Two weeks worth...

Sicky Mcsicky

Sea Otter 2008 & everything else

Okay, my blogs are supposed to be to update everyone on what I’m doing, how therapy is going, and if I’ve won the lotto yet. Short version…I’ve been ridiculously busy, therapy is going really well, and no unfortunately not. But here is the longer version.

The auction ended a week ago and May 9^th and it went really well. I learned a lot putting on an auction and I have to thank everyone at GO211 that helped put it on. Pete, Angela, Sean, and Billy for helping to put it all together. Some things should have gone for quite a bit more than they did, which was a bummer, but then there were some things that I never thought would go for what they did. So there you have it. Congratulations again to everybody that won!

Something else I have to throw in is that I just went to an Alicia Keys concert and she freakin’ ROCKED it! I lost my voice for a couple days after so you know it was good!

I have an announcement for everybody that ordered hoodies at Sea Otter. The hoodies have been ordered and they should be finished in 3 weeks at the latest. As soon as they are they will be mailed out. Thank you everyone for supporting my road to recovery and buying a hoodie. I am in the process of putting up some pictures on the www.tarallanesroadtorecovery.com site so you can purchase them there. Also, I will be putting the TaraBalm up on the road to recovery site as well so keep an eye open for them.

I have some big news to share with everybody. Some of you may have seen the Still Life story in the latest issue of Bike Magazine. Anne Keller is not only the photographer that shot all of those amazing pictures for the story she is also a great friend of mine. Well, she submitted her pictures to the Mountain Film Festival (www.mountainfilm.org) in Telluride and they were selected. Not only did they get selected, they asked both her and I to present the photos with a Q & A right after. They put up some bios on their site and they threw both of our names in the mix. http://www.mountainfilm.org/festival/2008/weekend/guests.asp

I am honored to have my name up with everyone else on this list that have either climbed Mt. Everest with like no oxygen and one pinkie or have been nominated for a Nobel Peace Price. I am heading out to Telluride next Tuesday and will be there for a week of fun, Q&A sessions, and more fun. So if any of you are in the area next weekend come and check it out.

I’m pretty sure I mentioned in one of my last blogs that I had given a presentation at Fullerton Junior College a couple weeks ago. Well, last week I went back and gave another presentation. This time we had a second video and it was a much more intimate group. I didn’t cry this time although I was pretty close. There were a lot of great questions after I spoke and a lot of interest and that was awesome. I’ll be going back for a few more presentations during the summer.

So last week I went down to San Diego to check out two new rehabilitation facilities. I’ve been learning so much lately about what the right rehab is for me, which doctor is right for me, and the question I need to be asking really. There have been these huge stages in my recovery and it’s almost like I’m just now noticing. And I wish it hadn’t taken me this long to realize some things, but how was I to know what was supposed to happening or which doctor was the best for me? I couldn’t have known. I met a guy named Aaron Baker while I was at Sea Otter this year. I had heard his name here and there through the SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) world and I had wanted to meet him. He was injured about 9 years ago and was a complete quadraplegic. And you know what...he walks only with a cane now! Yeah, so the doctors can kiss it! In the beginning I was somewhat reluctant to reach out to anybody. I sort of had this idea that I would and could do this on my own. And while I am stubborn in that way and I felt that I didn’t want to get too into groups, organizations, etc. because in my mind I wasn’t going to be a paraplegic for long I realized that there are a lot of people out there that can help and have a lot of information about what I’m going through. And if that can help me get out of this chair any sooner than I’m game!

The first facility I went to was Awakenings in Solano Beach. It was pretty small, but it had a fair amount of equipment packed into it and they are expanding. Ernesto Fonseca goes there and he seems to be pretty happy there. I asked a bunch of questions and decided to schedule a trial day for this past Wednesday to see what it would be like. I kept my appointment and worked out with Quent. From the second I met him and shook his hand we were already on the table stretching. He wasted NO time at all and I appreciated that. We worked hard for those 3 hours and it felt great. Unfortunately if I got back I won’t be able to work with Quent again since he’s moving to Boulder, but the rest of the guys there looked more than capable.

The second facility was Project Walk. I met with the director and he explained their vision and what they’re all about there. The facility was MUCH bigger. They are actually going to downsize because they can’t use that much space. They have a ton of equipment to choose from and they are working closely with a Dr. that is working on stem research. I didn’t make an appointment for me to come back down for a trial, but I will and I’ll let you know how it goes. Either way it looks like I’ll be heading down south for my therapy from now on. My mom can’t WAIT till’ I get my Jeep. Me too!

One last thing before I go. I just got news about Giant France and the Ayton-Giant-Les2Alpes team doing a fundraiser for me. Here is the information in English.

How we will support her?

By organizing an auction sale. The entirety fund collect will be transferred to her association.

Giant France and the Ayton-Giant-Les2Alpes team put at the biddings:

- 1 Trance X2

- A complete Ayton-Giant-Les2Alpes apparel package (helmet, mask, Jersey, gloves, dorsal and knees protections, shorts, socks, shoes), dedicated by all the team riders

- Eastpak travel bags

- One weekend for 2 people in Les 2 Alpes skiing resort for this summer. The 2 people will have the chance to ride the entire weekend with the riders.

The end of the auction sale is fixed for May 31st 2008.

How to send the biddings?

Please go to the Ayton-Giant-Les2Alpes website by clicking here (http://www.teamayton.com/encheres-tara-llanes)

If I read it correctly the bidding ends May 31^st so get on it! They are giving away a weekend at the Les 2 Alpes ski resort for crying out loud! Maybe I can go! J I really would like to thank Giant France and the Ayton-Giant-Les2Alpes Team for putting this on. It means a lot and I’m sure whoever wins will be stoked! Thank you.

Thank you to everyone that has prayed for me, sent a donation, or just taken the time to write a message. I appreciate every single thing and will promise to keep fighting until I’m up on two feet again.

tara llanes

never give up!