Boston's Run to Remember 2011

My original goal was to run a half marathon outside of Michigan and Ohio in 2012. I moved it up a year. I will be running a half marathon in Boston, MA on May 29, 2011-Memorial Day weekend. Its called Boston's Run to Remember. The run honors Massachusetts Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty by celebrating their lives. This is something that I feel strongly about and wanted to support the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Officers.

My first plan was to run the Boston Athletic Association Half Marathon, but that is usually run in October. In October, I run the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon and next year I think I'm going to be running the Great Turtle Half Marathon on Mackinac Island. Detroit and Mackinac Island should be back-to-back weekends. So as of now, the BAA Half Marathon is on hold until 2012 or 2013. That is one race that I really want to run.

I'm really excited to be running a half marathon in Boston. The course isn't the same as the famous Boston Marathon course, but to me, it will be the biggest half marathon I've ever run. Boston here I come!

Haunted Graveyard 5K photos

The city Parks and Recreation Department hosted the Haunted Graveyard 5K last Saturday. I pulled some photos of myself off of their Facebook page. I'm wearing bib 334 and I'm on the right in the first four photos. I finished in 25:50:10, second in my age group of 30-34. I placed 15th overall for women.

Books read in 2010

Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, C. David Heymann
Fletch, Too, Gregory Mcdonald
American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy, C. David Heymann
Tis Herself: An Autobiography, Maureen O'Hara and John Nicoletti
A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, C. David Heymann
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene
The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene
The Clue of the Leaning Chimney, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Wooden Lady, Carolyn Keene
Mystery at the Ski Jump, Carolyn Keene
Clue of the Velvet Mask, Carolyn Keene
The Witch Tree Symbol, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Window Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Showboat, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach, Carolyn Keene
The Moonstone Castle Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the 99 Steps, Carolyn Keene
The Invisible Intruder, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Mirror Bay, Carolyn Keene
Mystery of the Glowing Eye, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Forgotten City, Carolyn Keene
The Strange Message in the Parchment, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of Crocodile Island, Carolyn Keene
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
Dead as a Doornail, Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead, Charlaine Harris
All Together Dead, Charlaine Harris
From Dead to Worse, Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone, Charlaine Harris
Dead in the Family, Charlaine Harris
In The Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and the Mystery of King Tutankhamen's Tomb, Daniel Heyerson
Mystery of the Fire Dragon, Carolyn Keene
The Thirteenth Pearl, Carolyn Keene
The Triple Hoax, Carolyn Keene
The Flying Saucer Mystery, Carolyn Keene
Dark Lover: Black Dagger Brotherhood, J. R. Ward
Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City, Nelson Johnson
Puppetmaster: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Hack
Get Capone, Jonathan Eig
Lady Bird, Jan Jarboe Russell
In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents they Protect, Ronald Kessler
The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir, Diana Welch, Liz Welch, Amanda Welch & Dan Welch
The Kennedy Imprisonment, Garry Wills
The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, Sam Wasson
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
Dirty Sexy Politics, Meghan McCain
Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson
Nothing But a Smile, Steve Amick
If I Stay, Gayle Forman
Listen, Rene Gutteridge
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Seth Grahame-Smith
13 1/2, Nevada Barr
Shanghai Girls, Lisa See
Breach of Trust, DiAnn Mills
A Million Little Pieces, James Frey
Absolute Power, David Baldacci

Currently Reading: Drowning Ruth, Christina Schwarz
Up Next: A book by Lisa Scottoline. I checked out 7 or 8 of her books at the library.

Haunted Graveyard 5K

Over the weekend, I ran the Haunted Graveyard 5K. The race was held at the city's largest cemetery at dusk. The course is nice. It is a looping two lap course that is very challenging. It is challenging because it has many hills.

I wasn't expecting too much going into the race. Usually when I run this race, I have run the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon the week before. I know from running this race in the past, my time would be slow and my legs would be tired. This year was different. My time wasn't slow and my legs felt really good.

I was pleasantly surprised that I ran as fast as I did. The hills really didn't bother me until the very end. When I turned the corner to run to the finish line, the first thing I saw was the clock. The clock was helping me sprint to the end. I checked my watch after crossing the finish line. My watch read 25:50:10. I couldn't believe it. That time was only six seconds off of my PR that I set the first weekend in October. I was thrilled.

