The Jottings of Jessie Lorenz

After athens I took 2 years off from goalball. After hearing Bill Teal broadcast the 06 world championships i was bit by the GB bug and decided to go out for the national team...
My goal was and continues to be that gold metal in beijing.
Coach told me in 06 that I was not going to walk my way arrogantly back on the team. I was not named to the official 07 team- though I traveled and trained with them. I was not named to the 08 team until the last weekend in april. I feel like I trained harder and play smarter because I had to work to earn my spot back on this team. Beijing here we come!
Our luggage has already left on a truck. We will pick it up in Denver. We fly from Denver to San Francisco and from SF to Beijing. We will travel with the Bochea and Table Tenis teams as well as mens goalball.
We learned about the blogging guidelines in place for athletes while in Beijing- sort-of interesting. I can write about my games, but I can't give the score. I can say who won, but only describe the game in terms of my personal experience. The blogs can't take the place of press reports.
I do find this a little ironic since there is very little US press coverage of the Paralympics to begin with. When we learned about handleing press conferences today as part of processing I learned that there are 18 media outlets from North America at the Paralympics. "You will be dealing mostly with forign press." was basically the message. I am going to be careful about blogging though, because the most importent thing to me is my team and our games- so don't expect to find any scores on this blog!

Went to olympic embassidor training. Ordered leather jacket.. took team photos. Leave tonight.

• 11:23 aq778x #
• 11:27 Great practice today. At this level of play it is the little things that will mean gold rather than silver or brons. #

This is a great web site created by John Mulhurn- a former paralympian. I really like that it was created by folks who play goalball for the community of goalball players in the USA.
The Official USA Goalball Page. A page created by USA goalball players.
Today was pretty overwhelming. We did the apparel part of processing. I received a complete set of luggage, more clothes than I know what to do with, ordered my Paralympic ring, got my pins for trading, and am honored, grateful and exhausted. Did you see what the female USA athletes wore in the opening ceramonies of the olympics? That is what we will wear as well. Huge thanks to our sponsors, Nike and Ralph Lauren.
All told the package of apparel cost just over $4500.
I upgraded my ring to 10 karat (harder metal than 14) and added diamonds to the top of the ring.

This morning we practiced again and I went for another run. I am keenly aware that it is the little things that we do that will make the difference between gold, silver or bronze. This morning coach worked the team until we were exhausted, made us do the perfect game sprint drill and than we threw penalty shots. This was to simulate a shootout. When a game ends in a shootout it means that there have been two regulation halves and two overtime halves- in an anaerobic sport. Translation- it can be pretty grueling by the end, yet that is when those perfect shots matter most.
The team has a sponsor- and we'll be using their products to help us gain more of a competitive edge. Recovery drinks and eating is really important during competition- Pure Sport has a great track record of having great product- and the drug testers and sports med. folks both like it too!

PureSport | PureSport Workout and Recovery Nutritional Performance Sports Drinks with
Protein

• 18:31 Practiced for 3 hours today than ran intervals. #

We had a three hour long practice this morning followed by a long run. I had a good practice. I have to remember that I play best when I have had a good nights rest and when I do my Neuro-linguistic programming
exercises both the night before and just before practice. I did some NLP last night and this morning- it helps me play with a lot more focus. Basically, I remind myself of the best games I have had and transpose those images, feelings, and that inner dialogue into my current game.
I ran intervals today. I love to run- almost as much as I love playing goalball!

Spent the afternoon doing last minute shopping and marking my uniforms.
We have red, white and blue uniforms and each has a corresponding pair of shorts. I am sure that my teammates get very tired of me asking what color things are so I put 1 small safety pin in my red uniform, two pins in the white ones and three pins in the blue uniforms.
I have a machine at home called a ColorTest Talking Color Analyzer
that tells me what colors things are. It cost a lot and I didn't want to lose it. In addition the color tester is really only accurate about 75% of the time, and though that is better than I can do on my own, it is pretty annoying when the color tester says an article of clothing is one color and I discover that it is another. Sometimes low-tech systems are the best solutions.


