Understatement

Bought way more than I expected post-Thanksgiving. Planned to acquire at least one more singing bowl and did my usual back and forth about the necessity of purchasing more stuff.

My sound equipment arrived on Wednesday which was the same day that I was collaborating with Jocelyn to do a restorative, sound experience so I took my new bowl along after testing it out. 

This woman, Lisa, approached me and shared that she is a St. Louis native, does sound healing but now lives on the West Coast. When she comes home, she likes to check out the sound scene.

Lisa and I talked plus exchanged Instagram information after class and was surprised when I saw that she followed me on Twitter until I remembered that my Twitter information is on Instagram but I was even more surprised when I saw what Lisa tweeted; it was so moving (understatement).

I experienced doubt about my purchase and about sound therapy and Lisa's generous tweet was a sign that I needed.

Do You Really Like To Read?

Woke up and watched part of the French Open. Totally mesmerized by Serena Williams' body. She is thick and I relate.

Whenever I read one of those articles that try to quiet women's fears about bulking up, I chuckle. I won't pretend to be as in shape as Serena, but I'm a bulky exception...

Shook some of the cobwebs out, lifted my bike out of the basement, stopped by the mailbox and headed to the park to enjoy the perfect weather. Ran into friends of a friend and chatted with them for a while, came home, ate Chobani then walked to the library to return books that were no longer renewable.

Tempting

Road to the Library Paved with Wildflowers

I recently read A. M. Homes' May We Be Forgiven. It's been described as a dark comedy and it is. After reading those 480 pages, I read Homes' memoir, The Mistress's Daughter. Just found out that the author has won an award.

Went to Cindy's birthday bash. Don't know what the ratio of yogis to non-yogis was but I'm pretty sure there were more yogis. I chatted with Lisa, newest yoga teacher that I know, and we talked about hoarding and food waste for a while. Lisa asked me if I loved to read then recommended that I try Farm City. I didn't even check to see what my number was in the library queue.

Happy Birthday To Ya...

Determination, Grit, Perseverance & Other Trifectas

Experienced a trifecta of deliciousness yesterday. Hung out with Hazira at the swimming pool, went home to refuel then headed out for climbing and yoga with Cindy, Kristen and Lisa.




Cindy and I, A Little Tandem Climbing on Elephant Wall

 



Eyes on the Climber

 Rooftop yoga in these parts in now equivalent to hot triple digit yoga. Wiser heads did prevail and rooftop yoga was moved from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

So, there's roof one and there's roof two. We did yoga on the lower roof which had more shade. It was such a nice experience practicing yoga with friends underneath the sky.

We set our mats up and Cindy, Kristen and Lisa readjusted and moved closer to the front. Lisa said that she was a dork like that and likes to be near the front. Cindy asked me if I was going to move my mat and I was like no thanks. I was perfectly fine with my back row spot. No one needed or needs to witness my awkward alignment.

I soon realized why Lisa moved up front. She did Cirque du Soleil worthy chaturangas. No need to buy a $50 dollar plus ticket to the circus when Lisa is practicing illish asanas nearby. I know, I know. You're not supposed to be a lookie loo during yoga practice but girlfriend was all up in my peripheral vision.

Lisa Rolling Up Her Mat

Sometimes, I don't know what's more challenging -- chaturangas or downward facing dog. Agatha, the teacher, got on a little mantra about grit, determination and perseverance but I didn't pay any attention to her because she did some Cirque-worthy plank bind situation.

Toward the end of class, Agatha had us in bridge which we would hold for a spell while making sure that our chins were away from our chests. As Agatha said, it's a good position for folks who work at a desk all day. After releasing the bridge, we'd close our eyes and put our hands on our bellies. Repeat bridge, release -- hands on belly. Yummy sequence. Yummy day, repeat...

Cindy & Kristen with Post-Savasana Smiles

Checking out the Arch from Roof Two

I Knew It...or More Stuff People Say to Me

Me: I strain to hear the teacher.

Opal: Honey, I don't even try that anymore. I just look at Dana and follow her; she's been doing yoga for a long time.

Me to Lifeguard: So, what are your tips for front crawling breathing?

Lifeguard demonstrates then: I think you just need to make a goofy face.

You're running kind of late, aren't you?

Lifeguard to me as I arrived at the pool at 8:30 p.m.

You still have time to get your workout in.

Gentlemen to me. I got to the pool at about 7:15; it closed at 8

I knew it.

A response from a friend at work who asked me if I was going to have Papa John's pizza -- provided by work during preparations for a special event. I said no.

What's your name? That's my sister.

Someone would climb then belay then someone would hold Keri's baby. When it was my turn, Celeste's big sister approached me -- probably wondering who the stranger was holding her infant sister.

I like how when she's taking it easy, she does routes that we find challenging.

