Some trending news and thoughts about how I can paddle like a ‘possessed’ woman during my upcoming 7-miler race…

Today I was thinking I could talk about the passing of Sally Ride yesterday, the first U.S. woman to go to outer space in 1983.

I also thought about writing about the 17 year-old girl who originally was facing 180 days in jail for tweeting the names of the two boys who sexually assaulted her. They now have withdrawn their charges for contempt.

In entertainment news, Call the Midwife is another huge hit British show (while we wait for Downton Abbey to return, sigh) about a team of bicycle-riding midwives in 1950s London.

And lastly, I came upon this hilarious, hipster, quirky YouTube series: So Natural from the Diva Cup’s Facebook page the other day with 4 white women poking fun at overly politically correct au naturel hipsters, white people, and everyone.

This week I have also been distracted with the upcoming stand-up paddling race (in addition to other dramas you can read about here and here) a 7-miler from Rockaway to Long Beach. We have now finally pinned down the paddle and the board I’ll be using. I figure it may take me a couple hours or less to finish the race. Hopefully it will be downwind and half is in the bay after the ocean. I’m hoping for good little swells that will be fun to ride and won’t throw me. Not sure why I feel so nervous. I guess the last time I did any race was in high school (?). And that was cross-country and hurtles. My friend asked if it’s because I’m trying to win. And my coaching buddy said I could potentially place which honestly just freaked me out. I don’t like pressure, having probably had too much of it my whole life. I like having expectations and goals myself but have major fear of disappointing other people. So I don’t do well with others’ expectations on me. Which is kind of ironic and kind of makes sense coming from a Chinese immigrant daughter.

Was also reading about Dave Kalama’s crazy 24+ hour paddle from Oahu to Kaua`i with superman Laird Hamilton. And how he caught up to Laird when he was miles behind by paddling at 100% for 2 hours after having already paddled for 15 hours. (WTH.) Wondering if I can channel some of that mental craziness —he called it being possessed— during my relatively ‘short’ 7-miler…