The Good Swimmer

Felt like I'd been away from work for weeks instead of one and took that as a good sign.

I had a great staycation -- not sure what made this time so much better than previous post-birthday vacations but I'll take it.

On Saturday went to Crystal Fest and on Sunday went to Active Nation Day at Ballpark Village. As we were practicing yoga, I heard this buzzing sound and just as I looked up the teacher let us know that it was a drone. I'm pretty sure that when I signed up online, I agreed to have my picture taken or something like that but, ugh, the horror. As Alison said, "We've been droned."

Later on I looked at the organizer's website and alerted Alison that the video was there but, as she said, the footage wasn't scintillating enough to go viral. We were both thankful.

I also wanted to go to the Strange Folk Festival but it was so hot this past weekend.

Went swimming tonight even though I feel a little under the weather. This woman asked me how many laps I usually do and she talked about her lap goals then said But I don't swim as good as you. It still surprises me when someone mentions me...swimming...and good in the same sentence.

Last night I went to yoga and we got the chairs out! Joy joked that we were not going to do geriatric yoga but whatever -- chair yoga, gentle yoga -- count me in...

Zen Garden from Crystal Fest

Content and...

I'm off work this week as I like to ease into a new year.

Went bicycling yesterday and got more comfortable with taking the wheel off but I'm still entertaining the idea of getting a hitch and bike rack. Going to yoga later in the day was a superb idea as Alison and I picked up where we left off even though we hadn't been biking in months.

Overall, I'm feeling content and happy -- obviously an easier state to achieve when on vacation. Sometimes when I'm in a good place I wonder what will go wrong. My reasoning goes something like this: you're really content = that means something bad is going to happen. I try to adjust my mindset and move on...

The first thing that I did this morning was go to a bra shop. I've been needing to get fitted for a long time -- especially with losing then gaining weight.

When I walked into the shop, the woman told me that she was closing her business. So ironic... That store has been on my mind for a while and I finally go and she won't be there much longer.

The owner was very patient and helped me find something. She even said that she tailors bras but will not be doing that much longer as she has about twelve that she's working on and doesn't want to take anymore since the store is closing.

After I selected a bra, still pricey (and I was expecting that) after a "closing" discount, I had a super conversation with the owner who seems very nice and honest but couldn't find good help and couldn't continue to work 60 hours a week etc. I got such good vibes from her that I wanted to close our transaction with a hug.

No Ordinary Bra

Another Year

Figurine and Salt Lamp

What's a woman to do on her birthday when two of her main partners-in-crime are away? The 'Fugee has pulled a carpe diem move and is away indefinitely and Alison a.k.a. Elastigirl was attending a weekend-long workshop.

My aunt Girt texted me about a week before my birthday to remind me that said birthday was on the weekend and wanted to know what were we going to do.

I knew that my aunts etc. would be out of contention for the a.m. because they go to church so I ended up going to breakfast with Chiquita, Patti and Jessica at one of my favorite restaurants, Rooster. Hell, it's everyone's favorite restaurant. Protip: if you're in town and plan to go to Rooster, call me first -- then let's agree to go at 9-ish when the wait won't be forever.

Chiquita says that I give very good gifts making it extra hard to find something for me. I decided to be more humane and presumptuous by taking out some of the guesswork. I made up a list of some things that I wanted.

My aunt Debbie texted me to say that she had forgotten to ask me about my wish list but she still gave it a try because she was out and about but when I told her what I wanted she laughed and said that she would just give me money.

A few of the items on my b-day wish list:

• Resuable Sandwich Bag
• Namaste Car Decal
• Bath Bomb
• Stylus Pen with Cute Print

I went from breakfast to yoga. Jessica is the only one who would go with me. The yoga class was super sweet -- slow-paced and we used yoga tune-up balls. I know what the 'Fugee is thinking -- These are tennis balls and I've used them before!

Went home after yoga and ordered food from Everest Cafe. Took a shower then went to pick up the food then headed for a massage. I woke myself up a couple of times snoring during said massage. By the way, I highly recommend a birthday massage.

Got home and my aunt Girt pulled up almost at the same time that I did. The food was still lukewarm. If you could have seen the look on my mother and aunts' faces as I explained what I had gotten from Everest Cafe, you would have fallen out laughing or thought that it was an episode of Fear Factor.

Momos and Tandoori Chicken...

At any rate, my new year got off to a great start...

End Of The Tunnel

Hit the pool. Chatty Kath was in one lap lane and this guy was in the other. The latter offered to share but I told him that I would be okay in the larger area of the pool since there was only one kid taking lessons. He said If they get to jumping off the diving board, the offer still stands. A very cool offer.

