New Year

2021 So Far

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In the last days of 2020, I took a walk by the beach. It was cold, but pleasant. And as always, I enjoyed watching the moon rise.

Now it’s nine days into 2021 and this is my first post of the year. It’s impossible for me to write a regular post right now. To a certain extent, I thought I adjusted to the pandemic. Thanksgiving alone was difficult, but Christmas was far worse.

And now as I feared, Trump is pulling all manner of shenanigans and we’re in the midst of a coup. He has always called for violence in this country. Going back to 1989, he called for the deaths of five Black and Latino teens in the Central Park jogger case. They were wrongly accused, but he didn’t care.

Not truly conceding that he lost the election to Joe Biden, Trump riled up his supporters to seek justice for him. Through treason. They violently took over the Capitol resulting in five deaths. Just noticing the number five playing out repeatedly here. He wanted five people killed back then and five died recently. That’s odd….

Anyway, now he’s permanently banned from Twitter and most social media platforms because he continues to incite violence. We only have eleven days before the inauguration of Biden and Harris. So much can happen in that time and has already in just a few days.

One really good thing that happened was that Democrats will take control of the Senate after the wins of Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. That was such wonderful news to hear early Wednesday. Then within hours the Capitol was taken over. It’s too much to process. There wasn’t time to enjoy the win.

Trump hasn’t been impeached again yet. But that may happen on Monday. He has not resigned, even though there are calls for it. Pence refuses to use the 25th Amendment to remove Trump, even though the insurrectionists appear to have planned to lynch Pence for following the constitution and not overturning the electoral college vote.

The country is in limbo waiting to see what happens next. I hate this movie!

That’s all I got right now. 2021. Please get better.

Recently Watched: Nine: Nine Time Travels

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On this last day of the year, it seems like the perfect time to share one of my favorite television series with you. There’s something magical about moving from one year to the next in the span of one second. And the magic in this series is time travel. One of my favorite things!

I watched Nine: Nine Time Travels over a period of a few weeks. It’s dramatic, mysterious, fun, heart-wrenching, romantic and surprising. I looked forward to watching it each day and hated for it to end. I really loved this show.

The 20 episode series is in Korean with English subtitles and originally aired on tvN  in South Korea in 2013. I saw it on Netflix and it’s still available to watch.

The stars Lee Jin-wook and Jo Yoon-hee are so engaging that I was swept up in their story immediately. Wikipedia gives a good plot summary below.

The science fiction/romance series is about a man who finds nine magical incense sticks that allow him to travel 20 years back in time. He attempts to keep his family safe in order to change the world he lives in today. However, this is not without consequences as his actions in the past affects the lives of many in the present, including his.

As a fan of time travel, it’s always interesting to see the device chosen to facilitate the travels. The use of incense was very different than most, because it’s so relatable for me. Sometimes I’ll combine it with candles when I meditate. I love the smell. There’s something very calming about it — watching the smoke floating and knowing that it will burn itself out. The time component of the way incense burns is a key element of the story.

The lead character is a news anchor named Park Sun-woo who is able to travel back exactly 20 years to the day. So with each day that passes, he can go back to a different day in order to solve a mystery. The show is quite a ride! The twists and turns!

I hated when the show was over, but there is some good news. For the future. According to a 2013 article, actress Yunjin Kim, known from the shows Lost and Mistresses, is working with ABC on a show based on the series. She will be one of the executive producers of the show.

Since it’s now going on five years since that article, I’m not sure the status of the show, but it’s something to keep an eye out for.

This is the last that I’ll be here for 2017. See ya in 2018!

Happy New Year!

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Screenshot: tvN

Free Yoga Boston: The New Year

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new year yogaHope you’re enjoying the new year so far! Over the last few years, it’s been very exciting watching the expansion of free yoga classes in Boston. As I read about trends taking place all over the United States and the world actually, I share them on the Free Yoga Boston Facebook page. Seeing these trends in other locations, what I’ve found is that it’s only a matter of time before that trend pops up in some form in the Boston area. Sometimes the trend starts here and expands elsewhere.

Offering free yoga classes in different types of spaces is going full steam ahead everywhere. When I first read about classes taking place in libraries and museums, I was wondering when that would happen in Boston. Well, the time is now!

