Weekend observations, plus a plug or two

I usually spend my weekends knee-deep in dirty laundry and sports-related injuries. Sometimes a bit of excitement finds its way in, like that time I emptied my son’s school supplies and screamed because a Ziploc bag, filled with the contents of an owl pellet, looks a lot like weed.

Factor in at least a half-hour of cleaning brown marks off floors throughout the house, thanks to faulty mechanical pencils and kids who don’t know how to use them, and you can see why I drink at least three bottles of wine between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening.

Not counting champagne for brunch. Both days.

This past weekend was no different, but I did find time for a few fun activities.

Because a girl cannot live on nostalgia-based VH1 specials alone.

Lotus Pond Yoga Studio had an open house on Saturday. I do certain poses every night, but it’s been years since I’d benefited from the guidance of a professional instructor who doesn’t use shame as a motivating factor after discovering I cannot touch my nose to my thighs.

And probably never will.

Lotus Pond’s ethereal log cabin, groovy staff, serene grounds, organic garden, and soothing music put me immediately at ease. Theirs is a beautiful space, with Buddha statues and gentle water, and I felt pretty confident after keeping up with the teacher for a few minutes.

“I can do this,” I thought.

During one pose, I looked behind and was asked to pretend my elbow was an eagle, or something, and noticed blond, perky, twenty-somethings doing the same pose, but on their tip-toes with backs curved 90 degrees and arms twisted into figure-eights.

Oh hell no.

Game on.

I kicked it up a notch and twisted, turned, and flexed my body into a dozen different positions. Somehow I managed to finish without suffering a nervous breakdown or pissing my pants.

Honestly, I enjoyed every minute of it and have never felt better.

That pulled groin was totally worth it.

In fact, I’m going to sign up for regular classes and ignore the bitches behind me with -.2% body fat.

Namaste.

Later that evening, Husband and I had a date night. Usually, this means we drop the kids off at my parents’ house, grab some take-out, and fall asleep during All in the Family reruns.

Saturday night we mixed it up a bit. We ate in an actual restaurant that didn’t have an “All You Can Eat” sign flashing and watched a new movie, during opening weekend, that didn’t feature a singing cat or talking dog.

Date Night, with Steve Carell and Tina Fey, featured a star-studded cast and funny scenarios. Mark Wahlberg took his shirt off. Need I say more?

Carell and Fey were likable and I could relate to their desire for a night out on the town. Sure, they were having a comical adventure in New York City while I sat in a suburban theatre surrounded by people who took a half-hour to turn off their cell phones.

But I got to eat popcorn without sharing it with kids who lick their fingers and watch an entire movie without fourteen potty breaks.

Try it sometime.

On Sunday, we took the kids to Alchemy Fest at Skippers Smokehouse. My friends and I used to frequent Skippers, a laid-back, hippie venue, in the early-1990s. We’d grab a beer, kick off our shoes and dance around in the sand to Grateful Dead cover bands. I could do a tour of the place right now and name at least nine locations where someone I know either threw up, got lucky, or both.

I really could.

But Alchemy Fest is different. It’s a family-friendly event with colorful characters and plenty of room to dance. On a beautiful sunny afternoon, my mom, husband, and I listened to good music while my children played with balloons and ate yummy cake.

Only a few people passed out around us.

The festival’s founder came over and said hello. My kids were impressed that someone recognized me and didn’t curse or rip up remnants of my column.

“Someone actually likes you, Mom.”

Local bands like Have Gun Will Travel rocked the house. Honestly, my kids danced in the sand and I enjoyed every minute of it.

That twenty-percent hearing loss was totally worth it.

This makes me excited about next weekend and the weekend after that and possibly the weekend after that. This “doing something new” thing is fun.

I’d pencil you in to join us, but I can’t find a mechanical pencil around here that works.

Tags: alchemy fest, alchemy fest at skippers smokehouse, lotus pond yoga studio