A Day at The Stupa

I recently took a day trip to Sedona - so nice to be close enough to do so!! This trip was a little different, as it was the first weekend that things were opening up here in Arizona. It was hit or miss as to what was open, and you had to figure out what the new rules were for the "new normal" in a tourist town.

I wasn't able to do some of the things I had set out to do, however, that led me to spend more time in one of the places I love to visit while in Sedona. It's a little off the beaten path, and I was introduced to it in 2016. 

I love nature, I love to people watch, and I love to sit and contemplate in a peaceful setting. Oh, and me outside with a camera?? Heaven!! 

The Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park provides all of those elements for me, and I ended up spending the whole afternoon there. 

So why do people come to the Stupa? I think everyone comes with a different reason, and most are just curious. When you think of Sedona, this isn’t necessarily what you imagine. Some come and walk around, take pictures and move on. It’s something different to see. It’s a novelty. 

Others come for the experience. I find it to be a beautiful, peaceful place to sit and think, to feel the energy of the earth, and to let go of the rest of the world for a little while.

All walks of life. All ages, shapes and sizes. All nationalities. All religious beliefs. 

    

It's a simple place with many facets. I watched a wide variety of visitors come and go, and was able to capture several moments....

A beautiful place, a beautiful day, beautiful people....

Who are you?? AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH LYNETTE???

Just got home from another segment of my latest adventure. One that I never thought I would be participating in, let alone actually enjoy. I sit here a tired, hot, sweaty mess, feeling really good, you know like after a hike - but no, I did not go on a hike after work. 

Let's back up a little. This month I have been looking at the balance in my life. I have a fairly good balance of work/play, however there is a lot of screen time most days even when I am not at work. And when I really took a look at the balance of my focus between mind, body & spirit, body keeps coming in a distant third. My rationalization: I take a hike most weekends (when it's not a billion degrees outside) and my diet is pretty good, and I usually get enough sleep... Then I had to ask myself: do I really honor and appreciate the body that I have been given? Had to answer that with a big fat "no."

I also had to ask myself - where to I want to be in 20 years? As I am getting, ahem, more mature (in age, not in playfulness, mind you), I really sat with the question and thought more about how my choices are affecting my future. 

So in sitting with these questions, I started looking at various options, none of which really appealed to me. I then stumbled across an ad for a local boot camp style studio - and it showed real people in the ad, not people that are already fit and don't really need a boot camp. I read about the owner, and was curious. They had a special for 21 days for $21. Why am I drawn to this?? I have no idea, but it felt like it was something to try. What the heck. It's $21 - if I hate it, no big deal.

I don't hate it. I am having FUN. 

If anyone had told me I would like spending 30 minutes slamming ropes into the floor, using weights/medicine balls while doing squats, or holding all sorts of torturous positions while using a resistance strap, I would have laughed at them and told them they were crazy. Apparently I am the one who is crazy.

The owner of the gym creates a fun, encouraging setting. He wants everyone to succeed. It is unique to him, and I probably would not like going to a different studio, as he sets a great tone and atmosphere for every class.

My body had been sending me messages that it wanted some attention. I had no idea how neglected it was. The only way to explain it is that I come out of these sessions feeling empowered. Can I do all of the exercises at peak speed & form? Oh hell no. But, I am learning, and after only 2 weeks, my body is already showing me signs that it is happier.

There will not be weekly updates and photos of my progress. There will be no additional blog focusing on my new exercise regime. This is a personal effort, and I am doing it just for me. I'm not sure for how long, but I will do it as long as I am having fun. When it's no longer fun, I will find something else that is new.

Am I now going to get on my soap box and tell everyone to get to boot camp? NO. My message is to take a good look at where you are, and if you need to make changes, try something completely different. Think way outside the box. You may hate it, BUT what if you find you like something totally new? How much fun is that?

Here are some of the implements of torture fun workout equipment:

Of course the instructor puts out the heavier weights, 

and I'm over here looking for the 5 pounders...

When slamming ropes into the floor, I find it helpful

 to cuss with enthusiasm in my mind. My concern is that one day 

I will forget and cuss with enthusiasm out loud....

