We just thought we’d let you know that Done 2.0, our iPhone & iPod touch To Do list app, has been submitted to the App Store. It’s had a pretty thorough testing and doesn’t include any hidden porn or baby shaking games so we’re pretty confident it will get approved first time.

In the meantime we’ve come across a great review over at mochaSync Software’s site for the current version of Done that we thought we’d share with you. It’s great to see that somebody totally gets what we’re trying to do with Done. Thanks guys!

What does that really mean, to be done? When we, as architects consider a solution how do we know its done.

I realize as a rhetorical question this one is tough.

the concept of done is truly a never ending process. As we are taught software development and projects are iterative. But what does done mean?

.Doc

(short blogs due to travel this week)

Not many task managers keep things simple.  Most over stuff features that a fair amount of us wouldn’t think of using.  Well, those of us without OCD.  Today, I want to share one of the three that I found to capture the iPhones simplistic UI and capabilities.

The first is Done [iTune link] by Chilli X [website].

I really love this app!  The look and feel are just “right” to me – possibly because I am a minimalist at heart.  The developers are clear in their approach: high functionality with simplicity.  Done definitely delivers on this.

The UI is sleek, sharp, and somewhat customizable with the two themes built in.  Key elements like buttons and text fields are standard size., unlike several other task apps which use custom designed UI elements that can be too small or too large for some people.  Everything down to the shades used for designating list colors and text fonts just seem so perfect for the iPhone.

At its core, the app is as simple and straight forward as you can get without becoming unusable.  Performance is snappy and transitions between lists are clean.  Navigation is simple and easy to pick up as the app relies on the native UI button set so everything is very familiar.

A helpful tip Chilli X themselves gave, was to incorporate Emoji icons into your lists and tasks.  This was a great way to add some color and variety to my lists and I found that it was a nice way to distinguish list subjects.  Plus, it makes me smile… putting a little guitar next to ‘Schedule next band rehearsal.’

I must say, the best and one of the biggest selling points for me, was how fast I am able to enter a task and move on.  It really is back to basics here.  Yet, not in the way where functionality is lost.  You still get the option for notes and a due date, which are displayed perfectly in the list view.  Everything seems to flow very natural to the thought process.

There is a pending update in the wings for Done, a full version upgrade.  So far, Chilli X has been releasing some feature previews on their site and the new version is looking pretty nice.  Still no sign of my desired feature (sync to something) but I can still hope!  All in all, this is one app I recommend daily to every iPhone user I come into contact with.  It honestly, is that good.

The original plan called for:

“4 totes/suitcases worth of “Things”, my wheel box, a small single yarn tote and a small tote of “Dog stuff”.  This doesnt include food or a freezer but really puts the focus on my “things”  Books that I dont read, little knick-nacks that I havent touched since I packed them 6 months ago, magazines that I keep for a single special thing, clothes that I dont really love or wear, yarn scraps or leftovers…stuff in general, 90% not needed by me.”

And I came to realise that I have only 4 novel books that are beloved, a Bible and a Book of Common Prayer.  None of which I would throw out.  Ok, so I need to look at knick-knacks.  Those things that gather dust…but I also realised that I only have 4 of those too.  An elephant statue that my Nana meant for me to have in her memory, a pair of ceramic hedgehogs in a pot from my sister one Christmas, a walrus carved by a student out of walrus ivory and a Holly Hobbie plate from my first Alaskan boss (who was really from Michigan) that reads, “A smile can turn a rainy day to sunshine”.  Nope, not getting rid of any of that.

