EPTAbout this blog/diary:+ Show Spoiler +
I'm a professional musician and (very) amateur gamer.
Blogging about improving and sticking to a program is very effective for my overall progress!
Having been inspired by Haulvern, I hope this humble blog can motivate another someone in need of positive change.
Thanks for checking this out and feel free to leave any comments or suggestions!
Blogging about improving and sticking to a program is very effective for my overall progress!
Having been inspired by Haulvern, I hope this humble blog can motivate another someone in need of positive change.
Thanks for checking this out and feel free to leave any comments or suggestions!
Week preview: Loving the new blog format, leaner and meaner.
I added a link to my weight loss goals with progress pics in the Fitness section.
This week I'll add links to all the audition information and materials! Prep begins in earnest!
I added a link to my weight loss goals with progress pics in the Fitness section.
This week I'll add links to all the audition information and materials! Prep begins in earnest!
Goals for the Week
“Remember that underlying all our fears is a lack of trust in ourselves.” --Susan Jeffers
Fitness Goals: + Show Spoiler [Long Term Goals] +
Join the Big 3 1000lb club. + Show Spoiler [Progress] +
Hit 5x10 Pull-ups and graduate to weighted pull-ups. + Show Spoiler [Progress] +
Weigh 175 and/or hit 15% Body Fat. + Show Spoiler [Progress] +
830lb. Currently up to 970 on the Big 4. Wilk's Score:253.79
Hit 5x10 Pull-ups and graduate to weighted pull-ups. + Show Spoiler [Progress] +
Currently at 7 a set.
Weigh 175 and/or hit 15% Body Fat. + Show Spoiler [Progress] +
4 Weight-lifting sessions (program)(rep log):
![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images2/6/66/GreenCheck.png)
2 Rowing HIIT or LISS sessions (log):
(opt) Running/Hills/Weighted walk sessions (log):
Weight Loss (slow 2k/cal cut): (food log)(chart) + Show Spoiler [Up-to-date Progress] +
![[image loading]](http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/1040/9942/10409942.png)
Log daily food intake: (log)
Weigh-in daily: (log)
Music Goals: + Show Spoiler [Long Term Goals] +
Win a major symphony orchestra audition. + Show Spoiler [Progress/How to?] +
Be comfortable and confident playing each orchestral position. + Show Spoiler [How to?] +
I've made finals at major symphony auditions in recent months. I'm going to play well and compete in both Fort Worth or San Francisco by committing to daily mental prep, running mock auditions with fellow musicians, and seeking out lessons with top teachers.
Be comfortable and confident playing each orchestral position. + Show Spoiler [How to?] +
Seek out and play duets with my co-workers whenever possible. Request to play as many different positions in local orchestras as possible.
Daily Self-Hypnosis or Affirmation sessions: (
![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images2/5/5e/Icon_Armor.png){kind=icon}
) Daily Meditation sessions: (
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/ob.gif)
)Quality challenge-seeking practice session: (
![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images/1/10/Gold.png)
![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images/0/0b/Silver.png)
![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images/f/f2/Bronze.png)
)Gaming Goals:
Log write-ups of my team's OCC Blood Bowl games (Current Standings):
Log write-ups and session prep for my DND 5E Campaign (wiki):
Previous Weeks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35.
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Monday 4/6:
(![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/R1CH/LadderUp.png)
); (![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/R1CH/LadderDown.png)
); (Another doozy of a day, but I accomplished everything I had set out to do. Double rehearsal sucked a good portion of face time. I ran errands in between the rehearsals. Immediately after work, the wife and I had a meeting with a financial adviser figure which went overlong but helped iron out some of our plans. I went directly from the meeting (dehydrated and exhausted) into an underwhelming deadlift performance, but I managed to get it on tape. The cuts for that and the previous Press Day work sets will hopefully go up tomorrow. They are not impressive however...
Nailed some good practice as soon as the workout was over, and also accomplished my mental prep goals for the day. I'm just ready to sleep as this week is going to be a driving and concentration challenge....
On the plus side, I'm at my lowest weight level in at least 5 years, and am looking to finally breaking the 180 barrier soon! But I'm not getting ahead of myself... it will come in its own good time. I'm cutting nice and slow to preserve what paltry amount of mass I currently have :-).
