I miss being a baby

Seriously. Nothing but eat, play, sleep...

Okay so there are a lot of things I enjoy that would be missing. But still... sometimes wouldn't it be nice to be rid of responsibilities for a while?

At least I get to experience the joys of babyhood through my beautiful daughter. She's SO funny. (the above video is NOT mine, just random fun)

I need a vacation - and to stop being sick. It's HARD to work out while sick - but my wife has been making me do it. Slave driver. She's the BEST!

SHARPIE?!?!?

This is awesome!

Sharpie Lamborghini Gallardo

Makes me want to go buy a box of Sharpies...

Weird thing is every time I try something like this with Sharpies, they die out reeeeally fast.

Three posts in one day. Crazy.

P90X - Legs & Back, Kenpo X

Friday was Legs and Back day and boy oh boy - I'm STILL feeling it in my calves today! 4 days later!

I think my legs are actually one of the weakest parts on my body. So this workout was very difficult for me doing it for the first time. The back portions of the workout are pullups - which I LOVE, but lately I am having a hard time with them (and pushups, my other former strength) due to my annoying shoulder.
23 different workouts, 15 leg, 8 pull-ups. The calf raises were not the hardest exercises, but like I said, I'm still feeling the effects!!

Saturday was Kenpo X. Probably my favorite workout so far just because I felt like I was working hard, and having fun at the same time. Sorry, I'm just a sucker for the punching and kicking type exercises. Makes me feel TOUGH.

This exercise wasn't extremely difficult, but it was a good workout. The hardest part *again dangit* was with my stupid shoulder not liking the way I was throwing punches. ARrrrrgh!

And that brings us up to week 2 of the P90X Lean program. Yesterday even though I was sick, we did Core Synergistics again. We did MUCH better and got a better workout than last week too - so I am pleased with results so far.

My beautiful wife says my slight 'pooch' (lower belly fat) has diminished some already, which is a good thing! I should probably post those before pictures so you know what I'm talking about huh?

Eh... we'll see!

So for now the P90X posts will stop for a while as we are just repeating last week for the next two weeks. If something comes up on it I'll post it - or if somebody has questions about it, but that's highly unlikely!

Jump London - Affliction Day of Reckoning

I haven't watched this yet, but I was very interested to see that Jump London - one of the first Parkour/Free Running videos of this era - is available on Google Video.

Or here - but it's from there... and you'd probably get a higher quality feed there!



And for those who care - Affliction: Day of Reckoning had the Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski fight on Saturday and Wow! It was pretty dang awesome.

Inside the Shell

I finally scanned my most recent drawing, "Inside the Shell."
Here it is:

I still haven't started my ocean drawing... I'm having a hard time with inspiration.

BJJ was great last night - it was just Connor and me, and we ended up talking more than rolling because of my shoulder, but I was able to get some good practice with reversals, armbars and even got a Gogoplata in. I think if I were to allow myself a signature move... that'd be it! :)

Had my first 'cheat' day of P90X. Basically we only did half the 1.5 hour Yoga X dvd. Good yoga workout for sure (although some of Tony's misspoken pose names was annoying sometimes), but with kids and time and me needing to get to BJJ, it just wasn't flowing. Wasn't working at all.

Today Shoulders and Back and another rab of Ab Ripper X! I'm looking forward to it because I really do like Pull-ups.

"To save face, keep lower half closed"

I have a new goal.
On the whole I think I am all right at this, but in certain situations I definitely need some work.

I want to talk less and listen more.

As the quote from Confucius tells us in the title - it really does keep you from looking stupid.

On the other hand... while I DO want to talk LESS - I also want to talk MORE by asking questions that allow me to listen and learn.

P90X - Shoulders & Arms; Ab Ripper X

Yesterday was day 3 of this session of P90X... and I think I am going to stop posting about these every day. Although I guess if I continue for the rest of this week I'll have covered most of the workouts and can then change to something else.

The P90X Shoulders & Arms workout is awesome. My only problem with it is a personal one - since I injured my shoulder playing dodgeball I have a really hard time doing some of the exercises. If I do them with no weights or very very low weights I have no problems and it is too easy - but if I increase the weight at all my arm starts feeling very painful. Even with a few exercises feeling too easy I focused on form on those and really working it, so I still got a good workout. Just not quite the muscle PUMP I'm used to when doing a heavier shoulder/arm workout. Stupid shoulder. I think it is improving though so that makes me hopeful that by the end I'll be up to where I should be weight/resistance wise.

