2008 #31 - Back on Track?

No screwing around this time. The goals need attention. It's been a mini-week since the recap last Thursday. At the time I thought I was sticking to pre-Monday night stuff but in fact most of my trip happened after that, so let's just call this a mini-week.

The 2008 Manifesto

1. I will stick to my weekday food and drink ethic as set out previously plus consider the portion size of every meal, cutting back where necessary. Why? Long term I want to be in good health, and short to long term I want to weigh at best less, but certainly not more than I do now.

Last Week: The days spent at home I have largely stuck to the above. I seem to have fallen backwards a little in using the weekend as an excuse. I've decided to stop eating before nights out, something which I last did in 2002. At some point my stomach problems seemed to ease to the point where I decided not to do this anymore, but It's just go much easier. Very hard for my stomach to go wild when it's nearly empty. This has led to late night snacks after the night out though. Not ideal stuff. Might look into having something quick to prepare at home for such occasions.

Mini-Goal: No takeaway this week, at all, any day, anywhere. No exceptions for the weekend.

2. I will stick to wasting less weekday time playing fake poker. Why? Because time is precious and as much value as I place in entertainment, too much of one type of entertainment should be avoided.

Last Week: After returning home I started to build my chips up again to about 40k. I now have about 2000. Just before this I lost a game that was clearly against me. First hand flopped me aces over fives, but ended up splitting the on board wheel with Miss K9 off suit, who contributed nothing to her hand. Two hands later flopped a set of sixes, unfortunately an all-diamond flop which led to me being forced out. After that I lost hope, half stacked not having even seen showdown. Clung to life through two sets of blinds and finished - yep - fourth. Hate it.

3. I will take my camera with me whenever I go, or feel i'm likely to go, somewhere i've never been before but only on a night out if there are more than two people involved. Why? So I have some kind of record of where I've been and the people I've known, liked and loved.

Last Week: Nothing since I got home. No problem.

4. I will stay in touch with my friends weekly and start trying to initiate some weeknight activities. Why? Because spending any extended period of time alone is a terrible idea, and the more you initiate, the less likely that is to happen.

Last Week: Decent time on Saturday night. Chatting to others, setting stuff up. Maybe letting this slip a little.

5. I will spend a minimum of two hours every week actively working on my music, and my recording abilities. The exact nature of this is less important, but I will describe how I put the time in here to show it's happening. Why? Because some of the best times I've had in the last few years were band/music related, and lack of natural talent doesn't mean I have no ability. What I have, I want to keep using, at very least so as not to lose it.

Last Week: Best progress so far. A clear and definite +2 hours spent finally figuring out just how Live actually works flicking between session and arrangement. Great piece of kit.

6. I will continue to work towards my set work goals. Why? Because all career uncertainty aside, if I'm doing something, I'd rather be doing it well, plus it's the only way I will continue to advance in my current career.

Last Week: Next week?

7. I will continue to rethink my career inside and outside my current role weekly. Why? Because in the last year or two I have enjoyed my work less, feel I should be doing something more meaningful to me and others, and don't want to find myself still doing exactly the same thing in five years time.

Last Week: Watched Forgetting Sarah Marshall last night. Not for the most part about vocation but is in a small part. The guy essentially hates his job and is in a funk. Girl leaves him, so he goes to Hawaii, meets my new schoolboy style crush, Mila Kunis. She shows him his life can be better, even though she's not really doing what she wants either (apparantly she must go back to school to tie up loose ends because her existing awesomeness which the hero's fate feeds on isn't enough), and (as I think I just got ahead of myself in saying) he sorts himself out to the point where he actually does what he really wants to do. Did I just review a film in the middle of my goals? Damn straight, cos it left me with a good feeling and got me thinking. This guy was sick of providing backing music for a TV show. I would quite possibly kill for that job. Greener grass? A little but I think I'd enjoy it more than what I do now. It's probably a union thing. teehee.

8. I will find the time to manage a 3 times a week exercise schedule. Why? Much like the eating, it's about long term health gains and short term physical gain. Lose a little weight. Tone up a bit.

Last Week: This could have been a dead loss but I ended up doing reasonably well. I went for a long walk on Saturday, which is a good start. Somewhere along the way I dropped my phone. This is not the sort of thing I do and I'm still amazed it happened. I proceeded to walk the rest of the way home a little faster, changed into shorts (did you not notice how humid this place is right now) and went in search of a 6x2x0.7 inch brick on my bike. This in itself was barely exercise as it was slow, however I also took an inferior phone with me and dialled the lost phone frequently. After about 10 attempts somebody finally picked up. They were in Subway by Mosh. I was at this point somewhere near Braunstone Lane East on the canal towpath. I underestimated how far this was and said ten minutes. I think I made it, but I haven't put myself through that kind of vigorous exercise in a long time. Makes me think I need to be doing more of that. Also, how cool is it that I lose a phone on a 3-4 mile stretch of grassy canal bank and actually manage to get it back? Shit just works out sometimes. On Sunday I went the other way down the towpath and found places I didn't know existed in Charnwood. So, a sweaty walk, and two sweaty bikes rides. I might swim tomorrow. I'm not sure. I might be done with that for now. Have to see how I feel. I don't think It's doing me much good and going has become a drag. I'm increasingly convinced that cycling is the way to go, cos my feet sure as hell won't be able to handle running.. I'll tell you about my feet some time.

This was detailed.