Ok, so there has to be some major destashing of yarn, right?  Well, yes…in part.  I put all my single skeins of random-ness into a box for goodwill and all my leftovers of everything but sock yarn too.  I took a long hard look at my socks yarn stash and have decided to go “cold sheep” until I have knit thru at least half of it.  I still have 2 skeins in there from 3 years ago and I dont want things to get out of hand!  Sweater yarn?  Well, I have enough for a few (3) but that is far from crazy.  I have the yarn for a 6 of my stranded hats but nothing excessive, especially since I have been working on creating new designs for them.  Leftovers?  Into the Goodwill bin.  Fiber?  Nope.  I didnt even touch it.  Why?  Because A) I’ve only been spinning a year and havent ‘really’ got that much and B) Since I have only been spinning a year, I havent yet learned enough so I need lots to learn on

In reality, the yarn and fiber didnt get a full cull because knitting and spinning is what I DO.  It is what I do first thing in the morning, in the quiet evenings and into the night.  It is how I keep my sanity in overly slow hours at work when there hasnt been a patient in a few days and all the meds have been counted and re-ordered multiple times.  It is my companion with a cuppa in the morning and at lunch after I eat.  Movies would be more boring if I had to just sit there.  There is only so many times a person can throw a froggie for her doggie before her hands are itching to do something else.  So I knit.  And spin.  Considering that I could do and want to do a lot of other crafts too, I consider myself lucky that I am holding it to only the two.  Moving along:

Clothing:  2 suitcases.  Coats, shoes and handknit sweaters are in a large tote of their own.  Why this change?  I live in Alaska.  I need various jackets for various temperature readings and I swear to you that short-sleeved shirts take up less space than long ones do.  If you didn’t count all my scrub tops for clinic work, I’m sure everything could fit into…well, 2 suitcases and a small tote.  Shoes need their own box so they dont get other things dirty.  Thats my story and I’m sticking to it.  I did pass along a few shirts that I havent worn in ages, some sweatshirts that I dont wear anymore, a few pairs of trousers that are too big and all my non-wool socks save for 3 cotton pairs and 2 non-wool but very fun socks.  If I can ever knit myself wool socks with sushi on them, I’ll bin this pair.

Kitchen:  I have still got the 2 saucepans, 2 skillets (one cast iron, the other non-stick), 3 sharp knives, a spoonula, spatula, whisk, chopsticks, 2 pyrex baking pans, a 6 well muffin tin, large-ish mixing bowl and a can opener.  There are 3 mugs that I would pack but other than that, I would be OK with leaving my dish-set and flatware for 4.  Oh yeah, and 2 water bottles.

In owning to everything, I DO have 2 towels, a Kindle, a CD sleeve, 2 DVD sleeves, a hot water bottle and 2 Macs and an iPod Classic that I wouldnt leave behind and a bottle of blackberry/black currant wine that I am saving and a bottle of Celestial Meads in the special edition with Pomegranate from last year.  But the last I am saving for a very special occasion.  Like maybe something coming up soon.  I’ll tell you when I know more

All in all?  2 suitcases, 4 large totes, 2 small totes and a wheel box.  And a dog kennel.  But that last doesn’t really count as mine as it belongs to Sisu.  I am very happy with what I have and with what I do not.

Looking back, I see that I completely left the blogging world on November 8th, when I updated with my NaNo word count at 13K. My plan was to type up a short NaNoWriMo update every day until I finished. Ha! Silly me, thinking I would be able to do anything but chain myself to my word processor. Anyway, I would just like to say that I DID IT. I finished last night, Nov 29, at 50,200 words. I AM DONE.  I still like my story, I really do. Sure, it needs extensive editing (like that one paragraph where a character goes on a rant that has less to do with the plot and more to do with my own frustrations). Sure, I felt like ripping out my own hair at times. Sure, I felt like lighting my computer on fire around the 21st. Sure, I didn’t see the light of day for 29 days. But you know what? It feels really great. I wrote  a book. My very own book. I even printed out my winner’s certificate and it is now on my wall, thank you very much.

Now we have the great Novel Editing Month in December, but I think I’m going to pass on that and start editing in January. My fingers need a break, and my family does too, I think. Also, I need to start getting ready for the holidays. And a month away from my book will help me see it with a fresher eye.

So that’s about it. I promise I’ll re-enter the blogosphere again with posts that are not NaNo related. To the WriMos that haven’t finished yet, happy last day of noveling! To the already finished ones, it feels great, doesn’t it? Cheers.

