Multitasker Extraordinaire

I’ve decided to not post for a while. I’m going through some stuff in my personal life and I’ve decided that it’s best that I keep it close to the vest and away from the internet. I still may post random stuff like the dog image and repost really cool artwork other Tumble users are posting though. Until then, take it easy folks.

And we’re all still here! Then again we’ve still got 323 days before the Mayans are proven wrong. Nevermind that stuff though. Let’s get back the present. The present where I’ve ignored my blog for the past 4 months. I was wondering what that says about me as a person but then I realized that’s stupid because this is just a blog! Now, if I wasn’t paying my bills and stuff there would be cause for concern. But enough of that. Time to talk about 2012.

New Years Resolutions!

That’s right, New Years Resolutions discussion time. I’ll be honest and admit I didn’t give New Year Resolutions a thought until New Years Day. There was a lot going at the end of 2011 so I didn’t dedicate time to what I might want to accomplish the 1st. On Twitter I posted that loosening up, growing up some and thinking about things before reacting. What I’ve come to realize is that for me 2012 is about more than those overarching concepts.

I’ve learned a lot in the past few months about myself, people, relationships and life in general. And I’m still learning everyday. That’s why I’ve set a lot of new small goals for myself; some are personal and others professional. With that said, I’ve come to the realization that my 2012 is about growth. Growth that I started last year and will continue to nurture and foster this year. And it’s going to be about change, too. Positive change like the discarding of bad habits, hang-ups and the like. And part of that change will be my enduring enthusiasm for experiencing new things. So hey, 2012, I’m ready for you! >:)

Video Games!

I haven’t play much in the way of video games this year. Super Mario 3D Land was the first game I played this year and that was on the 4th of January? I’m not sure. Anyway, since 2012 busted its way into existence I’ve played more 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 than anything else. Mix in a little Skyward Sword, Reach, Fruit Ninja, Bejeweled on iPhone and you’ve got the frappe of games I’ve savored so far this year. Shit, I just realized that I haven’t even touched Gears 3 this year even though I picked up the Season Pass. Wait, I haven’t touched Saints Row 3 again either. And I have that copy of Skyrim I got for my birthday sitting on my desk. Damn, I should really play those… But lately I’ve become preoccupied with…

PSO 2!

I’ve been really enjoying the Alpha version of the game. The game is an excellent amalgamation of the best parts of the original PSO and the abhorrent Phantasy Star Universe. And yes, I know what you’re thinking, it is shocking that PSU had any good parts at all. ;)

But the game is still pretty rough. It’s definitely in a prettier state than most games are when they hit alpha but it’s still super buggy and somewhat janky. It’s stuff that I’m sure that will get worked on in due time. I hope that the developers keep listening and working hard between now and then. If you haven’t seen it, head on over to PSO World. They’re videos and livestreams thread has got you covered.

In Summary!

So yeah, New Years Resolutions, video games and PSO 2. It’s cool stuff but ultimately I want this year to be a fantastic year. There will be good times and there will be bad times but we have to keep at it because life isn’t easy. Life truly is short so I say relish every moment and have a great year. And if shit gets super crazy, sit back and do something that will relax you. I like to sit back and dive into stuff that has nothing to do with my stress like books and movies. And I enjoy dumb tweets like this one and thought-provoking tweets like this one. :)

Blueblur out!

I had a really bizarre dream last night. Giant Bomb’s Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis where in my room playing video games even though my room in the dream looked nothing like it. When Jeff wanted to start playing some PC game he was reviewing (Jeff revieweing a PC is enough to make you go “Whaaaaaa?”), we went to the living room where his PC was hooked up to my LCD TV. But then when I turn to talk to him, Jeff’s no longer there but my cousin Yenmy is. Then Yenmy and I start arguing about some game that I thought wasn’t any good. I woke up after that. Like yeah, what the hell? It guess that happened because I was listening to the Bombcast a ton recently (was behind on episodes) and was watching a lot of the short user created videos on YouTube that use Bombcast voice clips. Or I’m going crazy. That is possible considering my Halloween Horror Nights plans according to one special girl. :)

I had the oddest dream last night. It started off with me waking up this morning and looking out one of my bedroom windows. What I saw shocked me: our landlord had destroyed the concrete that takes up 70% of our front yard and replaced it in with two pairs of double slabs of concrete to park cars on (for the tires) and filled the rest of the yard with rocks. I went to my mom to tell her what happened and she called me crazy. She said that there was no way that happened because we would have had to move our cars and heard the ruckus outside. Then she kicked me out of her room.

