I try to find yoga when I travel; sometimes I strike out - the practice is just not that resonant. Sometimes I get lucky, and the practice rocks. This trip I got lucky.
The studio is Inner Fire Yoga in Madison. A rocking, vital studio - I jumped into a 6:30 Power Flow with Jackie Meacham. Just an hour, but boy did we move.
In some ways, it was a "greatest hits" class - we just rolled through a lot of strong postures that my body loves. Vira I and II. Trikonasana. Forward folds. Reverse triangle. A couple of rounds of King Dancer. Dekasana. Crow. Eagle. Camel. Bow. Flip your dog. Pigeon. Bridge / Wheel. Headstand. What else you got?
Totally hot and sweaty - if I feared not getting my yoga on in 60 minutes, no fears there. I missed having a slip-proof mat (traveling with an inexpensive Wai Lana) but I survived. Jackie did a nice job of getting us moving quickly but at the same time easing us in - so my lower back was fine, sometimes these stronger vinyasa classes where we dive right in leaves me a little cranky in the back.
Felt a little cheated at the end (short savasana, and not a lot of time to take advantage of the heat with some seated or supine twists, binds, or forward folds, I could have soaked in it for another 30 minutes) but not unexpected with a 60 minute class.
Looks like I will be back to Madison over the next few months - so great to have a yoga studio that resonates, just 3 miles from the client site!
Inner Fire Yoga looks like an amazingly active studio - with two large rooms, and from what I can see, full classes and regular students. Their hot yoga seems suspiciously Bikramesque (26 postures and 2 breathing exercises performed in precise order) but the Power Flow class is right up my alley, with the options of an Inner Fire class and Yin class.
And they have a special $9 rate for yoga teachers. Sweet.
I will most definitely be back!
March 15, 2010
March 09, 2010
Making Lists
I spent some time this morning putting together a list of things to take care of in preparation for a family visit. It was pretty mundane - ranging from the routine (making the bed, doing the dishes, doing a load of laundry) through the occasional (cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming) and a handful of exceptional (a pile of cables that morphed in the office, clearing a path to the heretofor unused basement door). And one by one I banged 'em out - the place got cleaned up and organized. A highly effective morning.
Clearly, I like to work from lists. A good lesson that I can perhaps implement as I try to clean out the odds and ends of projects that have been hanging around for a while.
Clearly, I like to work from lists. A good lesson that I can perhaps implement as I try to clean out the odds and ends of projects that have been hanging around for a while.
Spring Fever & New Toy
Took a hike with friends yesterday - the Salmon River lollipop trail. 6.2 miles starting at the Comstock Covered Bridge and ending up at Day Pond State Park, then loop back.
Went with friends and their 9 month old baby, plus two dogs (one of theirs, one my buddy Shambu, borrowed for the day). I would feel all punk about my early spring outdoorsiness except one of my companions carried her 9 month old in a belly sling the whole trip. And nursed him while hiking. Puts it all in perspective.
I tried out my new toy - an iPhone App that tracks hikes (and runs and walks and bikes) via the GPS and dumps the data out to a website. The map is from the site, everytrails.org
Nice to be outdoors this early in the season. Not a lot of spring out there yet (cept for some cultivated daffodils beginning to show here and there) but the trail was relatively dry, just one little ice patch, and the day was sunny and beautiful!
Welcome spring!
Went with friends and their 9 month old baby, plus two dogs (one of theirs, one my buddy Shambu, borrowed for the day). I would feel all punk about my early spring outdoorsiness except one of my companions carried her 9 month old in a belly sling the whole trip. And nursed him while hiking. Puts it all in perspective.
I tried out my new toy - an iPhone App that tracks hikes (and runs and walks and bikes) via the GPS and dumps the data out to a website. The map is from the site, everytrails.org
Nice to be outdoors this early in the season. Not a lot of spring out there yet (cept for some cultivated daffodils beginning to show here and there) but the trail was relatively dry, just one little ice patch, and the day was sunny and beautiful!
Welcome spring!
March 06, 2010
Elo in the House
Elo the dog has come home. When I moved into my new place, Zippy and I mutually decided to keep our shared dogs together. Made sense - the dogs were bonded, Zippy's place has a fenced in yard, and my new place (condo, no yard to run, etc.) was not particularly dog friendly.
But this past week, Zippy called up to vent - Elo is a handful under the best of circumstances, and I suspect I was the pack Alpha back in the day. So Zippy has not had a lot of luck working with him, Elo's strength and pulling do not work well with Zippy's physical limitations (some arm and wrist stuff). The straw that broke the camel's back was a trip to the vet - both dogs were too much for Zippy to handle.
So....tonight on the way back from the airport, I picked up a new roomie.
The ride to the house, he was pretty stressed (whining, panting) and he spent a while running around the condo similarly nervous. But he seems to have settled in...finally. I'm sure it will take some time. I took hom out for a couple of walks already - just to get him used to going out on the leash (as opposed to letting him out back to run) and I am sure I will need as much training as he does as we work out the new rhythms and restrictions.
I stopped by Ocean State and picked up a couple of low cost dog beds (one for the basement, one for the living room) as well as some treats and chews....I figure in a new place and without his buddy Callie, he'll be a bit bored and mischievous without some additional distrations.
Little concerned that he will bother the next door neighbor. We'll see how things play out. With any luck, her daughter will become Elo's buddy....
But it's nice to have my little buddy back in my life, and I think I'll feel a little safer with him here (both when I am here and when I leave the place alone).
But this past week, Zippy called up to vent - Elo is a handful under the best of circumstances, and I suspect I was the pack Alpha back in the day. So Zippy has not had a lot of luck working with him, Elo's strength and pulling do not work well with Zippy's physical limitations (some arm and wrist stuff). The straw that broke the camel's back was a trip to the vet - both dogs were too much for Zippy to handle.
So....tonight on the way back from the airport, I picked up a new roomie.
The ride to the house, he was pretty stressed (whining, panting) and he spent a while running around the condo similarly nervous. But he seems to have settled in...finally. I'm sure it will take some time. I took hom out for a couple of walks already - just to get him used to going out on the leash (as opposed to letting him out back to run) and I am sure I will need as much training as he does as we work out the new rhythms and restrictions.
I stopped by Ocean State and picked up a couple of low cost dog beds (one for the basement, one for the living room) as well as some treats and chews....I figure in a new place and without his buddy Callie, he'll be a bit bored and mischievous without some additional distrations.
Little concerned that he will bother the next door neighbor. We'll see how things play out. With any luck, her daughter will become Elo's buddy....
But it's nice to have my little buddy back in my life, and I think I'll feel a little safer with him here (both when I am here and when I leave the place alone).
March 05, 2010
Tulsa
A quick trip, in and out, to Tulsa. Spent this evening making measurements, successful on two counts (a) we were able to capture the data and save waveforms, fairly quickly and (b) the changes my client has made to their grounding and bonding have resulted in significantly reduced electrical noise.
Fly back home tomorrow - will be home before 9:00 pm - earlier if I can sneak on a morning flight.
Fly back home tomorrow - will be home before 9:00 pm - earlier if I can sneak on a morning flight.
March 02, 2010
Melt Down
It came out of nowhere. I hit the mat this morning with Nykki....after subbing last night's Core Ab class. Did not really feel out of sorts - had a little headache (highly unusual) last night which I put down to dinner (baked cod) and I have been craving the mattress and covers each morning; I've probably been staying up too late. But all in all...I did not feel particularly good or bad walking into the studio.
But as soon as we started our asana practice, this overwhelming feeling of sadness came over me. I struggled with it for a few minutes before giving in - stepping off my mat to find a box of tissues. For the next 60 minutes, I practiced yoga with tears welling up in my eyes, rolling down my cheeks, and dropping onto my mat. By the time practice was over - a pile of tissues from dabbing my eyes and blowing my nose. In short - I lost it on the mat.
Not 100% sure what it is all about. Certainly, there are places in my life touched by sadness - loneliness, both in general and lacking a relationship. Getting older, feeling the mortality of this body. Perhaps even related to the change of seasons. I suspect my walk round the reservoir had something to do with it - spotlighting each of these (I walked alone, my body felt a little sore and stiff this morning, and it did put me in touch with the seasons).
And yet, there is also the possibility that I am dragging up some deep pain - between my losing weight and practicing, plenty of opportunity to draw out some pain from within my body, releasing the combination of chemistry and hormones that spell S-A-D.
After class, I wandered off alone. It was a beautiful pre-spring morning, bright sun, warming air. My sadness slowly cleared as the day went on, although still some little bits resonate.
Yoga. Freaking yoga. So damn beautiful, so deep and powerful. Just breath and postures, so simple - hard to imagine it turning the key to deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual work. And yet it does.....
But as soon as we started our asana practice, this overwhelming feeling of sadness came over me. I struggled with it for a few minutes before giving in - stepping off my mat to find a box of tissues. For the next 60 minutes, I practiced yoga with tears welling up in my eyes, rolling down my cheeks, and dropping onto my mat. By the time practice was over - a pile of tissues from dabbing my eyes and blowing my nose. In short - I lost it on the mat.
Not 100% sure what it is all about. Certainly, there are places in my life touched by sadness - loneliness, both in general and lacking a relationship. Getting older, feeling the mortality of this body. Perhaps even related to the change of seasons. I suspect my walk round the reservoir had something to do with it - spotlighting each of these (I walked alone, my body felt a little sore and stiff this morning, and it did put me in touch with the seasons).
And yet, there is also the possibility that I am dragging up some deep pain - between my losing weight and practicing, plenty of opportunity to draw out some pain from within my body, releasing the combination of chemistry and hormones that spell S-A-D.
After class, I wandered off alone. It was a beautiful pre-spring morning, bright sun, warming air. My sadness slowly cleared as the day went on, although still some little bits resonate.
Yoga. Freaking yoga. So damn beautiful, so deep and powerful. Just breath and postures, so simple - hard to imagine it turning the key to deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual work. And yet it does.....
Reunited
Zippy called this evening, off the hook. He took our two dogs, Elo and Callie, to the vet. (A huge tactical mistake on his part, and completely not needed, he could have left Elo home) but had a horrible experience trying to control them both. His message "I'm giving Elo away...."
Uhm, no, you are not. I called him up and talked him off the proverbial ledge - and the upshot is, I'm going to bring Elo to live with me over at the condo, starting Sunday.
Not 100% sure this will work out - the condo is not a huge place, and there is no fenced in backyard to let the dog out and run. I can possibly put a leash out back, but mostly, I'll be walking him. And I'm a little concerned about barking and the neighbors and stuff; he's not really much of a barker. We'll see....
But it will be nice to have the little f*cker around, give me an excuse to get out and get more exercise. We'll see if I can get him in a little better place, training wise, with me being around more (working out of the house) and him being the only dog.
So, once more, I'm gonna be a dog owner.
Uhm, no, you are not. I called him up and talked him off the proverbial ledge - and the upshot is, I'm going to bring Elo to live with me over at the condo, starting Sunday.
Not 100% sure this will work out - the condo is not a huge place, and there is no fenced in backyard to let the dog out and run. I can possibly put a leash out back, but mostly, I'll be walking him. And I'm a little concerned about barking and the neighbors and stuff; he's not really much of a barker. We'll see....
But it will be nice to have the little f*cker around, give me an excuse to get out and get more exercise. We'll see if I can get him in a little better place, training wise, with me being around more (working out of the house) and him being the only dog.
So, once more, I'm gonna be a dog owner.
February 28, 2010
Oscar Nominated Live Shorts - Real Art Ways
Popped over to Real Art Ways this afternoon to catch the 2010 Oscar Nominated Short Films. All in all, a pretty dark set of films. My quick review.
Kavi was an Indian short, about a young boy who lives in effective slavery in a brick making kiln. Kind of like a sober Slum Dog Millionaire. A beautiful film even as it was dark and only partly resolved.
The New Tenants was a dark comedy, noteworthy by David Rakoff (of This American Life fame) as a neurotic, dark part of a gay couple. Also Vincent D'Onofrio. I giggled through the mayhem and violence.
The Door was about a young family displaced (and later, destroyed) by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Quite moving and sad, especially in these days where we are considering re-opening the door to domestic nuclear power.
Miracle Fish was perhaps the most cerebral or thought provoking film - a young boy from a poor family struggles with his schoolmates, until they all disappear. Exceptionally surprising and poignant.
Finally, Instead of Abracadabra introduces a nerdy young magician who struggles with family, his craft, and his love life. Funny and feelgood, even if there was a high squirm factor. Also, Swedish is an amusing language to listen to, just the flow and tempo of it.
I'm also looking to go to the Animated Shorts at Real Art Ways before next weekend, as Kerri from Real Hartford has documented. A new Wallace and Grommet short is worthwhile, regardless of the others!
Kavi was an Indian short, about a young boy who lives in effective slavery in a brick making kiln. Kind of like a sober Slum Dog Millionaire. A beautiful film even as it was dark and only partly resolved.
The New Tenants was a dark comedy, noteworthy by David Rakoff (of This American Life fame) as a neurotic, dark part of a gay couple. Also Vincent D'Onofrio. I giggled through the mayhem and violence.
The Door was about a young family displaced (and later, destroyed) by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Quite moving and sad, especially in these days where we are considering re-opening the door to domestic nuclear power.
Miracle Fish was perhaps the most cerebral or thought provoking film - a young boy from a poor family struggles with his schoolmates, until they all disappear. Exceptionally surprising and poignant.
Finally, Instead of Abracadabra introduces a nerdy young magician who struggles with family, his craft, and his love life. Funny and feelgood, even if there was a high squirm factor. Also, Swedish is an amusing language to listen to, just the flow and tempo of it.
I'm also looking to go to the Animated Shorts at Real Art Ways before next weekend, as Kerri from Real Hartford has documented. A new Wallace and Grommet short is worthwhile, regardless of the others!
February 27, 2010
Safety Seminar
A long day of sitting and learning, at the CT Lighter Than Air Society 2010 Safety Seminar. It's a full day of refresh and reboot in terms of the safety aspects of flying hot air balloons. Lots of things can go wrong - from propane related accidents to contact with high power lines, from thunderstorms and wind sheer to flying into trees.
Special guest this year was Gordon Schwontkowski, long time balloonist and author of "Hot Air Balloon Crewing Essentials". Gordon spoke on a few topics - crew safety, tie downs and tethering, crew weather - and was supplemented by other balloonists speaking about FAA Regulations, propane, accident avoidance, etc.
A long day, but worthwhile. I've been balloon crewing, on and off, for 25 years, and I have never been involved in nor witnessed a serious incident or accident. Hoping that day never comes. But it's always good to be prepared, and I walked away with a punch list of things I need to learn, some habits I need to develop, and some practices we could do better as a crew.
It was also a day of lax eating, as we ate the conference food (yummy, but not exactly weight watchers) and then a follow-up dinner at the Hawthrone Inn (where my meal included seared sea scallops, mashed potatoes, sauteed spinach, salad, and creme brulee). One day hiatus that I fear will show up on the scale on Monday.
Back to my regular life tomorrow. Yoga, methinks. Get some chores and cleaning done around here. And perhaps get my March 1 invoices out, on time for a change....
Special guest this year was Gordon Schwontkowski, long time balloonist and author of "Hot Air Balloon Crewing Essentials". Gordon spoke on a few topics - crew safety, tie downs and tethering, crew weather - and was supplemented by other balloonists speaking about FAA Regulations, propane, accident avoidance, etc. A long day, but worthwhile. I've been balloon crewing, on and off, for 25 years, and I have never been involved in nor witnessed a serious incident or accident. Hoping that day never comes. But it's always good to be prepared, and I walked away with a punch list of things I need to learn, some habits I need to develop, and some practices we could do better as a crew.
It was also a day of lax eating, as we ate the conference food (yummy, but not exactly weight watchers) and then a follow-up dinner at the Hawthrone Inn (where my meal included seared sea scallops, mashed potatoes, sauteed spinach, salad, and creme brulee). One day hiatus that I fear will show up on the scale on Monday.
Back to my regular life tomorrow. Yoga, methinks. Get some chores and cleaning done around here. And perhaps get my March 1 invoices out, on time for a change....
Let's Go To the Videotape
Back in September 2007, Bob Wilson came on a balloon flight, taping it for his Roadside Stories series. Today, I found the video from that segment on YouTube.
I'm in there a little bit.....
I'm in there a little bit.....
February 26, 2010
Hey Wait. It's Me!
Reading back through the blog....I realized that a milestone of sorts passed a few days back. So before I drift upstairs for a long overdue appointment with the pillow, I ought to note it.
I had a direct experience of my self the other night!
I was lying in bed - tired but unable to sleep, so I read for a while, listened to NPR a bit. I had flipped of the light and was snuggled under the blankets when BAM! I suddenly felt myself in my body in a way that was completely new, unexpected, and conversely completely ordinary.
I simultaneously burst out laughing, started to cry, and rolled around in bed hugging myself and whispering to myself "I'm Me! I'm Me!"
Knowing that part of the experience is to communicate the experience, and not really wanting to call up friends or my EI masters at that time of the morning, I posted to Facebook (as a place-holder, temporarily) and then checked in with my EI masters as I was able to.
Pretty sure this was real.....and although certainly not the same without the pressure cooker, support, and opportunity to share and explore of a Direct Experience during an intensive.
