Earlier this week I built up my own slackline set. Slacklining is like tightrope walking but rather than a very tight cable or rope there is a line of webbing under considerable but not total tension. It's a bit like walking on a one inch wide trampoline. It's a common activity among rock climbers and hippies and generally a great excuse to hang out in a park. 

My first slackline overlooking the Pacific

I've fumbled around on other folks' lines but decided that my own kit would make a great early Christmas present for myself (I try to get myself some toy every year to compliment the clothes and responsible adult things my loved ones give me (thanks loved ones!)).

Setting up a slackline requires a certain knowledge of ropes, carabiners, and pulleys of which I know only the basics. You have to put hundreds of pounds of tension on the line with only one person (hence the pulleys) and you need to make sure that everything doesn't suddenly snap loose (sending the metal bits flying at high speeds). With some help from my friends and the internet I've put together a set that I think can accomplish these two goals. I bought everything I needed at REI (printout below) and followed the instructions from this printout and this youtube video both produced by the guy at nwslackline.org. 

I've taken it out twice, once to a beautiful park overlooking the ocean and once on the beach (strung up between two healthy palm trees) while it was raining.

I set up my hammock next to my slackline. It was a fantastic afternoon.

Here is a youtube video of some real slackers.

Product		Unit Price	Quantity	Total
	Omega Pacific Rappel Ring REI Item #7456080014 More from this category or brand.	$4.50	Update Remove	$9.00
	Omega Pacific ISO Oval Carabiner BRIGHT REI Item #6628470012 More from this category or brand.	$6.50	Update Remove	$26.00
	BlueWater 1'' Climb-Spec Tubular Webbing KIWI GREEN, 1 IN REI Item #7372980057 More from this category or brand.	$0.34	Update Remove	$8.50
	BlueWater 1'' Climb-Spec Tubular Webbing KIWI GREEN, 1 IN REI Item #7372980057 More from this category or brand.	$0.34	Update Remove	$8.50
	BlueWater 1'' Climb-Spec Tubular Webbing PURPLE, 1 IN REI Item #7372980032 More from this category or brand.	$0.34	Update Remove	$34.00

Wintertime

Today it's 37F/3C. This is the warmest day we've seen for a few weeks.  Tomorrow the low is 7F/-14C. Winter is here.

The ground is covered in inches of snow, the sidewalks are slick with ice, and (on some days) there is an grayness ranging from the uniformly cloudy sky to the snowed over asphalt. Luckily this is tempered with people walking briskly in coats and bright scarves, clear and unnaturally sunny days, active coffee shops, and a few reckless individuals attempting to do outdoor sports.

This last part is my plan at least. I have cold-weather running gear, ice skates, good biking clothes, and a lead on some cross-country skis. I've been grounded from running for a few weeks due to some overuse of the feet-shoes but have been having some fun on the bike and skates. Biking on ice is both impossible and comical. The ice is pretty unnavigable and the windchill does unexpected things to your eyes and ears. (I think my tears started to freeze in my eyes)

At work the last few weeks have been unproductive. This is turning around now that I'm not pressuring myself. I reconnected with my old advisor from Argonne and it was a huge relief to have a discussion with someone who was involved in my subsubfield.

In my house the maintenance coordinator disappeared unexpectedly, leaving me with the uncharacteristic and somewhat comical task of winterizing an old and leaky house. I've managed to tune, accidentaly empty, refill and correctly retune the radiator system. I've also been dealing with contractors about roof insulation and know more than I care to about foam, fiberglass, and flame retardants.

A warm day briefly exposes a patch of grass.

Three days until California where they're experiencing 70-80  degree sunny weather.