April...where did you go??

Seriously big lack of posting lately.  Sorry.

Lot's going on.  Lot's of emotions....happy, sad, angry, mad, and more happy.  I'm trying...as the name of my blog suggests to live the life I've been given...and I'm trying to live it happy!  *smiles*

Training for my 100 mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe is going well.  It was a rough day today (but we all have those), but the team seems to be doing well, and we are all riding together well.  Nice to ride in a pack to help ease the long miles.  Nothing like getting to draft off of each other!  *smiles*

Fundraising for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is going well too!  Everyone has been kind and generous with their donations....especially since this is the 3rd event in a row that I'm fundraising for!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!  The latest event I did was a painting party with a pre-tasting event at Wine 101.  Thanks to Joe and Wine and Design Wake Forest for helping me put on this event.  There were 18 people who came and painted Poppies last weekend, and I made $180 towards my fundraising!  AWESOME!!  Today was the Belk Charity sale, and many people bought tickets for the sale from me, I hope you all found great deals!!

There have been two big loses in my life this month, in fact this past week.  Two of my friends furry family members have gone to the rainbow bridge.  Seven, who was one of Scout's good friends (who we watched when his family went out of town....and who I posted about before) is no longer in pain from his bone cancer.  Monday was the last day I got to see him, and I was lucky enough to go spend some time with him before he left this world.  My heart is aching, and I know his families hearts are broken, but they are working on mending them. They had Seven for almost 10 years in their lives and the kids have always know their lives with Seven.  And little Sandy dog who has been battling bladder cancer for years sadly lost her battle this week as well.  She was 19 years , and an amazing companion to Wendy and later to Stuart.  I know the grieving process is hard, but Sweet Sandy will be waiting for them at the Rainbow Bridge.

My frustration with people is summed up by the above quote.  Enough said.

Ever wonder??

So....I know some or maybe even most of you think I'm crazy for all the stuff I do.  Or maybe you just think it's annoying...all the emails you get from me.  Some of you have tuned me out (it's okay I can handle it).  Some of you have told me that you appreciate my emails and my dedication to this mission.  Do you really know why I do this?  What reason do I have to continue to do endurance events and raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?

Yes I have a connection, in fact, I have many connections to blood cancer.  Does it suck?  It sure does.  Would I like to see the end of blood cancer, and indeed all cancers....I sure would.  Am I happy to be apart of the change....probably more than you know.  I don't think I know one person that hasn't in some way been effected by cancer.  Is there anyone out there that doesn't have a friend, a loved one, even an arch rival, that has had to go through the cancer hell?  It isn't anything you wish on your worst enemy.  

From a very young age I knew, I just knew I want to be a pediatric oncologist.  I knew the words for it, I knew this is what I wanted to do.  Why?  What made a 3rd grader who at the time had no connection to cancer (that she knew of), want to be a kid doctor specializing in cancer?  I honestly don't know.  If asked when I was younger I would gladly tell anyone that I wanted to be a pediatric oncologist, or a hair stylist (you know cause kids are never really sure).  Was it an omen, or a prediction on my life that I would know so many people effected by cancer?  Ehhhh....did you all have the same aspirations??  So growing up, I KNEW this is what I was meant to do, except....uggghhh school was not my most favorite thing in the world.  By the time I finished high school (which was a specialized high school, in which I did health occupations, and had to have a major and everything), I was really sick of school.  So I did not become a pediatric oncologist, I became a dental hygienist.  Hmmmm, very very different things.  I think that TNT and I were brought together for a reason!

I started training for my first TNT event (a sprint distance triathlon) in the winter of 2005.  I completed my 2nd (my first was while training for the 2nd) Sprint distance Triathlon in the Spring of 2006 with Team in Training...and it was AMAZING!  I still have friends from my first team, and that is just amazing to me.  In the beginning of 2007 my Mom was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, and I was hit full on with knowing someone with a blood cancer.  And it wasn't just someone, it was my MOM!!  In September of 2009 my second cousin was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, hit again.  In December 2009 one of my scrapbooking friends found out that her son David has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, another hit.  Not to mention all the connections I've made through friends and teammates with their personal stories or stories of their loved ones.  

