Post Hiatus Check-In: Wednesday, March 24

Well, it's been a long damn while since I've checked in here, and I need to renew this effort.  So, sincere apologies and all that...but let's get down to brass tacks...

Thing #1: Well, almost back to square one here...largely due to a couple weeks of travel for work in late February, and a nice, relaxing Mexican cruise (with lots of food).  So, I've got some work to do.
Thing #2: I have Level One of Rosetta Stone's Japanese program installed...need to dedicate some focused time to this.
Thing #3: While on my cruise, I had three acupuncture sessions.  A few of the needles stung quite a bit...but I need to elevate things.  Especially since acupuncture was nothing new for me, and I knew I'd be able to handle it.  The last time I had it, though, was in 2008...so perhaps scheduling regular sessions would be more ideal.
Thing #4: Haven't had any burgers lately that I'd write home about.  Need to expand my search pattern.
Thing #5: I have to step up my pop culture blog, too.  Look soon for that to be updated.
Thing #6: Bought a couple books on the topic...more on this later.
Thing #7: Got my taxes done and got some money back.  Playing phone tag with the company back in Michigan who I have some investments with, trying to get my Roth IRA contribution in.
Thing #8: Have some fun things to report on this front...stay tuned.

End-of-Week Check-In: Friday, February 5

Been a while...so let's check in on my progress...

Thing #1: Took about a week off due to illness and travel, but am back in the swing of things.  Started changing up my cardio to do more interval training.  Think this might work...down to 222.
Thing #2: I tried the first lesson of the first chapter of the first unit of the first level of Japanese via Rosetta Stone, largely to see how it worked.  Going to have to try it again to retain some things.  So far, though, I'm pretty intrigued by it.
Thing #3: No progress on the whole needle thing.  Need to work on that.
Thing #4: Tried a burger at a nice Asian/Fusion restaurant while I was briefly back home...very disappointing.  The photo didn't turn out, though, and it ended up really not being worth it...despite the promise of wasabi mayo.
Thing #5: Trying to do more regular entries on the blog.  Need to step it up.  Wondering if I maybe just focus on my enjoyment of reality television?
Thing #6: Turns out my friend's place where weird stuff was supposedly happening may now be "clean."  Dang it.  Was looking forward to some ghost hunting.
Thing #7: Need to do this.
Thing #8: Getting my Survivor Pool off the ground.  More on this next week.

Ghostly Lead

In Regards to Thing #6: "The Eerie Thing"


Finally have a lead on tracking down something "supernatural" to look into.  Turns out one of my friends and his roommate have found lights mysteriously turned on around their apartment, doors closed, etc.  Coincidentally, a few days before this started happening, one of their downstairs neighbors had prematurely passed away (which they found out about after the strange occurrences had happened).

In addition, I had gone over there a couple days after the neighbor had passed away, unaware that happened, and saw something strange myself...but didn't think twice about it until I received this news.

Anyway, more on this later.

Testing, Testing...

In Regards to Thing #2: "The Lingual Thing"


Yesterday, I got my new Rosetta Stone software installed.  Tonight, I tried to boot it up...and experienced major failure with the headset that came with the program.  I could get audio just fine through the headphones, but the attached microphone was not picking up my voice during the audio set-up portion of Rosetta Stone.  The microphone array built into my computer was working, but that didn't do me any good.

But, being the genius that I am, I noted that my XBOX 360 Rock Band microphone also came with a USB jack.  So, I plugged that in, connected my earbuds that I usually use with my iPod Touch...and BAM!  I was ready to rock...so to speak.  It worked like a charm.  More on my beginning experiences with Rosetta Stone later...

Feed a Cold

In Regards to Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"


So, I had to take a day off today...woke up around 5am, with a scratchy throat and completely congested.  Laid low most of the day, with an excursion to pick up some sinus stuff...and then I really started to live by the mantra "feed a cold."  Probably did a lot of damage to my efforts to achieve Thing #1, but I ate today like it was my J-O-B.  And no gym, to boot.

I shall have to perform very well the rest of this week and while home over the weekend.

Ready to Learn

In Regards to Thing #2: "The Lingual Thing"


Finally got my Rosetta Stone learning software in the mail today.  Levels 1, 2 and 3.  Will update everyone once I crack it open and give it a shot...

