Teacup Cafe XXXIX

[katya]

Huh. We did Tai Chi barefoot in my class. I did spent around $70 on my running shoes though. And today I was pleasantly surprised to find that doing tae bo almost every day has helped my endurance even though I hadn't run in a while. I'm starting to really like exercise.

[Tessar]

The teacher said something interesting today about how people who do Tai Chi like this lady (although she is not doing it in as exaggerated a form as he was demonstrating) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBvF6r6DOvc are not really being practical because when you step out that far you are compromising your balance.

I agree with him from a practical standpoint, but the more I thought about it, I could see how what she is doing might actually be a more intense exercise.

It seems like he's looking at it more as a martial art and less as just a form of exercise. I thought that was sort of interesting.

[katya]

That is interesting. I think my teacher looked at it part exercise, part art. It was, after all, part of the p.e. program at the college. She would get cute and excited when she would tell us about this or that Tai Chi master, and how some people can keep themselves very low to the ground the whole time (which would probably lead to more stepping out further). I think she seemed to look at it as something for its own sake.

Tai Chi as a martial art is pretty ... I don't know, I think you have to be really good at it. But in general I'm sure it helps with other martial arts.

Myself, I like it as exercise, and beauty, like a dance. I don't think there's really a wrong way of looking at it though.

[Varnafindë]

Originally Posted by Tessar

*sigh* Just spent $70 on a pair of shoes to wear for Tai Chi... my regular shoes are just tennis shoes, so they have the extra 'heel' height, and the toe curls up slightly... so when I'm trying to do the Tai Chi, it makes me overbalance backwards when I'm standing up 'straight'. So I had to get some flat-bottomed shoes.

They are SUPER comfy though. O_o Holy crap. Its like wrapping my feet in soft leather. Which, incidentally, is what the shoes are made out of .

Remember when you were tiny, had itty-bitty little feet, and shoes cost $15? $20, if you wanted a really cool pair. At least I know this pair will last me for years to come.

Stupid Tai Chi. Stupid Tai Chi for being so awesome that I'm actually willing to shell out $70 for a new pair of shoes . There was a $20 pair I could've gotten but they were so friggin' uncomfortable... There was no way I would've been able to stand wearing them for an hour and a half or longer.

They're not just shoes, you know - they're sports equipment

[katya]

Still, it seems like a lot to spend on a "sport" that sounds like it would be so inexpensive and not need any equipment. Same with running. Actually, I have a friend who runs a lot and I think most of his extra money goes to shoes (ever few weeks) and food.

But yeah, I am not so likely to spend $70 on shoes for fashion.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

They're not just shoes, you know - they're sports equipment

Though neither is too likely, I'd be more likely to drop 70 bucks on shoes than on sports equipment.

[Tessar]

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

They're not just shoes, you know - they're sports equipment

Oooooh, good point.

It's not the most I've spent on 'equipment', I guess. Last year I bought that really, really nice pair of dress shoes to wear to auditions and stuff, and those were $90. I was only able to rationalize it because a.) appearance is very important for competitions and b.) since they're audition-only shoes I know I'll be wearing those things for years to come.

I did a little practice in my new shoes and they make a world of difference. I have much, much better balance in them than I did in my tennis shoes. Much like the audition shoes, these should last me for years to come since they're just my Tai Chi shoes.

[Varnafindë]

Originally Posted by Tessar

It's not the most I've spent on 'equipment', I guess. Last year I bought that really, really nice pair of dress shoes to wear to auditions and stuff, and those were $90. I was only able to rationalize it because a.) appearance is very important for competitions and b.) since they're audition-only shoes I know I'll be wearing those things for years to come.

And those are part of your work clothes - your uniform, as it were.
Add dark suits and tailcoats over the years to come

[Tessar]

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

And those are part of your work clothes - your uniform, as it were.
Add dark suits and tailcoats over the years to come

EEEEE!!! I sure hope so.

[Rían]

Hey, our family's setting out for a 10-day vacation to Yosemite National Park and then to visit friends and family in California!

I really need it - it's been a very rough few years since we moved to Arizona Our family's had 2 car accidents (not our fault) and 4 surgeries since we moved here I need a vacation!!!

cya later! Take care of the Moot!

[katya]

Have an amazing vacation!

[Mari]

Yeah, enjoy your time off and be safe in the road!!!

[Jonathan]

Back to California Have fun RÃ*an!

[Midge]

Anyone care for a cookie? I made a WHOLE bunch!

[Varnafindë]

Yes, please! They look delicious!

*munches a cookie*
*smiles a happy smile*

[Grey_Wolf]

"And we're back on M.O.O.T 102,2 with the Moots playing this Peter, Paul & Mary tune esp for Midge, slightly changed..."

Midge, the magic baker, made some tasty cakes
Baking cakes soo tasty soo, a baker like her makes.

All the other Mooters, loved her delish cakes
And brought her sugar and wheat flour mix
and some useful rakes.

Midge, the magic baker, made some tasty cakes
Baking cakes soo tasty soo, a baker like her makes.

Midge, the magic baker, made some tasty cakes
Baking cakes soo tasty soo, a baker like her makes.

Together, we would gather, watching her in delight
Watching her make tasty wonders . It was lovely sight

Jonathan and Hector would drool quite a lot
Midge lovely cakes were so very hot,
their drool made a pool.

Midge, the magic baker, made some tasty cakes
Baking cakes soo tasty soo, a baker like her makes.

Midge, the magic baker, made some tasty cakes
Baking cakes soo tasty soo, a baker like her makes.

Cookie-Monsters lives forever,
Not so the cakes themselves.

Chocolate chips and lovely dough
Makes lovely mixes tho.

One post is really all
it takes to make us drool.

Midge, the magic baker,
Slipped in the slippery pool.

We all gathered near her
To see if we what we could do.

Midge got up quite easy.
And made another dough.

Another round cookies
Were soon on their way.

All the Mooters gathered
Watching many a tray.

Midge, the magic baker, made some tasty cakes
Baking cakes soo tasty soo, a baker like her makes.

Midge, the magic baker, made some tasty cakes
Baking cakes soo tasty soo, a baker like her makes.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCh31dGzO9c

[Varnafindë]

*brings sugar and wheat flour mix*

[Mari]

Cookies! *dives in*

[Noble Elf Lord]

Ditto! *plunging dive*

[Tessar]

Oh God save me.... you guys... I'm reading Twilight. I promised a friend six months ago that I would read Twilight if she gave me the books. I said that because her memory is terrible and I figured she would never remember. Well this weekend she remembered.

I have to say, at the beginning of the story I was rather pleasantly surprised. It was a little bland, but very readable, and there were some interesting character dynamics developing.

Now it's pages of the kind of thing that I would probably have loved if I were about 12-17. I can see why kids (particularly girls) love this thing so much. The last 100 pages or so have been absolutely saccharin.

It painfully reminds me of Dan Brown novels. I had hopes for both of those when I tried to read them, but they just ended up being cardboard-character barn burners.