spare me

Occasionally, Amy Marks comes home to find a bowling ball at her doorstep. “There’s no note with it or anything,” she says. “Somebody just left it and I have no idea who it was.” People bring them to her because she’s the bowling ball lady of Dallas. Instead of planting colorful blooms (she says she’s “lousy at flowers”), Marks paints bowling balls and arranges them in the garden of her Capri Drive home. “I’m up to 97 now,” she says. Marks is an artist who recently won accolades at the State Fair of Texas for her handmade dolls. But for fun, she searches thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets for old bowling balls. They’re harder to find than they used to be, she says. And many thrift stores don’t sell them for fear of some kid lobbing one across the store. Marks remembers that she and her nephew once found seven balls in one red-letter day. The bowling ball garden of Capri Drive will continue to grow, she says. “Of course, now I want 100.”

—RACHEL STONE

JOIN US FOR A THREE-DAY CELEBRATION OF FAMILY, FITNESS & FUN.

The world2010, an entire weekend of events attracting fitness enthusiasts from across North Texas and runners from around the world. HEALTH

Pick up last minute race essentials and explore a showcase of exhibitors dedicated exercise and fitness.

Kids of all ages can enjoy a free, family-oriented fitness area with games, activities, food and an entertainment stage. Kids can also

The certified courses will give runners a scenic tour through Arlington and will finish on the field of the Stadium where the Field Festival celebration awaits including live music and refreshments. All Half Marathon & 5K participants will receive a Tmedal. D-tags will provide state-of-the-art timing and prizes will be awarded for the first male and female finishers.

ENVISION YOUR FINISH-LINE MOMENT IN HIGH DEFINITION!

The Half Marathon & 5K will both end on the field, with each runner displayed on the worldfamous Cowboys Stadium Video Boards.

The old adage “good things come in small packages” is not always true with canines. Sometimes little dogs are yippy yappy things, no? But tiny, perfectly coifed SOPHIE looks so sweet in her shiny red bow, that we know neither a yip nor a yap could ever escape her precious face. She’s an absolute “angel” — at least that’s what her people parents GARY and PAULA FEISEL of Lake Highlands tell us.