I hope this finds you feeling rested and restored after the long weekend. I have an established track record of not doing anything especially exciting for Memorial Day Weekend and this year was no different…which was fine with me. It was a weird holiday weekend anyway given the current state of things so I truly didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.
Finn spent the weekend with his dad so I made sure to soak up my time with him on Friday before he left.
On Friday afternoon I had an appointment to donate blood. My dad was a super donor back in the day and I’ve always felt a little guilty that I don’t give more often. This was my first time donating with OneBlood and it was my best experience yet. I was in and out of there in under 30 minutes and my actual blood donation only took 6 minutes. I made sure to hydrate like crazy all day and I think it really helped.
Starting on May 18, OneBlood started testing all blood donations for COVID antibodies. You receive your results online in 48-96 hours. My report came through super quickly and I tested negative.
The rest of my weekend was spent completing another virtual module for my 300-hour yoga teacher training at Asheville Yoga Center. I did a Yoga for Back Care module with Libby Hinsley and it was WONDERFUL! The trainings that I do through Asheville Yoga Center just keep exceeding my expectations. My first two modules were with international/travel teachers and the following three have been with AYC teachers and the quality of all five modules has blown me away!
One of the silver linings of these crazy times is that Yoga Alliance is allowing online trainings and I cannot encourage my fellow yoga teachers enough to consider doing a virtual module through Asheville Yoga Center. They are offering so many options this summer and you don’t have to be pursuing a 300-hour to participate. They are also good for continuing education hours.
I have loved studying with AYC teachers Sierra Hollister, Michael Johnson and Libby Hinsley. All three have some super interesting training offerings this summer!
I’m guessing you guys would like a post on yoga for back care!? 😉 It was GOOD STUFF!
I got my little guy back on Sunday around noon just as we were wrapping up our final session.
I was feeling super low-energy on Sunday (woman/hormone stuff) so we stayed close to home. I did get the crew out for a long evening walk and that felt very nice.
Today has been an emotional day. I dropped Benji off at Keen Dog Training this morning for a three-week immersion. I worked with the founder of Keen Dog Training, Katrina, when Zoey was a puppy to do in-home training sessions and really respected and aligned with her training style. While Zoey definitely benefited from the sessions, I knew that I wanted to do something more intensive and immersive with my next dog.
Benji boy is so sweet and so smart, but he is very big and tends towards anxiety. I felt so torn about sending him away after he’s been bounced between so many homes and people during his short 10 months of life but I also know that this is best for him. I sent Katrina a text message on Sunday with my reservations about him feeling abandoned and she responded, “He’s going to be more than ok, he’s going to be his best self!”
I want nothing more than for Benji to feel happy, confident and secure and I know that this training is going to help him to get there. Thankfully, I get to see him once a week for a lesson and he is coming home this weekend so that we can practice what he’s learned this week. I’ll share more about his training as we progress through it. If you want to follow along on Instagram, follow Keen Dog. One thing that brings me relief is that he’s in a very nurturing and kind environment. Katrina runs the immersion programs out of her home.
The rest of my Memorial Day Monday was spent hanging out at home with Finn and Zoey. It’s been so quiet around here with out Benji.
I am so ready to get in bed, read and sleep! I am reading Mary Kay Andrews’ new book Hello, Summer. So far it’s an easy read and holding my attention.
QUESTIONS
What did you do for Memorial Day Weekend? Was it a different kind of MDW this year?
Have you ever worked with a dog trainer?
Do you have any back pain/issues?
