Hordes of people enjoying a beautiful day out.
For those too lazy to walk.
Oh the things to do!
The games to play!
The prizes to win!
And the snacks to eat!
Some curious offers...
...and some strange selections.
Posts Tagged ‘food’
Scenes from a county fair
laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: county fair, food, games, los angeles, pictures
07
September
2009
0
A squirmy surprise
laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: animals, food, panda, pictures
05
September
2009
Thank goodness Panda had me completely peel all the corn before taking them home! Poor guy got squished when the checkout lady "took care" of him. 🙁
Of course the one time I go to the grocery store without my camera is the one time there’s something interesting to document. Thank goodness for cell phones doubling as cameras these days!
The beauty of food
laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: food, los angeles, opti, pictures
20
August
2009
I love food.
I eat it all the time, I think about my life in terms of what to eat next, I socialize with people preferably with food at hand. It’s a great way of uniting people – after all, who doesn’t eat food? I even go around taking pictures of all the food I am served at various restaurants and gatherings. Sometimes it’s the presentation that makes it almost too good to dig into; sometimes it’s the delicious aroma that makes your mouth water and your heart fill with happiness. Seriously, good food can lift your spirits! The best thing is, it can be enjoyed over and over again – sometimes alone, sometimes shared, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.
Since I think about food so much, it’s not unusual that I often get cravings for things. The family soup that I never get sick of, the ice cream that I can only take so much of, the kimchi fried rice that I’ll take spicy or sour, the pickles that crunch just right, the chicken pot pie that fills me right up, the blueberries that I gobble up – ah, the wonders of delicious food! Sometimes I get gluttonous and eat too much, then lay around exhausted by the effort, but I always enjoy it when I’m eating. My taste buds are happy (though sometimes get a little burnt by my over-eagerness), my nose buds (smell buds? scent buds?) are tickled, and my mind is thoroughly pleased with the results. It’s a pity I can’t eat as much as I used to as a child, for I find myself with a lingering desire to eat more even when I physically can’t take it anymore.
One of my favorite places to go as of late (and unfortunate for my health, I’m sure) is all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. Between the cute little appetizer dishes, the tasty salad dressing, the rice paper, the egg soup, and the scrumptious brisket and bugolgi, what more could you ask for? Sure you come out smelling of meat and smoke, but that’s not exactly a bad thing, is it? I’m also a huge fan of BCD’s (which I like to joke is missing an A), which is a Korean tofu house that’s open 24 hours. Who needs Denny’s or IHOP when you can get those Korean appetizers, a small yellow fried fish, a bowl of fresh rice, a stone pot of boiling tofu soup, and a toasty rice soup at 2 or 3 in the morning? Granted, for those poor vehicle-less souls living on campus, I guess they have little choice, since they can’t get out to K-town. But hey, as long as you’ve got motorized wheels, you’ve got no excuses!
One new thing (gosh, everything I like these days seems to be Korean!) that I want to try is the Kogi trucks that go roaming around LA. If I ever catch one (or decide to chase after one), I’m sure it’ll be a fun experience to order some delicious food from the truck after standing in line for ages. It’s kind of like Sprinkles, where part of the experience is to stand in that ridiculously long line. In Kogi’s case, if you’re into tracking them down and getting a meal, you’ll have a blast. In Sprinkles’ case, if you’re into getting fresh cupcakes and observing the “please keep this door closed to keep our cupcakes fresh” sign, you’ll feel like those desserts were worth the effort.
The great thing about LA is that you never run out of good food to eat. I can’t wait to go back to Buddha’s Belly in Santa Monica for some Asian fusion and chocolate fondue, or over to Daphne’s for some amazingly tasty shrimp pita, or out to cha for tea to get the best boba in town and some yummy treats as well. There’s still plenty to explore, like this other place that has chocolate fondue (which I only knew of from pictures that Opti put up), or the various places lining the streets I often drive along. From Chinese to Greek, from Korean to Persian, from Japanese to Brazilian, there’s a lot more to try! It’ll be slow going though, until I find myself a job and have an income again! For now I’ll just take advantage of UCLA Young Alumni events (like the one tonight) to meet people and try new restaurants.
Oh, and let’s not forget the wonders of potlucks, BBQs, or just cooking with your friends!
Young alum mixin’ it up!
laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: england, experiences, food, panda, pictures, storytelling, ucla, work
11
August
2009
Yay free things! I <3 all things Bruin.
