i’ve been sitting at the airport in baltimore, maryland for the last two hours waiting for my connecting flight to albany, new york. last night a bunch of friends threw a party for me … which was a really nice way to see so many of the people in san franscisco that I used to be able to see all the time. i finally got to bed around 1am, got up at 5am, drove me to the oakland airport with mme and then i flew here. well I didn’t really fly myself, i sat in a crowded plane and tried to sleep. i usually have no trouble sleeping on planes but for some reason my very tired body didn’t want to fall asleep this time. i’m guessing this will let me sleep well once I get to mom’s house in niskayuna, new york …. but with travel, things like regular sleep (and regular bowel movements) don’t always happen as expected. the selection of food in these airports is lousy as it is in most airports. I’m running on coffee, toast, hash browns, oatmeal, a ceasar salad and a $5 bag of “yuppie guppies”. lord, i really miss thai food.

tonight i sleep at mom’s then drive up to dad’s in vermont with zak tomorrow morning. hopefully i’ll have lots of pictures of snow and me bundled up in layers of clothes to upload pretty soon.

i’ve never quite taken a vacation like this, traveling to four cities in four weeks … visiting with old friends, being away from home and work, being away from my routines, etc … i can be a creature of habit, i like getting up at the same time every day, practicing the same yoga series, teaching my classes, seeing the same students, resting on saturdays. sometimes being away from all of that or even just the thought of being away from it can start to create stress. in some ironic twist however, i think that being so strict with myself in keeping my routine keeps me calmer when i am away from the routine. this ashtanga practice continues to find way to give me clarity in ways that i don’t expect. practicing the asanas, breathing system and drishti in a traditional fashion makes by body stronger and more flexible but also makes my mind flexible and open to change. i have kept with my yoga practice most days, but haven’t been freaking out if I miss a morning or two. i’m finding my body stiffer (probably as a result of the cold, dry weather and increase in food and wine consumption) but have just been letting off the asanas a little and returning focus to my breathing.