Here is an interesting news blurb:
President Bush Announces Presidential Delegation to the Paralympic Games
President George W. Bush announced today the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Beijing,
China on September 6, 2008. The Honorable James B. Peake, M.D., Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will lead the delegation. Members of the Presidential Delegation
are: The Honorable Clark T. Randt, Jr., United States Ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China Mr. Kirk Bauer, Executive Director, Disabled Sports USA
Ms. Jean Driscoll, Paralympic Gold Medalist (Track) Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Gadson, United States Army Mr. Kevin Szott, Paralympic Gold Medalist (Judo)
Ms. Trischa Zorn, Paralympic Gold Medalist (Swimming)

• 07:16 What lies behind us and what ies before us is nothing compaired to what is within us. #
• 19:00 I am Watching history right now as Obama speaks to the nation. Great workouts today! Practice in the morning. #
• 20:49 I have been training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs this week- doing several endurance workouts per day. The treadmi ... #
• 21:33 I heart Obama! As president, Obama will make the United States a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of people with Disabilities #

I have been training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs this week- doing several endurance workouts per day. The treadmill I've been using is like a tank. It can go up to 30 miles per hour and actually has built-in suspension! It cost almost $20,000 and is absolutely huge! What I bring to this team is my endurance. I am quick and fit. It has been really tempting this week to really push myself on the weights and bulk-up, but that would not be playing to my strengths. I count on most of my teammates to be strong enough to hurl the goalball through the other team. They count on me to be quick enough to keep the ball from scoring on us.

We started processing today. We received two bagsfrom our sponsors- one from Kleenex and the other from Tyson Foods. Kleenex bag is a great travel bag for toiletries and has lots and lots of Kleenex products for the trip to Beijing. The Tyson Food bag included a electric convertor, vacuum sealed chicken breast and a pot for boiling hot water.

The Hilton Family also donated blankets. Now I'll have two blankets while in Beijing.

I brought a blanket with me that was made by Bill Teal and his wife.

I wanted to have something familiar with me and I thought the blanket might bring good luck. Bill is the voice of goalball. www.beijing.sports.pressakey.net

Wow! looks like there will be three hours of paralympic video coverage on-line per day. Opening and closing ceramonies wil be shown as well. For the paralympic movement this is a pretty cool development.
According to the schedule Goalball will be covered on Sept. 14- the day of the semi-final and final games. NBC will do a day of coverage on Oct. 18.
Check out Universal Sports
A few more numbers, cause I find them interesting... 213 athletes from the United States are part of the Paralympic delegation. 4000 athletes are slated to compete in Beijing and 155 countries will be represented at these games. The number of blind folks on the USA team is 22 or 23 and is down a bit from the 2004 games. This certainly highlights the need for programs that cultivate young blind athletes.
Here is a lesson on the Paralympics. I gave the same lesson to my weighter this evening when he started telling other customers that I was going to the special olympics. . Paralympic athletes have physical disabilities and include people who are blind or visually impaired, amputees, people who have CP or who use wheelchairs and people with dwarfism. The paralympics is a competitive event that brings together athletes from around the world. The Paralympics are less funded and not as well known as Special Olympics- thanks to the Kennedy/Shriver family. The special olympics are only for folks with developmental disabilities and are not competitive- anyone with a developmental disability can participate in Special Olympics.
The primary difference is that the Paralympics feature folks with physical disabilities who have all met objective competitive standards and have qualified through successful participation in internationally ranked tournaments/events.
The Paralympics shocases athletes; in 2012 I hope more athletes living with vision loss qualify to participate.

Last night asya, jen and i went to a concert in demver as part of the democratic convention. I stood along side thousands and listened to hillary give her speach last night. I cried a little because somehow it still feels like a mans world. Plus obama feels like a pepsi commercial to me- though in my social circle i have just committed blasfeme by saying that aloud... I will vote for obama. I hope everyone votes obama, and ihave not connected with him yet.
We saw thelma huston, russell wayneright, cindy lauper and melisa ethridge. The highlight was durring cindy laupers performance. She came into the crowd and i touched her shoulder. Asya took my hand and put it on laupers shoulder and there she was danceing and singing right beside me!
Thelma huston also sang a beautiful cover of the song i believe i can fly. That song stresses the importance of believing in your dreams. This is an important part of being successful, believing we will win gold.

