It's haiku made up entirely of quotes from George W. Bush, forwarded to me by my dad.
I'm almost sad we're not gonna have Dubya to kick around any more!
MAKE THE PIE HIGHER
I think we all agree, the past is over.
This is still a dangerous world.
It's a world of manmen and uncertainty
And potential mental losses.
Rarely is the question asked
Is our children learning?
Will the highways of the Internet
Become more few?
How many hands have I shaked?
They misunderestimate me.
I am a pitbull on the pantleg of opportunity.
I know that the human being
And the fish can coexist.
Families is where our nation finds hope,
Where our wings take dream.
Put food on your family!
Knock down the tollbooth!
Vulcanize society!
Make the pie higher!
I am the Decider!
In 2009 we will see the end of an error and hopefully not the beginning of another one.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
A wild hair.
The weekend of President's Day, the boys are off from school on Friday and Monday. Feeling restless, I looked at airfare to Washington DC, thinking we'd maybe take the boys and go museum hopping for the weekend, since it's not too far away and couldn't be that expensive, right? Well, airfares were in the neighborhood of $300 apiece. I had recently checked airfares to San Diego, just for the hell of it, since the boys' fondest desire is to go to Legoland, and I knew that San Diego wasn't much more. So I checked again, and they were still cheap, so we up and decided to go for the long weekend. Plus, I already had one Legoland admission ticket, from the Brickmaster membership I got Will for Christmas. See, look how much we saved already. ;-P
With taxes, each of us is flying for about $312 round trip, and we've got reservations at a place across from the beach in Carlsbad. We're not going to do any of the other area attractions, like Sea World or the Zoo. We will be spending an entire day at Legoland, and that will be enough; the rest of the time we will hit the beach or take a day trip.
Even though this kind of large financial expenditure is one I don't want to think too hard about (if I were truly financially wise I'd have put what this trip will cost on our home equity line of credit debt instead) but I've decided that something like this, the boys will remember FOREVER and that is worth it. We're not going to tell them until this weekend. They are going to be beside themselves with excitement, and that, I can't wait to see.
Vinyasa class today, with my favorite teacher, the guy with the ashtanga background. He's a great teacher. We did a lot of postures from the primary series, inversions, and urdva dhanurasana. No practice tomorrow, because I am chaperoning a field trip to CNN Center with a bunch of kids (of which Michael is one) who participated in episodes of the school's daily news program that were winning entries at the International Student Media Festival. The Media Festival is in a different city each year - this year (or last fall, to be exact) it wan in Anaheim, making it prohibitive, both financially and time-wise, for almost everyone, so with the previous set of winning entries we started the tradition of a catered buffet for the kids and their families, teachers, school board members, etc., where the kids receive an awards certificate, a t-shirt, and we view the winning festival entries. Also, again this year as part of the festivities, we are touring CNN Center, though this year instead of the generic CNN Center tour, we are getting a deluxe behind-the-scenes, sit-where-the-anchors-sit tour which will last most of the school day. You can't swing a dead cat in Decatur without hitting someone who works for CNN, so some generous parent set this tour up for us and everyone is very excited.
With taxes, each of us is flying for about $312 round trip, and we've got reservations at a place across from the beach in Carlsbad. We're not going to do any of the other area attractions, like Sea World or the Zoo. We will be spending an entire day at Legoland, and that will be enough; the rest of the time we will hit the beach or take a day trip.
Even though this kind of large financial expenditure is one I don't want to think too hard about (if I were truly financially wise I'd have put what this trip will cost on our home equity line of credit debt instead) but I've decided that something like this, the boys will remember FOREVER and that is worth it. We're not going to tell them until this weekend. They are going to be beside themselves with excitement, and that, I can't wait to see.
Vinyasa class today, with my favorite teacher, the guy with the ashtanga background. He's a great teacher. We did a lot of postures from the primary series, inversions, and urdva dhanurasana. No practice tomorrow, because I am chaperoning a field trip to CNN Center with a bunch of kids (of which Michael is one) who participated in episodes of the school's daily news program that were winning entries at the International Student Media Festival. The Media Festival is in a different city each year - this year (or last fall, to be exact) it wan in Anaheim, making it prohibitive, both financially and time-wise, for almost everyone, so with the previous set of winning entries we started the tradition of a catered buffet for the kids and their families, teachers, school board members, etc., where the kids receive an awards certificate, a t-shirt, and we view the winning festival entries. Also, again this year as part of the festivities, we are touring CNN Center, though this year instead of the generic CNN Center tour, we are getting a deluxe behind-the-scenes, sit-where-the-anchors-sit tour which will last most of the school day. You can't swing a dead cat in Decatur without hitting someone who works for CNN, so some generous parent set this tour up for us and everyone is very excited.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Full led primary this morning.
I've been poo-poohing the studio and led practices in my mind since I haven't been able to go, but I went this morning and remembered why I love them, and the studio, so much. Alas, I still am not going to make it more than once a week, so I'll be pining away for those practices I guess.
I was worried about the studio not being warm enough, because it was barely above freezing when I left for practice, but I shouldn't have worried. He had the heat cranked and by the time we got to seated, all the windows were completely fogged. I was even able to get my arms all the way through in garba, which I cannot do unless I am pretty sweaty or else John pours water on me. Today I was pretty sweaty.
I also bound in supta kurmasana, I could have done it myself but John was right there and crossed my ankles behind my head for me.
Backbends were utilitarian....functional...a struggle. John of course had us doing five ten breath backbends, then walking back and forth on our hands, which I could not do. I did manange to straighten my arms, but it didn't feel good.
I think my lower back issue relate to sleeping on my back. Typically I am a side sleeper, but I have been waking and finding myself sleeping on my back lately.
