I just finished my summer reading - West of Jesus - Surfing, Science and the Origins of Belief by Steven Kotler. It's not just about surfing - anyone interested in spirituality, the human spirit, or just wants a good non-fiction read that is laugh out loud funny on occasion would enjoy this.
West of Jesus review.
Showing posts with label surfing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surfing. Show all posts
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Summer Lovin'
I've landed a summer teaching gig at the community college next door to City on the Edge of Forever. It's a great schedule (MWF 10:30 - 12:30) and runs June 15 - Aug 7. It's not Boston, but I wasn't getting any real solid leads in Boston, and this was a job offer that I feel good about. I'm so glad I held out for a better situation than the first job offer from them for the summer (the one that started earlier in June and would have me in the classroom 5 days a week.) This way I can make some money, teach academic writing, and still have time and energy to make my film and write my scripts.
I will take a vacation to Boston in early June (just after my Mass peeps are here for the burial of the cremains), and may also head back out there in August for surfing lessons at Nantasket.
Feeling a lot less stressed out right now. Money will still be tight for a few weeks but I'm used to that in summer. The only thing that that will really suck is owing the Feds taxes (grrrrrr). Hopefully I can make an arrangement that won't involve signing my name in blood, donating my ears, or bashing anyone's knees in with a lead pipe a la Tanya Harding.
I will take a vacation to Boston in early June (just after my Mass peeps are here for the burial of the cremains), and may also head back out there in August for surfing lessons at Nantasket.
Feeling a lot less stressed out right now. Money will still be tight for a few weeks but I'm used to that in summer. The only thing that that will really suck is owing the Feds taxes (grrrrrr). Hopefully I can make an arrangement that won't involve signing my name in blood, donating my ears, or bashing anyone's knees in with a lead pipe a la Tanya Harding.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Get to know: Dave Kalama
From the man's website: "Dave is an all around Hawaiian waterman who comes from a lineage of surfing champions. He is a master wave rider, who began as a world champion windsurfer, and has evolved into one of the pioneers and premiere big wave, tow-in surfers of our time."
He and Laird Hamilton are partners in big wave riding, and Kalama has the same all around waterman background as Laird. He's a little less shy about his sponsorship, but I'm sure he doesn't mind the support for Kalama Kamps, bringing individualized watersport training to Maui. Now THAT would be a dream vacation! Anyone who would like to contribute to my dream vacation, feel free to drop me a note. Paypal accepted, as well as taping quarters to a piece of cardboard and sending through U.S. Postal Service.
Dave and Laird
He and Laird Hamilton are partners in big wave riding, and Kalama has the same all around waterman background as Laird. He's a little less shy about his sponsorship, but I'm sure he doesn't mind the support for Kalama Kamps, bringing individualized watersport training to Maui. Now THAT would be a dream vacation! Anyone who would like to contribute to my dream vacation, feel free to drop me a note. Paypal accepted, as well as taping quarters to a piece of cardboard and sending through U.S. Postal Service.
Dave and Laird
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Get to know: Laird Hamilton
Welcome to the first in what will be a sporadic series introducing some big names in surfing and wind surfing. We'll start off with Laird Hamilton, the most amazing big wave surfer ever to have lived. He co-invented tow-in surfing (when a surfer is towed into huge waves far offshore by a jet ski), has defied death on the heaviest wave ever ridden (Teahupo), and continues to pursue his love of board water sports (including wind surfing - I'll get a clip up as soon as I can find a good one) without all the cocky self-promotion and ego-attitude found in some others in the surf world. You can read up on Laird at his website.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Surfing Nantasket
This is the place all my ocean/beach photos are from. I was here a couple weeks before this video was taken. I'd love to learn how to surf at Nantasket!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
In Training!
Returned to Yoga class last night. And yes, it kicked my ass. Again. BUT not as bad as that first session did back in October. I have been doing some gentle Yoga at home in the meantime, so apparently doing something right.
The areas that hurt the most are my upper arms/shoulders and my quads. Both areas that I will need to strengthen for wind surfing. Both areas that will develop from swimming and Yoga, combined.
I have a note to myself on the whiteboard in my (new) office space at home: "6 months 'til spring training. Train hard - stand tall!" Spring training refers to the workshop held in June by the local wind surfing club. I hear there's a land trainer to get us kooks started. And that workshop will only be the beginning, I hope!
