pink joy - what i've learned

PLUS

EQUALS

over the past few years, i've been disheartened to learn that i can't easily spin poi, hoop dance, or do yoga while wearing my ipod - i have the black 30G video pod, and while i can clip it to my pants when i run, it's always in the way if i'm hooping, spinning poi, or doing yoga.

yesterday, dave & i took a trip to compusa, where we upgraded the 300G hard drive to 500G, so ALL of our stuff could be backed-up, and i decided that the stars were aligned and the day was sunny enough for me to finally give in and buy the new, hot pink ipod shuffle.

i'd been avoiding it because i already have the video ipod, and a semi-working, old-school, pink ipod mini (that i got for my 30th birthday, thanks mom!). but my pink mini is pretty crappy at this point, and my 30G is too big, but, like goldilocks & the 3 bears, the shuffle is JUST RIGHT.

the best part was when i clipped it inside my shirt (between my boobs, where it was safe), and tucked the earphone cords down - and i was FINALLY able to hoop for a full hour, with my very own music plugged in! it was pure bliss!

i know running with the new shuffle will be amazing - nothing to hold, nothing to clip on and bump... basically, just wearing headphones. but i can't imagine anything will be able to top the joy of finally, FINALLY, being able to hoop while listening to my own music!

it's true that you shouldn't sweat the small stuff, but i swear it's the small *things* that make life great.

this sabbatical thing is pretty damn nice.

so far, i'm doing everything i hoped i would be doing during this time - but i never imagined the weather would be so compliant! i am taking glorious advantage of it. this picture here is how i would sum up the majority of my days so far: sunshiney, outdoors, and a bit sweaty - it's at the end of an hour-long run in pacifica, along the beach. it's 70 degrees, totally sunny, and everything is absolutely wonderful!

yes, i've been running - nice, long, hour runs in pacifica along my favorite path. followed by an hour of yoga, omg. it's the best. i feel all squishy-tired and yummy.

what else have i been up to, besides running and yoga? lots of reading... some working on the novel - research is very helpful!... continuing to rip my cd collection (shhh! don't tell! i still have a few hundred to go)... LOTS of hula hooping! christabel's DVD is awesome. i have spent about three full hours hooping in the past week. it's amazing how easy it is to progress when you allow yourself the time to do so!... i spent the first week, essentially, cleaning out my closets. it was about time! and i'm happy i did so, but it's much better spending my time playing.

it's been great being here in the city while the weather is so wonderful. i actually have no desire to head back up to the snow (we were up last weekend), just because it's so FUN in the city when the weather rocks.

dave's honky-tonk band is playing on saturday at the riptide - come check 'em out, y'all! till then, i'll be hanging out here, having a grand old time doing... well, doing whatever the heck i want! :-) maybe i'll go get my tattoo fixed up tomorrow. we shall see. maybe i'll go check out those two other yoga studios i've been meaning to check out. maybe i'll just read all day. or do yoga all day. or hoop all day! who knows? who cares?! it's wonderful having no schedule. really the best thing i could have asked for.

adam duritz's tyrannosaurus records releasing the himalayans!

this is very exciting news! i love sharing info like this :-)

back in the day (1991), my sweetie dave was in a band with adam duritz and a few other guys, called the himalayans. they played around the bay area and recorded a bunch of stuff, but then adam's side project, the counting crows, got signed to geffen and he had to leave the band. unfortunately, nothing ever really happened with the himalayans after that.

but one of the songs the himalayans played was this great song that dave wrote the music to, called "round here." it's a beautiful song! so, when adam left the band, he re-recorded it with the counting crows as his tribute to the himalayans. dave wound up winning a bunch of awards and it was all very exciting.

but NOW, adam has started a new record label called tyrannosaurus records, and the first album they are releasing is the newly remastered himalayans - she likes the weather! the album, of course, has the original version of "round here" on it, and all the rest of their old songs, plus outtakes and other stuff.

i am soooooooo happy for these guys! this is very exciting and it's great to watch it unfold! no word yet on a reunion tour, but i will keep you posted :-)

as for now, here are some links to check out if you're interested in the music and the band!

• tyrannosaurus records - the record label website
• the himalayans - she likes the weather - pre-order the album!
• adam's himalayans myspace page - includes the original "round here"
• another himalayans myspace page - includes "she likes the weather"

... and if you're interested in dave's own music stuff, you can check out the following:

• the plain high drifters - his current band, playing this month!
• the diamond galaxy - his live electronic band (myspace page here with music!)
• firefly- his funk music with krystle jones (myspace page here with music!)

see ya in the crowd!