I was a little more toward the back in class this morning, so I was able to watch the others in class more than usual. I know this is a total cliche, but everyone has their particular strengths in their practice, which, even though it's a total surface thing, is somewhat reassuring to see. Some people are really strong and have beautiful chatarungas, never letting their elbows go out to the side or touching down. Some people are really good at balancing and inverting. Others are flexible and can twist - this is me. Forward bends are a breeze, as are postures like Mari D, kurmasana, supta kurmasana, garba pindasana, and the foot-behind-the-head postures. Others are super backbenders. There was a mix of folks in class today, and the energy was good. Everyone does something well, balancing the struggles of their practice with the ease.
I heard some stuff about the hot studio where I practice which has been bothering me. One of my friends, who also has a third grader at my kids' school, does web design for the hot studio so usually is in the know about that place. She said that the weekend that they had their grand-reopening after their remodeling, they gave out about a thousand free class cards (I got them too, they were handing them out to everyone who was there that day). Well, the owner of the studio told the teachers to expect a bunch of new students in their classes but that they would not be getting paid for students who used those cards, and about five of them have quit.
I didn't know that's how the teachers got paid, per student in class. Is this standard? And if so, isn't it unreasonable to expect a teacher to perhaps not get paid for a class, if it were full of newbies? This is really troubling to me. I threw my cards in the trash, because I don't feel right using them. I really like all the teachers there, and I know most of them teach for a living. They can't be making a ton of money doing it.
Where do you draw the line between doing the right thing and making a smart business decision? Especially for a yoga studio, that line must be really fine, and maybe my expectations are higher because it's a yoga studio and I expect the owner to act in a more yogic manner.
I was worried about the studio not being warm enough, because it was barely above freezing when I left for practice, but I shouldn't have worried. He had the heat cranked and by the time we got to seated, all the windows were completely fogged. I was even able to get my arms all the way through in garba, which I cannot do unless I am pretty sweaty or else John pours water on me. Today I was pretty sweaty.
I also bound in supta kurmasana, I could have done it myself but John was right there and crossed my ankles behind my head for me.
Backbends were utilitarian....functional...a struggle. John of course had us doing five ten breath backbends, then walking back and forth on our hands, which I could not do. I did manange to straighten my arms, but it didn't feel good.
I think my lower back issue relate to sleeping on my back. Typically I am a side sleeper, but I have been waking and finding myself sleeping on my back lately.
I was a little more toward the back in class this morning, so I was able to watch the others in class more than usual. I know this is a total cliche, but everyone has their particular strengths in their practice, which, even though it's a total surface thing, is somewhat reassuring to see. Some people are really strong and have beautiful chatarungas, never letting their elbows go out to the side or touching down. Some people are really good at balancing and inverting. Others are flexible and can twist - this is me. Forward bends are a breeze, as are postures like Mari D, kurmasana, supta kurmasana, garba pindasana, and the foot-behind-the-head postures. Others are super backbenders. There was a mix of folks in class today, and the energy was good. Everyone does something well, balancing the struggles of their practice with the ease.
I heard some stuff about the hot studio where I practice which has been bothering me. One of my friends, who also has a third grader at my kids' school, does web design for the hot studio so usually is in the know about that place. She said that the weekend that they had their grand-reopening after their remodeling, they gave out about a thousand free class cards (I got them too, they were handing them out to everyone who was there that day). Well, the owner of the studio told the teachers to expect a bunch of new students in their classes but that they would not be getting paid for students who used those cards, and about five of them have quit.
I didn't know that's how the teachers got paid, per student in class. Is this standard? And if so, isn't it unreasonable to expect a teacher to perhaps not get paid for a class, if it were full of newbies? This is really troubling to me. I threw my cards in the trash, because I don't feel right using them. I really like all the teachers there, and I know most of them teach for a living. They can't be making a ton of money doing it.
Where do you draw the line between doing the right thing and making a smart business decision? Especially for a yoga studio, that line must be really fine, and maybe my expectations are higher because it's a yoga studio and I expect the owner to act in a more yogic manner.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Rats, or not
In an earlier post I reported hearing scuffling around in the attic one night when I slept in Will's bed with him. Because we had a rat episode in the fall (rats under the house) I assumed one successfully navigated the poison bait stations we left under the house and crawled up the wall into the attic. I went to the hardware store last week and got traps and some poison. Well, last night Lee baited a trap and took it up in the attic and discovered a squirrel. Lee is convinced it's a mama squirrel with babies, because she didn't run out of the attic, she went over to a spot where the insulation is kind of mounded up, and she stayed there. We could see her tail sticking up and she sat perfectly still. He didn't leave the trap up there, but how the heck we're going to get that squirrel (and babies, if there are any) out of there is anyone's guess. Squirrels are a huge nuisance, but I don't want to leave a nest of babies to die there if we trap the mama.
So that's the latest drama at our house, other than the fact that Will's had questionable behavior days at school every day for the last week. His teacher loves boys. She thinks Will is the cutest thing in the world. It's a good thing, too, because he can be a real pain the butt.
It was too cold to practice at home today. It was gray and windy, every window in the house was radiating cold air, so I went to a Bikram class this morning. Darn it, my lower back is still giving me fits. I used to be able to rest my hands on the floor during ustrasana, but now I can barely get my hands to my heels and I can't push my hips forward without pain. It's very frustrating and discouraging. I have been looking forward to led primary on Saturday, but I'm not sure I want to go, because John always kicks ass with backbending, but I am having such a hard time with them right now! It's not that I think I've injured myself, it's that I feel so incredibly stiff across my lower back and above my hips. Am I just an old lady, or am I doing something wrong?
And I got on the scale this morning and discovered that I've gained four pounds. Ugh.
So that's the latest drama at our house, other than the fact that Will's had questionable behavior days at school every day for the last week. His teacher loves boys. She thinks Will is the cutest thing in the world. It's a good thing, too, because he can be a real pain the butt.
It was too cold to practice at home today. It was gray and windy, every window in the house was radiating cold air, so I went to a Bikram class this morning. Darn it, my lower back is still giving me fits. I used to be able to rest my hands on the floor during ustrasana, but now I can barely get my hands to my heels and I can't push my hips forward without pain. It's very frustrating and discouraging. I have been looking forward to led primary on Saturday, but I'm not sure I want to go, because John always kicks ass with backbending, but I am having such a hard time with them right now! It's not that I think I've injured myself, it's that I feel so incredibly stiff across my lower back and above my hips. Am I just an old lady, or am I doing something wrong?
