Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 10/30/10

A couple of weeks ago, I participated in the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk in Nashville, TN.  All I can say is “WOW!!!  What a wonderful and fulfilling event. 

We walked in honor of one of my co-workers who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.  Over the past year we have supported Gloria through her chemo treatments and surgery, and now as a survivor! I also walked in honor of my mom, Mama Jo and my neighbor Valerie, who are also breast cancer survivors.  But I walked for the memory of those who have succumbed to the deadly disease!

Like I said, what a wonderful event this was.  When I arrived, the fog starting drifting in and I was worried.  It was cold, damp, foggy and not turning into a fun day.  Guess what?  I was wrong.  By the time the walk started, the beauty of the day shined through.  The fog burned off, the dampness dried up, and the temperature moved into a comfortable temp that was just perfect for a 5 mile walk through the city!

I will say this, I cheated!  I did not walk the pre-destined route for the walk…I walked more!  As the walkers, all 18,000 of them, went one way, I tried to stay a little ahead of them.  If was so much fun to get to a corner and have people ask how I got there before them ?  I gave them answers like: “That was my twin back there”, or “It was the Starbucks I drank before the walk” or, “I’m just trying to find the nearest bathroom”.

People were screaming and yelling every time they saw the “pink bearded guy”.  I loved it, I had my own fan club.  I think I had my picture taken about 100 times!

One of the most fun things about the walk were the way people were dressed!  I think I saw more shades of pink that day than I have seen in my entire life.  And the names of the teams, funny!  Here were a few of my favorites:

“BFF ~ Breast Friends Forever”  (This was the team I was on)

“Team Mochas ~ A feel a day, keeps the ta-ta’s in play”

“Boot Scootin’ Boobies”

“These Boobs were made for walking”

“I’m walking with “A’s”,”B’s” and “Double D’s”

Well, that’s about it for this post, until next time ☺

A Sweet Woman For A Sweet Shot

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of participating in the local “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk in Nashville.  What an experience!!!  There were over 15,000 walkers, all dressed in glorious shades of pink.  The group I walked with was from the Regional Intervention Program of Nashville.  We were known as “BFF ~ Breast Friends Forever”, pretty catchy if you ask me.

Anyway, as I was walking, and journaling the event with my camera (over 600 photos), I could not help but think of the women in my life who are breast cancer survivors.  My mom is a survivor, my next door neighbor is a survivor, and this wonderful woman below is a survivor. 

This woman below is a co-worker of mine, not only is she a survivor, but she is also an inspiration.  We have followed, supported and prayed with Gloria over this past year as she has gone through surgery, chemo and now radiation therapy. 

When I looked at this photo for the first time, I wondered what she was thinking.  I mean, here she was, amidst 15,000 people, but she was all alone with only her thoughts.  There is no way I can imagine what is going through her mind, but I will say this…

Gloria is my Sweet Shot Tuesday for this week.  A sweet shot, of one sweet and amazing woman!

Make sure you head over to Life with 3 Boybarians and check out the other sweet shots this week, and check out all the other entries!

Oh yeah, make sure you check out who won last weeks contest! Whoo Hoo!!!

Yours truly after the walk! 

See, real men can wear pink also!

 

 

 

 

Sweet Shot Tuesday, She’s Back

Yeah, Sweet Shot Tuesday is back, and I’m glad! ☺

Darcy took a month off to work on her 31 Days To A Better Photo project.  If you missed it, then you missed a wonderful opportunity to learn, share, and just have some fun with your camera.  Just click here, and you can find all 31 days in a nice little package!

For me, any day on the river, waiting for sunrise is a Sweet Shot!  This one was taken a few Saturdays ago on the Cumberland River in Nashville, and it is one of my favorites.  It still blows my mind that a mere 6 months ago, you could not even see the tops of the trees in the background because of the flood!

Anyway, Darcy, I’m glad you are back, and hope you have recovered from 31 Days!

Scary Sweet Sugar Free Pumpkin Cheesecake

 

Ingredients
Crust

1 cup ginger snaps1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1/3 cup light butter, melted

 

Filling

3 (8 ounce) packages fat free cream cheese

2 (8 ounce) packages reduced fat cream cheese

1 1/2 cups SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 pinch ground cloves

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

1/4 cup fat free half-and-half

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

 

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch spring form pan with baking spray. Set aside.
Mix crust ingredients together and firmly press onto bottom of prepared spring form pan. Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned and firm. Cool.

Blend together cream cheese, SPLENDA® Granulated Sweetener, flour and spices on medium speed in an electric mixer until cream cheese is smooth and lump free. Scrape sides of bowl. Add pumpkin. Mix on medium speed until well blended. Scrape sides of bowl and mix until mixture is smooth and lump-free.

Turn mixer on low and slowly add half-and-half, eggs and vanilla. Blend until well mixed.

Pour over prepared crust. Bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven 50-60 minutes or until center is slightly firm. Remove from oven and cool.

Nashville Photography Meet-up Group – Picnic In The Park

      

Saunders Ferry Park 10/16/10

    

Another weekend chasing the sun

No words this week, just photos! 

The skyline and moon shots are from the riverfront at 4:30 a.m. 

I had been watching our moon all week, just hoping things would line up, and they did! I think I like moon flare even better than sun flare. :~)

 

 

These other shots were made at a local park, just as the sun rose. 

So yes, I did get a few sunrise shots as well!