK9MTqUjgllMRKEgRzAs40TSiT5IuBFyeSZg5mLG-lEhtFdvFU3-nn/s1600/ftrain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPGx69gosiPZg-xqBmvF45X4tnZY_4x5uC23UH80ofV_uuQ5Sh46KY6807_2a0T4B3lXEaSMU6xW27R48flu5b_XK9MTqUjgllMRKEgRzAs40TSiT5IuBFyeSZg5mLG-lEhtFdvFU3-nn/s1600/ftrain.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My old home away from home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I moved up to Brooklyn, after
college, I landed an amazing job as an Art Director with a stellar
printing company, Alpine Creative Group. So every day I rode the F
Train from Parkslope, in Brooklyn to 26<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup>
in the city. The subway system of New York is a myriad of cultures
and worlds colliding. I always thought that people of my caste kind
of ruled the train system cause we were the defacto proletariat.
Always there, always flexible to the changes in the system, and never
failing to attend. There were others as well, the random beauty who
got on one stop after me; I called her Hat Girl cause she was always
immaculately dressed in moderate business attire, but always had an
odd hat, her favorite was a blue riders helmet that reminded me of
the tour guides at Disney. Then there was a guy that rode North from
the Village. I called him Eddie Vedder cause he always had perfect
hipster long hair and would listen to his Walkman for his two stops.
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then there was Sonny Payne. Sonny was
homeless, 65 or 70 years old, a beard that was ragged but neatly
close-cut and gray at the ends, and he shouldered a TMNT backpack.
Many other articles are out there about chats with this institution
of the F Train, about his delivery of his polished line for food or
change, but I want to share a conversation I had with him one day. It
started with a couple dozen sandwiches.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I started packing an extra pb&j for
Sonny after a few months of seeing him travel the cars on my trip
toward the city. He was always gentle, thankful and would always
bless you after a donation, and you knew he meant it from his heart.
So every morning if I saw him, I'd give him my extra sandwich, he
would say “bless you Sir.” and we would go our separate ways.
Then one day, there was a wretched storm blowing, and in the city,
people scatter when the skies open up with what I call “Florida
Fury.” Back home, every afternoon the heavens descended, but this
day the subway was light on commuters; I pretty much had a car to
myself. Sonny hopped on from the next car like clockwork, and I
offered him my sandwich as usual, then something amazing happened, he
sat down across from me as he thanked me and began to tear into the
offering. I'd never seen him actually eat before. I offered him my
bottle of water too; he wanted to turn it away, but slowly took it as
well. I noted to him that he may be the driest New Yorker around
today. He laughed a bit, and said that 'it sure was a mess up there
alright.'</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">By the time we approached the next
station Sonny was back on his feet, tucking away half the sandwich in
his turtle backpack, and he thanked me again. I told him I wished I
could do more. He said that I was better than a lot of people, most
people just ignore him. He said that was the worst cause eventually
you start to believe you're invisible, and it hurts. He thanked me
again for just looking him in the eye and reminding him he was a real
person.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That's how charity fundraising can feel
some days. I've sent out dozens of letters, and today I got my first
phone call from a real living person. Even though it may end in rejection,
at least I know my cause is not invisible, and neither are those I
fight for.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So please consider this as you see the
link below, or as you receive my letters or email.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thank you!</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="shortcut_link"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="shortcut_text"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts">www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts</a></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">And yes when I get up to the city for
the Marathon, I'm bringing a big bag of sandwiches.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-55357914779032630172014-04-04T07:37:00.002-07:002014-04-04T07:37:27.210-07:00Evil Evil Oak Pollen vs. Runner with Antihistamines<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This week has had so many ups, and no real downs, I must say! That is, until I ran this morning!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">First off, let me just say that my Team Fox donations have doubled since the start of the week thanks to so many caring and beautiful people, but I'm still so very far away from my goal before the New York Marathon. </span><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So please pass along this link</span></a><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">,</span> and be my hero by encouraging others to donate to my campaign to help Team Fox!</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7sUfKhnUCAOIzsF8Bb-u5oF7oMLUZAKG479tnSM8CuzpunghyphenhyphenNQK38liNd98v5lK9-ar8welUZwgFWpSuOiLTJfzBMRPFFhmMZTrMlATVLVJG07WSI6gkBrBkQWFwHQKILgBbhwQFzoW/s1600/oak+street.jpg" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The perfect running path!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7sUfKhnUCAOIzsF8Bb-u5oF7oMLUZAKG479tnSM8CuzpunghyphenhyphenNQK38liNd98v5lK9-ar8welUZwgFWpSuOiLTJfzBMRPFFhmMZTrMlATVLVJG07WSI6gkBrBkQWFwHQKILgBbhwQFzoW/s1600/oak+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Even though I am from the South, the only two things typically southern that suite me are sweet tea and long oak-lined streets to run through. That being said, oak pollen in evil, so very evil! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">No doubt if you live anywhere experiencing spring right now, this week has torn up your allergies! The oak pollen count is the highest it has been in years, so no doubt your car is now yellow, and your lungs have a similar coating.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">For me it is extra difficult. I have allergy-induced asthma. This just means that my little bronchioles get super-inflamed and produce extra mucous which diminishes the efficiency of my lungs. That is usually not too big a problem anymore because, with running, we train our lungs to work more efficiently, so it normally evens out. However, this last week has been like chewing burlap.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yq8SD30deNb1oXvOKAO87cKPSilqbxwHRFI4Gl6P5720LxfmhbMM8DoKeyXArbcUboBhQzgolgDuXk-P1GDC3HT30tEo6Ipc0hHmbz93SqJ_xeYJLodBva9tHJdTyXiiwYfEEhSFCZV6/s1600/oak+pollen.jpg" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Oak pollen</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yq8SD30deNb1oXvOKAO87cKPSilqbxwHRFI4Gl6P5720LxfmhbMM8DoKeyXArbcUboBhQzgolgDuXk-P1GDC3HT30tEo6Ipc0hHmbz93SqJ_xeYJLodBva9tHJdTyXiiwYfEEhSFCZV6/s1600/oak+pollen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Most pollen I have seen is small, round, and has little spikes, so it scrapes and sticks a little, and that's it. However, I found out what oak pollen looks like. It's roughly the shape of bell peppers, and covered in layers of fine net-like scales. This results in them being able to pack in very tightly and just shift and scratch in my lungs. Think of it kind of like wrapping up tight in a wool blanket, and feeling every little shift and tug against your skin all the time.