One Memory for Eternity

For my english class this summer our assignment is to pick one memory/moment of our lives to live with for the rest of eternity.  The memory should not be long, it should capture a feeling in a instant. This is a response to a the Japanese film "After Life" directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, in which people are guided through the process of picking their one memory. 


I've been racking my brain about what my memory would be.  Should it be from childhood? Should it be an ordinary moment? Should I be alone or with other people? It's a really difficult question but it makes one think hard about life and what stands out as significant memories and important ones. 


Just for fun, try it yourself. Pick one memory to be your only memory after death, one memory to feel forever.  What would it be?

No Motivation for Groceries

I have absolutely no desire to go to the store to buy food, so I'm in the scrounging stage.  Tonight I made some delicious "just add water" bran muffins, which should last me, breakfast and lunch, until I leave for the weekend.  Despite the fact that these muffins are from a box, I love them! They bring back childhood breakfast memories and they're actually really tasty. 

I promise my cooking will get more gourmet...I have lentils in the cupboard for dal and rice to go along. And I want to make chanamasala...it'll be fun.

P.S. I had a successful 26 mile bike ride today. And though I almost got lost, it was great.  I'm finding all kinds of new places to bike.

3 miles and a bloody knee

Being new to clipless pedals, I was aware that I was probably in for a fall sooner or later...and it happened today.  I ended up with a gashed up knee and a bent derailleur.  After struggled to get my chain back on the gears I was able to bike home and take my bike to Trek store for some repairs.  Now it's back up and running.


I didn't have time to finish the bike ride, but I did go on a run, which ended up more like a run/walk because it was so bloody.  It was worth it in the end, but 2 miles in the blaring sun is killer. I really don't normally complain about the heat, as I've lived my whole life without A/C, but choosing to exert yourself in extreme heat is a bit much. I'd much prefer waiting until dark.

Early run...or so I thought

This morning I thought was the perfect time to get a run in...before the heat set in, before the humidity settled.  Well, though, I completed my 2 miles in a good 20 minutes, it was miserable. I don't understand why 9:30 in the morning is already hot and wet.  Anyway, I did encounter a very nice woman during my run who was out gardening. As I ran by, she offered me water! I know it only a simple kind gesture...but I don't think many people would do that. It was early on in the run so I turned her down, but I was amazed at her friendliness.

Water, Wheels, Feet

Past posts from my other blog...
When it's 97 degrees, all you can do is swim - Friday, July 22

I managed to find some time to swim laps while I was nannying today at the pool. My first 18 I timed at 11 minutes and then I swam the rest of the 50 with flippers and kick board. I find it nice to mix up the swimming, because I can get pretty bored doing free style over and over again. Flippers also really workout your legs when your arms are feeling tired. Plus they make you feel powerful because you go so fast with them on.

Lazy Day - Thursday, July 21

I'm house/dog sitting for a neighbor and so I was stuck inside all day. This 10-month old puppy can't handle being alone and that combined with the 98 degree forecast made a day consisting of computer work, movies, food, and two naps. It was lazy, to say the least.

Overall I really had no good excuses to not bike, swim, or run as my boyfriend is biking across the country...through the rain, in the heat, and on days when his legs can't seem to go any farther. I, on the plus side, can at least jump in a cold pool to escape the sun!

New bike gear and a slow swim - Wednesday, July 20

I've spent that the last couple of days shopping for new bike gear. I bought my bike back in April with an amazing coupon at the trek store but I needed some other equipment to go with it.  Now I'm the proud owner of a new helmet (my old helmet had no foam on the inside and no plastic left on top), a bike computer, clipless pedals and shoes, and random bike tools.

Today I was super excited to use my shoes for the first time.  Before the heat hit, I got out was able to experience the amazing feeling of clipless pedals.  I was slightly nervous about how to clip in and remember to clip out when you stop...but it all worked out AND it was awesome (to put it simply)! I feel like I'm on this bike "high" where I just want to bike all the time. It's a wonderful feeling. Today was only a 17 mile ride because it was just to run an errand; I had to pick up my cell phone charger at my new house.  In fact, on the way home, while I took a slight 3 mile detour through the woods...I also had a ukulele in my empty camelbak, which made for an interesting head position.

There's only one good way to get out of the excruciating heat and that's to go swimming. My legs were tired from last night's run and this mornings bike ride, but I swam laps anyway.  They were slower than normal today, which is understandable, but I did make 24 laps in 15 minutes (not too shabby I think). I need to start combining biking, swimming, and running as much as I can in one day or at least one 24 hour period.

Tri-training - Tuesday, July 19
A couple of months ago I ran into a woman in a bike shop who was getting ready to do a spring triathlon and it got me thinking that I could actually do a triathlon. I had been getting into swimming and biking and I was already somewhat of a runner.  Now I want to seriously train in all those areas...I do them all anyway and I love them, so why not commit myself to something a little bigger?!

I've been researching triathlons and I'm really nervous to sign-up for one, so I'm going to train like crazy and see what happens! Posting about it and keeping track of my progress will only motivate me further to keeping working and continue pushing harder.

Night Run - Tuesday, July 19
Tonight I had the most amazing run of my life...because of the squelching 95 degree heat that has plagued us this week, I decided that a run after dark wouldn't be such a bad idea. I wasn't wrong at all; it felt like I had the energy to run all night. What an amazing feeling?! It's exciting to me when I have runs like this because it's proof that my body is training and improving and it keeps me going on the days that seem like I will never make it past 1/2 a mile.

One Place for Everything

Alright, I started this blog about one year ago as a way to express my excitement about life but as school took over and I got really busy  I sort of lost track of posting. Now, after starting several other blogs for different purposes I've realized I can just combine them all in one. This is the perfect place and so I'm going to start it up again; we'll see how it goes!

Look forward to pictures, recipes, fun links, silly moments, and random thinking...a well as imported posts from my other most recent blog, "Water, Wheels, Feet," in which I've just started tracking my triathlon "energy."