99to1

At first it was the strawberries from the two plants Al gave us last summer. We harvested about 15 to 20 berries a day...

then it was the raspberries...

I am surprised by how many people have never tased Salmon Raspberries. They are at once sweeter, and more delicate than common red raspberries.

Loren and I have been eating bowls of berries and yogurt all summer long. We have been buying a ridiculessly tasty vanila yogurt that is 8% fat. It is nearly cream! No wonder I've been gaining weight...

This weekend I read a paper called "Iyengar and the Yoga Tradition" by Karl Baier, it was quite dry and not very interesting reading (mind you it was a translaltion) but Baier's ideas (or Iyengar's)are quite interesting.

It's an acedemic type paper examining Iyengars method of teaching yoga; that being primarily through asana and pranayama. So I also relate it also to SKP Jois and Ashtanga. Basically Baier presents material from Iyengars speaches and writings and tries to point out that all of the other 6 limbs of astanga (ashtanga) yoga are present and can be learned within these two limbs (asana and pranayama).

In the article Baier mentions S T Krishnamacharya, and his teacher, Ramamohan Brahmachari, and the region where Brahmachari was to have been living at the time that Krishnamacharya was learning from him. I Found these images of Lake Manasarovar, located in present day Tibet...

I like the thought that my teacher's teacher's teacher travelled to someplace near this lake to meet/learn from his teacher.
And before that????

Wow...

Well thanks to the tape job, I saved my toes from splitting and bleeding Friday night as I lead mydelf through the entire primary series.

(I know this breaks from current formal ashtanga practice, as I have not yet mastered all these poses, however, it is in line with the recomendation from my teacher(s).)

But it didn't prevent me from getting a good carpet burn from jumping to cross-legged sitting in all those vinyasas. I just realized that infrared photos do not show show injured flesh too well...that slightly dark spot just above little toe is very tender quite bright red and will bleed if touched...looks like nothing in the picture...

This morning was up at 04:15 and on the mat by 04:30 and practiced until Uttiha Parsvakonasana, usual morning routine. Last night did some work on Urdvha Dhanurasana and then finishing poses, followed by usual 10 minutes seated meditation. I'm sure that sitting in the posture I do will help all the Prasarita Padotanasanas once I move on. It's a wide bent legged posture toes touching. Upper body and upper thighs are essentially in PP when the back is parallel with the floor part.

My sitting space. The mat was a gift 17 years ago or so, from my friend Roger when he came back from his trip to England. It's also the mat I used as a mysore mat when Guruji came to Montreal.

Here's my Utthita Trikonasana B

Was thankful for Saturday off -moon day. In Montreal Saturday morning it poured rain, with lightning and thunder. I don't know if it was barimetric pressure or what, but Loren and I both slept in until around 11:00...unheard of!!

Here's last years St. Valentine's day flowers they dried out very nicely. And yes they're in the front of my practice space...I see (past) them every updog and Samasthitih. :-)

Visa application was submitted today, should have it back by Monday next. Good thing, as it stands I leave Tuesday next. Travel requisition also handed in...might have tickets pretty soon.

Some people in my department (with numerous years experience here) say that the schedule might be one month off. So within the next few days I should be getting a much clearer idea of the details of this project...(read: the actual dates of my trip)

Getting quite excited right about now. Loren and I are off to dinner with Al. Pictures of excess to follow??

We had a nice dinner at Al's last night. We like his company and he was in good spirits. Occaisionally we have had tension while visiting(one night he went on a rant and kicked us out of his home before we had finished dinner!!). None of us really know what happenned that night. Chalked it up to the wine.

He drinks quite a bit (often having started drinking way before we arrive), is very passionate about his ideas, is categorical, and quite authorative. Sounds not so pretty I know...
However he is very loyal, has let us into his life (an intimacy he probably doesn't afford many people) is wonderfully generous and kind. I am both elevated by his heroism and determination, and saddened by his tradgic nature. Ahhh dualism...

A typical invitation to dinner includes this line;
"We'll have steaks as big as your head...". Loren and I both eat meat, though we try to not have so much. We end up having more red meat in one sitting at Als than we do in a month at home.

He served bbq'd T Bones last night with Greek salad, green salad, and an Italian baked potato (with tomato sauce and cheese). The appetizer was a chilled cream of broccoli soup. A really nice meal.

He served 2 wines, a Chardonnay and a red spanish bottle that we brought. Loren had her typical 2 glasses and Al and I handled the rest...didn't I promise excess yesterday??

Sky, his dog was well behaved and didn't bark as often a he usually does.

I got to bed after 23:00...makes for not so much sleep when the alarm rings at 04:15.

Here's a quick photo landscape...

Lighting the bbq

The table

Sky

Running Sky

Steaks

Als Illuminated Thinking

So even though we were up late and had a bit too much to drink, I stuck to the routine including seated meditation and morning asana.

