Welcome to the Vroom Vroom room

As you probably all know, my hobby is Nascar memorabilia collecting. This began shortly after our moving to Ohio and meeting my racing buddy Jim. Slowly my collection began to grow to what it is today. Sadly, over the course of last Summer through Winter, my beloved hobby room or "Sanctuary," as it became affectionately known fell into a state of total disrepair while some deep house cleaning was going on. (my room was trashed.) This lasted until just recently when I finished the cleanup, and much as the mythical Phoenix, The Vroom Vroom Room rose from the ashes of my beloved Sanctuary

As an explanation as to how the Vroom Vroom room got its name, I need to go back to just shortly after I was released as a ward clerk and called as a Primary nursery leader. At that time my darling wife Sylvia asked me if I had a group of 1/64 scale ( hot Wheels car size ) race cars that I would be willing to contribute to our nursery. I did, and happily made the donation. Maura has been assisting us in the nursery while also keeping her young son Jared company ( Jared is one of our nursery kids. ) Upon the debut of the race cars in nursery, Maura informed us that Jared just loves cars and calls them, you guessed it, "vroom vroom's." Fast forward now to just a few weeks ago. As work was nearing it's completion on my room, and as we sat in Sacrament meeting this week a long side the Prince family, Jessica was holding Jared on her lap as he thumbed through his cars and trucks picture book. Occasionally Jessica would point to a picture in the book to which Jared wold respond with an enthusiastic, "Vroom vroom." Syl and I both enjoyed the total cuteness of the moment, but I was inspired. At that moment I knew that my rebuilt sanctuary would be officially known as "The Vroom Vroom room."

Some of the things the vroom vroom room includes are two actual used Nascar stock car tires , an engine piston a race car hood lock pin , two wheel lug nuts, many driver autographs and over 300 cars. Well folks, I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into my labor of love, My salute to gas-guzzling v-8's. The all new E,H Johnson Vroom Vroom Room.

F.P.2009; week 1 report

11 POUNDS LOST

3 MILES WALKED

IT HAS BEGUN

F.P.2009 officially began today as I kick off my drive to join my team at next years Flying Pig. I have a whole bunch of walking to do and at least 60 lbs to lose before next May. So I hope I can count on all of your support and prayers as I set out in pursuit of this lofty goal.

Next May It's MY turn.

progress reports posted weekly

Quote of the week:

"We will praise God if we win, and we'll praise God if we lose."
-Line from the movie, " Facing the Giants."

(posted in honor of my champion)

Confessions from a squealer

SQUEALER: n. (pron. Skwee - lur) A fan \ spectator at the Flying Pig Marathon.

What a day ! I could have never imagined a day in downtown Cincinnati could have ever been so life changing without getting shot. I must admit that with as enormous of a part of life as my interest in Nascar has been, (and in many ways still is) Syl pointed out to me that it has not been a subject of conversation once with me since the stock car race ended late Saturday night. pretty amazing, huh. Fact is that as big of a motor sports fan as I am, and as many races as I have attended, I have never been treated to the pure inspiration, heroism, and motivation that I was while standing in the rain at the "finish swine" Saturday. I watched my dearly beloved best friend and companion Sylvia, and our dear friend, Sylvia's teammate and my " newest sister, " Maura accomplish a very lofty goal. That will truly be a highlight of the year to me. But it was only the beginning. I saw people who would dream that excessive weight, diabetes, and a missing limb was all that was wrong with them cross the finish line, something that I couldn't do this year. This humbled me. I watched blind people with an escort cross the line. I watched people with all manner of challenges cross the line. There was an electric wheelchair bound man whose chair lost power on the course during Syl's event that was pushed across the line by a group of complete strangers but fellow competitors. Perhaps one of the most memorable moments was when a severely impaired, elderly man for whom it was a struggle to even walk, crossed the line to the wild cheers (er, squeals ) of the fans there. All of this has truly changed my life.

With this in mind, I would now like to make it public and official about my intended entry into next years 5k event. With the support of two beautiful women in my corner, and a year to train and condition, I see absolutely no reason why I couldn't cross the "finish swine" next year.

I also wanted to thank my team, Pink Princess Racing, for all the pride, motivation, and encouragement.

I love you guys

-MOSL

LOFTY GOAL ACCOMPLISHED!!

THEY DID IT! Sylvia and Maura both completed their races today. In a true to life Olympian fashion deserving of American Gladiator status, my beautiful and very loved wife, and my sister from another mother participated in their respective legs of the 2008 Flying Pig while battling harsh elements and physical pain. ( it rained cats and dogs and Sylli got blisters on the arches of her feet. ) Maura was up first leaving the starting gate among a vast multitude of runners to compete in the 10k run at 8:00am. She completed it in a personally exciting fashion having slowed to a walk just 2 very brief times. We celebrated her moral victory, she cooled off, we rested, and then it was time for Sylli's turn. Maura decided to join Sylli on the 5k walk. I was very pleased about this decision because it meant Syl would have company as she walked. As I watched my wife standing with our dear friend at the starting gate, my heart soared with pride honor , and love. The starting gun fired at 11am and a life changing adventure was under way. I found refuge fron the rain, then made my way to the finish line after the rain began to let up. I couldn't have been prouder of my wife as she strolled across the finish line after completing 3.5 gruelling miles in the pouring rain. Once again, my heart soared. I am so happy, and proud of "The sweat sisters" for completing such a lofty goal. Todays experience I think is going to become a launching pad for me to correct some of the problems in my life, hopefully culminating in my crossing the finish line physically with her next year rather than just in my heart as I did today.
I wanted to close this post by giving praise and thanks to Our Heavenly Father for showing such a God given friend as Maura into our lives. Her inspiration and strength made today possible.

Prince family, We love you guys