Best Laugh

On Wednesday, prepared to "lose myself to dance," and signed up for virtual Zumba but thought it was weird that the screen said the instructor would join five minutes before class; that screen is not usually there when I log on.

Had my iPod with me because I wanted to wish the 'Fugee a good night so I immediately saw an Instagram message from the Zumba instructor telling me that there would be no class and that she had posted the cancellation on social media. I'm in Argentina, she wrote.  That was the best laugh that I had all week -- maybe the only laugh that I had all week…

It's been hard for me to find a book after reading Circe. Started reading I Am I Am I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death. First of all, thought that I had read one of the essays before but couldn't remember when or where. Anyway, couldn't get into it. Next, I picked up Interior Chinatown and Walking in Wonder: Eternal Wisdom for a Modern World but couldn't totally get into either one of those. I was thinking about reading Cleopatra and Frankenstein but nixed that idea. Hoping to find a book that I can get lost in soon...

Got invited to a yoga class at the Earth Day celebration today but turned it down. Told my friend that I was exhausted and knew that the grass needed to be cut because of all the rain and I wouldn't have the energy to do both.

Woke up at my usual going-to-work time but stayed in bed and watched another episode of Better Call Saul. Think that I must have watched about five or six episodes and it just felt right to stay close to home.

The grass was a struggle to cut because it was tall and also still wet so I mowed almost all of the backyard then took a break. One of the arms on the lawnmower is broken and then I took another break. Got an old sync chord to see if I could wrap it around the handle. I used duct tape the first time. The handle would stay put for awhile then not work so I had to keep stopping which was frustrating.

After dinner, planted zinnia seeds and put up caution tape because my uncle sometimes helps with yard work and I'm hoping that the visual cue will help him stay away from the flowers.

Like Circe, I feel that Better Call Saul has come into my life at just the right time. 

Same Boat

Someone tagged me the other day to let me know that a Zumba teacher would do a Zoom class. It was cool to see people's faces that I haven't laid eyes on in a while. It was also weird to see people jumping around in individual boxes. Couldn't figure out how to "pin the host" but I'm assuming that I will get more familiar with Zoom.

It felt really weird at first but then I just relaxed and it was nice to get in a workout that wasn't walking.

One day I found myself thinking, I'm tired of walking but I quickly turned that thought around to I'm grateful that I have the ability to walk.

Left Zoom Zumba to attend an Instagram Live yoga class with Seane Corn. Sunday was so nice that it felt like a crime not to emerge from the basement to get outside and soak up the sun...

When I went to the grocery story about three weeks ago, this woman wished me "good luck" because everything had been picked over. It instantly made me think about preppers and a reality TV show that I'd watched on Netflix. Only watched one episode because I found it bothersome...

Thought about the workshop, Yoga As A Peace Practice, when one of the presenters said that you need to know how to grow your own food. This pandemic has been a lesson in many things, including not endlessly keeping food in the freezer.

Anyway, life is weird and scary right now, but I definitely know that many of us are in the same boat so I try not to panic. I continue with my pre-bed ritual of listening to 10 Percent Happier Live with meditation teachers. I get into a restorative posture and listen and breathe and it helps lighten the load that feels like it's weighing down my chest and heart.

One of my coworkers has been sending little notes of encouragement and, sometimes, poems.

I love this one that she shared:

Alive Together

Speaking of marvels, I am alive
together with you, when I might have been
alive with anyone under the sun,
when I might have been Abelard’s woman
or the whore of a Renaissance pope
or a peasant wife with not enough food
and not enough love, with my children
dead of the plague. I might have slept
in an alcove next to the man
with the golden nose, who poked it
into the business of stars,
or sewn a starry flag
for a general with wooden teeth.
I might have been the exemplary Pocahontas
or a woman without a name
weeping in Master’s bed
for my husband, exchanged for a mule,
my daughter, lost in a drunken bet.
I might have been stretched on a totem pole
to appease a vindictive god
or left, a useless girl-child,
to die on a cliff. I like to think
I might have been Mary Shelley
in love with a wrongheaded angel,
or Mary’s friend, I might have been you.
This poem is endless, the odds against us are endless,
our chances of being alive together
statistically nonexistent;
still we have made it, alive in a time
when rationalists in square hats
and hatless Jehovah’s Witnesses
agree it is almost over,
alive with our lively children
who–but for endless ifs–
might have missed out on being alive
together with marvels and follies
and longings and lies and wishes
and error and humor and mercy
and journeys and voices and faces
and colors and summers and mornings
and knowledge and tears and chance.

