My perspective has changed again. This happens every once in a while. It is rare and not generally life altering to anyone else other than myself. I came down last night to my brother's house. Kent and Ben were here and we all played Settlers. Ben went to a "gig" and Kent, Carter and I made plans for the evening. We couldn't decided on rental of a movie or go to a movie. I really wanted to see something that I would never be able to see in Habersham county, however, Carter's movie marathon torched all the good movies. We ended up going to appilitos and because of the wait, ordered take out and went to Blockbuster. We rented "Must Love Dogs." Plt. Bad movie. No chemistry between John and Diane. Both played their roles very well, however it is easy to play a role when you are type casted. I didn't like the blonde joke that was in the middle of it. There was nice play between Diane Lane and Elizabeth Perkins and Stockard Channing. They were believable when on screen together. I can see them in a role soon with a mother/daughter/sister combo. I didn't realize Stockard was working so much. I am glad she is because she is such a good actress. I woke this morning to realize that the evening was good, that Carter and I had not had one fight, spat or even a disagreement. I woke this morning to someone calling for help over the cell phone. Then shortly after prayers and a sumptous hot shower, I realized my brother has grown up. I know this is nothing new to those who have been hanging out with him for years (not that I haven't), but . . . he is a cool person to be around. Someone who has insight and kindness. I have always known that he is better at somethings than I am but I guess what I haven't known is that he is a real person. He has always just been my little brother. Although, I am sure if he wanted to, he could pull something insulting out of the closet and verbally throw it at me. He didn't all night. We got along all night like friends and grown up sibilings. Who would ever guess that me and my brother would like each other?

$50,000: 10 Days

60 Solicitations
and a newspaper ad
and a mass mailer
and an article in the paper
and an article on the radio

$11,140.00 "In Kind"

$25,150.00 Monetary

Lotsaletunos. . . .

One Gala sponsor....

Left on my desk was a note that Moby in the Morning was looking for me. ME? Yes, he wants to emcee one of my concerts. My concert series home opener went from 500 people to 5,000 people as of this morning. Thank you Moby. Holy Cow. Thank you Moby.

Movies:
Watched Backdraft last night. Kurt Russell is so good in this film. The other interesting thing about this film is the character that Ron Howard created out of Fire. It is amazing. I was up until midnight on a schoolnight watching. I also bought The Accused and This Boys Life. My boyfriend is out of town so I am going to substitute him with movies.

Spiritually:
I just don't understand the transfiguration. I think it is the second time I have heard about it and I still don't understand it. It is just wierd.

Sports:
Gotta go swim. Supposed to be there at 2:30 and it is 2:19. BYE!

$50,000: 10 Days

Standings: Day 9

53 Solicitations
and a newspaper ad
and a mass mailer
and an article in the paper
and an article on the radio


$11,140.00 "In Kind"

$25,150.00 Monetary

Lotsa let you knows. . .

A GALA SPONSOR!!! This morning I had a third meeting with a bank. They gave me explicit understanding that they had already given to the city and that I was tapping a well that might be dry. I said that I understood. I stood in a board meeting room this morning in front of people who "put their pants on just like you do" however, they are REALLY expensive pants, and was shaking I was so nervous. I presented for them how they could participate the areas of need. I answered their questions and smiled and said "I don't know" when I didn't know. Then they said, "Please wait outside." So I waited outside. . .

I waited outside.
I waited.
I found a nifty idea for a Christmas gift for my Dad and my Brother.
I waited.
I read the plaques on the wall.
I waited.
What a beautiful picture of Pebble Beach.
I waited.
Read Georgia Trend December 2005.
I waited.
I called a co-worker who was supposed to use the projector next.
I left a message.
I waited.

"Rachel, would you like to talk while you shut down your computers? Listen, we think that we are going to be your Gala sponsor. (I start to cry.) We own several companies and through their support, we will be able to give you $$ $and a vehicle that will sell icecream at your events that the proceeds will go back into your fund. We also have a printing company that will meet most of your printing needs. And then we are going to create a core of volunteers for you to draw from for all that you do. (More crying.) Are you okay?"

"Yes sir. You said the well was dry. I was aiming for a grand. You overwhelm me."

"Well, you had a very good presentation and we feel that this is our hometown too."

