tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45368869437566363592024-02-19T00:44:47.093-05:00Sherberts Creationsand...Tales from the Back of the PackSharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-37012489223644516982015-06-04T16:25:00.000-04:002015-06-04T16:25:40.679-04:00A dangerous find<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where have I been?! I had heard of <a href="http://www.bookbub.com/" target="_blank">BookBub</a> but only from authors mentioning it in relation as a way to advertise and increase sales. I finally looked at it myself a couple of days ago. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kMhwFYmaJ-0mwKQp4UIDLTsFaEVeP-4JxVIHhcCLbtD2WxoRaxCInlYbQNiu3JpFEzQ40a9WaNf-Lgb3VlFiHRrEfj6WnGwEYel3uiKwvllzqcPX-pxAZ6l7ZxenaroBJPM1h8Rntto/s1600/3427374474_78317ff600_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kMhwFYmaJ-0mwKQp4UIDLTsFaEVeP-4JxVIHhcCLbtD2WxoRaxCInlYbQNiu3JpFEzQ40a9WaNf-Lgb3VlFiHRrEfj6WnGwEYel3uiKwvllzqcPX-pxAZ6l7ZxenaroBJPM1h8Rntto/s320/3427374474_78317ff600_o.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh my! Free and discounted ebooks available for a variety of ebook readers (Kindle, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, etc). These books all have a high number of reviews, and have been screened so quality should be there. Sign up, pick your favorite categories, and read away.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-74864177511518298292015-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:002015-01-01T00:01:00.196-05:00Goals<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No New Year resolutions here. They never work out and they're always the same. Lose weight, eat better, keep the dining room table clear, etc... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goals I do like. They can be on-going and ever changing, short term and long term. They also don't need to have a completion date of 12-31-2015. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have several goals that have been started, and I will continue to improve and work on them during this year...and beyond. </span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Consistency</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many areas of my life need consistency (I crave routine) but the goal area I am working on is to improve my running/exercise/workout habits. There are too many days between workouts for me to see much benefit. Even though I am getting older (ack!!) there is still the ability for me to improve upon my times and pace. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4M12CYNofCWDJ16CWX6MLo-Aot5K6o1o0yW6HXJp6KRs6wv2bvC_oR7AlhHc61Fb-fOiPlXcOHXKoBknZ2zXwmxFfRwgNSeA_8Oj3tlNciORvPhq0IshyIaMNKYwYEFrF4vAg52nqbs/s1600/Believe_Journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4M12CYNofCWDJ16CWX6MLo-Aot5K6o1o0yW6HXJp6KRs6wv2bvC_oR7AlhHc61Fb-fOiPlXcOHXKoBknZ2zXwmxFfRwgNSeA_8Oj3tlNciORvPhq0IshyIaMNKYwYEFrF4vAg52nqbs/s1600/Believe_Journal.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ordered an autographed <a href="http://pickybars.com/product/believe-journal-autographed/" target="_blank">Believe</a> journal by Lauren Fleshman (non autographed copies available on Amazon) the day after Thanksgiving. I started it soon after receiving it in the mail. There is something about physically writing down workouts that makes you want to fill in most of the blanks. </span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New skills</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The area being worked on for my goal is knitting. I took a class back in 2008, but didn't progress beyond the first washcloth. Last year I started helping with a knit/crochet club at school. I watched YouTube videos on beginning knitting and was able to make a simple (just knit stitch) scarf and wash cloths. Skills need to improve and make progress. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ziAV-vYoYM35bGdD-rHsz2ZQ_u9AwvFG5nxsAvg_bDEDwLTEwhFAskBD4TtO0iwxltQF2SZgX9cTCekvuwvbNn-c4zQ6j3KtyaIIQ2k9t_93ySTXlViTKd9A1srqnaklDdzyWbNzG8M/s1600/IMG_20141231_185828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ziAV-vYoYM35bGdD-rHsz2ZQ_u9AwvFG5nxsAvg_bDEDwLTEwhFAskBD4TtO0iwxltQF2SZgX9cTCekvuwvbNn-c4zQ6j3KtyaIIQ2k9t_93ySTXlViTKd9A1srqnaklDdzyWbNzG8M/s1600/IMG_20141231_185828.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stopped at Michael's and picked up some supplies to begin a hat. First one may or may not be for me, but one will go to the <a href="http://warmthforwarriors.com/" target="_blank">Warmth for Warriors</a> project.</span></div>
<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Personal Projects</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are things to make me happy. They don't necessarily benefit anyone other than myself. Yes, the two items above are for me, but knitting for charity will help others, and me getting a good workout in really helps my mood and attitude. A happier me benefits those around me (family). </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing, gardening, maybe a half marathon...goals. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are yours?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-83924985756729586892014-12-22T23:05:00.000-05:002014-12-22T23:05:04.036-05:00Winter Night Trail<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say it's all about the shirt, and sometimes they are correct. Here is the shirt for this year. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EPuCVyqpAn1gZA-Sb0PxWA8f0-bF-SJvugVbfV1vJunvv3BQFm1-u_hYNGCQ_pS2pobkkP9rpfs3EArKe2YbyqrA_9x3RjRnLHy77NsoPnjEfo-BtaYIQf06BXG_P7tfyDgnx0HVRi8/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130637613043960118.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EPuCVyqpAn1gZA-Sb0PxWA8f0-bF-SJvugVbfV1vJunvv3BQFm1-u_hYNGCQ_pS2pobkkP9rpfs3EArKe2YbyqrA_9x3RjRnLHy77NsoPnjEfo-BtaYIQf06BXG_P7tfyDgnx0HVRi8/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130637613043960118.png" height="234" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal blue is my favorite color, and I just love the saying on the back. I did this race in 2013...snow on the trails, crawling over a couple of logs, almost falling (that's not new), and had a blast! It was my first ever night race and requires a headlamp or flashlights. Have found a practical use for the headlamp -- wearing when I take trash down the lane in the winter as it is dark quickly in the evening. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://wintertrailmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Winter Trail Marathon</a> has three lengths: marathon, half, and quarter. I'm doing the quarter and my only goal is to hopefully improve my time from two years ago and have fun! I plan on bringing glo necklaces this time. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuWCpOvlIZv5G9H0_Cv9aDEoQeRidG9kvbpFMfqDDQy7pdjNHC4R_SgJbDIwZqJ9p75l0AV1KY1DnprIbWHmORxsCltK6T76G-D96c2ldcwREiDc5woSXCcPASCx8kEBZjnLFy8KjUSI/s1600/IMG_20141222_221849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuWCpOvlIZv5G9H0_Cv9aDEoQeRidG9kvbpFMfqDDQy7pdjNHC4R_SgJbDIwZqJ9p75l0AV1KY1DnprIbWHmORxsCltK6T76G-D96c2ldcwREiDc5woSXCcPASCx8kEBZjnLFy8KjUSI/s1600/IMG_20141222_221849.jpg" height="320" width="318" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-51679484392233760892013-01-03T00:14:00.001-05:002013-01-04T12:20:44.001-05:0012 For 12<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in <a href="http://sharonshaffer.blogspot.com/2012_01_01_archive.html" target="_blank">January 2012</a> I said that one of my goals for the year was to run a race each month, hence the 12 for 12. Somehow, many times during the last weekend of the month, I was able to get a race in for the month. Some of the races and events I have written blogs about, but not all. So rather than trying to remember details...here is a little photo montage of most of those other races. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On April 28th, I ran the Cardinal Greenway 6k. Made it back to the car right before a storm hit. No picture from this race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">May...wow...can't believe I never did a blog post on my first ever 1/2 marathon! My other goal for the year was to run a half, which I expected to be September. Did that one but this ended up being first. This was the Geist 1/2 marathon on May 19th.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></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/AVvXsEjKhn-Nb6ueVUzPMiRWUX0LiOkHucTHzFICaSAh2YBLPZxTDAvQvJzr5hmHO_alybvVWfqG9AdWCHuh5ynNaSVnipkxbcVvR22UkApih5THQYa70mE46EyhzpakCCQs0qZ8B3OqjDfUHlw/s1600/547156_3694811142877_1030853624_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhn-Nb6ueVUzPMiRWUX0LiOkHucTHzFICaSAh2YBLPZxTDAvQvJzr5hmHO_alybvVWfqG9AdWCHuh5ynNaSVnipkxbcVvR22UkApih5THQYa70mE46EyhzpakCCQs0qZ8B3OqjDfUHlw/s640/547156_3694811142877_1030853624_n.jpg" width="355" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 hours 30 minutes to finish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">June 30th my daughter and I walked/ran a hot and humid Fireworks 5k in Richmond, IN.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></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/AVvXsEgzzxVTK-3UuZlbsydTqqI1CSOZh1chGy7rK3SzbLEGFCW3ZIq-prFtqCzo2TI-KZ0UojXVGn03MLZmgHRXdoDZe_KGEFGUfdJuF4GUAP_FKJF_AEypnoYXH2wwBfezyMGuAWUP9qbVfY8/s1600/IMG_4047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzxVTK-3UuZlbsydTqqI1CSOZh1chGy7rK3SzbLEGFCW3ZIq-prFtqCzo2TI-KZ0UojXVGn03MLZmgHRXdoDZe_KGEFGUfdJuF4GUAP_FKJF_AEypnoYXH2wwBfezyMGuAWUP9qbVfY8/s640/IMG_4047.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theme it up with red, white and blue!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">July 21st. Well, my first DNF. I, uh...basically passed out right at the 1/2 way point. Embarrassing. </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/AVvXsEhThWOYhKHcmTiCATs9y1P-RaBUFHGNQvwuTLVAPGZRA426u4hwCrVqV9wecYwAbd7Q5biRnhcIj5LSewSw7OcnFY7qhVfuQfsRDXak2o2TSjiQcUoeOVLcag-oLFhPMWyQEhEyLSHeg4s/s1600/RunwithWolves2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThWOYhKHcmTiCATs9y1P-RaBUFHGNQvwuTLVAPGZRA426u4hwCrVqV9wecYwAbd7Q5biRnhcIj5LSewSw7OcnFY7qhVfuQfsRDXak2o2TSjiQcUoeOVLcag-oLFhPMWyQEhEyLSHeg4s/s640/RunwithWolves2012.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still a cheeser after the race. Hoping for a door prize. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">August 25th, CFW in Richmond...inaugural race that was part of a 1/2 and 10k. Also got 2nd in my age group...and an exhilarating drive home with the top down on the convertible and some great songs playing on the radio. