I'm a 10!

I ran 10 miles yesterday! Can you believe it?! I barely can.

Back in January, when I first received the flyer and contemplated participating in the half-marathon in San Francisco, I remember saying, “Can you imagine that? 13 miles. Wow, if I could run that, that would be amazing.” And now, here I am saying I ran 10 miles and running an entire marathon. I can hear my grandpa’s voice right now, “See, kid, whatever you put your mind to, you can do.” And I’d like to add that it’ll take you beyond anything you ever expected.

So, in honor of becoming 10’s, and due to the painfully needed cool weekend we finally received, I think it’s time we had an ITALIAN LESSON!

As many of you know, I have been learning Italian from language tapes (mp3’s), because while I grew up with it spoken around me, I just never became fluent in it. I’ve always wanted to learn it, and Spanish, but that’s a whole ‘nother story. So, with all that being said, today’s word is mangia.

You’ve heard this word, if not in a Scorsese flick, than definitely in an Olive Garden commercial. It’s a word that definitely requires a certain degree of underarm fat to say it properly. And while some of you say the word casually, “eat” and point to spread laid out before you, for most of my life, thanks mainly to my great-grandma, I only heard it as “EAT!” as in, “Mangia! Mangia! Eeeaatt! Eeaatt!”

She was in her 70s by the time I was born, and she had white hair with sparkling blue eyes. She always had her door open and always had a pot stewing. I would visit her every Sunday with my grandpa after she came back from church. We always arrived through the back entrance into the kitchen, and immediately our arrival (and she did it with all guests), she would begin a 10-minute process of walking between the table and the cupboard to pull out armfuls of Tupperware containers filled with her various homemade cookies. By the time she was done, you couldn’t see the tablecloth. So when she said “Mangia!” it wasn’t an invitation, it was a command. I absolutely loved her cookies, so I didn’t need much coaxing to start eating them, but not stopping to take a break without her yelling at me was tough! I mean, when will adults learn to ease up and let kids eat cookies at their own speed, scheesh.

But thanks to my language tapes, I learned a thing or two about mangia and the wonderful world of eating. Instead of telling me, she could of asked, “Mangia?” (Wanna eat?) or perhaps, she could of asked, “Verribe mangiare quell’cosa?” (Would you like to eat something?) See, how polite that is. And then on top of it, she could of ask “Adesso o piu tardi?” (Now or later?) I mean, I think I’m emotionally scarred here. Still to this day, when I see cookies (or any sweets for that matter), I must eat them. It’s like I’m race track horse and my great-grandma has just rung the bell, “Mangia! Mangia! Eat! Eat!”

But maybe in the end, I’m all wrong and my poor great-grandma, may she rest in peace, is receiving some undue slander. Perhaps she was actually cheering me on all this time, saying “You’re eating! You’re eating!” Too bad I didn’t know all this sooner.

It sure can be tough being Italian sometimes. No wonder we’re fighting all the time. It’s probably because we don’t understand what we’re saying to each other, especially if you’re too busy eating cookies and not paying attention.

Oh well, what can you do? No matter how it’s said, you have to eat, right?

Or (apparently) as they say in Italy, “Mangia la minestra o salta dalla finestra!"

("Eat this soup or jump out of the window!", an expression meaning “You have no choice.”)


Well, that concludes our lesson. And until next time… please be well and mangia! mangia!

Miscellanea

Hope you've made it through this weekend all right. I have to imagine it's pretty hot everywhere. It was a rough one here in Los Angeles. We hit 112º on Saturday!

Please forgive me for this post being a bit dry this week. I have so many wonderful insights to share with you, but I had to share some announcements. But I will tell you this... I ran 9 miles with my group yesterday, and I swear, it scares me how easy it is for me. Even in the heat. I'm loving it!

So, onward to the announcements!

As you might notice, things keeping popping up all over my page:

BUTTON PICTURE IS NOW AVAILABLE
There's a picture of the button now for you to reference. Right now, you'll still have to email me if you want one, but I'm hoping I can figure out something to either erase that step (or at least, make it easier). So, we will see. No promises.

LINK TO DONOR FORM IS NOW WORKING
I realize that I never told you about the donor form (PDF) link is working. So download away!

MY AMAZON SHOP HAS OPENED IT'S DOORS
Well, my Amazon shop is finally up and running. For those who don't know, I've been doing a very slooooow spring cleaning, which I do about twice a year. I always wind up getting rid of a quite a few things and normally, I give it all to the local Good Will. This time, since I'm trying to raise money for APLA, I thought I would post these items (mainly books) on Amazon. Hopefully it'll work.

