On Common Ground

Bikram 101 Rules... Part Deux.

2009-11-23T21:59:00.003-05:00

I finally got myself to a Bikram class this evening. It kicked my ass and left me dizzy and dehydrated. But you know what?

I kicked out in Standing-Head-to-Knee AND dropped my forehead to my knee.

So, "suck on it dehydration and dizziness!"

Now, for the actual purpose of my quick post...

I had a chance to chat with the studio director/owner where I practice here in Toronto. First, they will be open and offering ONE class (a noon) on New Year's Day. I know they also do the same thing Boston on New Year's Day. And I imagine it is the same at most studios. The first of the year is a great day to commit to your practice and set the tone that "this year's Bikram practice is gonna rock."

The second thing I was able to ask her about was the rules for a 101-day challenge.

"No matter what the length of the challenge, the purpose is to go every single day during it," she confirmed. "During the shorter challenges, we allow people to do doubles. But when you start to get into the longer ones, you really should try to get in every day."

I, for one, am trying to plot out any commitments I have in the first three months of the new year. I intend to go once a day for 101 days. But that shouldn't discourage any of you from attempting the 101-day challenge.

Doubles are okay. But only if you have to. Try not to skip a day "just because (you) don't feel like going."

I myself don't feel like doing any of the following, but do it because it is beneficial to me in some way:

Listen to The Husband go on-and-on-and-on-and-on about the economy. (It's his job, and I should be supportive and actually listen to his take on things.)
Talking to my boss while he has simultaneously the most awesome/most creepy mustache. (He's my boss... He's funny. I like talking to him. And the 'stache is only there for the month of November, to raise charity for Movember.)
Eating breakfast. (I'm not a fan of eating early in the morning. But I know it's good for me. I'm more of a "brunch" person... Because it provides a legitimate excuse to sleep in and drink alcohol with your meal.)
Not buying the Louboutins I have been craving for months. (I want them. But I don't need them. And I really wouldn't have any place to wear them.)

Also, with regards to the Bikram 101-day challenge... My director said, "Advanced classes do count. But no one should use that as an excuse to not come in the following day."

The advanced classes are longer... And people sometimes do them after a beginning class.

We'll be building a blog complete with the rules and a widget for participants to connect with in the next few weeks.

Get ready to sweat like crazy in the new year!

Bikram 101 Rules.

2009-11-22T21:30:00.003-05:00

Wow!

It appears that we Bikram yoginis and yogis all are in sync! So many of us had the idea to do a 101-day challenge at the start of the new year.

Go us!

We're going to be creating a blog, Facebook group, Twitter profile and widget for everyone who wants to participate or follow in the challenge. As we work on that over the next month, I wanted to get this going by surveying all the Bikramites on what we wanted the "official rules" to be for this 101-day challenge.

Thoughts?

Here are mine:

Doubles count. So do triples, quadruples, quintuples...
No home practice. You must practice in a studio. A certified Bikram studio.
Advanced classes count. I know so many people who like to do at least one advanced class a week. It should totally count, as it has all of the 26 beginning postures in it.
Challenge starts on January 1st and ends on April 11th.

Does anyone have anything to add, or problems with this list so far? Those of us who have been chatting about this in the past day really love that this is a student-driven challenge. We're all pumped up for it!

Office Walls.

2009-11-22T21:09:00.003-05:00

Now that things are starting to settle down a bit, I find myself spending more time in my office at home.

I love it in here. I love that I have my own space. And I love that I have my own bathroom attached to it. And the thing I love the most about it right now...

My new boards!

I pretty bare walls in here. Hell, I have bare walls around most of my house. I realize that collecting art is something you do over the years... But I was dying to get something up on my walls in the office. So I went out last weekend and found four floral-covered cork boards.

They're girlie!

I styled them in an alternating pattern... And now I am tempted to go back to the shop on Yorkville Avenue and see if they have one more of each color. Now that I have them up, I am finding so many things to hang on them...

