Day off, and what have I accomplished? One holiday gift crossed off the list. I think sistermaryeris would be proud of me. 15 minutes, in the mall and out, with purchase in tow. Done, two more to go (bet those take me about 20 minutes).

Went and saw The Missing today. Got a pleasant surprise with a Val Kilmer *drool* cameo part. I wanted to see it because a) Eric Schweig was in it, and b) because it got great reviews on the AmerIndian aspect of it. Was slightly disappointed with Schweig, because they completely disformed his face, but that’s ok because there were two other cute faces to make me forgive. However, the fact that they actually took the time to work a script up, using a dying language was impressive. They also did a kudos job on getting the mystic side of AmerIndian religions pretty level. Had the side being “evil” and the side being “good”. Also did a good job on the inter-religious work between a fundamentalist Christian and her father, who has adopted the religion of the tribe he was adopted in to. Wonderful, wonderful!!!! Next up, The Gospel of John next week, and sometime I’ll get around to going to see RotK. For some reason, I’m not in an absolute rush to go see it.

Saddam has been captured. Now, at this point (because I despise this man), I think his ass should be dragged through the streets in stocks to the main arena. Let these people look at him. Publicize the video tape that showed his pathetic ass cowering in a hole, under a farmhouse. Have a public trial. Then, drag his ass back to the arena in stocks. Get everyone who’s had a family member killed by him and his government, make sure they’ve got a loaded rifle, and let them form the firing squad. Fucking pussy.

So, Ahnold anulled the bill Davis signed granting illegals the ability to get driver’s licenses. Advocacy groups are planning work stoppages and whatnot to protest.

Here’s my suggestion: come into the country legally, grants you the ability to get a driver’s license and pay taxes.

Seriously, I honestly wish we’d quit providing incentive for illegals to show up. Give them incentive to come legally.

Well, the bathroom is now mildew-free. It looks pretty. Decided to hold off on working out till this evening, and doing something light. Definitely have to hit the hot tub though, looks too nice. I am finding it hard to motivate myself to do the things I need to. Takes forever. Hopefully, my workouts will slowly work into the way that yoga has (granted, money shortages tend to prevent the classes). Maybe I will make an effort to check out the center’s yoga classes. My reason for not going tends to be the mish-mash that they are. I go to an Ashtanga instructor, and I love it because he mixes pilates and Kundalini in. He actually teaches, we discuss different breathting techniques, life applications, etc. The last classes I took at a gym had the breathing, and that was it. The basic feel was “we’re here to get in shape, doing as little as possible”. Now, I know I wasn’t the only one in the class feeling the opposite of that, and many of us didn’t stay long. If only to find a fitness center yoga instructor who isn’t into the “feel good, burn calories” mind-set, I’d be great. *sigh* I’m trying to become balanced and in that find health, but all these places are more interested in how much weight/fat I’ll lose, hell, I’m happy to maintain my weight, but increase my energy levels. My scotsman thinks I need my saratonin levels checked, he’s probably right. We went to bed yesterday at 8.30P, I finally dragged myself out of bed at 10.30 this morning. There is definitely a chemical imbalance.

I have managed to survive my second kickboxing class (please keep in mind i haven’t gone to sleep and woken up yet, so the final word isn’t in yet). I watched myself in the mirrors, and I’ve noticed that I really, really need to work on my abductor flexibility. My kicks are way too forward for a side kick. 😛

Yesterday was a good day. I managed to make it through my discussion in one piece, went really well and I’m quite happy with it. Today, I found the present for my grove sister, she’s going to love it. Washed the car and stickered it up. Didn’t go with the pagan fish, instead, I settled with a celtic friendship knot. I must admit, the local pagan shops are hilarious. I was walking through, looking for stuff (found some cool stuff for me) and happened in on a conversation between a sales associate and a couple of customers. The sales associate was amusing as hell because he was telling them that they needed to add some “basic tools” to their knowledge, like how to ground, how to raise and direct energy. He was showing them some books on all this. Now, I understand that this is a bookstore, it’s not an educational center, unless they’re having a workshop, but this is one thing I’ve noticed about various bits of predominant pagan culture. The choice of making book-read pagans, vs experienced pagans. Don’t get me wrong, reading is a wonderful thing and I’m quite happy that people still read. However, reading a book does not the knowledge make, being able to have a practical application to go along with that knowledge is what’s important. Yes, our society has made it next to impossible to progress within a spiritual sense for the sole purpose of growing in that fashion (gotta love capitalism). It requires a half-focus in all directions (unless you’re lucky enough to manage a lucrative career that involves spiritual growth). And I have no clue where I’m going with this.

