Aloha from Kauai and Maui

Since I had such an outstanding picture of Mana's foot in Kauai, Katie sent one of hers in Maui. Katie okayed sharing an excerpt from her email:


Mana's pic was taken on Kauai's Na Pali Coast at the beginning of the Kalalau trail, a world famous 11 mile hike, of which we did 2, 4 round trip.

[My picture] was taken at Turtle Town of Maui. At another black lava beach, La Perouse, about 5 miles down we swam with dolphins for about 45 minutes; then we got in the car, went to turtle town for INCREDIBLE snorkeling which included turtles and two manarays!!! The most beautiful, graceful things I have ever seen! It was a GREAT day.

Aloha nui loa
Katie

4th of July, the Peachtree Race, & Bean Bag

Jen and Paul ran in the Peachtree, a race that has been run in Atlanta every year for the last 39 years. There are over 50,000 people who run (and walk and wheelchair) and some of the runners win monies. They each did their own time (unofficially) and Jen came in at 55 min, 20 sec and Paul did 72 minutes and I think 10 sec. They both were almost at the goals they had set for themselves. Brian was in town, so he and I went and met up with them; it was a proud moment for us and our kids. They are pictured here in their shirts - I tripped up, I should have gotten feet pictures of them! Afterwards we went out for breakfast and some folks clapped for them - yay!

Nick and Teresa both had to work - blech. Anyhow, we cooked out and Jen and I took on Brian and Paul in bean bag. It took a phone call to Pop up in Philly for a judging on a rule - and Jen checked the internet - but we kicked the boys good the first two games. After dinner, they wanted a rematch, but the mosquitoes were feasting on Jen and I so well that we lost the first rematch then forfeited the second because the bites were making us miserable. So, in my mind, we won! : )

Nick and Teresa came late and we had some good laughs and all too soon it was after midnight.

Kate and Mana return from Maui later this week - but we will not see Kate here in Dixie until August.

Tink and I walked this morning with Karyn for our 3Day training, and we did 6 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes with one potty break. Good going!

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!