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">However, I am not alone in this fight, and neither are you. I have antihistamines galore. Originally I was prescribed Singulair. It is a once-a-day tablet and it worked very well for quite awhile. I did get a little more 'jumpy' though, so I was switched to prescription Zyrtec. It worked so fantastically, but left a weird coppery taste in my mouth all the time. Finally I landed on Allegra, and I'm fairly certain if there is a Goddes of antihistamines, her name is Allegra!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, for a few weeks I have to change my routine and run in the afternoon once I've been active for a bit and my once-a-day has kicked in. That appears to me a small price for healthy lungs, and not collapsing on the side of the road.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-57742055490065027792014-03-30T17:08:00.000-07:002014-03-30T17:08:15.848-07:00Fast Food 5k!!!<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This evening I dusted off one of my old favorite routes, the ol' Fast Food 5k.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdY40v1aLOV3R6mAKh9q7U7RGijci8paVSgXfXIvNRbSUNGKtgh9IEyhVwaBDvvSfJ0EG9xtCNZto2q6K-vEHYwOp0DumkkeF8HRIu9r97I-I6ry9-dRviQqnWIBEu_4Y2DKW5R1QsFYCl/s1600/fast+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdY40v1aLOV3R6mAKh9q7U7RGijci8paVSgXfXIvNRbSUNGKtgh9IEyhVwaBDvvSfJ0EG9xtCNZto2q6K-vEHYwOp0DumkkeF8HRIu9r97I-I6ry9-dRviQqnWIBEu_4Y2DKW5R1QsFYCl/s1600/fast+food.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fast Food 5k</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I came up with this name when I was feeling kinda down one day about going way off the path with my dining habits; I had traded in Panera for burgers. Not all the time, mind you, just enough cheating to start feeling it. Then, during a 3 mile run that night, I realized I had passed two McDs, a Dunkin Donuts, and a Wendys. Thus the route was named.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now when I run it I am reminded of how strong I know I can be. Plus it has some small hills, little traffic, and almost a figure-eight quality which means if I run by other lovely runners, there is a good chance I'll see them again 20 minutes later.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, I encourage all of you to create your own Fast Food 5k. Remind yourself as you flit by just how strong and amazing you are! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">By the way, yes I do still occasionally have yummy salty fries! Only human!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Of course, as always, you can help others feel strong and amazing too! Help out my campaign for </span><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Team Fox at www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/<span id="shortcut_text">RunningArts</span></span></span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then your only job is to copy the link and pass it along to end Parkinson's!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-1043091342196142072014-03-30T15:55:00.000-07:002014-03-30T15:55:43.496-07:00Another Bookshelf Review - A Race Like No Other<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">How on earth do I write a book review for a
widely-liked book that I was very 'blah' about? <em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I have put off this review for some
time as I really did not know how to answer that question. Finally I
decided that I would research the hell out of it, and try to give an
objective view of the facts, and attempt a round discussion on what
is in between the covers.
</em></span></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5R6Bi3yvPtgy3CZGVIGbRHOyKREiKBmb68fFQIe68VqUgSKvwGcC4i7CCHi-s1E37gRYLbZr50l7RJwNkcpyAvOasDkwPK9j7RLca-VmWt-c7561QxYpNW5PdPwROQl-Slw8GF2UhJZpm/s1600/robbins+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5R6Bi3yvPtgy3CZGVIGbRHOyKREiKBmb68fFQIe68VqUgSKvwGcC4i7CCHi-s1E37gRYLbZr50l7RJwNkcpyAvOasDkwPK9j7RLca-VmWt-c7561QxYpNW5PdPwROQl-Slw8GF2UhJZpm/s1600/robbins+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"> A Race Like No Other</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Liz Robbins, of the New York Times, has
taken on a mammoth topic with her 2010 release of A Race Like No
Other, <em>26.2 miles through the streets of New York</em>. It takes as much courage to tackle writing about the New York Marathon as it does to actually run it. However, one of the most difficult literary feats to tackle is to add
even more characters to an already massive story, and that is what the
author has attempted.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In trying to get a handle on my
feelings for this book I read review after review, and I realized the
positive ones had a common thread, everyone loves this race. That's
how so many read this book, they loved the topic with all their heart,
and I feel that may have skewed the reality of this offering.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This book covers the 2007 New York
Marathon, and tries to follow several characters throughout the
festivities, and then tries to mix in some truly amazing historical context. The
individual stories are covered in a broken narrative way though,
almost like watching golf as the play-by-play goes from green to
green, and you have no idea what order things are in. That being
said, it is nice to have a marathon book that reminds the reader not
everyone finishes this race in just over two hours, and we are all
welcome. I enjoy the occasional reminders that there are fantastic
stories for each runner, how they got there, maybe who they lost, or
if they lost themselves, but I didn't feel compelled to not put this
book down, it happened many, many times.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What the author does well is convey the
flavor and the feel of each individual mile of the race. I used to
live in Brooklyn, and if I skipped the street names and sections, I
could still tell exactly which neighborhood was being discussed. This
book also keys in on unique elements of marathoning that most
beginning runners don't know about, like how people keep warm, how
massive corrals can be in a big race, and what a beautiful community
our running world is. Further, there is a beautiful color-plate
section, filled with the brilliance of New York.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zDblSkcG7Y0wzm6U15WCywvJYAdOj56pxNTt7vQc_Iax2lYnKMLAz37lSD16r6fIT4JmMdO3FPyTyvX1zWkrARG18k4rPBHqcHCXBrN4wRre4vOkiOjn4ABiuHwPiz0CAHNGo9zO1YTs/s1600/robbins+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zDblSkcG7Y0wzm6U15WCywvJYAdOj56pxNTt7vQc_Iax2lYnKMLAz37lSD16r6fIT4JmMdO3FPyTyvX1zWkrARG18k4rPBHqcHCXBrN4wRre4vOkiOjn4ABiuHwPiz0CAHNGo9zO1YTs/s1600/robbins+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"> A Race Like No Other</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, how to put this, you will like this
book if you like very personal and uplifting stories, but also have
the patience to see them spread here and there throughout
three-hundred-and-fourteen pages. If you have never been to the city,
and wish to feel the grandiose nature of the boroughs and the event
itself, you will also rave about this book. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If, however, you want a
