When a grey cat crosses your path does that mean mediocre luck??

     

     The University parks trail is a trail I used to love to roller blade every day, back before this MS business decided to make things complicated.

     I would travel from one end to the other and back in about one hour; approximately 13 miles.  Every night like clock work I put on my blades and hit the trail as though there wasn't a care in the world.

    The fact that MS and foot drop has made it impossible for me to roller blade any more isn't going to stop me from hitting that trail again; only now it's on my bike.  In the past couple of weeks I went on that trail with friends, and it brought back fond memories from the past.  However, I wouldn't dream of hitting the trail by myself anymore.  What if I got a flat?? or wiped out??  Who would help me??

     The other day I had plans with friends, to ride the Wabash Cannonball trail, which starts by Fallen Timbers Mall and goes out by Oak openings park.  I was really looking forward to the ride and it was a long trail, but I planned to divide it into three parts with breaks in between to see if I could actually make it 35 miles in one day.

     However, the plans fell apart and we had to cancel the ride.  I was a little bummed; I actually had bike shorts on with padding so the long ride didn't make make my poor little booty ache for days.

     But I wasn't crazy!  I totally had to wear gym shorts over the padded shorts.  I mean, what girl wants extra padding?  We're always asking "does this make my butt look big!?!?"  Well, hello!!  padded shorts!!  Heck yes, they make your butt look big!!

     But that was neither here nor there because we weren't going anyway... But wait... this was my chance to take that leap of faith again and do my favorite trail on my own.

     At the University Parks Trail there were a lot of people who had the same idea as me, and I felt comfortable knowing that if I did break down I could surely get some help.

     But as I got further along the crowd started to thin and I knew it was time to head back;  Okay, I might be crazy, but I'm not stupid.

     At the end of my ride I came across a young couple sitting on a park bench lacing up their roller blades and I decided to ask them to take a picture for my blog before they began their ride.  

     They were more than happy to, and as the girl was taking a couple pictures the guy continued to lace his blades.  I mentioned to them that I was riding in the MS bike to the bay.  They said "good for you!" They just so happened to have a friend who was newly diagnosed with MS.

     I told them I have MS, and for many years I had roller bladed this trail, only now with the MS I've traded in my blades for a bike.

      I thanked them for taking the time to help me and the young man said " It's no problem, this is my first time on roller blades and I was glad to stall!"

     Thinking back, I knew the feeling, and I assured him one day he would love it!!

     Oh... the grey cat thing... so as I was riding, this grey cat came darting out from nowhere, and the first thing that went through my mind was "dang lucky that cat wasn't black!!"  But when a grey cat crosses your path does that mean mediocre luck?  That day I would call it GOOD!

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

My buddies at DMC are Amazing!!

     All the way back to the very beginning of my journey to ride in the Bike To The Bay, my BFFs at DMC Technology Group have always had my back.  

     

     From snapping goofy pictures for my blog every time I got a crazy idea, to riding on my team, even Pat and Elaine Sheehan, the owners, have saddled up their bikes and put air in their tires; they've all gone completely out of their way to help me on my quest to try to make a difference.

     

     Maryanne must have taken a Kazillion pictures until we found the one that captured the attitude I was trying to convey, but she humored me and just kept taking them:)

  Then Jean had this brilliant idea to highlight my blog on DMC's website and this would be one more audience to reach in the attempt to help me raise money and awareness for MS.  

    If you think there aren't many amazing people in this world, just come to DMC Technology Group, and that's where you'll find them:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

My third time to promote the bike to the bay on Fred's show

     My third time on Fred LeFevbre's Radio show and He still hasn't given me the axe yet!!

     Let me tell you, if you don't want to have Fred giving you crap you had better hold true to your promise.  After basicly calling me a wimp for riding a mere ten miles the week before (keeping in mind it was windy and hilly), I knew I better give him something impressive this week!

     It was a good thing I did because when I started out giving him the impression I had wimped out again, you would have thought he was going to tar and feather me!!

     Oh, and I even sold one of my cute pink leapfrog shirts to Patrick from 104 Kiss FM radio, cash and carry!  He said it was for him, so either he's a man who's confident enough to wear pink, or he has a lucky girlfriend who's getting a gift;)

listen to the interview from last Friday to see how I did:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

Don't forget the fundraiser at Black Kite Coffee And Pies!!

     

     Don't forget to mark your calenders for this Saturday's fundraiser (may 24th) at the Black Kite Coffee and Pie shop in the old west end.

     From 5:00 to 7:00 they will have live music and we hope to raise money for team leapfrog to get closer to our goal of 25,000.00.

     Kristina from the Black Kite is now officially registered on our team and they plan to donate a portion of the sales to help us out!!

Thank you friends at Black Kite:)

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

Be sure to pick up a Sylvania Advantage paper today and see our interview with Cindy Lang:)

     As you probably remember Sharon Lang from Sylvania Advantage paper met us at Chandler's Cafe' a couple of weeks ago for an interview; well Sharon is the most wonderful person you'll ever meet! You have to see the add she so generously put in her paper promoting our shirts to help team leapfrog:)

She also added that my shirts can be found at Lady C for purchase to help us raise money for the Bike To The Bay!

 Be sure to pick up a copy today and read all about it:)

     So put this down and go get a copy!!  I mean that in a nice way:)


Oh, and don't forget Bob Evans today; please mention teams Leapfrog and Sitting Bull and 15% will go to our teams!


Have a great day!!

