A year retrospective:

A year retrospective:

I’ve had a good year. It began with a 10 day silent Vipassana retreat last December that took me through Xmas and New Year’s, well kinda – I actually snuck out with some friends on New Year’s eve when we were supposed to stay till New Year’s day….

The retreat was just what I needed…. I blogged about it on my Tribe site and just found the old blog which I’ve copied and pasted here….

Then it was back to school for the next quarter (3 ½ months) and then off to Hawaii last March to the Big Island, Kona for 2 weeks which was breathtaking and amazing. I attended a spiritual class there for a week and then tromped about with a friend for another week. However, the days I got to spend alone were the best days of all. I reunited with an old college friend and even got to find some friends of my parents. I swam daily in the ocean, snorkeled among turtles, swam with dolphins (quite by chance), touched the warm waters of my soul and giggled in the sunlit trees. I saw waterfalls, Pele and the volcano, played in the sand, hiked, 4-wheeled, and inside - my soul soared. I am seriously thinking of moving there after I get my acupuncture license and do an intern stint in China…

Then another 3 months of school and I ran up to the hotsprings whenever I could in between. Here I soak in the magical waters, bask in the sun, hike, get watsu and massage, eat amazing food and meet wonderful people. The land is pure magic and every time I leave I feel rejuvenated and all glowy.

Since school is all year round and has been going on now for as long as I can remember (since 2005) I like to jaunt whenever I can.

Over the past 4 months I’ve been able to jaunt even more. I’ve been to Chicago twice, Seattle twice, Canada, Burning Man and Harbin.

I had never been to Chicago or Seattle before and I loved them both. They are gorgeous cities with amazing architecture. The weather however, not so good. Chicago is big, Seattle sooooo small – it makes SF look large. I adored driving around Chicago and going to Lincoln Park and all the other fun places that Jessika told me to see!!! Seattle was a longer visit – my first time was 10 days and thank you Max for letting me stay. We visited Pike’s Market and Alki Beach (I think that’s the name) and spent a lot of time on Capitol Hill. I went again for a class which happened to be on Halloween weekend and loved it just as much. Luckily Max and I also got to go to Victoria – it was on my list. I have been to Vancouver a few times and though I do like it, it’s a big city with too many modern buildings for me. The first time I went, years and years ago, it was older and more antiquated and I liked it better. Victoria I had high hopes for – but most of it was not what I had imagined (too modern) – only the tiniest bit of downtown was…. old. Butchard Gardens was alright, shopping was fun, the ferry was great and we met the most wonderful people… I guess I had expected all of Victoria to look like the Empress Hotel ☺


And, then burning man this year… It was a very different experience for me. I was the only person in my camp who didn’t drink or partake in any other “substances” and it was not easy to be around all that energy all the time. The art, as always, was fantastic. And although I drove up my friend Tom from Austria and I spent a lot of time with all my amazing Bman friends – I felt alone a lot of the time. I love going out on the playa by myself at times and did that this year but somehow it was different. My favorite moments were volunteering for Dream Yourtopia with Jonathan/Amsterdam, Brent and Marilyn. I was a guard and got to be “bad cop”, wearing pink camo and combat boots and telling people to go back and completely fill out their immigration form – it was soooooooo fun!!! Even in the amazingly hot hot hot sun – those were some of the best 4 hours ever!!! I loved the interactions and I loved working as “bad cop and worse cop” (I was actually worse cop) with Amsterdam.

Volunteering to be a guardian at the Temple this year with Susan was another highlight. The temple itself was amazing. Auditory as well as visual, made from almost all found materials and 2 stories so you could walk around the top floor. Susan and I got to meet so many wonderful people and give back to the community.

The second white-out – riding in the mog with my fantabulous campmates. Climbing to the top of Babylon and looking out over the storm. Getting to know Matty, laughing with Kimo and Autumn…

Going to dilated pupils camp to get a soothing eye bath and pampered beyond belief…

Suspension camp – for bondage lessons and suspension…

The end of critical tits when I was completely zonked and Kevin showed up with bacon wrapped scallops!!!

Mornings in the kitchen with all my camp friends…

And then my last day, spent with Edwin and Zeut – walking to the temple to find it closed and then going wherever our feet took us. Climbing art, swimming in a pool, making friends and in the end, hungry – finding that hot dog stand and having – the best hot dog ever, on the playa surrounded by love.

I’ve done a lot this year – besides go to school full time – pass 2nd year comps – become an intern… Healthy Homes, my TV show got picked up by a PBS affiliate last month as well and now we’re getting sponsors. I started interning at the Jewish home for the aged (hospice care) and I love it.

I have only 7 short months left of school and then my entire life will open up again – and change completely. I can do anything now. If I want to… I can fly.