SVong-Along

Why did I do a DXA Scan?  I consider myself a physically healthy person- I try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, watch what I eat, and have at least 3 Lululemon items in my wardrobe. [Since I am a crazy person,] I also weigh myself constantly, and use an app linked to my  1byonewellness  scale to keep track of my body fat %. The app constantly tells me I am overweight (based on my BMI), so I wanted to do a truly accurate body composition test to see if my $20 scale is worth it and as a general diagnostic of my health. My sister suggested I try a DXA Scan. What is a DXA Scan? A DXA Scan (Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) is "the gold standard test for body composition," and uses an extremely small [less than 1/10 of a standard x-ray] radiation to determine bone density, fat, and muscle mass. (http://www.radiologyinfo.org) How did I book the Scan? I decided to do my scan with the UC Davis Sports Medicine Center in Sacramento, called the office, and sch...

Where do we come from?  Where do we go?  No, I'm not quoting "Cotton Eye Joe," but referring to questions that Dan Brown explores in his most recent novel, Origin. Origin is a thrilling fiction tale following Professor Robert Langdon as he journeys to Spain to solve riddles and ponder the controversial tale of how life began. Dan Brown is a master of pitting religion against science (read Angels & Demon, and basically every other one of his novels), and Origin is no exception. His books are generally formulaic: nerdy protagonist, crazy world-changing discovery/implication, hot chick, scary assassin, plot twist, and ending a chapter on a cliff-hanger. Although the plot was very predictable (maybe because I have read all 7 of his books), I enjoyed the story incorporating historical sites, recent pop-culture references, and page-turning writing. At the heart of Origin and what makes it so interesting is its theme debating how life began: "Just imagine what...

Touring the CA State Archives was like the Nicholas Cage movie "National Treasure" but more focused on California history (and no heist/theft... at least on my part.) Located a block away from the State Capitol building (in Sacramento), the State Archives is the storage place of government records, books, documents, and various artifacts. I along with four of my coworkers went on a tour for our office, and tours are generally open to the public on certain dates (including home schooled children). I figured it'd be the only time I'd check out the Archives, whereas my coworker Kelly was literally leaping with excitement, chattering about Constitutional debate documents. Our tour guide was very excited to be speaking with people other than his coworkers/happy to share his random knowledge of California [although he said not to trust some of the captions since Kelly found an error describing a Veteran's home in Sonoma County rather than her home county N...

I'm guessing that 98% of you didn't watch the California gubernatorial debate last night, but I also missed portions since I tuned in and out (I watched a portion of 6:30-7 PM but then switched to Jeopardy! from 7-7:30.) [Also, there is an upcoming election in California so register to vote !] Anyways, my friend Rachel shared an article by the SF Chronicle:   What have they sacrificed? Most California candidates fumble the question.  The question started off: “People and families across California are making big sacrifices to live here. Long commutes to work. Working two jobs. Going into debt to put their kids through college. In light of their sacrifices, what is the biggest sacrifice you have made in your life? ” Essentially, only ex-mayor of LA Antonio Villaraigosa had a relatable answer: he sacrificed time with family in pursuit of "wanting to change the world." Gavin Newsom said that our sacrifice should be "to take care of the next generation" [v...