Today I attended my first alumni event, a young alumni mixer held in the San Fernando Valley. People from a variety of backgrounds showed up, ranging from fresh-ish grads such as myself from the Class of ’08 to people as far back as the class of ’98, and grad students as well. It was a nice event, with free appetizers and some raffle items. I was the first one to show up, even after I found that my original parking spot is permit-only and had to move my car a very long block away. The place was strewn with lots of small gifts that people could take at will, like Class of ’09 cups, Class of ’08 keychains, Class of ’07 stickers, etc.
I sat down to chat with a few people and when the appetizers came, I munched my way through quite a bit before curbing my hunger. I met a bunch of interesting people – a guy who was my year, a Chem major who is doing R&D work now; two girls who were ’04, one is a third grade teacher and the other a nurse at UCLA; a guy who was ’06 Psychology, now working on techie stuff for UCLA Biomed or something like that; a lady who was ’06 Music History and History, and has been a professional musician for 25 years; a girl who was ’03 and is working at the UCLA Fund; and a few others who work for UCLA, as well as a handful of people in the environmental field. I got a nice lead with Ms. UCLA Fund, who told me to let her know when I submit my application for a job on campus that I would really like to have.
As luck would have it, I also won a raffle item and chose to take home the mug. I was a sucker for the gold trim and black and white image of Royce Hall. I was almost tempted to get the mouse pad, but then I realized I never use one. This clocks in as the second mug I’ve won and one of many that I have unofficially collected over the years. I will never forget my beautiful black mug from Gallery and Toff’s (two nightclubs in York), which I got during Fresher Week when I first arrived for my year studying at the Uni of York. I think it’s the sturdiness, yet fragile nature of them that make me feel they are valuable enough. Everyone’s a winner when I win things, because I get really excited and that brings a smile to most everyone’s face (except for the super bitter who reaaally wanted to win too, I suppose).
I had nothing else to do, so I stayed quite late chatting with these people. The last guy I had an extensive talk with kept calling me a cougar because Panda is two years older than me. 🙁 He was teasing, of course, but for some reason I was very eagerly trying to deny his allegations. He joked that I go to high school proms to pick up guys and buy underage kids alcohol to bribe them, all ridiculous notions, but I still defended myself. I’ve had my share of pseudo-dating but I’ve quite happily settled on my first and only boyfriend, thank you very much. But hey, cougar is better than cradle-robber, right? And so I concluded my night, taste buds happy with the food, mind pleased with the service, and overall a very positive feel about the night.
Somehow I didn’t take a single picture there though…
Panda party
laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: cherry, doc, envie, food, opti, panda, storytelling
09
August
2009
This weekend, Panda and I spent two days hanging out with Opti and Doc before Opti’s off to optometry school next week. It’s not like she’s going far away, but it’ll be worse than a full-time job, what with classes all day, every day during the week, then constant studying for frequent tests. So to celebrate her last weekend of freedom, we planned a little mini vacation that became more of a “stay-cation,” as Doc pointed out when we had to change sleepover residences from my house, which is a bit out of the way, to Panda’s apartment, which is right in the middle of everything we’re familiar with. Nonetheless, it was a really nice weekend where we pigged out, bummed out, and hung out.
It started Saturday with dim sum, where we also ate with Cherry (who was also an Orientation Counselor with us last year) and Envie (Panda’s brother). It was really nice to catch up with Cherry, who just completed a rigorous summer program, and meet Brother, who I’ve heard about over the months, but never gotten more than an impression of. After we filled our bellies with delectable tidbits, we went across the way to a photo sticker machine place and took some fun shots together. Between the six of us we managed to squeeze into one booth and split the sixteen copies of the four shots we printed, then split off. I took Panda, Envie, and Cherry back before spinning back to get Opti and Doc, who had gone back to Opti’s so she could pack for the overnight.
Panda family: Baby, Pete & Paulie, and Scooter.
Opti, Doc, and I got drinks at my favorite boba place and went to meet Panda at his place. He had gone home to get his stuff and drive back to the apartment on his own. Opti and I had both gotten pandas as gifts from our respective boyfriends, so we brought them along with us for a little “panda party” and first-time meeting. When we got to the apartment, everyone was in a lazy mood, so we settled down for some channel surfing followed by afternoon naps. We got up around dinnertime and got ready to head out to Benihana’s, which, as usual, was jam-packed. We were told the wait was a ridiculous 90 minutes, but I didn’t believe it, so we put our names down and wandered around the areas, checking out some stores and enjoying the brisk air before spinning around again about 45 minutes later.
