WTF? How can it be the end of September already?

Yeah, so I'm not sure where September has gone. It's like I've blinked and it's almost over. But what a month it's been!

- some pretty amazing hikes with a pretty amazing person
- some pretty amazing times and conversations with above amazing person =)
- celebrating FOUR years with Nermal. Wow. Time really does fly!
- my work schedule has changed completely (hello, early mornings and having a social life again!)
- co-teaching a corporate yoga retreat
- witnessing the last of my 'little siblings' get married. And partying with their aunties (my old baby-sitters). And realizing that family doesn't necessarily have to be related to you by blood to be family.
- getting snowed out on a hike on September 1. Yeah, Baby!
- having some pretty deep conversations (yes, we were both drunk, but still) with my SIL
- enjoying wings and pizza after the wedding with my mom, bro and SIL in the hotel
- driving a mobster car
- making plans for skiing this winter!

Life is full. Life is good. And I'm grateful for it all. _/|\_

Egad!

It's August 29. Which means my cousin turns 40 today. And in 3 short months, so does my brother. How can that be?! I'm not old enough to have a big brother who's 40!

It's been a crazy last few weeks: busy working, playing, meeting friends (new and old), teaching and spending time with Nermal. She continually amazes me. And demonstrates just how much love can change someone. In four short years, she's gone from a scared-y cat to uber cuddler. Still chatty and is always game to play. And really good at knowing when to just sit and be. I've learned a lot from her.

And summer just wooshed by! I have a good feeling about fall, though. And I'm fully equipped with a new pack that will serve double duty: day pack in summer and avalanche gear pack in winter. This weekend is going to be awesome: I'm heading out to hike in the meadows that hide under the snow in my winter wonderland.

And that's what I know today.

Blink and you miss it!

August, that is. Where did it go? How did it get to be the 21st of the month already?

Oh well. Things are looking up around here. My house is clean, my mat's made a comeback and Nerm is her usual entertaining self. Other things that have returned: drinks on the patio, healthy food and cooking.

Whirlwind July

Where did it go?! Hmmm...let's see...

-there was dinner with some friends and a friend who'd traveled from afar to partake in some Alberta fun
-there were some happy hours at Mikey's Juke Joint
-there was some walking in the woods and mountains around Canmore
-there may have also been some shopping when we went for lunch in Canmore
-there was some ice cream at Village Ice Cream, the marvelous new place within walking distance of my house (this is good, because it's more than 15 blocks each way)
-there was an amazing four days on Prince's Island listening to amazing music with friends. Chris Issak, Whitehorse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Gillian Welch, Mary Chapin Carpenter...good times.

And poof! Just like that, it's gone and we're already into August, which hopefully will bring more of the same. 

Still Alive

Dealing with shit. Well, maybe not dealing so well. Either way, I'm still here. Nerm has been generous with her cuddles, and for this, I am grateful.

It's Friday Again...and that's a Good Thing!

Lots going on in my world and I'm busy processing.

Today is my favourite day--Friday morning yoga, tea afterwards (which invariably leads to lunch) & quite possibly drinks with a friend I haven't seen in ages!

And of course, because I could sleep in this morning, I was wide awake at 0530h. Did I mention I went to bed at 0100h? *sigh* Oh well, the sleep I had was restful.

My kitchen looks like a disaster zone and Nermal isn't offering to help tidy it up. I guess that means I'm going to have to. I'll do it tomorrow--it's supposed to be rainy and gross all weekend. Blargh. Good thing I borrowed Season 2 of Numbers from a co-worker! Nothing like veggin' out on the couch all weekend!

Although I'm quite sure that there will be visits to the Farmer's Market(s), coffee, friends and yoga, too.

Happy Friday! Remember: Inhale blessings. Exhale gratitude.

_/|\_

Durga Unveiled

I spent the past weekend in good company. My teacher held a three-day workshop all about Durga.

She's a pretty cool goddess, if you ask me. She rides a lion (the ego), and has many arms (usually 8, but sometimes more. You just never know when an extra arm will come in handy.). In each hand, she carries a weapon that was a gift from the gods. She also carries a conch, which carries the sound of creation, om. She's a warrior (heck, the gods couldn't kill a demon, so they became so enraged that light started emanating from them, and from that light, comes Durga) and never loses her cool. She's also fiercely compassionate. All of the warriors who fought along side her were given the gift of jewellery making.

Our asana practices were pretty kick-asana. There were hip openers (lots of 'em), arm balances (the strength is finally coming in my right side and vasithasana is getting better), backbends (hello, eka pada raja kapotasana I, II, III & IV!), headstand, shoulderstand, heron, sundial, padmasana and yogi dandasana. That's this one:

Mine did not look like that, but it's something to work towards! I'm all bendy and feel every. single. muscle. in. my. body. I LOVE it! Like Nora says, "Well, you know you're alive!"

Other than yoga, I've been getting ready for summer. There's been some cleaning and organizing, preparing my patio (I bought a Campfire in a Can. I can't wait to be warm in the evening!), planting my plants: sweet peas, begonias, and mint. Lots of mint. For lots of mojitos.

Practice, practice, practice. That's my mantra these days and I'm feeling it in my mind, body and spirit. And that's why I do it...

Om shanti shanti shanti

_/|\_