Suddenly, I’m in this apartment complex that resembles my old middle school. Apparently, some virus is spreading around making the tenants sick. I’m with my mom when she decides to be nosy and join the crowd that had gathered around the front door of the apartment with the most recent outbreak. The crowd was small as she was able to walk to the door and almost knock but I stopped her. I told her she was crazy and shouldn’t be a gossipy old lady. I also told her that if she’s was going to bother anyone it should be the next door neighbor and not the sick tenants. Then the next door neighbor’s door flew open and out came some friends of the family to greet my mom. No idea why they were there.

And then instantly, I’m playing Gears 3 and the level that I’m in is the same apartment complex! While playing I don’t recall encountering any enemies at all. I just remembering coming upon some gangly trees and one of them had a bee hive in it. Before I get to shoot it (to see what would happen), my dream changes and I’m not playing the game anymore and I’ in my room again and about to go to sleep. I looked at my other bedroom window and it had changed to a small stain glass window, like the size of my head. The image on it was Halo-related. I thought to myself, “Why did I bother with it; I really want it to be a regular window now so I can see the trees outside.”

There was also two moments that took place somewhere in the middle of my dream. IN one, I remember going to the refrigerator, which was larger than my actual fridge, and finding a huge white cake with red trimmings and asking my mom who the cake was for. She replied that it was for Pacheco, a family member, and thought nothing of it. Now, that’s weird because Pacheco, my cousin’s grandfather, died 3 Saturdays ago. :(

In the other moment, I woke up and all of my stuff was still turned on: my TVs, my Xbox, my computer and the monitor. I know what you’re thinking, “That last part probably wasn’t a dream. You feel asleep with all your stuff on.” But that’s not true, I turned everything off last night before going to bed. I distinctly remember doing it. Anyway, it was a weird dream. I wanted to document it and share. I don’t think it meant anything but who knows. Maybe I’m just crazy as shit!

Good morning! It’s Saturday and I’m still lying in bed using my phone to post because I don’t feel like getting up. :) Anyway, I was listening to this week’s Giant Bombcast episode wherein the guys discuss Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and touch on the game’s combat. That got me thinking of character action games with really good combat. You know, Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, etc. And of course, Bayonetta which I hold in extremely high regard. I still think nothing tops it and absolutely loved it. I didn’t really fall in love with the character herself or the world but with the combat and with the variety of gameplay mechanics featured in the game. All the little references to other game and game franchises was fantastic, too. Man, I should really play it again. But dat backlog of games is still sitting there by my desk… Taunting me! :(

Here I am doing something unprecedented; writing 2 blog posts in one day! While on the treadmill earlier, I decided that it would be a good idea to write a blog post about recent going-ons and such as a way to relief stress. Plus, I’ve always been an open book and I like sharing.

2011, for me, has been a year for change. I’ve made it my mission to be open-minded and do new things, meet new people, bury old habits, lose weight and break the 4-year, now 5, single streak I’ve got going. I started going out with friends more often to new places like lounges & bars and started staying at home less (I was kinda getting bored of playing video games all the time anyway). I was meeting new people and I started doing new things like going out bowling, playing pool and reading (yes, I was a very boring person).

And I started trying my luck with the ladies. Eventually I started talking to this one girl but on the second date she told she wanted to slow down and then didn’t seem interested after that. I was pretty bummed out about her seeing as I really liked her when one of my friends, Paul, invited me out with two of his friends to this old lounge I’ve frequented before. So I go, trying to get that girl, J, off my mind.

