The Half!

Yup, another Half Marathon under our belts! WOOT WOOT!!! 

We run to eat and eat to run!

San Francisco had their annual Half and Full Marathon on Sunday, July 26th. SIX years ago, Dick and I ran this event but only did the 5K - that it was Dick's very first race EVER! We also consider this our 'Dating Anniversary'. Thankfully, six years later, we still enjoy running!

Our Half Marathon Record:

Visalia Half Marathon - May 2004 - Time: 2:33

Huntington Beach Half Marathon - February 2008 - Dick Time: 2:26 My Time: 2:31 (Dick broke away the last 2 miles)

San Francisco Half Marathon - July 2009 - Dick Time: 1:59 My Time:2:16

Upon waiting for the start, Dick saw the 1:50 sign and wanted to run with that pacer to finish under 2 hours. So, he kept up with them until mile 4. Then, he just wanted to keep in front of the 2 hour pacer and succeeded!! An old coach told me a long time ago, "On race day, you forget your training partner and give the race everything you have to see what your Personal Best could be!" He decided to give that a try and did GREAT!! Here he is with a BIG smile crossing the FINISH line - with his thumbs UP!!! 

I started the race running along with Amy and having every intention of running the majority of the race with her. But, something happened around mile 3. I got in a zone and just felt the rhythm and felt I could do better. I ran up ahead of her. I felt bad, but at the same time was enjoying the run, the park, the music and anticipation of FINISHING!! So, I went on ahead. All was well until mile 9.9. I had to take a 3 minute potty break and gather myself back together. At this point, I just wanted the race to be over. I finished in 2:13 - one of my better times. I ran the Nike Women's Half in 2:09 two year ago.

It was a misty, foggy morning until the last 2 miles when the sun came out, which actually made for a very pleasant temperature for running. When I saw the camera men I made sure they saw ME!!! LOL

Where is the next run? Well, they offer a beautiful medal of California if you finish the SF, Long Beach and Huntington Beach races! So...yup, the next one is Long Beach in October. I am fully committed but Dick is still deciding. Amy is running it too along with her friend Jelena and her husband. Should be fun and FLAT!!! YEAH!!!

So the training continues. This next race I will be better trained. These past few months have been really busy with moving and some trips so I was not able to run some 10 milers before race day - which I think helps a lot!

Dick's niece and her husband - aka Lindsay and Jeff - trained for the FULL Marathon and did really well!! Their goal was 4:15 and finished in 4:14!!! YEAH!!! It was Jeff's first marathon and Lindsay's second. Waaaaaaaay to go!!!

A Crab FEAST!

Jane, Bill and David Nash came to SF so our friends David and Vasi wanted to make them dinner.... A CRAB FEAST of a dinner!

Beautiful!! David cleaned it and placed it in the body for us!

SHELLS! All gone!

After dinner, we played an old family game of PASSWORD that was a hoot!

Here is Jane telling Bill the secret word.

Lookin' good!

Especially during this visit, I treasured noticing the 'core', 'original' family togetherness and how blessed the four of them are to have the opportunity to spend time with each other. I know when my kids can come together, it does my heart good.  I think about other families that do not or cannot and it saddens me.  

Birthday Celebration

Janet and Dave Hawkin's Family that includes sister Marsha and bro-in-law Doug, sister Jeanne, brother Richard and son Mitch have been spending a week in Cayucos for the past 27 summers! They have always invited 'Uncle Dick' during this special family time and we always feel so honored to be included. 

This year, as part of the weeks fun, we all went to the Melodrama in Oceano - next to Pismo Beach. If you are ever in the area, look it up, a guaranteed fun, entertaining evening. The house is always PACKED - get your tickets early. The skits are so cleverly created and performed! Everyone had a hoot of a time and it is for the young and the old alike.

Since it was sooooooo hot in the valley, we had fog every morning but it would eventually burn off and we had sunny afternoons. We ran every morning and the clean ocean air was GREAT for the lungs and soul!

I had heard that my former boss from my banking days had moved to Cambria.  We emailed each other and arranged to reconnect while we were in the area. She creates beautiful oil paintings and never took a lesson. She is a cancer survivor and during that ordeal, she discovered her hidden talent. She quite her 30 year banking career, sold their home in Merced and opened an art gallery in Cambria, living 5 - 10 minutes away. We hugged each other tightly, reminisced about the 'old days' and were able to share stories from our hearts.  She remembered Dick from trying to gain Malibu's business at one time.  It was a great little reunion and we are glad we made the time for each other.  Art From The Heart is the name of her gallery. On the website you can view her story and her art.

We said our goodbyes and thanked the Hawkins Family for their love and kindness.

Next stop - Santa Barbara!

