So I did. I bungee jumped today. I signed up for it a few weeks ago, after a friend of mine has done it, and raved about it for a while. He knew he was going to be going again, invited me to come along, and I agreed. The deal was to meet at Tukwila Park and Ride on Sunday at 8:15 AM, and go from there.

Sunday morning rolls around, my alarm goes off at 6 AM, I am sleep deprived because the night before I was up until 2 AM, so I decided that it wasn’t my day to do anything but chill. I promptly emailed everyone to let them know I am not coming. Almost immediately a smart ass guy (you know who you are!) emails me back, with everyone copied on the email (of course!), and innocently inquires if I am scared of the heights? I shrug it off. I mean come on, if I am going to do something that huge, then at the very least I want to be well rested for it, and go back to sleep.

By 9 AM I am finally awake, and decide that it is about high time I went back to my traditional Sunday morning at Pike’s Market. Texted message bunch of people (I really like that I can text message all people at once on my Iphone), asking if anyone wanted to join me.

One of the messages is from a lovely couple who wanted to join us for the experience, but couldn’t make it, asking what happened and why I wasn’t going. As I was text messaging them I remembered how the beautiful half of the lovely couple got a sky diving ticket for her birthday present, and how much fun she had. At the same time I get another text message from the friend who got me into the whole thing, telling me that they weren’t that far away, and I can still catch up.

So I did… And around 2 PM or so I jumped off the darn bridge, as most of you knew within an hour or so (did I mention that mass text messaging is a wonderful thing?) I jumped only once. I couldn’t do the forward lunge, but went ahead with the backward lunge. I did full and half flip in the area, which was completely beginner’s luck, because the position I was in wasn’t even supposed to result in a flip. In fact, after watching the video of my jump, I was hysterically laughing, and screaming “Oh my G-d! Oh my G-d! I cannot believe I flipped like that!”

To everyone who has shared that experience with me, a big and huge “Thank you.” So here we go guys:

To D, thank you for being a great friend, who is always there to support me, cheer me on, participate in my events, and dance with me. Thank you for believing in me being able to do the jump even though I was scared of it before, during and even after the jump.

To the girl who struggled with her fear, and was willing to hop back on the bridge the second time to take that dive. Girl, how did you do take that forward lunge?!?!!? And thank you for letting me spill parts of myself to you after the jump.

To the girl with big heart and great tattoos, who is also the only girl with 2 jumps under her belt – I am looking forward to getting to know you better, cooking with you, and doing fundraising. And by the way, isn’t backward jumping a whole lot easier?

To our patient driver who picked me up half way through the ride, and drove me back – really enjoyed talking to you, and looking forward to hanging out again in the future.

To the guy who was willing to give up the t-shirt for me. I really appreciate it, and I think we had a fair deal!

To the hot guy who always allows me to run off with my wacky sense of humor at his expense. Dude, the speedoes and surfing lecture was priceless. 

To the wise friend of the hot guy – let’s deal! If you bungee jump in speedoes, I will do take that forward lunge.

To the Russian guy who dived in so beautifully, and couldn’t wait to jump again. I am looking forward to doing shots together in a near future.

All of you were absolutely amazing. I am glad to have met all of you. The whole experience was incredible, and our dinner conversations, jokes, and sharing of experiences were absolutely priceless. Being around people who are always looking forward to making new friends, opening up their homes to others (dear fellow couchsurfers we rock!), share their personal stories with others, and embrace different cultures, different religions, skin color, beliefs and etc, makes me feel wonderfully warm.

Вот у меня сейчас хохма была с этой заметкой.  http://deadsmoker.livejournal.com/152133.html

Мне так понравилось описание похода, я тут же написала подруги на Фасбуке  стене что было бы неплохо туда сходить. Вот что я написала "Вот бы туда на хай пойти!!!"

Кое кто уже успел уточнить "куда пойти? может другие 3 буквы, Оля?"

Вот так я хожу на хай :)))
 

Недавно позвонила своему знакомому, с которым по приезду с Индии ещё толком не говорила. После обычных "как ты, как дела, как новая квартира", мы стали болтать на более глубокие темы. Я поделилась что в последнее время чувствую себя немного потерянной - всё чего то хочется, часто думаю что мне надо поменять в своей жизни, и постоянно такое ощущение что ещё не пришло моё время сидеть в одном городе.

Привела ему в пример мальчика с книги "Алхимик". У меня как у этого мальчика, сердце постоянно ёкает, и довольно таки громким голосом говорит что моя жизнь на данный момент это не совсем моё. Головой понимаю что очень хорошо иметь крышу над головой, работу в эти не понятные экономические времена, не переживать о деньгах. А сердце твердит что мне нужно совсем другое.

