Surf's UP!

"The sea was angry that day, my friends
- like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.
I got about fifty feet out and suddenly the great beast appeared before me.
I tell you he was ten stories high if he was a foot.
As if sensing my presence, he let out a great bellow.
I said, "Easy, big fella!"
From George; speaking of the ocean and whales...
"Seinfeld"







Classes,
surfing lessons
and a few sailboat trips
while in San Diego;















Yep that WAS a submarine
off our port side...






Great welcome home sign, John!
Thanks Trish - you are a great action photographer!
Enjoyed the stay!

Filling the Bucket

I watched "The Bucket List"
and enjoyed the concept
of making a list of things to complete
a "filling of the bucket of life"

I have adjusted the premise to
get-it-done-before-you-get-too-old/set-in-your-ways/grumpy-to-try...

My
Fill-Up-The-Bucket-List.




Because I don't plan on kicking the bucket anytime soon.

So here's my draft version of
the the first ten of
Filling the Bucket:

1. Ocean Surf
- Lessons are NOW booked on Monday 4/18/11.
http://www.alohasurfergirls.com/
I saw "Soul Surfer" this weekend, and STILL want to surf.

UPDATE! Did "OK" for my first try,
and will take an additional lesson
with a friend-of-a-friend
when I'm back to San Diego this June.
I laughed the whole time I was trying
(except, of course, when I was spitting out sand/sea water)
and realized
THIS
is the importance of "My Bucket List":
I will try to
keep a "Beginner's Mind"
remain relaxed
smile and play
and enjoy experiences.

2. Meet more people from Santa Fe, and make some more local friends.
- I've joined the Santa Fe Time Bank
with people "banking" time helping others in order to
"withdraw" help from others. (An hour for an hour)
- I've contacted a lady who lives here and wants to learn to swim.
http://www.santafetimebank.org/SF_Timebank/Home.html

UPDATE!
I have gotten several responses and met my first
Santa Fe Time-Banker;
a sweet lady who had recently undergone heart surgery
and can no longer handle the grime/dirt
of dusting or vacuuming.
She needed a little Spring Clean.
Enjoyed the quick conversation
before she left for a "not often enough"
shopping trip with a friend,
while I stirred up the dust
and proceeded to
suck it up in her monster vacuum.
She called later;
happy (!)
to come home to
"a sparkling clean home"
It is good to help.



3. Water ski again on the Mississippi River.
-It has been more than 20 years since I've been on the river.
Any offers while I'm home in July would be greatly appreciated.

4. Travel to Europe again.

5. Learn another language and USE it consistently, so I DON'T loose it.

6. Go on a horseback weekend camping trip.
Hasn't happened for about THIRTY years, so I think I'd enjoy this one!
-The trip may happen this fall - crossing my fingers.

7. White water rafting

8. Snow skiing

9. Connecting with old friends and having great conversations
-Facebook has been a huge help with this one;
and two class reunions this summer should help!

10. Make it to the top of Atalaya
A seven mile hike to an altitude of 7,53 in Santa Fe;
I've been close to the top, but just haven't cleared the summit.

I'd love to hear what YOUR Filling The Bucket List would look like!

-M

Birthday Socks

Birthday Socks?
But of course.

Normal

A friend of mine recently posted a list of
"What Makes Me Feel Normal"
on a day that she felt out of sorts.

I'm in:
(In no particular order)

Opening one of my Dr Seuss books;
and reading like it is the first time.

Wooden clothes pins,
wet laundry on a clothesline;
middle of summer.

Painting my toenails "Summer Purple".

Laughing on the phone
with family and friends.

Receiving snail mail;
personal postcards, small boxes and letters!

Dusting off my
grade school/high school yearbooks
and smiling at our hair.

Playing with the
wedding ring on my finger
in a ray of sunlight.

Sitting outside with a breeze on my face,
reading with a radio on nearby.

Rubbing the belly
of either of our cats.

Holding John's hand.

San Diego/Hillcrest Rock and Walk

I will be traveling
to San Diego
about
every two months
for continued
Feldenkrais training:
Whale watching was on
"my list of things to see and do"
during this trip.
Surfing lessons
next trip!

-M

"127 Hours" - Whew.

I've enjoyed a few movies in the last few weeks.
In my humble opinion; they all rock:
"True Grit" - more wonderful than the first version,
(which was among my "favorites of all time").

"The King's Speech" - a history lesson,
a lesson in learning about others,
and a lesson in friendship.
Uplifting and eye-opening.

And just this evening:
"127 Hours"
Whew.
Glad I didn't take along
anyone who would have freaked;
because they WOULD have freaked...
And to those others in the auditorium:
You really SHOULD
read reviews
and possibly
READ THE BOOK
before you view a movie based on a
TRUE STORY
in which a
lonely hiker gets into trouble;
and a part of him
is trapped by a rock
with only one way
he can complete escape
and survive...
This ain't Disney, folks.
But it was a fine movie,
and almost as good as the book.
(And I apologize to those
who started IN the auditorium,
and could not stomach
staying IN
and had to leave
during the
very
painful,
time-consuming,
excrutiating
portion).

I'm packing a big, sharp, serrated knife
on my next hike...
-M

Why?

To the stranger
(from near my hometown)
who sent me the lovely
Craftsman-style table lamp:
Thank you
and
Why?

Who Will Help On Boxing Day?

Boxing Day:
(Wikipedia)
A clue to Boxing Day's origins appears in the Christmas Carol, "Good King Wenceslas". Wenceslas, who was Duke of Bohemia in the early 10th century, was surveying his land on St. Stephen's Day, 26 December, when he saw a poor man gathering wood in the middle of a snowstorm. Moved, the King gathered up surplus food and wine and carried them through the blizzard to the peasant's door. The alms-giving tradition has always been closely associated with the Christmas season, but King Wenceslas' good deed came the day after Christmas, when the English poor received most of their charity.

A plan for today:
You know all the NEW stuff
you will use and enjoy in 2011?
Now think of
the older stuff...
Box up those clothes,
old blankets and towels,
dented pot and pans,
and all the things
you don't use
you haven't used
that don't fit
that went to the back of your closet
deep in your cupboards
gathering dust and cobwebs in your garage...

Take time
TODAY;
pack them up
drive to your nearest
Goodwill
Salvation Army
Homeless Donation Area
Humane Society

and give
to those who
WILL
use them.

To New Traditions...

John and a friend from the studio
spent Thursday making
tamales.
What a great tradition to begin!

Plaza Holiday Season

Arm Rests

Cat a pult

Where once Cisco was banished to the outer porch to eat...
He and Luna now (somewhat behave and) eat within whiskers of each other.
Cisco does, however - continue to enjoy hanging on doors
looking in windows...
and yowling.

San Diego #1

San Diego, California:
(A slower pace than I expected...)



Hillcrest neighborhood,
Balboa Park,
La Jolla Beach, and
walks around the neighborhood.
I liked the mellow vibe,
the ocean breezes,
the friendly residents,
and the wildlife!




































Thanks to the instructors and classmates
at Feldenkrais Institute of San Diego;
you all made me feel welcome
and a comfortable part of the group.
I look forward to continuing my training
over the next few years.
And to San Diego;
yours is a wonderful city,
Hillcrest is a warm and mellow place,
and during my future visits I will plan
exploring all of Balboa Park,
checking out the San Diego Zoo,
finally learning to surf (!),
and getting to know more about your great city.


And yet,
arriving in Albuquerque...
I smiled when I looked through the doors
as I exited the airport...
It is nice to get home again.