I haven’t had much time to blog since my move, but already I can tell my new home is the perfect incubator for a long-overdue metamorphosis.

The new apartment itself is much more economical; and not just in “$:ft²”. Separating my office and living room allows (or rather, commands) me more focused attention during my stay in each. It’s a configuration where I might get shit done. Achieve goals. Meet deadlines. That is, if I had any. Still in my montage, but next year… Next year.
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Six weeks into my new fitness kick and I’m a little disappointed. I’ll lose ~5lbs one week, then gain them back the next. The good news is that I’ve been feeling better on the inside. That is, I have more energy, stamina, and I have a much more positive attitude. I just wish the signs of improvement were more visible on the outside as well.

I’ve been getting in 30-40min of cardio six days per week with some kind of lifting every other day. Of course I could be doing a a lot more of each, but I’m only now getting into the habit of doing them. Using MyFitnessPal, I’ve been tracking my intake, which has been a BIG help. I’ve been using the general rule of thumb that most fitness philosophies agree upon: Take in about 200 more calories than your daily Resting Metabolic Rate and burn 400 calories through exercise. Just about everything beyond that is just matching with exercise whatever additional calories you take in.
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Last night I had a dream so real that I wish it was.

In this dream, I participated in an online controversy. Somewhere amidst The Internet, some Tumblr tard posted some comically foolish remarks. They were likely sexist or racist or perhaps some SJW rhetoric. In response, a few internet comedians produced a video mocking the person for the nonsense he’d said.

Somehow, this lit up The Internet, generating a buzz across Twitter, message boards, and every social network imaginable. On one side, there were those who defended the first guy, regardless of what he said, marking him a victim of cyber-bullying and social oppression. Meanwhile, on the other side, there were folks who believed that the comedians were right in spotlighting the idiot and ridiculing him for his awful comments.
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This is just a quick update to help track my progress. As stated in the podcast, I have next to no goals for 2013. With exception of moving into a new apartment, attending a couple conventions, and (gods willing) lose 50lbs. This whole year is going to be my Rocky montage so that I can be in a position to contend against greater goals in 2014.

After two weeks, my “Get Off Your Ass and Move, Fatty!” fitness program is succeeding! I’ve lost 5lbs and I’m already feeling miles away from the gravity well of depression I was experiencing just a month ago.
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Hindsight is 20/20…or at least 20/25, I’d say. Certainly, there’s a clarity of focus; assuming there aren’t any obstructions or distortions to the lens.

One of my favorite subjects of study is human behavior and romance. To quote Doc Brown, “Time-traveling is just too dangerous. Better that I devote myself to study the other great mystery of the universe: Women.” The broader my comprehension expands, the more I look back and notice clues I’d failed to notice in the past. Apparently, there were quite a few girls in my teens and 20s that were into me–some quite overtly–but my ignorance and self-esteem blinded me to it. Read more

One recurring element in my dreams is that I will neglect pets. Often during the course of my dream’s main plot, I’ll have small pets of some kind. Most often, it’s rabbits (likely because I used to have caged rabbits growing up), but sometimes it’s hamsters or mice or occasionally small cats.

At some point, I’ll realize that I’ve grossly neglected them–I’ll have not fed them for days or changed their litter for weeks. The animals will be sick or at least crazed in desperation to survive. Naturally, the dream will mostly come to a halt as I’m washed over with guilt and scramble to take care of them. Read more

Dragon*Con was an affair to remember, without a doubt. Four days of non-stop partying and shaking hands with gods… It was like Mardi Gras for nerds.

It didn’t turn out to be the religious experience that I’d hoped, BUT it was a much-needed vacation. I don’t think I’ve had a true vacation in many, many years. My trip to Dragon*Con may not have inspired me with purpose, but has it rejuvenated me. It’s given me a joie de vivre that I’ve been missing and a hunger to seek out similar excitement in life. I suppose that may be the same as inspiration; even if I’m just chasing that dragon. Read more

I’ve been (mostly) consistent with my daily cardio workouts for about two weeks now. I missed a day or two when my original jump rope broke, but have since grabbed a much more reliable leather one (on Kevin’s recommendation).

I’m proud to find that my stamina’s noticeably increased! When I first started, I was barely able to get through three sets of 30 before crumpling into a mess of shame on the floor. I’m currently up to three sets of 30 in the morning before work, then five more sets when I get home from work. I only wish my appearance would start to catch up with how I feel. Read more

Last night I got the first good night’s sleep I’ve had in a while. I had some very fun, vivid dreams and woke up fairly rested. This needs to happen more often.

Much of my problem is that I don’t allow myself enough sleep. It’s not that I have trouble falling asleep; it’s that I have trouble going to bed. I get into something later in the evening and it turns into, “Well, maybe one more episode/level/chapter/whatever.” Next thing I know, it’s after midnight, I’m overstimulated, and I still gotta get up around 6:30 the next morning. Read more

Having run out of boxing movies in my Netflix Instant Queue, I turned to something more light-hearted: Hot Tub Time Machine. I’m a sucker for time travel stories and while this one was definitely silly, I respect its honesty in not trying to be anything different than what it knew it was. I can even appreciate the fourth-wall-breaking take to the camera at the mention of the movie’s title in-script.

The characters travel back, somewhat Quantum Leap-style, to their younger selves in the 1980s. This is actually a frequent daydreaming fantasy of mine. I’m not sure if it’s from nostalgia or regret, but I very regularly envision what it would be like if I could go back and relive the last 20-25 years of my life onward with the knowledge and experience I’ve gathered up until now. Read more