Race for the Cure 2009

Our first Race for the Cure in Spokane, with more to come! There were over 7000 women, men and children participating. It was amazing to see all the people there for the same cause. I only hope in the future, we will have more of our family and friends participating with us! I took quite a few pictures, mostly of peoples backs, NOT because that was all I could see because I am so short, but their shirts were interesting. They had their team name on it or the name of the person they were in the race for-in celebration or in memory. Mike's was in celebration of my mom, Grandma P. (his grandma) and Grandma Aggie (my grandma). Mine was in memory of my Grandma Janette in Oklahoma, in celebration of MY MOM, survivor of 12 years this year, of Grandma Aggie and Grandma P.

This is right out of the convention center, starting to gather at the start line.

Hundreds of balloons were released prior to the start of the race
All Mike could see were heads

The shirts that I have taken pictures of, I really liked, some were different...but all for the same reason

This one says "and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE"

"off like a herd of turtles!"

This girls shirt reads: Cancer Free May 2009

I started to cry when I say this.

There were so many people here!! I stepped on the back of shoes so many times! I am just glad they didn't get mad at me! I apologized so many times-I think that was my phrase of the day "I'm sorry~"

This volunteer is pointing us which way to go. Turn if you are doing the 1 mile, keep going straight if you do the 3 mile. This is near the Monroe Street Bridge.

These puppies were quiet. I was surprised they were not barking at everybody.

"the ONLY way to do the race!"

There were strollers abode!

Coming up to the finish line! On the left of the street, there was a chain link "runway" for the survivors to walk, run down. They were given a "medal" at the finish line. OK, yes, tears were coming again!

These signs were along the road way for the road closures.

The people who were behind us.

What is this? I am posing? Barely worked up a sweat! I guess that is good!

My man in his pink ribbons. Mike has been a real trooper! He knows how important breast cancer awareness is to me and my family, especially since we found out that I am at higher risk for breast cancer with my family history.

YEAH! To the finishers!!

GET YOUR MAMMY'S GRAMMED!!!

LETS FIND A CURE IN OUR LIFETIME!

Off the Beaten Path

Have you ever driven down a road, a road that you have driven many times in your life and never gone off the beaten path? I am sure there are quite a few of us that do. I finally talked Mike into going off the beaten path, along Interstate 90. There are so many things that we drive by but don't really see. Montana is such a big, beautiful place with so much to see, so why not see it? We are going to be going off the "beaten path" a lot more often!

On this day, we went to the Old Montana State Prison which was built in 1871 and was still housing inmates until 1979--when the new prison, which was built 3 miles west of the town of Deer Lodge opened and the inmates were transfered to the new facility. What I found amazing about this prison may be odd to others. Right behind the prison is the railroad. I don't think there is more than 50 yards from the back wall to the rails. Don't you think that would be a "quick get away" if the inmates knew the times of the trains passing by?

The buildings are very old and very cold. I can only imagine what it was like when it was up and running. I felt like I needed a big winter jacket on just to keep the cool wind off of me!
Outside view

Inside the prison grounds. The cement slab on the right was a school/gymnasium area. It is now an uneven slap of concrete. The sidewalk was poured in the 1920's and was crumbing in some areas and uneven in others. (don't I look like a tourist here?) Inside the cell block. I like this picture-I guess it is the "lines" as Walker would say! Also reminds me of the "Cell Block Tango" on the play/movie Chicago

I found this interesting, the barbed wire on top of the sandstone walls.

This is the visiting area

This is the only view that I want behind bars!

Poor thing! What did you do get put in there? Doesn't look as innocent as some people may think, right?

Here he is, Tourist Mike. He loves taking his pictures!

This is the "Galloping Gallows". It currently is inside the theatre building. When we were here, a young girl kept asking her mother what that sound was...it was pigeons cooing. I wanted to tell her it was the spirits of the people who were hung by the gallows...but didn't have the courage to do so. I didn't want to get smacked by her mom, which is something I would have done to somebody if they said that to my kids

This is an intercom! Funny isn't it!

Along the roadways.....there are more mountain ranges that I ever thought! I guess I was to busy looking in front of me or just off to the side of road without looking beyond everything.

I so love all the mountains of Montana

These are the "Crazy Mountains" I think the one on the right looks like a volcano that had lost it's cone.

Hard to take a pretty picture doing 75 down the highway without everything getting blurry!

Peaking through the trees

The Beartooth Mountains

More Crazies

Of course some of the sandstone Rimrocks of South Central Montana

Rock peaks through the Bozeman Pass

The Beartooths from afar. I wanted so much to go up the pass! I bet they haven't even plowed it yet! There looked like there was a lot of snow "n 'thar hills"Now some other pictures....Mike is posing on the afghan that I finally finished. It measures 6 ft x 8 ft. Big enough for a spread on our bed.

My brother Jonnie's daughter, Emi (9) She is standing on my mom's crutches

Evan getting "Auntie Terri Loves".

Jace getting ready for bed.

Walker was goofing around and had me laughing real hard! She is so CRAZY!

She kept trying bugging me, I can't remember exactly what she was doing here, but I got her in a headlock...must you forget little girl...your mom has BROTHERS that she roughed house with!

Mom, Walker and Me

Walker took this "self portrait" of us at the restaurant. I was so tired. I was dragging big time, if you can't tell!