It is a beautiful Monday. Be happy.

     We had a nice weekend with family visiting from Omaha.  We always enjoy their visits.  The weather wasn't cooperative, though, and was cool and damp. My brother did go out for a run and got to see two elk strolling through the neighborhood.  The elk should be up in the mountains by now, but I think they like the easy pickings they find around here. They reached right over the 4' fence we have around our lilacs and ate all the flowers and new growth once again, as they do every year. We keep hoping, though, that someday the lilacs will be too tall to be devoured.
     Even our many wild bunnies were tired of having wet feet this weekend and found higher ground.

     Dean had his last scheduled chemo treatment on Friday.  They will repeat scans in a couple of weeks and we will go from there, so please keep fingers crossed for him.  He is looking fantastic.  He has lost a lot of weight due to exercise, eating healthy, and fasting for 48 hours around every chemo treatment.  He plans on staying at this weight.
     As far as his cancer is concerned, it seems like we are in the eye of the hurricane, if not yet on the other side.  He feels good.  All is calm and stable. The shock of  his diagnosis has become part of life.  We try not to think about it too much because everyday life goes on and we have to experience every minute.  Hopefully this period of calm will last decades!

     My half-marathon is only one week away.  I do not feel adequately prepared for the distance....maybe for half this distance....but I will do my best and I WILL FINISH.  Last week and this week have been tapering weeks.....cutting mileage and workouts to rest and recover.  I like tapers.


     I will not be the gal that gave up, and does not finish.


FYI:  Here is a great inspirational transformation video.
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qX9FSZJu448