Wendy Murdoch Notebook

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How can you tell that the weather is better

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:18:00 +0000

because I am not blogging so much anymore.

Teaching season has begun again in earnest.

This weekend I head to Mass. for a clinic then come

home and head to the Californios!

For the first time in four years of trying I am finally

going to get there.

Can't wait!

And my book has gone to the printers so I am relieved of book duty

until it returns - hurrah!

Summer already?!

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:46:00 +0000

On Sunday we went to the Old Dominion Hunt Club races. The weather was fantastic. Light breeze, comfortable temps, no bugs! Nice day to be outside and not doing much of anything.

But the past two days it has been ninety plus degrees. The poor horses are still wearing their winter coats! I can't bear to get on their backs while they are trying to deal with this heat. A cold front is supposed to come through tomorrow and drop the temps by more than thirty degrees. Sure hope so!

The office in the basement is terrific since it stays pleasantly cool. The old office had great views of the mountains but the sun came streaming in. Even with the curtains closed it got hot and we would wind up sleepy. The other thing about being in the basement - you don't know what time it is so you work all day and have no idea what is happening in the rest of the world. That's good and bad. We get stuff done but I don't seem to get over to the barn. I think I will have to make that the first thing I do each day rather than email.

I have posted a gallery of photos from the Feb Safari. This is just the beginning. I took over 5800 photos and I have to show them to someone! This first batch is more about camp. Stay tuned for more.

Warm days, sunny skies

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Spring is bursting forth here in Virigina. The flowers and trees are desperate to get their blossoms out. The sounds of lawnmowers is in the air along with the peepers chirping loudly at night.

I feel like I am surfacing after a long dive and emerging into the daylight.The book is in its final stages. Tuesday I received pdf proofs of the layout, it is like seeing an ultrasound of an embryo.

It is forming into a finished product but still in the developing stages. I will see it again soon once the designer finishes the final sections. I printed it out and "turned the pages" on my counter....

and it hit me - this is going to be a book! Somehow until now it was only words and images but not anything that looked like a finished product.

The excitement of Spring after such a long winter coinciding with this book project coming to fruition makes the season even more special.

Now the thing that will make it perfect is going out for a ride!

Spring is here!

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:21:00 +0000

I made it home from California in time for the weekend. The temps were warm and sunny with the smell of spring in the air. The flowers are definitely behind this year. My daffodils are just starting to bloom and the forsythia is just coming out.

I am not the only one who is really thrilled with the nice weather. Izzy is lazing around on the deck in her chair and sitting out in the lawn. The other day she caught and ate a mouse. Nothing like a little fresh meat to help shed fur all over the house.

In Africa the daylight varies by only 15 minutes from winter to summer. They do not think about the Spring and Autumn Equinox since there is so little difference in the amount of light. The Mara is just below the equator so theoretically it would be the Autumn Equinox at this time of year but that was hard to tell by watching the animals. We saw vultures, zebra, hippos and tortoise breeding. Maybe they don't care what season it is? Anyway, we did come across this gorgeous zebra foal who did not appear to be very old.

So for the moment I am happy to be home. This is my favorite time of year, when the earth renews itself by putting forth a show of color, sweet smells and sounds. I can hear the peepers peeping as I sit here and type. Tomorrow I head out for a road trip and a clinic in Arkansas on the weekend. I am sure this year the flowers will still be here when I get home.

Cattails Saga Part 4

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:19:00 +0000

Now that they have put FLAT SURFACES TO LAY ON in the BELOW DEN they need to be trained again. HE WHO MUST PLAY WITH ME (HWMPWM) is a quick study. I summoned him to the LET ME IN DOOR by staring at him through the VISIBLE WALL high up in the BELOW DEN.

Now I have to train him to FEED ME, LET ME OUT, and PLAY WITH ME when he is in the BELOW DEN. This is trying as it takes persistence to get through to him, but I will succeed! I make my presence known in the BELOW DEN and complain until he gets the message.

It is nice to have HWMPWM living in BELOW DEN during SUN IS SHINING time. I have more control and can go out and in whenever I like now. However, I need to work on SHE WHO MUST GROOM ME (SWMGM). She is AWAY again. This is disrupting my FUR REMOVAL PROGRAM and I might wind up with BALLS OF FUR in my stomach. Well maybe I should deposit them on her SLEEPING PLACE so she knows how displeased I am that she is AWAY.

