[Wk 9] Improving in Fitness, Gaming & Music

Previous Weeks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

About this blog/diary:
I'm a professional musician and (very) amateur gamer.
Blogging about improving and sticking to a program is very effective for my overall progress!
Thanks for checking this out and feel free to leave any comments or suggestions!

Week preview: Back and rested from vacation, this week I begin logging weight loss while attempting to get my musical chops back in order from the break.

Goals for the Week

Fitness Goals:
3 Weight-lifting sessions (log)(program): [image loading]

2 Running or HIIT sessions (log)(program): [image loading]

Weigh-in regularly (log): ( [image loading]

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Gaming Goals:
Log Write-Ups of OCC Blood Bowl games (Current Standings): [image loading]

                  Log CS:GO practice sessions and Ranked results: (below)
                  Log Hearthstone Drafts/Results: (below)
                  Log Write-ups and session prep for my DND 5E Campaign (wiki):

            Personal Goals:
                  Daily Mental Discipline sessions: ( [image loading]

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Log daily food intake: (log) (

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Quality challenge-seeking practice session: (

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Monday 8/25: [image loading]

It is good to be back!! The vacation to the UK was as fun as it was exhausting. My wife had a very detailed itinerary for the trip which usually involved 8-10 hours of walking a day. This usually would not have been a problem, but I stupidly packed a pair of blown out running shoes for general use. After day 2, my feet were absolutely killing me... I could barely move. We picked up a pair of New Balance and it improved but my feet still weren't 100% for the remainder of the trip.

After 2 months of logging, I'm feeling confident and comfortable enough with this venue to begin logging weight! British cooking, despite the time on my feet, put a couple of pounds on my frame so I have an easy cushion of weight to lose :-).

Ended the night with some HS and a dicey CS:GO win. I played like poop, but was carried through thankfully. Got my weekly weapon drop on the main account! :-)

Tuesday 8/26: [image loading]

Yay! Today's rehearsal was much more comfortable, with my face holding up better than before. I'll be able to ramp up today's practice a bit! Weighed in this morning and was slightly down from the previous log, but that's to be expected. I'm looking forward to seeing how the weight fluctuates in the coming months.

Oh DOMS... how I've missed you. Despite the de-load workout yesterday, I'm experiencing some pretty universal muscle soreness today. The worst are lats... so uncomfortable. When they don't function properly, they promote poor posture as well as hurting when lying down or running... Ugh. oh well. Day off today.

Good practice occurred today in lieu of good exercising! Did a couple of sessions covering the premiere piece and the audition rep. Feeling good! Probably going to line up another fun session for tonight. Don't want to overdo it though because tomorrow's double rehearsal is going to be a haul.

I got my first 12-win arena today!! wooohooo!! Felt good even though I feel like I got really luck with my early game draws for the last win stretch. Going into the games, my deck didn't have really any quality 2-drops, but I was able to meander through the early game by just drawing really really well. Injured blademaster/Earthen ring and lots of multi-minions into Cult Master kept me alive, with my board clear to pave a mid-game win. Very interesting.

Wednesday 8/27:

What a nice pair of rehearsals today! Honestly, I was dreading today's rehearsals because two of my section mates got leave to not be present, and it was left up to me to cover their parts (as much as possible). This means I was playing principal (the lead part, or highest voice) for the full six hours of rehearsal. My face held up largely throughout the day! Felt awkward reading other people's solos, but it went off relatively well.

I'm adding another thing to my gaming preparation aspect of this blog due to my excitement for the 5 edition of Dungeons and Dragons. For almost 2 years now, my friends and I have been playing an ongoing dnd campaign that I've been dungeon-mastering. It's been an incredibly rewarding and creative experience. I absolutely love the challenge of DMing and particularly playing the role of facilitator and "movie director" of the action the players find interesting. The group is going to transition over from 4e to 5e in the coming weeks and I'm going to commit to logging my processes for preparing and also the write-ups for the sessions (to help my players).

In the ongoing effort of maximizing my CS:GO experience, I've continued tuning my sensitivity down to 1.5x/800dpi. It feels a bit better and brings my 180deg turn to line-up with my Qck+ mousepad. I felt like my previous 1.6 felt a bit floaty and over-corrected too much. I'm trying to amend my claw grip during aiming because it can put me in awkward extended/contorted positions if my wrist and fingers over-extend and get caught out.

Big loss on my main CS:GO acct... couldn't carry a 4/20.... I wasn't hitting my shots to boot, so i can't really complain.

Man oh man... I'm so happy I exercised today because I was bare moments of hesitation and equivocation from quitting it. At the end, I sucked it up and did a re-load cleans day that was pretty good! The bloated mid-day meal and caffeine binge kinda messed with my energy levels (on top of spending a great deal of time after the rehearsals relaxing and destressing at the computer).... All in all, gotta give myself big props for pushing through my own bullshit and getting the workout done!

