This winter break has become the most unproductive vacation that I came to enjoy, and not dismiss the theoretical time that I wasted. Besides getting a terrible flu that wrecked my body on and off for almost a month now, I learned how to use a manual SLR camera, planned my trip to Japan, and spent a very little time practicing on my new Bamboo tablet. I was going to be consumed in books, starting with The Marriage Plot and Chi Running. I was engrossed in The Marriage Plot for an entire night, before leaving its ebook soul on my desktop and putting it in my mental to-do list.  Chi Running I cheated on–not only because it is an impossible book to finish completely, but also because this was my second time browsing through it (The first time during the boring lectures of that Programming course…) I was proud that I read only the first four chapters, grasping its main contents. Where did I spend rest of my time? Consuming media (blogs, news, magazines, movies), running on the trail, making veggie juices, and cleaning my old room. Oh, and lots and lots of sleeping. Thanks, Nyquil.

Boston|November 2011, I really liked the city. It reminds me of grunge rock and an old watch.

For my birthday and Christmas, I got a new yoga mat, kettlebell, jump rope, a bamboo capture tablet, and Asics GT-2170! I’ve been eyeing for a new running shoes after my using my Nike’s for more than two years, and was going to go for the earlier version (GT-2160), but found the update to be appealing enough to spend the extra dollars. What made it instantly appealing is the grey/lime color combo. As a person who really cares about the looks and style, this shoes is supreme in terms of design. Beyond its lightweight and compact feel, I also really like the arch support. True to it’s marketing, the shoes feel very well cushioned, and I quickly got hang of it once I started running. Well, there  goes my brief review of Asics GT 2170. Great shoe!

Recently I received an email from a friend whom I haven’t talked to in a long time. In it, she sent me a link to her blog, which blew away my mind. After reading her first post, I ended up reading all 5 of the entries she wrote, and even the occasional comments that others had posted. There is something about reading such deep and intriguing sentences come out your friend that reveals yet adds an extra element of mystery. She has a very distinctive and commanding voice– a style that is obsessive, sardonic, and hot. By hot, I mean the addictive sense of hot water you feel when you’re in a shower. You want to turn the shower just a little bit hotter to see if your body can handle it. It takes something off of you, but you also want to stay in for longer. That’s how her writings made me feel.