mitty's nosey-picking

Good Morning,

Nothing too witty or profound this morning I just had a thought. I think I’ve uncovered the childless parent’s equivalent of nose-picking.

That is, I do not have a child but I am in a way a parent…to my cat. Mitty.

This weekend I believe I've discovered the nose-picking equivalent. I will let those of you who are parents be the judge…



Enter one Miss Mitty the Kitty into a room of lounging adults.

Mitty will seek out her person (i.e., me). Hop up into my lap to get a little lovin... There's that unmistakable feeling of pride "MY KITTY LIKES ME!" you turn to "announce" to the room with a smile...

This is when mitty like all good cats knows it's time to concentrate her efforts on more important things--finding the LARGEST belly in the room and workin’it with the unwavering resolve of a 4yr. old booger lover.

knead, knead, knead, KNEAD, KNEAD, KNEAD, KNEAD knead, knead...

there is laughter...which makes it worse. they've now created the inflatable backyard balloon tent. Mitty gets all four limbs involved and marches around her new favorite toy…

I will never forget how she looked over at me with the joy of a toddler who has just discovered trampoline legs…

"Whoa mom, did you know about this? This is sooo cool watch me! watch me. watch me do this!…and this"

Again a very cool person might save you with more laughter as you deflate…

(I’m not sure if it’s best to laugh or cry in these moments but…).

"Oh that’s okay!" the good-natured one might say.

KNEAD KNEAD KNEAD, KNEAD...KNEAD,KNEAD,KNEAD.

The laughter and intensity increase as you cannot get your little one now clinging desperately out of the tent. (MIIIIIIiitttty!!!)

Buddha teacher Gil says at times like this your emotions are like competing wolves. Over the long run, the one that wins is going to be the wolf you feed. in moments like these, there's frustration, my perceived failure to control my cat, or joy/compassion for the similarities we all share. bodies are funny.

i usually try to go with the laugh and apologize.

bodies are funny, flesh wounds are not.

anyway,

Happy Monday,

Amanda
Mitty's handler

Team Reeve Elliptithon Recap

Good Morning,

I am happy to report that I completed the Team Reeve All-Stars elliptithon in 4 hours! (which is exactly the amount of time I allotted for this event... : ). I feel good today just some lingering soreness in my posterior region and quads.

This is the video I made to give you a better idea of the day. It's also a kind of thank you to everyone who donated.


Peace & Happy Monday,

A-lo/amanda



*the music is by Joan Armatrading & T.I. the runners are from the Columbus marathon which was also completed this weekend.

*mitty is still available for free consultation services : )

Update on my Team Reeve marathon

Good Morning,

This time next week I will be slathered in Icy Hot! Next Saturday, the 18th, I will be running my Team Reeve Marathon. I will be running for four hours* (hopefully straight) on an elliptical machine in support of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

I've got my iPod loaded, my magazines, and my six screens of football watching to do...

While I'm running,there will also be many other things I will be thinking about. Here are a few that I've chosen to focus on:

The CDRF (Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation) estimates that 400,000 people are living with SCI. The major authority on SCI research estimates 250,000...hopefully, some of the money raised will help develop more reliable statistics.

(*regardless, this is at least 3 "Horseshoes" or "Big House" stadiums full of people)

"87.9% of all SCI patients are discharged from hospitals to private homes...5.6% are discharged to nursing homes." I will be thinking about those 5.6%.

The Estimated Life Costs of someone with my level of injury (but complete) is $1,729,754. The average yearly expenses is $56,905.

This is like having the stock market plummet and then neeeeeever recovering. No matter what Wall Street does.

77.8% of new SCI patients are male. I will especially be thinking of my newly injured sisters.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. It humbles me to see your generosity. If you haven't had the chance and would still like to make a donation, you can do so at: (see link at the top right of this page)

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=59078&supid=222859771


Happy Monday,

Amanda


*why 4 hrs.? I checked out the Average Finish Time for all participants in last year's Columbus Marathon-4:19:24. I have never liked to think of myself as "average" (rrrrg) so I rounded down to 4:00:00.

we sing. we dance...

Good Morning,

I don't think it's any secret that if I were stranded on a desert island the one thing I would like to bring would be my family (I don't know if we'd all ever make it off the island together...)

ANYWAY, all of this is to say i have some highlights to share from my cousin's wedding this past weekend.

http://homepage.mac.com/amv12/iMovieTheater50.html

we sing. we dance. we steal things*...

please enjoy. happy monday.

Amanda

*Jason Mraz album reference

we sing. we dance...

Good Morning,

I don't think it's any secret that if I were stranded on a desert island the one thing I would like to bring would be my family (I don't know if we'd all ever make it off the island together...)

ANYWAY, all of this is to say i have some highlights to share from my cousin's wedding this past weekend.

http://homepage.mac.com/amv12/iMovieTheater50.html

we sing. we dance. we steal things*...

please enjoy. happy monday.

Amanda

*Jason Mraz album reference