#havin a movie night w yogurt

[roadkill-dreaming]

[40countdown]

KICKOFF

January 3rd 2019 will mark my 40th lap around the sun. I am creating this blog to chart my journey and keep myself accountable. I have invited friends to follow me, strangers are also welcome. If it inspires anyone else, that’s great, but I���m mostly doing it to motivate myself. It helps if y’all follow b/c that’s how I will feel the pressure. 

More of just the set up to cover in this initial post. Some stats and whatnot... 

                               WHERE I’M AT

BODY: 

I have an elbow injury that has been guessed (by the clinic doctor down the street) to be “tennis elbow.” This has been an issue for over 4 months now. I was lifting weights regularly before then for about 6 months and had seen some gains, but have since stopped and I’m sure I’ve lost whatever I gained by now. 

I have been smoking cigarettes on and off for 15 years now. I’ve quit for a couple long stretches during that time (1.5 years, 9 months, etc.) and I just quit again on Jan. 7. Had one cigarette left and threw it away. 

My body is not what an average person would call awful, but as you can observe for yourself even by the kindest rating system imaginable.. I’m a long way from what anyone would call “naked hot.” Also, putting my socks on is much more of a strain while wearing this somewhat new gut-filled body suit. 

(This Exclusive Locker Room Photo captures the brutal honesty of where my body is at.. I have to look better at 40.) 

I haven’t had a physical in 3 years. I’m always told my blood pressure is high. 

I think that’s enough on body for the moment. I will get a physical scheduled as soon as I get my new insurance set up and let y’all know how that goes. 

CAREER: 

I have a good job as a film instructor at a college. I also manage the film equipment store for the film minors, but I do not have a “full course load,” so financially I’m still just getting by. But just getting by when you know exactly when your next check is coming is a much easier way to live than the just getting by in the freelance world I’d been doing for the past decade. 

I also find the job to be rewarding in a variety of ways. I love the problem solving questions about scripts and storytelling film techniques. It really keeps my head sharp. It gives me a reason to go to the movie theatre (everyone should get MoviePass) and to see the interesting movies and to read books about screenplays and filmmakers and I stay in the loop on some of what’s “new” b/c college students know all the hip shit. 

While teaching classes I’m also shooting and directing a documentary that started w/ me going to London for Christmas. I went to Germany for a day while I was over there too but.. oof.. not much good to say about that little jaunt. But the interviews I shot went well. Last night I heard back from one other potential interview subject that would be a big get for the film and he sounds interested but nothing is confirmed yet... 

HEART/MIND:   

I started meditating regularly some time in May of 2017. Attempting to meditate regularly is more accurate. My phone lost some of the data (I have been using the 10% Happier app, which I like) but I can guesstimate from what remains I meditated at least 600-700 minutes over 8 months. Not terrible for a beginner, but not terribly consistent either. I have started this year off by not meditating once yet :) At last, Consistency! 

I regularly spend 30 minutes on the elliptical at least 4 days a week, usually 5-6. And I spend 15-20 minutes in the sauna which I love and mention in this section b/c I think it’s more of a mental reward I get from those things than physical. Somewhat evidenced by the fact that I have been doing that for a while now and it has not impacted the grossness of my gut at all. 

I have been single for a year. I’m trying not to focus on that since I have other things I feel like I need to work on, but at the same time, I’ll always have other things I’ll need to work on, so I decided not to completely keep myself from meeting women. I don’t know many people in the area I’m living in and I’m surrounded by students (girls 20 years younger than me) and occasionally I meet another professor.. Students are an obvious no. But even trying to date someone at work on a college campus.. you must be insane. 

I’ll spare the details but I’ve already heard some totally absurd horror stories and I’ve only been working there 3.5 months. So I rejoined a dating site last night and immediately spent way too much time on there. Probably more than I meditated all last year. So I’ll need to reel that in :) 

FOOD: 

I make/eat baked salmon with vegetables more than I eat anything else. I make quinoa with chicken and vegetables which I eat most days for lunch. Breakfast has been yogurt with muesli for the last several weeks, but I’m over that.. I’ve also probably been averaging about 2 or 3 apples a week. I’ve recently moved from coffee to green tea in the morning, but we’ll see how that pans out. I prefer coffee in the morning. 

Now that all the good food has been noted... I still eat fast food cheeseburgers and fries (probably averaged 1 or 1.5 times/week.. maybe less), but also I’ve had more than my share of trash pizza from the chain pizza dumpsters across the street. 

                 GOALS OR WHERE I AIM TO BE

BODY: 

“Naked Hot” would be nice. But more specifically defined... 

Weigh between 157-162 

Flat stomach + at least 2 inches off waist

Elbow healed

11 months cigarette free

Blood Pressure under control 

CAREER:

I won’t hang up when they ring me for the 3 picture deal. But, more specifically defined seems to feel good so... 

Documentary completed and accepted into several festivals

Longer term job offer or Acceptance into MFA program 

Feature film script being read by someone important  

HEART/MIND:

First, I’m not gonna set any specific relationship goals b/c I think that's fuckin weird, but I would be happy to be in a relationship again at some point. And not just any relationship, I’m talkin bout a FLY Ass Bitch! Ha! Kidding. That said, “fly-ass-bitches” are welcome. But maybe just a relationship that isn’t criminally one-sided and doesn’t need to eat my entire consciousness and soul in order to live.. (Dangerfield voice) ...the last one was a little bit of a doozy. Hey! Can you tell?! Ha! Yeow. She got me good. - We’re really sharing and havin fun now :D 

Meditate for 7,000 mins (avg of 20mins/day)

Maintain the elliptical and sauna stats (30/20mins) 

Listen to more than 12 books

Finish Reading more than 10 books 

So, thanks for looking at this, y’all. The rest of these will be MUCH SHORTER. Feel free to share any thoughts. And please share the blog w/ anyone and everyone you think might be interested. And good luck on your journeys!