In the mean time at least I have HWMPWM to answer to my beck and call.

Signs of Spring

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:22:00 +0000

Here in Calistoga there are definitely signs of spring. Although there is frost on the rooftops in the morning the flowers are blooming, daffodils, lavender, rosemary and more. My flowers at home are not willing to stick their heads up yet! It has been such a long winter I am hoping everything has survived - especially my fig tree!

We have been doing a series of Awareness Through Movement lessons around the spine. It is very interesting to learn how one vertebra moves in relation to another and not necessarily in the direction I thought! As always I learn so much from working with Mia and Leora - and this is just the beginning of day 3! I am already thinking about how to incorporate these lessons into my teaching when I get home.

Cattails Saga Part 3

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:17:00 +0000

Let me ouuutttt!!!! Let me oouuutttt!!!!!

SHE WHO MUST GROOM ME (SWMGM) and HE WHO MUST PLAY WITH ME (HWMPWM) finally got home from the LONG AWAY TIME and let me go outside again and now this!!!!

I was only checking out the DARK HOLE to see if there were any MOVING TOYS THAT TASTE GOOD in there and suddenly it went very dark. I heard SWMGM and HWMPWM calling but it was warm and cozy here. There was a lovely fluffy COMFORTABLE SLEEPING PLACE in the DARK HOLE and I thought it would be nice to curl up and nap for a few minutes.

But then the LARGE LIVING BOX got very quiet. I knew they would come for me soon as it would be time to have more SOFT BIRD PARTS FROM A CAN soon. Now it is well past MID DAY MEAL and might even be time for EVENING SNACKS but still the LARGE LIVING BOX is quiet and I am trapped in this DARK HOLE!

But wait..... I think I hear HWMPWM. It is faint but it sounds like his voice. I must let him know where I am! "MEEEOOOWWWWW, MMMEEEEOOOOOWWW@@#%##!!". Why haven't you come for me sooner? Oh no, DARK HOLE suddenly filled with brightness and I am going to ..... this is very undignified..... tumble out!

Humph, well now HWMPWM had better give me extra dinner!

Time Zone Travel

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:02:00 +0000

I have been in 5 different time zones in a little over 6 weeks. This is getting confusing! Waking up at 3AM, falling asleep at 7PM trying to figure out when I can call the east coast from Europe and now California. Fortunately the internet is there day and night. no matter what time zone I am in.

I have arrived in Calistoga, CA to Mayacama Ranch and Retreat. This place is beautiful! Nestled in the hills of Northern California at about 2ooo ft. The views are terrific, the food is great - they pick the lettuce for the salads out of the garden behind the kitchen and the bed very comfortable, unlike the bed that bruised me in Mombasa!

I arrived a bit late yesterday for the first day of this segment of Mia Segal's Masters Training but quickly caught on to the lesson. It has to do with connecting the entire outer envelope of skin over the skull. I know it sounds strange but I can't wait to try this on a horse! I might have to go find one around here somewhere to test it out.

In the mean time we are coming to the finish line on the edits for the book before it goes to layout. Then I will have a bit of a break until it comes back from that phase. So we are almost there!

where have the days gone?

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:34:00 +0000

Been home almost 6 days.

Still waking up at 3am and falling asleep around 7pm.

Working furiously on the edits for the book.

No time for riding, or blogging for that matter.

Leaving Monday for 10 more days of workshop with Mia Segal, this time in California.

Maybe then I will have some time to post photos from Safari!

Home again, home again, jiggidy - jog!

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:43:00 +0000

After being gone for one month I am now back home. Izzy is delighted to see me and has been following me around to make sure I don't go too far. No worries there, my travels since Monday PM have been to the office in the basement, food on the first floor and sleep on the second. I finally went outside today as it was sunny and I needed to reconnect to the outside world.

My hibernation is not simply because I am depressed about no longer being in Africa on Safari. It is because my book has come back with edits, which have to be done by Friday! So it is forced march to the office but don't tell my publisher that I have been secretly looking at all the fabulous photos I took in Kenya. I will be posting some galleries soon. In the mean time I will put up a couple of teasers.

Off to bed now - at this tonight I made it till almost 10PM (last night it was 7PM). Let's hope I can sleep past 3AM!

