one step closer to fame

my ellie was asked to be on live television! the austin humane society sent me an email asking if ellie and i would do an interview on television for their 2004 telethon. when i adopted ellie, she was among some of the very favorites at the shelter, and i'm excited that she might get to go back and help out the others that are still, unfortunately, in the shelter. here is a press release for the event:

The Austin Humane Society’s (AHS) 7th Annual Telethon will be broadcast live on K-EYE TV, CBS 42 on August 28th and 29th, 2004 from 10am-2pm. Telethon 2004 will bring in animal lovers throughout the Austin and Central Texas community. This AHS Telethon will be hosted by K-EYE TV news personalities including Austin’s favorite news anchors, Judy Maggio and Fred Cantu. Cheryl Black, Executive Director and Steve Keys, Board President of the Austin Humane Society will help highlight the many services and programs provided by the AHS, which help to make our community a better place for people and pets. The Austin Humane Society 7th Annual Telethon is a non-profit fundraising event that benefits the dogs and cats of the Austin Humane Society. Join in on the fun by being a Telethon Sponsor, a call-in donor, an in-kind donor or a volunteer for this annual event.

if you are an animal lover, consider calling in and making a donation. this is a great organization that can always use some help.

race for the trail

for those of you who have ever lived in or around austin for a decent amount of time, you are probably familiar with the town lake hike and bike trail - one of the most natural, fitness-friendly in an urban area anywhere in the united states. anyhow, runners and friends of the trail formed the town lake trail foundation, and they are committed to expanding, improving, beautifying and maintaining this scenic network of hike and bike trails.

so, why am i going on and on about the trail. because....i have just signed up to be a "race for the trail" runner. this is a program that combines my love for the town lake trail with my desire to compete in local races....and turns my race miles into cash for the trail! what this means is that from march 2004 and february 2005, i will be participating in various local races to garner miles as a "race for the trail runner." then (though i hate asking people for money), i will be seeking out donors to sponsor me per mile. the good thing is, you can sponsor me for as little as $0.25/mile! so, for those with a tiny income like me, sponsorship is do-able. if you are interested in sponsoring me, go to this website:
http://www.racingforthetrail.org/donor.asp
or, if you are a local - consider signing up to become a "race for the trail runner." this really is a wonderful cause, and the trail is one of my favorite spots (if not my favorite) in austin.

more trees less bush

really people. you would think bush would lay off the environment a bit with the presidential election right around the corner. but...just last month, the bush administration decided to do away with the "roadless rule," (implemented in clinton's last months) that basically served to preserve the last remaining untouched wilderness in the american national forest system. it protected this land from mining, drilling, and development. it also preserved the wildlife and vital watersheds. unfortunately, this progressive initiative has been on bush's hitlist from the time he took office. obviously, the timber industry and governors from timber-producing states did not like this rule, and have been throwing law suits left and right, applying pressure to bush's administration. thus....bye bye beautiful wilderness. please exercise your right to vote on november 2.

38 best foods for runners

According to runner's world, here are 38 foods that should be added to any runner's grocery list:
GRAINS
1) oatmeal
2) dark bread
3) quinoa
4) buckwheat pasta
5) whole wheat pasta
FISH
6) shrimp (don't worry about the cholesterol - it comes from plants)
7) crab
8) salmon (great protein source!)
9) mackerel
10) sardines
11) cod (great for people who don't typically like fish)
12) tuna
FRUITS AND VEGGIES
13) bananas
14) oranges
15) strawberries
16) cantaloupe (great for a post run snack!)
17) fruit kabob
18) beans (pinto, lentil, garbonzo, split pea)
19) baby carrots
20) broccoli
21) asparagus
22) lettuce (the darker the better)
23) sweet potato
DAIRY
24) skim milk
25) low-fat yogurt
26) low-fat cheese (provolone, mozarella, feta)
27) milk-based soups
MEAT/POULTRY
28) lean roast beef (the darker the meat, the more nutrients)
29) top-ground beef
30) chicken
31) lamb (be sure to trim the fat!)
PROTEIN ALTERNATIVES
32) soymilk
33) tofu
34) nuts
35) peanut butter
SNACKS
36) rice cakes
37) baked potato chips
38) dark chocolate
As always, making small, specific dietary changes will be must more sustainable than large radical changes. Be sure to get 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and try to go for a mix of colors!