As I thought, the wait was drastically shorter than the guy told us, so we were seated about an hour after we had originally arrived. Unfortunately, restaurants of this type work at a slow pace, casually letting you soak in the atmosphere and enjoy your soup and salad before the chef shows up to entertain the table. We were ravenous and didn’t get fed substantial food until about 10 o’clock. The performance was fun, but not as flashy as others I’ve seen and the fried rice was very tasty, but the chicken was a bit chewy and bland. The vegetables were juicy, but not my favorite thing to eat and the shrimp was pretty good with the provided sauce. Overall I felt the experience was average and probably not worth the money, so I think I’ll look for cheaper alternatives to this type of dining next time. It was nice to share it in a double date kind of setting though.
When we got back, we began a game of Snerds, the Orientation past time for staff last year. We started off rusty as we tried to recall the rules, but soon enough, the fervor that we played with last year re-emerged and we played with a zeal that was unhindered by the nearly two-hour power outage. When the lights went off, we just rearranged the laptops so they shone on the ground we were using, and though our eyes strained to tell if a card was red or black as our brains strained to register that diamonds and hearts are red and clubs and spades are black, we continued on without a thought of taking a break. Eventually, the lights came back on and we rejoiced that we could play much faster and more efficiently. We carried on for about another hour before calling it quits for the night and heading to bed.
This morning, Panda woke up early and couldn’t quite get back to sleep, but the rest of us slept in until we lethargically pulled ourselves up and decided that we were due for some brunch. We walked down to a cafe that serves breakfast all day and uses fresh ingredients to make tasty sandwiches, burgers, and of course, the standard breakfast foods as well. From there, it was time to resume our carding craze until dinner. Throughout the game, the boys got chastised by the girls, who were both whooping the boys for the majority of the time. We can get pretty sassy and have a fun time bantering back and forth flirtatiously. The guys learned that they just couldn’t win unless they placated us. 😛
Opti and Doc had to head off early-ish, so we ordered some pizza that we picked up and scarfed down before their ride arrived to take them off to take care of the business they needed to at night. Panda and I sent them off, and with that returned to a much emptier apartment that felt lonely. I hung out for a bit more and left when Panda needed to start getting ready for bed. We both agreed that we were really happy we could spend this weekend with our friends and hopefully there will be more to come in the near future. Sometimes it’s just those laidback times where you bum out with your buddies that feel best. 🙂
YouData: slow and steady
laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: food, pictures, recommendation
07
August
2009
I’ve been subscribing to this lady called “Dealicious Mom” who e-mails out frequently about freebies and coupons that she finds. I’ve gotten some good deals out of it, like two free tacos at Jack-in-the-Box. Well, most recently she introduced me to YouData, which I have found to be a great way of making a few extra dollars here and there.
Basically YouData takes the middle man out of the advertising cycle, linking you straight with advertisers interested in getting your attention. You therefore get paid directly from them for clicking on a link and going to check out their website. It doesn’t give much, with anywhere from 5 cents to 15 cents per click. So far I’ve averaged a dime a click, which isn’t bad. You get paid to your PayPal account every Friday and I just received my first payout! It’s not much, but it’s something I wouldn’t have had otherwise. The site is still growing, so there aren’t that many offers up yet and there is no guaranteed supply – patience is key here!
I like them a lot though, because they really feel like an honest way to earn money. After all, what is a second of my time worth? Plus, with ads targeted at my demographic, it’s actually stuff I may be interested in, which can improve my life. Most people will probably look at this and think to themselves, but that’s hardly anything. Well, certainly, but everything adds up. I’ve been a member of MyPoints for years and I’ve never taken them up on a deal, but I always click the e-mails I get to get the 5 points just for viewing the offer. From that and a few special offers, I have accumulated over 12,600 points.
So similarly, over the years this can start off just making a difference of pennies, then nickels and dimes and quarters and dollars. Eventually, I can look back to see that I’ve earned dozens if not hundreds of dollars just by taking a few seconds a week to click and check out relevant ads. That makes me feel good and realistically, money doesn’t just come so easily, so this feels worth it. I shared it with my fraternity brothers on our listserv, but I don’t know if they’ll all see the value and potential in this. Whatever the case, I’ll keep using it and sharing it with anyone who might be interested.
