As is my norm, I overscheduled for my moving day.
Overscheduling event #1: After a month of rainy weekends (one flyable weekend day on October) this weekend proved beautiful for ballooning, so we went out on Saturday morning. Nice flight from Southington to Berlin, notable mostly for the passenger's husband riding in the chase van and marveling at my navigation and chase savvy. I guess I *do* know this area like the bak of my hand! We caught the balloon (literally) on a hillside in a small "active adult" community near the Berlin Fairgrounds.
After the ceremonial mimosa's and snacks - I skipped crew breakfast to zoom over to U-Haul in New Britain to pick up my truck. Sounded like hell (it ran on gas but sounded like a cold diesel) but it drove alright. Headed back to Hartford where I was met by Pat (mover extraordianire) - he and I made short work of loading up the truck. So when 11 (call time) came around and other friends showed up, we were pretty well set to travel to the new house.
Overscheduling event #2: I was slotted in to teach the Intro to Yoga class at the studio on Saturday, from 1-2. Smack dab in the middle of my move. And I guess I could have said no, but (a) it's an honor to be asked to teach it and (b) it's a good way to pick up new fans and students and (c) I just like it! So I was planning to load the truck, send the crew off to lunch while I taught my class, and unload around 3.
However, the early start light load, and excellent moving team pushed us ahead of sccedule. Pat was joined by BC and Kevin and Zippy, and we traveled to New Britain to unload. Everything got moved in plenty of time for yoga - and I left them off to lunch. THANK-YOU to everyone who helped. It was an incredibly fast and relatively pain-free move.
After teaching, I headed back to Hartford, where I finished the small piles of detritus in my former bedroom, and swept the place clean. Zippy also sent me off with a pile of food and some odds and ends, although I certainly have much more to collect from there.
Then I trucked over to West Hartford to collect a Washer and Dryer I bought from friends - Teo traveled back to the house with me to help me unload. And then back to U-Haul to dump the truck - having put 50 miles on it (UHaul NB - Hartford, Harford to NB, NB to Hartford, Hartford to WH, WH to New Britain, and New Britain to Uhaul). A really wise inevstment - being able to just pack it up and go (and use the ramp).
Finally, I Stop'd and Shop'd on the way back to the condo, picking up some bathroom stuff, as well as some veggies and salad makings. I spent the evening puttering around the house, and woke early this morning (a bit of insomnia).
I measure my progress in empty boxes - right now I am sitting next to a pile of 12 empties. Some will go back to Hartford (so Zippy can put things of mine he comes across) and some to the office (getting ready for that move by the end of the month).
November 08, 2009
November 06, 2009
Saying Goodbye
Lost in all the excitement of finding a house, applying for a mortgage, anticipating a new space, and managing the logistics (as well as the lifting) of a move, is the fact that as of this weekend, Zippy and I will no longer be living together.
We met back in 2000 or thereabouts. I was coming off a truly horrible half decade - was probably clinically depressed, at the tail end of digging myself a financial hole that am just now climbing out of. I was living alone in Waterbury, in a house I could not afford, and well - my life was a wreck. It might have looked OK from the outside, but it was most decidedly not.
Zippy met me at the Children from the Shadows conferece (I was staffing a table) and despite my cluelessness with regard to his intentions, and my inadvertant attempts to pawn him off on other support orgs, he hunted me down online (a rather remarkable feat, knowing now how the internet vexes and frustrates him). After a bit of an email wooing and a few dates (trivia, our first date was a walk round Reservoir #6 followed by a bite at Wild Oats), we, as the saying goes, hooked up.
After some months of a commuter relationship (he in Hartford, me in Waterbury) we decided to move in together. I found office space in Newington for my business, moved in with him, and started to get my house ready for sale.
Moving in with Zippy loosened slightly the financial vice that had clamped down on me - I eventually sold the house, got out from under the mortgage, and found the money to begin and complete my transition. I moved to Hartford where I found communities - bloggers, artists, musicians, yogis. And we have lived together for 8 years - far longer than my short lived marriage. We've each let go of two dogs in those years, and I wept for his Mauzie and Melina just as much as I did for my own; we now have two dogs that we adopted together.
Perhaps our relationship was doomed from the start. He's quite a few years older than I, and a lot of what has become my culture grates and irritates him. I'm perenially moving - ballooning, hiking, yoga, arts, music - and he just cannot keep up and resents my being away. His ideal - a quiet house and a book to read - pulls me down into depression and addiction. My ideal - a life filled with people and activities, and a perennial "glass half full" attitude that he calls pollyana, gets him cranky. And each of us have gone though major life transitions that have taken us physically and energeticlly in different directions.
When I fell in love with yoga, I think it was the last straw for him. I was too often gone, too often looking outward and away. My yoga friends see mostly his anger, his resentment towards a practice and a community that, at the end, took me away from him - so it is hard for them to see his humor, his generous spirit, his difficult journey. So for the last few years, even as our relationship became completely platonic, we have cohabitated with some friction, some resentment, some anger. It's time to move on.
But I leave with no small measure of sadness. He is, for all that, my very good friend. We have shared a bed, a household, countless meals and movies. I have come to love his family; my family has embraced him. I called him from a hospital bed in Trinidad, CO; I stood by his side in a hospital in Springfield. And I know that his life will be harder and a little less vital without me around to drive at night, to help out financially and logistically. (although he'd say, rightfully, that he'll have a lot less cleaning to do and a lot less clutter to put up with, with me gone!)
Even as I prepare to move we've been sharing the HBO series True Blood via Netflix; and I hope we can continue to have a regular movie night, an occasionally meal, and some time together.
So, in all this excitement for a new life to come, some sadness and letting go for what has been an incredible period of change and the person who was the catalyst for much of this change.
We met back in 2000 or thereabouts. I was coming off a truly horrible half decade - was probably clinically depressed, at the tail end of digging myself a financial hole that am just now climbing out of. I was living alone in Waterbury, in a house I could not afford, and well - my life was a wreck. It might have looked OK from the outside, but it was most decidedly not.
Zippy met me at the Children from the Shadows conferece (I was staffing a table) and despite my cluelessness with regard to his intentions, and my inadvertant attempts to pawn him off on other support orgs, he hunted me down online (a rather remarkable feat, knowing now how the internet vexes and frustrates him). After a bit of an email wooing and a few dates (trivia, our first date was a walk round Reservoir #6 followed by a bite at Wild Oats), we, as the saying goes, hooked up.
After some months of a commuter relationship (he in Hartford, me in Waterbury) we decided to move in together. I found office space in Newington for my business, moved in with him, and started to get my house ready for sale.
Moving in with Zippy loosened slightly the financial vice that had clamped down on me - I eventually sold the house, got out from under the mortgage, and found the money to begin and complete my transition. I moved to Hartford where I found communities - bloggers, artists, musicians, yogis. And we have lived together for 8 years - far longer than my short lived marriage. We've each let go of two dogs in those years, and I wept for his Mauzie and Melina just as much as I did for my own; we now have two dogs that we adopted together.
Perhaps our relationship was doomed from the start. He's quite a few years older than I, and a lot of what has become my culture grates and irritates him. I'm perenially moving - ballooning, hiking, yoga, arts, music - and he just cannot keep up and resents my being away. His ideal - a quiet house and a book to read - pulls me down into depression and addiction. My ideal - a life filled with people and activities, and a perennial "glass half full" attitude that he calls pollyana, gets him cranky. And each of us have gone though major life transitions that have taken us physically and energeticlly in different directions.
When I fell in love with yoga, I think it was the last straw for him. I was too often gone, too often looking outward and away. My yoga friends see mostly his anger, his resentment towards a practice and a community that, at the end, took me away from him - so it is hard for them to see his humor, his generous spirit, his difficult journey. So for the last few years, even as our relationship became completely platonic, we have cohabitated with some friction, some resentment, some anger. It's time to move on.
But I leave with no small measure of sadness. He is, for all that, my very good friend. We have shared a bed, a household, countless meals and movies. I have come to love his family; my family has embraced him. I called him from a hospital bed in Trinidad, CO; I stood by his side in a hospital in Springfield. And I know that his life will be harder and a little less vital without me around to drive at night, to help out financially and logistically. (although he'd say, rightfully, that he'll have a lot less cleaning to do and a lot less clutter to put up with, with me gone!)
Even as I prepare to move we've been sharing the HBO series True Blood via Netflix; and I hope we can continue to have a regular movie night, an occasionally meal, and some time together.
So, in all this excitement for a new life to come, some sadness and letting go for what has been an incredible period of change and the person who was the catalyst for much of this change.
November 05, 2009
Home Improvement
Even though I've purchased a relatively new condo in good shape, I'm still signing up for a bit more home repair / home improvement projects.
So far I've changed out the locks (two door locks, two deadbolts) which went swimmingly. I also repaired the kitchen sink drain (leaked like a sieve; one washer was missing and one was wrecked) and I need to switch the hot / cold taps (reversed). I put in a front porch light timer and have started to replace a few light switches (the switched living room outlet had low voltage and high impedance, probably caused by a flaky light switch). And I've taken down a few rogue shelves in the basement (awkwardly placed, marginally useful, and highly likely to catch me in the head at some point).
One shelf stayed up - apparently placed to hold a small TV in the basement and I'm using it for the same. (So I can watch Fox News while I work....not)
I'm sure I'll have more projects cooking - hanging art and some kitchen stuff. Once the office and the laundry appliances get in place perhaps some strategic shelving. Some brighter and/or more strategically places lamps. I want to remove the ceiling fan from the yoga room (get's in the way of my sun salutations) and perhaps put in some track lighting. The bathroom fixtures are a kind of 70's wood that need updating at some point.
Kind of exciting. I've already been to Home Depot once, as well as the convenient and nostalgic Newington Hardware - suspect I will be visiting both places more frequently in the coming weeks.
So far I've changed out the locks (two door locks, two deadbolts) which went swimmingly. I also repaired the kitchen sink drain (leaked like a sieve; one washer was missing and one was wrecked) and I need to switch the hot / cold taps (reversed). I put in a front porch light timer and have started to replace a few light switches (the switched living room outlet had low voltage and high impedance, probably caused by a flaky light switch). And I've taken down a few rogue shelves in the basement (awkwardly placed, marginally useful, and highly likely to catch me in the head at some point).
One shelf stayed up - apparently placed to hold a small TV in the basement and I'm using it for the same. (So I can watch Fox News while I work....not)
I'm sure I'll have more projects cooking - hanging art and some kitchen stuff. Once the office and the laundry appliances get in place perhaps some strategic shelving. Some brighter and/or more strategically places lamps. I want to remove the ceiling fan from the yoga room (get's in the way of my sun salutations) and perhaps put in some track lighting. The bathroom fixtures are a kind of 70's wood that need updating at some point.
Kind of exciting. I've already been to Home Depot once, as well as the convenient and nostalgic Newington Hardware - suspect I will be visiting both places more frequently in the coming weeks.
November 04, 2009
Heading towards the Finish Line
There is so much stuff over at the new place; I am starting to feel like I'm camping out here. Shoes. Both closets, plus the seasonal clothes from the basement. Linens. Towels. Bathroom stuff. Kitchenware.
Went over there tonight with TVs, DVD/VCR, and a new wireless router. Comcast comes by tomorrow afternoon so I wanted to get everything in place.
My bedroom looks like a hurricane hit it - and will remain that way until after the move I imagine. Friday I'll start emptying the dressers and armoire and taking the clothes over ahead of time (everything will move around so I'm just going to start over)
Saturday, with any luck, I will officially reside in my new place. I'll still have lots of things to deal with here in Hartford; things to clean up, small piles of stuff. But it will be mostly mop up stuff and small piles to move - the big stuff will all be moved out by Saturday.
It's been a bit of a whirlwind, and I'm looking forward to living in just one place for a while. Although as soon as I'm done the houshold move, I need to start the process of moving my office.
Went over there tonight with TVs, DVD/VCR, and a new wireless router. Comcast comes by tomorrow afternoon so I wanted to get everything in place.
My bedroom looks like a hurricane hit it - and will remain that way until after the move I imagine. Friday I'll start emptying the dressers and armoire and taking the clothes over ahead of time (everything will move around so I'm just going to start over)
Saturday, with any luck, I will officially reside in my new place. I'll still have lots of things to deal with here in Hartford; things to clean up, small piles of stuff. But it will be mostly mop up stuff and small piles to move - the big stuff will all be moved out by Saturday.
It's been a bit of a whirlwind, and I'm looking forward to living in just one place for a while. Although as soon as I'm done the houshold move, I need to start the process of moving my office.
November 03, 2009
Change of Address
It's been a while since I've moved. Amazed at home many "change of address" forms I can fill out online - bank, credit cards, services. Even the US Postal Service does this online these days - saves me a trip.
November 02, 2009
Empty Boxes
I've been carrying around a fleet of empty boxes for the better part of 20 years. Probably back in high school or college, I got into the habit of saving the boxes for my electronics: Stereo amplifier, CD changer, turntable, VCR, DVD, laptops - you name it, I've saved it. I had a pile in the back room about 6' tall. They have moved from my crawlspaces in Waterbury, to my office in Newington, and then to the attic here in Hartford.
Now, the reality is that except for a few years post college when I lived in a perhaps 4 places within a 6 year period, I've been pretty static. I lived in a house in Waterbury about 12 years. Then here to Hartford for 8 years. Now off to New Britain for what I assume will be a fairly long duration. The stereo stuff is over at the new place - did not even use the boxes.
So tonight I broke down about 10 large boxes, put the cardboard into the recycling, and the styrofoam packing pieces into the trash. One more pile of stuff out of my life...
Now, the reality is that except for a few years post college when I lived in a perhaps 4 places within a 6 year period, I've been pretty static. I lived in a house in Waterbury about 12 years. Then here to Hartford for 8 years. Now off to New Britain for what I assume will be a fairly long duration. The stereo stuff is over at the new place - did not even use the boxes.
So tonight I broke down about 10 large boxes, put the cardboard into the recycling, and the styrofoam packing pieces into the trash. One more pile of stuff out of my life...
Shedding Stuff, Reclaiming a Bed
I own exactly one piece of amazing furniture. It's a handmade, 4 poster bed - made by the folks at George G. Whitmore Company (now closed) in exchange for a website. It's some sort of special design intended to be easily taken apart and stowed in a wagon for a move - it breaks down and sets up pretty easily.
Zippy has been using it since we moved into separate rooms a few years back - just too big for my smaller room and I was find on a futon (very zen). But with my impending move it was time to reclaim my bed. Yesterday, we disassembled the bed, and moved the mattresses - giving Zippy a full sized mattress and boxspring I got from friends.
My four poster is now lying in position in my new bedroom, waiting for hardware (which I accidently left at home) - probaly assemble it today. Will not sleep over there until the mattress is moved (Saturday) but things are slowly getting in shape over there.
Spent some time over at the house yesterday - moved a lot of kitchen stuff and some storage racks from the office (which is slowly devolving into pre-move chaos - I need to remember that I am moving the office next). I mopped the basement a few times (the linoleum has red stains from pool chalk, so trying to mitigate that somewhat). And I spent a lot of time at the sink washing dishes and putting them away(while Amy, Nykki, and Andrew visited)
I definitely need to do some kitchen purging - between the "often used" things that I am taking from our kitchen, the "lesser used" things that are set aside in the dining room, and the "never used" things from the basement - well, I have a lot.
I have four coffee makers. One (4 cup) from the house. One (4 cup) at the office. One (12 cup) at the office that I've used for tea. And one (1 cup) that I thought might be cool for the office. I think I can survive with 2....
Similarly, who thought that a rice cooker was a good idea (made a few pots of rice, then went back to the stove, and the thing is HUGE). Who thought a bread maker was necessary? (Although it would be fin to make my own bread).
I dumped a box full of stuff already this morning (just woke up fretting about where I was gonna but everything - dumped an old cheap wok, many water bottles and "to go" coffee mugs, and some wretched tupperware). A lot of this stuff dates back 20 years or more (wedding presents or things I owned in my married days) and well, time for some of it to depart!
Zippy has been using it since we moved into separate rooms a few years back - just too big for my smaller room and I was find on a futon (very zen). But with my impending move it was time to reclaim my bed. Yesterday, we disassembled the bed, and moved the mattresses - giving Zippy a full sized mattress and boxspring I got from friends.
My four poster is now lying in position in my new bedroom, waiting for hardware (which I accidently left at home) - probaly assemble it today. Will not sleep over there until the mattress is moved (Saturday) but things are slowly getting in shape over there.
Spent some time over at the house yesterday - moved a lot of kitchen stuff and some storage racks from the office (which is slowly devolving into pre-move chaos - I need to remember that I am moving the office next). I mopped the basement a few times (the linoleum has red stains from pool chalk, so trying to mitigate that somewhat). And I spent a lot of time at the sink washing dishes and putting them away(while Amy, Nykki, and Andrew visited)
I definitely need to do some kitchen purging - between the "often used" things that I am taking from our kitchen, the "lesser used" things that are set aside in the dining room, and the "never used" things from the basement - well, I have a lot.
I have four coffee makers. One (4 cup) from the house. One (4 cup) at the office. One (12 cup) at the office that I've used for tea. And one (1 cup) that I thought might be cool for the office. I think I can survive with 2....
