The boys were doing it, so I figured I could, too. It was hard to do this way.
Better.
Planking. On some plank (wood.) So meta?
Back to the campsite…
More photos here, all courtesy of Jeffrey!
Camping among the sequoia trees.
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Category Archives: Climbing, riding, and/or nature
Malibu Creek State Park
Another hike – this one complete with poison oak!
Thanks to Jeff (and Ryan, too!) for the photos…here’s the rest.
Escondido Falls, Malibu.
Yesterday to curb our sickness (and because it was pre-planned, who are we kidding?) Jeff and I headed out on a couple hour hike in Malibu with Ellen, Melissa, and Cricket. It was a great hike – challenging, but worth it. I’d like to go back in April when I am sure the waterfall is flowing faster, but August’s falls were great, too. Here are some photos.
We walked to the trail from the PCH, which was along a beautiful road through Malibu’s mansions.
About a half mile in, we arrive at the trail head!
Not even a mile into the trail we decide to stop and climb a tree.
On our merry way, finally making some time.
Things starting to get steep…
After two waterfalls and using ropes to climb, we finally get to the third waterfall.
Wading in, but not too far, as there were some snakes in the water…
Extra little hike with Jeff. Climbing down when we realized it didn’t go anywhere but a rock overlooking the ocean.
Please note how dirty I am.
Back to the girls, all rinsed off.
Headed back down.
For more photos, check them out on Jeff’s site. Thanks, Jeff, for documenting!
Shark Week 2011
I went back through my blog to see all the times I’ve yammered on about how much I love Shark Week and how it’s my favorite thing and I wait all summer — year really — for this week then act like a hermit and sit in my house and stare at the TV for two hours every night so excited and scared I don’t know what to do with myself, but as it turns out, I’ve never before mentioned it on my blog? I don’t know how this can be.
Shark Week began in 1987, a mere year after my birth. I’ve been watching it since my sister and I used to wear matching outfits in different colors, which probably means about the fourth grade, which if you’re doing the math was the summer of 1996. I was ten.
When we were little we used to swim on the Martha’s Vineyard beaches where Jaws was shot. When we swam in the Sound, we convinced ourselves there were only nurse sharks, or baby lemon sharks, nothing to be afraid of. When I moved to the Pacific, I had to carefully remind myself that great white sharks don’t attack often. (Although after last night’s information, I might be changing my view.)
When I went to China for the Olympics I made sure to have somewhere DVR Shark Week, which I missed being abroad. I have yet to miss a Shark Week, making sure to watch every new episode at least once, and usually rewatching them each season when they’re on.
My sister and I have spent extensive time discussing which Shark is the most dangerous. Tiger? Bull? White? I vote bull sharks, those crazies can swim in fresh water. No one, not even in rivers, is safe, my friends.
It’s my favorite thing about summer. It’s my favorite programming all year. It’s like the best NatGeo of the year rolled into a week. I urge you to join me.
The only consistent thing in life is change
That’s what my yoga teacher said to me during my final shavasana.
Last night I headed to yoga, to a new studio that I bought a Groupon for. I wanted to go to this studio because it’s where one of my favorite yoga teachers, Trevor, teaches. I got a Groupon for $30 for 10 classes, which is basically a steal, and I’ve been putting off going since April.
I finally went last Monday (I promise I’ll get back to yesterday soon) when summer hours at my job started. I made the 4:30 class in the nick of time, fluster and hot. I walked in, and realized I was only one of five people in the class. The change in pace of a yoga class from 30 people to five is huge, and I was excited for such an opportunity. Usually the classes I go to are large, which definitely have a place in my practice, but with such a small class size the teacher can give personal attention which helps students grow in their practice, I think.
So anyways, I really liked the teacher I had last week, so I decided to go to the class again yesterday. I arrive at 4:32, rushing again, and as I put my stuff down and came around the curtain I realized I was the only student. So I used the bathroom, took my time to unwind my mat, and hoped someone else would show. Which they didn’t.
This ended up being my favorite class I’ve had yet in my practice. First, my teacher, Darby, asked me about how long I’ve been doing yoga. After talking about that for a few minutes, he asked me what I wanted to do. What I wanted to do? What?
I’d never been asked that question! So I thought about it for a minute. What do I have? Tight hips. Tight shoulders. What do I want to work on? Warrior two.
This is warrior two. I had a tendency to lean forward (Darby called this “surfer”) and I also have a tendency to not turn my back foot in a way that allows me to place my weight on the outside of my back foot. We did a lot of warrior two. I was sufficiently sore.
We also focused on pigeon, which is great for opening your hips! Basically you get yourself into the position above, then lift your heart out and forward, leaning over your front leg. We did this for so long I thought my hips would never be tight again, which resulted in a lot of sweating, but a lot of peace.
Another one we did for the hips was squat. This is great for those of us who work at a desk and have tight hips (coughnikkicough).
We ended the class with an inversion, which in my practice is shoulder stand. We did this for about two minutes (or so it seemed) until I was ready to get down into bridge.
After an hour and a half, during which I could not get away with cheating on a pose, I was sufficiently sweaty, literally dripping (which I am sure that you wanted to know.) My hips and shoulders are nice and loose today, and the class got me ready for an evening long with conversations to my bffs on another coast (cor and laur, try saying that ten times fast) who were lovely to hear from.
Today’s agenda includes yoga and a Chinese food dinner, followed by reminiscing about China with a few friends. This week is shaping up to be a stellar one.