Quest for Muscle: The Return of the Pump
But we will be magnificent.
Cheers for 3 more PRs!!!
for your uncle.
Aretha!
for your uncle.Aretha!
NightWolf714
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers
Congrats on all the PR's! 
And healing vibes for you uncle.
And healing vibes for you uncle.
The signal was given and the students opened fire. The Freelancers did not have a firing range, so they made do by setting up wooden targets that consisted of mock-bodies and paper at the edge of the main square, their backs to the ocean. The sheets of paper featured artwork that was as creative and farcical: dreamed up from the overactive imagination of volunteers. Some resembled generic people, while others were obvious caricatures of hostile factions. In any event, Ox hoped they weren't offended that their works were being obliterated by bullets - that was at least the intention, but given that these kids were wet around the ears, there were more misses than hits. Ox had already spent a painstaking amount of time with them reviewing the fundamental rules of firearm safety, which would surely weed out a few "friendly fire" incidents. Noting the ways they had behaved, he put his thumb and index fingers in his mouth and issued a piercing whistle. Mercifully, the firing stopped, and the young guns lowered their Makarov 9mm pistols.
"So how was your first time firing a gun?" The five newcomers glanced hesitantly at each other. "It's a lot to get used to, I know." One of them raised their hand, and Ox acknowledged him. "Why are we starting with pistols? Aren't the rifles more useful, and aren't they our mains?" Ox was confused for a brief second at what that noun meant. A gaggle of passers-by were in the background, watching, so he composed himself and nodded slowly, in deference to the question.
"It's a good question," he admitted. "Personal preference notwithstanding, you're more likely to use your long gun than your sidearm. The answer lies in efficiency and simplicity. One, you all start out with the pistol, and they're often robust to carry you through trouble. Two, the common semiautomatic pistol's design is not that different from the ones we've issued you today, and when you find one out there in the zone, you'll likely be able to use it. Master one, master them all. Lastly... pistols are just blessedly simple and easy to use, and the first thing we want you to get your feet wet with." He paused, letting the words sink in.
"Next we'll focus on what to do when you're out of ammo in a firefight."
* * *
Thanks a ton, @Fremen @Mamatigerj @CODawn @TopNotch @aku-chan @JCU and @NightWolf714. My uncle is well enough to leave the hospital, but he may spend some weeks in convalescence before returning to the States.
Hey again, Bees! I wasn't able to workout when I wanted to yesterday, as I had a snap class, but I managed to head in today.
Today was a Shoulder-based Push workout.
Overhead Press: 67.5 x 14. Pretty good, all things considered. An improvement of two reps over last time.
Behind the Neck Press: 62.5 x 6. Uggh, these were tough!
Lateral Dumbbell Raises: 12 x 8. Or was it 14? I'm too lazy to check my notes.
Face Pulls: 10 x 10.
Barbell Curls: 35 for four sets of ten. A successful experiment in progressive overload. Shame my gym doesn't have heavier fixed barbells... I guess I'll have to do them in the squat rack now!
+25000 steps.
It's weird how I'm getting stronger in every area except the one I really want: the bench press. Of course, this is simply the first phase of the program, so I'll keep running it for the next few weeks and see where it takes me.
I used a new preworkout today: it's called Outrage, and it's in a tasty fruit punch flavour. Usually fruit punch is a crappy preworkout flavour, but this one was pretty great for the taste buds. I would know because as an experiment last night, I mixed a scoop in with my water bottle, just to get a feel for the stimulation and taste. I've seen different vloggers do this too: ie mix a preworkout drink when they're not going to the gym that day, just to taste test.
I do not recommend doing this at all. The stimulation from this new preworkout was so strong that it resulted in a (thankfully) temporary caffeine overdose. I was twitchy, nervous, anxious, and it got to the point where I stopped my game of EfD and went to bed early, praying that my sleep/antipsychotic meds would make me somnolent and drowsy. It took awhile.
That's the last time I'm going to be trying that stupid stunt. Today I used the preworkout proper at the gym and had great results. But outside the gym? Yikes. I looked up some results on the web and apparently, this specific brand of preworkout is not playing around.
Tomorrow is hot pot night! Om nom nom.
It's the weekend, Bees! Take a load off.
