Wow, April has already started off with a bang! And it’s about time. After a rough March, I am glad to start new in April and get some stuff done!
I had the day off yesterday and I used it well. I filed our taxes (a little late this year, but oh well), got paperwork together for refinancing house and cleaned, and I mean really cleaned, the house. I also put some requests in place for the Take Steps walk this month and met with the committee in the evening. Sadly, I didn’t really get the enjoy the beautiful day outside.
It’s good that I am getting organized early, because I have a big month ahead. Next week I am meeting with the director of the Communication department at NCSU to discuss the upcoming semester and to go ahead and schedule my courses. I am looking forward to getting some advice on what classes to start with and how many I should take. Also, I did successfully start applying for scholarships and also feel confident on the budget I have set up to pay for my degree without putting us in debt!
I have mentioned before that I am part of the planning committee for this year’s CCFA Take Steps Walk. That event is coming up at the end of the month and there’s still a lot of work to do! We are still getting the work out there and signing up sponsors and participants and getting all of the day-of logistics taken care of. There’s a lot that goes into this type of event and it is definitely a commitment  but I’ve really been enjoying the planning process and working with a bunch of really great people.
I also am going to kick up the Team Challenge work. We are now less than 2 months away and I am so far behind at this point. Trying to raise money more creatively is difficult, I am discovering. It doesn’t take a whole lot of time to put something together to ask your family and friends. But when you’re trying to get an outside sponsorship, a lot has to be done: you have to put together specific information for each group/business, you have to reach out to find a time to meet with them and you have to actually go meet with them and work with them through the process. I, honestly, just haven’t had the time to devote to it that I would have liked. Especially with the past month being so difficult, I’m feeling the pressure now. I mentioned last week that we’re working on an event, so hopefully I will have the details soon. It will likely be held towards the end of the month. Also, the Belk Charity Day sale is at the end of the month, so I have to step up the ticket sales on that, as well.
And all of that is not even getting into how behind I am on my training. Every morning, I wake up so sore that it just seems impossible to go for a run. And as you can see, it’s been so busy lately that I haven’t had the time to do so after work. I have to get on track and get on it NOW if I have any hope of being ready in time for my June 1 race.
The muscle pain has been feeling better, but not great, by any means. Especially when I wake up in the morning, I am still dealing with a lot of soreness and cramping. Due to that, and just for my health in general, I am trying my best to hydrate the way I need to be. I made a goal to drink 7 bottles or 112 ounces today. I have made it to 80 ounces already, so I think I’m going to make it today. But I have to find a way to keep that up every day. I’m good at a couple of days of week, but doing it every single day gets very difficult. (I challenge all of you to try to drink 100 ounces of water 7 days a week and I bet you’ll quickly find out it’s not as easy as it sounds.) When I’m committed to that, I feel like I spend my entire day dealing with it. I am having to drink at least a glass every hour, so I’m constantly looking at my clock and figuring out how much more I need to drink. And then there’s the fact that you have to continually fill up the water bottle AND you have to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes.
Now is the time to get organized and stay organized. I am off to a good start, but I need to keep the momentum going.

• Team Challenge goals
  • Get at least a 7 mile run in by end of the month. (I realize that sounds really pathetic at this point in the game, but I think assuming anything more would be too much pressure on me.)
  • Plan and execute successful group fundraiser with other participants.
  • Secure other donations/sponsorships for Team Challenge fund.
  • Sell tickets for Belk Charity Day Sale.
• Grad School goals
  • Meet with director and schedule courses.
  • Apply for some other scholarships.
• Personal goals
  • Drink at least 100 ounces of water EVERY day.
  • Read Pride and Prejudiced for Jane Austen book club.
  • Finish house refinancing process.
  • Get all plans wrapped up and put into place for CCFA Walk.