The Bloody Trail

Okay, Okay I know: It has been a VERY long time.

BUT! I have been traumatized!!

I know I have mentioned that I have been getting up really early to run and get a workout in. The routine has been; meet my sister a mile down the road twice a week, run, go to my dad’s gym, lift weights, hit the bag, swim or do whatever we feel like. On the off days I do it all by myself.

July 7, last week…..I left my house around 6:15 am for my morning run. I go by myself and have a great workout. I head towards home around 8:15 and see my friend. She tells me the police caught the serial killer or else she would have something to say about me going by myself and she really wishes I would take something with me like a knife to protect myself. I tell her; she is such a good friend and thank you so much for caring and I think CRAZZZY boy how lucky I am to have such a great friend and neighbor. I also told her how at one point…….((close to home)) I did get a little freaked out because of the song I was listening to “Killer on the Loose” by Thin Lizzy. Or maybe it was our talk from yesterday about the serial killer and the combination of the song the talk and the fact we really don’t live too far from Gaffney where the serial killer lived……Yicks!!!

We laughed at my silliness and I went home.

9:30 AM ~ I get a text message from Melissa, my friend next door: “Forensics next door 2 me.” …….then another message……”Police, fire trucks and a whole bunch of everything you would believe the cars & people – wonder what is going on”

We Figured someone was hurt and that was really too bad. I go about my day. After all, I had a birthday party to plan.

11:00 A.M ~ Another message from Melissa. “They are still there”

1:00 PM ~ We leave the house. I pass the police that are hanging out at the house in question up the street. I stop and ask; “What happened?” I am told “AHH nothing really, just a little domestic thing.” I say, “Wow! This is a lot for a domestic thing.” “I hope no one was hurt to badly.” The cop says, “No, don’t worry.” This is routine.” I say “Oh! Wow! I didn’t know.” "Okay"

I text Melissa and tell her everything is okay ~ this is all routine. She texts back and say “Oh! Wow!”

We have our party ~ come home around 7 and drive past the house in question and see: yellow police tape, more police cars, police vans, lots of police stuff……

WOW!!

We have dinner, talk about the day and what could be happening up the street……… the phone rings…..it’s my brother….I let it go and figure I will call him back as soon as we are finished …..Mark’s phone rings……It’s my brother….Mark says….”UMM It’s Bill…..It must be important.”

They talk…….

Matthew and Stephen are getting themselves ready to go out for their run.

Mark catches them as they are going out the door and says with alarm……”Hey! Wait! Your not going…….”

He looks at me and says……..”You’re finished running alone.”

What?!?!?! What are you talking about?????? WHY???

He tells me there has been an attack on our street……….an ATTACK!!??!!

“What kind of attack? What are you talking about? This street is beautiful town USA. Nothing ever happens on this street except dogs…..or a lost cats…….What are you talking about???? This is the street people don’t lock themselves in at night. We leave our keys in the car……….We leave our doors unlocked ……….what do you mean an ATTACK???

Mark tells me what Bill said:

A man…….(( he does not live in our area)) was attacked…….WITH a MACHETE! A MACHETE!!! Writing it gives me the creeps!! This was a Hispanic man, no one has seen before, ends up on one of our neighbors door steep……..Hatched up, bleeding profusely…The woman calls 911!!! This guy says he was attacked by someone he did not know on our street…..OUR STREET!! He said he didn’t know why, who or anything………He was just attacked with a MACHETTE!

The police investigate………They find there is a blood trail……..A BLOOD TRAIL……on our street!! Leading one tenth of a mile down the road to another house…….2……TWO!! houses from my house!!

YICKS!

We are not told much about this crime. We have been told; the attack happened inside this house one tenth of a mile down the road…….2……TWO!! houses down from my house!!

We know now this house was being used for drugs…for drugs…..on my street!! …The police pulled 3….THREE…van loads of marijuana out of this house. The police where seen by people on the street taking out grow light…fertilizer…computers…and other things needed for marijuana growth (( I don’t even know what that could be……..I have trouble with tomatoes!!))

As of last week; the guy that was attacked with the MACHETE! was not expected to make it. We don’t know what happened to him....We really don’t know much about what was going on there except the house was being used for drugs and we do not think anyone lived in the house. No one ever talked to the people in the house……they didn’t speak English….they only waved and rushed inside. We only saw Hispanic men coming and going rarely from the house.

