Instead of Vengeance

Mercy! She felt better after a toke. Was it naive to be redeemed by a puff a smoke?

When he drove the beltway between Baltimore and the District of Columbia he invoked an inner mantra: do not engage the serpent.

Her prose was a retelling of countless yesterdays. But she eventually grew tired of that approach. Nowadays she conjured voices for an infinite self. It didn’t matter if she told the truth anymore.

When he smoked weed he couldn’t read books. He could read, but he kept reading the same sentence over and over, which was annoying. So when he read, he’d sip a slow brewed dark roast instead.

She thought failure was a hoax so she removed the word from her lexicon in 1999.

He drove the distance between Maryland and Virginia countless times and he always succumbed to road rage. He couldn't shake it. He was seduced by anger and increasingly concerned. Driving was a miserable test of ego.

She appreciated an amusing page turner but she slowed down every now and again to ponder a bit of gospel.

He never liked the idea of declaring his lack of ambition. "So what do you do?" asked the barfly at the 2-for-1 happy hour in Midtown. His face wilted in reply. But if queried, "What do you obsess about?" He was fully attentive.

She used to drink red wine.

He enjoyed watching the Pittsburgh Steelers but he muted the announcers and the commercials. He didn’t talk to his family much but when he watched the games he thought about them.

She isolated herself from society yet delighted in the quotidian comforts of a liaison.

Temper is revealing, and the last time he drove to DC—he was cool as a cucumber. He practiced self reflection on a QWERTY keyboard and a yoga mat.

They are ready to write the next chapter.

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Closed Captions

Intro music, blows out smoke, wood creaks, sound of footsteps, rooster crows, cat meows, opening title music, opening credits, song fades dramatically, fly buzzing, car door opens, door closes, car engine starts, engine revs, zooms, creaks, clanks, squeaks, rolls, door knocks, knocking, door opens, crickets chirping, door squeaks, closes, clinking, groans, awkward silence, gasps, grunts, cat meows, cat whines, sniffles, clinks keys, smirks, sound of footsteps, squeaks, door opens, thuds, door closes, clanks, door opens, car engine starts, revs, tire screeches, accelerates, grunts, punches, groaning, somber music, soft chuckles, disturbance, man speaking on TV, gasps, scoffs, chuckles, birds chirping, dramatic sound effect, shoes creak, approaching footsteps, car door opens, car door closes, door opens, thuds, door closes, clears throat, counting banknotes, soft sinister music, sucks finger, groans, sinister music continues, tense eerie sound, door opens, clanks, thuds, slams, car door closes, engine starts, revs, chimes, sound of footsteps climbing, song playing, soft pop music, music continues, sound of footsteps, ominous silence, awkward silence, door opens, taps, door closes, water trickles, soft upbeat music, clanks, sniffles, deep sniffles, gasps, upbeat music continues, lighter clinks, banknotes rustle, briefcase closes, music continues, sniffles, gasps, upbeat music, music intensifies, intense sinister music, upbeat percussive music, percussive music continues, claps, snap fingers, mutters, sniffles, clears throat, deep sniffs, gasps, dings, sniffing, metal clanks, echos, percussive music continues, music fading, clicks, grunts, eerie ominous sound, soft chuckles, dramatic ominous sound, chews, grunts, groans, spits out finger, groaning, wailing, pleas, begs, crying, sobs, cries, wails, growls, bites, blood splatters, tense ominous music, phone keypad beeping, phone ringing, voice mail, dramatic tense music, keypad beeps, phone dialing, ringing, clatters, dramatic intense music continues, music fades, sound of footsteps, awkward silence, metal gate clanks, squeaks, knocking door, clucks, door creaks open, footsteps, keys clink, briefcase opens, briefcase closes, train horn blowing, train rattling, soft sentimental music, deep exhales, approaching footsteps, ominous music, chair scrapes, music intensifies, intense electronic music, music tones down, soft piano music, cheerful music, intense jazz music, rustles, music fades, pants, sound of footsteps, cigarette trickles, treading, treading faster, ominous sound, creaking of footsteps, clucks, rustles, sound fades, creepy music builds up, sound of footsteps, dramatic effect, bangs, creepy silence, growls, deep sharp exhale, scary voice, crying, sobs, grunts, shaky cries, clatters, diminishing footsteps, clucks, rolling of skateboard, skateboard scrapes, rattles, clanks, drags, sniffs, upbeat party music, indistinct chatter, laughs, smirks, indistinct murmurs, nods, rolls eyes, party music continues, music fades, intense percussive music, seductive voice, thumps, music continues, chatters, murmurs, music tones down, indistinct laughs, music fades, approaching footsteps, crickets chirping, blurry vision, skateboard scraping, footsteps clicking, spits, approaching footsteps, deep exhales, thuds, wind whistling softly, gasps, clomps, skateboard rolls, deep exhales, rolling, creaking, record player starts, pop music starts, creaks, music intensifies, thumping, thumps continue, thumps fade, gentle music playing, calming melodious opera, tense suspenseful music, sounds of heels, clicks, keys clink, scratches, sound of footsteps, dramatic thump, taps, clinks, clanks, gasps, lighter clicks, creepy creaks and clanks, intense ominous sound, thunder roars, dripping sound, whacks, grunts, groans, groaning, sound of footsteps, whirring, footsteps approaching, sinister ominous sound, dramatic sound effect, whooshes, creaks, paper bag rustles, rustling, sniffles, shoes creaking, door opens, music player starts, music playing, song continues to play, lighter clicks, lighter closes, nods, groans, romantic music continues, awkward silence, steam whooshes, roaring sound, train rattles, clatters, dramatic suspenseful music builds, indistinct ringing, tense music, thuds, clicks, sizzles, record player starts, melodious music, bed squeaks, song continues, thuds, zipper slides, gasps, grunts, song continues, thuds softly, breathing heavily, bed creaks, gasps, rustles, song continues to play, eerie rumbles, bangs, screech, thuds, intense ominous percussion, grunts, groans, crunches, gnawing, thunderous rumbles, shaky breath, sighing, dragging, thunders, scrapes, dripping, machine growls, birds chirping, loud bang, soft ominous music, sighing, crow caws, heavy breathing, water trickles, zipper slides, clatters, rustles, car whirrs, rumbles, thunderous thrums, dramatic growl, approaching footsteps, dramatic zoom effect, clucks, door opens, screeches, squeaks, sighing, pants, sniffles, clanks, gasping, snaps, clatters, cat meows, sinister music, dramatic, suspicious music, clinking, car whirrs, engine stops, crickets chirping, car door opens, car door slams, soft whooshing, awkward silence, sound of approaching footsteps, car door opens, car door closes, whooshing continues, clucks, dashboard closes, pop music plays, car engine roars, song continues, music fades, closing credits, outro music.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, 2014 (abridged)

