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.