Guess What?!

I’m back!

  Didya miss me sweet friends?

I know I missed all of you – each and everyone.  All of your emails, phone calls, cards – that meant so much to us here at the Hotel Thompson – thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts! ❤

It’s been a little psycho crazy here at the crib.  We had a sickness here in the family and mom got pulled into different directions.  She needed to be a triplett to get everything done in the days it needed.  With being pulled into different directions and trying to take care of the Hotel Thompson and working, mom got sick.  Her rheumatoid arthritis flared really bad where it got hard for her to move.  Then my friends something else happened to mom.  She got the big D.  Dad explained the big D to us anipals.  It was frightening.

The big D takes everything from you.  It makes you lonely.  Afraid.  It makes you cry.  And there’s nothing anyone can say to make all the hurt go away.  It’s debilitating.  There were days that all us anipals and dad could do was just sit close to mom and hold her.  Those days seemed to work.  Mom knew what was going on so she didn’t wait.  She reached out to her doctor and got some help.  We applaud mom for that.  Always know when to reach out and ask for help.

You ask what the big D was?  Depression.  Depression sucks.  But we all get it from time to time.  Some of us know how to handle it better than others while others just keep bottling things up until that bottle just explodes and tears start flowing.  Mom is much, MUCH better now.  Thank goodness for that!

So we are back.  And we have some news to bring in about two weeks.  You will absolutely LOVE it.  And of course, I had to be back for the start of my Spooktober – right?  So again, we love you my friends ❤

 

#depressionsucks

 

We Need Your Help Friends

My sister, Tina Mote, will be running in the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, October 7, 2018.

For this marathon, Tina decided to raise money for something that is close and dear to her heart – The Arthritis Foundation. Unfortunately myself and another close friend have rheumatoid arthritis.  Tina decided to run the marathon in our honor in support of raising money for a great cause.  In fact, below is a note of why she picked the Arthritis Foundation:

“Both my sister and my close friend have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and through them I have become passionate about wanting to do something to contribute towards a cure or better ways to treat RA.  In addition, I’d like to bring awareness to RA and the herculean effort people afflicted with RA have to go through on a daily basis.  

I’ve seen both my sister and my friend deal with flare-ups and with medicine side effects and I’ve seen them be immune compromised.  My friend, who is only in her early 30s, is currently having to fight through some really tough side effects of Rituxan (a chemo treatment for RA); she’s undergoing this treatment because other medicines have not been effective for controlling her RA.  The side effects at times have been life threatening.”

The following passage is from my friend’s blog.  It speaks volumes to what she has to endure.  

“Had a good learning experience today, for the first time something was blamed on me because of my ‘being sick.’ I realized that when someone can use the smallest thing against you (and being sick is no small thing) then you have entered into a world where you feel like you have to be ‘Great,’ ‘Doing good’ all time because if you don’t….someone will say ‘blank didn’t happen because YOU were ‘sick’.’

I’ll say I expect better, the world needs to understand the world of those people who are chronically ill! Why should we have to live a lie? Why should we push ourselves so hard to earn an Oscar every day for our performance? Why can’t we be honest about how we feel? Why?

….because that will be the weapon someone will use against us. And so we can’t, so instead we lie, we push ourselves, we never show the tears of pain and fatigue…..instead we make ourselves smile, laugh, and act like we are normal….because if we didn’t someone will say ‘because you are sick’.

This is where we need your help.  I’ve never asked for much here at the Hotel Thompson but if you have anything to give, we would so appreciate anything that you could donate towards my sisters marathon.  Her goal is to raise $2,000.00 and every little penny counts.  If you would like to donate, please go donate here.  This should be the page link for Tina Mote for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.  Let her know that Bacon sent you.

Remember, every little penny counts so we appreciate anything you can donate.  