But yeah....nice. I feel less broken....
I had a direct experience of my self the other night!
I was lying in bed - tired but unable to sleep, so I read for a while, listened to NPR a bit. I had flipped of the light and was snuggled under the blankets when BAM! I suddenly felt myself in my body in a way that was completely new, unexpected, and conversely completely ordinary.
I simultaneously burst out laughing, started to cry, and rolled around in bed hugging myself and whispering to myself "I'm Me! I'm Me!"
Knowing that part of the experience is to communicate the experience, and not really wanting to call up friends or my EI masters at that time of the morning, I posted to Facebook (as a place-holder, temporarily) and then checked in with my EI masters as I was able to.
Pretty sure this was real.....and although certainly not the same without the pressure cooker, support, and opportunity to share and explore of a Direct Experience during an intensive.
But yeah....nice. I feel less broken....
One More Thing
Self confession - I have too many hobbies and careers. I do engineering work. I code websites. I write. I play guitar in a kirtan band. I play bass in a folk-rock band. I practice yoga religiously (some might say fanatically). I teach yoga. I chase hot air balloons. Kind of a full life, no?
So of course I trucked down to Middletown this evening for the first training program that might lead me to become a radio DJ at WESU 88.1 (Wesleyan University). Sometime last year I saw a solicitation for folk DJs on one of the local folk music lists, and it just seemed right. So here I go.....
Was kind of cool being there - rooms and hallways crammed with shelves full of LPs and CDs. Funky and cool and a little rough around the edges in the way that college radio just is. I feel like I'm getting the chance to do something I might have done back in college had I been really engaged and connected to myself, had I not been full of fear and running for my life.
Tonight was pretty tame - introductions, meet the trainers, go over the history of the station, the structure of the training, some of the rules and regs. Who knows if this will stick. Of course, the last time I embarked upon a "let's see where this road takes me" kind of training I ended up a yoga teacher.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood. Or in my case, a happy adolescence.....
So of course I trucked down to Middletown this evening for the first training program that might lead me to become a radio DJ at WESU 88.1 (Wesleyan University). Sometime last year I saw a solicitation for folk DJs on one of the local folk music lists, and it just seemed right. So here I go.....
Was kind of cool being there - rooms and hallways crammed with shelves full of LPs and CDs. Funky and cool and a little rough around the edges in the way that college radio just is. I feel like I'm getting the chance to do something I might have done back in college had I been really engaged and connected to myself, had I not been full of fear and running for my life.
Tonight was pretty tame - introductions, meet the trainers, go over the history of the station, the structure of the training, some of the rules and regs. Who knows if this will stick. Of course, the last time I embarked upon a "let's see where this road takes me" kind of training I ended up a yoga teacher.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood. Or in my case, a happy adolescence.....
February 25, 2010
Peter Anthony!
A message from Linked In this morning:
I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.
etcetera, blah, blah, blah
- Peter Anthony
I'm so glad he's reconnected - been thinking of him lately with all my forays into the world of open mics, acoustic music, etc.
I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.
etcetera, blah, blah, blah
- Peter Anthony
I'm so glad he's reconnected - been thinking of him lately with all my forays into the world of open mics, acoustic music, etc.
Tomboys
I've always had a thing for Tomboys. My high school and college crushes (inevitably unrequited) were for the jockettes - field hockey, tennis, track, crew, rugby. There is something about a strong and not quite so gender conforming woman that makes my heart skip a beat.
So needless to say, the Vancouver Olympics is fertile ground for renewing my mad crush skills.
Figure skating / ice dancing? Bleah. Unless the female cognate of Johnny Weir shows up - KD Lang on blades of glory, I'm not interested. And the classic winter skiing sports (downhill, etc.) are also a bit too mainstream to be of much interest.
But bobsled and luge, yeah. Curling. Snowboard and ski-cross (even Shaun White is kinda cute in a Tomboy kinda way). Speed-skating. Biathlon.
SO I have to admit that I've been watching the Olympics not just for the sport and spectacle. But kind of mildly crushing out on the athletes. Kind of an interesting insight.
February 24, 2010
WANT!
Yoga Action Figures!
16 plastic figures (8 men, 8 women) and an instructional guide. Amazing and fun.
16 plastic figures (8 men, 8 women) and an instructional guide. Amazing and fun.
February 09, 2010
Near Miss
Friends from Philly, en route to Boston, decided to drive up tonight and stopover in CT. They were thinking of staying here, and as a result I scurried around cleaning this afternoon: changed the sheets, straightened the bedroom and living room somewhat, vacuumed all the carpets.
Alas, my friends opted to lodge with another friend, along the coast. Probably smart considering the snowfall predictions. And it's nice to have the place a bit cleaned up....
Alas, my friends opted to lodge with another friend, along the coast. Probably smart considering the snowfall predictions. And it's nice to have the place a bit cleaned up....
Weight Watchers - Week #5
Alas, my WW updates have ended up for the most part on Facebook. Suffice it to say that I am still on program, still losing. As of Week #5 weigh-in on Monday, I lost 2 more pounds for 12.8 total. Not quite Biggest Loser numbers but not too bad. I had dropped exponentially over the first four weeks - roughly 6 / 3 / 1.5 / 0.5 pounds, so a decent two pounds was a welcome rebound. For that, I earned a warning from the eTools system:
Please note: You’re probably excited to be losing weight, but you’re losing faster than is recommended. Although it’s normal to lose over 2 pounds in one week, if you lose more than an average of 2 pounds per week over a four-week period, this could pose health risks, such as heart irregularities, anemia or loss of muscle mass. Please slow your weight loss; your doctor can help you do this if you’re not sure how, or ask your Leader for ideas.
Please slow your weight loss. Really? Honestly, with the good foods that I am eating, much hot / power yoga, and my starting weight, 2 pounds per week is pretty safe for me. Although I was tempted to stop by Five Guys this evening to ensure that I "slowed my weight loss". Mmmmmm...... although I ran the nutritional information into the WW calculator to find the points. Little Hamburger = 14 points, Regular Fries (which is really two servings) is 16 points. Not really. I remain somewhat shocked each time I run the numbers on a (typically fast food) "habit" from my days before I started the program. It's amazing I did not gain much more weight, a tribute to all that yoga....
I'm loving the WW eTools especially the iPhone app. Includes a points calculator, a list of restaurant menu items, and the ability to update your food or activity points on the road.
I did find a nice treat - Van's Low Fat Waffles (2 points for 2 waffles, amazing), frozen unsweetened strawberries (1 point for 1/2 cup), and some Fat Free whipped topping. A 3 or 4 point dessert that is pretty delicious and amazing.
Please note: You’re probably excited to be losing weight, but you’re losing faster than is recommended. Although it’s normal to lose over 2 pounds in one week, if you lose more than an average of 2 pounds per week over a four-week period, this could pose health risks, such as heart irregularities, anemia or loss of muscle mass. Please slow your weight loss; your doctor can help you do this if you’re not sure how, or ask your Leader for ideas.
Please slow your weight loss. Really? Honestly, with the good foods that I am eating, much hot / power yoga, and my starting weight, 2 pounds per week is pretty safe for me. Although I was tempted to stop by Five Guys this evening to ensure that I "slowed my weight loss". Mmmmmm...... although I ran the nutritional information into the WW calculator to find the points. Little Hamburger = 14 points, Regular Fries (which is really two servings) is 16 points. Not really. I remain somewhat shocked each time I run the numbers on a (typically fast food) "habit" from my days before I started the program. It's amazing I did not gain much more weight, a tribute to all that yoga....
I'm loving the WW eTools especially the iPhone app. Includes a points calculator, a list of restaurant menu items, and the ability to update your food or activity points on the road.
I did find a nice treat - Van's Low Fat Waffles (2 points for 2 waffles, amazing), frozen unsweetened strawberries (1 point for 1/2 cup), and some Fat Free whipped topping. A 3 or 4 point dessert that is pretty delicious and amazing.
February 05, 2010
Kitty Kraus / Matrix 158
Popped over to the Wadsworth Atheneum last night for the relaunch of the Matrix contemporary arts program. Full disclosure - the new Curator of Contemporary Art, Patricia Hickson, is an old friend (or rather, my sister's best bud in high school, she was a year behind me) and life has planted us both in Hartford. So I was there partly for the art, partly to support a friend, and partly to get out and about. The evening was a success on all counts!
Loved the installation. You can read a more refined synopsis of the artist's work here, although I'm trying to reflect my reaction without reading too much. I'll dig into others interpretations later....I was too busy schmoozing to catch the artist's talks, sadly.
My initial reaction was that Ms. Kraus is creating the same sorts of geometries and effects as Frank Lloyd Wright - except what he does with paint or metal, she is doing with light. I found myself stopping at each lightbox and noting how each cast a different pattern or effect on the space - and wondering if there were slots or cut-outs on the hidden face. I'm guessing not; that the differences were related to the orientation of the light brick; the distance from the walls, and perhaps subtle differences in the width of the exposed glass and the angled assembly of the individual panes of glass.
Eventually, I stopped at an individual brick and simply gazed into the light. Several of the figures created a 3D effect - as if I were gazing down the length of an unfinished room or hallway, looking at rafters or the supports of a suspended ceiling.
And finally, this morning, a more spiritual interpretation. Much like a quest for the divine - we are often blocked form gazing directly at the truth, but instead can only catch slivers of light, reflections, second and third hand evidence of the brilliant light that illuminates reality. This entire reality is the same sort of projection as Ms. Kraus's light installations - we can not see within the source of the light, but it leaks out of the cracks and the projections are both beautiful and draw us in to seek more.
The Matrix gallery space is an interesting space - long and tunnel-like with one entrance closed. In some ways it evokes other tunnel-like spaces filled with light (dare I mention the O'Hare International tunnel between terminals B and C?). My experience of the art was only slightly marred by a somewhat gruff Atheneum guard whose admonishments to "stick to the center of the room, do not touch anything, including the bench" felt a little stern and boomy in the space which otherwise might have conjured a cathedral-like silence. Perhaps a visit on another day, without the bustle of an opening and a First Thursday event is in order.
I'm a newcomer to the Atheneum's social circle - but it's feeling more comfortable, and I'm overdue for an afternoon of more leisurely browsing and exploration.
Loved the installation. You can read a more refined synopsis of the artist's work here, although I'm trying to reflect my reaction without reading too much. I'll dig into others interpretations later....I was too busy schmoozing to catch the artist's talks, sadly.
My initial reaction was that Ms. Kraus is creating the same sorts of geometries and effects as Frank Lloyd Wright - except what he does with paint or metal, she is doing with light. I found myself stopping at each lightbox and noting how each cast a different pattern or effect on the space - and wondering if there were slots or cut-outs on the hidden face. I'm guessing not; that the differences were related to the orientation of the light brick; the distance from the walls, and perhaps subtle differences in the width of the exposed glass and the angled assembly of the individual panes of glass.
Eventually, I stopped at an individual brick and simply gazed into the light. Several of the figures created a 3D effect - as if I were gazing down the length of an unfinished room or hallway, looking at rafters or the supports of a suspended ceiling.
And finally, this morning, a more spiritual interpretation. Much like a quest for the divine - we are often blocked form gazing directly at the truth, but instead can only catch slivers of light, reflections, second and third hand evidence of the brilliant light that illuminates reality. This entire reality is the same sort of projection as Ms. Kraus's light installations - we can not see within the source of the light, but it leaks out of the cracks and the projections are both beautiful and draw us in to seek more.
The Matrix gallery space is an interesting space - long and tunnel-like with one entrance closed. In some ways it evokes other tunnel-like spaces filled with light (dare I mention the O'Hare International tunnel between terminals B and C?). My experience of the art was only slightly marred by a somewhat gruff Atheneum guard whose admonishments to "stick to the center of the room, do not touch anything, including the bench" felt a little stern and boomy in the space which otherwise might have conjured a cathedral-like silence. Perhaps a visit on another day, without the bustle of an opening and a First Thursday event is in order.
I'm a newcomer to the Atheneum's social circle - but it's feeling more comfortable, and I'm overdue for an afternoon of more leisurely browsing and exploration.
February 03, 2010
Two Point Waffles
One of the pitfalls of weight-watchers is the tendencey to get into a rut, food-wise. Having to figure out the points of new foods is a minor hassle; so one tends to buy or make the same meals day-in and day-out.
Right now, my breakfasts are pretty standard:
* 5 Grain cereal (3 points), raisins (2 points), and agave nectar (1 point)
* Microwaved egg (2 points), lite english muffin (1 point), lite shredded cheese (2 points)
* Cold cereal (2 or 3 points) and milk (2 points)
Today I found a new product - Van's All Natural 97% fat-free waffles - which come in at two points for two waffles. Add a little fruit, maybe some maple syrup. Yum....
Finding low point carbs / breads is kind of the holy grail of weight watchers. So I'm pretty pumped to try these....
Right now, my breakfasts are pretty standard:
* 5 Grain cereal (3 points), raisins (2 points), and agave nectar (1 point)
* Microwaved egg (2 points), lite english muffin (1 point), lite shredded cheese (2 points)
* Cold cereal (2 or 3 points) and milk (2 points)
Today I found a new product - Van's All Natural 97% fat-free waffles - which come in at two points for two waffles. Add a little fruit, maybe some maple syrup. Yum....
Finding low point carbs / breads is kind of the holy grail of weight watchers. So I'm pretty pumped to try these....
Madame Secretary
Triggered by Colin McEnroe's Easy to grasp = True, regarding Susan Byseiwicz's problems with her prospective bid for the Attorney General position.
The whole shuffling of candidates and elected positions in Hartford leaves me with a bad taste. Regardless of whether she is qualified or not (in fact, by the legal definition, or as perceived by the electorate) - her candidacy for AG seems less like a well thought out career arc and more of a "I'm entitled to one of these jobs, the question is, which one"
Do we have a ruling class in the state? If there is one lesson to be taken from MA it's that a position or elected office for granted is no longer a sinecure.
I've always liked Ms. Byseiwicz in her role as SoS; she seems to be on top of things like reaching out to the disenfranchised, being a visible and accessible public figure in terms of elections and voting mechanics. But I've seen nothing that makes me think she has the drive or chops to be AG (other than, perhaps, having done what she can as SoS).
Maybe she has either or both of these. I hope she can communicate that to us. But right now, I'm getting a whiff of entitlement and ruling class (evidenced by Martha Coakley, whose main qualification for Senate seems to have been "I put in my time, you owe me") - and with the mood of the electorate, that does not seem like a good thing.
The whole shuffling of candidates and elected positions in Hartford leaves me with a bad taste. Regardless of whether she is qualified or not (in fact, by the legal definition, or as perceived by the electorate) - her candidacy for AG seems less like a well thought out career arc and more of a "I'm entitled to one of these jobs, the question is, which one"
Do we have a ruling class in the state? If there is one lesson to be taken from MA it's that a position or elected office for granted is no longer a sinecure.
I've always liked Ms. Byseiwicz in her role as SoS; she seems to be on top of things like reaching out to the disenfranchised, being a visible and accessible public figure in terms of elections and voting mechanics. But I've seen nothing that makes me think she has the drive or chops to be AG (other than, perhaps, having done what she can as SoS).
Maybe she has either or both of these. I hope she can communicate that to us. But right now, I'm getting a whiff of entitlement and ruling class (evidenced by Martha Coakley, whose main qualification for Senate seems to have been "I put in my time, you owe me") - and with the mood of the electorate, that does not seem like a good thing.
January 24, 2010
The Boozehounds Win
Unruly passenger forces united jet to divert to DIA
Will a plane door even open at altitude? One might hope for interlocks or something. But if this guy could get the door open, one imagines that such a catastrophic decompression at altitude might bring a plane down as easily as the xmas bomber's underwear.
So, I propose that the TSA / FAA:
a) Hereby ban alcohol on flights
b) Run a breathalyzer on all passengers and deny boarding to those who blow over 0.08 or someting.
Cause I suspect we'd be a lot safer in the air without drunks than we would be adding additional screening....just a hunch.
The man had consumed alcohol before and during the flight, said Kathy Wright, an FBI spokeswoman. After questioning at DIA, the suspect was sent for a medical evaluation.
Will a plane door even open at altitude? One might hope for interlocks or something. But if this guy could get the door open, one imagines that such a catastrophic decompression at altitude might bring a plane down as easily as the xmas bomber's underwear.
So, I propose that the TSA / FAA:
a) Hereby ban alcohol on flights
b) Run a breathalyzer on all passengers and deny boarding to those who blow over 0.08 or someting.
Cause I suspect we'd be a lot safer in the air without drunks than we would be adding additional screening....just a hunch.
January 23, 2010
Urban Oaks Organic Farm
We had our annual teacher's meeting last night in West Hartford - Barb and Peter host a get-together for all of the studio teachers; talking about upcoming workshops, the state of the studio, introduce newish teachers, pass out sub lists, etc. It's mostly a feel-good night with an incredible whole foods dinner and wonderful friends. I am blessed to find myself sitting in that circle of wonderful teachers and wonderful individuals.
I was tasked with picking up a box of local greens for the dinner, ordered from Urban Oaks Organic Farm, which, to my great surprise, is in New Britain! I'll admit that I would never have sought out the place or stumbled upon it on my own (although I did look at a house new there last summer) - but now that I know where it is, I'm pretty sure I'll be back. It's not exactly on the way between home and the yoga studio, but not too bad.