 “Alive Together” by Lisel Mueller from Alive Together. © Louisiana State University Oress.

Next to Last Dance

Had a dream that I went to a yoga event and left my singing bowls at home.

The "leaving" dream used to be about traveling. I would get to the airport and not have my camera. On the way back to the airport, I would have to take a boat and would have a hard time paddling...

This weekend went to the funeral for my twin uncles' half brother. Their brother, Main,  looks more like one of my uncle's twin than the actual twin. Main also had avsimilar knack for being able to fix just about anything like my other twin uncle who doesn't look like him.

One of Main's friends got up to give remarks and he chuckled after every two sentences and it was so nice to hear the laughter...

On my way to Zumba, I listened to the episode of  That's So Retrograde about Somatic Experiencing and Mercier Massage. I had never heard of the latter. As I listened to the podcast, started thinking about the state of the world and my mind went biblical as in Where are the Davids to all of these Goliaths?

It was the next to last class for the Zumba teacher who is taking her talents to another facility. She played Last Dance by Donna Summer as the cool down song. Ooooh, that was like pouring salt into a wound. I saw several people crying.

This woman who attends three Zumba classes with me said that Zumba is not supposed to make you cry. True that...

With Ambivalence

On Saturday, went to hang out with my yoga classmates; it ended up being much longer than I had planned but it was a relaxing evening and I enjoyed talking with them and the chores can wait another week, month...

As we talked, my classmate Camille said that she was missing book club. Upon further discussion, Camille mentioned that they had read The Bluest Eye and I said that it really took listening to the audio version for me to fully appreciate this book. Camille asked if Morrison read her own book. Yes, I responded.

My yes lead me to listen to audio clips of The Bluest Eye and Song of Solomon. Hearing Morrison's voice was so sweet and it made me feel at ease.

After a month-long hiatus, went swimming last night. What I love about the latter part of the year is that the water is just a tad bit warmer. Don't really enjoy that open swim is moved back to 7:30 p.m. in the fall but I deal with it. I totally missed the water and my body felt properly stretched and in alignment afterward...

There's this woman who attends Zumba classes on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. I asked her tonight how she was doing and she said, with an ambivalent face, okay. I related.

Listened to about 40 minutes of the Kryptonite for the Inner Critic, Self-Compassion Series episode of 10% Happier then I moved on to different podcasts. For some reason, I gave it another try today and it was just what I needed.

Towards the end of yoga teacher training, I remember how Stacy said that she felt more generous and didn't feel the need to be so insular.

I'm not feeling very generous and after listening to most of Kryptonite, I know that's okay but I'm also looking forward to being more than okay.

Challenging

On Mondays I go a little bit out of my way to a Zumba class in the county.

Last week, the instructor let us know that she's taking a position at another fitness club in a frou-frou part of town. The class was an uncharacteristically quiet one. The teacher kept saying, "I'm not dead and you still have seven chances to dance with me and we're going to party it up and you can request your favorite songs and, as a matter of fact, you can still workout with me and, literally, request a spot."

I had a little dialogue going on inside my head about how nothing stays the same and how change is inevitable then I started planning to, possibly, shift around my schedule and I also started to think about classmates that I may not see again.

As we exited class, heard another student say that she wouldn't be able to make it to the other gym which is, literally, not a gym; it's like an intentional community. One of my coworkers is familiar with the the place and says that a day pass is $60 dollars...

Yesterday, it was 70 degrees. On my walk, I saw birds eating berries. When I looked up and saw the birds snacking, I was delighted.

Today was a different story. Supposedly, the streets were too warm for snow to build-up but it did build up, mostly, on the grass but it was persistent. My boss, who doesn't usually close or let us go home early, let us go home about an hour early.

Found out that Zumba was cancelled so I did the Latin Cardio on Amazon and a few Zumba videos on YouTube. Working out home is challenging.

Finished Zoya's Story, the second book in my campaign to read books that have been sitting on my bookshelves for a decade or more. 

Results

Just finished reading Letters to a Young Muslim. Heard Omar Saif Ghobash on On Being and instantly wanted to read it. Took me a couple of chapters to get into it but I liked it.

I'm going to try to start reading books that have been sitting on my shelves for years. First, I got Walter Mosley's Bad Boy Brawly Brown off the shelf. The very first sentence had less than five words but it reminded me of my dad. We watched Devil in a Blue Dress together and I remember how much he liked the character, Mouse.

