Chiricahuas!

LMP-2088, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

How much fun did we have???
Too much!

cycle break

LMP-2076-2, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

today i took a cycling break and hike the chiricahuas. its an amazing series of volcanic rock formations along the arizona, new mexico boarder where the apache indians fought some bitter wars against the white man. I felt some old spirits in the lands. it was a great, mellow day of basking in 60 degree sunshine at 7,000 feet. More pictures to come.

Him Salt

Him Salt, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

key ingredient to my cooking. This pink stuff seams to soften the edges of food and bring out the flavors so brilliantly. I only buy and use Himalayan Pink Rock Salt. I have a salt grinder to use each time I need some of these magic morsels. Further.... this is the sole that your body needs (unlike the chemical NaCl Morton's produces).

3 days of ski

Ski, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

So today marked the 3rd day in a row I was able to ski greenlake. Yes, this is historic friends. Conditions were a bit icy, but still fun as I worked up a good sweat for my 60 minutes of effort.

I don't think the conditions will be good for a ski tomorrow, so unless it snows nicely tonight... it might be back to the trainer for me.

2nd time in 10 Years!

Ski around Greenlake, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

Today I went out to my garage, grabbed my widest xcountry skis in the lot, slapped them on at my garage door, skied out my driveway and down to greenlake (about 100 meters). I made a full lap around the lake and it being the 2nd time in 10 years we've had that kind of dumpage in Seattle and where there is enough snow to ski the lake without it melting in a half hour. Well there was plenty, a little crusty but not yet skied out! I had the place nearly to myself.... well maybe because I felt like a kid at xmas and I couldn't wait, so I got up at 5am and hit the lake by 6am. This is an actual picture of me on my skis at greenlake. Oh... its snowing again, I might need another lap.

I kept waiting for the groomer to show to set the tracks, but I guess he/she took the day off. Skating was a challenge but because I had my classic skis and with the perfect wax... it was bliss!

2009 Predictions

SAXO bank in Copenhagen (love the Danes) makes some outrageous (extreme) predictions every year, mostly I believe to show where things will trend. They are usually spot on (except for political). Here were 2008:

1) Ron Paul elected as President of the United States in 2008
I actually think this is a good prediction about change.... they just didn't guess how much change.

2) S&P500 falls 25% from its 2007 high to 1182
Well done guys... S&P shows a general economic picture and when our housing market dumps....we dump. S&P as of today was in the 800's.

3) EURSEK falls to 8.8000 (now 9.4000)
Sorry guys, don't track Swedish Kroner pricing...but the quote today was over 10:


4) USDSGD falls to 1.4000, but then rises to 1.6000 (now 1.6000)
Don't track singapore pricing...

5) EURHUF rises to 275
Don't know anything about this...


6) At least 3 of the largest 10 US home builders will go bankrupt
Well done guys - pretty easy guess in 2007 as there was massive over building, and I'm not sure if 3 have filed, but EVERYONE of them is seeking relief.


7) Chinese stock market falls 40% by late summer
Ok.... but everyone has fallen given global credit. They predicted this fall with over extension of production and capital.

8) Grain Prices to double - again!
This was pretty obvious - and it happened. With increases in world population and demand for biofuels... YUP.

9) World oil prices accelerate to $175
Well done guys - futures got to $150, spot at $134 (July 2008), and the year's average was $100. Now? Well we sit at $34. Its a good reason to think the oil countries may engage in some unrest.

10) UK growth turns negative
Duh..., the entire worlds growth turned negative.

NOW FOR 2009...
drum roll please. Read the Details here.

Iranian Revolution (given low crude prices)
Crude @ 25 USD (here come the big SUV's again!)
S&P500 in 500 (ouch) - that's 50% decline.
Italy will make good on threats to leave the ERM
AUDJPY to 40
EURUSD to 0.95 – and then to 1.30 (so travel early in the year!)
Chinese GDP growth to 0% (we buy less goods).
Pre-Ins First Out (something about overseas currency changes)
Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index to drop 30% (to 150)
First Asian currency to be pegged to Chinese Yen (probably USD instability)

healing

Jett Pet, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

This is jett. Jett was put on my doorstep by a friend who moved from Vermont to San Fran. Jett is the type of cat that is not made for the indoors. But jett craves human interaction. I think he's like me in that I can only take so much of it before I need to jet.

Did you know a cat's purr can heal bones? Jett knows when I'm hurt. He seems to locate himself on the injury and perform magic healing. Hog wash you say? Well, check out the statistics on how fast broken bones heal in cats. Could it be that purrrrrrr?

One other note...
my friend who gave me jett just had major surgery. She has had persisting problems with endometriosis. She's not much older than me. For years I've seen this burden she carries, call it worry, call it anxiety, call it a general disposition of being less than optimistic. I know energetically this always concentrates itself the abdomen (root chakra). I try to live my life knowing what we resist, persists.

I think she needs Jett.
Yo mel... Jett send his purrrrrrrrrrrrr.

snow sunday

Sprouted Hum on Endive, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

so what else do I do on a snow/ice seattle sunday. Hmmm. I made some curry pumpkin soup, rode my trainer, 3 hours of yoga, made another website for my prospective project, then completed with some raw (high prana) food.

Yup, that is sprouted hummus with organic tahini and lime zest on endive. What, what you say.... yeah, well it made for a nice shot.

Da Pearl

Portland, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

Cruised the Pearl District in Portland this weekend. The quality of development and the care/attention to detail is impressive. Clearly the land cost is lower and developers had to follow a set of market expectations to compete. Why can't seattle elevate its expectations on development? Well, I hope to do just that.... look out, thoughtful development forth-cometh.

PDX Cross

PDX Cross, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

Chels and I drove down to Portland to enjoy the PDX national cross race series. MUD, MUD, MUD. We had a good time watching people commence beer drinking at 10am, sloggin' around in the mud and watching the scene. There were a few familiar faces.

Ayurvedic Healing

I've been diving into ayurvedic knowledge because it's so dead on. Its a mind, body, spirit healing knowledge that is older than eastern medicine. I am drawn to use a lot of deep spices that balance my dosha (what is out of balance in my body). Here is a good listing of the ones I'm using and why they are sooooooooooo good.

Spices do more than just flavor foods. in the Ayurvedic tradition, spices also balance and heal the body ; food is a big part of the healing arts. In the Western tradition, research has confirmed that many spices have potent biological activity. To list just a few:

* Turmeric (the main ingredient in curry) has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, comparable to the effects of hydrocortisone. It's effective in reducing symptoms of irritable bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. It's also a potent antioxidant and has cancer-preventive properties.

* Ginger is also a potent anti-inflammatory, acting through the same biological mechanism as the COX-2 inhibitors like Vioxx--but without the deadly side effects. Ginger is also an anti-coagulant, which helps keep the blood from forming clots and also soothes irritated stomachs and nausea.

* Cinnamon helps lower blood sugar levels by making cells more sensitive to insulin (similar to the action of antidiabetic drugs).

Get Google to Bike There!

