Sweat. and ice.

Normally, sweat is uncomfortable. it smells, it's unattractive. sweat connotes uncleanliness. people wear deodorant to mask the fact that they sweat. But after my 90-minute, 98.6-degree, 60% humidity yoga class today, as i lay on my mat after literally dripping sweat from every pore, i felt relaxed, even cleansed. stepping out into the evening air, the sweat still drenching my clothing was cool and refreshing (i live in texas, where it's 75 and sunny 4 days after christmas, which wasn't exactly white either). this yoga studio, unlike the many places where i've taken classes, makes me love and appreciate sweat. Sweat represents hard work, the foundation of cities, schools, homes, even society. it deserves more respect.

ice:

:)

Free bread, a large globe puzzle, and a puma jacket

Lush products: a step up from Bath and Bodyworks. buy 1 get 2 free :) now, which to give and which to keep?

Fruity, sparkly hand and body soap tones and twinkles

A returning favourite, gloriously fruity Angel's Delight soap changes its appearance slightly every year, depending on what the angels have inspired us to create. Each piece cut from the block is just a bit different from all the others. You could discover hues of green or blue or purple or yellow or all of them in your translucent pink slice of soap. Rest assured, it will always retain a refreshingly fruity scent and its ability to get grubby skin feeling heavenly once again. 

Citrus grove rejuvenates and revitalizes

No time for a nap? Take a shower with this glorious handmade soap replete with lemon, lime and grapefruit to invigoratingly rejuvenate your senses. With a bold howdy do, the citrus bouquet awakens even the most tired of spirits and welcomes you back to the world of the living, clean and new. Sexy Peel keeps your eyes wide open, your head on straight and your skin clear and radiant.

Summer berries delight weary senses

Need a small treasure to pleasure? Are you short on time and shorter yet on leisure? Summer fruits may be out of season but a generous serving of apricots, cranberries and currants is sure to please 'em. This handmade soap can reassure, lure a lover or make you purr. But when you find this good a thing, why be a Sultana when you feel like a king! 

Another purchase that made me extremely happy today: 

Apparently the deals are supposed to get even better closer to New Year's, so keep shopping :)

Please can we not play Rock Band?

Home is boring me, which makes me sad, because I really enjoy being home - if only there was something to do. I think i'm addicted to busy-ness. after not even a week at home, i'm grasping for things to do. I want to spend time with my parents, especially since i'm going to be gone for 4.5 months, but there's not a lot to do with them. I sit there after every meal and listen and talk with them about random stuff and i cook dinner with my mom every other night, which I love to do, but there's so much other time. i'm trying not to shut myself in my room and read or go online, so I've cleaned my room, mended clothes, but i need some sort of project that's semi-engaging and fun. I used to be wayy into 3D puzzles and other complicated puzzles, so perhaps it's time to start that up again. 

Christmas day dinner was some delicious Peking duck, followed by some miserable rounds of Rock Band at a cousin's house. miserable because i suck at all aspects of rock band, and miserable because video games disinterest me in general. thus, i ended up napping after half an hour of attempting to have fun. I really don't understand the appeal, especially how my brother and cousins can play for hours on end. 

solution: post-christmas shopping! Then possibly hanging out with non-family people?

Preparation.

interesting fact: polio vaccines are given in the back of the arm, NOT in the muscle where most shots are placed. AND it hurts way less to get a shot there than normal - less pain during the shot itself, almost a cooling sensation, and no soreness afterward. how cool would it be if all shots could be given there?

less interesting, but good-to-record facts: departing for Delhi on January 12, returning May 27. Working with CHIRAG (the central himalayan rural action group) on yet-to-be-determined health work.  very excited that blogger can support videos :)

somewhat contradictory fact: i think one of the reasons i'm no good at blogging is that i'm not a very introspective person. i write about things that happen and how they make me feel in that moment, not about reflections on life. I hardly ever speculate and rarely do I broadcast my imagination. Then, when i look back on my entries, they seem very shallow and unlike myself. they say writing can be a process of self-discovery, but i think that's only if you're a good writer to begin with.

new goal: try to analyze a little bit more, to record my thoughts rather than my feelings (there is a difference)

Merry christmas!