620 MPH or Month-End Review, October

Books have been returned, ripe bananas have been frozen, hair deep conditioned and sunglasses left in the car.

I hurtled through the sky at 620 miles per hour then hurtled, by taxi, from Montego Bay to Negril.

Today's activities were much tougher than the exercises that I engaged in this month. It was a long day of traveling with a 3:00 a.m. wake-up call.

Had a sizable peanut butter banana smoothie in Baltimore which made me have to go to the micro bano on the plane. Not sure how anyone overweight fits into the bano or a seat. I joked with a woman that the airplane toilet was a major incentive to lose weight.

Managed to get in over 10,000 steps walking through airports and whatnot. Forgot to mention that I'm on my first yoga retreat. It was bound to happen at some point, right?

Bicycling, 2 x's

Climbing, 3 x's

Country Line Dance Party!
*Scoot Those Boots, 2 x's
*Ride 'em Cowboy, 2 x's

Gaiam Cardio Kickboxing, 1 x

Just Walk: mix + match
*Short & Sweaty, 2 x's

Just Walk: The Tone Every Tone Walk
*Circuit 1, Upper Body, 1 x

Just Walk: Walk to the Hits: Party Songs
*Mile 2, 2 x's
*Mile 3, 2 x's

P90X
*Kenpo X, 1 x

Walking, 11 x's

Swimming, 2 x's

Yoga, 14 x's

Zumba, 6 x's

Rain Delay

Feeling much better. Not 100% but I'll take the percentage that I'm currently at.

It's been raining all day -- soft but persistent. I'm feeling drained and think the rain is partially responsible...

One of my coworkers doesn't own a car and I asked him where he'd left his poncho. He told me that he didn't need one because he was from the Pacific Northwest. Funny.

Chose a book, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory, off a nonfiction books you should be reading list. 

Really enjoyed this book. It is tightly written and has a lot of heart. Very early in her life, Doughty becomes fascinated with death and she follows that curiosity. 

I have many favorite parts but one that I really like is about Chris, a dogged body remover, who commented on a partner that gave up on removing a four-hundred-pound person from an apartment "I hate people who don't try."

So glad that I spoke up when we were making funeral arrangements for my aunt last year. There are some people who choose embalming then cremation but I didn't see the point of doing bot and also didn't see it as fulfilling my aunt's wishes...

Not Stationary

Yes, a double serving of comfort please.

Why am I so good at hydration when I'm sick and so terrible when I'm not?

Was at the 'Fugee's last night when I noticed how nice her corner looked. Took a few pictures then started paying attention to my meal. My sweet potato black bean burger, spicier than usual, did what I could not do for days -- clear the right side of my nasal cavity. Too bad that "the occupant" moved to the left side. The right side still felt amazing though and left me hopeful that change was on the horizon.

The 'Fugee and I, don't laugh, watched episodes one and two (season one) of Downton Abbey...

Left the 'Fugee's and there was very little traffic and, yet, someone was riding my bumper. However, if I'm not in the passing lane and someone is riding my bumper, I don't move over. Ended up being a cop and it was almost as if he or she was trying to push me over the speed limit so that there would be a reason to pull me over. The cop didn't stop me last night but it's so annoying because I've been stopped more times in the 'Fugee's area than anywhere else. Makes me want to put a bumper sticker on my car: not riding dirty...

No biking today. Tad bit chilly and too windy and I'm feeling Eastern European because I'm afraid of a cross-breeze right now.

Went to Zumba and talked with the newbie who I've dubbed Island Woman. Said woman has expressed concerned about not getting steps right but then came to the conclusion of Do what you can as long as you're not stationary.

Saw this shirt at Marshalls tonight. Really like the concept.

Just Because You Leap

Haven't had coffee in two days -- a sure sign of illness. The thought of coffee made my stomach turn which makes me wonder if it's a good thing to drink at all.

The common cold has me in its clutches again. No swimming. No climbing. I've been pretty much walking up until today when I felt energetic enough to go to Zumba.

Actually, I walked to work and went to Zumba. During my walk, finished listening to the Jane Fonda episode of Death, Sex and Money then started listening to Elizabeth Gilbert's Magic Lessons.

When I listened to Gilbert's first episode, thought it was clever of her marketing peeps to start a podcast as Gilbert's book, Big Magic, was released. I moved from episode one to five which is the last one in the season if I heard correctly. Gilbert interviews her friend Brene Brown who got the Midas touch from Oprah. At any rate, I enjoyed Brown's answer to a question that Gilbert posed.

Gilbert talks about a woman who was angry about being let down by inspiration. The angry woman had an idea, borrowed money, got others involved and she didn't get the results that she wanted.