I am trying to establish a good routine rather than an extensive, or refined asana practice. So this am I did 10-15 minute of poses 2 and 3 of surya namaskar. Had a bit of a wine head from dinner last night, though no real headache or hangover.

Might try to work in my usual daily practice after work...we'll see.

Sitting

Block and Feet

So today is the first meeting we're having with the production group, I think they would like to change the syllabus a bit. Will they introduce major changes to my course?? Probably...I'm looking forward to learning something new...

Human Resources says the visa application has been sent...very odd being seperated from my passport. It should be back soon with an embeded Indian visa...I think I'm leaving in 7 days...

I've resumed taking this delightful mixture each day. I'm not really sure of the benifits, aside for the fact that it is supposed to be really good for anything vascular. I also know it is a long standing favorite amongst naturalpaths. What I do know is that once I'm on on it for about a week I feel really good. I think it might help digestion or be good for the stomach tract.

I mix the vinnegar and honey (non-pasturized) about 1 to 1. Approx 100ml each, and then add 800 ml of water. I fill a small juice glass and drink right after postures in the morning.

Yum...

Sun sals and the first 2 from standing padang and padahas. Very heavy moving the body today. Could it be all that meat recently consumed at Als? Or perhaps it was the dessert, berries and really thick vanilla ice cream??

Was in bed before 22:00 so really I don't think sleepiness is a fault.

It looks as if I will be leaving Sept. 1. Now that the visa has been sent etc...nothing like being jerked around when it comes to preparing for international travel. Yesterday the plan was for me to leave on Aug 10th. So the trip is moved by essentially 4 weeks. Well I'm not complaining, it'll give me the chance to better learn the new features of the software and to do tests with my new data set.

Back on for the early timeframe...might leave as early as Tuesday the 10th again...and the trip has increased to 5 weeks. That might mean I get two additional weekends in India depending on flight details.
I have three business days left to review the new version of the software and everything else.

I am the luckiest person (superlatives are the best).
Loren makes the most wonderful bran muffins. She makes enough that I usually have 2-3 every day. All I have to do is wash the muffin tray.

Combine that with a nice little stovetop esspresso machine and a plunger frother, and I've got the best muffin/café latté combo going.
Time to give thanks...

When she heard that the Bangalore dates were advanced to a next week departure. It was funny...she and I arrived home around the same time...we were standing together listening to the phone messages, and when she heard my message, (detailing the travel dates) her body twiiched in disbelief. We now have 5 days together before I'm gone for five weeks, instead of 5 weeks together.

I'm going to miss thoses muffins...

Susie asked (commented) if I had considered practicing with Guruji's nephew Vishwanath in Bangalore. And the answer is indeed!

Weeks ago I browsed Vishwanath's kooky website and verrified that he'd be in the city while I am there. Since Vishwanath offers lodging I was even considering listing his place as my preferred "hotel" on my travel request which I submitted to our travel deptartment, but reconsidered. If that turns out to be a good idea to stay with him, I can change my living arrangements once I'm there.

Might be a really wonderful opportunity, thanks for the input Susie.

The waking process seems to be less of a challenge these days. I am fortunate enough to have practice space at home. From alarm ringing to first surya namaskar there might be a span of 5-8 minutes. Needless to say my A's are s- -l- -o- -w. And as I've mentioned before I do consider trying to do them with closed eyes, every morning...

So I did my "full" practice again, up to UT Parsvakonasana. Slowly slowly as Leino Mielle is fond of saying. Slowly slowly...

In this manner/spirit I hope to never have to post about an asana related injury.

My good friend, and primary cycling partner Giovanni and I, rode 40 K on Thursday afternoon. We rode the St. Laurence Seaway Wall. In other years most of the riding would have been on singletrack, a trail through the woods. This year the river is quite high and most of the trail is underwater, so we had to settle for the paved surface along the top (it a long causeway seperating the canal from the river).

Here's a view of Montreal from the banks of the canal wall

Here's the skull of a roting fish we found along the way

It was at least 2 1/2 feet long. I saw one this size breach [sp??] moments earlier, it cleared the water's surface by a good 8-10 inches. What a site!

Now 40 kilometers isn't that long of a bike ride...though neithre of us have done much cycling this year...we were exhausted!

Gio shooting me

Me shooting Gio

The bikes

Not From practice, but from work. I used some of my banked time to have a long weekend. I managed to sleep in, get some errands done, receive the call from the Dr. at the travellers clinic, so he could do the interview and call in the anti-malarial meds, and Loren and I both practiced asana together in the afternoon. I went a little further and stopped after the Prasaritas.

