Being Nice

Sometimes it just surprises me how little it takes to be nice (a smile here, a wave there, a door held 2 seconds longer, etc) and yet people tend not to do it.

I decided I really like riding my bike instead of driving to work for little reasons like that (today I rode approximately 28 miles on my bicycle). I love saying hi to folks at the bus stop, saying good morning to drivers in their cars on the way to work, telling the sign twirlers they are doing a good job, giving skate boarders high-fives as I pass them, chatting with fellow bikers at stop lights, etc [yes, I did do all of these things today - hopefully I won't get scolded for talking to strangers (hehe, just kidding, scolded isn't the word I wanted to use)].

A few weekends ago I was doing the first part of my Saturday workout by myself (Ry had tweaked his back so didn't go on the full bike ride with me) and a pack of road bikers passed me on the bike trail. One of them said "Keep up the great work, you are doing awesome." I think it took all of 3 or 4 seconds to say, but it left me with a smile on my face for the rest of that ride.

Another weekend I was running on The Strand and there was a group of homeless kids in one of the little parks. One of the kids said hi and said 'Thank you for not tuning out the world' (because I wasn't wearing earbuds and listening to music) - of course I smiled, chuckled, gave him a thumbs up, and said, 'Oh, you are welcome'. It really hit me, that sometimes we just tune out the world around us - whether it is because we don't want to be bothered by it or we are too consumed with our own "stuff".

Sometimes I wonder why we can't take 3 or 4 seconds out of our lives to wish someone else a good day or even to use a few cheek muscles to offer a smile. I guess we are just too caught up with our own lives, that "me, me, me, mine, mine, mine" mentality.

Today I am thankful that I was able to slow down, enjoy my surroundings, and hopefully bring a second or two of joy to those around me.

Hey, might as well smile, right?! Even if you don't think you have something to smile about, at least it will confused those around you :)

JibJab

My mom and I love making these JibJab movies :) I normally only remember to do them around holidays, but she made a couple today I just had to share...

Padre Lovin'

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Star Wars

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Cobra for MVP

Cabrera easily front-runner for league MVP

Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera is the best choice for American League MVP. 

He is the only player in the league with a distinct chance at winning the Triple Crown, and is carrying his team toward the postseason once again.

In fact, the only serious MVP challengers Cabrera has right now are Texas Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton and Los Angeles Angels rookie outfielder Mike Trout.

The choice for the league’s top honor, won last year by Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, is determined by not only statistics but the impact a player makes on the game.

Cabrera is hard to beat in both instances.

Trout should win the batting title; Cabrera and Josh Hamilton are running away from the pack for the RBI crown. Cabrera, after what for him was a slow start, also could challenge Hamilton and Chicago White Sox slugger Adam Dunn for the home-run title.

Cabrera has a shot at becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Boston Red Sox left fielder Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. If Trout comes down a bit from his .340 through Sunday and Cabrera comes up from his .324, it could happen.

But it has been 45 years since anybody has accomplished the feat, and the odds are against him. Keep in mind, however, that Cabrera, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez are the only three active players to have won the three titles in separate seasons.

Cabrera hit .344 to win the 2011 batting title, 37 homers to finish on top in 2008 and a league-leading 126 RBI in 2010.

The only other Tigers player to lead all three categories was Ty Cobb, the 1909 Triple Crown winner.

Yastrzemski, by the way, was the AL MVP in 19667. Winning the Triple Crown would make Cabrera a virtual lock for that, too.

Great numbers get you in the conversation.

Great performances get you the award.

Cabrera’s game-winning, two-run homer in the 10th inning against the Cleveland Indians on Aug. 5 was the kind of show-stopper required of MVPs.

And he constantly picks up the club, as he did Sunday at Texas. The Tigers were on the verge of stranding runners on second and third in the fifth inning after Austin Jackson and Andy Dirks struck out. But Cabrera laced a two-run double into the corner against Rangers rookie Yu Darvish, one of the game’s toughest pitchers.

Cabrera is generally considered the game’s best hitter, and the respect he receives is exhibited in what happens each time he comes to bat in a key situation. The pitching coach or manager trots out to the mound to discuss matters with the pitcher and catcher.

