First day/week

First week of school went well. Yoga is really fun. Mostly breathing exercises. And my social action teacher is obsessed with Tetsugen Roshi, but he seems alright. I got some friends hooked on megatokyo.

Today was my first day at this Kinko's...err...FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Center. Cough. Yeah. I kinda remembered all the annoying parts about working for the conglomerate. But for now, it's a job. Oh, and the weirdest thing happened at work. I was helping some customer, and when I was done, I look up to see the next person, and there is Joe walking up in his nonchalant way that he always did at my old branch, and he asks "What's up?" That really threw me off. Tripple-take. Joe worked in Santa Barbara, at the other Kinko's from mine, but he lived closer to mine, and his brother worked with me. So he often showed up to see if we needed any help or anything. So, he shows up here in Boulder, on my first day, like nothing ever happend. He said that he moved here three days ago, and that he didn't know that I did two weeks ago (has it really been that long?). Anyway, I got his number, and we shall have to hang out.

By the way, did I mention how cheap it is to eat healthy here!? There is barely any difference shopping at the Vitamin Cottage (we call it VitCot), and get all organic food, and shopping at Safeway or something like it. I am loving it.

I was, also, very tempted to go to NYC this weekend, but chickened out. It would have cost me all my money, and I wouldn't start working, and I would miss a little school. But I know at least one guy who went for the protests at central park. Rye. He's kinda crazy though. But best of luck to him.

Oh, and I got a neato, slightly stolen (not by me, long story), digital camera. It's a Canon S30, and I'll be posting some photos as soon as I get the USB cable for it.

Naropa

WOO-HOO!! My new school is awesome! More on that later. Stay tooned!

Let's see. Back in Santa Fe, my Mom, the excentric person that she is decided to make an 80 minute CD of nature sounds from her backyard, mostly consisting of a resident cricket. Of course, the task of carrying out the concept fell on me. We rented a microphone and recorded over three hours of "music". Then came around twelve hours of editing it down, and cleaning out the wind noise. Sufficient to say that I do not wish to hear a cricket on headphones ever again. But the project came out pretty well. My Mom loved it.

Now, I'm in Boulder. I found a wonderful place to stay, in a large quiet house with two really sweet roommates. They're a bit older, 27 and 29, and very new-age-y/spiritual/girl-power-y. But they're awesome. More than a hot-dog. My room is rather austere, but I got a plant friend, and bought a new futon, and it's conducive to studying. Speaking of which, did I mention that my school is awesome? The approach here is not only focused on educating the mind, but also the body and the spirit. It is unlike any other school that I know of. And everyone is here because they realy want to be here, not just because the should. I know over half of my class now, and everyone is super-friendly. I had mandatory orientation all week, and it really helped to ease in to the schedule and to serve as a transition to my new journey. I'm so excited!

My schedule is as follows:

Mon 09:00a-11:50a - Democracy in the United States of America, 1919-1968
Thu 12:00p-02:50p: - Writer's Craft
Thu 09:00a-11:50a - Contemplative Approaches to Social Action & Peacemaking
Tue&Fri 09:30a-10:50a - Yoga I

Plus, I have to make a work schedule. The democracy class is supposedly with a very challenging teacher, and he assigned six required books. Eep. Plus four for the social action. Plus a yoga book. I won't be reading any Brust anytime soon .

And I got a bike today! We can rent bikes for free! And I made friends with a cool chick who likes Rasputina, Fantômas, and swords! Yeah, we get along.

Quote for the week: "Motivation is effortless, just get out of your own way."

Chaco

I got back today from a weekend camping trip in the Chaco Canyon. Chaco was a cultural and spiritual center of Anasazi indians over a thousand years ago. Or something of the sort. It was an amazing experience, visiting ruins from civilizations long gone. It is a very powerful place. And neat. And hot--we were definitly burning up. But well worth it. As my mom would say, lots of teachings from The Father (sky) and The Mother (earth). My mom is odd. But we had a good time, and I do feel enriched. And Chaco has the most amazing night sky--very little light pollution, made for some amazing star viewing in their observatory. Chacoans had extensive knowledge of the cycles of the sun and the moon. They built their cities around them. Anyways. I'm starting to sound scientific, I should stop rambling.
We had to put my mom's dog and my favorite of all, Sage, to sleep. She was awesome. And it was a really neat ceremony. But still, it is sad without her. It is lonely here without friends (fuzzy and otherwise).

Salt Lake Kitty

I had so much fun in Salt Lake, seeing all the people who I have been away from for so long that I forgotten how much we get along. Seeing Maggie was good; I've been nervous. We hung out few times and had fun. I'm glad she has good friends, and has fun at work. Seeing my "other" family was great too. I always got along well with Maggie's mom, and we had a very nice time catching up. I got to see my buddy Jordan, and we immediately went hiking to that same trail as we did right before I left a year ago. And I got to hang out with Veegee one last time for who knows when I will see her again. And we went dancing at Area51 with Matt, that was a blast too. She has got a very nice place; I can't say I'm not envious, as I will probably only get a room in Boulder for the same price.

Alas, the most fun was staying with Gin and Kevin. We were always friends, but spend very little time together; our friendship is growing very slowly, and I do not mind--I'm savoring it. She gave me a very cool and badly needed haircut, much shorter, and thinned out. It feels great. And I ripped 700mb of tunes from her and am now listening to it all and enjoing it immensly.

I wasn't expecting to have such a god time to not want to leave. But I had the bus ticket, and 22hrs later I am in Santa Fe. Change of tempo. Time to relax, breathe. See my mom. Spend time with a dying dog. Maybe I can go hiking alone with my brother.

Sushi is such a perfect food--it is never too filling, yet you eat it slowly and end up pleasantly full. And then there is WASABI! Mmmmmm....

Left my cell charger in Salt Lake. Grr. Dial-up won't connect faster than 20Kbps since the storm earlier today. Grrr. But the storm was so beautiful, I adore stormy weather. I wish my friends could be with me... I miss you all |-_-|

SF cont'd.

Let's see... what else did I do in SF? I ate out a lot. Chicken-Kabob, 2am burrito, cheap chinese, fresh mozzarella tomato and basil baguette, pizza slice. Walked a lot more. Thank g0d for comfy hiking shoes. Walked from North Beach (hostel) everywhere: Castro (gay!), Union Square (shops), SoMa (museum with an empty pool+skaters as an exhibit!), Japan Center (blockbuster sized anime store!!), Chinatown (chinese!), and back up stairs (lots!) to Coit Tower (views!). Went to the Sleepytime Gorilla Museum concert. So cool. Really had a blast. SF's so lively, like NYC, but not as gritty and gloomy. I'll have to live there sometime.