Horoscopes... Pictures... Funny coasters from pubs... Gym and yoga schedules... List of priorities... Fashion pieces I want... Cute little art pieces...

We said that if we ever had a kid, I would give up my office so they could have a room. But I lied. There is no way I can do that. I love my office.

The kid will have to fight me for it. And I fight dirty.

"What Do You Want For Christmas?"

2009-11-22T19:42:00.007-05:00

These are words I hate to love hearing.

I'm not big on "surprises." In fact, I hate them. Even if they are awesomely wonderful surprises. For as long as I can remember, I've never been one to love them. I like knowing what's coming... Good or bad. But last night at dinner, The Husband surprised me with the dreaded question...

"What do you want for Christmas?"

The reason I hate this question (this year at least) if that I have no freaking clue what I want from him. Most of the material things I see and write about on this blog are all things I intend to buy myself, as soon as I have earned my millions of dollars myself. And every year, when he asks me this question, I have to scramble to get together a list of things for him to choose from for me.

I already know what I am getting him... And no, I won't write about it here because he occasionally reads this blog. But I will list out a few ideas for him for me.

Universal Health Care in the U.S.

He has no power or influence in helping the U.S. achieve affordable heath care for all its citizens (as I firmly believe health care is a right, and not a privilege)... And he technically has helped one American (me) achieve it by moving me to a foreign country where it is functioning. But maybe he could send some good vibes and thoughts and energy out into the Universe for it to become a possibility in the U.S. (Though, I am sure he wants me to list out some tangible things.)

So here goes... My "dream" Christmas list. (You know... Stuff I would love... But realize there is no way in hell I will get it, as we have a mortgage now.)

Christian Louboutin Very Prive Pumps

These are classic! What girl wouldn't love to unwrap a box and see these in there?

Balenciaga Giant Day Bag in "Raisin"

Swoon! What an amazing "work bag"! You can easily fit a laptop and some Bikram clothes in there!

3.1 Phillip Lim Sequined Silk Chiffon Top

There is a store nearby that has this top. I have walked by it many times. It is incredible, and would look great under a blazer or soft cashmere cardi.

Dolce & Gabbana Floral Print Dress

Ever since seeing The September Issue, I have been craving Anna Wintour's work wear. In almost every scene, I saw her wearing a printed dress of some kind. She looked amazing. And this dress would go very well with my Miss Dior Gladiators.

Oscar de la Renta Angled-Pocket Red Dress

There. Are. No. Words. Just. One. Word. LOVE!

Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa Vacation

This one, out all the things on my "dream" list is very much going to stay a dream. There is no way I would ever be able to convince The Husband to get on a plane to Bora Bora. But it is a beautiful place, which I will visit some day, probably by myself.

Bikram 101... Who's In?

2009-11-21T21:23:00.003-05:00

My practice has sucked ass lately. It is my own fault. I have let mental exhaustion get to me in the past few weeks... And I feel so low-energy. I can barely make it home after work these days... Let alone to the Bikram studio.

Really though, there is no excuse. I mean, it's not like we "think" in a Bikram class. So the excuse of "mental fatigue" is a very lame one. And I find myself itching to not only get back on my Bikram path, but also to challenge myself again.

Last time I challenged myself, I did 60 days of Bikram. This time, I'm aiming for 101 days.

Yes, 101. In fact, we'll call it "Bikram 101."

So, why 101 days? Why not just 100 days? You can read a little about it here, but the basic breakdown of the various challenge time-frames are:

30-Days: A readjustment period... Getting your body primed for the second 30 days. Just getting through a 30 consecutive day challenge is a difficult for most people. I say it jokingly, but truthfully, "I had to leave a job in order to do my first 30-day challenge." I couldn't mentally do it unless it was my one focus for 30 days straight.
60-Days: The second 30 days is where you get to the "emotional stuff." While you experience the mental exhaustion "here and there" in the first set of 30 days, you experience it far more frequently in the second set. Anger. Tears. Hysterical laughter. It all comes out here... Both in and out of class.
90-Days: I've never done 90 consecutive days... But this is when your body suddenly (or so people claim) changes shape. I noticed in both my 30 and 60-day challenges that things would tighten up. But I have been told that the third set of 30 is when you start to see the yoga practice pay off physically in your body. You've been feeling it up until this point... But now you can actually see it.
100-Days: Just to make things a nice even number...
101-Days: Because, I have read, you just have to show up for one extra day.