Similarly, who thought that a rice cooker was a good idea (made a few pots of rice, then went back to the stove, and the thing is HUGE). Who thought a bread maker was necessary? (Although it would be fin to make my own bread).
I dumped a box full of stuff already this morning (just woke up fretting about where I was gonna but everything - dumped an old cheap wok, many water bottles and "to go" coffee mugs, and some wretched tupperware). A lot of this stuff dates back 20 years or more (wedding presents or things I owned in my married days) and well, time for some of it to depart!
November 01, 2009
My New Neighbors
Met one of my neighbors yesterday - a young woman with a child. I went over after noon to see about the condo association check for Nov and roused her (bathrobe) - she apologized. "When I am not working, I'm sleeping". So no worries about a loud neighbor, although perhaps some concerns that I will be the loud neighbor.
Her daughter, however, came out on the desk as I was sweeping up, and spied on me, made faces and was all coy in the way kids are. Cutie. As my friend Kristen suggested "You'll be babysitting within the first month"
Her daughter, however, came out on the desk as I was sweeping up, and spied on me, made faces and was all coy in the way kids are. Cutie. As my friend Kristen suggested "You'll be babysitting within the first month"
October 31, 2009
Big Day in New Britain
Spent a lot of time over at the new place today - really starting to come together.
A solo run over this morning with coffee table, end table, nightstand, mirror, vacuum, and some odd boxes. I spent the morning cleaning - detailed the fridge (it looked clean, now it really is) and scoured the cabinets. Even vacuumed the top. Cleaned the new (used) microwave, cleaned the table and chairs, washed and put away new dishes, flatware and old coffee cups.
After noon my friends Robert and Kristen came over - and after a tour, we headed out to lunch - the Paradise Restaurant is right down the street and is apparently pretty well known (well, Robert mentioned it as noteworthy, and I took them there not remembering the name but remembering that the place always looked busy). The pizza was great, they have three kinds of crusts and New York style is the pizza of my youth. Seems like a pretty great place for a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Just like that, I am settling into a new 'hood.
Then we headed back to Hartford to pick up a load - with their help, the folk festival supplies and my spring / summer clothes were loaded up pretty quick, along with a ladder, XC skis, and snow shoes. We got back to the condo to find my friend Pat waiting with his son, a friend, and a UHaul. Patrick (son) wanted the pool table. Which was a b*tch to get out of the basement and up the hill to the truck, but brains won out. Lifting and carrying was not going to work, but I suggested we use the carpet scraps from the basement to create a path to slide the thing out the door and up the hill - which worked great. Then we tipped it up on end and into the truck where it slid in. I dunno how they got it out on the - other end - hope it went OK. But Patrick was beaming at the prospect of owning such a nice table - and I am glad it went to a friend.
Kristen, Robert, and I finished our unloading and then retired to the back deck for a beer and a chat. It was balmy for the last night in October and as we relaxed I felt the warm vibe of my new home, just felt like a wonderful christening of the place.
After they left, I hung out for trick or treaters (just had a few) and put away the seasonal clothes upstairs in the studio closet. Definitely have 1 or 2 tubs too many but I can work on reducing that, but everything is in the closet and the sanctity of the yoga space is intact.
Tomorrow, more time over there. The morning might bring balloon chasing (although the weather is iffy) - alternately I might hit the mat. Then back to work at the Condo - need to clean the bathrooms tomorrow, scour the basement floor (removing the pool table revealed a somewhat greasy / slippy floor, perhaps related to the pool chalk). Also clean out the understairs storage area (full of condo yard stuff) and put my camping gear away. Take some shelves over (fetched from the office). Perhaps take some kitchen things over.
It's a big project - but it's getting done. I'm excited to start living there....
A solo run over this morning with coffee table, end table, nightstand, mirror, vacuum, and some odd boxes. I spent the morning cleaning - detailed the fridge (it looked clean, now it really is) and scoured the cabinets. Even vacuumed the top. Cleaned the new (used) microwave, cleaned the table and chairs, washed and put away new dishes, flatware and old coffee cups.
After noon my friends Robert and Kristen came over - and after a tour, we headed out to lunch - the Paradise Restaurant is right down the street and is apparently pretty well known (well, Robert mentioned it as noteworthy, and I took them there not remembering the name but remembering that the place always looked busy). The pizza was great, they have three kinds of crusts and New York style is the pizza of my youth. Seems like a pretty great place for a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Just like that, I am settling into a new 'hood.
Then we headed back to Hartford to pick up a load - with their help, the folk festival supplies and my spring / summer clothes were loaded up pretty quick, along with a ladder, XC skis, and snow shoes. We got back to the condo to find my friend Pat waiting with his son, a friend, and a UHaul. Patrick (son) wanted the pool table. Which was a b*tch to get out of the basement and up the hill to the truck, but brains won out. Lifting and carrying was not going to work, but I suggested we use the carpet scraps from the basement to create a path to slide the thing out the door and up the hill - which worked great. Then we tipped it up on end and into the truck where it slid in. I dunno how they got it out on the - other end - hope it went OK. But Patrick was beaming at the prospect of owning such a nice table - and I am glad it went to a friend.
Kristen, Robert, and I finished our unloading and then retired to the back deck for a beer and a chat. It was balmy for the last night in October and as we relaxed I felt the warm vibe of my new home, just felt like a wonderful christening of the place.
After they left, I hung out for trick or treaters (just had a few) and put away the seasonal clothes upstairs in the studio closet. Definitely have 1 or 2 tubs too many but I can work on reducing that, but everything is in the closet and the sanctity of the yoga space is intact.
Tomorrow, more time over there. The morning might bring balloon chasing (although the weather is iffy) - alternately I might hit the mat. Then back to work at the Condo - need to clean the bathrooms tomorrow, scour the basement floor (removing the pool table revealed a somewhat greasy / slippy floor, perhaps related to the pool chalk). Also clean out the understairs storage area (full of condo yard stuff) and put my camping gear away. Take some shelves over (fetched from the office). Perhaps take some kitchen things over.
It's a big project - but it's getting done. I'm excited to start living there....
October 30, 2009
Moving Update
The condo is slowly becoming mine....feeling like home.
I've trucked (or car'd) over a bunch of stuff so far. All my books are over there, all my music. My kitchen table (right at my limit for solo moving) and chairs. A microwave table / kitchen cart. Bookshelves. A few boxes of miscellany.
This weekend looks like a busy one - with planned trips to bring coffee table, end table, microwave, stereo components, televisions, video components, my bike, my folk fest / camping stuff, and my seasonal clothes. Probably a few other odds and ends as well.
I'm also planning to do a lot of cleaning this weekend. Want to clean the cabinets with Murphy's wood soap (inside and out), clean the fridge (it's in good shape but can't hurt), both bathrooms, all the windows, the new table and chairs. Maybe fire up teh grill to see if it works, sweep the deck (leaves), clean the deck table and stow (or toss) the umbrella.
I made my first run to Home Depot this morning. Dropped some bucks on washer hoses, a dryer vent hose, new house number, letters for the mailbox, new locks, a porch light timer, some 3 way switches. I replaced both the front door and basement door with new lock and deadbolts (with a single key) which ought to make for a lighter keychain (previously 4 keys). I am shopping for a new mailbox but did not see anything I liked at Home Depot. I want to put in a timer for the front porch light. And replace the living room light switches (the switched outlet showed low voltage and high impedance, probably a flaky switch).
I've got all my books put away (and brought the empty boxes back to be filled up). I laid out my yoga mat in the spare room (mostly to remind myself to keep that space somewhat uncluttered and set aside).
Lot's to do but I am picking away at it piece by piece. Fun, tiring, exciting.
I've trucked (or car'd) over a bunch of stuff so far. All my books are over there, all my music. My kitchen table (right at my limit for solo moving) and chairs. A microwave table / kitchen cart. Bookshelves. A few boxes of miscellany.
This weekend looks like a busy one - with planned trips to bring coffee table, end table, microwave, stereo components, televisions, video components, my bike, my folk fest / camping stuff, and my seasonal clothes. Probably a few other odds and ends as well.
I'm also planning to do a lot of cleaning this weekend. Want to clean the cabinets with Murphy's wood soap (inside and out), clean the fridge (it's in good shape but can't hurt), both bathrooms, all the windows, the new table and chairs. Maybe fire up teh grill to see if it works, sweep the deck (leaves), clean the deck table and stow (or toss) the umbrella.
I made my first run to Home Depot this morning. Dropped some bucks on washer hoses, a dryer vent hose, new house number, letters for the mailbox, new locks, a porch light timer, some 3 way switches. I replaced both the front door and basement door with new lock and deadbolts (with a single key) which ought to make for a lighter keychain (previously 4 keys). I am shopping for a new mailbox but did not see anything I liked at Home Depot. I want to put in a timer for the front porch light. And replace the living room light switches (the switched outlet showed low voltage and high impedance, probably a flaky switch).
I've got all my books put away (and brought the empty boxes back to be filled up). I laid out my yoga mat in the spare room (mostly to remind myself to keep that space somewhat uncluttered and set aside).
Lot's to do but I am picking away at it piece by piece. Fun, tiring, exciting.
October 29, 2009
My Moving Blueprint
Mostly for my facebook peeps.....but you blog readers can know too.
I'm planning the "big move" on Saturday Nov 7th. There is some slop there - if it's a nice (i.e. - flyable) day, I am sure there will be ballooning in the morning, so we'll get started later. I'm also on standby to teach an Intro to Yoga class at 1-2, if Shankara can not do it. But Nov 7th is the day, regardless.
We have access to Zippy's two trucks - and possibly 1 or 2 vans from friends. I'll rent a U-Haul if need be, but I'm pretty sure we can do without.
The key is, I expect that the move will be pretty simple. A mattress and boxspring. Two dressers. An armoire. An entertainment console. A rocking chair. I'm working at getting a lot moved over ahead of time. So it will be a pretty easy day and some pizza and beverages and hanging out in between it all.
As those who have watched me make other life transitions - I kind of put one foot in front of the other, not a lot of drama, everything gets done. So I expect that Nov 7th will be somewhat anti-climactic. But helpers are welcome to come along!
I do plan to be over at the new place this weekend - cleaning, moving, unpacking, etc. Helpers or onlookers or cheerleaders welcome. Not doing any major painting or changes - but I need to clean the cabinets, fridge, bathrooms, windows, floors, etc. I have some moderate sized things to move that could use a second body - not too heavy, just awkward. And since I now have a yoga room - maybe some guerilla yoga....
I'm planning the "big move" on Saturday Nov 7th. There is some slop there - if it's a nice (i.e. - flyable) day, I am sure there will be ballooning in the morning, so we'll get started later. I'm also on standby to teach an Intro to Yoga class at 1-2, if Shankara can not do it. But Nov 7th is the day, regardless.
We have access to Zippy's two trucks - and possibly 1 or 2 vans from friends. I'll rent a U-Haul if need be, but I'm pretty sure we can do without.
The key is, I expect that the move will be pretty simple. A mattress and boxspring. Two dressers. An armoire. An entertainment console. A rocking chair. I'm working at getting a lot moved over ahead of time. So it will be a pretty easy day and some pizza and beverages and hanging out in between it all.
As those who have watched me make other life transitions - I kind of put one foot in front of the other, not a lot of drama, everything gets done. So I expect that Nov 7th will be somewhat anti-climactic. But helpers are welcome to come along!
I do plan to be over at the new place this weekend - cleaning, moving, unpacking, etc. Helpers or onlookers or cheerleaders welcome. Not doing any major painting or changes - but I need to clean the cabinets, fridge, bathrooms, windows, floors, etc. I have some moderate sized things to move that could use a second body - not too heavy, just awkward. And since I now have a yoga room - maybe some guerilla yoga....
October 28, 2009
Home Owner
It's been the better part of a year since I imagined myself buying a home. The house behind where Zippy and I live was foreclosed - and I thought it might be a steal (and be a way to move out but stay connected). I did not get too far at that time, but the seed was planted. I spent much of the summer house hunting, and the past few months biting my nails as I waited for the mortgage to come through. And today, I closed on a condo in New Britain.
The past 24 hours had a small bit of drama. My mortgage broker called last night with the final settlement number - it was within the good faith estimate, but it seemed about $1000 high based on my calculations. I fretted a bit but did not panic, mentioned it to my broker, and this morning when I went to go over the numbers, I was proven right - the lawyer had added in some money for points which my new mortgage did not contain.
And after a grey but dry morning, I emerged from my office at 12:30 pm to a torrential downpour - so I arrived at the walk through soaked. I dried out en route to the closing (in East Haven) but the ride down (following my real estate agent in her zippy Saab) was nerve-racking (I need new tires, so was a little concerned about hyroplaning). Closing was pretty calm - I met the seller, and in a room full of people (two lawyers, two brokers, a buyer a seller, and my mortgage broker) I signed and initialed about 100 pieces of paper. And bought a condo.
After the closing I dropped by (in the rain) to empty my car (vacuum cleaner, some kitchen stuff from my office, my yoga toys and some musical gack), and then went to Target where I dropped $100 on house ephemera: garbage cans, light bulbs, cleaning supplies, laundry rack.
Zippy, our friend Pat, and I went over tonight after dinner - Zippy and Pat played pool (getting it in before I find a home for the table) and I unpacked more cleaning supplies, put some carpet freshener down and vacuumed the whole place. I have a lot of cleaning and organizing to do, and lots of moving.
I'm in the old place for another week or so - Nov 7 is the projected "big move" day.
But....yeah. Happy. Relieved.
In other news - I get a call from my primary credit card tonight. They were informing me of the new credit rules (and, I think, trying to sell me on keeping the "honor overdrafts and pay the fee" stuff, which I declined.) But in the process of that, the woman on the phone mentioned a credit line that was $4000 higher than it has been, historically. And so I checked tonight (as I updated my address to the new place) and indeed - my credit limit has been raised.
Does being a homeowner and having a mortage (which is at this point all of 9 hours old) automatically boost my credi-worthiness? I dunno. I am so not gonna come close to that extra credit limit, that's all I know....
The past 24 hours had a small bit of drama. My mortgage broker called last night with the final settlement number - it was within the good faith estimate, but it seemed about $1000 high based on my calculations. I fretted a bit but did not panic, mentioned it to my broker, and this morning when I went to go over the numbers, I was proven right - the lawyer had added in some money for points which my new mortgage did not contain.
And after a grey but dry morning, I emerged from my office at 12:30 pm to a torrential downpour - so I arrived at the walk through soaked. I dried out en route to the closing (in East Haven) but the ride down (following my real estate agent in her zippy Saab) was nerve-racking (I need new tires, so was a little concerned about hyroplaning). Closing was pretty calm - I met the seller, and in a room full of people (two lawyers, two brokers, a buyer a seller, and my mortgage broker) I signed and initialed about 100 pieces of paper. And bought a condo.
After the closing I dropped by (in the rain) to empty my car (vacuum cleaner, some kitchen stuff from my office, my yoga toys and some musical gack), and then went to Target where I dropped $100 on house ephemera: garbage cans, light bulbs, cleaning supplies, laundry rack.
Zippy, our friend Pat, and I went over tonight after dinner - Zippy and Pat played pool (getting it in before I find a home for the table) and I unpacked more cleaning supplies, put some carpet freshener down and vacuumed the whole place. I have a lot of cleaning and organizing to do, and lots of moving.
I'm in the old place for another week or so - Nov 7 is the projected "big move" day.
But....yeah. Happy. Relieved.
In other news - I get a call from my primary credit card tonight. They were informing me of the new credit rules (and, I think, trying to sell me on keeping the "honor overdrafts and pay the fee" stuff, which I declined.) But in the process of that, the woman on the phone mentioned a credit line that was $4000 higher than it has been, historically. And so I checked tonight (as I updated my address to the new place) and indeed - my credit limit has been raised.
Does being a homeowner and having a mortage (which is at this point all of 9 hours old) automatically boost my credi-worthiness? I dunno. I am so not gonna come close to that extra credit limit, that's all I know....
October 26, 2009
Adrift in Wichita
I'm parked at a La Quinta outside Mid Continental Airport here in Wichita. Called my client contact #1 this morning around 8, to be informed "I'm in Tulsa, driving up this morning, will be there in 4-5 hours, will call when I get into town". Called contact #2 (the facility manager) to look for the rental test equipment. Which had not arrived yet. I asked him to call me when it got there.
It's now 12:30 local time, and I have not heard from either individual. So I have looked up a nice local yoga studio - Inner Works Holistic Health Studio - and took a nice hot class (thanks, Renee, for the private!). I've gotten another client report out (all caught up is a nice feeling, and 40+ hours of billable work for October is another nice feeling). And I'm mucked around online.
I'm about to give up, pack my things, and head over to the facility. Maybe grab a bite en route. Just cause I am bored out of my head.
It's now 12:30 local time, and I have not heard from either individual. So I have looked up a nice local yoga studio - Inner Works Holistic Health Studio - and took a nice hot class (thanks, Renee, for the private!). I've gotten another client report out (all caught up is a nice feeling, and 40+ hours of billable work for October is another nice feeling). And I'm mucked around online.
I'm about to give up, pack my things, and head over to the facility. Maybe grab a bite en route. Just cause I am bored out of my head.
October 23, 2009
Running the numbers
Sat down to go over the numbers in terms of my new condo, as compared to my present living and working situation.
