I'm waxed, so this will be a short one. Dori drove a car today for the first time since September. Even better, she picked up the kids from school. I called her this afternoon, and she was still on the high of doing something she hadn't done in a long time. In fact, I think this was her first school run since May. Important stuff for her, the kids and me.
Last summer and fall, Dori simply was trying to survive. Then, for many months, she focused on taking baby steps to recovery. She's been in lockdown for so long. Now she's beginning to experience some important events that were missing for an extended period of time.
Today, my wife gleefully reclaimed some independence and normalcy in her life. Dori definitely has a bounce in her step right now, for which I give great praise. I pray for her continued progress every night, as I know many of you do. Dori and I thank you for your spiritual support.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Different Outcomes
So sue me ... I did run yesterday. The snow melted and the roads cleared, so off I went yesterday afternoon on a run to Belmont and back.
I sweat heavily when I run, so I always train with water if I'm going more than five miles. Wanting to simulate next week's race, I didn't bring any water, figuring I would hydrate at the Athlete's House, which always has water. The 3.5-mile leg out went well ... I was at 30:00 even, but needed a drink. Alas, no water, and my plans for the leg back went awry.
The 3.5-mile return was rough; in fact, I didn't run hard and didn't run all of it. I didn't want to pull something or cramp. Chalk one up for being smart, but obviously I was frustrated. I don't like crummy runs before races. So I vowed to go at it again Sunday, and went to bed early.
I felt OK this morning, and decided to run the PWP 5.8. The weather this morning was incredible - high 30s, sunny and a very light breeze. When I warmed up (with Gatorade in hand and GU in pocket), I thought I might try for a sub-50 minute run. I took off feeling alright, but didn't exactly smoke the first mile, which is a gradual uphill climb until a steep 150-yard ascent. I reached in 8:45, not my best. Some skinny tall dude appeared behind me, eventually catching me at mile two. Another fit fella passed me as I neared Three Mile Hill; I wasn't struggling, but I knew I wasn't on my A game.
I usually think three things at the base of Three Mile Hill - "That looks easy," "This will take work," or "Uh-oh." Today was the middle. The two guys who passed me stayed within sight, but I really had to press and breathe to keep moving up the hill. I stopped watching my time, instead tuning in to my iPod and getting in a rhythm, albeit a slower one. Continuing on, things got more difficult ... the 50:00 goal was probably gone, but now I had to tell myself not to stop. The GU soon kicked in, and I reached the top at 3.3 miles. Sanity and oxygen returned, and I got moving again.
At the next hill, I felt better, passing some runners and walkers, realizing I wasn't really running that slowly. I made it to the 4.8-mile mark, finally looking at the watch - 45:10. The rest of the run is downhill, and I felt like I could cook it. Downward I bolted, feeling optimistic. My new goals were to run a 7:00 last mile and finish at or near 52:00.
With less than half a mile, I was holding good form when I passed three people who waved at me. I recognized one of them, who looked at me astonishingly as I went by with almost no time to say "hello," which I did manage to say. I laughed inside, thinking she probably thought, "Isn't that the same Jimmy Brown who used to pound cheetos on Sundays?" Yes, it is ... gotta go!
I finished in 52:23, running that seven minute mile (or a shade over). Confidence restored I'm not a wimpy runner, I walked down Belle Meade Blvd. to let the lactic acid recede. I thought about the week's totals (24.3 miles) and and plan for this week (probably three runs, the last of which will be no more than three miles simulating race pace).
The kids and I went to the VU baseball game this afternoon, joining several friends and their children. VU won 9-3, and Will scrambled successfully for another foul ball, which he asked Coach Tim Corbin to sign after the game. I told Coach thank you for that and thanks again for coming to see my wife in the hospital last year. He perked up, asking how she's doing and when she'll be at a home game. I said we hope very soon, and that she's eager to see the team. I also said he really fired up Dori last year when he visited. I'll never forget that and always support his program.