Special Report: The Mac Snack Wrap

In Regards to Thing #4: "The Edible Thing"

First off, yes...this goes completely and utterly against Thing #1.  We've been over that.  That having been said, I have to say I was completely and utterly intrigued by the McDonald's offering their Big Mac in a "snack wrap" format.  So, today, a couple a colleagues and I ventured across the street to our local McEatery and took it for a test drive.

I have to say...I liked it.  I mean, as much as one can enjoy a burger product from McDonald's.  I only eat there maybe once every couple months (and usually in the aftermath of a wicked night of adult beverage consumption), but could completely see myself getting this again the next time I choose to dine there, if only for two reasons: 1) it's smaller than a Big Mac and has about half the calories and 2) it's handheld compactness makes it easy to eat and not at all messy.

So am I advocating a steady diet of Mac Snack Wraps?  Hell, no.  I'm merely giving folks who are curious the green light that it is indeed edible.  And if you are a regular consumer of McProducts...you may want to explore this one.

End-of-Week Check-In: Saturday, January 23

Given that I haven't been able to update with any degree of regularity lately, I figure I should at the very least resort to a weekly update.  Hopefully in the upcoming weeks I'll be able to get back up to speed: 

• Thing #1: A few updates here in my effort to get under 200 pounds.  First off, I'm around 222 or so now.  Second, I officially joined the gym at work...which makes it a bit easier to get a workout in if I have a late night at work, or if I want to escape during lunch or something.  And finally, I invested in a pair of new Asics Gel cross-trainers for the gym...tossed out the old sporty Diesels.
• Thing #2: I bit the bullet and purchased Rosetta Stone's Japanese language module, Levels 1, 2 and 3 through Amazon.  Set me back about $485, though...so hope this was a wise investment!
• Thing #3: No progress...yet.  I am going on a cruise in March, though, and if it is like the last Carnival cruise I went on, and they have an acupuncturist on board, I may hit that.
• Thing #4: No burgers since my last report.  Apparently need to step up my burger consumption.
• Thing #5: I finally got my blog started (www.thepopcultureaddict.blogspot.com) but need to step up the entries.  TV shows and films will likely dominate content in the short term, as books and video games are going to take a bit longer to get through.  Also, doing a movie marathon tonight, so will hopefully have something interesting to report on coming out of that.
• Thing #6: No investigations into the paranormal yet.  I need to begin reporting on this.
• Thing #7: Well, I finally cancelled my $15/month "Unlimited Guest Privileges" package at 24 Hour Fitness...so that frees up some money.  My next move is to max out my contribution to my Roth IRA for last year and this year.  Almost called UBS yesterday, but wanted to make sure I knew who to contact about my accounts and to have that info on hand.
• Thing #8: I'm trying to get my office Survivor pool off the ground, in anticipation of the upcoming season, Heroes vs. Villains.  I think I can turn anything into a game, sometimes...

A Couple Healthy Notes

In Regards to Thing #1 ("The Obvious Thing")


Apologies for not having updated my progress in several days.  Unfortunately, things have been slammed at work, so the only thing I've really made any progress on is my effort to lose weight.  A couple specifics:

• I joined the fitness center at work (www.theclubatpct.com).  This is in addition to my 24 Hour Fitness membership.  It's nice to be able to duck out at 6:00pm or so and get a workout, returning to the office if I have additional work to be done.  Plus, it's very clean, so you don't feel like you're going to contract tetanus or something by showering there.
• A buddy and I signed up for a cruise to Mexico in March.  He's been stepping it up over the past couple months in terms of fitness, and now that leaves me no choice but to do the same.  To that end, have been pretty good about my diet so far this week...let's hope it continues.  Until I continue on my quest to find the "best damn burger out there," that is.  Heh.

The Final Four Things

To keep on schedule, I should be posting Thing #9 today.  But...I'm going to change up the rules on the fly a little bit.  Because I might find out as the year progresses that there is something I should be focusing my attention on, I'm treating these last four Things as "Wild Card" slots.  The only condition is that I must identify what they will by September 1st...this way I still have a solid four months to work on each of them.

