One down...

So I went to Kripalu. 3 nights, and what added up to 3 days (half-day, two full days, half-day).

I loved it. I went thinking I would have a real issue being around all sorts of people (crowds, even) that I'd never met... I'm not always good at making friends or being social, at least not on my own. I usually find a person to latch onto, and they sort of create a barrier for me - well, maybe not a barrier, but a buffer.

As it turned out, when I sat down at dinner, it didn't take long before a couple sat down near me and introduced themselves. I thought it was very kind of them. Saw them a few more times over the days I was there, and they always said hello and asked how things were going. I even spoke to my roommates: met a teacher and a massage therapist, one there for R&R (like me), and one there for a workshop that had something to do with hip alignment.

I went in the sauna and the whirlpool (I need one of each...), walked the labyrinth, got myself out of bed EARLY and went to a yoga class (that only happened on day 1), took a short hike (which I almost regret... the weather was probably the hottest week all summer, so it was still 90 degrees in the early evening when I went), and ate a TON of wonderful foods. I learned about Ayurvedic science, had an Ayurvedic oil treatment (massage... it was pretty great), learned a little about Qi-gong, a little about cooking vegetables, a little about kirtan, aaaaaaaaaand came home feeling pretty grounded and kick-started to turn things around.

I've spent my summer so far lazing about, which I deserved, but isn't a habit to dwell in for two months before returning to "real life" (teacher, remember?). So, the goal I came home with was to get up and go to bed at a decent hour. In addition, I'd really like my kitchen table to be clear... you know, so I can eat off of it... it's currently piled high with papers, most of it mail.

Tomorrow will be my first experiment in cooking millet. While I was at Kripalu, it was served for breakfast like a porridge, but I think I'll cook it up so it's more like rice. We'll see what happens!

I also learned some new words, like "jai bhagwan". It's interchangeable with Namaste in some places, and one of the translations is "May the divine in you be victorious." I like it.

Jai bhagwan, everybody!

Kripalu.

I've been thinking about going to Kripalu for about two years.

I'm new to yoga (about a year in), but Buddhism has had a hold of my mind for around 4-5 years, now, and yoga seemed to fit in so nicely... and rather than travel to an Ashram in India a-la-Elizabeth Gilbert, I've decided to stay a little closer to home (and within my financial means!) and travel to Kripalu for a few days of inner-dwelling.

I've started many things I haven't finished... part of my trip is hoping that it can re-focus me  and help me build some energy so I can motivate myself to get things done. I feel like I've been looking for so long for answers outside of myself, and need to learn to trust and rely on my own thoughts, feelings, intuitions...

my self.

So here's hoping I find it -- away from the internet and pressures of my every-day, even though I knew I'll be returning to them in just a few days. I'm looking forward...

Namaste.

Closer

Every day brings you just a bit closer to figuring out what you truly want... don't you think?

I do.

I believe that so much of the time we think we know what we want more than anything else, but the closer we get to that, the more we realize or decide that we want more... or something different.

I'm still not sure what my strongest desire is, but I hope that I learn a little every day, and that that new tidbit will open some new doorway, or push aside a branch that covers the path meant for me. And I hope that I find all the right partners to help me see. To truly see would be a wonder.

I'm going to be a member of a wedding party for the second time tomorrow. I apparently did a very poor job the first time -- I think this time will be better. No, I'm sure it will.

Here's to new beginnings. May they happen every day.
Slainte.

Breathe.

Breathing is something we all take for granted... especially when we don't have asthma or allergies... or when we're not sick... you know, if we happen to be the majority of the population most of the time.

So my words for today are brought on by the massive allergy-attack that has been taking place for the past few weeks. I don't know WHAT is out there in full force, but it's got me again after much time of gratefulness for my allergies leaving me ALONE.

I can't breathe through my nose, and I am reminded how wonderful it is to breathe freely.

I look forward to meeting that day again in the future.

Until then, I plan to sleep.

Namaste.

An easy day.

Started off with getting out of bed -- not too bad.
Played flute with a pianist-friend -- excellent. So nice to make some music.
Got home, and DIDN'T NAP! This is an accomplishment!

Ate three meals today. Also good.
Attempted to let cats be friends: growling. No go today. Try again tomorrow.