And I got on the scale this morning and discovered that I've gained four pounds. Ugh.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Full primary this morning, for whatever it was worth.
You know, if I can just get past the surya namaskars, I really start to enjoy myself.
I was SO tempted to skip it this morning. It's been in the 20's since Saturday and we just can't get the house warm enough. We have heat pumps, which are fine except during weather extremes, which the 20's definitely is (are?) for this part of the country. They have been running nonstop since Friday - our power bill is going to be unreal. Anyway, my feet and hands were freezing, the air was cool and very dry, and I just wanted to get in a hot shower and then bundle up. However, Lee and Michael were leaving for the morning to work on the MLK weekend service project sponsored by the city, so I decided I'd better take advantage of the relative solitude. I let Will pick a movie and I got started. Lee called as I finished my surya namaskars and said that they had been sent to a house to do yardwork, but that there were too many volunteers and either they would try to get sent to another house, or else they'd come home. I got back to my practice and was just starting to build up some heat at marichyasana A, when I heard them pull into the driveway, with two friends in tow. I hauled my mat upstairs to the library, where I can barely sweep my arms overhead without hitting the walls, and my fingertips touch the ceiling fan when I raise my arms overhead, but at least I was out of the fray. I had finished the marichyasanas when Will came in to ask me to help him find some warm clothes, because they were all leaving again. I helped Will dress, then when they all left, I took my mat back downstairs, all heat gone by this point, but at least I had room to finish. I did the rest of the series, then spent about ten minutes stretching backwards over my yoga ball, and then some spinal twists.
Last night we met our former next door neighbors at a Korean restaurant for dinner. They moved to Athens to take professorships at the University of Georgia, so we don't see them very often but we love them dearly. Anyway, I was curious to see what my picky eaters would do with Korean food. The former neighbors' daughter (who is also our babysitter) was there, as was another family and their two daughters, plus a Latvian friend of the former neighbors who is a graduate student at UGA. We all ordered an assortment of things, plus an array of kimchee. I was so impressed with all the things Michael tried; he tried at least half of the kimchee, plus some kind of fried dumplings, a scallion and seafood pancake, a clear noodle dish with vegetables and sauce (which he loved), and three different kinds of bulgogi, plus some kind of odd pine nut porridge, which neither of us cared for at all, and he shared a tempura platter with Will.
I liked the kimchee, the clear noodle dish and the bulgogi, but I didn't care for the dumpling or the pancake, and the tempura was just okay.
Michael was a total trooper but Will, not so much. He grumbled and complained, wouldn't try anything, and then made gagging noises at the tempura vegetables. Then he whined and flopped all over me when we were just sitting around after eating, and I had to finally take him to the car, where I fussed at him for being such a pain.
He has also lost the watch he got for Christmas, which I'm irritated about as well.
It's a good thing that he's lovable and cute most of the time.
I was SO tempted to skip it this morning. It's been in the 20's since Saturday and we just can't get the house warm enough. We have heat pumps, which are fine except during weather extremes, which the 20's definitely is (are?) for this part of the country. They have been running nonstop since Friday - our power bill is going to be unreal. Anyway, my feet and hands were freezing, the air was cool and very dry, and I just wanted to get in a hot shower and then bundle up. However, Lee and Michael were leaving for the morning to work on the MLK weekend service project sponsored by the city, so I decided I'd better take advantage of the relative solitude. I let Will pick a movie and I got started. Lee called as I finished my surya namaskars and said that they had been sent to a house to do yardwork, but that there were too many volunteers and either they would try to get sent to another house, or else they'd come home. I got back to my practice and was just starting to build up some heat at marichyasana A, when I heard them pull into the driveway, with two friends in tow. I hauled my mat upstairs to the library, where I can barely sweep my arms overhead without hitting the walls, and my fingertips touch the ceiling fan when I raise my arms overhead, but at least I was out of the fray. I had finished the marichyasanas when Will came in to ask me to help him find some warm clothes, because they were all leaving again. I helped Will dress, then when they all left, I took my mat back downstairs, all heat gone by this point, but at least I had room to finish. I did the rest of the series, then spent about ten minutes stretching backwards over my yoga ball, and then some spinal twists.
Last night we met our former next door neighbors at a Korean restaurant for dinner. They moved to Athens to take professorships at the University of Georgia, so we don't see them very often but we love them dearly. Anyway, I was curious to see what my picky eaters would do with Korean food. The former neighbors' daughter (who is also our babysitter) was there, as was another family and their two daughters, plus a Latvian friend of the former neighbors who is a graduate student at UGA. We all ordered an assortment of things, plus an array of kimchee. I was so impressed with all the things Michael tried; he tried at least half of the kimchee, plus some kind of fried dumplings, a scallion and seafood pancake, a clear noodle dish with vegetables and sauce (which he loved), and three different kinds of bulgogi, plus some kind of odd pine nut porridge, which neither of us cared for at all, and he shared a tempura platter with Will.
I liked the kimchee, the clear noodle dish and the bulgogi, but I didn't care for the dumpling or the pancake, and the tempura was just okay.
Michael was a total trooper but Will, not so much. He grumbled and complained, wouldn't try anything, and then made gagging noises at the tempura vegetables. Then he whined and flopped all over me when we were just sitting around after eating, and I had to finally take him to the car, where I fussed at him for being such a pain.
He has also lost the watch he got for Christmas, which I'm irritated about as well.
It's a good thing that he's lovable and cute most of the time.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Enough with the snow already.
Geez, how do you people who have snow all winter stand it? The muddy boots, the wet jackets, the snow encrusted mittens drying on every surface, the pants that are constantly wet from the knees down...I'm over it.
And all that with only one full day of snow.
