(8270,1,'2011-12-04 20:15:42','2011-12-05 03:15:42','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'3\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  What do you mean there\'s not place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'3\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWould you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Be proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-77','','','2011-12-04 20:15:42','2011-12-05 03:15:42','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-77/',0,'revision','',0),(8271,1,'2011-12-04 20:18:39','2011-12-05 03:18:39','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'3\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  What do you mean there\'s not place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'3\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Be proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-78','','','2011-12-04 20:18:39','2011-12-05 03:18:39','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-78/',0,'revision','',0),(8272,1,'2011-12-04 20:19:58','2011-12-05 03:19:58','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'3\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  What do you mean there\'s not place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'3\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Be proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-79','','','2011-12-04 20:19:58','2011-12-05 03:19:58','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-79/',0,'revision','',0),(8273,1,'2011-12-04 20:28:30','2011-12-05 03:28:30','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'3\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  What do you mean there\'s not place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'3\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Be proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-80','','','2011-12-04 20:28:30','2011-12-05 03:28:30','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-80/',0,'revision','',0),(8274,1,'2011-12-04 20:33:28','2011-12-05 03:33:28','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'3\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  What do you mean there\'s no place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'3\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Be proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-81','','','2011-12-04 20:33:28','2011-12-05 03:33:28','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-81/',0,'revision','',0),(8275,1,'2011-12-08 21:15:01','2011-12-09 04:15:01','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOy vay.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nKidding!!!!  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUmmmm....\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'2\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  <em>(chuckling)</em> What do you mean there\'s no place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'2\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Feel proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8215\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"325\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here .  Look for \"Acantos\".)</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\n\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-autosave','','','2011-12-08 21:15:01','2011-12-09 04:15:01','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(8276,1,'2011-12-04 20:33:28','2011-12-05 03:33:28','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'3\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  What do you mean there\'s no place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'3\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Be proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-82','','','2011-12-04 20:33:28','2011-12-05 03:33:28','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-82/',0,'revision','',0),(8277,1,'2011-12-04 20:35:08','2011-12-05 03:35:08','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'2\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  What do you mean there\'s no place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'2\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Be proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-83','','','2011-12-04 20:35:08','2011-12-05 03:35:08','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-83/',0,'revision','',0),(8278,1,'2011-12-04 20:37:09','2011-12-05 03:37:09','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'2\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  What do you mean there\'s no place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'2\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Feel proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here .  Look for \"Acantos\".)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-84','','','2011-12-04 20:37:09','2011-12-05 03:37:09','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-84/',0,'revision','',0),(8279,1,'2011-12-04 20:51:06','2011-12-05 03:51:06','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'2\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  <em>(chuckling)</em> What do you mean there\'s no place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'2\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Feel proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here .  Look for \"Acantos\".)