Sign the petition to get Google to provide the mapping via Bike (as an option). I signed! http://www.PetitionOnline.com/bikether/

Slacker, Tramp, Yogini, Biker

I've been doing lots here in Tucson, Arizona. My body is tired yet it feels really, really good. My heart full with all my amazing visits with dear people. I'm loving these past 10 days of 2 hour yoga 3-4 hour bike rides, slack lining, trampolines in the sun, great food and so much more. The reality of cold wet temps, nose to the grindstone and, yes, mindfulness if forthcoming...

Such a Tramp I am!

Having too much fun in Tucson...

5th Year

So yesterday was my 5th year of being in Tucson for the El Tour. Having 8,500 bicycle riders circumnavigate a city on one single day is insane. It begins with 1000 racers doing 109 miles then various individuals of all skill levels pedaling along with an attempt to make it downtown before nightfall or their fall. I did pop out early on my bike with my 5D and take some cool snaps. sample below. I pedaled 85 miles pulling my friend Di to the finish. She vowed to train more than 2 days next time!

13 Years Ago...

I wrote a masters thesis. Interestingly, the title was Modeling the Impact of Regional Economic Change on the Residential Real Estate Market. I used all these fancy vector autoregressive models to predict the patterns in residential real estate after a significant shock. In other words - how soon would it return, would it return and was there predictability to any of it. Well kiddies, I had some findings. There were different returns for times of purchases. I suspect you could go to my school's library, check it out and read it... or just pay me for the answer. Your choice.



Oh and this image above was just odd, cracked me up so I had to share!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhmerica!

I have several observations.

1. If McCann had won, I don't think you'd see people dancing in the streets (was that crazy?).
2. I think the conservative talk show hosts will actually be able to have material now - its been a tough 8 years for them;
3. Obama; how fun is that word. I mean you can write gobama, obamrama, or ohhhhmmmmmbama, or o-bama-jama-lama-rama. I mean the options are endless (very fun, right?).
4. I heard fireworks in my neighborhood - but I live in a DEEP blue area of a very blue state;
5. What is all this talk about History? I mean, isn't every time a president is elected it's history? Heck we haven't written nixon out of the books (or have we?). Oh yeah he is bi-racial not just black.
6. The world has hope in us (again).
7. Ahhhhhhhmerica has a more zen sound than the texas twang.
8. I believe our country is still good.

A Birthday Blog

I found this file on my computer - I wrote it during the day of my birth. Its kinda cool.

-----
Its 4:30am, October 13, 2008. I’m laying on my bed in Sale Maraino on Lake Iseo just north of Milan suffering a mild case of jet lag. I’m 40 years old here in Italy, yet still 39 for another 4 and half hours back home. I’m amazed at how space and time are linked to create some perceived reality of age.

In ways I’m actually 80 years old and in others I’m 20. That is why the earth’s age of me is not relevant (at least in this moment), except mostly to those around me.

So I began my morning (the start of my 41st year) reading the last few pages of a book I started on the plane, Veronika Decides to Die. This is probably one of the most profound books I have read in a long time; largely because I am in a “listening” space of awareness that this book’s message of love, awareness and risk pierced me on many fronts. I quote Mari (a character in the book), “the danger in one days adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort.”

My adventure today here in the foothills of the Dolomites on the shores of one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve seen, it to construct my day, my month, my year with huge amounts of awareness and to realize that every second of it (time) is building and creating me.

OMG!!! - totally offensive!

Someone sent me this video. I can not believe it. This is out of control. This is preposterous. And very funny.

Hollow & Empty

I did a long meditation today; hollow and empty. Profound. Cleansing. Rejuvenating. Life giving. It basically used my breath to hollow and empty the body. It is beyond words. out.

Houston

Headed to Houston tomorrow, nope we ain't got a problem. Bringing camera and involved in several sessions. More late.

Love this Shot

Bike, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

From Amsterdam

Amsterdam Spaces

I really enjoyed the new public architecture and investment in public spaces that Amsterdam has made and is making in its waterfront. Two new buildings here in this image (background of my ORANGE bike) are the library and (music) conservatory. The Conservatorium van Amsterdam - which in April 2008 opened is on Oosterdokskade (just behind the Centraal Station) is totally worth a visit - wow.

The architect, contemporary Dutchman Frits van Dongen of CIE, is said to employ a bit of a Japanese aesthetic noting how the hallways are on the exterior of the building (to shield spaces from noise), while the classrooms, practice rooms and performing spaces are on the interior. There is a BUS underground parking and access to prevent clutter of the architecture - really nice touch. I also explored another amazing residential building by this architect Het Funen Park.

The library (on the Left in second image) was also very amazing. It reminding me of the care of Rem's building in Seattle in that the emphasis is on the books, but this building inside felt more approachable. The architect for the Library, Jo Coenen is sorta the "state" architect and has a beautiful portfolio.

I'm Home

Just getting my sleep together...
Getting onto some new good routines. Took lots of GREAT pictures in Iseo, Milan and Amsterdam. Will share more later. Here is one of me in my Milan Apartment with my wacky 14mm lens. Ciao.

Out of Country

I'm frantically getting ready to get out of country. Yes, I'm headed for Europe again, but without my bike. What? That's right. SO many of you have asked..."what say you Lisa?" Well... my yoga teacher has convinced me to go to the lakes region for "pony yoga". That's right, can you see a little downward dog on equine? Me neither. We are studying with Dona Holleman and we learn centeredness on the mat, then reinforce our centered energy on the horse.

I complete the trip of loft investigations in Milan and Amsterdam with my new camera. To track this fun (which starts on Saturday), look here. I will be making all further posts until the 21st of October here.

Oh and my brother sent me this video for my birthday... some of the images I've never, ever seen before. Very cool. You can check it out here.

ID Photo Shoot

ID, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

My buddy murph and I did a walking photo shoot um up on Sunday of the ID in Seattle. You can check out my photostream in flicker by clicking on the image above. We discovered parts of our fine city neither of us has seen. The Panama Hotel tea cafe being one. It was gorgeous, warm and a great place to hang for an hour or two.

Sick, $700B Sick

$700B. I'm disgusted. I actually wrote all my congressional reps (and I can't say I've ever done that before). Its an irrational, knee jerk, grab a cement truck because we "think" there is a crack in the levy approach. This is no different than the authority to bomb the crap out of Iraq (i.e. no plan). How much have we spent on that? Futures! Futures I tell you.

Why can't we be like Warren Buffet, hell he invests rather than "bails out" freaking companies. Why can't the american tax payer be an investor for once? So we need to act, yeah... I get it. The stock market went down 700 pts upon the failure to approve by the house. Then the market rose 400 the next day. Why did the market decline another 140 pts after the house signed? Because the bill doesn't freakin matter. Look - Paulson came from Wall Street. His buddies are hurting. Got it?

