Countdown is on...

As many of you may have noticed, I’m a little bit excited about an upcoming event in the world of international multi-sport competition. Tomorrow begins the 14th Summer Paralympic Games!

What is the Paralympics exactly you say old chap?

By the numbers it is 4,200 athletes from 165 countries competing in 20 sports such as swimming, cycling, wheelchair rugby, and sitting volleyball.

The majority of competitors have physical disabilities that are subject to a classification system to level the playing field. Medals are awarded just like in the parallel event the Olympics and in a similar fashion with all the expectation and drama hearts do get broken.

You may have seen one of the stars of last year’s games competing for South Africa in the Olympics. His name is Oscar Pistorius and he was pretty darn amazing in track and field, a double amputee qualifying for the semifinals of the men’s 400m.



I would encourage you to not stop watching there. Team USA and the other Paralympic athletes will continue to need support. Currently, no U.S. broadcast or cable company has plans to show any live coverage of the events. Your best bet to catch the action is to watch online at www.paralympic.org. You can also find daily video highlights via the US Paralympic YouTube channel.

Since coverage of the games will be hard to find on American television sets. I’ve come up with ways to get in the spirit and what to watch for in the coming days. GO TEAM USA!

Learn the names of some of the athletes. Team USA at the London Olympics had a Destinee Hooker on the women’s volleyball team. Not to be outdone, the Paralympics will have ones to watch for out on the court such as James Stuck (USA) in sitting volleyball. There will also be a Blake Leeper, a medal contender in Track and Field, and Mary Stack hefting up the load in Powerlifting.

Team GB will have a Sarah Storey to tell about in cycling and no lie Sophie Wells riding Pinocchio in the Equestrian competition. Robin Williams may even appear for a spot in 5 on a side football. The Brits James Roe is sure to take home gold in the rowing and my money is on Vicky Widdup to be the spark to rally her teammates in sitting volleyball “Hey, Wid up?!”

Team Australian is bringing a young upstart who hopes to lap the field, Jake Lappin, born Sept. 11, 1992, he competes in Athletics 400m, 800m, and can do push ups without using his legs!

Finally, there’s team Canada, who has an entrant who may or may not appear in a number of events. Richard Peter (Dick Peter?) an all-round athlete competing in tennis, athletics, and unsanctioned at least at this Games event…ball hockey.

After learning some names, you might host a Paralympic party. Push Grandma up to the ping pong table, put a jersey on her and tell her it’s now table tennis. Get Grandpa into the modern games. Just roll him outta bed in a sheet (he's been to ancient Greece!) and let him play some Wii bowling.

No, no, no…

Give your party a theme like “Get in the Game!”

Pick your night. I would suggest Thursday Sept. 6 for the much anticipated Men’s T44 100m final or Friday Sept. 7 for the finals of women’s sitting volleyball. Both events should stream live at www.paralympic.org at 10pm EST.

In the Men’s 100m final, watch to see if “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius will maintain his dominance over an up and coming field of competitors that include reigning world champion USA’s Jerome Singleton and his fellow American Blake Leeper. Team GB will also have a star to watch, Jonnie Peacock strutting his stuff after recently having set a world record time.

or

Invite friends and neighbors over, lower the backyard volleyball net and host your own sitting volleyball tournament!

Game on!

Carrying over the competition of the Olympic overall medal count, the expected final will pit longtime rivals USA vs. China. After bringing home the silver in Bejing 2008 and finishing second at the World Championships, Team USA is looking to finally reach the top of the podium and best Team China for the gold.



Okay...

Remember the Paralympic Games will be here tomorrow and ready for viewing at http://www.youtube.com/user/USParalympics1/feed ! These athletes will continue to inspire hope and energize spirits through sport and competition. "Spirit in Motion" is the motto of they pledge. Lend your support and let's keep them rollin'.

Good News : )

Good Morning,

I have good news to share! This Wednesday I start a new job at an organization in KC called The Whole Person (there's a website if you'd like to learn more). My official title is Mental Health Advocate and I will be working with people with both physical and mental disabilities providing professional counseling and as necessary advocacy and peer support. I will also be earning licensing hours toward my LPC (licensed professional counselor).

So, in my first item of official Monday Morning News advocacy business...I've decided to knock on the Girl Scout organizations door to redefine a section in the GS Handbook. As you may know from last week, I did some zip-lining. My party was lead by a very zealous Scout Leader and attended by several young girls in Hello Kitty outfits...



