Solo Voyage

In case you don't know - we have a Capri Sun 14.2 sailboat.  It is the same kind of boat we took our lessons in.  And yesterday we actually hooked it up and took it to Tempe Town Lake for our Solo Voyage - without instructors. 

 We got to the lake at about 1:00 - Scott met us there.  He had purchased our Tempe Town Lake Permit so he had to come apply it to our boat before we could put it in the water.  We got the boat rigged and ready for action. 

Our Solo Voyage had two minor glitches.  First as we were getting the boat into the water my pinky finger started bleeding.  And that thing was a gusher that wouldn't stop.  It was dripping all over - crazy because I didn't even feel anything.  I had to go to the truck to try to stop the bleeding.  I used a beach towel  but in the meantime I dripped blood on the seat.  Then when I used the towel the blood was oozing through it and seeping onto the seat while I looked for a bandaid.  I don't know what was going on but I am happy to say that I did eventually stop the bleeding.  Crazy.

The other minor glitch was when we were actually raising the main sail.  We could get it up - but not quite all the way.  We were 8 or 10 inches from the top of the 20 foot mast.  It seemed to be hanging up on something.  We hoisted it up and tugged - then we would take it down and try again.  We were stumped.  But luckily for us there was a Sailing Club member standing around watching newbie sailors make mistakes.  He came over and watched us for a while.  Made a suggestion or two and then hit on the problem.  We had the boom vang attached and it was hindering the full deployment of the main sail.  We unhooked the boom vang and voila - the sail was fully extended and we were ready to push off and start our Solo Voyage.  We thanked the guy and set sail.

We had the most perfect sailing day ever.  The wind was great!  It kept blowing the entire time we were there.  It wasn't too strong - but gave us lots of practice moving around the lake and making turns.  We never had such a good wind at any of our classes.  So we were just moving all around and having a great time.  Our friend, the Sailing Club member?  He used his binoculars and watched us while we took our Solo Voyage out on the lake.  He might have gotten a few laughs.  But we came back to the dock dry - and that should give us extra points.  The reason we don't have any pictures of us out on the lake is I was too chicken to take the camera out with us - just in case we had to exercise our capsize recovery skills.  Maybe next time we'll be braver. 

We count our first Solo Voyage and a huge success. So if anyone wants to come with us some time and try out some sailing - let us know.  We'll try to squeeze you into our schedule. 

100 miles

Yesterday I officially finished my 100 miles. 

 I feel really good about it. 

 I turned my form in and will have earned my free limited edition t-shirt to commemorate the fete.  Actually now that I've done the math - that t-shirt cost me $54 in park entrance fees, plus gas money to drive all over the valley to get to the various parks, and a fair amount of blisters, sweat, and tears. 

 I'm not complaining - just saying. 

 Sunrise - one of the best!

A perfect saguaro specimen. 

 One arm has a crested top - sort of looks like a heart.

 This arch to nowhere was just outside the park area.

The arch was lined with lights -

 upon further inspection they were

Christmas-type lights mounted and enclosed in a jars. 

Dinner and Dessert

Tonight we are having friends over for dinner.  I'm going all out and making   .   .   .   .   .   . TACOS.  Doesn't everyone like tacos?  So today I need to get a few groceries in order to make that happen.  And I haven't decided yet what to make for dessert.  Lemon poppy seed bundt cake?  Brownies?  Ice cream bars?  Nothing is sounding right just yet. 

Maybe I should make Churros.  Last Wednesday a professional baker came over and taught the Young Men how to make Pate Choux.  Then they made cream puffs and eclairs in the shapes of mice, swans, and even words like "Happy 45th" (it was his 45th anniversary that night).  Back to the topic at hand - he said you use this Pate Choux for many many other things including Churros.  So maybe I'll do that for dinner's dessert - but probably not.  I'm just plain lazy!

Balanced

I consider myself very balanced - today especially.
 I went to my Pilates class - second one of the semester.  She had a pre-test planned to evaluate our flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance.  When it came time for the balance test we all got a big exercise ball.  The routine was as follows:
1.  Sit on the ball and lift your toes/feet from the floor and balance for one minute - if you are successful you move on to:
2.  Continue sitting on the ball and kick your feet out away from the ball and balance for one minute - if you are succcessful you move on to:
3.  Continue sitting on the ball with your feet kicked away from the ball and extend your arms out and above your head and balance for one minute - if you are successful you move on to:
4.  Continue as you are and play catch with someone who is out of the challenge - so continue balancing and playing catch for one minute - if you are successful you move on to:
5.  Maneuver yourself on the ball and get in a kneeling position on the ball - remove hands from ball by straighten your body into a standing position (only you are on your knees) and continue balancing for one minute - if you are successful you are deemed balanced for life (or something like that).
The idea is to move seamlessly through the progressions.  No putting feet down and starting another minute fresh - we had to move from each progression without stopping our balancing act.

