From my college roommate:
Dear Cindy,
"Last weekend, I attended a highschool class reunion, where several years of classes were involved. My first real boyfriend was there and I visited with him and his wife briefly. That Monday, when I returned to work, I had an email from him."
Once upon a time..."M" was at college while we were there, a year ahead of us. The year we entered college, he had spent the summer in town, and since he was friends with the housing director, he was there in his dorm room painting, and getting ready to move back in. His fiance was a girl named "J" who was our age, coming to college to major in art.
He asked his buddy who "J"'s roomate was going to be. The guy couldn't remember the name, but only that her bio matched hers pretty well, and she was also majoring in some art-type field. "M" pressed him for more info, and the guy finally told him he really couldn't remember the name, but she was from the same home town and her name was spelled funny.
"It was me."
"M" said when he saw my name on the papers, he about had a nervous breakdown and couldn't believe that out of all the girls coming into college that year, they would select me to be his fiance's roomie. Well, he freaked out. He told me he begged them to switch me with someone else. He finally got his way,(or, I prefer to think it was blind fate...) and I was switched to be roomies with you instead.
The rest is history! I felt like it was something one might discover while on the Sally Jesse Rafael show where old beau's confess old secrets. If it wasn't for the fear of this past boyfriend feeling out of his comfort zone, I may have never received the letter stating that Cynthia I. Ascanio would be my dorm room "partner in crime."
"Certainly, it could not have been the same without our infamous blue rug dance floor, your stereo blasting popular dance music, our runs to the pizza joint, our laundry shopping cart, your grandma's excellent apple/raisin pie, and all our many diverse, mullti-cultural and least we forget interracial friends."
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Quiet
Think of a quiet place. Put yourself there. Notice your surroundings, imagine the clothes you are wearing, and set the desired temperature. If you are outdoors, imagine the sky above you and the earth below. You are in-between....breathing, part of both sky and earth.
There really is no "quiet place" though -is there?
Outdoors, even in a peaceful setting, there are probably the sounds of birds or animals, insects or the wind in the trees. There may be traffic, human voices, or the distant drone of a lawnmower. We may notice these sounds, but can relegate them to the background.
Indoors, even in a library, there are sounds - machinery, air flow, water in the pipes, the whoosh of a ceiling fan or the rustle of pages in a book.
Even if you were in a soundproof room there would still be sound. The sound of your own heartbeat and the sound of your own breath might be as loud as thunder and ocean waves.
The same is true for your mind. Even when our minds are quieter, the undercurrent of our thoughts are always there. They just are. Thoughts are under the surface of every moment of our lives, even perhaps when we are sleeping.
So just take the time to imagine your quiet place, before you start yoga, in the middle of your commute, anytime during the chaos of daily life. Let sounds, and thoughts, sink underneath - or into the background of the practice. Hone your skills of stopping, breathing and turning your attention inward.
There really is no "quiet place" though -is there?
Outdoors, even in a peaceful setting, there are probably the sounds of birds or animals, insects or the wind in the trees. There may be traffic, human voices, or the distant drone of a lawnmower. We may notice these sounds, but can relegate them to the background.
Indoors, even in a library, there are sounds - machinery, air flow, water in the pipes, the whoosh of a ceiling fan or the rustle of pages in a book.
Even if you were in a soundproof room there would still be sound. The sound of your own heartbeat and the sound of your own breath might be as loud as thunder and ocean waves.
The same is true for your mind. Even when our minds are quieter, the undercurrent of our thoughts are always there. They just are. Thoughts are under the surface of every moment of our lives, even perhaps when we are sleeping.
So just take the time to imagine your quiet place, before you start yoga, in the middle of your commute, anytime during the chaos of daily life. Let sounds, and thoughts, sink underneath - or into the background of the practice. Hone your skills of stopping, breathing and turning your attention inward.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Essay questions for sharing.......
Selected Yoga Sutra 1.14 "Regular, whole-hearted application over time will create a foundation whereby the practice is firmly integrated."
a) How is this sutra relevant to my hatha yoga practice?
