So, in an effort to try and force myself to lift more, and get in better shape, I'm going to start posting my lifts, to see if I can improve week to week, Currently:
Bench press : Max of 185 for 2 reps, 135 3 sets of 8 reps.
Incline bench : 3 sets of 8, 95 lb (God I'm weak.)
Curl: 3 sets of 10, 45 per arm.
Tricep extension: 3 sets of 8, warmup on plate 8, 2nd on plate 9, 3rd on plate 11.
Skull crushers: Preacher bar 35 lbs, 3 sets of 8 crushes.
Leg press: 3 sets of 10 @ ~ 300 lb's
Calf extension: 3 sets of 8 with 2 45lb plates on.
Shoulder roll: 3 sets of 8, 50 lb per arm.
Front Fly: 3 sets of 8, 30 lbs per arm.
Side Fly: 3 sets of 8, 40 lbs per arm.
Shoulder press/Military press: 3 sets of 8 35lb per arm.
I don't expect it to change a ton per week, but I do hope to see a bit more, or at least push myself farther. The next time I go lifting (probably Saturday afternoon) I'll make sure to push it as far and as hard as I can to see if my max's are any different then what I've seen so far.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Bass Guitar...
So, a couple weeks ago I bought a bass guitar. The reason being, it seemed like a fun thing to learn, and I'm too retarded to learn chords on a regular guitar. I played with it for a bit when I got home, and I have fallen in love with the damn thing.
I don't play as often as I should, or as much as I like, but I've gotten to the point where I can get through a song reasonably well, if I practice enough. Here's a list of the songs I've been playing lately, or at least trying to play...
Nutshell - Alice in Chains.
Untitled - Lead by Jay, Bass by Travis, Rhythm by Jason.
Machine Head - Bush
Wonderwall - Oasis
Nutshell and the song we've been working on together have been the funnest to play by far. Nutshell has this part where I slide down on my first string from fret 1 to fret 12, then quickly play a 12, 11, step to the 2nd string, 12, 3rd string 12, then a quick 9/10 slide. It sounds so incredibly amazing that I ended up just playing that part for a good 15 minutes last time me and Jay jammed together.
Jay has really kind of been the one that gets me motivated to play, most of the time it's him wanting to play, I still feel like I'm not good enough to really play music, although Jay and Jason have been showing me different. I will admit that I have a hard time actually coming up with stuff for the song we've been writing, but Jason taught me a few handy hints that help me come up with stuff to play, that and I'm somewhat learning to play by ear. Nowhere near as good as a professional, but I'm slowly learning.
Our goal is to get the song recorded on Jays computer or something, and then maybe I'll upload it to myspace for fun. But first, we need to write lyrics for it. Jason seems to be the best at that, but I think I'm going to throw my hat in, and see if I can come up with something.
I don't play as often as I should, or as much as I like, but I've gotten to the point where I can get through a song reasonably well, if I practice enough. Here's a list of the songs I've been playing lately, or at least trying to play...
Nutshell - Alice in Chains.
Untitled - Lead by Jay, Bass by Travis, Rhythm by Jason.
Machine Head - Bush
Wonderwall - Oasis
Nutshell and the song we've been working on together have been the funnest to play by far. Nutshell has this part where I slide down on my first string from fret 1 to fret 12, then quickly play a 12, 11, step to the 2nd string, 12, 3rd string 12, then a quick 9/10 slide. It sounds so incredibly amazing that I ended up just playing that part for a good 15 minutes last time me and Jay jammed together.
Jay has really kind of been the one that gets me motivated to play, most of the time it's him wanting to play, I still feel like I'm not good enough to really play music, although Jay and Jason have been showing me different. I will admit that I have a hard time actually coming up with stuff for the song we've been writing, but Jason taught me a few handy hints that help me come up with stuff to play, that and I'm somewhat learning to play by ear. Nowhere near as good as a professional, but I'm slowly learning.
