What Would You Do For $1,600?

Back in January of this year, New Year’s Eve to be exact I stayed up too late watching TV which is quite odd for me.  A commercial came on about a medical study.  I was fascinated as I had heard of people doing this, but knew absolutely nothing about it.  I checked out their website immediately and I couldn’t get it out of my mind.  Oddly enough this facility is located not far from my home.  Why did I not know this?

A few weeks later I found myself standing in a huge line around the medical study building for a physical.  It was cold out.  And the line?  It just kept getting longer.  I got there 40 minutes early too.  They opened the doors at exactly 3 p.m. and the fiasco began.  I showed my drivers’ license and was given some paperwork.  More lines.  We had our blood drawn, our heart listened to, and ECG, a urine test and other vital signs taken.  Then they said “Thanks, call us back on this day at this time.”  Groovy.

This study was for two weekend stays and it paid $900.  How easy is that?  Pretty easy I thought.  Instead of me calling them they actually called me and let me know I’d passed the physical (half the people there did not pass they needed 56) and they had to change the weekends.  I told them no problem I would be there.  So the Thursday before check-in they called to say that it had been changed again.  No problem, I would be there.  Finally the week this was supposed to go down they called me again.  This time they called to tell me that the study had been canceled.  Ok.  Great.  This was a waste of my time.

But.  I was still hell bent on getting into one of these.  Why?  I guess because it was something I’d never done before.

They list new studies all the time and I just kept checking to see if I would qualify for one.  Finally one opened up.  It was a 9-day study (March 8-17) where we would be given a sleeping medication and an anti-depressant.  I’ve never taken either one and I figured there were worse things I could do to my liver so what the heck.  I tried once again.  I had to stand in the line.  I had to pass the physical which this time included a breathalyzer.  My first one of those ever and I am 45 years old.  I passed.  I got in.  I rearranged my life with the help of wonderful yoga teacher friends and sent my kid to live with her friend for 9-days.  There would be 24 people in this study.  7 chicks and 17 dudes got in.  What a ratio. 

We checked in on March 8 and ate dinner after an all day fast.  I was starving.  We had to eat all the food they gave us.  No problem for me that night.  We were on a high carb diet and everything we were given was pretty much, well……yellow.  Friday they got us up at like 4:30 a.m. as we were on daylight savings time in this building already.  We had blood drawn and were given a sleeping pill.  While we were on this drug we had to sit at a table for 4 hours.  Oh, but during this 4 hour sit we had our blood drawn every 15 minutes for 2 hours.  I assumed they would put a port in our arm because of the 16 blood draws for the day.  Nope.  They just stick you every single time.  Nice.  This went on until 7 in the evening.  After about the fourth time you don’t even feel it anymore.  I am serious.  I hate needles but by the end of day I was joyfully watching her suck my life away.  I even said thank you when she was done.  Was it the drugs?  I don’t know.

The other days, Saturday through Thursday, we got up and took an anti-depressant at 7 in the morning.  We had to sit upright for 4 hours but not at the table.  We could kick back in the recliners, watch one of two movies that were playing, watch TV, or read.  After our 4 hours we could sleep, listen to music, visit or whatever else we had brought to do.  Sweet.  I have never slept so much in my life!  I had minimal effects from this medication.  The same kind of feeling one might have when taking antibiotics.  I met several nice people and found a couple of people I had connections with.  Two were former video store customers.  One guy knew my neighbor.  Another knew a few other yoga teachers.  Everything is done on a very strict timeline.  When you eat you hold your tray until they record the time and tell you to go.  Blood draws and medications are done the same way.  I was pretty much fascinated by this whole process and thought that I might just like to work at this place. 

The things that were hard for me were eating all of the food.  One morning we were given a bagel with cream cheese at 8 a.m. which was great.   At 11 a.m. which was lunch we had to down 3 pieces of hand tossed pepperoni pizza and 3 breadsticks without sauce.  It was a food fest and without much movement which was hard to stomach at times.  We were not allowed coffee, caffiene, fruit or chocolate.  But we did have Sprite sometimes and other sodas.  I did do a little yoga in the mornings but no strenuous exercise is allowed.  I felt like a total sloth as I have never been so inactive in my entire life!  Another thing that was hard for me at first was sharing a room with 4 other girls that I didn’t know.  This got easier and before I knew it I was sleeping great.  I was up by at least 5 each morning and pretty much one of the first out of bed.