I picked up a head of kale (delicious - steamed some up for breakfast!) and a few onions - my fridge is still kind of full with my last trips to the grocers - but I intend to frequent Urban Oaks in the future. Want to support local food, add some healthier produce to my diet, and I want to be that person.
The retail shop is open year-round on Fridays from 3-6 pm and Saturdays from 10 am - 1 pm.
January 22, 2010
The Terrorists Win.....
OK, been sitting and chewing on this one since the Xmas attempted bombing of a Northwest flight.
Call me a bit jaded, but seems to me there is a helluva difference between an isolated "we are going to blow up the plane" sort of event and a "we are going to coordinate an attack by taking over multiple airliners and fly them into national landmarks" attacks. The former have been with us for years; the latter only since the 9/11 attacks. And as much as we want to travel safely, we've never quite figured out how to prevent the former. Sometimes airlines drop out of the sky due to mechanical failure or human error or weather, less often due to terrorism. And sometimes, miraculously and inexplicably, tragedy is averted. (remember that flight where the door blew off, someone got sucked out, but the plane landed? and of course, the recent Hudson River USAir landing)
My point is, that the TSA and Homeland Security schemes are working. At most we've had a few half-hearted and aborted attempts to take down planes (not, please note, to actually hijack and weaponize planes). And although these attempts may be perhaps part of a greater plan to test the security system and screening, I'd argue that we've learned a lot more from these than the terrorists.
In light of a natural disaster in Haiti that has killed perhaps 100's of thousands and impacted millions, I sit back and wonder how much of an impact even a tiny percentage of the money we've spent on homeland security and several wars would have made had it been diverted to improve the economy, health care, infrastructure, and residences of the poorest nation on earth, right at our doorstep.
Call me a bit jaded, but seems to me there is a helluva difference between an isolated "we are going to blow up the plane" sort of event and a "we are going to coordinate an attack by taking over multiple airliners and fly them into national landmarks" attacks. The former have been with us for years; the latter only since the 9/11 attacks. And as much as we want to travel safely, we've never quite figured out how to prevent the former. Sometimes airlines drop out of the sky due to mechanical failure or human error or weather, less often due to terrorism. And sometimes, miraculously and inexplicably, tragedy is averted. (remember that flight where the door blew off, someone got sucked out, but the plane landed? and of course, the recent Hudson River USAir landing)
My point is, that the TSA and Homeland Security schemes are working. At most we've had a few half-hearted and aborted attempts to take down planes (not, please note, to actually hijack and weaponize planes). And although these attempts may be perhaps part of a greater plan to test the security system and screening, I'd argue that we've learned a lot more from these than the terrorists.
In light of a natural disaster in Haiti that has killed perhaps 100's of thousands and impacted millions, I sit back and wonder how much of an impact even a tiny percentage of the money we've spent on homeland security and several wars would have made had it been diverted to improve the economy, health care, infrastructure, and residences of the poorest nation on earth, right at our doorstep.
Supreme Court Campaign Finance Ruling
OK, to start off, it sucks. I'm not a fan of "Might is Right" (hearkening all the way back to T.H. White's "The Once and Future King") and in this world, dollars = might. Or as Mr. Orwell said, all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. And those with the money, are increasingly, wielding influence and power.
But, dammit, stop whining, lefties. Play some freaking chess here. How can we (as a political movement) counter this or use this? My ideas:
* What's good for the goose is good for the gander. There are plenty of left leaning corporations and entities (unions, of course, but I suspect we can imagine others) out there. We too can dump some money into the arena. Target vulnerable republicans the same way they will target Dems. Can we even create corporate entities with the sole purpose of wielding political power?
* Use your consumer influence. Watching the big evil corporations start to come around on things like the ecology, diversity, healthy eating, local foods, etc. is a good model. Corporations respond to the markets - and if we (as a movement) target corporations that are misusing their power, if we shine a media spotlight on what is going on, if we vote with our checkbooks, we can also wield influence. Perhaps easier with consumer companies (like Walmart or Ford) than with business-to-business (thinking Monsanto or ADM) but we can apply pressure. And watching in the tech sector how seemingly unassailable juggernauts rise and fall with technology shifts, imagine a world where the big evil corporations become obsolete through technological shifts. And then work to make that happen. Hate Monsanto's proprietary seed progams? Figure out how to make their technology as obsolete as the vinyl record or cassette tape. Buh-bye.....
Your goal for next few years: Exploit this ruling, make it work for your benefits. Create a scenario where the conservatives want to create legislation or appoint judges to countermand this ruling.
I am reminded of Jon Stewart's recent piece about losing the filibuster proof majority. "George W Bush did whatever the hell he wanted without a filibuster proof majority" was the crux of his rant, and yeah. Sometimes I think we on the left need to get a bit more aggressive and use our power a bit more confidently.....
But, dammit, stop whining, lefties. Play some freaking chess here. How can we (as a political movement) counter this or use this? My ideas:
* What's good for the goose is good for the gander. There are plenty of left leaning corporations and entities (unions, of course, but I suspect we can imagine others) out there. We too can dump some money into the arena. Target vulnerable republicans the same way they will target Dems. Can we even create corporate entities with the sole purpose of wielding political power?
* Use your consumer influence. Watching the big evil corporations start to come around on things like the ecology, diversity, healthy eating, local foods, etc. is a good model. Corporations respond to the markets - and if we (as a movement) target corporations that are misusing their power, if we shine a media spotlight on what is going on, if we vote with our checkbooks, we can also wield influence. Perhaps easier with consumer companies (like Walmart or Ford) than with business-to-business (thinking Monsanto or ADM) but we can apply pressure. And watching in the tech sector how seemingly unassailable juggernauts rise and fall with technology shifts, imagine a world where the big evil corporations become obsolete through technological shifts. And then work to make that happen. Hate Monsanto's proprietary seed progams? Figure out how to make their technology as obsolete as the vinyl record or cassette tape. Buh-bye.....
Your goal for next few years: Exploit this ruling, make it work for your benefits. Create a scenario where the conservatives want to create legislation or appoint judges to countermand this ruling.
I am reminded of Jon Stewart's recent piece about losing the filibuster proof majority. "George W Bush did whatever the hell he wanted without a filibuster proof majority" was the crux of his rant, and yeah. Sometimes I think we on the left need to get a bit more aggressive and use our power a bit more confidently.....
Make Mine Music
I've been a closet music geek for most of my life.
In grade school, a local high school band stopped by one day for a performance, and a little presentation about music. I wandered home with information about music lessons. My parents, wisely looking ahead to the day my mouth would be full of metal, steered me away from the brasses and the woodwinds. How about a guitar?
So they bought me an inexpensive guitar, and I started guitar lessons with an old guy, Joe Diorio, who appears to have played at some point with Guy Lombardo's band. He was a funny old guy - with a studio in his basement. I rarely if ever practiced, but went to his house once a week and plugged my way through the Mel Bay series under his tutelage. He knew I was not really practicing, but we both kept at it.
I never did catch fire under Mr. Diorio's tutelage - instead my musical metanoia occurred in the back of a 1969 Ford Ranch Wagon, on a family vacation through the Wisconsin Dells. Somewhere on that trip, my fingers figured out how to find the chords without my brain intervening, and my right hand started strumming rhythmically through the chord changes. Against all odds, I became a guitarist.
At some point along the line, I started playing guitar at church - in those post-Vatican II days, guitars at Catholic mass were an "in" thing. And so we'd have this wall of (probably probably poorly tuned, in those pre-electronic tuner days) guitars churning out "I Am the Resurrection" and "Here We Are". I continued to play at Mass (in various forms) for the next few decades. High school - where Janet Cavatorta held sway and infused the services with Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, CSNY, and Bob Dylan. I was too nerdy to realize how cool that was. College (a year or so with the WPI Newman society, until I lost interest). Young adulthood, where I was plucked out of the congregation (visibly singing) by the music leader who was to become my spouse. And for a few years at the local Dignity chapter.
Along the way, I started to pick my way into more secular music. I remember in grade school, one of the kids having a Beatle's songbook he wanted me to play from. I had no idea who they were - having no older siblings to initiate me into popular music. My pop music sensibilities started at the Partridge Family and did not get far past Tommy Roe (it's taken me years to not think of Proud Mary as a Tommy Roe song....)
But in high school, I started to play an electric guitar - playing in the pit band for the high school production of Godspell; and then in a late's 70s basement band. We did Cars, Stones, Knack, Zep, Hendrix (I was strictly rhythm, but wunderkind Pete Toupy was pretty amazing on lead). We dubbed ourselves Broken Bones (figuring being close to the Beatles in the record racks was a good thing, and rhythmically similar to Rolling Stones). If I recall, I think the logo had a KISS feel in terms of font) so you get where the influences were.
And although my interests were somewhat divided at the time - math & science geekery, part time work at McDonald's, creative writing - well, music always seemed to be core. When my father died the spring of my senior year in high school, I tucked a guitar pick into his suit pocket in the casket. He was not a musician himself, but he always seemed to take some pleasure in my music and if he was not a band parent, he was always encouraging and generous in terms of lessons, instruments, transportation, etc.
As college rolled around, I fell in with another musical clique, 1/2 of the band Equinox of Westboro MA. Don Montgomery (drummer), and Stan Matthews (guitar and vocals) and I (picking up a bass for the first time). Would get together and jam at a WPI student apartment (Fuller 22, if memory serves) and later on the 3rd floor of the Westboro Package Store building where Stan assembled a small studio with a 4 track reel-to-reel recorder. We had a couple of gigs - a talent show at the WPI Goat's Head Pub (a black and white photo exists which will be graciously not scanned in), a full gig at the Westboro K of C hall (I have the entire thing recorded on cassette!). A graduation party on a flat-bed truck (all I remember is leading us through Jonathon Richman's Roadrunner to a field full of screaming drunk recent grads)
My musical roots grew deeper - Don was a huge Stones fan, Stan adored the Beatles, the Doors and Joy Division. We played all over the classic rock spectrum - the Animals, U2, Clash, Jam, Beatles, Stones, CCR, Neil Young. It was a fun time.
After college, I drifted away from my own music. My spouse was a musician and I kind of dropped out in the way that married couples sometimes distribute interests and responsibilities. But after a brief marriage and separation, I began to pack my old Ibanez acoustic into the car and hit the local open mike circuit. Starting at the Common Ground in Bristol, and ranging all over (Susan's in Granby, Roaring Brook in Canton, Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, Equinox World Cafe in Manchester) I played mostly covers with a few originals. My singing was never particularly noteworthy, and my playing was never more than workmanlike, but I was out there.
And then, 15 years ago or thereabouts, I started to mess with gender. And as my affect began to soften and blur, and the difficulty of moving across the gender divide whilst playing gruff and growly folk music set in, I slowly set down my guitar. I continued to truck it along with me to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (I've been volunteering and attending for 18 years or thereabouts), but after a while it never came out of the case, and then for a few years, I stopped bringing it. For many years, I did not even pick up my guitars.
A few years back, having discovered yoga, I went to an evening of chanting called Kirtan. I loved the music, I loved the energy, and when the evening was over I shyly approached the leader, Shankara. "I know you have a guitar player, but if he ever needs a backup or a rest, I play too....." Little did I know that Jeff the guitarist was stepping back from the group, and Shankara was actively looking for a guitarist. And suddenly, I had a gig. Music was back.....
I've played with the kirtan group (not so far removed from my folk mass roots, really) for a few years now - my rather intuitive playing and many years in the folk mass trenches giving me the right skills to sit and play for 2-3 hours straight, to think on my feet, to play with abandon without a particular set list or structured songs. Along the way I've picked up a new guitar (a smaller Ibanez with internal electronics), an instrument amplifier, and an acoustic bass. We're still at it....next Kirtan is Feb 11th....come on down!
And for the past few weeks, I've been rehearsing with a lovely musical duo - Sandy (Vocals) and Dan (guitar) making up the Guinea Pigs (a rather interesting name, dubbed the night they went first at an open mike). They play an eclectic mix of great stuff - Nick Lowe, Simon & Garfunkel, John Prine, Todd Rundgren - along with a good dose of originals. They sound wonderful together, and I'm totally excited to be adding my bass playing to the mix. It's been really fun learning their songs and rehearsing with them - and rediscovering my bass playing chops. (We're looking for a drummer, in case readers play or know someone who does)
They play around a bit - open mics, farmer's markets, clubs, other opportunities. We're doing an open mic slot on Monday up at Union Street Tavern in Windsor. It will be my first time performing publicly like this in many years. I'm excited. Playing music! Hope it sounds as good as it feels!
In grade school, a local high school band stopped by one day for a performance, and a little presentation about music. I wandered home with information about music lessons. My parents, wisely looking ahead to the day my mouth would be full of metal, steered me away from the brasses and the woodwinds. How about a guitar?
So they bought me an inexpensive guitar, and I started guitar lessons with an old guy, Joe Diorio, who appears to have played at some point with Guy Lombardo's band. He was a funny old guy - with a studio in his basement. I rarely if ever practiced, but went to his house once a week and plugged my way through the Mel Bay series under his tutelage. He knew I was not really practicing, but we both kept at it.
I never did catch fire under Mr. Diorio's tutelage - instead my musical metanoia occurred in the back of a 1969 Ford Ranch Wagon, on a family vacation through the Wisconsin Dells. Somewhere on that trip, my fingers figured out how to find the chords without my brain intervening, and my right hand started strumming rhythmically through the chord changes. Against all odds, I became a guitarist.
At some point along the line, I started playing guitar at church - in those post-Vatican II days, guitars at Catholic mass were an "in" thing. And so we'd have this wall of (probably probably poorly tuned, in those pre-electronic tuner days) guitars churning out "I Am the Resurrection" and "Here We Are". I continued to play at Mass (in various forms) for the next few decades. High school - where Janet Cavatorta held sway and infused the services with Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, CSNY, and Bob Dylan. I was too nerdy to realize how cool that was. College (a year or so with the WPI Newman society, until I lost interest). Young adulthood, where I was plucked out of the congregation (visibly singing) by the music leader who was to become my spouse. And for a few years at the local Dignity chapter.
Along the way, I started to pick my way into more secular music. I remember in grade school, one of the kids having a Beatle's songbook he wanted me to play from. I had no idea who they were - having no older siblings to initiate me into popular music. My pop music sensibilities started at the Partridge Family and did not get far past Tommy Roe (it's taken me years to not think of Proud Mary as a Tommy Roe song....)
But in high school, I started to play an electric guitar - playing in the pit band for the high school production of Godspell; and then in a late's 70s basement band. We did Cars, Stones, Knack, Zep, Hendrix (I was strictly rhythm, but wunderkind Pete Toupy was pretty amazing on lead). We dubbed ourselves Broken Bones (figuring being close to the Beatles in the record racks was a good thing, and rhythmically similar to Rolling Stones). If I recall, I think the logo had a KISS feel in terms of font) so you get where the influences were.
And although my interests were somewhat divided at the time - math & science geekery, part time work at McDonald's, creative writing - well, music always seemed to be core. When my father died the spring of my senior year in high school, I tucked a guitar pick into his suit pocket in the casket. He was not a musician himself, but he always seemed to take some pleasure in my music and if he was not a band parent, he was always encouraging and generous in terms of lessons, instruments, transportation, etc.
As college rolled around, I fell in with another musical clique, 1/2 of the band Equinox of Westboro MA. Don Montgomery (drummer), and Stan Matthews (guitar and vocals) and I (picking up a bass for the first time). Would get together and jam at a WPI student apartment (Fuller 22, if memory serves) and later on the 3rd floor of the Westboro Package Store building where Stan assembled a small studio with a 4 track reel-to-reel recorder. We had a couple of gigs - a talent show at the WPI Goat's Head Pub (a black and white photo exists which will be graciously not scanned in), a full gig at the Westboro K of C hall (I have the entire thing recorded on cassette!). A graduation party on a flat-bed truck (all I remember is leading us through Jonathon Richman's Roadrunner to a field full of screaming drunk recent grads)
My musical roots grew deeper - Don was a huge Stones fan, Stan adored the Beatles, the Doors and Joy Division. We played all over the classic rock spectrum - the Animals, U2, Clash, Jam, Beatles, Stones, CCR, Neil Young. It was a fun time.
After college, I drifted away from my own music. My spouse was a musician and I kind of dropped out in the way that married couples sometimes distribute interests and responsibilities. But after a brief marriage and separation, I began to pack my old Ibanez acoustic into the car and hit the local open mike circuit. Starting at the Common Ground in Bristol, and ranging all over (Susan's in Granby, Roaring Brook in Canton, Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, Equinox World Cafe in Manchester) I played mostly covers with a few originals. My singing was never particularly noteworthy, and my playing was never more than workmanlike, but I was out there.
And then, 15 years ago or thereabouts, I started to mess with gender. And as my affect began to soften and blur, and the difficulty of moving across the gender divide whilst playing gruff and growly folk music set in, I slowly set down my guitar. I continued to truck it along with me to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (I've been volunteering and attending for 18 years or thereabouts), but after a while it never came out of the case, and then for a few years, I stopped bringing it. For many years, I did not even pick up my guitars.
