8 Miles & Hot Yoga

This morning I woke up and ran 8 miles in Central Park.  Who am I?

It was beautiful.  I haven't been to the Park since the blizzard and the snow day on Friday.  I couldn't believe how much snow was still there.  The Park looked completely different.

I wish I could say my run went smoothly, but of course it didn't.  It all started with the subway ride...  I waited FORTY-FIVE MINUTES for the right train to come.  By the time I got to the Park, it was 10:45 am, I was freezing and I had to tinkle really, really badly.  But of course I got off at 72nd to do two of the 4-mile loop, and the only public bathroom I'm aware of is closer to the Columbus Circle entrance so I held it.  And it was uncomfortable. 

I was also uncomfortable b/c I was so cold.  It took me forever to warm up, and by the time I did, I finally got to the bathroom and so I stopped.  Back out in the cold, I felt stiff again.  I took my first Gu this run (vanilla bean - really does taste like vanilla pudding) around mile 4.6 , and I think it went well.  Didn't upset my stomach, but I definitely had to take it with water. 

At 5.5, my left bra strap came unhooked.  Yup.  I was wearing a Lululemon bra that strangely is no longer on their website.  It has maximum support, and so I like to wear it on my long runs.  I do not, however, like that the straps come so easily unhooked.  I mean, what up with that, Lululemon??  When I pay more than $50 for a bra, I expect more than that.  The annoying thing was is that in order for me to fix my bra, I would've had to stop, find another bathroom (or return to the one I know), take off ALL my top layers and the bra and fix it.  At mile 5.5, I was not having that.  So I spent the rest of the run awkwardly trying to, um, hold/support my left breast.  It was not fun.  I was super annoyed.  People looked at me.

But I did it.  I finished the 8 miles, caught the subway in good time and went home to a very, VERY hot shower.  I've not been able to get warm all day.  Definitely sleeping with a very hot water bottle tonight.  :D

Not only did I complete my 8 mile run, but I had a pretty easy 4.5 mile on Friday night AND went to hot yoga on Saturday.  Hot yoga does not equal bikram.  I've never taken a bikram class, and I have no desire to.  I don't think I'd like it.  Hot yoga for me equals heated vinyasa, which I LOVE.  The amount of sweat that exited my body during that 75 minutes is kind of unbelievable.  My tank top was completely soaked through (much to my roomie's dismay) so I took it off and just wore my Nike pullover back home.  SMART move considering it was 30 degrees outside.  Brr!  Winter is officially here, my friends!  I'm feeling PUMPED about the fact that I did all my training this weekend.  I plan to tackle this week with the same fervor and determination. 

The rest of my Sunday was pretty productive as well.  After my run I had brunch with my gorgeous friend David, and then we met up with other friends who are also participating in NaNoWriMo.  We spent next couple hours at the Barnes & Noble in Tribeca attempting to write.  It went... okay.  I couldn't really get into the zone, and I find it incredibly hard to believe that I'm going to be able to write 50,000 words by February 3.  But um... here's to trying!

Few questions for ya...

1. Any tips on how to get into the writing zone??  I haven't written lengthy papers in so long that I can't quite remember how I did it.
2. I stopped for a pretty substantial time today during my run to go to the bathroom, get my water and take my Gu, etc.  Do you think that stopping like that negates the point of a long run?  In other words, is it really an 8 mile run if I don't run it nonstop?

Finding My Way Back

It is HAWT in the District. It's like 95 degrees and humid as a swamp kind of hot. But luckily, I met Valerie from City Life Eats at Cafe Green in Dupont for a spectacular vegan brunch and had one of the most delicious beverages of my life. It was a coconut water/coconut meat/raw cacao/agave iced smoothie concoction that rocked my freaking world and made the heat ever so slightly more bearable. Merci Valerie for introducing me to such a fabulous eatery! I will most definitely be back.

