The Present Moment

Here it is, the present moment. What are you doing with it? Are you experiencing it fully? When you take a breath are you aware of it as it enters and fills your body and then begins it's journey back into the ether? With the economy in the toilet and the holidays upon us, I wonder how many of you are living in a future moment, robbing yourself of the one you are in? Perhaps the current moment is uncomfortable and you are trying to avoid it. If this moment is the only one you can truly be in what is stopping you from experiencing it?

Whatever it is that takes you out of the present, you already have the tools you need to come back to this moment, you only have to activate them. The key lies in the union of body, mind, and spirit; yoga.

You don't have to be an athlete or a gymnast to practice yoga, in fact you don't even have to have taken a class. All you need is the ability to focus your mind on the actions of your physical body, it can be as simple as observing your breath. You can try it right now if you like:

Become an observer, watch how you breathe without changing anything. How is the air coming into your body? Through the nose...mouth...both?

When you know how the air is coming in, follow where it goes. Are you breathing using your whole body so the breath seems to go all the way to the belly? Or are you breathing more subtly with barely any noticeable movement?

When you have that awareness notice how often you take a breath. Is there a steady pattern to your breath or is it more free form? (Continue observing for several breaths.)

Now that you have that awareness, experiment with deepening the breath inhaling and exhaling through the nose. Perhaps inhaling for the count of 3, exhaling for the count of 3. Become comfortable with this pattern, inhaling 1...2...3... exhaling 1...2...3...

Now with this steady breath try closing your eyes and continuing this breathing count for a few moments. Returning to your natural breath after a few cycles of this even breath or when you feel complete.

Sit for a moment and observe body, mind, and spirit opening your eyes when you are ready. Allow your senses to bring you back to the room, continuing to be an observer. Noticing the world around you through sight, sound, smell, sensation, etc.

Watch how you feel, not just physically, but mentally, and emotionally as well. Hopefully, you find yourself breathing easier, more relaxed, more aware.

As you move through the day, take with you the knowledge that you have the tools at your disposal to be peaceful and present for whatever moment life brings you.

Namaste.

The Secondhand Bandit

This is a follow up to my last post, O Fortuna, the gunman who was outside my chiropractor's office a few weeks ago was caught, the very day of the incident. In fact my chiropractor was outside talking to the police officers when the call came in that the suspect was spotted in an alley behind the office. Dr. Sue said the officers responded immediately and had her get her car and leave, apparently she was so rattled by the experience that she was shaking all through her lunch hour.

The Sun Times ran an article about the capture yesterday apparently "the secondhand bandit" has been wanted in connection to 20 robberies since 2004. If you are interested in reading the article go to www.suntimes.com and enter "secondhand bandit" in to the search engine. It's nice to know that the outcome was positive, no one was hurt and the suspect was obtained. Chicago, apparently is not as lawless as it once was. :-)

O Fortuna....

Perhaps I should have chosen the lyric "Bad Boys, Bad Boys, what you gonna do?" instead...

While en route to the chiropractor I made an unfortunate discovery: there were no quarters in the car nor on my person to feed the meter. Madly I searched, but to no avail. Irritation and fretfulness washed over me as I realized I would have to seek parking on a side street away from the office. As I was running late this development was sure to add minutes to my tardiness. Happily, fortune smiled on me and I scored a sweet meter-less space half a block from the office, which meant I was only five minutes late! Walking west on Winona towards Clark I made another happy discovery: a solitary chicken strutting along the sidewalk. (There is nothing like live farm animals on a city street to brighten your day.)

My adjustment was wonderful, however, as I sat up Dr. Sue whispered "We would like you to sit here a few minutes before leaving." Usually we exchange a few pleasantries then I'm on my way, however, today was different. Apparently, the receptionist, Kristin called 911 during my adjustment because people were fleeing past the office. The Reason: Someone had a gun! The cops were already alerted by an alarm and the situation was quickly under control. Glancing out the picture window, it was clear the danger had passed, people were milling about back to business as usual. To be safe I lingered talking to Kristin a few more moments, then headed out into the sunshine.

