Oops I Did It Again

As one of Americas most wisest and profound artists once said, “Oops, I did it again.”
I truly did it again, I crashed in another cyclocross race, just like I did the first race of the season, except I landed on my left knee, not the right like I did in September.

The original crash sidelined me from both ‘cross and ballet. I was about over the ankle issue I suffered in Cali and was chomping at the bit to get back into the studio. Then blammy, not so fast there bike boy, doctors orders.

Flash forward, I was feeling good, and had classes circled on the calendar once again, counting the days until my grand return. Then, like I said above I went and did it again, same type of crash with nearly the same results.

So, I thought about going to class a few days ago. I was feeling good and getting little signs all day long that ballet was in my future. Ran across the schools dance team doing pirouettes to warm out before their practice. So I did one of my own to try to show them I wasn’t just some stranger oggling them. It was pretty good actually. There was a link to some great video on YouTube and then a clip from The Nutcracker on the ARTS network when I flipped on the tv when I got home.

Dear readers, I was feeling good, finally, I got my shit together, and thought hey let’s warm up here before I head out. It was at that point when I discovered that things were not as ready as I had earlier thought. The knee wasn’t having any of it, even the simple stuff, a simple plié for one. It felt good walking, running and even cycling, but not this, no sir.

Ggggrrrrreeeeaaatt (complete with eye-roll), now how long will it be? Well, I have four or so more local races, then nationals in Madison, WI and then UCI world championships in Louisville, KY of all places in February. Hopefully I’ll survive until then. I’ve already promised several that I’ll stop crashing, I guess it’s as ugly to witness as it is to be in them (I actually have little to no memory of either of them, which I almost prefer). Can’t wait to get back, hopefully soon, see you then.

Arty

Ok so I’ve got this thing, now what hell do I do with it? I’ve got the Twitter, the Angry Birds, I’ve even got the Fruit Ninja. I found some pretty cool drawing apps as well. Dear readers I’ve always enjoyed drawing, but I haven’t picked up a pencil in ages, so I’m thinking ArtRage is pretty cool.

So anyway, my first actual attempt was pretty awful (it’s at the bottom) Really no idea what I’m doing, randomly selecting things from the toolbar. Thank you Adult Beginner for the recommendation. BTW, I’ve ordered the Cosmonaut stylus too, drawing with your finger is harder than it should be.

Anyway, the second attempt (see below) was much better, I’m happy with the results. I love being able to redo a watercolor painting, suck on that reality!

"Tutu"

My first go-round was pretty bad, no idea what I was doing. Here it is anyway, the magic marker just wasn’t doing it for me, and you don’t get the buzz from inhaling marker fumes.

"Horrible Ballerina"

No Free Lunches + S&H

I’m not sure when I first came across the Tweet with a link to the Capezio site, lets say six weeks ago, offering free Capezio ballet shoes. I’m like all sweet, this is either the best deal ever or a total scam. I half expected Visa to call me to ask about the excessive activity on my account. Did I just charge sixteen first class tickets from Chicago to Micronesia? All the while destroying my already questionable credit history.

Get your free shoes quick, this can’t last long.

So with fingers crossed I order. A week or so later a package comes. Revealed that I wasn’t scammed I fail to tear open the bag which seems to be made of some type of space-age plastic impervious to only the sharpest of scissors and knives.  Someone screwed up and sent me two sets of shoes. So let me take a moment to thank whom ever it was that sent me two sets of shoes that don’t quite fit my missized feet. The left one kinda fit, much like my current pair of slippers, they fit, but then again they kinda don’t.  Needless to say, buying any shoes of any kind is a huge pain in my ass.

I’ve only had a few pair of shoes successfully ordered online that has actually fit, my new kick ass black and blue Van’s for one. Nearly every other shoes have had to be returned. Oh well, shipping for the new Capezio’s was like four bucks, a gamble I was willing to take.

Online order success. Dope ass kicks!

Thought I’d try my luck to see if I could score another pair, hoping they might actually fit.  Yet, again what I received wasn’t quite the right size, they are pink, almost a Pepto-Bismol pink. Now with an ever growing pile of ballet shoes I’m left with several decisions. Do I try again, and try my luck with a third order? Do I call it good with what I’ve got now? Do I pack them up and take them to school and see if I can unload them on someone there? Or do I just give up and rock the mismatched slippers? If I were to roll the dice and order another I’ll have spent almost the same amount of money on these free shoes as I would on a new pair that I know would fit.

Can't a brotha catch a break? The pile continues to grow.

Upon closer inspection the first two pairs of shoes that arrived fit my left foot well enough, and the second order fits my right foot well enough, the only problem, they are different colors, white and pink. I’m tired of ballet slippers that almost fit, I’ve put up with them long enough. The only ballet shoes that fit me right are my pointe shoes, I made damn sure those fuckers fit.

Hmmm, maybe I can dye them.

I guess I could dye them, I don’t think I can pull off the different color shoe look. They are slightly roomier than I like, I guess I’ll hold onto the pile of shoes I’ve collected here, I’m sure I might come up with a good idea one of these days. Who knows?

Mid-flight Stretch

So I’m sitting in the departure lounge at Big City International and I’m surfing through my ballet pals twettes killing time while my flight is readied. Eventually I come across @Bead_109‘s tumblr page with photos of the Scottish Ballet while flying across the Atlantic.

The original photo, the Scottish ballet mid-flight.

I tweeted her and let her know that I was about to fly and I’d do my best to recreate the earlier photograph.  It didn’t go well on my flight out, but I was able to get something a tad similar on my return trip.

My attempt mid-flight, luckily the seat in front of me was empty.

Not quite the same results, but international flights are a bit roomier and I didn’t have someone sitting behind me to take the photo.

Anyway, you gotta’ do something to entertain yourself while flying.