What matters in our current economic constraints is that we make capital available to companies, agencies and individuals that need it (as a loan not as a corporate hand out). Why can't we take equity in those companies and share in the rise of value rather than "bail out" companies that benefited from the "free market". Funny how free market proponents like free markets until it needs to "pluck" them from the gene pool. We need those gordon geckos to finally leave our collective gene pool. My solution now? With the $'s allocation...I say we fire Paulson and hire Economic Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz to run the "fund". His plan is really similar to what european countries have done in tough credit crunches and what any investor would expect. So we get Joe to decide where the $700B goes (oh wait I think its $1T after the senate got its way). Read it HERE

Needed my brakes today!

Zero G, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

Sile and I went for a 70 mile ride in the blistering wind and pouring rain. It actually was a magical ride. When its 60 and raining, with beautiful fall color and you have all this wonderful moisture hitting your face... it is quite nice.

Sile was a buzz. She was giddy at how she was facing the elements and getting 70 miles under her belt when all others failed to get outside today. I think she is a little competitive.

Air Space

I played this tonight.
http://www.palinbingo.com/

I didn't win. But I'm not sure if anyone else did either. Hmmmm.

Collective Conscious

The world is a worrying. I hear comments from friends fretting about the value of their IRA, potential of job loss, etc. If you can visualize and feel your own reality and not that of the collective worry, you shall soon FLY like the reptile that came upon land, you shall rise from the ashes around you like the phoenix, you shall BE better than everyone else imagined; yet not better than YOU imagined... because YOU always imagined better. See your own reality. Be your own reality. Believe in your own potential; not the fear of the collective conscious. Namaste.

SNL

Gotta admit this is hilarious!

Snow Lake Hike

Hike, originally uploaded by lmpicard.

My dear friend from Connecticut and I went for a little jaunt up to Snow Lake yesterday. It was a magical day. I have not been up to the alpine lakes in a while. Although everyone an their mother seemed to be up at Snow lake... Deb and I had great fun with my new camera.

Greenspan = Deadpan?

Former FED Chairman Alan Greenspan argues (according to Businessweek) "that the price of eliminating giant speculative losses is a lower standard of living."

Short hand? If we don't let wall street bet big, they don't get to live high on the hog. Duh?

So...
Alan buddy, are you saying that... IF we regulate banks and/or investors FROM being able to engage in Las Vegas style investing (shall we say speculative losses) THIS regulation of the FREE MARKET precludes Wall Street CEO's from having an adequate standard of living (say like having a G4 aircraft for weekend trips at the Hamptons?). I guess with the masterminding of the BIG BAILOUT, they (you) get to keep a high standard of living while the rest of america pays for it.

Bravo buddy.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
So Free Market economics is really only some of the time. Got it.

5D arrived

So I finally got my high end dig. Here are my first actuations. Jett wasn't so happy. Diggin' my super wide lens. Needless to say there will be much better shots on my blog... once I figure out how to use it.

We Own AIG

Congrats to us all, we now own another financial institution. As I sit here this early Wednesday morning on September 17th, I ponder the obvious; the single fact that our entire society, culture, imprint, economy - call it our collective DNA mindset is completely focused on the need to grow. Growth, growth, growth. The obsession of every company and thus its entire value in the market is its ability to grow. The faster, the bigger, the more we can line the pockets of its management with obscene quantities of money and experience real (or fabricated) profits the more we value that company. Is it necessary? What ever happened to our expectation that a normal market return is 7%? Can't we be happy at something that just holds our standard of living? Must we thirst to grab 20, 30 or 50% growth? Beyond that need, don't we see it just robs us of our future?

We learn yet again...
Such growth is not sustainable.

We learn yet again...
This growth only steals from the future;
a bit like charging up your credit cards only to pay later.

We learn yet again...
that truth continues to teach; however painful and despite our listening.

We own, fannie, freddie and AIG now. Maybe to diversify our portfolio we now need a major thirft? WaMu anyone? They are certainly begging for deposits with cheap CD's - which is their begging for mo' money (to cover bad loans and shrinking deposits).

Ford with 65 miles to gallon

Just read in business week that Ford has a vehicle that can easily go 65 miles to the gallon. It won't sell it in the US. Whaaaaaaaat? They say because its diesel they will not have enough demand because prices are too high. They also say it will take it $350M to build a diesel plant in Mexico to offer in the US.

Wait a minute.
Ford is getting its clock cleaned by Toyota and Honda in this country because those auto companies are selling high efficiency vehicles in the US (albeit hybrids). Oh, oh, oh....
AND they want the feds (the US tax payer) to give it "bailout" money to help it because it continued to make BIG ASS vehicles that now are no longer in favor? Let's do the math...

Ford looses $1.0 Billion (yes that is Billion not Million) in cash EVERY month for its expense laden company YET it will not spend a fraction of that monthly loss to build a factory in Mexico to save its ass in the BIGGEST auto market in the world?

Well...
Maybe if you proposed to build the plant in the US then you'd be justified to ask for Fed $'s.

Good night Ford. With decisions like that... you deserve to die on the vine like Lehman.

A spin with da boys

I did a spin with the boys this morning. Good fun. Here is the route and details (if you care):


View BIG Map

Saturday's Ride

View Larger Map
It was a great early spin for the TPR women; starting at 8am and finishing around noon. It was Sile, me, Cathy and Cindi. Phenomenal weather with that crisp little bit of fall in the air. Yes, its coming... Suck it up (the sunshine that is). The ride details are here.

Love Your Soul

Those were the words printed on my Lemon Ginger tea tag bestowed by Yogi Teas (best teas in the land as far as I'm concerned). The mug of tea was just a tad sweet with my manuka honey (from New Zealand) and it warmed my loved soul.

Vitamin D

A good friend of mine had a gnarly crash in Whistler on her mountain bike. Woah... I brought by a care package last night and she looked like a train wreck (broken collarbone, elbow and a head that would win her the part in Elephant Man). Well...
I was reminded that Vitamin D is important for three reasons:

1) We live in the pacific north west and don't get enough natural D (no matter how much time we spend outdoors - even the gardner;
2) Our bones can't construct themselves without masterful D.
3) Overlaying the cancer rates in the US has a perfect correlation (statistically speaking) with the lack of sunshine.

My doc says I need to be taking 5,000 mg a day! Mind you the common multivitamin has about 100mg. I recommend the brand Pure Encapsulations as it has no fillers and uses all natural materials to hold the nutrients. Mind you I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist... just someone passionate about this crap.

Today's Ride

Vashon

Yesterday was a long ride. I needed it. Total was nearly 70miles and 4K of climbing. Commencing from my house around 7:45am, I hit the Vashon ferry with three (3) other TPR gals. We lapped the island, taking in the farms, rolling hills (some not so rolling) water views and the warm poke of the sun through the subtle september marine layer. Magical. Arriving home at 2pm, needing my super recovery smoothie (coconut water, blue green algae banana mango), I'm now ALIVE!

4th Night!

Its 1am and now Friday morning. 4th night in a row. I'm stopping it now. Over, done. Really. Oh, but the weather is so lovely it may dictate play in the day and work in the night. Hmmmm.

