Right now we’re nerding out with ST, I’m enjoying another glass of Big Fire pinot noir, hoping Dave’s dog won’t howl at us some more and LOVING Simon Pegg as Mr. Scott. New True Blood AND Mad Men tonight. w00t!

That said, vacation was a kick in the ass. Time to refresh everything all over, albeit without nearly as much rain as Seattle sees, and I started today. Woke up, finished reading a book, cleaned up the kitchen and then started on our bedroom. Dusted and swept everywhere, got up the rugs for washing, stripped the bedding and mattress pad for washing (which it’s doing right now) and as soon as that room’s done I’ll move to the next.

The basement bedroom, like two of the upstairs rooms, has a mirrored set of sliding closet doors. It’s also much larger than any of the other rooms (with the exception of the basement living room and the kitchen/dining area) and I noticed today that I could probably make a decent yoga space in there. It’s got laminate flooring and high enough ceilings that I don’t have to worry about barking my hands or feet. It’s also cool enough (being the basement) and has a fan so that I should be able to work as hard as I like, comfortably. That’s going to be my new spot then, at least until we get one of the upstairs rooms converted into a real workout space.

One of the things I love about yoga is its malleability. I can tailor my workout to whatever feels appropriate at the time, focusing on whichever areas I’d like. Unfortunately that is also one of the things that stumps people about having a “home practice”. With so many options, how do you keep track of where you started or what you’ve done? I think it’s one of the things people really like about Bikram and the ashtanga series – there are proscribed movements in a particular order such that you’ve always got the next step in front of you. While that sounds nice in theory, I think I’d get bored with it.

I generally start with the Sun series and modify it however I’d like. It’s infinite if you add in Warrior II and Chair (Sun B) and can be modified to include almost anything – triangle, side angle, revolved variations of both, twisting chair, Warrior III, pyramid and about a dozen different ways you can modify Downward Facing Dog. I’m tempted to do audio posts about the variations just so that people can try them if they’re interested. Everyone approaches yoga a little differently and one of the reasons I love taking classes is because I can hear how other people change things up.

So I guess MY spring goal is thirty days of yoga posts. If I can squeeze in classes I will, but it will primarily what I do at home and on the road (we’ve got some overnighters this month). I think my plan will be to work through the Eye of the Tiger practice – it’s pretty comprehensive but too long for everyday. I can attack parts of it and digest what I like and don’t.

Below is the Eye of the Tiger workout – I can’t recall what site I found it on but it’s an Anusara practice.

Eye of the Tiger Practice

The Eye of the Tiger practice is designed as an ultimate daily practice routine to maximize strength, stamina, and flexibility in all the major parts of the body. It covers all the main classes of asana including: Surya Namaskar, standing poses, handbalancings, inversions, backbends, hip-openers, forward bends, and twists. The entire practice can take over 4 hours to complete, so in order to abbreviate, perform a few poses in each category moving down through the lists from top toward the bottom. During a week’s practice schedule be sure to attempt the poses that you might have skipped in previous practices.

Invocation

Surya Namaskar – 10-108x or 10-20 min.

Handstand – 1-5 min. ea. 1-3 X

Pincha Mayurasana (feathered peacock) – 1-5 min. ea. 1-3 X

Standing Poses – 30-60 sec. ea./ side
Vrksasana (tree)
Parsvakonasana (extended side angle)
Trikonasana (triangle)
Virabhadrasana I (warrior I)
Virabhadrasana II (warrior II)
Anjaneyasana (crescent lunge)
Ardha Chandrasana (half moon)
Virabhadrasana III (warrior III)
Parivrtta Trikonasana (revolved triangle)
Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (revolved half moon)
Parivrtta Parsvakonasana (revolved side angle)
Parsvottanasana (intense side stretch/pyramid)
Utkatasana (chair)
Garudasana (eagle)
Prasarita Padottanasana (wide-legged forward fold)
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (extended hand to big toe)
Pada Hastasana (hands to feet)

Handbalancings – 1-2x ea./ side
Lolasana (pendant)
Vasisthasana (side plank)
Eka Hasta Bhujasana (elephant’s trunk)
Astavakrasana (8 angle)
Bakasana (crane)
Eka Pada Bakasana II (one legged crane)
Eka Pada Bakasana I (one legged crane)
Visvamitrasana (pose dedicated to visvamitra)
Eka Pada Koundinyasana II (pose dedicated to Koundinya)
Dwi Hasta Bhujasana (two-handed legs over arms)
Bhujapidasana (shoulder pressing pose)
Titthibhasana (firefly)
Parsva Bakasana (side crane)
Eka Pada Koundinyasana I
Eka Pada Galavasana (flying crow)
Kukuttasana (cock posture)
Parsva Kukuttasana (revolved cock posture)

Abdominals – 30-50x ea./ side
Crunches
Criss-Crosses
Navasana (boat)
Urdhva Prasarita Padasana (raised stretched out foot)
Jathara Parivartanasana (spinal twist)

Supta Virasana (reclined hero) – 5 min.