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></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/AVvXsEj8UfT-0SeMN4kvKKdgzmbg1mCfTCXBvS_hXXjOdz5iC9TZfs-ueZ7rEOmHf5-0BMWNl_057nVUe94onYpqBmy84Vitr1s_4c6Hhwih0m1M68QKGi7Pm_2Gilup_i60LDqNOwXQ3fik8uM/s1600/Profilepic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UfT-0SeMN4kvKKdgzmbg1mCfTCXBvS_hXXjOdz5iC9TZfs-ueZ7rEOmHf5-0BMWNl_057nVUe94onYpqBmy84Vitr1s_4c6Hhwih0m1M68QKGi7Pm_2Gilup_i60LDqNOwXQ3fik8uM/s640/Profilepic.jpg" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time to wear my running skirt at a race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">September was my <a href="http://sharonshaffer.blogspot.com/2012/09/volunteer-day.html" target="_blank">volunteering</a> and my <a href="http://sharonshaffer.blogspot.com/2012/09/fort4fitness-half.html" target="_blank">second 1/2</a>...at the end of the month! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">October 20th my first ever trail race. The Fall Foliage 5k at <a href="http://copeenvironmental.org/" target="_blank">Cope Environmental Center</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></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/AVvXsEg0ALlOzP3ezGGGLYxHnEZFb2lpuxKcKcUuMzvUmAQiU9GM9t5KZh592pKLgM5KL7JrgFzEleqTUqHVaqVthZ5zCQAIZo_V_X9kyfd5NqOB3BcoIkNyNacnPJYu_IXTj0RH0VnrMyArVJY/s1600/FallFoliage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ALlOzP3ezGGGLYxHnEZFb2lpuxKcKcUuMzvUmAQiU9GM9t5KZh592pKLgM5KL7JrgFzEleqTUqHVaqVthZ5zCQAIZo_V_X9kyfd5NqOB3BcoIkNyNacnPJYu_IXTj0RH0VnrMyArVJY/s640/FallFoliage2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Action shot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">November 3, the <a href="http://teamorr.org/woof/woof.htm">W.O.O.F.</a> 5.3 mile trail race. Was able to get a friend to go along...she got 3rd female over all, and I got 1st in my age group!</span><br />
<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/AVvXsEhfCO7tGvq12CdkYR0Knlbv-3uK9S2Do4CwYxNH1o6V7ssrwaVw7a50KysRGJKa7qgTDuLZkMgcN8PiDcYJ0PjY1Zm3z4QrjXby57LBm9rhVzArLkK3eUnNNKkLH2Dqspyemf2SQEtlHIY/s1600/20121103_112754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCO7tGvq12CdkYR0Knlbv-3uK9S2Do4CwYxNH1o6V7ssrwaVw7a50KysRGJKa7qgTDuLZkMgcN8PiDcYJ0PjY1Zm3z4QrjXby57LBm9rhVzArLkK3eUnNNKkLH2Dqspyemf2SQEtlHIY/s640/20121103_112754.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leslie and myself</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAHJFUjC5jpfkcv_wPMv3V2wcCktQRNzSOieWcy8w8j6aFLL5Ih_euyK768xdZtwcnawGWtoYlf5C9rV60_-nYzT7FT5PcOh5c6bjiNhiaSuSQDvPWLOoMX_4OILxZUbvPNmsQDjZcwk/s1600/IMG_20121103_142951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAHJFUjC5jpfkcv_wPMv3V2wcCktQRNzSOieWcy8w8j6aFLL5Ih_euyK768xdZtwcnawGWtoYlf5C9rV60_-nYzT7FT5PcOh5c6bjiNhiaSuSQDvPWLOoMX_4OILxZUbvPNmsQDjZcwk/s640/IMG_20121103_142951.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Socks are a nice bright green on the backside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thanksgiving day, a non-timed 5k Turkey Trot in New Castle. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></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/AVvXsEgkNDW5z_VpFgLoQWzcXV0QXIBKL5LawoTHiMQZP4Jt1Z_ClFP5YAwJ2LbDN4Y12lzC442VMi47bELPp9wvwXLPqu6Jj_t5iF54I7DT9uPbTZkuNZyAewahd78xjATiJHsZt7gulfuWNj8/s1600/IMG_20121122_075214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNDW5z_VpFgLoQWzcXV0QXIBKL5LawoTHiMQZP4Jt1Z_ClFP5YAwJ2LbDN4Y12lzC442VMi47bELPp9wvwXLPqu6Jj_t5iF54I7DT9uPbTZkuNZyAewahd78xjATiJHsZt7gulfuWNj8/s640/IMG_20121122_075214.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many Hagerstown and area people</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">December 1st, Frostbite 5k in Richmond...at a balmy 58 degrees!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></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/AVvXsEjF9BRS-SkOXTu6WZVNDnb6PQEewzch2_Xj7KX0nQcoT8wcDqmIwbfcBAJDBtH2UEdWlE9-e2_Xm3P6klz5geChvCydwPTM1lFqf14QIr3UvNqc0LU6AjND7YQg54eNmyYkmj9qgqn0oxA/s1600/DSC06083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9BRS-SkOXTu6WZVNDnb6PQEewzch2_Xj7KX0nQcoT8wcDqmIwbfcBAJDBtH2UEdWlE9-e2_Xm3P6klz5geChvCydwPTM1lFqf14QIr3UvNqc0LU6AjND7YQg54eNmyYkmj9qgqn0oxA/s640/DSC06083.JPG" width="329" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa socks. Candy cane earrings. Be fun if you can't be fast!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What do I have planned for 2013? A lot depends upon how my foot holds up (still dealing with effects of an injury during the September 1/2 marathon). I am signed up for my first ever night race...and it is a trail race at a place I have never been. And I know there are hills! Also am signed up for a first ever 10k in March. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To help move the training along, I've signed up for <a href="http://jillconyers.com/2012/11/fitness-friday-are-you-ready-to-run-13-in-2013/">#13in2013</a> (sign up is now open until 1/6/13) and <a href="http://mommyrunfast.com/5-by-5th-virtual-run-series/">5 by the 5th</a>. We'll see how this goes. Still not interested in the Indy 500 Mini or a marathon. Yet. Give me a few more years... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">One foot in front of the other,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sharon</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-61717087884614568252012-09-30T22:30:00.000-04:002012-09-30T22:30:48.432-04:00Fort4Fitness Half<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A half marathon in my hometown...interesting idea. I first heard about this race back in April of 2011. Was not even running at that point in time, but had been walking for exercise for about a month. Called my Mom to see if she was interested in doing the 4 mile walk, but it was the day after the first price increase and she was not interested. As I got into running that summer, this race is the one that was hanging out in my mind saying, "Run me!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAa5fuLbnVjK7MteEzIfrRWm02jj5V5oUVGPCXPBaOxljD3AyFvOBQgdij7i74-3uWSn0yKugzttui9qKcf34Z88bwTrrHS3kXKEmGCuCEIMWQwpuMlt0f6EMhwvoGJSi_WnXp2OMIGk/s1600/20120929_063816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAa5fuLbnVjK7MteEzIfrRWm02jj5V5oUVGPCXPBaOxljD3AyFvOBQgdij7i74-3uWSn0yKugzttui9qKcf34Z88bwTrrHS3kXKEmGCuCEIMWQwpuMlt0f6EMhwvoGJSi_WnXp2OMIGk/s400/20120929_063816.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fast forward to Saturday morning September 29, 2012. I arrive at Parkview Field a bit too early, but had no problem finding a parking spot. Not busy inside the stadium yet and I snap a shot of the quiet finish line. </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/AVvXsEh-0EaX_Tz00YBkfsrdlHjLSa4gLlVyiS8mdpXfkraNLm6oWpYBjDiFB8D8BnvsiLJmtx7f5d3XC6pg2aCaqCJfdlapwMaSshfSN_Hy5UBPWROE2hL2hIPIQptbAYocNNO4GWB8cHHwYh4/s1600/Dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0EaX_Tz00YBkfsrdlHjLSa4gLlVyiS8mdpXfkraNLm6oWpYBjDiFB8D8BnvsiLJmtx7f5d3XC6pg2aCaqCJfdlapwMaSshfSN_Hy5UBPWROE2hL2hIPIQptbAYocNNO4GWB8cHHwYh4/s400/Dawn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dawn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the 4 mile race started, runners for the half started filing into their corrals. I was assigned K, but considered moving back a few since my training time was minimal. But then I remembered that at Geist I spent my first mile weaving around those that were walking straight from the start. </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/AVvXsEgPRMj1uKFgPpR3F-ANbTZPNSkJU_6kCvwf0zHVqyjLguIcZNqVYuyDW9hBq4RtaIn325HMTNj_Y9TMFT2FOWdP_peHiH7_88JwzCdT5yepMrtwa536x3BWyBkYBjfv1Z9PTVzxZ9scEIE/s1600/A39YjtcCYAEoHVU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRMj1uKFgPpR3F-ANbTZPNSkJU_6kCvwf0zHVqyjLguIcZNqVYuyDW9hBq4RtaIn325HMTNj_Y9TMFT2FOWdP_peHiH7_88JwzCdT5yepMrtwa536x3BWyBkYBjfv1Z9PTVzxZ9scEIE/s400/A39YjtcCYAEoHVU.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The start</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After the cannon sounded 2000+ runners were off. I seemed to be fine with my corral choice as I was not weaving around many people and others were not streaming past me. As we turned down Calhoun, a wondrous bakery smell hit, soon to be replaced with the scents from the many Asian restaurants and grocery stores. Oh look, there is Southside High School where I took the SAT's in 8th grade. Look, there is the huge cornucopia on Scott's grocery store. </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/AVvXsEiNXIU_PkMA3psTLPR6FYswhTtPm6DaoXlXT6YBlR4QAqTbHqbMO8psZYUOOlcXQAg3B2ZYGvGPkmLF56LbmrdxUaEo8g5zsHVjf4VJ8gFd-DtEzRM4TmNbdScnfrppOCLZlx0Nd9gXDzo/s1600/20120929_083336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXIU_PkMA3psTLPR6FYswhTtPm6DaoXlXT6YBlR4QAqTbHqbMO8psZYUOOlcXQAg3B2ZYGvGPkmLF56LbmrdxUaEo8g5zsHVjf4VJ8gFd-DtEzRM4TmNbdScnfrppOCLZlx0Nd9gXDzo/s400/20120929_083336.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took this holding the phone over my head and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">facing it behind me.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We turned onto a paved trail that might be called Rivergreenway. It follows the St. Mary's River along Foster Park. We went right past the apartment building my parents lived in when they were first married, and where I lived as an infant. There is still even several pieces of playground equipment on the other side of the path just like waaaay back when.</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/AVvXsEghBL-cGRw_aNDQ89XNVuYVcxFigvv7flO8JeDFjZQXeFDqMX4xw-E5PYImzFQf2ehVQAzFQ3RJHeToodImPxRZ6bHGtg0jxrmUJ-7vdu-4u7OrQJfApdkVrf1yaFoTdBTW8dCuvLajFfU/s1600/20120929_085817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBL-cGRw_aNDQ89XNVuYVcxFigvv7flO8JeDFjZQXeFDqMX4xw-E5PYImzFQf2ehVQAzFQ3RJHeToodImPxRZ6bHGtg0jxrmUJ-7vdu-4u7OrQJfApdkVrf1yaFoTdBTW8dCuvLajFfU/s400/20120929_085817.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The apartment where I lived as a baby and Melissa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">aka Miss Pink</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I did not take any pictures along the park but it was gorgeous. Huge old oak & sycamore trees, leaves changing colors...ah...beautiful scenery. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Somewhere between mile 4 to 5, a lady in a pink shirt pulled alongside and said, "Hey...we've been keeping the same pace," and let me know what it was (I don't wear a watch, as I keep track with Runkeeper on the phone). We then proceeded to run together for the rest of the race. She had only gotten to 8 miles in training and it was 10 for me. In my mind I called her Miss Pink until I finally asked her name (Melissa). Neither of us had much extra energy for chit-chat. </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/AVvXsEgj_OR-r4SLlUv0aNp9kbG-Z_WAvFfAGZsVjDCRws7V1qMUtBOPOFjEWU_E64x6OB5xsKtWlQlIRavIj584qdTYvbJoFZcv8VdKQ3KFhxN8G3J5zWKV-RNoJe-xzqV7omNHaULfWLIQGIs/s1600/20120929_093542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_OR-r4SLlUv0aNp9kbG-Z_WAvFfAGZsVjDCRws7V1qMUtBOPOFjEWU_E64x6OB5xsKtWlQlIRavIj584qdTYvbJoFZcv8VdKQ3KFhxN8G3J5zWKV-RNoJe-xzqV7omNHaULfWLIQGIs/s400/20120929_093542.