Twice a year, Boston has this amazing series of weeks called Restaurant Week. Basically, a lot of restaurants all over the Boston area have a set of deals: $20 for a two course lunch and $33 for a three course dinner. For those of you who have experienced fine dining in Boston, you know that it is NOT cheap, so any kinds of deal is nice, and this is an especially good one.
Having missed it last year, I decided to try out a new place and take advantage of the deal. I decided on Lucca, in the Back Bay. The original restaurant is in the North End, but since they weren't participating in R.W., we headed to the new location near the Prudential Center. It was a nice place with a good vibe and friendly staff. I had bruschetta as an appetizer, rigatoni bolognese for my entree, and blueberry rhubarb crumble with ice cream for dessert (thus my +.2 for this week). It was all fantastic! Out of the three, I liked the bruschetta the best; it tasted like there was a bit of cheese in the tomato mixture on top, which I've never tasted before. The Boyfriend had an arugula salad, salmon, and semifreddo. All that was very delicious, as well. The salmon was perfectly cooked, very tender. Our other friends all ordered the veggie pasta for their entree, and that was very tasty, too. A good time was had by all, helped along by the two bottles of white. ;)
I would definitely go back to Lucca, though I would probably only order an entree since I'm on a budget. I'm a sucker for Italian food, so I would love to see what else they have to offer. In the meantime, though, I'll just remember it as a good night out with friends.
ciao
Monday, August 30, 2010
Week Three
Well, Week Three of O:H was not the most successful. I blame it on the life around school picking up: students coming back, faculty meetings, lesson planning. I know that I am making excuses, but after a summer of sitting around not doing much, having to dive right back in to two days straight of meetings was a bit strenuous. I did, however, stay on top of my workout plan; it was just the eating that was the problem. I also discovered, on top of being stressed about school starting, that I have absolutely no self control when it comes to sweets. I already knew that to some degree, and this week proved it. Blueberry rhubarb crumble with ice cream, three berry tart, chocolate chip cookies...at least I'm aware of the problem; now I will just have to be extra conscious around meal times, though when I cook at home, these sweet treats won't be available. Another danger of eating out/not at home.
Goal for week four: avoid sweets! (still)
Stats for week Three:
yards swum - 4,600
hours spent lifting - 2hrs 15 min
weight change - +.2 (boo)
ciao
Goal for week four: avoid sweets! (still)
Stats for week Three:
yards swum - 4,600
hours spent lifting - 2hrs 15 min
weight change - +.2 (boo)
ciao
Monday, August 23, 2010
Week Two
Marginally more successful with Op: H this week. Still a few problems with the eating out, as well as feeling pressured to get something just because the person you're with is getting something (example: super sugary coffee drink from Bloc 11. I love that place, but man I did not need that coffee right before dinner), but otherwise, I feel like I'm doing well.
The Boyfriend and I have been planning out weekly dinner menus both so that we can save money at the grocery store by knowing what we want and so that we can be sure that we're eating healthily. Last week looked something like this: Thai chicken soup with rice, veggie fried rice, veggie lasagna, and black beans and rice. Unfortunately we ended up eating out Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, but I did my best to limit my intake and to make healthy choices.
In the workout arena, I went to the gym as many times as I said I would (pretty impressive, for me) and did basically the whole workout I said I would. I skipped an ab workout, which is stupid since that's the whole point, but I was wearing inappropriate shoes and didn't really have enough room to do the exercises recommended. Weak excuse, but here we are. In both the pool and the weight room I'm feeling stronger and more confident, and am generally enjoying myself. I think I've finally accepted that I'm no longer a competitive athlete, just a girl trying to stay active. And that helps, since if I hadn't, it would be around this time that I would be starting to quit. So, here's to a more successful week three!
Stats for week two:
yards swam - 4,500
hours spent lifting - 2 hrs 15 min
weight change - -.7 (yay!)
I'm even more optimistic because I definitely consumed more sugar than I should have this week, so if I can be more vigilant from now on, then man, who knows what will happen! :)
ciao
The Boyfriend and I have been planning out weekly dinner menus both so that we can save money at the grocery store by knowing what we want and so that we can be sure that we're eating healthily. Last week looked something like this: Thai chicken soup with rice, veggie fried rice, veggie lasagna, and black beans and rice. Unfortunately we ended up eating out Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, but I did my best to limit my intake and to make healthy choices.
In the workout arena, I went to the gym as many times as I said I would (pretty impressive, for me) and did basically the whole workout I said I would. I skipped an ab workout, which is stupid since that's the whole point, but I was wearing inappropriate shoes and didn't really have enough room to do the exercises recommended. Weak excuse, but here we are. In both the pool and the weight room I'm feeling stronger and more confident, and am generally enjoying myself. I think I've finally accepted that I'm no longer a competitive athlete, just a girl trying to stay active. And that helps, since if I hadn't, it would be around this time that I would be starting to quit. So, here's to a more successful week three!
Stats for week two:
yards swam - 4,500
hours spent lifting - 2 hrs 15 min
weight change - -.7 (yay!)
I'm even more optimistic because I definitely consumed more sugar than I should have this week, so if I can be more vigilant from now on, then man, who knows what will happen! :)
ciao
Happy Anniversary!
