Yoga is like Sex

In my late 20's I worked as an educational interpreter in a public High School. I provided Sign Language services for 2 students during their freshman year.
Algebra, Creative Writing, World History, Intro to Computers, P.E., Reading and Biology.
I have many vivid memories of that year. It was the year of the Columbine shooting so people, emotions and events are etched into my brain. I'll never forget the role of mitochondrion thanks to 4th period Biology lessons on the parts of a cell and this catchy little earrworm.

Intro to Computers was my favorite class, not because of the subject matter but because of the teacher and the way he presented the material. His stature and presence reminded me of a late 1960's Burl Ives and he taught these kids, and me, far more than how to type.

The first 3 weeks for these kids was excruciating! Imagine sitting each day at a desk in front of a monitor and keyboard and NOT being able to touch it. First they learned about the machine, then they learned about the processes they would be mastering during the year. They spent time on theory and did some quizzes (with pencil and paper). There wasn't a whole lot to interpret during these first few weeks, mostly busy work for the kids so the teacher and I got to know each other. He and his wife were in the process of purchasing a new SUV, a shiny new Lincoln Navigator with all the bells and whistles. Everything I know about buying a car I learned from this man and I've been told...I'm quite a shrewd car shopper. This guy knows his stuff....he knew what he was doing making his kids wait to use those computers too!

The day finally came.
Oh the joy and exclamations that rose from the class when they got to push the power button!
"See how excited you are?  Sometimes it's good to wait...remember that" he said with a wink.
"Everything worth having or doing is worth waiting for, everything."

A few chuckles, embarassed eyes and whispers later and they were all focused on the task at hand utterly ecstatic to be typing  a s d f j k l ;

My week on the mat has been like the keys on a Qwerty keyboard. Each day I've been working to move past Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana and each day I've gotten a bit further.
Yesterday I was able to bind both sides with assistance from my teacher, this morning I reached the fullest expression of the pose on my right side without help but my left side toes are just past the reach of my left hand.
In Ashtanga, when you are learning the series in the Mysore method, you work on a posture by repeating it 4 or 5 times.

This is ONE vinyasa

Stop and take that in for a second... after Surya Namaskar A and B, the basic sequence, the primary series standing postures and moving into the seated postures (all with a vinyasa sprinkled in between to keep you warm) you work on the current pose 4 or 5 times. Let me expand on that notion...once you get to the seated postures you do a vinyasa between each side of each pose. That's a whollotta chaturanga!

So back to this morning's practice. Since I cannot yet bind on both sides and take the fullest expression of the.pose.affectionately.called.stuck ...I did it 5 times.
The right side came relatively easily and put a grin in the corners of my eyes. Three times and 6 vinyasas later...and I touched my left big toe with my left finger for the very first time! I SWEAR I heard the opening riff to a Madonna tune! I wriggled and reached and even poked my bottom lip out...I can't grasp yet...but I TOUCHED it and that touch.was.awesome! It was so worth the wait...my smile spread from the corners of my eyes to every inch of my face. My teacher says I'm close, I may even have it tomorrow...but I'm not thinking about tomorrow when there is so much to revel in today.

So the lesson
Don't rush
if it's worth doing
it's worth the wait
and it's sooo much better when you finally get there
asdfjkl;)

What's Growing

So this latest bout with being Glutened has made me look at my garden a bit more intently.
I went for container gardening this year as it (hopefully) will be a bit easier to control (soil quality AND weeds) and didn't require tilling up the yard like we eventually want to.

I've mostly just planted herbs thus far
Rosemary, Basil, Oregano, Dill, Cilantro and Parsley
I have some Thyme in the kitchen window as well.

This weekend we picked up 2 Patio Tomato plants and a Sweet Banana Pepper plant and put them in the toolbox planter (note to self, insert picture here). We rigged last year's plastic tomato cages into the box and once the tomatoes take off, it's gonna look great!

On top of my refrigerator I have a container of heirloom seeds and recycled cardboard egg cartons that I've collected for months with the intention to use them for seedlings
Intend no more! It's time to get those babies growing!