 

Journey with Friends – Week 17

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends.  This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better.  Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

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Sunday, April 23, 2017 -Where does the weekend go?  It seems these days if you sneeze, the weekend is gone. Some days it doesn’t seem like The Weeknd is enough time to rest for sure.  Miles Moved: 1.33

Monday, April 24, 2017 –   It seems these days, Monday is my favorite day of the week. Why?  Because coming off of the weekend, I really crave a great walk.  It just seems to start my week in the right direction. Miles Moved: 2.57

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 –  Today marks three weeks since my car accident. For the most part, I feel almost normal. But there are times like today that I can move a certain way and the pain is so intense in my neck and sternum. The doctor said it was going to take 4-8 weeks and days like today feel like it will never go away. Miles Moved: 2.47

Wednesday, April 26, 2017 –   Today I wasn’t able to exercise my normal way.   Today was finally the day to get my car to the repair shop to fix it from the accident.  The accident really didn’t do much damage to my Jeep but the bumper and passenger tail light had to be repaired. It’s nice to have these things finally fixed.  So many obstacles I’ve had to jump through from this accident when I was minding my own business. I keep reminding myself that it could have been so much worse than what it was. I’m very thankful that it was minor and hopefully soon will be far behind me. Miles Moved: 2.43

Thursday, April 27, 2017 –  I really needed my walk today to help out with stress. Do you know how you turn your back to a wave in the ocean and the waves will take you down? That’s how I feel at times at work when I take a day off. 🤣 Thank goodness I can walk some of that stress off and then come back to work ready to hit the work some more.  Miles Moved: 3.16

Friday, April 28, 2017 –  I have so much work to get done today, I didn’t walk. Plus I feel like I’m coming down with something. The hub unit has something earlier this week and I do believe he shared it with me. Bless his little heart. Miles Moved: 1.43

Saturday, April 29, 2017 –  I don’t have to pull many weekends but today I decided to work to attempt to get caught up to the point that I don’t feel so stressed. I think I succeeded. After work, I took Jim to get pizza – maybe not the best choice for this way of eating but it was delicious. And the pizza joint had a singer. Great entertainment for sure tonight. I think we both needed a little fun. Miles Moved: 1.47

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Thoughts for the week:  Life is not a race. Life has its ups and downs – mountains and valleys as I like to refer them. Just because I have a down day, it doesn’t mean that I’ve failed at this way of eating. I’ve come a long way in retraining myself in not beating myself up – which is hard. The old me would think I’ve messed up so I’ll start again Monday. These days, I might have not eaten as clean as I liked so I rethink the rest of my meals that day.  That’s the entire point – never give up. Keep on swimming or walking in my case 😀

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This week walked: 14.86

TOTAL 2017 Miles:  179.38

 

Journey with Friends – Week 16

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends.  This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better.  Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

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Sunday, April 16, 2017 – It’s been a tough past couple of weeks my friends.  I’ll be honest in saying that I’ve been totally overwhelmed with getting my car straightened out and getting my body back to where it was before this awful ordeal.  I have an appointment next Wednesday to get the car looked at one more time to see if they can finally get it fixed.  And hopefully my body is at the point now that it will let me walk without feeling constant pain.  Miles Moved: 0.44

Monday, April 17, 2017 –  I’m starting it off slow but today was the first time I have walked for exercise in 12 days – it felt like a lifetime!  I took it really slow and could feel towards the end of my 30 minutes that it was beginning to be a bit too much.  I can honestly say that I’ve missed walking.  I just feel so much better moving.  Miles Moved: 2.53

Tuesday, April 18, 2017 –  What makes it worth walking?  Getting high five’s from perfect strangers who have been watching you walk for months now – LOL.  I was walking today and the offices across from us had a couple of guys outside.  They came up to me and said they had been missing me and was glad to see I was back.  Then they all gave me high fives.  Now, they didn’t slow me down one bit.  They walked and talked with me!  How fabulous was that?  Miles Moved: 2.46

Wednesday, April 19, 2017 –  The weather was perfect today – 70 degrees.  Awesome – felt like walking near the beach since the rains are still in our area.  What makes great upbeat walking?  Upbeat music.  I have 16 songs on my iPhone titled ‘workout’.  When I walk, I hit the shuffle button that way every day is different.  Out of the 16 songs, there are only TWO slow songs.  When they come on, I can take my walk down a notch.  But when the upbeat songs are playing, I’m hauling it on my path that I’ve created around my office building.  Miles Moved: 2.29