Though I did not manage to wake with the alarm to do asana this morning (Saturday). Will probably get to the mat just before dinner.
Maybe by the time I finish doing postures, Loren will have finished baking another batch of muffins. :-)

Going to have Hannah and Colin over tomorrow. Colin seems to be in a bit of a funk...we'll see if a nice afternoon/evening can settle him somewhat.

Have had a wonderful weekend. Got an early start by mowing the lawn Friday (and sleeping in due to taking the day off). Saturday did house cleaning and some odd chores...oh yeah and a substantial nap in the afternoon. Sunday Loren treated me to breakfast. We pedaled the bikes for 20m minutes to get to this breakfast spot. Got home just before the skies openned up and it poured rain.

Our Meals

I think I waited until after Loren ate her fruit before I took these photos, her plate looks so bare compared to mine.

Brought some foodstuff over to 295 and invited June over for a glass of wine, while we were waiting for Hannah and Colin to arrive. Our 82 year old neighbour Fern was passing by an we roped her in as well. She feels somewhat out of place at a social gathering. Though we're helping her along. Colin and Hannah showed and we all had a wonderful time. We took some goofy pictures with the Yahoo! camera and finished off the hors d'euveres, and the wine.

Some Feet

Some Faces

Later, Loren and Luna kept me company while I washed the dishes, they're gone to bed now and I'm listening to Ry Cooder’s "Boomer's Story" currently "Dark End of The Street" is playing. One of my favorite albums for sure.

Still have residual wine buzz from the afternoon, so I think I'll skip finishing postures and go right for seated meditation, right after a glass of mineral water. Have got the suede IKEA chair over at 295 and it's perfect for music listening...ears right at the ideal listening level. The automatic timers are turning the lights off around me...must be getting late.

No asana this weekend. I maintain a 5 day per week practice schedule, Monday through Friday. I do try to get one session in over the weekend, though didn’t manage it this week.

Bangalore trip has been moved again...I leave a week tomorrow, Tuesday Aug the 17th. I'm sure this week I'll get some surprises from the production dept in terms new things they'd like me to do (even though we've already established the course objectives ans methodology.

The Project manager wants me to stay in the apartment he's rented for his production crew who will follow me in working with the new hires. Loren has forbidden it, she insists that I stay at a hotel. If I agree to the apartment, it'll be in an industrial area on the outskirts of town, very close to the training faciliity (read: quite far from the life/attractions of Bangalore in cluding Viswanath's shala).

The Taj Residencey is 200$ a night and has all the western niceities, and includes a Dr. on site. My boss is on vacation and his replacement says I should accept my itinerary the way it is...including the hotel booking...we'll see...what the program manager says.

Am really hoping that Darby is in Mysore while I’m in India…it’ll be great to see him in that context.

Two mornings of my full practice...up to Ut Parsvakonasana. Starting to feel my palms geting gounded in U Parsv. Will use this as my primary guide for when to move on. OK...and open chest with extended arm in line with body....ok also bent leg's buttock stopping its tendancy of jutting outward...lots of work for sure...

No headstands at night and no finishing postures lately, just seated meditation. I say just...though it's no easier than asana.

Slowly slowly slowly...

Nan (Myrtle, my maternal grandmother) has pneumonia. I think she's 79 years old, she's going to be in the hospital for a few days. Loren and I are more worried then we're letting on. Pop (grandfather, 82 yrs old??) seems to be ok about it, though I don't know if he understands how serious this can be.

If things go well she'll be out before I leave for India. Might plan a trip to the hospital for a quick visit today or tomorrow. Nan is one of my most favorite people in the world, she has a very special place in my heart. Her back has been sore, I don't think this is a common symptom with pneumonia...though she's on lots of medication already for lung related stuff...I know she has a great doctor and is in good care.

Unfortunately it looks like this topic might need serial entries. I stopped by the hospital yesterday to visit Nan. She was doing very well, good spirts good energy level etc... Her breathing is really awful, though that's what happns when you combine a life of lung related problems with pneumonia. My aunt Lorna was ther as well, it was good to see both of them. Nan was full of her stories of recent family visits, Jill and Florry, Barbra and Gary...and others.

Well the segnificant details are that some scan (xray or other) has revealled a large mass on Nan's right lung. She gets the proceedure today where they go in with small camera to have a look-see. I imagine that at the same time they grab a sample for biopsy, though neither Nan, nor Lorna mentioned the B word. Probably for fear that it's connected to the C word.

Lorna told me that Nan told the doctor that if he thought she had cancer that "she didn't want any" or "wouldn't have any", almost in the tone one would use when turning down an offer of dessert. Cute though I think it underscores her fear.

This looks like it might turn serious; exactly the kind of thing that makes for a tough time preparing for international travel. Not that it's an inconvenience, just that emotionally it's very draining.

