existential heroes and such

I don't have an artistic bone in my body. Meaning, I can't draw, I can't paint. You know, that sort of thing. I painted a canvas once and hung it in my apartment and someone asked me how old I was when I painted it. My response: twenty. But! Creative and imaginative bones are what lie beneath my skin, and sometimes I feel like I am not as creative as I used to be. I am as imaginative as ever, but creative, I just don't know. Stefi and I used to work together at Joe's Out and spend all night writing random little notes to each other that didn't mean anything at all. We posted them all underneath of this big piece of plastic on the counter, where work notes and things like that were posted, and our asshole manager took them all out and trashed them. I wish we still had them all, but one note that I wrote in particular sticks out in my mind, and I will never forget it.

She was an existentialist hero in the eyes of the hot July sun.

I don't even know what that means. Do you? Does anyone? And we would write things like, "Susan loved the way Bill looked at her, even if the cool moonlit sky was telling a lie." I just made that one up, but who is Susan? Who is Bill? What is going on here? You decide.

Stefi just wrote another one of these for me and posted it on my facebook page. I loved it. Here it is:

Princess Tami , and exestential girl doing yoga in the top of a tower, musty books surround her, with the eyes of the July sun shining through the stained glass.

I am weird. You don't have to tell me. I already know. And I like it that way.

MJ

I am sick of hearing about Michael Jackson. I don't care how great of a performer people say he was, he was also a child molester and a total freak show. I will always remember him as a man who dangled his baby over a balcony and looked a skinny, scary mess.

howdy

Well hello! It's been a little while since I've posted anything new. I have a lot to write, but I will have to keep it short because I think I am going to go to a yoga class in 40 minutes.

Last night, I caught Keith drinking straight out of the jug or orange juice. I said, "Hey! What are you doing?" He said, "Well, you don't drink it!" I said, "Yes I do. I am savoring it because I can't afford it!" Has anyone noticed how much GOOD orange juice costs?!

I am eating Better Cheddars. I used to eat these at my nana's house! She always had the best snacks. I was really wanting to eat some salsa con queso with chips, but I couldn't get the jar open to save my life. Maybe that was the universe's way of telling me that I needed to not be eating it. I haven't bought any salsa con queso in a really long time because I can't NOT eat the entire jar in one sitting. And then I feel sick. But last night I bought a small size so I feel okay about eating it all at once.

Yesterday I wandered aimlessly all over Portland with a list of things to do and none of them got done. Portland is great because it is very urban and you can walk to take public transportation almost anywhere you need or want to go, but yesterday I was tired of walking and the max doesn't go where I needed to go and I don't really know how to take the street car, so I wanted to drive my car to my destination but I couldn't because there is never any parking anywhere unless you pay. Paying to park is such a rip if you ask me. I feel like, I make the payments on this car, I pay the insurance, the personal property taxes, and pay for the gas, and I can't even park it?! Get out of town. I walked so much yesterday that I considered even skipping the gym, but I didn't.

If I am going to go to yoga I'd better change my clothes, grab my mat and be on my merry way.

xoxo,

T

PS- Lots of birthdays this week! Keith's dad, Stormy, Whitney, Melissa and Michelle. Happy Birthday, folks!

yessss

Today I taught a great yoga class. I got three gap cards in three hours at work. I got a plane ticket home to VA August 26-September 1. I had two tacos for lunch. I went to yin yoga at Yoga Pearl. I went to the gym. I'm having three tacos for dinner. I just discovered that I have a whole unopened thing of my favorite orange juice in the fridge. What a great day!

yay!

Here is my headstand. Note all the crap that is in my way. I am working on stacking my ankles and knees over my hips. It's hard!

My blog appears to have gone a little crazy. The font is so little! I will try to fix it.
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Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

donut

I am craving something sweet. I just ate a donut from Fred Meyer, the kind that just comes in a box. Ehh... it was okay. While I was eating it I realized that an old fashioned donut from Coco Donuts across the street would taste a lot better. I feel bad that I ate Keith's last donut and didn't even savor it properly.