Click on the images for larger size. The one on the left we are looking at elephants from horseback. The other is fording the river. This was supposed to be the dry season!

Back in Nairobi and on to the elephant orphanage

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:22:00 +0000

Brad and I went to our hotel and then over the the Fairview were we hooked up with some of the group. Together we ventured to the Sheldrake Elephant Orphanage near the Nairobi National Park. There are 14 orphaned elephants in their keeping and one baby rhino. One elephant was found only 1 day old in a ditch.

It is amazing to watch the keepers with the babies with such loving simplicity. It is all men and they are totally devoted to the elephants. Brad was a bit tired when we headed out but he was really happy he did go and said it is definitely worth the visit - especially if you are going to see your adopted elephant! To learn more about the work being done and adopt an orphan click on the link above.

Tomorrow we head out to the Mara so this is going to be my last post until we come back on the 28th. I should have some wonderful photos and stories to tell so stay tuned!

Photo captions: The eye of an elephant and this handle plays with the little boy who shows his budding tusks.

Post card from Mombasa

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:52:00 +0000

Yesterday we had another massage and this time did not go in the ocean.

Brad napped most of the day on a lovely day bed with the ocean breeze through his hair.

Today we travel back to Nairobi and hook up with the rest of the Safari group at the Fairview Hotel for dinner. Tomorrow we head out to the Mara.

Having a great time!

Wendy and Brad

Cattails Saga Part 2

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:34:00 +0000

HE WHO MUST PLAY WITH ME (HWMPWM) and SHE WHO MUST GROOM ME (SWMGM) at not home yet. I will make my presence known to them anyway. I am powerful and capable of reaching out the them from long distances to tell them what I am thinking. They know I am displeased and will make them SUFFER upon their return.

It seems they have found good hunting there they are. TASTY FLYING FOOD is all around them. I like FLYING FOOD. SWIMMING FOOD is also there. That is good to watch but I prefer FLYING FOOD. I wonder if they will bring some home for me?

Time to take a NAP on THROWN in FIRE ROOM but there is no heat from FIRE BOX. Why doesn't HE WHO VISITS THE HOUSE (HWVTH) keep fire in box for me? I will have to voice my complaint next time he shows up....

Mombasa Day 2 - Mixed emotions

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:41:00 +0000

Mixed emotions is how I would describe today. Brad and I had a two hour massage at Tulia Spa. We felt mellow and relaxed afterward. We had some lunch and headed to the pool after Bathing Suit Safari this morning, an adventure that was very successful.

After sitting around at the pool for awhile we decide to take our first dip into the Indian Ocean clad in new bathing suit. I wasn't in the lovely warm waters 30 seconds when a blue beaded string stuck to my hand. I tried to pull it off and it stuck to my other hand, then to my leg and then the other leg. By now I knew this was no ordinary filament! I headed to shore (only about 1.5 feet deep when this happened) and the locals came rushing up with plants. I had been stung by a jellyfish! I never saw the little bugger, only its tenicle which is oddly blue.

Several minutes later the stings really began to swell - they were already definitely painful. About 5 guys were rubbing plant on my hands, arms and legs. After about 5 minutes I finally headed back to the hotel area and the guard, who had never seen someone stung by jellyfish before, took me to a bar where they brought me first vinegar then hot water with salt for the stings. I was swelling quite a bit at this point but the pain was subsiding.

I went back to my hotel room and took a hot shower, which felt really good on the stings and took a homeopathic remedy. Brad and I took a nap in the room and I have decided that I will stick to the hotel pools from now on.....

Mombasa!

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:07:00 +0000

I found Brad at the airport and we waited for our flight to Mombasa. Once in the air I looked out the window to see Mount Kilimanjaro! That made the hassle of addition flight worth it right there. The mountain loomed large over the clouds. Safaris Unlimited are going to create a horseback ride to Kilimanjaro - I must get details from Gordie for my next Safari.

We arrived in Mombasa and checked into our hotel. Brad, after two overnight flights, immediately took a shower and went to sleep. I went exploring around the hotel. Perhaps the best way to describe it is like a Cruise ship on land. There are several restaurants scattered around and a couple of bars. Last night there were three live bands, one for a wedding, another for a business gathering and one at the dining hall.

