Recap episode

Similar to Lost, or certain shows, instead of giving something fully "new", I'm going to give a brief synopsis of the week, with highlights from the important times.
Saturday-Sunday: Nostalgically reminiscent weekend. Church and Lunch with old friends from school. Nap, Then game night/chilling with gay friends in VA. I, or my team, was undefeated for the whole night, in all games!!

Sunday was a lazy day, but I did get to watch some football and chill over there and eventually make it home for the Sunday night game. It was awesome, and some friends(including a most-likely lesbian couple) were at the house for the game as well.

Monday - Not much. First official day of exercising, followed by basketball for over an hour. Bad idea. But live and learn. Although at work, a co-worker singled-out the new employee in a email CC'ed to everyone in the group. Finished the night with Monday night football.

Tuesday - Felt like a friday(ish) because the next day I had off. I remembered that some friends mentioned Cobalt, so I left work excited for that later. Also, I had read in the metroweekly about the black church homophobia discussion so I went to that first. One random insight was that the Black Panther Party bylaws stated to NOT discriminate against gays. They said "True warriors believe that all struggles are on the same level. So we shouldn't discount any groups struggle." Deep. No friends came out, but I made a new one... which was inspiring, to say the least.

Wednesday - Day off. THe night before I texted friends from school and set up a racquetball date, persay. But first I went into work to get my stuff and a change. The new employee was there having some problems, so I was there longer than anticipated. But I did get to play, which was awesome. I came home and had an interesting talk with a roommate, before going out to trivia, where we almost placed 3rd in the second game. Then, I met up with the roommates at Galaxy for discussion and straight talk.

Thursday - Work was random. my coworker saw the twitter trend #donttrytoholla, so I had to explain what that meant. And then another coworker, thought that a "hollaback girl" was a cheerleader. I do not want to ever get old... After work, I could not get cell reception or send texts weirdly. I chalked it up to T-Mobile suckage, and went to this Identity and Visiblity discussion thing. It was amazing especially this video . Afterwards, I still couldn't send texts, which is when I tried to call and realized my phone was partly cut-off. So I went to a random person's house, who was at the meeting, and he let me use his computer and i solved that problem, and no longer felt "naked". Afterwards, I went back to the group and enjoyed the random conversation, in a mixed gay crowd. It was amazing... especially to hear lesbians being themselves and just as open as guys... WOW. I ended up getting after 3am.

Friday - Slow, tired day at work, but had some random conversations with co-workers, and learned that the new employee is in her mid-late 40s. I got stuff to attempt to work from home in the future. Work was followed by an impromptu happy hour, in which the new employee was not invited.

A very packed week, with a few random moments, a couple eye-opening revelations, and an inspiring moment or two.

Stories

I went to this random meeting about Diversity and Stories of minority communities in the gay community. There was a video shown and discussion about the stories that people hear, which sometimes include stereotypes. Not that they are untrue, but they are incomplete. I'm definitely gonna repost that link later. Afterwards, the hanging out continued and it was very interesting. People shared and discussed, and I definitely realized while we all came from different backgrounds.... we were all similar. I mean, the same types of discussions happen when I'm with the straight crowds. Its so interesting sharing these stories, celebrate differences and remind me how equal we all are as people.

Random Creative idea/goals

I've blogged before about wanting to create. Sometimes I get these random ideas of things which appeal to my humor and/or logic and/or interests.

In my last post, I talked about excuses. While talking to my roommate about individual goals and failures and thinking of that blog before it was finalized. I came up with an idea.

A picture. The motto: "Don't let excuses stop you from reaching success."

So the word success would be encircled by lots of words used in excuses and typical excuse phrases. Then i'd eventually put it on a t-shirt for myself.

Failure...

Seems yesterday, I failed on two accounts. Firstly and obviously, I didn't write a blog yesterday. I didn't have anything really to write tho, (excuse #1). Work was somewhat busy, even during my nap hour, so I couldn't blog then, especially knowing I had today off, (excuse #2). After work I went to this interesting panel discussion titled "Homophobia in the Black Church". I even took notes and thought about using them as a blog. But I didn't think it'd make sense, AND I figured I could put more effort in and use it in a later blog, (excuse #4).
My second failure was with my budget. In recent months, I've talked about setting priorities and goals. Well I've been more focused on saving money. Due to certain family things in september, and the following October credit card bill. My access to cash is quite low. So before going out yesterday, I took from my savings account. It wasn't much money, (excuse #1). I'm gonna replace it next week(excuse #2). Its just like me using my credit card (excuse #3). I deserve to do that, its a holiday!!!!(excuse #4).