I’m sooooo fucking tired. Yesterday was good, managed to get the nasties while helping my Scotsman put insulation in the attic. So, instead, I started planning my Generic Holiday party for next month.

As for today, PM is officially gone, left the coffee pot to attempt suicide with no water on the boiler. Made peace with MM. Couldn’t believe he was so pissed for so long (granted, he was pissed at himself – IMO). Turns out he didn’t quite grasp the fact that he can ask for help, and get it (he was mostly mad about the fact that he helps everyone and no one helps him – the power of asking, imagine).

While in the shower, I had an interesting pondering. Before I hopped in, I was watching one of CNN’s news-thingies on health. They were interviewing people who had managed to lose mass amounts of weight, and kept it off. The woman they’ve interviewed has been on several other segments on weight control. I sat watching her. In watching her, I managed to find all the muscles that aren’t healthy. Now, body-wise, yes, I’d say she’s healthy. She maintains her weight well, she eats healthy, has healthy habits; but in gaining them, she’s made things swing the other way. Her muscles are over-toned, in constant state of contraction, her pelvis is grossly tilted forward. I’d even be willing to bet she has low back pain (not much, but will grow). Anyway, this came back to my own workout sessions, and a small conversation that I had with my eventual trainer (when I can manage the funds). He was talking to me about diet, exercise, all that jazz. My main goal is health. I want to be healthy, I want to feel healthy. His comments, were that yoga is great for stretching, but not for much else – note: he admits he’s never taken a yoga class. Diet? Well, he’s more of the Adkin’s persuasion, I’m more of the Harvard persuasion. The thing I think we both agreed on was the fact that working the entire body out in different manners is the most efficient. This then brings me to how I actually work out. I believe in lengthening to strengthen (you’ll find this in Ballet workouts). It allows the muscle to maintain its resting length, while increasing its contractility. Yoga Journal had an interesting article on this concept a couple months ago. It posed the question, “How do you effectively workout a contracted muscle?” Well, rational, you can’t. When a muscle is contracted, sustaining weight upon it only increases muscular endurance. In order to effectively workout a muscle, it must be lengthened before it can be contracted. Prime example of this issue are ab workouts. Best method to workout your abs, is to start with an arched back (supported properly to avoid low back strain).

Now, my real ponderance: Health begins as a state of being, not a state of existence. That is why yoga, tai chi, and other Eastern theories work so well. When the MindBody is in balance with the spirit, the muscles will work as they need to, the body will transform into the shape best needed for its existence and health will be achieved. The muscles will be in balance, neither the protagonist nor the antagonist muscle will maintain constant contraction. Instead, they will sit in a constant state of act/react preparedness with each being at perfect rest. Want to see this in action? Watch a 6th degree black-belt (of any art) walk, run or ride a bike. It’s absolutely beautiful and amazing at the level, which, the human body can perform at, in even the most basic of movements.

Ok, I just got this

I started reading book 4 of Will Durant’s Story of Civilization, again. I think I might actually be able to finish it this time around, makes for good bedtime stories (easy to go to bed afterwards). Of course, it does give some perspective on the events overseas right now, as the section of this book deals specifically with the rise and fall of Islam’s golden age.

The turkey turned out great. Today was a day of family, the local one. Decided that we’re going to have a Yule party later in the month. It’s a must have (minus the turkey). Tomorrow will be a work day, gonna take my Scotsman to Target and show him the car stuff I like. Spoke with the family this morning, got to speak with my Gram a bit. She’s doing well, my cousin got remarried, again. Hopefully this time it will last and her daughter won’t suffer the emotional issues that resulted from her last family.

Saw off some more friends to Iraq. They said they’d be back in a few days to pick up more stuff. I’m going to leave them the store address to write, so I can send them stuff. I really hate the fact that so many of my friends are going over there. My hopes are that they come home, alive and in one piece. It’s sad that both those qualifiers have to be added, but lately, they are perfectly applicable.

Ok, in reading an article about the Judge that authored the Mass. decision, I was reminded about Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country. In searching for it, for my amazon list, I find that Oprah has put it on her bookclub list. Now, while I’m thrilled that she’s putting actual Literary (big L) classics on her list, it becomes a sad comment on our education system that some of the people (as oxrandyyxo has pointed out) go running out for it, because it’s on her booklist. Many of the current classics are books I read in H.S., I enjoyed reading them and re-read them every chance I get. Then there are those who go running out for these books, thinking that they are recent publications and ask whether the author has written anything since (in the case of Steinbeck, “Oh, when did he die?”). *sigh* I love the “gimme” culture.