Who knew there were so many ways to use every arm muscle possible 

with these deceptively simple looking hanging things....

Have a great day everyone!!

A Desert Kitchen Adventure......

It's 11:30 on a Wednesday night, and I would normally be in bed drifting off to sleep, if not already asleep. So - why am I in my kitchen in my summer nightie, on the phone, standing behind my trash can, holding a cup of water, with a broom and a towel at the ready???

Welcome to Arizona.

After a challenging day at work, I got home and tuned in to my favorite online radio broadcast. Ahhh.... fix my self some dinner, listen, and after the show chat with a good friend. Get some stuff done on my computer, and, realizing it's already 11:00, I go wash my face, change into my nightie, and go to the kitchen to give the cat her bedtime treats.  

As I enter the kitchen, I see something out of the corner of my eye.  What the  hell was that??? Did something just wriggle going behind the trash can?? Crap, do I have a mouse or something? I creep slowly to the trash can, pull it away  from the corner... OMG!! AAHHH!!! Is that, oh shit, that's a snake!!! What the hell? Where did you come from?? How long have you been here?? Shit!! Now what???

Here comes the cat - what's going on? AHHH!!! Kitty - get out of the kitchen!!  So I unceremoniously grab the cat and throw her in to the bedroom and slam the door. 

Back to the kitchen. OK, it's a small snake, you know only a about a foot long. Skinny snake. Baby big snake? Full grown small snake?? No particular markings, however I know that it's not a rattlesnake. But, then again, I'm from SoCal, what the heck do I know about snakes???

It starts toward the patio door, so I step around it and slide open the door and hope I can encourage it to just go out the door --  while gently being pushed by a trash can....  SHIT!! it's going the other way!! NOOOOO!!! Go out the door, not back in!! Fuck - now it's in the tracks of the door, AHHH!!! Now it's under the sliding door and I can only see a small part of it.

So now I'm standing by an open door, hoping nothing else comes either slithering, jumping, or flying in, and I'm afraid to close the door because I don't want to squish the snake in the tracks. And let's just say it's still hot outside and my air conditioning is now cooling my back patio.

Think, Lynette, think. Not exactly when you want to go introduce yourself to your neighbor - "Hey, I know it's 11:15 on a work night and you don't know me very well, but I have a small snake in my house and I don't know whether it's venomous or not, and I'd like you to come help me take it out from hiding under my sliding glass door."

Brain finally starts to kick in....to the Google!! Did you know if you Google "how do I get a snake out of my kitchen" you get multiple suggestions?? Of course, none of them were helpful for my exact situation.

But wait! There's a 24 hour hotline for Rattlesnake Rescue! I know it's not a rattlesnake, but what the heck - how many other options do I have?? I call the number, and a really nice man named Brian answers. I tell him of my current situation, and of course, he asks me to describe the snake. Hmmmm....it's about a foot long, is skinny, AND IS UNDER MY OPEN SLIDING GLASS DOOR. I know it has tan and brown markings, kinda alternating pattern, but not stripes. Of course, my description isn't really helping.  Can I get a picture of it??

So, now I'm on speaker phone, with the phone flashlight on, reaching around the trash can I am standing behind, using a straw to poke the part of the snake I can see to get it to move in order to pose for the camera.  It's not cooperating (gee, I wonder why??)

So then Brian suggests that I get a cup of water and pour it into the tracks to encourage the snake to move. Done. Start pouring the water and that works to get it out from under the door, but is still in the tracks. Good news is, I can now get a photo! Text it to Brian. I am greatly relieved to find that it is a harmless snake. Whew! However, it is still in the tracks of my door. 

His suggestion is that I can go ahead and grab it by the tail and take it outside. BWAHAHAHA! Yup, that's just what I'm going to do. Use a hanger? I don't have the right kind of hangers. Use some tongs? I do not have any tongs. Poor Brian, I am just not cooperating.....

Then comes the great idea to get a broom to help encourage the snake to move. Or get an old towel to throw over the snake if I can get it to come out of the track.  