On Friday, our last day, we marched to the lab for a blood draw.  A bunch of people appeared to watch us dose (drug reps I would assume) and we were given both medications at the same time.  We had to once again sit at the table and have our blood drawn on the clock, every 15 minutes.  This was a drug interaction study so I was a bit concerned about getting sick, but low and behold, no one did.  Most of us agreed that on Friday we felt the best that we’d felt all week long.  Perhaps we should’ve scored that drug combo for later use.

I met several people that make a career out of this.  I was shocked but they do.  One girl had made over $20,000 in one year doing just this.  You are not supposed to participate in a study at this place again without 30 days in between studies.  A lot of these people travel to other areas and this is all they do.  I can’t imagine it, but to each his own.  I never imagined myself doing something like this but I am so glad that I did.  It was a great study for my first experience and I do hope that in some way I have helped those who may need these medications.

This morning, Saturday, we had a massive blood draw and an exit physical.  Then we were free to bolt.  The air outside smelled so good (we were not allowed outdoors during the study) and when I got in my car, well, it smelled like a Volvo.  I drove straight to the grocery store and bought strawberries and vanilla yogurt, walnuts, oranges and chocolate covered orange sticks.  When I got home I sat outside in the sun and enjoyed my purchases and thought about the people I’d just met, where I’d just been and what I’d just done.  I also thought about the money that I just made and what I might do with it.  Would you do this for $1,600?  If so and you have questions, feel free to ask.  I feel it was more than totally worth it.   I would definitely do it again.

I think I mentioned in an earlier blog post that 2012 would have changes in store for me.  So far, I am right on the money.  No pun intended.

Custodian Kirsten

My job search began several months ago.

I love teaching yoga but I was really feeling the need to fill my time with something of a different nature when I wasn’t in the yoga room.  I made one of the nicest resumes that I’ve ever seen with the help of great friends.  I started to think about what I would like to do and what I could do.  I did not finish college.  I do have some classes under my belt, but they don’t really count for anything.  I have a heavy background in clerical, data processing, payroll and things of the office nature.  But did I want to go there again?  Maybe. 

I also have my video store background which is retail.  Not only the standing behind the counter part but the ownership part as well.  When I owned that store I had to hire, fire and train employees.  I did my own payroll.  I paid my own bills and ordered my own supplies and merchandise.  It was an every day of the week kind of job and we were open every bit of 12 hours of every single day of the year.  Massive responsibilty for sure.

I started sending out applications to office type of work places first.  I was thinking that perhaps I could give up some morning or evening classes (if I had to) and snag something this way.  My yoga schedule is so weird being that I teach in the morning and the lunch hour and in the evening too.  Every single job that I applied for that was office related I did not get.  I would receive a “Thank you but no thanks.”  The very first place I applied to called me back immediately.  That was probably just because they needed a 45 year old female in the crowd.  I really thought this was going to be easy!  But no.  I went in with a bunch of other people and sat at a computer.  We had like 12 minutes to do this math and other problem solving types of things.  I freaked out.  I received a big fat “Thanks but no thanks” from that place.  Just as well.  It was full time which would’ve meant ditching most of my yoga classes and purchasing an entirely new wardrobe. 

Onward.  I changed my plan and thought I needed to fall back on retail instead.  I applied at several places retail related.  Nothing.  Nada.   I received many “Thanks but no thanks” once again.  I even applied for some assembly line kinds of jobs.  I started to think that there must be something wrong with me.  Maybe I am too old.  Maybe I am too fat.  Maybe I am too stupid.  What’s the deal?  The deal is, it appears that there are millions of people looking for jobs.  One of my friends who works at a hospital (where I applied) said that over 1,000 applied for just one job there.  Wow.  Amazing.

