June 13, 2013

A New Keyboard For Easier Blogging

Well today's post has nothing to do with skating (although I do have a grandiose 5 skating posts in the works at the moment, so stay tuned!), but it is important to my blog anyway, so I thought I'd go ahead and share the news!

A little over 3 years ago I started getting wrist and hand pain, an injury which has only worsened over time. Eventually I had to give up writing, in lieu of typing, and even that has now become painful when I'm very active on my keyboard.

My uber-geek husband bought me a special mechanical keyboard about one year ago, and it has helped immensely, allowing me to be able to work more, and for longer, without pain. However, when we're on the move, I've been having to revert back to my laptop's oh-so-beautiful but oh-so-unfunctional super-flat keyboard, which has taken it's toll on my hands since we're not at home right now.

So what did my above-mentioned darling of a husband do? He just bought me a new, compact, mechanical keyboard! This way I can blog when away from home without pain, as well as take this little baby into class when I go back to my 4th and final year at university in September, by-passing the meager laptop keyboard once and for all. I'm so excited! I have high hopes this will really help with my pain and allow me to get back to blogging more often, and also stop me having to take breaks throughout the academic year due to sheer pain.

So without further a do, I present to you my new little darling keyboard!

The keyboard comes with a key-puller to switch out the keys. You can see the red mechanical switch under the key ^^

Compact form, American lay-out I need to get used to

Isn't she lovely?!
I thoroughly recommend that anyone suffering from aches and pains from using a keyboard check out their options, because I had never realised before what a huge difference using the correct hardware can really make.

Thanks for reading this non-skating post today, and stay tuned for more skating-related coolness coming up soon!

Until next time, skate skate skate!
XOXO
♥ Leaving a comment below 
♥ Visiting & Liking my Facebook page 
♥ Tweeting to me: @skating_howto 
♥ "Liking" this page on Facebook for all to see:

3 comments

  1. I love your blog I've read every post, I am a late starter in skating, I skated for three years when I was 6-8 years old but when our rink became seasonal and someone who could care less about skating now owns it I had to stop I started back up in January, now I'm 13 and I need a little advice. The only skating rink ghat is near us is seasonal and so we have to drive one hour to get to a rink and because of my lesson time if I want to skated at least a half hour before my lesson I have to skate during freestyle and since I don't want to take the ice from people doing more advance moves than me I end up pressed against the railing/wall, what should I do?
    Sorry, that was an extreme run-on sentence...

    Reply Delete
  2. @AnonymousWell first of all I'd like to say thanks for your lovely words about the blog - I'm really glad that you enjoy reading it because I write it for people like YOU! :)

    I feel your pain with regards to the rink that is 1 hour away. When I started skating, and for years, my mum drove me 1 hour each way to get to the rink. It's hard and tiring and it takes huge dedication.

    The most important thing therefore is to get the most out of your training session, which you aren't doing if you're pressed up against the railings.

    I didn't manage to figure out from your comment if you're a free skater or an ice dancer. If you're a free skater, you certainly have every right to be on that freestyle session, despite your level, and you should not feel pressured into getting out of anyone's way. I realise this is easier said than done though, and some people may make you feel uncomfortable (it's not just you - it happens to a lot of skaters so don't feel alone in this). If you're a dancer, and you're trying to practice compulsories, I can see how this could pose a problem on a free session because it may get in the way of jumpers and free skaters can get annoyed with the repetitiveness of pattern dances.

    My advice would be to use your time on the free style session to practice any moves that aren't compulsories (sorry if this doesn't apply to you). If you're a dancer, you can use this time to practice your spins and step sequences. If you're a free skater, then proceed as normal.

    If you feel self-concious about being on the ice with skaters of a much high standard, figure out where they are performing most of their high level jumps, and then go to the opposite end of the pad. If they are jumping lutzes, don't go in their lutz corner to spin. Just keep your eyes open and be considerate, and remember most of all that by doing these things you are being kind and helpful, and that you also have a right to be on that ice. Those skaters should be grateful to you for considering their needs.

    Last resort: go speak to the few skaters who you are worried about getting in the way of, and ask them, for this session, where you would least get in their way. This way you are verbalising your will to help and they would be hard pressed to be anything but nice to you.

    I hope these tips help and that you come back to the blog to actually read this comment! Please don't hesitate to get in touch again via the blog or my social media pages (Facebook and Twitter)!

    XOXO

    Reply Delete
  3. Thank you so much, that was really helpful, I'm going to the rink in two hours I'll have to use this new information... :)

    Reply Delete

Want to know when I reply to your comment? Check the "Notify Me" box below! Thanks!

© Figure Skating Advice | All rights reserved | Header photo by PinkFloyd88 under CC BY-SA 3.0
built by pipdig