Thank You for All Your Support!

I finished!

This has been an amazing season for me. With all your generous contributions, I raised over $2800 and counting for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! At last night's inspiration dinner, we had a fabulous speaker who is in remission from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (and whose parents both are Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors!). She talked about how sometimes patients need more than just moral support - they actually have real needs. LLS was able to fill those needs for her by providing $1,000 to help with her copayments and other medical bills. She was just out of college and only had a major medical plan because her employer did not offer health benefits. She said to always remember that when you make a donation or raise money, it is not going to a faceless organization. It is actually going to one person, and it is meeting that person's needs. So rest assured that your generous contributions are making a difference in the life of a blood cancer patient.

Around 5,000 TNTers competed in the Nike Women's Marathon today, together raising the equivalent of $500,000 per mile. And you folks made that happen!

Of course, I have gotten something out of this as well. I have met many inspirational cancer survivors, family members, and even patients undergoing treatment. I have gone from running 0 miles to running 13.1 miles! But of course I had my setbacks. Between my sprained ankle at the end of August and my bout with h1n1 at the end of September, my training was less than adequate. I have not run more than 3 miles at once in over six weeks, and I had never run more than 6 miles in my life! Because of my illness I didn't even go to the gym for nearly 2 weeks.

But I finished! And I did it, I think, in approximately 11 minutes per mile, which is just a bit slower than the pace I was hoping for pre-injury and -illness. And while I am exhausted now, it was a fabulous experience! A couple of weeks ago I was not even sure I could finish, and this morning I was not even sure I could run the whole thing. But I did it, thanks to all your support. I did not want to let my donors down!

And I owe special thanks to my wonderful husband who supported me during training, waited on me when I sprained my ankle and while I was sick, and showed up on the race course at 8 miles and at the finish line while still under the weather.

Thank you again for all your support and your generous donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

(And just to show that it wasn't all fun and games when I finished the race, I'm even letting you see this picture.)

The Happiest Place on Earth

(Photo taken by Bernie)

I never told you about Disneyland! I will do so now so I can think about happier times before h1n1 visited our little household.

We went to Disneyland for Matt's 30th birthday, because, well, Disneyland is free on your birthday and I have been wanting to go there for years. I feel bad that Matt did this for me, but he is a grown man and I can't stop him. At least he enjoyed spending time with the children!

My favorite rides were Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, the Jungle Cruise, and Tom Sawyer's Pirate Island. The first two are probably obvious - the closest thing to roller coasters and other real amusement park rides. The Jungle Cruise is funny because of all the ridiculous jokes cracked by the guide, and of course it was more funny because Bernie thought it was so hilarious. Some of the content is rather offensive and seems a bit racist though... Tyler also thoroughly enjoyed the ride although he was standing up at the beginning of it (with the assistance of Uncle Matt) and got into a bit of trouble with the guide.

I can't even remember what the island is really called, but I think it has something to do with Tom Sawyer. I enjoyed this because I am basically 5. There are "caves" to explore, things to climb, shade trees, fun bridges, and all sorts of other things to explore. I could have stayed longer, but alas, the real children and their parents had already grown tired of it. Also by that time my ankle was about the size of an orange...

Anyway, yay for Disneyland! We also had fun at the beach and pool with even more friends, and the Dodgers came was a raucous delight.

Now if only the fires hadn't existed and my ankle hadn't been destroyed, the weekend would have been even more fabulous.

Team in Training Thank You Gifts

Guess what? I have less than one month left to get ready for my first ever half marathon. Even worse: I have 1 week left to raise nearly $500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a participant in their Team In Training program.

So here's the deal: the first 15 people who make a donation of at least $35 between now and October 1st can choose to receive a thank you gift worth between $5 and $20. You can view the options below. All you have to do is make an online donation and write which thank you gift you would like in the comments section. If someone has already chosen a gift, consider it spoken for. Here is the website:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/nikesf09/awilliamstnt09

I will send your gift in the mail to the address you enter for your donation.

Don't forget that you can also make a donation by purchasing fabulous handmade stationery, craft paper, and gifts from the following site:

http://www.twistedlimbpaper.com/fundraising/teamintraining.htm

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 823,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support.

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity.

(For those of you who have already donated and did not receive a gift, I apologize. It doesn't seem fair. However, I am behind on my fundraising and I have some leftover prizes from another event that didn't work out, so I had to do something. Feel free to donate again!)

Thank you gifts:

1. Apple sketchbook
2. Owl sketchbook CLAIMED
   
3. 100% notepad
4. 100% notepad
5. 100% notepad
6. Strawberry bangle purse
7. Brown bangle purse
8. Pink bangle purse
9. Parrot bangle purse
10. Red bangle purse
11. Brown/flower bangle purse
12. Handmade stationery set
13. Handmade bits and pieces bag CLAIMED
    
14. Starbucks gift card ($10) CLAIMED
    
15. Olive Garden gift certificate ($10)
    

City Walks SF #46: The Latino Mission

Now, this part of the Mission I actually like. It isn't as trendy as the northern part, Spanish is still spoken most places, and you can purchase Mexican pastries on the cheap. Of course we have yet to find a panaderia as tasty as Golden Crown.

The area is also apparently famous for its murals. Here are just a few:






I think the one below is Matt's favorite. He loves Mr. Burbujas.



Also a soda fountain that supposedly dates back to 1918. I am a big fan of soda fountains, being a lover of milkshakes, fries, and other such treats.



If you have to get off the BART in the Mission, I definitely prefer 24th street.

City Walks SF #45: Valencia Street

Hmm, I seem not to have any pictures of this walk.

Valencia Street is the trendy part of the Mission District. I am a little baffled by this, since it is still quite overrun by crack addicts and crazy people in general. You will not find Matt and me joining the hipsters in this neighborhood anytime soon.

However, Dave Eggers did found a writing center there, which also houses a pirate-supply store. Odd.

Also, one can get some good burritos on the cheap in this neighborhood.

City Walks SF #44: Dolores Park and Mission Dolores

This walk involves one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city.

Here is the city's "largest and most colorful" mural, located on the Women's Building. Personally I am rather afraid of it.



Next up: Mission Dolores. Do you recognize it at all from Vertigo? We didn't at first, until we saw the second tower.



A building in the complex dates from 1788 - apparently the city's oldest! Not quite the history New Mexico has, I guess.



And finally, Dolores Park. We always happen to be here on a super nice day, and I am always surprised at how many people can fit in a city park. I have a feeling it is not just a place to enjoy the weather, but a place to see and be seen.

City Walks SF #43: Noe Valley

Well we apparently did these walks way back at the beginning of August, and I've failed to post them until now.

This picture certainly doesn't do Noe Valley justice; we completed this walk after at least three others. I was starved and demanded to be taken to dinner - Haystack Pizza. Remarkably tasty and affordable, and a cute little hole-in-the wall.

Noe Valley is a fairly pricey neighborhood featuring, as far as I can tell, a lot of stay-at-home mothers with toddlers. It's a short bus ride away from our house, but we hardly ever go there. We still haven't found anything exceptional in the food department, and the stores aren't really up my alley. But a nice neighborhood.