The message goes something like this: “Stop hyperventilating. Take a deep breath. Don’t give him anything to hit, Meat. Hey, walk him if you have to. Want to walk him?”

Though, the intentional walks have greatly decreased with the arrival of Prince Fielder to hit behind him. And that’s significant. Cabrera could reach the 40-homer and 130-RBI plateaus for the first time — in part because pitchers must give him more pitches to hit.

The rest of the article here. 

CP New Ride

Cedar Point Announces New 'Winged' Roller-Coaster




SANDUSKY, Ohio (AP) — Northern Ohio's Cedar Point amusement park has announced plans for a "winged" roller-coaster designed to make riders feel like they're flying. 

The GateKeeper coaster is the park's first new one since Maverick opened in 2007. It's set to be finished before next season. 

With a 163-foot vertical drop and speeds of 67 mph, the blue-steeled tubular coaster will have riders on seats that extend sideways from the track, with nothing above or below them. 

The coaster will be built at the main entrance and will pass over arriving guests as it inverts riders and sends them upside-down. 

GateKeeper is part of a roughly $30 million project overhauling the park's entrance. That includes tearing down Disaster Transport, a longtime indoor coaster that was attracting fewer riders as maintenance costs increased.

The original article here. 

New U of M Helicopters

New helicopters mark new era for U-M Health System's Survival Flight

Three new maize-and-blue American Eurocopter 155s – the first to be put into emergency medical service in the U.S. -- replace iconic Bell 430s

Photo Credit: American Eurocopter

One of the three new Survival Flight helicopters in action, with its retractable wheels getting ready to touch down.

Three new maize-and-blue helicopters will soon be saving lives in the air above the Great Lakes states, and speeding patients toward advanced care at the University of Michigan Health System’s hospitals.

The arrival of three newAmerican Eurocopter 155helicopters marks the beginning of a new era for the 29-year-old U-M Survival Flight  program, which was the first medical flight service in Michigan. The first one entered service Friday afternoon.

The Health System chose the new aircraft to replace three Bell 430 helicopters that have been icons since 1998. More than 10,000 critically ill and injured patients and donated organs for transplant have passed through their cabin doors, each flight carrying a unique story of pain and hope. Together, they have flown the distance to the moon and back several times.

The rest of the article here.

Way To Go, Daddy-O!

Tonight my dad ran in his first 5K - AND HE WON A MEDAL!! He ran in the First Annual UA Plumbers & Pipe Fitters 5K up in Ann Arbor.

He came in 4th in his age bracket and even got a medal for doing so AWESOME! His time was 28:37. My madre took pictures of my dad on his cell phone so I could see!! Mom even made him wear his medal around the streets afterward during the little festival. I asked him if he was hooked on racing now and he said NO WAY, but was doing it since my race was coming up - what a sweet padre, huh?!

WAY TO GO DADDY-O!!

Thankful Thursday

My Garmin [I haven't used my Garmin since before I screwed up my IT Band. Today was the first day with it back (mostly because my runs between then and now haven't been too long). I was slightly worried to see how I would do, but I am SUPER excited to report that I feel like I am running even faster than I was before my injury (but hey, that isn't too tough). Tonight I ran 6+ miles, all of which were sub 9:30, except for the last one, which was in the 9:40s - probably because I was super hot (we are having a 'heat wave' - about 84* and 70% humidity), I had already ridden my bike for 6 miles before my run, and hey, the time on that last mile was still faster than what I am hoping to do for my half.]

Long Weekend [Today was our 'Friday' - YAY! I know, it always seems like the week following a short week seems to drag on, but I won't worry about that until Monday :) For now, I am focusing on the fact that I don't have to go back into the office for 3 days (AND I get a 3 day break from my training for my race - whoo hoo).]

New Bella Costas [Ryan brought me home a new pair of shoes - he knows the way to a woman's heart, huh?! I think this new line is super awesome (similar to the TOMS ballet flats). I am excited to wear them. They are super cute. The ones I got are red. I love being a billboard for my hubby's company, especially when we get stuff at a great price!]