What's currently trending on my Facebook news feed: What City Should You Actually Live In?

You got: Portland

You are a free spirit, but not in the LA way, in the “you’re probably more cultured than most of your friends” way. You’re up-to-date on all the latest coffee brewing techniques, have a long list of local blogs you love to read, and can taste the organic goodness in every bite you eat. Move to Portland already, you sexy smarty pants.

My answers:

- I DON'T DRINK COFFEE

- "SKINNY LOVE" BON IVER

- I'M KIND OF JUST A CHICKEN PERSON

- NO FILTER

- DESTINY'S CHILD BEYONCE

- GO ON SAFARI

- GIN & TONIC

- NO STYLE = NO WAY

- PHYSICALLY I DON'T BLOAT. IT'S A GIFT.

This week's Lite classes were cut because of the Christmas holiday, so those in the Lite classes were welcome to join the regular classes. CrossFit Lite focuses on metabolic conditioning, and the workouts do not involve barbells. Although the difficulty levels of both Lite and Regular depend mostly on the individual's effort and motivation, I entered today's class automatically thinking that I would have a tougher time in there than in my Lite class, just because it was Regular. I also expected to see a regiment of ripped, athletic bodies. Instead I saw a group of normal people who still looked athletic but non-intimidating. I actually felt like I was one of them! The atmosphere was inclusive, and the coach had everyone gather in a circle to introduce themselves. As she demonstrated each exercise, my apprehensions quickly vanished.  

The Workout of the Day (W.O.D.) was called Twelve Days of Christmas. Like in the song's sequence, every person had to perform the first exercise; then do the second exercise followed by the first; and then perform the third, followed by the second, followed by the first, until they completed all twelve exercises. I finished it in 36:10! The first finisher took twenty-four minutes, and the last took forty-six minutes (approximations). Our class probably went overtime since there was no class scheduled immediately after, but I was happy to finally complete an entire CrossFit circuit. The coach congratulated me and my friends for accomplishing today's WOD and said that it was actually harder than the usual. CrossFit is a humbling experience, but her encouragement helped me to know that I am capable of doing more. 

Twelve Days of Christmas: (Lite members were allowed to perform variations/modifications for a few of these items; for example, regular push-ups substituted for hand stand push-ups.)

1 Burpee Muscle Up

2 Power Snatches

3 Hand Stand Push-Ups 

4 Box Jumps

5 Shoulder to Overhead

6 Power Cleans

7 Pull Ups

8 Deadlifts

9 Toes to Bar

10 Wall Ball Shots

11 Kettlebell Swings

12 Clusters

What I dreaded most about joining CrossFit was the atmosphere. Before my first class, I was haunted by memories of high school sports' conditioning seasons: falling behind, coaches yelling, and comparing myself to teammates more athletic that I was. I liked to exercise at my own pace (leisurely and gracefully) in a quiet and intimate setting. In the past, satisfying this preference required me to work out early in the morning when the gym was mostly empty and the TVs and music were silent. 

Well on my first day of CrossFit (Lite), a lot of people showed up to exercise, and as an introvert I did not enjoy being surrounded by them. But as it turned out, their presence did not factor into my performance level. With the clock winding, the sweat dripping, and the coaches shouting times, it seemed physically and mentally inefficient to dwell on how my results (for example, the total number of push-ups I could perform in three, 50-second intervals) would compare to others'. I suspect that the human body understands this--that when it senses the urgency and stress to perform, the externals don't matter. Thankfully I was able to focus on completing the exercise routines. My first day was really fun. I felt so tired at the end of each circuit, but I didn't feel exhausted. Somehow I did not get sore the next day. I did feel a little bit of soreness in my abs--probably from the Russian twists--but I was still able to go about my day normally and without discomfort or inconvenience. 

Our CrossFit "box" is such a friendly place. People say hello to strangers, and people are willing to laugh amid the workout's demands. I'm happy to be accompanied by five of my friends from church. It all started with my discovery of a great deal on LivingSocial ($49 for three months of CrossFit Lite classes), so I began deliberating in a previous post. Jamie read that post and invited herself! Eventually Kevin, Leigh Ann, Jeremy, and Thomas purchased the deal too, and now it's such a wonderful, sweaty time full of gasping for air and water breaks together. I'm pretty excited for the physical changes that will occur in the next dozen weeks. My goal is actually to make a new Facebook friend at this box. I will be disappointed in myself if I don't succeed.

Thinking about Crossfit. Studying minimally about Crossfit. I don't like exercise classes. I like to be free to do as I please in a gym. I also don't like lying fetal and sweaty on the floor, gasping for oxygen in front of strangers. This autobiographical article, however, gave me an ounce of hope: http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2012/10/21/the-ten-things-that-happen-when-you-begin-crossfit/.

My abs are sore from this morning's (Saturday) hike to a waterfall in Pasadena. I have not felt soreness from hiking in almost a year! My guess is that my abs were working to maintain balance while traversing the rocky paths and hopping across streams--natural aspects that were absent from all my previous hiking trails in the past year.

This year my family and relatives on my dad's side decided to eat out for Thanksgiving--my first time! We've always celebrated at my uncle's house, but after two decades he got tired of hosting and of all the toil involved. So we reserved a table at my cousin-in-law's Hyatt Regency. I was surprised to see lots of families, but they were all small parties. We were the largest group (about fifteen of us). I am thankful for Jesus Christ, for changed lives, for family, for my mom's safety in the Philippines, for my work progress, and for my new cardigan.

On the menu: butternut squash bisque, mixed greens salad, herb roasted turkey, honey baked ham, garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, glazed sweet potatoes, carrots and green beans, and some pies.

I severely miss these restaurants for either taste or sentimental reasons, or both. They represent good things:

Daikokuya
Tahoe Galbi
Roscoe's
Havana Mania
Le Diplomate
Sam Woo Cafe (closed... boo)
Shabu Shabu Gyushintei
Sea Empress
Greenfield Churrascaria
Cherrystones
Buca di Beppo
Kozan
Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop

A few months ago I attended a seminar delivered by the man who designed the concept for this cascading chandelier installation. It is pictured here in the Holmby Hills home of Max Azria. I hope to someday construct a similar cascading chandelier for my own home in the very near future, without the authentic Swarovski crystals, but first I will need to find that home. Thankfully a friend of mine will need a roommate in January, so if my supervisor hires me in December (Lord, please!), then I will soon be moving out of my parents' house. There is much to anticipate come the winter season. To see more of the Azrias' rich interior, click here. I am convinced that fashion designers live in the most beautiful homes.