Category: decision-making

choices, decision-making, faith, family

Beginning: Your Yesterdays Will Rise Again; Act Accordingly

Christa Avampato

“If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.” ~ Pearl Buck

Searching yesterday is valuable, difficult work. I take it on every day because I believe so fully in the process of continuous improvement. I know and accept that I am not perfect, that I will never be perfect, and that there is always a way to do something better. This strong belief is helping me to make peace with yesterday and to lay down the heavy backpack of perfectionism. Perfection is a losing battle, and I hate losing even more than I hate imperfection.

Even with this strong belief in continuous improvement, some yesterdays have a way of gnawing at me even in my best moments. Not all yesterdays are created equal. I try to be thorough, thoughtful, and well-informed. I am the decision tree queen. I’d be willing to test my pro / con list speed and dexterity against anyone. I’ve been at this game of choice and decision-making for a very long time and for me, it’s an art.

My last yesterday with my father
So it’s sometimes especially difficult when I wish I had handled a situation from yesterday in a better way. I wish I had gone to the hospital and said good-bye to my father when I had the chance. I wish I could have swallowed my pride and my desire to be “right” – it might have saved me a lot of heartache in the aftermath. It’s not that I didn’t say good-bye to my father that bothers me so much; it’s that I made the free-willed choice to not say good-bye. I had good reasons for making that choice, though I wish I could have just laid them aside, whether they were right or wrong, and just been there with my mother to bear witness at the passing of a life that gave me life. It is my greatest and deepest regret, and with the finality of death it is something that I will never be able to do better. I can’t go back and say good-bye to my father in a better way, or for that matter, at all.

Keeping and living the lesson
The night my father died, I lost in a big way. His Holiness the Dalai Lama once said, “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” And in every day since my father passed I have tried to retain a very big yesterday lesson: when you walk away understand that you may not be able to retrace your steps.

Sometimes walking away is the best answer. Sometimes the only way you can really help someone heal is to remove yourself from the situation. Be very conscious of the downstream effects – for you and for that person – and understand that your decision in that moment has the ability to entirely alter your course going forward.

You will relive all of your yesterdays every day; act accordingly.

change, decision-making, yoga

Beginning: Making the Leap from What You Are to What You Could Be

Christa Avampato

Artist: Hilary Morgan
“The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” ~ Charles DuBois via Dailygood.org

“That which we grip we are destined to lose. That’s what our yoga practice teaches us.” ~ Matthew Sanford

I talk to a lot of people every day who feel stuck. They want to do X but, for one reason or another they can’t. So they do Y because “it’s a good, steady gig with predictable results.” And besides, everyone tells them that X is a little too far-fecthed. “I should just stay where I am,” they say, with their heads hung low and the deafening sound of defeat. Part of me wants to give them a good swift kick to help them “snap out of it”, but I don’t believe in violence so instead I listen and encourage. I really do understand their position even though I don’t like it; I empathize with it because I’ve been there a time or two. “Stuck” is an uncomfortable place to be and yet also a hard place to leave. Shrugging it off and moving on often feels like a superhuman feat, and it’s scary. I encourage them to be scared, and shrug anyway because that’s worked for me.

A lesson in getting unstuck
I was recounting a “stuck” feeling to my coach, Brian, a few weeks ago, and explaining to him that I was getting nervous that I was approaching that terrifying point of releasing what I am for the hope of what I could be, specifically related to my plans for Compass Yoga. He explained that there really was no point in being afraid, to which I cocked my head to one side and looked at him with my “you’ve got to be kidding me” face. He continued, as he always does, despite my expression. “When you’re done, you’re done, and there’s no way to stay stuck. Your authenticity, your YOGA, Christa, will not allow it. You don’t control when you’re done. Eventually you will force yourself to make the leap from what you are to what you will be because no other option will be available.” It’s these powerhouse comments that keep me going back to Brian every week; he is a teacher in the truest sense of the term.

Real safety
I’ve previously talked about the fabricated idea of safety that too many of us have clung to for far too long. The surest way to safety is trust, in you, in others, in a grand plan that is much bigger than you and me. I’m not sure how or why karma works, and to be honest I don’t ever really need to know how or why. I do know the best things that have happened in my life have had absolutely nothing to do with plans I made. Making those plans was just practice for the real tests that came my way. What allowed me to move ahead on my path was not my plan but my ability to be open, to listen, and to learn from my new, unplanned circumstances. I learned to be a master adjuster.

