Yoga Class and the Evil Empire

Today was my first day of Yoga class for my Kinesiology credit towards my B.S.  I have a bit of a stomach thing going on so it was the longest 2 1/2 hours of my life.  I think I am really going to enjoy the class, but all i could think today was "get me out of here!!!"  It is  a good thing i decided to tough it out and go because apparently each Sunday class is worth two regular classes (since it only meets once a week) and thus I would have reduced my grade down to a 90 just by missing class today.  There was a good variety of people there including 4 guys, one of whom was obviously gay (not that there's anything wrong with that).  One was there obviously for his girlfriend who was in the class with him.  Another of the guys was a very thin, very blonde headed guy who didn't say much.  His mat was right next to mine and he was just really quiet.  The other guy was one who had been in the class before.  He was a very athletic looking Hispanic guy.  As far as the girls went, there was a variety of younger and older, thin and heavy.  The instructor was a short thing lady, probably in her late 40s, early 50s.  She is very in to Yoga and has even been to India to study.  She was very enthusiastic and we start every class off by sitting crosslegged and looking inward.  At the end of this period of reflection, she chants "aum" 3 times (that would be Om to most of us, but that's how it is spelled in the Yoga books).  At the end we do something similar and she says "namaste."  Some of the poses were a little difficult, especially when you don't feel good, but all in all I didn't do too bad.  The girl next to me, a slightly heavy woman, actually fell during one of the poses.  I was a little concerned I might be next and then I would be horrified.  I think next Sunday will be great when I'm feeling better and have my own mat (forgot to bring my mat and had to use one of the ones belonging to the school.  icky.). 

Now, on to the Evil Empire.  Those of you who know me are aware that I think Wal Mart is the Evil Empire and I never set foot in that store unless under extraordinary circumstances.  Well today I did something I'm not proud of.  I went to the Evil Empire.  Of course it reminded me of why I hate the Evil Empire.  My daughter has a school project and I needed some fabric and didn't have time, or energy for that matter, to drive to a crafts store.  I had already been to Target and got almost everything I needed, but I still needed some fabric and some ribbon.  I discovered after searching around for awhile that Wal Mart didn't have any fabric.  They used to carry more crafts stuff than I could find unless it was in some super secret location that I couldn't find.  I found a really cheap curtain panel that would work for the  purpose and I did find some ribbon.  Next I realized I had forgotten to get photo paper at Target.  I was a little surprised to find that Wal Mart locks their photo paper up in a cabinet.  Good luck finding someone at Wal Mart to open a cabinet.  At this time it's too late to go anywhere else, so I decide that if I don't have any at home, I'll be printing the photos for her project on regular paper.  Oh well, such is life.  So now it will be fun with glitter paint, glitter glue, hot glue, ribbons, fabric, stickers, pictures, beads, etc. 

On another note I have taught my son to throw his head back and say "Mwahahahaha."  It's rather funny. 

Feeling Icky...***An Update in the Life of Jennifer***

Today I am apparently sick...again.  Some sort of stomach virus so it seems.  I'm supposed to start Yoga tomorrow at Northridge in the afternoon so I'd better feel well by then!!!  My brother went to his heart doctor last week for a follow up since his heart attack.  Of course he will need to be monitored regularly, but for now they are doing blood tests and lowering his BP meds because apparently his dose had dropped it too far down.

I wonder what the first  Yoga class will be like.  It should be interesting.  The only Yoga I've ever done has been on my own so it will be interesting to be in a classroom setting.  I'll probably find out that I've been doing it all wrong. :)

I have had questions as to whether or not I am in fact naked in my profile picture (dirty dirty people).  Yes I am, but no the picture is not of my entire body and no you may not see the full picture. :P

Poem

I am not posting this on my poetry page since it is a Sylvia Plath poem and I am reserving the Poetry page for my own work.  When I read this poem I think of loves in my life gone away.  I read this and I know exactly what she was feeling when she wrote it. 


Mad Girl's Love Song by Sylvia Plath:

'I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;
I lift my lids and all is born again.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,
And arbitrary blackness gallops in:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed
And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade:
Exit seraphim and Satan's men:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you'd return the way you said,
But I grow old and I forget your name.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least when spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)'

Sylvia Plath"

Nail Polish Remover is the Devil ***An Update in the Life of Jennifer

I consider myself to be an intelligent individual; however, tonight I did something rather stupid.  I managed to get nail polish remover in my eye.  It was a freak accident.  The little swab I was using to take the nail polish off had a little excess on it and when I went to use it, a bit splashed into my right eye and into my mouth.  My eye started burning like fire.  I had my contacts in, so I pulled that out first thing and threw it away as it probably was ruined.  Then I flushed my eye out with cold water for several minutes and the burning stopped; however, the feeling of sand in my eye remained.  I then used eye drops for several minutes just letting it rinse out my eye some more and hopefully lubricate it.  My eye is still irritated pretty badly and red, but it feels better.  It is now my opinion that nail polish remover is the devil.  The things women do in the name of beauty!!! 

