Race for the Cure

Hi Everyone!

After completing my first half marathon in May of this year, I have decided to run the Chicago Marathon, which will be held on October 11, 2009.

In addition to running the marathon for my own personal goal, I have decided to join a charity group and run for charity. I chose to run for the Chicago Diabetes Project.

Why did I choose the Chicago Diabetes Project?

When I was in high school my dad always bugged me to run and told me I should join track. I pretty much thought he was crazy and I hated running then. However, in the last year and a half I have started running and now I really enjoy it. As some of you may know, my dad is a Type I diabetic and he has struggled and controlled the disease since was 14 years old. Prior to the disease, he enjoyed running and track but was not able to compete in these sports when he was diagnosed. With less technology back then it was harder to control. With the research that has been done in more recent years it is easier to control diabetes if you have the self discipline. So, I picked the diabetes charity because I have seen the ups and downs and my dad is the one who always bugged me about runningJ

Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions. In 1985 there were 30 million diabetics. Today the number has skyrocketed to more than 197 million. By the year 2025, diabetes will affect more than 300 million people worldwide if the epidemic isn’t stopped.

The mission of the Chicago Diabetes Project is to make islet cell transplantation the most viable option for diabetes treatment. This international collaboration of qualified researchers and physicians is dedicated to finding a functional cure. To learn more, visit ChicagoDiabetesProject.org.

My goal is to raise $800 in donations and every little bit counts! If you are able, I would greatly appreciate your help in the race for the cure!

To donate please go to the website below.
www.active.com/donate/cellmatesontherun/staciwagnerchicagoma

And spectators are greatly appreciated throughout this run, so if you would like to attend, please let me know!

Love
Staci

So proud of my little sis....

Steph got a job with the USDA at the beginning of the summer and she wrote her first publication for the USDA yesterday for the weekly crop weather.

She wrote the Hot & Dry section. Thought I would pass it along b/c I am a proud sister:-)

link http://www.nass.usda.gov/weather/cpcurr/mi-crop-weather

11 Miles - Done!! Woo hoo!

Saturday was the 2nd farthest that I have ever ran in my life! And it was just part of the training for the marathon. It was a nice day and a great run along the lake. This was also Scott's longest run, ever, and I was happy to be there with him! It is such a good feeling of accomplishment. For now, on to more training, the mileage is only going to increase!

Life lessons to pass along.

A friend sent me this, so I thought that I would pass this along:

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio"To celebrate growing older"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.44. Yield.45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Run to Wrigley 5K

This marks my second year for the Run to Wrigley Race. I improved my time this year and finished at 26:56. (Last year I ran it in 30:11!!)






It was a nicer day than the year before and I had some company. Scott decided to run it with me and we crossed the finish line together!

Two Years

So, it has been 2 years since I started with my current company. I can't believe it. Two years ago, I was moved to the city with only my car and a a car full of my stuff. I was staying with friends until I moved into my place in May. Now, two years later, I currently have 2 apartments (had to sign the lease for one a month earlier than I wanted to, so I could ensure I got the apartment) and my current project is renting me a car b/c I no longer own one. Wow have things changed!

I have met great people at the company I work for and have never thought about leaving. I could not have been more blessed with a job that I enjoy and great people to work with.

In the Burbs...

Well I am officially staffed as of March 16th in the beautiful suburbs of Chicago, Lincolnshire. The drive to work is about an hour and I will be staffed out there until September 2009, as of now. Learning alot and I am enjoying the team, so that is all that matters!

I guess I should change the name of my blog to "now driving' ugh, that sounds terrible!

And what I am really sad about is losing all of my status' for the Marriott and Delta. I don't want to travel with the 'other' people :-)

So, now I will have to look into the Hertz status points.......wish me luck!