Health, Life

Today was another class with more than 60 people. Similar to Day # 7, I almost lost it mentally and was tempted to storm out due to claustraphobia and frustration. Again I held it together. Oh how I wish this were over!

My last eight classes of the challenge are scheduled as follows:

  • Tuesday 6:30 pm class + 8:15 pm class with Jill
  • Wednesday 6:15 am class <– yes that is 6:15 AM.
  • Vacation in Austin Wednesday-Saturday
  • Sunday 2 classes 4:30pm and 6:30 pm
  • Monday 6:30pm class
  • Tuesday 6:30pm class
  • Wednesday 6:30pm class

The end is near, but oh my goodness these next couple of days are gonna be rough. I am a fucking mess. Legs ache terribly. I wake up, open my eyes, and feel the soreness instantly. I am no good at any of the standing series due to pain. Riding my bike, even getting up from my seat at work I am in pain. My knees are shot. My foot pain is back.

What to do? Ugh.

Art

My New Diana F+

I have always loved taking pictures for fun. Just like journaling, it’s so satisfying to flip back to something from years ago and instantly be taken back to that moment- a moment that I might not have remembered if I hadn’t taken a picture just for the hell of it.

I’ve only had a few cameras in my life. I think my first camera was a clunky Polaroid, and each picture was a dollar. That didn’t stop me from taking TONS of pictures.

My next camera was a random crappy camera, but it had Keroppi all over it, and so I loved it dearly. I had to wait a little longer for the photos, and though they weren’t a dollar a piece, being prolific was still beyond my elementary school budget.

Starting in junior high I switched over to digital cameras. They were so much faster, took up less physical space, and they were cheaper (in the long run). There was the 1.3 Mpx Fuji in junior high, then the 5.0 Mpx Canon my dad gave me in college, followed by a 10.0 Mpx Canon I got last year. Strangely enough, I don’t even use cameras anymore, I’ve switched over to taking pictures with a smartphone that Ryan is letting me borrow.

I haven’t had an analog camera in a decade. So here is my first entry back into the world:

Pic from the Lomo shop

the Diana F+!!! I received it as an anniversary present and I couldn’t be happier. Well yes there were sentimental reasons for the present that I can appreciate, but really, I’ve always wanted one of these guys. They look like cheap fun. And they are… cheap.  Oh yeah, it’s 100% plastic baby.

For those who aren’t acquainted with this particular camera, it is one among several lines of 1960s toy camera reproductions by the Vienna-based camera company Lomography. The key features of these types of cameras are:

  • They are made of cheap plastic and feel light like a toy, not rough and tumble at all
  • They are overpriced
  • They are unpredictable, which results in crappy dreamy and artistic photos
  • They require out of stock film
  • Everything is super manual, from the film to shutter exposure
  • They are loved by hipsters

Well, that all sounds incredibly daunting, hunh? I don’t care if I look like a giant geek, I just want to play with the thing. I’m almost done with my first roll of 120 film, and I’m really looking forward to sharing the results here (if I can find a scanner)!

Life, Lists

What I’m Excited About- March 20, 2011

A short list this week as I’m currently cooking chicken and biscuits and have to hoof it to yoga in less than an hour.

1.There are ten classes left for my 30 Day Bikram Challenge, and factoring in my vacation, I’ve got 8 days to do it in. Crunch time. It’s funny, ten classes feels incredibly close and doable (with a little suffering), and yet at the same time, feels totally unreasonable. I can say that when this is all over I’m looking forward to having a social life again 🙂

2.Wednesday I’m going to Austin for a quickie vacation. I haven’t really done my research, but I hear there are bats, good food, and swimming holes!!!

3. Oh, I also scheduled a trip to Chicago. More on that at another time.

4. As if that wasn’t enough vacation in store for me, I also need to schedule several weeks more vacation to get myself down to an acceptable limit at work. I don’t really have the funds or the desire to go anywhere else immediately, but it’s fun to think about.

5. Did I mention that I was making chicken and biscuits? They’re going to be delicious. Can’t wait to eat them tonight.

6. Last but not least, my friend Alyssa is going to Mozambique in April with Habitat for Humanity. She’s going to build houses, save the world, etc. etc. She is currently raising money for her trip and has a ways to go to make it to the $1600 goal  (you can check out the details here). Normally I am a bit jaded about whether fundraising for a cause actually accomplishes anything, but I know Alyssa (she’s no-nonsense and quite awesome) and I feel good passing on some cash to help her do good in Mozambique. You should donate too, if you like. She will be very grateful and might even make you some macaroni and cheese, or sing you a song. Actually, I am quite sure she will, HAHA.

Health, Life

Yesterday was awful and wet, so I skipped yoga. To make up for it full force today I did a double back to back (6:30-8:00pm) + (8:15-9:45pm). I thought that I was going to be tore up, but I feel fine. All I have to say is HALFWAY BITCHES. I’ve gone 15 times in the last 14 days. It’s all money from here-15 more to go! I wish I had made a bet with someone so that I could win it, but hey, just the accomplishment will be reward enough.

Tracy’s Tips for surviving a back to back:
1. Eat a light meal 2+ hours before class one. I had leftover risotto.
2. Hydrate all day (duh). I had a tiny bit of coffee around 4 to pep myself up.
3. Don’t ride your bicycle. You will end up worrying about if it is being stolen.
4. Take it easy in both sets. Sit out as often as you need to. Don’t feel the need to keep up with others. You are on a whole ‘nother plane!
5. In between classes eat a banana, take a bathroom break, and refill your water bottle.

Mostly the pains from being involved in yoga for 4 straight hours (travel, changing, etc) were mental, not physical. Feels good now! I would do it again.

Health, Work

Another Day, Another Bikram Deal on Another Social Coupon Site…

Well you know how I feel about social coupon deals for bikram yoga classes… It’s a great idea for both customer and the studio in theory (Cheap classes! Allows the studio to attract people outside their average customer base!) but the studio has to be able to handle the increase in yogis.

Here’s an example of how crazy it gets. Look at the number of people that have bought that Groupon with an hour left to go. 1,624 people. I would hate to be a Funky Door customer, because all hell is gonna break loose in that studio. That is too many damn people! Limits people, limits!