Send me the names of your cancer heroes!

I sat down today and made a list of all the family, friends and church members I know who have been impacted by cancer and I was overwhelmed! The list covered all ages, men, women, boys and girls.

I continued to think of them as I went out to jog/walk and as I did I came up with an idea.
I would like to carry with me a list of all of these people as I train and eventually run in Alaska on June 21. If you are comfortable doing so - you are invited to send me the names of the people in your life who have been impacted by cancer.

I am amazed!

I am so touched by the generosity of my family and friends. In only a couple of weeks your donations have covered over 50% of my goal for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training! Please know for me this is so much more than about the money... it truly is about doing what I/we can to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

This week I heard from a dear friend who lost her precious 5 year old to Leukemia many years ago. My good friend Rev. Kathryn and I were honored to go to the Hill Country to preside over the internment of Taylor - who fought a valiant battle against Leukemia! I will never forget the moment we stood alongside her casket under the huge Live Oaks. Taylor is one of the many heroes who motivate me to press on!

Please know that I am hard at work at being ready to run my half-marathon on June 21. Matther of fact I have commited to my daughter to run a St. Patrick's 5K with her on March 15.

Did you know there is a slang phrase in our culture for what I do when I go out to train ...it is called "wogging"...a combination of walking and jogging!

If you ever want to meet up for a little wogging please drop me a note.

Is there a Dr. King among us today?

I was reminded today in an editorial in the Dallas Morning News of Dr. Kings "dream" for our world..that someday we would be a "race-blind" society, one in which an individual's character, NOT skin color is what matters!

Well - how do you think we are doing? I am not so sure we have come very far?
We like the idea of being a culture with an open minded cultural diversity but...maybe we like the idea more than the reality?
How many of us live in racially diverse neighborhoods?
How many of us have kids who go to racially diverse schools?
How many of us go to racially diverse churches?
How many of us have the same number of Hispanic and Black friends as we do white friends?

Who in the mix of our current Presidential "want-a-bees" is challenging us to honestly face our reality?

Who has the integrity and voice to call us to grow further? Let me know if you have heard this voice?

The amazing race has begun!

It is now 100% official, all fees have been paid, the race date is reserved and the fund raising page has been created! My team in training fund raising web page is titled: Doug Meyer's Amazing Race: together we can make a difference.
I feel uncomfortable asking people for money-maybe it will be easier for me since the funds are going to a great cause. I hope so. You can reach my fund raising page at www.active.com/donate/tntntx/Dougsrun.


You know friends-it is not too late if any of you want to get on board and head to Anchorage with me on June 21. It would be great if a bunch of us would go.

Thank you to all of you have heard the news and shared calls or emails of encouragement...keep it coming.

Attention Cowboy & Colt Fans!

It is just a game! Now say that out loud - it is just a game!

When I heard the news this evening of the Cowboy loss I was a bit sad. For a couple of minutes I was in a funk -then a thought hit me.

Imagine..if all of those folks who would have been at the Cowboy game next week re-directed their money and energy...just imagine what could be done to make a difference!

For example:
the stadium holds approx. 60,000 people and each one - on average paid 75.00 per ticket, that alone comes to $4,500,000.00. - not to mention parking and concessions! In the end we are easily talking about 5 million dollars. What a difference that would/could make! Yes - I realize going without a game also means a lack of income for some as well - but still in the end - just imagine!?

What if we could some how magically re-direct the money and passion of all those folks in the stadium to a good cause - even if it is just for the same amount of time those folks spend at the game - just imagine?!

What could 60,000 people do in 5 hours with 4.5 million dollars?! Just imagine?!

Could houses be built? Could neighborhoods be cleaned up? Could pantries be stocked? Could lives be changed? What do you think?

The journey has begun!

As some of you know I began the restoration process of my 49.6 year old body on Jan. 1. I started by purchasing a Pedometer and commiting to tracking the number of steps I take each day. That resource was complimented by the IPOD my family got me for Christmas.

Each day I have also monitored my food intake....so far so good...I am eating healthier and for now have given up Dr. Pepper and Blue Bell.

Well, I took the big plunge the other night. I knew if this was to succeed I needed a goal and I needed "professional help." So..I attended an Orientation meeting for the Leukemia society Team in Training program. I went thinking maybe just maybe I would see what is involved in doing some sort of "walk"...I came out having joined and signed up to train for a half-marathon! Yep, thats right - a half-marathon. Imagine that - a guy who has never run further than to the bathroom - thinking he can train to run a half marathon!

Here is how I look at it! This year I turn 50 years old - it is about time I did some thing noteworthy! I complain all the time about my pudgy body but have not done anything about it so now is the time! What better way to do it than to help others at the very same time. As I drove home from the orientation meeting I began to think about all the people in my life that have been impacted by cancer of some sort...the list went on and on! Maybe just maybe by doing this, the money I help raise will go in to a big pot of other money and help move us closer to figuring this cancer thing out!?!?