A few years back, having discovered yoga, I went to an evening of chanting called Kirtan. I loved the music, I loved the energy, and when the evening was over I shyly approached the leader, Shankara. "I know you have a guitar player, but if he ever needs a backup or a rest, I play too....." Little did I know that Jeff the guitarist was stepping back from the group, and Shankara was actively looking for a guitarist. And suddenly, I had a gig. Music was back.....
I've played with the kirtan group (not so far removed from my folk mass roots, really) for a few years now - my rather intuitive playing and many years in the folk mass trenches giving me the right skills to sit and play for 2-3 hours straight, to think on my feet, to play with abandon without a particular set list or structured songs. Along the way I've picked up a new guitar (a smaller Ibanez with internal electronics), an instrument amplifier, and an acoustic bass. We're still at it....next Kirtan is Feb 11th....come on down!
And for the past few weeks, I've been rehearsing with a lovely musical duo - Sandy (Vocals) and Dan (guitar) making up the Guinea Pigs (a rather interesting name, dubbed the night they went first at an open mike). They play an eclectic mix of great stuff - Nick Lowe, Simon & Garfunkel, John Prine, Todd Rundgren - along with a good dose of originals. They sound wonderful together, and I'm totally excited to be adding my bass playing to the mix. It's been really fun learning their songs and rehearsing with them - and rediscovering my bass playing chops. (We're looking for a drummer, in case readers play or know someone who does)
They play around a bit - open mics, farmer's markets, clubs, other opportunities. We're doing an open mic slot on Monday up at Union Street Tavern in Windsor. It will be my first time performing publicly like this in many years. I'm excited. Playing music! Hope it sounds as good as it feels!
Blog Comments
Not sure if this is just a byproduct of being out there in the blogosphere for so long, or something new in the land of marketing spammishness, but I've been getting a lot of spurious blog comments.
These range from targeted (I think the principals of the Asian Five Star Farmer's Market stop by to plant comments) to obvious (random works with an embedded link to some advertising site). And then there are the curiously inexplicable - no links or apparent reasons for the comment, sometimes amusingly positive (albeit completely nonsensical) and sometimes just cryptic.
No idea what this is all about, but suffice it to say I reject 'em all. Sorry automated commenting programs, marketers, etc.
These range from targeted (I think the principals of the Asian Five Star Farmer's Market stop by to plant comments) to obvious (random works with an embedded link to some advertising site). And then there are the curiously inexplicable - no links or apparent reasons for the comment, sometimes amusingly positive (albeit completely nonsensical) and sometimes just cryptic.
No idea what this is all about, but suffice it to say I reject 'em all. Sorry automated commenting programs, marketers, etc.
January 12, 2010
Weight Watchers - Week #1
It was a pretty successful week, all things considered. 6.2 pounds. If this were "Biggest Loser" I'd have had immunity in the WW meeting room.....although I'm larger than the average bear so as a percent of total body weight it's less remarkable.
A few anecdotes or learnings from the week:
* In Week #1, one does not get to factor in exercise, and with my yoga schedule I rack up 15-20 exercise points easily. I don't really need 'em so I'm going to just bank them going forward, but clearly all the exercise I get helps.
* I have a lot of whole / healthy food knowledge from my history. So a lot of what Weight Watchers calls "filling foods" (whole grains, fruits and vegetables) are not new to me; these are things I already have in my larder and my meal repetoire. the biggest thing I am doing is trying to eat more fruit - between salads and steamed veggies I get plenty.
* I did not have a particularly stellar week in terms of food choices. I went off track a bunch of time. One meal at McD's. One meal at Subway (the sandwich was not bad, the cookies however, were). One bowl of Lena's squash soup (exceptionally rich, practically a bisque). One slice of Lena's pizza. BUT I did write it all down, either got the nutritional info from the websites or guestimated, it was all "in the program"
* Subway Macadamia Nut cookies = 5 points. 5 freaking points! No wonder I have had a tough time losing weight (Two of those have been a staple for a while now, making up 33% of my daily points total)
* I eat an occasional can of Progresso Soup (relatively healthy) but in the past I tended to just eat the whole can (2 servings). Simply splitting a can into two portions and putting 1/2 in the fridge is a huge bit of wisdom. 1 serving is perfectly satisfying....
* Want to treat yourself to fast food? Quarter Pounder with Cheese = 12 points. Medium Fried = 8 points. Hamburger = 5 points. Big Mac = 13 points. Mac Snack Wrap = 8 points. 6 piece McNuggets = 7 pts. Filet o'Fish = 9 points. Angus Mushroom and Swiss = 18 points. Incredible. One could easily exhaust one's entire days' worth of points in a few minutes.....
* Sushi is a bargain, point wise. I have no problem with this.....
* The one thing I plan to do is research my usual Fast Food haunts and figure out some better choices so if I do end up hungry and on the go, and find my car wheels making their way into these places, I'll have a better game plan.
But mostly, I think just the fact that I am paying attention to what I eat, that I have the specter of the scale waiting for me each Monday, and that I am actively avoiding fast / quick food is going to make all the diff, at least in the short term.
I've often said that the secret for me losing weight is to simply disable my driver's side window. Hope that continues to be the case!
A few anecdotes or learnings from the week:
* In Week #1, one does not get to factor in exercise, and with my yoga schedule I rack up 15-20 exercise points easily. I don't really need 'em so I'm going to just bank them going forward, but clearly all the exercise I get helps.
* I have a lot of whole / healthy food knowledge from my history. So a lot of what Weight Watchers calls "filling foods" (whole grains, fruits and vegetables) are not new to me; these are things I already have in my larder and my meal repetoire. the biggest thing I am doing is trying to eat more fruit - between salads and steamed veggies I get plenty.
* I did not have a particularly stellar week in terms of food choices. I went off track a bunch of time. One meal at McD's. One meal at Subway (the sandwich was not bad, the cookies however, were). One bowl of Lena's squash soup (exceptionally rich, practically a bisque). One slice of Lena's pizza. BUT I did write it all down, either got the nutritional info from the websites or guestimated, it was all "in the program"
* Subway Macadamia Nut cookies = 5 points. 5 freaking points! No wonder I have had a tough time losing weight (Two of those have been a staple for a while now, making up 33% of my daily points total)
* I eat an occasional can of Progresso Soup (relatively healthy) but in the past I tended to just eat the whole can (2 servings). Simply splitting a can into two portions and putting 1/2 in the fridge is a huge bit of wisdom. 1 serving is perfectly satisfying....
* Want to treat yourself to fast food? Quarter Pounder with Cheese = 12 points. Medium Fried = 8 points. Hamburger = 5 points. Big Mac = 13 points. Mac Snack Wrap = 8 points. 6 piece McNuggets = 7 pts. Filet o'Fish = 9 points. Angus Mushroom and Swiss = 18 points. Incredible. One could easily exhaust one's entire days' worth of points in a few minutes.....
* Sushi is a bargain, point wise. I have no problem with this.....
* The one thing I plan to do is research my usual Fast Food haunts and figure out some better choices so if I do end up hungry and on the go, and find my car wheels making their way into these places, I'll have a better game plan.
But mostly, I think just the fact that I am paying attention to what I eat, that I have the specter of the scale waiting for me each Monday, and that I am actively avoiding fast / quick food is going to make all the diff, at least in the short term.
I've often said that the secret for me losing weight is to simply disable my driver's side window. Hope that continues to be the case!
January 11, 2010
Making the Kool Aid
An unexpected weekend in the yoga studio. I was planning to show up for the inaugural weekend of the 2010 teacher training - at a minimum practice with the trainees at the start of each day, or perhaps assist at the practices. But my teacher / friend Nykki was drawn away by a family crisis, so I ended up hanging out throughout the teacher training weekend. I can safely report that the teacher training days did not get any shorter since I went through the training in 2008.....
It was an incredibly rewarding weekend. Several of my students, or folks I know from the studio, were in the class and it was great to see them taking the first steps into teaching - I felt a certain sense of maternal pride and protectiveness. As always it was amazing to be working with Barb, Peter, Shankara, Nykki, and Kristen. I assisted in three long practices - and that's always a treat - it's hard to really do a lot of hands on assisting in the midst of teaching. And the entire training program is so amazing - just a real honor to be able to witness the entire weekend...
My own yoga (practice and teaching) was reinvigorated through the weekend, as I sat through the lectures and workshops - a lot of the food and healthy eating stuff was good for my current weight loss project. And it was so exciting to watch the "firsts" as the trainees taught their first posture, struggled with lefts and rights, and put the hands on another body, perhaps for the first time. They are an amazing group....
Finally, it was somewhat reassuring, or perhaps gratifying, to have the trainees seek me out with questions, or advice. I felt pretty secure in my knowledge, and at times felt like I had some knowledge (different assists, languaging, or experience with certain types of students) to add to the training. Sometimes its difficult for me to recognize my own teaching skills, my own experience, and to think "what the heck am I doing here?". But to have trainees seek me out in the room with questions, to be able to communicate a posture or assist in a way that they were able to connect to - pretty sweet.
Next month, no doubt Nykki will be back at the front of the room (the hours she was able to participate, one could see the room energy shift and her light brighten the training) and I will step back to a more background or part time role. I feel a little sad about that; triggers my "on the outside looking in" stuff. Even last night, I sat in the back of the room and became a little less visible - as the staff clicked into their comfortable roles and I felt a little like a 5th wheel. But it was really sweet to be part of this weekend, to be considered worthy of stepping up into this role. Even though it was a tiring few days, it was pretty amazing to be there.
As my friend Alison once said as I confessed "I guess I drank the Kool Aid" vis a vis yoga. "Jude, you are making the Kool Aid these days....." Smart woman, that Alison.
It was an incredibly rewarding weekend. Several of my students, or folks I know from the studio, were in the class and it was great to see them taking the first steps into teaching - I felt a certain sense of maternal pride and protectiveness. As always it was amazing to be working with Barb, Peter, Shankara, Nykki, and Kristen. I assisted in three long practices - and that's always a treat - it's hard to really do a lot of hands on assisting in the midst of teaching. And the entire training program is so amazing - just a real honor to be able to witness the entire weekend...
My own yoga (practice and teaching) was reinvigorated through the weekend, as I sat through the lectures and workshops - a lot of the food and healthy eating stuff was good for my current weight loss project. And it was so exciting to watch the "firsts" as the trainees taught their first posture, struggled with lefts and rights, and put the hands on another body, perhaps for the first time. They are an amazing group....
Finally, it was somewhat reassuring, or perhaps gratifying, to have the trainees seek me out with questions, or advice. I felt pretty secure in my knowledge, and at times felt like I had some knowledge (different assists, languaging, or experience with certain types of students) to add to the training. Sometimes its difficult for me to recognize my own teaching skills, my own experience, and to think "what the heck am I doing here?". But to have trainees seek me out in the room with questions, to be able to communicate a posture or assist in a way that they were able to connect to - pretty sweet.
Next month, no doubt Nykki will be back at the front of the room (the hours she was able to participate, one could see the room energy shift and her light brighten the training) and I will step back to a more background or part time role. I feel a little sad about that; triggers my "on the outside looking in" stuff. Even last night, I sat in the back of the room and became a little less visible - as the staff clicked into their comfortable roles and I felt a little like a 5th wheel. But it was really sweet to be part of this weekend, to be considered worthy of stepping up into this role. Even though it was a tiring few days, it was pretty amazing to be there.
As my friend Alison once said as I confessed "I guess I drank the Kool Aid" vis a vis yoga. "Jude, you are making the Kool Aid these days....." Smart woman, that Alison.
January 10, 2010
Somebody Loves Me
Due to a extenuating circumstances (get better soon, AJ Poole!) I've been sucked into the yoga teacher training this weekend. Incredible honor to witness this process, incredible opportunity to work with Barb, Peter, Shankara and Nykki - but ohmigawd is it exhausting. Friday 5 - 10, Saturday 1 - 10, and Sunday 12 - 8. Each day starts out with a strong practice - and although assisting is not as physically challenging as being on the mat it's still physically and emotionally tiring.
And of course, this is the weekend I'm subbing in for a gentle class at 9 am. So not a lot of time for my own practice, not a lot of time for healthy eating. Last night as I drifted off to sleep I was thinking about food - what I was going to get into my system in between my gentle class ending and the training starting. Thinking about all the places I could get something healthy (and also some places to snarf down something quick). And I realized I had everything I needed in the fridge. So this morning as I got up I made a salad - spring mix lettuce, matchstick carrots and radishes, red cabbage, mushrooms, broccoli, garbanzos, celery. (some sprouts would have been nice but I'm out) As I was closing the lid on the to-go container (which I admit to hoarding a little, they are so useful and I have a hard time tossing stuff like this, even into the recycling bin) it looked so beautiful and lovingly prepared and I thought impulsively "somebody loved me enough to make this beautiful salad"
And then it hit me. Of course somebody loves me. It's me!
It was a good feeling to have all this healthy food at my finger tips, to be the kind of person who can whip up a salad from itens on hand. Not sure I would have been that person a year ago.
Finishing up some yummy 5 grain oatmeal (with raisins, walnuts, and agave) and then shower. Hope to hit the mat a little (here or at the studio) before I have to teach. And then let my yoga day begin!
And of course, this is the weekend I'm subbing in for a gentle class at 9 am. So not a lot of time for my own practice, not a lot of time for healthy eating. Last night as I drifted off to sleep I was thinking about food - what I was going to get into my system in between my gentle class ending and the training starting. Thinking about all the places I could get something healthy (and also some places to snarf down something quick). And I realized I had everything I needed in the fridge. So this morning as I got up I made a salad - spring mix lettuce, matchstick carrots and radishes, red cabbage, mushrooms, broccoli, garbanzos, celery. (some sprouts would have been nice but I'm out) As I was closing the lid on the to-go container (which I admit to hoarding a little, they are so useful and I have a hard time tossing stuff like this, even into the recycling bin) it looked so beautiful and lovingly prepared and I thought impulsively "somebody loved me enough to make this beautiful salad"
And then it hit me. Of course somebody loves me. It's me!
It was a good feeling to have all this healthy food at my finger tips, to be the kind of person who can whip up a salad from itens on hand. Not sure I would have been that person a year ago.
Finishing up some yummy 5 grain oatmeal (with raisins, walnuts, and agave) and then shower. Hope to hit the mat a little (here or at the studio) before I have to teach. And then let my yoga day begin!
January 04, 2010
Back to the Grind
And not a moment to soon. This weekend was really hard; a culmination of a holiday season that itself was difficult. It's my first holiday alone in many years, and although Zippy was never a big holiday person, still it's easier to be cranky about the season with a housemate and pets than it is to be in a place alone. So after spending a good chunk of the weekend in tears, I used one of my lifelines - phones (or more accurately, texted) a friend and called another. Before too long I had a few calls coming in and got a bit of it out. Was thinking I really ought to just surrender to the sadness and grief and dive into it all, but instead it came out in a little trickle of tears and sadness all weekend.
Behind this? Being alone, I guess. Getting older. Not seeing a path from where I am to a place of connection and relationship. Add to it a lot of unhealthy eating this holiday, and a bit of procrastination in terms of getting work done, and getting my place out of "moving in" mode and into "lived in" mode. And all these happy pictures of couples - holiday pics, winter fun, xmas trees, new year's eve parties, going to movies that I'd need to go to alone. All the things I was not part of and even if I were part of, would have felt detached from. Bleah.
So I am glad to be back at my desk and back to a routine. Last night I did start to claw my way back to life - besides my phone calls (thanks Amy, Nykki, Kristen, and Barb), I wandered over to Target to pick up some frames, and hung a few photos. I also signed up for a monthly pass at Weight Watchers . What a January thing to do, I know, but it has worked for me in the past. I know all the right things to do to lose weight and be healthy, I just don't do them. I'm going to go to a meeting this morning at 10. And I think I'm gonna give my old therapist a call.
I also stumbled across a GLBT summer camp for adults (Camp Camp) that I'm going to look into. It's been years since I took a real vacation (besides yoga weekends, work trips, and falcon ridge) and this seems like it might be right up my alley. Although I'm going to see if they need a yoga teacher :)
Monday, January 4th. Need to get caught up on work, get my invoicing out. Practice tonight with Barb. It's good to be back to normal.....
Behind this? Being alone, I guess. Getting older. Not seeing a path from where I am to a place of connection and relationship. Add to it a lot of unhealthy eating this holiday, and a bit of procrastination in terms of getting work done, and getting my place out of "moving in" mode and into "lived in" mode. And all these happy pictures of couples - holiday pics, winter fun, xmas trees, new year's eve parties, going to movies that I'd need to go to alone. All the things I was not part of and even if I were part of, would have felt detached from. Bleah.
So I am glad to be back at my desk and back to a routine. Last night I did start to claw my way back to life - besides my phone calls (thanks Amy, Nykki, Kristen, and Barb), I wandered over to Target to pick up some frames, and hung a few photos. I also signed up for a monthly pass at Weight Watchers . What a January thing to do, I know, but it has worked for me in the past. I know all the right things to do to lose weight and be healthy, I just don't do them. I'm going to go to a meeting this morning at 10. And I think I'm gonna give my old therapist a call.
I also stumbled across a GLBT summer camp for adults (Camp Camp) that I'm going to look into. It's been years since I took a real vacation (besides yoga weekends, work trips, and falcon ridge) and this seems like it might be right up my alley. Although I'm going to see if they need a yoga teacher :)
Monday, January 4th. Need to get caught up on work, get my invoicing out. Practice tonight with Barb. It's good to be back to normal.....