full dictionary on the race, you will not find it here.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-66242624214557087002014-03-29T13:24:00.000-07:002014-03-29T13:24:04.901-07:00Dodging raindrops! - about time for some more "running" stuff<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y6UK2LN0H7quKqb4zIhou3qayJoQ1HY1qmmdKLHw46TbPbk4_z3LPMWZRAjWWS63rExIHWj_yT8_zEOrA7G4R8eINjl0MBOMhN7xW31X-J_a8yuCEsIZuefZNh8LTCxTCO97JgBiPCRe/s1600/rain+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y6UK2LN0H7quKqb4zIhou3qayJoQ1HY1qmmdKLHw46TbPbk4_z3LPMWZRAjWWS63rExIHWj_yT8_zEOrA7G4R8eINjl0MBOMhN7xW31X-J_a8yuCEsIZuefZNh8LTCxTCO97JgBiPCRe/s1600/rain+1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wet Cement?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I was growing up, one of my favorite books actually belonged to my next-oldest brother, Chris. It was a personalized gift to him about a little boy who got caught in a rainstorm, hid in a closed supermarket, and mediated a settlement between the ever-so-grumpy paper bag, Medelef, and the fresh market items. It was personalized to say "Chris", and "Medelef" was just an anagram of our family name, however it was a beautiful story to capture my childhood imagination.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, Michael, what does this have to do with running. Well, as it turns out, the book starts out with a very well-painted narrative, and it includes a wonderful phrase, "...dodging raindrops." I always asked my parents if it was possible and they would say things like "If you run fast enough." Ever since then I have been trying.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love running in the rain, and I always think of the illustrations in that book when I do get caught in a storm. Today though I went out looking for trouble. I actually didn't even start stretching till the thunder started. So laced up, and cell in a baggie, I headed out for a quick 3 miles.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you try this I highly encourage you to pick a route you usually avoid in the sun. The reason why is simple, if you wanna enjoy being silly and making a mess of yourself, you should do it out in the open. Also, technically I guess it gives you a variation in your training, but mostly I like my raindrops un-encumbered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzx6Kl_NRaBSyF5N2wN_-usDT0hVnj11J_WUSaFE7_sYW0kz-N4mHwvF68_-5TVTCdRv1PSbSvWgd4PcNqlsn1k0_O_EN5hXjgs0fmH_le5K34F4C4E9cTgiK5TnLY1kC296jAn05CRcT/s1600/rain+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzx6Kl_NRaBSyF5N2wN_-usDT0hVnj11J_WUSaFE7_sYW0kz-N4mHwvF68_-5TVTCdRv1PSbSvWgd4PcNqlsn1k0_O_EN5hXjgs0fmH_le5K34F4C4E9cTgiK5TnLY1kC296jAn05CRcT/s1600/rain+2.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Blurry, Action-soaked Adventure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you are not sold yet, I can honestly say that it is good to get in a little training running in the wet cause every now and then, even here in sunny Florida, our outdoor events get drenched, and it's nice to have the experience of how not to slip and fall in public. Or, in the case of the Savage Race a year or so ago, our early heat was soaked, then the afternoon waves literally had a tornado sweep through. Practice makes perfect!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, you may also be thinking I'm crazy to go out in the rain, won't I catch cold? Well, not unless I was going to any way. The rain doesn't infect people. Getting too cold for too long can create a hypothermic state even in the summer; asthma sufferers, like me, want to make sure it's no the cold air that sets off an attack, but generally, as long as you recover your body temp after, you should be fine!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, and wear the older "mud run" shoes!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">All this being said, in just 217 days I am going to be freezing my rear off while waiting at the starting line on Staten Island. This past year the temperature at the start was forty-six degrees; so I shall suffer effects of the cold in ways I have never imagined.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Of course, insert literary ploy for money, I'm going to feel amazing about it, because all of you will have helped me raise over $5000 for <a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank">Team Fox for Parkinson's Research.</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I really do still need all of you to do what you can to help reach this goal! Three things are needed: 1. </span><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Click the link</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">. 2. Forward to others. 3. Personally remind them how important this cause is to families like mine, please.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts</span></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Or follow, and forward now on Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/runningarts" target="_blank">@ RunningArts</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-23858571259165869522014-03-26T16:22:00.000-07:002014-03-26T16:22:02.268-07:00Michael's Story - Part 3 of 3...for now.<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today a very good friend at work asked
me the simplest of questions: “Why do you run, Mike?” Before I
could answer, he immediately followed with, “I'd only run if it was
to save my life.”</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As I answered him I realized that the
time has come for me to finish the last chapter in my story about how
I got here, and to explain the mysterious fortune cookie I have
mentioned.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I will try to keep this as short as
possible, as I'm not sure yet what all this means yet for me.
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">When we left off, after 4 months of me
waiting to hear if Team Fox was going to have a team in the 2014
Marathon, I finally found out, that indeed, they were. That was
around 3pm. Near 5pm I spoke with Mom on the phone, and she let me
know the news about Dad's diagnosis. It seemed like some sort of big
cosmic arrow pointing the way for me, and I knew everything would
work out if I followed.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I should further explain here that my
father has been forgetting things more and more over the last five
years or so. Only short term things, but enough to concern everyone,
including him. Then he started to have a shaky gate when he walked.
His regular doctors told him it was just getting older, and possibly
an inner-ear issue. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmfe.org/site/PageServer" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqodm3U-Hczx9tcuqY693l4e-9eYOSHIEyrpgjlkFzElqlkfIC_X_vtHT-4RNzBWFcP3r-NJPwx4asoAAz5VKkw8CjnRx3oelhIZyku2CekIJwXFN7KvOW_aPgvy8_vUjDBwb2T8lK4c57/s1600/wmfe.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wmfe.org/site/PageServer" target="_blank">90.7 Orlando</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then one day I heard a wonderful article on <a href="http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/08/14/hydrocephalus-mimics-dementia" target="_blank">NPR about something called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, or NPH</a>. It
covered Dad's symptoms and a few more, and the doctor being
interviewed explained that a decent percentage of patients who have
been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia just have this
condition, which is mostly treatable. I went on a tear trying to get
Dad to go to the right doctors, and finally, at the insistence of Mom
and one of my brothers, Dad got tested.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I explained from the start that this
was an outside chance, and for nobody to get their hopes up, even
though I secretly held hope. Sadly, the doctors at UF confirmed it
was dementia, and on top of that, it was Parkinson's Syndrome (PS).