• 07:24 Going to training center. Still waiting on updated forms from doc's office. Feeling much better after a good night sleep. #
• 13:24 Drug Paperwork done and approved by doping! Big sigh of releaf. Back in the zone. Great workout today at 6400 ft above sea #

I had a bit of a scare yesterday because world anti doping did not approve my paperwork declaring that i received a cortizone injection last week. Pretty scary, but my doctor filled out another form and it appears that i am in the clear.
22 athletes with visual impairments going from usa to beijing. 12 from goalball, 5 from judo, 4 from track, and one from cycleing. There might be a blind swimmer, but it is unclear if she qualified. Go team usa!

• 08:46 Got onto a flight that left oakland at 6 instead of 7- good luck i guess. N the text version of my life i am at the beginning of an exciting section heading in my life
  #
• 14:38 Submited wrong forms for drug testing last week. Working with docs office to resolve.. Stressed. #

• 17:24 Great practice this morning. Less than 12 hours left and i am going over my to do lists for the 1000 time!! #

It is almost time to leave California. I am really excited. More acuratly, I'm a host of strong emotions. I've cried at least twice today- not because I'm sad, rather because I feel so humbled to have this honor and to have so many great people in my life who have helped me to realize this dream.
I had a great final practice today and said thank you and goodbye to friends. I am packed. My Victorreader Stream is full of music and audible books.

Here's what I'll be reading:
Eat, Pray Love- Elizabeth Gilbert
Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3,000-Pete Blackshaw
Strangers - Dean Koontz
Poleo - David Oshinsky
Obama Nation- Jerome Corsi
The Wrecking Crew- Thomas Frank

The following list of songs started as a playlist I put together for Tom to listen to while on his way to China late next week. I liked it so much I put it in my VR Stream as well. Here's our music playlist for the trip to China:
1. Devil Town- Tony Lucca
2. Power of the Gospel- Ben Harper
3. Everybody Get Dangerous- Weezer
4. Take A Bow- Rihanna
5. I Will Possess Your Heart- Death Cab for Cutie
6. Buildings and Mountains- The Republic Tigers
7. American Dreaming- Mike Dunn & the Kings of New England
8. Fresh Feeling- The Eels
9. Washed by the Water- Needtobreathe
10. Superstar- Lupe Fiasco
11. In the Sun- Joseph Arthur
12. Won’t Get Fooled Again- the Who
13. M79- Vampire Weekend
14. Ain’t No Reason- Brett Dennen
15. This is the Day- The The
16. Pocket Full Of Sunshine- Natasha Bedingfield
17. Whiskey in Jar- Metallica
18. Bleeding Love- Leona Lewis
19. Everything I hate About You- Three Days Grace
20. Signature of the Divine- Needtobreathe
21. I Kissed A Girl- Katy Perry
22. dungionous warfare- murderball Soundtrack
23. Bring Me Some Water- Melissa Etheridge
24. On a Wire- Funeral For A Friend
25. the Good Life- Kanye West
26. Umbrella- Rahanna
27. Opposite Way- Leeland
28. Hands Held High-Linkin Park
29. Viva La Vida- Coldplay
30. Everything Will Be Alright- Joshua Radin
31. Heaven- Angels & Airwaves
32. Sisters Of Avalon- Cindy Lauper

• 11:16 Last day for shopping and last minute things. Glad to lear about biden- he is a pragmatic man. #
• 19:42 Spent a lot of time catching up on sleep, worked out and am off for a sauna. #

I want my Twitter account to connect with my blog. I am going to give this service, Loud Twitter, a try that will publish my Tweets once per day to my blog.

