My love affair with Harry Connick Jr.

It. Had. To. Be. You. 

Wonderful You.

It haaaaaaad to be yooooouuuu....

The year was 1991.  I was a sophomore at Portland State University.  I had quite an obsession with anything Harry Connick Jr.   I thought it was the coolest that someone so damn dashing from my generation could bridge the 50 year gap between my grandmother & I.  Something special about singing along to some of the Big Band Classics together that makes for some of my favorite gramma memories. (Thank you When Harry Met Sally!)  I was 19 and I believed anything was possible (Still do actually, 22 years later).

I was scanning  radio stations on a stormy morning commute when I stopped on Q105. They were hosting a contest.   A "Meet Harry Connick Jr.  and have lunch with him" contest!   OH MA GAWD!! This was MY chance.  The catch: I  had to sing "It Had to Be You" on the air, live.  And then it was completely up to the listening public to call in and vote on their favorite rendition.  Hmmm, my incomplete vocal lessons might get in the way between me  and my favorite Southern crooner.  So I began to practice.  I sang and sang and sang some more until I felt I hit every note just so.  I was beyond Girl Scout prepared for my chance to call in and give it my best shot the next morning.

4 a.m. and I'm woken up with panic riddled thoughts, "You can't just sing the song!  You have to make it different.  But how?  The challenge is to sing "It Had to Be You".  How can I stray from that?  Humor.  Inject it with humor.  Yes, that's it.  Make people laugh and you've broken through to the next level."   And so I morphed my perfectly crafted classic into a cheesy ballad, highlighting the radio station sponsoring the contest (flattery gets you everywhere!) and crossed my fingers that the city of Portland would validate my inner comedian, especially since I wasn't so sure my inner singer would take me very far. 

Well, it worked.  68 early morning callers made the effort to call in and vote for ME! What did this mean?  Besides changing everything and confirming that anything is possible?  It meant that Halloween of 1991 was the best day EVER.   It meant that I got to break bread with Harry (cue window opening for an opportunity of "sweeping him off his feet").  It meant that my seats were upgraded to front and center.   It meant that dreams really do come true.  

Lunch was at the Heathman Pub in Downtown Portland.  My nerves were out of control as the minutes between meeting the man of my dreams were diminishing.   Big hair? Check.  Shoulder pads?  Check.  (It WAS 1991 folks.  Those things really were the style back then.)  I walked into the room where Harry & I were to enjoy one another's company for an hour only to discover that his 16 piece band had tagged along, along with about what seemed to be 30 people from the radio station, and another set of radio winners (Hi Laura! Hi Lorna!).   Oh yah, and Harry's girlfriend, Jill.   The drop-dead gorgeous Victoria Secret supermodel, Jill Goodacre?  Yah, that Jill.  Well hell.   Master Plan "Swoop",  scratched.  I had to quickly gain my composure and go to Plan B; get over myself and enjoy this surreal moment immensely. 

As I took my seat opposite Jill (this in and of itself was amazing!), we engaged in small talk as Harry worked the room.  Totally not how I had envisioned this unfolding at all but when in Rome...

Jill:  How are you here?

Me: Um, I sang on the radio and won a contest. 

Jill:  Really? 

Me:  I know.  Kinda crazy isn't it?  (Picking at my salmon wondering where were my BIG GIRL words?  Geez!) 

About this time, Harry comes back to the table to check in on his lady to see if she needs anything, "Daarlin', can I get you sum caawfee?"   Jill butts right in and exclaims, "Harry, this girl sang to get here!"  Harry looks at me and says, "Well I ain't leaving this room til y'all sang!"

Awkward silence.  Dramatic pause.  Deer in headlights.  Swoon.  Then panic.  It felt like all the blood had drained out of my body and I was going to simultaneously puke and pass out.   All at the thought of singing in front of Harry.  Wasn't this what I had wanted?  Yes, yes it was.  PULL IT TOGETHER man!  And so I did.  

