Digital Wilderness

This will be my final update before the big race…

The Redlegs Run for Home 5K Race is this coming Sunday, only days away. My training is progressing, but I don’t know if I’m going to be able to run the whole thing like I had hoped. I have no doubt that I’ll finish, or even that I’ll finish under 45 minutes (I’ll probably finish around 35 minutes), but based on what I’m able to run right now, I’m going to have to take a 2-3 minute walk break in the middle.

I’ve done fairly well my last two times out – 16 mins. running, 2 walking and 11 running on Tuesday and 18 mins. running, 3 walking and 9 running today, both of which were better than I had run previously. Though I haven’t measured the distance, I’d say that’s pretty close to 5K. My legs are really hurting after today’s run, though, so I’m debating whether or not I should squeeze another run in before the big day. Last thing I need is to be sore the day of the race…

Pray for me this Sunday!

I’d be interested to see what your take on this: www.tribewanted.com

Imagine having a unique influence in the creation of an ecological island community. Imagine being able to visit and stay on that island. Imagine playing an exclusive role in a history making adventure.

Stop imagining. Start believing.

Welcome to Adventure Island.

This is your chance to join a unique tribe and help build both an online and real-life community. It’s an opportunity to join a virtual meeting of minds that will generate a new kind of utopian existence, from the comfort of your own computer. As a tribal member you will have the chance to visit one of the most beautiful islands on earth, knowing you’ve contributed to the development of its ecological community. This is your moment to make history on a tiny ripple of rock, jungle and sand in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean.

This is not reality TV – this is real life. Be part of a real adventure. Join the tribe.

It is tribewanted’s aim to create a sustainable and ecological community on Adventure Island and to encourage tribe members to actively take part in this challenge.

Imagine, a week in Fiji… My first thought was “I’ve gotta do this,” since a) it doesn’t cost too much b) I’ve never been overseas c) I like the Survivor/Lost type aspects of it d) it seems like a really cool project and community in which to be involved and e) it would be a great way to meet new and a diverse group of people. Fiji!

However, the more that I’ve thought about it, the more iffy I am on how “legit” this is and if it would be as great of an opportunity as I think. The website and group of people behind the idea have gotten a lot of exposure around the world, which in turn decreases the chances of it being a scam, but something about it still isn’t sitting right with me.

Before you comment, be sure to read the FAQ and other portions of the website to get the whole picture, then feel free to leave me your thoughts.

[Update: Here's a video from The Today Show about the project: Video]

Via News.com.au

[Ringxiety] a familiar and unnerving sensation: the false belief that you can hear your mobile phone ringing or vibrating.

Now the phenomenon is so widespread it has an official name: “ringxiety”.

People have grown emotionally dependent on their mobiles for feelings of self-worth, claim psychologists.

So when we “hear” an imaginary ring, or think vibrations on a bus are a call, it is the subconscious calculating how popular we are.

The term was coined by David Laramie, from California’s School of Professional Psychology, himself a sufferer.

On hearing notes similar to his phone’s ring, “my brain would fill in the rest”, he said.

British psychologists say it is a sign the human brain is struggling to adapt to today’s demands.

Lancaster Centre for the Study of Media, Technology and Culture professor Michael Hulme said: “You want to feel you are being contacted.”

Yep, I’ve got it

I’ve been teasing some of you with mention of a “secret project.” Now that it’s completed, I can let the cat out of the bag.

Mindy and I are applying for The Amazing Race 11!

We finished our video today, all the apps are filled out, pictures taken, etc., so all that remains is to send it off to the producers. It’s due this Friday, June 2. If the producers like what they see, we’ll be invited to Indianapolis for a round of live interviews. If that goes well, we’ll be flown out to L.A. for two more weeks of interviews and such.

I’m going to try to get the video put online, but I’ll need to borrow a miniDV camcorder with the appropriate outputs. (We had to borrow the one we used today and that needs to be returned…)

Thanks to Diane, James and Kari for the assistance!