PS is a little different than Parkinson's Disease. PS is another
degenerative neurological illness where the patient gets sporadic and
individual symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Very little is known
currently about it, but I have faith that an answers lies in finding
a solution to Parkinson's!</span><br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That is why I have redoubled my efforts
for this cause. Yes I get to run in a very exclusive marathon, but I
could have done that without trying to raise so much money for
research.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So why then do I run? I have to answer
with a question.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">How many people get to do something
they love, for someone they love, and share that love with the world
for the betterment of all mankind</span><br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That is why I run, to save lives.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It also doesn't hurt that around 7pm,
that random night, I opened a fortune cookie, and read this:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ozeANHGIBGquZbjODLgwqZE1IKHzQnZgRkStDRBcJEyMzvYt-yxBrSLjwEYIUV5F4p7oj_PV2ZBZm7iCAdTfLGOsI4eC9KUiVTtuM8HwU80Kc24Rqg056LGdTLAgouU-YCM7d8ksyfbt/s1600/COOKIE_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ozeANHGIBGquZbjODLgwqZE1IKHzQnZgRkStDRBcJEyMzvYt-yxBrSLjwEYIUV5F4p7oj_PV2ZBZm7iCAdTfLGOsI4eC9KUiVTtuM8HwU80Kc24Rqg056LGdTLAgouU-YCM7d8ksyfbt/s1600/COOKIE_crop.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR?px=1893295&fr_id=1570&pg=personal" target="_blank">Please donate now! Then share! I need
you to help create the 'together' in: </a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR?px=1893295&fr_id=1570&pg=personal" target="_blank">We can do this together!</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
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</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-75411127538073524532014-03-25T18:26:00.001-07:002014-03-25T18:26:07.328-07:00Already planned out my 2015 New York Marathon - Caution: Crying warning!!!<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So I thought I was running the New York Marathon for a beautiful cause...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then I discovered this!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5v11XN32C3g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.achillesinternational.org/members/why-run"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.achillesinternational.org/members/why-run</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am going to have to put up another counter on my blog till the 2015 Marathon, because I have got to do this!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.achillesinternational.org/members/why-run" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Achilles International</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <span style="color: #134f5c;">assists individuals, with some special need, participate in incredible athletic events by partnering them with a team of volunteer athlete guides who's mission it is to get them to their goal!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I realize I'm shooting myself in the foot a bit here, but this video made me cry! Whether it is just seeing my beloved New York again, or the look of the thrill coupled with my anticipation...I know where I'll be in 2015. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't really think this is a conflict for me. I want all of you runners out there, who don't think you have a marathon in you, to think about spending 6 hours of your time, one day next November, being a superhero in Gotham!</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Till then of course, after you wipe away the tears like I did, please go to my </span><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR?px=1893295&fr_id=1570&pg=personal" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Team Fox</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> site, donate, and share!!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thank You!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-42076001932047682832014-03-25T13:28:00.001-07:002014-03-25T13:28:13.744-07:00No Cerulean in My Wardrobe!<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In and amongst freaking out about the
huge mountain I have to now climb with<a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR?px=1893295&fr_id=1570&pg=personal" target="_blank"> fundraising for Team Fox,</a> I
also pulled out the washboard and headed down to the river to do some
laundry. As I attracted the attention of several Pileated Woodpeckers
with the <em>thwap thwap</em> of running shirts on the drying rock I realized
I am not that creative at all!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7e4H6fW4GL6vyEtcp034Kx9l-Zk5hUo_w7muRTKUgxTzOuon5ImhLNwbnYBLiAddLTi08O5P2PZbfecYTAaSrkR1UlEYZlJSqfQcyFTKNm9PdR5jUnUbXJXdlCwg93b_38l-qreEQi344/s1600/shirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7e4H6fW4GL6vyEtcp034Kx9l-Zk5hUo_w7muRTKUgxTzOuon5ImhLNwbnYBLiAddLTi08O5P2PZbfecYTAaSrkR1UlEYZlJSqfQcyFTKNm9PdR5jUnUbXJXdlCwg93b_38l-qreEQi344/s1600/shirts.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nowhere else in my closet do I have
such a collection of warm tones: Reds, yellows, oranges, and one
random green top I love! This begs the question, am I really not that
creative, or does the industry dictate what I wear and when?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Of course they are mostly brightly
colored cause I hate being hit by cars...no I REALLY hate being hit
by cars. However, are they mostly reds cause I love the look so much,
or because Nike and Adidas got together and dictated that last
season, when I got most on the sale rack, saturated red was going to
be the go-to color. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm having a flashback to Devil Wears Prada!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGr39Zio-OW-9yeyYc3H6np5g0dEGHE-hEJ9Yx_PfGgwjoVI87p63HlFNiMckjEs0O3VoTYEGo4YgKlVD4zxk_t2qRu4q_SL1slLSrLLx4546WHaC6GknwSKfktaBZsZa-qJ8IKrv6CW7/s1600/prada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGr39Zio-OW-9yeyYc3H6np5g0dEGHE-hEJ9Yx_PfGgwjoVI87p63HlFNiMckjEs0O3VoTYEGo4YgKlVD4zxk_t2qRu4q_SL1slLSrLLx4546WHaC6GknwSKfktaBZsZa-qJ8IKrv6CW7/s1600/prada.jpg" height="153" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Seriously though, how did these foreign
colors infiltrate my nice earth-tone wardrobe? I think the answer
comes simply. It's the way we all started acquiring running tops. Our
friend convinced us to do a 5k, we needed the cheapest shirt we could
find, so we settled.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That first top fit badly, it probably
chafed in new places, and we probably never really used it since.
Because, after that, we were all hooked. We each began bargain
hunting for the tops with the least liability, and when we found one,
we went crazy. Then an unusual thing happened, we began to color
coordinate. We fought it at first, but we all did it, don't lie! We
started matching to those first couple pieces like a Bride matching
Blush and Bashful! This is how we were as time passed in the 5k
world.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then, for me, it changed on a gigantic
new bridge in Key Largo. After blowing a 2hr time with a pinched
nerve, in a naughty place, I finished my first half marathon.
Standing there in the sunshine, basking in the sea breeze, I
inhaled...I smelled like wet dog. No, that is not accurate, I smelled
like a wet dog that had rolled in his own, very fresh, mess.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was at this moment I checked my
shorts, you all either have done it, or will one day; because I had
read all about it.... I know why the races set up port-o-potties at
very specific places. Now I should say right now that my shorts were
not soiled. However there is some serious
hormone-pheromone-sweaty-pancreatic-sludge being forced through our
skin after running that far. I really did want to hide, and then I
realized everyone else was kinda doing the same thing, or
worse...having their friends check. My adrenal system destroyed my
color-coordinated Adidas combo with matching Robin-red striped
Sauconys.
