Memorial Monday

I did not realize today was Memorial Day at the end of yoga on Friday. So, when I said farewell to my students I said a hearty, 'see you on Monday.' Autumn told me yesterday that the teachers who have taught this class before me cancel the class on holidays.

Yeah, it would have been nice to know that.

But instead I hauled my ass up at 5 and got down to the studio at 5:45AM to wait for no one. I didn't even unpack my mat. I did put music on and danced around a bit, but I knew that I would leave at 6:05AM.

Which I did.

So instead of feeling centered and stretched when I came home, I just felt disappointed and tired. I fell back into bed with my jacket on and called my parents. I mean heck it was 6:30AM and I was still on Evening and Weekend minutes. My mother was surprised when I called her. But we spoke for a bit and then I got up, heated my coffee, made some breakfast and wrote my morning pages. IN THE MORNING!

I guess I was disappointed because I really wanted to play with dedicating my practice to someone else. Someone that could not practice yoga for any reason. I was not sure who I would have selected, but it would have been an interesting practice. For our Artist Dates this week I challenged my sacred circlers to pick a date for another. Jenny was great and picked either an event with these people or do a dance audition. The former takes time and you have to speak to advisor before you register. Too much hassle. The latter I could not find. Since I am no longer a member of Dancers Group, I cannot access the local auditions. I tried to see using Anne's user ID, but I couldn't find any. So, Jenny gave me a different challenge - take a cooking class. I looked at various classes in the East Bay and SF and there are none this week. Okay, there was one tomorrow, but I emailed the head of it and have not heard back. And gosh, they are expensive. So, as a last resort she challenged me to take a yoga class in a style that I don't normally take.

Enter the Monkeys.

By Grand Lake there is a studio called Monkey Yoga Shala. It's a mix of yoga, dance, and martial arts. And yes, it's hot. Or at least warm. It's kind of a cult or at least most everyone there knew the routine and while we were encouraged not to measure ourselves against anyone else, there definitely felt like a bit of posturing was going on.

While I teach that using your breath fully and deeply will keep you from getting sore, Tim encouraged the sore. Saying that some of it was good for a few days. I am not sure I believe that, but after an ass whoopin' I will certainly feel sore tomorrow. I gua-ran-tee. And I didn't even think to dedicate my practice to anyone. I just needed to keep up.

The best deal was $20 for unlimited classes for the next 2 weeks. So, I will be back. Crusin' for a brusin' they say.

Thursday morning.

Why yes, I'm grateful!
1. looking good at 40!
2. living in a nice neighborhood
3. shrimp on sale at Safeway!
4. chilled pinot grigio
5. an almost completed set list for my cabaret.

Quickie Thanks

1. amaranth from the farmers market
2. volunteer ops to see dance for free
3. sunshine
4. fresh pie - or truly tart from Mission Pie
5. kind people - at yoga and at CounterPULSE

A Week and a Day

So I have kept up this crazy daily gratitude thing for a full week. I like the routine now. I know it's something I need to be aware of and have to get done. Along with Morning Pages and my Daily Challenge, it's part of the ritual. And I don't mind it. Now if I could just get my oral hygiene under control, we will be all set. I failed to have students for my yoga class at Happy Hour this morning and didn't meet with Nita right after as we'd hoped. But I did do some stuff for ABD and worked a house party this evening. I am going to brush and floss my teeth and then hit the hay since I have to teach yoga again in the morning. But there are things to be grateful for.

1. being told that someone wants to be me when she grows up (she's 68)
2. being highly, highly complimented by the host at the house party tonight
3. a beautiful sky in SF this evening
4. musical theatre
5. wine & cheese!

Drinkin' on a Friday!

I had a fairly easy day, but was very productive. Okay, maybe not 'very' but I got a lot of shit done. A 6AM yoga class, my 8:30AM Artists Way check-in with WAY too many technical difficulties and then a glorious yoga class outside! My buddy Emily watched my little furballs a month ago when I was in NY. As a thank you I offered her a private yoga class. So she finally cashed in on it today. And since my apartment is so small we had to venture outside. The weather fortunately cooperated with us and while we started with overcast skies we ended in the sunshine with puffy clouds in bright blue. Just lovely.