Playing: So I treated myself to a new game: it's called Drova - Forsaken Kin, and I can best describe it as a 2D version of the Gothic series with some modern touches. Contrary to my early hesitation, I like it a lot! It's still early going, and I'm getting my butt kicked left and right in this tough world, but I love the cave-punk feel of it all, and the heavy dialogue and character elements. Going to be playing more tonight.
Played a demo for an interesting martial arts 2D scroller called Forestrike (the portmanteau is very intentional). I was attracted to the game's colourful inspiration from historical China. Game features an interesting mechanic: essentially, you are given the ability to enter a state in which you can freely preview how a fight will play out with your own experimentation. This is a sort of a "practice before the main event". When you're ready, you let the fight play out, and having practiced the fight in your mind's eye, will walk away victorious. Oddly, I did not like how this was executed. My main beef is that there's only one right way to get through a fight. It's as much a puzzle game as an action one, which kind of soured me to the whole concept. I want my gameplay to bend to my will, and to not be tied to what a game tells me to do (which means boss fights stink for me). Boom! Uninstalled.
Podcast: Continuing my listening journey of the Otherworld podcast. It's interesting to go on Reddit and see the differing levels of belief/skepticism from listeners. Some of the most interesting tales so far are the ghost stories, while a duo of tales featuring two psychics has attracted plenty of derision.
Are any of you Bees believers, and if so, in what? I would describe myself as a hesitant believer (possibly a liberal skeptic). I do believe in ghosts and spirits, but I also believe that most (possibly almost all) sightings and ghost photos are unsubstantiated, so I'm not sure what to make of that. Anyway, no judgement regardless of what your answer may be.
Here's a sample ep, and it's one of the best and spookiest ones:
Listening to: ThrObak - Hearts In Sync. Note to self: wait around long enough and gorgeous angel girlfriend will appear. No further action required. I like this charming little song a great deal, and it's from a synth artist I haven't listened to much.
"So how was your first time firing a gun?" The five newcomers glanced hesitantly at each other. "It's a lot to get used to, I know." One of them raised their hand, and Ox acknowledged him. "Why are we starting with pistols? Aren't the rifles more useful, and aren't they our mains?" Ox was confused for a brief second at what that noun meant. A gaggle of passers-by were in the background, watching, so he composed himself and nodded slowly, in deference to the question.
"It's a good question," he admitted. "Personal preference notwithstanding, you're more likely to use your long gun than your sidearm. The answer lies in efficiency and simplicity. One, you all start out with the pistol, and they're often robust to carry you through trouble. Two, the common semiautomatic pistol's design is not that different from the ones we've issued you today, and when you find one out there in the zone, you'll likely be able to use it. Master one, master them all. Lastly... pistols are just blessedly simple and easy to use, and the first thing we want you to get your feet wet with." He paused, letting the words sink in.
"Next we'll focus on what to do when you're out of ammo in a firefight."
* * *
Thanks a ton, @Fremen @Mamatigerj @CODawn @TopNotch @aku-chan @JCU and @NightWolf714. My uncle is well enough to leave the hospital, but he may spend some weeks in convalescence before returning to the States.
Hey again, Bees! I wasn't able to workout when I wanted to yesterday, as I had a snap class, but I managed to head in today.
Today was a Shoulder-based Push workout.
Overhead Press: 67.5 x 14. Pretty good, all things considered. An improvement of two reps over last time.
Behind the Neck Press: 62.5 x 6. Uggh, these were tough!
Lateral Dumbbell Raises: 12 x 8. Or was it 14? I'm too lazy to check my notes.
Face Pulls: 10 x 10.
Barbell Curls: 35 for four sets of ten. A successful experiment in progressive overload. Shame my gym doesn't have heavier fixed barbells... I guess I'll have to do them in the squat rack now!
+25000 steps.
It's weird how I'm getting stronger in every area except the one I really want: the bench press. Of course, this is simply the first phase of the program, so I'll keep running it for the next few weeks and see where it takes me.
I used a new preworkout today: it's called Outrage, and it's in a tasty fruit punch flavour. Usually fruit punch is a crappy preworkout flavour, but this one was pretty great for the taste buds. I would know because as an experiment last night, I mixed a scoop in with my water bottle, just to get a feel for the stimulation and taste. I've seen different vloggers do this too: ie mix a preworkout drink when they're not going to the gym that day, just to taste test.
