Well, I did it.

Last night I made the announcement at yoga class that I was changing things. gasp. I had decided that the evening classes at CCPC just weren't popular. CCPC is a very busy congregation, they have meetings and more meetings and the congregants are tired from being out of their houses every night. So, I worked all day and agonized over how can I serve them? And I came up with a new schedule and was really excited about it. I announced it to my first class-- they were happy. Next class starts rolling in. Biggest class at CCPC that I've had in a while. Rut Roh. Where have these people been? I instantly start feeling really guilty. Considering this is the class that is disappearing... this class has been going since February 2004.... I REALLY didn't want to give up this class. But the few who come to it regularly have been murmuring about how empty it feels..... and I told the "boys" I would make changes so they could play softball and not miss yoga....

ARRRRGHHHH

This is what keeps me stuck. Trying to please everyone all the time. Truth is: The changes I have made will give most people more opportunity to keep up their practice. In fact, those who do yoga regularly will be able to do it 2 or 3 times a week now which is much better than just once and infinitely better than occasionally. To really get the benefits of yoga it needs to be consistent and regular....

Linda, you did the right thing. People will make time if they want to. You have tons of offerings, it isn't as if you don't try. Okay. Deep Yoga Breath.

I don't like to let anyone down. This all means the world to me. Obviously.

I really am excited about my new schedule. And almost everyone was too. And I am always available for private and semi private classes. It will be fine.

I'm also really excited about my new Intenders offering...I'm gonna start a group that uses the law of attraction, meditation and positive energy to effect change in their lives and in our world. I mean honestly, what could be better than that?

New Schedule:

Mondays 10:30am Yoga @ WG
Mondays 1:30pm **Yoga @ CCPC
Wednesdays 10:30am Yoga @ WG
Thursdays 5:30pm ** Gentle Yoga @ CCPC
Thursdays 7pmAll Level Yoga @ CCPC
Fridays:9:30am-11:30am ** Yoga, Meditation & Discussion@ Linda's Spirit Center

**New Classes**

There, see, that wasn't so bad now was it?

Just a song before I go...

Have been busy, busy. Got the wild idea that we had to have a yard sale this weekend since it's the only weekend in the next 2 months that we would be home. Unfortunately, I didn't get that Idea til last Thursday. Trying to get a yard sale together in 2 days when I also had an event Friday night was.... well.... I don't want to say stupid because I don't like to be mean to myself, so I'll just say ambitious. Probably crazy is the correct word but it seems overused in my world lately.

Being present in the moment is a wonderful experience. The more I do it, the more I love it. I've spent more moments in the present in the last 5 years than I did in my first 30. (think about that statement for awhile) So much stress, so much ambition, so much baggage gets thrown away in the present moment. No past, no future, just now. Until your gaze focuses on a calendar. YIKES! The present became the future!!! And I wasn't ready! LOL!

So, we somehow threw it all together. We were not very profitable. And even the yard salers were unimpressed. Digression: Aren't yard salers a different breed altogether? Eternal optimists. Searching for gold in other people's cast offs. It was so interesting to chat with them and see the stuff of mine that's been sitting in an attic for years that they want to have sit in their houses. Or attics. Or sell at their next yard sale.

Anyway, the good news Feng Shui wise is that we got rid of a ton of baggage. Not just by selling it which frankly, I don't like to do, usually just give it away but with this whole college thing looming.... but we threw out a bunch and were happy to see the trash pickers take off a bunch and we got a notice that Purple Heart is coming and they can take the rest. Still a bit of stuff we would like to sell so:

Anyone need a large dog crate, garage door, truck cap, unused basketball hoop, ice cream maker, 10 gallon fish tank, gas grill or 4000 books?

Just let me know. I can leave the price tags on if you'd like to skip the middle and just put it straight out for your yard sale.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go.....

Dear Reverend Miller,

When we got home from yoga Tuesday night, 2 of my favorite people in the world were waiting for me. They had just recently gotten engaged and I was very excited to see them and congratulate them and see the RING!!! These two kids hold a special place in my heart because they were instrumental in making some of the plays I've done extraordinary. I became really close to them when doing "Children of Eden". Matt's portrayal of God was inspirational-- and Jaime's Yonah was a work of art. That whole cast became so close but I really felt a strong bond with Matt since he had just directed Joseph for PGSTT and this was my first REAL Directing gig. I had done a lot of back seat directing and art directing and producing but was stepping out on a limb and taking a front seat... Matt would come by and put his hand on my shoulder when things went just the way we wanted them to and he would nod in his knowing God way and let me know that it was going to be good. We worked together as co-directors on "Into the Woods" and later did "Love Song" and he and Jaime were just so willing to help and do & be all that I asked-- I just love working with them!

