Viva Italia!

We have arrived in Italy! First stop: Pisa. Yes, best known for the leaning tower. Fun fact: the tower began to tilt when the soil beneath it suddenly shifted. The tilt intensified after WW2,and thanks to tourists who climb it’s steps daily, the tower slips an additional 1-2 meters per year, though it is currently considered stable. I have been to Pisa once before and found it a quaint and friendly small city. Adam was interested in visiting, so we booked a wonderful Bed and Breakfast with our new lovely friend name Giorgio. The tower really is worth seeing, along with the surrounding cathedrals and museums, but it is a small city and can fully be visited in a day in a half, (2 nights). Not many people spoke English but after enough pointing and facial expressions, communication was achieved.

Now, I am writing today’s blog from Florence! We took the quick 50 minute train ride from Pisa to Firenze and met our new landlords who we are renting from for the next 5 days. It was pouring rain when we arrived a couple days ago. Our boots and bags were soaked and we stuck out like sore thumbs trying to read our drenched map in front of the Duomo. A sweet old man walked over and must have thought we were trying to ge
t to the train station because he kept saying “choo choo!” and pointing in the direction we just came from. Finally, we found our destination and was greeted by our landlord, Marco. He was a very nice Italian man who lived in San Diego for a short time, so you can bet we had heaps to chat about. J He took us up to what he referred to as the 4^th floor, but in the US, it was really the 5^th floor. (In Europe, the first floor is called the ‘ground level’, and the floors add on from there). There was no elevator so we were hauling our bags up a narrow stairway with exactly 86 steps. (we officially have buns of steal). The complaining stopped once we saw the views from our new Florence “home”. It has a kitchen and living room painted with bright yellow walls, and our bedroom is light pink with a window on the right side of our bed facing out to the Duomo and the window on the left facing out to the green Tuscan hills. Red brick roofs litter all of the nearby apartments and small buildings. The only instructions Marco gave us was: “Do not take a taxi or a bus anywhere. Walk everywhere!” We are in the heart of Florence. This is how ‘real Italy’ feels, and I love it.

I could write all day about how much I love this country, and I might do just that. Having our own kitchen has left us with a whirlwind of cooking experiments. Pasta is a must of course, and tonight we added mussels and clams to our concoction. We are getting so full every day on pasta or pizza, I am thankful for our 5^th floor walk. Cheese is cheap and wine is even cheaper at as low as $2 for a whole bottle. I am in vino heaven! We spent the first couple days under plastic tents drinking coffee and watching the rain pour down. Most of the cafes and restaurants have out door eating areas, and even when it storms, you still find people eating outside. They put up big tents and tarps around the tables and people get really close together, sipping on coffee and even wine, in the early morning.

Today, we were blessed with 70 degrees and perfectly sunny weather!!! When we started planning for this trip, we chose the off season months of October and November, mainly because the crowds would be minimal, even if the weather wasn’t perfect. But today, it felt like late Spring with hardly any tourists anywhere. It was absolutely perfect. Adam and I hiked up to Piazzale Michelangelo which had the most stunning view of Florence (and a turquoise statue of David). It was about dusk and the sun had a warm, golden glow over the city. Breath taking and “wow” are the only words I have to describe today, as I know it will be one of my fondest memories of Italy. Although my hamstrings hurt from the steep walk up, it was well worth every step, and highly recommended! Better views from the Duomo itself and it’s free! ;)

We have 1 more day here and we’ll be touring the Uffizi Museum tomorrow, where the weather is supposed to be just as nice. The gelato is ridiculously tasty. So far, we have tried Hazlenut, Mocha, and Cheesecake…. More tomorrow, I can guarantee it. ;)

Bonjour!

Oh sweet Paris! We arrived to this gorgeous city almost a week ago. We took the chunnel from London to Paris, hopped on the Metro once we arrived, and walked about 2 blocks to our studio we are renting from a nice man named Vladimir. We are staying in the 6th district in a very central location called, St. Germain. It is a busy district swarmed with young people, yummy restaurants and quaint cafes. We are right in between Notre Dame and the Louvre. About 45 minute walk along the river to the Eiffel Tower and right next door to Luxembourg Gardens and the Latin Quarter.

