WHOOPs!

That's all.

I'm retarded.

Here's why.
I'm the type of person who finds a route somewhere and sticks with that route, no matter if there is a shorter way. I stay with the route I know.

For example, I have been going to the same Walgreens for over a year now. It's about 5-10 mins from my apartment, Northwest. Last week I decided I wanted Taco Bell for some reason (triple steak, triple vomit), so I hopped under the Tollway and headed East. And there, 2 seconds from my apartment, was a CVS. A much nicer CVS than the Walgreens I go to, by the way. I kicked myself.

Today I kick again. Hard.

Every couple of months I get my little Addison Accolade newsletter from the Recreation department. I read about all the classes offered to seniors and kids and adults, and all the amenities of the Addison Athletic Club. "It's just $10," I think, but still, I don't really have an extra $10 a month. I mean, not unless I want to give up one drink in Uptown, and we all know that isn't going to happen.

Well, I got my first solid paycheck on Friday and decided it was time to join a club again. I had been putting this off not only because of lack of funds, but also because up to this point working out revolved around distance walking in preparation for the 3-Day. Any other cross-training or weight-lifting was done in my tiny apartment gym.

No longer. I just joined the Addison Athletic Club. We're talking:
• Indoor and outdoor swimming pools
• Four racquetball courts
• Cybex weight circuit, Hammer Strength weight circuit, dumbbells
• Treadmills, electronic bikes, elliptical trainers
• Gymnasium, indoor track, aerobics studio, multipurpose room
• Whirlpool spa, sauna and steam rooms
• Outdoor trails
• Tennis court

All for the low, low price of $10. That's right, $10 TOTAL, not per month. My membership only runs out when I move out of Addison.

I like how it only took me living in Addison for a year and a half to figure this out.

action: reactions

I am not usually one to jump at new features offered to Google Bloggers (as opposed to those livejournal losers or wordpress winners), but today is the exception. Introducing reactions. Now after reading my latest crazed thought, you can give feedback with just one click. Like it? Check word. Confused? Check what. Want to get on my very last nerve and become dead to me? Check weak.

Word.

The 3-Day

This past weekend my college roomate and I walked in the Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 60 mile journey benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. I've been meaning to post about it for days... but I haven't had time to sit down and really reflect on the experience until now. And now that I have reflected I don't have the words. Maybe the slideshow above will do the weekend justice. Or maybe...

"Don't you write it down, remember this in your head. Don't take a picture, remember this in your heart. Don't leave a message, talk to me face to face... talk to me face to face."

3-Day Honor Roll

Being that it is the eve eve of the Dallas/Fort Worth Breast Cancer 3-Day, I would like to use this post to thank every last one of my GENEROUS donors. But first, as if I were taking home a VMA, I'd like to thank God. Without Him none of this would have been possible, including the outrageous forecast. Really? 77ºF and not a cloud in the sky this weekend? Scoreboard!

44 friends/family members donated a total of $2,247 towards my 3-Day Walk fund. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

ROLL CALL:
Becca B.
Lacy B.
Niraj B.
The Bravos
Tiffany B.
The Bushwars
Carrie C.
The Chapmans
Wendy C.
Holly D.
The Duncans
The Ellises
Kristin F.

Katie G.

Tara G.
The Grummers
Heather H.
Abby H.
The Hlads
The Holleys
The Hollises
The Johnses
The Kings
The Madisons

Sean M.
Sarah M.
Jon M.
Amy M.
The Morrises
Kate N.
The Pareckis
Rachel P.
Roxana P.
John Q.
Angela Q.
Danielle R.
The Reaveses
Rachel R.
The Rosars
Paige S.
The Stouffs
Elisa T.
Jim T.
Laura T.

If you have not donated there is still time. Please consider giving to Kim Caraway, my tentmate and partner in crime, who has not yet made her goal. Click HERE to donate to Kim.

Again, thank you!

Slovakia's Take

From my former headmistress:

Mila Karolinka,
This is a landmark in American history. An American dream is again on the stage. Our medias of all kinds TVs, radios, newspapers, were covering your presidential campaign whole year, of course very intesively last couple of weeks. Today this event is everywhere. It is the most important news, of course. There are many analyses, predictions, et cetera. Generally, European countries have been looking with favour on Obama. Change, the key message of Obama's campaign is coming not only with a new President but with financial crisis and economic depression. We can expect very interesting process. World is really a small village.
Helena

Ἀχιλλεύς

He may have been the hottest and fastest Greek in the Trojan war, but he got his butt kicked by an arrow to his heel. I feel your pain, Achilles.

Here we are, a week from the Dallas/Fort Worth Breast Cancer 3-Day, and I have developed achilles tendinitis. Splendid.

I've logged over 90 miles during my training, raised the required $2200, borrowed an air mattress and sleeping bag, spent gobs of money on pink activewear that I will most likely never wear again, made plans for my tentmate to fly in from DC... and I can barely walk from my living room to the kitchen for more ice.

How does one develop achilles tendinitis, you ask? Well, let me just preface this by saying in the 14 years I played soccer daily, I never developed tendinitis. It took just 2 months of teaching in heels and then training in sneakers to do me in. Man, am I 30.

So for this week it's R.I.C.E. - rest, isolation, compression, elevation. Considering I teach Mon-Wed, I'll get right on that...

Your prayers for my healing would be appreciated. Pun intended, winners.