I love taking photos of flowers and I found these cacti:
I also love unique or cool lights. These were at my cousin's engagement party in nor Cal:
(and I had fun messing with the settings on my camera)
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
WOD: "Annie"
My life changed when I found Cross Fit. I will always be grateful for my friend who introduced me to it and for the coaches and friends who continue to cheer me on.
There is something about doing this workout that just gets my brain in competitive mode. I love that there is no running (though I've been doing the elliptical and running more because I am not good at it) and i don't feel like dying. Not that it isn't hard, good grief it is, but man, I want to get better at it!!
By far, the hardest thing for me in Cross Fit is to be last so much. I hate being last. I've never been that athletic, yes, I've been involved in sports but I readily admit that I was never on the top tier. I've done softball, track, dive team, swim team, and in college I learned about this thing called 'the gym.'
I know that everyone has varying background and athletic histories but it is still hard for me to not expect myself to do as well as other people. Some of the skills in Cross Fit are extremely challenging for me: rope climb, hand stands, hand stand pushups, dips, muscle ups. I love lifting weights. I'm not as excited for running long distances and I don't remember a time where I have ever been.
The "Annie" workout (for time) is:
50 double unders
50 abs
40 double unders
40 abs
30 double unders
30 abs
20 double unders
20 abs
10 double unders
10 abs
I am disappointed in myself, I did not beat my last time today when I did this workout. I need to be able to do 40-50 double unders in a row without stopping: efficiency. I need to also be faster with situps. The hardest thing I have, mainly with the double unders (or running for that matter) is catching my breath, I basically can't, no matter how many puffs of the inhaler I've taken.
I love jumping rope, I always have and it's one of the few things that bring back happy memories from being a kid, especially being a kid in gym class with limited natural athletic talent. I don't mind abs but I definitely want to get more efficient at them. As a flautist, I'm very excited that I've been strengthening my ab muscles and actually learning what it means to 'engage' them. Sheesh, even writing this I feel like a little kids learning skills I apparently never learned. I hope I don't sound like a couple doofus.
As is true to my nation, I am probably being too truthful but I'd rather share in hopes that someone can relate to what I'm saying and provide words of wisdom!
There is something about doing this workout that just gets my brain in competitive mode. I love that there is no running (though I've been doing the elliptical and running more because I am not good at it) and i don't feel like dying. Not that it isn't hard, good grief it is, but man, I want to get better at it!!
By far, the hardest thing for me in Cross Fit is to be last so much. I hate being last. I've never been that athletic, yes, I've been involved in sports but I readily admit that I was never on the top tier. I've done softball, track, dive team, swim team, and in college I learned about this thing called 'the gym.'
I know that everyone has varying background and athletic histories but it is still hard for me to not expect myself to do as well as other people. Some of the skills in Cross Fit are extremely challenging for me: rope climb, hand stands, hand stand pushups, dips, muscle ups. I love lifting weights. I'm not as excited for running long distances and I don't remember a time where I have ever been.
The "Annie" workout (for time) is:
50 double unders
50 abs
40 double unders
40 abs
30 double unders
30 abs
20 double unders
20 abs
10 double unders
10 abs
I am disappointed in myself, I did not beat my last time today when I did this workout. I need to be able to do 40-50 double unders in a row without stopping: efficiency. I need to also be faster with situps. The hardest thing I have, mainly with the double unders (or running for that matter) is catching my breath, I basically can't, no matter how many puffs of the inhaler I've taken.
I love jumping rope, I always have and it's one of the few things that bring back happy memories from being a kid, especially being a kid in gym class with limited natural athletic talent. I don't mind abs but I definitely want to get more efficient at them. As a flautist, I'm very excited that I've been strengthening my ab muscles and actually learning what it means to 'engage' them. Sheesh, even writing this I feel like a little kids learning skills I apparently never learned. I hope I don't sound like a couple doofus.
As is true to my nation, I am probably being too truthful but I'd rather share in hopes that someone can relate to what I'm saying and provide words of wisdom!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Tattoos
I guess I do not really mind them but I think I honestly just don't get it.
Seeing them on really young kids makes me a little sad. A couple days ago I saw a boy (who couldn't have been more than 15 years old) with a gang tattoo behind his right ear. I think about how much I have changed, how much my circumstances have changed since I was 16 and I cannot imagine wanting the same things on my body. So, no, it is many years later and I have not gotten any. I probably never well, they're just not for me.
But, in the process of trying to understand other people and not judge, I bring these questions to you.
