SandWraith's Footnovel: Now with more footbag!

[SandWraith]

Yesterday I kicked early, today I kicked late. I had a chemistry thing and a bunch of homework today, and time just sorta flew by. It didn't help that I woke up at noon today (was up till 2 am yesterday). So I kicked from 6 to 7:30, but it wasn't that great. Part of the problem was I was still kinda tired (from too much sleep, I think). Also, my legs were tired because I walked 12+ miles last night. The 'highlights' of the day include:

-butterfly > buttefly > blur BS-- not hard at all strongside, hard as hell flipside
-illusion > butterfly > bubba > illusion > butterfly > paradox illusion-- only hit strongside, because I dropped the paradox illusion at least 3 times flipside
-some zulu stuff in dexless runs
-butterfly > spinning clipper BS

The real highlight though, was that Tony, whom I hadn't seen since how-long-ago, stopped by! I had almost forgotten about him, so it was awesome to see the only other real freestyler here. He gave me his email and I entered his phone number into my phone, as he did to mine (he lost mine the first time, he said). So we are going to try to set up a time to kick together once a week. Then I would have one session a week with just Tony, Thursdays I would kick at the Happy Hour thing, and then I'd probably kick with Peter or someone else once a week. No kicking on Monday, though-- too much other crap. So that would mean 3 days alone and 3 days in a group, which is probably a good way to practice anyways.

[MaelstromEx]

congrats on footbag and your luck with the ladies

[SandWraith]

Well, the 'luck with the ladies' is debatable, but definately thank you. I have a problem the murky inbetween though-- I like to know where things stand and what they really are, so these subtle shades of gray are making me insane. I'd prefer for it to be a relationship or for her to drop me like a brick-- god I suck at this. Letting go of control is hard to do, I'm told.

In other news, I am not kicking today because I gave blood and I have classes up to yin yang on Mondays:
9-11 class
11-12 lunch
12-1 class
1-2 gave blood
2-4 class
7-9:30 lab

Yes, that's right-- I have a physics lab from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Dammit.

[SandWraith]

Holy crap! I just realized this is on page 4 already! Ok, so today I did kick, and did pretty well considering I wasn't feeling all there (still the blood).

diving clipper > drifter > diving clipper > drifter > osis > butterfly > butterfly > spinning osis (flipside!) > clipper > butterfly > ducking clipper drop
-butterfly > butterfly > butterfly > sidewalk (flipside) > barrage > butterfly > spinning clipper > paradox whirl
-butterfly > butterfly > butterfly > sidewalk (strong) > barrage > osis > catch-- wanted to get the first 5 contacts in BS
-schmoe > toe whirl BS-- I would like to do that in a repeat (schmoe > toe whirl > schmoe > toe whirl) but my schmoes aren't good enough yet
-spinning clipper x 4 strong side; x 2 weakside
-mirage > butterfly > paradox mirage > butterfly > blur-- first try from left toe; took a lot more tries from right toe (I dropped the blur at least 5 times)
-ducking clipper > ducking clipper > spinning clipper > osis > torque-- strongside, but I went back and did spinning clipper > osis > torque flipside a bit later
-illusion > butterfly > bubba > illusion > butterfly > paradox illusion-- done from right toe this time (flipside, more or less), because I wasn't able to hit it BS last time I tried (kept dropping the paradox illusion); hit it second try today
-ducking clipper > diving clupper > zulu clipper > osis > clipper > ducking clipper > ducking clipper > diving clipper > zulu clipper drop-- would have been my first run with duck/dive/zulu BS, but I did go back and hit the ducking clipper > diving clipper > zulu clipper that I dropped later, so I hit that BS at least
-toe whirl > sidewalk BS
-spinning clipper > torque BS-- pretty hard link because of the change in direction, but it didn't take me a lot of tries

So essentially, what I'm saying is I had a pretty good day.

EDIT: oh, and near the end of the day I tried to do paradox whirl BSOS. I could hit either side easily in a run, but I would ALWAYS drop the other. A couple times I footed paradox whirl b2b, so hopefully I can nail that in the future.

[SandWraith]

No footbag today, for several reasons. First, my math problem set 1 is due tomorrow, and I had to figure out the last question (number 4), which took about an hour. I also did most of Thursday night's homework, because I'll be doing a lot of other stuff thursday (class till 1, then footbag, then fencing, then a social event). The expectation is that if I can get everything done today, it will make tomorrow a lot more fun. I am almost ready to go to sleep now, I just have to finish studying for a chem quiz tomorrow and then I'll be off to bed.

