Overheard on the bus -- no, that was dom with an M at the end.

Behind me on the bus yesterday, there was a woman on a cell phone complaining/talking about a recent breakup, and trying to decide how long to wait before calling the ex to say hello. I couldn't help hearing but wasn't really listening -- she sounded really New England-ish, with sort of a clear clipped voice, and I was figuring her for some late 20s or early 30s MBA type.

I perked up slightly when she started saying that maybe their jobs had something to do with the breakup -- Bill was a lawyer, you know, and lawyers sort of get used to arguing, that's just their life, and in her job as a don she was used to ordering people around and expecting them to act snappy. What? Did she say don? She's a British university professor? But that doesn't line up, that's not an especially authoritative position.

She went on much more clearly: I just get used to people doing what I tell them -- god knows that's not that that's what I want in my personal life, but I mean, as a dom, when I'm with my slaves I really do expect them to constantly be thinking what would Princess want, what would Princess want. That's just what I get used to. It's hard not to be influenced by that. I'm really starting to think I should step back from it -- no, not FOREVER but just to get centered a little bit...

For the rest of her conversation I was just turning a page of my book occasionally while listening -- and trying to figure out how I could turn around and see her without being obnoxious. Luckily, my stop came before hers and it was easy to look around. She was a sweet-but-ordinary-looking person with light red hair pulled back from her face. I would have thought she was 22 or so.

A neat shoulder stretch from yesterday's yoga class

Bring one hand (the right hand, let's say) behind your head and then down to your upper back. The elbow points up. As you try to pat yourself on the back as far down as you can, bring the left hand up to the elbow and use it to pull the right elbow over more to the left.

So far, pretty basic shoulder stretch.

Now come out of the stretch a little, and use your right hand to grasp your left upper arm, near the left shoulder (that thin place between the bicep and deltoid makes a nice place to grab -- also I get a better feeling from just gripping with the fingers in a hook shape, rather than bringing the thumb around the arm). Holding on there, straighten your left arm up to the ceiling, then keep it straight but let it hang out to the side and/or slightly back. Allow the weight of the left arm to deepen the stretch in the right shoulder.

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I haven't posted that much lately about yoga, I know -- not on the verge of anything dramatic just now. Luckily, I'm good enough now that I can have fun working even in the plateaus. I was working on handstands in the gym today though (after lifting, but going light on the shoulders so I could get away with that) and held a split handstand for 5 breaths without touching the wall, and that's probably a record. So it's not like I'm at a standstill or anything.