Boston Marathon

Crazy.

Insane.

Wrong.

Unimaginable.

Impossible to understand.
Overwhelming.

These are but a few of the many emotions running through my head today as I read about the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

I can't imagine qualifying for Boston and having something like this happen to ruin the experience. I can't imagine watching someone run the dream of their lives only to have it end in horror.

Crossing the finish line and having your legs blown off and your life forever changed?

Cheering on a friend or family member and dying watching? Or being critically injured?

Being further back in the pack and not getting a chance to cross -- understanding why not, but still a loss to a dream?

Crossing the finish line earlier and wondering "what if?"

When you talk about running Boston it will always be "the year the bombs went off" and not "the year I finally qualified."

Knowing someone involved and wondering where they were when the bombs exploded. Are they safe?

Is this the end, or will they find more bombs tonight?

Why do the crazies have to ruin life for the rest of us?

In honor of the runners, I decided today to sign up for this Sunday's Rutgers 8K run. Even though I have friends running it, and it is at my alma mater, I was not even on the fence about it. I was not planning on doing it at all. Now I want to be part of the running community so we can stand together and show we are stronger than the bad guys.

Someone suggested on the PBRC board that tomorrow (Tuesday) we all wear shirts from past races (or from Boston) to show the world just how many runners exist. I will probably never qualify for Boston, but tonight I am proud to call myself a runner. 

Update from April 16: wearing my Disneyland Half Marathon shirt and Sparkle Skirt as I ran 4 miles in the area. Will change into a clean and dry running shirt to wear the rest of the day. Good is always stronger than evil. 

Update from April 17: http://runningatdisney.com/2013/04/16/running-for-boston/ is a great source for reading about the feelings of the running community as we each process what happened in Boston. It is a compilation of different blogs, including The Pillsbury Press. It includes pictures of people running for Boston.

Bag it! and other eco-friendly thoughts

This weekend was saw "Bag it" a 2010 movie where one man decides he's had enough with single-use plastic bags. 

A couple of months ago we saw "The Clean Bin Project" where an ordinary couple hold a contest to see which one of them can create the least amount of trash.

A few years ago I read "Not buying it: my year without shopping" about a couple who decided enough was enough and they were not going to buy more.

Detecting a theme, yet?

It is no surprise we consume too much in this country. If we want our children to be able to enjoy the planet, we each need to do our part to cut back.

In a 5-minute encounter with Jane Goodall I was convinced we all have the power to make changes to improve the planet. We won't all become household names, like Dr. Goodall, but we can call help save the planet.

What does saving the planet look like? It looks different for everyone, but for me I'll start with:

• Not collecting more single-use bags (except for Halo bags, because we use them as trash bags)
• Buying used plates to use at picnics rather than using paper plates
• Cooking at least one meatless meal a week, and increasing that goal

It is easier to achieve a few small goals than many large ones.

Let's all work together to leave the planet a better place for the next generation.

Main Street, part 2

After an intense month of studying Main Streets, and interviewing unsuccessfully for the position of Executive Director of Lawrenceville Main Street, I've gathered some thoughts as to what I would need to have within a mile of my home to live car-light.

• Library -- we go nearly everyday to our local branch
• Church
• Small grocery store -- something with more than junk food in it so I can pick up a few items
• Ice cream shop
• Card shop with small gifts
• Schools -- growing up in Paramus I didn't realize the luxury of walking to the middle and high school, especially with after school activities
• Park -- for Ashley to play in, for running, cycling
• Entertainment -- community theater, art gallery
• Locally owned restaurants that are reasonably priced

The ideal probably does not exist. Princeton is pretty close to perfect -- the high taxes, though, dampen its perfection.

Newtown, PA also has a lot to offer, but the high school is not near any homes.

Wish Media, PA had the high school closer to the middle school as their Main Street has a nice combination of businesses and services.

Of course as a Disney fan, the term "Main Street" makes me think of Disneyland. Main Street, USA has a town hall, opera house, bakery, restaurants, shops, mailboxes, and Ragtime Robert at Coke Corner. No schools, though, which probably adds to its feeling of perfection in the eyes of children.