Leah's Mike on how Leah was taking it easy by top rope climbing but still rocking 5.9's and 5.10's while nursing her shoulder.

Gratuitous Picture of Leah When She Wasn't Nursing Anything

No one wants to be up front...Even the instructor falls and he tells us not to base our practice on someone else's.

Dana re: her crowded Sunday yoga class and how everyone wants to be in the back of the class.

Lisa: You make interesting moves when you climb. I just hop to the next hold. Hop like a bunny.

Me: What's your Chinese zodiac sign?

Lisa: I don't know: Bunny. Asshole...

Me: (Lots of laughing)...

Interesting First Move or Interesting Composition -- You Decide

I did a century both days.

An Upper Limits staff member who was having a conversation with Patti and me after spotting Patti's MS T-shirt

I Ate Your Chips or Stuff People Say to Me, VIII

I ate your chips. I knew you wouldn't mind.

Leanne (next door work neighbor) brought back a veggie burger for me from Local Harvest; they usually serve burgers with Billy Goat chips which I usually don't eat.

You look good. Your skin is so clear and you look like you've been dipped in chocolate.

Lori, my friend

Lori With One of Many Animals She Has Befriended

She has been dipped in chocolate.

Michael, a yoga teacher sitting nearby in a coffee shop*

So, tell me, what's up with you? Yaddayaddayadda...You look cute. Yaddayaddayadda

Lisa, fellow climber

One route at a time.

Patti to me after I voiced my frustration with getting off to a rocky climbing start.

Patti Standing On Top of the Bouldering World

Nubian Princess...

Jackie, a climber, to me. She had a hard time remembering my name and said that she would just call me Nubian Princess. I had no objections.

I'll tell ya, one mistake that I see people make a lot is being too far away from the wall.

Brent's friend's comment on lead belaying after Brent asked me about the lead climbing class.

Leah: Are you still doing yoga?

Me: Yeah, I'll probably try Bikram next.

Leah: That's not good for your body. Pause... You can go outside (it was around 100 degrees this day) and do yoga.

Leah Lead Climbing Some 5.11b Situation

You're totally ready for lead climbing. Later...Your technique is good.

Jessica

Jessica Showing Her Usual Tenacity On A Route

If I had a choice between jumping out of a plane and rock climbing then, maybe, I would choose rocking climbing.

Janine

*Sitting at a middle table with Michael on the left and an older couple on the right, I was fully embarrassed at this point. I guess exercise and cleaner eating are agreeing with me???

The Natural

This picture of my nephew, Dylan, is one of my favorites. Dylan's visiting for a spell and he's definitely not the infant swaddled in a quilt, the chunky two-year old or the petulant pre-schooler who used to position himself on the opposite of everything: no to bathing, food, sleeping et al.

Dylan went climbing with me and he's a natural -- climbing routes that took me a year to ascend. Of course, he also has unfair advantages like height and muscles.

Yesterday was an interesting climbing day. There were plenty of people around but not my ace boon coon, Patti, and I missed her.

I paired up with Leah who met Patti about two weeks ago somewhere near the water fountain.

I introduced Leah to every climber that I knew which made her think that I was social. Leah, better luck with your assessment next time.

At one point, I suggested to Leah that she could climb with David of David and Helga fame or that she could probably climb with Michael and Sophie -- all lead climbers. I thought Leah would have a better time scaling more challenging routes since I don't lead belay yet.

I ended up climbing with Helga while David and Leah climbed together. Then, I saw Lisa (fist bumper, kisser and posse member) and another Michael introduced himself to me. He's like the sixth climber named Michael that I've met. I belayed for Michael and watched him mold his foot around this protuberance on a route. The way he molded his foot was beautiful...

Response of The Day

Leah to her son who had used the autobelay: Put the other carabiner back on there.

Her son: That's the way I found it.

Leah: We don't have to leave things the way other people do...

It's been interesting having my nephew around. Normally his brothers, my brother and other people are also around but he made this trek solo.

There are some people that you like less the more that you know about them but that's not true about my nephew.

Dylan on "I Think We've Met Before," 5.9


D On Auto Belay


Helpful To See Pictures of Myself (Belaying -- Pink Shirt); Otherwise, My Imagination Goes Wild

My Shero -- The Sore One

Lisa (newbie climber), Mike, Patti and I met up to climb. The three of them got there before I did. Two of Mike and Patti's friends also showed up to try out climbing after we had been there for a while.

First, Lisa left and, around 7, I left. I had a feeling that Mike and Patti would be at the gym for a spell with the other newbies.

The next day I got an email from Patti saying that she had done 12.5 routes and everything was sore, including her hair.

Me: Are you still up for climbing on Saturday?

Patti: I am able to climb tomorrow… duh. I am into pain. I am a rock climber.
ohmmmmm ohmmmmm ohmmmmm ohmmmmm