SAVE_US.T3

Clowns

2011-10-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

The first movie that ever scared the shit out of me was Poltergeist.

I was 4 or 5.

My parents told me to stay in my room while they watched it.

I didn't listen.

I snuck out of my room... went down the hall... I peered around the corner to see what they were watching.

The first thing I saw was a kid look under his bed, and a clown came out from under the bed... grabbed the kid... and pulled him kicking and screaming underneath. Proceeding to strangle the kid with it's long boa constrictor like arms, as the kid screamed his unheard pleas for help while his mother was in her room oblivious to it all while blow drying her hair.

I lost my shit.

My parents were like "We told you not to watch this and stay in your room!". They were absolutely right. I should have heeded their fucking advice. Cause I ...WAS... SCARED... SHITLESS!!!

I ACTUALLY HAD A FUCKING STUFFED CLOWN IN MY ROOM!!!

So... I of course did not feel that I would be safe in my bed until SOMEONE... other than myself... looked underneath to make sure there were no evil fucking clowns under there ready to drag my ass into some hellish abyss... that I never even knew existed until I saw it on TV.

So... enter my Father.

My Mother tells him to look under my bed. To put my mind at ease so that I would not be keeping them up all night as I sobbed in terror at what may lie underneath my place of slumber I once felt so secure in.

He gets down on the floor...

Gets about half way under the bed and ...

STARTS SCREAMING AND KICKING LIKE HE'S BEING DRAGGED INTO SOME HELLISH ABYSS BY SOME EVIL FUCKING CLOWN!!!

HOLY FUCK!!!

I lost my shit!

While my Father thought this was absolutely hysterical, my Mother felt otherwise...

She was not happy.

Many may wonder if I have an aversion to clowns on account of what might seem like a traumatic experience for a 4 or 5 year old boy.

The answer is no.

I think clowns are awkward, and to some end make me uncomfortable. But I do not fear your average run of the mill party/parade/street clown. I have yet to meet a clown whose ass I didn't think I could kick on the street. So I feel quite safe in the presence of clowns. Generally they're nice to me.

Occasionally even give me a balloon animal :)

But if I ever look under my bed and one fucking jumps out at me...

I'll most likely lose my shit.

Changing Your Emotional Scenery/Self Image

2011-06-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

It's easy to let others influence your own view of yourself.

If you are regularly exposed to people telling you that you're aren't good enough, or that you fall short of their expectations, somehow you can't help but start to believe it yourself. While people will tell you not to let others negativity influence you, it can be incredibly difficult and there's no simple switch you can hit that will just make that happen.

On the flip side if you surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are, and accept you as is, your view of yourself will equally become more positive. PLUS there's no mental re-programming necessary. No telling yourself not to pay attention to their words. You can openly embrace them without any effort.

Now, I'm not saying to surround yourself with kiss ass "yes" men. I'm talking about people who have the interest, clarity, and perspective to understand who you really are.

Someone told me this truth several years ago during a time where I felt very ganged up on by people who were ultimately telling me that there was something wrong with me for being who I was. That I wasn't who they wanted me to or thought I should be.

It was a gradual and very difficult process but inevitably I began to discard friends/family to change my emotional scenery. People who I knew that no matter what I did, I would never live up to THEIR expectations of me AND still maintain my own identity.

Doing this was/is very hard for me because I WANT to have these people in my life, and feel that I try to accept them for who they are, but without it reciprocated I harvest nothing but pain from the relationship in spite of my best hopes and intentions. It's very hard to forcefully separate yourself from people whom you love even knowing they don't care for/respect you the same, but ultimately you owe it to yourself to be happy and not spend your life carrying the burden of their negativity in your heart.

Since having done this I notice less angst, and negativity in my heart each day. While I miss the positives of these people, the negative vibes I carried on their behalf (now gone) are a weight lifted off of me. I no longer am trying to please those who I will never be able to please, nor shouldn't have had to in the first place.

I have not closed the door on any of these people with whom I've had to step away from. I would gladly welcome them back into my heart should the day come that they are willing to accept me for who I am and accept the love and friendship that I have to offer. But not until then...

This is one step I've taken towards creating my own happiness.

My WWE Collection

2011-03-07T19:14:00.000-08:00

My WWE collection started in 2001 when I got hooked on the WWE.

I have over 30 WWE T-shirts along with a few hoodies, long sleeves, and a vintage NWO Starter jacket.

My WWE DVD collection consists of every single Pay-Per-View from 2001 to date, along with "Best Of" collections, and other documentaries. I also picked up the new WWE Rumblers figurines which are seated atop the DVD's currently.

Throughout my place are various PPV posters I've collected over the years... These are what are up right now. I have more, but only so much wall space.

My Championship Title Belts are my pride and joy of my collection. As of right now I only have the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships. Someday I'd like to have every belt ever.

The WWE Championship

The World Heavyweight Championship

While my apartment is littered with WWE stuff, but my bathroom is actually the room I have dedicated the most to the WWE. Featuring action figures, posters, and WWE PPV ads from the past decade. All laminated so as to withstand the humidity.

A few points of interest...

I had this made to commemorate Eugene defeating Kurt Angle for his gold medals in his "Kurt Angle Invitational". I have a buddy who is a huge Angle fan, and when this happened I had this made just to piss him off.

I of course must have a Y2J: Chris Jericho action figure...

I have several heavy rubbermaid bins full of WWE, and the now defunct Raw & Smackdown magazines from 2001 to present.

These are all just some highlights of what I have. There is much too much to take pictures of it all. Some things are in storage, and there's a little this and that all over my place... but this gives you the jist of what kind of WWE fan I am.

Paying At The Pump: No Longer Convenient

2011-01-29T11:08:00.000-08:00

Paying for gas at the pump in no longer faster or convenient. In fact it’s become less convenient.

They hit you up with so many fucking questions on a slow ass system that you spend 2 minutes standing there answering questions after you swipe your card. I want to swipe it, put gas in my car, and get back on the road. THAT’S convenient.

Instead, you have to tell it debit or credit… wait 20 seconds for it to think about it, enter your zip code… wait some more… car wash?... wait some more… THEN you can start putting gas in your car.

OR!!!

I could take $30 inside, say pump 4 and start pumping my gas in a fraction of the time. No questions… no bullshit.

So, paying at the pump has gone from being a great convenience to a pain in the ass. Especially when you’re standing outside taking this quiz in 9 degree weather.

So fuck it.

T3 Waking Up

2010-12-14T14:51:00.000-08:00

Every morning I wake up and rapidly go through 5 stages that get me from sound asleep to on my feet...

1. "What the fuck?": This is always number 1. Appropriate and self explanatory.

2. "What the fuck is that?": This is in reference to my alarm. No matter how many times I wake up to it I will always be dumbfounded as to what the hell that sound is.

3. "Jesus Christ...": This is usually after I've hit the alarm and my head comes crashing back down to my pillow. I take a few breaths and then it's...

4. "Shit": This is me coming to the realization that I am going to have to physically remove myself out from under my covers, get vertical, and start my day.

5. "Goddammit": This is during the actual physical rise out of bed.

And then I'm up! Ready to start the day! After these 5 simple stages of advancing coherency, I'm ready to go out and inspire the masses to eat right and work out!

Opti-Free "Replenish" VS Opti-Free "Express"

2010-11-17T19:34:00.000-08:00

OPTI-FREE makes two separate contact lens solutions...

OPTI-FREE "Replenish"

And..

OPTI-FREE "Express"

Now, I have read the list of features on each of these products. I can't find one difference. They make all the same claims. I've read the directions... they're exactly the same. They come in the same size, and cost the same amount of money.

I have often found myself staring at the two of these... looking for any small detail that differentiates one from the other so that I can better choose the product best suited for my needs. Nothing. I've tried them both. I can't give you any definitive difference in performance from one to the other. Yet it haunts me... what IS the difference??!!

So I took them up to the pharmacists at the store. Two of them stood there looking them over... they had no answer. They too were stumped.

There MUST be a difference... right? If not, then why consistently sell them both as separate items, and stock them right next to one another?

Jigsaw

2010-11-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

So, last night I saw SAW 3D...

I had never seen any of these movies before, but I have to say... I like Jigsaw's style.

As sick as it may sound, I understand and can relate to this villain. Everyone he kills he has a pretty valid reason for it. Perhaps they don't deserve the gruesome death they receive for their crimes, but at least he can justify it to some end. Not to mention he takes the time to explain to them why he's doing what he's doing. In all fairness to him, he does give them all the opportunity to get out of it. It might mean losing a limb, or some other horrific experience... but it's not your typical mindless killing that guys like Jason and Freddie dish out, and generally speaking they deserve what's comin' to em'.

Too many in this world get away with things that hurt others that can scar people for life either physically or emotionally. I like seeing someone get what's coming to them for once.

Without giving away any of the movie... the opening sequence I thought was the most righteous and justified kill in it.

If I were ever to go so far as to kill somebody, and had the means I would definitely want to do it Jigsaw style. He makes them have to think about what they've done, he makes their deaths slow, painful, and just absolutely flawless. Whatever it is he has lined up for them... if they can't get out of it... they will most definitely die from it. Now I don't know where he gets the funding for these elaborate traps, and torture devices, but if I had the means... this would definitely be my style of choice.

I have always said that I am not above revenge. There is a list of people I'd like to see have to pay for their transgressions against me. I would want them to know I was the one doing it. I would want them to know the pain and suffering they've caused me, and have to suffer worse in order to survive or die trying. Given the funding I could most definitely put together some pretty creative death traps for these people based on what they've done to me.

Chris Rock had a routine years ago about O.J. killing his wife where he says "I ain't sayin' he should've killed her... but I understand".

Now... I ain't sayin' Jigsaw should be going around killing people... but I understand.

Half Of Us

2010-10-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

This is interesting...

As someone who has known physical and mental abuse as a child, it's always comforting to hear the stories of others who have shared similar experiences. Even more so when it's coming from one of your biggest heroes.

Swearing

2010-10-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Today I heard someone say ...

"People who use vulgar language do so because they lack the intellect to creatively express themselves verbally."

Bullshit.

As an avid swearer this is something I take great exception to. I hate the bad rap that swearing gets. I say there are no bad words, only words used to hurt people. I could say terrible things about somebody that would bring them to tears and never use a single curse word. I could equally congratulate, thank, and show my love for someone and swear my ass of the whole way through.

I find swearing to be the spice of verbal expression. It adds flavor, and emphasis to the point you are trying to get across. Yes, more often than not it's used negatively, but that's all at the discretion of the person speaking. I swear pretty regularly. My parents were both very big on swearing. It's just second nature to me, but I honestly think that 9 out of 10 times I say "Fuck" it's in a positive connotation. "Fuckin' A" is a pretty consistent response from me, and is usually well received.

Now I certainly use it negatively as well. That's one of the many beauties of "foul" language. It can be used both negatively and positively. I'm glad that there are words out there that allow you to really give it to someone when the occasion calls for it. Sometimes you need to be able to tell someone where to get off, and there's nothing quite like telling someone to go Fuck them self.

Comedians who swear a lot also get a bad rap. I think that all just comes down to a matter of personal preference. I've found myself more amused by comics who swear than those who don't. I find movies with vulgar language more entertaining. Again, that's just personal preference.

There are most definitely people who overdo it for attention. You can tell when someone is just trying too hard, and it's not something that comes natural to them. But you can say that about a lot of things, and is certainly not exclusive to swearing.

Now, I also understand that the rest of the world doesn't think the way I do. So, yes in business and certain situations I have to make a conscious effort to not let one slip through. But on my own time it's part of who I am. I have historically been more attracted to girls who aren't afraid to swear. A girl who doesn't swear lacks a certain spunk that I require.

My children will not be brought up to know "swear" words to be labeled as such. They won't even know what a "swear" is. They will only know the English language. "Swears" included. They WILL be taught however that it is not appropriate to use ANY words to be hurtful towards others. If I get a call from the principal that my child is in trouble for swearing, I'll back my kid up 100%. If I find out that they were using it, or any other words to be hurtful... then they're going to be disciplined accordingly.

I have nothing against people who choose not to swear. It's like religion or politics, what you choose to do is your business... just don't push your beliefs on me or try to censor me, and don't be offended by my choice of words when they are not being used to be hurtful or offensive.

When I hear an ignorant statement like I heard today it just gets under my skin.

T3 Radio

2010-09-23T14:37:00.001-07:00

I spend a lot of time in my car with my job. So, while I enjoy listening to a lot of albums by my favorite bands, sometimes I just need the random variety of a mix cd. So what I do is I have an ever changing MP3 disc of personal songs by my favorite bands, and or stand out tracks by bands I may otherwise never listen to. I pop it in, put it on random, and let er’ rip!

I keep myself to a 3 song per band limit to maintain variety and not let any one band dominate the mix. There are some artist crossovers due to super groups, collaborations, and cover songs, but I feel the integrity of the mix is still strong. I re-work the mix about every other week or so. Some songs change, some bands may be added or eliminated all together if I’ve had my fill. I want to be excited to hear every single song that comes next in the mix. So if it makes the list, then you know it's a song I like.

It currently consists of 98 songs - 6 hours 17 minutes of music:

Work At Night – Professor Kliq

Sewage – Professor Kliq

Crystals – Professor Kliq

Freak – Smashing Pumpkins

Tarantula – Smashing Pumpkins

G.L.O.W. – Smashing Pumpkins

Astonishing Panorama Of The End Times – Marilyn Manson

Disposable Teens – Marilyn Manson

The Fight Song – Marilyn Manson

Whatsername – Green Day

Peacemaker – Green Day

Viva La Gloria – Green Day

These Stones Will Shout – The Raconteurs

Old Enough – The Raconteurs

Salute Your Solution – The Raconteurs

Night Train – The Kills

Fuck The People – The Kills

Tape Song – The Kills

Head Like A Hole (Live) – Nine Inch Nails

Only – Nine Inch Nails

The Hand That Feeds – Nine Inch Nails

Famous Last Words – My Chemical Romance

The Sharpest Lives – My Chemical Romance

This Is How I Disappear – My Chemical Romance

Down Is The New Up – Radiohead

Jigsaw Falling Into Place – Radiohead

Bodysnatchers – Radiohead

What I’m Looking For – Brenden Benson

Poised And Ready – Brenden Benson

A Whole Lot Better – Brenden Benson

A Martyr For My Love For You – The White Stripes

You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told) – The White Stripes

Blue Orchid – The White Stripes

Eating Me Alive – Alkaline Trio

This Addiction – Alkaline Trio

Hell Yes – Alkaline Trio

Bone House – The Dead Weather

Die By The Drop – The Dead Weather

The Difference Between Us – The Dead Weather

Spider – Oingo Boingo

Insanity – Oingo Boingo

Winning Side – Oingo Boingo

Chop Suey! – System Of A Down

B.Y.O.B. – System Of A Down

Toxicity – System Of A Down

Tymps – Fiona Apple

Limp – Fiona Apple

So Sleepy – Fiona Apple w/Jon Brion

To – Plaid Penmanship (Ian Hoffman)

Lockhead – Plaid Penmanship (Ian Hoffman)

Does She – Plaid Penmanship (Ian Hoffman)

History – Tenacious D

Tribute – Tenacious D

Kielbasa – Tenacious D

Monkey Wrench – Foo Fighters

Best Of You – Foo Fighters

All My Life – Foo Fighters

Let It Roll – Divide The Day (WWE Friday Night Smackdown Theme)

Invincible – Adelitas Way (WWE Superstars Theme)

Burn It To The Ground – Nickelback (WWE Monday Night RAW Theme)

For What It’s Worth – Placebo

Meds – Placebo w/Allison Mosshart

Only Happy When It Rains – Garbage

Queer – Garbage

Supervixen – Garbage

New Fang – Them Crooked Vultures

Mind Eraser, No Chaser – Them Crooked Vultures

No One Loves Me & Neither Do I – Them Crooked Vultures

Glass Of Water – Coldplay

Life In Technicolor Pt. 2 – Coldplay

Ramona – Beck

The Information – Beck

Orphans – Beck

A Drowning – How To Destroy Angels

The Space In Between – How To Destroy Angels

The High Road – Broken Bells

Son Of Sam – Elliot Smith

Losing Touch – The Killers

Feels Just Like It Should – Jamiroquai

Crossfire – Brandon Flowers

Born To Raise Hell – Motorhead

Gimme Some More – Busta Rhymes

Bad, Bad Man – John Cena

The Place You’ve Come To Fear The Most – Dashboard Confessional

New – No Doubt

Celebrity Skin – Hole

Skating Away On The ThIn Ice Of The New Day – Jethro Tull

Lazy Eye – Silversun Pickups

Rebel Yell – Billy Idol (Kill Hannah Cover)

Misplaced Memories – MxPx

All The Way – Eddie Vedder

Better Luck Next Time – The Plain White T’s (Oingo Boingo Cover)

The Little Things – Danny Elfman

Sally’s Song – Amy Lee (Danny Elfman Cover)

I Dare You – Shinedown (Wrestlemania 22 Theme)

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – Eurythmics (MIKA Live Cover)

Relax, Take It Easy – MIKA
19-2000 - Gorillaz (Soul Child Remix)

Understanding...

