Friday, January 6, 2012
Third Edit of "To Previve or Survive Breast Cancer" Started!
Today I spent most of my time working through my third edit of my book, "To Previve or Survive Breast Cancer." I made it to the halfway mark in one day which means that the book is getting to be a fast read with fewer edits! This is the last week that I have before I start guest teaching again, so I want to get one more good read of the book before I submit part of it to a reader at the upcoming San Diego Writers Conference. Editing a book is such an endless task!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wave Knowledge
Surf sages keep telling me that I need more "wave knowledge." So I do the surfer stare at the horizon now to learn how large the distant dark lines (approaching swells) become when they approach the beach. Today I needed to get an "A" for correct surf entry timing, because the swells were building and would soon make the surf impassable for me.
My timing was almost right the first time that I tried to pass through the surf. Unfortunately, the next set of waves caught me in a "no win" position. I tried to ram the first wave to no avail!
My second attempt to get through the surf went well.
My timing was almost right the first time that I tried to pass through the surf. Unfortunately, the next set of waves caught me in a "no win" position. I tried to ram the first wave to no avail!
My second attempt to get through the surf went well.
As I paddled along the Leucadia/Encinitas shore, I loved watching the huge sets of waves blow passed the large school of black-wetsuited surfers at Beacons Beach. The majority of them were waiting for a better wave, but a few would pop up and ride high on the lip of the good wave that they were given.
The surf just kept growing while I was paddling, so I cautiously kayak surfed in to Ponto Beach.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I'm Now a REI Guest Kilimanjaro Speaker!
It's been in the works for several months, but I'm finally going to have my first speaking engagement at REI in Encinitas on February 28th at 7pm. I'll be giving a movie slide show presentation of my climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and my safari. And yes, I'll be selling and signing books afterwards!
Here's the REI calendar promotion:
Here's the REI calendar promotion:
"Join us for Isolde Ulrich’s Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb and Tanzanian Safari Movie Slide Show Presentation. At 41 years old she successfully climbed to Uhuru Peak and wrote about it in her memoir, “The Romance of Kilimanjaro.” She will explain how she trained and prepared for her journey of a lifetime, this REI Kilimanjaro Trip. During this slide show, she’ll take you into a new world of peaceful freedom, international comradery, teamwork with her new Kilimanjaro family, unexpected challenges, and continual exploration that she discovered on her quest to the summit and beyond. This REI trip changed Isolde’s outlook upon life forever and will change you, too---pole, pole.
"Isolde Ulrich www.isoldeulrich.com thrives on creating original solutions to deal with the challenges set before her. She became a biomechanical engineer at UC Berkeley, was their first female president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and started the Stanford versus Cal Engineering Day. She also has designed a now famous estate featured on MTV cribs, raised two children, taught religion, was voted one of the best landscape designers in San Diego County, and guest teaches math and physics."
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Fafsa Day
Oh, the joys of filling out 2012-2013 Fafsa applications twice---one for each of my college kids! It involves lots of number crunching combined with endless hyperlink loops culminating in "page error." I actually may print out the signature page, sign it, and send it in via snail mail, if the Fafsa website doesn't reset their web page data for my PIN by tomorrow.
It's funny how each year my daughter's application goes well and then my son's which is identical always has trouble. It's a head scratcher, that's for sure! I do love their upload link for completed electronic income tax forms, though. That takes any preliminary number crunching error out of the equation!
www.isoldeulrich.com
It's funny how each year my daughter's application goes well and then my son's which is identical always has trouble. It's a head scratcher, that's for sure! I do love their upload link for completed electronic income tax forms, though. That takes any preliminary number crunching error out of the equation!
www.isoldeulrich.com
Monday, January 2, 2012
Kid Day
Today was the day that I had major kid time with/for my adult kids. My son and I went out for lunch at Ciciottis in Cardiff, CA, since a Silicon Valley friend gave me a Christmas coupon for that restaurant via restaurant.com. We very much enjoyed the ocean view, bruschetta, calamari, and got a chance to really talk---without electronic devices distracting us. It sounds like the college experience hasn't changed much since I went to college!
On the way home we finally mailed off his presents for my daughter, who lives in Ohio. Better late than never! I taught him how to use the self-service mailing machine, since that is always available whether the post office is open or closed.
I also picked up my daughter's painting that I had framed. The frame of a painting is as important as the painting itself. If chosen correctly, it pulls out the best qualities of the art. I love how Aaron Brothers can take a picture of the painting and show you virtual frame choices on a flat screen TV. It's very helpful for making such a big investment in your art.
When my daughter left for college, she left all her paintings with me. This is one of our favorites! I call it "Spiritual Eyes." When she gets her first home, I'm going to give it back to her. That will be a sad and happy day. Happy that she can buy a home. Sad that I have to give up this masterpiece of hers!