This quick trip to DC was just what the doctor ordered. DC is much quieter and un peu slower than the daily hustle and bustle of New York City. I've enjoyed the quiet here. That being said, I'm eager to get back to the city (and the afternoon shade that the tall buildings provide). Last night while we were out, I told my friend J that when I realized that I only had one more day here, I immediately thought, "Boooo I don't want to go back to Austin and go back to work..." And then I realized, HA - I don't have to!! And I must confess, it was a very, very good feeling indeed.

Being here has also reminded me to write this very post which I've been meaning to write for the past couple of weeks. For the past 6-8 months, I've been in a weird place. I've been sort of anti all things self-help/yoga/deeply introspective/whatever. I stopped journaling. I stopped practicing yoga. I stopped reading and collaging. And I stopped wanting to read that kind of content on the blogosphere or anywhere else. I just kind of shut down that formerly big part of my life and went elsewhere. I still can't fully explain why, but I am happy to report that since moving to NYC, I've discovered that I am slowly but surely finding my way back to that place. It probably won't ever be where or what it was before, but I think that's a good thing. I'm journaling again, I'm finding my way back to the mat, I'm eager to tear inspirational images or words out of magazines, and I'm rediscovering some truly beautiful blogs. It's a good thing.

My life has changed so drastically in the past few months that I'm often completely unaware of where I am, what I'm doing, why I'm doing it or where I'm going. I've always been the opposite. I always knew what my step was, whether I liked it or not, and not knowing for the first time in my life is both incredibly freeing and extremely terrifying. I'm more thankful than ever to have this blog as an outlet to not only share my triumphs and struggles with you, but to connect with so many of you who have either been through this before or are currently experiencing it now. Isn't it wonderful? It will never cease to amaze me how powerful the blogosphere has been and how lucky I am to have met (both virtually and physically) all of you amazing individuals. Je t'adore beaucoup. I hope you had a divine weekend. See you Monday...

I Heart Running

Running. 101. is. incredible. No seriously. I hate running, abhor everything about it. I got into it once in my life, but it still hurt like hell. BUT, something is magical about running groups in that they make the whole running part not suck as much. Amazing! I left work in a foul mood yesterday b/c I had to deal with some really crappy crap that came up at the end of the day. 1.5 hours later, and i was high on life. Last night we ran to a nearby middle school and then did speed drills on their track. Sounds not fun, right? But it was good! I've never pushed myself so hard! And even when my heart threatened to literally burst out of my chest, it felt good. I don't know what's going on here.

Also? I'm getting a little competitive. I always assumed I'd be the slowest, fattest runner in the group. But actually, I'm one of the most athletic. How did that happen?! I gotta tell ya, it's encouraging and only makes me want to do better. I am also loving the emphasis on correct form - tres important. Now I just need to get some new running shoes + socks + bras. Ce n'est pas cheap... But I'm hoping a certain Mother of mine takes pity on moi (and my budget) and buys them for me. :) (MOM IF YOU'RE READING THIS, I LOVE YOU!!!)

And today I plan on going to yoga for the first time in weeks. Because with all this running comes insanely tight hips. I think yoga is the perfect balance to running. What about you current runners and yogis? Do you think the two complement each other?

Home Practice

Many of you have blogged about home yoga practices before, but I rarely comment because I've had very little to say about it. I always assumed that I just couldn't have a home practice, not in my small, cluttered apartment, with my 2 animals, and lack of self-discipline and guidance. But this past weekend I headed to Castle Hill for a class with one of my favorite yoga teachers in Austin, Hannah Emlen, only to learn that there was a substitute (AGAIN). After too many sub-par substitute teachers, I decided to save my money and walk away. There weren't any other classes I could take at the time, and my body was really really craving some yoga. So I went home, pulled out my mats (need double love b/c of my hard concrete floors), Kimberly's Get Your Yoga On cd, and indulged in my first real home practice.

