Freebird!

Bored of the same old-same old, last friday I shook things up. I dropped my school stuff off at home, along with my inhibitions, and caught a bus back to the campus side of town. Fellow yogis are probs familiar with the mental construct of leaving all your thoughts in something like a basket, outside the door, where you can pick it up after class if you like. Riding along without all my school stuff, and all my school thoughts, I felt liberated, just as I knew thought I would.

I wanted to eat at Freebirds for dinner.

I ordered a Monster-sized veg burrito.

(Its literally called the Monster size, the 3rd biggest, between Freebird and SuperMonster)

And it was awesome.

Next I went to the really lovely starbucks just a couple blocks down. This downtown College Station district called Northgate is pretty cool, kinda historic looking, and quasi-Western, as some buildings are old Saloons.

The barista was super cute! I had kinda approached the counter so his coworker cut off mid-conversation, and I was like, Oh no, I dont know what I want yet. But he was like, Oh no, thats my job, I can suggest the best things..like the Chidazzle. I was is that new? haha Turns out he made it up and I totallly loved it, it was A hot Chai with raspberry and a touch of vanilla. Totally rocked! Mostly because it was not on the menu and because Bo (the baristas name) was just genuinely really nice. We exchanged numbers when he kicked me and my iPad (i watched a movie on netflix) out at 11pm.

And I'm doing the same free-as-a-birding tonight! Except I am starting off at starbucks tonight, with a hot mug of coffee. The chill of autumn is finally extending to Texas. I feel cozy though, wearing my blue and oatmeal cardigans and my favorite tawny umber-coloured scarf from Avoca, which aunt terry and uncle nat brought me. Ya, I came directly from yoga class tonight, but having my school stuff with me is just fine, better than fine actually; I kinda want to read some of the journal articles that I have with me. Its all about the state of mind. I feel like I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing in this moment.

Tonight in yoga, when I heard, "take a few minutes to center yourself," instead of centering on the moment (by sliding my basket of thoughts outside) I observed that my mind began opening my basket instead, trying to sit each thought right-side up, if you will. But I caught myself, I just slid out of my ego for class, which is sooo refreshing.

Know what else directs my attention outta my cranium? FRIENDS. (yes, the tv show, too, 10pm central time nickelodeon :p) I have been making new acquaintances like crazy lately, which I'm really happy about, but I'm hoping to catch up with my the friends I think about all the time in NC this weekend..I've already left about 10 voicemails for friends whose voices I cant wait to hear.

A difficult yoga practice followed by lemon love

Om

       Ohmygah, so fitting that after I mentioned to not worry about feeling squished on the 7 billion person planet (space is not going to be so much of an issue; resources on the other hand...) Yoga Beatz, the yoga flows to music w/ words, class that I like at the Rec tonight was too popular!  Whenever a yoga practice is crowded, I remind myself that it will just feel extra-Indian today.  But it was more difficult tonight for me to not be bothered by swan diving arm collisions, for whatever reason.  I admittedly was not feeling enough compassion for the boy who came in late and rolled out a mat next to me.  I can see should have felt chosen, as a kind looking person, rather than singled out among to be squished out of the 50 other kids in the room.  The one bright spot is that I didn't outwardly express any space discomfort with body language, and kept it to myself (along with my limbs, after one too many swan dives).

When I practice yoga in my apt., I often utilize this super cool cartoon flipbook.  Thanks Aunt Terry!

         After a catching the new Modern Family (guest character named Katy on tonight's episode!) on an elliptical, I hit the shower and biked home.  I always have a snack before leaving, and this week I've been enjoying Lemon LovU bars. What?  You don't know those?  They're like these...

Mmmm Luna bars in my fav flava

              Except homemade!  I made the bar with brown rice krispie cereal, hemp protein powder, lemon juice, fresh ginger, brown rice syrup, and guar gum and frosted them with a lemon juice-coconut butter icing.

Whole pan of awesomeness, cut into bars and wrapped in foil.

Like Luna Bars, LovU Bars have the idiosyncrasy of being eaten icing side-down.

I do love a beet.  And Mom, of course. 

Scooch over..we've reached 7 billion!

       My blog title officially (theoretically) became justified on Monday, when the world's population crossed the 7 billion threshold!  "0.142857.." is the decimal version of the 1/7 fraction and "ppb" is just parts-per notation, like  Hey the amount of chlorophyll-A in this sample is 16.1 ppm would be 16.1 parts chlorophyll for 1 million parts water.  And so I am (and you are) just 1 person in 7+ billion on the Earth today.  Feeling claustrophobic?  Don't.  Did you know 7 billion people standing shoulder-to-shoulder would only occupy the area of the city of Los Angeles?  True story.  Other true stories:  Cool special edition 7 billion series from NPR.

       What else happened Monday?  Well, it was Halloween.  Americans carved pumpkins.

I'm actually gonna eat this pumpkin so the  skull is just an "effect."

     People watched scary movies.  I found a real gem, "Vampiros en la Habana."

A fav scene: The vampire group celebrates with a round of O+ (my blood type).

       And chocolate was eaten

Best brownies eva!

    Katy's new fav brownies

-1/2 C. dates

-1/2 C. raw walnuts

-scant 1/4 C. cocoa powder

-1.5 T coconut oil

Blend the ingredients together in a food processor until the mix resembles potting soil.  Then press into a small baking dish and freeze for 1 hour.  Cut into squares, eat and let euphoria wash over you. Recipe makes about 3 brownies.