Hot Yoga... New Thing #3 I have Done This Year

I have not done many new things this year. Pretty depressing actually, if I think about it. Today, however, I went to my first HOT YOGA class. They tell you on the website to come an hour ahead of time to fill out paperwork on your first class. Yea.. you need like ten minutes. Luckily there was a bookstore across the street that I was able to kill some time (and I even held back and did not buy anything... although I found a few good prospects for when I have more money to my name).

Once in the class the girl at the front desk told me to try to get a spot in the back because it is cooler without the heaters directly overhead. Yea.. fat chance of that ever happening. The people who got those spots where practically rolling up the mats of the people in the class right before us FOR THEM. So I ended up being in the middle of the room... beneath aforementioned heaters. Needless to say, it was hot. VERY HOT. In the beginning of class when we are all just waiting for everyone to have a chance to get there and get set up I was sweating. Just sitting there. On the posters it says it is 105F and 60% humidity. I believe the posters.

In the interest of full discloser I should mention that I am not new to yoga in general. I have done it off and on since high school. I really like it. If I was smart I would make it a regular practice. In this situation all of that experience was very helpful. The teacher does not do a lot of explaining of poses. The one I had was pretty good about checking on me (she knew it was my first time), but I got through some of it just by going off what the girl next to me was doing. So... if after reading this you decide to try it - I suggest getting a spot next to some one who is not new.

I was literally DRIPPING SWEAT. It was a great workout. I feel good. I am so very tired now, which I tend to take as a good sign.

In the end you lay on your back and absorb/recover what you just did. I was the very last person to leave. With the deal I got of 10 classes for $10 I think I shall return.

My Past On My Person

I currently work at a grocery store bakery. It is not a hard job. I take bread and other baked goods that someone else bakes, and I put them into various plastic containers. At 4, 5, and 6 o'clock I do bake four whole loafs of french bread.

My most recent former job was at the front desk of a four diamond hotel in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There was a lot of office work, major customer service, and some days there was even more problem solving tied to both of those. By the time I left I was very good at my job. I had my manager giving me indirect offers of promotion or raises. They changed in details every time. It was good to know that I was liked and wanted there. I also had guests telling me I was very diplomatic. That I should run for government office. Aww... if only they could tell from my smile that I was really just trying to get them away from my desk.

The point of all this, you ask? Well, I had a lady come up to me in the bakery today asking for the date. That was it. The date. From that I had this conversation (well, general conversation. I didn't memorize the thing):

Woman: "Where did you work before you worked here?"

Me: "I worked at the front desk of a hotel."

Woman: "I knew it! I knew you did not look like you belonged in a grocery store."

Me thinking: "really, could you tell that from my awesome apron?"

Me saying: "I did work there for a long time."

Woman: "You look good in suits, you naturally look professional."

*then she proceeded to talk to me about how she is from New York and she can tell right away that I belong in an office. That I look like an accountant. That I am a special person. then there was something about things with-in coming out, but how things with-out can not come in... yea she went in a loop on this one for a while.

It was both strange and strangely complimentary. As someone who has worked in customer service for most of my adult life I have never thought of one job being over another. I still don't. Quite frankly, this woman is someone who I usually make fun of in my head for being too arrogant. I don't think she understood that a front desk agent was only half office work and all customer service.

This short encounter got me thinking.

How much of my past is on my person at all times? When I think about who I used to be, and who I have become I see a much different woman. I see only me, as I am now. What do other people see though? I suppose the most one can do is put "the best foot forward" as they say. Plus, a little glimpse into my past by interpreting my present behaviors has a certain amount of fun to me.

*What made this a little funnier for me, was when not three minutes later I was thirsty and instead of taking the time to walk across the store and up the stairs to get a drink in the break room, I decided to go and drink directly from the faucet. Yep- the epidemy of professionalism RIGHT HERE.

"Summer Knight" By: Jim Butcher

Well, another installment into the Harry Dresden Files. I really do love this series. Jim Butcher has a sarcasm to his writing that really pulls you in and although it is slightly ridiculous most of the time, I laugh at all of his jokes.

In "Summer Knight" Mr. Butcher has Harry dealing with a trio of major problems that could all get him killed if not solved together. The trouble that he stirred up in the previous book, "Grave Peril", with the Red Court of the Vampires has come back to bite him in the ass. The Vampires are calling for his blood and if they do not get it they are willing to go to war with the White Council (aka the governing body for wizards in general). The White Council is pretty okay with handing him over to be perfectly honest, but as with any government they must jump through some loop holes to be able to "legally" do so. What is holding them back? The Winter Queen of the Faerie of course. She has hired (sort of) Harry to find a killer. The murder is currently being blamed on her and this is one person she can not kill with out consequences. Those consequences would be that Summer and Winter go to war and in the mortal realm that means the seasons are majorly and catastrophically messed up. Harry has an out with the Queen though until she tells the White Council that they can use her territory to move freely around the world in the war with the Red Court only if Harry does this for her.

So, to not be handed over to the Red Court to die he must first survive a murder investigation into the Faerie...all of them.

You get a little more back story on Harry's past. We are introduced to a long lost friend/lover, and Harry meets all of the heavy hitters in the faerie realm. My favorite one is still Toot-toot though. I suppose I just like that he works for pizza.

