On swimming.
I have been trying to learn how to swim for the past few years, enrolling in classes at local community colleges as my schedule permits. I still have yet to master the whole coming up for air business, which as one might imagine is quite an obstacle in the swimming for distances longer than a few yards game.
In the recent trips to the gym, I decided to use a kick board to keep myself going. I got to a point where I could swim the distance of one lane without stopping, usually struggling to reach the wall while feeling light headed. Twenty minutes into one of these "swimming" sessions, I decided to go without the kick board and discovered that me sans the aid swims much faster, even accounting for the times I stand up for air. It is exactly like my friend the triathlete said, "Using a kick board is like putting a bulldozer in front of a Honda Civic, it slows you down."
Two days ago, I started taking "breaks," where I only use my legs while going down the lane since my upper body fatigues much faster than my lower body. As I calmly glide through the water, I imagine that I am snorkeling in Cancun with colorful fish swimming beneath me. And although the only treasures I really ever see are abandoned hair accessories, this swimming in the pool business is turning out to be quite a relaxing exercise for me.
23 February 2009
17 February 2009
the Nikkei
I began investing in stocks when I was 16.
This morning, I read that the Nikkei had dropped 1.4% today, bringing the total year's decline to 14%. I did not think much of it until I realized that we are currently seven weeks into the new year.
I have been reading "The Age of Turbulence" by Alan Greenspan. I highly recommend it. This book continuously reminds me why I fell in love with economics as an undergraduate. Strangely enough, it makes me feel hopeful about the future of this country.
This morning, I read that the Nikkei had dropped 1.4% today, bringing the total year's decline to 14%. I did not think much of it until I realized that we are currently seven weeks into the new year.
I have been reading "The Age of Turbulence" by Alan Greenspan. I highly recommend it. This book continuously reminds me why I fell in love with economics as an undergraduate. Strangely enough, it makes me feel hopeful about the future of this country.
20 January 2009
"American by choice"
I just finished reading the transcript of the Inauguration address and I must admit that my heart is swollen with pride. This sentiment is not so much rooted in the fact that this country elected its first black President, but rather because finally, after so long, I have reason to feel hopeful once again about the nation's direction.
When I was returning from lunch earlier, I heard the phrase "American by choice" used by a caller on the radio. I thought it to be quite profound. I suppose I fit under this category since I was born a citizen of a different country.
For so many decades, people have flocked to this nation for the possibility of greatness, my parents included. But in the past few years, I myself have wondered about the attainability of mass prosperity in this country's future. Yesterday, for the first time in a long while, I felt overwhelmed with hope. I could not help but feel that a nation capable of electing such a seemingly intelligent and inspiring man might have enough collective know how to reestablish once again its prominence in this world.
So really, I am very much an American by choice. I may not have had much say in the matter to immigrate as a toddler, but I am she who has decided to stay.
When I was returning from lunch earlier, I heard the phrase "American by choice" used by a caller on the radio. I thought it to be quite profound. I suppose I fit under this category since I was born a citizen of a different country.
For so many decades, people have flocked to this nation for the possibility of greatness, my parents included. But in the past few years, I myself have wondered about the attainability of mass prosperity in this country's future. Yesterday, for the first time in a long while, I felt overwhelmed with hope. I could not help but feel that a nation capable of electing such a seemingly intelligent and inspiring man might have enough collective know how to reestablish once again its prominence in this world.
So really, I am very much an American by choice. I may not have had much say in the matter to immigrate as a toddler, but I am she who has decided to stay.
27 December 2008
04 December 2008
What I am most thankful for
This is about a week late, but I want to leave this thought here.
A few years ago, I had the awesome pleasure of visiting Bali Indonesia during the fall season. It was spectacular. On one of the days I was there, it started raining. A slight drizzle quickly turned into sheets of Godzilla size droplets. The streets were flooded within minutes, so much so that I was forced to seek shelter in a small salon to enjoy my first and last third world mani and pedi. Until that day, I had yet to appreciate that the storm drainage system of Los Angeles is so inconspicuously functional. And for that, I am most thankful.
A few years ago, I had the awesome pleasure of visiting Bali Indonesia during the fall season. It was spectacular. On one of the days I was there, it started raining. A slight drizzle quickly turned into sheets of Godzilla size droplets. The streets were flooded within minutes, so much so that I was forced to seek shelter in a small salon to enjoy my first and last third world mani and pedi. Until that day, I had yet to appreciate that the storm drainage system of Los Angeles is so inconspicuously functional. And for that, I am most thankful.
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