• 07:13 Beautiful morning for a walk to the train. Final countdown here i come! #

This show host gets a little too stuck in disability as tragity- eye roll... It can be a tough thing for me - educating people that I am not all that incredible nor tragic because I can't see. The cool thing about me is that I have passion for my sport and I will soon have a chance to prove I'm one of the best in the world at it.
My dream of being a Paralympic gold medalist is now within my reach and it is only because I have a fantastic team of players and supporters around me. The rest is tallent, luck and a lot of hard work.
Blindness is always a part of me, and at the same time, blindness is simply a characteristic. When I feel sad about being blind it is never because I want to be sighted. I feel sad some times because sighted people tend to see my life in extremes. I am neither tragic nor a hero. I'm just me.
In this radio show Paralympic cyclist Ron Williams joins Joe to talk about hitting the roads in Greater Hartford before heading to the Beijing Paralympic Games, Sept. 6-17."
WTIC News/Talk 1080 - Joe D'Ambrosio with Ron Williams: "

My favorite article is about the South African amputee.
One-legged swimmer takes to Olympic waters - CNN.com: "now it's time to compete. And when Du Toit takes off her prosthetic left leg Wednesday to vie for a medal in the first open water race in Olympic history, she'll surely be swimming for everyone who's ever struggled with a disability, been told they can't do something, experienced being shuffled off to be with their own kind."

My #2 pick: China Revamps Paralympics Guidebook
Date aired: June 24, 2008
Description:
China just revamped its handbook for volunteers at the Paralympics. U.S.
disability rights activist Helen McCabe weighs in on the revised wording
and the role of the Paralympic Games in the disability community.

China Revamps Paralympics Guidebook : NPR

Thumbs down: Hmmm, someone spent money to study this???
Title: Blind athletes make the same gestures as the sighted after a victory
by Clara Moskowitz

The pose of a champion is innate, study finds - Behavior- msnbc.com

I am Looking forward to opening ceramonies- I hope there is some audio discription.
Director: Paralympics opening to highlight value of life - The Official Website
of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

Ok, true confessions: Like the mayor, I was really afraid I'd start my hair on fire when I carried the torch in April. In the training the day before the run they told us not to use hairspray and that, "people start their hair on fire when running with the torch all the time." I started my fingernails on fire once- my hair and eyebrows too, I'd like to be able to say that all of these happened when I was a child, but I can't. (smile)
Vancouver's quadriplegic mayor to carry torch in Beijing Paralympic Games | Macleans.ca - Canada - Features

Technology is pretty amazing. I am typing this on my phone, it will publish directly to blogger.com and will also update in my facebook notes. I can text message using twitter from my phone to my facebook status page- a cool thing i plan to a lot of while in beijing.
I do not know how to connect twitter to the blog or how to post photos to the blog, but i will figure that out. Blogger is pretty easy, though i hand code the html because this works better with my screen reading software. I am geaked out!

I got some photos of the area where we'll be staying that I just uploaded to Facebook. I've asked my friends to tag the photos so I can, "see," them too!
That is one really cool way to use a social networking web site like Facebook...
Facebook | Jessie Lorenz

This article appeared in today's Oakland Tribune. I am really pleased that my employer got some credit for being supportive of my quest for gold. I wouldn't be going to Beijing without an army of great folks behind me- the LightHouse is an important part of my success.
Blind East Bay woman headed to the Paralympics in Beijing

I have been having a really hard time sleeping of late. I am so excited about traveling to China! I'm ready, excited- oh and did I mention I wish I could be there right now?
So, what am I doing? Listening to Diane Rehm discuss the posative impact the Olympics had on South Korea, the concept of pre-olympic oppression and the long-term impact that these games may have on China.
I expect that my internet will be sensored in Beijing. I am taking an old laptop that has been recently formatted. I am slowly adjusting to the concept that privacy won't be my right.


Interesting Diologue

I read this great book called, "The History of the Olympics," by John Goodman. I learned about this man named George Eyser who won six metals in the 1904 games- including three that were gold!George was an amputee. In these same games African Americans competed in what was called, "Primal People Sports." In 1904 the games were dominated by white men. Over the years the games changed incramentaly to allow women, people of color and even people with disabilities to compete at the olympics.
The 2008 games garnered a bit of media attention due to double amputee, Oscar Pistorius.Ruling Halts Amputee Sprinter’s Olympic Bid - New York Times


In adition, Natalie du Toit is a South African swimmer at the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic games who is an amputee.