I practiced headstand some more today and was again pleased with the results. I also took a vinyasa class at Yoga Pearl today. It was lovely. I felt light as a feather when I left there. I am teaching tonight at 6:45. I am tired. By the time class is over, I will have to go right back in 10 hours to teach again. I am getting tired of the 5:45 am class.

I am really trying to shake this donut craving but I don't know if I can! I had a tofurkey sandwich and an apple for lunch, then I had some doritos (Keith buys them) and a donut. And I want more. In my defense, lunch was two hours ago. I think my metabolism is pretty high because I exercise a lot. Yesterday I was on the elliptical for an hour, then I walked over to Yoga Pearl and took an hour and a half long class and then I walked home.

I went in Lucy today and didn't really love anything they had. They had a pair of cropped green pants and a cute turquoise colored top that looked good together, but the outfit would have been like $75. Seems a little nutty to me. I don't really like the material of their clothing all that much. It's very cottony and so it tends to stretch out as you wear it.

I'm really tired! Tired to the point where I could benefit from a cup of coffee, but I am afraid if I do that I will not be able to fall asleep tonight. I guess that's what melatonin is for?

I just half-watched the Bee Movie. I put it on but it didn't hold my attention for very long. Movies rarely do.

I think I will take a nap before I go teach tonight.

xoxo,

t

headstand

I haven't practiced sirsasana (headstand) since I left Virginia. I have practiced scorpion a few times, and I have learned how to practice it against a wall. Before I moved to Portland, I was practicing headstand against a wall nearly every day and building core strength. It's easy for anyone to kick their legs up against a wall and stay there, but the idea is to get your legs away from the wall, and stack the ankles over the hips and the hips over the shoulders and zip up the core to hold you there. Tonight, I decided to roll out my purple mat and give it another whirl. BAM! I got up. And I didn't need the wall. It was like magic. Keith counted and I stayed up for 18 seconds without the wall. I didn't even use the wall to get up! It was amazing. Then I let my ego take over and I decided to practice it in the living room with no wall at all. I told myself there was a wall there if I needed it (of course there really wasn't) and I got right up. Apparently I had my mind convinced there was a wall there because I felt my left foot reaching for it after about 5 seconds and that was all it took for me to come crashing down. Keith had his nose in a film book and didn't see what happened, all he could say was, "honey, be careful don't hurt the tv." I realized then that he had not seen what happened. I sat there for a minute, taking a mental scan of my body to see if I had paralyzed myself, and I then decided that I was fine (aside from the mat burn on the left side of my face, which you can't even see). Keith caught the tail end of it and said it looked like I came out of the pose with intention and on purpose. A yogi always falls with grace :) But the thing is, when you come out of headstand, your feet are never supposed to go over your head unless you are doing some crazy headstead-flip-to-wheel type of thing. The feet come down to the back of the mat so you can drop your knees and rest in balasana for a couple breaths.

So the moral of this story is, never let your ego cloud your judgement. Ever.

PS- I am totally fine. Not hurt at all. And from now on, I will practice headstand daily until I master it 110%.

xoxo,

t

just because

Here I am drunk with Simon last Saturday night.

pink

I am a big advocate for men wearing pink. I just love it, and I enjoying trying to talk men in the store into buying a pink shirt. Tonight, a man and his wife (they were young, probably early thirties) were in the store and the wife was trying on a bunch of stuff. The husband said, "I wish there were shirts for men for $5.99!" I heard it and said, "Come with me! We have shirts for men for $6.99!" So he came with me to the men's section and I showed him several shirts that were under $10. One was what I like to call 'sunshine yellow' and I told him that he NEEDED to buy the shirt. Another one was light pink and I informed him that he needed that one as well because every man needs a light pink shirt. He said that his wife would hate it and laugh at him so he refused to try it on. A few minutes later they were paying and I said, "Oh I'm so glad you decided to go with the yellow!" And his wife said, "I know! I tried to get him to get a pink one too but he said he didn't want to look like a homo." I looked at him and said, "...BUSTED!" I told his wife the story and she laughed. I said, "Your wife should make you buy and wear the pink shirt just for that." Pretty funny. Sometimes I love that job. Other times I just like it.

