Team 'Ohana--No One Left Behind: The Continuing Adventures

[FFigawi]

John...I was definitely disappointed with the Xfiles movies. Did not have the depth of the series. Did you have a Star Trek series preference?

Any big plans for Memorial Weekend? I think we're taking a daytrip to MK, then DD17 is marching in the Memorial Day parade Mon and we have a BBQ to attend later.

Yes. DS9 is by far my favorite. I love the characters and thought they did a great job with the overall storyline across all the seasons. Some of it got kind of silly towards the end, but in general, they did most of it well. I wasn't really crazy about Voyager. Good characters, like in all Trek shows, but the plot wasn't as interesting or as well executed.

My weekend is busier than I would like. Our marathon training team has its first meeting and long run tomorrow morning. I have to be there early since I'm a coach, and I've rather enjoyed the past few months of not having my alarm go off at 445am on Saturdays. After that, we've got an agility trial with the dogs all three days. I'm looking forward to next weekend when I've got nothing to do.

 

[chimera]

John...agility is sooo cool! We tried to get one of our dogs into it a long time ago, but she was afraid of the tunnels. Never quite got over it. I think our young dog would enjoy that or flyball but finding the time between human swim lessons and band activities and triathlon training just isn't happening.

Debra... I definitely want to see pictures if you order. I posted a girly one on FB. They have lots of different styles. I have looked at the website in the past for WISH shirts but they don't carry any lime green in a wicking shirt.

Beth...feel free! they have lots of shirt options on that website.

JenL...good luck this weekend!

Corinna...happy anniversary!

 

[princessbride6205]

Julie, Mel: Thanks for the kind works about the "promotion." I'm most excited about the excuse to go to Disney more and write it off on my taxes. I guess that makes me shallow. It does mean that I need to keep a lot of receipts, though, and we all know I'm not very organized.

Here's one for all Evanovich fans. Guess where scenes for the new Stephanie Plum film, One for the Money, is filming? Yep, right here in Pgh, starting in July or August. Apparently Pgh makes a good stand-in for Trenton, NJ. Katherine Heigl will be here – no word on whether Jason O'Mara or Daniel Sunjata will be here, too. But you can guess that I'll be visiting set locations, camera in hand, if they're open to the public.

And in last bits of news. I've been doing some running, not much or far, but more consistently in May than in March or April.

Very cool that you'll get to go to Disney and write it off - exactly what I'd be thinking.
Cool news about Evanovich filming - looking forward to pics you can get.
And I feel with you on the running. The past few weeks I'm finally back to what feels like training.

I am loving my Garmin 305! I've gotten in 2 runs and 2 walks so far this week with it. I finally had an enjoyable run 2 nights ago - first one in a long while. It was like, "Oh, right, this is why running is fun." I love knowing my miles and pace. I haven't played around or learned anything other than the main menu screen. Looking forward to playing with the intervals and other functions. Woohoo!

 

[jbucci]

We had a good time at our half yesterday. It was a pretty small event compared to what I'm used to running. There were about 700 runners with a bunch of people following the "costume suggested" info on the website. We dressed as zombies (and one plant) from the game Plants vs Zombies. It was an inaugural race and there were a few organizational issues. Overall though, the race was fun.

It was the first time I've ever tried to run in costume and the heat and weight of it got the better of me pretty quickly. By mile 5 I realized this was not going to be anywhere near a PR so I just backed off and tried to have fun. They had so optional "diversions" on the course: a big Jenga game with huge pieces- you were supposed to make a legal move without knocking over the tower before you started to run again; water balloons to hurl at passersby; a long, narrow tunnel to crawl through (complete with wetness on the bottom). When you did the diversions they painted a color on your arm to show you completed it. There was no electrolyte fluid on the course and that wound up coming back to haunt me in my excessively sweaty state. The last 5K I really couldn't run more than a minute or two without completely cramping up. I basically walked the last 3ish miles otherwise my calves would just knot up.

The high points of the day were our 3rd place win in the costume contest and my friend Karen having the nerve to sign up for and complete this event with a smile on her face. She was really doubting herself and we talked her into it. She repeated the WISH mantra to herself a bunch of times and proved to herself she was one tough chick. We were so proud of her! Instead of finishers medals the race gave out pint glasses which was kind of cool.

Here are some pics of us:

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I just have to quickly say those are some mighty cute Zombies!

