Let's Talk about ME!

About a month before we came to Taiwan, I began a journey to creating a healthier and stronger me! Prior to this, I had tried dozens of times to reshape my body and retrain my eating habits. Each time, the "project" of dieting and exercise lasted no more than 2-3 weeks. This time, to set myself up to win I did two things: I shared with my hubby and kids about my intention to get healthy, which included reducing my 230+ cholesterol level, and I enrolled the support of a good friend who owns a Spin studio in South Pasadena.

Though I was a bit hesitant to declare a weight or a BMI goal, the shared vision in my training became creating a "long & lean" physique.  Spinning 2-3 times each week at The Cycle Annex and working out with Brandon on the ass-kicking TRX system, my body started to transform. Clothes fit a little looser, and my body felt a little tighter. Johnny (my hubby) looks a little longer, and heads turned a bit more often. THREE WEEKS!!

Although the training at the Annex has been postponed since my month in Taiwan, the discipline and coaching continues. The challenge set forth of finding a gym was done with urgency and the commitment to doing at least an hour of cardio 5 times a week became my personal goal. A week into my trip in Taiwan, I felt so strong that I declared to run a half marathon in October. Running a full marathon has always been something in my bucket list which now I intend to cross off by mid-2013!

Mother's Day 2012

July 9, 2012

Today!

Since setting my sights on the Rock n Roll Half Marathon, my training has shifted to running 3 miles 4 times a week, and 5 miles one day a week.  I giggle every time I run on the treadmill thinking just how resistant I was in the past to running. I laugh nervously when I complete my miles at the thought of the rigorous training that awaits me back in South Pas when I return to LA. While my trainer coaches me to not step on the scale too often, I sigh in relief that although muscle weighs more than fat, I am only a couple of pounds shy of my pre-preggy weight!! Yes!!!

Most of all I celebrate the possibility of being a stronger, sexier, and a more stellar woman. I beam at the knowledge that my sons see my hard work and share in seeing my hard work yield direct results.

I think about my beloved friend Paula Vento and how she transformed herself and even completed a mini-triathalon before she passed away. I hope to inspire people just as she did in her daily commitment to herself, and it's in her amazing spirit and name that I dedicate my training and run in October. I miss you my friend. Thank you for being my inspiration!

Paula & me

Batter Up!

Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the park,
Buy me some shriiimp chips and shaved ice,
I don't care if I never have rice.
So it's jia-yio, jia-yio for the Lions,
If they don't win it's a shame.
Cuz it's one! two! three strikes you're zai-jian...
At the old ball game!

Professional baseball in Taiwan feels more like an MLB training camp game. People who are really tied emotionally to the team or to a particular player go all-out crazy cheering for their idol! There are noisemakers, horns, bass drums, taiko drums, tubas, trumpets, trombones! Cheers are woven together and are fun to listen to even if I can't make out all that they are saying!

There are no cracker jacks here in the stadium, but a wide assortment of shaved milk-ice, noodle stands, and favorite Taiwanese chips and snacks.

A walk down memory lane - two of my favorites growing up in Taiwan!

 One of the fans who found out we were from the States asked me what are the major differences between baseball in the two countries. The biggest difference is how so very inexpensive it is to go to a game in Taiwan. The best seats (field level baseline seats) cost us 300NT (approximately $10) per ticket. Snacks there average $2 (ice cream sandwiches at the Big A in Anaheim run $6/each).

What a great evening, steaming in humidity and 86-degree weather, cheering on our very own Ryan Edell. Ryan is a left-handed pitcher and a personal hero of my boys. He is such a talented and kind ball player, but more importantly, he is an amazing, giving, loving friend. We were beaming and smiling ear to ear with each pitch Ryan threw. So very proud of what he's creating here in Taiwan!

A fun tradition for the 7-Eleven Lions is that each time a player hits a home run, the team throws up a stuffed doll in celebration. Micah caught a hold of one of these dolls that night, and the minute the doll was in his possession, he screamed, "GET BACK" to all the kids rushing at his direction and immediately curled into a ball (kind of reminded me of an armadillo).

