Work prevented me from working on Boskone reports during the week, though I still fully intend to post them all, really! Part of that was preparing to argue two cases in Rochester on Tuesday morning, for which I'm driving out Monday; the weather looks like it might be lousy, so I am leaving myself plenty of time for the drive.
In other unpleasantness, my dentist is 99% sure that I need braces, the full-out metal-mouth kind. I'm sure that looking twelve will really contribute to my being taken seriously by judges. But, it's to treat chronic jaw problems (which causes constant pain, made worse by things like, oh, talking; the immiment cracking of my back teeth; and so forth), and in the long run it'll be worth it. As long as I don't lose any cases because the judges start laughing when I open my mouth.
Last night we went to Union's observatory for an open house. There was a fair bit of atmospheric turbulence, but we got to see Saturn and two of its moons, and even the separation between Saturn & its rings when the atmosphere steadied for a moment; the Orion Nebula; and some cool craters on the Moon. We'll have to do that again when it's warmer and the air's more likely to be still.
Today I did our taxes, or rather a first draft of our federal taxes. Since we appear to owe the federal government a small sum, thanks to Chad's self-employment tax on his blogging money, I've put them aside until the end of March—no point in paying them early (we're highly likely to owe the state too, based on past experience, and New York's tax forms are awful). Doing our taxes always startles me: it doesn't feel like we make that much, especially since we live in an area with a low cost of living, and I still have (future) money anxiety. My theory is unless you have so much money that you'll never have to work again, financial-security anxiety is a constant. Also, wow are we lucky.
Finally, tell me about your experiences with yoga. I've been meaning to try it for a while, since I need better posture, flexibility, and body-awareness for any number of reasons. This weekend I acquired 30 Essential Yoga Poses: For Beginning Students and Their Teachers, by Judith Lasater, which looks very suited to teaching one's self. (I'm reluctant to get a video because I'd like the option to work out in a room with a door: the dog tends to get excited by people on the floor.) The suggested exercise sets run about an hour, which I don't think I can do daily. Is it best to do more less often, or to do something each day? How much physical exertion do you find it? (Last night, I tried the most basic pose ever, the one that's basically just standing, and was astounded that it was an effort; I am so very out of shape.) Is a special mat really needed if you already have a basic foam one? What effects have you noticed from practicing yoga? What would you have liked to know before you started? Talk to me, people.