Well, I hit it off with one of the two friends who happens to also be named J (I didn’t even think that could happen since I was still brooding over J #1). Well, we end up seeing each other again and then we’re officially talking. Problem is that J #2 still had a boyfriend. The relationship was an unhealthy one and eventually she ends it and we date but it’s never official. Well, since then it’s been kind of a roller-coaster ride. I’ve found myself to be completely in love with her and while she cares me, she’s not ready for another relationship so we’re just friends for now. It’s been difficult for me to be just a friend considering how I feel about her but now I’m doing my best to relax and just be a good friend. That’s where I’m at right now.

With all this going on, I’ve made a concentrated effort to lose weight and I’ve been successful. I’ve gone from 252 lbs. to 229 lbs. in the past 4 months. Honestly, I haven’t lost any weight since late July. It was around then that things were really stressful with work and J so I started being lazy about working out. I’m pretty sure I have my head on straight now though. In the past two weeks I’ve started thinking about taking a trip to Europe (to have my own adventure) and I’ve started getting my school stuff in order (something I should have done way back in July). I even visited the Nova Southeast University campus in Ft. Lauderdale where I want to go for pharmacy school after I complete all the prerequisite classes (76 credits, I’ll finish them in like 3 years :P). Oh, and I finally submitted the passport application.

So that’s been my 2011 so far in a nutshell. Before May, I was still spending a lot of time playing games. But since I met the ladies, I haven’t played much aside from killing time with Halo Reach multiplayer matches and dabbling in other games. Hell, I use my 360 mostly for Netflix nowadays. And when I’m not doing that I’m reading or just watching TV and surfing the ‘net at the same time. Speaking of reading, I just finished the second Harry Potter book last night. I’m going to get started on book 3 now before I have to start getting ready for my cousin’s wedding tonight.

Well, if you’ve read this far, thanks. This post was more for me than it is for anyone else. Hell, only Twitter people can even see this thing. I don’t link to this blog at all over at Facebook. Funny how I’m more open with internet buddies than I am with the people I actually know. Oh well!

In keeping with the commitment I’ve made to myself to post more, I decided to post today’s workout routine. Peter, a good friend of mine who has a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, had created a 5-day workout routine for me a while back. Unfortunately, I’ve been pretty terrible about working out more than once a week for the past month or so. (I’ve been so preoccupied with work, dealing with girl-related stuff, and just being a lazy bastard.)

Anyway, here’s Monday’s routine:

Treadmill: Warm-up for 15 minutes @ 3.0 - 3.5 mph (I prefer 3.6 mph)

Squats - 20 reps (I use the resistance band while doing these)

Resistance Band Chest Press - 20 reps (I do 30)

Band Reverse Flyes - 20 reps (30)

Band Overhead Shoulder Press - 20 reps (30)

Band Bicep Curls - 20 reps (30)

Band Chest Flyes - 20 reps (30)

Band Back Rows - 20 reps (30)

Band Tricept Extensions - 20 reps (30 but I can barely make it!)

Band Shoulder Lateral Raises - 20 reps (30 and these are hard as fuck, too)

Squats - 20 reps (with resistance band again)

Treadmill: Cool-down for 15 minutes @ 3.0 - 3.5 mph (3.6 mph again)

I performed (is that the right word?) this routine today, Saturday, and I’m pretty tired but also feeling pretty good. I need to be better about working out consistently though. Thing is that I workout in my backyard because I don’t have anywhere else to put my treadmill besides my back porch. So when I get home at 7pm from work I’m either mentally exhausted or don’t feel like working out under fluorescent lights out there. And on sometimes I end up going somewhere with friends or having to rush to take care of a chore or something. Last week I blew two afternoons trying to buy a suit for my cousin’s wedding; got there after closing one day and got lazy when I came home. I really need to commit myself to working out more consistently because otherwise I will not reach my goal of weighing 200 lbs. by the end of this year.