I thought it seemed a little cool when I was walking home, and I just checked the temperature and it is only 59 degrees. Apparently, this is summer in Portland. People say it doesn't really get hot until late July. Not that I'm really complaining. It's still nice enough for a t-shirt and sandals, but for the most part shorts and summery dresses are a no-go right now. I really enjoy fall weather because I love wearing scarves, and that's what this weather kind of reminds me of. This morning on the way to the gym I wore a light weight jacket, and I wore a short sleeved dusty lavender colored top with a creme colored scarf to work today. Of course I took the scarf off to work. But I am definitely a fan of scarves, even with t-shirts or tank tops. Not a big fleecy one, obviously. But Gap has all these cute light weight ones in bright colors that are great for this time of year. I love that store.

I was supposed to get off work today at 6:30, but I was asked to stay until 8:00. I gladly accepted the extended shift. I could always use the extra money! Keith works until 10:30 and we are supposed to be doing something tonight. It won't involve drinking since we wasted an entire Sunday last week being hung over, and it won't involve spending money. I suggested a walk in the park. But we will probably end up lounging around and watching some of our Netflix. I bought him the most amazingly soft and comfy lounge pants from the Gap, they were $6! And he loves them! They are solid navy. He said he liked them because they were so plain and simple. Good thing I didn't get him the nautical-themed ones then! I love nautical-themed clothing these days. It's a pretty new development, but I am really into it right now. I bought this white and navy striped lace cami that I am currently putting under EVERYTHING and I love it! It, too, was so cheap.

I used to only wear black, white or grey. Since becoming employed by the Gap, I am finding that I love wearing colors! My wardrobe is not so simple anymore. Coordinating outfits is super fun! This makes me wonder why I didn't get a retail job sooner! If I could get a discount at any store in the mall, it would definitely be Gap. I love love love it. And I get things for sooo cheap! And because I am super friendly and chipper all the time, I get a decent amount of hours. In fact, yesterday I was trying to get my Tuesday night shift covered because I picked up a class at Murray Scholls, and I asked this guy if he could do it, and he asked the manager and she pulled me aside and said, "You can't just ask anyone to work for you. You have to go through one of us. He can't work for you because he is on a different level than you. You are awesome and he barely works." I was bummed to have to give up the shift, but luckily I was able to switch it out for another one. Yay! This week I was supposed to only work 9 hours, and I more than doubled it. I'd say I nearly tripled the amount of hours I was supposed to work. That's great.

So about Ron Jeremy. He did come in yesterday, but I was not there to see his filthy ass. I came in right after he left apparently. Zane got his autograph! Then she said he asked her for a hug and she reluctantly agreed! She is so funny. The timing was pretty funny because Keith and I just watched his documentary about a month ago. I wonder what he was doing in Portland?

Keith and I both have the day off tomorrow! I am not sure what we will do. We need a couple things from Target, and we are going to the gym for sure. We like going to the gym together. Even though we don't work out together, it's still fun.

It feels so weird having all our laundry done. I truly don't have anything to do! I guess I could do the dishes but that's Keith's designated chore and I really don't want to do it. Maybe I'll be nice and take care of it. But I hate doing it so much because he cooks eggs and leaves the pan in the sink and it makes me want to vomit.

This morning I had another one of those, "Holy crap I live in Oregon moments." Nothing in particular triggers moments like these, but sometimes they just happen. It is so weird to me that I actually packed up all my stuff and moved to Oregon, 3,000 miles away from everyone and everything I knew. What a bold move I made! Certain people told me I would never move to the west coast. Once someone tells me I can't or won't do something, I'm all about it. I remember my dad getting his first tattoo and I told him I wanted cherries on my foot. He said I would look silly walking around with half a tattoo because I wouldn't be able to handle the pain. I said, "ok daddy, I'll show you." I turned 18 and almost immediately got a tattoo on my foot. Not cherries, I got stars instead. But I remember showing it to him and being like, "I told you I could do it." I don't know why he thought he could handle it and I wouldn't be able to. I am JUST as much as a bad ass as he is. If he thinks I'm not he is crazy.