In both cases, I had multiple valid, justifiable excuses. I could easily not care and go on. But its still a failure in my book. I did something that I promised myself I wouldn't, and I acknowledge it. However, I'm not gonna let that get me down, let this battle make me give up the war.

Anyways, I'll end on a quote I heard back in July at church:
"Excuses are the tool of the incompetent. Those who excel at excuses, will often not excel at anything else."

Dear Giants...

What the flip is going on? You let me down, yet another time this season. Every game I've been able to watch, you guys have had a subpar performance. The first game of the season against the Washington Redskins... you guys made them look formidable. It was a close game, but we pulled out a win. I watched 2 of the next 3 games and you guys still won games, but they were mediocre wins. You were real sloppy, and in luck was on your side. Its true that even when you won the superbowl a couple years back, luck was very much on our side. But I continue to root for you, and hope that you guys start getting your act together. You guys are off next week, but I'll be watching you on Thanksgiving. Hopefully you won't let me down.

The High of a Completed Assignment

Let's hop in our time machine and rewind to the end of January 2009. It was a tumultuous time in my life due to the worst break-up pre Chris & Rihanna, but also because I had started my spring semester. For the semester, I was only taking 2 classes, as it was all I was willing to handle given my limited interest in school (at the time) and my work schedule. The distractions, nonetheless, were welcomed. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

It was then that I met Dr. James Bell, a psychologist at my school, and the only person who taught the philosophy course that I needed. Dubbed Logic & Critical Thinking, I thought this course was going to be a breeze. How hard would it be to count squares within squares and solve a couple riddles, right? I guess my first day of classes should of been a hint of things to come. I was a few minutes late as usual, and as I walk in I am horrified to find out that all the seats are taken and the few ones left are at the front of the class. Go figure. I'm not a front of the class kind of a guy, unless its a small class and I already know my peers. I prefer the brooding, back of the class bad boy, sneaking txts and tweets, image. First thing we do is fill out some survey about ourselves and I read the top of the it: Psych 101. Imagine my dismay to find out that not only did I make a big interruption entering the class, but it was the wrong one to begin with. So what does one do? Do I disrupt the class again and point out my own mistake and show up late to the other class? Or sit there and by all means "just take it" *wink*. I figured I wouldn't ever see these kids again anyway so I told the Teach that it was my mistake but I was in the wrong class, slipped out and made my way next door to where I belonged.

Finally in the right class, I get to sit in the middle back section. Not a bad spot, IMHO, so I survey the room and check out the for the cute boys first. A couple Yes's and 1 maybe. Spoiler: One of the Yes's and the maybe end up in being in my of my groups for the class. Dr. Bell hands out the necessary coursework for the semester: a booklet the size of a family Bible with the pretty picture of the last supper in the front, and several smaller booklets. We get a couple more handed out throughout the semester and as it progresses, the class is asked to participate in group discussions, (ok i can deal), weekly reflections of the course (B.S. is my middle name), and concepts on "learning to learn" (que what) and "thinking about our thinking". On paper (and it was a lot of paper) the class wasn't half bad, but the amount of hours Dr. Bell expected us to devote to this class was beyond ridic. Granted, I had the time, since my only other class was a breeze, but what if I had a full course load?

I understand I may come off as a little whiney, and that other students a lot more apt than I am do a lot more work than I possibly could, but I also understand the concept of engaging students in order to class interesting, something Dr. Bell failed to grasp. Four months, several hair pulling nights, and MaryJane visits later, I passed the class. At the end of the course, Dr. Bell asked us to provide suggestions on how to improve it, and to write a letter to future students. My suggestion: plant a fucking tree. Dr. Bell never used blackboard, or any other online resource, (except for when he wanted us to do some research on a topic) in an attempt to expand his lessons, but instead opted for a more traditional approach of passing out paper after paper. I came out of that class a different person, similar to those that endure a truly traumatic experience, like war, a car accident, or a Lindsay Lohan movie (shout out to Axel). I swore, "never again".