We stayed at The Harbor View Inn and WHAT A TREAT it was! We met David and Vasi 

in the evening and the birthday celebration began! Vasi's birthday was Friday, mine on Saturday. We went to The Palace in Santa Barbara - a favorite restaurant and met up with Mitch! We twisted his arm to come join us for an amazing bread pudding dessert. Was nice to see him again!

On Friday, Vasi and I had a massage while the boys were pool side. In the evening we went to Santa Barbara's annual wine tasting event of reserve wines, amazing food, cheeses and desserts! The BIG event was scheduled for Saturday (2500 - 3500 people) but the event we chose had only 300 - 400 people attend and was very very nice!  BBQ lamb chops, crab stuffed tomatoes, live jazz music on a sunset beach with the one you love calls for an unforgettable evening.

On Saturday, we wanted to do a mini "Sideways" tour. Funny movie! Our first stop was of course, The Hitching Post! It was closed so we continued on to Solvang where we walked the streets of shops, had lunch and enjoyed the sunshine.

David and Vasi's son went to a private boarding school in the area so we took a drive in the hills.  Across the street was Michael Jackson's Neverland so we had to stop and take a few pics.

We headed back to HP where we had a few tastings of Santa Barbara wines, appetizers and laughs before dinner.

The owner/winemaker/head chef hung out with us for a bit. 

We talked to the bartenders about the movie and enjoyed our time.

We went to dinner at Trattoria Grappola in Santa Ynez. A restaurant that D and V would enjoy when in the area. We did too!! What a special birthday dinner, week, well MONTH, well, YEAR! 

We returned home on Sunday after picking Gabby up from spending the week with The Carlstrom's!  She was a good girl and became Friends For Life with Cali and Maddy!  

Being ever so thankful for the love we share and continue to grow in His glory. 

Reflecting

Yup, another year older on Saturday. But, it is all good! I have so many blessings coming my way.  I am truly thankful and could not be any happier!  Bring on another year!!  I am ready!!

2009 Top Ten Things I am Thankful for!

A loving, caring, funny friend and husband, walking on the same page of life together 

Children that are my best friends

A step son I cherish

A grand daughter that steals my heart when she is near, like NO OTHER!

Having an amazing stepfather to my children

A Mom I can count on anytime, anywhere, with her husband that prays for me

In-Laws that tell me I am an answer to their prayers for their son

Family and Friends that love me for who I am

Flowers blooming in my garden

A beautiful home where friends and family join us and know they are loved and treasured

A dog that doesn't have to do much to receive my affection

I reflect about my life often, but of course there are those BIGGER occasions - and for me the birthday is one of them when I survey the year.  A few questions I ask myself:

What could I have done better? 

Did I greet each day with enthusiasm as if it were my last? 

Do my loved ones REALLY know I love them with all of my heart and soul? 

What can I do to improve myself? 

What can I do for others?

Am I using my time wisely? 

After careful analysis, I can then begin to CELEBRATE!!!

This year, honestly it is difficult to tell when the celebration really started! Each day is special in its own way and such a TREAT!! 

Actually, Dick has planned another AMAZING birthday adventure!!  On Monday, we leave for Cayucus for 3 nights. David and Janet Hawkins rent a beautiful beach house each summer and  invites us to spend a few days. Then, we'll travel down to Santa Barbara, meet up with David and Vasi, stay at a beautiful resort, get another massage, run on the beach, lay by the pool, enjoy their annual wine tasting event and do the 'Sideways' tour! We'll return on Sunday afternoon.

Yea, I don't really mind turning another year older when it is celebrated with so much love, pizaz, and making great memories!

Here is to another blessed year.  May the next continue to fill my heart with good health, joy and laughter!

PART 1 Continuation of Taylor's Summer Vacation

We had a GREAT 15 days with Taylor - now 1o years old and going into the 5th grade this next school year. Not sure if it was because we did not have any pressures of 'work' or he is older now, but it was a really nice vacation!! He is such a good travel buddy! We kept busy the ENTIRE time and never once was there a complaint, issue or break down on ANY of us!! hahahaha

First stop - Visalia!

We started out on Father's Day and landed ourselves from SF to Visalia and dinner with Dick's father, mother, brother and sis-in-law. A BBQ evening at the Visalia Country Club for dinner made for a special evening. The rest of the week broke down like this:

Monday - Depart Visalia (and leave Gabby with her grandparents!!) and head to Huntington Beach. We took Amy to dinner at a hot spot in Belmont Shores - the BEST ribs around!! Always nice to stay with her and get lots of hugs!!

I thought that this was so cute - we had our own personal photographer!! aka TAYLOR!

We were just leaving Amy's workplace when he took this one.

