Facing the SNAKE

"Oh, it's not really gambling when you never lose." Jennifer Aniston

That's right. I made a bet with my sister-in-law, Rita, but I wasn't gambling - I couldn't lose!

Here was the gist of it: whoever collected fewer donations for the ALS Association during the specified time frame would have to put a LIVE SNAKE around their neck. I took the bet without hesitation (I couldn't lose!), and for two weeks, Rita and I were neck and neck (kind of funny considering our actual necks were on the line)!

We both received so many generous donations from family and friends trying to spare us from our fearful snaky fate. Then came the moment of truth... time to tally our donations. I collected $291 - an impressive amount, and certainly enough to keep me safe, right? Then Rita told me her total... $425! What?! Did she say $425?!!!

I was instantly panicked, but I found security in the fact that I would have weeks (maybe even months) until we planned our fateful trip to Lake Tobias to fulfill the bet.

Then came Memorial Day... 

Picture the scene: A Memorial Day picnic, family and friends sitting happily on lawn chairs, drinking beer, eating hot dogs, relaxing, laughing. Our host casually pulls the cover from the wood pile to prep for the annual bonfire. Sitting there calmly on top of the logs was a fat, green gardner snake. 

I'm not sure who said it first (I wouldn't be surprised if it was my husband), but it was suggested that this would be the perfect opportunity for me to "pay up" (commence screaming now).

I didn't trust that snake. He was a sneaky one - I knew it. He didn't come from the safe confines of Lake Tobias. He was wild. To make things worse, apparently he had the ability to infiltrate the defenses of young children - they loved him (I was still screaming).

Caleb (age 3) - fearless!

Me (age 33) - not so fearless. 

All glimpses of rational thought were now gone - just pure terror remained. It made no sense at all, but when does it? I'm sure I scared that fat old gardner snake just as much as he scared me - yet I had no control over my screams (and eventually tears)! 

So we made a plan - Chris would hold the snake's head and drape his body along my neck, Hilary would hold my hand, and Shawn would take video. Did I do it? Watch the video below to find out!

As I recover from the ordeal, there is one thing that makes me thankful for my sneaky snaky encounter - Team Perry has now raised $3,654 thanks in part to our slithery little friend. And that makes it all worthwhile. 

Only for you, Perry Thoman!

 

Team Perry at the Wild Half

Christmas 2013. Perry had been dealing with the reality of ALS for two seasons. We watched him go from cane, to wheelchair, to motorized wheelchair, to hospital bed. At the same time - in stark contrast - Rita, Kelly, and I were becoming seasoned runners. Perry was losing mobility, yet we were blessed to be able to RUN.

As our family shared that final Christmas with Perry, we three sisters got a crazy idea - a WILD idea.  We found a half marathon in Wildwood, NJ - and one of the non-profit beneficiaries was the ALS Association. It was then that we decided to register together and run The Wild Half Marathon in honor of Perry.

This past weekend we fulfilled that mission.

We hit the beaches of New Jersey on Saturday in anticipation of Sunday's run. Our first night was filled with silly pictures, pizza on the boardwalk, and rides on Morey's Adventure Pier (they made me ride a terrifying roller coaster)!

 

On Sunday, we woke up at 4 a.m. for race day (we needed plenty of time for coffee). We had been training all spring, but we were also faced with training conflicts, knee injuries, and other stumbling blocks. As we approached the starting line, we had one question on our minds... Could we go the distance? 

We set off on a beautiful 13.1 mile course down the length of boardwalk and throughout Wildwood. What a unforgettable experience to be in one of my favorite places (the beach!) with my two awesome sisters! When the miles got longer and our legs got heavier, we remembered how much of a gift it is to even attempt to run this distance.

And we kept running because we could. We had to - We were running for Perry. 

Did we cross the finish line? YOU BET (Rita beat me by one second!), Rita and Kelly completed their first official half marathon, and a new annual tradition was created (Can't wait for the Wild Half Marathon 2015)!

Perry Thoman - this one was for you, Bro!