We've spent many a "Miller Movie Night" with them and gone to their plays and they just feel like family, you know? Jaime is just so sweet and loving-- an extra daughter, I am so excited for them that they are going to be married. And I was so thrilled when Jaime texted me and let me know right away, it's so cool to feel a part of it. Little did I know...

So, after all the hugs and oohhs and ahhhs, Matt & Jaime ask if they can speak with me alone in the Spirit Room. I'm thinking uh oh, there's something bad about PGSTT doing JCS... or ... well, I don't really know what I was thinking but it seemed really bad... sort of like being called to the principal's office...

We sit down.

Matt: Linda, you know we hold you in very high esteem, right?

Me: gulp, Yes?

Jaime: Would you do us the honor of marrying us?

Me: WHAT??? OH MY GOSH!!! REALLY???

And then of course, YES but wait a minute, I'm not a Reverend. Well, I wasn't....

They had done some research and found out in the state of Maryland that an online ordination is legal and since Matt is Catholic and Jaime is Jewish and their own churches/synagogues won't marry them (how silly) they want to create their own sacred space and have me do the ceremony and vows. Me. I don't mind telling you, I was completely touched. Like to tears. Like even now. Talk amongst yourselves. I said to them, "are you sure you want me? you know I'm gonna cry" They both just laughed and assured me that was okay. "we know". Of course, they've seen me cry many times before... I feel things deeply OK? Sheesh.

So, I went online and applied for ordination from the Universal Life Church (seems fitting) and received this email last night:

Dear Rev. Miller ,

This is to confirm that

Linda Gail Miller

has been ordained as a minister of the
Universal Life Church, Modesto, California.

Date of Ordination: 04/23/08
by Kevin Andrews, Pastor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I like that they didn't even spell out Reverend. I'm more like a Rev. I did a bit of research myself and found out that not only can I perform marriage ceremonies, I can do baptisms, renewal of vows, and even funerals. It seems a bit crazy. But if GOD asks you to become a Reverend.... I mean, how are you going to say no?

I hope I do them justice. I hope I don't cry my eyes out. I hope they know how much I love them both. And I hope they have a happy life together.

Since I'm a Reverend now, does that mean my prayers have a more direct line??? Just kidding. And don't worry, you can still call me just plain old Linda. LOL!

One last thing: why am I overcome with the desire to do a play now?

Happy Earth Day!

I would plant a tree but I don't think I have any more space... in fact, did I tell you BGE was here the other day and they are taking out a bazillion trees in my back yard? A humongous poplar!! How in the heck are they going to take out a poplar? If I knew anything about estimating height, I would say it's 500 feet tall! Course I don't know anything about it so you'll just have to use your imagination. Barry says it's probably at least 100 years old. Wonder if he knows anything about estimating age?

I digress.

He was at work when they came by and I knew he would freak out so I sent him a video of which trees they marked to cut but it wouldn't send so I had to put in on my xanga. (Blogger...ugh.) If you would like to be bored to tears...or outraged if you're a tree hugger like us....you can view it here:

http://video.xanga.com/YoLinda

It's sort of funny, seems like Big Foot will appear at any minute...but alas, nothing but the sound of other trees being cut down in the distance. And my feet crunching the leaves, but my feet are small.

Again I digress.

At first I was really upset about them cutting down this tree. In fact, I still am. When we first bought this house 25 years ago, BGE came out and started butchering my trees. I had a big ole argument with them and ended up coming out with my german shepherd and making them get out of my yard or else!!! Now that I have grown up (sort of) I can understand why they want to cut them, they have been under all sorts of heat around here with people losing power and being really upset that it's not turned on immediately, people round here hate to be inconvenienced for a minute of their lives. It's a double edged sword cause we want the trees but trees get old and fall down. And we want power. Especially since we are paying out the butt for it.

Total digression: OMG Have you seen the price of electricity lately???? We are going to end up living by candlelight and cooking over a fire... JEEESH!!! How do they expect people to pay THAT?

Anyway. I don't want them to cut the tree because it's a living thing and it shouldn't be ours to cut. But I don't want the tree to come down on our house either. And they are willing to do it for free. Well, free in that our electric bills will probably skyrocket even more. It's hard being a grown up who understand that idealism doesn't pay your bills.

Tell that to Cory who went running out with a large knife when he saw the orange tags to cut them off. Sigh. Course he's never paid an electric bill in his life. Yet....

Go on out there today and hug a tree. And don't forget to recycle. And for goodness sakes, don't throw your trash out your car window-- were you raised by bears??? What is up with that?

Namaste' Earth!

And Happy Birthday Jami!!!

Think we should start building an ark?