Lung Cancer Vaccine

I saw a headline about this but finally had the chance to check it out. Turns out Fidel Castro has pioneered biotechnology since the 1980's. This vaccine will not cure lung cancer but will ease symptoms, and also will extend life from four months to a longer period. It is a start. It is on trial here in the U.S., but will not be available for two years. If only we could have had it for Rita.


3Day: Did my first official training walk with Karyn, a teammate, as well as other 3Day folk. All the others are newbies so it was quite fun to see their excitement. I did well, my left arch let me know it was there, but after the 7 miles I went home, got Tink, and did 1.5 more so she could get her exercise.

How is your meditation going? Oh, and got the cutest pic from Kauai - check out Mana's shoe!

Ocean City, NJ

Ally, Matt, Zach, David, Kris, Kevin, Mom, Daddy, and me...we are missing Tim and Patti here who had to go to the city to work...but we made the most out of the days I had with all of them.

We celebrated Kevin's birthday, saved the sand castles from the ocean, walked to church, walked to ice cream; we cycled in a surrey with the fringe on top, we gin and tonicked on the beach, we played rummikube, watched the kids (and MomMom) play Wii, we did the blankety blanks and then an 'a' and then two blankety blanks and then a 'c' and then a 'd' of the NY times on the beach ( we finished Sunday's NY Times crossword!) and we laughed and laughed.

On the walking front I did about 5.5 miles on Saturday and then 1.5 each on Sunday and Monday. Mostly I had fun with the kiddos and family. That is what it is all about!!!

Hot, Dry and 82

What a perfectly gorgeous late June afternoon! Tink and I walked 3.6 miles and the weather is perfect - low 80's with a slight breeze here in North Georgia.

I'm looking forward to purple lips (yes, stealing from your sister is not nice, but what a great visual) at the beach - the New Jersey shore will be chilly this time of year - your ankles will get slightly numb at first - but what a refreshing feeling! Sipping, shelling, sandcastles, sun, and silliness!

And if you were worried - I did unlock that final level on Link's Crossbow Training! Now I'm after my silver medals. But not until after I read about the Green Knight!

6 Miles Today!

Whew! Tink is a little bit tired after her six mile jaunt - she had to pull me up the hills. Just kidding - but it was wicked at the end. Can definitely feel the left arch. : ( Have you donated to the 3Day cause yet? You will spur me on when you do - I want to walk with you, too!

Headed out to get a little something to eat with Jenny, then shopping. Ally, my niece, has graduated from eighth grade! Where did the time go? Anyway, heading out to get her a little something I have in mind for her High School years. Also have other shopping to do - yuck. Then home to King Arthur, Gawain, and the rest of the gang. And I have to unlock that last level on Link's Crossbow Training! I love my Wii!

Tim Russert and Thankfulness

What sad news today - Tim Russert dies of a heart attack. Only 58. As Tink and I walked tonight I thought about thankfulness.

Thankfulness for the little girl I was who lived for the day we went to the library, so I could find another adventure with Cherry Ames, read another part of the world of Louisa May Alcott, or discover something new.

Thankfulness for the love of daughters and a son. Thankfulness for my children's partners - all people I'd be proud to claim as my own.

Thankfulness for tears and heartaches.

Thankfulness for friends. Within the past week I have talked to or emailed with or both with friends in Cape Cod, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, here in Marietta, and as far as India.

Thankfulness for herons, hawks, and butterflies.

Thankfulness for my birth family. Thankfulness for nieces and nephews - those I'm related to by heart and those I'm related to by heart and blood. Thankfulness for all my cousins.

Thankfulness for Addie and George, Art and Mil.

Thankfulness for the health of mind and body that allows me to walk the 3Day and pursue my studies.

Thankfulness for the stars and the ocean and dogs and life.

Fireflies, the Moon, & the Ocean

Tink and I split today's walk into two parts - before and after my church meeting on the Building Fund.

Our first 1.5 was brutal heat - I think it had to be upper 90's with whatever indexes they use. At 9:00 p.m. Part II blessed us with the shining moon, the shimmery dusk, and frolicking fireflies!
: ) I love fireflies!!

I am heading to OCNJ in a bit and am really looking forward to walking and the ocean.

Kate heads to Kauai in a shorter bit - lucky ducky our Katie!

Butterflies, Goldfinches, an Old Friend, and a Hawk

Tink and I started walking at 9:30 this morning, a balmy 82 degrees wafting over us. We had a tremendous booming storm last night - hard rain, good lightning - perfect. It created a few puddles for the Tink. Most doxies do not like water - not the Tinker! She likes to stand in it and wade through it - I have to get her to the ocean!

We did 5 miles - a route through the neighborhood. First we came upon two bright copper pennies within a half mile of one another - face up. Then we stopped in the dog park, and the other gentleman there had two adorable Welsh terriers, Lucy and Sammy. While there and just after getting out of the dog park two butterflies flew around us. Towards the end of our walk, a male and female goldfinch pair alighted on a nearby tree to say hello, then flew down the street ahead of us. Lastly, a beautiful smallish hawk (not good on my hawk names, sorry) sprinted overhead low enough to share his beautiful markings with us. Ah, a little slice of heaven.

Along the way we ran into a fellow Hockey parent from Nick's travel hockey days here in Georgia. A great family man and wonderful hockey parent - we caught up on life. When the kids started playing together, their youngest child, a girl, was in maybe first grade. She starts high school in the fall! Their son, who played with Nick, is doing study abroad this summer with UGA. I shared the news of my kids, too, including our wedding last summer and what a great addition Paul is to our family. Time passes so fast. And that hockey dad gets a gold star - he says every time he sees me I look younger. Gotta like a man who knows the right thing to say!

Back to Arthurian Myth in the History of Britain...see y'all later!

I Wish I Was In Wilmington!

I dropped Statistics today - not because the class was intimidating - but because I could not get our KSU website to stop freezing when I needed it~! Argh!

The weather here has turned hot and hot. Tink and I walked 1.5 miles yesterday while trying to be patient waiting for the screen to unfreeze. It did not work. No walk today. Hot. Wicked hot, as my friend Jody says.

I have to admit I am bummed about the dropped class, but I'm trying to be philosophical about it. I will have time to train for the 3Day now. I will enjoy my weekend up in OCNJ with family much more. Ay yi yi... hey, if you have not made a contribution yet, please do it. Tink and I will thank you.