Film isn't the only thing that needs processing

Most of my women readers understand the need for "processing." Processing is a period of time needed to--well, process--the preceding events of which will eventually need discussion.

There is so much to the weekend, it's hard to let it all out at once. It's hard to get it all out. I've told friends, sometimes though tears, that it will have to come out piece by piece. I find it's very easy to start crying. Over seemingly little things. Little to others, meaningful to me.

So continue to come back here in the next few days or weeks. I will tell you all about the weekend. From the logistics to the tears.

And since you will ask, no, I'm really not all that tired. Seriously.

Pictures

Lots of work to be done on these pictures, and lots more to come, but you can click here for a small preview. Feel free to add comments!

I'm home.

I'm home. It's 11:06 a.m. and I'm still in my p.j.'s, having hobbled down to get some breakfast. Or brunch. Whatever that is.

I have so much to write about, to say, to show. I have my own pictures, and will get pictures from my team mates soon, too. I just don't know if I have it in me yet.

I will say I have some killer blisters and a very painful shin splint. I am quite the hobbler. I've applied Icy Hot, taken some Advil and will take a cold bath with epsom salts soon. I'm hoping I'm at least able to walk for school tomorrow!

I canceled my pedicure for this afternoon. And I have a massage tomorrow night that I will NOT be canceling!

I promise to write more throughout the week, and will put pictures up.
I just need a bit of breathing room first.

PS

O.M.G.

I leave tomorrow!!!

13 hours from now!

Fun Baskets

I received two baskets today. Both were fabulous.

One was from a group of people from school. An orange Halloween basket, filled with pink stuff so appropriate for the walk--blister rub, powder, band-aids, Advil, certificate for massage, certificate for pedicure, a hat, pj's, a coffee mug, tic-tacs, socks....all sorts of fun stuff. Also a very nice card that several ladies had signed. I'll carry that card with me.

At dinner, Amanda and Kimberly gave me an edible bouquet. And boy was it yummy! Or at least the pieces I ate. These strawberry-covered strawberries (like chocolate covered, but a strawberry coating of sorts) and tons of fruit. They both know I'd prefer the "healthier" option. Pretty flowers out of pineapples and cantaloupe balls, stars out of honey dew. So pretty. So tasty.


Hmm...I think I'll have some fruit with breakfast tomorrow. :)

Take that, Atkins!

As you may know, they (as in the 3 Day people) have been sending me a weekly email about training. The walks I should do that week, as well as some tid-bits of information, like how to deal with blisters or what kinds of sports drinks to drink.

Well, last week they sent a very important email about carb-loading about 3 days before the walk. Well, I'm not one not to follow rules, so I just HAD to go eat a bunch of carbs. I mean, I don't want them to come track me down or something!

On one of our walks, several women had talked about Mandola's. What a great place to load up on said carbs.

You know I try to watch what I eat. You know I try to be a little careful. Most of the time. Well, not tonight. Tonight I ate until I about burst. It was fun. I haven't eaten that much in a long time. I didn't eat my normal snacks after school, I made myself hungry (even though I was slightly nauseas, thinking about things).

Dinner was delicious. We all ate lots. We also got this antipasto plate thing, filled with meats and cheeses and tapanades and such yumminess. Desserts were all good, although I think we actually enjoyed the dinner more than the desserts--I know, I know!

Some of my most favorite people in the world were there and I couldn't have asked for a better night. What a great way to load up on carbs!!

Free Will Astrology--emphasis added

Gemini Horoscope for week of October 25, 2007

My writer friend Jeff Greenwald is looking for a publisher for his book Fifty Ways to Leave Your Comfort Zone. I think it's a great concept, which is why I'm surprised that some of Jeff's colleagues discouraged him from using that title. "At this tormented moment in history," said one person, "the last thing anyone wants to hear is how to do what's inconvenient and nerve-wracking." To be true to your current omens, however, that's exactly the advice I'm duty-bound to offer you, Gemini. The most interesting pleasures you can generate in the next few weeks will come from leaving your comfort zone. Halloween costume suggestion: whoever is least like you in the whole world.

I have PWS!!

Thanks to Barb for sending this to us. Very true....

I found this on a walker's myspace account who said she found it somewhere on here. I figured I would repost it because it was cute!

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced today an unusual outbreak of Pre-Walk Syndrome (PWS) in the State of Michigan. Although residents have been cautioned, PWS is communicable, it is not terminal, though it certainly constitutes a nuisance, not only to its victims, but to the families who care for PWS sufferers.

Symptoms of PWS are as follows: anxiety, nervousness, obsessive packing, unpacking and repacking of duffle bags and suitcases, repeated inflating and deflating of various mattresses, excessive chatter on message boards, a tendency to worry and obsess over small things and excessive fluid intake (only Gatorade will do).

