This morning, almost two weeks ago (tomorrow) into my cross-country journey, I am going to attend to a little blog-keeping, as it were...
First, I apologize to those of you following my blogging adventure, and requesting accompanying photos, for the lack of same. It seems to be that I am not, in general, interested in documentation that involves technology more complicated than that already readily at my fingertips (or in my brain). My sense is that perhaps one day I will go there, however for now, I have more than enough on my plate. So for those of you looking for visuals, I would ask you simply to bear with me, and use your delightful imaginations.
A second item of explanation, as it were, pertaining to the randomness of my cd selections (should you have wondered), and their order, or lack thereof, as well as my choice to listen to them in their entirety (as opposed to compiling, as some of my more ambitious friends have chosen to do, and whose resulting gifts to me over the years I treasure immensely...)...the cd's were culled from my out-of-control collection while packing, and reflect a random selection of those titles that I either had not listened to in years, or in fact could not remember at all. My thought was that this was at long last an ideal opportunity to catch up on my listening, enjoy some old friends, and then feel free to divest myself of those cd's no longer likely to enhance my listening experience. So they all got randomly, again, tossed in a Trader Joe's traveling bag adorned with surfboards, along with some reading material for the journey, and have been pulled out and played, again randomly and with joyous surprise and abandonment discovered anew by my ears. (no particular recommendations are to be inferred by their inclusion in the listening list...)
Finally, at least for this morning, I intend to continue for a few last days, to update my thoughts on these two weeks of traveling, in the hopes that you my readers will enjoy even a taste of the quiet euphoria that this odyssey is bringing to me...
WHAT a beautiful morning...(as usual, sigh...)
Yours in simple bliss,
Christina
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Serendipity in abundance!
Just a note about how beautifully the days and meetings with friends are flowing...
2 serendipities of note:
The first:
The one night that I was to pass through Atlanta (en route to Austin through New Orleans, a detour I was commited to making for laughter) and planned to stay with my dear & VERY funny Laughter-Yoga friend Celeste was Tuesday last week, January 17th?, and AS the universe would have it, this night was also Celeste's inaugural Laughter Yoga group @ Crossfit, a boxing/martial arts gym in Atlanta...and it was an uproarious success (20 people, previously strangers, laughing their asses off together in one room)...and I got to be
there to witness, participate, and LAUGH! YAY!
The second:
The one night that I was to pass through Phoenix (keeping a promise to myself to donate an hour of my Joy in Motion Music Therapy-which begins with laughter yoga-to the Beatitudes dementia facility there) happened to coincide with my dear and longtime friends Lee & John driving out from LA to hear a long-lost friend of Lee's, Jill Gardner (Facebook can, I suppose, allow for expanded serendipities) sing in the Arizona Opera's stunning (who knew-Arizona Opera?) production of Puccini's Turandot....so at 2pm on last Sunday afternoon I found myself enjoying a 9th row center seat (thank goodness for undated student id's) and a surprisingly impressive performance of an Opera I had never before heard/seen in its entirety...WHAT an incredibly enjoyable experience...dined with the lovely singer and her equally lovely singer-husband Jake afterwards, marveling at the unexpected gifts of serendipity with which life can surprise us...
Life IS good...and every day a reminder...
More later from Los Angeles, upon reflection...
(have to spend some time now continuing to look on-line for a new home in Monterey...)
Yours in blissful slow-motion,
Christina
2 serendipities of note:
The first:
The one night that I was to pass through Atlanta (en route to Austin through New Orleans, a detour I was commited to making for laughter) and planned to stay with my dear & VERY funny Laughter-Yoga friend Celeste was Tuesday last week, January 17th?, and AS the universe would have it, this night was also Celeste's inaugural Laughter Yoga group @ Crossfit, a boxing/martial arts gym in Atlanta...and it was an uproarious success (20 people, previously strangers, laughing their asses off together in one room)...and I got to be
there to witness, participate, and LAUGH! YAY!
The second:
The one night that I was to pass through Phoenix (keeping a promise to myself to donate an hour of my Joy in Motion Music Therapy-which begins with laughter yoga-to the Beatitudes dementia facility there) happened to coincide with my dear and longtime friends Lee & John driving out from LA to hear a long-lost friend of Lee's, Jill Gardner (Facebook can, I suppose, allow for expanded serendipities) sing in the Arizona Opera's stunning (who knew-Arizona Opera?) production of Puccini's Turandot....so at 2pm on last Sunday afternoon I found myself enjoying a 9th row center seat (thank goodness for undated student id's) and a surprisingly impressive performance of an Opera I had never before heard/seen in its entirety...WHAT an incredibly enjoyable experience...dined with the lovely singer and her equally lovely singer-husband Jake afterwards, marveling at the unexpected gifts of serendipity with which life can surprise us...
