Despite our current computer game addiction, we managed a six mile walk today, including all the exercises at the parcourse. We know we're doing well with our training because six miles no longer seems like a big deal.

Happy Easter, by the way, to those who celebrate it. We don't, though we do have a gargantuan stuffed rabbit; I put it on the bed this morning, so when Tony woke up his vision would be filled with looming Easter bunny. I figured it would either make him laugh or scare him half to death. He laughed.

Attention friends & emailers -- we have obtained two copies of Heroes of Might & Magic IV and are temporarily incapable of returning emails or phone calls. Please be patient. It's nothing personal. We should be back to our normal selves by the end of the weekend.

Eleven miles = two protein bars, four bottles of water, two bottles of sport drink, one bag of chips, two restroom stops, two rescued caterpillars, seven rabbit sightings and three hundred gallons of sweat.

Tony is at an interview right now. He is perfect for the job and is wearing his lucky blue shirt so I am confident things are going well, though we've decided to be discreet and not post details (company, etc.) online. Sorry!

We learned yesterday why it is necessary to carry first aid supplies on our walks; I got a humongous splinter, jagged and throbbing and deep under the skin, about four miles from home. Yuck. Why is it always me? Splinters attack me, bikes hit me, bees land on me, while Tony floats along serene and peaceful. He must have better karma than I do.

Watched the oscars last night and played Oscar Poker: we brought out some poker chips, paid an ante when the nominees for each award were read, then paused the program so we could bet on the winner. Winning bet got the pot. If neither of us won, the pot would go to 'The Academy'. If we bet on the same nominee and won, The Academy would pay us both. Great fun despite the cat constantly attacking the chips. Tony won in the end ... though to be fair our TiVo recording ended before the Best Film award was given, and I would have bet heavily on Beautiful Mind.

Walked 7 miles today on MAJOR hills and through a few patches of considerable mud. I'd say we sank at least to our armpits but Tony might accuse me of exaggerating. A little.

We're out of sync today. Tony spent the last three days walking all over the convention center, rush rush rush, talk talk talk, rush more, and now wants to collapse and do nothing for a while. I've spent the last three days buried in my writing -- and all that paperwork -- and I'm ready to leap up, explore the world, rush rush rush.

(So far we have resolved this by me doing an hour of yoga while he stayed in bed and watched. Fun for both of us.)

Paperwork, oh paperwork. Amazing how it piles up if I slack for a few days. Bills. Checks to process. Applications to complete. Returned envelopes to re-mail. I am buried under an avalanche of paper and freaking out. Help.

Tony had a blast at the first day of the game developer's conference; I had an equally grand time staying home and writing. I had been yearning for my book, and it felt good to immerse myself for a day. After he came home we took a nighttime Jamba Walk (4 miles) and discovered why it's considered unsafe to walk at night -- people coming home from their jobs drive *fast* and just barely stop for stop signs. The street was well-lit but we had to run like mice anyway.

Been doing more research on climbing Kilimanjaro -- routes, etc. We're really going to do it! Details to come.

We called off Get a Job Day this week because Tony is attending the Computer Game Developers Conference from Thursday through Saturday. Roundtables, lunches, a job fair, endless schmoozing, and even a party on Friday night (I didn't pay the humongous CGDC admission fee so I can't go.) The whole thing is very exciting, except that it will be strange not to have him around. I'll probably comfort myself by watching Tarzan and walking around in my underwear all day.

We walked 6 miles yesterday, back up on the hills in Huddart park. The hills are getting much easier, though Tony had sore legs by the time we finished.

Just finished 8 miles. Discovered a new park with the tallest, steepest, most slippery slide EVER. Came home and found two new sponsor checks in the mailbox. So far, a very good day.

(Note: I still don't know where Gabe hid his new toy, but it is found; he threw it at me while I was talking on the phone.)

Speaking of cats... is it possible for a cat to swallow a catnip-stuffed toy about the size of a plum? A very BIG cat? We got him a new toy yesterday, to his infinite delight, but it has vanished. We turned the house upside-down. No toy. Gabe seems fine but the mystery is driving us batty.

We're on our way to see the 10am showing of Ice Age. 10am (and earlier) showtimes are a new thing at the local theater -- we're wondering if they started because of the number of movie-craving unemployeds in the neighborhood.

We are sick of walking in the wind, so today we had the idea of walking in the mall instead. It isn't as fun as it sounds. Conversation is difficult, you must constantly maneuver around all those odd people actually there to shop, and four miles in the mall feels like at least eight on the street.