I do not recommend doing this at all. The stimulation from this new preworkout was so strong that it resulted in a (thankfully) temporary caffeine overdose. I was twitchy, nervous, anxious, and it got to the point where I stopped my game of EfD and went to bed early, praying that my sleep/antipsychotic meds would make me somnolent and drowsy. It took awhile.
That's the last time I'm going to be trying that stupid stunt. Today I used the preworkout proper at the gym and had great results. But outside the gym? Yikes. I looked up some results on the web and apparently, this specific brand of preworkout is not playing around.
Tomorrow is hot pot night! Om nom nom.
It's the weekend, Bees! Take a load off.
Playing: So I treated myself to a new game: it's called Drova - Forsaken Kin, and I can best describe it as a 2D version of the Gothic series with some modern touches. Contrary to my early hesitation, I like it a lot! It's still early going, and I'm getting my butt kicked left and right in this tough world, but I love the cave-punk feel of it all, and the heavy dialogue and character elements. Going to be playing more tonight.
Played a demo for an interesting martial arts 2D scroller called Forestrike (the portmanteau is very intentional). I was attracted to the game's colourful inspiration from historical China. Game features an interesting mechanic: essentially, you are given the ability to enter a state in which you can freely preview how a fight will play out with your own experimentation. This is a sort of a "practice before the main event". When you're ready, you let the fight play out, and having practiced the fight in your mind's eye, will walk away victorious. Oddly, I did not like how this was executed. My main beef is that there's only one right way to get through a fight. It's as much a puzzle game as an action one, which kind of soured me to the whole concept. I want my gameplay to bend to my will, and to not be tied to what a game tells me to do (which means boss fights stink for me). Boom! Uninstalled.
Podcast: Continuing my listening journey of the Otherworld podcast. It's interesting to go on Reddit and see the differing levels of belief/skepticism from listeners. Some of the most interesting tales so far are the ghost stories, while a duo of tales featuring two psychics has attracted plenty of derision.
Are any of you Bees believers, and if so, in what? I would describe myself as a hesitant believer (possibly a liberal skeptic). I do believe in ghosts and spirits, but I also believe that most (possibly almost all) sightings and ghost photos are unsubstantiated, so I'm not sure what to make of that. Anyway, no judgement regardless of what your answer may be.
Here's a sample ep, and it's one of the best and spookiest ones:
Listening to: ThrObak - Hearts In Sync. Note to self: wait around long enough and gorgeous angel girlfriend will appear. No further action required. I like this charming little song a great deal, and it's from a synth artist I haven't listened to much.
TopNotch
Motivation is temporary. Discipline is forever.
I don't get it. You're benching between 125 and 137 - that's pretty darned impressive! That's almost twice my weight!
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Nous sommes maîtres chez nous. Et nous le serons toujours. Elbows up, Canada!
Congratulations on your newest PRs Ox!
I believe in science. It does not always immediately have all the answers to everything. And its methods must be carefully and knowledgeably scrutinized to prevent wrong conclusions. But on the balance it is by far the best method humans have of understanding our world.
The pistol blazed, and the bullets punched holes into the target with practiced ease. The slide on the 9mm automatic (that would be a Beretta model in any other world) locked back, and Ox, without moving the pistol, looked back at the onlooking recruits. "Your sidearm stops firing. Don't assume that's because it's dry; make sure you confirm the slide is locked back, and hasn't stopped firing from a stoppage. Bring it up to your workspace," he said, bringing the pistol back into an imaginary space at eye level, "confirm, and once you have, dump the mag." He pressed the eject button with his thumb and the empty mag fell to the ground with a clatter. "Don't you have to flick the pistol to drop the mag?" Asked someone from the crowd. So interest was high among the Freelancer camp, not just the recruits. He addressed the question.