(listening to: Kids Aflame- Arms)

Achieved Goal: Have a Totally Different Life In One Year

This time last year I was finishing school, I had supportive friends and a 3-years-younger-than-me boyfriend and those were the only things that were keeping me from snapping under pressure. I was heavier and had abandoned care of myself almost completely (I looked like a mess wherever I went), I lived with my mom, who I love but with which I have a rocky relationship due to our major personality clashes, and I was really questioning the path laid out in front of me.

So in early December I finished high school, and in January I was approved into one of the best colleges in my country, (UFRGS, ranked among the best universities in the world), into studying Journalism. I went to live with my dad. I came in contact with new people who showed me fresh ways of living. I started to wear different clothes, a different hairstyle, listen to different bands, read much more books, talk to everyone I met. I took classes for brazillian sign-lenguage, which opened up a whole new world for me. I started sharing my dreams of the future and finding support of them. My boyfriend dumped me in April (when all these changes were only just beginning) and so I went into nightclubs as a single woman, having lots of fun and kissing random strangers most of which I can’t even remember the name of, and I became free to flirt and look around (though I am, again, in search of a relationship).

I experienced new things, and grew up.

- Enlarge Your World: Take different routes to the same places. Go to different places. Go to the same places in different ways, or with different people. Chat up people you normally wouldn’t, and listen to them. Take a course in something random and unique (like I took brazillian sign-lenguage). Go out more. If you don’t have a website or blog, set one up. If you don’t have a twitter, set one up and subscribe to channels of news and entertainment. Find out what goes on in your neighborhood, city, in the world- and take part in it!

- Say “Yes” More Often: If people invite you try something- sports, foods, places, their hairdresser-, if they invite you out, or on a trip, or to do something together, accept. Some of the best moments of my year came from friends calling me at midnight, when I was in pajamas, and saying “I’m at -insert name of place here-, a bunch of us are going out, can you arrive in 15 minutes?”. And I went- and never once regretted it. And if nobody will invite you to anything, invite them yourself! Another great moment was when I convinced two friends to go with me to a convention of Deaf Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transexuals in another state (even though I’m straight and they know squat of sign-lenguage). Unfortunately we ended up not going because of my best friend’s birthday, but we’re going next year- no excuses.

- Do Things on a Whim: One of my biggest role models in life is a friend of mine. He’s my age (19), gay and has lived on his own, away from his mentally unbalanced parents, ever since he was 17. And what I think is awesome about him is that while other people daydream that “some day” they’ll do this or that, he gets into his head to do something and he does it- ASAP. This year, I saw him buy a van, get a dog, customize half his wardrobe, dye his hair platinum blonde, ask a guy to be his boyfriend after just two or three dates, take several exotic trips, invite friends to his place at all sorts of weird hours, and quit Journalism to go study Medicine.

]]> http://xlithiumx.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/i-have-done-it-leave-out-all-the-rest-updated-yay-i-am-not-dead/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:54:58 +0000 Hathor http://xlithiumx.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/i-have-done-it-leave-out-all-the-rest-updated-yay-i-am-not-dead/

Hehe, yes, it’s done, finally…go MEEEEE!

Thanks for visiting my site

Some examples of stuff i can and have done, I will soon be posting lots of other work I have done. For any questions or if you would like any work done for yourself such as

Graphics/ posters flyers
Logos

Please contact me at mrnstudios@live.com
thanks!

~MRNadmin~

Hey y’all! I am proud to say that I have given Procrastination a real beating today by doing a 6 page book report and two other assignments this afternoon! I was assigned this paper back in November and it’s not sue until December 10th. I like to get things done all at once. I read the book, wrote down key facts from the book and typed up the paper within about 4-5 hours. I wasn’t doing anything else, so I just did it and got it over with. Feels great to be done with it! Ever felt that way?

Friday November 27, 2009 By Kevin Morrow

Actually it already has been done. I have this concept of time which leads me to believe that there really is no time. I feel that anything I want to do is already done and I just have to catch up with it. When I think about doing things I remember this – “Be, Do, Have.” This implies to me that there is no time.

Other people have told me what they think I should be doing. I’ve even been told what I was doing was not giving me knowledge or putting money in my pocket. I understood where this came from because I observe levels of mind in interactions. Had I been only about money, this comment would have motivated me to become a better salesman. That’s not what I am however, I am not a salesman. Money is not my motivation, in fact motivation does not have the same meaning to me anymore.