Вот и думаю, а стоит ли слушать моё сердце? В прошлом оно мне тоже много чего нашёптывало, иной раз вообще чёрт знает какие советы давало. Довольно таки часто, слушая своё сердце, попадала в жопошные ситуации. Вот сижу, думаю "Слушать мне своё сердце на сей раз?"
 

Уже давным давно слежу за блогом Линор Горалик. Сегодня решила посмотреть её журнал с самого начало, пришлось перечь на 2002. Не поняла о чём сама первая запись говорит, а вот вторая меня просто убила... Вторая заметка на первый взгляд особо ничем не привлекала, просто ссылка на вебсай http://www.grani.ru/neuro/  Ну я пошла туда, и самое первое что увидела была статься о том что "На Святой Руси секса нет"....

Конечно нет и не было!!! И вообще нас не мамы наши рожали - нас или аисты приносили, или вообще на улицах находили!!! Тут же вспомнила одного чудика с России, который мне однажды сказал что в Россий все были asexual . Как интеренсно получатся, трахаться ни кто не  трахался, но дети плодились. Ох, думаю что то с водой наверняка было не в порядке. Иначе откуда детям появляться, если все asexual???

 

Получила почту от Каскейд Клуб, пригласили подписаться на "High Pass Challenge" - дистанция 114 мил, возвышение 7,500 футов.  В этом году я на это точно не потяну, но следующий год, совсем другое дело! Меня на данный момент может хватит на 50 миль с возвышение около 3,000 футов - да и то, педалить буду медленно медленно, и умирать на каждом миле.

Хотелось бы попробовать заниматься с командой, или напарником. В этом году я сама по себе тренировалась, и на STP одна ездила. Одной заниматься вроде как спокойней, подлаживаешься под собственный ритм, ни кто тебе не мешает, и ты не кому не мешаешься. Но с другой стороны, скучно!

Прошлой ночью организовала ужин со своей хорошей подругой. Народ собрался довольно таки разношерстный, что всегда меня очень радует. Еду наготовили ого го, благо она с Пакистана, а я с Востока - покушать любим! Ну и естественно готовить тоже умеем.

Еда вышла просто классно, как всегда (сказано скромно и тихим голосом) - .... Ну ладно, не буду притворяться, я уже давно спокойно реагирую на комплименты по поводу моих кулинарных способностей, ибо это ПРАВДА! А правды надо просто принимать, не брыкавшишь!

Ужин начался довольно таки прилично. Гости дружно налетели на жареные Индийские пончики, картошку сильно пахнувшей кури (и всем запах кури был приятен), и жареные грибы. Первые 20 минут ни кто ничего не говорил, всё что было слышно - групповое чавканье, громкие вздохи, демонстрирующие радость животов, которые шустро наполнялись едой, и сопение (почему народ сопел, не знаю - думаю тяжелая работа челюстями давала о себе знать).

Наевшись, гости развалились где могли, и минут пять просто молчали - переваривали пищу. Через какое то время народ ожил, так сказать в себя пришел, и начал болтать. Болтание начиналось красиво и прилично. Типа откуда вы, зачем, и как? В какой то момент кто то сделал замечание про туалетную бумагу, которую пришлось использовать как салфетки, ибо обычных салфеток не имелось. И вот произошёл большой пипец.

Кого то (по моему это была я) чёрт дернул за язык, и каким то образом замечание о туалетной бумаге начал разговор про Индийские туалеты, конкретнее как эти туалеты выглядят, и что народ делает после использования не Европейских туалетов. Один из гостей был "типичный Русский еврейчик", который был знаком с нехваткой туалетной бумаги, но не подозревал о не использование туалетной бумаге.

Просвещение "типичного Русского еврейчика" было занимательно, и впечатлительно. Ему быстро объяснили правило левой руки, концепт "Мусульманского душа", и назначение шланга с сильным напором (а что с этим шлангом делается, я уже не буду упоминать). Один из товарищей поделился со своим ужасом перехода с одно туалета на другой (не стоит говорить с какого туалете переходили на какой), и пару людей поделились чувством брезгливости перед Европейскими туалетами...

Пор конец дискуссии я просто валялась на полу, и как не кошерный поросёнок хрюкала громко и взахлёб...

Ура, Ура, Ура!

Полностью готова вернуться в мир блогов и разной писанины, и надо заметить, довольно таки глупой писанины.

Буду скакать с страницы на страницы, читать полную чушь, и даже отвечать на неё! Буду делиться со всеми "что, за чем, как, и почему" у меня в жизни (или просто в моей голове) происходит! Хочет народ знать что у меня происходит, или нет, без разницы, всё равно буду делиться!!!

Уже радуюсь, думая о будущих виртуальных безобразий, пустоблюдия, трепания ни о чем... Уххх... что может быть лучше чем периодическое виртуальное чесания языков???
 

