Just realized I have been gong to the gym for three months now. Three months since changing my life's direction. I have made progress, not as much as I had hope for but I have something to show for. I've lost 18lbs, down to 212, only 22lbs to go to hit my ultimate goal. 12lbs to go to hit my goal in November. I'm still progressing with the Strong Lifts 5x5, although I have finally hit a failure with my overhead press at 100lbs. I have added a few extras to my gym workout, even started running again.
I haven't changed my eating habits much other than just reducing the amount I eat per meal. I reduced my soft drink intake, but unable to consistently remove it from my life.
Still taking GNC Mega Man ripped vitapak, but have to make sure I take the therno igniter 30 minutes before a workout or my skin breaks out in a rash on my arms and neck.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Sealing multi dimensional cracks in the shower
One of the first projects I tackled after moving in was the shower walls in the bathroom. Before there wasn't a shower, just a bathtub. My cousin had already installed the shower head but never did anything to the bare wood walls. He had the panels there at the house but never had a chance to put them up. I finished out the shower, following the instructions to seal all seams and thought I did a decent job at it.
Two years later everything that I did still looks great but the panel itself has developed tiny cracks in the decorative tile pattern in the "grout" lines. This is either because my bathroom sits in a doorway to another dimension or because the decorative coating is thinner in those areas. Not wanting to risk something escaping through the cracks into our world I asked Andrew at the hardware store what he would recommend to seal of these tiny portals.
Spent a couple hours caulking these grout lines to temporary fix the problem. This was only to prevent further damage to the walls, once I get caught up on a few other projects I'm planning on tearing the panels out and replacing them with fiberglass panels. Our maybe actual
Two years later everything that I did still looks great but the panel itself has developed tiny cracks in the decorative tile pattern in the "grout" lines. This is either because my bathroom sits in a doorway to another dimension or because the decorative coating is thinner in those areas. Not wanting to risk something escaping through the cracks into our world I asked Andrew at the hardware store what he would recommend to seal of these tiny portals.
Spent a couple hours caulking these grout lines to temporary fix the problem. This was only to prevent further damage to the walls, once I get caught up on a few other projects I'm planning on tearing the panels out and replacing them with fiberglass panels. Our maybe actual
High rise beds
Dad recently gave me a bed frame that belong to my grandfather. The frame is a full size so it required new mattress set since I only had queen sized sets. So away I went to get a new set to fit the frame. Few days later I have the new mattress and box spring in the house and everything ready to be set up. I put the bed together and discovered how ridiculously high it sits. You can barely set the head board.
Obviously new mattresses are not made to be used with the old wooden frames that is made hundred years ago. I don't have many options with fixing this other than returning the box spring for something extremely thin or modifying the frame. The side rails have a ledge on the inside for slats to sit that actually support the mattress. If I remove this ledge the mattress can sit lower than the bed frame on a modern metal frame. So I can have the keep the decorative frame and drop it down five inches to a more reasonable height. This will also make it where the weight isn't supported by the antique frame, reducing the risk of damage.
Obviously new mattresses are not made to be used with the old wooden frames that is made hundred years ago. I don't have many options with fixing this other than returning the box spring for something extremely thin or modifying the frame. The side rails have a ledge on the inside for slats to sit that actually support the mattress. If I remove this ledge the mattress can sit lower than the bed frame on a modern metal frame. So I can have the keep the decorative frame and drop it down five inches to a more reasonable height. This will also make it where the weight isn't supported by the antique frame, reducing the risk of damage.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
They're harboring refugee hipsters
Last night I went out on a date to Eldorado Arkansas. Was planning on showing off this little hole in the wall Italian restaurant I found several months ago but they were closed, gone on vacation. We wandered the streets of the square and found Black Cat witch I assume was a Mexican style restaurant that down played its own identity as one. We both ordered the chicken fried steak with mash potatoes, I do recommend the chicken fried steak, it was great, but the mash potatoes didn't rate all tat great, how can anyone mess up mash potatoes?
After dinner we walked the streets and alleys of the square. Eldorado has been known for the many music festivals it has hosted in recent years. The decorations around the square are a sight to see, 55gal drums recreated into works of art. I found the book exchange phone booths a unique touch, although I thought they should have been painted blue. I also notice the many coffee bars that are located within these few city blocks. Then it hit me, Eldorado is harboring refugee hipsters. These fashion and trend setting sub cultural people are far removed from their native lands. My female companion laughed at this assumption and then asked what exactly is hipster. I asked her to be patient with me. Within the next few minutes I found one in his natural habitat, in the coffee shop trying to ignore the two guys playing music near the door. We on the other hand enjoyed the guys cover of hotel California and few other songs.
Sorry this is where I leave you, the rest of the night was pretty personal between me and my companion about what we discussed.