"Been watching a lot of movies, have we? In the Jace Wax flicks, you'll see a lot of that. I don't want to catch any of you doing that here. That flick of the wrist is just another motion you'd have to waste time doing. Just push the button and eject the mag, no frills attached." He brought the pistol down at an angle in front of his chest. "Results may vary, but bring the handgun down not too far, but just far enough." With his spare hand, he pulled a fresh magazine out of his ammo belt. He raised the magazine and tapped the top with his index finger. "Your index finger guides the magazine into the magwell." He brought the magazine into the magwell and slid it home. "A final point of contention. What do you do now?"
"Cock the gun." "Use the slide release." Ox nodded. They'd been paying attention. "You can do either. Pulling the slide back -" He placed his fingers over the slide to demonstrate, racked it, and the slide went back into battery, chambering a round. "-will definitely bring the pistol back into battery. It's a big, solid, easy-to-remember movement. Or you can simply reach for the slide release with your thumb, and you're back in the fight." He safetied his pistol and holstered it.
"Either way will do."
@TopNotch You're very kind, friend! I always measure my strength by my previous records, so what I'm lifting now is relatively low. Still, you're right in that it's still pretty heavy.
@JCU and @Laura Rainbow Dragon Thank you for weighing in. While I would like to believe that the supernatural exists in our world (and I already believe, to a minor extent), there are too many flags and questions raised for the paranormal to be taken as anything outside of a novelty. And the brain is a funny and powerful thing, so they say.
Hidey Ho, Bees! It is I, the Ox of Gentle disposition.
Today, after church, I hit the gym for a Legs workout.
Squats: 85 x 12. Ugh, these sucked, and they didn't feel right, but I still got the reps in.
Front Squats: 65 x 6.
Hack Squats: 115 x 6.
Lying Leg Curls: 50 x 6. 57.5 x 3.
Back Extensions: Top set of 12 reps.
Our favourite singing program (Midlife Sing and Shine) is airing its new season tonight, so we're tuning in. It's like a continuous Cantonese lesson for me over one and a half hours!
It's warmer and ickier today. Need the cold weather to return, stat!
Have a great Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Steadily making my way through Drova. Liking it a lot, as well as its inspiration from the Gothic series (with some allowances, of course). Last night, I met a desperate thief stealing apples from a logging camp. I agreed to speak up for him and get him a job and a place to live there; I kept his secret safe. Little choices like that make the gameplay truly inspiring.
Also playing EfD as well, though my quest completion rate has dropped dramatically. Too many quests, not enough time.
Lots of cool games, but going to hold onto my cash for now.
Comedy/Cute: Chocodogger gets interrupted from his meal by his significant other. How will he eat in peace??
Listening to: Superheaven - Stare at the Void. Hell yeah, give me more of that sludgey throwback grunge sound. One of those great songs for letting the day wash over you.
"Consciousness is feeling like I hit a wall
Stop a sentence just to stare off
Conversations have me at a loss
I need to go
I guess I'm running away"
"Been watching a lot of movies, have we? In the Jace Wax flicks, you'll see a lot of that. I don't want to catch any of you doing that here. That flick of the wrist is just another motion you'd have to waste time doing. Just push the button and eject the mag, no frills attached." He brought the pistol down at an angle in front of his chest. "Results may vary, but bring the handgun down not too far, but just far enough." With his spare hand, he pulled a fresh magazine out of his ammo belt. He raised the magazine and tapped the top with his index finger. "Your index finger guides the magazine into the magwell." He brought the magazine into the magwell and slid it home. "A final point of contention. What do you do now?"
"Cock the gun." "Use the slide release." Ox nodded. They'd been paying attention. "You can do either. Pulling the slide back -" He placed his fingers over the slide to demonstrate, racked it, and the slide went back into battery, chambering a round. "-will definitely bring the pistol back into battery. It's a big, solid, easy-to-remember movement. Or you can simply reach for the slide release with your thumb, and you're back in the fight." He safetied his pistol and holstered it.
"Either way will do."
@TopNotch You're very kind, friend! I always measure my strength by my previous records, so what I'm lifting now is relatively low. Still, you're right in that it's still pretty heavy.
@JCU and @Laura Rainbow Dragon Thank you for weighing in. While I would like to believe that the supernatural exists in our world (and I already believe, to a minor extent), there are too many flags and questions raised for the paranormal to be taken as anything outside of a novelty. And the brain is a funny and powerful thing, so they say.
Hidey Ho, Bees! It is I, the Ox of Gentle disposition.