Dinner with an excellent guy- tasty and fun.
To JC Penney, where I purchased things I don't really NEED, but are nice to have: sheets & pillowcases, curtains and washcloths. Aiming for a clean, neat, and nice-looking bedroom.

Finally, to my friends house, where I endured a minimal amount of the Housewives of New York (AH! SEQUINS!), then went out for ice cream (second helping of the day... not necessary but quite tasty) and talked to some extroverted children, returned friend to apartment, returned self to home, hung out with BuddyBill in the Basement, washed new sheets, and now I'm here. BEFORE midnight!

I'm going to dry the sheets and put them on the bed, I think. That would be nice.

Tomorrow: clarinet lesson. Hopefully coffee with a friend. Full Moon Yoga! This is not a real thing... I mean, it IS, but it's just yoga and our teacher is going to start it a little later and move it outside. I LOVE my yoga studio. I'm so glad I found it! Or that it found me... however it is that works.

IT'S ALL GOOD!

Slainte & Namaste

It's still summer!

I realized today that it's only the second week in July, and that made me VERY happy.

I love summer. I'm a teacher, you see. And no matter how many times I hear "Teachers are so lucky to have summers off", I'm never going to see it as luck... it's a NECESSITY.

I'm also glad for summer because I love the warm weather, the sun, the green trees and grass, and the occasional rain and gorgeous summer breezes. I am NOT a winter person.

Today was my first full day with a third kitty. I have a dog and two cats, and took in a foster cat from my dad. See, if I didn't do this, I believe my mother might have kicked them BOTH (the cat and my dad) out of the house. Or worse. I don't even like to think about it.

The downer is that new kitty (Bill the Cat... so named by my brother... if he remains here he will receive a new name. So far it's Buddy.) hates the dog, and my cats hate new kitty. Here's hoping that changes.

See? He's a handsome boy. He's wary. He has an enlarged heart and I have to give him medication twice a day. Half a pill in the morning and the other half along with a second pill in the afternoon. On every third day he also gets an aspirin at night. Poor guy. I hope he and my current creatures learn to get along.

Jake-o-butt and Sweetness

Bella

 HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THAT FACE?! I mean, I didn't when I first met her, but now -- I JUST LOVE MY DOG! She's such a sweet girl.

It is way past my bed-time. Off I go.

es

A few things.

1. My knees are asleep. Is it restless leg syndrome if you just feel like you can't stretch enough?
2. I'm still sneezing. It's probably time to cave and buy some more antihistimines to take in addition to my Singulair (which, just a year ago was a God-send... now, at least, it curbs the wheezing...).
3. I still love the Renaissance festival. STILL! And I love that I know people that work there, and hope that I will be back to playing there once in a while, too.
4. I have every intention of using the rest of my summer for learning stuff and organizing. Pretty much in that order... and there is a LOT of stuff to learn... and I'm easily distracted... and my EYES are itchy!
5. I own eyedrops, and will therefore use them before sleep.

And that's now.

Oh, wait. I'm hearing things. As in - I don't think what I'm hearing is really there. And I'm not sure what to do with this, as it's not a usual occurrence.

I'm hoping for some awesome dreams tonight.

Slainte & Namaste

I can't stop sneezing.

Well, I CAN, but I'm sneezing an awful lot.
This is my third attempt at a blog, and this time, I'm really going to stick with it.
Because this time, I don't have a POINT.
I'm excited about this. I think it has potential.

So for my first post, I'm going to put the pictures I posted on facebook of the first dinner I cooked in... well, I can't remember how long... with fresh ingredients and effort.

Alright, so I'm just going to post this picture for right now, because I sent the other ones from my cell phone... aaaaaand I don't know how to move them from there to here yet. But wait!! I have a MAC!
Well, it didn't matter that this is a MAC, but I figured it out, so here are some more:

Sadly, all is for naught. Why am I leaving this all here? I don't know! It'll get better as time goes on... and perhaps as I learn to write before it is the wee hours of morning.

The ingredients above were for a salsa with onions, red peppers, tomatoes, onions, and tomatillos. Oh, and garlic, of course. Cooked up in a skillet with some sugar and cilantro thrown in, and it was tangy and good with some tequila-lime chicken served over lime-cilantro linguini. Or fettucini.

Either way, it was good, and good to have cooked something again and enjoyed a fruits of my labor.
Also, there was much lime-y cilantro-ey goodness. Mmmmmmm.

Slainte and Namaste -