The first day we arrived it was raining so we decided to visit the Louvre. We couldn't believe how huge this museum was, littered with famous paintings and sculptures like the Mona Lisa and Michaelangelo. It was cool to see the originals, even if I had to squish through a pile of tourists to snap a quick shot. We spent around 4 hours in the Louvre and probably only saw about 20% of it. It was enormous!The rest of our days here, we have been blessed with sunny weather. Perfect for picnicking and climbing the tower where we had an incredible 360 degree view of the city. We did this at sunset and it was absolutely stunning. Paris is truly the city of lovers. Just about everywhere is a couple kissing and enjoying each other. Weather is be on a park bench or laughing over a cigarette, there is no lack of PDA. ;) I could go on and on about how much I have enjoyed this city and my new appreciation for the french language, but I think the photos speak for themselves. We have enjoyed every minute, especially with a cozy studio to return home to and cook a few home cooked meals. Make sure you wallet is heavy when you stay here, it is an expensive city, but well worth every euro.

Top of the tower....Eiffel at night...

a small glimpse of England

We have gotten so behind on blogging because we have been sight seeing and taking in so many aspects of what our world has to offer. Adam left off talking a bit about our first half of our Ireland trip. I won't emphasize much because we are now 2 countries ahead of that, but I will say that Ireland as a whole was one of our favorite experiences so far. The people are friendly and interesting and the beer is tasty. The countryside is stunning and the 'laxed' life style is addicting.

On to London............

We arrived in London to my sweet Australian girlfriend, Em. She is coming to the end of her 4 years in London and was so nice to host us for 3 nights. She and her boyfriend, Matt, took us all over London to the big sites: Houses of Parliament, London & Tower Bridge to name a few. We walked all day long for about 6 hours in the sunshine. It was truly a treat to have locals show us around. Much easier than Adam and I trying to find the "ity bity" street signs with our maps stretched out over our faces. We are getting used to the look though. ;) Adam then had a day to ourselves where we rode the London Eye with a 360 view of the city. Definitely the way to see London on a clear day, it was fantastic! Buckingham Palace was worth seeing and walks through the many gardens was essential. We enjoyed London and our friends made it that much better, but we were anxious to travel southwest of the heavy populated city to a town called Bath...

Bath is one of my new favorite places on planet earth. yes, I just said it. It was such an interesting city. The Roman's founded it a few centuries (would have to look in our guide books to be exact) ago. They figured out that they could pump mineral water from the earth's ground into big pools that they created for healing. The original ruins still stand tall with the roman baths in the center. Learning the history of these people was fascinating. Adam and I then took a spa day, with dinner and wine included, to enjoy 3 hours of pure mineral pools and steam rooms. Our view from the very top of the pool was breathtaking, overlooking Bath and ancient Roman ruins. Our skin felt silky smooth and our bodies were relaxed, after stretching in the steam room and getting into a few yoga poses. Anyone going to England MUST NOT miss this hidden gem. Email us for detailed info if you are looking for a romantic (or solo), relaxed haven. This is the place. I can't wait for our return back!

We had no problem getting into the habit of a morning tea followed by and afternoon and evening tea.... and I am loving every minute of my new habit ;)

(below is me with view of Roman architecture).

Another Guinness, is it?

Adare, Ireland is where I am writing from today. Having a Carlsberg beer and relaxing before a night at the pub. Jackie and I have been in Ireland now for 4 days and are loving every moment of this beautiful country. We have had amazing and odd weather for Ireland, warm and partially sunny. We cannot ask for anything better.

Last night we stayed in Doolin, where the cliffs of Moher are located. They are absolutely breath taking. Formed about 320 million years ago and nearby home to the Puffins, the clown of the sea, the cliffs overlook the the Atlantic. We stayed at the Roadford House last night which was warm and hospitable. Great food, people and views. Two horses roamed around in-front our window and the local dog, beans, wasn't far behind.

I am writing and recalling backwards so that we can catch up on where we have been and stayed throughout Ireland. Before the Roadford House and Doolin, we were in Dublin for 3 nights. Great City!

