30 Days of Thanksgiving – Day 6

Today I send praises to my favorite running tool - my Garmin 205. I love this watch. It tells me how far I have run, how fast I am running, lets me know when I have finished each mile on a run. I can run without this - but it reaches out to the geek in me and I have to admit I'm pretty hooked on it.



If you are a serious runner - check the Garmin's out. Nobody should be without one!

30 Days of Thanksgiving – Day 5

Today I am grateful for one of my online friends who goes by the name of Max.

I first met Max in a forum back in 2003 and we immediately recognized a kindred spirit. We have never met in person, only talked on the phone a handful of times, but are kindred spirits. Sometimes I joke that we are Siamese Twins separated at birth.

Looking at our backgrounds, we don't have much in common. What I think draws us together is our attitude towards life. We both go with the concept (most of the time) of 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' When our family situations are driving us nuts, we try to find things to laugh about. When we are depressed, we start insulting each other so that we will get out of our funk.

Max loves anything to do with Harry Potter (I really regret ordering her a wand) and believes that Edward Cullen from Twilight is her second husband. She has five kids that would drive anyone crazy – but she is the sanest person I know (that might not be saying much).

Together, the two of us – Max and Tarzan – are going steadily forward with our plans for World Domination…

Here's to you – Max – my numero uno online friend!

30 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 4

I am really grateful for my Jeep. I know it is not everyone's dream car - but I have always wanted to have a Jeep - especially once I saw that McGuyver drove a Jeep.


This was my Mother's Day gift to myself in 2007. My son tried to total it in June of 2007 - but it was able to be rebuilt.

Now, with a new soft top on, I am ready to drive through snow and slush as winter comes in (I am also grateful for 4 wheel drive).

30 days of Thanksgiving - Day 3

Today I am thankful for my Theracane.


This looks like some weird form of torture, but is one of the neatest tools around. You can use it to find trigger points and release them and dig deep into sore and injured muscles.

I often have mine at work and it disappears a lot because my co-workers love it too.

30 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 2

On this second day of November, I am grateful for my second born, Kevin Christopher Lee.



We worried constantly about Kevin when he was young because he was so sick with asthma related issues and we were afraid he wouldn't survive.

Where would I be without his wacky sense of humor, intelligence, hugs, and smile.

Kevin - we always called you Kevin From Heaven and you continue to live up to that name.

30 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 1

Today is the first day of November and a great time to think of things to be Thankful for.

On this first day of the month - I want to dedicate my post to my beautiful, first born, Jennifer Maurine Lee Merkley.


Jennifer has always been such a joy to me and made me glad to be a mother (except for all the hours of colic when she was young). I was so glad to get to spend a couple of weeks with her in Italy. I am glad she is in love and happy and married - but there are days when I just plain miss her. Thank heavens for Internet phones and MSN Messenger and Email.

Jennifer - tu sei una grande figlia. Ti amo! Mama

Running with friends

Vic, Me, Suzanne & Nora - Ogden Marathon 2005

Most of the time I end up running alone because of time and location constraints. Occasionally, I am able to join a group run but a lot of the time get left in the dust on those runs because I am so slow.

I love running with my friend Leslie because we have a similar pace. Today, a group of us got together for a 10 mile run on the Jordan River Parkway. It was a beautiful run - not too hot, not too cool. In other words, JUST RIGHT.

Me and Leslie - Park City 2007

There is something about running with someone else that is hard to describe if you have never experienced it. You can talk about subjects that you would possibly never talk to someone else about and relax and enjoy conversation and kidding that we so often miss in our hectic life.

Some of my past running/walking buddies have been Virginia A, Vic M, Nora W, my son Kevin, Leslie, and the running group from Striders.

Now I have the opportunity to make new friends and am looking forward to it.

Fast Running Bloggers - 11/1/2009 - Jordan River Parkway

Me, Leslie, Marion - Enjoying those Fall colors