The kids and I walked with Pepper to the neighborhood church, where they rode their scooters. Daylight Savings Time is great, isn't it? Dori is in the kitchen chopping some fresh basil for that angel pair pasta I mentioned yesterday. We're going with a little bacon over the prosciutto. The house smells good! This week will be all about the carbs - pasta, fruit and bagels.
Someone ring that dinner bell ... this boy is hungry!
8:45 p.m.
Dinner was great, and I almost forgot to note this: Will gave Dori the autographed baseball from Coach Corbin and Kathryn gave her a VU shirt she caught at the game. I love my kids.
I sweat heavily when I run, so I always train with water if I'm going more than five miles. Wanting to simulate next week's race, I didn't bring any water, figuring I would hydrate at the Athlete's House, which always has water. The 3.5-mile leg out went well ... I was at 30:00 even, but needed a drink. Alas, no water, and my plans for the leg back went awry.
The 3.5-mile return was rough; in fact, I didn't run hard and didn't run all of it. I didn't want to pull something or cramp. Chalk one up for being smart, but obviously I was frustrated. I don't like crummy runs before races. So I vowed to go at it again Sunday, and went to bed early.
I felt OK this morning, and decided to run the PWP 5.8. The weather this morning was incredible - high 30s, sunny and a very light breeze. When I warmed up (with Gatorade in hand and GU in pocket), I thought I might try for a sub-50 minute run. I took off feeling alright, but didn't exactly smoke the first mile, which is a gradual uphill climb until a steep 150-yard ascent. I reached in 8:45, not my best. Some skinny tall dude appeared behind me, eventually catching me at mile two. Another fit fella passed me as I neared Three Mile Hill; I wasn't struggling, but I knew I wasn't on my A game.
I usually think three things at the base of Three Mile Hill - "That looks easy," "This will take work," or "Uh-oh." Today was the middle. The two guys who passed me stayed within sight, but I really had to press and breathe to keep moving up the hill. I stopped watching my time, instead tuning in to my iPod and getting in a rhythm, albeit a slower one. Continuing on, things got more difficult ... the 50:00 goal was probably gone, but now I had to tell myself not to stop. The GU soon kicked in, and I reached the top at 3.3 miles. Sanity and oxygen returned, and I got moving again.
At the next hill, I felt better, passing some runners and walkers, realizing I wasn't really running that slowly. I made it to the 4.8-mile mark, finally looking at the watch - 45:10. The rest of the run is downhill, and I felt like I could cook it. Downward I bolted, feeling optimistic. My new goals were to run a 7:00 last mile and finish at or near 52:00.
With less than half a mile, I was holding good form when I passed three people who waved at me. I recognized one of them, who looked at me astonishingly as I went by with almost no time to say "hello," which I did manage to say. I laughed inside, thinking she probably thought, "Isn't that the same Jimmy Brown who used to pound cheetos on Sundays?" Yes, it is ... gotta go!
I finished in 52:23, running that seven minute mile (or a shade over). Confidence restored I'm not a wimpy runner, I walked down Belle Meade Blvd. to let the lactic acid recede. I thought about the week's totals (24.3 miles) and and plan for this week (probably three runs, the last of which will be no more than three miles simulating race pace).
The kids and I went to the VU baseball game this afternoon, joining several friends and their children. VU won 9-3, and Will scrambled successfully for another foul ball, which he asked Coach Tim Corbin to sign after the game. I told Coach thank you for that and thanks again for coming to see my wife in the hospital last year. He perked up, asking how she's doing and when she'll be at a home game. I said we hope very soon, and that she's eager to see the team. I also said he really fired up Dori last year when he visited. I'll never forget that and always support his program.
The kids and I walked with Pepper to the neighborhood church, where they rode their scooters. Daylight Savings Time is great, isn't it? Dori is in the kitchen chopping some fresh basil for that angel pair pasta I mentioned yesterday. We're going with a little bacon over the prosciutto. The house smells good! This week will be all about the carbs - pasta, fruit and bagels.
