Surfing Through Life - by Paul and Katie Finley
2013 Columns
December, 2013 Grassroots, After the Sprouting
I feel I have always been drawn to the more basic things in life. Not that I do not necessarily appreciate complexity and making all the pieces of the puzzle fit, but I truly find joy in simplicity and forms of raw functionality. That being said, I do enjoy and find the added aesthetic of art and color , which really advance functionality in no way, to be delightful and almost a necessity in my life. Finding the balance between these things will be a lifelong pursuit for me.
November, 2013 Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk . . .No Really, Don’t Cry
Growing up you were most likely told that drinking milk would build strong bones
and healthy teeth. There was an invisibly powerful message ingrained in our heads
that the calcium in dairy products is the link that provides this desirable, strong-
October, 2013 The Mirror Looking In
We had a beautiful swell light up the coastline a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, I was out of the water for the better part of last month due to a minor operation and trying my very best to follow doctor's orders
September, 2013 The Birthing of Creativity and the Reliance on Cyber Inspirational Induction
I am most definitely lacking in many areas of my life. I would be the first to admit that, but I can honestly say that I try my best to think outside the box and to be creative in my approach to art and living.
August, 2013 Project Surf Camp: a Volunteers Perspective Note: Duplicate of article published July, 2012 in column Surfing out of the box
For the past four years Paul and I have been working alongside Project Surf Camp. Project surf camp is a local non profit organization, based out of Morro Bay, that works with kids with special needs and teaches them to surf. They have specialist on hand and in the water that are professionally trained in special education. PSC also has many volunteers come out every year to come along side each child. This time, we wanted to have a local who volunteered last year with camp write about her experience.
July, 2013 Why We Have Chosen to Homeschool Our Children
The last two months I have written about something that is dear to our family's heart — our choice to homeschool our three children. I have written about what homeschooling is and what it looks like. This month I would love to share why we homeschool. Again, this is a choice we have made for our family and we do not want anyone to feel judged by this article if they do not homeschool. It is a beautiful fit for OUR children and family and might not be for everyone.
June, 2013 The Hows of Homeschooling
I was hoping to write on the "whys" of homeschooling this month, but I am going to wait till next month. The "whys" looks very different for every family just like the "hows." I want to do a little bit more research before I write. So, what DOES your day look like? How do you teach your kid everything they need to know?
May, 2013 Homeschooling: Who, What, When Where Why and How?
If you happen to see us walking around town, one of the first things you will notice is our three beautiful daughters. They are amazing! Plus they are almost ALWAYS with us! If it's a 10:00 am walk to Sunshine Market or Cookie Crock for groceries, or a 12:30 quick dip into the library, or even a 1:30 Del Mar Park time, our kids are with us.
April, 2013 Unexpected Flight
"Show me how, show me how!" This was the exclamation of our two oldest daughters
as I was demonstrating how to fold paper airplanes. What seems like something so
ingrained in my muscle memory, it is hard to realize that what you are doing may
actually look very different or confusing to a six-
March 2013 Life Changes
At the end of last year my family and I closed down the surfboard shop that we had been running for the last few years. I am excited about the new direction that we are moving in and even more excited about more time with the family and being able to give them more focused attention.
February, 2013 Will They End Up Being Surfers? Note: Duplicate of article published March, 2011 in the column Surfing Out of The Box
Watching my kids grow, although still young, I can't help but wonder if they will end up being surfers. When our oldest daughter turned three, I had the opportunity to cut down an older board that I had made and make her first surfboard. Shortly after giving it to her, we took her out to see how she liked it. After pushing her into a couple little rollers on the shore, she flipped off the board and her head went under for just a second. In the cold water that we have here on the Central Coast, it was no surprise that she was not to thrilled with the experience.
January, 2013 So You Want to Marry a Surfer Part II Note: Duplicate of article published under”Surfing out of the Box”, March, 2012
Last month I highlighted the difference between being a surfer, and someone who surfs. This, for some, might not seem that important, but it makes a difference when you are dating someone or are married to someone who is a surfer verses someone who just surfs. As I said before, I have had eight years of experience with being married to a surfer.
December, 2012 So You Want to Marry a Surfer Part I Note: Duplicate of article published under”Surfing out of the Box”, February, 2012
There is a difference between people who surf and those who are true surfers. A person who surfs might be wearing the newest surfing fashion craze, but probably has not gotten in the water for weeks. A person who surfs likes to go to the beach to surf and to get a tan. A surfer, on the other hand, usually only goes to the beach to surf, and couldn't care less about what he looks like with zinc all over his face.