claire.she.goes

Author: Claire

  • Watch It!: How to Get Away with Murder

    This post contains a major spoiler. If you don’t want any, don’t read it.

    Lately I’ve been trying to take better care of myself. Part of my improved routine involves getting to sleep–or at least into my bedroom–at a decent hour.

    In light of this, if I want to see a show that airs after 9, I try to tape it.

    This week, I set my PVR for How to Get Away with Murder. I finally watched the pilot, and I have questions. See this post by Sarah from The Social. (She pretty much covered everything I was wondering.) When the show finished, my brain was somewhere between, “Give me more!!” and “What was THAT?!?”

    “Every year I choose four students to come work for me…” And kill someone.

    I’m convinced that there’s a special place in hell for people like Annalise. This week I hope to find out how much closer she is to getting there.

  • Who’s baking your kid’s biscuits?

    Somewhere in America, an elementary school teacher let a feminist bake her class some cookies.

    I’m a feminist. Hence, I can understand looking at that sentence and thinking, “So what?”

    Well…There’s more.

    This woman didn’t just bake any cookies. She made VAGINA cookies.

    From Reddit:

    …Friday rolls around and the kids are excited. Autumn Lily Speaker [pseudonym] comes into the classroom with a pan full of treats and brings them to me and says with a smile “I decided you can use these to teach the kids about the woman’s vagina today”. Baffled and completely caught off guard I slowly peel the aluminum foil off the pan to behold a plethora of sugar cookie and frosting vaginas. Not just any old vagina, but ALL KINDS OF VAGINAS…

    I wish I made that up, but, well…If you didn’t already, click the link above.

    Now, I didn’t post this to insult feminists. Like the redditor who posted it said

    Feminism is about gender equality and shouldn’t be grouped with off the wall people like this.

    All I can do is shake my head. I am seriously concerned for that woman’s children.

    HT: Kari, an online friend who linked to the story via MadameNoire.

  • PodPost: Steal Like An Artist

    I’ve decided to give podcasting a try again. Here’s my latest recording.

    As I listen, I can hear every mistake. Yet I’m not afraid. I know I’m setting myself free. šŸ˜‰

  • Assume the position: Lotus pose

    If you’re like me, you might be humbled by your yoga practice. There are some poses that I look at and think “Um…That‘s not going to happen. Not yet…” Meanwhile, there are others that are not too difficult. (Thank you, Warrior 2!)

    And then there are the ninja poses. You know the ones. They’re like wolves in sheep’s clothing. You might see a photo of a pose in a book or watch it on a DVD, tell yourself, “I am so there!!” And then, when you try it, you realize that you’re about as flexible as a nail.

    That’s me when it comes to the lotus position. I’ve seen it more than once, and every time I give it a shot, I come up with nothing but a big, fat fail.

    “WTF is wrong with me that I can’t fold my feet like a pretzel in front of my crotch?”

    I mean, really.

    In lieu of lotus, I’ve taken to doing either a lazy version of bound angle pose, or a simple cross-legged posture. Still, I don’t want to give up. A few days ago, I found this video.

    I have yet to do lotus perfectly. But at least I know that there are folks out there who offer tips on technique!

  • Work It Out: Yogify

    For the past little while I’ve managed to do a yoga workout every day. In addition to books, I have a couple of reliable DVDs. I also own a pair of yoga apps.

    Last year, I downloaded Yogify, and purchased their Level 1 bundle.

    Back then, I didn’t try any of their workouts. Not even their freebies.

    However, on Saturday, I got the notion that I ought to get down to business. Yogify’s routines are divided into 3 categories–strength, balance, and flexibility. Under each of these, there are five workouts which vary in length, from fifteen minutes to an hour.

    So far, so good. As for caveats, the only one I can think of is minimal. Specifically, the pace of each workout. Apart from the obligatory pauses for plank and downward dog, I feel as though Yogify leads users swiftly through routines–faster than what I’m used to on DVDS or other apps such as All-In Yoga.

    Meanwhile, the postures seem realistic. Asanas such as half-boat pose may be challenging. But if they weren’t included in these early routines, an amateur like me might not have anything to strive for.

  • Dear Podcasting Peeps

    I got tongue-tied while I was trying to talk about this morning, so I thought I’d write it out for you.

    If, like me, you haven’t used GarageBand in ages and are stepping into its newest edition, don’t be alarmed. The podcasting features are still available. (For what it’s worth, I have version 10.0.2.) Now, I know, I know. It doesn’t look like the capability is there. Don’t fret.

    Seriously. Don’t be like me. I nearly had a heart attack. For Pete’s sake. I almost used Audacity.

    If you’re in my shoes, I urge you to calm down and do a search instead.

    Look to your left:

    GarageBandPodcasting

    A good podcast always begins with a decent voice. I remembered that I used to record using the “Female Radio” setting. Hence, I did a search for “Radio”. Apparently it’s under GarageBand’s “Legacy” settings.