I am crying right now in case you are curious. Sometimes I set out do to things and I never make it. I try all I can and I just can't make it. I tried and tried to stop drinking and I couldn't. I tried and tried to stop smoking and I couldn't. I have tried and tried to gain self-esteem and have been unable. Michelle says, trust God, clean house and help others. So I trust God, clean my house and do my best at helping others. Then things start to happen: I don't drink. I don't smoke. I do esteemable acts. Then things happen like I became employable. Who would think that I would get a job that I like though? Then I get a job I like. I could really easily tank and lose this job. No chance. I am really good at this job that I had nothing to do with whatsoever getting. Someone came along and said, your a nice gal, you can do this job. It is my old job. Have it. I think I just might make my goal. I have another appointment, gotta go. Gotta stop crying too.

$50,000: Ten Days

Standings: Day 7

53 Solicitations
and a newspaper ad
and a mass mailer
and an article in the paper

$6,140.00 "In Kind"

$18,150.00 Monetary

Lotsa Let you knows. . .

Had a big meeting with a railroad company today. It was not a solicitation and took up a lot of my time, but it was worth it. It gave me information for my program and so hope about increasing the economy around here. Economic restructuring is a part of my job. Thank goodness we have opportunities. I think that the 30th and the 31rst are going to be big days for me because I am asking people to call me by the end of the month. I think I will have to include those two days as epilogue days. February will be recalling the money month. I also have several BIG grants that are out there in grant land that will be a minimum of six weeks before I hear an answer. I am really tired today. I have a regional meeting tomorrow so there will be no soliciting tomorrow, however I did book my radio interview for tomorrow. I am ready for some cash ins with my lechano's.

Movies: Watched the Exocism of Emily Rose. I think it would make an excellent play and that the movie was soso. The court drama was too slow contrasting the exocism. So it came across as fast fast fast, hiccup. . .pause, fast, fast, fast. Which doesn't really do well for me. I give it a C. Tonight I have Four Brothers. I don't expect a lot other than Mark Walburg taking his shirt off at least once, which is enough to rent the movie.

Sports: Need to go running. I am one workout behind again. I thought there would be a gym at the hotel in Macon this weekend and they were renovating. Blpt. I could have gone on Sunday when I got back however, I was out of steam. Today I want to go running or walking or something, but I feel icky and would rather escape into a movie. I think that the pledge drive is driving me into the ground.

$50,000: 10 Days

Standings: Day 6

49 Solicitations
and a newspaper ad
and a mass mailer

$6,140.00 "In Kind"

$18,150.00 Monetary

More than lotsa let you knows . . .

Found a new bank that is coming to town that is interested in giving. Have applied to four foundations who give money to functions like mine. More on the way. Am in process for super huge donor on Thursday. Pitched to another possible Gala sponsor today. Had the BIG question given to me today by none other than the lawyer: So WHY are you a non-profit. Turns out I do not qualify for a 501c3 status as many non-profits do. I am an exemption much like a church. I am exempt from both 501c3s and 990s. I am a government affiliate (which means I am but I am not a government). He prodded a little more and says: WHO SAYS you are a government affiliate. I promptly pull out my paper work stating from the IRS . . . thanks he says. HAHA. I will make a great lawyer one day. Hard to fight a good arguement. Go lsat studying.

Time for the radio interview and paper interview.

$50,000: 10Days

Standings: Day 5

40 Solicitations
and a newspaper ad
and a mass mailer

$5,5350 "In Kind"

$18,150.00 Monetary

Lots of let ya knows. . . .

Gala apples are the sweetest apples. Red Delicious are the same apple as Golden Delicious with different coloring, although reds are a tad sweeter. Fuji apples are standard red apples that you get in the store. Generally you can buy them in a mixed bag of reds and gala's from Washington. Then there is the Jonagold apples who are standard like the Empires: make apple pies out of these because they have more texture and are more tart, thusly:

Gala Apples: $10,000+ donors
Red Delicious: $5,000-9999
Golden Delicious: $1,000-4999
Fuji: $500-999
Jonagold: $150-499
Empire: $35-149

$50,000: 10 Days

Standings: Day 3

31 Solicitations
and a newspaper ad

$5,5350.00 "In Kind"

$15,500.00 Monetary

4 "Let you knows"

Am on a slow day due to production of the mass mailer: 2270 Addresses from the water bill listings. That will dramatically increase my pledging solicitations. Ad in the paper went out yesterday. That reaches all of the county and was strategically placed in the community section, which I am not sure how to calculate that as a solicitation so it is added as an "and a." Radio spot will be in the same loop.

Going this afternoon to meet with an inkind donor who will hopefully become a fuji apple monetarily (500).

In other areas of the life:

Sports:
I am back on track with three days a week. I had a make up for last week. I missed Saturday last week so I ran on Monday. I swam this morning and will be running (well I say run, but I should explain that I run half walk half because I HATE to run: sorry Sarah. One of the points I admire you on because it is not a trait I possess) this evening. Then I will run/walk tomorrow and go to Macon on Friday. Oof.

