Thankful 5 - Columbia, SC

Plush hotel room. The Weather Channel.

Balancing academic thinking and practical implementation.

Running and sweating and watching crap tv on the fancy treadmill.

Free dinner with nice, nerdy company.

Taking advantage of the cat-free environment to make progress on removing cat hair from my black fleece. And, conceding that I'm thankful for the boys that make it so that I'll never have a cat-hair free outfit again.

24

23:15
Realize that I might want to consider packing for my 5 day trip.

00:08
Sleep.

08:43
Wake up, having actually slept through the entire night.

11:47
Sit down in the driver’s seat, wondering why it takes me so dang long to actually depart for a trip lately.

11:48
Cell phone, like the cat in Tom & Jerry, lifts its leg, falls to the ground and dies. Tongue hangs out from the side of its mouth.

12:11
Big needle prick from very kind and responsive Nurse Beth. Dr. Beesknees still rocks.

13:11
On the road. Technology withdrawal panic sets in.

15:57
Cell phone wakes up from its nap (!?).

18:17
Look right: Sunset. Look left: Moonrise.

23:33
Lousy dinner. Nice hotel. Weird shower.

Thankful 5

Just when I think my phone is dead-dead (like completely dead, not just mostly-dead), I figure out the quirky automatic turn-off feature it's developed this week.

Kind offer to check in on my cats while I'm away, and just in time - I swear, if I prayed, I'd say mine was answered today.

Finding a gently-used piece of tin-foil in my cubbard saves me a trip to the grocery and helps bake a mean lasagna.

Finishing the antibiotic regimen.

Persist!

When I returned from Japan in 1996, after having lived there for a year through a cultural immersion program, I brought back lots of cultural artifacts, some of which I've left with my parents over the years. One artifact in particular sits on top of my Mother's Music Cabinet which happens to be right across the hallway from my parents' bedroom door. It's called a Daruma doll - my Dad asked me about it today, wanting a memory-refresher about what it means and what it's used for. I had to google it to remind myself what the Japanese name is for the doll (one forgets much over 10+ years of time and thought distance) even though I've always felt like I had a full understanding of its use and meaning. So, here are my thoughts about the Daruma doll, which I will also happily share in person with my father next weekend:

So, this little round doll has two important characteristics: its shape, and the lack of eyes. With regard to the shape, note its low center of gravity and roundness. It is designed so that if you tip it, it will right itself - this characteristic is meant to be a symbol of persistence and determination, a concept which is also articulated in Japanese culture by the verb
Ganbaru 頑張る, literally translated as "to work hard" (*). This concept embodies - more than any other I know of - the Japanese approach to work, school, martial arts, and all other important life tasks. Repeated over and over by teachers, peers, friends, and parents, using the word Ganbaru is a form of emotional support that effectively encourages individuals to keep trying, to not give up, to focus carefully, and to make great efforts towards their goals. The idea is that even if you are being pushed to the edge of your limits, you - like the Daruma doll - can bounce back to your center and succeed if you focus carefully and persist.

With all of this symbolism in mind, the lack of eyes becomes another important feature of the Daruma doll - one that helps people set and accomplish goals. The idea is that when you have a new goal, you would paint in one of the eyes on your Daruma doll; when you accomplish the goal, you may paint in the other eye. The doll becomes a symbol of your goal and a reminder of the fortitude and effort it will take to accomplish that goal.

Some internet research reminded me that the history of this object is rooted in Buddhism and that the doll is named after the Father of Buddism, Daruma, who lived in the 5th Century. Click here for more information: Daruma.jp.

*As a footnote, I've often felt that language cannot be fully understood without having an equal appreciation of the culture in which it is used. Without overstating the importance of the concept of Ganbaru, I would say that to simply translate the word does nothing to help unfamiliar listeners understand the extent to which this concept is woven into the fabric of Japanese life. In my experience, having been put through the ringer of a-new-challenge-everyday (which came in the form of learning spoken and written language, being exposed to a variety of new cultural arts, foods, social norms, family styles, school customs, personal freedoms and on and on) I heard this phrase Ganbatte! (the imperative form: Persist! Keep trying! Don't give up!) a thousand times, and only from that degree of exposure, having been told in a variety of situations, did I come to truly understand what my Japanese friends meant when they said to me, "Work hard."

