The Karianna Spectrum

Reflections from Gym Camp

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:41:46 -0800

I have two boys, both of whom have been involved in competitive sports in one version or another. We've done highly competitive soccer, chill-out soccer, less stressful teeball, a mixed bag of basketball, pretty-laidback golf, and of course the All Encompassing Life of Gymnastics. I've witnessed parents who are chill, and those who scream until they are red in the face because their Little Precious didn't do what he was supposed to do (and this mistake at age 5 will surely mean the college...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

[16] The Berlin Wall Fell and I Went to Taco Bell

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:26:56 -0800

Right after I turned 15.5, I got my learner's permit. I was later surprised by friends of mine who lived in the City who put off getting their license. I think a few of them still don't know how to drive. But for those of us in the suburbs, getting our permit --and later our license-- was a huge rite of passage. My dad taught me how to drive in the parking lot of our church and of our local college. (I later tried to teach a friend how to drive in that same college parking lot, but we were...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

[15] A Quiet Puzzle

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 10:45:00 -0800

When I was a freshman in high-school, we were required to take a drafting class. Back when I was young, it annoyed me when adults would provide their, "Back in the day..." stories. But now I have my own. Sure, there's "before internet" and "we had cords on our phones." But physical technical drawing is something that I really miss. I loved the puzzle of how to create figures with very little reference. I don't remember exactly how it worked (since it has been 25 years since then!) but I...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

[14] Growing Up

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:36:59 -0800

Age 14 was a big one for growing up. I went to Australia (where I met Bart Conner; the first of several Olympic gymnasts I'd eventually see in person.) I went to Mexico (where I remember being very inspired on a humanitarian level, only to have superficial conversations brought into the mix.) I became friends with a great guy who I never dated, but it was a good "practice" to communicate with a boy in a more relaxed manner than in those squeaky-panicked moments of a middle school dance....

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Mood Matching

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:33:30 -0800

When I was in college I took a social skills class on the side. I think it was titled something about "effective relationships," and of course I took it because I was hoping to snag a guy. Proving that I had a lot to learn about men, it didn't occur to me that most guys wouldn't dare even breathe near such a class, so of course my idea fizzled fast. Aside from my botched plan, the two things I most remember about this extra-curricular endeavor were the squeaky-clean perky exchange student and...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

[13] You are Doing it Wrong

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:38:13 -0800

The other day, my son asked me if I was a good artist when I was young. I hesitated, and explained that I was very creative when I was younger, but that trying to copy real life was tricky for me. I told him that I really enjoyed a class in college where we were allowed to explore different ways of interpreting the same object. It wasn't just about making things look "right." "Well, I'm an excellent artist," my always-confident son responded. He then told me there were several kids in his...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

My son is wearing hot pink flip-flops at school.

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:32:36 -0800

... with his cowboy uniform. Six years ago, (so hard to believe it really has been that long) I entered the office of what would soon be our local school. I wanted to register my older son for the first grade and get him on any wait-lists immediately so that he could attend the school closest to our new home. The school secretary told us we had to register through the district, and then bring the paperwork to her. Just a few days later, I returned with my completed paperwork. There was a...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

I'm Going to be Honest

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:19:34 -0800

Several years ago, I was really into running. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the now-defunct "shredheads" (I still tag my workouts "#shredheads" on Twitter) and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment I had at the end of my various races for "Project 2010k". That is, until I realized I was still a slow "newbie." I think it hit me during "The Relay." Yes, it was an amazing experience, one that I'll probably never get again. Yes, it was "empowering" in many ways. Except, it kinda wasn't because I...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

[12] Norwegian Pride

Fri, 10 May 2013 08:49:57 -0800

I've never been to Norway. But, I love Scandinavian things. Bring on the lefse! My name means "valley dweller" apparently, although I don't speak Norwegian. I tried to learn around age 12, using some cassette tapes I purchased out of a mail-order catalog, but aside from some simple vocabulary, I don't know much. (My grandpa had a placard by his front door that read: "You can tell a Norwegian, but you can't tell him much." Heh.) I suppose I became really interested in my heritage around...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, except at my HMO

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:21:05 -0800

I had a dermatology appointment today. I was pretty nervous, because last time I got a mole checked out, I checked out. I was also a bit concerned, because when I received my referral to the department, I was told the consult would be $75 with additional charges for other services. I was already skeptical that a painful cyst would count as "cosmetic" rather than "medical," but surely an abnormal mole was more on the "medical side." RIGHT? The message to get moles checked out is huge. Skin...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

[11] Be Careful What You Wish For

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:20:43 -0800

Sometimes we aren't prepared for what we really want. Or, it comes out just a bit wrong. -- Although other parts of my body were "early bloomers," my teeth were not. While my classmates got braces and other cool-looking things, my teeth still weren't ready. (That meant that when I finally did get braces, everyone else had beautiful smiles: orthodontia was no longer "in" since everyone else was done with their treatment.) Before braces, I went to the orthodontist from time to time so he could...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Good Morning!

Wed, 01 May 2013 07:31:36 -0800

I get uncomfortable when I run into people I don't know on my morning walk. Or, sometimes it is an afternoon walk, but I'll still manage, "Good Morning" as brightly as I can muster, before thinking darn it, it is already 2pm; it sure isn't morning. Half of the time I'm silent, hoping that the other person will stay silent, too. Or maybe they will say "Good Morning" in a way that is the "right" amount of friendliness, so I'll feel at ease. You know what I'm talking about. The "I'm going to...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

[10] Of Paramount Importance

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:42:38 -0800

When I was ten, I performed with the Oakland Ballet in The Nutcracker. Sure, I had done plenty of dance recitals before, but this opportunity was with a professional company. I was in two of the performances: one before Christmas, one after Christmas. Or, more poignantly for me, one before my grandma died, and one on the day she died. Last week, I went back to The Paramount for the first time in nearly 30 years. This time, I brought my son with me to hear Notes from the Middle East from the...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

A Baby with My Name

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 09:28:28 -0800

My brother became a daddy this week. And so we have a new family member with my last name. My niece and I share something more than my kids and I do. That makes me a little happy, and a lot sad. I decided not to change my name upon getting married for a variety of reasons, but foremost it is because I am Kari Dahlen. That's who I am. When my kids were born, they got their dad's last name. (For the couple hours after birth, each of my sons was dubbed "Baby Dahlen." I love those little crib...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

[9] The Killer Bees are Coming!

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:58:22 -0800

Third grade was quite a trip. I wore a wig for Halloween and people honestly believed it was my own hair. My teacher picked up a child by one arm and one leg and threw him into the hallway. (Imagine what would occur if that happened today!) Our class had a pet chinchilla named Joey. I did a report on flying squirrels, but they turned out not to be as cool as I thought they'd be. And my best friend told me the killer bees were coming. Third grade was equal parts silly and serious. We tried to...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]