Favorite Beach. Favorite Run

The first leg of my run.

Exciting news!  I learned how to run.

A friend told me she was doing the Couch-to-5K Running Plan.  I was curious.  So, as an experiment, I tried it. Honestly, the first week is as easy or challenging as the 7th. Your body gradually adapts to more and more running time. 

I've had a life long committed to non-running, due to a natural aversion of discomfort.  So, the idea that I can run 30 minutes straight without feeling like hell is a marvel to me. I am feeling pretty proud of myself.

Things that have helped:

A motivating spot:  I run at the beach.

Running barefoot: Strong feet, plus no sweaty socks stinking up the laundry.  There's no need to panic if you forget your shoes.

Music: An ipod helps me keep track of time. I'll know a song is 3 minutes and tell myself, just til the end of this song--mental trickery--then start another.

Rewards: I jump in the ocean afterward for cooling dip in the sea.  Sometimes I body surf and feel like I'm on Maui.

Scheduling it in:  Going to the beach straight from work helps. That way I don't come home and start to concern myself with dinner plans, email, chores, etc.  I come home in a much better mood and deal with everything better.

I recommend it! You might be as surprised as me.

Octoberness

My email to the world as Andrew put it.

Hawaii was Hawaii in all the ways I wanted it to be. It is impossibly beautiful--and it's home. I'm feeling more like myself. Ｉchecked in with my people (and miss them even more). Now I'm back in California and I've had a few teensy tiny pangs of homesick but I'm actually more content being here now than I was before.

I hit up my best yoga class and remember why I love it. My muscles are so sore from two days ago that I skipped tonight. I don't think my arms could hold me up.

My vision has worsened, which is supposedly normal. The good part about this is I hadn't realized and now my new contacts make me feel like I have super human vision.

My garden is comprised of clay beds with brown weeds sticking out. I'm visualizing these weeds gone, as well as composty, fluffed-up dirt, and fresh new seedlings. But, what? Any ideas? I'm drawing a blank.

I'm reading "The Tortilla Curtain" and I love it so far. The social commentary is gritty/honest/horrifying. A book hasn't made me look forward to bed time (read-time) like this in awhile.

I'm aware that this is a silly, random posting. I've missed blogging and it's October again. Some have asked and I'm Emily October only in a quick attempt to find a still-available domain name. October is my birth month and one of my favorites.

I heart Yoga

 
Photographing Happy Buddha in Makawao, on Maui

Practicing yoga has been on my to-do list for years. I took "gymnastics" as a child, which was actually just some muddy footed country kids doing yoga stetches and somersaults in our neighbor's racquetball court. Then I had a brief love affair with hot Bikram yoga one summer on Maui while home from college. And since then it has only been in the few minutes I spend stretching after gym workouts that I strike a pose (rarely).

I've been taking 2 to 3 classes a week. I doubt I'd be as content/happy/balanced as I've been without it. The job I'm working this summer is pretty intense. High-needs tiny little kids in the poorest neighborhood in the area. The external rewards (money, positive leadership, morale) are limited but the teaching part, the actual connection with kids is powerful and worthwhile.

Before I start spewing sobs stories about life in the ghetto, I'll share some positive aspects of my yoga experience this summer:

*One class I go to plays really fun music in creative ways. We dance freely for a few minutes. It's extremely popular with around 50 people squeeze in until our mats are practically touching. The teacher has a humble sort of charisma that reminds me of John Cusack.

*I can suddenly do half-moon-pose after six weeks of falling down. My strength and balance are returning which make me think I'll be able to at least pretend to surf with my sister in Hawaii (soon!)

*I've lost weight without trying/keeping track/ or strapping myself to an exercise machine. A welcome surprise. My fat pants are falling off and my snug clothes are comfy again. hooray!

*I see the slightest suggestion of muscles on my body. Wow. I'm on my way to two-pack abs.

*My mind is clear and I feel a warm happy glow (endorphins?) which make me less likely to call my sisters/cousin/neighbors and rant about erroneous parking tickets, skunk attacks, social injustice, etc.

*My regular yoga teacher has given me prayer beads from India, vegan chocolate, and lots of compliments. Did you know I have open hips?

*I'm learning to train my unruly mind with meditation. Being aware of my breath is helping me at least recognize the path to being a calmer and more present person.

*Free tea.

Anyway, I strongly recommend it.

Meet the Neighbors

This little skunklet was hanging out in a neighbor's caged in garden plot. Note: This is why my garden plots aren't barricaded/suburbia-ed off. The poor little guy was shaking in his booties as the neighborhood kids tried to rescue capture him. He must have been too young to spray (shucks) but don't worry, I broke out my bossy teacher voice and had them release him.
We rode our tandem bike right next to this dangerous looking sunbather. Andrew had me turn and check him out only after we passed him by. Rumor is he is a gopher snake who goes for little animals that eat our veggies so I'm supposed to like him. Snakes bring out a primal fear in me. Maybe because I didn't grow up with them--Hawaii is a snake-free zone. Snake lore is intriguing, I just don't want to see them.
Yes, there are a few trees in this desert. It's hard to imagine but this whole area was once an oak forest. I was laying under this tree and I found its beauty striking. I was doing sit-ups (!?) Yes, I'm officially committed to getting in shape again. I am going to reduce the layer of pudge that accidentally accumulated when I wasn't paying attention. Plus, due to working with germy little people, I really need to boost my immunity and avoid this whole pig flu scandal.
The last neighbor I am featuring is Fairview Gardens. I love walking through this organic farm admiring the fair view and picking up small-scale growing inspiration. Plus, they have cute chickens. I took this pic from the library window. Yes, I'm the person wandering the stacks with my zoom lens out. ;-)