Thursday, April 20, 2017 –   It’s getting hot here in the south this week.  By the time I get done walking, I’m a puddle.  Definitely I will have to start bringing my gym bag to work next week.  Miles Moved: 2.48

Friday, April 21, 2017 –   Did extra time today on my walk.  I’m definitely feeling so much better.  I would probably say close to 100%.  YAY!  Thanks ya’ll so much for your kind thoughts during this awful time ❤ Miles Moved: 2.59

Saturday, April 22, 2017 –  Today is Earth Day.  I must get outside and enjoy Mother Nature today.  And for working out today, I earned a cool badge on my exercise app on my i-watch/i-phone.  Cool beans.  It’s the little things that make me happy 🙂  Miles Moved: 2.54

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Thoughts for the week: After the two weeks I’ve had with trying to recuperate, I needed some motivation.  So I did some picture comparisons.  I think that’s good – especially for times like now where you need to see where you are coming from.  It’s not a race to see who gets there the fastest.  It’s about getting more fit for life.  That took me so long to figure out.  I took it easy for the two weeks after the accident.  I was beat up – purple, blue, swollen and bruised.  For those two weeks, it seemed like my aches ached.  I ache every day because of my RA so it’s nothing new for me to hurt.  But those two weeks, I literally felt like I had been hit by a car… well I was hit by a car – LOL.  Finally getting back to walking, it was like coming home this week.  Slowly my body is adjusting.  There is still some tightness in my sternum area but the swelling is finally going down.  I can breathe now without feeling like an elephant is doing a tap down on my chest.  So the bottom line – I’m back my friends.  I wanted to share this picture with you.  I still have a LONG ways to go but hey I’m here for the rest of my life ❤  Thanks for listening and your support sweet friends.  HUGS TO YOU ALL!

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This week walked: 15.33

TOTAL 2017 Miles:  164.52

 

Journey with Friends – Week 15

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends.  This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better.  Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

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Sunday, April 9, 2017 –  Okay the pain is not good.  There seems to be something more wrong that what it should be.  I made an appointment with my regular doctor for tomorrow afternoon.  Hopefully I can get some answers.  I hope.   Miles Moved: 0.47

Monday, April 10, 2017 –   Missed a couple of hours of work this afternoon and went back to the doctor.  After many, MANY X-rays, poking and prodding, we are waiting for some results to come back.  In the meantime, the doctor has changed some of the medicines originally prescribed to me.  And with the whiplash, I have a wonderful new accessory in a neck brace.  I feel like that is my cone of shame – poor dogs.  I really feel for them now when they have to wear a neck cone.  And no walking this week.  The doctor also wants to get me into physical therapy when some swelling comes down in my chest.  Miles Moved: 1.32

Tuesday, April 11, 2017 –   Okay, note to self.  Do not take a full pill of the new medicine when going to work.  It threw me for a loop!  I actually had to lay down during my lunch break I was so dizzy and sleepy.  Felt much better afterwards.  The pain is still intense and the swelling is harsh on my chest.  I can breathe and feel the pain.  The neck brace does help.  By mid-afternoon, it is so hard to keep my head held up.  With the neck brace, it helps.  I’m trying to be nice to myself during this time and recuperate.  I feel kind of useless though.  I can’t lift anything or do too much right now.  Miles Moved: 0.96

Wednesday, April 12, 2017 –  The doctor called me today and asked me to go for additional x-rays.  NOTE to pain – you can go away any day now and you won’t be missed.  I’m just saying 😦 Miles Moved: 1.16

Thursday, April 13, 2017 –  Finally got some answers from the gazillion x-rays that have been taken.  It’s going to take 6-8 weeks to heal.  I have to take it easy but can finally start walking again Monday – slowly though.  I can’t believe how much I have missed my walking.  Maybe I am changing to the other side – LOL.  Miles Moved: 0.87

