Saturday Night Update

So I don't really have much to report this week because I have not been nearly as productive as my teammates. I did get a new pair of shoes for my birthday this past Tuesday that I was fitted for at the New Balance store, and I'm really excited about them. However, I have not yet made time to walk in them and try to break them in. I am really excited about the next walk that I do because I have brand new socks and shoes, but the heat is part of the reason I have been deterred from getting out and training. That and the fact that I don't have anyone to walk with. I know, I know, those are NOT valid excuses, and I will try to do better this week. I start training with a personal trainer again next week after a 2 month hiatus, so I hope that perhaps that will motivate me to get into a routine and walk regularly, even if it's only a couple miles a night. I have a co-worker who is doing the 3 day but she is not on a team. She told me this week that she is up to walking 9 miles one day and 10miles the next. I definitely give her props!

I have heard through the grapevine that Angela had a WONDERFULLY successful Tips for Tatas. I am waiting to hear updates from her, so I look forward to her blog on Tuesday. I was unfortunately unable to make it to Beef O'Brady's, but she and Cynthia were definitely in my thoughts. I'm glad Shannon was able to make it up there for that too. Angela, I'm really proud of and impressed wtih all the work you put into it!!

That's about it for tonight. As I said, not much to report. I hope that the team and I can plan a walk again soon. Next weekend is July 4th weekend, so I think we're going to take a break that weekend since I'm sure most of us have plans. Our next meeting is already creeping up on us, so we'll have lots of news to report then. Keep thinking pink, stay cool, and I'll see you all next Saturday!

~Jennifer

Friday With Cynthia

Hey Guys,

I am going to be short and sweet today...really short considering I am typing this IN CLASS while my professor stares at me (good thing I can type without looking)!

I'm not going to lie, right now I feel really heavily burdened with all the things I must do. Finals for my summer classes are next Tuesday and I have two really important papers that are due on Monday...did I mention that I am supposed to be working a double Saturday and Sunday? In the words of Charlie Brown, "GOOD GRIEF!"

Last night was "Tips for Ta Ta's", Angela's project that she had worked so very hard on! I will let her tell you all about it but I will say that it was a HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL event and I am so proud of how professional everything looked. Congratulations seestur! I love you!

That's all for today. I'm going to go cry now (no, not literally).

Thursay with Shannon

Tips for Tatas:
So tonight was Tips for Tatas at Beef 'O' Bradys. It went well from what I could tell. We went from about 6 to 730 and by the time that we left it was picking up. I want to say thank you to all of the servers; without them donating there time to work for free tonight would not have been possible. Also a thank you to all of the donors (I am keeping my fingers crossed that I won one of the great prizes.) Angela, you deserve a standing ovation for all the work that you put into tonight. It was truely amazing. Our server was great and always had a smile on her face when she came our way and everyone else seemed to be in a great mood.
Training:
As some of you know I have not been able to train for the last three weeks due to a hair line fracture but this week I gave up my crutches! I am hoping to start off with some easy training again the first of next week and work my way back. My foot is still somewhat swollen and sore but I figure I will tough it out.
Well I am going to have to make this blog very short my three year old is trying to help me type and it is taking forever to type one word. So until next Thursday keep thinking pink and keep your fingers crossed that I won one of the really great prizes :-)

Mondays with Melissa!

Hi Everyone!

I'm back. Well back online at least and typing to you from one of the cutest little towns in Northern Wisconsin! I apologize that I missed out on my weekly blog last Monday, but I can assure you that I would of rather of blogged than spend a whopping TEN hours in the car with three kids!! :D

Apart from being on vacation, I haven't stopped thinking about my commitment that I've made to my team or the Susan G. Komen Foundation. It has became an everyday thought, and, I have to say I like this new change in my life. It's nice. How many people can say that they have experienced what each of us that are raising money has experienced? Not many. Not enough!

