SESSION TWO

Session two of yoga teacher training happened this weekend. It's all down hill from here. There's no anatomy, sanskrit or quizzes in session two. That means it should be a breeze right? WRONG. Session two is about teaching yoga to beginners. And by beginner, I mean people who have never done, seen, smelt or experienced yoga in any way. Still, I thought this might be easy.

I'm having a problem with all the dialog associated with the lessons I have to teach. There just seems to be so much talking and explaining about the how and why of doing it this way instead of that way. It doesn't help that I scheduled my first class for today at lunch time. I didn't have much time to study and prepare. I had a full class of ten with all of them new except for two. I just felt bumbly and off. Like I should have had a V8. I'm teaching the class again this evening. Hopefully I learned something form the lunch time class.

The good news is I received my certificate for completing 180 hours of training in yoga teacher training. I can take this certificate and start knocking on gym doors. I need to start teaching for pay. I have some yoga related things that I need to pay for and it would be nice to pay for it with money earned teaching yoga related things. I'm so close to being done with this. There's only three training weekends left (we don't have one in May) and then I can register with Yoga Alliance and be a legitimate bona-fide yoga teacher. Whew!

SUPER ME

MyHero.jpg, originally uploaded by Elephant Soap.

I could waste the day with this! Thanks Zelda.

THE ENTRY THAT BELONGS ON THE OTHER BLOG

Yeah, this really belongs on the yoga blog, but since that doesn't exist yet, I've got to put it here. It took me a while to get used to my Neti pot, but after awhile and learning the proper way to use it, I have learned to love the thing. It has saved me from many sinus infections. I've recommended the neti pot to everyone. So I kind of feel like maybe I should post some tips on the proper way to use the thing. These are things that may or may not have been included in the instructions, but are good to know.

First off, never use the neti right before going to bed. You have to give your sinuses enough time to dry out or any left over fluid will just settle there when you lie down. This can lead to an infection. I've been known to use my neti twice a day during really bad allergy times. It's fine to use it in the evening. Just be sure you give yourself three to four hours to dry out.

A lot of people have complained about the taste. If water is running down your throat and into your mouth, you need to tuck your chin (forehead higher then the chin). Also, it's really important that you don't swallow while using the neti. Your eustachian tubes open when you swallow and fluid can get in. This can lead to an ear infection. Keeping the chin tucked will help.

After you've completed both sides and blown your nose, you need to help start the drying out process. Fold forward from the hip joints and tuck the chin into the chest. Bring head back to neutral and come up half way. Turn the head from side to side a couple of times and then come back up to standing letting the head come back. Then return the head back to neutral. Blow your nose again and then do a moisture test by blowing five times out of each nostril. It should be fairly dry, but you can repeat all that again if you feel like you need to.

I know all this sounds gross and slightly scary. But really, once you get it down, it's really very easy. And as someone prone to sinus infections, I can honestly say that using my neti pot daily has made a huge difference.

LOSER TALK

Anna recently asked me about the Okie Blog Awards and I kind of had forgotten about them. Well, I lost. Actually I probably shouldn't use the word "lost". More like, I didn't win.

I know this going to sound like loser talk, but it's true, so shut it. I feel that I won just by being nominated. There are a heck of a lot of Oklahoma blogs roaming around out there. I was surprised that I had other Oklahoma bloggers actually reading my blog.

I never started writing this blog with the intention to win any thing or to even entertain. I've met so many great people over the years and made some really terrific friendships. I miss these people. The blog is just one of the many ways we stay connected. So...that's that. Now where's that after party that all those award thingies always seem to have?

PARIS, FRANCE (NOT TEXAS)

I know. Valentine's Day at the Eiffel Tower is a complete cliche. But that's why it would be funny for Chris and I to go. We don't do Valentine's Day. We've just never been good at Corporate planned romance. Oh, we've tried. Candy hearts and a romantic dinner for two. Except the candy heart turned out to taste like plastic and the romantic dinner turned into a two hour wait for food in a loud crowded place like Chili's. We got it right once, but it was only because we forgot it was Valentine's Day. We tried out a new Indian food place in Edmond (sadly closed). Our server was very nice and asked if we were there for their Valentine's Day special dinner for two. Chris and I looked at each other and said "today's Valentine's Day?!?". Our server thought we were the most hilarious couple and gave us free dessert.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS

Today is Chris's birthday. So every one needs to go over to his place and wish him a happy one and to give him a hard time for his blogger slacking. We don't have big plans, because he wanted things simple. So, we're meeting at the local pub for beer and cupcakes. Right up Chris's alley.