I decided to post an ad on Craig’s List asking for someone to please hire me for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays since those are the days I do not teach yoga.  I listed all of my massive skills and tried to sell myself well.  The only thing I got from that a were several scam types of jobs.  Bummer.  But.  As I scanned Craig’s List looking for part-time work, I ran across a job cleaning.  Yes.  Cleaning.  I’d thought of it before but I really didn’t want to work from midnight to whenever.  And actually, I wouldn’t have cleaned my own house for what some of these cleaning jobs paid.  This was a cleaning job on Saturdays and Sundays that started at six (or earlier) in the morning.  I sent my resume over right away and got a call back.  Apparently I am qualified to clean. 

Custodian Kirsten.  I took the job and I totally love it.  But I will say the first weekend I thought I’d pretty much died and gone to hell.  We are cleaning the Springfield 11, which includes the IMAX Theater.  I like it because I roll out of bed and I don’t have to care what I look like.  It’s quiet when we get there and we don’t have to deal with the general public.  It’s a great workout and I feel energized and still have the rest of my day when I get home around 10:30 in the morning.  I was never one to leave my trash in a theater but lots of people do.  How dare they?  I have gone from owning part of the entertainment industry to, um, cleaning it.  Oh the irony.  This job has been so far a great eye opener for me on what goes down when the rest of the city is still asleep. 

Sometimes what you need to do, is what you gave the least amount of consideration to doing.  Be sure to read the next blog entry for more insight on that.

And remember, please take your trash to the receptacles next time you see a movie.

Birthday In The Bamboo

Lauren turned 14 on Saturday, January 28th.  I told her no parties this year, but I changed my mind.  I was scheduled to enter into a medical study for some cash for two weekends in a row, so I’d planned on putting her birthday on hold.  But.  The study was moved and canceled for about the 12th time in a row.  I decided to host a party.

My good friend and baker, Kelli, was a great sport with short notice.  Lauren has shifted from Littlest Pet Shops to alternative music, skinny jeans, Hot Topic t-shirts and hair colored in an unnatural way.  Yep.  She’s 14.  One of her favorite bands is Falling In Reverse so I had Kelli put the lead singer on the cake.

This guy is totally covered in tattoos up to his chin and Kelli said it might be a bit much on the cake.  I told her forget the body art.  I guess Lauren is into bad boys, just like I used to be.  God help me, and her.  Several kids showed up.  A couple of them had actually attended WOLF with her and the others are classmates from Jarrett.  I ran to Little Caeser’s and picked up like 6 large pizzas for $40.  I got pop at Deal’s.  Sounds like we’re broke doesn’t it?

The weather has been really crazy warm and I do like it, but my mind is in January mode.  After we all chowed down I suggested that we head outdoors to the bamboo forrest around the corner from our house.  It’s a fun place for a photo shoot, so we all took loads of pictures.  I noticed that the city was down there yesterday sawing and clearing out brush.  I have a feeling that our beautiful bamboo forrest will be gone before too long as the city makes way for the green space on Bennett.  I hope not though, we love the bamboo, but I also realize it is incredibly invasive.

We walked by the creek and then the kids all headed to Phelps Grove Park to enjoy the rest of the day.  At dark they all arrived back at the house and piled in Lauren’s room for a movie.  I am so glad I took the time to redo her space.  Though it’s not large, it has a roomier feel and 7 kids were able to hang out on the floor, the bean bags and the bed playing the Wii and having a great time.

Later that night, we unsafely piled into my small car and I drove all over town dropping each kid off at their home base.  All in all.  Better than any medical study and the compensation I would’ve received.  Great day.  Great weather.  Great party!

WOLF School Is WOW

When my daughter was in 5th grade back in 2009, she attended WOLF (Wonders of the Ozarks Learning Facility) and it was a great experience for our entire family.

2009 was the first year that this conservation based school was in business.  The classrooms were located in the old K-Mart building just West of Bass Pro.  They didn’t have a playground.  They had a parking lot.  They didn’t have a lunch room.  The lunches were catered by Parkview High School and they ate their lunch on the floor.  The kids didn’t care they loved the school, the field trips and the teachers.  One of which is still teaching there and the other?  Unfortunately moved on.

