Crazy Spring Weekends

Allergies have been dragging me down. If I'm not sneezing, I'm coughing. I also have had a sore throat that has made me sound like a blues singer who has spent too much time in a smoky jazz bar. On Friday, I knew I probably wouldn't surf even if there were waves. Before I could even send a note to the surf dude, he sent a text saying that the waves were rough, the air was cold and the crowds were big. He said it wasn't worth a trip to the island, so I was relieved to find out that I wasn't going to be missing much. I was still under the weather on Saturday, which not only stopped me from surfing, but also from running. I did sneak in a little ride, but a short, easy bike ride was about all my lungs could handle. I'm sure hoping that this Friday will bring warmer weather and nice waves.

I noticed on Facebook that my local Cinemark movie theater would be showing a special surf movie premiere one night this week. "A Deeper Shade of Blue" is described as "world-renowned surfing legends as they discuss the evolution, the culture and the impact of surfing from its beginnings to today's billion-dollar-a-year global industry." According to the description, "Panelists include surfing movie star Gidget and legendary surfing sensations James O'Brian, The Marshall Brothers ..." I think I might have to see if a couple of my surfing buddies might want to go see the movie. I'm sure I'll leave the theater anxious to get back in the water. And, I'm also sure that I'll feel envious of their skill level.

An email notice arrived letting me know that Surfing magazine published a special edition that is ready for me to download on my iPad. It was the Hot 100 issue that highlights the up-and-coming surfers. I've not read very much of it, but I didn't notice that only 34% of the Hot 100 were goofy-footers like me. Hmmm... Also, the average age of the Hot 100 females is 17. Oh MY!!! The guys are 19, which isn't much better, but at least they are a little older. Interestingly enough, they offered a graph explaining where the Top 100 were from and the graph showed the three top home areas as Australia, USA and Hawaii. I wonder why Hawaii gets its own spot on the graph instead of being grouped in AS A STATE within the USA. In fact, the two highest percentages on the graph went to the USA and Hawaii...both 30 percent. I'd be curious to know what states they all were from. I would guess most of from California, but I'm hoping when I start to read the articles that at least one might be from Texas. I doubt it, but one can hope.

Surfing Can Make Things Better

I had a rough news this week. Bad news on top of bad news came all in one day actually. I received a call about the death of a family member and a text about the results of a bad blood test from someone even more dear. The text came because my dear mother didn't have the emotional strength to make a call. She asked that I wait to call her, but I went to her instead. Both of these emotional events reminded me how precious time is, and how I need to worry less and live more. I can't change things simply by worrying. But, I can be a better person if I'm happy.

Since I had to leave for a funeral in another state early Friday morning, I was not in town for my usual surfing session. However, I heard that it was too cold to enjoy surfing, and that the waves were not worth the misery of being wet AND cold. Many were out though because of spring break. In the southeast Texas area, almost all schools, colleges and universities had last week off. It was spring break at the university where I work; however, as a staff member, I had to work. I took time off on Friday for the funeral and stayed in Louisiana until late Saturday. I had originally been registered for a half marathon on Saturday. The run was one of those rare events that is held on Saturday AND Sunday. I decided when I returned home to see if the race director would let me transfer the Saturday registration to Sunday. And I'm glad I did. They allowed me to transfer, and I ran. It wasn't my best run time, but it was good to be out. The surf report for Sunday was that, while there were waves, the spring break traffic was unbearable and not worth the effort of traveling to the island to surf. So, I didn't even attempt a surf session after my run. I decided to see what Monday would bring. I believed that I could use some fitness release time, leave work a few minutes early and have an afternoon session. And, that is exactly what I did!

By Monday afternoon, the waves looked nice. On the G-townsurf.com website, I had seen surfers out all day. So, I ran home, loaded the board and headed down. I'm so glad I did. I've been having sinus issues all week, but I think the salt water helped clear them. The waves were difficult for me to read; although others were making it look easy. I still had a blast. I caught several waves, including one fabulous wave that allowed me to ride suspended in air for what seemed like minutes. Several times I was able to relax and stand up straight. I still need work on making sure that I'm not hunched over. I also still need work on popping up faster. I feel like I take way too long. Let's face it! I just need a lot of work on many things. But, I'm willing to keep at it. I don't live close enough to the ocean to surf every day so I have to realize that only surfing one or two days a week will make it a little more difficult for me to become an "expert" or even a "pretty good" surfer very fast. I watched the movie "Riding Giants" recently, and I was in awe had how smoothly those people surfed. I have to just continue my practice. I believe one of these days, I just might have someone tell me that I looked "pretty good" out in the waves.

Daylight Savings Time

A cold front moved through late yesterday. That seems to be typical for March in Texas. Just when you think spring is coming, a cold front drops the temps and makes it feel like winter again. I'm ready for some 80-degree weather. I like it warm. By the end of this week, the temps will rise into the mid 70s and the wind will be out of the south again. This week is spring break for local high schools, colleges and universities. Typically, spring break brings not only cold weather but rainy weather.  This year will be different for all the spring breakers. There is no rain on the forecast. And that's a good thing. I'm hoping there will be a few waves by the end of the week.

This past weekend was the beginning of Daylight Savings Time. It was time to set the clock forward...to spring ahead. I like that because then I have more daylight after work. I even have time to surf. Since I haven't had a chance to surf for almost two weeks, I'm ready to get back in the water. I'm thinking by Thursday evening I should be able to go out. The waves are forecasted to return once the winds shift back out of the south. This past Friday was messy so I couldn't go out; a few mushy waves popped up on Saturday; and, by Sunday, the weather was messy and the wind was too strong. A surfing friend who was visiting texted me on Sunday to let me know that he was in town, but that the waves weren't worth a trip down to the island for me. Too bad. It would have been good to surf with my friend. I noticed in the middle of the day today, that the waves were finally pretty. However, they didn't last long. I watched a couple of people go out on the webcam. The window of opportunity was definitely short-lived.

I had some really sad news during the week, and I'm thinking that a short surf session will help me work through it. The news is not something I can fix and involves someone very special to me. And, it will change my life in the long run. But, for now, all I can do is offer my love and hope that it's not as painful as I think it's going to be. I need waves to help ease what is going to be a rough couple of days, months, years...I really have no idea how long. And, I can't think about it right now. Bring me waves!