donations (:

And now!  It's time to announce the new names that have been added to the List of My Favorite People in the World!

Anna Grzechnik

Clare Smith

Jackie Li

James Zike

Jim & Cinda Spavins

Julie Persse

Katie Bullman

Lois Abbott

Madelyn Morgan

Mary & Ed Hall

Maureen Fornengo

Mercedes Breaux

Michael & Lorna Milani

Muniz family

Penny Brody

Peterson family

Rauber/Williams family

Shannon Wicks

Sheri Lund

Uncle Red

Vicki & John Anderle

Winslow family

(It's been a very generous last few weeks!)  So far I've raised $2,345!  I'm 60% of the way to my goal!  Thank you all so much for supporting me and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  You are all amazing!  And thanks for the notes that have been coming in with the checks - I save them all (:

Don't forget it's never too late to get your name added to the list of favorites!  Checks made payable to "LLS" and sent to me (890 Camino Pescadero #12, Goleta, CA 93117) or a quick and easy online donation is all it takes!

Santa Barbara Chardonnay 10 Miler!

Yesterday I ran in my very first race!  The Santa Barbara Chardonnay 10-miler started at Leadbetter Beach near downtown Santa Barbara, went five miles into Montecito, turned around and came back again.  I was number 627 and finished in 2 hours and 4 minutes.  (bout a 12:15 pace)

I've been very busy and have had a hard time working in training the last couple of weeks, so it was very rough.  But I made it!  And today I'm sore, but still moving!  It started at 8am, an hour later than we're used to, and that hour made a difference with the temperature!  By the end the sun was starting to get to me (thank goodness the marathon will be in Seattle).  Dirt and sand was sticking to the sweat on my face, and I was wishing I had had even more water and gatorade at the SAG stops.  But the one thing I can say that apparently no one else on the team can?  I haven't had a single blister.  (knock on wood)  My hips and knees feel very creaky when I finish, but my feet could go on for days.  And my moment of motivation: I was coming up one of the hills by a cemetery (nothing makes you more motivated than running right by a cemetery...) and I heard shuffling feet coming up behind me.  I maintained my pace, and the feet got closer and closer.  When the mystery individual was next to me I saw... a hunched over, well into his 80s man.  Passing me.  Something tells me I might need to train a little harder.

nearing the halfway point!

at our lovely team in training booth

(the woman with the purple wig is our

team captain, Erin)

all finished!

Another fun tidbit: while I was on the second half of the race I passed a couple of women who were some sort of pilates or yoga instructors.  Their client was leaving and I heard them shout, "Bye Billy!"  I looked over and saw...

  Billy Baldwin!  Random.