Dublin had a lot to offer, and even better did not have the feel of an overwhelming city. The Guinness Storehouse was great. We learned about how Guinness is made and the ingredients that go into every pint. The self guided tour end at the top of the factory on the 7th floor. That is where you get to enjoy a free pint overlooking all of Dublin. It really doesn't get much better that that. We stayed at the Times Hostel in a wonderful location in Dublin, conveniently placed next to a enjoyable little pub, which are anywhere and everywhere throughout the city. Days and nights were spent wondering around soaking in the sights and stopping along the way for a bite and a pint. One evening we decided to partake in the Hostels pub crawl. This was a good opportunity to meet a few really nice people and see some different pubs. All in all, Dublin was perfect for 3 nights.

Lets see.....

OK, now we are in Dingle ( as far west in all of Europe that you can get, can almost see New York). This is a little fishing town that has spectacular views. Getting here was not the easiest task, however, getting around from town to town doesn't seem like it is going to get any easier. That is all I will say about the driving. I could rant for a long while about this subject, but whats the point. We went over Conner Pass that dropped us into Dingle. If you think driving Vail Pass is tough or sketch. Ha, think again. Non the less, we made it in and had some of the best chowder and fish for lunch. After a walk through town, we headed back to the car to take the drive around the peninsula. What a breath taking and hairy drive. we stopped along the way to admire the views and check out the beaches and surfers. Yes, surfing in Dingle-very cool. We head out tomorrow after an Irish breakfast hear at O'Neills B&B. Next stop Valentia Island.

here today, gone tomorrow

So after packing up our entire apartment in San Diego, throwing out or donating most things, and putting the rest in storage, we were on the road to start our 8 hour drive north. Had a little In N Out for dinner and drove halfway the first night saying in a "hoe dunky" town near Bakersfield.

We like to take traveling slow, no matter where we're going. It makes it more relaxing to drive 4 hours instead of plowing through 8. So the next morning we got up and made it to my dad's house. He lives in Pleasanton, just outside of the city of SF by about 30 minutes. Adam and I unloaded our things and found the nearest happy hour in Downtown Pleasanton. Adam is really liking it here. He says it reminds him of Pittsburgh with most of the streets filled with full grown trees, and the air being crisp and cool. We're both missing San Diego, (maybe me a little more), but we're also excited about this new part of our lives:)

We enjoyed a couple home brewed beers and amazing garlic fries. We then went looking for a Liquor shop to grab a bottle of wine and instead found a wine shop that was offering tastings. After trying 6 different types of wine, we settled on a bottle from Australia. (We'll have plenty of time to try all the different wines in our new area, ie: Napa, Russian River, etc.) The owner was incredibly hospitable, even if he first told us that "No Padre fans would be allowed in." Today we woke up and worked out, laid at the pool, and did a quick shopping spree at Trader Joe's for the next couple days. We plan on eating, drinking, and relaxing... followed by more eating, drinking, and relaxing when we leave for Europe this Tuesday. First stop: IRELAND!

the simple life

I had the most beautiful lunch with my newly engaged best friend's mother yesterday:)
We went to Del Mar and had lunch on the beach with a yummy bottle of white wine. We chatted about weddings, life, family, and just caught up in general. I am glad I am not the first to be engaged so that I can learn from all the frustrations and the small "mistakes" that often take place. Ha. sounds selfish, I know, but there is so much that goes into planning a wedding. I'm going to sit back, relax, and watch everyone else freak out for the next year or two. And then maybe I won't when it's my turn.... maybe. Our lunch was followed by 2 hours on the beach chatting some more. Who knew we would sit for 4 hours together and just talk. It's the simple things in life :)

our "plan"

I have chosen to put "plan" in quotes because hardly anything really goes as planned. Especially when traveling Europe for 2 months and especially in my life. Sooooo, here is a quick "plan" of our next few months. It will be interesting to see what REALLY happens. ;)

Adam and I move out of our Encinitas, CA beach apartment this Thursday, September 30th. We are sad to leave our place only 3 blocks from the beach, but happy to get away from the loud train and more than excited for our European adventure! We're driving up to San Francisco first, possibly doing some beach camping along the way. My dad and sister (and entire dad's side of the family) live in the bay area. So we have packed up our cars and will stay with them before we head to Europe on October 5th.