A gentle way to transform
In no way am I suggesting that you chuck caution to the wind, quit everything you’re doing in your life, and go crazy with your dream journal. Not at all. My suggestion is simpler: sit and breath. Notice where you’re gripping, in your body and in your mind, and see if you can loosen the reins a bit. Notice where you’re closed off and see if you can begin to open. Once you feel open, then consider what you are and what you’d really like to be. Are they very different people? If not, what small change can you make today to bring you closer to what you could be? If so, can you begin to build the courage and the strength to leap?

choices, decision-making, yoga

Beginning: Bring Dreams to Life By Asking ‘Why?’

Christa Avampato

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/emagic/
“When the why gets big enough the how takes care of itself. ” ~ Universal Law

Chiroyogi, a reader of my blog, left the quote above on my post about my future plans for Compass Yoga. At first, I was struck by how simple this universal law seems and then after I reflected on all of the “coincidental” turning points in my life, I realized how true it is. In our society we focus so much on what we need to do, where we need to go, and how we’re going to make it all work. How often do we really ask ourselves why? Not often enough, even though understanding the why of our thoughts and actions holds all of the real wisdom.

In relation to Compass Yoga, I thought for a long time about how the company might be structured so I could work on it full-time, where it would be based, and who it would serve. I never really stopped to ask why. Or as yoga teacher Elena Brower so eloquently discussed at the Urban Zen event I attended this week, I wasn’t focusing enough on why my mission of serving the under-served is so important to me. I knew it was valuable, unique work to build a business around. I just wasn’t digging deep enough and therefore hadn’t recognized what really fascinates me about the under-served population: the complexity of their situations gets my blood pumping like nothing else.

I really love challenges that have lots of layers and dimensions. I am fascinated by revelations that slowly come into focus one small detail at a time and then the rush I feel when all of a sudden the connections between the dots are so clear. And this fascination, the why, helped me find a mission statement, partnerships, a staffing model, a business structure, and revenue streams that I had never even imagined as possible. The Universal Law stands: once I answered why I am so passionate about helping the under-served through yoga, the how fell right into my hands as if the Universe just gently placed the answers in my lap and then left as quietly as it had approached. It was eerie and beautiful and if it hadn’t happened to me with such precision, I might not have believed it was even possible.

I’ve heard the saying, “Every problem contains the seeds to its own solution.” To be honest, I never really believed that until now. The sayings in the realm of problem solving that have always resonated with me much more come from Albert Einstein: “Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value” and “It’s not that I’m smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

It’s no wonder that a man like Einstein, someone who uncovered so many Universal Laws himself, would have a personal philosophy that falls so perfectly into line with the Universal Law that Chiroyogi left in his blog comment on my post. Find the answer to why you’re moving in a certain direction by sitting with the question and focusing on making a valuable contribution to humanity. The answer is sure to arise.

career, choices, decision-making, friendship, time

Beginning: In Your Job Search, What’s Your Single Most Important Ask?

Christa Avampato

“The only universal resource is time.”

I’ve recently had separate conversations with 2 friends that followed the exact same path. Like me, Amy and Michael are putting financial plans in place to assure that in the future they work on the projects that mean the most to them. They don’t want to retire early in the traditional sense. They absolutely want to keep working throughout their lives. They just want the option to work on their own personal passions.

This is a different way of thinking about work and savings. The 3 of us have jobs that satisfy certain requirements, though none of us would call them the ideal roles for us. Truthfully, the only ideal roles for us are the ones we create ourselves, for ourselves. So what has been our search criteria for work? Time. Our #1 requirement in our job searches has been to have jobs that provide us with the time and flexibility to work on our own personal projects, the projects that feed our souls. And to use our jobs to build up our savings to make more of those projects possible.

