Kathy - when you do want to start yoga, look into schedules at any local studio. I've been finding that a lot have a once a week free or really cheap drop in class for intro level classes. Also, "Yin" classes are really good if you have any kind of injury or are looking for less of the competitive aspect found at so many studios. I've even had good luck at the YMCA (in San Diego, at least, haven't tried it elsewhere) with excellent instructors who were good about walking around and actually using hands on to make slight adjustments to form. Form is super important to strengthening and not getting injured. I find myself irritated with instructors who just stand at the front of the room and do all the poses themselves - at a beginning level they should be interacting with you a LOT to make sure your alignment is correct.

Great advice, erin--thanks! My pool is at the community center, and they also offer various fitness classes, paid for by those punchcards (buy 10/20/50 classes, price goes down per class the more you buy, and you can choose which classes to take). They do have yoga, but I'll see if I can observe a beginner class before spending money on a punchcard.

ETA: I was just looking at their yoga page, and it looks like they want you to see if it's what you're looking for.

Try your first Yoga class for free to determine if you would like to join a 6 to 8 week session. Please arrive 10 minutes early to class to introduce yourself and let us help you get prepared for class.

I think if the instructor is a good one for beginners, they will make sure to teach variations on poses and make sure you feel comfortable taking resting poses when you need to.

I think I'll be waiting until sometime this summer to get signed up for that--I definitely want to drop at least another 50 pounds before I'll be ready for it.

The interview today energized me, hey even getting to rejection emails energized me, it's the hearing nothing that zaps my motivation. I sent my resume to two people who know my parents and offered to get it to their companies. Then I applied to a job at one of the companies directly. Then I set up a spreadsheet tracking all the resumes I have sent out thus far with dates and results and other info.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker made the dramatic announcement this morning that he is prepared to call in the Wisconsin National Guard to respond if there is any unrest among state employees in the wake of his announcement that he wants to revoke nearly all of their collective bargaining rights.

Egypt? No. Wisconsin.

Jesus fuck, what were people thinking? (Not Sail and Cash-type people. The nutters who voted for this creep.)

Tell me about it. I already got an e-mail from my union asking me to plan on taking one of two days off next week to protest up at the state capitol. I'm seriously considering it. I wrote e-mails telling my state reps just how peeved I am at what's going on. The only reason I took this job was for the benefits. The pay is the worst I've had in 20 years. Asking me to pay more for benefits is BS. They've done studies and WI state employees make 8.2% less than similar private sector jobs. Now they want to penalize us even further by doubling our deductions for benefits.

And yet I have people in my extended family who are convinced that public employees are way overpaid.

Oh, man, that blows! One of the reasons I am not really looking forward to getting the MLS and venturing into the public library field.

IcompletelyON, I am soooo tired of winter that I decided to place an order for my spring/summer shirts. At least I found a coupon that ended up saving me $37 on the six shirts--woohoo! And I ordered them in the size I know I should be at or at least near in April, which is hopefully when I can start wearing them (no more snow! no more cold!!). They're stretchy and long, so I can get away with them if they're still a bit snug by then.

Jesus fuck, what were people thinking? (Not Sail and Cash-type people. The nutters who voted for this creep.)

I swear, all the douchebags in the world got together and elected this man their king.

Our trip to Indiana has been delayed. We started the trip, but had to turn back because DH's stiff neck got worse and he was so uncomfortable he couldn't ride in the van. So we came home, I rubbed his neck down with Tiger Balm, applied a heated rice bag and gave him some ibruprofen. I hope it works. We're going to try to leave again in the morning.

On the upside: it means I get to go to derby practice tonight.