I want to take a quick moment and thank my wonderful co-captain, Jennifer, for picking up and running our June meeting while I am on vacation. It truly means a lot to know that I have someone who has her own very busy life and takes the opportunity to help me out with open arms and no complaints...what a woman! :)

Also, if you have the chance PLEASE plan to head over to Beef O' Bradys on the Eastside of Athens this Thursday, June 26th to support one of our team members (and my sister) Angela in her "Tips for Tata's" fundraiser. How can you loose when you get a night where A.) You don't have to cook B.) You have GREAT food AND prizes! and C.) It all goes to a great cause!

Well that's all for now. The computer at the local library is telling me that I only have 2 minutes and I loose it all! (Oh these little towns...)

To thinking pink!
Melissa

Saturday Night Update

Hello again, so soon! So Cynthia, Angela, and I went on our team walk this morning at the Botanical Gardens. Stephanie wasn't able to join us because her little girl was awake all night so I guess no one in the house slept Friday night... my sympathies are with you and Rich, Stephanie! We missed her and hope she can make a few more walks with us before she has to leave for Michigan in August. Hopefully Shannon will be able to start joining us soon, too, once her foot is healed.

It was raining when we left our houses to walk this morning. I really didn't want to walk in the rain, but the forecast was only calling for "light showers," and we need to train in all types of weather in case we encounter it on The 3 Day, including rain. We were fortunate that it stopped raining just as we started the walk, and we were walking under a lot of trees so the drizzling that might have been happening didn't reach us. The walk started out kind of slow since we were on wet, slippery trails with roots that we're not used to, but we picked up the pace a couple miles into the walk, and we definitely got a good workout! There were a few hills that I wasn't anticipating, and my lungs and legs were feeling them by the time we got to the top! I had my pedometer on, but as I think I've mentioned before I don't really trust it most of the time. According to it we walked a total of 5.3 miles in 2 hours, but I'm convinced we walked closer to 6 miles, so I think we decided to call it 5.5 "or so" miles that we walked today. Cynthia and Angela, and maybe Stephanie, are planning another walk next Saturday. If I'm not working I plan to join them... we need all the training we can get!

On my way home this afternoon I clocked a route close to my house that is close to 8 miles. I really want to walk it, but I wish I had someone to walk it with me since I'm more motivated that way. If anyone wants to volunteer to drive out to Winder to walk with me, just let me know! :-)

That's about it for now. Have a great weekend and I'll see you all again next Saturday (and maybe before if I need to substitute again)!

~Jennifer

Thursday Substitution

Hello again, Everyone! So I'm blogging for Shannon tonight because her DSL modem is malfunctioning and she is not able to get online. I told her I would blog before I realized that I don't have much to add after Stephanie's informative blog yesterday! Like her, I am excited about how the meeting went, and we have a lot to do to get ready for the Tailgating for Tatas event. We will definitely have another informative meeting on July 7th because we left a lot up in the air last night while we all complete our designated tasks. I will go grocery shopping this weekend and next week to determine the cost of the potato bar and corn-on-the-cob, so once I get that done I will feel productive :-) I'm looking forward to our walk on Saturday and really hope it's nice outside like it was yesterday. The shade from the trees should help keep the heat away, and let's just hope it doesn't rain!

I don't have much else to add, but I'll update you all on our walk on Saturday evening. Until then, stay cool and think pink!

~Jennifer

Wednesday Meeting Updates

Phew! Our meeting tonight was very informative! All the team members were there except Melissa (on vacation) and we accomplished a lot. Now, if I could only read my notes so I could fill you guys in!

First, this coming Saturday we have a team walk planned at the Botanical Gardens in Athens at 9 am. They have several miles of trails and lots of nice foliage to look at. Hopefully it will be a nice breezy day (fingers crossed)! I'm looking forward to that!

Don't forget to go support the Tips for Tatas at Beef O'Bradys on eastside (Athens) next Thursday night. Our team is posting flyers anywhere we can find an open spot, so keep your eyes out. All tips earned go to the Susan G Komen foundation for the cure and are a great tax write off, so there's no excuse not to come!

As Angela mentioned yesterday, we have a location for the Tailgating for Tatas! Save the date for July 20, 2008 from 4-8 pm. FUN FUN FUN! Food, Raffles, Moonwalk Bouncers, and Flag Football. What more could you ask for? Plan to be there! More details to follow as the time approaches.