Oh my 3rd night I've seen 1am!

Its gotta stop. Am I too busy? or inefficient? Curious that I must search one more idea? Gotta shut it down (the mind, thoughts, thinking, buzzing, spinning) as it keeps me going strong into the am hours. Bad, bad, bad. So... what am I doing at 1:10am.... blogging of course. G night.

Oh...
Gotta plan the mountain bike ride for this weekend. Gonna take some newbies as my Ventana Ciclone is Beggin' for some play time. Out.

fishing

I've been busy. Yes...had a yoga friend from SF visit. In 48 hours we walked the medicine wheel at earth sanctuary, ate sushi, 2 hour yoga private, ate sushi, walked olympic sculpture park, scootered to the aquarium, ate sushi, walked SAM, strolled the book store, drank wine... oh and I got in a 3 hour bike ride. So much for a relaxing weekend.

Well, Leo ( a commerical retouch artist) did manage to manipulate the Manet at SAM to carry the image of me and him by the stream "fishing." You'll need to examine it closely.

Intimidating?

So I rode a 3 hour leisurely pace with a work associate. It was a good "get to know ya." Well... she quickly concluded that I would sure be intimidating to date (I think because she sees a lot of me in her). Hmmm. Honestly, I asked..."why?" Michelle quickly said, you live life big, your brilliant and you have done so much. Hmmm. So I ask... would the following be intimidating to date (and this is not an attempt to be grandiloquent, but rather more of a my own stream of conscious to better observe what people first hear/see from me) - in no particular order really...

1. Cycled much of Italy including (Sicily, Tuscany, the Lakes Region, Mediterranean Coast, Dolomites) - 5 separate trips;
2. Cycled most of the major French Alps and Pyrenees and summit most of the major mountain passes (including Alp d' Huez, Tourlemet, Galibier, Col de Mente, Col de Aspin, Crox de Feur) AND Cycled to top of Mont Ventoux and barreled down back side at speeds in excess of 50 mph. (not to mention eating and drinking my way through France - yum).
3. Ski Toured sections of the Haute Route in Switzerland including a 5,000 foot vertical ski down on the face of a glacier facing Mount Blanc, then rappelled off the toe of the glacier for closure;
4. Completed a 50K XC skiing race within my first 18 months of learning xc skiing - then competitively raced for 2 more years shooting for world masters before I fractured a rib;
5. Scuba drift dove Cozumel and completed 90 foot DEEP dive off coast of Miami without too much narcosis.
6. Competitively raced mountain bikes for 3 years with only 1 broken rib and 1 dislocated shoulder
7. Fixed the wax ring on my toilet - well because I had to;
8. Hold my own in the kitchen never following a recipe inventing flavors and experimenting daily;
9. Built up four (4) high end road bikes;
10. Skunked the dudes at fish camp bringing home three (3) 30+ lb King Salmon;
11. Mountain biked across the Denali Highway in Alaska;
12. Have been & visited (not just a plane stop) to EVERY state in the Union except Hawaii.
13. Lived in LA, SF, Boston, Miami, Tucson, Seattle;
14. Could probably earn an honorary degree from Bastyr in nutrition;
15. Can recite the sanskrit terms for most of the major Yoga poses;
16. Earned two master's degrees from MIT;

I know I'm forgetting lots... as this only deals with the physical landmarks rather than any emotional, social or spiritual. But heck, its those physical things that people notice first.

Alvin

I'm exceptionally fond of Alvin Toffler. He is a brilliant change commentator. His quotes that are hitting me at the moment are as follows:

The illiterate of the future are not those that cannot read or write. They are those that can not learn, unlearn, relearn.

Like adequate education, freedom of expression is no longer a political nicety, but a precondition for economic competitiveness

AND my current favorite:

Profits, like sausages... are esteemed most by those who know least about what goes into them.

Female Rocket

Congrats on the Gold Kristin....
But, forget the medal, I want one of those Cervelos. Check it out with its rings and all.

Beauty by Einstein

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He, to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead. His eyes are shut."
- Albert Einstein

Woo Woo Shop

I wandered into the East West Bookshop on Roosevelt yesterday on one of my long neighborhood strolls; I often call the store the woo woo shop. I like to wander through this store because there is so much consciousness present in the pages that fill the shelves that it just allows me to feel it.

Well, I'm not a tarot card person, but I just allowed my hands to grab the stack and THEN asked mother divinity, the holy spirit, guider of the universe, or the prana within (whatever be out there) to guide the selection of two cards for me. My eyes landed on two; the death card and star card. Gasp! - I thought. But when I studied the meaning of theses cards its was fascinating. Death is actually the birth of something new, the release of an old pattern. Hmmm. Actually wiki says:

• Transition into a new state ----- Psychological transformation
• Finishing up ----- Regeneration ----- Elimination of old patterns
• Being caught in the inescapable ----- Good-byes ----- Deep change

Wow. Ok. Now the Star card:

• Calmness ----- Free-flowing love ----- Trust
• Tranquility ----- Peace of mind ----- Pure essence
• Hope ----- Serenity ----- Inspiration ----- Generosity
• Thinking positive ----- Joy ----- Faith ----- Regeneration
• Good will ----- Optimism ----- Harmony ----- Renewal of force

Now, honestly...
BEFORE I went into the woo woo shop, I was feeling that I'm on a path of HUGE change, AND it is so freeing, calming and full of intense joy. Cool. HOWEVER, I didn't really need some tattered old cards in a funky book shop to tell me that - but it doesn't hurt.

Learning this week

As I round out my staycation, here are some things I pondered and were revealed to me this week.

1) I'm smart;
2) At 39 my body can still heal really, really fast;
3) I love breakfast smoothies of lemon, avocado, agave, banana, blue green algae & coconut water.
4) I am developing my ability to better observe my egoic mind with ease;
5) I love Seattle;
6) I have cool friends;
7) I miss riding my bike;
8) I have a cat that lives at my house (sorta) that is from another planet;
9) I'm ready for big challenges;

Not to brag, but...

I just took the IQ test from research labs.
First, you need to have the patience to complete it. Second you need to have faith they aren't phishing for your email (so I gave bogus emails for offers). Thirdly, you can't seek answers on the web (or at least I didn't). Fourth, they suggest they know the IQ scores of people like GWB (124) and Madonna (140) and Hilary Clinton (140) and Einstein (160) - hmmm. Well, my score? - and I don't think they were pumping my ego because I saw blogs with peoples results...

Straight from the results page (after doing 20-30 easy, medium, hard questions)- and i found the questions be be very mathematically visual (plays to my strong suit):

• Your score: 172
• Top 5% of Population
• People that score in this range are genius or near genius.

Hah! Go figure. Must be something wrong with that test!
:)

My Ayuvedic Reminder

The central concept of Ayurvedic medicine is the theory that health exists (and thrives) when there is a BALANCE between three fundamental bodily humours (a latin word linked to temperatures of the body) termed doshas, namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha. We are often labeled one of these doshas based on where we have the greatest tendency to be out of balance:

Vatas = AIR element, lighter in body frame, easily effected by environmental change;
out of balance Vatas are SUPER busy making (never sitting still) - like most bike racers I know;

Pittas = FIRE element have medium builds, sharp focus/concentration;
out of balance Pittas can be easily agitated.