So this 100 mile bike ride that I'm doing around Lake Tahoe, is my 7th TNT event.  It's my first cycle event with the Team.  Do I think what I'm doing by, putting myself through the training for "crazy" endurance events and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is really making a difference?  YES, yes I do!  Check out this video about mission day to understand part of why I do what I do (it's long, but worth it).

So that's the deal with me, and part of the why.  Hmmmm.  So now...what can you do?  Go ahead and click on the link to my fundraising page, and make a 100% tax deductible donation.  Or if you'd like a little something for your donation, see me for a coaster set, or a cool bracelet.    Or you want to do something fun?  Sign up for the Wake Forest Wine and Design  Red Poppy class on April 14th, and come have some wine at Wine 101 before painting, then hang out with me and let Wine and Design help you paint something you can be proud of.  No joke you don't know how to paint, they make it easy! 

Ohh and something new: I have tickets for the Belk's charity sale.  On April 21st from 6am-10am Belk's will open it's doors for this AMAZING shopping extravaganza.  For your $5 ticket, you get in, you get 20-70% off rarely discounted items, you get $5 back on your purchase (so basically it's free).  Let me know if you'd like a ticket!  This can be used at any BELK'S on April 21st!!

 

Together we CAN find a cure!

Chrissy Harlow, RDH (registered dental hygienist)

The group shot before going out to ride today!

This is part of the group at the half way point, we all did about 45 miles at a 17 mph pace.  ROCKSTARS!!

Racking up some miles and climbing some hills...

I don't know about you, but I am loving and hating the weather this year.  It's actually been a very mild winter for us here in North Carolina, but it seems like the beautiful days are during the week, when we have to work, and the icky rainy days are on the weekends when we want to play.  This weekend was no exception.  Training was postponed from Saturday to Sunday because of the threat (and indeed there were) severe thunderstorms.  Saturday was a blustery mess of ick.  Sunday however, turned out to be a GREAT day to ride.  I wasn't sure when I got in my car to drive 45 minutes to our start place, but the day was really great.  Overcast and not to warm.  We rode from Kelly Road, up to Lystra (the infamous hill with an 11% grade in it) to 15-501, down Jack Bennett (that was fun!), I rode back up and down Jack Bennett, then back around to Kelly Road.  There were some good rollers in there, our big grade hill, and all kinds of different road surfaces to experience.  I watched one of my teammates really blossom on this ride.....it's so AWESOME watching people really start to enjoy and come into themselves while biking.  Another teammate who is just starting out had her first fall with clip in pedals. It's a right of passage, and we all congratulated her. You've got to get these things out of the way so you can get the fear out of the way and just bike.  I rode about 42 miles on Sunday, and all in all it was a wonderful day!

Coming up this week: I'm doing the Tour de Granville, a metric century (62 miles).  If anyone cares to join me I'll attach the info and you can sign up.  *smiles*  They have several riding options including a full century (100 miles).

I haven't gotten the numbers back from the Moe's fundraiser, but THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU....for going to eat at Moe's for me!  As soon as I know I'll send out $ we raised from that day!! 

I'm still making/ selling drink coasters, that if I do say so myself, are pretty darn cool!  You can get them directly from me, or at Trek Bikes of Raleigh.  They are a set of 4 coasters for $15.  What a deal!!

I also still have the beautiful Angel of Grace Cancer Awareness bracelets.  If you haven't seen them...they are AMAZING!!  I am selling them for $15 each.

There are only 17 spots left for the Wine and Painting Party on April 14th.  If you want to come join us for a wine tasting starting at 5:45 at Wine 101, and then a painting class (Painting Red Poppies), around the corner at Wine and Design Wake Forest, please sign up with W&DWF by going to the website and clicking on the painting of Red Poppies on April 14th, or calling them at: 919-843-0552.  Class Cost is $40.

I'll leave you with this little tid bit and story today:

DID YOU KNOW...Leukemia, Hodgkin Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Myeloma and Myelodysplastic Syndromes are types of cancer that can affect the bone marrow, the blood cells, the lymph nodes and other parts of the lymphatic system.  These diseases are related cancers in the sense that they all result from mutations to the DNA of a single lymph or blood-forming stem cell.  The disease process can lead to severe anemia, bleeding, an imparied ability to fight infection, or death.

Jim Bond Long Term Survivor Story- multiple myeloma

In 2002, after three stem cell transplants had provided a decade of remissions, Jim Bond of Shaker Heights, Ohio, was running out of options. His multiple myeloma, a cancer of bone marrow plasma cells, was raging out of control, and Jim knew he was facing death. That's when he and his wife Kathleen asked his doctor about a new drug they had learned was showing promising results in early clinical trials.

