The dirty Thirty list
1) Finished My 30 day challenge.
2) Got a 90 min massage.
3) Feel stronger physically than last month.
4) I have noticed my meditation is much different than it was. I am much more relaxed, sleeping sounder and more focused than I was.
5) I have a lot more energy.
6) Yesterday was the first day I did not do yoga, but strangely wanted to attend a class.
7) I will continue in this path, but go to yoga five times a week.
8) By day 15 my body hurt everywhere, and I made it to twenty days, and then once I was at twenty five days I had to force myself every day.
9) I pulled thigh muscle on my left leg, pulled muscles in my bum, and my right calf was really tight, but not anymore.
10) I have learned I need a day off after a couple days of yoga in a row. I need the time for my body to naturally repair itself from my practice.
11) Glad I did it, not sure if I will do it again, but I feel great!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Rite of passage.
As everyone gets older we have certain points where forward motion is celebrated like, baby showers, weddings, graduations, etc. In my adult life I believe I just hit a milestone. I gave my first Shabbat dinner for my friends and some family. While I was planning this Friday night extravaganza I did not really take a moment to think about the idea of this next step in life.
Before my real teenage years my family always had Shabbat dinner on
Friday night. The tradition died once I became a full on teenager, because I wanted to spend Friday night at my friends houses. Looking back maybe I should not have been so hasty to hang with my friends. I am not even close friends with anyone from junior high school any more. Either way I felt it was now my turn to start this tradition with the people in my life now. Married, unmarried, and couples with children were all invited to come. Many did and it was a great night.
I prepared food for twenty people, and I think I did a good job. Many of my friends have food allergies, so to control what was in the ingredients of the food I prepared the majority of the dinner. The preparation started the Thursday before Shabbat. I had dipping sauces, and marinades for chicken and steak to make. The next day I practiced yoga and cooked for the remainder of the afternoon. I really liked cooking for everyone. My friend Danny came to help me BBQ, and some of my friends brought dessert, but everyone brought wine.
The dining room filled with friends by 7pm, and we opened the wine. Everyone took a glass and my father recited the prayer for the wine, and we all chanted along. Then the prayer for light, and bread followed. All of our voices in unison chanted, and more people trickled in around 7:30pm. We all started to fill our plates with food, and instead of sitting at a table I placed chairs all around the living room. We sat and ate with our plates on our laps. We talked, laughed, drank, and fed ourselves into oblivion.
We exchanged stories about each other, and shared stories from our past. Many of my friends have never met before, but last Friday they did, and everyone really got along. It’s not surprising, because I have great people in my life, and I picked them out all by myself. Towards the end of the evening one of my friends, who happens to be a magician, dazzled us with some tricks. At almost midnight everyone started to clear out. The celebration went so well I have decided to have Shabbat at my house once every couple of months.
It is now my turn to make this Friday night celebration a tradition of my own. I look forward to the years of throwing these gatherings, and the memories these nights will create. I hope it grows into something that all my friends will continue to take part in with me through all the good times and the bad. For the first time I now feel like an adult, and know even if I don’t have a family of my own just yet it is right around the corner.
Before my real teenage years my family always had Shabbat dinner on
Friday night. The tradition died once I became a full on teenager, because I wanted to spend Friday night at my friends houses. Looking back maybe I should not have been so hasty to hang with my friends. I am not even close friends with anyone from junior high school any more. Either way I felt it was now my turn to start this tradition with the people in my life now. Married, unmarried, and couples with children were all invited to come. Many did and it was a great night.
I prepared food for twenty people, and I think I did a good job. Many of my friends have food allergies, so to control what was in the ingredients of the food I prepared the majority of the dinner. The preparation started the Thursday before Shabbat. I had dipping sauces, and marinades for chicken and steak to make. The next day I practiced yoga and cooked for the remainder of the afternoon. I really liked cooking for everyone. My friend Danny came to help me BBQ, and some of my friends brought dessert, but everyone brought wine.
The dining room filled with friends by 7pm, and we opened the wine. Everyone took a glass and my father recited the prayer for the wine, and we all chanted along. Then the prayer for light, and bread followed. All of our voices in unison chanted, and more people trickled in around 7:30pm. We all started to fill our plates with food, and instead of sitting at a table I placed chairs all around the living room. We sat and ate with our plates on our laps. We talked, laughed, drank, and fed ourselves into oblivion.
We exchanged stories about each other, and shared stories from our past. Many of my friends have never met before, but last Friday they did, and everyone really got along. It’s not surprising, because I have great people in my life, and I picked them out all by myself. Towards the end of the evening one of my friends, who happens to be a magician, dazzled us with some tricks. At almost midnight everyone started to clear out. The celebration went so well I have decided to have Shabbat at my house once every couple of months.
It is now my turn to make this Friday night celebration a tradition of my own. I look forward to the years of throwing these gatherings, and the memories these nights will create. I hope it grows into something that all my friends will continue to take part in with me through all the good times and the bad. For the first time I now feel like an adult, and know even if I don’t have a family of my own just yet it is right around the corner.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
We hate it when our friends become successful.
We hate it when our friends become successful.
Once upon a time when I had a career and was achieving all that I had ever wanted I was not very happy. Now that I am a full time student I am very happy, but sometimes I am envious of my friends who have jobs. Yes, I know it is crazy, but it’s true. That was also the end of my 1980’s pop culture references, and I digress. It is weird, but the summer is a bummer when you aren’t a kid. I know I am very lucky to be able to live the way I do, but I was thinking of my previous path today and became a bit melancholy .
If I had fought through all the financial turmoil my company was facing would I have pulled my business through this recession? Would I even bee further along than I was at the time, or would the same thing have happened but just later down the line? Slowly my business was sucking the life out of me, but there were things I loved about it. I loved getting up every day designing, building something from nothing, the passion I had for what I was doing, and the press the company received. I hated, hated, production, separating out tee shirts into colors, and dealing with other companies not ever paying or paying on time. The whole financial aspect just irritated me in general and unfortunately all the time. Every month I was making money, but expanding as well, so more and more dollars went out to produce goods.
The money I was making did not compensate for the endless worrying, working hours, or the vacations I took but could never actually rejuvenate, because the office always called. I was constantly stressed out about one thing or another. Towards the end I was a mental case. I could not sleep through the night, keep a constant train of thought, or keep appointments. I no longer have any of those problems, and I recognize living in a constant state of unrest is bad for your health. Sometimes I feel it is a blessing I no longer have that type of company.
Today I miss it. I miss the passion I had about what I was doing at the time. I still have that fire in me burning deep in my soul, but it is for very different things now. I am very passionate about what I am planning for my future, but that is the future, and now I am in a paused state. Like swimming towards the shore in a race, and in my head I am way out ahead of my opponents, and the water is easy to swim in. I am very focused, and the infatuation I felt while I was building something is bubbling up to the surface, but I want to be engulfed in that feeling again. It’s like my special type of caviar.
When I see my friends in rising up the corporate latter, or building their companies I wonder if they feel that inner push for divinity. Then my mind wanders to the way I felt in the past about everything I just mentioned, and I beguine to rationalize that I am better off now. After all I get to sleep, be happy, have friends, and a life. Is that actually a rationalization, or is it just living? Like I said I had no time for anything but building a company. After I closed , and dealt with all the financial repercussions of doing so, I finally got to sleep through the night.