So, now I am pouring more water in the track, basically flooding the snake out, it works!! It starts to move the wrong direction NOOOOO!!!! Now I get serious with the broom - YOU ARE GOING OUTSIDE WHERE SNAKES BELONG...  

So here's me, pouring water, brooming a snake, dancing around a trash can, all while talking to Brian....

Finally the snake moves in the right direction, he's heading toward the opening, and then starts heading into the kitchen instead of out - NOOOO!!!!

And that's when it happened. I actually grabbed the snake by its tail, and quickly tossed it out the door. 

It's now 11:45, and I say a giant thank you to Brian for talking me through this experience. Is it too late for a drink??

I am now officially an Arizona resident and snake wrangler.  Yeah, add that to my resume.....

My Weapons of Choice

The Unwanted House Guest

Stuff, Stuff, and More Stuff....or Stuff, Stuff & Less Stuff....

In a reflective mood tonight -- thoughts rolling through -- decided to put them here.

I know several people right now addressing the issue of stuff. Houses full of stuff. Garages full of stuff. Storage units full of stuff. Lots and lots of stuff.

If you know me, you know that I currently don't have much stuff. Although right now I actually have more stuff than I've had in the recent past. When I walked away from my old life, I left a house full of stuff. A lot of it was mine. I took a small portion of my stuff and crammed it into a tiny living space. Then, apparently I didn't really need that stuff either, because my apartment had a flood and pretty much all of that stuff had to be thrown away. Soooo, I basically had no stuff.  (see Lessons From a Deep Clean )

Building on the few items I was able to save, I now have the aforementioned small amount of stuff. I found that I actually prefer it this way. 

Back to the reason for my thinking about stuff. Recently a wildfire came within a mile or so of my house. Close enough to make me nervous. After watching the fire for a while, I came home to get organized should I need to leave. Realized that other than the cat, a few sentimental items, my camera & photos - the rest was just stuff that could be replaced. Wouldn't be happy about it, and really wouldn't want to go through that again, but it really is just stuff.

What is important? Is it the actual stuff? Or is it the memories we attach to the stuff? What I have learned is that we can keep the memories and feelings associated without having to keep the actual stuff.

One example would be my Grandma Dodson's sewing machine. It was the only thing I wanted from her house because it represented her. She made draperies for her brother's business, and I spent many hours playing in her sewing room while she worked. She also made a lot of my clothes. Basically, if you gave her an idea, a measuring tape and some fabric, she could make just about anything. 

Sadly I received none of that skill set. I tried sewing a few times over the years, and found it a lot more frustrating than fun. Did not enjoy it. Yet I received her sewing machine and held on to it for years thinking I would use it. 

When I left my old life, I also made the decision to let go of the machine and donated it to a good cause. I had held on to the machine for years thinking I was honoring her memory. It sat there collecting dust. And I felt guilty for not using it. When I finally let it go, I had a realization - what better way to honor memory than to pass it along to someone who would love it, enjoy using it and feel the heart and soul she had put in it.

So I guess my point to all this rambling is this - let's not just become curators of the past. Let's keep and use the stuff we love, and be OK with letting go of the stuff that no longer fits in our life, but may be perfect in someone else's life to create fun new memories.

I love the stuff I have right now. It fits who I am today. And when I don't love it anymore, I can pass it along to the next person who will.

The memories will always be available for me to enjoy.....

Nature? What about it?

So I was part of a conversation last night where the question was asked "what does nature mean to you?"

Various answers were given, and I was having trouble putting words to what nature means to me....but, of course, now AFTER the conversation, I have lots of words....

Nature is a part of me. It lights me up. At this point in my life, I am happiest outside, with camera in hand. There is so much to see and experience!  I had lost that for a long time, and it has been re-awakened in the past couple of years. 

One morning at work not too long ago, I was excitedly showing photos of a sunset I had taken the night before on the way home from work. Explained that I had to struggle to find a place to stop to get the shot. The response was something to the effect of "Oh, you're still new here. Pretty soon they'll just blend in and be another sunset. You'll get used to it like the rest of us."  WHAT??? No, I don't think I will. Every sunset is different. Every monsoon has a different feel. Every cactus blooms in its own way. I'm not just taking a picture - it's an experience being captured.

