Well, we are getting a little more white stuff today. It's good and bad I guess. Good, because it covers up the dirty, massive piles of snow that are clogging the sidewalks and parking spots. Good, because it means more base for when I actually get out on the ski slopes. I was going to head out today to Mt. Sunapee for a day (only $49 on Thursdays....that's a deal these days!) but I took my skis in to get waxed and buffed and they're not done yet:( Bad, because well.....it's MORE SNOW! Boston did such a poor job getting stuff cleared the first time it dumped that there are a lot of problems now....see the previous sentence about the clogged sidewalks and parking spots.
I saw I Am Legend yesterday, the heavily hyped film with Will Smith as "The Last Man on Earth". It's kinda funny because the previews make it seem like he doesn't know that there are other things out there but you realize very earlier on that he knows.....oh yes, he knows. The premise is this, a cancer cure delivered to the body through viral means has killed much of the population of Earth. If you're not dead or immune (a very small portion), then you're....well, an interesting creature. Will Smith plays a immunologist who is searching for a cure to this viral infection and just happens to be immune too....LUCKY! The movie is basically about his days in NYC with his dog, Sam (a little twist on that in the movie) which is pretty cool since NYC is deserted and he can just do whatever he wants. He is obviously starved for company and is losing his mind a bit. He comes up against these "other" humans and has to find his way out of it. That's all I am gonna say. Just see it.....it's good. There are some freaky parts, lots of wandering around in dark places, and jumpy type scares occasionally but very action packed for the most part. Even the more boring parts are there to give you an idea of the routine that Smith follows to keep from going insane. I enjoyed it and would give it an A-.
I am heading off to St. Maarten with my family on Sunday to celebrate Xmas week in the sun and sand. It will be chock full of swimming, tanning, eating, and fun I am sure. It will be nice to get out of the snow for sure and hopefully they'll get a couple of warmer days up here in Beantown to melt some of it. Til then.....Ho, Ho, Ho and away I go!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Winter Wonderland
Welcome to Winter Boston.....we got about 8-10 inches yesterday in the big storm that pounded the Midwest a couple of days ago. It actually is a new record for single day snowfall in Boston on December 13th and more snow than the whole month of December typically averages. It appears that there is more on the way too but enough about that.
I just finished my written exams on Wednesday and close with a practical portion of one of my classes on Monday. Everything went great and I studied much harder for this stuff than I ever did at St. Mary's....maybe it's the whole "it'll be your career" thing. Anyway, I am starting to formulate some connections between the material I am learning and my everyday experiences although it is definitely challenging to explain what actually goes into an acupuncture diagnosis and treatment to the everyday layperson. How do you explain palpating the abdomen, looking at the tongue, and feeling the pulse of both hands in 3 places to the average person who is used to visiting a Western doctor for 15 minutes after spending 45 minutes waiting in the patient lounge? In order to get a better handle on my own health as well as experience each type of treatment style, I have been getting a regular Chinese style treatment, Japanese style treatment, and herbal treatment since the beginning of September. Chinese style typically uses slightly thicker needles, does a little more manipulation of the needles once they're in, and usually provides the patient with a strong feeling of Qi (the magical energy that flows through our bodies). Japanese uses thinner needles and a more superficial insertion that seeks to balance the Qi of the body. I feel like this trio has really worked for me and has helped me cope with some health issues that are chronic as well as dispel some that are more acute.