….The grass was never cut, for a brand new house there was never even so much as a flower in the new yard. Now we know why…….They where to busy taking care of what was inside the house.

The police told us… This was a big crime. They will catch who ever did this. They said they could not find the owner of the house and to watch out for any strange happenings in the area. YICKS!! Strange Happenings in the area……like men walking down the street sliced up from a machete attack….

This area is very quite...People move to rural areas to be left alone….to run early in the morning and feel safe…to raise their children in a friendly but not so talkative neighborhood. We live here to be safe and live our lives in the bubbles we have created….It has really been very nice!

Everyone is on edge…..People are not going out as much…..you don’t see people walking their dogs…running…or doing the normal things you see in a neighborhood.

For one week I stayed inside in the early morning ……..not working out…….not doing anything….I got up, got dressed and sat there thinking….Okay, I will just get in the car and go to my parents house…I can run around their neighborhood….I just sat there….. waiting….to afraid to go outside, to get in the car, to go down the street.

After 3 days of this I thought……okay I will sleep in this week and start Monday. I can give it a week and then things will be okay. Happy with that and thinking the rest will be good……..

I waited until Monday.

Monday comes…..I get up early…..but still don’t leave early. I force myself to get my shoes on, find a good song on Matthew’s IPOD and go out the door. I start running…I have an hour and think that is okay…..I feel a little creped but think…..It’s okay……I’m okay…..everything is fine…I go to the dead end turn around……past my house and up the road….I pass my friends house and then see circles in the road with arrows leading up to the house in question……then I follow circles and arrows .1 mile down the road to the house that helped the man that was sliced up with the machete….((YICKS!!)) I force myself to keep going…….I run, stop, turn around look behind me, turn the music up, run, stop, turn around look behind me, turn the music down …….think okay I know I learned how to take away a knife from an attacker…..but I don’t think we covered Machetes…as a matter of fact I don’t think Mr T thought about teaching us how to take away a Machete from an attacker……mmmmm……maybe I should ask him about that……….I review in my mind taking away a knife, a gun, someone chocking you, okay how do you break elbows again…..yeah, that’s right…run, turn around look behind me, turn the music up, stop, turn around look behind me, walk, turn the music down ……make myself go 3 miles like this the whole way… I go past my old Karate instructors house…….think maybe I could just run up and down his drive way…..gee I miss karate…..hope I can go back soon……review in my mind the moves I should know..…

I have enough of the whole thing and head home…go past the house in questions, past the circles, past the arrows leading to the houses… I run, stop, turn around look behind me, turn the music up …

YICKS!!

I can’t wait to get in the house…I see Mark and say “GEE!! That was creepy!!” Mark says he wishes I wouldn’t go by myself any more……think that is a good idea.

Tuesday I wake up Stephen to go with me…..Show Stephen the circles and arrows and notice the blood staining the road leading .1 mile to the house where the man went for help. Stephen and I only make it a couple of miles it is early for him and the blood trail has both of us freaked out.

Yesterday, I was brave enough to get in my car and go to my mother’s neighborhood. I’ll keep you posted on the progress!

The Marys are THREE!!

Yesterday, July 7th, was Mary Elizabeth's third birthday. It was Auntie's Third birthday too. We decided it would be great fun to have a combined Surprise Birthday Party for Auntie......

at her house.

REALLY IT WAS OKAY!!

"Surprise!

We are coming to your house....

In five minutes.....Clean up quick!!

Did you make us a cake??"

No!!!

We are nicer then that!

We brought cake.

AND

Presents!

Lots of Presents!! We had a great time!

~But ~

.....There was someone missing.....

Auntie's Jim

He had a stroke last week.

He is doing much better this week and he is in rehab.

Even though, he is in the hospital and could not make our party

~ He didn't miss it~

We took the party to him.

He loved it!

He is the nicest man.

They are a great team and really love each other very much.

I know he and Aunt Mary Lou would appreciate prayers for his healing.

~ So if you could ~

They will not be wasted.

July 4th Pictures

Just a few July 4th pictures

It was not only July 4th ~ It was also Brian's 7th birthday.

We had a great big party and everyone came.

Joe cooked and it was great!

These guys heard Joe was cooking and there would be cake!

