nicole

Ehhh, I've never been one to hate on the union, but I didn't take SEPTA during that strike, either, so... I don't know. Heh, *that* strike, I can think of quite a few since the late 90's. I've not lived here that long!

Ehhh, I've never been one to hate on the union, but I didn't take SEPTA during that strike, either, so... I don't know.

The SEPTA delays are annoying any day of the year. True enough, but I take SEPTA every day and can usually get where I'm going without being 20+ minutes late like I've been the past few days!

I was snowed (or, iced, rather) in yesterday, but today I had to go to work. The SEPTA delays are annoying and it's cold and my husband had to physically push out our car this morning, but other than that, we're doing great!

Your downward dog in the calendar (shuck=dog). My instructor says "shuck" when she wants us to switch from the cobra to the downward dog. Ahhhh! I've never had a teacher use "shuck." Haha.

Happy birthday!!!

Thanks! Someone today told me that maybe I should put together a portfolio? I guess I could, but I wouldn't know who to show it to once it was done. Crash, "nice shuck"???

I really want to visit the Palace of Gold sometime! I got to drive NEAR it on my way to Columbus several months ago to adopt Probert, but I had a friend and 3 dogs in the car, so I didn't want to take the 40 mile detour to at least get to see it! Someday!!!

They're doing awesome, thanks! Maizy is calming down in her old (3yo) age, Wrigley is about to turn 2 in April, and Probert has learned the joy of sleeping under the covers with his girl (me) on cold winter mornings. Life is good for my pups.

Awww, that's great! I have three pit bulls who I ADORE!

Thanks for the tips! I have never been to the Keys before, so I'm really excited. I actually almost never go on vacation because there would be no one to take care of our three dogs. My husband is staying home this trip (he doesn't seem too upset... he doesn't like the beach), but it will still be fun for me! I am hoping that Whole Foods listed in the link will be on our way so I can stock up on food.

So, I am going to Islamorada, FL at the end of March to practice yoga with Pattabhi Jois on his only trip to the US in 2007. I am pretty excited, but am not expecting to find a lot in the way of vegan food! We booked a motel with a kitchenette, so at least I can cook for myself (and save money?), but I'd love to go check out some places to eat and we are driving to Key West and stuff, so if you have any suggestions, let me know! Also, we are flying into Ft Lauderdale and driving to the keys, so I have to stop at a grocery store along the way. Let me know if you know of one that would be on that route?! Thanks!!!

Thanks, guys! I'm pretty excited about the whole thing. I WISH it was a new career in the making, but it would be SO COOL if some yoga clothing/accessory company saw me in the calendar and contacted me! But I will try not to hope for that to happen, because it probably won't!

I think doing it with someone else (and some notes) is something I would be capable of!

I would love to do it, but I'm not sure that I'm a very good public speaker!!

Sorry, Vegan Fitness Calendar, but since you weren't around this year, I cheated on you! Hahaha. The picture is actually from the same photo shoot as the VF one. I submitted it ages ago, and just found out tonight that I am even in it! It's for the Yoga Alliance, which is kind of a big deal, I think!!! I am also pictured in two of their brochures! Here are some links to the pictures: http://www.yogaalliance.org/brochures.html http://www.yogaalliance.org/calendar.html http://www.yogaalliance.org/documents/2007CalendarCover.pdf I'm kind of in shock!

Tigress, you look so pretty!!!!

Haha, that's awesome! I can't even begin to think how I'd encorporate one of my dogs into a yoga practice. They would just be running around trying to play with the other dogs! That is amazing! I should go take class and find out how it's done. There is also a book called "Doga" that is REALLY cute. A friend bought it for me to cheer me up when my dog, Cornholio, passed away.

I hope you'll be ready to come back soon! I'll miss you!!

I recently tried a style of meditation called Tratak that I loved. It is a meditation on light. I am under the impression that there is information about it online, but I haven't looked yet. I have a great little book, but it's photocopied and stapled, so I'm not sure where to recommend you get your own! Good luck!

I think they have Vegan Treats cakes there? You should just make the extra trip up to Allentown and go to the Vegan Treats bakery! I haven't been yet. The cakes at Kingdom are also awesome, but made locally in Philly. Yeah, Gianna's is the one that lied about their food being vegan. I did go there quite a bit and was pissed when I found out where my money had been going. Needless to say, I haven't been back and I don't have a lot of respect for people still supporting them when there are DOZENS of great vegan places in Philadelphia, and even within walking distance of Gianna's. I like Maoz, too! There is also a new (relocated) vegan "gourmet" place called Horizons that I haven't been to yet, but hope to visit soon! There is also a vegan chinese buffet (all you can eat) up in Malvern which would be right up your alley (and is awesome!). Also, up by me in Norristown, there is an Indian place that does tandoor veggies and mock meat, which is AWESOME! I haven't been eating out much, but this is making me want to! Wow, sounds like we need to organize a vegan tour of Pennsylvania. Who knew a state with 10 dairy billboards per square mile could be so vegan friendly. It seems like a lot of vegan-friendliness is over at this end!

I don't think it is inflamatory, I think it is true. It is discussed in devotee circles on a regular basis. The general concensus is that it is best to lie to "karmis", especially vegan karmis about dairy in the prasadam, in order to "help" those people make spiritual advancement. It's not an isolated event, it is happening in temples on a regular basis. I know full well many of the problems that have gone on with ISKON, I just try not to endorse blanket statements.

I think they have Vegan Treats cakes there? You should just make the extra trip up to Allentown and go to the Vegan Treats bakery! I haven't been yet. The cakes at Kingdom are also awesome, but made locally in Philly. Yeah, Gianna's is the one that lied about their food being vegan. I did go there quite a bit and was pissed when I found out where my money had been going. Needless to say, I haven't been back and I don't have a lot of respect for people still supporting them when there are DOZENS of great vegan places in Philadelphia, and even within walking distance of Gianna's. I like Maoz, too! There is also a new (relocated) vegan "gourmet" place called Horizons that I haven't been to yet, but hope to visit soon! There is also a vegan chinese buffet (all you can eat) up in Malvern which would be right up your alley (and is awesome!). Also, up by me in Norristown, there is an Indian place that does tandoor veggies and mock meat, which is AWESOME! I haven't been eating out much, but this is making me want to!

I know plenty of Hare Krishnas and I trust them very much! I bet I know more. I know personally Hare Krishnas that have literally been in jail for insurance fraud, dealing drugs, child molestation, rape and murder. I have seen many times Hare Krishnas lie directly to someone in response to questions about food being vegan. I have seen Hare Krishnas selling green cake at a festival, it wasn't supposed to be green, it had gone bad and moldy. They lied and said it was supposed to be green. All of these things were justified in the name of serving Krishna and helping people to make spiritual advancement by eating prasadam(offered food). I know, I have hung out with the scum of the earth. I also know that these types of activities are not limited to Hare Krishnas. I also know dozens and dozens of good, nice, honest devotees. In general though, I just don't trust devotees as they tend to justify almost anything in the name of Krishna. That's fine, it's not a contest about who knows more hare krishnas, I just think it's offensive to label a person automatically because of religon (race, class, gender, etc), regardless of past experiences. If you know dozens of honest devotees, you will agree that it is completely unnecessary to make inflamatory statements like "Every Hare Krishna I have ever known would lie straight to your face"?

http://www.myspace.com/cqcsa should work! It works, thanks. Can I call you Nicki? I don't know about that! Maybe not? I didn't mean to offend you, my bad. Haha, that's okay! No one calls me Niki except people who have known me since I was a little kid!