My mortgage, taxes, and condo fees combined add up to $140 less that what I presently pay for my office and to Zippy for rent & utilities. Picking up a Comcast bundle for the new place is about the same as whT I pay for office phones and internet, combined. The only new expense at that point is electricity. Which will be higher than present (since I'm heating with electrics) - but Zippy's bill is around $100 / month - I have to imagine I'll be around $150 a month, on average (lower in summer, higher in winter). So pretty much the new place will be a wash, financially.
Of course, this ignores two tax issues - my office expense and utilities are presently 100% deductible on Schedule C. The new place will be partially deductible (Schedule C, home office) and also partially deductible as homeowner mortgage interest and taxes. Might actually be a bit higher overall deduction, although pulling income out of Schedule C saves FICA and Medicare taxes....and I trade the already pretty decent standard deduction for the mortage deduction - so will have to look for other itemized deductions (health care, donations, etc.) to leverage.
Intangibles will be interesting to watch. I presently eat my lunch out a lot and grab coffee on the go - and I expect that to change significantly. Maybe $50 a week, $200 a month, let's say I cut that in half (probably more). Saves another $100. Groceries will probably be higher (at least until the larder is stocked). Gas a bit higher (further to drive to yoga).
Bottom line - I'm not looking for too much to change, financially, once I am in the new place. Which is a good thing.
My mortgage, taxes, and condo fees combined add up to $140 less that what I presently pay for my office and to Zippy for rent & utilities. Picking up a Comcast bundle for the new place is about the same as whT I pay for office phones and internet, combined. The only new expense at that point is electricity. Which will be higher than present (since I'm heating with electrics) - but Zippy's bill is around $100 / month - I have to imagine I'll be around $150 a month, on average (lower in summer, higher in winter). So pretty much the new place will be a wash, financially.
Of course, this ignores two tax issues - my office expense and utilities are presently 100% deductible on Schedule C. The new place will be partially deductible (Schedule C, home office) and also partially deductible as homeowner mortgage interest and taxes. Might actually be a bit higher overall deduction, although pulling income out of Schedule C saves FICA and Medicare taxes....and I trade the already pretty decent standard deduction for the mortage deduction - so will have to look for other itemized deductions (health care, donations, etc.) to leverage.
Intangibles will be interesting to watch. I presently eat my lunch out a lot and grab coffee on the go - and I expect that to change significantly. Maybe $50 a week, $200 a month, let's say I cut that in half (probably more). Saves another $100. Groceries will probably be higher (at least until the larder is stocked). Gas a bit higher (further to drive to yoga).
Bottom line - I'm not looking for too much to change, financially, once I am in the new place. Which is a good thing.
October 22, 2009
Condo Update
Last update, with any luck, prior to closing. I got word this week that my mortgage had been approved and that we had been given the green light to close this week. But there was a catch - my broker found a better deal, with no points (vs. 1 point originally) and 1/2 percent lower rate. But I had to wait for fair lending disclosure (received today) so we set a closing date for next Wed.
It's not all that much - $1000 less at closing, and perhaps $25 or $30 less per month on the mortgage. But a better deal is a better deal.
With any luck, Wed I'll own a condo. And start moving in shortly thereafter. I'm hoping to have my first moving day on Nov 7, although I might end up teaching Free Intro to Yoga at 1 pm that day. Splitting up the moving between the houshold stuff (Nov 7) and the office (later in the month) to give me some time to get in and get situated, and to give my brother time to come fetch the resident pool table in the basement where my office is supposed to be.
It's not all that much - $1000 less at closing, and perhaps $25 or $30 less per month on the mortgage. But a better deal is a better deal.
With any luck, Wed I'll own a condo. And start moving in shortly thereafter. I'm hoping to have my first moving day on Nov 7, although I might end up teaching Free Intro to Yoga at 1 pm that day. Splitting up the moving between the houshold stuff (Nov 7) and the office (later in the month) to give me some time to get in and get situated, and to give my brother time to come fetch the resident pool table in the basement where my office is supposed to be.
October 19, 2009
Our Town - Iris Dement
After the cold, wet weekend, the morning blossoms with sunshine and promises of warmer winds.
Listening to WWUH this morning, this song suddenly brings some tears.
Started the moving process this weekend; moved some things from friends' home to ours as Zippy and I slowly start the task of detaching our households. A little sadness there, even as there is the excitement of a new adventure.
Listening to WWUH this morning, this song suddenly brings some tears.
Started the moving process this weekend; moved some things from friends' home to ours as Zippy and I slowly start the task of detaching our households. A little sadness there, even as there is the excitement of a new adventure.
October 17, 2009
Open Studio
Busy day down at WHY. No ballooning today (wind) so I snuck in to Nykki's 9:00 am class (strong practice, awesome savasana). Then back home for a bit, and returned to the studio at 12:00 for Open Studio. I kept pretty busy - attended Peter's EI preview (I've been invited to Silent Monitor at the December EI, looking forward to that).
Afterwards, I stepped into the studio (completely unplanned) to assist for Shnakara (Intro to Yoga) and then Nykki (Hot Yoga). Laurie was my partner in crime and we tried to keep newcomers from getting to tied up in knots. Shankara's class is always tough to assist in, since he does a lot of rolling around on the mat and feeling the body, and not a lot of formal asana. Nykki's class, on the other hand - yoga boot camp. But by the end of the hour long class they looked like yogis. Nykki's good like that. I was tired out and after a few quick tweaks from my friendly neighborhood Chiropractor (Peter was doing free adjustments, he looked at my knee but then went for the back and neck, which always freaks me out) I headed home. Where I fell into bed and napped for two hours - exhausted from Kirtan and Yoga.
So I'm up late (because of the nap) - headed off to bed. Yoga tomorrow, hopefully, and maybe a hike. And maybe get caught up on some work.....
Afterwards, I stepped into the studio (completely unplanned) to assist for Shnakara (Intro to Yoga) and then Nykki (Hot Yoga). Laurie was my partner in crime and we tried to keep newcomers from getting to tied up in knots. Shankara's class is always tough to assist in, since he does a lot of rolling around on the mat and feeling the body, and not a lot of formal asana. Nykki's class, on the other hand - yoga boot camp. But by the end of the hour long class they looked like yogis. Nykki's good like that. I was tired out and after a few quick tweaks from my friendly neighborhood Chiropractor (Peter was doing free adjustments, he looked at my knee but then went for the back and neck, which always freaks me out) I headed home. Where I fell into bed and napped for two hours - exhausted from Kirtan and Yoga.
So I'm up late (because of the nap) - headed off to bed. Yoga tomorrow, hopefully, and maybe a hike. And maybe get caught up on some work.....
Kirtan Post Mortem
Friday night Kirtan. As usual, a very busy Friday, with work in the morning, then teaching two yoga classes. A quick lunch and then back to the studio to set up for Kirtan. Back to work until 5, home for a dinner and a bit of relaxing, then back to the studio for 7:30 pm. Kirtan went pretty well - good crowd, and a bunch of new numbers that worked pretty well. But we seemed a little off - lots of little issues:
1) We really miss Molly our flautist, gone on to a job out of state
2) I personally need to practice more. If only to keep my callouses and be able to vamp more, especially on bass.
3) I think we also need to practice as a group more. We spent a lot of time on new pieces but not a lot of time working on old stuff.
4) To that end, I think we need to limit new numbers to 1-2 per performance (we brought 4 new pieces out this month). Just to permit some time to rehearse old stuff. We also need to do a better job of learning new pieces. Having the music and words available would help, I was working of fhastily scribble notes this month, and we were all trying to remember the new pieces since none of us had the CD or MP3, and I think that contributed to a longer than usual between song dead time.
5) I personally think we need to mix in a few more classic kirtan chants (Krishna Das kind of stuff) which the audience likes and can chant along with. Some of the newer stuff is less participatory.
All in all, a learning experience. Sounds like we're on track to tighten up for December.
1) We really miss Molly our flautist, gone on to a job out of state
2) I personally need to practice more. If only to keep my callouses and be able to vamp more, especially on bass.
3) I think we also need to practice as a group more. We spent a lot of time on new pieces but not a lot of time working on old stuff.
4) To that end, I think we need to limit new numbers to 1-2 per performance (we brought 4 new pieces out this month). Just to permit some time to rehearse old stuff. We also need to do a better job of learning new pieces. Having the music and words available would help, I was working of fhastily scribble notes this month, and we were all trying to remember the new pieces since none of us had the CD or MP3, and I think that contributed to a longer than usual between song dead time.
5) I personally think we need to mix in a few more classic kirtan chants (Krishna Das kind of stuff) which the audience likes and can chant along with. Some of the newer stuff is less participatory.
All in all, a learning experience. Sounds like we're on track to tighten up for December.
Neko Case on Public Radio
She must have a new album out; hitting the circuit. Last week she was on A Prairie Home Companion.
And this morning, she was on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me in the "Not My Job" segment. Her questions were all about Necco Wafers, and the segment was hilarious. The first question had to do with the civil war (Necco wafers were apparently distributed to the union troops) and she's seen Ken Burns' series enough to vamp amusingly on it with the professional funny folks.
And this morning, she was on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me in the "Not My Job" segment. Her questions were all about Necco Wafers, and the segment was hilarious. The first question had to do with the civil war (Necco wafers were apparently distributed to the union troops) and she's seen Ken Burns' series enough to vamp amusingly on it with the professional funny folks.
Sad or Scary Things About My New Condo
For the record, we're still not closed yet. I've gotten a verbal "good to go" from the mortgage broker and a projected closing date of early next week. So I'm confident enough to start picking furniture up on Craigs List, but holding off on the celebration. In the meantime, some projections into the future...
1. Isolating. I have this tendency to pull back, to withdraw. I'm afraid that being on my own, a few more miles away from my social center (the yoga studio and Hartford), will drag me down into isolating. I'm conscious of that, and plan to proactively stay connected, but it's a fear.
2. Zippy. Much as our intersecting lives ad cohabitation produces friction and frustration for both of us, I will miss the dude. I'm hoping to maintain a friendship and stay connected but it's still nice to have another body in the house, someone to watch TV with or just talk about the day, the world, etc.
3. Dogs. I've had dogs all my adult life, since my ex and I got a little Springer Spaniel pup back in 1990 or thereabouts. And right now Elo the Beagle / Cattle Dog mix is my little buddy - sleeping on the bed, begging for food, an occasional companion on walks or hikes. We've decided to keep the dogs together, with Zippy. I can have a pet at my new place, but these dogs might be a bit large, neither of them is particularly good on the leash (if I get a pet, I will need to walk it, right now we have a fenced in yard for the dogs to go run in), and I think the dogs will do better together than they will alone. So I'll be dogless (for a while, anyways) at the new place. Sad.
4. Electric Heat. Wonder how much that's going to cost me :(
5. Not Hartford. I've come to love being this close to the city. I eat at fun restaurants, I go to Real Art Ways and Cinestudio and Cinema City. I can pop in to local music and arts events without a lot of planning or travel. And I have a small circle of friends that I will perhaps see a little less often. So even though New Britain is not all that far away, it's still a few miles more to travel.
6. New Britain. Just new stomping grounds. Having spent many years in Waterbury, I imagine New Britain is somewhat similar. A lot of unknowns in terms of neighbors, the neighborhood, the local environment. And New Britain does have a certain reputation as a tough city. Then again, so does Hartford and I like that just fine....
7. Cost of Living. It's true, two can live cheaper than one. I'm kind of nervous about the budget and cost of living in my own place. On paper, it's a wash. My mortgage + taxes + condo fees are $150 less than what I'm paying today on rent to Zippy and the office. My office phones and internet are about the same price as a Comcast bundle. The electricity will be an unknown, probably a bit more than the $150 savings in rent. Perhaps I'll make it up in fewer lunches on the go. We'll find out. But I'm going to try to consciously cut back these first few months.
1. Isolating. I have this tendency to pull back, to withdraw. I'm afraid that being on my own, a few more miles away from my social center (the yoga studio and Hartford), will drag me down into isolating. I'm conscious of that, and plan to proactively stay connected, but it's a fear.
2. Zippy. Much as our intersecting lives ad cohabitation produces friction and frustration for both of us, I will miss the dude. I'm hoping to maintain a friendship and stay connected but it's still nice to have another body in the house, someone to watch TV with or just talk about the day, the world, etc.
3. Dogs. I've had dogs all my adult life, since my ex and I got a little Springer Spaniel pup back in 1990 or thereabouts. And right now Elo the Beagle / Cattle Dog mix is my little buddy - sleeping on the bed, begging for food, an occasional companion on walks or hikes. We've decided to keep the dogs together, with Zippy. I can have a pet at my new place, but these dogs might be a bit large, neither of them is particularly good on the leash (if I get a pet, I will need to walk it, right now we have a fenced in yard for the dogs to go run in), and I think the dogs will do better together than they will alone. So I'll be dogless (for a while, anyways) at the new place. Sad.
4. Electric Heat. Wonder how much that's going to cost me :(
5. Not Hartford. I've come to love being this close to the city. I eat at fun restaurants, I go to Real Art Ways and Cinestudio and Cinema City. I can pop in to local music and arts events without a lot of planning or travel. And I have a small circle of friends that I will perhaps see a little less often. So even though New Britain is not all that far away, it's still a few miles more to travel.
6. New Britain. Just new stomping grounds. Having spent many years in Waterbury, I imagine New Britain is somewhat similar. A lot of unknowns in terms of neighbors, the neighborhood, the local environment. And New Britain does have a certain reputation as a tough city. Then again, so does Hartford and I like that just fine....
7. Cost of Living. It's true, two can live cheaper than one. I'm kind of nervous about the budget and cost of living in my own place. On paper, it's a wash. My mortgage + taxes + condo fees are $150 less than what I'm paying today on rent to Zippy and the office. My office phones and internet are about the same price as a Comcast bundle. The electricity will be an unknown, probably a bit more than the $150 savings in rent. Perhaps I'll make it up in fewer lunches on the go. We'll find out. But I'm going to try to consciously cut back these first few months.
Hopeful Things About My New Condo
For the record, we're still not closed yet. I've gotten a verbal "good to go" from the mortgage broker and a projected closing date of early next week. So I'm confident enough to start picking furniture up on Craigs List, but holding off on the celebration. In the meantime, some projections into the future...
1. Yoga Space. I don't have a place to lay down a mat where I live now, and even a temporary space is marred by dog interference. So I just do not have much of a self practice right now. I'm planning to have a mat down 24/7 in the spare bedroom at the new place.
2. Music Space. Similarly, it's difficult to make space and time for music here - I have to bring the instruments out from the back porch and then deal with Zippy's "rama lama ding dong" comments when it comes to kirtan music. This last kirtan I really felt the lack of practice. I'm hoping to pick up the guitar and bass more often at the new place.....
3. Healthy Eating. Working out of the home, I tend to grab lunch on the go (invariably, Subway or some other fast food). I'm hoping to be able to eat a healthier lunch once I move back into a home office, and have my own kitchen / fridge / larder / etc.
4. Decor and Art. When I moved in with Zippy, I marveled at the walls filled with art (some of it quite large and vibrant). He's quite the collector. But the downside is that there has really not been a lot of space for my taste and preferences. So I'm hoping to find art and decor that nourish my spirit. I already have an eye on some artist friends who I would love to support.....and love to have their work in my home.
5. Radio. I'm a big fan of public radio and listen pretty much no-stop at my office. Zippy is not a big fan of talk radio. So I mostly defer to his tastes (college radio music shows or no radio) around the house. I suspect I'll be a bit more of a radio listener around the house once I move....
6. Organization. I'll admit it, I'm a messy person. I'm looking forward to the cleansing / detox (already well underway) as I declutter in order to move, and hope to retain a less cluttered, less filled with stuff lifestyle going forward. It's a goal anyway.....
7. Friends. I have this whole circle of friends who have never been to my house, never seen my space, because Zippy has been pretty negative on the whole yoga thing. So I am looking forward to having friends come by, having a home I can welcome others to. Tangential to this, occasionally we get wandering yogis at the studio (for trainings or workshops) who are on a tight budget (one dude was sleeping in his truck!), and I'm hoping to have my second room (with an air mattress perhaps) be a space I can open up to these folks who might not have the money for a hotel.
8. Productivity. As a self-employed person with way too many hobbies, interests and side projects - I need to fit the work in when I can. And I remember (from my previous days of working out the home) that I was able to grab long hours of work in unconventional times (early mornings, late evenings, weekends) as the spirit and my schedule permitted. Working outside the home these past few years, I've fallen into a more conventional 8 to 5 workday, with the caveat that I'm often not available for work (yoga, ballooning, etc.) from 8 to 5. So I'm simply not putting the hours in. It's hard to get over to the office at odd times - but I think if "the office" is down a flight of stairs, I'll be more likely to pop in for a few hours of work.
9. Bed. A few years back I was gifted with a beautiful hand-made four poster bed (well, it was payment for a website project). When Zippy and I stopped sharing a bed, I moved onto a futon (which has a certain monastic charm). But it will be nice to have my big comfy bed back.
10. Relationship. Zippy and I have been out of relationship for a few years now. But still, living together makes anew relationship awkward, and there is a certain companionship or at least domestic connection that remains. Yet I do desire a relationship and a connection to another. I'm hoping getting out on my own creates the space for that to happen.
