(#35/365) Offerings

"Renunciation is not getting rid of the things of this world, but accepting that they pass away."
Aitken Roshi


Title: Under the Boardwalk
Flickr User James Watkins

Jon J. Muth

I own three beautiful books illustrated by the brilliant Jon J. Muth:

The Three Questions, Zen Shorts and Zen Ties



I first discovered Muth's illustrated version of Tolstoy's immortal short story when I first started working with a life coach in Boise and she introduced me to buddhism and meditation. Tolstoy's story is overtly zen in nature - and Muth's childrens book version is charming.



His 2nd and 3rd children's books feature "Stillwater" the Panda - and in the second book - his visiting nephew - Koo, Stillwater's nephew, a cute little panda who punctuates the action speaking exclusively in Zen-influenced haiku (and allows Muth another pun: Hi, Koo!)

Muth says in on his website "...Zen Shorts came from wondering, "What it would be like to live down the street from a Zen master... who happened to be a Giant Panda?" My stories often come from questions, "Why is this so?"... "If this, then why not that?"... and of course, "What if...?" Sometimes words come first and sometimes an image will prod a story out into the open. I might see a girl opening a door in my mind's eye but I can't see what she is looking at. When I consider these questions with careful attention -- without expectations -- they tend to open my eyes to the world in new ways."





Here is a video which Muth narrates talking about his work.

I know I have many friends on similiar spiritual paths and art lovers out there in LJ reader's land - and thought I'd share one of my favorites with you!

BE WELL!

in blue

one of the guys at drawing group created this watercolour from one of my most recent poses.

I love this so much!

gym routine switcheroo

with the car in the garage (and it being all winter and shit yo!?) lets just say the last couple of weeks haven't been the most 'disciplined' excercise wise. In fact, I haven't made it to the gym but for on the weekends. Well - this week I've been teaching evenings - but - my body is freaking the hell out for not being at the gym. So I decided to switch things up - which will make my pocketbook, my body - and my health - ALL very happy.

Starting Monday - I'm now a member of CLUB ONE YERBA BUENA! :) so - I'll be going to the gym on my lunch hour (the new gym is a block from my office). I also signed up for some personal training sessions - to kick my workouts into a new place. I want to lose 2 more inches on my middle - I want to get back to and maintain 180 SOLIDLY - and from there - i want to put size and strength on everywhere. I've done really good for myself since moving to San Francisco - losing 42 pounds and 4" on the waist - but damnit - I deserve to do GREAT for myself - and take it all to the next level.

The new gym has a lap pool (in the city - hows that for cool!) - and some very cool new fangled cardio machines (a do-it-yourself spin class that is video based with earphones; and a scary looking machine thats a cross between a stationary bike and a elliptical); it has a series of weight machines - lots of free weights. and they have some lunch time classes. They do LesMills Body Pump on Tuesdays and Thursdays - and I think I might do that. I want a chest and arms that stop traffic come skimpy shirt season. yeah... baby!

I'm excited about the change - and the best part - is that it's not any more expensive than the Y in Palo Alto - and it'll fit more conveniently into my schedule, give me time in the evenings to concentrate on writing and when it's not winter; long walks with Miss Kate and some evening explorations in my new neck of the woods in the south bay.

all in all - the decision makes me very happy. ROCK ON CROUTON!!