2010-09-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

I once had someone tell me...

"I don't have to understand what you're going through to be there for you"

This meant so much to me. I wish my friends and family were able to adopt the same philosophy. So few are able to understand many of the things I struggle with in my life, and I have a terribly hard time communicating to others why these struggles hold the level of intensity for me that they do. So, for someone to just look past all that, and just be there for me regardless means more to me than anything in the world.

Even though the person who said this to me inevitably turned on me and ultimately stabbed me in the back... I still believe in the sentiment, and try to do unto others the same.

I Hate Marching Bands

2010-09-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact that many of my friends were in our high school marching band, I can't stand marching bands...

I think it is just the most obnoxious music on the face of the planet. There are 3 kinds of music in this world I have no room for... Smooth jazz, Christian music, and marching bands.

It's especially sickening when they try to cover songs like "Jungle Boogie" or "Brick House". It just makes me want to puke. How did such an awful form of music ever become a standard?

I always thought it was bullshit too that the marching band got letters for their school jackets. Aside from some well choreographed formations they do while they drill through your brain with that awful sound... what the hell do they do to earn a letter?!

Three's A Crowd

2010-08-31T21:13:00.000-07:00

Well I just finished another television series... "Three's A Crowd". A short lived spin off of "Three's Company".

"Three's A Crowd" follows the life of Jack Tripper after moving out with his previous two female roommates. Now he's living with a girl, Vicki, who he his madly in love with, but who refuses to marry him despite his many proposals. Vicki's father is co-owner of "Jack's Bistro"... Jack's French Restaurant. Her father disapproves of Jack and Vicki living together out of wedlock, as do most people who realize their living situation. A sign of the times.

Jack is joined in his bistro by an assistant chef who is an early 80's surfer dude named EZ. Who lives in his van outside the bistro, and has the stereotypical surfer dude vernacular.

The show goes episode to episode with various mishaps that Jack gets in. Nothing ever too exciting. The show was canceled before any real closure could be brought to the series.

Not the most exciting show I've ever watched. But I enjoy watching these obscure spin-offs that have fallen into the black of television obscurity.

In spite of thorough searches, I could not find a video of the intro of the show... but it's pretty ridiculous.

I give this series a 2 out of 5.

I'm still waiting for The Ropers to finish downloading... until then... it's on to "Maude".

The Illinois State Prairie Path - Part 3: "Told Ya So"

2010-08-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

Well, when I was out on my Sunday morning ride on the Prairie Path, I saw this sign. What I thought to be the "unwritten rules of the Prairie Path"...turn out to be written after all!

This is me saying: "I told you so..."

31 Years... Of Tommy Else

2010-08-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

Well, today is my 31^st, birthday…

The past 10 years have been possibly the most difficult of my entire life. I can be pretty negative here on my blog. I know… But hey, isn’t that what blogs are for? Bitching about the world while hiding comfortably behind a computer screen?

Well, I thought rather than sit, and re-hash all of the negatives from the past 10 years I would celebrate the positives.

Since I was 21 a lot has happened…

· I’ve spent the last 10 years in an apartment that has been more of a home to me than I’ve ever known. Lots of ups, lots of downs, and LOTS of parties.

· I learned to kind of play guitar, write, and record original songs.

· I’ve played live shows.

· I developed a love and passion for the WWE which honestly got me through some of the hardest times in the past 10 years. It provided me the distraction I needed from the pain I felt, and the inspiration to get off my ass and do something with my life. Honestly… I credit the WWE for all of that.

· My Stepmother Andrea came into my life and along with her an immediate extended family who has always been great to me, my Dad, my brother, and my little sister.

· I’ve seen countless concerts of some incredible bands, and seen the WWE LIVE over 10 times now including getting to go to Wrestlemania 22!!!

· I’ve made new friends…

· I got to attend my 10 year high school reunion which was awesome.

· I’ve reconnected with old friends, and relatives whom I thought I’d never see again.

· I was blessed with the birth of a baby sister Olivia whom I love so much.

· I’ve seen many close friends get married, and some have children.

· I got to see my Father complete the Florida Iron Man Triathalon.

· I spent my birthday last year in San Francisco with Pete Gerharz.

· I’ve watched my brother grow into an INCREDIBLE musician, both as a recording artist, and live performer. He is a good man, and a great brother whom I love very much.

· I competed in my very first bodybuilding competition, and 2 more since then. Placing in the top 5, three times.

· I began a career in personal training which led to me starting my own business. I’ve also have had the pleasure of befriending all of my clients, as they are all wonderful people.

· I am currently co-writing a book with my good friend Rev. John Dolan about depression. It tells both of our individual stories, it’s effect on us, and our loved ones. Our intentions are to bring hope to those who also suffer from it, and educate those who don’t, so that they may be better equipped to be there for friends and family who do.

· I most recently had the honor of standing up in my best friend’s wedding, which was truly one of the greatest things ever, and now last night got to see their baby daughter for the first time… Incredible…

These are just some of the highlights… There have been many more.

But as I sit here the morning of my 31^st Birthday… for all that the past 10 years have brought… the highs and the lows… I am grateful for what I have today. I am grateful to be alive, and in good health. To be able to sit here and reflect upon the wonderful events of the past, and look forward to many more to come in the future.

I want to take a moment to say something to my friends… The O’Connors, Mike Else, The Bodnar Brothers, Marousek, The Bachs, Rizzi, Steve, The Millers, Ian… and all the rest.

If I died today, I’d want you all to know how much I truly love you all. How important you all are to me, and what your friendship has meant to me. I could never put into words how I feel about you all. You are my family.

Also, if for some reason I do die today… I would like to be buried with my WWE Championship belt around my waist.

So there it is… 31 years… Bam! In the books! Now I start the next chapter in the life of Tommy Else. Who knows what I’ll have to report a year from now. Your whole life can change in a minute, let alone a year, but I look forward to what lies ahead.

So with that I will leave you with my single favorite song in this whole world, by my favorite band in the whole world… which just happens to be titled after the same year I was born…

Congratulations Neil & Sarah!!!

2010-08-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

There so few moments in life that are as awesome as a child being born. Being there when my sister was born was one of the most incredible things ever.

Now, my best friend in the whole world... Neil Miller... is somebody's Father!

He called me up, and told me to get on Skype. That he had something to show me. He has NEVER been on Skype before, so I figured something was up. Sarah wasn't due till September 20th though. But sure enough, when I signed on there they were both sitting there with their new baby daughter!

Mabel Ann Miller!!!

She's about 6lbs, and Sarah's labor was 8 hours with no drugs!

They are all healthy, and doing great!

I was able to get a few still shots of them with their baby from Skype. I couldn't be happier for the two of them, and the night before my birthday this is possibly the best way ever to have started it. I'm Uncle Tom now!!! I am absolutely busting!

For those disappointed that it wasn't a boy named "Cool Breeze"... fret not. Neil says it's in Mabel's astrological chart that she'll have a baby brother. So he's coming... just you wait!

I just wanted to take a moment to say how happy I am for my good friends, and I can't get down to St. Louis fast enough to meet the newest Miller. I can't wait for the day I have my own.

Congratulations Neil & Sarah... Mabel couldn't ask for two better more loving parents.

I love you!!!

I Don't Like Skits On Albums...

2010-08-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

I find this more on rap albums than anything, but rock albums aren't exempt from this either...

To me it disrupts the flow of the album. I like to just listen to music. Not hear the artist try and be funny. Cause' here's the thing... You will listen to an album a 1000 times over sometimes if it's good, and if it's got stupid talking/skits in it you'll have heard them a 1000 times, care less about them, and be decreasingly amused with them each time you listen to them.

I love The Smashing Pumpkins... but if Billy Corgan told a joke between each song on an album... no matter how funny it is, it's going to get old eventually, and all I'm going to do is end up skipping the track.

I love Tenacious D. But I always skip over the talking tracks to get to the songs. They were funny the first time I heard them. But 9 years later I've heard it... it doesn't have the same replay value that the actual songs do.

I don't know... I just could do without them.

Michael Cole: The Worst Announcer In Professional Wrestling History

2010-08-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

I've never been shy about sharing my disdain for current Monday Night RAW announcer Michael Cole. He has nothing to offer whatsoever. He is just awful. For years Smackdown was so painful for me to watch... not because of the stories, or the wrestling... but that for the entire 2 hours of the show I had to listen to Michael Cole. He just goes right through me. He comes across very phony, and very forced. I don't think he has any kind of genuine passion for the industry. I just get the feeling that this has always just been a job for him.

It's absolutely heartbreaking to me that he is now the lead announcer on Monday Night RAW.

He has such an arrogance, and undeserved ego. I don't know whose dick he's been sucking for the past 15 years, but he must do it well to have not only kept a job in the company, but climb to the heights that he has.

Cause' he doesn't deserve half of what they've given him.

He is a waste.

I will throw up if they ever sully the Hall Of Fame by inducting him.

Matt Stryker is the future.

The Illinois State Prairie Path - Part 2: "Cops On The Prairie Path?!"

2010-08-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

Gimme a break...

What the hell are they out there policing exactly? I hate cops to begin with, so I especially don't want to have to see them on my Sunday morning bike ride. If I can't go on the Prairie Path without having to see some douchebag cop then where the hell can I go?

What REALLY burns my ass is that these lazy fucks are out there riding the path on 4x4's and Segways!!!

I mean come on! Get off your ASS, and get on a bike at the very least! I mean are you fucking kidding me?! Not to mention 4x4's take up the whole damn path, and they drive them slow as shit too. So I have to ride around them. I want to slap the motherfuckers in the back of the head as I ride past them.

I guess it's good to know that there's nothing more pressing happening out in the world that the cops feel their time is well spent patrolling the fucking Prairie Path.

There Will NOT Be A Thomas Alan Else IV

2010-08-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

My full name is Thomas Alan Else III.

I am often asked if I will name my son, should I have one, Thomas Alan Else IV.

The answer is no.

It has to stop somewhere. If I name him the 4th then he'll feel obligated to name his son the 5th, and so on... It'll become a vicious cycle that result in there someday being Else The 14th.

I know there are some out there that are disappointed at this decision. I think my Father would like to see the name continue on, but I feel the need to be more creative with my child's name rather than just churn out another Tommy Else. Not to mention, I don't want to spend 18 years of my life screaming my own name across the house. It's weird for me as it is when I meet another guy named Tom. I don't meet too many other Toms... I just met one 2 weeks ago. Great guy... but it's weird calling anyone by my own name.

Anyway...

Boy names currently in contention are:

Thor
Jupiter
Vinnie
Corgan

Girl names currently in contention are:

Starla
Czarina
Lita
Cammy

But I will be the last in the line of Thomas Alan Elses. I feel it my duty to the future generations of Elses to put my foot down, and allow us to evolve into greater Elses.

A new breed unleashed... ELSE: "The Next Generation".

How Much You Bench?

2010-08-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

I get asked this question SO much... and I can't stand it.

Here's what happens... I'll meet a guy for the first time, and they'll look at me and figure that I work out. So he'll bow up and start giving me the whole... "Yeaaahh, I work out... 3, 4 days a week..." Like I am supposed to be impressed, or intrigued by this news. Rarely do they look like they've ever actually even seen the inside of a gym. Then comes the inevitable... "So, how much you bench?"

This question alone sets the tools apart from the rest. As soon as that question comes out it's all I can do to keep from rolling my eyes. I mean, who really gives a shit? What difference does it make if I bench 1lb or 1000lbs. How does that change your day, or how you view me? If that's what you're going to judge me on then I don't want anything to do with your ass anyway cause you obviously don't know what you're talking about.

I appreciate ANYONE who puts forth the effort to exercise regularly at all. Everybody has different goals with their training, and the means to get to that end always varies. So trying to judge someone's ability in the gym based on their strength on ONE lift is just stupid.

More often than not these guys fall into one of two categories:

1. They either want to know so they can tell you that they bench more, or know someone who does.

2. They want to gauge how strong you are.

Most guys, not all, but most will tell you they bench more than you, and are completely full of shit. This is not me stroking my ego in any way. I have never boasted any kind of superior strength over anyone. Yeah I'm stronger than some people, but there are plenty of people stronger than me. There is ALWAYS a bigger fish, and I am FAR from the biggest guy in my gym. I'm just sayin' when you've been around the fitness world as intimately, and as long I have you can get a pretty good idea of where someone stands physically from not only looking at them, but talking to them. You can just tell when someone is bullshitting you.

I'm more interested in someone flexing their intellectual muscles. I train myself 6 to 7 days a week, and am a personal trainer. Working out really isn't topping my list of things I feel like talking about. But if I must, I'd rather talk about it with someone who actually genuinely knows their shit, are educated on the subject, and not just think they know what they are doing cause' they lifted back when they played high school football... still clinging to their short lived glory days.

There are some guys who are genuinely impressed with your physique, and are asking the question because they want to get some idea as to how strong you are. Which I suppose should be flattering, but the problem is that they really have no frame of reference. So if I say I bench 200lbs or 400lbs you're going to get the same reaction. Either way they usually say, "WOW"... and then start telling you how they need to start working out.

Here's the thing...

One of the most frustrating aspects of this question is that I don't really have an answer for it. If someone asks you how much you bench it typically refers to your 1 rep max on a straight bar. I haven't done that since I was 16 years old in Sam Chapin's strength training class. I have no reason to. It's not how I work out.

