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  • skywatcher 9:18 pm on April 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Figuring Things Out 

    An intangible “something” had been rolling around inside me for some time.  Last year I took a motorcycle class, just for the heck of it.   Signed up for an ice hockey class.  Ran another road race…

    The “something” got more intense after I attended the Banff Mountain Film Festival in March and saw a film about Roz Savage, the British woman who rowed across the Atlantic Ocean.  I wanted to DO something!

    When I came across this blog the other day, it resonated with me and gave some structure to what I was feeling.  I hope to rediscover my own audacity (while keeping my day job), so here goes the list – incomplete, random, and not entirely committed to:

    1.  Climb a mountain (or part of one).

    2.  Take a bicycle maintenance class.

    3.  Make a collage with pieces of magazine pictures.

    4.  Make my own laundry detergent.

    5.  Go camping.

    6.  Invite some friends over for dinner.

    7.  Work on a Habitat for Humanity house.

    8.  Make blueberry scones using my Cook’s Illustrated recipe.

    9.  Sing karaoke.

    10.  Drink a martini (may need before #9).

    11.  Volunteer at a nursing home.

    12.  Take my daughter driving on the Interstate.

    13.  Tell the special people in my life, “I love you.”

    14.  Make lavender soap.

    15.  Go on a job interview.

    16.  Memorize a beautiful piece of poetry.

    17.  Build a birdhouse.

    18.  Take myself to the movies.

    19.  Have my palm read.

    20.  Get a massage.

    Thanks for the inspiration…and for letting me join you in adventuring!

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    • yearof52adventures 9:25 pm on April 22, 2010 Permalink

      What an incredible list! The adventure club is really lucky to have you on board. Can’t wait to hear what transpires. And thank YOU for being an inspiration! Happy adventuring!

    • Anonymous 10:14 am on April 23, 2010 Permalink

      Love your list, helped inspire me!

    • adventurechaser 8:46 am on April 24, 2010 Permalink

      Your number 18 is one of my adventures too. I have never been to a movie alone. For some reason feels like a big growth experience for me. I’m a little intimidated.

    • Kelly Smith 6:17 pm on April 24, 2010 Permalink

      oh man I love going to the movies alone. I usually do an early matinee. the first time or 2 was awkward, but every time since then has been nice.

    • blueskiesinva 8:54 pm on April 25, 2010 Permalink

      I’ve done lots of matinees…was thinking of upping the ante and trying a Friday or Saturday evening. Would take major mental preparation, and I’m not sure it’s worth it!

    • adventurechaser 8:58 pm on April 25, 2010 Permalink

      Maybe we should try and schedule our movie adventure on the same day/weekend and we can adventure together from afar!

    • faolan01 7:49 am on April 27, 2010 Permalink

      this is a great list! I don’t know if I’ve ever gone to a movie alone, but I like the idea of scheduling solo movies to adventure together from afar. maybe we could get several people to all go to the same movie on the same day in different places for a sort of group solo adventure?

    • eatveggiesdrinkwine 8:14 pm on April 27, 2010 Permalink

      I am completely up for adventuring together from afar! One of my potential adventures is to go to a nice restaurant for a solo dinner … I would feel more courageous if I knew others were joining me in different cities!

    • adventurechaser 10:58 pm on April 27, 2010 Permalink

      I’m totally in for a group adventure from afar. Anyone up for organizing?

    • faolan01 1:21 pm on May 1, 2010 Permalink

      hmm, looks like we have lots of adventurers but very few organizers. is there a particular movie that everyone is interested in seeing?

    • Lily 1:56 am on May 3, 2011 Permalink

      Hey, good to find smoenoe who agrees with me. GMTA.

  • Kimberly Hula 11:20 am on April 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Searching for a Starting Block 

    “When it comes to other people, you can always come up with a reasonable explanation, but you can’t fool yourself.  In this sense, writing novels and running full marathons are very much alike.  Basically a writer has a quiet, inner motivation, and doesn’t seek validation in the outwardly visible.” (What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, pg. 10.)

    So spoke Murakami.
    I think that’s how I got into the running game – with a more road-ready inner motivation.  Although my foray into the athletic stage isn’t nearly as eloquent as Mr. Murakami’s.  Bascially, I used to work in restaurants.  Scores of restaurants (delis, diners, five stars, bars) that brought employees together in the only way they knew how: the back dock smoking lounge.

    People don’t peg me a smoker, and I can’t say I don’t appreciate their surprise.  When I worked in restaurants I worked long hours.  When one works long hours, one capitalizes on any and all breaks given them.  Which is to say, I smoked some cigarettes.  Daily.  

    But I wasn’t a portrait of long savory puffs in a darkened alley with the strong arm of a tall man in a driving cap around my waist.  No, no.  These were harried puffs amongst angsty bartenders and hostesses that did little to welcome or elevate friendships.  We just past the time in the only way we knew how.  And for us, that was enough.

    But, bad habits have a way of having a way with you.  So, I developed a sore throat and, as luck would have, three back to back shifts.  But, even more opportune, I had a 10 minute (10 minutes!) back dock break between shifts one and two and ran out to enjoy a smoke treat with Ellie.

    I still can’t attribute my dramatics to anything in particular, but just as I was about to light one up and take a drag something happened.  My mind completely rewired and I made a declaration.  A very loud declaration.  I told all the servers in proximity that I was going to change my life and quit smoking.  We were in tuxedos.  Near an oversized dumpster enjoying a brief reprieve and I was hollering about health and happiness.  No one said a word.  I think I was afraid no one would take me seriously so I threw my cigarette pack to the ground and jumped on them.  My jumps weren’t incredibly effective and still, no one had spoken, so I picked them up and lobbed them into the dumpster.  Only Ellie said, “I would have taken those.”

    And then… synapses.  Something fired in my mind.  I convinced myself in the span of Ellie’s sentence that I would have to do something representative of someone with good, clean lungs.  It was then I decided I would have to run a marathon. (More …)

     

    • faolan01 12:04 pm on April 22, 2010 Permalink

      Congrats! It must be so empowering to go from being a smoker to running a half marathon! Good luck with training for the Wine Glass Marathon!

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