Politics matter, whether you believe true democracy will prevail or not. Familiarizing oneself with the various parties may be a hassle, but these respective platforms, supplemented by general public opinion, are deciding factors in the government's future investment(s) and job availability. Every instance of tax relinquishment reflects our investment back into the system, so thorough contemplation of these matters isn't entirely optional, as much as the act of voting is made out to seem.
It is with much dismay to note that my quarterly review is delayed. The corporate class is frustrating, with an insatiable appetite for prosperity and ascent on the social ladder; what is more: these circumstances are consistent across majority of companies, with the same woes being expressed by those simply looking to survive, and maybe strive towards their career goals.
1) Marbled Banana Bread Feat. Mini Marbled Loaves
Overboiling eggs for braising had led to this spinoff. Combining the remnants of withered scallions, Miracle Whip, Dijon mustard, wasabi, cucumber, and a spoonful of relish yielded a lightly pungent, crunchy filling for sandwiches and/or salad pairing. For nine hard-boiled eggs, I utilized a whole English cucumber with the insides removed.
A meager amount of dark soy sauce prompted modifications using light soy, followed by an excessive amount of brown sugar to neutralize saltiness. Despite using the same roster of ingredients, results vary slightly each iteration - a likely consequence of skipping the scale.
Chicken Tikka Masala was the hotter of the two, with tandoori chicken and a mostly mild smokey garlic dip to pair alongside. Three quarters of the oozing stuffed naan was devoured by the sleepy polar bear.
The session was a hazy experience overall, lacking the clarity that was pronounced in all previous classes. Warm-up was executed via slow stretches instead of brief cardio spurts; this format was frowned upon personally, for stretching without adequate movement increases risk of injury. Mornings tend to see little movement from me, given late waking hours followed by a static eastbound drive.
Core work was performed on the Reformer with the head facing away from a fully-lowered footbar, with the trunk flexed over a gap between the Carriage and platform extender. High kneeling and low kneeling positions were also commanded, though instructions surrounding positioning of the feet and thighs were eliminated entirely, making for perplexed expressions in two out of three participants. My neighbour had been described as being "really strong", though I had my reservations towards "strong" versus "instructor style".
Lunges atop the Reformer Box seemed haphazardly added into the class to meet the requirement of being a "full-body" class. Once again, directions were unclear and unsuitable for our skill level without familiarity of the exercise. With one foot placed against the Box and the other on the wooden frame of the Reformer, heel lifted, there was great risk to safety. It was incredibly difficult to maintain one's balance in this position, and there was little care to ensure levelness of the pelvis. One wrong step or ankle roll, and I would fall onto the ground from at least 5 ft above.
Despite the all-around confounding session, I retain optimism for future classes, willing for the return of a familiar face.
The weekend welcomed microwave-able food (huzzah!) and tofu pudding with ginger syrup.