Team Jacob vs Team Edward

In what crazy universe did I become a teeny-bopper-crazy-head-over-heels-in-love-with-Twilight-Twihard?  Some girls at work kept trying to get me to read the books, but I resisted, refusing to give in to the madness.  I saw the movie Twilight and New Moon, but it wasn't until I saw Eclipse that I decided I just couldn't get enough of this whole story and Edward and Jacob.  Bella can jump off a cliff (OH WAIT, SHE ALREADY DID THAT-STUPID JACOB SAVING HER) but anyway....

 After watching Eclipse I decided to "read" (audio books rock by the way) the Twilight saga.  Man does it explain a whole lot that the movies don't!  In the movie, I thought it was so weird how Bella and Edward basically hated eachother for quite some time, then all of a sudden she is his life and they can't live without eachother.  Huh?  However, after listening to the first book, it goes into way more detail about the way that all came about and makes me more in love with this whole saga. 

Who doesn't remember their first love and feeling like they wanted to die if they couldn't be with them?  The butterflies in your stomach, the depression when you don't get to see them every day, the feeling like it will last forever, like this is the only person you ever want to be with.  In Bella's case though, she can't just fall for a normal guy.  Her choices are Vampire or Wolf.  Hmmm....

So it comes down to Team Edward or Team Jacob?  Let's analyze this.  Edward.....dark, brooding, blood sucking, mood swinging, needy, overprotective, hot, tough, immortal, forever 17.  Jacob....dark, beautiful, wolf, loving, understanding, compassionate, somewhat needy, not immortal, will grow into a man.  Hmmm....would I want a guy who would be forever 17?  No thanks!  So for me it's Team Jacob all the way. 

I gotta say though, both men are gorgeous and I absolutely cannot wait until the next two movies come out!!!

Jayme and Julia

I really wish I could cook.  I'm sitting here watching the movie "Julie and Julia" and I'm just amazed.  I can't even cook chicken or rice without screwing up.  Honestly, growing up, my mom didn't do much cooking (she says it was because we were all so picky, I say it's because cooking sucks).  It's actually not the cooking I so much mind as the cleaning up.  Well, that's not entirely true either.  When I cook, I feel completely incompetent.  I feel out of control.  I don't know what ingredients go with what or what I should put on the meat.  Whenever I cook, my husband asks, "Not to make you mad, but what exactly did you put on this?"  My feelings are never hurt because I just know cooking is not my strong suit.

HOWEVER...I have a whole lot of other great traits that everyone should stop and appreciate.  I have an insane amount of compassion for the underdog.  I have a great complexion (thanks mom and dad for the good genes).  I am ambitious (I mean, really, it's going to take me 16+ years to get my college degree!).  I am stubborn (this can either work in your favor or against you....depends on what side of the coin you are on).  When I set my mind to something, I go until it's accomplished (marathon...need I say more?).  I am very loyal.  I am totally organized....at work.  I'm pretty cute, just ask my husband.  Speaking of him, I did a pretty good job picking a hot hubby (just look at him people!).  I'm a great step-mom (ask Riley, he'll tell ya).  I'm a thrift shopper extraordinaire (thanks Mom and Vicki!).

 

I could go on and on about my outstanding attributes, but here's a blank ____________________, insert your own about me =)

I Feel Good, NaNaNaNaNaNaNa....

So, to motivate myself, I put together some GREAT quotes about life and running.  I just know I'm going to need to look back at these over the next 3 months of training!  Feel free to contribute your own!

“You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.”

“Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.”

"A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they’re capable of understanding." (this one brought tears to my eyes...not sure why)

"Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage" -George Patton
   

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.
It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.
It knows that it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve.
It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle
when the sun comes up you'd better be running.

(But, unless you're a runner, you won't understand.) - Anon


Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character. - T. Alan Armstrong

The greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do.
-- Walter Bagehot

Run like hell and get the agony over with.
--Clarence DeMar

You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face. - Gatorade

Stadiums are for spectators.  We runners have nature and that is much better.
--Juha Vaatainen

Running is real and relatively simple…but it ain't easy.  (SOOOOOOO TRUE!)
--Mark Will-Weber     


"Running is a mental sport...and we're all insane!"

"No one ever drowned in sweat."

"Some people don't have the guts for distance racing. The polite term for them is sprinters."

"We can't all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by."   - Will Rogers

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

And I will end on that note =0

You will discover that you have two hands. One is for helping yourself and the other is for helping others.

I am overwhelmed.  In fact, if I stop and think about all the generosity of people over the last month and a half, I will break down and cry.  People have come out of the woodworks to help me reach my fundraising goal and I'm talking people I haven't talked to in YEARS.  I sent out over a hundred letters to family, friends, old high school buddies, on and on, thinking, "I'll be lucky if I see $50 out of all these letters, but ya never know."  It's true.  You just never know who is going to step up and say, "I want to help."

A high school friend of mine, Brook Brewer Sloan, e-mailed me and said she thought it was great what I was doing and she really wanted to help.  She makes beautiful crocheted hats and she offered to make one for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, donating $10 from each hat to me, while selling the hats for only $15!  Also, my wedding photographer, Joncee May McFarland, donated two photo sessions worth a total of $400!  ALSO, my hairdresser (who actually got me into this whole thing) donated a cut/color.  My mom's neighbor, whom I'd never met until last weekend, gave me $120.  My dad's friend, Mike Runnion, who again I've never met, donated $20 plus a bunch of items for my yard sale.  My friend, Jill Heinz Fitzer donated a HUGE box of gorgeous baby clothes that I sold at my yard sale for a TON of money.  My mom's co-workers have donated money, my co-workers have donated money.  My family and friends have all donated money.  The list goes on and on. 

It just makes me want to do Team in Training forever, so I can continue to see this wonderful, amazing side of people that I don't normally get to see.  Normally, I get people giving me the finger as they're cutting me off in a hurry to get to work.  Or the dirty looks when they think I've cut in front of them at the grocery line.  Or I get to hear how bad everyone's life is and how much everything sucks.  You know what?  You're right.  Some things do suck.  BUT...have you ever had cancer?  It sucks a lot worse than getting cut off in traffic or having a bad hair day.  At least you have hair to complain about.  I have an idea for you...the next time you're having a bad hair day, CUT IT OFF AND DONATE IT TO CANCER PATIENTS.  JUST A THOUGHT.

I'm getting off track here.  This blog is about people's generosity and how grateful I am to be able to see people in this light, even if only for awhile.  I'll end with this thought.....

"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

                                     -Etienne de Grellet