December 31, 2009
2009 Wrap-up
New Year's Eve finds me baby-sitting my little bud Andrew as his parent's go do 108 Sun Salutations - which would be a bit much for my body (specifically, my left elbow) right now. I'll settle for two hours on the mat with Barb tomorrow....
So I have the opportunity to go over my blog and review the past year.
Some highlights:
* Got a Roku Player
* Said farewell to Peter Anthony, headed home to Australia
* Balloon safety seminar
* Lost a balloon friend. RIP, Mike.
* Got an iPod Touch. Lost an iPod Touch.\
* Taught an Intro to Yoga Series. Taught a Core-Ab Power Series.
* Won a Hello Kitty diary at Wince, an Open Mic at real Art Ways
* Enlightenment Intensive #5
* My GPS took me off-road and I wrecked my tranny en route to the EI. Doh!
* Got a little mention in the Courant (mid life yoga instructors)
* Lots of ballooning
* Lots of hiking
* Got a new little buddy, Andrew James
* House hunted, found a condo, purchased it, and moved in
* Gave up my office and moved into a home office in the basement
* Staffed an EI in December
* Started rehearsing (bass) with the Guinea Pigs
Movies
Frost Nixon
Revolution Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Training Rules (Dee Mosbacher / Penn State)
Trinidad (Dr. Marci Bowers / Morning Glow)
Enlighten Up (Yoga)
Departures
Glastonbury Kids
Up in the Air
(not counting Roku/Netflix)
Concerts
Abi Tapia (House Concert)
Krishna Das
Hartford Symphony Orchestra "Conenctions"
Kenny White / Cheryl Wheeler
Rhode Island Sustainable Living Festival
Falcon Ridge Folk Fest
Jack Hardy (House Concert)
Krishna Das (again)
Yoga Events
Back Bay Yoga in Boston
Jill Miller Workshops
Guerilla Yoga with Nykki
Shiva Rae / Mandala of Asanas @ Kripalu
Yoga on the Beach (Mashpee MA)
Tias Little Workshop
Heather Tiddens Workshop
Not a bad year, all in all....
So I have the opportunity to go over my blog and review the past year.
Some highlights:
* Got a Roku Player
* Said farewell to Peter Anthony, headed home to Australia
* Balloon safety seminar
* Lost a balloon friend. RIP, Mike.
* Got an iPod Touch. Lost an iPod Touch.\
* Taught an Intro to Yoga Series. Taught a Core-Ab Power Series.
* Won a Hello Kitty diary at Wince, an Open Mic at real Art Ways
* Enlightenment Intensive #5
* My GPS took me off-road and I wrecked my tranny en route to the EI. Doh!
* Got a little mention in the Courant (mid life yoga instructors)
* Lots of ballooning
* Lots of hiking
* Got a new little buddy, Andrew James
* House hunted, found a condo, purchased it, and moved in
* Gave up my office and moved into a home office in the basement
* Staffed an EI in December
* Started rehearsing (bass) with the Guinea Pigs
Movies
Frost Nixon
Revolution Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Training Rules (Dee Mosbacher / Penn State)
Trinidad (Dr. Marci Bowers / Morning Glow)
Enlighten Up (Yoga)
Departures
Glastonbury Kids
Up in the Air
(not counting Roku/Netflix)
Concerts
Abi Tapia (House Concert)
Krishna Das
Hartford Symphony Orchestra "Conenctions"
Kenny White / Cheryl Wheeler
Rhode Island Sustainable Living Festival
Falcon Ridge Folk Fest
Jack Hardy (House Concert)
Krishna Das (again)
Yoga Events
Back Bay Yoga in Boston
Jill Miller Workshops
Guerilla Yoga with Nykki
Shiva Rae / Mandala of Asanas @ Kripalu
Yoga on the Beach (Mashpee MA)
Tias Little Workshop
Heather Tiddens Workshop
Not a bad year, all in all....
December 25, 2009
Worst Yoga Class Ever - Dream Edition
Xmas morning here. Up at my mom's in MA, and I awoke from a very vivid and remembered dream. Need to get it down and out of my system.
In the dream, I am subbing a yoga class for my teacher and mentor Barb, who owns my studio. The class is up in Boston (for some reason, she does not teach in Boston in real life) at a place I've never been to. And the class is oddly spread across 3 very large spaces on two levels (almost like a high loft, so its all open) - so to teach the class, I am constantly walking back and forth between studios as well as up and down stairs.
I have no headset or sound system so I am trying to be heard across all the spaces (not very successfully). Each studio has it's own sound system / stereo, and students have turned these on to a different CD in each space. So I am fighting that as well. And finally, the students in each space are set up in a large circle (not mat to mat as in a normal class).
So I teach the class(es), and it's going really poorly - I teach one room and as I walk to the next room they are doing something different. For some reason, something I am saying (not exactly sure what) is interpreted by the students to mean some completely unexpected (and unknown to me) dance that they all seem to know and do in sync, and I cannot figure out what posture or sanskrit word is triggering this. At one point, the students are complaining about the heat (Barb historically works with a very hot room), and we stop the class and get everyone who wants it cooler to go to the lower level (where it's cooler) and the rest to stay on the upper level; I also am running around closing windows (it's an old building, lot of those horizontal tilt out windows) which the students have opened when I am not in eyeshot.
Well, I look up and it's close to 8 pm (class started at 6) and I've barely gotten through a sun salutation, never got to savasana, so the class just ends. I call the students over and they are all surrounding me and I announce that they've just experienced "the worst yoga class I've ever taught, in fact the worst yoga class I've every witnessed" and they all break out into applause (presumably for me being honest and facing it). I kind of go through the circumstances with them (about the multi levels, the sound systems, the lack of a PA, etc.) but pretty much cop to being unprepared and unable to hold the space. I tell them they've earned karma points (payable by me) for sticking it out. A few of them stick around to brainstorm ways to make things better (like having a headset that plays on all the stereo's, and having one CD playing in all the studios).
As the dream ends, I am walking through the streets of Boston, calling Barb up on my cell phone to tell her how badly I messed up and asking advice regarding if / how I should talk to the owners of the studio in Boston.
So what does it mean?
I'm in the middle of a yoga teaching lull - I've been teaching 3 classes down at the studio but one has been cancelled (only getting a few students), and my Friday noon class is gone for 12/25 and 1/1. Meanwhile my Bristol Adult Ed class is off until the 2nd week in Jan. So I am down to one class a week for a few weeks. Am I recognizing some teaching burnout? Am I questioning my commitment to teaching? Or perhaps my qualifications to teach? Am I getting sloppy or unprepared for classes?
I am, at the same time, struggling to put together all the paperwork for my yoga teacher certification - due by year end. It's not really all that hard - a bunch of book reports (all but one already written) and class critiques (already completed) and some photocopying of class sequences and hunting down of some class sign-ins / rosters from my free teaching. Get it all assembled into a binder or booklet. Not exactly an insurmountable project, yet I have been procrastinating about it.
And I am also looking at a new endeavour - playing bass with an up til now folk/rock duo. Am I concerned about spreading myself too thin?
Lots to chew on. Just wanted to get it all down before I dropped back into sleep and forgot it all!
In the dream, I am subbing a yoga class for my teacher and mentor Barb, who owns my studio. The class is up in Boston (for some reason, she does not teach in Boston in real life) at a place I've never been to. And the class is oddly spread across 3 very large spaces on two levels (almost like a high loft, so its all open) - so to teach the class, I am constantly walking back and forth between studios as well as up and down stairs.
I have no headset or sound system so I am trying to be heard across all the spaces (not very successfully). Each studio has it's own sound system / stereo, and students have turned these on to a different CD in each space. So I am fighting that as well. And finally, the students in each space are set up in a large circle (not mat to mat as in a normal class).
So I teach the class(es), and it's going really poorly - I teach one room and as I walk to the next room they are doing something different. For some reason, something I am saying (not exactly sure what) is interpreted by the students to mean some completely unexpected (and unknown to me) dance that they all seem to know and do in sync, and I cannot figure out what posture or sanskrit word is triggering this. At one point, the students are complaining about the heat (Barb historically works with a very hot room), and we stop the class and get everyone who wants it cooler to go to the lower level (where it's cooler) and the rest to stay on the upper level; I also am running around closing windows (it's an old building, lot of those horizontal tilt out windows) which the students have opened when I am not in eyeshot.
Well, I look up and it's close to 8 pm (class started at 6) and I've barely gotten through a sun salutation, never got to savasana, so the class just ends. I call the students over and they are all surrounding me and I announce that they've just experienced "the worst yoga class I've ever taught, in fact the worst yoga class I've every witnessed" and they all break out into applause (presumably for me being honest and facing it). I kind of go through the circumstances with them (about the multi levels, the sound systems, the lack of a PA, etc.) but pretty much cop to being unprepared and unable to hold the space. I tell them they've earned karma points (payable by me) for sticking it out. A few of them stick around to brainstorm ways to make things better (like having a headset that plays on all the stereo's, and having one CD playing in all the studios).
As the dream ends, I am walking through the streets of Boston, calling Barb up on my cell phone to tell her how badly I messed up and asking advice regarding if / how I should talk to the owners of the studio in Boston.
So what does it mean?
I'm in the middle of a yoga teaching lull - I've been teaching 3 classes down at the studio but one has been cancelled (only getting a few students), and my Friday noon class is gone for 12/25 and 1/1. Meanwhile my Bristol Adult Ed class is off until the 2nd week in Jan. So I am down to one class a week for a few weeks. Am I recognizing some teaching burnout? Am I questioning my commitment to teaching? Or perhaps my qualifications to teach? Am I getting sloppy or unprepared for classes?
I am, at the same time, struggling to put together all the paperwork for my yoga teacher certification - due by year end. It's not really all that hard - a bunch of book reports (all but one already written) and class critiques (already completed) and some photocopying of class sequences and hunting down of some class sign-ins / rosters from my free teaching. Get it all assembled into a binder or booklet. Not exactly an insurmountable project, yet I have been procrastinating about it.
And I am also looking at a new endeavour - playing bass with an up til now folk/rock duo. Am I concerned about spreading myself too thin?
Lots to chew on. Just wanted to get it all down before I dropped back into sleep and forgot it all!
December 22, 2009
Saab Stories
This morning on Where We Live.
I always thought the passenger side mirror was developed due to Saabs (joke). Because back in the day (late 70s / early 80s) it seemed like if someone came screaming up and passed in the right lane, s/he was driving a Saab. Or sat on your bumper and flashed the headlights if one was not doing 20 mph over the limit. I've never quite shaken the stereotype of the Saab driver as being a bit of a speed demon / hothead, although certainly other cars have filled that wanna-be race car driver niche in ensuing years.
I always thought the passenger side mirror was developed due to Saabs (joke). Because back in the day (late 70s / early 80s) it seemed like if someone came screaming up and passed in the right lane, s/he was driving a Saab. Or sat on your bumper and flashed the headlights if one was not doing 20 mph over the limit. I've never quite shaken the stereotype of the Saab driver as being a bit of a speed demon / hothead, although certainly other cars have filled that wanna-be race car driver niche in ensuing years.
December 19, 2009
Random List of Snowstorm Chores
[ ] Clean yoga room
[ ] Clean bed room
[ ] Take upstairs and put away yoga mats, blocks, straps, boombox
[ ] Put away and organize musical instruments from kirtan
[ ] Do a couple of loads of laundry
[ ] Fold and put away a couple of loads of clean laundry
[ ] Clean bathrooms
[ ] Vacuum room
[ ] Hang up some art / photos
[ ] Get client holiday letters and calendars ready to mail
[ ] Put away random piles in the living room from the old house
[ ] Assemble yoga teacher paperwork for certification
Already got the kitchen cleaned, floor swept and mopped, and the coat closet reorganized.
[ ] Clean bed room
[ ] Take upstairs and put away yoga mats, blocks, straps, boombox
[ ] Put away and organize musical instruments from kirtan
[ ] Do a couple of loads of laundry
[ ] Fold and put away a couple of loads of clean laundry
[ ] Clean bathrooms
[ ] Vacuum room
[ ] Hang up some art / photos
[ ] Get client holiday letters and calendars ready to mail
[ ] Put away random piles in the living room from the old house
[ ] Assemble yoga teacher paperwork for certification
Already got the kitchen cleaned, floor swept and mopped, and the coat closet reorganized.
Glastonbury Kids
Popped over to Cinestudio this afternoon for the premiere of a local film, glastonburykids, by Justin Donais.
Was not really planning to go, but I heard a small piece on Colin McEnroe's show, and drove up that way to check my PO Box and get out of the house before the snow came. When all my likely places to hang out for a few hours came up empty, I remembered the film, and headed over to the Trinity campus.
Pretty interesting and resonant on a few counts.
First, I too was one of those kids who got into trouble young. Not quite so egregious or destructive, but my posse went out on what we called "maneuvers" which was typically some form of minor vandalism with a social, political, or arts purpose. So we (for example) drove in to Boston to spray paint rolling stones lips on a Kiss 108 billboard (the local disco station back in the late 70's) with the words CARS REVENGE, ostensibly a protest of Taste of Honey winning the Best new Artist Grammy over our beloved Cars. That the billboard was three stories up, clearly visible from the Mass Pike, and we needed to scale the building on the outside (through various sub roofs and levels) added to the charm / mystique. For the record, I think I got about two floors up my friend Jim and Kevin did the dirty work.
Another "maneuver" involved breaking in to the local state college gym, stealing the plywood sign that hung over the student section "The Pit" and placing it on the roof of the outside smoking area (also called The Pit) of our high school.
Our final maneuver came the summer following senior year. After a night of sign stealing (mostly road signs with our names) we took a "Now Entering Framingham" sign. En route back from that little escapade we noticed an A-frame sign outside a local (as opposed to national) fast food place; since several of us worked at McD's, we decided it would be funny to grab the sign and put it in front of our restaurant. Unfortunately the police were staking out an adjacent bank watched us (What the heck are those kids doing?) and we were busted.
We spent a night in jail, got booked (the booking officer was all excited I was going to WPI and told me to look up his brother if I needed help there), bailed ourselves out. One of our number that night had a lawyer dad who got the case Nolo'd and closed - we ended up with a few months probation and a fine. Somewhere in the bowels of Framingham Police files there is a mug shot of me with a red "I survived three mile island" tee-shirt. It was written up in the paper - "Burger Prank Foiled" was the headline - and we were damned lucky the cops did not search the car and find the beer or other signs we had pilfered that evening. Stupid kids.
I just remember standing beside my mom's bed that morning to let her know what happened as I headed off to court. My dad had passed away just a few months before and already her worst fears were coming true as her eldest (the smart one) was headed to court. Poor mom!
So, glastonburykids kind of resonated on that line. But in addition, I spent a long year ferrying my mentee back and forth to the same courthouse that the kids in the film went to - as she struggled with an arrest and probation related to a stupid answering machine threat (I believe the exact words were "I'll stab you with a fork in your throat, b*tch") she made to a drag queen from the Polo Club; the DQ's ex boyfriend (who lived in Glastonbury, coincidentally) was dating my mentee. This 19 year old called the cops on a 16 year old high school kid who lived 20 miles away and had no way to even get to Hartford, and the cops arrested her. What a joke.
So I trucked her back and forth to court - first for the initial charge, and later when they picked her up for violating parole (she assumed parole officers could be ignored the same way the school guidance counselors could - she assumed wrong). She spent a night in jail - and I went and bailed her out. So I get where these parents are coming from. I must have spent more than 20 hours in that courthouse over a year.
Back to glastonburykids - good documentary. Interesting to see how these kids of privilege (cell phones, cars, little supervision) were left to roam and get into trouble. Interesting to see how "jackass" style stunts went from stupid to dangerous to criminal. And the film-maker did a nice job of slowly revealing the scope (and criminal nature) of the kids stunts.
The film-maker and 4 of the subjects were there this afternoon. The kids (for the most part) seem like they've got their lives back on track, although interestingly one of the kids NOT busted at the time of the documentary sounded (from his statements after the film) to have gottne in trouble later. So perhaps it was just a matter of time for all of them.
Was not really planning to go, but I heard a small piece on Colin McEnroe's show, and drove up that way to check my PO Box and get out of the house before the snow came. When all my likely places to hang out for a few hours came up empty, I remembered the film, and headed over to the Trinity campus.
Pretty interesting and resonant on a few counts.
First, I too was one of those kids who got into trouble young. Not quite so egregious or destructive, but my posse went out on what we called "maneuvers" which was typically some form of minor vandalism with a social, political, or arts purpose. So we (for example) drove in to Boston to spray paint rolling stones lips on a Kiss 108 billboard (the local disco station back in the late 70's) with the words CARS REVENGE, ostensibly a protest of Taste of Honey winning the Best new Artist Grammy over our beloved Cars. That the billboard was three stories up, clearly visible from the Mass Pike, and we needed to scale the building on the outside (through various sub roofs and levels) added to the charm / mystique. For the record, I think I got about two floors up my friend Jim and Kevin did the dirty work.
Another "maneuver" involved breaking in to the local state college gym, stealing the plywood sign that hung over the student section "The Pit" and placing it on the roof of the outside smoking area (also called The Pit) of our high school.