Happy one year anniversary to me! I've officially lived here in New England for one year. It's a bit crazy to think about, especially because the weather could not be more different: last year one this day, it was the hottest day of the summer so far, well into the nineties with blazing sun; today, it's about 68 and rainy. Last year, I was a recent college grad, terrified of moving out on her own, of starting a "real" job. Now here I am, one year away from that terror, going into a new school year with a faint but tangible glimmer of confidence. I'm not that much more experienced, but it's better than nothing, and I'm definitely on my way to something more akin to adulthood. I do feel as if I'm moving farther away from my college self; I don't find the same jokes as funny or not, the same songs as good or bad, the same types of people as interesting, tolerable, annoying. So much can change in a few months yet sometimes it's hard to recognize it. I guess I've been trying hard recently to become the adult I really want to be, to lead the life I really want, so it's easier for me to sense where I've changed, and hopefully, matured.
I'm so excited for this school year; I can't wait to improve upon things I wasn't so good at last year and to try out some new ideas. I can't wait to form new relationships and strengthen old ones. It's funny how I see the beginning of the school year as the beginning of a new year, rather than in January, but that's how it's been for me my entire life. So now, at another beginning of another school year, I am excited to start the next year of my life.
ciao
I'm so excited for this school year; I can't wait to improve upon things I wasn't so good at last year and to try out some new ideas. I can't wait to form new relationships and strengthen old ones. It's funny how I see the beginning of the school year as the beginning of a new year, rather than in January, but that's how it's been for me my entire life. So now, at another beginning of another school year, I am excited to start the next year of my life.
ciao
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Nerd Alert!
In case you don't know, I am a huge nerd. That was probably obvious the minute you found out that I'm a Latin teacher, but I'll reiterate just in case. I had a conversation with a friend back in the fall about books we loved. Nerdy enough? I raved over Gone with the Wind, she confessed to only having seen the movie. We got to talking about her mom's book club, and the social venue it provided, and I thought to myself, why not? Why not combine three awesome things: reading, eating out at different places, and hanging out with friends?!
Result: back in January, I started a book club with four other friends. A different person picks a book each month, and we gather for brunch the last weekend to discuss. And we actually do end up talking about the book a fair amount, though of course we do gossip and share stories like anyone would expect of a group of 5 girls. Anyway, tonight we met to talk about Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer. The book itself was very interesting; a young woman and her boyfriend had just moved to a rather unsavory area of Oakland, CA, next to an abandoned lot, so they decided to start a garden there. The garden turned into a mini farm; she had chickens, ducks, turkeys, bees, and eventually, pigs, along with all the vegetables. It was a bit crazy, reading about how she harvested peas then witnessed a drive by shooting. I was impressed an somewhat inspired by her desire to grow most of her own food, but I have come to the conclusion that her way of life was just that, a lifestyle. Being that committed to harvesting your own food requires a level of commitment that I just can't have if I want a full time job, which I do (desperately). I would definitely want to plant an extensive garden if and when I acquire the space, but I feel that when it comes to meat, I don't have the time or energy or funds to invest. I definitely agree that animals should be free-range, hormone free, etc, but I think we live in a world now where it's ok to buy your food from someone else; we don't need to be that connected to our food anymore. So, though I admire this woman's gumption, I have no real desire to become a farmer myself.
Our little group had a good time talking about the book; this month's chooser is all about organic farming and gardening, so it was fun to hear her talk about something she's passionate about. We met at a great place called The Ginger Exchange, in Inman Square. It was a cool, hip sushi place that I would love to go back to, and we had a nice time catching up and talking about aspects of life other than where our food comes from. All in all, a nice evening spent with friends. And what could be better than that?
ciao
Result: back in January, I started a book club with four other friends. A different person picks a book each month, and we gather for brunch the last weekend to discuss. And we actually do end up talking about the book a fair amount, though of course we do gossip and share stories like anyone would expect of a group of 5 girls. Anyway, tonight we met to talk about Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer. The book itself was very interesting; a young woman and her boyfriend had just moved to a rather unsavory area of Oakland, CA, next to an abandoned lot, so they decided to start a garden there. The garden turned into a mini farm; she had chickens, ducks, turkeys, bees, and eventually, pigs, along with all the vegetables. It was a bit crazy, reading about how she harvested peas then witnessed a drive by shooting. I was impressed an somewhat inspired by her desire to grow most of her own food, but I have come to the conclusion that her way of life was just that, a lifestyle. Being that committed to harvesting your own food requires a level of commitment that I just can't have if I want a full time job, which I do (desperately). I would definitely want to plant an extensive garden if and when I acquire the space, but I feel that when it comes to meat, I don't have the time or energy or funds to invest. I definitely agree that animals should be free-range, hormone free, etc, but I think we live in a world now where it's ok to buy your food from someone else; we don't need to be that connected to our food anymore. So, though I admire this woman's gumption, I have no real desire to become a farmer myself.
Our little group had a good time talking about the book; this month's chooser is all about organic farming and gardening, so it was fun to hear her talk about something she's passionate about. We met at a great place called The Ginger Exchange, in Inman Square. It was a cool, hip sushi place that I would love to go back to, and we had a nice time catching up and talking about aspects of life other than where our food comes from. All in all, a nice evening spent with friends. And what could be better than that?
ciao
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Bell in Hand
Yesterday, The Boyfriend and I went into Boston for a fun Friday night and had a very nice time. We decided to check out the Boston Greenfest, which is going on right next to the Government Center T stop all weekend. Since it was barely 4:30pm on a Friday, the many booths and stalls were fairly empty, though the live music was already rocking on. We sampled some veggie samosas, which were delicious, and listened to a reggae band for a bit.