Now that you are up off the floor let me say I will need your help -(and money.) As a participant in team in training I have agreed to help raise money for the leukemia society - in turn they use a portion of the money to fund my trip to go run-walk-or cycle. My goal is to run a half-marathon June 21 in the Anchorage, Alaska. To do that I have to raise something in the neighborhood of $5000.00- gulp!

Very soon I will have a Team in training web site that explains all of this in greater detail. They will help me set it up so it will be really easy for you to give, I mean donate!

For now say a little prayer for me, and do NOT offer me chips, fries, cookies, Dr. Pepper, nachos, chips and salsa, ice-cream, cake, pie, candy bars, Cheetos, or McDonald's sausage biscuits,

get ready I'm changing blog addresses

friends

to make it easier to check out my blog I am working on making the move to douglasmeyer.blogspot.com. consider yourself warned...somehow..I've been able to have both going at the same time
not sure exactly how to change over but be on the look out

Is there a magazine out there for middle aged pudgy gusy?

Where is a middle aged man to turn to get tips, ideas and practical guidance on guy stuff?

There are all sorts of mens magazines out there..Mens Health, GQ, Esquire, to name a few..but come on, really, am I their target? A middle age guy, 25+ lbs over weight, moderate in my beliefs, commited to my wife, and anchored in my values! I dnot think I am their guy. So where am i to turn?

I am not ashamed that I enjoy getting a massage or that I use skin products especially made & marketed for men or that I enjoy looking nice and being aware of what tie goes with what shirt!

So where am I to turn?

Time Warner to the rescue!

Whew! I am back!
2 1/2 days without wireless internet - can you imagine my anxiety! ha!
I thought I had done something to throw the Rev.s wireless connection out of whack - just to learn this afternoon it was an equipment problem with Time Warner - boy am I relieved.

I am not sure the Time Warner bosses would be pleased to learn the service tech's acknowledgement that the router I had - has done nothing but give them fits - and have been for months! Wonder why then they installed one in my house just 3 weeks ago? Don't they know who I am and how critical it is for me to be connected to the world?

Thanks for your offers to help - stand by - I am sure you will be called upon again.

Todays' calendar wisdom: "to enjoy the flavor of life: take big bites" from Robert Heinlein

i need wireless help!

I moved my laptop from the middle of the dining room table to our combo office, guest room, sewing/craft room and now I get a message "not able to connect to server." Ugh!
What am I doing wrong?
I am using a wireless adapter plugged into a USB port.
Darn! Your input is requested!
Did I mention I talked with time warner IT folks-still no net!?

Rev. Doug's movie recommendations!

One of the things my wife and I like to do with our time off over the holidays is go to the movies.
This year we have done pretty well - so I thought I would give you my totally biased, middled-aged guy rating/review.

The Great Debaters - I give it an A...a heart grabbing - gut tug...everyone -every where should check this out. I would not recommend taking anyone under 16..there is a very extreme-violent scene against a young black man and an addition there is an explicit sex scene. That aside the movie has a critical message for all of us!!! Denzil W and Forest Whitaker will get Oscar nominations!

I am Legend..I give it a B ...It is a fun thriller/mystery/adventure flick. It keeps you edgy and jumping with every sudden move! If you see it tell me if you agree with me ...I think Will Smith plays the same hero character in most of his movies.

P.S. I love You...I give it a B- We saw this on New Years eve at 10:30 pm - ugh! I thought the movie was being spun as a chick flick comedy...it was - sorta? It was equally sad and melancholy. Some nice scenes of Ireland.

Charlie Wilson's War..I give it a B- It seemed to me to basically be an America to the rescue movie - again. At times it was funny - at other times very war intense. I had a hard time making the transitions between Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts relationship/political partnership/scenes of children who had their arms blown off by land mines?! If you check it out be sure to pay close attention to the subtle references to the choices that were made then and the "predicted" outcome that has come true today! Be sure to be in your seat when the movie starts - the opening scene is very revealing!

the very purpose of our life...

I picked up an interesting little book this morning, A Whole New Mind-why right-brainers will rule the future. I explored it going from chapter to chapte, a weird habit of mine-I rarely ever read a book from front to back. In this instance I started with chapter 9 -titled:meaning. It starts with a quote from the Dali Lama, "I believe the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we are all seeking something better in life. So I think the very motion of our life is towards happiness."

Agree? Are you seeking happiness? Through your faith? Through acquiring stuff? Through status in your peer group? Through overworking?

The author of this book, Daniel Pink, suggests "at the very least we ought to take spirituality seriously because of its demonstrated ability to improve our lives." He cites many tangible examples, (pg.222) such as the impacts made by prayer,caring for others, and those who go to church, synagogue, or a mosque.

I did not set out to do a book review so I will wrap up by encouraging you to join me in reading this little book.