Our favorite color is plaid

Today's workout was Bikram Yoga. The weather forecast called for rain, so we chose an indoor activity. Bikram Yoga is a 90 minute, kick butt workout done in a heated, 105 degree room with 40% humidity. It utilizes the same 26 postures every time which work your entire body, head to toe, bones to skin. I love the workout, but the best part of it is when it's over. Your body will be tingling, and the effects translate to any other workout you do, whether it be running, surfing, pole jumping or tight rope walking.

Yesterday, I was reading the book I was telling you about which deals with metaphysical principals of financial abundance. While Angela thinks that a near perfect day is spent at the mall, I tend to break out in hives when I enter any shopping arena. I would much rather be on the trail, in the ocean, or lost somewhere out in the mountains. However, while reading the book, I realized that I absolutely needed to make a trip to the mall. Why? Because plaid is back in fashion. Angela and I both agree on one thing: our favorite color is plaid. Off I went, and sure enough, Nordstrom features plaid in many of their styles. Girls, (and guys) don't you just love this blue color which goes quite nicely with the new boots I purchased? Angela's plaid shirt featured in the photo is a plaid of a different color. Needless to say, she wants to borrow mine.

And the best part about it? I survived and thrived the trip to the mall. Even made it out of there in under an hour. And look Ma: no hives!

Thanks or No Thanks?

I was reading a book on abundance today. Financial abundance to be specific. There was a part in the book that said to practice not saying thank you-at least temporarily- when someone, such as a server at a restaurant gave you something. The reason for this, is because we live in an abundant universe, where everything we need is right here, available to all and there is no reason to question it. It's our birthright. The author gave the example: Does a lion thank the gazelle for giving up its life for the meal to be fed to the lion? I found myself resisting this, as I was raised in a home where we were all told to say please and thank you.

Later, as I was looking out at the ocean at the waves lapping on the shore, with no question as to if they should continue to be grateful to the tide coming in and out, and the seagulls searching for the food which they have no question will be there waiting for them, and the palm tree outside my window, which I've looked at hundreds of times, majestically standing there with every right in the world to be there, I suddenly felt more abundant than I had in a long time. I realized that in that moment, I needed to do nothing other than BE there. I will likely continue to be polite to servers, but I am also going to look at the world differently. We all really are living in the Garden of Eden, no questions asked!

Celebration of Life - Surfing

Today Kerry and I attended a "Celebration of Life" for a dear friend, Mike Spence. He was 62 when he passed last week. "Spence", as he was known to the surfing community was very dear to my heart. My surfing goddess buddy, Shelly and Spence were the folks who introduced me to my Surfer Boy husband, Kerry. I'll never forget that day in the water, some six years ago, when the four of us were out in the lineup together on a gorgeous day at the Newport Pier.Every day at the beach is a gorgeous day!

His funeral was amazing and very well attended. The church was overflowing with friends from his church, his job at Edison International as well as all the members from Blackie's Classics Surf Club. There were a lot of tears as well as laughter. Unbeknownst to his church community, all of the members of the Surf Club signed the label of a bar of surf wax and elected Cathy to slip it into the casket with Spence. Cathy, you are a better woman than I! When Spence enters the gates of heaven, he will have a bar of "warm" Sticky Bumps surf wax. He was quite the surfer, so he will appreciate that.

After such an emotional day, Kerry and I decided to surf the evening glass off at San Onofre. It was magical. There were exactly three of us in the lineup. I have surfed in many places in the world and it's rare to find that small of a crowd. The waves were perfect. I could feel Spence out there with us tonight. Amazingly, there was a huge, continuing flock of seagulls, must have been in the hundreds, that flew overhead as we surfed and the sun set. I had the biggest grin on my face the whole time. At one point, Kerry and I caught the perfect wave together. We were hootin' and hollerin' as I turned to him and said........."this must be what the surf is like in heaven"

Spence, we will miss your smiling face and energy out in the water. Enjoy your Endless Summer in the sky.

Sunday On The Secret Trail

We got a break from the rain today. Yay! Since Southern Californian's are so wimpy about rain, the state parks usually close down with the least amount of rain, probably thinking someone with a high priced Newport Beach attorney will sue them if they slip and fall. That was exactly the case today, although we are having stellar weather. Blue skies and not a cloud in the sky. The great news is, I know of a secret trail in Laguna Beach. Kerry, Chris, Rex (Chris's dog) and I had a lovely eight mile hike/run. Boy, did I need an outdoor activity. Everything was clear, crisp and we could even see snow on the mountains in the distance. When we got to our turnaround point, which overlooks all of Laguna Beach, we saw some surfers out in the lineup. My Best Buy kiosk camera is not to be made fun of, because look at the great photo I was able to zoom in on. Life, my friends, is extremely good. Tonight we will sit out on our deck and watch the sunset over Catalina Island with a good (expensive) glass of red wine. I may be a lot of things, but a cheap date is not one of them. Cheers!

Wii Fit Tightrope Walk

I am having lots of fun with WII fit. I like to get outdoors like my Mom does, but it's been raining here, so my roommates and I have been doing WII fit. It's really fun and a much better workout than you would think.

This week we have been practicing the tightrope walk which really tests your balance. Here's how it works:

Rules: Walk across the tightrope without falling off. You will need to jump over the chompy-bomby things too. This game is fun! It's hard the first time, but once you find a technique that works for you, this game is a snap, except for the expert level, which I have yet to pass. Maybe you can. Give it a try!

If you're not in the mood for a computer type activity, another rainy day activity is hoola hooping!