Our goal is to get the song recorded on Jays computer or something, and then maybe I'll upload it to myspace for fun. But first, we need to write lyrics for it. Jason seems to be the best at that, but I think I'm going to throw my hat in, and see if I can come up with something.
Staying in Salt Lake City...
The past few weeks have been very hard for me. I've been wrestling with a few weighty decisions, and it's been making every aspect of my day somewhat different then normal.
My first decision was that I need to stay in Salt Lake. I have a few very good friends, who are actually better guys then most of my older friends, and I have a good job...at least for now, who knows what could happen 6 months down the road. This decision was a tug of war for the last month, between wanting to be with my dad, and wanting to stay with my friends.
In the end, I realized that someday I would have to grow up. As much as my father loves me, he won't want me to live with him forever, and I need a chance to grow. So far it's been a pretty fun experience. Me and Jay don't hate each other, in fact, we've hung out quite a bit the last few days, which most of my friends who have roommates don't do. We still get our time to ourselves, and that's good, because I think everyone needs to just chill and be by themselves for a while.
My other decision, was that I need to go to school. Not just want to, I need to. I can't live this life that I'm living, uneducated, even though I'm smart enough to make it without college, I feel like I'm uneducated in social aspects, as well as educational aspects. I hope that getting out, and going to class, I might meet some people to hang out with, maybe go to a few parties, and relax, instead of being the way I have been, work, then home, then work again.
So, starting in the spring semester, I'm going to try to go for 12 credit hours a semester, every semester. hopefully I can knock my degree out within the next 3 years or so.
Anyways, just giving a little update as to what's going on with me.
My first decision was that I need to stay in Salt Lake. I have a few very good friends, who are actually better guys then most of my older friends, and I have a good job...at least for now, who knows what could happen 6 months down the road. This decision was a tug of war for the last month, between wanting to be with my dad, and wanting to stay with my friends.
In the end, I realized that someday I would have to grow up. As much as my father loves me, he won't want me to live with him forever, and I need a chance to grow. So far it's been a pretty fun experience. Me and Jay don't hate each other, in fact, we've hung out quite a bit the last few days, which most of my friends who have roommates don't do. We still get our time to ourselves, and that's good, because I think everyone needs to just chill and be by themselves for a while.
My other decision, was that I need to go to school. Not just want to, I need to. I can't live this life that I'm living, uneducated, even though I'm smart enough to make it without college, I feel like I'm uneducated in social aspects, as well as educational aspects. I hope that getting out, and going to class, I might meet some people to hang out with, maybe go to a few parties, and relax, instead of being the way I have been, work, then home, then work again.
So, starting in the spring semester, I'm going to try to go for 12 credit hours a semester, every semester. hopefully I can knock my degree out within the next 3 years or so.
Anyways, just giving a little update as to what's going on with me.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Oppression and Misery...
Firstly, you will have to forgive me, this entire blog will be affected by music as I write it, as I write this, I'm currently listening to Imogen Heap.
So, today I read an article that I found really interesting...Two of them actually. They kind of made me think about things, and the way I think. The website is called Cracked.com, it is very sarcastic, but a lot of the time their articles are actually well researched, and paid attention to...Let's discuss the first blog...
Iron Maiden.
6 Brainwashing techniques they're using on you right now
This article has 6 different things they use right now to influence the way we think...I mean, granted, I knew most of them to an extent, but I never really paid attention...it was more of...
Eminem.
Anyways, I always kind of thought on the topic for a few moments before something more important came up...like a person walking across the crosswalk I was about to pass through, you know, things that kind of take precedence over the topic on my mind. I started reading this topic, and I truly realized how evil people can be. Think about it, have you ever been at the mall, walking around, and someone asks if they can ask you a few questions for a study they're doing? Chances are, you helped them find out what brainwashes us. And it truly works...once you read some of the different ways they accomplish this, you'll...
Mindless Self Indulgence.
