Rain, rain, didn't go away

Whew! The first fundraiser is done and we are all pooped! We had a yard sale this morning and despite the rain, off and on, we had a fairly good turn out.

Thanks to the whole team - Mom, Dad, Glenda and Mike for all your efforts. Liam - good modeling of how to use a Tony Little Gazelle ;o)

There were still some items left, which was surprising as some of the stuff was certainly good, but I guess the right buyer didn't come along. Those gems will be saved for a second yard sale to be hosted at the Glenda's house later in the summer.

At the end of the (long) day, we raised a little over $240 which we divided between Glenda and I for our individual goals (which also counts towards the team goal).

Glenda's husband took a couple pics and I hate that Glenda is still cute as a button despite feeling like a tired, wet rat ;) LOL Nice cupcakes !

Baby steps continue ...

Breast Cancer Yard Sale - Sat. May 22

Cross your fingers for good weather this Saturday!

Glenda & I are holding a small yard sale (with boob cupcakes!) at my parents' house. All the funds raised will go towards the funds needed for our "For the Love of Meghan" team.

There are a few items that won't likely go into the yard sale because we think they'd do well on e-bay. I've never bought or sold anything on e-bay before but Glenda said she could help with that.

It's been an up and down week this week so far, but I'm hoping it will continue to swing up, especially for a nice long weekend.

Mom got her stitches out and can wear her glasses now, so that is great. It has been pretty hard for her to be practically blind for multiple days, so she's happy to be able to read her books, the newspaper and watch TV again. I had offered to read to her, but oddly she never took me up on the offer hahaha! She missed out! I would have totally rocked it and would have even made voices up for each of the characters. :)

I took in a lost little cat late Sunday. Declawed and thin, the poor little guy didn't stand a chance outside. Good old fashioned posters worked and as of yesterday afternoon, he was happily back with his family :) Yay! Good luck Chow Mein!

Sadly, I just found out last night that a friend's mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She recently had a masectomy. Stupid cancer!

I'd better get moving and get ready for work. I'm REALLY groggy this morning after a late evening meeting in Stoney Creek that ran late. I may be a bit of a yawning zombie at work today. Hey Glenda - get the coffee IV ready! ;o)

Toodles,

L.

Same but different

I've been doing well getting in some good walks. I did just shy of 10 km on Sunday and about 6.5 on Monday. So far I haven't done anything to make me very sore so that is reassuring because I won't likely be in severe pain by the end of the September Walk. Minor pain yes, lol, but not major.

I read Kelly Warner's note about Meg's funeral (posted on her dad's blog) and could see how deeply affected she, like many of us, was by Meg's passing. Hugs to Kelly.

I can also understand how Kelly felt when someone told her she reminded them of Meg. I lost track of how many people have said that to me recently, but let's say that if I had a dollar for every time someone commented on a family resemblance, I would have been able to buy a full tank of gas for my car - at least.

It's strange. Growing up, Meg and I never really looked alike, and I still don't see it. She was faaaaaaaaaaaar more photogenic than I ever was or could hope to be without massive amounts of plastic surgery haha (don't worry I won't do that).

I guess what changed was that over the last year and half, Meg's hair was lost and of course, went through different cuts and stages of regrowth leaving her with short hair, which I've had for a number of years. Maybe that was it...out of the corner of someone's eye, they likely saw a tall, slim figure of a woman with short dark hair - and interesting eyebrows. LOL Well, mine are more 'interesting', hers were more 'striking' ;oD. I think people WANT to see Meghan somewhere in someone because it gives them comfort that there are bits still there.

Our mothers are sisters, and when they were growing up, they didn't resemble each other much either. Aunt Marg was taller and slimmer than my mom, who has worn glasses since childhood, but as they've gotten older (no, I'm not calling you two old haha), you can see similarities come out. Sure, there are differences still but somehow those aren't what stand out when you glance at them. You see - sisters.