Inspiration is what I relate to the most. I feel that it comes from the spirit. Any belief I have tends to limit me to a perception. The trouble of limiting myself to a perception is that when you I’m more aware and something that required more awareness comes along, I’m not be able to accept it.

So if I’m going to believe something, I might as well chose to believe in something that will not limit my awareness. That’s what I mean when I say I have an open mind.

Here is how I experience reality.

This is just within my mind, and it doesn’t mean that it’s true to anyone else. This is how I chose not to limit my mind. I see reality as if it’s one big dream. Life is like a video game being played within the minds of people. I use these terms to create a visualization within the minds of those who read this. I think there are fundamental basic rules and then the player believes in what they choose to be reality.

In this life there is a physical aspect and a spiritual aspect. I cannot function well in this reality without being balanced within those realms. I see that everyone has a mind and that the minds are similar in how they perceive and construct reality.

I also realize that I’m the only one conscious in my reality. Meaning there are other players in the game, but I am the only one consciously perceiving from my eyes, and through my point of awareness. Where that point is I cannot tell you, but as you can see, you are reading this from your point of awareness.

So, it seems that reality can be molded like clay. Therefore the mind can be molded like clay. I feel that my mind should be molded to benefit the highest good of myself and of all people. This is my reality. I see this reality as already being done. I’m just catching up to it.

ONE MIND…

The above is a segue into my belief in one mind. Of course language and words can be misinterpreted, so let me explain what I mean. I don’t believe that anybody is separate from me. I feel as though the one point of awareness is shared by all as if there is one mind.

The reason I say this is because the more I look outside of myself and see separation, the more I see dysfunction. I see unity in great teams, families, projects, and even gangs have an element of unity. In all themes there is general acceptance to one frame of mind.

So it seems that at a deeper level, maybe the one mind is fragmented and therefore experiencing in many different forms. Just like I was not the homeless man on the freeway in Vegas, I could see myself as him and therefore I had to help him. If I saw him as insignificant or as something negative, I would not have helped him. But I saw no purposeful reason to not help him. I was looking for any way that I could help him.

Some people call what I’m talking about “The watcher of the thoughts.” That is the consciousness. The consciousness must be in another realm of existence than that of physicality. So words like awareness have been formed to describe that which we are discussing. The people that seem to be outside of me, eat, sleep, and use the restroom just like me. No matter how rich or how poor they are. This to me is a sign of the “real” reality.

I have dreams, and I awake from the dreams into a physical reality. Sometimes I don’t remember the dreams. How do I know that I don’t wake up from physical reality as if it’s a dream and I just don’t remember it? I don’t. There must be a reason for that.

The reality of pain

I feel as though reality is in the mind. What you believe to see is what you see. What you believe you can have is what you have. What I believe I can be I am at any point in time.This is possible because there really is no time, everything happens now. When in pain, I believe in the pain until I have reason to believe that it’s gone. I have literally believed pain to disappear and it did.

This leads me to feel as though anything I want to accomplish is already done. Anything in consciousness that has been done can be done. Anything that can be done through consciousness, can be done. Essentially everything has been done, or will be done, in the realm of conscious ability. Great projects are formed first in the mind, which means they can be done when aligned with physicality.

Physical reality is slower than mental reality because its vibration is much denser. Look into the world and you can see evaporated water moves faster than raindrops. Observe your own self and you will see thoughts move faster than your hand.

There are different levels of thought, it takes thought for you to move your hand in the first place. Once I believe something is “possible” that already was “possible” it becomes automatic. Just like moving my hand.
In order for my consciousness to win something like the lottery, the money would have to come to me not from a form of lack, and FOR the greater good of myself and others. Otherwise I don’t believe its possible for me.

Intentionally, I wouldn’t want it any other way. Who I am right now at this very moment is ready for something like that to happen. But what are the deeper levels of belief? What are the deeper levels of direction? Those are the true questions.