I am thinking of starting on January 1st. This means I would end on April 11th, which is one day before my 33rd birthday. And because I like to dabble in numerology, April 11th is the end of a 9-year cycle for me.

How fitting and appropriate.

Fish Oil & Wheat Grass Shots.

2009-11-19T21:00:00.005-05:00

This is how I start my day lately...

Hmm... Two thawed-out wheat grass shots and liquid fish oil. (But it doesn't taste like fish oil!) Before I put anything else into my body, I down the two shots and a tablespoon of the oil.

Wheat grass tastes sweet. Like simply sweet water. The oil, well... It tastes like oil, with a hint of lemon. But it does NOT taste like fish. I start my day with these two things because they have great benefits...

Wheat grass:

Contains a ton of vitamins and minerals.
High in chlorophyll.
Contains in beta-carotene.
Cleanses and purifies the body.

Fish Oil:

Good for the heart, skin and hair.
Improves mental function.
Helps with eye and nervous system.

So many benefits in less than three ounces of liquids. That's like the equivalent of two tequila shots... Which only offer the following "benefits":

Waking up still drunk.
Crazy photos on your digital camera of co-workers that you don't remember taking.
Waking up in bed next to an empty extra-large pizza box that smells like sausage, bacon and pepperoni. And you're the only one home.
A vague memory of drunk-emailing your boss that you won't be in the next day because you're "too drunk." (Your boss emails you back telling you, "you really need to work on your lying skills.")

Luxury Travel Bags.

2009-11-18T20:25:00.006-05:00

I don't check luggage anymore. I think most of us avoid it if possible. I have been on so many trips this year alone that I have had a lot of opportunities to perfect my carry-on luggage packing skills.

And I finally got around to buying my dream carry-on suitcase... So I make damn sure to get a lot of use out of it when I travel.

However, because one is allowed to take one carry-on in addition to one personal item, being strategic about what that one personal item is and what you can cram into it are essential. Just any purse/handbag/tote will do. I dream of someday being able to afford the ultimate luxury travel bag...

An Hermes Birkin. Perfect for fitting everything you need into it. But you really need to be able to afford the First Class ticket to go along with it as well. Sitting in Coach with a Birkin really is just wrong.

This would also be perfect for the day when you finally get your dream assignment to visit Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. But my invite seems to have gotten lost in the mail, or so it appears. (Ahem, Frogger.)

Though, I came across this one online today and found it to be divine and stylish...

The Celine leather and canvas tote. You could get easily transition it between Coach and First Class.

But if you're like me, and you always rock Coach class... Perhaps this is the best bag for you...

It's the Lululemon Classic Gym Bag. And it is perfect for travel!

I picked this up back in the summertime as my regular yoga bag. But after I bought it, I quickly discovered that it is wonderful for traveling. It has a section for a laptop. There are all kinds of pockets to tuck in books, moisturizers, vegan energy bars, noise-reduction headphones, extra batteries... You name it. And where you normally shove your yoga mat is where I like to strap in a sweater and scarf for me to wear on the plane.

Genius!

Plus, you get more use out of it by using it as your actual gym/yoga bag when you aren't hopping from international flights, to charter flights, to ferry boats to helicopter flights to Necker Island.

(Seriously Frogger... Hook a sista up! Hope you have fun without your travel buddy!)

Ashley Versus Mary-Kate.

