Running in bare feet

Do you ever notice a small thing and pass over it, only to notice it again in a different setting, then again and again. Finally you decide to explore the idea, figuring that if you keep getting bombarded with suggestions from different places, maybe it's something you're cosmically meant to notice. Barefoot running was like that for me. I won't go into the details, suffice to say that I can count at least 4 unrelated instances in the last couple weeks that brought it to my attention.  I decided on Sat. to head to the gym and try it out on the indoor track.

As I sat on a bench to take off my running shoes and socks, I was curious how my ankles would feel - would they be strong enough without running shoes to avoid injury? What about my weird hip rotation that causes my legs to swing in and knock my knees together - how would it respond without the stabilizing effect of my shoes?  How do I learn to run on the balls of my feet? I walked a lap to warm up, ridiculously aware of my bare feet with their blue-painted toenails, ready to respond if an employee told me to put my shoes on. But once I started to run all thoughts left my head. It was so...easy. My gait was springy, landing on the balls of my feet, heels barely touching, then bouncing off the track. My ankles felt fine. My arches didn't hurt. Boing boing, I felt like Tigger running. I smiled hugely, enjoying the fun and freedom of just running. The sound of my bare feet on the track, a soft plaf-plaff, a sharp contrast to the heavier footfalls of the other runners. I stopped to walk a bit, then run again, around and around. It was so fun. I remembered the line "Don't think, just run" and for the first time I was enjoying doing just that. I looked down at my feet and noticed how straight my legs were, no conscious fight to keep my knees from turning in. Nothing hurt running this way. And I learned how many helper-muscles weren't getting used running in shoes. Muscles that complained they're not used to work - like the soleus, the muscles between your calf and ankle. And tiny unnamed muscles wrapping the ankle from foot to leg that still needed strength training.

I ran longer than I should have. I think I covered a mile in total, and was TIRED at the end. When I got home and looked online for more information, everyone warned to start slow, very slow. I had no idea just how slow you really have to start. My soleus (lower leg) muscles are so worn out I walk funny if I've been sitting a while. But I know it's muscle fatigue, like your pecs after doing a bit too much on the bench press. I'm thinking I might do a few laps before lifting weights, or after a Zumba class. But I'm definitely going to do it again.

Blow out

I got my hair cut yesterday.  No!  Nothing serious. The length is the same at the bottom, but she took off a shocking amount of hair shaping it in layers - like half the volume.  My shortest strands are now chin-length, and they layer evenly down to the full length.  My hair is really thick and heavy, and now my ponytail is really wussy and a braid (my normal workout hairstyle) is impossible.  It's nice and curly and bouncy when down, but missing half the thickness makes it feel like someone else's hair.  She decided to blow it out straight, something I've never had professionally done, and it was super gorgeous!  It was totally like movie star hair, lustrous and silky with the perfect swoop at the end of each lock.

TribOriginal

Woo hoo!  Gotta love learning intensive-crazy topic-no cares dancecamp weekends!  I registered almost a year ago in their super-early-bird deal with the thought that I'd just wait and see where I was when the camp rolled around.  You all know I haven't been bellydancing as much, and was debating whether I should even go, or stay home since I knew I'd be gone a week later on another trip.  I'm so very glad D demanded that I go regardless of my work schedule.  I had a blast, learned a ton of new things, and am inspired to work harder in my dancing, drumming, and playing.

Ironically, I only took 1 dance class, but had classes every available session.  Mornings started with yoga with Jaia, which was transcending.  She did energy imagery and pranamaya and by the end our hearts were open and ready for the day.  I had drumming classes at various levels and am back to drumming on tabletops and my steering wheel.  One of the teachers was Jeremiah Soto, who I had no idea was as famous as he is until after the classes. He was great, but definitely asked more than I could really handle at times.

Hanging in Pike on the way down after a move.

I really used the class list as an opportunity to try new things and to face down some fears I have.  My fear of falling & inversions and concerns over my upper body/shoulder strength were met head on in Aerials and Acrobalance.  Dangling from a hoop suspended from rafters and flipping yourself up into it took a lot of nerve.  Acrobalance - Cirque du Soleil style partner balancing & support - actually pushed me to my edge.  I kept doing the moves - including headstands (scary for me) - trusting that I wouldn't get hurt.  I even fell once when my base supporter lost her grip and was fine.  But the final move took it a bit too far. In it the base lay down on her back with knees bent and arms straight up in the air.  Standing straddle I put my hands on her thighs, shoulders onto her waiting hands, and my feet on her knees.  Then, supported by her arms and balanced by my hands, let go with my feet and curled into a ball.  I don't think I could breathe without conscious effort, I was so scared.  The next step, to point my legs straight up into a handstand, just couldn't happen.  I tried a couple times but accepted that my bravery was used up for the moment.  I know this sounds silly to all you normal people who have been able to dive, do cartwheels, or inverted balances since kidhood.  But inversions are my biggest physical fear and even baby steps are a big thing.  I'm really glad I did, these 2 classes were the  most memorable and exciting in retrospect.