On the way home we finally mailed off his presents for my daughter, who lives in Ohio. Better late than never! I taught him how to use the self-service mailing machine, since that is always available whether the post office is open or closed.
I also picked up my daughter's painting that I had framed. The frame of a painting is as important as the painting itself. If chosen correctly, it pulls out the best qualities of the art. I love how Aaron Brothers can take a picture of the painting and show you virtual frame choices on a flat screen TV. It's very helpful for making such a big investment in your art.
When my daughter left for college, she left all her paintings with me. This is one of our favorites! I call it "Spiritual Eyes." When she gets her first home, I'm going to give it back to her. That will be a sad and happy day. Happy that she can buy a home. Sad that I have to give up this masterpiece of hers!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Years Day Kite Flying at Mariners Point, San Diego
My dear, former Camp Fire Kid Club friends invited me to go to the 20th annual New Years Day Kite Flying at Mariners Point in Mission Bay, San Diego. I'm not a great kite flier, but love aerodynamics and an adventure, so I went.
Though fog was all around us, the sky was blue directly over the kites. The San Diego Kite Club was there in force. Some kite club members came all the way from Arizona to be there, so a little fog was not going to stop this wonderful kite-flying day!
In the distance we saw a group of precision kite fliers start flying their Revolution kites in formation like the Blue Angels fly. I was amazed that kites could do this! The kites weren't the only beautiful thing to watch. The lines of the precision flying kites would twist one way as the kites maneuvered. Then the kites would fly in the opposite rotation and the lines would untwist. It was an amazing dance in the sky to watch!
The flight squadron with the red, white, and blue kites in the video were a part of the World Record Breaking Kite Group. They flew 64 kites in a straight line! The kite fliers in these videos are Cass and Carol Pittman, John Mason, Tom King, and Lynn and Jim Foster. Jim Foster is the commander giving the orders and leading the kites.
Dan Willan, the president of the San Diego Kite Club was very kind and told me the history of kites. Kite flying started at least as early as 10 centuries ago in China. China, Taiwan, and France are countries that really enjoy kite flying and have a lot of precision flying competitions. The next event just like this one at Mariners Point will happen in March in Arizona.
Though fog was all around us, the sky was blue directly over the kites. The San Diego Kite Club was there in force. Some kite club members came all the way from Arizona to be there, so a little fog was not going to stop this wonderful kite-flying day!
In the distance we saw a group of precision kite fliers start flying their Revolution kites in formation like the Blue Angels fly. I was amazed that kites could do this! The kites weren't the only beautiful thing to watch. The lines of the precision flying kites would twist one way as the kites maneuvered. Then the kites would fly in the opposite rotation and the lines would untwist. It was an amazing dance in the sky to watch!
The flight squadron with the red, white, and blue kites in the video were a part of the World Record Breaking Kite Group. They flew 64 kites in a straight line! The kite fliers in these videos are Cass and Carol Pittman, John Mason, Tom King, and Lynn and Jim Foster. Jim Foster is the commander giving the orders and leading the kites.
Dan Willan, the president of the San Diego Kite Club was very kind and told me the history of kites. Kite flying started at least as early as 10 centuries ago in China. China, Taiwan, and France are countries that really enjoy kite flying and have a lot of precision flying competitions. The next event just like this one at Mariners Point will happen in March in Arizona.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Happy New Year!
Yesterday was quite therapeutic, as I cooked and prepared my traditional party fare for my New Years Eve party. At the grocery store it just slowly came back to me. "Oh, I used to make baked brie in apricot sauce. Ooo! They have mango jam now. I can use that instead of apricot jam. I used to make stuffed mushrooms with Rondele Herb and Garlic spread. I used to make the best chocolate-covered strawberries. I can make a vegetable torte. I can ..... I can....."
As I cooked and chopped and listened to my Rieger Klaus grand piano play Chopin, I was so happy. Here I was giving a party to my old and new friends who had helped me this last year while I was restructuring my new life. I didn't realize that the party was also a gift to me. It made me remember that I didn't need a gourmet kitchen or a mansion to throw a party. I just needed to have faith in me, remember that I was the one who planned and gave the parties before, and thank God for the friends that I have who love me just as I am.
I started my New Year will a lot of joy. I hope that you did, too. Happy New Year! We get to learn from our mistakes, remember what we do well, and start out a new year with confidence and strength.
As I cooked and chopped and listened to my Rieger Klaus grand piano play Chopin, I was so happy. Here I was giving a party to my old and new friends who had helped me this last year while I was restructuring my new life. I didn't realize that the party was also a gift to me. It made me remember that I didn't need a gourmet kitchen or a mansion to throw a party. I just needed to have faith in me, remember that I was the one who planned and gave the parties before, and thank God for the friends that I have who love me just as I am.
I started my New Year will a lot of joy. I hope that you did, too. Happy New Year! We get to learn from our mistakes, remember what we do well, and start out a new year with confidence and strength.
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