Another friend of mine recently criticized this view of my job. “You are really wasting your time,” she said. “It’s really a shame that you don’t have a job that challenges you more.” What I thought was shameful is that she lives for her job for a very large company that really has no sense of loyalty to her. If anything, this recession has shown me that your top priority needs to be you and the people whose lives you personally and professionally effect. I have plenty of challenge in my life – I challenge myself with all of my creative projects that happen outside of my office building. They are the projects that truly mean something to me and to the world. They are the accomplishments I am most proud of.

To be clear, I appreciate the skills I’ve built and experiences I’ve had at my company. It’s provided me with a good living and a manageable schedule to make my yoga, writing, and personal life rich and meaningful. It’s helped me look at the world in a new way. It’s given me numerous opportunities to give back to my community, donating time and money to worthy causes. It serves a tremendous purpose, even at the times that it frustrates me.

If you’re searching for a new job, or even just contemplating leaving your current role, be very clear about your situation. What are you leaving, what are you looking for, and what needs to be there for you in the next pasture?

career, choices, decision-making, health, technology, writing, yoga

Beginning: Can I Get a Hell Yes?

Christa Avampato

http://nscblog.com
“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.” ~ George Sheehan

I read this quote earlier in the week on a daily email I receive from Tiny Buddha. MJ, one of the wonderful readers of this blog, recommended it to me a few months ago and I’ve been reading it daily ever since. In line with my year of writing about new beginnings, the ideas that it raises really resonate with people who are always in the process of becoming.

George Sheehan’s quote hit a cord with me today as I wrestle with a possible career / life transition that allows me to combine my love of health and wellness with my equal love for technology and writing. For the past few months, I really thought I could make my money through one avenue and have my other personal passions live in my post-work hours. After SXSW and IHS, I’m recognizing that this dual-life takes much more energy than its worth. And since I can’t let go of any of these passions, they’re all too near and dear to my heart, I have to do some personal R&D. I need to find a way to fuse them together to create a happy and financially stable life for myself.

I’m aware that this is a tall order, and if I could get away with less believe me, I would do it. But I can’t. I have to become who I am meant to be. Anything less would just be a huge disservice to all of the people who have given me so much for so long. My family, my friends, my mentors, my teachers. There’s so much that the world needs and to make the most use of my time, I need to bring to bear everything that I have.

You do, too. A lot of us spend a lot of time being less. Now, I’m talking about running ourselves ragged for the sake of doing more, more, more. I’m talking about taking a look at what really makes our hearts sing, what really makes us come alive, and finding a way to do those things more of the time. Yes, we are still occasionally going to have to make choices that are less than ideal, though if they serve a long-term higher goal of getting as much happiness as possible in this lifetime, then we just need to recognize these less optimal stop-overs as exactly that – incremental steps to fully becoming the people we’re meant to be.

At SXSW, I had the great good fortune to meet Michelle Ward, a.k.a. The When I Grow Up Coach, through my wonderful friend, Amanda. A few weeks ago, Michelle sent out a tweet about decision-making, encouraging all of us to go for the choices that make us say, “Hell yes!” Now, isn’t that just about the best decision-making tool you could imagine. So elegant. Option A makes you say, “Eh, maybe” and Option B makes you say, “Hell, yes!” End of contemplation. For people like me who have a tree diagram for every decision they make as well as pro con lists out the wazoo, this little test is a life-saver. I’ve already used it a dozen times and reduced my stress considerably as a result.

Michelle’s test is a sure way to get to exactly the successful state that George Sheehan describes in his quote. Our courage, determination, and will become so much stronger, and honestly easier to have, when we have “Hell yes” on our side. Give it a go and let me know how it turns out!

choices, courage, decision-making, work, yoga

Beginning: No Need For Fear When You’re on the Path

Christa Avampato

“I am not afraid…I was born to do this.” ~ Joan of Arc via @FamousWomen

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a small message I have been starting to hear during my meditations. It seemed to have some sense of urgency though I couldn’t quite interpret the message. I spoke with my life coach, Brian, about it and he assured me that when the message was ready, it would surface. When I needed to act, it would spur me to do what I needed to do.