The Pop Culture Addict

In Regards to Thing #5: "The Media Thing"


I finally settled on a name for my pop culture blog: "The Pop Culture Addict."  Sadly, "Pop Culture Addict" (sans the "The") was already taken.,  Regardless, you can track it down here:  http://thepopcultureaddict.blogspot.com/.

Thing #8: "The Playful Thing"

So, for the next Thing, I decided to go back to my roots:

Thing #8 (aka "The Playful Thing"): Rebuild my credentials as a game aficionado.


Back in the day, my friends and family used to turn to me for anything game-related.  Party games, card games, video games, trivia games...you name it, I played it.  Well, for the most part...I did have some gaps in my expertise: strategy games, casino games, many sports (which I think should fairly be included in this list).

But over the past several years, my enjoyment and knowledge in this area has slipped (apart from the occasional marathon XBOX session over the weekend).  So, time to crank things back up.  Time to expand the collection, host game nights, explore the world of games and gaming again...

Mid-January Check-In

Okay, time to check-in on a little 12 Things progress.  Let's see where we're at:

• Thing #1: When I started toward my goal of getting under 200, I was at 227.  When I weighed in yesterday, I was down to 224.  So...some progress.  But there were a LOT of unfortunate eating incidents that I stumbled into this week (especially today), so I may have jeopardized this and could have been doing much better.  On a good note, I chose NOT to have a Pizza Hut pizza for dinner tonight.
• Thing #2: I pretty much picked Japanese as my language of choice, but am trying to connect with a friend who it sounds like has had some first-hand experience with Rosetta Stone learning software.  I'll need to make a final decision by January 31 to move forward on this.
• Thing #3: No progress on the fear of needles, although a little research helped me narrow down the fact that I may make some progress by focusing on non-medical procedures first.  You know what this means...TATTOO TIME!
• Thing #4: I'm damn proud of my turkey burger making skills at The Counter.  Now to start exploring further afield.
• Thing #5: Still looking for a name for my pop culture blog.  Weak.
• Thing #6: No experimenting as yet...but I've got an idea for this weekend.  Stay tuned.
• Thing #7: Just stated this one yesterday.  Cut me some slack!

Thing #7: "The Fiscal Thing"

Well, this is something I've been meaning to do for a long time, but always manage to put off.  Perhaps now I'll hold myself accountable:

Thing #6 (aka "The Fiscal Thing"): Better manage my financial future.


Just to be clear, this isn't about spending less and learning how to save/budget.  I'm actually very good at saving money to the point where I can confidently dine out, spend money on the latest gadget or take off for Vegas every few months without needing to worry too much.  That isn't much of an issue.  What IS an issue is keeping my savings in an interest-free checking account, not taking part in my work's 401K, not closely managing and investing in my accounts at UBS and not contributing to my Roth IRA annually.

And cue the angry emails of disbelief...now.

The Chipotle Diet

In Regards to Thing #1 ("The Obvious Thing")

Yes, I pretty much have Chipotle for lunch every day.  And yes, it's part of my "diet," although I prefer to think of it as my "eating plan."  But does it work?

"Doesn't Chipotle have, like, 3000 calories in every burrito," I hear you ask.  Damn near, from what I've seen online.  But I regularly have a chicken bowl (with no rice), black beans, diced tomatoes, green salsa and cheese...and this comes in just under 500 calories.  By cutting out the rice and tortilla, you're easily losing half the calories of one of their burritos.

I kept this up (with a sensible breakfast and dinner) for about two months last year, and lost about 15 pounds...I'm trying to stick to that again and repeat the results.  So far, I pretty much have breakfast and lunch nailed down...now to make sure I am more consistent with my dinner...

Thing #6: "The Eerie Thing"

Okay...this one is going to either be fun, a waste of time...or it's going to scare the living daylights out of me:

Thing #6 (aka "The Eerie Thing"): Uncover evidence of the paranormal.


Bet you kids didn't see that one coming did you?  Ghosts.  ESP.  UFOs.  Bigfoot.  The Loch Ness Monster.  The Colonel's 11 Secret Herbs and Spices.  I'm taking a broad definition of "paranormal" here, too, to include the mysterious and unexplained.  So this should keep things interesting.