I am 48 years old. The first year of my yoga practice nearly six years ago resulted in great progress as far as my physical body. I was stronger, had greater endurance, developed better breathing, suffered less stress and anger. As most yogi’s know or eventually learn, the progress made in the first year or the first two or three years is not sustainable. There is not a “multiple” of gains. What I learned, what a lot of practitioners learn, is that grasping for something that is not ours is greedy. Example: Janu Sirsasana, with my nose on my knee and my hands clasped around the base of my foot is not for me, not this year, not next year, not ever. And if I reach for it –like I did in 2007, I will injure myself . But the regular, whole-hearted, mindful practice of that pose (or any other difficult pose you want to attempt) is how to build the foundation of a hatha yoga practice. I will have my own Janu Sirsasana – and whole-heartedly, I will perform it to the best and highest of my abilities…..not my desires. That is what this sutra means to me.
b) How does this sutra relate to my yoga teachings?
I must teach what I know, that progress is made in small increments. There is no magic potion, no instant gratification, very few dramatic breakthroughs with yoga. You can either stretch or bend in certain ways right now, or you cannot. You will either be able to stretch or bend certain ways in the future (with practice), or you will not. And if you cannot, or will not be able to do certain things with your body, then I will help you find ways to practice yoga that are both possible for you – and more importantly ---satisfying for you. Otherwise, you will give up too soon and not learn or experience the truth of this sutra. I am called to teach the lessons that I have learned from my teachers and my own experience.
c) How does this sutra relate to my meditation practice?
There is only one answer to this question – this sutra helps me to sit on my mat, over and over and over again. It may be too cold, or too hot. I may have to get up too early, or I am on the road for vacation or business. I may be tired or have guests in my home, but the famous shoe commercial quote is relevant here: JUST DO IT!
a) How is this sutra relevant to my hatha yoga practice?
I am 48 years old. The first year of my yoga practice nearly six years ago resulted in great progress as far as my physical body. I was stronger, had greater endurance, developed better breathing, suffered less stress and anger. As most yogi’s know or eventually learn, the progress made in the first year or the first two or three years is not sustainable. There is not a “multiple” of gains. What I learned, what a lot of practitioners learn, is that grasping for something that is not ours is greedy. Example: Janu Sirsasana, with my nose on my knee and my hands clasped around the base of my foot is not for me, not this year, not next year, not ever. And if I reach for it –like I did in 2007, I will injure myself . But the regular, whole-hearted, mindful practice of that pose (or any other difficult pose you want to attempt) is how to build the foundation of a hatha yoga practice. I will have my own Janu Sirsasana – and whole-heartedly, I will perform it to the best and highest of my abilities…..not my desires. That is what this sutra means to me.
b) How does this sutra relate to my yoga teachings?
I must teach what I know, that progress is made in small increments. There is no magic potion, no instant gratification, very few dramatic breakthroughs with yoga. You can either stretch or bend in certain ways right now, or you cannot. You will either be able to stretch or bend certain ways in the future (with practice), or you will not. And if you cannot, or will not be able to do certain things with your body, then I will help you find ways to practice yoga that are both possible for you – and more importantly ---satisfying for you. Otherwise, you will give up too soon and not learn or experience the truth of this sutra. I am called to teach the lessons that I have learned from my teachers and my own experience.
c) How does this sutra relate to my meditation practice?
There is only one answer to this question – this sutra helps me to sit on my mat, over and over and over again. It may be too cold, or too hot. I may have to get up too early, or I am on the road for vacation or business. I may be tired or have guests in my home, but the famous shoe commercial quote is relevant here: JUST DO IT!
Friday, March 13, 2009
2009....so far
2009 ....so far (March)
Yoga Teacher Training is nearly complete...with a trip to Colorado planned for graduation. The leader of the ashram is coming to Wichita in late April and it is expected that he will hand out the certificates to each graduate in person during the special weekend events......
I'm back in the regular rotation teaching yoga on Thursday nights at Edgemoor Recreation Center and looking forward to using my recent experiences in teacher training to help the yoga students have a satisfying 10 week session. I missed teaching during the winter session, both nights taught by teachers I asked to come there. I subbed twice over the winter. I freely gave up the regular position over the winter-to concentrate on my training and the study that went along with it. But now that I have it back........I think I'll keep it.