I know something I will do tomorrow! I will go take a class at Yoga Pearl! Power Vinyasa. Their power vinyasa class is heated to 95 degrees and is an hour and a half long. I paid $20 for two weeks of unlimited yoga there and my goal is to make it to 10 classes, so I am only paying $2 per class. I got the pass on Thursday and have so far taken two classes. I didn't go to power vinyasa this morning because I didn't drink enough water yesterday. But Thursday I took a yin class which nearly put me to sleep, and I don't really mean in a good way. And yesterday I took a hatha class that bored me half to death. The teacher talked A LOT. A good portion of the class was spent listening to her talk, not even in a pose or anything. She was just talking about awareness. It was more of a workshop-style. That's not what I wanted. I need movement or I get terribly bored! I know I should be able to go inside my mind and turn it off, but it's hard. Plus, a lot of the reason I take other classes are to get ideas for my own classes. I didn't get any ideas for my class from either of the ones I took at Yoga Pearl. In fact, so far I feel like Yoga Pearl is nothing more than a Lululemon fashion show. Everyone in there was wearing it! I felt like a bit of a conformist because I had on Lululemon wonder tights. Or leggings as most people call them. But not lululemon, they have to call them something different. A top from there is about $60, and pants are around $100, maybe a little more or a little less depending on the style. I mean that is ridiculous. A real yogi doesn't need that shit if you ask me. I also was expecting physical adjustments out the wa-zoo and didn't get one in either class. With that being said, they have a 500 hour teacher training program that I would possibly consider doing. I am very interested in adding on to my 200 hours of training and taking it to the next level. I just have to find the funding first. The teacher I had yesterday said, "You know, all of us yoga teachers always joke because they say you are either registered at the 200 hour level or the 500 hour level, but we all take every single work shop there is so we have way much more than that!" And I was thinking, well good for you lady. I'm so glad you can afford to do that. Not all of us have that luxury! If I could afford it, I would dedicate my entire life to teaching and practicing yoga! I would take every workshop I could get my hands on! But unfortunately I live in the real world where bills are very much existent. I saw on her bio that she had been teaching since I was born practically, so I guess she has had many opportunities to take workshops and build her resume. Sometimes I feel like maybe I am a bit hard on myself. I want to go for my 500 hours right now, but I just can't. I have noticed on some of these teacher bios that they don't even discover yoga until they are 23, and I became RYT-200 at 23. I just have to be patient. I would love to work at a studio, and I would love even more to own one, but that will come with time if it is what I am supposed to do. All I can do is keep on keeping on and things will work themselves out. Whenever I get impatient, I close my eyes and tell myself that. And I believe it.

I look at my life now and where I am, and I can't help but think to myself, "If someone had told me a year and a half ago that I would be living in Portland with Keith and teaching yoga at the 200 hour level, there's no way I would believe it." I mean it, this is the last place I thought I would be! But I am so happy to be here in this place. And I don't just mean in Portland, I mean in general. It's quite fascinating to know that you really never know where the wind will take you, if you let it. Who knows? I could be living in San Diego this time next year. Things just may work out that way. Or I could end up living here in Portland for the next 10 years, and I would be okay with that! I feel settled, secure and at home here, but not stuck. It's never a good thing to feel stuck. I felt stuck in Richmond. That doesn't mean I will never live there again, but I have things to do and things to take care of before I could ever consider living there again. I don't know exactly what those things may be, but I know if I were to go back right now, or in a few months or even in a year, I would feel trapped again. I remember all I used to want was a job in an office Monday through Friday, and I finally got one and I couldn't have felt more like a prisoner. Don't get me wrong, I loved my job. I was so grateful for it. And I truly loved some of my coworkers, I met the best people there. But I had become one of "those people"! The typical American who lives for the weekend and works 9-5 and has a set-in-stone schedule. I wouldn't be opposed to another office job in the future, but for right now I am enjoying the flexibility that working at Gap and teaching yoga affords me. When I teach yoga, I am pretty much working for myself. I pick up whatever classes I want, I don't pick up the ones I don't want. I have a boss but I never see her. I don't have a set class format, I basically just do what I want. It's nice.