My training can cycle from lifting heavy from 6 to 8 reps with 2 minute rest periods to lifting 12-15 reps with 1 minute rest periods. How much weight you lift is going to differ based on these variables. I exclusively lift with dumbbells, and can tell you I haven't benched with a straight bar in 15 years. Bodybuilders have no reason to push as much weight as they can for 1 rep. It does absolutely nothing for you other than put you at risk for injury. If you're a powerlifter it's a different story, and a much more relevant question. But I am not.

Again, your fitness goals will ultimately determine the way you work out. Your body needs to be trained very specifically to attain specific goals. 1 rep maxes just don't factor into what I do.

I know the majority of the population do not understand these things. Regardless the question gets old, not having a good answer for it, and trying to explain why, does as well.

I'm not saying you're an asshole if you ask or have asked the question. I'm just saying it's a very generic query where even if I gave you an answer it would hold little meaning for you. So why bother?

My other favorite question I get even MORE than "How much you bench?", is "You work out?"

I ALWAYS say no... I tell them I've never lifted a weight in my life, and I can't stand working out. I prefer a couch, a TV, and a bag of chips.

I mean... isn't the answer in the question on that one?

Musical Collaboration

2010-08-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

As I listen to bands like The Dead Weather, and The Raconteurs... I'm always interested in breaking these super groups down into their individual parts, and checking out the original work of the various members to see exactly what it is they bring to the table. In the case of the above mentioned groups I found myself listening to Brenden Benson of The Raconteurs, and The Kills... Allison Mosshart's band.

In doing so, you see what they contribute.

In my own music I've had the privilege of collaborating with a few people over the years, but none more so than Rick Bach.

I am self taught on guitar, bass, and music production in general. My guitar playing is mediocre at best. My recording skills have gotten better with time and experience. Rick plays a mean guitar, and achieves one of the cleanest sounds I've ever heard. He's able to play songs I'd never be able to, or even if I could, would never be able to as well as he can. So, he has on many occasions provided me the music needed for me to lay vocals over. Giving me the chance to cover songs I would otherwise not be able to.

I had the honor of producing an EP for him of some of his original songs years ago. It was an easy job considering how well he plays. It didn't take much to make it sound good. It was what it was... Great.

In 2001 I wrote and recorded a song that to this day has been considered a Tommy Else staple, "Cold & Alone". For years, Rick saw more potential in the song... as did I.

Again, as much as I saw the ability for the song to rock more than it did, I am a slave to my own limited abilities and resources.

Years after the original recording... Rick and I finally got down to re-working the song together. Or should I say, Rick got to work on the song. He put together some more dynamic drums, guitars, and played the bass. I stuck to my acoustic guitar, and vocals.

I think it's interesting to hear what I had originally come up with... and then to hear the same song but with Rick's influence, and abilities applied to it.

This was the original recording I did on my own...

Cold & Alone (demo) by Tommy Else

Now, here is the same song featuring Rick's influence on it...

Cold & Alone by Tommy Else

Much more rockin!

Both versions hold a special place in my heart as it is an important song to me chronicling a dark moment in my life. But, like I said... this goes to show the influence that collaborating with a fellow musician has on a song. I'd still like to record a full band version of the song someday with real drums.

I have always appreciated Rick's enthusiasm in playing with me. We've played live, written, and recorded together, and I am grateful for all that we've created with one another.

He is the man.

My Plant: Jenny - 1 Week Update

2010-08-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Well 1 week into her new pot with new soil, plant food, some regular watering and she's settling into her new surroundings nicely. She's really stretched out, and gotten comfortable. I had rotated her last week so some of the "branches" (I don't know if that's the appropriate term for them) are kind of twisted in various directions, but will come around soon enough, and start pointing towards their light source.

She's looking good though...

CUT_ME.T3

2010-08-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

So this morning I was leaving the gym, and on my way out was picking up a case of protein drinks for one of my clients. They are glass bottles that come in a case of 12. There was a display of them in various flavors... cases stacked up pyramid style. So naturally the flavor I was looking for was at the bottom of said pyramid.

Logically the way to get at it is to take the cases off of the top until you get down to the one you want. Just as I'm about to start doing this... the Manager, Dan, comes over and asks me if I need help with anything. I told him I was just gonna snag that case of protein. He goes, "Oh, here I'll get that for you", and just pulls it out from under the pyramid sending cases of glass bottles crashing to the ground! I had out of instinct went to try and catch one of the cases before it hit the ground, and the shattered glass cut my finger in 3 places. It started gushing blood immediately.

Dan and I go behind the counter and he busts out the first aid kit. He obviously doesn't know much about first aid... he wrapped it in gauze, and then covered it in band aids. Like a 3 year old might if they were playing doctor. I was on my way to work, so when I got to my first client I had to take some tape and wrap it a little tighter. I re-dressed it when I got home. Now I'm doing everything one handed... including writing this.

Luckily I've known Dan for a long time, and he's a good guy if not too bright. He was very apologetic. I told him it was all good. He gave me a free bottle of protein for the trouble of slicing my finger open.

And that's how my day started...

Bikini Car Wash

2010-08-08T05:20:00.001-07:00

Every summer as I drive around I notice all of the various churches, schools, and other organizations raising money with car washes. I also notice that most of them are staffed by 12-15 year old girls standing out there in bikinis scrubbing cars, waving signs, and screaming at passers by to come in for a wash.

My favorite is when you see this in a church parking lot.

Who exactly are they trying to attract to their car wash? I mean I understand it's hot, and you're washing cars... so wearing a bathing suit of some type is utilitarian if nothing else. I'm just saying that in today's world I don't know that I'd want my 15 year old daughter wearing a bikini in any parking lot with a bucket of soapy water scrubbing down some dude's car.

It always creeps me out.

Merging Blogs: Revisiting The Past

2010-08-07T14:43:00.001-07:00

So, I had a couple of old blogs that I had abandoned over the years. I discovered the blog merging feature on here, and just merged them all onto this, my current and active blog.

One of these was a blog I started in 2005 chronicling the entire year I spent preparing for my first bodybuilding competition. I read through the whole thing, and it's amazing how much I've learned since then. I did just about everything wrong getting ready for that competition you could do. From my workouts to my diet... I wouldn't do any of it the same way I did then, but I've always said that every time you do a competition it is a learning experience. You learn more about how your body works, and how it responds to various methods. I look horrible in the before pictures... they are most definitely "before" pictures and I will NEVER allow myself to look like that again.

It's always interesting to look back at where you came from... it allows you the opportunity to appreciate where you are now.

The Illinois Tollway A Good Value...? Bullshit.

2010-08-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

I saw this absurd poster up in the window at the Jewel...

I take the tollway everyday for work. I'm just wondering... which tollway exactly has WIDE OPEN ROADS, REDUCED TRAVEL TIMES, or LOW TOLL RATES?!?!

Could it be 294? 355? 88? Cause I take them all... and all I see on any of them is construction causing REDUCED LANES, EXTENDED TRAVEL TIMES, and RIDICULOUS TOLL RATES!!!

This poster is one of the biggest bold faced lies I've ever seen.

I mean that really takes some balls...

My Plant: Jenny

2010-08-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

I've had Jenny for about 8 or 9 years now. She was named after a friend of mine who gave her to me. I had never had a plant before. When I got her she came in a little cup. Over the years I've slowly moved her into bigger pots. I know some plants will get as big as the pot you plant them in. She seems to be one of them.

Admittedly I have not always given her the attention she deserves, and she has stood at death's door on many... many occasions. There were times I didn't think she'd pull through, but apparently a little water goes a long way. So 8 or 9 years later she's still kickin'.

She has been outgrowing her pot though, so I decided to re-pot her today. She was also long overdue for some new soil. This is probably the biggest pot I'll get while I still live in my current apartment. I'm hoping to move in the next year or two, and when I do I'm gonna get a big ass floor pot and grow her as big as I can.

I know she looks kind of stuffed in there right now... but give her a week and she'll blow right out of that pot. Then I'll post an update.

10 ROCKIN' Smashing Pumpkins Songs

2010-08-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

These are 10 songs in no particular order that I consider to be absolutely balls to the wall ROCKIN' Smashing Pumpkins songs. These aren't necessarily what I consider to be their best songs, or my favorites, just simply 10 songs where I feel that they absolutely BRING IT and kick your ass with ROCK!

Fuck You (An Ode To No One) - Melon Collie & The Infinite Sadness

Geek U.S.A. - Siamese Dream

The End Is The Beginning Is The End - Batman & Robin Soundtrack

As Rome Burns - Currently Unreleased

Zero - Melon Collie & The Infinite Sadness

The Everlasting Gaze - Machina: The Machines Of God

Slunk - The Lull EP

Jellybelly - Melon Collie & The Infinite Sadness

Bullet With Butterfly Wings - Melon Collie & The Infinite Sadness

Tarantula - Zeitgeist

Don't Argue With An Ibex

2010-07-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is creepy, disturbing, and hysterical all at the same time...

Defunct Ropers

2010-07-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

I started watching The Ropers... I got through the first season as it was only 6 episodes... started the second season, and the files had no audio. I may just channel surf through old shows of others series till I can download The Ropers from another source, or find a different show... It's too bad. I was really enjoying The Ropers.

"Get A Life"

2010-07-24T18:28:00.001-07:00

So as I mentioned before I watch television exclusively on my computer one series at a time from start to finish. I just finished watching the 1990 Chris Elliot sitcom: "Get A Life".

Where do I even begin?

I remember this show from when I was a kid. I was 11. At the time I thought it was one of the greatest shows ever, and having watched it again now at 30 years old I understand why an 11 year old would find this so amusing. I get the feeling that Tom Green's movie "Freddie Got Fingered" was very heavily inspired by this series.

The concept of the show is that Chris Elliot plays a character named Chris Peterson. A 30 year old man who lives over his parents garage and has a paper route. The series follows Chris through his various daily adventures. Chris's real life Father plays his Dad on the show which I thought was kind of cool.

The first season was tolerable, but the second one gets exponentially ridiculously stupid with every passing episode. Don't get me wrong... I was entertained, but it was no mystery why this show didn't make it past 2 seasons on FOX. The second season Chris moves out of his parents into the garage of a man he meets played by Brian Doyle Murray who then becomes a regular on the show as a half drunk retired ex-cop.

I think the shows lowest point was the episode where an alien falls from outer space, and Chris takes him in. He names him "Spewey" on account of the fact that it spews brown goo out of it's mouth, ears, and... elbows... which Chris of course has no problem eating.

To give you even further evidence of this show's ridiculous nature... Chris Peterson dies 12 different times throughout the course of the series including such deaths as being crushed by a boulder, old age, tonsillitis, being stabbed, shot, strangled, run over by a car, choking on cereal, falling from a plane, and... exploding.

As a supplement to the series I also watched Chris Elliot's movie from 94' "Cabin Boy" which was made by the same creative geniuses behind "Get A Life". It was just more of the same.

Perhaps it's a sign of old age but there were just some points of this show that were too ridiculous even for me. Though I do believe it certainly holds a place in television history. I'm just not sure what it is. I will also say that if there's one thing that I did consistently enjoy it was the intro to the show. For some reason I just thought it was perfect.

Do I regret watching this series? Absolutely not. There was definitely some nostalgia for me in reliving this show, and getting a closer look at it. Have I made my peace with "Get A Life"? Yes.

I am ready to move on to my next series... the Three's Company spin off: "The Ropers".

I give "Get A Life" 3 out of 5 stars.

Mike Byrne: The New Smashing Pumpkins Drummer

2010-07-23T18:38:00.001-07:00

" The Smashing Pumpkins" as it were... is essentially Billy Corgan at this point, and whomever he chooses to play with. I'm fine with that. Though it was tough losing Jimmy Chamberlin, as I consider him to be hands down by far and away the best rock drummer I've ever heard.

Anyway...

Jimmy has a family and for now has had his fill of being on the road, and living in recording studios. So he left the Pumpkins to go be home with his family. As tough of a loss as it is to the band, it's hard to argue with his decision. I also doubt we've seen the last of him.

Wrestlers do this all the time. They're on the road 300 days a year. Year after year. Eventually they need to take a few years off, or that's when they start going berserk and doing lots of drugs. But after a break they find themselves craving the life again... and then they come back with a renewed enthusiasm.

I can't say whether or not this will ever be the case with J.C. but I certainly doubt that Jimmy and Billy have played their last song together.

Which brings me to the point of this... the new drummer. Mike Byrne.

Mike was 19 when he was found by Billy Corgan online. Billy had posted open auditions via the internet. Billy finds this 19 year old kid. Has him try out... and at 19 years old he becomes the drummer for The Smashing Pumpkins. Your gut reaction is... hmmm...

But I've heard him. I've heard him on the new studio recordings, and I've heard him live via bootlegs. Is he Jimmy Chamberlin? No. Is he a kick ass drummer? Fuck yeah! For 19 (now 20) years old... he rocks his ass off and can hang with Billy Corgan and the rest of the Pumpkins. I don't know about you, but I certainly can't say that. You can hear him play on any of the new recordings...

It's hard to imagine whether or not he can truly appreciate the position he is in at such a young age. But he did start a blog when they started their recent tour, and from reading it I think he's enjoying the ride. As he should.

http://satisfactosaurus.blogspot.com/

Pumpkins fans in general have been all up in arms about the new line-up. Some are insistent that "The Smashing Pumpkins" were D'Arcy, James, Jimmy, and Billy. While they will most likely be remembered as being the "true" Smashing Pumpkins... the past is the past.

I understand the reasons for the band going their separate ways. At the end of the day it's a lack of chemistry. Like a good sports team needs good chemistry, so does a band. Whatever there was between the original four, it was lost. Once it's gone... you need to separate. Not to say you can't reunite down the road. But there's no sense in beating a dead horse either. Anyway... people are really uptight about allowing new members into the SP family.

I think Jeff Schroeder has been a great guitarist, and held his own just fine since joining the band. I don't know much about the new bassist, but I'm sure she's fine.

Then there's Mike.

I can fumble my way through just about any instrument if I really want to, but if there's one thing I just do not have the co-ordination for it's the drums. So I have a deep respect for anyone who can play. And knowing what high standards Billy holds, I can't imagine the pressure of living up to those expectations. I look back to when I was 19, and I can tell you there's no way I'd have had the balls to go on tour with The Smashing Pumpkins no matter what kind of drummer I was. This kid gives off a lot strength, and seems like a down to Earth dude.

So what I'm ultimately am getting at is that I welcome this kid to the group. I think a new drummer will force Billy to write his music a little differently and explore other avenues he may not have with Jimmy.

T3 TV

2010-07-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

I don't have cable... haven't for about 10 years. I've watched all of free tv I can stand. So in the past year I've gotten into watching tv online an entire series at a time. I pick one, and watch one episode after another in succession from start to finish. I've watched the following tv series from start to finish since December...

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Modern Family
The Office
How I Met Your Mother
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Golden Girls

SOAP

Golden Palace

The Larry Sanders Show

Police Squad!

I am currently in the middle of "Get A Life"

For The Achiever In Us All

2010-07-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

I keep seeing this billboard for PNC bank that says something like, "For the achiever in us all". Every time I see it all I can think of is... how did they not use a picture of Jeffrey Lebowski on that billboard?

