1. Lose 25 pounds. Hate it when I get mistaken for the drunk hippos in Fantasia.
2. Check balance on Disney Visa - want to make sure I have enough to get all the latest Disney World doo-dads!
3. Find tickets, confirmations, etc. for hotel, parks, etc. Remember to put in carry on bag. Remember to take carry on bag.
4. Pack clothes. Determine how many Disney World shirts I should pack so that I will still require the purchase of new ones while I'm there.
5. Find camera. Recharge battery. Put camera in carry on bag. Preferably the same carry on bag with the tickets and stuff.
6. Make sure cat has enough food to eat during my absence. He's mad enough that he doesn't get to go - don't want to add fuel to his fire by starving him.
7. Call Disney Dining. Make sure new shipment of Mickey Bars came in on time - to heck with that 25 pounds.
8. Call Disney Photography. Make sure photographers have WIDE ANGLE lens available - drat that 25 pounds!
9. Call Year of A Million Dreams Squad. Inform them I am still waiting for my dream. Tell Lynnette to be on standby, just in case the castle stay comes through.
10. Check calendar - now when is my next Disney trip?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
What To Do When You Have Lots To Do
I don't like those junky days when I have too many things that I want to do. Instead of choosing, I tend to sit and play solitaire on the computer. Today was one of those days.
I did manage to get out and crawl two miles, still trying to loosen up the stiffness from Saturday's half marathon. I also wanted to swim at the Y, in another attempt to jumpstart losing poundage off my body. But I also wanted to clean the corner of my bedroom, update my race scrapbook, think about packing for another trip to Disney, and about a million other things on my mental to-do list.
I finally decided to work on my corner. It seemed like that would be the thing that would matter the most and would make me the happiest. So I did and am happier because I can go to bed without having a task stare me in the face.
I guess that's the way we have to make choices sometimes. We have to choose the thing that we know will make our lives more content. It may not be the choice that forever alters our lives, or finally gets the wheels in motion for that next big step, or even gives us a little progress on our current path. It's just the choice that makes our now a little more pleasant, a little more peaceful, and a little more restful.
I did manage to get out and crawl two miles, still trying to loosen up the stiffness from Saturday's half marathon. I also wanted to swim at the Y, in another attempt to jumpstart losing poundage off my body. But I also wanted to clean the corner of my bedroom, update my race scrapbook, think about packing for another trip to Disney, and about a million other things on my mental to-do list.
I finally decided to work on my corner. It seemed like that would be the thing that would matter the most and would make me the happiest. So I did and am happier because I can go to bed without having a task stare me in the face.
I guess that's the way we have to make choices sometimes. We have to choose the thing that we know will make our lives more content. It may not be the choice that forever alters our lives, or finally gets the wheels in motion for that next big step, or even gives us a little progress on our current path. It's just the choice that makes our now a little more pleasant, a little more peaceful, and a little more restful.
Monday, April 28, 2008
So The Reason You Have This Office Is ....
I have a precarious relationship with Sprint, the cellular company. Just about the time I have had enough of their stuff, I get sucked into another contract.
Today's mission was fairly benign. I had received notice that Phone #2's contract (a phone the Orlando Sprint office had talked me into because my phone died - their only alternative) had finally expired and I could take it off my plan. Wanting to talk with a real live person, I decided to go directly to the Sprint office.
I arrived at the office to find it remarkably unbusy. A sign on the door told me that the service and parts part of the office would be moving this week, but since I was interested in neither, I went on in. I told Sprint Lady that I wanted to remove Phone 2 from my plan, but wanted to make sure that Phone 3 went to Phone 2's place without a problem.
Sprint Lady said they didn't do that at the office, but gave me the phone number to call to cancel the phone. Okay, so I had a second question. Did they have a heavy-duty senior citizen loud-ringing phone to replace Phone 3, henceforth to be Phone 2, which belongs to 90-year-old GDizzle in Mississippi, who has already been through 3 phones already, still in search of the perfect cell phone. Sprint Lady says the Sanyo Something-or-other is the sturdiest one they have. I ask if they have one in the office, to which she goes over to the display case, says it is no longer there, but I can probably order it online.
Okay, so I have a third and final question. My phone is scratched and beat-up and sad from my repeated unintended abuse. I would like to switch to an old phone that is in the drawer, which is actually Phone 2 from Orlando which became GDizzle's Phone 2 after I had put the number on hold, which replaced his Phone 1 that went through the washing machine but got fired because it didn't ring loud enough and was replaced by GDizzle's Phone 3. Guess what. They don't do that in the store, but when I call to take Phone 2/2/retired phone off the plan, they can switch my current phone to that one. Whichever number it is.
So, in short, I made a trip to the Sprint store for three reasons but for no reason at all. Go figure. The good news is that GDizzle's plan is up in September and mine is up in October.
I think we can make it, if we can just keep all the phones out of the washing machine!
Today's mission was fairly benign. I had received notice that Phone #2's contract (a phone the Orlando Sprint office had talked me into because my phone died - their only alternative) had finally expired and I could take it off my plan. Wanting to talk with a real live person, I decided to go directly to the Sprint office.
I arrived at the office to find it remarkably unbusy. A sign on the door told me that the service and parts part of the office would be moving this week, but since I was interested in neither, I went on in. I told Sprint Lady that I wanted to remove Phone 2 from my plan, but wanted to make sure that Phone 3 went to Phone 2's place without a problem.
Sprint Lady said they didn't do that at the office, but gave me the phone number to call to cancel the phone. Okay, so I had a second question. Did they have a heavy-duty senior citizen loud-ringing phone to replace Phone 3, henceforth to be Phone 2, which belongs to 90-year-old GDizzle in Mississippi, who has already been through 3 phones already, still in search of the perfect cell phone. Sprint Lady says the Sanyo Something-or-other is the sturdiest one they have. I ask if they have one in the office, to which she goes over to the display case, says it is no longer there, but I can probably order it online.