2009-11-18T19:59:00.005-05:00

I ain't afraid to say it... Because I think most of you would agree...

"Ashley Olsen is definitely the prettier and more fashionable of the two Olsen twins."

Source

Her beauty... Her hair... Her ability to style... It's all gorgeous...

Source

Mary-Kate, on the other hand...

Source

Her make-up often frightens me. Her hair (not that I can really talk) looks unkempt most often. And she continues to hider her shape in big clothes, as well as often hides behind obscenely large sunglasses.

Yeah... I definitely don't feel bad saying Ashley is the more stylish of the two.

Dream: Late For Yoga.

2009-11-17T21:46:00.003-05:00

I am always amazed by my nocturnal images. It freaks me out when I go to dissect them to figure out what my subconscious is trying to tell me. I had a vivid dream last night...

I am getting running late for a yoga class. I get to the Bikram studio and run into the dressing room... I am rushing to change into my practice clothes... But they won't go on. When I am able to finally get them on, class has already started... And I am too late to go in.

Definitions:

Yoga - Represents mind/body control and self-discipline.

Clothes - Clothes are all about perception. To dream of changing your clothes represents changing how you are perceived.

Late - Fear of change. Fear of seizing an opportunity.

Interpretation:

Duh. Not going to go into any detail... But all I got is, "duh."

I'm Trying To Be More Fashionable...

2009-11-15T21:08:00.003-05:00

Jeans and yoga clothes. That is pretty much all I live in these days.

I wear jeans to work almost every day. For the past five years (almost) I have worked places that allow us to wear jeans every day, and I take advantage of it. Then, when I'm not working, I live in yoga pants and yoga shorts. Whether I am in a hot studio, at the gym or lounging around at home. Yoga pants are a my staple, just as jeans are.

This week though, for work, I decided to kick it up a notch... I had an industry event thingy I had to go to. And I could have worn my "jeans and blazer" combo. But instead, I decided to go with one of my rarely seen dresses...

Vince dress
Sergio Rossi boots
Wolford tights
Ted Baker blazer

I actually like this look. I wasn't so sure of the combo with the blazer and boots at first... But looking back on it a few days later, I really like it.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to dress like this every day?

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Miso Baked Cod.

2009-11-14T23:36:00.004-05:00

This is my new favorite dish of all time.

I've had it a few times at a local organic restaurant here in Yorkville. But the last time I had it, it wasn't as fab as it could be. So when I found myself craving it earlier today, I decided that I wasn't going to drag The Husband back to the restaurant... Instead, I would make it myself.

Looks great, no? It tasted even better than the one I had in the restaurant. And I made it all myself in about 30 minutes! It could not have been easier...

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of white miso
3/4 pound of cod
2 teaspoons of minced ginger
1/2 a lemon
1 teaspoon of low-sodium tamari sauce
1 tablespoons of honey
1 teaspoon of sea salt

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Wash the fish in the lemon juice and salt. Rinse under cold water and pat dry. Place in baking dish.
Mix miso, honey tamari and ginger in a bowl... Till it forms a paste. Spread paste all over the top of the fish.
Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
Then broil for another five minutes.

It is then ready to eat!

I served it with roasted asparagus (which I had in the oven with the fish) and some quinoa with sesame oils and scallions.

This was a very healthy and tasty meal. I will absolutely be making it again, as The Husband liked it as much as I did. And that is rare.

Proust Questionnaire: The Missus.

2009-11-13T20:09:00.004-05:00

Do you read Vanity Fair magazine? If not, you really should. When I get my copy each month, I always first flip to the back page an read through the Proust Questionnaire.

Tonight, I decided to fill it out for myself.

What is your current state of mind? Seeking direction. Like always.

Which living person do you most admire? Anyone who goes to Bikram yoga teacher training. I admire them greatly. And anyone who gets an invitation to go to Necker Island. I admire them too.

