Long week... but good. Seattle was cold and wet and cold (oh did I say that twice?). First I got to go to Karazi's jewelry show (where I gave myself a beautiful Ganesh/glass pendant) and then to dinner with JumpsThruSomeday (but already is) and OneCrookedFella at Tilthe. Since they are two of my favorite yogis, this was much fun for me. (So so so... how did Thursday go?)

I did a couple self practices. I had a really good Kapotasna one day. Probably just the late hour but it felt wonderful nonetheless. The pose is starting to be less scary and more just about the doing. Now finding my bandhas? That is starting to be what looks to be impossible (just like Kapotasana used to be... and before that... and before that...).

Work... was work. Busy... crazy... and also stimulating and fun. If I didn't have kids right now, I'd be having the time of my life. Seriously. Mommy guilt is one of the worst and most elusive feelings in the world. We had our company holiday party. Let's just say... that I had such a stressful day... that I wound up starting the evening with a mudslide (shot containing kalua, vanilla vodka and baileys... yes it tastes just like chocolate milk). Then I had about 7 more. The key here is that I don't drink hard alcohol and probably haven't in 7 years. I sprinkled in a few glasses of wine. I had on a bitchen dress that was low cut (like all the way to the breast bone... but the bonus of having had bilateral mastectomies is that my breasts don't move and stay perky... meaning I can now wear stuff like this) and my new Karazi glass pendant topped with 4" man-inspired pantent leather pumps (that are TOO cute). The valet guy ended up hitting on me all night (and since he was cute, this was quite flattering) and there were lots of laughs and surprises. Fortunately, somewhere at some point found me in my hotel room where I managed to remove my clothes and find my way between the top sheet and the comforter where I promptly fell asleep until my phone rang in the morning. The pounding in my head and fundamental difficulty recollecting all events of the previous night reminded me of all the reasons I don't drink hard alcohol... ever. It was fun though (and, yes, I remember the whole night though some of the edges are a bit fuzzy).

Later in the week I got to meet up with Neti and Mrs. Neti for a bowl of chowder at the chowder house. HOORAY. I love Mrs. Neti... she is hands down one of the most beautiful women I've ever met who also is awesomably personnable. Yes I officially now make up my own words.

Flew home on my free upgrade to first class (which I think I only get the perk til the end of the year which sucks) and did up the Yule tree with the family and went to practice this morning... my teacher back... I am so happy.

I have found that I do best when I only do first series within 24 hours of travel. Today my left shoulder was just aching... this is a result of carrying a heavy bag while traveling. I was only going to do first... but when I finished Setu Bandhasana I saw my teacher looking at me with that questioning look like "What are you copping out yet again?" So I went for it. I'm glad I did... I had a lovely Kapotasana which won one of the very few uttered "That was good" sentences. The girl next to me leaned over and said "Coming from there, that means it was fabulous."

The elation was duly crushed when, after my first attempt to jump into Bakasana, he said kindly from the other side of the room "You won't earn any frequent flier miles with that."

No, no, I suppose those free first class upgrades aren't available on the mat, are they?