I'll always wonder if that would have happened with Meg and I. When we were both old and grey (hopefully inheriting our moms' pretty silver hair colour), would we have looked more alike? I'd like to think so but I guess we'll never know.

Meg will be forever young and beautiful to all that knew her. Me, I'll just do my best to age gracefully. ;oD

Forever the same, but yet so different.

Lisa

Mother's Day is here. {{Hugs}} to my Aunt M., Mom and Grandma today. Thinking of you all today.

Had a bit of a sleep in after watching Betty White on SNL last night and now have to get moving. Despite the wind storm, my family had our Mother's day celebration yesterday but I'll likely have some little mom day activities today. Just sorting those out this morning.

It's still overcast and slightly windy, but if I get moving, Kawaii (a greyhound X) and I will still be able to get a decent walk in before the rain and wind kick up again.

Over the next few months, Kawaii will be my main walking training buddy :) Luckily, she is almost always game for a walk, unless it is really hot outside, so I'll always have company on my walks. Glenda and I will likely get together from time to time to walk together too but that will depend on when our schedules coincide. Last night my brother's girlfriend, Luisa, said that she and her co-worker were interested in joining our "For the love of Meghan" team. Glenda and I say, the more the merrier :oD

I'm calculating how many kms each of my routine walking routes are. Since Kawaii is a high energy dog, we go for multiple walks per day, and we have a repertoire of routes that we do for the sake of variety. I've never bothered to calculate how long each of these routes are, but I think I'll do that just so I have a way of monitoring progress.

Best get moving!

L.

P.S. Update: 1:00 pm - Kawaii and I did a good 6 km walk over lunchtime today. Chilly but the sun came out so it was comfortable :) Off to hit the showers!

Setting a Goal & Making it happen

This is my first blog here, so it's a bit daunting. I feel like whatever I write here will set the tone. I'm probably putting too much pressure on myself - shock - but anyways, that's how I work.

Perhaps it's best to keep things simple and to the point, and then future postings will allow me to expand on things as they progress.

This blog isn't meant to be a lifetime project. It is meant to be a way of journalling my perspective on reaching a goal by September 2010.

Let me backtrack a bit. Since 2000, I've been actively involved in annual Terry Fox Runs. I've always been a big believer in the value of cancer research - for the cure but also for research for prevention. Prevention is primary, but the cure is also crucial until tried and true prevention can be found.

Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer - either diagnosed themselves or through a loved one. For the last decade, that person was my grandmother who fought and beat two forms of cancer and is still going strong at almost 91 years old. She is a good example of how successful cancer treatment can be.

In late April 2010, things changed. They changed in my family and they changed for me personally. My youngest cousin, Meghan, at only 28 years, lost a hard fought battle to breast cancer. To say it is unfair, to say it doesn't make sense, is only scraping the surface.

When Meg was just a baby, I was with her at our family cottage when she took her very first steps. She let go of the coffeetable she was holding onto and took her first steps to me. It was an important moment in both our young lives. I was such a proud cousin that day. Meg continued to make me a proud cousin throughout her life.

Now that Meg is no longer with us, I'm taking some steps for her - 60 kms worth of steps. Steps she should have been able to take herself. I plan to make her proud.

On September 11 & 12, 2010, I will be taking part in the 60 km Walk to End Women's Cancer, and I've selected that all the funds I raise will go specifically to research and treatment for breast cancer. I think Meg would like that.

I've done lots of fundraising walks, I've done a bit of globetrotting, mountain hikes (including Mount Fuji) and goodness, I easily do about 5km every day simply walking my bouncy dog, Kawaii. Admittedly, I've never done 60 km (at 30 kms per day), but I'll do it.

My friend and co-worker, Glenda, and I have formed a walking team named after a Facebook page created for and with my cousin, For the Love of Meghan.

This blog is meant to record how things progress as Glenda and I fund raise, train and get ready for the September 11 &12, 2010 weekend. Today is May 8, so we have a few months to get things done.

I hope you will help to support us in this goal, and I'll keep you posted as things progress.

Let's get walking!

Lisa