5 Principles For Success in Football

  Every Season, every game and every practice, I have understand Preparation is key for success. As told by Brian Billick in his book Competitive Leadership 12 Principals Of Success "At the absolute core of any type of detailed preparation is the maximizing of meaningful repetitions."(Pg. 24) Then he starts to explain that every down you play counts for the process of becoming better at what you do on the field .

    

  I have been playing football for the past 4 years, 2 of those 4 years which was in middle school I did absolutely nothing to prepare myself for the games or practices and that is why I did not become a starter. This  all changed when I got into High School, as my Freshmen year came I applied preparation by watching film but it wasn't until 10th grade I started to apply my new knowledge from film into practice. But when I did I figured out my weaknesses and started working on them so I can make them into my strengths. I also started identifying the way the defenses play and offenses play so I can become ready for what might happen in the game. As my High School career in football still goes on I am going to keep watching film and putting what I learned onto the field because doing this has gotten me a chance of starting this year on JV and possibly starting next year on Varsity.

For anyone else who plays football what can I do to become better prepared?

posted 11:59:00 pm on November 30th

   

In football everybody that plays needs to have the thing called courage, as told by Brian Billick in his book Competitive Leadership 12 Principals Of Success states " Courage is the personal strength that enables a player to handle fear, make difficult decisions, take risks, confront change , accept responsibility, and self-reliant. In other words courage is the trait that empowers  you to be yourself." (Pg. 208)

     

I relate to this by how this season I have been moved around 5 different positions on the offensive line and every time I had to learn to play that position but once in a while I would not know what to do but I needed to still block for the running back/QB so I had to just make a decision to block the closest person and sometimes I would chose right guy and then we would pick up a big gain of yards but other times  I would chose wrong guy and let an opportunity not happen for our team, even though my choices wont be 100% good one's the success comes from whether or not I am able to take responsibility and not to fear the choices I made because even though I might not get the play right there is always going to be the next one.

For those that play football, how does this meaning of courage effect your playing? 

Posted 7:55:00 December 31st

       

In football and in life we can either put ourselves in a situation to accomplish something or to not attempt anything at all because of the confidents we have in ourselves. Brian Billick explains how people with high expectations of themselves mostly succeed, this is seen as self assuring.  How people with confidence in themselves can do what ever they think they can because the human spirit is a very powerful thing.

 

        I relate to this by how when I was in middle school I was always looked at as a 3rd stringer or worse, my coaches never gave me a shot to prove myself so I would never see myself a good enough player to my coaches or for myself. This all changed when I hit 9th grade, new coach new chances, for my first season in high school  I started 3 games as a line backer, this built my confidence a little, the season after I started 6 games as a tackle and a center by taking the taking the starting role from teammates by outplaying them, this created a certain trust with my coaches teammates and risen the confidence that I am a good player and I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to.

What have you needed to overcome in playing football or any sport?

Posted 8:36:00 January 25th

        Being able to communicate to others is key in football and life. As explained by Brian Billick Competitive Leadership 12 Principals Of Success "You can 't prevail, much less excel, without superior communication skills" (90). Communication is needed to best understand any situation on the field or off, we use it to know what to do to become better as a person and a player. Being a leader, communication is needed to be successful.

        I relate to this by how I talk to all of my teammate to better understand how they play, or the new players(freshman) and better give them an understanding of what they got to do to become better as a player and as a person because I have gone through everything that is mostly known of starting at the bottom in football. I can give them advice of what they should do to stay on track in school and push them to become better.

How do you use communication on or off the field?

Posted 11:08:00 January 25th

what if there was a way that makes a person better, well Brian Billick explains performance oriented, where a person creates steps to have success for a vision they have . This is needing dedication and the grand plan for success.

I relate to this by how I am starting at center and I have to follow a step process to be successful. I have to notice whether or not the linebacker is blitzing, or if the tackle is shaded to the right or to the left, but the most important part is having to snap the ball and block at the same time. This whole step process is important so I can block for the QB or the RB.

If you play football or any other sport, what I your step process at your position to be successful?

Posted 1/26 January 26th





Citation: Billick, Brian. Competitive Leadership Twelve Prinicples For Success. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.                         



Choosing and Understanding Basic Archery Equipment

So far in my life I have had a small amount of practice in archery, I’ve taken a small class and I’ve practiced with my recurve bow in my backyard. In the book Archery Fundamentals by Douglas Engh, the first two chapters of the book are focused on what the equipment is, and how to choose the right one effectively.

