Just ugh.

It's New Year's Eve. It's raining and will be all day. Lee is sick with a bad cold and is useless. All my friends are out of town together (not that we could have gone even if we had planned to, since Lee is sick). We were supposed to be camping at Hanging Dog, but the only thing worse than being stuck here all day in the rain is being stuck in the cabin all day in the rain.

I am thinking about taking the boys to see "Night at the Museum" this afternoon, though it is really not appropriate for Will. I am trying to save "Charlotte's Web" for next week to see with Beth & her boys.

I did make it to a hot 90 yesterday morning...it was a crowded class. I felt kind of toxic and tired, but made it through okay. My left knee has quit hurting so my balance was better, and I did padangustasana on my left foot without wobbling or falling for the first time. Yay!

Don't know when I 'll make it back to a class - one night next week, hopefully.

Update -
Lee rallied a bit and I went to the thrift store. I bought a few things for me, a few things to sell, and a George Foreman grill. I think it must be the first one ever made. I keep hearing about how wonderful they are, but I don't have room for another space-hogging appliance. Brenda & Ted have a big one and it lives on their counter all the time. The one I got is for one or maybe two people; it's pretty small. I made room for it on my appliance shelf. Anyway, I cooked myself a Boca burger when I got home; it cooked quick and tasty. However, if I cook something with juices I am going to have to put a plate or some paper towels under the edge of the grill, because the fat/juices runs down the grill ridges. Later models - or maybe this one is just missing the fat tray - have a tray that hooks under the edge of the grill. Oh well, I only paid six bucks for it at Goodwill. Maybe if I love it I will buy a more modern version sometime.

New Year to do

1 - dust all blinds downstairs
2 - which wall to paint next?
3 - replace LR rug
4 - get down all empty storage bins and boxes of stored clothes
5 - sort - all fall clothes or stuff for the boys to wear later gets grouped and labeled; all stuff for spring sale gets stored and put where it's easily accessible
6 - go through boys toys/books/clothes and cull for future sales/donation
7 - go through Michael's legos and make up a couple of grab bags for the consignment sale (to be done when he's in school)
8 - look at other storage options for Michael's closet/legos/knex
9 - organize attic so stuff is grouped by item (holiday, clothes etc). May need additional boards to lay down on attic floor.
10 - catch up on ebay spreadsheet entries for '06 - need to have done by the time Lee gets w2.


Finally went back to practice after a week off - the poses felt familiar, yet unfamiliar in a wierd way. My balance wasn't so great, but that may have been because it was dark outside and not too many lights on in the room.

Hot - good god, it was hot. I almost felt feverish, it was so hot. I thought my face was going to explode. Even after getting home, Lee told me my face was really red. I sweated buckets and had a headache all evening.

There was a new teacher - she was fine, but she'll be better when she finds her own style and goes beyond simply reciting the dialogue. There were a couple of folks there with terrible form and she did not give any individual pointers like Anna or Susie would have.

DHY will have 8:30 am classes on Tues & THurs, so it's possible I could get in four morning classes a week.

Why can't every day be like Christmas....

why can't this feeling go on.....endlessly.........

I wonder if that's what Elvis was thinking as he sat on that toilet in August 1977. Ha!

I'm getting ready for the big day....all shopping is done, and a few presents are wrapped and under the tree...school is out.....meals are planned and I only have a few things to pick up on Sunday morning at the grocery....cards are sent....and housecleaning has begun. I started dusting and polishing tonight. I have to finish that tomorrow, then clean the kitchen. I may also do a little bit of baking tomorrow - either another batch of almond roca, or a batch of congo bars, or both. Saturday I vacuum downstairs and mop - that in itself will take half the day. I'll also vacuum upstairs. Then I wrap more presents on Saturday afternoon/evening. Sunday I clean bathrooms, strip and change the beds, do some meal prep for Christmas eve meal/Christmas morning breakfast and dinner. I don't have a whole lot of prep to do, but I do want to get my Christmas dishes down, make sure stuff is ready to be set out, etc.

I got to yoga last Sunday and yesterday and that's probably it until one night next week. I could have gone tonight, but attendance at the studio is really down, and I like the collective energy of a full class. The hot 75 yesterday morning (which was actually more like a hot 95) only had four people, and it's usually well attended. It was kind of like a semi-private lesson with lots of adjustments. It was a difficult class because I was trying to follow the teacher's pointers, and some poses we held longer than others while she worked with us. The floor series she kind of blew through because we were running so far behind. Instead of the regular Bikram situp, we did some Pilates-style situps and I was pleasantly suprised to feel the strength I've gained in my abs and in my sides and middle back.

This class, though, made me see how much more work I have to do right here where I am.

My left knee felt really unstable yesterday and my balance on the left leg was really bad. I couldn't fully lock it, so I kept it just a bit soft during balancing poses, and I kept having to compensate. Today my knee hasn't bothered me a bit. Why does this joint pain come and go? Why can't it go on a day when I'm practicing?

I signed the boys up for the Winter series of Yogakids - one on Monday and one on Thursday - and I mentioned to Debbie how much I wished I could sign up for the "intro to Ashtanga" series starting in January on Tuesday nights. She has not had enough people sign up yet to say for sure it will take place, but she said she'd let me take it on a drop-in basis.

I have started doing some backbending at home, on days that I don't practice. I almost always do the first part of half-moon, because the stretch feels so good. After I do that a few times, I put my hands in namaskar and slowly backbend, going as far as I can depending on how warm I am. I can go a lot further with my hands in namaskar than I can with my arms up as in the second part of half-moon. And backbending, which I used to despise, feels sooooo good. I get such a rush of energy afterward.

Today Lee went on a field trip with Will's class to a jumper/inflatables place. Afterward, he said that he thought we needed to cut Will some slack at home, because his class is so highly structured. His teacher is nice, and warm, and loving, but very structured. Knowing that made me feel more tolerant of him, though the amount of noise he generates is still bothersome.

Tomorrow morning I'm getting up early to walk. The boys are going to write short letters to Santa, then we are going to walk to the post office and drop them in the "santa letter" box. After that, I'm not sure what we're going to do. If the weather is bad and it looks like Lee will be in the office until close to five, we will go see "Happy Feet".

Speaking of movies, we watched a trailer for "Order of the Phoenix" online today. Oooh, it gave me chills. I can't wait! I just finished listening to the audiobook and it is on my mind.

Too busy to blog.

Random thoughts:
forty.
left knee (intermittently achy and popping; I can't lock it).
holiday stuff.
job angst (lee).
yoga (of course).

Imagine the hottest, most scorching day in August.

Then imagine a violent late afternoon thunderstorm on that day. Then imagine that the sun comes back out after the storm is over, raising clouds of steam from the pavement. That is what it felt like in the hot room last night in the studio, where I went for a hot 90 at 6:30.

I had a good practice, though. James mixed things up a bit, doing a vinyasa of ardha chandrasana, trikonasa and dandayamana bibhaktipada janushirasana early in the series. Trikonasana was easier in one sense, because it was earlier in the class and I felt stronger, but also harder, because I was not as warmed up.

During poorna salabhasana, he came and sat on my legs. Man!! When he did that, I really flew up in that pose. It was awesome! Today the muscles in my mid back are sore, but in a good way.

Yesterday morning I went to the dermatologist because I was worried about a couple of spots on my left forearm. They weren't moles, but instead lighter spots with a pink center. One spot had been pink since the summer, and the other two had turned pink within the last month. I had myself in a state, imagining I had skin cancer. She said they could turn into cancer, so she froze them with liquid nitrogen. It stung some while she was doing it, but I did my yoga breathing and it helped. The three spots have now blistered and while they don't hurt, I get the willies if I think about banging my arm against something.

Today has been cloudy and disgustingly warm. My hair is really big and curly and looks like crap. Tonight a bunch of us moms are going to Ikea to eat dinner and shop. I'm looking forward to it!

Tomorrow morning we're all meeting for coffee after dropoff, then going to help Beth with xmas Decatur bag checking. Brenda is coming tomorrow afternoon, and tomorrow night I am working a shift at the Oak*hurst table at the Marketplace. Saturday morning we are going to the parade; I think Robin & Gloria and families are going also.

Good day at practice.

Bad afternoon with Will.
We have a little breathing room, I think, WRT the job.
Lee has a couple of leads for other jobs.
Out.

Busy today.

First thing I did other than the usual coffee-paper-breakfast-etc. routine was go to a 10am Bikram class at BYD. It was packed, like packed enough that for poorna salabhasana I had to move so that I wouldn't touch my neighbor. It was a good class.

Lee took the boys for haircuts this morning, then took them to B'ville for baby Spencer's birthday party with the rest of the family. When I got home, I helped Lee get the boys out the door to the party, then I:
- took a shower
- gave myself a quick pedicure
- did a load of laundry
- folded and put away a load while that load was running
- bagged up stuff for Sally Ann's
- bagged up stuff for the spring consignment sale
- unpacked my travel kit from the other night
- collected up all the trash and took it out
- cleaned out the fridge and freezer
- loaded the dishwasher
- ate lunch
- swept the downstairs
- checked on the hermies
- pruned and watered the plants on the front porch
- did a little bit of eBay research
- photographed two items to list for sale on Monday
- responded to an eBay email
- dealt with all my Mypoints emails
- checked the PTA email
- packaged a sweatshirt order
- checked the boys' backpacks
- researched the price of Crocs for Lee for xmas (REI is definitely cheapest)
- went through all the stuff I have bought for xmas so far (I don't need to get much more for Michael)
- downloaded and listened to the podcast of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me"
- downloaded a KT Tunstall song from walmart.com
- searched for a few recipes on epicurious.com for dinner this week
- updated my to-do list and calendar
- dealt with a credit card transfer form which included making a phone call to clarify something
- talked to someone from Sierra Club and pledged a contribution before the end of the year
- dealt with the arugula beginning to wilt in the fridge (I trimmed it and ran it thru the salad spinner and it perked up)
- planned dinner for the boys (some kind of veggies in pizza sauce pasta) and us (aforementioned arugula with bacon, garlic & white wine over pasta)
and....I think that's it. The boys will be home soon. I have lit a few nice candles and the fireplace, and I'm going to have a few moments peace with an "O" magazine Brenda gave me, before the boys get home.

Since Tuesday.

Tuesday night I went to the silent 75, taught by rebecca. It was my first silent, and I enjoyed it, though I did not get there in time to get close to the front mirror, and my stomach growled the entire time.

