tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91476156350053340242024-03-16T11:51:21.259-07:00A Dog Named RobotCaitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.comBlogger619125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-9730454505413170432023-12-22T20:26:00.000-08:002023-12-22T20:26:20.338-08:00Fresh Calendar<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3di8B1rdodlmMGfid5hUkHu18FZ3Qquy456vhAGo_hVi3J4b26GeKoNGj2QvZtde18j3DpWk__zmFY7zduy5RqewIUizJBY_Vw8hFF6gRgiFKlHPmJmfDSU6x9mfLhfFe3CH87axJcm2B1HSLrByhyphenhyphen75kE4L5Qteq7wR2DQueVnTRQYsMOm-LbKhC8A/s1450/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-22%20at%207.39.31%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1450" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3di8B1rdodlmMGfid5hUkHu18FZ3Qquy456vhAGo_hVi3J4b26GeKoNGj2QvZtde18j3DpWk__zmFY7zduy5RqewIUizJBY_Vw8hFF6gRgiFKlHPmJmfDSU6x9mfLhfFe3CH87axJcm2B1HSLrByhyphenhyphen75kE4L5Qteq7wR2DQueVnTRQYsMOm-LbKhC8A/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-22%20at%207.39.31%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, you know how it is. I put all these images into Shutterfly, and they let you add a photo in every day of the year plus those empty boxes at the start and end of the month, plus add your own text. I spent an enjoyable few hours (I might check my computer history for how long this actually was) basically looking at my dog and was so enamoured that I would have liked to buy the calendar. It was not discounting very much. I think Christmas is the only time that Shutterfly is at capacity and doesn't have to give good deals. One calendar chock full of my dog was a little more than $40 altogether. This is comparable to the upper range price of the <a href="https://riflepaperco.com/2024-flores-12-month-softcover-spiral-planner">planners</a> I would have already bought if their spiral hole spacing was correct, so very reasonable, but high enough that I would be willing to wait past January 1st to see if it would come down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While I was waiting I made a second calendar. This was making my Shutterfly cart show a price of $70+ but also a banner saying that I needed $16 more dollars to reach their free shipping threshold of $79. That is close to my whole planner budget for the year so there is no way I would spend it, even though they had a picture of my dog on his gotcha day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The planner budget is not really about money, but more of a limit on how much energy I am putting into procuring. I felt that leaving this open ended up until and past New Year's Eve was going to take too much mental energy. I started looking for when they went on sale the last couple years so I could set a reminder and stop thinking about it. Instead, I found that you can buy them on Groupon for the price of a regular drugstore calendar. (And I found that these really don't have a baseline price. Sometimes they are free with shipping. The lowest price besides free was $8.) This was not difficult but a little legwork with declining "offers" and entering info and going from site to site. So I paid $25 to groupon and $13 to shutterfly. This meant I spent almost the amount of the original price tag but for three calendars. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdy1-7g2VdwyTBl0SXMHmHwcvT6PD-HyXd95cwE5cq6_xuVpY8woO4c-klmRkmwPtBzYLyWYZ8sDkN6c0841T0XUVfJ4eDgwIcLcfl9hO_Q9NR7Z1ehVpDpMRlI3nQB6pka65zV_5z7gE31pzddLptDC-8-0aI1WQL7gp5UU4eK8TfQq-3bIb6tgM1eE/s926/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-22%20at%207.36.25%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="774" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdy1-7g2VdwyTBl0SXMHmHwcvT6PD-HyXd95cwE5cq6_xuVpY8woO4c-klmRkmwPtBzYLyWYZ8sDkN6c0841T0XUVfJ4eDgwIcLcfl9hO_Q9NR7Z1ehVpDpMRlI3nQB6pka65zV_5z7gE31pzddLptDC-8-0aI1WQL7gp5UU4eK8TfQq-3bIb6tgM1eE/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-22%20at%207.36.25%20PM.png" width="267" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They (Shutterfly specifically, but also online shops) make it so confusing. I had to ask myself what it was worth to me and stick to it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzaslX9beDSbWBuyMsnaJ4w7M9A5Fk624MlGRu6qBx1-y_sSrhMxX69wE6Bt7EZlhDvoCLXzeOYtRKV_CdQIfu1Iryv6UHTpyTTVTUa1bX-_XWDraTcR9rSWNR9xksTpv8hDSA8ZXvMazOeNFE6me2xJPdA5tkCePMm-PsEDeW6ZzMpawaGu41W8tIfI/s1032/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-22%20at%207.38.56%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="922" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzaslX9beDSbWBuyMsnaJ4w7M9A5Fk624MlGRu6qBx1-y_sSrhMxX69wE6Bt7EZlhDvoCLXzeOYtRKV_CdQIfu1Iryv6UHTpyTTVTUa1bX-_XWDraTcR9rSWNR9xksTpv8hDSA8ZXvMazOeNFE6me2xJPdA5tkCePMm-PsEDeW6ZzMpawaGu41W8tIfI/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-22%20at%207.38.56%20PM.png" width="286" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also was inconsistent at using my wall calendar this year even when I really needed to, so I am hoping one that is so sweet will be helpful. My current job has been different locations and hours every day, and I am in a weekly filofax whereas I need monthly to keep everything in mind, so I had to draw a little chart of days and dates in my jotter so I'd have it. Actually I guess I still will but can transfer the info to a more permanent form when I get home each day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi251xt_uEUrmDxuSF9qcmRx6Wdpv37Mge8oGuaYfCKy0MSjcBVfSGQYJrj043cVm4_VbnX45bkc0utuAGTzWq79oQjXxsCfoX2b4pN8-Fh1l4wmqAB-MInXeSYJFdtuLVgoZtzYBrGk3rzKw6bZvzOuDrXLETOpUPsX8hsiUUMxVZYbZgZjj4fuRsmTbo/s394/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-22%20at%207.40.30%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="372" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi251xt_uEUrmDxuSF9qcmRx6Wdpv37Mge8oGuaYfCKy0MSjcBVfSGQYJrj043cVm4_VbnX45bkc0utuAGTzWq79oQjXxsCfoX2b4pN8-Fh1l4wmqAB-MInXeSYJFdtuLVgoZtzYBrGk3rzKw6bZvzOuDrXLETOpUPsX8hsiUUMxVZYbZgZjj4fuRsmTbo/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-22%20at%207.40.30%20PM.png" width="302" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Who wouldn't look forward to California Statehood if they got to see 1 old chihuahua. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p></p>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-21944003791697501642023-11-06T20:30:00.001-08:002023-11-06T20:30:04.885-08:00Veg tan leather bag <div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1hUYp7w4VzqCtODFHXYOawMZUHEFRbUjV" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1hUYp7w4VzqCtODFHXYOawMZUHEFRbUjV" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Research <img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1JiA0D7xYRpv9Cw3QVxlt_LUTx3lB8J7O" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1JiA0D7xYRpv9Cw3QVxlt_LUTx3lB8J7O" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-2571357112543501972023-07-29T15:16:00.001-07:002023-07-29T15:16:21.341-07:00Seaglass Green Wall Hanging <div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1SjnpdbHe0j4yYtfnLzzHpaJdDDhYTvSP" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1SjnpdbHe0j4yYtfnLzzHpaJdDDhYTvSP" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">This little cotton rug from Dharma Trading Company is brightening up our living room. Well, it’s little for a rug, not little to manipulate and boil. The initial shibori was a little more of a backdrop than a feature. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1gMHgwZKM5vP6YRUBOzwCvXB_QJ0HwaaT" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1gMHgwZKM5vP6YRUBOzwCvXB_QJ0HwaaT" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I bundled it up with jute. I just used some rules of thumb for a pleasing design. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Non symmetrical- automatically has more movement and interest. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Pick up the same color in multiple parts of the piece- this might be the most used transferrable skill I learned from painting classes. This lets you do a LOT and still have a cohesive viewing experience. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gradient- I let the dye strike and boil for a little while on the topologically lowest parts of the bundled rug before using my laundry stick to push more of the piece in. I think this piece could use a little more of the lightest most exhausted dye bath but of course you can’t really tell through the steam. This gives depth and interest. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Resist: keeping some parts of the fabric reserved is why it is visually interesting enough to be a hanging. I also enjoy the evidence of handwork. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-75135798034356332892023-07-27T12:33:00.001-07:002023-07-27T12:33:47.059-07:00IKEA sheepskin dyed blue <div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1qJ-wGz6-qxbALJEGcLCxJ6Cmrlvk8luw" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1qJ-wGz6-qxbALJEGcLCxJ6Cmrlvk8luw" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I’ve been wanting to dye these little rugs for ages, but, I think natural colors and especially white are the perfect color for a sheepskin. A dilemma which was solved when I was using the rug as a trivet for another dye bath and some navy leaked onto it. Now, I stead of a gorgeous cream I had cream and blotchy navy to work with. Perfect. I mixed up true turquoise acid dye in the dye pot, took it off heat, and put the sheepskin in hair side down and gathered. I saw some gorgeous patterning as the wool wicked up the dye but, as I let it rest it became more uniform.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1o1g509NkKKbTlqUp7j79l63YCtz-ZxkU" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1o1g509NkKKbTlqUp7j79l63YCtz-ZxkU" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Oh, well, it still got it out of my system and the piece kept its glossy glow. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1nF68qWnEScCHgBeOFZI93JRAd2D1EAj-" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1nF68qWnEScCHgBeOFZI93JRAd2D1EAj-" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bear does like sleeping on it but not at a time of day with good light. I had to coax him into this photo and now he is recuperating from doing one task by sleeping tucked under one of my shins. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-12048659870192497762023-07-26T03:40:00.001-07:002023-07-26T03:40:42.733-07:00Sharing the Ice <div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday night intermediate adult learn to skate has a half NHL rink to ourselves. I think we were doing backwards crossovers around the perimeter for 20 minutes. We didn’t get our whole free time, which our instructor tells us she “doesn’t call playtime” for adults, I know that. I’m not sure how you normally explain crossovers but if you want to turn left you lean left on your left foot and then put your right foot on the left side of your left foot, next weight on the right foot, and then pick up the left to uncross back to the starting position. And it is easier said than done. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, I have backwards crossovers normally after I have warmed up. Today I did zero. First the ice felt sticky and then staying out of everyone’s way took most of my focus. You would think that everyone careening around in a circle would really lend itself to some psychosomatic centripetal force. I am definitely not good enough at backward crossovers to purposely vary my speed and direction so as to overtake other skaters. Practicing on my own I like<span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"> to do maybe one pump, one glide, two crossovers, then glide or stumble. So I go through a cycle of different speeds that wouldn’t have been reasonable to subject my classmates to. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">Tonight I just did backward pumps, sometimes bringing the working foot to my ankle as a baby step. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">Then we spread out in 4 rows of four to practice our edges. Edges is, if you lean your weight toward your inseam, your path along the ice curves toward yourself, whereas if you lean out, the path you travel curves away from the midline of your body. Which is crazy! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">We had a different spacing problem with edges than with crossovers. In theory I was supposed to describe a perfect semicircle, pause, and describe another. In practice I had a bunch of space to my sides so I could make the arc of my circle really exaggerated and then bring it in when I got close to the shared space of the line. But then I still had to do my second semicircle with my lane mate even closer and skating toward me. So I solved this by doing the smallest little lobe. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=145RMN6DFc0yRawMeV63QcTWFIwLngvFH" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=145RMN6DFc0yRawMeV63QcTWFIwLngvFH" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don’t have full control of the tracing my line makes down to the millimeter, but I can hold all my forward edges. I have perhaps never felt a backwards edge. During Not Playtime I was trying to hold either backward outside edge for any length of time. Once it turned out a semicircle was out of reach I tried just describing any curve. I told myself very girly that it is okay to fall, and I leaned further that I had before. But my fall started too slowly and I stabbed my toe pick in the ground automatically to stop it and I tweaked my knee. Oh. I didn’t know I would do that. Typically when I fall I find out afterward. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Overall I am getting a lot out of this class. It was amazing to break a real sweat on the ice after passively sweating all day<span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">. And all the time to know that outside, the heat was breaking. </span></div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-34800402900865929342023-07-19T22:04:00.001-07:002023-07-19T22:04:06.724-07:00Urban foraging rosemary <div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1VntMvfi3nX-wNwGqSXqmhOGl25Pir6yu" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1VntMvfi3nX-wNwGqSXqmhOGl25Pir6yu" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Grabbed some rosemary on my way out of the ice rink. This grows so well in our area but I haven’t seen any around recently. This was new growth that peaked up past where the plant was hedge trimmed so I know it is fresh and a little unwanted. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was resinous so the car smelled crazy and I’ll need to rinse the sprigs in vinegar water before drying them. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">That’s the thing about the grocery store spice aisle, it has almost no smell. Very antiseptic. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-59524501962212408882023-07-19T22:00:00.001-07:002023-07-19T22:00:49.234-07:00Nopales take 2 <div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1EsDFp4IVzz3Q1yMKoRVtg0i17532RBJh" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1EsDFp4IVzz3Q1yMKoRVtg0i17532RBJh" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I haven’t been eating our paddle cactus because it’s not a main food for me, but I have been propagating a paddle that fell off and watching the fruits ripen. Our neighbor put out hundreds of pounds of cactus so I thought it was a good time to give it a try. Processing it went okay. Locally we have spineless cactus but once you start touching it you can feel the spines. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Q_FM-2PBv8S79TwsLtc7AoN1c_BDz4Fa" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Q_FM-2PBv8S79TwsLtc7AoN1c_BDz4Fa" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Propagating this little fellow </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1CR_mlFh_pfJlina93fRWBDSibxW-Z9bD" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1CR_mlFh_pfJlina93fRWBDSibxW-Z9bD" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our lovely, healthy specimen plant isn’t overgrown or terribly crowded so there is no urgent need to harvest paddles. <img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1i5FubhHhFfGGrrg45vSUb1CKWCKC0kfq" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1i5FubhHhFfGGrrg45vSUb1CKWCKC0kfq" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">My first attempt at incorporating the nopales. Homemade tortillas with refried beans, cheese, and nopales. The nopales were slimy and masked the rest of the flavors. I still had around 14 ounces of cactus left over after this recipe. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UQOTXze4cU4QB3ih0Vnb18PmTels-DfP" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UQOTXze4cU4QB3ih0Vnb18PmTels-DfP" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">For my second attempt I reheated the already cooked cactus by sautéing it in oil with too much spices to compensate for the flavor subduing property of the cactus. Onion, garlic, and cayenne. It was pretty good. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-49013397598870674982023-07-18T23:37:00.001-07:002023-07-18T23:37:48.197-07:00Learn to Skate Ice skating was different today. <div><br></div><div>I was able to tell what was happening. Up til now I have been really only able to repeat something on the same side in the same direction because flipping everything mentally for every repetition is harder than just resetting to skate it the same way. We were just doing an inside edge half circle with switching our arms at the top of the half circle. But I was able to start them facing toward or away from the clock and standing on either foot. This sounds so reasonable but to date if I so much as switch my arms it forces out any knowledge of what else I am doing. </div><div><br></div><div>Class was also a bit different format. They had us drill this for 20 minutes and I sort of had to stop skating eventually because I had to stop using my burning knees and I don’t know any skating that doesn’t use the knees. However after standing around a bit I realized I could still stroke around forward casually. </div><div><br></div><div>My crossovers were also different today. They make us skate forward crossovers on half the ice sheet for several minutes in each side. Previously I have had kind of erratic crossovers where I would be falling if I didn’t keep taking steps and get a little speed going. Today every once in a while I would stagger around but I could also stand and glide with feet parallel, my left foot on the right and my right foot on the left, and then uncross them. So for much of the time I had a good deal of control of my carriage and then, who knows why I’d falter, avoiding a skater or a weird patch of ice or experiementing with a little tweak. </div><div><br></div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-2019521904360460542023-07-18T03:11:00.001-07:002023-07-18T03:11:13.814-07:00Spinning Seacell<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1emVZF-KaxiMVi55_HFQdcZ0YGm0fPXRA" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1emVZF-KaxiMVi55_HFQdcZ0YGm0fPXRA" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">This little skein is pure cellulose fiber. I’m spinning as much seacell as I can stand before taking a little break and spinning bamboo for a few yards to calm down. If you draft the sea cell fibers 2 cm it comes apart. At the same time it is so luminously beautiful. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1BcwZDL3O13Bw5MttPEC17YiE5S8WGdBn" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1BcwZDL3O13Bw5MttPEC17YiE5S8WGdBn" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-81312821699766457992023-07-18T03:07:00.001-07:002023-07-18T03:07:25.885-07:00Hypertufa wreath <div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UPC2KoKlhFY0Yt5HrdHoVaEvhlSbOQmr" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UPC2KoKlhFY0Yt5HrdHoVaEvhlSbOQmr" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Succulents were living for years in this wreath. They were so stunted and dried up you couldn’t see them, but they were alive. I’m thinking I can get a healthier living wreath if I give rainwater someplace to kind of stick before it dries out. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1oVrlDTA1nrjGeMBoWPWj6RpD2tdu2HL2" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1oVrlDTA1nrjGeMBoWPWj6RpD2tdu2HL2" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, I built sort of a flower pot around my succulent wreath using cement. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you read about hypertufa they say just to leave it out in the rain to leach. Well, the rains will be here in four months. So I have this under the spigot to kind of get a little wet each day. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-47542906796064865702023-07-18T03:01:00.001-07:002023-07-18T03:01:00.531-07:00Foraged Bay Leaves <div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1xkoD7THCXefqGl_nwhjo-IBmqsBJSxMo" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1xkoD7THCXefqGl_nwhjo-IBmqsBJSxMo" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have never used a bay leaf in my life. So while I am pretty plant-aware I didn’t have any bay trees on my mental map. I drove around looking for one which didn’t work at all since the first tree I stopped to check was eucalyptus and the second was perhaps olive. Plus I set out close to sunset for temperature reasons and the trees turned into shadowy masses real quick. <img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1_W59fPpnjpIHXZoT6TJLlIqVjXHkmOXa" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1_W59fPpnjpIHXZoT6TJLlIqVjXHkmOXa" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I honestly tried to visualize my different regular hikes and see if there was a bay tree. There was not. So I went to one of our less usual spots, a walk which I had not memorized, up at Merritt College. I didn’t see a thing until I was nearly under a bay tree. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HU7sBDS3QCrx_KfEVam2A1_sHQgJE3ue" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HU7sBDS3QCrx_KfEVam2A1_sHQgJE3ue" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bear was a big help. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-85952548135239979212023-07-18T02:49:00.000-07:002023-07-18T02:49:25.580-07:00Urban foraging Today’s survival food- dandelion. <div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1uaAXRLwChMKceiqGzXLat972zdagUo6m" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1uaAXRLwChMKceiqGzXLat972zdagUo6m" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div>Our garden has half the footprint of our house and has to be used for grilling, storage, a dog run, shade, and planting. So I can’t have everything my own way and grow whatever I want wherever I want. I have identified the produce I buy the most- tomatoes- and the produce that is most frustrating to buy and store- lettuce. I am focusing my growing efforts on these. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1-L84sPsy-OsEQ-fy8-L5lnG2h96vrq7u" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1-L84sPsy-OsEQ-fy8-L5lnG2h96vrq7u" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div>I’m toying with the idea of only eating homegrown lettuce but at the same time as my lettuces are one quarter inch big, I still have to have salad. I bought a bag of baby spinach because it keeps longer. Part of the bag froze and soiled and the other part stayed fine. I had one more salad from the unspoiled part and then let it go. This waste and short fridge lifespan is why I am prioritizing growing lettuce. Every bag I buy at the the store I hope is the last. I also have a system where if I let something go bad I skip buying it next time. So my next lettuce purchase was butter lettuce. </div><div><br></div><div>Then I got home to cook up salmon and had no spinach to go with it. I went to the front yard (because it is not a dog run) and picked all the clean and young looking dandelions for an experiment. Rinsed in vinegar and water, simmered in two changes of water, added more vinegar. Tasted it- it was sharp, and the leaves didn’t really get smaller when chewed. </div><div><br></div><div>While the salmon was cooking I looked up whether dandelions are safe to eat. I found they upset stomachs sometimes. I decided not to eat all the greens I gathered. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18Sli9u1odu8jERkztePX8FpHwLFHD6mI" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18Sli9u1odu8jERkztePX8FpHwLFHD6mI" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div>Mixed with the salmon they were perfect. Exactly right. Delicious. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-45820759533487541022023-06-19T20:28:00.001-07:002023-06-19T20:28:46.614-07:00Turnout <p>Briefly- in dance you hold your body in different shapes, for safety, power, beauty. One is called turn out, and it is both fundamental and I think lifelong. The idea is, while standing upright, your hips would turn so far from the center line of your body as to make a straight, 180 degree line from your left toes through your left heel through your right heel to your right toes. </p><p><br /></p><p>This is a line I essentially have never seen myself make. Somehow I carry on, and live a rich, full life. In ballet class I just do something different. But on the ice... they told us to do it so I am trying. I am too new to know if there is a workaround. </p><p> <img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1mYkK9v2nIYWlZMletR9F3Q33o1zaIkKc" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1mYkK9v2nIYWlZMletR9F3Q33o1zaIkKc" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></p><div>I’ve been working on my turnout. I check it at home standing on a rug that has a floral design laid out 8 points. I go from a scant 90 degrees before stretching, to similar to what you see above. I don't know if other people with this turnout self select out of these disciplines, or what, but this is a bit of an outlier in the direction of bad. What you also can't see is that I am using friction from the ground to hold this position, and once I raise a foot in the air on the ice my toe swivels in. </div><div><br /></div><div>However! I think I was only using turn out in class because other, more intermediate students were working on it, and I have much to work on before I get there properly myself. </div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ENosobo2pkaQF41usrs_cJRElSaUGVld" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ENosobo2pkaQF41usrs_cJRElSaUGVld" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>I did not need my wrist guards today at Coffee Club. From what I can see, the ethos at Snoopy's Home Ice is conservative for adults. We are really drilling the fundamentals so there is very little opportunity to fall down. Our coach even joked that falling out of an outside edge is "a hard fall" (so don't) which is the opposite of what they tell us in Oakland which is to fall forward only and never backward. I literally love that there is a life stage where you just hang out at the rink with your friends for thirty years after your kids are grown, I love to see seniors like glowing with vitality and following their dreams. And, I am learning that they have a different relationship to their knees, hips, and feet than I do, with different considerations. </div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AkQsLEyCAzMqI4RpZqByzNjawPnuIsQi" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AkQsLEyCAzMqI4RpZqByzNjawPnuIsQi" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>Okay there were millions of places to stretch my hips but they were kind of too nice. Like the barrier plexiglass was pristine, I can't put my skate on that. I ended up in like the saddest unintentionally weighted (from the skates) pigeon pose on a carpeted bench. Then class started but I didn't realize so I just used the totally empty outside of the rink to do very ill advised ballet barre leg swings in skates (ill advised because of the momentum and the blade. They felt great.) until my eyes focussed through the barrier and I saw classes forming and I hustled onto the ice. </div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1nSV8V-5UWaPAKC1GJBqvHSIUolLg6kLA" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1nSV8V-5UWaPAKC1GJBqvHSIUolLg6kLA" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>I guess I also just feel at home in Oakland in general so I can just pop my foot up wherever. I do avoid purpose built handrails out of courtesy but I will use a balustrade bar that could double as a handrail. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-66066726472013256942023-06-17T15:08:00.002-07:002023-06-17T15:08:32.915-07:00Mermaiding Eureka Slough<p> <img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1J728K2SK_RylPO0shbCkUV-IUd8zIeb7" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1J728K2SK_RylPO0shbCkUV-IUd8zIeb7" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></p><p>I got my mermaid costume optimized for water- minimal ornaments plus hair twisted and stitched and steamed in place. This is my first year having a foam head and it has made a huge difference in how easy it is to work on the wig. </p><div>] <img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19wsZWI6EJgMdtx0OUVw45GoGVPlbynZV" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19wsZWI6EJgMdtx0OUVw45GoGVPlbynZV" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>Set off on my drive to meet the team. At the last second I realized none of my dark colored makeup had been extensively water tested except my mascara. So I had to draw my eyeliner on with mascara. I think it looks pretty good and especially since the alternative was letting it run down my face. </div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HNWEqIChUOwQ87_KV9hmanm1JEHn7mlh" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HNWEqIChUOwQ87_KV9hmanm1JEHn7mlh" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>The tail is ready, the fin is ready, the chihuahua is resigned. </div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't take any photos because I wanted to stay in character. But I made my way through such mud, swam out amongst the kayakers (who were delighted), watched a few teams splash down, and made my way back to shore. I had selected the side of the ramp behind the judges as being fairly private to transform back from a mermaid. And it was. It probably had five or ten percent as many spectators as the rest of the park. However, this was about 75 people. So I wasn't able to crawl out of the mud like I could if I were alone, and had to let my feet sink in up to my thighs, when they would finally meet a rock, and I could stand on the rock to take another step. It was the most dignity available to me in the moment. </div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1acLqvPnyak-LuTRYjwpqrUYPtl2HuTP9" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1acLqvPnyak-LuTRYjwpqrUYPtl2HuTP9" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>I did think perhaps I would skim over the rocks in my shoes, but that was quickly ruled out by the shoes themselves. </div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1tUFyhex9HV445GPcBJVIgn9S5sU8vmNi" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1tUFyhex9HV445GPcBJVIgn9S5sU8vmNi" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ayzPQVdYlXnBuzpnJ8stDqDpsDSh-hvt" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ayzPQVdYlXnBuzpnJ8stDqDpsDSh-hvt" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>Whenever I'm on vacation I always think, I could live here. I don't know why but this breezeway really spoke to me so I have preserved it here for memory's sake. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-46187704439530245132023-06-17T14:55:00.003-07:002023-06-17T14:55:48.808-07:00Redwoods Roadtrip<p> </p><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />One wonderful thing about the Kinetic Grand Championship in Humboldt is the drive through the redwoods to get there. This is cathedral level awe inspiring nature.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1aK8yNcr8UHiOcceOJigFSkZTjcny0Q7c" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1aK8yNcr8UHiOcceOJigFSkZTjcny0Q7c" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>However this year it just seemed regular. Like a regional park versus a national park. Trying to figure out the reason I think it’s because we had the wettest spring in ten years at home. So, instead of the first outdoor moisture of my life being a balm to my soal…</div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1t7uAz-yBL2b-OWCIkDzWbgR6U0vfBHX8" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1t7uAz-yBL2b-OWCIkDzWbgR6U0vfBHX8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>It was just regular nice. I will also mention anywhere wet is so exotic to me, Wales, Tacoma, all of it. And dry places like we have at home kind of stress me out the whole time. Where is the water? </div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UKFeJhJskvfndzE34kBMIfwmbTuHFw7U" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UKFeJhJskvfndzE34kBMIfwmbTuHFw7U" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1M9Bx8_VQivWRbAiK4P3wy5aR5NN_3ggM" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1M9Bx8_VQivWRbAiK4P3wy5aR5NN_3ggM" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /><br /></div><div>Driving my hardest to get through wine country. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-65599790108004354372023-06-17T14:54:00.003-07:002023-06-17T14:54:34.029-07:002023 Kinetic Grand Championship <p> <img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1vKaJI_8_PBynf-7qKbrNhwIS2jUPTFeV" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1vKaJI_8_PBynf-7qKbrNhwIS2jUPTFeV" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></p><div>Awards night at Ferndale County Fairgrounds. <img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1F2QqG6zP4PZKIJGtXezAFqv6LvUb_ISY" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1F2QqG6zP4PZKIJGtXezAFqv6LvUb_ISY" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div>I’m constitutionally not competitive so my team winning is not better than another team winning, and is a little worse because we just won last year. At key moments I proposed my idea of not competing to win, but was entirely overruled. However, it does mean we are on the splash page for the website which makes us easy to find and show off. </div><div><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1K6FY6F83FLesHQJnAUvcyepf-xS-Cwra" height="730" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1K6FY6F83FLesHQJnAUvcyepf-xS-Cwra" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" width="547" /><br /></div><div>The perpetual trophy which we carted up 200 miles from my family’s house, got awarded it, and carted it back. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-69568046308824885142023-06-15T04:17:00.001-07:002023-06-15T04:17:57.117-07:00Adult Ice Skating Levels (or not)<p>I think I found out that jumps are <a href="https://www.skateisi.org/programs/testing-requirements/">coming up</a> in just a second. Like after I get the hang of everything we've worked on, get them clean and consistent, the next batch of things involves little jumps. This conflicts with my plan to never do a jump for any reason. I read that you get a pin for completing a level. I am pretty sure we all are not getting pins in real life. Otherwise I would be seeing them on skate bags, on skaters, on the ground. But I did think, what pin am I theoretically working on? Because, I love goals. </p><p>If I were earning a pin I would earn the Beta pin. That's the highest level where everything is coming along nicely. I just got my back crossovers although I haven't had empty enough ice to work on consecutive ones. </p><p>However, Adult Intermediate has had us work on almost every skill from Pre Alpha to Delta. And we still have two more weeks together. So it seems like not very many more sessions before those are all under control. Actually they did make us do one little jump called the Bunny Hop. It seems like a misnomer for an Adult skill. I guess if 190 pounds of bunny hit the ice it would look like the Bunny Hop feels. Which is: dread, nausea, adrenaline. I read that adrenaline is to get you out of the situation that gave you adrenaline. And the funny thing about that is a wave of renewed vigor and energy comes over me, and I am kind of mad, and I still literally do not know how to do the skill.</p><p>I suppose these new tricky things might take longer than the old tricky things. I see my ice skates were delivered 2 months ago almost to the day. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-73892911836238518962023-06-14T16:44:00.000-07:002023-06-14T16:44:06.157-07:00The best hike in Oakland<div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=13TtjY_lgUlGSDSVx8U1fy_qyO6-T1sjX" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=13TtjY_lgUlGSDSVx8U1fy_qyO6-T1sjX" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Woodminster Cascade is really a jewel. It's a set of stone stairs winding up both sides of a series of pools. The pools are not running. I'm sure there's tons of meetings about getting them fixed. The volunteers who work on the gardening do an incredible job. On a wet day this feels like Wales. But it's right here at home. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=133BGeMQdPNTvBbkoXKun6GDzR9F-kUFW" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=133BGeMQdPNTvBbkoXKun6GDzR9F-kUFW" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1w5KrqswPDxb0Q50xf0Vk-pdiviyeLz1d" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1w5KrqswPDxb0Q50xf0Vk-pdiviyeLz1d" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Bear and I start at the top of the cascade. Instead of the summit, the highest pool is our starting point. We do this by parking at the top at the small dog park and walking over. We started doing this so I could minimize the stairs he goes down. He is one foot tall so he takes them like a rocking horse. With the current out of control foxtail season, I like that I can stop our Cascade hike before we reach the open, grassy areas. </div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1cCrNRCCCTQyL_1TyeRy8atu_LuUGXrLI" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1cCrNRCCCTQyL_1TyeRy8atu_LuUGXrLI" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The trail is part of City of Oakland parks but maintained at least in part by volunteers. City of Oakland parks have a more tranquil, courtyard like feel. That said, it is not unusual to spot people's living space, food stores, or what I think are ritual items. I have never had a confrontation and my policy is that I don't pick up the things like I normally would. The things might not even be unattended-they often look freshly set down-but just the person is out of sight to avoid me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=15AccopjrJqbVajcH6mhGFTg5FA7VwnV_" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=15AccopjrJqbVajcH6mhGFTg5FA7VwnV_" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: auto;" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I won't say everything you can see and find to leave some discovery up to the reader. </div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-12728653173872765852023-06-14T15:57:00.000-07:002023-06-14T15:57:40.014-07:00Forward Outside Edges<p> Oh, man, remember learning things by reading? Brutal. </p><p><br /></p><p>I am loving not understanding anything in figure skating. It's a special phase when every part of a new discipline is mysterious and unattainable. Every session, more things click. The experiential opposite of trying to improve when you are as good as you can be. What will yield the next improvement? More protein? No. MORE protein? No. More sleep? Cross training? Visualization? No, no, no, although now you have an overuse injury. As a beginner, everything is improvement, a landslide of improvement. </p><p><br /></p><p>So with that established, I got my backward crossovers today, on both sides, for the first time in my life. I learned a new edge to push from in forwards crossovers. I fell for the first time this decade and nothing bad happened which is a milestone of sorts. An onslaught of improvements. And we worked on 3 turns. This is something I haven't really been able to practice on my own because I don't get where the movement comes from. I have been trying- I know a 3- but have no way of knowing what to move. So I just had to wait for the topic to come up in class, which it did today. My instructor set me to holding an outside edge in a small circle. This was mind blowing. Again, I love being a beginner. I have held an outside edge for almost half a circle but a circle is a whole new experience. So I have that edge to work on, really plenty to work on, but decided to look up 3 turns while class was fresh in my mind in hopes that it would all coalesce. </p><p><br /></p><p>Oh, another new development this week- you don't have to put your free foot down to use it to get momentum. You can just swing it around any kind of way and this generates movement across the ice. I think this will help me gloss over parts I don't understand instead of freezing on the spot. Then hopefully understanding can flow into the gaps later. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-20386183022857914822023-06-11T02:19:00.001-07:002023-06-11T02:19:06.390-07:00Public Skate<p> I'm so glad we have somewhere cold to work out. I just watched this Nike as underdog movie where they keep referring to running and I kept thinking, oh, if I liked running I could get so much exercise for free and right outside my front door. Instead I get 2 hours of ice time for $14 plus driving across town and paying for parking. I still don't actually need 2 hours to get a workout done. The limiting factor has been foot pain in my ice skates. When I started up lessons my feet cramped up within ten minutes and just stayed cramped. It got way better to the point that I can stay for all of an hour long class. Then I missed class over memorial day weekend and the pain came back the following week. So, I think I have to skate one or two times per week to keep my feet used to it. I don't know why that would be but it's a nice built in reinforcement for going to the rink for a practice session in between classes. That said, today was the first day I ever skated for over an hour. There's a sweet spot in the 3pm-5pm weekday public skate where school is out (so no one is on a field trip with their entire grade on rental skates, alternately clinging to the wall or laying on the ice) but no one has had time to commute from school to the rink. In a perfect world I would get to the rink at 2:30, warm up in the bleachers, skate my most developing moves, then by 3:30 as the rink fills up do easier things for conditioning. I can't believe Spring session of Learn to Skate is over in one month. It has been a wonderful way to jump start the weekend. I've been thinking I have months and months before I would need to add private lessons in order to progress. However once we focus on something in LTS we don't do that same skill intensively again. So when I was introduced to 3 turns nothing came of it, I have been studying and practicing on my own, and now it feels like something is happening but it would be great to have someone knowledgeable take a look. I skate a little half circle on my inside edge, check my arms, lift up onto my rocker to turn around, and currently I heavily set my free leg anywhere to keep from falling over. </p>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-76197106507677984922023-06-06T19:34:00.003-07:002023-06-06T19:34:44.977-07:00Ice Skating Edges<p> I found my "edges" for the first time today!!! </p><p><br /></p><p>I know what edges are from trying to understand synchro and figure scoring on tv. What they are in person is way better. It was like magic. It was like a dream. I just thought what I wanted and then, without knowing how, it was happening. You can tell it is working because of the direction you travel. Inside edges give a comfortable swoop toward your center and outside edges give an exhilarating swoop away from yourself. </p><p><br /></p>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-6537164730146738772023-04-24T10:20:00.074-07:002023-04-28T23:26:54.164-07:00Ice Skating as an Adult <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;">I love to be a beginner at things. Gives me that brushing-your-teeth-with-the-opposite-hand feeling of concentrating on something new. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Stepping into the Oakland Ice Center off the street it’s a little cool, but go through the inner glass doors and it gets crisp. This is one of the highlights of the rink. I run hot so I’m always like… trying to find long sleeve weightless clothes so I look fully dressed in winter… walking my dog in the evening so the 68 degree noon sun doesn’t fry me… getting my undershirt wet in the sink so I can hang in there at work… I only do fitness that is cold (rink, bay swimming) cool (hiking in shade, pool swimming) or breezy (biking).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;">The rink has such a festive feeling. Kids are so excited to be there, swinging their enskated feet while their parent gets another tiny child dressed for the ice. Screaming for their mother whom they can see as if in an aquarium, serenely gliding across the ice. Dad explaining that yes, mom is right there, see? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;">I stretch but I don’t really trust the rubber floor (I think it's meant to be sticky and black...) so I don’t do my whole splits progression. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sitting on a vinyl wrapped bench and stretching while the zamboni whirs past, all bliss. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Then onto the ice.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1CUvNRxBQPWHvcNKKlUOizHhCe2z9ZSvP" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1CUvNRxBQPWHvcNKKlUOizHhCe2z9ZSvP" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> A small woman sends us to the wall to await instructions. The instructions sound like nothing. Nothing could be less like instructions than what she says. If you skate, imagine the reverb off the stadium ceiling as she says,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> "***, *eh***** ** ***. In two groups." </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you don't skate, imagine an intermittent booming sound of people hitting a plastic panel with their entire bodies in an all metal stadium. You crane to hear the instructor, who is skating backwards away from you whispering a nonsense word- twizzle, swizzle, slalom. You try to match the word with the part of what the instructor is doing (zipping around) that she wants you to do, and then translate that into what your own body might do, while also crossing the ice in a reasonable length of time to stay with the group. She skates up to me personally and tells me I don't have to "do the arms" I could not tell what she was doing to copy it but later found out it is ballet fifth position. All these times in ballet I was thinking about, what? How long port de bras was taking? Whether we had to do the little routine a second time through? How many minutes were left in class? When I could have been thanking God for the studio floor my feet were planted on. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We go through our paces forward and backward, on both feet or alternating feet, in one group or two groups. Blessedly we break into groups. My feet hurt like torture and I hunch over them different ways trying alternately to get them to release or to relieve the pressure on them. I join the large group, thinking the small group will be the best skaters. Listening to the things they are working on "not jumps! Just edges!" The skaters insist- I realize I may have hobbled over to the advanced class. It turns out this is where you go forever as an adult skater, whereas I want the group you progress through. I glide to the intermediate group, holding my breath and putting as much of my weight as possible on my hands on the barricade to lessen the pressure on my feet. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Dripping in sweat and run ragged, I am gasping for breath. Well not gasping. Emotionally gasping. My front facing camera reports that I look like I am not having a medical emergency, and that after ten minutes of stretching I have not unclenched my toes. <img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12jAMCNoTZKWKYL9r_0yOdVm_T3QzVV2P" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12jAMCNoTZKWKYL9r_0yOdVm_T3QzVV2P" style="font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; text-align: left; width: auto;" /></span></div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-1477776056065748352023-04-12T22:20:00.002-07:002023-04-12T22:20:15.534-07:00Kayak Dreams<p> 've been lifeguarding for almost ten years of summers- it's great to be out in the sun, helping people, on the water- but, leaving guarding means there is a gap between what I'd like to do, and what I have gear for. I actually already got kicking around in the bay with a piece of foam from the hardware store out of my system, so now I begin the wonderful trial and error of figuring out what I want in a personal vessel. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">SUPER fortunately I have a folding kayak already, the <a href="https://foldupkayaks.com/products/demos-refurbs">Tucktec</a>. I have no complaints as a way to get out on the water. It's not meant for use in the ocean and I have found it risks flooding in the bay. I thought this wouldn't bother me and it's true that I am quite happy to tow a kayak around while I swim, but the thing about being a distressed boater is the other water users have to check on you. I haven't experimented too much lately because the dog loves to lounge in the sun in the kayak so we've just been taking it to flat water. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This all means that I have no way to get out into and past the surf except to run out there. From a previous abalone dive I learned that getting past the kelp at Jenner is a ton of work on a normal dive float, which otherwise would seem like nearly the perfect thing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUviwd5WrZsu0tvqoigzntFp29OXCs5pfmZnxXEWFKd2tVRBn48AcHnwmdjdGfzGuwA4kIxGbLo0y7Q3igJ1OOZsVJRaypWWkFNVVOnYpjpO4ZEBP9W8hskjhYjAzsmyJHqHbdEnEilBu6dg2oNC_laUXO_YIAWrkivU3QHwN261JC_rMD2P34hPo8/s1503/IMG_0391.