Sufferers of PWS often eat large quantities of ice cream, pasta and meat products, have strange dreams, usually involving various brands of athletic shoes, socks and electrolyte replacements.

PWS sufferers also "lurk" in running stores, examining various water bottles, fanny packs, camel packs, socks and other sports paraphernalia, and are often heard to mutter "Did I get the right brand? Is this right? Should I try this now? No. No. Too late to switch."

Dr. Wal King, of the CDC, states the only known cure for PWS is physical activity. He advises PWS sufferers to take a long walk, preferably 60 miles or more in length.



Many of these symptoms are very true!! I have been to Academy twice in as many days. Been to Run Tex several times--even asked about electrolytes. I've said that it's too late to buy stuff. I've opened and deflated my thermarest. I have stuff ALL over my room. I have baggies everywhere. Obsess over small things. Who, me?! Never! Eating lots of carbs and cookies?! Of course!

I must take the proper precautions and walk 60 miles! O. M. G. I can't believe it's this week!


More (procrastinatory) blogs to come, for sure!

We made the news

Although the story was not what we were expecting, it is a start. And you can see some of the crazies I walk with :)

Click on the "Watch the Video" link, near the right side, toward the bottom to watch the coverage.

Enjoy.

Thanks, News 8 Austin. (click this link)

PS I'm wearing a blue bandana, white boa, a pink shirt (close up) and a big smile.

And some more...

Barb was nice enough to bring us some accoutrement...




We left brunch and realized we needed to synchronize our cell phones...

A few pictures of our last training walk together....

Lisa and I have matching shirts. A quote from Uncle Walt: "Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing. ... Strong and content I travel the open road."

The Pink Ladies is another group here in Austin. They walked the same way we did, but were not able to stick around for the media.


Even Stevie Ray Vaughn is proud of our efforts!

Pictures to come

Took lots of pictures today. Today was good. I have a new found energy today.

More on all that later. I'm just excited it's so close!! I can't believe it!

Maybe tomorrow I'll have the time to upload a few pictures and write some.

Kisses to all....

For you, mom

I could have also walked the perimeter of Singapore (if we're saying it's 269 sq. miles).

Twice. (By the time I'm done with all this)




More stats to come later.

Don't worry...

....I went to bed at 8:15 last night.

I haven't done any sort of exercise, but the going to bed at 8:15 sure was nice!

Eye Twitches

There are several possible causes for eye twitches. Some of which are: fatigue, lack of sleep and stress.

Hmm...I wonder if those are the possible reasons I've had an eye twitch off and on for the past few weeks. Comes and goes.

Here today (gone tomorrow, I hope!)

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm so excited (duh) about this, but I'll be so glad when it's over. To have my weekends back, to sleep in, not to worry about it. I am really looking forward to the amazing experience and after this past weekend have full confidence that I can do it (well, full confidence right now...that could change again). But I am also looking forward to it being done!

And for this stupid eye twitch to go away!

Putting things in perspective for myself

I've been tracking my miles since I've stared this whole training thing. There have been some times that I haven't been able to track my walking--like while in Singapore or walks where I don't know for sure the mileage. I've estimated here and there. I've guessed according to the time walked.

I figure I've walked almost 400 miles since I've started this.
That means (so far):

• I could walk from my house to Oklahoma City.
• I could walk from my aunt's house in Sioux Falls, SD to Dubuque, Iowa.
• I've almost walked the distance from Washington, DC to New York City. And back! (almost)
• I've basically walked from the Grand Canyon to Los Angeles!
  

That's already some pretty awesome mileage. And I've still got more to go!

"You did one day's worth!"

Today when I talked to Kimberly about our plans for tonight--when I couldn't even decide if I wanted to do dinner or not--she reminded me I did one day's worth today. And we did! We walked about 19.4 today.

Yes, it was rough, but it was do-able. I went through different phases. I actually started with much higher energy than I usually start with, so I was glad about that.

My legs didn't hurt that much, really. It was my feet. The bottoms of my feet. At times my shoulder hurt because of my camelbak. At other times, my head hurt...because of the hat? Because of the sweat? I don't know. I had a couple moment of "OH..... MY .... GOSH....." Toward the end, I was In The Zone and I trudged forward, sometimes in front of the rest of the gang. I knew I had to just do it and get to the end.

We took lots of breaks. We changed our socks. We told stories. Got to meet a new person, Gwen, too. She told me that if I needed inspiration about running a 5K, that she ran her first (of 5) marathons the year she turned 50. She's going for her 6th in her 60th year.

We talked about The Walk, and what it would be like. Our fears, our excitement, our nervousness, our joy, our disbelief that it's just around the corner. Lisa and I shared how we feel so emotional all the time. (Luckily for me, it sounds, I don't have a husband who has to deal with it!)

We talked about how today was "fine," but we have the rest of our lives going on. We have to go home and do laundry and buy groceries (and go play Bingo!) and stuff. And when we're doing The Walk, that's all we're doing, which makes things seem more achievable.