Everyone enjoyed the day.... There was

Swimming Sun and Fun

Fireworks!

It really was a wonderful day!

Mark and His Little Sassy Mai

Happy Belated 4th

Congratulations, your item sold -- and you made a difference

I did it! I sold my first item on e-bay. I down loaded the picture, wrote a description and then sold it. I also, thought it would be a good idea to give a little from the sale to charity……….. I donated $5.00 to Food for the Poor. This is because I am good, kind and giving.

Yes, I said ………” Good, Kind and Giving.”

Just so you know:

I carefully checked other e-bay listings and found I should start my listing price at around $14.00. ……I eagerly started the bidding off at $14.99. After about 7 days and 3 more listing …..I sold my first item, a staple gun.

For exactly what I listed it for.

That’s okay ~ because I carefully figured the mailing price by using the e-bay easy mailing pricing.....we weighed, measured and came up with a grand total of $ 6.75 for shipping. Because I am honest and nice and I really don’t like to be nickeled and dimed to death myself, I decided not to charge any extra fees.

Yup that’s me…..honest and nice and don’t forget good and kind and giving.

The grand total of my sale came to $21.47. I thought, well okay…….that was a lot of work but. I figured it was $21.47 more then I had before the e-bay sale……….I forgot about subtracting the $5.00 for my Godly donation and the $1.75 for listing my item.

Hummm okay now I am down to $14.72…….still okay……that’s fine……not a problem….the way I look at it, I was still a head $14.72 and gee it was $14.72 more then I had before I started. So that was good right? And I donated money to a good cause. I can at least feel good about that.

Of course, in my listing, I had said that I would ship my item out with in 3 days after receiving payment…….

I’m that good! I’m not only……… honest and nice and good and kind and giving…..I’m organized too!

Four days later:

I was still driving around with the staple gun in the trunk of my car………not remembering to buy a box…not remembering the days where going by fast and I really had to get it to the post office.

Friday morning

I thought I would get cleaned up, get everyone where they needed to be, run by Wal-Mart, buy a box…and get all the things I needed to make a good impression with my customer and then ship my item.

Easy!

That is when it started…. ((Thank goodness Mark was still home and was able to drop off Kathryn and Stephen at the church for their VBS volunteering.)). Matthew had the day off from his class and Mary Elizabeth was crying telling me how her tummy REALLY hurt. I picked her up, brought her up stairs and put her on my bed. I rubbed her tummy and talked to her to see what was going on………then the vomiting started.

All over me…..All over her….All over my bed.

I rushed her to the bathroom not knowing which way to go. Now it was all over the floor, the carpet and all the way into bathroom. As I navigated my way through thinking shower, tub, toilet…..Where….Do I put her? I was slipping and sliding all over the place stepping in throw up….. Finely I settled on putting her in the bathtub, took all her clothes off and ran the water.

Yulk!!

She stopped.

I Cleaned everything up, ……bathed her, shampooed the rug, moped the floor, stripped my bed, scrubbed the tub, showered myself, scrubbed my feet, paid particular attention to my toes, scrubbed my toe, and scrubbed my toe again. I threw sheets on my bed and let my baby fall asleep.

Shuuu

Then I check e-mail and see this message:

Hello Lisa

I hope I don't sound hasty...but my payment cleared two days ago and I have not yet received an email stating that my item was sent. Please let me know if/when it will be mailed.

Thank you

April

OOOOPS!!

I sent back this message:

Whoops! I am so sorry. I forgot to e-mail you. I took it to the post office late yesterday afternoon. It should go out today. Again, I am sorry for forgetting...kids, dinner, and who knows what else got in my way. Thank you, Lisa

I’m such a liar……..

So now what? Liz was sleeping and didn't feel good. I look at Matthew and told him I needed to run out to the Post Office, run by the store, tell Kathryn and Stephen what was up with Mary Elizabeth and we would not be able to come to the after VBS pick-nick and I would pick them up at 2:00.

AND

I think she will sleep for the rest of the morning…..She should be okay………There is no fever and I really don't think anything else is left on her stomach to throw……..She…..You…… will be fine…I’ll call you.

First to the Post Office……..no time to buy a box at the cheaper store……I’ll just send the thing. It can’t be that much. I show the guy what I had and give him the address……I tell him I want to send this thing the cheapest way possible and I need a box…..