Feeling a bit disappointed in the 'fest, we wandered over to Faneuil Hall to find an ATM. On the way, we noticed a street lined with old looking pubs and taverns, most of them sporting signs claiming a beginning in the 18th or 19th century. Boston is an old city, something that always seems to surprise me, and here was yet another reminder of this city's importance in America's early history. Intrigued by these European looking places, we selected one to sample. The Bell-in-Hand claims to be the oldest tavern in America, established in 1795 by the last-known town crier, Jimmy Wilson. The architecture was interesting; the building sat with two roads on either side, so it had a sort of arrowhead shape. The walls were exposed brick with huge wooden supports. It was a nice place, with friendly waitresses and lots of beers on tap. The menu was extensive, though we were still digesting our samosas, so we ordered burschetta to share. We had a nice time nibbling on the bread and sipping our beers, covertly people watching, and just generally having a nice time. I would love to go back and try some of their other menu items; the House salad looked particularly good.
So, if you're ever in that area, go check out the Bell-in-Hand Tavern and add on to America's long history of drinking beer.
ciao
Feeling a bit disappointed in the 'fest, we wandered over to Faneuil Hall to find an ATM. On the way, we noticed a street lined with old looking pubs and taverns, most of them sporting signs claiming a beginning in the 18th or 19th century. Boston is an old city, something that always seems to surprise me, and here was yet another reminder of this city's importance in America's early history. Intrigued by these European looking places, we selected one to sample. The Bell-in-Hand claims to be the oldest tavern in America, established in 1795 by the last-known town crier, Jimmy Wilson. The architecture was interesting; the building sat with two roads on either side, so it had a sort of arrowhead shape. The walls were exposed brick with huge wooden supports. It was a nice place, with friendly waitresses and lots of beers on tap. The menu was extensive, though we were still digesting our samosas, so we ordered burschetta to share. We had a nice time nibbling on the bread and sipping our beers, covertly people watching, and just generally having a nice time. I would love to go back and try some of their other menu items; the House salad looked particularly good.
So, if you're ever in that area, go check out the Bell-in-Hand Tavern and add on to America's long history of drinking beer.
ciao
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Inspiration
This week has been a source of inspiration to me.
As I've said in previous posts, I'm attempting to study daily for the GRE so I can take it in early September. For those of you who don't know, I'll be starting my second year of a teaching fellowship at a small prep school in the Greater Boston area, and I've decided that I'd like to get an Master in the Arts of Teaching (M.A.T.) so that I can continue in this fabulous line of work.
I have already taken the GRE; two years ago, the summer before my senior year of college. I spent a good amount of time studying, though not enough, and didn't do as well as I should have. I also abhor standardize tests. I do not take them well. I do not think they have any value whatsoever. They are simply a way for one company to make money (and cleverly done, I must say; make everyone think you have to take these stupid tests to be worth something, and oh yeah, you have to pay upwards from $150 to take them. kthanksbai). Anyone who knows me has heard me rail about the injustice of ETS. This week, however I had a revelation thanks to a new coworker and my grandfather.
Earlier this week, I went into Boston to meet with a new colleague over coffee (iced, since it's been sweltering lately). He is a new recipient of the same fellowship I have, so I felt it was my duty to meet with him and answer some questions. He is great and I think he'll have a great time teaching. We talked for an hour and a half about various things; the similarities between math and Latin, teaching methods, school drama. On my way home from that interview, I realized something: I'm not just taking the GRE because I have to. Well, I am, but my attitude about it is one of staunch opposition; I'm only taking it because I have to. Now, though, I suddenly understood that it isn't an obstacle on my way to grad school, it's a step. And since being a teacher is what I want to do, I need to do well on this test, I need to accomplish this task before moving on. I smiled as I drove home that day, filled with a Sense of Purpose I'd never really felt before, knowing that it all fit together and would, eventually, work out alright in the end.
My Sense of Purpose was strengthened by orders of magnitude yesterday when I found out that my grandfather, my mother's father who lives in Bangkok in the same house my mom grew up in, is dying. He had had an accident while we were all at the beach together; he'd tripped over a small step in his hotel room, fallen, and broken his leg. He did not recover well from the resulting surgery and is now basically on life support. My mother is flying back on Saturday to be with him and told me today, "They're basically keeping him alive until we [she and her sister, who lives in Atlanta] can get there."
This was an enormous shock to me and brought up a lot of emotions. I don't know my grandfather very well; the sheer fact that we live on opposite sides of the world made sure of that. I don't speak Thai, he doesn't speak much English. But he has been there throughout my life, a kind, old man who smiles at me and tries to speak to me in English. As much as I wish I could, I can't go with my mother to her father's funeral; none of my family can, because we all have things here that can't be neglected for three weeks. Life must go on.
How is this inspirational? My grandfather was a teacher. He moved to Bangkok from a small farming village in the north of Thailand to teach, and there he met his wife, my grandmother, who was also a teacher. Together they raised a family that happened to include my wonderful mother. Later he became the principle of his school and, by all accounts, was well loved by all who attended. When my mom told my grandfather that I had received this fellowship a year and a half ago, he was ecstatic. When we visited later that summer, he said, pointing to me, "You...teacher." And he smiled the biggest smile I had ever seen.
I cant' go to Thailand to honor my grandfather's life, so I will do what I can from here. I will work hard, do well on a test, and become a teacher.
As I've said in previous posts, I'm attempting to study daily for the GRE so I can take it in early September. For those of you who don't know, I'll be starting my second year of a teaching fellowship at a small prep school in the Greater Boston area, and I've decided that I'd like to get an Master in the Arts of Teaching (M.A.T.) so that I can continue in this fabulous line of work.