Kaphas = earth element, steady, loyal, larger body frame
out of balance Kaphas suffer from inertia or inactivity.

There is no question I'm largely Vata given my desire to move, do, be - never sitting still; although I test a Vata-Pitta, suggesting that I have keen focus in my busymaking (creating great success), yet when imbalanced, I'm exhausting, sleepless and manage to avoid all feeling (getting on the treadmill of life as I say).

Why does all this matter? Well, I find myself suffering with this NEW hand injury as it represents a painful sentence and penalty; a timeout of sorts in STILLNESS. STILLNESS is like medicine to Vatas; bitter, avoidance in taking it, yet good for us and best for our health. Today I was forced to do restorative (non-active) yoga poses that held me in positions for 10-15 minutes. I fought it. I complained. I cried, all along saying I'm going for a run after this is over (think of a kid that chases its cod liver oil with kool-aid and pop tarts).

So my lesson? STILLNESS is where we experience real learning, real listening, real growth. STILLNESS allows us to feel and we need to commit to being in the pose of STILLNESS for it will provide balance to the rest of our busy, busy lives. We think STILLNESS is nothingness, wasteful, fruitless - but it is probably the richest activity our busy minds and bodies can embrace if we are going to bring about genuine health and real balance to our dosha, our life, our health and our community.

I am STILL. I am feeling. I am listening. What are you doing? I pray nothing.

Namaste.

Bathroom Complete (almost)

BEFORE

AFTER

How many people do you know that...

So, I'm home on a little forced "staycation," that overused word (mine forced from a little mishap) with some free time.

I ponder and must ask my readers...How many people do you know that WILL 1) shop whole foods/or similar fresh market daily; AND 2) be attracted by fresh sardines from Oregon in the fish case; AND 3) decide to whip up on a solo night home - freshly grilled curry and thyme rubbed sardines over sauteed calmyra figs and pink pepper corns and a side of ancho pepper chili - to enjoy for oneself?

I can only think of one.
I submit the evidence, yet I'm not a food photographer (damn it was good!).

twas the night before RAW

Saturday was the day before RAW, the annual ride around washington state; a week long adventure of riding 75 to 100 miles a day from Sunday through Friday evening. This year's tour is the tour of the volcanoes (rainer, helens, adams, glimpses of hood then back). It is epic. I got my worked lined out, bike tuned, food prepped, clothes packed, headed to get a mani-pedi (some chick stuff before the ride). I just needed to get the last bag in the car before I drive to Packwood, WA to camp out.

Then I received a VERY STRONG message; "Lisa you are not to go on this ride" OR the message was saying... "you are to go on this ride and surrender, ask for help"... that is to be in a place that you are forced to ask for help. That message was loud and clear as it came in the form of this...


A seemingly random innocuous fall carrying the last bag to my car. Yup, so random and so real that it made the message very potent. The tumble off my back stair had me land squarely on my wrist, bending it back in a direction that it is certainly not intended to go (stressing tendons and tearing a ligament). I picked myself up quickly, ran to the kitchen grabbing a bag of frozen mangoes... saying... no, no, no, yet there was a message over-riding it saying YES.

Now THINKING the message was go and surrender, I drove the 2.5 hour drive to packwood in pain and a baseball for a wrist. Waking the next morning (yes I asked two very loving friends to pitch my tent) trying to mount the bike like all the other tour de france dudes with wrist injuries... I realized, well... if I had Soigneurs I too could do it (well maybe). Nope. I'm meant to stay home this week. And I'm excited by it - as there is lots of learning (internal). There are lots of things I'm thinking and feeling and thus will finally have the time to dwell on it and potentially blog it if my wrist is up to it. look out readers!

Cycling Switzerland

So Zana and I did a quick spin yesterday morning along the gorgeous glacial fed lake. Well... we thought it would be quick and then we got caught by this little herd of goats mowing the berry bushes (see image below). Little did we know that when cycling the alps of Switz in the gorgeous sun filled skies and we would attempt to cross the gorgeous yet BIG bridge near Verbier and...
THEN blue angels would BLAST by our heads and ring in our ears! Okay... so it was the south end of lake washington and the goats were in Renton, near the airport eating blackberry bushes (eco maintenance). Z and I were forced to peddle another 45 minutes of unexpected time to the 520 to grab a bus to cross Lake Washington given i-90 was closed and we had places to be, people to see. We made it... had a great chat and it was a GREAT ride.

No TTT

Ok, I didn't do it. I got busy, really busy. Lots of stuff brewing as I prepare for RAW, work a new deal in fremont and elevate my level of consciousness in new ways. All good. I'm write more meat later... just needed to let my blog readers know I'm alive.

Suffer and Fun

I did a hard ride on my bike tonight. I've been coerced into riding the TTT this weekend with my dear team mates. They said, "oh Lisa, you know how to suffer... you can do this, come on it will be fun!" Oh man suffer is right, it will be suffering... and I don't know how often you put suffer and fun in the same sentence but there it was again. I guess I better get on my time trial bike and get my front female parts ready for the odd positioning that is required for this all out 30 minute effort.

A Workshop Needing Work

Yesterday I paid $100 for an all day session with Dr. Svoboda and Scott Blossom who apparently is going by Doctor these days. I find that those most insecure with their status or profession (namely those with a PhD and not of the medical profession) require that you call them by the prefix Dr.

So I was pretty excited about this session hearing much about these two gentlemen as leaders in their fields. I thought the topic was rather "heady" yet approachable given that it was titled something like mulandara chakra, guru and ganesh - basically about the root or core of the body and our ability to access the prana (energy) deep within via our breath, consciousness and movement.

What unfolded for me was a session where two rather arrogant guys felt they could walk into the room and "wing it," I suspect thinking that the audience would lack the maturity to know better. Wrong. I was very patient for the first half, but became bothered by the second half when it was clear to me there was no script, concept or deliverable AND worse no humility for the experience or needs of the class. I find it acceptable for a teacher to come ready to wing it, but if that is the case... the teacher best be attentive to who is in the audience and what are the needs or how information is or isn't being received.

Blossom seemed to completely miss this and patronized a few queries push to him with the need to show off his body moves (immature really). He also was completely hesitant to engage the group seemingly not able to effectively communicate concepts, as those of us discussing it... feel that he hasn't had enough experience to come into his own understanding. Let's hope this was a fluke or that his effective marketing techniques haven't got to his outer ego because I think he can be an effective vehicle for communicating powerful ideas.

Ok my rant is over...
for now.

Yogic Insights

In a conversation about being able to know and feel love...
My yoga teacher said to me today the following:

when we are living as a source of love in this state
we don't see love,
like we can't see our own face without a mirror,
then when we let someone be our beloved,
their love towards us allows us to experience loves reflection,
the reflection of our own loving nature.

