Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

The universal forces are pulling me towards ISAAC  2012 – the 15th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication – to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 28 to August 4, 2012.

These forces aren’t only pulling me to attend, but also to present at ISAAC 2012, which only makes sense. There is little point in going all that way only to sit and listen; I might as well contribute to the conversation.

Presenting means first submitting a paper, which isn’t impossible; I submitted a successful proposal for South by Southwest (SXSW) 2010 and a joint paper for the 26th Annual International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference (CSUN 2010). However, the catch is that proposals are due the day before Darrell and I leave for Los Angeles to attend BlogWorld 2011. Of course. Completing one trip before even considering the next one is not an option. Obviously that isn’t how universal forces roll.

With those thoughts zinging around in my head, I then began thinking about one of my items on my bucket list…this is where writing down things, publicly, becomes hazardous because people (including yourself) can remind you of it and hold you to it.

The item in question is “climb the stairs at Philadelphia Museum of Art with the spirit of Rocky Balboa". Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are, at least, in the same state; close enough for considering doing both on the same trip.

Crazy?

Perhaps.

But…why not? Life is too precious not to make the most of it!

I keep thinking of small business adviser and speaker Charlie Gilkey’s motto, “Do Epic Shit”. Surely this would qualify.

Philadelphia’s Museum of Art has only 72 steps to conquer! Together, my lifelong friend Karen, my cousin Craig and I climbed 81 stairs before zipping across Robson Square. And that was while I was still recovering from a nasty cold. What is 72 stairs when I have 10 months to prepare? (Any trainers out there?) Eye of the Tiger (song lyrics) will likely be the earworm that kicks my butt until next summer.

Other than devising a way to finance this crazy idea and putting together a support team, one hitch would be a heat wave; mid-summer in Pittsburgh may not be the wisest time of year. For that reason, this idea may need to be rethought.

First things first: submit a successful proposal before November 1st.

Stay tuned…