Updates...in List Format

1. Things Going on With my Body
I have been so tired this week for no apparent reason. It's times like these I wonder if there's something deeper going on with my body that I don't know about. I have a friend who kept taking long naps and always felt fatigued but she didn't know why, so one day she went to the doctor for a checkup and that's when she found out she had a Vitamin D deficiency. Hm. She wouldn't have known that if she hadn't gone to the doctor. So I wonder if I should do the same. Maybe I'll find a reason for why some weeks I'll be full of energy and other weeks I'll do things like fall asleep at my desk or take naps in my car simply because my eyes are too heavy to keep open. Going to the doctor is one of those things I know I should do, but don't get around to doing because it's not urgent. Like going to the dentist for a cavity fill. Or buying a dress because it's on sale and the sale ends tomorrow.

I tried an on-ramp (introductory) 4-day Crossfit course to see if "constant variation, functional movement, high intensity" exercises were for me. After 4 days, I would say...yes and no. I think the course taught me a lot of practical movements I can and should incorporate into my workout routine, but I can't see myself making Crossfit my primary exercise program. It doesn't give me the same high as a kickass yoga class gives me. To me, being able to lift 66% my weight is not as important as realizing my body is progressively moving toward being able to do a headstand because I've become stronger in and out. I think for me...Crossfit is missing that self-awareness, spiritual, self-loving element that makes me so addicted to yoga. I will say it is pretty fun watching a class of 20 people move around doing crazy sets to blood-pumping music though. Working out to Kaskade never looked so fun.

2. Things Going on With my Mind
I started subscribing to Motley Fool podcasts because I've been trying to learn more about smart investing. The other day I bought some stock for a health industry company and have since been following it closely. As a novice investor, I care very much about my 14 shares. It's especially exciting because it's been performing very well these past few days. Of course I still have so much to learn about investing, but I find it interesting and enjoy doing the research on my own. It gives me an opportunity to do more creative things with my money, as well as learn about what's happening to the economy on a macro level.

I'm dead set on my next blog entry being about a topic other than myself and my mundane life. I've noticed most of my recent entries are all about me, which in my case, is a sign of laziness. I only really make short blog entries about myself when I'm too tired to think about the larger, more interesting issues I have an opinion about. There's this list I've put on a Mac sticky note with topics I've wanted to get to, but haven't had a chance to really sit down and focus on it. At quick glance, they are:

• Prop 8
• Saving the world (?)
• Brazil vs. China
• Old people
• Why do people review chain stores on Yelp?
• Credit unions in Turkey as a response to the global financial crisis

Ok, this list is kind of old. It's like those places I bookmark on Yelp to review but never get around to...and then I forget what I wanted to say about the topic.

I made a new blog. LOLS. I know, ironic considering my previous point. It's like, I can barely maintain this blog, and I'm starting a new one?? But check it out, hopefully this one doesn't require the same level of maintenance. I don't anticipate that being the case. => http://onceadaykeepsthedoctoraway.blogspot.com/

It's St. Patrick's Day! I thought I would give an obligatory acknowledgement to one of the biggest holidays Americans unabashedly use as an excuse to get their draaaaaank on. Everyone who has Irish roots suddenly becomes a lot prouder of their heritage this time of year...

The Freaking Huge Canyon

This thing is huge! It shouldn't be called the Grand Canyon. It should be called...like...the Freaking Huge Canyon. --Dutch guy we met at the Grand Canyon 

I fucking hiked the Grand Canyon this weekend. Excuse my unusual vulgarity, but it's mild compared to the other thoughts that were running through my head as I ascended seemingly endless miles and miles of uphill switchbacks on one hour of sleep and a backpack filled with way too much freaking food. I seriously think yoga saved me. If I hadn't been practicing regularly I don't think I would have had the physical and mental capacity to finish that hike. It was such an amazing experience in the sense that I didn't think I'd be able to love and hate something so much at the same time. Now that the adrenaline and searing sensations in my legs have faded, I feel more love. It's so wondrous when you take that view all in and realize how small you are. A literal metaphor reminding me to look at the bigger picture. Humbling.

We caught sunrise on the Bright Angel Trail.

At this point I was wondering how the hell I would make it back up later.

Longest 4.5 miles of my LIFE.

But it was worth it.

Superbowl Sunday

Ok, so Superbowl Sunday. As I am writing this entry the score is 7-0, Packers leading. Why, you may wonder (but you probably don't), am I blogging about the Superbowl, when I know nothing about football and don't care to learn about it? But if you quickly think about it, the Superbowl isn't really about football. Sure, you have hardcore fans and football aficionados that will be focusing on the game, play by play, call by call. (Those are the types of people I never want to disturb during a game, by the way. They tend to become very high strung and scary).

Anyway, I just feel like the Superbowl is a really fascinating cultural phenomenon unique to American society. Foreigners may ridicule us for being obsessed with a sport that none of the rest of the world is interested in, but at least we can say football is an exclusive marker of "American-ness," something created by US, by Americans, for Americans. I'm not trying to channel nilly-willy anthropology here, but I haven't seen very many events (maybe not any, in fact) that have the ability to gather so much viewership and serve as an appropriate conversation starter between people from different strata in society. Think lawyer and bicyclist. Professor and construction worker. You get the point. In fact, I feel a little left out being one of the few people I know actually not watching the game. Tomorrow, when people recap the highlights of the game, I will be listening on, unable to join in on conversation.

But that's beside the point. I am so amazed at the social and commercial vitality of the Superbowl that I was driving today and saw the bus pass by. All I could think of was how sad that the bus driver had to be on shift while the game was going on. Well, assuming he/she was even thinking about watching it. That's why I think the Superbowl should be a nationally recognized holiday. Shut down retail and businesses during game hours so everyone has a chance to get together and watch the Superbowl! I mean, it certainly already has the commercialized element to it, and it definitely has permeated the American psyche as deeply as many other national holidays have (maybe even more so, in some cases).

I don't quite get the obsession with the Superbowl either. Come to think of it, I've never watched a single Superbowl game. But if it has the power to gather people together for the purpose of camaraderie, beer- and heart attack-inducing food-fueled afternoons, and good times, then I'll cheer for whatever teams make it to the Superbowl.

Ok, back to work. That con law book ain't going to read itself!