My 2nd experience with the Ab Ripper X was much better than the first one. I concentrated on tightening my legs while doing the workouts and it alleviated all the hip problems I was having last time. It was still as difficult to do some of the moves, but I'm not feeling it quite as much today. We'll see as the day goes on I guess!

Today we are doing Yoga X, and then after that I'll be going to BJJ - hopefully it's more than just me and Connor, cuz Connor takes me apart WAY too easy! (BTW I'm looking forward to seeing Fedor fight on Saturday!)

I never really started the Dude-a-Day type thing I was talking about... I think I drew a couple really bad things for a couple of days... I need to scan one abstract drawing I did (at least, I call it abstract, not sure if it's the correct definition!) and get started on an ocean themed drawing for my nephew. I guess while he was looking at my drawings with me everybody was amazed at how interested and into them he got, so we thought it'd be cool to draw something for him and turn it into a poster. I'm thinking a shark will be the center.

And since this post is already a little random - Here's a video.
Microsoft has come out with a new program called "Songsmith" that takes what you sing and puts background music to it. Here's Oasis' Wonderwall. It's horrible. Yet I couldn't stop watching...

P90X - Cardio X

I know I've been writing about P90X every day lately and haven't posted anything too random or art related in a while.

I'll work on that.

But for today I'm going to talk about yesterday's fun and exciting Cardio X.

Being as it is the next day - I will say my butt and hamstrings are ridiculously sore from the past 2 days.

I'm VERY glad that tonight I will be doing a shoulder and arm workout, along with another round of Ab Ripper X.

Day 2 of the P90X Lean program is Cardio X. In the Classic version of P90X you don't even do this exercise until quite late in the program, and even then it is supplemental. Basically Tony Horton takes some of the more Cardiovascular exercises from other parts of P90X and puts them into a 45 minute routine that is a very good workout.

Starting with the regular P90X warmup of jogging, jumping jacks, quad and hamstring stretches, etc., you begin with Yoga, and continue on through Kenpo, Plyometrics, and our favorite Core Synergistics we did on day 1. I really don't like that Superman Banana!

Overall I was sweating heavily and really feeling it. I'm feeling it more now, and will probably be feeling it even MORE tomorrow especially with Ab Ripper.

After two workouts and getting ready to go home and do my third (which my beautiful wife has already finished and really liked) along with Ab Ripper X (officially this time!) I highly recommend P90X.

I'll probably just post my pictures (behind a cut so you don't have to look if you don't want to!) but I'm not too happy with them. They look like I'm standing really strangely.

I am also planning on scanning some drawings I've done and I'll put 'em here soooooon.

P90X - Core Synergistics

Last night we did Core Synergistics.

That 1 Hour routine seemed to last FOREVER!!

Also, this is a very difficult thing to do with a 9 month old who likes to crawl on and around your feet like a cat...

This sequence has 22 exercises, which you can read about here because there is no way I'm going to type out all of them! Sorry I'm lazy today. (actually busy today and don't have time, unfortunately)

My favorites (i.e. the biggest pains) were Bow-to-Boat and Superman Banana.

The ones I had the hardest time with due to my shoulder problem was any pushup. This surprised me because normally pushups are simple for me and I can do at least 50 at any time. Right now I can't do one without my shoulder giving out in excruciating pain - so basically it's not worth doing. MODIFIED pushups however I can do (GIRL pushups ha!) so I concentrate on form to try to get the most out of it. If I continue to do rotator cuff exercises I'm hoping that I can do more soon!

Today we will be doing CardioX. The plan is that this will loosen up the lactic acid from yesterday's workout so we won't be so sore, right? I hope so!

P90X Lean Starts Today!!

Today is the day.

Saturday we took our BEFORE pictures, which I may post here sometime... maybe.

I actually thought I was more satisfied with my physique than I am. I'm not BAD by any means, but I definitely need some work. And BOY am I PASTY!!

We are going to be doing the "Lean" version of P90X, which is supposedly the easiest. The only difference in the first few weeks is that you don't do Plyometrics in Lean, and you do one more Ab Ripper X session a week in Classic. If we need to we can always add in more Ab Rippers throughout the week or more cardio - but I have a feeling we'll be just fine.

Today we will be doing "Core Synergistics" - which sounds like a LOT of fun.

I will try to post a review of this workout in the next few days.

The fun begins!

2008 - Movies I Didn't See But Wanted To

First off let me say that I AM much more sore today than I was yesterday. Thankfully it isn't unbearable! It probably didn't help to have a tough but short Jujitsu class last night!

There were a lot of movies I missed last year.
Mostly for my own value I am going through IMDB and compiling this list to remind myself that I was interested in these movies.

