Kathy Johnson's Blog

Heartbreaking and Inspirational

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:13:00 +0000

This is part 2 - best if you watch both videos. Achingly beautiful and a reminder to honor the gift of life each day.

Deadline Painting Group - November's theme was open, so...

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:14:00 +0000

Deadline Painting Group - November's theme was open, so..., originally uploaded by kathyjohnson.

Fleetly Startup Challenge 2011 Update - Consort takes the lead!

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:27:00 +0000

via fleetly.com

While I've been trying to ramp up the running after coming from back-to-back Achilles injuries, it just wasn't enough to keep the Consort team competitive in the Startup Challenge at Fleetly. A team of one against other teams with more than one was dragging us down. But today, Dominic and his mega miles joined in, bringing us up to first place! We also welcomed another team player, Emily J. Now if I can just coerce more of the team to join in... hmmm ;-)

Deadline Painting Group October - Ode to our founder, Victor Keegan

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:10:00 +0000

Deadline Painting Group October - Ode to our founder, Victor Keegan, originally uploaded by kathyjohnson.

For once, I'm ahead of deadline (by one day... but hey, at least I'm not cramming with one minute to spare)

No "deer in the headlights" here... Instead, a mule-dog-cat-rooster-in-the-headlights.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:04:00 +0000

via booooooom.tumblr.com

iPhone app Nosh lets you find the best dishes, not just the best restaurants

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:44:00 +0000

via blog.nosh.me

I've been trying out an app called Nosh lately and have found it quite useful and fun. It involves a bit of "food porn" (tempting food photography) and creative writing to describe and/or review individual dishes. It's like Instagram meets Yelp meets Foursquare.
This week my review of Sushi 69's volcano roll made Nosh's blog. Funny enough, the photo I took shows the volcano as a bit lopsided, as Dominic snagged a piece of the roll before I was able to snap the photo. Guess that tells you how tempting it was!

Our first foster dog: Buffalo, a Japanese terrier mix

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:12:00 +0000

See the full gallery on Posterous

Buffalo was saved by the Milo Foundation about 3 weeks ago where he was on death row. He's about 1.5 years old and this is his first foster home placement. He's a well-mannered little gentleman.

Deadline Painting Group September theme - something with a flower

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:21:00 +0000

Deadline Painting Group September theme - something with a flower, originally uploaded by kathyjohnson.

September has been a hard month for me, as Riley, my 13 year old corgi, passed away on 9/17 after a two-year battle with Degenerative Myelopathy, which left his body paralyzed but his mind fully intact, clear, and bright. He always had a happy face, despite the ravages of the disease. He was the flower that brightened my day.

Goodbye, good boy. Goodbye.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:59:00 +0000

For almost 13 years, he was my best friend. He made sure we were “protected” from squirrels. He was the “dog bell” that let us know when somebody was at the door (or when a dog was within 500 feet of the house). He was always ready for a snack (or another bowl of food). He was in absolute bliss when he could roll in the grass, especially if there was something very stinky around.

Riley had Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). DM is a fatal, progressive, degenerative disease of the spinal cord. There is no treatment or cure for the disease and in time it leads to complete paralysis. It is similar to ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease in humans.

For the last two years, Riley was in a dog-wheelchair. At first he started in a 2-wheeled chair when he lost mobility in his hind legs. When his back legs became fully paralyzed and his front became weaker, he had a 4-wheeled chair. With this, he could still go for walks and “read the paper” as dogs do. The disease also affected his lungs, so his bark was disappearing. Sometimes, he would bark, but no sound would come out.
Through it all, he gave us his big smile every day. His love and devotion never diminished. His mind was bright and alert, even when his body betrayed him.

Riley was known for his big, happy dog smile. Sometimes we would let Riley lay out on our front patio, under a big shady umbrella, so he could watch the world. The UPS guy would come by and talk to him on his route. Some neighbors would actually pull their car over, lean out the window and talk with him. At first, I wondered what was going on when I heard these voices, but then my heart swelled with joy knowing that Riley was beaming love to them, and they were giving love to him.

At times, when people saw Riley in his wheelchair, they would comment about how good it was that we continued to care for him. For us, there was no question, as we would do anything for him. He was part of our family and we loved him. It was worth everything just to see that look in his eyes.

My heart is raw and the light of my soul dimmed with the loss of our little furball. I try to remind myself he is in heaven, chasing squirrels, eating ice cream, and destroying squeaky toys and is still watching over us as he’s always done before.

The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

Hot wheels

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Giants pitcher Brian Wilson supporting runners in the Giants Half Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:01:00 +0000

via youtube.com

Here's a video the race organizers just posted showing Giants pitcher Brian Wilson out supporting runners. When I saw him, the road was nearly empty so it was a great treat to have that connection with him. I told him I thought it was so cool that he was out there. He sheepishly grinned. Very cool indeed.

Backyard visitors

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:14:00 +0000

Check out that guy over there, I hope he doesn't try jumping on these seed socks.

Sporting the "prize" from my last race. A lovely cast-boot

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:12:00 +0000

Limped 13.1 miles but finished

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:34:00 +0000

Taken at AT&T Park

Good morning SF fog. Will you join me at the Giants Half Marathon this morning?

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:31:00 +0000

Taken at Nob Hill

Untitled

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:05:00 +0000

Taken at W San Francisco

Untitled

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:05:00 +0000

Taken at W San Francisco

Enjoying the lake view at the start of the SF Half Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:50:00 +0000

Taken at San Francisco 2nd Half Marathon Startt

Deadline Painting Group for July: something abstract

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:38:00 +0000

See the full gallery on Posterous

Me and Olympic runner, author and coach Jeff Galloway

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 03:07:00 +0000

Taken at Jeff Galloway Running Camp

6:00am run up the Western States trail with Galloway Running Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:37:00 +0000

Taken at Lake Tahoe

Dog owners must be on leash

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:12:00 +0000

Taken at The Village At Squaw Valley

Run run run

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:51:00 +0000

Taken at Squaw Valley Lodge

Dean Karnazes and Jim Axelrod talk about running

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 03:20:00 +0000

Taken at Book Passage Bookstore

Zoe Nature's Michael Mountain blogging on Orcas

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:16:00 +0000

via zoenature.org

I'm a big fan of Zoe Nature, a website devoted to animals and the world of nature.

This week, Editor-in-Chief Michael Mountain is blogging about orcas from a conference on San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest.

The first entry is about the birthday party that was held on the island for Grandma J2 – the matriarch of the “J” clan of orcas. It was her 100th birthday (she's in the photo above).

While no one knows exactly when Grandma J2 was born, the whale researchers can give a fairly good estimate, and they’ve figured out that she must have been born around 1911. Hers is an amazing story.

The visit includes outings with the orcas, presentations from some of the world’s experts on orcas, and other fun stuff.

You can learn more about J2 and news from the trip at zoenature.org.