Mosaics and a Pin Wall

After almost 3 years of thinking about it, I've finally started working on mosaics. Here is my new work space in the basement:

(Sig never passes up a chance to be in a photo.)

Here is a picture frame:

And the coasters that are just about finished, as soon as I figure out why they're shedding sand. I was experimenting with different colors of grout: white, beige, and black:

A hot plate, pre-grout:

Also in progress are 2 clocks, a mail/envelope holder, and (still only in the idea stage) my first picture mosaic which will (hopefully) be a gift. Sometime this week I want to check out the tile store at the bottom of the hill by my house...I hope they have a discounted remnants bin or the tile equivalent. :)

Last weekend or so my mom visited me in Peoria for the first time. Frank and I took her to the one museum in town--the Lakeview Museum. They have a little of everything there: an observatory, some art, and a children's section! We looked at the art, watched a movie on black holes, and then played in the pill wall. This is us in a wall of many many pins...

The sound of the rain on the grass

The sound of the rain on the grass.  This is one of my favorite things here in Peoria, a sound I hadn't heard in a very long time.  In Chicago, rain makes the city loud.  Wet roads make for loud cars and there is enough of both in the city that there is a constant whir wherever you are.  But down here, there is not the incessant backdrop of city noise and when it rains I can hear it. 

The other day we woke up to the radio alarm, as per usual, but there was a National Weather Service alert.  Thunderstorm warning!  I'm always somewhat guarded about sensationalistic journalism, even from the weather channel, so a checked the radar.  A huge slash of red was rolling it's way across most of central Illinois.  So I went outside and saw this!  Now, don't be confused, the light color you are looking at is not cloud, that is the light shining through.  The dark gray is the cloud.  It was very beautiful.  The line between the dark cloud and the bright light was wonderfully and ominously distinct and extended from the northwest horizon to the southwest horizon.  I've never seen anything quite like it.

To the west:

To the east, still peaceful (Frank is on his way to school):

The storm was moving in at 40 mph, with wind gusts up to 60mph:

Above, the clouds were churning:

The wall of rain approached:
In other non-meteorological news: 

I've been trying to establish some fitness routine, which has suffered tremendously since the move.  I've started doing a little yoga again, and some walk-runs while listening to This American Life Podcasts, and I even took out a West African Dance video I had bought 2 years ago but never used.  I've been missing West African Dance classes something awful.  You Chicagoans are really lucky to have Idy Ciss teaching in town, and most of you don't even know it.  :)

I've also started working on some mosaics.  When I visited Portland 2 years ago, I discovered how much I loved mosaics and wanted to get into making them.  I had to move to Peoria to actually begin.  I'll post pictures when my first project is complete.  Guesses about what I'm working on?

Aaaaahnd...the news some of you have been waiting for: the unveiling of the new hobby!  I signed up today for some welding classes at the local community college.  Yep.  Welding!  More on this later.  :)

Okay, so it's not a mosaic, but it's a start...And Yasso 800s, Take One!

This morning I woke up and knew I had to do something. I didn't feel like writing, so I did this instead. Yay! I think I spent thirty minutes or so on it.
This was my subject. The corner of my living room:


Please keep in mind I've never taken any drawing classes or anything. I'm a drawing baby! But it's fun!

And then Eric and Matt and I went for a run. Or, Eric and I ran and Matt timed me, cause Matt messed up his knees or legs again cause he doesn't get massages!!! (Or roll on the tennis ball.) So there are these things called Yasso 800s. Basically, this guy Bart Yasso figured out that you can predict (or train for) your goal marathon time by running 800m repeats in minutes:seconds what you want to run the marathon in in hours:minutes, and increasing that up to ten 800m repeats at the peak of your training (the week you're doing your final 20 mile run before you begin your taper). If I'm not being articulate enough to be understood and you're interested--check out the link. So today Eric and I ran some Yasso 800s.

I warmed up with 1 mile of jogging. Eric beat us to the track so he did 1 3/4 miles.

We did the first 800 together at 3 min 47 seconds. My comment, I never ever want to run a marathon at that pace. Eric, "You don't have to, this is the speed work. Remember, this isn't the marathon pace." Ah...yes. Thank Gawd. Whew! I had a scare there.

#1 800m: 3 min 47 sec
#2 800m: 3 min 52 sec
#3 800m: 3 min 57 sec
#4 800m: 4 min 2 sec
#5 800m: 4 min 17 sec (I think. And this one was brutal. Major side-stitchage.)

Eric's #2-5s were somewhere around 3 min 16-17 secs, I think. He's much more consistent than I am. And he did a #6 at 3 min 6 sec, if I remember right. 3 hour 10 min for him to qualify for Boston. It's within reach! Eric, "I'd have to change my eating habits." :)

I walked a couple laps with Matt when Eric did his #6 and then we did a cool down lap. Next time I think we should do more of a cool down jog, at least a mile. Really pump the lactic acid out.

I wonder if I could set (and have a reasonable chance of reaching it) the goal to get under 4 hours for the Chicago marathon. I wonder if I want to set such a goal. Chicago marathon is 5 months away. Hmm. I'll be thinking about it, it doesn't seem unreasonable. (Eric?) I'd probably have to change my eating habits too. :)

the first of the long runs

Marathon training week: 1 of 18
Marathon plan: 8 miles

Time of departure: 2:30pm
Return: Not sure.

Temperature: 40°F(4°C)
Wind Chill: 33°F (1°C) (It was windy. And it felt cold).
Lake Temp: 47F

Route: Down past Addison and back up.
Approx Distance: 8 miles
Running buddy: Self.
Clothing: I felt under-dressed. shoes, socks, long striped pants, short sleeve t-shirt (this was the problem, I would have appreciated a long sleeve), wind breaker, hat.
The Drive Activity: busy and noisy south of montrose

Dog beach Activity: There was a big red kite flying.

What did I eat pre-run? Two tacos and guac & chips from Rocky's on Clark. This was lunch.
How did I feel? Good. Cold. Slightly bored.
What do I like about running? Today? It was all about feeling good that I had the discipline to make sure it happened today.
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My friends and I had our Traditional Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner tonight. This was quite delicious, but went rather late into the evening. It's after 1am now and I'd like to just crawl into bed, but I realize I can't get behind on these blog posts. Everyday is some day in marathon training.

My friend Sara and I went to a Mosaic workshop this morning (yay!), so finally the mystic of the mosaic has been de-mystified a bit for me. We also made plans to get together and do a little mosaic-ing together. (yay!) So, yea, maybe I'll have photos to post of my mosaics soon.

But about the run? I felt good getting out the door, good starting to run. I had a sense that it was going to be long. And it was gray and cold and windy and I have no running buddy and I lost my mp3 player at the Old Town School and...yea. I did a lot of counting (my running mantra when I'm not talking and not thinking about anything productive). I count to one hundred, and then count to one hundred again, and again, etc. I have no idea how many times I do this. I would say most of the last 5 miles involved counting. Jeez. I need to get an mp3 player working again and start listening to some philosophy lectures. Or start running 6:30 min/miles and convince Matt to run with me again.

Overall, I feel good. I did all the runs in my first week AND I even respected the rest day. Tomorrow is a scheduled cross train day, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with that. Maybe I can swap it out with Monday.

Running really does tighten you up though, because of the knee jerk reflex. Did you know that?