Besides the physical exhortations, the other thing I NEED to do more devoutly is to DRINK MORE WATER. I think I'm walking around half-dehydrated most of the time.
So far I've done pretty well about not munching out at night. I've found that drinking a cup of flavorful-but-noncaffeinated tea (like Ginger Twist) helps to nip my cravings back and keep me satisfied. And you can't go wrong with ginger tea!
The areas that hurt the most are my upper arms/shoulders and my quads. Both areas that I will need to strengthen for wind surfing. Both areas that will develop from swimming and Yoga, combined.
I have a note to myself on the whiteboard in my (new) office space at home: "6 months 'til spring training. Train hard - stand tall!" Spring training refers to the workshop held in June by the local wind surfing club. I hear there's a land trainer to get us kooks started. And that workshop will only be the beginning, I hope!
Besides the physical exhortations, the other thing I NEED to do more devoutly is to DRINK MORE WATER. I think I'm walking around half-dehydrated most of the time.
So far I've done pretty well about not munching out at night. I've found that drinking a cup of flavorful-but-noncaffeinated tea (like Ginger Twist) helps to nip my cravings back and keep me satisfied. And you can't go wrong with ginger tea!
Some new sites to dig...
WannaSurf includes a surf atlas, member profiles, forums (fora?), ratings, surf spots & sessions, etc. Fun graphics with UFOs!
TaraPopp's blargh on Korean media, part of a larger blog on Asian media. Lots of manga, gaming, geekery and fun stuff to peruse.
P.S. I think I'll eventually have to do something about the morass that is Places & Faces.
TaraPopp's blargh on Korean media, part of a larger blog on Asian media. Lots of manga, gaming, geekery and fun stuff to peruse.
P.S. I think I'll eventually have to do something about the morass that is Places & Faces.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Indoor Water Park COMING SOON
DUDES I just discovered that this fall an indoor water park very near to our own City on the Edge of Forever will open. It includes a WAVE POOL as well as all the usual water park delights. I'd post the link but it'd blow my cover.
I AM SO STOKED!
I AM SO STOKED!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Dusk to Dawn
Right now I feel as if the dawn is only a couple hours away. Soon it will be a new day stretching out ahead.
Yesterday Sue and I spent 9 hours working in Mom's apartment, packing and throwing out and organizing. It was a mammoth chore and I would NOT have been able to make it through without her amazing, tender, spirited, positive help. Even though she's not online to read this, I want to shout a loving thank you to the Universe for Sue H!
Next weekend is the move! I think the hard part is over, to be honest. Loading a truck and getting things to their new homes will be a cinch compared to yesterday.
Of course, we still need to rearrange OUR apartment to accommodate the influx of new furniture and belongings that are pouring in. This will be a challenge, to be sure, but I still think yesterday was the worst of the entire process, as far as the move itself goes.
Mom's spirits are up, and I was very proud of her yesterday, getting through a difficult day of deciding things to keep and things to toss. I know it was emotional for her, but she held up like a trooper, and I made sure to tell her numerous times what a great job she was doing, as did Sue.
Friday I discovered a wonderful new favorite spot, which I returned to today with friends Tim and Leigh from out of town. The sun is out, the temps are balmy (for late October) and the kite surfers were out there! I finally met in person one of the surfers I've been emailing with. I am now fully committed to getting ready for windsurfing in the spring - they have a face to the name and that means I can't chicken out!
The rest of today I am organizing myself for the week and will do some writing. Mood: optimistic but a bit tired.
Last but not least: lots of positive can-do-it energy to PMP who is doing her A-exam tomorrow. I know she will sail through, answer the hard questions, and impress them with her knowledge base and her dedication to the research. GO, PMP!
Yesterday Sue and I spent 9 hours working in Mom's apartment, packing and throwing out and organizing. It was a mammoth chore and I would NOT have been able to make it through without her amazing, tender, spirited, positive help. Even though she's not online to read this, I want to shout a loving thank you to the Universe for Sue H!
Next weekend is the move! I think the hard part is over, to be honest. Loading a truck and getting things to their new homes will be a cinch compared to yesterday.
Of course, we still need to rearrange OUR apartment to accommodate the influx of new furniture and belongings that are pouring in. This will be a challenge, to be sure, but I still think yesterday was the worst of the entire process, as far as the move itself goes.
Mom's spirits are up, and I was very proud of her yesterday, getting through a difficult day of deciding things to keep and things to toss. I know it was emotional for her, but she held up like a trooper, and I made sure to tell her numerous times what a great job she was doing, as did Sue.