Dennis's half yesterday was hot and really rough -- Julie, I hope Rob enjoyed it more than Dennis did!

We're putting up our pool today. It's just one of those with the air-filled plastic sides, and just 10x13 (fits on the upper brick patio perfectly!), but the kids (and I mean our neighbors asked for it) want us to put it up again. It is big enough to cool off, and they do play in it, but it's not exactly roomy as they all get bigger.

Did I mention ds12 is now officially taller than I am? He had his check-up Friday, and he's 5'4 and 3/4.

I have to make myself get in 4M before the day gets going. Happy Memorial Day, and
Thank You to all those who have given service to our country!

Maria

 

[jeanneg]

Hello my OHANA cousins......I know I've been MIA, but I've been busy.....take a peek:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36835997&postcount=737

 

[jbucci]

Jeanne: The picture are wonderful!!!! Everyone looks great and happy. You are also looking fantastic BTW.

 

[FFigawi]

Hello my OHANA cousins......I know I've been MIA, but I've been busy.....take a peek:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36835997&postcount=737

Well, yeah, I guess that's a good excuse. Looks like a great time had by all.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Gorgeous photos Jeanne! What a good-looking bunch! Congratulations on marrying off that first little chick! I predict you will be a MIL extraordinaire!

Maria

 

[tiberius]

Hi gang! I already tried typing this post up once...and then inadvertently deleted the thing......in anycase if this post sounds disjointed in any way, just assume I got it right the first time. OK?


Jeanne - Simply wonderful!! as the father of two adult (gasp, how did that happen?) daughters, I can only imagine that day may not be so far off as I might think... My boss just returned from a Med cruise and brought me a small bottle of Ouzo back, I told her I'd get right on it!

Maria - My DW could sympathize with you, being shorter than both children of ours.

Jen - Love the zombie photos, reminds me of the Bayou City 10K in spring, where they encourage costumes, and give out costume awards in addition to running awards.

Nicole - That Garmin 305 can turn you into a numbers geek really easy, but I love using it!

Debra - Glad to hear that your running is building in consistency, keep up the good work.

As for me, the FIL is healing from surgery, but still can not bend his right leg, possible never or tendon damage from the surgery, or so I am told. They are working on getting him to move around with limited use of that leg and are hopeful greater control will return in the future. That does, however, put a big damper on what work he can actually do.

I had a great time at last weekend's tri. I had a goal of finishing in the low 1:30's. The race went well for me and I finished in 1:30:19. I also had a lot of fun, of course it's easier to have fun on a good day. I can see the where, with continued improvement, I can move up to the middle of the pack. Here's my photo from around mile 1 of the run, clearly the heat had not yet completely gotten to me.

 

[jeanneg]

OMG, I HAVE been away for a long time......I would have never recognized you, Richard!!!!! Looking good, looking good!!!!!

 

[FFigawi]

Hi guys! Hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend. Mine was pretty busy. Between the agility trial and our marathon training team starting up again, I barely had time to rest. Our first long run was held last weekend, and we had probably 65-70% new runners come out and join us. Their excitement and eagerness to get going and through to their first marathon is one of the best things about being one of the coaches. I'm not crazy about having 31 more weeks of my alarm going off at 430am on Saturday, but having a new group around always makes it worthwhile.

 

[laughinplace199]

Hi Everyone!

Maria - Rob said the race was tough. This was the first hot weekend we've had in a while and he just wasn't used to it. I can't believe your DS is taller than you! My oldest is almost 11, but she's a tiny 4 ft 5, so I'm all set for a while!

Jeanne - Great pictures! Everyone looks like they were having a great time - and you look fantastic!

Richard - I hope your FIL continues to improve. Great job on your race as well!

John - 31 weeks of your alarm going off at 4:30 on Saturdays! You sound like a great coach!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Good Morning, Cousins!

Just wanted to start the day with a shoutout!

Richard -- Wow, you do look like a new man! I don't think I would have recognized you...you must be so proud! We are certainly proud of you!

John -- Thank you for your coaching work! For those of us who are "adult-onset" athletes, it makes all the difference in the world to have someone knowledgeable help us achieve our goals.

Julie -- My ds will be out of school June 11th. I can't believe the year is almost over! I have to order his books from the BL summer reading list. Poor kid, he barely gets a break before he needs to start reading. He gets to pick 4 of the books -- he picked all sci fi, including Ursula K. LeGuin and H.G. Wells. I have taught my padowan well

Ok, gotta get the fellas movin'.

