A Day
January 10th, 2025. Friday.
7:30AM. I woke up and got up. Drank water and went to the bathroom to take a dump. It always felt good to do that in the morning, as if all the waste from yesterday was thrown out of my body, and I was ready for a new day today. Then I washed my face.
7:45AM. I drank more water, and put some coffee in the filter. Filled in the water tank, and pressed the button to brew my morning coffee. I put on my shorts and shirt, and sneakers. I went downstairs to the gym to walk for 20 minutes. I was not going to run or to step on the stairmaster today, because later I would go to see John for a boxing session.
8:15AM. I got back to the apartment. When I opened the door, the smell of fresh coffee has already permeated the entire room. I was thinking to myself — that’s the way I like to start my morning. The way I always liked and dreamed. It reminds me of the time when I first came to the states just for visiting in 2013. I woke up in the hostel and walked down to the lobby, and for the first time I smelled coffee in the morning. That was such a strange thing to me, because back home majority of people do not drink coffee in the morning. However, I had already dreamed about it, and at that moment, the imagination became true, and I was obsessed with it ever since.
9:45AM. I got everything ready, and headed out to John’s gym. It was my first time there. I hopped on the lightrail, got off at Hoboken terminal, and walked a few blocks along the Observer Highway. I had never been that area. Maybe once or twice I passed there by bus, but never actually walked there. The building John’s new gym is at is actually a very very cool old building, like those old factory buildings. I immediately regretted that I left my new camera at home. The weather was perfect, the sky was blue, and those old brick buildings were erecting there, like some sort of monument. Hoboken does have some buildings like this. Another one I had been to is the one where I had deep tissue massage, which is not far from my home.
10:30AM. I started training. The gym looked very dope, and I can tell Johnny poured all his heart into that place. It was smaller than what I expected, but it was very nice, especially in such a cool building. The training went well as usual. I always felt very happy after boxing sessions. My mood was always uplifted afterwards. Not sure if it’s because of the sound of gloves hitting the bag, or because of John’s personality and encouragement, or something else. Or maybe just the boxing itself.
12PM. I went back to my apartment and immediately started eating food, because I was hungry already. Same plain food, but I finished quickly this time. Didn’t feel very sleepy, but somehow I had no idea what to do next, so I laid on the bed and scrolling my phone. After a while I took a nap.
3:30PM. After finished my meal, I started meal prepping and cooking the chicken. I didn’t have to, because I still had enough chicken. I could cook them tomorrow. But thinking tomorrow I would train in the morning and do cardio in the afternoon, and I had nothing else to do today, I decided to cook them this afternoon. Cutting chicken is always a chore, and I had reduced the labor for meal prepping to the minimal level. Now I don’t “velvet” them — meaning soaking them in water with baking soda. It didn’t make too much difference if I’m not going to add a lot of starch when cooking, I think. I also assembled the new wall hanger I ordered from IKEA. I use it more as a decoration — it looks like modernized tree branches. I love having those things at home that give out a hint of inspiration from nature, but also have a modern twist.
6:30PM. I picked up my packages from the front desk. My Jay Cutler’s signed photo has been delivered! Now I just need to order some UV protection film so I can hang it on the wall. After finishing the meal, I clipped my hair and took a shower.
That’s pretty much it, and now, 7:30PM, I’m sitting in front of my computer and writing this. I don’t know why I want to write down this. Maybe just want to record this normal day in the winter break. I thought, this is the life I want. I have a beautiful home, the home I had always dreamed of since I was little when I was flipping through IKEA catalog. I thought, this is also the life I had dreamed of. The smell of morning coffee, the light rail, the city. I suddenly enjoy this loneliness, or being alone. No one is interrupting me. This is my life.