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a pretty shot</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After exiting Foster Park area we saw huge old houses in the Old Mill Rd. area. No pictures as I was trying to focus on the running. It was getting more difficult and oh no...all of mile 9 was uphill! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then came the merging with the 10k walkers. I think trying to get around them the last several miles added at least a minute to my time. They were walking all the way across the road rather than staying on the right. Many times Melissa & I played "thread the needle" where I just pushed through a tiny space between two walkers. We used so much extra energy of which we had none. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Those last two miles were the most painful, and I even started saying, "Ow...enh...ow," outloud. As we turned onto the last bit before entering the stadium, I just wanted to cry because it was almost finished and I had made it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was really awesome entering Parkview Field. People were lined all around the edges and in the seats cheering for the participants. But you know what...running the perimeter of outfield is long! </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/AVvXsEiES91ZLYRbVOYMHSEduxf9luSfnGGXk-Flb81lYa3IFCsbDe2HERoLTsaoYPUmzWXBtBwE4Wt-XRLVU_yFEihRHOWzOCt6hgfTnoq8KROifxQOIEUKIUfjCqui71HYbPxfgRSTkX8n8NM/s1600/_MG_2205_10-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES91ZLYRbVOYMHSEduxf9luSfnGGXk-Flb81lYa3IFCsbDe2HERoLTsaoYPUmzWXBtBwE4Wt-XRLVU_yFEihRHOWzOCt6hgfTnoq8KROifxQOIEUKIUfjCqui71HYbPxfgRSTkX8n8NM/s400/_MG_2205_10-reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming to the finish line</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was quite thankful that I had Melissa to keep me going those last miles, and she was thankful for my help. </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/AVvXsEjnvG5NNBIqvOxWN4Bb6gJW_L32gfcT2cn0FhZSRENAI7JkaiYWArUQ0e2qFXtZNaOaNTlnEwJ6GMlTy_nWxsjDqQDgFt0YBrcCNHlyEZn6R5reifnGsMVfj8Vamnhu_9Z0zlhFlALrmYA/s1600/_MG_2222_10-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvG5NNBIqvOxWN4Bb6gJW_L32gfcT2cn0FhZSRENAI7JkaiYWArUQ0e2qFXtZNaOaNTlnEwJ6GMlTy_nWxsjDqQDgFt0YBrcCNHlyEZn6R5reifnGsMVfj8Vamnhu_9Z0zlhFlALrmYA/s400/_MG_2222_10-reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the jumbotron!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mile 4 was my fastest, and mile 12 the slowest. But the most unbelievable thing?? I ran the entire time and did not once walk!! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEdQT_p7bgXWsWpXSTidAJTB2PB0E5kI0_gnkSyfBEd1K2Ia89TTL8xgXMknnZnsd07SJo-vIcGepuV-UJgqIUYo3I4gNmQu_-lYzDN-NJyAFCVfHkA01DGZ2R03RAyL622A2Rip8tvs/s1600/20120929_104952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEdQT_p7bgXWsWpXSTidAJTB2PB0E5kI0_gnkSyfBEd1K2Ia89TTL8xgXMknnZnsd07SJo-vIcGepuV-UJgqIUYo3I4gNmQu_-lYzDN-NJyAFCVfHkA01DGZ2R03RAyL622A2Rip8tvs/s400/20120929_104952.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recovery area</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9cTEnZILW7bXBd1yDmAOf9ntsGrhMkTan0a8UM9kfKcVM5ZBg14EEgm8grMQv7Ta6lQwO6KzDEUWFf0hQzEmk98hx5bQvTRiaNC85rcfceDRK61ZVKWsOVwtHDDdCu_XFpQlTEfpjcg/s1600/_MG_2236_10-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9cTEnZILW7bXBd1yDmAOf9ntsGrhMkTan0a8UM9kfKcVM5ZBg14EEgm8grMQv7Ta6lQwO6KzDEUWFf0hQzEmk98hx5bQvTRiaNC85rcfceDRK61ZVKWsOVwtHDDdCu_XFpQlTEfpjcg/s400/_MG_2236_10-reduced.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finisher medal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQAiRl80XJvkkLRVYItDhnIK748Lxr9DW8dGYeE9ofvu2NsEdzxzUggnQCcJ5hSEyuiZA8J8sCs89vkJx90AwAX3d-MICDxgnNTNWLYG8TtzhDClENkDA0OF8MKpDbCPkFmwXRev4lNY/s1600/_MG_2239_10-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQAiRl80XJvkkLRVYItDhnIK748Lxr9DW8dGYeE9ofvu2NsEdzxzUggnQCcJ5hSEyuiZA8J8sCs89vkJx90AwAX3d-MICDxgnNTNWLYG8TtzhDClENkDA0OF8MKpDbCPkFmwXRev4lNY/s400/_MG_2239_10-reduced.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post race cheese!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-169676145769384062012-09-08T21:03:00.000-04:002012-09-08T21:03:39.955-04:00Volunteer Day<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am ready to sleep. Who knew that volunteering at a race was much more tiring than running one? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The PTO at the school I work at just had their first year organizing and hosting a previously established race. This was a transition year from the former beneficiary to the PTO. Even though I have run several of the <a href="http://www.wcchallenge.org/" target="_blank">Wayne County Challenge</a> events, volunteering seemed the way to go this time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></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/AVvXsEi1inmX59oycJ151bzhmr6u_QA636eS1Bmdlu20_bOS2XsuPOkjPQpr9umTxYXokoDhf83lIhLNPCKMMB5sxjpMmFgk9frqdDFm3aksm0bfeqF129tiAd3iEaJoyIX4tXq6ZZzDH_IyTDE/s1600/20120908_081217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1inmX59oycJ151bzhmr6u_QA636eS1Bmdlu20_bOS2XsuPOkjPQpr9umTxYXokoDhf83lIhLNPCKMMB5sxjpMmFgk9frqdDFm3aksm0bfeqF129tiAd3iEaJoyIX4tXq6ZZzDH_IyTDE/s400/20120908_081217.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Registration before it got busy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little kitty and his twin entertained those of us waiting while runners finished the course. They darted back & forth across the finish line area, and up & down a nearby electric pole. At one point, I ducked under the finish chute flags to remove a kitty that decided the blue mats were a perfect spot to sit and watch the runners. Didn't want anyone tripping over him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></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/AVvXsEhJ_js3fHUk0Pv3cCBdDxE_qm2EQxWJmWLDxjkdUYXGrtzGnbzcIoZ1kelEt-6Yo0EJDz2Kp26xkiXVkc8Jhtk8lLkzXw40uKCQSxNxZbVfBmbfgt0lMVeLtx0kClFJQK93Je1_N79dgUk/s1600/20120908_090024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_js3fHUk0Pv3cCBdDxE_qm2EQxWJmWLDxjkdUYXGrtzGnbzcIoZ1kelEt-6Yo0EJDz2Kp26xkiXVkc8Jhtk8lLkzXw40uKCQSxNxZbVfBmbfgt0lMVeLtx0kClFJQK93Je1_N79dgUk/s400/20120908_090024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kitty vantage point to view the start</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhz7Bunz-svUmofDycpuz3vdkmqPJp9nzKDI6-PLtT3VOptu0gpFrEPdpRKMxZtzs-omyIoXPaBiQ8knieYG-h0xZ0DcYPp5GpCdCkotS3gntdQUY9u5qaN1rnB36mF0r7y287U9wi0erM/s1600/20120908_090034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7Bunz-svUmofDycpuz3vdkmqPJp9nzKDI6-PLtT3VOptu0gpFrEPdpRKMxZtzs-omyIoXPaBiQ8knieYG-h0xZ0DcYPp5GpCdCkotS3gntdQUY9u5qaN1rnB36mF0r7y287U9wi0erM/s400/20120908_090034.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They're off! 3.1 miles to go</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEggugDqJU5Xwu5ab_53SXxZsuv7VwZPG8U2FG_YZ28eyWevRjwefAMmCffYnwmM-VZfGgMxS4TRsmv3WXtRaLFtaYw_5cgSBOeNig1i6kxMr4Q7UMqIz0MQTkWh5mF6mj8KB2QuV7emBJ0/s1600/20120908_090118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggugDqJU5Xwu5ab_53SXxZsuv7VwZPG8U2FG_YZ28eyWevRjwefAMmCffYnwmM-VZfGgMxS4TRsmv3WXtRaLFtaYw_5cgSBOeNig1i6kxMr4Q7UMqIz0MQTkWh5mF6mj8KB2QuV7emBJ0/s400/20120908_090118.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The WWES contingent</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my jobs today was to be at the finish line calling out the numbers of all finishers to Ann, who was writing them down. This is done as a back up to the chip timing system...just in case. It was fun as I was able to see all as they came across the finish, and to cheer for the ones I knew by name, and still clap and encourage the others. We had 305 finishers, a record for this race. Around 340-350 signed up, but it was surprising the amount of no shows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After the last finisher crossed the line, I headed out to pick up items from the two water stops on the course (had delivered them several hours earlier). Clean-up and loaded several trucks to take items back to the elementary. </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/AVvXsEiF-CeWuDBopCKD8nN9CKSbfvQaCK2_Zc5oOtWt_47jB_XzWb-NIDNx_OSHOeuGuH-tcNLZFrrEAS0a3hVInZ1yJNh2IUsu9pUlJ9u3C7hwlAk-hgmIm9LDOxZvGl42gFLyuC7du52QN44/s1600/20120908_110632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-CeWuDBopCKD8nN9CKSbfvQaCK2_Zc5oOtWt_47jB_XzWb-NIDNx_OSHOeuGuH-tcNLZFrrEAS0a3hVInZ1yJNh2IUsu9pUlJ9u3C7hwlAk-hgmIm9LDOxZvGl42gFLyuC7du52QN44/s400/20120908_110632.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cab is stuffed full, too</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A much deeper appreciation to those that organize and run races! Way to go Western Wayne Elementary PTO officers!! </span>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-91658712448534885512012-04-08T20:11:00.001-04:002012-04-08T20:11:34.395-04:00Race to Read 5k<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDqHjnobXvAXk_kJ1HamniypNyYqwntBTPRBVM4lgjndVUBNY3uAaYRyQqyr_Mo5dmvCRpDqhbjQ4Uvf9-PhiPAbHEawM_Dl3pCRFADOSlTSxnLz-T8kCSP6CIzZXgC8rHynKt2W9wB4/s1600/racetoread_100px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDqHjnobXvAXk_kJ1HamniypNyYqwntBTPRBVM4lgjndVUBNY3uAaYRyQqyr_Mo5dmvCRpDqhbjQ4Uvf9-PhiPAbHEawM_Dl3pCRFADOSlTSxnLz-T8kCSP6CIzZXgC8rHynKt2W9wB4/s200/racetoread_100px.jpg" width="100" /></a></div>
March 17</span><sup><span style="font-size: medium;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;"> was supposed to be my first ever 10k.
I had trained for this distance, beautiful spring weather was predicted, and
even had a fun little St. Patty’s skirt to wear (back of the pack=lets have
fun). Not to be…the evening of the 16</span><sup><span style="font-size: medium;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;"> I was down and out with the
tummy bug. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">This left me with still needing a March race. We were
leaving home Friday evening the 23</span><sup><span style="font-size: medium;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;"> to head to Tennessee, so the 24</span><sup><span style="font-size: medium;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;">
was out. There was the possibility of the Bunny Rock 5k in Indy on the 31</span><sup><span style="font-size: medium;">st</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;">.
