1. Dr. Strangelove - Stanley Kubrick
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
BOOKS
100 Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez - September 1, 2012
I don't understand how this was written by the same man who wrote Love in the Time of Cholera. I kept waiting for it to get good but it never did. The worst part were the completely unrealistic and undeveloped female characters.
The Marriage Plot - Jeffrey Eugenides June 13, 2012
All The Marriage Plot did was enflame my love affair with the printed word and leave me with an insatiable desire to consume more books. Jeffrey Eugenides is one of my favorite modern writers and his characters remind me of Salinger's Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye. Having loved two out of three of his novels I had better hurry up and read his first book, The Virgin Suicides.
_cover_art.jpg)
Saturday, May 26, 2012
The 100 Lifestyle
I'm one of those freaks who thinks that getting older is cool. For quite a few years now I've been dreaming of making it to my 100th birthday. Obviously, if I'm going to do that I'll need to create a lifestyle that allows me to one day see the forest fire that is 100 candles on a birthday cake. I've started my research and here's some of the advice I've found.
1. Eat Healthy:
I am happy to report this includes things like wine, olive oil and kilos of dark chocolate which Jeanne Calment swore by (person with the oldest confirmed lifespan). I'm not really looking to make it to 122 but I would like to take up fencing at 85 and ride my bike until 100 (just a few of the things that make Calment badass).
2. Eat Less:
Apparently being on the thin side of the healthy range of the BMI scale is linked to long life. This is terribly depressing news. I'm not sure what it would take for me to weigh 118 pounds but I'm not sure I want to know. **Will have a good cry with my buddies candy, carbs and marbled steak and then revisit this later**
3. Drink a Hellava Lot of Water:
Shouldn't be too hard.....What? Alcohol doesn't count? Damn.
4. Run:
Runners are 50 percent less likely to die prematurely. And there's a bunch of other good stuff too.
5. Don't Smoke:
duh
6. Don't Oversleep or Undersleep:
So shut yo mouf, "I'll sleep when I die" people. Turns out those who sleep too little will probably get to "sleep when they die" much sooner rather than later. It also means get no more than 6-8 hours, do so regularly and preferably in the same time frame.
7. Make Good Friends:
Apparently a strong connection to friends, family and spouse is linked to a later expiration date. So being social is good. Interestingly, there is a higher correlation with friendship than family.
8. Be Positive:
50 percent lower risk of premature death.
9. Laugh:
Apparently fake laughter works just as well. Weird. ha.
10. Chill Out:
Angry people die young.
11. Attend Religious or Spiritual Services:
This one surprised me most of all.
12. Get A Pet:
http://longevity.about.com/od/liveto100/ss/life-expectancy_10.htm
1. Eat Healthy:
I am happy to report this includes things like wine, olive oil and kilos of dark chocolate which Jeanne Calment swore by (person with the oldest confirmed lifespan). I'm not really looking to make it to 122 but I would like to take up fencing at 85 and ride my bike until 100 (just a few of the things that make Calment badass).
2. Eat Less:
Apparently being on the thin side of the healthy range of the BMI scale is linked to long life. This is terribly depressing news. I'm not sure what it would take for me to weigh 118 pounds but I'm not sure I want to know. **Will have a good cry with my buddies candy, carbs and marbled steak and then revisit this later**
3. Drink a Hellava Lot of Water:
Shouldn't be too hard.....What? Alcohol doesn't count? Damn.
4. Run:
Runners are 50 percent less likely to die prematurely. And there's a bunch of other good stuff too.
5. Don't Smoke:
duh
6. Don't Oversleep or Undersleep:
So shut yo mouf, "I'll sleep when I die" people. Turns out those who sleep too little will probably get to "sleep when they die" much sooner rather than later. It also means get no more than 6-8 hours, do so regularly and preferably in the same time frame.
7. Make Good Friends:
Apparently a strong connection to friends, family and spouse is linked to a later expiration date. So being social is good. Interestingly, there is a higher correlation with friendship than family.
8. Be Positive:
50 percent lower risk of premature death.
9. Laugh:
Apparently fake laughter works just as well. Weird. ha.
10. Chill Out:
Angry people die young.
11. Attend Religious or Spiritual Services:
This one surprised me most of all.
12. Get A Pet:
Turns out I'll be able to thank my doggie Haloumi for reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, better physical and psychological wellbeing, reduced stress levels, and lower blood pressure.
13. Floss:
Heart disease and un-flossed teeth are BFFs.
14. Get an Education:
People with a college education tend to live a longer life. Woo Hoo!
15. Go Outside:
Sunlight is good for you. Vitamin D.