I remember the relief I felt just to get to sleep, and the week after I was grateful every night that I slept a whole eight hours. Then out of nowhere I was happy, and now every day I give thanks. I am grateful I sleep every night, and get to be happy every day. It really is the little things, but today I miss it all.
Once upon a time when I had a career and was achieving all that I had ever wanted I was not very happy. Now that I am a full time student I am very happy, but sometimes I am envious of my friends who have jobs. Yes, I know it is crazy, but it’s true. That was also the end of my 1980’s pop culture references, and I digress. It is weird, but the summer is a bummer when you aren’t a kid. I know I am very lucky to be able to live the way I do, but I was thinking of my previous path today and became a bit melancholy .
If I had fought through all the financial turmoil my company was facing would I have pulled my business through this recession? Would I even bee further along than I was at the time, or would the same thing have happened but just later down the line? Slowly my business was sucking the life out of me, but there were things I loved about it. I loved getting up every day designing, building something from nothing, the passion I had for what I was doing, and the press the company received. I hated, hated, production, separating out tee shirts into colors, and dealing with other companies not ever paying or paying on time. The whole financial aspect just irritated me in general and unfortunately all the time. Every month I was making money, but expanding as well, so more and more dollars went out to produce goods.
The money I was making did not compensate for the endless worrying, working hours, or the vacations I took but could never actually rejuvenate, because the office always called. I was constantly stressed out about one thing or another. Towards the end I was a mental case. I could not sleep through the night, keep a constant train of thought, or keep appointments. I no longer have any of those problems, and I recognize living in a constant state of unrest is bad for your health. Sometimes I feel it is a blessing I no longer have that type of company.
Today I miss it. I miss the passion I had about what I was doing at the time. I still have that fire in me burning deep in my soul, but it is for very different things now. I am very passionate about what I am planning for my future, but that is the future, and now I am in a paused state. Like swimming towards the shore in a race, and in my head I am way out ahead of my opponents, and the water is easy to swim in. I am very focused, and the infatuation I felt while I was building something is bubbling up to the surface, but I want to be engulfed in that feeling again. It’s like my special type of caviar.
When I see my friends in rising up the corporate latter, or building their companies I wonder if they feel that inner push for divinity. Then my mind wanders to the way I felt in the past about everything I just mentioned, and I beguine to rationalize that I am better off now. After all I get to sleep, be happy, have friends, and a life. Is that actually a rationalization, or is it just living? Like I said I had no time for anything but building a company. After I closed , and dealt with all the financial repercussions of doing so, I finally got to sleep through the night.
I remember the relief I felt just to get to sleep, and the week after I was grateful every night that I slept a whole eight hours. Then out of nowhere I was happy, and now every day I give thanks. I am grateful I sleep every night, and get to be happy every day. It really is the little things, but today I miss it all.
Not even this will take cellulite away.
I am being such a little baby about the whole thing.
Day twenty of my thirty day challenge and I am feeling good. Five days ago I did not feel so good. I hurt everywhere, and was up against my edge. My muscles were so tight and angry at me, but that has all gone away now. I will say this I am a bit buffer in my shoulder area than I would like to be, but I do not look like a man, so it’s ok. Many things on my body look slightly different, but in a positive way except for the cellulite that no longer will go away.
I am happy I made this commitment and followed through. In June I was sick more than half the month, so yoga was out of the question. Once July started I felt out of shape and weak. I thought because I was weak and had nothing else pressing I should do a thirty day training to get back into shape. I am back in shape, and believe I will continue to practice five times a week now in general. Obviously if I go on vacation, or need a time out I will take it, but I feel really good when I am in shape like this.
I can hold arm balances, head stand, and peacock longer. Shoulder stand is an even bigger problem for me now that more muscle is in the way of my arms rotation internally behind me. During my teacher training my rib cage expanded a lot, and after that both my scapulas can only slide so far onto my back until I feel sharp pain. Add muscle into the equation and I can hardly clasp my hands behind my back any more. I need a strap stat!
Other than the pain of clasping my hands behind my back I cannot complain.
I came up against my edge and moved passed it. I feel refreshed and ready to take on these last ten days without complaining too much about it. I also found a lot of teachers that I like because of this challenge. I took classes I would not normally take, and for that I am grateful.
Day twenty of my thirty day challenge and I am feeling good. Five days ago I did not feel so good. I hurt everywhere, and was up against my edge. My muscles were so tight and angry at me, but that has all gone away now. I will say this I am a bit buffer in my shoulder area than I would like to be, but I do not look like a man, so it’s ok. Many things on my body look slightly different, but in a positive way except for the cellulite that no longer will go away.
I am happy I made this commitment and followed through. In June I was sick more than half the month, so yoga was out of the question. Once July started I felt out of shape and weak. I thought because I was weak and had nothing else pressing I should do a thirty day training to get back into shape. I am back in shape, and believe I will continue to practice five times a week now in general. Obviously if I go on vacation, or need a time out I will take it, but I feel really good when I am in shape like this.
I can hold arm balances, head stand, and peacock longer. Shoulder stand is an even bigger problem for me now that more muscle is in the way of my arms rotation internally behind me. During my teacher training my rib cage expanded a lot, and after that both my scapulas can only slide so far onto my back until I feel sharp pain. Add muscle into the equation and I can hardly clasp my hands behind my back any more. I need a strap stat!
Other than the pain of clasping my hands behind my back I cannot complain.
I came up against my edge and moved passed it. I feel refreshed and ready to take on these last ten days without complaining too much about it. I also found a lot of teachers that I like because of this challenge. I took classes I would not normally take, and for that I am grateful.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Love potion #9
Love potion #9
I have no idea what I was giving off over the weekend, but my ego received quite a boost over the weekend. Friday and Saturday night I actually went out, and believe it or not I did not turn into a pumpkin. Friday I went out with a girlfriend for dinner and drinks, Saturday was a birthday party, and Sunday I recovered.
Friday my east coast woman and I met for dinner at a sushi place I have just fallen in love with. It was on the expensive side, but the food was so fresh and amazing. I think it’s called Sushi Inka. It is in the Valley directly across the street from Whole foods in Tarzana. We ate up and went out to a bar I like for drinks. Friday was carmageddon, so no one really wanted to go too far away from their homes, so we did stay local. We were on the way to The Valley Inn for their special drink menu, but I made a B line for John O’ Groats instead.
I like the bar area in there, and figured there would be a younger crowd, and there was a young drunk crowd. Why is it the drunker you become the louder your voice is? Anyways there were nine people at the bar doing tokillaya shots, and having other drinks as well. There were a couple of brothers in the crowd, and I have to say the brothers just love me.
Out of nowhere one of them comes to the table, and I am sitting at alone, because my friend went to the ladies room. He took my hand in his and looked at my nails, turned my hand over, then back again, and placed my hand back on the table. He backed up and in his drunken swagger let me know he thought I was trouble. After his analogy he walked back to the bar where his girlfriend was sitting and joined the conversation already going on. The bar keep asked him not to molest the other guests.