We are still working on some other fundraising opportunities and other opportunities to sell our team shirts so keep your eyes peeled for some other possible events to meet and support our team.

In other news, the owner of Jersey Mikes on Epps Bridge Pkwy as agreed to put one of our cans there! So if you're there and have some spare change...go ahead and drop it in! I'm still working on other places to set these out.

Wow! I think that's about all for right now. We have another team meeting planned for July 7, 2008, so.... keep thinking pink and SAVE THE MELONS!

Stephanie

Here It Comes!!!!

So Tips for Tatas Night is vast approaching and I am getting more excited each day! i now officially have all my raffle prizes. They are listed as follows:

-1 month free tanning from bodyplex
-1 month free tanning from bodyplex
-3 month free membership from bodyplex
-Pagoda sterling silver breast cancer ribbon charm on a leather necklace from JWR Jewelrs
- Fifty dollar gift card from Beef O Bradys
-1 free haircut from Republic Salon
-1 free haircut from Republic Salon
- $100 Visa Gift card from Exclusive Pallet

Things are coming together nicely and I cant wait for next Thurs!

Also the other major news is we now have an official spot for the Tailgate for Tatas Event. The only bad news is that we will be moving the event to Sunday July 20th instead of Saturday July 19th. Which I think will actually work better because that will give us a day to plan :) But the principal of Oconee County Highschool Mark Channell has graciously allowed us permission to use the school parking lot and practice soccer field!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. CHANNELL! I know you'll be missed as principal (His last day in office is July 1st)

Well i guess im going now because i have yummy food cooked by the chef boyfriend awaiting me :)

Untill next week Have a Great One!!!!


-Angela :)

Another Saturday Update

Happy Saturday again! Today was a very exciting day for Stephanie and me as far as our walk is concerned. First we met at the New Balance store in Athens and had a short shoe clinic. It was very informative and interesting. It made me want to buy everything in the New Balance store, from shoes to socks to this cute little skirt with shorts underneath. I'll have to save up money for all that, though. After the shoe clinic, we went on a 6 mile training walk that was organized by The 3 Day. We left from the New Balance store, and for those of you familiar with Athens, we walked down Epps Bridge, through Tanglebrook (LOTS of hills!), down Epps Bridge some more to Iris Place and through that complex, and then we came back out on Epps Bridge and walked back to the store. I have driven down Epps Bridge many, many times, but I never fully appreciated the hills you have to drive down and back up until today when we walked down and back up those hills that lead down to the bridge that crosses over into Clark County. I just have to say that the walk WORE ME OUT. I was falling asleep on my father-in-law's sofa around 8:15 tonight and I still haven't really woken up. I am going to sleep well tonight. I'm thinking about trying to walk again tomorrow but I haven't definitely made up my mind yet. It always helps when I have someone to walk with, and so far I don't have anyone lined up to walk with me.

After we finished the walk Stephanie and I got fitted for our shoes. It was very nice to have someone professionally fit me because it took most of the deicision-making away from me, which sometimes can be a good thing. The shoe-fitter watched me walk across the store and then brought me two pairs of shoes that would work for my feet. I was kind of disappointed that my gait isn't made for the special Susan G. Komen shoes, but I like the ones I picked out. Neither of us bought shoes today, but my mom is being nice enough to buy me the pair I picked out for my birthday, and Stephanie plans to buy the ones she wants before we walk next time. We did each buy several pairs of socks, though, which I realized very quickly on the walk this morning that I needed! The people at the New Balance store were SO nice, and just for that I know I will be shopping with them a lot between now and the walk in October. They even gave us a couple of free gifts, and they provided us with water and snacks before and after our walk this morning. Not because they had to, but out of the kindness of their hearts.

Wednesday we are having a team meeting to discuss the Tailgating for Tatas event, and I'm sure Stephanie will update everyone on that Wednesday evening. Hopefully we'll have lots of fun stuff to report. I'm sorry this has gotten long, but I'm excited and I wanted everyone to know about it :-) Keep thinking pink, everyone, and I'll see you again next Saturday!

