Spring Has Sprung Weekend Roundup

There isn't much in my life I do half-assed... except maybe this blog sometimes. So it should come as no great surprise that with my new found single status, I have thrown myself into the social fray of late. From a 350-person mixer to NCAA watch parties, I have kept remarkably busy and I debated whether to focus today's post on any one activity or just to throw it all against the wall and see what sticks. Luckily for most of us (I hope), I've chosen the latter.

In the zeal of trying new things that often comes with a suddenly open weekend schedule, I signed up for a hot power vinyasa yoga class on Friday night that featured Motown music and promises of a post-class bar outing. My mat, towel, change of clothes and friend Mike in tow, we ventured to Garden State Yoga in Bloomfield. According to the studio's site, by heating the room to 90 degrees, "the integration of sweat, strength and spirit detoxifies and rejuvenates the body."

I'm not sure what spirit I brought to the class, but I do know I brought the sweat. Did you ever know your shins can sweat quite a bit when working out in a 90-degree room for 75 minutes? Somehow, in 16 years of living in Arizona, this never came up. Did you also know that it's really hard to rock out to Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," when you're in extended side angle pose?

After class and an awkward post-shower run-in with my friend, we ventured out to the aforementioned bar to schmooze with our fellow yogis. The supposed coordinators stood us up, but a few others ventured out and we enjoyed a lovely dinner with total strangers. Plus, we scored coupons to a deli in Denville. Gotta check that out sometime.

Saturday was one of those days where certain friends of mine would both marvel at and pity the amount of work I did. I woke up around 8:45, made a huge batch of pancakes (gotta eat up the mix before Passover starts), cleaned the kitchen and even scrubbed the floors on my hands and knees. After hitting up the library and bank, I bought groceries and came home to do laundry and clean the bathroom. I whipped up a huge pot of soup, cleaned the bathroom and got myself together in enough time to meet friends for drinks. Oh, and somewhere in there I discovered that I now get the Style Network and I watched a whole lot of that reality show about wedding planners. Argh, such a geek!

Today, I got a little deeper into the Passover mood by volunteering to deliver food packages to indigent or homebound elderly. It wasn't quite the opportunity for socialization with fellow volunteers I'd expected, but it was really affirming to know I can do a little good for the world and brighten someone's day in just a few hours.

Also, much to the delight of everyone in the Northeast, it seems Spring has arrived! It always seems to take forever, especially for people like me who didn't grow up with seasons. Yet it is always worth the wait when you take that first walk around town (like I did for an hour today) and see all the trees with new leaves and the tulips starting to emerge with pretty colors. Until you start sneezing uncontrollably. Curmudgeonly as that last statement sounds, I really do relish the idea of spring and I appreciate the entire seasonal concept so much more now that I live in a place that has them.

Before I sign out, just a few news items.
1. I am going to attempt a Pesach-related post sometime in the coming days. Be on the lookout if you're into that sort of thing.

2. Next week, I'm hosting the Haveil Havalim Jewish Blogger Carnival. If you want to be a part of it, please submit your posts to me via email. Also, if you can offer technical assistance, I will love you forever... or at least a few extra unpaid weeks.

3. One of my favorite bands, Gogol Bordello, is playing this summer at the All Points West festival in Liberty State Park, NJ. If anyone is interesting in seeing them or the other vast assortment of bands, let me know. I'd even be down for sharing an all-weekend pass. Check out the line up.