However, I don’t know my way around downtown Indy at all. Avoid it if I can. Haven’t
been there since Lucas Oil Stadium was completed. Give me Castleton and the
Fishers/Noblesville areas any day.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ding, ding, ding!!! Light bulb moment…I could look for a
race in the Lexington Kentucky area where we would be staying overnight on
Friday. Did a search and found a list of races in the area and did some map
looking to figure out where they were located. Found one located right by an
interstate exit that had lots of motels!! Woo, this might be doable if I can
talk hubby into it. And it would be really nice if motel had a late check-out
time so I could take a shower. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Daughter gets sick mid-week…will we even be going on the
trip? Thursday night decision to go, but still don’t know about the race. I
book a motel room Friday afternoon, conveniently located at the same exit as a
race. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">11:15pm Friday: I can run the race in the morning. After not
having had supper that evening, and doing a strong 3.5 miles at noon, and
knowing there would not be a good night’s sleep due to snoring in the motel
room (not from me!!). </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I set my phone alarm and to head over to Coldstream Dog Park
in the morning. This was about a 1-2 mile drive from the motel. Redbuds are
blooming all along the course. Gorgeous.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZi7iukBmshDm7by54I_BUY7lkQjVQGj13DkSfuueMtVnUVMAKKiU4B2hz2AJJ_rzbd-WxNqJLD_7IlHtYGtiFy8dxozexoKVfkzIKy0hyphenhyphenngIDe7iLPZntgcTbiESlC38gsyUrxdR9kc/s1600/RacetoReadView2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZi7iukBmshDm7by54I_BUY7lkQjVQGj13DkSfuueMtVnUVMAKKiU4B2hz2AJJ_rzbd-WxNqJLD_7IlHtYGtiFy8dxozexoKVfkzIKy0hyphenhyphenngIDe7iLPZntgcTbiESlC38gsyUrxdR9kc/s640/RacetoReadView2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">At the check-in I ask about the course. “Oh, there is one
hill at the beginning then it’s pretty flat.” Um…Kentucky flat! At two
different spots the route is going uphill for a half mile length. Happily, the
finish was at the end of a downhill. One of the interesting obstacles on the
route was the worms! There had been strong storms the night before, and there
were many worms all over the road. After awhile, I just didn’t look down. Ick!!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The race was the Race to Read 5k sponsored by Reading Camp,
a <span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">literacy education program
that serves 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade children who are struggling with learning
to read. Wow, what a great race to support since I am a teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were
115 participants and I came in 50</span><sup><span style="font-size: medium;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;"> overall. So I can actually say I
was in the top ½! No back of the pack on this day. A beautiful course, very
well organized race, great volunteers, and my best 5k time to date!! 31:17.<o:p></o:p></span></span></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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjej8xb0qpfvWJ7yifx41jzPIDg73i8dKHNQNSfAS81ipzN8FKliBpkV1AHFRd2mGD37vY91eeQPOtVsBByeA53B-5Ds-Cd8XuWvt4gOLxpWlf6O6DD556m9OgVkBG7jPhQ5ec5Q5P4j4A/s1600/RacetoReadfinish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjej8xb0qpfvWJ7yifx41jzPIDg73i8dKHNQNSfAS81ipzN8FKliBpkV1AHFRd2mGD37vY91eeQPOtVsBByeA53B-5Ds-Cd8XuWvt4gOLxpWlf6O6DD556m9OgVkBG7jPhQ5ec5Q5P4j4A/s640/RacetoReadfinish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In front of the redbuds is where the finish line is located</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Race over! Time to
head to Pigeon Forge and the Smokies! </span></span></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-50780936130583082272012-02-20T22:37:00.000-05:002012-02-20T22:37:15.210-05:00Chris Brown 5k<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"What do you predict will happen on the next page?" This is a phrase I use often while reading stories to preschool classes. But this time the question was, "What time do you predict you'll finish the race?" A prediction run...no watches allowed, no calling of splits at the miles markers. During registration you wrote down your guess at your finish time, and the winners were determined by who came closest to their time guess. </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/AVvXsEiDJj6tRa7t5HN8e0uTC8vKN83O4VxesQEcG_cMx81A2mhXwpMaBJTbp-6sZjKtl8Xe74CxeVmV4gkIZKW3mVjUX3lldh1sijJNlVRYD0FvLacdUKvQ77Aw38XIeQ4kWb0X1A-zd-8E2qo/s1600/_MG_7730-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJj6tRa7t5HN8e0uTC8vKN83O4VxesQEcG_cMx81A2mhXwpMaBJTbp-6sZjKtl8Xe74CxeVmV4gkIZKW3mVjUX3lldh1sijJNlVRYD0FvLacdUKvQ77Aw38XIeQ4kWb0X1A-zd-8E2qo/s400/_MG_7730-reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And they're off!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The race was held Sunday afternoon on the campus of IPFW in Ft. Wayne. The course wound around the sidewalks with many turns and twists. It was an enjoyable route...with good support letting racers know which direction to head. </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/AVvXsEjQF9eSIdcN9eqmThq0xEV0GNI5nSot9IvQAJrlyAR2YcxSfWyMqvDo_GYL162ZVN4jpeUl3WkQoFX5dWeKA1ReAUO4SAY0sB1KJCsjnBzcDiSN0O91t-vmq22x2EqL0b7HBkPdjcPA-0k/s1600/_MG_7731-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF9eSIdcN9eqmThq0xEV0GNI5nSot9IvQAJrlyAR2YcxSfWyMqvDo_GYL162ZVN4jpeUl3WkQoFX5dWeKA1ReAUO4SAY0sB1KJCsjnBzcDiSN0O91t-vmq22x2EqL0b7HBkPdjcPA-0k/s400/_MG_7731-reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cheeser at the beginning</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Several great things about this race. First, I set a new PR with a time of 32:34 (my prediction was 32:18). Second, this is the first race I <em>ran </em>the entire course with no walking!There were plenty of goodies to eat once the race was completed, including three choices of soup. And here is a great one...there were about 40 stalls in the women's restroom!! I've been at a race with only 1 potty...not fun. </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/AVvXsEi0HR-s_VpFG3r0iADemJz8hsr2AjOUO24A7biaYKJAEj_PTMCn0UNwNr6OqRHEhK5FN7JibT8pDcYN-tLQUoUdD_o9sTk_rSnoPZBvQeBs7m9qRZhNiR15eX8wjCTTj9LkY8ooNzUqmJQ/s1600/_MG_7737-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HR-s_VpFG3r0iADemJz8hsr2AjOUO24A7biaYKJAEj_PTMCn0UNwNr6OqRHEhK5FN7JibT8pDcYN-tLQUoUdD_o9sTk_rSnoPZBvQeBs7m9qRZhNiR15eX8wjCTTj9LkY8ooNzUqmJQ/s400/_MG_7737-reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just after the two mile mark</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">My Dad met me there and was "official" photographer for me. Afterwards my daughter and I went on out to my parents' house for a nice visit. </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/AVvXsEj9PIwgYC9RAd1w4aKtSY_C8kmJe2w8ZS43B2sOItMaUv_3a0t_W11i933_z8cU-2ZJE5lhCxxg6qC0PGChZs1_5rfgDHtrFh4zcErEA5OjdR8BOWxFXvO9OlmNG_k_-h2BQX9GIxLkoc0/s1600/_MG_7745-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PIwgYC9RAd1w4aKtSY_C8kmJe2w8ZS43B2sOItMaUv_3a0t_W11i933_z8cU-2ZJE5lhCxxg6qC0PGChZs1_5rfgDHtrFh4zcErEA5OjdR8BOWxFXvO9OlmNG_k_-h2BQX9GIxLkoc0/s400/_MG_7745-reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here she comes! The last 1/2 mile they kept saying, "Almost there."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsDCDX86ukXRZt_8E1i9LVQtLQY187OpCw37iitMUjO1AqaquTuA42HNI1hDR4R6ek6ibwUGLYC82I9NHjmobhpo7rdelTxC6UAIHHKVyfqTR4C_nJjccgP0P9SIIHJB6EG58SoXAaBU/s1600/_MG_7754-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsDCDX86ukXRZt_8E1i9LVQtLQY187OpCw37iitMUjO1AqaquTuA42HNI1hDR4R6ek6ibwUGLYC82I9NHjmobhpo7rdelTxC6UAIHHKVyfqTR4C_nJjccgP0P9SIIHJB6EG58SoXAaBU/s400/_MG_7754-reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Still cheesing at the end!</span><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhLtRQeCdM6mSvT4E5Xz88hQ1dLN2vpqKDT_98hFSc25s6bhCTTkt6TIr70uXRukMKiyKcrnqIBfguIN10Yzeu719ZEZiKkZoG6uZMV9QkuQ0PtS3BchzSFgYRQ4yUmCeBe_XC0wPLNvo8/s1600/_MG_7757-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtRQeCdM6mSvT4E5Xz88hQ1dLN2vpqKDT_98hFSc25s6bhCTTkt6TIr70uXRukMKiyKcrnqIBfguIN10Yzeu719ZEZiKkZoG6uZMV9QkuQ0PtS3BchzSFgYRQ4yUmCeBe_XC0wPLNvo8/s400/_MG_7757-reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Look!! AIR!</span><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEg23XoFVrWxYJcusW3hMePSjABFr6dyKB800HohSVRDiv-NcTDJZiYF1rpDDeYINboYU9GMfHQoADjjIW5QKbEoj2m5qXbqsIAj5oUgP9-ZEc6zz_4pCRJ58f2GTTz3DHOCVM2W3Vo7y0I/s1600/_MG_7760-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23XoFVrWxYJcusW3hMePSjABFr6dyKB800HohSVRDiv-NcTDJZiYF1rpDDeYINboYU9GMfHQoADjjIW5QKbEoj2m5qXbqsIAj5oUgP9-ZEc6zz_4pCRJ58f2GTTz3DHOCVM2W3Vo7y0I/s400/_MG_7760-reduced.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What did they say my time was? After crossing the finish line, we had to write down our time on an index card...was not expecting this! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEgDIsZ9KQ-q4fTG_MKY6JejM6WKy9mZ4I0Umgt8Jjzs9mPsBNpuiJPiWvIuHtrPx8zCBXmqSEeXD2EWedXBj_9J_03oZShM53D7RMoIMdkfwzCDRTpbbRd3zv6RkgdwRSb0Lo0oiRc-6QY/s1600/_MG_7761-reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIsZ9KQ-q4fTG_MKY6JejM6WKy9mZ4I0Umgt8Jjzs9mPsBNpuiJPiWvIuHtrPx8zCBXmqSEeXD2EWedXBj_9J_03oZShM53D7RMoIMdkfwzCDRTpbbRd3zv6RkgdwRSb0Lo0oiRc-6QY/s400/_MG_7761-reduced.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Phew! February race done. On to March...my first 10k.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-38318173328892703472012-01-21T21:19:00.000-05:002012-01-21T21:19:29.179-05:00#TwitterRoadRace 5k<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvYvGPj0faGaOrU2D1rIOCK0UKy7tkOnwIMTIuliySHKpqt7NPCVRwguHZ7mfAf86lFmq-dsHI3xg3joXSuojEz2Y1CacwwntPVKpWPTpq9IsMrgxjT28lTcty1yvrSApx3GrJb6Q-MA/s1600/TRR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvYvGPj0faGaOrU2D1rIOCK0UKy7tkOnwIMTIuliySHKpqt7NPCVRwguHZ7mfAf86lFmq-dsHI3xg3joXSuojEz2Y1CacwwntPVKpWPTpq9IsMrgxjT28lTcty1yvrSApx3GrJb6Q-MA/s1600/TRR.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Twelve races for 2012...at least one per month. Seems like an easy goal that has a nice ring to it: 12 for 12. Other than the fact that January and February have the tendency to be a bit snowy and cold. Like...today. Never mind that Central Indiana has just finished several weeks with temperatures in the 40's-50's. Today was the day of my TwitterRoadRace 5k. Mid December I signed up for the virtual race that <a href="http://www.dougcassaro.com/" target="_blank">Doug Cassaro</a> set up using Twitter. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Last night the freezing rain, snow, and ice arrived to cover the roads. Also awoke to a 4 degree windchill. Driving to Muncie to join a running group was not going to take place this week. So, after waiting for the temps to rise to a nice 19 degrees this afternoon, and being very excited to see a snowplow come down my road, I started to bundle my layers and prepare to trudge through the snow. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">How does one run on a snowy, slushy, and possible icy road? With Yak Trax! But I don't have those. Wait! I do happen to own an "off brand" called <a href="https://www.asseenontv.com/winter-trax/detail.php?p=295522" target="_blank">Winter Trax</a>!! Received these as a Christmas present several years ago. They are fantastic for walking across icy parking lots and my driveway. Found out today that they do work for running on the road. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxy6mQYQUEXQrdX0DfhKFYtvKKbzxgVf4QV1-7OWKi77LBbBnQGwOAPswEBzGhm_KJq2DfXrFY4j5zGDpyLjESOfHyfs2x2LCRWR_3ExZLc2M3nt5LYfD2nSnohoQHnfOFuMsVJ-y9Ss/s1600/IMG_3517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxy6mQYQUEXQrdX0DfhKFYtvKKbzxgVf4QV1-7OWKi77LBbBnQGwOAPswEBzGhm_KJq2DfXrFY4j5zGDpyLjESOfHyfs2x2LCRWR_3ExZLc2M3nt5LYfD2nSnohoQHnfOFuMsVJ-y9Ss/s400/IMG_3517.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was a real road race with a bib, and over 700 participants around the globe. Support came from all of those tweeting at #TwitterRoadRace and from race director @Seedouglasrun. Even Bart Yasso ran! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInX3DT-L-Nq1XKFLn1LVonTgn4wGbBBoEt_xOD7gS8O4iMUB2T8Pj91WvkF-XsDAlVm1BtC9-0xpL26VtyR-WAOS33g1xk1I88IR1YP5-Qday45cqUkRGFPRGSiECetRQ6qbYdHmy4fY/s1600/IMG_3522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInX3DT-L-Nq1XKFLn1LVonTgn4wGbBBoEt_xOD7gS8O4iMUB2T8Pj91WvkF-XsDAlVm1BtC9-0xpL26VtyR-WAOS33g1xk1I88IR1YP5-Qday45cqUkRGFPRGSiECetRQ6qbYdHmy4fY/s400/IMG_3522.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherberts was my Dad's nickname for me when I was a kid</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDswSsm8OKgyyGwEPO8GC-a_xhNKcGoniprw06izbkSXTe3ceVmsbd5qwzOH2MhwNGdTkTnP7uWLN3SuUMtIaAnckvkxmpFilKGDcyzjuwIQOwy6WmSsEt-5_fncWMhpUSu60no-kczs/s1600/IMG_3527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDswSsm8OKgyyGwEPO8GC-a_xhNKcGoniprw06izbkSXTe3ceVmsbd5qwzOH2MhwNGdTkTnP7uWLN3SuUMtIaAnckvkxmpFilKGDcyzjuwIQOwy6WmSsEt-5_fncWMhpUSu60no-kczs/s400/IMG_3527.