The bartender walked back to our table and asked my friend for her drink order and apologized for the other guys behavior. As my friend and I drank the brother kept trying to make eye contact, and I did a great job of ignoring him until he got up to leave. My friend and I were so happy to see the group of them go because they were so loud it was annoying. The brother looked back and asked if I wanted to talk to him. I said No, and he asked three more times. I politely said no three more times. A while past and a good conversation got rolling when out of nowhere the guy came back into the bar.
Once my friend and I saw him we were both unnerved. It was an awkward moment, and we both thought he came back to try to talk to me, but thankfully he did not. He went to the bathroom, called me trouble, and left out a different door. Shortly after we also left and went home for the night. The night was over early so I could go to a yoga class Saturday morning.
Luckily there was no traffic on Saturday in the morning, afternoon, or night. I drove over to the west side and picked up my BF and his friend. We drove to Beachwood and the whole ride was 30 minutes tops. That is to my friends, and to Venice. There were no people on the road, and it was amazing. Once we arrived and joined the party my other friend Woodie could not keep his hands off me.
This was out of the ordinary for Woddie, and he is always nice to me, but he was drunk and then a little more. Needles to say I had to give him a lecture about boundaries. I told him my behind and my chest did not belong to him, and he could look, admire, and talk about them but was not under any circumstances allowed to touch my behind. He never went for the boobies, but he pretended to grab and dash. He also lectured me about the size of his member below. Considering how out of his mind he was his behavior was more funny than rude. It was all funny. I really had no idea where all this attention was coming from, but I’ll take it.
The attention was nice and actually made me feel really god about myself. It was the first time in months anyone has come on to me, and I enjoyed the ego boot immensely. Later in the night another friend asked if I wanted to go to the beach and walk in the sand. I think he actually wanted to spend more time with me in general, but who knows where anything leads to these days.
I have no idea what I was giving off over the weekend, but my ego received quite a boost over the weekend. Friday and Saturday night I actually went out, and believe it or not I did not turn into a pumpkin. Friday I went out with a girlfriend for dinner and drinks, Saturday was a birthday party, and Sunday I recovered.
Friday my east coast woman and I met for dinner at a sushi place I have just fallen in love with. It was on the expensive side, but the food was so fresh and amazing. I think it’s called Sushi Inka. It is in the Valley directly across the street from Whole foods in Tarzana. We ate up and went out to a bar I like for drinks. Friday was carmageddon, so no one really wanted to go too far away from their homes, so we did stay local. We were on the way to The Valley Inn for their special drink menu, but I made a B line for John O’ Groats instead.
I like the bar area in there, and figured there would be a younger crowd, and there was a young drunk crowd. Why is it the drunker you become the louder your voice is? Anyways there were nine people at the bar doing tokillaya shots, and having other drinks as well. There were a couple of brothers in the crowd, and I have to say the brothers just love me.
Out of nowhere one of them comes to the table, and I am sitting at alone, because my friend went to the ladies room. He took my hand in his and looked at my nails, turned my hand over, then back again, and placed my hand back on the table. He backed up and in his drunken swagger let me know he thought I was trouble. After his analogy he walked back to the bar where his girlfriend was sitting and joined the conversation already going on. The bar keep asked him not to molest the other guests.
The bartender walked back to our table and asked my friend for her drink order and apologized for the other guys behavior. As my friend and I drank the brother kept trying to make eye contact, and I did a great job of ignoring him until he got up to leave. My friend and I were so happy to see the group of them go because they were so loud it was annoying. The brother looked back and asked if I wanted to talk to him. I said No, and he asked three more times. I politely said no three more times. A while past and a good conversation got rolling when out of nowhere the guy came back into the bar.
Once my friend and I saw him we were both unnerved. It was an awkward moment, and we both thought he came back to try to talk to me, but thankfully he did not. He went to the bathroom, called me trouble, and left out a different door. Shortly after we also left and went home for the night. The night was over early so I could go to a yoga class Saturday morning.
Luckily there was no traffic on Saturday in the morning, afternoon, or night. I drove over to the west side and picked up my BF and his friend. We drove to Beachwood and the whole ride was 30 minutes tops. That is to my friends, and to Venice. There were no people on the road, and it was amazing. Once we arrived and joined the party my other friend Woodie could not keep his hands off me.
This was out of the ordinary for Woddie, and he is always nice to me, but he was drunk and then a little more. Needles to say I had to give him a lecture about boundaries. I told him my behind and my chest did not belong to him, and he could look, admire, and talk about them but was not under any circumstances allowed to touch my behind. He never went for the boobies, but he pretended to grab and dash. He also lectured me about the size of his member below. Considering how out of his mind he was his behavior was more funny than rude. It was all funny. I really had no idea where all this attention was coming from, but I’ll take it.
The attention was nice and actually made me feel really god about myself. It was the first time in months anyone has come on to me, and I enjoyed the ego boot immensely. Later in the night another friend asked if I wanted to go to the beach and walk in the sand. I think he actually wanted to spend more time with me in general, but who knows where anything leads to these days.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Yes! I’m a geek
I just have to put it out there. I love marine biology, Harry Potter, and am so grateful I never became a comic book reader as a kid mostly because I would be still reading them in the closet that is. I can also admit I would rather see X men first class than a romantic comedy on the big screen. Call me crazy and I will agree. A few days ago someone asked me for recommendations of clubs in Vegas. I have no idea why.
I am sure I do not come across as a party girl, and know I can be perceived as being socially awkward. So given that I would rather go to an aquarium than Vegas I was surprised by this question. The last time I was in Vegas was for a bachelorette party, and I enjoyed myself one night, but got back by 2 am the next night. I did not plan one part of the trip and would not even know where to start.
My idea of a crazy night is a cocktail or two at a piano bar. Raise the roof! I know many people find enjoyment in happy hour and clubs, but I did all that in my teens and early twenty’s so now I am just a geek. I also have more fun during the day. I enjoy my yoga classes, being outside, swimming, biking, and to do all these things you need energy. If I go out and do the whole how you doing thing I am never fully awake the next day. My tendency to want to watch the biography channel is becoming a problem.
Now I have become concerned about my geeky tendencies, and in an effort to be more social I have been going out of my way to be more social. However in social settings I say odd things to strangers, but if you know me they are not so bizarre. I will give a few examples to explain myself better.
Last weekend I put together a Sova sorting and packing event. There were 12 people that had rsvpd yes, and I had sent them emails to make sure they would be in attendance.
Ten did show up on time and one person was an hour late. As long as you show up for charity work I am forever impressed. I asked the man who had just shown up of he was the married guy, and he was not. Immediately this late bloomer thought I was hitting on him. I was so embarrassed I avoided eye contact the remainder of the day. I thought he was a person I had spoken to on facebook who said he was coming, but it was not . As it turned out the not married guy did not even rsvp so I had no idea who he was. However, I just put my foot in my mouth. The second story is better.
