Beware of the Black Light Test

This should be a post about Race for the Cure. What an awesome experience!! While there was no way to get any running in (we were literally elbow to elbow), it was truly one of the most fun races I've ever done. It will definitely be an annual event for me. My hope is to get a team together next year and raise some money. But, unfortunately for me, the joys of the morning were spoiled by a "simple" $9.99 purchase.

Linens N Things is going out of business and liquidating their stock. This product normally sells for $19.99 and I'd heard it really works. I was eager to get it home & try it. Basically, if you're not familiar with it, you shine this black light on your carpet, walls, anywhere and it will show you urine, blood and other "things" that you can't see with the naked eye. It really highlighted the areas that needed dusting but that's another post for another day. Anyway, I thought to myself "I'm sure Teddy has peed in this house but he's 4 & 1/2 lbs - how much damage could he do?" Well, my friends, either Teddy has made my entire home his toilet or there has been a gruesome murder committed in virtually every square foot of my home! I went thru the 24 oz. bottle in no time and never left my dining room/living room. I went thru every room of my house with that light and let me tell you, more than a few tears fell. Teddy followed me everywhere & had this look on his face like he knew what was going on. What am I going to do with him?

Some good did come out of this tho. We shined the light in Ian's bathroom. He looked at me, left the room and came back with the Chlorox wipes. He & I cleaned his bathroom until nothing showed when we shined the light. I think it was an eye opening experience for him. As Ian and I worked on our Bible lessons for tomorrow, Teddy begged to be held. He kept licking my face and putting his head on my shoulder. Perhaps this was his way of saying sorry -- perhaps this was an eye opening experience for him too (yeah, I know, but it is a nice thought)

While I'm not being paid to peddle this product, I will have to admit, this is impressive stuff. Some of the stains I have sprayed are gone, some have faded and I'm hoping by tomorrow, will also be gone. There is a caveat -- if you're not prepared for the worst, just say no to this purchase. If you're not prepared, it could potentially ruin an absolutely awesome day. This product should definitely come with a warning label. Caution: Black light test could cause uncontrollable weeping. Not safe to use around emotionally unstable women with PMS or who are perimenopausal. Can cause death or bodily harm to men, children, Yorkies or any species that contains high levels of testosterone as their very presence adversely reacts to the emotionally unstable user of this product.

Well, enough of that, for now...Gotta run...to bed...

~Lisa

Rest in Peace, TOM II

On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, TOM II, the 17 year old Bengal Tiger and University of Memphis Mascot, passed away - he had recently been diagnosed with cancer. He was a beautiful animal and he always made me proud to be a tiger. The games will not be the same without his presence but just like his predecessor, TOM I, he will NEVER be forgotten.

1 Year Ago Today

In some ways, it seems like it was only yesterday. In some ways, it seems like it's been a lifetime. One year ago today, I was sitting in an outdoor cafe with my roommate/fellow Team in Training teammate. Back at the hotel, TNT was throwing a post-race celebration, hosted by my idol, John "the Penguin" Bingham. We went to the party long enough to hear his words of consolation & encouragement. But when the DJ started spinning records & people headed toward the dance floor, we headed toward the door. We sat in silence for the most part, both trying to understand exactly what happened that day. We searched for answers that never came. For 4 months, I endured training in the hottest, most humid conditions I've ever experienced -- suffering thru shin splints, ankle tendonitis, an upper respiratory infection. For 4 months I held garage sales, sent out letters & emails, made calls, passed out flyers and raised $4,000 for life saving cancer research. The finish line was to be my reward... Things weren't much better for Jill. While she was able to cross the finish line, she did so with no photographers, no cheering crowd -- instead she was greeted with sirens, stretchers, fallen runners. Not the moment of victory or sense of accomplishment she had hoped for. We had both envisioned that day very differently -- this was my 1st mararthon, she was trying to qualify for Boston -- we had both practiced our "finish line phot0" moment but sadly, in vain.

In the days, weeks and months that followed, I tried to console myself in the fact that the most important thing about this marathon had indeed been accomplished -- I raised a lot of money. For this brief moment in time, I made a difference. And while I am indeed proud of that, something is missing. I received a card in the mail several months back from my patient hero. She is now in remission. This, in addition to the thank you card she sent me shortly after the marathon, are 2 of the most priceless possessions I am honored to have. But again, something is missing. I am plaqued with thoughts of what if and why but I try to push them aside as quickly as they arise. In many ways, this experience has made me a better runner and a better person. I try and tell myself that it's ok to be disappointed, it's ok to hurt, it's ok to cry but it's not ok not to move on. I am moving on, slowly but surely. It's been a year -- it's time to turn the page and write the next chapter of my life. But someday, Chicago, you'll see me at the start line again but this time, I won't be denied...

Gotta run...
~Lisa

It's A Cinch

What a GREAT day for a run! I know I have started posts out that way before, but it was so true of this day. Everyone's schedule came together and we had a nice group (Susan, Norma, Linda and me) It was a little chilly at the start but after a brief warm up & some lively conversation, it was relatively unnoticeable. Linda had to cut out at 2 miles followed by Norma at about 3 miles. Mark planned to drop Ian off at the park on his way to work so that he & I could enjoy the Arts & Crafts at 9am. I decided to catch up with Susan while waiting for Mark. When Mark arrived, Ian just continued with Susan and I. Sometime after 9am, we waved Susan on (I think she had a 10 miler planned - I have no doubts she accomplished her goal) & Ian & I browsed the booths. I looked at my Garmin & noticed my mileage, 6.5! I had set a goal of 3 miles and I had doubled it! Not to mention that I walked almost 1/2 a mile warming up. I was amazed at how easy it felt today. In the running miles, I never took more walk breaks than I should (not like me) & we were on a walk break when we came to "the hill" and decided to sprint it (also not like me) It felt so good -- today's effort, well, it was a cinch.