Fast forward to now and if you live here, I’m sure you’ved noticed serious construction at the corner of Sunshine and Campbell.  We live extremely close to this intersection so getting Lauren to this school was no problem for us.  WOLF School is now located in a brand new building and it is totally amazing!

We attended the Grand Opening last Thursday evening.  Lauren still volunteers when she can and it’s getting harder with school activities.  She does travel most of the summer with my parents as well.  But we do our best to get some hours in.  After school is out most of the time.  My yoga teaching requires me to be at work when she could be attending animal handling classes.  Lauren had already been inside the new shcool once.  She attended a lock-in prior to the public opening. 

This is the Grand Hall or the entry way.  The classrooms are on the left and are completely secure.  The green wall at the end of the hallway will be removed eventually.  This will allow a connection to the Bass Pro retail store and the WOW museum.  Basically the school will be open to the public so hence for the secure location of the classrooms.  Each area has a neat diorama by the door that features the theme.  So there’s a River Room and so on. 

The classrooms are really cool too.  They have neat stuff on the ceilings just like the Bass Pro store.  One room has the experience of water and a cave system.  One room has grass and flowers like the plains.  Of course there’s no lack of taxidermy and other outdoor gear on the walls as well. 

The ceilings in the main hallway and in the convention rooms are beyond high.  Just massive and beautiful.  The  convention room has a beautifully painted wall mural of the outdoors that was still in progress.  I believe the speaker said it will also feature a real waterfall too.  The gigantic chandeliers in that space are covered with what looks like animal skins.  Real ones?  Probably.  The concrete floors are embedded with animal tracks and the bathrooms?  No mirrors and the stalls appear to be metal with scenes of the outdoors overlayed into them.  And they also have gorgeous stained glass windows and a big round stainless system for handwashing like 6 kids at one time.

While wondering about Harry Potter came to my mind with the dark, thick wood and stone in the architecture.  My favorite space was a big room with big round tables.  The West wall houses the biggest stone fireplace that I’ve ever seen.  We attended the Awards Banquet this week and enjoyed a really nice dinner in this cozy space complete with the fireplace roaring.  The walls are adorned with vintage photos (big ones of course) of the Morris family on outdoor activities. 

Once the place is landscaped the kids will have a playground.  A place for archery.  A fully stocked fish pond where they can fish, clean and cook fish.  The yard will also feature a nature trail with native plants and a cave.  Heck.  They might not need to go on field trips as everything will be in-house.  Was my daughter jealous to see all of this?  Not really.  She mentioned how her class was the first class and they were the pioneers.  I do feel like chances of getting into this great program will be harder now because the building is so incredibly cool.  But if you have a child entering 5th grade, I highly encourage you to apply.  We feel honored to have had this experience and very lucky to be part of such a beautiful new space.

December

This is the second December in a row that I’ve seen a hawk in the yard with its prey.  I wonder what the meaning of that is?  Maybe it means it’s cold and the hawk is hunting in our yard.  Maybe it means something out of the ordinary is going to happen.  Who knows.  What a beautiful bird.  This time the hawk had a squirrel and he hid it from us for quite some time with his wing span.  I do like seeing things like this especially because we live in the middle of town.

Frank is now the Director of Public Safety at the Branson Landing so he’s making the trek down there every single day.  He usually rides the motorcycle to save gas since his truck is quite the hog on that deal.  He seems to enjoy working down there quite a bit.  It’s a much different atmosphere than the Battlefield Mall that’s for sure.  I made it through another November (deer season) and that was total drag for me.  Fall is my favorite time of year and most of the time I’d just like to really opt out of it around here, that’s a fact.