As I said before, highly entertaining. It is an urban fantasy like the rest, and I would recommend it to anyone that likes fantasy and/or mystery.

Farm Fresh Air

I went on a bike ride today with my Daddy (yes, I still call my Dad, Daddy. I am the youngest. It's allowed). We went down into Snohomish and over by Lake Stevens. It goes through a bit of farm land, down by a river whose name I do not know, and through these little towns that I had no idea even existed.

As I was riding I kept on thinking how truly amazing it is that farm land is so comforting to me. I love how it looks, how it smells, the energy it gives off. Here in the Pacific Northwest they are all wrapped up in trees and the extra green makes it that much more relaxing to go through. Maybe it is just that they remind me of my country, the heartland. I admit to no desire to ever work on a farm, but I would be sorely disappointed if they all disappeared some how.

"Grave Peril" By: Jim Butcher

"Grave Peril" by Jim Butcher is book three in the Dresden Files series. Just as good as the first two. The story mostly has Harry and Micheal (everyone's favorite Angel) running around Chicago trying to kill a "nightmare". It can get into people's very soul, and start messing with you. Harry does not catch wind of what is going on until he helps a spirit that is being tortured by it. They manage to tangle everyone into what is going on from Harry's girl friend, Susan, to his sometimes-partner, Murphy, to Micheal's, Charity.

You will get a good amount of back story to Harry Dresden. What happened with his Uncle.

With Micheal being a major player in the entire story, start to finish, it is interesting how Jim Butcher incorporates God into the mix. Most authors go with either/or and I like when the concept of both working is brought up with out the wizard being evil.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Urban Fantasy, Mystery, or just a good old fashion PI story.

An Integral Step

I have the awesome and wonderful opportunity as part of my mission preparation to get my endowments out tonight in the Seattle, Washington LDS Temple. I can not even begin to express the thoughts and feelings going through me right now. I can not get my mind to turn off! I just keep thinking of how much I am about to learn.

My heart is bursting with a testimony of Jesus Christ and the atonement that he enabled for every person on Earth to return to our Heavenly Father and have eternal life. How Joseph Smith is a true prophet that spoke with God the Father and His son Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove. That Joseph Smith carried out instructions to bring the true and restored gospel back on Earth in the Latter Days. That the true priesthood was restored with Joseph Smith. That we still are given that living prophet in President Thomas S. Monson is something that makes my soul sing, because I know that My Father in Heaven is with us and guiding us.

I get to spread that restored gospel to whom ever will listen to me in the Denver, Colorado mission. I am so excited to have that chance. My going to the temple is an integral step in full filling this newly acquired goal - well relatively newly acquired.

I keep thinking of the peace and the love I feel when I am in the Temple. I have amazingexperiences when I am there already and this will open up so much more for me.

The truly amazing thing is that not to long ago the idea of going through the Temple freaked me out big time. We have entire classes for preparing someone to take this step. I attempted to take one - I got half way through before I had a small panic attack and refused to ever go again. It was not until very recently that I got over that. I continually get confirmation that this is the best thing for me.

"My brothers and sisters, temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service."-Thomas S. Monson

The Glass Is ALWAYS Half Full

I stopped my life briefly. A blink of the eye really... if you think about it. I stopped my life in order to get on with it. And so far all that decision has done is bite me in the ass. I happen to be a generally optimistic person however, and have managed to keep a little hope alive.

I made the decision to take the leap I mentioned many many months ago on here to go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I got my call (assignment) a couple of weeks ago. I will be reporting to the MTC (mission training center) in Provo, Utah on April 25, 2012 to go to the Denver, Colorado South mission. It is basically anything west of Denver except for a little at the bottom.

The kicker is this - I am over weight by any bodies standards. Because of this I have to lose about 20 pounds before the Church will let me go out. They don't say this, but I am pretty sure they are just covering themselves because while I am out on my mission I am on the Church's insurance. Fair Enough, I say.

The thing is... it isn't really working. I joined a gym again - and I even go almost every day.

I suppose this is me wining about the half of the glass that is empty.

But HERE'S THE THING:

I know that I am doing the thing that I want to do. I am doing the thing that the Lord wants me to do.

Part of life is knowing when you need to be somewhere and actually being there. I believe in having a purpose in life - that we all have many things that we specifically need to do.

I know in my heart that I need to be on that Mission. I have no doubt in my mind that at least one person will be all the better for knowing me. I may be unsure about right now. I may feel like I am pretty much useless. The important thing is that I am not unsure about later.

What will happen to me if I am unable to get the weight off in time? They don't let me go, most likely. They at least will tell me that I need to re-apply only when I have the weight off. Which, if I am completely honest with my internet abyss, most likely would never happen. This is a one time deal for me. Unless some future husband wants to go on a mission with me. So, that would ultimately mean I have a chance to get my full life back. I would start looking at schools and scholarships. I would be looking for serious jobs that have futures and full hours. I would be looking at savings accounts and study abroad programs. I would move out of my parent's house as soon as humanly possible, because as much as I love them both - I AM WAY TOO OLD TO BE LIVING HERE.

Basically, I would get on with my life.

What would happen if I did get my goal? My life would stay on hold. I would go on my mission. I would learn what it is that I am supposed to be learning there.

Basically, I would expand my life.

And that makes all the difference.