01.01.70

Author. River-runner. River lover. Singer-songwriter. Environmental firebrand. Katie Lee has achieved many titles and accolades in her 92 years -- and she exhibits no signs of slowing down.

Now, Lee has released a freeform fictional Western called "The Ballad of Gutless Ditch." She'll read excerpts from the limited edition book as part of a free event at the Northern Arizona University Cline Library Assembly Hall. The event is Sunday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and includes live music from Tony Norris and Warren Miller.

"Gutless Ditch" is about a Western mining town in the late 1880s and the trials and tribulations of its residents. Jerome artist Robin Anderson created 12 etchings for the book, which has a limited edition printing of 500 copies.

Although the book is new, the story itself has been presented on the stage multiple times and in multiple forms.

"Katie Lee was visited by a very patient Muse in the 1950s, who delivered, almost intact, a wonderful romance of the old West, a play in free verse," Miller said. "Katie named it 'The Ballad of Gutless Ditch,' and over the next 50 years, it had several readers' theater presentations and a full production at the Sharlot Hall Museum's Blue Rose Theater in Prescott.

Source: Arizona Daily Sun

by Manda

Recently I got a bee in my bonnet: Run a half marathon with Team World Vision to help raise money for clean water in East Africa.

And this past Sunday morning? I DID IT! And up next? I'm running he LA Marathon in March . EEP!

When people find out that I'm training for a marathon they almost always ask me: HOW? How do you do it? When observed with the naked eye, I'm quite obviously NOT a typical runner type. I'm more of a squishy-around-the-middle Mom Type who never gets enough sleep and always has children hanging off every appendage. Finding time to run is hard, and if you don't have what you need to get out the door it's nearly impossible (for me anyway).

I have a few tricks in my arsenal, the first of which is the beloved B.O.B. Revolution Duallie stroller .

We received this AMAZING stroller as a Christmas gift last year from my husband's parents. The purpose it was to serve? A carriage for our kids at one of our favorite hotspots: Disneyland. HA! That's right! I never EVER planned on actually running with this thing because that would be CRAZY! Little did I know then how many running miles I'd log while heaving ole Bob up a hill. If you've wondered if the playground hype is true, I'm here to tell you that it is! This stroller rides incredibly smooth, comfortably seats my three-year-old (37 pounds and TALL), and my one-year-old (23 pounds and precious), and can be turned with one finger. It also fits through a standard doorway, which is lucky since I take it everywhere! The only complaint I have is the folding mechanism. You have to yank on a rope-type thing behind the seats to get it to release and fold down and I can never, ever get the thing to work on the first try. Other than that, me + BOB = Love 4 Ever....

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by bestboy

If your skin is fair or you prefer to shield your face and neck from the sun, wear a sun hat. Despite what you feel, ladies can nonetheless look chic in a sun hat. Yes, there are many sun hat styles that will not make it into your preferred fashion magazine.

Hollywood has dictated that sun tans are in and sun hats are out. Many women try their hand at year around tanning via the use of natural sunlight or makeshift tanning beds. Having a year around glow may appear nice, but the effects are damaging to your skin. Yes, there are numerous stigmas related to sun hats: matronly, old fashioned, and out of style. However, sun hats are a fantastic choice for extended periods inside the sun.

Hiking, fishing, running, gardening, along with other fun outdoor activities call for a sun hat. Crushable hats make wonderful sun hats.

Crushable hats are in a position to be bent and folded and the hat doesn't shed its shape. Should you travel frequently, a crushable hat might be placed inside your luggage without any difficulty. Bucket hats might be worn by men and women.

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