 

Become a part of TEAM PERRY. Make a donation now to help us find a cure for ALS. CLICK HERE

Snake Charmers?

Me and Rita: Currently in a pickle!

The Thoman boys have yet again put me and my sister-in-law Rita in what I consider to be a very big pickle!

In June, Team Perry will be participating in the WALK TO DEFEAT ALS. This will be our first time participating in this event since Perry's diagnosis (and since he lost his battle this January). In memory of Perry, we set a very high fundraising goal. Three of the sister-in-laws wanted to hit the "Extra Mile Club" (meaning that we each raised $1000).

I hit the goal earlier this year thanks to the amazing generosity of my Central Penn College family and friends. Kelly hit her goal this month (thank you Ted Watson!). So last night, Team Perry plotted on how Rita could raise the remaining amount to reach her goal.

Leave it to the Thoman boys to come up with an idea that BOTH of us hated!

HERE'S THE DEAL: Rita and I are officially in a fundraising competition until next Friday (the deadline for the Extra Mile Club). Whoever raises the LEAST will have to put a SNAKE around their neck during our visit to Lake Tobias this summer! 

Initially I imagine a scene where I channel my inner-Britney and totally befriend the snake (and look pretty darn cool in the process!). Then reality kicks in, and I know it's going to be a little more like that famous scene from Psycho.

Fantasy

 

Reality

My only solution - I need to WIN! So for the next two weeks, I'm on fundraising overdrive! Donations on MY PAGE will get Rita closer to that snake! But donations on HER PAGE will count against me. So skip the Starbucks this week, and make a $5 or $10 (or more) donation! You'll get to torment me and Rita AND help find a cure for ALS!

Don't worry - when the big scene goes down, I'll be sure to post lots of pics/videos on this blog! 

Getting Schooled on Balance

"You can have it all. Just not all at once." Oprah Winfrey

At the beginning of the year I was given an amazing opportunity to teach Zumba classes at a gym owned by one of my mentors - the women who I credit with making me fall in love with Zumba, Liza Smith! I was already teaching four classes a week (plus working full time), but I LOVE teaching, so why not teach MORE? Especially when I could team up with my mentor! (More is BETTER, right???)

So since January I've been teaching six classes a week. And I love teaching every single one of those classes. I want to "be the change." And every Zumba class gives me a forum to teach, entertain, and (hopefully) inspire others.

But here's the problem... I realized recently that I wasn't being very inspirational. 

With my new schedule I started missing my morning strength training sessions with my trainer, Derek. Although I've been rockin' the cardio in my Zumba classes, I know that some heavy lifting with Derek is necessary if I want to achieve my fitness goals (Ab Muscles, I'm talking to you - I know you're in there somewhere!).

I also realized how much I miss complaining about Negley Hill on Tuesday nights with my running friends, and joining my former American Cancer Society volunteers at our "reunions," and having time to snuggle my boys at home. With so many weekly class commitments, my time to do those things became greatly limited.

My boys, Max and Puggy!

So here's the question... How can I (1.) Find my ab muscles, (2.) Have time for family and friends, (3.) Make a positive impact on the world, and (4.) Still work toward becoming a Zumba superstar?

My answer? BALANCE. 

My next thought? Easier said than done! I couldn't imagine my Monday nights without Joy, Lindsay, Lena, and all of the amazing gals at Progress Fitness, but I also considered that I wouldn't reach ANY of my goals if my schedule went on as-is.

Then I made the decision to do something scary and HARD. I told my mentor that I wanted to give up my classes at her studio and step back to the sub list.

Derek put it this way - "It's better to have fewer classes and make them AWESOME classes." He's right (I hate when he's right). And I'm (slowly) realizing that balance is important and necessary to make not only my Zumba classes, but ME better.

It's been a tough lesson for me to learn, and probably one that I'll need to be reminded of again. But (as I snuggle next to Max and Puggy on the couch), I know I'm one step closer to being the person that I want to be.

I learned a tough lesson this week, and need your feedback! How do you find balance? Give me your best tips and tricks!