The kid finished with his lesson at 8:00 p.m. I usually swim for an hour but when the kid is there, I continue to swim so that I don't have to wait on the shower. Twenty laps turned into 25. The next to last person exited the pool when I was at about the 30 lap point.

Even though I felt guilty for keeping the three lifeguards, I continued to swim until I hit 33 laps. It's hard to stop swimming when I can see a mile at the end of the tunnel.

I took a quick shower and when I sat in my car, it was 8:40 p.m. -- still twenty minutes until the pool officially closed. Think that I'll save my longer swim sessions for the weekend because I can't stand the guilty of being the last one out of the pool.

Maximize Me

Just for the record, I don't always leave yoga class in a state of bliss. There have been many times when I've felt like I didn't get what I needed or the class just didn't move me -- for whatever reasons -- including the fact that I might have gone to the wrong class.

At lot of times I go to 9 or 9:30 a.m. yoga on Sunday even though I don't feel like crawling out of my bed or I would rather go to Meditative Movement rather than Slow Flow but I usually go at 9 or 9:30 so that I can maximize time.

After class today Joy said that she was thinking about Jamaica and jellyfish poses so I imitated the way that I thought a jellyfish moves. This woman walked up and asked Alison and me if we were going to Jamaica and Alison responded in the negative but I said yes.  She, Gracie, walked up to me and gave me the most soulful hug. Seconds later, she grabbed a tissue to wipe away tears. I need this vacation, she said.

I remember seeing a sign in someone's office that said, and I'm paraphrasing, when you're comforting someone, you also receive comfort. The sign was much more eloquent but I can't remember the exact wording.

As Alison and I headed out the door, Gracie came back for another round of hugs.

When I went on the yoga retreat last year, I didn't know anyone but Joy but felt that most people would be kind and okay. Having met one of my 2016 retreat folks, I know that the same applies for this year.

To The Point

One of my colleagues had a death in the family so I ordered food from a Bosnian restaurant. Placed my order over the phone -- I'll take...two of this, two of that, one of those and another item separately.

Okay, bye. She didn't ask me for my name or give me the total or a time estimate.

I turned to my colleague and said Maybe she thought I was a prankster.

Went to the restaurant anyway and had to wait because the cheese and spinach pita that I had ordered was not ready.

Got the food then headed to my colleague's house where I chit-chatted with yet more colleagues and we discussed someone who'd recently resigned. She had too much, I said.

{Unintelligible sound} Every day is too much someone responded.

More Please

The weekend was superb.

You can get a lot done in four days -- long walks, yoga, mowing the lawn, swimming, hanging out with friends and family and cooking. More please...

Gave myself a pep talk yesterday as did many folks that I encountered. I kept telling myself "It's okay; you'll have more time off soon. You can do it..."

Had my Tuesday conflict again -- should I go swimming or should I go to yoga? I actually visualized myself in the pool but went with yoga because I missed my Monday night session due to Labor Day and I actually got invited to a resident-only pool by a resident so I swam yesterday. Still, my brain craved the Tuesday night swim session.

There was an actual line at the pool; you would have thought it was a line for Disney World but I guess lots of people wanted to say goodbye to summer.

Can't stop thinking about this Elizabeth Gilbert quote...

...Float Until

The weather was stunning on Friday so Forest Park beckoned and I walked around it for two hours and thought about how much I like the park that that includes several museums, an outdoor theater and a zoo.

Forest Park

Listened to several podcasts including Radio Hour: Phone Call, Flamenco, Surprise Party from The Moth. I haven't finished the episode but got goosebumps listening to Auburn Sandstrom's tale...

A colleague once suggested that I go for a float and I poo-pooed the idea saying that I'd rather go for a massage than a float until... I saw a group coupon for a float. I had some misgivings but booked a float for yesterday evening.

Opened the door and set off the wind chimes. I was immediately sucked in by the decor and the soft music.

Got my instructions, took a shower and got in float tank number two. Really didn't know how I was going to do with the door to the float tank closed but I did just fine. The ten minutes of music that eases you into sensory deprivation is such a smart idea.

It didn't take long before I got a bit emotional. Also kept thinking about that silly Dalai Lama joke.

One of the things that stays with me is the number of times I was able to breathe so deeply. Often, during yoga classes, I feel like my breaths are so choppy and abbreviated.

Before Enya piped into my suite, I was also struck by the sound of my beating heart...

Took another shower then went to the relaxation room to have tea and to read the Far Side.

Relax and Enjoy Life -- Sign in Relaxation Room

This cartoon from the Far Side made me think of an artist that I know.