16. Wear Screen:
Unless you're curious about skin cancer or would like to be wrinkly before your time.
17. More Sex:
50 percent reduction in mortality.
18. Go to the Doctor:
At least once a year. Catch it early and you're less likely to die
19. Turn off your TV:
Bummer.
20. Don't do Dumb Stuff:
Wear a seatbelt, don't put your hand in a lions mouth, don't do meth, etc. You get the point.
21. Celebrate Age:
Cultures who don't mourn getting older tend to have more Centenarians.
21. Celebrate Age:
Cultures who don't mourn getting older tend to have more Centenarians.
**One site said squat when you go poop to avoid hemorrhoids, anal fissures and colon cancer. UH, NOOOOO! I've been forced into doing that in foreign countries, and it sucks royally so I think I'll just stick to eating fiber. THANKYOUVERYMUCH.**
http://www.dietriffic.com/2009/02/03/how-to-live-longer/
Jeanne Calment - 122 year old bad ass
Running 5K and 5 miler!
5/5
I ran my first race in years, the Metropolitan Branch Trail 5K here in Washington, DC. I figured it would be a good way to begin since the startting area was just down the street. I couldn't have been more wrong. At 8am it was humid and temperatures were high and for the entire run I felt like I was going to internally combust, not fun. I ran a very uneven 12:43 per mile pace (running with occasional walking breaks).
5/20
I signed up for the Capitol City Marathon 5 Mile in Olympia, WA at the urgings of my sister. It was her birthday so I couldn't find an excuse not to fly 3,000 miles across country for the weekend. The morning of the race it was drizzling and in the high 50's, aka traditional PNW weather. I hadn't slept much the night before and was absolutely dreading the hilly run. I ran a 11:23 per mile pace. The first few miles I took the occasional walking break but toward the end I was in running zombie mode and I was shocked at how easy it was. Perhaps I'm not a sprinter and need to run longer races? The 5 mile run was a thousand times more enjoyable than the 3.1 miles I'd ran two weeks earlier. How strange!
**I would post the pictures but they're not the most flattering. Note to self: take photo before the race.**
NEXT UP: June 2nd. 5K through the National Mall in Washington, DC. Perhaps this time I can accomplish my goal of running the whole 3.1 miles?
I ran my first race in years, the Metropolitan Branch Trail 5K here in Washington, DC. I figured it would be a good way to begin since the startting area was just down the street. I couldn't have been more wrong. At 8am it was humid and temperatures were high and for the entire run I felt like I was going to internally combust, not fun. I ran a very uneven 12:43 per mile pace (running with occasional walking breaks).
5/20
I signed up for the Capitol City Marathon 5 Mile in Olympia, WA at the urgings of my sister. It was her birthday so I couldn't find an excuse not to fly 3,000 miles across country for the weekend. The morning of the race it was drizzling and in the high 50's, aka traditional PNW weather. I hadn't slept much the night before and was absolutely dreading the hilly run. I ran a 11:23 per mile pace. The first few miles I took the occasional walking break but toward the end I was in running zombie mode and I was shocked at how easy it was. Perhaps I'm not a sprinter and need to run longer races? The 5 mile run was a thousand times more enjoyable than the 3.1 miles I'd ran two weeks earlier. How strange!
**I would post the pictures but they're not the most flattering. Note to self: take photo before the race.**
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Second Draft of "THE LIST"
Two days ago I turned 29. Time to start having panic attacks right? Um, no. If you're close to me you're aware of my love of aging. I can't wait to turn 30 as that's just one step closer to making it to 100, my ultimate dream. So what better way to end the last year of my twenties, aka the decade of stupidity, than to make a list of adventures and goals to accomplish!
No doubt, I've already done A LOT of cool things and achieved many admirable accomplishments. Warning, I will now proceed to toot my own horn........
I've been to every continent but Antarctica, I believe 28 countries (too lazy to count). I've gotten a tattoo and held a full grown Bengal tiger's head in my lap. I have walked around the Ka'aba in the holy Muslim city of Mecca. I went great white shark cage diving in South Africa and flew a plane over a volcano in Hawaii. I went hang gliding over the lush green mountains of Rio and rode the public bus alone in the city of New Delhi, India. I've gone skydiving and jumped out of a plane alone, multiple times. And, believe it or not, much more.
For an adult who began life as a child who was afraid of anything and everything, I've done quite well for myself. I believe that one of the purposes of life is to surpass those fears which block us from our dreams and potential for joy. A good friend taught me this lesson and this part of her spirit lives on in my adventures.
And with no further ado, my draft 30 before 30 list of adventures, fears to slay and goals.