My family of "snowbirds" is back in town (my folks winter in Gulf Shores, Alabama as well as cruise the seas....and my aunt and uncle spent six weeks in Ft. Meyers, Florida and the surrounding area with their Harley but without their dog Sam -he stayed with Beth's parents) and we are planning a large celebration of Aunt Bobbie's 65th birthday.
I renewed my food handler's card......has it been 4 years already????? and then spent an afternoon making 100 pounds of coleslaw while the guys in the back kitchen made chili. The chef(s) just said what they wanted and left me.....guess I know my way around by now.
Leaving this thought on this blog:
"Worry is the darkroom where negatives are developed".........
Until next time................
Yoga Teacher Training is nearly complete...with a trip to Colorado planned for graduation. The leader of the ashram is coming to Wichita in late April and it is expected that he will hand out the certificates to each graduate in person during the special weekend events......
I'm back in the regular rotation teaching yoga on Thursday nights at Edgemoor Recreation Center and looking forward to using my recent experiences in teacher training to help the yoga students have a satisfying 10 week session. I missed teaching during the winter session, both nights taught by teachers I asked to come there. I subbed twice over the winter. I freely gave up the regular position over the winter-to concentrate on my training and the study that went along with it. But now that I have it back........I think I'll keep it.
My family of "snowbirds" is back in town (my folks winter in Gulf Shores, Alabama as well as cruise the seas....and my aunt and uncle spent six weeks in Ft. Meyers, Florida and the surrounding area with their Harley but without their dog Sam -he stayed with Beth's parents) and we are planning a large celebration of Aunt Bobbie's 65th birthday.
I renewed my food handler's card......has it been 4 years already????? and then spent an afternoon making 100 pounds of coleslaw while the guys in the back kitchen made chili. The chef(s) just said what they wanted and left me.....guess I know my way around by now.
Leaving this thought on this blog:
"Worry is the darkroom where negatives are developed".........
Until next time................
Friday, December 26, 2008
Toyota Tacoma 'unintended acceleration'
Something happened with our 2006 Toyota Tacoma while meeting friends for brunch. There was a instant of "unintended acceleration." Sort of like a ghost in the machine. At issue is the lack of physical connection between the foot feed and the throttle. Did you know that that has been computerized now? I'm going to state for the record that the "drive-by-wire" system is a BAD IDEA!!!! A moment of sheer panic and fear when the truck was out of control........
Beth was nearly plowing into parked cars attempting to stop the forward motion of the truck! With her foot firmly on the brake, the truck's engine continued to race and the tires dug into the pavement. With only a second to react, she put the vehicle in park and avoided an accident. We can only be grateful there were no injuries - THIS time!
After towing the vehicle to the dealership and having it checked out with the diagnostic computer, the results were as expected (please see article from MotorTrend below). There is nothing the dealership, the manufacturer, or the government can do for us.
We must trade-in this nearly new truck as soon as possible! We cannot trust that it will not happen again. We have experienced a huge financial blow with this situation......but are grateful no one has been hurt.
From MotorTrend:
Recently a wave of owner complaints drove the NHTSA to investigate 2004 - 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickups over a possible problem with sudden, unintended acceleration. All along, the automaker has insisted that, despite hearing of over 431 separate incidents, nothing is mechanically wrong with its truck, and now federal regulators are backing it up -- closing the inquiry, NHTSA says it cannot find a cause for the issue and concludes the acceleration must be from driver error. NOT SO! WE FIND THIS OFFENSIVE! AND IRRESPONSIBLE!
Previously, one Tacoma owner had petitioned NHTSA to look into the Tacoma problems, citing 33 total complaints from fellow drivers. Toyota also admitted it had gotten many more reports of the same issue, including 51 crashes and 12 injuries, OH, THOSE POOR PEOPLE!
while over the past couple years only a few other incidents of sudden acceleration were reported on all other pickup models sold in the U.S. combined. The agency launched an investigation into 775,000 Tacomas built since 2004, but is now concluding no specific defect was behind the problem. Toyota's own examination of the problem found most of the complaints dealt with minor engine-speed changes, which have no impact on the trucks' safety, and that many owners became nervous because of widespread publicity over the issue. That said, the Detroit Free Press previously noted the majority of sudden acceleration reports came before it gained any coverage in the media.
