Expanding a little more.

I have had a little more time to reflect on the Long Walk.  I don't have a ton of time to get into it, but I will touch on a few high points.

Although we had a great amount of mileage to cover each day there were broken up by great conversations.  People would fall in and out of cadence with one another, sharing stories and songs and observations.  There were also pit stops as well.  One day we stopped in Carnation at Oxbow Farms where we picked fava beans and raspberries for the Ballard Farmers Market on Sunday.  In addition to harvesting we wrote love notes to the prospective purchasers of the produce.

We also got to experience a pop up seltzer stand... I had a celery seltzer... it was really yummy.

In addition to these little things we had the Mid-Point Mashup which was a community barbeque with art projects and performances and our formal dinner on Saturday night (which included some great Nettle Beer which I enjoyed a bit too much).... overall it was a great time.

Back

I made it back safely last night around 8:30.

I will go over things more in detail later, but need more time to process.

I will say that the Long Walk was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in a long time.  I walked over 73 miles total, did a lot of talking and thinking and dancing...  I met a lot of great people from different areas. 

Here are a few abstract photos for you...

I think I might be ready...

Tomorrow I head off on the Long Walk.  I am only slightly concerned about my feet/legs/knees...

It was one year ago today that they cleaned up my meniscus... it feels pretty good for the most part.

Have I mentioned that I am going to give up sugar starting the first of August?  I don't know if I'm going to go cold turkey, but I'm going to try...  I think it might be just what I need to get my ass in gear.

Okay, back to the long walk....  I am taking my camera, my cell phone solar charger, food, a roller for my aching calves, and my digital voice recorder...  hopefully I won't forget anything too important... I just need to make sure I have enough underwear and socks...  and sunscreen.  It's supposed to be 80 degrees both today and tomorrow.  I don't want to get all toasted and be uncomfortable for the rest of it...

I lost one of my toenails on Sunday night... it's from all that running...  I'm going to lose another one soon I think... so much for having cute feet...

I won't be back until next week (blog wise)...  I am not taking my laptop with me (yes  - crazy I know...).  I can do it!

I saw this on Huffington Post this morning....

short week!

I'm pretty excited about the Long Walk this weekend.  I'm hoping my feet don't kill me too much.  My plantar fasciitis hasn't been bugging me too much lately.  I still feel the pain, but it's manageable...  considering I usually walk at least 7 or 8 miles each day without too much discomfort I should be able to do 15 no problem.  Only time shall tell.

This weekend turned out to be alright... I had a good visit with my Dad yesterday.  He was sleepy (that's the norm)... but he didn't seem too discombobulated... and he complimented me on my earrings. 

I'm hoping the work week is not too challenging...  I only have to work three days so hopefully it won't kick my backside too much.

I'm started putting some new things in motion...  I can't divulge too much just yet, but let's just say I'm thinking about what would make me happy and I'm doing something about it...  (no, it's not an arranged marriage...).

I managed to vacuum my living room yesterday.  It's still a pit, but it's a cleaner pit than it has been...

I guess there's always time to do things when I get home from the gym tonight!  I can always clean while I watch Bachelor Pad!

What do I know.

I decided to take a core class yesterday and now I am regretting it... ouch.

I am happy to report that I did get around to doing some cleaning in my apartment yesterday...  I rearranged my bedroom all feng shui like...   hopefully this will help with my wisdom and education areas... my bedroom is not set up to facilitate a good relationship flow, but somehow that doesn't surprise me too much.  Oh well, I'll take the education areas...

Crap - where did the morning go?  I have to get ready to go to the gym. 

Today I am going to get things put together for my big ass long walk next weekend.  I am picking up a tent I'm borrowing and I will probably clean up the apartment a bit more...  If I ever want to invite people over I should get rid of some stuff....

Okay, that's it.

xoxoxo  I love you all.

Rainy Days and Fridays (always get me down?)

Rainy rainy rainy!

This morning I shall trudge my way to work in the rain...  I'm not really looking forward to it.  I have to stop and pick up bagels too...

I have finally made it to the end of the week.  I am looking forward to not having to teach tonight.  The classes downtown are going alright... last night I had six people as opposed to one the previous week.  That's good.

This weekend I have a few things going on.  I am subbing class tomorrow, and I have to do laundry and get things put together for the Long Walk.   I am thinking of making a special t-shirt for the occasion....  I also REALLY need to clean up the apartment.  I have the dishes done but the rest of the place needs a clean sweep.

Overall I'd give my being a 7.

could be worse.

What I know now/today

I have made it to mid-week. 

The start of this week has been mediocre.  Not too bad, not too great.

The best news I've had so far this week is that I got a longer cord for the ipod connector at the downtown club so I can use any playlist I want and I can control the music without having to hop off the bike.

Last night I had nine people in class which was nice change from last Thursday when I had one person.

I found out yesterday that I'm not having people staying at my place this weekend so that's a bit of a relief...

I need to figure out something new to do with my life.  I need to get out more...  maybe the Long Walk next weekend will help spur something new in me.

what now?

Monday has graced us again... I am feeling the effects of eating half a can of frosting last night before I went to bed...

I feel kind of icky.

I didn't get around to cleaning much yesterday.

I did get to visit Dad, but he was napping for the most part.  He woke up for a little while, but kept nodding off... that's alright.  Just being there is important.  I'm not going to force him to interact with me if he needs to nap. 

I feel gross...  maybe I need to purge all bad things from my apartment.

Maybe I need a new life.

Derby and Drama...

Okay, the title of this post is a bit misleading... I did go to the roller derby last night and it was fun.  I think I may go back again in the future... unfortunately this was the last bout of the season...  it seems like it would be a fun thing to do in the winter to get out...  I can even walk down to the Seattle Center to do it...