Today, after church, I hit the gym for a Legs workout.
Squats: 85 x 12. Ugh, these sucked, and they didn't feel right, but I still got the reps in.
Front Squats: 65 x 6.
Hack Squats: 115 x 6.
Lying Leg Curls: 50 x 6. 57.5 x 3.
Back Extensions: Top set of 12 reps.
Our favourite singing program (Midlife Sing and Shine) is airing its new season tonight, so we're tuning in. It's like a continuous Cantonese lesson for me over one and a half hours!
It's warmer and ickier today. Need the cold weather to return, stat!
Have a great Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Steadily making my way through Drova. Liking it a lot, as well as its inspiration from the Gothic series (with some allowances, of course). Last night, I met a desperate thief stealing apples from a logging camp. I agreed to speak up for him and get him a job and a place to live there; I kept his secret safe. Little choices like that make the gameplay truly inspiring.
Also playing EfD as well, though my quest completion rate has dropped dramatically. Too many quests, not enough time.
Lots of cool games, but going to hold onto my cash for now.
Comedy/Cute: Chocodogger gets interrupted from his meal by his significant other. How will he eat in peace??
Listening to: Superheaven - Stare at the Void. Hell yeah, give me more of that sludgey throwback grunge sound. One of those great songs for letting the day wash over you.
"Consciousness is feeling like I hit a wall
Stop a sentence just to stare off
Conversations have me at a loss
I need to go
I guess I'm running away"
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Nous sommes maîtres chez nous. Et nous le serons toujours. Elbows up, Canada!
Indeed. Highly attuned to pattern recognition. Which is an important survival trait for our species. But it does sometimes cause us to see and/or hear things that just aren't there.
NightWolf714
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers
I'm about the same. I think there might be ghosts, spirits, etc. After all, many of the things we thought were simply made up turned out to have scientific backing that we just didn't know about. And our world is definitely quite strange the more you learn about it. But I am also very skeptical and think that most of it is probably not real (even if they honestly think it is).
"So, what kinds of stuff have you seen?" Ox swirled around the mushy MRE, spooned up a bit, and brought it up to his mouth as he pondered the question. Stir-fried black bean chicken? That was a new one. Still lost in taste, he looked over at the young gun - Jeremy - and swallowed the remainder of his spoonful. "That, sir, is a very general question. Can you narrow it down a bit?" Jeremy had not meant the question with any insolence, and he sputtered for a bit as he struggled to clarify. "I mean... say... well, creatures? Monsters?"
Lola, the older woman to his left, snorted out a laugh. Ox thought that she seemed like a mom, and could very well be one, even in her fatigues. Ox pondered the question for a beat. It was their lunch break, a little after noon, and most of the camp was well into its daily routine of trading, bartering, planning, and conversation. Ox could feel the ground dig into his butt, underneath his tail, and made a mental note to ask Simmi if they could find chairs.
The six of them were seated on the ground, in a circle away from the general hustle and bustle, but Ox treasured the nearness to the liveliness of the camp. Simmi had suggested that in time, they hold the seminars/lessons outside the camp, but still nearby, to give the training a survivalist-tinge. He adjusted his legs a little, still sitting cross-legged.
"That's the topic of a later lesson. Spoiler: you're going to want to avoid them. Even the average transhuman survivor is scary as shit, and while you can take them down easy, there are others, like the 'Not Deer', that can take a hell of a lot of bullets. And I haven't gotten into the sentient stones that can float around and fry you, or the ones that can pull you into their grasp from hundreds of meters away." He leaned back, in thought.
"If all else fails, then run. If you're unable to do that, then it's all over."
Hello again, Bees! It is I, Ox, back from the war-torn wastes of Hong--err, maybe not?
Today was the third week of the Bullmastiff program. It was a Bench Press day.
Bench Press: 125 x 7. One rep better than last time, so I'll count this as a win of sorts. I don't know if it's "cheating", but I did my AMRAP set at the start of the workout rather than several sets in... not really seeing the point in doing it after three sets, as I'll be rather tired.
Incline Press: 87.5 x 6. Still Double-Progressioning it.
Paused Shoulder Press: 60 x 6.