Why not go sign up too?
Lack of motivation
laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: food, friends, health, los angeles, ninja, pictures, singapore, work
04
August
2009
My trusty scale.
I’ve been back for just about five days now and not worked out once. Instead, I’ve gone to all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, stuffed myself with a huge plateful of dumplings, scarfed down a gigantic serving of kimchi fried rice, and fed myself otherwise unhealthy amounts of food. I’m still happily one jeans size smaller and ten pounds lighter then when I left for Singapore, but who knows how long that will last. When I first discovered this weight loss, I couldn’t believe it. I was at the doctor’s and using a kg scale and the conversion just didn’t seem right. But since I’ve come back I’ve tried a handful of different scales and even tried on pants one size smaller to confirm. Time and time again, I’ve been amazed that I weigh what I haven’t since my high school days. Of course it’s not just about weight, but I do feel more sprightly now (though that may just be psychological, who knows). Nonetheless, it feels good and I’m still a healthy weight. So, to keep it that way, I’ve really got to buckle down and get myself to work out during the day at some point, but it’s just too easy to fall back into my lazy routine.
Oh yes, a most familiar scene.
Let me describe to you my life after college and before my stint in Singapore. I’d wake up ridiculously late, anywhere from 2 or 3 in the afternoon to even 6 PM at times. I’d casually drag myself out of bed in the heat and either go downstairs to pig out for a bit or go online and sit on the bed, typing away. At some point I’d hop in the shower to wash away the grossness from lounging around all day. I’d eat dinner around 8 PM and occasionally go for a nighttime stroll with my mother afterwards, as I promised my dad I would when he went back to China and couldn’t accompany her anymore. We’d walk for about an hour in the brisk night, then I’d get back and hop straight back into bed, prop myself up, and go online for the remainder of the night. I even set up a little snack station next to my bed, so a variety of food and drinks would be available within arms reach. I’d stay up all night on my laptop and fall asleep sometime between 6-9 AM, when the world lit up again and everyone else around me was just starting their day.
It’s no wonder I didn’t lose any of the weight I’d gained in college, despite eating less overall. Instead, my belly grew out a little and my thighs thickened, though of course I never noticed a thing, with such gradual changes. I don’t want that to happen to me again, so I’m trying to spend less time working on the bed and go downstairs to the dining room table to go online. I’ve also been keeping busy meeting up with people and hanging out in the places that I love. Unfortunately, much of that involves food, and plenty of it! It’s ok though, I just need to get off my butt and get my heart rate up to keep off any buildup. Maybe I’ll dust off that bike in the garage, or maybe I’ll bring out my beloved longboard. I do plan on learning how to surf once Ninja gets back from being Indiana Jones, so that should help with toning!
But for now, I have little motivation and all the reason to lounge around in bed all day. I’ve really got to start looking for a job though.
The experience
laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: business, experiences, food, future, los angeles, opinion, travel
25
July
2009
photo credit: Ocha-Neko on flickr
I wrote earlier how things are transitioning from a service market to an experience market. Consumers aren’t just looking for great service anymore, but want the entire experience from the first point of contact to the last to feel authentic to whatever it is supposed to be. I found this wonderfully true at the spa I chose in Phuket, where the website, building interior and exterior, and all their services combined for a wonderful sense of tranquility. That’s exactly how it should be and I’ll definitely go to them when I return someday.
As I was searching for a dim sum place to eat at in Hong Kong, I read about one place that apparently is one of the few restaurants that still served dim sum on carts that are pushed around. Of course that was the very one I chose, since dim sum just isn’t as fun when you order it off a menu. It was surprising to me that they’d be phasing this out, since it’s a great part of the experience and that’s what truly makes it unique. Without that, where is the fun? Restaurants would do well to keep that tradition alive, or else the dishes become nothing more than some appetizers on their menu.
Sadly, when I got to City Hall to locate the restaurant, I found it is under renovation, so I was redirected to a place called Jasmine in the La Jardine building nearby. It turned out to be one of those fancy places that I hardly frequent, offering bird’s nest and albacore or something like that. I don’t really care for high class food, but I was desperately hungry and wanted dim sum, so I went anyway. The food itself was tasty and they still served them in the bamboo containers, but it was so unceremonious it made me sad. No lady pushing a cart, touting her choices. No cutting the food in front of me or adding soy sauce and other last-minute touches. No sheet filling up with stamps to indicate the dishes I’d eaten. Just a waitress placing my orders on the table.