Lauren is super busy just being 13.  Exhausting!  She’s not even in any extracurricular activities and I’m still driving all the time.  She has a few real close girlfriends and they are pretty tight.  They hang out here a lot, they go to the mall,  and they attend Art Walk every single First Friday.  They all love alternative music and I’m pretty happy about that.  They are all going to go and see NeverShoutNever tomorrow night and they are super pumped up about it.  She’s doing well in school but I have to stay on her.  She is lazy and would rather text, Facebook or geek on her iPod.  I have had to limit and take these things away on certain occasions.   She is excited about Parkview next year.  I just hope she can find something to really get “into”.  So far she’s taking French so that’s good.  She loves journalism but wasn’t chosen for the club at her middle school.  I told her in highschool it’s an actual class and you don’t have to be popular to be in it.  She loves photography and art and she also enjoys drama, so I have a feeling that theater could be in her future.  Guess we’ll just wait and see.

Jordan finished his first semester at CMU and is considering transferring to UCM next year.  Bigger school.  NCAA in sports and marine and land biology too.  I think his girlfriend is going to go there.  And it’s cheaper by about half of where he’s attending now.  This is a no brainer to me but it’s his money and his education.  He is doing really well in college and works at the art museum hall there.  Unfortunately with his track schedule he can’t really work very much and that’s a real bummer for us.  I took him shopping this evening for the holidays.  He needed tennis shoes, two pair, and one pair of sandals.  Big money.  Luckily Famous Footwear had buy a pair and receive the second pair 1/2 off.  If you need shoes grab a friend and go!  He will cut his break short and return to school as spring training starts before the break is actually over.

I’m still doing yoga and liking it very much.  I think it will always be a big part of my life whether I’m teaching one class per week or fourteen.  I feel that 2012 is going to bring a big shift for me but I’m not really sure in what way.  I think I’ll do a little animal research on the meaning of hawks landing in your yard with prey two Decembers in a row.  Doesn’t really sound all that Christmas-sy now does it?

I hope you and yours have a holiday to remember. 

Happy Harvest

I made it to Arkansas for the Harvest Music Festival, but not without stalling of course.  On Tuesday I pretty much had everything ready to go.  It started storming Tuesday night and well into Wednesday morning.  I was getting bummed.  Finally the weather cleared up a bit and I headed out alone.  My sister was supposed to fly up and go with me, but that didn’t happen.  Off I went.

I’d never been to Mulberry Mountain in Arkansas before.  The drive is stunning.  I took this route - 65 South, 412/62 West, 23 South.  That’s it.  Easy drive.  23 South of course is the most beautiful roadway as that is the road that heads up the mountain.  Of course since I was driving on a curvy, two-lane road, I didn’t get to turn my head as much as I wanted to.  My car handles great on curves, so it was fun to drive.  I arrived and found my contact person.  I followed him (he was in a golf cart) to my campsite.  I pitched my tent in no time and then he gave me a tour ride in his golf cart of the grounds.  Beautiful location for sure.  But I think I already said that.

The first night was a bit creepy.  The wind started blowing and I mean fiercely around midnight.  I grabbed my phone and logged onto Facebook.  Why?  Who knows.  Someone I knew said to look for someone named Nina.  They said she would be selling her tie dyed tees there.  Cool.  I only knew one person so far so that would be nice if I found her.  Around 1 a.m. I heard someone pitching a tent next to mine.  The wind was crazy so I got up and offered to help.  I introduced myself and she said her name was Nina.  No shit. 

She’d already set up her canopy for her dyes and it was whipping in the wind.  Her tent was getting tattered.  By 3 a.m. we took all of her stuff down, stowed the merchandise in her car, threw her tent in the trash and off she went to stay with friends.  My shelter was still standing but I pretty much got no sleep.  I told her something good would come from the destruction and it did.  On Friday she set up a nice tie dye workshop.  She was so busy she couldn’t keep up with it.  She made more than enough dough to purchase a new canopy for the next fair.

I awoke to wind again on Thurday morning so I opted for not using the campstove.  I paid $2 for some shitty coffee and had peanut butter and crackers, an apple and an orange.  I was exhausted.  I am not an all night person and I never have been.  Those of you who know me, already know this.  I was scheduled to teach yoga everyday at 10 a.m.  and I was pretty excited about that as well as meeting other yogis.  I grabbed my mat and headed over the fence which was close to my campsite.  Another girl showed up and asked where she could plug in her music.  What?  There’s like music all around us was my thought.  Then she said she was there to teach the yoga class.  Really?  Anyways, she firmly believed she was supposed to be there.  So did I, but not as firmly as she did.  She said how about if she taught the first two mornings and I taught the last two.  OK.  Problem solved.  I participated in her class, it was hot out.  The sun felt great.  Our teepee that we were supposed to practice under had been destroyed by the wind the night before.  Yoga outdoors was great even though I was totally exhausted.