There were a few minor mishaps. In the first 5 minutes or so of the CD, Kimberly has you sitting on your mat, hands on your knees, eyes closed and doing the 3-part yogic breath. This was all well and fine until I felt a tap on my nose. Opened my eyes to see Lola right in front of me, smiling and pawing away. After several unsuccessful attempts at shooing her away, I finally had to pick her up and plop her on the couch (which, btw, is where she stayed for the rest of my practice - hooray!). I also forgot to light a candle and/or incense, and I forgot to pull out my block ahead of time. Still it was a lovely practice overall, and I felt awesome afterwards (and sore on Sunday, which is always a good sign). I think I'm going to indulge in more home practices and save some money! :)

Afterwards I kept my yoga mats out because someone rather enjoyed laying/sleeping/playing on it...

Any little tips/preferences/rituals/extras you incorporate into your own home yoga practice?

Yoga Musing Rant

Hi, my name is Carolyn, and I suck at yoga. Okay, I know that sentence is wrong on so many levels, but I can't help feeling that way. And it's frustrating!!

A little background: I started practicing yoga in the Spring of 2007. My practice was fairly regular that spring and summer, and I even attended Kimberly's yoga retreat in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, I did zero yoga while I was in London (aside from a yoga workshop with David and Sharon from Jivamukti Yoga at a Yoga Conference) and found it impossible to maintain a regular practice after returning to the States. Fast forward to now, the Summer of 2009, and me desperately trying to find my way back to the mat.

I've been pretty good for awhile, going to classes 1-2 times a week (which is waaaay better than before). I go to a variety of classes, but they are mostly flow-based. I like heated, i like not heated, i like intense and challenging, and sometimes i just want a 90-minute nap (aka Relaxation Yoga).

I also want loose hips. My hips are unbelievably tight, even more so now that the majority of my workday is spent sitting in a chair. I love love love hip-openers, but my hips? Well, they're not opening. And I find myself wondering, "Will I ever have the hips of a true yogi? Will I ever be able to do double pigeon? Will I EVER manage lotus pose??" I'm so far from that, my friends... so far.



[Photo: The beautiful (and loose-hipped) Kimberly Wilson]

Another thing I want? To have a headstand practice. The teacher at the (annoying) yoga class I attended last weekend said that headstand is the most perfect asana pose. (Have no idea as to the validity of that statement...) So we spent a good portion of time working on headstand. I cannot do headstand in the middle of the room, I have to do it against a wall. Although it's getting better, I still use momentum to kick up, I can only balance (aka remove my legs from the wall) for mere seconds, and I can't help but wonder, "WILL I EVER GET THIS?"


Ditto crow. And handstand? Omg, do NOT get me started on handstand. We "worked" on that in yesterday's class, and I thought I was going to cry. Something about putting all my weight on my hands terrifies moi, and I found myself deeply nostalgic of the days when I did headstands everyday like it was my job (aka grade school years). Where did that fearlessness go? (Btw we also tried forearm stand, which was admittedly easier than handstand, but still terrifying.)



Is this normal? Am I supposed to be feeling like this? Isn't all this worrying and frustration the opposite of yoga?

One more thing - a word on teachers. The last few classes I've attended have straight up annoyed me, namely, the instructors annoyed me. First, they were substitutes (aka not the teachers listed on the schedule), which irritated me to begin with. After all, I pick (and PAY) for my yoga classes based on the type of class and the instructor teaching it. Who doesn't? And then, there were other things. Annoying voice, going too fast, going too slow, not enough of this and too much of that. Um, who am I to judge?? I'm no yoga teacher, I've never done yoga training. Sure some teachers are better than others, but again, WHO am I to judge? I always end up feeling tres guilty for all the mean thoughts that run through my mind during class. Again, I ask, is this normal? Am I a terrible person? A terrible yogi?

Boo I just wish I had a Tranquil Space gosh darn it!!!

