Could Be

Forest Park

Woke up hard and didn't feel like moving but I think that's my usual Sunday thing. I go into a slug mode state of mind thinking that I can slow down time and delay Monday.

I want to get back to walking the 6.29 mile trail around Forest Park on the weekend so...

Attire stumped me at first. Couldn't find a pair of shorts with pockets then looked in the plastic storage bin under my bed to re-examine a few shorts. One was a pair of Sport-Hills that I had gotten on sale at REI Outlet online specifically for hot yoga. At the time I didn't like them because they made a swish swish sound. I suppose that some of the blame could be attributed to my thick thighs or maybe it's the polyester, nylon, spandex material. At any rate, I like them now and they have three pockets. Guess I lucked out two years ago because I don't see any Bermuda-length Sport-Hills anymore.

My head felt less foggy and I felt energized after being out in nature and listening to podcasts. Dori Samadzai Bonner's asylum story tugged all at the heartstrings. Didn't finish listening to the A Way With Words "Feeling Gruntled" episode but learned about the phrase balloon juice and I like it: a lot of talk with no substance; empty talk; noisy talk. Balloon juice talkers are the worst.

Being Photographed

We had a silly little contest at work -- about 13 of us. One of my colleagues ordered a new car but didn't know what color to expect. He did tell the dealer that there were certain colors he didn't want. I guessed blue because I've always liked blue. As one of the winners, I would get to be one of the first riders.

Went to check out the car and, out of the corner of my eye, could see another coworker snapping a picture and I was a bit terrified -- especially since it was a side view snapshot. 

Thought about how people at work witnessed my weight loss but... I was relieved when I saw the picture and super relieved that it didn't go to all staff. Also surprised by how good camera phones are. The picture taker was not that close.

Sparkling Sea Metallic and Me (About 20 Pounds Heavier)

Rode my bike from the mechanic's to work. Worst day of the week because the humidity has stepped up its game. Just finished reading a Consumer Reports that had a decision tree regarding getting a new car. If you are spending a significant time with your mechanic then it might be time to get a new car...* 

Will bicycle to the coffee.

Just finished reading Incognito -- another colleague loaned it to me after going to a diversity workshop conducted by Michael Fosberg. It started off slow but picked up around chapter two. Found this Unclutterer article about when people give up on books interesting.

An article that I never thought about giving up on -- Eve Ensler's Let The Mythical Daddy Die.

*Mechanic forgot to tighten a bolt when he replaced air intake hose. So relieved. The one with the new car gave me a ride to the auto place. Could not face the afternoon humidity on a bicycle. Total bicycle mileage for 7\24: 5.5 miles.

Risky Stuff

Woke up totally knackered.

Sent Patti and email to let her know that I would not be climbing so she decided to go bicycling since the weather is nice.

Told Patti how I ran into this woman at Aldi... Went to pick up two items and scooted my things further down the conveyor belt. The woman thought that I had noticed her scars and said that it didn't hurt much anymore and that's when my eyes fell on the sore on her shoulder and the wicked bruise on her chin. She said that she ran into the back of her friend's bike and tumbled -- helmet-less.

Patti responded -- Bicycling is risky business.

I also sent Patti a picture of my newest burn. Patti -- Ironing is risky business. A.M. ironing is definitely risky for me.

Burn Baby...

At this point, I should confess that I don't wear a helmet while bicycling and this is not a confession: skin is amazing.



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Adjust

Weight of the Rain, Crepe Myrtle

I remember two of The Four Agreements:

Don't make assumptions.

Be impeccable with your word.

Saw something on Joy of Yoga's Facebook page that moved me as well:

The Buddha gives us a skillful checklist:
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?
Is it the right time?

Practiced yoga tonight with Joy at the helm. She likes to have us use a strap to place around the ball of a foot and the back of our head. She calls it a hammock. Oddly enough, it's relaxing. Joy told us to take the time to find some good i.e. if the hammock didn't feel good, adjust.

Of course, I'm a hedonist-in-training so I love to hear stuff about finding something that feels good.

After our final pose, Joy talked about finding wisdom in The Velveteen Rabbit while reading it to her son -- something about not finding your authentic self until your hair has grown thin. LOL, I'll have to check it out of the library.

I'll have to check out Maya Angelou's Life Doesn't Frighten Me At All too. I've always found it moving...