After dinner we walked the streets and alleys of the square. Eldorado has been known for the many music festivals it has hosted in recent years. The decorations around the square are a sight to see, 55gal drums recreated into works of art. I found the book exchange phone booths a unique touch, although I thought they should have been painted blue. I also notice the many coffee bars that are located within these few city blocks. Then it hit me, Eldorado is harboring refugee hipsters. These fashion and trend setting sub cultural people are far removed from their native lands. My female companion laughed at this assumption and then asked what exactly is hipster. I asked her to be patient with me. Within the next few minutes I found one in his natural habitat, in the coffee shop trying to ignore the two guys playing music near the door. We on the other hand enjoyed the guys cover of hotel California and few other songs.
Sorry this is where I leave you, the rest of the night was pretty personal between me and my companion about what we discussed.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Furry bandits roam the highways
Spent the day cleaning up the bike after the wood cutter bees came out and left a mess. Made a few adjustments with returning to oem mirrors and replacing the rusted studs on the seats. After the sun went down and took the heat with it I went for a ride. It feels good to be in the wind on summer night after it being so hot all day.
After a hour or so I started heading home, on a bridge near my house I could a group of shadows waiting. As I got closer several masked bandits dashed out into the highway attempting to force me to stop so they can jack my bike. I watched as they hastily setup this trap, I found a opening and managed to dodge most of them, in a last ditch effort one threw himself in front of the bike and getting run over. I kept the bike up and safely made it the rest of the way home.
This is the second time that a raccoon ran out in front of me on a bridge.
After a hour or so I started heading home, on a bridge near my house I could a group of shadows waiting. As I got closer several masked bandits dashed out into the highway attempting to force me to stop so they can jack my bike. I watched as they hastily setup this trap, I found a opening and managed to dodge most of them, in a last ditch effort one threw himself in front of the bike and getting run over. I kept the bike up and safely made it the rest of the way home.
This is the second time that a raccoon ran out in front of me on a bridge.
Dating veterans
At least three of my friends have told me that they will never date a guy who has been in the military because of one guy that they did date ended up being a total douche bag. "All military guys are crazy" "the military fucks guys up" To me, being their friend and also a veteran this was kinda hurtful. To rationalize that one psychotic dumbass is the flagship model of hundreds of thousands of veterans is ridiculous. This sorry example of a guy, who was also a veteran, is the same model of loser you can find anywhere else without the title of veteran. He most likely had these abusive and crazy traits long before he raised his right hand.
Most of us veterans have found ways to cope and even push past our problems. Several of us do suffer from PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and several other problems. We live with this everyday, struggle with things as simple as stand in line in a crowded restaurant, it does take some extra patience. Would you not date a guy that broke his leg and now has a slight limp for the rest of his life?
There are some guys that are abusive and complete douche nozzles, but these guys are found in the general population too not just the veteran crowd. Go on a couple dates with the guy, find out who he is, and then make a decision if you want to commit a relationship with him. Never understood this idea that several people have that after one date they are committed to this one person. Enjoy being single and enjoy meeting new people.
Most of us veterans have found ways to cope and even push past our problems. Several of us do suffer from PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and several other problems. We live with this everyday, struggle with things as simple as stand in line in a crowded restaurant, it does take some extra patience. Would you not date a guy that broke his leg and now has a slight limp for the rest of his life?
There are some guys that are abusive and complete douche nozzles, but these guys are found in the general population too not just the veteran crowd. Go on a couple dates with the guy, find out who he is, and then make a decision if you want to commit a relationship with him. Never understood this idea that several people have that after one date they are committed to this one person. Enjoy being single and enjoy meeting new people.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Setting realistic goals
I have been gong to the gym for six weeks now, lately I hadn't been able to to as often due to a child and then allergies directly afterwards. Hopeful soon I will be able to get back to going every other day. When I started going back in June I made myself two goals; one to weigh under 200lbs and two to be able to squat 200lbs by my birthday in November.
I consider these realistic goals, I calculated the number of times it will take to reach 200lbs squats with adding 5lbs each workout session and there is time in case I reach a plateau and have to push through it. I have also been steady with my eating habits, cannot call it a diet since I'm still eating foods that are bad for me and only been only reducing the daily number of cokes I drink to one instead of removing it completely. On the scale since the end of April, I have only lost a total of 7lbs. But I have also had to take my belt in for notches from where it use to be. I'm losing fat and gain muscle mass, friend suggested I take a tape measure and record my measurements weekly.
I consider these realistic goals, I calculated the number of times it will take to reach 200lbs squats with adding 5lbs each workout session and there is time in case I reach a plateau and have to push through it. I have also been steady with my eating habits, cannot call it a diet since I'm still eating foods that are bad for me and only been only reducing the daily number of cokes I drink to one instead of removing it completely. On the scale since the end of April, I have only lost a total of 7lbs. But I have also had to take my belt in for notches from where it use to be. I'm losing fat and gain muscle mass, friend suggested I take a tape measure and record my measurements weekly.
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