Yoga
One positive thing to result from the recent past is how much my yoga practice is progressing - both physically and spiritually. I've been taking class a lot more regularly since I have no one to go home to and haven't been spending money on meals out. So I've practically tripled the amount of asana I've been practicing.
The workshop w/ Todd and Ann was completely amazing. The theme for the weekend was Shiva Nataraja, the dancing shiva (embodied in this pose). The focus was on the ecstatic dance through life and everything it brings, both joyous and mournful. What a great meditation. The class itself was very challenging and I think many of us were starting to feel a little frustrated. But Todd kept our spirits up. "Let's put our legs behind our heads. Shall we? Why not?" And, of course, we all laughed incredulously. But, before you know it, I was moving into a full expression of bhairavasana. (Amazing how good that pose feels, despite how it looks!) At the end of class we joined together in a kirtan to Shiva Nataraja and it was so unbelievably moving, uplifting, and beautiful. I practically floated home.
Home
I got the apartment! The one I wanted in Gloucester. Soon I will be living steps from the ocean. Here's a picture of my new kitchen.
And here's one of my new BACKYARD
I'm not sure when moving day will be. Depends on what my current landlords say. It might have to be the weekend of Oct. 27, which means I miss bestest friend's birthday party. Sadness. But in all reality I might not be able to make it down to NJ right now anyway. Ah well, I'll figure it out.
NaNoWriMo
As you can see from my links, I am now an offical NaNoWriMo 2007 participant. 29 days to go until kick-off! NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month - 50,000 words during the month of November. The theory behind it is that most aspiring writers suffer from the "one day" syndrome when really what they need is a deadline. So this gives us a deadline - November 30. The goal here is quantity, not quality. You can always go back and edit something once you've got it down on paper. As the founder of the project stresses, once you're compassionate enough with yourself to allow yourself to write complete and total drivel, you have carte blanche for creating the masterpiece.
I'm taking this challenge really seriously and WitchKnight and HypnoGal and I have formed our own little support group. I'm also hoping to find people in Gloucester or thereabouts that are involved.
I've begun reading No Plot? No Problem! and it's not only insanely motivational, it's also hilarious. I was reading it in the laundromat on Sunday and a woman actually came over to ask me what I was reading that was making me laugh so hard. Beware the flying guilt monkeys!
So, I have a plot and characters and it's all I can do to keep from starting to write now. But that's strictly verbotten, so I'll just keep drafting in my head for one more month.
And, finally, Work
Wrapping up my last week here at IrishCompany. Napolean is in Dublin, which gets him out of my hair. Although the few times I've talked to him he's definitely thrown passive agressive barbs in my direction. (Shocking!) I'm being pretty passive myself this week and haven't even begun cleaning out my desk. But I'll get there sooner or later.
As for the new job, I'm both excited and very very nervous. I even went out and bought two books on Copywriting and working at an agency. I know it's not rocket science, but it is a completely different environment and I'm not so good with the new things. Still, I already have a great support network in place, know people on the inside, and trust in myself. So, here's to leaping into the great, vast unknown and knowing that I'll fly.