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-85','','','2011-12-04 20:51:06','2011-12-05 03:51:06','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-85/',0,'revision','',0),(8281,1,'2011-12-05 08:50:16','2011-12-05 15:50:16','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'2\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  <em>(chuckling)</em> What do you mean there\'s no place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'2\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Feel proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div> </div>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8215\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"325\" /></a> \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here .  Look for \"Acantos\".)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-87','','','2011-12-05 08:50:16','2011-12-05 15:50:16','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/05/8188-revision-87/',0,'revision','',0),(8280,1,'2011-12-04 20:52:00','2011-12-05 03:52:00','[caption id=\"attachment_8214\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Doesn&#39;t this look appetizing? A food photographer I am not. Sorry, peeps.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8214\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nhow...How...HOW can it be December already?!?!?!  <em>Where</em> has the time gone?  It\'s hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a little over a week ago.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\">Previously, I shared with you that the Man from a Land Far, Far Away was coming to Thanksgiving Dinner</a></strong> (and beyond).  One doesn\'t cross the ocean for turkey and pumpkin pie.  He booked his stay for 10 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy inner circle worried about how this serial single girl would cope with a man in her nest for 10 days.  Either I would fall madly in love or be driven to the brink of insanity.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhile my inner circle fretted about the future of my love life, I panicked about turkey.  Specifically, how the hell do I cook one?  And aren\'t turkeys too big for two people?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe options quickly overwhelmed me:  Turkey breast?  Whole turkey?  Cornish hen?  Precooked something-or-rather from Honey Baked Hams or Whole Paycheck?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone had an opinion.  I found out through this process that Americans are very, very passionate about turkey.  Who knew?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFirst, we had Camp Turkey Breast vs Camp Whole Bird.  Each side thought that the other was completely insane.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Camp Turkey Breast:</span>  Cook an entire turkey for only two people?  Ridic!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">Camp Whole Bird:</span>  Cook only a breast for a man who has never experienced Thanksgiving? Unthinkable!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuilted into joining Camp Whole Bird, I entered yet another Turkey Debate:  Bag vs. V-Rack Thingie.  Each side thought that the other was utterly absurd.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Bag Peeps:</span>  Dry out the bird while creating a monumental mess?  As you wish, sucker!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #808000;\">V-Rack Thingie Peeps:</span>  You\'re cooking for an Italian, and you\'re going to stick the bird in a bag? Mamma mia!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOy vay.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe people-pleaser in me didn\'t want to offend anyone.  Heather and Corinniecakes both revealed their turkey expertise and their recipes in the comments section of that blog post.  And then Sarah suggested Tofurky on the facebook page.  What\'s a blogger to do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ultimately decided on the Tofurky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/21/tackling-the-tofurkey/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8194\" title=\"nw_tofurkey-1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"316\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKidding!!!!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI opted for the Whole Turkey on the V-Rack Thingie.  (I promise to try your Turkey in the Bag recipe next year, Heather!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCorinniecakes swore up, down, and sideways in her Tale of Turkey Roasting Perfection that the preparation of this bird was a snap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUmmmm....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose it was easy.  Just time consuming.  My Italian sous chef for the day THANKFULLY stepped up and helped me chop onions, apples, carrots, potatoes, and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-4541\" target=\"_blank\">whatever else Corinniecakes mentioned in that recipe.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it would have been even easier had I allowed appropriate prep time for the main attraction of the Thanksgiving meal.  This will not surprise my mother, but I did not step foot into the kitchen until almost 1 p.m.   I tend to lollygag about in the mornings as it is, and with the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The National Dog Show on, I was a bit distracted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Oh, yes.  And then there was the most pleasant distraction of the morning:  the 6\'2\" Italian man visiting me from far, far away.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo it was 1 p.m. when I removed the turkey from my fridge to discover that it was still frozen.  Even though I took it out of the freezer on Monday.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat does a woman do when she faces a culinary disaster?  She calls her mother, naturally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">My mother, apparently feeling sadistic (on Thanksgiving of all days!), placed me on speakerphone so that all of my relatives could laugh at my dilemma.