Updates and brain dump and beer, oh my!

Thank you all for your wonderful, kind words of support about my grammy - just your thoughts, comments and prayers have definitely helped. Big hugs and thanks for each and every one of you!

Now it's time for a little update. I mentioned that life has been nuts, and I just need to do a brain dump of sorts. And lists are fun. Obvs.

1. Work has been crazy, but in a good way. I'm starting to teach two classes - one is called Massage 101, where I instruct two people (generally couples) basic massage techniques so they feel more comfortable giving each other bodywork. Sure, shoulder rubs and foot rubs are great, but this class gives people 'advanced' basic, worthwhile techniques that they can carry over and use in their own home. This class wasn't too hard to prepare since I interned with the Level 1 students at my school last year and was able to draw a lot of the material from there. I taught my first class to an older couple today, and it was actually a lot of fun!

The other class I'm teaching is called Relaxation 101 - this one is a bit more complicated since I was asked to/volunteered to create 'new' material for it. By 'new', I mean that I had to recreate the class based off of the description that it would be a 'restorative stretch and yoga class for partners.' We originally had someone teaching the class, but apparently some things got a little sketchy and she left before I had a chance to sit in on her class or get training from her. A fellow coworker took the class once.. so that's all I had to go with. I've been spending the past few weeks coming up with a blend of stretches, restorative yoga poses, meditation, massage and partner work that accommodates the most flexible bodies to the most stiff. It was a challenge, for sure. I finally had my first Relaxation 101 class with two sisters last week, and I am happy to report that it went rather well! I definitely have to fine tune it again for another private class this week, but I absolutely love teaching it.

2. All that new work made me stressy for a while. I mean.. we're charging $200 for those classes (for 2 people). That's a lot of money. So the content has to be good. No pressure.

3. I also volunteered to somehow create an intake form that clients would fill out on an iPad, and then have the information sent to a database of some sort. I have made VERY little progress here. If you know anything, I could seriously use your help! Right now, I'm just having fun playing with an iPad and pretending it's mine ;)

This was my makeshift "work" desk at home. That's as professional as I get.

4. Because of all the aforementioned work things, I had to give up interning at DC United. Sure, it was a great experience.. but I wasn't getting paid and wasn't able to perform up to capacity for my full time job that does pay. Plus the hours sucked. Oh well.

5. I. Need. A. Vacation. I really can't wait until Scot and I go upstate New York. 5 more days!

6. A date was finally decided for my grammy's memorial service.. long story short, the day we'll be driving back from New York, we'll be going straight to the airport down in Maryland, fly down to Florida, stay for a day and a half, fly back, then finally drive home. Phew.

7. Last but not least (for now).. we tasted our first batch of home brew!!

It was SO TASTY. And.. it may already be gone. All 5 gallons of it. In our defense, Scot gave a bunch of bottles away to the guys he works with. But.. we did drink a lot of it. We currently have a 2nd batch of a dark Russian stout carbonating away in bottles, and a 3rd batch of a Belgian whit beer going through it's first fermentation. Beer for everyone, huzzah!