After my ride, it occurred to me that not all the RULES apply to every participant seeking the distinction of a merit badge or medal. With reasonable changes and thinking, every hard working girl should be able to become what she wants to achieve! In short, there needs to be a little tinkering with the proficiency test for Girl Scout ATHLETE.

I've taken the requirements from the "Scouting for Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts" (est. 1920) and below added my advocacy thoughts, recommended changes and suggestions.

(Please note...this is early stage research. My reference is from the 1920's and responses a warm-up exercise. It's too early to get fired! : )

ATHLETE

To qualify for this a Girl Scout must be at least fourteen and must hold the badge for personal health, the “Health Winner.”

1. State briefly the value and effect of exercise.

Exercise is good for your body so you don’t get flabby.

2. Demonstrate habitual good posture sitting and standing.

Be able to tell an instructor your wheelchair seat width and position for optimal posture and positioning in an adapted water ski.

3. Demonstrate (a) marching steps, quick and double time, and Scout’s Pace. (b) Setting up exercises (as shown in Handbook).

Do a couple deep knee bends put on some marching band music then using your peppiest pace march up a standard workman’s ladder until you can touch the top. The object here is to step from rung to rung lifting the leg with high knee NOT cheating and using a hand or an arm to pull, pick-up and assist.

4. Present statement from troop Captain of a hike of at least 5 miles.

Walk a mile then find a nice Girl Scout Captain who lies.

5. Demonstrate with basketball 5 goals out of 7 trials standing at least 5 feet from basket OR demonstrate with basketball distance throw of 40 feet.

Here’s my suggestion for this one…
http://vimeo.com/25667380

It’s okay to use an altered goal. Distance and height can be determined by how far you can throw a standard basketball both horizontally and vertically while seated.

6. Demonstrate with indoor baseball accurate pitching for distance of forty feet.

This also can be done while seated or standing. Distance adjusted to 1/2 the length of the average of 3 trials of longest throw.

7. Write brief description of rules for five popular games.

**Please do not use cricket or Australian Rules Futbol…the only rules...there are no rules???

8. Play well and be able to coach in any three of the following games: Basketball, Battleball, Bowling, Captain Ball, Dodge Ball, Long Ball, Punch Ball, Indoor Baseball, Hockey—field or ice, Prisoners’ Base, Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Volleyball Newcomb.

Provide a middle school transcript that shows a satisfactory grade in gym class.

9. Hold swimming badge or bring statement of ability to demonstrate three strokes, swim 100 yards, float and dive. For alternate to swimming requirement see First Class Test, question 7. (...in Handbook)

question 7. Be able to swim fifty yards, or in case of inaccessibility to water, be able to shin up ten feet of rope, or in case of physical disability, earn any merit badge selected that involves out-of-door activity.

The GS of the 1920's actually had this one covered : ) Thumbs up!

10. Demonstrate three folk dances using any nationality OR be a qualified member of a school or society athletic team, playing one summer or one winter sport, OR be able to qualify for entry in a regular competition in some sport such as Tennis, Skating, Skiing, Running, Pitching Quoits, etc.

Enter as a participant or coach in at least one adapted sport tournament or event in your area OR send in a video of yourself learning to dance : )



Happy Monday,

Amanda

a zip-line adventure report

Good Morning,

I went zip-lining at Camp Prairie Schooner this weekend!

I can't quite decide where this falls on the "Adventure Scale." After the completion of my run, as I hiked to the head of the treacherous trail and made my way into the clearing I overheard the conversation between some young Girl Scouts.

My guide a 7th grader with two years zipping experience walked ahead. An earnest and impassioned leader she still wore her white safety helmet and zipping harness. In addition to my trail sherpa, she had self-assigned two additional duties--leading the littlest girls on a hike to the restroom and greeting all new adult arrivals in the gravel parking lot.

It was dark and I was tired but I distinctly heard the car pull up and an adult voice say "Did Amanda do the zip-line?"

...to which my guide replied, "uh-huh. she went once and Merriam (the 5 year-old birthday girl) went twice!!!"

at this point the conversation went to pot as a 6 year-old wearing flashing flip flops told everyone that my ride had been a "ladder ride."

A "ladder ride" is a scaled down version of the adult ride for those not quite ready for X-treme thrills and excitement!!! It is also an alternative for those unable to climb up a free hanging rope ladder to the tree-top launch platform.