The big day is right around the corner, and I am feeling the pressure of it! I have been feeling the pressure for a while now. Just last week I had an anxiety attack that kept me awake most of the night. Curled up in a ball in my new apartment, heart beating frantically and loudly, with insane thoughts crawling through the hills of my brains; the only thing missing was chattering of teeth. I think chattering would have completed “Girl has gone nuts” picture.

I am filled with nervous energy, and it has been very hard to relax. I have been eating enormous portions of food, often not very healthy kinds, but still loosing weight. Got myself a new outfit last Monday, it is already hanging on me today, and I haven’t been to the gym in a week!

Here is what I have so far.

v     Printed out maps, directions for the ride

v     Finally booked the hotel

v     Arranging with my friend the time for meeting tonight – need to give her keys to my car

v     Leaving work early and going straight to the bike shop to drop off my bike, and have it fine tuned

v     Got to swing by REI, and pick up my registration

v     Seeing a chiropractor to get adjusted, and then off to get my massage

v     Will pick up bike, go home, shower, prep the bag for the ride

v     Will swing by the b-day party of a dear friend

v     Come back home, sleep

v     Wake up early in a morning, do breathing exercises

v     Ride out to the start line

v     Ride and Enjoy!

Yes, I can!

On a completely different note; a bit earlier today I was asking my manager to give me some sort of assignment that would stop me from riding tomorrow. She laughed, and said that I would be just fine. I went on to complain to her that the life of a responsible adult is hard, and can she please adapt me, and take over my life. Apparently she is maxed out with her own four adult kids, plus one of the kid’s significant other.

Now I am thinking that maybe I should pursue an idea of getting a rich and control husband who will take over my life? HAHAHAAHA

And my first big ride has been ridden! The entire distance was 72 miles, with two really powerful hills, one of them was above 600 elevation feet. To say that the hill was steep is really not say much. You had to try to bike it to appreciate the ruthlessness of that hill. I was able to get to the middle of the hill, and I was done. I was completely drained out of energy; my body couldn’t work up stamina to stay in the seat and power cycle through. In fact, I came pretty close to understanding how rigorous exercise can make you sick. I gotten off the bike, and walked the last 15 minutes of it. The funny part was that walking I was faster than riders who were cycling the hill.

In any case, let me take it from the top. Saturday night, here is “Miss Cyclist of the Year”, which would be me, trying to check the air in my tires, instead I end up deflating my back tire because I couldn’t figure out how to work my pump. I wisely decided not to touch front time, promptly texted message a fellow rider, and went to sleep at 10 PM. I was up and ready to go by 6 AM. Note to myself, need a lot more than 7 hours of sleep before big ride. Although 7 hours of sleep was helluva better than my 4 hours of sleep before 40 miles ride while hangovered, if not “Ops, I know this is Sunday, but I think I am still drunk from Saturday.”

Arrived at the Seattle Center at 6:10 AM, got my tire fixed, met up with my teammates, and off we rode out at 7 AM on our 72 miles ride!  Here is the link to our route: http://www.livestrongchallenge.org/site/c.frKPI1PAIoE/b.4026229/k.5491/Seattle_70Mile_Course_Map.htm

There were stops every 15 miles with food, drinks, mechanics, medics, and so on. I was told that there were about 12 course marshals to help with the rides. In addition to that Seattle police, and Harley Davidson riders were cruising through the routes to check up on the riders. And the best thing was cheering volunteers who were positioned all throughout the routes. It was really sweet and amazing to see kids waving and screaming “Thank you for riding!” It really touched my heart.

The beginning part of the route in Downtown was completely closed of, along with the bridge. We didn’t encounter any traffic until we got to Mercer Island, which was a fairly quite and nice rolling hills ride. I am looking forward to biking through Mercer Island again; the scenery was stunning, and I would love to go back again at slower pace, and have time to absorb the scenery.

To be continued….

In all honesty I am slightly freaked out about my 70 miles ride this Sunday. This past week hasn’t been the healthiest week for me. I have been staying up very late, haven’t gotten much of sleep, barely worked out, while eating like a horse. I am wondering if it is the last minute jitters that are making me question myself. Come Sunday I’ll know what I am made of! Until then I am off to buy few last minutes things, and plan on getting lots of sleep this Saturday!

Past weekend was Kwazy!!! Even for me! Thursday night was meeting bunch of friends, including a guest from Canada, for happy hour that ended with having deep discussions on heavy topics such as “To be or be to” in my humble adobe. The company was most excellent, topics covered were intruding, staying up until 4 AM seemed doable at the time, and of course the reality proved once again that fantasies about being able to do much on little sleep are just that, fantasies. It took a while to get to that understanding though!

