Week 28-The Saints take Superbowl XLIV!

Jack, Barbie and I celebrate the superbowl victory by the Saints!. We love when the underdog wins!

Week 27-January 29th. Full Moon @ 10° vs Full "Blue" Moon @ 80°

I was driving home from work this evening and the big bold beautiful moon was rising. My son and his buddies were hanging out at our house. I ran in and said to Jack,"Get the camera! We have to take a handstand photo! The moon is gorgeous and huge!" His friends, somewhat confused asked Jack, "What is she talking about?" I blurt out, "I have a handstand blog and I am taking a picture a week for 52 weeks." Luke says, "I am still confused" We all get in the car and drive down to the end of the street. I jump out get set and get the feet up! It was my longest held handstand to date. I was up so long I was able to chat with Jack and finally said, "Did you get it?" It had to be about 25-30 seconds! Luke is less confused, but he isn't the only one who has said, "Now why is she doing this?" Oh well.

I have posted another handstand photo today that was taken in Hawaii. It turns out the Hawaii moon was a Blue Moon! A blue moon is the 13th full moon in a calendar year. Usually there are only 12 full moons in a year, but because each solar calendar year contains an excess of about 11 days and the lunar cycle is about 29.5 days every 2-3 years there is a 13th full moon in the year! Hence the phrase "Once in a Blue Moon" This one just squeaked in on December 31, 2009! I know, now, how that phrase evolved. Not only am I handstanding every week, I am accumulating fun, new and exciting knowledge!

HANDSTAND AT 10˚F IN CARLISLE, MA January 29, 2010

HANDSTAND AT 80˚F IN KIHEI, HI December 31, 2009 A BLUE MOON!

Photographers: top photo: Jack Donovan

bottom photo: Arley Donovan

Locations: described above

Week 26 CCHS Swimming & Diving January 19th 2010

This was team picture day for the CCHS Swim and Dive team! The kids are treading water and trying to bunch together, harder than it looks even for these talented water beasts, the coaches are on deck behind them. Behind me on the right is Coach Goldberg, handstanding with me is Coach Bird, behind her is BOSS Moss, then Jenny all the way to the right and Bert all the way to the left and our stats girl Leah next to him. Tomorrow will be our last meet, against Lincoln/Sudbury before DCL Championships! GO PATRIOTS!

Professional Photograper: Pierre Chiha http://www.pierre.com/

Location: Beede Center Concord MA

Week25-Maui Ended

My last handstands in Maui ended here on Hookipa Beach in Paia on the south side of the island. Hookipa was once known as windsurfing capitol of the world! I had to put up both of these photos because the ocean behind is so spectacular and I loved this little cove. On this day the surf was pushing 15+ feet! There were no windsurfers, but plenty of surfers! This photo is taken right of the beach where gigantic lava rocks scatter the shore line and cows roam the the lush green hillside above.

I tried to be unobtrusive while I took my flipped position because there was a man on the rocks chanting in sanskrit. I must say though, as I have learned from years of yoga, every accomplished yogi must learn to maintain his centeredness amongst distraction.

Also, in the last days of our days on Muai, my daughter and I had the great fortune of swimming with the Maui Masters off the shores of Makena Beach where we got about 75 yards from a couple of whales. we observed them cresting the water and tail slapping. We could also here them chatting loudly as if were right beneath us and in fact some of the group saw them beneath us! Check out Maui Don's blog for some beautiful underwater photos and videos at http://www.dolphindude.com/ You can see the underwater photo of the group on that day, including myself and my daughter with our ABC Gray Sharks silver caps dated Jan 10, 2010.

Photographer: Arley Donovan

Week 22-Colored Lights

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Scene Set-up: Arley and Jack Donovan

Photographer: Jack Donovan

Week 17-Get 'er Done

Not to be a bummer, but you know those days when you have a goal in mind and you know the steps it takes to get there? However somedays your mind is flat, you don't have a creative bone in your body and you know you just have to put in the work or effort to achieve the goal? Well, this week was a bit like that. My enthusiasm has waned. I imagine throughout the winter I will have days like this. I like the lesson in this though. Enjoyment can be patiently found in all of the steps it took to get where you are and where you are going.

This is an early moring photo taken by my son where he waits for the school bus. The frost on the grass is nice and there is a smidge of sunrise left in the background. A speck of beauty as we approach Thanksgiving.

Photographer: Jack Donovan

Week 16-You got it KGirl!

