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Posts published in February 2014

Theodore Roosevelt and the Mysterious S. J. Wooy

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Fierce Roosevelt

The Mister picked up a fascinating Theodore Roosevelt lithograph yesterday.

Roosevelt S. J. Wooy

This lithograph is signed in pencil, by the artist, "S. J. Wooy." However, I cannot describe how frustratingly little information there is about the artist. Scratch that, how the are just enough tidbits to drive me crazy.

For example, of the few other pieces of his work I could find online, one was a similar style portrait of, of all people, Benito Mussolini  "For H. P. Fletcher, with appreciation. S. J. Wooy " dated 1924.

Um, thanks for this picture of a soon-to-be dictator?

But H. P. Fletcher was Henry Prather Fletcher, an American diplomat would serve as the American Ambassador to Italy from 1924- 1929. And- are you ready to come full circle?- Fletcher served as one of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders.

Coincidence? Who knows. In the meantime, I think we should hang this over our couch, Theodore Roosevelt is the mister's favorite president. That is, as long as we can find a complimentary picture of my favorite president to round things out. I imagine it will begin to look like a Roosevelt family tree.....

S. J. Wooy Signiture

 

The pencil signature of the mysterious S. J. Wooy.

 

The paper sticker on the back which reads:

 

 

J. Assenheim & Son     J. Assenheim & Son

Importers of

Etchings, Engravings, Etc.

Fine Picture Framing

81 New Street         New York

Qualifying for the New York City Marathon

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It has happened!

[caption id="attachment_354" align="aligncenter" width="595"]Officially Registered Officially Registered[/caption]

I am running the TCS New York City Marathon on November 2, 2014!

I cannot begin to explain what the New York City Marathon means to me, or even how the process of committing to qualifying affected me (though I will try to in a following post). All I know is that I am literally so excited that I have  found myself teary eyed on several occasions- on the train, during practice runs, at finish lines- thinking about how it would feel to actually be coming down the final mile. It's super embarrassing, but true.

Not only did I decide spontaneously that I would immediately begin fulfilling my 9+1 credits, but I decided in August, which left little more than four months to run nine races.And since I am no speed demon (sub 1:30:00  ½ Marathon Qualifying Time? Wici-What!), I qualified via the New York Road Runner’s 9+1 Program.

(Note: Unbeknownst to me, this year was the last year you spontaneously join NYRR mid-year and qualify for the following year. Now you must be a member from Jan-Dec of the year you complete your 9+1).

[caption id="attachment_353" align="aligncenter" width="324"]Done! Done![/caption]

From August 24th to December 14, I ran 9 races: the Percy Sutton Harlem 5KAutism Speaks 4M, Bronx 10 Mile , Grete's Great Gallop 1/2 Marathon Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff 5MNYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5KJoin the Voices 5M ,Race to Deliver 4M, and the Ted Corbitt Classic 15K.

[caption id="attachment_384" align="aligncenter" width="480"]Qualifying for the TATA NYC Marathon Qualifying for the TCS NYC Marathon[/caption]

Looking back on those races, two are tied for my favorite: the Bronx 10 Mile (because I had never ran 10 miles before and this race really changed my perspective on running), and the Ted Corbitt 15K (because I finally could breath a sigh of relief, having squeezed in all nine races before the end of the year, and because I had my mom, my aunt, and my mister there to celebrate with me).

Now I just have to learn how to train for a marathon! Then again that is why I found myself signing up for a "practice" marathon this spring... but that is another story. A whole new racing season is coming and I can't wait to get started.