I am tired now, yes. And my legs do hurt now. Actually, my feet more than anything. But I do feel like if I had to get up and walk the same amount again tomorrow, I could.

And that makes me proud of me. Of all of us.

"You're probably walking right now...."

I can't tell you how many phone messages I've gotten with that phrase in it.

Hey, what's up? You're probably out walking right now.

Hey, how are you? I bet you're walking. ... Cuz you just told me you were going to go walking.

You're probably walking, but wanted to talk to you about tonight. You're awesome.

Got another one of those today. Well, it's hard not to, when you walk for 6 hours and 40 minutes!! That's how long we walked today. I stopped my watch during a few of our rests. I figure we were out more than seven hours.

That's a lot of walking!


We stopped at every bathroom, rested several times, even went into the Holiday Inn for a bathroom pit stop. We were very tempted to stop for some "Power Pancakes," but kept on trucking. It's always nice to stop at the hotels. They have running water in the sinks and soap and towels and everything!

Was a good and very long walk today.

I could walk to the World's Largest Pecan!

In a moment of panic, I emailed The Group my last blog....about being nervous. Nervousness loves company and I'm "glad" to hear that others are nervous. Erin reminded us how far 60 miles is.

I went to school in Seguin. According to her calculations, that's about 60 miles away. Of course I never would have thought I would ever do that.... the thought never even crossed my mind. But, if I wanted to, as of The Walk, I could walk to see The World's Largest Pecan.

I have yet to add it up, but it's been pretty amazing how far we've walked in our trainings. I'll post that after I figure it out.

And even if we don't make it, we've already done amazing things!

I think I can; I'm nervous I can't

Part of me feels like I could do the walk tomorrow. That I'd be ready to go.

Another part of me feels like I haven't done enough lately.

I know I can.

I'm still nervous, though.

And super excited, too.

Are you gonna write about us??!!

Jan was the one who asked that. I think she needed to be sure that I'd mention the walking we did this weekend.

Friday night I flew up to Sioux Falls, SD. And since this entry is part-way in honor of Jan, I'll say she was just about the best hostess ever!! I hadn't had a real dinner, and had my fill of granola bars and gum-chewing. When I got to her house, she made me soup, a sandwich, a brownie, milk and the best wine! I felt so much better after that!

We got up Saturday morning--delicious poppy seed muffins in the making--and left to go get mom. Grandpa (who's birthday we were celebrating that weekend) made a joke, in the way he does, about me not being able to do the walk. I laughed it off, knowing he wasn't serious.

The three of us drove to a nearby park and walked about 5 miles total (if i go by time). There was a big band competition going on and we got to hear some of them playing and marching. The walk was beautiful. Birds sang, the wind blew (slightly), conversation flowed. It was very nice.

We got back to the cars and mom and Jan left; I kept walking. I walked about 2 miles alone back to Jan's. It was a nice walk. An easy walk (i.e. not many hills). Although I was supposed to do 10, I did about 7 I figure.

I called grandpa when I got back to ask if I could ride with him to the party. He said to me, after I told him I just got back, "you must really be serious about this." I said I was. Of course!

I was supposed to walk 8 on Sunday, but because of church, the necessity of The Original Pancake House, and seeing a friend I hadn't seen in 6 years, there just wasn't time for walking. I figure the trucking it down the Denver airport corridor covered some of it. Like maybe a tenth of a mile or something.

Anyway, all this to say, it was a an awesome weekend. Jan sent me a very sweet email saying that I'm showing with my feet how much I love and support mom. Of course I can't remember the exact words now, but it was very sweet.

So, yes. I am showing with me feet all that I am capable of! (and you should see the callouses these feets are getting!)

Whew!

Okay, so I totally enjoyed my week(end) off. Literally did NOTHING in the way of working out last week (minus the approx. 2 miles I did before crapping out).

Two weeks ago or so, I went to TCBY after not having been there for a long time. It was the best ever! Went again last week. It was pretty good, but not as good. Something about not having it for awhile makes it good.

Today I did Body Combat, which I obviously had not done in over a week. It was great. Not my best "performance" ever, but it felt good to be back. I actually looked forward to it today! Something about not having it for awhile makes it good.

I feel better about things. I've calmed myself down, made myself realize (thanks to lots of great emails and comments) that I really will be fine. Really. And even though I know that, I had to know it!

I think after a week off, I'm mentally and physically prepared for the next step (pun intended). I'll be out of town this weekend, but plan to walk while in South Dakota. I may have to modify my walk, but I do plan on walking at least some. The schedule says 10/8, I think. Week after that is another 18-miler, I think. (I think maybe I won't listen to Kim who over-walked her group by 3 or more miles!). I do plan on joining the group again the following week.

Thanks, everyone, for your continued support.