It's like raayeeeeaaaaayyyn on your beach day!

I had been planning to go to the beach at some point this week and picked Thursday because it fit better into my schedule. Plus, earlier in the week the weather didn't look too bad for Thursday. Well, I guess in terms of beach days this one was kinda bad.

I got there and it was overcast (which was a bit of a blessing since I had forgotten sunscreen...). But not one to be deterred by the weather, I set up camp anyway. Shortly afterwards it started to sprinkle. And kept sprinkling. So I put my sunglasses on, laid back and rain bathed! I did a little exploring and finally headed over to my friend's parent's house for a wonderful dinner!

I probably wouldn't be laughing...

...except these girls were on Tosh.0 laughing at themselves and having a good time of it. So I figured I'd pass it on. Both these girls look like they have longer legs than I do, so rest assured I won't be attempting the hurdles any time soon! Good on them for finishing the race out!!

A commercial I actually like

I don't usually pay attention to commercials. I use that time to zone out and think about things I want to think about. Or do something else. Or I just don't really watch TV. But recently one came on that caught my attention - a Toyota Venza commercial. (I must admit, it took me about 5 times of seeing this commercial to realize that it was for a car.)



Anyway, I think it captures the increasing internet-technology-culture of America. Is this culture good or bad? I guess that's up to you to decide. But I'd prefer to be in the parents' friend group!

Lex Gillette

To follow up on my previous post Mini Reunion!, the blind athlete my friend is working with is also a singer-song writer and motivational speaker. Check out his website - pretty impressive!

Breakfast in the wilderness

I spent a lot of time up at Cook Forest State Park this past week - running through the woods, tubing down the river, hiking, and EATING! Breakfast at the forest is one of my favorite things, and as you can see, it's an all out brekky!!


We're so lucky to have such a beautiful and largely untouched outdoor area so close by. One of my all time favorite places in the world!!

Straw that broke the camel's back

I’ve decided that I have no respect for soccer. After the men’s world cup last year and all of the shenanigans – “injuries”, rolling around on the ground, grabbing the ankle when it’s clear from the replay that the impact hit the upper thigh – I was really put off.

But I decided to give the women’s world cup a chance. And boy was I rewarded with a gem. I caught the end of the USA v. Brazil quarterfinal match. The US was already down in the first period of extra time. Still down into the second period of extra time, Brazil started the time wasting. Walking to take throw ins, delaying on free kicks, and then the worst display of sportsmanship I have EVER seen.

Brazil’s number 13 (Erika) was shown on the ground, clutching at who knows what. Play stops, the medics come out and load her on the stretcher, and as she’s being taken off the field, the replay shows that with NOBODY around her, Erika collapses.

Bring it back to real time – just as the medics get her to the sideline, she unstraps herself and sprints around the outside of the field. Next think you know, in the middle of play, she’s streaking back onto the field. The referee (who I heard had a shocker anyway), futilely waves a yellow card in this girl’s face, but time ticks on.

Fortunately for the US, perhaps justice was served. Two minutes into stoppage time in the final extra period, Abby Wambach scores a header in the corner to tie the game 2-2 and send it to penalty kicks. The US wins on kicks and heads into the semifinals to face France. I don’t think I’ll be watching. I’m sick of such disgraceful displays of unsportsmanlike conduct that has ruined an otherwise fantastic sport.

Mini Reunion!

Sorry this is late in posting – internet has been hard to come by. Wednesday I made a midpoint stop in Harrisburg to visit with my friends JN and JPS!!! So good to see them!!! We had a good ole fashioned country breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then tried to have the waitress take our picture.

Here is the first attempt, after several non-photos.

And finally here’s the last attempt, after several times of instruction!

As an interesting side note, JN is in a masters program out in San Diego in sports management and she told me one of her projects was finding a sponsor for a para-olympian named Lex. Lex is amazing because he competes in track and field, BLIND. That’s right. Lex runs the 100m and 200m sprints (he’s blind!) and does the long jump and triple jump (blind!). How awesome! He has a sighted guide runner, who also used to be a sprinter, and who gives him instructions running right next to him. It just goes to show you that nothing is impossible and people can overcome some seemingly debilitating events and conditions to succeed! What strength!