First (heavy) frost

It is hard to capture the beauty.

10 things*

1. I forgot my work computer at home and had to immediately turn around and go back. The new pavement section was open and the signing and striping is fresh.
2. It never ceases to amaze me that there are seagulls in Utah. And that they hang out in my work parking lot.
3. We are finally starting to click in our roles and work together as a team. It only took four months. Presentation tomorrow.
4. So needed this. Note to self: get some paperwhites.
5. It still feels weird to have the tables turned. Once again I am the client.
6. Leaving work in the dark. Sucks.
7. The gate was closed when I got home. I immediately burst into tears. No four-legged friend who’s happy to see me. When will this get easier?
8. We voted early. And walked together in the dark to drop off our ballots.
9. Following the directions on the gyoza makes for optimal cooking results.
10. I think I am getting closer to a name and logo.

* inspired by Justine who was inspired by Somersault.

Taller

I woke up feeling taller.

It is the day after yesterday. I am really sore. Especially in the front of my shoulders around my clavicle and upper back in between my shoulder blades. It felt so good to open those areas up, but man. Today I really feel it.

Yesterday I learned it is hard to focus on breathing from particular parts of your body. How does one make one’s breath originate from the side of the rib cage. And turn in the bottom of your ribcage without tensing your neck, shoulders, and chest. It is harder than it sounds.

Because of my schedule, and theirs, I can’t go back until next Saturday.

The Reformer

November 4, 2017.

In January of this year I set a “get curious” physical intention with my One Little Word: try a ballet, barre , or running/group class. The words then were specific, but the action didn’t necessarily need to be. Today (11 months later) I made good on my promise.

Meet the Reformer. What looks like a medieval torture device is actually used for a type of pilates instruction. Based upon my first class, this should be fun. I hope it helps me get stronger and works to properly align my chronically misaligned body. Hopefully this was the first of what will be many steps. I’m thinking it would also be a good winter activity. It’s close to home and located in a beautiful new studio.

Balance.

Hip, hip (psoas, sciatic nerve, sacroiliac joint, transverse abdominus, scapula, sternum) hooray!

Follow Friday

The internet is an amazing thing. I still remember by first email and the reason I was assigned to get an account by Dr. Eleanor Snow, my mineralogy professor.

esims@chuma.cas.usf.edu

We were to report back to her in our first assignment (via email) the symmetry pattern of the brick patio outside the Administration building. Answer: A translocation with a mirror plane. Likely 1/s or something but the mineralologic classes I don’t remember anymore.

We have gone way beyond those times, though. And with the diversity of the internet and the advent of social media the world has gotten even more…messy. I currently have a love hate relationship with Instagram. I love seeing what people post, I hate that it makes me feel inferior sometimes. Not in my abilities, but rather in my productivity. As if there is a quota of whatever we assign ourselves to meet.

But, and there is always a but, I do love that on IG you can be so diverse in who you follow and why you follow, and how you found them in the first place.

I am trying to rid myself and my feed of the feelings of inadequacy. Instead I try to fill it up with things that inspire, things that are beautiful, things that make me want to get out and be adventurous, or get in (side myself) and take care. More and more I am looking to the internet and social media to fill.me.up in a positive and meaningful way and I’m learning this happens best with people that use their words. Writers. Maybe not people that write professionally, maybe some who do, but people whose every word I can hang onto.Today I want to share with you @nic.antoinette This girl is a badass (her words, although I don’t disagree). She is currently solo hiking the full length of the Arizona Trail from Utah to Mexico. She writes lengthy, heart wrenching, daily IG posts that will have you crying or cheering (crying and cheering) for her and her mission. I troll IG waiting in anticipation of when she’ll post, if she’ll post, and what happened…(there is frequently suspense, and sometimes snakes).

This is not her first hike. She also did the Oregon portion of the Pacific Crest Trail last summer and you can read her daily entries on her website City Girl Gone Wild. She does other stuff too like write books, and host a podcast that I haven’t yet explored. But her trail adventures, at a minimum, are worth checking out. I hope you do.

She is a great reminder to all of us that we can do hard things.

Do you know any good online story tellers? Not fiction, or non-fiction per se, but people that do relatively short blogging in a style that makes for great reading.