Life IS good...and every day a reminder...
More later from Los Angeles, upon reflection...
(have to spend some time now continuing to look on-line for a new home in Monterey...)
Yours in blissful slow-motion,
Christina
Monday, January 24, 2011
hee-haw! welcome to AUSTIN!
Got in to Austin last night, arriving by the last rays of day...after spending a typically delicious night in the BIG EASY...had not planned to make New Orleans a stop on my cross-country agenda, but after realizing that Atlanta to Austin was a 2-day drive, it seemed a no-brainer to ditch the trip-tik through the top of the state (Texas) and instead just head back down to the gulf from Atlanta, availing myself of the generous offer of my friends' French Quarter locale for resting and refreshing...
and now to recap the music of previous miles...
Engelwood to Atlanta...
Vienna Tang-Warm Strangers
Joni Mitchell-Blue
James Taylor-Mud Slide Slim
Judi Collins-Wildflowers
The Police-Reggatta de Blanc
Frank Sinatra-in the Wee Small Hours
Atlanta to New Orleans
Frank Sinatra(again)
Tribalistas
Steve Winwood-Chronicles
Lisa Ono-Compilation by a friend
Andy Summers/John Etheridge-Invisible Threads
The Best of 2005-(according to my friend Roger)
Music from the original series "Weeds"
NO to Austin
Earl Klugh-Heart String
Elton John(1970)
Roy Orbison-Mystery Girl
The Roches-Speak
Keb' Mo'(1994)
Rickie Lee Jones-The Magazine
Finishing this post now, this morning, a Monday morning, January 24th, after many more hundreds of miles, currently having an interesting experience here at the Biltmore Inn & Suites in Phoenix...(related in name only to the Biltmore Biltmore)...waiting this morning for someone to come in & look at my tub to see if bathing/plugging the drain doable...no blankets extra last night, phone not figured out 'til this morning...blah-blah-blah (wherever you go, there YOU are...) hah-hah-hah...
Atlanta an AMAZING experience (and what a charming city, even in freezing winter temps) with ball-of-fire Celeste leading her first laughter yoga group...twenty people who'd never met before coming together last Tuesday night and whole-heartedly laughing almost to the point of exhaustion (Celeste learning her lesson on that one!)...such a resounding success for her first foray into creating a Laughter Yoga group...two delicious meals in her delightful company, processing the experience, before moving on to:
...Austin, an astounding revelation for it's unexpected evolution (an again, FREEZING clime, literally 20's at night, ice scraped kindly off Grace's windshield upon departure)...hadn't seen such a hippie (in the best ways of being human-friendly) town in ages, and in TEXAS! Who knew? PACKED yoga class Friday afternoon...SO good to stretch and breathe after all the miles...delightful sojourn in Alyssa & Craig's welcoming home (had not seen them since their Northern California wedding two years ago), hanging with the new-ish cats Frank & Fred (named after the grandfathers), re-uniting with sweet Hortie/Hortensia, loving Australian shepherd that she is...wonderful mid-afternoon walk with her & Alyssa in Peace Canyon along the Shoal Creek...and oh, yes the YUMMY breakfast tacos, and a introduction to the miga (look it up if you're curious...)
And finally, to do a little housekeeping/catching up on the framework...
Souvenir from Atlanta: a fleur-de-lis mirror a gift from Celeste upon admiring...from New Orleans a pack of box matches from a divine dinner at Galatoire's...from Austin lots of dog and cat hair on my re-united pea-coat...
And road angels...Celeste definitely for all her many gifts of her energy and courage...two in New Orleans, Elmo for his kind care in ensconcing me so gently in my overnight home, & Sean for his loving service at Galatoire's, and in Austin, once again my friends Craig & Alyssa for their warm hospitality...
Having a grand time on the Road...more later on Las Cruces & Phoenix once I have another chance to catch up...waiting for a call this morning (or I will call again) from Beautitudes where I am hoping to move with Joy in Motion with their seniors in house...
Joy in abundance from your road-tripper...
Christina
xox
and now to recap the music of previous miles...