Today is veterans day. The family is home, including my husband, the yard maintenance police, so I was put to work. Since I need to be distracted while participating in this taxing work, I prepared for my latest handstand "set". The KGirl, one of my swimmers and fellow blogger http://thekgirlsguide.blogspot.com/ is competing in a meet this weekend and fully intends to break the New England Record in the 1500 meter free. Just another way to express my enthusiasm for the KGirl's successes! KGirl. Go for it!

Photographer: Jack Donovan

Week 12-Shadowy Handstand in Bermuda @ the Grotto Bay Resort

We were going for capturing the handstand and shadow in this photo. It's too bad you cannot see the fantastic Bermudian ocean in the background, but just beyond where I am handstanding you can see some stairs. Those stairs lead into a cave where pools of water rest. You can swim in them! There used to be a disco down there in the 70's. There are two gound levels in the cave. There was a stage for the band and a dance floor and as far as I can tell it was not man made, perhaps man honed! It's very cool and kind of spooky!

Photographer: Dan Donovan

Week 6-66 Ford Truck Handstand 9/13/09

This photo surely shows I am still an amature at handstands. I did not have a flat surface to work with. The truck bed is channeled, I presume, so rain water can funnel out easily. So, up unitl now I took a fine frim flat surface for granted! My family is really tough on me! They won't take the photo unless it is 3 seconds long. I can't say that this one was 3 seconds long, but the coolest photo of them all.

This might be a good time to state some of my goals:

1. Succeed in actually taking one photo a week.
2. Maintain a 5 second handstand by January 2010.
3. Maintain a 10 second handstand by August 2010.
4. Not to make this blog too "self promoting," to include interesting people, places and things while making it a mini-autobigraphy of August 2009-August 2010.
5. Get creative with the photos.

Photographer: Jack Donovan

Week 5-Plymouth Man Triathlon 09/06/09

With me here is my friend, swimmer of the ABC Gray Sharks and Plymouth Iron Man Triathlete, Dave Hart. Here he is rounding one of the turnarounds of the 112 mile bike ride after completing the 2.4 mile swim in 59 minutes! The photo above is taken during the third out and back loop of his marathon after his 112 mile bike ride! Dave came in third in his age group with at time of 12:57:52.

To access actual footage of the triathlon go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tedDG84PWbQ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFYKW6IwRk0

Photographer: Mike Bolio

Week 6--Patriotic Handstand 9/11/09

9/11/09

This photo is taken in Plymouth MA. The baby carriage is occupied by Francesca the cat. Francesca and Pam were spectators at the Plymouth Triathlon. Just couldn't pass this one up, so I have two entries for this week! I was doing handstands all over this corner when one of the boys from the local track team directing the runners at the race said to my friends and I, "You have to get a picture with the cat lady" Apparently, she is a well known local of Plymouth!

Photographer: Mike Bolio

Week 3-Lake Winnepesake 8/24/09

This weekend was spent at Lake Winnepsesake with friends who were participating or spectating the Timberman Triathlon. We had folks in a winning relay, sprints, aquabike and complete 1/2 Ironman. I myself participated in the 1/2 Iron aquabike.

This photo was taken on Rattlesnake Island. My attempts on the rock played with my head. My heart was racing and my arms were shaking for fear that I would tumble over and end up injuring myself or crashing into the water. I It's a good enough shot, but not a perfect execution.

Photographer: Mike Bolio

Week 2- Bedford MA 8/15/09

This week I thought I would post both my blunder attempt and my so, so, handstand. I am sure by the 52nd week I will be popping up into my handstand with ease and delight. My friend, Brad, here agreed to pose in his headstand while I attempted my handstand along side of him. He looks so peaceful and blissful. He probably could have stayed there all day.

Photographer: David Whitford

Week1- Mount Hale, Twin Mountain, NH 8/7/09

Today, August 7th, I began my photo blog of 52 weeks of handstands. I am inspired by the jumping boy, a neighbor of mine, who had his father take a photo a day of him jumping. View his website here http://www.jumpingboy.com/ Of course, dad is a graphic artist and his photos might be a bit more professional than mine, but I think my son and I can do a fairly stellar job. I think we start out with a bang here with the fish eye lens.

I love the idea of commiting to a routine off the beaten path, so here it is weeks and weeks of whatever opportunity brings for my weekly handstand. My good friend, Tracy Bird, has taken it upon herself to be my handstand coach. I have been practicing since October 2008. Tracey has been fine tuning the art of handstanding with a little help from one of her young divers who can hold a handstand for minutes so I have the great fortune of learning from the pros!

Here, you are witnessing one of my best handstands to date, perhaps it's the hiking boots or perhaps the relief of my legs in the sky, not on the ground!

Photographer: Jack Donovan