a floating brain

For our one year anniversary the HyWy and I decided to do something very relaxing and calming.  We went to the Float Center

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.  At the Float Center I (the HyWy got an hr massage and then did the following) spent one hour a 4' by 8' tank, which was filled with 10.5" of water.  The water has 1000 lbs. of medical grade epsom salt dissolved in it.  There is sufficient salt in the water that it is impossible to drown.  If you turn over and lay face down in the water then your eyes will start to burn and you will flip over again.  The water temperature is set so that at a certain point one loses awareness of where their body ends and where the water begins in effect becoming a "floating brain."  Naturally this is a very unusual experience, but we have all been there once before in the womb.  As I lay in the tank my first reaction was to hold my head up and thus my neck was stiffened.  However, as time passed my body relaxed and the most amazing feeling was laying there in total darkness, hearing my heartbeat, and not moving at all.  Eventually I began to drift into sleep and before I knew it my time was up.  The benefits of floating range from the obvious (muscle relaxation, back pain, etc.) to the less obvious (hangover relief, jet lag relief, stress relief, increased learning, increased creative thinking, etc.).  I would definitely consider going back to try this again.  What surprises me is that it's not a very well known procedure, but it is so simple (the fact that you can float in the Dead Sea is nothing new) and it has been around for almost 60 years. 

In case people are interested in going locally to the Float Center, which is off of 23rd Ave. and 880 in Oakland tell them that you heard about it from the HyWy (well use her real name).  I particularly enjoyed the Float Center, because she explained the whole concept very well, has a nice shower for people to use before and after, and prepares tea for you after your float.  For those in other parts of the country (or world) check out this website for locations near you. 

A Different Kind of Christmas Eve

Last night we had a different kind of Christmas Eve.  When my cousin's plans to come to California fell through due to bad weather this week we were left with slim pickings on what we could do.  Most of the plans had already been set and we really wanted to do something different.  So we went to a friend's house where every week on Wed night for the past 9-10 years there is a meditation, discussion (or guest speaker), a wonderful homecooked meal, and many close friends. 

The guest speaker was a very respected and revered Buddhist monk (from whom we have a handwritten quote on our wall in the apartment).  The theme of his talk was, "Who Am I?"   Our individual self was broken into three different worlds, which we are a part of.  There is the material world, which consists of material possessions connected to us (house, car, clothes, etc.), our jobs (lawyer, sound engineer, etc.), age, race, and other external things that define us.  There is the relational world where we are sons of mothers, siblings of siblings, employees of employers, and other relationships we cultivate.  Lastly there is the spiritual world, which consists of our imagination, sense of humor, sense of wonder, storytelling abilities, and other abstract qualities that we possess.  I think this is a very interesting breakdown of the individual, because there are so many ways to answer the question, "who are you?"  It never occurred to me how many different ways I could respond to that question.  Perhaps it's the engineer in me, but if asked I would always answer with the appropriate literal answer. 

On the day of the meditation we received an email from the organizer briefly touching on the topic at hand.  I then thought about who I am and how in my mind I am a walking contradiction.  I don't say this in a negative or positive way, but in a truthful way.  I consider myself an environmentalist, but I work in the mining industry.  I love heavy metal, but I also love jazz.  My general disposition is happy and go lucky, but many of my favorite books, movies, songs, etc. are extremely dark.  These were just a few of the realizations I had and now as I write them I think that maybe I'm not so much of a contradiction as much as a balanced person. 

