Scrapbook

I just decided that I am going to make a scrapbook of my whole Livestrong Challenge experience, maybe include some of these blog entries, and some from friends like Russ, Jen & Lauren (if that's ok with you guys), and even some of the comments I've received. I've got tons of ideas, including having the book itself be yellow or black, and I'm going to buy more of the actual Livestrong bracelets and cut them to use on some of the pages along with yellow & black paper, etc. :) I was thinking about using one of the Livestrong Challenge binders, but it's too flimsy.

Is anyone else totally energized by the news that the volunteer signup sheet will be up online in the next week or two? I am! My husband and my mom are both going to volunteer in Austin, and my husband is running my spot in the 5K.

Here's to hoping some more money comes in so I can make the Ride for the Roses! Good luck to everyone.

Being sick sucks!

Between the flooding rains in Texas and being too sick to ride my bike, it's been over a month since I rode!! I'm going crazy! My doctor told me today that I have some kind of infection in my lungs similar to walking pneumonia, but it's NOT pneumonia. I should be feeling better in a couple days, and she said I should be able to breath well enough to start riding again on Sunday or so. I can't wait!! Now, of course, I have to squeeze an entire summer of training into a mere 2.5 months. There's actually three months left until the ride, but we're going on vacation for almost two weeks at the end of July/beginning of August, and I won't be able to ride during that time. I'll be walking miles and miles around New York City, and I'll work out with my sister in law in DC, so that'll be some exercise I guess. In any case, I still have LOTS of work to do. I'm going to try to find a spin class, and maybe a couple aerobic/cardio type classes at a gym or something for when we return from vacation. That way, if it rains, I'll still be able to stick to my class(es) and keep my progress going.

I haven't had much luck in fundraising lately. I'm still stuck around the same place I was in May, except for my husband's monthly $10 donation. I've put the word out to lots of friends, family, acquaintances, etc. and hopefully I'll find some people to help out with benefit events, etc. I did find two sponsors, but we have not finalized how much they will be contributing, so I have no clue how much farther I still have to go to reach my goal of $15,000. The good news is that I do have two sponsors lined up, both of which will be finalized in mid August.

On a completely non-cycling related note, my Gpa Olson (who was diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer last fall) has a PSA level of almost zero! It's like 0.023 or something like that. For those of you that don't know what that is, it means my Gpa is officially IN REMISSION!!!! There is still lingering organ damage, but they removed the stents in his kidney, and he's looking SO great! We're all so relieved! He looks great and feels great, and he even said (before the doctors told him officially) that he really felt like the cancer was gone. This makes me so so so happy, and extremely grateful for the care he received at KU Med Center in Kansas City. There's also a possibility that Gpa Olson might come down for the ride, and maybe my mom too! I'm very excited about both of those possibilities!