I Dig Candlepin Bowling

I like bowling, but it is really difficult for me because in order to find a ball that my enormous hand fits in, I usually have to get a 13+ pound ball. I end up lobbing the ball down toward the pins, missing them, and hurting myself in the process.

While visiting Valerie and Family this past week we went candlepin bowling. The ball is small like the balls in duckpin bowling.

Look I can palm the ball. No worries about finding a ball. Especially with my really long nails.

Two other cool things about candlepin bowling: you get three tries to knock down all the pins, and they don't clear the pins between tries, so you can hit a downed pin and it can spin around and knock down an upright pin. As you can see in the photos the pins are tall and narrow, with no sexy curves.

We bowled with the rails up, so I did pretty well. And just in case you are wondering, you CAN bowl with the rails up and still miss all the pins.

Tempting

I'm tempted to leave on this gel manicure and just paint the new growth aqua or something. The problem is that my right hand doesn't look as good. 

This was my first gel manicure and I am very pleased with the results.  Three weeks and no chips at all on my left hand!

I'm going to soak it off now.

Mega Avocado

When I saw this avocado at H-E-B I had to buy it. At $1.25 I think it was a better deal than two small ones for a dollar. This avocado is the biggest I've ever seen.  It makes my giant hands look small. I am going to try and sprout the pit.

Newsprint Nails 2.0

Today I tried the newsprint technique again.  This time I used white nail polish and dipped the newspaper in alcohol.   I got more ink and less paper this time.I like how it turned out.

February Photo Challenge: Hands

That's my left manota trying to hold first position.  I just tuned the cello--with the temperature fluctuations the strings pop and creak and wake me up in the middle of the night.  I managed a C scale today--pizzicato only.

First Swing Class

Last Saturday Ross and I went to our first swing class.  Swinging on the trapeze looks easy, but it takes a lot of muscle.  Swing class only lasts one hour and that's a good thing.  The swinging zaps all your energy and the gauze bar tears up your hands.

 Ross tore up his left hand on his last swing.

I peeled off one layer of skin on one swing and then popped off a few more layers at the base of my pinky finger--that is when I called it quits.

Ross's swing greatly improved after his first turn.

This was my best turn of the day.

My hand has pretty much healed up, Ross's hasn't fared as well.  I'm taking another class on Sunday, and I'm hoping not to rip too badly.  I need to remember to chalk up before I put on my grips.

El Manuel

I went to school so that I don't have to work with Manuel.  Well, I come home and my dad puts me to work.  This weekend we grouted the tile in the bathroom that my dad built.  We had to float in the grout, then clean off the excess.  We still haven't buffed off the dust.

 My dad is sitting where the toilet will go.

Here's my mom cleaning the tile with her left hand--she has to rest that right arm.

So washing the tile and grout turned my fingers all pruney, and my nails are all white from the grout.  My precious hands aren't used to manual labor.

Trapeze: Wig Test

My Trapeze IFW show is only 2 weeks away. I decided to bring my wig today to test it out. It is really long.  I was concerned with it flying off.  As you can see in the first video--it flies in front of me during the trick and Donovan can't see, much less catch my hands.  On the second try I put the wig into a low pony tail.  No problem!

This photo is to show how red my hands get after trapeze.  I also have red streaks along the tendons on my palms.  My right hand is fine.  The tendons on my left hand are very sensitive and tender.  I have a Living Social coupon for acupuncture--maybe I'll ask them to work on my hands.

Set Split--with Miscalculation by Donovan

The set-split seemed to be easier for me to get than the set straddle. Everyone said my first try was awesome--of course after that I kept messing up.  It was warm in the tent, and I was doing lots of exercises between turns. We were short a couple of people, so the time between turns was shorter. I was very tired and very sweaty by the end of class. I'm getting better at climbing the silks, I got higher up this week.

I got one try to catch--and we just touched finger-tips. Donovan said it was his fault. He said I had a fast take off and to remind him of that next time.

I really tried to stretch the backs of my legs and pushed myself during Wednesday's yoga class.  I was super sore after yoga, and I'm still sore now, but I think it helped and my split looks pretty good. I may start a new trick next week, I may not. I'm not sure. I really think I need to practice this one more. I need to practice keeping my back leg glued to the bar.

Calluses are forming at the base of my fingers. I'm toughening up my manotas.  At least I haven't broken a nail.  Cello required calluses and short nails.

Warm Pillow

I woke up one morning and this is what I saw--Bailey curled up on Ross's head. The photo isn't great because I took it in low light with my cell phone, but I knew if I got up to get the camera Bailey would follow me.

Bailey is funny in the winter. She suddenly wants to snuggle up because she is cold. We all know she gets under the covers and sleeps there during the day, but at night she acts like you are crazy for even suggesting getting under the covers. I cover her up, but she protests if I cover her head. The other night it was so cold I put my big ol' hand around her head and pulled the covers over it. She didn't notice. Two nights ago she got upset when I was snuggling up to her like a pillow. She uses Ross as a warm pillow all the time, but if I try to do it to her she gets upset. Typical cat.

Big Hands You Know You're the One

I have big hands: a large square palm and long slender fingers. I wear a size 8 surgical glove. In leather gloves I'm a at least a size 9. I have been looking for a new pair of leather gloves, but I have yet to find a pair that fits.

I can reach a full octave (or more) on the piano between my thumb and pinky, but sadly, I can't play the piano.

Today we went bowling. Trying to find a bowling ball is always fun. My thumb has a tendency to get stuck. If I pick out a 14 pound ball I can usually fit my fingers in, but I bowl even worse with a heavy ball. Maybe I should learn to palm it like the guys in the lane next to us were doing.

I'm not sure what my point is here. I guess I'm just whining, but I wish these manotas were good for something.