We also went on a tour of the new Planet Granite (indoor climbing gym) they are finishing just down the street. It is gorgeous, with some very high walls, two bouldering areas, a yoga studio and an open balcony -- overlooking the climbing areas -- for treadmills and other exercise equipment. So cool. And they have a very attractive pre-opening membership deal, so we're giving it some serious thought.

Some days I wish I could trade places with the cat.

I am running around frantically trying to find clothes that are not too small for me. I want to look presentable and instead I look haggard. I feel haggard. He, on the other hand, is curled up on the bed snoozing. Hmm.

Further job lead developments today, but still no details we can share here. The winds of change are blowing.

My ankle is much better -- we walked 6 miles today, despite it being a very blustery day. Soon we're heading back to Huddert park for more practice on those hills. I'm still frustrated by the lack of quantitative evidence of exactly how much better/stronger/etc. we are getting with all this training, but it is interesting that 6 miles no longer seems like a very long walk. Cool.

Andrea Yates was found guilty. What an awful, sad, unenlightened decision.

Saw 'The Time Machine' yesterday -- not perfect, but far superior to 'Queen'.

After the movie I spent another afternoon propping up my foot and gulping Advils. When I got up this morning the ankle had finally stopped hurting, but I am wobbly on it. "Like a new little pony," Tony says.

Today is Get a Job Day. We actually have a few leads, but no details to share yet.

Yesterday: hike up, up, up, up, up, up, hike down, hike up, up, up, hike down, hike up, hike down, hike up, hike down, down, down, down, Chinese feast for dinner, home, sleep.

Today: finally went to see 'Queen of the Damned'. Bleah. No grace, no subtlety, no story.

Other than that, Tony spent the day programming while I propped up my ankle and sulked because it is hurting again. Wrapping and frozen vegetables don't seem to help as much as they did the first time, or maybe I'm just more impatient. Either way, I'm crabby and sore.

It's 6 am and we're staggering around getting ready to head out for our friend irene's birthday hike. It will be twelve miles, if we survive. That is a big 'if' because it's freezing outside. (Seriously, I'm sure we'll have fun, but at the moment I wish she'd chosen a birthday matinee instead.)

Turns out that the evil ex-hiking boots trashed my right ankle. Had lunch with my new friend Lisa yesterday, then spent the rest of the day in bed with the ankle propped up and a bag of frozen vegetables draped over it. Tony isn't in great shape either. All this anguish after climbing only one hill! Very humiliating.

We're another baby-step closer to that game sale. Whoever out there started crossing your fingers for us, keep 'em that way a little longer, okay?

Finished the taxes. Finally. (Yes, we owe an obscene amount, but at least it's done.)

Time to celebrate. I need balloons! I need cookies! And I even get to pick the next movie we see. I think I'll choose 'Queen of the Damned' -- does anyone know if it's any good?

Agony. The hike was a success -- 6 trail miles with lots of hills -- but my old hiking boots did me wrong. Now it hurts to walk! It hurts to stand up! Frankly, it hurts to just sit here and type this update. At least we saw a deer and a gecko and a bunch of banana slugs. We also decided it's time to replace my beloved hiking boots. Phooey.

We are one step closer to selling a game idea to a publisher we like. (Sadly, the Non Disclosure Agreement means I can't blab the details on the Internet.) Cross your fingers for us...

Rhonda's feeling really blah today, so we decided to make it a day off from walking (note the pitiful total for the week.) Tomorrow is the much planned "Grand Hiking Adventure."

Also, we have posted our first donations progress report. We have reached 10% of the goal, but there's still a long way to go!

Tonight we are off to see my mom for a slightly belated b-day dinner and the dreaded obligatory "computer maintenance" :)

A new milestone today: 8 miles! No ill effects afterward except considerable sun exhaustion, which we are treating with long showers and Fruit Loops.

Have begun seriously looking into the details of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. My asthma is an issue, naturally. So is the climate -- it's freezing at the top. But Kili (that's what the climbing folks call it) is looking more and more like a reality, probably next winter. Assuming a job appears between then and now, of course.

Went to a matinee with Mom, then set out for a Grand Hiking Adventure up in the state park. Unfortunately, we left later than we meant to, it took a long time to get there, it was cold up there, the park was going to close early, and the whole thing was a cranky, awful disaster until we came home (after getting stuck in traffic) and took a long, sunset walk out by the bay. Whew.

It's March already. Someone make me finish the taxes.