Tonight we're finishing, or nearly finishing the living room, tomorrow I have individual and group therapy, Friday afternoon I get off work early so...THAT is the day I will sort through my seeds and see which veggies lend themselves nicely to container gardening.
I know we have some corn and I'd love to do that, but I just don't have the space in the yard to commit.
I'll probably go for beans.
I know I'd like some onions and garlic as I use both of these almost daily.
Our dwarf bananas didn't make it through the late frost so I may try them in a container this year...so I can rescue them if we get unseasonably cold weather again!

That's probably a good start
The point is to START!

I also want to get sprouting!
I was turned onto it during last year's trip to Sedona...bought a great how to book and found the perfect place in the house to sprout...but again, haven't started.
I had planned to gather the essentials and set up shop while the hub was in Colorado but instead I dug up, mulched and dressed the plant beds (pics above) and re-set the rain barrel.
But daily blog posts from ZucchiniBreath have re-sprouted my interest in sprouts...that an how amazingly EASY it is to do and how QUICKLY I'd get results!

So Friday afternoon I pick out my seeds
Saturday I have biology lab ALL DAY (thankfully I don't have to dissect a pig!)
Sunday I'll pick up some good seedling soil and play with my egg cartons!

Sunday I'll also pick up some beans to sprout and some cheesecloth for my jars ...I have tons-o-jars that I've collected over the past 6 months when I chose to STOP using plastic storage containers.
I'll probably just use rubberbands since my jars aren't canning jars...but I'll make it work with what I have on hand :)

I want to do that more and more each day
Make it work with what I have on hand
coz really...even though we don't have a lot, I'm SURE we still have way too much...

Mmmmmmm Mushrooms

Tonight I made Italian Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms for dinner and they were FANTASTIC.

It's another recipe from Moosewood Restaurant New Classics. So vegetarian meal number two this week that was accepted by the family with rave reviews. Okay, this one had eggs but I don't know that I could ever give up eggs...but meatless, I can definitely do.

I made the recipe gluten free by substituting crushed rice chex in place of the breadcrumbs. I think I'll use this with baby bellas next time we're invited to a party, it would make the perfect appetizer. I paired the mondo mushrooms with a fresh salad and voila...dinner was served! (yup, see I really AM working on my French!)

Oh! Speaking of great gluten free recipes...head over HERE for your chance to win a FANTASTIC cook book...all gluten free and ALL in the crockpot! A mom's dream!!!

so...I ate well
AND I ran again today
had a great day at work
and am now in the comfy chair...

Woo Hoo! Good day!

photo credit

Quels rêves mai venu

So I've decided I would like to learn more about my camera...it regularly comes out for our annual camping trip, and for the kids' sporting/special events...but otherwise it lives in its case.

There's a local shop that does classes, and once finances allow, I'll take one of those a month...that shouldn't be long because classes start at Twenty Bucks!

But for now...I'm perusing the book...yes the book that came with the camera.

I think I'll shoot for at least one new picture from one new thing I've learned each month.
I can DO that
I might be more adventurous some months, weeks, or heck even days
but if I get 12 pics up this year from 12 different settings, well then I'm ahead of last year.

I think too, I'll be listening to more things in French again
I did this before
on a regular basis actually
and loved it
I stopped because new people were in the car besides myself and Bm and they didn't get it and then never picked it back up again
so now it's 'again' and I'm picking it up :)

Two Birds, One Stone

My boss's boss asked me today what would make our business more profitable.

He didn't mean the theme park itself...he meant our little corner of the business.

I told him we don't market our services

If we just included information in our print ads

or had a spotlight article about our services in the local paper

our target community is loyal

once they know you provide a service...they frequent

We've been providing amazing service at unheard of levels and haven't been telling anyone about it

If you tell them...they will come

So he said he'd work on the copy in print ads...he's got more clout

And he asked ME to write an article

something he can float down the line to the ones who make things happen

me...he says I'm a good writer and know the niche intimately

Me

So see both of these things (print ad, article) are on my list of professional goals to be completed in 2009.

And one of my personal goals is to be published...thought I had accomplished that one with my guest appearance in a tattoo mag...but maybe not...maybe this is a chance for the whole 2 birds one stone thing

Now I'll just not question my writing abilities and go...

(inhale)