The Reason I Roll...

My Grandmother, Georgena Francis Spencer

I was asked the other night by a client how I got into Yamuna Body Rolling.  My first response has always been, "I was seeking that something that would keep me doing what I love to do (massage therapy) for as long as I desire to do it, healthily and on my own."  Which is so very true.  Without Yamuna Body Rolling, my massage therapy career would have been over a long time ago.  

But diving deeper into the reasons why this exercise resonates so profoundly with me above and beyond any other that I have tried, I realized that it all comes down to my Grandma. 

I grew up with a gramma that hurt all of the time and  had 5 different contraptions for opening jars.  I grew up with a gramma that endured sympathetic glances everywhere we went when people noticed her crippled hands.  I grew up with a gramma that was in a constant race with herself on how quickly she could put on a sock.  17 minutes was her best time.  I grew up with a gramma that once sighed, "I remember when I could do that..." as I buttoned up a jacket.  I grew up with a gramma that was a prisoner in her own body.  I grew up with a gramma with severe rheumatoid arthritis.  I'm talking 17 surgeries with 8 of those joint replacements, severe.  

I want to feel good in my bones.  I want everyone to feel good in their bones.  I don't want anyone to feel that they are trapped in their body.  EVER.  I've seen it.  It's wicked.  And it's not fair.  

One of the many reasons I love Yamuna Body Rolling is because it stimulates the bones, wakes them up, brings sensation to them in a relaxing and quietly powerful way.  Body Rolling helps to take the impact out of our bones; what exercise does that?   My family has been consumed with bone issues.  In addition to my gramma, 2 aunts live with R.A. and my mother lives with Scheuermann's disease.  You better believe I want to do everything in my power to learn how to get healthy bones at every age, at any stage.   I REFUSE to have bad bones. 
With Body Rolling, we use our own body weight, gravity and breathe to take ourselves to a deeper level of body awareness.  Body Rolling turns up the volume of our body's voice, letting us know loud, clear, and slow exactly what we need to heal ourselves.  Yamuna Body Rolling creates space within our bodies and in our joints, allowing us to experience freedom and hope all the way to our bones.  What a gift!  Wishing my gramma was here so we could roll together...

Kisses to you Gramma!

36 Hours In Houston

Planes, Trains & Automobiles. 

 Sometimes ya just gotta hop a flight!  1.5 hours of flying from OKC to HOU versus 26 hours on a train, well, the flying won!  And off I went to visit my dear friend Jimmy in good ole 

HOUSTON, TEXAS!  

A perfect 75 degrees, blue skies & belly laughs with my buddy.  

36 hours to do it in.  Here we go!  

Stop #1: Ninfa's.  The BEST margaritas & salsa in all of Houston, possibly the world. 

Stop #2:  Walk around Discovery Park, tried a Shiner beer for for very first time and I liked it. 

Stop #3: Entertainment by Tyrel & Calvin, two of the coolest kids in all of Texas. And quite possibly give the very best hugs too. 

Stop #4:  My first REAL grits & egg breakfast.  With butter & sugar.  And love. Lots and lots of love!

Stop #5:  The infamous Norma Lee.  The VERY first time I met her, she said to me, "Giiiiiiiirl!  You lost weight!".  That was 13 years ago.   I've been a HUGE fan of Norma Lee ever since.  

Stop #5:  Hermann Park, walking off the meal we were about to devour. See Stop #6.

Stop #6:  Nate, future Knock-Your-Socks-Off Southern Food Cart Proprietor, did just that, knocked my socks off!  Greens, Beans & Rice, Fried Chicken & 7up Cake. Hot damn. And a Shiner.  Southern Heaven, complete with the drawl. And second helpings.  