Wednesday the boys were out of school, so we hung around here in the morning while I got some stuff done, and Wednesday afternoon we went to the zoo for a few hours. I was expecting it to be very crowded, but it was not, and the weather was perfect.

There is some yucky job stuff going on w/Lee that I do not want to think about, but it is in the back of my mind. That went down on Wednesday. I think it requires action on his part soon.

Anyway...Wednesday night I finished my cooking. Thursday monring we got up and went to Macon, stayed there all yesterday. It was another beautiful day and we stayed on the back deck most of the time. We had a ton of appetizers and red wine, plus a big meal. After everyone had left and it got dark, me, Lee & Brenda sat outside by the fire and drank a nice bottle of champagne. There is some family drama going on that has Brenda worked up, and we discussed that a bit.

We headed back this morning...the boys have had too much bad television...Rugrats, Sponge Bob. Stuff I never let them watch. Their behavior showed it this afternoon, too. Mom & Dad were here visiting for the afternoon, and the boys were kind of at loose ends, squabbling a bit, being destructive and loud.

Mom & Dad brought sausages for the grill, slaw, potato salad, and beans, and a red velvet birthday cake for me with a "40" candle, even though my birthday is about two weeks away. Dad also gave me $250 for birthday & Christmas.

Tomorrow Lee is taking the boys to his niece's son's 1st birthday party in B'ville, and I am staying here to go to yoga and do stuff around the house. Tonight I paid bills and dealt with some online banking. Tomorrow needs to be tidying, collection stuff for sally ann's, and planning a few meals. I also need to do some ebay research - more posting on that topic later.

Much, MUCH better yoga class today.

I concentrated on drinking a lot of water last night and this morning - normallly I don't drink much water first thing, but I downed my nalgene bottle full before class.

I felt myself getting a little bit head rushy between standing head to knee and triangle, but I concentrated on keeping my breath steady and I got through it with no trouble.

The hardest thing is not the exertion so much, but the change in position, from when my head is down to having my head up, for example, moving from standing separate leg stretching to triangle, and from tortoise to camel.

I kicked the freecycle list to the curb today. I keep wondering if I way overreacted....I sent in an offer of a 12 pound bucket of oxyclean and it was rejected because I wrote "offered" instead of "offer" in the subject line. That really chapped my hide! I sent a snide email, the moderator replied, I sent a second, more snide one and then unsubbed from the group. Who cares? I'll sure have a lot less mail in my inbox now.

Dinner tonight.

Almond crusted chicken. Mashed celery root and parsnips (totally yummy!). Crowder peas. Baby field greens. Canteloupe for the boys.

I am absolutely addicted to Smuckers low sugar raspberry jam. I love the way the tiny seeds crunch between my teeth. The other Smuckers low sugar jams are probably good too, but raspberry is the only one that does not contain food coloring. It is SO good. I just ate two big spoonfuls out of the jar.

I'm trying to drink a whole lotta water in preparation for yoga tomorrow. I really want to have a good class!

Off day.

I haven't struggled so much in a yoga class since I started. There were a couple of new people there today, so we wound up holding some of the early poses longer. I also think pranayama took longer; by the time we were done I was pouring sweat and my neck was tired.

I held on through standing head to knee; at standing bow pulling I had to take some deep breaths and go easy. Instead of two sets of trikonasana she did one set of warrior II and one set of trikonasana. I had to keep my arms down most of the time and during the second set of trikonasana, I had to sit down. During tree I really thought I was going to faint, so during the second set, I sat down.

When we finally got to savasana I just collapsed. I felt weak and faint and not even strong enough to keep my eyes open. I felt a little better as we started the floor series, but when we got to camel I just got into the pose, stayed for a second, then came out into child's pose.

Man, I was wiped. I guess I was dehydrated. I'm trying not to beat myself up for it. It happens, right?

It's a beautiful day today and Lee has gone somewhere with the boys. I'm going to finish assembling a pot of chili in the crock pot, then take a shower and walk to the CD store downtown, where everything is 20% off, and buy Lee the new JJ Cale/Eric Clapton CD for Christmas.

Blah.

Cold and windy today.
Too many carbs for me, starting with Thanksgiving lunch with Michael at school.
Been packing t-shirt orders on and off today. Why the hell couldn't people preorder? Now that people are seeing the shirts, everyone's got to have one. I'm not sure I have enough, yet two big boxes of sweatshirts are sitting here in my dining room.
I pulled ten long sleeve tees for Erin to give to the Lowe's volunteers on Saturday.
After Michael did his homework, we walked over to the park. I was freezing.
Will fell off the top rung of the play structure ladder and hurt his ankle. I had to carry him - all 62 pounds - back home. It's nothing serious, because he is his normal rowdy, loud, rambunctious self otherwise.
He ate a ton for dinner, complained of a tummyache, then threw it all up in the shower. UGH.
After he went to sleep, I paid a few bills, dealt with some PTA emails, packaged an ebay thing to send.
I checked on the status of the Dansko clogs I sent to Switzerland - god love the Swiss. The package was delivered on Tuesday, and tracking shows its every move.
Tomorrow - drop Will off; Kroger; hot 90 at 9:30.

When it rains, it pours...

and it is pouring this afternoon, windy and dark.

Actually I also mean it in the "when one thing happens, a bunch of other stuff happens too" financial sense. Our county property taxes were due today....Bob the Builder was here last weekend and told us we need a new roof, some work done on a floor joist under the back door and god knows what else. Lee took my car to get an oil change today and they called to tell me that my front tires were bald....now what I want to know is, how could those tires have only lasted 15,000 miles? They are the original tires, and I just now have 15K on my car. One would think they would get more miles out of them. I had been noticing my traction was not so great lately...so I'm glad I've got some new ones. But still, that was $250 I wasn't planning for.

Also, next week is Thanksgiving, which means lots and lots of groceries and wine...even though we are going to Brenda's and only have to take a couple dishes plus wine, it still gets expensive.

Anyway. I went to Bikram on Monday and then again today. Today was a 75 minute class. Since it was shorter, I went all out. I sweated like an absolute pig and I thought man, I need to do this in the longer classes. This is some workout! Then when the class was about 2/3 done, James checked the thermostat and said "no wonder everyone is struggling, it's 110 in here."

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving lunch at the schools. Lee is going with Will and I am going with Michael. I love Michael's school so much. Yesterday he and I were distributing all the bags of spiritwear to the teachers and we walked through the auditorium where the second and third graders wait before school in the morning. Mrs. S, the third grade parapro, had put on music and she and all the kids were doing the Electric Slide. Today was an "80's" theme for "More Books, Please" week and the principal of the school had on a gigantic afro wig. Actually, now that I think about it, it might have been her real hair. HA!

I won't make it to Bikram tomorrow, but I will Friday, maybe once this weekend, and then on Monday. I might try to make it Tuesday night too. Then it won't happen again until Saturday.

It's very cozy and snug here right now....I've got the fire lit, the boys are watching a video called "Eyewitness (or "eyewiznet" as Will calls it) Volcano" and Michael is wearing his new yellow rainboots which came today from Lands End. He can't wait to wear them outside.

It's a great day to be a lib-rull!

Everywhere but Georgia, that is.

I'm tired today. I knew I wasn't going to make it to yoga beacause it's my volunteer day, so I got up and walked early this morning.

Will told me that he got sent to another classroom for rest time because he was not following directions.

Lee told me that he's got a bunch of past due bills from Mc*Donald's to collect on...the last time this happened, it was truly awful for us and for him at work for a few weeks.

The spiritwear orders were delivered here today....four very large boxes. Rachael has submitted to my bribe of wine to help me sort and process them one night this weekend.

Our camping trip this weekend has been cancelled. Brenda & Ted are too tired to go. (hmph.) I had already rsvp'd to Noah's mom that Michael would not be at his party this weekend, but I called back and asked if it was not too late, if Michael could still come. I have not heard back from her yet.

Last night I made some pumpkin curry soup for dinner along with some chive and cheese whole wheat muffins...the boys didn't like the soup and Lee said he had such a late lunch that he wasn't hungry. I swore that I was not cooking tonight but...I am. I am making a batch of homemade macaroni and cheese with whole wheat penne. If I hear one word of complaining that the stuff in the box is better I am going to go postal.

Blogger never remembers me.

Very annoying.

I've had two great Bikram classes in a row. Yesterday I went to DHY and took Jenny's class. (Debbie indicated that she was probably going to add morning classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which will probably eliminate my need to go to BYD.) Anyway, I felt like I went further in standing bow that ever before though I will never get my pulling leg straight. I was absolutely starving by the time I got out of there by the time we finished pranayama my stomach was growling audibly.

Last night we had a Health & Nutrition committee meeting which turned into a big hen session, not suprising since the other members of the committee are all good friends. We did address some of the issues, though, while the systemwide committee person was there. We also indulged in several bottles of red wine and some desserts from the wine bar (we were meeting at Julie's video editing studio). Anyway, I didn't get home until after 11:00 so I thought I'd be hurting today in yoga (at BYD). I had another great class though. Somehow I've made a breakthrough with breathing through my nose for 95% of the class.

I'm eating some whole wheat pasta leftovers right now; in a few minutes I'm going to dry my hair, go vote, and run to the grocery. It's a dreary, rainy day so we won't be staying on the playground this afternoon.

The trees around here....

are mind-blowingly beautiful, like they haven't been in recent years. There is a red maple just up the street that is a brilliant, stunning red-orange. And there are trees like that everywhere - brilliant yellow ginkos, yellow maples, japanese maples with pale yellow leaves, flaming orange maples and reddish-brown oaks.

I went to Bikram this morning, even though I woke up with a wine headache from one dinky glass of wine. I had a cup and a half of coffee, two ibuprofen and a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese and off I went. It is amazing how much better my balance is on my right than my left...most notably in dandayamana dhanurasana....because my balance is so good on my right, I can go pretty far in the pose, but not nearly so much on my left because the more I extend, the more I wobble.

I had an awesome toe stand today - again, on my right - and stayed there the whole time, no wobbling.

I am really struggling with endurance in trikonasa, though. That's been going on since I had my little cold.

I was starving by the time I got home...Lee & the boys were gone off somewhere. I decided I wanted to get a pedicure, so I made myself an appointment, wolfed down an apple and cheese quesadilla, & got in the shower. I went and had my pedicure, then came back home, starving again and with my headache back. I ate some roast chicken, a piece of cheese, two spoonfuls of peanut butter and a Dr. Brown's diet cream soda. Lee & the boys got home, they watched a video, and we all got on our bikes and went for a ride. I'm afraid I messed up my pedicure - but that's why I always bring my own color. It was such a beautiful afternoon and we had a good time. On the way back we rode past Carpe Diem and the smell of sauteeing garlic was about to make me swoon. Alas, we have no money for eating out at the moment.