I have already taken the GRE; two years ago, the summer before my senior year of college. I spent a good amount of time studying, though not enough, and didn't do as well as I should have. I also abhor standardize tests. I do not take them well. I do not think they have any value whatsoever. They are simply a way for one company to make money (and cleverly done, I must say; make everyone think you have to take these stupid tests to be worth something, and oh yeah, you have to pay upwards from $150 to take them. kthanksbai). Anyone who knows me has heard me rail about the injustice of ETS. This week, however I had a revelation thanks to a new coworker and my grandfather.
Earlier this week, I went into Boston to meet with a new colleague over coffee (iced, since it's been sweltering lately). He is a new recipient of the same fellowship I have, so I felt it was my duty to meet with him and answer some questions. He is great and I think he'll have a great time teaching. We talked for an hour and a half about various things; the similarities between math and Latin, teaching methods, school drama. On my way home from that interview, I realized something: I'm not just taking the GRE because I have to. Well, I am, but my attitude about it is one of staunch opposition; I'm only taking it because I have to. Now, though, I suddenly understood that it isn't an obstacle on my way to grad school, it's a step. And since being a teacher is what I want to do, I need to do well on this test, I need to accomplish this task before moving on. I smiled as I drove home that day, filled with a Sense of Purpose I'd never really felt before, knowing that it all fit together and would, eventually, work out alright in the end.
My Sense of Purpose was strengthened by orders of magnitude yesterday when I found out that my grandfather, my mother's father who lives in Bangkok in the same house my mom grew up in, is dying. He had had an accident while we were all at the beach together; he'd tripped over a small step in his hotel room, fallen, and broken his leg. He did not recover well from the resulting surgery and is now basically on life support. My mother is flying back on Saturday to be with him and told me today, "They're basically keeping him alive until we [she and her sister, who lives in Atlanta] can get there."
This was an enormous shock to me and brought up a lot of emotions. I don't know my grandfather very well; the sheer fact that we live on opposite sides of the world made sure of that. I don't speak Thai, he doesn't speak much English. But he has been there throughout my life, a kind, old man who smiles at me and tries to speak to me in English. As much as I wish I could, I can't go with my mother to her father's funeral; none of my family can, because we all have things here that can't be neglected for three weeks. Life must go on.
How is this inspirational? My grandfather was a teacher. He moved to Bangkok from a small farming village in the north of Thailand to teach, and there he met his wife, my grandmother, who was also a teacher. Together they raised a family that happened to include my wonderful mother. Later he became the principle of his school and, by all accounts, was well loved by all who attended. When my mom told my grandfather that I had received this fellowship a year and a half ago, he was ecstatic. When we visited later that summer, he said, pointing to me, "You...teacher." And he smiled the biggest smile I had ever seen.
I cant' go to Thailand to honor my grandfather's life, so I will do what I can from here. I will work hard, do well on a test, and become a teacher.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Week One
So, this week wasn't exactly stellar in regard to my new get healthy plan. As I mentioned yesterday, The Boyfriend's parents were here visiting, and in addition to doing fun stuff like sailing and museum hopping, we also ate. A lot.
Before I get into the details of my culinary tour with The Parents, I should explain my Eating Philosophy. I very strongly believe that you should eat what you want, when you want, as long as it's in moderation and not *that* bad for you. So, I occasionally have ice cream and cookies, but I know those things will not exactly help me reach my goals, so I try (key word here: try) not to indulge my sweet tooth too much. I'm an advocate of simply controlling how much you put in your mouth (that's what she said. Ok, I did that on purpose). If you eat smaller portions of food that is healthy, you'll eat less and be healthier, right? So, as I explore cooking for myself and The Boyfriend, I try to keep things healthy and try to eat just one serving. I'm not a calorie counter; in fact, I detest it. I personally thing people who do that aren't really aware of *what* they're eating; they're just attaching a number to the problem. I'm also not so desperate to lose weight; I just want to eat healthily and have a healthy, Jessica Alba-esque body. Sure, being aware of the calories helps, but I don't have the time to measure out all my food then figure out how many calories are in each bite. Kinda takes the fun away for me.
And I LOVE eating. As you've probably noticed, it's a bit of a problem. But it's true: it's not just that I didn't stop eating as if I were working out three hours a day, it's also that I love food. All kinds of food! Thai food, Italian food, American food, Mexican food...I love trying new things and new restaurants, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE having a bunch of different things at the table so everyone can try something new. Luckily, The Boyfriend and his parents are like that too (honestly, I don't think I could date someone who wouldn't be willing to share with me). So, while we were running around Boston, we stopped to refuel at good places. Legal Seafood, Kushboo Indian, 9 Tastes, just to name a few. And we always ordered some type of appetizer to share. My main problem is that choosing something that's healthy when you're out to eat is a lot harder than just cooking something healthy at home. There are so many options! And you don't have to cook it! Plus if you just order a boring salad, everyone looks at you funny and then starts to think you have an eating disorder. So, I do my best to resort to Portion Control, but even that is difficult when you're sharing and appetizer and it's hard to gauge how much you're eaten by then time your entree comes out. Usually, for me, it's too late and after the first few bits of my main dish, I feel the tightness of overeating setting in. Not pleasant. Less pleasant when you're actively trying to get in shape and healthy.