Not quite in the right mood to post details about the body work I did with Lindsay last night (after visiting my grandmother in the hospital). Two hours...hard work...
Thank you Lindsay, you are a blessing.

By now the bronoscopy is probably done. My grandfather and at least one aunt (Lorna) were at the hospital with Nan today. I am waiting to hear news of the results. Jill (sister) lives one hour out of town, and is a bit out of the loop (we all are really, as no one other than Nan and Lorna have spoken to the Doctor) and perhaps is not aware of how serious this situation might be. Anyway the bronoscopy results will start the ball rolling....am considering cancelling my trip to India...

Oh yeah...the production department has woken up in terms of realizing how soon the Bangalore training is...my laptop has been confiscated...new versions of everything is being dumped onto it, and I have (only) three business days left to test things and re-establish my sense that I am prepared to deliver one month of training...

On top of that...customer support department has urgently tasked me to help one of our Field guys on site in Asia to support a project I know nothing about...SURPRISE...didn't see that comin' did ya Roy?

Go figure...

May all beings be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow...

Yesterday the traffic gods were smiling on me...
Twice I managed to avoid what looked like 30 minute delays. So easy to complain about traffic and commuting...thought it'd be good practice to take formal notice of really positive happening...yes reducing by one hour the daily time stuck in traffic can be a really positive experience :-)

So I'm changing the title of the entries dealing with my Grandmother. I'd like the posts to reflect her, more than whatever sickness she might have, her name is Myrtle (Nan).

Spoke with Glen (cousin) last night. His mother, my aunt and God-mother Hilary, mentioned to him that more tests were being done (had been done??) on Nan. It totally drives him crazy that the kind of test, and whys and hows of the test, was missing from Hilary's account.

We come from a working class family, not very educated. Very loving and generous, and certainly wonderful people...though not educated. So when a family menber tells you what the doctor told them, it sounds all wrong...partly because of specualtion or interpretation...not getting that facts straight, or fear, or not correct listening...or not asking logical questions or other...

In a way Glen and I are similar...we tend to try to extact precision from the world, in our experience of it, through language and learning (part of why ashtanga has appeal for me??).

He's beside himself right now because he has no idea of any of the real situation of our Grandmother's health...in a way so am I.

I asked him for input regarding my pending travel to India. He gave me a very good idea. He suggested that I contact her Doctor, if only to learn if Nan's condition is immeadiately life-threatening. I really don't want to leave for India with a sick Grandmother and return with a dead one. I would really like to be with family if Nan's health is that bad. I'm sure Glen's been trying to find a way to justify calling her Doctor himself, just to be clear on Nan's siutuation.

I called yesterday and left a detailed message with the hospital, I expect that I might here from the Dr. soon.

We'll see...

Glen (cousin) said that the bronoscopy revealed a lesion on or in her lung.

>Any pathological or traumatic discontinuity of tissue or loss of >function of a part.
Source: http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk

No other details.

Today Nan is going for a bone (marrow??) scan at another hospital.
Her doctor has not yet returned my call.
Will call back today.

I do not have much time left to decide if I cancel the trip to India.
My gut feeling is that is is ok to travel however.

I have my tickets and hotel reservations I'm scheduled to leave in 4 days.

Production department is still trying to figure out what version of the software they want me to install while I'm in India.

They decided they need me to do this 2 days ago. That decision came 2 days after they decided that I would not have to do any installatins. The installs are complex and very manual, quite the opposite of double clicking setup.exe :-)

Typically the person who install this portion of the suite is one of the software engineers. This is because the install process requires an intimate knowledge of the application's functioning and process environment. And this application is only a small part of the enetire suite that I give training on.

I have 1.5 business days to review the new features and learn this installation (1.5 and counting as they still don't know which version, I should say iteration they want to use.

Since they typically make these decisions last minute, I guess they would understand my (possibly) needing to cancel the trip due to my Grandmother's condition.

Past days typical AM routine, still letting palm come to floor in U Parsvakonasana.

Slowly...slowly...slowly...
(has stuck in my head since hearing Leino Mielle Q&A in Helsinki, I wish I had taken notes on the pasta sauce recipie he detailed)

Evenings has been typical sitting routine.

This morning no postures, might lead myself through primay before dinner tonight (typical Friday routine...though I don't usually sleep in like I did today).

jms on the ezboard mentioned contacting Sharath to try to arrange attending conference (with Guruji)during my trip to India. A very good idea, and I will probably end up contacting him through Viswanath, or Sharmila, as I plan to practice with either (both??) of them while I'm in Bangalore.

Speaking of Bangalore...I will be there within 6 days.

Have been told there are three living saints in Bangalore/Mysore region. Have the names on a loren scrap of paper at home.

Perhaps my Bangalore business contact has yoga practice and we will have something in common other than software and training??

We'll see.

