Raincharm’s Weblog

Rice.
I like rice.
Rice is nice. (with chicken soup that is)

There were stories about rice pudding that I remember from my youth, vaguely.
I loved riced with butter and salt, when I was young.
Now I love rice with garlic and onions.
I like arroz con pollo just about any time.

And now I have a new love for rice.
As a drying agent.

The last night of the 3-Day I was in a tent.
It rained.
I had my cell phone and glasses in little pocket on the side of the tent.
The pocket got wet.
So did my cell phone. (My glasses, they did not care, they just got cleaner.)

My cell phone did not work any longer.
Not as an alarm clock.
Not as any kind of clock.
And certainly not as a phone.

I have a 5-6 year old phone. It’s a flip LG phone.
Ashlan says it is impossible to break them.
She would like a new phone, but Mom’s not buying if the old phone still works.
Mom has not bought a new American phone for Ashlan.

After hearing a few different people say that putting a wet phone in dry rice for a day or so could resurrect wet phones, I decided it could not hurt to try.

And after a day plus a little sitting in a bowl of rice, the phone is working. All seems to be well.

Rice – the miracle grain. Food and electronic repairs.

Just a short post – due to post event tiredness, but still related.

I met a woman while walking during training. Let’s call her Cindy.
(That’s her name)

She is from Sault Ste. Marie!
So are her parents.
We are probably not too far apart in age.
So she is probably close in age to some of my cousins.

In any event, her parents are about the same age as my parents, one of whom also grew up in Sault Ste Marie.
And – my mother went to school with both of her parents.

So – Mom – if you read this, I was walking with the daughter of Evelyn S. and Bob (Bun) G., in your class. And they told her about the annual gatherings, so I am betting you can figure out the last names. Small world indeed!

1st of all – thanks to Ashlan for covering for me while I was away.
And I have always known she is a better writer.

The 2010 Seattle 3-Day Walk for the Cure is now in the books. Over $6 Million raised.

Seattle 2010 Closing - over 2000 Walkers, plus the Crew

My fourth walk, plus one crew experience. Each one has been quite different. This walk was different for two main reasons. 1) I was not on a team (solo walker). 2) It rained.

1) I was not technically on a team. I had signed up intending to walk with a woman I had walked with twice previously in Seattle. But then she could not make it, so I became a team of one. But I found that another woman I had walked with previously was in need of a tent-mate, and bingo – I was affiliated with a team of 3. Two of the three developed blisters, which slowed the pace. And my mate was a speedy walker. I can keep up with speed, generally, but also like to smell the roses. We did keep meeting up at pit stops and lunch stops along the way.

The Flamingoes Sally, Dana, and Amy, and Me,

But, I also found that I was running into a lot of people who I knew from training and previous walks, both in Seattle and Michigan. So occasionally I would break off and walk with them for a bit. On the 3rd day, especially, I kept running into people I knew. It was great fun and although I bounced around a bit, I ended up finishing the walk with the Hotties, a team I trained with many times. But I also found the Flamingo Road folks, and the Kindred Spirits Michigan folks I walked with last year (in Michigan), and crew folks I worked with in Seattle last year.

2) It rained.
Two of the three days. Different rain, but both were wet.
On day 1 it drizzled, rained for a bit, then drizzled and finally stopped.
When we arrived, after 22.5 miles, Camp was damp in the grassy areas but dry elsewhere. One remanent of the rain was that they were unable to erect the big tent over the dining area. So we dined under the stars. Or where the stars would have been if there were no clouds. The walk was good, but I was TIRED, and went to bed after dinner, shower, foot massage (one of those automatic – stick your foot in a half boot like things). I slept well.

Day 2 was GORGEOUS. Sunny, in the 70’s, and clear the entire walking day. The 21.7 mile walk was in Everett – which put on a wonderful welcome. Dinner, shower and massage was followed by a dance party. Yes, we moved some more. It is really stretching by another name, and uses different muscles.

Day 3: Well the rain started as Day 2 was officially ending. We were fairly dry in the tent, but the side pocket holding my glasses and phone got wet. We are trying to dry out the phone. The rain also influenced our decision to get up when we woke up (wet cell phones do not make good alarm clocks). Then we proceeded to pack up, stowed our luggage on the trucks, took down the tent, and got in line for the busses. [To finish in Seattle, the walkers are bussed to North Seattle, and then walk around the city.] What we did not do was visit the dining area where breakfast was being served, but with no roof. Instead we dined on energy bars and raisins and nuts. The rain continued into the morning. Many different styles of ponchos and I think more people had blister issues.  By lunch break the rain had pretty much quit. There was even one brief sun-break. But it did dry out and only misted on us near the finish.