Excited for tomorrow,
Zach

[SandWraith]

FOOTBAG RELATED:
-mirage > butterfly > blur BS
-illusion > butterfly > blizzard BS-- first try strong side
-ripwalk x 4-- first and only try
-paradox mirage > toe whirl FTBS (first try both sides)
-butterfly > butterfly > osis > butterfly > butterfly > osis > butterfly > butterfly > osis > butterfly drop-- cool little drill that I may keep using
-ripwalk > osis > butterfly > repeat
-blur > toe whirl to start a 5 or 6 move run-- then later blur > toe whirl flipside
-whirl > paradox whirl BS
-whirl > drifter > osis > torque
-a long run (10+) starting with ducking clipper > drifter > osis > torque and which also included at least one ripwalk
-diving clipper > ducking clipper > zulu clipper BS
-far pickup > toe whirl BS




NON-FOOTBAG RELATED:
So tonight I am going on my first official date. I done things with this girl before, such as spending last saturday together from about 5 pm to 12:30 am. The reason I'm writing this though, is that I realized that in the last few days I've become very emotionally unstable. Not in a psychotic way-- but that I feel regret if I see her and forget to say hi (which I have been known to do in general). Stuff like that. I really never had any problem with that in the past; I was comfortable in my own skin. So now, as a result of this girl, I keep second-guessing myself, trying to do better and all that. Not too sure why I'm writing this, except that I hoped to get it off my chest. It's not that I dislike her for it-- to the contrary, it's that I like her that it makes me uncomfortable. I'm really unsure if I should mention this to her though, because it might weird her out, although it really did surprise me that I felt this way.

I could also be growing attached with the idea of a girlfriend, rather than to the girlfriend herself. So many people want to have a significant other, not for the significant other, but for the idea of having one. They grow so attached and so fond of that concept that they are devastated when there is a breakup-- until they realize they never liked the person that much anyways.

It's thoughts like this that keep me awake at night.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[DoctorJay]

cough my two cents .

first of all do not think too much about doing things which did not happen up to now . furthermore you sent out so many signals to this girl that concentrating on one is nonsense .

My advice : BE REAL and tell her what is in your mind and in your heart .

I think that your view on the whole partnership stuff is very adult because in my opinion it is right that there are many couples who are just together because they think that each one would live worse if they would end their partnership .
I guess just let the things come to you - all will happen and you will show your personality by reacting spontaneously .

Show her that she is something special for you and that you like her and treat her with all the respect .
If you want to know something about her you must to start to tell something of you first of all so your conversation will become closer ...........
maybe not only the conversation .

man please remember I am no womanizer nor a guy with a master plan how to treat girls so take my advice as it is - my two cents.

Good luck and find out if she is the girl you are looking for ....

[MaelstromEx]

In my personal experience (which isn't alot but still) i've encountered the situation where you hang on due to the want to have someone who cares even if she may not. Due to the *ouch* heartbreak i've come to the conclusion that if it isn't fun anymore then definately evaluate the situation, and if its still fun and mutual then don't let a good thing die. good luck on your date tonight....sniff.... they grow up so fast

[SandWraith]

No footbag today. I wanted to-- really. However, I chose to watch Sharon's tennis match instead. Now, homework.... *gentle sobbing*

[Bander87]

Just wanted to comment about the girl...

In one of my personal sisuations, I realized in the end, that the girl was very selfish and controlling, although she does have a "sweet" part to her. I got consumed and was all about pleasing her. Turns out that I was emotionally attached and never did acuatly like her, if you get what I mean. Some advice would be just do what you believe it right and just be real.

[SandWraith]

Woke up at 8:30 am to watch Sharon's singles match at Forest Park (8:30 am?! on a saturday? Yes... I'm cool like that). She won.

I played footbag later and had a decent session, except for some reason I couldn't catch butterflys for crap later on (last third of the session).

-toe whirl > MLO > osis > butterfly > ripwalk > osis > knee bump > osis > paradox mirage-- the knee bump was me trying to do a paradox mirage and screwing up
-mirage > butterfly > pixie > drifter > clipper set mirage > same side clipper > blur > butterfly
-butterfly > butterfly > osis > butterfly > butterfly > osis > butterfly > butterfly drop-- did that twice; wasn't my day
-really long run with 4+ ducking clippers, diving clipper > diving osis, and a ducking osis
-butterfly > ripwalk > stepping same toe > op butterfly > ducking clipper > blur > butterfly > spinning osis
-ripwalk > paradox mirage > mirage > toe whirl BS
-ripwalk > paradox illusion > toe whirl BS-- first try one side; about a million tries other side (wtf)
-butterfly > butterfly > ripwalk > repeat-- pretty easy, maybe 2 tries?
-osis > far osis > paradox whirl-- couldn't hit paradox whirls very well flipside today, so the BS didn't happen, though it was only a couple tries strongside before I got it

I want to incorporate more drifters into my runs. I also couldn't hit butterflys at all today, just to reiterate. I tried and only got 7 consecutives.

