My mega-talented cousin Rob, / Jaden's "Uncle Obski" is blessing Sacramento's 'Light the Night' this October with his gift of music, dance, & aloha spirit. His amazing halau, Makamae Melia O' Polynesia, will be bringing the magic of the Islands through performance to those benefiting from 'Light the Night' -some of whom the Island Paradise may only be a dream out of reach.
If you're in the Sacramento area on Saturday, October 2nd at 630pm, please come by the steps of the state Capitol and join Makamae and the Fortu family in honoring Jaden, the other angels, survivors and their families. Even if you're not near, light a candle anyway. ;)
http://www.makamaemelia.org/home.html
My fundraising page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/honolulu10/gcalderkrk
**JADEN FORTU** Our late nephew Jaden Fortu ended his battle with Acute Lymphocytic Lymphoma (ALL) on August 9, 2007 at @the age of 2, and is now playing peacefully in the company of Our Lord above. Our family continues to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Please join us in raising awareness and showing support to those who continue to battle cancer every day.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Week Ocho.
9 orange-polished toes & 1 nekkid toe saw the doctor. Yep, I went to a sports doc and all is well. While I was in his office, he started to freak me out with stories of his marathoner patients who have black/blue piggies & those with no toenails left. “Nooooooo!” I lightly screamed, with tagalog-movie style dramatics. I found some photos of marathon toenails I thought you might enjoy, hahaahah… For those faint of heart, bypass these links…I’m still trippen that some marathoners opt to pour acid into their toenail beds and permanently remove them and sport shirts that say “Toenails are for Sissies”. Gasp! What have I gotten myself into?
And the grossest link… A TOENAIL NECKLACE. WT**?
Onto cooler things, I ‘enthusiastically jogged’ 11 miles this past Saturday. The most I’ve done in my life. 11 miles is Pier 39 to UC Berkeley-ish. That would have been a better jog because at least I’d know where I was going. I did Heather Farms in Walnut Creek, which was cool because it was flat (the coaches had mercy on us this week). Afterwards I performed my first ICE BATH. This type of torture I’ve learned helps the muscle tears I made during my run heal faster. I’m sitting on the couch wondering if it helped at all because my body is all sorts of pain. My joints and muscles are still begging me to pick up the ukulele and learn songs to PLAY at the marathon runners in lieu of actually running it.
I’m at 13% of my marathon goal, so if you have $5 to donate to Leukemia & Lymphoma society, please visit my donation page:
Thank you again for your continued support and encouragement.
Especially to my Auntie May, my Auntie Monette fr San Diego, & my faveJMuir RN, Luong, my yotchRN Vanessa .. thank you!!!)
“Heart bubbles” to you all.
gem.
(that’s a shot out to the extraordinary dancer bootch, MissYing)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
This song is actually Sunset, Sunrise.
These were taken on the iphone that fits in my spandex, believe it or not! The first one I shot on my “quick 4 mile jog” on Monday night around 7PM. (I can’t believe I’m saying this was my short run), Labor Day. While hoards of people were enjoying the street entertainers in full force along the Piers, celebrating the fact that they had a day off, I was training. Then I went to work that night too. So I was not celebrating Labor Day, but actually laboring.
Stop, bitter Gemma! Anyhoo, it was fun dodging tourists down Fisherman’s Wharf and down Embarcadero. I felt like a Mario in Super Mario Brothers dodging the mushroom guys . I felt stealthy and alive! And ready to straddle a flag at the end!
Then, there’s the second lovely photo. It was taken on my “long run day” at 7AM-Thursday. Same place, this time it was twice as long. 8 consecutive miles. No folks on the Piers to dodge, just freakish folks that were up at the buttcrack of dawn running FOR FUN and smiling and zipping past me. Grrr! This time I felt like I was Mario swimming in the ocean (enter evil music from Level 2 Super Mario Brothers), flapping my arms, almost drowning, lungs begging me to stop.
Ok-so the more I run, I realize I am not a “runner.” Moreso an “enthusiastic jogger” as Miss Cordova schooled me on the term today. But I am convincing myself that I have the heart of a stealthy ostrich! (Kenya='ostrich' in English, or something like that). Maybe not the bod and endurance and speed as a Kenyan, but a heart of one. ?Yes, my heart. My training watch tells me that my ticker is in good marathon-running shape. My lungs, however, beg to differ. My lungs were begging me to choose another cause and hobby, like strumming a ukulele.
Then after the 8 miles, I lie on the floor of my apartment and remember why I am doing this marathon in the first place... I think of Jaden and all those afflicted with blood cancer. Then my breath finds me once again.
I wanted to add that Nanay Julie is sipping her coffee and eating her pan de sal in heaven. The Diwas send their thanks to all those who sent their prayers.
6 weeks down, 10 more left. Thank you to all those who have put their faith in me and this cause: Team 42, Uncle Art, Krissan (she’s getting married next month!), my nursing superstars: Leanne, Linh and Yolanda; Miss Aivy Cordova (she’s doing a ½ marathon also in Dec), my favorite boys Kev & Gem Mateo (http://store.invisiblestripes.com/gems.aspx), and to KJacinto and CSarte (who I am looking forward to meeting someday)… Thank you for continuing to motivate me and thank you from LLS. I appreciate you and your faith in us & this cause! Love / gemma
Monday, September 6, 2010
Friday afternoon. My running shoes are talking to the sweetest of angels. And my 'I.heart.Hawaii' chinellas are chiming in too. They know it's a long road to my marathon, but we can do it. Pinwheels are turning. 98degrees in Sac (think 'heat', not boy-band). Couldn't be more perfect.
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