Personal Fundraising Goal MET!

This is my tentmate, Val, and me on our training walk last weekend.

Thanks for the picture Sandy!

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Well ... Cousin Baz took me OVER THE TOP and I am now past my personal fundraising goal of $5000!  (He said it was from the "Boys in the back at R. Federman" but I know it was Baz... because there are no boys in the back at R. Federman anymore ... because there is NO R. Federman anymore. You can't fool me, Baz.)  So ... my fundraising is on track. I still have a lot of training to do.  I did about 12 miles last Sunday.  We walked from Penn Station to Inwood and the troops, sans yours truly, walked back to Penn Station after a lunch break at Grandpa's pizza.  I caught a subway back to Penn so I could get home, shop, and start to cook for Yom Kippur (which was Tuesday night.)  The first 12 weren't bad at all ... so I know I could have completed the training walk. 

Next order of business is team t-shirts. Grey, white, pink ... this shouldn't be taking so long!  I had to take control and I hate being the boss!

Like everything else ... it'll get done!

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I am looking at that picture of Val and me.  She is NOT that much taller than I am.  At least I don't THINK she's that much taller!  We were on a hill!

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One of my Zumba instructors has left the gym.  There is an aerobic dance class in place of the Zumba class.  Holy cow ... aerobic dance is a lot!!!  My friend Rosalie just looked at me at the end of the hour and we both laughed and laughed!  I call the girls in the front row the "cheerleaders" because they're so young and cute and energetic.  I want to push them out of the way thank them for giving me something to watch while I am huffing and puffing in the back.  Zumba is so much easier for me!

The end.

Crunching Numbers

Yes, my friends, summer is officially over.  

The picture is from Race Point in Provincetown.

We didn't see sharks, but we did see whales and seals.

It was great ... and now I have to wait another year to frolic in the National Seashore.

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School starts tomorrow for teachers, and students begin school Wednesday.

I'm ready!

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OK ... here are the numbers:

There are 60 days until event.

I have met 86% of my personal goal of $5000.00

I have raised $4338.00 ($4438.00 with the check that I am sending tomorrow.)

Burt's Babes (all 6 of us!) have raised $28,162.02 as a team.

Burt is the #4 top fundraiser in Dallas.

Liz is the #5 top fundraiser in Dallas.

Burt's Babes is the #7 top Dallas team.

I am so proud of us!
boobies.

Taking the Plunge ... and Purging!

Those aren't MY clothes ... but that's pretty much what it looked like on my bed yesterday.  I took the plunge and purged my closet.

This was not easy for me.

My friend Rosa has lost almost 50 pounds and we have talked about the clothes that don't fit anymore.  If we throw them out ... that means that we intend to be our new, smaller selves for ... EVER!

Let's be honest, friends.  I have lost weight before.  20 pounds down only to gain back 25.  25 pounds down only to gain back 30!  It's NOT HEALTHY!

By cleaning out my closet I am promising myself NEVER TO DO THAT AGAIN!

There ... it's in pink and white.

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When I bought my little Canon camera for my second 3-day in San Francisco, I also bought the Protection Plan from Best Buy.  Recently I dropped my little friend and cracked the screen.  I took it back to Best Buy yesterday and they are repairing the screen for me.  One Geek told me I might just get a new camera.  That would be sweet!

I guess that means no pictures for a while ... unless I can get my big Canon to work!

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There were five women in my Zumba class last night!  That is a VERY small group for my gym.  I am assuming the numbers will go up after Labor Day.  It was fun to be in such a small class, though.  One woman told me she went to a class and she was the only one there!  I would take that opportunity to have the instructor help me work on my "sexy!" (WEPA!)

boobies

Back To School

This picture was taken the last week of school in June.  These students are going on to the the middle school this year.  I wonder if they will be wearing those crazy glasses we gave them.

 

Well folks ... it was back to school today to set up the room and get ready for the first day next Tuesday.  It has been a great summer ... but I'm ready to go back!

I really love my job. I am so lucky to be able to say that.  From the time I was a little girl I wanted to be a teacher.  Sadly, there aren't a lot of jobs available in great districts like Commack.  There are so many young, talented teachers.  It's a shame.

Today was a trial run of an almost typical day ... awake at 5:30, drive out to Commack, teach, drive home to Port, do a Zumba class from 7:30-8:30 then come home and get dinner on the table for Ronnie.  "Will she be able to do it?"  you ask.  My answer:  "I certainly hope so."  Ronnie is going to HAVE to learn how to cook, for goodness sake!