We traveled half-way around the world to be entertained with Patsy Cline and Elvis tunes. it made Brad laugh. On the other side of our room we could listen to the night club DJ spinning tunes. It was stereo base beat until after midnight and Brad was fully awake due to jet lag.

I had signed up for wifi internet service (so I could write my blog) but our room reception was spotty at best. Since we were both awake we decided to go looking for a better signal. We found seats near the pond and reception was better but the waiter wasn't very friendly - he was a real crab and a bit stunned from having his photo taken. Later he scuttled off sideways to go for a swim.

During the day my explorations discovered camels on the beach, water sports and the spa. The Indian Ocean water is warm and today we will go for a long walk on the beach and a dip in the waters.......

Africa Wins Again - and so the adventure begins.....

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:50:00 +0000

There is an expression in Africa, AWA, Africa Wins Again meaning that anything can happen even when you think you have the best laid plans. It seems that Africa's influence traveled many miles beyond its borders today as we headed for Kenya.

I started out with a wake up alarm at 3:45AM for my 7AM flight. Little did I realize how small Munich Airport is. I was more than two hours ahead. Not even the check-in counters or passport control were open! I found myself a nice cappuccino and settled in to wait. My flight to Heathrow was uneventful.

Brad and I planned to meet at a British Pub near our departing gate for our flight together to Nairobi. We had gone on line and paid extra to ensure that our seats were together. When I arrived at the terminal I checked that his flight had arrived. They said it had come in at 6:30AM. So I started looking for Brad in the British Pubs, then all the restaurants and finally in all the seating areas.

No Brad.

We had agreed to meet at the gate if we missed each other for breakfast so I sat down and got something to eat. Afterward I headed to the gate and still no sign of Brad! Well now I started to wonder what was going on so I went back up to the service desk to have him paged. I found out that the service person checked the wrong arriving flight - from BWI, not Dulles (BTW they have no arrival screens in this terminal). His flight was delayed and he had just landed but he WAS NOT going to make our flight!

He did not bring his computer or have an international cell phone and I began to wonder how I would tell him I was going on. They put a message on the computer but I wasn't sure he would get it so I texted and emailed him in hopes that he would find a place to check email.They rebooked him on the evening flight to Nairobi which means he will have flown two overnight flights in two days. I hope he gets some sleep!

Sure enough when I landed I got an email from him. He will arrive at 6:30AM with plenty of time for our flight to Mombasa. So there is no harm done and Africa Wins Again.

Photos: my cappuccino in Munich and my view of the African coast as we flew over.

The Cattails Saga

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:06:00 +0000

I knew something was up! HE WHO MUST PLAY WITH ME (HWMPWM) brought out those caves again. HE piled up his REMOVABLE FUR and put it in the caves - right in from of my CLAW HONING devise. Who does he think he is????? I will kneed on the REMOVABLE FUR and maybe find a nice place to sleep...

SHE WHO MUST GROOM ME (SWMGM) has left home again. She brought out caves and also piles of REMOVABLE FUR. She has done this before this is always a BAD SIGN.
Now I have to groom my own fur! I will show her.....

I will deposit a FUR BALL on my THRONE in the FIRE ROOM where she will find it.

HE WHO VISITS THE HOUSE (HWVTH) was here. Another bad sign for it means SWMG and WHMPWM will be gone for a long time. He is trained but does not come often enough. I will have to make it more clear that twice a day is not enough. Maybe I won't use the MULCH IN A SANDBOX but go somewhere else and then he will get the message.......

I will have to work on HWMPWM for my ALL THE TIME DOOR when he returns....

For now I must plan how to punish SWMGM and HWMPWM for going away. ^..^

Kindle recovered!

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:56:00 +0000

The taxi took Tina and me to the airport. He waited while I went in to reclaim my Kindle. It was at the Service Center as promised - hooray!

When I got back to the taxi the driver wasn't there so I waited inside the airport. After a few minutes he appeared. It seems Tina was quite overweight (her bags not her) for EU travel and so they charged her 150 Euros for the added weight!

I realized she did what I did (only once!). She booked her international travel but did not include the London - Munich leg. She booked that piece on a separate ticket with Lufthansa. When the entire trip is not on one ticket the European domestic portion is under EU weight rules. OUCH!