When we got home, Michael played on bionicle.com and Will played in the sandbox. I cleaned out the cabinets and fridge. I dumped a ton of stuff - half-eaten boxes of stale cheddar bunnies and TLC ranch crackers...some tins of teas that mom & dad brought me from England at least three years ago....dried out dried fruit....dregs of stale grains from the bulk bins....a few questionable leftovers. I found a cup of short grain brown rice waaay back in the pantry, so I cooked it, thinking I'd use it in a recipe this week, but when I saw it cooked up kind of creamy and starchy, I found a half jar of Newman's Own pasta sauce in the fridge, added it to the rice with some salt and parmesan cheese, called it risotto and fed it to the boys for dinner.

Lee & I had another combination of leftovers, over whole wheat rotini with the last of a bottle of gewurtztraminer (sp). I love using up a bunch of assorted leftovers...it makes me feel very Little House on the Prairie.

WHOA, I'm tired.

Stayed up too late last night and Will spent the night in our bed, kicking me and stealing the covers. (Uncle Ted wsa sleeping in Will's bed.) I got up at 5:30 to go to the hot 75. I drank a cup of coffee and felt fine despite sleeping so badly. I have felt great all day until the last hour or so. I"m really drooping now and I still have to pack lunches, reboot the laundry, get the boys in and out of the shower, into pajamas, brush teeth etc. I'm going to shut this computer down when they're in bed and start on the stack of books, catalogs, PTA newsletters, today's paper etc. that is next to my bed and try to get through it all.

Beautiful day...

Yesterday's rain (which continued into last night) turned into a beautiful, breezy & cool day today....the air feels very fresh and highly oxygenated.

My sore throat turned into a cold....fortunately it's not too bad; I'm not really congested but the inside of my nose feels hot and irritated. The rest of me feels great. I skipped yoga this AM because I knew the heat would not feel good on my nose. I went outside this morning and worked in the yard instead....swept the front steps & walk....planted a few lefover pansies...pulled weeds under the deck...swept the back deck....trimmed & deadheaded....picked up stray toys from the garage, driveway & back yard and put them in the storage bin...and dug up a bunch of my seriously overcrowded miniature hyacinth bulbs and replanted them in a spot further up the driveway.

Lee took Will out on the trail-a-bike this afternoon:





YOu can tell Lee got out Will's clothes for him - he's wearing major highwater pants and white socks with his Keens. ;-)

Michael is at a second grade Halloween party over in Avondale until 3:00. I have to go get him in a bit. At 5:00 is the neighborhood Halloween parade & party. At 8:00 Brandyn is coming to babysit so we can go over to Jim & Cindy's. The guys are going to watch the game & the girls are going to gossip & eat. I am making a warm goat cheese and pumpking dip to take, along with some crusty French bread.

I did about a half hour of yoga at home after I dropped Michael off - I cranked up the heat downstairs, then ran around doing a few chores in order to get the blood flowing....I did one set of all the standing poses except for standing separate leg stretching...I skipped all the floor poses except for cobra, camel, tortoise and the floor janushirasana....whatever it's called.

I made Michael the yummiest quesadilla for his lunch today - I liked it so much I had one when after my yoga: you take a whole wheat tortilla (I used a low-carb one) and spread a wedge of Laughing Cow swiss cheese over it...then thinly slice an apple over the cheese (peel it first if desired)...then over that put a slice of white American cheese...fold it in half and plop it onto a skillet. Cook until slightly browned on each side and cheese and warm and melty. YUM.

I guess maybe I shouldn't have gone to Bikram today....

I had a scratchy throat yesterday and still had it this morning when I got up - but it wasn't terrible. And the rest of me felt fine. So I went...I tried to take it a little easier than usual. The class was fine. But now my scratchy throat has moved up to behind my nose and it's turning into a cold, darnit. I was going to go in the morning also but I don't think I'll be able to.

It has rained all day long. It's not very cold, but damp and cool in the house. I wish someone were cooking me a comforting, yet sophisticated meal tonight.

Random, stream-of-consciousness stuff here...

...I started getting a scratchy throat yesterday...Will has had the sniffles...and today it was a little bit worse. I minced two garlic cloves and over an hour or so, took them, chased w/a Dr. Brown's Diet Cream Soda (I have to have something carbonated to get raw garlic down) and it seems to be helping a tiny bit so far...I hope with a good night's sleep I'll make it to yoga in the morning. I haven't been since Monday....Tuesday was the SACS Accreditation meeting...Wednesday was Reading Workshop w/Michael's class...yesterday there wasn't a hot class at DHY and I planned to go to BYD tomorrow.

I have been going a bit crazy with shopping lately....I've been trying to find some clothes that fit and look decent. Let's face it, I look pretty lean these days. So I've hit Old Navy twice this week...I bought a new pair of jeans, two tiny fit long sleeve tees, one black, one white; three skinny ribbed turtleneck sweaters (gray, black, dark red) and a teal blue chunky cardigan. I also bought some retro/new/old Levi's at Parisian. After buying those two tiny fit long sleeve tees and some "ultra low rise" jeans, I now know why so many of those close fitting tops are so darn LONG....it's so they'll stay tucked into the ultra low jeans! Who knew...this time last year I was in a size 12/14...now I'm in a 8 with an ultra low rise. I also bought a pair of "super skinny" gray corduroy jeans at ON, in a 10 since they were the "super skinny" cut, and I've had to hike them up all day long because they are too big....

Then I have also bought some groovy dark green suede NAOTs...and this morning I ordered some light blue suede keens. And I also bought a pair of gray cargo pants at the GAP yesterday and some brown Royal Robbins cargo pants at REI last week plus a Prana yoga top on sale.

Luckily I've had some money in my Paypal account to pay for some of this, and coupons to use at Old Navy...but I'm hoping that all this shopping doesn't come back to bite me in the butt!

Man!! It's so cold today.

It's absolutely beautiful - blue sky, very crisp, clean air, but it's windy and very cold, for October in Atlanta. It's probably in the very low 50's with the wind making it in the 40's.

Since Robin was picking up from CH today, I walked to Oakhurst instead of driving. We stayed on the playground for a while, then walked home via Adair St. so we could go by & look at the house with all the Halloween decorations. Then we scuffed through leaves the rest of the way home.

I went to James' class this morning - his class is fine, he's perfectly nice, but he talks too much. I feel kind of mentally tired by the end of class. I've never had a desire to attend a silent class before, but I do now. I felt pretty sluggish and tired today and it was super hot in the room.

I went to Eric's class yesterday at BYD - he's okay, but another one that does not use sanskrit names. Anna is definitely my favorite at that studio.

After yoga today I came home and made a loaf of pumpkin cream cheese bread from a Cooking Light magazine. It's just okay - my regular loaf of pumpkin bread is about a hundred times better though.

Since there is supposed to be frost tonight, I just harvested a bunch of basil and I'm going to make a big batch of pesto. Lee & Susan are meeting an expert witness after trial today, then attending a meeting at the GDOT. He won't be home for dinner or bedtime tonight.

Yesterday while he worked at home I took Will off to run errands - we went to Target, Lowe's, Barnes & Noble, Petsmart & then Bike South. Lee said he wanted a Trail-a-Bike for his birthday, so, even though his birthday is ten days away, we went ahead & bought it. He hooked it up last night & he & Will took it for a spin. It's awesome! He's very excited to be able to take off on bike rides with the boys, since it looks like it will be a while before Will is able to ride well on a two-wheeler.

This weekend we watched Nanny McPhee - twice. I loved it. "The person YOU need is Nanny McPhee."

I know I shouldn't complain....

(and you know whenever someone starts out a sentence that way you're about to hear some complaining)

....and it's a good problem to have....
...but it is really annoying to have almost no clothes that fit or look good because they are too big.

All my long sleeve tees are now pretty loose around the middle and make me look frumpy. Most of my jeans are too big in the seat and too loose in the thighs.

Honestly...if I could find some jeans that would be low cut but not so low cut that they would show my wrinkly belly button too much, and would hold their shape without looking like a diaper on my butt after a few hours, and be the perfect lenght for my chacos AND my danskos AND my keens AND my docs mary janes...I would pay a small fortune. Really.

I bought these J. Jill cropped jeans a couple weeks ago that I'm wearing right now...I love J. Jill normally...but these are a size 8, a little to big and maybe a little bit too matronly.

I know that yoga has changed my body....I'm definitely leaner, much slimmer through the middle and for the first time in years I have a butt....but also my perception of myself has changed...I don't feel like I need to hide myself in baggy clothes anymore. I had sort of an epiphany yesterday....I was bending over doing something and looked down and saw that bending over created a "roll" on my stomach...and for the first time ever I didn't feel compelled to suck it in because I felt, hey, I am where I am right now and I'm doing my best for my body, and I'm happy with my body for maybe the first time ever in my life. Well, with the exception of the area immediately around my belly button, which has improved with yoga but will never bounce back to the way it was pre-babies.

Yesterday there was a new teacher at DHY...some guy who is Bikram certified but teaches hot yoga and is between studios right now....he was okay, but very hands-on and VERY talky. Some of the dialogue he blew through so quickly that I was cracking up. Before each sit up in the series his dialogue sounded like this, as he got faster and faster: "Toes and heels together, flex your feet squeeze your seatkeepyourheelsonthefloorarmsoveryourheadcrossyourthumbsarmsandhead togetherquicklysitupgrabyourbigtoesdoubleexhaleforeheadtotheknees!!" And with each sit up it got faster and faster. Despite that he ran ten minutes over.

Well, we're off to the fall carnival at Will's school in a bit, when the boys get back from haircuts. It's a beautiful day.

A peanut sat on a railroad track...

not one word did he utter. Around the bend came number ten, toot toot peanut butter!

Ahhh, juvenile ditties. Don't you love it when they get stuck in an endless loop in your head?

I am drinking a limoncello martini - I finally figured out what it needed to cut the major alcohol taste. A simple sugar syrup. That did the trick. One of these babies and I'm buzzed, big time.

I finally got the PTA's tshirt order in today. I spent a long time on it last night, looking at the preorders and trying to decide on a good number of extras to order. I probably spent way too much time debating and worrying about it. I hope the rest of the PTA board doesn't think I'm a complete ninny.