So in chronological order:


Fool's Gold: So I liked How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and I liked Sahara, so I figured Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson together in something more like Sahara would be fun. Critics didn't like it and it didn't do too well... but I don't normally listen to them, so someday I'd like to see it.



The Spiderwick Chronicles: It's a Fantasy, of course I want to see it!

Never Back Down: Supposed to be a really lame fight-club wannabe type movie - but I still want to see it for some reason.

Leatherheads: This one looked funny and I heard good things about it.

Nim's Island: Can you tell I have kids? Lucky for me entertainment doesn't NEED to be for more mature audiences for me to enjoy it!

Son of Rambow : Not sure but the quirky off movies like this always interest me.

Speed Racer: Critically panned - but more and more people are saying this is really not that bad and amazing visuals. So I'll see it eventually.

The Fall: Supposed to be ridiculously gorgeous and epic - funded mostly by the director and using old-school special effects (i.e. no CG) - for some reason this is one I really want to see.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: I'll actually be watching this one tonight. Gotta love C.S. Lewis! Read these a lot when I was younger.

The Incredible Hulk: I didn't think the last one was as bad as people thought - nothing like Iron Man or the recent Batman movies, sure, but not BAD. So I still want to see this one.

Get Smart: I'm sure it doesn't compare to the original series, but I've heard it's silly enough.

Hancock: So the twist has already been ruined for me - but I still want to see this.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army: So I never saw the first Hellboy - still mean to someday... So REALLY I probably wouldn't want to see this until I saw that.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: Jet Li as a Mummy Emperor? Awesome!

Burn After Reading: Not sure why - but since I saw the trailer I've wanted to see this.

Igor: Henchmen show that they can be main characters too?! Sounds fun to me!

Eagle Eye: I like Shia LeBeouf, and this movie looks interesting.

Forever Strong : Traditional feel good Sports movies usually don't do it for me - but I've heard this is a really touching story.

City of Ember: I've been meaning to read these books for a while.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: Heard it isn't as good as the first.

Quantum of Solace: Yeah... I still haven't seen the most recent Bond movie. I am shamed.

Twilight: Read all the books - I guess I should see the movies. I did enjoy the books and want to see the movie, but I'm really not in a hurry on this one. :)

Yes Man: Jim Carrey in a somewhat more serious comedy - I like his more normal stuff more than his Ace Ventura-type stuff (although the Mask is probably one of my favorites)

And that is that.

There were definitely a few more that I missed, and this is actually less than I thought there were, but still more than enough.

I did see SOME movies so if you think I forgot something I might have seen it. Let me know though!

Ab Ripper X

I am not officially starting the full P90X program until Monday.

But I figured I could give the Ab Ripper program a try before officially starting, since this one is usually tacked on to the other workout programs two or three times throughout the week.

Today I am slightly sore, but the worst part is in my hips and upper legs rather than my abs, although I have a feeling I'll be feeling it much more tomorrow.

While not very long - you are going the entire 20 minutes without stopping (although Tony Horton the trainer says many times - "If you need a break, take it!") and the exercises really require a lot from your entire core. Basically I'm feeling it from just below my pecs down to halfway down my thighs. (It's just not that painful... at least not YET)

The workouts are as follows:
In and Outs - Seated with legs straight out in front of you - pull them back to your chest, and then straighten them out again. I suggest that you are warmed up a bit - especially in your hips as mine started popping and grinding quite painfully. Very strange. Good starting move though!
Seated Bicycle - Almost like you are riding a recumbent bike... but your not. Not too bad but definitely tough. Also wasn't the easiest thing on my hips - so make sure you warm those hips up good before starting!
Seated Crunchy Frog - Pretty much the same as the in and out, but you grab your legs and hug them close to your chest before going back out.
Crossed Leg/Wide Leg Sit-up - Lay down with legs either crossed or open in a wide V. Then raise one arm and do a sit up, reaching to the side opposite, back down and switch arms. Tougher than it sounds!
Fifer Scissor - This was the hardest for me - basically you are laying down doing scissor kicks with your legs at 90° angles - and I couldn't get my legs to the 90°!! My hamstrings are way too tight - especially since I haven't been doing yoga in a while. They used to be a lot more flexible.
Hip Rock ‘N Raise - Leg lifts with your feet together like you are doing a groin stretch. So you lift your lower body off the ground with your abs, then pop (raise) your hips up a bit more at the end.
Pulse-Up - This time your legs are raised to the sky and you lift your body up as high as you can. Basically the regular lay-on-your-back-and-raise-your-hips-up exercise.
Roll-Up/V-Up Combo -Do a sit-up with your legs flat on the ground. As you roll back bring your legs up, then sit up again leaving your legs up in the air, then roll down both your back and legs. Repeat. Hard to get - even harder to do I think!
Oblique V-Up - I really liked this exercise - even though by this point I was having a very difficult time! Basically you are doing V-sits while laying on your side, but going up towards the ceiling. I really think I'm going to feel this in my obliques tonight or tomorrow!
Leg Climb - This fun exercise really does work - and depending on how you do it is more difficult. One leg at a 45° angle that you then do a sit up while using your arms to climb up your leg. The less leg grabs, the more difficult.
Mason (Kayak) Twist - This one is probably my favorite - except that it's at the very end and I have no idea how I was able to do it at all! Basically while seated with your legs out in front of you, knees bent and slightly raised off the floor - interlock your fingers so you have like a Masons hammer and "slam" it into the ground (really just touch the floor) on each side to side rotation!

