Good morning, all!
I was watching the news and saw a story about a New Jersey high school that canceled its homecoming dance because of low ticket sales. That one made me stop and think. Low ticket sales? Wow. Back in the day, homecoming was a main event. Of course today, with social media and everybody being connected by technology these are very divergent experiences separated by 50 years.
I started high school as a pretty shy kidâor at least thatâs how I saw it.
Good morning, blog readers.
As we grow up, we watch people and we learn from them. Kids are like clayâmolded by what they see and experience. We pick up good habits and not-so-good ones, and all of itâalong with a little luckâhelps shape who we become.
A Bad Habit Learned Both my parents smoked, and at some point, I decided to sneak a cigarette from one of their packs. I must have been around 12 or 13.
Good morning, everyone!
Itâs the end of a quiet week, and yesterday I finally felt recovered from the marathon weekend. Itâs was a good feeling to reach the afternoon and not need a nap. AlthoughâŚIâll admit I spent most of the morning reading in bed. Sometimes by the time I finish getting ready for the day, Iâm already worn out, so I just stay upstairs and read for a couple of hours and recharge.
Good morning.
Happy Birthday, Mary Ann! đđĽłđ
Looking ahead to next yearâthe Chicago Marathon is set for October 11, 2026. I canât believe Iâm saying this, but Alex has already reached out to ALS United to lock in a spot. Heâs got his sights set on breaking the 4-hour mark, which is a tough goal but absolutely doable.
Nowâs the time to commit! If youâre even thinking about running, send an email to Sarah Brandt at Sarah@alsunitedchicago.
Good morning everyone.
Happy Birthday to my youngest brother, Nick! đđĽłđđž
AndâŚHappy Birthday to Trish Z! đđĽłđđž
Yesterday I was updating my Facebook page with some photos from the marathon. Between the Andyâs Army shirts and me sitting in a wheelchair, it became pretty clear that something had changed with my health. Within an hour, the questions started coming inâpeople asking why I was in a wheelchair.
When I was diagnosed with ALS on August 13, 2024, it hit Cindy and me like a freight train.
Good morning!
Weâre back home, and I feel as mentally and physically exhausted as I did after Alex and Nicoleâs wedding last month. What a weekend! I owe many people thanks for making this yearâs marathon such a huge success.
Lis and Steve drove down from Minocqua to pick up Cindy and me in Crystal Lake and bravely took on Chicago traffic. Theyâre seasoned city driversâyears of experience in D.C. paid off.
Good morning, fans.
Itâs the day after the Chicago Marathon, and thereâs so much to talk aboutâyet I hardly know where to begin.
A year ago, four runners made a commitment to do something meaningful for me after my ALS diagnosis. That was no small challenge. You donât just wake up one day and run a marathonâit takes months of training, early mornings, and sheer willpower.
Yesterday, on a chilly, cloudless morning, this group lined up at the startâready to put an exclamation point on their promise and give us all a day to remember.
Good morning! Itâs race day!
The runners are up and on their way to the starting corrals. Now comes the classic marathon morning routineâhurry up and waitâtrying to calm the nerves, fight off the chill, and make that final bathroom stop at the last possible moment.
I keep thinking about a comment from last nightâs ALS United dinner:
âYou have the opportunity to run where others cannot, so enjoy yourself out there and take in the whole experience.
Good morning, blog readers and marathon participants.
One day until the Chicago Marathon!â¨Fundraising total for Andyâs Army stands at $58,902 â what an incredible achievement for this team.
A big thank-you to our four runners â Nikki, Alex, Meghan, and Michael â for their commitment to run, and another heartfelt thank-you to everyone whoâs donated to ALS United.
How It All Began We were in St. Maarten last December when the kids first came up with the idea of running the Chicago Marathon.
Good morningâitâs Friday and marathon weekend! Whoâs excited for all the runners? I am!! đ¤đ¤
Fundraising total for Andyâs Army stands at $57,342. Nikki crossed the $30k mark yesterday. đĽł
The Moravian Star is back up after a six-month hiatus. These stars can only take so much abuse from Mother Nature. Iâve still got remnants of the last one dangling from the trees like metallic confettiâafter four years, it finally disintegrated, and a few pieces are stuck too high to retrieve.