Now that I am off until January, I have more time to really enjoy the winter wonderland that is Boston. Just last weekend though (a nice long study break for me), Jules and I went to a delicious Indian restaurant in Waltham, MA called New Mother India. Now, I wouldn't put it in the same league as the one our friends Brigid and Dev took us too in NYC but it did the job. We had some crispy samosa for an appetizer and then filled up on 3 types of nan before our entrees came. Jules got the Shrimp Malsala with lots of big shrimp in a tomato based sauce. I choose the Chicken Goa which was a little spicy with a yellow curry sauce and a little tamarind/garlic flavor to it. Following our meal we headed over to the Regent Theater in Arlington, MA for a show put on by the New England Taiko drumming group. Taiko drumming is the Japanese style drumming with the large barrel like drums, that interestingly enough are made out of old wine barrels here in the US, and big, thick drumsticks. It is very rhythmic and Jules found herself almost lulled to sleep at points. It is also very martial and you could imagine many of the moves that the drummers did as they banged away, could have been taken from the ancient samurai field of battle. There was also a guest flutist who played some tunes on one of those long, Japanese style flutes....the ones that have the real wind like sound to them. Check out the YouTube videos bar of my page for some clarification about the whole Taiko drumming thing.
In all it was an incredible night and Jules and I were both thankful that we had an opportunity to enjoy the fine cuisine and dynamic performance.
I just finished my written exams on Wednesday and close with a practical portion of one of my classes on Monday. Everything went great and I studied much harder for this stuff than I ever did at St. Mary's....maybe it's the whole "it'll be your career" thing. Anyway, I am starting to formulate some connections between the material I am learning and my everyday experiences although it is definitely challenging to explain what actually goes into an acupuncture diagnosis and treatment to the everyday layperson. How do you explain palpating the abdomen, looking at the tongue, and feeling the pulse of both hands in 3 places to the average person who is used to visiting a Western doctor for 15 minutes after spending 45 minutes waiting in the patient lounge? In order to get a better handle on my own health as well as experience each type of treatment style, I have been getting a regular Chinese style treatment, Japanese style treatment, and herbal treatment since the beginning of September. Chinese style typically uses slightly thicker needles, does a little more manipulation of the needles once they're in, and usually provides the patient with a strong feeling of Qi (the magical energy that flows through our bodies). Japanese uses thinner needles and a more superficial insertion that seeks to balance the Qi of the body. I feel like this trio has really worked for me and has helped me cope with some health issues that are chronic as well as dispel some that are more acute.
Now that I am off until January, I have more time to really enjoy the winter wonderland that is Boston. Just last weekend though (a nice long study break for me), Jules and I went to a delicious Indian restaurant in Waltham, MA called New Mother India. Now, I wouldn't put it in the same league as the one our friends Brigid and Dev took us too in NYC but it did the job. We had some crispy samosa for an appetizer and then filled up on 3 types of nan before our entrees came. Jules got the Shrimp Malsala with lots of big shrimp in a tomato based sauce. I choose the Chicken Goa which was a little spicy with a yellow curry sauce and a little tamarind/garlic flavor to it. Following our meal we headed over to the Regent Theater in Arlington, MA for a show put on by the New England Taiko drumming group. Taiko drumming is the Japanese style drumming with the large barrel like drums, that interestingly enough are made out of old wine barrels here in the US, and big, thick drumsticks. It is very rhythmic and Jules found herself almost lulled to sleep at points. It is also very martial and you could imagine many of the moves that the drummers did as they banged away, could have been taken from the ancient samurai field of battle. There was also a guest flutist who played some tunes on one of those long, Japanese style flutes....the ones that have the real wind like sound to them. Check out the YouTube videos bar of my page for some clarification about the whole Taiko drumming thing.
In all it was an incredible night and Jules and I were both thankful that we had an opportunity to enjoy the fine cuisine and dynamic performance.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Finals, Finals, Finals...
This would be longer but I am studying for finals for my 1st semester courses at the New England School of Acupuncture. It has been an incredible semester full of learning strange and wondrous things....I'll give everyone an update about it when I am done with them this Wednesday. Til then a new YouTube clip of comedian Gary Gulman, who we saw this past Friday, will have to suffice.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
YouTube videos
I just added a new page element that has videos from YouTube that I think are funny or interesting. I will try to change it occasionally so check it out....
This week it is Frank Caliendo, an impressionist from Frank TV. He does some spot on stuff.
Enjoy!
This week it is Frank Caliendo, an impressionist from Frank TV. He does some spot on stuff.
Enjoy!
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