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe phone conversation went something like this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Me:  MOM!!!!  My turkey is frozen.  I\'m going to have to run down the street to Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Oh, darn.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  You\'re going to have to run a cold water bath for the turkey.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Uh....no.  That could take all day.  Rotisserie chicken from Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you are NOT going to pick up a chicken when this man has traveled all the way from Tuscany to see you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Deep breaths.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  There\'s no place for me to stuff the stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  <em>(chuckling)</em> What do you mean there\'s no place to stuff the stuffing?!?!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I took out that guts bag like you told me, but there\'s no cavity!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Mom:  <em>(announcing to the Floridian relatives)</em>  Hey, everyone!  Michelle says there\'s no cavity in the turkey for the stuffing!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Floridian Peanut Gallery: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  If you keep laughing at me, I\'m hanging up and driving to Safeway.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(Flashback:  In my culinary past, I cooked everything else for Thanksgiving, except for the turkey. Also of note: I\'m squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.  If I didn\'t have a tendency to become anemic, get insanely hungry when I don\'t eat meat for stretches of time, and share a particular fondness for cheeseburgers, I\'d more than likely become a vegetarian.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Michelle, you\'re going to have to stick your hand in there and pull out the intestines.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  WHAT?!?!  I ALREADY PULLED OUT THE BAG THINGIE!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  There\'s more in there.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:  </strong>BUT IT\'S FROZEN SOLID.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mom:</strong>  Run water inside the cavity and PULL!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Floridian Peanut Gallery:</strong>  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Me:</strong>  I have to go.  Love you.  Bye.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #800000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>In a moment of perfect timing, my 6\'2\" Italiano asked me if I would like a refill on my glass of wine.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSI, PER FAVORE!!!! (Translation:  HELL YES, PLEASE!!!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran water through the inside of that bird and pulled.  And pulled.  And pulled.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil a solid block of icy guts emerged.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s no wonder that my personal favorite TDay dish is the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #800000;\"><strong>The Verdict:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe bird -- whose insides were frozen but whose flesh was not -- cooked in 3.5 hours, just as Trader Joe\'s suggested.  Corinniecakes\' recipe lived up to its monumental hype.  The bird was juicy and tasty.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy Italian dinner guest had never tasted cranberry sauce, and he gave my homemade version a thumbs up.  He complimented me on my al dente green beans and humored me by taking seconds and thirds of my Smokehouse Stuffing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, Smokehouse Stuffing is not a traditional family recipe.  It was a brand new invention of mine on Thanksgiving 2011.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Would you like the recipe for Smokehouse Stuffing?  It\'s simple!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Put your gravy on the back burner and turn it up to high when you notice that it\'s not warming up.</li>\r\n	<li>Then take your perfectly cooked stuffing (baked in a casserole dish, not inside the turkey) out of the oven and place it on the front burner.  Notice how steaming hot it is!</li>\r\n	<li>When your dinner guest questions the intensity of the stuffing\'s steaminess, note the red hot front burner and the black back burner (with cold gravy sitting on it) and shout, \"NO!  NO!  NO!\" 100 times in a row.  Feel proud of yourself for not dropping the f-bomb 1000 times in front of your guest.</li>\r\n	<li>Grab those oven mitts and move that stuffing to the nearest, coldest place in your kitchen, sunshine!</li>\r\n	<li>IMPROVISE!  Find a bowl and transfer the stuffing pronto!  Try to remove all black pieces that lined the bottom of the casserole dish.  You won\'t get them all -- trust me -- but that\'s o.k.  The charred pieces are what give the stuffing that authentic smokehouse flavor.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>DRINK MORE WINE.<strong></strong></strong></li>\r\n	<li>Viola!  There you have it!  Michelle\'s Smokehouse Stuffing.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>And now for the BEST part of the Meal . . . . </strong></span></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8215 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB240028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, the pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream was my second favorite food of the Thanksgiving meal.  My first favorite?  The wine.<strong>  <a href=\"http://www.montebelli.com/bio-organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">(You can find it here .  