You'll be amazed, because it truly works. Most of it utilizes the primitive sides of our brain, such as following others, us being naturally a pack animal, when we were cavemen, if you didn't go with the crowd, you would be ostracized, which would mean no food, no sex (which passes on your genes), no shelter, all very important things to a caveman...
Shiny Toy Guns.
So utilizing these different things, they can influence the way we act...So I've decided from now on, I'm going to do everything that I can to remain neutral, and not let myself be influenced by this brain-onslaught.
The second topic I read on was 7 reasons the 21st century is making you miserable
A lot of this makes sense too, and it all relates to the technology we have now. Texting, Ipods, forums, BLOGS, everything is a way to isolate yourself, and only allow yourself to be in contact with the things that you want to be in contact with. The internet allows us to surround ourselves with people that we don't really need to interact with...I mean, sure you'll be there to offer emotional support, but you'll never get a call from that guy/gal in Wisconsin needing you to help them move, or watch their kid, or anything like that. There is no obligation, we get the friends, without the stress of friendship.
Linkin Park.
What about the fact that none of those people can criticize you. Studies have been performed that inform us that one of the things we need most to grow as a person is critical analysis of ourselves. That person who comes up to tell you that you've disappointed people...that person that is able to see right through you, and hit that little spot that you were happy pretending wasn't even there...that spot that will make you feel like you want to melt into the ground, and not be noticed by anyone...any of this ringing a bell? I'm sure at one time or another we've all had a parent or friend do this. So, without this interaction, what will become of us?
I've decided that I'm going to try to become more neutral, I don't want to let myself be influenced by these base decisions that they try to force on us, and I definitely don't want to let technology make me miserable. My new goal is to always question things I see, and to interact with people more...actually interact. I'm going to text less, I'm going to talk to people more, I'm going to try and change these critical flaws that I see in myself.
So, today I read an article that I found really interesting...Two of them actually. They kind of made me think about things, and the way I think. The website is called Cracked.com, it is very sarcastic, but a lot of the time their articles are actually well researched, and paid attention to...Let's discuss the first blog...
Iron Maiden.
6 Brainwashing techniques they're using on you right now
This article has 6 different things they use right now to influence the way we think...I mean, granted, I knew most of them to an extent, but I never really paid attention...it was more of...
Eminem.
Anyways, I always kind of thought on the topic for a few moments before something more important came up...like a person walking across the crosswalk I was about to pass through, you know, things that kind of take precedence over the topic on my mind. I started reading this topic, and I truly realized how evil people can be. Think about it, have you ever been at the mall, walking around, and someone asks if they can ask you a few questions for a study they're doing? Chances are, you helped them find out what brainwashes us. And it truly works...once you read some of the different ways they accomplish this, you'll...
Mindless Self Indulgence.
You'll be amazed, because it truly works. Most of it utilizes the primitive sides of our brain, such as following others, us being naturally a pack animal, when we were cavemen, if you didn't go with the crowd, you would be ostracized, which would mean no food, no sex (which passes on your genes), no shelter, all very important things to a caveman...
Shiny Toy Guns.
So utilizing these different things, they can influence the way we act...So I've decided from now on, I'm going to do everything that I can to remain neutral, and not let myself be influenced by this brain-onslaught.
The second topic I read on was 7 reasons the 21st century is making you miserable
A lot of this makes sense too, and it all relates to the technology we have now. Texting, Ipods, forums, BLOGS, everything is a way to isolate yourself, and only allow yourself to be in contact with the things that you want to be in contact with. The internet allows us to surround ourselves with people that we don't really need to interact with...I mean, sure you'll be there to offer emotional support, but you'll never get a call from that guy/gal in Wisconsin needing you to help them move, or watch their kid, or anything like that. There is no obligation, we get the friends, without the stress of friendship.
Linkin Park.