Europe Itinerary:
Ireland to England to France to Italy to Spain.

We'll be in Ireland for over a week driving the lush countryside, London to visit a friend, Paris where we have rented a 'chic' apartment for a week, all over Italy (even down to the boot of Calabria), and finally to Spain where we will be visiting my Spanish family (great grandmother and second cousins, etc.) We will blog along the way and give specifics on where we have been and what we have been doing..:)

We return back to San Francisco on December 5th. From there, we will be looking for jobs in the San Francisco area and will then move out of my dad's place and look for our own ;) We are looking forward to a new city together, I think SF is going to be great.

Now let's see what actually happens..... stay tuned for posts while we're traveling. We can't wait!!

Not just us

Another quick political topic I noticed. Australia just voted in their new prime minister a month or two ago. There are also 2 parties in Australia: Labor (most similar to Democrat) and Liberal (most similar to Republican). Quite funny because our liberal is just the opposite. Anyway, they have just voted in a red headed WOMAN representing the Labor (Democrat) party. Not that hair color matters but the fact that she is a woman has many people up in arms. I haven't seen any of this on our news here in the US, but since I lived in Australia for a short time, I had friends posting all over facebook who both loved her and hated her. I saw really crude things, "This firecrotch lesbian won't do anything for our country!" or calling her "nothing but a bogan" which is basically a country hick. And then I saw others who said" Thank you Labor party for progressing Australia!" "Australia is on the right path, we have needed a woman!"

So of course I had to research what was going on, and yes, Australia voted in a woman Democrat. Doesn't this all sound a bit familiar? Woman dem vs. "black" dem. It's all the same. Everyone getting all fired up about something they really don't have any control over. Sure, our vote does matter. But once they're voted in, there is nothing the public can do anymore. They are going to call the shots... most likely "puppet" around like the rest of them... and everyone is going to have something to say about it.

Here is a recent status update from one of my aussie girlfriends who is supporting the new PM:
(mind you, I am not sure what all the slang means but you get the idea)

"I'm avoiding facebook until all the derogatory sexist ranga/ginga/fanta comments die down. So far you've picked on the fact she's female, her hair color (red is fantastic by the way) and now her accent. What defines a bogan?? Someone who wasn't educated at a North Shore or Eastern subbarb private school who speaks and acts like a total stuck up spoilt wanker?!"

I just had to blog about this because the bottom line is that this happens all over the world. Everyone has their own opinions about people in power and will get all shaken up over it. (I know I have). It sure seems as though we're more alike than different. Just try not to lose your friends over it. :)

politics shmolitics

I got a lot of requests asking this to be a political blog. I still have a huge interest in politics here in the US and around the world, but I'm not as vocalized about it anymore. I've experienced first hand how politics and religion conversations can ruin friendships, or at least bruise them. And it's a shame this happens. Some people will hold a grudge for much longer than I thought was possible, but then again, a grudge takes more energy out of you than me. So I won't be sitting here bashing or getting upset or angry trying to make a stance. The couple things I will say is that I have traveled a lot. I feel that my opinions are validated more because I have seen what other countries have to offer, (both the good and the ugly). I have volunteered in "slummy" areas both here in the US and other countries. My belief is that very little things will change based on who we nominate as President. Until we as individuals start realizing that we choose our reality, not "superman", we will keep having unrealistic expectations of our government and people in power.

When Obama was campaigning, so many people thought he was God (or better). He was glorified on the cover of People magazine, his speeches sounded more like a church service being held in the South, and people really thought this was the "end all be all" guy. That he was going to come save all the poor people and get us out of this economic downfall. In fact, just the opposite has happened. I don't care if it was Bush's "left overs" that he's dealing with. The President made countless promises that he himself would never be able to fulfill. But people still believed this celebrity guy who promised "change".

