In total, I “traveled” (I did a walking warm-up for the first two minutes) a complete 5k in 48 minutes. I was really aiming for under 45.

But this was my first-time, so I’ll have something to aim toward next time!

1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday?
Talking to my parents. I’m at that stage in my life where I finally want to talk to them. I enjoy our moments together, talking about whatever, drinking our respective chais (just like papa, mama, and baby bear!). We’re all getting older, so I make an effort to spend as much time with them as I reasonably can (tolerate them hehe!).

2) List your top three favorite TV shows.
I don’t watch TV anymore, so my favorite of all-time are:
1. Sister, Sister
2. SpongeBob
3. Arthur

3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them?
I am not photogenic, but I also don’t have a steady hand, so neither.

4) Why do you blog?
Writing is my preferred method of communication. I’m not a good speaker. I stumble whenever I have to say something prompted… even unprompted, I’m always at a loss for words. Writing gives me the time to get my thoughts together. There’s an added dimension to blogging. I do keep a personal journal, but there’s something special about being able to connect with other like-minded individuals. I’ve made quite a few friends in the almost 10 years I’ve been blogging. A few of these friends know more about me, my life, and my thoughts than people that know me in real life! Most people probably wouldn’t understand this, but other bloggers do. We have this world all to ourselves. It’s like a treasure trove, the blogosphere.

5) Share five websites that you visit regularly.
Gmail, Sweet Free Stuff, Pinkvilla, Instyle, Fitsugar

6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list who would it be?
I’m not on the Twitterz anymore. But I’ll answer the question generally. Living, I’d love to have lunch with Joe Biden… just ’cause he’s a charmer. But dead, I’d love to talk to Stalin.

7) List a few of your favorite snacks.
I don’t snack as a rule. But I’ll eat sugar-free bread and fruit whenever offered (just as long as it’s not grapefruit!).

8 ) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?
No, but I love animals. Could I keep an elephant in my backyard?

9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without?
My Mickey Mouse mugs, My loafers for driving and on the days I need a break from the heels, my black eyeshadow

10) What’s your favorite drink?
I love tea!

11) Do you enjoy cooking?
I don’t do it often, but I suppose I enjoy it. I like to experiment with new recipes and doing healthy substitutions. Sweet potato salan! That was all my idea, baby (even though my mom did the physical labor). I have to be in the mood for cooking. I’m less averse to it now than before… so maybe one of these days!

12) Do you have children?
No

13) What are your favorite hobbies?
Blogging, writing in my journal, singing, learning new things… and now jogging, oddly enough! I really enjoy it.

14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing?
Shy and introverted!

15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?
I’d be more confident in myself and not stress out as easily as I do

16) Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Rajinikanth!

17) What’s the coolest thing you’ve done this week?
I’m thinking hard on this one. I haven’t done anything cool or interesting. Just a lot of silly and pathetic.

18) Do you live near your family or far from them?
I live with my mom and pops (and bro!), but live far away from the other family that I love (in Canada!).

19) List three of your talents.
1. I have pretty hand-writing. It’s been called “perfect” by friends, teachers… strangers even — just not my family (because they are jealous!)
2. I have a decent singing voice, others have told me.
3. I’m very thoughtful in the sense that I remember what people like, their interests, etc. I’m all about playing up to people’s personalities. So on their birthdays (I make a big deal about ‘em) I like to give them gifts that represent their personality and what they mean to me. Oh, and I love writing notes! That’s my personal touch. I guess that’s not really a talent. None of these were though.

20) What is your greatest attribute?
My work ethic, my organization skills, my silliness, my whimsiness, my visionariness… creating new words by added the suffix -ness?

Huh, that was fun.

Bookstores are such fun places. I almost never leave empty-handed. And unlike purchases made at shoe stores, I never feel guilty or unsure.

I like my e-reader just fine. But there’s something magical about breaking open the spine of a book. It’s yours, to have and to hold. The sunlight weathering the pages. Feeling the graininess of the ink, as you follow the words with your fingers…

Oh, I don’t know what I am saying. I suppose it was inevitable.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-technology. I have a blog for goodness’ sake and Google is the best friend I always wished I had. But I need my unplugged time to function. Most 25-year-olds in this day and age don’t operate that way… but then again, this 25-year-old prefers to call herself a quarter of a century years old, so yeah.

Purple, Mickey, Tamil, wonderful surprises from the people I love… I couldn’t ask for anything more :)

I truly feel blessed to have them all in my life.

Now, when people are shocked to find out and demand to know why I don’t do sugar, I don’t have to point to my new age research sources — it was posted on Yahoo ;)

BTW, I used to follow LiveScience back in the day when I thought I wanted to be a chemical engineer (during my sophomore year, before AP Chem) so I know LiveScience is just a bunch of coo-koo scientists living out their coo-koo scientific fantasies (but hey, if I had the brain for science, that’s what I’d want to do!). Still, I’ll take any validation for my sugar-free lifestyle.

Just think about how much has changed for the tobacco industry. Less than a century ago, smoking was practically a way of life… now?

I think it’ll take time for people to get off their crutches. However, this is an important issue that I won’t stop crusading against. Sugar could have been the death of me. As a result of being refined (very important, might I add) sugar-free for over a month (one of my resolutions for this year), I’ve noticed so many physical improvements.

And let’s not forget the street cred.

“You don’t do sugar? Wow, you have will-power. You are so strong.”

Others bench press 200 pounds.

Me? I don’t eat sugar.