two for free movies

so i just got back from the longest bike ride i've ever embarked on. For the cycling enthusiasts it will seem like no big deal, but for me it was.

it started the other day when i rode my bike to Rob's for a bonfire and felt so good about not having to drive. i got excited and motivated and found myself thinking that i could bike to work and back. so today i decided to ride my bike to family video (i wasn't working) to see how long it would take. I think i am really fast because it only took about 32 minutes to ride 8 miles. granted i was a bit sweaty by the time i got there, but it didn't seem that bad! AND, there is a new policy where workers get the 2/$1 movies for free, so I rented



and



and i am still motivated/excited so i think i am going to ride my bike to yoga tomorrow morning instead of driving! we'll see how i feel in the morning though.

being mindful

so even though a lot has been going on, i always think i have nothing too important to update my blog with. that's a lie though because i think life in general is important no matter what one 'does' to occupy the time. i've been thinking a lot about time and what i do with it and how none of it really matters unless if i'm paying attention to it. one moment i could be planting a tree, pulling a weed, staring off into space, striking a warrior pose, reading, updating this blog.. all this stuff.. and it's not until i pass judgments on it that i deem it good or bad or become attached to it.
in theory, sitting down is just as meaningful as taking a run or cleaning the bathroom.

i heard this analogy the other day when i was listening to Guatam Jain
The analogy was about how when we attach to things our experience of something can change and either lead to suffering or to joy. He used the example of buying a new, expensive car and it's your first time driving it and you hit a giant pothole. The initial reaction by most is that it hurts your heart and you become worried or upset. Now, picture the same exact car and situation, except it's a rental. You may not even care about the pothole. In fact, you might notice the car's superb suspension! it's the detachment from the car that allows us to remain present in the situation.

anyway, he talked about a lot more things and i could probably discuss them forever but one analogy is enough for one blog update.

i get to hang out with Jenny tonight and i am so excited! We're actually going to Guatam Jain's third lecture so I am also looking forward to learning more from him. And maybe we'll go to the new Panera Bread that opened in Birmingham, too.

Okay, time for me to get clean and run some errands. Hope everyone is doing well!

east coast to the west coast

breathe. relax. settle back in. i have to remind myself of these tips daily.

two weeks ago i was in Washington DC visiting nate and meghan. I forgot if i updated anything about that, but in a nutshell it was a fantastic trip. i got to meet all three (yes, three!) of meghan's cats, sleep on a tempurpedic-padded queen size bed and eat lots of vegan food. and of course spend time with one of my best girlfriends who i wish lived closer so that i could gossip with ALL THE TIME. and start a vegetable garden with! unfortunately i didn't get to go dancing because it was raining the night of bliss and i didn't want to walk in the rain and dance with soggy socks. however, i did get to ride a tandem (a 2-person bike) with Nate and all i could keep saying was "this is so cute. i can't believe how cute this is."

last weekend i visited Joseph in Tacoma and Jenny + Evan showed up, too. it was so much fun and i got to see so many things in the city. Tacoma, Seattle and a day trip to Portland. We ate really good food, saw really beautiful parks and also got invited to a high school kegger. literally we saw a gang of 15-20 high schoolers carrying a keg, a tap and lots of red plastic cups to this abandoned manufacturing plant-turned park to party and we got an invite during their stroll. we declined. and joked about calling the police. ha. but it was really great seeing joseph and getting insight to how he's been living his life the past two years! i only wish the midwest landscaping was as beautiful as the west.

now i am sipping on coffee waiting to go to work for a whopping three hours. i am wearing a freshly ironed skirt and it still feels warm. my mom is sick and watned subway so i got myself a foot long veggie sub and somehow ate all of it plus chips and i am glad i waited on going to Shakers for a hot fudge sunday because i am really full right now.

oh, last night Jenny and I snuck into the movies, too. we are so bad!

more later
i hope you all enjoy your day

happy earth day

i don't have any particular plans.
i try to behave like you have to respect the earth every day.

but i might wear green.

and here is something very cute to look at:

never say never

so i am getting over being sick. i used to say that i never get sick, but apparently i am a liar because i got sick. and it was terrible! i spent the first two days denying that i was sick, one day spent completely bedridden and today i am feeling a bit better but have to take it easy because in a few days i will be on a plane to DC!

but yesterday when i was at work, hyped up on caffeine, kevin AND christy visited me! it was very exciting. I love getting visitors at work. It's like a breath of fresh air. Just the pick-me-up I needed.

Today I am trying really hard to not exert myself. I have more energy, so I want to do things like clean and go to yoga and it's really hard to relax.

fuck yeah

i just heard from UIC and it looks like i will be going there!!

full tuition scholarship.
living stipend.

i can't even believe it.

no encouragement needed

today is the first really nice day of spring. I thought yesterday was nice, and today it is really nice. I woke up and had a hearty breakfast and then went on a half-hour bike ride. My mom and I are going to play tennis soon. Later Kathy and I are going to do yoga and walk around outside and have a fabulous dinner. This makes me so happy.

I remember when I used to hate moving in general, but now it brings me so much happiness. I also remember never having the energy to be active (and usually forcing myself to be active anyway). Now I can just go for a bike ride because I can and I want to. No prompting by anything except my desire. it's so nice.

yesterday the fam came over and we had brunch and took a walk through the nature center. I don't know why I haven't been back there since I've been home (perhaps the weather, but I honestly forgot it was here). Afterwards I went over to Rob's and got to meet his cats and sit in front of his fire pit...

lately i've been doing things like this and it's been such a nice reprieve from boredom and disconnectedness. It's not to say that I'm happy all of the time. I'm not. But I'm getting used to the idea that I can be happy and I can be sad at the same time. It's not "i'm in a good mood or i'm in a bad mood" it can (and is) both. which i think is normal. and if it's not, please don't tell me. thanks.