Remember & Celebrate...

Want to remember a friend or family member you lost to breast cancer? Or, celebrate the life of a breast cancer survivor? For a minimum donation of $25 during the month of June, Second Base Soldiers will add your loved one's name to the back of the shirts we will wear as we walk in the Twin Cities 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.

You can make your donation by clicking on the donate button on the right. In the "personal note" box, please put the name of who you would like to remember and/or celebrate.

Fighting Breast Cancer One Bracket at a Time

As some of you already know, on August 20 - 22, 2010 I will be joining thousands of men & women in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. It is a 60 mile walk over the course of the three days. In order to do this I must train to walk that distance and raise $2300. To help me reach my goal I am running Brackets Against Breast Cancer, a March Madness Fundraiser.

The cost is $20 which will be split evenly between my fundraising efforts for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk and the winner. All brackets will be managed online at cbssports.com where you will be able to make your selections after teams are announced on March 14, 2010!

Please let me know if you would like to participate (leave a comment here or send an email using the link in my profile), and I will send you the payment information & further details. Once I have received your payment, I will send you a link where you can make your picks.

Tell ALL your friends -- the more who enter, the larger the prize!!

www.the3day.org/goto/pennymuten (This is for DONATIONS ONLY, not for bracket participation money).

Exciting Announcement...

coming very soon! :)

The Next Thirty (or Thirty-One)

I have something very exciting I will be working on this month and for nearly a year. I cannot share just yet. As soon as I can, you may not be able to stand how much I talk about it. :)

MS Walk

On Sunday, May 3, I will be participating in Walk MS 2009 here in Milwaukee. A friend was recently diagnosed with MS & some friends, and I have joined her team (Mindy's Marchers).

If anyone is interested in making a donation, you can do so here.

A big thank you to those of you who have already donated!

A Different Thanksgiving

Bob & I are seriously considering changing up our Thanksgiving traditions this year. We are thinking of serving a meal at a nearby homeless shelter. I love my family and all, but I think it is time for Bob, Olivia, & I to make traditions of our own.

When I mentioned it to Olivia she said I would rather go to grandma's. Well, of course, she would. However, I told her these people would rather not be homeless. She got my point & has come around to the idea.

I think this will be a great thing for us to do as a family!

Nonni's Biscotti & Susan G. Komen

Press release from Nonni's Biscotti's PR agency: Nonni’s Biscotti Partners With Celebrities to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Research

More than 50 celebrities – comprised of movie and television personalities – autographed pink coffee mugs to support Komen for the Cure’s promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever. During the first week of October, in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the collector items will be listed in a charity auction on the eBay Giving Works site.

“Nonni’s Biscotti, as a brand, has always had a strong connection with women,” said Matt Duffy, marketing manager, Nonni’s Biscotti. “We formed a partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure because of the impact breast cancer has on so many women across the United States. We are proud to help raise funds for research, education, screening and treatment that will hopefully eliminate this disease one day. We hope this charity auction will not only help raise funds, but also increase awareness about breast cancer.”

Nearly 50 coffee mugs were autographed by many of today’s hottest celebrities during the Haven House Gifting Suite including: Sasha Cohen, Neve Campbell, James Woods, Lil’ Kim, Josh Henderson and Tyler Hilton.* One hundred percent of the final sale price of each mug will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For a complete list of celebrities involved, go to www.nonnis.com.

“Susan G. Komen for the Cure is on a mission to end breast cancer forever,” said Cindy Schneible, vice president of resource development. “Partnerships like the one with Nonni’s Biscotti are an integral part of that mission, helping us reach millions of consumers with life-saving breast health messages and raising funds that support breast cancer research and community outreach programs.”

In addition to the charity auction, Nonni’s will offer biscotti in specially packaged pink ribbon breast cancer awareness boxes through December 31, 2007. The pink boxes of biscotti will be available at local grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Consumers are invited to visit Nonni’s Web site and support breast cancer research by entering in individual UPC codes from their purchased pink boxes of Nonni’s Biscotti. Susan G. Komen for the Cure will receive 75 cents for every unique UPC code entered on www.nonnis.com, with a minimum donation of $25,000, and maximum of $50,000. UPC codes can be entered until March 1, 2008.

Breast cancer continues to affect millions of women and their friends and families every year. In the 25 years since its inception, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has invested nearly $1 billion in research, education and health services. With the continued support of companies like The Nonni’s Food Company, Komen for the Cure will be able to achieve its vision of a world without breast cancer.

