January 23rd, 2002 - Got some more donations last night, and went skiing again . . . this is getting to be a habit!! My contributions are nearing $2900.00 . . . I think I'm going to make it!! I think I can, I think I can!! Thanks again everyone for your continuing support!
January 19th, 2002 - We went on our second training hike today to Little Si, outside North Bend. What a beautiful hike! Even in the rain and snow!! There are now pictures up of this excursion on my Pictures page. I skied Tuesday and Thursday this week, and it looks like Teri and I will be going again tomorrow. The Cascades have been getting dumped on! I'm starting to feel like my legs are getting in SOME kind of shape . . . I don't get as tired as I used to on my skis, and I think I actually wore out my friend Randy Thursday night! That's a first! My contributions are up to $2700+ dollars! Thanks everyone!
January 16th, 2002 - Went skiing last night! The snow was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. Skied Summit Central at Snoqualmie for a couple hours. Did about 8 runs, including my FIRST EVER black diamond (Bonanza Face). OOOOOOH Scary . . . well, the black diamond I did at Summit Central was no where near as challenging as the blue square I did at Crystal earlier this season . . . The commitments for donations continue to come in. THANKS everyone!! It looks like I'll meet my fund raising goal of $3,500.00. Now I've just got to meet my weight loss and training goals. The weekend training hikes, skiing, and a couple days in the gym will be good, but I'm not sure they'll be good enough. (Staying out of Jack in the Box might help a little too).
January 13th, 2002 - Today we had our first informal training climb at Rattlesnake Ledge outside North Bend. Pretty steep climb. I found out just how OUT of shape I really am. All those months of running on a treadmill and on the Burke Gillman Trail didn't mean jack for climbing that hill! My legs were on FIRE!!! But I felt REALLY good when I got to the top. Rattlesnake Ledge ends up at 2084 feet according to my handy eMap GPS. Our group does this hike every Tuesday/Thursday night, and I think I'm going to try and make it at least once per week. It'll really help get my legs in shape. Check out some pictures (not very flattering I might add) on my new pictures page! Thanks Chad for the use of your photos. It was really cool meeting some of the group I'll be climbing with as well. Seem like a really motivated, cool group of folks! I'm REALLY looking forward to standing on the top of Rainier with these folks!
January 11th, 2002 - My parents kicked in $400.00 to my cause today!!! AWESOME! Thanks Mom & Dad! I love you! And I decided to REALLY commit myself to this climb, I'd contribute $250.00 to myself, which with Adobe's matching funds is actually $500.00. I'm almost to my May 1st deadline of having $2500.00 in donations. I'm feeling really good about my progress. Thanks EVERYONE for your contributions! You do make a difference!
January 9th, 2002 - I received another $120.00 in donations this morning to put me over the 1/4 mark in my fund raising efforts! AWESOME!! AND I hit the gym again this morning (still sore from Monday) and did 1,320 feet on the Versa Climber and a mile on the treadmill . . . The first training climb is this Saturday on Rattlesnake Ridge. I'm READY to go! My good friend Chad decided to do the climb today! It will be AWESOME to have someone to train with and motivate!
January 7th, 2002 - Well, I put up the web site on Friday. Teri, my girlfriend, sells Mary Kay, and she mentioned the climb to her Sales Director, Tina (also a good friend of mine). Tina agreed to put my climb in her monthly unit newsletter. She was going to ask all her Consultants to donate 10% of their February sales to my climb. I told her I would wash EVERY one of her consultant's cars that did that. AWESOME!! AND I've collected $450.00 in donations already. I'm totally psyched! A couple more folks have said they would contribute, but have not given the amounts so I have not included them in the contributors page yet. Also, I got back to the gym this morning. OUCH!! I've got a lot of work to do, but with all these people behind me . . . how can I possibly fail??
January 4th, 2002 - Started working on my Climb for Clean Air web site, and "wrote" my fund raising letter. As soon as this site is more presentable, I'll send it off.
January 3rd, 2002 - Paul from ALAW called me today for my Credit Card. I'm committed (or commitable) now! I told a few folks around work, and put up my "donation" thermometer on my white board in my office. Bill Chappell, a friend of mine from Lucent was my first contributor today. ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS!! Thanks Bill! I'm VERY excited about participating. I just need to make sure I have the focus and drive required over the next 7 months to get my fat ass in shape to do this. I will make it, I'm sure of it!
January 2nd, 2002 - I heard on KIRO Radio 710 AM this evening on the way home about the American Lung Association's Climb for Clean Air. Mike Brown (Brownie) one of the broadcasters from KIRO is doing it. I've always wanted to climb Mount Rainier, so I thought I'd check out KIRO's site when I got home. It directed me to the American Lung Association of Washington's site. Checking quickly with my wonderful girlfriend, Teri, to make sure I had her full support, I registered on the spot.