A Colorful Day

On Saturday morning, my friend Liz and I did something super RAD!  We ran the Color Me Rad 5K race in Bakersfield, in what felt like 90 degree heat, while people chucked dyed corn starch at us along the way.  Sounds like fun right?!? 

Actually, it was  A LOT of fun! 

It may have taken an entire bar of soap to get the paint off....along with about three layers of skin.  And I may have looked a little Smurf-like for the rest of the day due to blue paint that didn't quite come all the way off until shower #3, but it was a blast. 
Here are some pictures from the run.  If you are interested in doing one yourself, check out this link HERE. They are happening all over the country.

Squeaky Clean

So many people!!!

And they're off

Totally colored rad!

Spring Fun Run

Two weeks ago, the SO's in conjunction with OSO (Orphanage Student Organization) hosted a Spring 5K Fun Run to raise money for the local orphanges on the island.  It was at 7:30am on a Saturday morning and I think there was some question as to how many SO's and students we would really attract that early in the morning, but it was hugely successful.  We raised almost $2,000.00EC that we then used to buy supplies for both Bel Air Home and Queen Elizabeth Home. 

I hadn't run in a 5K race/run in a long time and even if you run on a regular basis like I do, races always make you push yourself a little harder than normal.  I hope that the SOO/OSO continue to do runs like this every term.  It raised a lot of money and was fairly simple to put on.  And on top of that, it was a lot of fun! We even had a banana run in the race!

And we're off!

Coming in for the win...haha jk.

Some red faced SO's!

Part of the Spring 2012 SO Board

Group shot, including BANANA!

I'll Always Remember

Well, today marks my 100th blog post.  It only seems fitting that it happens on a day that I will always remember. I can't believe it's been 10 years since that terrible day in American history. 

I'll always remember...
I was 15 years old and I remember getting picked up by my carpool buddies that morning on the way to high school.  Since Californian's are three hours behind New York, what was happening at 10am Eastern time was happening at 7am on the West coast.  My carpool friends who had seen the news that morning told me that there had been a terrorist attack in New York and the Twin Towers had been hit by airplanes. 

I'll always remember...
When we arrived at school, everyone was talking about it.  We were worried if there were still planes in the air that were targeting other buildings, wondering if America was heading to war, worried about friends and family that were currently in New York.

I'll always remember...
Being glued to our family television once I got home from school and discussing what this attack really meant for America with my Mom and Dad.  My selfish side wondered if there would be a draft, and would my brother or my friends have to go to war.

I'll always remember...
The images of those towers burning. And then collapsing in a cloud of white dust that covered everyone and everything.

I'll always remember...
The look of horror on people's faces as they watched the terror unfold in the streets of New York City.

I'll always remember...
President George W. Bush's face as he was told what had happened in New York and how strong and determined he seemed as he addressed the country that evening.

Kelsey and I participated in a September 11th remembrance 5K/10K run this morning (we did the 5K).  It was thrown together by an SO who hoped maybe 5 or 6 people would show up.  And there were at least 30 or so people there.  What a way to show that we will never forget.  We will always remember. 

Before

Some of the participants

Kelsey, Me, and Jessie (After)

To the friends and families who lost someone on that tragic day, my heart goes out to you.  The horrific memories of that day still reside in many of us, but I can't imagine how those people who lost someone close to them must feel.  While the hurt may never go away, my prayer is that you have been able to find forgiveness and healing over the past 10 years.

I'll always remember...
September 11, 2001