He say’s…” Okay”……….”That will be $27.82”

HUUU???

$27.82??? Your kidding right?

He says “no” $5.00 for the box……..$1.50 for the peanuts and the rest is shipping and taxes…….

“Okay” I say……..”Well, that didn’t go to well.”

I tell him about my e-bay sale and he tells me to “call him the next time I put something on and he will help me with the pricing.

Okay whatever. Next time I will do that………So this leaves me $13.10 in the hole…….mmmmm That's not good.

I ship the staple gun and think ………Oh! Well, I have other things to do…..I’m off to the store…..buy ginger ale, crackers, chicken soup and sanitizing wipes because my toes still don’t feel clean……run off to the church see the kids……..get home check on Lizzy….she is still sleeping, run back out pick up kids ~ come home, get everyone lunch, clean up, turn on the computer and see this message……….

hello... do you have the tracking number added to my package?

Hhhhh…….just like any good sales person would do……….I ignored it.

Then another message from e-bay comes through……….

Congratulations, your item sold -- and you made a difference

Great!

This time I only lost a dollar……..Maybe e-bays not for me.

Oh! Yeah! And my Toes!! Still feel Goopy!

Just So YA know!

Yes!

We are embarrassed!

Yes!

We all wish Mark Sanford ((Governor of South Carolina))

would step down and move on.

AND

Have his midlife crises someplace else.

Just so you know...........We really do have respectable men in this state.

No! He is not one of them.

GEE!

The Faith of my Father

This is father’s day and my birthday………June 21, 2009

It was four years ago tomorrow we got the news “Our Father has Terminal Lung Cancer’. The Doctor said…”We will ‘call it’ stage 3B”…….and he only had a few months to live….like about three.

I can’t express to you how devastating this news was for us….all of us. First of all, we were terribly confused. If anyone could NOT get cancer it would have been our father…….he never smoked….he ate right….he exercised and did all the things right for a body you are suppose to do.

When we heard this news……for me…..it was like being slammed in the face with a bat. I stood there in the dark…….. stunned…… not knowing what was coming next. I felt like I was caught in head lights …… unable to move when the trucks came to plow over me ……and over…..and over…….. and over again.

That night, my father took each one of us alone …….He promised he would fight this thing and he loved us and we each meant the world to him…….and he didn’t know what he would have done without us in his life. He thanked us for giving him courage and he told us what he admired most about us. He told us all how special we are to him and again how much he loves us……….it all came so naturally for him: Streight from his heart. Hearing these words and just knowing how he feels about us is such an incredible gift, for all of us.....a gift that can never be bought. He made us all feel like we where the one that he loved the most……just like he always has.

Have you ever known anyone who makes you feel like you are their favorite person, ever? My father has this wonderful gift of sharing his time…….and making anyone around him feel like he is there for them. I don’t even think he knows he has this gift……….but, we know…….and so do the people that are drawn to him.

He is special.

So, on this father’s day and my birthday……..I can’t tell you how very special it is to share this day with him. and I am SO Thankful God has given us four more years……..and all I ((WE)) will ask of Him is 400 more.

There is nothing wrong with that.

As I think about my father, I have to go back to when I was a little girl…….I thought he could jump over tall buildings with a single bound. I thought he was the strongest, most handsome man ever. I thought he really was superman, and my mother never discouraged the fantasy.

There are so many warm thoughts and memories I cherish of him dancing, singing, playing and just taking time with me that I couldn’t possibly put them all down. But, the one memory that stands out the most in my mind ((today)) is the one that I think will tell you what kind of man my father is….the INTERGRITY he possesses. To me this story shows his true character ……

I was about 16. I had a speeding ticket I had to go to traffic court for and he went along with me…… to help me fight the fine. As we waited in the court room there was a young man standing in front of the judge who was in trouble for something pretty minor…… I can’t even remember what it was now. The young man was visibly shaking…… the judge asked him some questions and then charged him a fine that he could not pay. The judge then gave this young guy jail time because he had NO money………

When my father heard this, he jumped up from his seat…. and said, “What? You’re sending this young kid to jail because he is down on his luck?” The judge asked, "Who are you?" And then she asked the kid, “Do you know this man?” He said, “No”….