Cut to July 2009. I'm registering for my classes and my advisor tells me I need to take the Social Psych course, taught ONLY by none other than Dr. Bell. Being clubbed like a baby seal seemed like a viable option at that moment. Less than a month is left for the semester to come to a close, and the only thing keeping me going is the image of a fat doobie waiting for me at the end of the road. After each completed assignment, one step closer, my brain releases those happy hormones and I jump and scream and do a little jig of excitement.

I will say this though. I have learned quite a bit, and have developed skills that might come in handy in my later life, not caring what Dr. Bell has to say about it. But I do wonder, if i would be willing to do it all over again, you know, with my new 20/20 vision.

Fitness Routine pt 1

When I asked for possible blog ideas, my roommate gave the following comment:
"I would love you hear about you fitness habits. Whether or not you are totally happy with them, sharing the diet and exercise habits would be helpful!" So I feel like today would be a good time to start. Ever since I was sick the other week, I have not played basketball or worked out at all. So the only exercise I've done was walking to the metro and thats about. However, since new week is beginning I'm gonna get back on that train especially cuz the holidays are around the corner.

Firstly, I have never a physical trainer at all. In my last year at college (05-06), I took the PE class, where we had to "train" as homework and get to a certain level by the final exam. This started me on my working out, and I have tried to do it regularly ever since. When I started, I started out at the bottom, doing any machine at a manageable weight, and over time increased the weights, reps, sets, etc...

Here is a list of what I'd do at the gym all together:

Arms:
Arm curl nautilus machine: 2-3 sets of 8-10 reps somewhere between 80-110 lbs
Tricep pushdown: 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps between 40-50 lbs
Shoulder press nautilus: 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps at 90-110 lbs
Single Arm curl with free weights: 2-3 sets of 8 reps at 25 lbs
Single arm curl nautilus: 2-3 sets of 8-10 reps at 50-70 lbs

Back:
Lat machine pulldown: 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps at 90-110 lbs
Lat row: 2-3 sets of 8-10 reps at 60-90 lbs
Back extension machine: 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps at 140 lbs
*Back/arm pulldown nautils: 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps at 110-130 lbs

Chest:
Butterfly nautilus: 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps are 70-90 lbs
Bench press nautilus: 3-4 sets of 6-10 reps at 140-190 lbs
Inclined press nautilus: 3-4 sets of 7-10 reps with 90-120 +bar
*bench butterfly - 3-4 sets of 7-10 reps at 70 lbs
*chest press - 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps at 110-140 lbs
*pec deck - 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps at 40-60 lbs

Legs:
Inner thigh nautilus and outer thigh: 2-4 sets of 8-10 reps at 40-60 lbs
Leg extensions and leg curls: 2-4 sets of 8-10 reps at 90-110 lbs
Leg press: 2-4 sets of 8-10 reps at 180 lbs + bar

Abs:
reverse crunches: 4-5 sets of 20-35 reps
Basic crunches: 3-5 sets of 20-35 reps alternating sides during reps 2 & 4

Those are all the workouts I'd probably do. However, I can be lazy and I usually don't try to over exert myself. So Sundays I'd do the most. Probably chest, arms, abs and maybe legs. I might actually be in the gym for an hour. Mondays I'd try to go to this "Core" workout class at work. Its 20 minutes of exercises that target the midsection, abs mainly, but also the back. Tuesdays, I'd either do chest or arms, depending on how I'm feeling and if up for it. Wednesdays, I'd do the "core" class again, and also the back and maybe arms. Thursdays, I'm back to chest if anything. and Fridays are definitely iffy, but I may attempt to worn on the back. Saturdays I never work out.
I must say that I only make it to the gym 3-4 times a week. And sometimes I definitely get stuck do the lower amount of those workout, and try to be in and out of the gym in 20 minutes. I also play basketball mondays, wednesdays and fridays during the lunch hour. So there are times when I'm just too tired to do anything. And sometimes if I force myself to workout again on those days, I'm definitely taking the next day off.
So that's that. Its taken me four years to get to this point. If I were more serious, I'd be further along. But I really don't care that much. My advice to anyone who may want it, is to just get there. Get inside a gym, and once you're there start on something, start small, and try to be consistent. Eventually things will work out.