At issue is the Tacoma's drive-by-wire system, which uses a computer to replace the physical connection between the gas pedal and engine throttle. While some owners believe this system is unreliable, Toyota insists it includes a feature that will report an error if the accelerator and throttle ever become mismatched, and so far no Tacoma inspected by technicians or dealers has recorded a problem. THERE WAS NO PROOF - BUT IT WAS REAL!
Now that the NHTSA has ruled the Tacoma to be safe, however, Toyota can turn to more pressing issues like its reduced 2009 sales outlook instead.
Beth was nearly plowing into parked cars attempting to stop the forward motion of the truck! With her foot firmly on the brake, the truck's engine continued to race and the tires dug into the pavement. With only a second to react, she put the vehicle in park and avoided an accident. We can only be grateful there were no injuries - THIS time!
After towing the vehicle to the dealership and having it checked out with the diagnostic computer, the results were as expected (please see article from MotorTrend below). There is nothing the dealership, the manufacturer, or the government can do for us.
We must trade-in this nearly new truck as soon as possible! We cannot trust that it will not happen again. We have experienced a huge financial blow with this situation......but are grateful no one has been hurt.
From MotorTrend:
Recently a wave of owner complaints drove the NHTSA to investigate 2004 - 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickups over a possible problem with sudden, unintended acceleration. All along, the automaker has insisted that, despite hearing of over 431 separate incidents, nothing is mechanically wrong with its truck, and now federal regulators are backing it up -- closing the inquiry, NHTSA says it cannot find a cause for the issue and concludes the acceleration must be from driver error. NOT SO! WE FIND THIS OFFENSIVE! AND IRRESPONSIBLE!
Previously, one Tacoma owner had petitioned NHTSA to look into the Tacoma problems, citing 33 total complaints from fellow drivers. Toyota also admitted it had gotten many more reports of the same issue, including 51 crashes and 12 injuries, OH, THOSE POOR PEOPLE!
while over the past couple years only a few other incidents of sudden acceleration were reported on all other pickup models sold in the U.S. combined. The agency launched an investigation into 775,000 Tacomas built since 2004, but is now concluding no specific defect was behind the problem. Toyota's own examination of the problem found most of the complaints dealt with minor engine-speed changes, which have no impact on the trucks' safety, and that many owners became nervous because of widespread publicity over the issue. That said, the Detroit Free Press previously noted the majority of sudden acceleration reports came before it gained any coverage in the media.
At issue is the Tacoma's drive-by-wire system, which uses a computer to replace the physical connection between the gas pedal and engine throttle. While some owners believe this system is unreliable, Toyota insists it includes a feature that will report an error if the accelerator and throttle ever become mismatched, and so far no Tacoma inspected by technicians or dealers has recorded a problem. THERE WAS NO PROOF - BUT IT WAS REAL!
Now that the NHTSA has ruled the Tacoma to be safe, however, Toyota can turn to more pressing issues like its reduced 2009 sales outlook instead.
From: Detroit Free Press
After 33 different complaints, the NHTSA has launched an investigation into possible sudden acceleration problems on 2006-07 Tacoma pickups. In one such incident Frank Visconi, a retired vehicle theft investigator, was on his way to a Toyota dealer to have his new Tacoma examined for sudden acceleration issues he had been experiencing. As he ran up on another car he tapped the brakes, but instead of slowing down Visconi claims the truck's engine revved suddenly. He lost control of the vehicle and jumped an embankment, causing the Tacoma to roll several times before finally coming to a stop. Miraculously, Visconi was able to walk away from the incident unhurt.
Before this incident Visconi had sent several letters to Toyota chronicling instances where his Tacoma accelerated without warning, but the automaker denied finding any mechanical problems with their truck. The NHTSA has typically ruled that sudden acceleration issues are the result of driver error, but after retired journalist William Kronholm petitioned the agency, it decided to open an investigation.
