Mental Manatee Mentors Part 3--CLOSED (Page 8)

Well, it's lockdown week in Bali--my sister and I came in on one of the last flights into the airport last night; many businesses and streets were already closed in preparation for the forthcoming holiday. Today, there are a few things open 'til noonish and some informally 'til 3pm, but pretty much from morning on everything right down to the ATMs is shut down and shut off. Tonight there will be great carousing, frolicking, and giant noisy parades of papier-mache figures, mostly monsters, but cartoon characters and celebrity effigies are popular too. The parades (which happen in every single neighborhood in Bali) all march to the beach (except in the mountains they march to a lake or river) and burn the figures in great bonfires, then throw the ashes into the sea.

This is to draw all the bad spirits out and scare them away from the Island and show them what happens to them (destruction).

At daybreak tomorrow, the Day of Silence commences, which lasts from one daybreak to the next (24 hours). Every single thing on the island is completely shut down except for hospitals. (Yes, even police and fire stations are closed). People tape their windows up with black plastic or thick cloths so everything looks completely deserted and even any inadvertent light cannot escape. You are not meant to use any electricity or light any fire. As the naughtier of the bad spirits try to sneak back, they will see that everything is gone so they shall go elsewheres to ply their mischief. (I don't get how they fall for the same trick every single year, but nevertheless). Yeah, no talking or singing either.

On the day after, everything is still closed because it's a holiday, but you can cook and use electricity and go about your nonexistent business again and the Balinese will still milk another holiday or two out of it.

So while the formal "lockdown" is only in force over 24 hours, essentially, it's impossible to get anywhere or do anything or buy anything on the island for a week.

I shall try to catch up on my Manateeing! No, I don't observe Nyepi--generally if your windows are covered tight and you're quiet you can do whatever you want in your home.

OMIGWASH and a very most important introduction--the Funny Farm is slowly teetering back into its state of chaotic normalcy! The Hobbit Maid got me the mostest wonderfulest welcome-home, anti-post-Iron blues present ever: a kitty.

Her name is Jahe (pr ja-hey), which is Indonesian for ginger.

She thinks cousin Pikatti is very cute!

I think she means she won Macca.

In any case I am counting on her to take one for the team and take ANY MEASURES NECESSARY with Macca to try to get me into IM Cairns

In return for which you are willing to bestow upon him a great favour ...

Wasup Manatees!! Catching up from the weekend post. I always miss the good stuff!!! 

Well I think I'm back! Last week daily run experiment went very very well and I've been pain free since last Wednesday. Couldn't have come at a better time since I'm Racing this weekend!!!

Have a great day everyone

That is great news! Remember to take it easy this weekend ... you're gearing up for the Big Show and this is just a warmup.

Wow, lots of pages after weekend traveling.

Yanti, how are you feeling now? Are the nerve sensations on the right side getting better?

Fox-ay I'm actually still in a fair bit of pain, especially by the end of the day when it seems cumulative and it's really hard to get comfortable to sleep.

However, that's only because I'm impatient and expected everything to be fine 'n' dandy by now. I'm doing well. We're in lockdown week in Bali (I think I gave details last page) so no chance to get anything further done (including follow-up imaging of right front shoulder/chest and wrist). I am quite sure the enforced rest will do me good.

So how was your weekend?

Ooooh, super! Cliffs Notes version?

Funnily enough I had the same thing happen to me except it was me hearing the lady speak about spiritual lessons from triathlon! She and I are still friends; that was four years ago.

TJ - I'm sorry to hear that you are in the yucky fatigued part of HIM training but taper is just around the corner.  Nice bike ride yesterday!  Woo hoo!

Ann-Marie and Kirsten - Nice rides!

Chris- Nice bike gallery!

Erin and Salty - PRs!  Woo hoo!

Chad - sorry about the cramps but glad to hear that you got to meet Salty! 

Jonathan TX - Nice ride this weekend!  Glad to hear that you are on the mend :-)

Jonathan AK - Thanks for the puppy update.  Sorry about the landlord :-/

Yanti - Ouch!

Jo - Nice IM recon swim!  Congrats to A!

Brie - Great race report -- and great to work the 5k into your half marathon training :-)

I hope that I got everyone...

Well, what about YOU?

Nothing much to report here.  I did my ride and run this weekend. Both were good and both were uneventful.  I finish the book that I was reading (Crewel, kinda reminded me of both Hunger Games and Delirium).  Kevin was out of town so Em and I hung around together.  Oh, I went to the Carolina Hurricanes game with my mom on Saturday -- good game.

The trip was good.  My roommate got married off down at Oakwood U, and I travelled down with my new one, so win win.  It was also good to see the grandparents.  Haven't been down to their place in a few years.

Cliff notes: a spiritual life has three parts like a tri: prayer, studying scripture, and sharing.  We need to be intentional about our spiritual life like we would be about exercise.  We shouldn't be surprised if it's difficult to start new habits; s/b/r is always difficult the first few miles/yards.  And we should grow spiritually now to be ready for difficult times later, like we set a race goal and build toward it.

TriAya - 2013-03-11 1:54 AM

jobaxas - 2013-03-11 10:42 AM

Asalzwed - 2013-03-11 1:19 PMYou gals should Skype me this week. How long is Yanti with you?

she's gone already

I miss you and your lovely melons and your amazing hands and your incredibly delectable shoulders already

Now THAT's more like it!  

It's not just the NCI.  The sequestration cuts funding to ALL science research. So all disease research, clinical trials at universities, infection research, etc.  Basically, it spells trouble for my job. 

He's so cool!!  I had a lizard. I miss him.

Jealous!!  Sounds like a great day!

4agoodlife - 2013-03-10 3:14 PM PRd my HM this morning...not all that tough cuz I'm so slow...but 13min faster! I'm pretty excited )

Congratulations on the PR!!!

BABY KITTY!!!  What a CUTIE!