I spent the whole day yesterday in L.A. My LA days are really hard. I leave the house at 6am... I sprint to Starbucks for a Grande Mocha with No WhipCream in a Venti cup and then I race to catch the train. I then spend 2 hours trying to garner an Internet connection; either trying to steal someone's broadband or hooking up my Treo and using it as a modem (as soon as the broadband Treo is out of trial mode, I'm getting it). After arriving in LA I spend a whole day doing something and then I spent from 5:10 - 8pm trying to get home and it sucks. I tell myself to work and I often do but I also find myself exhausted and feeling like Crappy Parent #1 because I haven't seen my children all day and the odds are they'll be in bed by the time I pull into the garage. My hips get tight, my hamstrings even tight and it looks very odd (but is very good balance practice) to try stretching on the train.

Though I was supposed to have kid duty today, I fanagled a practice out of it anyway by paying The Nanny to come this morning. I was really tight when I got to practice and my arms felt like they might break for some reason. Sun Salutations were rough and standing just felt really off for some reason. I actually considered leaving but then Tiff showed up and I felt like I had to commit to stay :) Not that I would really leave it's one of those smart lies you tell yourself.

My practice was tight and not very meditative. I was in seated poses when I looked up and saw Tiff doing Utthita Hasta and I realized I plum forgot both standing balance poses. WHAT is with forgetting poses. In the very least, I should try to forget the poses I struggle with rather than the ones I actually really like. Retrograde stuff? I was in Triang Mukha when Tim saunters over and says "Why going south?" It took me a good 3 breaths into the adjustment to realize that he meant I was leaning in the direction "south"... we did the other side and he said "Why going north?" Tim has been in a very funny mood lately.

I dragged through first series today.. but I felt much better by the time I got to second series. While I was doing Laghu Vajrasana Tim was assisting the girl next to me... I did it once not coming all the way down then did it again and I think my hair was touching but I definitely wasn't crown of head... when I came up I let out a grunt to which I was admonished to keep my mouth closed. I did a couple backbends and felt pretty tight... when suddenly the girl next to me and I ended up in a quiet conversation about our personal frustrations. It's probably the longest, during practice conversation I've ever had... but I couldn't put it off any longer so I did my third backbend... and up I came. Since I had just finished telling the girl next to me my sob story of pulling off effortless standups on Sunday and then flailing Monday, she actually clapped for me! Of course, Tim wasn't watching.

My dropbacks suddenly feel horrid. I hesitated a long time today before dropping back and when I did it was really loud and horrid... I walked it in, felt around... stood up and, wala, Tim was standing right in front of me. Finally! I have been wondering why I feel the need to show him I can do it but I guess it is because he is my teacher... I mean... it's like getting an A on your homework but no one bothered to look at it :)

Today is the Krishna Das kirtan at the studio...The Daughter is really excited... it will be interesting to see if she dances like she does at home. A crazy day... getting ready for Guruji on Friday... I have no idea when I'll be able to pack!