Picking the right bow is a very important element however according to Engh, “No single bow is perfect for all uses. Archers usually decide what kind of archery appeals to them and then choose the equipment that best matches that goal. Many archers eventually own several types of bows” (4). The three types of bows are a longbow, recurve bow, and compound bow. The difference is that a longbow is a single piece of wood carved into shape giving the user a more authentic feel, the type of bow Robin Hood uses. The recurve bow of course curves back, the tips of the bow come back around giving a smoother release and power transfer, as well as the bow itself is often able to be taken apart. A compound bow on the other hand uses a variety of wires and mechanical wheels to take off some of the weight so that you don’t have to hold the full weight the entire time and possibly struggle holding it while aiming. It takes off the weight once you pull it at first and then puts it back in upon release. As stated before I have a recurve bow but I now understand that I may need to get multiple more bow types to suit all of my needs.

Me doing the test using an arrow instead of the yard stick first

On the topic of arrows Engh states that the specific arrow size needed for each person is slightly different. However, you can figure out what an appropriate length for you would be by putting a yardstick against your chest and pointing it out. Once you have this you put your arms out to see how far they reach on it, and then take the measurement you get and add two inches to get the arrow length you need, this is also called your draw length (16). I found this very helpful to me personally because before I was using whatever arrows I had, in this case half of them were right and the other half were a few inches too short, crippling me from reaching full draw length giving me a weaker shot. Of course there are multiple other parts of an arrow that can be different such as width, head type, and flexibility but this is a good starting point because others will depend on what type of target you are shooting at and what type of bow you have.

What type of bow do you use and why? If you don't do archery what type of bow do you think you would want to use and why?

Engh, Douglas.Archery Fundamentals. IL: Human Kinetics Inc, 2005. Print

Baking a Pie Crust

           Pie. Just the sound of that word can cause mouths to water the second it reaches their ears. I have always loved pies and my family has as well. I have not been the best cook throughout my life whether that be because of my lack of interest until recently, or because I haven't had much practice. Either way, I figured since I loved pie so much and wanted to work on my cooking skills, for this project I would learn to bake different kinds of pies. To do this I have chosen the book "A Year of Pies, A Seasonal Tour of Home Baked Pies". This book illustrates how to bake all different types of pies, from strawberry crumble, to caramelized onion and cheese. This book not only gives instructions, but also provides backgrounds about when and where to bake these pies.

           Since I am so new to the art of pie making, I thought I would start with some basics. The foundation of the savory goodness that is a pie. The crust. 

• "2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• chilled and cubed 3/5 cups ice water" (English 21).

Me with the ingredients called for

After I had gathered all of the ingredients, I compiled them as it told me to do, and then preheated the oven for 350 degrees. I then put the uncooked crust in the oven. (Usually you wouldn't bake the crust before you bake the pie, but since I am not baking a pie, I baked the crust). I left it in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 mins (English 21), then took it out. 

Me taking the pie crust out of the oven

The crust turned out okay, but it did end up a little dry. If I had baked the crust for a shorter amount of time, would the pie not have turned out as dry?

The first step of my Pie baking journey is complete, and I cannot wait to continue my quest to be the pie baking master.

English, Ashley. A Year of Pies. New York: Lark Crafts, 2012. Print.

Three-Berry Tart

First off I would like to start out by saying that I have never cooked before and have only recently taken interest in it when my mom left for vacation and I had to end up cooking for myself. And after eating noodles and macaroni and cheese for a week I decided that cooking something else would probably be in my best interests. To start off my cooking career I decided to go for something a little ambitious. My first ever cooking project ended up being a tart but an easier one to make according to Stephanie Ponder (Ponder 199)


Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups mixed berries
• 1/2 lemon
• 4 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• I cup cold butter
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 egg beaten  (Ponder 200)

 I really think the easiest part of this whole recipe was making the filling all it took were a couple of ingredients to be thrown into a blender and then mixed up.

 

However the crust was much harder I had to refer back to the text often and if it wasn't for multiple tips in the cookbook such as letting the bread cool before adding the filling or chilling the dough before using it.(Ponder 200) I probably would have done a lot of things wrong if I hadn't had all these tips and tricks from the book.

Overall the tart ended up tasting pretty good and this encouraged me to keep cooking and trying out new things.

So the question I would like to ask is:


What do you think are some tips for beginners that may help? 

Ponder, Stephanie E. Simply Delicious. N.p.: Costco, 2012. Print.

Minecraft Survival: The Basics (Swords and Bows)

The Basics of Survival is essential for Minecraft. There's no other way to put it, your life depends on how you prepare to face the world of blocks itself. Whether you are taking on the Ender Dragon or you're just starting off on your quest, it is vital to learn about the most important basics of combat in Minecraft. I will be only talking about swords and bows and arrows in this one. With a sword and a bow you are ready to take on any monster out there in the deadly terrains of Minecraft.