Brown said that inspiration had not let that woman down and that just because you leap, it doesn't mean that there will be a net. Then Brown said the following:

I leap for the experience through the air, not for the landing. 

Well said Brene Brown. I need to give Daring Greatly another try.

Careful

Be careful what you asked for...

Might have lost my photos to a restore but Patti took some as well and, so, there was photographic proof of just how much I've chunked up.

I just make myself work harder now. No one wonder I had tender biceps from trying to haul myself upwards. At any rate, I still appreciate all the things that my body can do.

Patti Dangling Above Me

Even The Big Kids Got One

Walked to work this morning and thought I'd try a new podcast but switched gears about six minutes into Not Too Deep with Grace Helbig. I'll give it a try later on down the line. Instead, I listened to How Does a Mediator Work?, from Slate's Working lineup. A giant thumbs up from me. I enjoyed listening to the mediator/shamanic healer. Energy work fascinates me.

Liked what Clemants had to say about people with heavy energy -- how they walk into a room and make you want to move away. Clemants said they haven't done the work to get rid of that heavy energy...

On another note, one of my coworkers said that she had a very realistic dream about me. I was upset about work apparently.

About Leaving The Forest Floor

No Saturday bicycling as partners in crime had restrictions on their time. Plus, it was a little chilly and windy for riverfront cycling.

Alison and I went to Zumba instead. There were a bunch of newbies who looked like they belonged to the same family. As the first member left early, I encouraged her stay but she said I'm headed back to the treadmill. It's too much jiggling for me. Hilarious!

Thought I had all the time in the world but barely had enough time to grab lunch before I headed out to the Shaw Nature Reserve for a canopy climbing workshop.

The trees are spectacular right now so the drive was amazing.

As I hauled myself upwards, didn't feel an ounce of trepidation about leaving the forest floor. I guess that's one of rock climbing's gifts to me.

Canopy climbing requires a lot of coordination and I had a hard time pushing one rope up and then pushing my foot strap up etc. I never got the right balance and, as a result, I was almost in a reclining position on the way up which made my body very tense. But Patti? That woman's a natural at climbing and she had ascended two trees, almost, before I got one in.

There was a young lady who was also a natural...

Patti In Her Element

\Drove home and made another pit stop before my trip to the Apple store. My iPod, even with a restore, has still been glitchy and I couldn't back it up. With an appointment, I still had to wait 30 minutes in the super crowded store. As my Aunt Al says about Walmart, you would think Apple is giving stuff away.

As I sat there and waited, I was on the verge of tears. Tiredness was getting the best of me but I do have to say that Apple employees have very good customer service skills. Never saw the technician as the guy who did my intake ran a diagnostic and there were still several issues so he gave me a new iPod.

When I saw that my Ipod couldn't be backed up, did an update on Google Photos to preserve the rest of my pictures from canopy climb but looks like they were lost. F@!$

Something New

Headed to gentle yoga after work and the teacher that I was expecting wasn't there but I heard just what I needed to hear from Erin:

Your intention might be -- I intend to do nothing but breathe and relax.

Thank you for the reminder. Think my new favorite pose is supported supta baddha konasana a.k.a. supported reclining bound angle pose.

And supta reminds me of another yoga teacher, Liz, who said that when you hear supta it's usually a reclining pose and how I love to hear supta.

Had planned to go to Zumba so I checked Shawny's Facebook page before heading out but class was canceled. Shawny's been ill and I guess no sub was available.

As much as I like to exercise, it's hard for me to pull myself together to exercise after 7:00 p.m. but I grabbed a few DVDs and went at it. Looking for variety, cracked the seal on Country Line Dance Party! I'm not a fan of country music but I was surprised by how fast the first 10 minutes went by. It's definitely nice to do something new.

Finished listening to the Aloud LA podcast on my return walk home yesterday. Like the James Baldwin quote that Charles Blow referenced:

You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.

Dreams, Phrases and Yoga

Had a small dream in which I tried to figure out the day of the week and was noticeably disappointed when I realized that the week was so young.

Monday night yoga still helps and I totally related when Joy said the practice is to undo what we've been doing all day -- sitting etc. More of the etc. really.

Did a few minutes of yoga before I rolled out of bed. I should be doing reclined pigeon on a daily basis but, of course, I don't. That few minutes of morning yoga felt good. Not sure why I don't do that more often.

A phrase from The Kite Runner popped into my head as I got ready this morning -- There's a way to be good again. Can't remember if that phrase is in the book as well...

Took advantage of this beautiful fall day and walked about. Listened to An Astronaut's Husband, Left Behind -- an intriguing Death, Sex and Money podcast. Also listened to part of Through Trying Times: Stories of Loss and Redemption, a Los Angeles Public Library podcast.

My mood? Curious...

