The No-Phone Zone

Yoga
In light of my current gym-less situation, I have attempted to develop a fitness routine which I can utilize without any facilities. An integral part of this project includes yoga. I downloaded some free yoga videos and work out with them about three times a week. The impacts of yoga on my body astonish me. In spite of minimal physical exertion, my body feels poorer on the days I don’t do yoga compared with yoga workout days. Last summer I started going to the chiropractor because my pelvis was out of alignment. This caused pain in my hip and numbness in my legs and feet. The more I do yoga, the less I feel those discomforts. I can feel my body realigning itself through the exercises. Regardless of how my fitness future looks, I am going to keep doing yoga for its holistic benefits.

Cell Phone
Slightly over a month ago I considered getting rid of my cell phone and replacing it with a land line. Economy and a desire to live below my means comprised my primary motivations. I knew my cell phone contract lasted until mid July, which obligated me to keep my phone at least until then, but I wanted to see if I could live without a cell phone in my current culture without going becoming a social outcast. Five weeks ago I stopped carrying my cell phone with me and used it as a land-line. The first two weeks proved the most difficult and I struggled with the lack of immediate connection with the outside world. I could no longer walk to my car after work and check my messages.
Reflecting on my time without a cell-phone, I realize that I relish the freedom I experience by leaving my phone at home. Feelings such as hurriedness, anxiety, and discontent minimized to a noticeable degree. Nothing in my life requires such urgency that it cannot wait until I get home. On the negative side, the interruption that comes from other people’s cell phone use increasingly bothers me. Conversations are neglected, persons interrupted, and stress abounds when people keep their phones on them. I understand that our culture operates in such a way that promotes connectedness, but I am discovering that the price of peace and content outweigh the benefit of additional connectedness.

Please Pigeon-hole Me

Job follow-up
A few weeks ago I applied for a teller position at Wachovia Bank in Columbia. I found out about the job through a friend and a reference at church. The reference from church works in the Wachovia regional office and told me to send him his resume. I enjoy my job now and would not make significantly more working for Wachovia but I choose to apply because of the consistent and amazing hours (40 hours in 5 days + bank holidays off-I have never worked with such convenience) and because I enjoy a new opportunities and variety.
I followed up with my resume on Wednesday and on Friday I received an email indicating that a recruiter would be calling me in the next two weeks. I will enjoy my current job if I do not get this bank position, but because I have invested time and mental energy into applying, my excitement is growing and I hope very much to get this new job.

Yard sale
On Saturday morning Kaytlin and I went to a number of yard sales in Columbia in search of various items. We had a lot of fun and I found a dresser. This may not seem exciting, but I have been without a dresser ever since I moved into my house in January. The thrift stores continued to let me down in terms of quality and economy, so the new dresser is quite the highlight. (I feel kind of like an old person talking about yard sale hunting and buying a dresser…keep reading for potential redemption)

Chinese Medicine
If my yard sale account pigeon-holed me in the “old person camp,” you may now relocate me to the “liberal-new age camp.” In my quest for health and fitness knowledge so that I may live a rich life, I have ventured into the arena of Chinese medicine. I have learned about everything that terrifies puritan WASPs across the nation: yoga, herbalism, acupuncture, and balancing your diet. Ha. Dietary trends first drew me to Eastern medical theory, but I have uncovered a wealth of knowledge. I will save you the boring details, but each day I implement increasing elements of this new health regimen in my life. By the end of the summer I hope to live the healthiest lifestyle I have experienced thus far.

Gab and Flab

WI
I went to Wisconsin for five days with Kaytlin to attend her friends wedding and Daniel’s (her brother) graduation party. Memorable moments from the weekend include using the enormous fire pit Kaytlin’s mother made, attending an outdoor wedding when it is 55 degrees and raining, making 10+ pounds of pasta salad, beating Natalie’s Wii Fit soccer score, and going to a wine bar with Kaytlin and her mom. I enjoyed my time with Kaytlin very much as well. It is exciting to see how she has grown from the life in which she grew up, just as I have, and that we can share similar growth experiences. There is a tentative plan to go back to WI in July for a family wedding, but I will try to bring as much of the warm weather from Columbia on that trip as I can.

The Factory’s Failure
Three weeks ago, I joined an amazing gym. I rode my bike there after work, since it is only 6 blocks from my house. It had all the equipment I needed, the ‘gym’ atmosphere that I love and was very inexpensive. It worked out to be 50% less expensive that driving to CIU 4 times a week to use their less equipped fitness center. I have been going regularly…until last week. I woke up on Thursday with an email in my Inbox informing that The Factory (my gym) had closed down due to leasing issues with the City of Columbia. I am looking for a new gym, disheartened by my options, while filling out a form for the SC department of consumer affairs to get my money back. Alas, welcome to life.