Week 4 in New York: Becoming a Bikram Yogi

I've never been an athlete. More than that though, I've never really even been physically active. While I love walking aimlessly around cities or through forest trails, I've never had a burning desire to just get out there and exercise. In high school, I was introduced to yoga in the boys wrestling room in our school basement. Although the gnarly lingering scent of sweaty boys was ever present, I found that I enjoyed the stretching, the postures, and the meditating - the getting in touch with your body and the getting out of touch with everything else that plagued you in a day. Even the stench disappeared after a while. After high school, I went in and out of yoga classes. Never really finding the time or the energy to continue to practice it seriously, and never really being that interested or excited to stay focused.

But, I've always been achy. Bad hips and knees, and a worse back. I needed to find something that would keep me fit and make me feel better - or at least make me feel like I'm not a 74 year old woman. One day a friend suggested that I needed to look into Bikram yoga. He told me how it helped his aches and pains go away - how it made him feel great. I listened and went...and fell in love. Although it's not for everyone - with the room set to a hot 108 degrees fahrenheit and 40% humidity, for 90 minutes of intense physical drilling - it certainly felt like it was for me. For a brief time before moving from Los Angeles to New York, I practiced here and there, as often as I could be bothered. I wanted more, but my circumstance at the time was not particularly conducive. Once I moved back to New York, I found that it was a rare find to come across a Bikram studio, and ended up not continuing to practice. A year later, after a serious amount of life changes, including another change in location, I've found my way back, with the help of that same friend. Carlo and I, now together, also practice together. I have a renewed vigor for the high I feel when I come out of that room, knowing that I'm alive. That I've survived another class. My aches and pains have been replaced with sore muscles, but in a way that actually makes me feel good. I can't get enough. On days when I don't go, I tinker at home with the postures I struggle on, and am excited to get to my next class. On the days when I do go, I feel more whole, more happy, and more able to do whatever it is that I need to do.

Maybe I'll practice a little pada-hastasana before bed.

Cheers,

Breezer M.

Week 3 in Seattle: Birthday Celebration!

Saturday the 22nd was my 28th birthday. I spent the early part of the day lounging around and chatting on the phone. I met 12 friends at Benihana in downtown Seattle for a nice dinner. Benihana is awesome- it totally reminds me of Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse in Liverpool New York, but not as good. Ichiban holds my heart. Benihana is as close as I can get out here. It's one of those we-cook-for-you-at-your-table types of places that also serves sushi and non-hibachi foods. I had my usual "Land & Sea" combo which comes with a shrimp appetizer, onion soup, salad, cucumbers, onions, mushrooms, fried rice, chicken, and beef. DELICIOUS. Oh yea- creme brulee for dessert as well. It was really nice to have my friends join me for a couple hours to celebrate. After dinner ended I headed over to AMC and watched The King's Speech. Highly recommended. I wish my birthday was full of more exciting things, but it was still nice to have down time and just relax. I don't take time to relax enough. This 28th year will be more about me: relaxing, vacationing, creating, and loving. I suggest you do the same.

Cheers,
Jill Rachel

Week 3 in New York: Bras at the Bayou Bar

Every now and again, my homebody girlfriends and I decide that we need to get out and have a night on the town. In the past we've headed down to Manhattan to pursue drinking and general debauchery, usually ending with getting silly and wondering how we ever made it back to Grand Central Station and eventually to our beds. This month we decided to stay a bit more local. Instead of trekking all the way to the city, we kept to Westchester and went to this fantastic New Orleans restaurant & pub, The Bayou. I knew two things going in - one: many of my girls, as well as my guy, had been there and recommended it and two: it was said that bras were hanging from all around the bar. Out of a list of 5 places to pick from for our night out, once I heard about the bras, I was sold. I knew that there could be no other photo for this week than that of a bar full of bras. I loved the whole atmosphere of the place - from the colors, to the cheer and the beer. I'm definitely looking forward to going back again soon.

Cheers,

Breezer M.

Week 2 in Seattle: Breakfast time

I'm kind of obsessed with cooking lately. I don't necessarily have to have the top quality organic ingredients, but I don't go cheap either. It's all about taste for me. If the no-name ingredient tastes better, so be it. Saturday I made french toast from a loaf of nearly-stale french bread, bacon, and fresh blueberries. Oh yea- And New York State Maple syrup that I got from a friend back home. There is something satisfying about making a delicious meal and photographing it. Maybe one day I'll make a cookbook.


Cheers,
Jill Rachel

Week 2 in New York: Syracusicles

For anyone in NYC and the outlying areas that thinks it's cold and snowy (trust me, they all do) I challenge you to spend a weekend trying to get to Syracuse and back without dying. I drove up this weekend (thinking it would be clear) for a friend's birthday party. To my surprise, I got a full dish of lake effect with a side of negative degree temperatures. Although treacherous, snowy weather can certainly be beautiful. Everything was blanketed in fluffy, diamond studded cotton, and lined with icy bling. Now back to my hood after being snowed in for two days, I'm ready for whatever downstate has to show me in the week to come.

Cheers,

Breezer M.

Week 1 in Seattle: Jasper Bean

I hate to admit that I totally struggled this week. So, when in doubt, photography something fuzzy. This is my little man Jasper Bean. He turned 4 this year! Recently I put my couch cushions atop my entertainment center so I could clean and Jasper found this to be his new home. Not a technically interesting photograph, but cute nonetheless.

Cheers,
Jill Rachel

Week 1 in New York: el Gringo Rojo

Los Gemelos, in my little town of Port Chester, is my go to place for the best Mexican food in Westchester County. Meet el gringo rojo. This hot, fresh, white flour shell is home to some of the most savored ingredients in my diet. From the black beans and rice, to the jalapenos, cilantro, and cotija cheese, this burrito has become one of my staple meals. It's true name is the Gringo Burrito, no doubt dubbed such because white girls like me, who hate meat, love all of it's starchy, spicy deliciousness. Topped with a healthy streak of hot sauce, this is what screams red to me.

Cheers,
Breezer M.