Went back to Bikram Decatur today, after totally rushing around this morning, getting caught by a train, and just barely getting Will to pre-k before having to sign the tardy log. Then I went to the grocery store, rushed home, put everything away, ate a boiled egg and rushed to yoga. Despite the rushing I felt much better today than Tuesday! The room still is not very hot. I had kind of a breakthrough in ustrasana today though....I went over waaay farther than ever before. Maybe it was because the owner of the studio was on a mat right behind me and I was really paying attention to my form....or maybe it's because I have been focusing on pushing my hips forward and relaxing my lower back muscles in that pose. Whatever...I had the palms of my hand resting flat on my ankles, instead of my fingertips on my heels.

I was also able to do the third part of utkatasana without pain in my right knee today, but it will be a million years before I am able to rise up from that pose without leaning my upper body forward. I keep waiting for one of the Bikram nazis to call me on it....

Also in janushirasana with paschimottonasa, I can get my elbows to the floor in the last part of the pose. It helps that that pose is near the end and I'm nice and limber at that point.

I'm so addicted to Bikram. It's yoga crack.

I spoke briefly to Robin D. today and asked her about Elena not being on the schedule at Dec. Hot Yoga anymore....I guess there was some drama about her leaving soon, and Debbie told her to go on. I also notice they have taken the hot 90 off the schedule on Monday mornings! ACK! I almost always go to that class.

Elena is supposedly opening a studio of her own in Candler Park soon....Robin says she is going to be doing a Bikram-inspired warm yoga. OHH, how I wish she would offer some ashtanga classes. I am dying to branch out from Bikram, but all the ashtanga studios are too far away for me, really. If I didn't have kids and other commitments, it would be okay.....but to have to drive over to the westside for yoga, I just can't justify it. I feel guilty enough as it is....but today, as I wiped pee from around the base of the boys' toilet for the millionth time, I thought that JUST MAYBE I've earned my hour and a half of yoga five times a week.

UGH.

I ate a big breakfast this morning at about 8am....two scrambled eggs, cheese, a few turkey pepperoni, a low carb tortilla, an avocado, and salsa.....and by 9:30 it was all still sitting in my stomach like a rock. I debated whether to wait for the hot 60 at DHY, but I decided that I really wanted a 90 min. class, since I didn't go yesterday and won't go tomorrow, so I went on up to BYD (where I bought a 10 class card).

I felt a little rough through most of the class and struggled with some of the poses, but it was not as bad as I thought and I felt a little better when it was over. Anna said there was something wrong with the thermostats and they were only able to heat the room to about 100 degrees, but I sweated plenty.

When I got home, I drank a Diet Coke and burped about a dozen times, and now I feel much better.

It's been raining all day - we'll be coming straight home after school. I'm going to go try to get some chores done, so I can be with Will with no other pressing things to do.

I'm disgusted with myself

because of all the junky carbs I've been eating lately.

Yesterday was the PTA bake sale....well, let's just not go there.

I ate a bunch of junky Chex snack mix at Will H's party...and it was the sweet kind of snack mix, chocolate and caramel. Plus two leftover pumpkin squares at home, plus a bite of Will's birthday cake.

I did go to a hot 90 this morning, though.

I have really got to quit eating that stuff. My pants are still too big, so I guess I'm not doing too badly, but it just makes me want more. Fortunately, I don't have cravings for crappy commercial candy, so I'm not anticipating a lot of trouble at Halloween. It's just the homemade baked goods that are my big downfall.

I had a breakthrough of sorts, today, in poorna salabhasana - I got my legs a lot higher than ever before. I really braced my arms, inhaled and exhaled big, then hiked them up. It's my least favorite pose - now I'll be ready to see if I can do that again next time.

I was stretching in half-moon last night and this morning I woke up with a pulled muscle in my left hip. It didn't bother me in class, and isn't too bad overall, but it is definitely there. That'll teach me to stretch when I'm not warm.

I was talking to Robin D. this afternoon about Iyengar - she says I should try it. It sounds pretty challenging. They do inversions! EEK! I'm very intimidated by the idea of inversions!

Four days in a row of Bikram.

Monday & Wednesday at DHY; Tuesday & today at BYD. I won't get to another class until probably Tuesday. Tomorrow is a teacher workday so I'll have the boys all day; Saturday is the Oakhurst Festival & bake sale; Sunday afternoon is Will Hentz's party and Lee is getting ready for trial. Monday I have a haircut scheduled for noon; I was thinking I'd go to Elena's class but that would be pushing it to get to Kathy's by noon. So the best I can probably hope for is to walk tomorrow and Sunday mornings.

Toe stand is getting better; backbends are going further; however I am feeling some strain in my right knee in supta vajrasana and whenever I squat down. It's not terrible, just uncomfortable.

I know I shouldn't complain but I am tired of all my pants being too big. Too big is almost as bad as too small. They don't look good and I am constantly hiking them up.

Back to the Bikram studio today.

Last night we went to a dinner party at the Thompsons. Lots of fun - I ate and drank pretty much whatever I wanted. We didn't get home until midnight and I didn't go to bed until after 1:00. I must not have drunk all that much; I was tipsy but not hung over this morning. Mostly I was tired because Will woke me up at 8 - then he went back to sleep.

While Lee was out with the boys at the "birds of prey" show, lunch and the grocery store, I puttered around here - ran the cleaning cycle on the oven, did laundry, vacuumed downstairs, tidied the boys rooms. Then....I took a nap. I NEVER nap. But I laid down to read some of my yoga book and I got sleep and, well, I closed my eyes and dozed for about an hour. It was sooo nice. I covered up with the fuzzy blanket since it was chilly and I felt so cozy.

I felt a little better when I got up, so I decided to go to yoga - up to then I wasn't sure I was feeling energetic enough. The 4:00 class at Bikram was pretty crowded. I stood way in the back, though the teacher told me after toe stand, "that was a front row tree pose!"

I am going farther back in half moon pose and in camel than ever....I feel popping and release in my chest and it feels great.

Note to self:

Lee had the boys get on the scale tonight right before they got in the shower. Will weighs 58 pounds. Michael, almost 4 years older than Will and a big kid himself, weighs 62 pounds. WOW.

Another thing I like about the Bikram studio.

The great view.

One wall of the yoga room looks out onto the small parking lot, but at the edge is a really nice little patch of forest behind which is the railroad overpass. Today I got on that side of the room and I could see the trees the whole time. They look really nice, just beginning to change colors.

Another thing I like is that the room is generally a little hotter than at DHY. I tried a new teacher today, who I liked a little better than the last one. This one used the sanskrit names for the poses and said "namaste" at the end, though she too was a "lock your knee" nazi.

Tonight we are going to a dinner party at the Thompsons. It was supposed to be at Cindy's, but she is laid low with all-day sickness, so we moved it. It's now a grownups-only potluck. I have a groovy new pair of Dr. Marten mary janes to wear, plus I got my cropped jeans from J. Jill. I had returned the size 10 pair and gotten an 8. It's funny - I still feel like, and see myself as, a size 12 or 14. I pulled the crops out of the bag and thought "Oh, I hope these fit" and of course they did - they're even a tiny bit big, though a six would probably be not quite big enough. Yet in the mirror I still look as big as I did nine months ago.

There's a happy hour at Christie Tyler's this afternoon - wish I could go. This is the second one at her house I've missed. It's a beautiful afternoon, breezy and turning a tiny bit cooler. Tonight ought to be gorgeous.

I tried out the Bikram Decatur studio today.

Since I can't get in Tuesday or Thursday classes at DHY. It's a little further away, but not bad.

What I liked: the cool piped in music before class started. The water fountain in the room. In general, the class...definitely felt like I got a good workout.

What I didn't: the pace of the class was MUCH faster with not much emphasis on alignment. We finished a few minutes early, which is unheard of at DHY. The teacher was cheerful but more drill-sargent-ish. She did not use the sanskrit names for poses, which I like to hear. She didn't even say "namaste" at the end. And of course, there were no lavender towels afterward. Call me crazy, but I really like the more mellow, zen-like vibe at DHY.

In short, I will go there to get in a few classes when my schedule doesn't permit me to go to DHY.

A quote I love:

"My disinclination toward laxer lifestyles kept me on the straight path, but I never shunned anyone, for I have come to see the light of the soul in all."

B.K.S. Iyengar "Light on Life"

Let's see.....

It's been a few days since I've blogged. What has been going on?

Ummmm....I ordered two very cool pairs of shoes yesterday. ;-) One is a pair of two tone brown suede Mary Jane Dr. Martens....another is a pair of dark olive suede t-strap Merrell Mary Janes. Can't wait to get them! I'm ready to be done w/sandals.

Yoga - I went on Friday morning after not having done Bikram since the previous Thursday night, though I did do Vinyasa on Tuesday am. I felt sort of awkward and slightly out of shape on Friday, though I went back yesterday (Sat.) and felt back to normal. I am going again tomorrow morning. I think I am also going to pay for a ten day unlimited at the Bikram Decatur studio on Tuesday....if their classes are good, I can buy a class card there and get in some Tuesday/Thursday classes. I hated not going for a week last week. DHY's schedule is just not quite in synch with mine. I'm also looking forward to trying some different teachers. I adore Elena, but her dialogue is mostly the same every time and sometimes I need something new to challenge me.

Maureen called me the other day - I haven't talked to her in ages. She said that a mom who lives over in the Adair Oaks apts. had a stillbirth the other night - she was attended by a mw from North Carolina. She wanted to know if I knew her. I didn't, but after Maureen described me I realized I knew who she was from MDC. I went back and found some of her posts and she was due with her second baby in late Sept. I had a run-in with this mama once on the boards and I was not the only one - she said things like "school is prison and teachers are child abusers" and "I can't believe you put your baby in daycare, you make me want to puke". Very judgmental and seeing everything as black or white. However, I would not wish a stillbirth on my worst enemy. I haven't seen anything about it on MDC. That poor mama.

Today Lee & Michael went on a long bikeride and I took Will out with me - we went and got gas, went to Wendy's drive through & picked up lunch, then went to McKoy park. They were having some kind of "Free Tibet" flea market and lunch thing. There was also a baseball game going on. It was nice, sitting under the trees and listening to the music, and watching baseball with the Buddhist monks. Afterward we went to the car wash place in Candler Park and vacuumed out my car. Will was NOT happy, but he was slightly mollified when I found a Hot Wheels car under the passenger seat and gave it to him.

Whew.

I have been so busy today.