Exiting the building I noticed two cop cars on the east and west corners of Clark Street. A glance east down Winona revealed more police cars, officers, and detectives loitering along the street, leading me to believe the Chase Bank on the corner was at the heart of the action. Other than the high profile police presence, it was just another Tuesday in Andesonville. Getting in my car I it dawned on me, Fortune blessed me with tardiness and no coins. My regular spot was currently occupied by one of Chicago's finest and I was safely on my way home...

Oh, Give Me a Home...

The Jersey Boy and I finally found a place to call our own. Searching for this home was swifter than our first. (I credit necessity coupled with experience as the expediting factors this time a round.) Suffice to say, we are thrilled with our new condo and look forward to settling in toward the end of September.

Subletting has been illuminating, I went from having a cozy 3 bedroom, fully furnished colonial with a basement to a minuscule two bedroom apartment equipped with the barest of necessities; a futon, folding table, two chairs, media related electronics,and my yoga gear. What I discovered is that I miss my CD's, sheet music, bed and little else. Perhaps monks, nuns, and such have the right idea...there is a certain freedom in less is more.

Moving to our new home, I wonder if I will continue this practice of austerity? Keeping only the things I need and give me joy, or will I begin to accumulate belongings because I have the space to put them, hanging on to things that no longer serve me...

As always, I'll keep you posted

The Wild, Wild West

Last night there was a thunderstorm that beats any other I have experienced. It was loud and bright, with torrential rain to boot. Rain was pouring into the open windows sending me scrambling to shut them, which was not easy as the wood frames had swollen with the heat impeding movement along the track. Taylor, scared y-cat that he is hid under the futon, leaving Buckley and I to fend for ourselves. Adding to the chaos were the sounds of sirens and whistles, it was cacophony. This ruckus went on for several hours, but then there was blessed silence, however, just as I was drifting off to sleep the storm returned bigger and louder than before. Turns out in addition to the storm there were signs of tornadoes and all the whistles had been a warning system. (Too bad I didn't know it at the time, I was hunkered down watching TiVo in my third floor apartment when I probably should have grabbed the cats and huddled in the laundry room.) Today, the sun is shining brightly and the puddles have dried up, the only evidence of the storm were some traffic lights that weren't working and one tree that had been snapped in half blocking the road. Once again I am reminded of how courteous people in Chicago are, at the intersection of Lawrence Ave and Ashland, the traffic light was out. These are major roads running North-South and East-West and there are multiple lanes on each street. With the traffic light not functioning, cars were piled up for blocks extending in all directions. No one honked and everyone acted as if we were at a 4-way stop sign, allowing traffic to move freely, it was amazing, I am in awe of the mid-west courtesy.

Like a Drifter I was Born to Walk...

Jersey Boy and I went to "Retro on Roscoe" last night. Roscoe Village is a neighborhood surrpounding a section of Roscoe Street with shops and restaurants (including a liquor store named LUSH, love that) west of Wrigley Field. "Retro on Roscoe," an annual event, was packed with revelers of all ages. Street vendors sold jewelry, art work, clothing, food and drink, while bands played hits from the 80's on 3 separate stages. Our favorite was the Hairbanger's Ball, whose members sported coifs supporting their moniker and performed excellent covers ranging from Whitesnake to Joan Jett. (Check out their website if you are interested http://www.hairbangersball.com/) After enjoying the energy of the band and the crowd dancing and singing along to the 80's tunes for an hour or so we headed over to our latest discovery...Scooters for the best frozen custard in town. We topped off the night with a Grasshopper cement blend in for me and a Turtle Sundae for the Jersey Boy. Thank goodness we live in a third floor walk up, we save money on gym fees and still get to eat our way through Chicago, a win win situation if you ask me.

