Time to Catch up!

Well it has been a while since I last posted on here. I am so terrible at maintaining my entries. I’ll work on it!

Here is the low down on what I have been doing:

-My Peace Corps application is in full swing now. I am knee deep in medical clearances and background checks. It is a grueling process- they literally want to know EVERY single detail about your medical history. I had to have blood work done for about 10 different diseases and vaccinations and spend a total of about 4.5 hours at the doctor’s. Additionally, I have to have an extensive dental exam, complete with x-rays and everything. It is a frustrating process, especially considering that I will most likely have the paperwork sent back to me because something was filled out in error thus prolonging the process even more. However, it is definitely worth it. At first I was not sure the Peace Corps was something I wanted to do but as more and more time goes by I am getting even more excited! For those that don’t know, I have been nominated to teach English in Eastern Europe and am scheduled to depart between April-June 2012. Wish me luck!

-Lately, I have been trying to get much more involved with local organizations in San Jose. Starting in the Fall I will be tutoring students after school and also teaching English to Adults at a local community center. I am using my connections to try and make the most of my time in San Jose because even if I do not join the Peace Corps I plan to move to attend Law School in the fall of 2012.

-I went to Vegas. That was crazy. What an incredibly opulent and extravagant place, I am still not entirely sure how I feel about the place. But it was a great time :)

-I joined a new gym and I think it was the kick start I needed to get back in shape.  It’s amazing how a simple change of scenery can be the motivation you need to stay committed. My new gym is clean, in a fabulous location, and it doesn’t hurt that there are hot guys there! I am really in to group exercise classes- like Yoga, Cycling, and Kickboxing- and Club One has a great selection of classes to choose from! I am in the midst of an extreme detox (following my Vegas trip). I am cutting out all the negative from my life by eating healthier, not drinking, and by surrounding myself with positive people!

-Lastly, and probably the most exciting, I think I may be going to India with a friend of mine in October! I really hope we can make the trip work out because that would be an amazing experience. More on that later I am sure…..

Well, that about sums up what is going on in my life right now! From here on out I promise to be more frequent in my updates- not because I am concerned with others reading what I have to say, but because the act of writing in this blog has become very therapeutic to me.

Hockey, Rugby, and Basketball- OH MY

HOCKEY

Well folks, in case you’ve been living under a rock, the Stanley Cup finals are in full swing. Boston has faced off against Vancouver and the series has been incredibly exciting so far. Vancouver eliminated the San Jose Sharks in 5 games… much to my dismay but the Canucks certainly deserved it. The Sharks did not play to their fullest potential but one must always look on the bright side and say there is always next year! I believe that the Sharks had one of their best post-seasons in their 20 year history. They played hard and now in the off season it’s time to work on the weaknesses of the team and pick up some valuable acquisitions for next year.

But anyways, back to the finals. Tonight is game 3 and the Canucks lead 2-0 BUT the standings do not accurately reflect the battle that has been taking place. Boston is playing great, actually Tim Thomas is playing great and the rest of the team is playing well. Thomas has really stepped it up and is playing phenomenally but now he needs the rest of the team to support him offensively. I am really excited for tonight’s game and anticipate this series going to 7 games. Boston has home ice advantage for the next two games and that is crucial. I want to see a big game from Chara and Lucic tonight! GO BRUINS

RUGBY

I know that Rugby is not very popular in the US which is strange to me, but I for one am very excited because the 2011 Rugby world cup is right around the corner! This year it will be held in New Zealand and I can’t wait to watch the countries match up. I for one will be cheering for the defending champions South Africa’s very own Springboks. I lived in South Africa from 2008-2009 and was certainly taken over by Rugby fever. It is such an amazing sport that requires tremendous athleticism. I am baffled as to why this sport is so under appreciated in America, especially since it is so similar to football but just much more physical. As an American I know how much other Americans love to watch people get hit- this is why we love football and hockey. Well, rugby is all about the hits and physical play. I think that most people shy away from watching rugby matches because they do not understand the rules, but I assure you it is very easy to catch on if you just watch for 5 minutes. I urge you to tune in when the world cup starts! GO BOKS!

NBA

The NBA finals are also in full swing. But… I. HATE. THE. NBA. Something about professional basketball players just rubs me the wrong way. And it is not that I do not like basketball in general, because I love watching college basketball, I just really do not like the NBA. But I still have a little something to say about the subject. The Mavericks are playing the Heat and I am most certainly cheering for the Mavs. Why you may ask? Because I have an incredibly intense hatred for Lebron James. He is the most overrated athlete in the world. Yes. I said it.. In the world. He whines, complains, and has a complete and utter disrespect for the game in my opinion. I am tired of him being compared to Jordan, his name should not even be uttered in the same sentence as Jordan. I have nothing else to say about the NBA. GO MAVS

OH MY

The Giants are on fire right now. I am seeing some outstanding pitching, hitting, and all around great play. Let’s go SF!

Going, going, gone

Photo: ThinkFit

It's summer in California... but unfortunately the earth didn't get that memo. All week it has been gloomy, cloudy and rainy. So in order to kick this funk I plan to go for a 5 mile run around a local lake. If you have the blue weather blues get out and do something! Nothing beats the just after rain smell, and for some reason I just love to run in chilly air.

Sunshine Mind

Photo: Pinterest

Bikram Yoga= My latest obsession. 

I have been really into fitness lately and trying to find new, exciting ways to get my workout on. The gym had become too mundane and unchallenging. Furthermore, the gym I went to was crowded at ALL hours, with obnoxious people lacking basic gym etiquette. So I cancelled my gym membership and vowed to find new mediums for exercise and stimulation. 

What have I done since, one might ask. Well let me tell you. I have been really into jogging lately, fueled by the fact that a handful of my friends are doing a marathon in San Francisco in August. Unfortunately, my yo-yo of a life does not allow me to make decisions that far in advance, and since I don't know if I'll be in SF come August I'll just have to congratulate my friends and offer them excessive amounts of moral support. Their commitment to training for this marathon has inspired me to make a pledge: before 2011 is over, I WILL run a marathon- or maybe 2 if I am feeling ambitious. So I bought my new running shoes, synched them with my Nike+Ipod and hit the pavement as often as I can.

BUT the real source of inspiration, infatuation, love, desire, excitement, joy, energy, and mental stability in my fitness life as of late is BIKRAM YOGA. I. AM. OBSESSED. It is one of the most fulfilling and challenging workouts I have ever done- top 5 for sure. And that is saying a lot since I was a 3 sport athlete all through high school, and one of those sports was water polo. I have been burdened by stress lately, which is my own fault of course because I obsess and micromanage everything but yoga has offered me a release. For 90 minutes I forget the world and focus on myself and bettering my life. Now, the reason Bikram is so special and challenging is because it is yoga in a 105 degree room. It is hot as balls but so worth it. I sweat out all the negative that has been getting me down and rejuvenate myself. I look forward to the class and can feel my entire body transforming. It is absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it to any all all fitness lovers. 

Cancelling my gym membership is the best decision I have ever made. It is far too easy to get into a fitness rut from the same old routines at the same old gyms. I challenge you to think outside the box of your usual routines and try something new. Trust me, it will be amazing and will offer the kickstart you have been looking for!

Happy Sweating

A quote to get you through the day

Photo

"If you want to change the world, first try to improve and bring about change within yourself. That will help change your family. From there it just gets bigger and bigger. Everything we do has some effect, some impact"