Sidenote: wtf is up with chicken thigh nutritional info on MyFitnessPal? There are some wildly conflicting entries, moreso than the usual. I've settled on a particularly high estimate but I'm wondering if it's accurate.
Tuesday 4/7:
(); (); (Every year, at roughly the same time, I rejoice in the successful propagation of this delightful breed of delicacy. These little creatures light up the seasonal aisles with increasing frequency but they come into their own in early Spring. Yes, I'm referring to Peeps, the crack cocaine of my youth and early middle-age. What's even better? After Where'd the Rock Go? Day, all of these creatures can be yours for half the regular adoption price! Oh my lord.... it's my kryptonite. At any rate, I spent 250 of my discretionary calories and 50 of my discretionary cents on a particularly delightful breed of Peeps, the Mystery Flavored Peeps. The flavor, while I cannot quite describe it, was habit-formingly good. Check them out if you're a mallow of marshes connoisseur like me. It was a good year for the Peeps in their habitat again this year. More than worth the bargain price, I daresay.
Checking in briefly because today, while busy, was pretty good all-in-all. The wife and I finished the taxes and setup our Vanguard accounts (cue deep exhalation of relief), and then I proceeded to print and practice the list for the San Francisco Opera Orchestra audition. The list is AWESOME! Holy shit! I showed it to my co-workers today and they were floored by how difficult it is (initially I was taken aback by how incredibly high the list is), but when I took it home and worked on it everything feels pretty good. The high Ds in Julius Caesar (when the fuck was Handel's Julius Caesar performed....? seriously...) are actually not hard at all! They pop out fluidly and nicely. I'm looking forward to nailing the shit out of this list on my double horn. Feels good! Need to work on Wozzeck but fuck... who doesn't. That shit be crazy.
This list made me remember one of my favorite and most beautiful scenes in all the opera repertoire... Ok, I'm biased because the horn solo is to die for, but regardless it's just achingly beautiful. I looked and looked for version with the text because it's transcendent, but basically the soprano, Ariadne, is lamenting the loss of her love and also her own youth in the process:
Also, as promised my lift videos, paltry though they may be...
Wednesday 4/8:
(); (); (Brief update! Heading out the door for the first rehearsal of the weekend.... Lots of driving ahead of me! Had a good Bench Day with a 6 rep 5+ but didn't record it :-(.... oh well. Looking forward to this weekend's concert! There's some new rep I've never played before ahead of me!
Thursday 4/9:
(); (); () 180.2!!! Sooo close to the 170s I can taste it :-). Hehehe... Today is another busy and stressful day. I'll update with my mental prep log later, but I have to get out the door for rehearsal soon. Did Squat Day first thing in the morning and did get a video of the work set, so that will probably go up on Saturday (have no time until then
). Have a good one!Friday 4/10:
(); (); () Saturday 4/11:
(); (); () Sunday 4/12:
(); (); () Sorry I'm so late with this update! The last couple days of driving everywhere has been pretty stressful, but I was able to accomplish my big goal for the week: playing well in the newer orchestra environment. The orchestra I was playing with this past week is the best mid-tier orchestra in the area. The people I was playing with are frequent subs in the Boston Symphony and themselves control a good portion of the work that cycles through the Boston area. I've played well in the section previously, but always on auxiliary parts (5th horn or below). This previous week was the first time I was called upon to play inside the section as second horn. For me, second horn is by far the most challenging position in the section. Its primary function is to make the principal horn sound good at all times. The second horn is the principal horn's shadow, following the musical leads of the principal instantaneously without hesitation. It requires extreme concentration and focus to both play at your best but also match perfectly the nuance and gesture of the person sitting next to you.
To make a long story short, I was very pleased with my effort for the week. The parts were an interesting mix of baby solos for myself as well as ensemble play with the section. I felt like I was able to play my best and make a good impression on the section. They were very friendly and complimentary and I enjoyed every second of playing with them. I was also able to make some strides forward on objects of focus in the stressful moments. The words of my teachers, focusing on the fundamentals and sanctuary of breath and time are paramount.
Ahh.. just so happy right now!!! I have another stressful week in front of me, but I'm looking forward to it as well as the audition prep! Should be good!
Time to knock out Deads Day before the afternoon concert!