At Rising Lotus where I teach I know many different people from being there. One yogie that takes classes there always took an Iyengar class I apprenticed in. We began chit chatting one day and I invited him to join my class for a free. I unfortunately said this instead, “You can come on me”. Then I immediately said, “I cannot recover from that statement”. Not only am I a geek, but I also have poor verbal skills, and I am in charge of putting together charity events. Nice!
I just have to put it out there. I love marine biology, Harry Potter, and am so grateful I never became a comic book reader as a kid mostly because I would be still reading them in the closet that is. I can also admit I would rather see X men first class than a romantic comedy on the big screen. Call me crazy and I will agree. A few days ago someone asked me for recommendations of clubs in Vegas. I have no idea why.
I am sure I do not come across as a party girl, and know I can be perceived as being socially awkward. So given that I would rather go to an aquarium than Vegas I was surprised by this question. The last time I was in Vegas was for a bachelorette party, and I enjoyed myself one night, but got back by 2 am the next night. I did not plan one part of the trip and would not even know where to start.
My idea of a crazy night is a cocktail or two at a piano bar. Raise the roof! I know many people find enjoyment in happy hour and clubs, but I did all that in my teens and early twenty’s so now I am just a geek. I also have more fun during the day. I enjoy my yoga classes, being outside, swimming, biking, and to do all these things you need energy. If I go out and do the whole how you doing thing I am never fully awake the next day. My tendency to want to watch the biography channel is becoming a problem.
Now I have become concerned about my geeky tendencies, and in an effort to be more social I have been going out of my way to be more social. However in social settings I say odd things to strangers, but if you know me they are not so bizarre. I will give a few examples to explain myself better.
Last weekend I put together a Sova sorting and packing event. There were 12 people that had rsvpd yes, and I had sent them emails to make sure they would be in attendance.
Ten did show up on time and one person was an hour late. As long as you show up for charity work I am forever impressed. I asked the man who had just shown up of he was the married guy, and he was not. Immediately this late bloomer thought I was hitting on him. I was so embarrassed I avoided eye contact the remainder of the day. I thought he was a person I had spoken to on facebook who said he was coming, but it was not . As it turned out the not married guy did not even rsvp so I had no idea who he was. However, I just put my foot in my mouth. The second story is better.
At Rising Lotus where I teach I know many different people from being there. One yogie that takes classes there always took an Iyengar class I apprenticed in. We began chit chatting one day and I invited him to join my class for a free. I unfortunately said this instead, “You can come on me”. Then I immediately said, “I cannot recover from that statement”. Not only am I a geek, but I also have poor verbal skills, and I am in charge of putting together charity events. Nice!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
They just won’t participate!
They just won’t participate!
Summer time has said to be for the children and now I know why. I am back in school and its summer time if I was a teenager I would be enjoying summer break with my friends. I would be going to the beach, movies, working on my tan, and other random fun kid experiences as well. Since I am an adult and have all the summers and winters off I find myself trying to corrupt my friends by getting them to play hokey from work, and join me for fun in the sun. It’s not really working this time, and for many reasons.
My friends now have important jobs like VP’s of blah blah blah owners of companies, and then I have my mommie friends. Now sometimes the mommie friends can hang out, and we go to parks, lunch or anything else that works. My more professional friends just don’t have the time these days to take any extra vacation time. The want to use the time for vacations with girlfriends, husbands, family, but don’t want to use the time for a day here or a day there for no good reason.
I get it, and if I had a career I would not take time off or would I? Well I did have a company, and one of the benefits of owning your own business is getting to take a vacation, or a random day off here and there. I did when I needed it, but I know I did not do it all that often, because I had a lot of responsibility. My friends have a lot of responsibilities to their families, bosses, and sometimes themselves. I feel like a kid. I have no worries, and I know I am fortunate to be in this space.
I have all the freedom in the world, and can do what I want whenever I want to do it, but I wish I had a playmate. My friend EF who moved to NY for a year would be just that. He is a writer for a living, and has a lot of free time. I am sure there would have been many days this summer that we would have spent time together. Last summer I spent a month in Canada with my boyfriend at the time, and I had the best time.
He was a day trader and he would wake up by 6am trade until 3pm and we were out and about the remainder of the day. During his working hours I woke up around 7:45. I threw clothes on, and walked to get us Americanos at our favorite coffee place. I came back had toast, got dresses and off to yoga I went. Came back made lunch, and we drove around, or went on hikes, did a pub crawl on petal bikes, and then made dinner. It was one of the best summers I have ever had. As a matter of fact I want a repeat!
Summer time has said to be for the children and now I know why. I am back in school and its summer time if I was a teenager I would be enjoying summer break with my friends. I would be going to the beach, movies, working on my tan, and other random fun kid experiences as well. Since I am an adult and have all the summers and winters off I find myself trying to corrupt my friends by getting them to play hokey from work, and join me for fun in the sun. It’s not really working this time, and for many reasons.
My friends now have important jobs like VP’s of blah blah blah owners of companies, and then I have my mommie friends. Now sometimes the mommie friends can hang out, and we go to parks, lunch or anything else that works. My more professional friends just don’t have the time these days to take any extra vacation time. The want to use the time for vacations with girlfriends, husbands, family, but don’t want to use the time for a day here or a day there for no good reason.
I get it, and if I had a career I would not take time off or would I? Well I did have a company, and one of the benefits of owning your own business is getting to take a vacation, or a random day off here and there. I did when I needed it, but I know I did not do it all that often, because I had a lot of responsibility. My friends have a lot of responsibilities to their families, bosses, and sometimes themselves. I feel like a kid. I have no worries, and I know I am fortunate to be in this space.
I have all the freedom in the world, and can do what I want whenever I want to do it, but I wish I had a playmate. My friend EF who moved to NY for a year would be just that. He is a writer for a living, and has a lot of free time. I am sure there would have been many days this summer that we would have spent time together. Last summer I spent a month in Canada with my boyfriend at the time, and I had the best time.
He was a day trader and he would wake up by 6am trade until 3pm and we were out and about the remainder of the day. During his working hours I woke up around 7:45. I threw clothes on, and walked to get us Americanos at our favorite coffee place. I came back had toast, got dresses and off to yoga I went. Came back made lunch, and we drove around, or went on hikes, did a pub crawl on petal bikes, and then made dinner. It was one of the best summers I have ever had. As a matter of fact I want a repeat!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
He loves me he loves me not.
He loves me he loves me not.
I feel like picking a flower and pulling the petals one by one to decide to start dating or not. The last five months have been a whirlwind that started with a bachelorette party, then a wedding, followed by a very close family member having to stay in the hospital for a month. After she was sent home I needed to find a new place for her to stay, probably for the remainder of her life. Once I did find a new home, as a family we moved her, and from March to July I would say I did not even think about myself. Nor worry about anything but what was happening in my immediate circle.
Last weekend a few friends asked me why I was not dating, so I explained the past five months, and they understood. I believe when you are already in a relationship and going through tough experiences its ok to expect your partner to be extremely emotionally supportive. However, in the past I learned that I cannot expect any new man I am dating to be there for me during a stressful event, and even more so if he doesn’t have an established relationship with me. I did this once before, the guy just thought I was too needy, and he was right.
