Get Your Mindfulness On

I took a Yoga workshop this past weekend which was taught by Alanis Morrisette's twin brother Wade (weird, huh?) at At One Yoga. The class was fun and incorporated some dancing with the yoga and also focused on some breathing techniques. These are things I don't get a whole lot of when doing my usual classes.

I am going to try to get out there and do something new every week. In fact, I made this one of my personal goals for the year. (I just had my job review and had to come up with three goals. The other two are work-related.) So I guess the workshop counts for this week!

I took this photo this summer in Hawaii - what a peaceful spot. It takes me back there every time I look at it. It reminds me to stay in the moment and enjoy!

Karate Kid

Well, actually it is Tae Kwon Do. I have been looking through old photos for my son's graduation video they are producing at school - I thought this one is pretty funny.

(Sandy - This must be the day for old pictures.)

(Jack - Remember, I can still kick your butt.)

Give Your Mother Thanks Today

... Mother Earth that is! (I also give thanks to you, Mom, who is about the only person who reads my blog). This is a picture of my kids in Hawaii at the base of a very big tree (I think it is a Banyan).

I am celebrating Earth day today by not eating meat, using a shopping bag or drinking any bottled water (my true sacrifice.) Happy Earth Day everyone!

April is Poetry Month

Going through my emails today, I happened across the Borders Enewsletter and found a terrific section where poets read their material online. It was called Open Door Poetry - here is the link http://www.bordersmedia.com/odp/default.asp I particularly liked the Haiku contest. In honor of poetry month, here is one of my favorite poems:

Sleeping in the Forest

by Mary Oliver

I thought the earth

remembered me,she

took me back so tenderly,arranging

her dark skirts, her pockets

full of lichens and seeds.I slept

as never before, a stone

on the river bed, nothing

between me and the white fire of the stars

but my thoughts, and they floated

light as moths among the branches

of the perfect trees. All night

I heard the small kingdoms breathing

around me, the insects, and the birds

who do their work in the darkness. All night

I rose and fell, as if in water,grappling

with a luminous doom. By morning

I had vanished at least a dozen times

into something better.

Flowering Grass

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers. ~Claude Monet

Here is a picture of the first bloom from the ornamental grasses in my garden. They don't last long, but they are very delicate and pretty.

I Love My Clock

Isn't this a cool old green alarm clock? I got it at a flea market yesterday - I don't think it works, but the alarm is very loud, so maybe I will use it to wake up a certain 17-year-old who likes to sleep way too much.

I also took a metal working jewelry class from Tim Holtz yesterday - here is my collage necklace. Don't know where I'd where it, but I picked up some great techniques at the class.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday, Mom. Remember, 70 is the new 50, so you'd better go do something fun today. I look forward to celebrating with you soon.

I Love My Job!

I hiked up Camelback yesterday with a group of my coworkers, afterwards we joined the whole staff for our staff celebration - a spa day! I love my job! (FYI... I love my job even when it isn't "spa day." )

Poor Old Rocky

Poor Rocky seems to sit on this chair all day long lately... he will be 13 years old this summer.

Hapuna Beach

I had a request from an online travel guide: Schmap Hawaiian Islands Guide http://www.schmap.com/hawaiianislands/home/ to post my Hapuna Beach picture on their site. I took this photo last August when I went to the Big Island with my kids. It was very beautiful and almost deserted. Almost hate to tell anyone about it!