Day three

Gas prices are holding steady.  Eggs, too.  Soon there will be tariffs in place.  Possibly a remand on the federal income tax which I would applaud.  However, that will be placed on us through the tariffs.  Buying anything will incur a tax of 30%.  Taking on more responsibility of the debt.  Prices of gas and eggs will increase.  Lucky us.

The latest rage is that ICE will be able to enter schools, hospitals and churches.  All sanctuaries of the past.  All places that were held up in the eyes of the church and public.  Oh, how the mighty has fallen.  There seems to be no bottom.

Women seem to want to be resistant.  Mother Pence.  Kamala.  Hillary.  A bishop that delivered a sermon that asked the man for compassion for LBGTQ people.  Americans who are scared and confused.  She spoke of it, calmly, and compassionately.  All of the family members and the V.P. seemed indifferent and dismissive.

The idiot in charge took to social media to attack this bishop.  To say she was a hater, leftist and boring.  It remains, ridiculous to me, that the religious people stand behind this hypocrite.  They repeat his lies.  Justify his behavior.  Dismiss his divineness.  Support him.  They are reaping benefits of him in office.  They can grift, thieve, take.  

Then, I watched this repulsive video on youtube.  A video made by a fool and a comic.  A used-up comedian who is trying to be relevant.  This woman, somehow, convinced ABC to put her back on air after a hiatus.  About midway through her rebirth, she went on a racist rant.  I don't recall the details nor care to find out why she was fired from her show.  They renamed, regrouped, continued.  

Now she sidled up to some unknown rapper to produce some song about where we are today.  I don't want to call more attention to it.  It's awful.  There is nothing to be learned or admired by viewing it.  Instead, it affirms this call to arms by the right.  Patriarchy.  Divisiveness.  Owning guns.  Using guns.  Flipping people off. Being aggressive & unapologetic.  

I want to put my head in the stand.

I want to look at sunflowers and be happy.

It doesn't work.  At some point, we must acknowledge our part in this debauchery.  This abuse of the government.  Accepting bribes.  Lying.  Dividing.  

Grow up.  Be accountable.  Build a community and feed that group.  Refuse to sit at the kids table.  

Continuing

I don't apologize for my post yesterday.  This chaos and flooding the zone will continue.  Taking over the canal, Greenland, renaming the Gulf of Mexico.  Avoiding helping people.  Not lowering costs.  Wasn't that what people voted for?  Lowering costs of eggs, gas, inflation.  Making a more of a populist movement.  Moving forward to aid the working class.  

Instead, today they reversed the $35 cap for insulin.  That definitely helps senior citizens who voted for the current politician.  Raise the cost of necessary medicine.  Reverse DEI policies.  Withdraw from the Paris Accords. Eliminate the focus on climate change.  What in the world are we leaving for kids today?  Truly.  Scorched earth.  No access to water.  Blade Runner on Steroids.  Only a reminder....yesterday, they declared that they would explore Mars.  Mars to populate for the oligarchs who sat behind the inauguration yesterday.  The men who want to dictate how we live.  Destroy this planet.  Who cares?  There are options with their space ships and funding from the government.  Who is the welfare queen now???

2024 was hot.  Really hot in several places around the world.  Then we watched as hurricanes ravaged the east coast.  Affecting places that were not in the path of the storm.  People begging for aid which they received.

2025 fires in L.A.  Ravaging parts of the city.  Suddenly politicizing the crisis and demanding tax cuts to ensure aid for people affected by the fires.  

What? 

Really?  You would consider conditioning aid for political purposes.  California pays in an exorbitant amount in taxes.  Those taxes support red states that are unable to care for their own.  Or provide dollars to their constituents.  Why is this even an issue?  Maybe California should refuse to pay their federal taxes in if aid is not offered to them?  Why wouldn't they?  How can this even be considered?  

What would that mean?  The majority of red states would falter and decline.  