1. What are your thoughts on tattoos?
2. Do you have any? If so, how many?
3. When did you get it/ them?
4. Are there any that you regret?
I've been watching LA Ink, which I actually find quite annoying but I find the reasons why people get tattoos fascinating. Everyone has a different reason, a different image or set of words, and yet it's all the same. For the people who want to remember something special, may I ask, why is a picture on your wall not enough to suffice? If you want to remember a specific day, why is a memory not enough?
Now, if I were to lose a small child or family member who didn't live a long enough life, I could understand being devastated, not knowing how to deal, and wanting to memorialize them on your body. And yet, where does it stop? How many people would have to die to decide that you were no longer going to tattoo them on your body? If you have a large family like mine, which people would you put on your body and which people would you leave off?
I'm a musician and I've seen some pretty cool music tattoos. (and here comes the 'yet'): I do not feel the need to get a picture of a flute tattooed on my chest or arm, which is why, again, they just are not for me. If they make you happy, I think people should get them. I've known many people who've been tattooed in a drunken stupor, only to wake up with snoopy on their thigh or a lightning bolt.
I have one friend who has the most random tattoos and she said she just likes them. So yes, everyone has a different reason, different meanings, some have no meanings at all. I wish more people would save to pay more for a better artist because I feel bad when I cannot tell what something is and I don't want to be rude and ask.
A couple weeks ago, I saw a woman at the Farmer's Market who had a half sleeve and it was a picture of a heart and bacon, with the words "I Love" tattooed above it. Hmmm. I'm not even sure what to say about that.
Right now, I am rambling so I may edit this more later, but for now..... check these out:
2bdd3ddf-79f9-408d-8bc0-4dc87660dd84.jpg
93ebfc37-aff5-453b-bba0-df4fdf90af4b.jpg
42d70644-34f7-4efc-a4dd-417cba14d93c.jpg
Seeing them on really young kids makes me a little sad. A couple days ago I saw a boy (who couldn't have been more than 15 years old) with a gang tattoo behind his right ear. I think about how much I have changed, how much my circumstances have changed since I was 16 and I cannot imagine wanting the same things on my body. So, no, it is many years later and I have not gotten any. I probably never well, they're just not for me.
But, in the process of trying to understand other people and not judge, I bring these questions to you.
1. What are your thoughts on tattoos?
2. Do you have any? If so, how many?
3. When did you get it/ them?
4. Are there any that you regret?
I've been watching LA Ink, which I actually find quite annoying but I find the reasons why people get tattoos fascinating. Everyone has a different reason, a different image or set of words, and yet it's all the same. For the people who want to remember something special, may I ask, why is a picture on your wall not enough to suffice? If you want to remember a specific day, why is a memory not enough?
Now, if I were to lose a small child or family member who didn't live a long enough life, I could understand being devastated, not knowing how to deal, and wanting to memorialize them on your body. And yet, where does it stop? How many people would have to die to decide that you were no longer going to tattoo them on your body? If you have a large family like mine, which people would you put on your body and which people would you leave off?
I'm a musician and I've seen some pretty cool music tattoos. (and here comes the 'yet'): I do not feel the need to get a picture of a flute tattooed on my chest or arm, which is why, again, they just are not for me. If they make you happy, I think people should get them. I've known many people who've been tattooed in a drunken stupor, only to wake up with snoopy on their thigh or a lightning bolt.
I have one friend who has the most random tattoos and she said she just likes them. So yes, everyone has a different reason, different meanings, some have no meanings at all. I wish more people would save to pay more for a better artist because I feel bad when I cannot tell what something is and I don't want to be rude and ask.
A couple weeks ago, I saw a woman at the Farmer's Market who had a half sleeve and it was a picture of a heart and bacon, with the words "I Love" tattooed above it. Hmmm. I'm not even sure what to say about that.
Right now, I am rambling so I may edit this more later, but for now..... check these out:
2bdd3ddf-79f9-408d-8bc0-4dc87660dd84.jpg
93ebfc37-aff5-453b-bba0-df4fdf90af4b.jpg
42d70644-34f7-4efc-a4dd-417cba14d93c.jpg
Monday, August 29, 2011
Bubbles & Beans
Bubbles & Beans is the name of one of the laundromats in town. Aaron and I have been there a couple times but it is ridiculously over-priced. We go to another place that always has people and I was thinking that the when people are looking for a good laundromat, you should drive by them numerous days a week and see which ones are busy most often. A good sign indeed!