Okay, so I have a third and final question. My phone is scratched and beat-up and sad from my repeated unintended abuse. I would like to switch to an old phone that is in the drawer, which is actually Phone 2 from Orlando which became GDizzle's Phone 2 after I had put the number on hold, which replaced his Phone 1 that went through the washing machine but got fired because it didn't ring loud enough and was replaced by GDizzle's Phone 3. Guess what. They don't do that in the store, but when I call to take Phone 2/2/retired phone off the plan, they can switch my current phone to that one. Whichever number it is.
So, in short, I made a trip to the Sprint store for three reasons but for no reason at all. Go figure. The good news is that GDizzle's plan is up in September and mine is up in October.
I think we can make it, if we can just keep all the phones out of the washing machine!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Country Music Marathon - The Aftermath
Memories from the weekend:
*The final two walkers as I was wogging back up Belmont Boulevard. They were being tailed by a police car and clean-up crew. It did not deter them from the route nor make them feel rushed,and they continued at their own pace. I don't know if they finished or not, but I admire their tenacity and ability not to be pressured by outside forces.
*The family who was so happy when I gave them their sister's registration (illegally). What was better - making their day or following the registration rules? I'll choose people any day.
*All the runners/walkers with whom I talked to along the way. Some encouraged me, some asked me how I was doing, and some just chatted, but it's a blessing to be considered one of their peers. My homies at my end of a race are the best!
*The porta-potty that was there when I needed it. After several races and two 3-day walks, I have learned to embrace the invention that is known as the porta-potty. Now if I could cure myself of that compulsion I have to look in the business end of the facility! (I know, TMI!)
*Every smiling volunteer along the way. If you have never volunteered for a race, do it. Even if you're a fancy-schmancy fast runner, you should volunteer in some capacity. You will never view a race in the same way.
*The drive to finish. Thank you, mind and body. As much as I considered quitting, you kept me going to the end. I will try to do better by you next time (in Cleveland in a few weeks).
*The first-timers who were so excited and terrified when they received their race numbers at registration. I hope they finished, but they are all athletes in my book because they dared to believe they could do it.
Everyone chooses to do these races for their own reasons. Some because they want to win, either the whole thing or just in a particular category. Some do them because they are raising money for a cause. Some do them because a friend or family is doing it with them. Some do it because it seemed like a good idea once upon a time.
I do it because of all that I get from the entire experience. I get to see people from all walks of life, at all ages and stages of life, and in all shapes and sizes of life. But in the end, we're all going for the same goal - that finish line and the medal that says we did it. We all help each other along the way and we're family. For those few hours, it's a great world in which to live.
*The final two walkers as I was wogging back up Belmont Boulevard. They were being tailed by a police car and clean-up crew. It did not deter them from the route nor make them feel rushed,and they continued at their own pace. I don't know if they finished or not, but I admire their tenacity and ability not to be pressured by outside forces.
*The family who was so happy when I gave them their sister's registration (illegally). What was better - making their day or following the registration rules? I'll choose people any day.
*All the runners/walkers with whom I talked to along the way. Some encouraged me, some asked me how I was doing, and some just chatted, but it's a blessing to be considered one of their peers. My homies at my end of a race are the best!
*The porta-potty that was there when I needed it. After several races and two 3-day walks, I have learned to embrace the invention that is known as the porta-potty. Now if I could cure myself of that compulsion I have to look in the business end of the facility! (I know, TMI!)
*Every smiling volunteer along the way. If you have never volunteered for a race, do it. Even if you're a fancy-schmancy fast runner, you should volunteer in some capacity. You will never view a race in the same way.
*The drive to finish. Thank you, mind and body. As much as I considered quitting, you kept me going to the end. I will try to do better by you next time (in Cleveland in a few weeks).
*The first-timers who were so excited and terrified when they received their race numbers at registration. I hope they finished, but they are all athletes in my book because they dared to believe they could do it.
Everyone chooses to do these races for their own reasons. Some because they want to win, either the whole thing or just in a particular category. Some do them because they are raising money for a cause. Some do them because a friend or family is doing it with them. Some do it because it seemed like a good idea once upon a time.
I do it because of all that I get from the entire experience. I get to see people from all walks of life, at all ages and stages of life, and in all shapes and sizes of life. But in the end, we're all going for the same goal - that finish line and the medal that says we did it. We all help each other along the way and we're family. For those few hours, it's a great world in which to live.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Country Music Marathon Weekend - Day 3
Well, I did it. It was not pretty nor fast, but it got done. I completed the Country Music Half Marathon. Having not done this particular half in four years, I had forgotten all the "rolling hills" that were in Nashville. Around Mile 4, my thighs turned to jelly. Around Mile 9, my GI system decided to revolt. By Mile 11, my feet were screaming in pain, and every time I decided to jog a bit, my stomach reminded me that all was not well. But I persevered, and finished the 13.1.The day started with rain, but stopped just before I crossed the start line (49 minutes after the first runners, thanks to the wave start). While waiting for our turn, I got to talk with Bonnie, a Nashvillian running her first half. Along the way, I saw a few people I knew, and got to see many people stories. The last half-mile I trudged with Bike Lady (named because she said she would stick to biking after this), who was in a lot of pain, but finished strong.
It was a good day, and reinforced my reasons for continuing to do half-marathons. I enjoy the bling, I keep hoping for better race times, but most of all, because I get to experience the lives of people that I would otherwise never encounter. For every ache and pain I have, there are countless human stories that I saw today. The physical discomforts will fade, but the memories I made today will be with me forever.
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