They choose to eliminate education.  They choose to eliminate focus on climate change.  They choose to privatize health care.  Clearly, that has helped.  All of these decisions have aided the common person in pursuing their best life.  

Flooding the zone

Well, we are now here.  Now with the new regime.  Some are hopeful, optimistic, confrontational.  Really confrontational.  You won.  What is the point in provoking fights with others?  Are you ready to tackle some of the policies you ran on.  Lowering costs of eggs, food, inflation.  What will you do to continue to create jobs and help the working class?  Oh, that's right.  Nothing.  Instead, you focus on tax cuts for the billionaires and compiling your cabinet with unqualified people. If you watch the confirmation hearings, all they do is deny, deflect, and refuse to answer the question.  They repeat the question and then refer to the lord and savior as their justification as to their answer.  This country was founded on a separation of church and state.  We rebelled against Great Britain to ensure that separation.  Why is there a push to return to the oligarchy of past times (in Europe)?  The United States has firmly relied on a separation of church and state.  We should proceed in that tradition.  

Others are fearful, unsupported and uncertain about how to proceed.  I avoided listening to the inauguration and opted for an inauguration focusing on kittens and puppies.  I wanted my mind to be fresh and uncluttered.  It helped me manage my morning.  Focus on yoga, clients, and upcoming tasks.  

Still, I couldn't resist the urge to check in on you tube after the fact.  It reported that our leader didn't place his hand on the bible while swearing in.  Classy.  Typical.  Shows how religious he is.  

His wife looked like the Hamburglar.  What was with her outfit and hat?  Was it ward off being affectionate?  The other leader gave the universal heil sign to welcome the crowd.  When did we return to the 1930's Europe?  Or the 1950's for that matter?  At which point women couldn't vote, own a home, own a credit card or be independent.  Women had no autonomy.  Sounds like a place we should return to....

Cost of a dozen eggs at King Sooper's was a mix, ranging from 6.99 to 9.99.  Trader Joe's eggs run out by 10 am on two different visits.  Their eggs also increased, not as dramatically.  $4.99 for a dozen eggs.  Gas for the mid-range pump is $3.25 (minimally).  Keep in mind in Colorado, you need to avoid filling up your vehicle with the 85-gas grade as it fries the catalytic converter.  And in European cars is a big no-no.  They chose to pardon 1500 J6 prisoners.  Apparently, they were accused, incorrectly.  Tomorrow will bring more chaos, and the cost of eggs will increase.  Super excited to see where this ends up.  I am sure that I missed several things that were of importance and interest today.  I refuse to get inundated with the chaos.  I did manage to enjoy a lovely day with my friend, Brie.  Lunch at Pepper, wine at Postino and dinner at home.  I hope to stay safe and continue to reflect on the state of things.  

New habits and other ideas for a successful 2025

It's been 19 days since 2025 began.  In those nineteen days, I have managed to incorporate a few new habits.  I wake up, earlier, and either teach an a.m. yoga class or perform sun salutations.  There is a tonic I drink five days a week.  Cumin, fennel seed, coriander and hot water.  At times, I add citrus and ginger.  Mostly dependent on if I have those supplies available.  

Oil pulling has been an inconsistent habit for me.  Better recently.  At least five times a week.  I think it is ok to take a few days off during the week to take a break.  It is natural.  This past week, I experimented with soup day.  Meaning eating soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Specifically, a soup you can blend and make lighter.  This enables detoxing the body and resetting your metabolism.  I felt incredible after I tried it out the first time on Tuesday.  I believe it would be beneficial to perform soup day on the same day weekly.  Unfortunately, I need to experiment with this to find the best day.  This Tuesday, I have the happy hour class which will not be a soup day.  There are caterings throughout the week which challenges eating soup all day and I have a lunch planned which further conflicts with soup day.  

I prepped a roasted cauliflower curry soup and another lentil soup.  I should be okay for a few weeks to do soup days and see how I feel.  I think a black bean soup is approachable and another curry.  I like the idea of using spices to enhance the flavors and minimize reliance on dairy or cheese to enjoy the soup.  