1. Yoga Space. I don't have a place to lay down a mat where I live now, and even a temporary space is marred by dog interference. So I just do not have much of a self practice right now. I'm planning to have a mat down 24/7 in the spare bedroom at the new place.
2. Music Space. Similarly, it's difficult to make space and time for music here - I have to bring the instruments out from the back porch and then deal with Zippy's "rama lama ding dong" comments when it comes to kirtan music. This last kirtan I really felt the lack of practice. I'm hoping to pick up the guitar and bass more often at the new place.....
3. Healthy Eating. Working out of the home, I tend to grab lunch on the go (invariably, Subway or some other fast food). I'm hoping to be able to eat a healthier lunch once I move back into a home office, and have my own kitchen / fridge / larder / etc.
4. Decor and Art. When I moved in with Zippy, I marveled at the walls filled with art (some of it quite large and vibrant). He's quite the collector. But the downside is that there has really not been a lot of space for my taste and preferences. So I'm hoping to find art and decor that nourish my spirit. I already have an eye on some artist friends who I would love to support.....and love to have their work in my home.
5. Radio. I'm a big fan of public radio and listen pretty much no-stop at my office. Zippy is not a big fan of talk radio. So I mostly defer to his tastes (college radio music shows or no radio) around the house. I suspect I'll be a bit more of a radio listener around the house once I move....
6. Organization. I'll admit it, I'm a messy person. I'm looking forward to the cleansing / detox (already well underway) as I declutter in order to move, and hope to retain a less cluttered, less filled with stuff lifestyle going forward. It's a goal anyway.....
7. Friends. I have this whole circle of friends who have never been to my house, never seen my space, because Zippy has been pretty negative on the whole yoga thing. So I am looking forward to having friends come by, having a home I can welcome others to. Tangential to this, occasionally we get wandering yogis at the studio (for trainings or workshops) who are on a tight budget (one dude was sleeping in his truck!), and I'm hoping to have my second room (with an air mattress perhaps) be a space I can open up to these folks who might not have the money for a hotel.
8. Productivity. As a self-employed person with way too many hobbies, interests and side projects - I need to fit the work in when I can. And I remember (from my previous days of working out the home) that I was able to grab long hours of work in unconventional times (early mornings, late evenings, weekends) as the spirit and my schedule permitted. Working outside the home these past few years, I've fallen into a more conventional 8 to 5 workday, with the caveat that I'm often not available for work (yoga, ballooning, etc.) from 8 to 5. So I'm simply not putting the hours in. It's hard to get over to the office at odd times - but I think if "the office" is down a flight of stairs, I'll be more likely to pop in for a few hours of work.
9. Bed. A few years back I was gifted with a beautiful hand-made four poster bed (well, it was payment for a website project). When Zippy and I stopped sharing a bed, I moved onto a futon (which has a certain monastic charm). But it will be nice to have my big comfy bed back.
10. Relationship. Zippy and I have been out of relationship for a few years now. But still, living together makes anew relationship awkward, and there is a certain companionship or at least domestic connection that remains. Yet I do desire a relationship and a connection to another. I'm hoping getting out on my own creates the space for that to happen.
October 12, 2009
Kirtan - Friday, October 16
The West Hartford Yoga Kirtan group returns this Friday starting at 8:15. Join Shankara (harmonium / vocals), Mare (vocals), Tom (percussion and vocals), Craig (percussion), Virginia (percussion), and myself (guitar and bass) for an evening of Bahkti Yoga. Come to listen, to chant, to sing, to move, to dance. Give yourself over to the music, the spirit, the rhythms, the melody.
More info here
More info here
Hartford Party Starter's Union
Follower's may recall a somewhat testy exchange between this blogger and the principals of the Hartford Party Starter's Union, here and here. At the time I was cranky about a "We're on the internet" catch phrase despite them being fairly hard to find on the internet.
Well, since then (Feb & Apr of this year), they have set up an easily findable and clearly named blog - hartfordpartystartersunion.blogspot.com/. (Slightly more enticing than "Central CT Foam Parties", from my perspective) And they are updating it regularly with events, photos, etc. Also pretty active on Facebook.
Nice job....
Well, since then (Feb & Apr of this year), they have set up an easily findable and clearly named blog - hartfordpartystartersunion.blogspot.com/. (Slightly more enticing than "Central CT Foam Parties", from my perspective) And they are updating it regularly with events, photos, etc. Also pretty active on Facebook.
Nice job....
October 11, 2009
Note to Self: You Are an Engineer
I wandered down to Cables and Connectors this afternoon looking for a battery tester. I had several dozen assorted batteries (mostly AA and 9V) hanging around. Between a difital camera, computer muse, guitar and bass pickups, wireless mic, flashlights - well, lots of places for batteries.
I have developed a bad habit of pulling them out of my camera (during balloon chasing, for example, or at kirtan), putting the dead ones in my pocket, and then dumping them out (on my bureau at night into one of my car cupholders, into my purse, or my cable tub). Of course, I also put a few fresh ones in my pocket, never use 'em, and dump them out into the same places. So I had piles of batteries and no idea which ones were fresh, which ones were dead and which ones were in between.
Cables and Connectors is closed on Sunday (make a note) but as I pulled out of the lot I though "dummy, you're an engineer...." - I own multimeters, and have boxes of parts, resistors, etc. So it took me about 2 minutes to cobble together a tester - with an 8 ohm resistor to load down the battery, and a meter. Quick work to check the batteries and sort them into categories: "new", "used but still good", and "dead". When I get some time I'll jot down the voltage levels that I found.
Dead ones in the recycle bag (take 'em to Whole Foods every so often) and fresh ones into various places - my music kit, opened battery packages, the camera case, and my laptop stand.
Mission accomplished.
I have developed a bad habit of pulling them out of my camera (during balloon chasing, for example, or at kirtan), putting the dead ones in my pocket, and then dumping them out (on my bureau at night into one of my car cupholders, into my purse, or my cable tub). Of course, I also put a few fresh ones in my pocket, never use 'em, and dump them out into the same places. So I had piles of batteries and no idea which ones were fresh, which ones were dead and which ones were in between.
Cables and Connectors is closed on Sunday (make a note) but as I pulled out of the lot I though "dummy, you're an engineer...." - I own multimeters, and have boxes of parts, resistors, etc. So it took me about 2 minutes to cobble together a tester - with an 8 ohm resistor to load down the battery, and a meter. Quick work to check the batteries and sort them into categories: "new", "used but still good", and "dead". When I get some time I'll jot down the voltage levels that I found.
Dead ones in the recycle bag (take 'em to Whole Foods every so often) and fresh ones into various places - my music kit, opened battery packages, the camera case, and my laptop stand.
Mission accomplished.
October 10, 2009
Open Mic at La Salle Market & Deli
Got a text last night from my friend Cheryl "We're at this great open mike up in Collinsville....come". Was just finishing up a meal with Zippy and his dad (Bombay Olive, I opted out of my usual 6 pm Friday yoga) so I decided to trek northwest. Collinsville is a mere 12.2 miles away (so says Agatha the GPS) but I seem to have this "it's way off in the northwest corner" attitude about it. Wrong....
So glad I went. Turns out that the LaSalle Market & Deli has a regular Friday Open Mike, and that many of the folks I ran with back in the day (10-15 years back) when I was on the Open Mic circuit are still at it. Kent Aldrich and Gil Dube in particular, but probably a few more (I got there late so some may have come and gone) - it was nice to see them. My friend Kate Callahan was also there - as wonderful as ever. She asked if there was a particular song I wanted to hear but I'm not that familiar with her new stuff - so it's all good. She and Gil actually traded songs (years back he had asked her to "write a short song" because all her songs were long and she did with the condition that he write one about himself and his time on the earth.) It was a beautiful and tears welling up kind of moment.
In the course of organizing and purging for my move; I came across some old photos from Open Mics (yes, photos, predating digital cameras) and there are pictures from the Chunky Tomato in Bristol - Jon Lewis, Gil Dube, Jersey Steve, Kent Aldrich, Gary the Crazy Flautist. I ought to scan 'em in and post em up on Facebook.....
So a lovely evening, thanks Cheryl for the invite. Not sure if my life has time for a regular visit to Collinsville, and not sure if I'll ever brave the open mike circuit again, but it felt like familar and welcoming ground. And I was listening to Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer en route home singing along, and thinking "I could maybe sing and play this....."
So glad I went. Turns out that the LaSalle Market & Deli has a regular Friday Open Mike, and that many of the folks I ran with back in the day (10-15 years back) when I was on the Open Mic circuit are still at it. Kent Aldrich and Gil Dube in particular, but probably a few more (I got there late so some may have come and gone) - it was nice to see them. My friend Kate Callahan was also there - as wonderful as ever. She asked if there was a particular song I wanted to hear but I'm not that familiar with her new stuff - so it's all good. She and Gil actually traded songs (years back he had asked her to "write a short song" because all her songs were long and she did with the condition that he write one about himself and his time on the earth.) It was a beautiful and tears welling up kind of moment.
In the course of organizing and purging for my move; I came across some old photos from Open Mics (yes, photos, predating digital cameras) and there are pictures from the Chunky Tomato in Bristol - Jon Lewis, Gil Dube, Jersey Steve, Kent Aldrich, Gary the Crazy Flautist. I ought to scan 'em in and post em up on Facebook.....
So a lovely evening, thanks Cheryl for the invite. Not sure if my life has time for a regular visit to Collinsville, and not sure if I'll ever brave the open mike circuit again, but it felt like familar and welcoming ground. And I was listening to Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer en route home singing along, and thinking "I could maybe sing and play this....."
October 04, 2009
Can You Make a Living Teaching Yoga?
Over on the Yoga with Nikki Chau blog, here. Really good thoughts for anyone contemplating a career teaching yoga or embarking on their own teaching career. It's pretty tough to imagine anyone getting rich teaching yoga unless one is nationally renowned. Linda's Yoga Journey has also blogged about it Price We Pay and How Much is a Yoga Teacher Worth. Some of my own thoughts:
Product Mix
I've been self-employed for 15 years now. I do a variety of jobs - ranging from engineering, production support for corporate meetings, production support for entertainment, websites, powerpoint design. And for the last year or so, teaching yoga. And I have come to look at every project, every gig as being part of a product mix. Stuff I relly love to do that I might not be able to bill all that much for. Stuff that is perhaps more lucrative but less fulfilling or interesting. And work that lies somewhere in the middle. And I am constantly tweaking that product mix, depending on my finances, my time and energy, the available work, and where my spirit leads me.
Even something as fulfilling as teaching yoga has its "product mix" aspects. Nikki says "An average class at a studio can get anywhere between 1-8 people..." and well, I teach some big classes (15 - 25, sometimes higher) but they are often the $5 Gentle classes, which do not pay so well. But pretty awesome experience to teach to that large a class. On the other hand, some of my smaller full price classes pay better - rewarding in different ways. So even within a yoga teaching career there is a spectrum of "feed your spirit or feed your checking account" choices.
In her post, Nikki writes:
Do I want more students in a class? Not necessarily (workshops are different). First, I don’t teach yoga to make money. It’s not my primary motivation. If it were, I’d need a lot of math help. Secondly, the small class size lets me pay more attention to each individual person and adapt to their specific body, and that’s important to me.
And there is a balancing act there as well. Most studios pay a minimum per class with a percentage or per student amount above the minimum. And the amount that students are willing to pay for yoga is all over the map - locally $17 walk-in, $10 or $12 with a class card, or $5 for some classes. So limiting to 8-10 students is really going to cut back on earnings potential.
As much as it's hard to focus on individual bodies and practices in a larger class, there is something pretty amazing about a large class (speaking both as a student and as a teacher) - resonating with the energy, working flow, conscious of the bodies and spirits in the same postures and same-but-separate life journey. Some of my more memorable classes (as a student) have been with 40-50 students where the class energy just soared - I look across the row of mats with my friends and peers in Vira II or working through a dancing warrior sequence - and fill with love, respect, awe. Strong, brave, beautiful, and amazing. Perhaps not very yogic to step outside of my own body and my own practice like that - but I'm a yoga rebel and when the divine intervenes, who am I to not take a moment to watch and appreciate. So a mix of big classes (make some money, work with collective bodies and spirits) and small class (work with individual bodies and spirits) can work.
Something Else on the Side
Pretty much every yoga teacher down at the studio has something else going, workwise. Body worker (several). Counselor or therapist. Nutritionist. Engineer (guilty). Corporate drone. Stay-at-home parent (presumably with a working partner). So it's pretty realistic to look at who is teaching yoga, and perhaps decide to teach yoga as an adjunct to something else that can bring in some income. Oftentimes, the yoga teaching can be a good conduit / outreach for clients and business for the other work you do.
Paying Your Dues
I always thing of doctors doing their internships and residencies (Grey's Anatomy comes to mind) when I think of my first year of teaching. Even docs with years of education (and a far higher investment in education than a few thousand dollars in formal yoga training) spend a few years getting paid peanuts and working their tails off.
I came to look at my first years of teaching in that light - I'm a first-year, I'm paying my dues. Basically, I'd take any yoga teaching gig I could - to hone my teaching chops, to get experience, to build a reputation. Yeah, I've taught some classes for a few bucks. Yeah I've had some long days and long weeks. But more and more I am able to be selective in how and when I teach and am able to start to control my own teaching product mix.
So I think there is a certain level of "patience, grasshopper" here - teachers fresh out of training are probably not going to hit their stride, earnings wise, for a few years, regardless of how strong their personal practice or inspired their teaching. So be prepared to spend some time in the trenches.
As a sidelight, it's interesting to take the long view of this stuff. I've been embedded down at my studio for years, and in that time I have watched a lot of really top-notch teachers come through. Oftentimes they promote themselves to the studio owner as great teachers, talk their way into a chance to sub in for one of the senior teachers in a prime-time slot, and get handed their collective head by the students who just don't deal well with change (and are plenty vocal with the studio management). I suspect if they had invested some time hanging out, coming to classes to get the studio vibe, becoming familiar to the students and perhaps starting a little lower on the roster (in terms of what classes they sub and how much they ask for) they could potentially build up a reputation and a following, and end up with one of the prime-time slots and large classes that they seek.
As Bill Morrissey writes in his song Birches:
Oak will burn as long and hot as a July afternoon,
And birch will burn itself out by the rising of the moon.
Neil Young might disagree, however. My my, hey hey.
Subsidizing Ones Addiction
Before I started teaching, I was spending a lot on yoga - for classes, for workshops, etc. Now that I'm teaching, I spend a lot less money on yoga (although I practice as much if not more). My studio policy lets teachers take classes for free; there is also work-study, trading hours staffing the studio for free classes or workshops. And since I make money teaching and file a Schedule C, a lot of my yoga expenses come right off the top line as business expenses.
So even though I'm not getting rich from teaching, I'd still be practicing and spending money even if I were not teaching, so the actual net benefit from teaching might be expressed as Income + Subsidized Practices and Workshops + Tax Benefit.
Become Management
As a self employed person, I'm keenly aware of my income limitations related to my time and energy. If every dollar I bring in is directly connected to my time, I have a limitation based on the hours in a day, week, month or year and the amount of money I can charge for any given activity. But if I start to subcontract work - hiring employees, having people "downstream" (in a coarse, multi-level marketing kind of way) then I can start to get some income based on other people's time.
The studio owner gets a cut (I hope, although sometimes I know she takes a hit for small classes) everytime I step into the studio to teach (she also has to pay for rent and heat and all that stuff). So if I can get people downstream of me, I'll start getting an incremental benefit. Opening a studio is a huge risk, a lot of work, and perhaps might take a few years to grow, but it's a way to transition from teacher income (100% dependent upon being in the room) to a potential for higher income (some percentage of one's income derived from getting a piece of other's work). And I suspect there are other business models, heretofore unexplored, that can insert one into the yoga economy in ways others than direct teaching.
But yeah, mostly we do it for love. And every so often, we pick up a check.....
Product Mix
I've been self-employed for 15 years now. I do a variety of jobs - ranging from engineering, production support for corporate meetings, production support for entertainment, websites, powerpoint design. And for the last year or so, teaching yoga. And I have come to look at every project, every gig as being part of a product mix. Stuff I relly love to do that I might not be able to bill all that much for. Stuff that is perhaps more lucrative but less fulfilling or interesting. And work that lies somewhere in the middle. And I am constantly tweaking that product mix, depending on my finances, my time and energy, the available work, and where my spirit leads me.
Even something as fulfilling as teaching yoga has its "product mix" aspects. Nikki says "An average class at a studio can get anywhere between 1-8 people..." and well, I teach some big classes (15 - 25, sometimes higher) but they are often the $5 Gentle classes, which do not pay so well. But pretty awesome experience to teach to that large a class. On the other hand, some of my smaller full price classes pay better - rewarding in different ways. So even within a yoga teaching career there is a spectrum of "feed your spirit or feed your checking account" choices.
In her post, Nikki writes:
Do I want more students in a class? Not necessarily (workshops are different). First, I don’t teach yoga to make money. It’s not my primary motivation. If it were, I’d need a lot of math help. Secondly, the small class size lets me pay more attention to each individual person and adapt to their specific body, and that’s important to me.