The owner of a 2006 Tacoma, Kronholm claims his truck had two separate incidents of sudden acceleration in just two hours. He then discovered that compared to the number of complaints about the Tacoma, only four other incidents of sudden acceleration were reported over the same period on all other pickup models combined. The NHTSA investigation has just begun, and if the agency were to suggest a recall it would not happen for some time. For its part Toyota continues to insist their truck is mechanically sound.
Having already been forced to extend warranty coverage for rust on older Tacomas, this could potentially be a damaging blow to Toyota's reputation for quality if proven to be an issue. Hopefully the true cause of the problem will be determined soon, whatever it may be.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Shopping with 87 year olds.....Christmas 2008
Margaret and Bill Wimber (Beth's parents)......did not know how to use electric carts....never wanted to seem like they needed to......never had Beth there to show them how......would have said that surely others needed the carts more than they did......
Any doubts as to why this generation was called "The Greatest Generation"? Americans that do for themselves, and don't ask others for much, and when they must....they feel just a tad guilty for it?
So....here they are over the weekend....age 87....able to shop together for gifts, able to take their time and take it easy on their feet and knees......
Contrast this with the last trip to Wal-Mart!
Friday, December 12, 2008
December
Wal-Mart.....Wichita Kansas.....Christmas 2008
We were in the checkout line, Beth and I, with my cart first. I scanned my receipt and noticed that the cashier had double-charged me for an expensive item. I brought it to her attention, but since the sale was complete and she was already working on Beth's purchases, she told me I would have to go to customer service for a refund. I lifted up onto my tip-toes and looked at the customer service counter. The line stretched out into the aisle. sigh. So I went to stand in line, practicing yoga breathing and mountain pose. I was calm.....it was no big deal.....the line was moving. A sight-impaired young woman was in line with her beautiful golden service dog. She asked the customer service rep for a cart and the rep promised to call up front and get her one. Meanwhile, everyone was petting the service dog. The line moved on. The sight-impaired gal sat down and waited patiently, as did her dog.
I received my refund, and walked to the front of the store. The sight-impaired lady was still waiting. A male staff member (standing guard? or just standing?) said "have a good day" as we exited, and right then, I stopped and said "did you know that there is a sight-impaired woman waiting for an electric cart? And she has been waiting for awhile now?". He said, "No, customer service will take care of it."
A few feet away, we saw three overweight women fighting (verbally) over the electric carts. Voices were raised and the the "Welcome to Wal-Mart" lady was trying to keep the peace. We asked her: "did you know that there is a sight-impaired woman waiting for one of these carts? And she has been waiting for awhile?" The 'Welcome to Wal-Mart" cart lady said that no one from customer service had told her anything about reserving a cart.
Meanwhile, the fight over the three available carts raged on.
sigh.
We were in the checkout line, Beth and I, with my cart first. I scanned my receipt and noticed that the cashier had double-charged me for an expensive item. I brought it to her attention, but since the sale was complete and she was already working on Beth's purchases, she told me I would have to go to customer service for a refund. I lifted up onto my tip-toes and looked at the customer service counter. The line stretched out into the aisle. sigh. So I went to stand in line, practicing yoga breathing and mountain pose. I was calm.....it was no big deal.....the line was moving. A sight-impaired young woman was in line with her beautiful golden service dog. She asked the customer service rep for a cart and the rep promised to call up front and get her one. Meanwhile, everyone was petting the service dog. The line moved on. The sight-impaired gal sat down and waited patiently, as did her dog.
I received my refund, and walked to the front of the store. The sight-impaired lady was still waiting. A male staff member (standing guard? or just standing?) said "have a good day" as we exited, and right then, I stopped and said "did you know that there is a sight-impaired woman waiting for an electric cart? And she has been waiting for awhile now?". He said, "No, customer service will take care of it."
A few feet away, we saw three overweight women fighting (verbally) over the electric carts. Voices were raised and the the "Welcome to Wal-Mart" lady was trying to keep the peace. We asked her: "did you know that there is a sight-impaired woman waiting for one of these carts? And she has been waiting for awhile?" The 'Welcome to Wal-Mart" cart lady said that no one from customer service had told her anything about reserving a cart.
Meanwhile, the fight over the three available carts raged on.
sigh.
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