The prices are rather high, I realize, but check it out to see if you (or someone you know) might be interested in any of these titles. And there's more coming, too! I just received another box full of books thanks to my friend, Tania, who has been doing some spring cleaning of her own. As well as, I have an Ovation AA21 acoustic guitar that I just haven't gotten around to posting (because I haven't gotten around to getting a box to ship it in), but I figure I'd price it at $150. I think it's in excellent condition and would make for a lovely gift to any budding guitar player. So, there's quite a few things to be sold and if you're interested in any of it, but the price is just too steep, just let me know. We'll work it out.

HELP ME GET A HAT
The Marathon people are trying to give us runners an incentive... a hat. Check it out:



Schnazzy, ain't it? Well, if I receive $250 in donations by August 2nd, you guessed it, I get THE hat. In case you were planning on donating, let this be incentive for you.


BLUE HAWAII SCREENING
One of my fellow runners is having a rather cool fundraising party, and while I'm still deciding if I can go, I thought I would pass it on just in case you thought it was interesting. And if you go, you will earn me $5, but you have to purchase your ticket before August 11th!

Blue Hawaii: Under the Stars

Relive the days of the Drive-In!
(minus the car)

Food, drink and Hollywood excitement with the one, the only Elvis Presley. Featuring a special showing of his cinematic classic: Blue Hawaii.

Your $25 per person suggested donation includes food, drink and an evening of entertainment, complete with live Hula Dancers and a special 30 Foot High screen for showing Blue Hawaii.

Saturday, August 26, 2006
7 pm - 11 pm

AIDS Service Center
1030 S. Arroyo Pkwy.
Pasadena, CA 91103

So purchase tickets now! .

You must be on the guest list. No tickets will be available at the door.

(And it says something about Hawaiian attire being required. I hope they mean "suggested" or "encouraged".)


WE HAVE COME TO THE END

So there you have it. Despite all these announcements, I'm sure there are still a few things I'm forgetting to tell you. (It's bad. I know!)

Well, I promise next week will be bigger, better, bolder! Okay, maybe, I'll just strive for shorter. Ha!

See ya next week :)

Uncle Gene's Annual 10k Birthday

Happy Monday, and thanks for coming back!

So, Uncle Gene's birthday party was this weekend!

Okay, so he's not my uncle (he's actually Rebecca's) and yesterday was the first I met him. Pssh, details, I tell you!

It all started a couple weeks ago, when Rebecca, one of my new marathon buddies, invited me to this unique celebration. See, Uncle Gene's birthday party involves a 5k/10k run/walk. Now, some of you might be thinking, "OMG! I'm not in shape for that!", and then there some of you wondering, "Wow, that's really soft gold." But don't worry, it's actually very cool.

About 18 years ago, as Uncle Gene was realizing that he wasn't getting any younger, that's when his wife, Aunt Jan, and him decided to channel his fondness for running into his birthday celebration. And they've been doing it every since! This year, Uncle Gene is turning 72.

Uncle Gene, and his wife, Aunt Jan (if I remember correctly) live in Marina Del Rey, so they reserve an outdoor tenthouse at hotel just off the coast with a beautiful view of the ocean, and set up a course that takes you along the beach, past outdoor cafes and around yacht yards. It's very serene, especially at 9am in the morning.

Most people walk the 5k, which is approximately 3.1 miles, except for a handful of people who run either the 5k or 10k. Rebecca and I ran the 10k. So did Uncle Gene, his older brother (by a year), and a few other seniors. And of course, they were all ahead of us. They ran the entire time, while Rebecca and I used the run:walk ratio (run 3 minutes, walk 2) that we use on our long runs every week. We kept teasing them, "We're marathoners. We don't neeeed to run the entire time." It was really supportive though, and we were woo-hooing and clapping as we passed each other.

Aunt Jan organizes everything for this event, and let me tell you, she goes all out. It's great! Everyone who participates has to wear a "runner" number, including animals. Yes, there are always a few dogs that participate every year, and this year was no exception. Signs with arrows are posted. Course maps are made. Permission from the city is granted. Group photos are taken. A complimentary t-shirt, hat, button and photo CD is given to every guest, including +1's, like myself. My personal favorite, though, is the start / finish line with a large digital timer display! And then, a photograph is taken of each person as they cross the finish line!!

Then, we notate our times, so Aunt Jan can hand out fun awards/prizes, which I missed because I had to leave, but to me, more exciting was the fact she posts a big list of everyone's times for all 17 previous run/walks. So pretty much, you can see what Uncle Gene's did 18 years ago, and if I were to be there next year, I would be on the list, too.

No one sings happy birthday and no gifts are given to Uncle Gene. After the run/walk, everyone fills their plates with fruit, bagels, lox and schmear for brunch, and by the time they are done, the cake is ready and waiting to be served on their individual plates. And instead of gifts, they set up a jar for a charity of their choice, encouraging people to turn that gift money into a donation.