So, we ate a total of seven meals with The Parents. Seven meals out in a week. That's a lot. Not to mention the fact that the days we went into Boston with them were days on which I skipped my workout. Oops. So, needless to say, week one was not a huge success. Good thing that this week is normal and I won't have anyone to blame for any failures but myself...hang on...
weight change: +.7
ciao
p.s. I feel like I should put my weight "change" in because it's the only measurable evidence of my success (or, in this case, failure). As I've said, I'm not huge on losing the weight, just on getting healthy. I could put my waist size up, but that's a bit too mortifying, even for me. ;)
Before I get into the details of my culinary tour with The Parents, I should explain my Eating Philosophy. I very strongly believe that you should eat what you want, when you want, as long as it's in moderation and not *that* bad for you. So, I occasionally have ice cream and cookies, but I know those things will not exactly help me reach my goals, so I try (key word here: try) not to indulge my sweet tooth too much. I'm an advocate of simply controlling how much you put in your mouth (that's what she said. Ok, I did that on purpose). If you eat smaller portions of food that is healthy, you'll eat less and be healthier, right? So, as I explore cooking for myself and The Boyfriend, I try to keep things healthy and try to eat just one serving. I'm not a calorie counter; in fact, I detest it. I personally thing people who do that aren't really aware of *what* they're eating; they're just attaching a number to the problem. I'm also not so desperate to lose weight; I just want to eat healthily and have a healthy, Jessica Alba-esque body. Sure, being aware of the calories helps, but I don't have the time to measure out all my food then figure out how many calories are in each bite. Kinda takes the fun away for me.
And I LOVE eating. As you've probably noticed, it's a bit of a problem. But it's true: it's not just that I didn't stop eating as if I were working out three hours a day, it's also that I love food. All kinds of food! Thai food, Italian food, American food, Mexican food...I love trying new things and new restaurants, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE having a bunch of different things at the table so everyone can try something new. Luckily, The Boyfriend and his parents are like that too (honestly, I don't think I could date someone who wouldn't be willing to share with me). So, while we were running around Boston, we stopped to refuel at good places. Legal Seafood, Kushboo Indian, 9 Tastes, just to name a few. And we always ordered some type of appetizer to share. My main problem is that choosing something that's healthy when you're out to eat is a lot harder than just cooking something healthy at home. There are so many options! And you don't have to cook it! Plus if you just order a boring salad, everyone looks at you funny and then starts to think you have an eating disorder. So, I do my best to resort to Portion Control, but even that is difficult when you're sharing and appetizer and it's hard to gauge how much you're eaten by then time your entree comes out. Usually, for me, it's too late and after the first few bits of my main dish, I feel the tightness of overeating setting in. Not pleasant. Less pleasant when you're actively trying to get in shape and healthy.
So, we ate a total of seven meals with The Parents. Seven meals out in a week. That's a lot. Not to mention the fact that the days we went into Boston with them were days on which I skipped my workout. Oops. So, needless to say, week one was not a huge success. Good thing that this week is normal and I won't have anyone to blame for any failures but myself...hang on...
weight change: +.7
ciao
p.s. I feel like I should put my weight "change" in because it's the only measurable evidence of my success (or, in this case, failure). As I've said, I'm not huge on losing the weight, just on getting healthy. I could put my waist size up, but that's a bit too mortifying, even for me. ;)
Sunday, August 15, 2010
People in Glass Houses...
So, in addition to my quest about getting healthy, this blog is about my doings and whatnot in the greater Boston area. This past week, The Boyfriend's parents came to town, and though this caused some upset in the Operation: Healthy area (more on that tomorrow), we managed to go into Boston a few times and have a nice time.
The two things we did that really stuck out were the two hours cruise aboard a 18th century- styled tall ship and the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
The tall ship cruise was through Boston Harbor Cruises, Liberty Fleet and we managed to get tickets for half off through Groupon, a worthy website offering all kinds of deals particular to your city. The ship was called Schooner Liberty Clipper, and was built in the '80s based on designs from the 1800s. It was enormous!! It had a motor, which was used to get out of the harbor, but from then on we sailed under wind power. Though the day had a pretty light wind, it was still cool to be inching along, knowing that it was 100% green power. It was especially cool because about half an hour out, we saw this big guy:
Apparently the Navy sometimes brings ships to Boston for about 18 months or so for repairs and then relaunches them to wherever those big things go. We just happened to be out on the day of a relaunching. It was amazing to see such an enormous ship, which moved so slowly getting out of the dock but then really picked up steam. Pretty cool!
Though you probably won't see a naval vessel pulling out of the harbor, the Liberty Fleet is still worth checking out. Be sure to go on a nice, sunny day, and bring a sweater, since it gets pretty windy and chilly out on the water.
Here's the ship we were on!
The other thing I would recommend is the Harvard Museum of Natural History. It is exactly how I would imagine a museum run by Harvard to be: small, in an old building, with artifacts and specimens cramming hundreds of shelves. The coolest thing was the exhibit of glass flowers. Basically, this father and son glassblowers teamed up with a Harvard botanist in the 1800s to create thousands of replicas of flora. Not just flowers, but grasses, trees, examples of pollen and reproductive systems blown up a thousand times. At first glance, everything looks so real; just like dried plants in a case. It takes a close look to tell that it's glass, and at that level you can really appreciate the detail in each piece. It was stunning.
This is just one example; head to the museum to see 4,000 others!
I have to say, despite the setback to my Operation, I had a really nice time with The Boyfriend and his parents. Hopefully this coming week can be normal and boring, especially in regard to my eating. ;)
ciao
The two things we did that really stuck out were the two hours cruise aboard a 18th century- styled tall ship and the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
The tall ship cruise was through Boston Harbor Cruises, Liberty Fleet and we managed to get tickets for half off through Groupon, a worthy website offering all kinds of deals particular to your city. The ship was called Schooner Liberty Clipper, and was built in the '80s based on designs from the 1800s. It was enormous!! It had a motor, which was used to get out of the harbor, but from then on we sailed under wind power. Though the day had a pretty light wind, it was still cool to be inching along, knowing that it was 100% green power. It was especially cool because about half an hour out, we saw this big guy:
Apparently the Navy sometimes brings ships to Boston for about 18 months or so for repairs and then relaunches them to wherever those big things go. We just happened to be out on the day of a relaunching. It was amazing to see such an enormous ship, which moved so slowly getting out of the dock but then really picked up steam. Pretty cool!
