I tried Bikram Yoga and survived!

I know, I know, it's been 4 1/2 years.  I'm giving this a teensy little shot.  If anyone out there checks this out, there is no telling how long it will last.  But as I have recently tried something new and my husband is working too late to listen to me yammer on about it, well.... here's my other option.

And here's what I'd like to share (not to worry, most posts won't be this long):

Tuesday, September 18:
I first heard about Bikram Yoga (or Hot yoga) some time ago.  It sounded interesting, but I didn’t think it was for me.  Well, I decided after we moved from Colorado to Maryland this past April (and then 4 months later, Virginia) that I needed to DO some things.  We lived in Colorado for 5 years and only went skiing one day, whereas we used to go for a week at a time.  In Colorado, we never went on a single hike, though we used to do that, too.  We spent most of our vacation time flying back East to visit family for weddings, births, funerals, and general holidays (we love visiting family!).  And I let that be an excuse for not joining a gym (we’re already going to be out of town a lot), or planning weekend getaways (at some point we have to clean the house, do the laundry, work on projects).  Enough!

I went last night and tried Bikram Yoga.  For those unfamiliar, this is a 90 minute yoga class held in a room that is maintained at 105 – 108 degrees F with relative humidity of 78-82% (or so said the instructor, Reggie).  The heat of the room is to really warm up your body and muscles to increase your flexibility and range of motion (something my body could really use). 

The website said that newcomers should get there about a half an hour early to get signed in, etc.  So I did.  That took about 5 minutes.  And then I was told to go change if needed, and get set up in the yoga room (where, once you enter, you must maintain complete silence).  I was already changed, so I headed in.  I think I should have just set my stuff up and left until closer to class time as, whoa, nearly 2 hours in a room with 105 degrees and outrageous humidity was a bit much!

The class itself:  I repeat the most important part; I survived.  Yes, I got light-headed a few times.  Yes, I felt like throwing up a few times.  But I made it through. 

(Okay, I confess, I tried to leave at one point when I thought I would pass out and I was chastised a bit – the instructor had failed to mention at the beginning of the class that the biggest goal any newcomer should have is just to STAY in the room the whole time.  So, upon being told to go sit back down on my mat, I did.  And I just breathed and tried not to die.  I was successful.)

Every Bikram yoga class apparently takes you through the exact same series of breathing exercises and poses.  The poses early on were not terribly difficult, although I wasn’t as steady as most who have achieved better balance.  I was okay with that.  I really started struggling about mid-way through.  After my failed attempt to leave, I sat and just tried to breathe until I wasn’t so lightheaded and then I’d try whatever pose they were on.  For a while, I did at least one of each cycle or series.  Then, towards the end, the lightheadedness was hanging on a bit more, so I missed a couple poses altogether.  At the very, very end I joined in and gave it my all.  And then a lovely gal came around with towels soaked in cool water and lavender or something totally refreshing and I just lay there and didn’t die. 

I am really proud of myself for getting up the gumption and going.  I am more proud of myself that I made it through the class.  I am relieved I had enough left to hold on to the steering wheel to make it home.  And I am planning to go back tonight.  Crazy?  Perhaps.  But I am determined. 

Thoughts?  Recommendations? Cheers are welcome, too! (Encouragement goes a long way!)

Hans -- poor fella

Mr. Hansy-Wansy has an ear infection. We noticed it Sunday -- poor guy's ear just wouldn't stop twitching. And it was oozing. And he was shaking his head a lot. And oozy stuff was shaken this way and that. Poor fella. Being a Sunday, we couldn't get him to the vet until this morning. So bright and early (for me), I got up and got him into the crate (not fun!) and shuttled him over to the vet's office. He is now on two antibiotics -- one is topical and the other is oral and both have to be administered twice daily. The topical one he gets for 2 weeks, and the oral for 1 week (it's double-strength amoxycillin). So that's that.

