I'll be the one limping

My foot hurts.

It started hurting yesterday on the way to the gym for this month's class of torture (30 seconds squats with shoulder presses, 30 seconds alternating row, 30 seconds alternating chest press in the bridge position, 30 seconds lunges, 30 seconds lunges on the other foot, 30 seconds renegade row, 30 seconds pullover in the bridge position with alternating crunch-like things with your knees - then repeat the whole sequence another 5 times).

Naturally, I went to the gym anyway - it didn't hurt that badly, and I hadn't really done anything, so I figured it would be fine.  It didn't hurt at all during class.  (Um, that may have been because everything else hurt - see above).

This morning, it started hurting again. Naturally, I went to the gym for cardio class.

Yes, I am a slow learner.

(As an aside, I've never done the cardio class before.  It was basically low-impact aerobics, and it was ... fine.  Not my favourite thing, but fine.)

Now? My foot hurts.

I'm starting to think signing up for the work Olympics (which seems to involve bouncy-castle-like-things for adults) might not have been the best idea.

But I'm going to be there tomorrow anyway.

Like I said, I'm a slow learner.

Still Feeling Crafty

This week at Sparks we're celebrating birthdays around the world. One of the things we're doing is having a pinata.

Now, we could buy a pinata - that's what we did last year - but I wanted to make one. I figured it might be easier to break (since the bought ones are made of cardboard), and it would certainly be cheaper - if you didn't factor in labour costs.

I started by blowing up a big balloon and a small balloon. I taped half a plastic cup to the small balloon.

I mixed up a cup of flour with 3/4 cup of water and cut strips of newspaper. I soaked the newspaper in the glue mixture, squeezed it between my fingers, and then covered the balloons in the paper.

I let it dry for a day, then added another layer.


Once that was dry, I cut a hole in both pieces, then popped the balloons. I filled the pinata with the treats and taped the two pieces together.

I cut slits in the top and put paper clips in them (so that there is somewhere to attach the rope).

I then added another layer of white paper, paying special attention to the neck and the slits with the paper clips - both of those areas got two layers of paper to glue them together.

When that was dry, I covered it in tissue paper. You can't tell very well from the picture, but it's supposed to be a bird. It's not perfect, but ... it has been specifically created to be hit with sticks, so I'm not going to worry about it. (For future reference, buying a pinata for $10 is totally a bargain - this probably took 3 or 4 hours in total.)

I also made the second of my three sock monkeys. I made the tail on this one half the width (but twice the length) of the other one. Instead of stuffing it with fiber fill, I used a pipe cleaner, so it is somewhat pose-able. Also, note the scary face.

Now, of course, I want to change the tail on the other one.

I've also started watching the Olympics (which I never do). I blame Wanda. I've become unusually interested in the biathalon as well as moguls. Forty eight hours ago, I didn't know what the mogul event was.

Luckily, watching the Olympics goes well with hand-sewing sock monkeys.