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Sun Salutation

The Sun Salutation yoga sequence is traditionally practiced at sunrise and the 12 asanas within the sequence flow from one to the other. Our version has two minor tweaks: We love doing the yoga at sunset—because we’re night owls—and, we linger in the poses to improve strength and flexibility. The full sequence takes five minutes and you can stack multiple sequences back-to-back for more intensity.

In slow motion.

Daylight is beginning to wane and the birdsong is in bloom. Maybe you are listening to Savasana music. Perhaps you are burning a candle and lighting some incense. Excellent.

Let's begin.

Stand at the top of your yoga mat with your feet a few inches apart and close your eyes. Let your arms hang loosely at your side as you take a deep breath in through your nose, holding your breath for a brief moment at the end of your inhale, then slowly exhale through your mouth. And again. Big breath in through your nose and hold, then slowly exhale through your mouth. Last time. Big breath in through your nose and hold, two, three, and slowly exhale through your mouth. We will continue this circular breathing throughout the meditation.

{Asana 1} Gently open your eyes and bring your palms together in a prayer pose at your chest. Take a big breath in through your nose and hold, then slowly exhale through your mouth.

{Asana 2} Inhale and stretch your arms up toward the sky and slowly arch your back from the waist while gently pushing your hips forward.

{Asana 3} Exhale, nice and slow, and fold your arms forward resting your palms flat against the mat just to the left and right of your feet. Relax in this folded position for a cycle of three patient inhales and exhales.

{Asana 4} Deep breath in as you slightly bend your knees and gently extend your left leg behind you. Rest your knee on the mat and keep your palms flat against the earth while arching your back and looking upward. Slowly exhale. Hold this position for a cycle of three deep breaths in and out.

{Asana 5} Breathe in as you kick your right leg straight back, supporting your weight with flat palms and the balls of your feet. Fully extend your arms as you exhale, and keep your head and torso in a straight line while flexing the muscles in your arms, legs, abdomen and glutes. Hold this pose for a cycle of three restorative inhales and exhales.

{Asana 6} Slowly inhale as you bend your elbows and lower your forehead toward the mat while you lower your knees and balance on the balls of your feet, keeping your hips elevated. (Note: This asana immediately flows into the next.)

View fullsize

From the book “The Sivananda Companion to Yoga” written by Lucy Lidell with Narayani and Giris Rabinovitch. © 1983 by Gaia Books Limited, London and Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center.

{Asana 7} Big breath in as you lower your hips, point your toes, and arch your back while looking up to the cosmos. Exhale slowly. Hold this position for a cycle of three deep breaths in and out.

{Asana 8} Breathe in while you bend your elbows, lower your forehead, and curl your toes under as you push against the mat to lift your hips into an inverted V-shape. Your heels and the palms of your hands should be flat against the mat and your arms fully extended. Slowly exhale. Hold this pose for a cycle of three nourishing breaths.

{Asana 9} Inhale while you step forward with your left leg and place it between your hands. Rest your right knee on the mat and keep your palms flat against the floor while arching your back and looking upward. Slowly exhale. Hold this position for a cycle of three cleansing breaths.

{Asana 10} Big breath in as you bring your right leg forward. Bending down from the waist, rest your feet next to each other and between your palms, which should be flat against the mat, fingers pointing forward. Linger in the downward pose while treating yourself to three relaxing breaths in and out.

{Asana 11} Inhale and slowly unfold your body. Put your palms together and raise them above your head. Fully extend your arms and bend backward at the waist, nice and easy.

{Asana 12} Exhale and gently return to an upright position, arms relaxed at your side.


Breathe in love.

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