The only thing that has changed is that our country is in billions more debt. The poor people are poorer. And our economy is falling apart. Maybe we have our parents generation to point the finger at. Maybe is was the officials they elected (Carter) that are responsible. "8 years of bush.." blah blah. No matter what it is, Barack Obama is not going to be able to fix any of this. I can't even listen to his speeches anymore because they all sound the same, and so rehearsed. Do I think McCain could have done it better? Not necessarily. But all these new 18-25 year old voters had no idea what they were voting for. I would hear my friends repeat Obama's promises verbatim and it would just crack me up. Just because he's a good speaker, HALF black (he's not black people!), encouraging and inspiring, "new aged", doesn't mean anything to me other than he looks sharp on the Today Show.

The truth is, his approval ratings have plummeted. I can't believe people are really surprised by this. Check out this Daily Presidential Tracking Poll: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/ (highly reputable). I tried to paste the actual link to the poll but just search it. Even the people who voted him in are furious..... and I don't blame them. But then again, I sorta do because this guy never had super powers and nothing he claimed he would do can be done in his position. Oh well.

This is super jumbled because I'm sitting in a noisy cafe and can't really think straight. But I just wanted to jot a couple things down. This is probably as far as I'll go politically..... It's just not worth getting a bunch of people wanting to argue. But the main thing that I feel is that I am still happy I'm an American woman. Spend a couple minutes reading about sex trafficking in Eastern Europe, for example. This crap happens everywhere. We may have some issues in the US, but I'm glad I'm not trying to sneak my family over. It's bad here to some people, then it must be really be bad there. I can deal with the fact that Spain gets a siesta and we don't. Or that Canada has free health care (which they don't). It could be a hell of a lot worse.

eye openers

It's September 2nd and I am still wondering why we were robbed of our usual San Diego summer. We literally had May-Grey and June-Gloom the entire month of July and August, and so far, September isn't any better. I am sitting on my patio sipping on hot tea, in my uggs and long sleeves. It's high 60's and this is cold for me. And for San Diego.

But none the less it's a nice day and I'm going to write. I have been out of college for a year now and have basically been unemployed the entire year. This is mainly due to the fact that we will be traveling Europe for 2 months, and I can't commit to an office at the moment. I get temp jobs from time to time but usually, I am sitting at home or laying on the beach. Which gives me plenty of time to think. Thinking can be good or bad, especially when you have a mind like mine (See traffic jam blog). In a nut shell, this is what I have learned over the last year, in no particular order:



-money will most definitely NOT make you happy.

-I don't depend on coffee nearly as much as I thought I did in college.

-I have to live near a body of water to refrain from feeling landlocked.

-our next apartment must have more kitchen counter space AND a washer&dryer.

-my boyfriend is the only one who truly 'gets' me.

-home grown veggies taste so much better than grocery store ones.

-YOU are in charge of your own life.



I'm not going to sit and elaborate on all of these, but I'll pick a couple:



-Money will not make you happy. I grew up in a pretty affluent area. We were not rich but not poor either. Middle class seems to be the right word. I didn't feel deprived growing up because my sister and I pretty much got everything we wanted and definitely everything we needed. But I always thought.. "If we had more money, my closet would be twice as big. I could drive a BMW too. We could go out for more expensive meals..." blah blah blah. I met a group of very wealthy people a few months ago. Good looking guys, in their mid 30's. Flying private jets to Istanbul, Turkey where the CEO of Corvette is located. This one guy in particular was showing me photos of this trip: Partying on a huge yacht, Don Perion flowing and beautiful women swarming them. But you know what he told me? He said, "I have a gap in my life. I'm missing love." So I go on asking him why he's single, etc. He said women just want his money, not him. He was tired of the royalty game that was now his life. Sex and drugs everywhere, artificial people, lies, manipulation, everyone only looking out for themselves. I'm not saying everyone who has money have these same opportunities or even the same outlook. But one thing it seems a lot of these people have in common is that somewhere along the line, they are more superior to the person who has less financially. I honestly don't even think they mean to be this way, but it's inevitable sometimes (not always) I think. I am still waiting to meet the super humble rich population. Take the guy in the Mercedes convertible flying down the highway and cutting people off. I see it every single day. "You car means nothing! Your looks mean nothing! What you HAVE mean nothing!" That's what I feel like yelling after those people. I want to ask them, "Who is the real you? Are you happy?" Maybe this is a result of living in a place like California, where image is so much more focused on than inside qualities. But then again, I've seen this in other places too (Denver, Australia), so it must be our world as a whole. Everything on TV is about image. Women and men have to look a certain way to get any sort of media attention. (ok getting off topic here..) I touch on this subject because Adam and I have totally been on our own over the last year. We have been living pay check to pay check and I have never been happier. When we choose to settle down and quit traveling, we'll be able to save of course. I have a talent that luckily will keep us more than comfortable and Adam has some prosperous business ideas. But right now, we are broke as a joke. But we're happy. One thing I feel like I have that others don't, is the love and trust I have with my boyfriend. There is nothing that concerns me about Adam. I know his love is pure and real and no amount of money or wining and dining will ever make him more attractive in my eyes. It saddens me to see people I know and people I don't know, who are caught in the alternative. I would rather pack a bag full of good cheese and wine and set up a picnic on the beach. I love to camp (as long as I can make a comfy bed free from spiders). Don't get me wrong, I like nice things, and some would even say I'm high maintenance in certain areas. But my point is, those things that you can hold in your hand, don't make you happy. I'm not putting everyone with money in a certain category, I'm just stating what I have seen through my personal experiences. Tangible "things" will not make a person happier. Happiness come from deep inside a person and from the people you choose to surround your life with. Maybe it's just my personality, maybe I'm crazy, maybe I'm diving into something I know nothing about. But I do know one thing. I know how it feels to be so full of happiness. And it's not the times when I have a thousand dollar shopping spree at Nordstrom, or have just gotten my hair done, or have just paid 100 bucks for a steak. It's the time when I'm laying on the couch with Adam in our simple beach apartment, watching movies and eating fondue. Or the times when I have an hour conversation with my dad over the phone. Or watching my little brother get so excited over the smallest things. Or venting to my supportive girlfriends. I could go on and on showing my trend of happiness. I hope everyone will one day understand this because it took me a long time to come to this reality. And I'm so thankful I did.


-I have to live near a body of water so I don't feel "landlocked". After high school I went to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. It's a mountain town and reminded me a lot of Colorado. I remember my freshman year, about 2 months in, feeling queasy and claustrophobic. I couldn't figure it out and it was lasting for days. Then a friend of mine invited me to Sedona where they have creeks and large ponds I like to call them. We would go to slide rock and slide down this super long creek until you ended up in this big pond where you could wade in. Once I got there for the first time, my claustrophobia went away. Then I came home for Christmas and spent my days on the beach and again, I felt free and not so secluded. The water looks like it spreads out forever and it sorta does. After 3 years at NAU, I transferred to CU Denver for hygiene school. I loved the mountains but I liked Cherry Creek Reservoir more. There is something about the water and not the mountains that keep me relaxed. Plus, it's so much effort puting on layers and layers to go snowboarding. I hate when my face stings from the cold and I'd rather just put on a tiny bathing suit and be on the beach..... And this is why I came back to San Diego and definitely plan on calling California (even if we move up to San Francisco) home. Some people find their calmness in the mountains or desert. Mine is definitely on the water.


-Adam is the only one who truly 'gets' me. He can walk in the door after being at work all day, without me saying a word, and instantly know if something is wrong. He will call me at lunch and know from the tone of my voice that something isn't right. And he knows when I am happier than ever and that is his favorite part. Seeing me happy. I have spent just about every single day and night with him over the last year and I have gotten to know him so much more than before. Moving in together was the best decision I have made so far. But I take some of this back.... My dad is the other man who fits this description to a "T". I have been blessed with 2 amazing men in my life, I honestly can't believe how fortunate I am. My boyfriend supports me and cherishes me. He understands me and believes in me. I could flatter this boy all day long but for your sake, I will stop now.

-"Life is what you make it." My mom used to tell me that all the time when I would whine and complain about somewhere I had to go or something I had to do. It used to frustrate me so much, I would get so mad at her for stating something so true and easy. You mean if I just change my perspective and turn my bad attitude around, this really will be a good day? YES YES YES!! Sure, bad things will come up but it's how we deal with those that will change our entire day, month, or year, around. I used to have a poster on my fridge in Denver that said, "Today is a good day!" Our minds are so powerful and just thinking something positive will shape and change your outlook. At least it has for me, so give it a try. :)

I didn't mean for this blog to "brag" about how happy I am, but rather to say how thankful I have become over the last year. I take absolutely nothing for granted because people and things can be gone in an instant. I by no means consider myself to have all the answers, I am just stating what I have learned personally, and this didn't come over night. My ears and eyes are wide open and I'm anxious to keep filling myself with new realizations... Good thing I've got several years to do that;) I am way too excited for Europe and for what the different cultures are going to teach us. It's going to be a good end to a good year. I just know it.