It's kind of funny. I almost feel like I had a false start with BBBB at one point as it feels familiar...

Got to the gym and this woman asked me if I was going to Zumba. She had read the schedule and decided to try it. I told her that I couldn't stand the machines anymore. Her response, "Do you get better results with Zumba?" LOL, I haven't thought about results in a very long time. I just know that exercise is good for you and that it is good for me in many ways.

Went by the post office and the clerk asked if I wanted any particular stamps and I said, "The peace stamps." She looked puzzled and pointed to the stamps that I wanted and she said, "Oh, the Woodstock stamp." I said, "Yeah, it says ...peace and music forever..." The clerk started laughing very energetically. She had never noticed the words and then she pointed to the sizable poster on the wall and she said, "Oh my God, I'm so stupid."

I assured her that we all miss things.

She was still laughing as I walked away.

Wonder

Mighty Mississippi

I have bicycled more this month than I've bicycled all year.

I find myself craving more sleep on Saturdays and even 10:40 a.m. seems too early to exit the house for Zumba.

Saturday was a really good day for bicycling too -- left the house around 11:30 for a short ride, about seven miles, but I wasn't looking to ride for a long time so it worked for me. 

Saw fishermen as I usually do and I wonder if I would eat something out of the Mississippi River. Mentioned it to my brother and he'd seen a documentary, City Limits Fishing. Apparently, the Mississippi has lots of catfish. 

The workday was horrid. Didn't even feel like going to Monday Zumba which is usually my end-of-workday prize but I did go and felt better afterward.

Differently

This woman that I know and follow on Instagram posted a story that said You sleep differently when you don't have to go to work in the morning. So true...

I was off today and the one thing on my agenda was Gloria's yoga class. Haven't seen her in two years. With her Sunday class being in an 8:30 a.m. slot, I have almost no motivation to make it at that time because I don't feel like rushing to get up on a non-work day. Her one evening class is on the same night as Zumba and always feel like I need cardio more but I shouldn't be so inflexible with my thinking; One missed day of Zumba won't hurt...

After class Gloria told us that she spends 10 minutes on the hydro-massage table and I was going to pass it up but she went to the desk and got five of us set up. In order to access the table on a regular basis, I would need to upgrade my membership but, let me tell you, that was a delightful and relaxing 10 minutes. Cannot believe that I have turned my nose up at those tables before.

First Ride

Got in my first 2019 bike ride.

Went down my usual road on the riverfront and was met by part of the levee that isn't usually in place. Weeks before riding, the river crossed my mind and then I forgot about it. We got as far as mile six when we met water on the road. It wasn't that deep but it was muddy. I have memories of being caught in the rain on a hike and how I almost fell several times because of mud.

We saw one of those hardcore bicyclists and his friend had gone through the water but he was like I'm not going through that -- you don't know what's in that water...

We saw many animals on the trail: frogs, turtles and turkeys. A guy at the visitors' center told us that a geese had attacked him. When we approached the geese, I rang my bell. One hissed at  me but no attacks. When we saw the goslings later on, we knew why the geese were on the defensive.

It's amazing how animals and nature make you feel connected.

Oooh, I like the new artwork at the beginning of the trail.

Went to Zumba tonight and saw one of my new Zumba friends. I had noticed her absence and when I talked to her after class, she said that she hadn't been feeling well at all and she talked about how fragile she felt and how she'd barely moved. She also felt guilty for only walking and I told her that's what I did when I first became active again and I reminded her how experts extol the virtues of walking.

TKO Look

I've gotten another weekend of yoga teacher training (YTT) under my belt.  Learned about restorative and yin yoga from a guest lecturer and she was so well-versed that I felt overwhelmed. Have to continuously tell myself that YTT is a learning experience.

I've also finished another yoga book -- Judith Hanson Lasater's Living Your Yoga and I can see how people totally immerse themselves in the study of yoga or other pursuits...

Went to Zumba today and so many of us had that Monday TKO look on our faces. Zumba definitely helped.

One of my colleagues took me out to lunch even though she had gifted me items already for my birthday. I chose this new smoothie and juice bar and had the Ocean smoothie bowl made with blue spirulina. Not even sure what spirulina is but that smoothie bowl was amazing. My colleague also insisted that I get the avocado toast. I usually make fun of avo toast but this was the most amazing  toast in the whole wide world.

Was also pleasantly surprised when one of my former colleagues rounded the corner with her sweet baby in her arms.