Happy Monday!

A few things catching my eye lately...

1. This sweet wedding. i love the vintage touches, and i am REALLY loving her short flouncy dress with those shoes!! {All picstures from www.stylemepretty.com}



2. The Dalai Lama and Karl Lagerfeld on Twitter!

3. This interesting New York Times article on yoga for bigger bodies.



I haven't decided how i feel about it... but i think it's a great idea in theory to create a safe space for those who are uncomfortable practicing with a bunch of tiny peeps. I'm always the fattest girl in the studio, and lemme tell ya, it does not do good things for my self-esteem. But i've learned to turn inward and ignore everyone else, and i'm usually feeling pretty good by the end of class. (P.S. I've made it to FOUR yoga classes in the past week and a half!)

4. PINK moleskin notebooks!! i thought they were a myth, but finally spotted them at my local Borders (and apparently you can get them from Barnes & Noble online). HOLLA!! You'll never find me scribbling in boring black again ;)



5. The idea of creating a 30-Before-30 List. i first read about it on Lauren's fabulous blog and have since skipped to Suz's blog to get more info. As i approach my 26th birthday (August 11!) i'm thinking this is a WONDERFUL idea. I love goals and making lists so why not?

What's catching your eye lately?

Frankie Says RELAX

Went to a restorative/relaxation yoga class tonight, and it was DIVINE. Restorative yoga basically = a 75 minute nap complete with oodles of bolsters, blankets, and gentle stretching. I'm fairly certain i fell asleep in a couple poses and snored. Mmmm delicious, i highly recommend it.

Le weekend is le over, and i am determined to have a good week (don't i say that every week?). Hope you all had a fab weekend :-)

New York in a Nutshell

Wednesday
Arrived in the city around 7 p.m. Took cab to Will's apartment in Battery Park City, unwound a bit, ate pizza, chatted, went to bed early and slept beautifully.

Thursday
Slept in, showered, and got ready to take on the city. Walked up Broadway into Soho, visited the CB2 store and various other treasures, tried to find the New Museum but was unsuccessful (partly due to my old NYC map!), walked over to Chelsea and met upwith darling Mili who went to Stanford avec ma soeur, got delicious Pinkberry. I helped her clean out her closet and was ruthless! Said goodbye and headed back to Battery Park City. I must admit that Manhatten has lost some of its appeal, and walking around only made me miss London that much more. Didn't sleep very well this night for some reason.. Maybe excitement over the retreat?

Friday/Saturday/Sunday
Yayy the day has finally arrived! Finished up packing and took the subway to Grand Central. What a gorgeous train station! I'd always heard about how glorious it is, and it reminded me of the romantic train stations in Europe. Successfully boarded Metro North train to Wassaic. Arrived at a VERY gloomy Wassaic station, but my excitement over the retreat made me giddy nonetheless.



The entire weekend was fabulous and more rewarding than I ever imagined 48 hours could be. What an incredible group of women. Students, mothers, daughters, writers, professionals.. We bonded in such a short period of time, and i don't think anyone was ready to say goodbye on Sunday. I know i wasn't! I walked away from the weekend feeling rejuvenated, inspired, calm and at peace with myself. On Sunday we all shared our top 5 take-aways from the weekend. These were mine:

1. I don't NEED to change anything about myself. If i want to change, that's great. But despite what others may tell me, i don't need to.
2. You can never stop learning about yourself.
3. I am special.
4. I can pull myself out of this depression.
5. Kimberly Wilson is still my #1 girl crush. (HOLLA!!!)

Maybe it looks dorky, cheesy, and a bit self-centered to everyone else, but i cannot tell you how important these are to me. So yay for a wonderful weekend, yay for all the amazing women i connected with, and yay for Kimberly Wilson!