After the class my thought was wow, what shall I do with the rest of my day?  I didn’t have to do anything or be anyplace.  I took several walks around the property.  Music started around noon so I enjoyed the small stages that were around us.  My camp as I would find out later, was parked too close to an entertainment tent.  I decided if I was going to make it through the next 3-nights, I would need to sleep in shifts.  So Thursday evening around 8, I crashed.  I woke up to beautiful music around midnight.  I got up, sat in my chair, poured a glass of wine (from a box) and listened.  It was Railroad Earth and they were playing “Lovin’ You” - what a great song.  The air was crisp and cool and the sky was totally clear and the blackest black.  No wind.  The stars were unbelievable and so was the moon.  Every now and then I would see these orange paper lanterns go floating by.  They looked like small hot air balloons.  I dug it and decided that I was very happy to be there experiencing all of this right now.

Friday morning some yoga friends from Springfield appeared and man was I happy to see them.  There was about 5,000 to 7,000 folks at this thing and I really didn’t see anyone that I knew.  We took the yoga class together and then I walked with them to their camp.  What was once a beautiful field was now a sea of tent tops, cars and flags.  I realized people flew flags so they could actually find their campsite.  I did feel a bit claustrophobic at times.  The wide open space was completely gone by Saturday morning.  I downed several glasses of their ice water, engaged in conversation and probably talked too much.  After all, I’d been completely alone for like 72 hours so it was nice to chat.

There were several stages.  One was in a tent right outside my tent.  It was smaller and hosted more local acts, a burlesque show and some Q & A sessions.  One small stage, was down a cool tree lined road full of vendors.  Another stage was under a huge, white tent not too far from me.  The main stage is totally gorgeous.  It is big and the trees are the backdrop.  Every night a band called Yonder Mountain String Band played.  When they went on, most other stages went dark.  The nightly entertainment was awesome.  Girls were dancing with hula hoops that lit up.  Some of them were actually on FIRE.  I like fire and a group of Piyo people (dancing with balls of fire on chains) were showing their skills as well.  There were also these huge puppet people that would walk around the grass and just stalk you.  They were pretty neat to look at.  On the down side, there were a lot of drunk people and the things that go with that.  No need to elaborate.  I never felt unsafe even though I was alone.  Everyone was so very nice and friendly. 

After the yoga class on Friday, the teacher asked me if she could just please teach one more day because she was supposed to do it all.  I said you know what, you can just teach Sunday as well.  I didn’t teach a class the entire time I was there and I got over it pretty quickly, because that’s how I roll.  I got my campstove out Friday night and made pasta and toasted garlic bread in a skillet.  More people arrived and 3 tents were all of a sudden being pitched on top of mine.  This was a band and their people and they played great music in the tent outside of my campsite on Friday night.  I spent that night wandering about watching lanterns, listening to music, watching people and drinking wine.  As I said before, the entertainment in the evening was very cool.

Friday evening I did not get a nap in so by ten I was dead.  I crashed out pretty hard until the people in the next to mine decided to party in more ways than one.  They’d invited me over but I wasn’t interested.  Probably a good call on my part.  At 1:00 a.m. Speakeasy started playing in the tent outside of my campsite.  Whoa.  They are rambunctious, loud and have a massive light show.  No sleeping through that for sure.  There was also a lot of smoke from campfires and lots of other things and I knew I would die from carbon monoxide if I didn’t emerge from my tent soon.  I caught a glimpse of a tasteful burlesque show, watched more people, listened to music and felt totally delirious.  I had no idea what time it was.  My phone was dead and so was the battery in my car from charging it so many times.  I think it was almost daylight on Saturday when I fell asleep.  I woke up to the sun earlier than most people.  I started my campstove, chatted with the security dudes and made hot tea.  I sat in my chair and let the sun hit my face and started to peel off the layers of clothes that I’d slept in.  The nights were cool and the days were hot.  It was like being in Colorado.  I opted out for yoga on Saturday morning. I wanted to get my car started.  Finally it turned over and I let it run for a little bit.  I’m sure I asphyxiated all the people who were still asleep.  Paybacks are hell I know.

