Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Snowshoe Thank You
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Equipment Update
We've been snowed in from school today, so I decided it would be a great opportunity to do an inventory of the equipment I have acquired and figure out what I need. I am happy to say my list has shrunk without a penny being spent (well, except for the bathing suit, but I'm working on that one. I've decided I'm going to make a dress and shorts out of it and sell it on Etsy! I'll post a picture when it's done.).
I am incredibly lucky to have a neighbor who used to do mountaineering and has lent me a ton of equipment, including a sleeping bag and backpack which are two big items on the list! The Stowe Dump Reuse room has also equipped me with a pair of lightweight pants (made in Italy) that are perfect for Kroka. If you've never been, the reuse room is fantastic and free! Really. And it's saving textiles from needlessly going into the trash.
Anyway, here's the modified list:
3 Pairs wool socks. You'd think I'd have more, but I could only find three good pairs and we have to have six.
1 Lightweight wool or fleece sweater. Lightweight is super important. I have a ton of sweaters but they're all bulky.
Swimsuit......well, I can always wear a sports bra and shorts, but it might be good to have a real suit.
1 Pair comfortable, warm gloves that can fit under big mittens for mountaineering but also work for biking.
Mountaineering boots. My feet are usually size 8.5 or 9 women's. The recommended model is Scarpa Charmoz.
1 Pair close toed, durable sandals that will stay securely on feet and can be used in and out of water. Yarn for knitting. I have a little, but one small skein would help.
We're getting down there! It is truly amazing how generous my neighbors have been. I have already saved at least $1000 on equipment.
Anyway, here's the modified list:
3 Pairs wool socks. You'd think I'd have more, but I could only find three good pairs and we have to have six.
1 Lightweight wool or fleece sweater. Lightweight is super important. I have a ton of sweaters but they're all bulky.
Swimsuit......well, I can always wear a sports bra and shorts, but it might be good to have a real suit.
1 Pair comfortable, warm gloves that can fit under big mittens for mountaineering but also work for biking.
Mountaineering boots. My feet are usually size 8.5 or 9 women's. The recommended model is Scarpa Charmoz.
1 Pair close toed, durable sandals that will stay securely on feet and can be used in and out of water. Yarn for knitting. I have a little, but one small skein would help.
We're getting down there! It is truly amazing how generous my neighbors have been. I have already saved at least $1000 on equipment.
Flyin Ryan Scholarship
Do you ever wonder how you can possibly create so many amazing, unexpected connections in a world with more than seven billion people? It is truly incredible, at least in my opinion.
I recently received a $500 scholarship from the Flyin Ryan Foundation which is a huge contribution towards my fund raising efforts. I heard about the foundation when I was getting shoes at the Skirack in Burlington! I explained a little of what I was planning to do with the shoes to the guy who was helping me find the right pair, and he referred me to the Flyin Ryan Foundation's website. Within minutes of exploring the website, I was astounded by the simplicity and power of the foundation's founding premises. Perhaps it was not that coincidental that the Skirack guy told me about Flyin Ryan, but I still think it was a bit of a miracle.
The foundation was created in memory of Ryan Hawks, an inspirational skier who died at the age of 25 from injuries sustained at a Freeskiing World Tour event in Kirkwood, CA in 2011. His family created the foundation to honor his legacy and support young people to embrace life as Ryan did. The Flyin Ryan Foundation awards scholarships based on financial need, ability and passion to pursue adventure and character which reflects Ryan's core principles. A document was found on Ryan's computer entitled "Ryan's Core Principles" and these principles have become a central focus of the foundation, for they are beautiful, inspiring and simple:
Ryan's Core Principles
Live every day, all day
Never stop exploring life
Never lose my adventuresome attitude
Be the best friend I can be
Be the best brother, son, uncle I can
Look out for others
Look out for myself
Look out for our surroundings
Play like I’m thirteen
Be self-sufficient
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Work hard
Live easy
Live simply
The financial support from the Flyin Ryan Foundation has been great, but the inspiration and hope that I have experienced from reading about Ryan Hawks and other Flyin Ryan Scholarship recipients has been just as important. It has empowered me in my quest to raise money for Kroka and train for the Burlington City Marathon. When there are too many things to do and it feels like life is crushing me, I have Ryan to strengthen my resolve. His principles are beautifully elegant and they have reminded me about the things I care about most. With the motivation of Ryan's Principles, I am excited to move into this crazy, totally new period of my life and live it to the fullest.
Please spread the word about the Flyin Ryan Foundation and visit the website!
flyinryanhawks.org
I recently received a $500 scholarship from the Flyin Ryan Foundation which is a huge contribution towards my fund raising efforts. I heard about the foundation when I was getting shoes at the Skirack in Burlington! I explained a little of what I was planning to do with the shoes to the guy who was helping me find the right pair, and he referred me to the Flyin Ryan Foundation's website. Within minutes of exploring the website, I was astounded by the simplicity and power of the foundation's founding premises. Perhaps it was not that coincidental that the Skirack guy told me about Flyin Ryan, but I still think it was a bit of a miracle.
