I'm so proud to have had the opportunity to sit down and chat with local singer, Ashley Forrest.  It's always a good feeling when one of our Baltimore family "make it big."  Ashley just released her debut album titled "Seven Hundred Miles."  She joined me for our weekly local music show, Charm City Country.  Just in case you missed it, here's the interview. 

We're proud of you Ashley!

She'll be holding an album release party on May 19th at Rams Head in Annapolis.  For more details, CLICK HERE.

Part 1

Part 2

My adoration for my home city is not a secret.  I spent the first 22 years of my life in the Boston area.  It holds a special place in my heart.  While I pull for the local teams, I can only root for them when they're not playing my Red Sox and Patriots.  My family still lives up there.  In fact, my sister lives only about a mile from where the explosions took place. 

There are many places to donate to those recovering in Boston.  I came across this unique t-shirt campaign and I bought in. Below is the design that can be found on the shirt.  The proceeds go directly to the Red Cross Eastern Mass division.

Photo: Rachel Jacobsen & CustomInk.com

If you're interested in helping by buying a shirt, you can do so RIGHT HERE.  They stop selling them next week so there is a limited time frame on it.

I've had a lot of people reach out to me to see how I've been doing through all of this.  I figured now I can actually put some thoughts into words.  Monday was a very scary day for me.  I've seen larger tragedies unfold, but I've never witnessed one that took place in a location that I knew.  I saw images of buildings, restaurants and streets that I had been around.  Hearing news anchors reference towns and areas that I know well made it a very emotional situation.

I was lucky enough to not have known anyone that was injured in the explosions.  My sister was perfectly fine all holed up in her apartment trying to avoid the masses of people in town for the marathon.  That being said, the three minutes it took me to contact her were probably the most terrifying moments of my life.  I almost cried out of relief when I finally got a text from her. 

I've heard a lot of people using the phrase, "They messed with the wrong city."  I feel like that phrase is being taken out of context.  I just read a great article giving it a little more explanation.  Anyone who has seen the explosions broadcast on the news can remember seeing the blast followed instantly by first responders running head first into the smoke.  But, they weren't alone.  Runners and innocent bystanders also made their way into the crowd.  That's the kind of attitude I've always loved about Boston, and the New England area.  You need help?  There is someone that will give it to you.  Some of these people had been running for hours yet they still had the instant reaction to run into an unfamiliar, and potentially life-threatening, situation just to help a stranger they didn't know.  That's what that phrase means.  As the author of the article says, it's not like people are secretly meeting in coffee houses to hash out a plan.  The people of Boston are not good at playing the victim.  They are picking each other up and living their lives just the way they want to, and always have.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Words cannot express my gratitude for all of your donations, no matter how big or small.  I'm pretty certain I can speak for the children, their families and the researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital when I say that the money is so greatly appreciated.  It's because of people like you that cures/treatments for some of the deadliest diseases have been discovered and no family has ever had to pay St. Jude for their care. 

I'm going to make you proud, Baltimore.  I'm going to make this 1/2 marathon my...well...I have to keep this blog clean.  Maybe I'll just say that Nashville won't know what hit it when I get down there for the race on 4/27. 

Thank you all so much for your support.  It WILL change lives.

Just two more days until the fundraising is all said and done.  The countdown is really on now.  Thanks to all of the amazing donations from you, I'm so close to hitting my goal.  As of the time I'm writing this blog, I'm only about $200 behind. 

You can make a donation to my fundraising efforts for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital HERE.

This might sound a little strange, but I'm even more excited to run in the 1/2 marathon after what happened up in Boston.  I don't think we can live our lives in fear.  If we do, the bad guys win.  I'm going to head to Nashville on April 27th and run as fast as my legs will carry me in support of the amazingly strong children at St. Jude and their families.  No cowardly act like the bombing in Boston is going to stop me from doing whatever I can to help them. 

They may not be country, but I love Daft Punk.  The electronic duo have been making incredible music for so long now.  Did you see Tron: Legacy?  They did the whole soundtrack.  I'm always amazed by the sounds they come up with.  Daft Punk has a new album coming out soon and they've just released the first single.  It features Pharrell.  I'm loving it.  I figured I had to share it with all of you.