Aside from that, today was my daughter's first day of school.  It seemed to go well and she is tired out and already asleep!  This is the  child who we put in bed every night at 9:00 and we can still hear her up in her room late at night.  We go up several times a night to tell her to lay down.  She is a night owl.  I will be back to work tomorrow with tons of stuff waiting for my return.  That's the problem with taking time off work.  The work keeps coming even when you are gone!  So you go back and it's all still there, plus some, waiting for you.  My school also started today.  I don't have any classes today, not ones where I need to go in to campus, and I had already started my online class over a week ago, so not much action on that front as of yet.  I took pictures of the kids (my daughter and her two cousins who are twins) before school today.  It's hard to believe they are already in school.  Time flies when you start working 5 days a week every year.  It seems like you go to work, come home, do all your chores and get a bit of rest in (maybe) and do it over again the next day until the weekend comes, when you may get to do a few fun things, but otherwise you have to finish stuff you couldn't get done in the week.  So, basically time starts flying when you become an adult! :)

I watched most of the Olympics, so now that they are done with, I find myself wondering what I watched before that.  Of course, I'm quickly remembering.  I watched another re-run of The Big Bang Theory tonight.  I didn't watch that show initially, but now that I've started watching it, I am pretty hooked.  It is quite funny. 

Well, that is it for now. 

VRHH - Chapter 3 Preview Posted

'Nuff said. 

The Blues

Well the time has finally come for my daughter to start Kindergarten.  I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but to me it is a symbol of her growing independence (yes i DO see a symbol in almost everything).  It also marks the first of her school years, which we all know fly by before our eyes.  It is funny what events seem to trigger these thoughts.  I signed her up for school.  I bought her school supplies.  I even took her to meet her teacher last night at a little orientation.  But the thing that set me off today was simple:  Her last day of preschool.  Sure she'll be going to the same daycare for after school care, but today was the day they had their going away celebration.  I was not able to attend the celebration, but it wasn't the celebration itself that did it to me.  No, it was about 45 minutes ago that my daughter did something that got me.  We were standing outside, looking at some flowers when she goes to her daddy's car telling me she has something to show me.  She opens the door and goes inside and pops back out a couple of seconds later.  In her hands is the "About Me" poster that has hung in her various rooms at daycare since she was about 2 years old.  On it are pictures of her with me, with her cousins, with her dad and just her all by herself.  I am looking at those pictures, never to be hung on the daycare wall again, and realize also that she'll never be that age again.  I know that kids grow up, people get older, people die, but knowing that and sometimes being actually aware of it are two different things. 

I am sure that her years in school will be good for her.  I also know that it will be nice to one day not have to be so tied down as you are when you are the parent of small children, but nonetheless, it is hard to watch them, right before your eyes in what seems like the blink of an eye, grow up and start becoming their own person.  I am sure I'll go through it all again when my son grows up, but I guess that's just part of being a mother.  You have the bittersweet experience of watching the baby you held in your arms, tiny and helpless, grow into an independent adult.  All we can hope is that we've given them the tools and the skills to make their lives into what they want them to be and the rest is up to them. 

Here's to all the moms out there who see their child moving on to this next phase of life and feel a little helpless.  We are somewhat helpless in the game of life, but it is still what we make it and our children are a product of our experiences and their own. 

Update

Well my brother got lucky.  It turns out the heart attack left only minor damage on his heart.  He did have an artery that was 100% clogged.  They put a stent in it and told him that he can fly home on Thursday.  He is then immediately to go see a heart doctor.  Hopefully the stent will be all that is necessary.  We were worried about the flight; however, he assures us that they have him on blood thinners to prevent clots.  I spoke to him today on the phone and he says he feels good.  I told him that he needs to lessen the stress in his life and take his meds.  He sounded good, but we will all feel better when he is back home in Texas and done with that 12 hour flight.  Also, when he is back in Texas if anything goes wrong we are better able to respond than with him being in Hawaii.  There is some international travel for his job, so fortunately he wasn't out of the country when this happened. 

I realize that this was a wake up call for him and definitely a close call incident.  I usually try to find meaning in almost everything and/or a lesson.  There are many things to take from this, but I will say this:  If you love someone, you need to tell them and make sure they know.  You never know when something like this is going to happen to you.  There aren't always warning signs and there isn't always time for last words.  I know this is somewhat of a theme in my writing, but I believe in it very strongly.  Events in my life continue to reaffirm this belief. 

There are people who read my blog who I know and some that I don't know.  To those of you readers that I know and love, I want you to know that I love you and I hope you know that I love you and will always love you no matter what is done or said between us.  For those readers who I don't know, make sure you tell the people you love how you feel.  Don't wait for something bad to happen.  Don't wait until it is too late.  If there is someone you love who doesn't know (or if you aren't sure they know) that you love them, there is no time like the present.  Get up and call them, or go to them right now and let them know.