There was a family at the laundromat and the three kids did a good job of entertaining themselves. The little boy could not have been more than 9 years old and he and his mom came up to me and asked what a word on his worksheet meant. The mom had a heavy Spanish accent and I give them kudos for asking. I think that most people in that situation would be too proud to ask for help. The word was "scrub" and I agree that it is a pretty weird word. A little while later the boy came back, this time by himself and said "excuse, me but I don't mean to interrupt you, but do you know what this word means?" It was the word "pasture" which I could definitely understand not knowing. Some words out of context just don't make sense and other words, when you don't hear them used, I can totally understand not knowing the words.
At the end of the night, he was over by us as we left he said goodbye and thank you. So sweet!!
There was a family at the laundromat and the three kids did a good job of entertaining themselves. The little boy could not have been more than 9 years old and he and his mom came up to me and asked what a word on his worksheet meant. The mom had a heavy Spanish accent and I give them kudos for asking. I think that most people in that situation would be too proud to ask for help. The word was "scrub" and I agree that it is a pretty weird word. A little while later the boy came back, this time by himself and said "excuse, me but I don't mean to interrupt you, but do you know what this word means?" It was the word "pasture" which I could definitely understand not knowing. Some words out of context just don't make sense and other words, when you don't hear them used, I can totally understand not knowing the words.
At the end of the night, he was over by us as we left he said goodbye and thank you. So sweet!!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Bums
I know that there are a lot of homeless people in the world and it makes me very sad. I remember when I worked in downtown Seattle (right by the Space Needle), being followed by the homeless guys and it is so uncomfortable! In downtown Santa Barbara, dang, there are so many homeless people!! It's very different now for me because I see these people EVERY day as I live extremely close to my office. I see them in the morning as I go to work, on my breaks, and at night when I go home or walk around with friends. It's sad because I know most homeless people here are mentally handicapped and are/ have been addicted to something. I don't give them money anymore except for the (maybe twice a year) occasion, where I get this pulling feeling from someone and then I do and it's just a dollar.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Viva La Fiesta
Every year, Santa Barbara puts on Viva La Fiesta, a tribute to "Old Spanish Days."
http://www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org/new/index.php
There are usually a lot of tourists and foreigners in Santa Barbara but this weekend is crazy. On the Friday of Fiesta, there is always a parade. Locals put their lawn chairs and blankets out to save their spots, and even after 5 years (holy bananas how has that much time gone by!!??) I think it is weird. I cannot imagine that in most towns these items would last long without being stolen. A friend mentioned that to me today and I am glad I'm not the only one who finds this an oddity.
There is a custom with Fiesta that people buy confetti filled eggs and I wish I knew the story behind it. All over State Street (and side streets) there is confetti and parts of egg shell strewn everywhere. I saw the cutest little girl today trying to crack one on her slightly taller brother and she wasn't coordinated enough to do it. She finally stretched as tall as she could, crushed the egg in her hand, and pushed it into his hair. I actually LOL'd.
http://www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org/new/index.php
There are usually a lot of tourists and foreigners in Santa Barbara but this weekend is crazy. On the Friday of Fiesta, there is always a parade. Locals put their lawn chairs and blankets out to save their spots, and even after 5 years (holy bananas how has that much time gone by!!??) I think it is weird. I cannot imagine that in most towns these items would last long without being stolen. A friend mentioned that to me today and I am glad I'm not the only one who finds this an oddity.
There is a custom with Fiesta that people buy confetti filled eggs and I wish I knew the story behind it. All over State Street (and side streets) there is confetti and parts of egg shell strewn everywhere. I saw the cutest little girl today trying to crack one on her slightly taller brother and she wasn't coordinated enough to do it. She finally stretched as tall as she could, crushed the egg in her hand, and pushed it into his hair. I actually LOL'd.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Phinny Mills
The awkward encounters of Phinny Mills. This will be my sur-name.
I hate it when you're trying predict which side of the street someone is going to favor and yet it does not work, you end up, at last minute, each trying to avoid the other and neither succeeding. I get very annoyed in these situations.
Yesterday, I watched a little girl run after her sister, not understanding that she was just going to the restroom and will be back shortly. It was so cute!
There is so much movement throughout cities. I love watching it, I wish I could get paid to write or observe. It's crazy how many things you can see while driving from Santa Barbara to LA. The drive is not bad at all, especially when traffic is good. I drove to LA on Saturday and I saw a large truck hauling flammable containers. They seemed somewhat secure but I have to say, seeing an open-bodied truck with that many containers was not comforting!
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