~Jennifer

A Little Late

Sorry guys that this blog for Thursday is going out at noon on Friday but I was thinking that today was Thursday. Let me explaine. Cameron has been having some medical problems and we have been going for test here lately. On Wednesday I had to keep Cameron up all night so he could go in for a sleep deprived EEG. I managed to stay up and also keep him up by playing the WII, shoving sugar (a big no-no in this house) and playing webkins all night long. By the time that Thursday morning rolled around I was exausted. We went to his appointment came home and crashed. I woke up long enough to go to the doctors myself to have my foot checked on and once again I came home and crashed until about 10 this morning. So I am late on posting Thursday's blog.
Walking this week for me has been minimal. I broke my foot and sprained my ankle last Sunday while out walking. I am still getting plenty of training. I never realized how hard it was to walk on crutches! My left leg is building tons of muscle and my upper body is getting stronger. I am doing some cardio work out while sitting at home also. I hope that when I am able to put weight on my right foot that I will be able to catch up with the rest of the team in the distance that they are covering.
I am looking forward to going to the fitting/training walk on Saturday. At least I can get some helpful information that will help to able to pick out shoes. Jennifer and Stephanie will also be there. I cannot wait. We are getting closer!
Well I will keep this one short and sweet. I am still a little groggy but I think it is from too much sleep now. Until next time keep thinking pink.
Shannon

Welcome To Wednesday

Hi everyone. I feel much better after a relaxing trip to the beach. Although, I have found out how "old" my baby is making me feel. By the time you get to the beach with tents, floats, beach bags with sunscreen, toys, books, diapers,snacks...you're almost too worn out to do anything else, but take a nap :0) Please excuse me for missing last week since I was at the beach. Now, onto business.

Looks like were onto great things with the Tailgating for Tatas. Between Anglea and Jennifer this is sure to be a hit. Keep your eyes open for more information on this event. By the way, kudos to Angela with all the work going on for Tips for Tatas!! I can't wait! I'm also looking forward to our next team meeting, so we can finalize any and all plans for the Tailgating and get all preparations made!! I'm so excited about this a hope there is a great turn out. Angela, I think the flag football is a great idea!

Jennifer, Cynthia and I were scheduled to walk on Monday evening, but the outragous temperatures held us back. They were giving advisories on the news, so we decided to reschedule for a time early in the morning or later in the evening, so we can the major HOT times. Jennifer and I are attending a shoe fitting and training on Saturday and the New Balance store on Epps Bridge Pky. It's scheduled for earlier in the morning and I'm hoping that the heat is not too much of an issue. Look for her blog Saturday to see how it all went.

My count to date on the money from the cans is $64.08 (and counting). YAY!! I wish I had more out, but just can't think of where to put them. I've emailed a couple of businesses but haven't heard any response yet. so, for now... stay cool until next week.

Stephanie

Hi Everyone :) It's Angela Time Again :)

Good News! More progress on the Tips for Tatas Event. First of all i have gotten three raffle prizes from local businesses. The first is a Sterling Silver breast cancer charm on a leather necklace (value of $70) from JWR Jewelers (THANKS SO MUCH Mrs.Pattie and Mr. John!!) The second donor is from Body Plex Gym (Thanks Joe!!). They donated two one month free tanning memberships, a 3 month free membership, and also one hundred one month free coupons. We will use the one month free coupons as an advertisement for the first one hundred "Tipppers" for Tatas. The third raffle prize is one hundred dollars cash donated by Exclusive Pallet (Thanks Dad!!). In other news with the Tips for Tatas night, Boun (my boyfriend) has graciously agreed with his busy schedule to provide a home cooked spaghetti dinner as a thank you to all the servers that will be working for free that night.

In other news, trying to find a site for the Tailgate I came up with a great idea. Why not try to use the local high school? So far no luck in contacting anyone though :( I'm not losing hope though. If not Jennifer has been working on Herman C Michael Park also. Also, I haven't had a chance to run this by the other members besides Mel, but i think it would be a great idea to hold a flag football game after the tailgate to give it the "real" tailgating feel. I hope it works out :)

Have a great week everyone!!

