The Happiest 5K on the Planet!!! The Color Run!

So today was awesome!

Got up at 6:00am on Labor Day to wog a 5K!  It was raining...pouring!  Traffic was ridiculous!  10,000 + people were all trying to get into Barber's MotorSports at the same time...

Before!

The race was scheduled to start at 8:30 but they were sending runners out in waves...my niece Charlotte was wogging with me but her, Susan and Daniel were stuck on I-20 for over an hour trying to get to the venue...

Everyone is dressed in white...at every kilometer there are "color stations"...and volunteers dousing you with powdered color...there were 4 stations in all with a color party at the finish line.  I still have color under my arms that may never come off...I learned for the next color run I won't raise my hands and shout in the color stations....

Almost finished!

When we took to the start line it was 9:32 and pouring down rain...they were blasting music and we started the run by "throwing our hands up in the air sometime saying hey oh...baby let's go!" and off we went...I explained to Char that I don't actually run but I wog...walk a little, jog a little...I also explained how I choose a target (person) to get in front of close to the 1st mile and then make sure they are behind us at the finish line...today it was a woman with a tramp stamp showing through her soaked to the skin white t-shirt :)  We smoked her!  We jumped and splashed through every puddle on that track and even contemplated doing the slip and slide at the yellow color station but I decided I would probably break something!

Headed to the finish line!

After!!!

Thankfully I had put garbage bags and beach towels over my tan interior in the car :)  One of the definite highlights was going to lunch in Leeds afterwards...half of the patrons were from the color run!

If you get the opportunity...DO IT!!!

Much love,
MJ

Still tapping...after all these years!

Who would have guessed that when I strapped on tap shoes 32 years ago that I would still be tapping in 2012???

"Anything Goes" VHHS 1980

My first musical was "Anything Goes" where I was cast as a featured tap dancer...I borrowed tap shoes for the audition and had NEVER tapped before!  Tammy Towns had tremendous faith in me!!!  It sparked a love of dance and musicals that has never died out!












For our senior recital - Tammy taught us the Audition number from 42nd Street - a new (at the time) Broadway Musical...we started learning it in September...couldn't get all the way through it without almost passing out....it was so fast!!!  It took us till December to nail it down and be able to do it with some stamina...remember we only met for 1 hour once a week!  By March we had it!  Then she threw in the fact that we would also dance "We're In The Money"...back to back with the audition number!!!  We opened the recital and brought the house down.

Jackie O'Neal School of Dance

 I have NEVER forgotten that choreography...have taught it at least 3 times to different adult classes that I have taught and now, I am actually performing in 42nd Street!!!!  I never thought I would get the opportunity and I have almost aged out of the "chorus line" stage of my life....but I am having a blast!

Never, ever give up doing what you love!

Much love,
MJ

A new chapter...

June 1st - I started a new chapter in my life!  I am now the Program Manager for ArtPartners...a program within the non-profit organization VSA Alabama.  I am still teaching art full-time...but I am blessed to be able to manage this part-time job that is nourishing my heart and soul!

ArtPartners is a program designed to provide a socially inclusive environment where local community artists and VSA emerging artists living with disabilities or chronic illnesses can engage in meaningful relationship building through participation in the creative arts. This program services children as well as adults!

This unique annual program culminates with the ArtPartners Live Auction and Showcase on August 19 2012, an event featuring these works.

I am coming in at the tail-end of the year so it is my job to organize the mounds of artwork..and make sure it is ready for the auction...not a small task!

Here are some pics from our last ArtPartners session....enjoy!

Thirteen patients and their families were hosted at Greenvale Pediatrics in Hoover by Dr. John Cortopassi on June 24 to create art for VSA Alabama's ArtPartners program.

These awesome guys were my partners for the day....you know it is a labor of love if I painted "tiger eyes"!

Dr. Cortopassi with our Honorary Chairpersons...Grace, Lindsay, Alli and Ryan!

 

Oh my goodness!

Well, it has been one full year since I did my first half marathon!  When I finally crossed the finish line after 3 hours and 24 minutes...I swore I would never do it again...but what did I do?  Signed up to do it again!

 Now, I am 10 pounds lighter and have been "wogging" (walking/jogging) steadily for a year now...much more training that the first time around!  Although the last 2 months I haven't really done much except cross train....so....

Come Sunday, February 12th my goals are the same as usual....(1)wake up and go to the start line (2)finish the race (3)have at least one person come in behind me :)

Having done the race last year...I am familiar with the course and don't have the anxieties that I had last year...maybe that will help :)

I look forward to having another Mercedes Medal and the satisfaction of knowing that I can still accomplish anything!!

Enjoy the pictures from last year...I will post new ones next week...hopefully :)