I have a blogging habit wherein every time I post something that makes me feel even slightly vulnerable I immediately try to bury it with other, less personal entries. La la la! It’s happening right now! Not that yesterday’s post was super intimate or anything, but it was a little sappy. I can’t help it, man! I’m just like that sometimes!
However, I’m also pretty far overdue for a progress report on my power year. You may recall that I set some goals for my 31st year, and while I’ve kind of fallen off the documentation wagon, I have been working on them. Here’s a little recap of what’s happened lately:
Hikes
Well I am doing just great on my Hikes goal. I wanted to take 12 hikes, and if I count the seven I took on my Opal Creek trip (and it is arguable that I can count them as 7. Maybe they should just count as 1? Since it was all in one trip? Feel free to argue this point in the comments.) then I’ve hit my goal of 12!! There was the North Carolina hike, the three short walk/hikes to ready me for my trip, seven hikes in Opal Creek, and then an eight mile Eagle Creek hike a few weeks ago.
Oh actually I’m at 13! I went to a family reunion in Leavenworth, Kansas in June and hiked along the Missouri River with my dad, his godmother/cousin who is a nun, and some other relatives. It was amazing! I saw probably 8 different types of butterflies and a frog and some very fancy yellow birds.
I’m going to Costa Rica in two weeks and I will doubtlessly hike there as well, in the effing CLOUD FOREST you guys! And on the effing BEACH! (Although beach walks don’t count as hikes in my book, even if they’re challenging. Hikes need mountains, so say I.) As you can see I am slam dunking Hikes.
Yoga
Hmm. How am I doing on yoga? Well, I’m at 14 out of an eventual 52. I was doing great there for a while, but after my backpacking trip I sort of fell off the wagon. I can sometimes touch my toes now (!) and I am generally more flexible than before, especially in the ol’ hamstrings. I do need to go more often. I found a studio that’s close-ish to my house that I like, and it offers other classes that are also interesting to me i.e. pilates and Bollywood dance, but it’s a little too spendy. Maybe it’s worth it. It is worth it. I need to motivate.
Guitar
I can (poorly) play 4 songs, my goal being 6. I have only uploaded one video of myself playing, but I will try to add more soon. It feels super goofy to record myself plucking away and singing slightly off-key, but that was part of the plan and I will stick with it. The songs I can (poorly) play are:
You Are My Sunshine
If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out
Unknown Legend
Angel From Montgomery
I would like to learn a Little Wings song. I would also like to learn a Bruce Springsteen song.
During the school year I brought my guitar in and played for my students. They ranged from skeptical to supportive in their responses. 8 year olds keep it pretty real.
OK. That is my update for today. I will get back to you guys about Sewing, Friendship, Music, Books, and Opportunities in the next day or so. I have plenty to say but dwindling stamina. Plus if I break this update into two entries I can bury the sentimental stuff even deeper in the archives. So sneaky!
dude, Bruce Springsteen songs famously have like two chords! Born in the U.S.A. literally has two chords. You can totally learn one!!!!
Also I have been thinking of offering impromptu unlicensed non-expert yoga classes, the idea being, like, I have been doing yoga for six years and am really into it but am not a licensed teacher nor do I even know all the sanskrit names of the poses, but I do it every day and can do things like unsupported headstands and that one where you bend over sideways and lift your leg up 90 degrees and then grab your foot, and if you are one of those people who’s like ‘crap I wish I could get into yoga but it’s off-putting and expensive’ then maybe my unlicensed informal classes with negotiable or even barter-based / favor-based (rides!) fees could be for you!!!!!!!!
I’m waiting for my arm wound to finish healing, thus I haven’t done yoga in like a month and am rusty as hell, but once I get back into my zone I think I might offer a little weekly get-together where we informally do yoga together with mild guidance from me IF DESIRED. Would you be into it???
If you are, cool. If not, no sweat. I just know so many people who feel bad about not doing yoga and I wonder if having a buddy group with kind instruction from a trusted friend might make it easier? And I am a huge huge enthusiast for the life-altering powers of yoga, as you know, and I would love my loved ones to access that power. BADAKANASANA OR WHATEVER!
note: we will not be saying “namaste” after our practice, nor will we be calling it a “practice.” WORRY-FREE YOGA
God, YES to everything! I didn’t know Springsteen was so easy! I guess all the sax and glockenspiel on his albums mask the simplicity of the guitar chords! COOL! I am now extra motivated to learn “I’m on Fire” and/or “Dancing in the Dark.” Etc.
And a BIG YES to yoga with you!! What a fucking dream come true, dude! I will pay you with monies, rides, dog walks, broccoli from my garden… whatever you want. I am SO excited for this!
ok lets do it! We will discuss logistics as time passes and arm wound heals.
It will be fun! Motivating for all concerned. Now we have to find a nice space to do it in….our house can’t accommodate more than a single yoga doer at a time. We need a nice sunny room. It’s ok if there’s carpet. Keep your eyes peeled!
Ok! I will look for a space! This will be great!