I thought that by bull-heading my way through Monday I could manage a graceful week, but no, Tuesday is reminding me that what you need sometimes is just rest. So, I'm puttering and doing domestic things, as I am pretty sure that the next 2 weeks are going to be hectic as hell (in a good way) with Maya coming and all the things I want to get done...
Why am I so tired today? Oh, right.
This weekend there was a concert at my yoga studio, with a Californian (dave stringer) doing kirtan chants which we followed in call and response. The chants are Sanskrit songs created to teach little lessons, and it was pretty cool. Each one went on for about 15, 20, maybe more minutes, and by the end, what had started out as so slow and soothing was a stomping, dancing, clapping, singing mess of sweaty yoga-nerds. It went on for about 3 hours, whew! So nice!
Then I went to Barbara's going-away party, where she had made me gluten-free berliners (jelly-filled donuts) and we all danced and sang for the rest of the night. Daniel was there in east-Germany regalia, full 80's suit and tie, and we all drank a good amount of champagne and wine. Which why, perhaps, Daniel succumbed when I bargained for him to stay the night in Basel; "I'll help you tomorrow with the cows, don't worry about it..." (He was watching the farm for his parents that weekend).
This is how, after not NEARLY enough sleep, I went to Oensingen with Daniel at 5:30 AM to milk and feed the cows, hung over and half-frozen from the bike ride to the car. I took over feeding the cows the milk that daniel milked from the others. the littlest ones are easy, you just give them the bucket and make sure they don't knock it over. Then Daniel grinned and motioned ot the final group, the biggest 'young' cows, outside in a little fenced off area by the barn. I figured that the best way to feed them was all at once, so they wouldn't compete too much, and I climbed in to the muddy field with them, proferring buckets of lapping, warm milk. It seemed impractially difficult, and just as I thought I should probably figure out a better technique, the little bull who had been hassling me and the other cows ran straight under my legs from behind, launched me like a wilted corn husk and dropped me with a graceful "schlooop" in the mud-and manure.
Still, it was a great morning, bumping reggae in the barn and dancing around the cows slopping milk, with little feral barn-kittens mewling in the hay.
The fun of playing in the mud wore off about an hour later as the real hang-over and exhaustion set in. We cooked a slow, garden-picked feast, giggled at ridiculous Bavarian pop on TV, and went to sleep for hours. When we woke up, the Sunday feeling had officially taken over, and I was pissy and bored. The village suddenly felt cloying and stagnant, stuck all over me like a still, sticky mess. It was like a triathalon of running, train-changing, and stair-climbing to make it home, and when I did, I was thoroughly ready for a coma. Which is what I fell into as soon as my head found something horizontal.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Weekend!
Finallllllllyyyyy.......this week was a long one. I started with my normal yoga routine and work, and somehow managed to build a small, 5-day social empire, including 1 night out with friends, 2 nights cooking dinner for friends, a modern-dance class (/potential employment opportunity...more babysitting!), a movie night, and NOT enough sleep! Last night, all was remedied with a good solid 9 hours. Ahhhhhhhhhh.........
This week is the first I feel a little like myself in all these new situations. Even in moments of extreme unease, I could just suck it up a little bit and let it go. for example, the other night I had my first class of observing 'adjustments' in class while my teacher helped people with poses. This is something I love about her classes-that she quietly helps you to find a small glitch in alignment while seeming to be barely there. Obviously, I would love to learn this technique. NOT as easy as one suspects! In fact, this peaceful, calming presence is given off by someone who is almost racing around the room (unbeknownst to the students, who are deepbreathing and focusing elsewhere) hoping to catch the right moment to throw in a soothing touch. I felt slightly panicked and embarrassed to be so confused, but i just kept reminding myself that this is what i'm here to learn. CHILL Erin...
My teacher (ah yes, she does have a name, but let's call her D.) and I both decided that it's better if I focus on my own practice for a while before I do something like that again. I just have no idea what poses really look like from the outside, so it's almost impossible for me to help a stranger with one.
So, now I will be practicing 4-5 times a week, in addition to reading and meeting with D. to talk once a week. Ahhhh, to be doing things again! It feels so great!