Strange Business Names

As I walk to my favorite neighborhood yoga studio I pass a business called "Good Morning Clinic," musical theater geek that I am I immediately start singing the "Good Morning" song featured in Singing in the Rain. Then I notice the prominently placed list of services, the top offering is a colonic. Somehow the idea of warm water being injected into that particular orifice by a complete stranger in the name of detoxification doesn't make me think "Good Morning" . . . then there is this newly formed connection between Gene Kelly and derrieres and I wish that I could scrub my mind out with soap. Needless to say I now walk a different route to the studio and have no plans to see Singing in the Rain.

Gene Siskel

In 4th or 5th grade, my parents had a policy about attending movies unchaperoned, a review from a parent approved list of film critics had to be provided supporting my choice. Recently this rule popped into my mind, dragged out from a long forgotten dusty corner. The cause? A recent trip to see "Swing Time," starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Yep, Gene was on the approved list causing me much anguish as I waited anxiously for his coveted thumb's up. Often I prayed that my parents would let Ebert's thumb's up trump Siskel's, but alas Ebert was too free with his upturned thumb and my prayers went unanswered. As usual, I digress...

Our outing encompassed more that just the film, additionally we explored Millenium Park including a free outdoor operatic performance(soloist, orchestra, and choir included)in the park's gorgeous outdoor amphitheater. It was a wonderful evening of music and dancing. (Luckily we weren't the ones doing dancing.)

Weirdo Magnet

While living in NYC I discovered I was a weirdo magnet. Invariably if there was a weirdo within a 5 mile radius he somehow sensed my presence, flocking to me like a heat seeking missile. Moving to the suburbs weakened the magnet's pull until if faded into oblivion, however, in an urban environment the magnet appears to be gathering strength. While wandering around Andersonville the magnet's signal captured the attention of a gentleman (aka. Weirdo A) who wanted to engage me in a conversation in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish, heck I can't speak French and I studied that for 5 years. When Weirdo A can't engage me in conversation in Spanish he switches to English explaining to me "I really should learn Spanish, if I learned Spanish it would be very easy to learn Italian and even French, etc. " The highlights of our exchange include his telling me I am young enough to learn these languages and then asking me if I was heading off to play tennis. (Other than the fact that I was wearing sneakers I am not sure where he came up with this idea.) This exchange (coupled with a few minor incidents previously) leads me to believe the pull of the weirdo magnet is gaining strength, which means vigilance is required to keep it in check. Having never mastered this in NYC, I have my work cut out for me. Apparently the suburbs is not rich with weirdos and so the magnet went dormant. Returning to the city has awakened the beast now I have to tame it. Fellow weirdo magnets, I call to you for your tales of weirdos and most importantly instructions for dimming the magnet's gravitational pull, we magnets must stick together. ;-)

Oh, the horror...Freaks and Geeks... Into Every Life a Little Rain Must Fall

I'm back from outer space (a little homage to Gloria Gaynor)... did you miss me? Our Chicago adventure continues with a little bit of camp. Saturday evening at midnight the Jersey Boy and I walked to the Music Box Theater to see... wait for it...Batman. Not just any Batman, we are talking classic Batman, think tights, non-chiseled abs, and barely legal side kicks. If Adam West and Burt Ward are popping into your mind you guessed correctly. This was the 1966 movie starring most of the cast from the classic TV series: grumpy old man, Meredith Burgess, as the Penguin, the Latin from Manhattan, Cesar Romero, as the Joker, and Frank Gorshin as the Riddler. Gorshin has the distinction of being the only cast member from the TV show to receive an Emmy nomination for his performance and is my favorite of the male villains (As a kid I thought he was kind of cute, which is a little alarming, after watching him frolic in his green unitard Saturday I may need decades of therapy, or perhaps a good stiff drink. But I digress...) Sadly, the uber villain and my favorite baddie, Cat Woman, was portrayed by Lee Meriwether, who gave a purr-fectly fine performance, but was no Julie Newmar.

