If I'm not careful, this is going to turn into a love letter to my new Asics Gel Kayano Walkers in Pearl, Silver and Chocolate. They were prescribed to me by my boss Michael, after Amy diagnosed pronation. I'd gotten to the point where I was crying 3 miles into a 14 mile walk and abandoning the path by mile 10 or 11. While it didn't look like it, it felt like I was walking on bloody stumps and no amount of personal guilt tripping could make me take another step.

And today?

Today I'm celebrating two good walks and surpassing my fundraising goal. I walked about 10 miles on Saturday and had energy left at the end to go to NextFest and window shop. I haven't had left over energy from a walk in weeks. And I didn't cry at all, not one tear.

On Sunday, I walked 14.05 mile. It was hot and I was moving slow, but I finished the walk. Man, oh, man the burger I got at Moody's really hit the spot when I finally got off the couch and got over there.

Then this morning I passed my fundraising goal. I set the goal at $3600 with the hopes that 200 people would donate $18 each. To date, I've had 92 people donate amounts ranging from $10 to $200! Wow! I am so blessed to have such a generous community around me!

On a semi-related note, I also spent Friday night at home reading Gail Konop Baker's memoir Cancer is a Bitch.  I rarely read a book in one sitting anymore, but this one I couldn't move. My arms fell asleep, but I stayed put on the couch reading, crying and laughing. You must read this book.

Run, don't walk, to your local independent bookstore or Amazon.com (where you'll help her author ranking) and buy this book. Yes, buy it in hardback, it is that good. If you know me at all, you know that I don't buy books until they are in paperback, but this one is worth it. Gail was featured at Pilcrow Lit Fest, which I am on the staff of, and is totally awesome. I'll be rockin' one of her Cancer is a Bitch shirts in Atlanta!

Last night I wrote, but didn't publish, a post about how hard training for the 3Day has gotten. What was supposed to be an experience about empowerment and saving lives has turned into a source of moping and the blues. No, it isn't the only source, but it is a very looming source. The walk is in 16 days.

Then today I got this tweet and it really lifted my spirits. Thanks Cecily, for raising my mood as I head into a day of fasting and recounting the year.

I got new shoes, Asics, so I hope this weekends walks will be something to blog positively about. If the blog stays silent, then assume things aren't great and I didn't want to pour whine all over you. 

P.S. The blog went pink for breast cancer.

Apparently "in my wheelhouse" refers to a sweet spot for a batter in baseball or softball. And if someone is "in my wheelhouse" it means he is exactly what I'm looking for. I haven't found him, but heard the phrase the other night from Wil, the bartender at Matilda, and it has been stuck in my brain ever since.

I got back from BlogOrlando around 10AM yesterday and stayed home from work today to bake challah for Rosh Hashanah. Holy cow, the holy days are already here!  A few things on my mind.

1. BlogOrlando is one of the top two conferences I've been to. For me it is up there with mesh conference (an Edelman client, but an amazing conference none-the-less). Amazing people who are working in this space I call mine and not just talking about working in the space. A weekend with my peers, great energy from central Florida and some time to relax. It was a much needed break.

2. Rosh Hashanah is here which means I'm reading Torah tomorrow. I. Am. Scared.

3. I'm baking challah, but realize I don't need as much this year. The friend I promised to bake for didn't think I was serious and just about dropped the phone when I called to tell her what time to pick up. I wish I had more people to bake for or a more traditional dinner to go to, but I don't. Instead I'll be heading to an Indian buffet on Devon with other friends. Most of us don't have family in town, so we are family to each other around the holy days. 

4. Something is wrong with my feet. I'm in too much pain on my long walks for it to be bad shoes. Sigh. I don't want to have fucked up ankles at 31. My guess it is early signs of arthritis, which runs on both sides of my family. I'm still going to Atlanta, but I'm going to accept that I might only be able to do 10 miles a day instead of 20. 

I'm in Orlando for BlogOrlando. Speaking in a couple hours, sitting on a floor watching Spike Jones from Brains on Fire right now.

Not a lot to say right now, just realized that I hadn't checked in. When I get back to Chicago, I'll start baking for Rosh Hashanah. I'm hosting Tea & Challah after services on Tuesday.

So... hello! 

About a month ago, I got to meet my friend Michael in person for the first time. While he was here, I gave him a couple power point tips for a fundraising presentation he was putting together. He's the co-founder of The Binah School and they are just starting to do the fundraising. It will be a Jewish day school for girls in the Boston Area. I'll let the presentation tell the story.

Today I slept in and got a very late start on my walk. But by 6PM, I was fed and home. I've pretty much been in bed since I got home. The good news is that I got to see the big red ball when I got to North Avenue Beach. Yay!

Other than that, there is no other than that. Today I walked. A lot. For a long time. I was moody and very hungry by the time I finished.

Must remember to carry more than one Luna bar and buy Gatorade if the bike store is open. The juice I had around mile 5 was great, though. 

Um.. yeah... too much fresh air has addled my brain and sentences aren't forming.