The past two weeks have been strenuous - no, torturous - say in the least. Periods of illumination pass me by as I, chained to my workspace yet again, proceed to deplete every ounce of eye strength and brainpower on endless emails and project to-dos. Bit by bit, I find the world about me grow dim, until there is nothing but the soft glow of string lights from my neighbour's backyard. The eyes are shut for just a moment to recuperate, then reluctantly pried open and subject to further abuse.
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Evenings would leave a distinct hammering in my temples: the worst of headaches indicative of a fried brain - a souless shell of an overworked junior employee. YouTube content could not be enjoyed without fatigue in the eyes, and messages could not be responded to should they involve a screen in any shape or manner. I took to bed earlier than normal, yet found minimal solace in restless fits of half-slumber. Each hour would entail a hazy gaze at the clock, followed by the dire need for sleep and the wretched inability to do so. Stress levels infiltrated into my daily routine, instilling sensitivity in the digestive system and prohibiting hair growth (short bangs prevail!).
The world beyond that of a public servant is ruthless. Challenging, tense, and surely not for the faint of heart, I am eager to bid farewell to this despicable, dreary post as soon as able.
The world beyond that of a public servant is ruthless. Challenging, tense, and surely not for the faint of heart, I am eager to bid farewell to this despicable, dreary post as soon as able.
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I spent my days meekly browsing Instagram for some sort of inspiration, consuming media whilst unable to put forth any of my own.
Larry and Snoopy interactions were observed, and my own Avocado was found to have matching attire with the armless Alonso in Japan. Breakfasts comprised of caffeine and either blue sky bran muffins or hoddeok, which I proudly declare to have devoured in their entirety!
Larry and Snoopy interactions were observed, and my own Avocado was found to have matching attire with the armless Alonso in Japan. Breakfasts comprised of caffeine and either blue sky bran muffins or hoddeok, which I proudly declare to have devoured in their entirety!
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Attempts are made throughout the week to decrease screentime for the sake of preserving vision for the future. Between winter walks for CoCo's Lemon Wintermelon Tea, the caressing of Larry to the window for snow-gazing, and a bulk barn run, I gathered roughly 2 hours of breaktime throughout the week. Needless to say, this quantity wasn't nearly sufficient to restore sanity
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Meals of the week spanned none other than leftovers from Chinese New Year Eve, sometimes accompanied by my rotating selection of craft beer. Whitewater Brewing's Peanut Butter Shake is a forever favourite and while I haven't explored beyond this classic, I was eager to try their raspberry spinoff and BeaverTails collaboration. Aptly named Killaloe Sunrise after the street vendor's cinnamon-and-lemon bestseller, the brew had intended to evoke such flavours in the form of an amber ale. Unfortunately, the result was more bitter than sweet, with minimal citrus notes and a darker profile than desired.
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Creations of the week included:
1) Tiger-Themed Coconut and Black Sesame Jelly (虎年椰奶黑芝麻糕)
A conversation that commenced with the topic of Chinese New Year-fitting desserts led my mind to wander to leftover Aroy-D from making nian gao. I was then also reminded of my failed attempt to form tiger stripes from freehand chocolate piping, which spurred an opportunity for redemption.
1) Tiger-Themed Coconut and Black Sesame Jelly (虎年椰奶黑芝麻糕)
A conversation that commenced with the topic of Chinese New Year-fitting desserts led my mind to wander to leftover Aroy-D from making nian gao. I was then also reminded of my failed attempt to form tiger stripes from freehand chocolate piping, which spurred an opportunity for redemption.
The intent was a layered jelly of sorts - stabilized by gelatin rather than water chestnut starch, for the former eliminated the need for cooking via steaming. Black sesame seeds for toasted, then blended with small amounts of heavy cream and milk to achieve a dark grey paste. Coconut milk would be shaken thoroughly and mixed with pink and green food colouring until the desired shade of orange was achieved. Separately, a pot of sugar syrup (no more than rock sugar and water) would be brought to a boil then divided between the two mixtures.
In review of incoming email volumes, I opted to ladle the mixtures in two separate containers. The process reduced wait time between layer formation and ladling of the subsequent layer, albeit providing an unmistakable deviation even when stacked directly atop each other.
Overall, I was quite satisfied with the result. Not only were the layers relatively uniform in thickness, the slices were bouncy and delicious, radiating nuttiness from the black sesame and a gentle waft of sweetness. That said, they were undeniably satiating, restricting consumption beyond two slices in one sitting.
