I remember once telling someone that I had spent several months preparing for a trip to Africa in 2007. This elicited raised eyebrows, followed by an unspoken vibe: “Geez Louise. Talk about overkill. Should be a snap. All you have to do is throw clothes and toothbrush in a suitcase.” I found myself explaining, but could see that I’d utterly lost them. Obviously, I was mismanaging everything.

Well, preparing for a five-week trip to Africa to climb a mountain is much more than throwing clothes in a suitcase. It’s airline tickets, travel visas, passports, immunizations, travel insurance, accommodations reservations, yada yada yada, not to mention the constant physical training, blah blah blah. Right now I’m in the middle of it all, up to my eyeballs. I’ve purchased my airline tickets, purchased my travel insurance, reserved my expedition dates with Alpine Ascents, double-checked my passport, scheduled myself to become a human pincushion and swallow copious amounts of preventative drugs replete with side effects, reserved a hotel in Arusha for a night here and a night there with someone who took my money but hasn’t yet given me any reservation confirmation . . . Ai yi yi. (Now you can raise your eyebrows.)

And the training. OMG. Did I mention the training? I’ve been running and working out like a monkey on steroids. My poor little feet were starting to revolt, pestering me in oh-so-many-ways that they were just going to fall off if I didn’t lay off. So two days ago I went to see a foot specialist and spent a huge gob of money on orthotics and super elite running shoes. Now my feet are really aching, but the foot specialist assured me that it was like getting dental braces. There would be an adjustment period. Ai yi yi.

And now I’m thinking of running the Tacoma City Half Marathon on May 3. Hmm . . . will my little feet (not to mention my legs and lungs and willpower) be up to it? Hmm . . . you know I do love the challenge. . . .

Next year? I’m thinking maybe Mt. Vinson in Antarctica. My husband just rolls his eyes. Ai yi yi.