Update from Jim Bond:  I hope you are doing well. I'm doing well. In fact, I recently rode 291 miles on my bike in a 4-day event from Cleveland to Cincinnati. Others affected by cancer were encouraged that 3 of us cancer survivors were able to complete this bike ride. Myeloma survivors seem particularly encouraged that I did this as a 15 year survivor, while taking daily cancer medication (Revlimid).

  

Chrissy Harlow

This year I've done the August 70.3 Half Ironman, and the Disney 26.2 Marathon, and now I am training for America's Most Beautiful Ride (100 mile bike ride in Tahoe) in June. All with Team in Training, raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Help me fund cancer research and patient services.  All donations are 100% tax deductible!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/ambbr12/dentalfriend

Another Week...

All kinds of fun stuff this week...good weather, crazy weather, rainy weather, apparently snow (but not here).

Beautiful sunrises, while walking my dog.

Went to see the Hunger Games with a friend.  Before hand we were looking through a kid's toy shop and what did we find?  A small cock.

More trying to figure out the weather.

After the 40 + mile ride, I got to hang out with the team a little. Some of us ordered these cool Team In Training sweatshirts.  One of our friends designed and is selling them as a fundraiser!!  *smiles*

My lunch after my ride...in the end it wasn't so great for my stomach.  My tummy has been upset from the chili (probably).  I should of known better.

Also I've been wasting a lot of time playing draw something.  Some of my friend's can really do a good job of drawing stuff.  My drawings are no so great.

STRESS!!!

Why does stress seem to get the best of us?  I try....I really really try to not let things stress me out.  However my personality type is one that is just drawn to stressful situations.  Sometimes I think I thrive in stress, but in reality, I just falter.  My body/mind can only handle so much.

What to do about it?  Hmmm.  Confront what's stressing me.  Sometimes easier said than done.  Been working on this a lot.  I am a people pleaser (personality type).  I don't want to hurt anyones feelings, and I want to be the one that people look to for help.  HA!!  I'm also fairly snarky.  (it's a word...I think).  That might be a good release, but sometimes it's just not nice.

Secret time....I sometimes, just HATE people.  WHAT???  However I'm usually pretty good at turning my attitude around and getting the smile back on my face (which in turns makes me feel better).  If I think good things, then the good things seem to happen.

But I'm stressed.  It shows.  Maybe not to everyone, but to those closest to me....maybe not even to them.....but I know.  My house is a disaster.  Like a tornado has come through, and I can't quite get myself to do anything about it. (sad).  Some of my relationships are having a hard time on the communication front....very sad.  I have lot's of goals and plans, and want....so many WANTS, but I don't have the ability to make these things happen.  I need to revise.  I need a space to re-think, re-figure, and get my happy thoughts back, and come up with a plan that will work, and still be happy.  I'm tired though, stress does that too.  I'm tired and unmotivated, and getting fat (even with all the exercising that I do....it's not enough).  Arrrgggghhhhhh.

I'm stressed.  I'm working on it.  I will pull myself out of this soon.  But right now, if you happen to see me, just know...I'm not quite me right now.  It's a new day though.  Fresh start, new beginnings, the first day of the rest of my life.  I'm going to work on making this life (the one I've been given), the best that I can.  We are not promised any length of time on this earth, we get what we get.  I'm going to try to make the best of it.

Green Love!!

So I've noticed that I haven't written an update in awhile.  Truth be known, I'm a little tired.  Not bone crushing tired.  Not knock down tried, just a little tired.  Training has been going well.  My cycling miles are starting to add up!  We've started climbing some hills, and are working towards the goal of riding 100 miles around Lake Tahoe.  I'm not tired from training (don't get me wrong, I do get a little tired after riding for 3 + hours at a time), but my life is busy.  Yep, I know....everyone's life is busy.  I'm so happy to have a busy life.  I'm truly blessed to be able to live this life I've been given.