And there is a balancing act there as well. Most studios pay a minimum per class with a percentage or per student amount above the minimum. And the amount that students are willing to pay for yoga is all over the map - locally $17 walk-in, $10 or $12 with a class card, or $5 for some classes. So limiting to 8-10 students is really going to cut back on earnings potential.
As much as it's hard to focus on individual bodies and practices in a larger class, there is something pretty amazing about a large class (speaking both as a student and as a teacher) - resonating with the energy, working flow, conscious of the bodies and spirits in the same postures and same-but-separate life journey. Some of my more memorable classes (as a student) have been with 40-50 students where the class energy just soared - I look across the row of mats with my friends and peers in Vira II or working through a dancing warrior sequence - and fill with love, respect, awe. Strong, brave, beautiful, and amazing. Perhaps not very yogic to step outside of my own body and my own practice like that - but I'm a yoga rebel and when the divine intervenes, who am I to not take a moment to watch and appreciate. So a mix of big classes (make some money, work with collective bodies and spirits) and small class (work with individual bodies and spirits) can work.
Something Else on the Side
Pretty much every yoga teacher down at the studio has something else going, workwise. Body worker (several). Counselor or therapist. Nutritionist. Engineer (guilty). Corporate drone. Stay-at-home parent (presumably with a working partner). So it's pretty realistic to look at who is teaching yoga, and perhaps decide to teach yoga as an adjunct to something else that can bring in some income. Oftentimes, the yoga teaching can be a good conduit / outreach for clients and business for the other work you do.
Paying Your Dues
I always thing of doctors doing their internships and residencies (Grey's Anatomy comes to mind) when I think of my first year of teaching. Even docs with years of education (and a far higher investment in education than a few thousand dollars in formal yoga training) spend a few years getting paid peanuts and working their tails off.
I came to look at my first years of teaching in that light - I'm a first-year, I'm paying my dues. Basically, I'd take any yoga teaching gig I could - to hone my teaching chops, to get experience, to build a reputation. Yeah, I've taught some classes for a few bucks. Yeah I've had some long days and long weeks. But more and more I am able to be selective in how and when I teach and am able to start to control my own teaching product mix.
So I think there is a certain level of "patience, grasshopper" here - teachers fresh out of training are probably not going to hit their stride, earnings wise, for a few years, regardless of how strong their personal practice or inspired their teaching. So be prepared to spend some time in the trenches.
As a sidelight, it's interesting to take the long view of this stuff. I've been embedded down at my studio for years, and in that time I have watched a lot of really top-notch teachers come through. Oftentimes they promote themselves to the studio owner as great teachers, talk their way into a chance to sub in for one of the senior teachers in a prime-time slot, and get handed their collective head by the students who just don't deal well with change (and are plenty vocal with the studio management). I suspect if they had invested some time hanging out, coming to classes to get the studio vibe, becoming familiar to the students and perhaps starting a little lower on the roster (in terms of what classes they sub and how much they ask for) they could potentially build up a reputation and a following, and end up with one of the prime-time slots and large classes that they seek.
As Bill Morrissey writes in his song Birches:
Oak will burn as long and hot as a July afternoon,
And birch will burn itself out by the rising of the moon.
Neil Young might disagree, however. My my, hey hey.
Subsidizing Ones Addiction
Before I started teaching, I was spending a lot on yoga - for classes, for workshops, etc. Now that I'm teaching, I spend a lot less money on yoga (although I practice as much if not more). My studio policy lets teachers take classes for free; there is also work-study, trading hours staffing the studio for free classes or workshops. And since I make money teaching and file a Schedule C, a lot of my yoga expenses come right off the top line as business expenses.
So even though I'm not getting rich from teaching, I'd still be practicing and spending money even if I were not teaching, so the actual net benefit from teaching might be expressed as Income + Subsidized Practices and Workshops + Tax Benefit.
Become Management
As a self employed person, I'm keenly aware of my income limitations related to my time and energy. If every dollar I bring in is directly connected to my time, I have a limitation based on the hours in a day, week, month or year and the amount of money I can charge for any given activity. But if I start to subcontract work - hiring employees, having people "downstream" (in a coarse, multi-level marketing kind of way) then I can start to get some income based on other people's time.
The studio owner gets a cut (I hope, although sometimes I know she takes a hit for small classes) everytime I step into the studio to teach (she also has to pay for rent and heat and all that stuff). So if I can get people downstream of me, I'll start getting an incremental benefit. Opening a studio is a huge risk, a lot of work, and perhaps might take a few years to grow, but it's a way to transition from teacher income (100% dependent upon being in the room) to a potential for higher income (some percentage of one's income derived from getting a piece of other's work). And I suspect there are other business models, heretofore unexplored, that can insert one into the yoga economy in ways others than direct teaching.
But yeah, mostly we do it for love. And every so often, we pick up a check.....
Tias Little - Deep Work
11 Hours in studio with Tias Little this weekend. A workshop called "My Body is My Temple", with four module: The Sacred Feet, Sacred Sacrum, Sacred Sacrum, and Sacred Skull. Although really, we worked the entire body - the feet worked the legs, the sacrum and psoas worked the core, sides, shoulders, and spine, and the skull worked the entire upper body.
As usual, Tias' workshop was highly informative (practically teacher training) with lots of prep work, lots of props, lots of assists, and plenty of "pull up a block and watch me talk through a posture" opportunities. A very nice mix of practice, of lecture (an extended philosophy talk this morning),of technical information (anatomy via slides), and of technique for teaching and assisting.
Also as usual, during what seemed to be an almost minimalist practice (we spent hours on our backs, working very subtle parts of the body, and many hours of watching a posture and moving back to the mat, with almost zero vinyasa or flow) I am both wiped out and feel like crap - evidence of some pretty deep work and deep detoxing. We're pretty hooked on flow at the studio - plenty of sun salutations, plenty of heat, plenty of sweat. I barely cracked a sweat and had no need for my usual headband and mat cover. yet I am as wiped out tonight as if I had spent a weekend detoxing with Sean Corne rr pwoering through an Ana Forrest workshop.
Lot of good ideas. I'm not the type to keep a notebook as I practice - preferring to be fully present for the work and let the work seep into my body. I'm making some notes afterwards, sure I will forget some thing, but I'm going to bring this stuff into some of my classes.
As usual, Tias' workshop was highly informative (practically teacher training) with lots of prep work, lots of props, lots of assists, and plenty of "pull up a block and watch me talk through a posture" opportunities. A very nice mix of practice, of lecture (an extended philosophy talk this morning),of technical information (anatomy via slides), and of technique for teaching and assisting.
Also as usual, during what seemed to be an almost minimalist practice (we spent hours on our backs, working very subtle parts of the body, and many hours of watching a posture and moving back to the mat, with almost zero vinyasa or flow) I am both wiped out and feel like crap - evidence of some pretty deep work and deep detoxing. We're pretty hooked on flow at the studio - plenty of sun salutations, plenty of heat, plenty of sweat. I barely cracked a sweat and had no need for my usual headband and mat cover. yet I am as wiped out tonight as if I had spent a weekend detoxing with Sean Corne rr pwoering through an Ana Forrest workshop.
Lot of good ideas. I'm not the type to keep a notebook as I practice - preferring to be fully present for the work and let the work seep into my body. I'm making some notes afterwards, sure I will forget some thing, but I'm going to bring this stuff into some of my classes.
Adult-in-Charge
I've been the adult in charge down at the yoga studio this weekend. Let me tell you, it's exhausting.
Friday was an 11 hour day - I taught two classes, from 10:45 - 1:15 and then hung out getting ready for a national workshop. I snuck out for lunch, and I got to take the workshop but I was pretty much there until 9 pm.
Saturday, another long one - went in at 9 am to clean up some of the registration mess, workshops from 10:45 - 1:45 and again from 3:30 - 6:30. Then clean up while students packed up and made their way out the door; I hit the lights and set the alarm at 8:00 pm.
Today, more of the same - with the final workshop this morning, and the teacher training starting up this afternoon. I turn the reins back to the studio manager (with any luck) tomorrow.
And my big client who has been out of the country for a week or so, is back - I noticed 10 emails with site data came in last night. So it's shoulder to the wheel tomorrow (might try to sneak over to the office a bit today and get a jump start on things....)
Stick a fork in me; I'm done. I need a vacation!
Friday was an 11 hour day - I taught two classes, from 10:45 - 1:15 and then hung out getting ready for a national workshop. I snuck out for lunch, and I got to take the workshop but I was pretty much there until 9 pm.
Saturday, another long one - went in at 9 am to clean up some of the registration mess, workshops from 10:45 - 1:45 and again from 3:30 - 6:30. Then clean up while students packed up and made their way out the door; I hit the lights and set the alarm at 8:00 pm.
Today, more of the same - with the final workshop this morning, and the teacher training starting up this afternoon. I turn the reins back to the studio manager (with any luck) tomorrow.
And my big client who has been out of the country for a week or so, is back - I noticed 10 emails with site data came in last night. So it's shoulder to the wheel tomorrow (might try to sneak over to the office a bit today and get a jump start on things....)
Stick a fork in me; I'm done. I need a vacation!
October 02, 2009
Tias Little - My Body is My Temple
I'm hitting the mat all weekend with Tias Little, as he presents My Body is My Temple down at the studio. 11 Hours of detailed study.
I worked with Tias a bit back in July 2007, and completed a 24 hour teacher training with him in October 2008. And although I'm not the type to adopt gurus, he's as close as I get in terms of national teachers (but only because I have not had a lot of opportunity to work with Heather Tiddens, who I adore)
Off to bed. Six hours of Tias tomorrow - Sacrum and Psoas. Yum.
I worked with Tias a bit back in July 2007, and completed a 24 hour teacher training with him in October 2008. And although I'm not the type to adopt gurus, he's as close as I get in terms of national teachers (but only because I have not had a lot of opportunity to work with Heather Tiddens, who I adore)
Off to bed. Six hours of Tias tomorrow - Sacrum and Psoas. Yum.
Spreading It Around
One of the young yogis at Tias' workshop this evening was asking around regarding a place to shower. He's sleeping in his vehicle. Devoted to his practice.
And yanno, if I were in my new place, I'd have happily offered him an air mattress in the yoga room and a place to shower and hang. I just don't think it would go over so well with Zippy here, but once I get the condo, I'm so there. That's just who I am and how I roll.
My friend Nykki turned me on to this quote. "When you learn, teach. When you get, give." -Maya Angelou
True, that.
And yanno, if I were in my new place, I'd have happily offered him an air mattress in the yoga room and a place to shower and hang. I just don't think it would go over so well with Zippy here, but once I get the condo, I'm so there. That's just who I am and how I roll.
My friend Nykki turned me on to this quote. "When you learn, teach. When you get, give." -Maya Angelou
True, that.
October 01, 2009
Condo Update
No big news. Sept 30 was my commitment date; my lawyer filed for an extension. FHA / mortgage company are backed up due to the last minute shoppers taking advantage of the $8K tax credit.
Looks like the Oct 9 closing date might be pushed back a week. Hopefully no more than that - I want to take some time to clean and do some minor work around the place before I move, I have a bunch of truck-loads of small stuff to take over, and at least two big moving projects (house-to-condo and office-to-condo) along with arranging for the pool table to find its new home.
Will keep you posted.....
Looks like the Oct 9 closing date might be pushed back a week. Hopefully no more than that - I want to take some time to clean and do some minor work around the place before I move, I have a bunch of truck-loads of small stuff to take over, and at least two big moving projects (house-to-condo and office-to-condo) along with arranging for the pool table to find its new home.
Will keep you posted.....
September 29, 2009
Google Wave
Colin sent you here. I have no idea why. Well, maybe some idea. My left hand (at right) is perhaps, waving? I dunno. It's actually the apex of a trikonasana inside a hot air balloon.
Edit: Oh, I get it. Not completely obtuse. Crowd-Sourcing. Getting users (or in this case, blogs readers) to do your work for you. Duh. Like some of those silly captcha "type the word you see" things that websites use to confirm that a real person is filling in a form. Did you know you were actually working to digitize scanned documents (from the Internet Archive and NY Times archive) when filling out some of these?
Here's the Google Wave link on cnn.com or go to the Google Wave site. I have no more info - I plan to be listening to WNPR tomorrow from 1-2 to find out.....
Bonus, the wikipedia article on crowd-sourcing.
Off with ya. Bloody vikings.
Edit: Oh, I get it. Not completely obtuse. Crowd-Sourcing. Getting users (or in this case, blogs readers) to do your work for you. Duh. Like some of those silly captcha "type the word you see" things that websites use to confirm that a real person is filling in a form. Did you know you were actually working to digitize scanned documents (from the Internet Archive and NY Times archive) when filling out some of these?
Here's the Google Wave link on cnn.com or go to the Google Wave site. I have no more info - I plan to be listening to WNPR tomorrow from 1-2 to find out.....
Bonus, the wikipedia article on crowd-sourcing.
Off with ya. Bloody vikings.
September 28, 2009
Roaring Brook Nature Center Concerts
A note from Stan Sullivan - just spreading the word.....
***********************************************************************************
Welcome to the 30th season of Roaring Brook Concerts! We open with legendary Bluesman, Paul Geremia, this Saturday October 3rd. I guess it's time to dig the rakes out of the shed, the long sleeve shirts out of the closet and set up the sound system at Roaring Brook. All concerts are at 7:30PM on Saturdays with the exception of the two Monday Open Mikes and the October 11, 2009 Family Show at 2:00PM with Mustard's Retreat.
Tickets for all shows: 860-693-0263 and Information: www.roaringbrookconcerts.org
Roaring Brook Concerts
October 3, 2009 Paul Geremia $15.00 Advance and $17.00 door
October 10, 2009 Mustard's Retreat / Stan Sullivan Split bill $15.00 door and $18.00 door
October 17, 2009 Sloan Wainwright $16.00 Advance and $17.00 door
October 23, 2009 Cece Borjeson & Ruth George $12.00 advance and $15.00 door
October 30, 2009 Patrick Ball, Celtic Harpist $18.00 Advance and $20.00 door
November 7, 2009 Atwater-Donnelly $15.00 Advance and $17.00 door
November 14, 2009 Mark Erelli $16.00 Advance and $18.00 door
November 21, 2009 David Mallett $18.00 Advance and $20.00 door
December 5, 2009—Donna Martin $15.00 Advance and $17.00 door
December 12, 2009—Chris Smither $25.00
Open Mikes
Signup at 6:45 $5.00 Admission
Monday October 26, 2009 featuring Pete Prizzi
Monday November 30, 2009 featuring Trainwreck Jerry
Family Show
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Mustard's Retreat 2:00-3:00PM Tickets $6.00 member, $7.00 nonmembers $8.00 door
It was great to run into so many of you during the summer at festivals, thanks for saying hello and for all your enthusiastic and kind words about Roaring Brook Concerts. We are always looking for concert volunteers, so if you've got the time to bake or park cars, set up chairs or write grants, give Jay Kaplan a call at 860-693-0263 or talk to one of us at a show.
Thanks,
Stan Sullivan and all the volunteers at Roaring Brook Concerts!
***********************************************************************************
Welcome to the 30th season of Roaring Brook Concerts! We open with legendary Bluesman, Paul Geremia, this Saturday October 3rd. I guess it's time to dig the rakes out of the shed, the long sleeve shirts out of the closet and set up the sound system at Roaring Brook. All concerts are at 7:30PM on Saturdays with the exception of the two Monday Open Mikes and the October 11, 2009 Family Show at 2:00PM with Mustard's Retreat.
Tickets for all shows: 860-693-0263 and Information: www.roaringbrookconcerts.org
Roaring Brook Concerts
October 3, 2009 Paul Geremia $15.00 Advance and $17.00 door
October 10, 2009 Mustard's Retreat / Stan Sullivan Split bill $15.00 door and $18.00 door
October 17, 2009 Sloan Wainwright $16.00 Advance and $17.00 door
October 23, 2009 Cece Borjeson & Ruth George $12.00 advance and $15.00 door
October 30, 2009 Patrick Ball, Celtic Harpist $18.00 Advance and $20.00 door
November 7, 2009 Atwater-Donnelly $15.00 Advance and $17.00 door
November 14, 2009 Mark Erelli $16.00 Advance and $18.00 door
November 21, 2009 David Mallett $18.00 Advance and $20.00 door
December 5, 2009—Donna Martin $15.00 Advance and $17.00 door
December 12, 2009—Chris Smither $25.00
Open Mikes
Signup at 6:45 $5.00 Admission
Monday October 26, 2009 featuring Pete Prizzi
Monday November 30, 2009 featuring Trainwreck Jerry
Family Show
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Mustard's Retreat 2:00-3:00PM Tickets $6.00 member, $7.00 nonmembers $8.00 door
It was great to run into so many of you during the summer at festivals, thanks for saying hello and for all your enthusiastic and kind words about Roaring Brook Concerts. We are always looking for concert volunteers, so if you've got the time to bake or park cars, set up chairs or write grants, give Jay Kaplan a call at 860-693-0263 or talk to one of us at a show.
Thanks,
Stan Sullivan and all the volunteers at Roaring Brook Concerts!
