Water at Night

Taken with iphone so not the best but an absolutely beautiful site and calming sound.

11.11.11

I've always been a fan of numbers, odd ones in particular. There is an entire rational behind which numbers I like or dislike. The point of this is that today, 11.11.11 has received a lot of hype - as it should. I mean really, it's pretty amazing - the number 11:

(2 digits) 11 x 11 = 121
(6 digits) 111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
(9 digits) 111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

The Huffington Post calls it the Greatest Binary Day of All. And it's a date that happens once every hundred years.

So for me on 11.11.11, I finished 50 consecutive bikram yoga classes. Today, 11.11.11 at 11:11 I was in the last minutes of my 50th class, likely in a floor bow or half tortoise - peaceful and meditative. Basically I realized that from the day I started until today was 50 classes so I said why not. In the past I did a 60 day challenge, so this time I switched it up a bit. In those 50 classes I took two silent classes, which were amazing. For those of you who aren't familiar with bikram, it is a 90 minute, open eyed meditation consisting of 26 postures and two breathing exercises in a room heated to 104 degrees. Your instructor leads you though the practice with a 90 minute dialogue. So, taking a silent class was something new and completely incredible. The first silent class I took was on the first snow storm in NYC. It was one of the most peaceful experiences. Also during these 50 classes I did two doubles. I did not intend to do a double the first or second time but had such strong classes that I wanted to keep that feeling going. Again, an amazing experience that really tested my physical and mental strength. I am so proud that I completed my challenge - it took determination, discipline, patience and love.

Following the completion of my class, in honor of today and accomplishment I got myself a little gift. A word with a lot of meaning, particularly today, but also in general. A permanent reminder to "dream of revelry." I've been thinking about this little tattoo for awhile, but no day seemed more perfect than today. Accomplishment seeping from my being and a peaceful feeling that will no doubt be carried with me all weekend as I head to the beach. I am so excited to head to the beach and get out of the city for a couple of days, to be by the water and with some of my oldest friends. So here's to being grounded and centered and a new day. I will head back to yoga I'm certain on Monday, but for the weekend, here's to REVELRY.

Also, one more thing, on a lighter note, something you should read because it is simply hysterical! A little Craigslist ad for a used yoga mat.

And now back to 11 and it's amazingness, remember that in Blackjack, an 11 is...time to double down.

"I am done with my graceless heart/so tonight I'm going to cut it out and restart"

It's no secret I love music. It's also no secret that I've been known to listen to songs on repeat, with the volume up. Songs have always found me when they are supposed to, a few weeks ago Florence + the Machine released their sophomore album. Considering her first album was more than spectacular, she set a high bar for number two. Not only did she bring it on Ceremonials, she killed it in ways only she knows. That f*cking voice. Haunting, in the best way possible.

The release of this album at the tail end of my Bikram Yoga challenge was exactly what I needed to take the challenge to new depths. Tomorrow, 11.11.11 I will finish my challenge and will no doubt take some serious time to reflect, to dance and to sing. More centered and more grounded than when I started. My weekend will be spent by the water, grateful.

P.S. - This video totally makes me want to have a masquerade party...more to come on that for sure.

This is what it looks like to Occupy

An aerial view of Zuccoti Park in New York City, on Sunday, October 16, 2011.












Occupy Wall Street's Working Group Schedule. This is what a revolution looks like. We are organized.














Eve Ensler participates in the Women's Caucus meeting, discussing how to raise the voices of women in this movement and how particular economic crisis disproportionately impact women.





Geraldo Rivera shows up with Fox News to report on the "demands" of Occupy Wall Street.




















The wash line at the kitchen.

















The Kitchen, food for all from the kind donations of strangers.

















DeLaVega tells it like it is, as always.













My new favorite library, "The People's Library"
















100s of books for the occupiers - take it, read it, pass it on...











and the unions show up in force!!!

Let the beauty we love be what we do.

There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

~Rumi

Dance, when you're broken open.

Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.

Dance in the middle of the fighting.

Dance in your blood.

Dance, when you're perfectly free.

-- Jelaluddin Rumi (13th century)

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

- Mark Twain