Angela

One Day, One Day, One Day!!!

As I wrote the title of this blog (located at www.savethemelons.blogspot.com ), I thought about the classic car salesman on television when I was little yelling at the top of his voice, "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!" With great excitement, he would announce the "sale" that they dealership were having in his loudest voice.
I have to admit, it made me chuckle at first, but then I stopped and thought about it for a couple of seconds. What if we took that same enthusiasm and applied it to breast cancer? The salesman was announcing a car; We are announcing the quest to end breast cancer! Shouldn't we put that same enthusiasm if not more when we are trying to save lives? I think so!

Each "ONE DAY" in my book, stands for something different:

1.) ONE DAY we our we won't have to live with the fear of hearing those words, "You have cancer."
2.) ONE DAY we no one will suffer from surgery, chemo, radiation or death from this deadly disease.
3.) ONE DAY we will find a cure!


Today I'm going to do something a little different from our regular blogs. I usually don't ask much, other than donations. But maybe you feel like you can't afford to give right now...maybe you wish you could walk in the 3-Day, but something has held you back, maybe you are a daily reader and wish you could help just a little more.

Now you can.

I am going to challenge you. Where ever you are reading this. Take a moment and read aloud the title of this blog. Use your best "car salesman" tone. You don't have to shout, unless you want to, of course. Just read it aloud. You are probably going to get strange looks, but that is the point! Simply smile and tell them that you have said that to raise awareness to breast cancer and, of course, show them our site.

If there is no one around you, copy and paste this blog and send it out to loved ones with a brief explanation of what we are doing and why this blog is so important. Be the enthusiastic breast cancer spokesperson! After all, you could save someone's life by raising awareness; and, a life is priceless. :)

Be sure to come back and leave a comment about your experience or responses. There are sure to be some funny reactions and we would love to hear them! To do so, click on "Post a comment". Then, type your comment and choose Name/URL. Enter your name and then click "Publish your comment" You don't have to sign up for anything- promise!

Until next Monday, Monday, Monday...keep thinking pink!
Melissa

Just Another Saturday!

Hello again, everyone! Well, after several weeks of not much to report, we're starting to pick up again and have some exciting things in the works. We really began trying this week to secure a location for our July fundraiser, Tailgating for Tatas. It is hopefully going to be July 19th in the Athens area, and once we know more we will send out invitations and let everyone know more details. I think it should be a lot of fun.

In addition to getting that off the ground, we are in the process of planning our next team meeting and training walk. On Monday afternoon at least 3 of the team members are planning to walk, which will be nice since we haven't all gotten together in several weeks. I just hope the heat isn't too overwhelming for us... I can't believe it's only the beginning of June, and it already feels like an oven outside at 10:00 in the morning. We need to start planning our longer training walks, and I think we will discuss that at the next team meeting. The schedule that The 3 Day sends out suggests doing 2 long training walks 2 days in a row, so I want to discuss that and see how feasible it will be to get everyone together for that. I hope we can at least split up into groups of 2 or 3 if we can't all get together because I am much more likely to walk when I have someone to go with and talk to.

I believe that a couple of our team members had a shoe fitting this morning, and next Saturday Stephanie and I are going to a fitting in Athens. My mom has said she will buy me one of my pairs of shoes for my birthday, so I'm excited about that. After that we will do a training walk with the people that show up for the fitting, so there will be more on that next week.

I guess that's about it here. I hope everyone is having a great week and enjoying our blogs. I am glad to see that Shannon has picked up a day to blog so that we can get a different perspective from everyone (not that I didn't like reading your blog 2 days a week, Mel!). I'm sure Melissa appreciates the break, too! Until next week, keep thinking pink!

~Jennifer

*Friday Night Hope with Cynthia*

Hello guys. It is 11:47pm. I just got off work and have to be back at 10:45am. Even more fun, I'm working four shifts in the next two days...yay for doubles (not)!