My ankle continues to pester me.  I have been using kinesiology tape to assist with the discomfort.  Soaking and icing is also decreasing the discomfort.  Epsom salt, apple cider vinegar, baking soda all seem to alleviate and soothe the joint.  Eventually, I will return to the sports medicine clinic to have my ankle assessed.  Maybe corrective exercises will aid me.  I have been strengthening my ankle with balance poses in yoga.  I am trying to strengthen and stretch.  I want to avoid surgery, arthritis or other debilitating injuries.

No spend day is another fantastic idea that I came across on Instagram.  The goal is to not spend any money for an entire day.  I have completed one, so far, in January.  I believe it is possible to achieve this once a week.  I have so many resources at home to minimize spending money.  Coffee at home.  The body scrub brush to avoid going to the korean spa.  Or the pumice stone for my feet to reduce calluses.  Walking to meet friends instead of driving.  

New year.  New focus and habits.  Any suggestions on habits or ways to achieve these?  If you want to join me for a virtual yoga session, contact me here on via email.  I am determined to offer that class (6:30 am, mst) every Monday, Wednesday & Thursday regardless of rain, snow or shine.  Perhaps this will deter me from overindulging with wine..... 

Upcoming Class

Happy Saturday!  Consider joining the yoga happy hour class.  The ultimate alternative happy hour.  True there is wine and tequila (typical happy hour essentials).  And there is yoga to begin this happy hour.  We build up a collective heat, energy and vibe.  Afterwards we celebrate community by enjoying food and drink.  I will be providing a Moroccan chickpea stew as the main for this happy hour.  Healthy, hearty and filling.  There will be other snacks, too.  I believe Kerp dip (also known as crack.  It is such a good dip.  addictive).  I am still deciding on the third dish.  It might be vegetables and hummus to offset the heaviness of the Kerp dip.  Or maybe a fruit salad of sorts. I don't know.  I have a few days to figure it out.

Contact me on gmail for additional information.  I look forward to seeing you Tuesday night!  Disregard the date of the 14th.   I moved it to the 21st due to scheduling conflicts for some of my clients.  

Canterbury Tales

I remember reading this classic book while in high school.  It was part of the mandatory reading list.  Chapters were dedicated to characters back stories and development.  There was an array of citizens in the book.  The Miller's wife, Wife of bath, the Friar's tale.  I remember reading it and being surprised by the hypocrisy of some of the virtuous professions that were behaving in the most abysmal ways.   The friar's tale for example.  Using the church to receive bribes and be absolved.  Or, the Pardoner's Tale.  He had syphilis.   Hmmmm...how do you contract syphilis without some sort of personal irresponsibility.  I was raised in a Catholic household.  Reading this book affirmed, for me, the ridiculousness of the confessional.  I knew several people that were terrible people who attended church.  They would confess their sins and go about their day.  And, tithe, of course.  10% of their income would go to the church.  I believe in forming a community, supporting them and being accountable.  The idea that you can beat your wife/husband or kids, be a raging alcoholic, cheat/steal/take and then go to church and confess, is ridiculous.  Confessing does not make you a good person if you continue to behave in this manner.  

Perhaps the book is banned now.  The banned books are the best.  If you want to really create anxiety in your life, read the Handmaid's Tale and Parable of the Sower.  Both were written by women and are relevant for our current state of affairs.  

 We are now returning to that time.

Not in jest or supposition.  I have been listening to the senatorial confirmation hearings.  Multiple times, there is a reference to being saved or to God in general.  Blatantly avoiding answering the question and instead saying--I am thankful for the lord and savior.  I won't answer this question, but I will point out that I believe in god.  Hypocritical and absurd.  And we are allowing it to happen.  All of these yo-yo's are lying to be confirmed into their position.  Similar to the supreme court.  The conservatives lied to be appointed and then proceeded to fuck 50% of this population over.  They want women to return to the kitchen.  That is our value.  To get fucked over and then raise the kids.  There is no value in us as human beings outside of birthing kids [chattel].  Why do people who live in rural areas or small towns hate women?  Why do we not build each other up to see more of the world?  Experience other cultures, share in culture and experiment with different foods?

