Wednesday, January 30, 2008

thinking of you crystal


while in the cave I thought of you and how I sent you a week old birthday card that i bought well in advance. best laid plans... bummer she didn't get it on her special day. Then I thought of music I could sing to you and this came to mind. ode to Crystal in the cave...

the new style



hold it now. hit it. don't we look like we are about to film a Beastie Boys video? You know you covet our super suits. Our instruction for putting them on included "the birthing process" (that's when you put your head through the seal. Then and only then is it time to get ill.

just call me angel of the morning baby...


who knew Juice Newton (shame on her parents or manager)would ever inspire me?
That's what I started singing when the sun shined so brightly on the angel above the temple in Salt lake. so pretty.

Monday, January 28, 2008

angel's landing in winter


we were not crazy enough to climb this in the winter but we did do it in the fall. She is lovely all covered in snow!

snow falling in the canyon

who me?

the narrows



so, I have this quote on my computer by Eleanor Roosevelt
"do one thing each day that scares you."

on Thursday Marc and I hiked the Narrows (the Virgin river in Zion which runs through a slot canyon)in January, during a snowstorm. We were the only hikers that day (and the Adventure Co. people thought we were pretty cool...or stupid). Here are a few pics. It snowed so much that our footprints were not visible 6 hours later when we returned, and the trails were closed because of falling ice and we heard an avalanche. crazy fun.

Sundance!



what a cool experience...superstars, skiing, Park City, great films (not movies--I learned that much)

Friday, January 18, 2008

TNT thank you



Thank you so much for your generous donation to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. We did it! I say “we” because I ran the Disney half marathon this weekend with your support alongside me.

The experience was something I will never forget. Believe it or not, the best part was not crossing the finish line, but rather mile 8 when I saw Kate and family cheering for me as she ran out, hugged me and said “I love you.” Better too was the evening before when survivors spoke to us about Gleevec, the frontline treatment created by funding from Team in Training. Even the researcher who pioneered the study is a Team in Training member. Still better was the 2000 person group hug with Kate in the center smiling, confetti streaming down and her joyful spirit reflected in everyone’s eyes. Even better were the thousands of spectators who cheered me on with a “Go Team” or random strangers expressing “thank you.” And I will never forget the feeling of crawling through the woods and pleading with police to drop Kate over a fence and watch her run through the finish line with her mom, her incredible loving advocate.

The medal is shiny but it is not the prize. The prize is the 5.6 million dollars the team raised for research that will give many the lifetime they deserve. The prize is a group of strangers joyfully coming together for a purpose and truly making a difference.

Kate has endured this disease with strength, spirit, hope and unwavering faith. While my race is over, hers continues every day. My friend Whitney and I picked her up from the airport this week and delivered her directly to the doors of the cancer treatment center for chemo. The reality again set in for all of us. Don’t be surprised if you get a plea from me again soon as I am fresh with the magic (sorry, I was at Disney World. Everyone uses that word for everything) of the weekend where so many gave it there all for life and love.

I am truly grateful for your donation and your encouragement. This tremendous experience has changed me forever.

Much love,
angela

Thursday, January 17, 2008

It's fun to stay at the...

dance partner


dancing with Kate (also an electric slide silent protest)

this is how you celebrate after a marathon!


it's electric


bum bum ba ba da da da da da da da ta

the finish line


Here she is crossing the finish line with mommy!
stop that crying now.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

for Marc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcseHFus9ZQ

we did it!


this was a life changing, phenomenal experience that I will never forget. thank you to everyone for love and support. This is my running mate and super-loved friend, Whitney. She and I ran along side our team mate Susan and our Uber mentor Joanna. I'll post pics of Kate soon.
love

Saturday, January 12, 2008

It's 4 am


wake up Tink!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Disney!


The day has come. It's really here. I am presently packing (well I am making a list of things to pack)for our big race at Disney. Anyone else singing "She's got a ticket to ride" in their head now? It's rainy and gross and I am terrified to do this but I know down deep in my soul that this is a good thing, no a great thing. I love my dear Kate and want nothing more than for her to recover completely from this. I will wear my purple (forgive my middriff---what gives with the short shirts?) with love and hope.Yesterday I was wearing my kate shirt (has a pic of her and TNT rocks on the back) at Whole Foods and a man came up and touched me. He said "I couldn't help notice your shirt. Thank you for what you are doing. I am a Lymphoma Survivor and I think research enabled me to survive because of this fundraising. Did you know Ga was the first state to raise a million dollars?" He went on to say that he will pray for Kate and for cool weather for us running. Then my dear sweet William said "I'm glad you lived." Wow! Let's run!

thank you to everyone who has given money for this cause, given me a "go girl!", honked their horn while I am running, made me get up at 6 to run (Whitney), listened to me complain while running(Joanna and Whit), bought me Quench gum in the middle of the night (Marc), offered to massage me (that was probably a creepy one from a stranger, huh?), offered to hold a ping pong tournament in my honor (Heidi), encouraged me with a "13.1" ornament (Carolyn), called me to say "you can do it" (Candy and Louie), spread the word to their charitable foundation (Char and bob), promised me oatmeal cookies when its over (you did say that, right beth?) hugged my sweaty body after a tough one (Jo, Carolyn,Barb, Whit and Marc), emailed and called with constant encouragement (alley), and said prayers for Kate.

In the past week I have found out my uncle has cancer and begins Chemo 1/26, a teacher at our school has cancer in her lymph node and my friend Sally will have a mass removed from her frontal lobe tomorrow. This is scary and it is reality. If running helps give science the money necessary for discovering cures and treatments, I'm all in. Who wants to go to Alaska in June cause we are going to raise some serious money now. We're just getting started.

blimp rides


Ok, one of my favorite tv shows is Psych (USA network). I fear for it though, for all shows I love get cancelled. Anyhoo....I found my absolute favorite moment on a site and I am sharing it with you. Marc and I must have watched this scene (minute 1:15-1:40)ten times before we continued on with the rest of the show.

http://www.truveo.com/Psych-RobaBye-Baby/id/544748694

go now to laugh (or just make fun of me)
uh huh blimp rides! Shotgun!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

flashdance







did I ever post this? Oh how I loved this man in Greece.
I have been thinking a lot about purple lately---it's our signature color for the leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Shortly after this viewing hew sauntered down to the beach next to his topless wife, rolled those lilac drawers up and removed his shirt.