WOW.
In laymen's terms...
you've got to allow others to love you if you are to see, feel and taste love. Simple yet complex, like anything in life.

Building and Other Things

I've been busy with a home remodel, a transactional closing for one of my clients, travel to SF, learning and growth. All good and all precluding me from musing more muses on my muddled muses blog. So here goes on some things I've been thinking, yet haven't had time to digitally document.


ok here are my musings....

1) brett dennen's music is brilliant. I think he is one of the most passionate, thoughtful and conscious souls writing music today. listen to his tunes carefully. there are hidden messages to those of us who understand the tension daily between the left and right sides of our brain. If you are not yet conscious of how these two hemispheres effect you, watch this video of a brain scientist who actually studied her own brain when she underwent a stroke (okay I have probably 4 recent thoughts in this first item - mea culpa).


2) i have a number of people experiencing loss around me. I think when you get older it certainly is more frequent, yet I've had my share of much of it in life and have come to realize that in loss there is ALWAYS gain; yet you have to be open to it. so, as I have friends who have sick or dying parents, i understand, i sympathize, yet i quickly move to you'll grow from it. I guess its a kin to having lots of money, losing it, living modestly with out it, and having some wealthy soul come and seek sympathy for the loss of wealth when you've been living blissfully without for all of your adult life. Yes, I have sympathy for the loss and the pain involved in the separation and change, yet I move quickly to "but you will find a deeper self and live more purposefully now." I almost get to a place that is "you're better off." Is this insensitive? I'm not sure... But I think its a little insensitive when people want life long sympathy for a dying or deceased grandparent when I didn't know mine and lost my parents at 23; kinda like the rich complaining to the popper about the loss of a twenty dollar bill... but I digress.



3) I'm constructing a new bathroom and master in my humble abode. The process is fascinating as this is my 3 remodel on my cherished little abode. I'm excited for the new space it creates in my house, thinking that it will also modify my process in the morning; how i shower, how i see myself, what i see in myself. i also think its interesting that the process of change in the space has already changed perspectives; like what clothes i wear because i found them recently or because they look differently in the new lighting. more pictures to come.

4) I've been developing a new idea for a project in fremont. i'm pursuing investors and strategies for it. I even taught myself google sketchup and created a youtube model of it below.

A note on Urban Living

I've said to many that the times are a changing. Having been a student and practicioner of urban design and city making, I said that land values are a function of transportation costs. When getting in your car was cheap, it spawned the suburbs and mass suburbanization as many could now afford the big house outside the city; the only cost being their time to get there (when gas was under a buck a gallon). With competition for the limited amount of oil production, gas has shot through the roof and so has the cost of living in the suburbs. This cost is pushing suburban values down (not to mention the subprime market over building). So what is happening???

Decreased values outside the urban core (places that take lots of gas to get to);
Increased values in the center city;
Decreased values in markets where over building happened to fuel the big demand of buyers who were qualifying for loans and shouldn't have qualified (not in urban markets).
Increase apartment living costs as many apartments where converted and no new supply reached the markets as developers were busy building condos.

So my recommendation?
Hold your homes in the urban markets. If you are in the market to buy a house, buy small and by close in. People are realizing it takes a lot of money to heat, furnish, upkeep a large home where you use less than 50% of the spaces. Heck, look at all those SUV's they can't GIVE AWAY at the dealers. It pays to be prudent and to realize that the difference between desire and need. I mean, what do we really need? Keep it basic. Keep it simple.

This post was motivated by yet another article in a recent periodical. I provide it below:


Coldwell Banker® sales associates working in urban markets across the United States indicate they are seeing interest in urban living increasing because of the high cost of gasoline. While 96 percent of the 903 sales associates surveyed report that rising gas and oil prices are a concern to their clients, 78 percent report that higher fuel costs are increasing their desire to consider living in an urban setting.

According to the Coldwell Banker survey, the primary reasons for this interest in urban living are related to work commute and energy-efficient modes of transportation:

81 percent cite minimizing a reduced work commute as a reason for the interest in urban living
54 percent agree that access to public transportation is appealing
75 percent agree that the ability to walk to more places is a positive
"Over the past several years we have seen a boom in downtown living all over the country and this is not just reserved to major cities," said Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate. "It is interesting to note that the study showed that 53 percent of our surveyed sales associates have seen an increased interest in urban living compared to five years ago."

Coldwell Banker surveyed sales associates who also reported they have seen an 84 percent spike in interest for properties with a home office, as compared to five years ago, indicating a trend towards telecommuting.

While the study also found that 64 percent of surveyed sales associates report their clients increasingly look for homes with "green" amenities that could save on heating, cooling and electricity costs, only 42 percent surveyed believe saving on energy costs are a reason for their client’s interest in urban living.

For the LOVE of Cycling

Someone asked me why I like cycling. I thought about it and the first thing that came to mind was "LIFE." Digging deeper into my soul, I realized that after years of feeling the rush of endorphins post running, then knees giving way to another sport, cycling; it wasn't until I climbed on my bike, learned to push hard THEN... I could feel my heart. I guess the pounding of my heels on pavement would mask this beat, this magical beat within me. WOW. To feel your heart beat within your chest made me feel so alive. I could feel it pulse the blood energy through my extremities, I could feel my heart surge its strength of pump throughout my body. Nothing is more real or of truth in my life past or present.

Now what's my buzz about yoga?

I found yoga increases my consciousnenss. How? For me and many others yoga is physical and spiritual in the sense that I have come to feel my humanness beyond the heart beating in my chest. The practice of yoga awakens feeling of embracing life and expanding it – to become aware of the reality that all things and beings are connected, to realize that love is the fabric of the universe and to live as such. Yeah whatever Lisa! Hear me out.

So beyond the beat of my heart I now fully feel the power of my breath in each pose (the breath's movement up and down, front and back in my body) and have become aware of both the breath and heart and powerful movement and presence in my body through yoga. As my breath becomes more and more relaxed, the heart is felt AND heard. I more tune into the mystical rhythm of the breath and heartbeat - which has also transfered itself to my cycling. Yoga has expanded my experiences in Cycling such that both give me the ability to know my heart and true self as well as the power within. If this doesn't connect with you... do some yoga or just some breathing and truly feel it move in your body. You will feel more alive than ever.

out.

SF Kinda Weekend

Looking at the jetstream for Seattle this past weekend I decided to get out of Dodge. Thursday I had dinner with Di Di who just left MSFT for Apple (one of my favorite companies). The contrast in cultures to hear her describe it was something of great fascination; moved from intimidation and bullying to support and nicities. To hear her describe it, well... she wishes someone would just tell her the truth or f-off. I think she is experiencing culture shock to say the least.

