Deep Thoughts with Taylor Swift

 Swifties, the newest album from Taylor Swift is here! Midnights is an ethereal, fall-filled medication on the things that bother us late at night. On first listen, I would say this album has taken the  energy of the song The Archer, from the Lover album. Join me in the Lavender Haze and let me know which of the 4 album covers you have! I have the "midnight" blue one. 

Did You Spellcheck? - A GRAMMAR Fails Blog

 I'll be the first to admit it, a quick text response does not always get my full concentration, but my eyes sometimes make up the difference in a missing character. But there are many times when a spelling error is glaringly wrong (and public), so we'll take a look at some of those examples today.

1. Macys website: Color Names

 

First, I was shocked to see Millennium, which I know how to spell from having a Backstreet Boys poster of the 1999 album cover, associated without "Pink" attached. If Millennium Blue is now becoming a color, MAZEL TOV to my beloved BSB. 

Second, these pants are waiting on my doorstep, so we will have a full report on the color tomorrow. 

Third, I know I and l can be confused, but it's the face that they're all lowercase i and l's that does not give any passes for this common error. 

2. Oven Cleaner Package 

I view a lot of packaging elements as part of my job. Whoever made the notes on this package will not be making a sweet Scrabble score because all I'm seeing when I look at the package is a misspelling of the band INXS... I can't remember which store I found this gem circulating around, but I would be wary of their products. 

3. Menu Mix-up

I loved going to Disney on ice as an adult. The skating in those shows is really fantastic and we went to a weekend matinee, so we grabbed a a cocktail far away from the little princes and princesses asking for cotton candy, light-up hats, popcorn, Icees, ice cream, and anything else that's overpriced or will be regretted at the end of the day. 

The bar had 4 themed drinks for the occasion and I got the "Little Mermaid" themed margarita. It tasked great, but I was laughing pretty hard as I took the fruit out. They advertised the strawberry topper as Sebatian, which I had to read again a few times (to rule out they were putting a big batch of wheat (Setian) I think Sebastian would have some things to say about this personal insult.  

What am I Reading? - October 2021 - BRAT: An 80's Story

 I love Andrew McCarthy. Maybe it comes from his somewhat aloof but secretly sweet persona in all of those 80's movies, but I have always wanted to know more about his life. Whether it was confessing to Ally Sheedy he was secretly in love with her in St. Elmo's Fire, or charming Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink, he seemed like an old soul. What's his story?  At the end of the day, McCarthy's story is like many of his era- kicked out of high school, some teen movie era fame, some bad press, some drinking, more adult roles and a turn on Broadway, a few marriages, a stint as a travel writer, a Hollywood comeback story, and finding bliss in directing and booking tv roles in some of the hottest shows, like 13 Reasons Why and The Resident. It's the typical story, right? 

McCarthy has so much more to tell. He developed an addition to alcohol long before he became a Brat Packer, mostly due to troubles at home stat started around age 12. He looked for his father's approval for years and studied the craft of acting in the hopes of learning more about himself, and maybe finally accepting his family for who they are. 

Read this book if you're looking for a journey of self-discovery, and to learn more about Weekend at Bernie's II. I give it 5 stars! 

 

Writing Sample - Learning to do Yoga

             Yoga is both a popular workout for all ages and a technique to calm the mind. There are two basic types of yoga. We will review the more active style first, which is called a vinyasa flow. During this style of yoga practice, a teacher will guide you through several poses, or movements for your body. One flow contains a series of poses on the floor, rising up to standing, and as you get more advanced, balancing on sides of your body. This style of class moves quickly and gives the yogi a more aerobic pace. For yogis that do not want to commit to a full class, a quick internet search for “yoga videos” can provide a number of free options to try.

 Most yoga classes require nothing more than a mat. According to online yoga hub Yoga International, the mat not only helps yogis to be more comfortable during class, but it serves as a physical reminder that the class is a break from a busy day. Vinyasa flows can be invigorating and are great exercises to begin the day, according to John Hopkins Medicine’s website.

Balance is a key part of yoga. According to Yoga Journal, regularly moving your body helps to strengthen your overall balance. Each pose must be done equally on both the right and the left side of the body to achieve muscular and spiritual balance. Poses that stretch the limbs are done both ways, like the popular “Cat-Cow Pose” for the back. In this pose, the yogi gets on his or her hands and knees with their back long, imagining a table with a flat back. As the yogi rounds the shoulders and pulls in the stomach to the back like a cat, he or she holds the position. The yogi releases the position after a breath into the starting hands and knees pose with a neutral back, like the cow. The repeating of this pose assures the back and spine get a stretch in two different ways. Vinyasa classes incorporate breathing into each of the poses. You may inhale in for cat pose, and release the breath as you move into cow pose. There is another form of yoga that relies more on breathing techniques to achieve balance.

Breathing is the main focus in Hatha yoga. The breath, or “pranayama” as it is called in its original Sanskrit, helps the yogi achieve balance in poses. You will of course use breathing to count out the length of the poses and breath will strengthen the connection between the body and mind. Over the course of a Hatha class, a yogi will move at a slower pace and control their in/out breath, which can help calm the parasympathetic nervous system. This regulating part of the body controls things like pulse and digestion. The body’s slowdown in breathing will help a yogi relax in as little as five minutes, according to The Himalayan Yoga Institute.

Hatha classes spend more time meditating in each pose. You may find mental balance while working on your physical balance. People without yoga experience are encouraged to do their best and make modifications to their poses as they go through each gentle flow. This style of yoga focuses more on the journey than on the end result. A popular pose in Hatha classes in “Legs up the Wall,” also known as Viparita Karani in the Sanskrit language. This pose is best done before bedtime, according to wellness website MindBodyGreen.com. The yogi should lie on the floor next to an open wall with a mat for support, and walk the legs up the wall until the body is in an “L” with the arms resting comfortably at the sides. This pose raises the legs over the head for an extended time, helping the body power down into a meditative state.  As always, modifications cane be made for this pose. A yoga block (about 2” x 5” and made of foam) may be a good option to place at the base of your spine if you do not have a wall available to lean against. Home staples such as towels, blankets, or an extra yoga mat can be placed under the bottom of the spine to alleviate pressure on the back and hips, according to Dr. Andrew Weill, an integrative medicine doctor at the University of Arizona.  

As with all yoga classes, Hatha and Vinyasa classes end with a rest period called a “Savasana.” Many yogis enjoy these last 5-10 minutes of the class more than the poses. Instructors will dim the lights during this time and guide the yogis through a meditation or “scrunch and relax” exercise with each region of the body. The yogi lies in the “Corpse Pose,” flat on the back with arms and legs stretched out on the mat. A small yoga block or rolled up piece of fabric can be a helpful cushion for the head in this pose. The yogi takes this time as a meditation to clear the head and absorb what has been done in the class. This could be taking in the physical benefits of stretching, or enjoying the metal benefits of quiet time spent focusing on the breath. Peloton Yoga instructor Kristin McGee suggested on her blog that a meditation can be as simple as repeating,” Breathe in, breathe out,” as a mantra. In conclusion, yoga is a fun, free, and beneficial way to exercise both your body and mind.  

 

  

Figure 1: Cat Cow Pose, as Demonstrated in PopSugar  article.

Figure 2: Legs up the Wall from Yoga Journal article.