In review of incoming email volumes, I opted to ladle the mixtures in two separate containers. The process reduced wait time between layer formation and ladling of the subsequent layer, albeit providing an unmistakable deviation even when stacked directly atop each other.
Overall, I was quite satisfied with the result. Not only were the layers relatively uniform in thickness, the slices were bouncy and delicious, radiating nuttiness from the black sesame and a gentle waft of sweetness. That said, they were undeniably satiating, restricting consumption beyond two slices in one sitting.
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2) Earl Grey and Vanilla Sablé
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Once again reverting to the most foolproof of butter cookie recipes, I deployed the last of egg yolks for the construction of more sablé cookies. Deviating from the standard set of ingredients, the batch was divided into two portions: one flavoured with vanilla bean paste and the other with earl grey tea powder.
In spite of careful scaling, one batch emerged rigid, while the other tender and tragically to shape. Blending the portions provided structural integrity and a natural marble effect, though unfortunately also restricted rise.
In spite of careful scaling, one batch emerged rigid, while the other tender and tragically to shape. Blending the portions provided structural integrity and a natural marble effect, though unfortunately also restricted rise.
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The "plain" Vanilla varieties remained the airiest, the most delicious. Its earl grey counterpart, while aromatic, was drier to taste and stiffer in comparison. Storage at room temperature for several days would inflict further dehydration, prompting firm puncture by the teeth.
This experiment further concludes adherence to the original recipe to be the most optimal.
This experiment further concludes adherence to the original recipe to be the most optimal.
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Friday rolled around, inviting yet another tidal wave of chaos and extreme fatigue. By the 4 PM mark, I had tossed in the towel, my eyes and body resisting any further attempts to work. I suggested a last-minute Rec Room run to my birthday buddy, who obliqued on the account of absence of other commitments.
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I made a beeline for Pump It Up!, only to realize the brightness of the LED display. Grand Piano Keys would entail the same fate.
We proceeded with table tennis instead - my first time ever and her first time in ages. Thirty-plus minutes of laughter and 40 credits later, the duct-taped paddles were returned. A few quick games on my faves and we retreated back into the now-empty shopping centre.
We proceeded with table tennis instead - my first time ever and her first time in ages. Thirty-plus minutes of laughter and 40 credits later, the duct-taped paddles were returned. A few quick games on my faves and we retreated back into the now-empty shopping centre.
The evening concluded with a dinner of Tim Horton's Chicken Ranch Wrap and Chili combo for dinner.
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I awoke the next day to a medley of chores. Plans had been deferred to the afternoon due as a consequence of such chores, yet it instilled bliss by avoidance of the truck convoy's morning muster party at Square One. My arrival at Celebration Square neared 3 PM, which was well after the protest group's advertised departure time.
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Skating was simpler than before: less wobbly, more confident, and, frankly, more exciting. Beyond grappling for stability, I was bestowed the luxury of gazing upon my surroundings in an uninterrupted manner. My only regret was not adopting contact lenses to eliminate lens fogging altogether.
Retreating into the mall after nearly two hours after, warmth was found at The Alley. I requested a Brown Sugar Ginger Milk Tea was requested to soothe jittering digits; a Tiramisu-themed creation drifted into the perspective of my partner-in-crime.
The mall was far busier than I would have anticipated. I hadn't hoped for the tedious wait at The Alley and neither the consistent line-cutting while in wait of vaccine record checks at The Rec Room. Sephora and many other retailers boasted lineups on par with early pandemic, pre-vaccination lengths.
The mall was far busier than I would have anticipated. I hadn't hoped for the tedious wait at The Alley and neither the consistent line-cutting while in wait of vaccine record checks at The Rec Room. Sephora and many other retailers boasted lineups on par with early pandemic, pre-vaccination lengths.
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Unfulfilled Chipotle cravings were curbed at the end of the night at the standalone outpost at Dixie and Eglinton. Lindt's Friendship Heart Strawberries & Cream White Chocolate Truffles and a mustard yellow 3D-printed flower accompanied my journey back.
Several new changes ensued the lifting of lockdown restrictions. Studio Bon reopened to pilates enthusiasts with the addition of new filtration devices situated about the studio, a COVID screening policy that scrapped the physical sign-in sheet for a Google Form (to be sent out daily by the owner), and a two-step cleaning procedure involving Lysol wipes and the herbal-scented sanitizing spray to which I had grown to become familiar and thrive in its presence. Paper towels were now used in place of white cloths, likely to keep germs at bay by their single-use nature.