Stop #7:  Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church.  This has been on my personal "things I really wanna do" list for quite some time.  I listen to his podcasts and while I'm not a cheerleader for institutionalized religions, I can appreciate and admire a positive, humorous & relatable message, regardless of the philosophy.  Only hearing him (cue in, "...this is The VOICE..."), I couldn't visit Houston without experiencing the mega-church that is Lakewood.  And I must say, it TOTALLY kicked ass!  With his perfectly coifed hair and perfect smile,  he was approachable and available both before & after the service, he was hilarious and inclusive.  And most importantly, he was genuine and it is undeniable.  

I'm a fan. 

Step #8:  Celebrating football.  I so don't follow football so I couldn't tell you who was playing or what bar we were at watching the game.  BUT, I was with my buddy Jimmy and it was a perfect celebration to a long friendship and a fantastic 36 hours in Houston!

I solemnly swear...

October 30th, 2012 at 12 noon in the East Gallery Supreme Court in Madison, Wisconsin, my husband, officially was sworn in.   Attorney of Law.  Esquire.  Doctor of Law.  Whichever way you slice it, I say it's a pretty bad-ass accomplishment!   I look at some of your sweet, sweet pictures of you as a youngin' and I often wonder if you ever dreamed of being where you are today?  You've got the world at your fingertips.  Your house of knowledge overflows and your curiosity for more is unquenchable.  I love that about you. You're about to set the world on fire. 

What did you dream about way back when?

Look atcha now.  30 years later.  Total Rockstar.

You made it through.  The sleepless nights &  coffee-filled days, cases & briefs & moot courts (oh my!), all at your back.  Anything you've ever wanted is right around the corner.  Each step you take today gets you once step closer to everything you've ever desired.  You.  Are.  Incredible.  I couldn't be more proud...

Amtrak Adventures

Day #20 of our Amtrak Adventures.  Hard to believe that our journey is almost 3 weeks down!  Have you traveled by train before?  I have to say, it's definitely something that I've dreamt about.  And due to circumstances, the time presented itself TO DO IT NOW!  The last Sunday spent in my hometown of Portland was at our weekend Market.  I stumbled upon a vendor who illustrated playing cards by hand.  The first one my eyes were drawn to was the 9 of Diamonds "Go By Train".  That was the sign we needed to get going on our Amtrak Adventure.    

 So off we went, my travel companion and I for a trek around the US of A by train.  Time for us to soul search, seek out our next home and to network our way into the career path that awaits...

Train meals of crackers, salami & cheese, hummus & carrots, PB & J and apples & trail mix feed our bellies on our hours of adventures...

 New Mexico: green chile everything and sunshine.  

31 hours Portland to LA.  16 hours from LA to Albuquerque.  26 hours from Albuquerque to Chicago.  3 hour bus ride from Chicago to Madison, WI.  And here we rest.  But just for another day or two...The rails call! 

Into the Great Wide Open...

          

Spending the summer (one of the greatest seasons in the PNW!) in Portland has been just what the doctor ordered.  It's allowed me time to downsize even more, spend quality time with family & my sweet friends, connect with dear clients, meet my fellow Yamuna Body Rolling colleagues, explore unexplored miles in my home state with my husband and dream about what the next chapter will bring...

I've let go of a few things I've been holding onto as well.  Literally (as you can see from the pictures of the deconstruction of my ole business!) and figuratively.  Scary?  Yes.  Painful?  Sometimes.  Bittersweet? Definitely.  Necessary?  Absolutely!  

"Tis better to let go of the things that no longer serve me

to make space in my life for the things that will!  

Bring it on! 

ETD from Madison, for REAL. Weird.

Graduation first.  Road trip 2nd.  Back to the PNW we go!  It's bye-bye sweet Madison and hello again Portland.  At least for June.  We hit the road the last few days of May.  So bittersweet!!!  Thank you kindly Madison for welcoming me so warmly into this community...I'm posting my updated calendar of Yamuna Body Rolling classes and massage therapy open hours.  Take a look and let me know if you'd like to schedule.  My last day of YBR Class is on May 23rd and my last day of massage therapy appointments will be on May 24th.  All at the gorgeous Studio Melt.   CALENDAR LINK