Mr. Zips bought me an iPod. This makes me very happy. Not only can I listen to it while I'm doing my laundry at the nasty laundromat (thus ignoring the sketchy guys who keep looking at me while playing games on their cellphones) but I can download the Rachel Maddow Show. I have also discovered that I can watch Rachel while she talks to people over the Radio Machine.
I love technology!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
It's Not All Hooey!
People who know me know I'm a wee-bit flaky. I believe in energy healing and karma and auras and all that other good stuff. I have an altar in my room with representations of Athena, Brigit, Sekhmet, and Ganesha. UFO-themed music plays when I enter a room.
But there are times when I think - there's no WAY breathing or meditating can make me happier or get me through this [insert work project here] better.
But today, at yoga, that belief was challenged.
By all accounts, I had a bad practice. My hip is really sore and I wore bad shoes to work so my feet were cramping like nobody's business. (You try balancing when you have to keep your duck-footed feet turned straight and your arch feels like it's crumbling!) I fell out of a bunch of poses, couldn't hold some deep poses very long and generally just didn't perform like a dedicated yogini. But, as the instructor went around and encouraged us to breathe and focus, to stay still and soft even as our muscles shook or the sweat began to pour, I GOT IT.
In Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II) I inhaled deeply. My leg was quaking, I was positively drenched with sweat. Every fiber of almost every muscle in my body was on fire. And I just stuck it. In and Out. No judgement. If I needed to come out of it, I would. If I could stick it out I would. I wouldn't think about it, I would just do it.But whatever happened, I would breathe.
And there it was. I went in and out of the pose as my body dictated. I didn't think "I can't get out of this pose because people are watching and I need to appear strong." Or "I can't possibly hold this any longer, teacher, Let Us Out!" I just let the moments pass.
And, if I can do that on the mat, why can't I do that off the mat? How beautiful a world would it be if I could approach all adversity like that?
Oh, sure, it's easy in yoga when I've got the community behind me. It's quite another when Napolean calls me at 5:25. But, maybe, one day....
But there are times when I think - there's no WAY breathing or meditating can make me happier or get me through this [insert work project here] better.
But today, at yoga, that belief was challenged.
By all accounts, I had a bad practice. My hip is really sore and I wore bad shoes to work so my feet were cramping like nobody's business. (You try balancing when you have to keep your duck-footed feet turned straight and your arch feels like it's crumbling!) I fell out of a bunch of poses, couldn't hold some deep poses very long and generally just didn't perform like a dedicated yogini. But, as the instructor went around and encouraged us to breathe and focus, to stay still and soft even as our muscles shook or the sweat began to pour, I GOT IT.
In Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II) I inhaled deeply. My leg was quaking, I was positively drenched with sweat. Every fiber of almost every muscle in my body was on fire. And I just stuck it. In and Out. No judgement. If I needed to come out of it, I would. If I could stick it out I would. I wouldn't think about it, I would just do it.But whatever happened, I would breathe.
And there it was. I went in and out of the pose as my body dictated. I didn't think "I can't get out of this pose because people are watching and I need to appear strong." Or "I can't possibly hold this any longer, teacher, Let Us Out!" I just let the moments pass.
And, if I can do that on the mat, why can't I do that off the mat? How beautiful a world would it be if I could approach all adversity like that?
Oh, sure, it's easy in yoga when I've got the community behind me. It's quite another when Napolean calls me at 5:25. But, maybe, one day....
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Kalesy and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day
Now, first things first. I woke up on time feeling good and not already exhausted. So it should have been a good day.
My hot water was out. I knew this was a theoretical possibility because my landlord rang my doorbell at 10:30 last night to tell me my oil tank was on empty. But I thought it must be like the tank of a car, right? It says empty, but you've got at least 2 or 10 mile left. Right? Wrong.
I got to work and openend my email to a complete and total shit storm. The graphic designs that I'd been waiting for came in and were completely underwhelming. I'm a week and a day from a major deadline and I've got crap designs. And, since I know absolutely nothing about graphics software, what am I to do?