What about the fact that none of those people can criticize you. Studies have been performed that inform us that one of the things we need most to grow as a person is critical analysis of ourselves. That person who comes up to tell you that you've disappointed people...that person that is able to see right through you, and hit that little spot that you were happy pretending wasn't even there...that spot that will make you feel like you want to melt into the ground, and not be noticed by anyone...any of this ringing a bell? I'm sure at one time or another we've all had a parent or friend do this. So, without this interaction, what will become of us?
I've decided that I'm going to try to become more neutral, I don't want to let myself be influenced by these base decisions that they try to force on us, and I definitely don't want to let technology make me miserable. My new goal is to always question things I see, and to interact with people more...actually interact. I'm going to text less, I'm going to talk to people more, I'm going to try and change these critical flaws that I see in myself.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Happiness...
What is happiness dictated by? Is it from the love of your mate, or is it money? Is it family, and friends, or solitude?
Does it depend on the person? I know that what makes me happy, might not make another person happy...For example, I might enjoy video games, while another person might not. Some people find joy from looking at the large house they own, or the expensive car they drive, while others are dirt broke, and love renting a movie, and watching it.
Media, and books, etc, have always dictated that true happiness does not involve money. Why? Why is it always made out to be bad because you're happy about your money? Is that really considered conceited? Why is it so bad to be proud of the things you have worked so long to obtain?
Maybe I say this because I don't know what makes me happy in life? Maybe I've reached a point, where this fire has destroyed a major portion of my life, my laptop is gone, my ipod, tv, etc. are gone, all the pictures my family had are gone...that I realize none of that stuff made me happy. In fact, I can't remember the last time I was truly happy, without something to ruin it for me.
Is it because I don't have the right priorities? Or that I don't know what makes me happy? Is it because I'm not very religious, I don't attend church every sunday, and I'm in an area, surrounded by people too? Sometimes I feel a spiritual void here, yet when I go back home, I feel spiritually refreshed. Jay told me that perhaps it was because Idaho is home for me, and that there's something there I can't attain here...perhaps that's it?
I suppose I'm just tired of being un-happy. Maybe it's just the point in my life I'm at right now, my metaphorical plate is pretty damn full right now, and has been lately. I think I just need to get away for a while?
Does it depend on the person? I know that what makes me happy, might not make another person happy...For example, I might enjoy video games, while another person might not. Some people find joy from looking at the large house they own, or the expensive car they drive, while others are dirt broke, and love renting a movie, and watching it.
Media, and books, etc, have always dictated that true happiness does not involve money. Why? Why is it always made out to be bad because you're happy about your money? Is that really considered conceited? Why is it so bad to be proud of the things you have worked so long to obtain?
Maybe I say this because I don't know what makes me happy in life? Maybe I've reached a point, where this fire has destroyed a major portion of my life, my laptop is gone, my ipod, tv, etc. are gone, all the pictures my family had are gone...that I realize none of that stuff made me happy. In fact, I can't remember the last time I was truly happy, without something to ruin it for me.
Is it because I don't have the right priorities? Or that I don't know what makes me happy? Is it because I'm not very religious, I don't attend church every sunday, and I'm in an area, surrounded by people too? Sometimes I feel a spiritual void here, yet when I go back home, I feel spiritually refreshed. Jay told me that perhaps it was because Idaho is home for me, and that there's something there I can't attain here...perhaps that's it?
I suppose I'm just tired of being un-happy. Maybe it's just the point in my life I'm at right now, my metaphorical plate is pretty damn full right now, and has been lately. I think I just need to get away for a while?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
B-b-b-bumping...
So,
Fracking Jay from work got me into this...We'll see how long I can keep this up before I get tired of writing in it all the time, I've never been good at keeping one of these up...
Anyways,
On Tuesday I decided to have Josh (a friend from work) help me install the sound system in my car (I have a '94 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS, she's my baby!). That was an interesting battle...I got there around noon, my dual 12" Audiobahn subs and 760 watt Pioneer Amp safely tucked in the back, walked into his apartment, and immediately the envy hit me...47" plasma 1080P tv with his computer hooked up to it?! The nerd in me orgasmed immediately.
