Busy Being Fabulous

Hi Buddies,

You may notice I like to title my blogs with a reference to a song title or lyrics. Today's song is Busy Being Fabulous by the Eagles. Love the song and the title was too good to pass up today. Click here to watch the video.

I've had a fabulous day, sitting on the deck in an Adirondack chair, next to the creek with my laptop and a glass of raspberry tea, just busily working away on work projects. I like to do that this time of year. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day until about a half hour ago when some clouds came over the sky and a cool breeze started breezing by. It's still a beautiful day, but I'll have to wear a jacket when I go running in a half hour!

So you can experience this joy with me, here is a photo of my deck from last year. I don't have one from this year, though I just put out flowers and will take photos soon. I will post one of the creek when I take one, as well.



The other day I signed up to do a 5k, the first one I've ever done! I'm really, really excited. I haven't been able to find anyone who can go to Sacramento (where the race is) with me that weekend, but I'm sure I will be able to get someone to take a pic of me while I'm there. Click here to know more.

WooHoo the sun just came out! So, here is a spur of the moment haiku.

The creek runs past me
Babbling, running, singing song
Melted mountain snow

I've had some really nice meditations lately. They've been very mellow and it's been easy for me to get to a good head-space. When I'm in the midst of such a place in my meditation practice it can be easy to take it for granted. But, I'm feeling very grateful. I was reminded of a quote I read recently by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche from his book Creation and Completion. "Everything depends upon your mind." For any of us who enjoy delving into spiritual or self-help topics, or who appreciate introspection, that is hardly a new revelation. But sometimes I forget that whenever I get something of value, it is usually because I've done something to bring it about. Of course, sometimes I just get lucky. And then there is the fact that when I don't get what I want I've probably done something to bring about THAT result! So,when it comes down to it, it's all a matter of accepting my own responsibility, for the good and the not-so-good. It all starts in my mind and snowballs from there. (Picture me making a mental note to be extra vigilant in watching my mind. Can you hear the wheels turning??? LOL)

I had the opportunity to introduce a new meditator to the practice a few days ago. It was an honor to be there to help him out and set him on a useful path.

Night before last I was in Reno at the Whole Foods store. I bought the coolest thing, a hanging basket with a trailing tomato plant, a basil plant and a parsley plant! I hung it in the roof eave, over my deck. I'm so excited because the bunnies and squirrels eat everything you plant unless it is already established, and sometimes they eat that, too, or it is out of reach, aka hanging up. The tomato plant is flowering, so I look forward to fresh, 2" tomatoes.

Before I went to Whole Foods, I bought some new running shoes that are so comfortable I feel like flying and running faster than my heart rate zone will allow me. My trainer, Norman, has to hold me back, reminding me that when I go out of my training zone I burn calories but I don't burn as much fat. I'm really loving having good shoes! I also went to a singles potluck. It was a nice time with nice people, good food and we played board games after we ate. A good time was had by all.

Well, it's time for me to get ready to meet Tina, my running partner. I hope you had as nice a day as I did, and that tomorrow is even better.

Cheers,
Jun-ri

I Wish I Had My Camera With Me!

Well friends, I'm back home from a week of training and have recuperated some. I had a great time and one thing that was really special was the Spring flowers in the desert. The Arizona state flower is the saguaro blossom, and the saguaros were blooming. It was beautiful and here are some pictures.

I love the saguaro blossoms. It was difficult to find a cactus bloom that was close enough to the ground, but I did my best!



While I was gone, I also wrote some haikus, but I have momentarily misplaced my journal. I think there are four of them.

While I was gone I gained a few pounds on the dessert that was served at every lunch and dinner! It will go away quickly, since I very seldom have any dessert at home. I went hiking twice while I was in Tucson, too.