Our final maneuver came the summer following senior year. After a night of sign stealing (mostly road signs with our names) we took a "Now Entering Framingham" sign. En route back from that little escapade we noticed an A-frame sign outside a local (as opposed to national) fast food place; since several of us worked at McD's, we decided it would be funny to grab the sign and put it in front of our restaurant. Unfortunately the police were staking out an adjacent bank watched us (What the heck are those kids doing?) and we were busted.
We spent a night in jail, got booked (the booking officer was all excited I was going to WPI and told me to look up his brother if I needed help there), bailed ourselves out. One of our number that night had a lawyer dad who got the case Nolo'd and closed - we ended up with a few months probation and a fine. Somewhere in the bowels of Framingham Police files there is a mug shot of me with a red "I survived three mile island" tee-shirt. It was written up in the paper - "Burger Prank Foiled" was the headline - and we were damned lucky the cops did not search the car and find the beer or other signs we had pilfered that evening. Stupid kids.
I just remember standing beside my mom's bed that morning to let her know what happened as I headed off to court. My dad had passed away just a few months before and already her worst fears were coming true as her eldest (the smart one) was headed to court. Poor mom!
So, glastonburykids kind of resonated on that line. But in addition, I spent a long year ferrying my mentee back and forth to the same courthouse that the kids in the film went to - as she struggled with an arrest and probation related to a stupid answering machine threat (I believe the exact words were "I'll stab you with a fork in your throat, b*tch") she made to a drag queen from the Polo Club; the DQ's ex boyfriend (who lived in Glastonbury, coincidentally) was dating my mentee. This 19 year old called the cops on a 16 year old high school kid who lived 20 miles away and had no way to even get to Hartford, and the cops arrested her. What a joke.
So I trucked her back and forth to court - first for the initial charge, and later when they picked her up for violating parole (she assumed parole officers could be ignored the same way the school guidance counselors could - she assumed wrong). She spent a night in jail - and I went and bailed her out. So I get where these parents are coming from. I must have spent more than 20 hours in that courthouse over a year.
Back to glastonburykids - good documentary. Interesting to see how these kids of privilege (cell phones, cars, little supervision) were left to roam and get into trouble. Interesting to see how "jackass" style stunts went from stupid to dangerous to criminal. And the film-maker did a nice job of slowly revealing the scope (and criminal nature) of the kids stunts.
The film-maker and 4 of the subjects were there this afternoon. The kids (for the most part) seem like they've got their lives back on track, although interestingly one of the kids NOT busted at the time of the documentary sounded (from his statements after the film) to have gottne in trouble later. So perhaps it was just a matter of time for all of them.
December 14, 2009
Trying Something New
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." (Albert Einstein)
After the intensive last night; I was asked if I'd like go out to dinner with the staff. Now, part of my charm (?) is that I tend to come and go pretty quickly (almost mysteriously, like the wind); I immediately, and completely without thought, said "no thanks, I need to get home".
But really, did I need to get home? Really, I had no compelling reason to get home. So upon a little introspection, I asked if the invite was still open. It was, and I went. I had a delightful (in terms of food, and company) meal at Bizen, an incredible macro/sushi place in Great Barrington (very close to my Falcon Ridge weekend) and got home just fine.
As I pulled up in front of the restaurant, Dougie McLain's "Caledonia" came on the radio. Now this is the song that (as performed by Mad Agnes) dragged me into transformative tears back in 2003 as I faced major life changes and it would have been easy in my post-EI state (even staffing, I got pretty open) to sit in my car and let the waves of sadness and tears wash over me. But friends were arriving and instead of sitting alone in my sadness, I opened the car door and went to embrace warmth, food, humor, and love.
I have worn some pretty deep tracks in the pattern of my life the past many years. Just seems like a nice time to step back, see the way I do things, and make some changes.
After the intensive last night; I was asked if I'd like go out to dinner with the staff. Now, part of my charm (?) is that I tend to come and go pretty quickly (almost mysteriously, like the wind); I immediately, and completely without thought, said "no thanks, I need to get home".
But really, did I need to get home? Really, I had no compelling reason to get home. So upon a little introspection, I asked if the invite was still open. It was, and I went. I had a delightful (in terms of food, and company) meal at Bizen, an incredible macro/sushi place in Great Barrington (very close to my Falcon Ridge weekend) and got home just fine.
As I pulled up in front of the restaurant, Dougie McLain's "Caledonia" came on the radio. Now this is the song that (as performed by Mad Agnes) dragged me into transformative tears back in 2003 as I faced major life changes and it would have been easy in my post-EI state (even staffing, I got pretty open) to sit in my car and let the waves of sadness and tears wash over me. But friends were arriving and instead of sitting alone in my sadness, I opened the car door and went to embrace warmth, food, humor, and love.
I have worn some pretty deep tracks in the pattern of my life the past many years. Just seems like a nice time to step back, see the way I do things, and make some changes.
December 13, 2009
Back from EI
Survived a rather nail-biting ride home from Kripalu this evening (icy roads, especially 44 in CT) - should have gone I-90 to I-91 but we went down to Great Barrington for dinner after and back roads seemed OK up there....wrong choice but I got home fine and with only a 10 minute or so longer trip due to the conditions.
Some quick observations about staffing an intensive (vs. taking an intensive)
* It's a completely different world - much easier to staff. Despite similarly long hours (perhaps even longer; I was up earlier, did not sack out during resting contemplation, and worked through most of my "off" shifts just because I was engaged), and similar levels of commitment (not like I was doing yoga, hanging out in the sauna, or in the cafe) as well as eating the same food and following similar proscriptions (i.e. - no caffeine, no sugar) - I suffered almost zero of the withdrawal symptoms I have had while taking intensives. Although really the last few intensives I've taken I was similarly unaffected. But I was just constantly aware of how hard the participants worked the process and the intensive itself.
* I must have folded up 1000 blankets (or perhaps, 20 blankets 50 times each) blankets over the weekend. Exaggeration, perhaps, but not much. I also (mostly (ran errands, set up the meals, fetched late participants, woke participants in the morning or from rest, and went out walking (in the bitter cold, and today, in the rain) with the participants.
* It was also ironic that I, who never wear a watch, had one strapped to my wrist all weekend. I mean, these are the weekends in which one hands over watch, cell phone, and car keys at the start on Thursday and get them back Sunday night....
* I really enjoyed being of service, witnessing the intensive, and holding space. I am honored to have shared in the weekend. Watching the participants slowly unfold or open over the three days - amazing ad beautiful.
* I really think that monitoring this intensive has given me some wonderful insights into the process and the technique to help the next time I take an intensive.
* And due to some participant changes and illness, I got to step in for a handful of dyads. And (as is my wont) left my heart and a cup of tears on the intensive floor. Such powerful and life altering work, even stepping in cold like that.
Now, back to work, yoga, the rest of my life.
Some quick observations about staffing an intensive (vs. taking an intensive)
* It's a completely different world - much easier to staff. Despite similarly long hours (perhaps even longer; I was up earlier, did not sack out during resting contemplation, and worked through most of my "off" shifts just because I was engaged), and similar levels of commitment (not like I was doing yoga, hanging out in the sauna, or in the cafe) as well as eating the same food and following similar proscriptions (i.e. - no caffeine, no sugar) - I suffered almost zero of the withdrawal symptoms I have had while taking intensives. Although really the last few intensives I've taken I was similarly unaffected. But I was just constantly aware of how hard the participants worked the process and the intensive itself.
* I must have folded up 1000 blankets (or perhaps, 20 blankets 50 times each) blankets over the weekend. Exaggeration, perhaps, but not much. I also (mostly (ran errands, set up the meals, fetched late participants, woke participants in the morning or from rest, and went out walking (in the bitter cold, and today, in the rain) with the participants.
* It was also ironic that I, who never wear a watch, had one strapped to my wrist all weekend. I mean, these are the weekends in which one hands over watch, cell phone, and car keys at the start on Thursday and get them back Sunday night....
* I really enjoyed being of service, witnessing the intensive, and holding space. I am honored to have shared in the weekend. Watching the participants slowly unfold or open over the three days - amazing ad beautiful.
* I really think that monitoring this intensive has given me some wonderful insights into the process and the technique to help the next time I take an intensive.
* And due to some participant changes and illness, I got to step in for a handful of dyads. And (as is my wont) left my heart and a cup of tears on the intensive floor. Such powerful and life altering work, even stepping in cold like that.
Now, back to work, yoga, the rest of my life.
December 10, 2009
Making the Kool Aid
A couple of years ago, speaking to a yoga studio friend, I commented that I certainly seem to have "drunk the kool-aid" (a somewhat unfortunate reference, I know) in terms of commitment to my practice, and to personal growth and a spiritual path in general. "Not sure if you've noticed" she quipped "but you are making the kool-aid these days"
I'm headed out the afternoon to Kripalu for a 3 day Enlightenment Intensive. I've participated in 5 of these to date, but this time I have been invited onto the staff. I'll be a Silent Monitor - which means I (mostly) watch and learn, and hold space for the participants - listening if they need to talk but not engaging. I'm also the weekend "go-fer" and errand runner.
Pretty excited about this - I had a couple of pretty vivid dreams about the upcoming weekend. These weekends are incredible opportunities for self discovery - the Truth comes pretty close to the surface and many participants have direct experiences of the truth. I've struggled with the process of late, but its such deep, powerful, and sacred work that I am honored to be part of it. And I have no doubt that, even as staff and not doing the weekend directly, I will witness much and experience much.
I'm excited!
I'm headed out the afternoon to Kripalu for a 3 day Enlightenment Intensive. I've participated in 5 of these to date, but this time I have been invited onto the staff. I'll be a Silent Monitor - which means I (mostly) watch and learn, and hold space for the participants - listening if they need to talk but not engaging. I'm also the weekend "go-fer" and errand runner.
Pretty excited about this - I had a couple of pretty vivid dreams about the upcoming weekend. These weekends are incredible opportunities for self discovery - the Truth comes pretty close to the surface and many participants have direct experiences of the truth. I've struggled with the process of late, but its such deep, powerful, and sacred work that I am honored to be part of it. And I have no doubt that, even as staff and not doing the weekend directly, I will witness much and experience much.
I'm excited!
Productivity
So far, moving my office back into the house seems to be a win, with a higher level of productivity in all areas of my life. Mostly, this involves finding chunks of time to work that I might not otherwise - a few hours in the morning before yoga, or a few hours in the evening while watching TV. I've gotten a few proposals out (typically something I stall on), am all caught up on customer reports, and am focusing on new projects, new customers, etc.
But I'm also reducing my laptop time - with my desktop computer always on and accessible, I'm not sitting on my couch messing around with my laptop much. So when I am at my desk, I'm online. When I am not at my desk, I'm doing dishes, laundry, working around the house, etc.
The biggest concrete evidence of this newfound productivity is a piece of test equipment - a power and demand monitoring device that I have owned for a bunch of years. In early 2008, I dropped my XP laptop and the screen cracked. The laptop was quickly replaced, but the test equipment software was not Vista friendly. So I set the test equipment aside, intending to get around to dealing with the equipment "someday". Recently, I noticed that the manufacturer had released new software (Vista friendly) and although it took a few hours of messing around to get it working, I spent the time (admittedly, between 10 pm and midnight, when computer geekery seems to fit) and now the meter is back in operation.
I'm monitoring my house power for a few days (partly to see what my demand looks like, partly to exercise the software and test equipment) and I am planning to take it over to the yoga studio as well for a week of monitoring.
So far at least - moving into the house was a good move!
But I'm also reducing my laptop time - with my desktop computer always on and accessible, I'm not sitting on my couch messing around with my laptop much. So when I am at my desk, I'm online. When I am not at my desk, I'm doing dishes, laundry, working around the house, etc.
The biggest concrete evidence of this newfound productivity is a piece of test equipment - a power and demand monitoring device that I have owned for a bunch of years. In early 2008, I dropped my XP laptop and the screen cracked. The laptop was quickly replaced, but the test equipment software was not Vista friendly. So I set the test equipment aside, intending to get around to dealing with the equipment "someday". Recently, I noticed that the manufacturer had released new software (Vista friendly) and although it took a few hours of messing around to get it working, I spent the time (admittedly, between 10 pm and midnight, when computer geekery seems to fit) and now the meter is back in operation.
I'm monitoring my house power for a few days (partly to see what my demand looks like, partly to exercise the software and test equipment) and I am planning to take it over to the yoga studio as well for a week of monitoring.
So far at least - moving into the house was a good move!
December 04, 2009
In Other News
My Pandora "Ferron" channel starts off incredibly strong - Ferron, Lucinda Williams, Tracy Chapman, Eliza Gilkyson, Cheryl Wheeler. Not a dud in the bunch. Now someone named Pieta Brown who I'm not familiar with, but right on track. And now Deb Talan whose voice and this particular song (Comfort) is very "Weepies"
In other, other news, walking through the back trails of the Farmington Reservoir today, we came across a bear. Somewhat nerve-racking and exciting. All parties were well behaved however (despite the lack of pepper spray) - I picked up a stick just in case the bear had friends....but we finished our hike without further incident.
In other, other news, walking through the back trails of the Farmington Reservoir today, we came across a bear. Somewhat nerve-racking and exciting. All parties were well behaved however (despite the lack of pepper spray) - I picked up a stick just in case the bear had friends....but we finished our hike without further incident.
His Name Was Anthony
Stopped by the old house this afternoon to say hi to Zippy, to find out that there had been a fire in the old neighborhood. Down at the far end of the street, a man in his 50s died of smoke inhalation. The fire was extinguished quickly, although it severely damaged the house; the first foor bedroom collapsed into the basement.
I never formally met Anthony Varjabedian; although we had a passing acquaintance. He was often sitting outside his home, or working outside as I drove past on my way to the office. In the summer, Zippy and I would walk the dogs past his house, or I'd ride my bike or scooter past, and he'd wave in the way that neighbors will. We never spoke, except for perhaps a quick hello. (Edit: and reading through some of the news reports, he was apparently disabled / mute. So of course we never spoke.....) It is only now that I know his name.
Not sure why but this unexpected death has hit me a little hard. One day here, one day gone. I wonder of the story of his life. Did he ever marry? Did he ever love? How did he come to live alone? And how did our lives come as close as to wave, but not close enough to intersect, to introduce ourselves?
Strange world we all live in.....
I never formally met Anthony Varjabedian; although we had a passing acquaintance. He was often sitting outside his home, or working outside as I drove past on my way to the office. In the summer, Zippy and I would walk the dogs past his house, or I'd ride my bike or scooter past, and he'd wave in the way that neighbors will. We never spoke, except for perhaps a quick hello. (Edit: and reading through some of the news reports, he was apparently disabled / mute. So of course we never spoke.....) It is only now that I know his name.
Not sure why but this unexpected death has hit me a little hard. One day here, one day gone. I wonder of the story of his life. Did he ever marry? Did he ever love? How did he come to live alone? And how did our lives come as close as to wave, but not close enough to intersect, to introduce ourselves?
Strange world we all live in.....
November 28, 2009
New Roku Apps - Pandora
Fairly quietly, Roku has come out with a whole slew of new apps, or as they call them, channels.
I've been a big fan / user of the Roku box for Netflix for a while - although I have yet to buy content (via the Amazon.com connection). But now there is a Pandora channel. I've never quite got into Pandora; it's a neat application / service but I'm usually taxing my computers with engineering work and streaming is too unreliable unless I've got a light workload. And I've never had a good computer audio system.
But the Roku box was a patch cable away from being hooked up to the stereo (I did that in fact for the Comcast music channels) and the Pandora app works great. A little convoluted to update my Roku player (it will auto-update eventually, but I did it manually to get it now), subscribe to the channels, create and link to a Pandora account. But all done now. I started with Richard Shindell and the list has grown from there. Pretty on target in terms of taste, just 20 songs in or so and I've hit John Gorka, Dar Williams, Loudon Wainwright, Bill Morrissey, Pierce Pettis. I'm judiciously using the Like / Dislike buttons to stter things a bit, but for the most part it's meandering successfully on it's own. Where are you, Lucy Kaplansky?
Roku's new channel store includes some other gems - Facebook photos, Flickr photos are both things I subscribe to. And a bunch of video channels (mostly podcasts and web videos, vs. television) although the golden marriage of Hulu (Simpsons! Glee! 30Rock! House!) and Roku remains tantalizingly unfulfulled.
I've been a big fan / user of the Roku box for Netflix for a while - although I have yet to buy content (via the Amazon.com connection). But now there is a Pandora channel. I've never quite got into Pandora; it's a neat application / service but I'm usually taxing my computers with engineering work and streaming is too unreliable unless I've got a light workload. And I've never had a good computer audio system.
But the Roku box was a patch cable away from being hooked up to the stereo (I did that in fact for the Comcast music channels) and the Pandora app works great. A little convoluted to update my Roku player (it will auto-update eventually, but I did it manually to get it now), subscribe to the channels, create and link to a Pandora account. But all done now. I started with Richard Shindell and the list has grown from there. Pretty on target in terms of taste, just 20 songs in or so and I've hit John Gorka, Dar Williams, Loudon Wainwright, Bill Morrissey, Pierce Pettis. I'm judiciously using the Like / Dislike buttons to stter things a bit, but for the most part it's meandering successfully on it's own. Where are you, Lucy Kaplansky?