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at me go, speeding down the lane</span><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEj31TDl0_myYgZRA6Ma71YRzGoIQzPQM_MGTPoqDiEdya2t7S-UqggabpCT1ePBTc96uQnFbqTabZj21bmx5VS4eWbvmgT6uBJ4xd72YpUfvD-gt1PXjkCvoi9Q4s4jrmEOgO5NFr9ravQ/s1600/IMG_3530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31TDl0_myYgZRA6Ma71YRzGoIQzPQM_MGTPoqDiEdya2t7S-UqggabpCT1ePBTc96uQnFbqTabZj21bmx5VS4eWbvmgT6uBJ4xd72YpUfvD-gt1PXjkCvoi9Q4s4jrmEOgO5NFr9ravQ/s400/IMG_3530.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Must have the cheeser moment!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEimSq0p-PIgkx72Wve75qCHzp2E3yWUQ9ebDcxm5jZXBSjlxcx2QZ7338R6O42FW3zUmVcwZqxcQX0qk8KAU_jR2sTRWWcuHhbRRpQw4ONxDMX-kpcZUPoP1wj9SEp84RzY1W38mOPL2Pc/s1600/2012-01-21_15-13-22_284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSq0p-PIgkx72Wve75qCHzp2E3yWUQ9ebDcxm5jZXBSjlxcx2QZ7338R6O42FW3zUmVcwZqxcQX0qk8KAU_jR2sTRWWcuHhbRRpQw4ONxDMX-kpcZUPoP1wj9SEp84RzY1W38mOPL2Pc/s400/2012-01-21_15-13-22_284.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The road before me. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgQh-AZO5w8TMM9egNUwuG0mgKDOjwCH5EHdxpR5SCFpN6ob6OVs9tSgnPgJwzY0Mk3vQBjEhClSBXKbvYFd0eirIjnTUWXkEyNF94G6ISaqL6KHjuRShOoOVbnOqGWKlLSgsKiGItao/s1600/trax+print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgQh-AZO5w8TMM9egNUwuG0mgKDOjwCH5EHdxpR5SCFpN6ob6OVs9tSgnPgJwzY0Mk3vQBjEhClSBXKbvYFd0eirIjnTUWXkEyNF94G6ISaqL6KHjuRShOoOVbnOqGWKlLSgsKiGItao/s320/trax+print.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who made this print? Crazy runner girl wearing winter trax on her shoes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUltAq_7H3DQnaXm5QWuUK9oR-lTJC3RIHNv-HrktSBiqLmD2izxbi9r60EffCs4WjLjXZVUT6qgCzZ52a6lQXWUaVB0QGjTYc1gCm_T0mmhjBgMpPxwLVAHCLLuH54ZMG34n5mOOTf0/s1600/horseshoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUltAq_7H3DQnaXm5QWuUK9oR-lTJC3RIHNv-HrktSBiqLmD2izxbi9r60EffCs4WjLjXZVUT6qgCzZ52a6lQXWUaVB0QGjTYc1gCm_T0mmhjBgMpPxwLVAHCLLuH54ZMG34n5mOOTf0/s320/horseshoes.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">What made this print? Horse pulling the Amish buggy down the road. Just as I headed out the door, saw the Amish neighbors heading home. Only vehicle encountered was a neighbor driving a tractor. Had to step off the plowed section of the road into a drift to let him pass.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTE_UoCPIzRYgUqgVXa-r4TXDuR8Ij3NhN3qwjESwfLFmQaDtycvBzPE-KdVsVhKnaITditg3W8ydtnVScdQy17fUT81q-O_RYsgdbMjkXcieOUQ6_AyivSz2bkyVzRT6iprHxVLNk14/s1600/IMG_3534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTE_UoCPIzRYgUqgVXa-r4TXDuR8Ij3NhN3qwjESwfLFmQaDtycvBzPE-KdVsVhKnaITditg3W8ydtnVScdQy17fUT81q-O_RYsgdbMjkXcieOUQ6_AyivSz2bkyVzRT6iprHxVLNk14/s400/IMG_3534.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At my finish line</span><br />
<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The run was not a speedy venture as I did my warm-up walking as part of the 3.1 miles. There were also pauses along the route to snap several pictures. Found out there are a different set of muscles used when running in the snow & slush. It was akin to running in sand. Overall, I enjoyed my time on the road today (even if the family thought it was nutty) and am happy that I took that step out the door. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4P3RKuzL4IKdS1oPDYdc3-G32ikW_krnWeDC5Eg9AKcEzPfSYxQZPtkrypitGhOKP2bcCijOsXHKeWU1Eg6BLCdWO_9DTfhHI5m_KzaSXOocbGzal3Q33FHsIcJiASLz1S-4zeNOsBs/s1600/Ragnar+Winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4P3RKuzL4IKdS1oPDYdc3-G32ikW_krnWeDC5Eg9AKcEzPfSYxQZPtkrypitGhOKP2bcCijOsXHKeWU1Eg6BLCdWO_9DTfhHI5m_KzaSXOocbGzal3Q33FHsIcJiASLz1S-4zeNOsBs/s400/Ragnar+Winter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-4610496140568544672012-01-04T17:52:00.000-05:002012-01-04T17:52:31.139-05:00Miles go by in 2011<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As most of you know, I began walking this year and progressed to beginning to run mid summer. Because my parents used to run & compete in road races, I knew all about tracking mileage and speed. Runkeeper is an interesting freebie app I have on my phone. It uses the GPS to track distance, speed, and route which I can view on the phone or on the website with more details. I had downloaded it soon after the phone purchase to use when we walked the trails at the park. I used it a few times, but that was it.<br />
<br />
Somehow I remembered this app when I began walking. I would use it most times I ventured out, but not everytime. Occasionally when there was a certain type of cloud cover it did not want to get a gps signal. Then, there were times I just didn't have any pockets to stash it while I was moving. Most of the summer running shorts only come with a little "key" size pocket...nothing big enough for a phone. I bought a handy dandy Spibelt which is just big enough for the phone, driver's license, and car keys to solve this problem. Still, there were plenty of times I went out and did not keep track of the miles. During several of my races, the days I went out for the mail or paper and went to the corner and back, hiking around in the fall...or just didn't care about time & distance.<br />
<br />
Runkeeper was my main tracker with Endomondo as a second app used to track when I walked with family. Their walking pace is slower than my running pace. Wanted to keep my average up :-). Both of these apps have made improvements and upgrades this past year...gps locating works the same on both for me. Both have web sites available to review stats, etc. One advantage I like about Runkeeper is I can put in "notes" for the activity on the phone before I save. Little things like it was windy, my shoe came untied, I did walk/run intervals, hot enough to melt... Runkeeper was my exercise log for the year. One feature recently added is the option of audio cues. It can be set at a distance of your choosing to "voice" your speed, pace, etc. This is handy when running a new area, but not wanting to look at the phone every so often to check time & distance passed.<br />
<br />
I had not even planned on adding up my miles until many of my Daily Mile & Twitter running buddies started posting their totals. This made me curious. And that is the point of this post, to state how far I went this year.<br />
<br />
Okay, so my total of TRACKED miles for 2011 is <strong>313.83</strong>. This includes walking, running, hiking, and biking miles.<br />
Total tracked running miles is <strong>130.3</strong>. Not too shabby for taking up running at the end of June. <br />
<br />
In case you were wondering, there is no particular mileage goal for 2012. The goal is one special big race, and many smaller ones. And possibly the 12 for 12 (at least one race each month).<br />
<br />
Here is to a year of improvement in my times and to continue on the quest of fitness.<br />
<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/AVvXsEi1UpPZLG6wmhZGnTKYgM1UwC43GbdlpN7X0N97hK3wQjK_WXetg81qGOAchOl2tlaLr3CwaYzLGhkjeNovQcWOpkmkCE6ScZkgSuP4Y5z7Vj-8tqy-_7SVIhyphenhyphenpWjX81QVvMF3s_xOjXdg/s1600/NYE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UpPZLG6wmhZGnTKYgM1UwC43GbdlpN7X0N97hK3wQjK_WXetg81qGOAchOl2tlaLr3CwaYzLGhkjeNovQcWOpkmkCE6ScZkgSuP4Y5z7Vj-8tqy-_7SVIhyphenhyphenpWjX81QVvMF3s_xOjXdg/s320/NYE.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jazz hands!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-76665345299880995422011-12-28T14:38:00.000-05:002011-12-28T17:05:28.223-05:00Seasons on the Greenway<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">March 2011...the realization that I was easily getting out of breath during various activities and when running in the school gym with my preschool classes hit home. I needed to get into cardio shape. My weight...it is a decent number, I don't worry about it. The number has stayed within a nice 5 pound range over several years. It was all of that huffing & puffing that needed to change. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Friends on Facebook would post about their exercise adventures, and I had been paying attention. If they could do it, so could I. Walking is the way it began. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.cardinalgreenways.org/" target="_blank">Cardinal Greenway</a> has a trailhead two miles and a bit from my house. This is the area I have logged most of my exercise miles. It is smooth, no pot holes, scenic in the areas I visit, and not very busy out my way. Bikers on long training rides swoope past, but I see more birds than other walkers/runners.</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/AVvXsEj3Bp78oj_nUC-qYvoi9NXey_FSy__E2vfz35V2R31EHZPOx55LIRf2ytqKwFtjegswO-yDNxYVMuqGOgA60qhNazpHCwyVa6wvN6o3o22niV4s8nr5GmyrJRdF7v_1QoTk6ahn8ilQpFo/s1600/2011-03-19_17-07-59_576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Bp78oj_nUC-qYvoi9NXey_FSy__E2vfz35V2R31EHZPOx55LIRf2ytqKwFtjegswO-yDNxYVMuqGOgA60qhNazpHCwyVa6wvN6o3o22niV4s8nr5GmyrJRdF7v_1QoTk6ahn8ilQpFo/s640/2011-03-19_17-07-59_576.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March 19, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">March 19, the first foray on this "get into shape" adventure on the Greenway. I just happened to take a picture. It is something I often do...take pictures. Spring was around the corner. Wouldn't it be cool to take pictures every few days or weeks to show the progress of nature "greening" up? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have somewhat managed to remember to snap a shot every now and then. These are all taken with my phone, and most shots are looking Southeast toward Losantville. This is at the trailhead entrance from the parking lot. Notice the short roundish bush on the left...it is in most of the pictures. A few are at other points along the trail.</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/AVvXsEittUJUNUxEAOtWVDwocYSxS8ElBy8LcPh8RnmG-0ub9BNEKsrVoKCOisNR0RSOXJqWZwmMS-Z1It8_sfg019wde-2Dnqop3obLjBTa7akg2e1BrLQC42cX9lHiYcxfD3EAPNcz2_PRcfg/s1600/2011-03-26_15-36-51_390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittUJUNUxEAOtWVDwocYSxS8ElBy8LcPh8RnmG-0ub9BNEKsrVoKCOisNR0RSOXJqWZwmMS-Z1It8_sfg019wde-2Dnqop3obLjBTa7akg2e1BrLQC42cX9lHiYcxfD3EAPNcz2_PRcfg/s640/2011-03-26_15-36-51_390.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March 26, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhALWmWwels0nq4rBb8o2BKGX74UZJIWG8LDccaBrxVpNbkzzMsroJvg8SLTDojNV790uYQU8jXEIX_2FDcBSWcM7Zb3h49Mjkm75CwkNcs4Pt_GL8Q0cTs4vhVI3DHvPKL_1Jk-dHn_bc/s1600/2011-04-06_18-01-37_594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALWmWwels0nq4rBb8o2BKGX74UZJIWG8LDccaBrxVpNbkzzMsroJvg8SLTDojNV790uYQU8jXEIX_2FDcBSWcM7Zb3h49Mjkm75CwkNcs4Pt_GL8Q0cTs4vhVI3DHvPKL_1Jk-dHn_bc/s640/2011-04-06_18-01-37_594.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 6, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time of day and cloud cover really make for a difference in the pictures.</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/AVvXsEidlYzhy6jL76vey7Y7XQVgAEVpZYdodmZONi_3bHFyTUgtlOeaZz9glBLaUrizb7ww3W5JGQh3skPJmuXgunIIswsZ7GN0o6iiFVtkkwPFRLIHKjnwO5kcNrRqOWTc4i8SJXpPPu9xhyphenhyphenc/s1600/2011-04-13_17-35-08_317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlYzhy6jL76vey7Y7XQVgAEVpZYdodmZONi_3bHFyTUgtlOeaZz9glBLaUrizb7ww3W5JGQh3skPJmuXgunIIswsZ7GN0o6iiFVtkkwPFRLIHKjnwO5kcNrRqOWTc4i8SJXpPPu9xhyphenhyphenc/s640/2011-04-13_17-35-08_317.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 13, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Click the pictures for a larger view...notice that there is more green along the edges of the path...green beginning to pop out in the trees on the left.</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/AVvXsEhddos8s-N19_XtXkaxpCgUfevIqAXL5SHxFgmBnr8Nk3SiN2dF8jqJ_iauKgzhX2C9JYphs3JEeuBd8Z-f-P6lDj5Yssz4pwvXsVr83_X7JAh2Vld-Aw26sfPaoRyHJ6YPHruZ5w7fYyY/s1600/2011-04-25_18-23-11_705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddos8s-N19_XtXkaxpCgUfevIqAXL5SHxFgmBnr8Nk3SiN2dF8jqJ_iauKgzhX2C9JYphs3JEeuBd8Z-f-P6lDj5Yssz4pwvXsVr83_X7JAh2Vld-Aw26sfPaoRyHJ6YPHruZ5w7fYyY/s640/2011-04-25_18-23-11_705.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 25, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though this is looking SE, I almost always begin the exercise routine headed NW toward Muncie.</span><br />
<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/AVvXsEhLWuEouLlKxJ64HNWjznt0lLdwdTLFWLqMON0WQ6rH1ESzpYDf5nBspl_Gk86R0EF97ZmyVmGGaSotNnD4AYlPxbBCG0KZZ4hcoxu6zPNcvnx9LeOKaPJppuLli39WwZe7l811xPab1_Q/s1600/2011-05-07_09-36-23_546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWuEouLlKxJ64HNWjznt0lLdwdTLFWLqMON0WQ6rH1ESzpYDf5nBspl_Gk86R0EF97ZmyVmGGaSotNnD4AYlPxbBCG0KZZ4hcoxu6zPNcvnx9LeOKaPJppuLli39WwZe7l811xPab1_Q/s640/2011-05-07_09-36-23_546.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 7, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow! What a change.</span><br />