Off topic note: Tomorrow is the last day to vote for the Okie Awards. If you have an Oklahoma blog, go vote (for Me!).

DONATION OF THE MONTH

One of Chris's New Year's resolutions is to give to a different charity every month. He asked me to pick the charity this time around and I was like "uh...OK". How do you choose? Just one?

I thought I'd choose something local. So I googled Oklahoma Charities, but I didn't see anything truly inspiring. Don't get me wrong. Charities are all good. But I wanted to choose a charity where I new my small donation would do the most good.

I went with the Oklahoma Humane Society. Hooper has been such a blessing in our lives and we were able to make his life better. Chris and I still get teary when we talk about leaving him in the pound an extra night because we weren't prepared for a dog. What if he had been adopted or worse before we could get him? We also regret not getting Hooper's cell mate too. The day we adopted Hooper was starting to turn into Schindler's List. But I can't adopt all of them, so I might as well help out in other ways.

MONDAY, MONDAY

Chris installed Blogo on to Gert over the weekend. So really this post is more or less a test of this program. I really don't have much to say. Chris and I didn't really do much this weekend, but our usual errand crap that includes driving around the city from grocery store to grocery store.

I needed to go the Chinese Market to pick up some vegetables and we got there as the entire Asian district was celebrating the Chinese New Year. You know those giant wheels of cheese that you see in restaurants as decoration? I watched a guy unroll a wheel about that size of black cats. This was minutes after detonating off a previous roll.

I took a bunch of crappy pictures of the litter and the dragons dancing around. I'm still having a hard time knowing what camera settings work best for certain situations. I do OK when it's just me in a room with a light because I feel like I can spend time making adjustments. But in the real world, with action going on, I have a little bit of a hard time. But that's how you learn right? I know the next time I'm shooting outside on a bright sunny day exactly what to set the shutter speed and ISO to.

I'm making some head way on that resolution list.

How I'd spend $1,000

So I've been introduced to Plinky and the name alone makes me want to hug it. Remember those entries of "I have nothing to blog about"? Plinky makes those entries a thing of the past. OK, so you're still blathering on about nothing, but now your blathering can have direction! My Plinky question today was "how would I spend $1,000?". This is going to sound sad, but I'd pay off bills. Maybe, just maybe, I'd buy myself a pair of shoes. But really, I'd put that money towards paying something off like one of the scooters or a credit card. This question comes at time when Chris and I are really trying to get our budget under control. We talked about spending last night and realized that we are spending $80 a month in coffee alone. Coffee! As much as it saddens me, I had to agree that Coffee Slingers has to be reduced to once a week (as opposed to three).

It's time to buckle down and not just because our economy is on shaky ground. But because we have big plans and these big plans (unfortunately) require money. Plus, we're not so young any more. We really should have some sort of savings other then what our company puts into our retirement fund. It's time to grow up a little.

SNOW DAY!

You know, I think I really needed a snow day. We slept in late and had lazy morning sex. Then Chris made coffee and cooked bacon (fake sausage links for me) while I made blueberry pancakes. We lounged on the couch for a while drinking cups of coffee. It was a very pleasant morning. Chris has been working on getting his office in order all day while I did things like clean the bathroom and laundry. I also walked on the treadmill, but spent some quality time with the TV. The only slightly annoying part of this day has been our dog. Chris's mom gave him an enormous bone last night. Those things always make him thirsty and he woke me at 4:00 am frantic to go out. I let him out and refilled his bone dry water bowl, then let him back in.

Hooper is an outside during the day type of dog. He has serious patrolling to do out there you know, so being cooped up inside all day has been a bit of trial for him. I don't know what he has to complain about. He got two (yes...two) peanut butter pancakes this morning and he still had half of that bone left. The bone that has made him fart all day. That dog reeks! And every time you get up to do something he jumps up and runs to a door thinking that we are going outside. For the last time Hooper, I am not going outside to watch you pee!

WHAT NOTS

What do you know, I get nominated for a best writing award and then I have nothing to write about. Chris and I left work early (like noon) because of the ice storm and I'm spending my afternoon cutting recipes out of the ginormous stack of magazines I've accumulated. Wow! Step back from all the rip roarin' excitement. How about some pictures? People love pictures. These were taken at the Melting Pot, where Chris took me for my birthday dinner. It was a very fundo evening.

OKIE BLOG AWARDS

Apparently I've been nominated for an Okie Blog Award, in the best writing category. I'm honored, but at the same time slightly bemused. Best Writing? Really? Moi? Well... um... OK. If you are an active blogger and a resident of Oklahoma, go vote! Who knows. Maybe I can win this thing, which would be even funnier then the nomination itself.