Hubris
"The Governor and I don't we win (isn't that amazing)" - Lisa Moody, in an email that details how Gov. Jodi Rell decided to ignore legal advice from her own council and that of OPM, and attempt to use her line item veto on a budget she refused to sign. Courant article here
The fact that this particular quote comes from an email originally withheld from an FOI request by the Courant, that it changes the dynamics from either an issue of comptenence (not understanding the law) or perhaps a more innocent misinterpretaton of the legal aspects of this to a willful "we can do anything we want, try to stop us" attitude.
I'm generally not a particularly vindictive voter, and while I generally vote left, I've been known to go center or even right on occasion for the right candidate. But stuff like this makes me actively root for the downfall of this particular regime.
The fact that this particular quote comes from an email originally withheld from an FOI request by the Courant, that it changes the dynamics from either an issue of comptenence (not understanding the law) or perhaps a more innocent misinterpretaton of the legal aspects of this to a willful "we can do anything we want, try to stop us" attitude.
I'm generally not a particularly vindictive voter, and while I generally vote left, I've been known to go center or even right on occasion for the right candidate. But stuff like this makes me actively root for the downfall of this particular regime.
September 27, 2009
John Muir
Watching the new Ken Burns series - National Parks: America's Best Idea
The first hour has an extended segment on John Muir. And as I watched the show and listened to stories of Muir's experience, and quotes of his writings, I recognized the language of enlightenment, the verbiage of the seeker. Some samples, sourced here:
We all flow from one fountain— Soul. All are expressions of one love. God does not appear, and flow out, only from narrow chinks and round bored wells here and there in favored races and places, but He flows in grand undivided currents, shoreless and boundless over creeds and forms and all kinds of civilizations and peoples and beasts, saturating all and fountainizing all.
I used to envy the father of our race, dwelling as he did in contact with the new-made fields and plants of Eden; but I do so no more, because I have discovered that I also live in "creation's dawn." The morning stars still sing together, and the world, not yet half made, becomes more beautiful every day.
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.
When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty.
I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.
Might as well be Rumi - touching on Truth. I think I have found a place of exploration.....who knew?
I'll watch the rest of teh series as I can, but it has already proven itself worthy beyond measure!
The first hour has an extended segment on John Muir. And as I watched the show and listened to stories of Muir's experience, and quotes of his writings, I recognized the language of enlightenment, the verbiage of the seeker. Some samples, sourced here:
We all flow from one fountain— Soul. All are expressions of one love. God does not appear, and flow out, only from narrow chinks and round bored wells here and there in favored races and places, but He flows in grand undivided currents, shoreless and boundless over creeds and forms and all kinds of civilizations and peoples and beasts, saturating all and fountainizing all.
I used to envy the father of our race, dwelling as he did in contact with the new-made fields and plants of Eden; but I do so no more, because I have discovered that I also live in "creation's dawn." The morning stars still sing together, and the world, not yet half made, becomes more beautiful every day.
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.
When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty.
I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.
Might as well be Rumi - touching on Truth. I think I have found a place of exploration.....who knew?
I'll watch the rest of teh series as I can, but it has already proven itself worthy beyond measure!
September 25, 2009
Electronics Recycling - Saturday Sept 26
CRRA holds several electronics reycling collections each year. Bring your broken, unwanted or obsolete TVs, VCRs, computers, cell phones and other electronic devices to one of these collections and help keep electronics out of the waste stream. Best of all, there is no fee for this service.
When: Saturday, September 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: CRRA Trash Museum, 211 Murphy Road, Hartford
For Whom: Residents of Mid-Connecticut Project cities and towns
What: Home electronics, including: computers, monitors, cell phones, TVs, VCRs, copiers, fax machines, printers, radios, stereos. (Electronics from businesses and institutions are not acceptable.)
Sponsors: Participating municipalities and the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority
More info Here
When: Saturday, September 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: CRRA Trash Museum, 211 Murphy Road, Hartford
For Whom: Residents of Mid-Connecticut Project cities and towns
What: Home electronics, including: computers, monitors, cell phones, TVs, VCRs, copiers, fax machines, printers, radios, stereos. (Electronics from businesses and institutions are not acceptable.)
Sponsors: Participating municipalities and the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority
More info Here
Jump Start: Jim and Ken Turn 40
Zippy cleaned out the CD rack (that I will be taking with me to the new place) and on it's shelves are a few of my CD's, filed with his. A Johnny Cash box set. Robert Johnson box set. Springsteens "Tracks".
And a handmade double disk, put together by my high school friend Jim (and his friend, Ken), celebrating four decadeds of them.
Disk One is labeled: Youthful Delusion and includes such gems as Runaway, Nancy Sinatra, Sweet, Cher, Led Zep, Lou Reed, Boston, The Knack, Blondie, and the Cars. The music of our collective youth.
Disk Two is labeled: Downward Spiral and here our paths diverge. Early punk / new wave (Sex Pistols, Smiths, Dead Kennedys, Gang of Four) give way to metal and grunge (Korn, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, Tool)
Got both disks in the player right now. Just the jump start I need this morning!
And a handmade double disk, put together by my high school friend Jim (and his friend, Ken), celebrating four decadeds of them.
Disk One is labeled: Youthful Delusion and includes such gems as Runaway, Nancy Sinatra, Sweet, Cher, Led Zep, Lou Reed, Boston, The Knack, Blondie, and the Cars. The music of our collective youth.
Disk Two is labeled: Downward Spiral and here our paths diverge. Early punk / new wave (Sex Pistols, Smiths, Dead Kennedys, Gang of Four) give way to metal and grunge (Korn, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, Tool)
Got both disks in the player right now. Just the jump start I need this morning!
September 24, 2009
Condo Update
Not a lot of news. Appraisal came in fine; I wrote a $375 check for that. I delivered a pile of recent back statement to my mortgage broker. No updates in terms or approval or closing, but also nothing bad.....
New Yorker: Pecking Order
I'm pretty sure I'll be photocopying the accompanying article for a certain suburban chicken seeking friend of mine...
September 23, 2009
Adult Science Fair
This particular corporate gig is amusing for its resemblence to that childhood trauma - the Science Fair.
Fifteen speakers got up and talked for 15 minutes about their products, industries, technologies (and how they contribute to the corporation and investor value), while a room full of judges (investor analysts) sat and listened.
Now we've moved on to show and tell, as these presenters are standing beside their displays (poster sessions, really, with a few bits of technology to see or touch) and the analysts are schmoozing.
Fifteen speakers got up and talked for 15 minutes about their products, industries, technologies (and how they contribute to the corporation and investor value), while a room full of judges (investor analysts) sat and listened.
Now we've moved on to show and tell, as these presenters are standing beside their displays (poster sessions, really, with a few bits of technology to see or touch) and the analysts are schmoozing.
Head to Toe Black Again
Day two for our intrepid powerpoint princess.
I'm opting for my head-to-toe black again today (rather than my more upscale duds) because (a) my job is to be invisible and (b) I'll be working the out and pushing crates and wrapping cables and stuff. No need to rip a pair of nice slacks or soil a blouse....there are some graphics ops and stuff who white glove it (when the show ends, closing the laptops and walking away, and letting the graphics house handle the out) but that's not me.....there are only 4 of us here (two guys from the graphics house, the director and me) so all hands on deck....
The rehearsal day went pretty well. The client showed up with 20 presentations (labeled A thru U) and I took it upon myself to merge them into two decks - one for the morning, one for the afternoon. No serious problems - PowerPoint sometimes does funky things when merging, but these all started from a common template / master file so the problems were minimal (a handful of rogue characters, some font size issues, and for one presentation, all the text lost it's BOLD) - so a few hours of work to carefully study the originals vs. the merged file to spot differences and consult with the client - all good. So now I mostly sit there and push the space bar.
We have a pretty nifty presentation timer at this gig (counts down to zero, flashes when one exceeds the time, signal light moves from green to yellow to red) so we spent the rehearsal jotting down the presenters times (they all get 15 minutes) - silently cheering on the speedsters who came in under 10 minutes and cursing those who pushed it to 14:30. Nobody exceeded 15 minutes - pretty typical for a corporation that prides itself on operational discipline.
It helps to be an engineering / former corporate hack kind of powerpoint operator _ I can sort of follow along with the presenters and figure out the slide changes myself - the presenters range from very comfortable with the slide clicker to completely unaware of it - so for some of the more awkward folks I anticipate the change for them.
Interestingly two women at the podium this year (last time I worked for this company, two days of presentations, 45 speakers, no women). Although amusingly when the VP of sales stood up and said "you may wonder why a sales person is presenting at a technical forum" I quipped to the crew "because we needed another woman up here and could not find any in the engineering management team". I don't really fault the company - the engineering this company does is decidely staid and old school, and all the women engineers (and there are many in much demand by companies seeking EEOC sanction and government contracts) get scooped up by companies offering more exciting work. "Operational discipline", whatever it's benefit to the bottom line, safety, and profitability, does not seem like the best catchphrase to woo recruits.
I'm eating poorly (or very well depending on your definition) here. Marriott Courtyard breakfast (eggs and such). Lunch (delayed until 3) was a selection from a grinder / sandwich shop (delivered) - I got a stir-friend veggie grinder (awesome, lots of brocolli, peppers, and carrots with provolone) but it's still a hunk of carbs. And dinners have been a baked whitefish (yum) and last night Italian (a pasta dish, with an arugala salad). Nothing horribly bad but just lots more food than I am used to and late lunches and dinners so I'm hungry....
I'd love to catch yoga up here but I have no car (next time, I drive) there is a local place that has a 6 pm vinyasa class, but its a bit of a hike and we've not been out in time - maybe next time.
I'm opting for my head-to-toe black again today (rather than my more upscale duds) because (a) my job is to be invisible and (b) I'll be working the out and pushing crates and wrapping cables and stuff. No need to rip a pair of nice slacks or soil a blouse....there are some graphics ops and stuff who white glove it (when the show ends, closing the laptops and walking away, and letting the graphics house handle the out) but that's not me.....there are only 4 of us here (two guys from the graphics house, the director and me) so all hands on deck....
The rehearsal day went pretty well. The client showed up with 20 presentations (labeled A thru U) and I took it upon myself to merge them into two decks - one for the morning, one for the afternoon. No serious problems - PowerPoint sometimes does funky things when merging, but these all started from a common template / master file so the problems were minimal (a handful of rogue characters, some font size issues, and for one presentation, all the text lost it's BOLD) - so a few hours of work to carefully study the originals vs. the merged file to spot differences and consult with the client - all good. So now I mostly sit there and push the space bar.
We have a pretty nifty presentation timer at this gig (counts down to zero, flashes when one exceeds the time, signal light moves from green to yellow to red) so we spent the rehearsal jotting down the presenters times (they all get 15 minutes) - silently cheering on the speedsters who came in under 10 minutes and cursing those who pushed it to 14:30. Nobody exceeded 15 minutes - pretty typical for a corporation that prides itself on operational discipline.
It helps to be an engineering / former corporate hack kind of powerpoint operator _ I can sort of follow along with the presenters and figure out the slide changes myself - the presenters range from very comfortable with the slide clicker to completely unaware of it - so for some of the more awkward folks I anticipate the change for them.
Interestingly two women at the podium this year (last time I worked for this company, two days of presentations, 45 speakers, no women). Although amusingly when the VP of sales stood up and said "you may wonder why a sales person is presenting at a technical forum" I quipped to the crew "because we needed another woman up here and could not find any in the engineering management team". I don't really fault the company - the engineering this company does is decidely staid and old school, and all the women engineers (and there are many in much demand by companies seeking EEOC sanction and government contracts) get scooped up by companies offering more exciting work. "Operational discipline", whatever it's benefit to the bottom line, safety, and profitability, does not seem like the best catchphrase to woo recruits.
I'm eating poorly (or very well depending on your definition) here. Marriott Courtyard breakfast (eggs and such). Lunch (delayed until 3) was a selection from a grinder / sandwich shop (delivered) - I got a stir-friend veggie grinder (awesome, lots of brocolli, peppers, and carrots with provolone) but it's still a hunk of carbs. And dinners have been a baked whitefish (yum) and last night Italian (a pasta dish, with an arugala salad). Nothing horribly bad but just lots more food than I am used to and late lunches and dinners so I'm hungry....
I'd love to catch yoga up here but I have no car (next time, I drive) there is a local place that has a 6 pm vinyasa class, but its a bit of a hike and we've not been out in time - maybe next time.
September 22, 2009
Head to Toe Black
I'm out in Buffalo on a corporate gig - pushing the space bar for a raft of PowerPoint presentations. It's kind of a long trip (for this sort of thing) - traveled out Monday afternoon, we set up and rehearse today (Tuesday), the meeting is Wedneday, and travel back Thursday (unless I can sneak out Wed night). These things can be either extremely stressful or extremely boring (sometimes both) - I suspect I'll have some work to do this morning as my client called last night; the end client has "6 or 7 presentations and they are having problems merging them together".
Powerpoint tends to copy formats, backgrounds, and styles together - so the presentation needs to be carefully designed to avoid that (typical users have no clue what that means) so I'll either be doing some last minute recreating today or else working out the technical aspects of swapping presentations seamlessly on the fly. Either way, it's why they pay to have someone like me here.
Been a long time since I've done this sort of gig - my last was a flyout to San Diego in March '08 and that was a similarly minimal gig (me and a producer, the rest of the crew locals or gear house). Between teaching yoga, engineering, the economic slowdown (a lot of these clients are in the embattled financial sector), and corporate move to web based meetings - well, not so much demand for this kind of work. I can not remember the last "big meeting" of the sort I used to do 4x or more a year - a big powerpoint presentation to put together (with custom template, backgrounds, graphics and multiple presentations) and a trip to a far city with a full crew - sound, lights, cameras.
Things change. But I'm here; once more into the fray. Hope I still remember how PowerPoint works (or they do not have some crazy 2009 version of it I need to learn on the fly).
Powerpoint tends to copy formats, backgrounds, and styles together - so the presentation needs to be carefully designed to avoid that (typical users have no clue what that means) so I'll either be doing some last minute recreating today or else working out the technical aspects of swapping presentations seamlessly on the fly. Either way, it's why they pay to have someone like me here.
Been a long time since I've done this sort of gig - my last was a flyout to San Diego in March '08 and that was a similarly minimal gig (me and a producer, the rest of the crew locals or gear house). Between teaching yoga, engineering, the economic slowdown (a lot of these clients are in the embattled financial sector), and corporate move to web based meetings - well, not so much demand for this kind of work. I can not remember the last "big meeting" of the sort I used to do 4x or more a year - a big powerpoint presentation to put together (with custom template, backgrounds, graphics and multiple presentations) and a trip to a far city with a full crew - sound, lights, cameras.
Things change. But I'm here; once more into the fray. Hope I still remember how PowerPoint works (or they do not have some crazy 2009 version of it I need to learn on the fly).
Jack Hardy in Watertown
Traveled out to Watertown CT last weekend to see Jack Hardy - my FRFF friend Barbara hosts occasional folk acts in her backyard (barn) as well as in her living room.
It's always wonderful to see talented musician's in intimate settings (sans microphones and sound systems), and Jack was especially wonderful - he has such a deep and long career, and is such a devotee of the songwriting process, that he can just create a set on the fly from his songbook that is diverse, entertaining, and top quality. I really enjoyed the evening.
Jack is one of those artists who I've been brushing up against for years - on compilations (most notably the Fast Folk samplers which I used to get), at concerts, at festivals. I saw him featured at Grassy Hill a few years back, and most recently, he's sat and chatted in the Falcon Ridge merch trailer as I checked in his merchandise. So it was nice to see him featured in a full set and nice to pick up his new CD (Rye Grass) - I'm usually swamped with music at FRFF (and have a limited music buying budget) and try to pick up the CDs of new (to me) artists, and often old friends slip past.
I'm in the process of sorting out stuff as I prepare to move, and just this weekend I packed away all my CDs (I have many; even though I do download music these days I'm still a collector of physical music) - and so I picked up Jack's CD with a little concern (oh no, more "stuff"). But for artists, buying a CD is an act of devotion, a vote of support for what is undoubtedly a difficult (from a financial perspective) life. Maybe we could toss an extra $10 into the pot when it comes to paying for a concert, but that maybe tips the balance into charity and besides, artists want their music shared, listened to, appreciated. So, one more CD for the "stuff" pile.
It's always wonderful to see talented musician's in intimate settings (sans microphones and sound systems), and Jack was especially wonderful - he has such a deep and long career, and is such a devotee of the songwriting process, that he can just create a set on the fly from his songbook that is diverse, entertaining, and top quality. I really enjoyed the evening.
Jack is one of those artists who I've been brushing up against for years - on compilations (most notably the Fast Folk samplers which I used to get), at concerts, at festivals. I saw him featured at Grassy Hill a few years back, and most recently, he's sat and chatted in the Falcon Ridge merch trailer as I checked in his merchandise. So it was nice to see him featured in a full set and nice to pick up his new CD (Rye Grass) - I'm usually swamped with music at FRFF (and have a limited music buying budget) and try to pick up the CDs of new (to me) artists, and often old friends slip past.
I'm in the process of sorting out stuff as I prepare to move, and just this weekend I packed away all my CDs (I have many; even though I do download music these days I'm still a collector of physical music) - and so I picked up Jack's CD with a little concern (oh no, more "stuff"). But for artists, buying a CD is an act of devotion, a vote of support for what is undoubtedly a difficult (from a financial perspective) life. Maybe we could toss an extra $10 into the pot when it comes to paying for a concert, but that maybe tips the balance into charity and besides, artists want their music shared, listened to, appreciated. So, one more CD for the "stuff" pile.