Retreating

Bonsoir, mes amies. After a ROUGH couple of weeks, I am finally off to spend a lovely week in New York. I'll be in the city wed and thurs night, in Ancramale at the cozy farmhouse (see above) fri-sun, and then back in the city for a couple more nights of fun before returning to Austin. Am planning to use this time for loads of relaxing, sleeping, journaling, reflecting, and of course, beaucoup de yoga. My body is craving it. I'm tres excited to see Kimberly Wilson again, and i hope that this retreat helps me figure out how to get out of this funk. I hope you all have a fab weekend. Namaste.

Jivamukti

What a fantastic day! I attended the 2-hour Jivamukti Workshop with David Life and Sharon Gannon and honestly didn't know what to expect. I'd heard great things about Jivamukti from Kimberly Wilson and other yogis, and i knew they had a strong following in NYC (including Mr. Russell Simmons), but that was about it. It was one of the best practices i've had! Included chanting, sun salutations, backbends, all kinds of twisty turny poses, and a shoulder-stand that i swear we held for like...15 minutes. Also were able to get a glimpse into David and Sharon's yoga philosophy and lifestyle. The best part was at the end when Sharon had us repeat after her... "I...will...be...vegan...for the peace of the world." Giggles went around the room once we heard the "vegan" part, but for me it really struck a chord. I've been listening to the Vegetarian Food for Thought podcast on iTunes, and vegetarianism is something i've been toying with for quite some time. It wasn't long ago that i said i could NEVER be a vegetarian b/c that would mean i was not a true foodie. But really.. what does that mean?? Well there's much more to say, and i've got to hit the hay (long day of babysitting ahead!), but more to come later.

xoxo, darlings

The Yoga Show: Day 1

Bonjour from a very enlightened moi. Ok, not really, but i did attend the first day of The Yoga Show today and indulged in quite a bit of yogic retail therapy. The pic above shows off my goodies, which include 2 books (Meditation Bliss and 1001 Pearls of Buddhist Wisdom), 2 CDs (Yoga Rhythms and Mantra Girl), awesome mala beads, 2 yoga headbands, a yoga top, a neti pot (left mine in Dallas), and a beautiful pashmina made by those in Tamil Nadu, South India. Now, i know what you're thinking, way to go to a yoga show and shop... isn't that very anti-yoga? Well, believe me, i wasn't the only one shopping up a storm. With hundreds and hundreds of booths, it's hard not to walk away with a bag in hand. BUT, i did partake in a little free activity as well. I made it to a short class by Claire Missingham, a UK-based yoga teacher who specializes in Vinyasa Flow. She is an adorable little thing, and i really enjoyed her class, as short as it was. It gave me a little taste of something i've been missing for a REALLY long time - some serious yoga, man. I've tried practicing in the Institution, but my arms hit furniture or the walls (our rooms are quite narrow), and the idea of getting that close to this disgusting carpet... well, it's just not very zen. Tomorrow I plan on attending a workshop on Dru Yoga and on Sunday, i have a 2-hour workshop with David Life and Shannon Gannon from Jivamukti. I can't WAIT!!

Yummy Yoga

I'm feeling really really good despite the fact that it's 2:14 a.m. here in London, and i still need to take a hot shower and clean up my room before crawling into my uber-comfy pink bed. Just spent an hour doing yoga with the lights off and listening to Kimberly Wilson guide me into yogic bliss. It was the first full practice I've done since going abroad, and it was just what I needed. Note to self: MUST incorporate home yoga practice into daily life here in London, as yoga studios here charge upwards of $22 per class...

Anyway, my practice also inspired me to sign up for The YOGA Show happening here the weekend of November 23-25. Even MORE exciting is that Sharon and David from Jivamukti Yoga in NYC are holding a special workshop on that Sunday. YAY! I've been wanting to take a Jivamukti class ever since KW did the Jivamukti teacher training this past year. And to workshop with the founders of Jivamukti?? Incredible. The whole weekend looks amazing, and i'm SO glad the entrance price wasn't exorbitant. What better way to spend post-Thanksgiving weekend? :-)

Ok must finish this green tea, hop in the shower, and hit the sack so i don't sleep in again until 3 p.m.... Bonsoir, my darlings!

