In a country where only men are encouraged, one must be one's own inspiration. ~ Tegla Loroupe

Tegla Loroupe was the 1994 Keyan woman that won the New York City Marathon. She holds numerous world records and has raced throughout the world. She now heads the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, which tries to bring peace through sports. Her foundation strives to be a positive light in the midst of conflict-ridden and war-torn areas of East Africa.



I was inspired to see over 20,000 runners participate in the Nike Women's Marathon this weekend in San Francisco. It raised awareness and money toward the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, this year $14 million was raised for a total of $92 million over six years. While I'm not inspired to put on running shoes, I'm not much of a runner, but it does make me think twice before saying "I can't..." because there are many others with greater challenges that have proven that "They can..."

As I move about during my daily life, I constantly hear about the negative events of the world. However, it's stories and events of inspiration like these that remind me that there's still a lot of good in the world and there's a lot of really great people doing extraordinary things through the simplest and kindest acts.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/19/MN9E1A7FQE.DTL

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~ Albert Einstein

It is quite humbling and awe-inspiring to view pictures of the vast reaches of the universe. I am a believer and to me God is the most incredible Creator of everything from the nano-micro-scopic to the deep depths of the oceans to the infinite reaches of outer space. To believe that we are the only living beings in the vastness of the universe is hard to comprehend, but yet our 3rd Rock from the Sun seems to be the only inhabitable planet in our immediate solar system.

Einstein's quote is quite appropriate, but no matter how deep I look, I know that I will never understand it all. I know enough to be curious, inspired and hopeful that perhaps someday, I may be able to travel beyond our planet.

Pictures such as these are possible through the power of telescopes, which along with human and un-human probes, provide to us Earthlings a glimpse of the beyond. There is a great article on CNN.com about how telescopes help us to better understand the beginnings of life. For me, it comes back to the Great Creator and His magnificent architecture of the universe.

It is worth a visit to NASA's Hubble Telescope website to view their gallery.




http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/08/18/new.generation.telescopes/index.html

I left my heart in San Francisco ~ Tony Bennett

"The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care, My love waits there in San Francisco" These additional lines of the very famous Tony Bennett song says what many of us have the joy of experiencing on a regular basis if we live or work in San Francisco. I love this City, I've grown up here and have been very fortunate to have such an opportunity. As I stroll through downtown, it's just a flurry of activity: sailors on shore leave and Blue Angels soaring above during Fleet Week, we've got city blocks shutdown to accommodate the masses as they attend Oracle World, 49er fans preparing to head to the Stick (aka Candlestick Park) to see the match up against the Atlanta Falcons, and the hoards of tourists just enjoying our City.

Like a phoenix, this City rose from the ashes of the infamous 1906 Earthquake & Fire to be a cherished destination for tourists and natives alike. Wondering about SF, I can't help but have a smile on my facem when I'm walking, because I see it on everyone's face how much they enjoy our City, I say "when I'm walking" because sometimes when I'm driving these same tourists can be a bit trying (no matter how great they're for our local economy). Thank you for visiting our City, but can you please jump into a cab?

When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go. ~ Carol Burnett

To soar at Mach 2 is an incredible dream, one that is lived by the elite squad of the U. S. Navy's Blue Angels. I'm in total awe of the Blue Angels.

Each time I hear them soaring about San Francisco as Fleet Week approaches, I still get chills as their thunderous jet engines roars above USF.

I love our country and when I see these aviators burst through the skies, it's just a great moment of joy.

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~ John Muir

I came across an article on sfgate.com on the Ahwanee Hotel in Yosemite and I couldn't help but recall the wonderful visit I had when I stayed there in the winter of 2008. It's a beautiful lodge smack dab in the middle of one of God's greatest creations of nature.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/06/DD2U19VNKK.DTL


We all have the dedicated naturalist John Muir to thank for helping to preserve and protect this natural treasure in California and we in the Bay Area should be especially thankful that it's only a few hours to drive there to escape the madness of our daily world. John knew what he was talking about so long ago when he made this statement. Even back in the late 19th Century when things were much slower than they are today, he knew that everyone needed a natural sanctuary.

Yosemite is a true gift that can be opened over and over with each visit. I'm a member of the Yosemite Association which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Yosemite. Helping to preserve such wonderful places on earth will be a legacy worth passing on to generations to come.

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. ~ General George S. Patton

Patton would have been proud of Dr. Elena Bodnar, the winner of this year's Ig Nobel Public Health Prize becuase she demonstrated her ingenuity with her design of the combo bra-gas mask.

Being a woman, it's nice to know that my bra can be used in multiple ways. Sadly in this era of world turmoil where we are on the lookout for potential terror attacks, using a bra as gas mask is a bit of know-how that may come in handy.

Read a quick blurb about this story at:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/g/a/2009/10/02/dip.DTL&object=%2Fc%2Fpictures%2F2009%2F10%2F02%2Fba-ig_nobels_0500672547.jpg

We have a good life when we manage to live with both satisfied and unsatisfied needs... ~Kjell Magne Bondevik

"We have a good life when we manage to live with both satisfied and unsatisfied needs, when we are not obsessed by what is beyond our reach."

USF recently awarded Kjell Magne Bondevik, the former Prime Minister of Norway, an honorary doctorate to recognize his life's work to promote international human rights, world peace, religious tolerance, and democracy:

http://www.usfca.edu/usfnews/news_stories/Bondevik.html

Video of his speech can be seen at http://www.usfca.edu/stream/bondevik/bondevik_jls.html

I didn't know who he was until today, but I found his story and work inspiring. I get so wrapped up in my day-to-day life and technology that I forget there is waaaay more to life than what is contained in my little sphere.

This quote was interesting because it's about being content. That I have to stop the continuous pursuit of the elusive "carrot" and be thankful for what I have now. That life will be full of challenges and rewards, but knowing what I'm already blessed with is truly a good life.