Whats new in Mysore,
         For starters there have been riots going on due to this water strike affecting two states. Bikes are being set on fire and people are just acting nuts. The whole city was closed yesterday, no way to get around, no shops opened for business at all. The coconut stand opened around 4:30.  For some reason the strike was over at that time but none of the other tea stalls were open for business. So everyone was coming out to get cocnuts, cigaretts and chai but there was no chai because nobody had any milk. that's where I come in. During my journey earlier in the day, I spotted a shop hidden down a side road. A little light bulb went off inside my head. Only instead of a bulb, it was a bag of milk. I scored several bags, plus some kick ass chocolate, and brought it back to the coconut stand. Since most places stayed closed, the chai flew out of there. We had to make a second run for four more bags. I felt like a bootlegger, the best addreneline rush since I've been here. Chai, the Indian crack.
         Now things are back to normal but the states are still fighting over the water supply. Class remained the same, Guruji has been adjusting me in my backbends on certain days and Sharath still tells me to loose some weight. He suggested eating one meal a day. That will be hard but I will most likely aim for it on certain days. I felt strong and light today and none of my asana's were difficult. If it wasn't for those blasted weekends I would be fine. Food is the enemy; only joking.  I'm eating fine with the family I'm staying with. Last week I fasted for two days.  They seemed bewildered as to why I would not want to eat for two days. I just felt like doing it. I had this stomach cleanse occured last Sunday. For a week my stomach was on fire. I talked to Sharath about it and all he said was, "it's good". You really have to appreciate the simplification of communication in the shala. So for a week everyday after practice my stomach was on fire and then we had a long weekend where we went to the Golden Temple and the led intermediate class on Sunday. All weekend my stomach was fine until after practice on Sunday and a few hours after I felt it drop and I ran home with my butt check clinched very tight. Made it home and to the Indian toilet, which is a hole in the ground with a bucket of water for cleaning. I've been fine ever since. No more burning stomach and most of my asana's have improved as result. You may be saying, "thanks for sharing" I say,"your welcome" if you are saying something else, too bad. Live and breathe the experience, even if it stinks.                                   
                                    Love Chuck