    I’m not quite sure why.

    Dear Apple:

    People haven’t stopped podcasting. In fact, I bet that it’s the only reason that some people use GarageBand in the first place. Kindly keep that in mind when you go to concoct your software’s next edition.

    Best,

    Claire

  • Guys, downward dog is the worst.

    THE. WORST.

    downwarddog
    Source

    I’ve done yoga every now and then in the past, and now I’m trying to make it a regular part of my life.

    There’s just one problem. I hate downward dog.

    It’s a very basic pose, but I keep feeling like I’m doing it wrong.

    Which just means that I have to work to make it my b!tch. Right?!?

    Really, though.

    Whenever I assume the position my feet never completely touch the ground, and my arms burn.

    Still, I have to believe that I’ll get better.

    If like me, you’re frustrated, here are a couple of links to tips on doin’ the ‘dog:

    What Not to Do in Downward Facing Dog – from Fitsugar

    What Yoga Beginners Need to Know About Downward Dog – via MindBodyGreen. I love the title of that article. It sounds like they’re preparing me to join a secret society. šŸ˜‰

    I look forward to improving!

  • Unlocā€™ed: Whatā€™s up with my hair?

    clairehairnov2011
    Same hair. Old photo.

    Well for one thing, itā€™s loose again. In case we haven’t met, my name is Claire, and Iā€™ve tried to loc my hair several times. Considering how fickle I’ve been in the past, I may try again in a few days or a few years. Who knows?

    For now, though, my attempts are over.

    Shortly after I came back home this spring, I started to undo my dreads. This decision was completely random. Unlike the last time, there wasnā€™t a declaration that ā€œI miss my ā€˜fro!ā€. I just put my hands in my head and said, “Time to take these out!”

    Although I didn’t know why, I felt determined. (Thank God my mother pitched in!) We worked hard and finished after several days.

    Along the way, I learned that my drive was driven by destiny.

    In the past Iā€™ve been put off of dreads because I’ve had problems with build-up. (Once I gave up after finding lint from a scarf in one of them.) Sadly, this time around was no exception. As we undid the twists at the nape of my neck, we made a discovery. One loc in particular seemed to have absorbed every piece of dust that had crossed its path.

    At first I was disgusted.

    I didnā€™t get it. I was careful! Iā€™d done my best to follow the (un)written rules of dreadloc care:

    I had a black satin pillowcase and slept with a scarf (to avoid oddly-coloured lint while I slept). I only washed my hair with transparent shampoo. As for products, I hadnā€™t used any that I could think of…Except for perhaps a light hair oil, maybe once or twice…

    I didnā€™t understand what couldā€™ve turned my head into Dirt Central. I still donā€™t.* Especially since I was facing–what I thought was–a worst-case scenario. Iā€™d had buildup before. But not like this!

    Quite honestly, a part of me felt defeated. Since my last big chop, my hair had grown to the point where taking care of it had become a bit of a chore. In order to ease some of my workload, locs felt like the next logical step.

    I also felt angry and ashamed. During the months that my locs were developing, someone I know seemed a little too fond of telling me, ā€Your hair is dirty.ā€ Since this person doesnā€™t like natural hair, I just thought they were being rude.

    Boy was I wrong!

    So now what?

    Well, Iā€™m right where I didnā€™t want to be–dealing with loose medium-length hair. (If you need a reference, itā€™s about as long as it was in the photo at the top of this post. Stretched it reaches my shoulders.)

    I didnā€™t think Iā€™d have the patience to deal with my crowning glory again, but it doesnā€™t matter. Because now, I have to.

    These days forces seem to be conspiring to teach me lessons about patience. It looks like my hair is just another part of the plan.

    Iā€™m curious. Have any of you tried to loc your hair and wound up frustrated? Feel free to tell me about it!

    *Even today, every now and then I wistfully contemplate getting locs again. I wonder what Iā€™d have to do–keep my hair covered 24/7?

  • I’ve been working…

    On my Tumblr.

    Long ago a friend suggested create a writing portfolio. I’m still deciding where it will be.

    As for this post, a few weeks ago I started studying copywriting via Skillshare. I’m behind–and I’ll post about why soon. šŸ˜‰ But as soon as I started, I was inspired to create some fake advertisements.

    Check them out!

    Stretch Studio - Urban

    I can’t take credit for the photos in either of these. I found them on Flickr.

    a4gpa took the photo used for the ad above and shared it with an Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike license. Just looking at it inspired me. I wonder if a place that’s as funky as Stretch Studio actually exists–even if it’s not in Toronto.

    Toronto - 2

    In this piece, I used a shot by Pedro Szekely, who presented his work under an Attribution 2.0 license. It’s such a gorgeous shot–it almost broke my heart to crop it.

  • RED ALERT!

    I just read the news via Galleycat:

    Kickstarter Creates Journalism Category.

    Let the games begin!!