Someone ring that dinner bell ... this boy is hungry!
8:45 p.m.
Dinner was great, and I almost forgot to note this: Will gave Dori the autographed baseball from Coach Corbin and Kathryn gave her a VU shirt she caught at the game. I love my kids.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Busted birds
See, I told you we had two romantic birds that rest outside our living room window. Sorry about the photo quality, but the lady bird has beautiful brown speckles on her white breast, while the male has an astonishing red hat with red blending in to his proud brown spotted back.
Beth Fortune's Mom, Becky, continues to make progress from her stroke. I think daily about Dori's friends who are recovering from blood cancer or facing new challenges - Kim, Chuck, Tammy, Candy, Sigourney and others. The list seems to grow continually. I will be running for all of them next Saturday at the Tom King, just as I ran for Dori in Virginia and run for her each time.
Kathryn astutely noted this morning, with three inches of snow on the ground, "Weren't we putting on sunscreen in the park last Sunday?" 76 one day, and 22 a few days later. Did anyone hear thunder and see lightning last night during the storm? That was pretty cool while the snow poured out of the sky.
Pepper adored the snow this morning, romping in and eating all the white powder he could handle. He has been parked at the window much of the morning, hoping for another trip to White Heaven. Otis loved the snow, too, like most dogs do. This is where I don't get the cat thing, though I do know a few decent felines. Pepper played with Ginger, a dog down the street, and two lab mixes who were happy to see him. The kids and I tried out our snow surfboard without much success. Wind chill was 14 when we went out, so that had something to do with it.
As someone who lived up north as a boy and who remembers the frequent snowstorms Nashville experienced in the 80s, I get a kick out of 20-something TV reporters standing in front of the camera acting incredulous about the snow. Some have rulers to measure it, some just point at it. Yes, geniuses, it's snow! Then they analyze it: "Look over here where it's a little slushy ... now pan over here where there's more of an icy consistency ... back over my shoulder, you can see how powdery it is." Do they realize how farcical they sound?
Yes, no running today ... Weekly mileage is double digits (12.3) and I'll do a decent eighth day run tomorrow. I plan to run at least six miles tomorrow, when it should be nicer. Today is all about college basketball, relaxing and eating. I found a few good carb recipes ... one for a angel hair in basil cream sauce and another for hummus that look tasty.
One last thing - I think we have a talented pianist in our midst. Kathryn performed a recital last night for the family. She played "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "This Land is Your Land," as well as the themes from Star Wars and the Flintstones. She spared us her rendition of Rocky Top, though I later played the UT fight song and VU's "Dynamite" for her.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
An Athlete's Priorities
Will's temperature finally subsided last night, and he returned to school today. Dori has managed to avoid whatever he had (knock on wood), and has had a good week. She's been laughing, having a friend or two over, and is in planning mode (vacation, summer camps, you know the drill). She's also been super-sweet to me.
My work has been frenetic the last two days. Wake up, blink, get the kids ready, blink, work, blink, pick up the kids, blink ... The day goes by in a flash, which makes me realize things not only are hectic right now, but I'm a lucky man to have so many irons in the fire.
I simply could not get up early this morning, so I ran tonight in the dark. The run was a 5.3-mile neighborhood run, some of it on some tough hills. I ran an 8:15 pace the first three miles, then slowed some as I hit some hills, then finished well. I felt great, probably running at 90%. You never know, but I might have a good race in me on March 15. A good friend e-mailed me the other day, saying, "Isn't it great to be healthy going in to a race?" Yes!
So Tuesday's run was about a crazy driver. Tonight's run was about a crazy dog. A mean golden retriever with one of those fence collars really got peeved when he saw me. He and Pepper have had a growl-off or two in the past. Tonight on a very dark street, Cujo came bolting off his property intent on taking me out. He never stopped until his jaws got to my ankles. Startled, I yelled at the dog loudly while running at full speed. Clinching my fist, I prepared to take the dog out, but he backed down at the very last second. Unfortunately, I lost my balance and fell on my shoulder on the pavement, but luckily, as the dog was retreating. I thought I'd hurt myself, but I hadn't ... I just had some minor soreness.
