Hot times in an old neighborhood

I downloaded an app on my phone that plays with the settings on the camera.  It was really funny to me when I got back from the jog looking at them because the photos totally matched the outing.  It was hot an miserable as expected in July in the south.  It started out well enough, but towards the end the pictures are in a total trip all wavy and warped. 
And for all I like to whine about the weather I really do love running outdoors and through this neighborhood. 

Wine tasting and weekend recap

Me and MC

 The wine tasting was really fun.  There were great people there, good food, fabulous wine, and to the point of the night we raised $546 toward my goal for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training.  Once that clears I have $1000+ down, around $2000 to go (deep breath here).  This is the largest fundraising goal I have ever attempted and let me tell you I am nervous. 
However, I am blessed with incredible friends and family who have been willing to chip in and help me with my fundraising events and efforts.  Robert, the owner of WineStyles Columbia picked out five great wines for us to try (and was an awesome host) and they were perfect for the 115 degree day we were having (it was a heat wave even for South Carolina).  We tried Swanson Pinot Grigio, Hall Sauvignon Blanc, Sofia Riesling, Summerland Pinot Noir, and Boarding Pass Shiraz.  Then Robert opened a chocolate wine, and I didn't catch the name, that woud make a great adult milkshake.  These were all wonderful summer wines and I found a couple new favorites.  Like the Boarding Pass and I have never been a Shiraz fan.  Cupcake, a local cupcake store if you couldn't guess, was very generous and donated cupcakes to the event, Jimmy John's provided subs, and fruit tray and hummus and pita chips were there as well.  I had a great time once there and I let all the stress go, because there wasn't anything else for me to do at that point, and I hope everyone else did as well.

Auction winners announcement time.

Not my best ever, but it makes me laugh

On Friday I went out with David, Kerry, Kimberly and Audrey for a much needed relaxing dinner.  We went to Cellar on Greene and had some amazing food and great wine- including the aforementioned Boarding Pass and  Anne Amie Pinot Noir. 
Then David and I went to meet the rest of the guys and my family to see Harry Potter.  Which I loved.  Of course there were a few things that I was nit-picky about but that holds true of any book to movie adaptation.  I am almost thirty and I proudly say I love HP.  In fact I first picked the books up when I was working at a daycare and would see the kids sitting still and reading these massive (for a third grader) books.  I was soon hooked and am sad to see the end of the era.  Once the seventh book came out the movies still in production were something to look forward to.  I guess I can look forward to Breaking Dawn*...

*I will say I liked the books, but man the movies can sometimes be painful (for people who can act in other movies they are awful together). Hopefully the twihards won't ever read this :)    If I disappear you know what happened.

Photos from the Wine Tasting

 I will write up a post soon, but here are some photos from the event. Please excuse the quality as I was trying to balance other stuff in my hands (like my wine glass) and take pictures. And once again a HUGE thank you to everyone who attended the wine tasting!

 

A little contest...

So one of my Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training teammates had a fabulous idea that I am appropriating.  For the next three weeks, on July 16th, 23rd, and 30th, I will be putting those who have donated the previous week (online or by mail) into a hat and drawing for a 'half marathon' gift card from stores like Starbucks, Amazon, or Bath and Body Works- basically places that no matter where you live you can use it.  Let me know what you think of this or when you donate let me know your favorite stores and you may have a little something in your mailbox soon ;).

There has to be an easier way to lose weight...

The only good thing to come out of last week was that I am down eight pounds.  It has been a rough week and a half of feeling miserable (really two, but one and a half since I did anything) but I did get out tonight with the Team in Training folks and got three miles in.  We were at Riverfront Park, ahead of a nice thunderstorm.  Which means the humidity level was set to sauna.  From being sick recently I had already decided to do my run in half mile increments (half a mile out and back) for as long as I felt able to.  I would have liked to go four but like I said it was like a sauna, so I figured I should probably take it easy.  As we were heading out with a storm in the distance, and safety is always important, we discussed what to do if you are caught in a lightening storm/if lightening is a little too close.  If you start feeling charged and/or your hair starts to stand on end you should drop into a squat with your arms over your head and only your running shoes (rubber) touching the ground.  Then you just pray that since you are now (mostly) neutral, with negative ions in the ground/positive in the clouds, that it strikes something else.  Seriously, unless it's a popup storm or one that was way quicker than you thought, don't chance it.  That was your service announcement for the day.

Recap of the last couple of weeks

Last Thursday I had family come into town, a nice little surprise.  My uncle Forest, Greg, and my grandmother came over to my parents side of town and we met up for dinner.  It was wonderful to see them as always.  I had pictures but they all were quite frankly bad.  There were windows behind everyone which caused a glare that wiped everyone out.
Then on Tuesday I went for my run with the Team in Training folks on a lovely 100 degree day.  And while I thought the lovely part would be sarcastic, it really was a nice jog.  On the way home to shower before going out I saw these guys.  Dressed in full out costumes sword fighting.  It was one of those where I had to stop and rub my eyes thinking that the heat had gotten to me. Then I went out with Zac to see a local 'cabaret' show.  The queens were lovely and ridiculously talented, and quite frankly anyone who jumps off of a stage and lands in a split deserves my dollars as well as the makeup, theatrics, costumes, and lets be frank, the tucking.  I think that is why I don't really get the kings- that's how many people dress anyways.  Again no pictures because it was really humid outside, I had on no make up and the angle was bad.  So if you would like a visual, picture a shiny ball with shoulder length dark hair and dark circles.
Wednesday there was more Zumba and for those of you keeping count it was class number four and so far my Latin heritage has not come to class with me.  Only the German shows up.  Luckily it is fun enough that I don't care how uncoordinated and awkward I am (I think that may be the Scottish).
Thursday I didn't feel so hot so I went home and slept for about 90 hours.  Also on Thursday I had phone issues.  The phone stopped making and receiving phone calls, but I could still do everything else on it.  I got the 'new' one on Friday and sent off the old one to be checked.
On Friday Matt, Pierre, and I went out with David to celebrate his birthday at Macaroni Grill, which was delish.  Though I really overdid it and should have chosen my food a little more carefully.
Because on Saturday I was supposed to go to work a triathlon.  But my body had other ideas and said "no, Melissa, we are not going to do that".  So I lounged and took drugs most of Saturday.
Then this morning I got up and did a nice easy five close to home in case my body decided to rebel.
In other news, coming up this week there is Dream Dinners delivery for those who had ordered them, running, LLS TNT clinic, Zumba, running, zpizza percent event (25% of proceeds go to my fundraising goal!- see flyer), running, and more fundraising.  And speaking of fundraising, if any of you have any ideas of things I can do please let me know!  And a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed so far.
It's going to be another busy week!

Sorority Girl Store

Phi Mu's 'Decades' note card

One of my aunts has just launched a business with the most adorable note cards featuring many sororities.  Check out her page  www.sororitygirlstore.com  If you don't see your sorority drop her a note on the contact page.  I hope you all love these products as much as I do!

And for my aunt ADPi's 'Sorority Girls' note card