The 4 Stages Of Life

2010-07-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

I was reading an article with Billy Corgan discussing the concept behind his new album. He says that it is meant to represent what he interprets the "4 stages of life" to be. I strongly agree with his interpretation.

"The Teargarden concept is that there's four stages in the journey of life. There's childlike innocence when you just don't really know anything in the world and it all seems sort of big and magical; then there's the part that's maybe the teen aware but not really liking what's going on; then the third person that's cynical, where you get kind of bitter because you feel so small and there's all these things that are sort of happening and there's not much you can do about it. And life constantly tells you to just suck it up and deal with it — like everybody likes to talk about how broken our political system is, but not everybody wants to do something about it. The fourth stage out of that would be finding a sort of spiritual place within yourself where you can live in reality, you can see it for what it is, but maybe you can find a deeper source of inspiration and peace. And of course, things dovetail. Just because I feel spiritual now, it doesn't mean the cynical person doesn't get involved or the child doesn't get involved."

Fast Cars... Slow Drivers?

2010-07-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

I keep coming across people who drive these sports cars, or tricked out rides, yet seem to drive 10mph under the speed limit. I'm not saying you need to be in a constant state of hauling ass if you drive a sports car, but at the very least drive the speed limit. You spent all this money on acceleration, top speed, and aerodynamics... but you drive it like it's a 85' Toyota Corolla?

I generally drive the speed limit. In fact my girlfriend seems to think I drive "like a Grandmother". So, it's not like I'm an impatient, or fast driver. It just bites my ass when I see someone in some $60,000.00 Corvette driving 20mph in a 35.

Move your ass!

The Smashing Pumpkins: Halloween 08'

2010-07-14T16:14:00.001-07:00

On October 31st, 2008 The Smashing Pumpkins took the stage in Columbus Ohio to kick off their tour with a Halloween show. Since that night I have heard/read nothing but negative feedback about this night. In fact, I just listened to a podcast via http://blog.hipstersunited.com/, a Pumpkins blog site, and almost two years later they are still bitching about it. The topic came up on account of the Pumpkins making their first return to Columbus since the Halloween show of 08'.

The controversy comes from the fact that the first half of the show was comprised primarily of 60's cover songs. I guess some people out there only want to hear the Pumpkins play all the "hits". The thing is that they inevitably got around to it. They were just having some fun for Halloween. Ok fine, if it wasn't your ideal live Smashing Pumpkins experience... but why are people still harping on it 2 years later?! I personally would have loved to be at that show. What a unique experience! I've seen the setlists for just about every Pumpkins show since then, and there hasn't been one even close to that evening. Those who were there that night should consider themselves lucky to have been there for such a performance.

I am a pretty die-hard Pumpkins fan. They are after all my favorite band in the world. Find me another current band that can even go up there and play a show like that!

If you're interested enough you can find the show here...

http://www.livesmashingpumpkins.com/live-music/0,3139/Smashing-Pumpkins-mp3-flac-download-10-31-2008-Newport-Music-Hall-Columbus-OH.html

This was the setlist that evening...

Set 1:

* Louie Louie [Richard Berry]
* Hang On Sloopy [The McCoys]
* Monster Mash [Pickett/Capizzi]
> Unchained Melody [North/Zaret] (tease)
* Wipe Out [The Surfaris]
* Gingger's Raga
* The Gambler [Schlitz]
* Lizard Blues
* Jeremy [Pearl Jam] (tease)
* In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida [Iron Butterfly] (with Doug Goodman)
* Gingger's Raga Return

Set 2:

* Tarantula
* G.L.O.W.
* Siva
* Speed Kills
* Superchrist
* As Rome Burns
* The Sounds of Silence [Simon]
> Li'l Red Riding Hood [Blackwell]
* A Song for a Son
* Today
* Bullet with Butterfly Wings
* Heavy Metal Machine
* Glass' Theme

Encore:

* Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun [Pink Floyd]

Band Websites

2009-04-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

Being an avid fan of Radiohead and Beck... I think that their websites suck. They're full of riddles and bullshit, and ZERO information. Beck I get the feeling just has nothing to say... Radiohead as usual are just being a bunch of fucks. Again, I love their music... but don't put up a website if it offers nothing. Fan sites offer so much more. The Smashing Pumpkins, and Nine Inch Nails have fantastic websites. Full of information, photos, videos, audio, downloads... The band members themselves update the sites... talking to the fans directly. To get an idea of what I'm talking about check em' out for yourself...

http://www.beck.com/

http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/

http://www.nin.com/

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/home

Else VS Else

2009-04-06T21:25:00.001-07:00

The biggest match in Wrestlemania history... at least it would be.

Jack Burton Was Kurt Russel's Finest Role Ever...

2009-04-02T21:55:00.000-07:00

I Found A Bad Ass Frog...

2009-03-10T23:49:00.000-07:00

I was out the other day putting up door hangers for our business and saw this bad ass frog... I wanted it... but I settled for a picture.

The Dream Has Become A Reality!!!

2009-03-10T23:40:00.000-07:00

For YEARS I have been saying that when I get married I want my wedding ring to have the faceplate of the WWE Championship... Today I found the motherfucker!!! It exists! AND it's only $60! Now I just gotta get hitched so I can start wearin' it!

Cell Phone Ringtones

2009-03-09T23:10:00.001-07:00

I fucking hate them...

I try my damndest to keep my phone on vibrate at all times. I hardly even feel the thing vibrate either. Now... I don't know what it is... but I have yet to hear a single ringtone that didn't make me want to take the phone and throw it out the fucking window. If it must ring, I like the ones that sound like a traditional phone ring. Girls tend to have the more annoying ringtones. I mean some of this stuff sounds like voices from hell...

I really liked the world better before cell phones...

Tommy Else: "Italian Hot Dogs"

2009-03-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

So I tried something different... it was well documented.

I wanted to mix things up with my hot dogs... So I started with McCormick Italian Seasoning... I did so because I have yet to find a food on this planet that does NOT taste better for having McCormick's Italian Seasoning.

So, I start by microwaving 4 hot dogs for 3 minutes... and then warming the buns for 25 sec.

Then they are covered with your traditional Heinz Ketchup, and French's Mustard...

Mozzarella chese is then sprinkled over the top... the heat of the dogs will melt the cheese to just the right consistency...

Here is the finished product...

Mmmmm....

Phone Etiquette...

2009-02-24T19:13:00.000-08:00

Let me just get this off my chest...

First off, I'm not a big phone guy. I have a hard time talking on the phone. This has only developed as I've gotten older. I don't remember always having this problem, but I do now.

Part of it's that I can't see the person I'm talking to, and have a hard time reading the person. So if they're being sarcastic or something I may not pick up on it. I don't know... maybe I'm just a pain in the ass.

Anyway...

What I really can't stand is when somebody calls YOU... you answer the phone and they're talking to someone else or not paying attention to you at all. It drives me nuts, I want to just hang up. OR if you're in the middle of talking to them, and they just start talking to someone else... it makes you feel so incredibly unimportant and like they were never paying attention or were interested in anything you were saying in the first place.

I don't know... just venting.

In Case You Were Ever Wondering...

2009-02-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

Walgreens popcorn... is not very good popcorn.

Jack Benny Was A Pretty Wild Show...

2009-02-18T23:30:00.001-08:00

Tonight I Ate 8 Omaha Steakburgers... In 45 minutes.

2009-02-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

Yes It's True... I Can Really Eat 2 Triple Whoppers...

2009-02-11T18:48:00.000-08:00

I went through the drive thru at Burger King ordering my usual 2 Triple Whoppers and a large fries. The girl at the window asked me if I was single handedly eating all of this food. I told her yeah! I've had a few people ask me if it's true... I then heard her inside telling the other employees that the guy in the drive thru was actually eating all of that food!!!

She handed me my bag and told me not to have a heart attack.

I looked up the nutritional information on 1 of them...

Serving Size 1 serving (457.0 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories

1230

Calories from Fat

729

% Daily Value^*

Total Fat

81.0g

125%

Saturated Fat

31.0g

155%

Cholesterol

235mg

78%

Sodium

1210mg

50%

Total Carbohydrates

52.0g

17%

Dietary Fiber

4.0g

16%

Sugars

8.0g

Protein

73.0g

Vitamin A 10%	•	Vitamin C 15%
Calcium 20%	•	Iron 60%

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

HIT_ME.Y2J

2009-02-10T23:26:00.000-08:00

So Chris Jericho hit a fan...

Jericho is one of my absolute favorite wrestler's in the world. He's a huge reason why I got into watching in the first place. While the video footage is distressing, and isn't how I would expect Jericho to react... I can to some end see why he was getting frustrated. Still no need to strike anyone male or female. The security crew should have been keeping the crowd off of him in the first place. But minor mob scenes like that are also part of the gig when you're in the wrestling business and are as big of a star as Y2J Chris Jericho.

I'm disheartened by his actions. But it could have been worse. Everybody makes mistakes, and I still proudly support Y2J Chris Jericho.

This was the official press release regarding the incident:

CHRIS JERICHO ASSAULTED!!!

After leaving a live event in Victoria, British Columbia on Saturday evening, Chris Jericho's car was attacked by a mob when he was stopped at a stop sign. Unable to proceed, Jericho exited his car to ask the crowd to clear a path so he could continue through the intersection. A man and a woman physically and verbally assaulted Jericho.

Arena and WWE security arrived to establish enough order to allow Jericho to re-enter his vehicle and depart. The local police arrived minutes later.

Jericho was unharmed in the incident. The man and woman who assaulted Jericho were arrested.

The Velform Sauna Belt

2009-02-04T08:29:00.001-08:00

If you are like me and find yourself watching infomercials all night long, might I reccomend the one for the Velform "Sauna Belt"...

If you'd really like to laugh your ass off this is the infomercial for you. It is one of the biggest pieces of bullshit I've ever seen in my life, and their claims are so fucking outrageous, it boggles the mind. You'll see them show some haggard woman whose 200lbs, and then show her morph into this fine ass 125lbs model. It's so much bullshit, I just can't believe that they're serious. That someone is actually paying for the television time for this piece of shit, and even worse that there's probably a whole mess of poor saps out there buying this thing that will soon be taking up space in their basement somewhere.

The infomercial is supposedly set in some sort of tropical island setting. The hosts of this comedic masterpiece are such amazing idiots you can't stand it, and then in the background they actually have belly dancers wearing the sauna belt. They persistently show you the unpleasant looking sweaty stomachs of everyone as they take this belt off. Amazingly however, guys who had guts when they put it on, take it off to reveal chiseled 6 pack abs. It truly is an amazing product... sigh. They also conveniently give you a book on their "never fail" diet plan. Which I think is funny, because if their belt worked the way they claim it does, you wouldn't need to diet. Oh! and don't forget the FREE measuring tape included in the package, so that you can track the inches as they sweat right off of you all over whatever you're sitting in.

Their claim is that just by wearing this belt you'll sweat the fat right off of your stomach, hips, and ass. Well, first of all it's not fat you're sweating off, it's water. Water which is easily replenished with the next drink you have. If in fact it does allow you to sweat inches off as they claim it does, this would be useful if you are trying to make weight for your next wrestling meet, or bodybuilding competition... even then you would expect that weight to have returned by the end of the evening. You most certainly aren't going to put it on, only to take it off an hour later and be dazzled with that 6 pack you never even knew you had. I guess bodybuilders and athletes of all kinds have been wasting their time perfecting methods on working and strengthening their abs all these years. What a shame. If only we had known about this belt sooner!

I've seen this a few times now... It was on one time as I was in the locker room in the gym getting ready to leave. It was amazing, every single guy who entered the locker room and heard even 2 seconds of this infomercial were stopped dead in their tracks, and had to watch this. We were all just dumbfounded that this could even exist. Within 5 minutes there had to be 10 guys entranced by this infomercial, just ripping it to shreds.

For a mere 2 payments of 39.99, you too can own this dieting miracle PLUS you can get a second sauna belt for half off if you order right now... or at all.

Like I said, if you need a good laugh... stay up one night, and look for it. It's one of the most hysterical 1/2 hours on television today.

Tommy Else... Virgo Goat

2009-02-04T08:25:00.000-08:00

Virgo goats are perfectionists in their drive to help. Sometimes too critical, they are nevertheless basically well-meaning. They are usually more intellectual than other goats and need a job that demands intelligence to prevent their own boredom. The combination of the purity and crackle of Virgo with Goat dependency and love of luxury make for a rather uncertain personality type. This person's sturdy Virgo side wants to come across as a serious and efficacious worker. He bolsters his image so as to better believe in himself. But the languor-loving Goat invariably comes gamboling along and tips Virgo's rigidity right over. What we get then is a person with very strong opinions who is easily influenced and prey to those more crafty and less gullible than himself. The love and sex patterns in this oddball's life are unusually checkered. It's difficult for the Virgo born Goat to decide what it is he or she precisely wants in a sex partner. So they try many different ones, sample each for a while and then move on. This method of finding an ideal couple in which to thrive and grow, is, of course, hellishly unreliable. If you get yourself intimately involved with this character, you will be amazed the variety of techniques he or she has picked up along the way.

Virgo likes to attack back when confronted. Virgos need to receive a lot attention, adoration and gratitude. Virgos are accurate, competent and effective. They like rationality. Virgos like to help and solve problems quickly. They do not do it for compliments. Virgos are not wasteful. Being perfectionists, they like order and cleanness in their home. Virgos change friends often. They have only a few real friends because they give very special values to friendship to which other people cannot commit. Virgo is ruled by Mercury. Virgos are very bright and educated. They are good scientists, teachers, analysts and planners.

Virgo is the only zodiacal sign represented by a female. It is sometimes thought of as a potentially creative girl, delicately lovely; sometimes as a somewhat older woman, intelligent but rather pedantic and spinsterish. The latter impression is sometimes confirmed by the Virgoan preciseness, refinement, fastidious love of cleanliness, hygiene and good order, conventionality and aristocratic attitude of reserve. They are usually observant, shrewd, critically inclined, judicious, patient, practical supporters of the status quo, and tend toward conservatism in all departments of life. On the surface they are emotionally cold, and sometimes this goes deeper, for their habit of suppressing their natural kindness may in the end cause it to atrophy, with the result that they shrink from committing themselves to friendship, make few relationships, and those they do make they are careful to keep superficial.

But the outward lack of feeling may, in some individuals born under this sign, conceal too much emotion, to which they are afraid of giving way because they do not trust others, nor do they have confidence in themselves and their judgments. This is because they are conscious of certain shortcomings in themselves of worldliness, of practicality, of sophistication and of outgoingness. So they bring the art of self concealment to a high pitch, hiding their apprehensiveness about themselves and their often considerable sympathy with other people under a mantle of matter-of-factness and undemonstrative, quiet reserve. They are still waters that run deep. Yet in their unassuming, outwardly cheerful and agreeable fashion, they can be sensible, discreet, well spoken, wise and witty, with a good understanding of other people's problems which they can tackle with a practicality not always evident in their own personal relationships.

Both sexes have considerable charm and dignity, which make some male Virgoans appear effeminate when they are not. In marriage they can be genuinely affectionate, making good spouses and parents, but their love making is a perfection of technique rather than the expression of desire, and they must be careful not to mate with a partner whose sex drive requires a passion they cannot match.