First let's start with how you craft your sword. Your standard recipe to craft on a crafting table are 1 stick and two material pieces of either wood, stone, gold, iron, or diamond.

Sword Recipes

These material pieces each account for how strong each sword is and how durable it is. Wood swords tend to be great starter weapons according to Stephanie Milton, author of Minecraft: Combat Handbook. However, they are less durable and can break when used for a longer period of time. Stone swords have a bit more bite to them than wood swords and will work long enough until you are able to acquire rare ores (gold, iron and diamond). Gold Swords are slightly stronger than wood, but are less stronger than stone and are less durable than both. They can however be enchanted (upcoming blog) easier than the other swords. Iron swords are stronger than all three and an iron sword will last a while. This is a great weapon for fighters willing to fight against monsters such as zombies, skeletons, and spiders. However, if wanting an even stronger weapon, craft the diamond sword which is the strongest and most durable sword in the game. The diamond sword is "The ultimate fighting implement for the player who intends to dominate." (Milton 9).

Damage each sword does:
Wood Sword - 5 hearts
Stone Sword - 6 hearts
Gold Sword - 5 hearts
Iron Sword - 7 hearts
Diamond Sword - 8 hearts

You can also press right click in order to block arrow shots with your sword. Later on, you'll find out how these swords can be enchanted to increase the performance of each sword. Swords are an essential piece in order to survive.

Bows are typically best used at a distance to snipe your enemies from afar. They are crafted using 3 pieces of sticks and three pieces of string. Bows are strongly durable and can last for a while. Arrows needed with bows are crafted with one piece of flint, one stick and one feather. Arrows can also be dropped by skeletons, when slain.

Bow and Arrow Recipe

Bows can be used by holding down the right click button to charge and release it. According to Milton, "The main advantage of a bow and arrows is that, unlike the sword, you can use it from a distance and keep out of range of your enemy's attack." (Milton 10). A normal bow and arrow can do up to 9 hearts of damage when fully charged. Bows can also be enchanted to help out even more.

You are now ready to face the world of Minecraft with the basic weapons needed. Now all you need left is armor and other essential parts. Depending on everyone's play style you might play aggressive and roll with a sword like me, or just play safe and use a bow. You might even need to use both weapons to fight different monsters that live in the world of Minecraft. What is your play style and how will you use these weapons effectively?

Milton, Stephanie, and Paul Soares. "Basic Weapons." Minecraft: Combat Handbook: An Official Mojang Book. Scholastic, 2014. Print.

Introduction into Woodland Gardens

This is a woodland garden

Have you ever wondered how something could be so beautiful? Since the summer I have always seen these really beautiful flowers that were being planted by my neighbor. My neighbor plants and takes really good care of these flowers every day and that has inspired me to try something new. In these 3 months that we are doing this independent reading assignment, I want to take on the challenge of learning how to create a woodland garden (a garden in an area where land is covered by trees) with a variety of different types of flowers. I chose to make a woodland garden, because it is different from the common gardens that we see everyday. Gardening somewhere different then a yard can be seen as a very strange idea, and I myself also believed the same thing, but instead of thinking inside the box, I want to think outside of the box and see things from a different point of view. Since this is my first time gardening I’ve always believed that when gardening it needs to be in the sunlight and I also thought woodland gardens would have the same conditions as well. However Wiley doesn’t believe that is true. He says that woodland gardens need to be in a place where there is a lot of shade and in an area where there is also a lot of rainfall (39). Wiley suggests that I should depend on my local climate and soil conditions when having a woodland.

First flower that will be used
in the woodland garden.

A way to make the woodland garden possible is to think of what type of environment you will be using, what resources you need, and also what adjustments you have to make to have the woodland garden to be successful. Wiley says that “Thus, shape, habit, and placement are all worthy consideration as you begin to plant your woodland” (27). While reading this quote I started to visualize how this woodland garden will eventually look when I create it and also consider what type of places would be acceptable for the garden. I hope that while making this woodland garden, I remember where would be a good place for this garden and make adjustments so the plants can live.

In your opinion, do you think that having a garden somewhere other than a yard is very strange? Or, do you think having a garden somewhere else is actually a good idea?

Wiley, Keith. Designing and Planting a Woodland Garden. London: Timber Press, 2014. Print.

Info on short course trucks and chossing the right tires for you

RC's that I have had experience with-

I do all sorts of driving with my RC's and have several different types of RC's that preform at their best in different environments. Some of mine include the Traxxas slash 2WD: good on dirt tracks, indoor carpet tracks, and cement tracks, the Traxxas summit: good on off-road courses and the also Axial SCX10 deadbolt: good at rock crawling and off-roading (trail trucking) but this blog is going to mostly be about short course trucks (the Traxxas slash).

