Yard Sale - Check!!

We came, we sold, we boxed up the leftovers. We did all this while waiting for the 30 degree weather to warm up to the promised 60 degree weather (which it did about an hour after the close of the sale). While we didn't have to file a tax return on our proceeds, we at least made some money for our breast cancer walk.

Karen made chocolate oatmeal cookies and was in charge of pricing (she wasn't so impressed with my "everything's a quarter" pricing policy). Molly brought breakfast from McDonald's and was in charge of the money box (apparently my adding up the purchases on my abacus was taking too long). Sam helped by marketing the junk and selling it (and taking stuff to old lady's cars and then picking up lunch). Lynnette and Lindley came by for entertainment value (and give me an excuse to go inside). My job was to organize stuff last night, put ridiculous prices on stuff, and decide to have the yard sale at the last minute (too much planning ahead also results in too much time to change your mind and cancel the whole thing).

Our butt camp pal Michelle came by and got a little bag of junk for a lot of money (although that's not why we like her so much, it was really nice of her to put in quite a nice donation). We also had the usual yard salers - like the early bird old dude who came by before we opened because he has insomnia (and apparently had no intention of buying anything). Another old dude came buy and left without parting with a cent (but not before he asked if we had any tin toys). A lot of people bought the baby clothes and stuff (thanks to Lindley for growing and shedding stuff). And of course, we had the people who basically wanted to load up their cars and only spend $3. They left empty-handed.

We got rid of the big stuff we wanted to unload. We still had a few boxes of stuff leftover, but decided to keep it until next summer's garage sale (even though I still hate them - I mean REALLY hate them).

Maybe then we'll have some tin toys.

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Today's blessings: yard sale and lunch with Molly, Karen, Sam, Lynnette, and Lindley; Michelle coming by and visiting during the yard sale; afternoon nap with the kitties; Olive Garden and Target with Molly

And Then There Was One

I started wogging races in 2000. It started because I was walking in an effort to lose weight, and somehow came up with the idea to do a marathon. I searched and found the Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. This marathon appealed to me because (1) it was far enough away so that nobody I knew would know about it or see me in it, and (2) it had an 8-hour time limit.

When I first told my family about my plan, they looked at me as if I had told them I was going in for a sex-change operation and changing my name to Larry. I'm not sure if they knew what a marathon was, but they certainly knew me, and somehow me and 26.2 miles just didn't seem to go together. Nevertheless, I trained and that September, Sam went with me as I set out to do my first marathon. I managed to finish and receive my medal. It was a totally awesome event.

Since then I've completed 125 races of varying distances from 2 miles to 26.2. My pace has always been pretty slow, but I've managed to finish each race. Along the way I've collected a pretty cool set of medals and displayed them on my wall. Recently it was time to add some new ones to the wall, and I was mulling over different ideas of how I was going to do that.

Before I came to a decision, I came across a post on a running forum where a runner brought up a organization called Medals4Mettle. To quote the website,

Medals4Mettle (M4M) is a non-profit organization that facilitates the gifting of marathon, half marathon, and triathlon finishers’ medals. Runners from around the world give their hard earned medals to Medals4Mettle. Our worldwide network of physicians and volunteers then awards these medals attached to a Medals4Mettle ribbon to children and adults fighting debilitating illnesses who might not be able to run a race, but are in a race of their own just to continue to live their life. It is in honor of this mettle and courage in bravely facing these challenges that they are awarded a medal.

All of a sudden, I knew what I wanted to do with my medals - I wanted to donate them. But did I want to donate them all? I have several that are unique and special. In the end, I decided to keep one and mailed 91 medals to the local branch, hoping they will bring a smile and encouragement to someone who needs it.

Do I think everyone should do this? Certainly not - every medal earned is an accomplishment and a reminder of achieving a personal goal. Just looking at a medal reminds us of how hard it was to get to that finish line, and all those memories of getting there. Sometimes I think we should wear them over and over, just so we can be congratulated on what we did. But for now, for me, it was time to send my medals forward.