Dori and I heard the sad news today that a teacher at another school has been diagnosed with leukemia. Dori knows a mom of one her students well, and is talking about how she can help, something she thought about a lot last year ... she wants to help people who are having to suffer, endure and cope like she has. Dori has been brainstorming about ways to help leukemia patients and to raise awareness about blood cancers. I hope to report more about this later, but I'm sure no one is surprised my wife wants to help people in need.
Vanderbilt's basketball team is nearing the end of a dream season. Will and I listened to the Mississippi State game on the radio last night ... Senior Night at Memorial Gym. Shan Foster, VU's all-time leading scorer, scored 42 points, including three-point shot after shot to extend the game and win it with two seconds left. He could not miss on a night when VU should have lost. After the game, the crowd went ballistic. The picture of Shan crying with his Mom (today's paper ... great photo above by Jae Lee) made me emotional when I opened the paper this morning. The coach and play-by-play announcer Joe Fisher last night admitted they cried.
In the press conference, a low key Foster thanked the school, his teammates and mostly God for the glory of being able to do what he did. Amen, Shan Foster.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Home Day
Will woke up with a 102 degree fever, so I stayed home today to keep an eye on him and keep him away from Dori. He's been in bed all day. He seems better this evening than at 6 a.m., when he looked like a par-boiled lobster.
The latest on Beth Fortune's mom sounds encouraging. Becky Fortune woke up after five days of unconsciousness. The docs and family are assessing Becky's speech and recollection; it sounds like her memory is good, but she has a long road to recovery. The good news is she has awakened. Please say an extra prayer for the Fortunes.
Dori feels better today. That's two days in a row where she's had some pep in her step. You can understand we like days like today where she's cooking and enjoying food, rather than lying in bed. Dori sure as heck does.
I did a lunch run while Dori ate and Will slept. Pepper and I went five easy miles through the neighborhood. We trudged through 25 MPH winds as a cold front prepared to bust through town. I'm still not 100% after the 11 miler, but I felt much better than on Sunday's run.
Midway through today's run, Pepper and I reached a three-way intersection. As we turned from one street to the other, an older lady driving a Cadillac almost hit us. Driving with a miniature dog in her lap, she missed Pepper by inches and me by a foot, and I yelled, "Cmon!" The look on her face, as she was illegally blowing through a stop sign and cutting the corner to beat an oncoming car, was, "How dare you." Breaking the law, almost killing a dog and then having the audacity to shift blame ... all to get home five seconds sooner. I guess ... forgive me and my deaf dog who can't hear oncoming cars ... of course, the road is yours.
Mileage this week to date: 7 miles. Frustration with rude drivers: Continually high.
It's time to start surfing between MSNBC, CNN and Fox News to see results from the primaries and to listen to people with excessive make-up and loud voices tell us they told us so. I am very interested in the Obama-Hillary race. Everyone I know agrees we are witnessing something historically significant. Like my friends, I cherish our imperfect political system. Flaws, warts and all, it still is the best in the world. People in our republic still get to decide who advances and who stays home, something too many Americans take for granted.
The latest on Beth Fortune's mom sounds encouraging. Becky Fortune woke up after five days of unconsciousness. The docs and family are assessing Becky's speech and recollection; it sounds like her memory is good, but she has a long road to recovery. The good news is she has awakened. Please say an extra prayer for the Fortunes.
Dori feels better today. That's two days in a row where she's had some pep in her step. You can understand we like days like today where she's cooking and enjoying food, rather than lying in bed. Dori sure as heck does.
I did a lunch run while Dori ate and Will slept. Pepper and I went five easy miles through the neighborhood. We trudged through 25 MPH winds as a cold front prepared to bust through town. I'm still not 100% after the 11 miler, but I felt much better than on Sunday's run.
