Monkeying Around

Emerald City Trapeze,   Seattle

posted by Melissa Baumgart
Yesterday Amy and I went in search of monkey bars.  

My thought was that we should try something that would be somewhat like aerial, hanging from something using our upper body strength.  Monkey bars seemed like the best option: free, close location, and maybe not too many people in the middle of a school day to make fun of us.

We tried Miller Park, one black away.  No luck, there weren't any monkey bars!  The only thing close was a small triangular metal zip line to hang on, and that didn't go well.  It was raining, and I felt defeated, in many ways.  I could barely hold myself, simply hanging from this metal rod...let alone think about lifting my body even a millimeter.  How was our first aerial class going to fare the next day?

In search of monkey bars, we set out for Cal Anderson Park.  I knew for sure there were monkey bars there.  Tallulah adores the act of going back and forth, back and forth, across the monkey bars.  From watching her, I assumed it was easy.  I mean, are kids that much stronger?  Or is it the difference in their proportions?

Down where all the magic happened today.

We got there, found a sweet parking spot and headed to the playground.  There was a guy standing on top, yes that's right, on top of the monkey bars.  He appeared to be smiling, dressed somewhat dirty, holding a skateboard in one hand and holding the other arm out like he was flying.  When an airplane flew overhead, his arm would raise, the smile would widen and I can only assume that he felt like he was flying.

Amy and decided, I think wisely, not to ask him to get off of the bars so we could sadly attempt our pre-aerial workout.  He was most definitely high on something, and I did not want to be the monster ruining his special flying trip.  So, Amy and I left, before we had to call 911 if he were to slip upon take-off.  Seriously, he would have really hurt himself.

Instead of monkey bars, we came home and did some push-ups, arm exercises with free weights and watched some videos on "what to expect at your first aerial class."  Which we just finished an hour ago today!

Think it was torture?  Or joyful?  Inspiring? or Frightening?
More on that tomorrow....
Melissa

"Observations" of an 11 year old on a Metro bus

posted by Melissa


I memorized two Dorothy Parker poems in the past two days.  I memorized the first one during my Psychology class, pretty fitting.  It is the one I posted before and I will post here again, by memory.


Résumé

Me, Cal Anderson Park, 2011

Razors pain you,
Rivers are damp,
Acids stain you
and drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful,
Nooses give,
Gas smells awful,
You might as well live.

During my break in psych class yesterday, I paced around Cal Anderson park trying to talk my self into reciting the poem aloud.  I said it out loud several times, only no one could hear me.  I may have looked a bit like a crazy person muttering to myself, but at the time it felt safer than sending my voice through the airwaves for all to hear.

And the other one is also by Dorothy Parker: (again, written form memory)

Lily, wishing I would stop reciting poetry on the bus.

Observations


If I don't drive around through the park,
I'm pretty sure I'll make my mark.
If I go to bed each night by ten,
I might get back my looks again,
If I abstain from fun and such,
I'll probably amount to much.
But I shall stay the way I am,
Because I do not give a damn.

Just another day of poetry.  I recited the second one to Amy and Bob, somewhat quietly, on the Seattle Metro bus this evening on the way to the Mariner's game.  Lily was humiliated, god she gets so angry.  She reminded me that part of the plan was that she would not be there when I recited my poem out loud, in public.  I didn't know that, but in the hopeful (fingers double crossed) likelihood that I remain in my eldest's good graces, I will make sure she is not there.

You know, I think she might actually hate me.  Every time I try to say something cool, it explodes in my face.  Today I tried to include her in a conversation about, Oh, nevermind, if she ever reads this, she'd kill me.  She already bruised me with her kick to my calf today during said conversation.  So, I am keeping my mouth shut.

In regards to the poetry though, I kinda like being forced into walking the line between crazy and artist and "maybe that person has a cell phone ear bud in and no one can see it."  Especially since usually, I feel like I lean more toward simply crazy.

More on Dorothy next time...and in her honor,  I'll be having another glass of wine.
-Melissa

PS...it is decided, by the readers, I shall memorize Kipling's poem for my recitation.  Thanks for all your comments!