Conflict in relationships and between minds

I occasionally witness conflicts in relationships and between minds because they feel they are separate. As things that are separate they operate for survival of self. Whether it be ego identification or something else. To me this is my mind working itself out. I have to forgive things that I think matter and heal my mind. Therefore what I do to others is like I’m doing it to myself.

“Peoples judgments are more about you than they are about themselves.”

There is this show on TV that my sister watches called “Bad Girls Club.” The girls on the show tend to have a lot of pain. Pain comes from fear of separation. A good majority of the women on the show hurt other people because they are hurting on the inside and don’t know how to heal it.
The mind mirrors into reality what is being fed to it. So if your hurting you will see and create more hurt.

I see this within my own mind. I see that there are things that I may believe as true that may be hurting me, so I must forgive them and move on. What’s the purpose of holding on to something like that?

It’s not my fault syndrome

Anything you want to accomplish can be done. But when you blame others for it not happening, or say it’s not your fault, you create this reality in your mind. I have to be responsible for my reality. My thoughts and beliefs create it. Separation creates pain, so I have to heal my pain. If I blame it on other people, I’m really blaming it on myself.

Doing that creates a cycle within minds and it gets repeated over and over. The same way it does within your mind. That’s why I say “One Mind.”

Perceptions of reality

Perception always limits awareness. It narrows awareness down to a point of view. A perception is like sitting in the nose bleeds at a basketball game or sitting court side. Awareness is seeing the game from all possible angles with no distinctions. This is something the mind may not be able to comprehend, therefore it operates through perception.

Fear is a perception

Anything I want to do can be done, and is done. That is a perception, because it leaves the idea that it can’t be done, which is also a perception. Why wouldn’t something be accomplished? Take the time to ask yourself the question. The only reason something would not be able to be accomplished is because for some reason fear becomes reality.

Fear is a perception, if I were to look at something I wanted to do from all awareness at once, why would I be aware of the fact that it can’t be done? What’s the purpose of seeing that way? To me there isn’t a purpose to that.

If I’m experiencing in a physical world and I have the choice of operating from a source of love, faith, and belief, why would I chose fear?

So what is it that I Want to Do?

I’m doing what I want to do right now. Some people see it as weird because of what it appears to be. Some see it as cool because what it appears to be to them. To me it appears to be what I want to do. I see it as healing the minds of others and my own at the same time. I provide content that’s interesting and follow my intuition. I have created my own job. The things I need are already inside of me, and are provided to me right now. As fact my reality that appears outside of me reflects my beliefs. The things within in me that I have already, appear available to me in my outer reality. This includes, money,transportation,tools,people, and anything else needed to be of overall good to all.

My articles get better as I write them, and I do what I say I will do. As I provide more truth and more value, my income mirrors that. Right now I have no worries about money because I know that I’m never poor. I’m always rich no matter what my physical world may say at the moment.

College completed faster than “normal” happens in my awareness because I believe it to be possible. This is something I see as possible within myself. Money flows to me in avalanches of abundance because I provide value from my spirit. Not because I lack money, but because I believe myself to be valuable. I see others as apart of me and anyone in my awareness is there for me to help in some way, or vice versa.

Some may not understand because it’s not the main stream approach to reality, and that’s okay. To me it means I have limitless potential. Every person I meet is an opportunity to heal the one mind. Everything I think,do, and believe, is opportunity to heal. I feel so much love right now.

I’m done.

I’m through.

It’s over.

I’m finished trying to run, finished trying to control, and finished trying to be independent. Trying to be a grown-up. Let fate fall where it may, and I guess I’m leaning against the old fallback of “if God wills it.”

But seriously. At this point, if God wills it, I’ll be one intensely blessed grateful dumb shit.

I’m done.

I’m done with pretending that I’m an adult. I’m not, okay? So get over it and leave me alone. I’m struggling to get into a college that I know I’m not prepared for in a competitive world that’s waiting with eager, dripping jaws to eat me alive. I’m not ready.

I’m through.