So we are committed to creating amazing experiences for all of us. While it's still a void in my heart from being away from home, it's moments like this evening and all the events leading up to that which makes the sacrifices worthwhile.  A favorite photo from this day is below - a picture that captures the reason we are 6,500 miles away from our home - my hubby - and all the support system that eagerly await our return. We love each and every one of you!!

A Bit of Normalcy

Never thought I'd weep at the sight of a salad bar, but I did today. There is some comfort in knowing the ingredients in my meal, and today's meal was very measurable - salad, soup, steak, fish, vegetables.

Glorious salad!

French Onion soup & garlic bread

Typical entrance to the subway.

Yes, the Taiwanese does throw a little twist in the way a steak dinner is prepared, but I welcomed the familiar juices of a medium rare filet paired with sweet roasted carrots.

And of course, in a city where public transportation is the only way to travel, it's not uncommon to walk 15-20,000 steps a day. The boys and I avoid the escalators and target steps as often as we can to balance out our meals!  ;)

Stinky Tofu, Pigs' Blood Cake, and so much more...

Imagine a four-foot-wide pathway, people packed moving in a single-file line, their heads bobbing left and right to take in the carts that line each side of the path, with a myriad of scents and sounds filling the air! This in a nutshell, is the notorious Taiwanese Night Market.

There are many many night markets around town, some more famous than others. One constant is that the foods are unusual (to us Americans) and cheap cheap cheap!

 Marinated duck heads, wings, legs, entrails...yum!

Time to eat!

 Every night market will have at least one STINKY TOFU vendor. And when I say it's stinky, it IS stinky!

 Love how the sausage lady has her ipod on and is jamming to the beat!

 Raw chicken hearts, kidneys, and liver on a skewer. You choose what you want, and they'll grill and season it for you on the spot!

 The black blocks are a very famous Taiwanese snack - Pig Blood Cake. Pig's blood is mixed with rice and cut into coagulated cakes. The most famous way of preparing this is to steam the skewer and then cover it with peanut powder, cilantro and soy sauce paste.

Eat up!!

And They're Off!!!

This is our first year registering the boys for official "summer school" here in Taiwan. We opted to go with 國語日報, aka Mandarin Daily News (a Taiwan institution for providing newspapers for school-aged children, similar to Scholastic back in the States). Apparently, so did the rest of the world, including a boy from Jonah's elementary school back in Arcadia!

The hallways were jam packed with children of the United Nations. I saw dads wearing yarmulkes, moms conversing in Spanish, children speaking Italian, and dogs wearing kilts. It took no more than 10 minutes before the children realized that all of them shared one common thread - their ability to speak English. So of course, that was all anyone could hear - English being screamed in between the laughter as boys and girls begin their innate ability to make friends in strange environments.

Everyday, the boys will attend 1.5 hours of language and 1.5 hours of Chinese cultural art. One of my compliments to the Taiwanese culture is their school art projects. The end products are always so very cool. Today, Micah worked with clay sculpturing while Jonah worked with straws. Their end products were adorable Pokemon & Totoro characters and a seal made out of a single straw. Ahhh-mazing!

Both boys are making friends, and Micah's raised the interest of a cute half-Italian, half-Chinese gal from Italy. Mom is quickly teaching him that when a girl says hello, as a dude, he should always be courteous and respond. It's never too early to lay the foundation to treating girls with respect and care!
Definitely a two-thumbs up day all around!

Food Glorious Food...

The number of shops and restaurants here in Taipei makes Manhattan look like a deserted island. As if the storefronts were not enough, there are so many underground plazas and shopping centers just riddled with food courts with such culinary depth that we would have to spend days in each plaza just to enjoy all that there is to offer.  Here are just a snippet (which equals about 14% of the total number of restaurants within the food court) of the choices we can encounter in just one food court.

One of my favorite desserts: silken tofu, baby tapioca, peanuts cooked tender, all served with some simple syrup and ice!

A complete meal that costs 110NT (about $4).

Because bacon makes everything better.

A whole stand dedicated to fish cakes!

My consolation is that there is plenty of opportunities to walk in Taipei AND there is a gym in my complex! Now, if only I could fit through the door!