Learn more about my new friend George Eysar on Wikipedia: George Eyser - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Are the crooked teeth of a seven year old such a shameful inperfection that national pride hangs in the balance? I remember when I caried the torch my guide and I traveled on a bus with half a dozen individuals from the Beijing Organizing Committee - folks direct from Beijing. Durring the fourty-five minute bus ride none of my fellow passangers would talk to me. When I tried to engage in conversation they averted their eyes and looked away. I turned on my warmest smile and my most sincere honest self, but the results were a resounding 0.0. My sighted guide was able to engage in conversation with the organizing committee folks. I am used to freaking people out because I cannot se, but this was a new level of social isolation.
For me, it was the strangest fourty five minutes- because everyone but my guide refused to talk to me!
In a very short time several thousands of athletes with disabilities will travel to Beijing- flaunting our inperfections. I hope Beijing is up to the honor!
The voice of Beijing's 'Smiling Angel' is Yang Peiyi - Los Angeles Times



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An Olympic Lift to U.S.-China Relations - Brookings Institution: "The greatest opportunity at hand right now, though, is for the 20,000 foreign journalists converging on Beijing, many of whom are fanning out across that country, to see and to report on China in its vast fullness. A broader and more nuanced portrayal of China in the media is critical to the enhancement of Americans' understanding as well as to progress by policymakers.
Remember that 30 years of evolution in China – away from a totalitarian government and toward a market economy – date back to another grand event televised to the world: President Nixon's historic visit to China, which included iconic images of the Nixons at the Great Wall. May the Olympic Games, with all their pomp and drama, break down the walls of misapprehension and further integrate China into the global community – for the good not only of the US and China, but for the world."

Jaclyn Barnes  

Jackie, #6, is the youngest member of our team- though quite possibly the smartest. Jackie is in school and plans to be an engineer.

Lisa Banta  
#3 Lisa epitomizes the word character. When there is someone who needs a kind word Lisa finds a way to say it. When it is best to say nothing, Lisa keeps her lips sealed.

Asya Miller  

#4, Asya has taught me about courage- she is not afraid to be seen nor heard. Asya keeps the team honest.

Robin Theryoung
#5 Robin is a woman who was born with true class. Her sence of style has ensured that I have dressed well on many a team outing.

Jen Armbruster
#1 Jen Is our team Captin. Jen is kind-of like an elephant in that she never forgets a statistic, rule or the spacifics of a past goalball game. Make it so #1!

It is a true honor to be associated with each of these ladies. Go Team USA!

Today’s sessions were long ones, yet every moment we have on the court as a team is important right now.
We only have a total of four court sessions as a team before playing in Beijing.
This is in adition to the practicing we will do in our home areas between now and the end of August of course...

I started a podcast for the audio I collect while in Beijing.
The first podcast is a chant that the USA Women’s Goalball Team did this evening in front of the lit torch at the Olympic Training Center. The torch was lit on Aug. 8 and will remain lit throughout the games.
This is the same cheer we do before every game.
There is a slight buzz in the background of this podcast. That is actually the sound of the torch itself.

Who Do You Play For?

YouTube - NYTimes.com - Iraq's Paralympic Fencing Team

Here is an old article about the goalball team...
Issam Khalef is the captain of the Iraq men’s national goalball team. He
was kidnapped and let go.

There was a very sad event in Beijing today. The father of the mens volleyball coach was killed while touring the city. It is thought that this is a random, isolated atac, but it is still under investigation. We had a short security briefing tonight and I learned that Beijing is safer than most large US cities.
According to this article in the Washington Post, Beijing, a city of 17 million, is generally safe, and few residents fear walking alone even in the middle of the night. It is illegal for private Chinese citizens to own guns."

In Beijing, Parents Of Ex-Player Are Stabbed; One Dies - washingtonpost.com
My heart goes out to the families dealing with this tragity.

I am not sure exactly how best to transition here... This morning at 6:15 we were
Drug tested. I am really not a fan of peeing in front of strangers- particularly first thing in the morning...
I was tested seven times in a twelve month period not so long ago. Even so, it is always a little wierd and I've never quite gotten used to it.