Getting up early again tomorrow to watch Sharon and Betsy's singles matches. I'm not pussy-whipped or anything (I don't think), but I know it's always nice to have someone watch. I never liked playing with no one caring at all. :/ It should be pretty fun.

Oh, and I just remembered that I found a couple more holes in my DocBag. It's all my fault though, as I found out. I have:
1) washed it with shampoo, which can corrode the fabric
2) played with it wet
3) used it a bit for circle kicking
4) put it in with a lot of my other crap in my backpack when transporting it to my playing ground (by far the worst, I think, because given that it's wet it ends up taking a distorted shape and drying, which makes it brittle. I'm gonna put it in my lavers on my way there since I wear sandals on the ride over)

Sooooo I ordered an abshire and an emmings 6-panel from freedomfootbags, since I figured I should give both of those a try (Jeremy O'Wheel recommended the emmings for the extra durability). Reviews will be coming forthwith, or at least once I get them and have them broken in and all that.

[DoctorJay]

hm I am surprised that your bag is broken already ?

I cannot do anything for the fabric and my filler is very fabric friendly- I guess.

What do you think was good and not good on the bag ?

[SandWraith]

I wrote the things I think contributed to the death of the bag on the bottom of the previous post (perhaps you missed it, or I'm just not understanding your question). I would like to state however that my bag's demise is in no way a sign of DocJay's stitching or bag-making skills. I simply treated the bag poorly and it left me.

The major cause, in my estimation, is that I played with it when it was wet, but I didn't have much choice cause it's so damn hot and humid here at the moment. Poor bag.

Anyways, I didn't play any footbag today (Sept 18th) because I got up early to watch Sharon's tennis match and after that went back to sleep. I got up at 8 and was back in bed at 11, and slept until 1:30 pm. My roommates didn't even know I got up, and as a result thought I had slept from midnight till 1:30 pm, and were freaking out that I slept 13.5 hours.

So after I got up I did a bit of homework, went to a chemistry study session, and then went out with Sharon. We watched The Shining... it was cool (the movie was good, but I just like spending time with her). The bigger problem was that, to rent the movie, we had to walk about 4 miles to Hollywood Video... then 4 miles back to campus (we ate out on the way there). I'm gonna have to return that bad motherfucker sometime too.

Oh, and probably no footbag tomorrow either (Monday = insane). Tuesday looks good though.

[SandWraith]

Didn't play today because mondays are filled and to get footbag in tuesday I have to do a lot of homework today. 2 days without footbag.

The date went pretty well. I got to hold her hand a bit during the movie (one of the best feelings ever). I also found out that I find her feet really cute. 0.o Whatever....

Tomorrow there will DEFINATELY be footbagage going down-- you can put it on your mother f'ing calendar.

[SandWraith]

Footbag went down as predicted. I hadn't played in two days so things were a bit shady, with a lot of drops on stuff that shouldn't be dropped. I did, however, hit what may be my longest run ever, which of course I can't remember cause that would be a lot to recount.

-diving clipper > ducking clipper > osis > ducking clipper > diving clipper > ducking clipper > osis > ducking clipper-- to work on doing ducking out of osis
-sidewalk > ripwalk > sidewalk > ripwalk > osis > osis > 10+ more moves including at least 1 blur-- probably my longest run ever, maybe topping 20 moves, though there was a toe stall in there (sorry)
-toe whirl > paradox mirage > toe whirl BS
-drifter > osis > drifter BS-- to work on osis > drifter link

Strangely, I got many comments today (3). I have had probably 3 people comment on my footbag in total before today, so that seemed very odd to me. One guy said "You're really good at that" or something similar, and another even walked up to me and said "Mind if I stop and gawk a bit?", to which he then stood about 10 feet away watching me for a couple minutes. Felt pretty cool.