Though you probably won't see a naval vessel pulling out of the harbor, the Liberty Fleet is still worth checking out. Be sure to go on a nice, sunny day, and bring a sweater, since it gets pretty windy and chilly out on the water.
Here's the ship we were on!
The other thing I would recommend is the Harvard Museum of Natural History. It is exactly how I would imagine a museum run by Harvard to be: small, in an old building, with artifacts and specimens cramming hundreds of shelves. The coolest thing was the exhibit of glass flowers. Basically, this father and son glassblowers teamed up with a Harvard botanist in the 1800s to create thousands of replicas of flora. Not just flowers, but grasses, trees, examples of pollen and reproductive systems blown up a thousand times. At first glance, everything looks so real; just like dried plants in a case. It takes a close look to tell that it's glass, and at that level you can really appreciate the detail in each piece. It was stunning.
This is just one example; head to the museum to see 4,000 others!
I have to say, despite the setback to my Operation, I had a really nice time with The Boyfriend and his parents. Hopefully this coming week can be normal and boring, especially in regard to my eating. ;)
ciao
Friday, August 13, 2010
Operation: Healthy
So, about my brilliant plan to get my life back in order. As someone who is OCD about structure and planning yet unable to motivate herself, I decided to make a schedule for myself to implement when I got back from Thailand. Here's the skinny-
Primary Goals: to lose 5-8 pounds, tone upper body muscle
Secondary Goals: to create a healthy lifestyle by implementing a healthy diet and consistent exercise
Method: follow workout guideline in The Perfect Body Diet; keep a detailed food journal which records how much I eat, at what times I eat it, how I'm feeling, and the workout I did for that day
Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a very active person. I swam competitively for 10 years, and will probably never be in that good of shape again. Once my competitive career ended in February 2009, I savored the freedom for a bit. Not having to work out for two hours every day was blissful. When I soon began to get restless, I found the transition to "normal people" workouts surprisingly difficult. My whole life I was used to pushing myself harder and harder, and the temptation to keep pushing myself that way was irresistible; it was all I knew. Being able to work out less was completely foreign to me. So, every time I started working out again, I got frustrated with my "failure" to be able to work out at the same level I had before, and would quickly, and simply, give up. That, coupled with the fact that I never really stopped eating as if I were swimming two hours a day, have led to a lifestyle (and body image) I'm not exactly thrilled with.
Now, I don't like to think of myself as a quitter. I'm more of a starter- I like to start things then just have a small problem seeing them through. Now that I've accepted the fact that I will never truly swim like I did in high school and college again, however, I am determined to develop a healthy, normal lifestyle.
Along with this new zeal for physical health, I've been trying to shape up my mind as well. I plan on taking the GRE in a few weeks, so I've been attempting to get in gear and study for that every day, as well as really accept the fact that school is starting in two weeks and I really need to get some lesson planning done. I think all this, the physical and mental health, goes hand hand, and it's hard for me to have one without the other. So, here's to the last two weeks before school starts, and to seeing if I can get something great started - and stick with it.
ciao
P.S. I in no way have body image issues, think I am seriously overweight, or want to cut back my eating just to achieve a number on a scale. I just want to be consistently healthy, which I don't think I am right now, and if getting a better bod is a result, all the better! :)
Primary Goals: to lose 5-8 pounds, tone upper body muscle
Secondary Goals: to create a healthy lifestyle by implementing a healthy diet and consistent exercise
Method: follow workout guideline in The Perfect Body Diet; keep a detailed food journal which records how much I eat, at what times I eat it, how I'm feeling, and the workout I did for that day
Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a very active person. I swam competitively for 10 years, and will probably never be in that good of shape again. Once my competitive career ended in February 2009, I savored the freedom for a bit. Not having to work out for two hours every day was blissful. When I soon began to get restless, I found the transition to "normal people" workouts surprisingly difficult. My whole life I was used to pushing myself harder and harder, and the temptation to keep pushing myself that way was irresistible; it was all I knew. Being able to work out less was completely foreign to me. So, every time I started working out again, I got frustrated with my "failure" to be able to work out at the same level I had before, and would quickly, and simply, give up. That, coupled with the fact that I never really stopped eating as if I were swimming two hours a day, have led to a lifestyle (and body image) I'm not exactly thrilled with.
Now, I don't like to think of myself as a quitter. I'm more of a starter- I like to start things then just have a small problem seeing them through. Now that I've accepted the fact that I will never truly swim like I did in high school and college again, however, I am determined to develop a healthy, normal lifestyle.