I’m through sitting back and letting my hundreds of responsibilities run amok over me. It’s partially my fault through disorganization, partially my fault through neglect. I’m doing so much I can’t focus on the important things. If something doesn’t go, I will. I’ll go insane. So I’m through being trampled by my own many loves and passions, and I’m through being choked and hung by the dramas of my friends and school life. I’ve got to distance myself from it, before it gets me. If I don’t focus, and work my ass off on the thing that is most important, I won’t get anywhere. Ever.

It’s over.

So it’s over, kids, and here I am typing as a shakily resolute and keenly terrified individual who’s not grown up and who’s ready to practice and who really just wants to stay home and love her life and her family in peace.

But Time and Nature won’t allow it. So ready or not, I’m out in less than a year. If I go to a shitty school, well hey, that’s my own fault. Goodbye, Eastman. Nice looking at your name on the website, C.I.M. I wish I would have been good enough. I’m sorry for wasting your time, Heather. I’m deeply sorry, Mrs. Ripley.

What happens, happens. If I can’t contact anyone and have them be my savior with my transcript and SAT score report today, then I am fucked. And who can or will help me, the irresponsible procrastinator who is falsely deluding herself that she can make it in the vicious world of music?

I just want to sing. And that will probably never happen now, because I’m a fucking retard.

So guess what.

I’m done.

Today’s suggestion is about doing something about the many children throughout the world that receive no education or very limited education. This can be especially true of many girls in some countries and seems to be more so in some strict Islamic communities and regions.

It is difficult to know just what can be done in this field by the ‘average Joe,’ so to speak. Whereas individuals may not be able to do a lot personally, they may be able to contribute by being part of a larger organisation that is able to bring pressure to bear on governments around the world.

It is also possible to be part of a humanitarian organisation that seeks to assist people to receive education and/or by donating money to such a group.

For some ideas on this particular suggestion have a look at:

www.campaignforeducation.org & www.unicef.org

A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton

Wenn man mit Buelent unterwegs ist schon! Sein Part aus dem kürzlich erschienenen äusserst sehenswerten Done-Videoprojekt von Lucas Fiederling und Mark Fröhlich darf natürlich nicht auf unseren Blog fehlen.  5 Minuten “Gypsy-Cobra” inklusive vieler Treppen, Gaps und Rails.  Ausserdem, keiner kann so schön Witze erzählen und niemand kann sich so schön freuen wie Buelent! Knaller!  Alle weiteren Done-Parts könnt ihr euch bei der Monster oder auf dem Youtube-Kanal von Lucas ansehen!

Top floor landing

Much as I pretend to be creative and arty once in a while I don’t actually do very much arty stuff very often. I’m not particularly great at drawing or painting things but it is really relaxing to sit and concentrate on something for a while and see what you come up with. This week I had a suprise trip to the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on Sea and ended up drawing part of the building – another accidental list thing yey!

The De La Warr Pavilion is a Modernist icon for contemporary art situated a pebble’s throw from the beach in Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex.

This magnificent Grade One listed building has welcomed over half a million visitors since re-opening in October 2005 after a major £9 million refurbishment and redevelopment.  As well as being one of this country‘s architectural landmarks, it also has an enviable reputation as home to some of the best contemporary art on the international circuit today, exhibited in two beautifully restored galleries. – De La Warr Pavilion website

View down to the ground floor

We had a wander round their two current exhibitions about architecture before settling down to draw something that caught our eye. I chose to draw the staircase as it is one of the most noticeable features of the building. The staircase winds up through the three floors of the building and has amazing views out to sea.

It was so peaceful sitting at the bottom of the stairwell and concentrating on the different lines. The building combines lots of curves with really angular sections and details and I’m sure my quick sketch doesn’t really do it justice. It seems none of my Art GCSE skills have really stayed with me (I’m not sure I had many to begin with; my teacher told me not to bother applying to art school) but I really enjoyed my accidental drawing session.

The real thing

My version

If you’re in the area you should check out the Pavilion. We saw it on a super windy day so I imagine it looks even nicer on a gloriously sunny day (though the sea won’t be as impressive, the waves were enormous!) plus they have all sorts of exhibitions and performances on. In the meantime you can take a look at these pics I found on Flickr (if you’re reading this through a feed reader you might have to click through to my blog.