</span><br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">After that, my bargain hunting became a
search for two things, shorts that hide 13+ miles of skidmarks, and
tops that don't chafe my nipples or anything else!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-45292675060082386312014-03-24T15:54:00.002-07:002014-03-24T15:55:09.863-07:00AMAZING NEWS!!!!<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>I'M IN!!!!!</u></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UFNhTKmiLFXwjPy1WDK5oL4b9s989qe8wImOX9A3WFnO73n5efxu73o8_UdkRRmr78FMvKqzT4EfVFfYJEot26ZwMdoTlmk2ov_FN6g319HIZQe7Ij_rWgOEpRRR5PoInkZQBWV35x2X/s1600/In+1.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">One Happy Runner!</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm running in the 2014 TCS New York
Marathon with Team Fox!!!!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Today I got the final approval, and
link, and everything set up for </span><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Team Fox!!!!!!</span></a><span style="color: #351c75;"> I could seriously
explode! Look, I even put a link in my sidebar to visit and donate!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So much time and effort and
day-dreaming and it has paid off!!! The crazy part is that the work
hasn't even started yet. Now I have just over 200 days to raise a
whole lotta money for Parkinson's research, take care of flights and
hotels, and oh yeah, get my body ready for a marathon. Not just any
marathon...The New York Marathon!!!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can totally do this! I have trained
my whole life for this! Fundraising with Boy Scouts and Promotions
with my College radio station WFCF. Further, I have the greatest
support structure in the world, my beautiful family and friends, and
now, all of you too! I know you're all going to make this possible!
If by no other way than sharing the links!
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is very much a together thing! We
are going to do this; I am going to carry every brilliant positive
wish, from each of you, to the finish line!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Alternative Post: (for comedic effect
only)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>What have I done!!???</em></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFYQr54VrI8I3U1f50KD1PLuQmiYo6Ca4wCCLPUIe6-NxhtZNsJzxDfeCgyMeVu6CX8O3NO8NKhqz1Kt0yLy3YzOG5xamIpzr0Gh8OHUCsJt4l6BHKLqVN914D54cH33UfqyH9xRUmgNH/s1600/In+2.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Can't Brain!!!</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFYQr54VrI8I3U1f50KD1PLuQmiYo6Ca4wCCLPUIe6-NxhtZNsJzxDfeCgyMeVu6CX8O3NO8NKhqz1Kt0yLy3YzOG5xamIpzr0Gh8OHUCsJt4l6BHKLqVN914D54cH33UfqyH9xRUmgNH/s1600/In+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Seriously, I cannot do this! There is
no way that I can come up with the time and effort and connections in
time! I should quit now! Jeep being packed for running away to Central
America, death is well-faked, Tylenol bottle is...empty...woah!....NO
TYLENOL?? Really? Grrrrr!
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span style="color: #351c75;">Fortunately, you all won't let me stop.
I've gotten messages all day telling me that I can do this, and
people volunteering to assist me. I've made the right choice, I know.
Now it's all up to you all to get others to make the right choices
and </span><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">donate soon!</span></a><span style="color: #351c75;"> If you own a business and would like to create an
in-kind donation please do. This is exactly what we mean by
'grassroots'. It means that we can do this ourselves because we
believe it's the right thing to do! That is why I am here!</span></em></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="ecxshortcut_link"></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">So what
can you do right now? Visit </span><a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">my Team Fox</span></a><span style="color: #351c75;"> site:
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/RunningArts</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then copy the link and send it to
everyone! Ask them to do the same! Then check back often to see how
your contribution is working! Our Team, yours and mine, can do this
together!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-82772878648570432362014-03-23T11:16:00.001-07:002014-03-23T11:16:26.812-07:00Michael's Story - Part two...of at least three!<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Running Arts is quickly getting away from me! What started as a nice simple utility to eventually link to my Team Fox fundraising page (still in production) has become a monster, a vicious time-sucking gorgon, and I have no shiny shield! That being said, I guess if by chance you are one of my readers, I should probably focus less on blog mythology, and I should continue an earlier post about why I'm here, and why you might want to read on.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I left off on the story of my life at the crucial moment described as "...an odd bunch of coincidences, including a naked and wet actress at my Boy Scout camp, and a freaky fortune cookie!" Let us pick it up from there, queue the backstory.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am an Eagle Scout. I am insanely proud of this. Not only did Scouting help me grow into a responsible adult, it also afforded me many opportunities to travel the world, and thrust more factoids into my ever-hungry noggin. Also, it allowed me to participate, in a small way, in the production of Doc Hollywood, a fun little comedy staring Michael J. Fox as a big-city Doctor stuck in the middle of nowhere. The nowhere they filmed at included one corner of my Council's Boy Scout Camp in little ol' Melrose, Florida.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHk9ej9ETFoAW5W3W_tZbvgaWCHtzURF-pwIgCkJkCKWwePiF9sceyxBh9PpJSAFYjp1lNueqXEvG5w1va7qfnYOqqiohZ73CMYJxrFwUAdozARxwOiVqI5aOYh7WEgx7F2qe0mQHOcfdI/s1600/doc+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHk9ej9ETFoAW5W3W_tZbvgaWCHtzURF-pwIgCkJkCKWwePiF9sceyxBh9PpJSAFYjp1lNueqXEvG5w1va7qfnYOqqiohZ73CMYJxrFwUAdozARxwOiVqI5aOYh7WEgx7F2qe0mQHOcfdI/s1600/doc+cover.jpg" height="200" width="138" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just 45 minutes East of Gainesville is a beautiful lake on the edge of a huge prairie. Today, on the Western-most corner of that lake sits the foundation of a set, built years ago. Before our Scout crew demolished what would become a dilapidated set of walls, it had been a noble cabin façade which the lead character, Benjamin Stone, temporarily resided in. However, my interaction with Hollywood begins a few weeks earlier still; to use the site the production crew needed about 50 yrds of fencing removed, so our service team provided the labor. The payoff was...well, for a 16 year old, magical.