Actually, it's been kind of nice. There hasn't been the ice that normally causes the metro area to shut down entirely, just a nice white blanket of snow that is quite pretty and perfect for snowball fights. I am over the whole need-to-change-clothes-after-every-foray-outside thing, though.
There are several legitimate reasons that I blew off full led primary this morning. See, if I weren't feeling guilty about it, I wouldn't be justifying it on my blog. I guess I am feeling like one of those half-primary losers. To begin with, I was having a rather gnarly ladies' holiday. Then late yesterday afternoon Will began to complain of an earache, bad enough to cry off and on about it all evening. I went to the pharmacy and got him some homeopathic eardrops and some liquid decongestant, not knowing what else to do, and why do these kinds of things happen on Friday afternoon anyway?
I dosed him with chewable Motrin, and gave him some eardrops, and at bedtime decided he'd sleep better if I slept with him. So I did. And at various times during the night I awoke and more than once I HEARD SOMETHING SCUFFLING AROUND IN THE ATTIC OVER MY HEAD.
Either there are squirrels or, god forbid, rats up there. Eeeeek!
Anyway, Will slept better than I did, though I did have to dose him with Motrin during the night, and when I woke up at 7:30 I really intended to go to full primary, except that I had cramps, it was sleeting and freezing cold, and the studio is a twenty-minute drive, then I would have to park at least two blocks away and walk to the building, and you know, I just couldn't face it this morning.
So I had my coffee by the fire and read the paper, and Will woke up feeling much better, so I went to the 11:00 Core Power Flow class at the hot studio, only three minutes away, which I also did yesterday. The class was taught by a guy who has an ashtanga background, so it's challenging and fun, and today's class rocked.
My lower back is still rather uncooperative, but it's somehow tied to tightness in my hips, and I find myself constantly trying to stretch along my sides and right above my hips. If I could I'd lie in that supine spinal twist, the one where your legs go to one side and your gaze to the other, all day.
Anyway, after class, it was really snowing hard and when I got home everyone else was bundled up to go outside. I stayed in and did some stuff around the house, then after a while we all bundled up (again) and went around the corner to the neighborhood pub for a few beers (well, not the boys, they had non-alcoholic beverages). We played a few hands of gin rummy and watched the snow fall and had a really nice time - the kind of afternoon that reminds me why I like spending time with just my own family for a change.
And all that with only one full day of snow.
Actually, it's been kind of nice. There hasn't been the ice that normally causes the metro area to shut down entirely, just a nice white blanket of snow that is quite pretty and perfect for snowball fights. I am over the whole need-to-change-clothes-after-every-foray-outside thing, though.
There are several legitimate reasons that I blew off full led primary this morning. See, if I weren't feeling guilty about it, I wouldn't be justifying it on my blog. I guess I am feeling like one of those half-primary losers. To begin with, I was having a rather gnarly ladies' holiday. Then late yesterday afternoon Will began to complain of an earache, bad enough to cry off and on about it all evening. I went to the pharmacy and got him some homeopathic eardrops and some liquid decongestant, not knowing what else to do, and why do these kinds of things happen on Friday afternoon anyway?
I dosed him with chewable Motrin, and gave him some eardrops, and at bedtime decided he'd sleep better if I slept with him. So I did. And at various times during the night I awoke and more than once I HEARD SOMETHING SCUFFLING AROUND IN THE ATTIC OVER MY HEAD.
Either there are squirrels or, god forbid, rats up there. Eeeeek!
Anyway, Will slept better than I did, though I did have to dose him with Motrin during the night, and when I woke up at 7:30 I really intended to go to full primary, except that I had cramps, it was sleeting and freezing cold, and the studio is a twenty-minute drive, then I would have to park at least two blocks away and walk to the building, and you know, I just couldn't face it this morning.
So I had my coffee by the fire and read the paper, and Will woke up feeling much better, so I went to the 11:00 Core Power Flow class at the hot studio, only three minutes away, which I also did yesterday. The class was taught by a guy who has an ashtanga background, so it's challenging and fun, and today's class rocked.
My lower back is still rather uncooperative, but it's somehow tied to tightness in my hips, and I find myself constantly trying to stretch along my sides and right above my hips. If I could I'd lie in that supine spinal twist, the one where your legs go to one side and your gaze to the other, all day.
Anyway, after class, it was really snowing hard and when I got home everyone else was bundled up to go outside. I stayed in and did some stuff around the house, then after a while we all bundled up (again) and went around the corner to the neighborhood pub for a few beers (well, not the boys, they had non-alcoholic beverages). We played a few hands of gin rummy and watched the snow fall and had a really nice time - the kind of afternoon that reminds me why I like spending time with just my own family for a change.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
It ain't much, but its....
SNOW!
And we've got accumulation!
Lee and the boys are outside in their coats and mittens, having a snowball fight. I am inside with the fire lit, an enormous dish baked penne in the oven, and a glass of wine here next to me.
There wasn't supposed to be much snow or accumulation, but we're getting it. I think it's all supposed to melt during the night, or turn to sleet, with normal conditions tomorrow. I just hope school isn't cancelled. I'm supposed to help my friend with the broken elbows with her email tomorrow.
Did my surya namaskars today, and several stretching postures, but I'm pretty sore from the last two days of vinyasa, and I'm not sure there's much point to pushing myself.
Happy Winter!
And we've got accumulation!
Lee and the boys are outside in their coats and mittens, having a snowball fight. I am inside with the fire lit, an enormous dish baked penne in the oven, and a glass of wine here next to me.
There wasn't supposed to be much snow or accumulation, but we're getting it. I think it's all supposed to melt during the night, or turn to sleet, with normal conditions tomorrow. I just hope school isn't cancelled. I'm supposed to help my friend with the broken elbows with her email tomorrow.
Did my surya namaskars today, and several stretching postures, but I'm pretty sore from the last two days of vinyasa, and I'm not sure there's much point to pushing myself.
Happy Winter!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Vinyasa again today.