Movies:
"City of God" rocks. It is not for the faint hearted though, nor is about God. It is violent, vulgar, graphic and a foreign film. I didn't realize it was going to be a subtitle film. I am not a subtitle kind of gal usually. It is filmed and about Brazil. It is amazing. The directing was great. The cinematography was great. The plot was based on a true story and surreal. I didn't watch the special sections yet, but will. Totally worth the dime. Completely understand why it never showed its face in the US though.
"Hide & Seek" was really well done and disturbing. Shot well. Acted well. Scary as hell. Mom says to watch the four alternate endings that are on the dvd, but Idaknow. I like the way it is as is. Guess I will anyway. Alternate ending freak me out. There is a constant stream of thought that branches out at the end and is confusing. Idaknow.

Spiritual:
In the book of Luke: Christ scared the country folk again by casting the demons, Legion, out into the swine. Can't say that wouldn't freak me out too if I saw something like that. Although I am more apt to believe in someone's experience of what God has done in their life than I would of some guy coming along and scaring the "demons" away. It is a story that I still believe is not for the humans. It is an accidental glimpse of the undercurrent of the world in which we live. Don't know that it was meant for us to understand or even attempt to analyze, disect, manipulate or should pretend to comprehend. It is an interesting rejection of Christ though.

I should blog like this more often. Compartmentalization. I like it.

$50,000: 10 Days

Standings: Day 2

30 Solicitations

$5,530.00 "In Kind" donations (2 donors) ("In kind" means donations of goods or services so I don't have to pay for them. This is a new term to me. I have a pledge for $5k worth of advertising on the local tv affliate. Sweet. Our logo was also donated: 350)

$15,500.00 Monetary donations (City (10K) + 1 @ a pledge of five "probably more but that will get you started in your budgets" was the message on the phone!) More to come.

Have three "We will give something, we have to consult with Mr. N. Charge to find out how much and we will get back with you! Thanks for coming by," out there.

Still have three banks to hit before it is all said and done. That makes me sound like I am going to commit a crime, let me rephrase that: Have three banks that will give me money before it is all said and done with. Better, not great.

Still have the newspaper (in kind hopefully), Lowes and Walmart (penance for destroying the small towns across the us) and several lawyers (ca-ching).

Go Rachel Go...

Well, the swimmer I am swimming with is a real swimmer. She is stronger than I am and it was really hard for me to keep up with her this morning. I swam about two laps behind her the whole time. I wasn't able to go Wednesday (so as to keep the everyother day theme going) however I will still get the three times this week thing in because I will go again tomorrow. She is in much better shape than I am. I went to a "Women in Business" breakfast the other morning for our local Chamber and the woman who spoke was a hypnotist. She knew quite a bit about behavior and psychology which was impressive. She said that a behavior takes 21 days to place as a habit and that on the second week is when the body wants to not do the behavior. She was referring to not smoking, losing weight and other New Year's resolutions. While I haven't made any resolutions, I recognized that my body today was saying "GET OUT OF THIS INFERNAL POOL" all day and I am at the end of the second week. 21 days? We shall see. I am not willng to do 21 days, I am only willing to meet Martha tomorrow to swim again. The new chemicals that are in the pool (bromide) makes me feel sticky like someone dumped syrup all over me instead of totally dried out like the old chemicals. My hair has a plaque on it that makes me want to wash it with a clarifier immeadiately. Ick.

I watched the Exorcist this week in my movies from the netflix wonder. That was a ridiculous movie. There was an introduction by the director on the dvd that described it as a battle of good and evil and blazeblah. I watched the movie expected to walk away from it with some type of disturbance. Something that would make me say, hmm. Yeah, not even phased. It wasn't scary. It was a shocker: Boo! I am saying the worst words that can be said on a movie. Boo! I am doing something gross. Boo! I am gory. That isn't scary that is ridiculous. I expected it to make me walk away from it with at least some discussion but really all it did was make me go, that's it? It is a F for film. Stigmata is better than this film. There was no truth to it at all only public disgust. I just don't get impressed by films that try to be the worst language, worst gore and worst acting ever. That is not impressive. It is like the films that Quinten Tarintino does. When I was in college he was all the rage for Resevior Dogs. When I finally saw that film, I still haven't figured out the reason people watch it. Pulp Fiction was good. Sin City was good. He has some intermitent ones: Kill Bill Series that was ridiculous and unappealing. Why? If you are going to make me horrified, make it because it is a good horrifying film not just crap with excess. Everyone I have spoken to tells me to consider the time period that the Exorcist came out (1978) which even if it was 1978, it was poorly made excrement. I thought it was going to be good. Bltp.

