Happy Songs - Nate Walcott, Mike Mogis, Big Harp "At Your Door" w/Lyrics Stuck in Love...

Happy Songs

Elton John is right, sad songs say so much. I'm a fan of sad songs. I put together a playlist of nothing but sad songs. It was great! Sad songs are so awesome to sing along with and I sound amazing when I sing them. (Alone in my car of course.) I listened to that playlist twice and both times wanted to kill myself before I even got to the end. I have to listen to sad songs in small doses. Lesson learned.

These days I primarily listen to happy, uplifting songs. Songs that make me feel like I can conquer the world or at the very least get through the next hour. I came across this article on NPR and thought I'd share it. I will definitely be adding the song to my playlist and trying the dance moves. Alone in my living room of course.

Come Dance With Me - Robert Krulwich

IV Sedation for Dental Work, Otherwise Known as Bullshit!

"I am not an animal!!!!"

I've had a lifelong fear of the dentist. The picture above is of me after a filling. The dentist gave me what he referred to as, "Enough Novocaine to take down a horse!" but I still felt everything. This may explain my passionate dislike of dentists. I don't dislike dentists as people. Well...maybe I do. What kind of person chooses a career where they're paid to torture people? I realize that last statement coming from me, a physical therapist, is sort of ironic.

My first dental experience ended with a huge bite mark on my Mom's shoulder, (it was the last bit of her I could clutch on to as they ripped me from her arms), and the words, "SHE KICKS", written in big red letters in my chart. My behavior really hasn't changed much since then. I haven't bitten or kicked anyone in a while but I have fainted. Not because of what they were doing to me. I fainted because the woman in the room next to mine moaned and I knew she was having teeth pulled. Why would anyone go through an extraction awake?! When I had my wisdom teeth extracted I opted for what I thought was general anaesthesia. It seemed the safest option for everyone involved. Boy was I wrong. I walked in to the oral surgeon's office that morning with my Mom and the biggest stuffed animal I could find. (Did I mention I was 26 at the time?) They strapped me to a table in the crucifix position. Like Jesus Christ. It sucked. Then they plopped my stuffed animal, a big blue dog, on my chest. How the heck was I supposed to squeeze the dog when my arms were velcroed to a table?! I asked the nurse to get the dog off me. I didn't want to look silly...that's the last thing I remember. 

When I came to I was sitting beside my Mother and I was sobbing. Hysterically. Like unable to get words out hysterical, barely able to breathe, snot flying everywhere and I didn't care, hysterical. Mom was patting me and going back and forth between asking me over and over what was wrong and asking the nurses because I wasn't answering. With much struggling and gasping for air I managed to say, "I...Want...My...Dog!!!!" They told my Mom that crying was a post anaesthesia reaction. She took them at their word and I was in no state to question anything. Until the next day when I took a shower and found I was covered in bruises. I called the oral surgeon's office and asked the secretary if she could tell me what the hell they'd done to me. She put me on hold to check my chart. When she came back she told me I'd broken loose from the straps and started fighting. What?? I used my hulk like strength to break loose from the straps and started a brawl? No wonder I woke up sobbing! I'd just fought an entire room full of people! The woman on the phone explained to me that oral surgeons don't use general anaesthesia, they use twilight sleep. You're not completely under so the dentist can interact with you, have you turn your head and spit, open wider...and try to kick his ass! She didn't tell me what kind of damage I did but I like to think I dealt out a bruise or two of my own.

There's No Talking During Savasana!!!!!

The pose you see pictured above may look like a group nap or a scene from The Walking Dead but it's not. It's Savasana, otherwise known as Corpse pose. When I first started practicing yoga I was often tempted to get up and leave during Savasana. I didn't because it's incredibly rude but man did I want to. Lie still? Quiet my body and my mind? Seriously?! Who's got time for all that when there are shoes to buy, dogs to let out and dinner to cook? Lie still?? Ha! (Clearly I was missing the point of yoga.) It's taken time to truly appreciate the pose but the more I learn the more I've embraced and look forward to it. Being a full time parent, having a full time job makes for a very full mind. Taking the time to turn it off and rejuvenate in Savasana, even if it's only five minutes, is one of the best things I do for myself each day. 

Some of my students picked up on the benefits of this pose waaaaaay sooner than I did. I've been teaching two nights a week and I've gotten a couple complaints when it's time to come out of savasansa.  "No...I'm not ready yet..." they'll say. I'm impressed by this and a little jealous. Yoga is something new for most of them. The majority of the class had never attended a formal class. Last week I had to tell someone, in my very best dreamy, yoga teacher voice, "There's no talking during Savasana." That didn't work. She kept right on talking to the gentleman beside her. I smiled inwardly. Ah yes, I've been there. No time to be still. I repeated myself in my Mommy voice. "There's no talking during Savasana!" That did the trick. 