About Nonni’s Food Company
Founded in 1988, Nonni’s Food Company is also home to other premium quality brands including Nonni’s Biscotti, New York Style and Old London. The Nonni’s Biscotti brand uses the original family recipe including real eggs, butter and gourmet bittersweet chocolate that gives the biscotti a light, crunchy texture that is delicately sweet. The New York Style snack line includes Bagel Crisps and Pita Chips; wholesome snacks that capture the tastes found in traditional New York City’s bakeries. Old London serves up great snacks and light lunches with its core Melba toast products. More information can be found at http://www.nonnisfoods.com.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-800 I’M AWARE.

*Celebrities featured are not paid spokespeople and are not directly endorsing Nonni's Biscotti.

The images in this entry are the coffee mugs signed by Matt Leinhert (top) and Andi McDowell. You can view the rest of the celebrity signed Nonni's Biscotti coffee mugs on the Nonni's website.

A New Packer Charity Cap

From packers.com: The Green Bay Packers and American Family Insurance Monday announced the details of this year's charity cap campaign, an effort to raise money to support service men and women, veterans and their families.

This is the third such campaign for the two organizations. The previous two, pink and red caps, raised a total of nearly $1.5 million for Wisconsin charities fighting breast cancer and heart disease.

Through sales of the new, stone-washed black cap with the Packers' 'G' on the front, the American Family Insurance logo and a red, white and blue remembrance ribbon on the side, the two organizations will raise money for Wisconsin groups that support the people who currently serve or have served our county, and their families.

Funds raised will go to organizations focusing on health care needs, and family support and assistance. Specific charities or organizations will be selected this fall.

I've placed my order for one! Shhh, this one is for Bob! :)

I Am a Triathlete

I was up just before 3:00 AM, and we were on the road by 4:20 AM. We had to catch a shuttle from Dairyland Greyhound Park to the race site. Parking and catching the shuttle were a piece of cake. (Erin was not so lucky! She left her house about an hour after we left ours. Arrived to near Dairyland at about 6:00 AM and waited in traffic for over an hour.)

Bob & Olivia were with me. I sat with them for a few minutes before I went to set up my transition area. Unfortunately, I made a rookie mistake when I racked my bike yesterday. I left too much space between my bike and the one on the end. My bike was "bumped" from the second to the third spot on the rack. Still easy to find.

I joined Bob & Olivia again for a little while. We were watching for Erin not knowing how she was stuck in the horrible traffic. The start of the race was actually delayed because of the traffic. They also allowed anyone who missed their swim wave to join one when they were ready.

At about 7AM I began walking over to the swim start area. A slow take in all the sights & sounds walk. As I walked along the run path, I wondered about the stories of these women. About half way along the path, I came across a woman who had just finished chemo treatments. Her complexion was beautiful & flawless. I will carry the image of her in my mind always. As I passed her, the emotion of the day began to hit me. A tear trickled down my cheek. As competitors continued to walk a man began to speak about Danskin Triathlon traditions and other things that would happen today. A beautiful instrumental played for a few minutes before the National Anthem. The woman who sang it had a beautiful voice. The emotion of the day hit me again at that point and a few more tears flowed.

It was now time for the triathlon to get underway. The first wave, The Elite, are brought down into the water. They have a few minutes with Sally Edwards, National Spokeswoman for the Danskin Women's Triathlon Series. The Danskin traditional countdown began. 10 9 8... and the first wave was off! The event I have worked so hard to prepare for is here.

The second wave, Survivors, is brought to the water. Just about 30 seconds until they are on their way. The following waves go every 4 minutes!

I finally spot Erin in the crowd. She didn't get to see the start of the event because of the traffic at the shuttle pick up site. While I missed her & am sad she missed the start of the event, I was (am) thankful I had that alone time to experience the sights, sounds, and emotions of the day.

Erin & I talked for a few minutes before I headed over to the swim start to join my fellow yellow capped, 35-39 year olds. We visited with one another. Talked about race numbers, triathlon training, our strengths/weaknesses, and triathlon experience. There was only one other woman near me who was a first timer. The veterans encouraged us! Suddenly, the crowd behind us and to the right began to roar. The first runner was coming by. She completed the .5 mile swim, the 12 mile bike, and part of the 3 mile run before we were even hitting the water. I would estimate she did that in less than 45 minutes.