Midway through today's run, Pepper and I reached a three-way intersection. As we turned from one street to the other, an older lady driving a Cadillac almost hit us. Driving with a miniature dog in her lap, she missed Pepper by inches and me by a foot, and I yelled, "Cmon!" The look on her face, as she was illegally blowing through a stop sign and cutting the corner to beat an oncoming car, was, "How dare you." Breaking the law, almost killing a dog and then having the audacity to shift blame ... all to get home five seconds sooner. I guess ... forgive me and my deaf dog who can't hear oncoming cars ... of course, the road is yours.
Mileage this week to date: 7 miles. Frustration with rude drivers: Continually high.
It's time to start surfing between MSNBC, CNN and Fox News to see results from the primaries and to listen to people with excessive make-up and loud voices tell us they told us so. I am very interested in the Obama-Hillary race. Everyone I know agrees we are witnessing something historically significant. Like my friends, I cherish our imperfect political system. Flaws, warts and all, it still is the best in the world. People in our republic still get to decide who advances and who stays home, something too many Americans take for granted.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Trying Few Days
Today's blog is brought to you by the virtue, Patience, and by that nemesis, Exasperation. Adult Sesame Street, eh?
Tonight, Kathryn said, "The last few days, it seems like God reached into a top hat and pulled out good days and bad days for Mom." That's pretty astute analysis from a smart nine-year-old. Dori had a good day today, but the weekend wasn't much fun. Dori got sick twice and really felt lethargic. Her shoulders are sore and feet puffy, but she never spiked a fever. She could be having some GVHD issues, but thankfully, today was much calmer.
The rollercoaster of recovery is far better than battles of earlier times. But it still isn't easy. Always lingering in your mind is the thought, "Where are we going now?" Immediately, that's punctuated by, "Hopefully, not the %#*& hospital." Dori had to let it out this weekend with a good cry ... she's been a great trooper, but sometimes the bubbles leave the boiling pot of spaghetti. And that's a good thing ... holding percolating emotion inside isn't therapeutic.
Yesterday, Dori asked me, after I was pretty silent for a few hours, if I was upset at her. She misread my silence for another emotion - my infrequent but sometimes apparent exasperation that we're still dealing with a whole lot of something. Dori and I are ready to put this behind us and have normalcy. We have been since June, in fact.
The kids and I had another nice time at the VU game Sunday, but I thought often that Dori wasn't with us. She says she just isn't there yet. I understand it because I see it. She'll be ready when she's ready, and that's the patience part.
Before yesterday's game, I ran two miles at the park with Pepper while the kids rode their scooters. The weather was incredible ... 75 degrees. The run wasn't so incredible; it felt like a prize fight without the Rocky music. I had nothing in the tank after Saturday's 11 plus ... I'm sure my running looked broken. But, hey, I was running after an 11 miler!
Dori and I are still scouting around for a beach house this summer. It also looks like we'll spend a few days in Florida with her Dad and StepMom Carol over Spring Break. In addition to celebrating the Holy Weekend, I could use some time out of town doing nothing but dropping a fishing line in a large ocean while squeezing a lime in a beer.
Tonight, Kathryn said, "The last few days, it seems like God reached into a top hat and pulled out good days and bad days for Mom." That's pretty astute analysis from a smart nine-year-old. Dori had a good day today, but the weekend wasn't much fun. Dori got sick twice and really felt lethargic. Her shoulders are sore and feet puffy, but she never spiked a fever. She could be having some GVHD issues, but thankfully, today was much calmer.
The rollercoaster of recovery is far better than battles of earlier times. But it still isn't easy. Always lingering in your mind is the thought, "Where are we going now?" Immediately, that's punctuated by, "Hopefully, not the %#*& hospital." Dori had to let it out this weekend with a good cry ... she's been a great trooper, but sometimes the bubbles leave the boiling pot of spaghetti. And that's a good thing ... holding percolating emotion inside isn't therapeutic.