The other movie I saw was School Ties. There were expectations for it to be bad so when it still was, I wasn't surprised. What I was surprised with was the cast and the writer. Wow. Lots of actors. Matt Damon out acted everyone. To be such a bad movie, I was surprised to see that Dick Wolf had written the screen play. I tell ya like I told my Mom, I guess everyone has to start somewhere.

The last one I have is City of God. I have no idea what is about, but it looked cool.

I am glad I have no plans this weekend. I am hoping for cleaning and sleeping to be a big thing this weekend. I have to be on my game for Monday. I have a potential 10k sponsor that I am meeting with on Monday first thing. Wish me luck. Then the races are on for two weeks. Go Rachel Go. My goal is to raise 50k. Can I do it? Who knows. My possibilities are endless. If I get every person on my list to sponsor, I will have 83k. Yeah, that is why I am shooting for 50.
Wish me luck.

I think I am going to get a massage this weekened. I have never had one. Hmmm. . .

Back from another planet. . .



I don't really know what happened last week. There was an apple involved, nausea and having to go back to work. Sounds like I got drunk and lost my car again, except I didn't.

Let's see . . . I put on the New Year's Eve Apple Drop while being profusely ill. The event last one day, the illness lasted three. Even on the fourth day I wasn't quite up to par. The fifth day I had to play catch up. That was fun. I was able to manage to squeeze some fundraising time in there and ended up with a donation of about $5k worth of air time on the local cable network. That is a good thing because it will air all over the northeast. Yes, it means that I will be more on tv. On that note, I recognized that "the camera adds ten pounds" theory. So, Thursday instead of Bible study, I went swimming.

Sarah, you will like this: my swimming buddy is a former triathlete. She is getting back into the game and asked if I wanted to swim with her and with the whole camera problem, it is best that I lose what weight I am uncomfortable with anyway. I cannot say that I will be swimming forever or even for a week. I am not good at the whole committment to spiritual atonement through physical rigor (the whole "your body is a temple for the Lord" suggestion). I right now am only committed to Saturday at ten am. That way I don't get so overwhelmed with my ambitions and plans and anything else my head wants to scare me away from. One swim at a time. So my triathlete girlfriend is doing things like running and biking in the interum of my joining her to train for swimming. She hasn't trained in four years, however if you looked at her you would know immeadiately that she was an athlete. She thinks it is great that I used to swim in high school. When I told her that I hadn't been a pool in eleven years, I thought she was going to drown in laughter. She said that it would come back. She is, without a doubt, a great coach. I am going to get a couple of kickboards from Wally world today. It is hard to do the kicking without the boards.

I have had a desire to do early morning excercise for a while. I haven't been able to find anyone who would work out with me and me being as crazy as I am couldn't seem to do it on my own. We swam at 7 am in the morning on Thursday. That is a great feeling. My brother says that the most successful people he knows excercise first in the morning. My brother knows some pretty successful people and I have no problem following thier lead. There was a strange thing that happened as a result of first thing excercising: buzz. I mean buzzzzzzz. All day. I was going all day long even into my head hitting the pillow last night. I was buzzin'. I was more profficient yesterday than I have been in a long while. It was awesome. I ate right. I worked hard. I was positive. It was a really good day. I am definitely going to do that as much as I can. I hope it happens again tomorrow. Zoom.

It is nice to have someone who will work out with me. There are not very many women who will do it around here. Most women are married, have kids, want to have kids, live in another county or something that prevents them from working out. Some women I know have no interest at all in working out. None. They like themselves fifty pounds overweight. I can hardly stand being the size I am right now and I only have thirty pounds to lose. Yes, I do have thirty pounds to lose. I saw it on the scale at the dr's office and it is there and I am NOT happy about it. If I go thirty pounds less I will be the size I was in college which is perfect if you ask me or any of my boyfriends (those in college or the ones since then that are still around, which there are a couple). There are some women I know who are so caught up in what everyone else is doing that there is no way to do what they want to do, like working out. I have been like that for years. I am so afraid I will miss something that I can't take care of myself. I have had to learn that when I take care of myself that is when the something happens.

You know, when I used to lose my car and be so nauseated that my body revolted, it was self inflicted. I am glad that is not true today. No such thing as self-inflicted flu today. Although having non-self-inflicted flu is just as bad. I am glad that I have had both ends of the spectrum this week. This is the worst of times, this is the best of times. . . or something like this: this is the sickest of times, this is the healthiest of times. . .hahahahaaha