A Pretty Ship

Nancy and I went to yoga tonight.  Sonic Yoga.  We liked it.  I enjoyed the change of pace and studio.  It’s good to remember that there is more than one way to do something right.  It doesn’t always need to be 105 degrees.  It doesn’t always need to be the same 26 postures.  You don’t have to sweat through every article of clothing to work hard.  I think I’ll go again.

But did you know how lucky I really am?

There were presents waiting for me when I returned home:

• My Thank You gift from WNYC, for donating during their fundraiser.  Yay, NPR!  As you can see, it’s a canvas RadioLab tote bag.  If you know me, you know that I just love tote bags.
• Light on Yoga — the yoga “bible.”  I’ve been wanting this book for a while, and after tonight’s experience with not knowing the names of the majority of postures I was getting into, it’s awfully clear that I need to do some learning.
• And there was a check for $62.  For 62 bucks, I can buy a dress or a meal or a pair of shoes or 6 Kindle books.  I can also save it for a rainy day.  $62 is my good Monday fortune.

What’s yours?

The night offered me shoddy slumber.  At 2 a.m., I hung up with my sister.  And then at 5 a.m., my eyes shot open  There was no turning back.

And how were the hours spent?  Leisurely.

I watched a movie:

[ You’re only as healthy as you feel. ]

A classic film but one I’d not yet seen.  It was dark and disturbing and quite enjoyable.  Young De Niro was something else.  Painfully enough, his character kind of reminded me of a nut-job I once dated.  Twice.  Young Jodi Foster was heartbreakingly tender.

Also, the bread was baked:

[ meh ]

It’s a bit bland and really too dense, but it’s edible and clean and not too bad for my first go at bread making.

As the afternoon eased in, I thought my brain was finally going to gift me with a nap, so I walked over for a quick 30 massage to really embrace the mood.  Just my luck!  My therapist today was Si Si — my favorite.  But then I was no longer in the mood for napping.

But I put myself down.  I did fall asleep, for 45 minutes.  When I woke, my armpits and abs were sore from last night’s Tracy Anderson workout.  I don’t think my (personal trainer) BFF would approve of some of her methods, but overall the workout was a challenge, and sore muscles feel good.  Now onto This American Life and the week ahead.

The week ahead!?!  What a drag.

[ mysterious origins ]

What a nice day.  But a quick day.  Don’t the good ones whiz right by?

[ laundromat accordion ]

I napped for a long time today.  Napped too long to hit the charity souperama, but there will be other city soup events.  (won’t there be?)  We took a walk, and it was beautiful out.  John wore his lightweight jacket, and I wore a short-sleeved shirt with my jacket unzipped.  There may have been sweat on my nose.  The sun was bright.  Everyone was out.

Do you know what is on top of the refrigerator rising at this very moment?  You’re right — homemade bread!  My first ever.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

[ kelp noodles ]

[ or Some Pig! ]

Hello.  It’s raining this morning.  It will soon turn to snow.  I’m drinking my green smoothie and feeling a little too cold.  But you know what?  Yesterday, I felt like crap.  I’ll take cold over crap any day.  Things seem to be in place again now, or rather falling into place, except for the fact that John is miserable in the other room—doused in tea tree oil and playing host to a colony of bees.

But do you want to know what cured me?

[ really bad food ]

[ special computer glasses ]

Now I realize that a girl who looks like me does herself no favors by posing for a photo with a girl who looks like Nancy, but I wanted to show you the kinds of tools they give us at our work place.  She looks like an eyeglass model.  I look like a bug.  But bugs are nice, right?  And to emphasize that fact, you can see I gave myself a butterfly headband.

- - - - - -

Actually, I think I cured myself by consuming 2 gallons of water.  Thank goodness I didn’t drown!

Well, they are too, too tasty.

But I gave a bunch to my husband, and he broke out in hives!  Warning!  Spicy marcona almonds from WF might induce allergic reactions!

This is so sad.  I feel like a jerk.

[ via ]

But apparently it doesn’t matter because our apt building is burning down?

As you know, I returned to (studio) Bikram this past week.  And as I sit here, finishing up the morning’s green smoothie, with clean hair dripping, and after having sweated most disgustingly for 90 minutes, I have something to share:

My mental strength sucks.
Also, my mind-body connection is superbly in tact.

Meaning — I always give myself a little pep talk before class begins, which sounds a little bit like, “Don’t be a wimp.  Be stronger.  Don’t fall out of that standing head to knee posture.  Lock your knee.  Stay focused.  FOCUS!”

But you know what happens?  I always fall out of that darn posture.  I think I’m focused.  I think I’m trying.  I think my knee is locked, but as soon as it gets too uncomfortable, and I think to myself that it is too uncomfortable, I just fall right out.  And all the sweaty stink-pots around me remain as solid as little trees.

At least I can do tree pose without a hitch, right?

- - - - - -

In other news, the snow is melting, and the Winter Olympics are coming to a close.  My least favorite athlete of the games is Lindsay Vonn.  I’d liken her personality to a flea.  Everyone else I love!  Especially that young lad Apolo Ohno.

I’m reading lots of books this week, including the Lincoln biography (which will take a while to get through) and also this book.  I first heard of Cathy Erway when we moved to NY 2.5 years ago.  Some little elfin fellow I worked with mentioned her blog one day, and ever since, I’ve kind of checked in now and then with her foodie adventures.  She’s a smart, engaging writer, a cute girl, and apparently a pretty creative, thoughtful, and competent cook.

And even though her fare is not raw or very vegan, and even if I wouldn’t make most of the recipes myself, she still manages to reel me in and keep me hooked, which really says a lot.

You should buy her book, too. It’s full of quirky stories, a little foodie history, and lots of original recipes you might want to use to impress your clan.

- - - - - -

In a little bit, I’m going to take a walk.  See you out there?