Yesterday, Dori asked me, after I was pretty silent for a few hours, if I was upset at her. She misread my silence for another emotion - my infrequent but sometimes apparent exasperation that we're still dealing with a whole lot of something. Dori and I are ready to put this behind us and have normalcy. We have been since June, in fact.
The kids and I had another nice time at the VU game Sunday, but I thought often that Dori wasn't with us. She says she just isn't there yet. I understand it because I see it. She'll be ready when she's ready, and that's the patience part.
Before yesterday's game, I ran two miles at the park with Pepper while the kids rode their scooters. The weather was incredible ... 75 degrees. The run wasn't so incredible; it felt like a prize fight without the Rocky music. I had nothing in the tank after Saturday's 11 plus ... I'm sure my running looked broken. But, hey, I was running after an 11 miler!
Dori and I are still scouting around for a beach house this summer. It also looks like we'll spend a few days in Florida with her Dad and StepMom Carol over Spring Break. In addition to celebrating the Holy Weekend, I could use some time out of town doing nothing but dropping a fishing line in a large ocean while squeezing a lime in a beer.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Prayers for Becky
Becky Fortune, mother of my good friend, Beth Fortune, remains unconscious at VUMC after suffering a stroke earlier this week. Her vital signs are stable, but the doctors believe a blood clot formed in her brain. The Fortunes have had a long road with Becky battling a brain tumor since last year. Please say extra prayers for Becky and her family. Beth, who is very eloquent, is keeping folks posted at their CaringBridge site.
Dori spent her morning searching for beach homes in Edisto Island, SC, a place we visited two years ago, while I went on my last long run before the Tom King Half Marathon. Re-reading that sentence is gratifying on about 10 levels. Our family had a special vacation in Edisto - swimming, fishing and eating great food, but most of all, being with each other. We took Otis, my black lab who we later put to sleep in August 2006. Otis was the most incredible dog. I will never forget taking the old boy in the sound for a swim, just holding him in the warm water.
This morning's run went well. I did a Park to Park Run - from Radnor to Percy Warner and back. I actually ran along Radnor Lake for a mile, back to the West Lot and then to PWP. The first five miles went fine at an easy pace. I started seeing many runners on Robert E. Lee Drive and more on Tyne. When I reached Belle Meade Blvd., runners were everywhere.
At about five miles, I went from feeling OK to very good. From mile five to nine, I found a rhythm and my pace quickened, probably to a 9:00 per mile. I passed a tall, fit woman about my age at the seven-mile mark. She decided she was going to keep pace, which was good - that keeps me moving faster. She never caught up, and I dropped her at 9.5 miles.
I passed quite a few folks today, but I did get smoked by some 30-something who looks like he's never seen a pizza. He was flying at better than a 6:00 per mile pace. You feel like you're walking when that happens, but you're not. Final distance, time and pace: 11.2 miles, 1:47:23, 9:35 per mile. Total mileage for the week, including a four miler on Thursday: 21.0.
The kids and I joined 125 other brave fans to watch Vanderbilt beat Kansas in baseball last night. I resisted the heckle, "All you are is 'Dust in the Wind,' Jayhawks!" VU won 7-1, looking impressive even without their star third baseman, Pedro Alvarez, who has a broken hand. Best part - Both Kathryn and Will got themselves an SEC/NCAA logo'd baseball. Will now has five of these in his room.
Dori spent her morning searching for beach homes in Edisto Island, SC, a place we visited two years ago, while I went on my last long run before the Tom King Half Marathon. Re-reading that sentence is gratifying on about 10 levels. Our family had a special vacation in Edisto - swimming, fishing and eating great food, but most of all, being with each other. We took Otis, my black lab who we later put to sleep in August 2006. Otis was the most incredible dog. I will never forget taking the old boy in the sound for a swim, just holding him in the warm water.
This morning's run went well. I did a Park to Park Run - from Radnor to Percy Warner and back. I actually ran along Radnor Lake for a mile, back to the West Lot and then to PWP. The first five miles went fine at an easy pace. I started seeing many runners on Robert E. Lee Drive and more on Tyne. When I reached Belle Meade Blvd., runners were everywhere.