Yesterday I went for a 5-mile walk with my friend, Tina. It was a nice walk; I stayed in my training zone nearly the whole time. But what was really special was the two coyote pups we saw! They were so sweet! They were so young and so small with such big, pointy ears they looked like little kittens. One of them was really quite brave and was very curious about us. He got quite close to us. That could be hazardous to the little pup if he isn't afraid of humans! I just feel so blessed to have been able to see them. Yep, I wish I had had my camera with me.

Anyway, the evening has slipped away and it's time to get ready for tomorrow....So, have a fantastic tomorrow!

Jun-ri

And, please, don't forget those animals!

I Left on a Jet Plane

Hello Friends,

I meant to write before I left, but I didn't! I'm just glad there is a computer I can use at the retreat center where I am! I am in Tucson, Arizona for the second half of LifeForce yoga training. I will learn more about how to use yoga techniques that help people with depression, anxiety and related issues. It starts tonight. The first half was in January.

I had a nice flight yesterday. I got the whole row to myself on both segments of the flight. I was able to stretch out a bit, read and take a nap.

Tonight, since it is the official start of the training, there will be more vegetarian food offered. The food hasn't been bad last night and breakfast and lunch today, but there hasn't been much for me to eat. They are feeding me three meals a day, but they are feeding other people, who aren't vegetarians, too. So...I've had a nice salad bar experience and some fruit. I had oatmeal this morning, with soy milk, so that was fine. I just had lunch a couple hours ago, though, and I'm pretty hungry now. I have some fruit and trail mix to eat, so I'll be okay. I am going to go take a nice walk before I have to register for the training at 4:00. I have a 3-hour break every day, and will try to get some cardio and strength-training exercise in. The temperature will be about 100 degrees the whole time I'm here, so I'll have to be careful I don't get too much heat. I'll be doing lots of yoga, though, so have some exercise already built into my week!

I'll write again if I get another chance. I'll be pretty busy, though, sooooo...maybe not. I'll be getting home on May 14, and will talk to you then for sure.

Love and hugs to you all,
Jun-ri

Everything is Blurry

Hello Buddies,

You may have noticed I've had a serious lapse in my commitment to daily blogging. It seems like once you let yourself go to bed without blogging, it becomes easier and easier. Just like cheating on your diet, or anything else, for that matter.

I've been unfocused the last few weeks. I've not been too bad with eating and have been keeping up the exercising. I've had a few lapses on the eating end, but it hasn't had too negative of a result, other than not losing any more weight.

I just haven't felt myself lately, and I've felt overwhelmed. It seems I still have one more mouse that likes to eat my cereal, unless it is bait in the live trap I put in my pantry last week. This mouse must have a bigger head than normal, since he (she, more likely LOL) is smart enough to not take the bait. I've just felt like there are too many things to do and not nearly enough time to do them. When I feel like that, I have to set a timer for 15 minutes several times a day, to prod me into doing things, or I will just do nothing but feel overwhelmed. Procrastination is an art and I am a procrastination artiste! Just give me a chance and nothing will get done!

I went to my Zen meditation group in Carson City this evening. It was great. The dharma talk is always good, but tonight Roshi's talk was really funny, in addition to being informative. I went right into a good meditative state and didn't want to come out of it at the end of the 30 minutes. It was fantastic!

I took Roscoe to the vet Saturday. It was time for his regular 6-month checkup, and he has a "thing" in his eye. The vet numbed his eye and took a sample. Turns out it is a fat deposit, probably because he is too fat. He's been on a diet this week and is really, really unhappy about it. I completely understand his feelings, but his whining would be really annoying if it wasn't so funny. I am soooo not starving him. He has plenty of hay and pellets in his cage. But he doesn't have extra dandelion greens, Italian parsley, carrots, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, or tangerine slices, which is what he REALLY wants. He woke me up at 7:00 this morning. THAT was not funny. LOL Squeak Squeak Squeak!!! LOUD. Did he run out of food? No. He had plenty of food.

Considering it is midnight, I am going to go to bed. But...I blogged before going to bed. So... I fulfilled today's commitment!

Cheers,
Jun-ri