We decided to roll out in his 350Z and check out some decks for my car, and stop to get a sandwich along the way. A bit of a sidetrack, but the one thing I hate about Utah, is the fact that I'm in the prime of my life, walking around, taunted by all of these young girls wearing shorts that should be considered denim bikinis, and I know that I can't do anything about it, because of their damn morals...Damn you MORALS!!!
When we got back to his house, the fight began. Round 1, Josh V. Baby. Josh goes in through the engine, he see's a a shroud, looks like he might be going in through the shroud, he prepares for the blow, OH, Baby deals a nice razor cut to the finger! Josh is bleeding a little, the curse words not far from his lips, he steps back, looks around, and...wait, is he walking away?! Could Baby already be victorious? No, he's back in the ring with some soapy water! Now he's pushing the wire through...pushing, looks like he's having no luck...turning redder...Baby just keeps up that solid defense in the shroud...And he's given up, we're going through the doooooor! BABY WINS ROUND ONE! *DING DING DING*
After we decided to go through the door, it was time to get the battery wire under the carpeting, which was fairly simple, a few snaps of pins, and pushing it under the carpet, then snapping it back into place, and we were done with that step...after that, it was time to pull out the seat...here is where the other fun part started. The back of the eclipse is...well...not the roomiest of places, if you're a midget with no legs. Now, Josh being a full grown man, it was even more cramped. This part had him crouched on the soles of his feet for an hour in an indian squat stance, as he ran wires through, crimped, and snapped things into place behind my back seat. I got him water, and other such things needed (that pretty much was my whole job there), and he kept at it, like a real trooper, and finally we had the battery wire plugged into the amp, and it was time for the remote wire.
The remote wire needs to go from the amp, to the back of the stereo deck, so it was time to take apart the console. Josh started unscrewing like a madman, his little electric drill screaming hot, and whining non stop as he unscrewed, unscrewed, unscrewed. 16 screws later, he realized something...the console wasn't coming out...it seemed to be because of 2 screws behind the central a/c vent. No problem, let's just pull out my handy 20$ Chilton manual, which contains every diagram of the car exploded out so you can see EXACTLY how a part goes together! (Neat, huh?) Anyways, we look at that, and he see's where the screws are, and how to open the vent, so he begins to do that, pulls it out, and see's those little bastards. Then realizes something. "Oh." *Josh grabs plastic covering in front of CD player, and pops it out* "That was easy"...I would have started to doubt his skillz, until I realized that he had to take everything apart anyways, so he could run the remote wire.
Cut forward to 5:30, and we're just finishing. Time to Crank...it...UP! I prepare to blast off, and we start the music up...nothing. Perhaps a weak hearted thump here and there...but other than that...nothing. Josh gets out, checks the back, and begins trouble shooting..."Maybe it's the deck..." "Maybe it's this wire..." "Maybe it's the amp..."...Well, the only thing that would make sense would be...yes, the amp...The most crucial part of the damn system is broken.
1 trip to Wal-mart later, 1 crappy amp bought, and at least 3 "Daymmmmmmnnn"s from me and Josh staring at the girls flaunting things they shouldn't flaunt, and we're back at my car, putting the amp back in...Lo and behold, bumping begins...granted, not the best bumping in the world, because of my crappy Clarion deck, but bumping none-the-less. We close it up, start putting everything back in, and go for the epic High-five in the setting sun...Not really. I wanted to, but Josh would have thought I was gay. Back in to listen to some music, play some vidja games for a minute, then head off to another friends for a fun filled night of Rainbow six, Halo 3, and NCAA, all whilst eating pizza and mocking each other relentlessly.
Fracking Jay from work got me into this...We'll see how long I can keep this up before I get tired of writing in it all the time, I've never been good at keeping one of these up...