Thursday 8/28: [image loading]

A good day today all-in-all! Again, late in the day, I rallied and got my lazy butt out and active. The rationale for delaying the run was the streak of success my priest draft was having, and indeed it ended in my second 12-win run!! :-) After that high note, the run proved to be rejuvenating! It was nice to get back on the road and feel my heart working. The run was a bit harder than anticipated as I realized halfway through it that I had missed the previous meal. Darn coffee and water binge making me not feel hungry :-)

I had a very instructive mental discipline session after dinner that was a completely self-guided full body relaxation. Too often of late, I find my mind wandering during the guided/taped sessions, and I wanted to reconnect with that process taking my time and doing it right.

And now... the big night! It's the first Fight Night in the new OCC Blood Bowl Season 24! I'm up against a brand new Khorne team who is going to be gifted 500k because my TV is so high! Eeek... Wondering what he's going to buy and how much it's going to hurt!! Oh well, we'll see what happens!

And it was a grueling and troublesome dubya... My big guy got knocked out by their big guy in turn 2... so I spent the rest of the game huddling somewhat and trying to divert the damage done. I suffered a STR loss on one of my Chaos Warriors which was promptly apothecary'd but still suffered a Miss Next Game. He spent his wizard really early and ineffectually, so I had that going for me.

Friday 8/29:
Saturday 8/30:
Sunday 8/31:

All of these days have sadly been trumped by my brother's visit. I've used that as an excuse to kick back and relax a bit.... While I'm not entirely happy with this self-realization, it's done and I think I needed the break. My brother is a special person to me and hanging out with him is incredibly fun and relaxing. I'm looking to come back recharged and refocused.

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CS:GO Reference Section:

Original Silver 5 Account:

25th: W; 27: L, W; 28: W; 29: W, W, L, W, W Level up to Silver 5!

Nova 2 Alt Account:

Hearthstone Reference Section: Drafting according to LawrenceJames guidelines. 6-7 2s, 3-4 3s, 4-5 4s, 2-3 5s.

Rogue Draft 8/26:+ Show Spoiler [Reactions while drafting] +

1: What a shitty epic row... At least the Molten somewhat saves it.
2: Going for the interesting early game card for combo options... Hope I get another sprint later if I need it.
5: Betrayal over FoK for sure...
8: Absolute shit row...
10: Hard row... I'm going go a bit risky and get a faceless. I love BGH, but just feel like I might need the late game recovery.
12: Hard row... need the 3, but need the removal more... Eviscerate it is!
13: Another hard row. Cold Blood or a piddling 3-drop... Cold blood, but damn do i feel risky passing on early game.
14: Ugh, crappy row... Taking the 5 with upside...
15: Crappy row... at least it's a 2 drop!
16: 2-drop!
28: Hard row... and possibly a mistake but with assassin's blade, betrayal and 2 evis's I felt I need another 2 more.

Paladin Draft 8/27:+ Show Spoiler [Reactions while drafting] +

1: meh row.
2: shit row.
no real choices through 10... not looking good thus far. need 2s badly.
11: Don't need a shit 3... taking the nerf button
12: have to take the high quality 4.
15: shit deck... forced to take a second mogu....
17: well if there's one slot it's good to be heavy on, it's 4-mana.
20: need the 2 drop... hard to pass on though.
21: early game deflection needed for sure.
shit draft... hoping for 3-4 wins.

Mage Draft 8/28:+ Show Spoiler [Reactions while drafting] +

1: Iiinteresting... A bunch of cards I have no experience with. Taking Kel as the upside and syngergies and obvious and really strong.
2: At least I got an ok 2-drop!
3: Abusive and Stormpike both have similar situational upside, but I think Commando fits better into its role.
4: Hard choice... Arcane is a good choice, but so is warlord... both LJ and antigrav value warlord slightly higher. grabbing it.
9: Hard choice... I'm going to choose Lord of the Arena because I already have 2 5-drops.
10: Sweet jesus! Let's not fuck this draft up! Ony it is... Can anyone say Warlord syngergy?
11: Piddling row... I think I value the 3... but the spell has upside... let's take a 3...
12: Do I fill up on 5s or commit to drafting every single spell I see after this? Ugh... That 5 is really good... better than Wyrm and I dont' think I can take 2 wyrms in good conscience.
13: 2-drop for sure.
18: Low on both 4s and 2s... but I have to take one of the best 4s...
19: love that spell!! but 2-drop...
21: Hard row!! Hot damn... do i take a true 4, or the upside of the Gurubashi with my mage ability? I need 4-5 4s, so I'm not that far off with 9 slots to go... and I have plenty of late-game win condition... I'm going to take the guru because it's so versatile and is a fireball/sheep target for sure.
22: Ouch... need the draw too... but water ele too good.
23: Ugh... need the 2-drop
24: Full on 3s and need the pure card draw. could use spells too...
27: Ugh... need the 2... and it has upside late-game too.
28: Hard hard row... Earthen has great utility lategame with all my big minions... but I could use the 1 to supplement my lack of 2s... I'm super full on 3s too... ugh... If you don't play chow turn 1, he's weak... but earthen has use whenever you play him. taking earthen.
29: grr... 2-drop

Eeeek... in good hands this deck should do well... I'm hoping to get far with it, but lack of removal/spells/draw will hurt.

