Impatient

I am now DONE with all the costuming”¦signed, sealed, delivered and packed away into a big plastic Rubbermaid tote to fit into the world’s largest duffel bag. It all fits”¦.barely. Now I’m engaged in packing, packing, packing”¦a laundry list of small and large items that might prove useful for the Ride. And quivering in anticipation. I’m ready for the ride, I want to GET THERE!!

But relax, it’s still T minus 3 days to AIDS Lifecycle 5. Even spending tonight and tomorrow morning with B. (whom I am trying very hard NOT to neglect amidst the maelstrom), that gives me Friday evening and part of Saturday to do last-minute shopping. So I will be set for the Ride.

I must remember to eat. I’ve been so busy working on costumes that I’ve barely spared a moment to eat”¦I got on the scale today and discovered that I’ve lost 1-2 lbs! (I stop eating under stress.) Normally I would be ecstatic, but when losing weight, you don’t just lose fat, you lose muscle as well”¦and I can’t afford to lose ANY muscle! So I am consciously working on eating more over the next few days, even though I’m not finding myself especially hungry.

I’m a real ball of nervous energy right now”¦I’m just hoping I can settle myself down before the Ride. I need to catch up on sleep, for example, and eat well on Saturday, so I’ll be ready for the Ride.

But the costumes are done”¦I finished the orange top last night and decided to make a blue tutu to go with it, so now I have an orange top, blue tutu, and blue trim/flowers on the orange top. It matches quite nicely, and looks, well, as fetching as orange and turquoise are going to look on anyone. I plan to wear it on Day One, as I like to “fly the colors” on the first day. (AIDS Lifecycle’s logo colors are orange and blue ““ see http://www.aidslifecycle.org .)

I forgot to mention earlier””if you’re interested in following the Ride along, there will be photos and travelogues each day at http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/ . I’ll remind you about it again as we get closer to the Ride. Do follow the photos, I’m pretty sure there will be at least a few photos of me during the Ride. You can also send me messages of support, which I’ll read each evening in camp.