Lifestyle Fashion

Posted on Posted in Deliberate Consumption, Fitness and DietTagged ,

In the past year or so, I’ve gotten into some activities that require “active wear.” First off, I started scuba diving – so I ended up getting the full scuba outfitting gear, thanks to GirlDiver being a Mares representative. Granted, this is mainly only fashionable on my way in or out of the water – but the SheDives line of gear is nicely fitted and smartly fashionable in a world where there’s not enough girl-friendly gear.

Then there was running. This had a whole separate gear requirement. The basics are simple, sports bra, shorts, shirt. If you want to get fancy, you want to get stuff that reduces chafing, like moisture wicking, form-fitting socks and tops. Nice breezy shorts help too. Thanks to a few clearance sales (REI and Title Nine) I was outfitted in no time.

Finally, there was yoga. I’m happy to do yoga at home in my pajamas, however, that doesn’t work so well when going to a studio. So, I bought a couple of outfits (one on clearance) at Lucy, which has cute, yet overpriced yoga wear.

The thing is about running and yoga – or at least, when I was doing them more often – is that the clothing I used for those activities were used solely for those activities. I just don’t get people wearing the fashion of active lifestyles (or things that look like they’re great for such activities, but really aren’t) when they don’t do those activities, or aren’t on their way to do so.

The New York Times has an article here that looks at Lululemon, the yoga lifestyle apparel company, and how they’re selling a feeling. It’s not unlike what I experienced at the vendor tables when I went to see Pema Chodron a few weeks ago. People will buy the books, the CDs, the inspirational cards and purses hand made by whoever … but owning those things won’t do the meditation for you. Your yoga clothes won’t make you more limber any more than your Nike running shorts will make you fit to run a marathon all by themselves.

I admit, the pretty active fashions are captivating, but do I really need a t-shirt to prove that I’m more enlightened than you?

Electric Shaver RIP – April 09 – July 09

Posted on Posted in Deliberate ConsumptionTagged , ,

When I was discharged from the ER in March, I left with a packet of information on how to manage my new world of anticoagulation. First and foremost – do not climb ladders, second – say goodbye to leafy greens (that is, until you work out something practical with the people overseeeing your care). In the reduction of injury department came the encouragement to purchase an electric shaver for your smooth skin needs. I’ve been a fan of the old Gillette Venus, with it’s three measly blades (!) for about – uh – 8 years now? So fond that I haven’t upgraded to the five blade silliness.

Given that I risked hemorrhaging, what with the warfarin and all, I fnally broke down and bought a Conair Satiny Smooth Ladies’ Wet / Dry Rechargeable Shaver at my local Walgreens. For the price (around $30), I wasn’t expecting much. The reviews I found on various sites were rather dismal, and the pamphlet that came with the shaver recommended a number of uses before passing judgment.

Since I only expected to be on blood thinners for 4-6 months, I figured this was worth a try, and a small investment for summertime and vacation bare legs. It definitely took some getting used to, and made my shaving time 3x as long, but in the end, it seemed to work out rather well. I was pleased with my purchase, and was happy that I had this rather thrifty solution.

That is, until last week when what should have been a fully charged shaver, didn’t turn on. I figured maybe it hadn’t been seated in the charger well, but after another few days, well seated, it still held no charge (though the green light was on while charging.) After weekly use for three months (almost 4!) I pronounce my shaver dead. I think it was worth every penny I paid for it, and for a short-term solution, it did exactly what I wanted to do.

However – if electric shavers are your main leg grooming agent – I’d go elsewhere.

Back in Seattle

Posted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged ,

I am pleased to report that I have made it back to Seattle alive and well. We spent about four days in the fantastic Bay Area. Our host lives in the Mission, so we spent a lot of time in and around there. I got to visit 826 Valencia, where Dave Egger’s tutoring empire all began. I was mopped while I was there. (Please go there to find out more about mopping. There are helpful signs to give you the story.) I got to care for an extremely drunk woman who we randomly met at a club (and found her friend, and got her into a cab home!) We ate Mission burritos, drank local beer, co-hosted a beer tasting and pizza dinner, had great times with friends (wrote saucy status updates for them), visited the Googleplex… it was quite amazing.

California is a special, weird place. It is America in all it’s America-ness. It’s got that frontier spunk and boob-job exterior. I really appreciate the multicultural aspects of San Francisco, juxtaposed to the Seattle monoculture. I am not as keen on the car necessity, however the BART may make it worth living there anyway.

The great thing about vacation is passing through that threshold into a world of infinite possibilities. It’s broadening your understanding, broadening your choices of personality and place. I still hate flying – but leaving Seattle for a long weekend has me thirsting for more.

No Time to Lose

Posted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , ,

“No Time to Lose” was the title of this past weekend’s teachings by Pema Chodron. It is a talk based on a portion of her book No Time to Lose which contemplates The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva. The chapter she dealt with was called Patience, which is an argument against anger. I got a lot out of the weekend, and found it personally rewarding. I also found that some of the teachings I got from it were front and center in my mind, and I was working to meditate and practice despite irritants.

The chapter that we were lead through was called Patience, and really, was an argument against anger and hatred. The schedule of the event were from 7-10 on Friday, 9-12:15 and 2-5:30 on Saturday, and 2-12:30 on Sunday. Before Ani Pema’s 2 hour long talks, there was a lesson in meditation by Karl Brunnholzl, and then some gentle stretching with local yoga teachers. Additionally, there was a request after the first night for silence to be kept in the theatre space, and “functional talking” only in the halls outside the theatre.

I found that I experienced what is called “bourgeois suffering,” that is, suffering that has nothing to do with actual suffering. During the weekend, I had the opportunity to reflect and learn how some things irritate me, and what those moments can teach me.

Continue reading “No Time to Lose” →