Look for \"Acantos\".)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, nothing in that meal compared to the <em>real</em> featured attraction of this year\'s Thanksgiving -- my very special dinner guest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrazie for crossing the ocean to spend Thanksgiving and beyond with me, amore mio!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Turkey Verdict:  Buonissimo!  ','','inherit','open','open','','8188-revision-86','','','2011-12-04 20:52:00','2011-12-05 03:52:00','',8188,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/04/8188-revision-86/',0,'revision','',0),(8283,1,'2011-12-07 21:23:07','2011-12-08 04:23:07','','nw_tofurkey-1','','inherit','open','open','','nw_tofurkey-1-2','','','2011-12-07 21:23:07','2011-12-08 04:23:07','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-11.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(8583,1,'2011-12-26 20:51:21','2011-12-27 03:51:21','[caption id=\"attachment_8587\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"This photo does indeed relate to the winning nickname.* You&#39;ll see.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/26/and-the-winner-for-name-that-italian-is/p1000909/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8587\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8587 \" title=\"P1000909\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/P1000909-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast week, I asked for your help in choosing a new nickname for the Man from a Land Far, Far Away.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt first, the nickname of \"The Man from a Land Far, Far Away\" was mysterious and intriguing, but after writing it over and over, it quickly evolved into too wordy.  And with my not-so-subtle references to all things Italian, it was obvious that this Far, Far Away Land was Italia.  There was no need to keep up with the charade any longer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMamma Mia!  Thank you for all of your comments and suggestions last week!  You can see them all <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/18/name-that-italian/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a> </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy personal favorite was L\'Uomo -- \"The Man\".  I think it stays true to \"The Man from a Land Far, Far Away\", but shortened and with a sexy twist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHowever, I previously turned over all voting right to \"The Man\", and he thumbed his nose at \"L\'Uomo\".  Something about it being too generic in Italia.  And I guess he\'s the one who would know.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter much chuckling and \"smiling with his heart\" (you really must go back and read <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/18/name-that-italian/comment-page-1/#comment-5188\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>his sweet comment</strong></a>), The Man from a Land Far, Far Away has decided on his new nickname.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>May I have a drumroll, please?</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>The Man from a Land Far, Far Away will now be referred to as . . . .</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800000; font-size: xx-large;\"><strong>Romeo.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-large; color: #800000;\">♥</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease note that the Italian pronunciation is \"Ro-MAY-o\", unlike the English pronunciation \"RO-mee-o.  This satisfies my need for a sexy twist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn addition, I have been granted permission to use \"mio Romeo\" or \"Romeo mio\" to clarify that he\'s MY Romeo and not Juliet\'s.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you to SierraNJ for submitting the winning nickname!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>And now I need to share a little known secret whose woo-woo factor is pretty big.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOver the past decade of singlehood, I periodically resorted to fishing in the polluted sea that is known as Match.com.  Bleck.  Each time, I went in with an open mind, a willing heart, and a cleverly constructed profile.  My headline?  \"Romeo, Where the Heck Art Thou?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo wonder I didn\'t find him floating amongst the online sludge.  He was waiting for me in the pristine hills of Tuscany all along.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n* Romeo Mio took the above photo in Verona at the site that is reported to be the balcony of Guilietta, the woman who inspired Shakespeare\'s Juliet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo learn more about the real Guilietta/Juliet, please visit <a href=\"http://www.tourism.verona.it/_vti_g2_cen3.aspx?rpstry=27_\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong>  </a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChapter Two of Diary of a Late Bloomer begins January 1, 2012.  Chapter One was The Year of Living Curiously.  What will Chapter Two bring?  Details coming on Sunday!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','And the Winner for \"Name That Italian!\" is . . .','','publish','open','open','','and-the-winner-for-name-that-italian-is','','http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/18/name-that-italian/\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/18/name-that-italian/comment-page-1/#comment-5188','2011-12-26 21:29:40','2011-12-27 04:29:40','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=8583',0,'post','',11),(8286,1,'2011-12-07 21:26:58','2011-12-08 04:26:58','','nw_tofurkey-1','','inherit','open','open','','nw_tofurkey-1-3','','','2011-12-07 21:26:58','2011-12-08 04:26:58','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-12.