This week starting Tuesday, January 12th, the Boston Public Library’s central location in Copley Square will be offering free yoga classes taught by Rebecca Pacheco! I’ve added the class to the current “Big List” of free yoga classes in Boston, so you can see the time of the class in context with the other classes and plan your schedule accordingly.

Unfortunately, I can’t make it this week, but hope to attend before they end on February 16th. Maybe they will extend the time or pop back up in the summer. These winter classes will take place in the Abbey Room of the McKim Building. It would be really nice to have summer classes in the courtyard. Who knows?

Besides free yoga classes in Boston’s iconic library, the Museum of Fine Arts is going with the free yoga trend in the new year as well. On February 13th, Namaste Saturday with Daniel Max will take place in Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Family Courtyard. The class is free to museum members, but $25.00 for others. From what I know at this point, this class is a one-off event. The event is already sold out, so hopefully the museum will offer more classes in the near future. Based on the trends, I can definitely see this as a possibility. One more reason to become a member!

Another trend that I’ve read about is yoga classes springing up in airports. Airports in Chicago, San Franciso, Dallas/Fort Worth and our New England neighbors in Burlington, Vermont are offering yoga classes to passengers in need of some Zen time.

Wouldn’t it be great if Logan Airport welcomed this trend as well and added some yoga classes? Maybe 2016 will be the year. If so, then you’ll see it here!

2014: A Look Back

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new car in 2014As 2014 began,  I wrote a post looking back at 2013. I liked the tie-it up in a bow feeling to the post and decided to do it again.

Much of what happened last year was unexpected. While my beloved Bug was having problems for a while, at the end of last year, it gave out completely. In JANUARY, I traded in my Beetle for a RAV4. Sometimes I miss the fun of the Bug. Maybe too much of my identity got tied up with driving it. But the space, feeling of safety and convenience of the RAV4 is wonderful. It’s stylish and easy. I love it.

In FEBRUARY, I saw Ice-T speak at MIT and learned quite a few lessons. In case you don’t click over to the post, below are some of the things that I took away from his talk.

“Remain calm. Do not panic. Believe in your idea. Surround yourself with people who are smart and have a good work ethic.”

“Do not get comfortable. When you get to the top, that is when you push.” Keep pushing. Planting seeds. Say things that you want to do, that you are thinking about doing. Say it when you are at your peak.

“Humble yourself to this game. Someone to the left is better than you. Someone to the right would die to be in your shoes.” You are only competing with yourself. Nobody else.

Advice now that he would give to himself at 19. “Think in broad strokes. Keep your mind open.”

I was writing and talking about seafood and sustainability in MARCH. I learned a lot and was really proud to have my social media efforts recognized with the Seafood Sustainability Award by the Global Aquaculture Alliance.

APRIL marked my 8th year blogging! FIELD was the word that I chose for this 8th year. I went on my second Hashcapade and visited Julians in Providence, Rhode Island for a wonderful meal with my mom. It was also my first out-of-state road trip in the new car. I met author Matthew Quick and got some writing advice. He said to be brave and use my life experiences. Not to be afraid to put it out there.

In MAY, the Boston smell walk that I had taken the August before finally was broadcast on the radio! I was interviewed briefly too. You can read the smell walk story on PRI and listen as well.

Father’s Day was in JUNE and I felt especially grateful for my dad. I wrote about my new practice of writing letters to my near future self and finally finished re-doing the chair that I bought at Goodwill.

2014 was the summer of Market Basket JULY and AUGUST brought the summer of Market Basket. By the way, everything worked out in the end for the workers, customers and the beloved CEO, Arthur T. Demoulas. He is back and now has control over the company!

Behind the scenes, I was working on creating this new blog and working on purpose for my dreams.

In SEPTEMBER, I wrote up a post about my day on Cape Cod with G, eating good food, and driving around in convertible Corvettes and Camaros. What a perfect day!

Then I had a big birthday, said goodbye on my old blog and launched this new blog!

A tree fell on my house in OCTOBER. I had just walked in the door and missed getting hit by a mere few seconds! I went to a fun event at Perkins School for the Blind. My mom and I went to Nantucket. We had the best time!

Being published in The Atlantic about an important issue was a very proud moment for me in NOVEMBER.

Kwanzaa Culinarians was back again in DECEMBER and I was really happy to participate. I also attended the Massachusetts Conference for Women and had a wonderful time. Unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to write up the post yet. Hopefully soon!

Happy New Year! Here’s to 2015!