We Did It

I will definitely be writing a thorough post about the marathon...running with the LVs, my students, the weekend...everything. I thought this could wet your whistle until you get the rest.

If you would like to see pictures the LVs took over the weekend, check out this website:

http://www.lasallianvolunteers.org/marathon/default.asp

Yep We're Famous

Check out this website:

http://www.broadstreetrun.com/site3.aspx

If you watch the scrolling slideshow on the front page for about 20 seconds you might see someone you know with a group of students in blue shirts....yeah that's right. Go ahead and check it out.

Also, I will write soon about how this weekend went with the marathon. I am still trying to catch up on everything I have been avoiding. Don't worry it will be coming.

Quote

It is no wonder that just the touch of another human being at a dark time can be enough to save the day.

- Frederick Buechner,
Beyond Words

You've Got To Be Kidding Me

http://www.secureourdream.com/

It's for real...check it out. I laughed. Laughed again. Then wondered how much money he is making. This is America right. Anything is possible.

We Are Almost There

You can help us reach our goal...

Thoughts from Archbishop Oscar Romero

Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution
of all to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity.
It is right and it is duty.

- Archbishop Oscar Romero

Free Photo Books from Oprah and Snapfish

This is a for real deal from snapfish and oprah....just click on the link below...I think the only trick is you have to redeem the coupon by tonight at 11:59pm pacific time (Although I just read on the website that they extended it to NOvember 22nd but I would redeem the coupon right away so you can guarentee you get one)....and then create the book by sunday....either way it is well worth it....so if you don't have time to make the book right now at least login and redeem the coupon and finish the book by sunday.....

Here is the link and the details...


http://www2.snapfish.com/info18

This offer is only good for one standard 20-page 8" x 11" custom cover photo book per household. Coupon dispersal ends on Friday, November 14, 2008 at 11:59pm PST. Free photo book must be redeemed by Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 11:59pm PST. Offer does not include customary shipping & handling charges or additional pages. Offer applies only to US customer accounts and mail-order delivery to U.S. customers. Offer cannot be combined with other coupon codes. Coupon cannot be resold or otherwise transferred, and is void on the earlier of redemption or the offer end date.

Wordle is just so fun

I can't get enough...here is one more and the link again

http://www.wordle.net/create

There's Still Time

If you haven't yet donated, there's still time. We are 8 days from the Marathon and I am so excited...for many reasons: to see these kids finish, to finish myself, to be done for a while (I need a break...badly), and to experience the excitement and energy of marathon day. There isn't quite anything like it in the world. If you would still like to donate and haven't yet, please visit our website to donate online. Here is the link:

http://www.lasallianvolunteers.org/marathon/donate.asp

Just enter my name in the donation box so the donation is in honor of me.

Wordle - Check It Out - You will be happy you did

If you haven't already heard of it, check out http://www.wordle.net/

It is one of the coolest websites I have stumbled over in a long time. Be warned once you start you might not be able to stop. Ellen you will absolutely love this.

Just type in some text or insert the link to a website or blog. It takes the words, especially those which appear most often, and makes a neat word assortment with them. You can change the layout, color and font to look how you want it to. Here is a small example of one I did....start exploring and enjoy!!!

Go Vote

Students, Running, and Volunteering....Oh My

As you may or may not know, I am running my 4th marathon, the Philadelphia Marathon (26.2 miles), on November 23, 2008. This marathon is very special to me for a few reasons. I am going to give you the short version here. The rest is detailed in the link below. Before you go to much farther...yes this is a fundraising post, but remember $5 goes a long way.

This marathon is different because I am running it not only to raise support for my volunteer program, the Lasallian Volunteers, but I am also running it with 7 students from my the high school I volunteer at in Philadelphia through a program called Students Run Philly Style. It has been a long adventure training with these students for this race. I started our team way back in March with about 30 students teaching them on how to run and for most of them completing their first mile ever with them. We ran a few 5ks (3.1 miles), the Broad Street Run (10 miles) in May and most recently the ING Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in September. It has been an exciting adventure, and I can't wait to line up on Marathon day with them at the starting line. Obviously training for a marathon takes a lot of commitment, so we had many students dropped out along the way. These final 7 students who committed to a long training and race season are very inspiring teenagers who give me hope for the many students growing up in cities with few resources and even less support. It has truly been a life changing experience running with these students and learning with them each day. I joke that I spend more time with them than my family, community or friends and it is actually probably true. I would like to think I am having an influence in their lives, but truth be told they are probably influencing me more than I realize.

The longer version about running with these students, my volunteer experience, why I am raising money for the Lasallian Volunteers, and how you can support me can be found here:

http://lasallianvolunteersrun.googlepages.com/mari%27sfundraisingpage

I decided to create a website with all the information about this fundraising effort so you wouldn't be flooded with information in one blog (not sure I actually reduced the amount of information). Please take some time to check out the website and determine if you are able donate to our cause (you can donate either online or through the mail). I know the economy is bad and we are all stressed out about our retirement accounts (well not me....I don't really have one to speak of), so if you aren't able to donate at this time, send me a hello or let me know what you are up to. I always love hearing from folks.

If you would like to skip all the information and just donate (please by all means I won't stop you), you can donate online here:

http://www.lasallianvolunteers.org/marathon/main.asp

Thanks for reading and let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

Love

Mari

Mari Anzicek
Lasallian Volunteer - Philadelphia

Phillies World Series Parade

Thais, Michael and I went to the Phillies World Series Parade on Firday. Thais was lucky enough to have school canceled for the day, but alas we were not. Our school did compromise and we basically had a half day. I got out of school at 11am and Thais met Michael and I at West Catholic and we headed downtown to City Hall.

The subway was packed like I have never seen it in Philly. We basically had to throw ourselves in the door and hang on to the people in front of us hoping that our back sides weren't sticking out in the door. Somehow we made it on and headed downtown. We got off and City Hall and muscled our way to a spot at City Hall.

The parade itself was lame. I am not going to lie. It felt like it lasted all of 10-15 minutes and the players weren't doing anything spectacular. Thais said it would have been better if they were throwing t-shirts or something like that. I mean the Philly Phanatic was probably the best part and he is just the mascot. While the parade was kind of lame, it was totally worth it to be downtown and experience the energy and excitement of everyone. They originally predicted about 1 million people would come down and it turned into more like 3 million.

Philly was obviously very proud of this win. If you know anything about the curse of Billy Penn, you will know what a big day this was for the city. Below you will find some pictures or our adventure around the city....and yes they were giving out huge free pretzels. When in Philly....well eat a free Pretzel.

If you look closely at the parade pictures, you will be able to see the World Series Trophy....nice stuff.