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Imagine you are 16 and you have spent the last 5 summers and numerous other weekends hiking, biking and driving around hundreds of acres of un-mapped wilderness, logging every secret trail in your internal GPS, then one day, a collection of very VERY sunburned and heat-stroked Hollywood production people explain that they have no idea how to get out of the isolated location in which they have been working. More than that, they realize they have no idea how to get the rest of the Cast and Crew to them...also, you, and several other teens, just happen to have the keys to the 18 passenger camp vans. So began my brief driver-of-the-stars career. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I should say now that this is a more romanticized version. Honestly we had a few crewmembers ride with us as we led huge trucks in and out. The payoff was still to come, as one day we received a surprise backhoe delivery. There was to be a scene in the movie where the love interest, played by Julie Warner, walks out of the lake after swimming. However that end of the lake is so shallow you could barely launch a canoe, so in comes the backhoe to dig out a sloping trough in the water to allow Ms. Warner to walk out at a perfect slope to the camera. Why was this so important we wondered...because she was going to be skinny-dipping! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-wnVOVjxFPAnZ6YmTWC71jNQ1tfYeqO_4vPqzjG8MufhVHgt_aaVu0sPWNkA1fPOt-IfZw20bhlT1e3sU2K_3XF_ryCMK_hhth54qUZXoRcGfXYJa2qAnJvm9kBURJrbfC3WuYEcHkG-/s1600/NUDE_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSApqd-M5Nh4nsjVcOcvLF-gsQCsAJT6yIPJBEznqV3KPtBJyRPjwMOdFvir3lKfN_NMQd1dSoSBfrvR7tcQYNJdd3dEf4ocoxDmPFoxN2QoB3N5wV0k1WP_5hJi8izU3F8j1TGwvQ5WA8/s1600/NUDE_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSApqd-M5Nh4nsjVcOcvLF-gsQCsAJT6yIPJBEznqV3KPtBJyRPjwMOdFvir3lKfN_NMQd1dSoSBfrvR7tcQYNJdd3dEf4ocoxDmPFoxN2QoB3N5wV0k1WP_5hJi8izU3F8j1TGwvQ5WA8/s1600/NUDE_crop.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, imagine you are a 16 year old Boy Scout!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEwjDvpQppOFrdF6otu7PQmb7MtufSKB1LolIFhCQHZ6ijVkEwgJ4htw92X6x12610IVzjNLpg_dFjN2bD7jXuYV-txkqEaByoR7azvZKzPxpaljGGHTd9qa8wZqMUBenFe4Rfd6nMK4H/s1600/EYESCLOSED_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEwjDvpQppOFrdF6otu7PQmb7MtufSKB1LolIFhCQHZ6ijVkEwgJ4htw92X6x12610IVzjNLpg_dFjN2bD7jXuYV-txkqEaByoR7azvZKzPxpaljGGHTd9qa8wZqMUBenFe4Rfd6nMK4H/s1600/EYESCLOSED_crop.jpg" height="124" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Needless to say it was very polite of the production crew to allow us to further assist them in the production by holding up trees and carrying canteens as we accidentally watched the scene being filmed. For all the craziness that happened during the production I only briefly met Michael J. Fox. There was a general hand wave and "Thanks guys." from him, but this is where the story turns South. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fox later revealed that it was during this production, just a few days later, that he would end up at the University of Florida Neurology Department in Gainesville, my hometown, and have doctors dismiss his earliest symptoms of Parkinson's.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is this same Neurology Department that, just a few weeks ago, gave my Father a much more in-depth diagnosis of his own symptoms.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-64235825418089911072014-03-23T09:21:00.002-07:002014-03-23T15:28:26.701-07:00A review from Mike's bookshelf<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You know when you get those coffee-table
books at Christmas and you never read them? They are big and
they are beautiful, and somebody put a lot of thought into the bargain aisle at
B&N!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not this book!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnYma1Uyffci0FwkqJis8yjb_0Q0f1x5pLrJRD4LP5KAJ02e_wqGN985DKkb2i7DSDyYFHCLUeaqjstcm0popS_kjFkmIRbbVCsoJBKwEyHYyBZySWKQrZD2XIHPs2fhURTCgiBHEVDbF/s1600/BLOG+2_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnYma1Uyffci0FwkqJis8yjb_0Q0f1x5pLrJRD4LP5KAJ02e_wqGN985DKkb2i7DSDyYFHCLUeaqjstcm0popS_kjFkmIRbbVCsoJBKwEyHYyBZySWKQrZD2XIHPs2fhURTCgiBHEVDbF/s1600/BLOG+2_crop.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">26.2 : Marathon Stories, <em>by Katherine
Switzer & Roger Robinson</em>, was given to me as a gift a few years
back, when I first started my evil running habit, and every few weeks
since then I've picked it up again, and not just to dust it!</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The contents of this book read like a
candy aisle where each bright package is a delicious sweet for each
different days' cravings. Each of the 26.2 chapters focus clearly and
succinctly on a different topic of marathon interest from history and
legacy to training and treading. The pages are covered in both
striking pro photos, as well as classic and personal images. This is
by no means a complete reference guide, nor is it self-help or
fiction, but if there was a Trivial Persuit, <em>Marathon Edition</em>, this
would be the cheat sheet.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love knowledge; I usually say that
once I find something I like that I have to research it to death. If
you can absorb a great deal of factually presented information on a
huge scope of topics, stop reading this page and go get this book!
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Possibly the most well presented facts
appear in Chapters 7, 20 and 26, the <em>Heroes</em> sections. Here, broken up
by year, is a who's who of marathon royalty. Photos, stats and a
brief highlight section tell the story of some of the most
influential and inspiring marathoners ever to break through the wall.</span><br />
</div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyevPuvnt4wqLHBCcbGhgg98eJllAGuS1yfVEPXZZus-Uo49bSRKo8mMVA1uVJuk76QHJYJrhzFyFIdJy3ZiVK4xBQ2hrdP2Lv7QyN1dteEvExNMUNNW_bV5J1AG-qSLktGeOywM0xR0Ra/s1600/26.2+spread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyevPuvnt4wqLHBCcbGhgg98eJllAGuS1yfVEPXZZus-Uo49bSRKo8mMVA1uVJuk76QHJYJrhzFyFIdJy3ZiVK4xBQ2hrdP2Lv7QyN1dteEvExNMUNNW_bV5J1AG-qSLktGeOywM0xR0Ra/s1600/26.2+spread.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0xy7BfrFR8GmWRuJv5DJZRQ5q_7it6f2ETqoR4WjUQ47yUuzPKQdmfG1hHyODRYXrHdS21LFZddglFBwJE1eFDCr0QdGtXz-ZarRFTRbkFEHB7hyjnxZCgdc1zsmWtiwof9a4KFG9OOu/s1600/BLOG+2_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The chapter which I always flip to is
titled <em>Run the World</em>. Each page features a huge image from some of
the most dream-inspiring races across the globe today. From the
highest points in the Swiss Alps, to the frozen ground of Antarctica,
here you will absolutely discover an adventure which calls to you!
