Home on the Range

The Bear Creek Owl, valley coyotes and the wind conspired to steal away some of my sleep last night. The Owl I heard for the first time, and it sounds like it lives across the river at the entrance to Bear Creek. I find there is something both haunting and comforting about their call, it is such a disctinctive night sound, which is the comforting part, and then a little spooky because they are such fierce predators, under the cloak of night (that's rather dramatic, isn't it?). And then the coyotes joined in, yipping and yowling and chattering back and forth from one side of the valley to the other.

I remember the first time I heard coyotes was when I was camping with Billy in the Saguache Wilderness Area in... the summer of maybe '94? His friend Andy was hiking the Colorado Trail, which runs the length of the state and is quite grueling apparently, and we drove out to spend a night camping with him and his dog, and delivered supplies he would need for the next leg of his journey. It was my first time camping as an adult and of course I was hooked, even though we were car camping and ate a bunch of mushrooms and drank beer and found a dead cow that had been struck by lightning with one half of its body burned black and charred. But anyway, we heard coyotes that night and I thought there were people LAUGHING out there in the dark, but no, that is what they sounded like, not in any way similar to the noble howl of the wolf as I had envisioned.

So next came the wind, gusting and howling and battering...stuff out there. I had to shut my window, not because the wind was too strong but because it was too loud. And you all know how much I value my sleep! So a little foggy this morning, but here I am sitting up in bed in my Christmas tree light lit up loft, with a juicy orange cut and arranged on a little plate and my cup of jasmine green tea cooling beside me to a drinking temperature.

Marc came to my class yesterday, and we had a decent turnout and even though I was moderately self-conscious about my "performance" I felt fine about it. I got feedback from him and none of it was surprising, meaning I was acutely aware of my strengths and also my areas that could use enhancing. Which was also good, just the affirmation that I can see where I am. My theme was a good theme, the Teacher-Student Relationship, but I failed to effectively develop it and link it appropriately to the poses. It helps that I am not in a huge hurry to get Anusara Certified , I still have 4 years of teaching before I can even apply! That is a lot of practice and I have only had 2 months.

Tonight we have the first of 4 classes with Marc in his workshop. Oh, and I am still worried about my knees, particularly my left. I fear I may have damaged it at Desiree's Teacher Training in those deep deep hip openers. Something just below my kneecap is wonky, and it is not improving since I have returned. I will most likely see a physical therapist next week to get an idea of what the hell is going on in there! Sort of sucky.

I think that's it for today. Still windy, feels a bit more like winter but not even, more like April or May for us here. My skiing motivation is hovering just above zero, so thank god I have yoga all weekend to keep me occupied and guilt-free for not going on the mountain.