What to do… What to do…

When you’re not going to eat out on your lunch break and have no errands to run…

You blog.

So far, the response for the Icon event has been AMAZING. You all are the greatest… and it’s looking like we’re going to have quite the crowd… I didn’t think that overflow parking was going to be an issue… WELL… You all may prove me wrong. What can I say? This is the first event of this magnitude that I have helped plan… You should still show up… There will be valet parking… so you won’t have to worry about silly things like that. Don’t know what the heck I am talking about? Go to www.elliesrun.org/icon. You are soooo invited.

Hmm… what else? I have abandoned my plans for the half-marathon this year. I know. I know… I am bad. I only really wanted to do it because my roommate wanted to run it for the first time. (This would have been my fourth… one of which I just ran this past October.) She decided to not run it in exchange for helping someone do something really awesome (GO READ ABOUT IT)… and honestly, I feel like I haven’t stopped running or training or hurting (my knees) for the better part of 10 months… All that to say – I am not doing it. BUT… I would like to run a full this winter AND I have a new passion for kickboxing… so, all isn’t completely lost.

I am in a little bit of a lull at work. I am busy… I am just waiting on several people to hand over/ hand back projects that I have started. This has re-affirmed 3 things… 1) I HATE BEING BORED 2) I think that there truly is an end to the internet and 3) I do MUCH MUCH MUCH better when I feel like I have too many things on my plate. Good thing I have Africa at the Icon to keep me busy at this very moment.

Speaking of Africa At The Icon (yes… my blogs for the next two weeks will probably mention this… oh, at least 400 times…) Our Nashville community has REALLY stepped up. REALLY. Like… REALLY REALLY. The Icon… people at Lipman, Tall Horse, Sambuca, the people at myEmma… tons and tons and tons of people and services giving their time and resources to help us with this event… to help us spend hardly a penny so that the kids in Africa can have all the money… so that they can have uniforms and books and shoes and food… and so that they can start building A NEW SCHOOL. Yes… a trade school… where they can learn a vocation. This is SO important… for TONS of reasons, really… Here’s the thing. A basic education is a wonderful, wonderful (apparently I like repeating words today… work with me) start. It gives kids a knowledge base that they can then build upon… for years to come. A TRADE school allows them to learn a vocation that will let them make money to support their families and give back to their community. Most of us have NO idea how amazing and special and exciting this is to these African families. We go from kindergarten to high school without blinking… and then most of us don’t even have a choice about going to college or a trade school… it’s more about WHERE than IF. These families have really never even had the option… until now.

I am humbled by being a part of this. It has shown me how easy I’ve had it… how blessed I am. You can learn more at Ellie’s Run online. If you want to get involved, e-mail me at rmatheis@elliesrun.org. I PROMISE you won’t regret it! I am so thankful for everyone involved… I am so proud of our community… and yes, I still have more to say and will keep talking about it. It’s MY blog. So there.

Hmm… What else? This is completely random… but lately I have traded my coffee for Diet Coke with Lime. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me… Must be prepping for summer.

Have a fabulous Wednesday… and mark your calendars for March 19. You have plans. PLUS… that’s my birthday week… and you wouldn’t want to let me down, right?