Mother's daughter indeed

The tree doctors finally come - close to 45 days after putting my request in writing to the landlord - and they share the sad (but not surprising) news that most of the trees on my block are completely dead. Lots of limbs, large and small are cut and mulched. Before and after pictures to follow.

Getting supper club plans together, and I'm very excited about Thai 99!

Long talk with Betsy - which is always very soul-soothing.

My M.D. is the bees-knees, and compassionately helps me start on the path to better health.

Mom and I discover that we also share some of the same health issues.

Old Soul Twist

Neighbor two doors down gets evicted this morning - complete with Sheriff's Deputies, and boxes on the sidewalk - and all I can think is: there's more than one side to that story.

Running partner and I decide to take a sabbatical while she learns French and I do yoga - but we keep Saturday mornings for certain.

Experiencing the post-yoga brain melt.

Friday off

I can't really explain why I know the Boys were irked with having me around today. I could just tell. It started when Garrett came in to wake me up at 9:15. I'm pretty sure the wake up call was not about him being hungry - because the food bowls were full - I'm pretty sure it was just him checking in to see why I was still asleep, and not sick, so late on a Friday morning. (They can tell when you're sick, you know, and when you are, they leave you alone.) Maybe the way that I can tell they're irritated has something to do with the long, blank stares; the inconsolable meowing; the frantic running from up-stairs to down and back; the unusual clawing on the furniture; the escaping out the screen door while I'm not looking. It's as if they are trying to tell me, "Hey lady, didn't you get the memo? It's nap time around here from 9:15 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. We break at 11, 1, and 3 to snack, but then it's back to business - the napping business, that is. How can we take care of business with all of this commotion you're causing: scrubbing the bathroom, doing the laundry, washing the dishes? You've been non-stop since you woke up this morning and it's KILLING OUR GROOVE!" Yep, I swear, in their little kitty hearts, that's what they were saying to me this afternoon.

Looking for a little energy release on this 70 degree day

Ahh... ;)

Old news: saved 464 gallons of water this month over last, thanks to my jet-powered water saving shower head, I think. But, damn that gas bill was expensive!

Last night news: speaking of water, I drank 4 liters of it yesterday, only to sweat out about 1+ liter of that. Damn this Bikram yoga is crazy! I feel better today than I did after my first class on Monday, but I woke up this morning feeling like my body had been weighed down with lead. Can we say "Dehydration," anyone? Woo hoo hoo! (I mean, I'm not celebrating the dehydration, I'm just saying, you gotta stay on top of this hydration/electrolyte shit, lest it get 'hold of you, and it can be dangerous.)

And, continuing the water theme, it feels like a sauna in my house. The muggy part of sauna, not the hot part. Do I need to pull out the A/C unit here people, 'cause last time I checked, it was still winter!!!?

More current news: Unexpected, but fun phone call from the Brother-in-law. And, really, sincerely looking forward to my relaxed plans for Saturday night. AND ALL CAPS EMAILING WITH KEITH.

Currently listening to: Paul & Devon 2008 duets.

Currently reading: Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott.

Material Culture

Sunday
Carpooling errands with Christie. Creating my meal plan for the week!

First hot yoga ever! Sweaty! And, overall, pretty good!

Quinoa & edemame with lime, soysauce and honey dressing for dinner. And, a late night nap before bed.

Monday
I coulda gotten up at 5:30 a.m., 'cause I was feeling fine; but instead, I slept until 8 and felt a little on the tired side all day. Oh, and sore. Did I mention sore? Emergen-C to the rescue.

Griffin has a very traumatic annual vet checkup. Garrett, on the other hand, was like a drunk sailor on the lap of an asian stripper - he freakin' loves the vet, belly rubs and all. Either way, the Boys are both well-coated charmers, they are.

Anne's birthday

Friday
Jen and Amazon deliver a handful of delightful new reading material.

Haircut and visit to the Corner, where, despite my efforts to prove otherwise, I feel old.

Celebrating Anne's birthday with the gang - a really nice evening.

Saturday
4 flat miles with Christie.

Dinner at Jen's, with Tim, Christie, and Elizabeth.

Patience with more neck issues and realizing that I need to take better care.