Friday, April 14, 2017 –  Finally the pain is starting to go down. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still there but I’m almost feeling human. Definitely I’ll try walking Monday.   Miles Moved: 1.36

Saturday, April 15, 2017 –  Crappers. I think there is more unseeing damage to the back of my Jeep. My back passenger tail light is not working nor the break light on that side. I’ll be calling the insurance company Monday. Joybells.   Miles Moved: 1.06

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Thoughts for the week: There are obstacles in life.  I have experienced a mountain of one in the past two weeks.  With the pain, meds and not being able to hardly move, I gained some weight back.  I could be harsh on myself and give up.  But you know what?  I’m not a quitter.  This is life and life happens.  So what am I going to do?  As my awesome mother-in-law would say, “Pull yourself up by your boot straps sweetie and hold on – it’s going to be a bumpy ride”!  So by the time you read this on Monday, April 17, 2017 – I will be back STRONG!  Thank you my friends for the emails and phone calls – they have really meant the world to me ❤

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This week walked: 7.20

TOTAL 2017 Miles:  149.19

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Weight Loss:  -5 pounds (95 more to go)

 

Journey with Friends – Week 14

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends.  This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better.  Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

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Sunday, April 2, 2017 –   I have to give a shout out today to my sister Tina.  She ran the 2017 Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago today.  What an awesome feat in itself!  This is a picture of her at the end of the race.  How appropriate for a beer after a Shamrock Shuffle, huh?  She has already signed up for another race in July.  Now give me a walking race – I might just try one!  Congrats my sister!!  ❤ Miles Moved: 1.45 miles

Monday, April 3, 2017 –   I knew it was bound to happen.  It’s raining outside this morning and we are in for storms all day.  I’m going to have to walk Lucifer when I get home from work unless it stops for a bit outside.  I hate changing my schedule up.  I like doing the walking for lunch and not messing my evenings up.  But we shall see how it goes.  Miles Moved: 2.41

Tuesday, April 4, 2017 –   Yay!  I was able to walk yesterday as well as today in between the storms.  Thank goodness for that.  There’s just something so fulfilling to walk outside and actually see things.  I love my treadmill but lately I can’t get enough of outside.  Miles Moved:  2.95

Wednesday, April 5, 2017 –   My friends, I’m down for the week.  Last night I was involved in a car accident on the way home.  I was stopped at a red light, when it turned green I took my foot off of the brake.  Right about then, someone flew into the back of me.  There wasn’t much damage to my Jeep – thank goodness.  The car that hit me had a lot of front end damage.  I went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with whiplash.  I’m on medicines and I’m home from work today.  I was told to take it easy the rest of the week to give myself some time to heal.  So, I’m not going to be walking the rest of the week.  But never fear – next week I will be back!  Miles Moved: 0.65

Thursday, April 6, 2017 –   I hate not walking.  I’m still having a lot of pain and now it seems it’s going down my back. Miles Moved: 1.02

Friday, April 7, 2017 –     I never thought I would say it but I miss my walking.  Miles Moved: 1.55

Saturday, April 8, 2017 –   Okay something has to give soon.  Tried going to the market but could not finish it.  The pain gets so intense my body starts shaking.  Then I take meds which make me nauseous and sleepy. I’m going back to the doctor Monday afternoon. I just don’t feel right.  Miles Moved: 0.53

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Thoughts for the week:  never take life for granted.  I’m really feeling low right now. 😫

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This week walked: 10.01

TOTAL 2017 Miles:  141.99

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Weight Loss:  -20.00 pounds (80 more to go!)

