Merry Wordless - A Postal "Thank you"

Heart of Haiti ornament I won on Jaime's blog

 

 

 

What was your favorite part of Christmas?  Mine is that its not over yet - I still have Christmas with my family tomorrow night!

The Aftermath

 

 

bliss in a cup courtesy of the in-laws

 

unpacking Christmas #1

 

Still waiting on Christmas #2

 

 

Christmas Day

Jay is the train engine & I'm the caboose!
Only I didn't bring the hangers to WV with us.

Jay's on the left, mine on the right
courtesy of his parents

 

Athens, Ohio
2 libraries

30 bars
Perfect!

 

Mitten gloves FTW!

 

The year of the slippers

 

 

 

Office Christmas Party

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Christmas Survey

Borrowed these questions from Bari, who borrowed it from someone else.

1. Favorite Christmas Album/CD/Song:

 

Kenny & Dolly's.  And the Alabama Christmas album.  and the Chipmunk album.  My mom still has all 3 records.  We use to listen to them every December.  She even got me the CD for Christmas a few years ago.

 

2. Run on Christmas morning or take the day off?

 

I'll probably take it off.  We've got to head back from West Virginia (duty calls on the 26th), so our day is limited, but I do hope to get at least 1 run on the treadmill while visiting Jay's family.

 

3. What do you usually eat on Christmas morning?

 

Cereal.  Growing up we were always in a toot to get our presents opened at the house, everything cleaned up, and be ready to go to my Mamaw & Papaw's house at noon.

 

4. Favorite holiday or Christmas tradition?

 

Christmas eve candlelit communion at church, followed by steaks and "Justus" potatoes for dinner.

 

5. Real tree, fake tree, or no tree?

 

I have 2 fake trees, but I love the real deal.  I'm allergic, so I'd be paying for a real tree the whole month.  I always buy a tree-smelling candle and light it in the evenings to get the same effect without the allergens.

 

6. Christmas pajamas, yay or nay?

 

Nope, never.  Although I love me some cute jammie pants.  Maybe this is a tradition I should start??

 

7. Where do you spend the holidays?

 

Every other year we go visit Jay's family in West Virginia.  When we're home, we spend Christmas morning just the 2 of us, then head to my Mamaw & Papaw's for lunch.  Christmas Eve is spent at my parents house for dinner.

 

8. Food that you always have during the holiday season/favorite Christmas treat?

 

FUDGE!! My mom makes the best, most yummy fudge in the world.   She makes both chocolate and peanut butter.  I have to be forced to share it with Jay.

 

9. Open presents all at once or take turns?

 

Take turns.  The only exception is if my sister and I got the same present from our parents, then we'd open them together.

10. Favorite Christmas(ish) movie?

 

ELF!

 

What about you?  Care to join us and do your own blog?  Or just answer one in the comments.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Wordless for a Week

Over at Average Moms Wear Capes - Christie is going wordless for the entire week of Christmas.  From the 24th through the 28th she's posting only pictures of her week, and inviting others to do the same.  She'll even have a link up if you want to snoop blog hop and take a peak into how others spend their holidays.

I've got a busy weekend ahead, including some travel, so the 24th and 25th will be pictures I've already snapped in the days leading up to Christmas, but I promise to share pictures of the the holiday itself the last 3 days of the week.

 

How 'bout you? Want to join us for a week of celebrating Christmas with a pictorial view of your life?

Goal Review

 

At the beginning of the year, I declared "2012 is the year of the PR" and it was.  The only distance I didn't PR at was the 10K distance...but only because I didn't run it! 

I actually decided back in April my 2013 goal would be a sub 2 hour half marathon.  The realistic-ness of that goal was solidified in October when I ran my half in 2:07.  Some work at the distance and I know a sub 2 hour is doable.

Right now I have my eye  on a couple of different halfs.  I'm already signed up for the Covenant Health Knoxville {half} Marathon.  I ran the whole course this year for a 26.2 PR.  The Saturday morning training runs make for good encouragement not to skip runs and also provide an opportunity to train the terrain of the course.

