9/12/11

Its Monday, September 12, 2011 and I'm flying to Detroit. I still feel depressed post 9/11 anniversary.

I'm not sure why it hit me so hard this year. Perhaps it's all the mean spirited politics we are experiencing, maybe it's the memories of that actual time ten years ago...

In late August, 2001, BZ and I got engaged in front of a large platter of paella. It was our last night in Barcelona, we were on our way home from one of the most romantic and happy trips I'd ever had.

After September 11th, I had such mixed emotions as we planned our wedding for the following spring. The world was in mourning, I was part of that mourning but I was also wanting to celebrate the fact that I found someone to spend my life with...finally.

We visited Ground Zero in the late fall of 2002. I was pregnant with Max, this was BZ's first trip to NY. It was bitterly cold. When we arrived on the platform and looked down at the pit of devastation, I completely fell apart. There were still the notes from families, handkerchiefs, flags, all sorts of mementos left. Lists of the missing...I felt such grief for my former hometown, for all that was lost. It was cold so we left pretty quickly and made our way to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty in the distance. Too cold for the ferry, so we opted for a cafe instead.

Last night I lit four small candles for each of the planes that went down. I told the kids that I wished for peace and love instead of all this fighting. Aiden said, "Love is bigger than anything." He also said "Chicken!" but then, that's Aiden. And I am grateful.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Where did the summer go?

Wow. End of the summer. The beginning of school. Its been over a month since my last entry.

Here's a quick recap:

1. Berkeley Playhouse, Seussical camp. Max's group rehearsed for 3 weeks and performed on the final day. Max had a fantastic time, loves musicals, is still singing the songs.Aiden's group rehearsed for 2 weeks, and then put on a...show...of a sort. Very entertaining. Unbelievably cute. Aiden decided that he's not so into the theater. Can you tell?
2. Camping.We camped near Calistoga with a bunch of families we met at the preschool over 4 years ago. Luckily, they REALLY knew how to camp and served cocktails each night. So fun.3. Great America with more friends. Such a great time. We went on a Monday and avoided most lines. We got to go on rides over and over and over. I love a good theme park.
4. The Giant Race 1/2 Marathon. Ran it yesterday. Feel great. Made a PR at 2:13:50. For me, that's fast. And I know that I can get faster. Met Kim afterwards. We got some prime seats for watching the Under 6's run around the field. Very cute indeed. Nice recovery time and great catching up...
Those are just the highlights. But tomorrow is a school day and I have to get my rest. Gotta pack the lunches and do the morning routine once again. Sad to see summer go but excited about the beginning of Fall.

Vacation

I just returned from vacation with BZ's family. Aside from the waterlogged iPhone debacle on the final day, I had a great time. The kids got to play with their cousins, we all got to hike and swim. And although sometimes the in-law thing can be difficult, this trip really was relaxed (other than the one stressful game night that led to three bawling kids).

Breckenridge, CO is 10,000 feet above sea level, it makes me struggle for air just thinking about it. On my third day of vacation, I signed up for a 4K trail run with North Face and the local Rec Center.

It was difficult to breathe and REALLY muddy but unbelievably beautiful. I kept hearing about Oxygen Bars but never found them.


Getting away, escaping work and the everyday tasks and chores of life is necessary. Getting back in the swing of things this Monday has been really hard. Probably the reason I returned to my blog.:-)

Looking forward to the next escape at the end of August....

Politics vs ?

What I should be blogging about is Netroots Nation and The American Dream Movement. What I want to write about is my inability to focus.

I struggle with accepting the awkward nature of having a full life and not exactly having enough time to write about it all. Hard to choose what the focus of my blogging should be, or if I need a focus at all...Kim writes of travel, food, brief experiences, Laura and Gretchen write about their running...I love their blogs...

What is Margaret writing about?!!!

After returning from Netroots Nation all pumped up with ideas on how to get re-activated politically, I am also returning to my family responsibilities--my children, my husband, my job, my friends, my running...

So, to my tiny group of readers (are there any left?) I say....I will still toggle between all of my interests and passions...and if I get the urge to stay on one track, I may start up a parallel blog for that one area of focus.

In the meantime,
1. I went to Netroots Nation last week and was recharged
2. I started an Intermediate Running Class to learn how to run faster and efficiently...pulled something in my...glute (butt).
3. The kids have started camps and its really pretty cute.
4. I just got a cold and want to put my head under a pillow.

Birthday Weekend

Boy, am I tired. What a weekend.

It all started on Friday evening with a birthday party up in El Cerrito. The best part of the evening was watching 10 or 11 little boys giggling hysterically to Buster Keaton in The General.