They are intellectually enquiring, methodical and logical, studious and teachable. They combine mental ingenuity with the ability to produce a clear analysis of the most complicated problems. They have an excellent eye for detail but they may be so meticulous that they neglect larger issues. Also, although they are realists, they may slow down projects by being too exact. They are practical with their hands, good technicians and have genuine inventive talents, Thoroughness, hard work and conscientiousness are their hallmarks, and they are such perfectionists that, if things go wrong, they are easily discouraged. Because of their ability to see every angle of a many-sided question, they are unhappy with abstract theorizing. Appreciating the many different points of view as they do, they find philosophical concepts difficult, and they vacillate and have no confidence in any conclusions at which they arrive.

Elizabeth Montgomery Was Hot...

2009-02-03T22:47:00.000-08:00

2 Of My Favorite Things...

2009-01-29T23:37:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a moment to say that The WWE, and The Smashing Pumpkins are two of my favorite things in this world...

Thank you

My Folding Chair Dillema

2009-01-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

At my desk I sit at your standard run of the mill steel folding chair.

This is my 4th one. I don't know what it is I do to them, but I have crushed 3 already, and now this one is starting to fall apart... I'll wait till in completely implodes... and then go out and get another one... but it's just amazing how easily these fall apart.

I DID IT!!!

2006-05-07T06:05:00.000-07:00

It's all over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did it! I placed 3rd in the Novice Light Heavyweight Class, and took 5th in the Light Heavyweight Open class. I couldn't be happier with my placings. I thought the judges decisions were very fair, and maybe even a little generous in the Novice class. I never thought I'd have walked out with a 3rd place trophy. I have a very hectic few days coming up on me now, but as soon as time permits I will write a detailed account of the whole day here. I just wanted to post the results. I'll have lots and lots more pictures as well.

I would like to take a moment to thank the following people who came out and lent their support. It meant more to me than you could ever know.

Thank you to...

Rizzi Bolur
Rick Bach
Steve Finkler
Mike Else
Ian Hoffman
Lauren Hoffman
My Mother
My Father
My Stepmother Andrea
Neil Miller

And of course Holly, who has put up with more shit in the course of this whole process than anyone. Her patience, encouragement, and love made this possible.

I'd also like to make another special mention to my Father, who helped me through every single step of this process, and was there for me every step of the way. I literally would not have been able to do it at all without him.

Well, This Is It!

2006-05-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Alright! Here we go!

I have one more meal this evening... my last batch of turkey burgers. My next meal will be real food again. My water cuts off at 7pm this evening. Then I'm dry until after pre-judging tomorrow. Then I get a little water, just to keep from passing out.

Neil rolls into town in a few hours, and Holly will be here soon. My Father comes by in an hour and a half to apply the second coat of Pro Tan. Then I just dry off, relax, and try to get as much sleep as I can.

This will be my last post until after the show. I will post again with pictures, and the results as soon as I can.

Thank you to all of those who are going to come out and lend your support. Your presence means the world to me.

Now it's time to go and do a bodybuilding competition!

Larry Weiss

2006-05-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

This is a very important dedication...

I have planned on writing this since I decided to compete, and on this the eve of my competition I feel it's time.

Several people have asked me about this picture up in my place.

This is Larry Weiss.

Larry is very heavily responsible for my interest in working out, and bodybuilding. Not to take away from my parents by any means, as they were both a huge influence on me. Going to see my Father compete was my initial inspiration into bodybuilding and something I've always been proud of him for doing...

Larry was instrumental in getting me on the road there myself.

Larry was good friends with my Father, they even lived together for a period of time. He was responsible for encouraging my Father to begin his bodybuilding career. He was an ex-vietnam vet, and a very knowledgeable bodybuilder. He had more trophies than anyone I've met to this day. His room was just crammed with them. Larry was the guy in the gym who everyone was always asking for advice from. He was a very cool tempered man, who was clearly at peace with himself and the world around him. He lived each day to the fullest, and had fun in everything he did. I don't know if he ever went more than a minute without smiling or laughing.

A laugh I can still hear to this day.

When I was in high school and decided to start working out, Larry took me under his wing. Larry would go into the gym, train for 2 hours, then I'd show up, and then he'd train me for 2 hours, and then he'd hang out for another few hours. He was the epidimy of a gym rat. He loved to be there.

Larry drilled the importance of proper form into me from day one. He would not let me lift any kind of signifcant weight unless I could execute the movement properly. He would always tell me, "learn to do it properly, and the weight will come." Larry was right.

I am often accused of being on steroids or growth hormones due to the results I've gotten from my workouts. The reality is that the results I have gotten are soley due to the fact that I was taught to do everything right, right from the beginning. So my workouts garner the maximum results. Not to mention, Larry would have never approved of steroids, or HGH. Larry taught me not only proper form, but the importance in how to organize and plan effective workouts.

Larry was an unending well of support and encouragement, not only in bodybuilding but in life.

He knew I had a hard time in school, and didn't always have the best relations with my folks. Larry was sympathetic, and encouraging to me. He tried to build confidence and strength of mind in me, as well as strength of body. Back in high school, when Regal Begal Productions was in full swing, and we were making the movies and newsletter, he loved it. He was a big fan.

He, my Father and I went on motorcycle trips often. Larry loved to ride, and had a Honda Goldwing that had more lights on it than a Vegas casino. He was also rarely seen without some crazy hat on, and you rarely saw the same one twice.

That was Larry.

I'll never forget a trip my Father and I took with Larry, and one night after dinner we were in our hotel room, and he had me laughing so hard I puked. It's actually one of my fondest memories of him outside of the gym.

Larry had a radience to him that everyone around him felt. Just being around him put you in a good mood. So much that he was approached about doing a public access workout television show, which he innevitably entitled, "Let's Workout", as that's what you'd often hear Larry suggest. I was fortunate enough, and honored to have been a guest on his show when he did an episode focusing on bicep movements. Larry was always impressed with the shape, and peaks on my biceps.

One of my favorite moments on that show, was when we demonstrated "buddy curls". This was something Larry and I did in our own workouts with one another often. I loved doing them. One person holds an empty EZ curl bar, while the other person provides the resistance for one intense all out, balls to the wall rep. I asked him if we could include it in the show since I loved it so much, and he didn't bat an eye. We did it.

Larry pushed me more than anyone ever has in any workout I've ever had. Larry had me leg pressing almost 900lbs at one point. He'd put me on the leg extension machine, and would have me do drop sets pulling the pin one weight at a time for the whole stack. My quads would be on absolute fire, and they literally buckled out from under me on several occasions... and I loved every single second of it. I have yet to have a workout to this day that even compared to the ones I'd have with Larry every single day after school and on the weekends.

Without the time I spent with Larry, and the knowledge and confidence he instilled in me, I would not be sitting here pro-tanned and less than 24 hours from competing in my first bodybuilding competition. He wanted me to compete in the teen division back when I was 18. Which is something in retrospect I wish I had done. All of the things I learned from him have not only benefited me in my own workouts, but have allowed me to excel in my career as a personal trainer. Something else that I would never have aspired to be had I not had the greatest personal trainer ever.

Post high school, when I was supporting myself working 60 hour weeks I couldn't work out anymore, and had lost touch with Larry. I wish I hadn't.

A few years back, Larry was diagnosed with cancer. He was gone within 6 weeks. It all happened so fast, and so few people knew about it that I didn't even hear about it until he had already died, and was buried. Larry was given a military burial ceremony. I was devestated when I heard the news. The thought of never getting to train with him again, go on a trip... see him eat 3 dinners at once... it broke my heart that I never got to say good bye, or even more importantly... thank you.

Last Father's day, my Father and I visited Larry's grave for the first time. It was very difficult for me to stand there and see his name on that headstone. But it is a very beautiful military cemetary. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen my father cry in my life. That day standing there with him over Larry's grave was one of them. My Father is not a very outwardly emotional man, but he won't hesitate for a second to tell you how great of a friend, and how important Larry was to him.

He was that special.

In wrestling there is a tradition. When a tag-team partner, or fellow wrestler dies, you honor their memory by writing their initials on the tape around your wrists. While I don't have to tape my wrists during my workouts I do often use wrist wraps for chin-ups, shrugs etc. LW has been written on them since I got the news. They are the very same wristwraps I've used since Larry and I trained together almost 10 years ago.

Now, when I'm in the gym and in my last few reps of a set, and need to push myself through them, I just hear his voice in my head cheering me on telling me to push, and it gets me through it. He's still coaching me in that way.

In the wake of his passing, I refused to perform buddy curls with anyone. That was our thing. In time, I allowed myself to finally break down and do them with some of my clients... to honor his memory. I know he'd want me to, rather than go the rest of my life and never do those again. But there isn't a single time I do those and just wish more than anything that he was on the other end of that bar.

There are very few friends of mine who ever had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Larry Weiss, but the ones who did always had great things to say about him. Even then people knew what he meant to me.

Back in the day when you were called on stage to do your routine, the announcer would usually thank a short list of people for you if you'd like. This apparently doesn't happen anymore, which is unfortunate, as I would have very much liked to have acknowledged Larry Weiss.

Since the day I decided to do this, I knew I wanted to dedicate my competiton to Larry.

Tomorrow night I will be honored and priveledged to have Larry's eldest son Grant in attendance to support me. It means the absolute world to me that he'll be there.

When I take the stage tomorrow evening I will perform my 1 minute routine, and at the conclusion I will point straight up to the heavans... that is me thanking Larry.

As I've sat here writing this I'm ruining the pro-tan on my face as I am streaking it up with tears.

To Larry:

Thank you SO much for your time, your patience, your smile, your caring, your understanding, and your love. Not a workout goes by that you are not in my thoughts. I'm sorry I never got to thank you while you were with us, and that I never got to say good bye. I know you will be there with me in spirit when I take the stage tomorrow night, and I dedicate all of my efforts for this show to you.

If there is a heaven, then I will see you there... and we will do some buddy curls.

I love you and miss you,

Tommy

The Day Before The Show

2006-05-05T04:45:00.000-07:00

This will be my last day of posts until after the show.

I had so much momentum going into this weekend, until I had everyone who said they were coming, bail out on me. Now it has really taken the wind out of my sails, which sucks to have this happen the day before the show. I was doing so good up until this.

Granted, my emotions are very fragile presently due to the diet, the drop in water, and everything else that comes along with the conclusion of this whole process. I had a hard time sleeping last night, because I've just been feeling depressed ever since I was flooded with e-mails and voicemails of EVERYONE cancelling.

This is such a big deal to me... I don't know...

I really don't want to take away from how much I appreciate those who ARE coming out to support me. If anything my appreciation for their presence has only been amplified a thousand times now.

You have to understand that at a bodybuilding competition, you NEED to have as big of a cheering section as you can. You need to be able to feed off the crowd, and short of the people who have come out specifically for you, there won't be anyone else cheering or screaming for you. Most people in the audience are there to see the person they came out to support and that's it. Depending on when their person finally hits the stage, the crowd may have had to sit through 50 posing routines already, and are just straight up tired or bored.

Well, anyway...

On the brighter side of things, today is indeed the last day before the competition. This will be my last day of eating turkey burgers, my last day of drinking nothing but water. Granted, tomorrow I won't be eating or drinking anything, but the next time I do I will be able to have whatever I want.

This is one of those times of reflection. Like your last day of school, or your last day at a job...

10 Months ago I decided to finally do this competition. I had several people all telling me that I should compete. I never thought I'd have anything to offer in a bodybuilding competition, and being aware of the politics involved in such a competition, I had avoided it.

The night that finally pushed me over the edge that made me decide to do this, was a party at Tree's. I still remember it perfectly. I was standing outside having drinks and talking with Dan & Mash, and they both were on me about doing a show. Up until this point, I felt like when most people suggested me competing, they were simply trying to be complimentary and that was it. I knew if Mash and Dan, were insistent that it was a good idea, then they weren't bullshitting me and they really felt I should do it. I respect them, and so if they say I should do it then that was that. The next morning I was at the gym working out, and that conversation with them kept running over and over in my head. That day I decided I was going to do it.

So here we are... 10 months later, 45lbs lighter, and 1 day out from the competition. Unfortunately neither of the gentlemen who inspired me to finally do this will be in attendance, but my appreciation for their encouragement remains great.

Thank you to both Dan & Mash, for making me believe in myself enough to go through this whole process and accomplish this goal. I miss you both.

1st Coat Of Pro-Tan

2006-05-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm sitting here naked... waiting for the first coat of pro-tan to dry. I'll get a second coat tomorrow evening, and then the last one the morning of the show. It's messy stuff, and it's wierd to be painted up like this... but this is all part of the deal.

Getting It Over With

2006-05-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I just found out that I will most likely go up early in the show. The Novice class is one of two classes I'm competing in, and is the first one up. I'm also in the light-heavyweight open, but you only do your routine once. So unless I somehow place in the top 5 of the open, I won't have to go up again. So I'm glad I'm going to get to just get up there and hit it.

I'm excited, and looking forward to it all.

Last Workout Before The Show

2006-05-04T07:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I just had my last workout before the show. Everyone in the gym is cheering me on, and as I said before, they are all SO supportive of me, and I just can't express how appreciative I am of it.

So, now at this point I just need to keep practicing my posing, and get some rest.

Last Day Of Work Before The Show

2006-05-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

Well, today was my last day at work before the show.

I got lots of good luck wishes from clients, as well as cards from them and co-workers. I have had TONS of support througout all of this from everyone, and I am very appreciative of it all. I cannot say that I went without the support of my friends and peers during this.

It's funny, because there's so many clients who I've taken on in the course of this, and they've never known me in any other state than the one I'm in now. My co-workers have never seen me eat anything other than turkey burgers.

They're all taking me out to lunch on Monday. That will be a trip for both them and me, as I've never gotten to go with them all when they go out for food.

It meant a lot to me to have all of the support from everyone today, and I'm just trying to ride the wave of momentum I've got going straight through the show.

Getting Rough

2006-05-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Last night really sucked. Being hungry hasn't really been much of an issue for me since the beginning of the diet. But last night I was just starving. Even after having my dinner, I had that almost sick feeling from being so hungry, but that was the last meal of the day, so there was nothing I could do. So around 8:30 last night I tried to just put the day behind me and went to bed. I knew this could lead to me waking up real early, but I didn't mind that. I'd get my workout and tan overwith, and have more time in the morning to get some stuff done. But I was up all night. I only average about 5 to 6 hours of sleep these days as it is, so around 12:30 last night I woke up and was wide awake, and still painfully starving. I slept a little on and off the rest of the night, but overall it sucked. I drank lots of water to try and ease some of the hunger cravings. I'm supposed to be drinking shitloads of water regardless, so it was productive in that regard. By the time I got up and went into the gym this morning, I was a wreck and have been since. My nerves are going full blast right now. For no good mental reason. It's just the low carbs, training, stress, and lack of sleep. I feel like I could either break out into hysterics laughing, or break down and cry. I just have to make it through today and tomorrow, and then work will be done for the week, and then I'll get through this shit a little easier.

The Posing Routine

2006-04-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I just got back from my Father's. I had he and my stepmother watch my posing routine, and they both said it looks great. So I'm glad they think it looks good. I still have to tighten it up but it generally looks good now.