Speaking of doing things, today there are a whole slough. there is a concert tonight in the studio, a guy from california in fact, who does yogi-style call and resposnse and some psychedelic stuff. he's playing while we have class for an hour and a half and then giving a concert after with chanting, singing, and 2 musicians. I am going around 12 to help M. (my other teacher) set up the stage and lights, and generally prettify the place. Then, after the class and the concert, I am going to Barbara's going away party. She and Eve have set about making about 500 berliners (like jelly-filled donuts) in every flavor and variety to celebrate her move to Berlin next week. finally, there is the monthly Basel CS meeting tonight, which I am supposed to somehow squeeze in after munching gluten-free berliners...
whatever, my day doesn't start til 12, so I'm reading for the next 3 hours ;)
This week is the first I feel a little like myself in all these new situations. Even in moments of extreme unease, I could just suck it up a little bit and let it go. for example, the other night I had my first class of observing 'adjustments' in class while my teacher helped people with poses. This is something I love about her classes-that she quietly helps you to find a small glitch in alignment while seeming to be barely there. Obviously, I would love to learn this technique. NOT as easy as one suspects! In fact, this peaceful, calming presence is given off by someone who is almost racing around the room (unbeknownst to the students, who are deepbreathing and focusing elsewhere) hoping to catch the right moment to throw in a soothing touch. I felt slightly panicked and embarrassed to be so confused, but i just kept reminding myself that this is what i'm here to learn. CHILL Erin...
My teacher (ah yes, she does have a name, but let's call her D.) and I both decided that it's better if I focus on my own practice for a while before I do something like that again. I just have no idea what poses really look like from the outside, so it's almost impossible for me to help a stranger with one.
So, now I will be practicing 4-5 times a week, in addition to reading and meeting with D. to talk once a week. Ahhhh, to be doing things again! It feels so great!
Speaking of doing things, today there are a whole slough. there is a concert tonight in the studio, a guy from california in fact, who does yogi-style call and resposnse and some psychedelic stuff. he's playing while we have class for an hour and a half and then giving a concert after with chanting, singing, and 2 musicians. I am going around 12 to help M. (my other teacher) set up the stage and lights, and generally prettify the place. Then, after the class and the concert, I am going to Barbara's going away party. She and Eve have set about making about 500 berliners (like jelly-filled donuts) in every flavor and variety to celebrate her move to Berlin next week. finally, there is the monthly Basel CS meeting tonight, which I am supposed to somehow squeeze in after munching gluten-free berliners...
whatever, my day doesn't start til 12, so I'm reading for the next 3 hours ;)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Hello World
This is probably the easiest that finding out about a life will ever get. I've always shirked blogs as an unnecessary burden, but it's finally time to just give in...they're useful as hell! so...
Almost 2 weeks ago I moved to Basel, Switzerland. I am living here on the top floor of an old house by the river with Eve, who is a musician, an artist, and an all-around badass. So far, I have no lamp. But since I arrived I have managed to acquire: a bed, 1 sheet, 1 blanket, 3 pillows, 1 shelf, and 2 wooden crates, which I'm fairly excited about the effects of-It's like I actually live here! After travelling for about 13 months in the past 16, I am really ready to be somewhere. For themomentI still have to have things like crates in a room to remind me that I am.
Tomorrow I start my second week of routine: I take a few yoga classes a week, read and write about some teaxts my teacher gives me, and babysit a wonderful five-year-old boy. For now, I'm going to sort out this room-having one is one matter. Maintaining it is another.
Salut!
Almost 2 weeks ago I moved to Basel, Switzerland. I am living here on the top floor of an old house by the river with Eve, who is a musician, an artist, and an all-around badass. So far, I have no lamp. But since I arrived I have managed to acquire: a bed, 1 sheet, 1 blanket, 3 pillows, 1 shelf, and 2 wooden crates, which I'm fairly excited about the effects of-It's like I actually live here! After travelling for about 13 months in the past 16, I am really ready to be somewhere. For themomentI still have to have things like crates in a room to remind me that I am.
Tomorrow I start my second week of routine: I take a few yoga classes a week, read and write about some teaxts my teacher gives me, and babysit a wonderful five-year-old boy. For now, I'm going to sort out this room-having one is one matter. Maintaining it is another.
Salut!
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