On the Alaskan cruise mentioned in my previous post, I couldn't be outside enough. The views were great from all areas of the ship, but being outside made it even better. Towards the end of the cruise, we had some rough seas for about 24 hours. After going back to my cabin for the night, here's me - standing out on the balcony around midnight, in my pajamas and a coat, braced against the railing and the divider to the balcony next door so I wouldn't fall over, trying to get video of the ship crashing through the waves. It was cold, REALLY windy, and it was exhilarating! Next morning, woke up early, still rough seas, so I jumped out of bed, ran back out on to the balcony to experience it all over again. Loved it!  (Later that morning other people were mentioning something about seasickness and not enjoying it....I  don't think they appreciated my excitement....)

The conversation last night also focused on how in a world where we are now electronically connected 24/7 to everyone and everything, we are quickly losing our connection with each other and with nature. I completely agree, and see examples every time I take a hike. 

The weather here on Memorial Day was spectacular. I knew the best views would be at Pinnacle Peak, so I headed on over to experience the awesomeness and shoot a few photos. Of course, half of those living in the Phoenix area had the same idea. Or so I thought. 

On the one hand, I have to give everyone who was there credit for actually going outside on a beautiful day for a quick hike. On the other hand, I really wonder how many of them actually realized where they were and wanted to connect with their surroundings. They appeared to be there to just walk the trail and then go off to do other things. I saw very few actually look at and appreciate all the plants, animals, rock formations - much less try to disconnect from the busy-ness and connect with nature.

Most were walking and talking about: all of the stupidity at work, or the Netflix series they were addicted to, or gossiping, or family drama, etc. Um, I think they were missing the point of being outside on a hike. 

Those who were there to run the trail for exercise had their earbuds in and were focused on the trial. 

When I stopped to take pictures, I was blocking their way. They never saw the view, the bird, the plant, or the chipmunk that caught my attention. Actually, they mainly crashed by and scared away any wildlife. At the view point, they took their selfies, had a drink of water and moved on. Again, I think they missed the whole idea of having a view point....

For me, "stop and smell the roses" is more than just a saying. Really - how often do we actually stop AND EXPERIENCE the roses? When I take a hike, I usually take a few breaks to just sit on the ground, or rock, or bench if there is one, and take in my surroundings. To hear the birds, bees, flies, and whatever else might be around me. To see the clouds. To feel the breeze (if there is one) or the sun beating down on me. Sometimes I leave my camera at home on purpose (torture, really) so I can see the whole of the landscape, not just what I can see through my viewfinder. 

Nature feeds me - mind, body & spirit.

Nature can be gentle and comforting, or it can be harsh and dangerous. It needs to be respected at all times.

When I share my photos on social media, it's not to show my emerging skills as a photographer - it's to share the beauty of what's right in front of us and all around us. To inspire others to see the beauty for themselves.

So, after all of my rambling, I ask you the same question: what does nature mean to you??


Now, because this is my blog, of course, there are photos to be added.  Here is what I saw that day at Pinnacle Peak that others may have missed....

You can focus on the trail....

Or see the view from the trail.....

Pinnacle Peak on a stunning Arizona day....

What a view!!

So a couple of weeks ago I went on an awesome cruise to Alaska with a group of friends. Had an excellent time and fabulous experiences. So, I'm sure you're expecting a blog about how wonderful everything was (it was) accompanied by photos of breathtaking scenery (it was, too). Yeah about that..... 

Me being me, while I am going to write about the start of the trip (screeching brakes and sudden turn, you know, like when I'm driving and see an awesome photo opportunity), I'm writing about the excellent view from my hotel window in Seattle the night before we boarded the ship.

I get from the airport to the hotel (which is a nice hotel near the port), get to the room, set down my stuff, open up the curtains to see the view...

..... a creepy old dilapidated vacant building, of course.

Now, I'm thinking most people would be annoyed and disappointed in the view. But then there's me. OMG! Just look at that building!!! Look at the character!! Look at the detail!! and out comes my camera....