I'm a scrooging Grinch

Christmastime or the holiday season is an interesting time.  There is only one way to embrace and accept the "spirit" and that is with red and green, bows, decorations, Christmas music, things smelling like cinnamon or cloves, and other typical associations.  The office is decked out with Christmas decorations and I made the mistake of saying that it smelled strange (cloves and cinnamon) so the grinch comments came out of the woodwork.  A few days later I commented on the annoying Christmas music that was playing on a CD outside an office.  Again the barrage of grinch and scrooge comments.  The HyWy made a good comment about the idea of Christmas spirit.  We were discussing whether people truly know what it is beneath all this pomp and circumstance when they are younger.  Once people get older and recognize the real meaning of it then do they still remember it?  The conversation about the real meaning of Christmas made me think about why if one doesn't celebrate Christmas significantly are they expected to wholeheartedly buy into the "spirit"?  I feel like I understand the real meaning of Christmas, but I don't enjoy the rest of it (at least at this point in my life) and during the holiday season I feel like an outcast.  Of course if and when there is a kid in our lives I'm sure things will change, because in my mind the rest of Christmas is the most fun with a kid.  For the time being I will happily go along with being a Grinch (or at least the Grinch at the end of the story). 

...Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

I love this traditional Irish toast, which also happens to be the title of an amazing movie.  The full toast goes as follows, "May you be in Heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you're dead."

The movie, which is directed by Sidney Lumet (none of whose movies I have seen before, surprisingly).  The movie can be described as a suspense thriller or a melodrama depending on whether you ask the actors or the director.  The thing that really struck me about this movie is how it positions two different characters at different places in their lives at the same point of absolute desperation.  The common connection (besides being brothers) is that they are both driven to extreme measures to solve financial problems.  The plot follows two brothers who out of financial need decide to rob their parents jewelry store.  When things go wrong and their mother is killed their father resolves to find those who committed the crime.  That is the same type of summary you would read on the back of the movie so I didn't give anything major away.  To me the title suggests that hope that you stay just one step ahead of the "devil" who I this case is the raging father.  However, after watching the movie I'm more convinced that one of the brothers is the real devil.  The real devil is not the one who is on our heels chasing us, but the one who is manipulating us to do his work for his benefit. 

Cadillac Records

We saw Cadillac Records last night and I loved it.  I know that there are plenty of people out there that would say that they aren't interested in this movie, but I think it's a movie that everyone should see.  As I said in some of my posts during the BBQ and Blues trip I think anyone who likes modern American music can appreciate and understanding of the blues.  I've already gone into that aspect previously and this is about the movie. 

At times the plot seemed a bit weak and the dialogue certainly left a lot to be desired.  What drew me to the movie was simply the music.  What I left the movie thinking about besides the music was the performances.  Plenty of praise has been bestowed upon Beyonce for her spectacular portrayal Etta James, but I think one of the under appreciated roles in this movie was Mos Def as Chuck Berry.  Mos Def truly conveys the charisma and the stage presence that I presume that Chuck Berry had in his prime.  Another thing I like about historical movies such as Cadillac Records, Ray, or even Almost Famous (which was highly fictionalized version of real events) is the opportunity to make subtle references to other historical figures.  In Forrest Gump there was a passing scene with "Elvis", in Almost Famous it was Jimi Hendrix, in Ray it was Ray Charles himself, and in Cadillac Records...well you'll have to see (but one of the best and most subtle references comes in the first 10 minutes).  As a friend who came with us to movie made another good point about one really feels like they are there in the fields in Mississippi, the clubs in Chicago, or the studios with these legends.  Cadillac Records is definitely a movie that will surely leave the audience walking out with a new appreciation for whatever type of music they like. 

Childhood

On the radio the other day they did a bit where they asked listeners to phone in and say what they missed most about their childhood.  The answers varied from the obvious (summer vacation or an "easy schedule") to the most common answer...innocence (which was what I would have answered). 

I miss not having the cynicism and sarcasm that many of us develop as adults.  I miss not being so jaded.  As an adult often anything we see we either question or know it is fake.  It was awesome being a kid and wishing you could be Han Solo when you grow up.  Imagine that conversation today, "Wait you want to be a selfish smuggler who has no permanent home and risks his life with every shipment?"  Or believing unconditionally that what you saw on TV or the movies, read, or heard about was true.  Remember when, "Brian told me that he heard from Matt that if you don't hold your breath the whole time you are in the tunnel your soul will be stolen!"  Naturally today it sounds ridiculous, but I miss that.  I also miss "making" a fishing pole out of a stick, summer vacations, and the lack of responsibility.