We did a lot of hip opening postures in this class, all of which felt great on my lower back. We did a spinal twist at the end, the twist where you draw your knees in, then let them drop to one side, arms extended to the side, with your gaze away from the direction of your knees. As I twisted to the right, looking toward my left fingertips, the teacher knelt down next to me, pushed gently down on my left shoulder while pushing my hips more toward the right. An audible POP came from my lower back. "Awesome!!" she mouthed, as I went "aaaaahhhh".
No class tomorrow, as I have been summoned for jury duty. With a bit of luck, I'll get on my mat for some surya namaskars tomorrow afternoon, at least.
A "wintry mix" is predicted for Thursday, which means that if I go to the grocery store tomorrow, the shelves will be emptied of bread, milk, and beer.
No class tomorrow, as I have been summoned for jury duty. With a bit of luck, I'll get on my mat for some surya namaskars tomorrow afternoon, at least.
A "wintry mix" is predicted for Thursday, which means that if I go to the grocery store tomorrow, the shelves will be emptied of bread, milk, and beer.
Monday, January 14, 2008
And yet again today.
I went to a Vinyasa class at the hot studio today taught by a guy from whom I've taken a Primary Series class and several Core Power Flow classes. He's kind of an unlikely-looking yogi, but has a very soothing style of teaching, is friendly and encouraging, and has a way of creating flow between postures even when it's not a flow class.
A lot of the postures in today's class were from the primary series, linked by sun salutations, plus we played around with inversions against the wall for strength building.
Since there's no weekday morning class on the schedule at John's, and apparently there are not to be any added, I'm going to be on my own for ashtanga, it looks like. However, there are a lot of Vinyasa classes on the schedule at the hot studio, and all the teachers are good ones with ashtanga backgrounds, so I've decided to let that be my instruction - which I definitely still need - with the full series to be done on my own on the days I don't go to the hot studio.
Instead of being bummed out about this, as I would have been a few months ago, I'm very excited and motivated.
Oh, and this guy was in my Vinyasa class today.
A lot of the postures in today's class were from the primary series, linked by sun salutations, plus we played around with inversions against the wall for strength building.
Since there's no weekday morning class on the schedule at John's, and apparently there are not to be any added, I'm going to be on my own for ashtanga, it looks like. However, there are a lot of Vinyasa classes on the schedule at the hot studio, and all the teachers are good ones with ashtanga backgrounds, so I've decided to let that be my instruction - which I definitely still need - with the full series to be done on my own on the days I don't go to the hot studio.
Instead of being bummed out about this, as I would have been a few months ago, I'm very excited and motivated.
Oh, and this guy was in my Vinyasa class today.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Made it to the mat again today.
Did a Core Power Flow class yesterday in a packed and steamy room. Stayed up waaaaay too late last night. Muscles were sore today from yesterday's class. I thought I'd skip any yoga today, and I walked the three-quarter mile to the library and back instead (on the way back toting a heavy bag of cookbooks). However, I wanted to prove to myself that I could commit to fifteen minutes a day, minimum, on the mat, so when I got home I pulled off my sweater, kicked off my shoes, and did ten surya namaskar a's, some stretching, and two ten breath headstands, plus some more playing around with inversions and handstand attempts.
'm not participating in Wo Yo Prac Mo, but somehow the idea of it has made me challenge myself to do *something* on the mat every day. Maybe what I'll gain from this commitment is a love of practicing alone at home. Wouldn't that be nice!
'm not participating in Wo Yo Prac Mo, but somehow the idea of it has made me challenge myself to do *something* on the mat every day. Maybe what I'll gain from this commitment is a love of practicing alone at home. Wouldn't that be nice!
Friday, January 11, 2008
A sick day.
Last night I went to school for curriculum night, and when it was over Beth and I decided to go get a beer. I called home to tell Lee, and he said that Will had been complaining of being very cold and tired, and had fallen asleep as soon as he got in bed. Uh oh, I thought. Michael was sick with a fever, cough and fatigue earlier in the week, and I suspected Will caught it.
Sure enough, during the night, Will climbed in bed with us and put his burning hot body right up against me. He slept, but he whimpered and tossed and I finally went and got in his bed.
I kept him home from school today which meant that I didn't get to the Core Power Flow class I was looking forward to, but to my surprise, I looked forward to primary series at home instead.
I let Will watch a Pokemon movie - he's never seen any of them before, and god, he was so happy - while I practiced. I never even broke a sweat, but I still felt strong and focused. I did everything through bhuja except for janu C and mari D, then skipped around a bit after that. My back felt good, so even though I wasn't very warm, I still was able to push up into a five-breath, straight-arm backbend. I did a quick closing and savasana just as the movie ended.
Normally sick days with my kids find me grinding my teeth in frustration because I haven't been able to leave the house, but today was different. I had a nice practice, Will and I read a magazine together, I've done laundry and vacuumed, I moved almost all my photos from my computer to a CD, cleaned off my desk, organized the shelf in my laundry closet, and did some online shopping (bought a pair of Hard Tail yoga capris and a Prana yoga tank). Will fell asleep on the sofa about 2:00 and I called my friend Gwen and arranged for Michael to go home with her son G. so that I didn't have to take Will out, so I was on my own until after 5:00. I also made a batch of banana - chocolate chip - oat cookies. The recipe is basically the tollhouse cookie recipe, with a cup of oats and a mashed banana added. They're good - the flavor is like banana bread, with a chewy, nubby texture. I'm taking them to a mom's get-together tomorrow night; we'll be having cocktails and snacks and a chick flick while all the dads channel their inner rednecks and take the boys to Phillips Arena to see Monster Jam.
Sure enough, during the night, Will climbed in bed with us and put his burning hot body right up against me. He slept, but he whimpered and tossed and I finally went and got in his bed.
I kept him home from school today which meant that I didn't get to the Core Power Flow class I was looking forward to, but to my surprise, I looked forward to primary series at home instead.