What is your greatest fear? Clowns. I fucking hate clowns. I will knock a clown out if I see one.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My addiction to Arby's. I only go once a month. But I talk about it non-stop. It has super-ceded my Taco Bell addiction. Seriously though, I most deplore the fact that I don't seem passionate about anything. At least, I don't feel passionate about anything. I would love to have something I am so incredibly passionate about that an unbelievable force pushes me towards it, and I can't stop it.

I would love that. I deplore not having that.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Being afraid. Being too afraid to go for their dreams.

What is your greatest extravagance? Being outspoken. It's gotten me into trouble plenty of times. I wouldn't change that about myself though. Oh... And I like jeans and shoes a lot. Those get me into trouble too.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Being of British nobility. (Though I do love the descending lines from Queen Elizabeth II.)

Which living person do you most despise? Hmm... Probably should leave this one unanswered...

Which talent would you most like to have? Extreme flexibility. And I'd like to be able to read people's minds.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would go back in time and tell my younger self to be fearless. Instead of shy and fearful.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Not getting pregnant. Completely serious on this one too. For a time, I wanted to be, for all the wrong reasons. And I am really glad I never did. I truly think I wouldn't have handled being a mum (yet) very well.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being married to an asshole. (Thank God I am not.) And being Republican.

What is your favorite occupation? Still searching for that.

What do you most value in your friends? Punctuality. Loyalty. And understanding when I need my "alone time."

Who are your favorite writers? I don't have a favorite.

Who is you favorite hero of fiction? Neely O'hara, from Valley of the Dolls. Though one can never be dissed for saying, "Dumbledore."

How would you like to die? Probably in my sleep, when I am 86.

What is your motto? "How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something, but be someone." - Coco Chanel

Domestically Challenged.

2009-11-12T19:48:00.003-05:00

I love my husband. Really, truly, I do. But I must confess...

He is "domestically challenged."

There have a been a few things he has done over the years that make me go, "Why the hell didn't you know that?!?!"

There was time he kept trying to heat soup in the microwave and wondered why it wasn't heating up. I looked in the microwave to discover that he was using a METALLIC bowl. And of course, the "micro waves" bounce of metallic stuff... Thus not being absorbed by what is in it and heating up the space around it instead.

Then, there was the incident this evening...

It was The Husband's turn to clean the kitchen after dinner. We bought this new house a few months back, and it came complete with kick ass kitchen appliances. Including a sweet Miele dishwasher. However, about two months ago we noticed that it would occasionally leak bubbles and stop suddenly. We couldn't figure out why it was doing it. But it would work half the time. So we just decided to "roll with it." Well, tonight I finally figured out WHY it was leaking.

The Husband goes to load the dishwasher. He gets all the dishes in it. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see him reach for the dish washing soap. You know, the kind you use hand wash the dishes.

"Um," I start, "You're not putting that in the dishwasher, are you? Please tell me you are not."

He looks confused.

"Yes," he informs me. "This is what I always use because you haven't bought the regular stuff we use."

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

"The AUTOMATIC dish washing soap is in the cupboard to the left of the dishwasher," I enlighten him. "That's where it has always been. It's next to the paper towels and garbage bags you get from that same cupboard."

I then educate him...

"THIS is why the dishwasher has been leaking! When you use this liquid, it bubbles more. And it leaks. Don't ever, ever, EVER use this in the dishwasher!"

Then, because I really need to make sure I am covering all my bases with him, I tell him...

"Oh. And don't ever put this soap in the washing machine either. It will leak and push bubbles out too."

Toronto Street Style: Fall At Starbucks.

2009-11-11T17:24:00.002-05:00

The temperature started off this morning, as I left the house, at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. (That's zero on the Celsius scale.) I was bundled up in my Winter coat. And I figured most people would be doing the same.

Not this girl, though!

I love the look. Calf-height boots, with light jeans tucked into them. The bag is phenomenal. And I just love blazers with scarves.

Toronto Street Style: Geek Chic Near Davisville.