My super awesome goal is to run this race in 2:07 - my current PR.  The course is super hilly, and the PR was set on a flat course.  I'm not sure I'll be able to, but its something to work toward.

The month prior, Columbia, South Carolina is hosting a half marathon.  The only thing really appealing of this race is the friend of mine who lives nearby.  I'm always looking for an excuse to go visit her! 

Meeting my sub 2 hour goal will probably take several attempts on my part, so I really need to be looking later in the year for some good races.  Any suggestions on favorites?

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Checking in for the Great Maintenance Challenge

Challenge starting weight: 137

Current weight: 135.2

Chestnuts Roasting...

One of the perks to living in an old house is the maturity of the trees around it.  Jay and I enjoy the shade and the beauty of the trees nearing a century in age.  We have several different varieties - including walnut and chestnut trees.  We've even tried cooking and eating the chestnuts, although I wasn't a fan.  (Microwaved chestnuts taste like bland scrambled eggs.)

I'm thankful we seem to be rid of our mouse problem, the nut trees create a different kind of rodent problem - squirrels.  Not content to rob us of peaches and nuts, they also feel welcome to make their home in our attic and the walls of our house. 

We've tried several different options - including the high pitch noisemakers to no avail.  One was so high pitch the squirrels couldn't hear it.  Another was so obnoxious I threatened to move out.  We consulted the "guarantee to rid your home" people, but I suppose for $6,000 you could offer that kind of guarantee!!

Jay finally decided a live trap cleverly positioned in the path the squirrels typically take from tree to tree to house was the solution.  I'm not sure he knew what he would do or where he would transport them when he finally caught one...

He spread peanut butter on the spring and carefully positioned it.  For a few days, nothing came of his quest.  Yesterday getting in my car, I noticed he caught something.

I felt sorry for the little guy, pacing back and forth as best he could in the cage.  I had to get to work and had no clue how to free him, so I sent Jay a text.  "Good luck with that." 

He posted the picture on facebook (tagging me as the skunk) and was the recipient of several "that stinks" comments.  Around lunchtime I got a call from my friend (coworker/running buddy) Kelly.

Her: What's Jay going to do about that skunk?

 

Me: I'm not sure.  He's gotta let it out, but he's not at home right now.

 

Her: But its supposed to rain all day.  And Pepe doesn't have shelter.

 

Me: Um, okay.  That sucks.

 

Her: He can't just leave it out there.

 

Me: Um...

 

Her: What are we going to do about it?

Me: I guess we're skipping our lunch run and freeing him?

 

Her: I'll get my coat.

Seriously.  She loves animals that much.  I told Jay what we were doing and he finished up with the contractors and headed home.  While we were waiting on him, I gathered the supplies.  Google had advised us to sneak up on the skunk and cover the cage with a dark blanket.  We were hoping a hook or other such devise would allow us to keep our distance from the cage.

She was nominated (by default cause I sure wasn't gonna) to free Pepe.  She carefully approached the cage as directed - quietly and in a non-threatening manner.  The covering was the easy part.  She tried a couple of different times to use a hoe to open the cage, to no avail.  It didn't help that she was working blind - the mechanism was also covered by the blanket.

Finally we decided to wait until Jay arrived. He had set the trap and remembered how to open it easily enough.  With cameras poised, the actual freeing wasn't very dramatic.  A pull of the handle and off he ran!

Operation Free Pepe was a success!  He was free to scamper back to his home in time to tuck the little ones in before Santa arrives.  Hopefully he'll adopt the "if you see something, say something" policy in helping us catch the real criminals Chip & Dale.  

A Life Without...

Words.  We use them every day, but seldom we do we stop and consider their power.  Power to build up. power to heal. Power to tear down.

