I’ve been here over a week now and I feel like I’m starting to get it. I’m learning the rhythm and the flow of the place and it’s really starting to be a lot of fun.  Don’t get me wrong, there’s a fair amount of bullshit that goes on that I internally roll my eyes at, but for the most part I’m really growing fond of the place.

I started off in the garden today weeding my baby brassica beds and transplanting some of the plants deeper.  I was on cleaning crew today with Grace and we knocked it out by lunch.  Lunch was awesome by the way - elk brisket, potato salad, and green salad.  mm. I’m really feeling a change in my body from eating so well.  After that heavy mexican food meal we had the other night my belly was not thrilled with me.  I feel much better today being back on my mostly green salad diet.  I took Mouna a salad for lunch today and I swear, without fail, we always get scolded on the proper ways to make a green salad.  “No stems!” “smaller pieces!” “no bug eaten leaves!” and of course none of us were actually the ones to make the salad so we just nod in agreement. But that’s how it is here - people just correct the first person they see after they notice something wrong.  They don’t care if you had anything to do with it, but the fact that you were in the vicinity makes you guilty by proximity or something.

Sara, Kate and I went on a nice walk up the road.  Apparently there is yet another ashram in Arroyo Seco that we set out to find.  We went for probably 2 miles at least and hadn’t found it so we stepped off into the woods to meditate in silence for a few moments.  We were greeted by a very friendly dog and encountered some eager horses on the way back.  Such a beautiful day for a walk, and it felt good to move like that.

We got back just in time for Mouna’s class.  Today’s class was a crash course in acupuncture... read: I performed acupuncture on some random stranger today. Mouna took us into her back room, showed us how to hold the needle (“the hardest part of acupuncture is holding the needle right”) and then had us tiptoe into the treatment room where the patient was laying face down.  I’m pretty sure she didn’t tell him she was letting “students” help her because she did not want us making a peep.  But she’d point to where she wanted us to stick the needle and then we would poke, each taking a turn. It was wild. I can’t believe she let us just do it.  Just like that. I guess she wants us to do it again tomorrow. I wouldn’t mind... I’ve been missing working with patients lately and excited to get back to work.

I find it amusing that she is so nonchalant with something like sticking needles into people to heal them but when it comes to the specifics of making a green salad you can’t win.

I waited for it to get a little cooler before I went back outside to the garden to continue my weeding/transplanting task.  It’s really great to see it start to look better already.  i learned that they planted 800 brassica plants this year, but there are only room for 300 or so in the garden at a time - at least I have plenty of room for error if need be.

Emily and Tido rolled up around 8 or so and rallied a batting practice for the wiffle ball tournament tomorrow.  Sounds like a big deal - there are a couple teams and hot dogs and maybe even a trophy... I don’t know, but I’m excited.  Summer doesn’t feel complete without at least one rousing game of softball.  

dinner. shower. bed. 

phew! busy day for someone who doesn’t have a schedule to tend to.