It was not his responsibility to take care of me if he hardly knew me. In my defense I was young, but learned that lesson fast. Since things were all over the place in my life and I was busy with family, and friends how would I have the time for another person? I would not. It is that simple. I also enjoy my life. I have good friends, a strong yoga practice, and I have a lot of fun in general. I also have a weird feeling about my future, and this weird subconscious voice in my head saying enjoy it while you can.
I have a feeling I am not going to be single for too much longer, and for some reason I feel like this may be the last summer I spend solo, so I want to make the most of it. I also think I am going to be really busy soon, well busier than I am now, and I am already rather active. This being said the last thing I want to do is go on a dating website, or have to make too much effort for something that should just happen organically.
I have never met a normal person from online dating. They all seem to pick me by my picture and pretend that we have anything in common. 90% of the time I do not have anything really important in common with any one I have met on line. I am even one of the people that read profiles, and let me tell you something golfing once a week will never make you physically fit, outdoorsy, or physically active. I don’t consider golf a sport. Sports are soccer, baseball, hockey, football, dancing etc. Outdoorsy is hiking, biking, skiing, and last but not least physically fit would be understood better if this rule applied. If you are standing up, and look down to your foot if you cannot see your whole foot, because your stomach is in the way then you are not physically fit.
A little beer belly is fine, but if you have a beer belly you are not physically fit, and if you don’t go to the gym 3-5 times a week I am not going to have a whole lot in common with you. Being healthy and fit is a life choice. I really like exercising, eating and repeating. People who drink and exercise are generally in good shape, but drinking too much in your 30’s makes you fat. We no longer have the metabolism that we had in our 20’s. So I think about all of this, and know I should get back out there, but I am not really sure how.
I feel like picking a flower and pulling the petals one by one to decide to start dating or not. The last five months have been a whirlwind that started with a bachelorette party, then a wedding, followed by a very close family member having to stay in the hospital for a month. After she was sent home I needed to find a new place for her to stay, probably for the remainder of her life. Once I did find a new home, as a family we moved her, and from March to July I would say I did not even think about myself. Nor worry about anything but what was happening in my immediate circle.
Last weekend a few friends asked me why I was not dating, so I explained the past five months, and they understood. I believe when you are already in a relationship and going through tough experiences its ok to expect your partner to be extremely emotionally supportive. However, in the past I learned that I cannot expect any new man I am dating to be there for me during a stressful event, and even more so if he doesn’t have an established relationship with me. I did this once before, the guy just thought I was too needy, and he was right.
It was not his responsibility to take care of me if he hardly knew me. In my defense I was young, but learned that lesson fast. Since things were all over the place in my life and I was busy with family, and friends how would I have the time for another person? I would not. It is that simple. I also enjoy my life. I have good friends, a strong yoga practice, and I have a lot of fun in general. I also have a weird feeling about my future, and this weird subconscious voice in my head saying enjoy it while you can.
I have a feeling I am not going to be single for too much longer, and for some reason I feel like this may be the last summer I spend solo, so I want to make the most of it. I also think I am going to be really busy soon, well busier than I am now, and I am already rather active. This being said the last thing I want to do is go on a dating website, or have to make too much effort for something that should just happen organically.
I have never met a normal person from online dating. They all seem to pick me by my picture and pretend that we have anything in common. 90% of the time I do not have anything really important in common with any one I have met on line. I am even one of the people that read profiles, and let me tell you something golfing once a week will never make you physically fit, outdoorsy, or physically active. I don’t consider golf a sport. Sports are soccer, baseball, hockey, football, dancing etc. Outdoorsy is hiking, biking, skiing, and last but not least physically fit would be understood better if this rule applied. If you are standing up, and look down to your foot if you cannot see your whole foot, because your stomach is in the way then you are not physically fit.
A little beer belly is fine, but if you have a beer belly you are not physically fit, and if you don’t go to the gym 3-5 times a week I am not going to have a whole lot in common with you. Being healthy and fit is a life choice. I really like exercising, eating and repeating. People who drink and exercise are generally in good shape, but drinking too much in your 30’s makes you fat. We no longer have the metabolism that we had in our 20’s. So I think about all of this, and know I should get back out there, but I am not really sure how.
12 days strong and long.
12 days strong and long.
I hit a wall today, or I should say my leg muscles hit a wall today. I had a massage last night after my yoga class, and when I woke up I almost wished I did not have that amazing massage. The massage was wonderful, and I thought if I was going to be sore it would be from the deep tissue work on my shoulders, but I was very wrong. My shoulders do not hurt at all, but my legs are not so happy today. My calf, thighs, and tushey muscled really hurt.
They were fine before twelve days straight of yoga plus a massage. I maybe should have waited until my thirty day challenge is over. Well the damage is done, or undone I will find out tomorrow. My goal today is just to have a home practice, and spend at least 10 minutes meditating. If I make it to thirty days of solid yoga I may tack on another 30 days just to see if I can do it. I will rest a day or so after that. In general I have been feeling really strong. Not in just a physical way, but mentally as well. I am very clearheaded and even keeled. It feels good.
I hit a wall today, or I should say my leg muscles hit a wall today. I had a massage last night after my yoga class, and when I woke up I almost wished I did not have that amazing massage. The massage was wonderful, and I thought if I was going to be sore it would be from the deep tissue work on my shoulders, but I was very wrong. My shoulders do not hurt at all, but my legs are not so happy today. My calf, thighs, and tushey muscled really hurt.
They were fine before twelve days straight of yoga plus a massage. I maybe should have waited until my thirty day challenge is over. Well the damage is done, or undone I will find out tomorrow. My goal today is just to have a home practice, and spend at least 10 minutes meditating. If I make it to thirty days of solid yoga I may tack on another 30 days just to see if I can do it. I will rest a day or so after that. In general I have been feeling really strong. Not in just a physical way, but mentally as well. I am very clearheaded and even keeled. It feels good.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sorry I did not go to the Harvard of yoga schools…..
Extortion: the crime of obtaining something such as money or information by force, threats, or other unacceptable methods.
The hypocrisy of American yoga is simple corporations that make yoga studio chains do not practice what yoga teaches, smaller studios do a better job, but seriously you have got to be kidding me! In the yoga 10 commandments there is a word for not steeling. It is also an important part of the practice itself. Some larger corporations don’t follow this basic principle.
The yoga alliance has been involved in an outline of what yoga certifications must entail. Before the alliance stepped in you did not need a certification to teach yoga. The hours you spend in a 200 hour program are broken down into amounts of time you study philosophy, breath, anatomy, postures and other miscellaneous facts about the practice of yoga. We learn a lot, and every program is now required to teach the same thing in a 200 hour breakdown.
So why are certain corporations insisting that you take their 200 hour certification to get a job with their corporation? I believe this is called extortion. If I went to law school at UCLA, passed the bar on the first try, and interviewed at any corporation X I would not be told that since I did not go to Harvard that my application did not count. Then would be told to go to Harvard and come back, and then I would be given a fair chance at a position in their company, but no guarantee was going to be granted. I seriously doubt that would happen. I believe that is illegal to begin with. So why are corporate studios being allowed to discriminate?