Hip-openers – 1 min. ea./ side
Baddha Konasana
Janu Sirsasana
Parsva Upavistha Konasana
Upavistha Konasana
Triang Mukhaikapada
Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana prep.
Bharadvajasana II

Inversions – 30sec.– 1 min. variations
Sirsasana
Parsva Sirsasana
Parsva Sirsasana in Virasana
Eka Pada Sirsasana
Parsvaika Pada Sirsasana
Parivrttaikapada Sirsasana
Padmasana in Sirsasana
Parsva Padmasana in Sirsasana
Pindasana in Sirsasana
Sirsasana II
Mukta Hasta Sirsasana
Baddha Hasta Sirsasana
Prasarita Hasta Sirsasana
——————————————
Sarvangasana
Sarvangasana II
Eka Pada Sarvangasana
Parsvaika Pada Sarvangasana
Halasana
Supta Konasana
Parsva Halasana
Karna Pidasasana
Parsva Karna Pidasasana
Parsva Sarvangasana in Padmasasana
Parsva Sarvangasana
Setubandha Sarvangasana

Backbends
Eka Pada Supta Virasana
Bhujangasana
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana I prep – one leg in Bhekasana
Dhanurasana
Parsva Dhanurasana
Ustrasana
Purvottanasana – bent knees
Backbends with chair
Urdhva Dhanurasana – (5-25x)
Eka Pada Urdhva Dhanurasana
Viparita Chakrasana
Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana (head up)
Eka Pada Viparita Dandasana
Headstand Drop-overs – (5-25x)
Mandalasana – (3-25x)
Urdhva Dhanurasana – drop-backs – (5-108x)
Vrischikasana I – feet on chair
Kapotasana – pigeon droppings – (3-10x)
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana I
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana IV
Valakhilyasana
Padangustha Dhanurasana
Natarajasana

Twists & Forward Bends – 30 sec – 1 min. ea./ side
Uttanasana
Virasana – twist
Baddha Konasana
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana prep
Janu Sirsasana
Upavista Konasana
Parsva Upavistha Konasana
Agnistambasana
Ardha Baddha Padmasana Paschimottanasana
Marichyasana II
Triangamuhkaipada Paschimottanasana
Krounchasana
Bharadvajasana II
Compass
Yogadandasana
Pascimottanasana
Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana I & II
Ardha Matsyendrasana
Malasana I
Pasasana – one leg
Padmasana
Hanumanasana
Ardha Matsyendrasana II
Marichyasana IV
Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana
Parivrtta Paschimottanasana
Kurmasana
Somakonasana
Eka Pada Sirsasana
Bhairavasana
Chakorasana
Durvasana
Uttanasana
Supta Padangusthasana
Balasana

Meditation – 10 min.

Savasana – 10 min.

Edited to add reference links so you know what I’m talking about.

In order to stave off cutting my hair again, I’ve recolored it (again). Back to a nice shade of auburn which should settle me for a while.

In TV news, last night was I Love You, Man which still cracks me up. It’s funny in no small part because I think the social activities that have traditionally allowed social interaction have shifted over the years, making it harder to find companionship. The idea of “dating” friends is funny but mostly because it’s true. How do you make new friends these days?

We’re pretty excited about our travel plans. Less so about having to pay the government this year. I generally dread tax season and this year was a double-bonus of suck. Feh.

In 2 months, though we’ll be headed back to Michigan for a visit! It’ll be nice to see some old friends and the family.

Tomorrow’s excitement includes laundry, going to the bank, getting dog supplies together for the sitter, making up spare beds, packing clothes and generally wrapping up loose ends.

It’s more than that, though. It’s a movie about girls. But not just girls – almost every girl I know. I didn’t grow up in a small town, let alone a small town in Texas. I never played roller derby. I am not the girl in this movie.

On the other hand, every girl I know is the girl in this movie. We’re all awkward and uncertain and have odd relationships with our families. Growing up, we’re not sure where we’re going or why (amongst the MANY things that are unclear in wretched adolescence). But we find a thing – everyone (not just girls) – and that’s the thing that changes us. It’s something we’re good at – school, sport, music, gaming, hobby – and it gives us confidence and provides inspiration and makes us feel like we belong in our skin and our opinions MEAN something. It’s the confidence that propels us into that next place – regardless of uncertainty and fear and the certain knowledge that we aren’t perfect – with a sense that we’ll be OKAY.