Operation Immersion

There is no doubt in my heart & mind that I am completely and utterly blessed!

The opportunity to spend the next five weeks in Taiwan so that my boys can be immersed in an environment of hearing and interacting in the Chinese language is beyond cool.  Other perks include hanging out with my parents and other extended family members, in addition to the amazing food that makes Taiwan the delicious country that she is to so many.

The first few days are always "key" in adjusting to the 15-hour time difference between Taiwan and California.  Strategic napping and staying busy is crucial in beating jet lag. Having only had 3 hours of sleep the night before we left on our trip, and an achy body due to a rigorous workout on the day of departure (which was awesome), meant that I did not sleep much on the plane. So of course, the scenario of getting one foot stuck in a toilet, straddling the space between the tub and the toilet, all the while struggling to keep from falling on my face... well that just did not surprise me.

Public transportation is robust in the capital city of Taipei; migrating through rush hour with under six hours of sleep in two days kind of looks like this:

Well it's the beginning of day #2 and waking up refreshed at 5AM local time to the sound of chirping birds and the plopping of raindrops from a summer tropical rain storm is perfect!! Thanks for joining us on our summer escapades! Can't wait to share with you what happens today!

My Dad.

I was asked to write a short bio about my dad for his upcoming role in a film. I have been constantly compared to him my entire life - for better or for worse. I thought I'd share with all of us how I see my papa:

Anthony Chang, son of an influential army officer, was born in the Chinese Hubei province and spent his first six years of life with hundreds of surrogate uncles who were under his father’s command.

A gifted writer and speaker, Anthony enjoyed the spotlight of being an articulate political science scholar and drama club member at the National Chenchi (political science) University.

Anthony immigrated to the US in the late 70s with his family and set aside his love for acting for twenty years, until an opportunity was presented to him to step in as producer and host of the first-ever LIVE phone-in talk show on Chinese cable television. Anthony has not only shared his talents on many radio shows, commercials, and films, but is a gifted storyteller and poet.

60 Seconds of Scavz Fun!

As we step closer to our official website launch, all the kinks, tweaks, improvements, feedbacks cannot slow down what Scavz.com is all about - freebies and fun!

Here is a glimpse into some of the pre-launch Scavz Hunts we've had throughout SoCal.

Thanks for LIKING us on Facebook (if you haven't, do to facebook.com/scavz and click LIKE) and stay tuned for great things to come!

I am Not a Masochist

One of the definitions for masochist in Dictionary.com is gratification gained from pain. After a day of rest from BAR, I found myself looking forward to the pain as I headed to class with my friend Carolyn. Does this make me a masochist? Heck no!! How am I so sure? Well because about 6 minutes into my morning class, I found myself completely and utterly ungratified!

Today marks the third class of my 30-day adventure into the Bar Method, and I have to say, today was the most depressing day of the three. I think it was the combination of looking forward to the class, optimism of it being a bit easier to "get," and experiencing a mother of a back spasm about 20 minutes into the class. Whatever the reason, I find myself blogging with a gloom cloud over my head. They talk about a "runner's high." I wonder if today would be considered a "barrer's low?"

I'm still going to tough through it, take lots of ibuprofen (that's for you Sarah J!), and go to class tomorrow. Oh, by the way, if you want a free pass to try this out, let me know. Comment with your email or FB me!

COACH...Jennie?!

My husband Johnny is a basketball coach. I didn't know it at the time when I dated him, but he is a born coach. He's got all the fundamentals and skills, and he's got a coach's heart - he loves seeing players thrive and work hard, and he loves to drill, drill, drill!

Johnny coached a high school basketball team from 1999-2001. He took this team, which played in CYC & JAO (Japanese leagues) and took them from last place to first in just a year. And while he was doing that, I paced back and forth in the bleachers, with Micah in a Bjorn, cheering and jeering at the top of my voice. See, I knew my role...I was the wife of the coach, the screaming voice behind the man. Yep, I knew my role - I was Mrs. Coach and I was happy.