Not sure how long I stood there looking at the building and taking photos, but I found it fascinating, and the questions started rolling through...

When was it built? How long has it been vacant? How many different ways was it used? Did people live there? Was it just for industry? What types of businesses? Why are the doors where they are, and what did they lead to? Why are some of them boarded up while others are bricked in? Why are there windows that look like they used to be doors? Why are some only partially bricked? Why so many different brick finishes? Why are there exterior stairs in the locations they are now, and why were the other ones removed? Who left empty bottles on what would be the 4th floor window ledge of a bricked in window? Why are the windows broken where they are? What ghosts live there now?? And it went on and on....

Everything changes. We live in a world of change. This old building was probably the best of the best at one point in time and a shining example of new things to come. It appears to have been modified many times. I can only tell a small story with photos about its current condition, but don't you just wonder about the stories it could tell???

I'm finding it fun to view the changing world with curiosity, and capturing points in time with a camera. I'm learning that instead of fighting to keep things the same, sometimes it's better to see what changes can lead to something better instead of holding on to the past where it no longer makes sense. We can have a history without living in our history. Nothing wrong with the old story, but what story do I want to live going forward??

At some point I will share the Alaska awesomeness, but for now, here are a few of my views of a fascinating building through a dirty hotel window...

Play Ball !!!

With baseball season now in full swing, thought I'd go back in time a little bit, you know, all the way back to early March, and ramble on about a baseball related adventure...

So what in the world is a Southern California born and raised lifelong Angels fan doing sitting in a baseball stadium wearing Kansas City Royals gear AND actually rooting for the Royals??? And, at the same time, rooting against the Padres, another SoCal team...really?? 

Long story short, my brother and his wife live in North Carolina. (And, um, what does that have to do with rooting for Kansas City?) They live in an area that has multiple minor league baseball teams within reasonable driving distance. They started going to games, and enjoyed it so much, they became boosters for the Burlington Royals. (OK, now we're starting to see a connection here..) As boosters, over the years they have developed relationships with some of the players, one of which is a young catcher named Xavier Fernandez.

OK...so what does that have to do with my Arizona Adventures?? Hey, guess where spring training cactus league games are played? Exactly!! So, fast forward a bit, and you'll find that this year, Xavier was invited to play with the Royals in Surprise, AZ. Keith and Karen decided that it was a great time to jump on a plane to visit AZ, watch their favorite player, and, oh yeah, spend time with me... 

Since I only have Angels shirts and hats, they loaned me a Royals shirt, and bought me a hat so I would at least look like a fan. I had never been to a spring training game, and I have to tell you it was a lot of fun. 

So, again, what is the adventure, you ask? Actually, it was watching the adventure of someone else. Someone working on living their dream. Working their ass off and seeing the dream getting closer. To get a taste of what's coming. And it was exciting to watch.

In spring training, you have the veteran players getting back into the swing of the game and the routine, and you have the young "up and comers" ready and eager for a chance to play and to show what they can do. In the later innings of the game, the well known players are taken out of the game, and the "unknown for now" players get some experience. 

What surprised me is how many of the fans started to leave the stadium when their favorite players were no longer on the field. In my opinion, all those who left early missed the best part of the game. Sure the kids are still learning and no, you don't quite know their names yet, but this is the future people!!  Some of these kids ARE the next stars and well known players. Were mistakes made? Of course! But, they are eager and willing to work hard and travel all over the country just for the opportunity to play ball.

THAT'S the adventure. How willing are we to work on our dreams? Not just to have a dream, but to actively work on it? To give it our all and see what happens? To take whatever steps are necessary, big, small, and in between?  

Xavier is working daily on his....and setting an example for the rest of us. No guarantees, but man, what a ride. Sometimes we can learn a lot from someone else's adventure.

Here are some additional photos from the game...enjoy!!

Perfect Arizona day for baseball...

Of course, you will find my brother and I looking at everything 

through our cameras.....

Prepping.... 

 The trot in after getting the call....

"Put me in coach.....I'm ready to play..."

 

Xavier and two of his biggest fans...