<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/AVvXsEiapzmZJmqQ7Tv1VHgXz2rkurKgOAamdLIlgYazj-_5Nr3UVUnlcXLcrOwRrmliEH1vurvcCdBkn3WXUDDXBBZwcFI9hDRQjrCw8e4p96TWqXqBb9PVLF8MDucsBpRtWZgN8y3VddCCdhM/s1600/2011-05-21_12-10-24_361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapzmZJmqQ7Tv1VHgXz2rkurKgOAamdLIlgYazj-_5Nr3UVUnlcXLcrOwRrmliEH1vurvcCdBkn3WXUDDXBBZwcFI9hDRQjrCw8e4p96TWqXqBb9PVLF8MDucsBpRtWZgN8y3VddCCdhM/s640/2011-05-21_12-10-24_361.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 21, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<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/AVvXsEiIE_eL3Wgg0rZnkEinhyC_TX_LKhPspsBxk6sMuzRiMWOmrg_CKxSHZfn_dnpVxemfD_576qOf8fEXrtS6rXTY-Sg62uCnQeEhDPPkAVWqC4X_hBuTgFSSNrMizczOsA42bNu4QVBx3uY/s1600/2011-05-30_10-09-31_355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIE_eL3Wgg0rZnkEinhyC_TX_LKhPspsBxk6sMuzRiMWOmrg_CKxSHZfn_dnpVxemfD_576qOf8fEXrtS6rXTY-Sg62uCnQeEhDPPkAVWqC4X_hBuTgFSSNrMizczOsA42bNu4QVBx3uY/s640/2011-05-30_10-09-31_355.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 30, 2011<br />
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oops...no pictures for June and July. What can I say, the deer fly were horrid!!</span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; height: 447px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; width: 652px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWXxm0OBibKlHQ1HcFMvElkohg8XldvCoI4jyGqZMOsIw-u62nXFxZ1Nqw1XEIH251Trk2vW6-GvH6ucTNMtKSAJdFWV6oM2iRywdoDirMiVUrfyCHINp6_6XbtsKq5dE27eR9Bz8LLU/s1600/2011-08-12_18-44-23_146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWXxm0OBibKlHQ1HcFMvElkohg8XldvCoI4jyGqZMOsIw-u62nXFxZ1Nqw1XEIH251Trk2vW6-GvH6ucTNMtKSAJdFWV6oM2iRywdoDirMiVUrfyCHINp6_6XbtsKq5dE27eR9Bz8LLU/s640/2011-08-12_18-44-23_146.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 12, 2011<br />
<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> This was the first official day back to work for me. And one of my first evening runs. Taken looking SE just before Stony Creek bridge.</span></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDnB44vhVZDOrbuaL4txMl962SPbn69Q8yEsAbDJjvI8IjyRHARgV-jx_LsBRXsG_b0FOTIAzmJhNkSCUUnARhcyKyK7Dq3oA5mHq-kjdW16u-leWuBi5rJBEpF7wZLio__o684Y-Vak/s1600/2011-08-20_08-30-29_149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDnB44vhVZDOrbuaL4txMl962SPbn69Q8yEsAbDJjvI8IjyRHARgV-jx_LsBRXsG_b0FOTIAzmJhNkSCUUnARhcyKyK7Dq3oA5mHq-kjdW16u-leWuBi5rJBEpF7wZLio__o684Y-Vak/s640/2011-08-20_08-30-29_149.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 20, 2011<br />
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One misty, moisty morning when foggy was the weather.... beautiful dew drops on what had been hidden spider webs. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<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/AVvXsEgox1IOkw0V1TKzcKPOqu5y3nW4kyA6wnwm1_A7hBUuxJQnCZ06_eHrAJe9H3SBX3R_Jf4DddjHOBAPTEIJh5gn9RcHA1gL8WRyDIK_1qG9xp9nbvAfCFchDWNCEbTIqta5buINhn4yu6E/s1600/2011-09-26_16-38-17_670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox1IOkw0V1TKzcKPOqu5y3nW4kyA6wnwm1_A7hBUuxJQnCZ06_eHrAJe9H3SBX3R_Jf4DddjHOBAPTEIJh5gn9RcHA1gL8WRyDIK_1qG9xp9nbvAfCFchDWNCEbTIqta5buINhn4yu6E/s640/2011-09-26_16-38-17_670.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 26, 2011<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is looking NE toward Muncie. For a warm-up, I walk from the parking lot to this spot, right at the end of a section of fence. This is where I begin my timing on running days. Oh, beware of fallen walnuts along this section. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">No pictures for October or November...oh well...maybe next year.</span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkNWodmMZSERn8sVf3wvMJwZaDOADLAyvB9IMl9q2RodsAWzYB4tMqj3_z4-geydo2UjHvWB09etpdB2BY0HRWdO5OEgP9qLEYfzmRdSxUxNY27LjgZff6bTcHy6YcUEJIg2IeefJQYM/s1600/CameraZOOM-20111223163030114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkNWodmMZSERn8sVf3wvMJwZaDOADLAyvB9IMl9q2RodsAWzYB4tMqj3_z4-geydo2UjHvWB09etpdB2BY0HRWdO5OEgP9qLEYfzmRdSxUxNY27LjgZff6bTcHy6YcUEJIg2IeefJQYM/s640/CameraZOOM-20111223163030114.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 23, 2011<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQJJyKinBJH9IPxNwgzfv1ejls96rDwDmB22ZcG8_EYB6hNxVf-5q8Xe7KIB6MbYK4PRctG-1c-9rgVOfMRHq459dmLYAmMvD5DdCs-kRQ7Ip0p_QKaO8AZkTuIRYWlYy3QQp1faHjmQ/s1600/2011-12-28_12-12-26_873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQJJyKinBJH9IPxNwgzfv1ejls96rDwDmB22ZcG8_EYB6hNxVf-5q8Xe7KIB6MbYK4PRctG-1c-9rgVOfMRHq459dmLYAmMvD5DdCs-kRQ7Ip0p_QKaO8AZkTuIRYWlYy3QQp1faHjmQ/s640/2011-12-28_12-12-26_873.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 28, 2011<br />
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The path well traveled is ever changing.</span></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Happy 2012!!</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-10966065809463429372011-12-18T21:40:00.003-05:002011-12-18T21:44:42.245-05:00Ramblings<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/AVvXsEiAqvu_s3aN368RFL_bpHYOXHXM-jnOtLzKuqaHbOIxC5PUIgBcRTc1fJS_7DEoXIaToXr3g1L0oT7sLbxg-nzpKQtgwPtlxZmyEa5C284OnJBZKyS9Bf3jsDHJOZwhZb6xCYE3rqqIy_g/s1600/New+year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqvu_s3aN368RFL_bpHYOXHXM-jnOtLzKuqaHbOIxC5PUIgBcRTc1fJS_7DEoXIaToXr3g1L0oT7sLbxg-nzpKQtgwPtlxZmyEa5C284OnJBZKyS9Bf3jsDHJOZwhZb6xCYE3rqqIy_g/s200/New+year.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just a ramble or two as we get closer to the changing of the
year. It seems as if many people make
those grand New Year Resolutions (or at least the media leads us to believe
they do). The most touted resolution:
lose weight. Watch the ads at the end of
December and beginning of January.
Exercise equipment for sale…gym membership trials 50% off…"diet" foods
available.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You do not need January 1<sup>st</sup> to take the first
step toward a dream or to begin making positive changes in your life. You can
begin today! Yes, start right now. You are more likely to
stick with your goal if you begin on your own terms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is your dream?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was younger, I had several diaries. These were the dated books that started on
January 1. There was so much pressure to put something down on paper every day
that often I would write, “Nothing to say but need to write.” Then in Fourth or Fifth grade I read <i>Harriet the Spy</i>. Here was a character I admired, and just
loved the idea of having a “spy book” like she kept in the story. I found an old three-ring binder, added
paper, and started writing away about things that took place at school and
home. Little did I realize at the time
that this could be considered journaling or writing. I just thought I was “spying”. Through the rest of elementary, middle, and beginning of high school I wrote. And <i>somewhere</i> in the house I still have those papers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Writing is one of those activities that I have done off and
on over the years. Paper listens without
comment or judgment to the words that need spoken. It is during the re-reads
that it answers back. No guilt for not doing it every day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Getting back to the New Year’s resolution part of things, <i>don’t</i>. Start today, start next week, start mid-March.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">March was a good time for me to start walking. Then later
the running began. And now, people are trying to talk me into doing more than
the fall half-marathon I have planned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY1NFh-DO_pTLF1V2dpIQvDuMiDoROPwOtRtSjAAlXNQXfwfWFG-_J5uCdAzGGcTnMlPq7Biw78cZEQvGhT-rjPi1ccKrxVigwMSxWO97VJn9xpz9aHyM7dxZ1nXFU9uGGZMf0yYIGe8/s1600/Ragnar+Starting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY1NFh-DO_pTLF1V2dpIQvDuMiDoROPwOtRtSjAAlXNQXfwfWFG-_J5uCdAzGGcTnMlPq7Biw78cZEQvGhT-rjPi1ccKrxVigwMSxWO97VJn9xpz9aHyM7dxZ1nXFU9uGGZMf0yYIGe8/s400/Ragnar+Starting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It all started with the first step.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is yours? </span></div>
<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-15482052017119342302011-12-03T22:47:00.001-05:002011-12-06T20:22:17.401-05:00Frostbite 5k<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh what fun I had at this race in Glen Miller Park in Richmond, Indiana. The Frostbite 5k on December 3rd was the final race in the <a href="http://www.wcchallenge.org/" target="_blank">Wayne County Challenge</a> series. I work in Wayne County, and it was fun seeing people I recognized at these races. I did four of the eight...did not know about them until after the first two, and was injured/sick during two others. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAAEv9tzpoepEaLn7o5jmsNYUsuyX3x_smT2nO9q2HcgjMds4TcQWJt-F-pKDbxbV9F_NPC2P4AYwyHL_bYuoD5QZfhuqGh8q12MyZ8uGeyevqcAVaLCjXr_vcYhCXwidJ-4mds7pOok/s1600/IMG_3376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAAEv9tzpoepEaLn7o5jmsNYUsuyX3x_smT2nO9q2HcgjMds4TcQWJt-F-pKDbxbV9F_NPC2P4AYwyHL_bYuoD5QZfhuqGh8q12MyZ8uGeyevqcAVaLCjXr_vcYhCXwidJ-4mds7pOok/s320/IMG_3376.JPG" width="196" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Since this was a December race, I decided to sport a fun Santa skirt. I was honestly surprised that there were only a few Santa hats and reindeer antlers to be found. I had sooo many complements on my skirt, even during the race. I talked the most ever during this run saying, "Thank you!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I set a new PR (Woot woot!!). Fun since I'm still at the "getting into shape" stage of things. Time was 33:18. There were 341 finishers and I was 236th. Here are a couple of shots right before the finish. The other runner is one year younger than my mom...managed to pass her at the very end. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjE5wNZr1aUpfntbn-Wz3OzIdB0iLjnIpZ-OATWr_XSSjyyyOi2Z46ebw9jpTQodb3XoaUuiplfKzbaXDDaWpSR320W8hKvCUNUtHs5ww7haM3w4MKi7b6DoUKu4YWxOtax7_an4t8Rc/s1600/Frostbite1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjE5wNZr1aUpfntbn-Wz3OzIdB0iLjnIpZ-OATWr_XSSjyyyOi2Z46ebw9jpTQodb3XoaUuiplfKzbaXDDaWpSR320W8hKvCUNUtHs5ww7haM3w4MKi7b6DoUKu4YWxOtax7_an4t8Rc/s320/Frostbite1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I thought it was funny that our strides were matching in these shots. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IUKDb4xuE3uWXlfRaoi-FvV7HNoYE1gdr9SJcLz-Su8Ly-T84UJj8v2w7ywZMQlRlzaED9NIeK6F8fhjuTCRCML8jd1yeL5BO6g7C7zXgphVCiYsd-uLPMtO2rUfHmTQqOFicZMWa0o/s1600/Frostbite2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IUKDb4xuE3uWXlfRaoi-FvV7HNoYE1gdr9SJcLz-Su8Ly-T84UJj8v2w7ywZMQlRlzaED9NIeK6F8fhjuTCRCML8jd1yeL5BO6g7C7zXgphVCiYsd-uLPMtO2rUfHmTQqOFicZMWa0o/s320/Frostbite2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Mid-pack for my age group... 13th out of 22.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Happy running & crafting!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-2641175761201128972011-11-25T14:53:00.001-05:002011-11-25T15:22:37.421-05:00Oprah Magazine<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very excited to hear fantastic news from my crafty friend Jessica. Her companies, <a href="https://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com/">JessicaLynnOriginal</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jlmould">JLMould Etsy</a> will be featured in the February issue of Oprah's <a href="http://www.oprah.com/omagazine.html">"O"</a> Magazine! It will hit newsstands on January 15th. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thrilled to already own many of her fabulous stamps...she is about to get swamped. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NAkXIBB4-sKaDw83GtG1IJGM9v3yX5r-yt48qsgjxPKFP1hkmzMk4SJt9cPxT8Lbs4tUaf2zX6lbXif8wKMzZ4UIa1kSausfzTBTA9NBLgPW2XCDUeGo4irGozN5-wmfn7QGmPSVZIE/s1600/IMG_3352a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NAkXIBB4-sKaDw83GtG1IJGM9v3yX5r-yt48qsgjxPKFP1hkmzMk4SJt9cPxT8Lbs4tUaf2zX6lbXif8wKMzZ4UIa1kSausfzTBTA9NBLgPW2XCDUeGo4irGozN5-wmfn7QGmPSVZIE/s320/IMG_3352a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-33970966725359617302011-07-17T11:41:00.010-04:002011-07-18T09:10:35.379-04:00Run with the Wolves<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_EgEDjOtewWHwPmw0peDU_N0QXSDKctwWAtA1lpTs9BzPyghRzKTdaBxgEUGkWQ8CIv_s3Y_4mnKZATmCslAjEPLQDXG60vCwE8gwOkMhsAmpaiwarY3AsGH9H6OWrgER2vyhi9faqU/s1600/wolfshirt.