Doing My Research: Trypanophobia

In Regards to Thing #3: "The Phobia Thing"

Before tackling my fear of needles head-on, I figured I should do a little background research into what's bugging me.  Sure, Wikipedia shouldn't be your end-all be-all in terms of medical information, but it gave me a good top-level view of my distaste for needles:

• Trypanophobia is the extreme and irrational fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles.  Other terms refer to an overarching fear of needles...but this is the term that is specific to the medical aspect.  Given that I'm more afraid of the commitment that goes with getting a tattoo than with the needle itself, I'm thinking this is the relevant fear.
• Sounds familiar: The condition was officially recognized in 1994 in the DSM-IV as a specific phobia related to blood, injury and injections.  Phobic level responses to injections cause sufferers to avoid inoculations, blood tests, and in the more severe cases, all medical care.
• My favorite "No Shit" fact: It is likely that needle phobia is genetic and has some basis in evolution, given that thousands of years ago humans who meticulously avoided stab wounds and other incidences of pierced flesh would have a greater chance of survival.
• And a somewhat less comforting piece of information: Although most phobias are dangerous to some degree, trypanophobia is one of the few that can kill.  In severe cases, the drop in blood pressure caused by the shock reflex sometimes experienced during a needle procedure may cause death. Great.

What's in a Name...

So, I need a name for that pop culture/media blog that I'm looking to get off the ground.  From a "creative brief" perspective, it should:

• Apply to a wide range of media channels (it's not just about movies, websites, video games, etc.)
• Communicate some element of my love, addiction or pure enjoyment of pop culture entertainment
• Be easy to pronounce and type (the shorter, the better)

I'd already tried "MediaGluttony" and "PopCultureAddict," but both were spoken for.  Any ideas?

Thing #5: "The Media Thing"

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a bit of a pop culture addict.  Hell, up to about a year ago, I'd been keeping a pretty steady DVD review blog.  But I think there's a new opportunity out there for me, that I might find more enjoyable and that might get more traction:

Thing #5 ("The Media Thing"): Document My Love of Pop Culture


Movies.  Television.  Books.  Music.  Websites.  Podcasts.  Video games.  Entertainment of any sort, and I'll cover as I experience it.  I like this approach a bit more than my DVD blog because it's a bit more loose and unstructured (previously, I'd have to watch and review four DVDs before I posted anything, and I did hear feedback that four reviews in one post got a bit long).

So...we'll see how this goes.  Now...just need to find a name for it.  Stay tuned.

Burger #2: Curt's Custom Burger, Take 1 (The Counter)

In Regards to Thing #4: "The Edible Thing"


Location: The Counter; El Segundo, CA

Burger: Custom Made: "The Thanksgiving Blues" (see below)

Price: Unsure (was treated to lunch)

Companions: My sister, Shavahn, and her husband, Daniel

Menu Description: Given that the counter is a "build your own burger" place, I'll have to just list the items I chose: 2/3 lb Turkey Burger, Danish Blue Cheese, Soft Ripened Brie, Dried Cranberries, Grilled Onions, Jalapenos, Sprouts, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Wasabi Aioli, Onion Bun (I call it "The Thanksgiving Blues" due to the turkey burger, cranberries and blue cheese).
Opinion: The Counter has been a long-time favorite of mine, but I've been stuck on my standard order, which I described above (the brie, jalapenos, sun-dried tomatoes, wasabi aioli and onion bun were new additions to my standard).  I have to say, though...my standard is pretty damn good, and some of the additions made it better (I'll be keeping the sun-dried tomatoes as part of the mix).  All in all, if you enjoy burgers, you're going to be able to put together something you REALLY like. (NOTE: I shall return to The Counter for future reviews, but with completely different concoctions).
Rating (1-10): 8

Work/Gym Balance

In Regards to Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"


Our office complex has a nifty little underground fitness center that I've visited once several years ago.  Well, while waiting for my breakfast to microwave at work this past week, I noticed a flyer for a free week's guest pass at the fitness center, so this past Friday I decided to take advantage of it.

Turns out it has quite a few advantages if I were to join permanently.  It's right next to work, so it's very close if I want to go right before, right after...or even during the workday.  It also wasn't that crowded on the two days I've gone (although, admittedly, I didn't go during the work week proper).  And it has a NICE locker room...unlike my usual 24 Hour Fitness, where you get the sense you'd be less clean coming out of the shower than going in.

