what a diff'rence a day makes

I was on facebook earlier today and my side bars kept referencing old photo albums I'd posted from like 3ish years ago. Naturally, I clicked on them and it really took me back. House parties and playing in the snow in "The usual shenanigans", sunsets on the beach in "A Series of Stupidity", randomness at Cha Cha in "photobooth", travels to Hawai'i, the Philippines, & Japan, and of course, all of the unforgettable nights clubbing with my ladies. I don't know if this is sad to say, but I really really miss those days. I'm really happy with my recent successes, especially professionally/academically, but nonetheless, I can't help but find myself constantly thinking of the ease, fun, and happiness of days of yore.

perhaps I'm just making excuses, but I've also been very unhappy about a lot of things in my life for the past few years and I'm riding a lot of hope on my move. I've always loved living in the city and I'm still at a point in my life where I prefer a more urban lifestyle. I don't want to be in the suburbs and I especially hate that I'm so far away from everything and everyone. A lot of this unhappiness that I've been feeling stems from feeling left out. I feel like I'm missing out from all these things that are happening in the city, things that my friends are doing, that people my age are doing that I should be and want to do too.

no one got to the top without a little help

I randomly opened the Stickies on my laptop today (for the Mac un-savvy, that's a post-it notes app). I completely forgot that I had 5 of them each representing an academic year starting from June 2009 to August 2013 & beyond. Each sticky has an important goal & a list of to-do's on it. Essentially, it's my 5 year plan in 50 words or less.

I'm glad to report that I've achieved what I set out to be for June 2009 to August 2010, and seeing as I based this plan on the hope of getting into the MedSLP program at UW, it looks like I'm still on the right track :). With a huge sigh of relief, a great sense of achievement, and a bright outlook toward the future, I close this note and begin a new one, five years from now. At this very moment, life is feeling pretty good.

hey there muscle arms

I had a very... -intimate- dream last night. I'll spare y'all the details. What struck me as particularly odd about this dream was that you'll never guess the supposititious object of my affection: Mister Rogers!

say WHA?!??!?!?

happy birthday Otis Clyde!

today is my dog's 98th birthday! He's finally surpassed even my grandma (a close 93) in age. Dad and I celebrated by getting him some tasty, bacon-y treats, but seeing as he's a rather finicky dog w/barely any teeth left, we may also add in fried rice molded into the shape of a cake since he seems to enjoy that

this one was taken pre-cyst, so he must've been like 10 years old

enjoying my mom's garden and the (rare) Seattle sun

what to do?

I'm really conflicted right now because in terms of exercise during the school year, I don't know what to do. I'm currently taking a "pilates" class through the IMA--and I put it in quotes because my instructor, Erin, usually teaches yoga so her style of pilates is heavily influenced by that. I have to say, I absolutely love my instructor! I like how everything flows from one form to another, how she always asks what areas we would like to focus on and really caters to that, how she focuses on loosening and warming up the areas around our joints, and how she emphasizes understanding our bodies' limits while still maintaining proper form. Usually instructors first demonstrate the proper form and then sometimes show the modification. Erin takes the opposite approach where she slowly eases us in with a warm up, and then while focusing on the right area and right muscles, slowly puts us into position and gradually increases it from there

some issues I've always had with pilates and yoga are my weak lower back and tight hips, but Erin really helps strengthen and loosen those areas. She's the only instructor I've had (and I've had my fair share) where I never look at the clock and I look forward to going to class. Hell, the only drawback right now is that the class is only twice a week!

my conflict is that once summer quarter is over, Erin will go back to teaching at Yogalife and the usual teacher will come back to teach pilates during the entire school year. I really don't like this instructor! I feel that my muscles tense up with her because she focuses too much on form and flexibility without much consideration for those who may need some modifications. She obviously understands the body, but sometimes focuses on too many muscles and joints at once that I get over-stimulated, over think it, and end up tensing up. It takes me a lot of self-motivation (and I mean a lot) to get myself down to the IMA to attend one of her classes. In the end, I'm either prone to skipping her class or I don't feel neither relaxed nor worked out like I should

but, it'd only cost me about $15/mo for classes 2x/wk, whereas, Erin (and the other instructors at the studio) would be about $90/mo for unlimited classes... There are more pros & cons I could list, but then I would never shut up. I'm currently leaning toward the latter option, but fiscally, that difference is soo much that I really need to consider this

schmancy

I just found out that I won a copy of Anna Hrachovec's Knitting Mochimochi from PlushYou! This is so awesome, I feel like I never win anything! :D If you're familiar with Anna's work, she does a tiny series almost every week, so PlushYou! decided to hold a contest for whoever could come up with the next best tiny idea. Since I like the deep sea/nautical theme, I suggested a tiny submarine, steam punk scuba diver, or seahorse. I'm not quite sure which idea won, but hell, who cares? I won out of about 200 entries!! I really hope that Anna will take one (or all?) of my suggestions and knit something up because I'd love to see what she comes up with!

you can't fire me

I fuckin' QUIT!