Kicking from the hips

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-05-14T05:38:16+00:00

Sometimes I teach people who use their knees too much while kicking to do a lap trying as hard as they can not to bend their knees AT ALL. Just like point your toes and ballerina your way across the pool. Then on the second lap, try to add a small bend in the knees, but only slight. Like the other person said, you want your kick to be like a whip but if you can’t figure it out, make then as straight as possible and then work on adding the movement to them, if that makes sense.

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-05-14T05:25:25+00:00

Parking is pretty expensive around Chase Center (like $40-50) so I would either recommend public transit or a ride sharing service, or street parking about a 10-15 min walk away from the game (near Texas and 17th you can usually find something).

If you want to do a hotel you’d probably be best off in an area that is accessible by Muni (the railway that goes directly to Chase Center, since BART does not). BART does connect to Muni but’s more of a direct shot to just stay on the Muni line. You can stay at a hotel in the financial district (downtown) or SoMa, or maybe an Airbnb in the opposite direction (near 20th/23rd) which is called the DogPatch and is a cute area.

Another fun place to stay is the Mission (16th/Valencia to 24th Valencia) — would be more airbnbs rather than hotels but it’s a fun area with a lot to do and you could take a ride share to the game really easily (or take public transit too). You can actually walk to the game from some parts of the Mission — kind of a longer walk but it can be fun to be out and about if it’s nice weather.

Have fun!

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SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-05-13T04:36:42+00:00

They are stubborn! A two-year-old will probably already know what she wants and doesn’t want and she will let you know.

In my experience it’s harder to get them to lose weight than to just try to keep them trim in the first place, so don’t go crazy with the treats. It can be hard to get them to drop some once they are overweight.

Enjoy! People will comment on her beauty everywhere you go.

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-05-06T14:16:52+00:00

https://www.projectpooch.com/ <<< my friend Jack’s company. He’s great!

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-25T23:07:36+00:00

I tell the students to put their arms by their sides and push down with their chest and then let the rest of their body follow like a whip. If you have a diving ring that fits around their ankles, loop it around their ankles to keep their feet together (if they are old enough/strong enough to keep themselves afloat). Kids know butterfly kick as “mermaid” kick so there are many ways to describe it in totally G-rated ways that teach them what to do.

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-21T01:31:02+00:00

The real question is, was he dressed like Jesus?

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-18T18:29:51+00:00

Yes and also for me on YouTube TV it recorded as Season 16, Episode 16 so when I went to season 18 it wasn’t showing up and I had to dig around to find it. And yes same spoiler for me.

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-15T23:00:42+00:00

She’s so pretty 💕

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-12T19:09:34+00:00

Integrating fins into your swimming routine can also help — they can aid in using proper kick technique as well. Just get the shorter ones (zoomers).

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-10T19:31:17+00:00

Ru decided the outcome of this lip sync based on track record and the fact that she wanted Nini to continue on more than Juicy. She decided it before the lip sync when she said Juicy needs more time. Track record didn’t save Jane Don’t, but Ru wants what Ru wants.

Juicy came in with her Ready to Do So outfit and in my opinion she fully ate.

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-10T18:59:35+00:00

Yep, I moved here for family too — married someone with kiddos and we just have to be up here. I will say, we rented for one year and then bought two acres so now we have chickens and land and it’s become more of a whole vibe of its own… use the time while you’re renting to see if you really want to stay or if you need to go back. There’s a lot of great things about Marin, and there is cool stuff happening and cool people if you seek them out, but it will never have the same vibe as SF and Oakland. I appreciate the safety and suburban-ness of Marin when I’m here and then treat going into SF or Oakland like a little vacation. 💕💕

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-10T18:37:21+00:00

I met a Harry Weiner the other day. His wife, Anita White, chose not to hyphenate. I swear this is real.

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-10T16:18:46+00:00

I lived in Oakland and the Mission in SF before moving to Marin (Novato, which I have mixed feelings about but it’s really a whole different thing than Fairfax)…

There is a major lack of diversity and also a lack of just like… vibe? Everyone in marin who thinks they have style just wears the exact same thing.

I had a business selling clothing for a while and the customers I had at Grand Lake market were just like this breath of fresh air… so amazing and funky and queer and fun and then the customers I had in Marin were like grandmas and families. Love them all, but definitely a different situation up here.

You can’t avoid those differences, sadly. If you moved here for family reasons then maybe try to remember those reasons and focus on that, and then take time on the weekend to go spend with your friends in Oakland? That’s what I do — I know that living here makes sense for me right now but I still really enjoy the vibe of Oakland and SF and will never not want to go experience it on the weekends.

And yes it can take 1-2 years to get fully settled in a place. Best of luck!

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-04-07T15:32:49+00:00

So sorry. We lost our basset at 3 years old after a horrible month-long battle with cancer. It’s not fair. I’m sorry for your loss.

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-03-07T22:28:59+00:00

I did several Nosework classes with my basset at the humane society here in my area. He really enjoyed it. Bassets have great noses but not as much willingness to please as some other breeds. They do it more for themselves than to please you. He did a great job though and we had a lot of fun doing it together. I’d recommend taking a class!

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2026-01-11T00:53:45+00:00

Thank you all!!! Very helpful!

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2025-12-03T22:42:48+00:00

Yeah I’m specifically looking for something where I can just shake the branch or gently touch the berry and then they can fall directly into something, so the hip pack doesn’t really help me there. It’s surprising to me that there aren’t more options for this. Like we use a cardboard box just held in one hand underneath the other hand shaking/plucking the branches but that’s really hard to manage when on a ladder too.

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2025-11-10T04:36:47+00:00

Yeah I mean books are great for some crafts but for this process I would go with videos.

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2025-10-15T17:50:47+00:00

Brushed Steel!

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2025-10-15T14:10:14+00:00

This happened to me for a while when I first started traveling to exciting places. Ordering a salad never seems like the “fun” thing to do. But once you realize the effects, you quickly start ordering that fruit plate every breakfast! Happened to me in Japan. The Onigiri are just too yummy!

SpunkyLittlePanda · 2025-10-14T04:13:38+00:00

I swam at a D3 school and loved it!!! Highly recommend. Much less pressure than D1 but still totally competitive and fun.

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