I let Will watch a Pokemon movie - he's never seen any of them before, and god, he was so happy - while I practiced. I never even broke a sweat, but I still felt strong and focused. I did everything through bhuja except for janu C and mari D, then skipped around a bit after that. My back felt good, so even though I wasn't very warm, I still was able to push up into a five-breath, straight-arm backbend. I did a quick closing and savasana just as the movie ended.
Normally sick days with my kids find me grinding my teeth in frustration because I haven't been able to leave the house, but today was different. I had a nice practice, Will and I read a magazine together, I've done laundry and vacuumed, I moved almost all my photos from my computer to a CD, cleaned off my desk, organized the shelf in my laundry closet, and did some online shopping (bought a pair of Hard Tail yoga capris and a Prana yoga tank). Will fell asleep on the sofa about 2:00 and I called my friend Gwen and arranged for Michael to go home with her son G. so that I didn't have to take Will out, so I was on my own until after 5:00. I also made a batch of banana - chocolate chip - oat cookies. The recipe is basically the tollhouse cookie recipe, with a cup of oats and a mashed banana added. They're good - the flavor is like banana bread, with a chewy, nubby texture. I'm taking them to a mom's get-together tomorrow night; we'll be having cocktails and snacks and a chick flick while all the dads channel their inner rednecks and take the boys to Phillips Arena to see Monster Jam.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Everyday this week, so far...
It hasn't been full practices, or even the primary series, but I have been on my mat every day!
Monday was a Core Power Flow class. Tuesday, Michael was home from school with a bad sore throat and I had volunteer commitments, so Lee came home to stay with him while I did my volunteer thing. I didn't think I was going to squeeze in any practice at all, but I did five a's and three b's and some stretching backward over my yoga ball. If I can't spare at least fifteen minutes for sun salutations every day, then I need to rearrange my priorities.
My volunteer commitment on Tuesday was to help the city's Volunteer Coordinator with preparations for a big service project that takes place the weekend of the MLK, Jr. Holiday. Hundreds of volunteers do home repairs and yard work for seniors in the city who cannot afford them. The Volunteer Coordinator - her name is Leeann - is the woman for whom I have volunteered the past three years with a Christmas gift project for underprivileged kids. Well, about a month ago, just as that project was wrapping up Leeann was making a last delivery of gifts to a recipient when she tripped and fell, breaking both her elbows.
She was unable to travel for Christmas, and could do almost nothing for herself. She underwent surgery at Emory on what was supposed to be the most severely broken elbow, except that the x-rays got mixed up and they operated on the one that was not as severely broken - the arm with which she still had a little bit of mobility. So after her surgery, she had to get round-the-clock home health nurses to do basically everything for her.
My friend Beth organized a whole bunch of people to do things like bring her meals and run errands for her for a few weeks after the accident. I took her a meal a few days after Christmas and she was moved to tears at how generous people have been to her, as well as very grateful for visitors, since she couldn't drive herself anywhere or hold the phone up to her ear. She is the nicest lady, and she does so much for the city, so I really wanted to do everything I could to help her.
Well, the MLK service project is a massive effort of organization, and as Leeann can barely feed herself, and is undergoing three times weekly physical therapy that exhausts her, I offered to come help her go through her emails and respond to them in order to get volunteers sorted for the project. I made her a quiche and picked up some fresh fruit for her, then spent about two hours going through her emails for her and sending the responses she dictated.
If there's anything that I do in my life that is rewarding, it's volunteer work. I love being a part of an effort that makes a difference in people's lives.
ANYWAY, all that to say, I didn't think I was going to squeeze in anytime on the mat, but I made myself take a break from all the other stuff that needed doing at home and do it.
Yesterday morning was another Core Power Flow class, in a steamy hot room. I was having issues with my lower back yesterday, again, but I discovered that stretching, as in pigeon pose or a very deep lunge, seems to help. Yesterday it felt as if the muscles above my hips were very sore and I didn't feel bendy at all in my lower back or hips. Once I was very warm, though, at the point in the class where you can opt for modified bridge or full urdva dhanurasana, I pushed up into urdva d. It wasn't pretty, it didn't feel great, but I did straighten my arms for two breaths at least.
I know it's totally an ego thing, persevering with backbend. I don't want to back off of it, because I know I can do it. I'm not willing to wait it out and see if my back feels better if I leave it alone.
I did five a's and three b's this morning, as soon as the boys left for school, with some additional forward folds to stretch my hamstrings and some more deep lunges to stretch my hips.
This morning I went for a Real Haircut. Real, as in, I went to a stylist for curly hair and spent some time talking to her about what my hair does and what I want, and didn't just go to the same person who's cut my hair for the last fifteen years just so she could lop an inch off the bottom and let it go at that. I also paid $65 including tip which makes it really Real!
Anyway, it's rainy and humid today so I can't really tell what it's going to look like, but the general idea is that it's a bit shorter and more layered in the back than it has been, gradually getting a bit longer toward the front. I like the way it feels in the back, but right now it looks like a big fuzzball, so the jury is still out as to whether it was worth the money.
Tomorrow morning I am going back for yet another Core Power Flow class, and then again on Saturday morning. The hot studio has recently renovated, so they are having a big reopening reception on Saturday and everyone who comes out for class that day gets three free classes credited to their accounts. So, I'm skipping my regular Saturday advanced primary practice this week. It's still practice, though, I firmly believe.
Monday was a Core Power Flow class. Tuesday, Michael was home from school with a bad sore throat and I had volunteer commitments, so Lee came home to stay with him while I did my volunteer thing. I didn't think I was going to squeeze in any practice at all, but I did five a's and three b's and some stretching backward over my yoga ball. If I can't spare at least fifteen minutes for sun salutations every day, then I need to rearrange my priorities.
My volunteer commitment on Tuesday was to help the city's Volunteer Coordinator with preparations for a big service project that takes place the weekend of the MLK, Jr. Holiday. Hundreds of volunteers do home repairs and yard work for seniors in the city who cannot afford them. The Volunteer Coordinator - her name is Leeann - is the woman for whom I have volunteered the past three years with a Christmas gift project for underprivileged kids. Well, about a month ago, just as that project was wrapping up Leeann was making a last delivery of gifts to a recipient when she tripped and fell, breaking both her elbows.