Jane Goodall

On Monday, January 16, 2012 (Martin Luther King's Day) Ashley had a dream come true -- she met Jane Goodall in person.

Dr. Goodall autographed Ashley's well-worn copy of her biography, "My life with chimpanzees."


In January 2011, Don and Ashley saw the movie, "Jane's Journey," at Princeton Public Library's Princeton Environmental Film Festival. The movie was about Jane Goodall's life and her mission to improve the environment. Ashley was enthralled by the film. She wants to start a Roots and Shoots program so she and her friends can help the environment (let me know if your kids are interested in forming a club). She is very passionate about the environment.

To her, meeting Jane Goodall would be like many other 9-year olds meeting Justin Bieber. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Last week Don read in a Princeton Patch blog as part of a lecture series, Jane Goodall was going to speak at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. We ordered three nosebleed seats -- in the very last row of the theater. Ashley's seat was dead center last row of the balcony, which in this theater meant she had stairs directly in front of her and no people blocking her view.

We arrived 45 minutes early (uncharacteristic for us). As we walked in the lobby we saw the official photographer, or rather I noticed his large Canon camera. He in turn eyed up my Panasonic, which looked even more impressive with the diffuser on it. He uses a similar Panasonic for fun. We get to chatting. He tells us he just met Jane Goodall -- he didn't even know who she was until he got the job a few days earlier. He was in awe of her. Ashley was holding her Jane Goodall book, which she was rereading in the car. He was impressed she had read her book. I told him it would be Ashley's dream to meet Jane Goodall. After a few minutes, he has to return to work taking more pictures. As the house wasn't yet open, we mingle in the lobby chatting with volunteers from Roots and Shoots. The photographer pops out of the door closest to us (again, dumb luck) and says "PSST." I take the hint, thank the volunteers, grab Don and Ashley and take them to the door. He quickly ushers us to the green room for a couple of minutes alone with Jane Goodall.

It was amazing. We were all so starstruck I'm amazed Don could work the camera well enough to take any pictures (for once we only had one camera with us). She was genteel, dainty, charming and so sweet. She signed Ashley's well-read copy of her book. 

For once our chatty daughter was silent. There were giant stars in her eyes. She could barely answer the simplest question, such as how old are you. I prompted her to take off her jacket to show Dr. Goodall her t-shirt, which read "Everyday is Earth Day," and chosen specifically for the lecture. Jane (how do you properly address such a legend when you, too, are starstruck?) told Ashley about Roots and Shoots. I said she wants to join, but there are no clubs in our area. To which Jane Goodall practically called me a slacker for not starting our own club. I can take a hint.

Fortunately (at our prompting) Ashley had written a list of questions to ask Jane Goodall (we anticipated a question and answer session, not a private meeting). We left the questions with her assistant. He said she would answer a couple of them on stage.

The moment was over as quickly as it started. By now the house was open so we were ushered outside to go back inside.

The lecture itself was fascinating. Jane Goodall greeted us in chimpanzee language. She spoke about her entire life from when she was a year or two and she brought worms into her bed. Her mother calmly said "now, Jane, those worms will not live if they stay in your bed. Help me take them outside." What a wonderful lesson in parenting! She spoke for about 45 minutes. She works 300 days a year. It sounds like her off days are spent writing books.
Jane Goodall's current mission is to encourage today's youth to work with her to rebuild the environment. "If humans are the most intelligent beings on earth, why is it that we are destroying our only home?” she said a couple of times. She is 79 years old and wants to improve the planet for her great grandchildren (she has a son and a grandson). She spoke of Roots and Shoots programs that are fixing streams in parts of the world.  Nature can heal itself, but we need to stop making it worse.

After speaking, she answered questions. Ashley's question was introduced by "this question is from Ashley, the girl you met before the program. Did you have any pets growing up?" Jane's answer, "oh yes, I had guinea pigs, hamsters, tortoise, and always cats." 

As we were leaving the line for her autograph was out of the theater. I would have gladly waited in it to give Ashley the chance to meet her idol, but was grateful we had the private audience beforehand.