2009-11-10T20:45:00.003-05:00

I love how fashionable Toronto is.

I snapped this photo on my way to work this morning...

How cute!

A simple and geeky style.

I Choo-Choo-Choose You (Bikram).

2009-11-10T20:23:00.006-05:00

In case you have been living in a bubble and hadn't heard... Jimmy Choo has designed some goodies for H&M. And they come out this Saturday, the 14th.

Squee!!!! Cheap-ish Choos - bags and shoes?!?!?!

Wonderful Choo sandals...

Sexy Choo gladiators...

But one thing you should know before you head there to buy stuff on Saturday...

There's a color-coded system!

I guess there are very strict rules on how much you can buy. No one gets to buy multiples of any style. So you can't, for example, pick up a pair of the same shoes for both you and your BFF.

I won't be heading over there for the launch... I have something I have to do in the morning. A 9:30am Bikram class.

How To Wash Your Hands.

2009-11-09T20:20:00.003-05:00

A few weeks back, I wrote about the OCD girl at work who obsessively washes her hands. (Chill the eff out people! I am not making fun of her... Even though I SHOULD be.) The girl, seriously, stands there and washes her hands in boiling hot water and a ton of soap for about five minutes.

I wouldn't care except that for a few weeks there we only had one working sink in the bathroom. And when you need to wash your hands, and OCD girl is standing there for minutes on end, it is annoying. And I will not hesitate to give her a "hurry the eff up bi-atch!" look.

Well, I am thinking that maybe HR got complaints about her.... Because this week there are directions on how to wash your hands posted in the bathroom...

(Actually, I think they posted these because the Swine Flu is going around. But lets make it about Crazy Hand Washing Girl.)

According to these instructions, you wash your palms together, around each finger, the back of each hand and then the thumbs. Then you rinse under the water... And turn the water off with a paper towel.

With the exception of turning the faucet off with a paper towel, I actually do all this. Takes me about 40 seconds.

It's kind of sad these needed to be posted... Whether your wash them too long or not long enough.

Everyone Needs A Signature.

2009-11-08T22:12:00.004-05:00

I finally got around to seeing The September Issue this weekend. It was fabulous. And I walked away from it thinking one thing...

"I must find a signature for my look."

You know what I mean by "signature?" Well, I was inspired by both Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington at Vogue.

Almost everyone knows Anna Wintour's signature bob with bangs and sunglasses...

But her colleague of many decades, Grace Coddington, also has a signature...

Her fiery red frizzy hair!

I gotta get a signature. I need to research ideas.

Holt Renfrew Holiday Windows: Do You See What I See?

2009-11-08T21:31:00.005-05:00

"Do you get it?"

That's what I asked a woman this afternoon who was staring at one of the holiday windows at Holy Renfrew.

Because October is the month of Thanksgiving and Halloween in Canada, November is when the holiday season starts here. Christmas a Hanukkah decorations go up right as Halloween ends. And earlier this week the holiday windows at the posh department store in Toronto (Holt Renfrew) were unveiled.

They are very fun... And somewhat surreal. There are mannequin bodies with penguin heads and swan heads. Some mannequins even have antlers on their head. And they are all dressed in incredibly chic holiday wear. But out of all the window scenes they have, my favorite is the one with the snow men and women.

I LOVE them! And I must ask you all... "Do you see what I see?"

Hee! Hee!

I found it very clever.

Still don't see it?

Neither did the woman I asked in front of the window.

I see John Galliano... Anna Wintour.. Alexander McQueen... Diane vonFurstenburg... Karl Lagerfeld... Vivienne Westwood... I believe Isabella Blow... And Coco Chanel.

Hee! Hee!

Great windows. GREAT WINDOWS!

Yummy Macarons!

2009-11-08T00:09:00.004-05:00

I spent the afternoon on Queen Street West, with my pal Elle, vintage shopping. I scored a few things... A blazer in perfect condition, an awesome tassel necklace on a long chain, and a Jessica Jensen black leather clutch for super cheap. But my biggest score came after we had made our way eastward and finished dinner at a pizza place...