With that being said, this was the third year I have run the race. I have never placed in the top two of my age group. That changed Saturday. I placed second in my age group. Instead of medals, glass mugs were handed out. The mugs were very cool. It has the race logo on it. I wouldn't be able to hang it with my medals, but every time I drink out of it, I will remember the great time I had.

Miles run in 2010

What a great year it has been! I have definitely beat my New Year's goal on mileage I wanted to run this year. Through Sunday's run, I have run 2043.1 miles so far in 2010. I can't believe I have run over 2000 miles. A couple of years ago, I would have never thought I would run that much. Now I know it is possible. I'm just going to keep running and see where that takes me. If you didn't know, I love running. I guess you could call me addicted to it.

2004: 240.5
2005: 288.2
2006: 394.8
2007: 458.2
2008: 724.5
2009: 949.4
2010: 2043.1

Sr. Elite Jazz - Adrian, MI

A Million Little Pieces

I checked out James Frey's book, A Million Little Pieces, the last time I was at the library. I picked up other books and saved this one for last. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I knew it was a very popular book. Oprah selected it to be in her book club. But I also knew that not everything in the book was true. Frey fabricated parts of his memoir.

As I'm reading it, I really don't care about his fabrications. The book is good. I can't put it down. I should be offended that he claims that his story is true and its not. I'm really fascinated about his life inside the drug rehab. So many rules to follow, the root canals he has without anesthesia. In real life, I have never known anyone who has gone to drug rehabilitation. Which is a good thing. To read about it from someone who went through it, is a major eye opener. Facing their struggles and the consequences of their actions is so much to deal with. I'm glad that people can change for the better with these programs.

I'm more then halfway through the book and I like it. I hope if you haven't read this book, you soon will.

Books read in 2010

Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, C. David Heymann
Fletch, Too, Gregory Mcdonald
American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy, C. David Heymann
Tis Herself: An Autobiography, Maureen O'Hara and John Nicoletti
A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, C. David Heymann
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene
The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene
The Clue of the Leaning Chimney, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Wooden Lady, Carolyn Keene
Mystery at the Ski Jump, Carolyn Keene
Clue of the Velvet Mask, Carolyn Keene
The Witch Tree Symbol, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Window Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Showboat, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach, Carolyn Keene
The Moonstone Castle Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the 99 Steps, Carolyn Keene
The Invisible Intruder, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Mirror Bay, Carolyn Keene
Mystery of the Glowing Eye, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Forgotten City, Carolyn Keene
The Strange Message in the Parchment, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of Crocodile Island, Carolyn Keene
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
Dead as a Doornail, Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead, Charlaine Harris
All Together Dead, Charlaine Harris
From Dead to Worse, Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone, Charlaine Harris
Dead in the Family, Charlaine Harris
In The Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and the Mystery of King Tutankhamen's Tomb, Daniel Heyerson
Mystery of the Fire Dragon, Carolyn Keene
The Thirteenth Pearl, Carolyn Keene
The Triple Hoax, Carolyn Keene
The Flying Saucer Mystery, Carolyn Keene
Dark Lover: Black Dagger Brotherhood, J. R. Ward
Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City, Nelson Johnson
Puppetmaster: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Hack
Get Capone, Jonathan Eig
Lady Bird, Jan Jarboe Russell
In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents they Protect, Ronald Kessler
The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir, Diana Welch, Liz Welch, Amanda Welch & Dan Welch
The Kennedy Imprisonment, Garry Wills
The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, Sam Wasson
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
Dirty Sexy Politics, Meghan McCain
Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson
Nothing But a Smile, Steve Amick
If I Stay, Gayle Forman
Listen, Rene Gutteridge
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Seth Grahame-Smith
13 1/2, Nevada Barr
Shanghai Girls, Lisa See
Breach of Trust, DiAnn Mills

Currently Reading: A Million Little Pieces, James Frey
Up Next: Haven't decided which book to read from my stack of nine.

Weekend update

I did it! I totally smashed my PR from last year's Detroit Free Press Half Marathon. I ran a 2:03:14 Sunday. My goal was to improve my time by 15 minutes to a half hour. I didn't know I would beat my old PR by 44 minutes.

