Got Pink Shoes.

#14  I did not skateboard at all the other day.  but this weekend I went to the second most interesting man in the world's house and we had a skateboarding lesson.  I am afraid of the hills because of the speed.  because the speed makes me feel like I'm going to lose control and hit my face on the street.  which equals ow.  so HE says "make wide turns to slow yourself down".  and we practiced carving so I can slow down.  obstacle #1: leaning hard on the edge of the board in order to turn and NOT falling off. obstacle #2: not being afraid and just EFFING COMMITTING to the turn. yeah. he's all "you would have made that turn!" and I'm all "I'M A SCAREDY LITTLE GIRL". sigh. so not bad ass.  slight frustration but, like, whatevs.

Went out to try to find appropriate skateboarding shoes...ended up buying ice cream.  we also did a mini scavenger hunt that involved oak leaves and a mercedes. (do other adult couples do this stuff. NO.  we win.)

#15 the second most interesting man in the wold and I have decided that we are going to raise money for the event Skate the Coast with Boarding for Breast Cancer.  we fought with the websites for a while which made us mad.  which ended with us saying "fff that let's go skateboard!" and we did.

then there's a whole part that I'm going to skip because there was some miscommunication between the second most interesting man in the world and myself.  miscommunication can be loosely translated as "Charlotte is a wimp and the second most interesting man in the world really likes her and is SUUUPER nervous that she's going to smash her head on the sidewalk."  It all ended with the second most interesting man in the world being extra sweet to me and us agreeing that we are still friends.
Back to the longboarding: I went faster than I have gone before AND made big turns to slow myself down. we went on a part of wildwood that was a gradual incline and so I got to go only kind of fast and make sweeping turns to get the feel down.  this does not redeem me from the previous loss of badassness.  eff.

did get some pretty frickin' sweet shoes to skate in.  it's for breast cancer. clearly they must be pink.

link for donation Donate? http://www.active.com/donate/sk8thelakecoast2011

b4bc.org

Lost the Leash

#13) wednesday night I was all gung-ho (idiom alert) about longboarding when I get home from work and it was getting dark.  Solution, skate over to the little coffee shop where the second most interesting man in the world and I previously skated to and journal.  My journal is very cute and from Herod's in London. I get over there and it's closed.  crap.  But then the 20-something black dudes were all "nice board!" and persisted in conversation with me.  he went to washington state and had a longboard but it was stolen at a party a few weekends ago.  they live in my apartments.  EVERYONE lives in these apartments. and I was all "ok, I'm going to starbucks guys" right after I skate awkwardly over this big dip.  *roll my eyes* seriously.  I cannot be cool for even 2 second.
thus with my shame I skate over to starbucks.  which ends up being 1) farther than I estimate.  driving is deceiving 2) WHAT THE TUNA SALAD how have I never noticed this dramatic incline?! Yeah.  Gradual.  But uphill enough that I can't just coast.  Learned the lesson called "It's hard to skate without light."  Aaaaand almost got hit by a semi truck.  Please God, no one tell my mother.

 I refuse to wear a helmet.  my bangs cannot handle that much squishing.

so I'm in starbucks and the guy is all "sweet long board" and I'm all "right?!" and then I sit down and this college dude who is CLEARLY a skateboarder says (very politely) "that is a really really nice board!" I think him and explain my saga.  He used to do that half pipe stuff with the dropping in and flips. Yeah no. he was really nice.  it made me examine how I judge guys in their early 20's.  I assume their asshole douche bags who are disrespectful and self-centered.  But he was genuinely polite.  a gentleman. wearing a hipster beanie.  shame on you Charlotte.
then this other guy, I think he worked there, came up to me and was  like, "that is a sick board!"  Are we noticing a trend here?!?  I explain my story again.  He talks to me like I know shit about longboarding.  I defined for him again exactly how far back longboarding and I go but he still didn't seem to get it that I KNOW NOTHING.
BUT THEN this older couple comes and sits down next to me.  again with the judging...I was thinking that there was NO WAY they are a married couple because they are laughing and talking and enjoying each other and they're like 60.  how sad is that?!  They are a couple and the he of them said, "That's a pretty long board you got that...I've never seen one like that!" And I told them about my project.  I like to throw in lots descriptive phrases like, "trying not to die", and "managed to live" to sensationalize the situation.  shocking older people is really just very fun for me.
the second most interesting man in the world called me while I was writing in my cute journal...which was fun cause I was writing about him. :) he's so dreamy.  he was waaay stoked on a meeting with a new asset to his billion dollar corporation.  he's a FRICKEN GENIUS.
I skate home but I'm not ready to stop boarding yet.  I went allll ovvver the store parking lot and around the block unnecessarily before going home.  where I watched "Friends" and finished my Ben and Jerry's.