Friday rolls around... And truthfully Friday was pretty good for I was in a bed by 11 PM. However Saturday 5:30 AM call was a bit rough. Saturday day flew by, 7 PM rolls around, and I set off to meet few friends at the Gas Works Park. One round of of drinks (we shared a glass of wine), and we got into some deep conversations, such as “Marry Jewish or non-Jewish?” Personally I say “Just get married!” The rest shall be figured out later. Just kidding!!!

Moving along… Saturday night comes around. I find myself driving with a cool girl to a party thrown by really cool people. Lots of cool people.... During our drive the girl and I really click; in the middle of clicking process we discover we have a very interesting connection in common. Exploring and talking about that connection was even more interesting!!! Ok, no more on that subject.

Get to the party, and oh boy was the party happening!!! We open a door to an Asian guy who is already a bit beyond buzzed, but is still holding his own. As it turns out he is one of the roommates at the house. He takes us to the “main happening action” at the party, which was doing shots in the kitchen with bunch of strangers. That was the warm embraced that welcomed me and the girl who crashed a party with me into a long night full of Asian people who spoke Russian better than English, jumping in the hot tubs, having “Cheers, Le Chaim, and На здоровье” drinks, planning an exotic trip to Bali islands in Indonesia, dancing to the Bollywood movie (as it turns out just about everyone at the party have seen “Disco Dancer” movie”, and everyone got it down with “Jimmy Adja” performed by M.I.A… what a nice way to salute Hindustan, while celebrating Sri Lanka’s talent!), discussing the poverty in India, and searching for edible food.

At one point nothing existed except happy jumping to loud music, and experiencing strong feelings of warmth and love towards everyone I could see. That is when I knew it was time to roll. Not that I don’t like to experience warm and fuzzy feelings towards people, but who were those people anyway?!?!?!?! At least all the ones who didn’t become my Facebook friends’ next day…

Finally managed to fall asleep around 2 AM only to be awaken by a call from India. At long last the sleep was mine at 2:30 AM only to wake up to a crude realization that I have scheduled to go on a 50 miles ride with a co-worker. How I got out of a bed on Sunday morning is something that puzzles me even today. Maybe it is best not to remember.

I started my ride at 9:30 AM, and was done with it by 1:30 PM, having it cut short to 40 miles. First 10 miles I was in some sort of euphoric moment, there was nothing but the trail, me pedaling, and my bike. 2^nd hour of the ride my попка was trying to say something to me. I didn’t think the timing was good, and decided to hold off the conversation for later. By the 3^rd hour my попка was getting louder, but I was still not ready to have the conversation, and we found compromise in me adjusting the seat. The new adjustment seemed to have shut up the need for a conversation for a while.

By the end of the ride my попка, along with the rest of my body, and the voices in my head, were cussing me out like there is no tomorrow. I had few words exchanged with myself as well. Still managed to make it to several different events, including a shuir at the shul. Tried to make it to my friend’s b-day party, but by 8 PM I was completely wiped out to a point of having to take Monday off to nurse powerful headache, and not getting out of a bed until 3 PM.

Not to worry though! By late Monday afternoon I was back to cheery and bouncy self. And this morning it was back to the gym at wee hours of the morning, work, and school time!

And the lesson of it all, you ask? The lesson is if I managed 40 miles last Sunday, I am for sure going to completely 70 miles this coming up Sunday!

This week a fellow Seattleite, who is currently living in Mumbai, was involved in a very scary incident. The latest news are very positive and encouraging, and everyone is finally able to breathe a bit. Throughout the whole ordeal the entire community in Seattle, friends in other states, and Chabad house in Mumbai have come together to pray for the speedily recovery, support each other, help the family, and make themselves available resources for whatever the family might need.

As I was contacting people in Mumbai to get more information, I also contacted Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, who is a  director of Chabad House in India. And once again I was impressed with how Chabad operates and how much support Chabad Houses are to the Jews all over the world. Even though Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz was traveling abroad, and I don’t think he was even on Mumbai time, he replied to me within an hour. I happened not to be at my computer at the time, and so he kept following up with me asking for the details. By the time I have gotten back to him, I knew the name of the hospital. Within half an hour of me getting back to Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz with the latest update and the name of the hospital, he has dispatched the rabbinical students to the hospital to find out how they can be of help.

Since then Chabad Mumbai has been keeping in touch with the family, friends and the community in Seattle; the students have made several trips to the hospital and brought warm food to everyone who is keeping vigil there, and I have been getting periodic updates directly from Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz. In short, once again Chabad has immediately made itself available during tough times.

And that is the thing about Chabad. No matter where life takes the Jews, no matter what life dishes out to the Jews, the Chabad is there to help the Jews when help is needed.

I ask you to continue to support Chabad, and please donate to Chabad Mumbai Fund, as Chabad continues to rebuild the dream of Rabbi Gaviel and Rivkah Holtzberg.

You can make your donations by going to http://www.chabadindia.org