Team in Training

I have been a participant with Team in Training since January 2009. Around new years time I decided that I wanted to train for a mini-marathon to help motivate me to get into shape. Shortly into the new year I received some information in the mail about Team in Training. I attended one of their "recruiting" meetings to see what it was all about and I decided to give it a shot.

Team in Training (TNT) began in 1988 when a man from NY formed a team that raised funds and trained to run the New York City Marathon. The team of 38 runners raised a total of $322,000 (To read more of the back story click here.) TNT has trained over a half a million runners, walkers, triathletes, cyclists and hikers that have come together to raise over $1.2 billion for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Over the course of the past three seasons I have met some wonderful people from my teammates, honored heroes (those that are a survivor of a blood cancer or those that are currently undergoing treatment) and their families, to the office staff. Some of these people have become my closest friends.

Before every race TNT puts together a Pasta Inspiration Dinner where ALL TNT participants and their families come together to listen to the touching stories of those who lives have been forever changed because of blood cancers. I have come to realize that cancer does not discriminate; however, the cancer has an extreme battle to overcome as I am always amazed of how little kids and even adults can face such a horrible thing but face it with a smile on their face. This dinner is a reminder of what we set out to do and its what keeps us going at mile 12 when all we want to do is stop. I always remind myself that that little kid doesn't have a choice to not get treatment, doesn't have a choice to not have cancer, so I don't have a choice to stop running. I fight for families so they don't have to fight - so they can focus on the care and supporting their loved ones.

I have been blessed to be able to participate with such a team while I give back to those who need it the most and I have no plans to stop pounding the pavement to train for events until a cure is found.

If you are interested in being involved with TNT, please visit their website to see what you can do to help!

The Bible in One Year

I found the reading plan on The One Year Bible Online website.

They offer a simple One Year Reading plan which goes from cover to cover, and a Chronological Reading plan that has you read the bible in the order the events actually occurred. Both plans are on their website as well as links to each month's reading plan, or the option for the 7 Day Readings which allows you to choose your start date of reading and will pull up what reading you are on for today. There are some other neat links on their page so check it out.
I have chosen to do the Chronological Reading plan as it will help tie everything together as one fluent story rather than having it broken up. I guess you could save the chronological plan is like watching a movie where as the basic one year plan is like watching a movie that has a million flashbacks. Flashbacks can be tricky, especially when you're piecing it together over a year.

Hatch / Neal Family Support

**The following post was primarily written by my friend, Angi. She composed this in a way I could not have. Full credit is given to her for the words below-- I did edit the email address to reflect mine. Thank you for reading!**

Dear Friends,

My blog is not typically a very serious blog, so I hope that you can realize the seriousness of this post.


Maria, Stephen, and Kim Hatch
Photo credit: Maria - Facebook

 The family of a dear friend of mine was involved in a very tragic airplane crash on June 24, 2011. You can read the news stories here, here, and here. I highly suggest you read them.

In the crash, Maria's mother Kim, and father Stephen, both died, and her 16-year-old brother AJ was critically injured. At this time he is still in a medically induced coma. Maria and her husband, Jason, sister Brittnee, and brother Austin are all undoubtedly in a great deal of pain. Maria is due to give birth to her first child at Christmastime.

It is a miracle that AJ survived this plane crash, but it is even more unbelievable to know that this is the second plane crash he has survived.

I personally, am at a loss for what to do, or even where to start. I don't really even know how to write this post.

I've been brainstorming with Allison on how to help them out, and we want to help in any way we can.

Kim and Stephen Hatch
Photo credit: Maria - Facebook

We felt that doing a gift card drive would be the best route for us to go. I would hate to inconvenience anyone by causing them to sit around and wait for us to deliver meals, so if we were to get them gift cards to specific restaurants, grocery stores, or even Visa gift cards, they could make their own decisions about what they would like to eat.

I understand that asking for donations via the internet can be sketchy at best, especially since most of you don't know me, but I need to get this out there anyway, in the event that you can and want to help.

We know that we cannot take away their pain, but if we can bring even a small amount of comfort to them by showing we care, that is what we intend to do.

Kim, Stephen, AJ, and Maria Hatch
Photo credit: Maria - Facebook

If you are interested in helping, please contact me by email at alli.bulmahn @ gmail (dot) com, and I can get you the details of where to mail your donation to. If you feel negatively about our collection, please keep your thoughts to yourself, as we are only trying to help and be positive.

We will collect as long as you want to donate. Please, read the news stories and try to imagine how you would feel, and how much you would appreciate the help.

