ccowden

Happy Happy Happy Birthday Birthday Birthday

[rubs hands together]Another Freezefest vigin![/rubs hands together]

I am SO there!

Looks like one big, white swoop pond to me! Awesome!

Yup. I am still going. I have a room for Friday and Saturday night at the Red Carpet in Williamstown. (shorter drive after partying) Meeting up with weegegirl, wrongway, and Adrock Friday night.

I was asked a question about the difference between "hips" and "torso" movements and the teaching of the two. I found the question to be a good one and figured I wuld post my reply to it. This was my reply, which I thought may be helpful if anyone else was thinking along these lines. I think we are talking about the same movement. The only thing i have found is that if I use the word "torso" that some students tend to overthink it and try adjusting too much. "Hips" seems to be a little more basic and easier for a beginner to grasp, since they have been taught "hips forward" for arching up to that point. However, I will say that it depends on where in the HD progression they are at. I am talking about getting the very basic "down the tube" position. Once it comes to refining that, then they do definitely have to become more aware of their entire torso as far as alignment of the hips, waist, shoulders, etc.

Copycat! Thats what I do! and uh.. Chris, thank you for the visual.. Well duh! That is where I learned it! And it was quite a visual the first time I saw it too!

It just blows my mind that when I sit down to watch the Super Bowl, MY team will be playing!

Well shucks, now I am even happier!

Well, I am really hoping the Steelers win for two reasons. I think they are a better match up for the Eagles, and a all Pennsylvania Super Bowl would be sweet! But I think it will be the Pats.

I have waited all my life, and now the Eagles are going to the big show!!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!

Result? I thought it was to get her attention. For that, I think it will work just fine.

I pretty much just remove all my clothes, jump around waving my arms, and yell, "Hey sunshine! Over here!" That usually does it.

Like I said before, don't worry too much about your legs until you find that sweet spot with your hips and can control the movement. Don't think in terms of "countering" what your legs are doing. Just go up and play with your hips to find where the forward, neutral, and back positions are. It is most likely NOT your legs that are making you move, but your hip position. So trying to "counter" something with something else will just make you more rigid and thinking too much. Do the two-way, relax, spread you legs in a comfortable/relaxed position, and do small movements forward and back with your hips. Find those hip positions and get comfortable with them. That is how you will find "straight down." Fine tuning the leg and arm positions can come after that. Try not to get into the mental game of "if my legs are here, then my hips need to be here" thing. Try to relax and FEEL the body position.

Watching the Eagles, dammit!

Only one thing to do today, duh! Get the chips and salsa out, grab some drinks, order wings, and watch the Eagles game at 3pm!

He is 4 years old and weighs about 70 pounds. He isn't really a small dalmatian, pretty average. Must be the snow. Unless of course you own a Saint Bernard and consider a 70lb dog to be small.

One of my funniest memories was on this subject. I was at a party once and my buddy went outside to take a piss in the snow. Now keep in mid, we were in no condition to write any names! I hear him yell, "I'll be damned if I didn't piss a bird of prey!" I went outside to see what he was talking about, and sure enough, there in the snow, was a perfect yellow outline of an eagle/hawk! I mean, it was really good. I wasn't sure which made me laugh more. The fact that he accidently pissed a perfect likeness of an eagle, or what he yelled after he did it! Either way, it still makes me laugh to this day when I think of it.

I actually had to shovel a spot in the yard for Louie. He couldn't even go potty! He loves the snow. Until his feet get too cold, then he goes back inside and gets back under the covers.

Oh, you like the unshowered, unshaven, knit cap look?

You are thinking and flying way too much with yuor legs. The movement comes from the hips. You actually don't want to have your legs perfectly straight, but have a slight relaxed bend in the knees. But your "backsliding" is no doubt coming from your hips being too far forward, thus your legs following. Which is rare. Most beginners are the opposite with their hips too far back and always driving/tracking. Go out on a two-way HD with a good flyer. Someone who is quite proficient. Just launch a two-way with grips and play with your hip position. Use slight movements at first. You will be surprised how much and inch forward or backward changes things. Don't worry about your legs too much, just move your hips forward and backward until you feel that sweet spot and can feel when you are driving or pushing away. The sweet spot should be pretty obvious, with no tension, like you can just rest your hands on each other and don't have to hold on. Worry about your legs after you get that down. They will come. But the key is relaxing. The more you try to fight things, the worse it will get. When you were trying to force your legs straight, you were getting more rigid and less relaxed, hence your problem worsening.

..........shoveling! We got over a foot. Thought some of you warmer climate folks might wanna see.

I am playing guitar while drinking. Wanna sing with me?

Actually, no. I only did 3/4 of a bottle of wine, so I am feeling pretty good. By the way- do you have any idea how friggin hard it is to pack when it is 10 degrees outside and zero humidity in your house?!

Really having trouble feeling much love!