Macarons!!!

I haven't had one of these in years. I believe not since the first time I went to Paris four years ago. I tried a poppy seed one and an olive oil-flavored one. The poppy seed one was divine. The olive oil one did taste like olive oil... But was too sweet.

I love these little French pastries! They were a wonderful treat. And I am thinking I need to investigate more macarons at pastry shops throughout the city. Find the best ones and rate them.

I'll be a macaron expert!!!

We Sure Are Growing Up Fast Here On Walton's Mountain...

2009-11-04T22:23:00.004-05:00

I think most people know I haven't owned a car in almost nine years. Not since I lived in Arizona. Since moving east, I've never lived in a city where I needed a vehicle. And we still don't technically need one now that we are in Toronto. We live right in town. The subway is a five minute walk away. I take that to and from work. The Husband takes the bus to work every day, which he picks up right around the corner.

Yet... We bought a house with a two-car-garage. So we felt obligated to acquire a vehicle of some kind. And since we like to be practical with some purchases (not shoes, bags, jeans or other clothes), we found a four year-old Toyota Camry to get.

We're all growed up!

The Husband drove me to work yesterday morning... Just because he could. Here's a picture I snapped of him driving the car away after he dropped me off...

We went back to taking public transportation to work again today. Being driven to work by my husband is just weird. I don't think I will ever be able to see driving a car as an "every day thing."

Unless I move back to Arizona.

A Dizzying Bikram Class.

2009-11-03T22:42:00.004-05:00

Oh tonight was not a pretty night in Bikram. Not pretty at all.

No, I wasn't dehydrated. In fact, I didn't feel much a need to drink water in class because all I had eaten at work today was raw veggies and water. But I had dizzy-spell after dizzy spell during class.

It started in Standing-Head-to-Knee pose. I was able to get put my forehead to my knee and hold still for a few seconds. Then I fell out and saw blackness. I was breathing steady, but everything went black and I fell to my knees. Hands shaking. Breath steady.

I got up again for Standing Bow Pulling pose. This is one of my best poses. But again, I saw blackness and fell forward. This happened all throughout the rest of class. I had to struggle to do one full set of a posture.

I knew what it was... I had had it before... It was low blood pressure. Or at least that is what it felt like. I couldn't even lay on my back in Savasna without seeing blackness. I had to lay on my side.

Tomorrow will be better though. I am sure.

Happy Day Of The Dead.

2009-11-02T21:09:00.004-05:00

As today wraps up, I feel compelled to remind you all (seeing as I was just in Mexico) that it is Dia de los Muertos... Or, "Day of the Dead." A celebration of those who have passed.

Sounds depressing? Perhaps... But check out the sweet skull I picked up at the resort, which was on sale to celebrate the day...

This is going to look awesome in my home office... Right on my coffee table. Very bad-ass.

Swimming With Dolphins.

2009-11-02T20:18:00.002-05:00

I am back from Mexico, and finally in the presence of a properly-working Internet connection. So now I can finally share the details from my trip. And I'll start with one of the most exciting parts...

Swimming with dolphins!

Finally! I had been wanting to do this for about three years. And on Halloween morning, I finally got the chance to do it. We went to a place near Cancun called Delphinus.

We spent an hour swimming, dancing, petting and having our feet pushed by two dolphins: Chien and Kelem. The picture above is me rubbing one of their bellies.

It was an awesome time!!!

Riviera Maya: What-Ever!

2009-10-29T23:11:00.004-04:00

Apparently, I am not "in Cancun" this weekend. I "flew into Cancun"...

"But we are actually staying in the Riviera Maya," Frogger corrected me as we arrived to the resort this afternoon.

"What-evs" though! I have a beautiful beach...

A natural salt water pond...

A kick-ass casita...

And all-inclusive food and drinks...

This girls weekend rocks!