Weekend Warrior

What a weekend! I am still in Austin because I did not have the energy to drive home last night.
I feel as though I have spent two days and nights being tortured physically and mentally. I am completely drained.

Saturday night after my training class I taught yoga at Lisa Diane's house. Cali (pictured above) was eager to join in, practicing frog on Lee's yoga mat before we got started.

Sunday was an emotional roller coaster. The highlight of my day was drunken cherry ice cream from Amy's at lunch. Don't you just love the great chalk art of Wall-E? Some peppered turkey (and garlic mashed potatoes) at County Line made me feel so much better at the end of a long, draining day. I learned some great things this weekend, but I still have no idea what I'm going to do with my life ...

Oh So Happy!

I drove straight from the house to Atomic to see Justin. Justin and everyone else at Atomic said my piercing looks great! I'm so happy! I ran across the street and got vanilla mint at Amy's to celebrate. I had prepared myself for the worst, but Justin said it looks good and says when it heals up he'll bend the jewelry so it is less likely to slip out. The best part--Justin said he liked the red velvet cupcake that I brought him when I got pierced (and I didn't even ask). So now Joey says I can say "The tattoo guy likes my cupcake."

Almost

I've almost given up on this piercing. This morning I shoved it back in place, but I don't think it will stay. Every morning I wake up and it is sticking out. I have a lot of trouble falling asleep at night and I obsess over it all day long. I'm getting tired of this mess. From a distance it looks great, but of course I'm staring at it close up. I have a feeling by Monday it will be out. I'm sad and frustrated that it isn't working. I always choose the difficult path, then complain about the struggle...

Parking

So, I don't like anyone parking in between my driveway and Otto's. I took some photos of the worst offender. Check them out on this bad parking website.

My First Hater?

Well, it wouldn't actually be my first....
I had a student complain last night about my selection of music. She said she wants to relax not "rock out." Last night I played 80s music. I don't know why I feel bad. I feel bad and angry. A lot of students have told me they like my music, but she said "I've talked to other people and they don't like it." I knew from the moment I met this lady that we weren't going to get along--and I told her so. Really, my problem is that the students at that gym know that we get paid based on how many people sign the sign in sheet. So she told me she's my "customer base." She's holding 2 quarters (yep, 50 cents) over my head like I'm going to jump and do what she says. That's really what bothers me. You can only imagine what I wanted to tell her to do with those 50 cents. I have no idea what her name is...and I'm always short at least one person on the sign in sheet, so she might be withholding her 50 cents, I don't know. I told her I was sorry she didn't like the music, but that it is different every week, and I won't do yoga to new age jazz. I was going to come up with some special cd just for her, but forget it. Last week was acoustical songs. I guess she doesn't want any words at all (she like the music from Princess Bride, but didn't know what Princess Bride was...). I don't know if she genuinely doesn't like the music or just wants to make me jump. When I first met her she said that she comes to relax (not work hard), so I knew we were going to have problems. What do I do? I guess I'll keep on keepin' on.

Get Smart

Friday night we went to the dollar theater (2 dollars) and saw Get Smart. I was prepared for a pretty painful two hours, but I was pleasantly surprised. Steve Carell didn't make me cringe the way he does on the Office. It was a good movie, and I laughed the whole time. It wasn't painful at all! If you haven't seen it, I suggest you do. It is just good clean fun. I chose this photo because it shows the sexy white leather jacket that Agent 99 wears in part of the film. I want a sexy white leather jacket....

Laura's Wedding Shower

Yesterday I wandered up to the Denton area for Laura's wedding shower. It was nice to see everyone. I was in a bad mood from the moment I woke up. After dinner Ross had had enough of my bad mood and took me out for cake. A gin and tonic and a slice of lemon cake at Del Frisco's got rid of my grumpies. Here are a couple of photos. The first one is of the Ladies Mercado, and the second is me with the bride-to-be.

Tea

I have been on a tea roller coaster lately. One day I drink a liter or more of tea, the next day none. I need to level out my tea habit so I don't crash so hard if I don't have any. Margot likes jasmine tea, so I brewed this jasmine blossom that I had stashed in the cabinet. It was so pretty and the tea tasted wonderful too. I have a bunch of empty bottles that I fill up with tea. I am thinking about brewing some green tea. I just need to limit myself to one or two bottles a day!

Busy Obsessing

Well, I've been busy, but just busy obsessing. Obsessing and sleeping. Oh, and working I guess. I have been obsessing about my weight (nothing new there--I'm up a pound from my low), my piercing (which I think is getting better), the 5 classes I am teaching this week (I only have one left), my to do list (which never seems to get shorter), vintage patterns on ebay (the one I really want sold for 28.80!), finding a tea set (Noritake), and my piercing (I obsess about it enough to list it twice). Ross is home, so now I need to be a good wife and cook dinner and wash dishes and all that mess (haha). Tonight we are having Logan's Roadhouse so all I have to do today is wash dishes (yeah, Logan's Rolls!). Maybe I'll take a look at that to do list....

My New Favorite Breakfast

I have fallen in love with this smoothie:

Chocolate Smoothie

chocolate soy milk
1 banana
kefir cultured milk (plain, unsweetened)
1 tsp. cocoa powder (optional)
1 Tbl. whey powder OR 1 Tbl. peanut butter

Puree and serve, it's that easy! I usually make enough for breakfast and an afternoon snack. Okay, i just finished my smoothie, time to get to work!