Honestly, I have worn-out the bindings on page 140 which features the
Safaricom Marathon in Kenya. Taking place right on the Equator in
mid-June, this open run through the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
features brutal heat, no spectators, wild animals, and a very small
field, just the kind of wild run I ache for.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEmepBQuzXgHJgBHnHSMbdZfhsRtREyVYHw4Azs01dWdVLZQrY3PPwJwrO3yE1SRafaC8TbEj37a-TVQsLTCX5o6TawkIae9kD-GFjZxoLM8QGAH0ub4QUsCpR5rYYPlSj1xF4FZVJQIK/s1600/blog+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEmepBQuzXgHJgBHnHSMbdZfhsRtREyVYHw4Azs01dWdVLZQrY3PPwJwrO3yE1SRafaC8TbEj37a-TVQsLTCX5o6TawkIae9kD-GFjZxoLM8QGAH0ub4QUsCpR5rYYPlSj1xF4FZVJQIK/s1600/blog+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, pick up the book, or put it on a
gift registry, or borrow it from your least-favorite sibling and
forget to give it back, but whatever you do, do not leave this book
on the coffee table!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times;">Also, if you have no idea who Katherine Switzer is.....</span><br />
</div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://kathrineswitzer.com/site/wp-content/uploads/cropped-cropped-kathrineswitzer-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" src="http://kathrineswitzer.com/site/wp-content/uploads/cropped-cropped-kathrineswitzer-logo.png" height="70" name="graphics1" width="269" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://kathrineswitzer.com/">http://kathrineswitzer.com/</a></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-39967286504835363502014-03-22T15:43:00.001-07:002014-03-22T15:55:45.406-07:00Notes on the perfect playlist!!<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ok, this is sacred ground, I know! The
music in our ears, and the voices in our heads, are sacrosanct, so I
am not going to try to tell you what you need to listen to, or even
why. However, I shall divulge the secrets of my meager Ipod, and some
of my whys, and why nots.
</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've said before that you must have
patience to run; note to self: add Guns n Roses to playlist. I
actually mean, that I get bored, everyone I know gets BORED running,
so the noise helps us. Each and every runner I know has a different
running style, toe-runners, flat-footed and now-a-days even
bare-footed, our playlists should be no different!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2bYQYWGDii-LpD_vUBsaRGwZ2TnoWhAyLhvDyigWI_U25IKjgcVz6YkLPcW6UhpK8VJymBySi03jdNUjlRQ4nOuXPrJXjMFhR_vPXF4sWDmZ0-YVrxzakLAnudran4_ComNj4g5hhR4H/s1600/blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2bYQYWGDii-LpD_vUBsaRGwZ2TnoWhAyLhvDyigWI_U25IKjgcVz6YkLPcW6UhpK8VJymBySi03jdNUjlRQ4nOuXPrJXjMFhR_vPXF4sWDmZ0-YVrxzakLAnudran4_ComNj4g5hhR4H/s1600/blog+1.jpg" height="150" title="Everyday I'm..." width="200" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">So the First Note: Being different is
ok!</span></h4>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My most accomplished runner-friend
regularly listens to PodCasts while she trains. She catches up on
stuff and occupies her mind. Another friend of mine, with heart
concerns, listens to classical. He insists it lowers his heart-rate,
and who doesn’t want that? Personally, I have a big mix right now
which rambles like Hippo at night: Offspring, No Doubt, Melissa
Etheridge, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, even the soundtrack from Scott
Pilgrim. So try lots of different stuff, mix it up and don't be
afraid to air-drum at the crosswalk.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Second Note: Housekeeping is crucial!</span></h4>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I try not to obsess over what is in my
Shuffle; yes I only use a little Shuffle, see Note #4. Seriously
though, I leave stuff on there forever! Runners are creatures of
habit, so I like to think that I've basically click-trained my body
with the Van Halen, I don't want to change it too much once race
season is on. That being said, I go through and delete all the songs
which give me the automatic response of hitting FF after .08 seconds.
Sorry Patience, you've been cut anyway.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Third Note: After 9 miles you don't
hear it any more anyway!</span></h4>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This was amazing when I discovered it.