We had the usual rush, rush out of the house this morning. I took Michael & stayed to watch O5 news. I left there about 8:20, went to Target. I was looking for a pair of yoga pants and also any capris that would fit me....I also needed a couple other things. I did not find any suitable yoga pants, and only found one pair of khaki capris that fit me - they are nothing special, but I bought them in case I don't find anything better. I also went to Kroger to do my grocery shopping. I didn't have a real breakfast - I ate a microwaved tortilla & cheese and drank my coffee on the way to Oakhurst. By the time I got done at Kroger, I was starving. I ate a Luna bar - 24 grams of carb - ack! I got home, put away most of the groceries, loaded and started the dishwasher, ate a piece of string cheese, then went back over to Oakhurst to be there for reading workshop. I was there until 11:15, then I went to make copies of the spiritwear order form. The damned copy machine kept jamming and it took almost 45 minutes to get them done & in the teacher mailboxes.

I went home and finished putting away the groceries, then I tackled cleaning out the freezers. Well, it was more of an inventory and reorganization thing, but it desparately needed doing. I made myself some lunch - three bunless turkey dogs - and unloaded the dishwasher. Lee came home for lunch, and I packaged up two things to mail, uploaded the photo of the tie-dye tees to Auctiva, assigned it a "tinyurl" then uploaded it to Yahoo, started on the email blast, and talked to Robin about PTA stuff. I also made her a copy of the new Indigo Girls cd.

I wanted to vacuum out my car, but the vacuum at the citgo was broken. I went to the PO and dropped off my packages, then went to Oakhurst to get Michael. I stayed on the playground until about 3:30, then brought the boys home and made them smoothies for snack (I found some freezer-burned smoothie ingredients). I wiped Will's butt after he pooped, then I sent Michael up to do his homework, then I started working on photos for Will's "getting to know me" box. We chose & printed a couple Harry Potter photos, some photos I had saved, and he picked out a bionicle photo from a magazine. I was feeling pretty frazzled by then, what with Will's interruptions and Michael's too, so I told Will we would finish tomorrow and I turned on PBS for him. I went up and checked Michael's homework, signed his reading log, and sent him to watch PBS. While they watched I mixed and formed turkey burgers, folded most of the laundry, did some online banking, heated up the baked beans, paid a few bills, online and paper, washed the dishes, tried to get both t-shirt logos into the same photo (didn't work), and called home & left a message.

PBS is done and now I am going to turn on some music and make tomorrow's lunches. I have not been to Bikram since LAST FRIDAY - arrrgh! I am going into withdrawal. I went to a Vinyasa class on Monday and it was just okay....I liked it better than fusion flow, but it was very slow paced. We did get into some very deep stretches, however. I would do it again if I had the time to go to yoga every day...but I am really missing the hot classes. I am planning to go Friday morning. I wish I could go tomorrow at 6 am, but Lee will probably grumble about it. Next week I am changing my volunteer day to Thursday so I can make the hot 75 on Wednesday morning. Michael looked kind of bummed because he is in Links on Thursday mornings, but I never read with him anyway. I will switch back and forth between Wednesdays & Thursdays to keep him happy.

Tomorrow I am going to go to Dick's Sporting Goods and get me some yoga pants, by god. I am also going to try to hit the Goodwill for inventory and also some pants for me. If I have time, I will go to DSW shoe warehouse, and the Toco Giant package store - I want some gruner veltliner wine which got such a rave review in the paper recently.

Friday night Michael is going to his first sleepover, at Brogan's house, in celebration of Brogan's birthday. Lee & I are planning to take Will to get ice cream, then we will go watch the football game from the field next to the stadium. It will be nice to spend some time with him alone.

I keep searching....

for astanga classes nearby, but it looks like the closest ones are on 9th street in midtown, and I have enough going on that it's hard enough to squeeze in my hot classes at a studio five minutes away, without trekking to Midtown and getting hooked on another form of yoga.

I think I am a wee bit burned out on E....she is a great teacher, but her dialogue varies very little and I have taken a ton of her classes. I think I need to maybe try a silent class...or maybe do a couple of drop-in's at the Bikram studio. I tried to look at their schedule, but the website is down.

I have a lot of work to do where I am....my focus, my poses, my balance...but I have always liked variety.

Tomorrow I am going to try vinyasa, but Robin D. told me that it was a slower paced class, so it may not be what I am looking for.

I went to REI to try & find some yoga pants today....I have two pairs and both are two big though I can still wear one though (the other is just too big to wear). I found a cute Prana yoga top for $14, but I could not find any pants. There were some Prana yoga pants for $55....I just can't justify that. I am going to try to get to Dick's Sporting Goods and find some less expensive yoga capris.

I also got a toe ring. ;-) I think with 40 approaching I am trying to branch out a little. I am toying with the idea of a 3rd piercing in my left ear too.

What I Did This Weekend.

Well, I DIDN'T do yoga.

I hadn't planned to go on Saturday, since R. teaches on Saturday am and she's not my favorite. I looked forward all yesterday to today's hot 90, though. Last night we walked over to the village for Mexican at the Matador and I had two Texas margaritas. I had two fish tacos and a bunch of chips, but Will ate my beans & rice. Adam and Jim came over to watch football with Lee and I surfed while I drank a ton of water in anticipation of yoga today. I read some yoga blogs and ordered a yoga book from Amazon.

Well, I didn't get to sleep until after 11:30 and I was the first one to wake up this morning. I glanced at my watch and thought it said 7:30, but when I looked at it again just a bit later, it said 8:45. So I had slept until 8:30, which I haven't done in ages. I decided right away that I would skip yoga today, since that was not enough time to get as hydrated as I needed to, and besides I had wanted to walk to the studio this morning and I really didn't have enough time for that. Plus, I had already told Lee that I wanted him to work with Michael on his 05 News interview questions, and if he was going to do that then I needed to keep Will out of their way. Sooo, I put on my mp3 player and went for a fast 40 minute walk instead. I also picked up trash on the path, which I hadn't done in several weeks (and it showed).

I took Michael to see "Bunnicula" at 7 Stages this afternoon...he is just the best kid, so curious and open, friendly, yet polite and respectful, and so handsome. And I love that he still lets me hold his hand and hug him in public. We watched the play, then afterward we got some coffee (me) and a brownie (him) at the coffeeshop and watched the foot traffic on Euclid Ave. We left there and went to Barnes & Noble, where we spent about an hour looking at kids books. I bought him two Bunnicula books, bought Will "Froggy Plays Soccer" and bought them a halloween book; I bought myself a Yoga Journal magazine. After the bookstore, we went to Target and picked up a few things, then we went next door to Petco for hermit crab supplies. Michael loves that store and always wants to take his time and look at the fish, reptiles, birds and small animals. We bought a hermie heater, some crab sand and some crab food. We also waited out a violent t-storm and in fact the lights went out while we were there. When they came back on, all the birds squawked at once.

When we got home, the boys watched a movie while I gave the hermies a bath and cleaned out the crabitat, then I poured myself a glass of wine and started dinner (whole wheat tagliatelle with a tomato, anchovy and cream sauce). I already feel bloated from the pasta....but it was so yummy.

Yoga tomorrow - hot 90. Then Tuesday I am going to go out on a limb and try a vinyasa class. I love the Bikram workout but I would like to branch out a little, and at the studio, vinyasa is the only other option, so far as I can tell, for a good yoga workout. I would love, love, LOVE to try ashtanga but there is not a studio close by - most of them are on the westside or in Buckhead...I feel like I have enough going on without driving a half hour to another yoga studio, especially when there's one I like that's a ten minute walk from home.

Anyway, Vinyasa apparently involves sun salutations and I am running the risk of feeling or looking foolish, doing something for the first time....but I am telling myself, I am finding my "edge".

I'm soooooo tired....

I barely slept a wink.

Will got in bed with us and kicked, thrashed, flailed and kicked the covers off. I got in his bed, which isn't very comfortable, and lay there forever.

Everyone was grumpy this morning and Lee knocked a nearly full bottle of olive oil onto the floor. It shattered, sending glass and olive oil everywhere.

I was so tired I had planned to skip the hot 90 this morning.....but I thought it might make me feel better, so I went. I took it easy through the class....I didn't give it my all today, since my goal was to make it through without flaking out. I just paced myself, and though I don't have that great feeling I usually have after a good class, it wasn't terrible.

I am going a little further back in ardha chandrasana these days, and that used to be one of my least favorite poses....and in padahastasana, I am getting myself closer to my legs....in dandayamana bibhaktapada, the top of my head touches the floor now. When I did a hot 90 the other night (me and one other person, plus three brand newbies) Elena gave me an adjustment in that pose that had my head flat on the floor. Aahhhhh.

Since the side to side in ardha chandrasana has really whittled down my waist, I am hoping that the backbends will do the same for my still wrinkly post-twelve-pound-baby tummy.

I am drinking a glass of wine but because I am so tired I am fading fast.....

Awesomely beautiful day!!

It's absolutely perfect. Gosh, it's nice out. Really feels like early fall.

Anyway...I was a carbohydrate pig yesterday. I ran errands in the morning and went to the Hot 60 at noon. Hmmm, I don't know if I'll go back to that one unless I am just dying to fit in a class and otherwise can't. I didn't feel like I got that good of a workout though I did work up a good sweat. My balance was for shit yesterday. I wobbled like crazy in utkatasana and in regular old tree pose (we only did one set, no toe stand). When I am very relaxed, my balance is much better....but I can't be both relaxed AND have my muscles fully engaged.

When I came home I ate a turkey and cheese rollup and............
that entire big chunk of chocolate cake that the boys brought home from the lake. Ugh! I can't believe I sat there justifying it and then ate that entire thing.

I ate some almonds for a snack in the afternoon, then when we got home from Will's first soccer practice (too cute) I made the boys leftover pasta. My blood sugar was crashing, so I ate several bites of pasta. Brandyn came to stay with the boys and we went to Wahoo for spirit night. I had a glass of wine, a lemontini (YUM!) fried calamari and then parmesan crusted chicken with broccolini and mashed potatoes. All the entrees were served with mashed potatoes. I would have gotten the salad but no one is serving spinach right now and it would have been romaine instead....I can have a romaine salad anytime.