A bit of background on the slash-

The Traxxas slash is a very versatile short course RC truck and comes in many different versions. The slash comes in a 2WD or 4WD, brushless (motor) or brushed (motor), and a low cg (center of gravity) chassis, all of which are good for different racing.

Picking your tires-

Pro-line Trenchers

Pro-line Badlands

Pro-line Street fighters

Now lets get into choosing your tires. In order to choose the correct tires for you, you need to look at the type of driving/racing you will be doing because, "the stock tires get you up and running but often aren't ideal for the conditions you plan to run in."(Radio Control Car Action 27) The types of tires include street, dirt, and AT(all-terrain) tires. Some of the tires I have had experience with are Pro-line Racing Badlands, Trenchers, and Street fighters. I love the trenchers which I run on my summit and on my slash because the are great on and off the road. The badlands aren't my favorite tires which I have also ran on my slash because they wear down to quickly on the road BUT that's what I get for running them on the street. The street fighters are also another one of my favorites because they are phenomenal on the street since they have a super sticky compound and firm foams but they don't do to well of road and I like to go on and off road simultaneously so I have found that the trenchers were the best fit for my style of driving.

I will definitely be trying out different tires from different companies to see if they work for my style of driving.

I would also like to know what types of tires you may use for similar driving or completely different driving and what your experience with them have been and if you may have any suggestions for me?


RC Car Action. Your Ultimate Off-road Guide. N.p.: Radio Control Car Action,
     n.d. Print. Radio Control Car Action.



Building Mental Toughness Through Golf

Golf is the sport that really tests your mental toughness. People have dubbed golf, the game of life. As you start trying to get better, there are many obstacles you will have to overcome. My biggest obstacle in golf is confidence. One would expect a person who has played golf for nearly 5 years now would know how to control their confidence, but it is a lot tougher than you would think. Throughout the book Zen Golf by Dr. Joseph Parent, he directs my thoughts to be less pessimistic and makes the game more enjoyable for me. During the chapter, you are not your thoughts, he says, "While playing well in a tournament, we might think to ourselves, 'Well, you've gotten away with it so far, but you'll screw up before too long.' Believing in this thought gives it power. It creates feeling of doubt and anxiety, which interfere with our swing and produce errant shots. That makes us believe the thought even more, amplifying it in our mind. Eventually, the fear of failure becomes so powerful that our game is badly disrupted and the prophecy of the thought has been fulfilled."(18). I am one to bring myself down when I am playing well, or even sub par. Parent has taught me to not be not too rough on myself when having a bad day or good day, and I'm now able to enjoy the game a lot more. His words of wisdom will improve my golf score and will allow me to take control of my confidence without any worries or doubts.

I can relate my experience through golf and seeing different perspectives in my daily life. For example, during a test, I would have to take time and not rush into any answers. I was taught from Dr. Joseph Parent that we can choose to respond rather than automatically react to a certain situation. But through life experiences, we know that we tend to assume or guess without actually knowing, which usually leads to a fault or mistake. (19) this taught me to take time in between shots and not just automatically react to what I think would be a perfect shot. Then to take a step back and give myself time to figure out what I could do to better my shot. Thus makes me more relaxed and more confident when I approach my ball, which will end up being more consistent and where I would want the ball to end up.

Does anybody have techniques that had helped their
confidence? (Sports in general)

Parent, Joseph, Dr. Zen Golf. New York: Double Day, 2002. Print.

What the Fork to Do

All my life I've never really paid attention to food labels, my fat intake, how many calories I was eating per meal and so on. In What the Fork Are You Eating by Stefanie Sacks, there are specific, helpful sections of the book to really keep me on track on what I should be eating daily. In chapter 15, Sacks talks about introducing healthy eating ideas to your family. One way that particularly stood out to me was the "Chopped" competition. This is one way to introduce healthy foods in a fun way. She said that after participating in this competition, her son, "Hunter, [her] picky child who prefers food from a box, ate fish and mushrooms for the very first time! Everyone was on board that evening" that her family tried the "Chopped" competition (Sacks 214).

Chopped is where you give the people you want to help try healthier foods four ingredients to make their own meal. Sacks gave her kids and husband potatoes, onions, fish and mushrooms to make a dinner with. They were more creative and actually created meals like soups and grilled their fish (Sacks 214). I gave my sister and stepdad the task of making an afterschool snack instead, with the ingredients of an apple, a banana, yogurt and mixed nuts.