Happy Wednesday to all the Cousins!

Maria

 

[tiberius]

You guys are so sweet to say such nice things about me, with all the diet straying and stress eating (and more stress eating!) in the last 5 weeks I've put more than a couple pounds back on, so I've been feeling bad about that--thanks for reminding me of the big picture!

Last night was my first workout with a new coached group in my area, Outrival Racing. Pretty much all my tri training has been "self taught" so I am looking forward to some real guidance in my training.

Finally, Happy National Running Day, cousins!!! (Ironically, it's a biking day on my schedule!)

 

[Jen117]

I am the worst cousin EVER! I am so sorry for being absent! Life has gotten very busy for me. The girls finished school last Friday, so the month of May was packed with end of year things. Plus my crazy head convinced my body to train for a 1/2 marathon, which is this weekend, and I just had a baby in January. I didn't think it would be this hard! So it will be my slowest 1/2 ever, but I guess I just need to finish before they close the course! Anne, Lily, Pat, Jim, Susie and Corinna will be there (those are the ones I know of). Anne and Jim PROMISE to drag me across the finish line. I guess I should look at it as most people are not doing anything 4 1/2 months after having a baby!

Congrats to all the recent race finishers.. Jen, Richard, etc. I follow people on Facebook better than here. I guess I just haven't taken the extra time. Feel free to kick me virtually if that happens again!!!

 

[deekaypee]

Happy National Running Day!

Jeanne! How wonderful everyone looks. Congratulations to all, and especially to the newlyweds (and to you for surviving the whole thing and finding the grace & humor & love to enjoy everything)! You've got a great family, extended ones included, and a wonderful racing team!

How was everyone's weekends? We had a leisurely time, relaxing before DOOD left for his research trip yesterday (at 4:30 in the morning to catch a train).

Mel: I'm not sure I'm girly enough for a girly running shirt, in part because I'm geeky enough to be tempted to wear a Bazinga running shirt Sheldon-style, over the top of a long-sleeve t-shirt. (Which, btw, is my non-running uniform anyway.)

Nicole: Don't you just love it when a run comes together? Good for you!

JenB: Okay, so the obstacle course, er, diversions sound like SO much fun. I love the idea of a Jenga game – and I certainly wish someone would throw water balloons at me thse days (only while running). WTG on 3rd place and supporting your friend Karen, too!

Maria: I hope Dennis didn't injure himself at this weekend's race! Congrats to him, though! Your DS, with his reading interests, sounds like he could have come from my loins (but that also sounds, well, disturbing).

Richard: Look at that smile! You absolutely look like you're having a great time, and I don't just mean in the low 1:30s! I'm so glad you (and many of my cousins) are so photogenic during events. You're practically poster children for athleticism (and WISH). Like Jeanne says, your transformation is amazing!

John: Wow, that's a GREAT turnout of new runners. I'm absolutely positive you'll be a great mentor to them – especially since you're so generous and aware of what newbies give back to more experienced folk! I'm not sure I could get up at that time regularly – the thought alone makes me cranky.

Julie: Congrats to Rob! And how are YOU feeling?

Jen: Of course your life is super-crazy busy, you new mom you! And to top it all off you have a half-marathon this weekend. Wowsa! Good luck with that. I know you'll do great! And super woo-hoo for having so many WISHers on the course for fun and support (and to party with after).

In terms of your FIL's recovery, it does sound like it's going fairly well. I'd imagine he's frustrated, though. Send him our best wishes.

AFM: I haven't yet ordered the shirt. Hoping to settle down tonight & do some online browsing. DOOD is now gone for the month, but wanting me to visit at LEAST once while he's away. Me, I'm in hermit mode.

The upside of his absence, other than my heart growing fonder? I've been up WAY early both days, getting out for runs before the heat gets oppressive!

Anyway, more later! I hope all are having great days.

 

[princessbride6205]

I am the worst cousin EVER! I am so sorry for being absent! Life has gotten very busy for me. The girls finished school last Friday, so the month of May was packed with end of year things. Plus my crazy head convinced my body to train for a 1/2 marathon, which is this weekend, and I just had a baby in January. I didn't think it would be this hard! So it will be my slowest 1/2 ever, but I guess I just need to finish before they close the course! Anne, Lily, Pat, Jim, Susie and Corinna will be there (those are the ones I know of). Anne and Jim PROMISE to drag me across the finish line. I guess I should look at it as most people are not doing anything 4 1/2 months after having a baby!

