The latest phase of my life feels more independent and yet, more artificial, too
Summer pilates started on Tuesday, and boy, what a difference it was from the class I took in the spring. I was used to focusing solely on the patterns of my breath, putting my body in an almost meditative state while doing reps with my eyes closed, reflective, and ending every 80-minute session with a reverent bow and repeating "Namaste" to my instructor. Yesterday's class was fun too, but it was a lot less spiritual and more, well, Bally's Total Fitness. My instructor started off by blaring her own eclectic mixtape featuring Carrie Underwood, Sarah McLaughlin and Ne-Yo, and popping on a very aerobicize-esque headset so that her commands wouldn't be drowned out over the loud pulse of the music. Rather than losing myself in the motion and only changing positions when instructed, each move featured countdowns of the reps, ever-reminding you of how much was left to do. It was exhilarating and enjoyable in some respects, but in others it seemed like the essence of Pilates -- the reflection and stress-relief behind the work -- had been (for lack of better word) bastardized along the way. There was something less personal, less enchanting about it, but even still, I enjoyed this new take on Pilates.
Aside from the Pilates adjustment, I'm also getting used to living alone in my apartment. Even though Ashleigh, Sean, Matt and I rarely hung out during the school year, our random between class-and-work conversations were pleasant. Now things feel -- empty, really. I enjoy the freedom of having the entire place to myself (blaring music at 2 a.m.? sure, if I want to), but it's weird having so much free time during the day and no one to spend it with. (And no money to do anything outside of the apartment -- I'm beyond broke right now.) Ah well, at least I'm no longer running about at breakneck speed, right?
It'd be the perfect time to try my hand at freelancing, or at the very least cover big investigative pieces for the Oracle. If only I could come up with any ideas. I'm relishing in this whole opportunity to be semi-lazy, and can't seem to get inspired with any story ideas. If there's anything that you'd like to read more about, please let me know. Maybe I can turn it into an article.
After having to endure a mix of Nickelback, the shouts of drunken girls (it's 2 p.m. for crying out loud! Why are you completely wasted and wobbling dangerously close to a body of water?) and obscure Reggaeton while at the pool yesterday, I decided I needed to load my mp3 player with a new mix to drown out the cacophony. Here's my summer playlist (and come on, of course it reads like a Top 40s chart; it's summertime, and that means shameless pop!):
Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne (in Mandarin Chinese, German, and Spanish too -- just because it makes me laugh)
Never Again - Kelly Clarkson (Song aside, have you seen the Mustang in this video? Oh my. It's breathtaking. Seriously.)
Umbrella - Rhianna (It's really grown on me.)
Summer Love - Justin Timberlake
Que Hiciste - Jennifer Lopez (What better to prepare me for la clase de espanol?)
Beautiful Liar - Beyonce ft. Shakira
Extraordinary - Mandy Moore (I'm loving her new sound -- hopefully the rest of the album follows this upbeat, folksy sound.)
Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
Hot - Avril Lavigne
La La Lie - Jack's Mannequin
Beating Hearts Baby - Head Automatica (Oddly, and horribly, addictive.)
You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse
Grace Kelly - Mika (This song just makes me want to dance.)
Made for Each Other - Jack's Mannequin
All Good Things - Nelly Furtado
4 in the Morning - Gwen Stefani
Over it - Katharine McPhee
Like a Boy - Ciara
Crazy - Lumidee
PS - Don't read What Would Jackie Do? unless you want to learn how to be a snobbish gold digger. Okay, it's not that bad (I'd give it a solid "C"), but seriously, some of the Jackie-O-isms really aren't things I believe people should really do. For example, if something offends you, don't just decide to cut anyone involved in the wrongdoing out of your life and never speak to them again without any explanation. (Isn't the modern woman supposed to work out her problems anyway?) Also, I don't find it endearing if my friend refers to her brand new BMW or Balenciaga bag as a "piece of crap." Sorry, that's not acting humble at all -- it's haughty. Furthermore, I wouldn't advise turning your co-workers into scapegoats to stay in others' good graces. Eventually they're going to find out that YOU screwed up, and those co-workers won't be happy at all that you threw them in front of the bus instead.
Aside from the Pilates adjustment, I'm also getting used to living alone in my apartment. Even though Ashleigh, Sean, Matt and I rarely hung out during the school year, our random between class-and-work conversations were pleasant. Now things feel -- empty, really. I enjoy the freedom of having the entire place to myself (blaring music at 2 a.m.? sure, if I want to), but it's weird having so much free time during the day and no one to spend it with. (And no money to do anything outside of the apartment -- I'm beyond broke right now.) Ah well, at least I'm no longer running about at breakneck speed, right?
It'd be the perfect time to try my hand at freelancing, or at the very least cover big investigative pieces for the Oracle. If only I could come up with any ideas. I'm relishing in this whole opportunity to be semi-lazy, and can't seem to get inspired with any story ideas. If there's anything that you'd like to read more about, please let me know. Maybe I can turn it into an article.
After having to endure a mix of Nickelback, the shouts of drunken girls (it's 2 p.m. for crying out loud! Why are you completely wasted and wobbling dangerously close to a body of water?) and obscure Reggaeton while at the pool yesterday, I decided I needed to load my mp3 player with a new mix to drown out the cacophony. Here's my summer playlist (and come on, of course it reads like a Top 40s chart; it's summertime, and that means shameless pop!):
Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne (in Mandarin Chinese, German, and Spanish too -- just because it makes me laugh)
Never Again - Kelly Clarkson (Song aside, have you seen the Mustang in this video? Oh my. It's breathtaking. Seriously.)
Umbrella - Rhianna (It's really grown on me.)
Summer Love - Justin Timberlake
Que Hiciste - Jennifer Lopez (What better to prepare me for la clase de espanol?)
Beautiful Liar - Beyonce ft. Shakira
Extraordinary - Mandy Moore (I'm loving her new sound -- hopefully the rest of the album follows this upbeat, folksy sound.)
Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
Hot - Avril Lavigne
La La Lie - Jack's Mannequin
Beating Hearts Baby - Head Automatica (Oddly, and horribly, addictive.)
You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse
Grace Kelly - Mika (This song just makes me want to dance.)
Made for Each Other - Jack's Mannequin
All Good Things - Nelly Furtado
4 in the Morning - Gwen Stefani
Over it - Katharine McPhee
Like a Boy - Ciara
Crazy - Lumidee
PS - Don't read What Would Jackie Do? unless you want to learn how to be a snobbish gold digger. Okay, it's not that bad (I'd give it a solid "C"), but seriously, some of the Jackie-O-isms really aren't things I believe people should really do. For example, if something offends you, don't just decide to cut anyone involved in the wrongdoing out of your life and never speak to them again without any explanation. (Isn't the modern woman supposed to work out her problems anyway?) Also, I don't find it endearing if my friend refers to her brand new BMW or Balenciaga bag as a "piece of crap." Sorry, that's not acting humble at all -- it's haughty. Furthermore, I wouldn't advise turning your co-workers into scapegoats to stay in others' good graces. Eventually they're going to find out that YOU screwed up, and those co-workers won't be happy at all that you threw them in front of the bus instead.