03.20.09
Desert Botanical Garden and Vegan
I went with friends to see the Chihuly glass at the Botanical Garden in Phoenix. It was a beautiful day. I got a little burnt, walked a lot, enjoyed good company, and took some beautiful pics. We got back to my friend’s house for chips, guacamole, and margaritas. I was planning on leaving after that, but the margaritas packed a punch and I knew I needed to stay awhile.
So, for dinner, they were making beef tacos. I had explained to my friend what it meant to be a vegan and what I was saying no to, some few weeks earlier. She still doesn’t get it. She kept offering me cheese and sour cream. For dessert, she couldn’t understand why I said no to the chocolate cake and cookies. Her daughter (my age) couldn’t stop laughing. Maybe it was all the tequila. Anyway, one of their guests for the week was doing a food store run. He came back with a can of vegetarian refried beans, which looked good to me. SO, instead of PB and J, I had tacos after all (minus the sour cream and cheese!).
Here are some pics from the Botanical Garden:
Glass in a boat
Me in my new Old Navy dress!
More Blue Glass
03.01.09
Words I am learning and like…
I signed up for a bunch of word a day emails and am loving some of the words. Here are a few from this week that called to me:
obstreperous – noisy
imbibition – drinking
lachrymose – tearful
Use one of them today. I will send you a gold star!
Here are the websites should you want a word of the day, too!
02.28.09
Almost there!
Another 60 day challenge is nearing the end. I am grateful for that, as I have stressed about going and getting my day in on a frequent basis. Perhaps no time is good for a challenge, but this one has been harder than the last. I finish on Thursday, 5 days away. I have 7 classes to squeeze in, so doubles are a must.
I’ve been doing Weight Watchers along with the challenge. I have lost a little over 10 pounds. This week the scale stayed the same, but I have seen a few improvements in class. I can wrap my arms and grip the elbows in the last part of wind removing pose. My lunge in triangle has gotten lower.
I love my backbend in 1/2 moon series and doing camel. I am practicing at home, trying to get up into wheel pose. It’s amazing that something so easy in childhood has become such a challenge here.
Finishing the challenge leaves me wondering how to continue my challenge. Should I still try to go daily? Should I take a few days off? I worry that once I feel like yoga is optional, that I won’t push myself as hard. Anyway – here is a picture of a beautiful flower to cheer you all on this weekend!
01.29.09
Happy Half Day!
I am so excited it is a 1/2 day here. What a busy week, with parent/teacher conferences, school, and Bikram. It’s on the downhill slope now, so I am excited. Went to Bikram this morning and plan on going again this afternoon. That should catch me up to day 25. On Day 30, I am buying another yogitoes towel.
Tomorrow is payday treats for 2nd grade, so I am baking lemony sunshine cupcakes. I hope they turn out. Lemon curd is expensive.
Here’s something that I think consumes us all – taking happy moments and making them harder and taking difficult times and looking for the silver lining. For me this happens from moment to moment – like in my Bikram class, my school day, etc. It also happens on a larger scale.
“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven”
~ John Milton
01.24.09
Blood Oranges, yum…
It has been a long week. I am not quite sure why I felt so exhausted and so frustrated with people. But now it is the weekend and I couldn’t be happier. Today I went to a Farmer’s market and got a few odds and ends. The exciting part was the blood oranges. Could there be a more delicious fruit?
I am back on the Bikram challenge bandwagon, on day 20. It has been good so far. Today was also weigh in at Weight Watchers. Yes, I am back again. Yes, it is annoying to be repeating my efforts. Yes, I will lose weight on this plan. This week I lost 2 after massive amounts of dining out (plus the 1/2 marathon). That is a total of 6.5 lbs down so far.
Blood Oranges
Dad came to Bikram!
01.19.09
We made it!
Okay! Race day was yesterday. I was truly trepidatious to be running 13.1 miles. I haven’t trained. It’s the same old story, really. But Dad and I had a nice time. I ran the first 5, surprisingly pain free. I kept chanting in my head, “My body is strong and resilient.” Over and over and over and over and over and over. From there we walked for a ways, with some intervals of running. We ran the last mile and a half to cross the finish line.
I was stiff and sore, with a few nice blisters on my feet. I don’t think I will sign up again for it anytime soon. We took it easy at the house. Then, today, Dad joined me for 6 AM yoga. He did a great job in there, especially as it was his first time doing any yoga, let alone Bikram. I will post some pics tomorrow.
This quote, from a fellow runner, pretty much summed up our running experience at the PF Chang’s Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon:
“Start slow, then taper off.”
The 3 Runners!
On the move...
Drinking until the pain dissipates...
01.15.09
Cruising in Style
“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” ~John F. Kennedy
I rode my bike to work today with a coworker. In my mind, it seemed such a far distance and a lot of trouble. In actuality, it was 3.5 miles of pleasant riding. The only downer was the sweat on my shirt from being under the backpack. That will be resolved this weekend after a stop to the bike shop for a proper basket!
I went to yoga, dealt with all the chaos of another day at work, and now must frantically straighten up for Daddy Dearest’s arrival!
01.14.09
Hump Day
I woke up super tired, though I didn’t go to bed super late. Go figure. I have tons to do today, so I opted out of yoga. Good thing I have done some doubles so I don’t have to stress over it. I have been running laps at school for a program called the Grand Canyon Trekkers. I hope to get in close to 2 miles during my lunch break today. That will make up for not heading to yoga.
Quote:
The sun may wake you, but the day kicks you out of bed, then in the butt, right onto the tracks of that moving train called Life. The question is, though, are you going to drive or just go along for the ride? It’s up to you today, everyday.
01.13.09
Aargh!
I was driving merrily on my way to yoga at 5:35 this morning. More than 1/2 way there, my check engine light came on. So, after yoga, I drove it to my new favorite car place where they agreed to give me 10% off labor since I am a teacher. I asked. I received. I don’t know what is wrong. Hopefully, it is something minor.
“You can’t run away from trouble. There ain’t no place that far.”
I guess you can’t drive away from trouble either. Let’s meet it head on and conquer it today.
01.12.09
Monday Looms Large!
I got up and went to yoga. I hit up the grocery store for some healthy food items. Now I am at school, ready for the day! Lots to do and so little time, actually. Here is a great quote:
Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up and knows that it will have to outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed.
And, every morning in Africa a lion wakes up and knows that it will have to outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.
So, in Africa, it doesn’t matter if you are the lion or the gazelle. When that sun comes up, you had better be running.
I am hitting the day running, that is for sure! A happy and productive Monday to you.