Back to see Sharmila tomorrow.
Apparently they had a fantastic time on vacation. I might get the chance to see some home video footage of SKPJois and clan on a safari!
Sounds surreal...can't wait.
Apparently Guruji slipped and hit his head while away, but word is he's quite ok and it was in the end a minor injury.

On Friday Nan's Dr. returned my call, he was quite nervous.

He has become a friend to Nan and Pop, and has gone well past what is expected of a family Dr. In fact most of our family would say that he has become family to my grandparents, from how fond of him they are, and from the kind of special care and attantion (love??) he's provided. I understand he's a very special person. Nan has even knitted him a sweater.

Which made for an awkward convesation between us.
He doesn't know me, and it was required of him to return my call to provide me with details, he is still probably sorting out form himself and my grandparents.

He cited the obvious confidentiality conflicts my request presented to him, though he demonstrate that he understood my reasons.

He told me Nan was seriously ill, that he hadn't yet told her, that I musn't either. He indicated that I shouldn't lose her within the next four weeks.

That was about it, conversation was less than 4 minutes maybe??
I am going with my gut feeling and will proceed with my business trip to India. I feel much better after the conversation with him.

It's a little awkward that there was no time, or that it was not the proper situation to let him know that I understand how wonderful he is regarded by the rest of my family, and that his work with my grandparents is truely appreciated. It seemed he was quite pressed to get off the phone after delivering those details, perhaps he feared I was going to press him for the usual kinds of things, I don't blame him. Probably the only family member I can tell about this conversation is Glen, who gave me the idea to contact him in the first place.

I'll write the kind Dr. a letter and post it from India thanking him, and try to demonstrate an understanding of his personal touch and an appreciation of the significant work he has done taking care of my grandparents.

Loren, Jill (sister) and I had a very nice visit with Nan yesterday. We woke her up...and she gabbed for an hour and 10 minutes. She was in good spirits and her breathing was good...no coughing etc...she was at ease, and not distracted, which would have been the case if others had been there as well.

She seems to be ready fer her situation, whatver it is, and even seems to trying to help family members to be ready for it.

Perhaps Myrtle the Turtle (long stnading nicname)is getting ready to leave her shell. I hope there's not too much trauma for the family while I'm away. Especially Pop.

Now may every living thing,
young or old, weak or strong,
living near or far, known or unknown,
living or departed or yet unborn,
may every living thing be full of bliss.

The Budda

Loren gave me this as a gift (new moon August 2004)...
I love it!

In the Box

Portrait with Clock On the Wall

Loren and I spent half an hour at 295 doing asana.
I didn't get around to doing the full primary session I had planned Friday, was at work kinda late getting some odds and ends in order. And Saturday moon day, so did week's first postures today.

This immeadiately following 21 minutes on the rollers. Did the usual 3 minute interval training. 3 minutes brisk (~70%) followed by 3 minutes hard (~90%).

Polar monitor says:
Time 21.03
In Zone 6.50 (haven't calibrated it for my "Zone" yet)
Limits 156 and 119 (not correct based on missing calibration)
Ave 157 bpm (this one should be correct)

Cateye Cyclometer is not near me, so can't easily present the stats.

Spoke with Pop yesterday, a brief chat.
"Looks like tomorrw is the day" he says.
"For getting the test results?' I ask.
"Yeah, they wouldn't let me have her chart last week...I imagine they've already figured out what's going on..."

Followed by a long (and understandibly) angry rant about the healthcare system in Canada/Qubec, and large administrative organizations in general.

He said he got on the news the night before, commenting on the ICU closure at the hospital where Nan is having her stay. Seemed to be surprised that of the 10 minutes they interviewed him for they only showed 10 seconds!

We spoke about my trip, I told him I was still scheduled to leave Tuesday, despite the fact that the doctor's news (today) could be "challenging". He had a hard time making out the word.

I think he's going to be in for a very hard time. He's a difficult man to deal with (God love him [...and his Doctor]).

05:30 on the north side of the Champlain bridge there was already pretty heavy traffic. It wasn't slow traffic just dense, way more cars than usual for that hour.

And me at my usual time one hour before that, sun sals and first five of standing poses, typical morning. Didn't tape toes yesterday, or today...pads seems to not be splitting so easily.

Must contact him today. He was born in Mysore, and grew up in Bangalore. He'll be there while I'm there! He mentioned he would show me some places off the beaten track.

In a way that's scary...off the beaten track in India!

He works in another department at the same company, in a different department. He's going on a personal trip, not business.

Loren corrected Danny's reminder about India:
"Brave is the man who farts in India."
No no...she says it's:
"Brave is a man who walks behind a man who farts in India"
Can't wait.

In Bangalore...for that matter really in India, because I have no stopover/stay in Dehli this time.

