I"m Dreaming of a White Christmas

Lol and it was just that..a dream. I ventured north out of my comfy warm zone in Ventura co and went to my Mom's this year for Christmas. The plane was taxing on the runway in Wenatchee pushing o-dark-30 the night before Christmas Eve and I was telling the lady next me how it basically had been 4 years since I had truely had a white Christmas. She was utterly amazed. Well umm yeah that was about all the snow I got since there virtually wasn't ANY to be found! Oh it was frigid though...brrrr!!

The ride up to Seattle was interesting though because as usual I was saying silent prayers as the plane was taking off in hopes that we all would get to wherever we were all going that night. Funny that I ended up having the pleasure of siting next to this nice elderly lady. She was telling me about her day and where she lived and then about her family she was going to see. I kept hearing this slight accent that I couldn't quite place and that's when I decided to ask. Found out she was born and raised in IRELAND!! Wow what are the chances of that? Then I found out she was a religious sister. I was like 'oh great gee thanks God you put me next to a Nun' lol. No apparently not a nun but a retired English teacher for the high school. Came to find out she was 1 of 12 kids in her family and they live like all over the world. She talked and I listened mostly. She bribed me with chocolate (Cadbury) mmm yum. It made the next flight into Wenatchee seem too quiet.

Although on the flight into Wenatchee I ended up sitting next to a lady that was enjoying some book that a friend recommended and found out it was for a movie that I had just seen recently. We were both pleasantly surprised that neither of us knew about the other (for me the book, for her the movie).

So Christmas Eve was cold and clear and I decorated the tree with lights, the few ornaments we could find, and the angel. The lights went up with a challenge since Maggie kept offering to get tangled in them and help me. Afterwards it was time for soup, the veggie cracker cheese (yeah not for me) tray, fudge (oh B would love that...hehehe), divinity, fruitcake, and tangerines. Bug and Auntie came to visit for awhile and we opened some presents. Maggie offered several times to fly through the air like Rudolph onto my lap thinking she was a tiny lap dog Lol which she is not.

Christmas morning was a sweltering 12 degrees! It eventually got up to 18 but still was colder there at Mom's then where Mo lives. I was amazed...but still no snow.

2 more days until it decided to snow. Maggie and I went to the park several times and played fetch...she had gotten this rope toy with a tennis ball on it and she looked like she should be in a marching band when she was running with it because the rope part was like the frilly feathery top. Sometimes she would get her paw caught in it and try to run hop back to go get it again. Too bad I didn't get that on film ;-).

The trip back was less eventful but still nice to see some cousins in Portland that I hadn't seen in awhile. The flight from there to home though was ...well the majority of it I wouldn't honestly know since I was asleep before the plane took off. I never sleep in moving vehicles but I was so tired.

Nice ride home and then off to work. Good trip even if I didn't get a white Christmas.

Southern Nights

Home Part I

I've been here before

This river I know

Deep & wide

Dark as the intruding night above you

Lights twinkling seductively along the edge

of your massive structure that spans your length

I've been here before

This city I know

Elegantly shimmering along your shores

My soul lingering in your warm windowsills

Amongst your neighborhoods

Your streets

Under the dried leaves

Stuck under the bushes and edging of your homes

I've been here before

Intertwining with your soul

In your thoughts you speak to me where I am

In the City of Lights

Telling me where I will be safe

Cradled in your arms

You know me and I belong here

With you...

Copyright, 1/8/2002 MJB

Merry Mantra to Your Chrismukkah

I found this in my inbox this morning and I think it was worth sharing as the busy holidays approach to remind ourselves to not just do for others but to also take care of ourselves. Yoga is a good way to do that and it only takes a few minutes each day to redirect our energy to have a better perspective of what is right in front of us:-).

When you're swamped with work, family, or social obligations, what's the first thing you let slip from your to-do list? Many people bump their home practice or weekly yoga class to make time for duties that seem more time-sensitive. After all, you can always unroll your mat later, when your schedule opens up, right? The problem is, during the busiest times, when we need yoga to help us unwind and de-stress, later doesn't come around that often. And you're not doing yourself (or your to-do list) any favors by putting off a practice that nourishes and invigorates you.
This week, spend a few minutes every day doing something just for yourself—especially if it feels like you don't have time. Then notice how much more you can accomplish when you're calm. Slow down, take a deep breath, and realize that it's enough to just be present.