The foundation was created in memory of Ryan Hawks, an inspirational skier who died at the age of 25 from injuries sustained at a Freeskiing World Tour event in Kirkwood, CA in 2011. His family created the foundation to honor his legacy and support young people to embrace life as Ryan did. The Flyin Ryan Foundation awards scholarships based on financial need, ability and passion to pursue adventure and character which reflects Ryan's core principles. A document was found on Ryan's computer entitled "Ryan's Core Principles" and these principles have become a central focus of the foundation, for they are beautiful, inspiring and simple:
Ryan's Core Principles
Live every day, all day
Never stop exploring life
Never lose my adventuresome attitude
Be the best friend I can be
Be the best brother, son, uncle I can
Look out for others
Look out for myself
Look out for our surroundings
Play like I’m thirteen
Be self-sufficient
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Work hard
Live easy
Live simply
The financial support from the Flyin Ryan Foundation has been great, but the inspiration and hope that I have experienced from reading about Ryan Hawks and other Flyin Ryan Scholarship recipients has been just as important. It has empowered me in my quest to raise money for Kroka and train for the Burlington City Marathon. When there are too many things to do and it feels like life is crushing me, I have Ryan to strengthen my resolve. His principles are beautifully elegant and they have reminded me about the things I care about most. With the motivation of Ryan's Principles, I am excited to move into this crazy, totally new period of my life and live it to the fullest.
Please spread the word about the Flyin Ryan Foundation and visit the website!
flyinryanhawks.org
Monday, March 11, 2013
Snowshoe!
Though the snow is melting fast, I walked the loop today and there is still a good covering. I am looking forward to Saturday very much and I hope you can make it! As a reminder, we will meet at my house at 10:30, snowshoe/walk a beautiful loop near my house and return for a yummy lunch of hot soup, home-made buns and salad. Donations will be gratefully accepted to help me pursue my dream. Please RSVP at 1-802-888-5729. I will be happy to answer questions and give directions.
Dogs and kids are welcome as long as they can handle being in a group!
Hope to see you soon!
Sonya
Dogs and kids are welcome as long as they can handle being in a group!
Hope to see you soon!
Sonya
Monday, March 4, 2013
Bathing Suit Dilemma/Opportunity
"Do you think the belt will cause drag?" I asked the owner of the little shop on the boardwalk by Venice Beach, LA where I was trying to find a bathing suit for Kroka.
"Drag?" He looked puzzled.
"You know, like slow me down while I'm swimming." I explained.
"This style will look really cute! Look, you can tighten the belt so it will stay on really good." was all he could come up with.
"I'm not actually too concerned with how it looks," I replied, "I want to get a bathing suit that will be good for swimming."
The expression I received this time was even more confused than the last. Don't care how it looks? What other reason would you buy a bathing suit for?
You'd think I would have gotten it by this time, that this was not the place to buy a bathing suit for Kroka, but for some reason I wasn't thinking straight that evening. Perhaps it was all the people, or the street performers, or the macho energy of the guys playing basketball, or perhaps I just wanted to have a real bathing suit for the first time in years. Whatever the reason, I made a mistake.
I bought that bathing suit, saying goodbye to $43.59 of my hard earned money only to realize that the suit was not going to work for Kroka. I bought the size small afraid that a medium wouldn't stay on well enough and as there wasn't any changing room in the crowded little shop, I could only awkwardly put it on over my clothes. Upon returning to the hotel we were staying at for our last night in CA, I put the bathing suit on and found, to my dismay, that it was too small and uncomfortable.
I immediately began berating myself, angry that I should have spent money on something so carelessly. It is not often that I buy things, especially for myself, so it was frustrating to have made such a silly mistake. There was no way I'd be able to return it and I'm on a tight budget with Kroka and all. But as I sat there moping and dejected, my mom came up with an idea.
"What if you sell it on Craigslist or something?" she asked, "Or auction it off? You can make a fund raiser out of it!"
And why not? I've never sold anything on Craigslist before, but maybe I could make the money back. Or maybe there's a better option. It really is a cute bathing suit and it would be great for some one a little skinnier and smaller than I. I could even embroider it. I can make this mistake into an opportunity to fund raise! What do you think?
Let me know what your ideas are and we can figure out a way to get this bathing suit to some one who really wants it. I'll send a double pack of cards to whoever comes up with the best idea!
"Drag?" He looked puzzled.
"You know, like slow me down while I'm swimming." I explained.
"This style will look really cute! Look, you can tighten the belt so it will stay on really good." was all he could come up with.
"I'm not actually too concerned with how it looks," I replied, "I want to get a bathing suit that will be good for swimming."
The expression I received this time was even more confused than the last. Don't care how it looks? What other reason would you buy a bathing suit for?
You'd think I would have gotten it by this time, that this was not the place to buy a bathing suit for Kroka, but for some reason I wasn't thinking straight that evening. Perhaps it was all the people, or the street performers, or the macho energy of the guys playing basketball, or perhaps I just wanted to have a real bathing suit for the first time in years. Whatever the reason, I made a mistake.
I bought that bathing suit, saying goodbye to $43.59 of my hard earned money only to realize that the suit was not going to work for Kroka. I bought the size small afraid that a medium wouldn't stay on well enough and as there wasn't any changing room in the crowded little shop, I could only awkwardly put it on over my clothes. Upon returning to the hotel we were staying at for our last night in CA, I put the bathing suit on and found, to my dismay, that it was too small and uncomfortable.
I immediately began berating myself, angry that I should have spent money on something so carelessly. It is not often that I buy things, especially for myself, so it was frustrating to have made such a silly mistake. There was no way I'd be able to return it and I'm on a tight budget with Kroka and all. But as I sat there moping and dejected, my mom came up with an idea.
"What if you sell it on Craigslist or something?" she asked, "Or auction it off? You can make a fund raiser out of it!"
And why not? I've never sold anything on Craigslist before, but maybe I could make the money back. Or maybe there's a better option. It really is a cute bathing suit and it would be great for some one a little skinnier and smaller than I. I could even embroider it. I can make this mistake into an opportunity to fund raise! What do you think?
Let me know what your ideas are and we can figure out a way to get this bathing suit to some one who really wants it. I'll send a double pack of cards to whoever comes up with the best idea!
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