She was unable to travel for Christmas, and could do almost nothing for herself. She underwent surgery at Emory on what was supposed to be the most severely broken elbow, except that the x-rays got mixed up and they operated on the one that was not as severely broken - the arm with which she still had a little bit of mobility. So after her surgery, she had to get round-the-clock home health nurses to do basically everything for her.
My friend Beth organized a whole bunch of people to do things like bring her meals and run errands for her for a few weeks after the accident. I took her a meal a few days after Christmas and she was moved to tears at how generous people have been to her, as well as very grateful for visitors, since she couldn't drive herself anywhere or hold the phone up to her ear. She is the nicest lady, and she does so much for the city, so I really wanted to do everything I could to help her.
Well, the MLK service project is a massive effort of organization, and as Leeann can barely feed herself, and is undergoing three times weekly physical therapy that exhausts her, I offered to come help her go through her emails and respond to them in order to get volunteers sorted for the project. I made her a quiche and picked up some fresh fruit for her, then spent about two hours going through her emails for her and sending the responses she dictated.
If there's anything that I do in my life that is rewarding, it's volunteer work. I love being a part of an effort that makes a difference in people's lives.
ANYWAY, all that to say, I didn't think I was going to squeeze in anytime on the mat, but I made myself take a break from all the other stuff that needed doing at home and do it.
Yesterday morning was another Core Power Flow class, in a steamy hot room. I was having issues with my lower back yesterday, again, but I discovered that stretching, as in pigeon pose or a very deep lunge, seems to help. Yesterday it felt as if the muscles above my hips were very sore and I didn't feel bendy at all in my lower back or hips. Once I was very warm, though, at the point in the class where you can opt for modified bridge or full urdva dhanurasana, I pushed up into urdva d. It wasn't pretty, it didn't feel great, but I did straighten my arms for two breaths at least.
I know it's totally an ego thing, persevering with backbend. I don't want to back off of it, because I know I can do it. I'm not willing to wait it out and see if my back feels better if I leave it alone.
I did five a's and three b's this morning, as soon as the boys left for school, with some additional forward folds to stretch my hamstrings and some more deep lunges to stretch my hips.
This morning I went for a Real Haircut. Real, as in, I went to a stylist for curly hair and spent some time talking to her about what my hair does and what I want, and didn't just go to the same person who's cut my hair for the last fifteen years just so she could lop an inch off the bottom and let it go at that. I also paid $65 including tip which makes it really Real!
Anyway, it's rainy and humid today so I can't really tell what it's going to look like, but the general idea is that it's a bit shorter and more layered in the back than it has been, gradually getting a bit longer toward the front. I like the way it feels in the back, but right now it looks like a big fuzzball, so the jury is still out as to whether it was worth the money.
Tomorrow morning I am going back for yet another Core Power Flow class, and then again on Saturday morning. The hot studio has recently renovated, so they are having a big reopening reception on Saturday and everyone who comes out for class that day gets three free classes credited to their accounts. So, I'm skipping my regular Saturday advanced primary practice this week. It's still practice, though, I firmly believe.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Back to the mat.
And what a creaky return it has been.
On the home front, when we returned from the beach, I was really in the mood to be domestic and hunker down at home with the family, cooking wholesome meals and just being together. So far we've done that. Thursday night I made homemade tomato soup with whole wheat rolls, Friday I made grilled steak salad, Saturday night I made a big pot of turkey chili, and last night I made spaghetti & meatballs (the meatballs were not homemade, but the sauce was). Tonight is broccoli cheese soup, with a loaf of whole wheat bread, which was still warm when I picked it up at the Farmer's Market today.
School started back today and I think the boys are very happy to be back in a routine and seeing their friends. Will has made some developmental leaps over the holiday that have amazed me...he is reading everything he sees, and he has learned to tell time! He asked for a watch several times last fall, so I got him one for Christmas, a kids' Timex with hands, not digital. He's worn it almost every day and can almost always tell me exactly what time it is.
I got in one short practice at the beach on New Years' Eve, and it felt great. I went to a Core Power class on Thursday night at the hot studio, and that was a great class too. Saturday morning I took the advanced primary class at John's, and that practice wasn't so great. The energy of the packed room was wonderful, but I never really got very warm, and I didn't feel so strong or bendy.
After having a good practice alone at the beach house, I decided to try to make practicing at home alone more appealing, especially since when I spoke to John on Saturday at class, he wasn't sure if he was going to have a weekday morning class this quarter or not. So instead of practicing in my living room, where I have to roll up the rug and every forward bend gives me a great view of all the dust bunnies, popcorn kernels, legos, and jenga blocks under my sofa and entertainment center, I decided to practice in the dining room, which contains only my desk, a table and chairs, and a lamp....far fewer distractions. I did not listen to music, and I even got my buddha statue and set him near my mat to evoke the feeling of the studio.
In the interest of time, I skipped every other set of between-sides vinyasas, but otherwise I did the full series. I didn't even break a sweat, but otherwise - other than backbends - it felt like an okay practice, not monumental or particularly inspired, but not bad.
Backbends have turned into a big problem for me. At the beginning of December, I felt like my backbends were really coming along. I could usually straighten my arms in backbend with no problems and had just become able to lower onto my forearms and clasp my hands behind my head.
However, the last few weeks I have had a lot of stiffness in my lower back and hips and unless I am very, very warm, I can barely lift myself up at all! My lower back simply would not go there.
I held a backbend in the hot room last Thursday night effortlessly, with straight arms...but Saturday I could barely lift the crown of my head off the floor, and I experienced the same thing today. Additionally, my forward folds are feeling more stiff than usual, updogs are a challenge, and I feel lots of pressure in my lower back during headstand.
What could be going on? Is it the lack of practice in the last several weeks, or something else? It's very discouraging. I'm not sure if I just need to spend some time stretching, if I need to go see my chiropractor, or if getting back into regular practice will help. Even as I sit here typing, my lower back feels stiff and achy.