I wish I could know who reads my blogs. One time I got a comment from a totally random person and I was like, why would someone who doesn't even know me read my blog, much less comment on it? But whatev.

I haven't talked to my brother, my sister-in-law, or the boys recently. It's been quite a while actually.

I think I am tired of blogging now. This is an abnormally long one. Maybe I will write more tomorrow!

xoxo,

t

omg

Ron Jeremy came into the Gap yesterday. Seriously.

untitled

I am almost done with the entire Gilmore Girls series. I am a little upset about this.

I just walked across the street and got a large stumptown coffee. Mmm! I have to be at work in an hour and forty minutes, so this should help me get through my shift. It's only three hours!

I had been freaking out because the apartment was cluttered. I hate clutter. But the other day, I started picking crap up and giving it a home and I organized my closet and I feel much better. I am currently all caught up on laundry as well, and that feels nice.

We need to buy some coffee to brew at home. I love going to Coco Donuts for coffee, but even though it's only $1.50, it adds up.

Monday I will be going to the DMV to get an Oregon license. Let's hope I pass the test. I really need an Oregon license because I got a piece of mail from the Virginia DMV telling me I need to reregister my vehicle. So I need to become licensed to drive in this lovely state of Oregon asap. Monday seems like as good a day as any. But I can't understand why the DMV doesn't accept credit or debit cards? And it's expensive! I don't get it.

I love living with Keith.

shortie

I'm bound to piss off someone by saying this, so forgive me in advance, but all of these Varina folks getting together and making babies seems a bit incestuous to me! There is another life outside of Varina. There are more people in the world besides those you grew up with. I am so grateful to be where I am right now, and to be with who I am with right now. My life is far from perfect, but I feel so blessed in so many ways. 

woo!

I have to be at work in 30 minutes and I'm not even dressed yet! No makeup! Nothing! This should be interesting. I have just downed a grande cup of coffee and am hoping to make it to 2:45. 

I love my mother. 

bizzy

Tomorrow is going to be a long day. I am teaching at 5:45 am, then I am working at Gap from 8:30-2:45. As I was typing that I realized how pathetic and whiny it sounded. So I have to wake up at 5 and I don't get to relax until 3. I guess that's not a huge deal. I used to teach at 6 am sometimes, then go to work from 8:30-5 and then teach again at 7 pm. But that was an outrageously long day. I have found, though, in the last couple of weeks that I need to dedicate more time to my own personal yoga practice. I have not been growing, and I can tell. I feel stale and that is not a good way to feel. Yoga Pearl has an intro rate of $20 and you get two weeks of unlimited yoga and I thought to myself, "What better way to get out of a funk than to take 14 yoga classes in 14 days?" All different styles, too! Yin, beginner, hatha, vinyasa, power vinaysa (which is heated to 95 degrees!). I had planned on starting that yesterday, but I got called in to work. I planned on starting it today, but I got called in to work. I could have started it tomorrow, but I got called in to work. I am grateful for all these extra hours, but I was so looking forward to a yoga-filled week for ME! Oh well. Maybe next week. All of the classes are 75-90 minutes, so you really need a good little chunk of time in order to take a class. Plus, I have been spending any free time I have doing cardio. I love cardio and all, but it doesn't feed my soul the way yoga does.

I went to Fred Meyer today and bought stuff to make tofurkey subs. I made one after work and it was so good! Tofurkey, lettuce, tomato and mayo (not vegan because it was too expensive) on a whole wheat hoagie roll. Mmm! And I toasted the bread. It was quite delectable. 