Makeover

Tiffany gave me a makeover today. In exchange I'm supposed to "fix her" (crack her back) and give her a massage. I'm amazed at how well she applies eyeliner (on herself and on me). Before dinner we went to Ulta and I bought some inexpensive eyeliner and other cosmetics. I still have a list of some other basics that I need to buy. I can practice this weekend with the eyeliner I bought. I had a venti coffee so I'm finally waking up (yes at 7pm). I have off until next Tuesday, so I'm planning on resting and hopefully healing up my neck.

Ethan Does Yoga

Ethan is currently singing "This is Halloween." He is still totally obsessed with Halloween. He's a bit cranky because he had a very short nap today, and I'm a bit cranky myself, so I'm getting to the end of my rope with the Halloween business. Ethan did a few yoga poses for me today. The first one is him playing around when I asked him to do Tree Pose. The second photo is his Downward Facing Dog Pose. The last one is his Warrior II pose. I just asked him if there was anything he wanted to tell everybody about the pictures and he said "How about skeletons? Next time lets look at pumpkin pictures." Sigh.

My Baby Loves Me

Although Ross keeps likening it to Homer buying Marge a bowling ball, I think Ross buying me Mario Kart is really sweet. I am going to try it out tonight, just to make sure it works. I'm so excited. I love getting presents!

Waah

I just want to whine. My piercing looks better after doing some salt soaks. Trying to get a cup of water inverted onto that area of the body is rather difficult. After 5 minutes half the water has leaked out. I kind of need a little oval shaped container, but I'm not going to go buy one. I am still totally obsessed with the piercing and I'm carrying around a hand mirror all the time so that I can look at it whenever I feel the need (every 5 minutes or so).
I'm also going to whine about my weight. My weight is up. I know some of it has to be water, so I'm going to drink lots of tea tomorrow. Still, I did reverse plank in class today and looked over into the mirror to see if I was straight. I about died when I saw my big belly protruding up towards the ceiling. It is huge! I look pregnant. My waist is about 2 inches larger than normal. I guess I need to lay off the salt and drink up my tea. I just made some tut tea (and took some magnesium), in case that's part of the problem (I think it is).
On the upside--my skin has been looking great lately. I think all the vitamins I've been taking help. Also, I am still taking anti-inflammatories, and that helps too. I have been much better about my skin care routine. Not perfect, but better. Same with my teeth. I have been wearing my retainer lately. I can see the difference.
Well, it is time to wash up with antibacterial soap and go to bed. I'm sure things will be better tomorrow.

Cheese Makes The World Go 'Round

I love cheese. This weekend I tried out a Guinness cheddar cheese. It was a bit salty, but I liked it. I had it with some Guinness, crackers, and some chocolate trail mix. The trail mix is long gone. Thankfully the cheese is a little too rich to be gobbled up in one sitting. Central Market also had some whiskey cheddar. I might have to try that next time.

Woodpecker and Paranoia

Bailey and I were laying down a little while ago. I need a nap, but I couldn't fall asleep. She alerted me to something outside (she chirped/cried). I couldn't see it at first, but then I saw a woodpecker on the tree outside the window. I wish I could have taken a picture. She was a little upset, but after a few pecks it flew away.

I am completely paranoid about my piercing. The top part is perfectly fine, the bottom part likes to stick out when I inhale. So I'm very worried that this puts stress on the skin and that it is already starting to reject. I think the hole is now more tear dropped shaped than round. I'm completely obsessed with it. I couldn't sleep last night because I kept thinking about it. I put a very small round bandaid on the bottom bead to try and keep it from poking out. I'm not sure if that is working. It is driving me crazy and I'm going to be so sad if this piercing doesn't take.

Different v Better

I've gotten into some discussions recently which made me start thinking "Is this person arguing that their position is different or better?" What really bothers me is people arguing that things are different, when they clearly believe and imply that their stance is better. Just come right out and say it.
Cake v Pie. I don't beat around the bush. Cake is better. My opinion then implies that pie is not just different from cake, but worse or inferior. Right? So I am dessertist. I'm not going to argue that they are different and equal, but I personally prefer cake. I think that argument is, well, dumb. Doesn't a preference for cake imply its superiority? At least in my mind?
Now I'm not going to get all bent out of shape if someone is dessertist and thinks pie is the end all be all of the world. I will tell them they are wrong, but I'm not going to get personally upset. Cake v Pie is a personal preference. Race is not. Sex is not. Sexual orientation is not. Nationality is not. Don't tell me that black people are just fine, but you don't want your child going to school with them. Clearly that reveals your racism.
Now then comes religion. A personal preference right? A very personal choice I think. I don't like to discuss religion (explanation is one thing, argument--let's not go there). I think a lot of times it comes down to that same argument...your religion is fine, but mine is better than yours.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you are going to argue, what are you really arguing? Different or Better? Really look at yourself and your argument. Better? Then just come out and say it.

Piercings

Here are photos of our piercings. Lisa Diane had both traguses pierced. I got a vertical Madison piercing.