So BEAUTIFUL!!!

After 3 days of non-stop meetings in San Fran I had a 3 hour break!!! I thought this was the perfect time to take a run to the Golden Gate Bridge, it couldn't really be that far, and if it was why not just take a cab back..........
The concierge said he thought it would probably be about 7.5 miles and warned me about the major hills that were in between me and what he noted as one of the most magnificent views in the bay area.

I tucked away my trusty AMEX card in case of emergency and off I went…the first mile was probably the worst. But after that I was going past Pier 39, followed by Fisherman’s Warf, Ghirardelli Square and on and on…Crissy Field was gorgeous, and the bridge was in sight! I somehow ended up at street level for the bridge, which btw required running up the most massive hill I have ever run! Looking at my watch, I saw that I have run 7.87 miles, so of course I had to continue to make it a round 8. Making it a round 8 was the best compulsion I’ve ever followed through with. I turned the corner past the bridge, and entered a winding dusty trail. I ran along the edge of a steep drop off into the ocean, below was the most beautiful view I’ve seen in nearly a decade of runs! It was one of those moments when you so clearly see God’s glory in his creation. There could have been nothing more perfect, peaceful or beautiful!

I stayed and enjoyed this wonderful peace for a bit – glancing at my watch I realized I’d been gone for nearly an hour…unfortunately it was time to leave this peace. I decided to run as far as necessary until I could find a cab – which turns out was all the way back to the hotel. I’ve never been so happy to see the corner of Stockton and California in my life – again at the top of a very large hill and 15 miles later. It was worth every step for that view, for that tiny glimpse into HIS majesty!

DISCLAIMER: These pictures do not do it justice, but I don't run with a camera!!!

$50 for a virtual diamond ring?!?

I was sitting in my conference today and a speaker said something that was both disturbing and caused me to think, probably far more than he expected...

People will pay $50 for a virtual diamond ring as a gift, and it doesn't even do anything. But do real diamonds really do anything? His statement continued to explain that the "virtual world" is an extension of the "real world"...

So why was I so disturbed by this...well it leads me to think about why I buy the things I buy and why anyone would spend $50 to send someone a diamond ring on FB - that's just insane, or is it? Our society is all about what we can buy or BE that makes us look better, more successful and more affluent - why wouldn't that be converting over to our virtual world?!? Why is our world so consumed with status that we would waste $50 on a virtual gift - insane!

An umbrella, cab, TRENCH?!?

I arrived in San Fran after a flight that should have taken 2 hours less than it did and it seemed like a run was in order. The fitness center was covered in mirrors so I was headed outside, I got a running map from the concierge and by the time I got outside it was getting dark and had started pouring rain! The bellman thought I was absolutley insane, offered me an umbrella, followed by a cab and then wished me a nice run. As I ran off I heard another guy with the bellman saying, "you should offer her a trench coat." I shortened my run to 3.5 pretty treacherous miles in driving rain and some of the roughest hills I have run in a long time. BUT I did get to run under the San Francisco bridge and along the bay - GORGEOUS! My take on San Francisco is this: This city is absolutley gorgeous, and the people don't see runners very often!

When I got back to my room I learned that San Fran is under a severe storm warning: Oops!

Come on CHICAGO - your weather SUCKS!

Chicago why is your weather so bi-polar? I understand that if the weather here was wonderful there would be far too many people here. We'd have an overpopulation issue and who knows what other problems, but come on! I'm not really sure I approve of glorious lovely days followed by cold days where chunky rainy snowy stuff falls from the sky!

Bring on the summer!

We made a scene...

So those of you who knew me a decade ago know that I was a pretty intense runner...I loved it, and ran all the time. If someone asked me my favorite thing to do it was RUN, RUN and again RUN! I didn't really have a whole lot else going on, except for my High School beau so of course I planned runs to run past the football team...ok I digress... In 1998 I had double knee surgery and that was the end of my carefree running as I knew it...but recently - after my foot surgery my doctor said - "Go ahead and beat the crap out of that foot - you're cleared to RUN!" It had been so long since I had heard those words that I got all giddy and freaked all wrapped into one - I can RUN!!!!

Sooo, I'M BACK! I'm going to avoid the obsessive running that drove my knees into the ground but I figure I already live with constant knee pain - I can't really make that a whole lot worse.

So yesterday I was at home for Easter - Praise God for his mercy, sacrifice and healing that we have Easter to celebrate!!!! And I decided to go for a run...I may have forgotten to mention that my family doesn't run. But we do like to spend time together. So my sister and dad jumped on their bikes. I ran and they biked. Here's how it went...