My father was told to sit down. He told the court he would not……..he said he couldn’t sit there and listen to the judge send this young man to jail for something so minor and asked how much he owed the court. He also asked if the fine was paid would the young man be free to go. ((I can’t remember the price of the fine now, but, I remember the shaking kid….. I know he was all alone…….and I know he couldn’t believe what he was hearing….)) I remember my father approaching the judge and asking if he could stand with this young man and represent him…..the kid told my father he could not repay him and my father said he didn’t want the money back. I remember my father saying, “I don’t care about the money….I have it and I want to pay your fine. I just don’t see this happening.” He told this kid he wanted him to get into school and make something out of himself and give “it” back to someone else….. when he could.

Now that I think of it……..he was paying it forward…….. way before it was popular.

I remember getting in the car after it was all over and my dad looked at me with this look of "oooohhhh"…..and then he said that he was worried about having enough cash for my fine after paying the young man's. But, he did…..and I remember thinking “ You're wonderful. Of course you had enough. I never doubted him for a minute. ” That day…..as I had many times…… I had a sense of real pride that he was my father. I knew he could move mountains, jump over tall buildings and save strangers…..anywhere, anytime, any place.

Now that I am older and things have changed (like him having cancer now) I still find myself in awe over the things he has accomplished...... over the things that he has done...... over the time he gives to each one of us, even when he is sick and does not feel like it, he still gives to us.

My father has a faith that is untouchable:

He carries his cross and never complains.

He goes to the cancer center to visit his team of doctors and calls them coach. He does what is asked of him and more. He carries on. He has fulfilled his promises to his family 10 - fold and still he carries on and moves forward.

THANK GOD!

Now, four years later, our father is still planning his next move. He is planning to build apartments. He is planning on the fall planting of the muscadines. He is planning to go to Europe for his 60^th wedding anniversary in four more years. He is planning on meeting his 2^nd great grandchild in November.

No one knows what their future holds. No one knows what will happen to the people they love or themselves. No one knows what tomorrow will bring……..but, I think we should all hold on to the FAITH my father has in his tomorrows.

It seems to me, my father’s faith is carrying us all through this journey we are on.

A Diamond in the Ruff "O"

Ruff-O came to my mom and dad's house around Halloween last year. She just appeared out of NO where......... Margaret and Reiner said; "Absolutely Not... She is a bad dog and we don't think she would be good for anything. She should not stay......... at all!"

They where very worried she would hurt one of the children............Ruffo was worried about being hurt too.

My dad decided right away he like her.........He started feeding her cooked ground beef, eggs and milk....He decided she should have a chance. He talked to her......... and they came to an agreement......"If she was good to him and his grand children ~ He would be good to her."

He asked me to take her to the vet and let him give her a "once over"..........if everything checked out okay.......My dad wanted her to stay.

Dr. Verdin confirmed what some of us already knew...........she was a very sweet dog. He said she will make a wonderful pet.....His advice ~ "If you are good to her, she will be good to you....." He told me he thought she was an abandoned pup and was just looking for a good home. .......He told me as a pit bull she would set ground rules for the other dogs in the area and then she should settle down.....He told me how the Pit Bull has a very unfair reputation.......they are the gentlest of dogs "IF" people just give them a chance and treat them well. ..........She had her home.............

AND

My father had his first dog ever.........that was just his and not one of his kids.

......Mary Elizabeth named her.............."Ruffo"

Things where a "little" ((okay)) VERY rocky in the beginning........like with the neighbors.......she would chase the cat, beat up the dogs next door, chase the bike riders that rode past the house, chase walkers, runners and anything she saw that came with in 1000 feet of her new home..........There where many problems! The neighbors next to Margaret's kept yelling at Reiner, her and their children telling them; "If they didn't make "her" father do something about that dog they would call the police, call the pound , sue them, and maybe even shoot her.".........The talk for months was how she must go......"She is NO! good........."

...........But, still she stayed..............some of us liked her and figured she would settle down....... Then the accident happened............ Some how, Ruffo got locked into the garage and could not get out for more then half a day........my father searched for her that Friday night and most of the morning Saturday......he couldn't find her any where and thought she had decided not to stay......... He called her.........she didn't come.....He search and called.....still she did not come......

When he opened the door to the garage, she was so excited about getting out and seeing him she knocked him clear into the air off his feet causing him to hit the ground hard breaking his hip..........((Which is a funny story that I will tell you all about one day.))

