May 1, 1997 (Day 43 – milepoint 450.3 – Damascus, VA)

Took a second day off in Damascus.

One of the nice things about having a LONG rain coat is that you can sit comfortably in a public laundromat and wash ALL of your clothes at once…

In the afternoon, Easy Chair and I joined some local kids for pick-up basketball. The competition was so-so until we expressed to them how embarrassing it would be to lose to a couple of hikers wearing sandals. It’s amazing what motivates 15 and 16 year-olds. It turned into quite a competitive match, which, as one can imagine, built up quite an appetite.

For dinner this evening, we went to Quincey’s Pizza Place with several other hikers. Overcome with peer pressure, I ordered the family-size calzone, which turned out to be much bigger than I expected, basically a large pizza folded in half. But, with a heroic effort, I got the whole thing down and then stopped at a small market for a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. I’m laying in bed right now and I must admit that I’m not feeling too good. I suppose if I ‘m going to eat like I’m walking 20 miles a day, I should be walking 20 miles a day…

Aquaholic

May 1, 2009

Hey Aquaholic,

I’m making progress with a few work-related activities and it is making me feel good in a way that I haven’t for quite a while. My new website for my internet marketing and web development business is mere days from official launch. I’m so ready to ditch the “cobblers-kids-have-no-shoes” disclaimer for having built so many great websites but not having more than a splash page for my own site.

In that business realm, I have just added two new projects to the two I am currently working on, and I am gaining momentum on the development of a marketing program that has recently come to the forefront after several years on the back-burner. There are also several very interesting opportunities that have either presented themselves or that I have been pursuing for a while and are finally showing signs of moving forward.

I have not been lacking in action over the past several months, I have been lacking in transaction.

I am really good at what I do and I will continue to get better. But in the past, knowing that I can always improve has kept me from placing proper value on my work. In some cases, I have even deflected payment for work that the client was happy with but I felt could have been better.

No more.

As much as I have accomplished in a depleted state of being, just imagine what looms when I am at my best, whole and in control.

I know two great kids that have a wonderfully unique future to look forward to…

O’