Tabula rasa

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;

Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744)

Six

A wise professor once told me to plan for the future in intervals.

"Think about what you want to do in the next year. You won't be doing this forever but just for the next year or so. Then it won't seem so hard to get there."

I'm not sure about the next year, but I have a lot of things I want to do by the end of six months. For one, I'm going to run a half-marathon six months from now. I will have also completed my volunteering commitment as an ESL mentor, which I assume will be a thrilling experience. And last but not least, in about six months' time I will embark on a crazy adventure for one year. A year that will hopefully teach me everything I so wish to learn about people, perspectives, cultures, and life. Ah, it feels good to be excited about the future again.

Mitsu Joe

Mitsuwa in San Diego shares the number 4 spot with Trader Joe's on my top five favorite places list.  I love both markets because

1. They offer fresh produce.
2. There is an array of healthy options.
3. The people are friendly.
4. Everything is kept in order and clean.
5. They have the best stuff ever!

I am so tempted to buy a slab of raw tuna from Mitsuwa and try my hand at some sashimi. Until I find a Japanese cookbook in English though, I'll have to leave the cooking to the sushi deli and ramen shop, which is quite fine by me. And what's not to love about Trader Joe's? They provide exceptional ingredients at relatively affordable prices, in comparison to those haute markets like Whole Foods and Bristol Farms. I love food, and I love these two places because they have great food!  They are the best!

Kitchens

Today I found myself wandering through Bed, Bath and Beyond. I really didn't have any business in there, but sometimes I just like looking through kitchen stuff. Baking pans, cooking gadgets, expensive china, complicated espresso machines, etc. It's pretty fun.

A year ago I told a friend that if I were to imagine being completely happy and content, I would see myself cooking in a clean and fully equipped kitchen. She said that was domestic of me, but I like to think it's a rather obvious and common answer. The kitchen is a very central room in a home. And when I'm happy, I like to think I'm home.

Seven

"Congratulations! You are now registered for 2011 Disneyland® Half Marathon. Please check the event's official website for updates: http://www.rundisney.com/Disneyland."

Darn tootin'! I just signed up for my first half marathon, taking place September 4, 2011 at Disneyland! This gives me a good seven months to train, which I desperately need. I barely made a mile today (sad face).  Anyway, this is so exciting! I've always wanted to attempt a crazy endeavor like running 13.1 miles.  And running it around Disneyland?! I mean, yeah it's my backyard back home but still, I think it's pretty neat.

Organic

During my third and final year at UCSD I was employed by Housing and Dining as part of the EcoNaut team, a group of regular students with a mild interest in sustainability. This was also the time I took one of the best classes of my entire undergraduate career: Sociology of Food (cue heavenly music).

Sustainability and food went hand in hand like peas and carrots, Forrest and Jenny. Just like being mindful of your recyclables, I'm quite thoughtful of what I eat. Of course I still indulge in those wickedly sinful guilty pleasures (ahem, In-n-Out). But for the most part, I tend to stay away from fast food joints and processed junk. Recently though, it has been difficult to make conscious food choices while at work because our break room is fully stocked with packaged and frozen items that are just so gosh darn convenient to pop in the microwave. However, convenience always comes at a price. What is usually easy isn't always the best, and I realized that the hard way when my gut was groaning under the pressure of daily Hot Pocket breakfasts. There is a way out of the madness, and it starts with simply being more conscious of your everyday decisions. From what you put on your plate to how long you keep the water running, when you settle for convenience in the beginning you're left to deal with the consequences later.

Earlier this evening I made quinoa with bell peppers, snow peas, and salmon for dinner. I don't have much experience cooking salmon, but some teriyaki sauce and lemon pepper did the trick for me. As for the quinoa and bell pepper mash up, it was inspired by a good friend. Although I suppose there was some inconvenience with going to the market and gathering all the ingredients, the pleasure of creating and enjoying yummy home-cooked food while watching a suspenseful episode of Lost was definitely worth it.

Namaste

I love the energy of a yoga class.  Even though you are pushed to focus only on yourself and your body, there's a strong communal energy from everyone around you.  It's quite inspiring. Here are some yogi phrases I caught since the start of my practice.  I find them entirely relevant outside the studio as well.

• Lead with your heart.
• Your breath is the foundation of your practice.
• Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right.
• Be nonreactive.
• True love for oneself is detached from ego.
• Let it go.

R.O.I.

Time is my best friend and worst enemy. I'm 22 years old, have zero credit, and am wandering aimlessly without a substantial life plan. But I guess with anything, it takes quite some time to build a solid foundation. I mean, in five years I could be a hip 27-year-old with an outstanding credit score that'll land me a fab apartment, awesome dog, and successful career. Everyone starts somewhere, and anything can happen.

You just have to invest the time.