Happy Thanksgiving Downtown! =)
I haven't posted much as I haven't spent a lot of time out & about this month. Instead I spent a couple days in Florida to celebrate my mom's birthday at our DVC home resort, Kidani Village..
The rest of this month I've been attempting NaNoWriMo; 50,000 words in 30 days.. or in my case 25 days.. I'm several thousand words behind at this point.. but I have a few more days. =)
I'm very out of practice for writing fiction. I was thinking contributing to a news blog would give me practice, but it's a different sort of writing altogether. It makes me wonder how Carl Hiassen does it.. (as I guess he still writes for the Miami Herald).
I'm definitely considering taking a writing or extension course early next year. My writing needs help!
Last weekend, the 20th I took another day off from writing to attempt the 2010 "Great Los Angeles Walk" This year they were back to Wilshire Blvd. and since we were unable to really attend it (for long) the first time around 4 years ago, I made sure to make it rain or shine..
Meeting up at Pershing Square (Sean tells me it's 7/10 mi from 4th & Main to One Wilshire) about 100 of us set out from One Wilshire and walked to the Ocean.. Well, I made it to 20th & Wilshire in Santa Monica.. that's when a kind-hearted soul named Michael offered me a lift to Border Grill =)
So Sean tells me that's 14.35 miles of the 16 miles to the beach (or 15mi total from our building.. LOL!). I guess that's not bad for not walking near at all this last year. I am a bit disappointed in myself but I knew if I let the big group get ahead of me by much near the end I would just keep getting behind..
one of my group shots..
my Great LA Walk 2010 flickr set
Today we're taking it easy, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, calling family and later we'll head to Pete's Cafe for T-day dinner and I've got what's left of our Cajun Kringle to eat for dessert later.. Ordered from New Orleans it's really yummy!
Eventually we'll be braving those "so early it's late" Black Friday specials.. but for now, wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.. however you spend it.
18.3 miles to the sea?
OK!
It was time for the Great Los Angeles Walk, (technically the 3rd annual Great LA Walk) organized by Franklin Ave's MIke & Maria. The first time it was Wilshire, which we had company so I left them beyond Good Samaritan, then last year, was Pico.. which I managed to get about 12.5 miles of the 16 before giving up and taking the bus to the sea. This year would be different. I've been walking, and despite the recent weight gain, I had started getting in better shape. I figured if nothing else, I could at least beat my old record.. and know when to quit. I would pay attention & listen. I would have fun (I had fun with Pico but towards the end I just didn't have the right mindset).
So what happened?
I got the shoes..
I ordered these for my upcoming trip to WDW, but yeah, the Great LA Walk was perfect timing to test them out. =P
I got on the RedLine..
I got to Union Station & some 150 people were all there!
so many folks they don't all fit in my lens! =)
Eric Lynxweiler of MoNA & neon cruise fame (or "ShainLa's friend" as I like to say) was there to give us some tips & wish us well.
We all headed out.. walking from Union Station, through Olvera Street's El Pueblo, to Cesar Chavez,
passed Chinatown and on toward Sunset,
around Sunset Junction
onto Santa Monica Blvd.
We reached Mile 9 & Barney's Beanery around 1230pm & we all found lunch.
I ended up going along with Will Campbell & folks to Champagne Bakery for sandwiches & salads.
not to mention the yummy pumpkin cookie!
and then met up around 2pm at mile 10, which was the "Beverly Hills" sign where we waited in the park to regroup.
and then onward to the Sea..
er, to Brittania.. =)
there were toasts all around.. (and someone ordered fish & chips).
Then it was time for me to sit, so I wished everyone well, said my thanks & goodbyes and headed to the 704..
Here I had to wait a bit more for the sitting and then finally when I got back home to Main Street.. I treated myself. 18.3 miles??
I can haz cookie now! Thanks everyone for the good time!!! It was great seeing all the friendly faces both familiar & new.. I love meeting new people & a big shout out to everyone on twitter who kept me going, especially "MelanieO" and Will Campbell who was encouraging me all the way! =)
Sometime late Saturday, my legs finally cramped up and I spent most of Sunday trying to rest and recover. Late afternoon had me hobbling around Hawthorne doing some pre-Thanksgiving shopping and treated myself to some L&L (now that's my kind of food!) I'm doing better now.. so.. We ready for the next Great LA Walk?? =) Thanks again Maria & Mike!
HERE is the rest of my flickr photos, as well:
Great LA WALK photo pool
Atwater Village Newbie's set
Will Campbell's set
Scott Lowe's set
ShaInLA's set
Walterrrrr's massive flickr set!
**this post dedicated to BIG CITY ("Eureka") POZ .. =) I know you would have joined me for the walk if you were still here. RIGHT?? *grin*
