It feels like I'm always busy, and the next three months won't be any exception.  I am an adventurer with an insane amount of energy and an odd ability to multi-task.  By day, I write investment opinions about stocks.  (I know - you're not yet convinced about my adventuresome spirit.)  My job has me traveling to all parts of the US, meeting with investors to share my ideas and meeting with companies to get smarter about industries on which I focus.  Outside of my day job, I teach an online finance course, manage my real estate investments, travel for fun, and train for marathons.  Recently, my dad was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, so my new list of hobbies, unfortunately, includes making trips to the hospital.

Interestingly, my dad was likely suffering from CLL, a type of blood cancer, for some time, though we had no idea.  He's now been diagnosed with Richter's Transformation, an aggressive form of cancer that occurs in about 5% of CLL cases.  My dad's first sign of illness was when he didn't quite feel right during his daily workouts, which at the age of 71 included hundreds of sit ups, push ups, and pull ups, followed by a 2.6 mile run and 30-60 minutes of elliptical training.  I think that my active lifestyle is a product of my upbringing.  As a child, my dad used to take me on runs with him and quiz me with math problems along the way.  For my third birthday, my treat was to go for a 3 mile run along San Francisco's Marina Green!   As an adult, I now run regularly as a means of stress management, a way to meet people, and an excuse to indulge in the delights my husband cooks for me - I've got to carbo load, right?  This Sunday, I will be running my third Nike Women's Marathon, an event that benefits The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the type of cancer from which my dad will die.  And, this Sunday also marks my dad's 72nd birthday.  So, while I completely stopped training when I learned of my dad's diagnosis, I will be running for him that day.  I've promised my husband not to strain myself to the point of injury (yes, he has a reason to be concern based on some of my previous behavior).  But, I recently read that no matter how much cancer treatment hurts, cancer feels worse.  No matter how much I hurt while out there climbing the hills of San Francisco and struggling at mile 23, my dad feels worse, and that will get me through this Sunday's race.  I don't expect to finish with a fabulous time.  My IT band is causing me some knee pain.  I'm distracted.  I'm still nursing a back injury from two years ago.  But, I expect to finish. 

And with the race behind me, I will be able to focus on other things, like trips up to my condo in Tahoe, a work-related visit or two to New York City, a (third) wedding celebration in Washington DC, my honeymoon to Japan and Vietnam, and a trip to Hawaii.  That list just describes the flurry of activity that's already been booked.

So, check in periodically over the next few months to read what's been happening in my life. I'll also add photos and video clips so you can get a feel for some of what I'm experiencing.  With the Sony GPS system I'll be using, you'll even be able to see the exact location of where all of the drama is taking place.