Along with this new zeal for physical health, I've been trying to shape up my mind as well. I plan on taking the GRE in a few weeks, so I've been attempting to get in gear and study for that every day, as well as really accept the fact that school is starting in two weeks and I really need to get some lesson planning done. I think all this, the physical and mental health, goes hand hand, and it's hard for me to have one without the other. So, here's to the last two weeks before school starts, and to seeing if I can get something great started - and stick with it.
ciao
P.S. I in no way have body image issues, think I am seriously overweight, or want to cut back my eating just to achieve a number on a scale. I just want to be consistently healthy, which I don't think I am right now, and if getting a better bod is a result, all the better! :)
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Baaa -or- On Being a Sheep
So, I mentioned in my last post that I was trying to put some structure back into my life. This may come as a surprise to those of you who know me, since I am kind of a structure-oriented freak. The truth is, it's a lot easier to keep a good schedule while in school, at least for me, since I was swimming competitively at least two hours every day but Sunday. I had to get my studying done between classes and practice, or right after dinner; I had no other time to do it. So, in high school and college, I was the master of time management. I had specific amounts of free time in which to complete my studies, and since I'm a big nerd, I did. But I also had one other factor of motivation: adults. In school, there are numerous people telling you what to do just about all the time. Your parents, your teachers, your coaches, sometimes even your friends. Some people hate it. Some people, like me, thrive under it. I am at heart the laziest person on earth. And yet my swim coaches from high school say that I was one of the hardest working swimmers they ever had. Why is that? Because I respond really well to other people telling me what to do. In other words, I am a sheep.
In sixth grade, my mother took me to my first swim practice on a club team. I don't remember her asking me if I wanted to swim competitively; she just took me to the high school where the team practiced and dropped me off. I did what she told me to do and walked into that pool room where I would spend most of my high school life. I loved swimming, don't get me wrong, but I never initiated the joining of the team, and the only reason I did so well was because I did what my coaches told me to. I swam faster when they wanted me to swim faster. I changed my stroke if they told me I needed to. I swam events I hated because they said it "would be good for me." (Still waiting to see how that mile was ever good for me, Wolf.) And when I did well, I gobbled up the praise of my coaches like a fat kid with cake.
Ok, let's be honest here. I didn't get moderately good at swimming simply because I'm good at following directions. I fell in love with swimming almost instantly. I poured years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, into swimming and I totally adored it. I will never, ever regret those Saturday mornings or Friday evenings I sacrificed to the pool, the times I couldn't hang out or go to the movies "because I have swim practice." But I honestly believe that I would never have gotten to the level I did without the motivation of my coaches.
So now that I am without a coach to kick my ass into gear, I have fallen behind on...everything, at least in my opinion. I hate wasting time, I hate feeling like I haven't accomplished anything during the day, I hate not being productive. I actually get upset at myself at the end of the day if I don't get certain things done. It's a bit manic, but as someone once told me, "everyone has some kind of crazy." Despite this crazy hatred for not being productive, I seriously can't seem to get anything done unless someone else is telling me to do it. Even this blog post is a procrastination tool for the lesson planning I should be doing for the school year that starts in, oh, 14 days.
14 days! That's just two weeks! Holy shit, where did the summer go?! Even the looming school year, even my job is not a big enough motivator. It's too vague and far off. (Pfft, am I really saying that two weeks is far off?! See how crazy I am? I'm arguing with myself. In my blog.) My vague idea of what I'll do and my confidence in my knowledge is essentially what's keeping me from getting any real preparation done. Without someone to say to me, "Give me your lesson plans for all your classes for the first semester by Monday," I have no reason to get it done in advance. I'll just struggle through day by day and kick myself for not doing it earlier. And I know that now. Isn't that sad?
Wow, this post became way more of an introspection about my habits than a post about my (hopefully) successful new way of life. I guess you, anxious reader, will just have to wait for my next post to read about what I have deemed "Operation: Healthy." (And believe you me, it's a really, really clever name.)
ciao ciao
In sixth grade, my mother took me to my first swim practice on a club team. I don't remember her asking me if I wanted to swim competitively; she just took me to the high school where the team practiced and dropped me off. I did what she told me to do and walked into that pool room where I would spend most of my high school life. I loved swimming, don't get me wrong, but I never initiated the joining of the team, and the only reason I did so well was because I did what my coaches told me to. I swam faster when they wanted me to swim faster. I changed my stroke if they told me I needed to. I swam events I hated because they said it "would be good for me." (Still waiting to see how that mile was ever good for me, Wolf.) And when I did well, I gobbled up the praise of my coaches like a fat kid with cake.
Ok, let's be honest here. I didn't get moderately good at swimming simply because I'm good at following directions. I fell in love with swimming almost instantly. I poured years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, into swimming and I totally adored it. I will never, ever regret those Saturday mornings or Friday evenings I sacrificed to the pool, the times I couldn't hang out or go to the movies "because I have swim practice." But I honestly believe that I would never have gotten to the level I did without the motivation of my coaches.
So now that I am without a coach to kick my ass into gear, I have fallen behind on...everything, at least in my opinion. I hate wasting time, I hate feeling like I haven't accomplished anything during the day, I hate not being productive. I actually get upset at myself at the end of the day if I don't get certain things done. It's a bit manic, but as someone once told me, "everyone has some kind of crazy." Despite this crazy hatred for not being productive, I seriously can't seem to get anything done unless someone else is telling me to do it. Even this blog post is a procrastination tool for the lesson planning I should be doing for the school year that starts in, oh, 14 days.
14 days! That's just two weeks! Holy shit, where did the summer go?! Even the looming school year, even my job is not a big enough motivator. It's too vague and far off. (Pfft, am I really saying that two weeks is far off?! See how crazy I am? I'm arguing with myself. In my blog.) My vague idea of what I'll do and my confidence in my knowledge is essentially what's keeping me from getting any real preparation done. Without someone to say to me, "Give me your lesson plans for all your classes for the first semester by Monday," I have no reason to get it done in advance. I'll just struggle through day by day and kick myself for not doing it earlier. And I know that now. Isn't that sad?