As our group was "on deck" for the swim Disco Inferno by The Trammps played. We all sang and danced to keep loose and get pepped up. The 15th wave was off and that means we are next. Looking around I see a few women who look a little nervous about the swim. The group I was talking to all looked pretty confident. We are in the front line of the wave. I was front & center! :) One of the Danskin Angels, the swim volunteers, leads us in some cheering. Asks us a few questions about who we are going to pass first (pink caps -- wave 15), and who we aren't going to let pass (green caps -- wave 17). She then gave us a word to remember as we go through the day - FANTASTIC! We are to use that word to remind us we are fantastic swimmers, fantastic bikers, fantastic runners, and fantastic triathletes. The countdown begins 10 9 8... and we were off. It felt really great, but the sun glared made sighting something on shore very difficult. Twice I swam outside the buoys and had to swim back to the right. I still felt like I was making really good time. I could see myself passing pink caps and only saw one green cap pass me. Bob said in my wave there were only about six women out of the water before me.

Swim Time 00:16:28
Rank 1065/3919

I ran to my bike. T1 went quickly and pretty well. I know I can shave more time off of it for next year.

T1 Time 00:03:11

The bike was tough. A lot tougher than I had anticipated due to the high winds, the heat, and the HILLS! I also need to look into getting a road bike for these events. The wide mountain bike tires are killers on a road in a race.

Bike Time 00:57:07
Rank 3051/3919 (UGH -- definitely needs work)

I hopped off the bike at the dismount point and my legs felt like Jell-O -- not the bricks I was expecting. Ah, a watering station. I wove my way between the racks to my area. I racked my bike and I was off.

T2 Time 00:02:04

Ah, another splash of water before I ran. My legs didn't feel too bad at all when I began the run. I think to myself I might be able to run the whole thing. I guess I though that too soon because shortly I felt my heart rate soar. I slowed to a slow jog. A lady points out that I had forgotten to take off my helmet after the bike. Oh, crap (excuse my french...lol)! I take it off and try to figure out what I am going to do with it. I thought about throwing it down in the grass, but eventually I looped the strap onto my tank top. Looking back, I should have thrown it down. Bob saw me running with the helmet and when I took it off. He was trying to run after me to get it. He said it was pretty sad he couldn't catch me even after I had just finished the swim & the bike when he had done nothing but walk...lol.

The heat during the first half of the run was brutal. I did a little running and walking. I wanted to be able to RUN across that finish line and wanted to conserve that energy so I could. The watering station at about half way was a welcome sight. As was the Jelly Belly Sports Beans station, but neither of those were as good as the hose the firefighters had to spray us. I drank the water, ate half a package of the sports beans, and enjoyed the water from the hose. The course continued on about a quarter mile before we got to turn around and enjoy those three stations again. At the half mile left mark we got the biggest boost any triathlete could hope for -- an open fire hydrant! More pressure than that hose and just what I needed to refresh me for the home stretch. I ran the entire last mile and it was so exciting to see the word FINISH up ahead. Sally Edwards was there cheering us on, and as we crossed the finish line our names were announced and we were given a medal!

Run Time 00:43:40
Rank 3076/3919

Total Time 02:02:33
Overall Rank 2636/3919
Class Rank (35-39) 460/578

I did it! I am a triathlete!

More Tri Progress

Things just got really busy on the fundraising front! The friend I am doing the triathlon with works at our favorite local grill & bar. It is owned by her parents. I met her there Tuesday afternoon to cut out 200 card stock pink ribbons. She came up with the design, and they look GREAT! Yesterday, I ran (not literally ran...lol) the signs I made up over there to "advertise" our efforts!

My sign!

I finished up my fundraising letters yesterday and they are going out today. I am at $285 right now and hope to break the $500 mark before the end of June!

As for the training for the week, I am slightly behind with running & swimming. Memorial Day along with a daughter who can't seem to get the concept of bringing her dirty clothes down to the hamper got me off track.

Totals so far:

Mon: 25 minute run
Tue: 85 minute bike (that was 17 miles to & from the restaurant where we cut out the ribbons)
Wed: REST
Thu: 30 minute swim
Total: 140

Remaining training for the week (day I plan to get it in): 35 min run (Fri), 25 min swim (Sat), & 20 min run. The total training time for the week is schedule to be 205 minutes. If I get all this in my time will be 220 minutes. I thought I was going to be behind with all the extra stuff I had this week. It's good to know I am ahead of schedule. Next week's 245 minutes is going to be tough, but then it begins to taper off as the event approaches.

Brewer Batting Against Breast Cancer

From the Official Site of The Brewers:

While the final details of Bill Hall's first big contract were being ironed out, the 27-year-old Brewer considered starting his own charitable foundation. But the more he mulled, it made just as much sense to contribute to one already close to his heart.