Marichyasana C has also turned into a posture I dread. The twist coupled with the compression of the hip joint, especially on the left, is really painful. I used to have a wrist bind in Mari C on both sides, but now I can only clasp hands on the left. I find I enjoy Mari D much more, and it's much more comfortable, than C, and I am still able to catch my wrist on the left in Mari D.
I have upped my daily dose of fish oil caps, but so far, I can't tell a difference.
I wonder if the extra padding around my middle is affecting my practice in any way - the scale does not show any weight gain, but I can feel a bit of extra something around my waist and where a six pack would be, if I had one. God, I'm ready for all the crap food to be out of the house already. Lee brought home a big bag of M&M's that someone had given his partner. She sent them home with him for the kids. I've put them in the freezer, but I still find myself grabbing a handful now and then. That's got to stop!!
Despite my worries about backbending and my lack of motivation to practice alone, I am proud of myself for just doing it today, no excuses, and I think I could come to enjoy practicing at home.
On the home front, when we returned from the beach, I was really in the mood to be domestic and hunker down at home with the family, cooking wholesome meals and just being together. So far we've done that. Thursday night I made homemade tomato soup with whole wheat rolls, Friday I made grilled steak salad, Saturday night I made a big pot of turkey chili, and last night I made spaghetti & meatballs (the meatballs were not homemade, but the sauce was). Tonight is broccoli cheese soup, with a loaf of whole wheat bread, which was still warm when I picked it up at the Farmer's Market today.
School started back today and I think the boys are very happy to be back in a routine and seeing their friends. Will has made some developmental leaps over the holiday that have amazed me...he is reading everything he sees, and he has learned to tell time! He asked for a watch several times last fall, so I got him one for Christmas, a kids' Timex with hands, not digital. He's worn it almost every day and can almost always tell me exactly what time it is.
I got in one short practice at the beach on New Years' Eve, and it felt great. I went to a Core Power class on Thursday night at the hot studio, and that was a great class too. Saturday morning I took the advanced primary class at John's, and that practice wasn't so great. The energy of the packed room was wonderful, but I never really got very warm, and I didn't feel so strong or bendy.
After having a good practice alone at the beach house, I decided to try to make practicing at home alone more appealing, especially since when I spoke to John on Saturday at class, he wasn't sure if he was going to have a weekday morning class this quarter or not. So instead of practicing in my living room, where I have to roll up the rug and every forward bend gives me a great view of all the dust bunnies, popcorn kernels, legos, and jenga blocks under my sofa and entertainment center, I decided to practice in the dining room, which contains only my desk, a table and chairs, and a lamp....far fewer distractions. I did not listen to music, and I even got my buddha statue and set him near my mat to evoke the feeling of the studio.
In the interest of time, I skipped every other set of between-sides vinyasas, but otherwise I did the full series. I didn't even break a sweat, but otherwise - other than backbends - it felt like an okay practice, not monumental or particularly inspired, but not bad.
Backbends have turned into a big problem for me. At the beginning of December, I felt like my backbends were really coming along. I could usually straighten my arms in backbend with no problems and had just become able to lower onto my forearms and clasp my hands behind my head.
However, the last few weeks I have had a lot of stiffness in my lower back and hips and unless I am very, very warm, I can barely lift myself up at all! My lower back simply would not go there.
I held a backbend in the hot room last Thursday night effortlessly, with straight arms...but Saturday I could barely lift the crown of my head off the floor, and I experienced the same thing today. Additionally, my forward folds are feeling more stiff than usual, updogs are a challenge, and I feel lots of pressure in my lower back during headstand.
What could be going on? Is it the lack of practice in the last several weeks, or something else? It's very discouraging. I'm not sure if I just need to spend some time stretching, if I need to go see my chiropractor, or if getting back into regular practice will help. Even as I sit here typing, my lower back feels stiff and achy.
Marichyasana C has also turned into a posture I dread. The twist coupled with the compression of the hip joint, especially on the left, is really painful. I used to have a wrist bind in Mari C on both sides, but now I can only clasp hands on the left. I find I enjoy Mari D much more, and it's much more comfortable, than C, and I am still able to catch my wrist on the left in Mari D.
I have upped my daily dose of fish oil caps, but so far, I can't tell a difference.
I wonder if the extra padding around my middle is affecting my practice in any way - the scale does not show any weight gain, but I can feel a bit of extra something around my waist and where a six pack would be, if I had one. God, I'm ready for all the crap food to be out of the house already. Lee brought home a big bag of M&M's that someone had given his partner. She sent them home with him for the kids. I've put them in the freezer, but I still find myself grabbing a handful now and then. That's got to stop!!
Despite my worries about backbending and my lack of motivation to practice alone, I am proud of myself for just doing it today, no excuses, and I think I could come to enjoy practicing at home.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Holiday recap.
Aftermath, Christmas:
New Year's Eve:
We're back from four days at Edisto Island with five other families. Great time. Though our bike rack somehow shattered the rear window of my CRV on the way down while it poured rain, and it was in the 30's all the way home today.
I got on my mat one time at the beach house, and I think I might have reached a point where I can practice alone. In silence. And like it!
I read almost all of Middlesex at the beach. It was an amazing book and I hope to finish it tonight when I finally get to bed.
We're all exhausted, especially the boys, from four days spent with nine other kids. I can't wait to get my house back in order and make yummy, homecooked meals.
New Year's Eve:
We're back from four days at Edisto Island with five other families. Great time. Though our bike rack somehow shattered the rear window of my CRV on the way down while it poured rain, and it was in the 30's all the way home today.
I got on my mat one time at the beach house, and I think I might have reached a point where I can practice alone. In silence. And like it!
I read almost all of Middlesex at the beach. It was an amazing book and I hope to finish it tonight when I finally get to bed.
We're all exhausted, especially the boys, from four days spent with nine other kids. I can't wait to get my house back in order and make yummy, homecooked meals.
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