1. Travel to 30th country
2. Visit two new states
3. Run 5K without walking
4. Run 10K
5. Run half marathon
6. Swim 1 mile (I've done this before but haven't swam seriously in over 10 years)
7. Try frog's legs
8. Eat fugu from a sushi restaurant
9. Help with a presidential campaign
10. Take 10 pictures each month
11. Learn 10 phrases in sign language
12. Learn 10 phrases in Japanese
13. Catch a fish
14. Knit something
15. Reach undisclosed investment goal
16. Live honestly
17. Make being kind more important than being correct or funny.
18. Grow a plant
19. Bake and decorate a cake from scratch.
20. Try trapeze school.
21. Try zumba.
22. Make a necklace.
23. Go for a ride in a hot air balloon.
24. Try bikram yoga (hot yoga)
25. Contact old friends.
26. Learn to play a song on the guitar
27. Visit the DC monuments and museums (I live here and haven't been to most)
28. Learn some German
29. Visit Texas (it freaks me out)
30. Go Rock Climbing (it also freaks me out)
31. Ballroom Dancing (or another style)
32. Cook a Julia Childs Dish
33. Volunteer (perhaps at a retirement home)
34. Krav Maga, Boxing orJu Jitsu
35. Bike 100 Miles or complete the STP
36.Visit a new national park
37.Plan to live comfortably to 100! (always been one of my dreams but will definitely require some lifestyle changes on my behalf)
38. Make a list of advice for those in their 20s.
39.Show up alone to do a social activity where I don't know anyone. (I'm already fine with going to a movie or dinner alone).
40. Paddle Boarding
No doubt, I've already done A LOT of cool things and achieved many admirable accomplishments. Warning, I will now proceed to toot my own horn........
I've been to every continent but Antarctica, I believe 28 countries (too lazy to count). I've gotten a tattoo and held a full grown Bengal tiger's head in my lap. I have walked around the Ka'aba in the holy Muslim city of Mecca. I went great white shark cage diving in South Africa and flew a plane over a volcano in Hawaii. I went hang gliding over the lush green mountains of Rio and rode the public bus alone in the city of New Delhi, India. I've gone skydiving and jumped out of a plane alone, multiple times. And, believe it or not, much more.
For an adult who began life as a child who was afraid of anything and everything, I've done quite well for myself. I believe that one of the purposes of life is to surpass those fears which block us from our dreams and potential for joy. A good friend taught me this lesson and this part of her spirit lives on in my adventures.
And with no further ado, my draft 30 before 30 list of adventures, fears to slay and goals.
1. Travel to 30th country
2. Visit two new states
3. Run 5K without walking
4. Run 10K
5. Run half marathon
6. Swim 1 mile (I've done this before but haven't swam seriously in over 10 years)
7. Try frog's legs
8. Eat fugu from a sushi restaurant
9. Help with a presidential campaign
10. Take 10 pictures each month
11. Learn 10 phrases in sign language
12. Learn 10 phrases in Japanese
13. Catch a fish
14. Knit something
15.
16. Live honestly
17. Make being kind more important than being correct or funny.
18. Grow a plant
19. Bake and decorate a cake from scratch.
20. Try trapeze school.
21. Try zumba.
22. Make a necklace.
23. Go for a ride in a hot air balloon.
24. Try bikram yoga (hot yoga)
25. Contact old friends.
26. Learn to play a song on the guitar
27. Visit the DC monuments and museums (I live here and haven't been to most)
28. Learn some German
29. Visit Texas (it freaks me out)
30. Go Rock Climbing (it also freaks me out)
31. Ballroom Dancing (or another style)
32. Cook a Julia Childs Dish
33. Volunteer (perhaps at a retirement home)
34. Krav Maga, Boxing or
35. Bike 100 Miles or complete the STP
36.
37.
38. Make a list of advice for those in their 20s.
39.
40. Paddle Boarding
41. Ride a Scooter
42. Ride a Segway
43. Join a Hash Group
44. Complete a pullup/chinup
45. Try Crossfit
46. Commute to work on a bike for a week.
47. Visit Pittsburgh
48. Visit Philadelphia
49. Color Run
50. Zombie Run
51. Ride Mechanical Bull
52. Give Blood
53. Swim with Dolphins
54. Rock Climbing
55. Show up at the airport and buy a ticket
56. Couch surf
57. Indoor Skydiving
58. Rapelling
59. Zorbing
60. Kitesurfing
67. Get new tattoo
68. Hire personal investor
69. Try personal training session
70. See Mariah Carey in concert
71. Rappel down a skyscraper
71. Rappel down a skyscraper
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)