Oh, and G finished installing the kitty door on Saturday - now we just have to convince Hans and Tinka that they really can push through the two flaps to get to the other side. Hans is getting better -- I only have to push the first flap back a little and he'll go through. Tinka is a big baby -- she finally got through and out to the sunroom yesterday but when she wanted to come back in she just sat on the step looking through the door waiting for G to let her in. He finally crumbled -- she has him so whipped! Little does she know that tomorow SHE is going to the vet to get her nails and paw-fur trimmed. And then in April, both kitties are getting their teeth cleaned. Im sure they're going to be just thrilled with me after that!

On a brighter note, I am getting a massage today. My masseuse is fantastic -- her name is Venus and she is a certified masseuse and calls herself a healer, too. I got a massage from her on Friday, although it was kind of a massage and kind of physical therapy. I've been getting knots behind my right shoulder-blade again, but evidently there are other things going on as well. After my massage Friday, G's office had a bowling tournament and he and I bowled (Venus had asked me to take it easy and go home to an epsom salt bath, but I was already committed to bowl on the team). I must say I am pretty impressed with myself. It has been AGES since I bowled and we bowled 3 games and each of my scores was over 100. My high score was 134. Out of the five of us on the team I was pretty much tied for second. Not bad considering I was the only girl on our team! G did the best and it was his boss that I was neck and neck with -- we really had a good time and I am hoping maybe I can convince G to go again soon. I'd love to break 150!

Picture pages Picture pages...

Do you remember that song?

Time to get your crayons and your pencils!


Did you check out Picture Pages? And Electric Company?
How fun was that little trip down memory lane? You can find anything on youtube!

Okay, so I told you there would be more photos, so here they are:
The first is little Cason with Autumn -- I love the funny faces he makes! The second is my mom playing Merry Maid with a hot pink feather duster. The third is a picture of Cason after Autumn had to give him his first (and only, so far) suppository -- I guess you can tell what he thought of that! He posed all by himself -- although to be honest, it's not that finger anyway. Funny though. Fourth is a profile of A with little Cason -- I though it was kind of neat.

And here is a photo-collage I put together as a screensaver for us -- top row is our niece Bridget (that's me holding her in the middle pic), then Cason, and the bottom row is our niece Katlyn (and her parents).
I'm hoping my sister sends more photos of Cason soon as all I have are the ones I took while I was there and a few from my other sister and a friend who were there at the same time I was.

Now I must go try to re-light the pilot light on the furnace -- again. Brrr...

Happy Thursday

I know it's been a week and this is my first post, but I've been semi-busy and semi-just catching up on not doing anything. I admit, I still haven't unpacked my bags from my visit to TN -- maybe if I don't unpack them then I didn't really leave my wonderful little nephew and little sis way across the country -- actually, I'm just chronically bad about unpacking. Always have been -- probably always will.

Oh, and Monday I interviewed for a job. And Saturday is an important job fair. Perhaps soon I will once again be happily employed -- I MISS IT!! I know a lot of folks would think I was very lucky not to 'have-to' work, but for me it is misery. Okay, misery is a bit strong -- but not too far off the mark. I just love to work and be a contributing member of a successful and reputable organization. Since I don't like to post identifiable information about myself, I won't say more about the jobs, but I will ask that you wish me luck or say a little prayer for me. I'd appreciate it tons.

So here is my picture post for today. I took this while in Tennessee from inside my sister's kitchen -- through the window and the screen. It was an overcast day with snow flurries at the time -- all that said, I think it's a pretty good shot and it makes me happy!

I just love bluebirds!

More of my angel...

I can't get over just how much he changes every day!
Yep, that's me, Auntie Tonya with Cason and his proud parents, Autumn and Mike!

This is my baby sister and Cason's Auntie Robyn.
Here he is with his great grandmother -- we were all so glad she could make the trip!
My parents with Baby Cason. They'll go by Grandpaw (or Granpaw -- not sure which)
and Bubby!
And here Autumn is with Auntie Jenny holding baby Cason, and Uncle Brian.

