25% of the Goal reached

I have reached $2550 in donations so far, and I have 14 weeks left before the big event. That means I need to raise about $530 a week before the deadline of October 11th. This is not an unreasonable amount. I have in the last few days received a couple more donations online from my colleague Chris Flenner and his wife Renee, and from my Aunt Rose Pankuch, who lost her husband last August from cancer. Another donation is on its way from Joy Hild, who, as mentioned in my last entry, is battling breast cancer. I have to make a quick correction, I thought she had already gone through her surgery, but she is due to go in on July 5th. I know I will be thinking about her, I hope everyone that reads this will do the same. Thank you guys very much for the support!

Yet another reason to ride....

I received a bizarre email last week. It was from one of my Mom's former customers, Joy Hild. She was wondering how to get a hold of my mom. I know, seems odd considering she was a regular customer of my mothers and my mother passed away some time ago. I was in some what of a shock reading the email when it first appeared, but rather then responding with the full story in an email, I asked for her phone number and called instead. It was difficult to actually say it out loud that Mom had died. It was even harder to hear her response when she told me that she too was suffering from cancer. The reason she hasn't been able to go to see my mom for over a year is well, no hair from chemotherapy treatments. That can put a hold on frequent visits to the beauty shop and my Mom's superb hair cuts. Joy was looking to have a quick trim of her new hair before having a mastectomy. On the phone I was reminded of the same strength my mom had when she found out she had cancer. Joy sounded sure and confident and ready to face the next step toward getting better and being cancer free! I hope her surgery has gone well, I do believe she said it was supposed to be yesterday. I will give another update on her progress when I have a chance to speak with her again.

LIVESTONG, Joy!! You are yet another reason for me to ride!

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

Yippee... read below for the latest update from the LAF on the creation of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas...

TEXAS VICTORY
Dear Andrea:

Today Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 14 (HB14), which establishes the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. View our press statement about the Governor's signing.

Over the past few months, we united together with a coalition of cancer organizations and as concerned citizens of Texas to send a loud and clear message to our elected officials prompting passage of the Texas Cancer Initiative.

Today’s signing is a celebration of our efforts, but we still have more work to do. Our next goal is to encourage our fellow Texans to make the Lone Star state a worldwide leader in the fight against cancer. On November 6th, voters will have an opportunity to approve $3 billion in funding that would provide $300 million a year for cancer research and programs.

Help keep the momentum going by signing the LIVESTRONG Army pledge today.

LIVESTRONG,
Lance Armstrong
LIVESTRONG Army

Don't sweat the petty stuff

I continually read Leroy Sievers blog called “My Cancer,” and today there was a post that was particularly meaningful. You don’t have to have or be affected by cancer in any way to get the lift that this particular entry gives. If you have a chance read it, have a real good think about what he says. It’s titled Little Things That Turn the Day Around. Mr. Sievers recently found out that he’s not completely clear of all the tumors in his body, and he has to go through the process again of more scans, more radiation, more tests, more visits to the hospital room, and most likely more chemotherapy treatments. My heart goes out to this man, not only for the reason that he’s battling the “beast” as he calls it, but he writes every single day about what he’s going through. He is a very gifted writer, and is an inspiration to all those suffering from cancer, and even to those who aren’t.
In today’s blog he makes a list of the little things that he really likes, the simple things that many look over during their day to day activities. The comments posted to his blog include other readers lists of simple things they enjoy. In response to this, I think I will make my own list of things that I really like that make my day, and make me appreciate that I have a healthy, happy life. Most things have to deal with eating or some sort of consumption it seems. I could live on chips and salsa and vanilla ice cream, Blue Bell vanilla ice cream to be specific. I have lived in Texas for 11.5 years, and I have never had any vanilla better then the Blue Bell Homemade! I love pasta dishes too, anything pasta. I think that comes from being physically active, I always crave pasta. Coffee in the morning, in the afternoon, or strong espresso after a meal late at night when I know I’m going to need to get to sleep. I like really good red wines in really big wine glasses, you know the ones that are very thin and delicate. They are fun to drink out of, and those types of glasses make me drink slower because I’m afraid to take too big of a sip in fear that I’ll break the glass some how. I like flowers, whether they are in my garden, in pots on my patio, or fresh cut. I received a hand full of dandelions from my friend Tim’s oldest son (he’s 5) when I was in Massachusetts earlier in the spring, they were beautiful. Jake seemed taken by me and was attached to me like a leech for the few days I was visiting. He was so cute with his little shy smile and his hand straight out in front of him holding dozens of dandelions. That made me smile, that will be something I will never forget. Tim lost his father to cancer a few months before I lost my mother, and we have been friends for a very long time, we relate on many things cancer (unfortunately). I like solid friendships, real friendships, ones that make you forget what time of day it is because you can’t stop talking. Friendships like I have with Tim, with Dawn, and with Jim. I like dogs, little puppy kisses on my nose, and throwing the ball with my boxer in the back yard. A baseball game live, regardless if my team wins or loses, the atmosphere of an American classic with hot dogs and beer! Beer.... mmmmmmmmmmmmm, I don’t think I need to go into that one to much, one word says it all! Getting a hug from someone always takes any pain away, whether emotional or physical. Dawn just told me that a hug from her boyfriend makes it all better. It’s something that makes her happy, and I’m sure makes everyone happy. Just a simple hug helped me get the thoughts of my mom’s illness out of my head for just for a few seconds. I think I could go on and ramble, but I know that just writing a few things down this afternoon has really put a smile on my face. So, when you’re down, think about all those things that are taken for granted in your daily routine. That cup of coffee in the morning, really taste it, enjoy the buzz, that bowl of ice cream, add another scoop. And, as my best friend Dawn likes to say from time to time, don’t sweat the petty stuff and don’t pet the sweaty stuff.