So if you ever plan to fly to Europe and want to try and save money by booking a piece separate from your international flight be careful because you are allowed much less weigh on the domestic portion. Sometimes it can cost so much you might as well book the whole trip as one so you can bring two 50 lb bags. Live and learn.....

I am not ensconced in the hotel and leave here at 4:30 AM for my 7Am flight.

Bad Tolz day 9

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 06:40:00 +0000

Today is our last day at the training in Bad Tolz. Last night we went to a traditional Bavarian restaurant for dinner. Almost the entire training was there. It was quite a lot of fun and the food was great. I loved the saurkraut! A could of people ordered the duck. In Ikoku's case it was almost as big as she was!

The waitresses were dressed in traditional clothing and the beer flowed from a keg. We all had a great time. Our group was doubly celebrating because yesterday afternoon in class we gave our presentation of teaching an Awareness Through Movement lesson to everyone. Now we can sit back and enjoy watching the other two groups give their presentations today.

This afternoon Tina and I are taking a taxi back to Munich Airport. I will pick up my Kindle and then catch a shuttle to my hotel for the night. Tomorrow I fly back to London, meet Brad and head on to Kenya!

Mia Segal & Leora Gastor

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:16:00 +0000

I am here in Bad Tolz to train again with a master, Mia Segal. Mia was Moshe Feldenkrais' only assistant for 15 years before he started training others to teach his work. She has been doing this work for over 50 years. She presents the work in clear simple terms so that anyone can understand that there is no mystery, simply good observational skills both with the eyes and hands.

It is this ability to observe that guides the practitioner as to where to put her hands and how much to do. Mia makes sure the practitioner sees the whole person, not just this knee or that shoulder, looking for patterns. It is Mia's gift to clearly demonstrate by example how to keep the work simple and clear. And this is what attracts me so that I fly across the ocean to spend more time with her.

Leora Gastor is Mia's daughter. She was just a baby when her mother began working with Feldenkrais. He was present in her home during her childhood and knows the work by living it all her life. Leora brings structure to the work. Together with Mia they have found the framework by which one can learn and become good practitioners.

I met Leora in the 90's in Connecticut. She asked me to give her daughter riding lessons. One time Mia came to watch the lesson. Little did I know that many years later I would be in training with these two marvelous women.

Sometimes it is amazing to sit back and watch how the connections in life play out with the ebb and flow of people moving through ones life. Who knew then that I would be here now? There was no way to predict but somehow listening and following I have ended up here - no complaints from this end!

Cat at home

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:41:00 +0000

At home Izzy is not impressed with the snow. She thinks the Bad Tolz cats have it easy.

All this snow and where are the birds? Well it seems this one may have crash landed but found its wings on take off.

(photos by Brad)

Bad Tolz cats

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:27:00 +0000

Last night, walking down to the old part of Bad Tolz to do a little shopping, we came across two cats. One on a ladder and one in the shop window. Almost missed the cat in the window because she was keeping herself very still while she watched the birdies (look closely at the photo). We think the ladder was supposed to go to the window but somehow must have slipped down. Now it is the ladder to nowhere.

The training is going well. We have projects to do as a team. This can get challenging at times but overall the process is positive. Most of us know each other and have worked together before.

Snow still falling but very small flakes. Seems like it is snowing everywhere in the world - well almost. I doubt we will see snow in Mombasa.

Who cares as long as we have hay!

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:36:00 +0000

Wonder what my horses think of the snow?

Well I think this photo by Joyce Harman says it all!

Tuesday's Day Off Adventure

murdochmethod@gmail.com (Wendy Murdoch) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:07:00 +0000

Yesterday we had a day off between the two training segments. This gave us an opportunity to explore the area. Rob, a fellow student from the USA, has a car for four Americans piled in and traveled around the area with two another cars, almost half of the people in the training!

We were heading for a local castle but instead we got lost and wound up going along a lake that surprisingly was not frozen. The color of the water was incredible and it reflected the mountains around it - very beautiful. Then we went on to Franz Marc's home and museum of he paintings. He is famous for the Blue Horse, which wasn't there, but his donkeys were wonderful!

From there we traveled back home. Tina, my roommate and I went for hot chocolate and to find some groceries. Instead we found Tina a wonderful hat. There are many hat shops here in Bad Tolz as well as beautiful traditional Bavarian dresses and mens' clothes.

Today it is back to class for five more days. Time seems to be flying by.