Yesterday I read words on a blog and I felt belittled   The author’s intent seemed to be expressing her love for her children and how she couldn’t imagine life without them.  From my perspective (as a woman childless-by-choice), however, it felt like a judgment against me.  Against a choice of how I live my life.

I’m a bit ashamed to admit that my concern for those who desperately desire children but cannot have them became a secondary reaction, although I have since continued to pray God would protect them and not allow them pain from the blogger’s words.

On vacation a month ago, I found myself in the position of the blogger.  I professed my feelings about my life and (to my surprise) offended someone.  Chatting with a stranger at our bed and breakfast, she asked if my husband and I had children.  “Nope.  They are loud, messy, and I just don’t like them.”

Those are factual statements. Most any mother would tell you that children ARE loud and messy, but they love their kids despite those qualities.  Or even because of those qualities (although I don’t quite get that…)

As the conversation progressed (over several drinks) we talked out the issue and ended hugging.  She did kinda weird me out when she prayed over us and attempted to make the sign of the cross on our foreheads for us to have a boy-child (what century is this again?).  I did, however, understand her heart and was blessed by it.  Someone I had just met had bared her soul to me.  She loved her life so much, she wanted me to share in her joy.

The good news of Jesus.  Isn’t that what we are called to share?  To be so enthralled with how this God-child changed our lives.  Not just added a little something here and there, but turned our worlds upside down?  So full of joy that we can’t imagine a different life?

Over the next few weeks I want to attempt to answer some of the blogger’s questions with a series entitled “Living the Life…of a Childless {and frugal} Trophy Wife.  I don’t claim to speak for everyone out there who doesn’t have children.  I can only speak for me. 

Today, however, I want to take a moment to consider what the center of my world is.  What in my life could I not imagine living without?  What in my life is so close to the core of my being, to remove it would be to remove a part of me? 

My relationship with my Savior should be my answer, although I fear it’s not. What is the rock on which your life is built?

Santa Hustle - Recap

Less a race report and more a pictorial recap, I wanted to share with you images from the Santa Hustle event I did this weekend.  Several friends of mine and I signed up for the 5K.  At the first of the week we decided to be festive.  Since we're all different run paces, we decided to walk the event together and just be festive.

 

 

Yes, the beard is on my nose.  I couldn't get it to stay and he was in a hurry to take the picture.  Yes, I have bigger legs than all 3 of the other girls combined.  Yes, I'm wearing snowman socks. 
Any more questions?

 

The "beachy" quality to my hair is because Kelly and I met before the race (in the 6 o'clock hour) to run 4 miles before meeting up with the rest of the crew.  Only my hair looked ridiculous in the hat and beard while also pulled back into a ponytail.

 

 

Hot chocolate in hand, we lined up behind the start (appropriately placed toward the back so no runners would get pissed off at us being in their way.)

 

The start line was packed and we were glad that we wouldn't be racing this event.  I always struggle with positioning and having to pass people early on in races.  Instead, we enjoyed chocolate covered cherries at the candy station set up around the half mile marker on the course.

 

 

We also partook of the cookie station later on in the course (and on the way back - given the out and back nature of the event.)  Our time was certainly not a PR (48:12) but thanks to good friends and the Jango Bell Rock music station it certainly was a good time. 

 

 

 

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Checking in for the Great Maintenance Challenge

 

Challenge starting weight: 137

Current weight: 135.6

 

The magic number this time around is *133.2 so anything above that is just bouncing around the holiday bloat.  As long as I stay in this general area for the rest of the year I'll be happy.  Come January though, I'd like to see a 2 as the middle number of my weight.

*Found the actual weight in my records.  From 10/21.

 

How are you doing this holiday season?  Still keeping up with your exercise program despite the busyness of the season?  Saying no to one-to-many desserts or extra drinks?

Frugalista Gone Wild

Yesterday after a doctor's appointment (no worries, just a follow-up on my new medication) I hit the mall.  I've done most of my shopping on Amazon, but I still had a couple of gifts to pick up.  Plus Christmas isn't Christmas without a trip to the mall!