September 18, 2009
Becoming a Man in 127 EASY Steps
Went to see the performance art of Scott Turner Schofield this evening at Real Art Ways.
Pretty freaking awesome - from the opening (I won't spoil it, but I called it) to the concept of having 127 different stories to tell, chosen at random by the audience, so the piece is different every night. I'd go back again tomorrow (were I not heading down to see Jack Hardy at a house concert) just to see what other stories he has up his sleeve.
Wonderfully conceived - from the set piece of a childhood fort (did we all do that?) to the acrobatics on the draped fabric (I most certainly did not do that, but if I ever have a high ceilinged yoga studio I am damn sure gonna rig it up for that sort of aerial exploration). Scott (or is it Turner?) passed out his props before the show (and called them back from the audience as needed) adding another level of participation and intimacy.
Quibbles - the audio tracks (ripped from voice mail or an answering machine, seemingly) were often pretty fuzzy and hard to hear, similarly, the video backdrop was a little soft (focus as well as prominance).
But all in all, a definite "not to miss" performance. Tickets will go fast for tomorow night - so if you are planning to go, call and make arrangements ASAP!
Pretty freaking awesome - from the opening (I won't spoil it, but I called it) to the concept of having 127 different stories to tell, chosen at random by the audience, so the piece is different every night. I'd go back again tomorrow (were I not heading down to see Jack Hardy at a house concert) just to see what other stories he has up his sleeve.
Wonderfully conceived - from the set piece of a childhood fort (did we all do that?) to the acrobatics on the draped fabric (I most certainly did not do that, but if I ever have a high ceilinged yoga studio I am damn sure gonna rig it up for that sort of aerial exploration). Scott (or is it Turner?) passed out his props before the show (and called them back from the audience as needed) adding another level of participation and intimacy.
Quibbles - the audio tracks (ripped from voice mail or an answering machine, seemingly) were often pretty fuzzy and hard to hear, similarly, the video backdrop was a little soft (focus as well as prominance).
But all in all, a definite "not to miss" performance. Tickets will go fast for tomorow night - so if you are planning to go, call and make arrangements ASAP!
September 14, 2009
September 13, 2009
Le Morte du Blog
Colin McEnroe is doing a show on CT Bloggers tomorrow (Monday). The preview bumper talk about local bloggers perhaps stepping back a bit - losing a step so to speak, and challenges us to step it up. In his words:
I have some theories regarding the slowdown in the local blogosphere.
1) Twitter. And Facebook. Even though I'm only a sporadic tweeter, and I've linked my blog to both Twitter and Facebook, it's a dilution of online energy and time. I can post a quick Facebook update to a captive audience (my 157 Facebook friends) as opposed to a blog post that may or may not get looked at. So I see a certain stratification of updates - Twitter gets the short things, Facebook gets links and videos and stuff, and my blog gets longer posts, reviews, etc.
Evidence of this - the quote from Colin above came via Facebook - not via his blog.
2) Lack of a Big Enemy. Bush was a fine target for bloggishness. Lieberman was as well, especially in the Lamont era. Not sure that Eddie Perez' travails or Jodi Rell's languor are juicy enough. And stuff like Global Warming and Wall Street are a bit too diffuse and overwhelming to feel empowered to do something about it via blog.
3) The Economy. Blogging is for the most part an unpaid activity and a labor of love, and is a luxury for many. When times are tough and people are hustling to keep the money coming in or the rent paid (or perhaps are a little less keen to be caught messing around online at their day job) it's more difficult to spend the time blogging or justify the time / energy.
I'm sure there are other ideas out there. I'll tune in (and I think I committed to calling in) and you should too....
On Monday's show -- from 1 to 2 pm -- I want to look at the State of the Blog. Specifically, I want to look at where blogging and other online communication/journalism is -- especially here in CT -- roughly five years down the road from the first real ascendance of blogs. Old media seems shakier than ever. Do you bloggers feel ready to step up and fill the vacuum? Are there better models on the proving grounds of the internet right now?
And news consumers -- do you use online journalism and other forms of 'net info?
Our studio line. 860 275 7266.
Do call in! I'm trying not to book guests and to have spontaneous contact with callers.
Simon Owens from Bloggasm and Kevin from We The People are among the people I THINK will call.
I have some theories regarding the slowdown in the local blogosphere.
1) Twitter. And Facebook. Even though I'm only a sporadic tweeter, and I've linked my blog to both Twitter and Facebook, it's a dilution of online energy and time. I can post a quick Facebook update to a captive audience (my 157 Facebook friends) as opposed to a blog post that may or may not get looked at. So I see a certain stratification of updates - Twitter gets the short things, Facebook gets links and videos and stuff, and my blog gets longer posts, reviews, etc.
Evidence of this - the quote from Colin above came via Facebook - not via his blog.
2) Lack of a Big Enemy. Bush was a fine target for bloggishness. Lieberman was as well, especially in the Lamont era. Not sure that Eddie Perez' travails or Jodi Rell's languor are juicy enough. And stuff like Global Warming and Wall Street are a bit too diffuse and overwhelming to feel empowered to do something about it via blog.
3) The Economy. Blogging is for the most part an unpaid activity and a labor of love, and is a luxury for many. When times are tough and people are hustling to keep the money coming in or the rent paid (or perhaps are a little less keen to be caught messing around online at their day job) it's more difficult to spend the time blogging or justify the time / energy.
I'm sure there are other ideas out there. I'll tune in (and I think I committed to calling in) and you should too....
My September 11 Story
Not sure I've ever written this one down; I was not blogging at the time and my story is not all that interesting. But might as well spend a few minutes in between the purging, sorting, and tossing.
The week of Sept 11, 2001, I was headed out to Chicago for the annual power quality conference. Not sure if I flew that morning (if I did, it was a dawn Southwest hop into Midway) or the night before. But 8:00 am chicago time found me parked outside an office supply store waiting for them to open so I could get a cell phone charger. I was listening to public radio when I first got word; quickly buzzed over to AM. Then I called my friend Robert (balloon and private pilot) to tell him to turn on CNN because "some moron flew his cessna into the world trade center" - which is how it seemed to be reported, initially.
Robert, taking a look at the news, told me "that's a lot bigger than a cessna" and while we were on the phone, the 2nd plane hit the other tower. He got off the phone to call his brother in the city, and I headed to the conference, listening to the radio.
Needless to say there was not much of a conference. We hung out that morning kind of making a show of it but were drawn to the few televisions in the hall - by mid morning I packed it up and went to the hotel to keep vigil. For the rest of the week I holed up in the hotel, got online, and hung out a friendly gay bar near the conference center - sitting at the bar, siping a drink, watching the news, chatting with the other few folks just looking to be with others. I remember a flame war erupting in one group I was moderating (over something silly; people were on edge).
I recall being kind of broke at the time so as the reality of things hit and air travel was shut down, I started to fret about paying for the hotel for an extended period. About the 4th day, I decided to drive back - not even bothering to call my rental car company (better to ask forgiveness, than seek permission) and I made the long drive back from Chicago to Connecticut. Think I did an overnight in a small hotel in north central PA; taking a northerly route to avoid NYC.
I never did get billed for the rental car - I think the folks in Chicago handed me the wrong paperwork so I had a car and someone else's contract, and when I got to the outlet at the CT airport, there were scores of people lined up to check in cars, so I just left the keys and contract and figured they'd sort it out. I suspect they just gave up on a lot of stuff that week....
The week of Sept 11, 2001, I was headed out to Chicago for the annual power quality conference. Not sure if I flew that morning (if I did, it was a dawn Southwest hop into Midway) or the night before. But 8:00 am chicago time found me parked outside an office supply store waiting for them to open so I could get a cell phone charger. I was listening to public radio when I first got word; quickly buzzed over to AM. Then I called my friend Robert (balloon and private pilot) to tell him to turn on CNN because "some moron flew his cessna into the world trade center" - which is how it seemed to be reported, initially.
Robert, taking a look at the news, told me "that's a lot bigger than a cessna" and while we were on the phone, the 2nd plane hit the other tower. He got off the phone to call his brother in the city, and I headed to the conference, listening to the radio.
Needless to say there was not much of a conference. We hung out that morning kind of making a show of it but were drawn to the few televisions in the hall - by mid morning I packed it up and went to the hotel to keep vigil. For the rest of the week I holed up in the hotel, got online, and hung out a friendly gay bar near the conference center - sitting at the bar, siping a drink, watching the news, chatting with the other few folks just looking to be with others. I remember a flame war erupting in one group I was moderating (over something silly; people were on edge).
I recall being kind of broke at the time so as the reality of things hit and air travel was shut down, I started to fret about paying for the hotel for an extended period. About the 4th day, I decided to drive back - not even bothering to call my rental car company (better to ask forgiveness, than seek permission) and I made the long drive back from Chicago to Connecticut. Think I did an overnight in a small hotel in north central PA; taking a northerly route to avoid NYC.
I never did get billed for the rental car - I think the folks in Chicago handed me the wrong paperwork so I had a car and someone else's contract, and when I got to the outlet at the CT airport, there were scores of people lined up to check in cars, so I just left the keys and contract and figured they'd sort it out. I suspect they just gave up on a lot of stuff that week....
September 12, 2009
Cassette Tapes - Fini
I've gone from about 200 cassettes to 100. I initially started to just toss 'em all, but thought better of it. There is some local and difficult to recreate history there - Berlin Airlift? The Stompers? Go Van Gogh? early Dar Williams (pre Honesty Room)? early David Johanssen? the New York Dolls? And I am envisioning a different life once I move into my own place - with hopefully space and time for more conscious music listening. So I decided to hang on to some stuff.
I ended up tossing anything (purchased or dubbed) that I had access to in another format (CD or digital). Tapes that folks have given me over the years that I never really listened to (mostly folk artists). Exceptions were made for Springsteen and The Clash. And I probably chucked a few things that I did not have another copy of but was not really interested in.
I ended up going over to the CD rack quite a few times. Do I really have Marc Cohn? Freedy Johnston? Specific Indigo Girls or Suzanne Vega CDs? Most often, yes, I did have them.
I was struck by some unusual trends. I'd consider myself a big Warren Zevon fan - yet I only have two CDs - Greatest Hits and his penultimate Sentimental Journey. His debut and Excitable Boy - cassette only. Similarly, a lot of Neil Young on cassette only (although a lot of CDs as well) - because back in the day I'd find and buy his stuff in the cut-out bin. The Clash (as I mentioned) - all their stuff through Sandanista on cassette. I do not own any Talking Heads except on cassette. I think I own one John Hiatt CD (greatest hits) yet probably 3 or 4 dubbed cassettes (my ex, I recall, was a big fan). I own no Joni Mitchell, yet 4 of her early works made it into my dubbed cassette collection.
And a lot of the dubbed stuff that I copied from vinyl (long since sold) - I remember owning the albums. So a little bit of a trip down memory lane. And I still have a dozen or so cassettes of my usical history (a tape of a sophomore year in college jam session, an entire evening of music (180 minutes) at the Westboro KofC hall, a tape of studio recorded songs, and perhaps a 6-8 tapes of me solo - open mics recorded from the board or just hacking around with a small cassette recorder. need to go through those more carefully.
A more or less successful cleansing. Although later tonight I was in the basement working on another project in preparation for the move and found a showbox full of more cassettes. Doh! I went through those as well....
I ended up tossing anything (purchased or dubbed) that I had access to in another format (CD or digital). Tapes that folks have given me over the years that I never really listened to (mostly folk artists). Exceptions were made for Springsteen and The Clash. And I probably chucked a few things that I did not have another copy of but was not really interested in.
I ended up going over to the CD rack quite a few times. Do I really have Marc Cohn? Freedy Johnston? Specific Indigo Girls or Suzanne Vega CDs? Most often, yes, I did have them.
I was struck by some unusual trends. I'd consider myself a big Warren Zevon fan - yet I only have two CDs - Greatest Hits and his penultimate Sentimental Journey. His debut and Excitable Boy - cassette only. Similarly, a lot of Neil Young on cassette only (although a lot of CDs as well) - because back in the day I'd find and buy his stuff in the cut-out bin. The Clash (as I mentioned) - all their stuff through Sandanista on cassette. I do not own any Talking Heads except on cassette. I think I own one John Hiatt CD (greatest hits) yet probably 3 or 4 dubbed cassettes (my ex, I recall, was a big fan). I own no Joni Mitchell, yet 4 of her early works made it into my dubbed cassette collection.
And a lot of the dubbed stuff that I copied from vinyl (long since sold) - I remember owning the albums. So a little bit of a trip down memory lane. And I still have a dozen or so cassettes of my usical history (a tape of a sophomore year in college jam session, an entire evening of music (180 minutes) at the Westboro KofC hall, a tape of studio recorded songs, and perhaps a 6-8 tapes of me solo - open mics recorded from the board or just hacking around with a small cassette recorder. need to go through those more carefully.
A more or less successful cleansing. Although later tonight I was in the basement working on another project in preparation for the move and found a showbox full of more cassettes. Doh! I went through those as well....
Cassette Tapes
I have close to 200 cassette tapes carefully stacked in those wooden wall racks I picked up at Strawberries (back when there was a Strawberries, and one's music choice was Vinyl or Cassette). The cassettes come in three flavors:
1) Cassettes I purchased (maybe 30%)
2) Cassettes I made (usually dubbed from vinyl, 2 albums to a tape, from either albums I used to own and got rid of or albums borrowed from friends). Yes MPAA, shoot me now. (maybe 65%)
3) Cassettes of myself or bands I have been in (maybe 5%)
Back in the day when I had a cassette player in my car (not all that long ago, my 96 Saturn had one until maybe the last year or two of its life, and I kept the car on the road until 07), I did listen to cassettes. But it should be said that I these racks were sealed with duct tape for 5-6 years; I think I pulled out one cassette to listen to it a few months back. And yes, I still have the means to play tapes - a nice Philips dual cassette deck in my stereo rack and a couple of small boom boxes with cassette players.
Because I am in a purging, detooxing, cleaning my life out kind of place in preparation for a move to a place with a bit less storage, I'm considering a wholesale tossing of cassette tapes. My options:
1) Toss 'em all
2) Sort through them and toss some dubbed cassettes (based on artists) but keep some, keep the purchased cassettes, and keep the ones of my music
3) Toss all the dubbed cassettes, keep the rest
4) Toss all the dubbed cassettes and purchased cassettes, keep the ones of my music
5) Toss 'em all.
Your thoughts?
For background, I'm a bit of a technological dinosaur - I still buy CD's, and although I've owned a few MP3 players and more recently an iPod touch (which has been MIA for a while now), and download music occasionally, I've never made MP3 my main music source. So if anyone were going to hang on to obsolete media, it's me.
1) Cassettes I purchased (maybe 30%)
2) Cassettes I made (usually dubbed from vinyl, 2 albums to a tape, from either albums I used to own and got rid of or albums borrowed from friends). Yes MPAA, shoot me now. (maybe 65%)
3) Cassettes of myself or bands I have been in (maybe 5%)
Back in the day when I had a cassette player in my car (not all that long ago, my 96 Saturn had one until maybe the last year or two of its life, and I kept the car on the road until 07), I did listen to cassettes. But it should be said that I these racks were sealed with duct tape for 5-6 years; I think I pulled out one cassette to listen to it a few months back. And yes, I still have the means to play tapes - a nice Philips dual cassette deck in my stereo rack and a couple of small boom boxes with cassette players.
Because I am in a purging, detooxing, cleaning my life out kind of place in preparation for a move to a place with a bit less storage, I'm considering a wholesale tossing of cassette tapes. My options:
1) Toss 'em all
2) Sort through them and toss some dubbed cassettes (based on artists) but keep some, keep the purchased cassettes, and keep the ones of my music
3) Toss all the dubbed cassettes, keep the rest
4) Toss all the dubbed cassettes and purchased cassettes, keep the ones of my music
5) Toss 'em all.
Your thoughts?
For background, I'm a bit of a technological dinosaur - I still buy CD's, and although I've owned a few MP3 players and more recently an iPod touch (which has been MIA for a while now), and download music occasionally, I've never made MP3 my main music source. So if anyone were going to hang on to obsolete media, it's me.
Rock Band: The Beatles
Much ado about the release of The Beatles Rock Band. I think I've played once (at my sister's house) and got PWNED by my nephews and nieces. And while it's kind of cool to be jamming to familiar tunes rather than shooting at realistic human or stealing cars via video game, I did not catch the bug.
I guess I am one of those cranky musicians who hate rock band - because I've had some rock and roll salad days - a senior talent show where I got to play that slide lead to "Freebird" as people screamed in the audience. A nighttime graduation party where I led the band through Jonathon Richman's "Roadrunner" and Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" and there was much applause. Long hours spent in the studio laying down tracks on a 4-track reel to reel as we duplicated the Beatle's "Rain" (including the backwards guitar part and bakcwards vocals at the end). Innumerable nights on an acoustic open mic stage where people actually seemed to be listening.