Also last day of practice with Sharmila. Quite sad. I am really fond of the morning routine I've develloped here, and she's a big part of it.

Of the training course as well, I don't have a lot left to cover, given the training environment (cubicle, not class room) have been surprisingly efficient for a 4 week course to a larger group than usual in a working environment.

There's too much to do between now and this time tomorrow.
Good thing that today I bought the stamps for the collectors back home. Would have had no way to fit it in tomorrow...and one of the clooectors is my boss.

Currently logged into wlan connection in Schiphol Airport Amsterdam.

Have been up since about 08:30 Tuesday morning...presently Montreal time it's about 01:50 am Wednesday morning 19 hours and counting.

No sleep in flight. :-(

I've got 3 more hours here to kill until my next flight.

Lots more travelling to do, so there's hope for sleep.

My eyes are red...look closely

Loren and I at Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport (AKA Dorval)around 11 hours earlier

I will treasure these 3 little photos for the rest of my life.

We managed a brief visit with Nan before leaving for India, thanks to Loren. She talked me into stopping by the hospital to see Nan. I thought we didn't have time. What does that mean? Not enough time. I should know better by now.

These photos have moved me to tears several times already... Loren is my blessing. I wouldn't have them if she didn't make it sound so reasonable to stop by.

Thank you my Love...thank you

What a day...
Beautiful morning with Loren. Sleep in, cafe latte, muffins, toast with rhubarb, toast with cashew nut butter. Wouldn't even have guessed that I had not yet packed for India. Or that I had not yet picked up my anti-malarials and other meds from the pharmacy. Or that we would have such a nice visit with Nan. Big day.

Most importantly seeing Nan. Hilary (God mother and Glen's mother) was there, as well as Coretta. Gave them all kisses, and that seemed to brighten the room a little...Coretta says "Made my day!!!"
I told her..."Mine too!"

Nan says her Dr. wants to keep her another day, to do some breathing tests. No test rsults yet...no diagnosis...no prognosis...Pop must be going out of his mind. Poor guy. My thoughts/prayers are with him, this is going to be very tough on him.

I'm not expecting to come home to the same Grandfather I know now, he will be differnt. Very different.

Rode my bike to the center of town this morning and made a deposite of over 1000$...in coins. Very little of that was in 1$ and 2$ coins...mostly quarters and dimes...good thing I still have my bike courrier over the shoulder bag. Perhaps six years of casually dropping change into the jar. It was very heavy.

Then several hours later another trip to the bank to take care of some bill paying, and to split up my travellers cheques. I deposited some into my banking account because my research indicates that ATM is the best way to go in India,then some in american cash, and a bit left in travellers cheques...just to see for myself what sort of a hastle is is to cash them in India.

Primed the portable water filter and loaded some film into the 35mm camera. I have Shiva's sister's phone number. Her name is Lalitha. Shiva says if he has time he might be able to show me some temples.
Will have to buy more file when I get to Bangalore. I've got a colour roll of 24 loaded right now, and a roll of 36 black and white in the bag. I am travelling with only one camera body, so it's one or the other. I'm sure to shoot at least one sunset in B&W.
Oh yeah and the Yahoo! camera...I love it.

OK this isn't small news...Loren has develloped the very poetic and loving habbit (that's not the right word) custom perhaps, or ritual (??), of making a hand-bound booklet for me when I travel.

They are absolutely stunning, intimate and touching creations. Everything entry in this (picture) book has an entry entitled with a word starting with the letter B. She called the book Bangalore Plan "B". A great little (but powerful) piece of home for me to take along to Indiia.

Honking honking honking, and then there's the honking.
Each truck has the words Horn Please, or Sound Horn.

Am very happy the company doesn't permit employees to drive while we're here. Good thinking.

Am surprisingly not tired...

Have learned a lot already, for instance; 350 rupees is too much to pay for taxi ride from airport to hotel in Delhi, and a cuple of other similliarly themed lessons. I'm sure there's tons more.

Will try to review details of trip for another entry. But here's some for now...and a couple of images.

Just about 44 hours door to door (home to Bangalore hotel). With stop over in Delhi, 3 flights...Montreal-Amsterdam-Delhi-Bangalore.

Delhi Domestic Airport Terminal 1A

View from Hotelroom in Bangalore

Draft letter to the Dr.

First I would like to thank you very much for returning the call last week to talk about my travel plans, I truly appreciate the opportunity to have spoken with you.

Originally, offering you my thanks was to have been the first of two reasons for writing this letter to you, however now there are three.

First to thank you, and second to let you know how fond Nan and Pop are of you. I’m sure you know you have truly became like family to them, I am thankful to you for looking after them so well and that I do have an understanding of your generosity and exceptional kindness.

In my experience, our telephone conversation was a bit awkward, mainly because I did not manage an opportunity express this, and perhaps because the nature and timing of my request had made things much more difficult for you.