 

 

Journey with Friends – Week 13

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends.  This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better.  Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

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Sunday, March 26, 2017 –  I still say they need to incorporate cleaning house/washing clothes with this activity on the i-Watch.  LOL – I’m sure I get the ‘move’ points but still cleaning is exercise!  Reaching up, under the beds, cleaning out potty trays, bending up/down for laundry and making beds.  Oh my goodness – making a king sized bed should be in the Olympics.  I tried to get everything done so I could get some ‘me’ time this evening. Me time is important to all of us.  A happy mommy is a happy home.  Miles Moved: 1.92

Monday, March 27, 2017 –  With all of the cleaning I did yesterday, I’m a little sore.  And I think my hip is trying to have a flare up.  I really don’t have time for this pain.  Some peeps have asked me if walking has helped my rheumatoid arthritis. With RA, it’s not a matter of are you in pain.  It’s more like how bad is the pain today.  The walking has helped some/hurt some.  I try not to push myself too much but at times I know when I have.  I have several different walking routes I’ve created for myself at work.  Slow, Medium and Burn.  I take whichever one my body feels that day.  Miles Moved: 3.31

Tuesday, March 28, 2017 –  Today’s walk was awesome.  It was overcast outside (we had bad rains last night), the humidity wasn’t that bad and there was a slight wind like you would have at the beach.  It was awesome.  Unlike yesterday where it was just hot.  I do hope my workout clothes come today in the mail.  I really need to start changing for my walks.  I’m sweating too much…. then again maybe that’s not sweat.  Maybe that’s just my fat crying and saying goodbye?  🙂 Miles Moved:  2.37

Wednesday, March 29, 2017 –   I can not find the stamina this week.  I’m like dragging my butt every day to get up and go.  I don’t think I’m coming down with anything.  I think I’m looking forward to summer knowing that after summer September will be here – and I can’t wait for that adventure.  But I walked today.  Today is hill day.  Shaking my head.  I do hate those hills but my butt/legs love them.  So hill day.  In the end, I did hills SEVEN times in a thirty minute walk.  I hurt but it’s a good hurt and not a hurt from RA.  I can tell the difference by now – LOL.  Miles Moved: 2.30

Thursday, March 30, 2017 –  I did double time today.  Me and the hub unit had a special dinner planned tonight.  Knowing I’m going to indulge a bit, I worked twice as hard on my walk.  I guess that’s the thinking of a person who is changing their mindset huh?  I’ve turned into one of those peeps – hilarious.  Miles Moved: 2.73

Friday, March 31, 2017 –   I can *not* begin to tell you how much I did not want to walk today.  The pollen count here in these parts is over 3,500 – we were all lined up this morning at the Hotel Thompson to take our allergy meds.  Although I didn’t want to, I did my walk.  And I’m glad.  Some peeps stopped me that are on my route and asked me how much weight I’ve lost – they could tell.  They encourage me to keep it up.  They were so very nice.  See, if I didn’t walk, I wouldn’t have gotten that compliment.  Thank you Karma Gods.  Miles Moved: 3.09

Saturday, April 1, 2017 –  Errands and work today.  How much fun can you have?  Miles Moved: 1.62

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Thoughts for the week:  Goals. In talking with my sister, she shoots to move 12 miles a week.  I was over achieving and trying to do 15.  That 3 miles doesn’t seem like a big difference but it is.  Therefore, I’m re-evaluating and going with a goal of 12 miles a week.  Remember, this is something that we have to learn to do for the rest of our lives.  I can live with that.  Goals should be something that we can achieve but not so easy that we can snap our fingers and they are done.  12 miles a week is good.  Just think – that could be 624.0 miles for the year.  Not that my inner math geek is coming out or anything.  Shaking head.  Nope.  It sure isn’t.  Giggles.

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This week walked: 17.34

TOTAL 2017 Miles:  131.98

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Weight Loss:  -20.00 pounds (80 more to go!)

 

Journey with Friends

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends.  This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better.  Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

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 Hello friends – how did you do last week?  I walked 17,906 steps which is equivalent to 8.48 miles.  Not bad. I am up from last week.  I’m still trying to shoot for 5,000 steps a day which is still not happening…yet 🙂 I have faith that I will get there soon.  It’s such a balance of walking for health but yet not walking to hurt with my rheumatoid arthritis.  But it’s getting there.  I didn’t lose any more weight last week but I’m okay with that since I lost so much right off.  So – the goal for the next week is to walk more and eat better.  I can do that – you can do that!