I think I will be hitting the sack soon, even though it is only 8:30. I really wanted to watch an episode of Gilmore Girls before calling it a night, but Keith took my keys today instead of his and I have the key to the mailbox. Bummer!

xoxo,

t

travel

I want to go places. Right now, the number one place on my list is Arizona. I'd like to see Phoenix, Scottsdale, the Grand Canyon, etc. I love the desert! And I love the southwest! I'd also like to go to New Mexico. No city in particular. I'd like to drive through the Mojave Desert again. I'd like to go to Vegas again. I want to go to Goblin Valley (I think that's what it's called) in Utah. I want to go to Aspen in the middle of winter and stay in a cute cozy cabin. I want to see the entire coast of California. I want to go somewhere in New England, like maybe Martha's Vineyard. You know, like one of those yuppy areas where rich New Yorkers go on vacation. I also want to go to Seattle, but I'm not that stressed about that one anymore because I live three hours away from it and I hear Portland is way cooler anyway. I also want to drive through Texas. And of course, I want to go back to San Diego. I told my aunt when we left there in April 2008 that the next time I came back would be to live, and I hope I was right! I have gone to San Diego every year for the past five years, and I really want to go again this year but I don't think I will be able to afford it. But the year is only half way done, so we'll see!

I picked up a shift at Gap yesterday from 5-9, and another one today from 12-4. I'm also teaching a class tonight in Beaverton at 6:30. 

We skyped with Adam last night. Hadn't done that in a while. He is moving back to Richmond in September.

Okay I'm done.

xoxo,

t 

major vent sesh

I went in to work today and my shift was from 1-5. I ended up closing, so I got off at 8:30. I am only getting paid for 6.5 hours though because I had to take an hour lunch break. It's mandatory. So I enjoyed a veggie sub from Subway and some french fries. Mmm! I didn't really have a great day though because I was stuck in a corner processing all day. I mean all but like the last hour and a half of my shift. Doing that puts me in a pretty antisocial mood, so some of my coworkers were really getting on my nerves. Especially the 19 year old punk who told me I looked "old, like 25", then asked me if I was in school. When I said no he said, well are you married? When I said no to that as well he acted as if I was a waste of space. I wanted to drop kick him. And then I wanted to tell him that 25 was NOT old, and that he could go to hell and take his two years of education from PSU with him. 

I HATE it when people act like you aren't shit if you don't have a college degree. No, I do not have a piece of paper declaring that I spent four years at a university drinking beer and having casual sex and occasionally studying... all on my daddy's dime, or a piece of paper legally binding me to a man, but that doesn't make me any less of a person. When I was in college, I was paying for it myself each semester and I wasn't sure of what I wanted to do with my life or my education, so I made the decision to stop going until I made up my mind. What is so wrong with that? I didn't want to wake up one day and suddenly realize that I hated my life and career, but feel stuck with it because I had a degree that cost me $40,000.

I also get so sick of this stupid thing we like to call "the American dream." I'm sorry, WHO'S dream is this?! Graduate from college, get married, buy a house, get a dog, make a baby... it's such bullshit! If someone is 30 years old, still single, no kids, living in a studio apartment and having a good time just living life, they are viewed as irresponsible. You know what I think is irresponsible? Someone getting married because they think it's what you're supposed to do once you get to be a certain age, and then having a baby, again because that's what you should do, and then five or ten years down the road getting a divorce because you realize you've made a big mistake. 

People completely piss me off, or as my dad might say, people really "frost my ass" with this whole, "When  you get pregnant, you get married" thing and "Marriage is for a man and a woman" thing... WHY do YOU care who marries who?! Why?! How does Bill marrying Jim affect the world AT ALL?! And why is it any of anyone's business if a man and a woman want to get married when they are ready to get married, rather than because they are having a baby together? Getting married doesn't fix anything, it doesn't make a parent love their child more.   Nothing gets on my nerves more than an intolerant, conservative, self-righteous and pretentious a-hole who pushes these ridiculous ideas on people. 

I do personally know (and love) some people who are my complete political opposite, and that is their right and their choice. I can agree to disagree. So if you're reading this, and you are one of my political opposites, please don't be offended. But this is my blog, and I had a crappy day that started with some jerk telling me I looked old and being shocked that I didn't finish college, and it snowballed from there. I promise to make my next blog a happier one.

xoxo,

t

P.S.

