Once Admired

One of my colleagues stumped me by saying that she likes to read in the shower. Her books are a little altered when she exits but...

Reading in the shower doesn't seem very relaxing but to each her own. The same colleague said that her husband likes to take baths but she tells him You're not a boy -- stop taking baths. She also went on to tell me that she does not like the way her body looks when she takes a bath and, deeper into the exchange, she told me how she once admired a teacher who had excess skin beneath her arms. As a seven-year-old, she liked the way the skin flapped.

It's hard to believe that someone who probably doesn't weight over 140 pounds (if that) and who is an avid runner and swimmer thinks that she has flappy arms etc. This colleague went on to tell me that she has now has the flappy arms that she once admired...

In other news, I made an impulse purchase. I bought Inov-8 shoes at REI Outlet. I wasn't totally thrilled by the pink in the shoe but I can live with because they feel amazing and solid and not like the Nike that I bought in February of last year -- total waste of money.The quality of Nike seems to have gone down.

Inov-8 & Inov-8 Box

Nike

X Amount

Joy repeated again how in ancient yoga there is a believe that you're born with "x" amount of breaths and that the slower you breathe, the longer your life will be. I like this concept and it encourages me to take deep breaths.

Walked to work this morning and I'm grateful that I can do such a thing again. Spotted a couch outside and not sure why I'm fascinated by couches on the street.

Riveted by Listening to the World, an On Being segment with Mary Oliver who talked about her insufficient childhood and how walking saved her life. Enjoyed Krista Tippett's daughter, 12 at the time, reading Oliver's The Summer Day.

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

On another note, I've been watching Little Bit Shots with my aunt Girt on Sunday. Got such a kick out of them playing Run The World why this eight-year-old punched as many times as possible in 30 seconds.

Food Gauntlet

Before yoga class this morning, Alison gave me a basket with homemade chocolate. Seriously?Talented, timely and thoughtful...

As I usually do, talked myself into cooking knowing that my first days of the work week will go a lot more smoothly if I don't have to wonder about what I'm going to cook. 

My aunt Girt, who is the head cook in the family, made Easter dinner. It was more like Easter brunch but I didn't go for a number of reasons including the decadent macaroni and cheese. 

I'm heading over to visit family this evening and I'm pretty sure that there's sweet potato pie left. One of these days, I'm going to get my life in order again.

Different Day

Climbing left a lot to be desired last night. In fact, it was downright frustrating but I guess I'll just say that I practiced climbing. If one can practice yoga then one can certainly practice climbing.

During the course of a convo with Patti about a tempting birthday lunch that she'd gone to, I was surprised to find out that she does not eat sprouted bread -- didn't know that was not allowed with Paleo...

One person at work has lost over 30 pounds and two people have lost over 20. My immediate coworker is not eating carbs and fruits right now and neither is the 'Fugee. It's a different March Madness, I guess.

After Zumba tonight asked the teacher how her corned-beef pizza turned out and she told me that it was very tasty. Her husband added hash browns this time. Tonight is also pizza night for her but this time it's Diablo pizza.

Before I left work, placed an order at Lona's because I was too tired and crabby to be in the kitchen. Even bird chirping got on my nerves today but I will say that when I split my burrito in half, Prince's U Got The Look popped into my head so I guess I chirped in my own way.

Big Thai Chicken Wrap with Rice Paper

By Any Means

Started a new project so I found myself at Starbucks last night (after yoga) along with Laura who agreed to let me interview her. We kind of got kicked out of Starbucks...

Remembered that Target stays open until 11 so I went by to get oatmeal and also grabbed more items while I was there. This morning I could not find my eyeglasses or work keys. Luckily, I have back-up glasses and colleagues who will let me in. Still haven't found the keys.

No swimming tonight because of spring break. Could have gone across town to another pool but decided to walk then take another yoga class. Saw Julie at the yoga studio. Hadn't seen her since November when we returned from the yoga retreat. Julie had forgotten her active wear so she practiced in her street clothes. Love it --  yoga by any means necessary.

Listened to part of the interview with Laura and, it's funny, I like even the background noise -- the clanking of glasses, the laughter. It's nice to sit and chit chat with someone without electronic interruptions and to talk about a shared joy.

I record interviews with a small Sansa MP3 player that I got about eight or nine years ago. Definitely got my money's worth...

