heidi Heidi: The View From Up Here

[Heidi]

Wow.

What a wonderful ride it has been over the last few years.

I am absolutely impressed with the difference small changes over time have wrought, and I feel as though I am standing on the peak of a mountain, valleys, streams and waterfalls around me, held by the love of the universe.

And the way before me shows higher peaks yet, beautiful vistas for the journey, and I face them with strength and serenity.

 

This challenge will encompass summer,  with all the strange and delightful and at times surreal energy that comes along with an abundance of sun. Summer classes run from 20 June - the end of July for me, and I’m looking forward to a whole new kind of development. My focus is on the weekly accomplishments: 

1. Lead

   1. Development

      1. 2 books

      2. 2 TED talks

   2. Create

      1. 501c3 paperwork

         1. EIN

         2. Articles of Incorporation

      2. Offices

      3. Bank Account

      4. Newspaper - possibly next challenge, but lay the framework here

2. Live

   1. Hike

   2. Acupuncture

   3. Yoga therapy

   4. Library Day

   5. Market Day

3. Love the support of a daily routine

   1. In bed at 10

   2. Out of bed at 6

   3. Spend nothing, because you have everything

   4. Gym

   5. Walking

4. Speak Out

   1. Response article

   2. Response Paper for Andy

   3. Response Paper for Jenny

   4. Tweet for Justice

   5. Tweet for Community

   6. Paper: The Power of Pamphleteers

   7. Mental Health Article

   8. Financial Freedom Article

[Heidi]

We hiked up Tinker Mountain as far as the overlook above Carvin's Cove this afternoon, 4.5 miles roundtrip, the first half of which was definitely nothing but "up."

 

Mountain pose at the mountain top,

 

 

  and tree in the trees shows how good a time we were having.

 

And I call the one in front of the power line the Ohms Pose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

[Sandylion]

Hiya Heidi! 

Wow, what a challenge! Look forward to followin along! 

Namaste!

[DarK_RaideR]

Here, of course. Not sure if it's the choice of words or yourself coming across, but simply reading the challenge made me feel all calm and peaceful. Really like the hike and wishing you many more during the summer. If I recall your past photos correctly, the "happy" is way more visible on your face. Helps that no smoking is good for the skin

[Heidi]

9 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said:

Here, of course. Not sure if it's the choice of words or yourself coming across, but simply reading the challenge made me feel all calm and peaceful. Really like the hike and wishing you many more during the summer. If I recall your past photos correctly, the "happy" is way more visible on your face. Helps that no smoking is good for the skin

Good to have you along!

I get self conscious around cameras, but usually I'm smiling all the time  - glad it came through!

 

I'm lighter without alcohol, nicotine, and as of two weeks ago, coffee.  Sometimes it's not about finding what to do more of, but where I need to do less.

[Heidi]

Here's a picture from the hike on Saturday -- more happiness!

[maegs]

You look so good, that's a fantastic picture!  

[The Borg Queen]

Super lol @ ohms pose

 

Looks like an awesome challenge, good luck!

[Heidi]

Worked the election (republican primary for House seat) all day yesterday (5a.m. - 8p.m.) and overall, it went much faster than I thought it would. The women I worked with were excellent, and we settled into a really good energy after a few hours of getting to know each other. It's always weird for The New Girl, and I have a lot of uncomfortable experiences that try to get in the way, but I was pleased at how it came together once I decided to stop worrying and let people be themselves.

 

Obviously nothing else got done, but I did manage 10k steps, lots of water, no sugar, and plenty of healthy food, since I could only eat or drink what I took with me.

 

This morning is a bit of a rest period for me, since I really was off center by the time I got home last night. I'm still not right, but getting there; disruptions to my routine seem to require time to reset. We will see how in the groove I am after lunch time.

 

Namaste, y'all.

[Heidi]

Love the support of a daily routine

1. In bed at 10

2. Out of bed at 6

3. Spend nothing, because you have everything

4. Gym - does toting tables and chairs and sinage count?

5. Walking

[Heidi]

At the gym this afternoon:

• 1 mile walk
• The number of the day was 10:
  • 10@10(l,r) Swimmer's Presses
  • 10@10(l,r) fly
  • 10@10(l,r) skull crushers
• 1 minute plank
• 32 back extensions
• 48 inclined sit ups
• 20 minute sauna meditation

We went to the office supply store to pick up some notebooks for the coming term; I'm going to be a busy girl over the next seven weeks or so! I am assembling notebooks with calendars and syllabi, and getting all the books together and making certain my structured plan gets me where I want to go. 

 

Also, the articles of incorporation for the 501c3 foundation that I'm starting have been filed. I feel nearly legitimate!

 

[maegs]

30 minutes ago, Heidi said:

 

Also, the articles of incorporation for the 501c3 foundation that I'm starting have been filed. I feel nearly legitimate!

 

 

 

[Heidi]

Yoga therapy for an hour this morning was just the right way to start the day.

At the gym afterward:

• 1 mile walk/run
• 1 minute plank
• 32 back extensions with side twist
• 32 inclined sit ups
• 15 minute sauna meditation

We went to the pediatrician afterwards for Vivian's five year checkup, and it's official: she's a little girl!!!!!!

 

[Heidi]

After nap time, we made Whackadoodles, a Vivian trademark classic-in-the-making. They are absolutely delicious.

 

Then we went to the local movie house to catch the opening of Finding Dory. We got home just before the storm hit, and it was a brilliant display of lightening and thunder and rain for our pre-bedtime show.