Wish us luck!

A couple of my friends have been posting links to the following on their Xangas, and since they’re not half bad, I thought I’d repost them. Some enterprising (read: too much time on their hands) people have made some pretty funny “remake trailers” for movies. Check ‘em out:

Must Love Jaws (Jaws as a love story)

Sleepless In Seattle (Sleepless in Seattle as a horror movie)

10 Things I Hate About Commandments (The 10 Commandments as a comedy)

Happy anniversary to my brother David and his wife Elizabeth! Today marks their one year anniversary of marriage. May you have many more to come!

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday, dear Carissa R
Happy Birthday to you

This has my name written all over it:

Purple People Bridge Climb

Adventurers of all ages, prepare to go over the top! The Purple People Bridge Cl!mb, the first of its kind in the United States and the northern hemisphere, opens right here in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area this spring.

Rivaled only by attractions in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand, the Purple People Bridge Cl!mb spans the Ohio River, giving locals and visitors alike a bird’s eye view of the Northern Kentucky and downtown Cincinnati areas – all from nearly 150 feet in the air.

The Purple People Bridge Cl!mb is for the young, old and everyone in between. Starting at the foot of the Purple People Bridge at Newport on the Levee, climbers will embark upon a unique journey that takes them up among the upper trestles of the bridge’s five spans. At the apex of the bridge, climbers walk out onto a glass floor suspended directly over the Ohio River. Climbers also will be taken on a path underneath the bridge near the Ohio side to get a close-up look at its architecture.

I think I’m gonna do the Code Name Purple Cl!mb:

Each climber receives a spy kit. Smoke spews as Mr. Phelps, (the climb leader) dressed in trench coat, arrives. Music plays ominously drowning out the chatter. A tape recorder plays the assignment. When the tape destructs in a cloud of smoke, teams set off to the climb. Searching for clues along the climb regarding buildings, area history, the river and more, the climbers will relay their findings to the climb Leader. Climbers will complete their mission by reaching the end of the bridge and successfully accomplishing their tasks.

Who wants to join me?!?

You know, it’s ideas like this, the “out-of-the-box, what-can-we-do-that-no-one-else-in-the-area-is-doing” that makes me proud to live in Northern KY (and not across the river in Ohio *shudder*)

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday, dear Heidi W
Happy Birthday to you

Here’s another update on my 5K training…

Wow, what a difference a day makes. Yesterday was very much not a good run for me. I ran for 8 minutes, walked for 2, ran for 5 more then walked my way home. I think running for 13 minutes total was the most I’ve done so far, but not by much. The setback was only being about to run for 8 minutes before taking a “walk break.” I had previously run for 9.5 minutes without stopping. With the way I overthink and easily turn into a pessimist, I was seriously doubting I could be ready for the 5K.

Today was totally different story, though! I ran for a whopping (for me) 12 minutes, walked for two minutes, then ran for another 11! Holy cow! I didn’t think I had it in me. That’s gotta be close to two miles, so I’m about two-thirds of the way there, which is where I wanted to be by weeks end.

In case you’re wondering – yes, I do want to run the whole 5K without stopping. I’ve had that mindset from the start, which definitely has helped with the training. If I had thought about walking through some of the race, I’d be getting really lazy right now.

This whole “training for a 5K” thing has turned out to be a really great thing for me. Not only am I running for a worthwhile cause (the Reds’ Community Fund), not only will I be able to cross something off my life to-do list, but I’m also getting the exercise I need, I’m feeling really good about myself and I’ve reconnected with a friend that I haven’t had much contact with for several months. A win-win situation for me all around!

Tomorrow, I’m taking a “break” from running and doing a 15-20 mile bike ride. I’ll pick up running on Thurs and Fri before taking another “break” on Saturday for Ultimate Frisbee.

Whew!

I’m gonna go die now…after I treat myself to some ice cream!