With the lead dev architects of our company in town, I was nervous that the workload and socializing would lead me astray from the discipline I've rekindled this week. Each practice, solid and focused and a perfect experience. So Thursday night, I took the high road... no alcohol, early to bed, early to rise.

My plan Friday morning, in an effort to do my whole practice, was to get up very early and be on the mat no later than 6:30. Things started on point... and then... picture this scene:

I grab my mat, a towel and my purse... in my purse are the set of keys I carry around which include my house keys, The Husband's car key, my car key, mailbox, a friend's house, etc. Since I've had The Husband's BMW for the past few days, I had left my keys in my purse and was using the very small single little key/computer thingy that he keeps on the inside console (in an effort not to lose it). I open the passenger side door and I set all of my items down (okay, I kind of fling them down) on the passenger seat. I step back and proceed to close the door. As the door leaves my hand with enough momentum to shut, I see the lights on the door handles flick on and the click of the lock. It takes me only the time it takes to walk to the driver's side, attempt to open it before the crash of realization that every key we own to that car is now locked inside of it.

I begin to imagine the time and suffering it will take to get AAA or some other similar resolution to the situation. Then it dawns on me... I can't call AAA... I can't call a locksmith... you see it's a computer chip... there is no "lock" on the doors.

That's when the panic set in. How silly, right? Panic. Well not true panic but the little diatribes we all give ourselves in times of chaos. I was bummed mostly about practice. I really NEEDED to be at practice and I really WANTED to be there. I didn't want anything to take away from the week of practice... I just didn't. I NEEDED it.

I told myself to give up the idea... and I woke up The Husband... first apologizing for the idiocy and then asking what the hell I was going to do.

That's when the coolest use of technology I've ever seen was experience first-hand... by me!

We called BMW. Nope, we didn't sign up for that OnStar or whatever plan it is... what a sales pitch! ;-) The lady then asks me when I last turned the car on. I tell her 6:30 the prior evening. She instructs me to move to the trunk and depress the little button that you use to open it for 10 seconds. I do. I hear the car's memory cycle up. Ahahaha... a web service is about to ping my car! And so it does... and 10 seconds later, I see the tell-tale lights under the door handles and the driver's side door pop unlocked.

BOOYA. THAT is a fabulously beautiful piece of software and I am in love with the architects and developers who made it.

I was on my mat by 7am.... and I practiced. First series was lovely..... Kapotasana was funny. First time, I told The Australian to leave me alone. Somehow the joke began that women need good timing. Second time, my teacher walks around and I immediately exit... he walks away dismissing me ;) Third time I call The Australian over... we go back... he tries to pull my right hand into my heel first and I can't do it. So we do it again... and this time I got my heel but could only maintain one finger on each for the whole pose. But, heck, at least the drama was worth something :)

When I hit Bakasana B, my teacher came to help me. I have such a huge road to climb. No, seriously. I have no bandhas. I know it is hard to believe but I really just don't have the bandhas that are required for jumping into Bakasana B. I'm sure I will grow them eventually but I don't have them right now. My teacher ended up having me kick up into a handstand. I can't do that two legged jump up into a handstand... or even get my feet 2 feet off the floor. I don't know why... I just can't. So I kicked up one leg at a time and then he had me bring my knees to my chest... only I didn't know I wasn't supposed to be bending my elbows and so I ended up taking myself down on my ass and almost pulling him over ontop of me. Nice. Again... second time better... it is only in part due to the fact that the entire room is now watching this little circus act. On my last attempt without help... I did manage to land it pretty well... but no holding.... and not a good landing... my teacher said "Better" --- you always gotta be happy with "Better."

Friday night I went to dinner at Tiff's restaurant after plugging in a fairly stressful 12 hour day. I bought way too much expensive wine (but it was really good), didn't eat enough... but, eh, whatever... what a great week of practice.

The Son tried to teach me Pokemon today. I just could not keep all the pieces right. That's a fairly intricate game in all. I gave up... Then we tried to program the NXT but I accidentally ate through the memory when I tried to send a test connection via Bluetooth from Microsoft Robotic's Studio. I can't figure out how to wipe the memory so now we can't talk to the brick. But it was fun trying. I'll fix it later.

The Daughter and The Husband and are on their first Indian Princesses campout. The Daughter has been looking forward to this for 3 years now. Her brother bounced out of Indian Guides last year so it's her turn now. I can't wait to find out how it goes.

I was talking with a friend today about how much I've become a "girl." I finally feel like I'm integrating all the aspects of myself in one solid package. No, I'm not all enlightened or, heck, even anything more than utterly confused... but the point is... I finally feel like I've got some of the puzzle pieces fitting together. It's no mid-life crisis.. just a big sigh of relief... like finally I see myself. I have no idea what to do with any of it really... but it's nice to think about it. I AM a girl. I should become a girl.