The posing routine is what everyone is essentially coming out to see. It's my one minute of time I get on stage. I come out, I stand on the X and hit all of my best poses to my music. So I want it to be as perfect as possible. You're not judged on it at all, but like I said it's what everyone is going to see, when I'm on stage for the 1 minute of time that everyone drove and hour and a half to come out there.

I really think I've been my toughest critic throughout this whole thing. My Father thinks I look great, and I'm ready for this. I still think I've got some tightening up to do, but we'll see what happens after I'm done zero carbing, and I drop my water. It's kind of a wait and see situation now.

I have gotten a lot of postive responses to the picture I posted of me 1 week out. I've recieved the following:

"Wow!"
"Jeez!"
"Holy Shit!"
"Jesus Christ"

So that's good. I'd be more worried if people were saying:

"Ugh"
"Yeah... I guess"
"I don't know buddy... when is the show?"

I'm really happy with the song I've chosen for my posing routine. I've last second found one I'd like to do as well, but maybe for the next show if there is one. But this one works for me on several different levels. I've tried my best to keep it under wraps until people hear it at the show when I do my routine.

We'll see how it goes. I'm more concerned with nailing that than anything else that day.

1 Week Out!!!

2006-04-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

Well, this is it...

I guess it was bound to come at some point. 1 week from today is the competition. Everyone keeps telling me, "Well you only have one week left!". The thing is... this is going to be the toughest week of the whole thing. Today I begin running on zero carbs until Friday. Then I'll carb up to about 150, but then I drop my water and dehydrate.

I've taken off this Thursday and Friday from work so that I can prepare for the show, both mentally and physically. I'm still working the kinks out of my posing routine. I'll be heading over to my Father's tomorrow to have him take a look at it, and me. I've got the routine down at this point. I need to work on foot and arm postitioning. Posing is not easy, contrary to popular opinion. If an arm or a leg is in the wrong place it can shift the balance of the muscles in the rest of your body, and look lopsided. But I still have a week and hopefully can tighten it up by the show.

I weighed in today at 186lbs. I also have cooked my last batch of turkey burgers. The next time I go grocery shopping it will be for real food again.

I'll work out through Wednesday, and then that's it. I won't lift another weight until I'm in the pump up room at the show getting ready for judging. I'll probably be checking in here quite a bit throughout the next week, so stay tuned...

As I said before... this is it.

The Home Stretch

2006-04-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

Well, in the last week and a half here, I'm just trying to maintain as much muscle as I can. My workouts are short and simple. I'll do split workouts rather than one body part a day. For example Monday is Chest and Triceps. 3 chest movements 3 sets each, 12-15 reps a set, and then 2 bicep movements following the same formula. I'm not lifting heavy at all, I'm just trying to keep the muscles from going flat on me in this last stretch of the process.

Right now my workout schedule will be as follows...

Mon: Chest and Triceps
Tuesday: Back and Biceps
Wednesday: Legs
Thursday: Chest and Triceps
Friday: Back and Biceps
Saturday: Shoulders and Legs
Sunday: REST

My cardio is back up now as well. I start each workout with 30min of high intensity cardio in which I burn between 420-450 calories. Then I do abs which usually consists of hanging leg raises, crunches on the stability ball supersetting with medicine ball twists. Then every few days I throw in some cable oblique twists as well. Then I start my weights.

My brother told me last night, that in spite of the fact that my Mother has yet to see what I look like beyond my face, that I'm not ready for the show and that I have no chance in it. My Father who saw me last Sunday in my posing trunks going through my routine, says I'm right where I should be, and that I look good. He says that I could do the show right now and look good, and in a week and a half, I'll do the show and look... great.

The bottom line is that at this point I look how I look. There's not much more I can do at this point to change anything. This Saturday I begin zero carbing, in which my daily carbs will be between 0-50 each day. This will really dump out any extra body fat I may be holding, then the night before the show I carb up to 150. This will harden all the muscles, and bring out my veins. I will also be dehydrating those last few days, and that's it. Then it's time for the show.

Wrestlemania 22

2006-04-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I've had a suprising number of people asking me why I haven't written anything here about my experience at Wrestlemania 22. Which I appreciate, because that means that people understand what it meant to me to get to go. The only reason I haven't written sooner is just because I've been so damned busy with work, and training for this competition.

But by popular demand... here it is...

After 1 year of counting down the days literally to the big day, changing the number of days left on my dry erase board everyday, I finally came down to the day of the show, and changed it for the last time...

I got to the place and it was exciting to see all the WWE trucks everywhere. They had tents set up with various displays of wrestling memorabilia from over the years. Obviously there were long lines of cars just trying to get into the place, and then all the lines to stand in once you got in.

So I finally get inside, and I was sitting right next to the Titantron, which for those who don't know, is the big screen that's usually front and center over the entrance ramp the wrestlers come down. So while I couldn't see the big screen, I was front row in the balcony looking over the competitors as they'd come down to the ring, which I also had a great view of. They had a few warm up matches before Wrestlemania went on the air, and the crowd was all pumped up. One thing I won't forget was right before the show went on the air, the entire crowd broke into a rawkus Eddie Guerrero chant, in memory of the late wrestler. Completely unprovoked, everyone just started chanting his name, and it just thundered off the walls of that place, and then the lights went down as the chants continued and then the fireworks hit, and Wrestlemania was underway.

The crowd was great. Every time I've gone to see the WWE live, you can always tell a difference with a Chicago crowd over most crowds in other cities. Chicago is always very loud, and vocal. Which is great. It really adds electricity to the whole event, and the wrestlers feed off of that amped up crowd, and then it translates into better matches. I wish more cities could understand that. By getting into it, and becoming a part of the show, you're creating a better show for yourself. I don't know if there's just more hardcore wrestling fans in Chicago or what. Who knows what determines an entire crowd's habits.

The show started with a music video montage of moments from past Wrestlemanias... it was at that moment that reality set in and I was starting to finally realize that I had made it.. I was at Wrestlefuckingmania... I honestly felt honored to be there.

The 6 man "Money In The Bank" Ladder Match was great.

The "Money In The Bank" match involves a briefcase suspended 20 feet over the center of the ring. Inside of it is a contract for a title shot at the WWE Championship which can be redeemed at any time for up to 1 year. Ladders are strewn everywhere to use to get up to the briefcase, as well as to be used as weapons.

I was excited going into this match, as one of my favorite wrestlers was in it, "The Whole Dam Show"-"Mr. Monday Night"... Rob Van Dam. RVD in a ladder match at Wrestlemania was all I needed to hear to know this was going to be fucking awesome. The other wrestlers in the match far exceeded my expectations of them. It was an all around great match.

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair was in it and took a massive suplex from Matt Hardy off the top of a ladder, and I thought his 57 year old ass was dead. It THUNDERED through the arena when that fucking guy hit the mat. Flair was taken out of the arena by medics, as he was screaming in pain. The whole place chanted his name as he was taken away. Less than 5 minutes later he limped on his own back out to the ring to finish the match... 57 years old... unreal.

Shelton Benjamin did a great move... running across the ring, and up a ladder that was leaning on the ring ropes, and diving into a group of his opponents. Very cool.

As predicted, RVD won, and became "Mr. Money In The Bank". RVD earned himself a gauranteed title shot whenever he wants within the next year, and I hope when he does go for it that he finally fucking wins. RVD has yet to ever be the World Heavyweight Champion, and I think it will be great when the day finally comes.

The Hardcore match between Edge and Mick Foley also far exceeded my expectations. I hate Edge. I was never a huge fan of his. Then last year he stole the girlfriend of his real life best friend, and fellow WWE Superstar Matt Hardy. The girl who is also a WWE competitor named Lita, was once my absolute favorite women's wrestler... until she turned her back on her boyfriend. This was not part of a storyline, this was all very real, and a situation that hit a little too close to home for me. So I turned my back on her, and my dislike for Edge grew into hatred.

Now, all that being said. There is no denying the ability Edge has to put on a great match. I hate doing it, but I have to give him credit where it is due. His match with Foley at Mania this year was fucking great. There was barbed wire, thumbtacks, and burning tables... They beat the shit out of each other. In the end Edge won, but it was a great match, and something to see in person.

The "Casket Match" between The Undertaker and legitimately the world's strongest man Mark Henry... pretty good.

Nothing that knocked my socks off, but a solid match nonetheless. The Undertaker's 14-0 undefeated streak at Wrestlemania was at stake, against the 400lb powerhouse that is Mark Henry.

For those who don't know a casket match is a match unique to The Undertaker. The only way to win the match is to beat your opponent down to the point that you can roll their lifeless body into the casket sitting at the edge of the ring and close the lid.

An extra large casket had to be made for the huge Mark Henry, and in the end The Undertaker's undefeated streak was untouched as was victorious.

If there was one match I could count on being great going into Mania this year it was the "No Holds Barred" match between "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, and The WWE Chairman Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Vince McMahon has never had a bad match that I've seen. They are always bloody, intense, and usually hysterical on top of everything else.

Vince's son Shane was ringside attempting to give his Father an unfair advantage. Michaels subdued him, and handcuffed him to the ring ropes to keep him out of the match. But not before burying his face into his Father's bare asscheeks.

The match was finished off with a beaten down Vince McMahon laying on a table, and Shawn Michaels leaping off of a 20 ft. ladder driving an elbow right through Vince and the table. HBK got the 123 and the match was over. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.
There are two major championships in the WWE that constitute the 2 main events at Mania. Monday Night RAW's champ carries the WWE Championship. Friday Night Smackdown's champ carries the World Heavyweight Championship... these two major titles were up for grabs in the 2 main events this year.

First up... the WWE Championship.

"The Game"... "The King Of Kings".... "The Monarch Of The Mat"... "The Cerebral Assasin"... he has many monachers, but most know him as Triple H. And he once again found himself in the main event at Wrestlemania. This time as the challenger attempting to take the title off of the current champ "The Doctor Of Thugonomics" John Cena.

This was more than any other match the best example of how intense the Chicago crowd was. In spite of being the champ, and the good guy in the match... the fans had grown to resent Cena for becoming such a goody goody, and he had been catching boos for months. HHH went into the match as the crowd favorite, and the crowd made sure these two competitors knew who they were pulling for. Every blow that Cena would land on HHH would meet with boos from the fans, while every blow from HHH met with upoars of cheers from the crowd. Back and forth, boos and cheers the whole match. The crowd was absolutely electric.

Unfortunately HHH was unable to defeat Cena for the title, and tapped out at the end of the match. The crowd was not happy.

Next up... The World Heavyweight Championship.

The Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship involved the champ, and Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle vs. "The Legend Killer" Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio.

Rey had dedicated this match to his best friend, the late great Eddie Guererro... so naturally he had the crowd on his side. This was a great match. Very fast paced. The crowd was less split on this one. Mysterio was clearly the favorite, although admittedly Angle did have many supporters as well.

In the end it Mysterio who pinned Orton to win for the first time in his career The World Heavyweight Championship. At 5 foot 4, and 175lbs this made him the smalled World Heavyweight Champion in wrestling history.

As he celebrated his victory, Eddie Guererro's widow Vickie Guererro, and his Nephew Chavo Guererro came out to celebrate his victory with him.

Being apart of such an incredible Wrestlemania was an honor, and something I'll never forget. It was unreal, and I still can't believe I was there.

Next year Wrestlemania 23 emminates from Detroit... if I can get tickets... the countdown will begin once again.

I love wrestling... It truly is one of my favorite things in this world, and I would do anything to be apart of it someday.

2 Weeks Out

2006-04-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe it's getting this close now to the show.

Right now the diet is going ok... my energy levels are managable. I think the excitment and anticipation of the show helps override any exhaustion I'd feel otherwise.

I still have some concerns however. My abs are not coming in the way I'd like them to. My legs are looking better, but still not quite what I was hoping for. These are obviously points I'll be focusing on once this whole thing is over. I'm long past the stage of being able to build any muscle. The diet doesn't allow your body to do much in the way of building muscle, you're fighting just to maintain. I've definitely lost some in the course of this diet, but I also know I can put it back on easily enough once the show is over.

I'm practicing my posing twice a day right now. Which most people don't understand how exhausting that can be. I hold each pose as solid as I can for a minute at a time. I break a sweat within a few poses. You are flexing every one of your muscles at the same time and trying to hold it as hard as you can so you don't lose any definition.

For example when you hit a front double bicep shot, which is the most common pose you see people do. You're flexing your biceps, flaring out your lats, holding your abs, flexing your quads, squeezing your butt, and keeping a smile on your face for the judges the whole time. This is why so much time needs to be put into practicing posing. If you can't hold these poses solid for an extended period of time, and your competition can, then you'll go flat and they'll look solid.

I'm down to 190lbs now which for those keeping score means I've lost 40lbs. in 10 weeks.

Feelin' Good

2006-04-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I stopped by my Father's for Easter. He took a look at me and was very pleased with where I'm at. He says I look great, and I have maybe 5lbs left to lose, and that's it. This was good to hear, as I've been worried about how I look with 3 weeks to go, but he said I'm right where I should be at this point.

So now I'm getting more and more excited about the show. My diet will pretty much level out for these next 2 weeks, and then that last week will be crunch time, and I'll be running on about 1000 calories a day, and zero carbs. But at this point, I feel like, "bring it on".

Today was a good boost for my morale, which I needed going into the home stretch.

3 Weeks Out

2006-04-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

I'm exhausted right now, so this will be short. But I wanted to report in...

3 Weeks out, and I'm about 194lbs. I still have a bit to lose, so I'm resuming my twice a day workouts. The diet continues to clamp down more and more. My abs need to come in more, which I'm really hoping will happen as I continue to lose fat, and when I drop all of my water.

My abs and legs are my two biggest downfalls... unfortunately these are two things that are glaringly obvious in competition, but there's little I can do about it now.

Tanning

2006-04-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

Well, today I began my tanning. I am being extra precautious in doing so, as I once had a very bad tanning experience long ago.

When I was about 17 I was on a cable access bodybuilding show my trainer/mentor/friend hosted, called "Let's Workout". My father thought I should get tanned for it. So the night before the taping we went to a tanning place and he threw me in there for like 15 minutes. For the next 3 days my entire body was itching head to toe in the worst way. It was a very intense 72 hours. So much that I've never forgotten it.

So I made sure I was extra moisturized, and I started off with only 8 minutes. It seemed to go ok, and I did manage to get some color out of my first visit.

I just need to get a good base tan going, then I'll get painted up with pro tan the last 3 days leading to the show.

Abs

2006-04-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Well at just over 3 and 1/2 weeks from the show, I'm concerned about my abs. They aren't coming in as much as I'd like them to. I still have 3 1/2 weeks to go, but I don't want to take any chances. So I'm going to start up the two workouts a day, and get some heavy cardio and abs in before breakfast again. It's going to suck, but I've gotta do it. I barely have time and energy for all that I'm already doing, but like I said, I've gotta do it. This means I'll be up at 5:30, go to the gym, train, come home, eat, go back, train, come home, eat, shower, pack my food, go to work, come home, go to bed, do it all over again the next day until the show, or until my abs come out of hiding.

Like I said before, the last 4 weeks of this is when things get really heavy.

Wise Words

2006-04-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

On April 1st, 2006... the night before Wrestlemania 22 in Chicago, Bret Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame.