Then, Aunt Jan announces everything from "fastest walker in the 5k" to "fastest dog". Or at least that's what I've been told, and I think she gives out a ribbon or something. After seeing everything else, I'd almost be surprised if she didn't. It was so official looking, that local residents that crossed our path inquire what competition we were in, ha! Unfortunately, though, I had to go, but it was just so lovely to be part of it all. As Rebecca said so wisely when she was first telling me about this, "What a great way to celebrate life."

After running 8 miles with our group on Saturday, Rebecca and I ran another 6.2 miles at Uncle Gene's with a finish time of 1:21:21, which was great and right on target for our pace group.

Then, about half way through our run, it struck me that I woke up at 6am on a Sunday morning (me, a night person!) to do all this, and as I was running, I realized I couldn't imagine doing anything else more fun.

Look at me? A Blogger!

It's official - I'm a Blogger now. (Am I saying that right? Using the right lingo?)

Well, I wish I would have thought of using this site sooner than tonight, but oh well.

The updates that were posted on the AIDS Marathon site have been moved over here, and I'll start posting a new update every Monday.

BTW, what you think of the title of this site? I couldn't think of anything!! Suggestions are definitely welcome.

Also, I can't get the link "Download the Donor Form" working properly. I'm providing a PDF version in case anyone prefers to mail in their donation. Until I can figure it out, it looks like you can still get to it by copying the link, then pasting it into the address line. And if I'm completely wrong about that, then I'm sure I'll figure it out by the end of the week (the latest).

Although this is a bit tricky, I wanted to let you know that $10 gets you a button. I say it's tricky because it's more work for you, but I'm telling you because I would love to reward you for your generosity and time. Basically, once you've donated, you have to email me with your name and mailing address. I will post a picture of the actual button next week, but this is the design.



Anyway, please come on back and let's get the party started!

In Memory of Uncle Ronnie

My friend, Stannie, recently told me about her Uncle Ronnie who passed away from AIDS. I was really touched by her story, and immediately connected to the obvious close bond that they shared, as well as the loss her and her family still feel very strongly today. So I’m running in memory of him. I'll post a photo of him soon, and here is his story:

RONNIE DEE MILLSAP
October 26, 1958 to November 16, 1994

Uncle Ronnie was one of those rare and special people who was always thinking of how to bring joy into other people’s lives. Whether it was making fruit baskets and delivering them to the elderly ladies who lived alone, or buying hamburgers at McDonald’s and passing them out to the homeless, Uncle Ronnie always seemed to be constantly looking for ways to reach out to people.

One of Stannie’s favorite memories of her uncle was when she was a little girl. He was working at a store at that time, where occasionally he would run across Barbie dolls with defects in it. Since there was a strict company policy that employees could not take home any damaged goods and that they had to be thrown away, Uncle Ronnie would drive back to the store after it closed for the night, just so he could retrieve the dolls from the dumpsters and give them to Stannie and her sister. Throughout the years, the girls accumulated quite a collection thanks to Uncle Ronnie.

To him, everyone was important and much of his life was dedicated to making sure people knew that they mattered. That’s what AIDS took away from us. We lost kindness and acceptance. We lost the security of knowing that there was a hand to hold when we needed it. We lost a light that shined in our lives. We lost Uncle Ronnie.

Uncle Ronnie passed away in the Fall of 1994. A few months after his death, Stannie's mother found a letter he had written to god during his final days tucked away in his bible. Since then, the letter has become something very dear to everyone in Stannie’s family, and in honor of him, it’s posted here in its entirety.

On behalf of Stannie and her family, I like to say that we miss you, Uncle Ronnie. Please know that you’re still alive in our hearts.

I thank you
God
For another day
You’re in my heart
And there to stay

Your Healing hands
Have touched my soul
And you made me bloom
Just like a rose

You gave your
Only son
That’s true
And I would die for you

But please dear god
Before I go
Give me more time to
Let all know

That I have so
Much love to give
And maybe it will
Help them live
To know I care
So much

I have two special
Girls in my life
Delena and Stannie Jaye
I’d love to see them grow up
Before I’m on my way
For they are my special darlings
Who make me want to stay

And don’t forget
Dear Lord
Jeremy J., Clinton
Jason & Joel
For they are always in my heart
And they are like my own.
We don’t say a lot but
I feel more inside emotion
For my feelings tend to close
Me up and if I could only live
Here on this earth a little while
To my boys my heart I’d give
Complete

There’s two more girls
Dear lord I’d like to mention now
My sisters Beth and Pat
Beth has given me much greater gifts
Than gold she gave me her love since
I was one day old.
She is my (mom) too
You see she ranks with
Mamma & Daddy
She is my friend
Who I can love and Trust
I can tell her anything and
She will set me Straight
We don’t always have to agree
And we do like to debate
For both of us are much alike
We give and we don’t take

It breaks my heart to see
When she puts herself down
For to me
She is a beautiful person from
The “outside” in
Not just from the inside out
Because she glows of love and beauty
And always straight from the heart

I had to mention her ahead
For she Says just what she Thinks.
That stinks or that just sucks
Sometimes her language is so bad
She should be driving trucks.

