Happy Thanksgiving, whoa turkey!

I'm counting numbers, slowly and in italiano, as I inhale each minute, consciously slowing each cycle of breath to last for as long as possible. (I'm thinking this will aid in my quest to slow time down, to make things last.)

The calendar page displays one of my favorite numbers and I'm incredulous:

*Thanksgiving is next week; car trip planning in the works.

*Brian's working vacation is almost coming to a close (mio fratello giovane, my first houseguest from out of state who has been tediously working and handling his elder sister's mood swings and crazy life...so far he has played guitar, seen where the wild things are and howled at the new moon on Monday.)

*My dock is becoming steadier, more grounded.

*iGniting has been spectacular and we're cruising right along through JXIII like hot knives through lavendar infused butter.

October and November have been wickedly fast months with barely enough time on the wall to memorize the monthly photo and yoga pose (currently, it is Padmasana, and you should see the photo of Lily the Bulldog doing THIS grounding and centering pose.)

I have managed to do a number of memorable things:

*Saw mi amiche in Dallas for a fun filled memory fest, short but sweet.

*Attended a fascinating seminar on PKD and ran into some old (but good) friends of mine in addition to listening and learning from some of the top researchers in the field. See my (not so flattering, but it was early) on this page with Davis Phinney, my newfound idol in the sport of life and cycling. I gave up riding the Tour das Hugel, after months of evil hill-climbing training on two wheels and sometimes on two feet.... He so patiently signed a note to me, encouraging my participation in a future HHH ride in which he still holds the record: 3:23 hours! That is 100 miles under the hot Texas sun during an unforgivable time of year...I think it took me 8 hours to ride the Mamma Jamma century last month. Maybe 2010 will be the year for it! Team iGnite? Bob's Your Uncle??

*Have moved more stuff into one place and out of another. Slowly but surely. The most fun day was the couch moving moment with C. and G. They rocked (and thankfully, didn't roll) down the rocky path.


*Caught up on more TBTL and B.O.D. thanks to Cassie, and we've even had a few craft days with carving jack-o-lanterns and Thanksgiving/Christmas ornamental decorations (although, Brian's clever sculpture took the cake, and maybe ate it too...)

*Saw the amazing, "This is it" and wept, laughed, danced and toe tapped for a solid two hours. It's a great movie, that should also count as aerobic activity if you watch it correctly.

*Spent some great walking time with Darcy, Wickham (and yes, they really ARE characters) Jax and reconnected with M. and R. in the process! All at an unbelievably early hour on a brisk, layer-wearing day.

*Danced with the devil in the pale moonlight, well, under the harsh lights of the cool river anyway.

*Paddled up and down Lake Austin where I witnessed a Tibetan Rinpoche bless our beloved Colorado River and a slideshow of amazing photos from India.

*Getting to know my bird better, and have even transferred her Highness to a new abode. Still need to drop the old one off to its rightful owner.

*Had dinner with some of the most fascinating people I've been so lucky to come to know over the past twelve years here in Austin. Mille grazie, my kind and beautiful friends!

More soon, hopefully.
Blogging moments have been sparse.

Happy Holidays to all of my friends, family, acquaintances, clients (past, present and future, same goes for any ghosts) and to those of you who shan't be mentioned

Everybody

Everybody

I stood at a bus corner
one afternoon, waiting
for the #2.

An old man stood waiting too.
I stared at him.

He caught my stare, grinned,
gap-toothed.

Will you
sign my coat? he asked as he held out a pen.
He wore a dirty canvas coat
that had signatures all over it,
hundreds, maybe thousands.

I’m trying to get everybody, he said.

I signed.
On a little space
on a pocket.

Sometimes I remember:

I am one of everybody.


adapted from a writing by Marie Sheppard Williams, who lives in Minneapolis.

Happy Halloweener!

What They Said...

I like what this W has to say...



“ ...what I focus on in life is what I get. And if I concentrate on how bad I am or how wrong I am or how inadequate I am, if I concentrate on what I can’t do and how there’s not enough time in which to do it, isn’t that what I get every time? And when I think about how powerful I am, and when I think about what I have left to contribute, and when I think about the difference I can make on this planet, then that’s what I get. You see, I recognize that it’s not what happens to you; it’s what you do about it.”

-- W. Mitchell

Maddening Mrs. Murphy

"You're map SUCKS!" she retorted as she pulled up outside of the Independent in her pristine, white Cadillac with shiny, pink and silver rims.