In Pursuit of Baked Falafel

Got home after midnight and got to sleep after 1:00 a.m. Woke up around 6 a.m. then went back to sleep. Willed myself out of bed at 10, headed to Zumba and then, after Zumba, met with Rosie and her little pumpkin for lunch. It's kind of funny that I've been to Frida's three times but I've only eaten there once. The first time that I went they were on spring break and I didn't know it and the next time Rosie and I didn't realize that they were closed on Sundays.

Baked falafel for me...

Rosie & "Pumpkin"

After lunch risked going to Whole Foods during the middle of the day because I thought, for sure, they would have Napa cabbage, wrong, and the bok choy looked pitiful. Headed home and had a much needed cup of coffee...

Finally installed the refurbished Chromecast that I bought. Love it. Went to the international store close to me and found Napa cabbage and short bok choy.

For the self-care portion of the program, took a bath and finished reading The House of Tomorrow.

My laugh of the day came from Jessamyn Stanley, a self-described Fat Femme Yogi.

Jessamyn can be a little too ranty for me but she hit the nail on the head with her "Fat people for the fucking win" today.

Also thought what she said about bodies in the post below is poignant.

I'm not sure there's a way to express how much this photo means to me. Here's the thing- I can't tell you how many bigger bodied people say they can't practice #inversions bc of their body weight. And they see someone like my boo @eunseongyoga & they're like "Yeaaaah yoga might be for that girl but it's DEFINITELY not for me." But even when we don't think our bodies like alike, THEY ACTUALLY LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME. I mean, Eun Seong & I look essentially the same in this photo. Sure, different haircuts/body types/skin tones, but still- we're at an anatomical meeting point. And as a society we go much further when we celebrate our similarities rather than obsessing over our differences. That's probably the most important thing I'll take away from being in Dubai. In America, we're taught to think that we're the best and everyone else is beneath us. You can dress it up however you want, but that's the reality. And the main thing I keep noticing over and over again is that all humans are exactly the fucking same. All of us- every single one. And the problems start when we see ourselves as being different from one another.  Anyway, I'm pretty sure @eunseongyoga (& maybe you, too) is looking at this caption like "....DA FUCK IS THIS BITCH TALKIN' ABOUT WE WERE JUST DOIN HEADSTANDS, CHILL OUT." But check it out- traveling is cool, and yoga is rad as fuck, but none of it means shit if we're not gonna attempt to see the bigger picture. In my opinion, all of this is absolutely worthless otherwise. 💯 Also, #poc practicing yoga is essentially all I need in this world. 🙏🏾🙏🏾 Leggings- @mandukayoga

A photo posted by Jessamyn (@mynameisjessamyn) on Mar 18, 2016 at 1:52pm PDT

Like Slackers

I was admiring the flowers and thinking how they seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and, of course, that's not true. The seeds were planted or scattered. Seeing the colorfulness made me reflect on Joy's Imbolc talk.

Went climbing this evening and I'm able to climb better each time that I go. I returned Patti's Fitbit. When I misplaced my Garmin tracker, Patti told me that she would give me her Fitbit that was being replaced because of inaccuracy but then she gave me the wrong Fitbit. She strapped both of them on her dominant hand and starting climbing stairs in between climbing routes to test them out. Patti's husband and I concluded that she was just trying to make us feel like slackers. At any rate, I think that Patti the right Fitbit now.

On the way home, I was treated to a beautiful evening sky. Kept stopping to take pictures and finally got one that accurately reflected the color.

Really enjoyed this Instagram that was posted today...

Purpose

Set my alarm clock on Sunday so that I would make it to 9:00 a.m. yoga. Two people walked in during savasana. Kind of funny. Kind of not...

Kept my eyes on the 7:30 p.m. yoga prize today.

Towards the end of the work day, I walked to the recycle bin and one of my colleagues asked me Is everything under control? Such a funny question because so much seems out of control. He went on to talk about going to working, going home, going to work -- Sometimes I lose the purpose... I feel ya.

Here's a song about the whole work-home life. Rest in peace Ekrem Jevric.

Post-Namaste, talked with this woman who rode her bike to the studio and bicycling is her normal mode of transportation. Her eyes lit up when she said I can talk to you about a commuter bike. There was one $600 dollar option and one that was twice as much. She did concede that for my short commute, my hybrid is fine.

Can't imagine myself buying a $1,200 dollar bike but if biking is your primary mode of transportation, I get it.

A Little Yellow Tag

As I got dressed for work on Friday, my shoulder blade had a different idea. Didn't think that I would be able to get my shirt over my head but I sat there and tried to take deep breaths. Only, I couldn't take a deep breath and when I attempted to, it made me feel the discomfort in the shoulder blade. Eventually, the sensation lessened enough for me to get out the door. Who's stressed out?