In closing his acceptance speech he left the world with a few final words of advice that I thought were very wise, and really applied to the undertaking I'm currently in the midst of.

He said...

"The best way to rise to the top is to give yourself up to lonliness, fear nothing, and work hard."

That had really stuck on me, and I'm trying hard to hold that in my mind, and in my heart as I push through these final weeks leading up to the show.

He also said, "Life is based less than you think on what you've learned, but more on what you've already got inside you."

4 Weeks Out

2006-04-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

Well I weighed in at 197 today. Not too bad. It was an exhausting week. Very busy at work. I'm still running on very low energy, and it makes everything a thousand times harder. Daily activities are 10 times a task as they usually are. Working out is currently not fun for me. Only because I have nothing when I'm in the gym. My whole body feels empty and hollow. I'm braindead from the low carbs.

I am looking forward to the day I return to the gym post-competition. When I can go back to throwing around some heavy fucking weights, and getting big again. I do enjoy how I look lean, and I'll maintain that throughout the summer, but come mid fall I'll start throwing the weight on again. I figure I'll probably hang out around 200-205 for the summer. It is nice to have my old face back. I've had a fat bloated fucking face for a long time now, mainly due to the obscene amounts of sugar in my diet. So I'll find a happy medium where I can get big, and not have such high sugar levels.

Other than that, I'm just taking it all one day at a time. These last 4 weeks will be the hardest yet, getting harder with each passing week. Everyone keeps telling me, "at least it's almost over", but it's one of those things where you're so close, yet so far away. I'm extremely irratable these days, and Holly bares the brunt of this.

I'm going to go to Peggy's party tonight, but then that'll probably be my last major public appearance until after the competition. I don't want to spread my assholness around to too many people... or no one's going to want to come see the show.

Low energy, no strength, and an irritable son of a bitch... that about sums me up right now.

5 Weeks Out

2006-04-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

Well, I weighed in this morning at 199lbs. So I'm still on track with my weight.

I upped my carbs a bit the past few days, and my dizzy spells have ceased. So that's good. Once again the diet clamps down even more as week 5 gets underway. The weekends are hardest, when it comes to sticking to the diet. I have yet to falter, but when I'm at work moving around all day doing shit, I don't have time to think about it. The weekends I finally get to relax, and recoup from the week, but it also leaves me that time to think about being hungry. It's also harder to force the 1 gallon of water down each day. When I'm at the gym, or at work I'm drinking water non-stop.

Other than that there's not much left to report right now. This will be the last week of moderate difficulty in the diet... Week 4 is when we really get fucking serious.

Faint Spells

2006-03-30T08:56:00.000-08:00

The last few days I've been having dizzy/faint spells... It's like the room takes one big spin all of a sudden that makes me want to just drop to the ground. It can happen walking, training, or even just sitting in a chair. I also get blackouts, where suddenly everything starts going black on me and I have to hold on to something, in case I pass out.

I have yet to completely lose consciousness, but I am finding myself grabbing onto things to keep myself up, and wait it out. The problem is, this starts first thing in the morning, and after the first one, it feels like someone poured acid onto your brain, and it's just fried, and then it feels like that the rest of the day. Which leaves me 12-14 hours still ahead of me at that point. It makes you feel like lying down and wanting to take a nap, but I can't. Not only do I have to go to work and be enthusiastic, and encouraging to the clients, but I'm spotting them on movements. If I pass out in the middle of a session, I'm fucked, and so is the client. That's my only worry. I can handle all of these unpleasant side effects of this diet and training, but I can't let it effect work either.

There are a few theories floating around right now as to what is causing it...

One is that my blood sugar levels are low, which they are. My diet currently contains little to no sugar at all. There's plenty of Equal, and Splenda going around, but not any real sugar. Nor do any of the foods contain much natural sugars.

Another is the recurring problem of low carbs. My carbs don't need to be as low as they are right now, but I have this calorie ceiling over me, and I'm trying to keep my protein levels high to maintain as much muscle as possible in this process. However, high protein foods have little or no carbs in them at all. So I'm cramming as much protein into the calorie limits I have, but am therefore sacrificing carbs.

And lastly... In my current state my brain is working twice as hard to maintain cell function in all of my various systems in my body. It's focusing so hard on this, that it does tend to let other things slip. One being my breathing pattern. My breathing could be speeding up into short breaths, and I don't even realize it. This causes hyper ventalating, and then ultimately the blacking out/dizziness. To alleviate it, I was told if I hold my breath for a minute, and burn up some of the excess oxygen, that will help level me out, and then I have to set a slower breathing pace, so as to show my brain how I should be breathing...

What a pain in the ass.

Anyway, I'm working on all of this, and trying to figure out where I need to make adjustments. This is all part of doing a competition for the first time. Figuring out what works for YOUR body, and what doesn't. If I were to do this all again, I would obviously have a better idea as to how I could do it all more efficiently.

This is all a good example of why bodybuilding competitions, are not particularly healthy for you. There are benefits... flushing your body clean of toxins, removing all the body fat inside you and starting over clean... but there are negatives obviously as well.

6 Weeks Out

2006-03-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

Well, my father has allowed me this weekend to ignore calorie restrictions and bring my carbs up for two days. For two days I can have up to 200 carbs, and eat as much of whatever is on my diet menu as I want. Which still won't be much, as my stomach has shrunk significantly and it doesn't take much to fill me up. I'm feeling a little more energy coming back to me on account of it, but I should even more so by the end of the day. More energy would make the rest of my life so much more bearable. Imagine that feeling of complete and utter exhaustion where you could fall asleep where you stand, where you're so tired you could just cry... and it's only 10:30 in the morning and you have a full day of work ahead of you. It's rough.

Fortunately though, I love my job. If I hated my job, or my boss, I don't know how I'd get through any of this. But I am lucky enough to love what I do, and have a job that keeps you busy the whole time, and distracts you from the hunger, and exhaustion. Once I start training people it's pretty much non-stop until I go home. So I'm running around all day, training, and demonstrating movements. Then if I do have a few moments to myself, I grab a few sets of crunches, or chin-ups or something just to keep the momentum going.

I'm helping out at the Willowbrook location for the next few months... afternoons into the evenings, as well as some mornings in Naperville. So Willowbrook is about a 35 min. drive for me in mid-day traffic going there, and about 25 coming home at night. So I'm moving the whole time I'm at work, but as soon as I get in that car and am sitting there for the drive home, the adrenaline wears off and a very HEAVY exhaustion sets in. It all catches up with me. By the time I walk in the door I just go straight to bed. I've got nothin' left then.

I'm putting in a lot of hours right now, which I really don't mind as I said I do love what I do, but boy I'll love it a lot more when I can actually visit the Portillo's across the street from us that I am tortured with the smells of everytime I come in and out of work.

I weighed in yesterday at 202lbs. My Father looked at me, and had me run through my poses and he seems to think that I have about 10lbs. to go before I'm in competition state. Which is manageable. I've lost 26lbs. in 6 weeks, so 10lbs. in 6 weeks should be no big deal. If I lose 2lbs. a week for the next 5 weeks, and then maintain that last week, I'll be good. Plus when I dehydrate I'll drop a few more pounds easily. So in the end it will probably be more than 10 pounds.

In talking to other competitors about my plans for the off season after the show, they told me that putting on 30lbs from your competition weight is all you should put on to train for gaining muscle. I was originally planning on getting up to 240 but that would be more fat sitting on me than I would need. So if I come in around 190 at competition time, then I'd be looking more around 220-225 to put on this year. Which is about where I was at last year, which is good. Plus, how I put that weight on will be done smarter this year. I'm more educated on this now, and will be able to more efficiently, and in a healthier way put the weight on. I think I could throw it on within two months. My sugar intake has been extremely high the last few years, and I'll be taking it easy on that shit from here on in. I'll be eating cleaner, but on a diet that will be higher in carbs to allow me to put on more size.

So now I'm finally at the half way mark in the diet. It feels like it's been going on for 6 months rather than 6 weeks, but you can't stop the clock, and there is a definite end to this. So I just have to hang in there 6 more weeks, and then I will be able to rejoin the rest of the world.

Drained

2006-03-23T08:57:00.000-08:00

Well, I weighed in yesterday at 204... I'm still losing weight faster than I should. In 4 days I lost 3 pounds. My carb intake is too low. But the problem is trying to keep my protein levels high, within the calorie restrictions I have, and still get the carbs I need... as most of my high protein sources are little to no carbs.

I'm drained...

Little sleep, training, dieting, and 16 hour days... I feel like I can barely hold myself up right now...

That's all I've got energy for right now.

7 Weeks Out

2006-03-18T06:13:00.000-08:00

Well, things are a little better.... my nerves have calmed more the past few days, and things have settled. My computer is still fucked, but I'm getting by with Holly's laptop.

The diet crunches down more as of today. It's funny, how as little as I get to eat, it suddenly seems like a lot, once you get more taken away. Like, last night was my last night of have spinach, and three turkey burgers for dinner. Now I can only have the 3 turkey burgers, or have 2 and some spinach. Then you think to yourself... this is the last time I'll have 3 turkey burgers and some spinach for the next 7 weeks... as if that was what I'd go running back for as soon as the diet is over.

7 weeks still feels like a long time... especially when you consider that I'm not even half way through the diet yet. But I'll make it. The one good thing about being allowed less and less food per meal, is my grocery bill will get cheaper as this goes along. Eating good, is WAY more expensive than eating shit all time.

Things will be getting intense from here on in. My work schedule is going to be changing up this week, and I'll be up in the morning... train, come home, eat breakfast, go back for the second workout, come home, shower, eat lunch, pack my food for the rest of the day, and then work from 1 - 9, then come home, go to bed, and do it all over again the next day... for the next 7 weeks. But being busy is better than not while on this kind of a diet... it helps keep your mind off of food and eating. The downside to a diet like this, is it leaves you with very little energy. That will hang on you all day.

I'm 207lbs, as of this morning. With at least 9 lbs to go to make my weight class of 198, but odds are I'll have to lose more than that. Once I make my weight for my weight class, then you're just going on how you look. Then you'll know how much more you have to lose. At my current pace I should lose that 9lbs within the next 3 weeks... then that last 4 weeks will be fine tuning.

So here we go... 7 weeks to go.

8 Weeks Out

2006-03-11T09:04:00.000-08:00

Well I weighed in this morning, and I'm still the same weight as my last weigh in a few days ago... 210lbs. It's ok though... I only lost 2lbs. this week, but I'm supposed to be leveling out a bit on my rate of weight loss. I did eat a little more than usual this week. I was within the restrictions of my diet, but I've been taking in a lot less than my limit most days, plus my cardio was cut in half this week. But I'm feeling good. My calories cut some more as of today, still managable though. Things will start getting heavy in about 2 weeks though. Then things will really tighten up on the diet, and continue to exponentially all the way down to the show.

I've got at least 12lbs to go to get into my weight class... but odds are I'll have to lose more than that to look the way I'll need to for the show.

I'm already looking forward to the show being over. Not because of the diet or the training or anything... I'm pretty much used to it at this point. I'm looking forward to bulking up again. As good as it feels to be lean, I like to feel big too. And I'll be shooting for 240 this year. I've learned a lot about dieting in the course of this, and this year I know exactly what to do, to get that weight. Knowing it will work, and knowing what to do with it this time, is exciting.

People ask me how big I want to get... my answer is always the same... as big as I can. I'll probably wait until after my birthday in late August. In fact I may start the bulking up diet the day after my birthday... August 27th. I'd like to look reasonably defined for the summer... so I can take my shirt of outside, and not look too gross. I'm sure there'll be plenty of baseball being played, and I do like getting the sun on me when I'm out there, but last summer, I wasn't too comfortable when I'd have my shirt off out there. This year should be better coming off of the competition. I won't let myself go completely to shit or anything.

Anyway... there it is.

Update

2006-03-08T16:50:00.000-08:00

Well I weighed in today... 210lbs. So in 3 1/2 weeks, I've lost 18lbs. I'm still a little ahead of myself, but whatever. My weightlifting is going much better now that it gets it's own workout without any cardio. Currently I get up, I go to the gym and do my half hour of cardio and abs. Eat breakfast, and then return to the gym as soon as I can depending on my schedule that day. If it's possible to go back right after breakfast I do. Otherwise it's usually late afternoon, or the early evening. At which time I do abs again, and then whatever my weights are for the day.

Now that I've been cut down to a 5 day a weeks schedule, it goes as follows:

Monday: Chest
Tuesday: Back
Wednesday: Legs (Quads, Hams, Calves)
Thursday: Shoulders
Friday: Arms (Biceps, Triceps)

Each body part gets 4 movements each, consisting of 4 sets each, with 1 minute rest periods between sets, and 10-12 reps worth of weight.

For abs, I'm doing 3 sets of leg raises for the lower abs primarily, and then I do what I call concentrated crunches for upper abs. I have found these to be more effective than the monotonous 1000 crunches a day. Every 2nd crunch you do, hold it in the crunch position, squeeze your abs... and count 2.

So you do one crunch, come up for the second one and then hold.... 1.... 2... do another crunch, and then on the next hold... 1... 2... and so on. Right now I do 3 sets of these between 50-75 a set. Twice a week I add weighted side bends, and lower back raises to work the obliques and lower back. These don't get as much attention as they are muscles that build easily, and give you a thick core. Which symetrically speaking isn't currently in my best interest.

Other than that... things are progressing nicely. My defintion is finally taking shape, I'm getting harder (my muscles that is....), and I'm getting excited about the show. However things are about to get a step harder this coming week, as the diet is going to crunch down even more. But I shall adapt... I just may lose my mind along the way. But I don't know how much left there is to lose at this point anyway.

9 Weeks Out

2006-03-04T21:10:00.000-08:00

Well, 9 weeks to go. My Father is of the mind that I'm losing weight a little too quickly. After 3 weeks I've lost 16lbs. So he's cutting me down to 1 cardio a day now, and only training 5 days a week. At least for the time being, until I'm more lined up with where I should be. I should only be losing about 3 - 4lbs a week. So once I'm back on track, I may or may not return to the 2 cardios a day. Otherwise I've been feeling ok. Just tired. Carbs have been pretty low, and in spite of my heavy reliance on coffee as of late for energy... it only gets you so far.

Exhausted

2006-02-24T15:33:00.000-08:00

I'm fucking exhausted...

An unprecedented 5 cups of coffee today, and I'm still ready to pass out. My calories are down to 1700 a day, and my carbs are averaging less than 100. I've been busy as all hell, not getting any sleep, and everything is just happening all at once. I've got shit going on tonight I can't get out of which is going to only allow me 6 hours of sleep, assuming my usual sleep problems don't keep me from utilizing all 6 hours of it. I don't see any point where I'll be able to catch up on any significant amount of sleep until Wednesday... today is Friday.

Cartoons Today Suck

2006-02-22T05:35:00.000-08:00

For someone who has grown up loving cartoons, and comic books, it's very disappointing how lame cartoons are today. Even Cartoon Network has gone down the shitter in the past few years. They were our last hope.

All the remakes of old classic cartoons suck, like the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons, and the most recent attempt at reviving The Transformers. They've gone so over the top with the remakes, that they have taken the heart out of what made those cartoons great in the first place. Any original cartoons now are Japanimation based, and it makes me want to throw up. I'm so sick of the style. It has completely taken over, and now every cartoon looks the same.