For some time, I’ve been contemplating some changes in my life, on the career front and on the personal front. In the past few months I’ve been increasingly clear about want to use yoga as a therapeutic practice in situation where yoga is not typically utilized, mainly in hospitals and treatment facilities of one kind or another. On Monday morning, though I woke up with a terribly sore throat, my head was clearer than it’s been in weeks. And that little message I was hearing in my meditation was no longer far away, but right beside me. “Now is the time.”

1.) Yoga – By a wonderful spell of synchronicity, I found two trainings coming up in New York City that I’d like to do.

One at Integral Yoga Institute that focuses on Yoga Therapy, taught by the incredible Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal. Cheri is the Founder of the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara and a pioneer in using yoga as part of a holistic treatment plan for cancer patients.

It’s time to take the next step in my overall yoga teacher training and pursue my 500-hour qualification. After doing a lot of research and asking a lot of questions, I’m nearly settled on applying to study with Alan Finger at ISHTA, which has a very strong focus on yoga for therapeutic purposes.

I’ll also be attending the Integrative Healthcare Symposium at the New York Hilton on Friday. There I will have the chance to connect with a number of people involved in the integrative healthcare movement, of which yoga plays a very important role.

2.) New professional pursuits – For some time I’ve considered taking some decisive action to take my career in a new direction. After months of teetering between the choice of whether to play it safe or step out of the box, I’ve decided to begin the process of leaving the box behind. More to come as that journey progresses. As soon as I have a solid sense of where that journey leads, you’ll be the first to know!

3.) Be open to a life that’s less structured – This is another message that’s been popping up for me. Increasingly, many of the people I know are breaking out of a traditional work lifestyle. Some going freelance, some becoming consultants, and some taking a variety of contract positions rather than the more traditional day job route. It’s intriguing, a little scary, though I don’t know a single one of them who’s unhappy with this less structured life. Maybe that will be the route for me, too.

There isn’t any fear admist these upcoming changes because I know they’re the right ones for me. Joan of Arc knew what she was talking about.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

choices, decision-making, priorities

Beginning: The Freedom That Comes From Closing Possibilities

Christa Avampato

“All motion is cyclic. It circulates to the limits of its possibilities and then returns to its starting point.” ~ Robert Collier

Last week Dailygood ran a piece about letting go of certain possibilities. I thought about that idea all day. I felt not that I didn’t have enough options but that I had too many options, too many interests, too many opportunities that in my mind were all good. One part of me felt extraordinarily lucky to be blessed with so many choices and the other part felt overwhelmed. I felt pulled in so many directions, a situation that I created.

I realized that once again it was priority-making time. The older I get, the more often my life seems to need a wringing out. I find that I increasingly need more idle time to let ideas marinate, and to create that idle time I have to let some possibilities pass by, despite their potential.

There are some things I will have to stop doing. So here’s what I’ve decided to close:
1.) In mid-March, I’m going to stop renting at Pearl Studios in favor of another yoga teaching opportunity that has come about. (More on that when the opportunity takes flight in mid-March.)

2.) In addition to this blog, I’m focusing only on one independent writing project – my book about yoga and personal finance. I’ve laid out a writing schedule to get it finished by October. I’m also pursuing several writing opportunities with other outlets in an effort to expand my reach, and my content on this blog is going to be syndicated by another site. (More on that in a later post.)

3.) I’ve decided to only date guys that truly have long-term potential. If it’s just a “fun while it lasts” situation, then I need to sideline that in a hurry.

4.) I’m going to stop trying to think of ways to make my day job the perfect job. There are aspects of my job that I find really fascinating (mobile technology) and aspects of it that hold absolutely no interest for me (politics, jockeying for funding and influence). Eventually, I know that I will move on from this job to something that focuses more on where my personal interests truly lie. I stopped worrying about what that opportunity will be, having confidence that when the time is right, that new opportunity will present itself through my own hard work. I felt a tremendous amount of freedom when all of a sudden I stopped viewing my current role as the end destination. The daily grind I felt there has been put to rest.

How about you? Are there things that you’re going to stop doing in an effort to make more room in your life? Can you find freedom in letting go?

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

choices, decision-making, silence, simplicity, yoga

Beginning: Need a Sign? Try Idleness.