Roku's new channel store includes some other gems - Facebook photos, Flickr photos are both things I subscribe to. And a bunch of video channels (mostly podcasts and web videos, vs. television) although the golden marriage of Hulu (Simpsons! Glee! 30Rock! House!) and Roku remains tantalizingly unfulfulled.
November 25, 2009
Trinity-on-Main launches acoustic series
The 19 Chestnut Series is Trinity’s latest attempt to make full use of all the space available in the converted church building. The hope is that acoustic concerts in an intimate coffeehouse setting will become a regular monthly event.
Need to get networked and connected to my new hometown!
Need to get networked and connected to my new hometown!
November 23, 2009
Procrastinating
I have a pile of mind-numbing, eye-strain inducing reports in the queue, which need to get out by Thursday. And every so often I channel a two year old throwing an "I won't! I won't! I won't! I won't!" tantrum. I think today was such a day. I sat down at my desk this morning to get started, spotted nothing urgent in the In Box, and set out into the world.
I tend to get a lot done when I am avoiding a specific task, and today was no exception. The items checked off my To-Do list include:
[x] Visit the bank, deposit a check
[x] Visit the studio, fetch my keys
[x] Hit the PO Box
[x] Stop by the old house and drop off Zippy's truck keys and my spare house key
[x] Hit the old office for an hour of cleaning and brought a pile of small bits and pieces back to the house
[x] Target to pick up a prescription. While I was there I got my eyes examined and ordered new contacts (a new brand designed to make close vision better, forestalling bifocals for a little while). Also got my sunglasses adjusted / tightened.
[x] Office Depot to buy a new desk chair (on sale) as well as new folders
[x] Home Depot for a timer for the dehumidifier (after testing to be sure it comes up live after power is removed; it does) - a planned purchase
[x] Home Depot for four small plants and a selection of pots - an unplanned purchase
[x] Emptied the car from the old office
[x] Assemble the new chair and slice up the cardboard box for recycling
[x] Repot the new plants - two tropicals for the altar in the yoga room. An ivy-ish thing for the bedroom. A hanging spider plant for the kitchen.
So....a bunch of accomplishments. And the report queue has not grown in the past 8 hours, so I can perhaps begin to knock those off now....
I tend to get a lot done when I am avoiding a specific task, and today was no exception. The items checked off my To-Do list include:
[x] Visit the bank, deposit a check
[x] Visit the studio, fetch my keys
[x] Hit the PO Box
[x] Stop by the old house and drop off Zippy's truck keys and my spare house key
[x] Hit the old office for an hour of cleaning and brought a pile of small bits and pieces back to the house
[x] Target to pick up a prescription. While I was there I got my eyes examined and ordered new contacts (a new brand designed to make close vision better, forestalling bifocals for a little while). Also got my sunglasses adjusted / tightened.
[x] Office Depot to buy a new desk chair (on sale) as well as new folders
[x] Home Depot for a timer for the dehumidifier (after testing to be sure it comes up live after power is removed; it does) - a planned purchase
[x] Home Depot for four small plants and a selection of pots - an unplanned purchase
[x] Emptied the car from the old office
[x] Assemble the new chair and slice up the cardboard box for recycling
[x] Repot the new plants - two tropicals for the altar in the yoga room. An ivy-ish thing for the bedroom. A hanging spider plant for the kitchen.
So....a bunch of accomplishments. And the report queue has not grown in the past 8 hours, so I can perhaps begin to knock those off now....
November 22, 2009
Underwood Typewriter
I gave away my typewriter.
It was an electric model - an Underwood 565 (I think) that my parents gave me for graduation. I say my parents, because sometime between purchasing it and my graduation day, my dad passed away - it was perhaps the last gift he bought for me and a typewriter as a gift has his hand all over it. I had not remembered that fact until sitting down to write this - on a Dell keyboard and an internet blog - and not on my Underwood typewriter. This fact saddens me a little; although it needed to go regardless. When it comes to sentimental remembrances of dad - his St. Christopher medal (which he wore constantly throughout his marriage and adult life) and his bowling ball (a 16-pounder that I have bowled a few rounds with back in the day) will have to do.....
But back to the typewriter. I made my way through high school with an old 1920's vintage Underwood (one of those big cast iron things) that I fed with corrosable onion skin paper (the better to type head-to-paper, as was my wont back in the day). It was a beast - and it survived into my adulthood, sitting in my basement in Waterbury until I decided to discard it (no freecycle or craigslist back then, but I left it on a table at the curb and it found a home before trash day). The electric model went with me to college, where it was sporadically used (not a lot of call for typewriters in engineering school) although I did peck out an Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) on the MA Bottle Deposit Law (fairly new at the time and resonant with my working at a package store), as well as an analysis of the Who's "Tommy" using classical techniques. A handful of treatised on Shakespeare and classical music (in retrospect, I took a lot of non-engineering courses). Also a couple of dozen long winded letters to my buddy Jim out at Univ of Chicago. Think I still have one of those (written out, not typed) floating around here somewhere. I ought to send it to him, for the heck of it. Here's who we were, way back then.....
So, after having moved the typewriter several times (home and office) without removing it from the case, it was time to find a home for it. A lovely young woman and perhaps boyfriend stopped by tonight. I asked if she were a writer and she said no, but "....my favorite poet used an Underwood."
It has a good home and a new life, and will do the things a typewriter was born to do. And I have one less piece of stuff in my life. And the technology, plastic, and metal avoided the landfill.
Yogic unattachment? Getting old and realizing that life will not go on forever? Just getting tired of carrying stuff around? Not sure.....
It was an electric model - an Underwood 565 (I think) that my parents gave me for graduation. I say my parents, because sometime between purchasing it and my graduation day, my dad passed away - it was perhaps the last gift he bought for me and a typewriter as a gift has his hand all over it. I had not remembered that fact until sitting down to write this - on a Dell keyboard and an internet blog - and not on my Underwood typewriter. This fact saddens me a little; although it needed to go regardless. When it comes to sentimental remembrances of dad - his St. Christopher medal (which he wore constantly throughout his marriage and adult life) and his bowling ball (a 16-pounder that I have bowled a few rounds with back in the day) will have to do.....
But back to the typewriter. I made my way through high school with an old 1920's vintage Underwood (one of those big cast iron things) that I fed with corrosable onion skin paper (the better to type head-to-paper, as was my wont back in the day). It was a beast - and it survived into my adulthood, sitting in my basement in Waterbury until I decided to discard it (no freecycle or craigslist back then, but I left it on a table at the curb and it found a home before trash day). The electric model went with me to college, where it was sporadically used (not a lot of call for typewriters in engineering school) although I did peck out an Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) on the MA Bottle Deposit Law (fairly new at the time and resonant with my working at a package store), as well as an analysis of the Who's "Tommy" using classical techniques. A handful of treatised on Shakespeare and classical music (in retrospect, I took a lot of non-engineering courses). Also a couple of dozen long winded letters to my buddy Jim out at Univ of Chicago. Think I still have one of those (written out, not typed) floating around here somewhere. I ought to send it to him, for the heck of it. Here's who we were, way back then.....
So, after having moved the typewriter several times (home and office) without removing it from the case, it was time to find a home for it. A lovely young woman and perhaps boyfriend stopped by tonight. I asked if she were a writer and she said no, but "....my favorite poet used an Underwood."
It has a good home and a new life, and will do the things a typewriter was born to do. And I have one less piece of stuff in my life. And the technology, plastic, and metal avoided the landfill.
Yogic unattachment? Getting old and realizing that life will not go on forever? Just getting tired of carrying stuff around? Not sure.....
November 19, 2009
My New Neighborhood
Some links to places I need to explore in my (new) fair city:
Greater New Britain Arts Alliance - http://www.newbritainarts.org/
New Britain Museum of American Art - http://nbmaa.org/
Hole in the Wall Theater - http://www.hitw.org/
Arts League of New Britain - http://www.alnb.org/
New Britain Industrial Museum - http://www.nbim.org/ (Warning, annoying flash site and I was visitor #58. Not exactly a "must visit, I guess")
Trinity on Main - http://www.trinityonmain.org/
Music Series at South Church - http://www.musicseries.org/
Sure I've missed some, but it's a start....
Greater New Britain Arts Alliance - http://www.newbritainarts.org/
New Britain Museum of American Art - http://nbmaa.org/
Hole in the Wall Theater - http://www.hitw.org/
Arts League of New Britain - http://www.alnb.org/
New Britain Industrial Museum - http://www.nbim.org/ (Warning, annoying flash site and I was visitor #58. Not exactly a "must visit, I guess")
Trinity on Main - http://www.trinityonmain.org/
Music Series at South Church - http://www.musicseries.org/
Sure I've missed some, but it's a start....
Note to Billings Forge, Re: Branding
Center for Community at Billings Forge - http://www.centerforcommunity.org/
Billings Forge Community Works - http://www.billingsforgeworks.org/
The Workshops at Billings Forge - http://workshops.billingsforgeworks.org/
The Studio at Billings Forge - http://studio.billingsforgeworks.org/
The Kitchen at Billings Forge - http://www.thekitchencatering.org/
Farmer's Market at Billings Forge - http://www.hartfordfarmersmarket.org/
Firebox Restaurant - http://www.fireboxrestaurant.com/
Billings Forge Apartments - http://billingsforgeapts.com/ (admittedly a placeholder site)
There is a lot going on down there on Broad Street - but it seems like energy, communication, etc. are a bit scattered. I had a hard time deciding which website to link to in my previous post. Take a lesson from Real Art Ways (cinema, visual arts, spoken word, community outreach, social events, music, all coming from one entity and accessible on one website) - brand yourself. Set up one website, one path for communications. You can target marketing or outreach, slice and dice your email communications, fund-raising lists and organization internally - but give us one unified face, and we'll be a lot less confused and more likely to come on down!
Billings Forge Community Works - http://www.billingsforgeworks.org/
The Workshops at Billings Forge - http://workshops.billingsforgeworks.org/
The Studio at Billings Forge - http://studio.billingsforgeworks.org/
The Kitchen at Billings Forge - http://www.thekitchencatering.org/
Farmer's Market at Billings Forge - http://www.hartfordfarmersmarket.org/
Firebox Restaurant - http://www.fireboxrestaurant.com/
Billings Forge Apartments - http://billingsforgeapts.com/ (admittedly a placeholder site)
There is a lot going on down there on Broad Street - but it seems like energy, communication, etc. are a bit scattered. I had a hard time deciding which website to link to in my previous post. Take a lesson from Real Art Ways (cinema, visual arts, spoken word, community outreach, social events, music, all coming from one entity and accessible on one website) - brand yourself. Set up one website, one path for communications. You can target marketing or outreach, slice and dice your email communications, fund-raising lists and organization internally - but give us one unified face, and we'll be a lot less confused and more likely to come on down!
Where We Live @ Real Art Ways
I went to the taping of Where We Live last evening at Real Art Ways. The theme of the show was Locating Creativity in the city of Hartford - official guests were an official from the city of Providence (Water Fire....ooooo!) as well as the COO from the city of Hartford. Several local bloggers were in attendance (waves!) as well as a cross-section of the local arts community.
Meta Commentary: Just love watching radio happen. John Dankowsky is quite entertaining as he does his opening bit (using his hands and body to drive his voice) although he settled down for the interview itself. Nice to see the faces (oh so young!) behind the WNPR shows I listen to daily: Catie Talarski, Libby Conn, Patrick Skahill, Chion Wolf. Not *quite* as interesting (from a performance standpoint) as the Thsi American Life simulcast (for example) but good nonetheless.
I was not so thrilled with the guests (civil servants) - Providence seems to have hit the creativity jackpot with Waterfire but it was not so clear if this was the city putting together a framework that the ground level folks built upon, or if this was a vision of one person / group that the city reluctantly embraced once it became a success. Regardless, it capitalizes on a city that has embraced it's waterways rather than turned its back on them.
Asked for ideas to engage Hartford, one of the audience members (forget who) quipped "Daylight the Park River" - and yeah, I get that. Ever since I learned of the history (wherein Trinity College was relocated and the Park River buried to make room for Bushnell Park and the State Capitol), that seems like the fatal move that sealed Hartford's future.
An Artspace resident spoke highly of that facility; although I suspect there is a waiting list. Local artist Anne Cubberly countered with concerns about the cost of studio / workshop space. Janice LaMotta from Billings Forge spoke, as did a number of artists, U-Conn students, and other local arts / culture insiders.
There was some discussion of the iQuilt initiative to knit local arts and cultural destinations and make the city more walkable. Mention was made of Theaterwork's recent "City Arts on Pearl" project as well as the Bushnell working to connect the Capitol / Bushnell Park are to Main Street.
Discussion, but not a lot of solutions nor a lot of consensus. Most I spoke to afterwards felt that the focus on a governmental solution was not optimal. Many spoke of "silos" - individuals or organizations that are taking on their own corner of the world but not a lot of synergy or formal collaboration. So we have Real Art Ways, Billings Forge, Artspace, Theaterworks, Hartford Stage, Bushnell, the Wadsworth Atheneum (not represented....), and dozens of other organizations, each chipping away at their geographic and cultural plot of land. But not really working within an overall framework.
I'll add a concept in here are well - Interest Silos. Have been part of a few different communities, I see small groups of interest. The film clique - moving from Real Art Ways to Cinestudio to Cinema City to the Atheneum. The theatre group - from the larger equity theaters to the smaller community spaces. There are, I am sure, small communities formed around jazz. Around folk / acoustic music. Around indie / rock music. Around dance. Around visual arts. Around spoken word. Around sports (cricket? historic baseball? disc golf?). I am sure there are others.
I see the key to developing a vibrant local culture to expand the iQuilt concept past the geographic (still important) and figure out the connectors - individuals and organizations that, either by design or by accident, bridge these interest silos. Real Art Ways is one such entity, with connections to film, to music, to visual arts, to spoken word / performance, and to the corporate world (via the popular Creative Cocktail Hour which takes all these entities and stirs them together). Billings Forge seems to be there as well, mixing locavores, arts, music, with a healthy dollop of community activism.
An interesting evening; I look forward to listening to the show, to see how the show was mixed down and cleaned up.
On a personal note, sitting here in my new digs within the city limits of New Britain, I am torn between my relationship to Hartford, and a desire to look towards my new city - which has a number of burgeoning arts spaces itself. And I'm excited to be emerging from a few months of focusing on my personal saga (buying a condo, and moving) and looking once more outward, on the blog and in the rest of my life.
Addendum: Where We Live / Real Art Ways Collaborative Blog
Meta Commentary: Just love watching radio happen. John Dankowsky is quite entertaining as he does his opening bit (using his hands and body to drive his voice) although he settled down for the interview itself. Nice to see the faces (oh so young!) behind the WNPR shows I listen to daily: Catie Talarski, Libby Conn, Patrick Skahill, Chion Wolf. Not *quite* as interesting (from a performance standpoint) as the Thsi American Life simulcast (for example) but good nonetheless.
I was not so thrilled with the guests (civil servants) - Providence seems to have hit the creativity jackpot with Waterfire but it was not so clear if this was the city putting together a framework that the ground level folks built upon, or if this was a vision of one person / group that the city reluctantly embraced once it became a success. Regardless, it capitalizes on a city that has embraced it's waterways rather than turned its back on them.
Asked for ideas to engage Hartford, one of the audience members (forget who) quipped "Daylight the Park River" - and yeah, I get that. Ever since I learned of the history (wherein Trinity College was relocated and the Park River buried to make room for Bushnell Park and the State Capitol), that seems like the fatal move that sealed Hartford's future.
An Artspace resident spoke highly of that facility; although I suspect there is a waiting list. Local artist Anne Cubberly countered with concerns about the cost of studio / workshop space. Janice LaMotta from Billings Forge spoke, as did a number of artists, U-Conn students, and other local arts / culture insiders.
There was some discussion of the iQuilt initiative to knit local arts and cultural destinations and make the city more walkable. Mention was made of Theaterwork's recent "City Arts on Pearl" project as well as the Bushnell working to connect the Capitol / Bushnell Park are to Main Street.
Discussion, but not a lot of solutions nor a lot of consensus. Most I spoke to afterwards felt that the focus on a governmental solution was not optimal. Many spoke of "silos" - individuals or organizations that are taking on their own corner of the world but not a lot of synergy or formal collaboration. So we have Real Art Ways, Billings Forge, Artspace, Theaterworks, Hartford Stage, Bushnell, the Wadsworth Atheneum (not represented....), and dozens of other organizations, each chipping away at their geographic and cultural plot of land. But not really working within an overall framework.
I'll add a concept in here are well - Interest Silos. Have been part of a few different communities, I see small groups of interest. The film clique - moving from Real Art Ways to Cinestudio to Cinema City to the Atheneum. The theatre group - from the larger equity theaters to the smaller community spaces. There are, I am sure, small communities formed around jazz. Around folk / acoustic music. Around indie / rock music. Around dance. Around visual arts. Around spoken word. Around sports (cricket? historic baseball? disc golf?). I am sure there are others.
I see the key to developing a vibrant local culture to expand the iQuilt concept past the geographic (still important) and figure out the connectors - individuals and organizations that, either by design or by accident, bridge these interest silos. Real Art Ways is one such entity, with connections to film, to music, to visual arts, to spoken word / performance, and to the corporate world (via the popular Creative Cocktail Hour which takes all these entities and stirs them together). Billings Forge seems to be there as well, mixing locavores, arts, music, with a healthy dollop of community activism.
