Supposed to be Spring

I thought it was supposed to be spring.

In fact Coll is on spring break this week, but it's snowing outside today. Not a lot or anything. Well at least not here, but they're calling for 1-2 inches in the higher elevations.

Apparently, last year there was a fairly significant snowfall in April, but I don't really recall. It's not unusual to get snow this late here, but I enjoyed a pretty nice day on Saturday (after the rain fell). I had all the windows in the house open and was enjoying the nice breeze.

Sunday started off pretty nice, but the temperature dropped in the afternoon right when I was making plans to mow the backyard. I decided to wait. No one can see our backyard anyway.

I'm ready for some warm shorts-wearing weather. I'm a fall guy. I enjoy the fall, but I'm ready for the summer.

Back from the Bridge

Well, the Bridge Run went better and worse than I expected.

This was our third year doing the Cooper River Bridge Run and I have to say I felt a lot better afterward than I did last year. Probably because I walked it with Coll and Em rather than running it. I felt almost crippled after last year's race.

I say it went worse because we got a really late start to the race. Much later than the first year. I think we were probably some of the last people to start the race. It was pretty discouraging to look behind and see only a handful of people and then get the first water station and the volunteers were already tearing it down and putting the tables away (hence, no water).

I thought a sweeper truck was going to come along and tell us we had to stop now, but it didn't and we didn't and the three of us finished our third Bridge Run Walk.

Interestingly, at the end of the race, I came across three Asheville firefighters who walked the bridge in full turnout gear, including air tanks. They were walking in honor of Paxten Mitchell, a 3-year-old leukemia sufferer who died the day after the race. Paxten's father is also an Asheville fireman. One of the firefighters, David Sauer, told me that even though they weren't walking the bridge to raise money, people along the race route gave them money for the Mitchell family.

That's what I love about this race: The people. The people are fantastic. I love all the people who come out to cheer and support the runners and walkers and all the volunteers who hand out water and offer words of encouragement. And I have heard of others talking about people giving them money for their cause during the race. I think it's great.

I'll have more photos and commentary on the race later.

Michael Timothy Danforth

Michael in 2000, the week of his wedding, before he got sick.

(Courtesy of Leslie Boyd)

Michael Timothy Danforth, 33, died Tuesday, April 1, at home after a three-year struggle with colon cancer.

Mr. Danforth was born Nov. 3, 1974 in Augusta Ga. He grew up in Fair Lawn, NJ, and Haverstraw, NY, and moved to Schenectady, NY, in 1998, where he met and married his wife, the former Janet Kraichy.

He worked as a chef in Schenectady and later in Savannah, Ga., where he lived from 2003 to 2007. He became sober on Nov. 10, 1997 and spent the final 10 years of his life active at the local and state levels of 12-step groups.

Mr. Danforth is survived by his mother and stepfather, Leslie Boyd and Robert Mikulak of Candler, NC; his father and stepmother, Hazen W. and Linda Danforth, of Brunswick, Ga.; his grandmother, Avis Boyd of North Attleoro, Mass.; two brothers, Scott Danforth and Hazen Danforth Jr., a sister-in-law, Jennifer Danforth, three nieces, Lauren, Peyton and Meghan Danforth and one nephew, Hazen (Trey) Danforth III, all of Brunswick, Ga.

A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Savannah Unity Church, 2320 Sunset Blvd., Savannah, Ga. A reception follows the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Michael Danforth to Eblen Charities, 12 Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, or Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3477, Durham, NC 27710.

Leslie's Angel

The Dalai Mama posted:

Goodbye, my angel
Michael died this afternoon. It was peaceful. He was here
and with us until this morning, and he just slipped away at about 4 o'clock.
We had that wonderful talk last night after watching two episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space 9. He told me he was at peace and ready to go.

It's too sad. Even when someone knows it's coming.

My friend Peter's dad passed away last year after a long battle with cancer. They knew he was dying, too, but I still can't imagine what that's like. Watching the person you love and who used to be so strong be so helpless.

Sad News

I got this e-mail a little bit ago from my editor:

"Michael, 33, son of Leslie Boyd and Rob Mikulak, died shortly before 4 p.m. this afternoon. Funeral arrangements are pending. We'll e-mail you more information as it becomes available."

Leslie is the Dalai Mama you see linked in my blogroll. I'm very sad for her (and Rob), but I know that this means no more suffering for Mike.

Mike's death probably could apparently have been prevented if a series of doctors hadn't made colossal errors and if Mike had healthcare like John, Hillary and Barack.

Sad.

I am Spider-Man

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Hello from the Birthday Prince

(Photo by Lori Johnson)

The party was great. We had about 10 people there. I think everyone had a good time.

I wish I had more pictures to show, but most of the pics are on Coll's camera. I only had the one above and these two:

taken by Coll's teaching pal Terry. I guess she just wasn't used to my camera and pointed the camera down before the photos took. Unless she was really trying to get pictures of Colleen's fish tacos and Jaimi's legs.

I doubt it.

Oh, and I can't let this pass: The waitress we had that night has got to be the worst waitress I've encountered in forever. No one got refills. Colleen drove to the restaurant so I could get nice and toasty for my birthday, but I didn't even catch a buzz. I supposed I could have gone to the bar to get my own drinks, but that's not the point of going to a restaurant. She was pretty worthless.

It's a good thing for her that the restaurant automatically added an 18% gratuity because I don't think anyone there was in a very charitable mood. I don't think anyone added anything on top of the 18%.

I still had a good time, thanks to my honey.