Napoloean - who only two days ago read me the riot act about how writing a brochure should be my one, only, and most important priority - emails me about five or six other projects. Because, really, coffee table books are going to be the major differentiator in multi-million dollar enterprise deals. Seriously.
The oil company had to actually come inside to reset my heater. So someone had to be here. And because I took Monday afternoon off, I knew if I tried to get today off too - or even work from home -- I'd get grilled because Napolean is paranoid. Of course, he should be because I AM interviewing.
(Note: I haven't heard back from the company I met with on Monday. Bastards.)
So I couldn't take time off so poor Mr. Zips had to leave work early and wait here. And the damn oil company didn't come until 5:45. Bastards.
The good things that happened today: I had an awesome workout. Primarily because Mr. Zips told me to forget coming home early and to do my kickboxing double. And, I once more realized how amazing and awesome Mr. Zips is. Who else would sit in an empty, cold apartment for five hours waiting for a damn oil tank fillup? He rocks.
My hot water was out. I knew this was a theoretical possibility because my landlord rang my doorbell at 10:30 last night to tell me my oil tank was on empty. But I thought it must be like the tank of a car, right? It says empty, but you've got at least 2 or 10 mile left. Right? Wrong.
I got to work and openend my email to a complete and total shit storm. The graphic designs that I'd been waiting for came in and were completely underwhelming. I'm a week and a day from a major deadline and I've got crap designs. And, since I know absolutely nothing about graphics software, what am I to do?
Napoloean - who only two days ago read me the riot act about how writing a brochure should be my one, only, and most important priority - emails me about five or six other projects. Because, really, coffee table books are going to be the major differentiator in multi-million dollar enterprise deals. Seriously.
The oil company had to actually come inside to reset my heater. So someone had to be here. And because I took Monday afternoon off, I knew if I tried to get today off too - or even work from home -- I'd get grilled because Napolean is paranoid. Of course, he should be because I AM interviewing.
(Note: I haven't heard back from the company I met with on Monday. Bastards.)
So I couldn't take time off so poor Mr. Zips had to leave work early and wait here. And the damn oil company didn't come until 5:45. Bastards.
The good things that happened today: I had an awesome workout. Primarily because Mr. Zips told me to forget coming home early and to do my kickboxing double. And, I once more realized how amazing and awesome Mr. Zips is. Who else would sit in an empty, cold apartment for five hours waiting for a damn oil tank fillup? He rocks.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The Amazing H Hour
Mr. Zips and I caught the opening montage of CSI: Miami last night. He'd never seen it before.
If you've never witnessed our Savior Horatio Caine at work, I offer this beauty.
I know I'm a little out of date in posting this, but the seven minutes of hilarity is well worth it.
Trust me, Frank. (Put on sunglasses.) You might think it's late, but the laughter is (look directly at the camera) right on time. (Exit stage left!)
If you've never witnessed our Savior Horatio Caine at work, I offer this beauty.
I know I'm a little out of date in posting this, but the seven minutes of hilarity is well worth it.
Trust me, Frank. (Put on sunglasses.) You might think it's late, but the laughter is (look directly at the camera) right on time. (Exit stage left!)
Sunday, March 25, 2007
One More Thing
While we were all sharing, Deb pointed out something interesting. Each of us, after rattling off why we were (fill in the blank) ended with saying, "And I'm just really glad to be here." Or the like. Now, those of you who have been to these types of things know that that is a pretty much required statement. But each of us - I honestly think - meant it.
And it started me thinking. I used to be the kind of person that made up an excuse. I can't possibly make it to my herbalism class today. I'm too -- tired, sad, hungover, sore, sick. I can't go out tonight because I've got to ....... You get the idea.
I made it through the entire immersion, no excuses, no second thoughts.
Oh my heavens -- I'm evolving!
And it started me thinking. I used to be the kind of person that made up an excuse. I can't possibly make it to my herbalism class today. I'm too -- tired, sad, hungover, sore, sick. I can't go out tonight because I've got to ....... You get the idea.
I made it through the entire immersion, no excuses, no second thoughts.
Oh my heavens -- I'm evolving!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