In addition to finishing up my gifts-to-buy list, I also picked up a few things for myself.  The bags were heavy and I felt like I had gone wild with my purchases.  Turns out, I really didn't spend that much on myself.  It felt good to try-on and buy at a regular retail store (instead of the normal thrift store shopping I do).  Turns out my favorite jeans aren't made any more. 

The more I walked around the mall, I realized just how dated a good portion of my wardrobe is.  I have too many nice things to walk around in the same old crap I always wear.  As soon as I get it washed up, the outfit I was wearing yesterday is getting donated.  I refuse to wear anything that makes me feel less than fabulous.

I started in American Eagle and purchased this top without trying it on.  I had went out with friends on Sunday and didn't have any long sleeved, casual tops I liked.  Unfortunately, I don't like it as well on as I did on the hanger.  I'm mostly certain its going back. 

 

I weaved my way in and out of the different shops in the mall trying on skinny jeans.  I have a pair from Express  but apparently they no longer make the X2 style any more - plus they were all around $50.  In Belk, I found a sale on unmentionables.  I purchased a couple pair along with this really comfy pair of jammy pants.

 

 

I ended back up in American Eagle (thanks to Bari's recommendation of their skinny jeans) and after much deliberation decided on this pair of jeans.  I still feel a bit awkward in them.  They seem too tight or I'm too old or fill-in-the-bank.  On the way to the register I saw this shirt in the clearance section and picked it up.  I like it much better than the first.

 

 



 

 

My big shopping spree ended up being less than $100 (including the top I'm taking back).  Not so wild for most people, but it felt really naughty (and freeing) for me!

 

Do you shop for yourself while shopping for presents?  Just collect ideas for your list?  Or shop for yourself all year round?

Christmas Decor

The week after Thanksgiving, my in-laws came for a visit.  While they were here, they helped Jay and I decorate for Christmas.  First stop was our rental cabin.

The  tree was left over from my days as a single gal living in my small City apartment.  Most of the lights were no longer working (we added a couple strands for the cabin) and it was far too short for the 10 foot ceilings in our house.  We purchased a bit of garland, a few bows and were done with the rental.

Now...on to our home.  I had originally purchased the tree below to replace it, not realizing it would also be far too small.  Now it is perched atop its storage container (covered cleverly by a blanket of "snow") to elevate it - and make it the right height for our side neighbor to see. Last year at her Christmas party she told me how much she enjoyed it.

Last year during the after-Christmas sales, Jay and I purchased a 9' beauty.  This is its Christmas debut in the Frugal family household.  Normally we have fun ornaments we've collected along the way.  This year I just wanted to keep it simple - just red and silver balls.

 

Our stockings hung by the chimney with care...

 

 

And what would Christmas be without the birth of my Savior?  Typically I don't put him in the scene until Christmas eve.  Also, whenever my friend Kelly comes to visit, she moves the wise men to a different room - reminding me they weren't in the picture until Jesus was a couple of years old.

 

 

 

I've also got a wreath on the front door, but I forgot to get a picture of it.  Oops!  Forgive me?

 

What's your holiday decor style?  Do you go all out?  Do your neighbors think they live next to the Griswalds?  Or do you prefer a more simple approach?

 

 

Porters Creek Trail

My family and I wanted to hike Mt LeConte the day after Thanksgiving. With my mother just recently recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and my dad scheduled for knee replacement, we decided to go for a shorter hike

 

 

 

Above is a picture of me with my 3 main men: Daddy, Jay, and Papaw.  (Listed in order from left to right on the picture, not importance.)  Yes, 2 of them have a mouth full of tobacco - but at least they all came out, right?

 

 

And then there was the rest of the crew.  My mom is the one in the goofy hat on the left. She and Daddy struggled quite a bit on this "easy" hike.  It was less than 4 miles round trip.  Papaw, who turned 80 in September, had no trouble keeping up with the young folk!