That's it! You're done and sweaty. I didn't feel like it was too much for me - but I can definitely improve and make it more worthwhile if I do this more.

And finally, here's a random video about the kinds of superpowers I too have:


And now I must evacuate the building. Crazy stuff.
**UPDATE** False alarm. Oh and I won a digital photo frame today for our company's Maintain Don't Gain Holiday fitness program. Yay!

P90X

If you look around at most fitness blogs on the web - you'll probably see at least one post about P90X.

"P90X is a revolutionary system of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts, designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days"

While I'm not at all flabby - I could use some more definition...
So on Monday I will be starting this program with my beautiful wife.
I'm excited to do it and will keep updates here, including the prerequisite pictures and whatnot.

Well... most likely the pictures... We'll see! :)

The only hesitations I have about it are my shoulder which I'm hoping will be well enough to start on Monday, and finding the time for both of us to get a 60 minute exercise in every day - 3 kids can make this very difficult!

Maggie Wang has an awesome review that covers most questions you might have about the program. As soon as I get into it more I'll definitely post my own thoughts.

Crazy Stuff I'd Never Do

Well... I'd probably never do it.

If they reduced the risk of DYING to ZERO PERCENT.
Still this stuff is SICK - in the good, not hacking up a lung way.


wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

I've seen this before, but saw it again today while reading the blog of the webcomic artist with the best name ever. (I read PS238 and Nodwick - haven't really looked into his other offerings.)

Also - Icebreaker is another fun little puzzle game - but so far not very hard.
I likes them Vikings! I think my kids will like them too - they are just like the 'puffballs' they pretend to be all the time!

What are we missing?

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

-- from "Leisure," by W.H. Davies

The above quote is from this Washington Post Article I read today.

Written back in April of 2007, "His performance was arranged by The Washington Post as an experiment in context, perception and priorities -- as well as an unblinking assessment of public taste: In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?" (again from the article)

It is a fascinating account of one of the greatest Violinists in the world, playing on a four million dollar violin in a subway, and only a very few people stopping and listening. Out of the Thousands who rush by on their way to work.

It actually brings to mind an experience I had with my wife while we were supporting my brother on one of his Barefoot Marathons up in Rexburg Idaho. We were support but also there to take pictures, and my wife was taking pictures of BEAUTIFUL flowers while we waited and watched the runners go by. One older guy who was obviously a runners runner ran past, then stopped dead in his tracks, walked back near my wife and bent over and inhaled the sweet perfume of the lovely roses. He then looked at her with a smile and said, "Gotta stop and smell the roses!" and went back to running.

We are all so busy.

We all should slow down, look around and realize the beauty that we are missing!

I know I need to for sure!

Dude-A-Day

This is awesome.

I should do something similar... not to make it like a meme or anything - just to make myself draw some silly little thing and post it online.

Maybe I will.

But what should I do? Any ideas? :)

Also - here is an addicting little puzzle game.

The Twilight Zone

No not a place filled with Vampires and sappy romance...

A void in space and time where you have NO idea what's going on and what time/day it is.

That's what the time since about Christmas has been for me and my family.

Sick sick sick.

Right now I'm shivering with chills and feeling quite crappy... but according to our wonky little ear thermometer I have a temp of 98° F... So not exactly abnormal.

New Years Eve we sat down to watch the "Legend of the Seeker" TV show on Hulu because while it is quite cheesy and liberally takes WIDE detours from the source material (The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind) it's a fun fantasy show to watch.

This was interrupted several times by each of our sick kids at different times. Quite funny, but sad. Our oldest ended up being awake for the changing of the New Year which was fun for him, even though he had a terrible fever.

Here's to a New Year full of happiness, success, and better health!

I wish you all the best!