Wow, this post became way more of an introspection about my habits than a post about my (hopefully) successful new way of life. I guess you, anxious reader, will just have to wait for my next post to read about what I have deemed "Operation: Healthy." (And believe you me, it's a really, really clever name.)
ciao ciao
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Redemption
Inspired by my friend over at http://livingpoorbutnotbored.blogspot.com/, I have decided to attempt a return to the land of blogging. I know I've been sadly absent from this lovely little site of mine, but now I am trying for a comeback. So...
This summer has been fantastic. I got to see a good friend get married at the beginning of June, sit around on my ass all day for the rest of June, and visit Thailand and Cambodia with The BF in July. As much as I loved the wedding and the sitting around being a bum, my trip to Southeast Asia was definitely the highlight of the summer.
This trip was very different from the trips I've been making with my mom for the past few years. Since high school, my mother and I have basically been going to visit her family in Bangkok on our own, since my father says he is too old to make the trip so often anymore, and my brother apparently had better things to do. On these lovely mother-daughter trips, I spend most of the time sitting quietly at the table, eating, while my mom chats with her friends in Thai. I don't speak Thai and hardly understand it, so during those three weeks, I speak a maximum of three paragraphs. It's not bad, though, since I use that time to think, and in between meals, write, and read. So, since my dad, brother, and The BF came on this year's trip, it was drastically different from years past.
Our first few days in Bangkok were quiet. We got over jet lag, ate some good meals, did a little sight-seeing. My mom and I took The BF to see the Grand Palace and the Teak Palace, two of my favorite Bangkok landmarks. Then, we went to Cambodia, to see Angkor. The intricate complex of temples was one of the most amazing, magnificent things I have ever seen. As awful as it sounds, I never think of Southeast Asia as having an illustrious history, but here were these huge temples with gorgeous, intricate carvings all over them and they were simply beautiful. We spent three days climbing up into the towers, crawling over the steps, and sweating the entire time. I don't think I've ever been so hot in my life, but it was totally worth it. :)
After Angkor, we went to the northern province of Khon Kaen in Thailand to visit another one of my mom's many friends. We had a good time, eating and socializing, as well as a little sight-seeing. We saw a Bronze Age archaeological site, of particular interest to The BF, attended a Buddhist ceremony (celebrating something like Christian Lent), and drove through some gorgeous mountains for a scenic lunch by a reservoir (with cattle!).
The last week of the trip was spent on the beach in Hua Hin, which was wonderful. We sat by the pool all day and ate amazing, fresh seafood at every meal. The BF and I went to an elephant village where we got to ride one into the mountains a bit, which was fun. We also got to go kayaking out on the ocean, which was really cool, since I've only ever kayaked once before, and that was on a river. The weather was great and the hotel was beautiful! Yay beach!
Now I'm back in Concord and am starting to get ready for the next school year (did I ever mention that I was rehired?!). I am so excited for this coming year, since I'll be able to improve on my mistakes from this past year, as well as try out some new things. I have a pretty rigid schedule for August, including lesson planning, studying for the GRE, and working out every day, so we'll see how that goes. Here's to posting more often!!
ciao ciao
This summer has been fantastic. I got to see a good friend get married at the beginning of June, sit around on my ass all day for the rest of June, and visit Thailand and Cambodia with The BF in July. As much as I loved the wedding and the sitting around being a bum, my trip to Southeast Asia was definitely the highlight of the summer.
This trip was very different from the trips I've been making with my mom for the past few years. Since high school, my mother and I have basically been going to visit her family in Bangkok on our own, since my father says he is too old to make the trip so often anymore, and my brother apparently had better things to do. On these lovely mother-daughter trips, I spend most of the time sitting quietly at the table, eating, while my mom chats with her friends in Thai. I don't speak Thai and hardly understand it, so during those three weeks, I speak a maximum of three paragraphs. It's not bad, though, since I use that time to think, and in between meals, write, and read. So, since my dad, brother, and The BF came on this year's trip, it was drastically different from years past.
Our first few days in Bangkok were quiet. We got over jet lag, ate some good meals, did a little sight-seeing. My mom and I took The BF to see the Grand Palace and the Teak Palace, two of my favorite Bangkok landmarks. Then, we went to Cambodia, to see Angkor. The intricate complex of temples was one of the most amazing, magnificent things I have ever seen. As awful as it sounds, I never think of Southeast Asia as having an illustrious history, but here were these huge temples with gorgeous, intricate carvings all over them and they were simply beautiful. We spent three days climbing up into the towers, crawling over the steps, and sweating the entire time. I don't think I've ever been so hot in my life, but it was totally worth it. :)
After Angkor, we went to the northern province of Khon Kaen in Thailand to visit another one of my mom's many friends. We had a good time, eating and socializing, as well as a little sight-seeing. We saw a Bronze Age archaeological site, of particular interest to The BF, attended a Buddhist ceremony (celebrating something like Christian Lent), and drove through some gorgeous mountains for a scenic lunch by a reservoir (with cattle!).
The last week of the trip was spent on the beach in Hua Hin, which was wonderful. We sat by the pool all day and ate amazing, fresh seafood at every meal. The BF and I went to an elephant village where we got to ride one into the mountains a bit, which was fun. We also got to go kayaking out on the ocean, which was really cool, since I've only ever kayaked once before, and that was on a river. The weather was great and the hotel was beautiful! Yay beach!
Now I'm back in Concord and am starting to get ready for the next school year (did I ever mention that I was rehired?!). I am so excited for this coming year, since I'll be able to improve on my mistakes from this past year, as well as try out some new things. I have a pretty rigid schedule for August, including lesson planning, studying for the GRE, and working out every day, so we'll see how that goes. Here's to posting more often!!
ciao ciao
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