Tomorrow is St Patrick's Day!  Which is also my Dad's birthday (Happy Birthday Dad), and my dog's birthday (he was actually born on 3/17....and he'll be 9).  I'll be attending a CPR class with one of my dental offices in the morning, which means I won't be able to ride with the Team tomorrow.  No worries though I've got plans to ride on Sunday!  *smiles*  So tomorrow the deal is don't forget to wear green, no need to get pinched.  Speaking of Green....it wouldn't hurt to donate some green to my fundraising for this amazing mission. (you can find the link at the bottom of this e-mail)

I'm a little behind on reading my emails, and updates.  I'm just now getting to them for the last 2 weeks really.  I want to share a story about my friend Vashni.  She doesn't have a blood cancer, but she does have cancer.  In fact this is her second time around with cancer.  It's sucktastic!  She has stage IV ovarian cancer.  Her world has been flipped, but she has the most amazing spirit of anyone I know.  I mean truly amazing!  Ohh and she can write.  Her blog (which was not started as a cancer blog...but turned into one because that's just how life goes), is an account of her feelings about LIVING with cancer.  That's right, she LIVING....she is not dying.  This girl is continuing her amazing LIFE!  I just read her latest post, and invite you take a peek at her life.

Fundraisers coming up:  This Monday the 19th is the day you should go eat at Moe's!  Welcome to Moe's!  Attached is the flyer you should bring, and hand out to your co-workers, friends, and family members to get them to go eat at Moe's!  All you have to is eat your lunch, or dinner, or both at one of the Moe's listed on the flyer (make sure you bring the flyer) and they will donate 20% of the bill to my fundraising efforts!

On Saturday April 14th, Wine and Design Wake Forest is having a painting party for us!  We will be painting the Red Poppies (which is beautiful).  No artistic ability required!  Really, it's so cool!  You need to go sign up for the class (which is $40) to reserve your spot in the class (there are only 28 seats available, and this is open to the public....so get go ahead and reserve your spot if you want to do this), by going the the website or calling 919-453-0552.  This even will start at 5:45 at Wine 101, where Joe will have a special tasting for us, and continue around the corner to Wine and Design to paint our Poppies.

 

Together we CAN find a cure!

Chrissy Harlow, RDH

This year I've done the August 70.3 Half Ironman, and the Disney 26.2 Marathon, and now I am training for America's Most Beautiful Ride (100 mile bike ride in Tahoe) in June. All with Team in Training, raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Help me fund cancer research and patient services.  All donations are 100% tax deductible!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/ambbr12/dentalfriend

March Madness

March Madness Jackpot Sweepstakes for Cancer!

JOIN THE TEAM!

 

Get swept up in March Madness, take a chance on winning a piece of the jackpot worth $500 and help to cure cancer -- all at the same time! 

And folks, you do not need to know anything about college basketball to have a chance to win the jackpot!!

 

Chrissy Harlow is hosting an online college hoops bracket competition for the NCAA basketball tournament at CBSSports.com.  The winner walks away with a cool $250 in cash.  Second and third place will take$150 and $100, respectively.

 

Here’s how it works:

All you have to do is make a donation of at least $10 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at Chrissy's fund raising page:

 

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/ambbr12/dentalfriend 

Your donation is fully tax deductible as a charitable contribution.  The prize money has been donated by that famous donor “Anonymous” and therefore does not reduce the generous contributions of the participants to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

100% of your donation goes to the Society to help fund the search for a cure for blood cancers.

 

A $10 donation gets you one bracket and $25 gets you 3 brackets, so go crazy and increase your odds!!!Be sure to enter a correct email address when you make your donation so we know how to get in touch with you!

 

Within 24 hours of making your donation, you will be emailed an invitation to our bracket competition by CBSSports.com (CalledSams Team).  The CBS email will have log-in information and the password to join our group.  You will be required to register at their site and then you can sign in with the team password.  At the CBS site, you will be able to submit your bracket picks, watch scores and standings update LIVE, talk among group members via message boards and more! Just sign in to our bracket group anytime to check your standings. This site is truly spam-free!

 

**The tournament is starting soon so you must make your donation no later than Tuesday, March 13^th  by midnight to play in the bracket competition.  You will be able to pick your teams between Sunday March 11^th and Thursday March 15^th at noon when the first games kick off**

 

This is a great opportunity to have fun and support the search for a cure!  The more people who play, the more money we raise for cancer research, so please take a couple of minutes to forward this invitation to your family and friends who enjoy a little competition for a great cause. 

 

Thanks for considering a contribution,

 

Good Luck!