Soul Runnings

 Hello Again Friends! What a beautiful morning, on this last day of May, 2022! It happens to also be my man's birthday!  I feel positive energy in the air.  Perhaps it is the sun's warm rays warming my little herb garden on my front patio.  I was overjoyed this morning as I opened the curtains and the windows to let in some fresh air. I peered out at my neighbor's cheerful red rose, and I spotted new sprouts in my herb garden!  I potted them a few weeks ago and do a happy dance every time I see a little sprout poke his nose out. At this point, my thyme, dill and cilantro has sprouted. I was worried with all the rain that they might not come up. There is not enough sun on my windowsill, so I put them outside.  I am thrilled to see they have survived, even a few of them! I started my morning with a strawberry/mango/pineapple/coconut milk with flax seed and collagen smoothie. Then I did my morning Qi Gong and a bit of hooping.  I have to admit I slept in,...

 Hello Friends! I am finally sitting down to post on my blog after a bit of an absence. I am having a real, live, actual day off today! Today is Memorial Day. I purposefully did not plan anything for today.  I was feeling overwhelmed with my schedule and expectations that I put upon myself.  I am at the tail end of recital season - which I LOVE - but I put my whole self into. This year I held 4 in person piano student recitals, and one virtual recital. They were all glorious!  But after performance I have a bit of the blues.  Which is probably mostly related to exhaustion, but partially coming back down to earth.   Right now, I just need to slow down and breathe, be in the present and reconnect with my peaceful center.  I am sitting at my little table in front of the window. I have the curtains and the windows open. Aside from the fact that this is known as "not the best neighborhood", I find it very peaceful to have the breeze flowing.  The ...

 Hi Friends! Today was Day 58 at the gym!  Almost 58 consecutive days, with a few days off for rest and recovery. I am ready to start working harder!  I am feeling much better than I was a few weeks ago, when I felt that just getting through my daily life was a chore.   My asthma is still giving me grief, but has improved. I was able to renew my steroid inhaler which I am going to pick up tomorrow. My eating habits still need tweaking, as usual. But I am proud to announce that I have not eaten any cheese balls since the cheese ball incident! I have not weighed myself recently, a little nervous about that.  I am working on getting back to intermittent fasting, but have eased my eating window. I now eat between 10 am and 8 pm most days. I am again focusing on whole foods, especially vegetables. I begin each day with a smoothie which includes some kind of frozen fruit, flax seed meal, collagen, and nondairy milk. I feel like I glowing from inside! My breakfast...

 Dear Friends: It's been awhile! But I am back. Wiping away tears, but I am here.  I had a hard time leaving my living room today. Amber Heard finally took the stand to give her testimony.  It moved me. Even though I have been "Team Johnny" from the beginning of their trial.  I am a little bit embarrassed to admit how fascinated I am with this whole case. And how much I have learned about myself, especially relating to interpersonal relationships, mostly of the romantic kind. But there it is. I'm hooked.  I have adored Johnny Depp, or perhaps I should say I am a big fan of his public persona.  I recognize him as a very talented actor, intelligent, and a bit of a bad boy.   His "performance" in court has seemed to reflect who I believe he is. I did not want to believe he was abusive.  Yet he was obviously entrenched in substance abuse.  I shuddered a bit when his team painted the picture of Amber, his ex-wife as a woman with histrionic, b...

 Hi Friends!  It's a gray, cold, wet day here on Portland, Oregon. But as for me - I feel fabulous! I had lunch with my mother and my man, got in a quick workout (today is Day 48 at the gym!), and stopped at the library. I love getting things done!  I am now chillaxing at Starbucks before I begin teaching. I am feeling rather content and balanced. I love my new place- a space of my own - especially my own fenced in private backyard, where I have been doing a morning hoop workout before I start my day. I love the fact that the door to my backyard is in the bathroom.  I do love funky! I am excited to find a Planet Fitness in my neighborhood. Not only do I enjoy the hydro massage tables, but I just discovered their express workout room. It is essentially circuit training. There is a light signal on the wall. When it is green you start at the first station. There is usually enough time for 15 reps before the red light comes on. At that point, you wipe down your machine, ...

 Hi Friends! I am gazing out the window as I type this. Big, plump, white snow flakes are descending from a slate grey sky. It has been snowing since very early this morning. All of the school districts have closed due to the snow and power outages. I am waiting to hear from the music center. Usually when Portland Public Schools close for inclement weather, they are closed as well. I only have on in-person class on Mondays, the rest of my students have private, virtual lessons. I will most likely be teaching from home today.   It is actually pretty exciting to have snow in April. The week before Easter no less!  I looked at the forecast for Easter Sunday, and they are predicting sunny with a high of 58 degrees!  Today's high is only going to reach 44 degrees.  Low of 33 degrees.  In April! I am going to head out soon to the gym. The snow is getting wetter - soon it will turn into rain. But the ground is still white.  I am going to wear double laye...

 Hi Friends! Just a quick check in. Yesterday was such a good day!  The chaffles, the gym, my students, my grandkids, and.... wait for it.... the man! Yes. We had a very nice, positive get together. I told him that when times are good between us, they are GLORIOUS!  I need to focus on all the good.   The title of this blog is deceptive. Love was there all along, we need to remember not to cover it up with negativity. :)  Pretty much the story of my life.  In fact, I am working on cleansing my mind beginning today. Everytime a negative thought enters, I whisk it away and replace it with a positive memory, or I ponder all the things that I am grateful for in life. I have a big list: God My 5 grandchildren My kids and their spouses My family My students Music The gym, and movement Beautiful weather in Portland (Like yesterday! Today, it's cooler and overcast, but that's ok.) My friends, near and far. Chaffles Tea The Community Music Center My new apartmen...