I am very proud of my dear sister, Angela, as she was able to get some really great items this week to raffle off at an upcoming event! By really great items, I mean that I will be purchasing some raffle tickets in hopes of winning these prizes...which means, nobody else can buy raffle tickets but me. ;)

I, on the other hand, am Queen "stale-mate". I have no moves right now. Honestly, I don't really have time for move making.

Here's the break-down of my time:
65%: Time spent academically
20%: Time spent laboring (at Rafferty's)
09%: Time spent sleeping
03%: Time spent eating
02%: Time spent doing fun things with my fellow meloners
01%: Time spent cleaning, cooking, exercising

The up-side is this particular statistical data will only be accurate for the month of June. No worries though friends, fam & teammates! During this month, I'll be thinking of great new creative ways to fundraise and I'll be back rearing to go in July!!

Until next time...peace :)

A Thoughtful Thursday

This is my first time blogging so where do I start? I guess by introducing myself. I am the sixth member on the team. My name is Shannon Brown Kentnor. I am a wife of a wonderful man and a mother of two amazing children. I am honored to be taking this journey with five more incredible women. Okay now to the training. It has been taking a little more out of me than I expected it would. I am not sure if the 90 degree weather has anything to do with that or not. I am enjoying my training time now though. Before it was just something that I was trying to get finished with as fast a possible now it has become more like my one on one time with God. You see on Saturday after having the worst two weeks possible I went out for a training walk. I do not know what made me decide to go a different way than normal but for some reason I did. I was walking feeling like my life could not get any worse when I looked up from my self pity and saw my sign. Yes I said my sign. It was on a church sign that is right down the road from where I live and it said, "Your life is not spinning out of control, you are just on God's potters wheel." When I read that sign I had to stop and have a good cry. I realized that all of my trials and tribulations were God trying to get my attention. I did not realize just how far I had put him on the back burner. As everyone knows with kids, a spouse, activities, and then the training that I have been doing I had not been taking time out of my day to thank God for what I did have; a great husband, children who were alive (though sick), a house, a supportive family and friends that are always there for me. I now realize that when your life seems to be "spinning out of control" it may be God trying to get you to turn to Him. If it were not for these training walks I would have never saw the sign that finally made me open my eyes. So now as I get ready to close I am putting on my walking shoes and getting ready for yet another 6 mile walk and I am excited.
I hope that everyone is having a great week. Just think tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!

A quick hello from Angela

i'll make it short and sweet this week.

I want to thank Julie for her donation to my 3 day walk fund first of all :) THANKS!

Next lets see, i was feeling down because one of the servers that had agreed to do the Tips for Tatas was let go...which brought the count back down to 5 servers not including me. And if you've ever waited tables before you know that the last thing you want when your waiting on people FOR FREE is to be stressed out. I want to make sure we have enough help so that everyone can just have a relaxing fun time. But this past week we got a new server and guess what? He's already signed up to do the event! :) Thanks Todd. So now i have 6 volunteers plus me and my assistant manager also to all work that night. Also, Justin, one of the servers who also does our trivia nights has agreed to announce the raffle. Awesome!

Anywho, guess that wasnt too short and sweet :)

Have a good week everyone!
Angela

Just another manic Monday...

It's not unusual for me to welcome Monday with open arms. While most, look at Mondays as a glass "half empty" kind of day, I've made it almost a self-imposed motto to look at it as a "glass half full" kind of day. Why? I have a fresh, clean slate; a new week to start over. I jump in feet first putting whatever failures of the past week behind me and move on. Why not? If I am pessimistic, what good will it do for me to wallow in self pity in what I didn't get done when I have a new week to look at accomplishing those very things missed the week before?

If you know me, I'm sure you're not too surprised by this...right? So Monday it is and here I am typing and here you are reading; ready to go! This week I have an extra reason to be happy and feel great. Despite my failure to walk two of the four days, I have already started to pencil the neighbors I have recruited to walk with me for moral support; and, what I need from the most, accountability! That is my new "fix" to keep myself in stride with the 3-Day training program. Okay, that and possibly something to do with my recent TERRIFYING dream that I showed up in October to walk 60 miles in flip flops and no training!!