Saturday. I hosted a school event, The Amazing Race Party/Dinner. As one of three planners...I was given the task of baking a Tres Leche Cake. I have never made such a thing and it scared me. First of all, the idea of "tres leche" as a lactose-intolerant person...not so good. Second of all, it needs 8 hours of soaking time before serving, so there was a time element as well. It ended up being one of the most delicious cakes I have ever tasted.


The event itself involved 5 couples racing across the city to get photos, clues and various objects in a two hour period. It was really fun. Here's a shot of Amy in cuffs for extra credit...

When the teams returned, we projected the photos on our TV, swapped stories, drank mojitos and ate. And ate. And ate some more.


Sunday. My birthday! I went for a 10 mile run with my running buddy, Erin in Alameda. When we returned to Oakland, Erin showed off the rose garden right across the street from her house, Morcom Rose Garden, so lovely.


By the time I got home, the day had become even more beautiful, so we went on a hike at Sibley Volcanic Reserve off of Skyline, just a few miles from our house.


When we finally returned home, I could hardly move. So we watched The Gold Rush with Charlie Chapin, then went for sushi...so yes, I am tired but what a great weekend.

Family

On Sunday, I got to spend the morning in San Francisco with Kim, who I haven't gotten to spend much time with in years (its felt like years). I easily lose track of what and who matters in the craziness of my over-scheduled life.

Running with Kim along the Embarcadero was beautiful. Perfect weather, loads of time to share and catch up on things, big and little things...Kim is really like family and its great to be reminded of that.


Monday, I flew to Chicago for work. I made plans to meet up with my mom's cousin, Peg. We got to walk along the lake and catch up...

I also got to meet her husband, and her two kids Louisa and Luke, and Luke's wife and baby. We got to talk about family history, we each have different stories and history...some of it overlaps but not much. It was wonderful to find out that there are more activists in the family. Great to know that civil rights and activism are in the genes.

I knew that my grandfather fought for civil rights, went to jail for not naming names...but I didn't know that my Great Uncle marched on Washington in the early 70's and was a lifelong progressive. Peg went on marches and rallies with her parents...love that.

I also found out I have several more relatives that live in Berkeley, barely 15 minutes away. My family just grew larger. In a good way.

Here we go again

So, I didn't make Round Two of the Netroots Nation Scholarship competition. They have added 8 more spots and have cleared all of the remaining competitor points. Which means, I start from scratch. Do I have it in me to bug people to vote again? It seems so obnoxious...

This past week, BZ and I went to go see President Obama speak in San Francisco. It was pretty exciting to see him in person. I will admit, he was quite the hotty, or as Jessie says, he's definitely a PILF.He addressed our liberal frustrations and acknowledged the slow pace of change and the disappointment of compromise. But I was also reminded of how many things have gotten done over the last 2 years. And, what would have been without him. As overwhelming as it seems, I know that I will be back on the volunteer bandwagon, fully supporting him for his second term.


So do I go for the final scholarship round? Probably. I just need to get my head back in the game, and keep asking the way politicians naturally (or un-naturally) do...over and over again.

So when's the next run?

I must continue running. Apparently I am still running for the Netroots Nation Scholarship, round 2 of the competition ends April 17th. You can read all about it HERE.

And I am busily looking for other 1/2 marathons to register for. Its like an addiction. So, here are a few I am considering:

5/1 Big Sur Marathon Relay-registered
6/5 See Jane Run in Alameda-registered
8/27 The Giants Race, SF
10/2 Rock & Roll San Jose
11/20 Big Sur 1/2

I'm just thinking about these...I will probably sleep it off in a few days....

13.1 miles!

I ran. I ran 13.1 miles and was still smiling at the end.

Really smiling...and crying. It was an amazing moment(s)...running down that last stretch, all those people cheering us on, and to the left, finally seeing my cousin Pat with Max and Aiden, seeing their faces light up, hearing them yell out and wave...nothing better. Those final moments were so moving and I made it across the finish line with a ridiculous grin on my face or maybe it was crazed laughter.
Who would have believed that I, Margaret Schultz, would have EVER run a 1/2 marathon? Seriously. Ask anyone who has known me longer than just a few years...

Its true that back in 1998 or 1999 I rode in the AIDS Ride from San Francisco to LA on my big heavy bike. Its also true that those seven days of riding led to knee surgery. but I would not have traded that experience back then for anything at all. The training, the friendships, and the accomplishment were life changing. As I rode my bike down that final stretch, I think it was Avenue of the Stars (no kidding), I was crying and laughing and beyond joyous. And not just because I could finally sleep in a real bed and take a real shower after 7 days. I proved to myself that I could do anything, even it hurt, even if it was hard.

So this half marathon deal? It feels great too. It feels a bit less extreme, a bit more doable on a regular basis. I can't wait for the next one.

Here are my long run training run buddies, Sheila and Dana.