And which medal did I keep? The first one, because it represents something nobody thought I could do, but I did. It represents a personal goal that I worked for and the beginning of shared family experiences. It reminds me of Sam's support and his belief in me during that first marathon. It encourages me to get back to what I know to do and keep at it.

Sure, in some way I miss those medals. But at the end of the day, I know what they meant. And if somehow those medals can now mean something to someone who is battling to win the race for his or her life, then that medal had found true meaning - because it has found its way to a true champion.

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Today's blessings: U-Haul dude; seeing Sam's office; hauling yard sale stuff and setting up with Molly and Karen

Thursday Good Times

*Checking on the progress of Maribeth's house, then making family trip to Home Depot for purchase of bathroom cabinet. Good times.

*Slightly twisting my right ankle (not the badly twisted/turned/wrenched left ankle from a few weeks ago that is still sore) when going into the house, causing my bad ankle to bang into the concrete step - actually it was my big left toe, which is now purple. Yes, I have the grace of a bull.

*Nearly finishing my apron project for Karen's birthday, but giving it to her anyway. It's not like it was going to get any better ...

*Celebrating Karen's birthday at Monell's with Karen B, Gloria, Jo, and Molly. Good southern cooking around the family table with four complete strangers - even more good times!!

*Deciding to have yard sale on Saturday but did nothing to get ready for it. Except recruit dinner companions (the ones I know) to help out. I hate yard sales. Purple toe must be affecting my decision making.

Anyhow, that's about it for today. Apparently I am having a yard sale this weekend, so there will be much to do tomorrow. I think I still have an extremity or two that is still uninjured ...

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Today's blessings: All of the above, plus Steve and Maribeth's safe road trip to GDizzle's; watching "Secretariat" for the zillionth time

Now THAT Was Wicked Good!

When I was little, "The Wizard of Oz" came on every Easter (highly appropriate movie for that holiday, don't you think - yeah, me neither). I hate the movie. It was scary and there was a mean, ugly witch, and there was a dog that a mean lady took away, and there were lots of scary things. To this day, I do not watch the movie, except the part where Judy Garland sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

So, even though "Wicked" is on everybody's Best Musical lists, I hadn't seen it. I knew it was about Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch, but since I scary-hated the Wicked Witch, I had very little motivation to see it. Except for the fact that it was on everybody's Best Musical lists.

Tonight I saw it with Lynnette, Maribeth, and Karen. And I thought it was great. Maybe it's because I kept imagining Kristen Chenoweth an Idina Menzel in the lead roles. Maybe it's because the songs were fabulous. Maybe it's because the costumes and set designs were totally awesome. Maybe it's because I saw it with people I really like.

But I really think it's because it showed another side of a story that I hated. It showed me how things could look differently, if I knew the whole story. It showed me that happy endings can exist and things may not always be as they seem.

I still hate the movie and won't watch it. But that's okay, because I know the other side of the story - and it's a good one!!

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Today's blessings: taking care of medals; Wal-mart shopping; Wicked with the girls; Steve's safe travel home; two slow miles in the neighborhood

No Excuses November

Welcome to November. For the next two months, I have decided to stay in town (even though possibilities abound to go places). For the first time in several years, I am spending the holidays in town, watching all the specials and actually putting up a decoration. Maybe even baking cookies (I know - I'm out of control). I'm also going to try to establish good habits and get stuff done that has been put off for awhile. Yesterday I Joan Crawford-ed the rose bushes.

Today I decided to hack the IKEA table that I got for Lindley. Basically the hack involved the little desk, the IKEA paper roller thingy, some wood letters from Michaels, three cans of spray paint, and my trusty drill. Here is the finished product:

I still have some stickers to apply (after I purchase some) and to see if The Boss likes it (her Halloween Elmo costume didn't go over so well, so you never know).

At this rate, if I really get a project done a day, I may even get the floor mopped before 2012! A girl can dream, can't she?

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Today's blessings: Seeing the progress on Maribeth's house and going with her to pick out tile; finishing Lindley's desk