Jim knows ticks

In gymnastics today I did a front, which means a front flip, for the first time on the tumble track. I only tried because the teacher was having people do them as a warmup and I didn't want to be the only one not trying them. I landed on my feet, kind of squatting, and then tried to squelch my jubilation and act all nonchalant (because hey, everyone else with the exception of one new guy could do it). The teacher of course got that sorrowful look in his eyes and assured me that I could do better if I did A, B, C, D, and E differently. It was kinda hard to keep a straight face. :)

Annnnd, I did back kickovers some more -- they are getting easier. I showed Moses, and he gave me some drills that should lead up pretty straightforwardly to tick-tocks and walkovers. My straddle-ups were pretty consistent (shocker!) and I would have liked to drill those, but my thighs were so sore from sumo squats yesterday that I decided the backbending stuff was safer.

( My new drills )

I haven't blogged yet about the incredibly great excursion I took this weekend to photograph an abandoned warehouse. I trespassed and climbed through holes in chain-link fences and got tangled up in barbed wire and everything! It was awesome! And I took a lot of abstract photographs of the graffiti and the falling-apart windows that could easily be the basis for my next zine. I admit, I always have wanted to do a full-color artsy one. Anyway, I'm being quite slow about getting these to my website, but this icon is from that trip. Whoever does this face did a whole row of them, but then this one face was all by itself just begging to be iconified.

Oh, and also! Did everyone already know there's a new Tori Amos album coming out in 2 weeks? I feel bad now for finding out about it because heisenbug wanted to buy it for me as a surprise... but I'm excited too. There's also a new Porcupine Tree album coming out next Tuesday, not that any of you are probably into Porcupine Tree.