I, with accomplished Adventure resume (...see death defying water ski crashing and fearless open water kayaking) could not climb the dang rope ladder up to the platform...before dark...or losing bored and wandering children in the woods.

Instead, I clipped in at the bottom of the zip-line run after climbing a few rungs on a sturdy workman's ladder.

Here is now where the official rules and definition of zip-lining must come out.

"A zip-line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from top to bottom of the incline cable."

Please note there is nothing in here stating a zip-liner must start at the TOP of the line. My "ladder ride" Miss sparkle flip flops was technically what happened next.

A very nice sinewy young course instructor attached a long thin "retrieval rope" to my harness and walked me like a tug-a-war captain toward the launch platform.

"Okay" he said, "say stop when you feel high enough!"

I am at Camp Prairie Schooner… I thought. This babies going to the T-O-P!!!!!

Unfortunately, the nice young man's legs gave way about 5ft. from the highest point. Thus, I dangled in the air for a moment like a Muppet and then Ziiiiip the ride began...

I went fast enough to elicit a full SMILE but not quite fast enough for a whoop! or hoooot!!!

The ride ended uneventfully as I stopped several feet from the approaching tree and slowly bobbed toward the rescue ladder.

Would I zip-line again? Most definitely. I am even hoping to work my way toward my Athlete merit badge as a GS Cadette!!!

So far it's looking doubtful. You must march double time and maintain good posture sitting and standing...

Happy Monday everyone, and Adventure on!

Amanda

p.s. would anyone be interested in buying some cookies? : ) I got Thin Mints...Samoas...

Paddlin'

Good Morning,

I had the good fortune of taking my maiden voyage in a kayak this weekend on Lone Star Lake. Regardless of ability, I think this is an activity anyone can enjoy. So, I'd like to encourage ALL to try...

5 Reasons to Try Paddling

1. You can adopt an ease to the language not typical of the urban Midwest.

In the West people get stoked...
ya’ll, honeys in the South
you sit and tawk in New Yawk
go "out and aboot" up North

now Midwesterners have somethin’ to do too. Go paddlin! : )

2. With cell phones, we are tuned into each other greater than ever before, physically though it has come at a cost as we so often miss the opportunity to interact with those around us. By choosing to go out in a kayak for a couple hours you are choosing to support friendly face-to-face communication with strangers.

3. People with houses on the lake may come out to great you and on some mornings have even opened up a window and turned up the stereo for all to enjoy (feels very different than when your apartment neighbor decides to do this).

4. If you travel in a pack and someone brings enough snacks, you are basically a party that floats! And...if you like to talk, you have a captive audience! Remember though that the corollary is also true. You are a captive audience! This might not be the best time to share your stories of Sacagawea and goals for Eskimo rolls...



5. The Polynesian navigational system...


In double-hauled canoes, "Papa Mau" and his crew made their way from Hawaii to Tahiti, reading only subtle changes in wind direction, waves, the flight of birds, the course of dolphins, the color of the water...



In no time whatsoever a new kayaker can determine that this unfortunate situation means log jam. : )

Happy Monday,

Amanda

zip-line adventure on!

Good Morning,

Strap on your helmets! It's time for another "Alo" Adventure! In about two weeks, I will be zip-lining!!! Given the opportunity to dangle from a wire and hurl down an incline at break-neck speed, I thought oh yes, this is me!...

Actually, the truth of the matter is, is that I was invited by a young Girl Scout with a birthday and a very impassioned troop leader with ropes course training. This I found is much harder to say no to than a box of cookies (Thin Mints or otherwise...).

I've attached a link to a video clip of what I think I will be doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvOh0qLDTQs&feature=related

And here is the reasoning I will be using to show up for the celebration.

A zip-line repel with a bunch of Girl Scouts...chances are good that someone’s going to be able to get me down if I get stuck.

Should I get stuck, someone’s going to be earning a merit badge.

If I enjoy it, I will have something, albeit a lightly used something to expand my social circle...

Would you like to join our zip-line league? Every Thursday we go and see who has the fastest combined time!

I was always told "kids...DO NOT hang on the clothes line!" So, I have now basically decided to dangle from one clipped in at the navel. I AM rebellious!

I will get to wear a harness and a helmet. The sure sign of the cool adventurer. : )

And last...I'm going to be on step closer to achieving my life-long goal of being a super hero! I've learned the zip-line has been used in some instances for delivering food, cigarettes or tools to people working on the other side of an obstacle such as a gully or river...Excellent!

Happy Monday everyone,

Amanda