So picking up a plastic guitar and pushing buttons in response to colored cues is kind of - meh. Maybe if they had a "real guitar" option where I could plug in a strat knock-off and play real notes...and maybe the full tracks of Lou Reed's "Rock and Roll Animal"
It's all a moot point. According to one fan, Rock Band and Guitar Hero are Doomed
I guess I am one of those cranky musicians who hate rock band - because I've had some rock and roll salad days - a senior talent show where I got to play that slide lead to "Freebird" as people screamed in the audience. A nighttime graduation party where I led the band through Jonathon Richman's "Roadrunner" and Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" and there was much applause. Long hours spent in the studio laying down tracks on a 4-track reel to reel as we duplicated the Beatle's "Rain" (including the backwards guitar part and bakcwards vocals at the end). Innumerable nights on an acoustic open mic stage where people actually seemed to be listening.
So picking up a plastic guitar and pushing buttons in response to colored cues is kind of - meh. Maybe if they had a "real guitar" option where I could plug in a strat knock-off and play real notes...and maybe the full tracks of Lou Reed's "Rock and Roll Animal"
It's all a moot point. According to one fan, Rock Band and Guitar Hero are Doomed
September 11, 2009
If I Were a Good Blogger...
I would have had my camera at the ready as Mayor Eddie Perez came up behind Colin McEnroe for a handshake and a quick hello at last nights CARC (CT Aids Resource Coalition) Summer Camp event, at Sully's. Would have been good blog fodder....
Instead, I did capture a photo of Colin on stage with OPM, doing the Beastie Boys'
"You Gotta Fight"
Nice night, nice event. A little under-attended (come on folks, it's a great cause).
On the plus side, I did walk away with two lovely pottery pieces (little urns or pots with covers) by David Wilson and 8 tickets to the Thomaston Opera House (anyone wanna go see Mame?) via the various raffles....
Instead, I did capture a photo of Colin on stage with OPM, doing the Beastie Boys'
"You Gotta Fight"
Nice night, nice event. A little under-attended (come on folks, it's a great cause).
On the plus side, I did walk away with two lovely pottery pieces (little urns or pots with covers) by David Wilson and 8 tickets to the Thomaston Opera House (anyone wanna go see Mame?) via the various raffles....
September 10, 2009
Health Insurance
Inspired by my friend Helen's recent blog post Here's how it is for me.
I've been self employed since 1995. Before that I had nice corporate health insurance (that I rarely if ever used). At that time, I accepted a voluntary separation package (ironically, I was working for a medical imaging company, and the downsizing was driven by the health care industry freeze-up at the time of the Clinton health care initiatives). I took advantage of Cobra for 18 months (I guess) and then I was out on my own.
In the past 14 years I have had a variety of health insurance plans ranging from:
* Cobra corporate insurance
* Crappy self employment insurance through NASE
* No health insurance
* Full health insurance through Anthem BC/BS
* A high deductible policy with a Health Savings Account (HSA)
This last is my present insurance. I switched over a year or so ago as the regular self employed health insurance premiums rose past $500 / month - I pay less per month, I sock away $3K per year tax-free towards some future health crisis, I get no deductible preventative care, and preferred pricing on drugs and stuff. Win Win Win.
It helps that I have been in good health these past 15 years - I don't really use health insurance. I have an annual check-up with my endo / PCP, an annual gyno appointment. Some fairly low cost maintenance meds. An annual set of blood work. Knock wood - so far nothing chronic, nothing catastrophic. And though I carry around estra weight, I also hit the yoga mat for a vigorous practice 4-5 times a week, hike walk, or bike regularly, and remain more or less physically active.
I will say that my health insurance leanings do run a little right of center, in a couple of ways.
A) Competition. When I had corporate or full health insurance, I'd go down to my local CVS to fill my prescriptions. I'd chaff a bit, because there was often a line of folks at the pharmacy of my big city CVS - most (judging by overheard copays) on some form of medicaid / medicare / state insurance. I, and they, never thought about about the price of our prescriptions - we were happy to lay out the copay. But when I got my HSA, and started to pay for my own prescriptions, I started to price shop. Came to find out that the CVS price was incredibly high compared to where I go now (Target); that because I was not incented to price shop, my insurance company was paying a higher price. In one case, my copay at CVS was higher than the full price at Target! And the insurance company was paying $30-$40 bucks a month on top of that!
So I'm all in favor of driving a little consumer awareness and incented price shopping into health care; of making it a little more financially painful for folks with health insurance to opt for convenient, yet expensive, consumer choices.
In another case, back in the day when I had health corporate insurance, I twisted my ankle. Pretty sure it was not broken, but I went to the doctor who confirmed that. But he wrote out a form for an MRI. "Why are you doing that?" I asked. "Just to be on the safe side...." he said. I interpreted this to be "cover my butt so you won't sue me" medicine. "And what happens if there is something there?" I continued. "We wait a few days for the swelling to go down, then come back and we'll decide how to treat it"
"And if I don't get the MRI?" Well, in a few days if the ankle is not feeling better, you'll want to come back, we can do an MRI then. So basically, the MRI was not going to change the treatment at all, but it made the doctor (or more likely, his malpractice insurance company) feel better. I signed a form saying "no thanks, and Imn not goign to sue you", and the ankle healed fine. Hundreds of dollars of health care expense avoided. So I am also a big fan of tort reform in the health care field. There is clear malpractice and then there is the art of medicine (where sometimes doctors do all the right or prudent things and the patient does not recover optimally) - and I'm sick of this "if something bad happens, I get a big check" society (this extends to accidents and injury as well). When I see those "get the money you deserve" ads on TV I begin to think Shakespeare was right about lawyers..... Just because we own a big freaking MRI machine does not mean we need to use it for every scrape and bump.
And finally, I'm all for incenting healthy lifestyles - be it around weight, exercise, preventative care, sin taxes on junk food, etc. You want your double quarter pounder with cheese or your blooming onion? It'll cost you an extra buck or two, with the proceeds going into the health care kitty.
I'm actually kind of in favor of a two tier system. I have no problem with a no frills, public health option that is heavy on preventive / basic care, and perhaps not so generous when it comes to extraordinary treatments (thinking things like transplants and aggressive cancer treatment with little hope of recovery). You want that stuff, and are willing to pay for the white glove insurance (or have the bucks to pay out of pocket), by all means.
And I *do* like the idea of death panels - because nobody wants to accept or embrace what is, for all of us, pretty much a sure fact. And I think someone with a little distance (and no financial incentive in terms of payment for services or procedures) ought to be able to suggest "hey, we think it's time". If you've never put a dog or cat to sleep, you are not qualified to make end of life decisions....IMHO. And if there is no factoring in of cost for these extraordinary procedures to extend life few more hours or days, with little regard for the quality of life, well - no wonder we are spending so much.
I don't say much about stuff like this on the blog - because I'm kind of a cold hearted realist in some ways who is a less afraid of death than most (go to an enlightenment intensive - join me!). So I accept the inevitability of my own death and the death of others. I embrace the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few. I look at a heart transplant and think "hm....how many 100's or 1000's of lives can we save if we spend that money on pre-natal care". And that sort of thinking is dangerous and heresy.
But now you know.....
I've been self employed since 1995. Before that I had nice corporate health insurance (that I rarely if ever used). At that time, I accepted a voluntary separation package (ironically, I was working for a medical imaging company, and the downsizing was driven by the health care industry freeze-up at the time of the Clinton health care initiatives). I took advantage of Cobra for 18 months (I guess) and then I was out on my own.
In the past 14 years I have had a variety of health insurance plans ranging from:
* Cobra corporate insurance
* Crappy self employment insurance through NASE
* No health insurance
* Full health insurance through Anthem BC/BS
* A high deductible policy with a Health Savings Account (HSA)
This last is my present insurance. I switched over a year or so ago as the regular self employed health insurance premiums rose past $500 / month - I pay less per month, I sock away $3K per year tax-free towards some future health crisis, I get no deductible preventative care, and preferred pricing on drugs and stuff. Win Win Win.
It helps that I have been in good health these past 15 years - I don't really use health insurance. I have an annual check-up with my endo / PCP, an annual gyno appointment. Some fairly low cost maintenance meds. An annual set of blood work. Knock wood - so far nothing chronic, nothing catastrophic. And though I carry around estra weight, I also hit the yoga mat for a vigorous practice 4-5 times a week, hike walk, or bike regularly, and remain more or less physically active.
I will say that my health insurance leanings do run a little right of center, in a couple of ways.
A) Competition. When I had corporate or full health insurance, I'd go down to my local CVS to fill my prescriptions. I'd chaff a bit, because there was often a line of folks at the pharmacy of my big city CVS - most (judging by overheard copays) on some form of medicaid / medicare / state insurance. I, and they, never thought about about the price of our prescriptions - we were happy to lay out the copay. But when I got my HSA, and started to pay for my own prescriptions, I started to price shop. Came to find out that the CVS price was incredibly high compared to where I go now (Target); that because I was not incented to price shop, my insurance company was paying a higher price. In one case, my copay at CVS was higher than the full price at Target! And the insurance company was paying $30-$40 bucks a month on top of that!
So I'm all in favor of driving a little consumer awareness and incented price shopping into health care; of making it a little more financially painful for folks with health insurance to opt for convenient, yet expensive, consumer choices.
In another case, back in the day when I had health corporate insurance, I twisted my ankle. Pretty sure it was not broken, but I went to the doctor who confirmed that. But he wrote out a form for an MRI. "Why are you doing that?" I asked. "Just to be on the safe side...." he said. I interpreted this to be "cover my butt so you won't sue me" medicine. "And what happens if there is something there?" I continued. "We wait a few days for the swelling to go down, then come back and we'll decide how to treat it"
"And if I don't get the MRI?" Well, in a few days if the ankle is not feeling better, you'll want to come back, we can do an MRI then. So basically, the MRI was not going to change the treatment at all, but it made the doctor (or more likely, his malpractice insurance company) feel better. I signed a form saying "no thanks, and Imn not goign to sue you", and the ankle healed fine. Hundreds of dollars of health care expense avoided. So I am also a big fan of tort reform in the health care field. There is clear malpractice and then there is the art of medicine (where sometimes doctors do all the right or prudent things and the patient does not recover optimally) - and I'm sick of this "if something bad happens, I get a big check" society (this extends to accidents and injury as well). When I see those "get the money you deserve" ads on TV I begin to think Shakespeare was right about lawyers..... Just because we own a big freaking MRI machine does not mean we need to use it for every scrape and bump.
And finally, I'm all for incenting healthy lifestyles - be it around weight, exercise, preventative care, sin taxes on junk food, etc. You want your double quarter pounder with cheese or your blooming onion? It'll cost you an extra buck or two, with the proceeds going into the health care kitty.
I'm actually kind of in favor of a two tier system. I have no problem with a no frills, public health option that is heavy on preventive / basic care, and perhaps not so generous when it comes to extraordinary treatments (thinking things like transplants and aggressive cancer treatment with little hope of recovery). You want that stuff, and are willing to pay for the white glove insurance (or have the bucks to pay out of pocket), by all means.
And I *do* like the idea of death panels - because nobody wants to accept or embrace what is, for all of us, pretty much a sure fact. And I think someone with a little distance (and no financial incentive in terms of payment for services or procedures) ought to be able to suggest "hey, we think it's time". If you've never put a dog or cat to sleep, you are not qualified to make end of life decisions....IMHO. And if there is no factoring in of cost for these extraordinary procedures to extend life few more hours or days, with little regard for the quality of life, well - no wonder we are spending so much.
I don't say much about stuff like this on the blog - because I'm kind of a cold hearted realist in some ways who is a less afraid of death than most (go to an enlightenment intensive - join me!). So I accept the inevitability of my own death and the death of others. I embrace the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few. I look at a heart transplant and think "hm....how many 100's or 1000's of lives can we save if we spend that money on pre-natal care". And that sort of thinking is dangerous and heresy.
But now you know.....
September 07, 2009
Up to the Cape
Spent Friday - Sunday up in Mashpee, MA, at my sister's newish (purchased this year) beach house. First off, beach house does not do this place justice. To hear her talk about it when they bought it, I imagined this small 4 room, nonwinterized shack on a cramped street near the shore. In fact it's a lovely home, with plenty of room for her family (three kids, two adults) and guests (my mother and I stayed over). Smallish kitchen but a nice dining area, big living room with fireplace and cathedral ceiling. Loft sitting area with a fold out cot, a master bedroom for the parents, a side bedroom with a divider for kids / guests (and three beds), and a huge basement with more sleeping room.
Two decks outside (perfect for yoga, although there is also Yoga on the Beach in season), an outdoor shower (adding to two full baths inside), and a fully wooded lot (in fact, my brother is law is working to put in a lawn; the property had been mulched just because it's so shaded). They are talking about adding a pool during the off season. Plenty of privacy. It's, let's be honest, gorgeous!
A bit of a hike to the beach - although not too far with a wagon (walking) or bike. And though the ocean proper (with waves and stuff) is blocked by a little piece of land called Martha's Vineyard (so it's more like Long Island Sound beaches) it's still beautiful. We all went swimming on Saturday (gorgeous day, hot and sunny with end of season warm water) and I think it's the first time we've been at the beach together in 30 years.
In between, just hung around, relaxing. My nephew Sean and I took a bike ride to the candy store (his choice of destinations) where I picked up some candy necklaces (which look like Mala beads, there is an inside joke there) - then my niece Sara stole them (thinking they were Sean's, apparently fraternal theft is permissible) which was pretty funny. We played some games - Patriot's Uno (in which all the cards bear Tom Brady's likeness, and there is a new card called the "Passer" (he's a quarterback get it) wherein everyone passes their hand to the right. Definitely makes the game more chaotic.
We also played a homemade game I introduced called Categories which was fun (even if I was pretty unbeatable) - I remember playing this game 40 years ago with my Long Island relations. There was frisbee, tossing the football, croquet. A shopping trip to the little touristy shops nearby and a seafood lunch (some shared lobster roll, I opted for clam strips)
We had a big lobster dinner (for my brother Tom's birthday, his choice) although my brother and I opted for a rare tuna steak. Corn on the cob, cole slaw, tomotoes and cukes. Cheesecake factory dessert. Yummy.
It's been a 25 year or so since I've done a beach vacation. It was a fun couple of days. And Kathy and Tom have offered the place as an off season weekend getaway, which I just might take them up on...it's lovely there.
Two decks outside (perfect for yoga, although there is also Yoga on the Beach in season), an outdoor shower (adding to two full baths inside), and a fully wooded lot (in fact, my brother is law is working to put in a lawn; the property had been mulched just because it's so shaded). They are talking about adding a pool during the off season. Plenty of privacy. It's, let's be honest, gorgeous!
A bit of a hike to the beach - although not too far with a wagon (walking) or bike. And though the ocean proper (with waves and stuff) is blocked by a little piece of land called Martha's Vineyard (so it's more like Long Island Sound beaches) it's still beautiful. We all went swimming on Saturday (gorgeous day, hot and sunny with end of season warm water) and I think it's the first time we've been at the beach together in 30 years.
In between, just hung around, relaxing. My nephew Sean and I took a bike ride to the candy store (his choice of destinations) where I picked up some candy necklaces (which look like Mala beads, there is an inside joke there) - then my niece Sara stole them (thinking they were Sean's, apparently fraternal theft is permissible) which was pretty funny. We played some games - Patriot's Uno (in which all the cards bear Tom Brady's likeness, and there is a new card called the "Passer" (he's a quarterback get it) wherein everyone passes their hand to the right. Definitely makes the game more chaotic.
We also played a homemade game I introduced called Categories which was fun (even if I was pretty unbeatable) - I remember playing this game 40 years ago with my Long Island relations. There was frisbee, tossing the football, croquet. A shopping trip to the little touristy shops nearby and a seafood lunch (some shared lobster roll, I opted for clam strips)
We had a big lobster dinner (for my brother Tom's birthday, his choice) although my brother and I opted for a rare tuna steak. Corn on the cob, cole slaw, tomotoes and cukes. Cheesecake factory dessert. Yummy.
It's been a 25 year or so since I've done a beach vacation. It was a fun couple of days. And Kathy and Tom have offered the place as an off season weekend getaway, which I just might take them up on...it's lovely there.
September 06, 2009
Yoga on the Beach
My holiday weekend Cape Cod trip was sweetened by Saturday and Sunday morning on the mat with Nancy and Don from Yoga on the Beach. They hold a morning practice at the New Seabury Beach Club (next to the Popponessett Inn), near my sister's summer home.
Saturday, Nancy led a more conventional yoga practice - perhaps a bit more Yin, centering on the hips. Not exactly hot / power as I'm used to it but quite lovely, and although I feared some lower back stuff (lot of forward folds) my concerns were unfounded. Sunday, Don led a Yoga Rhythm practice - not quite as bouncy as Kriplau Danskinetics but quite fun and flowy. Between the two practices - I had a lovely yoga weekend with my sister.
Saturday, Nancy led a more conventional yoga practice - perhaps a bit more Yin, centering on the hips. Not exactly hot / power as I'm used to it but quite lovely, and although I feared some lower back stuff (lot of forward folds) my concerns were unfounded. Sunday, Don led a Yoga Rhythm practice - not quite as bouncy as Kriplau Danskinetics but quite fun and flowy. Between the two practices - I had a lovely yoga weekend with my sister.
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