...me!

Hello my fellow readers. Sorry I've been MIA lately...life has spun by and I didn't realize how long it had been since I last blogged. A little update on what I've been up to...

Running

Work

Yoga

Sleep

REPEAT

My yoga practice has improved over the past couple of weeks. I've started attending one of the harder classes when I can. Here are a few moves I am now able to do.

This move is called crow and we do it for 2 minutes. I haven't been able to hold it the full 2 minutes, but I am pretty dang close!!!

This position is part of an advancement of the pigeon pose. I went to the harder class on Friday where we were doing this pose. I stayed in the beginners stage because it was only my 2nd time to see this particular class, and my instructor encouraged me to try this pose. I looked at her like she was crazy and ended up trying it to prove her wrong. WELP....I proved myself wrong!!! I can totally do this and it didn't even hurt! The next advancement is doing it with no hands. I think it'll be a while till I get there.

I've really enjoyed my yoga practice; it's the bickram yoga. (Hot yoga) Sadly, there have been no celebrity sightings since my last encounter with Romo & Witten.

Another little update is that I've started reading Extraordinary & Ordinary People, a memoir by Condolieeza Rice. I saw her on the Today show talking about her book, and was so intrigued I went and bought it! I'll let you know what I think after I finish it.

(I know...I look bored in this picture, but really...how does one pose with a book????)

...a new trend!

I think I'm gonna give up yoga and take up this, Mallakhamb.

...toe tapping tunes

So, I'm dog sitting for a family and enjoying their cable. After scrolling through all the options I realized there was nothing to watch. I decided to throw on MTV for some top music videos. Video after video my heart was saddened. No wonder our youth are so sexually driven! I know media influences a lot, but I just didn't realize how much it does!

I first caught the end of Katy Perry's, Teenage Dream, where she is singing about a man whom she is in love with. This exciting new relationship makes her feel like a teenager. WELL...while she is feeling 14 again, she is in a hotel room with this man about to have sex with him. There is no hinting around, it is full on close ups of clothes coming off. There is also a "fun" dance scene with a bunch of people jumping around, and a close up of a girl licking a popsicle. Suggestive much? A teen is gonna hear this and [may] subconsciously use this as a measuring stick for their life. Thanks for being a great role model, KP!

After KP, Rihana and Eminem's song, I Love the Way You Lie, came on. (Reality, Rihana just repeats one line a million times.) I don't like Eminem's voice, so I always change the radio when this song came on, but my friends were dialogging about the lyrics and the video so my interest was peaked. This video broke my heart for women. There are women in this world that settle for shitty relationships out of fear of ending a "possible" good relationship. Which, in reality the relationship will never change, but for some reason we women love to "have the benefit of the doubt" for men. I feel like this song and video makes it acceptable to settle for mistreatment from men. It also makes it ok to settle for bad situations.

WOMEN OF THE WORLD.

HAVE STANDARDS AND RESPECT FOR YOURSELVES. YOU ARE WORTH IT!!

YOU ARE INTELLIGENT.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL .

BE YOU. BE ALL YOU.

IF A MAN CAN'T HANDLE THE WHOLE YOU THEN HE ISN'T WORTH YOUR TIME.

DON'T SETTLE!!!

That's not a soap box.

It makes me sad that our world just keeps deteriorating. Thankfully there are a few songs out there that are uplifting to women.

Gotta love a good cavity causing song!

These next two are sung by Ne-Yo. Haven't done my research to see how he actually treats women, but I love that these songs praise independent, successful women.

You may disagree, so good things this is my blog. :)

...prayers!!

Hey friends,

As you know there has been talk of people (sadly, Christians) wanting to burn the Koran tomorrow. They're all closed-minded, dumbasses in my opinion b/c they're putting people in danger...like my friend who lives in Afghanistan. Below is part of an email he sent,

Our team has been warned by our friends and coworkers that if something like that were to happen, our lives could be in danger. In fact, one candidate in the upcoming election has called for the killing on sight of Americans if Korans are burned. As of this afternoon, at least two @fghans have already died in a large demonstration protesting the planned Koran burnings in the capital of the neighboring province. Right now, things are very tense here with the killings of the 10 people last month, and the elections next week, and the video from a couple months ago, as well as the collapse of the country's biggest bank, not to mention the largest holiday of the year that began today.

So please pray that clarity will be seen on both sides. Here is a link that talks about endagering our troops. Feel free to discuss your opinion on all this.

...H2O

I'm sad I wasn't invited.

I'm ready for December to be here because I'm headed off on a jet plane. A couple months ago I bought this shirt:

I was hesitant to purchase this because I haven't been to Tokyo. (Yes, I know, instead of a name dropper I'm a country dropper. Get use to it.) I decided my goal was to make it to Japan, and well guess who happens to live in Japan??!!!? My dear friends Jana and her hubby Robert!

We've talked about me coming to celebrate Christmas and New Year's, but I wasn't 100% sure. Welp...I purchased the tank and I just purchased my plane tickets to Japan!!!!! I'm excited and nervous because I never really thought about venturing out to that part of the world. I haven't done my research!! I've gotta start ASAP!

I do have one issue, I need to renew my passport or else I won't be allowed back in the states! Wait...I forget what the problem is...

...longings

I write this blog with a sad heart. We're entering that time of year when our northern hemisphere is orbiting away from the sun which places us in autumn and then winter. My soul dies a little this time of year. The fall means the start of school, and the start of the holidays. I'm not a fan of holidays. There is too much pressure to cook, decorate, buy stuff, and spend forced time with family. Summer is AMAZING because you don't gotta buy anything except sunscreen, a towel, and a new swim suit. You don't have to decorate because it'll just melt in the heat. Any cooking is done outside by the pool, and that forced time is luxurious because you're reading OR napping by the pool!!!! I mean, come on...could it get any better than this??!!!!?!!!

One of my favorite feelings in the world is when the sun is kissing your skin. You can feel the rays romantically pursuing your skin, and result is a beautiful glow!!! I love seeing my friends throughout the summer. Their skin is sun kissed with freckles or a lovely olive glow. Everyone just seems so much more relaxed and happy. NO ONE is relaxed or happy during the winter. It is cold and MISERABLE!!! I mean really...how many pairs of socks do I gotta put on to feel my toes again????

Ugh...i hate winter because it is sad and depressing. In honor of my sad sad heart, a little Ben Harper.