Pretty much everything about this movie resonated with me. The family interplay and all the intricacy of navigating it, the relationships with friends (new and old and how that all works out), that sense of wonder when you find something NEW and how it feels to be growing into yourself. I don’t think those feelings go away but this is the first film I’ve ever seen that CELEBRATES them. I left the theater with a huge smile on my face and that’s happened every time I’ve watched the DVD too.

2. The Sony earbuds currently on sale at Target kick ass. That is, if you don’t like the noise-canceling flavor which I don’t because I like to hear a motherfucker sneak up on me. So yeah. Inexpensive but NOT cheap. Great sound, great looking, long enough cord that the Zune can sit on my treadmill or in my cargo pants pocket and not cause any drag. PERFECT.

3. Foursquare is surprisingly interesting. I’m intrigued by what others find relevant in terms of creating a venue or leaving a tip. I am STOKED about using this in Seattle.

4. I miss my Doc Martens. I saw some of the not-fake-but-not-real zip up the side variety and it made me want some lace ups. Alas there seem to be none in this area.

5. Email on the phone is made of win, especially when you get to use the coupon that got EMAILED to you without PRINTING IT. LOVE.

6. I really, really, really want this health care bill to pass and be overwith. Because honestly, the reform CANNOT be worse than the current system. Absolutely cannot. And as the BBC pointed out: the Tea Party movement believes that making insurance companies ACTUALLY PAY for sick people is UNAMERICAN. All emphasis theirs, not mine. Ironically.

7. My Twilight drinking game is kind of spectacular.

8. I’m starting the Serious Wardrobe Culling this week.

9. The Tudors sheds more like on torture methodology than I ever needed depicted.

10. Spring, according to retail, must occur only in the first two weeks of February as I searched HIGH AND LOW today for a raincoat and found NOTHING. WTF.

2 packages of Old El Paso Spanish Rice (the kind that preps in a minute)
1 value pack of chicken breasts (I think it was 5 breasts)
1 package of Fajita seasoning
2 sm 10 oz cans of RoTel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles, drained
1 large pkg (4 cups-ish) shredded Mexican cheese blend
1 can black beans, drained
1 large can Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce
Flour tortillas

So first I made the rice and while it cooled, put the flour tortillas in a 13×9 pan. I put them in propped together taco-style but you could also just make a top/bottom layer probably. I filled the bottom of each tortilla with the Spanish rice

I put fajita spice on the breasts and put them in a pan with a tablespoon or two of vegetable oil. Cook until browned on one side, flip them.
While the chicken is cooking, put the tomatoes and beans in a bowl and stir to blend. Once blended, scoop beans/tomatoes into each tortilla.

Once the breasts were browned on both sides, I took them out and sliced and then cubed them, then putting them back in the pan to finish cooking and added the rest of the fajita spice.

Once the chicken was done, I scooped it into the the tortillas, put in a handful of cheese each, and then closed the tortillas. I had to use toothpicks but whatevs. Poured in the can of enchilada sauce, covered the whole mess in cheese, and baked at 325 degrees for about 40 minutes. When I took it out of the oven, I took out the toothpicks, put them on plates and put on more cheese. Served with tortilla chips.

Dudes, it was WICKED AWESOME. Delicious and since I didn’t use more than half of my chicken meat, we’ll have another pseudo-Mexican meal later this week.

Now that I’m down to 40ish hours, I’ve been re-evaluating the system. When I work afternoons (leaving the house at around 1pm or later) I find that I’m actually MOTIVATED to clean in the mornings. I get up, put things away, wash the dishes, et cetera. When I work mornings, though, I get up at about 4:30 am so that I can leave the house by 5:30 and let me tell you there is NO HOUSEWORK HAPPENING. If you’re lucky, I remember to clean up after myself so that there aren’t clothes strewn about the house and makeup all over the bathroom countertop.

The problem with working mornings is that when I get home I’m TIRED. It’s typically been a full 8 hour day and my shifts involve physical labor- not just standing at a cash register. I get to decompress on the drive home (45 minutes, more or less) and then by the time I’m at the house, I want to lay on the couch. Alas, dinner needs to be made and let’s face it, Spouse is the breadwinner no matter HOW many hours I work. I’m cool with the cooking and cleaning being part of my job, I just don’t LOVE it. The cooking is generally a nonissue but when I get home from work, there are invariably the dishes from Spouse’s breakfast (cooking and eating) sitting there, as well as the clean dishes from the night before and probably clean dishes in the dishwasher too. Not exactly INSPIRATIONAL.