I just remembered that I dreamed about my grandpa last night. We were all at a cookout, he told me that he loved me and gave me a hug and kiss. And then tried to get me to eat a pork rind. It was a very happy dream.

hello

So Keith and I planned our day out pretty nicely yesterday. We were going to go to the gym in the afternoon and then I said I wanted to wait until 8 so I could watch Wife Swap. I NEVER watch that show unless I am at the gym, but I do like it. So anyway, we got to the gym at about 8:10, and NO Wife Swap! In it's place was the news, and then some stupid infomercial for hedge clippers or something equally ridiculous! I was so upset. So I did the elliptical for thirty minutes instead of sixty and just turned the resistance up really high. I did 2.75 miles, which isn't bad for having such a high resistance. Then I went downstairs and stretched, and was able to do eka pada raja kapotasana (king pigeon) a little differently than I have been doing it in the past. This time (if anyone cares), I had my elbows pointing straight up and my head was not tilted back. I was so excited! I did need Keith to help me find my foot though. I think I will work on this pose daily at home until I can find my foot on my own! When I came home, I picked up my new Yoga Journal off the coffee table, only to see that the cover pose was none other than the one I just did! Yay!

It's 8:30 am. I woke up to use the bathroom and then I decided to come write a blog. I slept for 8 hours so I think I will just stay awake. I have a ton of clothes I'd like to try and sell today at Buffalo Exchange, and possibly some books to sell at Powell's, too. I wish we had a bigger bookshelf. There are a few things that we really need for this apartment! A bookshelf, a microwave, a small food processor and a vacuum are high on the list. 

I bought some Crystal Light at Fred Meyer yesterday (Raspberry Lemonade) and I had forgotten how tasty it is! And only calories per serving! I'm sure it has some sort of unnatural crap in it, but whatever. It's got to be better than soda. By the way, my new friend Sarah from Iowa calls it pop! :) I think it's cute.

Keith and I went into Gap yesterday to pick up my paycheck after we saw The Hangover and it was so busy! There is a huge sale going on this weekend. I mean HUGE! And that was on a Friday before 5:00, I can't imagine how crazy it's going to be today between 1 and 5. I guess my shift will go by pretty quickly at least!

I am not teaching yoga again until Tuesday night. What will I do with myself? I am pretty used to teaching on a daily basis. I hope something will come available on the swap board that I can pick up. 

Last night, Keith and I got all the laundry done, all the dishes done, and fresh sheets and blankets put on the bed. Ahh... feels good! 

I still really want to go to Vegas. My aunt and uncle are going sometime in October. Maybe we will meet them there. We'll see...

My hips feel okay today but my shoulder is bothering me a little bit. But not as much as it has been in the past, so I can't really complain. Yesterday when I woke up I could barely move! I wonder what that is all about?

I might go to the gym since Keith won't be up for another hour or so probably. Maybe even longer than that! The great thing about walking to the gym is that it is .79 miles away (I just googled it), and so I get an additional mile and a half (plus some) in my workout. I said this in my blog last night, but I have to say it again: I love Portland!

Okay, I'm off to start my day!

xoxo,

t

la dee dah

Keith and I saw The Hangover this afternoon. It was funny, but do you want to know something that isn't? A matinee now costs $8.25. This morning we went out to Hillsboro to pick up his paycheck and we had coffee and bagels at Noah's. The bagels weren't very big and I was disappointed. 

Last night I went to sleep at 6:30 by total accident. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up just long enough to stumble into the bedroom. I woke up when my alarm went off at 4:55 am, went to teach my class and then came home and went back to bed for three more hours. I was still tired, so at Noah's I had an enormous cup of the strongest coffee they had. Mmm...

I have an itch to go to Vegas. I have been finding some rather cheap deals online, and I do mean cheap. Like less than $300 a piece for a round trip flight and hotel room for three nights. And not a hotel at Hooter's Hotel and Casino, either! It is a possibility that we will go for Keith's 30th birthday in January, but we'll see.

