Something new I learned about myself

I'm indecisive. No, really! But I've learned tricks to overcome it, like noting the first thing on the menu that catches my attention and ordering that if the waitress comes back before I make a real decision. It's all part of a method to not annoy everyone around me. Of course when I'm by myself it's a bit harder. I'm also impulsive. When I was in CA decided to get sushi and was walking to the restaurant, then saw a Sprouts store and decided to pop in. Lots of tasty whole food things, bought a few snacks (dark chocolate covered berries & nuts - OMG!). Ok, back to finding the sushi restaurant.

So what I learned is that my indecisiveness is WAY WAY worse when I'm tired. I was trying to figure out if I really wanted sushi (and when do I say no to good sushi?) or did I want to go back to Sprouts and get a random assortment of stuff - like the Icelandic skyr yogurt I saw - for dinner instead. I'm not kidding it took me about 20 minutes to decide. Like even pretending someone was waiting for me I still was paralyzed with indecision. I kept going back and forth (physically!) trying to figure out what I wanted. I finally gave up and went back to Sprouts. It was really tired after an early flight and busy day and 3 hour time change, and figured that maybe yogurt and strawberries and some spanakopita was all I could really handle.

It turned out to be a good dinner, and now I know that my friend makes better yogurt than even the pricey Icelandic kind, and I brew better Kombucha than the pro stuff that's finally back on the shelves. I wonder if the returned Kombucha is different than before - maybe the FDA made them get new scobys. It's not much more flavorful than water and is uncomfortably fizzy. Speaking of scobys, mine grew exponentially while I was gone. Seriously, it's almost an inch thick right now. I'm kind of afraid to taste the brew.

Running in bare feet

Do you ever notice a small thing and pass over it, only to notice it again in a different setting, then again and again. Finally you decide to explore the idea, figuring that if you keep getting bombarded with suggestions from different places, maybe it's something you're cosmically meant to notice. Barefoot running was like that for me. I won't go into the details, suffice to say that I can count at least 4 unrelated instances in the last couple weeks that brought it to my attention.  I decided on Sat. to head to the gym and try it out on the indoor track.

As I sat on a bench to take off my running shoes and socks, I was curious how my ankles would feel - would they be strong enough without running shoes to avoid injury? What about my weird hip rotation that causes my legs to swing in and knock my knees together - how would it respond without the stabilizing effect of my shoes?  How do I learn to run on the balls of my feet? I walked a lap to warm up, ridiculously aware of my bare feet with their blue-painted toenails, ready to respond if an employee told me to put my shoes on. But once I started to run all thoughts left my head. It was so...easy. My gait was springy, landing on the balls of my feet, heels barely touching, then bouncing off the track. My ankles felt fine. My arches didn't hurt. Boing boing, I felt like Tigger running. I smiled hugely, enjoying the fun and freedom of just running. The sound of my bare feet on the track, a soft plaf-plaff, a sharp contrast to the heavier footfalls of the other runners. I stopped to walk a bit, then run again, around and around. It was so fun. I remembered the line "Don't think, just run" and for the first time I was enjoying doing just that. I looked down at my feet and noticed how straight my legs were, no conscious fight to keep my knees from turning in. Nothing hurt running this way. And I learned how many helper-muscles weren't getting used running in shoes. Muscles that complained they're not used to work - like the soleus, the muscles between your calf and ankle. And tiny unnamed muscles wrapping the ankle from foot to leg that still needed strength training.

I ran longer than I should have. I think I covered a mile in total, and was TIRED at the end. When I got home and looked online for more information, everyone warned to start slow, very slow. I had no idea just how slow you really have to start. My soleus (lower leg) muscles are so worn out I walk funny if I've been sitting a while. But I know it's muscle fatigue, like your pecs after doing a bit too much on the bench press. I'm thinking I might do a few laps before lifting weights, or after a Zumba class. But I'm definitely going to do it again.

Blow out

I got my hair cut yesterday.  No!  Nothing serious. The length is the same at the bottom, but she took off a shocking amount of hair shaping it in layers - like half the volume.  My shortest strands are now chin-length, and they layer evenly down to the full length.  My hair is really thick and heavy, and now my ponytail is really wussy and a braid (my normal workout hairstyle) is impossible.  It's nice and curly and bouncy when down, but missing half the thickness makes it feel like someone else's hair.  She decided to blow it out straight, something I've never had professionally done, and it was super gorgeous!  It was totally like movie star hair, lustrous and silky with the perfect swoop at the end of each lock.

