Angered by events surrounding the Boston Marathon Tragedy

The United States has been aiding asylum-seeking Chechan refugees (though in small amounts) for a number of years now.  This is the thanks our country gets for educating and giving two young men every opportunity to be successful here.  Sorry, but I think it's time to close the doors to Chechnya and a number of other countries who don't respect our way of life.  To anyone who doesn't believe this was an attack perpetrated by radical Muslim terrorists - wake up!

This act of violence had my eyes welling with tears - not just because it's been the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11, but because I am a runner, I support my fellow runners, and just the fact that this was potentially preventable.  

Tamerlan Tsarnaev was questioned by and under the surveillance of the FBI in 2010. They let him go as they did not believe he was a threat.  A statement was released that the Government simply doesn't have the manpower to keep tabs on everyone seeking asylum in the United States.

I'm sorry, that's not good enough for me!

Federal Employees are being furloughed and/or laid off. The United States Justice Department was the first department to have employees receive furlough notices, reducing manpower and therefore productivity. I have to wonder how many of these were FBI or CIA employees.  So, we reduce the Justice Department's workforce, and use the excuse that they don't have enough employees to look out for all potential threats?  Logic at it's finest.

God, please help our country... 

Boston Marathon Tragedy

My grandmother remembers where she was during the Pearl Harbor attack. My parents knew where they were when we landed on the moon and when Kennedy was assassinated.  Is the world becoming a more dangerous place?

For folks of my generation:

What were you doing when the LA Riots took place?

Where were you when a bomb exploded in a van underneath the World Trade Center in '93?

Where were you when Timothy McVeigh bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City? 

Can you remember where you were when the US came under attack as terrorists flew jets into the twin towers in NYC and the Pentagon, killing thousands?

Last but not least...

Where were you when you learned that two bombs went off at near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing 3 and injuring over 170 innocent people?

As a distance runner of over 15 years, I cannot comprehend such a senseless act.  I am hesitant to say this was a terrorist act.  I do not know how it could possibly be politically motivated as the Boston Marathon is simply a wonderful event that allows "Joe Shmoe" who has worked so hard to qualify for this race to compete alongside world-renowned athletes from all over the world.  It is an honor to qualify for Boston, which is why it draws so many spectators from all over the country.  Still, the questions remains... why?  Why the Boston Marathon?

My husband and I were in a cab in Washington, D.C. heading back to our hotel when we heard of the explosions.  I thought I'd misheard the report.  When we got back to our hotel we turned on CNN.  I asked Nate to log into the Checkers AC Facebook page to see if members were providing updates on the status of club members running in Boston.  As the number of injures jumped from "dozens" to 60, to 100, and finally to "over 170 injured"...  I felt nauseated.  Jenna texted me from Buffalo to tell me she felt sick.

As the graphic pictures and personal accounts came in I was overwhelmed with sadness.  I thought of all of the times my family members and friends have waited at finish lines for me.  Not athletes.  Not anyone with any agenda other than to applaud and cheer on runners who crossed the finish line.  In Boston on Monday, these were the people who the attacks were aimed at.

Hamstring injury #2 was suddenly put into perspective.  It hurt, but the emotional pain I felt for all those innocent victims heavily outweighed my ace-bandaged leg.  If I were a marathoner, it could have been one of my family members who was hurt or killed.  I simply cannot comprehend this senseless act...  the pain will last for years to come... road racing will never be the same....

    

It sucks to grow up...

Okay, when one begins to receive personalized coffee orders from Tim Horton's, that could mean a few things.    I did some quick math to determine that I spend about $1,500 per year there!  This is not factoring in Nate's daily stop there.  I've been trying to cut back simply because we can't really afford this, but it's tough.  We live so close that we've literally rolled out of bed and walked there in our pajamas.  It's not the norm for us, but I won't lie.

It's cool, though.  The people who work there are great.  Mostly college kids.  From my point of view, it's still odd to consider these folks "kids."  The one girl joined us on her break this past weekend.  She's a senior English major at Canisius College.  I am sincerely amazed at how much college students who are passionate about their studies know.  It truly blows my mind and I wish I had passion when I was in college.  I was a somewhat lost soul who majored in Legal Studies because it was something interesting to study.  I was completely indifferent to what I was learning and simply working my darndest to get good grades.  Nate struck up a conversation with the aforementioned girl about a book she was reading.  Since Nate minored in English and is still always reading a book or two, he's interested in books that people out there are reading.  They had a lengthy, intelligent conversation.  I sat and smiled.  Apparently the author of the particular book she was reading was going to be giving a talk at Kleinhan's Music Hall.  

The conversation shifted gears, thank God.  Music.  When had we been to Kleinhan's last?  We went and saw Ben Folds Five last October. "Who is that?"  We explained he was popular when we were in high school, but not really, likely because he was competing with musicians like Dave Matthews at the time.  "So he's like Dave Matthews?"  "No... we're actually not really Dave Matthews fans; he's more of an Elton John or Billy Joel contemporary.  He's an extremely talented pianist."  What else did we see?  Mozart's Birthday.  BPO performing the music of Led Zeppelin.  I could handle this without looking like an idiot.      

 In the meantime, I'm going through a premature midlife crisis - unless I die at 60.  I've not accomplished things I feel I should have by now.  That's the way I feel, anyway. To counter the aging process, one will often find my right hand with children's jewelry.  Work, home, whatever the occasion... I'm not growing up.  I didn't party or drink in high school.  I skipped the whole 20-something bar hopping scene.  I still feel that I'm too young to go to bars.  I don't wear make-up.  I think of myself as more of a responsible 13-year-old than someone who's my actual age.  I handle our mortgage and car payments. When people ask how old I am, I tend to forget.  I sometimes blurt out a number that's 3 or 4 years younger than my actual age.  It just happens...

Well, this blog entry turned into something I didn't intend for it to be.  I have Forever Young on in the background which is a complete distraction.  I can't stand reality TV.  But I also cannot believe how dumb the under-30 crowd is on this show!  It's embarrassing!  How did they pick these kids?  People never fail to disappoint me.