This week I decided to do an experiment, since last week’s cleaning BEFORE work went so well. I’m still not going to clean at 4am but I thought I’d do something to help with an afternoon energy boost – enough to pump me up for cleaning and then I could cook and relax. So after I got home from work, I let the dog out and got on the treadmill. It turns out that a nice solid 30 minute run (intervals of some sort usually) gives me enough energy to beat the midafternoon tired slump and then I could clean with the music cranked up. Once I get the dishes done (one of my least favorite things) I put laundry in (once a week) and did a quick run of the floors (every other day). After that, I start dinner and clean up as I go. Once dinner is done, I’m all about the couch – at least until about 9 (when I have to pass out or risk not hearing the alarm for work).

So far I’m optimistic about the new system working. It looks like my morning schedule will be more regular and the run has the added benefit of making me feel good (in addition to keeping me awake).

In my ‘Newest Music’ playlist this month: MoZella – Belle Isle, Ben Folds – supersunnyspeedgraphic, Chin Chin – Chin Chin, Hurray for the Riff Raff – Young Blood Blues, Ladytron – Velocifero and the Glee Soundtracks.

The muffins allowed me to test my new silicone muffin pans and they are FANTASTIC. I love them. If I could, I’d replace most of my bakeware with silicone. On the current wishlist: those measuring cups/spoons that flatten, as well as a colander.

My Xbox is wending its way to the house as we speak. I’m very excited about it and picked up some used games from GameStop. Fatima promised we could conference and watch bad movies on Netflix, so I’m looking forward to that.

My hands ARE pretty thrashed from work. I’ve been having issues for the last year/year and a half with dry nails that peel (rather than split or break) and recently discovered that a fix seems to include 1. No nail polish and 2. Lots of lotion. I trimmed my nails tonight and there wasn’t a single peeler. The hands ARE hella dry from all the cardboard though. I might actually have to get out my lotion gloves overnight.

New current playlist is an autolist with Lily Allen, Kelly Clarkson, Britney, Gaga and Katy Perry. I’m REALLY enjoying it.

Other random news. Brit Hume- WTF? Because Christians, especially FAMOUS Christians, NEVER have extramarital affairs? WTF *SouthCarolinaGovernor* cough. I think Brit’s a first class idiot. See also: not everyone subscribes to your idea or need for forgiveness. Jackass.

Tomorrow’s post-work excitement will consist of seeing Avatar again and/or cleaning the basement. Piper was mad that we left today and got into the coffee grounds in the laundry room garbage. Mmmm. Coffee grounds. This would likely be less annoying if I 1. drank coffee and 2. thought coffee smelled good. Damn dog.

I might do some more reading before bed tonight- Middlemarch is even more effective than Ambien.

In an attempt to be responsible, I’ve already packed my lunch. Two Pb&Js, some Cheez-its, dark chocolate covered almonds, and a bottle of water. I’m hoping that’ll get me through two breaks and a lunch. When I do my grocery shopping tomorrow afternoon, I can stock up on breakworthy food.

Spouse’s truck isn’t totaled but we won’t have it back until sometime next week. It turns out our auto insurance rep isn’t much good for anything so we’ll likely be in the market for new insurance soon. Luckily a coworker was generous enough to offer him the use of their truck until his is repaired, so we at least aren’t having to pay for a rental or juggle schedules. It’s one of the nice differences here- back in Saginaw, Spouse was the guy who’d made that offer but never had it reciprocated (even from neighbors). Here we had two such offers and it’s very nice to be in that kind of community.

Not much reading progress today on Middlemarch, though Finch is turning out to be quite interesting. Turns out George Eliot is precisely as boring as I remember her being but I’m making an effort.

On a different note, I’ve been WICKED busy at the new part time job. While I’m enjoying it, it’s been a while since I’ve worked 60 hours a week. As a result, not all the holiday baking is done yet. I haven’t had a day off (no work at all) since two weeks ago Wednesday. Luckily I’m off Christmas Day (both jobs) and we’ve been invited to share Christmas Eve with some friends in town. If I have my way, part of Christmas Day will involve Avatar and possibly Sherlock Holmes. We’ll see.

The mountains continue to be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen – reinforced daily on my drive to work. It’s hard to believe I’ve been out here for a full year now. While it’s been a big change from Saginaw, the change has been entirely for the better. The town is lovely, if quirky, and the weather can’t be beat. I’ve enjoyed the change of pace from living in the city and the views from anywhere in town can’t be beat. Becoming a Colorado resident was a great way to start the last year.

This year, back in retail for the holidays, I’m surprised to find that customers have been generally happy and cheerful – no crankiness presented as yet. Since we’re getting down to crunch time, I hope the trend continues.

I hope EVERYONE has a safe and wonderful holiday season!