Last night the 'Fugee went to a concert so I went to Macy's looking for cross trainers because I have a Macy's gift certificate but I haven't been able to find any clothes or shoes there that I like. Headed to Marshalls and was shocked to see Asmira because I thought she had gone to the same concert that the 'Fugee went to.

Asmira was doing what a lot of the diaspora does -- buy clothes for folks in Bosnia. After I said goodbye to Asmira, ran into another Bosnian who happens to be a fitness machine and talking to her got me motivated to up my bicycling game.

Went to Zumba this morning and it was a big and super fun class. Alisha's energy is off the chart. This woman from Nepal is a gym newbie who hadn't been in three weeks but her husband noticed and said something about paying without attendance so she is recommitting herself but it's not her recommitting that I found touching; it was the story that she told me about changing jobs. She took a lower paying job to work with her sister who is a new arrival and who had to spend long hours away from home because she had to rely on public transportation...

At Marshall's yesterday, I had to resist the urge to buy a reusable bag that I didn't need and, today, I bought Capri that Asmira would not have approved of because they didn't have a yellow tag.

Also, not sure why Marshalls has such bright lights in their dressing rooms. Seriously? I don't need everything illuminated.

Reusable Bag

Under Armour Capri

Stuff People Ask Me

Did you shave your hair? What did you do? I can't see...

You don't wear a cap?

Wearing a cap makes you go faster.

I haven't been swimming in a year. The last time that I went swimming, I did five laps and snuck out of the pool because everybody else was still swimming. See, I took my swimming necklace off.

You've been swimming for 10 years now, haven't you?

Honestly

Went to restorative yoga after work but, honestly, I feel so depleted by the end of the week that it's hard to convince myself to go.

After yoga headed to the 'Fugee's and then we headed to Asmira's who invited  us over. Think that I ate a gazillion calories and since Asmira is the hostess with the mostest, she kept offering food and beverages. I straight up didn't have to eat everything that was offered, I know...

Asmira told us that she wants to go to Mecca this year. My response to most people with bucket list items is -- Do it! I keep encouraging people to throw caution to the wind and I need to practice it in my own life. I am dragging my feet on purchasing a car because I feel a bit spoiled about not driving my 15 year-old car longer. I keep telling myself that it's not the end of the world if I don't make the wisest decision or if I don't get the perfect deal and I've had enough harbingers to know that I'm making the right decision...

Went to the library and picked up a few magazines including the January issue of Bon Appetit. Liked the interview with Sam Kass, former White House chef.

When we forget about the broccoli in the crisper, we're also throwing out the water and energy that went into it.

The Back of the Napkin interview is with Ice Cube. Love what he says about moderation. "Keep your sanity," he says. "If you want a burger, eat half a burger. Want a bag of potato chips? Eat half a bag." The interviewer asked Ice Cube if all bets were off, what would he eat and, so, he wrote it on the back of napkin. In that spirit, I wrote what we had to eat yesterday on the back of a napkin.

Seriously? Who can turn down this six layer confection?*

*Except for the 'Fugee who is not a big eater of sweets. Seriously? She ate it but didn't relish it like I did.

Extra Cheese

Went climbing last night and I've progressed a tiny bit. As I got ready to belay, asked a fellow climber, Mike, how he was doing. He told me that he was tired and that his allergies were getting the best of him and if it wasn't for medicine, he probably would have sneezed his head off. In addition, he'd had a rough day at work.

Mike works at a Google-like company and, for some reason, I thought my not working at a Google-like company was a contributing factor to many things but, alas, I see that working at Google-like company ain't no crystal stair either.

At some point during the climbing session, realized that I didn't have my fitness tracker around my wrist. Goodbye $99 dollars. Called the gym this morning and someone had turned it in. Thank you...

After picking up my tracker, went to Soulard to get pizza. It was my first time visiting the pizza joint and I was surprised to see statues of Buddha and Ganesha. No, I don't mind looking at the remover of obstacles while I wait for a vegan pepperoni pizza which was nice and spicy. I'd never had vegan pepperoni before. Thumbs up.

Ganesha at the Pizza Shop

As I waited for the pizza, someone called in an order and the owner said I know who that is -- she always asks for extra cheese. Kind of funny.

Went to Zumba tonight even though my knee hasn't been cooperative. Instantly thought about Gingerzingi's husband and his knee issue. It's so nice when the body is not cranky. Not sure why my knee is tweaked but I did dance away some of the constriction.