How to Save a Life

Who knew that I could run 10 miles in a couple of hours?! It was an amazing accomplishment for me. Sure, I might be sore and my right knee is bothering me, but that's nothing compared to what blood cancer patients go through. This past week I ran for two victims of blood cancer: Matthew Thompson, cousin of Sonia Samora (Gabe's football team mom) who died of ALL at the age of 18; and Esther Turbyfill (Shane Chaney's mom) who died of leukemia in 1998.

75 cents of every dollar you donate benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and its mission. More than 823,000 Americans have leukemia, Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma. Every five minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer.  Every 10 minutes, someone dies.

I still have a little less than $1,250 to raise with only one week to go. Your contribution of any amount is greatly appreciated, and of course, tax deductible. To make a donation to this great cause, please go to my web site at http://www.monicatarantino.com/ (a secure site). We are all facing difficult times financially, but just remember...you're donation will help save lives. Now is the time to donate!

I'm training to participate in the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon & Half-Marathon (13.1 miles) as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training on Sunday, November 16th. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop blood cancers from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling these horrible diseases. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Please pass this email on to any of your friends and family. Every effort counts.

*Did you know that Mary Travers, from Peter, Paul and Mary, has been battling Leukemia since 2004?*

Thank you for your support!

Updating the numbers...

A month...
Tomorrow will mark another month that has gone by. I know, I know. I probably promised to do a better job of updating my blog in my last post. No excuses here. I let time slip away from me.

Instead of powering up the computer at home, I go lay on the couch while the hubby designs; slip into some comfy PJs and open up a new read (which just happened for the first time this week); or I wander around my house looking for something to do that will satisfty my need to be doing something. When I do power up the computer, I log into ebay and just look for some random things or read blogs about design, music or paper. Always amazed at the prices people will pay for things. Always amazed at how certain blogs can capture my attention for hours. I should be emailing people about making donations to my Team in Training website (only $1270 to go!)...but I suppose it's my time to decompress. But hey, no excuses. ^_^

I know I will get better with it in due time. Perhaps when I become a stay-at-home mom (my dream job), I will be able to create a schedule that will allow me time to blog. :)

Enough about my blogging...
Today, a healthy, little 6 pound, 9 ounce, baby boy was born to my bestest friend in the whole wide world! While childbirth is something I have yet to experience (and there's a slim chance I ever will), I look upon it as the most experience a woman can ever go through. The miracle of life is just that...a miracle. Bringing a life into the world...whoa! (Sure, you can tell me that adopting a child is like giving them another chance at life, but it's a different kind of miracle. The miracle is that you don't kill a kid for being a booger. heh.) So today, all my love goes out to Moe and her family. May God continue to bless & protect them. (She always wanted to be surrounded by men.)

Friendship...
What is one to do when the phone goes silent on the other end? Wait for the dreaded disconnected signal? Continue to wait thinking it will be a matter of moments before the other comes back? Eh. It's hard to say and it's hard to tell that person waiting what to do. There's a reason certain people are in your life, and there's a reason why they are in your life at a certain time. It might not make sense now, but looking back you'll figure it out.

The kid...
Moco has had some amazing moments during the last month. We took a visit to Goodwill to find items to make his costume. We found them all and are now working on the details of the costume! Getting 4 A's and 1 B on a progress report...he had never done that before "in his whole life!" It brought a tear to my eye as well as to others because he was so amazed at himself. His first visit to a pumpkin patch. Talk about craziness - he couldn't contain his eagerness to run all over the place. We got into a car accident last week and I thought the kid would be tramatized. Still doing great in football.  His social schedule is just as bad as our's. :)

The wrap up...
October is very much the doorman to the holiday season. The foliage begins to change colors, the temperature lowers (a wee bit) and I begin to go through my closet trying to find clothes that might make it past the fashion police. Pfft...I've got some serious work to do there.

In the meantime, I'm off to bed to dream of what may come tomorrow. Peace out.

$2000

It's time to make a difference...and contribute to my fund raising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training!

So, visit the following link...Mango's Team in Training Site!

Come on now...what are you waiting for?!
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Listening to: Kim Virant - Constant Motion
via FoxyTunes

13.1

It's official. I have registered for the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. Oh, and I am not doing this alone. Not me. I'm a social person, driven by friendly competition and motivated by a cause.

That's why I joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. They provide you with training for 4-5 months, group training sessions, clinics, and other fun stuff. Everything I need to begin this new adventure. All I have to do is raise funds to go towards cancer research on their behalf. How cool is that?!

Tonight was the information meeting and let me tell you...I'm SO PSYCHED!! Just talking to some of my new "team mates" has totally energized me. They are also pushing me to do the full marathon. Pfft!? Are they crazy?! Then again, it's early in the training and anything is possible at this point.

Pre-season training begins this Saturday at 7 a.m. Early, right?! As God has planned it, I am now used to rising early on Saturdays, so nothing new. (With the adoption of Moco, I have not had a day to sleep late; and Moco wakes up Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. on a regular basis.) It's a simple 2 mile run through Brackenridge Park. The official training season begins June 7th. As of today, I have 5 months and 26 days until the gun goes off!

I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I begin training and to block out Nov. 16th on your calendar so you can see me cross the finish line! ^_^