Life After Grad School

I admit I haven’t been good about keeping this blog updated this Fall. In fact, there’s a whole chunk of time missing between July and October. So what’s a blogger to do? In line with my Catholic upbringing, I confess that I’ve been too busy, lazy and otherwise occupied with this thing called life in the last few months. But I promise to be a better blogger in the future. Ehrenwort!

Moving on …. here’s what was missed in the last few months:

• As expected I got smoked by Dara Torres at World Masters Championships. Nevertheless I had an amazing time and placed in the top 3rd of my age group in both my events. It was an awe inspiring experience to compete with thousands of athletes from all over the world. Sadly I missed the relay day, but there’s always Perth 2008!
• The first Charles River One Mile Swim had to be postponed till next summer. Water quality looked great until a toxic blue green algae bloom spoiled the day. We’re working on finding a date in July of 2007 to hold this race - for real this time!
• I recently started worm composting in my apartment. Then I went to the Green Festival in San Francisco while out there enjoying all the wonderful things the left coast has to offer (ya know, bursting produce stands at farmers markets in November, hiking my favorite trails, great food, wonderful friends … ). Apparently the combination of these two things have now cemented the idea in my father’s mind that I’ve turned into a total hippie. I don’t think that’s a fitting description of me, but thanks!
• I discovered a great Yoga class, but refuse to share my insights. It’s crowded already, thank you very much! I discovered that sometimes a nice fall hike in the White Mountains can turn out to be a full-blown winter hike. I rediscovered my local library and really don’t know why I hadn’t been using it all along. I discovered that the dark, whole grain German style bread at the Danish Pastry House in Watertown is definitely worth a bike trip out there. I discovered I need fenders for my bicycle. Pronto!

To continue the theme of exercise and food, a recent study suggests that instead of downing a sports drink after workout, we’d be better off drinking our daily chocolate fix. With the right mix of carbs, protein and fat found in chocolate milk cyclists were able to perform better at their next workout.

Luckily the Taza Chocolate Lounge, which recently opened up in Cambridge, provides an inviting atmosphere and amazingly rich and satisfying chocolate drinks. The Parisian hot chocolate combines dark Colombian chocolate with a slight orange flavor while the Mexican version will tickle your tastebuds with hints of vanilla, cinnamon and chile - truly the beverage of the Gods, as the Mayans believed. Of course there are a variety of other chocolate treats to enjoy, such as chocolate fondue, ice cream and chocolate samplers. Check it out every Thursday night in Central Square, you’ll likely find me there to refuel after swim practice!

A professor at the Wharton School applies some interesting logic to come to the conclusion that bicyclists do more damage to the earth than drivers. While he concedes that biking taxes the environment less than driving, he claims that since cyclists are healthier and live longer, they consume more resources and ultimately do more damage to the planet. Which is definitely a possibility. But even if you disregard the fact that many cyclists are more conscious about environmental issues in general, the main problem with this argument is that it singles out commuter biking as a source of longevity. SUV driving gym members can be just as healthy and live as long as commuting cyclists while polluting the air by circling around the gym parking lot several times to get the closest spot to the entrance.
If we followed the logic of the business school professor, we should all live an unhealthy lifestyle and drop dead as soon as possible to save the earth. And then who would be left to enjoy it?

“The way to avoid Housework is to live outside”
(Sandra Blacksmith 1900)

I would give anything to work outside today - where is my outdoor office? It’s such a shame to spend a gorgeous day like this within four airconditioned walls.

In case any of my three readers were wondering why there have been no recent posts, see the previous one. No, seriously, there are a lot of good things happening and I can barely catch up, let alone blog about them.

Highlights:
- The Charles River Swimming race is on. We’re spinning our wheels with race organization, but are ecstatic about the event! Website will be up later this week.
- The World Cup is starting and - as every four years - I’m catching WM Fieber (World Cup fever). Let’s hope there won’t be any desperate trans-atlantic conversations with my Dad about the German team along the lines of “my grandmother runs faster than that!”
- Coach is working us hard. I’m having flashbacks to being 12 years old and not being able to lift my arms above my head after swim practice. No really, it’s fun!
- The cow parade is here with cows scattered all over Boston!
- On my list to check out: Urban Networks art show in Cambridge explores how technology may change urban life.
- Several of my friends are graduating this week - with high school, masters and doctoral diplomas. Congratulations!!! You rock. The world’s yours! And remember to wear sunscreen.