Jo x

What? Could it be? An update? You bet your turkey it is. Instead of my usual keyboard runoff, this time around everyone gets treated to a video and a few photos. More updates soon, we promise.

The Bowman Manse Update from Zach Bowman on Vimeo

~Z

We had the crown and windows done before the weekend started, but not much else.

When it comes to plumbing access panels, Pappaw was a function over form kinda guy.

Every time I see those hardwood floors, I can’t help but remember just how fortunate we are. “Amen,” Her Sweetness says.

Let there be closet doors…

And bedroom doors, too…

Her Sweetness sanding away.

The new and improved plumbing access panel.

Finished product. Her Sweetness and kitty.

Night time is a nice time to say I love you.

I DID IT!!!!!  I finished the Philadelphia Half Marathon!!!  It took me 2 hours, 25 minutes and 21 seconds.  In case you don’t feel like doing the math, it’s an 11:05 minute mile.

It’s all such a blur that I honestly don’t even know what music I was listening to.  I’ll try for a good recap, but no promises.

Here is all my stuff ready to go, and a picture we took at the expo:

Before the start

When we got there, it was around 38 degrees and still dark.  I met up with Stacey, Lesia, Lauren, and Jen and we froze our butts/toes off for a good half an hour.  The way they separate the runners (there were over 20,000 runners) is by color corrals.  We were in different corrals so Stacey and Lesia headed to theirs and Lauren, Jen, and I stayed together (we actually stayed together for pretty much the whole race). Since we were in the last corral we had to wait a half an hour before we even started.  Luckily, I had my Garmin so I was able to give updates as we ran.

Miles 1-6

Honestly, the first 6 miles were pretty easy for me.  After navigating and looping through the walkers/joggers, we hit mile 2 and were feeling amazing.  I hit 5 miles and was amazed that I wasn’t really feeling it at all.  Also, I knew my parents, brother, and Jarryd would be at mile 6 so I was very excited to see them.  We got to them at 1 hour and 3 minutes!!!

How cute is my family?! (below)

Jar ran with us for a quarter mile or so so before he left, we snapped a quick pic:

Here is a video Jar took as he ran along with us:

Miles 6-12

From this point on, it is all really blurry, but I was feeling great pretty much the whole time.  I took a Gu at mile 6.5 or so.   We hit a hill around mile 8.5 that was HUGE.  At mile 10 I looked down at my watch and it was only 1 hour and 48 minutes.  I was in awe!  Miles 10 and 11 seemed to go by so quickly, and I couldn’t believe how close we were to the finish.

Mile 12-13.1

At 12 my stomach started cramping.  I knew I only had a mile to go, but I was seriously feeling it so I walked for about a 15-30 seconds and then sped up.  At this point, Lauren must have been feeling amazing, because she full sprinted to the finish.

I got up the last hill and just started going for it.  The crowd was huge and I heard someone scream my name.  I looked to the right and Stacey was there waiting to see us!  As I got to the end, I saw my brother (he’s 6 ft tall) jumping over the crowd.  My parents and Jar were screaming too and the people around them were all cheering for me!  I looked down at my watch, saw 2 hours and 25 minutes and was in shock.  I expected to finish in 2 hours and 45 minutes, so needless to say I was ecstatic.  Here’s Jen and me finishing:

I feel so accomplished right now.  I have a million emotions going through me, but most of all, I’m so so happy.  Thank you for all of your support through all of this.  A special thank you to my family and Jar for coming out in the freezing cold and standing there for hours.  Also, a quick shout out to anyone who was running today…. WE DID IT!!!

I know the half is over, but I plan on continuing with my blogging so keep on coming back.  I have a ton more to write about, and some really great pictures of the first people to run through, the first woman to finish the marathon (in 2 hours and 46 minutes.. ridiculous), and a video of the juggling marathoner.   Plus, I have to decide my next mission, so any ideas will be accepted.  If you’re wondering, I plan on continuing with the running.  Thanks again for all the support!!!

