This is the Schartz picture from the Johnston's Wichita 1/2 Marathon from Sunday Sept. 21st. I finished in 1:55. It is not my best time. I can say I am happy I did the run but most of all . . . I am even more happy it is over!!

(pictured: center is Joe's brother Mike, to his right is his wife Tammy, the short person on his left, well . . that is me)

Lisa is pictured with me below. She is who I trained with for the 1/2 marathon. I am not sure what exactly made us so tired . . . could it be that we drove to Wichita at 4:30 a.m. for the 8:00 a.m. start time, the fact that we ran 13.1 miles or maybe it is the marathon shopping we did after the race????

Thanks for running with me Lisa!!

A trip down the Halloween isle at Target!

Kira . . . featured as Hillary Clinton.

Keenan . . . featured as The Family Guy

(I think that is who he is).

Too funny! Joe and I could not stop laughing!

MY TODAY SHOW APPEARANCE IN NEW YORK CITY

That is me peeking out between Campbell Brown and Matt Lauer (that is my friend Angie, on the other side of Matt Lauer). This picture was actually taken from my DVD that I referenced on yesterday's blog posting. I managed to pause the video, capture the frame and then created the picture. I did not accomplish this alone. Three of my college friends and I headed to NYC a couple summers ago to celebrate our 30th Birthdays. It was such a great trip and our Today Show appearance had to be the highlight.

Look who made The Manhattan Mercury!! I mean you REALLY have to look . . .

Yep, that is me in the pink sweater with my tan purse in line ordering my beloved coffee at Bluestem. I guess this is as close as I was going to get to the Today Show yesterday.

TODAY SHOW AT BLUESTEM BISTRO

There are two things I enjoy each morning the Today Show and a good cup of coffee. Today was a special treat. I stopped by Bluestem Bistro for my regular cup of coffee and, to my surprise, the Today Show was there doing a special feature on political views in the "Little Apple." I did not really want to get on TV this time due to the topic as I was afraid I would embarrass the Manhattan community and my family. At our house, it is a little less CNN and Fox News and a little more Hannah Montana and Thomas the Tank Engine on our televisions. Needless to say if my office didn't subscribe to Time Magazine, which I take home to read from time to time, I am not sure I could even tell you who each presidential candidate has chosen to be their running-mate. Besides, my last appearance on the Today Show was so great that I didn't want to some how ruin my reputation. ha. (For those of you who I have forced to watch my Today Show appearance over and over again on DVD you know what I am talking about). Above is Lester Holt. I really wanted to get my picture with him but he seemed too busy to interrupt for a photo.