Blog it!

Dayton Children's was featured in Beth Kantner's blog on how non-profits use social media. Great publicity for our small children's hospital.

Read Beth's blog now.

Adventure at King's Island

Last Saturday, I finally gave in and went to King's Island with my husband and our friends. Scott has been bugging me about going to King's Island since we moved to the area. I have avoided the trip because I'm not a huge fan of roller coasters for two reasons - 1. I get motion sickness very easily and 2. I'm a big scaredy cat! The last time I was on a rollercoaster was 10 years ago at Cedar Point where my friends finally convinced me to ride the Magnum. 10 years ago the Magnum was the biggest rollercoaster. Today, not anymore. I was terrified riding the Magnum, but I did it and told myself that I could go to King's Island and tackle my fear.

We arrive at King's Island on a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon. I'm feeling a bit anxious, but I keep telling myself that I can do this - "The rides last only for a few minutes, I'm not going to die and I MUST be brave for Scott and our friends."

Scott suggests that the first ride we go on is the Diamondback. I look up at the coaster, see the ginormous drop and say "ok" - all the while giving myself a pep talk the entire time in line. I say and think - "If I can ride the Magnum, I can ride the Diamondback." Did I realize I rode the Magnum 10 years ago!!?!?! Obviously not. Supid/naive me doesn't realize the Diamondback is one of the top 5 largest rollercoasters in the world - bigger than the Magnum! (I learn this after the fact when I googled it on my BlackBerry) OMG - I thought I was going to die! You sit in these seats with only a plastic bar that comes up between your legs. There's nothing over your shoulders holding you in! As the coaster is "click, click, clicking" up the first hill I turn to Scott and say "Oh my Gosh, I'm going to die!" and then close my eyes tightly. The first drop was terrifying! Then there's another ginormous drop - I don't know what was going on around me because I had my eyes closed the entire time and white knuckles from gripping the bar so tightly. The coaster finally stops, we get off and I think I'm going to barf. Scott and friends are laughing. I am not. But, I did it!

I think to myself - "I would be completely content without riding one more ride today." Then Scott says, "Ok, let's walk around and then go on some more rides." I quietly walk through the park thinking "I can do this, I can do this."

So...by the end of the day I am proud to say that I rode almost every ride. Was I terrified? You betcha!! Each and every time. Every ride I got on I closed my eyes tightly and gripped the bar thinking "why am I doing this to myself?!"

I'm sure I was a good laugh for the people around me. I kept looking at all of the 7, 8, 9 and 10 year olds going on all of the coasters and thinking - "If they can do this, why can't I?"

The next day, I could barely move. Riding rollercoasters in your 30s is completely different than in your 20s! Holy smkokes!

I'll never forget my adventure at King's Island. :)

Relentless for a cure - Light the Nigh Walk, Oct. 1

I am participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk on Thursday, October 1.

I am walking in honor of my brother, Paul, and in honor of my new friend Ally Barnett from Beavercreek, OH. She was diagnosed with ALL on my birthday, May 28.

I appreciate your support.

Donations can be made here: http://pages.lightthenight.org/soh/Dayton09/sbrufuswoods

Please send this message to whomever you think would be interested.

Relentless for a cure!

Remembering...

Last week, my grandpa passed away. This is my mom's dad. I went to see him in ICU, but I don't think he knew I was there. I keep seeing the image of him in the hospital, in pain and out of it. I wish this image would go away and I could remember him as my jolly grandpa.

I will always remember the smell of his pipe and his million-dollar smile. I think of grandpa often and worry about my mom. Both of her parents are now gone. Life is beautiful and tragic all at the same time and I know life always goes on, but sometimes....it's just not easy.

Rest in peace, grandpa. We will always love and remember you.