Christine:)

Day number 2 with Fred on the radio

     So Believe it or Not Fred LeFevbre had me back on his show for a second week! Of course I had to share the spot light with Karen Moore from the National MS Society.  I guess it was good to have her tell all of the ride details; My idle chit chat can take a back Seat just this once:)

 I know the main reason Fred had me back was just to keep me honest on my training.  I am so glad I didn't wimp out last week.  It was bad enough that I confessed my age on live radio, but then to say I gave up on the training... I would never live it down.  As it was the ten miles I went, in the wind and hills no less, wasn't enough to keep him from accusing me of not going my limit.  

     Now he made me commit to twelve miles this coming week, and don't think he won't call me on it next Friday.  Oh the pressure... ugh!!

     But here's something super fun... When I was in talking with Fred on his show I could see in the studio right across the hall, 92.5, Kiss FM, Tom Arnold was on the air!  Sure he was no George Klooney, but being on the air at the same time in the same building as a "so called" celebrity... pretty cool huh!!

     If you get a chance tune in to our interview from last Friday:)

The shirts are finally in and people are buying them up!!

     So the Team leapfrog shirts are in and these ones are even cuter than the sample ones I've been showing you:) We changed the green to neon or lime green from the previous kelly green, and now the cute little frogs just hop right off the shirt (pun intended!)

     To see them in person makes all the difference, and we've been selling them like crazy!  This is so cool!  We can raise money for our team and you get to keep a cute shirt too!!

     Please let me know if you want to help us by taking one or two off our hands so we can buy more and sell them as well:)

kajfaszchristine@gmail.com

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

Our meeting with Sharon Lang at Chandler Cafe'

        Last week Reeves and I had our interview at Chandler Cafe' with Sharon Lang from The Sylvania advantage paper (BTW... the article is in the May 21st edition rather than the 14th which I posted last week).  Be sure to watch for it.

      Lori, the owner of Chandler's not only helped sponsor our team shirts but she also supported our team by purchasing Leapfrog shirts for her employees; we're hoping they may be able to sell them as well:)

     Sharon fell in love with the shirts and of course had to have one herself.  As she was leaving Chandlers she stopped in Lady C, the ladies clothing store next door with shirt in hand, and Candy told her the shirt was adorable!  She asked her where she got it and Sharon told her the story.  Guess what...?!?! Now Candy is displaying them in her store to try to help us out!  People are just too kind:) Thanks Candy, Sharon and Lori!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

On Air with Fred Lefevbre at WSPD 1370 AM radio

     So here it is! My radio debut:)  Check this out at Fred Lefevbre's Blog on WSPD 1370 am radio!

     I can't believe how long Fred let me go on and on; and to think I could have talked another hour if he let me!  But don't you worry, he's gonna let me on his show every Friday from now until the ride!  You haven't heard the last of me:)

     It was only the first time and I've already admitted my age, so by the time we're done who knows what he'll drag out of me, but I can promise you he won't be looking at dead air while I'm on.

     In fact... I may get so comfortable that I'll soon be having Fred on MY show!  Okay maybe not, but at least a parking space with my name on it:)

Tune in this Friday!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

Check out the 1370 WSPD website; Fred Lefebvre today for details on the Bike To The Bay

   

     If you you're reading this early then listen to 1370 am radio this morning and I'll be talking with Fred LeFebvre about the upcoming bike to the bay, and if it's later, then check it out on his website and click on his blog!!

     The Bike To The Bay is quickly approaching and now it's crunch time!!  I know I've been on a mission to get riders and I'm still on that mission:)  Team Leapfrog has more riders than I could have imagined already and I'm still I'm hoping for more!

     But now is when we start asking people to help raise money for our team.  Please go to Team Leapfrog on the Bike To The Bay site and help us out.  I have a goal of 25,00.00 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the BTTB and most people tend to wait until close to the ride to donate.  

     However, I have it set in my mind that I will beg at the end if I have to so we can try to reach our goal, so please help me out early so I know how much begging I have in my future.

Thank you so much!!

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

Maybe it'll look better on paper:)

     We've tried television and  we're also giving radio a go but maybe it'll look even better on paper!

     Next we set up an interview with Sharon Lange from the Sylvania Advantage Newspaper. I can talk all I want but at the end of the day my voice won't be heard; you'll just have to read about it;)  You do have to admit, we have all avenues covered.  One way or another we'll get the word out about the Bike To The Bay, and hopefully we can snag some more riders that didn't know about the ride before.

     This article is going to be in the May 21st edition of the Sylvania Advantage, so if you still have questions, or you're bored and simply need more reading material... check it out:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

     

I've been told I have the perfect face for Radio:)

     So I already had my TV debut, and we all managed to get through it unscathed.  Now we have to give the radio a shot!  I mean, I should be a shoe-in, after all, I've been told numerous times that I have the perfect face for Radio!!  Hey, call it what you want, I'm gonna take it as a compliment!!

     So Fred LeFebvre and I finally pinned down a time to have me on his radio show and the good news is... number one, his show airs very early (6 - 9 am) so in case it's a bomb out, a lot of people may still be sleeping... and number two, since it's radio I could always show up in my PJs... okay, maybe not a good idea... 

     The first thing we need to do is meet and discuss what we want to talk about; we'll do that this Tuesday.  I know it's supposed to be about "The Bike To The Bay", but this could be my chance to voice my opinion about anything I want:)  I'm sure he'll ask me to stick to the topic... Oh well:)

     Then a few days later I'll be live on the air so be sure to tune in to 1370 am radio Friday, May 9th!!  And please join or sponsor our team!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

        So we still don't have final numbers for the Bob Evans fund raiser but I do know that last month we raised around 175.00 and we beat that this month.  So far the unofficial number is around 250.00.  It isn't a million dollars, but considering people only had to eat and let Bob Evans make the donation, we're not complaining.  It can only get better next month!!

     We have three more opportunities to raise more so please help us on the next one, which is May 21st.

Thanks Bob Evans for helping us out!!

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)