Follow your dreams, everyone. 

We can all improve the environment. 

Occupy Wall Street Marches through Lawrenceville

Through writing and photographing for the Lawrenceville Patch I have met a lot of new people and have had some different experiences. I've learned to say "YES!" when asked if I could cover a story and worry about the details later. So when my editor was on vacation and his supervisor asked me if I could take a couple of pictures of the Occupy Wall Street movement as they marched through Lawrenceville on their way to Washington, DC I jumped at the opportunity.


http://lawrenceville.patch.com/articles/occupy-wall-street-marches-through-lawrenceville


Rather than waiting for the group to find me in Lawrenceville, I asked Don to drop me off en route in Princeton. I walked with them for two and a half hours, covering a distance of about 10 miles. For the most part the group moved. I asked them to stop by the Welcome to Lawrenceville sign so I could get a good picture for the Lawrenceville Patch. They welcomed the stop.


It was at this point -- after walking on pitch black semi-highway with a tiny shoulder in Princeton -- that we gained a police escort. It was also at this point that the group decided to walk across the Route 206 to discuss whether or not to continue to Trenton. Someone shouts MIKE CHECK, everyone echoes MIKE CHECK. Then everything the speaker says is echoed. Yes, it is enough to give one a headache. As I see it:

PROS for going to Trenton:

• Someone from Occupy Trenton moved their bags to Trenton
• Occupy Trenton has hot food and a place for them to sleep
• Occupy Trenton is excited about them coming and has set up a media event for them (Revolutionary War re-enactors to march with them for photo ops)

CONS for going to Trenton:

• They don't have to go just because someone has done all of this for them
• Their feet hurt and they were tired

Granted, the day's schedule called for a 29 mile march (or was it originally 23 and grew to 30?). Original plans (and those posted on their website) called for walking on Route 1. It was changed because someone told them it was illegal to walk on Route 1, or was it changed because Route 27 to Route 206 passed through Rutgers University, Princeton University and Rider University where they might gain some students to join the march. (Several Rutgers students walked for the day, or until their feet gave out. No one from Princeton joined. They didn't pass Rider until 10 or 10:30.) 

Website describing their plans:
http://occupywallst.org/article/occupy-highway-99-march-washington/

The Google Docs directions calling for them to march down Route 1:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B2T_A5nCMcMnZTQ2ZGNmYTMtYWFlNy00MDc2LTk5YzItYjY5YzgxMmYwMzc0&hl=en_US&pli=1

They decide to contiue to Trenton.

This was only day 3 of a 14-day march.

Each time they stop for a MIKE CHECK adds to the time it takes to finish that day's marching.

Along for the march is Liz Flock, a blogger with the Washington Post. I actually joined Twitter (JacPillsbury) so I could follow her journey. The next day she twittered that they group spent an hour discussing which route to take that day. They also debated whether or not the faster walkers could split off from the slower ones. Makes me wonder is their goal just to get to Washington, DC by November 23 (when a vote in Congress is set to take place) or is the goal to show a cohesive front. If they just want to get there -- take a bus or drive. If they want a cohesive group, then stick together.
I left them in Lawrenceville after taking a few more pictures of them on Main Street, just after they started arguing with Lawrenceville Prep students and "Occupied' a restaurant that was kind enough to allow the marchers to use their bathroom. Yes, indoor plumbing would slow me down from doing a 2 week march, as well as lack of other ammeneties. 


There are 21 people committed to marching from NYC to DC. The group changes in size as people join the march for anywhere from a few blocks to a few days. Many of the people marching have jobs -- especially those marching for shorter distances. They are peaceful. I found them very welcoming.

I also found them lacking sanity. One marcher told me "I bet this is the most exciting thing to happen to Lawrenceville." Um, really. 40 people walking through town unannounced, under the cloak of darkness is the most "exciting" thing to happen to my town. I'll admit, I couldn't think of anything more exciting (we live in a town where front page news lately has been whether or not to keep the stripes on Bergen Street), but I doubt this registered on anyone's radar.