Friday was about cycling and remote working. I had a great bike ride with a dear friend Chrisandra who is a yogini and a writer for Yoga Journal. We cycled for nearly 5+ hours in glorious sunshine in Marin County. Barely getting home for a dinner date with two chaperones (who set me up) as I proved once again that I can still intimidate men (and very successful men). I certainly wasn't looking radiant (or so I constructed that reality), didn't place much effort into the adventure because I think I'm not ready to be attractive yet or think that men should like me for my mind (yeah right - who am I kidding). Enough on that topic.

Saturday was yoga at Chrisandra's class and an adventure to the Berkeley Hills to visit with a Matrix Alchemist. If you need to ask, you won't understand, but needless to say it was intense, exciting, inviting and purpose setting.


Sunday was Yoga at the presence of Jamie Lindsay. WOW. It was the first time I had done Headstand as a vinyasa between poses (basically the flow you use between poses). This guy is a genius and brought me to another state of consciousness with all the spine movements and gyrations. I felt a harmonic buzz resonate in my body after the 2 hour class. Following the class and some grub, a spin to the Headland in Marin across the Golden Gate Bridge, brought me into complete bliss for the weekend.

Getting home late Sunday night...
I had to jump into a busy, busy week with my first meeting starting at 8am this morning.
Woooo Hooooo!

Memorable Places

I was just asked by a well respected colleague to comment (for his blog) on what makes meaningful place. I share my thoughts (or a couple of sentences) below:


What I think brings meaning to place is the innate emotion a place can resonate, evoke or awaken within our soul. Its has more to do with experience as defined by our anticipation of the place, then the experience of place and finally the reception or the place's ability to leave us with a lasting memory of it and thus the ability to carry it forward in story. I think a place can be meaningful when its uncomfortable too, yet those aren't necessarily something we seek in a commercial sense, but ok and sometimes necessary for public spaces.

Peninsula Cycling & The Bike Savior

So Zana, Sile and I went to pre-ride the masters champ course yesterday out near Port Orchard. The blessings of good weather, good cheer were great beginnings to a nice ride. Meeting Zana at the Brem Ferry landing we loaded her bike on top my A4. Ya see they have this rule about height on ferries; if over 7 feet they ding ya another 15 bucks. So... with her sweet orbea on top...I now TOWERED 7 feet and a couple of inches. I told the fare taker that I'd take out the seat. Reluctantly he said "okay - lane 6". The ferry dude, directed us to the side where we had to REMOVE the seat post with 3 minutes to go before boat departure. Now Zana's MONDO seat post was not happy about coming out and neither was the ferry dude who watched us and his watch - counting down the 3 minutes. Stuggling to get her 3 foot seat post out of her frame (I kid you not) they screamed at us to hurry as the ferry wanted to leave.

Ugh...
I rushed, I sweated, I strained....
Until finally a gentlemen RAN over and extracted the seat post.

THEN
We raced to our seats, hopped back in the car...

THEN
They guided us to the high bay space (with clearances in excess of 20 feet) on the ferry where only half the deck was filled.

WHATEVER!
So, once we reached Bremerton, we unloaded the bikes and Zana went to put her seat collar back on, the bolt broke in two. I raced into town for whatever bike shop I could find (using my google text and nav system) and met Fred Pakas, a 70 year old dude running a bike shop (if I may call it that) in downtown Port Orchard. This guy was a blessing. Passionate about bikes, bike racing and anyone who says the word bike. Fred got us going again, wouldn't take ANY MONEY, so I said make it a donation to your cause!....but check out his bike shop; and these images are not photoshopped!

that would be the front door in the distance...


here is Fred surfing for the 5hex bolt in his 5hex bolt box, yet he is searching for the perfect length. Visit Fred in Port Orchard if you get a chance... he is 70 and still races. Was a Junior Champion and talks about bringing love to cycling and youth like the good ol' days. God Bless Fred!

Cycle Oming in Sonoma

Just got back from 4 days of cycling in Somoma and doing 3-4 hours of yoga a day at Terra Bella just above Glenn Ellen. I met 14 amazing people this past weekend; each teaching me something about their lives and at the same time something about mine. I soon realize that everyone has something to teach us; we just need to listen. There is such richness in a community that shares your passions, especially those with the same tenacious curiosity resting within you.

Why I like Yoga

In Yoga, we talk about "the mat" as a place we resolve, learn, expand, gain. Here is one of my lessons on "the mat."


Crawling in my toasty studio this morning, I felt the heat of yesterday lingering in my studio. I put on my meditative flow tunes, and with my breath moving in and out with each pose I saw the temperature inch up a little higher. I realized yesterday that my body is changing; my arms defined by the movements, my hamstrings becoming more like bows at rest, AND, I like it.
Yoga has shown me that there are no limits except for the reality I may construct. I thought I could never reach my toes (past reality); now I go past them and lay my chest on my knees (conscious reality). I thought I could never put my hands in prayer behind me (past reality); now I go beyond and can wrap my arm behind my back and grab the foot of my folded leg (conscious reality). Yoga clears the mind so you can just produce what is possible; you don't think about limitations you just create the possible. I now "be" the new reality, in my bike racing, my business and my relationships.

Summer in Seattle (almost)

Yeah...
I was suppose to race in Wenatchee this weekend. Yeah, it was going to be 90 degrees in Seattle today. Hmmm that = 100+ in Wenatchee. Hmmm. Me thinks I'll hang in Seattle, bike for 4 hours, take a nap on the porch, have a bbq at the lake house and blog about it so all those suffering souls east of the mountains may think better next time!

Bad Mind, Bad!

I have these sudden instances of worry (like all of us). For example, yesterday a client had one of those pregnant pauses after something I said and my mind begins to play with that pause;

MIND: I'm off (my game), client thinks I'm off, Oh I was really so off, now they are going to tell people I'm off, heck they are going to convince others I'm off, gosh I was off and its going to affect future business on how off I was.

CONSCIOUS ME: WAIT!
Bad Mind, Bad, Bad, Bad MIND! Stop it. Okay mind, that was a nice little trick, spinning me in all those wonderful ways. Not now I'm not going to fall for that one. Elevate yourself... yeah, that's it - no need to spin there.

Suddenly, when I realized I triggered MIND, I tell myself to rise above. Get conscious of where my mind LOVES to take us... Oh those gloriously mind satisfying places of spin, spin, spin of worry. Ya see... the mind LOVE to take you to the past AND the future... it never likes to play in the present... heck its no fun in the pure reality of the present moment for Mr. MIND.

I've taken MIND to obedience school often in the past couple of years; Sit! Stay! as it was like a rabid puppy that needed to chill out. Now, its learning to be a faithful pup at my side... fetching any ball I toss it and bringing it back to my feet. Good Boy, Good Boy!

Today's Youth

I spent some time with a 17 year old kid last night. He seemed pretty pessimistic, as his days prior to graduation are spent gaming for hours, working at the video store and lamenting about its better to game than sleeping because sleeping is too boring. He also said to me that his past friends (at school) were treating him like an outsider. He also said he didn't know what field he wanted to pursue because he couldn't imagine doing something (one thing really) for the rest of his life. Wow the sense of time (or lost) at such an early age.

Okay I said...
STOP.