The REAL highlight of the session though, was that in the middle of it a group of little kids on a field trip walked by. They all stopped and stared, most of them doing that "woaaaaah" thing little kids are known to do. One of the two chaperones came over and asked me what I was doing and if I attended this university, among some other things. After a few minutes of that, she asked if I would be willing to come to their nursery (essentially pre-school, from what I can discern) and do a demo for them. Of course I told them I would, and wrote my name and number on a sheet of paper. I am hoping they do call, and that I can convince Peter from my floor and Tony, the only person at WashU that actually plays footbag, to come and help me with it. I only have 3 Mr. Sandbags, but that should be enough (I can get one back from Mike on the floor if I really need).

Oh, and Sharon is still always on my mind. If anyone knows a way to help with that... I'd be very appreciative.

[SandWraith]

Not a lot to say.

-toe whirl > drifter so fluidly to start the session
-osis > bubba > repeat
-butterfly > butterfly > ripwalk > paradox mirage BS
-butterfly > drifter > paradox whirl > butterfly
-ripwalk > ripwalk > blur > toe whirl > osis > butterfly > paradox whirl > 5+ more moves with a bail to a toe delay (damnit)
-butterfly > drifter > bubba BS
-MLO BS-- not too horribly hard, but I can't put that in runs for crap
-toe whirl (from right toe) > osis > paradox whirl-- only strongside; couldn't land the paradox whirl flipside
-blizzard BS-- gotta work on that
-blur > toe whirl BS-- I've written this at least once before, and know that it's one of those pretty impressive links that I can do with good consistency
-stepping far pickup BS-- first time, I think, and a good step towards blurry whirls
-butterfly > drifter > osis > repeat > butterfly > handcatch
-butterfly > butterfly > osis > repeat > butterfly > butterfly drop
-butterfly > torque > butterfly BS-- second try each side or something
-butterfly > torque > butterfly > far osis > far osis > ducking osis > handcatch-- that was the flipside of the above

I find footbag to be a good escape from the thoughts that I can't get out of my head, and it helps me think them through. As you may already know, I've been thinking about Sharon a lot lately, and what exactly is going on with that (I'm very bad at dealing with uncertainty), and I came up with sorta a poem/maxim:

Worry not about that which you cannot change--
You cannot change it.
Worry not about that which you can change--
Change it.
Replace worry with thought,
Analysis, deduction, reduction
To a Solution.
And your problems will be solved.

[SandWraith]

Played seriously with Tony for the first time today! It was pretty darn cool kicking with someone, especially since I haven't seen him play before and it was all a new experience. We only played for about an hour, but it was breath-takingly fun. He has SUCH A SWEET SMEAR (strongside). He does a very low pixie and follows it with a really low mirage-- a la downtime atomsmashers. Too bad he doesn't have a flip pixie really.

He seemed to like what I was doing too, and I was playing at my level. The only run I wrote down, since it felt a bit rude to just go start writing and not watch him, was:

-ducking clipper > ducking clipper > ducking clipper > diving clipper > ducking clipper > diving clipper > ducking clipper > zulu clipper > 5 more moves that didn't involve ducking, diving, or zulu (stepping based?)

Anyways, he had an appointment and I had fencing so it didn't last too long. Hopefully we can play again sometime next week, as he and I are both available Tuesdays, Thursday, and Sundays.

Over and out.


EDIT: Sharon just wants to be friends. Oh well... it's not my choice.

[SandWraith]

No footbag. Lots of class and then there's WILD tonight-- Walk In, Lay Down. It's a big concert, this year featuring Lil John and the Eastside Boys and Lil Scrappy and some other rappers. I'm not into that, but there's free food so I'm going anyways.

Although I didn't have time for footbag, I really felt like exercising hard today. I think I'm just trying to cope with the whole 'I don't want to date you' thing, because it makes me feel like I'm somehow inferior or defective, or just plain not good enough for her. I'm still trying to be her friend though, since I don't think being an asshole would make me feel good about myself and I really wouldn't want to hurt her. Anyways, so I wanted to exercise hard but didn't have a lot of time, so I ran like 3.5 miles or so (totally going off my speed in relation to previous benchmarks and the time allotted). It felt good. I ran around campus and down by The Loop (the hangout off campus), and so there were a lot of people around. With running, if I'm feeling tired and I'm alone, I might stop, but if someone is watching me I will run faster. So what I'm saying is, it was a good thing and I feel great.

[Slowsis]

EDIT: Sharon just wants to be friends. Oh well... it's not my choice.

Ouch.....that line is wack.

[MaelstromEx]

It's ok kiddo, there's plenty out there just roll easy and one will come along. Have fun at WILD, i guess our equivilent would be sage francis coming up here in early october. Hang in there, have fun, and shred hard Pepe.