Familiar faces welcomed me into the studio - those of my first instructor followed by my second. While the first had updated both hair colour and makeup style, the other had ditched her half black-half blonde lob for a shorter, Maruko-chan style. She also appeared more haggard than other times, noting that she hadn't partaken in much exercise during the lockdown duration and further expressing surprise at the diligence of the three students before her.
Familiar faces welcomed me into the studio - those of my first instructor followed by my second. While the first had updated both hair colour and makeup style, the other had ditched her half black-half blonde lob for a shorter, Maruko-chan style. She also appeared more haggard than other times, noting that she hadn't partaken in much exercise during the lockdown duration and further expressing surprise at the diligence of the three students before her.
We commenced with a cardio warmup on the Bosu ball: marching first and then running. Slight ankle discomfort was experienced during this period, though I persevered. Rather than the "flying" steps of before, we turned to face perpendicular to the Bosu to awaken the inner thighs and obliques with side lunges and balancing oblique crunches respectively.
Moving onto the Reformer, we were guided through a series of thigh stretches, likely to prepare us for the moves to follow. Starting with the right foot in the right hand strap and leg extended upwards, we tugged gently at the cable for a hamstring stretch, then towards the other leg for the outer thigh/IT band, and lastly outwards for the inner thigh. To prevent rotation of the body, the opposite hip was to attach itself to the Carriage to the best of one's ability. This sequence was then repeated on the other leg.
Moving onto the exercises, both feet were looped into the hand straps and extended upwards. A pilates ring was fitted over the calves for myself and another attendee, while between the calves for the student immediately adjacent. This difference in positioning allowed one to emphasize work on either the outer or inner thighs.
An immense amount of control was utilized to resist tension in the straps and maintain alignment of the legs in starting position. This was then further challenged by pressing out against the ring ("Make it oval!") and by retracting the legs into tabletop and extending back. Shifting between the neutral spine and imprint, we would also lower the legs while pressing out against the ring. The transition between neutral and imprint has come far more naturally given recent practice with Well + Good videos, yet the tension rods and ring contributed an additional level of difficulty.
Moving onto the Reformer, we were guided through a series of thigh stretches, likely to prepare us for the moves to follow. Starting with the right foot in the right hand strap and leg extended upwards, we tugged gently at the cable for a hamstring stretch, then towards the other leg for the outer thigh/IT band, and lastly outwards for the inner thigh. To prevent rotation of the body, the opposite hip was to attach itself to the Carriage to the best of one's ability. This sequence was then repeated on the other leg.
Moving onto the exercises, both feet were looped into the hand straps and extended upwards. A pilates ring was fitted over the calves for myself and another attendee, while between the calves for the student immediately adjacent. This difference in positioning allowed one to emphasize work on either the outer or inner thighs.
An immense amount of control was utilized to resist tension in the straps and maintain alignment of the legs in starting position. This was then further challenged by pressing out against the ring ("Make it oval!") and by retracting the legs into tabletop and extending back. Shifting between the neutral spine and imprint, we would also lower the legs while pressing out against the ring. The transition between neutral and imprint has come far more naturally given recent practice with Well + Good videos, yet the tension rods and ring contributed an additional level of difficulty.
Adopting the Short Box on the Reformer and sitting atop it with the heels against the shoulder rest (body facing the footbar), we continued use of the pilates ring - this time placing it between the hands. With ankles flexed and hamstrings engaged, the Carriage would be drawn close to the body, such that the head rest would come into contact with the box. The hands would press against the ring simultaneously to strengthen the pectoral muscles in the cheat. This would continue for several repetitions before adding in rotation of the trunk through the transverse abdominals.
Shifting to the Long Box pressed against the shoulder rest, we transitioned to upper back exercises. While previously despised to an intense degree, they became more bearable this time around. Perhaps the diligence in posture correction exercises has finally paid off!
Rolldowns were also performed in this configuration, executed slowly for optimal spine mobility.
Shifting to the Long Box pressed against the shoulder rest, we transitioned to upper back exercises. While previously despised to an intense degree, they became more bearable this time around. Perhaps the diligence in posture correction exercises has finally paid off!
Rolldowns were also performed in this configuration, executed slowly for optimal spine mobility.
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Concluding the session was a low lunge for the stretching of hip flexors, wherein eight gentle shoulder rotations (led by the arm and followed by the gaze) and an oblique stretch was incorporated.
It was a class much coveted after seemingly endless weeks of stagnancy: reflective of pilates fundamentals while serving to challenge existing strength and results of practice.
It was a class much coveted after seemingly endless weeks of stagnancy: reflective of pilates fundamentals while serving to challenge existing strength and results of practice.
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