After a relatively busy summer (Philippines, Portland, Wisconsin, Winnipeg, and Algonquin notwithstanding), the day job team has launched into our regular autumn conference season and production scramble. An unexpected influx of evening work has also come my way (thank you, freelance gods), making life a little more hectic than usual. Those of you who know me well know that “more hectic than usual” is pretty much my normal, so I guess it’s nothing new.
Anyway, somehow I’ve found the time to take up indoor rock climbing. Guess what? I LOVE IT. In my enthusiasm, morning runs have taken a back seat. Hikes are occasional. Kettle bells have ceased to exist. My regular gym still takes my money despite my long-term absence. Friends I’ve known for years are suddenly revealing that they’re active climbers, too. Finding it difficult to believe the sport took 30 years to find me.
I owe this discovery to the quickly approaching Kilimanjaro Climb for Life. Gotta say that the countdown on my fundraising page is making this trip seem pretty real. When I signed on last November, it seemed like lots of time to prepare for a 19,341-foot hike. Now there’s a mere 17 days until we depart. Good grief! I’m really going to regret putting off buying hiking boots until this week. Just watch — I’ll be the one clomping to every meeting from now until October 12.
Before the Kili team leaves to conquer the mountain, I’m squeezing one final event (October 3) into the mix to raise some funds for WaterCan. Event details are here. The bar (1602 Dundas West) has a different name every night – kinda the schtick – so that night it’ll be Kili-themed: “Summit Like It Hot.” Very relaxed atmosphere, PWYC donations, perhaps a familiar face or two behind the decks (or, more likely, the laptop).
Because our team has done so well ($224,793.38!), executive director George Yap told us this afternoon that they’re raising the Kili fundraising goal to $250,000. Friends, hope you can make it to this small summit party. Every little bit helps.
Originally posted on September 25. Switched to Squarespace and somehow lost this one.