HEY HEY HEY!

I'm so excited... 2 donations, 2 days in a row...

Thanks Mr. Jim Bailey for the donation! I am at nearly 20% of my total goal, and I have until October 11th to reach $10000.

Interesting Article!

Take a look at this... different perspective on things!

A special thanks to Beverly Clarke for her gracious donation today. Keep 'em coming!

I have some work to do!

Alright, I haven’t written in over a week now, but I do have some reasons. One, my computer at home is unplugged and packed away while I’m remodeling the bedroom where it usually lives. Two, I’m remodeling a bedroom.... three, I’ve been busy with other things during the day that haven’t left me with too much idol time. So there you have it. Training, well, I have been exercising regularly, but I have been bad when it comes to actually riding on the weekends. I got a reminder of why I have to get into gear and start cranking out the miles today in my email. The routes for the LiveStrong Challenge have been decided and it’s going to be a tough one. Read below:

Austin:
The 2007 LIVESTRONG Challenge Austin will see the ride move out west to start and finish in Dripping Springs, Lance Armstrong's training grounds. Dripping Springs is a quiet, picturesque community 20 miles from the Austin city limits and is commonly referred to as the 'Gateway to the Hill Country'. Dripping Springs terrain lends itself to any cyclist who wants to enjoy a quiet, challenging ride that encompasses everything the Hill Country is known for: Texas Ranches, rolling hills, riverfront views, whitetail deer and quintessential Texas Longhorns.

The course departs out of Dripping Springs High School, and the beauty of the ride is immediately evident. The 70 and 100-mile courses head southeast towards the quaint town of Wimberley nestled along the Blanco River where the shaded roads and riverfront view is the ideal place for riding. 100-mile riders then head due west towards the town of Fisher and northwest traversing the town of Blanco. The course then turns back towards Dripping Springs for the Post Event Party.

Overall, all the course distances for the Austin Challenge encompass moderate to difficult terrain with some steep climbs. The long course will ascend a total of 6,000 ft. before finishing back in Dripping Springs.

Do you see that??? “Moderate to difficult terrain with some steep climbs.” ARGGGGGGG I need to get to work. I only have a few months, and I have a lot to do this summer other then training. I must admit though, my back is getting stronger because I’m getting better at pull ups since doing them assisted on the gravitron at the gym. Ha! A strong back does not necessarily help my riding, but I think it would be cool to be able to do a pull up, just one!

This weekend I am going to ride. I will ride in the mornings early before I start working on the walls and getting things sorted in the house, and before watching the Ags kick ass in baseball. Oh, that’s another thing... Texas A&M plays Rice this weekend in a best 2 out of 3 series on their way to the NCAA College World Series. Gig’em Aggies! I will be at all the games wearing my maroon and white. Watch it on ESPN!

Whoop!