Thank you,
Angi & Allison

**Update June 27, 2011**

Dear Friends,

We understand that there may be many of you that would love to give but are hesitant due to not knowing us and the increased number of internet scams. So, Angi and I are currently in the process of finding out if their local church and/or school has set up a memorial fund yet. If not, we will find a way to get one in place for the family.

We are still collecting gift cards for the family and would appreciate any donation you can and are willing to give. We will hand deliver these to Maria.

If you do not know us are you are wanting to give but are hesitant because of that fact, please check back periodically for the memorial donation information.

Thank you in advance for your donations and thank you again for your continued prayers for the Hatch/Neal family!

Sincerely,
Allison and Angi

Kroger Pick-Me-Up

I picked this book up at our local grocery store, Kroger, while shopping for some food because it was 25% off and I've seen the trailers for the movie and it looks good. Since I am considering going to see the movie, I thought I would read the book while on vacation to help pass the time sitting around in the hotel or driving.

I am not sure if I made a new goal or not in reading books, but I did finish this book that contains just over 400 pages in less than 3 days. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. I was so engaged in the book that I just wanted to know what happened next. Needless to say, I loved the book. I just saw that the movie is coming out at the end of the month. I can't wait to go see it. I am sure that the movie will not even compare to the book, but it's worth a shot. I guess I'm just waiting for the day that someone will actually stick to the story line of the book. I mean, hello?! If you have that big of an audience that is taking hours of their lives reading it, they don't want to be disappointed when you've changed the story line! I'll update you later on the movie portion. Below you will find the synopsis of the book but you can click here and actually read parts of the book if you want, brought to you by Barnes and Noble. =]

Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.
The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.

Movie Update : My Sister's Keeper

After being really disappointed to have missed My Sister's Keeper in theathers, I actually caught it before it was gone!

A few weeks ago I went to see the movie with my mom at the "dollar" theater. Ok, so it isn't a dollar, but it was only $3.00. A lot cheaper than $7.50 that's for sure! The movie was alright. I was very disappointed at the changes they made.

I guess this just goes to show that the books really are better than the movies. I'm not sure if I would've even like the movie with out reading the book first. No way to tell now. I ended up passing the book on to my mom so she could read it. Not sure when she will ever get a chance to read it considering she is a workaholic.

A One Day Read

After I finished reading It's About Your Husband I had to get something else to read to pass the time on the boat while my husband was fishing or while we were driving a couple hours. So I decided I would get another book, so we took a quick trip to Wal-Mart. I was looking for the book Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner but couldn't find it there so we checked Meijer, nothing there either. So I scanned the shelves for something else. I found the book My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, which was turned into a major motion picture. I have not seen the movie yet, so I wanted to read the book first. I thought the movie wasn't coming out until late this month, but I just looked and it seems I've missed it.... bummer... now I have to wait for it to come out on DVD. Anyway, where is a synopsis of the book (and movie).


Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate — a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister — and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.


I loved, loved, loved this book. I couldn't put it down. In fact, I read for about eight, yes, eight hours today just to finish it. Another amazing notch in my belt that has never been seen nor done by me; ever. I strongly suggest you read this book. I'll give you an update later on the movie and let you know if it does the book justice or not (I have a feeling that it wont).

It's About Your Husband. Yes. Yours!

Kidding. This post is NOT about your husband. But you thought it was about someone's husband didn't you? Just so you know -- this is not gossip about anyone. I just couldn't help myself with that title.

I was on vacation this past week and I guess I was bitten by the reading bug. I say that because I practically read two books this week, which is amazing.

I had purchased It's About Your Husband at my colleges book store for a dollar or so. Once again, like I have said before, I usually purchase books for the cover. I know, lame. But if I don't find the cover to be interesting then I usually don't even pick it up to read the back. Anyway, here is a picture of the book and a synopsis courtesy of Barnes and Noble. (I'm not good at summing up a book with out telling too much!)



WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE BIG APPLE BITES BACK?
San Fernando Valley native Iris Hedge left her husband and traded coasts for the job of a lifetime- only to lose it in a New York minute. Now unattached, unemployed, and broke, she dreads her loneliness and imminent credit card bills - until she's offered an exciting, new gig: spying on a possibly cheating, uptown husband named Steve.
Soon Iris is trading her business wardrobe for the stalker niche of sweatpants and dark eye wear, and navigating the hazards of urban surveillance - Central Park's fascist dog-walking rules, rejection from exclusive boutiques, and a series of unnatural hair colors. But as she steps into uncharted territory, she wonders if her life will ever go back to normal-and whether normal is anything she'll ever be happy with again.



The book was alright. It seemed slow at first but then picked up and the read was more interesting. However, it probably is not one I would read again. I liked it. Not loved it.