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(9191,1,'2012-01-23 19:04:28','2012-01-24 02:04:28','','Playdate #3:  iPadding My Way to ','','inherit','open','open','','9189-revision-2','','','2012-01-23 19:04:28','2012-01-24 02:04:28','',9189,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/23/9189-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(8288,1,'2011-12-07 21:30:41','2011-12-08 04:30:41','','nw_tofurkey-1','','inherit','open','open','','nw_tofurkey-1-4','','','2011-12-07 21:30:41','2011-12-08 04:30:41','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nw_tofurkey-13.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(8289,1,'2011-12-08 21:26:01','2011-12-09 04:26:01','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"http://www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/a-very-special-guest-post-from-my-dad/chelseas-5k/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad','','publish','open','open','','a-very-special-guest-post-from-my-dad','','','2011-12-08 21:31:08','2011-12-09 04:31:08','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=8289',0,'post','',7),(8290,1,'2011-12-08 20:42:15','2011-12-09 03:42:15','<em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em>The Snowdrop Foundation\n\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\n\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\n\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\n\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\n\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\n\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\n\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  J\n\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below;\n\n<strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong>\n\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is www.snowdropfoundation.org.\n\n&nbsp;','A Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision','','','2011-12-08 20:42:15','2011-12-09 03:42:15','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(8291,1,'2011-12-08 20:42:32','2011-12-09 03:42:32','<em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em>The Snowdrop Foundation\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  J\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is www.snowdropfoundation.org.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-2','','','2011-12-08 20:42:32','2011-12-09 03:42:32','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(8292,1,'2011-12-08 20:43:15','2011-12-09 03:43:15','<em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em>The Snowdrop Foundation\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\n\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\n\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  J\n\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\n\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is www.snowdropfoundation.org.\n\n&nbsp;','A Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-3','','','2011-12-08 20:43:15','2011-12-09 03:43:15','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(8294,1,'2011-04-11 13:44:52','2011-04-11 20:44:52','[contact-form 2 \"Talk To Me\"]','talk to me','','inherit','open','open','','105-revision-6','','','2011-04-11 13:44:52','2011-04-11 20:44:52','',105,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/105-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(8295,1,'2011-12-08 20:49:28','2011-12-09 03:49:28','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>The Snowdrop Foundation\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you have a medal that you would like to donate, please remove the ribbon and contact Michelle\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*******************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-4','','','2011-12-08 20:49:28','2011-12-09 03:49:28','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(8296,1,'2011-12-08 21:08:36','2011-12-09 04:08:36','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-5','','','2011-12-08 21:08:36','2011-12-09 04:08:36','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(8297,1,'2011-12-08 21:13:04','2011-12-09 04:13:04','','Chelsea\'s 5K','','inherit','open','open','','chelseas-5k','','','2011-12-08 21:13:04','2011-12-09 04:13:04','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(8298,1,'2011-12-08 21:13:23','2011-12-09 04:13:23','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\n\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8297\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-6','','','2011-12-08 21:13:23','2011-12-09 04:13:23','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(8302,1,'2011-12-08 21:15:23','2011-12-09 04:15:23','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\n\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-10','','','2011-12-08 21:15:23','2011-12-09 04:15:23','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(8299,1,'2011-12-08 21:14:49','2011-12-09 04:14:49','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-7','','','2011-12-08 21:14:49','2011-12-09 04:14:49','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(8300,1,'2011-12-08 21:14:49','2011-12-09 04:14:49','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-8','','','2011-12-08 21:14:49','2011-12-09 04:14:49','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(8301,1,'2011-12-08 21:15:01','2011-12-09 04:15:01','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-9','','','2011-12-08 21:15:01','2011-12-09 04:15:01','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(8303,1,'2011-12-08 21:16:51','2011-12-09 04:16:51','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-11','','','2011-12-08 21:16:51','2011-12-09 04:16:51','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(8304,1,'2011-12-08 21:16:51','2011-12-09 04:16:51','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas.  