I won't mention how my right shoulder blade was so tight this weekend that I had to stand against the wall, to brace myself, whenever I had to sneeze. My shoulder blade tells me that my stress level is higher than it's been.

Coincidence?

It's always "fun" when a customer starts off a conversation with "I have a problem." That's how I was greeted immediately after a Friday meeting... This customer did surprise me by saying "Never give up" twice.

Went to Saturday Zumba which I haven't been to in over a month. The Zumba teacher's mother surprised me by being super chatty. She said that, lately, she struggles M-F and Sunday to get in 10,000 steps. She's been averaging 4,000 a day and she's also been eating way more than she had been eating.

All that to say that "the struggle is real." Her story is a reminder that we all struggle, duh!

I've been requesting a lot of CDs from the library, including Bob Marley's Live! Have I never heard Get Up, Stand Up live or does the refrain Don't give up the fight... resonate with me right now?

Played Damian Marley's Stony Hill while cooking earlier and the lyrics Don't you give up on yourself ... from  Looks Are Deceiving stood out to me. Coincidence?  I think not.

Ha, just realized that the Aretha Franklin CD that I got from the library was due two days ago. There's totally a waiting list.

Working On It

In last week's episode, "we" were reminded that taking deep breaths when upset is beneficial.

On Monday, I remembered that it's hard to breathe when you're stressed out and upset. Today, thank God, was a less stressful day. I can totally see why, though, exercise made the top of the 99 Coping Skills list.

Went to Zumba yesterday and I was able to, for the most part, leave that 9 to 5 up on the shelf. One of my coworkers is sometimes in this class and so, for a minute or two, I thought about work but the dancing quickly took over.

Swimming was on tap tonight and I got caught up in all the rituals -- swimming the laps, shower etc. so that when I opened the pool door, I was taken aback by the indigo sky which was stunning in its prettiness.

Came across an Instagram post that made me pause. I do not feel content or relaxed right now but I'm working on it.

For this week's Reflections series, Holstee Co-Founder Dave Radparvar considers how we answer one common question: How are you? Swipe through to read the full post, and sign up for Reflections with the #linkinbio to receive thoughtful emails just like this one in your inbox every week. 👌

A post shared by Holstee (@holstee) on Apr 9, 2018 at 4:03pm PDT

This yoga meme made me chuckle.

I’m cool. Everything’s fine. Seriously stop worrying mom. #yogaeveryday #yogadog #doga #downdog

A post shared by @ yogimemes on Apr 5, 2018 at 9:01am PDT

Except They Go Backwards

Yesterday I went to a sound meditation instead of Zumba. It was a tough decision but the sound meditation event is only once a month and when it was over with, I made a silent vow to go to the next one which will be the last session before summer.

The meditation is 75 minutes but usually feels like 20; I slept well afterwards. Monday had been so intense that sound therapy just seemed like the right thing to do.

I was tempted to go to Zumba today but had to remind myself that it's not a very good experience trying to make it to a 5:30 p.m. class so I went swimming.

There's been a young boy taking lessons and I listened in.

Pretend that your legs don't bend; you want to keep your legs straight.

The arms are the same for the backstroke as they are for freestyle -- except they go backwards. 

Okay, I know some of these techniques but it never hurts to be reminded. When I saw the dive rings poolside, it made me think of Katy Bowman and it totally made me want to play with them.

I loooove swimming--grew up doing hours of it daily. I swam in the ocean and a very small community pool, and despite being on the swim team in high school, doing the same stroke over and over again isn't how I feel connected to water. Instead I prefer to swim in wild water, where the temperature, flow rate, shape and surrounding terrain dictates how I need to move through it. I like my strokes being a response to something. I like my strokes to constantly change. I still love pools but what I naturally do in them is swim along the bottoms, dive to the bottom over and over again--throw things to have to scout to find them. That's how I introduce variability into my swim time--how I use many strokes, many different body parts, while in the medium of water. That's how I swam as a kid and how I still swim today! #moveyourdna #alignmentmatters #springbreak #californiavibes❤️💦💪🏾👣

A post shared by Katy Bowman (@nutritiousmovement) on Apr 2, 2018 at 1:15pm PDT

It's Okay

Chiquita, my cousin, inquired about my day and, at some point, I gave her a rundown of my exercise schedule.

"But when do you do yoga?," she asked.

Good question as I've been barely doing yoga and it's showing up in my body.

Soooo, what have I been doing?