I also found them tired. Picture how you feel after going non-stop for a few days -- no access to indoor plumbing, meals, or a comfortable spot to sleep. Of course they were cranky. Unfortunately this was only day 3 of a 14 day self-inflicted march.

I wish after 2 1/2 hours I could say I gained an appreciation, or even an understanding about their cause. They seem to be doing this because they can. No real thought or organization is in place. They do not seem appreciative of people helping them (if they did, why debate about continuing to Trenton where people are waiting for you). No one is in charge. I spoke with two different people about when to expect they would be in my area. Of course, I had two wildly different answers. I felt like asking: do you want press coverage or not? They are practicing "horizontal leadership," which takes a long time even with only 40 people in the group.

One person (according to Jason, they are not protestors) told me Occupy Wall Street sprang up as a result of seeing people in Egypt organize themselves for change, so people in NYC thought they could do the same. The big difference is the Egyptians had a goal (oust the president) and those in NYC want "change."

Yesterday my sister, Rebecca, wrote a blog about Occupy Wall Street:
http://ramblingrebka.blogspot.com/2011/11/can-ows-change-anything.html Sounds like they developed a mission statement yesterday. Unfortunately my eyes glazed over reading it.

Yes, change is needed. Yes, this group is making us talk about it. I just don't get it.

National Zoo

On our way home from Virginia we detoured to visit the panda bears at the National Zoo. We love the National Zoo! First of all, it is free, which is always nice. The layout of the park was designed by Olmsted making it extremely visually appealing.

The zoo is trying to keep up with the times. They are currently installing an elephant walk so the elephants can roam "free" in a "natural" setting rather than being cooped up in a circa 1950s space. It will be worth returning in 2013 when that is finished.

This time, though we did not have a lot of time to visit. We parked on one side of Olmsted Way and walked most of the 8/10 of a mile path to the highlight for Ashley: the panda bears! Mei Xiang and Tian Tian  were inside when we visited. I'm not sure if that was because it was raining out, or for some other reason. The rain kept the crowds down (yeah!) and the indoor viewing meant they were a lot closer to us, so we did not complain. While Tian Tian was cute, he was napping. On the other hand, Mei Xiang was eating and mugging for the cameras, so she was a lot more fun to watch. Well, until she decided to take a nap. Since coming home we have watched them on the Panda Cam: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm

As we did not arrive until after 4, we were pleased to find out the buildings stay open until 6. After leaving the pandas we went to visit the orangutans. The last time we visited the zoo (a few years ago) we were mesmerized by the work being done in the Think Tank: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ThinkTank/ Here scientists and researchers are testing the orangutans' memorization skills. It is fascinating research. Even without the "show," it was still fun watching them play.

The grounds stay open until 8. We still had lots of time to see some other animals. None are as cute (in Ashley's eyes) as the pandas.

Bike Activist

This year my role as cyclist has transformed into activist. It all started innocently enough when I attended the NJ Bike Coalition annual summit in February. Since then I've gotten involved with the township’s bike/pedestrian task force, attended similar committee meetings in neighboring towns to both learn about their actions and to meet compatriots. I also participated in several "touring" rides to witness firsthand the progress being made. In NYC, I rode along the city’s Greenbelt circling Manhattan Island and rode through the Big Apple’s streets on their spiffy new bike lanes. I participated in two different East Coast Greenway rides. The first showcasing the newly completed trail from Lawrence Twp to Trenton (a trail link I now regularly use for commuting home from the train station) and the second discussing the challenges and planned improvements for the route from Trenton to Philadelphia. In September, Kevin Gruenfeld and I participated in Philadelphia’s Naked Bike Ride. In case you are curious, yes, I did wear my helmet.

Amidst all this activism, the number of bike commutes has suffered this year. Late last year I set a personal goal of cycling more of the route and relying less on NJ Transit’s RiverLine rail service. Interestingly enough, between the longer distance and fewer trips, I ended up commuting the same number of miles. The past two years I commuted 3,000 miles with my bicycle. I need to figure out if my primary objective is to ride longer or drive less.