I wouldn’t want her to be any other way
Because I love the (truth)
And she will spill
It all out no matter how uncouth.

My other love for pat
You see is also very strong
When I was young on Mill Street
I’d see her sit and primp
She’d rat her hair and
get dressed up
And set real limp
Still feel not quite happy with herself
She is beautiful to all in school
The kids would turn to see,
The blonde,
The brunette and the
Red head
She is quite shy, like Marilyn Monroe
She has that hidden quality that she turns
Off & On.
Of all my Brothers and Sisters
She is the one I worry about the most
For She has had a troubled life
In love for love she gave was not returned

But I see now she has a man
Who cares enough
To show his love for her and tenderness
Two things you really have
To have to make a marriage work.

I’ll now say now
I also have 2 good brothers too
Charles is good & kind to all
and his Love for Judy is true.
But if it weren’t for Jason
The sky would not be blue

Donnie’s
Love for me is shy
And he keeps it all inside,
But I can see right through it
All he loves me very much
And if he hurts I can feel his pain
We do communicate
He really is a nervous One
With anger love and hate.
We don’t work good together
For he gets mad and shouts.
But I understand how he feels
And I love him even more
He calls me up when nobody’s around
And ask me to take trips
To nice places he has been &
He sends me insurance papers
And always try’s to give me good advice
I love you Donnie

Now there is a love
I could never change
She’s my momma
She’s kind and gentle loving caring
And if She could she would
Take care of the whole world
She is definitely my mom
For she and I both
Have the same emotions and care
For the same things
She is my heart
She is my lady
She is my mom
She is my friend
She is my greatest Love of all
And if she cries I die inside
She makes me laugh
And that’s hard to do
She brings out all in me
The things that are good and true
I love you mama
And always will forever & in Heaven

I love my uncle jess too
For he is full of love.
He gets a little cranky
But that’s because he’s old

Thursday, June 28 - Running with the Group Now

I’m back! And I’m finally running with the group now. It’s actually been about three weeks and it’s amazing what a difference it makes in the long runs. I decided way back that once I started with the group, I would let them train me from there, so running with the group, the longest we have ran so far has been 5 miles. Next week, it’ll be 6. It’s funny. I don’t even worry about the long runs ever since I’ve been with my group, because we talk and laugh, so the time (and the miles) fly right by. The hardest challenge has been arriving at 7am, but I’ve managed to make it every time and now it’s pushing my overall schedule earlier. I can’t seem to sleep back 8am, even if I really, really try. I’m not complaining though. It’s so worth it.

I was realizing the other day, that although there are many obvious benefits I receive in doing this program (getting fit, traveling, etc), that really the part that makes me feel the most alive is that through this marathon I have finally been able to channel some of that do-gooder energy of mine. I remember when I first contemplated signing up, I thought of it as “all around positive”, but being on the inside now, I would almost put it another way. I like that I’m not in argumentative mode (writing a letter, participating in a march, etc) to see change, or in this case, help people struggling with HIV/AIDS. It really has nourished all areas of my life.

Well, if there weren’t any technical difficulties, you should also see a picture of me posted now. Granted it’s not an action shot, but at least it’s something, and I’m working to take a more athletic, running photo of me posted soon.

Also, for those of you who picture me with a cigarette in hand, well no more, because I can proudly say that I’ve been a non-smoker now for over a month!

Well, that’s the broad strokes for right now, but stay tuned -- next time, we’ll do an Italian lesson!

Tuesday, May 9 - Starting to Run Now

As many of you know, I have decided to begin running now, so that I'm in tip-top shape when I officially start with the group on June 10th. Following advice from runners I have had the pleasure to talk with as well as the book Marathon that this whole program is based off of, I have run 3-4 times a week (depending on my schedule) with 1 stretch-training / workout-at-home day thrown in there, and of course, Saturday being my designated long run day. With all that being said, I'm very happy to report that I ran 6.2 miles this past weekend! My pre-training, needless to say, is going very well, and I'm amazed how much fun I'm having in the process. I honestly never thought I would be saying that, but it's true!
 
Also, I've been studying the Italian language (from CD's) and that has been going pretty well. Not as quickly as I would like it to sometimes, but I keep moving forward. Right now, I can give very basic directions (like it's here or it's there) as well as a say that I would like to eat. You know, the important stuff. So hopefully, by the time I get to Florence in November, I will be able to hold decent conversations in Italian. How I keep hoping!
 
Well, gotta run! I'll update you soon!