I thought we were founded on a separation of church and state.  Why are we willingly walking back to this time of inferiority?  Where women or any person of color had no rights?  Did you see that Oklahoma (magnificent state that it is) is now making it more difficult to get divorced?  Or that there will soon be a requirement to determine your career choice out of high school.  College (which is becoming more and more expensive).  Trade school which is also expensive. Or the military.

Oklahoma is forcing kids to sign up for the military.  To be bait for upcoming wars.  Which we are baiting with the outrageous talk of taking back the Gulf of Mexico, annexing Canada as the 51st state, reclaiming the Panama Canal or taking over Greenland.  Where will we have bodies to use for these fights?  Oh, that's right.  Being forced into military conscription or taken away from your family (mass deportation, LBGTQ family, or being unable to care for your kids).  

Then, returning to the reason for this post.  Just say you have seen the light and been saved.  Suddenly, you are absolved and no longer required to justify your asinine ways.  Listening to these hearings, is nuts.  None of them answers.  With the exception of Rubio.  Maybe he does.  However, the rest of them, are not.  They deflect.  They defend their deflection.  Then they ramble.  Why are we enabling this?  Why are we agreeing to return to the company town or where every aspect of our livelihoods are controlled by our bosses?

Read.  Read more.  Look at history and choose not to return to it.

New habits and routines

I have been drawn more towards the ayruvedic agenda recently.  More spices, movements to encourage lymphatic drainage and meditation.  

Ginger, turmeric and cinnamon are staples in my pantry.  I have increased bulk spices--fennel, cumin, coriander, paprika.  I feel I am benefitting from having an assortment of spices to aid in meal prep, digestion and feeling better overall.  There is a tonic that I make five days a week.  Hot water with cumin, coriander and cumin.  It is considered a detox tea, and I have enjoyed drinking it throughout my day.  I found this practitioner that has wonderful suggestions to incorporate more ayruvedic practices into my daily life.  She had a post about taking one day a week and only eating soup.  Soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I was intrigued.  And knew I would be able to manage that task.  I have soup from Tom, and I have dabbled with soup prep in the last few years.  I chose to make today my soup day of the week.  We shall see how I feel.

It is recommended to eat a soup that can be blended.  In addition, I felt a soup without dairy would be preferred.  Soup day is about detoxing, de-bloating, feeling lighter.  I love baked potato soup.  It is amazing and super heavy.  I cannot eat three meals of baked potato soup.  I had a lentil and potato soup in my freezer that seemed the perfect soup to start with.  We shall see how it works out over the next month.  I will commit to testing out four consecutive weeks with a soup day.  I think a potato leek for next week sounds delicious.  

I hope to practice no spend days during the month, too.  I think three is doable.  Yesterday, unintentionally, I did have a no spend day.  Partially due to having a productive morning and a catering.  I didn't have time to purchase anything yesterday, lol.  I will take credit for the day.  

I have two body brushes--one dry and one to use in the shower.  Inspired by my body scrubs at the Korean spa that I have been missing.  I need to schedule an appointment and relish in that service.  My skin feels amazing after that treatment.  In the meantime, I have brushes to use myself.  Typically, I use the wet brush.  New year.  New opportunities.  I see the dry brush being thrown into the rotation.  

Success comes from your daily life and how you choose to handle your day.  I am not going to lie.  I love meeting up with friends, sharing food and wine.  I would love to be paid to drink wine and travel.  Yesterday, I noted that to one of my colleagues at the catering company.  He agreed.  That would be a wonderful way to live.  It's all the hustling to make the life a reality.  

To balance out my hedonistic ways, I must incorporate soup day, lymphatic drainage, more walking and strength training.  That is truly the lesson of this.  Try something different to experience new results and opportunities.