Anyway, I miraculously did not wake up with a headache this morning, though I am having a "fat" day. For breakfast I had two fried eggs, two pieces of turkey sausage and one piece of cheese, plus coffee w/half & half. For lunch I had one low carb tortilla, one piece turkey, one naked hotdog plus some blue cheese dressing to dip it in instead of ketchup (we're kind of low on lunch stuff). Then I had six squares of sugarless chocolate. I'm drinking a bunch of water now because I am going to a hot 90 tonight.....I had been planning to go tomorrow morning at 6 to a hot 75, but Lee begged me not to leave him to get the boys up, dressed & fed. So I said I wouldn't go if I could go tonight, which he said was fine.

I spent about 50 minutes in Michael's classroom today reading with a couple kids, just like I did last year. It's so fun, and Michael is always glad to see me. I hope he always wants to kiss and hug me in front of his friends.

I went to Finders Keepers to shop today....they have a ton of inventory right now so I thought surely I'd find something. When I was trying to find something to wear last night I realized how little I have that fits me well for this transitional season - everything is too big ("fat day" notwithstanding). I was hoping to find some cool long sleeve tees and capri pants or jeans, but all I found was a Misook duster which I debated about then decided to spring for at $14.99....I hope I get my money back for it.

SO, I tried the new class today,

"fusion flow". I liked it well enough, though next time I don't want to be in the front of the room because I need to see what is going on.

It was a slower paced, more meditative class but the parts I liked the best were when she picked up the pace a little bit and we flowed more quickly between poses. It had some vinyasa flow with some poses I recognized as being ashtanga-based. I really liked the groovy music she played at low volume.

I am sure I am going to be sore tomorrow but I don't feel like I got the thorough workout that I do with Bikram.

This class is only taught twice a week and one class is at night, so if I hit it every other Monday or so, that would be okay....it would be a change. What I really need to do is work my core, so I need to try to fit in a Pilates mat class once a week or so.

There just aren't enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do, especially WRT yoga classes.

I am noticing that my waist is much tighter and smaller; I am guessing that is because of ardha chandrasana. Woot!

Irresponsible dad.

He took them to Lake Sinclair for the weekend and they did not have a bath, did not brush their teeth even once, and they watched "Sponge Bob" which I thoroughly disapprove of. Also, when I talked to Lee last night he told me that Michael was watching "O Brother Where Art Though" with David. Lee is terrible about drinking too much and then letting Michael watch an inappropriate movie. Lee has also been grumbling about being very tired which means he stayed up too late, no doubt.

They all sound like they had a great time though, and Lee said they behaved well.

I feel like all I do or want to do is eat.

Breakfast - one fried egg, one piece deli turkey, canteloupe, coffee w/half & half.
Then hot 90 - I walked to the studio.

Lunch - leftover whole wheat penne w/turkey sauce & parmesan cheese, plus one and a half sweet potato muffins with cream cheese.

Snack - I sampled a couple meatballs from tonight's supper, plus I had a peach (mostly overripe) and a big handful of almonds. I also sampled the creamed cauliflower I made for myself instead of pasta. I also made a chocolate protein drink for the boys and I had some myself.

Supper - big helping meatballs & sauce over cauliflower, plus arugula salad w/oil & vinegar, and a taste of cake that they brought home from the lake. Now I am having six squares of sugarless chocolate.

Other than the pasta & muffins, I guess it's not that bad....

I had a good class today - my focus was good though I nearly fell over coming up from the third part of utkatasana, and I wobbled badly in toe stand on my left. I felt strong.

There's a class called "fusion focus" which is supposed to be a mix of iyengar and ashtanga...it's new to the schedule and it's tomorrow morning at 10. I wasn't going to go tomorrow...I was going to half price day at the Last Chance but now I can't decide. I am eager to try this new class....but at the rate I am going I am going to blow through my fifty class card by the end of the year.

Seriously lacking in motivation here.

Lee & the boys have gone to the lake and I swore I was going to get a lot of house cleaning done, but I am not motivated. I did tidy Will's room, make our bed & his, and strip Michael's bed. I also went to an Intro to Pilates class this morning and got started on the order form for the school tee shirts. However, I really really need to vacuum and mop and I just don't feel like it. I also ate almost two sweet potato muffins with cream cheese. DAMN those things are so good!

Last night Beth, Robin & Cindy came over and we stuffed all one thousand of Beth's "A Season of Giving" envelopes together. I had two glasses of wine and I thought plenty of water but apparently not as I woke up with a headache this morning. I took two ibuprofen and had water, coffee & breakfast and now it's mostly gone though I know I need to drink more water.

Beth just called - she mentioned last night that she had two tickets to the Garden of Eatin' or whatever it's called festival...downtown today. She was going to give them to me & Robin to go. I had decided I didn't want to go, would rather stay here, but she said that her plans for this afternoon fell through and that we should all go. It would be pretty fun, the three of us going, and plus it would motivate me to get moving on the floors. So off I go to start sweeping up the ant powder and and mop the kitchen.

Got to Bikram this morning and...

was disappointed to see that R. was subbing for E. R. is not a morning person, so I'm not wild about her classes in the am. However...there were a few new folks in there today so she taught a good class; I worked hard and felt like I benefitted from the instruction. I am just not into the silent classes...when a class is taught with lots of pointers, THAT is my focus...all I hear is the words and I focus on doing what they say. My attention wanders way too much in a silent class.

Anyway....I felt like in ardha chandrasana I went farther back than ever before....the head to knee poses, I am getting lower and lower.....the drop back in camel is easier (though this morning R. was exhorting us to keep our hips over our knees and I felt like my chest was being squeezed very hard). I also held toe stand on both sides pretty well. I had too much coffee this morning so I was jittery, but I had a good bit of energy. Oh, and in salabasana, I got both legs up, albeit briefly, farther than ever. That's my least favorite pose, but I suppose I can't help but improve, as often as I go.

Tomorrow I am trying something new - Intro to Pilates. Chelsea is teaching. I hope I am not completely crippled on Sunday after working my core.

Lee is taking the boys to Lake Sinclair tomorrow, so I'm going to my class, then cleaning house and watching a movie. Sunday I will do the hot class. Beth may be coming over tonight with a bunch of xmas Decatur envelopes that need stuffing, and if she does, we will surely drink. So I'm off to hydrate.

Geez, I've done nothing but eat today.

Or so it seems.

Breakfast - coffee w/half & half, low carb tortilla with two fried eggs, one piece cheese, one hotdog, about a half cup cottage cheese with a spoonful of low sugar jam.

Lunch - and I wasn't that hungry but I wanted to eat - low carb tortilla, piece of cheese, two pieces deli ham, water, six squares no sugar chocolate.

Playground - two cheddar rice cakes. I didn't even really want them, but my mouth did.

Snack - about six tablespoons of peanut butter and a spoonful low sugar jam.

Supper - a little bit of pasta - turkey & spaghetti sauce over whole wheat penne with parmesan. I was pretty full from the peanut butter, so I didn't have much.

Well, I guess it's not that much, but I feel like all I wanted to do was eat.

Yoga tomorrow morning after (I think) coffee w/the girls.

Something in the fridge smells dead.

Ewwww. I need to go find the corpse and dispose of it.

Ummm...what else. Went to hot 75 today. Would have gone to the hot 60 at noon yesterday but I went to the Buckhead GW and went and got my hair cut. I have been so tired lately that everything has been difficult. By evening I just cannot wait to get in bed.

I won't make it to yoga tomorrow...I checked out a couple power yoga videos from the library; I will probably watch them while I fold laundry tomorrow. HA!

Woot!...

I dragged myself to yoga with the thought that I just wanted to make it through without flaking out, and that at the very least, the stretching and sweating would make me feel better. I wound up having a great class with a steady feeling of energy. In dandayamana bibhaktapada paschimo....(why can't I remember the regular name of that pose - standing leg stretching something) my head is getting closer and closer to the floor. In standing bow pulling I got pretty high on the second set. In tree I was the only person in the room to go into toe stand (eek!) and I held it on the right (which I did first, in the wrong order, duh) for the longest ever. I was a little quivery, because I was darn tired by the end of the standing series, but I did it! I also got higher in cobra than ever and camel felt easier than it ever had.

Oh and I liked my yogitoes skidless too. Of course as I was laying it out I looked at the tag and it said "wash twice before using". I prayed that it would not bleed blue dye all over me. Supposedly it gets better with use, but it worked pretty well today. I'm glad I got it. I didn't futz around with my towel and mat nearly as much as I usually do.

Headache....

I realized I have had this headache since Wednesday afternoon. My head hurt all night and kept hurting even after I got up and drank two cups of coffee this morning. After I worked my shift at the sale (which made my headache worse) I stopped by CVS and checked my blood pressure in the machine. It was 121/69, a little bit high for me, but normal, I guess.

I registered Will for little kickers soccer, stopped by the grocery, stopped by the post office, then came home and ate a bit of lunch - some swiss cheese wedges and grapes, and a big handful of granola and nuts. I have also drunk about 48 ounces of water today, not including the little bit I drank at the water fountain during the sale. I am working on another 15 ounces of water now. My headache is still here, but it's definitely better than it was - I think the water is helping.

I was feeling so bad earlier that I thought I might want to skip yoga, but I think I will go. Hopefully it will make my still stiff and achy lower back feel better.

I am so....freaking.....tired.

I worked three hours at the consigment sale, standing on that hard gym floor, running back and forth between the "big ticket items" and the cashiers...and my lower back is killing me. I also have a very low grade headache that I can't get rid of...am I having a mild caffeine withdrawal...is my neck out of whack....or am I dehydrated? I am going to drink a ton of water tonight and go to bed early.

I have to work again tomorrow morning from 8-11, so I have to get up early to shower and eat a decent breakfast. After I leave the sale, I'm going to register Will for lil kickers soccer. I'll probably go to the library too. Then home for a few hours (or not - Lee will be out with the boys hiking) and then I am going to yoga at 4:30. After I leave yoga I have to go pick up any sale leftovers.

I went and got a pedicure today with Beth...it was very nice....but I used a pink polish and I'm just kind of "ehhhhh" about pink. It's pretty girly....I prefer darker red-browns. Oh well. Next time.

I bought myself a Yogitoes towel today...

I bought it on eBay. I priced them elsewhere, and even with paying $10.95 shipping, it was still cheaper than other places. So I held my nose and bought it anyway. I hope it will help....I need all the help I can get with the wide-stance poses. It sounds like if I sweat all over the towel, I will be able to stand it on for those poses. I also hope it's really absorbent...regular towels are just sodden by the time I get to the final savasana.

No yoga today or tomorrow...tomorrow morning I have to work a shift at the consignment sale. I also have to work Saturday morning. With any luck I'll get to yoga on Saturday afternoon.

Tonight is the back to school picnic - we're headed there in about half an hour.