After a jaunt in the city for a meeting with Kim and Kelley at Epiphany, I ventured home for food and wine. And after wine and TV show catch up, I am still on the couch and there's still (or perhaps more?) wine in my glass.

Thursdays gratitude list:
1. great leftovers
2. yoga in the sunshine
3. a clean apartment!! - with clean dishes!
4. a responsive apartment manager that handled my broken toilet lickity split
5. close proximity to the city

Untitled

I had a good day and did my morning pages in the morning! So after a hot shower I am going to climb into bed and tackle my Artists Way tasks. I really should not have waited until the last minute, but heck, that's a theme these days, no? I do have a hard time with the artists way in the fact that many of the answers to the questions posed are the same as when I did it SIXTEEN YEARS AGO. That means, I am not moving ahead. Or I am back to square one. Either way, it depresses me.

But we had another beautiful sunny day in the Bay and a number of things to be grateful for.

1. a pantry and freezer with ingredients to make a stellar meal. in this case, roasted chicken, potatoes and broccoli with lentils.
2. an easy catering delivery
3. success in a surprise task for ABD
4. the completion of a promo video and upload to Facebook
5. time to get a mani/pedi - and I guess for someone rubbing my feet and making them look presentable again!

Hump de hump Day

Wednesday has come and is just about gone. I was very productive today, just finished my morning pages and even though I'm tired, I am still coming down from seeing Blue Man Group with Michael Gaffney tonight. I got freebies from TBA for seeing the call to action on Twitter yesterday. Go me! Anyway, we shook our booties and had a jolly old time. I saw the show 20 years ago and it's amazing that it's still going strong. Clever humor, gross effects and drumming! How can you go wrong?

Must go to sleep. But first a little bit of thanks -

1. Parents who know how hard it is to teach their kids
2. My parents for checking in about my ankle
3. A good chinese food lunch
4. Michael Gaffney, a delightful theatre partner in crime
5. The price of gas going down - for now.

Tuesday is for Thanks!

I just watched an episode of Chopped and should be hitting the hay, but don't believe I've done my morning pages. These daily duties are starting to run together. Um, not good. I was extremely productive today and didn't get out of my jammies until 5:30PM. I ate all meals at home and didn't drive much. Lots to be grateful for...

1. one hit in my media follow up for ABD
2. being able to take Sarah's dance class this evening
3. fresh food
4. the constant challenge of Word Twist on FB even though my competitors are SO much better than me
5. continued compliments on my haircut - over a month later!

Beginnings and Endings

Today was a doozy. 6AM yoga class followed by the Theatre Bay Area Annual Conference and then teaching my final Cal Shakes sessions. Even though I was dragging my feet and I headed through the Webster Tunnel into Alameda to Forbidden Island for crazy cocktails and Shat Fest. A strange gathering of people in a TIKI BAR to watch William Shatner movies. And each one was a thriller. And bad. Needless to say I am beat. I did do my morning pages this MORNING, so now I can just go to sleep. But first I must share my gratitudes. I seem to remember someone mentioning being grateful today, but it's gone. So, here goes:

1. fruity drinks
2. supportive parents - in this case those belonging to my drama students
3. a gradually welcoming theatre community
4. mini candy bars
5. riders who contribute to casual carpool.

An odd little list. And I believe nothing above has every been mentioned before. Here's to new things!

Day 3 of the G!

It's only 8:30PM and I am exhausted. 5 hours outside working as a greeter for an event, taking a challenging yoga class, doing laundry, cooking dinner and I still have do my Morning Pages, tackle some dishes and put my clean clothes away.

Wah, wah, wah.

Enough whining and complaining and bring on the gratitudes!

1. a sunny day outside with no one around - so I could catch up on podcasts and sing Violent Femmes songs out loud.
2. yoga teachers that know more than me and who teach lovingly and clearly
3. the ability to whip up a healthy and yummy meal - in this case turkey meatballs in a yummy sauce with some leftover pasta and roasted broccoli.
4. reliable transportation
5. wine!

Who put the G in Saturday?

