I have always wanted to go to yoga classes, but I have never been able to afford them. Classes are generally so expensive and they all want you to buy equipment and special clothing. So, I have stuck with doing a little dabbling in yoga at home with DVDs and online classes (such as www.yogatoday.com [a very good site, by the way]).

But not anymore!

...Hopefully. Heh.

I ran across a yoga studio here in Raleigh that is called Open Door Yoga Studio and they are a donation based yoga studio (i.e. give what you can at each class be it little or large and it goes directly to the teacher who then pays her studio rent and other expenses with such money).

I looked up their schedule and I'm going to my first class this Friday. I've always been a bit nervous going to classes full of people on my own, but I can do it - especially since it's for my own benefit and for something I've wanted to do for ages.

Maybe the next time I log-on, which I will try to make more regular , I can tell you all about my yoga trips!

In Other News

* I bought a two-story condo on a lake in the middle of Raleigh! It's an older development, but I love it nonetheless. This will be a good base of operations as I finish up school and save up money to travel and, finally, build the environmentally friendly and solid house of my dreams!

* Did I mention that Sam is now CGC certified? Go Sam! He's edu-ma-cated now. I was definitely the nervous one at his test. It was mandatory to get the certification to move into the condo unit as the HOA here doesn't cotton well with "dangerous breeds of dogs" - a category that Sam's breed (German Shepherd aka Alsatian) falls under quite regularly in North Carolina, unfortunately.

* I've been writing plenty, but haven't had any good anthologies that my stories fit to submit to as of late. So, to date, I only have two short stories published. I won't stop there though, I'm aiming for my big goal one of these days - a book! But, then again, who isn't these days? Hehe.

* I graduate this summer with my two associate degrees! Then I'm right back in the saddle for one last year and a half to get my final degree. Phew. Almost there now!

* Being a dog walker/pet sitter, while a fun job, is definitely wearing me down these days. It's tiring work and the hours are consistently varied. Add to that the fact that it's impossible nearly to go on vacation except in the dead of chilly winter since everyone else is on vacation and needs their dogs walked in the summer...well...it gets old. And I have gone through a whopping pair of five shoes so far since I was hired last July. Oy. I never thought I would say it, but I'm ready for a career.

Ta Da! That's all folks.

I've been informed that I'm a very bad blogger.

I wracked my brains attempted to determine why someone would label me in such a way.

Could it be because of the current state of the economy? Perhaps it has something to do with poor gas mileage or global warming?

These didn't seem quite right so I pondered some more. Actually, I got a sandwich, ate it, putzed around for a few more days and then pondered some more. Until...

Eureka! I think I have it!

Perhaps it's because I haven't blogged in months.

I sent this Eureka moment (brought to you by trusted vacuum cleaners nationwide) back to committee to review, debate, concur and eventually sign off on this idea.

You shouldn't ever admit to something without first having the backing of a committee. If the government has taught me anything, it's the value of a diverse group of people that can never agree on anything.

After hours of deliberation the committee reached, finally (and historically), a united consensus on the matter...

Everyone agreed that the topic at hand required more lengthy discussion, a stronger focus on the "real issues", and an additional bill tacked on (allowing the committee to adjourn every hour for much needed full body massages to relieve the heavy stress and strain they are constantly under).

So, to date, I'm here to announce to Blogstream that I am not yet, officially, a bad blogger.

Sooooo....it's been a few months, eh?

I have my list of excuses ready, darn it! *clears throat*

......

Um...*consults list* Hehe. Um...just a second. Let's see here...plausible deniability, check. Alibi, check...okay. Right.

*clears throat again*

1. Work
2. Writing
3. Laziness...no wait, I mean, extremely busy with...useful activities pertaining to...uh... the betterment of mankind. Yes. Yes, that.

Work! I got a job last month as a pet sitter/dog walker. So far a lot of people have asked me when I'm going to get a "real job". I would like to point out that I have had these so called "real jobs" many times in the past and they were absolutely soul draining. No, thanks.

I have long hours and no real days off except for when I schedule a vacation. The hours are random and varied. It can start early in the morning, have an empty afternoon, and end with a full evening of work. It really just depends.

My legs are SORE, but I haven't been in this good of shape in awhile!

Most importantly here, people, is the realization that FOR A LIVING I play with puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, frogs, rats and etc.

As for writing, I just sent out another signed contract for another short story! It's going officially into an anthology as of this year. Yay! *applauds self* I'm so excited. I am in definite need of sitting down and working on my other short stories in hopes of getting some more more out there before too long!

As for laziness, well, it's more so a desire to simply not move when I get home. Each pup I take care of gets a 30 minute walk. If you take the Friday before last (16 stops), that's a lot of walking. And, of course, I still have my own dog to take care of when I get home. Sooooo...tired, but the job satisfaction way outweighs that point.

And that, in a nutshell, is what's up with me. Oh...wait....Heh. Almost forgot.

I went canoeing for the first time and we did the New River up in Virginia where I got to canoe with class II rapids. Fun! I was a bit nervous (okay, REALLY nervous), but damned if it didn't turn out to be a real BLAST! Afterward, I got to bike the Virginia Creeper! 17 miles of downhill gravel fun through the forest. And some of the bridges were amazing to cross over!

I'll be off to California this September and I'm going to get to see the giant Sequoias. I am so excited about this that I'll actually manage to drag myself onto the airplane without hyperventilating during takeoff (hopefully). I'll definitely post pictures!

I went to a concert last night. It was great, but (as usual) the over-amplified sound has granted me with the joy of a two day headache. Ouchies.

I'm going to play chess today at the Rose Garden! Wee!

Rose Garden: A small garden for free visitation in the city of Raleigh. It's entirely nothing but rows of rose bushes, a big old trellis, and a nice tiny open brick "house" sitting area. Gorgeous.

Chess: The best game ever. I was in the chess club in high school. I will admit, however, I'm not exactly a fabulous player. Still, it's fun and that's the important part.

Artsplosion is this weekend! It's a big street art festival where all of the local artists set up booths and people get to meander, view, purchase (if you have that money ) and all for free. Woot!

I just hope the thunderstorms that are called for don't hit until AFTER Artsplosion.

I have the beginning of a cold and I am not pleased by this.

THIS MEANS WAR!

I went to the grocery store and picked up some uber healthy food. I've had some plums, some good sandwiches, a huge salad, and milk since I've started feeling low last night.

Admittedly, I may have slightly cheated when I had a handful of Super Duper Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies...but...that was just to keep the morale of the troops up.

*cough*

Really.

Morale, you know, is essential to...um...good...stuff.

*cough*

In other news, the cat has finally learned how to jump up on the balcony railing. This is not a good thing.

Patchouli has the balance of a lopsided rock.

I'm going to have to make him a little kitty parachute and strap it to his back.