Some Highlights in May

A slideshow by Smilebox

The Waterina is a new hotel that opened recently in our neighborhood. It has a scrumptious Sunday brunch on the rooftop with access to the pool, flower leis, beer tickets, and a lovely view of the ocean. There are a few new shots from Oliver, and then a little end-of-year celebration for my department at our house.

While the Smilebox shows the highs, I had my first lower back episode last week. It had been a  particularly stressful week at school, and right in the middle of a vigorous 6 or 8 rounds of the sun salutation in our yoga class Saturday morning, pop went the muscle.

We went to the Ayurvedic doctor the next day. Widi signed up for a 6-day detox program, and I started a 7-day muscle repair regime. Every morning this week I went in from 6-6:40 for a wonderfully healing pummeling treatment. First, Sandia, the masseuse, rubbed hot oil infused with muscle-relaxant herbs on my back for about 3 or 4 minutes. Then, with this mitt that had been heating on a little stove, she pummeled my muscles until it cooled from almost burning to warm; then, she replaced it with the other burning mitt and just pummeled away. My only complaint was that there wasn't a face hole in the massage table, so I had to ask her to massage my neck after all the thrashing and beating was over. And, after a few days, I was back to yoga and now I'm 100%--with nary a painkiller needed.

This is a wonderful, amazing country.