Are his legs more thin than mine? DOH!

Tuesday - La Brea Tar Pits, Hollywood (Michael Jackson's star before it was chaotic!) Bel-Air Country Club - where Dick played while attending the semester at UCLA - ending with an Angel's vs. Rockies baseball game with sister Brenda and her two girls!! WOW! I have to tell you, Angels' fans are waaaaaaaaay better than the Giants' fans!! We had the wave go THREE times around - in a row!!! It was sooooooo great!! Very exciting!!

Taylor and Amy after the WIN of Angels! Rally Monkey did it again!!

Nice jersey!! All kids received a jersey at the gate! Sweet!

Wednesday - A haircut with my/Amy's lady then off to DISNEYLAND til midnight! No more to say about that! hahaha

Thursday - All day in DISNEYLAND! The lines weren't bad!! Only a 20 minute wait for most! Yes, the bigger, faster rides were longer, but with the invention of FAST PASSES, they were manageable! Crowds were LESS and all was GREAT! We were able to get the perfect seats for the fireworks. WOW! If you have not been to Disneyland in the last 5 years, this is a MUST!!! No other show like it! 

Friday - Head over to Pismo Beach.  Meet up with Gabby, Dick's parents, and the Carlstrom's!! Nice time catching up and leaving Gabby with The Carlstrom's (and their two dogs Cali and Maddy) for the weekend.

Saturday - Dick's cousins wedding at the San Luis Obispo Mission! What a special day!! Mature people, lovely families, perfect weather, AWESOME food, fun music, lots of love in the air = MEMORABLE wedding!!!

Beautiful bride Adrianne and cousin Chris the groom!

Nice father and son shot!

Dick's parents and Taylor!

Sunday - Rent boogie boards and wetsuits.....A MUST when at the coast with Taylor - I think I created a monster!!! LOL!!! Thankfully, I LOVE to boogie board too (I could win a gold medal if it were an Olympic event!!) so we have a GREAT time! Highlight? A SEAL was about 25 yards in front of us!! YIKES!! It was beautiful! We all looked at each other, a wave came and it was gone. Poof!  After a few hours of FUN, we picked Gabby up from The Carlstrom's and headed over to San Miguel Mission - (the one Taylor did his 4th grade California Mission project on). It was only 102 degrees!!! UUGGHH!! Pretty cool for him to actually SEE the mission he worked so hard on! We arrived back in SF after dinner.

Monday - Andrew, Erika and Kaelyn arrived in time to go and watch the Oakland A's play the Detroit Tigers - with Dusty Ryan (new catcher)! Remember, this is the guy Amy dated while in high school for 2 years? He was brought up a few weeks ago. Thought we'd head over and give it a watch. We were able to congratulate his parents who were sitting in the stands, get a ball signed by Dusty and he even had time to give a WAVE from the field! We had GREAT seats, and enjoyed the game - eventhough Detroit lost.

Me and my little sunshine!

She took a tumble and has a booboo on her forehead....probably the first of many!

But that SMILE!!

Her lucky/blessed parents at the A's game!

Tuesday - Sad Day - Taylor left around 5:30 p.m. and thus the end of Part 1 Vacation.  We will see him again on July 10 for the weekend.  Summer is a little odd of a schedule but we'll survive. He is a happy boy that loves his mom so that makes our hearts happy too.

Yes, we were DRAINED after Taylor left! We actually slept for 10 1/2 hours straight!!! But, we are feeling great now. We have some projects planned for the next few days, the three Reed girls are arriving on Saturday for (hopefully) some fireworks from Pier 39! 

Each and every day we feel so blessed to be able to enjoy each other, our families and life to its fullest! We take nothing for granted and thank God for it all! God Bless you and yours!

Father's Day

Sorry, MUST go back to this day!

You know, Dick is ALWAYS two to three steps ahead of ME, especially when it comes to surprising me....Well, with Father's Day fast approaching, we were all scheduled to be at a Giants game with 25 of our closest friends the night before. Taylor, Amy, Andrew, Erika and Kaelyn were all going to be at the game too!! A RARITY to have all of us together! Well, what better way to celebrate DICK NASH than to put his name in lights?!! So, I arranged to have the sign below displayed during the middle of the 5th inning!! It was GREAT! He was SHOCKED and it was definitely a 'tear jerker'! GOAL ACHIEVED! He is such a special person in all of our lives, we really wanted him to know how much we treasure him! 

AND, the Giants BEAT the Texas Rangers so were were able to hear 'I left my heart, in San Francisco' - by Tony Bennett after the game - MY FAVORITE part!!

A GRAND day with a PRE-Party at David and Vasi's to boot!! Thanks again for hosting such a special day!