There was a girl in the back of the room named Ann.  She had shamed us all during the other skill tests.  She always went the entire time as we were all struggling, shaking, and sweating.  So the pressure was on.  I was hoping I could do pretty good on the balance test.

So when the test started I focused on one point on the floor and began to balance on the ball.  Number 1 was simple.  Number 2 was pretty easy too - I had a few wiggles but nothing too major.  Number 3 was just about the same.  Number 4 was a problem because the guy who came to play catch with me stood in front of my focal point.  But I determined I was not going to break my gaze and look up at him.  So I managed to stare in the direction of my focal point and still see the ball coming through peripheral vision and catch it and throw it back.  Whew - a few more wiggles.  Moving into number 5 was challenging and she actually let our feet go momentarily on the floor but we had to immediately get up onto the ball on our knees and get our hands off the ball.  I was successful!  Almost immediately I realized I couldn't last the entire minute.  I could feel my balance was off and I was slowly - very slowly - moving backwards.  I tried to reach my arms as far forward as I could to try to recover my balance but it didn't work.  I did manage to stay in that position for 25 more seconds.

And when I was done everyone clapped for me.  I guess I won the balance test with a total of 4 minutes 25 seconds.  I'll take it.  Don't ask how strong my stomach muscles are - I stink at sit ups!

More hiking

Today I did more hiking.  I drove out to White Tanks.  I parked outside the park so I only had to pay $2 to get in. But that also meant a 1/4 mile walk to the park.  Forgot the camera. Dang!  I completed 11.4 miles though.  The cool thing about today was seeing so many military jets flying around.  I kept seeing them fly over by twos.  In the morning I saw them flying away from Luke.  Then in the afternoon they all returned.  I bet I saw 10 pairs flying overhead in the afternoon.  Now that was cool!

I don't think I'll be doing any more hiking tomorrow.  Why?  Because between Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's hiking I have booked 34.2 miles.  My feet are feeling the miles.  And I just did the math - I have a total of 96.3 miles complete.  WaHoo!  I think I can afford to take tomorrow off and finish during the week.  But then again - 4 miles will feel really short.  Maybe I should do more hiking tomorrow.  What do you think? 

McDowell Mtns.

Why did I decide to take the 100 mile hiking challenge?  I don't know - but I did and I am going to finish it.  I have until January 30th to complete the 100 miles.  I have hiked in each of the 8 listed Maricopa County Parks.  Let me list them for you:  Cave Creek, Estrella Mountain, Lake Pleasant, McDowell Mountain, San Tan Mountain, Spur Cross Ranch, Usery Mountain, and White Tanks.  Each one of those visits has cost $6 to enter.  I have hiked in the White Tanks twice so far with probably 2 more trips needed to finish up.  It happens to be the closest to us. 

Anyway, these pictures document my trip to the McDowell Mountains on Wednesday. That was a looong drive from my house.  But I had decided from the beginning that I was going to go to every park they listed on the hike challenge.  So off I went.  An hour and a half later I arrived.

I went alone because Doug has abandoned his quest for 100 miles.  Actually it was my idea to begin with so he probably didn't even want to do the challenge in the first place. 

The trails in the McDowell Mountains weren't marked as well as some of the other parks were and I ended up outside of the actual mapped trails and probably hiked at least 2 miles on other trails until I found out exactly where I was.  Whew!  That was close.

This rusted trough was on my map - believe it or not.  You don't see too many of those while hiking around in the desert.  So I knew exactly where I was.  One noteworthy observation from Wednesday's hike was seeing a wolf.  He was wandering around down in a valley following a dry wash.  Probably looking for food.  I watched him for a few minutes.  Luckily I was not on his dinner menu.

Check off 14.4 more miles on my 100 mile quest.  I got to drive home at 4:30 - all the way across town in the rush hour traffic.  That was fun!  NOT!  But I just put on my "be patient" hat and enjoyed the ride.  The sunset was pretty beautiful.

The hills are alive . . . . with the sound of music!

Climb    every   mountain . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ford   every    stream . . . . . . . . .

Follow   every   rainbow . . . . . . . .

Till   you     find    your . . . . . . . .

truck!

Now that felt good!

Sailing, Sailing

Well as you can see below - we do have an actual sailboat.

Doug has been figuring out how to get the mast up on the boat.

And as you can also see below - he figured it out.

 Once the mast was up it was easy to rig everything else.

Boom attached to mast and sail. 

 Main sail being hoisted on the mast.

 Sail going up - notice how cool that "DS" is on the sail.

Might those be Dougs initials?

Yes, but the boat is also called a Daysailer- hence the DS.

Main sail up and jib being hoisted.

 Main sail and jib sail ready for sailing.

The sailboat and her captain. 

Now we really need to get this out on the lake.

Then we will be sailing, sailing.

P.S. We are taking suggestions for names for the boat.

We might have to christen her before we take her out.