I also had some blood work done last week and got my results back.  My cholesterol is right on key – no problems.  My A1C went from a 10 to an 8 so I’m on key with that going down.  I get blood work done again in 3 months.  I’m hoping to have that A1C down to at least a 7 or below by then.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

So how did  you do my sweet friends?  How was your journey to a better life?

Miles Walked Since 06/13/2016:  26.84 miles

 

Journey with Friends

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends.  This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better.  Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

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 Hello my sweet friends!  How was your week last week?  I’m thinking in the past couple of weeks, I need a pat on the back.  Why do you ask?  Let me tell you some facts 🙂  The first week I started, I walked 10.41 miles total.  I was encouraged.  Last week, I only walked 7.95 miles due to my pain levels being really high from my rheumatoid arthritis and my hip bursitis. But although I was in pain, I ate clean.  So eating clean and moving more, drum roll please, I weighed Saturday.  And guess what?  Are you sitting down?  I’m down 16 pounds since we got back from vacation.  Now that to me is amazing.  That weight loss is from 3 weeks and it’s a high number but I usually start off that way and then narrow down every week.  I’m *beyond* excited.  Tomorrow I go for my yearly insurance biometrics so that will also give me some panel blood numbers to go by when I get my blood work done again in three months.

So I’m excited.  How did you do my friends?

Miles Walked Since 06/13/2016:  18.36 miles

 

My Mom Needs Training Wheels

Yep, I said that out loud.  Mom needs training wheels while she is walking!  The other day her and daddy went out to dinner – who would have thought that I know – snorts.  When leaving the restaurant, mom was so concerned about guiding daddy so he wouldn’t trip that she didn’t see this boulder on the ground.  Now that is her word – boulder.  I’m sure it wasn’t actually that big.  She hit the ‘boulder’ with her shoe.  Did I mention that she had on these really cute sandals that had openings to show her toes with their cute little pedicure colors?  She tripped, stumbled and thank goodness daddy was holding her hand so she didn’t fall down. So there she is stumbling while daddy is singing, “I’ll tumble for you” by Boy George – shakes piggy head. That’s the good part.  The bad part you ask?  Well, her big toe found the ‘boulder’.  She broke her toe nail, messed up her cute little pedicure and jerked her body from almost falling.  So as she tells daddy, she now has a catch in her giddy up.  Shakes head.  Only my mother huh?

So now mom has a catch in her giddy up, a messed up pedicure and guess who else wants to come out and play?  Mean old Mr. Arthritis.  She is also having a bad flare up with pain due to this weather that belongs in hell.  Yes I said it.  Hell.  It pushes the high 90’s every day.  When we get rain, it just makes things more steamy afterwards.  And it feels like we can never get the Hotel Thompson cool enough.  Daddy says he feels the power company lowers the power around 5pm every day.  Maybe it’s that or too many people turn their thermostats down during that time?  hhhmm – it makes you wonder doesn’t it?  Either way, even with fans you just can’t cool down and the heat is messing with mom’s arthritis.

So there you go.  You have my mom who is the stumbling toe cruncher catch in her giddy up hurting from the heat from arthritis gal at this moment.  Does that paint a picture for you?  Please send her some healing vibes and prayers this way if you don’t mind.  She’s having a hard time getting up and moving and standing and sitting.  Snorts – pretty much she has the trifecta of pain these past couple of days.  I’m hoping that this weekend she can get plenty of rest and some extra tender loving care from daddy and all of us anipals.

And tomorrow – oh joybells – we so can’t wait here.  We can’t be late for a very important date.  Mommy is expecting a phone call from someone here on blogville that is almost like a sister to her… someone that we have spoke to via blogville a LOT but never by phone  They are calling tomorrow at 2:30 pm our time.  We are ALL excited to talk to these peeps.

Can you guess who it will be?  We will post about it next week.  YAY!