[Heidi]

Had a lovely, busy Friday:

• Yoga in the park in the morning
• Walked a half-mile at the gym
• 20 minute sauna meditation
• quiet time with my man
• Lunch with Dr. Costa to discuss community organization and social justice
• Meeting with Rick at Lick Run Farm
• A hand of cards and a cup of tea at home
• A trip to campus to pick up independent study paperwork
• Meeting with my advisor to go over the stoicism and mindfulness class that is beginning on Sunday

And now, a bit of a rest

[Heidi]

Today is a day of Solitude & Silence. It actually started around 5 yesterday, and I'm in love with it once again. 

Insight: these times of seclusion are not optional. The picture of my soul requires reflection.

 

 

[Hiraedd]

I love how happy you look!  It's so great to see you doing so well!!

[Heidi]

5 hours ago, Hiraedd said:

I love how happy you look!  It's so great to see you doing so well!!

Hiraedd!

Hi hi hi!

 

[Heidi]

Another wonderful day.

Life is good.

[Heidi]

Went to the thing. It was really quite nice, all told.

 

The Lt. Gov (Ralph Northam) was there, as advertised, and Sam was there as well as John Edwards and Dick Cranwell. I also met a man named (I am not kidding) Mudcat, who really won me over -- he is all sorts of laid back and mildly interested in the whole of it all, wearing shorts and a tee shirt, and you would have liked him very much, I think. We got to talking after the speeches and the room-working, and it came to light that he is a political strategist. He wanted to know more about the paper, and I told him I'd be happy to get some press out there for the candidates as long as they wanted to craft an interview piece on what specifically the candidate wants to do to foster and promote and address equality. He seemed interested, but it could have been my shoes.

 

Before everything got going, Sam and I talked about making a Carilion-funded, Carilion backed space of Happy's, and he wants to talk more. I'll email him this afternoon to see if we can set up a time, hopefully soon. It's going to be a busy campaign season. He and I also talked about having a real honest-to-goodness convention center, where we could have real conventions. There was interest, and I'll see what he is thinking when we get together again.

 

Another candidate, Derek Kitts for the 9th district (which includes Roanoke County), was there, and he and I spent a good bit of time chatting things over. Near the end of it all, he asked when my first issue was coming out and I told him I was still looking for a print shop, preferably union, that I could afford, since the goal is to take no ads and give the whole thing away. He said he has a union shop and that the foundation is welcome to use it, office and all. It's pretty exciting, and I'll be mailing him this afternoon to see where we go from here in order to make use of that. 

 

I like the masthead of The Citizen. I think I'll put a picture of either Justice or Athena with the text and call it a logo. I need to go to BNC and set up the account so that I can write checks for the supplies and software -- right now I'm using a 30 day trial but I'll need to update to the foundation account when the bill comes due. That, and I need to get a bunch of articles together and a layout and stuff. Seems like it's a good time for me to go walking around and shaking hands, making a bunch of calls next week.

[Heidi]

 Wow. Just finished all the emails and notes from the event, and I'm drained. Time for a cup of hot tea and a rest before my partner returns from his adventures in retail.

[Eirlys]

Hi Heidi, loving all your pics!  You look radiant, especially outside in nature (as a druid should!!)

 

Your little girl is such a cutie

[maegs]

It sounds like things are coming along on several fronts just from that one event!  

[Heidi]

Yes, yes, It's all coming together. . . . 

It's a good plan. . . . 

 

 

Actually, You're spot on, maegs, per the usual. I had to really dig around in the couch cushions and rob the budget to be able to make the contribution to get in the door, but I was pretty certain it would be worth it, just for face time. I had no idea whatsoever that there would be an outpouring of love from the universe, on both sides -- it felt like being plugged in to a JustRightSized socket.  

 

I'm going to take it as a S I G N that I'm totally on the right track. 

 

And, in the way of the Universe, there was another event mentioned, one that has a scholarship possibility, but that even so has a wicked early bird discount (50%) if I sign up and pay now. Which is totally going to happen as soon as I start cleaning the couch and robbing the budget again.

[Heidi]

After court today, I took some time to decompress (which mostly consisted of messing around with organizing files and notebooks and calendars and suchlike) and then Harvey and I donned boots and backpacks and went up Sharp Top. And I do mean up: with a nearly 1:12 pitch over the entire 1.5 mile trail, it certainly got our cardio on. The Seven Summits of Roanoke guide rates it as moderate-to-strenuous. I am getting a bit nervous about what straight-out strenuous would be.

And boy, was it worth it. The side trail to Buzzard's Roost (an additional half mile, round trip) was breathtaking. We climbed up the rocks and looked over the valley -- the air was so clear we could see the stacks of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. I confess that we were high up enough that I got a little woozy trying to center.

And then another very steep jaunt up to the peak, where we saw 360 degrees of the Blue Ridge. It is truly spectacular, and even though it's not on the Appalachian Trail, it is worth going out of your way for.

After coming  down the mountain (see the Super Action Shot below!), we went to the sauna and hot tub at the gym, at the end of which I think I had forgotten how to use basic speech functionality. We drove to a house I had spotted and got the owner to show us around -- I kind of fell in love with it for the foundation, and for anything else.

Then the gorgeous full moon shone her blessings all over us on the way home, where we had a fabulous salad with steak and awesome leftover everything from the vegetable drawer, complete with homemade ranch dressing.

Life is very, very good.

(note: for a whole slew of happiness photos, check the blog post.)