This is baby Cason sleeping on the chest of my big brother Bart, a.k.a. Uncle Smoove.

And this is my baby brother, D.J. who will go by 'Uncle Dirty' (they came up with the names -- we'll see if they come up with something better by the time little Cason can talk!).

And Cason with his Beautiful mama!

It really was incredible to be there when Cason came into the world, and to be able to spend the first 2+ weeks of his life! Oh, and it wasn't all play, mind you. I did more cooking for them than I have the entire year we've lived in Colorado. AND, I changed Cason's very first, and very dirty, diaper in the hospital that first night (at 2:12AM). And I did it by cell-phone light!

Soon I'll get back to blogging more about my own life, but since my life for the past few weeks has been wrapped up in the lives of Cason, Autumn, and Mike, well, you're just going to have to bear with me. And besides, who doesn't like looking at beautiful baby pictures?!

He has arrived! February 7, 2008

It's true, he's here. But one must begin at the beginning -- well, not THAT beginning. But the beginning of baby's arrival. So... we're off -- driving to the hospital!

It's early morning and we all figure a bite to eat would be a good idea, so M. fills the tank and buys us all breakfast biscuits. This turns out to be A's last meal before Cason arrives -- she got the chicken biscuit -- Yum!Many calls had to be made...
and then we get there, just in time to ... wait.
Once we get a room, it's time for a few laps:
The sign read: Lap 1. We didn't count. Even if we had, I don't think we could have counted the million and one laps we took. It's a good think I had on my tennies!
SO, many hours later...

My first nephew, and the first grandchild on my side of the family, arrived!

Baby Cason made his debut at 7:51PM on Thursday, February 7th weighing in at 7 lbs 14 oz and measuring 20 1/2 inches!

He's perfect!

The happy parents with their healthy baby boy.

Here I am with the sweet angel!

A very proud papa.Unfortunately, this outfit swallowed him whole.


So there you have it... our blessing, Baby Cason.

I'm back in Colorado now and you can bet your bottom dollar that you will be seeing more of the 300+ photos I took during my nearly 3 week stay.

Quickie

These are, we believe, the Kissing Camels at Garden of the Gods

I'm supposed to be packing for my trip to Tennessee, but I just had to throw in a couple photos from our weekend with Sarah. We went to the Garden of the Gods on Saturday and walked around a bit. It was very Brrrrr outside. And even more Brrr when we got to Manitou Springs! And strangely enough, we arrived in Manitou Springs to find the town celebrating and enjoying the annual Carnivale! I wish I had some photos of some of the oddly dressed folks wandering the streets!

Instead, here are Sarah and me, and Sarah and G!

We finished the evening with a fondue dinner at the Mona Lisa -- we had a great brie fondue and a fantastic chocolate (and Gran Marnier) fondue for dessert. I had planned on eating my chocolate twinkie last night, but after the chocolate fondue (and a superb wine), I decided it should wait.

Today we rode the train through the Royal Gorge -- really beautiful, although I bet it is even more amazing during the spring or fall.

Pretty smile on Sarah!

And tonight Sarah cooked for us! She made a lovely salad with cucumber and avocado and a creamy lime vinaigrette and teh entree was a penne pasta with vodka cream sauce. Oh, and to top it all off, she made (from scratch) amazing chocolate sour cream cupcakes with semi-sweet chips in it and a cream cheese and orange icing.(And I haylped-- accent intended). Wow! I should have taken pictures before we devoured the meal. Oops.

The cupcakes were delicious -- though the altitude may have messed with their rising a bit -- they rose well, but fell. Didn't bother me at all though -- chocolate with more chocolate with cream cheese icing -- can't go wrong with that.

And before you remind me that I'm supposed to be on WW, not to worry. I have trackers packed and healthy low-fat recipes to make in TN. I'll be back down to goal by the time I get back to Colorado.