Didn't mean for this to be a Yoga blog...

Adam and I spent our Sunday at the beach yesterday (shocker, I know). While in the midst of reading Eat, Pray, Love (for my second time may I add), I interrupt Adam and read him this excerpt:

"Here's what I caught myself thinking about in meditation this morning.
I was wondering where I should live once this year of traveling has ended. I don't want to move back to New York just out of reflex. Maybe a new town, instead. Austin is supposed to be nice. And Chicago has all that beautiful architecture. Horrible winters, though. Or maybe I'll live abroad. I've heard good things about Sydney... If I lived somewhere cheaper than New York, maybe I could afford an extra bedroom and then I could have a special meditation room! That'd be nice. I could paint it gold. Or maybe a rich blue. No, gold. No, blue...."

The woman in the book then starts to criticize herself about worrying about all of these things when she is supposed to be meditating:

"...how about you try to meditate right here, right now, right where you actually are?"

I re-read this once to Adam and once again to myself. It was like this woman in the book wrote this page with my name all over it. I was reading myself to a "T". Except I usually dream of living in New Zealand or somewhere with our own private beach where we grow all our own food and own chickens.... And I would prefer a yoga room instead of a meditation room but I guess they could be used interchangeably. But the most important part of this excerpt that really stuck out at me was this woman was supposed to be in a relaxed state of mind (something each of us crave), and she's in an Ashram in a beautiful part of India, and instead she was stuck wandering off worrying about the future. She was not present.

I catch myself doing this in Yoga far too often. Then I will get really upset and frustrated with myself for not focusing and not getting all the benefits of peace and quiet while I'm practicing. My yoga teacher always says, "This is your 90 minute meditation. Leave all worries out the door, you can deal with them when you leave this room. Right now, this is about YOU." So much easier said than done, let me tell you. But I believe this is one of the goals of Yoga. Not just trying to improve on each of the physical postures, but learning to clear your head for 90 minutes straight, without thinking of anything on the outside. Why is this so hard for us "westerners" as the author in my book always puts it?

I wasn't meaning for today's entry to focus on yoga, rather, how difficult it is for me to try to stay present. I imagine others have this same hardship at times, if they really delve into what was happening in their mind at any given moment, I bet more people would realize it.... But I think I will talk a little bit more about one of my favorite hobbies.

First, did I mention I practice Bikram Yoga? I realize everyone will have their own opinions about Bikram, even if they have only tried it once or possibly never. Here is what I constantly hear about it: "I can't stand the heat!" "I almost puked the first time or two I tried it." Now, coming from myself who hates extreme highs and lows (and feels perfectly content in my San Diego 70 degrees and sunny almost all year round), I have to say I know for a fact it's a mental concern. Again, this is one of the more difficult areas of this type of yoga especially: ignoring the discomforts and breathing into them. I have tried a couple different types of Yoga, and for me personally, this is the most challenging. Sure, it's challenging to get on your head and in Crow (which is basically putting all of your body weight onto your wrists which I am physically not able to do), but Bikram is different. The room usually averages about 110 degrees and by the first posture you have sweat dripping into your eyes and all you can think about is an ice cold shower or chugging your water bottle which keeps staring at you while your heart is beating out of your tank top. But here is why I love Bikram and hope to continue practicing until I'm well into my 70's. :

-You can't bend metal unless it's warmed up. Your muscles are like metal. They need to be warmed up in order to stretch and in order to properly get into the postures. The heat helps with this tremendously and actually makes the yoga much more pleasant because your body won't hurt as much.
-You get 20 seconds of "Savasana" (dead man's pose, or total relaxation on your back) between each posture which is crucial for the blood to continue the natural flow through the body.
-You are CLEANSED from the inside-out!! My skin started glowing and was baby smooth, my acne cleared up, and all of the toxins were excreted from my body. You don't get this much sweat released while running for 30 minutes.
-The heat helps with circulation. Being a dental hygienist, this is really important for me to keep my blood flowing to the areas I'm in most pain. I haven't found this with other yoga's.... yet.
-The instructor does not do the postures with you. I love this because it leaves room for correction.