Guess the hammock worked because after Namaste, no one rushed to move. Think we could have all rolled over and gone to sleep.

The Back Burner

After being on my own at work for over three weeks, I decided to have "Treat Yo Self" Friday.

And how do I treat myself? I got more activewear of course. Headed to JC Penney right after work and got the shirt below in anticipation of walking the 6.29 trail at Forest Park knowing that it was going to be above 90 degrees. Sure, I have an outdated sleeveless shirt but I wanted a new one. Hardly wear sleeveless shirts but I'm trying to stay cool and put my concerns about body scars on the back burner... Actually, I burned myself with the iron on Friday morning so put another check in the scar column.

Alison and I hit the park at 9:30 a.m. and it was already toasty but we marched on and survived. Spotted someone barbecuing and I said that there's no way that I would barbecue on a day like today and Alison said Not unless I had on an ice cube suit.

Segways at rest in front of MO History Museum

"Lightness"

Headed to the frenetic outdoor city pool immediately after work yesterday.

Felt so much lighter and at ease. Exercising outdoors really does make a difference. The pool was too crowded to get in proper laps but I didn't get hung up on that. I did water walking when I couldn't find a path...

I'm sure that finishing a task at work also contributed to my feeling of lightness. I've been in my department by my lonesome for almost three weeks. Back-up, where art thou?

I've been remarkably calm during my solo stint. There was an intense moment yesterday but when I returned to me desk, I saw this "moth" at my window and it made be feel better...

There was a break in the weather today so I walked back to work after lunch. It's kind of funny but I don't listen to podcasts until I walk. Ironic that hit play on The Moth's "Farms, Fish Banks and an Iron Roof." One of the storytellers, Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, is from Zimbabwe. Her 80 pound weight gain started when she went to school in London and started eating fast food and drinking sodas. Sibanda's aunt delivers a pivotal smack-down...

This morning I got an e-newsletter which had a picture of me from a yoga event. It's absurd how much weight I've gained back. Damn public yoga events. Ugh, the caged chickens have come home to roost. I cannot believe that I have to start over with this whole weight loss thing again.

Things

Did not even entertain the thought of bicycling or walking to work. The sun has gone down and it's still 90 degrees but, as others have pointed out, it's summer...

Haven't gotten around to reading a J.K. Rowling book but I'm becoming a huge fan.

.@diegtristan8 "she is built like a man". Yeah, my husband looks just like this in a dress. You're an idiot. pic.twitter.com/BCvT10MYkI

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 11, 2015

Also liked what Mary Elizabeth Williams had to say about the New York Times' article.

Went to yoga tonight and Joy talked about how we all want the same things -- how we might not agree with people and how they might get on our nerves but... That concept is kind of hard to hold onto right now because there just seems to be so much nastiness in the air.

This Pool, This Week

During the last week of June, my engine light popped on. I wasn't too worried since it wasn't doing the wild bucking that it did when the ignition coil blew. Plus, the light wasn't flashing.

Took it to the shop and while I waited a mechanic asked me how I was doing then I asked him. My boss determines that. Hilarious but not...

Later on I talked to this guy about work and how I fantasize about having a clone at times but he said that he didn't have such fantasies. I wouldn't want two of me stuck in this...

A third person that I talked to said something covert like We cannot expect/ask for anything else.

It was kind of a weird week.

Haven't felt like myself but felt energetic during Thursday's Zumba class and again for Zumba today. Alison said that the she peeped the air quality on Thursday and it was green. Maybe all of the rain stirred up stuff or, at the least, the rain has been an energy vampire.

Went to the city pool this afternoon to get over the shock of the temperature going from 78 to 91. There's one free outdoor pool in the city and it was closed last year for repairs. There is a certain frenetic energy to this pool and there are things that I heard today that I won't repeat. Still, I enjoyed the summer breeze and the cool water.

So Fresh, So Chilly

Got to the pool and greeted the youth coaches as their charges exited the water.

As I sat on the edge of the pool, the female coach told me that an electrocuted squirrel caused a power outage and, as a result, the drainage of the pool water. She said that it took nine hours to fill the pool and that the new water was the reason that it was so chilly. I know, nine hours is a lot of water...