We had two long practices today. The practices were Ok. I have a shoulder injury that was giving me trouble in the first part of July. I've been resting it for almost three weeks. I am so glad I did what I was told and rested it, because it is not impacting my game and is almost back to feeling normal. The bar is high- just as it should be right now. We are all pushing ourselves, tweaking little things in the game and preparing to compete to be the best in the world at something.

I left the house on the 4:15 shuttle this morning to travel to Colorado Springs for a goalball training camp. We practiced this afternoon. We practiced hard. This is the last official training camp before we compete in Beijing.
This evening we are watching the opening ceramonies. I can't wait to experience the walk around the nest in Beijing- what a true honor.
My parents and Tom can't get tickets to the Parolympic Opening ceramonies- even though they sent their passport clearance paperwork in in April. Tickets are $400 and up, it appears that there are no more tickets.
September 24, 2004 is the day we lost the gold medal to Canada. Now nearly four years later we will have the
opportunity to clench gold once again. Full Speed Streight Ahead! 110%!

Behind the numbers: At roughly 2.5 times what Greece spent on the 2004 Athens Games, China’s spending spree is far and away the biggest in Olympic history. Transportation carries the largest price tag. Beijing built a 14-million-square-foot terminal for its airport (one of the world’s largest enclosed spaces, according to The Wall Street Journal), along with 34 new bus routes and five new subway lines, one of which cost nearly $2 billion. Overall, construction has required 3 million tons of steel, including 110,000 tons for the $486 million “bird’s nest” national stadium alone.


From Foreign Policy Magazine

(From my inbox)

The Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Paralympic Games will take place
exactly one month from today on September
6th in Beijing, China. Opening Ceremonies will kick-off 11 days of
competition. The Schedules & Results - The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games  


is loaded with
great information,
including an overview of the daily competition schedule.
The 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team roster features more than 200 athletes
that will compete in 18
sports.
Athletes range in age from 14 to 56 years old and come from 37 states.
California claims the most team members with 26 and Colorado is right
behind with 19. Also on the roster are 13 veterans of the United
States Military. Check out the complete state-by-state
roster- note this is a PDF file- (http://e2ma.net/go/1248520005/1135330/41597328/goto:http://files.e2ma.net/24345/assets/docs/athletesbystate2008.pdf).

Historically vets have really led the way in making society more inclusive towards folks with disabilities. I am glad to see that sports- spacifically the Parolympics are becomeing part of our public discourse. I am proud to be part of the USA team- a team that includes brave men and women from the armed forces.
Iraq veteran excels at Paralympics shot put

I am so ready to be in Beijing! I don't know how I am going to survive the next several weeks I am getting so excited. I feel that I have worked so hard and feel so ready--- Lets go! Lets do this thing and bring home the gold! Chinese Phrases for Travelers---The phrases can be heard.

I just finished the book, "The Last Lecture." This is an incredible book written by Randy Pausch, a guy who just died last week of cancer. He was a computer scientist and a father to three kids who are all six years old and younger. This lecture and the accompanying book are Randy's message to his kids. He talks a lot in the book about
his boyhood dream to play NFL football. Though he never made it to the NFL, he states, "experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted." as a kid. Randy was the smallest boy on the football team; he wasn't a very good football player. That said, Randy's coach pushed him to work hard- to do things he didn't think he was physically capable of achieving. "He gave me a feedback loop for life." a YouTube - Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

One of the great things I have learned on my way to Beijing is the practice of Neuro-Linguistic Programing (NLP). This is a practice of controlling your thoughts, feelings and body to achieve spacific tasks. According to NLP.COM "Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a behavioral technology, which simply means that it is a set of guiding principles, attitudes, and techniques about real-life behavior, and not a removed, scientific theorem.

It allows you to change, adopt or eliminate behaviors, as you desire, and gives you the ability to choose your mental, emotional, and physical states of well-being."

I started practicing NLP in January 2008 after reading the following book. My game has improved as a result of the NLP exercises- this is some very cool stuff that has proven to me the impact my mind can have on my sport.


Amazon.com: NLP: The New Technology of Achievement: Charles Faulkner, Robert McDonald: Books