I am speaking about a large chain that just opened in Westwood and Sherman Oaks. There are currently only two of these studios in the Los Angeles area. I asked to interview and the manager told me I would have to take a 200 hour training with their yoga school to be interviewed. She also said that they do not hire outside of their training program. Again all the 200 hour certification programs are broken down in the same way. The Sherman oaks location just opened maybe a year ago, and the Westwood location opened within the last three months. So how would it be possible to staff both locations with Core Power yoga certified teachers only?
Unless the Sherman Oaks location did provide teacher trainings, and the corporation hired everyone that graduated their program within the year to run both Westwood, and Sherman Oaks locations would make it possible to have the businesses up and running. However, who was responsible for opening the first location? Did Core Power move recent graduates to Los Angeles to open the first studio? Yes, it’s possible, but I am not going to buy that malarkey. I believe they are trying to hard sell their 200 hour program to people, and I find that to be extortion.
Extortion: the crime of obtaining something such as money or information by force, threats, or other unacceptable methods.
The hypocrisy of American yoga is simple corporations that make yoga studio chains do not practice what yoga teaches, smaller studios do a better job, but seriously you have got to be kidding me! In the yoga 10 commandments there is a word for not steeling. It is also an important part of the practice itself. Some larger corporations don’t follow this basic principle.
The yoga alliance has been involved in an outline of what yoga certifications must entail. Before the alliance stepped in you did not need a certification to teach yoga. The hours you spend in a 200 hour program are broken down into amounts of time you study philosophy, breath, anatomy, postures and other miscellaneous facts about the practice of yoga. We learn a lot, and every program is now required to teach the same thing in a 200 hour breakdown.
So why are certain corporations insisting that you take their 200 hour certification to get a job with their corporation? I believe this is called extortion. If I went to law school at UCLA, passed the bar on the first try, and interviewed at any corporation X I would not be told that since I did not go to Harvard that my application did not count. Then would be told to go to Harvard and come back, and then I would be given a fair chance at a position in their company, but no guarantee was going to be granted. I seriously doubt that would happen. I believe that is illegal to begin with. So why are corporate studios being allowed to discriminate?
I am speaking about a large chain that just opened in Westwood and Sherman Oaks. There are currently only two of these studios in the Los Angeles area. I asked to interview and the manager told me I would have to take a 200 hour training with their yoga school to be interviewed. She also said that they do not hire outside of their training program. Again all the 200 hour certification programs are broken down in the same way. The Sherman oaks location just opened maybe a year ago, and the Westwood location opened within the last three months. So how would it be possible to staff both locations with Core Power yoga certified teachers only?
Unless the Sherman Oaks location did provide teacher trainings, and the corporation hired everyone that graduated their program within the year to run both Westwood, and Sherman Oaks locations would make it possible to have the businesses up and running. However, who was responsible for opening the first location? Did Core Power move recent graduates to Los Angeles to open the first studio? Yes, it’s possible, but I am not going to buy that malarkey. I believe they are trying to hard sell their 200 hour program to people, and I find that to be extortion.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
On the fourth day of yoga my DADDY came with me!
On the fourth day of yoga my DADDY came with me!
For years I have been trying to talk my father into a yoga class, and somehow I did it last week. I now consider myself a mastermind, and it only took me eight years to get there. Amazing I know, but that is the way the cookie crumbles. However, the joke was on me. My father had a really hard time in the restorative class we took, and the teacher must have thought we were all nutz.
I had no idea that my father was so stiff he could not sit in sukasana. He also broke a sweat in the restorative class we took last Sunday. The postures were so hard for him to get into my mom and I kept giggling. I know that was bad form, but the teacher told me I was not allowed to help my father, so out of frustration and sheer terror I kept giggling. Nothing he did made him comfortable. For an hour restorative class my father was in discomfort and there was nothing I could do to help him.
The teacher asked my dad what was going on with him, and if he had any diseases, so he gave her his laundry list of things wrong, diabetes, heart disease, and a million other things. It turns out he never lays on his back, and he has extremely poor circulation. He was in postures pregnant women get into in restorative classes, and then I really could not stop laughing.
The teacher actually came over to my mom, and I and asked up to please stop. To put it mildly the teacher was not so great. She gave me an adjustment that made me fall over because she did not notice how my bones were stacked. Everyone is different, and because I was a dancer and a gymnast my body formed differently. I know I am in the majority of yoga postures correctly, because of my training, and I can feel it in my body. There are some inversions, and arm balances that I have a hard time with still. When a teacher adjusts me to become off balance I know it’s not me.
Once she did that I was very concerned about my father so I kept a watchful eye on him. She was fine with him, and even helpful getting him into alternate postures through the whole class. I was grateful she was very careful with him. He was sweating, and looking at me to see if he was in poses correctly, and generally concerned that it was so hard for him to get into any pose. I don’t know if I will ever get him to another class, but he did really feel different after the class was over.
My father felt his muscles opening up, and could feel his circulation was better. For the first time in months he admitted he felt better after that class. I am worried about how stiff my father is, and how bad his circulation is. It is not good for anyone to feel like that.
For years I have been trying to talk my father into a yoga class, and somehow I did it last week. I now consider myself a mastermind, and it only took me eight years to get there. Amazing I know, but that is the way the cookie crumbles. However, the joke was on me. My father had a really hard time in the restorative class we took, and the teacher must have thought we were all nutz.
I had no idea that my father was so stiff he could not sit in sukasana. He also broke a sweat in the restorative class we took last Sunday. The postures were so hard for him to get into my mom and I kept giggling. I know that was bad form, but the teacher told me I was not allowed to help my father, so out of frustration and sheer terror I kept giggling. Nothing he did made him comfortable. For an hour restorative class my father was in discomfort and there was nothing I could do to help him.
The teacher asked my dad what was going on with him, and if he had any diseases, so he gave her his laundry list of things wrong, diabetes, heart disease, and a million other things. It turns out he never lays on his back, and he has extremely poor circulation. He was in postures pregnant women get into in restorative classes, and then I really could not stop laughing.
The teacher actually came over to my mom, and I and asked up to please stop. To put it mildly the teacher was not so great. She gave me an adjustment that made me fall over because she did not notice how my bones were stacked. Everyone is different, and because I was a dancer and a gymnast my body formed differently. I know I am in the majority of yoga postures correctly, because of my training, and I can feel it in my body. There are some inversions, and arm balances that I have a hard time with still. When a teacher adjusts me to become off balance I know it’s not me.
Once she did that I was very concerned about my father so I kept a watchful eye on him. She was fine with him, and even helpful getting him into alternate postures through the whole class. I was grateful she was very careful with him. He was sweating, and looking at me to see if he was in poses correctly, and generally concerned that it was so hard for him to get into any pose. I don’t know if I will ever get him to another class, but he did really feel different after the class was over.
My father felt his muscles opening up, and could feel his circulation was better. For the first time in months he admitted he felt better after that class. I am worried about how stiff my father is, and how bad his circulation is. It is not good for anyone to feel like that.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
You say it’s your birthday…..It’s my birthday to yeah!
You say it’s your birthday…..It’s my birthday to yeah!