Holding On

Connie As Alison & I Checked Out Totems

It's been a tense month at work then I rushed around playing squeezing specialist --trying to fit many things into my day on Friday. After returning from lunch, knew that I had locked my keys in the car as soon as the door sealed. Worst possible timing in that people with spare keys are in another state. Luckily, my roadside assistance covers locking one's key in the car. Wasn't sure that the insurance did. Otherwise, I would have had to call a locksmith.

On Fridays, I face a small dilemma. I want to practice yoga but I also feel wrecked. Despite feeling depleted and like I couldn't move any further, I went and it was worth it just to hear Erin say Cut the cords that have been hanging onto you all week. Hallelujah and thanks for the cue...

Went bicycling with Alison and Connie. When I arrived at the parking lot, there were only two cars so I turned on my cell phone in case Alison needed to reach me and I started reading Mental Floss when I heard someone approach my car. It was Alison. Connie had driven and told Alison that she didn't think that I knew they were there. I most certainly did not know. Kind of funny.

We had gorgeous weather for bicycling which had me singing Lovely Day throughout the bike ride and I'm going to hold onto that and not dwell on the fact that I checked very few things off of the to-do list.

One of Artica's Totems

Wow

After climbing last night headed to the Apple store even though I didn't have an appointment. Who would be in the Apple store around 8:00 p.m.? Everybody, wow! And the next available weekend appointment is on Oct. 17th, ugh.

My new iPod's battery won't hold a charge for very long. It's not synching and it's taking forever for things to load. This never happened with the refurbished iPod that I bought. The only thing that happened to it was crashing to the floor without a proper case, ugh. Modern problem,..

Went to gentle yoga after work, wow. So relaxing. After I removed my bolster from under my knees and moved the rolled up blanket from under my neck, I put my hands together in anjali mudra and my forearms reminded me that I'd been climbing.

Joy's a talker and says all kinds of interesting thing but my mind latched onto: we're not here to struggle.

Made a pit stop at home then headed to Zumba where there was a small but lively crowd. The sub, Eileen, is too cute and funny. She told us folks in the back of the room to move closer. I want to feel the love, she said and then If Mohamed doesn't come to the mountain... Well, that wasn't her version of that phrase. Eileen's, possibly, Latin American and her wording was a little different.

Breathe, 'Drea, Breathe

My immediate coworker was in an epic mood this morning but she had me cracking up when she started talking about Columbus Day.

Columbus Day is a federal holiday. We are off on federal holidays. Why aren't we off on Columbus Day?

I was feeling her on that one. Would love to have October 12th off. Also, I'm doing everything to squash my own foul mood...

Headed to yoga and the sky was stunning -- indigo with orange and white splotches. I took a brief detour so that I could pull over and capture the moment. By the time I got off the highway, the sky wasn't as spectacular as it had been but it was still charming.

This woman got on my nerves at yoga -- slapping down her map and moving around like a noisy troll. I may or may not have called her a troglodyte. Breathe, 'Drea, breathe...

Speaking of the sky, Neil deGrasse Tyson was on CBS This Morning talking about some movie. He caught my attention when he said We are a sample of one.

The Art of Unwinding Twice

Treated myself to a month of unlimited yoga and one thing about treating yourself to an unlimited pass is that you show up on the mat more often, duh, unless you practice yoga for drunks. At any rate, had my eye on going to restorative yoga on Friday after work but started waffling about whether or not I should.

Believe it or not, it's an effort to make it to yoga on Friday evening but I pulled myself together and headed in the direction of the studio and caught just about every red light. Traffic was impressive too. I had to tell myself to slow down -- that racing through the city was not very appropriate for someone heading to practice yoga...

Made it to the studio with five minutes to spare and was a little puzzled when I didn't feel the presence of others. Turns out that the only person in the studio was the teacher. It's kind of exciting to have a private yoga lesson but also nerve-racking for someone like me who does not like attention. Felt like I had to unwind twice but it ended up being a lovely class and then I headed out -- late for my rendezvous with the 'Fugee and the other 'Fugee...

Made a bicycling date with Alison and Connie even though we knew that it had been breezy for two days and Saturday's forecast was also for breeziness. Monitored my iPod to make sure no one had canceled and started putting on layers. Also dug out my fingerless gloves then headed to the riverfront.

Wow, it was chilly which we all could have dealt with but the breeze was formidable. I'm so proud of us for getting our bike ride in and thankful that the staff at the visitor's center had fires going...

Finished reading Gretchen Rubin's Happier At Home and Rubin has definitely found her niche. The Happiness Project resonated with me more but I liked this book too. One of the things that I like about Rubin is that she's fond of quoting and my favorite quote in this book is one by Elias Canetti:

"One lives in the naive notion that later there will be more room than in the entire past." (250)