Wow! I'm impressed that you are going for the 1/2 this weekend! I'd be interested to hear a little about how you trained after having your little one. I had planned to run the Mpls half as well, but my recent minor injuries didn't work out with that plan. I'll be cheering you all on in spirit!

Richard - you look amazing! Thanks for posting a photo, and congrats on making your goal time!

 

[tiberius]

To tell the truth, I didn't actually run on National Running Day yesterday as it was a scheduled bike day for me...so a spin class had to do.

Jen - I'm looking forward to hearing about your half, has it really been 4 1/2 months? No worries on the speed, just enjoy the process...and you are definitely not a bad cousin.

Debra - You know better than most what I mean by having a "great time" in a run (or in this case tri) event! I hope you get some good "me" time for yourself in DOOD's absence, not that you can't miss him and still enjoy some personal experiences at the same time. As for my weekend, it was ???????? in some respects. All of my weekends are busier now that I am helping out at FILs business for several hours on weekends plus an hour or two several days per week (which I am glad to do), but last weekend I was able to spend time with my own father who resurfaced after about 8 years of absence in my life. Admittedly, that had been his pattern for all of my adult life though this was easily the longest period without contact, and I had pretty much assumed he was gone for good...so there are some interesting personal feelings there.

Maria (and the rest of the scifi fans here) - Any thoughts on the new Doctor Who episodes. I wasn't so sure about this change of actor for the Doctor at first, but I am starting to like him.

 

[corinnak]

Jen, I think *I* am the worst cousin ever, actually! And you....new baby! That's all I have to say, but I'll elaborate: New baby, training for a half marathon! You are nothing short of amazing and whatever your time this weekend, you

It's been a crazy spring, that is for sure. We only have a couple more days of school to go, and then the crazy summer will begin, I guess!

This week has been weird because I did a 5K on Monday and I have a half coming up this Sunday. With Jen and several other WISHers. I'm not sure what if anything is going on besides the race, but I am here and well tapered.

The race on Monday was to honor those who are, as the organizer always says "living well beyond Traumatic Brain Injury, stroke, and brain diseases related to aging like Alzheimer’s." Yes, folks, that includes me. I just noticed that photos of me at this event last year are now prominently featured on the race's home page. I am a little embarrassed to be singled out - he gets people to come to the front at the start of the race for a photo - this year, one woman had a stroke a few years ago, there's a guy who is a para-olympian with cerebral palsy. Amazing, strong people.

I got my race result and I hate to say this, but I immediately thought they must have switched my tear off tab with someone else's - it said 27:20, which I'm OK with, except in the finish photo, you can clearly see that it is just not correct.


Whatever. It's not a PR for me either way - I was faster on this course in March, and I know I beat last year's time, too, though it was a cooler day last year. Then they gave me a loaf of bread and let me talk into a microphone for a few minutes. There's something good to come out of that concussion after all:

http://www.charitieschallenge.org/cceventphotos/2010 Life's Challenge 5ks Series/2/lg/IMG_3903.htm



Richard - great photos from your race! I didn't run on National Running Day either - it never seems to work out for me. I didn't even make it to spin class. Sad.

Jeanne! - Great photos! Congratulations to all of you! You look gorgeous - that blue is a stunning color and looks amazing on you!

Nicole - Sorry we'll be missing you this weekend. Those crazy injuries. I sure wish they'd settle down for you!

Debra - glad you're making good use of your solitude!

JenB - congratulations on your costumed race! I'm sorry I wasn't more help with the make-up. Can you believe I still haven't gotten an answer out of DH about where he got his stage make-up from? It sounds like it was a wild, wild race.

John - I wish I could be in your marathon training group - that sounds like a great way to do it! Sadly, it's a bit far to travel for training.

Maria - I can not believe your DS is taller than you are!!!! I am glad to still be the 2nd tallest in my family, but I can see the days of that are strictly numbered at this point. These kids grow so fast, it's mind-boggling!

I can not believe that summer is practically (and for all intents and purposes) here. Where the heck did spring go?? Just a big ol' blur, I think. I vaguely recall a few runs when the flowering trees were in bloom. Did not last long enough, IMO.