A May bouquet to brighten your day!

The month of writing and guitar is going swimmingly. And I mean this literally, since it's been rainy for the majority of the first two weeks of this month. The weather has been cooperating with my intentions for indoor activities. But today the sun is back out, and it's time to get back outside for a bit. Before I do that, just wanted to share the latest update in the writing life. I have submitted my first piece for publication! It's an interview/article I wrote for the Yoga Center of Minneapolis' newspaper on Equestrian Yoga. Look for it at the downtown Mpls. and St. Louis Park locations next month.

And I'm off!

Yoga and Bike Month

I wanted to do the 30 days of biking challenge, but I also wanted to do 30 days of yoga, so I decided to do both in April. Yoga and riding the bike every day for a month. It went well. I only missed four days of cycling, mostly due to going out of town one weekend. I still made it 22 days in a row, which is way more than I would have done without the challenge, so I'm pretty happy with my results. The yoga was easy, since I count everything from five minutes of meditation to going to yoga class to practicing handstand for 10 breaths. The goal was not to obsess or beat myself up if I missed a day here or there. The goal was to see if I could commit to something every day for a whole month. I like this idea because the common belief is that it takes anywhere from 21 to 30 days to make something a habit. I want to add good habits to my life.

The month of May will be guitar and writing month. I've already done today's allotment. Only 30 days to go! Who knows, I may end up as a songwriter by June ;)

Anyone else feel a little lopsided, off-kilter, discombobulated or generally messed up lately? Ever since last weekend I haven't felt myself. Maybe it was the huge effort of the Birkie, or the blow to my tailbone (first chakra and all) when I fell at km. 48, or maybe it was the latest big earthquake which shifted the Earth's axis (Ruth Montgomery, you were prophetic after all; I wonder how much more we can expect it to move!)

In any case, I'm trying to go with the flow. Today's niyama in yoga class was Ishvara Pranidhana, which can be translated as faith in something more expansive than ourself. I trust that everything is happening according to my dharma. In the words of Jimmy Buffet: "Breathe in, breathe out, move on."

Music and meditation helps center the spirit.

Now if I could just get rid of the pain in my tailbone...

These are bulbs that were for sale on the street in Paris in November, but the photo makes me think about what may be stirring underground here soon. I don't wish for winter to end too soon, but if it must, there are worse things to replace snow than flowers.

I found this wonderful quote today:

"Everyday, think as you wake up: Today I am fortunate to have woken up. I am alive. I have a precious human life. I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself to expand my heart out to others for the benefit of all beings." Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

Random Item:

I sent a manuscript of Dog Days to the editors at Random House as an entry in their First Young Adult Novel contest.

Wish me luck!

PARIS!

Yes, it is just that gorgeous ALL the freaking time! They really do have a way with lights, that I cannot understand or possibly replicate. In fact, most of my Parisian pleasures were things that could only be experienced and enjoyed in Paris. The food, the lights, the sounds, the wine, the champagne, the bread, the art, the architecture... none of those things could be packed up and taken along to enjoy weeks later in the bland midwest. Well, maybe the wine, but I didn't have a spare suitcase to bring it home.

I did try to export what I could-- cute outfits, ideas for personal and home styling, scarves, photos, and memories.

Now I'm going to try to track down anything that remotely recalls Paris here in the Twin Cities. So far, I've found a good herbed goat cheese, the New French Bakery that sells $1 baguettes after 5 p.m. (just in time for picking up after work), a decent Cremant (sparkling wine) from Trader Joe's, and a sweet shop that sells French style macaroons (which, if you haven't had, are not the same coconut variety we have here) and a Tibetan shop at the Midtown Global Market that sells nice silk scarves.

Oh, yes, I was that inspired.

How could I not be with scenes like that above?

I love Paris in the winter...