The further back you lean the easier it is!

The other great part was my cabin-mates. They were all a lot of fun, and one of them mentioned she was an immunology/microbiology PhD.  So we started chatting and it turns out she applied to TL (my old job) years ago and knew Bob and some others!  She's thinking of moving back to B'burg so I gave her my contact info.  She's got a great personality and would be a good addition at TL - wouldn't it be crazy if she ended up there!

Technology is really pissing me off

I'll be the first to admit I love cool new toys.  My android rocks.  Yesterday I found a fabric I thought my friend might like while I was at the store.  I took a photo of it, emailed it to her, and she called back instantly to tell me how much to buy.

But when technology doesn't interface correctly, or you don't know the stupid little tricks needed to make it behave, it can be royally frustrating.  I have several blog posts just waiting, pending the ability to scan something using my GD new scanner.  Yes, that's a goosedown scanner, for any of you wondering.  No, seriously, this all-in-one printer/scanner/fax my company gave me is the biggest piece of crap ever.  Never mind that I've printed less than 50 pages and the black ink is already empty.  It will print, but REFUSES to scan!  I've lost 8 hours on the phone, with tech services remote linked to my computer trying to make it work.  I wish I was exaggerating.  The final time everything worked perfectly.  I cheered.  Apparently too soon.  Now it won't even recognize the connection to my computer and I'm going to have to call them back again.  Sigh.  I'm starting to think about that scene from Office Space in the field with the blunt objects.

I could go into the annoyances with my blackberry but I think you've all heard me go on about it before, so I'll spare you.  At least my juicer works properly without having to refer to a manual.

Waking up

I am asleep.  I know subconsciously the alarm has given its first battle cry and been rebuffed.  An extra 10 minutes of sleep is definitely anticipated.  My youngest dog Kayla sits at my head straining forward to reach me.  She flicks out her tongue, peppering me with fast light test licks.  There is a long hesitancy between each lick, but the touch itself is the briefest possible.  Almost as if she's testing the waters and doesn't want to go too far too fast.

The licks are pushing under my downturned cheek.  I lift my head slightly, releasing its weight but not yet severing its contact with the pillow.  Kayla uses this opportunity to shove her snout under my cheek and flip it up.  Under a hand this move indicates she wants more petting.  Oh, I was petting her.  I hadn't fully noticed.  I reach my hand back up to her head and she renews her licking at an increased speed.  Too much this early.  It stops momentarily and I peel open my eyes.  Kayla's mouth is fully extended in a tooth-baring yawn, so close to my face I can't quite see her front teeth.  Yes, definitely time to get up.  Those last few minutes of my snooze stolen by the shock of mentally processing my first image of the day.

Timestream

Time keeps passing and passing.  I'm being carried downstream not by my own power.  Thankfully I am safely afloat, worried more about holding on to the flotsam of pending tasks than scurrying around looking for a paddle.    As I swift my way along each day I see others casually tubing in the shallows.  Bumbling along, knowing they'll reach their destination without really caring how long it takes or if they end up weighted down by rocks.  I was a tuber until recently.  Amazing how quickly your attitude shifts once you step into the rapid current and the deeper part of the stream.  At least I'm not getting too drenched yet.

I have several items finished I need to post to Ravelry, but that means getting the photos off my Droid and onto my computer.  Hmm...hadn't thought to try posting directly from the droid, we'll have to see if Ravelry can handle it.  That would save one step at least.  I unravelled my extra big sock and need to try knitting it again.  I also cast on for a Koolhaas hat, which isn't so bad once you get used to the 2-st. cables.  Hmm...I wonder if the twist stitch trick would work for that so I don't have to take stitches off the needles for the cable.  But of course I can't stop knitting on my Clapotis right now.  Thankfully I can knit in meetings and no one is the wiser.  This morning's meeting was so long I also painted my toenails and fingernails.  I'd like to have some photos of things for you to see, but that goes back to having the time to take some and post them.  Soon hopefully!

What did we do without Ravelry?

I have a ball of Zauberball laceweight I got at MDSW that has been calling my name.  Purple, fuscia, orange - so not my normal colors!  It's 800m, which means it's not quite enough to go charging blindly down the lace shawl avenue without careful checking of required yardage.  I've been searching through my favorited shawls, trying to imagine what they'd look like with the long color repeat of the zauberball.  I also searched all projects made with this yarn, and lo and behold one of my top shawl contestants was made in the exact colorway I have!  And it looks terrible!  No offense to the creator, the knitting is lovely, but the color changing just doesn't work for me.  I had been imagining a triangular or semi-circular shawl, and after reviewing all the projects, I know I want something long and rectangular, to stretch the color blocks as far as possible.  Never in a million years would I have chosen this route left to my own devices.  I'm thinking about making a Clapotis.  It fits my shape requirements and I figure 16000 other knitters can't be wrong!  I just checked and it has been made more than any other pattern online - even higher than the baby surprise or Jaywalker socks.  Woah.