Here we go again

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Econfirmation

Dear Yon Saucy Wench: Congratulations! You are officially registered for the 29th annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on October 3, 2010...

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The marathon. Specifically, the Twin Cities Marathon. I've wanted to run this thing since I was a scrawny little 12 year old running my first season of cross country. It took me 26 years to get around to signing up for it, though; and when I finally did take the plunge, things did not go as planned.

2008: DNS, thanks to some medical issues

2009: DNF, thanks to an injury

What's 2010 going to bring? Hell if I know.

But I intend to enjoy the ride.

Edited, because after I wrote this, I read my horoscope, which blathered on about obstacles and other things, and ended with:

Don't lose hope; your relentless optimism is your secret weapon.

I'm not a pessimist, mind, but Pollyanna, I am not nor will I ever be. I looked at the spouse unit and said, "Relentless optimism?"

"More sheer stubborn cussedness, I'd say," he said thoughtfully.

That's more like it. Don't lose hope; your sheer stubborn cussedness is your secret weapon. Ha!

I think this is incredible

Thus far, I know of 12 adults* (and 1 dog) who did this crazy Why the *!%*!" do I live in MN-Saunders 5K, and 2 kids (and 1 dog) who did the last minute Kiddy Half Mile.

Participants included 11 Minnesotans, 2 Californians, and 1 Canadian from Vancouver, BC, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics! As a special reward, all outstate participants may now claim 'Honorary Minnesotan' status.

Take a look at the organizations that benefited from this:

American Red Cross

American Red Cross - Haiti Relief & Development

Canada for Haiti

Dakota Woodlands

ELCA Haiti Disaster Relief Fund

League of American Bicyclists

Mercy Corps

MN Valley Humane Society

Vitamin Angels Alliance

White Bear Lake Food Shelf

Woodland Hills Church

Considering this all came together in 3 days, I think this is truly phenomenal.

Wow, you guys. Just, wow.


*Ruth, I'm counting your mom in that number. :)



Edited to add Woodland Hills Church to the list.

Edited again to add Mercy Corps to the list.

Edited to add another adult to our number.

Another 5K update

We've now got 8 people doing this Why The *!%*!" Do I Live In MN-Saunders 5K and 1 Maybe.

So as previously promised (threatened?), I made a Facebook page and bombed my friends list with invites.

Reported donations so far include:

Dakota Woodlands

White Bear Lake Food Shelf

American Red Cross

ELCA Haiti Disaster Relief Fund

How cool is this? Pretty damn cool, I tell you!

Come on. You know you want to.

We have five people now doing this Why the *!%*!" do I live in MN-Saunders 5K and one Maybe. If we get one more, I'm making a Facebook group.

Just out of curiosity -- and I don't want to know dollar amounts -- what organizations are benefiting from our makeshift 5K? Comment below.

A marvelous night for a moondance

The moon last night was spectacular. So spectacular that I went outside with the camera and tripod and froze my arse, nose, and fingers to try to get some pictures.



It was worth it.



This one, I'm including simply because Morgan loves it and says the world needs to see it. She can't tell me exactly why she loves it -- "It's like a Monet painting, sort of," is the best she can come up with -- but she wants me to blow it up, frame it, and give it to her to hang in her room.



Will do, darling. Will do.


Edited to add a bit o' information about exactly why last night's moon was so stunning. From National Geographic: The 2010 wolf moon will appear 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than any other full moon this year, because our cosmic neighbor will actually be closer to Earth than usual.