Then I saw it! The booth selling Beijo bags. If you know me, you know that even tho I have only 1, I LOVE Beijo bags! I instantly fell in love with the brown one.

I LOVE THIS BAG!!!!

I asked how much -- $80. Hmmm...do I really NEED this bag? I got the seller's info and decided I would think about it & give her a call later. On the back of the business card she gave me, she wrote down the name of the bag & the price that she quoted me. Guess what it's called? "It's A Cinch" Coincidence or a sign that I should purchase this bag? Only I can connect 2 totally unconnected things to rationalize purchasing something I not only don't need but shouldn't spend the money on. If you ever need help rationalizing a purchase your spouse or significant other wouldn't understand, please consult me. I'm an expert in this area. Anyway, having my penny-pinching 10 year old with me, I was able to walk away. But, that bag will end up being mine eventually. If not today, some day I'm sure. Mark was shocked to find out that when he went to the park later this afternoon and saw the Beijo bags, I had not purchased one. He described me to the seller and then inquired how many I bought. He called me & praised me for "being strong" and then vowed to stay at the park until the Beijo lady packed up & left. But, as much as he knows me, he has failed to see that I function under the premise of "where there's a will, there's a way" It was this philosophy that saw me to the finish line of 26.2 of the most gruelling and painful miles I've ever known. It is this philosophy that will get me across that finish line again in March '09. So in re: to the bag, I definitely have the will, and the way, well that'll be a cinch...

Thanks, ladies, for a great day at the park! Beijo bag lady, that means you too!

Gotta run...

~Lisa :)

Long overdue for a GREAT day...

It's late but I just could not go to bed without posting a few words about my day. For those of you who don't know, I was supposed to run in Harbor Town Tuesday after work with Brooke & Norma. I was sidelined by a migraine and had to skip. Wednesday, we kicked off Walktober at work and still I had a lingering headache. I tried to be a trooper and get my steps in (my goal is 10,000/day) but I only got 6,600. This morning I woke up & noticed right away that my headache was gone. I'm definitely off to a good start. I had a wonderful lunch with my manager from Hallmark, Janis, who by the way, is doing some temporary work at St Jude. It is so great to be able to work with her still even tho I don't get to see her as much as I would like. At noon, I walked the St Jude campus with a rather large group of ladies who are also participating in Walktober. I made a new friend & also got to chat w/the Director of Comp/Benefits. It's so nice to be able to get to know people and get in shape at the same time. I met Brooke after work for a run on the river. This is a recycled picture from a previous post but the view from the park hasn't changed -- ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!! How could you not be inspired by this view!


Anyway, my plan was to do something, be it run, walk, or crawl, for 45 minutes. A huge thanks goes out to Brooke. If she hadn't met me, I would probably have skipped it. It's just no fun by yourself. It was so great to be able to catch up. I really miss seeing her every day -- I am so glad I work downtown so we can get together even if it's just a couple of days/week.

I'm beginning to feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things. Susan is on the mend & on cloud nine -- she's ready to hit the road again (on the mend) & found out that she's having a boy (on cloud nine) I cannot begin to tell her what joy awaits her. My sister always told me that there is a special bond between mother & son. Now I know exactly what she was talking about. I knew I would love my child but to be able to say that my 10 year old boy is one of my best friends, well, I certainly never expected that. I can't remember what celebrity said that, "having a child is like having your heart walk around outside your body." Ian is truly my heart. Isaac will be that for you too, Susan, as I'm sure he already is. When you find out the gender and give them their name, well, that's when it really became real for me.

You may be thinking, ok, you had a great day but not that much happened really. I'm learning to be thankful in small things, small successes that put me in a postive frame of mind. Today just felt really great -- oh, and I almost forgot, I put 16,215 steps on my pedometer today. The thing is virtually S-M-OKING!!!!

Gotta run...
~Lisa

October 1st -- My New Beginning

Ok. I've got to get serious here. 5 weeks into training and I have relatively speaking, no miles. No substantial miles that is. Today, the wellness program at St Jude kicked off Walktober. Basically, you register, pick up a pedometer, wear it all the time, log your steps, earn leaves, win prizes, get in shape...This is just what I need to kick start my training. Today my steps were not too good -- only 6000-ish. Best I can tell that should translate to about 2-3 miles. My goal is to get in 10,000 per day. That's going to be tough but hopefully on the days I run, maybe it won't be too tough.

All this week I've battled headache after headache with Tuesday's turning into a full fledged migraine. That caused me to bail on the run on the river with Brooke & Norma but I'm hoping that tomorrow I can try again. I truly believe that if I can get back into running on a regular basis, the headaches will stop or at least get less severe and I know my stress level will go down significantly. These days it seems it's always something.

The great thing about life is that if you don't like where you are today, if God grants you another day, you get a do over, you can start fresh. And that's exactly what I intend to do. And it's what I'm going to keep doing until I get this right!

Gotta run...

Lisa