The Nature of Me

I think i'm falling out of love... it's the worst feeling. It's uncertainty mixed with sadness splashed with the tiniest bit of anger and then of course, panic. Where will i go? What will i do? I mean, thank goodness i'll be abroad in the Fall so i don't really have to worry until i return in January, but still. Just the idea of being out there again, looking, trying on for size, checking for chemistry, it's all so exhausting.

I'm talking about my YOGA STUDIO, people. I don't know what happened, but somehow in the past few weeks, i've... well i've just gotten over it. And it's SO like me to do that. I'm notorious for my roller coaster of emotions. I love something (or someone), can't do without it, go to the extreme, pledge my allegiance and swear til death do us part, and then, just like that, i'm over it and moving on to the next best thing. (I really hate this about myself btw.) I don't know what it is, but the once sacred B&B has just lost me. Maybe it's that it's more crowded, maybe it's because i don't really feel like i fit in, maybe i'm a little annoyed that it sometimes feels more like an aerobics class than a yoga class. I want sweat and tears as much as the rest of 'em, but i also want tranquility, spirituality, and being. And i want teachers who are approachable and open to conversation, and it's lacking. I mean, i don't think this is all too much to ask when i'm shelling out over $100 a month for this habit, sheesh. Anyway, i think i'm going to check out Seventh Street Yoga (faaabulous space) when i return.

Currently playing the new Interpol CD, and it is totally rocking my world. I highly recommend it.

Spent a sizable sum of money @ Central Market tonight in an effort to eat better foods. My body is punishing me for treating it like crap for the past couple of weeks and has decided to be tired, weak, bloated, fat, and pimply. Seriously i've never had issues with acne before in my life and suddenly it looks like i'm going through puberty again. I had buy Proactive for crying out loud. Soooo i filled my cart with fresh kale, organic spinach, fuji apples, corn on the cob, blueberries, 9 grain bread, natural peanut butter, tamari roasted almonds, and millet. Can't wait to try out the millet and kale as they are supposed to do wonders for your insides.

Received my housing offer letter from UCL today, and i got the place i wanted - YAY!! It's all really happening, and i still can't believe it. Also got Lynne Franks "The SEED Handbook: The Feminine Way to Create Business" in the mail today. Can't wait to tackle that one. Still can't seem to find my copy of "The Artist's Way," and it's driving me nuts. I think i might have to turn Lindsay's apartment upside down before i admit defeat. Sigh. Okay my darlings, bonsoir...

Back to Reality

Weekend get-aways make it tres difficult to return to the real world. I successfully made it to both my classes today, but I did not make it to my French class. Was soo exhausted by the time i got home from class and running errands and had beaucoup de reading, laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. to do that i played hooky. :-( Promise to be good from now on for SURE.

I can't believe my Corporations final is next week, Con Law II final the week after, and MPRE the week after that. The next 3 weeks of my life are not looking good...

On a brighter note, I tried out my new Get Your Yoga On CD tonight since i couldn't make it into the studio. Dimmed the lights, lit some yummy candles, and somehow managed to get Puffin off my yoga mat and yogitoes. Success!! I had my first real home practice, and I have Kimberly Wilson (duh) to thank for it. I think I want to get the Baron Baptiste CD as well as it is a bit more challenging. I wonder if I can mimic the studio's heat by turning my thermostat up to 90 degrees? Hmm...

Just ate a sad little dinner of corn on the cob, sauteed spinach and garlic, and brown rice. I really should go to the grocery store and put some effort into cooking real meals, but i just can't seem to find the energy or the time. These are the times when i miss Mom the most.

Off to soak in the tub and read for class. Bonsoir, darlings!