For those who don’t know my Mother and I were born on the same day, twenty eight years apart, but on the same day. This year I had to cancel two different parties I had been planning, so I just thought this birthday was going to be lame in general. I did not have any interest in going out for drinks by the time my b-day came around. That is how little significance I placed on my special day.
I was also really sick. I came down with this flu/cold thing that took me out for a week. This never happens to me. If I get sick it is usually for twenty four hours max. Leading up to my birthday I was just hoping to feel better. I almost cancelled my hair appointment for that day. I am glad I did not.
In the morning I got ready, and drove into Beverly Hills with my mom. For whatever reason the traffic was just out of control it took us almost an hour to get there. Normally it would have taken thirty minutes max at that time of day. We were both so hungry and originally planned on heading to Nate N’ All’s, but the idea of finding parking seemed too annoying to deal with. I was told to just pick a place for breakfast, so I did.
We went to my personal favorite Barneys Green Grass. I got my salmon, onion, and eggs scramble with a bagel. YUMMMM! It has been so long since I have eaten there I felt as if I was home. It was perfect. After lunch we wandered through Barneys, and I remembered how much I love to shop there. Since I am a full time student it’s just not appropriate right now. I choose to spend my cash on dinners out, and less expensive clothing. I did get a rush looking at my favorite designers, and unfortunately cannot wait until I can spend my money on expensive shoes and bags.
Nothing really affordable caught my eye, and we went to Anthropology for a shopping extravaganza. I saw really cute tops on line, and wanted a few new things for my B-day, so I tried on everything I liked that I saw on line. However, nothing looked right. I ended up with things I was not expecting to love, but did, two dresses, two tops, and a tee shirt. It was my gift from my parents. My mom also wanted to get me a Brazilian blow out.
We finished up at Anthropology, and headed to the Lea Journo Salon in the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. I had never been before, but my mom has been going there for a year. I now know why. They massage your head as they shampoo your hair, and play fashion shows on the flat screen television while styling your locks. For two hours Angelique preformed her magic on my hair, and I love the way it came out. Now when I shower and wash my hair I don’t have to blow it dry, and it comes out perfect every time. The Jew frow has been tamed!
Once my hair was finished my mom and I left the salon, and headed home to get ready for dinner. I wore one of my new dresses, and my family and I went to pick up my grandfather. We arrived at Buchon in the Montage about twenty minutes early, so we ordered drinks at the bar. I had no expectations for the meal, but in short it blew me away. The food was amazing all around, and I thought it was reasonable for dinner. It is a bit on the expensive side, but not as bad at Morton’s.
For dessert I opened my B-day gift from my brother and my grandfather. My brother got me a Tiffany’s necklace with an S in sterling, and my gramps gave me an outfit that I picked out. All in all I really had a wonderful day. When I came home I checked my Facebook page and saw like 100,000,000 people wished me a happy birthday. Friends from High School, new friends, childhood friends, it was truly amazing, and I was very touched. It turned out to be one of the best birthdays I ever had.
For those who don’t know my Mother and I were born on the same day, twenty eight years apart, but on the same day. This year I had to cancel two different parties I had been planning, so I just thought this birthday was going to be lame in general. I did not have any interest in going out for drinks by the time my b-day came around. That is how little significance I placed on my special day.
I was also really sick. I came down with this flu/cold thing that took me out for a week. This never happens to me. If I get sick it is usually for twenty four hours max. Leading up to my birthday I was just hoping to feel better. I almost cancelled my hair appointment for that day. I am glad I did not.
In the morning I got ready, and drove into Beverly Hills with my mom. For whatever reason the traffic was just out of control it took us almost an hour to get there. Normally it would have taken thirty minutes max at that time of day. We were both so hungry and originally planned on heading to Nate N’ All’s, but the idea of finding parking seemed too annoying to deal with. I was told to just pick a place for breakfast, so I did.
We went to my personal favorite Barneys Green Grass. I got my salmon, onion, and eggs scramble with a bagel. YUMMMM! It has been so long since I have eaten there I felt as if I was home. It was perfect. After lunch we wandered through Barneys, and I remembered how much I love to shop there. Since I am a full time student it’s just not appropriate right now. I choose to spend my cash on dinners out, and less expensive clothing. I did get a rush looking at my favorite designers, and unfortunately cannot wait until I can spend my money on expensive shoes and bags.
Nothing really affordable caught my eye, and we went to Anthropology for a shopping extravaganza. I saw really cute tops on line, and wanted a few new things for my B-day, so I tried on everything I liked that I saw on line. However, nothing looked right. I ended up with things I was not expecting to love, but did, two dresses, two tops, and a tee shirt. It was my gift from my parents. My mom also wanted to get me a Brazilian blow out.
We finished up at Anthropology, and headed to the Lea Journo Salon in the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. I had never been before, but my mom has been going there for a year. I now know why. They massage your head as they shampoo your hair, and play fashion shows on the flat screen television while styling your locks. For two hours Angelique preformed her magic on my hair, and I love the way it came out. Now when I shower and wash my hair I don’t have to blow it dry, and it comes out perfect every time. The Jew frow has been tamed!
Once my hair was finished my mom and I left the salon, and headed home to get ready for dinner. I wore one of my new dresses, and my family and I went to pick up my grandfather. We arrived at Buchon in the Montage about twenty minutes early, so we ordered drinks at the bar. I had no expectations for the meal, but in short it blew me away. The food was amazing all around, and I thought it was reasonable for dinner. It is a bit on the expensive side, but not as bad at Morton’s.
For dessert I opened my B-day gift from my brother and my grandfather. My brother got me a Tiffany’s necklace with an S in sterling, and my gramps gave me an outfit that I picked out. All in all I really had a wonderful day. When I came home I checked my Facebook page and saw like 100,000,000 people wished me a happy birthday. Friends from High School, new friends, childhood friends, it was truly amazing, and I was very touched. It turned out to be one of the best birthdays I ever had.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
The self inflicted 30 day challenge.
The self inflicted 30 day challenge.
I am going to do one yoga class a day for thirty days. I have never attempted this before, but I have nothing better to do. I came up with this idea yesterday, and for the life of me cannot understand why I did not think of it earlier. I am like any other person. I like to challenge myself, and push the envelope when it comes to my life in general, so it should not surprise me that I do so in my yoga practice as well.
Yesterday I took a class that was not particularly challenging. It was just the only time I could make it to a class. I started to complain in my own head about the class level, and my expectations that were not being met when all of a sudden it hit me. It did not matter that this class was a bit less intense than what I wanted, because if I did classes like this in between my regular flow classes I could probably get in thirty days of yoga, and to be specific a consecutive thirty days.
I was so inspired by my thought process that I have now decided to give myself the challenge. I will go to restorative classes, level one classes, Iyengar classes, and get my grove on in my favorite flow classes. Rising Lotus Yoga always has a 30 day challenge, and I always shied away from participating, because I did not think I could handle it. Yeah, I couldn’t if I did a level 2/3 or 3 class every day. I would be in major pain, so why did I never connect it in my mind that any yoga is good yoga?
