Category: friends

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Adventures in Bikram

I went to my first Bikram Yoga class yesterday with my roommate.

When I’d first heard of it I thought “Oh Jesus, that’s hardcore,” but then I wanted to try it just to see how hardcore. To me it seemed like it would be really cleansing but really hard work. I figured I could probably do it, I’ve always thought of myself as a “tough cookie” if you will. Or, you know, maybe it would show me just how fucking UN-hardcore I was. So I tried it out.

Yeah, it was hot, yeah, I sweated, but not as much as some of the other people. This one guy was dispensing fluids like he was the dancing fountain at the Venetian or something. One of the other first timers had to sit out after about 10 minutes cause she was already dehydrated. I made it through the first hour, I think, keeping up with everyone but I soon started getting kind of sick to my stomach. I figured it was either my breakfast saying “Dude, it’s too hot in here. I’m out,” or it was me being dehydrated, so I sat out a couple of poses until I felt less nauseas.

Toward the end though I was getting pretty miserable and started thinking “ihateyouihateyouihateyouihateyouihateyou” to the instructor – who was just sitting on his pad in the front of the room telling us what to do. I couldn’t fucking WAIT until I could open that door and breathe cool air again. It would feel so good. Even in the relaxing poses, like just lying on your back, were pretty miserable. I thought “Everything outside this room will feel so good after we’re done. I can’t wait.”

So finally at the end of the class. I went to the changing room and ripped off my soaking clothes and put on a really thin loose shirt I had brought. It was like heaven. The women’s changing room smelt like vanilla, which made me want cupcakes pretty badly. Anyway while vegging out in the women’s changing room the girls were all talking about how it was about 5 -7 degrees hotter in there than it usually is and how they could barely stand it. My roommate was surprised at how long I held out before I had to take a break.

So today, my legs are a little sore, my neck is a little sore. I think we went through poses way faster than we should have, esp. in that kind of heat, but maybe that’s just how Bikram is, it’s not one of the relaxing yoga styles. And now I’m walking around thinking…hm, maybe I’ll go do that again this week.

I think the heat has gotten to my brain.

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Oh the places you’ll go!

At this moment I have three friends scattered across Europe. All are there independent of each other and all are probably in different countries.

My friend Andy is in the USAF and is there working. He’s either in Berlin or Paris. He’s usually in Berlin but last he told me he was headed to Paris, for what reason I’m not sure.

My cousin is backpacking through Europe right now. Last I talked to her she was in London but that was about week ago. She was traveling with a friend but when they arrived in London her friend was sent back to New York, for what reason I do not know. Taking time to travel through Europe is something I’d really like to do. I know this is probably true for a lot of liberal Americans but I just thought I’d mention it.

My friend Sean is currently in Italy for a wedding. Can you imagine getting married in Italy (and not living there). Better yet, getting married in a castle in Italy. I think that’s what they’re doing anyway, or maybe the reception is in a castle. Either way, I’ve never been to a castle before, let alone a castle in Italy.

Meanwhile, I’m here, in Los Angeles…which may seem glamorous to some but it really isn’t, or maybe I’m just jaded. There is something to be said though about sleeping in your own bed. Sometimes you’ll sleep in better but more often than not it’s hard to fall asleep in a foreign bed.

Like I said before, I really want to travel through Europe some time. I had always thought that I would do it once I graduated from college, but I just went right into working. It’s not bad, I love my work, but I now have to find time to do the Europe thing.

I think the last time I used my passport was when I went to Puerto Vallarta for my senior trip. I can’t believe that was five years ago. Five years. Saying it out loud makes it unbelievable because it feels like I just left high school. The memories are still fresh. Does that mean I’ve done nothing as memorable since then? Or perhaps I spent so much time there with those people that it will take longer to forget. I like to think it’s the latter.

Anyway, I know I’ve done this before (not here) but I’ve compiled my travel wishlist:

  • London
  • Fiji
  • Paris
  • Rome
  • Greece
  • Denver
  • Tokyo
  • South Africa
  • New Zealand
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Iceland

I can think of more but at this point I’m just naming places. I’d also like to revisit New York and San Francisco. Always San Francisco. Now I just have to find the time and money. I guess I’ll be reading 4-Hour Work Week.

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This and That

Updates, list style (because who has the time anymore?)

This:

  • new bike as of 5/19
  • new bike injuries as of 5/23
  • my iPod is officially deceased as of 5/22
  • I’ve started reading more comics (Optic Nerve, Stephen King’s Dark Tower series)

That:

  • Julie is moving to Austin, TX
  • Joss and Jeremy are moving to San Leandro, CA
  • Rachel and Randy are moving to Seattle, WA
  • Sean is moving to San Francisco, CA
  • I’m staying put and need to make new friends
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

the table

I’m finally into the holiday spirit, all it took was a little pumpkin carving and buying a $2,000 computer. Okay so maybe that’s not all needed to get into the holiday season but I finally feel like it’s here and it really is my favorite time of the year. The time between Halloween and New Years Day. I even wore a scarf to work today.

The bad thing about it is that I am turning 24 in January and that isn’t something I’m looking forward to. I’m not sure why I feel that 24 is too old, but it feels like it to me. I don’t feel like I have accomplised anything at 24. Although there is always the question of “How do you measure success?” I guess you can only measure by happiness. Am I happy?

Still not sure yet but I think I’ll get there.

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Good Eatin’

Thanksgiving Dinner

On a recent trip to Santa Cruz for Labor Day weekend, my friends and I decided to have a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner (or Christmas if you prefer) because really, one day a year just isn’t enough.

We learned that during the “off season” turkeys at the store are generally half the size of those during the holiday season. This is partly due to the fact that the turkeys don’t include any dark meat – no wings, no drumsticks. 🙁 Despite the lack of dark meat (or as I like to call it “the flavor explosion”) we still made a delicious Thanksgiving dinner and I was stuffed, almost to the point where I would have needed to induce vomiting to keep from exploding. I know! That indeed does sound delicious, doesn’t it?

I firmly believe that stuffing is something one should have as a kitchen staple, like popcorn or something. You sit down to watch some tv with a glass of water and a bowl/plate of stuffing. Yummmm YUM!

Moving on, I had quite an excellent time in Santa Cruz with Julie, Danielle & Co. They’ve asked me to refer to them by that title in the future so I am happy to oblige. I always have fun with them, well, ok probably not always but I don’t think I’ve encountered anything traumatizing enough to remember right now so that says enough.

We shopped, we ate, we watched awards shows. I think it was a very successful holiday for me.