 

Half way up, the trail veered off to the right towards an old homestead and a barn.  The kiddo & his parents, as well as my parents stayed behind while Papaw, Jay, Sharon (one of my mom's best friends), and I went exploring.  Once we were done we doubled backed, met up with the crew, and headed toward the falls.

 

 

 

At the waterfall, we stopped for some snacks (because isn't that what hiking is all about) before heading back down.  Jay, Sharon, and I ventured up the falls for some better shots.

 

 

 

 

 

On the way down, Jay and I really struggled with hiking slow enough to stay with the crew.  When we got to the more even ground, 1 mile to go section Jay piggy backed me the rest of the way.  I carried the heavy backpack and he carried me.

 

Being carried by someone who wants your arms and legs positioned just-so isn't easy!  (Although carrying around 135 squirming pounds probably isn't either.)  We had to stop and reposition several times, and we still ended up waiting for them at the end. 

Apparently going down hill is harder on bad knees than going up, so my mom needed several breaks.  I forgot I had the water, so they couldn't even snack when they stopped.  Oops!!

 

All-in-all, it was a fun hike.  I'm hoping come next spring the parents will be healthy enough for us to take on the 10 mile trek to Mt. LeConte!



With a Little Help from My Friends

A few months ago, I finally snapped out of my eating frenzy and started to lose weight.  My appetite was curbed (probably due to my new medication) and I lost around 10 pounds fairly easily.  Now its starting to creep up (I blame vacation + holidays) and I don't want to lose the momentum I've found.  In fact, I want to lose about 10 more pounds (from where I am - about 6 from where I was at my lowest this time around.

This photo has nothing to do with this blog,

but it was a gorgeous hike and I wanted to include a picture in this post. 

I've noticed I'm not alone.  Bari posted today about her return to blogging her weight journey and the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans is currently hosting "The Great Maintenance Challenge."  I think for the holiday season (Thanksgiving stretching through New Years) the pressure of losing gets overwhelming and I end up going the opposite direction. 

So........its time to get back where I was a couple of months ago.  I'm not just talking about a 133 weigh in, but smarter food choices.  Smaller portions.  Being mindful about my hunger.  Less calories wasted to beverages (be it carbonated or fermented).  Truly savoring my food and not just consuming it.  Liking who I see in the mirror - with or without the extra pounds.


Current weight: 137

 

Do you have any tried and true ways of avoiding holiday weight gain?  Do tell!!

Autumnfest 8K - Race Report

Wednesday after work, I clocked out and headed home.  I was in such a toot to get home and start my long weekend, I forgot my gym bag.  Translation - no GPS, no music, and old shoes for Thursday morning's race.  (See also, diva sunglasses instead of sport sunglasses.) 

Thankfully my 1980s stop watch was in my jewelry box, my friend Kelly let me borrow her iPhone (music AND pace calculator), and I have plenty of old shoes as a back up.

Add my forgetfulness to Thursday morning insomnia, and I anticipated a crappy race.   My super secret goal was 44 minutes, but I knew without a doubt I was capable of a PR.   Until that morning.  When I struggled to breath the cold air.  (That's right, no inhaler either.)  Then I hit the hills.  Runkeeper was telling me my average splits, so I just kept trying to push faster to not lose my PR hopes too.

In the first mile, Kelly and I stuck together.  The course was crowded and we didn't want to go out too fast.  Having volunteered to work the event as well, we'd spent our morning directing racers to the appropriate parking spots.  I didn't really get a good warm up or a chance to size up where to line up in the race.

Despite the first big climb, I felt strong.  My split (as spoken in my ear by runkeeper) agreed.

Mile 1 - 9:51

As the climb continued, Kelly went ahead.  She's super strong on hills.  I was able to pick up my pace a bit, and was pleased with the result.

Mile 2 - 9:39

Finally, we got a break from the hills and I took off.  Or at least it felt like I took off.  My goal was to make up for time during this section.