I can’t wait to go back to the dim sum place I eat at in Alhambra and have a nice hearty brunch with some friends. That’s another thing – eating dim sum alone is extremely boring! You can only order so many dishes before you don’t know what to do with yourself. It’s far better to have more people sharing the dishes so everyone can get a little taste of each yummy item. So I guess my craving for the dim sum experience will have to wait at least another week.
A ride on the wild side
laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: adventure, animals, experiences, food, learning, pictures, storytelling, travel, travel tales
20
July
2009
Wow, what an amazing excursion I went on yesterday! Though it had a rocky start, it quickly picked up and turned out to be a great tour. The day began at 6, when I woke up to get ready to leave. It was surprisingly easy to wake up and I quickly got dressed, put my things away, and headed out to Khoasa(r)n Road, the street where lots of foreigners congregate. It was there that I had booked my trip just the day before and it was there that we were due to meet to head out. It’s about a 20-minute walk away, which felt good in the early morning.
Completely empty at that time.
I happily arrived ten minutes early and at seven, a lady came by to put stickers on us to indicate which sights each of us had signed up for. Upon seeing me and checking my itinerary, she shook her head and told me I couldn’t go to the Tiger Temple because I was wearing shorts. Apparently at a Buddhist temple, you’re not allowed to show your shoulders or knees (you’re also not allowed to wear red, orange, or bright pink, since that may aggravate the tigers). Shocked and frustrated, I asked if the van could drop me off at my hostel so I could run in to grab long pants to wear (it would only be a 5 minute detour as compared to the 40-minute round trip walk), but they refused. Well, at least I had chosen to wear a half-sleeve shirt that day and opted for dark colors rather than my red shirt.
So many servicemen…
Sadly, the service level in Thailand generally isn’t very high, so I was left angered that nobody warned me and now they didn’t care a bit that I couldn’t see the one thing that I had chosen that tour for. They nonchalantly told me to just buy a pair of pants, but I was low on cash and did not have a functioning ATM card with me to withdraw more. Plus, the shops and stalls weren’t even open yet. Thanks for the help – NOT! Desperate, I asked when the bus would arrive and was told 20 minutes, so I hired a taxi to take me on a quick back and forth that got me back in time for a decent price. This time I armed myself with two pairs of pants and a t-shirt, just in case. We didn’t even leave until 8, so I totally could have walked had I known! Oh well.
The bridge the POWs built with sweat and blood.
Once the journey got underway, I settled in for a nap and tried not to worry about whether or not open-toed shoes were allowed. I figured they should be okay, since the monks’ shoes have holes, but they also bare a shoulder, so I wasn’t sure. That was something I couldn’t help though; I had no close-toed shoes with me, so I was out of luck if they didn’t allow it. After a two-hour drive, I woke up to find we had arrived and the WWII cemetery for POWs. We got off for a brief stroll on the grounds, looking at some of the headstones. So many of those men were only my age when they died. 🙁 Next, we were then taken to to JEATH Museum and Death Bridge/Railway, where many of those men lost their lives. This whole time I had ignorantly thought that they just horribly mis-spelled death, but it actually stands for Japanese, English, American/Australian, Thai, and Holland(ese?), the nationalities of the soldiers who died working on the rails. I went around the museum and walked along the bridge in the time allotted, then returned to the van for the next leg of our journey.
Well, it turned out our next destination was lunch and they drove us out to a cute floating guesthouse, where some of the other people in our van would be staying for their two- or three-day tours. We all had a rice and vegetable lunch, then the one-dayers headed out on the river for our bamboo rafting. It was pretty amazing how many people we could fit on a little seating area that had a super thin layer of bamboo and none us understood why there were nine of us squeezed on one raft and only four on the other. However, we just went with it and had fun enjoying the flow of the current and the surprisingly strong waves that the motorboats made, rocking us even when they were on the other side of the river.
He must have had a lot to drink!