Ruby decided to mix mashed banana and vanilla yogurt together and topped it with chopped nuts to make a dip for her apple slices. While Monty decided to bake his apple, and roll both the apple and banana in crushed nuts and also used yogurt as a dip.

Bananas are something Ruby would never eat by choice, but with the snack she made, she actually enjoyed them. She said herself that this snack afterschool would be great rather than going to the pantry to have chips. This introduced both Monty and Ruby to a healthier decision as a snack and hopefully they will use this information later when deciding what to eat.


Would you be willing to make a meal with healthier foods you don't usually eat?

Sacks, Stefanie. What the Fork Are You Eating?: An Action Plan for Your Pantry and Plate. New York: Penguin Group, 2014. Print.                         

Drawing a hand pose

Drawing hands has been pretty much a challenge for me, and so I got a book that was written by my most favorite drawing instructor Mark Crilley. I have created a sketch of a hand following the instructions of a book called Mastering Manga 2. Mark Crilley suggests that you try to draw out your own hand to see how it looks and it helps out to remember how long are the fingers compared to the thumb. "It is worth drawing your own hand, palm facing forward, to help you memorize the length of each finger in comparison with thumb and the rest of the hand" (Crilley 56)
For almost all us, drawing hands have been a huge challenge mainly because of the many poses and the way the hand looks and so I'm going to try on sketching out a hand.
"I have chosen one of the most common poses- that of the hand at rest when the arm is relaxed" (Crilley 56) Because of the fact that I'm a beginner at drawing hands, this quote shows how some hand poses are easier then the other.

What I first did was use a ruler by 2 inches wide and height was 4 inches then line in half leaving two boxes 2 inch by 2 inch for each of the two boxes. After that, I sketch out the palm, drawing the wrist and thumb, and then later on sketch out the four fingers. I tried to make the fingers curve a little bit.

After drawing the fingers, I later on added on wrinkles to the palm, wrist, and  joint of the thumb. Also, making a simple line at the joints of each of the fingers.

 The finishing touches were ink the drawing, I used PITT artist pen to make the final touches of the hand. After finishing this drawing, I would have to say that it needs more improvement. So I'm going to continue on practicing the hand poses more.














Do you have any difficulties when it came to drawing hands?


Crilley, Mark. Mastering Manga 2: Level up with Mark Crilley. Cincinnati, OH: Impact, 2013. Print.

Fantasy Life

I got into fantasy football last year and I have been hooked on it ever since. For those of you aren't familiar with it, it is an online "sport" that you can compete in with a group of life-long friends or complete strangers. You get together in a draft lobby and pick players for your team based on how well you think they'll do in the upcoming season according to their stats. The way you score points are based on how well your players do in real life. This wildly popular "sport" is played by people all over the country and add a competitive edge to their lives every Sunday.


I think fantasy football is a great long-term activity to be apart of as it brings out your competitiveness and gives you purpose, especially when the stakes are high. The great thing about fantasy football or fantasy sports in general is that it brings people together that may not have before been compatible. It is a common denominator that connects you to people who you may not have known as well or thought of as a friend. This has happened to me during my participation and has strengthened my relationship with others.


Last year when I first started, I finished my season with a record of 6-7. It wasn't great just mediocre. In one of my leagues this year, I started 0-5. I thought my season was over, but then I started reading Fantasy Life by Matthew Berry. In it he gave advice on making trades with other teams. According to Berry, "People always look at the upside of the deal, but having a low downside is just as important. Understanding both potential outcomes of the deal will help you evaluate it better." This has give

n me a completely new perspective when trading players. Whenever I proposed a trade, I never weighed out the pros and cons of it to see which side had more. I just focused on how much of a positive impact my team would get. By getting this new point of view, I can be more careful when making trades.

While on the subject of pros and cons, what are the pros and cons of participating in fantasy football?

Berry, Matthew. Fantasy Life. Westminster: Penguin Group, 2013. Print.

Piggy Hugs

Guinea pigs! Such a misleading name, for they are not pigs (they're rodents), nor are they from New Guinea (their original home is Peru). But that doesn't make these adorable, cuddly creatures any less lovable!

Cavies have always been a part of my life. In fact, my first pet was a guinea pig when I was five years old, and there hasn't been a time after that when our home wasn't shared with at least one of these cavy babies. I myself have my first female pigs at the moment: Mochi (1 year old) and Bean (7 months old).

Can you guess which is whom?