Christa Avampato

“It is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top.” ~ Virginia Woolf via Yoga Vibes


“The soul lives there in the quiet breath.” ~ Rumi

When we have a problem to solve, a challenge to overcome, or an important decision to make, we have a tendency to work double and triple overtime to get to a resolution. And if we can’t get to a point of arrival that feels comfortable, we start over and over again, wearing ourselves down, heightening the frustration until we can barely function at all. I had this experience on Thursday morning. I was trying to make some choices about my next step with Compass Yoga, and I could feel my anxiety mounting.

Idleness gives us the break we need to make a break-through
I had so many ideas at once that my mind experienced a sort of mental traffic jam before going completely blank. A moment of paralysis set in. And thank goodness it did! Right at that moment, I needed to stop. Just stop, breathe, and let the answers rise up. In my gut I knew what the next step should be, but my mind got in the way. Drawing a blank and being forced into a moment of idleness is exactly what I needed.

A Year of Living Your Yoga
For the past few weeks I’ve been using Judith Hanson Lasater’s book A Year of Living Your Yoga (thanks to a recommendation from Yogadork!) The book is filled with 365 very short intentions, easy sound bites to keep in mind, as I travel through my day. Thursday’s intention was to close the eyes, take 20 very deep breaths, and then observe. Nothing complicated. Nothing strenuous. Just breathe, be, and notice.

What idleness showed me
I took Judith’s advice and a flood of realizations about Compass came into focus for me. In short order and in no particular order, they are:
1.) I like to have my weekends free of commitments
2.) It’s okay to be picky about where and when and why to teach
3.) Sometimes offering something for free provides a bigger payoff in the long-term than asking for a nominal payment in the short-term
4.) Good karma is as good a currency as any
5.) Giving back offers its own form of payment
6.) I formed Compass to become a stronger teacher, to bring yoga to under-served populations, and to help new teachers get teaching experience. My decisions need to serve those purposes.
7.) Compass is an effort to broadcast, not narrowcast. Accessibility is more important to me than remuneration.

With those insights in mind, changes are coming to Compass. I’m just putting the finishing touches on these decisions and they will be announced shortly. And it’s all thanks to a few moments of idleness that cleared the way.

Has idleness helped you to realize the way forward? I’d love to hear your story!

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

choices, decision-making, teaching, yoga

Beginning: So You Want to Teach Yoga? 5 Key Considerations When Choosing a 500-hr Yoga Teacher Training Program

Christa Avampato

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” ~ Bhagavad Gita 2:40

What is all of this yoga teacher training for?
After completing my 200-hour yoga teacher training at Sonic Yoga in May, I immediately began to think about getting my 500-hour teacher training. I thought I would sign-up on the spot for Sonic’s training, though I decided to take a bit more time before jumping in. I wanted to make sure I fully understood why I wanted and / or needed this training, and that I thoroughly understood the financial and time commitments.

At that point I also wasn’t sure how my teaching would take shape and if I’d like to concentrate in a certain aspect of yoga. I needed to get clear on these points before moving forward, and since I didn’t have clarity at that moment, I waited. And waited and waited and waited for some wisdom, some sign, to arrive.

To hear the message, we need to quiet down
Recently, I’ve been staying in my daily meditations longer, practicing longer and more rigorous asana (pose) sequences. Every once in a while I would tap into something. A very soft voice, very far away. It had some sense of urgency though I couldn’t make sense of its message. Kind of like being at a cocktail party hearing lots of talking but not being able to decipher any specific conversations.

Discovering my path foward in my teaching required more patience than I originally thought I’d need. Eventually I knew the answer would surface in a way that I could understand. The Universe is like that – it’s on its own timetable, not ours. It will make itself known when it’s good and ready, and not a moment before.

So I went about my life, going to work, seeing my friends, walking Phin, teaching and taking yoga classes, following my own personal practice. I made pictures on my Wacom (see above!) and kept my eyes and ears open as wide as possible.

The Universe speaks in mysterious ways
The other funny thing about the Universe is that it has a marvelous sense of humor. It reveals itself to us in some hilarious ways, and when we make the connection we can’t help but chuckle. Just when I get clear on what I need, someone sends me a link or a message that points the way forward. Sometimes it’s through a random, unexpected conversation that comes about from just day-to-day living. It’s not that signs are scarce; it’s that we often miss them because we’re looking but not seeing.

