Knee still hurts. Not good! I'm a bit concerned that it won't be healed in time for the trail, which would be a big bummer. Injuries are no fun!! It's so hard not to climb and slackline as usual. I feel so....trapped! I just want to move around, but I'm stuck sitting on my butt. I guess I should stop whining about it and be patient (patience is a virtue, right?).
Anyway, in better news....my last day at work is tomorrow and then I am going to Indianapolis for Gibbon to slackline with Jeremy. I'm gonna have to take it easy because of my knee, of course, but it should be fun! Then after that I start packing and moving out of my apartment. Eek!! A new chapter shall begin. Mike and I will head to Boulder, CO where his parents live....and we'll hang out around there for a little while and see how my knee progresses. From there, we'll figure out the next step. I've always wanted to check out Boulder, so I'm psyched about that! And of course seeing all the slackers that live there.
A couple weeks ago, Mike and I were sent down to Hollywood for a Television show called "The Doctors" on CBS. We were representing Gibbon Slacklines and were on the show to demonstrate and explain why slacklining is great for the body! I had never been on television before so it was a bit nerve racking at first. We had to do a rehearsal the day before the taping, which was very relaxed and kinda silly...."stand here, but don't stand there! don't stand too close to this guy...he needs his space. be sure to be excited. but don't talk too much. be brief!" I tried to obey all of the rules :) We made up a little slackline routine and Mike had to bow afterwards. SOOO not him! Anyway....it was quite the experience and I'm glad I got to go. It was cool to see what goes on behind the scenes! So many cameras, sooo many people with different jobs to do (lighting, maintenance, stand in's, audience that claps at certain times, people that give you the microphones, people that escort you to and from, make-up and hair stylists, etc). It was totally weird seeing myself on TV.....not sure I liked it. I had to wear gobs of make-up too which wasn't fun! Mike certainly didn't enjoy that part either.
After the show, we had the whole day to ourselves so we went to Muscle Beach in Santa Monica and hung out by the water, ate at "Bubba Gump Shrimp" just like in Forrest Gump (which we had watched the night before!), and slacklined over the sand. Met some really great people that day! I'm really glad I got to go and have that experience.
1) I am addicted to chapstick. I keep it by my bedside just in case I wake up in a fit of chapped lips.
2) I can walk highlines thousands of feet off the ground, but I cannot willfully jump off of things. It terrifies me!
3) I laugh hysterically when people fall down to the ground (and are alright, of course). Sometimes it get me in trouble :-P
4) I was the most bratty/selfish little girl you would ever meet (don't worry, I realized it, and I've changed).
5) I really don't like being around negative people.
6) Sometimes, I have the strangest urge to swim in extremely cold water.
7) I have an affinity to balancing (gosh, it's fun!).
8) I absolutely love dogs. I LOVE them. If I'm grouchy, show me a dog and I'll be instantly cured.
9) If I could live at any point in time, I would choose to live with the Native Americans. They truly lived life fully, and in a way that I would love to experience! No creature comforts.
10) I believe in many, many different kinds of love.
11) I'm terrified of childbirth.
12) I keep a box of letters that I've received throughout my life, from friends and family, and read them about once or twice a year. It truly refreshes me and helps me gain perspective on how much things have changed, and how much things will always change. It's also nice to reminisce!
13) I have recurring dreams that I can fly, but I only do it at night when no one can see me.
14) I think that happiness is a choice, and I've chosen it.
15) One of my favorite words is "Sneeze".
16) I'd like to experience as many new and different things as possible in my lifetime.
17) I've lived in 8 US states and hope to live in many more!
18) I was born with a large red birthmark on my left shin that looked exactly like a rose. People would ask WHY my Mom tattooed her daughter. The birthmark disappeared around age 3 or 4. Strange!
19) After all the sports I've participated in (pretty much every sport under the sun) I've NEVER broken a bone. Lucky me!
20) My Dad had me on ice hockey skates when I was 6 years old. Then when I was 7, I was the only girl on an all boys hockey team. Such a tom-boy!
21) When my sister was born, I suggested that she be named either "Booshoo or Clupup". They proceeded to name her "Malorie Kathleen" which didn't stick. They changed it later on to "Kristen Renee".
22) I think that society has created a very skewed view of life in general.
23) The only thing I want to spend my money on is Gear and Travel!
24) My mother is the most loving, caring, and intuitive woman I have ever known. As Jenelle says, she is a kindred spirit.
25) I really hope the world doesn't end in 2012. I'm having too much fun!
Instead of continuing on with life as planned, I've recently decided to hike the Appalachain Trail this Spring/Summer/Fall! How crazy is that? AlphaMike asked me to hike it with him, and my gut reaction was YES! So, why not? I'm a believer in following your gut, and I've always wanted to experience pure simplicity, freedom from society, absolute connection with nature, and living at it's most basic form. I'm beyond psyched for this experience.....but also quite nervous about the physical difficulty. I've always been an athlete, so I know I can do it. I guess I'm referring more to the mental struggle it will take to keep going for 2,178 miles. Eek!! This will be a life changing experience, no doubt about it. The cool thing about it, too, is that I'll end up in the northeast and I'll get to see my family! Yahooeeey!
Here is a picture/map of the trail. We're starting at the end of March/Beginning of April and it should take approximately 5 months. We're going South ---> North (well, so far that's the plan). More details to come!
* You must give in order to receive. I know this sounds cliche, but I truly believe this. I think the world works in mysterious ways and will give to you only after you give to others. Try it! It works! And it feels amazing.
* LET IT BE. Seriously, just do. You can't plan for the future because things are always changing! You can never predict what is going to come your way.....and isn't that fun?!?
* PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE. I know it's hard not to rush and want things right away, but the fun is in the wait!!! If you just accept that, you will experience pure joy. I know I have :)
* If you can't figure out the answer, just wait....it'll come. I've finally discovered that there IS such a thing as "just knowing"...I've always been skeptical of this feeling, but it does exist!!!
Anyway, those are a few things I wanted to share with the world because they have come to me at the perfect time.