Good morning, blog readers.
Three days to go until the Chicago Marathon this Sunday! As of this morning, Andyâs Army has raised an incredible $56,422. Nicole is just $635 shy of $30,000âamazing. If youâd like to help her cross that milestone, just click on the hamburger icon (top right) and then tap đď¸Fundraiser. I canât say thank you enough for all this wonderful support.
Yesterday, Mark B. and Fred came over to help hang the Moravian star.
Good morning, world!
I love these mornings when the air is coolâbut not coldâand I can turn on the fireplace. It makes for a cozy spot to sip my hot black coffee and think about life.
The other day Marilyn said how much she enjoys reading the blog and itâs part of her morning ritual, as Iâve heard many tell me. She asked me if I would keep writing. Itâs a question I ask myself often.
Good morning blog readers
Five days until the Chicago Marathon! I suspect a few of our runners are feeling that mix of excitement and nerves⌠I know I amâand Iâm not even running.
Donations for ALS United are still coming in at an incredible pace. Iâve seen posts on Facebook and Instagram popping up everywhereâitâs all working! As of this morning, Andyâs Army has raised $54,567. That number takes my breath away.
Good morning, blog readers.
Iâve been making a real effort to increase my formula feedings latelyâŚIâve just missed too many of them. I simply canât get enough calories eating by mouth. Itâs not that I donât enjoy foodâthough itâs no longer the hedonistic pleasure it once wasâitâs that I rarely feel hungry. Eating has become something I have to do, not something that is triggered by hunger pains.
Iâm hovering around 140 pounds now, which means getting enough calories each day is critical.
Good morning all. One week to the Chicago Marathon!! đââď¸đââď¸
Last Thursday I reached out to my medical team at the ALS clinic to get myself ready for race day. There will be crowds everywhere, and finding a restroom when I need it is going to be a challenge. I have what I call an excitable bladderâand when it signals itâs time to go, the countdown usually starts at â10, 9, 8âŚâ before all systems are go.
Good morning.
A couple of days left of mid-summer weather and then weâll finally cool off for the marathon. Temps are looking good for both runners and spectators. Whew! These 90° days just donât belong in October.
The Andyâs Army shirts have all been claimed. Iâm still waiting for the second run to be completedâitâs going to be close to race day before theyâre ready, but Iâll keep you posted.
Good morning!
Here I am once again, sitting in the quiet solitude of the early morning with the ticking of the clock and the owl conversation outside. Iâm overcome with emotions of thanks and love and salty tears stinging my eyes. Boy those tears really sting.
Yesterday, Andyâs Army blew past the $50k mark in fundraising for the Chicago Marathon. That number stopped me in my tracks. Our four runnersâNikki, Alex, Meghan, and Michaelâhave raised nearly double the next closest team⌠and we still have 9 days to go.
Good morning, Andyâs Army!
The Andyâs Army t-shirts are slowly making their way out the door. Yesterday we dropped off and mailed a big batch, so if you live more than 30 miles away, yours is on the way. Most of you should have shirts in hand by this weekendâexcept for the new orders from Tuesday. We still have about seven extras in various sizes, and no, attending the marathon is not required to wear one.
Good morning!
Andyâs Army is inching closer to $50k for ALS Unitedâless than $2,000 to go. Every little bit helps, and I couldnât be more grateful.
Yesterday, Cindy and I went to lunch at Lindyâs Landing in Wauconda, meeting up with Deb S.âa longtime running and triathlon friendâand Kim (yes, my former wife). It had been years since Iâd connected with Deb. Back when I moved to Crystal Lake and was commuting to Florida for work, our paths just drifted apart.
Good morning!
Wowâlast day of September, and itâs been wicked hot here in the Midwest.
The Chicago Marathon is just 12 days away. For all you runners out there, the forecast looks much cooler by race weekendâno worries on that front. There will always be other things to worry about, but try to plan for them now. Waiting until race weekend is too late. You want a quiet mind and good rest heading into the race.