Mile 3 - 9:16

The Knoxville twist to the old saying is more accurately "What goes down must come up." The brutal hill stretched for about a quarter mile and ended up being a walker for me.  For reference as to the steepness, here's a picture of my friend Kelly in the same spot at a different angle.

 

Mile 4 - 10:32

With most of the hills behind me, I was able to turn it up a notch and bring it in for a strong finish.  Even at this part, the course was crowded and I didn't really get the straight-shot sprint in I wanted.  Also the start line was different from the finish, so until the last few hundred feet, I wasn't sure how much I had left to go.  Even still, this was my fastest mile.

Mile 5 - 8:89

Official finishing time - 47:00

 

28/80 - Age Group

496/995

 

 

While I didn't reach my super-secret goal, I PRed by 1:16!  Not bad at all, considering my old PR was from 4 months ago on a super flat course.  This was definitely a race I can be proud of!

Thanksgiving

I was doing so well posting my #dailythanks ...until I wasn't.  Blame my lack of social media time, a busy life, or an ungrateful heart.  I'm really not sure why I haven't done better this past week about expressing my thanks.  No time like the present to make up for it.

 

15. $10 hair cuts.

I get my hair cut at Hillbilly Hair 5 minutes from my work.  Not only are the cuts inexpensive, she's good.  After throwing in a 50% tip, I'm still out the door for half the price of my previous stylist AND I like the cut better.  Win/win!!

 

16. My cousin Zach getting incredible news at his doctor's appointment. 

Only 2 more chemo treatments and he'll be DONE!  The doctor even commented that Zach is the first time he's ever seen someone gain weight (looking at the pictures you'll see why that's a good thing) during a successful chemo treatment. 

 

17. 12 hours of sleep.

Followed by 2 more hours of doing nothing but laying in bed playing on the computer. nothing will force me up this morning save a dead computer battery, overwhelming hunger for breakfast/coffee, or the urge to pee.

 

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The next 3 days I forgot to post, but I can go back and fill in the blanks.  Now that I look, 3 days isn't as much of an epic fail as I had originally thought.

 

18. My mama

 

My family took advantage of $5 Sevier Co. days at Dollywood on Sunday.  My mother doesn't ride roller coasters, but she was more than willing to go to the park with us and hang out while we rode the Wild Eagle and hung from Adventure Mountain.  When my sister and I were kids, my mom was always patient at amusement parks when Daddy, Kelly, and I would leave her on a bench while we had fun. 

 

19.  Allergy shots

 

Admittedly, they are no fun.  But a decade ago when I wasn't on allergy immunotherpy, I spent the winter battling one illness after another.  One particular bout with bronchitis was so severe it left me with a bruised rib.  I'm thankful for a great allergist, and a body that responds well to allergy shots.

 

20. Free Kindle downloads

 

Now that I have a library full of ebooks, I'm more selective in what I will download/read.  I've really enjoyed the last couple of Kindle books I've read and look forward to reading more by the authors.

 

 

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21. (as posted on Facebook) Obviously I am a "daily thanks" failure. Day 21 - Grace and mercy to start each day with a clean slate!

 

What are you thankful for this week?

{hot} Wheelin' and Dealin'

Its been a while since I've done a "deal" post, only because its been a while since I've done a good couponing deal.  Life has gotten busy and hectic and I just haven't found the time for hard core couponing.  I'll clip a Pillsbury crescent roll coupon here and there, but nothing like I use to.

I was shocked to see how many good deals CVS has this week.  I chalked it up to their black Friday sale, until I noticed the ad said the deals were only good through Wednesday.  Presumably they'll have even more deals for the end of the week.

Here's the breakdown - I spent $29.02 out of pocket.  I did 3 separate trips into the store so I could use as many of the Extra Bucks as possible, so they wouldn't run out and I could spend the least out of pocket as possible.  I even took advantage of some non-ECB special prices, which is why my total is a bit more.