An interesting evening; I look forward to listening to the show, to see how the show was mixed down and cleaned up.
On a personal note, sitting here in my new digs within the city limits of New Britain, I am torn between my relationship to Hartford, and a desire to look towards my new city - which has a number of burgeoning arts spaces itself. And I'm excited to be emerging from a few months of focusing on my personal saga (buying a condo, and moving) and looking once more outward, on the blog and in the rest of my life.
Addendum: Where We Live / Real Art Ways Collaborative Blog
November 17, 2009
Question and Answer: Frigidaire Dehumidifer
Model Number: FDL50S1
Subject: Dehumidifer Cycling
Message: Is there any way to increase the device hysterisis? My dehumidifier seems to cycle on/off a lot (under 5 minutes) - just a little annoying and I am concerned about motor and component life with all this switching. I would prefer it turned on, ran for a longer period, then switched off for a longer period. The device seems to be working fine. It's set on Low Fan speed and 50% RH. Just seems to bounce up and down through the RH set level pretty quickly...
Alternately, I may install a timer so that the device runs just at night (and presumably, for longer periods since the humidity will have crept up), unless you have other ideas.....
*********************************************************************
Response: Thank you for taking the time to contact us at Frigidaire. There is no way
to change the way the unit cycles, but the component are designed to work. After cycled off at the desired room relative humidity a dehumidifier could cycle about every 3 to 4 minutes on then 3 to 4 minutes off depending on the room's relative humidity and rate of humid air infiltration. A unit could run longer if there was higher moisture infiltration into the room.
Please let us know if you need any further information or assistance. Thank you for choosing Frigidaire products for your home.
*********************************************************************
Good: Quick response
Not So Good: Not the answer I wanted (I hoped for some toggle in the software to increase the run time or something). Looks like I will be installing a timer or something to keep the dehumidifier off when I am working.
Interesting: Slight off-kilter English, but pretty decent technical response.
Subject: Dehumidifer Cycling
Message: Is there any way to increase the device hysterisis? My dehumidifier seems to cycle on/off a lot (under 5 minutes) - just a little annoying and I am concerned about motor and component life with all this switching. I would prefer it turned on, ran for a longer period, then switched off for a longer period. The device seems to be working fine. It's set on Low Fan speed and 50% RH. Just seems to bounce up and down through the RH set level pretty quickly...
Alternately, I may install a timer so that the device runs just at night (and presumably, for longer periods since the humidity will have crept up), unless you have other ideas.....
*********************************************************************
Response: Thank you for taking the time to contact us at Frigidaire. There is no way
to change the way the unit cycles, but the component are designed to work. After cycled off at the desired room relative humidity a dehumidifier could cycle about every 3 to 4 minutes on then 3 to 4 minutes off depending on the room's relative humidity and rate of humid air infiltration. A unit could run longer if there was higher moisture infiltration into the room.
Please let us know if you need any further information or assistance. Thank you for choosing Frigidaire products for your home.
*********************************************************************
Good: Quick response
Not So Good: Not the answer I wanted (I hoped for some toggle in the software to increase the run time or something). Looks like I will be installing a timer or something to keep the dehumidifier off when I am working.
Interesting: Slight off-kilter English, but pretty decent technical response.
Detoxing - Office Edition
With the realization that I can do my work with little more than a computer set-up, I have set upon the task of shedding "stuff" from my old office as I bring things into the home office.
Yesterday, that involved 8 boxes of ephemera hauled to the dumpster or recycling bin. Many many catalogs - test equipment, components, standards, logowear, office supplies, etc. Some of these dated back to the mid 90s. Many copies of trip reports and training manuals - I've been in business nearly 15 years and things pile up. Most of this stuff is archived electronically and I have a reasonably good backup scheme; in 15 years I've never had a truly catastrophic or non-recoverable computer crash. Piles of used (but saved for some reason) manila folders. Time to buy a fresh box.....
I brought over two large bookshelves last night along with the few items that escaped the purge - 3.5 shelves out of 10 once formerly full shelves. Good job! I also brought over a rack for storing / filing papers - which I intend to resurrect in the new place (as opposed to filing in piles, my most recent technique)
I still have much work to do. A handful of pots (with long gone plants) and some potting soil. Piles of tools and test equipment. A file cabinet. A desk. A table that has become a flat file. And a closet that houses tax records, test equipment, spare electronics, and yoga mats.
But it will get done by the end of the month....on track for that!
Yesterday, that involved 8 boxes of ephemera hauled to the dumpster or recycling bin. Many many catalogs - test equipment, components, standards, logowear, office supplies, etc. Some of these dated back to the mid 90s. Many copies of trip reports and training manuals - I've been in business nearly 15 years and things pile up. Most of this stuff is archived electronically and I have a reasonably good backup scheme; in 15 years I've never had a truly catastrophic or non-recoverable computer crash. Piles of used (but saved for some reason) manila folders. Time to buy a fresh box.....
I brought over two large bookshelves last night along with the few items that escaped the purge - 3.5 shelves out of 10 once formerly full shelves. Good job! I also brought over a rack for storing / filing papers - which I intend to resurrect in the new place (as opposed to filing in piles, my most recent technique)
I still have much work to do. A handful of pots (with long gone plants) and some potting soil. Piles of tools and test equipment. A file cabinet. A desk. A table that has become a flat file. And a closet that houses tax records, test equipment, spare electronics, and yoga mats.
But it will get done by the end of the month....on track for that!
November 16, 2009
Opening the Heart
Headed to the Northwest Hills last night - to Washington Depot for a kirtan with Krishna Das. Carpooled up with Shankara's posse: Deb David, Joy, Shankara, and myself.
Great kirtan - I opted for a comfortbale chair in the cheap seats rather than a seat on the floor with my friends (a day of teaching and hiking left me a bit stiff) but I nonetheless got right in there in terms of chanting, swaying, connecting.
Amazing to me how quickly I dropped in. Many hours of kirtan, meditation, enlightenment intensives, and yoga - the divine spirit is never too far below the surface.....
Great kirtan - I opted for a comfortbale chair in the cheap seats rather than a seat on the floor with my friends (a day of teaching and hiking left me a bit stiff) but I nonetheless got right in there in terms of chanting, swaying, connecting.
Amazing to me how quickly I dropped in. Many hours of kirtan, meditation, enlightenment intensives, and yoga - the divine spirit is never too far below the surface.....
November 14, 2009
Officially Moved
As of Monday morning, PowerLines (my business) has relocated to my basement. Carpet in place. Dehumidifer humming. And as of this morning, computer and phones have been relocated. Going to listen to Car Talk and Wait Wait while I reassemble the PowerLines home office.
Of course, no desk, no shelves, no files, and no mess - I'll be bringing stuff over a bit at a time. But the reality that I have almost everything I need to work on my computer is dawning on me, and that the shelves full of books and catalogs, and the files (mostly piled up and not organized) are either rarely used or wholly optional - so I think there will be a rather massive purge of catalogs, files, ephemera, old test equipment, etc. - rather toss it / recycle it than move it and clutter up the new space.....
Of course, no desk, no shelves, no files, and no mess - I'll be bringing stuff over a bit at a time. But the reality that I have almost everything I need to work on my computer is dawning on me, and that the shelves full of books and catalogs, and the files (mostly piled up and not organized) are either rarely used or wholly optional - so I think there will be a rather massive purge of catalogs, files, ephemera, old test equipment, etc. - rather toss it / recycle it than move it and clutter up the new space.....
Subscriber
Since my living situation has changed (and I therefore do not need to deal with kvetching about unread papers, waste, clutter, etc.) I have decided to support local news. I do this understanding that I may not have time to read the entire thing front to back, and that I need to conscientiously recycle the old copies. But I do believe in local news and want to do my part to support it.
Hartford Courant, I am hereby a subscriber.
Hartford Courant, I am hereby a subscriber.
November 13, 2009
Weekend Looms
I'm looking forward to my first lazy Saturday morning at the condo. Last week was moving day - balloon chasing and a busy day, not a lot of time to relax. This week with the moving done and the weather less amenable to ballooning, I might get the chance to just hang out, listen to NPR, drink coffee. Although, upon a small bit of contemplation, that pretty much describes my life this Friday morning as I write this, so I should not complaint.
Life here is good. I did a load of laundry last night and am testing out the "hanging things up to dry" process - I picked up 20 plastic hangers at Target and will use them hang things on my old metal clothes rack and the rafters, in lieu of a real clothesline. With my office carpet down (the Galaxy Carpet subcontractor finished up around 5:30 last night, just in time to get to yoga with Barb), I'm expecting to get my work computer out of Newington and into the basement this weekend - that will signal the beginning of the end of my office experience, which ought to take a few weeks. Lot of paper to sort through, catalogs and magazines to (mostly) recycle, piles to try to bring some sense to. I'll probably try to do a furniture moving day next weekend....before the holiday.
Need a run to Home Depot - small things (hangers for a rack for the stairs as well as some hooks and things, shelf supports, carpet protectors) as well as some plants (yoga studio, kitchen) and maybe a dehumdifier. One of these days I will wander through the house with my boxes of art and photos and put things up.
7:30 am. Time for a shower. Then hit the mat to loosen up my body and work on my classes for today. Perhaps a stop by Home Depot en route to the studio....
Life here is good. I did a load of laundry last night and am testing out the "hanging things up to dry" process - I picked up 20 plastic hangers at Target and will use them hang things on my old metal clothes rack and the rafters, in lieu of a real clothesline. With my office carpet down (the Galaxy Carpet subcontractor finished up around 5:30 last night, just in time to get to yoga with Barb), I'm expecting to get my work computer out of Newington and into the basement this weekend - that will signal the beginning of the end of my office experience, which ought to take a few weeks. Lot of paper to sort through, catalogs and magazines to (mostly) recycle, piles to try to bring some sense to. I'll probably try to do a furniture moving day next weekend....before the holiday.
Need a run to Home Depot - small things (hangers for a rack for the stairs as well as some hooks and things, shelf supports, carpet protectors) as well as some plants (yoga studio, kitchen) and maybe a dehumdifier. One of these days I will wander through the house with my boxes of art and photos and put things up.
7:30 am. Time for a shower. Then hit the mat to loosen up my body and work on my classes for today. Perhaps a stop by Home Depot en route to the studio....
November 12, 2009
Not Wasting Time
I may procrastinate at times, but when it comes to taking action, I am swift and sure. Falling asleep at my desk yesterday afternoon, I decided to run back home, shed my yoga clothes and contacts (getting tough to do close work with them of late), and head back home. But en route down the Berlin Turnpike (with a vague goal of stopping into Home Depot to look at carpets) I instead pulled into Galaxy carpet. Where I found a low pile remnant ($1.77 / Sq Foot) suitable for the basement (not too dark to pick up lint, and not too light to get dirty). Where it will be installed this afternoon.
I've been going back and forth on the basement / office - no rug (linoleum floor is seeming awfully cold) and then just an area rug. But what the heck - decided to just go for it with a wall-to-wall carpet.
So, assuming all goes well, I could be minimally functional (computer, network, prnters, and phones) downstairs by Monday. Which I intend to be.....heading up to Newington to the office is getting old, fast. Self employment has totally ruined me for a real (9 to 5, 5 days a week get in a car and drive to the office) job.
I've been going back and forth on the basement / office - no rug (linoleum floor is seeming awfully cold) and then just an area rug. But what the heck - decided to just go for it with a wall-to-wall carpet.
So, assuming all goes well, I could be minimally functional (computer, network, prnters, and phones) downstairs by Monday. Which I intend to be.....heading up to Newington to the office is getting old, fast. Self employment has totally ruined me for a real (9 to 5, 5 days a week get in a car and drive to the office) job.
November 11, 2009
Settling In
I've owned this condo for two weeks, as of today. I've been sleeping here for a few days. Yet already it's starting to feel like home. Not because of the mess (which I've been picking away at since the move) but just settling in - knowing where the angles are and the rise of the stairs on my feet, finding a routine in terms of heat and window blinds, tweaking the kitchen organization from my initial storing of utensils and foodstuffs.
There have been "firsts" of course. First shower. First night sleeping here. First pot of decaf. First garbage day. First practice in my yoga room. First wake-up call to go ballooning. First load of laundry. Each of them slightly remarkable and each of them building upon the feeling of "home".
There have been some learnings along the way. I decided the suspended ceiling in the basement was (a) a probable cause of smell down there and (b) claustrophobic for the taller folks (including myself) so I've started to tear that out. I'll probably leave the ceiling unfinished. And will most likely remove the garish fluorescents down there in favor of some smaller spotlights for the office. I'm close to deciding to just bite the bullet and get some low pile industrial carpet put in down there for the office. And my initial placement of the entertainment console was probably a mistake; so I need to move that at some point. Just an annoying tear it down and set it up process, plus I need to move the cable.
I've found some "what was he thinking?" moments. Under the kitchen sink (double), one of the drains leaked horribly - I tore into that to find one washer mangled and the other missing entirely. A 50 cent fix. But the cabinet floor under there was completely shot - and my predecesser had put down some small pieces of paneling (with tacks and brads and duct tape) and then layered contact paper over the mess. It was equally amusing and horrifying. All that is gone and I picked up a piece of plywood that I need to cut to size and refashion a cabinet floor for under the sink.
Similarly, the house cable appeared to be cobbled together - Dish cable enters the house in the master bedroom, and cables were jerry-rigged under the carpet to the 2nd bedroom, out the hall and downstairs, and then into the basement. (Did he really have 4 TVs in here?) I pulled them all out, coiled up the Dish cable, and ran my Comcast lines to the living room and the basement (for a small office TV, in case I want to watch something while I work, although without a Comcast box I just get broadcast / lifeline channels)
I'm slowly picking away at the mess. I did 3 loads of laundry last night (all the Queen sheet sets) and weeded out a bag full of mismatched or torn sheets to donate / dispose of. I emptied a box of bathroom / cosmetics / toiletries (still one left). I took some piles down to the basement. And as boxes of things get emptied I'm doing many sinkfuls of dishes (pretty much everything gets wahsed before I put it away) and tossing bagfuls of garbage. Trying to move slowly on that so as not to monopolize the shared garbage bin too much.
I posted some things on Craigslist for free - roller blades (since replaced), a VCR (replaced with a DVD/VCR combo), an old amplifier (remnant of an ill fated open mic project), and an electric typewriter (high school graduation present). All have been claimed (although not yet picked up)
Wednesday morning. Going to mess around online for a bit, savor my coffee and breakfast. Grab a shower. Hit the mat for a bit of practice before teaching this morning at 9. Then off to work. Life, as they say, doesn't suck.....
There have been "firsts" of course. First shower. First night sleeping here. First pot of decaf. First garbage day. First practice in my yoga room. First wake-up call to go ballooning. First load of laundry. Each of them slightly remarkable and each of them building upon the feeling of "home".
There have been some learnings along the way. I decided the suspended ceiling in the basement was (a) a probable cause of smell down there and (b) claustrophobic for the taller folks (including myself) so I've started to tear that out. I'll probably leave the ceiling unfinished. And will most likely remove the garish fluorescents down there in favor of some smaller spotlights for the office. I'm close to deciding to just bite the bullet and get some low pile industrial carpet put in down there for the office. And my initial placement of the entertainment console was probably a mistake; so I need to move that at some point. Just an annoying tear it down and set it up process, plus I need to move the cable.
I've found some "what was he thinking?" moments. Under the kitchen sink (double), one of the drains leaked horribly - I tore into that to find one washer mangled and the other missing entirely. A 50 cent fix. But the cabinet floor under there was completely shot - and my predecesser had put down some small pieces of paneling (with tacks and brads and duct tape) and then layered contact paper over the mess. It was equally amusing and horrifying. All that is gone and I picked up a piece of plywood that I need to cut to size and refashion a cabinet floor for under the sink.
Similarly, the house cable appeared to be cobbled together - Dish cable enters the house in the master bedroom, and cables were jerry-rigged under the carpet to the 2nd bedroom, out the hall and downstairs, and then into the basement. (Did he really have 4 TVs in here?) I pulled them all out, coiled up the Dish cable, and ran my Comcast lines to the living room and the basement (for a small office TV, in case I want to watch something while I work, although without a Comcast box I just get broadcast / lifeline channels)
I'm slowly picking away at the mess. I did 3 loads of laundry last night (all the Queen sheet sets) and weeded out a bag full of mismatched or torn sheets to donate / dispose of. I emptied a box of bathroom / cosmetics / toiletries (still one left). I took some piles down to the basement. And as boxes of things get emptied I'm doing many sinkfuls of dishes (pretty much everything gets wahsed before I put it away) and tossing bagfuls of garbage. Trying to move slowly on that so as not to monopolize the shared garbage bin too much.
I posted some things on Craigslist for free - roller blades (since replaced), a VCR (replaced with a DVD/VCR combo), an old amplifier (remnant of an ill fated open mic project), and an electric typewriter (high school graduation present). All have been claimed (although not yet picked up)
Wednesday morning. Going to mess around online for a bit, savor my coffee and breakfast. Grab a shower. Hit the mat for a bit of practice before teaching this morning at 9. Then off to work. Life, as they say, doesn't suck.....
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