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 Immersion Spa

湖水从清到浑浊

 In the mid of the second week back from two weeks summer break.

The clear mirror like lake is getting into tangled state bit by bit. The old work schedule came back with vegenice(?). 

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frugality -- new word learned from V

frugal  

Out of Africa

 

• Out of Africa & Shadows on the Grass
• By: Isak Dinesen

I just finished this book in audible. And now started on her bio by Judith Thurman

Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Storyteller

By: Judith Thurman

奥运

只想追Simone Biles.

Ok, I yielded and purchased YouTube TV so I can watch Olympics from NBC Sports.

韩剧 机智医生

 请回答1988

机智医生

bed time today

 恭喜自己今天可以一点前睡觉。放假中誓言要早睡早起，放假后连着三天加班到二-三点，打工人回到班上一堆问题等着。。。

So, as before, a break, a vacation will not change anything. But, with the newly charged green bar on my head, I do feel energized and are trying to do things better. 

The trip to Alaska was like a big carrot stick to me before when I was tangled in the busy schedule and the stress. The planning, the looking forward part of the trip brought certain releases.

And now, the peace and quietness post vacation turns out to be so so nice too. Actually this feels better than the trip itself in some sense. :)

I am planning to watch all my favorite shows and books once more or many times more. 

There is no need to hoard. The act of hoarding is buy, keep, add to list, but not really read and watch them. So, one more promise: do not hoard. No need to buy and cook lots of food. No need to buy another thing which I had already. No need to add one more item to my list. No need to promise to do one more thing but have no time to do it.

And, go to bed early if possible.

Alaska trip - 1 plants

One Alaskan Native Plant was called "Horsetail," it possesses a strange feature with which it can be plucked apart like legos. Basically, it has segments that can be separated.

Our young kayak tour guide offered us a beachside plant which tasted like a part of a salad. 

Below are flowers that we found very common!

1) Fireweed

2) Arctic Lupine

3) Cow Parsnip, sometimes called Pushki. Note that if you touch the leaves, then come in direct contact with the sun, rashes and blisters will appear from the affected area.

4) Bluebell

5) Arctic Poppy (Yellow)

6) Frigid Shooting Star

7) and much more!

While writing these amazing plants down, I am re-enjoying the delights of Alaska. 

book - how not to die

 it is a boring book.

Nothing else to say about it, I think.

gluten

 https://www.esthersbakery.com/collections/our-products

As being a mirror, and being a good mirror, in the neighborhood market, we asked about the last piece of pretzel, and the cashier mentioned those pretzels are from the local bakery called Esther's German Bakery in Los Altos.

Here, it goes my gluten controlling effort. Like the one uses the mirror, the mirror loves those pretzels too.

Alaska Trip - post trip blue

 I ought to write something about the trip. But in some way I am still in post-trip coma or blue. There are too many photos and videos in the phone, not tagged, not even watched. In the era of wechat, facebook and twitter, it is expected to have a nice write-up with wonderful photos about the whole trip. But, I have no desire to do that at all. I don't need to tell the world that I check-listed another big place in the map. 

Alaska, it is a place mix of New Zealand, Iceland, Banff and itself. I didn't realize how close it is to us, just four and half hours away. The grand mountains, river, water and sky. 

During the whole trip, I slept very well. On the first night back, I had woke up several times trying to figure out which RV or ship I was on. I am not used to my old good bed yet.

Yes, two weeks of RV living. The first thing I am getting back to is to take longer hot water bath. And I am aware I had greasy hairs almost every day during the trip... Besides lack of hot bath opportunities, I suffered several big mosquito bites on the head! And the manuka balm was the only remedy for them. Thus, very greasy hairs on the road.

Something new learned: I didn't know Alaska produces fresh peony before! That totally explains why peony never bloomed in my garden (bought several batches already): how can bay area weather be on par with the weather in Homer or Fairbank?! 

Alaska trip - post-modem

 2021.07.02 - 2021.07.17 It's done already!

It's over already! sigh...

Action items from the trip:

1) apply for global entry

2) making a promise to stop frivolous spending, including bags, clothes, jewels and even souvenirs 

3) pack less clothes when travel, really we don't need pack that much

4) buy less food

5) have the courage to not be liked by everyone

Alaska trip 0

 收拾行李非常stressed out，最后把撒一地的东西硬塞进了二个大胖箱子，至于到底带了啥我也忘了⋯