So, will try to hit it through this coming Friday, and see how it turns out.  Maybe I'll add it as a supplemental membership to my 24 Hour Fitness one.

Burger #1: Simmzy's Burger (Tin Roof Bistro)

In Regards to Thing #4 ("The Edible Thing")


Location: Tin Roof Bistro; Manhattan Beach, CA
Burger: Simmzy's Burger
Price: $9.75 (+$2.00 for fries)
Companions: The Rapp/Hogwarts Creative Crew (Brandon, Lauren, Diori, and Flo) 
Menu Description: Tillamook Sharp Cheddar, Sweet Onion Chow Chow, Aioli
Opinion: Simmzy's is a burger place in downtown Manhattan Beach, so I'm not sure what affiliation exists between them and Tin Roof Bistro that allows for placement of their burger on the TRB menu.  Anyway, it was okay for a basic burger (although I did order it medium, and it a bit on the rare side).  Despite the fancy description, you had burger, bun, cheddar, grilled onions, lettuce, and tomato.  There wasn't a ton of "fill your mouth with flavor" goodness, though...you basically ended up with a mouthful of messy burger, with a slight onion-y overtone.  I did, however, take a look at the broader Simmzy's menu, and may have to check that location out sometime soon.
Rating (1-10): 4

Ground Rules and Ground Beef

In Regards to Thing #4: "The Edible Thing"


Been hashing this out with some co-workers, so I figured I should lay out some ground rules to guide my search for the ultimate burger.

• #1: No more than two burgers per week, except under special circumstances (e.g. vacations)
• #2: Sliders do not count as burgers...but meat substitutes do (e.g. turkey, ostrich, veggie)
• #3: Although one overall burger shall be the winner, other sub-categories can be discovered/developed over time as the year progresses, and category winners may emerge
• #4: I shall attempt to photograph each burger consumed, and shall post it along with a standard array of "burger stats and ratings" (which still need to be determined)

That's it for now...

Thing #4: "The Edible Thing"

Okay, the first several "Things" that I've decided to tackle are all pretty much hard work and focused on making myself a better person.  Time to switch gears for a bit and focus on new experiences and fun things.  Which I guess will also make me a better person.  And what better way to start off than by pitting "Things" against each other.  Sorry, Thing #1, but it's time for...

Thing #4 (aka "The Edible Thing"): Find the best damn burger out there.

I figure for something like this, I do need to lay down a few ground rules (see, Thing #1...I'm lookin' out for ya).  But I'll save that for a later post.

Bagel Friday. Dammit.

In Regards to Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"


Ah...forgot that this happened every Friday at work.  Well, one more hurdle to face.  So far, I've successfully by-passed the temptation and enjoyed my "lite" breakfast sandwich.  But these things stick around all day, so I still have about 8 hours to remain strong.

(The asiago cheese bagel with sun-dried tomato cream cheese is particularly tasty.  Dammit.)

Berlitz vs. Rosetta Stone

In Regards to Thing #2: "The Lingual Thing"


I had a couple people recommend I check out Berlitz, for their language instruction course, rather than Rosetta Stone.  I have to say, after checking out both sites, I'm much more sold on RS.  I have a much clearer idea of what I'd be getting into, and their educational software seems to have had a lot of time put into its development.

Berlitz, on the other hand, seems to relegate their "self-study" software to a much more secondary role, placing greater emphasis on their live instructional classes (either face-to-face or via the internet).  Whether or not it's more or less effective, I'm much more drawn to the software approach, so I'm pretty damn close to pulling the trigger on this one.

And sorry nay-sayers...but I'm going with Japanese.

The Last Temptation of Curt

In Regards to Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"


So, I'm sitting here at work, wrapping up a project...and thinking to myself, "Gee, I should try to put out another blog post before I take off.  And it's getting kind of late...should I try to hit the gym?"

Cue Neil.  Neil is one of the nicest guys in the office.  A copywriter who would give anyone the shirt off his own back.  Or, in this case, a spare McDonald's cheeseburger.