And of course, Coach Erin, my early morning run buddy.


So a big thanks to my friends for keeping me going even when I didn't want to. Can't wait for our next run.

16 More days

Really?

16 more days before the voting cuts off. I have to keep the momentum going and continue to find more online votes if I want to remain one of the top three vote getters for the NetRoots Nation scholarship. Eesh. 16 more days to gather votes...

Below is a description of the competition:

What is the DFA Netroots Nation Scholarship Competition?

Every year, the Netroots Nation Convention has provided progressive activists and candidates for office a forum to strengthen the online community and grow the progressive movement while inspiring action and growing new ideas to affect change.

Democracy for America members have helped to make the convention a success every year by attending, contributing funds and participating in discussions. Since 2008, DFA members have helped grow Netroots Nation by finding and supporting activists who couldn't afford to attend the convention on their own.

Thanks to the tremendous support of thousands of DFA members across the country, last year DFA sent a fantastic group of progressive activists to Netroots Nation in Las Vegas, NV. This year, we're working to do it again at Netroots Nation 2011 (in Minneapolis from June 16th-19th). You can join the competition or contribute online to help send an activist to the convention.

How does the Competition work?

The contest is broken into two rounds. The first round begins on March 4th and runs through March 28th. During that time applicants should encourage their friends, family and networks to vote for them. At midnight on March 28th the top three vote getters will automatically be selected for a scholarship. The remaining winners for Round 1 will be chosen at the discretion of the selection committee based on the criteria below. The Second Round kicks off on March 29th. All votes from Round 1 will roll over. The contest will conclude on April 17th. The top 3 vote getters as of Midnight on April 17th will automatically be selected for a scholarship and the remainder of the scholars will be chosen by the selection committee.

What does the scholarship provide?

The DFA Netroots Nation Scholarship covers the cost of one all-access pass to Netroots Nation 2011 and hotel accommodations for one from June 15th - June 19th 2011, as well as a few select meals and outside events sponsored by Democracy for America. Scholarship winners will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the convention and all remaining meals.

So you can see, I can really use this scholarship. Have you voted yet?

I need 100 more votes!

“Netroots Nation is a gathering of our nation's most important truth-tellers -- courageous visionaries who birthed the blogosphere. In a wilderness of untrustworthy news outlets and corrupt politics, they build a yearly campfire around which the hope-roots can gather and speak the truth. It is always an honor and a privilege to be a part of this event.”
—Van Jones

For the past 6 years Netroots Nation has put on national conventions focused on supporting and training online and offline activists. I am applying for the DFA (Democracy For America) scholarship program that provides 40 folks with assistance to attend the conference.

The winners will have the opportunity to gather with progressive bloggers, community organizers, online strategists, union members -- even a handful of candidates and electeds -- for four days of smart panel discussions, hands-on training sessions and networking events. By joining and participating in this conference they’ll be helping to build a more cohesive, more powerful and more inclusive progressive movement.

To win a spot, I will probably need at least 150 more votes. Here's the link:

DFA Scholarship for NetRoots Nation Convention, June 16-19, 2011.

I'd love your support. Spread the word. I will do you proud.

And running some more

Last week was a busy one. We went on a family trip to Monterey. It was a quick and fun getaway.


When we returned, a few days later BZ and I went to see Prince.


A few days after that, we went to see Bernie Sanders.


Over the weekend, I ran 11 miles. Not sure what happened to the sunglasses...a lot can happen in 11 miles...

I think its time for a nap.

Still running

On January 8th, 2011, California's 16th Assembly District held elections for the CA Democratic Party delegates. In 2008, they set the record for voter turnout for the state with over 350 showing up. This year, they ran out of their 500 ballots and had to race out to print more. There were over 621 voters, another CA delegate election record for sure.

Although I did not win, I am still running. My 1/2 marathon training is in full gear and I will say that it is much easier to run long distances when running shorter distances throughout the week.

This past Saturday, I ran 7 miles. This is a big deal for me, the woman with bad knees, ridiculous feet and more excuses to not run than anyone I know. I did it AND was not crazy sore the next day. I am inspired once again and am running more regularly through the week, usually REALLY early in the morning with a small posse of other women.

The other "new" thing is that I am running without headphones and music. It seems more restful for me, less frantic. And, I can carry on a conversation with my running mates....once I catch my breathe. Oh, and the other...other...new thing is that I am trying out one of those fancy Garmin watches. So I like it but....I am still trying to figure out what all the buttons do and I am a bit envious of those with the sleek and fashionable Nike Sportsband (whatever you do, don't call it a watch).Oh! I almost forgot to mention, that after running the 7 miles, I entered a raffle at the local running store, Transports, and won a brand new pair of New Balance shoes. Sadly, the shoes are not working out for me but it was very exciting all the same.