Monday, July 23, 2007

I'm flubby

Lol I found this on a website of WHY girls gain the freshmen 15:
  • social eating: yeas... every minute of the day, because there is nothing else to do
  • portion control: it's not my fault the cafeteria loads the pasta on
  • fried foods: well that's the only thing that tastes good right?
  • the fat free fable: yes... my good ol' fat free wheat thins
  • rewarding yourself for workouts: lol, SO TRUE, OVT BROWNIE SUNDAES!
  • study snacking: this one's the worst
  • the beverage trap: well... not beverages, per say, but alchy?
  • emotional eating: had a lot of times... good and bad... which meant lots of bags of potato chips
  • too many sweets: ben and jerry's cartons are my friend?
  • eating like one of the guys: more like, out-eating the guys... I have to prove my self worth in SOME aspect of life, don't I?!

Friday, July 6, 2007

in sickness and in health, but mostly in sickness

So sick.

Went to the doctor (this already demonstrates the extremity of the situation, seeing as the last time I went to a doctor was... well... let's just say that dates back into the parts of my life that don't even remain in my memory.) He said it's going to last about 4 weeks total... which is just about the entire duration of my stay in Taiwan. Lovely.

I'm on six different meds. Three different pills plus a tablespoon of liquid three times a day. Before bedtime, another white capsule. And if those prove to be ineffective, I have what I call "desperation pills" - doctor said to take these only if I don't get better. I haven't gotten better, so I'm on those too. I have a terrible dry cough that resurfaces at random intervals throughout the day. I also feel like I'm housing a marble every time I swallow. I'm basically a walking infectious disease. I looked up the purpose of the capsule and it's for bronchitis, which the doctor did NOT inform me that I had... but the wikipedia<3 description sounds pretty accurate. They sent me home early from work on Thursday, probably in fear that I'd have the whole staff coughing their lungs out in a couple of days.

The wheels are in motion: side effects that have surfaced include drowsiness, insomnia, minor diarrhea, dizziness, blackouts. Sorry if that was TMI. But to think people do drugs for recreational purposes!

And you know I'm sick when I can't sing at karaoke. Normally I'm the biggest mike hog around, but I just don't have it in me. Could barely get one or two songs out, and only with about 17 cups of water. I was wheezing songs more than I was really singing them.

I can't do normal everyday things without more or less hacking up a lung. I can't sleep. I can't go out and party with people who actually are here in Taipei, because I'm scared of drinking with bronchitis (as I should be). I'm useless at work, and I think more than anything they'll want to avoid me. I can't even go shopping because I get so fatigued. I can't eat or drink cold things. Shave ice? Pearl milk tea? Fresh fruit? I've been passing them all up. Worst of all was at dinner last night, when they had sesame ice cream. AHH! And the heat just makes all my symptoms and drug side effects feel that much worse. Didn't think I'd ever say this - I'm in Taiwan, with the FOOD I love, with the FAMILY I love, with so many experiences and opportunities at my feet, but... I just want to go home.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

the tropics of Taiwan, if you can call it that

Day 1:
Took a train to Hualien. First we stopped at "Taiwan's Grand Canyon," as my dad called it. I'm not much of one for scenery, except for beaches. But even those get old. So in the sweltering heat, I wasn't all that impressed by rocky cliffs with holes in them. Then we stopped at a temple commemorating those who had died while building the tunnel. Kevin and I made a futile attempt to reach the high temple but it was only stairs after stairs after more stairs. That night we went out for wonton soup. Apparently Hualien is famous for its mochi, so we stocked up on a ridiculous amount of that - in sesame, taro, red bean, green bean, etc. Then mango shave ice. And do hua. The parents then got way overexcited for duck heads, coupled with a couple of beers. That night we stayed at Farglory hotel, with a gorgeous ocean view that I failed to take advantage of. I played Scrabble with the boys, only to lose to Kevin.

Day 2:
The next morning we woke for a buffet breakfast at the hotel. Left soon after to stop at a Buddhist temple, 8 arches bridge, etc. Then we waited in the sweltering heat for what felt like hours to board the bus to Green Island. It was so hot and sticky that the paint on my wooden necklace started melting onto my neck, and the chain started to rust. The boatride was rocky - got seasick for the first time. Probably doesn't help that I actually am sick (how long is this illness going to last? I've had a cough since before I came to Taiwan last Monday... and now it's Wednesday. Good grief.) After arriving at the island, we rode mopeds to the hotel. Ahhhh the hotel. Where do I begin. I mean, hotels are possibly my favorite things about vacationing - I love the whole concept of messing up a room and having it be perfect the next time you come back. Free toiletries? That also presses my buttons in all the right places. This "hotel" - if you could call it that - had what might as well not have been a weak fan. No functional AC. Cleanliness was in doubt. The sink was in the shower (yeah this confused me too.) Motel 6 status, no joke. And this is a girl who loves me my 5 star hotels. God, that was painful. In the afternoon my dad took me to a track to teach me to ride. No lie - I'm disastrous at the moped. I mean, I suppose considering I have no balance on a bike already, a moped would be more difficult. But hey, I'm improving. By the next trip, I'll be able to do it. I have faith. For dinner we went to a BBQ place. Not exactly quality food here either and I think it gave Sherry's mom diarrhea. We gave George beer though and his mom asked him "You get a sunburn?!" I could have sworn the next day too that he had a hangover. Drove my dad home and ran into incoming traffic. Almost hit a girl and a kid. Oops. Tried to watch Anchorman but passed out early on.

Day 3:

We woke up at the crack of dawn - no, more like at 4:00, so that we could catch the crack of dawn. We rode out to the hot springs - one of three locations in the world in which the springs bubble up from below the sea. My dad kept saying, "But how many opportunities will you have in your life to see the sunrise from one of only THREE locations?" Guess he sucked me in. It was nice, riding with the sea to our right side and the moon's reflection sparkling up. The springs were warm but not exactly hot, and the clouds blocked the sun for the better part of the sunrise. We got tiny peeks at it every once in awhile. Still an experience. Passed out at the hotel after that. We went snorkeling - in full on wet suits (compolete with matching boots). Saw a lot of fish at first but after about 10 minutes it was like, same old, and the bobbing of the ocean started making me feel kind of seasick. Had lunch at the hotel - some nasty seafood. Eh. We went for an afternoon ride around the island - took about 30 minutes with a couple stops in between. Finally - boat back to Taiwan, and train back to Taipei (4.5 hour ride). Luckily I had Kevin to entertain/to entertain me all the while. Good discussions.

I am SO tired. I'm at work and suffering. It's nice that I can just go online and have my fun but I literally am about to pass out from exhaustion. My cough keeps me awake all the time at night which means I'm always tired throughout the day. Arghhhhhhhhhh.