It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons.  First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-12','','','2011-12-08 21:16:51','2011-12-09 04:16:51','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(8305,1,'2011-12-08 21:18:39','2011-12-09 04:18:39','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-13','','','2011-12-08 21:18:39','2011-12-09 04:18:39','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(8306,1,'2011-12-08 21:18:39','2011-12-09 04:18:39','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-14','','','2011-12-08 21:18:39','2011-12-09 04:18:39','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(8307,1,'2011-12-08 21:18:43','2011-12-09 04:18:43','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-15','','','2011-12-08 21:18:43','2011-12-09 04:18:43','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(8308,1,'2011-12-08 21:18:43','2011-12-09 04:18:43','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-16','','','2011-12-08 21:18:43','2011-12-09 04:18:43','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(8309,1,'2011-12-08 21:18:45','2011-12-09 04:18:45','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-17','','','2011-12-08 21:18:45','2011-12-09 04:18:45','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(8310,1,'2011-12-08 21:18:45','2011-12-09 04:18:45','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-18','','','2011-12-08 21:18:45','2011-12-09 04:18:45','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(8311,1,'2011-12-08 21:18:46','2011-12-09 04:18:46','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-19','','','2011-12-08 21:18:46','2011-12-09 04:18:46','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(8312,1,'2011-12-08 21:18:46','2011-12-09 04:18:46','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-20','','','2011-12-08 21:18:46','2011-12-09 04:18:46','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(8313,1,'2011-12-08 21:19:10','2011-12-09 04:19:10','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-21','','','2011-12-08 21:19:10','2011-12-09 04:19:10','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(8314,1,'2011-12-08 21:20:16','2011-12-09 04:20:16','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-660','','','2011-12-08 21:20:16','2011-12-09 04:20:16','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(8315,1,'2011-12-08 21:19:10','2011-12-09 04:19:10','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-22','','','2011-12-08 21:19:10','2011-12-09 04:19:10','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(8326,1,'2011-12-08 21:23:31','2011-12-09 04:23:31','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-33','','','2011-12-08 21:23:31','2011-12-09 04:23:31','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-33/',0,'revision','',0),(8316,1,'2011-12-08 21:21:12','2011-12-09 04:21:12','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8314\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8314\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-23','','','2011-12-08 21:21:12','2011-12-09 04:21:12','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(8317,1,'2011-12-08 21:21:12','2011-12-09 04:21:12','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8314\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8314\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-24','','','2011-12-08 21:21:12','2011-12-09 04:21:12','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(8318,1,'2011-12-08 21:21:16','2011-12-09 04:21:16','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8314\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8314\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-25','','','2011-12-08 21:21:16','2011-12-09 04:21:16','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(8319,1,'2011-12-08 21:21:17','2011-12-09 04:21:17','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8314\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8314\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-26','','','2011-12-08 21:21:17','2011-12-09 04:21:17','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-26/',0,'revision','',0),(8320,1,'2011-12-08 21:21:19','2011-12-09 04:21:19','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8314\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8314\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-27','','','2011-12-08 21:21:19','2011-12-09 04:21:19','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-27/',0,'revision','',0),(8321,1,'2011-12-08 21:21:19','2011-12-09 04:21:19','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8314\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8314\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-28','','','2011-12-08 21:21:19','2011-12-09 04:21:19','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-28/',0,'revision','',0),(8322,1,'2011-12-08 21:22:32','2011-12-09 04:22:32','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-29','','','2011-12-08 21:22:32','2011-12-09 04:22:32','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-29/',0,'revision','',0),(8323,1,'2011-12-08 21:22:32','2011-12-09 04:22:32','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-30','','','2011-12-08 21:22:32','2011-12-09 04:22:32','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-30/',0,'revision','',0),(8324,1,'2011-12-08 21:22:39','2011-12-09 04:22:39','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-31','','','2011-12-08 21:22:39','2011-12-09 04:22:39','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-31/',0,'revision','',0),(8325,1,'2011-12-08 21:22:39','2011-12-09 04:22:39','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-32','','','2011-12-08 21:22:39','2011-12-09 