Ruffo felt terrible about all of this and really does not like to talk about it much.........She stayed with her new master licking his face until she was scolded by him as he laid on the ground and shooed her away........

Bill III was going to avenge his grandfather just as Rhet Butler did in Gone with the Wind when his daughter fell from her beloved pony and was killed.

Luckily for all of us this was just a fleeting thought of passion and he was quickly discouraged.

It has been almost 9 months now that Ruffo has been part of our family and we all marvel at the way she is with each one of the children.

We marvel at the way she is with our parents and how much she loves my father. If she has her choice between hanging out with the kids or being with her master she always sits with him first.

She loves her new family and these days fits in just fine. She does not chase the dogs away anymore but stands furm that "this" is her home. For the most part, she leaves the cat alone. She does not give the people on the street a second thought ........She gets very excited when we come over "to see her".....She plays with the children wonderfully and always gently.......She is afraid of thunder storms and runs into the house for protection. She always seems to have a smile on her face and seems very happy with her life. She listens best to"her' new mom ..........When I am leaving she tries to get into my car and loves to go for a ride.....She always shows us how to get down the drive way. She pouts when she is scolded but will come out for forgiveness.. .....and a dogie cookie

She knows she is safe.....and has become quite the little jewel ~ A diamond in the Ruff - O"

((and she is quite the drum set to boot.))

Where's the Chocolate??

It has taken me a long time to accept ~ I have to run to get back into shape..........because let's face it......the way the economy is going for "us" ((the nation as a whole)) it will be a long time before I can play Karate again. The acceptance of just liking to run has been hard for me...........actually I hate running. I would much rather go to a really hard and long sparing class.............I remember many Saturday mornings walking of the mat bleeding, hurt and in pain....and someone would say Wow! That was a great class........ Everyone would nod their heads in agreement and say "YAY!!" I have been trying to run for quite a long time now......maybe 2 1/2 years ...... and my resistance to running has taken it's toil on me. However, I have decided...... I have to like it...........almost as much as I like chocolate. Okay....... Not that much.

But, I love to have Ice Cream for dinner. AND If I am going to have Ice Cream for dinner, I have to exercise. Right now that exercise has to be running. So, I have been trying..........I have been drinking my water and eating right........Well, most of the time. I am trying to take care of myself for many reasons...........The biggest is my father, who has cancer and has survived much longer then the doctors ever imagined he would..........One of the things he contributes his survival to is exercise..........He has always and still does exercise even on his sick days. AND CANCER STINKS!! IT REALLY DOES! Over the past three years, I have struggled with these big issues; I am not as physically fit as I was BFME........that is......BeFore Mary Elizabeth. It has taken me a long time to accept.........I have a long way to go from pre-baby........to post-baby............even though she will be 3 next month.

And SO, I have struggled!

I think I am getting there. I think I have convinced myself..........It is okay to be where I am and I am learning to like "the" running and not pout about it "all" so much.

So here I am............With my "I love exercise Finnell Grin"

.........We have a secret........"We" the Finnell's and the Advent's are far from being athletes.....all we do is......"TRY". We pick a sport we like or in my case right now....... can tolerate and learn to like it. Then, we give it our all. We are not fast............We persevere.......We work through the humiliation of always being last. We work through the pain of what ever it is that hurts and we just 'do it'. We put our hearts into it and get the job done. And We do it with a Grin..........My sister and I have named it "That Finnell Grin"