It took about four laps to shake off the chill and then I thought about the amazing adaptation skills of the body. I also wondered how they knew about the squirrel. Where did the find him? Was the evidence conclusive?

I have been told before that a squirrel was the cause of a misbehaving phone line at my residence...

As I swam I had Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Cibo Matto* refrains going through by head. Not sure why Sheila E.'s Glamorous Life came to mind as I picked out my wild hair. I've actually toyed with the idea of getting a waterproof MP3 player but, nah, who needs one?

*Alison's friend mistakenly imbibed hummingbird nectar and now I have Sugar Water stuck in my head.

No Flow

Dreams again.

Dream #2*: I'm in a car that gets carried away by water but is getting ready to go under. One of the windows is open...

I think about my favorite high school teacher and remember that her worst fear is being trapped in a car that's underwater. I also think about the tool that will break windows.

Do I feel like I'm in over my head or is the dream because of all the rain we've had or is it a combo of both? And what does the open window mean?


Dream #3: I borrow two tablets and I only need them for a minute but I proceed to use them like a Wii board and the screens shatter. I am full of remorse for breaking items that I didn't really need to borrow...

Went to an outlet with my aunt Debbie on Friday and, drum roll, I bought t-shirts. The stores that I went to: Reebok and Under Armour. I was baffled, for a minute, when I walked pass the Kate Spade store and saw the line.

Too Many T-Shirts

Got annoyed when I couldn't find any shorts. All the women's shorts are itty bitty while the men's shorts are long. Reminds me of a music critic way back in the day who said that all the women seem under-dressed in rap videos while the men seem over-dressed...

Men's Section

Saturday was the perfect day for bicycling since it only got up to 78 degrees. Only, I didn't feel like bicycling. Same thing this morning...

Went to Alison's yesterday to meet her friend that is visiting. I, mainly, played games and talked to them while they worked on jewelry projects. At some point, Alison fed us. Seriously? Invite me over to meet your friend and feed me? What a sweet deal...

Zucchini Noodles, Yum...

"Give me some of that."

Sometime after midnight Alison emailed me to say that she probably wouldn't make yoga. I was so sure that I would make it but I woke up early then went back to sleep. Alison, of course, made it and later told me to go with the flow.

Although I didn't feel like it, managed to put one foot in front of the other and walk for an hour. One of the perks of walking is that I listen to podcasts. Finished listening to How Does a 747 Pilot Work? and started Pole Vaulting, Comedy, and the Congo. I'm really enjoying Slate's Working podcast but, wow, not sure that I've heard a Moth episode that I didn't like.


*Cannot remember the first dream in the series...

In By 7, Out by 8 or Month-End Review, June

As I came to the end of my swim session last night, this woman patiently sat on the bench next to "my" lane. I knew that the lifeguard had told her them I'm usually out by 8:00 p.m.

Got out of the pool at the expected time and headed for the shower. As I prepared to dress, realized that I had forgotten my undergarments. Guess that I need to refer to my swimming checklist more often because I cannot go without a bra.

Wanting to go by the grocery store, I draped my heavy towel around my neck. Problem solved and thank goodness the weather has been mild. Of course, I ran into someone that I knew at the store.

Listened to StoryCorps as I walked home and this child with Asperger's Syndrome interviewed his mom. Who is your mortal enemy? His mom: I would say myself.  Wasn't expecting that answer but it was another reminder to practice self-compassion.

Review of the Month:


10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts
*Upper Body, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: HITT
*HITT 101, 1 x

Bicycling, 4 x's

Climbing, 2 x's

Dance It Off & firm up!
*Rock It, 1 x

Ellen Barrett Live: Super Fast Body Blast, 1 x

Just Walk: mix + match
*Short & Sweaty, 3 x's

Just Walk: Walk to the Hits, Party Songs
*Mile 2, 1 x

Just Walk: The Tone Every Zone Walk*
*Circuit Workout 1 (Walk Segment & Upper Body Zone), 1 x

Stretch Max
*Stability Ball, 1 x

Swimming, 7 x's

How To Drape Your Towel

Walk of Fat Fast*
*30 Minute Big Burn, 1 x

Walking, 16 x's

Weight Watchers: 7 Day Tone & Burn
*Tone, 1 x

Yard Work (including mowing), 3 x's

Yoga, 9 x's

Zumba, 4 x's


*Disclosure: complimentary copy