**UPDATE 3.29.09** : Ain't Nothin' Gonna Break Our Stride...Nobody's Gonna Slow Us down...Oh, No...

It was a gorgeous, sunny day for the Shuffle- about 6 hours AFTER the race was over...

I woke up to see a BLIZZARD outside at about 6:40 am. We haven't had any snow pretty much all of March, until the 6 or so inches that descended upon us today. What are the odds...

Anyhoo, I wasn't going to back down to mother nature's little "surprise", especially after everyone's supremely generous donations, so off we went...

3 layers of running clothes, appropriate amounts of tiger balm, and 5 miles of shoe-soaking road slush later, my sisters and i crossed the finish line, grabbed the free snacks, and headed straight for the car. We thawed out/dried off, and it seemed the afternoon got progressively warmer, dryer, and sunnier. These sort of things build character, right?

Thanks so much to all of you who contributed! If this is your first viewing of this profile, I encourage you to continue reading to see why I even dragged myself out of bed today. If you're retuning to this site to make sure I help up my end of the bargain, you can rest easy.

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**UPDATE 2.04.09** : You're Blowing My Mind, Frank...

I am completely floored at everyone's generosity! I've hit my "goal" already, and it's barely February! You people are amazing! If this is your first time to my profile, please don't be deterred, please don't put your wallets away, and please continue reading - the Magdalene House could still use the funds. If you are an old pro, and like to cyber-stalk fundraising sites, by all means continue perusing...

Thank you, all of you...

I love you.

xx, Julie

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While the rest of us were preparing to ring in 2009, a house in Phoenix, AZ burst into flames because it's just so hot out there...

or maybe there was an electrical fire in the attic.

On December 31, 2008, the residents of the Magdalene House had to evacuate the only real home they've known due to an electrical fire. This house was not only the founding home in the Maggie's Place Community- and has been home to hundreds of moms and babies- but it was also my home for a year while I was working out there. Maggie's Place is a community that provides houses of hospitality for pregnant women who are alone or on the streets, and who wish to achieve their goals in a dignified atmosphere. Maggie's Place provides for the immediate physical and emotional needs of their guests including shelter, food, clothing, and a supportive community. As such, it is a family and a community. In addition, Maggie's Place connects the mothers to the appropriate agencies and resources including prenatal care, health insurance, low-cost housing, and education programs.

To learn more about Maggie's Place in general, visit:

http://www.maggiesplace.org/

To read more about the Magdalene House fire, go to:

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=8181952andversion=7andlocale=EN-USandlayoutCode=VSTYandpageId=3.2.1

http://www.maggiesplace.org/content.php?sectionid=3606

So, here's the deal:

I've signed up for the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle, March 29, 2009. The "Shamrock Shuffle" is apparently one of Chicago's "favorite road races and the largest 8K in the world." As much as the thought of shuffling anywhere outdoors this time of year is the least appealing idea ever, I'm doing it to raise money for the Maggie's Place Magdalene House. This house was the stable environment that the women and babies would not have had otherwise. Right now, they're in a temporary shelter until the house is rebuilt. Let's help them get back into a safe home again and as soon as possible.

Here's what I'm asking of you:

Donate what you can. My goal is $500, and if you, your friends, your cousins, strangers you meet on the streets, all give at LEAST $1, we'll blow that goal right out of the water.

I know, money is tight. Believe me I know...But you can donate as little as a dollar and still help! (or if you want to fly out to Phoenix and physically help rebuild the house, that would help too...)

To help out a community that has meant (and still means) so much to me is the only reason I even considered this event. Let's be honest - I'm not doing this for myself. If I didn't have a reason to run, I wouldn't. So,

JFK, blown away... What else do I have to say?