Week 1

'You, you are platinum.'

For those who wanted to follow along with this incredible journey, head on over to my Tumblr postings.

Two thousand miles

We are all broken somehow.

It's how we patch ourselves up and wear our scars that matters most.

Three days and two thousand miles to go.

Storm before the calm

My mind have been racing in the last few weeks that I almost don't recognize myself.  It's not just the training that has me running in circles, but, life in general. 

I've been lucky enough to have been granted the time off of work and in preparation for my absence, I've had to cram all the work that needs to be done into the last 2 months.  And let's just say that challenging would be an understatement.  I can feel it in my bones, my brain hurts, cognitive functions are barely there (thank god for editors!), and I'm sure people around me are pretending that I make sense just to be kind or shut me up. 

And all this, I believe, has brought my immune system to a screeching halt and got me some cooties.  Not being able to hold down any proper food or having the energy to cook doesn't help heal the body well either.  Additionally, it has really messed with my system and  I now I know the effects of too much bread before a #Bikram class! (Hint: it's not pretty and I'll never do it again).  No wonder they say stress is the root of (some) diseases.  That and bad food.

Because crappy food makes people grouchy, and grouchy people are more stressed,  I soooo do not want crappy food.  But I'm not getting any kitchen love these days.  The best I can churn out these days is boiling water.  No, really, I'm not kidding.   There's really nothing more comforting than an organized kitchen and that excitement one gets when creating a dish full of comfort, nutrition, and heart. 

There's also nothing more satisfying than a spotless sink and stove.  But my kitchen these days?  Well, it looks like someone shook it all around, opened everything, and dumped the rest in plain sight.  A frat boy would be scared of my place.  While the cleaning freak in me is slowly dying inside, the human in me is just too goddamn tired to soothe her.  Thank goodness I packed my suitcase weeks ago, because it's one less thing I need to worry about.

And yoga.  Oh, how I miss the yoga.  Many post-trainees have advised to take it easy before training, as we'll get plenty of it there.  Totally understandable, and totally appreciative of the insight (thank you).  But the thing is, the yoga is what keeps me sane.  I've worked in the mental health field for some years now, and I know from experience that none of my physical being matters if I'm mentally, emotionally, and spiritually spent.

Yoga balances me out.  Even as I sit here feeling the aches and pains of illness, overworking, and undernourishment, they don't compare to how gutted I feel without a proper practice.  No egos about it, I just really, really need the yoga. 

And while I share these things with you, I promise I am not complaining.  I accept everything for what they are, and really, taking the time off for teacher training is an opportunity I am lucky to have.  But I swear if I see Snow White's poisoned apple, I might just steal it so I'm guaranteed some rest.  Somehow I doubt training will be the place to find it.  At least there'll be lots of yoga, right?

Ahh namaste peeps!

BKTT/BYTT

At first I wasn't sure if I was going to write throughout teacher training.  Then all of a sudden, I had so much to write and we haven't even started yet!  There wasn't enough space to put all the thoughts down that I've gone ahead and posted them on a separate blog.

Why separate?  Because there are simply things on this place that I only entrust in you.  And this place - it is much too personal to share with those who I might someday be teaching for, or more importantly, I might be working for.  Call me odd, or simply accept that it's a Scorpio thing, but that's just how it's gotta be.

So for the, like, 8 of you that patiently and kindly read my blog and are interested in anything teacher training related, the little piggy can be found in the most random of places like this one.

On a random note, fall is here.  A little sad to be missing it this year since I'll be in sunny California.  Maybe I'll bring a few dried Maple leaves with me for company...

Lessons from my freezer: BKTT scavenger hunt

Last night, I had these grand ideas for dinner then I remembered that a) I can only use what I have and b) I'm poor so I didn't have a choice but use what I have. 

I needed to use up what I had in my kitchen before I leave for training so I've made it a mission to clean out my fridge and freezer of foods I've stored and saved over the past...year.  Fine, past two years is more likely. 

A quick survey of my supplies showed a package of dumpling wrappers, some frozen cheese, tofu, loads of butter (what priorities I have), Thai chilies, jalapenos for nachos, green salty olives, and my lone fresh produce: a yellow zucchini.  Oh and there was also a questionable carrot and a couple of beets purchased from two seasons ago.  I think.  My celery is dying a slow, painful death so I left it be.

So being the challenge lover that I am, I decided to make use of the dumpling wrappers finally before they expired on Sept. 5.  Grated cheese, zucchini, carrots, olives, jalapenos stuffed in pan fried dough?  Why not! 

As suspected, the carrot was wilty but I was too impatient to revive it in a bowl of water, so I just used the core that remained crisp.  Honestly, it looked like a very fat and wrinkly orange thumb.  I'm surprised I even touched it.

Then I grated the zucchini and cheese.  The pickled jalapenos, which were the one ingredient I was actually excited about, looked as if someone chewed them up and then stored them in vinegar.  I tried, but I couldn't get over the texture.  Note to self: never buy pickled jalapenos ever again.

I added olives, some fresh garlic, and Thai chilies for flavour.  Finally, I stuffed them in the wrappers and pan fried the heck out of them til the cheese melted to oblivion.

Verdict:  They were really good!!  Or so I thought until I woke up at 3 am nursing a lactose-intolerant stomach ache.  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I uh, am not very good at digesting dairy. 

Clearly that doesn't stop me, though I should really make an effort.  I think after this episode, I'll have to pass on cheese during teacher training.  Baby steps.

Moral of this random story:  As my fellow teacher-trainee-to-be and Fab-Four member, Nicola Poppet from the UK, eating up the contents of your cupboards and freezer is not as fun as it sounds.

Lesson learned: Never freeze anything you find questionable now.  It won't be like find wine.  Time will not make it better.  Neither will a hint of freezer burn.

I'm SOOOO not looking forward to dealing with those frozen strawberries. I doubt my housemate would want to eat them...