One of my flu shot clinics got off to a beautiful start this morning. I arrived at the retail store to discover that, oh, thank goodness, the self-assembly required signs were delivered today. I took my supplies and stack of bound signs to the clinic location and began to set up. Stumbling around to get started, because of course there were people waiting before I even made it to the table, I hear an employee of the store say, "You are wastin' somethin' outta there". I look around, wondering to myself what on earth that phrase could possibly mean. Finally, I gaze upon my water bottle, tipped over in the shopping cart with the supplies, leaking out all over the floor. At this point I am irritated but still amazed at that awkward phrase, "You are wastin' somethin'". Never in my life have I heard such wording to describe a spill.

Once every ounce of water was soaked up off the floor, I focused my attention on the giant blue signs, ready for assembly. The employees watched me as I struggled to pull them out one by one from the grips of a zip tie. Somehow, no one managed to produce a pair of scissors. I asked, but it was probably much more entertaining without them. I began to sweat as I assembled an approximately 7 foot trifolded sign. Just as I would accomplish tucking in a tab, another would pop loose and I would have to begin all over again. I am sure after this display of inadequacy no one was trusting me with a needle in his/her arm.

Perseverance prevailed and I made it through the beginning of a day which seemed more like a complex obstacle course than a clinic set up.

At the end of the shift, I went to the grocery aisle looking for ingredients in a risotto recipe. Really the only ingredient I needed was arborio rice. I didn't see it and was all out of ideas in my calorie deprived brain. I knew I wouldn't be able to think straight until I purchased a Milky Way and ate at least half. This proved to be true, and on the way home I felt as pleased as I ever do when I discover I don't need to purchase a thing. We had chicken, a can of baked beans, a large potato, and some bbq sauce in the fridge. So, our dinner consisted of bbq grilled chicken, home fries, and baked beans. I made the home fries by cutting the potato length-wise into several thin strips. I made a mixture of mayonnaise, seasonings, hot sauce, and bread crumbs, coating the potato wedges. The sliced potato went on a greased baking sheet and into the oven for about 40 minutes. Delicious.

The night ended with a yoga class on post. I usually feel like I need to soak in some epsom salt after yoga with Flora...in a good way. She challenges me to a level that causes me to feel growth and humility all at the same time. Each week I think I improve, and I am always learning a new way of doing things from her. As an aspiring teacher, I could not ask for a better guide. The verbal cues she gives for positioning and body alignment are great. It feels like a very intense but safe workout. I picked up a schedule before class and smiled with excitement to see my very own name on next month's schedule. To be able to teach and be able to learn simultaneously represents a principle I want to apply to all aspects of life. I want to learn, to grow, and to share forever and ever.