Will is driving me crazy!!! Mommy.....mommy....mommy....mommy.... He is awfully cute when he's singing "I'm stuck in Folsom Prison...."

There's a hint of fall today.....

it's beautiful. Warm and sunny, but with low humidity and a gentle breeze. We're definitely over the summer hump, even though I know we'll have more hot days between now and Halloween. Lee and I had lunch at the U-Joint today, and despite the flies (and the smokers), it was nice eating outside on the patio.

Went to a hot 75 this morning....R. was the teacher and was in a better mood than she usually is. She taught a pretty decent class and I sweated profusely. My balance, as usual in the mornings, was not great, though I did hold toe stand on the right for about ten seconds. In the second set of dandayamana bibhaktipada...whatever...I held my arms in prayer position during the second set....normally I have to put my hands down for balance. I also feel like I am going more deeply into camel each time...I wish I could see myself in the mirror to know whether I am doing it correctly.

I dropped my stuff off at the sale this morning...that woman that runs the sale is one wierd unit. The lights are on, but no one's home.

I told Lee he ought to take the boys somewhere for the weekend since I am working a shift at the sale Saturday morning, have to pick up my clothes on Saturday night and would also like to go to the Saturday afternoon hot 90. He might take them to the lake...we'll see.

No yoga today...

or yesterday...I am in Bikram withdrawal. I am going in the morning, then I have to rush to the church to drop off my consignment clothes for the sale.

PTA board meeting tonight...Lee is feeding the boys for me.

Groaners and fidgeters.

This woman in front of me at yoga today drove me nuts. Not very yogini-like of me, is it? I have seen her before.....she gets right up front close to the mirror. She goes deep into a pose, bounces there, then comes up. She goes into it again, and stays there after the teacher has given the prompt to come up. She is also a grunter and a groaner. She fidgets, messes with her hair, and moves around. I guess she isn't really interested in finding her place of stillness, is she?

I had a decent practice today though when we reached dandyamana janushirasana I felt my heart rate going up too high and I really tried to bring it back down with my breath. During dandyamana dhanurasana I kept my opposite arm down during the first set and raised it during the second. My muscles felt pretty maxed out by the time we reached padangustasana so I wobbled pretty much on my left and only held the toe stand for a few seconds on my right...and we only did one set because we were running late.

Today was Michael's birthday....very low key with Brenda & Grandma here for lunch - turkey BBQ, slaw, guacamole, salsa & chips, pickles, fruit, veggie & dip, then birthday cake & ice cream. Will was generally difficult all day long and tonight after a big flame-out when the downtown fireworks were over, he sobbed that he was sad because Michael was 8 and he was only 4, and he wanted to have his birthday too! No amount of trying to reason with him worked, since he was so tired, so I'm not sure why I bothered. He's asleep, with a matchbox car clutched in one hand and a glow stick in the other.

This afternoon I put in "Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets" for Will, so Michael could build his "striking venom" lego in peace....I got down on the floor to do some poses while I watched. When I hold onto something, I can really take my leg high in standing bow....after I did a couple of those I got on the floor to sit in fixed firm, which is one of the toughest ones for me...who knew your knees were supposed to stretch that much. I also tried toe stand a few times....my left ankle cannot support me unless I'm warmed up, so that was a bust. I dropped back into camel a few times....the drop back is a cinch, now, but I wish I was a lot more flexible in my back so I could get my hands lower. I hope I am not paying for those poses in the morning.

I made a pig of myself with the cake, which was excellent if I do say so. There is really nothing like a totally made from scratch cake. I ate a big salad for dinner so I don't feel too bad.

No yoga tomorrow...I'm going to walk. I'm behind on my episodes of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me.

No practice today.

I had planned to go this morning, but 9am classes are always tough for me, and I had a ton to do here. I thought I might get to go tomorrow morning, but Lee grumbled when I mentioned it, and after all, it is Michael's birthday. So instead today I vacuumed the entire upstairs (after cleaning the boys' rooms), washed the bathroom rugs along with two other loads of laundry, folded and put away a load, vacuumed the entire downstairs except for the kitchen (which I will sweep, if not mop, which I really need to do), cleaned the boys' bathroom, and made Michael's birthday cake.

I got a good start on my consignment pricing, but I have a bunch more to do. I also need to make guacamole, put the turkey breast in the crockpot, and make pancake batter for Michael's breakfast. Plus gather & wrap presents. AND I need to go to Target and the grocery store. I really ought to pull an all nighter, shouldn't I?

In yoga news, a Hot 60 has been added for Tuesdays at noon....that will help me get to class more often. They are also having a class card sale...at the very least I am going to buy a 50 class card, but I would love to be able to spring for a year unlimited. Not sure I can justify that expense, though.

Got to go start the chicken nuggets for the boys.

All I have done today is EAT.

I'm just disgusted with myself!

Breakfast - two pieces turkey sausage and two big spoonfuls peanut butter. Coffe w/half & half. (I was going to yoga at 9:30).

Lunch - a large serving pork carnitas with two small low carb tortillas & sour cream. Then two peaches. Lots of water.

Snack - who needed a snack after that lunch?? Yet I ate a couple ginger cookies at the playground - Michael and Will did not like them, but lots of other kids did.

Snack II - the leftover half burger from last night, without bun, and the rest of the strawberries from Michael's lunch

Snack III - two glasses of wine with Rachel, plus some multigrain ranch flavored crackers, a few kalamata olives, a couple pieces of deli ham, and cheese.

Dinner - 1-1/2 turkey dogs, three squares sugarless chocolate, and a couple pieces of canteloupe.

Okay.....so I guess it is not that bad. It's the continuous eating that makes me feel like a pig. When I restrict my eating to one time period as opposed to grazing, I feel much better.

I had an AWESOME yoga practice today. I wanted to get there early and hang out in the hot room beforehand, hoping that would help me overcome whatever it is about the morning that hinders my practice, but I only got there about ten minutes before class. It was pretty crowded for a morning - I guess a lot of people were getting in a class before the long weekend. I put myself on the very far right, next to the side mirror. Grumpy R. the instructor came in to do the class and put herself front and center, then grumbled about how she hates the series in the morning.

My practice was GREAT. Along about garurasana I started feeling like my heart rate needed to come down, so I tried to take it easy....during dandayamana dhanurasana I kept my other arm by my side most of the pose so I could carry on through the whole standing set. During the second set of that pose I felt like I was more in the 'bow' than I ever had been...wish I could turn my head and see in the mirror. During trikanasana, where I struggle with endurance, I tilted into warrior and got the 'triangle' formed by my arm, side and thigh...couldn't hold it the whole time, though. HOWEVER!! My balance in tree was fine - my last practice, I wobbled like crazy - and I went down into toe stand and held it! I held it longer on my right foot, but I held it fine on my left, too. WOOHOO! I am making progress. What an accomplishment!

Elena usually teaches ardha matseyendrasana flat on the floor, turning your upper body one way and your opposite leg the other way...but I much prefer it sitting...I get a better stretch. So I did it like that today, and I tried binding...no problem! That stretch is the bomb.

The sweat was like rain falling off me...even during the first set of pranayama breathing. I knew my towel was going to be drenched by the time I got to the end, and it was, as was my hand towel. That is an ongoing problem...soggy towels and slippery mats. During the wide stance poses I have to keep constantly adjusting myself and wiping off the sweat to keep myself from slipping.

I'm beginning to feel a tad panicky about this consignment sale....I have not priced anything yet. I guess I can start with the clothes and if I don't get all the toys priced, I can save them for the next sale. However, I just want them out of here!

Namaste.

Thinking out loud.

As it were. To do:

PTA stuff:
- check PTA box for any more volunteer forms and make copies if there are any.
- divvy up the copies of volunteer forms to the various committee/event chairs.
- write up agenda for next Tuesday's PTA board meeting.
- write up weekly email for yahoo group & PTA news for weekly newsletter.

Other:
- Publix in the am before yoga, hopefully
- get clothes & stuff ready for consignment sale (there's a ton - must start that this weekend)
- mop kitchen floor
- make Michael's birthday cake
- wrap Michael's presents
- pick up balloons
- make turkey bbq
- vacuum upstairs & clean upstairs bathrooms
- go through bins for stuff to list
- call Kathy & schedule haircut for week after next
- get pedicure week after next also

Tomorrow morning is a hot 90. So looking forward to it! I tried toe stand again this afternoon in the living room...balanced for at least ten seconds on the right. Couldn't do it on the left without being warmed up due to pain on the inside of my ankle. Can't wait to try it tomorrow!

The noise, noise, noise, noise!

You know, you'd think that with both boys in school from 8-2:30 roughly that I would not reach noise overload so quickly...but I do. Mostly with Will. He chatters non-stop when we get home after pickup and playground time. "Mommy, I'm thirsty. I want a snack. Mommy, can I watch something? Can you read to me? Mommy, I want another snack. I need to make a stinky! I'm dooonnnnneeee! Mommy, {pointing to Lego catalog} I want this, and this, and THIS. {insert loud crashing noises} Expecto patronum {loud crashing noises and thuds}!! Mommy, is daddy on his way home? Can I watch something? I want to play with my brother!" and so on. Right now I have on my headphones with the music cranked and I can still hear him from upstairs. I am also drinking a glass of red wine...much deserved. I have a meatloaf in the oven and cauliflower simmering for mashed cauli and cheese. I think I'm also going to cut up some cukes for a salad.

My practice this morning....I went to a hot 75 with R. Grumpy R. whose classes I have not enjoyed so much lately. She wanted to do a silent 75, but then she came back in and said that Debbie said no. Fine with me! I don't think I'm ready for a silent class.

So, my balance was terrible today. Terrible!! I don't know if it was a morning thing or what....maybe because it was a 75 minute class and I wasn't as warmed up, but I could not even balance well in tree. Hours later at home, I tried tree again...no problem....got down easily into toe stand on my right leg and held it for the longest ever, about ten seconds. I can't do it on my left leg without being warmed up, because I have a wierd pain on the inside of my left ankle. Maybe I will get up my nerve and do toe stand Friday in Elena's class...though it would be humiliating to fall backwards on my butt.

We got the nicest email from Michael's teacher last night. It said:

Hi! I just wanted to let you know what a great job Michael is doing!
He's really had an amazing couple of weeks and seems to be adjusting
pretty well to second grade. I love that he's such a thinker. He works
so hard and is incredibly kind to everyone. I can already tell we're
going to have a fabulous year.