Anyways,
On Tuesday I decided to have Josh (a friend from work) help me install the sound system in my car (I have a '94 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS, she's my baby!). That was an interesting battle...I got there around noon, my dual 12" Audiobahn subs and 760 watt Pioneer Amp safely tucked in the back, walked into his apartment, and immediately the envy hit me...47" plasma 1080P tv with his computer hooked up to it?! The nerd in me orgasmed immediately.
We decided to roll out in his 350Z and check out some decks for my car, and stop to get a sandwich along the way. A bit of a sidetrack, but the one thing I hate about Utah, is the fact that I'm in the prime of my life, walking around, taunted by all of these young girls wearing shorts that should be considered denim bikinis, and I know that I can't do anything about it, because of their damn morals...Damn you MORALS!!!
When we got back to his house, the fight began. Round 1, Josh V. Baby. Josh goes in through the engine, he see's a a shroud, looks like he might be going in through the shroud, he prepares for the blow, OH, Baby deals a nice razor cut to the finger! Josh is bleeding a little, the curse words not far from his lips, he steps back, looks around, and...wait, is he walking away?! Could Baby already be victorious? No, he's back in the ring with some soapy water! Now he's pushing the wire through...pushing, looks like he's having no luck...turning redder...Baby just keeps up that solid defense in the shroud...And he's given up, we're going through the doooooor! BABY WINS ROUND ONE! *DING DING DING*
After we decided to go through the door, it was time to get the battery wire under the carpeting, which was fairly simple, a few snaps of pins, and pushing it under the carpet, then snapping it back into place, and we were done with that step...after that, it was time to pull out the seat...here is where the other fun part started. The back of the eclipse is...well...not the roomiest of places, if you're a midget with no legs. Now, Josh being a full grown man, it was even more cramped. This part had him crouched on the soles of his feet for an hour in an indian squat stance, as he ran wires through, crimped, and snapped things into place behind my back seat. I got him water, and other such things needed (that pretty much was my whole job there), and he kept at it, like a real trooper, and finally we had the battery wire plugged into the amp, and it was time for the remote wire.
The remote wire needs to go from the amp, to the back of the stereo deck, so it was time to take apart the console. Josh started unscrewing like a madman, his little electric drill screaming hot, and whining non stop as he unscrewed, unscrewed, unscrewed. 16 screws later, he realized something...the console wasn't coming out...it seemed to be because of 2 screws behind the central a/c vent. No problem, let's just pull out my handy 20$ Chilton manual, which contains every diagram of the car exploded out so you can see EXACTLY how a part goes together! (Neat, huh?) Anyways, we look at that, and he see's where the screws are, and how to open the vent, so he begins to do that, pulls it out, and see's those little bastards. Then realizes something. "Oh." *Josh grabs plastic covering in front of CD player, and pops it out* "That was easy"...I would have started to doubt his skillz, until I realized that he had to take everything apart anyways, so he could run the remote wire.
Cut forward to 5:30, and we're just finishing. Time to Crank...it...UP! I prepare to blast off, and we start the music up...nothing. Perhaps a weak hearted thump here and there...but other than that...nothing. Josh gets out, checks the back, and begins trouble shooting..."Maybe it's the deck..." "Maybe it's this wire..." "Maybe it's the amp..."...Well, the only thing that would make sense would be...yes, the amp...The most crucial part of the damn system is broken.
1 trip to Wal-mart later, 1 crappy amp bought, and at least 3 "Daymmmmmmnnn"s from me and Josh staring at the girls flaunting things they shouldn't flaunt, and we're back at my car, putting the amp back in...Lo and behold, bumping begins...granted, not the best bumping in the world, because of my crappy Clarion deck, but bumping none-the-less. We close it up, start putting everything back in, and go for the epic High-five in the setting sun...Not really. I wanted to, but Josh would have thought I was gay. Back in to listen to some music, play some vidja games for a minute, then head off to another friends for a fun filled night of Rainbow six, Halo 3, and NCAA, all whilst eating pizza and mocking each other relentlessly.
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