Random Musings

Well, folks, I had a plan to give you all a round-up of the RVA businesses who have jumped on board the Massey Challenge train this year, but my laptop charger decided to die tonight, so I'm making my first ever post via iPad.

And I am apparently not very good at that.  And cant figure out how to make links and logos work right.  So you'll have to wait just a touch longer.

Aside from messing with my blog schedule, the conked out charger also provided me with some unexpected TV time tonight.  So I've settled in to catch up with one of my favorites - Parenthood.

For those that dont know, Parenthood is a drama about a family that includes four adult siblings and follows their lives now that they have families of their own.  I've always been pretty impressed with how it handles the issues it raises - in particular its story line about a child with Aspergers.  With both a nephew and a cousin on the Autism spectrum, its always been interesting to me to watch and think about my family members raising those little boys.

Well, to say I was unprepared for one of this season's story lines would be an understatement.  Kristina - a young wife and mother of three - learns that she has breast cancer.

It definitely scares me.  I should really probably stop watching.  But I can't.  Because I know it makes me think about things that I have to think about sometime.  So why not do it on a Thursday night with a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of tea?  Here is a stream of consciousness summary of my thoughts during two episodes:

• Yeah - I remember that look when I told people I had cancer.
• Oncologists are simply not that mean.
• They also arent that loopy.
• [[cry]]
• How would I ever tell a daughter of mine I had cancer?
• Who on earth just lets surgery wait until whenever?
• [[cry]]
• No one looks that good after surgery.
• Since when do doctors let you get dressed for getting bad news?
• [[cry]]  

You get the gist.

I think these days, all of us have some kind of emotional reaction of a cancer-based storyline.  We all have a connection.  For me, I think the further I get from my BRCA1 diagnosis the stronger that reaction becomes - its as if with the amount of time I but between myself and the diagnosis, I know I am getting closer to another diagnosis - of another cancer.

More and more I notice the way cancer is portrayed in the media and how public figures respond to it. And i know the vast majority of it is well-intentioned.  But sometimes I wonder if they realize how it appears to those who have been there.  Like the cheerleaders who recently shaved their heads in solidarity with a woman who was diagnosed with cancer.  Was it a nice gesture?  Yes.  Did the woman feel supported?  Probably.  But as someone who had to endure months of watching her hair fall slowly out, attempting desperately to hang on to it, who didn't have a choice to lose it, well, in a way those gestures feel a little insulting.

Because by opting in, you're opting in.  Cancer patients don't opt in.  The choice gets ripped from them.

I'm sure I just went ahead and pissed a lot of you off.  And I suppose thats okay.  Because, as I've said before, part of what this blog is about is giving you a look inside the mind of a survivor.  And thats how I feel about that.

And for those of you who mock me because I dont have cable - now you know why.  Television makes me think way too much!

Running Streak Rehash - Week 4

Another week has come and gone, and people - I have run my way straight through 28 days!!!  4 weeks!

Day 22  Wednesday December 5, 2012 - 1.00 miles
Day 23  Thursday December 6, 2012 - 1.14 miles
Day 24  Friday, December 7, 2012 - 1.34 miles
Day 25  Saturday, December 8, 2012 - 2.33 miles
Day 26  Sunday, December 9, 2012 - 1.02 miles
Day 27  Monday, December 10, 2012 - 4.14 miles
Day 28  Tuesday December 11, 2012 - 2.35 miles
Week Total: 13.32 miles

I decided that this called for some celebration, so I took my tooshie over to Lululemon for some treats.

 

I'm not lying when I tell you I've been coveting the Vinyasa Scarf since the 2012 10K.  I finally treated myself to the pink stripey one!

And the Runder Under Long Sleeve is being considered a necessity, since I have 7 days of Northeast running coming my way in a mere 9 days.

The fact that its pink and purple is just a bonus.

I'm super proud of lasting 4 straight weeks!  I wonder what my treats will be come week 8??

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Yesterday I had a long, detailed, exciting meeting with these guys:

 

And while I cant revel the details of our scheming quite yet, you'd all be well served to place a big ol' "HOLD" sign on January 26, 2013.  We have an event coming your way that you wouldn't want to miss!

 

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I spent my weekend with darling Loren kicking around in Charlottesville:

Loren and her husband are way smarter than me and she reminded me that while we don't know whats happening with the tax laws in 2013, we all might do well to give a little more in 2012, just in case.*  I can make that easy for you.  Just click the "donate now" button up on the right to move me closer to my $25,151 goal (I mean - you're already here, so why not?).  I wonder if we can see $10,000 before the new year??

[*This is my hilarious and sarcastic blog that is meant to persuade you to support VCU Massey Cancer Center and nothing contained in here is in any way legal advice or, in the case of Loren, accounting advice.  I am figuring you all know this but, since I'm a lawyer, I'm telling you anyway.  Still - Donating is always a good idea.]

