Tag: postaday2011

Categories
health

Daily Post Day 53: Showers or no showers

Korean-style Chinese food. Not related to this blog post obviously.

How long do you think you could go without a shower?

I’ve been without showers for up to a week or two in the past year. Not voluntarily though; more like, medical necessity (or just paranoia of opening up physical wounds?).

If you ask me how long I could go without showering voluntarily…only 2-3 days. Even with dry shampoo to freshen up my locks and baby wipes to wipe myself down during that time, I would feel quite gross by the second or third day.

I know, I know. In the olden days people used to shower only twice a year. And in some countries, showering is still not done quite so often. Perhaps it’s all just part of the way we’re brought up: we learn the norms of our society and we learn to abide by them.

Categories
family friends memories travel

Daily Post Day 52: Road Trips Thus Far

Down Highway 1, California.

I haven’t taken many road trips in my life, or at least none I can remember too well so far. When I was a child, we went on some road trips as a family, but most of them I don’t remember too well. Just bits and pieces of visits to Virginia Beach and West Virginia (to watch dog races, hm).

When my eldest sister took us younger siblings to Williamsburg and Washington, D.C. in 1996, we had fun times singing along to radio songs and just relaxing in the heat of the summer sun while watching everything pass on by. I felt like we were on the road for awhile, but then again I was just a child at that point. Four to five hours in a car is a long time for a kid.

In the past year, I took smaller road trips around the Bay Area/northern California. Always an adventure to see new sights with other novice eyes. The drive I enjoyed the most was driving down Highway 1 to Santa Cruz. Watching the Pacific Ocean’s endless horizon beside us was frightening yet also majestic. The glory of nature followed us all the way to the Beach Boardwalk.

Then, there was a road trip to Las Vegas in late August. Although it was intriguing to me to see another part of the state of California along the trip, I didn’t care much for the arid scenery around us. To me, seeing desert is depressing. I need lush greenery, mountains, and water.

Categories
dir en grey feelings

Daily Post Day 51: Music That Cheers Me Up

Copyright Dir en grey

Those who follow me via my blog, Twitter, or Facebook should be familiar with my love for the Japanese rock band, Dir en grey. If not, you will be familiar with them (at least a tiny bit) after this post.

Today’s topic asks what kind of music cheers me up when I’m feeling down. Despite depressing, morbid lyrics (mostly in Japanese), Dir en grey’s music calms me down and sometimes even causes me to drift off to a peaceful sleep.

Something about the rhythms, the melodies. The sadness, torture in lead singer Kyo’s voice…it speaks to me. Even in my darkest times, listening to Dir en grey calms me down and helps me get back to rational thinking.

The power of music is amazing to me.


Categories
family money

Daily Post Day 50: A Million Dollars…

Everyone dreams of winning that big jackpot one day, or just achieving that first million with hard work.

So, what would I do with the million dollars?

First, I would give the majority of it to my family for the years of their support they have given to me. Without my family, I wouldn’t be here today.

Second, I’d travel the world with the one I love. It wouldn’t matter where we traveled to; anywhere we desired to be.

Third, I’d leave funds for my descendants. Savings accounts, college funds, etc.

Fourth, I’d indulge in some fine clothes, shoes, handbags. Yes, I have to be a lady.

That’s what I’d do with the money.

Categories
My Health & Fitness reflection

Daily Post Day 49: When Running Becomes Freedom

I used to think I would never be able to run long distances. Years of humiliation, huffing and puffing through the annual mile run in physical education class…I was almost always the last student to complete the mile. Shame coated my mind.

Back in September, I laced up my new pair of pink sneakers and decided it was time for me to take up running (after experimenting with different workout programs over the course of my fitness kick).

I held my iPhone in one hand and my water bottle, keys, and ID in the other. Listening to my app’s voice coach, I walked along Sunset Boulevard to warm up. Cars passed by and the breeze swept through my clothes. Fresh, crisp air mixed in with gasoline fumes.

I fell into a trance along the path when suddenly the voice coach yelled “Start your running!” Huff, puff…I found my PE days flashing through my mind and then I found myself flying away from those painful memories.

For the first time in my life, I realized that running liberated me and gave me life. And ever since that autumn day, I have enjoyed running like I was born to do so. Hey, even a personal trainer here in New York said I’m a “natural runner” with my stance and all. Encouraging!

When spring rolls around, can’t wait to take my running back outdoors and off the treadmill. I love basking in nature and feeling the wind against me as I run to my freedom.