Friday I discovered a wonderful new favorite spot, which I returned to today with friends Tim and Leigh from out of town. The sun is out, the temps are balmy (for late October) and the kite surfers were out there! I finally met in person one of the surfers I've been emailing with. I am now fully committed to getting ready for windsurfing in the spring - they have a face to the name and that means I can't chicken out!
The rest of today I am organizing myself for the week and will do some writing. Mood: optimistic but a bit tired.
Last but not least: lots of positive can-do-it energy to PMP who is doing her A-exam tomorrow. I know she will sail through, answer the hard questions, and impress them with her knowledge base and her dedication to the research. GO, PMP!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Surf's Up!
My obsession with surfing and windsurfing continues. Got myself on the listserv for the local windsurfing club, and have been reading voraciously. Went to the Ginormous Liberry Sale and picked up a couple used books on surfing, one on windsurfing, and one on Yoga. (I loves me the Ginormous Liberry Sale).
So yesterday I did the deed, finally. I spoke with my supervisor about my unhappiness with the full-time position and she was very gracious and understanding, and said she wasn't totally surprised. She knew when I went full-time that I may not like it, but figured she'd keep me for as long as possible. She indicated there may be a possibility to cut me back to 2 days a week like I was before, if they can hire a good person for the other 3. That would be ideal, since I have two sections to teach next semester, but we shall see. In any event, things feel much lighter for me now.
Unfortunately, this week was made more stressful by the fact that Mom went into the hospital on Monday, but she's coming home tomorrow. First she was to go home yesterday, then they pushed it to "the weekend" and finally we found out this morning that they're springing her tomorrow. I will spend tomorrow and overnight in Elmira and get her to dialysis on Monday morning before heading back to the City on the Edge of Forever. Thankfully, Monday is a holiday so I don't have to work and I can be there for Mom in the pinch.
And THEN on Thursday I'm off to Mass! Found another Tiki-themed restuarant to hit while I'm out there. I'll be sure to file a report when I get back.
Today is GLORIOUS and we spent a lovely morning at the farmers' market before hitting the book sale. I'm getting to all the things that have lain moldy all week - laundry, haus kleening, shopping, etc. today. Will chill out this evening with my man (Bizarro, that is) and my surfing books.
A few things to look forward to in the coming months:
Massachusetts: Family, beach, Tiki, Place Where I Was Birthed.
Halloween - we're going on a "haunted tour" of our fair city and will be doing so in costume. I'm pretty sure I'll be the Queen of Hearts (I've always wanted to do that) and Bizarro nabbed himself a Burger King mask (creepy).
Mom's Move - it won't be fun, but the work is worth the enjoyment we'll receive afterwards.
Thanksgiving - to Cleveland! Filipino food and all our favorite Cleveland places: Caribou Coffee, Chipotle, and the frozen Erie shore.
New Year's - to Cleveland again! And on the way we are stopping at the Splash Lagoon overnight for a faux-tropical paradise with many Tiki elements to soak up.
For the moment, I feel like I can breathe again, and there's a great wave coming in for me to ride!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Nantasket Surf
Found this neat video of dudes surfing at Nantasket Beach (where I'll be visiting next month):
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Two New Obsessions
1. The Harvey Wallbanger - classic cocktail. Much simpler and cheaper to make than a Mai Tai. SMJ & PMP - after I'm done with the antibiotic, we needs to get our drink on!
2. Surfing. A few weeks ago I had a stupendous dream involving me riding on top of a tsunami tidal wave and surviving it to the applause of all the other survivors on the beach. Since then, I've been obsessed. I've never been to California, but I now have a mission to watch the surfers at Cortez Banks some day. If I thought my busted up knee and ankle could take it, I'd take lessons. However, boogie boarding and body surfing are both possibilities, if I can get some hot surfing chick from "Blue Crush" to teach me.
2. Surfing. A few weeks ago I had a stupendous dream involving me riding on top of a tsunami tidal wave and surviving it to the applause of all the other survivors on the beach. Since then, I've been obsessed. I've never been to California, but I now have a mission to watch the surfers at Cortez Banks some day. If I thought my busted up knee and ankle could take it, I'd take lessons. However, boogie boarding and body surfing are both possibilities, if I can get some hot surfing chick from "Blue Crush" to teach me.
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