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So anyway, I have been getting up really early........I mean really early and getting out there. The sun comes up at six. I have my shoes on. I am ready to go with my phone and my daughter’s I-pod............ I am excited about seeing how long the miles will take me and what my plan of action is for the day..............I am trying to increase my mileage and cut down on my time. It is fun right?????? That was until Monday morning..........I was going by my neighbors house........I should tell you, he has JUST started running again after 1o, 12 maybe he said 15 years........ I forget...........the most important thing here.......... IS............ HE! SMOKES!! He smokes!..............He just started running and he smokes........ Okay ya........Good for him, right?? ~ Maybe he will cut down on his smoking and all that great stuff. He will be healthy AND we all have to start some where. RIGHT?? It was about 7:00 am........and I had been running for about an hour. He sees me and says, "Why don't you run with me to the top of the hill?.......It is only a mile. I am just trying to run a mile." Being the nice, caring, encouraging person that I am ~ I said, "Okay" I have 10 more minutes........I can do that. He says, "Let's go!" He takes off.................He "smokes" me..............He "smokes" me!! I am way behind........huffing and puffing and starting to cough like the smoker HE IS..........my asthma is starting to kick in........... I can't breath..........I can't stop coughing. I can only say.........THANK GOD! My phone rang and it was a customer........I had to stop to answer my cell phone........out of breath..........I got to tell this guy.........."I am running and that is why I am sooooo out of breath and please forgive me.........could you please call my husbands phone and he will be able to help you." .............. I didn't tell this guy.........I was losing badly to my neighbor who just started running like 2 days ago and by the way he smokes............. BUT! there is good news "he" can run a 9...........I said a 9 minute mile............and he smokes.........and he just started running again.......He has gone from doing nothing........NOTHING!! to running a 10 minute mile....now down to a 9.......and he beat me...... bad!! Stupid Rick!! Where's the chocolate??? Oh! The good news..............Today .........He has shaved 12 seconds of his time..............Stupid Rick!

Rock 'N' Roll Marathon!!!!!!!

Today is the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon!!!!!!! My sister, Margaret, cousins Jen and Charlie are running in this Marathon.....Today! It should be VERY exciting! I am going to do my best to keep up with all the happenings of the GREAT event. Margaret, Jen and Charlie decided to join this race because of the effects that cancer has taken on in their lives. Jen and Charlie have dedicated this run to a lot of people, mostly to their friend Deana and my father..... My sister, of course, has dedicated her run to our father................WHO will be there waiting for her at the finish line. Our father has suffered the effects of Nonsmokers lung cancer ~ found in the late stages and given only 3 months to live...............4 years ago.

What do the doctors know? Hopeful a lot.... I know that Margaret worked very hard at her training. She ran when she was suppose too ~ She tried to eat right ((well not really, but it sounds good)) BUT! She ran!! .....Her husband very lovingly gave her wings to be able to do this run and should be commended for his patients, dedication and loyalty to her and the marathon she felt so strongly about. The training took a lot of work, dedication and perseverance on every ones part.

They all did a great job and now is the time................they PLAY!!

So exciting!

I am going to try to keep up with this event on line................TRY!!

No matter if they sprint,walk or crawl across the finish line we are soooooooo very proud and excited about this HUGE achievement for all of them! ((.....Mostly Margaret!....ssshhhh.....don't tell the others I said that! )) We are excited for them too.

AND THEY ARE OFF!

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Update 1

I forgot to ask for Jen and Charlie's bib numbers and I can't find information on them but

Margaret is doing AWESOME!!

Here are the results as of an hour ago:

20203 Margaret Hoverath F TNT Fundraising Half Start: Gun 6:30:03 Chip 6:41:12 Times:1:10:53 Pace:11:25 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update 2

I went to the Zoo with the family and NOW! I cannot remember how to access the information I had before........UUGGG!!...........STUPID Computer!!

((It is always the machine and never the operator))

This Just In!!

7:40 PM

~ I just got this E-mail from a friend of my sisters ~

I just talked to Maggie a few minutes ago and she finished the race in under 6 hours!!!! She had a great start to the race and ran the first 13-14 miles without stopping! Unfortunately around mile 21 Maggie stepped wrong and rolled her ankle. From then on she had to walk and was pretty upset. Someone told her to focus on all the people who were at home cheering her on and she got emotional thinking about all of us. I think it was her cousin that let her know we were all walking/running today while she was competing and that just meant the world to her! Maggie's parents were at the finish line and she cried when she saw her dad. You'll have to talk to her about the entire experience - she said it was just amazing! Also, 8.8 million dollars was raised for cancer! She said there were runners/walkers who were survivors and some that were in treatment.

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It is over and everyone did great! Jen, Charlie and Margaret all finished and we are very proud of them all!!

YAY!!!!

GREAT! Job Everyone!!

SO? WHO NEXT????

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I found the results!! June 1 - 12:30AM

Just for Margaret.......

Bib20203 FName LNameMargaret Hoverath City Simpsonville State SC Country USA Sex F ChipTime 5:59:15 ClockTime 6:10:25 Overall 11428 SexPl 5159 DivPl 371 Pace 13:43