First off dude, if you want friends (other than those in your game) you need to invest time in developing relationships. Secondly, your career is what you make of it and to see it like a static video game is to be blind to the dynamics of life. I told this young man... "look, if you think you can control life like the predictability of a game, you are missing the game itself." I then said, "Life is like the best video game that challenges you, excites you and is forever changing." Most of all I told him "we can't control life and wouldn't want to!"

He looked at me, with a respectful eye...
Left my home with his mom with what appeared to be some hope showing on his face.
Then told his mom this morning that I was wicked cool.
Hmmm.

If only I would listen to my own advice...
No need to control life...
The big globe just spins on and on and on.

The Older I Get...

The more I learn about my body... particularly as things get off kilter and I need to pay attention to myself. So this past week my education was in SI joints (sacroiliac joint) which is where my pelvis attaches to my sacrum. Now I didn't even know or think there was a connection there (yeah I'm not a doctor but sometimes play one) and for some reason I figured the tailbone comes off the body and was connected like the rest of my spine (floating with discs and ligaments) and this little joint wasn't a joint but just part of my pelvis.
WRONG. So my lesson....
This little joint (best to my PT's knowledge) is where many people have disfunction from sitting too much, weak back muscles, etc. For me it got a little misaligned when the muscles of my back went into LOCK DOWN. Yah see... When the muscles like the QL and the Psoas contract (and go into spasism) on the back side, it locked my sacrum in the forward position...


AND, when you go to be homo erectus...
It basically yanks your spine from the back side and you scream OUCH!..or oh, oh, oh, oh... as I did thinking you blew a disc or something. So on Tuesday evening I was quite happy being as Diagram #4 (post race) illustrates, then on Wednesday morning I was figure #1 (Post Child's Pose) and Thursday Friday I was #2. Today I'm happy to report that I'm back to Diagram #3-4 as my muscles have returned to rest and relaxation and normal function....SO, you know me I had to do hill repeats today. Yes! Kitty (my yoga teacher) tells me that muscles lock/spaz just as they are getting strong. Hmmmm. I like Kitty.

Child's Pose

Tuesday night I rolled my BMC on the track at Pacific Raceways to do the surgefest bike race of the flats with the master's men. Oh, boy I thought... I just need to hang on. If I can make it for 30 minutes with the pack that would be victory (as I could define it). With my heart popping from my chest on the first two laps I hung on and it suddenly felt easier. With two laps to go and 40 minutes into the race... I said to myself, I'm going to make it and through the final turn, I gave my last burst of energy calling upon all the muscles of my lower half to hammer and finish high in the pack. Victory!

I climbed into my car and raced home stopping at whole foods for a big slab of salmon, salad and a pocket full of hemp seed granola and chocolate chips (my treat on those "you deserve it" events).

Crawling into bed, I fell a sleep with a smile on my face.

The next morning, still full of joy...
I jumped out of bed at 5am and I sauntered into my yoga studio to engage in my daily 1.5 hour practice to the entire CD of Krishna Das. 40 minutes of getting down on my dawg, I moved back to childs pose. Oh know I thought....I can't get out of this pose.

Getting worried, I rolled over with a shortness of breath as it seemed like some evil monster had full grip of my lower spine - both hands mind you. I laid still for 10 minutes and thought I should need to extend my spine. Using my wall ropes I elongated and it did nothing but make my breath shorter. I tried to stand errect. No luck. I hobbled into my house knowing I had a full day of meetings.

Got dressed and stood much of the day (as it seemed better).

At 3pm, I called my yogini, Kitty (also an acupuncturist) and said I need to see you. She called her brilliant massage therapist/medicine man and the two of them received me at 5pm yesterday evening. Giovanni worked on my for what seemed like 2 hours. My body was worked as he read my body and its movements as a world class tango dancer. He moved with grace and my body just received. Then, he departed with my body vibrating with moving energy and blood like I was floating. Kitty gave me water and let my body rest for 1.5 hours. She returned working pressure points where my muscles thought they needed to be in fear mode and locked. They soon relaxed. Then she stuck needles into those same muscles and vibrated them deeper into my lower back. She then put mugwort on the needs (probably 15 of them) and set them a blaze - yes on FIRE!

Now I don't know about you...but not being able to see that someone is lighting your back on fire and that you will be okay takes much trust. The heat was amazing, warming, healing. The smell... well not so fun.

At 12:30am, I got home crawled in bed.
I woke this morning able to get out of bed without pain. I'm not 100%, but I can move.

So what did I do?
Well, Kitty suggested with all the opening and freeing moves I've unleashed in my spine over the past three months (with her great one on one work with me), then the intense bike ride pushed all the stress into these muscles that are not use to the abuse. They got scared and locked up; full of lactic acid.

I also think I'm trying to do too much.
I'm listening....


Today I chill.

Heat

To fully feel summer in April is wonderful. I rode my Eddy up to 6,800 feet with full sun and an average temperature of 78 degrees. What is not to love about Tucson. I think I'll do it again today.

Is that my shadow?

Pat Gray and I closed down the town last night at my favorite restaurant. Sad to say but my head was killing me the next morning when I boarded my flight to Tucson this morning begging my window companion in 1D to close his blind as the light was painful. Landing around noon, nursed back to shape, I found my shadow!

I know, I know....Seattle has lots of shadows today, but they don't have mount lemmon!

Walla Walla SR

A few FIRST to note:
a) my first race of the 2008 season;
b) my first CAT 3 race EVER;
c) my first stage race (SR) of 2008;
d) my first multi-day race event;

All those FIRST should absolutely moderate my expectations for doing anything but trying to hang on during the first climb of the road race. I certainly realized that I have GOOD endurance (finishing before the cut off and riding nearly 40 miles in the wind pulling a few development squad members who just didn't have experienced legs to pull in the wind) HOWEVER, I did learn that I have NO QUICK POWER to deal with surges or the blistering pace of a very fast CRIT on Sunday after 3.5 hours in the saddle on Saturday.

So the stages - 7 mile TT with a good little climb and a blistering fast down hill with speeds of 39 miles an hour (with a good gusty cross wind to push my disc like a sail - if only I could tact on the way up). There were some lessons learned - namely, make sure your bike is fully functioning before you mount it (front derailleur issues).

In summary....

Racing is a lot of work; preparation and the anticipation. But the post mortem and comradery with team mates and other racers is precious. It opens up a lot of discussions that are relevant to life; the unexpected consequences of flats and victories (big and small). Most importantly, racing teaches me that if I think I can do something, I can. If I don't think I can hang on, I won't. I need to be present in what I can do every minute of the event, not thinking about falling off and the disappointments, but the shear joy of running hard and giving your all in each moment.

Yeah...
I love racing and its symbolism of life. I love racing my bike and doing so many other things in life as I find balance is the key to my contentment. I love the passion people have for this sport and its many disappointments, yet we mount our saddle and do it again and again.

Next race; Wenatchee.
But a little altitude and massive climbing training in Tucson this weekend. I will need to work on power.