BIRTHDAYS AND INAUGURATIONS

First of all, I want to thank every one for all the Happy Birthday wishes I received today. Each one has brought a tear of joy to my eye (it's turning out to be sort of an emotional day for me). I really believe that this is the best birthday I've had in well over eight years. All day I've said to any one who happens to be standing next to me at the time "Can you believe that today is my birthday?". My place of employment aired the Inauguration in our big auditorium and on the two TVs in the cafeteria. I don't know what the cafeteria looked like, but the auditorium was a packed house. I can honestly say that this is the first Inauguration that I can remember watching live. And I sat there, in that auditorium with my boss and fellow employees, as tears of hope and joy welled in my eyes, and watched the 44th President of The United States of America be sworn into office. Never before do I remember hearing about an inauguration that contained this much hope and love. Today, I witnessed crowds of enthusiasm that I've only ever seen at a Flaming Lips Concert. Multiply it by thousands.

I listened to our President give one of the most important speeches of his life and he did not white wash things. This country is hurting. It's a big mess. But, if we all work together, we can fix this. So...Happy Birthday to me. But really, Happy Birthday to Change and welcome back U.S.A.

FAMILY DAY

My family came down yesterday for brunch and a day spent at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History. For some reason, this place never gets old for us and the kids really enjoyed it. I took some pictures. There's even one in there for Lurpy Dog.

PARIS HILTON FILLED UP MY GAS TANK

The other night I had a dream where I was tutoring Paris Hilton in yoga. Yeah...tutoring. Apparently I was more involved with her practice then just the poses. I was teaching her Sanskrit and philosophy and about dharma and karma. All that stuff. Any way, we were at her house, having class when I realized I had left something out in the car. Paris jumps up (yeah, we're on a first name basis) and says that she'll go get it, the whatever it was I left in my car. No biggie. I tell her it's not that important, but she insists and then runs outside. I shrug and think "what ever". But she's gone for a really long time. So I go outside to look for her and realize my car is gone. Paris Hilton has "borrowed" my car. I'm thinking what in the world could she possibly want with my car. It's a crappy four door, white, Chevy Cavalier. Suddenly, Chris is there and I tell him what has happened. We decide to get in his car (no, I don't remember what kind it is) and drive around the neighborhood, looking for her. The entire time I'm going on and on about how I just don't understand why she took my car. I'm also worried that something could have happened to her (like she's a lost dog or something). Any way...we finally find her. She's at a gas station, putting gas in my car. And just as I'm thinking "oh, how nice; Paris Hilton is filling up my gas tank for me", I wake up.

Yup, I don't get it either. Maybe I'd like to think that I could even teach Paris Hilton to be a kind, generous, and courteous person. Maybe deep down, I know I'm so good at this, I could teach anybody. Maybe I smoked crack before I went to bed. Who the Hell knows. At least it didn't turn out to be one of those dreams that wakes you with a start, shivering in a cold sweat.

FREAK OUT FOR NO REASON

OK, I'm a spaz. I remember this one time (at band camp) during my under-grad days when my sister called me. I had just finished taking my World Thought Three final and when she asked me about it, I just burst into tears. I knew I had failed. It was horrible. I'm stupid. Blah, blah, blah. I made an 87 on that test, a totally respectable score for this particular class. So, yeah...I was on freak out mode last week and by Saturday I could barely contain the nervous energy. I made my lip bleed at least three times before Chris could even get me to teacher training. The very first thing on the agenda was to take the written final. Well...I passed. Actually, I made the highest score of the class, missing only one question. And that missed question was a STUPID, stupid mistake. Apparently being nervous about teaching was also stupid. My partner and I did so well, that our teacher had a hard time finding anything to criticize. She said that she was very proud to know that we were out there teaching.

I guess I'm really doing this. I am going to be a yoga teacher. And apparently it's something I'm really good at. No one is as floored by this as I am.