Fucking bullshit... I get drawn to death first game... not drawing a single 2 or 3 in seven turns. The wife DCs me by running the AC and hair dryer for the second game when I was ahead... and then I walk into a hunter deck who draws perfectly with 2 UtHs with bonuses... perfectly timed explosive shots and everything... FML.

Priest Deck 8/28:+ Show Spoiler [Reactions while drafting] +

3: A choice there... but pain is too good to pass just in case I dont' see it again.
5: Hard choice for more draw, but went with the removal...
6: Spectral is valued over northshire, despite not being able to heal it... hmmm. I'll follow him for now.
12: Hard choice here... Death or something for death to target?... Boulderfist for big late-game hitting.
13: I'll take the trading 2-drop.... hard choice though... could be really bad.
15: Kk.. card draw down.
16: Harder row, but silver is too good.
19: Going to invest in early game and try to use my big hitters to carry me home.
21: uuuuugggh... way behind on 2 drops... and priest has so many good 4s... gotta ooze.
25: Hard choice but had to shore up the 4s.

12-2

Rogue Deck 8/29:+ Show Spoiler [ whoops! killed the AV page] +

3-3
1: I like Belcher slightly more than violet...
5: Booty bay is slightly higher rated than Harpy, and I think I'll follow that for now.
7: full on 5s!
8: Another crappy row... uuugh.. Thrallmar for potential cold blood upside...
11: LJ values Defias slightly higher than worgen, and I want that for the best possible coin play.
12: Pretty good on 2s now... let's get some end-game win-condition cards.
13: Sadly none of these are that... I'll grab another Creeper... meh. Knife juggler plz!!!
14: 4-drop for sure.
Through 15, I have my early curve settled and had no great end-game or removal given as yet... let's fill out the end.
16: I'll take the 4... meh....
18: Taking the 6... full on 5s for now.
19: Ugh... last 3
21: I love shattered... particularly with some many baby minion options.
23: too much synergy potential with my spawning 2 minions to pass on cult. I'll miss that golem though... eek.
25: Hard... need the endgame.
26: Full on 2s... maybe I can turn shadowstep into something..
given nothing but early game for the entire draft... hurrah... flamestrike murders my face.
30: Risky call here... I only have 3 spells, but they're all later game spells... Pint-sized could help me get minions out early. I'll take the 5...

Rogue Draft 8/29:+ Show Spoiler [Reactions while drafting] +

6-3
1: Terrible draw... golem for end-game removal.
2: Taking the golem for the hitting end-game. Zombie gives away 5hp of pace... but it is a potential combo card as well as 1-drop... hmm. taking ogre.
7: Hard choice... I love champ though...
9: Eeek... wailing looks like i has crazy downside... guess I'll take it as this is a shit rare row.
15: what a great row!! hmm...I could use the 5 drop for sure, but also the 2s... assassinate def not with poisons and assassins blade. I'll take the 5 drop.
16: shit row.
17: i think I value the guru over the shiv... I have lots of poison and a stab...
21: I love the reset button... I need 2s and 3s, and FoK isn't really going to help here...
22: Well fuuu... shiv it is I guess.
24: Hard ahrd hard row... I'll take the 4 drop... but damn do I need 2s something fierce...
25: Damn it... I'm not going to be able to utilize Warlord that well... could use the taunt minion too.

Mage Draft 8/29:+ Show Spoiler [Reactions while drafting] +

1: Blademaster too awesome
2: I value blizzard over argent, though it's sad to see it go.
3: goodbye sweet ooze!! I'll miss you.
6: Intellect to take care of card draw... sad to see those others go though.
7: Can't pass on poly...
8: 4 spells already... can't pass on wyrm.
9: Goodbye Cleric!! :-(
10: LJ values kodo more so I'll choose that, but I lvoe defender.
11: I'm ok on 3s, and could use some big hitters.
12: No doubt.
13: Great 3 drop and bladmaster synergy over the other good cards.
14: Thank you for coming back to me defender!!
16: Ugh... I need 2 drops... but that 2 drop sucks. Do I take spell/removal? Don't think I can risk it. ugh... and boulder is so good too. I have 2 late gamers and a bunch of removal. I'll take the great 6-drop over the shitty 2...
17: Need 4s...
23: I value missiles over that crappy 2 drop.
25: Need 2s.
26: Big choice here... Going to take the 2 and the draw.... it's functionally the same as a hero power though... gotta take the razor.
27: grr... I could use the taunt honestly... and I'm low on early game... kk ironfur.

well getting force-fed 3s really sucks... Such a wonky lopsided draft. hoepfully 6 wins? Too many 3s miss their purpose. This deck will do much better going 2nd.

[Wk 9] Improving in Fitness, Gaming & Music

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