Fast forward 10 years later. It's around 7:30pm on a nippy Tuesday night - the first night of Micah's bball practice at PazNaz (our church), which runs a program with an organization called Upward. Practice was winding down, and as I waited for Micah, our youth pastor Nicole Johnson (who is a big major sweetheart), approached me to tell me that she hasn't been able to locate the gentleman who had volunteered to coach my son's team. I was just about to ask her if she wanted me to keep trying his number when she said these words, "Um...I was wondering if you could coach since you know basketball?!"

The "ME" 10 years ago would have jumped at the chance to save the day. Talk first then think about it and try to back out. But the 40-year-old me of today simply nodded in support and played the husband card - "Let me talk to Johnny and see how it'll fit into our schedule."

I was actually hoping Johnny might volunteer and then we'd be done. But when I spoke to him, he smiled and said that it would be good for me and that I'd have fun with it.

OK, so the hubby gave it a thumbs up, and I was interested, but I really felt unqualified and unequipped to step onto the court to teach anything.

Then I consulted another coach - the Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden - and this is what I read: "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

So after chatting it up with God and the youth pastor and the guy in charge of the coaches, I believe that I will now add "coach" onto my life's resume. However, this is how I'd define what a coach is:

Coach - (n.) - someone blessed enough to be in a position to train one or a group of followers who are open to receiving what you have to say and instruct. Someone who is humble enough to realize the delicate position they have been given. Someone who has lots of people praying for her!

Pain is in the Mind...and in my A**

There is a series of exercises in the Bar Method where we are asked to stand parallel to the bar (think ballerina), stand on our tippie-toes, place a rubber ball between our thighs, and squeeze - all the while maintaining a straight back, with our navel tucked in, our knees soft, and core strong. So in this tip-toe position we squeeze, and hold, and squeeze, and hold...and then we tuck and hold, and tuck and hold. Finally, we squeeze and tuck, squeeze and tuck...and then we h--o--l--d (while squeezing and tucking).

On the first day, this exercise series was tough. On the second day, this exercise series was hell! That's right, I'm not ashamed to admit that I almost passed out from the pain. I tried to use that mind-over-matter thing, but no image of my hard, strong, bikini body could mask the excrutiating pain ripping through my hamstrings. Passing out would have been a release but all twelve students stood their ground - stood in their tip-toes, with every muscle tucked, squeezed, and held.

Carolyn and I waddled to our cars after class, cracking up at the amount of breathing we did, comparing the inhales and exhales to our experiences with Lamaze. We struggled to walk straight and sort of leaned against each other while walking as a form of mutual support in body and spirit.

We are welcoming the rest day we have tomorrow, and then it's back to the gym for more tucking, squeezing and holding. We invite you to join...just remember to be clear on why you're coming...because you're gonna need the distraction!

The BAR Method

While the college student or the newly-employed Yuppie may define the BAR Method as an age-old technique in picking up a date at the local pub; for the forty-year-old in search of her thirty-year-old body, the BAR Method is a form of exercise that puts the posing for senior portraits to shame - now tuck here, tilt there, a little shift to the left, point your chin to the right a little more... The BAR Method combines a ballerina's dance bar, a rubber ball, a mat, and your tippy toes to make you hurt in areas you never thought possible.

I am what my husband calls, "a social exerciser." I exercise for the social aspects. Thus, classes with friends are the best way for me to get up off my bootie. So at this time, I want to give a shout out to my friend Carolyn. I agreed to go to the class for a month as a way to celebrate her birthday. She wanted a stronger body, and well, I just wanted to find my body. In fact, the answer I wrote in on the questionnaire at class which asked, "are there any limitations that would prevent you from properly completing your exercises in class?" was "the rolls around my waist may keep me from bending forward completely."

So after completing the questionnaire, handing over my coupon for a free class, and hanging from a bar for 30 seconds (it's required before starting class), I allowed a peppy yet strong instructor named Jen guide me in breaking down muscles in my legs, calves, abs, ass, and arms for 60 minutes. For an hour, I felt like a ballerina, an old lady, and the new spokesperson for Jello Jigglers! But apparently, a shakey leg is a good thing in this class because it shows off the fact that we are now working muscles we've never worked before!