Day 2 of Gratitudes and I almost forgot. Just like I am almost forgetting to do one more page of my so called Morning Pages. During my Artists Date earlier this evening I wrote 2 pages while sipping on eating and eating cookies. Such a treat. But that does leave one more page. I am starting to fade, so let's bust this out...

1. Sunshine in the city
2. volunteer ops
3. an interesting outfit combo - compliments of the fact I need to do laundry
4. good parking karma
5. seeing Doug Varone & Dancers tonight - that got me to bring my one woman show from off the back burner!

A week of Gratitudes

I have started posting daily tips and challenges on my Namaste Gourmet Twitter account. I was going to post a challenge about doing daily gratitude lists, but since I have not kept up with them, I didn't want to be hypocritical.

So, here we go:
1. the movement in my life through The Artist's Way. Second time's a charm!
2. yoga. a blessing for my body and soul
3. possibilities. while not fully apparent I know they are there and I need to be patient in finding my path.
4. living in a pretty area - regardless of my car break-in
5. sunny days
6. fresh strawberries

And here's to a solid week of listing them. Who's with me?

Taking Responsibility

So I have had trouble with the law in the past few months. I am not talking about a little brush. I am talking about a full on run in. While still working for Gravity I got a moving violation for making an illegal right hand turn. I got lost while driving Tony's truck and even though I made sure that other cars were going my way, apparently I was not allowed to do that. About a month later I got two tickets for failing to make a complete stop at a red light while making a right hand turn. Yes, 2 within THREE days of each other.

Needless to say I am screwed. After going to court numerous times - well I went to San Mateo's Court 3 times since the first time it was closed for Cesar Chavez Day and the second was in error since I didn't understand how to sign up for the walk-in court. I went to Oakland's court once to deal with both right on red tickets and after paying $281 and having to satisfy 96 hours of community service I am completely humble.

Except for the fact that last week I was stopped yet again, I have been a model driver. I failed to stop behind the line at a stop sign. I did come to a complete stop, but didn't do it behind the limit line. For the first time I saw the lights and I didn't have a knot in my stomach. It was like old hat. However, as the officer approached my car reality set in. I already have two points on my license and am volunteering a huge number of hours. I could not afford any more time or money. And then I realized that I did not print out my current insurance card. Since I got my new computer, I didn't set it up to print with my old printer. Dread set in when the officer asked for my license, registration and insurance. I just looked at him and said, "please."

He was super kind and gave me a warning for my failure to stop at the stop sign and a $25 fix-it ticket for the insurance. I got very lucky. But it did make me think that while I have been very unlucky and that there are certainly worse drivers than me on the road, that I still need to take responsibility for my own actions. I guess it's a way of the universe telling me to slow down and be more aware. And maybe wear my glasses while driving. So while there have been issues I am still saying it loud and proud:

I am a good and safe driver.

And even though the letter from the DMV tells me otherwise, I know that doesn't go against my deeper knowledge. Did I break the law? Yes. Are their worse crimes and more dangerous drivers? Sure. But that does not excuse my actions. I just got caught.

So I have decided to drive less and bike and walk more. As my mother says, perhaps I cannot afford to have a car in California. So, I parked my car, attached the Club to the steering wheel and let it rest. However yesterday my car was broken into, my driver's side window smashed and the contents of my glove compartment strewn all over the front seat mixed with tons of glass. And as far as I can tell, they didn't take anything.

So, what is the universe telling me now? Who takes responsibility?

Too Much Daily

So every day I do the Daily Challenge and I am currently in my second week of the Artists Way. Therefore we are talking about writing daily morning pages. They have yet to be consistent and more often than not, they are painful to write. I struggle to keep focused and get them done. I struggle to get the done in the morning. But still I do them daily.

That means that I fail to write as often here. I am also a little slack on drinking water and flossing. I am very tired from a long and strenuous catering gig today. My feet hurt like you wouldn't believe and I have wanted to go to sleep for the last hour or so. While it's not even 10:30PM it's time the share a little gratitude and go to bed.

1. The removal of Osama bin Laden
2. sunny days
3. no kitty vomit today
4. a city full of cultural events
5. Happy Hours with gin cocktail specials.