Independence is my happiness, the world is my country and my religion is to do good....

Thinking about perfection, I found this quote by Thomas Paine in "Rights of Man":

“When it can be said by any country in the world, my poor are happy, neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them, my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars, the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive, the rational world is my friend because I am the friend of happiness. When these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and government. Independence is my happiness, the world is my country and my religion is to do good.”

And there you go.

Prescient, considering what is happening in this country, right now.  Luckily, part of my happiness is film.  And recently, thinking about what you'd consider to be perfect films. I made a small list! I was listing them five at a time on Fb, but here's a bit ol'mess of 'em:

Galaxy Quest
Amadeus
Young Frankenstein
The Last Emperor
The Magnificent Seven
ALIEN
Raiders of the Lost Ark
LA Confidential
It Happened One Night
The Conversation
In The Mood for Love
Mad Max: Fury Road
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Roshômon
Hereditary

Metropolis

The Third Man

Dark City

The Exorcist

Raise the Red Lantern

I'd add Shaun of the Dead, UP.....My Neighbor Totoro....AKIRA, The Iron Giant, Spirited Away, The Incredibles and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

And now we move on to art: working on two commissions. Actually, finishing up one and moving on to another one. Oh and dealing with technical issues! Wacom Cintiq....Cloud storage...an iMac thats becoming too old...at one point, I lost a few pieces of work and have been rushing to re-do them. ON TOP OF THIS: Photoshop upgraded to 2020 and now, brushes aren't working as they should. What I need to get is a bigger external HD for LOTS of storage. Yeah, need to do that, yesterday. Meanwhile, redoing the website to have it feature the storyboard work and maybe fiddling with the template? Yah yah yah...Reading up more about storyboards; studying the shit out of that....shit. Cinematography, too.  Later today since its SO GODDARN BEAUTIFUL OUT, putting a mask on, taking the camera out and shooting.

Training?  Oh yeah. Training. And diet. "Diet" as trying not to restrict. Too far out for me to be feeling tired and sore from a lack of calories. Example: breakfast. When in contest prep, its 1/3 cup of oatmeal, 2 eggs (1 whole, 1 white).  Now? Around 1/2 cup with an egg, topped with a protein drink (its a zero carb variety so I still have control over carb intake. Plus, I like this one - its the best tasting premade protein drink I've had).  If I'm still really hungry after 2hours, I'll have a treat of something like Honey Nut Cheerios. Or a large cookie. I'm eating 5-6 meals a day. Have begun taking micronized creatine, this past Saturday.

My crazy day of the week? I'll have a steak dinner...big bowl of spicy chicken ramen with spicy tuna rolls.  Maybe, some dim sum I've ordered from my local, favorite Chinese restaurant. And a cocktail...or two...three?

Caloric intake is still high. And really, even with contest prep, I don't go below 1000 cal a day. Ever.

Awrighteeee, training.  Getting into a groove but still maintaining a groove where, once all the madness of self-isolation ends, and I get booked, I can adapt. I can train at 1 or 2AM...11PM...5AM....ect. Do my sprint/run sessions at those times, too if need be. I'm ready, y'all!

Variations are like:

AM: KB Swings

        Hanging Leg Raises

PM: Bench Press

       BB rows

       Plate Raises

AM: KB Swings

        Hanging Leg Raises

PM: Rack Pulls

        T-Bar Rows

        High Pulls

AM: (if its a "off" morning) I go for a walk about with the camera (mask on)

PM: Squats (traditional or w/heels raised on a plate)

        GM

        SLDL

AM: KB Swings

        Hanging Leg Raises

PM: Push Presses

        High Pulls

        Pullups

(Deadlift variations: Conventional/Sumo, Trapbar can substitute either Squats or Rack Pulls)

That's it in a nutshell.  Fascinating shit, ain't it? HarHar! 

Some color to add to this post:

Words of the Day:

Spicy>Badass>Feel>Live

Word of 2020:

Love