24 Hours of... Booty!

(If that doesn't get your attention, what will?)

This is Dave here and I wanted to take over the blog for a minute to ask you to consider something really cool that I'm participating in this summer. I've helped as a volunteer for over a year now and will be riding for the first time this July in the 10th Annual 24 Hours of Booty bike ride in Charlotte. It's a 24-hour bike ride that raises money for national and local cancer initiatives.


You can help here by making a donation of any size. Visit the Booty website to be inspired by some great stories and see how you can help as a volunteer or at other local events.

Ordinary Riders. Extraordinary Cause.

24 Hours of Booty is a registered non-profit that has raised more than $1 million in the fight against cancer. I'm a member of the Bank of America team and our goal this year to crush last year's high by raising $100,000 as a team and we're almost halfway there already.

Why should you join?

• Take part in an awesome event supporting a great cause: the fight against cancer
• Be inspired by those who have overcome, those who are battling now and those who have battled courageously
• Come out, have a good time and get a good chuckle as I sport the lycra shorts

Who benefits from your donations and time?

• LIVESTRONG, the national beneficiary and foundation started by champion cyclist Lance Armstrong. LIVESTRONG believes that in the battle with cancer, unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. LIVESTRONG provides the practical information and tools people living with cancer need to live strong.

Also, half of 'Booty donations go to these great local initiatives:

• The Blumenthal Cancer Center at Carolinas Medical Center
• The Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas
• The Keep Pounding Fund, which honors the late Carolina Panthers player and coach Sam Mills and former player Mark Fields.

What can YOU do?

• You can make a donation of any amount to support the cause
• Volunteer to help out at 24 Hours of Booty in Charlotte, Maryland or Atlanta
• Visit this site and be inspired by stories of courage and hope
• Spread the word to others
• Would your company like to participate as a sponsor, matching gift or in another way? I can help with any questions in those areas.

Flying Chicken Nuggets and Vuvuzelas

Early last week I noticed an odd sound off in the distance. It sounded like a constant industrial hum, and it was only during the day, so I assumed it was construction somewhere. Then it got closer, and I realized it was cicadas, a lovely insect I had never encountered until we moved here. I was a little confused, though, since I've never heard that many or seen them this early--usually they don't come out until July or August.

And then I did some reading. Apparently there are two kinds of cicadas in this area: annuals and periodicals. The annuals are the ones we usually see; they spend 2-5 years underground as nymphs, then come up for the summer, make some noise, maybe hang out on my window screen and freak me out (seriously, they look like houseflies the size of my thumb, with giant beady eyes). The periodicals spend 13 or 17 years underground, depending on the brood. But they're not staggered or anything. They stay together--after 13 years underground, all of these nymphs come up at the same time, make a big racket, and then go away for another 13 years. So the gang we have outside right now is Brood XIX, or the Great Southern Brood. They last came out in 1998, and will be back in 2024.

Mabes points out a cicada surrounded by molted skins

They're telling us they'll only be around for another couple of weeks. You can see them swarming in the trees. They are harmless, but annoying when they thunk into the car or land on you while you're running. Apparently they're very high in protein and a delicacy in some countries; one article I read said that dogs and birds see them as flying chicken nuggets. I think I'll pass. Even with our windows closed, you can hear their buzz outside. And when you step outside, it sounds like vuvuzelas and maracas. At their loudest, it's difficult to carry on a conversation outside, and when I come in, my ears are ringing.

Here's Annabelle outside; it's hard to convey how loud it is:

But it'll be over in a couple of weeks, so I think it's kind of interesting while it lasts. I'm not looking forward to the mess of all the dead cicadas, though.

Me, According to Mabes

At church yesterday, the kids filled out a questionnaire about their moms and then they drew a picture of their moms. I was going to just take a picture of the questionnaire and post it, but it's written in yellow.

A picture of My Mom:

My mom's name is Allison.

My mom is 32 years old.

My mom likes to read.

My mom has 2 blue eyes.

My mom weighs this much: 40 pounds

My mom's birthday is on April 26.

My mom was born in _____________.

My mom's favorite food is soup.

My mom likes to help me draw.

My mom is the best at being quiet.


Two things: Last week, she said my favorite food was candy, so this at least makes me sound a little healthier. And while she no longer considers me the best cooker (I'm guessing it's because I make her eat soup, which she really does not like), it's good to know that she thinks I'm the best at being quiet. I guess it's the whole admire-in-others-the-talents-you-lack thing.