Because we don't have a state income tax in Tennessee (nana-nana-boo-boo), we do have a high sales tax.  $4.08 of the above mentioned total was tax.  The rest of the breakdown is as follows: $49.92 in total goods, $22.98 in extra care bucks.  $2 extra care bucks not spend to be carried over for next week's shopping. 

My haul?  Deoderant, hair gel, 32 oz PowerAde, panty liners, eye/lip color palate, Charmin, 3-12 packs of Pepsi, Listerine pocket pack strips, Chex Mix, Starbucks canned drink, Almay eye make-up remover pads, a hot wheels car  AND {4-2 liter drinks, 1.25 liter Coke Zero, 2-32oz citrus teas - my Thanksgiving dinner contribution}

Not my best deal every, but certainly a good one.  A couple of those items will be Christmas gifts, $10 on Thanksgiving dinner, $10 on canned drinks for the house, and I have $10 in quite a few personal hygeine goodies.

Have you gotten any good deals lately?  Do you have a black Friday trip planned?

Monthly Thanks

For the month of November (hello Thanksgiving - are you next week already??) I've been posting my daily thanks on Facebook.  For today's Thankful Thursday Friday post, I wanted to share what I've been thankful for so far this year.

 

 

1. Boots! I got my free pair of boots in the mail thanks to Jay helping me with some Ohio Bobcat trivia. (See picture with #4)
2. My dad (who officiated his 2nd "last" game high school football last night as head referee)
   
   
   
   
3. My beautiful home. I love this place, even if we will be moving to a different beautiful home next year.
4. My sister, for all the awesome clothes she's ever given me. Both as gifts and hand-me-downs, I never fail to get compliments when I'm sporting fashion by Kelly"
   
   
   
   
   
5. The opportunity to talk to my Savior any hour of the day. If I'm gonna have insomnia, might as well be productive right?
6. Food to eat. Whether it be a drive thru breakfast surprised from my Mama & Daddy, lunch leftovers, or my sister's chicken pie recipe for dinner.
7. Warm clothing and shelter from the elements
8. My darling love and husband of 4 years Jay on our anniversary! I very much enjoyed watching his negotiating skills, while trying to get us the best rate possible at the fancy B&B at which I wanted to stay. ♥
   
   
   
9. Making new friends and finding out about interesting places thanks to my ability to "Delmar" people.
10. My hubby and I know how to have a good time - Jay is so scruffy/cute he just got asked if he was tonight's musical entertainment. That's right - I'm with the band!
11. Military veterans
12. A fun, relaxing, indulgent, enjoyable vacation. and my darling love being by my side every step of the way
13. Free stuff in the mail - a book I won on Marla's blog and a Zatarain's perk from Klout.
    
    
14. Knoxville Track Club Socialites - group runs and team racing
15.  

Light the Night - Team Zach

Last month I was proud to participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night walking event in honor of my cousin, Zach.  Zach has been battling Lymphoma since he received his diagnosis, shortly after his high school graduation this past spring.

The event had a great turn out - including a few famous faces.  David Keith walked in support of a friend.

Zach, far too young to remember An Officer and a Gentleman, misunderstood who he was meeting and asked Mr. Keith to say "Touchdown Titans." 

"Um, yeah, that's not me..."  Apparently Zach and his buddy thought they were meeting Tennessee Titans announcer Mike Keith. 

Local UT celebrities were also in attendance - including Men's basketball coach Cuonzo Martin (pictured with Zach above) and football announcer Bob Kesling.  Both men are lymphoma survivors. 

 

 

Towards the end of the 1.5 mile walk, we were treated to a fireworks display.  Yes, that's the back of my head in the bottom right corner of the above photo.  Yes, my hair is getting long and scraggly.  I'm trying to grow it out so I can donate it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign - they make wigs for cancer patients - in honor of Zach.

 

 

 

For all of those who have supported my family along the way, both in prayers and financial contributions, please accept our thanks.  No one fights alone, and with your help Zach will defeat this monster.