#14) this is by far my most epic excursion yet. I don't really even know how to begin.  I have to bullet point this to stay organized.
- Stetson pulls me to the park...we get going faster than I like but I slow him down.  He doesn't like that.
- The guy mowing the lawn stops to look at us going by.  yeah...it's true...we're easy to watch.
- as we enter the park these high maintenance wenches are there and I'm like oh no Stetson is going to try to eat that little dog.  So I tell the ladies that we will walk on and wish them a good morning.
- We get over to the park, I take off his leash, lay it in a VERY SPECIFIC PLACE in the grass and we skate around. *NOTE* remember how short room mate can't know that I let him off the leash? yes. keep that in mind.
- Dude in a van rolls up and lets two (2) dogs out of the van...great...Dear Lord PLEASE let Stetson be nice to them!
- THEY ALL LOVE EACH OTHER!  And play beautifully.
- The man (George) has had part of his BRAIN removed in order to make him stop having seizures.
- One of the dogs is a sweet golden retriever the other is a hound mix...Stetson sniffs their butts.

- George and I are talking about the long longboard, dogs, seizures, and brains when I realize that I'm running late. Bye George!

- Ok, go get the leash, hurry home, go to work...WHERE IS THE LEASH?? I know I put it RIGHT HERE in the VERY SPECIFIC PLACE in the grass!
- Panic.  Problems:  I have a dog and a longboard with which to go home with through streets and cars.  I have no leash.  Short room mate isn't even supposed to know I let him OFF the leash.  I don't have time to replace the leash.  How am I going to get him home alive.
- BUT WAIT there's a guy who has been driving a golf cart around the park...maintenance dude?  Yes.  We (me and Stetson) run across the field to him and I say, "Excuse me sir, have you been working here all morning?" He looks at me blankly. "Sir, have you been here?  I left a dog leash over there and was wondering if you've seen it?"  He said, "skjf;gh;awogh;agrj"
- translated: "I am speaking Spanish to you blonde lady.  I found this leash.  I put it in my lunch box. Here it is! Oh, and here's the poop bag too.  don't leave your stuff laying around the park."
- I'm relieved because now we can go home with no death occurring.  Neither Stetson or me from short room mate.
- I get home at 10:08.  I am already behind.
- I leave at 10:16. I am EFFING AMAZING.

#15) I got home from a somewhat disappointing Trader Joe's excursion with no ice cream.  New rule: no buying ice cream when it's convenient.  In order to eat ice cream I must want it so much that I actually leave the sanctuary of my home to go get it.  Which I of course do because that means I get ice cream AND I get to longboard!  I pick up the board and tell tall room mate that I'm leaving...she laughs and I say, "What did Stetson do?" she says, "No, I'm laughing because you're taking the board!"  I don't understand why this is funny.  But the really huge puppy at the bottom of our stairs was distracting enough that I didn't think about it again until right now because he was SO CUTE!! and enormous!! like 9 months old and 105 lbs!  crazy.
I skate myself over the the ice cream...and a huge tow truck was all, "Grab on!" as it passed. I'm trying NOT to die, hello.  I agreed in a bad ass tone to sound cool though.
I'm getting way better.  pushing is easier, balancing is not a problem, general control is greatly improved.  I'm very happy.

the man at the self check out grocery store was like "You're out again!" clearly he was there the other night when I got my Ben and Jerry's contraband.  (Lord how I love Ben and Jerry.) We kinda talked about it. then he's all "don't get a ticket for boarding in here!" and I'm all "SCHWHAT?!" and he's all, "Yeah there are signs everywhere."  Eff.  I'm going to pretend I don't know that.  Lalalalala!!
on my way home a scary white 1997 rapist van honks at me to get my attention.  I go faster, jump off the board and run up to the apartment.  CREEEEPPYYYYYY. but Ben and Jerry were so worth it.  I watched way too many episodes of "Friends" and fantasized about living with and longboarding with the second most interesting man in the world whom I missed today.  We're effing adorable.

Longboarding and Rugby

I logged more board time today...so that's 4 excursions in one day!

#9) I realize in the middle of doing laundry that short room mate has not replenished the laundry detergent.  I use this as an opportunity to skateboard over to the store.  I took the long board inside with me, got some ready-to-eat mongolian beef noodles and lavender detergent and then skated back to the apartment.  Felt really comfortable and confident though.  I think that maybe Stetson makes it much more difficult.

#10) The longboard hung out in the truck with the second most interesting man in the world's other long board and my pink bike, Tori.  Whom we picked up this evening from my previous residence.  The second most interesting man in the world is going to repaid Tori in preparation for "Skate the Coast" with "Boarding for Breast Cancer".

#11) while observing rugby practice which of course the second most interest man in the world coaches, I rode around the parking lot and the sidewalks of the park.  Then at the last minute I found this tiny race track for RC car racing and it was beautifully smooth and made me practice turning.  I need this.  I can only turn gradually so having the option of turning really tight or running into a wall was a great way to force some learning.  exciting thing:  two of the ruggers can also skateboard and one even had a longboard IN HER TRUNK which was awesome so we all tried it for a while.  very fun.  felt really good about it. then had sushi.