Drum roll for my fundraising total as of today:  

$3,143.00! 

Looking good!  

I brought a good number of cook books to school.  I hope that word gets out that those books are SO GREAT ... they are worth a $25 donation to the 3-day!

boobies

Mammo Monday ... and other stuff

That's me ...

Berta walker!

I wish I was still in Provincetown.  I miss my friends ... I miss our walks ... I miss that AMAZING Zumba class ... I miss the beach.  But, I must say ... I missed my "boys" and am glad to be home!

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Today was Mammo Monday.  I had my annual mammography (breast sono, thyroid sono, pelvic sono ...)  It was a full afternoon at Nassau Radiologic!  The best words I heard were "You will get the results in a week." (after the mammography) and "You can get dressed and go home." (after the breast sono)  A few women were called in to speak to the doctor after their tests ... so I guess everything looks good for me.

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It's that time again.  Time to put together a t-shirt for our team.  No logos this year so it should be easy.

I'm voting for "Team Burt's Babes--Penn Station to Dallas" on the front and 

"1545 miles + 60 (in 3-days!)" on the back.  I don't know if that makes sense to you.  What do you think?

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I gathered up all my courage and went to WW for my weigh-in tonight.  I really believed that, after 10 days in Provincetown, I SHOULD have gained weight.  I guess the Zumba and long walks paid off, though.  I lost a pound and am now down 41+!

Yay! Life is Great!

boobies 

Back ...

Sashi, Roberta, Debra ... 3 reasons to walk!

I am back.

It was an amazing 10 days with family and friends in Provincetown.  While there, I either did an hour of fantastic Zumba ... or walked 7- 8 miles with Susan and assorted others (Beth, Sashi, Debra, Hannah, Sonya.)  We made it to the beach every day.  The weather was perfect.  I stayed on program in the beginning ... but, I must admit to "falling off the WW wagon" as we made our way through cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at Kalmar, barbecues, and trips to Provincetown restaurants.  Sitting on the beach with coolers that included Cape Cod chips and chocolate chip cookies didn't make it any easier!  But, as I said, I am back!  Do I want to weigh in tomorrow night?  Probably not ... but I will.  I NEVER want to go back to where I was October 30th!

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While away ... the donations came in and I am just about to see $3000 on my progress thermometer.  My personal goal was $5000.  Anything is possible, but I continue to be honored by the support and love given me by my friends and family so far.

My goal now is to give away ALL those cookbooks!  The deal is ... anyone who makes a $25 (or greater) donation to the 3-day will receive a "Step-By-Step" cookbook! The reviews for the book are quite impressive! (Thank you Barbie-Lou ... I know you are reading this!)

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Burt's Babes Dallas is down to 6 team members. (I miss you already Sandy and Lesley!)

In spite of our small number ... we are a mighty team and have raised $26,012.02! (That .02 is interesting ... there must be a story behind it!)

 We are #8 on the list of Top Teams and Captain Burt and team mate Liz are #s 4 and 5 on the list of Top Fundraisers!  Impressive!  I am so proud to be a member of this small but amazing group of walkers.

68 days until we take our first step!

boobies.
...
Just made it to $3018.00!
Yay! 

Walking on Sunshine

First walk to Provincetown!  It is a perfect morning ... and I walked with my wonderful friend Susan.  In the words of Jeter Harris "Life is Grate!"  This is my favorite spot ... the tip of the Cape ... by the jetty.
Yesterday I took a Zumba class in Truro.  There were about 50 women of all shapes, sizes, ages ... it was AMAZING!  I am really looking forward to going again tomorrow!  What fun.  Thank God for Zumba!  I am not a lover of exercise and this is FUN!  WEPA!
As soon as I publish this ... I am off the the beach.  I told you life is great!

I have now reached over 50% toward my fund raising goal of $5000 and I thank you for helping me to reach this point.  This walk is so important to me and I appreciate the love and support you have given me.

So I saw this mushroom on my walk and had to take a picture for Sarge.  He definitely would like it.  And to that I say ... boobies.

Ps  ... I am listening to Cat Stevens as I write this ... find the lyrics to "Morning Has Broken"  So appropriate ...

look no farther ... here they are:

Morning Has Broken

As Sung by Cat Stevens

lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day