I hope all is well with everyone.

I hope all is well with everyone. I have not heard much with the exceptions of Ali's posts on her blog.

Ali... I don't know if you realize it but your writing is very inspirational and I appriciate your sharing your goals, accomplishments and real life experiences with running and the psychology that goes along with hitting the road to train.

Happy Birthday Grandpo

Happy Birthday Great Grandpo!!

From Samantha & Jack in Arizona

Sharing a memory...

I thought you'd all enjoy this... it's a reposting from my blog:

Let me preface this by saying that my Grandpo was an amazing runner... he ran until he was physically unable to do so at the age of 75. He encouraged all of us to do the same... and I miss him every single day.

I was a chubby child... a harbinger of things to come, I suppose. My Grandpo was determined to 'fix' that. So one lovely Saturday morning (a typical Albuquerque summer day), he picked up me and my brother (an equally chubby child) up for some 'fun'. It was Grandpo, so we thought- hey! A movie... maybe the zoo... ooh, maybe Uncle Cliff's (a local amusement park)...

Har-de-har-har... what we did was go downtown for a run. No, not to WATCH, but to run. I don't think I had ever run further than from the living room to the kitchen for some fresh tortillas...

I remember it vividly (in technicolor!)... the sights, smells, sounds. It was a one mile 'fun' run. I thought I was going to die. That mile seemed to stretch out to forever. Why, God, why? My Grandpo loved me! This wasn't 'fun', this was hell!

And then I crossed the finish line... I remember getting a medal, and the smile on my Grandpo's face... and then and there an addiction was born. I haven't always nourished that addiction, but like a silent flame, it's burned on in my heart since that day.

For me, it's how I keep my much loved, and much missed Grandpo alive. That flame. So, while my first run wasn't much 'fun', most of my runs since have been. And to honor this (funny) special memory, I registered my daughter today for HER first fun run. 5/3/08, she and I will both run the Miles for Miracles run in Denver.

And just for giggles, my brother (and his daughter) will also be running that day. Here's to you, Grandpo. Looks like you succeeded after all. :)

Talk, talk, talk... NO MORE! It's DO, DO, DO!!

Hola & Happy Wednesday!

For three whole years Rob and I have been talking about having a family reunion. We reminisce about our last one, almost 15 years ago! - might I add. We discuss how much things have changed: kids (us) are grown, we are no longer the youngest generation of our family, our parent's are no longer discussing career opportunities - they are discussing retirement opportunities, good grades refers to wine, yada-yada, the list really goes on and on. We imagine what the next reunion will be like... how the kids now will be talking about it w/their school friends, how we will play games (& I will win)... Well, frankly, we are tired of this conversation. There is only so many times two people can have the same conversation over and over... =)

So... we've decided to DO something...

We thought the best way to get some plans started for a family reunion is to have a conference call. =) Yes, we are too used to corporate business organizing. We know. Seriously, though! Decisions need to be made & we need input from ya. So, Friday morning (anytime) will work for me and Rob. If that doesn't work for everyone, how about Saturday or early next week? We need representatives from CO, AZ, NM and CA. We need help, possibly from my mom or Tia Mari, getting in contact w/the CA family.

Whatever date we decide on, this is how to access the conference call:
Dial: 1.877.228.3600
Enter Pass code #: 7420469

We will provide you with a an agenda soon. ;) In the mean time, look at your calendars & respond with a few dates and times that will work for you, and from there we can agree on the best time.

XOXOXO

P.S. Be looking for a post and pictures from my Africa trip! It was AMAZING! What was I thinking when I planned the trip for ONLY 10 days? I needed so much longer!

Hola, everyone!

I wanted to add to the blog by introducing my love, Basil. I'm really looking forward to the possibility of a reunion so that you all can meet him yourself.

First of all, you'd notice this lovely accent he brought along with him from "across the pond," as they say. Of course, if you asked any of his friends or relatives, they would say he's completely lost his British affect. After all, he's been in our country for 20+ years.

Well, thank goodness Baz found his way to Arizona or we would have never met.

And, where did we meet, you might ask. I'll give a more romantic ring to the story by saying that we crossed paths about ten years ago in a small, dark neighborhood pub. He was probably playing pool with his friends and I was probably playing darts with mine. Only it wasn't until five years later that we finally "hooked up."

This photo was in our first year together. We took a little trip to Tahoe, where we pretended to be newlyweds. We wanted to see if we would get "star" treatment. Boy, did we. In a restaurant where we couldn't even get dinner reservations, they made room for us at the most perfect bay window overlooking the lake at sunset.

Now, five years later, we still aren't newlyweds, but we are newly engaged.

I called a few of you to announce the news that a "marriage" (not a wedding) was forthcoming. But Baz's work called him away and we have had to re-think the date. So, be on the lookout. We'll announce again when we have a handle on our schedules.

Maybe we will just remain perpetually engaged! And why not? I know a couple who pulled it off for over twenty years!

Some pics from Easter in NM

Easter in New Mexico trip. Can you say Louis and Roberto?
Raton Pass.
25 Years later...I swear the wall was bigger...
That looks more like it!

What a big heart!

I wanted to celebrate Mireya for being such an amazing little girl. Over the past weekend Mireya decided that she wanted to cut her hair and donate it to Locks for Love.

She explained that there are kids who do not have hair and need it more that she does.

Mireya I am so proud to be your dad!

Springtime in AZ---We're busy celebrating!

As you can see from these three pix, we have a lot to celebrate in AZ. Mostly we're thrilled with the wonderful weather. The summers are so dreadfully hot that we cram a lot into our winters and springs.

This past weekend, we celebrated Greg's 39th at a new Gardunos (top pic) that opened up near their house in the West Valley. It was hard to believe that the free dessert he got for his birthday disappeared after we had enjoyed the breakfast buffet. Sam and Jack love desserts--need I say more?

The middle photo is Jack at his 9th birthday. Isn't he a handsome boy?? Grandma sure thinks so.

The bottom pic is from the final performance of Footloose. Samantha participated in Triple Threat classes during her spring break--acting, singing and dancing. She is in the lower right corner. Even though it required getting up early and working all day long, she had a blast. She enjoyed interacting with a bunch of new friends, too.

What's everyone else doing this spring?