I'll allow Cartoon Network features a little more of a diverse array of styles. But even still, there's a Cartoon Network style that seems constant in a lot of cartoons on there. Then of course they have all the Japanimation shit on at night. Japanimation can be cool, there are good cartoons out there, it's just been SO overdone that I just can't stand to see it anymore. I can't wait for the cartoon world to move on past this, and for animators, and cartoonists to show some originality.

Yeager's Music

2006-02-21T17:50:00.000-08:00

Now, think back to that time period... 94'-98'. Everyday I'd come into Yeager's after school to train, and hang out for the evening, and all they played ever was Q101. Now between 94'-98' there was SO MUCH great music on the radio then. Alternative music was at it's peak. Every band out there had a hit song, and almost all of them were awesome. Most of the singles that were big back then are still heard regularly to this day.

In an effort to remind me of where I came from, and to inspire me throughout my training I have tried to put myself back into thatYeager's mindset as much as possible. Thus my reason on telling the story of the place, and it's signifigance. I've been doing this by breaking out my old Yeager's shirts, and thanks to the convienience of mp3 players, have compiled a playlist of over 100 songs from back then that I listen to on random every workout. The whole playlist is over 6 hours long, so it takes me about 2 days worth of workouts to get through it all. It consists of songs from bands such as:

Beck
Collective Soul
Green Day
Live
Oasis
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Radiohead
Rage Against The Machine
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Soundgarden
The Smashing Pumpkins
Weezer
No Doubt
Alanis Morrissette
Nirvana
Pearl Jam
Stone Temple Pilots
Beastie Boys
Bush
Foo Fighters
Nine Inch Nails
U2
The Wallflowers

I'm sure there's still some I could add to the list... so if there are any suggestions do let me know. But this is what I listen to everyday in the gym. This is the soundtrack for the next 12 weeks.

Yeager's

2006-02-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

When I first began working out in high school it was 1994. I trained at a gym that was down in the shopping center down on Finley and Butterfield. It was called "Yeager's". Named after the owner Mark Yeager. A big part of why I got into working out in the first place was due to Yeager's Gym. Picture any Balley's, or Powerhouse or whatever... then picture 1/10th the size of it. That was Yeager's... an above ground basement. About 80-90% of the equipment there was MADE by Mark himself, and it was the best shit I ever worked out with. He had something for everything there... something the clubs 10 times bigger STILL don't have.

Being such a small place, you had little choice but to get to know every person there. The great thing though, was that everyone there was fucking awesome. Everyone was your buddy, and they were all extremely supportive. It was "Gym" gym... 95% of the people working out there were competitive bodybuilders. At one time Carlton Fisk was a regular there, and a fucking asshole I might add. (side story available at bottom of entry)

I didn't really get to join any sports in high school, but I didn't mind so much, because I lived for when school would end, and I'd go to the gym. I'd workout, and then hang out. I'd spend 3-4 hours there. I'd train, and then as the other big guys were coming in after getting out of work, I'd hang out to watch them train. They'd explain to me what they were doing, why, and how. It became my hangout, I didn't have much of a social life otherwise, so I spent all of my free time there. Weekends... everday after school.

A close friend of my Father's... a man by the name of Larry Weiss, a Vietnam vet and the greatest guy you could ever know, met me there everyday after school to train with me. I'll be writing more about him, as I get closer to the show. But this placed fueled an interest in weightlifting and bodybuilding that has remained in me to this day.

Yeager's was sold in 97', and the new owner ran the place out of business within about a year. This was also in part due to Powerhouse opening in Lombard. This was obviously a sad day for me when Yeager's closed. I boycotted Powerhouse for a long time, until I finally accepted that it was the only decent place around at that point to work out at.

To this day, I don't know that I've ever had a workout like the ones I'd get at Yeager's.

(side story... Jason Holman asked me to get his Carlton Fisk baseball card autographed for him. So I said "Sure, no problem!", you know, I see the fucking guy everyday this should be easy. So I see him at the gym the next day and I asked him, if he'd mind... his response was, "$25". I was still too young and naive to realize that he wasn't joking, so I just laughed... holding the card out waiting for him to take it. He was for real. So I felt like an asshole going back to Jason the next day, and telling him it was actually going to cost him. Had I been in his shoes, I'd have said fuck it then. But he pony'd up the $25, so I took it back to Carlton the next day, and he took it... said thanks, signed the card, and walked off without saying anything... fucking asshole.)

Sunday Morning

2006-02-19T07:42:00.000-08:00

It's a pleasant Sunday morning...

I'm sitting here having my morning coffee, chillin' online. I've got one workout out of the way, with one to go. It's fucking freezing outside, but the sun is out and that's good enough for me. Tonight is WWE No Way Out, the last Pay-Per-View stop on the road to Wrestlemania 22. The next PPV will be the grandaddy of them all, and I will be there to experience it first hand.

So I've got that goin' for me... which is nice.

11 Weeks Out

2006-02-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

Well, the first week of dieting is now behind me with 11 weeks to the competition. Last night was a better night of sleeping than I've had this past week. I may be starting to adapt a little more now to the lower calorie intake.

Last week before I went in for my first workout of the day, on my first day of dieting before eating anything, I weighed in at 228 lbs. I weighed myself this morning to see where I am a week later, and I weighed in at 219 lbs. So that's 9 pounds right there. I have a feeling the rest won't fall off quite as easily, but it's a nice to chunk to get out of the way.

A Sollution To The Knee Issue

2006-02-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

I consulted with my chiropracter about my knee, he checked it out and said that there wasn't anything majorly wrong with it that he could tell. The meniscus, and ACL seemed fine... He said that taking time off from using it would cause it to atrophy more than heal itself. It needs to be stimulated so that it will heal. He suggested that I try using the elliptical rider to get my cardio in and see how it feels, and ease my way back into lifting with it. I rode the elliptical twice yesterday, and then again this morning, and so far it seems to be holding up ok. I'm burning enough calories in my half hour on there too. So that's a relief.

In the meantime, the diet has been a bit rough. It's not so bad during the day, but at night is when it's really kicking my ass. After I have dinner, I feel hungry again within a half hour or so. Then I'm hungry all night, and can't sleep on account of it. Add that on top of my sleep issues I've had already going into this, and I'm just not getting enough rest right now. I had a feeling this would end up being an issue, but I'm dealing with it the best I can. Part of the problem was how fast we dropped my daily caloric intake, it was faster than my body could adapt to.

But I'm toughing it out for now, and we'll see where things go from here.

Late Night

2006-02-16T00:48:00.000-08:00

Well, it's almost 3 am right now...

I'm starving my ass off, and I can't sleep. Having sleeping issues going into this is bad enough, throw on top of that sheer hunger, and now sleep may become even more of a rarity. I don't know... it's still too early to tell. I may get used to it. But for right now it's almost 3 am, and I have about 5 hours before I can eat.

The Plan

2006-02-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

Well... after consulting with my Father on how to handle this situation with my knee we've decided to go the route of cutting calories sooner than later. This will be rough... but necessary.

I won't do any cardio at all for the next two weeks. I'll replace my morning cardio with an additional abs session, so that I'll be doing some minor level of cardio work, and increasing the amount of time put into my abs along the way. I also won't train legs for the next two weeks either. Then after the two weeks, I'll come back light, and ease my way back into things cautiously.

After the two weeks, I'll come back to doing the stairs, but on a much lighter setting. I was cranking on level 8 before, I'll come back at level 3.

I will also continue to ice my knee 3 times a day.

This unfortunately still leaves an air of uncertainty about things... but I have to try whatever I can to get me to that show.

Severe Knee Problems...

2006-02-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

Well my right knee is being a problem again already...

This is not good. It's not good to be acting up so early in this portion of the training. If this was happening like 2 weeks out from the show, I would just tough it out... But I have 12 weeks of twice a day intense cardio sessions. Which at this point equates to 162 more times on the stairs.

My knee hurts just walking on it right now, let alone when I'm stomping on the stairs for an hour a day. It's like a burning/cold feeling under the top of my knee cap. Without any health insurance currently, there's not much I can do about it from a medical standpoint.

I'm going to try and start training on the bike instead, and see how my knee responds to that. Like I said, it hurts just walking on it, so I'm still going to feel it on the bike. But if I can do less damage to it, that would help. I can't push it too hard, because like I said... no health insurance, and if I blow my knee out, I'm definitely out of the competition.

In the meantime I'm icing the shit out of it, and still taking my glucosomine....

It sucks, because I'm conditioned now on the stairs. I can handle the workload in every way, other than my knee. Now I'm starting from scratch with the bike... (assuming my knee can handle it), and now to get myself to where I can ride 400 calories in a half hour could take a few weeks... which isn't a lot, but when you've only got 12 weeks to competition time, and need to be burning 800 calories a day in cardio, it's a HUGE setback. If the bike is in fact possible, then I'll have to do it for as long as it takes to get to 400 calories, whether it's 45 minutes or an hour, or whatever.

The only other alternative, is to cut my current calorie intake drastically to make up the difference in cardio... regardless though, I still need to be able to perform some level of cardio. Oh yeah... and let's not forget... LEG DAY!!! Leg press, leg extensions... if I can't do those for the next 12 weeks I'll lose what little quads I have...

This is very depressing... but I'm going to try every way I can to get around this, and make this work. I'm so fucking close to the end of this, I've got to finish it.

The Next Day...

2006-02-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

Well this morning I got up, and went in for my half hour of cardio... Man, it kicked my ass. I was exhausted from the day before. Within the first minute on there my quads were exhausted, and wanted to just stop. I somehow made it through the half hour on the stairmaster, and then dragged my ass home, so that I could finally have some breakfast. I couldn't believe I got through it.

I have to say that my lowfat yogurt in the morning is quickly becoming the highlight of my daily diet. With only 60 calories, and 5 grams of protein... it's nice. You can squeeze a few of those into a meal, and maybe use one for desert at night. Compared to the bland tasteless shit you eat all day, the yogurt is an explosion of fruity flavor in your mouth!

When I went in for my second workout of the day, I was dreading hitting those stairs again... Suprisingly enough I blasted right through those things. I don't know... but it was a lot better. So hopefully I'm adapting to the high levels of cardio, and then it won't be a big deal... currently it is the most unpleasant part of my training.

I can tell already though, that after this is all said and done, my regular diet is definitely going to change. For as tired as I am right now, and as sore... I still feel pretty good... clean. I feel a lot less sluggish. Which is something I didn't realize I was until I started feeling this way. Not to mention I'm getting so much more protein in my diet currently. Had I been eating cleaner sooner, I may have been able to come in bigger than I did. In bodybuilding there's always things like that you'll discover about yourself, that you wish you had figured out years earlier. Then you think about how much bigger you could be.

But... better to find out at all, rather than never.

Here We Go

2006-02-11T18:30:00.000-08:00

Well... today was the first day of the diet.

So far it's ok... but I'm not sick of any of this food yet. Though I can see it coming quickly on the horizon. More than anything I'm just exhausted. Between the early morning intense cardio workout, and then the 2 hour workout later in the day... I felt fine most of the day, and then after that second workout it slowly crept up on me and now I feel like I've had the shit kicked out of me. It's 8:30 on a Saturday night, and I'm looking at goin' to bed in a half hour. This is why I've told people I won't be around much. Between the scheduled meals, the two workouts a day, the time spent practicing posing, and then the inevitable exhaution... there's no room for much of a social life.

Regardless... Day 1 of the diet is done... 83 more to go.

The Diet Draws Near...

2006-02-06T14:43:00.000-08:00

Well this weekend starts the 12 week diet. So these next few days I'll be enjoying whatever real food I can get my hands on. Tonight will be my last Subway meatball sub... so I'm looking forward to that.

Here is a short version of what I'll be doing starting next week... I have a feeling I'll be writing on here much more once I get started so I'll detail it more as I'm going through it.

I'll get up, and before I eat anything I'll go into the gym, and do 30 min of cardio. During which I must burn at least 400 calories if not more. So the intensity level must allow this. My meals the first week will consist of about 400 calories a meal, spread over 5 meals throughout the day. Which for the first week isn't too bad. For the first 4 weeks, the daily calorie allowance will decrease by 10% each week. The decreases... will increase after the first 4 weeks. So I have my first cardio workout before breakfast, then later in the day I'll do my second 400 calorie, 30 minute cardio session, along with abs, and my usual weightlifting routine. I'll be drinking at least a gallon of water a day, and my last meal must be done by 7 pm. The foods I'll be allowed to eat in the first 4 weeks are as follows...

Chicken Breasts
Turkey Burgers (no bread)
Fresh fruit
Rice
Potatoes
Water, coffee, tea
Fat free yogurt
Lenders regular bagels. Not New York kind.
Oil and Vinegar
Salt and Pepper
Tabasco
Giardinera
Ketchup, Mustard
Pickles, Olives
Air popped popcorn
Eggs
Butter
Equal
Oat Meal

That's the basic outline...

Until then... I'm pigging out!

Competition Info

2006-01-26T14:26:00.000-08:00

I got the official info on the competition for all of those wondering where, and when it is. I thought it was going to be in Rockford, but they moved it. It's still near Rockford, but it's actually a bit closer which is nice.

Grand Prix Natural Bodybuilding and figure championships
May 6, 2006
Belvidere HS Performing Arts Center
Belvidere Il.
Guest Poser Tricky Jackson New IFBB PRO

Back For More

2006-01-25T05:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I made my return to the gym this past Monday after another 2 weeks off. So far the joints are holding up ok. Today will be my first day working legs again, so we'll see how the knee holds up. Either way I'm going to just have to work through it, because I need to train 6 days a week from now until the show. I'm taking my glucosomine for my joints, and I'll just keep icing my knee when I can. I'm also working on keeping myself covered up more while working out. I overheat real easy, as I don't sweat for some reason. So with no sweat my body just builds up all this heat, and then I want to pass out. So I usually work out in a tank top, or cut off sleeve shirt. But this leaves my shoulders exposed and they cool down easily. So I'm going to start wearing a warm up shirt over my tanks to keep me warm. But I have already found that I need to regulate how much I wear it. Yesterday I was training back, and kept covered up. I was feeling a bit dizzy near the end of the workout, but was so close to finishing it that I just wanted to get through it. My keeping my shoulders warm was making for better sets too. I got through them but then when I was standing in the locker room afterwards talking to some of the guys, I started getting these heat rushes to my head, and thought for sure I was going to pass out. Those heat rushes left me with a headache the rest of the day. A smarter man, would have taken the warm up shirt OFF when he started feeling dizzy... especially considering it was right near the end of the workout. But... a lesson was learned.

So now I've got about 2 more weeks of regular training before I start dieting.

Eating My Ass Off

2006-01-16T21:17:00.000-08:00

I think I've been psyching myself out to a degree over this impending diet. I'm not really all that worried about my ability to do it, I'm just not looking forward to not being able to eat all the things I love. So I'm constantly having cravings now for everything. I really got an urge for KFC which at some point this week is going to have to happen. Today I had a bowl of cereal, 3 bananas, 2 chicken breasts, 3 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a Marie Callendar spaghetti and garlic bread, and 2 hot dogs.

I'm just enjoying it all while I still can.