It's beginning to look a lot like...

alright, maybe not quite yet. After all, December doesn't start until Tuesday. But I did get my Christmas tree set up tonight. We'll see how Moggy (the feline furkid) deals with it since it's not in the same place as it was last year. Here's hoping he leaves it alone! Once I know he'll leave it alone, then I can put the lights and ornaments on it.

Thanksgiving was a lovely affair this year. As usual, we (being myself and the parents) went to my sister's for the meal. This year her friend A was visiting with two German exchange students she was hosting (well, one was hers, the other was a "loaner" for the holiday). It was so nice to see A again (haven't had a good change to just hang out with her since sister's wedding), and both of the exchange students were very nice kids. We're hoping to see A and her student at Christmas this year. T and E came down on Friday for the usual turkey and waffles (don't knock it until you've tried it), and it was nice to get to spend time with them. Whether blood related or not, family is always the best part of the holidays for me; I love being able to just revel in the joy of the holiday with others.

BTW - for my part of Thanksgiving dinner, I made the Pioneer Woman's Whiskey glazed carrots (only I used bourbon instead because whiskey is nasty stuff). The link to her blog is on the left hand menu... I suggest you find the recipe and try them. They are simple enough to have as an everyday side dish and you will NOT regret making them.

So to get myself into the Christmas spirit, I thought the blog needed a makeover and here is a picture I took last year of my landlord's barbeque area (it's not a porch and it's not a deck... really I have no idea what to call it).

From First pics with the D60

Happy leftovers :)

Because I need some sun...

It's been rainy and dreary around these parts, so I thought I would post some pics I took this past summer. About a mile south of me was a ginormous field of sunflowers. I loved it and really wanted to just go lie in the middle of it... until I saw all of the grasshoppers. That quickly changed my mind. I hate bugs. With a passion. I get crickets in my house all the time, and I am glad for a cat who will kill them. I still have to clean up the dead bug parts, but at least I'm not trying to smash it with my shoe as the creepy thing jumps at me.

Anyways, I digress a bit. Sorry. :)

From Sunflowers

I thought this one was neat, just because it was a sunflower eclipse. Not what I meant to get, but chalk one up for happy accidents!

From Sunflowers

Aaaahhhh, sun.

Maybe we'll see some tomorrow.

hey, who is that?

*blink blink* Goodness, it's dusty in here... a sure sign this is definitely my blog. So yeah, it's been since, like, February since I last posted. Welcome to life, right? :)

From Philadelphia 3 Day 2009

So I am honored to say that I was able to participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk in Philadelphia just last month. It's a 60-mile walk and each participant agrees to raise a minimum amount to walk, all of which goes to fight the disease. Unfortunately, due to a Nor'Easter that settled over us, two of the three days had to be cancelled. The 3-Day people couldn't set up the camp site (don't know why... it was only 6 inches of mud by Sunday), and so many people ended up going home or putting themselves up in hotel rooms. About 200 or so people braved the elements and mall shoppers and walked either outside or in the King of Prussia mall, or other indoor local malls. We were there to walk, and that is exactly what we meant to do! Sunday was the only "official" day of the walk, but there was a sign one of the Walker Stalkers carried that said "1 day of walking, 3 days of heart"; I like to think that summed it up nicely! There are several 3-Day events all over the country; I am proud (and yet, humbled) to say that the Philadelphia walk was able to raise about 8 million dollars in the fight against breast cancer. It's a heady feeling, knowing how much you can accomplish just by being willing to lace up your shoes and walk. It is a great sacrifice of time and efforts, more for some than others. But when it's all said and done, the sacrifice we walkers make is a drop in the bucket compared to the chemotherapy, the mastectomies endured by thousands of women; our road is nothing compared to that which the families of survivors, fighters, and those who lose the fight have to face day in and day out.

It was an incredible experience, even though I didn't have the full 3-Day experience the veteran walkers had. But the amount of support showed to us before and during the walk filled my heart with such a warmth, I don't know what words I could use to properly convey it to you. It is enough to make me want to do it again and again and again.... and so I am! I am registered to walk this year in Tampa, Fl (figured even if it pours down rain this time, it'll be warm at least!). I can't wait; I have a gym membership and I am determined to train more effectively than I did for this past year.

As I train, I am going to try and blog about it (and about more than just aches, pains and such.... whining causes blisters, after all). It's an amazing journey which I make in memory of my grandmother and in honor of so many amazing women who have fought breast cancer and beat it. So I hope you will lace up your shoes and join me on this journey :) If you would like to know more about what is now known as the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure, please visit their website: http://www.the3day.org

Happy walking!