Well, you may ask, what makes guinea pigs so appealing? Guinea pigs are mostly very docile and are quick learners. And just like people, guinea pigs have their own personalities that bring them to life. Author Debbi Noble said that the personality and intellect of a guinea pig is largely dictated by its breed and the age it was adopted into a home (6). Mochi, the classic American, was around six months old when we rescued her. Bean, who is of the "Teddy" breed (distinguished by their short, fuzzy fur), was only two months old when we adopted her a short time after Mochi. Both are very clever girls, and I've taken this opportunity to teach them simple commands.

But first things first!

At the heart of any kind of training, one must remember the basics. In training your guinea pig, this means knowing the basic way of interacting with your pigs: picking them up and holding them. Noble warns piggy owners that that in itself can be a struggle, so she gives this advice. "Move slowly and cautiously, and once you've caught it, hold it gently. Keep two hands on it at all times, one above the animal and one below... One popular way of holding a guinea pig is to have your left hand on the bottom, with its head pointing to your left elbow and its rump on your left hand. Cover the guinea pig's shoulders with your right hand" (16, 17). I don't usually hold my pigs in this position, but the important thing is to "have good control of the animal and that the control is caused by having multiple points of contact with your pet" (18). I applied this advice with my pigs and held them in multiple positions: how Noble described and  how I usually hold them.

 I've found that what Noble said is true! Whatever position I held my pigs in, I found that once I placed both my hands on my her and made sure her lower body is properly supported, she would stop tensing up complaining and instead turn quiet and relaxed. This was the effect on both Mochi and Bean, especially when I had one hand over the top of their body and they were close to my own body, like a hug. Having as much physical contact as possible is important for your pet to feel safe when you are hold them, especially when moving around.

But the journey isn't over yet! Having your pet trust and feel safe around you is only laying down the fundamentals for training them. Next time, let's see how Mochi and Bean fare with being taught to "come here!"

I'm interested to know if any of you have pets. What was the most important part for you in training and teaching your pet(s)?

Noble, Debbie. Guinea Pig Pets: Train Your Guinea Pig The Easy Way! N.p.: Shaharm Publications, 2014-2015. E-book.                          

Essential Guide to Fly Tying

 I've always wanted to learn how to tie flies more in depth. Before reading this book "Essential Trout Flies" by Dave Hughes, I knew how to tie very basic flies. The mixture of colors and specific amount of material just seemed too hard for me to master.

One of the main things I was doing wrong was that I covered the point of the hook in the clamps. In the book, "Essential Trout Flies" by Dave Hughes, he taught me, "Don't try to cover the point of the hook with the jaws; that crimps the wire, weakening the hook" (Hughes 14). I always wondered why my hooks were so weak. I would cover the point of the hook because it helps shield the thread from the sharp part of the hook. This saves the risks of weakening the thread you are using to tie with. I found out that if you put the hook farther down in the clamp, the point of the hook isn't covered up but it is still shielded. This makes sure it doesn't cut the thread you are using to tie with. Using this technique doesn't weaken the hook.

The picture below is of me doing the basic Soft Loop which is the main way to tying the material you are using to the hook with your thread. "You'll use a soft loop nearly every time you tie a new material to the hook shank- tails, bodies, wings, whatever" (Hughes 14).

Hughes suggested practicing the Whip Finish method. The Whip Finish Method is basically a technique to tie off the thread so it doesn't unravel when you cut your thread. "You must finish every fly head with a whip finish. Many experienced tiers execute the whip finish with their fingers" (Hughes 15). Even though I'm not an experienced tier, I prefer using my fingers because it's a lot faster. Also it's one less tool to deal with in your workplace. In this picture, I'm using the Whip Finish Tool. I practiced this Whip Finish Technique a few times on a hook that has only been threaded.

This isn't the best fly but this helped me get a feel for tying flies again. This helped me practice, threading the fly, adding material to the fly, centering the hook, and Whip Finishing.

One easy tip for tying flies is to find short cuts for yourself. For example, I don't use this Whip Finish tool to save some time. Another tip is to keep yourself well organized, have all your fly materials labeled and in a spot that you can easily find them, grab the amount you need and tie away.

Do any fly tiers out there have any other tips to help me in my journey to tie flies?



Citation:
Hughes, Dave. Essential Trout Flies. China: Jim Schollmeyer, Tracy Patterson and K Yonenoi, 2000.

Mashed Potatoes

I have been wanting to learn how to cook a variety of different things that taste good while sneaking in healthy things. I've often asked myself the question is it possible to eat something healthy and to have it taste good? To figure out the answer to this question, I have been reading Jessica Seinfeld's book Deceptively Delicious. In this book,, I have already found so many different recipes and ideas of ways I can sneak a variety of healthy foods into some of the unhealthiest foods out there.

I decided that for my first recipe to make, I would make mashed potatoes.