Lynds: Wow, you're going at a pretty good clip
Me: Yep...so what's new?
Lynds: (tells me the story of her day and life)
Me: Um, where's dad?
Lynds: He's back there...I have a mirror
Me: Ok
Lynds: Continues...

Somewhere around mile 1.5 I realize that Lyndsey is peddaling at a semi normal pace which doesn't make any sense and I can't figure out why I can't breathe...all I can answer is ugh, ok or a groan when she's talking to me. I take a glance down at my watch and realize I just ran my first mile in 7'12" - yep that's why I can't breathe...

Me: Dude, I need to slow down a clip
Lynds: (continues her story - which I greatly appreciate because I can't breathe and it's ditracting)
Me: I've ceased to communicate...

At this point my dad catches up, and I've slowed some...my sister is on my right my dad is on my left and we probably look like a freak show. We came up behind a family that is taking a walk 5 people wide, 1 by 1 they turned around to look at us...yep confirmed - we're making a scene!

By the time I got home, I thought I was either going to get sick or die...so the moral of the story is this...if you are a runner, get a running buddy...if you are a biker get a biking buddy. Bikers do not make good running pacers, but they do make it a whole lot more fun!

Dad once we returned: Thanks Cam it was an honor watching someone work so hard, I'm glad you're running again!

Me too dad, me too!

We may have looked pretty funny - but it sure was fun to go on a run/ride with my family! We missed you mom, thanks for making dinner!

Couldn't have picked a better Guy!

First I’d like to apologize to my parents if they are reading this…I know this makes you very nervous!

So last night I was going to go pick Brittany up to hang out and she was a bit hard to find. The crazy kid doesn’t have a working phone so this is pretty normal but last night was a bit rough. I called her mom, no answer, her aunt claimed to not know her, and then sent me to her church and her cousin was not at all helpful. So after much searching and slowly driving around Cabrini, I went up to her place. The cops at the front gladly printed out a copy of my Id and I was on my way. I waited for about 5 minutes for the elevator which didn’t seem to be coming, pushed the button again and waited. Come on stupid elevator where are you? At this point I’m not nervous but you know, single white female here…a bunch of guys walk into the hall and I’ll admit at this point I’m a bit uneasy. An older guy, with a salt and pepper mustache walks up and starts pounding on the elevator buttons. The door opens and we step in, in what felt like the nick of time.

The elevator started moving; he asked my floor and kindly pressed the button. I then observed what seemed like very odd behavior, he started pounding on the 10 button, why I couldn’t be sure, and then he hit the alarm button…at this point I was both confused and not really sure what was going on. I think I kept my cool but I’m not really sure. He then proceeded to hit the door, no luck. His next move was to hit the door open button; it opened a crack and slammed shut. The final and most effective move was to press the door open button and slide the door open manually, followed by slamming it shut. At this point I know what I was thinking, “I’m never getting out of here, I should have jumped out when it was open!” Only a few minutes had passed but it seemed like much longer.

The elevator was on its way and we happily chatted about how old the elevators were and I thanked him for getting it unstuck in a way which must have seemed so awkward. All I can say is I am so grateful to God that I was stuck in the elevator with probably the nicest guy I’ve ever met in Cabrini and the one who knew how to fix the elevator! It was just one of those moments, when it was so incredible clear that God has everything all figured out, and why wouldn’t He?
Oh right – I told Brittany and her response: Yea don’t ride the elevators Camille!

KU lost...

So in this moment let's keep track of what all my co-workers and loving friends feel the need to share with me in this moment - we'll go in order...

Dave: Um....hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha (this is the moment I realized that they lost, because I was celebrating my friends wedding...thanks Dave!)

Jaime: Oh my gosh, KU just lost, I got 3 text messages, KU just lost - Go CUSE!

Some friends at church: Um how are you doing with the KU loss
Me: Surprisingly ok, they don't seem to be quite the idol they once were...

Co-Worker 1: Rought weekend I bet

Co-Worker 2: I wanted to give you some time, but I'd like to pass along my condolences on your loss this weekend. I'm really sorry that UK won't be stomping KU in the final.

Co-Worker 3: So I'm sure you've been hearing this a lot...but are you ok? Too bad KU didn't play that game!

And I'm sure it will continue...love you all so much for the tremendous support you are showing through this - - - NOT!