#12) after the second most interesting man in the world dropped me off at home I realized that I desperately needed some Ben and Jerry's.  I've been involved with Ben and Jerry for some time now.  And what better way to get there than LONGBOARDING?!  So I skated myself over there got ice cream and skated back.  Also, met two men who were interested in the board (again, it's unusually long).  One of them said that his dog pulls him around, too, and that last week they had a major crash.  They offered me some chocolate, which I would never refuse, and we talked a little more.  did I mention he was in a wheelchair? longboarding to the store makes me feel free.

I JUST REALIZED that I've left out a huge detail.  The explanation as to WHY I am learning how to skateboard:  The second most interesting man in the world told me about this even, Skate the Coast, which raises money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.  And I thought this was seriously very cool and probably said something like, "I want to do that!" which meant, "I'm agreeing that your actions are awesome."  However, it planted a little seed in my brain and pretty soon I'm stoked on wanting to learn to long board.

More on that later.

Currently I am exhausted from all of the day's longboarding.  Tomorrow...more.  right now...sleep.  and proper care of my wounds.

latah. (I'm also learning skateboarding lingo.)

Project #1: Learning to Longboard

Project #1: Learn how to Longboard.

Like skateboarding.  Yeah.  Most people learn how to skateboard when they're 8.  And a boy.  I'm a 29 year old woman.  Leaning how to longboard.

I've been out 8 times so far.

#1) the second most interesting man in the world surprised me with a date to try his longboard! I successfully coasted down a gentle slope 4 times and sorta learned how to push.

#2) the second most interesting man in the world took me over to an empty parking lot behind Vons.  these lots are sad because they are totally unnecessary and unused. so I used it.  I coasted more confidently down a bigger hill and then pushed UP said hill. only  1 minor stumbley kind of fall - no injury

#3) took the longboard to work.  after work tried skating around the block a little. terrible idea.  learned a valuable lesson called "large cracks make you stop fast".  also discovered that pushing while turning is disastrous.

#3) went out with Stetson, the dog.  clearly starting to feel confident. he pulled me to the park and no one died!  on the way home he did try to kill me in a situation involving a telephone pole, the leash, and physics, but I artfully (read "jumped off the board to avoid death") navigated the ordeal.

#4) went out with Stetson again. still no dying.  almost lost the dog though...he found something down in the riverbed and wouldn't come back.  please do not tell his mom about this. she doesn't allow him off the leash.  also: he may have gotten his ticks there that day.  gross. FIRST INJURY:  fell back and landed on my right index finger knuckle.  Still not healed.

#5) the second most interesting man in the world and myself rode our longboards over to the coffee shop and to the store.  I was afraid of the cars and trying to turn.  Did manage to successfully skate home WHILE HOLDING A BAG OF EGGS.  No fatalities. 

#6) out with stetson again...tried to go down a very large hill.  got too scared and stopped.  meanwhile, Stetson he dog WILL NOT stop running toward cars.  obviously this makes me nervous.  we did make friends with a a young blue eyed dog.  I finally get the balls to go down the last part of the hill AND I DID IT! Very exciting.  Skate home...very happy. Also made friends with an elderly woman named Marcia waiting for the bus.  we will hang out with her later.

#7)  while at the second most interesting man in the world's home one morning I felt confident and able to do anything.  "I'm going to try your longboard, ok?"  and out I went into the cul du sac.  Facts:  A) this is a shorter long board than mine. (did I mention that the one I am using is first of all borrowed from the second most interesting man in the world and secondly 162 cm long? yes.  for you who do not know that is VERY long.)  B) the trucks are looser than I am accustomed to. C) the wheels are smaller.  this is a combination that will result in bad things for me.  I roll around for a while noticing the less stable feel of this board.  then I strike out in to the adjoining street which is the home of a nice dip that is not too steep for me.  I make it down that and feel the adrenaline rush of cockyness kick in.  Then I see the next hill.  Much longer.  moderately steep.  I will own this I think and push off.  except OH CRAP I'm going faster than I know to handle and this board is wobbling a whole lot. (problem: I don't know how to stop.) I get scared and try to stop myself by jumping off the board.  Oops.  so there I go falling down, rolling across the street, and landing on my back.  I do catch the board and snag my sunglasses though.  priorities.  I stand up and act like I'm ok and start to go back to the house.  I start to hurt.  survey of my body says "OW" from knees, palms, shoulder, and hip.  "I fell down", I say to the second most interesting man in the world who is unhappy that I am hurt.  which makes me feel extra loved, actually.  Further inspection reveals road rash on the palms, left shoulder, left front pelvic bone area, left side hip, and both knees.

I am officially bad ass.

#8)  once again Stetson and I go to the park.  No falling, no problems, very short, and unexciting.  not true.  exciting thing: I can cut a corner much sharper than previously.  score.  unexciting thing: I feel sick to my stomach because it's noon and I have only eaten salami.  And haven't had any water.  dumb. may go out again for #9 today with second most interesting man in the world.  peace out.