Before the class started, my inspired girlfriend alerted me that her goal was to come 5 days a week! 5-days-straight-a-week!!! Being a good friend, I nodded in agreement while thinking, "yeah, girl, 5-days-a-week... by yourself!"

During the class, all I could say in between my labored breathing was, "Seriously?! 5 days a week?!"

After the class, my still-inspired girlfriend raised her hand and asked the instructor in her oh-so-amazingly-composed-voice, "how many times a week would you suggest we exercise each week?"

So for now, we will attend two days on, one day off for the next month. The girls in the online success stories all testify that transformation happens in a month. Well, I think I'm overachieving cuz I've already been transformed! This morning, I was able to lift my legs. Now, after the workout, I no longer can ANYTHING!

Well, I'll keep you posted...oh! You are free to join me anytime!!

Joy!

I love the twinkle lights our church hangs during this time of year. Strands of 12-foot lights climb up & down our sanctuary walls. I love staring at the lit garland twirling around the balcony railings while the worship songs play, at the poinsettias tiered to resemble Christmas trees.

This morning we worshipped to a medley of songs incorporated into the story of Christ's birth and in that time I found myself filled with joy. Tears flowing down a face donning a silly grin. Joy. Hands lifted as high as I could reach. Joy. Eyes transfixed on the twinkling lights. Joy.

Here's wishing you all this Joy during this amazing season. God bless you!

I Remember...

I forget that I love my kids sometimes - especially on days when the big one realizes that his binder "may" have fallen out of the car because he didn't bother picking it up when it slip off the car seat, or when the little one decides to punch his friend because the friend wouldn't admit he was out in punchball.

I forget to love my kids on mornings when we're running late or in the afternoons when they forget that they are not arch-rivals who are set out to out-bicker one another.

I forget to love my kids because they're too busy to hug me or I'm too busy to praise them.

I forget...

But right now, at this moment, I remember.

I remember just how cuddly they still are, and in spite of their big-boy-smell, they are still babies at heart and I am still their hero.

I remember just how fast the time has passed and how fast time will travel going forward.

I remember that my children are God's gifts to me, and I am but a steward of His grace.

I remember now...and for that, I am grateful.

The Promised Land

"I may not get there with you but I want you to know that we as a people will get to the promised land."

A sobering visit to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis situated right at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated. Besides a slightly-tacky 10-foot plastic wreathe over

Room 306, there is nothing else that brings attention to the "man" that was Dr. King.

The "dream" that became the legacy of Dr. King, however, was plenty evident: people of all walks of life, of nations, of religious beliefs, strolling through the grounds of this motel-turned-museum, turning what was the site of his death into a playground for those who are in the "promised land."

Walking through the exhibits and browsing through the books that are housed in this location reminds each visitor of what may have been forgotten or taken for granted over the years since we first learned about this man & his dream. Walking out of the exhibit, visitors stand a bit taller, taking bolder steps as they bring forth a refreshed spirit of not taking this "dream" for granted.

For our family, we leave knowing that we live each day in full expectation of equality because of the sacrifices made by simple folks like Dr. King. For this, we are eternally grateful.

There were plenty evidence, however, of tWhat this trip to the museum , this quote in the picture is the only other significant display of the "man" that was Dr. King. . Sure there were pictures and stories displayed throughout the museum; however, the most poignant reflection of King's heart was in the faces of those who took time out of their day to visit this monument.

Singing in the Rain

For two consecutive years, we've purposely included Lake Catherine, Arkansas, as a part of our travel itinerary. The lake is breathtaking - providing a vast playground for our boys (boating, kayaking, fishing) in the day, and an amazing scenic slideshow in the evening as the lake is blanketed with a delicious layer of fog that spritzes a refreshing coolness to all in its way.

More than the scenery, we value the time with our good friends - Johnny & Donna May. Johnny and Johnny met when Johnny Tang was in high school, and Johnny May was involved with a group called YoungLife. Not only is Johnny May still Johnny's mentor, he was also the one who officiated our wedding.

Our boys have also fallen in love with the Mays and their two dogs, Tucker & Sammy, and listen intently to the stories that they share with us.

