Spoiler Alert!!!

I am positively horrible when it comes to surprises.  As a kid I would open then rewrap all of my Christmas presents (not to mention act totally surprised on x-mas day).  If you tell me to keep a secret about a surprise for someone else I will literally have to cease communication with that person so I don't ruin their surprise, and nothing gets my attention like the caption "spoiler alert" even if I am not a fan of the story being spoiled.  So, when I thought of keeping the transformation of the new studio a secret, I should have known I was kidding myself.  My intentions were good, I swear!  I wanted to unveil the space in its total glory and spare you the gory details of renovation, but I just can't stand it any more.  Besides this renovation is no where near the telenovela standards of the renovation of the current building so here are some glimpses of the soon to be new Sanctuary....

This is what we started with.  Then in a single morning Ivor and Kelly made a huge difference:

They really did this then went to lunch.  I swear they are Jedi (nerd alert).  The force is strong with these two.  Next some walls came down, and now things are getting put together!  Oh yes, there will be yoga at the Seagle starting August 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just plain old tired.

What ever happened to the siesta?  You know, that completely civilized idea where you chill out for a couple of hours after lunch especially when it is stinkin hot out.  Well folks it IS stinkin hot, and even my dogs are smart enough to sprawl out on a cool floor until the sun drops so they can resume terrorizing the neighborhood.  However, a siesta is just not fitting into my ical and lately I feel lucky if I sleep at night.  So I am taking a stand, well maybe its actually a sit; no, no, I am going to take a lay down!  Oh yes I am.  

On the ical for this afternoon is my practice time and after a few salutations I am going to practice laying down.  There will be props and a babysitter to facilitate this 20 minutes of supine bliss, and I will not feel like less of a person for skipping the 50 chaturangas!  It won't be a full on siesta, but its what I've got and I am in no position to be picky.  I am not even going to bother clearing my mind or focusing on my breath since I am in no mood for enlightenment - I am just plain old tired. 

 I know that if I just take this 20 minutes I will be rested, happier, a better mom, teacher, wife (well we will see anyway), and the next time I feel overwhelmed and exhausted  instead of working on pressing through my big toe ball mount to activate my inner thighs maybe I will just lay down with out the high dramatics.

perspective.....

I have this amazing little child that has recently let me into her secret world where reality and imagination coexist peacefully.  She has always been great at stating the obvious, and getting her point across, but now her words just flutter out responding to context and whimsy as she moves through her day.  Spontaneous songs pop out (she likes the Kinks especially and can sing the chorus of "oh so fine" even though I can't remember the last time I played it for her), she has major discussions with her dolls about no hitting and listens to them as they explain their case, and apparently there are mysterious tickly snakes inhabiting our house that she is working on befriending (friendship was my suggestion because who wants a house full of neglected snakes). She has also figured out how to use the camera properly, and for me, her photos have information about her perspective that is priceless...

Here is one of me sewing.  She has informed me that my belly is humongous, and now I get it.

Apparently we have humongous stripes on the kitchen tablecloth as well, and the baseboards under the cupboards never got painted.

She can also finally see what everyone is up to, and I can finally see why hiding under the table is so appealing.

I love the earnestness of her photos, and her unfiltered honesty.  I also love that as a parent I get to do more learning than teaching.

Incidentally, she also did the art direction for the photo I took of her and her chicken, Sookie, at the top.  

ps. Nobel is doing a workshop downtown this weekend:

Yoga as Self-transformation

An Experiential Workshop with Nobel Ang, PhD

Where? 5.6.7.8 Dance Studio, in the Sun Center in Downtown Gainesville (a few doors away from Maude’s Classic Café)

When? 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday June 6^th 2009

Details of workshop: This is a multi-level workshop, suitable for both experienced yogis and those completely new to yoga. I will be suggesting various modifications to the postures that we will be doing. Please bring your own yoga mat.      

Workshop Fee: $45 per person, $20 for students. Payment is to be made at the beginning of the workshop in cash or local check made out to “Nobel Ang.” No credit cards accepted.