You see, Neil really likes his McDonald's, and always seem to have a spare burger on hand (I kid you not...every time I walk into his office there seems to be a burger on his desk).  And it was no different today.  Just as I was wondering what to write about (and with my stomach starting to growl), in he walks with a cheeseburger asking "Hey, are you still on your diet?  Do you want this?"

Yes, Neil.  And...yes.  Dammit.  But it's just one, right?  And I'm still going to the gym tonight...

Breakfast of Champions

In Regards to Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"


So, just sitting down to my quickly nuked breakfast at work, and figured I should share what exactly I'm stuffing my piehole with.

In the past, when I wanted to eat healthy, I did a pretty consistent breakfast of two hard-boiled eggs (with the yolks removed), filled with a small sliver of roasted garlic and a little dollop of guacamole.  Add a little pepper on top, and BAM!...you've got a nice little low-cal breakfast.

This year, though, my breakfast so far has consisted of these low-calorie Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches.  Have been eating these turkey sausage and egg-white croissants that clock in at under 250 calories. With an overall daily goal of taking in fewer calories than I'm expending, so far I'm on track, and haven't felt unusually hungry.  Oh...and I also follow that up (if I remember to) with a small orange, only slightly larger than a golf ball.  And coffee, of course.

Rosetta Stone?

In Regards to Thing #2 ("The Lingual Thing")


As I've talked to folks about my desire to learn a new language, several people have recommended that I look into using Rosetta Stone as an educational tool.  I checked into it online...a couple hundred dollars for Level 1 software?  Over $500 for Levels 1-3?  Really?

May have to shop around for this one...but if it's as good as folks seem to think it is, I'd definitely be willing to make the investment.  Just a little unsure on this one.  Thoughts?

Thing #3: "The Phobia Thing"

I'm just going to cut to the chase...I'm not looking forward to this one.  Let's get to it:

Thing #3 (aka "The Phobia Thing"): Conquer my fear of needles.

Because of this phobia, I'm missed out on such joys as giving blood, vaccinations, tattoos and intravenous drug sharing.  If all goes right, I'll be more charitable, immunized, regretting an unfortunate choice in body art and as high as a kite by 2011.

Level Up

In Regards to Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"


Usually at work I park on the third level of the parking garage, and avoid the stairs going to and from my vehicle (unless I get out of work late and the door leading to the stairwell is locked, in which case I take the elevator).  This week, though, I started parking on the fourth level...and even if I get out of work late, walking around the long way to the stairwell (avoiding the locked door) and taking the hike anyway.

Perhaps I'll up the stakes tomorrow and start parking on the fifth floor...even though that's where you find the folks who purposefully park out of the way so that nobody parks next to them and potentially damages their vehicle.  I guess it's an unwritten rule up there that you NEVER park in the spot next to another car.  Muahahahaha...go ahead and ding my '96 Geo.

I Think I'm Turning Japanese...

In Regards to Thing #2: "The Lingual Thing"


...I really think so.

In other words, unless I get some really kick-ass suggestions in the next week or so, I'm think I'm going to settle on Japanese as the target of Thing #2.  I got a couple suggestions from the blogosphere, though:

• Italian (Sorry...limited use, except in Italy, raceways and restaurants)
• Chinese (I do agree, they are likely to own everything soon, anyway...and it was right up there with Japanese in my initial choices. But I feel like they'd be less forgiving if I butchered their language.)

But I'm leaning toward Japanese, currently...if only because it may likely be of practical use in the business world, and it's someplace I'd like to visit for an extended period of time.  That having been said, I'm still open to suggestions.  Anyone?

The Black Hole - Redux

In Regards to Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"


Well, the Black Hole wins again (see previous post).  Although...it's not completely to blame.  I didn't escape work until around 8:30pm or so, and still had a buttload of stuff to continue working on at home, so if I had forced myself to hit the gym, I'd be up easily until 3am or 4am working on stuff.

And that may still be the case.

Anyway, it's a simple fix.  I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon, so likely won't be stuck at work until the wee hours again, which means I can get there promptly around 5pm or 5:30pm.  Then it's a simple matter of doing leg day, abs AND an hour of cardio.  Unless I shift everything by a day and just workout Friday instead of taking a rest day (which, effectively, was today).