Now that my head is no longer in my sphincter I believe I can do it. I am on day three and only have 27 more classes/days to go. I really have nothing better to do. It is summer, way too hot, and I have no responsibility or friends to hang out with. Not that I don’t have any friends, I have many friends, but they all have jobs. YUCK! I am making this my goal for July. You know it is the little things that keep me going.
Off to YOGA I go!
I am going to do one yoga class a day for thirty days. I have never attempted this before, but I have nothing better to do. I came up with this idea yesterday, and for the life of me cannot understand why I did not think of it earlier. I am like any other person. I like to challenge myself, and push the envelope when it comes to my life in general, so it should not surprise me that I do so in my yoga practice as well.
Yesterday I took a class that was not particularly challenging. It was just the only time I could make it to a class. I started to complain in my own head about the class level, and my expectations that were not being met when all of a sudden it hit me. It did not matter that this class was a bit less intense than what I wanted, because if I did classes like this in between my regular flow classes I could probably get in thirty days of yoga, and to be specific a consecutive thirty days.
I was so inspired by my thought process that I have now decided to give myself the challenge. I will go to restorative classes, level one classes, Iyengar classes, and get my grove on in my favorite flow classes. Rising Lotus Yoga always has a 30 day challenge, and I always shied away from participating, because I did not think I could handle it. Yeah, I couldn’t if I did a level 2/3 or 3 class every day. I would be in major pain, so why did I never connect it in my mind that any yoga is good yoga?
Now that my head is no longer in my sphincter I believe I can do it. I am on day three and only have 27 more classes/days to go. I really have nothing better to do. It is summer, way too hot, and I have no responsibility or friends to hang out with. Not that I don’t have any friends, I have many friends, but they all have jobs. YUCK! I am making this my goal for July. You know it is the little things that keep me going.
Off to YOGA I go!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Magic Castle and then Some!
Magic Castle and then Some!
It has been years since I have gone to dinner at the Magic Castle, I loved it then, and love it now. Last night a group of friends and I went to drink and be entertained. I really like to watch magic shows, but I know I am the annoying audience member that tries really hard to figure out how to do the tricks, or if too drunk heckle the magician. Last night I was just the annoying audience member, but I think if another magician was in the audience they would be the more annoying audience member.
Lucky for me one person in our group was an actual magician, so I got a different perspective on the shows. Let’s call my fiend Single Magician Lost in LA ( SMLL). SMLL was our host for the evening; he gave us an insider’s tour of the castle, and took us to every show. I personally liked the main show the best, and to be more specific Joel Ward who did a 30 min presentation. It included Doves, Fire, Levitation, and good music.
I do not know how he did any of his illusions, but he did do one of the Houdini Illusions that I saw at Skirball last week. It was kinda cool that I went to the exhibit at Skirball, and then got to see a legendary illusion preformed. However, I was sitting next to SMLL and glanced over at him a few times to see how he responded to the show. I was wondering what he thought of the performance, because he knew how all the illusions were preformed. At one point in Joel Ward turned a blue scarf into a blue dove, and a whit scarf into a white dove. The best part of the trick was the fact the scarves were tied in a knot and the birds appeared simultaneously. Visually it was really cool to watch. I would not want to see it at a dinner party, but on stage it was great.
After the main show we went into the Close-up Gallery and saw a young performer. His tricks were well executed. After the short intimate show we walked into W.C. Fields Bar and the Inner Circle. I had never been in this room before, and there was a lot to look at. There were old artifacts on display, and there is a library for members only down there. We all talked about the shows, and SMLL gave us his opinion about the quality of magic preformed. I thought our opinions would have been different, but we all felt the same way about the shows. Somehow during the conversation SMLL was talked into performing some magic in the inner circle for all of us.
SMLL showed us some illusions he used to perform, and by far they were amazing, and some of the best that night. I am not saying any of that because SMLL is a friend, but simply because it’s true. For an hour he wowed us with his illusions, and even showed us some of his own intellectual property. Illusions he had designed, and ones only he preformed. They consisted of card tricks, and coins tricks. I begged him to pull a coin out of my ear, and it paid off thirty minutes later only when he could no longer stand my asking. Yes, my excessive whining about the lack of pulling something out of my ear paid off. It was the highlight of my night.
I knew SMLL was a magician, but I had no idea that he had practiced magic at the Castle, and had even preformed there. He did start to tell us how long each trick takes to learn, and how some illusions took years to master. Obviously SMLL is patient, and willing to perfect his craft. At about midnight or close to it we left the castle, and went our separate ways. I was in bed by 12:30 and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. It was a great night and I loved every second.
It has been years since I have gone to dinner at the Magic Castle, I loved it then, and love it now. Last night a group of friends and I went to drink and be entertained. I really like to watch magic shows, but I know I am the annoying audience member that tries really hard to figure out how to do the tricks, or if too drunk heckle the magician. Last night I was just the annoying audience member, but I think if another magician was in the audience they would be the more annoying audience member.
Lucky for me one person in our group was an actual magician, so I got a different perspective on the shows. Let’s call my fiend Single Magician Lost in LA ( SMLL). SMLL was our host for the evening; he gave us an insider’s tour of the castle, and took us to every show. I personally liked the main show the best, and to be more specific Joel Ward who did a 30 min presentation. It included Doves, Fire, Levitation, and good music.
I do not know how he did any of his illusions, but he did do one of the Houdini Illusions that I saw at Skirball last week. It was kinda cool that I went to the exhibit at Skirball, and then got to see a legendary illusion preformed. However, I was sitting next to SMLL and glanced over at him a few times to see how he responded to the show. I was wondering what he thought of the performance, because he knew how all the illusions were preformed. At one point in Joel Ward turned a blue scarf into a blue dove, and a whit scarf into a white dove. The best part of the trick was the fact the scarves were tied in a knot and the birds appeared simultaneously. Visually it was really cool to watch. I would not want to see it at a dinner party, but on stage it was great.
After the main show we went into the Close-up Gallery and saw a young performer. His tricks were well executed. After the short intimate show we walked into W.C. Fields Bar and the Inner Circle. I had never been in this room before, and there was a lot to look at. There were old artifacts on display, and there is a library for members only down there. We all talked about the shows, and SMLL gave us his opinion about the quality of magic preformed. I thought our opinions would have been different, but we all felt the same way about the shows. Somehow during the conversation SMLL was talked into performing some magic in the inner circle for all of us.
SMLL showed us some illusions he used to perform, and by far they were amazing, and some of the best that night. I am not saying any of that because SMLL is a friend, but simply because it’s true. For an hour he wowed us with his illusions, and even showed us some of his own intellectual property. Illusions he had designed, and ones only he preformed. They consisted of card tricks, and coins tricks. I begged him to pull a coin out of my ear, and it paid off thirty minutes later only when he could no longer stand my asking. Yes, my excessive whining about the lack of pulling something out of my ear paid off. It was the highlight of my night.
I knew SMLL was a magician, but I had no idea that he had practiced magic at the Castle, and had even preformed there. He did start to tell us how long each trick takes to learn, and how some illusions took years to master. Obviously SMLL is patient, and willing to perfect his craft. At about midnight or close to it we left the castle, and went our separate ways. I was in bed by 12:30 and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. It was a great night and I loved every second.
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