The only drama I have in my life right now is getting my apartment clean in the near future... I think I am going to be having company next weekend.  I wonder if I will ever have a truly clean apartment...  Maybe if I had someone to clean for other than myself.  Maybe If I had a maid.  Maybe if I had a bucket to go with my mop...  maybe if I didn't have all these excuses...

Switching gears to me (okay, the above paragraphs were  all about me too).... this morning in class I had a woman in it who is in a wheelchair.  She was able to get up on the bike and able to vary her resistance to get a good workout.... it was nice to see.

This afternoon I am going to go visit Dad.  It's been a few weeks since I've been there.  I was going to go last week, but my cold prohibited me from going.....   I like going to visit but I get very apprehensive.  You never know what you're going to get.  Is he going to be cranky, is he going to be sleeping??  Is he going to be making sense?  I always feel better when I get there but it's hard sometimes. 

The other day I had a voicemail from my sister and my first thought was that something had happened to my Dad...  it didn't have anything to do with that, but still it made me a bit nervous.

Sometimes I think it might be easier if I had someone else to go visit him with me...  it sucks to be alone sometimes.

This week I am back to my crazy teaching schedule (I need more pants) and getting prepared for my Long Walk.  (oh, and the cleaning...).

Busy Day!

I have a bunch to do today...

I'm finally getting back to ww (let's see what the damage is)..
Haircut
laundry
ROLLER DERBY!

I think I may attempt to clean the apartment as well... too much to do...


Last night I stopped by REI and picked up a smallish backpack for my long walk..  I think I may get everything together in time...  I sure hope so.  There were a bunch of people there picking up their packets for the STP .... maybe someday if I get a bike I'll do that.  It would be nice to have a bike and actually ride it.

I guess I should go...  I hope I can remember where I parked my car...  (oh yeah, I remember now...).

I'm still here

I am having a bit of a challenge getting over this cold... I'm feeling a bit better, but it's still not 100 percent.

I managed to make it through my new teaching schedule and I have found that I have a problem...

not enough pants...

It looks like I will have to up the amount of laundry I do on a regular basis... I can't teach without pants can I?  I think I may have misplaced a pair of pants somewhere... hmmm... maybe when I feel better I can do a clothing check.

Yesterday I made a long list of things I have to do in order to get my immediate living area into a more pleasing space... once again my dishes have stacked up a bit (luckily, it's mostly coffee cups)...  I also need to organize and put away art making things....  I was thinking I should have a yard sale.  Too bad I don't have a yard.


Tomorrow night I will be going to the roller derby.  I know ROLLER DERBY!  My friend Jenna asked me if I want to go, and since I've decided that I need to get out more often I said yes.  AND it doesn't start too late so I can get home at a reasonable time and sleep...

Okay, that's what I know this morning...  Oh, we're having doughnuts at work this morning and I think there may be a salted caramel old fashioned one out there with my name on it!

woot woot.

Last night

Two things last night.

one - I taught at the downtown club.  It went alright, but there's no microphone and I'm losing my voice.  I was a bit croaky...  and my bike kept having issues...  I'll get used to it...

two - I had my meeting for the Long Walk.  I have a lot to gather for my adventure.  I'm pretty excited and am hopeful that my feet won't bug me too much on the trek.  I think I should be okay...  I think I'm going to have to stop by REI during lunch in the near future and get supplies.  FUN FUN FUN!

I'm over the hump when it comes to teaching.. only two more classes then I get a few days off.  Hopefully I don't get too worn down...  I will say though that it's more money in my wallet so I won't complain now.

My cold continues it's progression to my chest.... it doesn't feel as tight as yesterday and my headache is better...

okay, my blog post has grown stale...  I used to be funny.

What I've missed...

It was kind of refreshing not being around technology for a week.

I did miss the whole Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise drama so I'm kind of bummed... they have a settlement already?  I guess that's what happens when you have a lot of money and have people who don't want a long drawn out process to mar any organization one superstar may be involved in.

My cold has made it's progression from a sore throat to a tightness in my chest.  It's moving pretty fast so I hope it will be gone by the weekend...  I hit the snooze button a couple of times this morning and considered going to work late, but I think I shall just tough it out.

What else.... Philip Seymour Hoffman has been cast in Catching Fire - the next movie in the Hunger Games trilogy... that's good news.

Tonight I start teaching at the downtown club... hopefully people will come...   hopefully I don't lose my voice by trying to yell too loud.

THEN I have a meeting about the Long Walk... so that means I will be sitting in a meeting while being a hot and sweaty - yuck.  Oh well... that's life I guess.

this photo is of a bunch of counselors who were "supervising" work at the new Peace Garden at camp...  oh the memories...

I think I shall now recess to my cup of coffee and try to clear my throat (chest) a little bit...

Only a few compliants...

Overall I had a good week at camp, but I have come down with a cold... or at least a sore throat...  I didn't have any cold medicine in the apartment so I will have to venture out sometime today...

I slept a good nine hours last night.  I know it feels wrong to go to bed at 9pm on Saturday night but I was tired!

Today shall be filled with cleaning, laundry, and trying to get a handle on the cold.... this week I start teaching at the downtown club... hopefully the cold won't hinder me too much.  Got to get rid of it sooner rather than later.

My head hurts too much to be more scintillating....  there's always tomorrow!

I bet you thought I was dead.

nope - here I am....

it's been a long week at camp and I can be sure of the following things:

You should not do the worm on a concrete basketball court. (that is unless you want abrasions and bruises on your knees).

A diet high in white flour and other junk produces a lot of gas.

Youth these days are a heck of a lot more talented than we were back in the day... or maybe we were, but there wasn't the pressure like today to do more activities and have more accomplishment...

I also know it's not easy to be coherent after only three hours of sleep...

Here are some photos to occupy your time...