75 MILES FOR MS

7,000 cyclists, hundreds of volunteers, and 75 miles. All for one cause.

Saturday I had the honor of joining a team for the Bike MS: City to Shore bike ride to support Multiple Sclerosis. Although 2010 is the ride's 30th Anniversary, this was my first year to participate in the event sponsored by the National MS Society.

Although I joined a team through work and don't have any personal ties to MS, the day not only challenged, but encouraged and inspired me. I was nervous about so many things leading up to the race: waking up at 3am, keeping up pace with the team so I didn't get lost, crashing, and of course making the 75-mile ride from Cherry Hill, NJ to Ocean City, NJ.

But at about the 50 mile mark I passed a woman riding using only her hands, cranking the handle bars or her specially-manufactured bike to make the wheels move because MS had taken over the use of her legs. As me and hundreds of other riders passed her, she was inching along at, I assume, about 5mph; but this didn't phase her; by the look on her face, she was determined.

Suddenly all my race-day worries and physical pain seemed so silly. I was now riding for that woman and I would finish for that woman; the disease may have crippled her legs, but she still has her arms, her life and her determination.

Her focus on and celebration of the things she DOES still have rather than dwelling on the things she doesn't stuck with me and pushed me through the last 25 miles. I didn't see her at the finish line or again that day, but I know she finished too. :)

KARA: 1, DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED-NESS: 0

Anybody that knows me knows Pam. My GPS. My lifeline. I don't go anywhere without her.


It's no surprise that I get lost everywhere I go. I know, I admit it, I'm one of the most directionally challenged people you'll ever meet.


That being said, it's also not entirely my fault. The state of Pennsylvania apparently likes to save money by cutting down on essential road signs. Like the ones that tell you where to turn for a major highway and the ones that tell you what the name of a street is. They also like to give one road six different names and call it by a different name at each intersection. That's Pennsylvania for you.


A lack of road sign-age in a place that I already don't know my way around makes for one very lost Kara. However, this is where Pam comes in! she knows every road, marked or not. Even when I follow her turn-by-turn directions and still manage to go the wrong way (don't ask me how that happens), she always gets me back on track. It's always Pam to the rescue in my car.


But what if you're not in the car? They don't make GPS hook-ups for the road bike as far as I know and I need both hands for steering! 


Well, up until yesterday going for a run or bike ride meant tons of preparation; planning and memorizing every turn and street name beforehand. But memorized or not, I'd still manage to get lost and end up miles away from home calling the Dad to come pick me up from some random location as it was getting dark.


However, yesterday I was quite proud of myself; since I don't have the Dad close by to come to my rescue anymore, my solution? (that I should've thought of months ago)

Pin turn-by-turn directions to the outside of my shirt, upside down so they're right-side-up when I look down!

Genius.

I might've looked like an idiot, BUT I made it my entire bike ride without getting lost once thank you very much. Problem solved.

NEW MAN IN MY LIFE

Don't get too excited, it's not what you think.

Just about two months ago now, I adopted this big guy:

Meet Chubbs. A six-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog. He's big and furry and nothing short of wonderful. Why anyone would want to get rid of him, I do not know!

I just LOVE him and his sweet little face.

EPIC FAMILY VACAY

I'm back! Well, I've been back for a while now (yikes, almost two weeks!); vacation is wonderful, but playing catch-up with work and real-world life when you get back is not. So I apologize I'm just now getting around to posting pictures for you all.


Most of my pictures are of my nieces and nephews because they're just too cute, and I don't have any pictures at the actual beach for fear of sand in the camera, BUT, better some than none and better late than never, so here you are:

From our house looking down to the beach.

Just chillin'.

As if they don't lay around enough already...

Mom and son early in the a.m. (with two kids in the family under 17 months old, our family vacation days now start at around 6am instead of the old days of sleeping in until 10am!)

Mac ready to watch Elmo's World with all her stuffed animals and blankets.

Ryan's first taste of Flounder. I'd say he liked it?

Oh goodness, Kyle and Steph'll have their hands full with this one! Already using Dad's phone :)

Some of my nephew's first steps; So close to walking and only 9 months!

Watermelon time

Cute little family #1

It's not family vacation without Corn Hole

A personal favorite (mainly because of Mackenzie's hotpants and tenni-pumps)

Cuties on the boardwalk.

Kisses for my favorite little man.

My next pet.

Cute little family #2

Sunset looking out over the bay.

And I'm ready to go back already...

Fill-in-the-Blank Friday

This week's fill-in-the-blank friday is so appropriate because starting tomorrow at 1:00pm I'll be on vacation for a whole week! The week I look forward to all year; our family vacation at the shore. So excited!

1. If I didn't have to work anymore I would enjoy it for a while, but then be very very bored.

2. My favorite thing about a vacation is not having a schedule.

3. When packing for a trip I always pack way more than I need; of everything. Way more food, way more clothes, way more reading material. I don't know how it happens, but it's inevitable. 

4. If I could go on a road trip with anyone (dead OR alive) I would choose my MBSMs :). 

5. My top 3 absolute travel essentials are 1. A good book (both novel and crossword); 2. Snacks; 3. Camera.

6. Vacations are  simply wonderful.


7. On vacation you must always  RELAX. Whatever that means for you, make it happen. That's what vacations are for; a step away from daily chores, worries and stresses. And that's why they're wonderful.

Now play along and link up at the little things we do; and if you don't mind, excuse me while i get ready for VACAY!

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

BUTTON JARS

Growing up The Mom always had this button jar. It's been the same big mason jar for as long as I can remember, with the exception of the needlepoint on top which I think she's changed out a time or two, and it's filled to the brim with buttons; all sorts of mixed and matched buttons she's collected over her 35 years ( teehee, you're welcome mom) along with a bunch passed down from her mom. Truly vintage buttons.

I can't say that I've ever appreciated this button jar, though, until now. I mean, it was fun growing up to look through them all and if you needed a new button on your pants you had the pick of the rainbow, but it was always just there. Now that I've been sewing more and crafting little pockets and things, I am loving this jar. To make a little case, today, and put an old button on it that may have been my grandmother's or even my great grandmother's is such a neat thought. I was never able to meet her, but I can use little memories of her in my crafts...how sweet!

All that said, today I'm starting my button jar.

It's little yet, and only has a few buttons so far, but hopefully down the road I'll be able to add some buttons from The Mom's infamous jar for my daughter to use some day. It's the little things in life :)