Finally, due to the injuries I sustained in my car accident (also another blog if I get the courage to go there), it is crucial for my body to be warmed up from the inside-out before I get into the postures. I truly love Bikram so incredibly much. It has repaid me more than I could ask for and I love the way my body feels after this 90 min session. Please give it a try and let me know how it goes... but WARNING: most people despise it the first time, and even for the first week. Only with regular yoga will you start to feel the benefits (3-4 times a week). So don't judge it right away, give it time to do wonders on your body and mind!!! (I am still working on the 'mind' portion).
I love this photo of Adam in triangle because he's almost doing it perfectly and it's one of the most difficult postures (especially for me) to get into. :)


The only things that really bothers me is the price of Yoga. Why do we have to pay $130 a month to obtain a state of relaxation and health? I think it's because the heating bills must be really high and of course, the teachers need to get paid and so does rent. Adam and I have put ideas together about eventually opening a studio. Who knows if it will ever happen, maybe I'll incorporate it into my dental spa that I hope to work in one day too.... anyhow, it's fun to dream about... A green Bikram studio heated by solar panels!!!

My traffic jam

I don't care if it's summer or winter, our local beach here in Encinitas (shown above), always makes me think of 1 word: Tranquil.
~Tranquil- adj. free from commotion; peaceful; calm; unaffected by disturbing emotions; unagitated; serene; placid.
Who doesn't want a life full of each of these descriptions? Not one of these words describes the traffic jam that is often running through my mind.

And this is why I'm starting a blog. Despite the fact that Adam and I already had plans of sharing our upcoming Europe trip with our friends and family, I am interested in getting some of my jumbled thoughts that are intertwined out on "paper". Here are a few examples of my "traffic jam" moments: 1) When I have a million things that need to be done, I think of all of them in a matter of 15 seconds and then at times I will start to hyperventilate, my BP will rise (or so I think), and Adam will say "shhh shh, it's OK... just lay down for a minute." 2) Sometimes I will get way too ahead of myself and start thinking about the future. Where will we settle down? what will our financial situation be like? 3) This one always gets to me: I will start thinking about the people in my life who I have lost. Anxiety will start to flood me and I will feel sad until I can preoccupy my mind with something else. ~The problem with this so-called "traffic jam" is that I am worrying about things I usually have no control over, and most importantly, I am not PRESENT.

Now don't get me wrong here. I am not some unstable, depressed, wreck. I have the biggest love for life that is imaginable. I have never self medicated (other than a glass of wine or 2... or 3..), and I am highly against altering your body or mind to temporarily hide discomfort. I'd like to think that I am similar to several other 20 something women; maybe a tad too literal and emotional at times. And I'm OK with that. But I do want to try to obtain a more peaceful, tranquil state of mind when the traffic starts pouring in. Yoga helps at times too, but that's a different blog....

Now back to my beach photo (scroll to the very top of this blog... I snapped while Adam and I took a walk up the coast). I am in my most relaxed state of mind when I'm at the beach. The smell of the salt water and the sounds of the waves (and even the annoying seagulls), put me at such ease. I feel more present at the beach than I do anywhere else. It's like a wall is built up in my mind that doesn't allow anymore traffic to run through. ANY beach will do and it doesn't matter the time of year. Once when I lived in Australia, I bundled up during a rain storm, and sat outside a covered cafe watching the waves violently crash on the beach in front of me. Although it was cold and cloudy, I was calm. I have a feeling there will be several of my favorite beach photos in this blog (all of which I have personally taken).


This will probably be one of my longest rants. I'll try not to ramble too much as I don't want to bore anyone who may just take the time to read this. My goal for this new blog is to write down things that come to my mind from time to time, because chances are, you're relating in some way. Also, we'll be blogging a lot when we take our 2 month Europe getaway:)