Next up was elephant trekking, where we were taken two or three at a time sitting atop an elephant for a stroll in the brush. I was grouped together with a mother daughter pair from the Czech Republic and we gasped and giggled as our elephant, a thirty-year-old male named something like Soomhoop, headed off and sent us swaying with his footsteps. I took off my shoes to enjoy the texture of his skin and marvel at his bony ears and wiry body hair. We were high enough to see a pair of giant butterflies mating in the trees and at times it looked like some of the other groups were floating on the foliage. At one point, Soomhoop just started peeing out of nowhere and it was as powerful as a fire hose – thank goodness we were nowhere near that!
After that exciting ride, we were given a moment of relaxation at a waterfall. Though I had bought a swimsuit for the occasion, I didn’t have much time to dry off if I went for a swim, so I just waded and enjoyed the trickling water. There were a lot of families there laying on bamboo platforms or sheets, having picnics and otherwise lazing the day away. I can see how it’d be a really popular place for the locals to go on the weekends. I certainly wish there was something like near my house! Guess I’ll just have to settle for the pool instead.
The last stop of the day was the Tiger Temple, where Buddhist monks raised tigers on their monastery grounds. I threw on my gauchos over my shorts before heading in so I’d be properly covered. We all had to sign liability forms to waive the temple from responsibility for any injuries we may get and then we went in, ready for some special encounters. The first thing I did was go to Tiger Canyon, where a line was quickly forming for pictures with the adult tigers who were lounging there. We were led in one by one by a caretaker as another took pictures for us. Each person got to pet about six or seven tigers, from ones who were sleeping with their bellies up to ones who were sprawled on rocks tanning. You could tell these people were seasoned picture-takers from the bored way they’d snap photos for you. However, they were pretty good and got about three shots for each tiger, though some were blurry.
Following my turn, I took a small break sitting nearby, watching as others took their turns. There was an express line for anywhere from one to five people who could pay 1000 Baht per group to get in with no wait and be allowed to hold the tiger’s head in their lap. One day I’d like to do that, when I have more money to spare. I’d also like to find a white tiger to pet. I then made my way out of the canyon to find the baby tigers, who were out to play. I squatted just out of paw reach of one of them and took pictures as the monk handling him teased him with a branch of leaves. The monk invited me to take a picture with the cub after he had tired it out a bit and so I got some more shots.
As I was trying to head out, I was stopped because they were about to walk the tigers back from the canyon and I needed to stay out of the way. Two came along and one was tied to a tree nearby as an elder monk began to feed it milk from bottles. A line quickly formed as we were invited to take a picture with them before they closed for the day. I waited my turn for one last photo op and then had to weave around cattle as they were being fed for the day. On my way out I also came across horses, deer, wild boar, and even a camel! It was a bit smelly, but what a great time anyway. 🙂
All in all it was a fabulous day, though a bit rushed. Next time I’d want to try an overnight trip so I could have more time at each place. I’d also need an extra battery pack, since I barely made it through the day with the one I had.
For the sake of it
laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: childhood, experiences, food, friends, future, goals, identity, journals, memories, passion, personality, pictures, singapore, writing
19
July
2009
photo credit: puttputtproductions.com
I was born in the Year of the Ox and the month of the Capricorn. Both are known to be stubborn creatures, which is something that I’ve most definitely inherited, for better or for worse. Many of the things I chose to do in my life have been out of pure stubbornness – first to be able to say that I did it and second just to be different. Of course, the more people try to get me to change my behavior, the more determined I get to stick to my principles, morals, and priorities. I think I like the satisfaction of claiming that I don’t do this or that or that I have done something for this long. Especially when it’s something most of the population would like to claim as well, I feel all the better about being able to stake my claim.
The three most prominent examples of this are what I will or will not ingest, my frequency of relocations and moves, and my persistence with my journal. For each, though it may not always make sense for me to stick to my guns so strictly, I do so to preserve the idea that it’s always been that way. I don’t like to compromise in any of these areas and it’s quite rare for me to do so, though I’ve been working on that lately, since some of what I do is truly unfounded or limiting. At the same time, certain aspects I don’t plan on ever changing and that can be seen as a good or bad thing. Ok, let me clarify what I mean by each of these examples then.
Lychee flavor!