"I've been looking for this place for over an hour! Left the rest of the bunch back at the hotel and I told them, "to HELL with giving up" and here I am, only now too late to see the movie!"

We sympathized with her. Looked aver her shoulder at the shitty map (for anyone over the age of 50 needing reading glasses and a spotlight to gather the necessary directional information.) Not only was it small in font, it also had the most vague address listed, rather than the actual street address where one can find this remote little theatre just east of the heart of Austin.

We were very happy that she didn't give up her search. In the short span of time we spent with M. Murphy, we learned so much.

*How to give a proper handshake, especially if a young lady wants to be taken seriously (she actually said that Cada's handshake made her want to puke, and made her do it again, only this time correctly!)

*Who to stay away from in life: anyone with negative energy, and boring people. When you do encounter these sorts, you just smile, be polite, and quickly move on.

*Where the real "yellow brick road" exists (Sofia, Bulgaria)

*How to prepare your Will: Give it all to two of your favorite humans, and tell the others they get only a dollar each. That way no one starts to kiss your arse as you start to turn silver on the crown.

*How to live: Travel. She has not only traveled to but has lived in 127 countries (making her a bonafide member of the Century Club.)

M. Murphy wasn't the only amazing person we met yesterday. Addy the Clown, from Wimberly, was not only full of fantastic jokes, but gave wise advice in Sanskrit (all while having us dance to his harmonica, and to that of his friend and harmonica virtuoso, Cara Cooke. These people were just a few to be highlighted in the short film "Pocket Full of Soul".

Overall it was a pretty amazing day, even though it began with an uncertain start (thought I got stood up for a cycling date, but was a mere miscommunication.) Met some famous people, some people who should be famous, rode with my bike on a bike pedicab and even got to help make a special delivery to the Paramount for Ron Howard.

Life in Austin sure isn't boring...I think Madame Murphy would be proud.

I concurr!

Sunday 25, October 2009-The Daily Guru

“Work should be in order to live. We don’t live in order to work. That shift in awareness is necessary.”

-- Matthew Fox

“Learning to let go of the ways we inadvertently and unconsciously contribute to our own pain is the key to finding radiant physical and emotional health.”

-- Ingrid Bacci

“To do great work a man must be very idle as well as very industrious.”

-– Samuel Butler

“The true object of all human life is play.”

-- G.K. Chesterton

Jacked Up!

Just had a newsflash from Irma:

She read in the A.A.S. that Tony Campise had a fall and had to spend some time in the ICU...

I saw him play just over a week ago at the Elephant Room, and he was doing really well, sounded incredible as always, and I sure hate to hear he's down and out. Tony, I'm praying for you and know many around the world are doing the same.

I would love to do some sort of benefit for him, as I'm sure he wasn't planning a trip to hospital while out of town doing a gig...maybe we could all purchase some of his fine musica as I'm sure it would be a boost to him at the moment. Here's a link that will take you to his music.

Jazzed up!

I AM so happy and excited about life I can barely contain myself this picture-perfect autumn Monday afternoon. SO many wonderful things are "on the bubble" and even though this will be a short list due to time contraints, I want to give a quick update and note of thanks to all of my family and friends.

iGnite has been ROCKING! Taught a fantastic yoga class to a group of gals at the beautiful Camp Balcones Springs where camp IS cool (and can I just say, Christine and company's attention to detail and offerings of healthy food, information and idyllic surrounds was simply impeccable!)

Had a great blind date on Saturday...turns out he can see really well! Watched the UT/OU game, and he even helped me break into my car.

Enjoyed one of the sweetest weddings I've been to in awhile...the brides looked like movie stars (well, they really ARE) and I got to shake my groove thang and party like it was 1999 all over again. Happy Day you gals and have a great honeymooon!

Caught wind of two of my favorite clients (and overall, people-on-the-planet) are beginning a blog about their journey of exercise, losing weight, eating correctly etc. Cassie and Gretchen work with me individually and together as a workout duo, and have been consistently upping the ante on their physical accomplishments from losing unwanted/needed pounds to running, swimming, cycling and competing in triathlon!! Way to go you two.

Birthdays abound: Spatherina turned gracefully into another number in the thirties, my little nephew Michael turned seven on the seventh (very auspicious!), Frahnseenie gets to celebrate her new number on Thursday (let's definitely do the birthday ride when you return from Houston) and Madame Miyo, the great Mule tamer, has been celebrating her turd-day for weeks (rightly so!).

more to come...out of time.