I bet you're thinking with The Dark Knight, out this weekend why go see this old version of the movie? Aside from the nostalgia factor, there was the bonus of having the movie acted out simultaneously by Midnight Madness. (If you' ve seen Rocky Horror Picture Show at the IFC Center NYC (formerly the Waverly) you will get the idea.) Or if thinking makes your brain hurt check out the website to see the cast for yourself http://www.midnightmadness.org/.

What an experience seeing this movie was. First of all, the Music Box Theater is a beautifully restored old theater with a Gothic feel to it's interior. Adorning the lobby were dark carpets, high ceilings and velvet ropes to hold back the crowd pre-show, while the theater space contained a stage with scalloped red, velvet curtains which rose to reveal the movie screen behind it. A travel spot illuminated the announcer prior to the movie and followed the actor's movements as the movie progressed. It was the perfect blend of cinema and live theater.

Now for the Freaks and Geeks... upon entering the movie theater I looked around and realized the Jersey Boy and I were significantly under dressed. Glancing at the crowd I saw, T-shirts with Bat Signal emblems, the odd mask or two, capes and bat wings, finally as my gaze rested on a woman in full Robin regalia I wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. (As it turns out she was a cast member, but the scene conjured up images of what I imagine a Batman convention would look like. Basically Trekies in capes.)

I enjoyed the movie and the live floor show. Some of the props Midnight Madness found for their production were pretty impressive. (They actually had the bust which opens to provide access to the bat cave.) Exiting the theater around 2 a.m. we discovered it was pouring rain. Sadly, we were unprepared and had to slog home sans umbrella. The irony was the same thing had happened to me the day before as I exited my favorite coffee joint, Julius Meinl. Crossing the street the skies opened up and I spent 45 minutes under a Prudential Realty awning waiting for the rain, which oscillated from lightly coming down to torrential downpour, to pass. You would have thought that experience would have left an impression...obviously I was never a scout.

Until next time...

Sign of the Times

Walking past a funeral parlor in our neighborhood today, I noticed a small sign in the window which said "Kid Friendly Business" and I had to wonder... what the heck does that mean? Are dead children welcome there? Are live children welcome to attend the funerals? Or is it one of those safety oriented signs to indicate to children who are in danger that this Funeral Home is a safe place to take refuge? Very strange.

This is not the first sign I have seen that caused me to pause and take notice. All over our alleyway are signs that say "Warning, this is private property. Unauthorized vehicles will be relocated at the owner's expense." It's the relocated part that gets me, it seems so polite. At first I thought the sign was unique to our neighborhood, but I have seen them all over town. It seems that people in Chicago are even courteous about towing. This is much different from NYC, half the time the "No Parking" signs aren't even present and you arrive where you parked your car to find it MIA without any further explanation. At least here you get a warning, and one with a cordial tone.

I'll keep you posted on further adventures, but wanted to get that off my chest and into print while it was on my mind.

So Hot, Too Hot

So, yesterday was a glorious day of exploring. Our friends, Tim and Ed, were in town and the first visitors we have had since moving here the last weekend in June. Sadly, the Jersey Boy had to work, so I was left to discover the city's riches without him. This was the first time I left the neighborhood alone and rode the CTA, which was a hot sweaty mess yesterday with problems going and coming back (ah, the bliss of public transportation...) however, I made it to both my destination and my home so I won't complain too loudly. :-)

What astounds me the most about this experience of moving to a big city is how foreign it sometimes feels. I lived in Manhattan and Queens for about 4 years and was independent and adventurous, but having been in the burbs and one half of a couple for the last several years it seems as if my Sir Francis Drake genes have atrophied. (Seriously, according to our family tree we are related to Drake on my dad's side, but I digress.) Until yesterday I only ventured to areas that I could walk or drive to. It never occurred to me to take the El alone and explore the vastness that is Chicago. Sometimes I feel like a fruit fly. (In high school we did an experiment where we put fruit flies in a jar and after a period of time transferred them to a larger jar. We discovered the flies would only jump to the height of the small jar never challenging themselves to go beyond what they had learned about their original environment.) So I have to thank Tim and Ed for coming to the city, liberating me from my jar and expanding my horizons.