The Black Hole

In Regards to Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"

I arrived at work this morning to discover that I left my gym bag at home.  But before I relay why this is very unfortunate, a little background is in order.

Traditionally, I would bring one backpack to work, and it would carry my laptop, power cord, clothes/workout towel for the gym, and my combination lock.  I'd also bring a pair of shoes along with me...unless what I wore to work could double for the gym.  I thought it would nice, though, to have a separate gym bag, which carried all my workout stuff, and I could just keep that in my car...no muss, no fuss (and I wouldn't have to drag my laptop into the gym, another bonus).  To that end, I asked for one for Christmas...and I got one.

Yesterday was the first day I used it, and I'm still working the kinks out of the system.  Since I shower at home after the gym, I still need to transport my work clothes OUT of the bag at the end of the day, and put new workout clothes IN it.  Because of that, I couldn't really just leave the bag in the car when I got home...I still have to cart it out of the car, up to my room, and reload.  The perfect opportunity for me to forget the gym bag the next morning.  Which, of course, I did.

For most people, this wouldn't be a problem.  There's a branch of 24 Hour Fitness about a five-minute drive from my home.  But, for me, home is a Black Hole.  Once I make it back there after a day of work, the odds of me escaping again in the evening for ANYTHING (e.g. gym, grocery shopping, dining out, hitting the bar) are infinitesimally small.

So we'll see if I can overcome the gravitational pull of Buckingham Parkway tonight.  Head home, get geared up for the gym, and depart.  Wish me luck.

The Workout

In Regards to Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"

I figure I should go into a little detail about I plan on handling the fitness side of things as I tackle Thing #1.

For several years (I'm guessing around five), I've been a subscriber to the Men's Health Online Personal Trainer.   Basically, you feed it your fitness goals, punch in some basic strength stats, tell it which days you want to do strength and/or cardio training and how long you want to workout...and it spits out a custom workout for you each day.  You then feed it the results of your workout...how you actually did...and then it adjusts your upcoming workouts based on that.

It's pretty nifty, especially if you're like me and like some variety in your workouts.  The Online Personal Trainer does a decent job of rotating new exercises in every so often, so it keeps things pretty fresh.

I took a break from it last May, and just started doing my own thing in the gym...which had its pros and its cons.  But I've decided to rely on this program (and least initially) to guide me in my workouts.  In short, here's the plan:

• Monday: Cardio
• Tuesday: Legs/Abs
• Wednesday: Cardio
• Thursday: Shoulders/Traps/Abs
• Friday: REST
• Saturday: Back/Biceps/Abs/Cardio
• Sunday: Chest/Triceps/Abs/Cardio

So that's the current plan.  I may explore different workout options throughout the year or change things up as needed...but for the time being, that's what I'll be doing.

Thing #2: "The Lingual Thing"

Okay, I'm ready to declare my second challenge.  This Thing's pretty straightforward...but I do need a little help from the blogosphere with this one:

Thing #2 (aka "The Lingual Thing"): Learn a new language.


I completely understand that this will be a tall order for one year, but my goal is simply to make as much progress as possible.  But, the big question is...what language?  Any thoughts out there?  Would love to hear suggestions and rationales.  The sooner I decide, the sooner I can get started.

Thing #1: "The Obvious Thing"

I wish I could say that the first thing I want to address in 2010 is unique in some manner, but it's pretty standard fare as far as resolution-type activities go.  I'm talking about reducing my sheer tonnage.  So let's make it official:

Thing #1 (aka "The Obvious Thing"): Reduce my weight to under 200 pounds...and keep it there.


As with all the Things that I'll be tackling this year, I'll go into more commentary on this in a later post.  Needless to say, this is going to be a tough one for me.  I'm pretty good about exercising, but not that great when it comes to eating right.  So, definitely an uphill battle.

A Single Step

The idea for this blog germinated toward the end of 2009, but I've been going in circles on how to start things off just right. But those of you who know me well know that I could be in that stage for ages...so I decided to just bite the bullet and get one simple post down.

In quick terms, here's the concept: Tackle 12 things over the course of 2010. And what are these things? Well...I've only decided on two so far. I'll go into more detail on those later this week, as well as what the immediate plans for this blog are.

So this it. My single step that begins a proverbial thousand-mile journey. We'll see just how far I end up going...