So, on long runs our bodies start needing sugars between 8 and 10
miles, so we start going right for the gummies or the gels. In
addendum to our muscles needing that raw caloric intake, our poor
little neurons are starving too. Yup, if you've ever wondered why you
go fuzzy-headed after awhile, it's because your neurons, pretty
exclusively, use carbohydrates, no carbohydrates means no thinkin'
Scarecrow! The end result was that during my first half marathon, I
got to mile 12.5ish and started to think I needed to queue-up my
finish song. At this moment I realized that I was 5 minutes into the
8.25 minute <em>American Pie,</em> by Don McClean,....not a running song
people. Where had the last 5 minutes gone? They probably also took
the last plane for the coast. What this taught me was that there is
no point in fighting my Ipod to change songs after about mile 6,
cause my little starving brain is just hearing noise!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Note Four: Don't run a race with
anything you don't want destroyed!</span></h4>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't know if you've seen it yet, but
I always see a huge pile-up 100yrds in when someone drops their phone
or Ipod cause they didn't have it secured, and now 3000 sets of kicks
are trampling the perfect playlist and the perfect Iphone on a
perfect morning. Seriously, on long runs and races I carry my phone
in a tight tiny waist bag for emergencies. It doesn't come out till
I'm done. If my little Shuffle gets knocked off and sails into a
storm drain I'm not gonna let it interrupt the first time I hit a
perfect 9minute pace, maybe Leonardo will return it one day.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Note Five: Finish strong!</span></h4>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Whereas I have just trashed planned out
playlists, huge-gigged storage, and Don McClean, I do always search
for one song to blast through the last 100 yrds. Whether it is the
click-training or any actual primal brain type response, I always can
muster a final sprint from down deep with the right song. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the
event you've read all the way down here, my finish line song:
Beastie Boys'<em> Sabotage</em>!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hope this list helps you contemplate
the way in which you hear a race. At the very least you now have my
permission to listen to A Prairie Home Companion!</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-71114108240755449922014-03-22T12:59:00.002-07:002014-03-26T14:24:17.252-07:00Michael's Story -Part one of ....um...a bunch<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some day in the future, I'm gonna look
back and question how I ever told myself I needed 'more'
content...this, however, is not that day. My poor lil blog now only
has two postings, and one is complaining about only having two posts.</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, it has been suggested that I
explain more about me, why I'm here and why you should read another
word. To that end, I present to you a brief-ish version of my
purpose, at least the first installment.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why is Running Arts here? Well, I run,
and not too fast either. I'm almost 40, but I promise this is not
another 'over-30' runner's blog. This story starts way before 30. I
played at sports all through school, but finally found success with
surfing, and ultimate frisbee at Flagler College. What I discovered
most was that I was patient when it came to sports, I had infinite
patience in waiting for a better wave or the perfect disk throw. In
running you have to be patient, because running a 5k takes awhile;
you're mind wanders and the pay-offs are miles away. Coupled with
that, I had my 'life-changing event' when I was only 28.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I woke up one morning and my heart was
….well, gurgling! Generally I have no problem super-gluing a cut
back together, or just walking-off a broken rib or two, but I'm not a
total idiot! So into the Jeep and off to the hospital my little
gurgling-heart went.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Atrial Fibrillation is a horrible
phrase to hear before age 60. Without binge drinking or drug use, my
cardiologist informed me that I fell into the small
one-in-sixty-million people under 60 that have it. Basically, the
four chambers talk to each other and synchronize through a bundle of
nerves hidden in the middle of my heart. However my 'stick it to the
man' style of nerves don't play well with others. Evidently, some of
my chambers were on a 4/4 beat, and the others had more of a
free-form jazz thing going on. End result, 4 days in ICU and a huge
desire not to die!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I explained to my amazing doctor, after
he saved me and the oxygen mask was off, that I had things to do
still, and that one of those things was to run a marathon! He said
that one day I probably could if I behaved in the mean time. I'm
patient, but I hate behaving. Three years of his care, lots of
ramping up and down of heart meds, and I started to trust my body
again. Then, one of my best friends asked if I wanted to do a 5k mud
run.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So thus begins my slow and patient
training to run and not to die. That first run, The Champions Mud
Bash was quite lacking in mud and bashing, sad, however I was able to
finish really strong. Then came another, then another, then street
5ks and then my first half-marathon. Eventually Ill be more prolific
in my descriptions of all those, and more, but for now it sets the
stage for a slowly percolating dream, and an odd bunch of
coincidences, including a naked and wet actress at my Boy Scout camp,
and a freaky fortune cookie!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Running Arts is also not going to be
another story of a guy with a heart problem and his over-coming
adversity blah blah blah.....$%#@&# ... they are already out
there!!! You as a runner don't need any more, you have your own
problems! You are single Moms, Veterans, and Survivors and I have no
desire to compete; I'm patient, not an idiot. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So Running Arts will be about an average
guy, who's family was struck by reality on the same day that he got
the message that <em>The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's
Research</em>, 'Team Fox' after this, released applications to fund-raise
and run the NYC Marathon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That’s where our story will continue.
Eventually...</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><a href="</span><a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11994119/?claim=ntm933wnqde">Follow"><span style="color: white;">http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11994119/?claim=ntm933wnqde">Follow</span></a><span style="color: white;"> my blog with Bloglovin</a></span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658322372715940881.post-17442053176030872972014-03-21T17:10:00.001-07:002014-03-23T17:30:28.555-07:00Empty Screen - Empty Road!<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">How do I even start........</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A first blog post should be celebrated, much like the first step of a race. So as I type away, I am also guzzling champagne whilst wearing a party hat!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ok, I'm actually drinking a Coke Zero, and there is no party hat....although I have excellent fluffy hair at the moment from doing laundry all afternoon. While laundering socks today I spent copious amounts of time trying to decide what content my first post should have. I decided to copy Charles Foster Kane, he ran a race too, and to publish my Declaration of Principles:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvNYkOOqGc1stsfwq89wdEdkcIXhLkQz37PqvAG5ug4SSvWF9i5XK34C2W_bPW88AbAkRsCzGVkaU5XnCWOLlBnyl1iqlisLIGaBmKKf3akJ95OYv97ZS3SbPiL4DxwfV5n69x1cBjqSb/s1600/Kane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvNYkOOqGc1stsfwq89wdEdkcIXhLkQz37PqvAG5ug4SSvWF9i5XK34C2W_bPW88AbAkRsCzGVkaU5XnCWOLlBnyl1iqlisLIGaBmKKf3akJ95OYv97ZS3SbPiL4DxwfV5n69x1cBjqSb/s1600/Kane.jpg" height="155" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Running Arts' Declaration of Principles</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. I shall exert my mind here on the page as I exert my lungs on the road.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. I shall endeavor to be entertaining, and realistic, when discussing non-professional running.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. I shall invent the phrase "non-professional running" in order to describe all of us that are middle-aged and occasionally pull off a 10 min/mile pace.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">4. I shall never NEVER promote a product that I do not believe in just to get free stuff! If they let me try it out, they get brutal honestly if their product pinches my toes, or makes my tongue feel fuzzy for 20 minutes!</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">5. I shall dedicate myself to faithfully documenting the trials and tribulations of this runner as he spends this year preparing for the 2014 TCS New York Marathon, and fundraising a frighteningly huge, need to change my running shorts, amount of money for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research!</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I first started working for a large entertainment company in Orlando, I went through the company's traditional orientation. It was sweet and pretty and full of warm-fuzzys. I then had to go to a class on how to handle fires, and being screamed at, and what to do if a lion escaped; the instructor used his own phrase to describe this change in direction, he said it was going from pixie-dust to sawdust. I liked that brutal honesty, and so I am stealing it here to explain the niche I want to fill in the running community. As runners, we need some sawdust on occasion to know it's ok to hurt, it's ok to doubt, it's ok to not have the newest shoes, and it's even ok when someone who is 30 years older runs past you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just remember, there is no better feeling in the world than running past an exhausted teenager at a water stop!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Read well! Run Well! and Live!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903714833050263519noreply@blogger.comMetro West, Orlando, FL, USA28.511151584845106 -81.46602630615234428.504175084845105 -81.476111306152347 28.518128084845106 -81.45594130615234