Django Taco - Northside

Holy good tacos Batman!!!!

My friend and I were starving after an evening of watching Roller Derby so we wandered over to Northside to find something to eat. Django Western Taco is one of several taco places in Northside. I'm not sure why tacos restaurants are suddenly so hip. Maybe it's because you can stick any combination of veggies and cheese in a tortilla and it's delicious? Perhaps having your meal folded in two is interesting...I don't know but I'd give this restaurant a two thumbs up.

Our server was prompt and friendly, two qualities I appreciate in a waitress. I loved her right away because she came to the table with chips in her hand. I like anyone who brings me food while they're greeting me. There were several choices for my carnivorous friend and a vegetarian taco for me. The server suggested I try the chile relleno as another vegetarian option. We decided to split that and each ordered tacos for our individual tastes. My friend tried the signature spicy margarita. A bit too much heat for me but still yummy. I stuck with the traditional margarita on the rocks. The food was great and as an added bonus some of the patrons and staff spontaneously burst in to song. I have no idea if this happens often but naturally I joined in. Who doesn't love a sing a long? I would definitely go back!

I Pulled Someone's Wig off Today...

Omg!!! I pulled someone's wig off!!!!

There's no better title for this post because I did indeed pull someone's wig off today. I kind of wish the woman had been a complete stranger but that's not how my luck goes. No...it was a co-worker. A co-worker who's wearing a wig because she lost her hair from all the chemo and radiation used to treat her cancer! I admit I've been tempted to rip the wig off her head. Not because I'm mean spirited but because fighting cancer and winning...that's bad ass! I'd rock that bald head if I were her. But.. Being tempted to rip someone's wig off and actually doing it are two very different things. 

Very different. Here's what happened.

A few months ago I started yoga teacher training. Some of my co-workers expressed an interest in learning so I offered to teach a class, free of charge, and opened it up to everyone. It's worked out well. They get to experience yoga and I get to practice teaching. They're doing great so tonight I put them through the most rigorous practice yet. While they were relaxing in savasana, I came around to make adjustments. Gentle, feel good stretches to help them relax. I was feeling really good about the evening until I got to her. The combination of  warmer weather and the vigorous practice had made her sweat. Because she was sweating the very gentle stretch to her neck resulted in my pulling the wig off her head. 

OMG!!!!

She put her hands up to stop it but it was too late. I made matters worse by trying to push it back on her head...

Twice...

Sigh.

Luckily no one else noticed and she wasn't as mortified as I was. 

My yoga teacher did NOT warn me about this...

Would You Just Stop Smoking Already??

I quit smoking. I should be excited, proud of myself, happy that I'm going to be healthier but I'm not. I'm sort of pissed off that I quit because I did it under false pretenses. I've been having a lot of heart palpitations. More than I normally do and before anyone starts to lecture, my doctor is aware. Some things that cause palpitations are caffeine, nicotine and lack of sleep. I'm guilty of all three. At least I was. Smoking seems the most evil of this triad. It's horrible for you, it makes you stink...there's just no good argument for doing it. So I quit. And it didn't make a single difference in the palpitations! Somehow I feel cheated by this which I know is completely stupid. I'm not going to start again, I'm just going to complain about it for another day or two and then move on with my smoke free life. 

Digital Nails

Dark Purple polish with Pegasus Poots on top

I love glitter. Like REALLY love it. I shared an office with an Occupational Therapist. She used glitter all the time making projects with the kiddos. I'd end up covered with the stuff and thought it was awesome! Once right before the principal got to our room for our yearly inspection she dropped a huge bottle of glitter. It was everywhere. She was in a panic trying to clean it up while I was using my feet to spread it around the room. "No, this is good!" I said looking like an ice skater. "Ours will be the fairy room!" She didn't appreciate this but come on...who can't use a little more sparkle in their lives?!

Turquoise polish by china glaze with Pegasus Poots on top

So you can imagine how excited I was to discover the super mega glittery nail polish you see pictured above. I ordered several bottles of polish from the Digital Nails etsy shop. I ordered two thermochromatic polishes, Nox and Colovaria. I don't know what thermochromatic is but it's amazing. My nails change color all day long! It's endless entertainment. Seriously, sometimes I look down and have a french manicure, no clue how this happens but it does!

Colovaria by Digital Nails

The owner of the shop included the Pegasus Poots polish as a bonus, "because you NEED it." she said and she was right. I did need it. I put it over some boring purple polish I already had and got the results you see at the top. Not only are the polishes gorgeous and entertaining, they make my nails feel tough as diamonds and I can go a week with no chips. That's saying a lot as I abuse my hands all day long. I've already ordered several more bottles and can't wait to try them! Highly recommend.