Engelwood to Atlanta...
Vienna Tang-Warm Strangers
Joni Mitchell-Blue
James Taylor-Mud Slide Slim
Judi Collins-Wildflowers
The Police-Reggatta de Blanc
Frank Sinatra-in the Wee Small Hours
Atlanta to New Orleans
Frank Sinatra(again)
Tribalistas
Steve Winwood-Chronicles
Lisa Ono-Compilation by a friend
Andy Summers/John Etheridge-Invisible Threads
The Best of 2005-(according to my friend Roger)
Music from the original series "Weeds"
NO to Austin
Earl Klugh-Heart String
Elton John(1970)
Roy Orbison-Mystery Girl
The Roches-Speak
Keb' Mo'(1994)
Rickie Lee Jones-The Magazine
Finishing this post now, this morning, a Monday morning, January 24th, after many more hundreds of miles, currently having an interesting experience here at the Biltmore Inn & Suites in Phoenix...(related in name only to the Biltmore Biltmore)...waiting this morning for someone to come in & look at my tub to see if bathing/plugging the drain doable...no blankets extra last night, phone not figured out 'til this morning...blah-blah-blah (wherever you go, there YOU are...) hah-hah-hah...
Atlanta an AMAZING experience (and what a charming city, even in freezing winter temps) with ball-of-fire Celeste leading her first laughter yoga group...twenty people who'd never met before coming together last Tuesday night and whole-heartedly laughing almost to the point of exhaustion (Celeste learning her lesson on that one!)...such a resounding success for her first foray into creating a Laughter Yoga group...two delicious meals in her delightful company, processing the experience, before moving on to:
...Austin, an astounding revelation for it's unexpected evolution (an again, FREEZING clime, literally 20's at night, ice scraped kindly off Grace's windshield upon departure)...hadn't seen such a hippie (in the best ways of being human-friendly) town in ages, and in TEXAS! Who knew? PACKED yoga class Friday afternoon...SO good to stretch and breathe after all the miles...delightful sojourn in Alyssa & Craig's welcoming home (had not seen them since their Northern California wedding two years ago), hanging with the new-ish cats Frank & Fred (named after the grandfathers), re-uniting with sweet Hortie/Hortensia, loving Australian shepherd that she is...wonderful mid-afternoon walk with her & Alyssa in Peace Canyon along the Shoal Creek...and oh, yes the YUMMY breakfast tacos, and a introduction to the miga (look it up if you're curious...)
And finally, to do a little housekeeping/catching up on the framework...
Souvenir from Atlanta: a fleur-de-lis mirror a gift from Celeste upon admiring...from New Orleans a pack of box matches from a divine dinner at Galatoire's...from Austin lots of dog and cat hair on my re-united pea-coat...
And road angels...Celeste definitely for all her many gifts of her energy and courage...two in New Orleans, Elmo for his kind care in ensconcing me so gently in my overnight home, & Sean for his loving service at Galatoire's, and in Austin, once again my friends Craig & Alyssa for their warm hospitality...
Having a grand time on the Road...more later on Las Cruces & Phoenix once I have another chance to catch up...waiting for a call this morning (or I will call again) from Beautitudes where I am hoping to move with Joy in Motion with their seniors in house...
Joy in abundance from your road-tripper...
Christina
xox
Friday, January 21, 2011
on the road at last!
(Just obtained access again to the computer, so this posting is from the beginning of this week, on Monday, January 17th...although it is posting today, Friday, January 21 )
and now, almost two weeks later, I am officially on the road, already having arrived at my first destination along the way to my new life in Monterey...still astounded, surprised, and impressed with myself for taking on this adventure offered to me...
astounded that the journey into the relative unknown-ness of this new life has begun...
surprised at the quickness with which I have changed my life simply by saying YES! to this opportunity...(as a mere three weeks ago, I had not even the inkling of an idea that I would be moving to Monterey)
impressed that I actually managed to get out of town with three bellman carts full of bags crammed into (literally) every square inch of Gracie (my still newish Mini-Cooper convertible, which upon purchasing I had never imagined driving across the country)...note to self: make sure when packing the back seat in the future that I have remembered to do so with the driver's seat in position to allow myself adequate leg room (as I discovered I had not, driving out of Miami Beach with my keys resting on my right knee, laughing at myself...)
