Learning to Catch, then Catch and Return

The Things have gone off to Israel with their Dad... on the one hand, I miss them already, and on the other, I am so glad that I don't have to arrange child care, and that I can sleep in (or not, depending on my own rhythms!)

Streb has put together a catching class, which I'll be a part of until I go to Israel. DIno and Manny are running it, and as a surprising change, it's my first trapeze-ish class where it is 50-50 men and women!

We got into catch locks (with assistance, at least for me), tried climbing a rope, without our legs (as if!), did some pull ups, went up high to the catch trap and swung there a little, which I found a lot more intimidating than I thought I would!, and had someone hang on us when doing our catcher's locks. Manny's weight was a little intense for me at this point. One the other hand, Fran, who is light as a feather, was able to whip, split, planche, and then do a one handed thing on me, without any problem.

While the class is a lot of fun. in a masochistic-type way, it's given me a lot of respect for how strong catchers actually are, and made me realize that wimpiness is realatie, and compared to catchers, I am a total wimp.

It was also nice being in a class with some people that I don't get to see very often. Denise and Erik, both of whom I used to see all the time but don't anymore are in the class...

After taking an hour rest, I took the Catch and Retun class. Jeff thought it would be a good idea for me to work on my 540, with the thought that I could eventually do it as a return. Since I love spinning, or trying to, at least, I didn't put up as much of a fight as I usually do when Jeff suggests that I do something...

What's interesting is that I can feel what I need to be doing, even as I am going through the motions of doing it incorrectly! It is a truly bizarre feeling, but I think that it might mean that progress is being made. Right now I am going the 1 1/2 revolutions, without jagged pauses, but I complete way too late...

At catch time, I threw Jeff my half turn (Ha, that's funny, I didn't realize I had a half turn!), and tried to do a 540 off of him. That was not very successful The first time, he push/turned me one way, and I went the other, or rather, tried going the other, the effect of which was that I didn't go anywhere. The second time, I did some sort of helicopter thing. On the plus side, though, was that Jeff had me do my own timing off of the half turn to him, and it pretty decent... lots of spins during the week. I'll have to sign up for some weekend classes so I don't lose my core tricks...

Oh, yeah. Congrats to Renee for being allowed out of lines! She's wanted it for a while, and was so thrilled to be flying out...

On the knitting front, I finally finished the shawl that I've been working on for what has seemed forever, and then immediately started another shawl, as if I really need all these shawls! Oh well, hopefully this one won't be the herculean effort the other one was. Pics will be forthcoming for those interested.

And finally, thanks for the birthday wishes. In the last year, I figured out my mod, which I have made a round trip on, learned how to surf, gotten divorced, rode a bicycle far, far further than I thought myself capable of, flew in a 12-seater, and welcomed two additions to our family (albeit of the pet variety). So here's to the joy of new experiences, of opportunities to learn new things, to great friends, and a terrific, if somewhat disfunctional family. I hope 35 will be as wonderful as 34 was, even if the number is somewhat scary for me.
XO