More Sweet Smile

My last post "By Degrees" felt good to write up.  Yes, having the missionaries here, "it's a blessing . . . . and a curse."  Most of the times it is wonderful.  It is not so wonderful when you loan your whole house vacuum to them to use ONE TIME and it comes back broken!  Not this set of missionaries - but our own Elder "Fix-it" did that one.  He was sure it wasn't broken - but it was.  Yes it still sucks and the brush works but the head of the vacuum just hangs down when you pick it up.  The latch/release thingy got broken.  He knows they didn't do it - but I know he did.  I spent most of that afternoon fuming, grumbling under my breath, near tears, etc.  Those things did nothing to help so I don't know why I wasted my energy being upset.  It is still usable and for that I am grateful - weak sweet smile needed here.

Other little bothersome items are when they assemble a huge ward map and then need something huge to mount it on the wall. WHY?  Then they need bandaids, burn ointment or aloe vera (I have none), upset stomach medicine, glue sticks, etc.  Other bothersome moments are when you realize they snoop in your game closets without permission, every empty space becomes "theirs" - not happening, they think the basement is their man-cave and it is so dirty and messy as to be hazardous to their health and ours to go down there, they keep the thermostat at a pleasant 65 during the summer - when they aren't even there, everytime there is a transfer more junk seems to accumulate and nobody knows what to do with it so it just piles up, and when they bring a huge jug of syrup and catsup home from the church fridge cleaning project and give it to us to use - sweet smiles all around.

This week was another "it's a curse" moment.  Elder Halligan came into the house and walked up to me and said sweetly, "Sister Selin? I was wondering if you could help us out. I would really appreciate if you could. (sweet smile included here)."  Looked over and saw a huge white garbage bag in his hands.  He said, "Our Mission President is friends with some guy who does a Farmers' Market.  When he doesn't sell all his bread products he gives it to the Mission President and he gives it to us missionaries when we have meetings.  We try to use it but sometimes it goes to waste.  The Mission President's wife said that has to stop - so give it to your ward Relief Society Presidents.  They can make sure it gets used."  We thought, "Hey we live with the Relief Society President - isn't that convenient?  So we brought this bread and hope you can help us out."  First of all - THANKS to the Mission President's Wife!  Now I have a table full of artisan-style breads (day or two old) to try to dole out to people who probably don't really want it.  But I smiled sweetly and said I'd try.  Elder Halligan said, "Thank you so much, Sister Selin! (sweet smile included here.)"

Aren't we blessed? 

And all this for $75 a month in compensation. 

Sweet Smile

By Degrees

The beginning step was easy enough.  Elder Halligan came upstairs and walked up to me and said sweetly, "Sister Selin?  I was wondering if you could mend my pants.  I would really appreciate if you could. (sweet smile included here)."  I took a look at the pants.  There was a small half inch tear in the stitching on the crotch of the pants.  Simple to fix.   Not a problem.  So I agreed to fix them.  Elder Halligan said, "Thank you so much, Sister Selin!  (sweet smile included here.)"

A couple of days later - Elder Halligan came upstairs and walked up to me and said sweetly, "Sister Selin? I was wondering if you could show me how to sew this button on my shirt. I would really appreciate if you could. (sweet smile included here)." I took a look at the shirt.  Sure enough there was a button missing at the neck of his white dress shirt. Simple to fix. Not a problem. So I agreed to "show" him how to sew the button on. Elder Halligan said, "Thank you so much, Sister Selin! (sweet smile included here.)"

A few more days passed before -Elder Halligan came upstairs and walked up to me and said sweetly, "Sister Selin? I was wondering if you could hem these pants for me. I don't know how much sewing you do but I would really appreciate it if you could help me out. (sweet smile included here)." The pants were bought, hemmed, and sent from Missionary Mall in Orem.  I wondered why they didn't get the hem right - but evidently the pants are a different style and don't hang the same as the other ones.  So I took a look at the pants. I made sure he only wanted a straight hem and nothing tricky like a cuff or antyhing special.  I know I can do them but was hesitant about agreeing - don't need the added pressure.  Not so simple to fix but I agreed to hem them.   Elder Halligan said, "Thank you so much, Sister Selin! (sweet smile included here.)" I still haven't even pinned the hem up for him to try them on.  So he will still have to wait until I get to them. 

My problem is that he moved me along from very simple sewing tasks to a big "better look professional" hem - by degrees.  A little at a time.  And I fell for it.  So I am a little afraid about what sewing task might come after I get the hem done.  I mean will he request a quilt made from all his mission ties?  What about darning his socks - I'd send those to Doug's mom to do.  Or will he need a new suit and come to me with a stack of material, no pattern, and only a week to do the project?  I'm not sure.  But I guess if I don't do a great job on the hem - maybe he'll think twice before asking me to help him out.  Thank you very much!

Our Own 30 Year Amazing Race

December 29th marked our 30 year anniversary.  For the occasion I planned an Amazing Race style evening.  If I may say so myself - it was Amazing! 

I guess I'm going to have to either do this in stages (the photos aren't uploading in a timely fashion) OR do a short comic book about it.  I'm leaning toward comic book.  We shall see.

So you'll have to wait to see what happened on Our Own 30 year Amazing Race.