Friday before last, went to see I, Tonya. Had not planned to go and see that movie but the 'Fugee and I were running out of movies to see at the $5 dollar movie theater. I, Tonya is a very good movie and I have to say that I really didn't pay much attention to the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan story but the movie was a lesson in looking beyond the surface.

This past Friday, I went to an international-themed trivia night even though I'm not a trivia aficionado and the first trivia night that I went to left me feeling like I'd been "left behind."

At any rate, I went to the trivia event because I work with contractors who I don't get to see often and one of them suggested that trivia night could be a way for us to get together.

I was nervous about looking "left behind" but I felt the fear and did it anyway. We had one "star" at our table but he had me cracking up when he said that geography was his round and that signaled the end of his participation but, of course, he couldn't stay on the sidelines.

When I saw the international cats round, all I could think was That's evil until the woman next to me was like "I love cats" and proceeded to name seven of of the ten cats in an impressive amount of time.

Overall, it felt like the people who hadn't been born in the states were the smartest but that's not true. The superstar of our table is American born. All of that to say that it seems like other countries have a more serious education system.

Surprisingly, I ended up knowing several answers that involved Japan. I knew one of the answers because I'd been invited to Gloria's house for a Japanese-themed dinner.

On a food note, the most popular items that someone brought were bread and cheese, LOL.

The round that had me cracking up the most was the eighth and final one.

Didn't go swimming tonight since the school that I swim at is on spring break. Went to Zumba again and was reminded of why I seldom try to make the 5:30 p.m. class. Combine rush hour with construction and it made for a hair-raising experience. By the end of class, I had forgotten the traffic nightmare until one of my fellow Zumba folks said she'd had the same issue and that she hates being late to class. Me too I said then told her that I kept telling myself You're going to be late; it's okay.

Layouts

I've been tense lately. Maybe committing to practicing meditation in the earlier part of the day might help. I've been waiting until 10 p.m. and that's not working.

Missed Zumba yesterday so I went today and will try to get in a swimming session later in the week. I was reminded of why I usually don't go to Zumba at that 5:30 p.m. slot because the traffic is horrible and I had to keep telling myself that I wouldn't make it on time and it was okay. I didn't need to do the entire 60 minutes to get a proper workout.

The good thing about going to a 5:30 class is that I had time to run errands. I dipped into the mall and entered through one of the anchor stores. Excuse me ma'am...How do I get into the mall? I've been trying to find my way for 20 minutes. 

It was such a sweet encounter and it made me smile and relax. The person who got my attention was an African immigrant or refugee. LOL, those store layouts are confusing -- by design I'm sure. IKEA anyone?

I told the lost one that I was headed in the direction of the open mall area and he followed me...

Today’s Doodle!

A post shared by Adding Love To The World (@buddhadoodles) on Nov 7, 2017 at 1:29am PST

Again

The Zumba instructor for my Saturday class has an eclectic playlist and a couple of the songs are in French. It dawned on me that while I failed to seriously pursue Spanish while in high school, it doesn't mean that I can't try to pick it up again, duh...

I have been in such a mood.

Did restorative yoga at work yesterday and we did the Breath of Joy. Not a lot of teachers do this particular exercise. I enjoy it every time so I need to put this in my bag of tricks.



Went to yoga after work and Stacy talked about Santosha (contentment). It was definitely a topic that was important for me to hear today.

What To Chase

Watched episodes of Empire with my cousin last night then stopped by the grocery store around 10:30 p.m. for a #MilkEggsBread run since the weather people were predicting icy conditions.

It was warm enough for me to walk this morning but the weather warnings were still there. Since the ground had been cold for so long, the rain would make roads, sidewalks etc. potentially hazardous so I've been at home -- cooking, cleaning, relaxing and reading; sometimes it's good to be on lock-down.

Enjoyed my walk since I wasn't compressing my body trying to keep warm. Also listened to a podcast which, for some reason, I don't normally listen to unless I'm walking. My walk also reminded me that there is a season for everything and I found myself anticipating the bushes and flowers in bloom.

While in the locker room on Saturday, heard a catchy song and wrote down phrases so I wouldn't forget it. Realized that I had already watched the video after having visited the Zumba teacher's Facebook page. Dua Lipa's New Rules is totally going on my iPod. Love the collective and diverse feel of the video too...

Like Dianne Bondy, I enjoyed what Lilly Singh said about growth. As soon as I finished typing that sentence, I went to sign up for Sharon Salzberg's February meditation challenge.