TribOriginal

Woo hoo!  Gotta love learning intensive-crazy topic-no cares dancecamp weekends!  I registered almost a year ago in their super-early-bird deal with the thought that I'd just wait and see where I was when the camp rolled around.  You all know I haven't been bellydancing as much, and was debating whether I should even go, or stay home since I knew I'd be gone a week later on another trip.  I'm so very glad D demanded that I go regardless of my work schedule.  I had a blast, learned a ton of new things, and am inspired to work harder in my dancing, drumming, and playing.

Ironically, I only took 1 dance class, but had classes every available session.  Mornings started with yoga with Jaia, which was transcending.  She did energy imagery and pranamaya and by the end our hearts were open and ready for the day.  I had drumming classes at various levels and am back to drumming on tabletops and my steering wheel.  One of the teachers was Jeremiah Soto, who I had no idea was as famous as he is until after the classes. He was great, but definitely asked more than I could really handle at times.

Hanging in Pike on the way down after a move.

I really used the class list as an opportunity to try new things and to face down some fears I have.  My fear of falling & inversions and concerns over my upper body/shoulder strength were met head on in Aerials and Acrobalance.  Dangling from a hoop suspended from rafters and flipping yourself up into it took a lot of nerve.  Acrobalance - Cirque du Soleil style partner balancing & support - actually pushed me to my edge.  I kept doing the moves - including headstands (scary for me) - trusting that I wouldn't get hurt.  I even fell once when my base supporter lost her grip and was fine.  But the final move took it a bit too far. In it the base lay down on her back with knees bent and arms straight up in the air.  Standing straddle I put my hands on her thighs, shoulders onto her waiting hands, and my feet on her knees.  Then, supported by her arms and balanced by my hands, let go with my feet and curled into a ball.  I don't think I could breathe without conscious effort, I was so scared.  The next step, to point my legs straight up into a handstand, just couldn't happen.  I tried a couple times but accepted that my bravery was used up for the moment.  I know this sounds silly to all you normal people who have been able to dive, do cartwheels, or inverted balances since kidhood.  But inversions are my biggest physical fear and even baby steps are a big thing.  I'm really glad I did, these 2 classes were the  most memorable and exciting in retrospect.

The further back you lean the easier it is!

The other great part was my cabin-mates. They were all a lot of fun, and one of them mentioned she was an immunology/microbiology PhD.  So we started chatting and it turns out she applied to TL (my old job) years ago and knew Bob and some others!  She's thinking of moving back to B'burg so I gave her my contact info.  She's got a great personality and would be a good addition at TL - wouldn't it be crazy if she ended up there!

Technology is really pissing me off

I'll be the first to admit I love cool new toys.  My android rocks.  Yesterday I found a fabric I thought my friend might like while I was at the store.  I took a photo of it, emailed it to her, and she called back instantly to tell me how much to buy.

But when technology doesn't interface correctly, or you don't know the stupid little tricks needed to make it behave, it can be royally frustrating.  I have several blog posts just waiting, pending the ability to scan something using my GD new scanner.  Yes, that's a goosedown scanner, for any of you wondering.  No, seriously, this all-in-one printer/scanner/fax my company gave me is the biggest piece of crap ever.  Never mind that I've printed less than 50 pages and the black ink is already empty.  It will print, but REFUSES to scan!  I've lost 8 hours on the phone, with tech services remote linked to my computer trying to make it work.  I wish I was exaggerating.  The final time everything worked perfectly.  I cheered.  Apparently too soon.  Now it won't even recognize the connection to my computer and I'm going to have to call them back again.  Sigh.  I'm starting to think about that scene from Office Space in the field with the blunt objects.

I could go into the annoyances with my blackberry but I think you've all heard me go on about it before, so I'll spare you.  At least my juicer works properly without having to refer to a manual.

Waking up

I am asleep.  I know subconsciously the alarm has given its first battle cry and been rebuffed.  An extra 10 minutes of sleep is definitely anticipated.  My youngest dog Kayla sits at my head straining forward to reach me.  She flicks out her tongue, peppering me with fast light test licks.  There is a long hesitancy between each lick, but the touch itself is the briefest possible.  Almost as if she's testing the waters and doesn't want to go too far too fast.

The licks are pushing under my downturned cheek.  I lift my head slightly, releasing its weight but not yet severing its contact with the pillow.  Kayla uses this opportunity to shove her snout under my cheek and flip it up.  Under a hand this move indicates she wants more petting.  Oh, I was petting her.  I hadn't fully noticed.  I reach my hand back up to her head and she renews her licking at an increased speed.  Too much this early.  It stops momentarily and I peel open my eyes.  Kayla's mouth is fully extended in a tooth-baring yawn, so close to my face I can't quite see her front teeth.  Yes, definitely time to get up.  Those last few minutes of my snooze stolen by the shock of mentally processing my first image of the day.