I decided since I wasn’t going to be teaching on Sunday, that maybe I would just head on home.  I grabbed my hot tea and headed to the encampment of my friends.  They were making whole wheat pancakes with yogurt and had cantaloupe.  I ate a great breakfast with them and told them I’d catch them later.  I headed back and packed up my campsite in all of 15 minutes.  I took another walk and noticed the line at the shower trailer was 50 people long.  I was glad I got mine in on Friday.  They had one shower trailer with 6 stalls for women and 6 for men.  It cost $5 and I would’ve paid $10.  Money well spent if you ask me.  I did a little shopping before I left too.  Had to have a Harvest T-shirt and I found Lauren a beautiful woven bracelet.  She wears about 20 on one arm.

I headed back to my car and decided that yes, it was probably time to go.  A day early at that.  I was tired and I would have time to totally recuperate and be rested for Monday if I left now.  The drive is about three and half hours. 

Would I do this again?  Maybe.  I’m not sure I’d pay to go though.  Hopefully the yoga thing will work out if I attend again.  I know what to do and what not to do next for next time.  I would definitely camp further away from all the action.  If you do not like outdoor toilets, don’t go.  There are plenty of them, but with people who party they can get nasty pretty fast.  They did do a good job keeping the toilet paper up and getting them hosed out.  There were also handwashing stations and that was a good thing.  You can bring your own liquor but no glass.  You can also buy it there, but it’s costly.  There’s also a lot of smoke, campfires and otherwise.  So let’s just say it’s definitely a harvest of many different kinds.  If you don’t want to pay to shower, then you’ll have to do without.  There are reserved campsites in the wooded areas, they are costly and fill up fast.  They have showers and toilets for those folks only.  The fields where the majority camp have no shade so bring a canopy of some sort.  Even though it wasn’t super hot, some shade is nice now and then.

This was an event filled with all kinds of people.  People of all ages.  There were to my surprise a lot of children there.  I don’t think I’d take my own daughter though. I did find that when I got home the biggest adjustment was simply going indoors.  I thoroughly enjoyed being outside, almost all the time, totally for 4 days. 

Happy Harvest for it’s that time of year.

Nature of Yoga

I’m stalling. 

It’s raining here and it’s raining where I’m supposed to be traveling to here in a bit. 

I am scheduled to teach yoga for the next four days in Arkansas, on a mountaintop, at a music festival.  I wanted my sister to come up and go with me.  That was the original plan.  But someone asked her to have 8 chairs reupholstered by the end of the month.  So her travel plans were pretty much nixed.  I am going alone.  In a tent.  For 4 nights.  The good news is this weather will be over by tonight and the next 4 days ahead look absolutely fabulous.

I started a new yoga job last week at the Rehab Hospital in Mt.Vernon, MO.  What a great place and what awesome people!  They turned the chapel there into a wellness center and it is really lovely.  I like the way they left the stained glass windows as they do not have any religious connotation to them.  The healing garden outside the entry is really pretty as well.

I think I may get to add a couple more classes there.  The one I started is pretty full so there’s talk of possibly adding another class right after the one I’m teaching now.  And the maintenance guys need to stretch too, so I’m told.  But they don’t want to go to a class called yoga.  I suggested we call it Maintenance for Men.  We’ll see what happens.  I love how my job opens up new possibilites all of the time. 

Just look where I’m headed here shortly!  All because I teach a free class on Tuesday mornings and an event planner attended the class.  Looking forward to just teaching yoga one hour a day for the next four days.  The rest of the time?  I’ll be reading, napping, visiting, hiking and listening to music and enjoying the great outdoors.

I’m sure I’ll have some great things to blog about when I return.