My personal physical experience was one with tired and hot feet on day 1. Day 2 mirrored day 1, but a callused area on  my heel started to make itself known, and a pain started on the lower shin of my right leg. Day 3 continued on the end of day 2. The lower leg pain would come and go as my stride and speed changed. At lunch I discovered there was a blister in the callus on my heel. But as blisters go it was not bad. I put a bandaid on for padding, and walked on. I was limping on any downhill by the end.

Reasons

And now, if I sit for a bit and then stand up, it can be amusing to watch. But I have a great in-house foot rubbing partner, so I have hope to not be too gimpy tomorrow.

There is much I have not mentioned, and I did not take too many pictures. I tended to try to enjoy it as it was happening, without stopping to find the camera. I may go back over the 3 days in the next few, as I think of all of the things that I saw. Like the pair tree. Or the woman gardening with a sign of thanks, noting that she had lost her daughter. Or all of the small world findings.

Update: Or like taking your shower, getting out, and then realizing you only got your hair wet but forgot to do the shampoo thing.

Mom has been pushing me for a while now to do a guest entry on her blog, and I naturally have been putting it off.  With her off on the 3-day now though I figured I should give her something thrilling to come home to.

well, maybe not THAT thrilling

She asked me to write about my summer vacation, which should be easy enough seeing as there wasn’t all that much to it.  A 40 hour a week job punctuated by baseball, boys, and booze.  I also slept on occasion but I found that it was rather overrated.

i save it for the school year

It turns out that Seattle is a ridiculously fun city when you’re finally upgraded to that magical horizontal drivers license.  Lots of great bars to see bands or just hang out – bars that are significantly cheaper and more relaxed (translation: Ashlan friendly) than any I have found in Vancouver.  (Damn this expensive and disgustingly image conscious city!)  It also consistently amused me when servers were shocked that “such a new drinker” would have my affinity for dark beers.  Because apparently flavor is just for old people.

and racist toucans

The Mariners didn’t do too well while I was home (First 7 games I saw – all losses) but I had a great time at the games anyways, hanging out with friends and still managing to fall in love with my fair share of players – I prefer the term “consistent” to “predictable”.  Plus BRANYAN!!!! made his triumphant return in July which made me just about delirious with happiness.

my personal messiah

I also played softball in what can only be described as a beer league.  My team was really fun and I even got a few hits!  We also ended the season with a team barbeque at the beach on a spectacularly sunny day, where I learned that volleyball is NOT my sport (short +not into diving does not a v-ball player make). That said, I think I succeeded at proving my aptitude at hamburger and hot dog consumption.  Pretty sure that means my future is set (not the card game – though I totally rock at that too).

this is the first time i've seriously wanted a smart phone

Our vacations were pretty sweet this summer as well.  One to Tennessee (the unflooded side) to visit the boy, and one to Yellowstone and Dylan, Colorado (with not insignificant stops in Helena and Boise along the way).  I’m not gonna go into detail about these trips, except to say that Rey now knows that he is 23 thanks to the sheer amount of cupcakes I frosted that fact onto, and that WE SAW A BEAR.  It was awesome.  Also I took away from these sun-soaked locations that pretty much everywhere outside of Seattle is warmer than Seattle.

blatantly photoshopped. we don't get sunny days.

As great as my summer was and as much as I absolutely did not want to leave my lovely home (and lovelier family) I must admit I’m enjoying being back in Vancouver.  It’s been wonderful seeing all of my friends, and my roomie and I are partying super hardcore.

we play cribbage almost every night before bed. not a joke.

Well mom, there ya go.  My summer in a nutshell.  I was going to thank you for giving me a valid reason to procrastinate from my homework, but I think I’ll go the good daughter route and rather thank you for what you’re doing this weekend (or I suppose by the time you read this – what you did this weekend).  Your efforts are making a difference and are genuinely appreciated by me and by many others.   I hope it went wonderfully and that you didn’t have to use all of your ponchos.

Love, Ashlan

Of course I was late leaving work.
Trying to finish up stuff that is not due until Monday.
But since I am not at work tomorrow – it must be done.
And I tried to squeeze in just a few more tasks.

So here I am – at Shelley’s house.
A ride home – yes, she stayed late for me (only 5:30).
Then dinner – steak, salmon, potatoes and salad – I am sure this is better than what I would have made for myself.
Now – some tea, and then bed.
And a book by the bed – The BFG, by Roald Dahl – one of my favorites.

And then she will get up EARLY to get me to the staring blocks.
They want you there between 5:30 and 6:00 AM.

What more could I ask?

Well, a hat. I have a walking hat, but not a warmish nighttime hat.
Now I have a pink one to wear to ward off the chill.