04:22:39','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-32/',0,'revision','',0),(8327,1,'2011-12-08 21:23:32','2011-12-09 04:23:32','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-34','','','2011-12-08 21:23:32','2011-12-09 04:23:32','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-34/',0,'revision','',0),(8328,1,'2011-12-08 21:23:37','2011-12-09 04:23:37','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-35','','','2011-12-08 21:23:37','2011-12-09 04:23:37','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-35/',0,'revision','',0),(8329,1,'2011-12-08 21:23:37','2011-12-09 04:23:37','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-36','','','2011-12-08 21:23:37','2011-12-09 04:23:37','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-36/',0,'revision','',0),(8330,1,'2011-12-08 21:24:00','2011-12-09 04:24:00','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-37','','','2011-12-08 21:24:00','2011-12-09 04:24:00','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-37/',0,'revision','',0),(8331,1,'2011-12-08 21:24:00','2011-12-09 04:24:00','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-38','','','2011-12-08 21:24:00','2011-12-09 04:24:00','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-38/',0,'revision','',0),(8332,1,'2011-12-08 21:24:05','2011-12-09 04:24:05','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-39','','','2011-12-08 21:24:05','2011-12-09 04:24:05','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-39/',0,'revision','',0),(8333,1,'2011-12-08 21:24:05','2011-12-09 04:24:05','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-40','','','2011-12-08 21:24:05','2011-12-09 04:24:05','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-40/',0,'revision','',0),(8334,1,'2011-12-08 21:24:41','2011-12-09 04:24:41','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-41','','','2011-12-08 21:24:41','2011-12-09 04:24:41','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-41/',0,'revision','',0),(8335,1,'2011-12-08 21:24:41','2011-12-09 04:24:41','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-42','','','2011-12-08 21:24:41','2011-12-09 04:24:41','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-42/',0,'revision','',0),(8336,1,'2011-12-08 21:26:01','2011-12-09 04:26:01','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8297\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-43','','','2011-12-08 21:26:01','2011-12-09 04:26:01','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-43/',0,'revision','',0),(8337,1,'2011-12-08 21:26:02','2011-12-09 04:26:02','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/a-very-special-guest-post-from-my-dad/chelseas-5k/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-44','','','2011-12-08 21:26:02','2011-12-09 04:26:02','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-44/',0,'revision','',0),(8338,1,'2011-12-08 21:26:39','2011-12-09 04:26:39','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/a-very-special-guest-post-from-my-dad/chelseas-5k/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-45','','','2011-12-08 21:26:39','2011-12-09 04:26:39','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-45/',0,'revision','',0),(8339,1,'2011-12-08 21:26:39','2011-12-09 04:26:39','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/a-very-special-guest-post-from-my-dad/chelseas-5k/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-46','','','2011-12-08 21:26:39','2011-12-09 04:26:39','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-46/',0,'revision','',0),(8343,1,'2011-12-08 21:31:08','2011-12-09 04:31:08','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"http://www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/a-very-special-guest-post-from-my-dad/chelseas-5k/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-49','','','2011-12-08 21:31:08','2011-12-09 04:31:08','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-49/',0,'revision','',0),(8340,1,'2011-12-08 21:28:10','2011-12-09 04:28:10','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"http://www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n********************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/a-very-special-guest-post-from-my-dad/chelseas-5k/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-revision-47','','','2011-12-08 21:28:10','2011-12-09 04:28:10','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-revision-47/',0,'revision','',0),(8341,1,'2011-12-08 21:29:14','2011-12-09 04:29:14','<strong><em>“Think of your worst day of running. Think about your hard training. Think about your blisters, your black toes and your aching muscles. Now think of how lucky you are that you\'re able to run because right now there is a child who can\'t because they are dying of cancer. You can do something about this.” </em></strong>\n\n<strong><em>                                                                                                                                                                    --</em>The Snowdrop Foundation</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn 2007 at the age of 62, I was encouraged (challenged) to run the Houston Half Marathon by my son-in-law.  One of the programs associated with the Houston Marathon is named Run For A Reason.  It is comprised of various, selected charities which provide an incentive for runners by being fundraisers for the charity.  Based on a personal experience with Brianna Garza (who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three months), I decided to help raise funds for the Snowdrop Foundation.  The Snowdrop Foundation is a pediatric cancer charity that provides funds for pediatric cancer research, family assistance and college scholarships for cancer survivors.  It was founded in 2006 by a local radio DJ, Kevin Kline.