I begin to think about sharing my adventures along the way in this blog, establishing a framework of reference to relate my experience...
music, being as ever, a large part of my experience, I will share the cd's that accompany me across the miles...
yesterday, in order, as I tore through a sunny Sunday afternoon across Alligator Alley toward a promised sunset picnic on the beach of Manasota Key: (near my friend Peggy's place in Engelwood, south of Sarasota...)
the soundtrack from "Legally Blonde" - TOTALLY girl-power and forward-propelling...
Lucinda Williams' "West" (obvious reasons)
and k.d. lang's "hymns of the 49th parallel"...(Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" & Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" moving me as ever...)
today, a restful day of bathing and relaxing in the peaceful backyard of Peggy's open-air screened-in Florida room as the day remains blessedly rainy and quiet, reading & writing, appreciating this process of reflection, and stepping at long-last out of the predictable routine...
I select the first of my souvenirs from each city in which I plan to briefly sojourn, being: Engelwood, FL; Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Riverside, CA (don't ask, I find my sister there with her boyfriend Dave); Los Angeles, and then on to the mystery of Monterey...
today I choose a pine-cone picked from many that lay on the needle-strewn backyard lawn of this piney paradise of Florida's western/gulf coast...the first of my tactile record-keeping of this amazing journey...
and last (but certainly not least), the first mention of my angels met in passing...those kind souls gracefully and generously guiding and escorting me on my long way home, back to California...
yesterday it was Mike, tending the quiet front desk of the Inn & Suites in Engelwood, granting me access to the internet (to re-read the e-mail with Peggy's current phone # and address, providing me with a map and re-iterating the directions to meet up with her, carefully listened to in our overheard cell-phone conversation)...feeling like Blanche relying upon the kindness of strangers, I drive on to my first meeting with friends, heartened by the humanity of fellow travelers...
more later...
with joy-in-motion,
Christina
and now, almost two weeks later, I am officially on the road, already having arrived at my first destination along the way to my new life in Monterey...still astounded, surprised, and impressed with myself for taking on this adventure offered to me...
astounded that the journey into the relative unknown-ness of this new life has begun...
surprised at the quickness with which I have changed my life simply by saying YES! to this opportunity...(as a mere three weeks ago, I had not even the inkling of an idea that I would be moving to Monterey)
impressed that I actually managed to get out of town with three bellman carts full of bags crammed into (literally) every square inch of Gracie (my still newish Mini-Cooper convertible, which upon purchasing I had never imagined driving across the country)...note to self: make sure when packing the back seat in the future that I have remembered to do so with the driver's seat in position to allow myself adequate leg room (as I discovered I had not, driving out of Miami Beach with my keys resting on my right knee, laughing at myself...)
I begin to think about sharing my adventures along the way in this blog, establishing a framework of reference to relate my experience...
music, being as ever, a large part of my experience, I will share the cd's that accompany me across the miles...
yesterday, in order, as I tore through a sunny Sunday afternoon across Alligator Alley toward a promised sunset picnic on the beach of Manasota Key: (near my friend Peggy's place in Engelwood, south of Sarasota...)
the soundtrack from "Legally Blonde" - TOTALLY girl-power and forward-propelling...
Lucinda Williams' "West" (obvious reasons)
and k.d. lang's "hymns of the 49th parallel"...(Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" & Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" moving me as ever...)
today, a restful day of bathing and relaxing in the peaceful backyard of Peggy's open-air screened-in Florida room as the day remains blessedly rainy and quiet, reading & writing, appreciating this process of reflection, and stepping at long-last out of the predictable routine...
I select the first of my souvenirs from each city in which I plan to briefly sojourn, being: Engelwood, FL; Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Riverside, CA (don't ask, I find my sister there with her boyfriend Dave); Los Angeles, and then on to the mystery of Monterey...
today I choose a pine-cone picked from many that lay on the needle-strewn backyard lawn of this piney paradise of Florida's western/gulf coast...the first of my tactile record-keeping of this amazing journey...
and last (but certainly not least), the first mention of my angels met in passing...those kind souls gracefully and generously guiding and escorting me on my long way home, back to California...
yesterday it was Mike, tending the quiet front desk of the Inn & Suites in Engelwood, granting me access to the internet (to re-read the e-mail with Peggy's current phone # and address, providing me with a map and re-iterating the directions to meet up with her, carefully listened to in our overheard cell-phone conversation)...feeling like Blanche relying upon the kindness of strangers, I drive on to my first meeting with friends, heartened by the humanity of fellow travelers...
more later...
with joy-in-motion,
Christina
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
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