After months of debating about how, why, when, and where to pursue my 500-hour teacher training, I’ve had a few revelations about choosing a program:
1.) My focus is most certainly providing yoga to under-served populations that are seeking yoga for therapeutic reasons that are vast and varied. It doesn’t need to officially be called “Yoga Therapy”, but that aspect of practicality is important to me. Because of my interest in anatomy, mechanics, and medicine, I need further training.

2.) The philosophy and reputation of the instructors is a critical factor to consider. Are the lessons and teachings that they have to offer what I need / want to learn? Does their teaching style fit well with my learning style?

3.) What’s the culture of the training, as well as the schedule and the cost? Here comes my rational brain that’s probing for the logistics. Can I feel comfortable spending many hours with the people in the program and at the studio? Can I get it to jive with the many other variable aspects of my life? It’s a heck of a lot of hours – they need to be enjoyable as well as beneficial.

4.) Ask questions. Lots and lots of questions. Of the instructors, students, yoga blogs and websites, and teachers using yoga in the way you’d like to use it. The world of yoga certification is murky and weird. Some of it’s legit and some of it’s a racket. There are incredibly humble and gifted teachers, and some who haven’t done their homework.

Ego gets in the way far too often on the teaching path, and you’ve got to be careful because this path can be expensive in terms of both time and money. Know what you’re getting before you buy because getting certified to teach is most certainly a business just as much as a spiritual path. There’s no lemon law when it comes to yoga teacher certification.

5.) Know what you want before you go shopping around. I have a nasty habit of just looking at the options out there and then choosing from that palette. Brian’s working with me to try to change that MO.

First, visualize what you want and understand your needs in a program. Then, and only then, begin scoping options. It’s like dating, finding a job, or getting an apartment. This is a search in the truest sense of the word.

If a program doesn’t fit into your vision, keep looking. Shop around. Go to classes. Take some workshops. We’re ridiculously blessed in this country to have more options for yoga teacher training that we know what to do with. Honestly, there are so many out there that I bet you don’t have to make a single compromise. Take your time – this isn’t a race. And as with any other aspect of life, we get what we settle for.

Do these tips resonate with you? Have you decided on a training program? I’m taking suggestions!

The image above is my latest doodle on my Wacom.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

change, choices, decision-making

The Power of “No” In A Pursuit of Focus

Christa Avampato

This post is available as a podcast on Cinch and on iTunes.

“No” is a difficult word for me. Whenever I see a worthy cause, an interesting project, or a place that I can do some good, I want to take up the task. The trouble with that tendency (and maybe addiction?) is that I end up fragmenting my time and running from the time I wake up to the time I get home. Yoga and meditation have helped. My writing has helped. Lasting focus takes something more, and shares something with every other meaningful change we seek to make – a real desire to live differently and the ability to say no to distractions that don’t serve the goal.

I get some energy, and some of my self-esteem, from being able to manage it all. I take pride in my organization and efficiency. It gives me a rush. Having that rush is fun for a bit, though after a while it does grate on me. I get worn down and frustrated, and the fault is mine. I’ve been calling myself a recovering multi-tasker, and like all recoverees, I have to manage my impulse to do too many things as once without doing real justice to any of them.

I went on a date on Saturday. Nice guy, but not the right guy for me. He said something that has stuck with me for a few days. When I told him about my job, my yoga, and my writing, he simply just said, “Wow. You’re busy.” And it wasn’t in a mean, nor an admiring, way. It was just a fact. On the way to the train, I thought, “Wow. I’m too busy to meet someone.” Even if this guy had been the right guy for me, I don’t have enough time to get to know him. I’ve painted every little corner of my time with too many commitments, without leaving enough space for spontaneity or even just to relax and unwind.

After so many years chugging down this path, I’m hopping off of the too-many-obligations train. I’m going to really start this journey of building in free time, truly free time, to my life. I’m going to work on my yoga and my writing, and with the rest of the time I’m having fun. I’m going to make more time for the people (and the dog!) in my life, and for me. I’m going to begin to be free more often.

The image above was created my Shorewalker and is available here.

This blog is part of the 2011 WordPress Post Every Day Challenge.