Hall donated $25,000 on Monday to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Brewers announced a special Pink Bat Ticket Package for the new Club on the Club at Miller Park. Only 125 of the $222 packages are available, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Komen Foundation.

Hall was one of many Major Leaguers who used pink bats on Mother's Day last season as part of Major League Baseball's efforts to raise awareness of breast cancer. But Hall gained nationwide -- and worldwide, he says -- attention when he hit a game-winning, 10th-inning home run with the bat to beat the Mets. His mom, Vergie, was in the stands that day at Miller Park.

"If it wasn't the biggest moment in my career, it was one of them," Hall said.

At the time, he didn't realize the impact it had on others.

"I knew it was a big home run with my mom in the stands, but little did I know that it would mean a lot more for a whole lot of people," Hall said. "The notes and letters I received from hitting that home run, I knew I raised a lot of people's spirits.

"If I could do that just hitting a home run, I knew there was a lot more I could do."

Several weeks after his dramatic homer, Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio spent more than $25,000 to buy the pink bat at auction on MLB.com, and presented it as a gift to Vergie Hall. The money went to the Komen Foundation.

Read the rest of the article at milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com.

Triathlon Fundraising

My triathlon fundraising is off to a great start!

Anyone interested in donating or reading more about the triathlon may do so at penny.chipin.com/2007-triathlon. Later today I will be adding a link to my sidebar.

I would like to thank those who have already made generous donations. THANK YOU!!

Next week I will be kicking into training mode! I am using some triathlon training information I got online until I attend the training seminar on April 18.

(SIDEBAR: Does anyone else have a hard time typing triathlon? I want to add an extra "a" after the "th". That one is understandable, but I have no clue why my finger automatically goes to type a "g" at the end. Oh yeah, I am participating in a "triathalong"! DOH!!)

Triathlete? Me?

Not yet, but I am going to be. Today, my friend and I registered for the Danskin Women's Triathlon Series. We will participate in the Chicagoland triathlon on July 7-8, 2007! 100% of the funds I raise will be divided equally between the National Association of TEAM Survivor and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

If you would like to donate, contact me using the link in my profile and I will send you the information to do so!

I am really looking forward to this! :)

Carolynn's Crew 2007

Carolynn has announced this year's plans for Carolynn's Crew! You can read all about it in her journal at pinkribbonmiracle.com. Three cheers for "going home"!

Vera Bradley Pink Elephants

I discovered a really, really cute Vera Bradley print today while reading here!

From verabradley.com: Pink Elephants with trunks raised for good luck and hope, these whimsical pachyderms symbolize our passionate efforts to find a cure for breast cancer.

I have been tempted to take the plunge into Vera for quite sometime now. The elephants might just be enough to push me over the edge.

The Office Returns Tonight

In honor of the return of Bob's favorite show...

The Office Denim Day PSA

Steve Carell's character, Michael Scott, is nuts. Sometimes the things he says are just so wrong it makes them funny. Here's one of my favorites: "This is our receptionist, Pam. . . . If you think she's cute now, you should have seen her a couple years ago.

Race Fan Fashion for A Cause

I ran across the article below on jsonline.com today.
Track Couture, a Memphis company, usually produces clothing inspired by NASCAR and racing. But this time the inspiration is personal. Kathleen Smith, co-founder of the company, has unveiled a new T-shirt in memory of her late sister, Wendy Smith Rice, who died unexpectedly last year.

Smith Rice died from Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) Type 2, which causes more than 3,000 sudden, unexplained deaths in the United States every year.

The shirt, a white, long-sleeve tee with black sleeves and a checkered pink and black heart in the front, was designed to raise awareness about the disease and raise money for related medical research.

The shirts sell for $29.99, of which $19.99 will be donated to the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation. For more information, visit www.trackcouture.com/charity.aspx. - Vikki Ortiz


It may be because I am living a rock (lol), but this is the first time I have heard of Track Couture! Fashion for race fans? I think I am in love!!!

The list of drivers they have merchandise for is limited, but my guy (Tony Stewart) is available. I am going to have to take a long look at the site and pick out some new race day gear.

How about Race Royalty or Pit Lizard? :)

UPS Was Just Here

Look what UPS just delivered for me!

That sweet husband of mine ordered it Sunday night while I wasn't looking so it would be delivered today.

It is a GREAT shade of red and has the American Family Insurance logo along with a darling heart on the left side...