Friends – what would we do without them.

When you pack for the 3-Day 60-mile walk to find a cure, they request you keep your luggage under 35 pounds.

I packed 3-days of clothes, night clothes, extra pants, toiletries, sleeping bag, sleeping pad (2) (and I don’t have the Cadillac version Jane loaned me last year), and a few other sundries. My bag is less than 25 pounds.  I would really have to work to get another 10 pounds into my bag. But, I assume it can be done.

And so I am packed and ready to go. Figure out what to do tomorrow night at my friend’s house. I think her son has some plans for us. Could be fun. Nervous – a bit. Anxious for it to be underway – definitely.

Thanks to all that have supported me, and this cause – to find a cure for cancer.
Cancer is never very far away.
A friend passed away today. Brain cancer. Too young.

Do you ever have a week when you can not figure out what day it is?
And it was not a week that started with a Monday holiday?

That is how I am feeling this week.
The work week did start a half day late due to taking others to appointments and train stations.
And it will end a day early due to a long walk.

But most of my brain thinks of the walk as a weekend walk, which does not include Friday.

And I am staying elsewhere Thursday night to make it easier to get to the early Friday start.

So I need to pack by Wednesday night, and take it all with me to work on Thursday.
Meaning – finding a ride to work on Thursday – with luggage.
The ride to the alternative dwelling is with a work-mate, so getting from work on Thursday is not so much of a problem.

But it has made my work week seem about only two days long.
Many would find that to be a good thing, but I have more to do than I can accomplish in two days.

Back to packing.

I believe I heard that saying growing up in Michigan, but I know I hear it here in the great Northwest. Today it was true, although I only really experienced 2 weather models.

1.  Sunny and mild (60’s) with high clouds.
2.  Pouring down rain.

Not much in between.

My day started with getting ready for a soccer game (playing).
I took a plastic bag to put my backpack into, and a complete change of clothes. [The change of clothes was for attending the M’s game after the soccer game.]

Not really raining on the drive to the field. But as soon as the game got going, so did the rain. We were soaked. About half time it stopped, and the sun came out. As the second half started I actually thought, “I’m drying out. Not too bad.” (I did not speak it out loud, but apparently even thinking counts for the weather gods.) And then the rain started again, harder than before, and continued until the end of the game.

Ashlan sat in the car in her wet clothes while I changed. It took me a while. I brought the complete change of clothes, but no towel. I am sure many of you have tried to put on a swimsuit when you’re already wet. That was kind of what this was like.

Ashlan then dropped me at Safeco Field, and the sun was out. It stayed out soo long that they opened the roof. And it stayed open until the 8th inning, when the black clouds threatened once again.

Sunny on the way home. Still sunny.

And the Mariner’s won (2-1). A nearby fan that is at many games caught a ball thrown up at the end of an inning. Her first ball ever, and it was a nice, clean, bare handed catch. And Carl caught a ball thrown up at the end of warm-ups in the 8th inning, and was able to give it to his next-door seatmate. A 5 year-old at his 1st game ever. Just a really pleasant afternoon.

?!

I was supposed to get up early today, walk for 3 hours with a friend.
Next up – go to the Wallingford Wurst Festival, and have a wurst or two.
Finally – Mariner’s game in the second tier seats, a place I have never sat.

I got up. Drove to West Seattle. Walked and talked for said 3 hours, probably 8 miles (don’t really know, and don’t know where we went, so I can’t measure).  Check

Came home. After a short bit, set out walking again with Carl, the 1 mile to the Wurst. I had a white with kraut, and a red on a stick. Yum. The Wallingford Wurst is a fund raiser for St. Benedicts school. Angela, one of Carl’s kids, went there last year for pre-kindergarten. That is not why we went to the Wurst. It is just a fun, local, neighborhood event with food, local music, and rides/events for kids. When our kids were smaller they had real carnival rides. Now they have air supported things, and carnival type games that are staffed by St. Bens parents. Good time. And we walked home. Check

For a rainy day, it was sunny. I think it did rain, but that was before the sun came up.

While whiling away the 2 hours between wurst and worst Mariner’s I was wandering through the latest National Geographic. And nodding off. First sitting, then lounging, then lying down. Then I heard Carl saying, “Kevin, do you want to use our second ticket to the game? Jay has checked out.”

And so, I am home. Finished the magazine, and watched a show with Ashlan. Tomorrow – well I should be well-rested.

Mariners? NO

Seahawks? Too early to tell.

Dawgs? Same as Seahawks

Sounders? They are currently middle of the pack

The SEATTLE STORM!

Champions of the WNBA

Woo-hoo!