Catching Up With Old Friends

Last week was another busy one for the Challenge.  Some of you may have gotten calls from our committee members on Monday or Thursday - we were busy as bees reaching out to past Challengers to let them know that the 2013 Challenge is officially underway.  It was great to hear how many folks are already excited to raise funds again for the Massey Cancer Center!

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Thursday night Lauren and I had the chance to catch up with our friends at Sportsbackers as part of their Annual Meeting and Volunteer Reception.

It was a lovely evening and it was great to see some faces I hadn't seen in way too long! 

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After the reception we scooted over to West Coast Kix in Carytown to say hi to some of Richmond's YELP Elites at their Holiday Tacky Sweater Party.

There are few things wrong with any tacky sweater party, but this one took the cake because I got the chance to meet one of my holiday idols:

 

Plus there were lots of Richmond goodies around (so Lauren didnt really have to eat the poor gingerbread man!!)

We're looking forward to working with YELP in the new year to help make the Challenge an incredible success!

 

It was definitely a crazy week for the Challenge.  But thats the way we like it around here!

Mantra Monday

Source

The Friday Five

I've noticed that for each great part of life in #RVA that I get to document on here, there are lots of awesome things that don't always make the cut into a specific post.  So I'm introducing "The Friday Five" - a weekly round-up of some of my favorite parts of the week that might not have made it into the blog otherwise (but are still totes awesome).

Scoring tix to see DMB play with the Lumineers.



Holiday bling all around town.



Crossing one item off the holiday to-do list - hug a gingerbread man!




 Stumbling upon this bumper sticker during a hairy commute:

"Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult"
 

 RVA has been rocking out some serious evening skies lately.



Live Local, Drink Local . . . Stick Your Head Through A Local Hole

On Tuesday night, the Cafe Caturra on Grove Avenue opened its doors to the Massey Challenge, donating a percentage of the evening's proceeds to the research being done right here in Richmond to find a cure for cancer.  I've loved this place for a long time (what can I say - my loves for fireplaces, mac & cheese, and wine can all be satisfied in one place there!), but you know by now that this gesture locked them in among my list of RVA favorites.

(Admittedly, with all the local business generosity going on this year, my list is pretty long.  Stay tuned for a round-up of all those we're loving on lately!)

Massey supporters packed the house once again for a fun and faith-filled night fighting cancer:

As an aside, a couple of my fellow Massey supporters have started their own running streaks.  Its becoming routine to have the "did you run your mile yet" discussion at these events and at meetings.  Loving having other streakers in my life!  

Missed the night but still want to donate?  You know the drill - there's a link in the upper right-hand corner of my sidebar. 

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Need another reason to donate?  I have one for you.

I know that all of you out there in blog-land have been asking yourself the same question:

"How can I score one of those super sexy t-shirts the Challenge Committee keeps sporting???"

 I mean, seriously, do Christina and Jay rock those things, or what?

Well, you're in luck.  Because now you can get one too.  $20.00, men's and women's sizes.  All proceeds benefit the Massey Challenge.  Drop me a line and I'll hook you up.

Because thats just another way you can live local, give local for Massey!

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I think I neglected to tell you all about our time that the Richmond Marathon Expo.  We had just launched and were totally ready to get Richmond excited to accept the Challenge. 

 We set up with Sportsbackers again to rock the expo, and I think it worked!

 Unfortunately, this also happened:

And now Lauren is obsessed with getting one or two of these things made for the Massey Mile this year.  (Side note - what are these things even called?  MH opined that they could be "stick head through picture boards" but Im not 100% sure shes correct).  We're looking for a local business to underwrite one or two.  Know anyone who might be interested?  Hook us up!

Running Streak Rehash - Week 3

Twenty-one days of running down.  One hundred twenty-nine left to go.

Yeah.

Thats a lot of days left.

Here's what week three looked like:

Wednesday November 28, 2012 - 1.10 miles
Thursday November 29, 2012 - 1.16 miles
Friday, November 30, 2012 - 1.52 miles
Saturday, December 1, 2012 - 1.53 miles
Sunday, December 2, 2012 - 4.00 miles
Monday, December 3, 2012 - 2.42 miles
Tuesday December 4, 2012 - 2.40 miles

                      Week Total: 14.13

I was impressed to find on adding up my mileage from the week that this was actually my week with the most miles logged so far (granted - not by much).  I struggled this week with some shin and ankle pain, and the realization that I do not own appropriate cold-weather running gear, but stuck with it.  Which makes me feel like this:

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Although not discussed in my blog, November was Mo-vember for many.  As one who is in love with the 'stache (and for the record - I was even before they became trendy.  WHY did two of my great loves - owls and mustaches - become uber trendy at the same time??), I feel like I should properly bid the month adieu.  This little guy seems appropriate:

#howcanyounotloveateddywithastache?

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Thanks to all who came out the Cafe Caturra last night to support the Massey Challenge!  It was a great night and Ill report back with details later in the week.  Couldn't make it but want to support?  Click the "donate now" button in the sidebar!