Alyssum Pohl: Writing & Professional Training Portfolio
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Self-defense and more preparation

5/31/2015

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Practicing RAD technique. It works!
This weekend has been a flurry!  

* I passed the 1/3 funding mark in my Kickstarter campaign, an important milestone because it indicates (since I'm only 1/4 of the way through the campaign, time-wise) that I'm 90% likely to be fully funded!

* I secured someone to sub-let my room while I'm gone, and she seems great.

* I took a RAD (rape aggression defense) course yesterday, so YOU BETTER NOT MESS WITH ME, sketchy people!  It was taught by Patty Aya, a Marine and former FBI agent who knows her stuff, should never be trifled with, and is also a very gentle, patient, visionary, curious and fun woman.  She invited my friend Ashley and I to stay in her Mongolian yurt (which was nothing short of magical) at the Wicked Oak vineyard, and then we had class the whole next day, out by the woods, in the fields and (during a fantastic rain storm) in the tasting room.  It was a veritable self-defense retreat, and I highly recommend it to anyone! I expected to learn some helpful skills (and I did), but I was surprised at how empowering it was.  I often think the word 'empowering' is overused...but I really did feel like I found a power inside that I wasn't aware of.  A power to keep me safe and able to continue doing my thang.  You can find Patty at Peaceful Warrior Girl. 

* I connected with a power couple of Wardensville, WV, the owners of Lost River Trading Post who invited me to come give a lecture about my experience down the Mississippi River when I get back.  They're working on revitalizing Main Street, and they're also trying to regain access to the river behind the cemetary so that it can be used and enjoyed by locals and visitors, and so that a sense of stewardship returns to the waterway.  A perfect connection and collaboration to make! So excited. 
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Oculus of the Mongolian yurt. So wonderful to have the moonlight shining in.
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We were welcomed with fireflies and a cozy yurt.
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    Alyssum Pohl is paddling the Mississippi River and documenting water quality and plastic waste along the way.

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