Thank you.

You have no idea how much your donations have meant to me.

Especially in these times,

it's wonderful to know that you opened your wallet,

typed in all those numbers and expiration dates.

Filled out the form.

And gave the LLS $5 or $500.

To my family, who put on a wine tasting event for me

when I was hit with vertigo last fall.

To my friends, who over and over continue to help.

The work is not done, obviously.

But...the fact that you gave, just humbles me.

This is a picture of the last summer my Grandpa was alive.

Laura, Lisa, and Me...in my red dress.

Grandpa, with Multiple Myeloma.

I've written about him so much.

The pancake eating contests.

The tomato worms on his plants.

The inventor of the Bon Bon ice cream machine

And with his brothers, the holder of the originial popsicle patent.

He was a most amazing, sweet man.

One I barely knew.

And next weekend in San Luis Obispo

I run with his name on my back.

Thank you so very much, all of you.

Grandpa Eddy

The story of a little girl.

Coming home with her new album.

Simon & Garfunkle's

Bridge Over Troubled Water.

I race in and can't wait to put in on the turntable.

My Grandpa is on the couch. Sick.

So. Very. Sick.

It's 1970. He has Multiple Myeloma.

Not much longer to live.

But. What do I know?

I'm just excited about this record.

I put it on the player, and the familiar piano chords come out.

My mother, not knowing what this is.

Because we just got out of the 60s.

She comes racing in to tell me not to play it.

It's too loud!

Grandpa is sick.

He says, "Dee Dee, let her play it."

And this is the part when I start weeping.

Every time I tell the story.

Because Sail On Silver Girl.

I can see him now. Closed eyes.

Listening to this beautiful music.

It was the last summer he was alive.

And because of his diagnosis, he didn't see me

graduate high school, college,

He wasn't at my wedding,

and he never saw my sons.

When I accidentally signed up with TNT the

Summer of 2009, I had no idea

how important this cause would become to me.

I needed a plan. A training plan. I already had a bib.

So, I raised money. I trained.

And. The morning of my first NIKE marathon

The loudspeaker says "Multiple Myeloma"

and my mother looks at me and says,

"That's what Grandpa had"

His name. Written on my arm.

And now, 4 marathons later,

I run in SLO with his name again.

I am so close. The total at top

does not reflect what I really need.

What I really need.

Is for every little silver girl

To have her Grandpa.

As long as she can and maybe for a lifetime.

It is time for my 1st Annual NFL Super Bowl Raffle

—–> half the winnings go to you and half go to BEAT CANCER (LLS)!

Raffle is hosted by me, and will go toward the fundraising for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

As always, the funds will go to helping to find a cure for cancer. Specifically, this year the funds will help me to reach my goal of raising $3000 as I compete in the San Luis Obispo Marathon, as part of Team in Training on April 22, 2012. My grandpa died of Multiple Myeloma, so this is a race near and dear to my heart. I have been a part of TNT since the Fall 2009 team, when I ran my first marathon at age 50! I am so grateful to TNT for not only training me, but for helping me get behind this cause!!!

Only $20 to enter~!

Check out what you could win!!!

$1,000 in Winnings

1st Quarter = $125

Halftime = $250

3rd Quarter = $125

Final Score = $500

Half goes to you, Half goes to LLS...$1000!!!

Check it out at this page for donations!

Here we go...

I met with my gal pal Row, and chatted with Ali, and texted with Kim. They've seen me through 4 marathons, and honestly, I've tried 4 different plans. Today, we came up with HANSON. I'm doing the Hanson Training Plan for Marathon #5. I was incredibly burnt out mentally, but this was the best training I ever had, and I finished the LA Monsoon Marathon using it. I will be going to MJC with the team on Wednesday nights, but this plan works best for my life and my head.

Girls Just Wanna Run Fun

My New Playlist! Hit me on Spotify if you want me to mail it to you!! Here's the list: (so far)

“Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce

“The Distance” by Cake

“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

“Fighter” by Christina Aguilera

“Stronger” by Kanye West

“Get Me Bodied” by Beyonce

“Man in Motion” by Warren Hayes

“The Climb” by Miley Cyrus

“Shut Up and Let Me Go” by the Ting Tings

“Gonna Fly Now” (Theme from “Rocky”) by Bill Conti

“Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall

“Bulletproof” by La Roux

“Born this Way” by Lady Gaga

“Beautiful Day” by U2

“Boom Boom Pow” by The Black Eyed Peas

“Circus” by Britney Spears

"Ray of Light" by Madonna

“Don’t Trust Me” 30H!03

“Disturbia” by Rihanna

“Can’t Hold Us Down” by Christina Aguilera (Featuring Lil’ Kim)

“Let it Rock” by Kevin Rudolf

“Take it Off” by Ke$ha

“Cannonball” by the Breeders

“Dog Days are Over” by Florence and the Machine

“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey

“Firework” by Katy Perry

“Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga

“Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj

“Love Sex Magic” by Ciara featuring Justin Timberlake

“Raise Your Glass” by Pink

“Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen

“Tik Tok” by Ke$ha

“Who Says” by Selena Gomez & The Scene

“I Feel it All” by Feist