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince that first year, I have completed three half marathons and one full marathon while raising nearly $35,000 for the Snowdrop Foundation, but I wanted to do more.  I heard about an organization named Medals for Mettle that collected “recycled” finisher medals from half marathons and marathons, put new ribbons on the medals and then donated them to patients in cancer hospitals.  Although it is a nationwide organization, it was not represented in Houston!  I liked the idea so much, however, that after discussing with them how their program was structured, I decided to attempt to start a similar program through the Snowdrop foundation.  The name I selected was <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em></strong>.</span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8314\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bling-for-Bravery-Medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: medium;\"><strong><em>Bling for Bravery</em> </strong></span>is a program developed through the Snowdrop Foundation to celebrate and reward the bravery of the pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  The mission is to distribute finisher’s medals from races from Half Marathons through Ultra Marathons including Triathlons to the children at the hospital to recognize and celebrate their bravery in dealing with cancer.  The common thread of dedication and bravery of training for long distance races and triathlons is mirrored by the patients at the hospital.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have been surprised at the generosity of the runners and the medals they have donated, e.g. the Boston Marathon Finisher’s medal in the picture!  What I also learned in this first year is that athletes in other sports such as swimming are also willing to donate medals and exhibit the same threads of dedication as runners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the first year I have collected over 200 medals and have visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center once.  We are scheduled for our second visit on December 10.  In addition, one of the races run last year had a finisher’s medal in the shape of a snowflake!  I thought, how apropos!  So not only did we distribute the snowflake medals to the children at the hospital, we also awarded them to scholarship recipients as a reminder of what they had accomplished and what they could accomplish in the future.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>If you have a medal that you would like to donate, please mention in the comments section below.  Michelle will then contact you about how to mail in your medal.  Thank you for your generosity! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>2010-2011 was a big year for the Snowdrop Foundation in several areas. </strong></span> It was the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the organization and it received an award from the Houston Marathon Run for A Reason program for exceeding its goal by the largest amount.  The goal is set by the Run for A Reason committee based on past performance and the goals of similar sized organizations, and Snowdrop exceeded that goal by 204%!  That allowed us to award a record setting 35 scholarships totaling $82,000 this year!  Also, the Snowdrop Foundation was selected by the American Cancer Society as the organization to provide college scholarships for college bound cancer survivors.  And last but not least, the founder of the Snowdrop Foundation, Kevin Kline was nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.  He made the cut of the top 100 across the country, then the top 10 and was notified on June 14 that he was the winner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Cal Ripken, Jr. (the first inductee) on June 22.   What a year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you would like more information on the history and activities of the Snowdrop Foundation, their website is <strong><a href=\"http://www.snowdropfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.snowdropfoundation.org.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n********************\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/a-very-special-guest-post-from-my-dad/chelseas-5k/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8297\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-8297 alignleft\" title=\"Chelsea\'s 5K\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Chelseas-5K.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>I will be running the 2012 Aramco Half Marathon on January 15, 2012.  My goal is to raise $13,100 for two reasons. </strong></span> First, it mirrors the length of the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and second, in my 5<sup>th</sup> year it will bring the total that I have raised to over $50,000.  As a side note, I have never raised this amount in the past, so it will be a challenge.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs a novel contribution plan, I thought it would be interesting to receive donations in increments of 13.1; e.g. $13.10, $26.20, $39.30, $52.40, $65.50, $78.60, $91.70, $117.90, $131.00 ………., etc.  If this is too complicated, however, normal amounts are acceptable!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you would like to help me reach my goal , challenge me in my running and support the Snowdrop Foundation, you can access my personal fundraising page by clicking on the link below:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=7326&amp;CRID=33&amp;CID=329</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;','A Very Special Guest Post from My Dad  :-) ','','inherit','open','open','','8289-autosave','','','2011-12-08 21:29:14','2011-12-09 04:29:14','',8289,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/08/8289-autosave/',0,'revision','',0);