So now the third reason for this letter.
I am presently in India, it is very early in the morning of Friday August the 20th. I have just finished speaking with my wife. From her news I gather that my grandmother’s condition has taken a turn for the worse. The most important thing I know is that my family is, on some level, preparing to loose Nan, perhaps any day now. In this light, I suspect that the nature and timing of having spoken together might now be even more difficult for you.

In case this is true, I am sorry for approaching you. Please know that I decided to travel understanding that there was a strong possibility that Nan might pass away while I was out of town. She and I had two beautiful visits before my departure and she fully expressed her love for me. I cherish that time spent with her.

Rest assured I do not regret having left, and please accept my most sincere appologies if I have indeed made things harder on you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you again.

Was up very late writing that letter. And it was immeadiately upon arrival...have come up with this draft thanks to Loren, she didn't think the appology was appropriate. I sort of agree, though my tendancy is to offer one whenever I think my actions have made difficulty for someone.

I am presently in India and I have just spoken to my wife. I understand that my grandmother's condition has taken a turn for the worse. The most important thing I know is that my family is, on some level, preparing to loose Nan, perhaps any day now.
I would like you to know how fond Nan and Pop are of you. I'm sure you know you have truly became like family to them.
I am thankful to you for looking after them so well and want you to know that I do have an understanding of your generosity and exceptional kindness.

Please know that I decided to travel understanding that there was a strong possibility that Nan might pass away while I was out of town. She and I had two beautiful visits before my departure and she fully expressed her love for me. I cherish that time spent with her. Rest assured I do not regret having left, and please accept my most sincere gratitude for all you have done.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you again.

From email updates from Jill (Sister) and phone updates from Loren, it seems the family is truely preparing for Nan to pass away very soon. Probably before my trip is scheduled to be over.

It also seems that no one thinks I should cut my trip short to come home. That's sort of an odd feeling. I mean, I don't feel the need to go home, and that I am at peace with myself if I stay...but what's this?? Family doesn't need me at home? I am planning to stay, but it would feel very different if they were saying instead that they would like to have me with them. Perhaps they just scared about what it might mean for me in terms of my job/standing within the company?

To be fair my grandparents have this (mutual) agreement for what happens in case they die. For instance, in this case if Nan passes at the hospital, her body will be taken straightaway to the crematorium, with no ceremony or funeral cervice or other involvement with the family. Then at a point later in time the family would plan a memorial service, and I understand they would wait for my return to plan that.

What does it mean to not be present for the greiving and bonding that happens during that waiting period? I don't know for sure. I paid special attention to what was happenning to me when I lost my father (15 years ago) and then my mother (around 5 years ago). And also to what was happenning to my family members. Perhaps someone else in the family is ready to take that roll and do that work.

It was truely a blessing to have had those visits with Nan before I left. Also now have heard (rumour??) that her doctor is expecting her to hang in for another 2 months. We'll see. Loren says Pop hold on to her hands when they speak together, I thinks she should also give him lots of hugs.

May all beings be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow.

Previously I mentioned I wasn't particularly tired, well...

It currently aroud 18:30 Indian Standard Time, I remember my alarm going off around 07:30 this morning, and waking a few times to flip over and fall right back to sleep, but thats about all.

I slept a full 18 hours.

I sort of feel at loose ends, my family stuff going on, coupled with that I don’t really know the city at all and haven't settled into a work routine.

I might just plan a little wandering session for this aft. Will try to contact Sharmila (Sharath's sister)today. Travel will be awkward between her place, my hotel and work. It turns out to be about 45 minutes between each location. I will have to be creative if I intend to manage a daily practice with her.

Last Friday was really my first day in Bangalore. I expected to work most of the day, it turns out that my onsite contact only wanted me to go in around 16:00. I cought up with email, did some prep work and rested…and just sort of goofed around my hotel room. I worked at our office in ITPL from 16:00-18:30. There I did some fact finding and introductions. Then my contact (Giri) and I went out for a bite to eat. We had a nice time, he’s a good guy.

Giri and I had dinner and a couple of beers and stayed out late chatting about the company, he’s a new hire and is very interested to learn about our corporate culture. I’ve been asking him for a while via email to plan to bring me to local eateries. It was only after we got to know each other better over dinner did he start to understand my request. The restaurant he wanted to go to was TGI Fridays. I’m not sure if this is a favorite spot of his, or if he figured he should take me to a western place. We ended up at another place called India Joe’s, a hybrid place western fare with some local dishes. I was ordering the spicy local dishes. I am open minded to experience and especially to food. By the time he told me he could, if I were interested, bring me to local places where there will be no utensils. “I’m down�

It was past midnight by the time I got back to my hotel.
Saturday I slept the entire day.

