Day 3: "You're a fierce soul."

January 12: Thirty-three days left!

Although the temperature was generally quite pleasant, its variations carried it rapidly from one extreme to the other.... One day may have been a real spring day; the following night would bring a violent wind.... The next day might be cold enough to call for heat; and the day after tropical....

- Pierre Clement de Laussat, describing New Orleans in 1803


Tonight it is f@$&ing cold in New Orleans!! During my run it was 33 degrees. Ironic, as I am also 33 days away from the race! (I wish -- for warmth's sake -- I was 65 days away.)

Today was a pretty typical fitness day: 1) 45-minute bike ride to work; 2) 45-minute bike ride back; 3) Ran five miles (Bywater, Marigny, through the French Quarter, to Canal Street, and back); 4) Push ups/Sit ups

During the run, I had an interaction with a man sitting on a curb. Here's how it went:

(He yelled something indistinguishable.)

"Huh?" I replied, cupping my ear to show I couldn't hear.

"You're a fierce soul," he repeated, shaking his head at me, presumably because he thought I was an idiot for running in the windy-cold this late at night.

"Oh, well, everything's way warmer when you're running!"

*Awkward silence* *Awkward silence* *Awkward silence...no blinking on his part*

Finally, he said, once again probably making fun of me, "Nice pajama pants..."

They are nice pajama pants! And, besides, they're the only pants I have that are moderately athletic. Anyway -- I laughed, waved and was back on my run, happy to have had the interaction, even if the humor of it was at my expense.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More importantly, our first donations came in today online! Thanks Catherine and Gretchen!! Here's the link to donate online http://www.active.com/donate/daythirtyfive (Full disclosure, for each online donation, the site takes 6.5% of the donation for admin costs and takes another $1 on top of that.)

The other option would be to write a check (to "Matthew Haines" or "Akili Academy of New Orleans") or give me cash-money.

Also -- the first pledges for checks also came in! Thanks Mom, Jenna and Kate!! Additionally, a parent of one of my mom's baby sitting kids owns a bar and he talked to her about donating, so we have that to look forward to!

The online donation site asked me to create "levels of giving." For your viewing pleasure, here they are! (For explanation on the theme of the levels, check out my first blog post at http://daythirtyfive.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-1-even-if-i-knew-tomorrow-that.html ) What level will you be?

PBR Level -- $1.00

Coors Light Level -- $2.00

Abita Amber Level -- $3.00

Brooklyn Lager Level -- $4.00

Choco-Mocha-Frappasomethingajig Level -- $5.00

Hot Truck Sandwich Level -- $10.00

I-Found-$20-on-the-Sidewalk-And-I'd-Feel-Bad-If-I-Kept-It-But-I-Don't-Know-Who-It-Belongs-To-What-Should-I-Do? Level -- $20.00

Shortstop Deli 2010 IthacaFest Sandwich Level -- $23.73

Holy Moly Level -- $25.00

Gadzooks! Level -- $50.00

Can-I-Say-"Shit!!"-On-This-Thing? Level -- $100.00


Thanks thanks!

- Matt