GETTING OVER THE YUCK

I think I'm mostly recovered from the yuck, just feeling a little sluggish. I am amazed at my recovery time from this latest sinus infection. I'm used to these things dragging on for days until I finally break down and go to the doctor for a shot and antibiotics. When my usual drug of choice Alca-Zelter made me sick to my stomach, I had to come up with a new plan. The cure combination came down to grapefruit seed extract nasal spray, my Neti pot, and Thera-Flu sinus and cold. I strongly recommend this combination. By the end of the day my throat had gone from serious ouch to merely scratchy. This sinus infection kind of snuck up on me. I can usually tell when I'm the verge of one, but this one slammed in by surprise attack. I know it's from a build up of stress. This weekend is the last teacher training for session one. Not only do I have a test, but I also have to teach twenty minutes of a class I designed with a partner. I'm totally surprised at how confident I feel about teaching in general. The classes I teach at work are a breeze. But there's something about teaching to my peers that has me slightly freaked. Also, as seems to be the case with every teacher training, I feel unprepared. I've taught my routine to my class here twice. Both times, it was fine. Chris quizzed me on my study guide last night. I know the answers. I really doubt that she'll actually fail any of us.

I think I still kind of feel like a poser. Like I have a split personality. There's the me that still likes to go out and get tipsy sometimes. The me that loves to say inappropriate words like "fuck". It's the same me who doesn't believe in all the voodoo holistic remedies. I know for a fact those detox foot pads do nothing. I am a scientist with a scientist brain. And then I go to teacher training weekends where I become yogi Cindy. And I'm all "Yeah...that salt bath really cleaned my energy man". I suppose there's just some part of my brain that says I'm not enough. And you know what? The most important thing I've learned from yoga teacher training is its OK. My teacher said once that people who get it, who have mastered the eight limbs of yoga, don't teach. They live on an ashram or a monastery or a cave somewhere. Though teaching is no longer part of my personal yoga time, it is part of my practice or path to better understanding.

I'm ready for this to be over.

HOME WITH THE YUCK

I stayed home sick today. I wasn't faking it; I really was (still) sick. I figure if I wake up feeling like I've swallowed glass, I should get to stay home from work. I am feeling better and predict that I'm on the mend (I won't go into details about what exactly the Neti pot dislodged from my nose). You would think that with having the day off and all, I would have been a little productive. I guess it depends on what you would call productive. I took medicine every four hours, like instructed. I read trough my study guide for my yoga teacher final at least once. But mostly I laid around on the couch like an invalid all day. I realize that this is what a person should do when they are sick, but this goes against my nature. It just feels decadent and slovenly. I don't care if I'm running a temperature of hundred degrees. I should at least be able to clean the bathroom or kitchen or something. I didn't even knit today.

And I gotta say there just may be something to this whole "resting while you're sick thing". I am starting to feel a lot better. Of course this may have something to do with the gallons of Theraflu I've ingested today. At least my throat doesn't feel like I've swallowed glass any more, but instead it feels more like the glass wounds have scabbed over.

WELCOME 2009

First off I want to wish every one a Happy New Year. I hope all had a safe and fabulous celebration. Chris, our friend Brian and I spent our New Year's Eve with The Flaming Lips. This was the first Lips concert that I have been able to drag Chris to and he was finally able to see first hand what I've been harping about all these years. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the concert. I tried sneaking in the fancy pants camera, but was forced to trek it back to the car (after standing in line for over an hour). But really, this was the only blight on the evening. The Flaming Lips don't give you a concert. They give you an experience and the entire crowd vibrates with such amazing energy. That moment during the last song, standing with Chris, holding his hand, with confetti and balloons floating all over is a moment trapped in my head for a lifetime. We had an amazing time.

A few years ago, Chris and I ended up at our favorite Indian restaurant on New Year's day. That was also the year we had decided to forgo the black-eye pea tradition. We had determined that eating black-eye peas on New Years did not bring us good luck, but in fact had the opposite effect. That year, while munching on masala and nan, we made a pact to eat Indian food every New Years day. This would be our tradition.

Well...what can I say. We are old and lucky if we can remember where we've put our keys. This year, we forgot about the pact. We decided on Ethiopian for the New Year, but when we arrived at our favorite Ethiopian place ( I think it's the only one really), we found it closed. Ok...our favorite Mexican place was just down the street. How about that? Nope. Closed too. OK...How about Indian food? And this is when I remembered the pact. We were supposed to eat Indian food and what do ya know, Karma lead us straight to our favorite Indian place. And it was open.

So, Cheers to you all. Hope the New Year brings you all the things you're hoping for and then some.

OBVIOUSLY UNMOTIVATED

The things we chat about when we are mentally done for the day. Chris: what's for dinner

me: brawtz and I don't know what

Chris: aw man

me: what

Chris: chips would be good with that

me: yeah

Chris: some of those crack kettle chips

me: crips kettle crips craps kettle craps ha

Chris: perfect for a night of dip-n-shit dippin' shit

me: this conversation's going on the blog