So today feels like my first day in Bangalore.
It also marked the first time I practied yoga in India, on the 8th floor of a nice hotel. I felt a bit like a poser. I rearranged the furniture and had enough space to put the mat down. I did my typical practice up to Ut Parsvakonasana. It’s been five days with no practice. Felt very good to get the body moving again.

Practice Space

From Hotel Window, MG Road

Andrea, Julie, yogamum, for your supportive comments and wishes.

I still don't get the Indian phone system. I think I'm getting a busy signal trying to reach Sharmila...not sure though.

It's so strange being a competent grown up who knows how to get things done in the world...and then to be confronted with not being sure how to use a telephone, or buy fruit, or know you wouldn't be able to find your way home if you were dropped 2 blocks away from it.

Invokes the feeling of being about 3 years old.

Got through to Sharmila today, her number has changed. The hotel operator figured it out.

Sharmila sounds like a sweetheart. Looking forward to practicing with her. It might be out of my range, she sounds like she's looking for rapid asana improvement. Not quite my thing at this moment, I've got my whole life to get proficient at postures. I'll try daily practice for a week and then consider if body will permit another three weeks of same.

I answered yes to "you beginner?" and warned her big thick tight western body.
"yes yes" she says "everyone come with tight body; one month leave with good body" she assures me. Oh boy can't wait ;-) She says she has five or six students currently. she assured me I would get personal attention, (perhaps more than I can handle I'm thinking).

She sounded quite happy when I told her "yes daily practice", and then sort of subtlety recalibrated her enthusiasm when I added, surya namaskar A,B and 5 standing postures. :-)

Practicing with her will add roughly 1.5 hours to my travel each day...and then quite a bit more rupees to I imagine.

Gentlemen...start your engines!

Sharmila tells me a couple of times during my sun salutations. I get the imperssion from her tone that she's thinking to herself that I think downward dog should be done with heels an inch or 2 off the ground. Kinda cute.

Also my throat is very sore, I do not feel sick but like I have practically lost me voice. I mentioned this to her before we chant the mantra (she chants with each person face to face before starting),
"It's ok she said, we chant now"
Then by the second line she looks at me with a smile and says,
"you just listen, I will chant"

It is a nice little shala, with large red and green carpets covering most of the floor. On the back walls are two posters, the one featuring Guruji and Manju and Sharath, and the otherone featureing Sharath in all the postures of primary (except parivritha Uttiha Parsvakonasana) which she wants to attempt each day, by the way. The front wall, so to speak, is an openning with large bamboo blinds hanging ceiling to floor.

It's a modest space but kind of regal in a way. Perhaps the feeling of the practices (the work) people have left there. A good vibe in any case.

Included Purvotanasana[??] today. The forward bend with hands in reverse namaste.

No mysore rug today, another slippy practice. Perhaps tomorrow.

Little Garden at Entrance

Inside

Today with Sharmila...
Your practice gets much more demanding when a good teacher is helping you with everything. For sure.

Not purvotanasana, parsvotanasana...
And now Uttiha Hasta Padang...
On top of 5 As and 5 Bs...
What happenned to Slowly slowly slowly????

I am really appreciating the opportunity to practice with her.

Here' the two of us yesterday after practice...

So perhaps twice a year my back will *go out*.
I'm sure that's the medical term for it.

Typically it happens when I am under a lot of pressure from work, or when I'm stuck sitting for longe periods of time in bad postures. Both conditions were present in preparation and travel for this trip to Bangalore.

It was giving distant early warning signs that it might go out as early as Monday. Well wednesday night after a wonderful steam room treatment at the hotel, my body was quite relaxed and the steam loosened the congestion that was in my throat, an infection by the way, and the steam triggered a cough response. Coughing was very painful for my back, though it didn't quite *go out*.

Thursday morning I had a very rough time getting out of bed the pain was so bad. Could not imagine practicing. I though I'd show up and be sent home.

I told Sharmila, some pain lower back will try surya namaskar only.
First two were very rough, had to slowly ease myself into updog. And lifting into down dog was quite an experience. However after 4 A's I felt almost 100%. Did 5 A's and 5 B's, and padangusthasana and padahasta...and then finishing.

This morning very similiar routine, both days when I leave her Shala I'm close to 100%, and am pain free. Wake up in bad shape and leave in top shape.

I am really thankful I opted to practice. I have always suspended practicing when my back is out, Sharmila is confident that this is something which I should practice through.

I agree.

# 194, 38th Cross 5th Block, Jayanagar
P.O. Box N. 4103 Bangalore-560 041

Phone 080-26631751/52

Practice starting at 06:00. Open gate and around back, up metal staircase...and you're there.

I've told her to contact Betty Lai to update the ashtanga.com listing.
So the world will soon be beating a path to her door the