We spent the day in downtown Chicago. First, there was an architectural tour of the city by boat on the Chicago River, which was fantastic. It was interesting to see the city from that vantage point and to hear about the different buildings. My favorite part was hearing about Daniel Burnham, whom I had read about in the book "The Devil and the White City," the story centers on the World's Columbian Exhibition of 1892 in Chicago. Amazingly, Burnham's vision for the city of Chicago is still being implemented today. (Talk about long term planning.) From the river we were able to see the former Post Office, where scenes from the upcoming Batman flick were filmed. (I am looking forward to seeing this movie in IMAX and keeping my eyes open for the Post Office scenes. I know, I'm a geek.)

Another highlight of our trip was seeing the city scape from the Hancock building. At this building there are breath taking panoramic views of Lake Michigan which can be seen from either the Observatory or the Signature Lounge. There is a $15 fee for the observatory, while a cocktail from the lounge is $12 and offers up the view plus the addition of a nice buzz...Hmm, which do you think we chose? :-)

Our exploration ended at the Navy Pier. Definitely a family friendly tourist destination with a Ferris wheel, food, and gift shops galore. However, the stained glass museum is the reason we braved the heat and crowds venturing to this location. It was worth the walk. The window panels were gorgeous depicting much more than religious themes, offering up landscapes and geometric designs in brilliant colors. I overheard a little girl of about 6 or 7 telling her friend that she had to see the most beautiful window EVER, this scene was pretty funny and terribly cute. While exploring the Navy pier, I also discovered the location of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater which I have filed away in my memory banks for a future outing. Thanks again to Tim and Ed for inviting me to be part of their Chicago vacation, it was extra nice to discover the wonders this city holds in the company of dear friends.

Hopefully, I will get my digital camera soon so I can send along pictures to document these places, which I hope to return to with the Jersey Boy when the next opportunity for exploration arises. My discoveries yesterday have served as inspiration to strike out on my own and uncover the other wonders of Chicago. I'll keep you posted...

Summer in the City

After sending blanket e-mails with my adventures in the Windy City I decided to set up a blog. (Thanks, Dee for the idea!) This way if you are curious about my adventures in Chicago you can check out the blog and I won't have to subject your in-box to long winded e-mails about squirrels and exploding transponders or real life sightings of "Lars and the Real Girl."

As an east coast transplant I have to say I am really digging Chicago in the summer. This former Manhattanite, turned Jersey suburbanite, is loving rediscovering that dormant City Side of myself here in Chicago. We have walked along Lake Michigan, explored the Chicago Zoo (its free and gorgeous!), listened to great music at the Chicago Folk & Roots Festival (www.oldtownschool.org), and seen what I hope is the first of many shows at Steppenwolf (www.steppenwolf.org).

When we finally get a more portable digital camera I will supplement my text with some photos, I have never seen a lake as gorgeous as Lake Michigan, it's like looking at the ocean. You can't see land on the horizon and the water is the color of the ocean in the Caribbean, aqua not muddy brown like parts of the ocean near New Jersey, there are even waves that crest along the shore. I am told the water is too cold to swim in, but I can't corroborate that statement as I haven't tried it myself.

I am off to see what adventures today may bring...

First Post in the Windy City

After much consideration I decided to set up a blog about my adventures in Chicago. (Thanks to Dee for the idea!) This way if you are interested in what's happening here you can check the blog, and if you aren't I don't keep bombarding you with silly e-mails regarding squirrels and exploding transponders or real life sightings of "Lars and the Real Girl."

So as an east coast transplant, I have to say the Windy City is pretty rocking in the summer. The beach is gorgeous and Lake Michigan looks like the ocean (it's the color of the water in the Caribbean not the color of the Jersey shore aka. muddy brown). When I finally get a decent and portable digital camera I'll post a photo so you can see for yourself. We've been here two weeks and I am starting to feel like I know my way around.

The highlights of the past two weeks were the Old Town School of Folk Music