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUviwd5WrZsu0tvqoigzntFp29OXCs5pfmZnxXEWFKd2tVRBn48AcHnwmdjdGfzGuwA4kIxGbLo0y7Q3igJ1OOZsVJRaypWWkFNVVOnYpjpO4ZEBP9W8hskjhYjAzsmyJHqHbdEnEilBu6dg2oNC_laUXO_YIAWrkivU3QHwN261JC_rMD2P34hPo8/s320/IMG_0391.PNG" width="204" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I do also have a surf board made of foam in the poor man's fiberglass/foamies method. I used a chart to calculate the size and should be floating me but it doesn't. So it's kind of just hanging around. I think it would make a good table or shelf since it is 8 feet long and something like 18" wide. Potentially, it could be the base of a kayak. One issue is that it is two feet shorter than the tucktec, shorter is slower, and the other problem with the tucktec besides surf is that it is so much work to paddle. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAVufazMOaA6QoKUsPx4zTKAXJi1EoT8GT6sGAM4DSynxBF14Ua-8v1l8ScwRpcqanK3joURF03YH8ppAKdhKw-81GrDKfinRlm15OvgDTMjX4EUemNqnyeXtq91gyi6cR-wraoG2t3YPwSFbiJAaxsUDo6W980Anpzmx4bVIrmd-nV4hruYIdeTD/s1753/IMG_0392.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1753" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAVufazMOaA6QoKUsPx4zTKAXJi1EoT8GT6sGAM4DSynxBF14Ua-8v1l8ScwRpcqanK3joURF03YH8ppAKdhKw-81GrDKfinRlm15OvgDTMjX4EUemNqnyeXtq91gyi6cR-wraoG2t3YPwSFbiJAaxsUDo6W980Anpzmx4bVIrmd-nV4hruYIdeTD/s320/IMG_0392.PNG" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60I87fSliJxvZzWrzH0KtWxxGBWia37PjQawdLGD-KD6jnKB6UUZvYL1X1oho47vMdyPkjl5qQqPi_F0OZ18m1hLbogR0qDq5unrLwYwr35eQ5WdEEVv5jtk7VM_TS4Em29kGyOs6co_BU_sqcauXceDAhmwwsBxvBLzFteYCupc5CZp2oTTzo88B/s1031/IMG_0390.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60I87fSliJxvZzWrzH0KtWxxGBWia37PjQawdLGD-KD6jnKB6UUZvYL1X1oho47vMdyPkjl5qQqPi_F0OZ18m1hLbogR0qDq5unrLwYwr35eQ5WdEEVv5jtk7VM_TS4Em29kGyOs6co_BU_sqcauXceDAhmwwsBxvBLzFteYCupc5CZp2oTTzo88B/s320/IMG_0390.PNG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Casting a kind of wide research net, I found the origami paddler takes another approach to most of the same problems- portability, speed, cost- and uses a very different approach to arrive at a similar outcome. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBjq7C0UibmDq4X2Dts8A7tRUqAbvtyC93XJLj7NPThNWfOg2l7ffF9Jj3kS70Z1BNdFr4wYIdO5z_9k4CcURt5MgCJlBecSt2RHBuuxJCbbqyI4e1mcMzlp82UlKlzYbhh9NGAOqepyf2ekrNSlecWuqiC_wy6ziDQCPzIkrlFbxPm0X-3d5MT3q/s1468/IMG_0389.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBjq7C0UibmDq4X2Dts8A7tRUqAbvtyC93XJLj7NPThNWfOg2l7ffF9Jj3kS70Z1BNdFr4wYIdO5z_9k4CcURt5MgCJlBecSt2RHBuuxJCbbqyI4e1mcMzlp82UlKlzYbhh9NGAOqepyf2ekrNSlecWuqiC_wy6ziDQCPzIkrlFbxPm0X-3d5MT3q/s320/IMG_0389.PNG" width="209" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Before beginning this research of seriously getting a kayak I thought a sit-on-top is inferior. And it isn't what you are crossing the Bering Strait in probably. But as a place to rest between snorkeling and paddling in to shore- the safety and utility of a watertight, floating lump is incredible. I am not sure if this Perception Kayak is fully enclosed- the ads show kids hanging on the little decks while an adult paddles. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pGe1mdyMPqfnnNBJKhiRCBSsWgJD1Uf8YPtxRIk1i0fjC2jOVKd18Yr0Qcw5kv2EOujqWjlW1c2mbrG_hXDq1tQ-cXs0wKlrvAw1mLc5T-hc624DQ2XleDHLixKf1NyXW7BPE5UNPCAkPaYcqf10bcP4P1JbHs7iXzH6aWYjEkYq-v5pysVztX22/s1141/IMG_0388.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pGe1mdyMPqfnnNBJKhiRCBSsWgJD1Uf8YPtxRIk1i0fjC2jOVKd18Yr0Qcw5kv2EOujqWjlW1c2mbrG_hXDq1tQ-cXs0wKlrvAw1mLc5T-hc624DQ2XleDHLixKf1NyXW7BPE5UNPCAkPaYcqf10bcP4P1JbHs7iXzH6aWYjEkYq-v5pysVztX22/s320/IMG_0388.PNG" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Royak is another solution to this problem. It looks ideal. I was only discouraged by transportation. Honestly even if you lived a few blocks from the beach, or a flight of stairs from the beach, this seems like a lot. And I live far enough from the beach to take the freeway. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuZQ-bO9oIj5ZOD3CePzoBwjpPIXbA0wdjl7Nw6zs_XRs1NFbJa0oUww6AIPnxSC3wHCLo29iSCkQ7FWzCClPXiDuLD9pZjwNsK8k0ArD2yjhTtpbY9LY0adY9aNn-F0aqBNbhkSEWPIzTQvStgOuH3QLxdYWlEzDz2GJs_Jisjzeh3EdXIIpW3r8/s1568/IMG_0387.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuZQ-bO9oIj5ZOD3CePzoBwjpPIXbA0wdjl7Nw6zs_XRs1NFbJa0oUww6AIPnxSC3wHCLo29iSCkQ7FWzCClPXiDuLD9pZjwNsK8k0ArD2yjhTtpbY9LY0adY9aNn-F0aqBNbhkSEWPIzTQvStgOuH3QLxdYWlEzDz2GJs_Jisjzeh3EdXIIpW3r8/s320/IMG_0387.PNG" width="196" /></a></div>Although the perfect kayak has not turned up in the trunk of my car yet, I feel confident that when the right one comes along, I will recognize it. <br /> Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-89925462104800126492023-04-12T16:47:00.000-07:002023-04-12T16:47:17.775-07:00Hockey Price Check <p> I've been thinking of getting into hockey. I love underwater hockey but it's quite far from home- I'm sure there are hundreds of people worldwide who would jump at the chance to drive an hour to reach two different teams but I find myself tired before I even get out the door. I think the experience of studying underwater hockey rules (I do try to improve it just doesn't come naturally to me) has let me follow professional hockey. Every time we go to a game I wish I was on the ice. Not playing necessarily. But if there was a skating intermission so we could stretch our legs, that would be ideal. </p><p><br /></p><p>I try not to put artificial obstacles in my own way. If I want to play hockey, I can make that happen. But the barriers! First, I live near a rink. It has hockey. It has women's hockey. So now the only things I need to handle are gear, scheduling, and not knowing how to play. I set a budget for this of $500. As in, how could it cost more than a couple hundred dollars to play a rec sport as an adult? Better double it to have some cushion. Through research I found out that $500 was not double the starting cost of playing hockey. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR2vFsqQ_qiRawx9Fn9BMiZ2i6nm_GcJ4REHo87MIDUqFWChLmdgk0Gv4VELIwZBUHRVMkM027S06WeD9w1e8Nj7HOb_Hhw5nrgdghuzWZZ4PzEp7ILOHUfGytc77SKR5KZX7Y0JTe5BxY7bs7uDvykmeFAhjc_h528n_R05XYJVAl5mLzVGY1wxA/s1298/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-12%20at%204.09.57%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1298" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR2vFsqQ_qiRawx9Fn9BMiZ2i6nm_GcJ4REHo87MIDUqFWChLmdgk0Gv4VELIwZBUHRVMkM027S06WeD9w1e8Nj7HOb_Hhw5nrgdghuzWZZ4PzEp7ILOHUfGytc77SKR5KZX7Y0JTe5BxY7bs7uDvykmeFAhjc_h528n_R05XYJVAl5mLzVGY1wxA/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-12%20at%204.09.57%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay. The rink wants me to wear "full gear." Our local lakes have never, ever frozen so I will be playing indoors if at all. I don't know what constitutes full gear but probably head to toe coverage. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z4NvPc7DG7OzXnK7KZ-aPybANvOWI-c46G0f9xhPba6QEeqTylnyf0s7Iet4JXqIzhZBQgY0g3tMoVBXRslMcAWbTFZZSKQXRdA63eY5Hrr5TErlYNMiqMumzshfnvsnKVHE0Z_kOrcUZvhWtnpp7ZuBGcG7dOOmnzGWqSnR7xeSaYhmeENhCuO4/s2374/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-12%20at%204.11.24%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="2374" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z4NvPc7DG7OzXnK7KZ-aPybANvOWI-c46G0f9xhPba6QEeqTylnyf0s7Iet4JXqIzhZBQgY0g3tMoVBXRslMcAWbTFZZSKQXRdA63eY5Hrr5TErlYNMiqMumzshfnvsnKVHE0Z_kOrcUZvhWtnpp7ZuBGcG7dOOmnzGWqSnR7xeSaYhmeENhCuO4/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-12%20at%204.11.24%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>Starting with my beloved face and head, $75 to protect it seems super reasonable. <div><br /></div><div>Moving on to skates- because I am a beginner I have to choose basically a pair to learn what I like and don't like. I don't worry about women's skates and my street shoe size puts me in "intermediate" sizes. This is lucky for cost because senior skates, which start at around Women's US10, are about 30% pricier in the same model. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKUqEOyD-nGw6VMQkC0BpJmAvt9HsDVqgcVGn0NZp0BLMUojrVhHO147mz_1CvgP4vVTcqupiUyPLXM5IATRsyjxjUQZTq1Lr4rJx_6p4qy6igAr4W-thyxtjWh1kI_yAoWEXaHiqXV704hc5f4aWX9rIOJOZ9LSpbjPrO58z0_8BqixEi_Tl3N5W/s2186/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-12%20at%204.13.26%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="2186" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKUqEOyD-nGw6VMQkC0BpJmAvt9HsDVqgcVGn0NZp0BLMUojrVhHO147mz_1CvgP4vVTcqupiUyPLXM5IATRsyjxjUQZTq1Lr4rJx_6p4qy6igAr4W-thyxtjWh1kI_yAoWEXaHiqXV704hc5f4aWX9rIOJOZ9LSpbjPrO58z0_8BqixEi_Tl3N5W/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-12%20at%204.13.26%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So for mystery skates plus head protection it is $245, still under budget. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Here we get into the part I particularly don't want to wear, carry, store, care for, pay for- the protective equipment. I visualize the frozen/flooded backyard that I could tool around on by myself if I had it. I double check that I am not overlooking a source of frozen/flooded backyard. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNN-hAHgHalfzNS3Qo_2_-4egBsxCs-PIEeIooTK_0Ix1K10BoLjqN0adzqSti5JxvB_fPBIS6f6vwIfFocDkQ3742DEtfzyIpotaBZvrd-9Cu_ScFaFJnmG_2YsHloFcIMDzRKE8_fuNcl-EZXGM4Bv8NjB7Y_5_qpkFbQ3RyiMJqFwD7mZQpS04/s2844/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-12%20at%204.14.30%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="2844" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNN-hAHgHalfzNS3Qo_2_-4egBsxCs-PIEeIooTK_0Ix1K10BoLjqN0adzqSti5JxvB_fPBIS6f6vwIfFocDkQ3742DEtfzyIpotaBZvrd-9Cu_ScFaFJnmG_2YsHloFcIMDzRKE8_fuNcl-EZXGM4Bv8NjB7Y_5_qpkFbQ3RyiMJqFwD7mZQpS04/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-12%20at%204.14.30%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>At $269, shinguards and other guards bring the total to $514. Budget ruined, with no gloves, stick, sales tax, or hockey classes. </p><p><br /></p><p>I do think this is still doable. Instead of starting on the ice I am going to spectate for a little while and see what I can learn from women who are already playing. To me, it is better to rule out a hobby than to add another halfheartedly. Why don't I go to the archery range? I love archery. Why don't I go to underwater hockey? I just need to build an errand into my day so that I am already in the same city as the pool and then I will go. And, why don't I get a little better at skating, either ice skating or roller blading? </p></div>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147615635005334024.post-63569738380106647452023-04-06T18:56:00.004-07:002023-04-06T18:59:00.220-07:00The Long View<p> Recently everything is so cheap and low quality. My new laptop broke within a week- it has a micro thin glass panel that does nothing and cracked when I closed a bead inside the laptop, which, yes, I should have noticed I dropped a bead, but why was there a micro thin glass panel that does nothing, right at the hinge?</p><p> Clothes are also so cheap and ugly right now. It is normal to be able to see a butt which is inside of pants. I am dated now because of my belief that the butt should be obscured by clothes, not like in every situation forever but as the default. I am even more alone in my similar belief about the belly. I think no more than one in ten shirts for sale should show one's stomach. It is not bad to show but it's one of the main places I want covered for privacy and comfort if I am going to be wearing a shirt or a sweater. I did buy a sweater that just covered from wrists to collarbone but I never got used to it and now I am back dressing from my closet.</p><p>This all came up sort of suddenly. So, I've been naturally using what I have- the dream! And once absolutely sick of What I Have I have been shopping used and vintage like it's my job. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuMlSnla35lmL1O3Rbxuc_jb45V72gWeOD7ASoFjEUKJo5a0EGqYzuFRxIJ2Q0-TJxCWJ_jy6zrU8qpEocY7IAsxaHwfVDBNzGLHo74Cc_hiHV3-m1ryC0W5BZ_DtSjcy7puMQ7I4IDBOYzRldCLaHLuz2VUK3dRYEHtDKTyiI5-8Ku-YZfVNQS8l/s1464/IMG_8093.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1098" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuMlSnla35lmL1O3Rbxuc_jb45V72gWeOD7ASoFjEUKJo5a0EGqYzuFRxIJ2Q0-TJxCWJ_jy6zrU8qpEocY7IAsxaHwfVDBNzGLHo74Cc_hiHV3-m1ryC0W5BZ_DtSjcy7puMQ7I4IDBOYzRldCLaHLuz2VUK3dRYEHtDKTyiI5-8Ku-YZfVNQS8l/s320/IMG_8093.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Much has been said about the typewriter along the lines of you can see it working. It truly doesn't get in the way of writing the way an internet enabled device does. Theoretically I am transcribing my typed pages into Microsoft word so they'll be shareable and editable but I only did one so far. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDka0XGoykAx1SH_4cwdoGBJKyoPY1LeBbkJOkEHLpbDrMjXQhAC8kwjF-_ptQqeYrg0wSl_LNKvgnvsrPJRLg2N40qmIqJTWgSmBug62boZfDaVZvncfsK37ZpFN4Lo_Q7NMR3jYkIkMDQGENZ8raqiRuqASQ4Vh8j0uMj50Mx2fjw4ntj7xcVCIV/s1464/IMG_8188.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1098" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDka0XGoykAx1SH_4cwdoGBJKyoPY1LeBbkJOkEHLpbDrMjXQhAC8kwjF-_ptQqeYrg0wSl_LNKvgnvsrPJRLg2N40qmIqJTWgSmBug62boZfDaVZvncfsK37ZpFN4Lo_Q7NMR3jYkIkMDQGENZ8raqiRuqASQ4Vh8j0uMj50Mx2fjw4ntj7xcVCIV/s320/IMG_8188.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>My Dad's calculator from the 1970s. Same as above, I prefer not to be doing my arithmetic on the cell phone screen because I will see notifications or apps on my to do list, such as meditating. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rqAE0Wngp0aHzEms5XrdKezM7HB5S7PDUIXcoTTX4H5ygcbtYRNcUEVQAt18bXl9WGW8VO5fD6DLBicUjzP1IO_C0cNxA0iQzRg9JyFRvGk_BZP_RaR18BJZfP53q-8O4i95UrmbxcXohN-WV3ItRQVfSdn5tOIxGge6rLJIulpxzEhF9oII82Ah/s1578/IMG_8310.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="1186" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rqAE0Wngp0aHzEms5XrdKezM7HB5S7PDUIXcoTTX4H5ygcbtYRNcUEVQAt18bXl9WGW8VO5fD6DLBicUjzP1IO_C0cNxA0iQzRg9JyFRvGk_BZP_RaR18BJZfP53q-8O4i95UrmbxcXohN-WV3ItRQVfSdn5tOIxGge6rLJIulpxzEhF9oII82Ah/s320/IMG_8310.jpeg" width="241" /></a></div>Thrifting in a pre owned flannel off ebay. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaRTyR4DfnvDEAUgZFUgZqz412KPGxeyk-8ATIQDQD7LzUUeq1um3rzD8HltHCc6sOTO17PtKq4z5gsj-XL4YjWb8cYzAl9jN590Wrmu8ZHohaigDieV-3NTmjnUjzaIK8V62UVK8T0diM08Nb3qitGsE082ppUgX8gTSvJI1PXSjwMYE70YI-1U_/s1024/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-04-03%2022.31.31%20-%20typewriter%20in%20an%20atrium%20in%20the%20style%20of%20claymation.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaRTyR4DfnvDEAUgZFUgZqz412KPGxeyk-8ATIQDQD7LzUUeq1um3rzD8HltHCc6sOTO17PtKq4z5gsj-XL4YjWb8cYzAl9jN590Wrmu8ZHohaigDieV-3NTmjnUjzaIK8V62UVK8T0diM08Nb3qitGsE082ppUgX8gTSvJI1PXSjwMYE70YI-1U_/s320/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-04-03%2022.31.31%20-%20typewriter%20in%20an%20atrium%20in%20the%20style%20of%20claymation.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A typewriter I generated with Dall E. I guess I can't be mad that this is fake because... no one asked me to open an account on an AI generator and feed it prompts and save and upload the output. But I am still mad that I see these things, both in the wild and shared by people I know who are proud of their output. I want to see things a human made by default. I want to go in a special zone to see computer generated things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, in my discomfort I have been thinking much about my place in the world. Because I can remember when it was a little different. I don't exactly feel comfortably immersed in the present. The gap between what there is and what I imagine there should be, what it seems there used to be, is letting me see with new eyes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have started to think not just of the being I am, midway through life, but also the very, very similar beings who preceded me. Kind of like the idea, what if a caveman were here? Using the crosswalk, preparing food from the fridge- that would be hard for them. I have the same feeling- what if these women made of almost the exact stuff as me but born in 1962, 1939, 1906, had to use the search function on their phone to open google maps because there are too many apps to just see the map? They wouldn't like it, I bet, just like I don't like it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a few weeks of this kind of feeling I started emailing the ones from 1962 and 1939 and asking about the ones from 1904 and 1906. And I found a degree of fellowship that is unexpected. The stay at home wife and the young, nuclear family was really just a generation or two. The generation before had the depression to contend with, exactly like me and my $19 next day shipping entryway rug. Why is it polypropylene. Why don't I own my entryway so I can sand down to good wood and refinish it and it can glow in the sun. And the answer is economic conditions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I sat down to decry the way my ancestors didn't stay put in one place for one single lifetime, but I sat down on the Macbook air and not the Smith Corona. So then I pulled all these photos of vintage things out of the cloud and that really pulled me away from my thesis. I will try again. </div><br /><p></p>Caitlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895569417925326991noreply@blogger.com0