Tomorrow is Writers' Group, and I haven't written anything worth reading. I've tried to write a memorial piece about Squeak, similar to the one I wrote about Gladys, but it's not turning out well. My heart's just not into it. My heart's not into Writers' Group right now.

I finally finished the minutes for November's Church Council meeting, but only because I had to. From beginning to end, I felt as if I was merely getting through it. My heart's not into Church Council right now.

I feel as if I'm getting through this Christmas season only because I have to. I feel as if I can't wait for it to be over.

It's an effort to write this blog entry. There's not much else I have the energy to do right now.

What is it that all those things have in common? Is it that they are all social activities? Was I able to enjoy that Supported Shoulderstand because it was a solo activity?

Should I have taken that solo road trip a couple of weeks ago?

I was thinking today about the fact that I'd completely lost track of where I am in the current seven-week yoga session. (I compare that to when I first started and I was always aware that it was, for instance, week three with four weeks to go.) I see this as a sign that this yoga experiment has become a part of me. Friday evenings have become yoga class evening.

This evening, Lisa reminded us that next week will be the end of this session. A new session starts the week of January 2.

I had a very difficult time meditating either before or after class. I just couldn't focus my mind. I don't know why.

This evening, I fell in love with a surprising pose. Lisa called it a "Supported Shoulderstand," but the supported shoulderstands I've found online look nothing like what I did today. This one started out as the Bridge Pose. Then we put a block under our lower back, to support us, and lifted our legs straight up into the air. Lisa came over to tell me I was doing it wonderfully. She asked if I was comfortable. I told her, "Very comfortable. Can I just hold this for the rest of class?" Lisa was very serious when she said, "Yes, you can."

It seemed unlikely that this pose would be so restful.

Later in the class, when I was having difficulty with some forward bend twists, Lisa told me, "You really can go back to that other pose if you'd like, you know." I didn't though. I wanted to explore other poses. I want to go back to that Supported Shoulderstand soon.

"En muchos casos hacemos por vanidad o por miedo, lo que haríamos por deber." - Miguel de Unamundo

It's odd. Think Spanish! ¡Piensa en Español! magazine translates that quote as: "Every act of goodness is a demonstration of power."

I translate it as: "In many cases we do for vanity or fear, that which we would do for duty."

Maybe the proofreader called in sick one day.

I had an interesting mystery in front of me this afternoon, at least for a while.

One of the patients I had to call to set up for an appointment had a Seattle address, but his home phone number had a 662 area code. That's not a Seattle area code, or even a Washington area code. Obviously, whichever hospital employee entered the information into the system had made a mistake. The patient didn't have a work phone number listed.

I decided to call the home number anyway, to see what happened. I got a recording from the Boeing Company operator saying that the phone number was no longer active.

I turned to an online telephone directory, but couldn't find the patient's name listed in Seattle. I tried Tacoma, Everett, Olympia, and Bremerton directories, but couldn't find the patient.

I turned to an online area code listing, and learned that 662 is the area code for northern Mississippi.

I looked through the patient's file. Everything listed the patient's home area code as 662, and, apparently, other hospital employees had reached the patient by phone. I decided to try the number again.

It seemed that I had mis-dialed the number the first time, because the second time I got a recording saying that I had reached the patient's cell phone. So, I left a message.

There was my mystery: Why would a resident of Seattle carry a cell phone with a Mississippi area code? What kind of long distance bills must this guy's friends have?

A little while later, the patient called me back. He told me he wanted to set up an appointment that wouldn't interfere with his classes. Suddenly, the solution to my mystery was obvious. The patient was a student who had brought his cellular phone with him from home. Maybe it was cheaper for him than getting a Seattle phone set up in his temporary home. Maybe I didn't see the solution sooner because I was still thinking in the 20th century.

Phillip is encouraging me to take another solo road trip, like the one I took to Portland (Oregon) in March of 2003. He says I should go to Vancouver (British Columbia) on this trip.

The idea appeals to me. I'd like to wait until after the new year, or whenever things settle down for me. I'm also concerned about snow. I'm torn between Portland and Vancouver - two cities I love. I'm also thinking about someplace new and unexpected.

I'm toying with the idea of Gresham (Oregon). I know only two things about Gresham, though: It's the birthplace of the Gardenburger™ and it's at the eastern end of the MAX blue line. It's the latter thing that makes me think about going to Gresham. When I was exploring Portland last year, I ended up not exploring the city's light rail system enough. (I wish Seattle had such a mass transit system.) I don't know what else is in Gresham. Or, I may return to Portland and make Gresham a trip-within-a-trip.

I'm also toying with the idea of eastern Oregon - an area I don't know at all.

I have an idea about taking the train to wherever I go, and leave the Prius at home,which would pretty much narrow the practical choices to Portland and Vancouver.

I am experiencing wanderlust.

There are plenty of asanas - yoga poses - that I have difficulty with. I am, after all, just beginning this learning process. There are asanas that I can hold for a breath before giving out. There are asanas that I can accomplish with modifications.

There are two asanas, so far, that I have not been able to achieve, even for a moment: Bakasana (Crane Pose) and Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose). Of these two, the Crane Pose seems the more achievable. Last Friday, I managed to lift my left foot completely off the floor, and balance on the toes of my right foot. Lisa praised me for that.

This is a very stressful week for me, which started last Thursday. Dad is recovering nicely, but he still has a journey ahead of him. My own journey is nearing an end, and I may not be able to sleep well until this Friday.