23 times on a Longboard

#20

OH NO!  Stetson has to go to the doctor. L Puppy has been having seizures more frequently and more violently.  So I drop him off in the morning before work.  And DUH we skate over there!  He was stoked.  He was stoked until we got to the vet’s door.  Then he was all panting and sad.  Then I had to leave him there and he was scared.  Sad day for me and Stetson. Except we got to longboard!

#21

Short room mates boyfriend was stuck because the car next to him parked too close and he couldn’t get into his truck.  The parking at our apartment complex really EFFING SUCKS by the way.  And short room mate was naked under her robe when we found out so I was all “I’LL GO!” and I longboarded myself down there, slipped my skinny self into his door, and then had to skate all over the Fresh and Easy parking lot. (Fresh and Easy, just like me.)  it was fun and then tall room mate and her boyfriend got home and I was all worked up about skateboarding again.  I am absolutely intolerable when I am obsessed with something.  Sorry everyone.

#22

After my jazz class I get home and realize that I DO NOT want to waste this beautiful SoCal afternoon on the couch.  I also realize I want to get better at going down hills.  When I say get better I mean “not be scared shitless”.  There is a neighborhood nearby why imaginative friend grew up and I knew there were some hills there which led to the longboard being loaded up in my tiny car (looks like a roller skate) and heading to said hills. 

  I got a little ballsier!!  It was so much fun!  I went fast and kinda carved and had a close encounter with a truck and an old man stood and stared at me for at LEAST 23 minutes and I enjoyed myself. The only bad part was realizing that the hypothetical hangout out with our new friend V and D from Great Britain was not going to happen. Mwah mwah.

Imaginative Friend's house

#23

I spent the afternoon watching longboarding videos and researching boards.  I want something in the 40 length with medium flex, a great turning radius for carving, and semi sticky wheels cause I want to learn how to skid sideways to slow down.  Yeah.  I would also like the wheels to be pink.  I need a combo of cruiser and tame downhilling.  I should probably get a helmet.  Which all led to me needing to get out and SKATE so I brought the laptop over to this café where the wi-fi doesn’t work. 

The second most interesting man in the world is currently coaching women’s rugby and I think we’re going to hang out although it probably won’t be longboarding.

Thing #1: When we were skating in Hermosa I realized how cool it is that we as a couple can skate together.  It makes us extra awesome.  But it also gives us fun stuff to do together.

Things #2: There is a WHOLE WORLD of skateboarding that I know nothing about.  And I have arrived steadfastly at the conclusion that I am not bad ass. No matter how much I want it. (Damn.)

Thing #3: Now everywhere I go is a potential longboarding playground.

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.