First off, apologies for the lack of recent updates. But really, how exciting is it for you to read about my running ? I thought so. Pauses mostly due to boring content, graduating the child, PC outage, and busy life as the business has really picked up.
Shouting out to Aunt Teri and Uncle George, Yangster, and Allison B for getting me to $2500 and putting me back to #5 on the leaderboard! KFAC totals are over $192K - this is incredible. Awesome - thank you all. One more dollar and I get to "KFAC Commander of the Fleet ($2,501.00 - $10,000.00)" level which apparently entitles me to the following (Miles, you better be ready for this): "If you can raise money like this, you can have the bullhorn in the morning of the launch." Heh. I'd prefer it during the Wailer party but I guess there's a reason they don't encourage that.
A few quick points about donations:
1) Any of you who can get corporate matching donations, please do as they will dial up my totals too.
2) Anyone who donated $150+ gets a ticket to the wailer / lobstah party post-event. Not $100 as originally thought. Scully fan club membership not required but encouraged.
3) KFAC is still recruiting volunteers. If you are interested in helping out on land, let me know and I'll hook you up with Sophia.
Check out that smoke free counter, kids - and I am at the point where I really don't miss them at all, even after a few cocktails. Very close to 100 days - anyone care to celebrate that with me ?
Bought the medicine ball. Keeping my balance was hysterically funny. Getting better daily. Feel like a total dork however. lol
So now onto the part you have all been waiting for: I (with much advice, support and laughs from sweet Jenny) got out on the water - in a kayak - for the first time on Father's day! And guess what folks - I *loved* it!
Rented the boat from EMS in Fairfield, with help from the delightful Emilia (ask for her, tell her we are friends - she ROCKS). Jenny being all ambitious got out on Saturday. I had a long late (albeit fun) night working Friday, so an early start on Saturday was not in the cards for me. Sunday however was a different story.
Decided to put in at Lordship, off the beach at Marnicks. Amazing how many people want to talk to you when you have one of these boats on your car. I compared it to pushing a baby carriage - everyone wants to be your friend and hear about your baby - and give you loads of unsolicited advice. One guy told me that I *must* do an eskimo roll *before* I need to. Um, ok, I'll get right on that, buddy.
Once we got through the murk and goop at the shore, we were IN and OUT! If you recall it was a bloody hot one, but on the water, it was perfection. Except - where are the pics - I know you are asking yourselves..... and the bad news, the only bad news of the day, is that the camera made the trip, but the batteries were DOA. But, next time, I'll take LOTS and share them with you here.
So off the Lordship beach, down towards Bridgeport (no hypodermic needle sightings - whew) but strangely, and perhaps because it was Dads Day, the beaches were EMPTY. Good for us, tho - no audiences, no hecklers, you know what I am saying. Down and around for about an hour, Jenny being the experienced pro that she is, gently coaching me like the buddy she is, and pretty soon scully's got the hang of it. Digging with my paddles, moving my arms and my torso and using the strength in my back as if I really know what I am doing. Felt GREAT and STRONG - guess all this fat burning and strength / stamina training is paying off a bit. Whew.
No dumps, no capsizing, no drama, just fun fun fun and lots of giggles with Jen. Biggest dilemma was - after murky water walking - how to shake that crud off my feet and not bring it all into the boat with me. Haven't figured that one out yet. Any ideas are welcome.
Came back in after a few hours, a picnic on some random beach (empty except for a few walkers) and some good exercise and sunshine. Then soaked in Brothers Pool - ahhh jets on the lower back. Heaven.
For anyone interested, EMS Fairfield is offering a Kayak 101 trip this coming Saturday morning. I'll be there, and the camera will make this trip, too - so stay tuned! Just over a month until launch - and lots of activities and team building to come, so I promise the updates will be more fun and frequent.