I trusted my training and knew I would do well. The weather was perfect and my legs felt great. For the first six miles, it felt like I was passing everyone. I was still running really fast to make up for lost time leading up to and on the Ambassador Bridge. The road leading up to the bridge got backed up. We came to a standstill three times. I was very mad. I'm sure most of the other runners and walkers were too. On the bridge, we only had one lane to run in. Can you image 20,000 runners/walking all sharing one lane? It was awful. I just kept thinking to myself, "Once I get off the bridge I can make up some time." I did my best to make up time. I was doing well until I hit the incline coming out of the underwater mile. My quads were dying from the incline. I still did well. I think I made it out of the tunnel in 9 minutes. It took me about 1/2 mile to get back into a nice running rhythm.

With less then a 5K to go, I picked up my speed. I gave all that I had and finished just over two hours. What I ran this year is an incredible time, but I was thinking what could have been. If we didn't have to stop so many times on the bridge, would I have gotten under two hours? Who knows. That gives me motivation for my next half marathon. I'm going to be training hard during the fall and winter to reach that goal. I hope on April 17, 2011, I will reach my goal.

Weekend plans

I have so many plans for the weekend that I'm excited about.

I have this evening off from work. My husband and I are going to have dinner together, get ice cream and then go grocery shopping. Grocery shopping may not be fun for some people. But I love it. I love walking up and down the aisles with my husband. It is time that we get to spend together. For the last couple of weeks, my husband had spent most of his free time fixing up his late grandfather's house. All of the work is to be completed today so the renters can move in.

On Saturday morning, I'm photographing the county cross country championships. I love this meet and have been photographing it for the last 5-6 years. This meet is to see who is the best in the county. It is the last big meet for most of the runners before they head to regionals in two weeks.

Later that afternoon, my husband and I will be driving up to Detroit. I'm running in the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon on Sunday morning. We need to check into the hotel and then head down to the expo. Besides picking up my bib at the expo, I want to do some shopping. I will purchase an official jacket and maybe a shirt. I'm really interested in buying thinner compression socks. I want to wear them Sunday morning to help keep my legs warm. If I don't find a pair that I like, that will be OK. I've run in cold weather before and I'll be fine. It is just something that would be helpful, but I won't die without them.

Books read in 2010

I finished reading two books already this week. I hope I can make it three. I'm less then 60 pages away from finishing Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. I'm enjoying the book. Why did I shun fiction for so long? I still love non-fiction books but I have read some many fiction books over the month of October.

Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, C. David Heymann
Fletch, Too, Gregory Mcdonald
American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy, C. David Heymann
Tis Herself: An Autobiography, Maureen O'Hara and John Nicoletti
A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, C. David Heymann
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene
The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene
The Clue of the Leaning Chimney, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Wooden Lady, Carolyn Keene
Mystery at the Ski Jump, Carolyn Keene
Clue of the Velvet Mask, Carolyn Keene
The Witch Tree Symbol, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Window Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Showboat, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach, Carolyn Keene
The Moonstone Castle Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the 99 Steps, Carolyn Keene
The Invisible Intruder, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Mirror Bay, Carolyn Keene
Mystery of the Glowing Eye, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Forgotten City, Carolyn Keene
The Strange Message in the Parchment, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of Crocodile Island, Carolyn Keene
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
Dead as a Doornail, Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead, Charlaine Harris
All Together Dead, Charlaine Harris
From Dead to Worse, Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone, Charlaine Harris
Dead in the Family, Charlaine Harris
In The Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and the Mystery of King Tutankhamen's Tomb, Daniel Heyerson
Mystery of the Fire Dragon, Carolyn Keene
The Thirteenth Pearl, Carolyn Keene
The Triple Hoax, Carolyn Keene
The Flying Saucer Mystery, Carolyn Keene
Dark Lover: Black Dagger Brotherhood, J. R. Ward
Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City, Nelson Johnson
Puppetmaster: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Hack
Get Capone, Jonathan Eig
Lady Bird, Jan Jarboe Russell
In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents they Protect, Ronald Kessler
The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir, Diana Welch, Liz Welch, Amanda Welch & Dan Welch
The Kennedy Imprisonment, Garry Wills
The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, Sam Wasson
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
Dirty Sexy Politics, Meghan McCain
Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson
Nothing But a Smile, Steve Amick
If I Stay, Gayle Forman
Listen, Rene Gutteridge
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Seth Grahame-Smith
13 1/2, Nevada Barr

Currently Reading: Shanghai Girls, Lisa See
Up Next: Breach of Trust, DiAnn Mills

F U - Adrian, MI

Teenagers spray painted on a sign near a one-lane road under a bridge.

