Fostering and Fundraising

Tiff and I have fostered a few dogs now and we were just talking about it with a good friend that stopped by last night. He asked if we had any fosters coming up? We live downtown now and our lack of a yard coupled with busy streets and sidewalks made our last effort far more challenging than previous fosters. Don't get me wrong, our foster was a sweetheart, it was just a lot to manage.

Thus we have decided to pour our efforts into helping organizations that can help. Tiff has even lobbied at the capitol for legislation to help protect dogs and cats. I have opted to try fundraising for PAWS to give back. While I don't have the yard to help get a dog to his/her forever home, I can try and help a group that can. I can also run a really long time.

Thus I am doing what I have spoken so often about, Running for PAWS. I have joined Team PAWS New York City Marathon team and am also running the Denver Rock 'n' Roll marathon this fall. Running a marathon is an accomplishment, but trying two is a bit crazy. None the less, I am excited to give it a try for a good cause.

I am still looking to close the gap on my modified fundraising goal and the original. The amount needed is significant, but anything helps. A friend I worked with 3 years ago just donated $5 and that was wonderful! I have also had great people all over the country sharing my posts to get higher visibility. Also wonderful. I am no great fundraiser, although I humbly can claim $1,565 for the no kill shelter. All the help has been remarkable. If you can please drop a couple bucks or let me know if you work for a company that would be interested in a donation (I have forms). Aside from my Team PAWS singlet, I am offering company sponsorship in both races. It's not about me, really.

Here's the link and I am happy to answer any questions!
http://teampaws.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1052581&lis=1&kntae1052581=E8A44FBEC339431094A2863563EF4D0D&supId=296965664

14 & 28 Days

It's 14 days till the Denver Rock n Roll Marathon and 28 days till the New York Marathon. I am nuts but pretty excited for being so crazy.

S-M-R-T... Smart!

I've been doing my best as of late to offer insights to why I am running for PAWS and what PAWS does to help keep the donation ball rolling. Today, I am just going to lay it out as plain smart. Estes here  has offered to help with a visual aid, although I suspect my with had more to do with this picture than Estes did. None the less, I offer you a shameless plea to doing something smart like donating to a good cause like PAWS. Having fostered a few rescues now, the tremendous difference in effort required in taking in an animal in need and donating to an organization that will is immense! I am all for helping out (to the tune of 2 marathons in 2 weeks), I appreciate that I can offer financial help and do as much good! Plus I don't have to clean up accidents all over my house when I do that.

Smart, isn't it?

http://teampaws.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1052581&lis=1&kntae1052581=E8A44FBEC339431094A2863563EF4D0D&supId=296965664

Coffee With a Friend

I know there are a few things I just love in this world. The feelings have never wavered. I love a stormy day, the kind where it gets so dark street lights come on in the middle of the day. I love an underdog win. I also love coffee with someone I care about. Some of my friendships have been forged this way. A cup of coffee at just the right time. I am a friend for life. My shortened list may not sound that exciting to most people but I do bring it up for a reason and it is not that I believe I am in anyway that interesting. I bring it up because there are times when I need to know a few go to "loves" to pull me through a tough patch. Perhaps it's an hour of uncertainty, perhaps its a week of turmoil. What ever it is, just remembering how those loves change my perspective and feelings helps.

If you are having a tough one, I hope you can think of a can not fail happy to help pull you through. They don't fix me, but they sure as hell give me reason to believe this too shall pass.

Tried Some Stuff

In reflecting on this fund raising effort, I am slightly amused at some of the stunts I have tried. Most of which only succeeded in making me more comfortable talking to people about raising money for PAWS. Mind you, running and fundraising in Colorado for an organization in Chicago to run a race in New York City was not my easiest of paths, but it seems to have worked out well. All of my generous donors love the cause and don't seem to mind where the dogs and cats are being saved, just that they are.

I have attained my personal goal for running my two marathons for this fall, but am still hoping to raise a bit more. Every donation helps and goes 100% to PAWS. I  get to run and that is my sole reward for this effort. No t-shirt, cooler, or otherwise odd gift used to bait fundraisers. Personally, I would rather just see that extra money go to the cause.

I am on the look out for anyone that works for an organization that might be interested in a donation. My amazing friends and family have given beyond my wildest hopes, but I would like to see if a company with deeper resources may be interested in helping this runner. Let me know, I have tons of info I can send out

http://teampaws.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1052581&lis=1&kntae1052581=E8A44FBEC339431094A2863563EF4D0D&supId=296965664

24 at a time

There are days where up is down and left is right. Today is one of those days already. I am reminded that countless hours wasted to try and think my way out of these spots has never worked and to stay in the moment. I ask simply to have the fear that drives the chaos engine in my brain to be quieted and focus on doing what is before me. I try and stay mindful of being helpful as an ass-backward approach (that works) to getting out of my own funk. Today focusing on what is in front of me is my best approach and yes that included drinking my OJ. For what it's worth, I am grateful.

Stupid, stupid government

I am doing my best to avoid checking the news or worse, Facebook today. The events in Washington are tough to stomach, regardless of sides. What pisses me off is the reality that there are thousands of hard working folks that are not being paid to work today. That is just not right and it frustrates me when people get caught in the crossfire. I am not attempting to launch into the politics of our government's shut down today, that is just not a subject I want to attempt. When I read that services like prison guards, boarder patrol, and air traffic control are required to work today without pay, it caused a considerable irritation. I find myself more often than not just seeing a disconnect between our leaders and the people. It's a raging need to be right at all costs. It's school yard and it's embarrassing. I hope a resolution is found, but why it had to come to this is nothing shy of stupid.

Ok, I'm done.