Chattin’ on Tuesday

A rainy, dreary Tuesday here in this neck of the woods.  Let’s grab a cup of tea and chat, shall we?

• First off, I have to say that Relay for Life 2013 was a wonderful experience!!  This was the second year I’ve taken part in our local Relay in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.  Last year, I was walking only a few short months after my dad lost his battle with cancer, and I found it to be a very emotional experience.  This year was emotion-filled again, yet I felt so much more up-beat.  I had my moments – the Survivor walk is always so moving; I kind of broke apart from my group when I heard one of the performers playing one of my dad’s favourite tunes, “The Green Green Grass of Home”, to walk in silence and just listen and think of him; of course, the lighting of the luminaries and hearing Phil Holmes sing “Amazing Grace” is one of the most poignant moments – but overall, it was a fun night spent with great friends, laughing and chatting as we walked or sat around our campfire.  I couldn’t have asked for a better team to walk with – I love my Slipper Sisters!!

• I’d also like to send out some big love to Dot’s Lot – this was the team that the Kennedy Family entered in the Relay this year (including my cousin Donna, her hubby Ellard, my friend Brenda & her family – Wayne, Brittany & Cowan, as well as her mom & dad).  They had a specific goal in mind when they started fundraising for Relay for Life.  Dorothy Kennedy passed away at the young age of 52, and so her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have been raising money for cancer research for years.  This year, they hoped to reach a grand total goal of $52,000 – a thousand dollars for every year of Dorothy’s life.  I hear they were successful in this endeavour, and took home top fundraising honours at this event specifically, raising over $15,000 for our local Relay for Life (the total amount raised by all teams was over $106,000).  Dot’s Lot, you are all amazing and a true inspiration!!  WAY TO GO!!!!

• One of my favourite Relay for Life memories (aside from all the laughs we shared at our campsite!) was actually jogging one lap around the track with my friend Sharon.  I honestly can’t even remember why we decided to do it – I think Sharon suggested it, and I was like, “No friggin way”, but then the seed had been planted, and the competitive side of me wanted to see if I could do it – but at the end of the day, I can only chalk it up to 3:30 AM insanity.  The soreness of walking for hours had set in big-time at that point, and our pace had slowed considerably as we nursed our aches & pains – so why in the world we thought jogging half a kilometer was a good idea, I’ll never know.  But we did it.  We seriously did it.  And I smile every time I think about it.  Me.  Jogging.  At 3:30 AM.  And it felt good.  Who woulda thunk it.
• Speaking of jogging… I completed Week 2, Day 1 of my Couch to 5 K app last night.  I was a little nervous going in.  Last week, I was alternating jogging 60 seconds with walking 90 seconds for 20 minutes (with five-minute warm-up and cool-down walks).  This week, it was reversed.  Jog 90 seconds, walk 60 seconds.  I wasn’t sure I was prepared to make that step, as last week I felt the 60-second spurts were about all I could handle.  I seriously contemplated repeating Week 1, and then thought, “You’ll never move on if you keep putting yourself back at square one.  Just do it.”  And I did.  Turns out, it wasn’t so tough after all.  Maybe I will get to that 5K someday…
• Anyone remember all the times I talked about my bad-ass gangsta fish, Marley?  The one who lived through muck and slime so thick you couldn’t see him?  The one who out-lived other, more lively fishies?  The one with the goiter?  Well… I have sad news, folks.  This morning when I came downstairs to make my coffee and get my lunch ready, I discovered poor ol’ Marley floatin’ in the tank.  (In a relatively clean tank, so it was a bit of a shock for me.)  I guess no fish is invincible after all.  I had him for almost three years.  Rest peacefully in fishy heaven, Marley.  You were one tough nut.

• So.  Um.  Who wants to come over and help me dispose of my dead fish?  The thoughts of scooping him out & flushing him give me the heebie-jeebies!
• Anyone else wondering when summer is ever going to appear?  It’s practically mid-June, and I feel like we’ve only had one little heat-wave, and it was weeks ago now.  I don’t mind a cool, rainy day like this one every now and then, but I’d be happy if I could bust out the summer clothes for a day or two anytime now…
• I need to go to the theatre.  Like, pronto.  It’s been so long since I’ve been to the movies.  I don’t even care what I see.  I just want to go to my happy place! (Although, I do have my eye on that new Superman movie coming out soon… Henry Cavill in tights?  Yes, please!!!)

• Oh my God, I almost forgot to tell you guys.  I’m finally finished The Stand.  FINALLY!!!!  I can barely remember a time when I wasn’t reading the Stephen King epic.  It took me FOUR MONTHS.  Wow.  In the end, I was glad I read it, because it really was quite a story.  I can see why King fans call it a must-read. But oh-so-long.  So very, very long.

• Since finishing The Stand on Sunday, I’ve moved on to local author Luke Murphy’s debut novel, Dead Man’s Hand.  I received the book as a gift at Christmas, and it so happens to be our next book club selection.  I’ve been excited to start it (and seriously wondered if I’d ever get there at times over the past few months!)  Can’t wait to get into it… I’m only a few chapters in at this point, and look forward to finding out what happens!

• Any fans of The Voice out there?  I’ve been watching with my mom for weeks now, and last night we came  to the conclusion that we really don’t know who we want to win!  As we all know, I’m a BIG Adam Levine fan, but I also really like Blake Shelton, and have LOVED the addition of Usher & Shakira as coaches this year.  They each have some pretty amazing talent left in the competition, and it’s hard to choose.  I think I’d be happy if Amber Carrington, Danielle Bradberry, or The Swon Brothers took home the top prize – but deep down, I still think I’m kind of rooting for Team Adam, and thus, Amber is my #1 hope!

Well, I think that’s all I’ve got for today, folks!  Happy Tuesday!

Linking up with Impulsive Addict and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday…

…as well as with Stacy Uncorked for Random Tuesday!