Shameless plea

I'm sorry my posts have been a little sporadic. Hubby and I are gearing up for our vacay to Myrtle Beach, so we've been trying to get things done at home and at work!

I just signed up to walk in the American Heart Association's Heart Walk here in Cleveland. I have decided that I want to try to spend more time volunteering. I feel like I don't do enough with the National Marfan Foundation and other organizations and I want to try to do more. Soooooo, I'm lacing up my walking shoes and am participating in the three-mile walk with several friends from work.

All that said, I am making a shameless plea for donations. The money we raise will help fund research and development for treatments for heart attacks, strokes and other conditions INCLUDING Marfan Syndrome. The money will help further research into mechanical hearts, artifical heart valves, grafts and everything.

With everything I went through with my surgery and with the possibility that I can always have to have more, I want to help in any way I can.

If you would like to make a donation please visit my heart walk homepage here.

Musical motivation

I am probably one of the least athletic people you will probably ever meet. I've never worked out, save for my stint on the high school pom squad. Despite the fact that I'm only 140 lbs. at 6'2" tall, you can definitely identify my slacker-ness due to my serious lack of toning.

On doctor's orders, however, I have been attending cardiac rehab. I am the youngest one in my class by about thirty years, but I LOVE it. I only go three days a week, but I find myself craving the workout on my days off. I spend an hour those mornings cycling, walking on the treadmill and lifting weights. (Don't be too impressed, the weights are only 2-3 lbs.)

The only terrible part is the music. I simply cannot stay motivated listening to Johnny Cash or The Four Seasons. The rehab office has their own mix of CDs, but they are definitely not intended for listeners of my generation. (The funniest part, however, is when the Beastie Boys' "Brass Monkey" comes on. Most of my fellow rehabbers look a little confused and startled.)

I have persuaded Clare to make me a kicking-cardiac-rehab's-butt mix, so I can't wait until my workouts are infused with better tunes! I'm voting for the "Don't Phunk with my Heart" by the Black Eyed Peas. I think that would be a fitting tribute to my ordeal!

Any other suggestions?