If you’re still here, here are some pics of me at the end:

]]> http://ohtheplaceswewillgo.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/oh-the-letters-we-will-recieve/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:30:24 +0000 Luiza M² http://ohtheplaceswewillgo.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/oh-the-letters-we-will-recieve/

(listening to: Red Belt- Tegan and Sara)

I sent me two “letters to myself” via FutureMe. I’m not gonna mention their contents here: I want to forget, so that when I get them, I’m surprised.

(listening to: Shout- Donora)

Accomplished Goal: Have My Own Style

I’d been a very “girly” child: I had a love of red lipstick and bright nail polish, as well as bags, skirts and rouge (and I’m talking 5 years old here). Most of it had to do with my mom’s care that I wouldn’t feel like (or be treated as) any less of any other happy, bright and well-cared-for child, despite my raging leukemia and consequential baldness.
All that childhood confidence, however, went fading as I grew up, and at fifteen I was THE most tomboyish, awkward, badly-dressed and shy teenager you’ve ever met- and that was plain and simply not me, and it made me uncomfortable.
So- with the help of therapy and with an eye on the boys- I started to search for an image of myself that came closer to what I wanted to be like, keeping in mind, at all times, what I felt I could be like.
Now at nineteen, my style is noticeable everywhere I go: I wear brightly colored clothes, always with a matching fabric flower in my hair- which is currently short, spiky and dyed blonde- and light makeup with white eyeshadow and bold red lipstick. I prefer sneakers, flip-flops, ballet slippers or other flat shoes (since I’m already 174 centimeters tall) and like to have at least one piece of cheap, extravagant jewelry.

Some helpful ideas:

Don’t Be Afraid. Changing your looks will not make you a different person- on the contrary, it’s all about bringing out and valuing the beautiful person who’s been inside of you all along.

- Never Think Something’s Too Good For You. So you’ve always had long black hair but admired girls with short, spiky blonde do’s? Talk to a friendly and open-minded hairdresser (preferrably a new one) and tell him exactly what you WISH your hair was like, and let him figure out how to pull it off! Don’t let anyone tell you “but youre too ____ to wear ___”. The same applies to clothes, shoes, body mod and whatever else you can think of.

- Respect and Value Yourself and your Body: Pay attention to what works for you, both in beauty and in comfort. I think long nails are gorgeous, but I feel very uncomfortable in them, so I leave them as short as I can. I don’t wear high heels and I avoid clothes with poor fitting no matter how gorgeous they look on the shop windows. Keep in mind, as well, that a person who’s unconfortable looks worse than one who’s feeling good about what they’re wearing!

- Have Role Models: Pay attention to the people you think are stylish in your everyday life. Movie stars, singers etc work too, but they tend to set more unrealistic standards (don’t forget that they’re paid mainly to look their best and have loads of money and a team of specialists helping them out!).

(listening to: Get Lost- Patrick Wolf)

Accomplished Goal: Look My Best Every Day

My recipe to look my best every day is not moisturizer, makeup, fancy clothes or incredible shoes (of course, those help). It’s just really, really wanting to. Whenever I’ve been feeling unsure about my looks for a couple of weeks, I wake up, look at myself in the mirror and dare myrself to come ou of the room as amazing as I think is possible. When I feel I succeed, it has a positive impact on my entire day!

From the moment you wake up, think of what to do to look good. Choose an outfit you think will look good, especially if it’s a combination you’ve never tried. Wash your face (or better yet, take a shower), put on your clothes and your shoes, then stand in front of the mirror and think “is this good, and if it is, how can it get better?” that’s where those fancy shoes or hair gel or makeup or just a brightly colored accessory or even just a big smile come in. Keep thinking of what you could put on (or take off!) to get closer to how you want to look. When you feel you’re as close to that as you’re going to get (AND happy with what you see), then you can step out into the world.

Today was the last show of the last tour of the year. I can’t believe how much this year has changed the way I live.

It was realy great becoming friends with all the bands on this tour. Some of the most sincere group of dudes I’ve ever met. Hopefully the start of some lasting friendships.

Tonight we sleep. Tomorrow we drive. Shay will be mine.

JINDAL SAW TARGET DONE

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