Hip Tranquil Chick & Moi

Yayy!! Today was my podcast debut, and it is so surreal to hear my voice via the internet! Anyway you know i've sung my praises for the HTC book and podcast, and if you haven't yet checked out the website (www.hiptranquilchick.com) or the podcast (Hip Tranquil Chick podcast on iTunes), then you really should. Even if you're not a yogi and have no desire to get into that world, it's helpful for any girl or woman who wants to focus on self-improvement, self-empowerment, and self-nurturing. She's very inspiring.

Anyway, feel free to check it out! http://www.hiptranquilchick.com/podcastblog.html

P.S. I'm actually meeting the phenomenal Kimberly Wilson this weekend during my trip to D.C.!!

40 Days

No, not the movie (although i do find Josh Harnett to be quite the cutie). I'm embarking on my own 40-day adventure that i *hope* will be as empowering and life-changing as it promises... See below for details.

40-Day Personal Revolution focusing on Mediatation and Asanaas

June 27th - August 5th 2007

The 40-Day Personal Revolution Challenge is a breakthrough program designed to radically change your body and awaken the sacred within your soul. Are ready to break those old patterns that hold you back from living life to its fullest? If you have never practiced yoga before or have practiced for years, Power Vinyasa Yoga is the secret to a healthy mind, body and soul. Flush the toxins of your life and discover your true potential. Live life to it's fullest everyday and every moment. This program includes 40 days of unlimited yoga, mediation, a blog site for questions, 40-Day Personal Revolution book by Baron Baptiste, the workbook from the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute and three days of juice from the Daily Juice here in Austin. At the end of this program you will feel light, free of stress and toxins. Your body will open your mind will soften and you will find peace in your heart. Take the challenge and tap into to your own personal power.

Happy Birthday, Sista!!

Ok so it's not really her birthday yet, but definitely close enough! And since blogging at work is probably a bad idea, i thought i'd give my beautiful J.Y. a pre-birthday shoutout right here. J.Y. and i will be celebrating her big day with her annual birthday dinner @ Ruth's Chris, and then perhaps a viewing of Pan's Labyrinth. And dessert - of course! It wouldn't be a "Sista" date without something sweet. :-)

Today's been wonderful, as has the rest of this weekend. Attended the 10:45 a.m. service @ the Stone this morning, and WOW. Worship and Matt's message were both so powerful and uplifting and emotional that it caught me by surprise. I relished every moment of it. Afterwards i attended the church's Discovery Lunch where i met some of the elders/pastors and learned more about the church's vision. Somehow i ended up at a table FULL of former Aggies!! They were pretty nice though, mostly cause they were on my turf. Austin? HOLLA! I was able to make it 4:30 vinyasa although i really must remember not to eat at least 2.5 hours in advance of doing yoga. It makes for a very unpleasant experience. There's a new yoga studio downtown on seventh street that i think i'm going to try out this week. As much as i'm not minding my job, i can't wait until it's over so that i have more time and flexibility to go to yoga more than 2x a week. With how much i'm paying, i should be going 2x a day...




I really really REALLY want a bike, and i found this amazing site full of fun, colorful beach cruisers. This one's my top pick. Isn't it purty? I totally dig.

Ok... lids are getting heavy. Goodnight, my darlings. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Happy(?) Memorial Day

I dedicated my yoga practice this morning to the soldiers of this country. In some ways, I am proud to be an American, despite my many endless complaints about the way in which we live. But I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness and hopelessness about the troops in Iraq. No this isn't going to be a huge political, Bush-bashing, anti-war entry. I just want to send my love/support/sympathy/strength to those in Iraq and their families. I can't even imagine, and i thank God that i don't have to.

This morning's vinyasa class featured a guest teacher from Dallas who has her own studio on Oak Lawn. It was a great class - full of energy and breath and lots and lots of sweat. I really liked her teaching style and plan to visit her studio when i'm in Dallas.