I take his goodness for granted too much....he really is a special boy with a sweet nature and heart of gold. I need to appreciate him more.

It's like a sauna outside.

It's as hot as hot yoga, but not as much fun.

I made it back to a hot 90 last night, though it was kind of last minute so I was starving, plus I forgot that I got up and walked yesterday morning. So it wasn't my best practice - my muscles felt a little tired. Even though I was excited to work on my balance in poses, my balance wasn't so great - I did go down in toe stand, but by the time I got down, it was time to come back up. I got in the back of the room so I could get in toe stand without feeling like I was on display, but being closer to the mirror is better for my focus. I was also trying to focus on my breath more, since I find I tend to hold my breath in strenuous poses. Maybe I need to tackle one element at a time.

My neck and shoulder are seriously out of whack, and I have a pain in my mid-back. I'm going to a hot 75 in the morning, then going to get an adjustment.

I have been eating a few more junky carbs than usual lately, especially in the afternoons after school - goldfish, caramel rice cakes, yogurt pretzels. I don't even really WANT that stuff, but my mouth does. I need to knock it off.

Tonight for dinner - curried chicken over rice (no rice for me). The plumbers are nearly done replacing our sink fixture, which was the cause of our very low water pressure. Yahoo!

My poor neglected ebay business.

I only have a few auctions up and not many in the chute. I am holding some of my more fallish stuff for September, so I don't have much to put up right now. Me, Kim and Beth are going to the GW tomorrow to shop, so I might pick up a few things, but not as much as I would if I were going alone and focused on inventory.

Actually, I am consumed with Bikram yoga these days. I looked forward to my practice all day and when I got there I was actually fired up with adrenaline. I have still not quite learned how to pace myself through a class....if I start going all out I sometimes burn out and have to sit out a pose from dizziness. Yet today I paced myself too much and got to the end wishing I had worked harder.

I have been practicing the up-on-toes part of Utkatasana at home and today (after my class) I discovered something - if I pull my stomach in very hard, as hard as I can, my balance improves immensely. I tried it with Padangustasana today, on my right, and I held my balance for the longest ever. Not so much on my left, though, as usual.

I wanted to try padangustasana today in class, but it was full of newbies and only one other person did it. I did not want to be stared at, so I just held the tree.

I ordered some super cute Birks - Gizeh - with a funky jerry garcia print. I was v. disappointed that my sparkly Skechers thongs were too small, and I am sending them back.

Off to watch a reptile show with the boys. It reminds me of my childhood - watching "Wonderful World of Disney" on Sunday nights, in my pajamas.

No Yoga today.

Went to Beth's last night with the Lyles, Gartskas and Hentzes for a dinner party. I drank some, not too much, but ate a ton of carbs. We also got to bed quite late. So I piddled around this morning and went for a forty minute walk, not too strenuous. When I got back, I sat down to stretch in the Fixed Firm pose - ohhh, is that ever hard on my knees. I have to be really warmed up in class to be able to get my butt all the way to the floor. I could not do it today.

I have tried toe stand a few times since my last class - twice I have been able to balance for a few seconds, but mostly I feel like I am going to topple over onto my face.

I have also been practicing getting all the way on my toes and staying there in Utkatasana. That one I can practice quite easily at home....no warmup required. Slowly my balance is improving.

Will I get bored with Bikram when I master all the poses? Of course, I suppose "master" is a relative term, and you never really master a pose...there is always something new to learn even in a pose done hundreds of times.

Yoga tonight.

Not only did I get back into camel again tonight, but I got fully into fixed firm for the first time ever! WAHOO! That's another I've struggled with because it is such a strain on my knees. I was close before, but wasn't sure I could go all the way. After my success with camel the other day, I went for it today in fixed firm.

I could have done another whole set of each, I felt so energized. I felt like I went all the way in my poses. Things I want to work on: balance in awkward pose; going all the way down in awkward pose (knees together); and being able to hold warrior pose through both sets, both arms and legs - that pose is a killer!

Bikram yoga today.

I got fully into the camel pose today. woohoo!!!! I was grinning like a fool. It felt awesome.

I cut the ties to preschool.

I was feeling guilty about abandoning my post as chair of the library committee, but after I looked in the handbook and saw that the May 2007 tuition ($235) which I paid last May is nonrefundable, I didn't feel guilty anymore.

I left Joanne a message on the answering machine. Guess that was kind of chickenshit of me. Oh well.

College Heights seems to be going well. His teacher seems quite friendly and kind, though there is definitely more structure to their day there than at preschool.

But oh, I am so happy I do not have to suffer through the twice-yearly picnic or the Happy Hearts dinner anymore. Hurrah!

I have been going to Hot Yoga at least three times a week. I love it. I have lost two more pounds and most of my clothes are, if not too big, quite roomy.

What I ate today:

Before walk - a peach, coffee w/half & half

Breakfast (about 11:30, after walk) - three fried eggs, 1 piece cheese, 2 links turkey sausage, 1 low carb tortilla, iced coffee w/half & half.

Snack - handful of nuts. I was also making meatballs for Beth, and I ate some of those (maybe ten?)

Dinner - none, really. I ate a few peanut butter covered pretzels, then half a cucumber with buffalo blue cheese dressing and three squares of sugar free chocolate.

I am a little bit hungry now, but I am not going to eat. I think I lost my appetite working with and smelling all those meatballs all afternoon. I am going to be hungry in the morning.

For the love of god.

I hear thunder. Someone is getting pounded with rain. Why can't it be us for once? We have not had a good, ground soaking rain since the 4th of July. We need it so bad. It is so brutally hot. But still people are out and about, at 5:00 in the afternoon, doing things like jogging, re-roofing houses, and standing out in front of the Jiffy Lube holding signs that say "NO WAIT!"

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast - low carb tortilla with two pieces cheese & turkey, coffee w/half & half (eaten in the car on the way to zoo camp).

Snack - peach.

Lunch - leftover cauliflower & cheese soup (about a cup), a couple big spoonfuls of peanut butter and a spoonful of low sugar jelly.

Snack - handful of nuts, a swallow of cold coffee (my ass was seriously dragging).

Tonight we are going to the Matador for dinner, and though I am probaby going to eat too many chips, I am not going to have a margarita. I feel too wrung out. I'm probably just really dehydrated, but a margarita is not what I need.

It's been awhile.

I am thoroughly sick of summer and in a vile mood.
What I ate today:

Breakfast - coffee w/half & half, low carb tortilla with two pieces cheese & a piece of turkey, vanilla protein drink (protein powder w/vanilla unsweetened soy milk).

Snack - not sure I had one? Maybe nuts or nuts and a peach.

Lunch - Chick Fil A southwestern chicken salad without the tortilla strips, giant unsweet tea

Snack - six squares dark no sugar chocolate, a peach

Snack - big handful nuts

Supper - two servings cauliflower & cheese soup, one cheddar biscuit, half a sliced cucumber and some cherry tomatoes with balsamic vinagrette.

Dessert - finished off the blueberry crumble, but without ice cream.

Hmmm. Not as bad as I thought. I am really full from supper and dessert, and I was feeling fat.

All I want to really do is go to Hot Yoga. Must do Hot Yoga.

Feeling very Little House on the Prairie-ish.

We are flat broke, so I have been cooking with what's in the pantry and freezer.

I've been doing some baking with a big container of applesauce I made last fall and froze.

I made a loaf of applesauce-oatmeal bread last weekend (just okay) and a pan of buttermilk applesauce snack cake last night (spectacular). That snack cake would be even more fabulous with cream cheese icing.

I also made some buttermilk banana muffins using some powdered buttermilk (of which I have lots) and two black bananas, plus the last of the cake flour.

I have a small bag of self-rising flour and either tonight or tomorrow I am going to make garlic-cheddar drop biscuits (recipe on back of bag) with some lentil soup from the freezer.

In reviewing previous blog entries I saw that I raved about fresh pumpkin. Can't wait til those start showing up in the stores - fresh baked pumpkin is CHEAP and so yummy.

Damn, we're in a tight spot. I've been surfing frugal living sites, trying to get in the frugality mindset. I've also got some personal finance books on hold at the library. If we can't increase our income, we've got to decrease our expenses.

What I've eaten today:
two bites of snack cake, three fried eggs with parmesan & a slice of turkey, a peach (the peaches have been awesome this summer), a cup of coffee and now an iced coffee w/half & half.

Lee is coming home for lunch so that I can go to the chiro. He is going to finish off the pasta, bread & hopefully a cucumber. Not sure what I'll have for lunch. Boys are going to have the roasted red pepper soup and probably a sandwich or hot dog.

I am out of sorts.

I hate summer.
We have no money to do anything.
I am only kind of looking forward to going to the lake.
The boys are getting on my nerves.
All I want to do is go to Hot Yoga.
I can't wait for fall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I ate today.

Breakfast - coffee, two bites of whole wheat pancakes I made for the boys. I ate a piece of triangle cheese before my walk.

Walked three miles (at least) and picked up trash.

Lunch, about 11:50 - two fried eggs, piece of deli turkey, cheese, a peach. Iced coffee w/half & half.

Snack - chocolate protein drink w/unsweetened almond milk & vanilla extract. Then a small low-carb tortilla & piece of light cheddar cheese microwaved.

Then I made guacamole w/tomato, onion, lime juice & cilantro. Ate maybe a little less than a cup of that with a few blue corn chips.

Supper - buffalo chicken & slaw. Ate two or three chicken thighs with cabbage & blue cheese slaw.

Then for dessert I finished off the rice pudding that Will didn't eat (maybe half a cup).

My upper arms, shoulders, and neck are pleasantly sore today from hot yoga.

Today.

Got up this morning. Ate a piece of turkey sausage, a piece of cheese & drank a cup of coffee.

Went to my first Hot Yoga class with Beth. LOVED IT! I can't wait to go back.

Came home and made two fried eggs with cheese, an avocado, and salsa. I also drank an iced coffee w/half & half. Then I had six squares of dark sugarless chocolate.

Made a batch of chocolate chunk muffins and took some to Adam & Robin - Catherine had a seizure early this morning while sleeping & spent the morning at Egleston. I also took her a Barbie balloon & a My Little Pony activity book (and a Spiderman activity book for Will, so he wouldn't feel left out). I ate probably two muffins' worth of dough & bites of the boys muffins.

Snack - a handful of nuts.

Dinner - shrimp sauteed in butter, with garlic & herb cheese & cream. Lee had his over linguine; I had mine plain. We also had a spinach salad and two glasses of wine. Then I had some sugarless milk chocolate.