"Return potatoes to the pot and mash with a potato masher. Add the cauliflower puree..."(Seinfeld 80) The one thing that really stuck out to me was the fact that you can add a vegetable that almost everyone in my family hates and turn it into something delicious. I was finally able to trick my family into eating something that was good for them. Now I know that I can make a variety of things that taste buds like and your overall health as well.

"The whole purpose of this cook book is to be able to get your kids or anyone you make food for, to eat things that are healthy for them while making sure it;s not seen by the eye." (Seinfeld,10) I have finally been able to test this and it was proven true. You can make things taste good even if they have some secret healthy ingredient in them.

The ingredients include...

• 1 pound baking potatoes, pealed and cubed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cauliflower puree
• 2 tablespoons trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread
• 1/2 cup low-fat (1%) milk

My question to you guys is what other tips or tricks do you have on how to slip in different ingredients without them being noticed? 

Technique and Improve

Technique and Improve

In violin lessons I have to do a warm-up technique called improvisation. In improvisation I have to listen to the accompanist and improvise a song in that key, whether it be in A minor or B major. A part of improvisation is interpreting the music and adding emotions into the piece I'm playing. There are three important factors to playing the violin, Galamian says they are "1. The Physical Factor: consisting of (a) the anatomical make-up of the individual, in particular the shape of his fingers, hands, and arms, plus the flexibility of his muscular apparatus; (b) the physiological functioning with regard to the playing movements and the muscular actions that bring them about; 2. The Mental Factor: the ability of the mind to prepare, direct, and supervise the muscular activity; 3. The Aesthetic-emotional Factor: the capacity to understand and feel the meaning of the music, plus the innate talent to project its expressive message to the listener (3)".  In improvisation I have to use a certain scale for a certain track, such as track 20, I have to play the D scale for the improvisation to sound right. Galamian says that any scale that the player can perform with different techniques have been completely taken in by mind and muscles.

 

Galamian says "...the nature of an improvisation  in which the artist in moved by the music he plays, forgets about technique, and abandons himself with improvisatory freedom to the inspiration of the moment (7)." I don't think this is exactly what he meant, because if you playing with only improvisation you don't just forget the techniques you already learned but it isn't the main thing that your thinking about as your playing. What Galamian says is partly true, because while playing I don't consciously think about what I am playing or about the techniques that I am using, the information I have gained over the years is just at the back of my mind just visible over the notes that I am playing.

What do you think the nature of improve and the point of improve is?

 

 Galamian, Ivan. Principles of Violin: Playing & Teaching. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 2013. Print.

Strings Break Sometimes

This blog post was originally supposed to be about my love for the guitar and music that it's in. To help show this I was going to pull out my own acoustic guitar from its case after almost 3 years of not using it and use it in this post. The second I strummed it to hear if it needed to be tuned, the second E string came off. This is to be expected, due to the guitar being in a case for so long. This does teach me a valuable lesson about guitars and other stringed instruments. This lesson being that they need to be tuned regularly, and strings grow weak over time. 

 The book I chose for this blog is The Guitar Book by Charlotte Greig and Nick Powlesland. The book is mainly about learning how to play the guitar like the greats. The greats being artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Slash, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and more. In the book, it is repeatedly stated how important the strings are to create quality sound. The book states, "The key to mastering your guitar is to combine good technique with a secure knowledge of individual notes and chords." (Greig Powlesland 8). This excerpt from the book describes the how the notes and chords on a guitar are the tools used to become skillful at the guitar. On a guitar, there are normally six strings reaching across the neck of the guitar. These strings all have a unique, individual sound when they're plucked or strummed. These strings are represented by letters. The first string, sometimes called the bass string, is E. This is the string with the lowest sound. Next is the A string, the D string, the G string, the B string, and then finally the string with the highest sound, the second E string. This is the string that came off on my acoustic guitar. The notes get higher and higher as you strum down on the strings.

Hopefully by my next post I will have my strings fixed and tuned.

What is your favorite instrument and song?

Greig, Charlotte, and Nick Powlesland. The Guitar Book: The Ultimate Guide to Playing like the Greats: Blues, Rock, Pop, Folk, Jazz. London: Amber, 2010. Print.

Aspects of Mental Fortitude in Baseball

Baseball along with all other sports, demands not only physical strength, but mental strength as well. Building confidence is one main aspects of being successful in baseball. This can be done using numerous tactics. The particular section that I focused on in "The Mental Game of Baseball" had to do with visualization techniques.