BTW, what is it about yogis and tattoos? Two of the girls in this morning's class had full-back tattoos and one of them, who is also a teacher at the studio, just got hers. First off, OWWWWW. Second, is there some connection that i'm missing? I bet there is, and i should probably just google it, but it's so much easier to just ask. I do enough research at my job. :-)

Thank goodness the rain has died down, at least for now. I literally waded in a pool of water to my car this morning. (This is a terrible parking lot, poor L.C.) I have officially moved all of my valuables out of the Mansion, but i still have loads of stuff there that need to go to Goodwill, so that's my plan for later today. Hard to believe this lovely holiday weekend is almost over... Today will be lovely - mani/pedi, dinner with a friend, and getting ready for another work week.

OH! I finished Come Back this morning, SUCH a good book. Kind of unbelievable that it's not fiction. I really want my mom to read it, but it might be a bit much for her. Still i can't help but show her and be like, "SEE!!! This is mother/daughter relationship. You don't have it NEARLY this bad!! I'm a good kid - see see SEE!!! Love me. Things could be worse, and i'm glad they're not. Love me unconditionally. Don't give up on me!" But... she already knows that, i'm sure.

Saturdays in Bed

Mmmm today is delicious. I finally got to sleep in this morning, and it was heavenly. My body woke me up around 8:30 (my body and/or Puffin), but i refused to get up. I stayed in bed for 21/2 more hours, drifting in and out of sleep, playing with Puffin, thinking, dreaming, and reading. I've recently started a faabulous book, Come Back: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back by Claire and Mia Fontaine. It's the story of a mother (Claire) and daugther (Mia) duo who have gone through... well, a lot. It's not fancy, it's brutally honest and provocative and sometimes really painful to read. I am loving it. I also started Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I'm not having as much to leisure read as i had hoped, but once the j-o-b is over, and all i have to worry about (or not worry about, as seems to be my case) is summer school, i foresee hours and hours of endless reading.

After finally leaving the comfort of LC's bed, i donned my new yoga attire and headed to vinyasa. Ohhh how i've missed daily yoga. Just taking a couple of weeks off has really tightened me up, so i'm trying my best to carve out time in every day to practice. 90 minutes and a trip to Central Market later, i showered and crawled back into bed with my books. The afternoon has flown by; i can hardly believe it's already 4:20! I still need to move the rest of my crap from the Mansion and run a couple of errands, but the beauty of 3-day weekends is that you really can take a day off and spend Saturday in bed. Yummy.

I'm Baaaack

Um so i'm more than slightly concerned that the ad link on my blog is (or was) "Suicide Thoughts?" I mean what the heck, my entries have been so happy lately!! Sheesh. That being said, this will also be a tres happy entry because as i said earlier, life is going well. Found out i may be able to publish an article this summer, playing a large role in helping a woman open her own salon, have mostly moved in and am enjoying living in this cozy little condo, and i went to yoga tonight for the first time in weeks. It was difficult but oh so amazing... Just the smell and heat in the studio when i walked in was divine. Sadly i don't think my schedule will permit another class until Saturday. When did life get so busy?

Well let's see... Tomorrow morning i'm having an early breakfast with my mentor from last summer's firm at 1886 Cafe at the Driskill. Then i'm tagging along with a partner for a pro bono hearing, and i have plenty of new projects to keep me busy all afternoon. Thursday we have a happy hour after work, then having dinner with my BFF from college... Hopefully i will be able to take my poor car in sometime soon since the check engine light came on tonight, and it's shaking...badly. I really hope it doesn't die on the way to work tomorrow morning. Terrible timing!

Wow is it really already 10:20?? Must get some unpacking/cleaning done and hit the sack. Muah, darlings.

P.S. Went to Louie's 106 today for lunch and had the most amaaazing seafood risotto. Squid, scallops, shrimp and mussels in the most amazing white wine sauce. Fabulous.