Pre-Race Intimidation of Opponents

Tough guy (dressed for Purim)

Tonight, Lucas and I engaged in a type of intimidation and pre-race hype that is derived from ancient Maori culture in New Zealand. The All Blacks, the NZ rugby team, go all tough and native in order to frighten their opponents. According to a New Zealand website, "The haka is a type of ancient Maori war dance traditionally used on the battlefield, as well as when groups came together in peace... Actions include violent foot-stamping, tongue protrusions and rhythmic body slapping to accompany a loud chant."

Lucas and I did our own version of this, of course, on behalf of mommy who can now safely run the half marathon with no opponents since surely we scared them all away.

Here is what we did:

Here is where we learned it:

Which do you think was tougher and more intimidating version? No contest, in my humble opinion.

Tough family, actually. Don't mess!

Tough hombre (also dressed for Purim)

East Coast!

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Off to the Races!

Off to the races! Let me outta here!!

It's all mommys fault. Really, if anyone is to blame, mommy is the culprit, the designer of her own fate. I say that in response to her and abba's complaints that, when let loose, all Lucas and I do is run. 

We take off. 

In opposite directions.

We never ever stay put in one place for more than two seconds. 

In fact, without looking back, we just surge forward with all the speed we can muster!

Usually toward streets or parking lots. 

This fact was discovered during our recent weekend away. Due to beautiful weather we spent our whole weekend outdoors at a kibbutz near the Dead Sea. If we weren't held or strapped into a stroller we would simply run. No amount of toys or people could tempt us to stay in one isolated and safe area. And nothing could hold us back, except for that stroller with the straps or being held in a vice grip by some adult.

Mommy and abba complained about having to spend the entire weekend chasing us. But honestly, this is what we were born to do. And that, my friends, is mommy's fault. Let us review the evidence:

Dec. 10, 2009: Mommy runs a half marathon. Nine months later I am born.

March 25, 2011: Mommy runs a full marathon. Nine months later, Lucas is born.

It is simple: mommy's actions while we were en utero are now causing some dire consequences. Some 13 miles with me and then a full 26 miles (42.2 km) with Lucas - what can you expect from us but to run like small lunatics?

So much so that mommy was too tired to really run, as in train. However, we probably helped her get in about 10 unofficial miles of running in one day. In circles. 

Exasperated, drained and feeling like a wrung-out wash cloth, mommy decided on our drive home to change all the rules. TV has now become completely acceptable if not highly encouraged in our home. Any show that would captivate us and cause us to sit still for even 15 minutes straight would be ushered into our home on a red carpet. When we got home, mommy and abba immediately implemented this new rule and plopped us in front of the TV  praying we wouldn't move for at least 2 days. It was a nice sentiment.

Now lest you think that this half marathon coming up on Friday is a harbinger of more Jansezian runners to come, it is not. However, it does mean that Lucas and I will only glean even more running adrenaline! We plan to greet mommy and her friends at the finish line. Perhaps we will run there!

We'll keep you posted! Thanks to everyone who donated to Shalva via this exciting run!

When we weren't running ourselves, we found other means to do so

I know the horse also wanted to run

Lucas was also ready to take off during his ride

Cows!

The cows loved us!

Abba running?

Not so much :)

Strapped in but happy

Pent up but thrilled

Captives. But not for long! Muahhhhh!!

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V-Day

Reach out and touch someone

Can you feel the love??

Despite landing near Valentine's Day, this post's title "V-Day" stands for "Victory Day." And that is because it was no small feat when both mommy and abba broke through the fog of exhaustion in which they perpetually dwell to realize it was February 14.

The red colored desserts at the cafe tipped off mommy, while something about delivery guys on mopeds stuffed with floral bouquets tipped off abba that this was supposed to be a day set apart from the rest. Thank goodness! Otherwise the night would've ended like it always does with dinner time battles, back-breaking baths for two babies and the infamous war on sleep by two determined little boys.

Oh wait, it did end like that! Silly me.

Hope your day was equally victorious and full of love!

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Its Time to Start Running!

Me and my new running partner

Lucas butting in on my photo shoot

Note from Daniel: Hi everyone! Today I would like to blog, because I have so much to say, but mommy has hacked into my account in order to use it for own personal business! Actually, what she has to say does sort of connect to my life as well. Mommy will be running in order to raise support for Shalva, which is a place where I have many friends and girlfriends and I also eat, learn, have therapies and become a much wiser baby in all respects. So I encourage you to read her letter and consider making a donation to a worthy cause and organization! 
Thanks from your beloved baby, 
Daniel

********

Dear Friends,

In what has become something of a tradition, I am excited to announce that I will be taking part in the Jerusalem Marathon (well, the half marathon) and again I am running to raise support for Shalva.

And really, that has lately become my motivation for running. Shalva, the Association for Mentally & Physically Challenged Children in Israel, is an amazing organization. Shalva provides a loving and goal-oriented environment where children with special needs from birth through young adulthood can develop the skills required for better lives. Children are admitted to the program regardless of ethnicity, religion or financial status. Shalva means peace of mind in Hebrew.

All of this is very personal to us. Shalva is Daniel's second home in a way. He is there every day receiving therapy and lots of love at the daycare. His teacher admitted to me that Daniel gets kissed a lot while there. I can't say that I blame anyone.

Tony and I are so grateful to Shalva. Daniel is thriving there. He is in his third year in a Shalva program. Having graduated from the Me and My Mommy program, Daniel now goes every day to the daycare.


I run for two reasons: 1. I want to encourage Daniel that we also challenge ourselves to constantly reach for higher goals and 2. I want to show support for and thank Shalva for taking care of our family. I want to express to Shalva that we as Christians appreciate their outreach to us and thank them for including us foreigners in the land in their awesome care.

As an Israeli resident I need to raise about $650. That accounts for just a fraction of the services we receive.


Will you cheer on Daniel and I in both of our training efforts by helping me reach my financial objective?  If you would like to sponsor me, visit my running profile page (http://www.run4shalva.org/view_profile.php?id=632) to donate via credit card; or make a check payable to Shalva and send it to American Friends of Shalva (denoting your support of Nicole Jansezian in the Jerusalem Marathon) at 315 Fifth Avenue, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10016. All donations to Shalva are 100 percent tax deductible.

The marathon is on March 1, 2013. You can follow the results on Daniel's blog. Of course. 

Thank you in advance for supporting me, the children of Shalva and their families, which now includes us. I look forward to sharing my progress with you!

With love from Jerusalem,
Nicole Jansezian with Tony, Daniel and Lucas too

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