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 113px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630348851270705106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_EgEDjOtewWHwPmw0peDU_N0QXSDKctwWAtA1lpTs9BzPyghRzKTdaBxgEUGkWQ8CIv_s3Y_4mnKZATmCslAjEPLQDXG60vCwE8gwOkMhsAmpaiwarY3AsGH9H6OWrgER2vyhi9faqU/s200/wolfshirt.jpg" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Saturday July 16...IU East in Richmond...Run with the Wolves 5k. My first running race in 20 years. I know this because I still have the dark blue t-shirt from Butler with a July 1991 date. Age 22 vs. 42...would have enjoyed knowing my time for the date many years ago. As I was searching through some old papers, I did find a time for a 5k race I ran in Auburn at age 15. It was completed in 29:21. Wondering if that time could be repeated again someday. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br />So at at the race, I was nervous before the start, but not as much so as at the younger ages. Wisdom of time? Plus, I kept telling myself the little phrase used frequently in preschool: You get what you get (and you don't pitch a fit). I knew my time would be what ever happen...that I would not be last...that I could walk the entire distance and still not be last. I had run/walked the 3.1 mile distance twice before Saturday with times between 41-43 minutes. My hope was for a 40 minute time. Had no idea that I would exceed my goal on the first attempt. On the overcast but humid morning I finished the race in 37:53. When I run, I normally use my phone as the timer keeper and distance tracker. For the race, I chose to leave the phone with the hubby & daughter. Therefore, was not able to check my time as frequently as during a workout run. The race staff had splits called at the 1 and 2 mile markers, and I knew from those I was ahead of pace. Now, could that be kept up for the final mile? Yes!<br /><br />This race was part of the <a href="http://www.wcchallenge.org/">Wayne County Challenge</a> series. They offer a race each month at various places throughout Wayne County, and I think I might like try the rest of them. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It was fun seeing so many people that I recognize from the WW & Hagerstown area. What was really cool, was knowing the overall female winner...Hayley Rogers. Her mom worked at the daycare my daughter attended, and she was young enough at that time that she attended the after school program. Hayley has also been a helper in some of Emily's dance classes over the years.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Yes, a six year old beat me, as did Pat Bower's who is my Mom's age. Had I known how close to the finish I was, might have been able to pass her. My knees liked running on the ground rather than pavement. I started out sticking behind the friend who invited me to try this, but eventually passed and pushed myself a bit more. Enjoyed the course, and was even with it just enough to notice a spot with Black Eyed Susan's and other wildflowers blooming. The trail went through mostly field area, but also had a nice stretch in the woods. Rolling slopes, flat spots, and a few touches of shade made up the course. The worst spot for me was right at the beginning with the Queen Anne's Lace that everyone had to walk through to get to the start line...that stuff makes me sneeze!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I have been walking since mid-March, but the race was only the 12th time I had done any running, so I don't think I did too bad. There are short term goals for this year, a goal for next September, and a possible goal for further on out. Naturally, all of this is dependent upon my joints holding up!! I generally run/walk two days, do just a longer walk, then a day off.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >And on a sillier note, I really like the race shirts!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >(Me in the white shirt just before the finish line)<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0RCuuZi0445A71ay8TSa3hEHiErQbioTmf5st7mcVsq-95AYDJl5rnWpwquYYhyZlEw8Stilav2LfrN0-of29Yo-5kUiMG7TjelcFIxqxQ8FBAC4CBwVYplOATQJa10fy42bKQ5DgP0/s1600/FinishLine.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630347921892295138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0RCuuZi0445A71ay8TSa3hEHiErQbioTmf5st7mcVsq-95AYDJl5rnWpwquYYhyZlEw8Stilav2LfrN0-of29Yo-5kUiMG7TjelcFIxqxQ8FBAC4CBwVYplOATQJa10fy42bKQ5DgP0/s400/FinishLine.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-12020052575966783952011-01-16T16:54:00.006-05:002011-01-16T17:35:01.985-05:00Emily's Cards<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 325px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562913032423652882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRPyjj97ZpQPl13LsuEQChsmO_I7PEHk5sAR1t1Okk_afIAsz37JbR_IipekDewwX7kLTUzi7XYyFbp6EAWjhcqbd1QBwmYIspc0Vzwvz7kac7O93LMcpo6FcHZCHOl2D9j26gFJeDQQ/s400/Cat.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VqW-TZfzTOMxqoQy-2XdxF8qTHx5OhCyGkLZ_zl0UdkZqGgZUH10bGUBzbS69i1-4NzfOuiqyTEfaldIUbcncwuG54raeYASmpiBYMN-gTONPCTSs5k_c7FnMBFj875WkH_W6tIBNq4/s1600/cookies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 338px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562913025665163666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VqW-TZfzTOMxqoQy-2XdxF8qTHx5OhCyGkLZ_zl0UdkZqGgZUH10bGUBzbS69i1-4NzfOuiqyTEfaldIUbcncwuG54raeYASmpiBYMN-gTONPCTSs5k_c7FnMBFj875WkH_W6tIBNq4/s400/cookies.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjijLj02s5YogBRJPsuIJQrTpsbknDhFH_6dBH_G9u52UmtTCrE6YRSEtufuQBxjM-MuBeMp_OLkLgLgXWmkjPJ0qCCofGglbAgbpSfUGoTwLP2z4MXDbcrVnKjFV1krw-2aAo88M1wAs/s1600/littlegirl.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 324px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562913020232540818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjijLj02s5YogBRJPsuIJQrTpsbknDhFH_6dBH_G9u52UmtTCrE6YRSEtufuQBxjM-MuBeMp_OLkLgLgXWmkjPJ0qCCofGglbAgbpSfUGoTwLP2z4MXDbcrVnKjFV1krw-2aAo88M1wAs/s400/littlegirl.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">While I took a trip to Nashville in November, my daughter decided to have some fun and get into my stamp/craft area. She just happened to pick all stamps by <a href="http://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com/">Jessica Lynn Original</a>. (Oops...the little girl was a digital I had printed out. Maybe she is by <a href="http://victoriacasestamps.blogspot.com/">Victoria Case</a>?) The following below is all Emily's typing. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">These are the cards I made when my mom went to Nashville. The cat one was the easiest to make.The cookie one was fun. I like the little girl one the best.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562913022501291714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyZHR3W1jY3XOrIGp2xPbzsnT0YGglIw6XedGkRS67-ouxzflwhOo-g4fZgiNg4i5cg_nRRoCdxBANxmpfvlT1k9XVrCm5vvM5f_U-_D2Ega9Mt9wCpeMvjYHSI3L6FmCRLBCMZys8R8/s400/popcorn.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The popcorn one was ok. I liked making the Thanksgiving one.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562913015879471090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RQQJvEGH-G_Kgf5xlBg2yl1PNM6fnasYi0u3WBGjx-ZOhIksSDWKSxLWQIjgteeMr3vou2P_-teDjZQgTy1dhnfdFwDsZEa7WGhgP_i2eVoLZShDGDo4R3T6MSZ6m3i1AKAp6sDu7Wc/s400/Thanksgiving.jpg" /></span></div></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-2929104536732028472010-02-16T15:11:00.004-05:002010-02-16T15:40:10.619-05:00Jessica Lynn Swap<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeDnYf9zY4APdESWKrIkH8BFWYC6GVqsXms0XqIZBg_6sO9KB5ejgcmjc7btDSv-isxX7cQ2aRBV1pi2x8aTYrfoorZhwfvDphvTuUDFLKrTT2UMNxUO0qWIdZGjwBytBFHcjwZ77NLI/s1600-h/Strider2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438943271818200290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeDnYf9zY4APdESWKrIkH8BFWYC6GVqsXms0XqIZBg_6sO9KB5ejgcmjc7btDSv-isxX7cQ2aRBV1pi2x8aTYrfoorZhwfvDphvTuUDFLKrTT2UMNxUO0qWIdZGjwBytBFHcjwZ77NLI/s400/Strider2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">So yes, it's been two months since I've made a card! Remembered yesterday that I signed up for a <a href="http://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com/">Jessica Lynn Original </a>swap. Since I'm snowed in, I was able to get down to it and make these up real quick! </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">I used paper from Papertrey Ink, the "Strider the Dog", an older style from JLO, and some Hobby Lobby ribbon. Colored the dog with Copics and cut him out with a <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=280">rectangle nestie</a> (on sale now at <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/index.php">i {heart} papers</a>!).</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">We've had snow, then more snow, and yet again...more snow! Been able to have several 2 hour delays, and an early dismissal...but still have missed six days of school! But, I have been able to stay up later than normal to watch Olympic events on TV. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span> </div></br><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Happy crafting!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Sharon</span></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-55189264910834106732010-01-25T20:29:00.002-05:002010-01-25T20:42:02.133-05:00Blog Candy & New Web Site<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOlLy1aTzMHP8fDL4Fm8b6MyldDk6XKgpMqeqteBG7G7fCFUKlUY83H1UrRE_bP-znuG6MgCJebWQChua9crRquQwGB8aW0W1pEV3SzpZEQEOVse7tzgWrHtFin3B7lXtE5dKd7KwHeY/s1600-h/tinyimages.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 357px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430855375909603970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOlLy1aTzMHP8fDL4Fm8b6MyldDk6XKgpMqeqteBG7G7fCFUKlUY83H1UrRE_bP-znuG6MgCJebWQChua9crRquQwGB8aW0W1pEV3SzpZEQEOVse7tzgWrHtFin3B7lXtE5dKd7KwHeY/s400/tinyimages.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Hey everyone!! One of my favorite artist's is getting ready to launch a redesigned web site for her stamps. Can not wait for this!! (maybe I'll get busy and make something!!! Haven't touched any of my stuff since making Christmas cards!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Go visit the <a href="http://brentwoodjournals.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-candy-13010.html">Brentwood Blog</a> for more details!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-66184242725154595882009-12-19T17:59:00.005-05:002009-12-19T19:51:06.678-05:00Christmas Cards<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtUw6-UNFjZNvmLpkn9cvz_7ydBLR31P2NXyPKsvyIwTdRHAQUni9Dr8wtgrc1rz1PqeTg6dG5pn1J4bzpk0M571gmjFjRt85VOJeCnKEhsnVliyfUk7Nsr_XxEjxA7wspt79sjXpYN0/s1600-h/Dec19.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417111753928069970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtUw6-UNFjZNvmLpkn9cvz_7ydBLR31P2NXyPKsvyIwTdRHAQUni9Dr8wtgrc1rz1PqeTg6dG5pn1J4bzpk0M571gmjFjRt85VOJeCnKEhsnVliyfUk7Nsr_XxEjxA7wspt79sjXpYN0/s400/Dec19.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I think it should be a rule that no one is required to blog in December!! </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Here is a shot of what my Christmas cards look like. Finally finished and they are in today's mail. The card is a total case of one <a href="http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2009/09/introducing-vintage-labels-signature-christmas.html">Nicole Heady</a> made back in September. Blue is my favorite color, so I fell in love with it right away!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">I used my <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=831">labels one nestability</a> cut in half for the front sentiment, and a paper crimper to make the textured strip along the bottom. I have the ribbon, but decided not to put it on my cards (and it made it a touch faster to complete them!). Cute little crystals are in the center of the snowflakes. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span> </div></br><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">As I was working on putting these together today, I was totally having fun singing along with my new "Glee" CD! Good thing no one could see...or hear me!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span> </div></br><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">In case I'm not back before...Have a Merry Christmas!!</span></div><div> </div></br><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Sharon</span></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-16613018908656917822009-12-02T20:54:00.006-05:002009-12-02T21:38:21.077-05:00Mojo #115<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkqpPHL9abK8okpR2pdkwleer3_fI8XuwIU0o4AHDNbDMtKOB3uB2GrIF1b_c1X0fO5sAC9WreXbF0s3qVD9rBskL4ZrgJ5WOSJn12HRkdeSYFZpFK3hndEjPkAEm3flYOZXvQLITCwg/s1600-h/Dec2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410824292220492450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkqpPHL9abK8okpR2pdkwleer3_fI8XuwIU0o4AHDNbDMtKOB3uB2GrIF1b_c1X0fO5sAC9WreXbF0s3qVD9rBskL4ZrgJ5WOSJn12HRkdeSYFZpFK3hndEjPkAEm3flYOZXvQLITCwg/s400/Dec2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Hi there! Hopefully I'm back in action with the crafting. I've been sick (and tired) the last few weeks, and also lost my voice. I then noticed how much I talk out loud to myself while doing things around the house!