cynosure

Because if you don’t answer the following question, very, very carefully, cynosure will self-destruct & the entire universe will henceforth be ruled by dangerous robotic warriors.

Not really.

But if you do answer this question, you’ll not only get to read better articles every day, but you’ll decide what I’m going to write about.

Otherwise I’ll spend the next 3 months writing about cats.

I swear I’ll do it!

Okay, enough with the theatrics.

Tell me: What specific subjects would you like me to write about?

They can be just about anything: about loving yourself, body image, living green, food (! one of my favorite topics), happiness, personal development, moving your body, or even personal questions.

And then I’ll write about them. (Within reason.)

(Any other qualms & quips, critiques & complaints are not only welcome but encouraged!)

Thank you for answering

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Hello friends! Hope your June is swell

Happy Father’s Day!

I’m here & happy to report on my progress for Project: Summer 2010, my way of growing ridiculously more each and every day this summer (and maybe inspiring you, too, to grow more in whatever way works best for you)!

I have yet to really start tackling my reading goals (or interpersonal goals), but I won’t waste your time or mine trying to give excuses. I still have about 260 pages of Anna Karenina to go (out of 867 or so… ahh) and all 1488 pages of Les Miserables is looming over my head (so much for the 1100 pages I thought it was).

Anyway, here’s a chronicle of my journey so far…
 

Week 1:

• Wednesday: Walked downhill to the downtown library.. about 4 miles. Carried books along the way, leading my arms to be sore on…
• Thursday: Ran half the time up a hill, ran until I was tired and then jogged/walked up 8 flights of stairs, then did a few weights/squats while watching shows.
• Friday: Ran most of the way to a presentation in the morning, packed some stuff into the car, but oddly got a painful stomachache that dissuaded me from doing anything further.
• Saturday: Packed and moved, which involved 4 flights of stairs round-trip each time. Danced (with my arms!) for a bit during the car ride. After eating until I was quite full at dinner, I walked and jogged around the neighborhood.
• Sunday: Walked around entire two floors of a mall, shot hoops at the arcade (while standing… ohoho), walked around a park for a while.

Week 2:

• Monday: Walked up a moderate hilly road (about 3 miles) which actually wasn’t bad at all, ran up 3.5 flights of stairs and walked the remaining 4.5, ran through a parking lot.
• Tuesday: Rested because the day was really hot. Didn’t do much so I felt like I was in a funk and made some pretty unhealthy decisions.
• Wednesday: Jogged and walked on and off 2 miles, sprinting the last stretch.
• Thursday: Walked around Santa Monica (the Promenade and the Pier) for a while. Also knocked down another bullet from my 43things– “Go to the Santa Monica Pier.”
• Friday: Since it was hot, I had a good idea… run up and down the stairs (which I used to do at my brother’s house, but his stairs weren’t as tall as the ones where I was staying on Friday!). I ran up and walked down the stairs 43 times! I wanted to go for 50 (my initial goal was 10, then I was pushed to do 15, then I did 30 and went for 40!) but by then I needed energy.
• Saturday: I actually followed the plan of week 2 of Couch to 5k. And it was fun! And felt good. And was simpler than I thought. At first I was surprised at the intensity, but by the second to last jogging interval I felt it was natural! The last one was a little tough though.

Observations and Epiphanies:

• Running/any activity designed to foster more physical strength also forces you to stretch your mental muscles, especially when that little voice is just telling you you can stop now… but your heart says “Push on!” I’ve known this before but I’m really experiencing it now more so than ever.
• I’ve tread way too hard when I jog/run, so I’m working on being nicer to my knees and making lighter steps.
• Taking care of myself and doing an activity that is not only good for me but makes me feel great is way, way better than the groggy, sick, hangover-like feeling from binge eating. After a good walk or run, I’m not only happy with myself for accomplishing it, but my body feels better, too. And since I, in the past, wasn’t as hungry as often as I’d liked, by actually using my energy I get hungry enough to enjoy more energy– er, food, later on.

All in all, I’m getting excited to go for longer distances. Who knows, maybe by the end of this year I can do a half-marathon! Or at least a 10k.

Finally, the lovely Mara of Medicinal Marzipan bestowed this Happy 101 award upon me…

…and word on the street says I have to tell you 10 things that make me happy.

So here goes, in no particular order:

• steel-cut oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon, & granola
• mango sweet sticky rice (currently, anyway– I’m on a kick)
• hiking
• books
• making food
• big parks/wildlife reserves
• growing
• interesting people
• comfortable footwear
• honey

Haha, it seems my life revolves around good food… and other things. Anyway, the award now goes to…

• Positively Present
• Oh She Glows
• Inny Vinny
• LOLZHANG
• The Demoiselles

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Get all the exciting chronicles of my summer of crazy personal growth! Read ‘em through RSS and follow me on Twitter.

Cotton candy, July 2006

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Unconventional is the name of the game.

I’m giving away one FREE 16×20 Limited Edition Print (of which only 10 will ever be printed), so head on over here to see what it’s all about and enter!

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When I first got this domain several people asked me: “What does RVXN mean? It sounds like a prescription pill or alphabet soup.” But I had a perfectly good reason for choosing those four letters, I swear, at 5 in the morning when the idea was finally conceived.

My question to you is: What do YOU think rvxn means?

Think about your answer before peering at the comments, please, and tell me what YOU think it means!

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On another note, whoever makes the 500th comment on this site will get FIVE free 4×6 prints of their choice from any of the photos here (depending on availability– after a hard drive crash last year I don’t have some of these photos anymore). I’m not going to say how far away it is, though, but I might repost this when it gets even closer

And this month I’m committing to FINALLY starting to sell all the clothes and shoes I’ve bought and never worn– to rid myself of what I don’t need. (I said I’d start in February, but better late than never!) Spring cleaning here we come! Look out for some great deals on cute clothes and accessories soon!

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For more goodness, get updates through RSS and follow me on Twitter.

I have to struggle not to sound corny when I talk about what I’m passionate about, and this is no exception. But before I unveil it to anyone or anywhere else, I present to you:
soligraph photography.

What do you think of the site?
Comments, suggestions, criticism… any and all critique is very welcome!

And finally, here are some photos of the show I went to the other night.

click here to see more »