Books read in 2010

Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, C. David Heymann
Fletch, Too, Gregory Mcdonald
American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy, C. David Heymann
Tis Herself: An Autobiography, Maureen O'Hara and John Nicoletti
A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, C. David Heymann
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene
The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene
The Clue of the Leaning Chimney, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Wooden Lady, Carolyn Keene
Mystery at the Ski Jump, Carolyn Keene
Clue of the Velvet Mask, Carolyn Keene
The Witch Tree Symbol, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Window Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Showboat, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach, Carolyn Keene
The Moonstone Castle Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the 99 Steps, Carolyn Keene
The Invisible Intruder, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Mirror Bay, Carolyn Keene
Mystery of the Glowing Eye, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Forgotten City, Carolyn Keene
The Strange Message in the Parchment, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of Crocodile Island, Carolyn Keene
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
Dead as a Doornail, Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead, Charlaine Harris
All Together Dead, Charlaine Harris
From Dead to Worse, Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone, Charlaine Harris
Dead in the Family, Charlaine Harris
In The Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and the Mystery of King Tutankhamen's Tomb, Daniel Heyerson
Mystery of the Fire Dragon, Carolyn Keene
The Thirteenth Pearl, Carolyn Keene
The Triple Hoax, Carolyn Keene
The Flying Saucer Mystery, Carolyn Keene
Dark Lover: Black Dagger Brotherhood, J. R. Ward
Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City, Nelson Johnson
Puppetmaster: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Hack
Get Capone, Jonathan Eig
Lady Bird, Jan Jarboe Russell
In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents they Protect, Ronald Kessler
The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir, Diana Welch, Liz Welch, Amanda Welch & Dan Welch
The Kennedy Imprisonment, Garry Wills
The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, Sam Wasson
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
Dirty Sexy Politics, Meghan McCain
Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson
Nothing But a Smile, Steve Amick
If I Stay, Gayle Forman
Listen, Rene Gutteridge

Currently Reading: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Seth Grahame-Smith
Up Next: 13 1/2, Nevada Barr

Half marathon

I'm running the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon in five days. This year especially, I'm looking forward to it.

I have been training all year for this race. I have increased my weekly mileage to over 60 miles and I have lost 80 pounds. If I lose eight more pounds, I will have reached my goal weight. Almost every race I have run this year, I have improved my times. I dropped my 5K time by nine minutes and my 10K time by 11 minutes. I am hoping to drop my half marathon time by 15-30 minutes. I know it is possible. At the half marathon last year, I dropped my time by 13 minutes. I dropped that time when I was overweight. Now that I'm not overweight, I want to see what I can run.

Besides the race, I excited about attending the expo. For the past two years, I have just picked up my bib, bought official merchandise and left. I actually want to look at and purchase some running items. I want to look at compression socks, shirts and shorts. Maybe I'll find something I wasn't even looking for. I'm sure the latter will happen.

I checked the weather for Sunday's race. It looks like it will be nice running weather. The temperature, as of now, will be 63° and mostly sunny. The low will be about 48°. I will take that weather. At the start last year, the temperature was 28°. I will be happy if it is not that cold. I don't need my toes to be frozen for the first mile.

I am ready to run the half marathon. I can't wait to set a new personal record Sunday.

Books read in 2010

I finished reading three books in the span of three days. The books I read were: Speak and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and Dirty Sexy Politics by Meghan McCain.

Speak is about a teenage girl who is an outcast and doesn't have many friends. The girl Melinda, is hiding a secret from her past and doesn't feel comfortable talking about it. The reader follows her throughout the year and learns about her secret. Wintergirls is about an anorexic teenager who is upset about the death of her close friend. Even though both books written by Anderson are young adult books, I really enjoyed them. The stories were so good, I couldn't put the books down. I guess that I why I finished reading them in a day. I read Dirty Sexy Politics by Meghan McCain in the span of four hours. I liked the behind the scenes story of the campaign trail, meeting the Palin's just before she was announced as John McCain's running mate. The book was very candid and I liked her insight.

I recommend all three books from Laurie Halse Anderson and Meghan McCain. I loved them. I hope more people will read them and love them as well.


Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, C. David Heymann
Fletch, Too, Gregory Mcdonald
American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy, C. David Heymann
Tis Herself: An Autobiography, Maureen O'Hara and John Nicoletti
A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, C. David Heymann
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene
The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene
The Clue of the Leaning Chimney, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Wooden Lady, Carolyn Keene
Mystery at the Ski Jump, Carolyn Keene
Clue of the Velvet Mask, Carolyn Keene
The Witch Tree Symbol, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Window Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Showboat, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach, Carolyn Keene
The Moonstone Castle Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the 99 Steps, Carolyn Keene
The Invisible Intruder, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Mirror Bay, Carolyn Keene
Mystery of the Glowing Eye, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Forgotten City, Carolyn Keene
The Strange Message in the Parchment, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of Crocodile Island, Carolyn Keene
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
Dead as a Doornail, Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead, Charlaine Harris
All Together Dead, Charlaine Harris
From Dead to Worse, Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone, Charlaine Harris
Dead in the Family, Charlaine Harris
In The Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and the Mystery of King Tutankhamen's Tomb, Daniel Heyerson
Mystery of the Fire Dragon, Carolyn Keene
The Thirteenth Pearl, Carolyn Keene
The Triple Hoax, Carolyn Keene
The Flying Saucer Mystery, Carolyn Keene
Dark Lover: Black Dagger Brotherhood, J. R. Ward
Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City, Nelson Johnson
Puppetmaster: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Hack
Get Capone, Jonathan Eig
Lady Bird, Jan Jarboe Russell
In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents they Protect, Ronald Kessler
The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir, Diana Welch, Liz Welch, Amanda Welch & Dan Welch
The Kennedy Imprisonment, Garry Wills
The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, Sam Wasson
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
Dirty Sexy Politics, Meghan McCain
Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson

Currently Reading: Nothing But a Smile, Steve Amick
Up Next: If I Stay, Gayle Forman

Red, White & Black - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2010

Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, C. David Heymann
Fletch, Too, Gregory Mcdonald
American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy, C. David Heymann
Tis Herself: An Autobiography, Maureen O'Hara and John Nicoletti
A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, C. David Heymann
John F. Kennedy, President, Hugh Sidey
Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, Norman Mailer
First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789-1961, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1961-1990, Carl Sferrazza Anthony
Real Life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's famous residence, John Whitcomb
Amelia Earhart, Tanya Lee Stone
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
Hungry, Crystal Reen with Marjorie Ingall
Harry S. Truman, Robert Dallek
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson
Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie, Richard Hack
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker, Stacy A. Cordery
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy, Nellie Connally & Mickey Herskowitz
After the Funeral, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Best Evidence, David S. Lifton
The Secret of the Old Clock, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Staircase, Carolyn Keene
The Bungalow Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery at Lilac Inn, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Red Gate Farm, Carolyn Keene
The Message in The Hollow Oak, Carolyn Keene
The Whispering Statue, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Bridge, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk, Carolyn Keene
The Secret in the Old Attic, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in The Crumbling Wall, Carolyn Keene
The Clue of the Leaning Chimney, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Wooden Lady, Carolyn Keene
Mystery at the Ski Jump, Carolyn Keene
Clue of the Velvet Mask, Carolyn Keene
The Witch Tree Symbol, Carolyn Keene
The Hidden Window Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Haunted Showboat, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion, Carolyn Keene
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach, Carolyn Keene
The Moonstone Castle Mystery, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of the 99 Steps, Carolyn Keene
The Invisible Intruder, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of Mirror Bay, Carolyn Keene
Mystery of the Glowing Eye, Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Forgotten City, Carolyn Keene
The Strange Message in the Parchment, Carolyn Keene
The Mystery of Crocodile Island, Carolyn Keene
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
Dead as a Doornail, Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead, Charlaine Harris
All Together Dead, Charlaine Harris
From Dead to Worse, Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone, Charlaine Harris
Dead in the Family, Charlaine Harris
In The Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and the Mystery of King Tutankhamen's Tomb, Daniel Heyerson
Mystery of the Fire Dragon, Carolyn Keene
The Thirteenth Pearl, Carolyn Keene
The Triple Hoax, Carolyn Keene
The Flying Saucer Mystery, Carolyn Keene
Dark Lover: Black Dagger Brotherhood, J. R. Ward
Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City, Nelson Johnson
Puppetmaster: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Hack
Get Capone, Jonathan Eig
Lady Bird, Jan Jarboe Russell
In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents they Protect, Ronald Kessler
The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir, Diana Welch, Liz Welch, Amanda Welch & Dan Welch
The Kennedy Imprisonment, Garry Wills
The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen

Currently Reading: Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, Sam Wasson
Up Next: Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson