Eugene Marathon 2007

On April 29th on Sunday, my sons, Benjamin and Daniel Haber ran in the inaugural Eugene Marathon. Ben is approaching the finish line in the first photo. In the second photo is Daniel on the left and Ben on the right. This was one of the best days of my life to see both my sons come through the finish line strong with great times. Ben came in with a personal record of 2 hours and 30 minutes coming in 13th place and Daniel came in with 4 hours and 3 minutes for his first marathon. It was thrilling to watch at the finish line. Ben is sponsored by Brooks, Seattle Running Club, and is an elite distance runner.

Everyone who entered the race received a beautiful Nike marathon shirt. I sure thought that was nice since this doesn't happen in all marathons. The top 100 finishers received a Nike finisher shirt.

I can see the Eugene Marathon becoming bigger and stronger every year. The flat course is along the Willamette River on both sides for most of the 26.2 miles. A couple of bands played along the course making it more fun for all the participants. It's important for Eugene to have a strong marathon since Eugene represents Steve PreFontaine, Nike, Bill Bowerman, the University of Oregon, and all that is great about running. This is the one marathon that should be supported by the entire running community all over the world.

Each participant was a winner in my book. Running is the hardest and most difficult sport. I admire all distance runners and would love to be able to run the Eugene Marathon myself.

There should be more of a tribute to running in the media, coverage of important running events on television, and a splash across the sports pages in all newspapers. I did see KEZI with a car in the parking lot. Thank you KEZI. The list of all participants in the Eugene Marathon 2007 will be published in the Tuesday issue of the Eugene Register-Guard. Thank you, Register-Guard for your coverage. www.registerguard.com

The great running magazine, Northwest Runner has the results up already. www.nwrunner.com

You can see the results at www.nwrunner.com/results/searchable.html. Thank you, Northwest Runner.

American Idol

American Idol just started. Last night I voted the most for Blake Lewis, my favorite. I didn't vote for Phil Stacey or Lakisha. Everyone's a star. Everyone's a winner who will go on to make records and sign recording contracts. I'm happy for them all.

Supreme Court

My husband told me that he heard over Fox News that the U.S. Supreme Court has banned partial birth abortions. It's about time! I have never understood how any doctor who takes the Hipocratic Oath can justify partial birth abortions except in extreme cases where the mother's life is threatened.

I can understand abortion only in limited cases but not as a birth control. I can understand a young woman who wants another chance in life. I can understand in the cases of rape, incest, when the baby is brain damaged or retarded, when the mother is a drug abuser, and when the mother's life is threatened. However, if a woman has three abortions, I think it's time to look at sterilization. We are talking about human life and it should be protected.

I've always been interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. When I homeschooled my children in Arroyo Grande, California, we debated famous Supreme Court law cases. My oldest son, Aaron aspired to be Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The photo above is my son, Aaron on the top bunk sometime after his birthday since the balloons have deflated and sitting on the bottom bunk are Gretchen and Benjamin. Notice the Happy Birthday sign that said "Future Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Aaron R. Haber!"

Years later my husband and I visited the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. It was my favorite place. Next was the Holocaust Museum, then the Smithsonian.

Creating a Business

I've decided to start a business and initiated the design patent process with legalzoom.com as recommended by Kim Commando at www.commando.com, a radio show that I listen to about computers as I drive to work on Sunday mornings. They seem to be a great online legal firm with a great reputation.

I've already outlined basic overall strategy and a business plan.

I was inspired to take action based on one of my inventions after reading an article in the Corvallis Gazette Times about an Alsea resident who designed a gate latch for her horse. Scotty Jones found a patent firm in Philomath. She's smarter than I because I couldn't find reference to it. My husband, Leslie already purchased her gate latch for our front gate on the driveway before this article was published in the newspaper. How exciting to see new designs and products launched and sold! Scotty Jones sells this unique gate latch at www.u-latch.com.

I later found out about the Patent Agent in Philomath and got her name and number. I've met her before. Lori Friedman brilliant and a nice person. I met her at Timberhill Athletic Club. I'm sitting on several ideas and inventions.

Dave Barry

Dave Barry always makes me laugh. I don't think we laugh enough. I was looking through my e-mail and found the Dave Barry Newsletter and took a peek into his column in the Miami Herald entitled, "Night of the Living Roach."

Take a look and read. I guarantee you will laugh. If you don't, I question whether you are among the living.

www.miamiherald.com/283/story/39189.html

Dave Barry's genius is looking at life with a different tilt making us laugh at ourselves and life. I remember watching him on BookTV on C-Span2 speaking at the Miami Book Fair. He was funny then. He's funny now.

2007 Grassroots Survey of Democratic Leaders

I answered a survey that I received in the mail for the National Democratic Party.

My priorities of issues are ranked as follows: 1. health care affordability, 2. ethics in government, 3. protecting the environment, 4. national energy policy, 5. improving public education, 6. stem cell research are at the top of the list.

Here are a few of my thoughts:

We should be educating mothers when they are pregnant and teach them how to teach their children. Gifted children need to be challenged and educated.

Social security should be untouchable. When so many people now live pay check to pay check, how in the world can they be expected to make investments for their future?

We should protect American workers, American jobs, America, and the Constitution.

In 2007, why in the world aren't women equal under the Constitution of the United States?

Why isn't the integrity of the election process protected?

All political leaders need to be accountable. We need ethical leaders who don't make up their own rules when it's convenient.

The elderly need to be protected.

We should not be educating terrorists and allowing them to move in and out of our country freely.

We shouldn't go to war without documenting evidence and without cooperation from all allies. Some leaders in this country seem to love war instead of wanting to build bridges and understanding.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I read in the Gazette Times this morning that Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is defending the Book of Mormon and is puzzled by many mainstream Christians who do not respect the faith.

In my opinion, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints need to clean up their act and remember that Jesus commanded Christians to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and to treat everyone as if they are your brother. When I was active in this church, going to the Portland Temple weekly, tithing, and spending enough hours for a full time job volunteering, I encountered some troubling truths that I wasn't told about when I first joined in 1995. I have witnessed too many church leaders who are Sunday Mormons and who brag about it. Their ethics go out the window during the week while they act as Saints on Sunday. On many Christmas and Easter holidays, I didn't see a difference from the rest of the year in this church. Why? Jesus is part of the name of this church so why? This was troubling to me as someone who grew up as a Lutheran going to church every Sunday with my parents. The history of the church seems to be a higher priority. They don't want to concentrate on the death of Jesus so that is the reason why Mormons don't wear crosses. I think they pick and choose. The dominant themes in the church and what is studied is mainly about church leaders and the history of the church. The church should be renamed as the Church of Joseph Smith.

I knew I was in trouble when I went to the temple for the first time and took a vow not to laugh loudly. This is ridiculous. It is healthy to laugh and be joyous. They consider someone who drinks coffee as someone who is sinning and yet they commit serious ethical offenses as if they cannot do any wrong. Just try to make a temple-going Mormon laugh. They will try to swallow their laugh before they will laugh loudly.

When leaders make agregious errors in judgment, they are not relieved of duty or chided. They say that even if a mistake was made, it was meant to happen. They don't say their sorry. Everything that a leader does was meant to happen and is ordained by God. They are full of themselves. They believe that God dictates their every action but I have witnessed that they do not live by the rules of God and the Bible. They live by their own rules believing that they write scripture. Scripture is ongoing for Mormons and that is why the sacred texts keep continuing. Mormons believe in many Gods, not one God. They believe that if they are righteous that they will die to become a God and rule a world. When I first joined this church, I found books about Mormons in the cult section at Christian book stores. Now they are mixed in with the rest. Now I understand.

I have watched them shun, commit crimes, and use their power to commit unrighteous acts. They are a political and social group. Yes, they are great at keeping families busy, especially women busy. Relief Society for the women is the original group of Stefford Wives. I think that this is so that the men know what their women are doing so they can go out and conquer the world.

Maybe there is a reason why former Mormons are asked to be rebaptized when joining another church. Maybe there is a reason why many Christians don't respect this religion. Maybe they see how machaevellian the leaders are and how ready to manipulate in the name of Heavenly Father. They are secretive. They will work to destroy reputations and manipulate in order to appear holy.

Do I miss the good in this church? Yes, but I cannot be part of a church that I don't respect and I can't be around people I don't respect. If that means that I remain isolated and alone so be it.

April Novel

I started a new novel this morning. I'm plotting as I go and I'm using the Nano word schedule that is in the book by Chris Baty for National Novel Writing Month in November. I need to have a constant novel going at all times to work on in the morning when I get up. I finished my word count and my day was great.

It's amazing where a story will take you and the surprises you find on the page. My stories always stay within certain perimeters. There are some things I just won't write about. I don't want to write anything that I wouldn't want to show my grandchildren. I want to feel proud of what I write. I want to tell a story and make people think. I have fun with the loops and turns that I hadn't anticipated on the page. It happened even this morning right off. It's fun.

Survivor Fiji

I know where Benjamin is on Thursday nights. He's glued to the couch watching Survivor Fiji!

I love watching Survivor. Yes, I'm hooked. The spirit of adventure of living in exotic locations and trying to survive has captured the hearts of millions who watch. I think there is the desire to be part of it in the hearts of everyone who watches.

The member of Moto who has captured my attention and admiration is Yow Man who is the surprise on the team who continues to help his team to win using his mind. Easy going, positive, and smart, Yow Man just might be the one to win. I'm rooting for him. I like him the best.

Lisi was voted off tonight. If she had used her noggin, she would have kept quiet about the clues to find the hidden immunity idol and found it to save herself tonight. It could have kept her going much further. It's a lesson to others of what not to do in future Survivor competitions.

Sewing

I've been having fun sewing the last few weeks for my grandchildren. I made a shirt for Jack out of Curious George fabric that I bought at Joann Fabrics and a dress out of Dora the Explorer fabric for Lizzy. This evening I started working on a Sponge Bob shirt for Alexander.

Writing

I am grateful to have had the chance to talk to my son, Daniel this evening. Even though he's so busy, he helps keep me centered. He listens and understands. I respect and admire him.

In talking through my feelings with him on the phone, I realize that I derive my greatest meaning in life in the last few years when I write first in the morning. The rest of the day is gravy because I know I have accomplished what is most important first thing in the morning. Yes, reading about writing craft is important, exercise, housework, gardening, and other tasks are important but writing must come first always.

I felt so energized in November 2004 when I was working on the Nano Novel for National Novel Writing Month. It may seem silly to try to reach for this seemingly impossible goal to some but for me, it gave me great meaning. It showed me that I could do it. I could write the first draft of a novel in a month. When I look at some of the most popular and prolific writers today, they are writing every day and take it seriously as a job. They churn out three or four books a year. Some publish even more. Take a look at Nora Roberts whose books are on every best seller list. I read that she has published as many as 10 books in a year. It seems impossible. She's truly an inspiration.

I want to renew my commitment to start in the morning to work hard every day on my writing with the goal of completing novel after novel. Maybe I'll never get a novel published. Maybe no one will ever want to read my writing or I'll never make it to the best seller list but I do enjoy the process of creating something new on a page that wasn't expected. It's fun. In my writing is one of the few places in life where I feel powerful. So I'm determined to work hard at churning out books and I will have fun in the process.

American Idol

I was sorry to see Gina go home this week. I loved hearing her sing, "Smile." It's one of my favorite songs of all time and she sang it with power and strength. I wish you great success, Gina. Thank you for singing "Smile."

I don't want to see anyone go home. This is such a talented group. I look forward to seeing American Idol every week. It's entertainment with a big E and is the best talent show on television, along with So You Think You Can Dance.

This week, I cast a vote for almost everyone.

I sure loved seeing Tony Bennett, one of my favorites. I'm sorry he was sick for the Wednesday night show.

Car in the Ditch

Another car in the ditch this week. When I came home from work on Monday, Les said that another car went in the ditch. The air bag deployed and caused an injury to the man's eye. The couple used our phone to get a tow truck.

This corner is a right angle or 90 degree curve. It's abrupt and you can't go 45 miles an hour around this curve without landing in the ditch.

Since we have no shoulder on the road, no walking path, and this curve presents such a severe hazard to motorists, I think this corner should be bipassed and another road should be carved to Deadwood Highway so that traffic from Eugene, logging trucks, and dump trucks can travel on a safer road.