What the heck.....

I've seen so much hate in the news and online lately regarding the possibility of same sex marriage being legalized. While there are militant members of any subgroup of people, I believe most of us are people who are trying to love, be loved, and make a small imprint on the world. We all just want to be understood, accepted, and feel "normal". Some of us are born "different". I have brown hair. I have hazel eyes. They might be different than yours; but that doesn't mean mine are better or lesser than yours. Our differences are what make us unique, special, and a more valuable piece of the larger group.

I believe that the fight to maintain that all people should have the right to marry is a valid and important fight. Our nation should fight for all of it's people and uphold ALL rights, not just those of the wealthy, the heterosexual. Allowing gay people to marry does nothing to devalue the love that people share when united in heterosexual marriage, but solidifies that it still maintains importance and is supported by so many people in this country. How about "We believe so much in marriage and in it's value that we want to give you this blessing and celebrate it with you....." instead of "ewww, you homos getting married makes me sick". Let's grow up a little here.

It made me think.....How many people stood at their heterosexual wedding, in front of gay friends.... and married the love of their life while knowing that their friends couldn't do what they were doing? Did these gay guests speak out about how unfair it was? Did they decide to "not attend" because they didn't think it was "right"? Or did they show up, wish the best of luck, dance the night away, and feel a bit happy, yet envious about the beauty of the wedding?

We're all just people, folks. We all bleed. We all have priorities. We all have families. We all have the ability to love. Why not choose it over hate and acceptance over ignorance? I work in a field where people are alive one day and gone the next. Why spend life so worried about who someone else is in love with, who someone else is marrying, who someone else kisses goodnight? Our lives are already too short. We already don't have enough time. Any day could be our last. On your last day, do you want to be celebrating your life and what personally makes you HAPPY or feeling as though other people have done you wrong by enjoying LOVE in their lives.

Thank you for your support and help!

Thank you so much to everyone who supported LLS and myself. I did the Eugene Half Marathon for my Uncle Jimmy and had a great time. My sister came along to join me and my Dad and Heather cheered from the sidelines. There is nothing like running into that stadium at the finish... Steve Prefontaine touched that track. Holy moly. I am so incredibly grateful, humbled, appreciative, and thankful for all of you and for all of your help. Thank you for every word of encouragement and for every dollar donated. Each one of them counted.

James A.

James "Jimmy" D. retired CPD over 31 years, beloved husband of Pat (nee Holda), loving father of Victoria (Patrick CPD) Andrews and Robin Allotta (John Sajdak), beloved son of the late Demi and Josephine (nee Gioioso), fond grandfather of Shannon, Jimmy, and John, dear brother of Robert (Rebecca) Allotta, brother-in-law of Robert (Jan) Holda and the late Ronald (Darlene) Holda and the late Judy (John) Mercier, fond uncle of many.

Time to get serious.....

Time to get in shape for the wedding! :) Doing lots of boot camp exercise, plyometrics, yoga, aerobics, weight training, running, cycling, spinning, etc. The hardest part is getting my diet looking better. So many years of reading all these girly magazines would lead me to believe that I shouldn't be eating much of anything. Working with my dietician has really opened my eyes. I am not taking in NEARLY enough protein. Women with PCOS crave carbs and because I'm trying to diet, I've even been limiting those. Not so good. I should be taking in about 1600 calories per day, at least 40 grams of protein, more dairy for calcium, etc. Here goes nothing!

My goal is to run the Eugene marathon on May 2nd in under 6 hours.

-Stacey

Exciting News!

Heather and I are really happy to announce that we have set a date for our wedding!

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/HeatherSorgen&StaceyHolda

Starting fresh...

So, I came down with a horrible horrible cold... that may just have been H1N1, but I didn't want to do a nasal wash to find out. They wouldn't have been able to do anything different to treat me, even if it was, so I felt it was a moot point. I'm still recovering going into my 2nd week and training for the Eugene Marathon starts this Saturday morning offically. I feel like I'm really out of the loop and behind already! So, instead of focusing on what I haven't been able to do and freaking out, I'll focus on what I'm able to do. Yesterday morning Heather and I went to the gym at our condo complex and did cardo on the bike and treadmill and then weights. I'm TOTALLY feeling it in my arms. Even when training for runs, I don't usually weight lift, but I know there are amazing benefits - so I'm trying to start this training season off right. I am finally feeling a little bit better and my breathing is better. I can't believe that as someone who has done a triathlon, 200 mile bike rides, marathons, etc........ this last week I couldn't make it up the stairs in my house without wheezing at the top and stopping for a break. I'm slowly making my way back to being totally healthy. Tonight, I hope to visit the gym again and get a short 20-30 minute workout in. I'm excited for Saturday's team practice.

I've also been trying really hard to take a good fresh look at what I'm eating. I realized that I'm not including enough protein and that I'm reaching for simple carbs as convenience food. For example, instead of making oatmeal I was grabbing a bagel. Bagels really don't do much to keep you full and they can just be empty calories. So, I'm trying to eat better, healthier breakfasts, keeping a loose idea of how many calories I consume per day, etc. Nothing crazy here. I don't "diet". I'm trying to accept changes that I can use for the rest of my life. I'm going back to my nutritionist next week, so I'll check in with her to make sure the changes I am making are all healthy ones. :)

As I've said before, I have quite a bit to lose to be in the "healthy range" and to try to get off of my medications for hypothyroidism. Each pound is one that I not only want to lose in a healthy way, but to keep off in a healthy way.

I'll just keep waddling on!

-Stacey

Soggy shoes!!!!!

Today's run was WET!!!!! Left the comforts of a warm bed to go running in the rain with Heather. Reminded me of old times running in the rain in Illinois. We "technically" never ran in "thunderstorms".... but my old coach Walsh must have had some really bad hearing.... wink wink. Today there weren't just droplets or mist....... downpour. And it felt so good. :)

Fun...

Wow. I started running again. Saturday's run was ....... not the best run. Today's run..... was better. :) I got up early this morning, with my amazingly cheerful better half, and we hit Magnuson park together. She walked and I ran. In an incredible show of support of my running, she surprised me with this awesome Nike plus thingie for my shoe. It syncs to my Ipod touch and when I plug it into the computer, I can keep track of all running, pace, time, etc. It is really motivating. On Saturday, I averaged a 13:40 mile. Today, I averaged an 11:40 mile. At one point, I looked down to see that I was pushing hard to a really good song..... pushing a 9:40 pace hard. :) All in all, it was a good morning. We ran in the darkness, trying to follow the trail of streetlights and safe sidewalks. I'm grateful to have someone to be out there with. It makes it less lonesome to know I'm not by myself in this.

I'm going to do this. I'm going to get fit. I'm going to be healthy. I'm going to continue running... and remember how it feels to run.... just for the fun of running. Just to go FAST. Just to feel what it is to be ALIVE. I miss when running felt like that. Today, when I looked down to see that 9:40..... and I was rocking out to a great song.... I remembered that feeling for a moment.

Song of the Day: Galvanize by Chemical Brothers
Great running song...

-Stacey