Home Spun comic strip #705

If you haven't guessed by now, I recently had a doctor's appointment for a physical. During that appointment, my doctor was surprised to see I haven't had a mammogram since 2007 (that was my first ever). Of course, I wasn't surprised. I consider it an accomplishment if I can schedule the doctor's visit. I'm not very good at scheduling things in advance, and a doctor's visit usually needs to be scheduled at least a month or two in advance. Since I'm the family taxi, I have several schedules to keep track of. The past few years have been a bit full of events--black belt exam, a first Communion, a Confirmation, dance and film classes, trips to Europe that required my husband and me to take Marina for a passport, working papers for Marina, college classes....you get the idea. We've been busy. I'm more surprised that I ever found the time in 2007 to get the base mammogram.

I always say it's important that we take care of ourselves. It is. And if I could go to one appointment every year where I had my physical, a mammogram, a gynecological exam and get my teeth cleaned all in one day, I would be more likely to make that appointment and keep it. Unfortunately, life isn't that simple. I find it much simpler to coordinate juggling five balls.

I did make an appointment for a mammogram. They were able to fit me in two weeks from my doctor's appointment. That's about as far into the future as I can plan. I like to live in the now.

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If you enjoy my comics, the first collection, No School Today? is available from these sellers:

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Home Spun comic strip #704

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If you enjoy my comics, the first collection, No School Today? is available from these sellers:

CreateSpace
Amazon.com

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Path-ology

With the unusually mild weather we have had lately, I've been able to hike and walk a lot this January. Which is good, because I threw out my right shoulder and my doctor told me I should try to rest it for a couple of weeks so that it has time to heal. That means no push-ups, no plank position when practicing yoga, and no weight training on that arm. Who wants to have one muscular arm anyway?

Walking is the easiest on my shoulder. I keep my hands in my pockets most of the time. Hiking has been more of a challenge. I like to use my arms to balance on uneven trails. When the ground shifts suddenly, my hands shoot out to counterbalance. That isn't a problem under normal conditions, but the shoulder pain is not helped when I reach out to try to avoid slipping into mud.

Yesterday, I hiked with the kids. I had to. The weather was gorgeous, and it hasn't rained for a few days. So off we went to my favorite hiking area, Cranberry Lake. And amazingly, we did not get lost. I have some history with getting lost there, ever since I walked us off the purple trail and we had to walk through brambles and scale down a cliff to reach a marked path. It's little things like that that the kids never let you forget.

To pass the time, I tried to be funny by making up puns. I guess I wasn't. They smiled politely, but didn't laugh too much. I explained that pathology was the study of trails and trail markers. Empathy is feeling the path beneath your feet. An obstruction in the road, like the squishy, five inch deep mud that requires you to walk in the bushes, was a pathogen. Pathological has to do with knowing you are going the right way on the path. I'm so glad I didn't lose the trail this time. That would have been pathetic.

Aren't you glad you don't have to hike with me?

Home Spun comic strip #703

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If you enjoy my comics, the first collection, No School Today? is available from these sellers:

CreateSpace
Amazon.com

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Home Spun comic strip #702

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If you enjoy my comics, the first collection, No School Today? is available from these sellers:

CreateSpace
Amazon.com

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Home Spun comic strip #701

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If you enjoy my comics, the first collection, No School Today? is available from these sellers:

CreateSpace
Amazon.com

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Carnival at Janice Campbell

The latest Carnival of Homeschooling: Wintry Mix edition is happening at Janice Campbell's blog. Please take some time to check out this week's selection of articles!

The Top and Bottom

In acrobatics and other forms of two person gymnastics, there are two types of people, the top person and the bottom person. The top person, as the name suggests, is the guy on top, the flyer. They are the ones who catch our attention. They balance precariously on their partner. They perform somersaults or contortions. They perch gracefully on top of their partner's hands or feet. They are, quite literally, raised up on a pedestal.


The bottom person is the base. They are the support system of the two-high. Everything that the top person does is possible because the bottom person is fully supporting them. It's almost better if the bottom person is hardly noticed. You might see them tap the top person before a tricky move or bobble slightly as they help bring the top person back into balance, but other than that, they are in the background.


I tried both positions when I was into circus arts. I always preferred the bottom. It's not as glamorous, but it is so important to a good performance. Also, I have trust issues. I'm always afraid I will be too heavy for my partner, or that they might drop me. Standing on top means you can fall, and I have. In fact, one of my highest falls happened when I was trying to learn how to stand on my husband's shoulders. I wasn't hurt, but it did add a certain amount of worry when I found out the following week that I was pregnant with Chase. That was the end of my stint learning how to stand on shoulders.

That is not to say that I shouldn't try to fly every now and then. I'm simply more wary of the position. I have never been comfortable with the spotlight on me. I tend to waver and not trust that my support will be ready if I need help or if I will have to figure out how to fall gracefully. I feel much safer on the ground, supporting others and able to see where I am needed. If I were ever to try the feet to shoulders again, I would definitely want a spotter. A spotter is an extra support person. They usually stand off to one side and keep an eye on everything, stepping in to help give an extra push or lift to a weak somersault, or steadying the flyer when he falls.


Performing acrobatics requires a lot of trust and the ability to communicate effectively. The bottom person needs to know when to help the top person recover balance and when to decide it's time to let them go so they can land safely on their own two feet. Top or bottom, hold on too long and you might cause your partner and yourself injury.

 This holds true for life and raising children. All parents are bottom people. I'm comfortable with that. I shift support as they need it and try to remember not to hold on too tightly. After all, falling is another way to learn. I want my kids to always be able to land on their feet.


And if they can't land on their feet, it's good to have another family member or friend nearby to act as the spotter.

Home Spun comic strip #700

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If you enjoy my comics, the first collection, No School Today? is available from these sellers:

CreateSpace
Amazon.com

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Crafts: Holiday Knittings and New Year Sculpting

 I have been forgetful! I never put up pictures of the knitting Marina did for Sierra and Chase. This year she made Sierra a pair of comfy socks using the yarn her little sister picked out. Sierra hates socks with seams, so these handmade socks are a favorite. Marina used a simple pattern from the Harry Potter inspired book "Charmed Knits."

For Chase, she created a knitted action figure, Marvel's Deadpool. (This is Deadpool from the comics, not from the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. They were really annoyed with what the movie did to the character.) She made everything, including the accessories. The buckle and swords are Sculpey clay. The blades are covered in duct tape to give them a shine. I tried to zoom in on the hand a bit, so you can see the amazing work she did. Every finger is posable! She tried simplifying the hand but didn't like how it came out, so she frogged it and redid them individually. All of this was made up as she went along. She is amazing at knitting sculpture.

Speaking of sculpture, I've started teaching a sculpture class for Sierra and two of her friends. It's been a lot of fun! I started with wire sculpture to explain the simplest sculpting forms and to teach armature. The second week they made armatures that we screwed to a base before building on them with clay. Sierra came up with this sculpture on her own. Then she built the plant, which is free standing. I really loved the way they came out!