First off are my peculiar food and drink preferences. As many know, I do not drink alcohol, coffee, or energy drinks. I also refuse to eat rubbery things like calamari, squid, and other such odd creatures. I stay away from burgers, steak, lobster, and caviar. I am especially strict with alcohol, also avoiding food cooked in it, chocolates with liqueur, and the like. Even fermented food is a big no-no in my books, though some of these things have been unavoidably tasted at least once. The more people try to pressure me to drink, the more resistant I am, even if it’s just a taste or small portion of wine. I often get the “you know that it can actually be good for you, right?” and pay no heed – the costs far outweigh the benefits in my eyes. I do, however, like to collect a few mini bottles here and there because they’re rather cute (plus, why would you ever drink it? They’re too pretty!).
However, last year I did become curious and exasperated enough to try some beer (at age 22) and it was just as nasty as I thought it’d be, plus some. So that experience only solidified my resolve to avoid alcohol. I’m sure people will now focus on how I didn’t try wine or something lighter, fruitier, or whatever. Perhaps one day I will sip some wine just to get them to leave me alone, but as of now I’ll just ignore their pleads that it can be good for my health. In fact, I cherish an article I read recently about how the link that people draw between moderate drinking and good health may not be a causal effect, but actually be discounting many other possible factors that affect people’s drinking. Even if there was solid proof, I’m not about to just follow suit. I can eat blueberries and pomegranates for antioxidants and have fish oil and avocados for cardiovascular health. No alcohol needed.
I avoid coffee and energy drinks for the caffeine, which I don’t want or need, plus coffee smells disgusting to me. I like to do things naturally and without artificial aids whenever possible, so if I’m tired I take a nap. If I’m pulling an all-nighter, I drink lots of water or tea. I don’t need these extreme stimulants to affect my body in strange ways.
As for rubbery things, I’m not a fan of having to overwork my jaw or swallow large chunks of food. The texture doesn’t appeal to me, so I stick to crab, shrimp, and scallops, which is seafood that I do like to eat. This is not for health reasons, so I did try these “dong dong” shells in Singapore, since it’s a local thing. Now, I’m not quite sure why I don’t like burgers – I think it stems from a gross one I saw in the cafeteria in my childhood. I’ve stayed away ever since, though I have broken that to have about five in the past 15 years.
This doesn’t look appetizing to me at all. photo credit: artvoice.com
Steak is just too thick for me and I hate how it usually comes at least somewhat pink. I don’t really like meat that much, unless it’s very thinly sliced. Lobster is something my mom and I have disagreed on for ages – she says I ate it as a kid and I refuse to believe that. The only time I recall having it was in a dip, where the chunks were minimal. I’m not interested in ever eating a full one. And caviar has the same problem that rubbery things have in that I don’t like the texture. I also stubbornly don’t like food that is high class and expensive (though it’s a coincidence that my taste buds prefer cheaper foods).
Secondly, I am persistent in my desire to move around because that’s how my life has always been. I like being able to say I’ve never lived in the same city for more than 3 and 1/2 years consecutively. I like having so many old homes and schools and jobs that I have to keep a list or else I’d forget. I’m not the type of person to stay put and I enjoy that. My friends are never really too surprised to hear of my escapades because I’m on the go far more than they usually are. If for that reason alone, I want to keep moving around and not settle quite yet. Of course, it also has to do with just being used to that lifestyle.
My most recent journal.
Finally, how many people can say they have kept a journal for 14 years? I want to be able to, but I’m at 13 now and a year behind in catching up on entries. Most people I tell say they tried to keep a journal, but that only lasted a week, a month, a year… I’ve yet to meet someone who’s managed for as long as I have. And if only for the sake of being able to say that I have, I want to continue with it, whether or not it may be worth my while. Ultimately I think it’ll be a great thing to draw from later on if I decide to write an autobiography (or if people want to look back on my life, though it’d certainly be a bit tedious – I’m already reaching 50 volumes and that’s A LOT of reading).
So you see, much of my motivations for these areas is because of my stubbornness to continue to do it like I always have (or at least since my childhood). Generally, people respect my choices and think it’s good that I don’t drink and don’t rely on coffee or energy drinks for a boost. They also think it’s crazy that I move so frequently, but respect my ability to do that as well. And of course, everyone wishes they were able to keep the journal they always meant to have. I like being the one who does. The one who is able to stay away from alcohol, coffee, and energy drinks. The one who doesn’t need or want to spend exorbitant amounts on steak, lobster, and caviar. The one who has lived everywhere. The one who has kept a journal for years. The one who can, who has, and who will.
