Date

How's that breathing thing going for ya?

barbara — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:25:28 -0600

barbara writes

This morning, I rolled over and buried my head under my bed pillow. Then, remembering the instructions we received yesterday at a four-hour seminar on deep and mindful breathing (yes, I really did attend), I flipped onto my back. Oh, let’s be real. I slowly and awkwardly rearranged my aging body, such that it eventually struggled its way to the yogic position I call “beached whale, belly up.”

After recovering from my aerobic roll-over, I took several deep breaths, eventually remembering to exhale. This is in stark contrast to my usual daily routine of taking one jerky little inhale in the morning, and sighing at least part of it out at day’s end.

And then to the whole breath. Now I must tell you, that is a piece of work.

Digression: My eighth grade choir teacher was very big into diaphragmatic breathing. (Lois Powell, blue hair and all, RIP.) A passel of 13-year-olds were supposed to suck in breath, thereby inflating our bellies and extending our diaphragms. Miss Powell would cruise the long aisles of the choir room, watching us snicker, snark and occasionally do the breathing thingie. She was not amused. Miss Powell had a one-eyebrow-raised glare that caused me to avert my eyes for the whole dreaded breathing exercise.

Even now, some ten years and 40 pounds later, I remember finding it damn near impossible to do what she asked. Now, as then, my idea of sucking in breath means sucking in my gut simultaneously – polar opposite of what Miss Powell wanted. And because I was a shadow of my current self (be advised – that was a foreshadowing statement), it was hard to fake her out. The kids who were built like Jabba the Hut had the edge. Their bellies rested in their laps and it was not really possible to tell the difference between in and out. Read on.

Economic woes taking toll on everyone

barbara — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:10:22 -0600

barbara writes:

This video touched me deeply and I thought I would share it with you.

h/t Gary!

February 14 blah blah blues

barbara — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:07:54 -0600

barbara writes

All week, I’ve been thinking that I ought to write something for Valentine’s Day. It kept my wee mind occupied as I drove to and from the hospital each day. My brother was released to my care on Valentine’s Eve.

Truth is, I’m not in a very Valentiney mood this year. David and I did not make a big deal out of this holiday. So it’s not about that. What it is about is the enormous void in this house and in my life that doesn’t seem to be fillable. Fillable, not to be confused with replaceable.

My brother. Now there’s a Valentine. One of many in my life, as it turns out. Family and friends who are all about love, but not about romance. People who pray for me, cook for me, invite me to go places, who meet me for coffee, repair the seemingly endless array of broken things in this house, listen to me, listen to me, listen to me, reminisce with me, check in to see if I’m okay. Actually, I’m not, but I plan to be eventually.

Just for today, I’m not going to pretend.

Just for today, cherish your Valentines.

Al Franken needs our help!

barbara — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:43:41 -0600

barbara writes

Taking into account that the St. Paul "Pioneer Press" endorsed Norm Coleman's re-election grab in 2008-09-??, AND bearing in mind this same paper claimed it couldn't make up its editorial mind between McCain and Obama and therefore endorsed NO ONE for president, AND that its weekend editorial called for a do-over in the Franken/Coleman election, you will perhaps understand my disdain for them. I just haven't gotten around to canceling my subscription. But I will.

Today, though, a front-page PiPress headline caught my attention. "GOP's hopes, and cash, ride on Coleman." I was pretty sure this had little to do with Canterbury Downs and everything to do with the recount from hell. I was right.

Folks, there is a vast amount of Republican lucre flowing fast and furiously into Norm Coleman's recount war chest. The party of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Joe the Plumber is absolutely determined to wrest Minnesota's second senate seat away from Al Franken at any cost. Any. Cost. Read on.