Nature is a funny thing - spend a few days with her and all your inhibitions go out the window! Don't believe me?! Well, let me show you (this posted with the performer's permission, of course):

American Idols at Last

Purchasing the tickets to the American Idols Concert in Memphis was the turning point to planning our road trip. Before this "investment," we didn't have anything vested in the idea of spending the summer driving cross-country.

The concert was entertaining, and I don't think we've been to a nicer venue. Well, the venue itself was ordinary, but the staff who worked the concert were SOOOOO nice. One of our four seats happened to be behind the camera set up for the concert, so the staff relocated us onto the floor, about 15 rows from the stage, all the while trying to find us aisle seats so the kids can see, and then apologized for the inconvenience!!

The concert was average, taking the form of a countdown, starting with the 10th final contestant and working its way down to THE American Idol. Of course, Adam and all his posing stole the show; however, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta & Matt Giraud were very very fun to watch. The beginning of the concert was mellow; in fact, we looked down about 10 minutes into the concert and saw this (see picture to left):

Luckily, my Sleeping Beauty woke up just in time to gobble up his brother's popcorn and take in the piano-poundin' Matt Giraud.

Now that the show has come and gone, we are heading West more intently than ever. We are excited to visit with our friends, the Mays, in Lake Catherine Arkansas. After this visit, we will be dropping Johnny off in Albuquerque and then the boys and I will head back home, AT LAST!

Baby No More

Jonah is always going to be my baby boy, I know this for certain. Nonetheless, the thought of him losing that first baby tooth has always made me cringe. His baby teeth are tiny, just as he is in stature. It's part of that "cute" package that makes this little man so irresistible.

Deep inside me, not wanting him to lose his baby teeth was all about me trying to hold on to that baby which will inevitably grow up. But knowing this did not stop me from freaking out after he told me that his teeth were wiggly.

Jonah was in the process of biting into a waffle at the Waffle House in Tunica, Mississippi. He was copying Micah and eating the waffle without the use of his hands. He bit down onto the plate and said, "Ow!" I looked up and saw a spot of blood and nothing else where one of his wiggly teeth once occupied his mouth and yelled, "Nobody move!"

After looking on the plate and the table, I got down on my hands and knees to look on the ground. "Oh, there! No, that's just a piece of hash brown! Oh there...no, another bit of hash brown." 8 specks of hash brown, 3 crumbs, and 2 mysterious hairs later, I found the tooth. Tiny. Sharp. Alone.

Needless to say, the Tooth Fairy made her way into our hotel room;. Jonah's note to TF included a request for TF to leave the tooth for his grandma, and to leave an extra dollar for his brother. Well, after reading this very well-composed note, TF left Jonah with $5, PLUS an extra $1 for his brother.

Oh, she also left the tooth from G-Ma.

Day 25 - Heading East

We travel eastward on Highway 64 towards the shores of Virginia. In fact, we just dipped into Chesapeake Bay via a lengthy tunnel that allows the Navy subs and battleships to cross into Norfolk at their leisure.

Hundreds of gulls frolick above the blue waters of the bay as twilight welcomes the Tangs into their final leg of their road trip before heading back home.

We will spend a night in Chesapeak Bay, and drive the 10 minutes into Norfolk tomorrow to see which Navy vessels just happen to be in port. We shall then head to Virginia Beach where we will spend three days just getting to know the Atlantic Ocean and celebrate Johnny's birthday. Having grown up with the Pacific Ocean as our neighbor, and having walked upon the fine sands of the Gulf of Mexico, we eagerly await the opportunity to impress our footprints on the sandy shores of the Atlantic.

Although we will begin our journey westward in a few days, our road trip adventures will hardly cease. On our list of stops will be Durham, NC (made famous by the Kevin Costner-Susan Sarandon movie Bull Durham (yes, we'll stop off at the ballpark), Nashville, Tunica (Mississippi), and Memphis, TN, for the American Idols concert.

If you know of places we "MUST" stop at, please feel free to email me at mrsarcadia@gmail.com, or find me on Facebook!

Perfect timing, our exit's coming up! Have a good night y'all!