At about five miles, I went from feeling OK to very good. From mile five to nine, I found a rhythm and my pace quickened, probably to a 9:00 per mile. I passed a tall, fit woman about my age at the seven-mile mark. She decided she was going to keep pace, which was good - that keeps me moving faster. She never caught up, and I dropped her at 9.5 miles.
I passed quite a few folks today, but I did get smoked by some 30-something who looks like he's never seen a pizza. He was flying at better than a 6:00 per mile pace. You feel like you're walking when that happens, but you're not. Final distance, time and pace: 11.2 miles, 1:47:23, 9:35 per mile. Total mileage for the week, including a four miler on Thursday: 21.0.
The kids and I joined 125 other brave fans to watch Vanderbilt beat Kansas in baseball last night. I resisted the heckle, "All you are is 'Dust in the Wind,' Jayhawks!" VU won 7-1, looking impressive even without their star third baseman, Pedro Alvarez, who has a broken hand. Best part - Both Kathryn and Will got themselves an SEC/NCAA logo'd baseball. Will now has five of these in his room.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Dores Impress
I haven't run since Sunday, but I expected to be challenged this week to fit in some runs. It's gonna be 23 degrees tomorrow morning, but I'm going to have to grin and bear it, bundle up and run. The rest of the week looks warmer, but I need some miles. I feel lethargic after not running three days in a row ... the onion rings and tasty bison burger at Ted's Montana Grill last night probably didn't help.
The reason we were at Ted's ... our friends Runcie and Donna gave me three tickets to the Vanderbilt-UT game. So I took the kids to dinner and the game, and we had a wonderful night. Does it get better, if you're eight or nine years old, than strawberry milk shakes and then watching the Dores beat your rival, ranked No. 1 in the country, on national TV? Nope.
Some observations from the game and the atmosphere:
- I was impressed UT's team stayed on the floor for the national anthem before going back to the locker room. Their players were also gracious after the loss, which was classy. Too bad their football team and coach are the exact opposite (arrests, whiners, excuses, etc.).
- The UT fans were fine, too. The crowd was intense, but never unruly. Just a great atmosphere.
- The officiating, for both sides, was the worst I've seen in a long time ... 53 fouls - 27 on UT and 26 on VU. Let the boys play and just call the hard stuff.
- Our mascot, Mr. Commodore, looks like a dirty old man.
- We arrived about 90 minutes before game time, and the students were already there making serious noise.
- VU is 24-4 after last night's win. Our coach, now revered, was on the hot seat 13 months ago. Patience, persistence, perspective ... all powerful words. It's never as gloomy as it seems, and never as rosy.
So thank you, Runcie and Donna! That was a memorable night for me and my children. Dori watched the game today, and yes, she's a happy camper.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Patient Siggy
This morning, Dori and I watched "A Word on Words," a show on local public television about the insight of local authors. Host John Seigenthaler interviewed Sigourney Cheek, who has penned Patient Siggy: Hope and Healing in Cyberspace. Dori has begun reading this book, and I'll be starting the first page shortly after she finishes the last one.
We were riveted by the intensely personal account from Mrs. Cheek, who battled lymphoma and Richter's Transformation into remission (she said today on the show she's had a recurrence). I was personally struck when Cheek said she feels closest to God when she's writing (for me, it's when I'm writing and running, even more than when I'm praying). She also discussed the power of community in her battle. The trigger to this power, she said, is allowing yourself to be vulnerable in order to share insight on taboo subjects like death and prayer. In a sense, that's what CaringBridge and this blog have been for us. We have been linked, like Mrs. Cheek and her wonderful community, via cyberspace to old friends who have become better friends and new friends who have become good ones.
We totally "got" where Patient Siggy was coming from. Cheek mentions Dr. Greer in her book, so you could say Dori is more than locked in on her new compatriot's vivid experience. The podcast of Mrs. Cheek's interview should soon be available here under 02/24/08.