Wheel eludes me most of the time. It’s a great metaphor for life. What alluded you? What do you try to force and it doesn’t work or happen? @iisuperwomanii Lilly Singh said something yesterday that resonates with me. Chase growth! Continue to grow, learn and connect. Look for opportunities to set outside your comfort zone. Know that conformity leads to stagnation and the growth leads to happiness. #thisiswhatayogilookslike #reclaimingmyspace #yogaforall #yogaandbodyimage #resistpersist #growthcontinues

A post shared by Dianne Bondy (@diannebondyyoga) on Jan 7, 2018 at 4:30am PST

Pace Yourself

Walked for exercise and kept my yoga plan even though I also had my eyes on the outdoor pool. Wanted to keep my date with yoga since I've only been going once a week and I know how important it is for my body and mind.

Got to the studio and realized that the regular teacher wouldn't be there even though there was no "sub alert" on the website. There was no issue, though, because I really like the teacher who subbed and she only does gentle yoga. But what is about a sub that's unsettling?

She (Lizzie) asked if there were any questions then she gave us a little yoga preamble about what type of class it would be  since it was a p.m. practice then she said that she would help us sleep well tonight. OMG, I had forgotten how relaxing Lizzie's classes are. At the end, I was straight up staggering and thought It's a relaxation technical knockout.

I liked it when Lizzie said Go at a pace that allows you to remain present. I need to make a mental note about pace because it's such a nice yoga goal...

Went for a walk on Sunday too and listened to the episode of Death, Sex & Money featuring Gabourey Sidibe. I'm impressed with how fast Sidibe can swim a lap and what she revealed about her mother's career made me a little sad.

One of my colleagues said that she dreamed, last night, that it was Friday and was so disturbed when she woke up and realized it was Tuesday. Yeah, I've had dreams like that too...

Not Alone

Went to Zumba this morning and I'm not sure why I was surprised that Alisha made us rain. She has always been energetic -- even when fully pregnant.

Returned home after Zumba and wasn't sure what to do with myself outside of washing clothes. Eventually pulled myself together and went to the pool so I could alleviate my cabin fever.

You know that it's hot when you're warm while in the pool. When I got back home, realized how good it feels to be unplugged and, of course, I should never underestimate aquatic therapy. I felt less "woe is me" after returning. Having just the weekend to recuperate and get stuff done tends to make me gloomy and I know that I'm not the only one who experiences this soooo...

Went to run an errand around 8-ish and the temperature was still registering over 100 degrees. Listened to the Jill Scott CD that I randomly picked up when I went to retrieve The Wangs vs. the World from the library. I really like tracks five, six (Lovely Day) and ten. Had to give Scott's remake of Lovely Day a couple of listens before I stopped making comparisons to the original.

On the way back from my errand, enjoyed sky-gazing and wondered if the indigo clouds were heat-related.

Nth Degree

According to the Calm app, Wednesday was International Calm Day. Who designates these days?

At any rate, in honor of Calm Day, I had access to Calm Premium including a sleep story. I feel asleep on the sleep story so I guess it worked...

On Thursday I headed to Gloria's. She prepared everything since she was subbing for someone and wouldn't be home until around 7:30 p.m.

I'm thankful that Gloria has gone vegan and invited me over to witness the spectacle because I had really reached a point where I was stuck with cooking. If nothing else, I have new go-to recipes from the Thug Kitchen cookbook.

It's kind of like the woman at Zumba who told me that she doesn't go the bathroom closest to her at work -- makes perfect sense. Sometimes, you just need a reminder...

I don't go out of my way to eat celery but Gloria had it in our salad. For some reason, I thought that I didn't really care for celery but it was good -- especially with hummus on top. My taste buds have also matured and I didn't take that into account. Same thing with blackberries; remembered them as being too seedy but I didn't mind them on Thursday...

Alison and I have been totally out of synch of late. We were negotiating about which day to go biking and we really didn't reach an agreement. In the end, I woke up early then went back to sleep and when I thought about the mess in my trunk, I lost the desire to go biking so I went to  Zumba.

As I turned on the "Zumba Street" I saw this guy, who appeared to be homeless, giving drivers the middle finger salute. I laughed so hard. Just about everyone has been getting on my nerves lately. Oh, what I would give to salute a few... ;)

Later on Alison messaged me and asked me what I was doing. We decided to go biking so I guess everything does not need to be planned to the nth degree.

On our way out, a hawk landed nearby and several people stopped to watch him eat his snack. One bicyclist was not amused -- On your left, lady.

Hawk