Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Reflections, Not Resolutions

As 2012 approaches, I'm sure the thought of resolutions has crossed everyone's minds. Resolutions are sort of scary. Resolutions (n). To resolve (v). I'd rather reflect.  


Reflections for the Upcoming Year 2012
  • Focus more on my diet--ever since this kidney stone debacle (and recently finding out I also have hydronephrosis) I've been terrified for my health. It's not life-threatening as it is but it could lead to kidney failure if not properly treated. A lot of the problem with kidney stones is based on diet and lifestyle. I just want to eat as healthfully as possible and avoid all the foods and drinks I can't have anymore (like my beloved McAlister's tea).
  • Try to eat more vegan/vegetarian based meals.
  • Start exercising consciously--I want to be in the best shape possible.
  • Cross off 4-5 things off my Bucket List
  • Update my blog and make more connections. Blogging has become a lifeline for me and I wish I could make it into something bigger that reaches out to more people. I love you all!
Sitting at home for weeks has given me a bit of a wake-up call. Never take your health for granted. You never know when you'll have to pee through a strainer and basically give birth to gravel. 

Siku--My New Love

I don't know why--but I am in love with this baby polar bear. The news always seems to report on cute baby animals and I'll 'ooh' and 'ahh' over them but soon forget a day or so later. But not this little guy. I 'liked' him on Facebook and he's currently my computer background. He's so cute, he doesn't even look real!
I wish I could hold him--just once! That tongue!! I die. 

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Wish List 2012


I want these next Christmas. On my tree. That is all.

Monday, December 26, 2011

London Series: Part III

After our first Tuesday class, a faculty member at IES took us on a tour of the Bloomsbury District, not only the location of our classroom, but a famous literary district in London.
The large building in the background is said to have inspired George Orwell when he was writing 1984. It's now a part of London University. 
 A taxi driver station.
The above building is now a hospital but it once housed Charles Dickens in the lower right section. There was also a bus explosion here a few years ago that killed quite a few people.
 Tavistock Square or "Peace Park." In one corner resides a copied statue of Virginia Woolf... it will appear in later photos.
St. George's is the church where Sylvia Plath married Ted Hughes.
Afterward, most of us went to the British Museum. A handful of the girls decided to pay 17 pounds to go see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie--how foolish were they? The British Museum is one of the best in the world because the British have basically stolen everything from everyone. I went twice and still didn't see everything. It was incredible. 
I got to see the Rosetta Stone, which was surrounded by many Asian tourists. It was incredibly crowded (as expected with free museums) but it was one of the most amazing places in the world.
After that, Camille and I went to Covent Garden for dinner. We both ordered Cokes and gorgonzola pizza. I was so hungry that I was eating the pizza at record speed--once I started getting full I realized it tasted sort of funny. "Well, it's bleu cheese," Camille said. I responded with a horrified, "WHAT?!" I absolutely hate bleu cheese and had failed to recognize gorgonzola is a bleu cheese. Needless to say, I didn't die or anything but I stopped eating after that convo. 

We also went to the three-story Apple Store so Camille could get her nerd on. At the time, Camille was working at the Apple Store at the mall so she promised her coworkers she would make a pilgrimage to this techie mecca. Overall, it was a great day.