Last night, Kathryn and I went to a Texas-themed father-daughter dance at her wonderful school. We had a blast, dancing to the Cha-Cha Slide and other songs and pounding a root beer float. We then came home to watch the end of the Memphis-UT game. Pepper and Kathryn feel asleep peacefully on a blanket under my feet ... I didn't want to wake them, but I needed to get the girl to bed. One thing that I enjoyed last night at the dance was positive feedback from a father about my blog; he said it's "inspirational." After I thanked him, I said we're just so thankful that "Dori is still here with all of us," to which his eyes widened. Dori, through whom God is working, is the real inspiration.
Church almost always is meaningful to me, if not often inspirational. Today, I found meaning in one passage about patience through hardship, connecting to an experience a family member is going through. In another, I was struck by how important forgiveness is. Earlier this week, someone I know latched on to anger and bitterness rather than the positive power of healing that forgiveness can bring. That was at the top of my prayer list this week.
I feel good after yesterday's run, so much so that an attempt at the PWP 5.8-mile loop is in the cards. Last week is over; this week is here.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Blood Counts on the Rise
Yes, Will and Dori essentially have the same hair right now ... short. Dori's hair has changed from black to almost her former brown, with some reddish gold streaks. Doesn't Dori look good?
She's had a great week after vanquishing last week's stomach virus. Her red blood cell and platelet counts rose, so they removed her PICC line. Let me say that again ... they removed her PICC line! Even her white blood cell count rose, which is good news after battling the stomach bug. Dr. Jagasia mentioned Dori might be two to three months away from doing some things she likes, like walking at Radnor Lake. She might even be work-ready on a part-time basis by the summer, if she chooses to go back.
Will's basketball team, shown above, won their first game, 29-24 in a thriller in their final game of the year. This year was Will's first to play, but apparently his team didn't win a game last year; so this was the boys' first victory in two years. The kids maxed out, in effort and performance. Will ran a fast break, leading his buddy MacGregor, who made a great shot, for the play of the game. Will also had two buckets, along with several steals and rebounds. When the horn sounded, it was like the end of the movie, "Hoosiers." The kids could not contain themselves or stop celebrating.
After Sunday's nine miler and Monday's six miler, I ran 3.5 miles early Wednesday and again on the treadmill on the road on Thursday. So with one day left, my mileage stood at 22 miles. I decided I would get in another long run early this morning. The smiling weather lady on TV said it was 31 degrees with a 3 MPH north wind. As I turned out of the driveway, I thought, "Sugar pie, that's a 10 MPH north wind." My hands hurt the first mile ... like little needles were pricking. My fingernails also hurt, a phenomenon I'd never felt.
Knowing I would warm up, I ran down to the Gulch, about five miles from the house, where I fueled. I turned to the Music Row roundabout, ran down Music Row and fueled again at the Athlete's House, where I later bought another pair of wonderful Brooks Dyads. The humidity was high this morning, and I was also congested, so I took about 90 seconds to fuel (Vanilla Bean GU and Gatorade) and refill with water. The last 3.5 miles went well, even up that steep hill at 9.5 miles. I had another mile or two in me today because I took my time. Final time and distance: 10.42 miles at 1:45:16, a 10:06 pace with those two stops. My actual running pace on the moderately hilly course was probably 9:45 per mile.
Yes, my friends (McCain speak), I ran 32.5 miles this week. The body feels fine. I think I ran a little slower than I would have liked today because I was a bad puttytat on Wednesday when I ate some fast food. Sometimes, you slip, but a boy needs his Pizza Hut every few months or so. I am weak for cheese, ice cream and beer, though I've cut down significantly on the latter two in recent years.
If I recall correctly, 32.5 miles is my third best weekly tally. I'll run one more high mileage week, then begin the taper to March 15. This will be a good week to break in the new shoes (my purchase, not the 80s band ... That would be Nu Shooz, the one-hit wonder that belted out "I Can't Wait"). That one was for you, Annie B.
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