Day Off

Today was my first official "day off", seeing as Resident Assistants don't really get those. It was a surreal feeling.

I dragged out of bed at 7am, tossed the essentials - yoga mat, water bottle, swimsuit, sunscreen, book, coconut water, and Raw Revolution food bar - into a worn yet steadfast reusable grocery bag, and hopped in the car with The Killers' "Hot Fuss" playing. As I drove to Malibu, I could tell this was going to be the first Saturday morning yoga practice which wasn't overcast. It was gloriously sunny, as a cool breeze whipped through my open car windows and a smile bounced off my rearview mirror.

My yoga practice was very energizing. I was surprised when the instructor, who is also a local music exec and radio host, wandered over to my mat as I was packing up and remarked, "dude, you have an awesome practice!" I took that as my chance to ask for a bit of advice as far as finding a studio to teach at as a noob here, and she suggested a little studio in West Hollywood called Up Dog. :) Maybe by this time next week, I will at least be back to subbing.

Unfortunately, because so many people came out for the sunny practice this morning, there was no free breakfast left by the time I got to the front of the line. This ended up being a delicious predicament, as I remembered a little truck a few miles down the road which had had strawberry and cherry signs displayed along side it. I drove back to the truck and bought a flat of the best strawberries I have ever had, fresh-picked this morning. I definitely ate too many, but those were some magnificent berries! Can you blame a girl?

After devouring my refreshing little breakfast, I grabbed my stuff and headed to the beach, where I sprawled out for a nap and then a brief read. I read the first chapter of Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice: An Ethnobotanist Searches for New Medicines in the Rain Forest. I bought this book about a year ago in a butterfly house of sorts, perhaps at the Saint Louis Zoo (which is an incredible, not to mention free, zoo). Although it was a little wordy to start off, the chapter offered a fascinating introduction into the miraculous Amazon Rain Forest, as well as a much-needed reminder that most of what we as a "civilized" power have, especially in terms of medical advancements, was stolen (yes, stolen, as is sadly true for most cases) from elsewhere. A brief excerpt read:

From the arrival of Christopher Columbus and other early explorers who came to subjugate the natives and plunder their riches, to the modern-day visits of well-intentioned but misguided missionaries who seek to replace the Indians' long-held religious beliefs with the Westerners' God, the indigenous peoples have been on a collision course with the outside world. They have been pressured to forsake the traditions of their forbears and to accept the ways of other, so-called advanced societies.

The medicine men of these forests may wear loin cloths and bear strange piercings, yet they have given our "civilized" society invaluable healing knowledge, providing us with plants used to cure and/or treat malaria (which contain quinine), ovarian cancer, heart problems, diabetes, HIV I and II, and more; scientists estimate that we only know the potential of roughly 2% of the Amazon plant species and the oral tradition which extends their healing capabilities within these tribes. I struggle with people who view these people as barbaric or as pagans. Are we so much better off, really? Our synthetic, billion-dollar pharmaceutical industries and religious zealots might think so, but I disagree. So the next time you overhear someone ranting about the inferiority of "uncivilized" peoples and cultures, tell them to check out this book. They will think twice about what it is they have to be so proud of. (I hope that little rant encouraged people reading this to go check out the book, especially if you disagree with me!)

Okay, rant has subsided. :)

I only got through one chapter of the book because the tide came in, at which point I had to either head home or search endlessly for another (pricey) parking lot in Malibu or Santa Monica. Although I had only been at the beach for an hour and a half, my goal being four hours, in order to develop some semblance of skin color (with sunscreen protection, of course), I decided to head home.

Once I made it home, I showered, washed my dishes, and ate, yet again, zucchini and other random squash from last week's CSA box. Note to self: zucchini pan-seared with olive oil, pepper, and salt, then tossed with tuna and warm goat's cheese, is actually - dare I say it - delicious. So if you need to dress up a boring veggie, there's a new variation to try. Bon Apetit.

After lunch, I started getting a headache and slowly realized that I was quite sunburned. I should point out that, at one point in my life, let's say, before I was sixteen, I tanned quite nicely. However, after living in London, and subsequently Pittsburgh, I am paper-white. It was fine back at CMU, but here in LA, being that pale is straight-up embarrassing, not to mention a major hindrance when trying to book modeling gigs! I am trying to get re-hydrated (water and coconut water), as well as beat this god-awful headache (dark chocolate is supposed to work wonders? no complaints there!). I am also halfway through the final season of LOST, but feeling my heart pounding in my ears makes focusing slightly difficult. However, I shall press on valiantly, in pursuit of the truth behind the mysterious crash of Oceanic flight 815. Good lord.

I am also starting up a written wish-list of the things I want but can't afford right now. Someday, little by little, I will acquire the following:

*new digital camera (broke mine back in April, and feel totally lost - haha - without one ;>)
*new black heels (my only pair looks like I walk the streets of WeHo each night)
*a tent, some backpacks, and some sleeping bags for camping!
*a new pair of running shoes (mine have no support left in them and haven't for a while. Although they are expensive, I would like to get a pair of Newton's running shoes, as I have heard very positive feedback.)
*membership to a local gym (I am so bored of working out at home)
*membership to a local yoga studio (a teaching position would also be welcomed)
*a bicycle
*a puppy (once I pay off my car, which will take at least the next six years of my life, ugh)

And with that, my headache wins, and I am heading to a very early bed. Goodnight, moon. <3