By practicing with visualization techniques, you form good habits

Typically, visualization is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about baseball. This was especially true for me. I never really thought of visualization as an important aspect of the game and treated it as a strange and taboo gimmick more than a real, working practice. I also believed that I didn't possess the time and energy to practice a new skill because of school work and other activities, especially when I thought it was going to be a waste of time. Dorfman and Kuehl would say the opposite of me. They claim that visualization is an actual method of practicing successful baseball habits and will improve performance. Both authors say that if you see and feel yourself playing the way that you want to, it can be as rewarding as it is relaxing and can be practiced anywhere at anytime. (148) I tend to have trouble locating problems in my swing. Dorfman and Kuehl's writing has really helped me so far by allowing me to visualize my swing the right way before actually performing it. Using

Success in games is a result of practicing visualization

One of the many techniques for successful visualization is replaying past effective performances. By replaying the right things that you have done, you can make these successful attributes of your playing habitual and repeat the right things, as well as dismiss the wrong things. "See and feel yourself performing just the way that you wish to. Do it again-and again. Keep your attention directed to this practice as you would want to keep your attention during the real practice." (148) In my practices, I keep the mental images of me doing things the right way in mind, so I can successfully perform in games and strengthen my skills as a baseball player.

Would you agree with Dorfman and Kuehl that visualization is more than just a gimmick?

Dorfman, H. A., and Karl Kuehl. The Mental Game of Baseball: A Guide to Peak Performance. Lanham, MD: Diamond Communications, 2002. Print.

Having a Good Swimmers Diet

While reading “Swimming for Exercise” by Greg Whyte, a former Olympic Swimmer, I learned a few new tips and tricks for how to have an effective swimmers diet. Whyte focuses on making sure you keep a good balance of carbohydrate in your diet. Carbohydrates are short term energy used the cells. “In general, your muscles require carbohydrates as fuel for exercise.” (Whyte 94) If your muscles require them and you are doing a rigorous swimming workout, it is a good idea to eat/stay fueled before, during, and after your workout.

Before

If you are going to eat a large meal make sure it is 1-2 hours before your swim so you do not cramp up. Even if you do not eat a full meal, it is important to get some food in before a workout. “Energy-rich carbohydrate foods, such as chocolate, fruit, cookies, or energy bars… have a high glycemic index (GI), which means that the glucose appears in your body very quickly, making them great snacks for exercise.” (Whyte 94) Before a workout, I usually like to have a gondola bar and if I have enough time I like to have a fruit smoothie. This has worked very well for me because it is a big enough snack to fill me up after school without leaving me too full and sluggish before practice.

During

During my workout I usually drink water to keep my mouth from running dry and to stay hydrated. Whyte suggests that you will need a subtenant drink with carbohydrates for long durations of swimming. (Whyte 94) Drinks that would work would include any sports drink that has carbohydrates and electrolytes. Such as Gatorade or power aid.

This plan can also be in effect for a swim meet. It is important to keep up on carbohydrates during a meet to be prepared for your race. Eating foods as suggested to eat for before your workout, fruit, chocolate, cookies, energy bars, etc work well during a meet.

After

After my workout, I tend to be very hungry leading to a full meal. Whyte says that you should eat within 30 min of a workout, “Try to consume carbohydrates within thirty minutes of finishing a swim session- this period after exercise is the most effective time for your body to store carbohydrates.” (Whyte 94) Eating carbohydrate rich foods that also had other values to them, will make you able to fuel your body in order to gain muscles and be prepared for your next workout.

What are your favorite pre and post workout/practice snacks?

Citation

Whyte, Gregory P., and Eddie Jacob. Swimming for Exercise. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Firefly, 2011. Print.

Men's Clothing: Ties

Introduction

Why are you here? Well you're here because you want to know what there is to know about Men's Fashion (clothing). But I sadly cannot give all details and information with my limited time and resources, but I will give you the essential knowledge to wearing your best for formal events and informal occasions.

Ties and Bow ties

Yes, this may seem abrupt in the guide, but a man should know what tie and bow tie to wear, when to wear it, and how to tie it, prior to putting on his shirt,vest and/or blazer. I will teach you how to tie a regular tie and a bow tie which are the most common ties in today's men fashion. Solid colored ties should be used for formal and anything else such as stripes, polka-dots and etc are generally casual. "Bow ties can be worn on both formal and informal occasions, day or evening, are correct with either single or double breasted jackets" (Flusser 163).

Regular Tie

"With respect to the necktie's ideal length, the general rule of thumb holds that its widest point just above its tip should coincide with the belt's upper edge" (Flusser 166).

Bow Tie

"Learning to knot a bow tie is not the daunting task you might imagine; it requires no more skill than tying your shoes" (Flusser 164).

What did you think of ties before reading this and do you think you can tie one now?

Works Cited

Flusser, Alan. Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion. New York:

              HarperCollins, 2002. Print