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">I used the <a href="http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2009/11/mojo-monday-115.html">Mojo Monday sketch</a> for my card. A nice one to get things going again. I used Papertrey cardstock, and <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=1529">Basic Grey Lime Rickey </a>for the design paper. My image is Ruby from <a href="https://jessicalynnoriginal.com/shopwithus/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77&products_id=507">Jessica Lynn Original</a>. I colored her with copic markers, and cut her out with my Creative Memories circle cutter. The matting was cut with a <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=270">circle scallop nestabilities</a> and some <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=215">silver stickles</a> were added for some sparkle. Sentiment is stamped on a <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=284">ribbon tag nestability</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">My November guest spot for <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/index.php">i {heart} papers</a> is officially over, but since I was out sick and did not make as many things as planned, I'm going to be like the guest that hangs around a bit longer! There are still a couple of items that I haven't used in a post and I want to be sure to highlight those products also!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Happy crafting!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Sharon</span></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-27761499417681733452009-11-26T16:27:00.003-05:002009-11-26T16:50:20.834-05:00Sale!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyTxA3FqPwQRLjWzVveLaLqZlO9XE26oxvRyaUFNlJqqkrG98UZtjcZquteRTb3INcLU00fg7BEl7CgLexHZeRGLUvCF9La4O81bLkI_n8nZ5XadWKTDEYDxaNOs5RlMDk-TMo2GjOzo/s1600/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408531974880236114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyTxA3FqPwQRLjWzVveLaLqZlO9XE26oxvRyaUFNlJqqkrG98UZtjcZquteRTb3INcLU00fg7BEl7CgLexHZeRGLUvCF9La4O81bLkI_n8nZ5XadWKTDEYDxaNOs5RlMDk-TMo2GjOzo/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Hey everyone, starting at Midnight<a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/content.php?content_id=1008"> i {heart} papers</a> is having a fantastic Black Friday sale, that lasts for the entire weekend.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ff99ff;">FREE SHIPPING on US orders $25 or more ($75 or more for Canadian orders) PLUS…</span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">*For every $50 spent, you will receive a $10 gift certificate towards a future purchase. That’s like an automatic 10% off coupon ON EVERYTHING – even new and sale items! Orders do not combine however they are incremental, meaning, a single order of $50 earns you one $10 gift certificate and a single order of $100 earns a $20 reward certificate. You cannot however place one order for $20 and another for $30 and qualify for the gift certificate. Additionally at $45 order and $55 order does not qualify for you for a $20 reward. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">*Qualification amount does not include shipping total – it is merchandise total only.<br />Following the sale, on December 1, you will receive a one-time use $10 gift certificate for every $50 order you place during the qualification period. Minimum order amount for qualification is $50. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">*Gift Certificate purchases are not included in the sale. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">*Rewards certificates are valid for redemption beginning December 1, 2009.<br />*Reward certificates are transferable.<br />*Sales runs 12:01am (EST) Friday November 27 – 11:59pm (EST) Sunday November 29<br />*You must enter the Coupon code from the banner ad at the time of ordering. This is how we track our advertising.<br />*Can not be redeemed for cash or combined with any other discounts/coupons.<br />*</span><a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/content.php?content_id=1002"><span style="font-family:arial;">Please contact us if you have any questions regarding this sale.</span></a></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-40992676724583081732009-11-24T21:25:00.004-05:002009-11-24T21:34:06.061-05:00Swap card<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mU7RjGdEKx4LL2NildzYC6GfME2iraHcs_LQUQtEgrjP662KNKh8DIRsJrKZkUyECwuLc8_myXRr-2voO2D1pKf557uPwFCABz4CByLEATHfZAfMzbZqDkYNXeDujuC7jWKRNP1bikU/s1600/Nov24.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407862976723982770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mU7RjGdEKx4LL2NildzYC6GfME2iraHcs_LQUQtEgrjP662KNKh8DIRsJrKZkUyECwuLc8_myXRr-2voO2D1pKf557uPwFCABz4CByLEATHfZAfMzbZqDkYNXeDujuC7jWKRNP1bikU/s400/Nov24.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Been under the weather for quite a bit, and not up to standing to make anything. However, I have a "Winter in the Forest" swap due next week. Went with a very simple design and used all Papertrey products on this one.</span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Happy crafting!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Sharon</span></p>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-62489438018713095182009-11-18T21:17:00.006-05:002009-11-18T22:18:19.330-05:00JLO Challenge #5<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1r7Ba7s4jJFb97xMoHEZWGFlIEBRHoZvkGJrwEPPtzuIHgJxJa8KahG3zUAoeDxB_v_A8zPy3J9p7x5U3wIoGDThoKjiNy8W652YCgbXGstVD_u-mjUbnZcRzQR63Njr02GdXhxFOi0/s1600/Nov18.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405637755122151938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 358px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1r7Ba7s4jJFb97xMoHEZWGFlIEBRHoZvkGJrwEPPtzuIHgJxJa8KahG3zUAoeDxB_v_A8zPy3J9p7x5U3wIoGDThoKjiNy8W652YCgbXGstVD_u-mjUbnZcRzQR63Njr02GdXhxFOi0/s400/Nov18.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Brentwood the Owl is just so adorable, love to make cards with him! I knew I needed to use this stamp from the <a href="https://jessicalynnoriginal.com/shopwithus/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77&products_id=534">Thanksgiving</a> launch before the actual day so it could be mailed out to someone!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">My papers and brad are from Target Dollar Spot, and base is Papertrey kraft. Brentwood was cut out using my largest <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=280">rectangle nestie</a>...oh yeah, this is a large 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 card. Both the image panel and <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=279">sentiment tag</a> were distressed with a dull steak knife. Very dull as it slipped and I didn't cut myself!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">I used the sketch from <a href="http://jessicalynnoriginal.blogspot.com/2009/11/jessicalynnoriginal-jlo-challege-5.html">Jessica's challenge #5</a>. Sigh...as I was going all along, card made, photographed, working on this blog entry it was then noticed that she also mentions that "Winter Holidays" would be a great theme for the layout. Well, just might make another since there's almost a month before the winner is drawn. Lucky person gets a $20 gift certificate to the <a href="https://jessicalynnoriginal.com/shopwithus/">store</a>!! </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">There is gong to be a launch for a new website look on Saturday morning November 21 from 10am-12 for <a href="https://jessicalynnoriginal.com/shopwithus/">Jessica Lynn Original Clear Stamps</a>. There is normally a chat room open for these events and some surprises! I'm guessing this will be Central time, as she's in Wisconsin.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span> </div></br><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Happy crafting!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Sharon</span></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-91470009247948186562009-11-15T21:54:00.007-05:002009-11-16T21:56:46.725-05:00Sketch to try #2<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnQUrtnspjFOZYoVLSiJcqp0A-6DRJ-oCCur-fYbwl8pVE-buzMoUNk3DiaebcbZTQtjzW3Z8GKXqwuiLe93MpPGjlNd2OKQ7tVCMKW_xeMN37-QRgFT69W2RqEDdmndLELLD2GT_f_Y/s1600/Nov16.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404532118031903538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnQUrtnspjFOZYoVLSiJcqp0A-6DRJ-oCCur-fYbwl8pVE-buzMoUNk3DiaebcbZTQtjzW3Z8GKXqwuiLe93MpPGjlNd2OKQ7tVCMKW_xeMN37-QRgFT69W2RqEDdmndLELLD2GT_f_Y/s400/Nov16.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I liked the <a href="http://iheart2stamp.com/2009/11/14/your-next-stamp-sketch-for-you-to-try/">sketch</a> so well on Saturday's card that I used it again, but with a different color scheme.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">I used <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=1913&category_id=274&manufacturer_id=40">design paper</a> and "<a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=1911&category_id=274&manufacturer_id=40">pops</a>" stickers from <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/category.php?manufacturer_id=40&category_id=274">Eskimo Kisses</a> line. Easy, easy since I'd made one in this style already! Papertrey Ink cardstock of Plum Pudding, Scarlet Jewel, and Sweet Blush were used in the layers.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 170px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404898713925936626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVqBFxc-GzzX8vRWfepspEY5iA6Q0AdY4yEvxumkJr8D2AbxD4CBD8r4t7fymFIVfD0Om9AWG53Z1jXdoVECLhBLj9rSsc6RJHmKgGPet8K_YFqIBwv8UWd9aZzuUsC3N4_pkF9PXYDA/s320/CGD003.jpg" /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I {heart} papers has a new release from </span><a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=1625"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Chicken Girl Designs</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> today! Aren't these little critters so cute? Even though this is a birthday set, there is much versatility to the images. You can visit Kate's blog to see some wonderful samples, and DT members are listed on her sidebar. Cuteness abounds!</span></div></br><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Happy crafting!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Sharon<br /></span></div><div></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536886943756636359.post-61839151222997749732009-11-14T14:21:00.006-05:002009-11-14T14:55:40.961-05:00Sketch to try<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLN6NFMbKA0M9DxoDps2tSOw1swW7oJPAk-1KrGmcy7OOZaLX_BqKOYKszWeETdl9-x72MOwXpNkX8_-1fR1NuEr3641MNPJOCy6OwP6je9hgd5r8W2tUAyKOXcZlcqjcT5Jm4jXIeXE/s1600-h/Nov14.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404044319559511938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 326px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLN6NFMbKA0M9DxoDps2tSOw1swW7oJPAk-1KrGmcy7OOZaLX_BqKOYKszWeETdl9-x72MOwXpNkX8_-1fR1NuEr3641MNPJOCy6OwP6je9hgd5r8W2tUAyKOXcZlcqjcT5Jm4jXIeXE/s400/Nov14.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Another November day that's to reach the upper 60's! I think we've normally had some snow flurries by now, but none yet this year! Since it's a warm and sunny day, I went with some bright cheerful colors! A large <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=279">standard nestability tag</a> was used to cut paper from <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=1529&category_id=191&manufacturer_id=40">Basic Grey Lime Rickey</a> for my stamping spot. The bird design paper is also <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=1529&category_id=191&manufacturer_id=40">Lime Rickey</a>.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">My "Thank you" is from <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=1522">Hero Arts</a>. Bird by Imaginisce (sounds like the ladies on the CMA red carpet Wednesday night: Dress by....) There is a little <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=215">stickle</a> touch on the bird's flower, and I used my <a href="http://www.iheartpapers.com/item.php?item_id=1695">Bow-Easy</a> again. Cardstock from Papertrey Ink.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">I used Jen del Muro's <a href="http://iheart2stamp.com/2009/11/14/your-next-stamp-sketch-for-you-to-try/">Sketch For You To Try</a> and my brand new Tonic 12x12 paper cutter! It sliced like butter!! Notice I have more layers than normal?? I measured stuff out! (but still did some eye-balling!).</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Have a crafty day!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Sharon</span></div>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17280168377128584671noreply@blogger.com4