I have to do laundry, go grocery shopping and go to the gym today. I like to go to the gym at 8:00 on Friday nights so I can watch Wife Swap while I'm on the elliptical machine.

I was looking at pictures from my cross-country drive, and that is when I really noticed that I have, in fact, lost weight. I love Portland! I walk to work, I can walk to the movie theater, the grocery store, the mall, the gym, basically everywhere. And because I no longer work full time, I take advantage of the extra free time and go to the gym a lot. It's good to go with Keith because he likes to do 15-20 minutes of cardio and then lift weights, so I end up doing an hour or so of cardio. When I worked out in Virginia I did a maximum of thirty minutes of cardio and that was it. That has now become my minimum. 

I haven't blogged in a while, so here are some of my random thoughts:

Sarah Palin is an IDIOT and a media-whore! 

Sarah (Bragg, not Palin) is coming to visit me again in August or September. Yay! This time we'll have to go to the coast and Multnomah Falls. We call it the coast instead of the beach because beaches in the Pacific Northwest are quite different than beaches in Southern California or on the east coast. 

I am glad Carrie Prejean is no longer Miss California. She and Sarah Palin should team up. They are both right-wing, media-whoring bitches.

Hermes is now breeding their own crocodiles so they can kill them and make $50,000 handbags to sell to vain bitches like Victoria Beckham. It takes three to four crocs to make one purse. Ugh.

I have lots of tasks to complete today. I think I will go get started on that.

xoxo,

t

tired

I have not abandoned my blog, though it may seem that way. I have just been a little busy, and that is a good thing! I just taught a 7 am class at the Hollywood 24 and have been up since 5:45. I need to stay awake because I am going to hang out with Sarah and I need Keith to drop me off at her house when he goes to work around noon. I also need to shower, eat and drink this huge cup of coffee and squeeze in an episode of the Gilmore Girls, so I have no time for a nap. 

xoxo,

t

long day

Long day! But good nonetheless. I had the most amazing donut of my entire life this morning from Coco Donuts across the street and it was only 90 cents. Score! I taught two yoga classes and worked a five hour shift at Gap. I like selling clothes and talking to people all day. 

I had a woman in my class at Beaverton tonight who I was excited to see because she normally goes to the Tanasbourne location, but she told me she came to Beaverton just for me because she saw my name on the schedule. So nice! At the beginning of class I said, "Good evening everyone, my name is Tami. Welcome to extreme power yoga." Everyone laughed. I'm so funny. I did a pretty cool flow tonight. I flowed between warrior two, reverse warrior and side angle a few times, then moved into trikonasana, then into pyramid and then I added a twist. From there we came into uttanasana and went through a full sun salute before doing the other side. I liked it. I mostly posted that flow so any of my yoga teaching friends could steal it if they wanted to. I am a flow stealer. I go to classes all the time and take out bits and pieces I like and incorporate them into my classes. 

I have no food to eat. I ate the last of my edamame today and I am fresh out of food. No more chips and salsa, no more lean cuisines, nothing! I am fresh out of food. I can't wait to get a paycheck from Gap. Everyone there is really nice. My boss, Zane, is my favorite. I got to work with her today so I was really excited.

I need to shower or at least wash my face or something. I feel dirty! Ick! 

xoxo,

t

funny

This is so hilarious! Keith and I actually saw this guy at Sasquatch. He is dancing to Santigold, which means this video was taken on Monday. We saw him the day before, wearing the same shorts and dancing in the exact same crazy yet awesome way.

long time

I have been a bad little blogger lately. I apologize. I haven't had much of anything to report and I haven't been in a very good mood either.

Tomorrow I am teaching at 5:45 am, working at Gap from 12-5 and teaching again at 7:30. Busy day!

I'm eating fresh organic fruit from Whole Foods right now and watching He's Just Not That Into You. I'm just not that into it...

I can't believe it's already June. That means it's been three months since I've seen my friends and family.  And 6 and a half months until I see them again. Long time!

Strawberries are fabulous.

I must go now.

xoxo,

t