Overhead Rope Extensions: 10 x 8. Haven't done these in awhile. Focusing less on the weight, and more on the contraction.
Barbell Curls: 37.5 x 6. Truly using a barbell this time, and curling in the squat rack.
Also, three sets of Biomancer. This is historic, as it's the first time since the pandemic that I've done a Darebee workout...
There were a lot of people in attendance at the gym today, mostly young males. I see a lot of the young guns trying to push their limits and muscle through the reps. A lot of them don't have routines either, and bounce from exercise to exercise. Of course, this is all by-the-by, it's really none of my business either.
It's election season all over Hong Kong, and lots of candidates are jockeying for election. Everywhere you go, you can see their banners, and people passing out fliers.
Hot pot last Saturday. Om nom nom. This Saturday we're seeing my great aunt and cousin again.
@NightWolf714 @Laura Rainbow Dragon As mentioned above, I'm largely skeptical myself. And it says something about these phenomena that they're relegated to mere sightings, reddit posts, and popular fiction.
Playing: Lots of goodies!
I'm continuing with my playthrough of Drova, and liking it a lot. Usually, I'm somewhat of two minds on the Gothic series of games, (and Drova takes inspiration from them) as their gameplay and open worlds are very hard to love. But Drova threads the needle neatly with its modern touches (like a dodge button from the start). Hence, I'll stick with it.
A lesson to be learned in this game: every time an NPC offers you something gratis, there's a catch! Even if they deny it!
Played a touch of Abiotic Factor, and finally got around to using that diving suit I crafted. But still kinda stuck.
And of course, my darling, Escape from Duckov. I made my way into a dangerous secret lab with seemingly no way out: I had to consult a walkthrough. But that addictive gameplay is still keeping me fixated!
Watching: I finally got started on my watch of Psychic Vision: Jaganrei, the J-horror about a haunted idol, and it's starting to cohere nicely. I absolutely clocked the references to a certain famous horror author, too; if you read my review, you will as well. Will post a review when I'm done watching it, which may be tonight.
Edit: Finished it, so here's a review!
It's the late 80s in Japan, and pop singer idols are all the rage. A TV reporter and her crew follow the musical development of a new idol named Emi, and a new single she's recording, titled "Love Craft". Interviews with the involved staff go as planned, but the shoot is plagued by inexplicable phenomena.
Questions plague the shoot: who wrote Love Craft, originally, and what's that strange figure that shows up in camera footage? Nonetheless, the crew are undaunted and follow Emi to the shooting of the Love Craft music video, little aware of what will transpire.
I can't believe I'd never heard of this one, as I'm something of a found footage maven. This early found footage film capably mimics actual news reports and interviews with a versimilitude I haven't seen matched in, say, American works. Even the dated, 80s feel lends itself well to evoking the time and place. I'd say it's almost to the film's detriment that it's realistic to a fault (until the spooky stuff, of course). Because of this, I'd say it avoids genre cliches (ie the film crew has a real reason to be filming the weird shit going on).
The story it tells is cohesive enough. There's a haunted song, blah blah, essentially. Is it scary? Events boil over in the final third of the film, but I didn't find it particularly scary or memorable. Of course, this is before the genre defining scares of Ringu and Ju-On, so J-horror was likely still finding itself in the 80s. So this one is more of a curiosity, and considering it's only 50 mins, a unique horror snack, paving the way for superior stuff like Noroi (mark my words: I will definitely rewatch that one).
Here's the full film on youtube:
Listening to: Taeko Onuki - 4:00 AM. I was wracking my brains on what would be a good song to pair with Jaganrei. I'm not very familiar with J-music outside of Sakamoto-san, but one of the few works I do love is this amazing song. It ranks high, alongside Plastic Love, and other late night, rain-drizzled songs that remain timeless.
Lola, the older woman to his left, snorted out a laugh. Ox thought that she seemed like a mom, and could very well be one, even in her fatigues. Ox pondered the question for a beat. It was their lunch break, a little after noon, and most of the camp was well into its daily routine of trading, bartering, planning, and conversation. Ox could feel the ground dig into his butt, underneath his tail, and made a mental note to ask Simmi if they could find chairs.
The six of them were seated on the ground, in a circle away from the general hustle and bustle, but Ox treasured the nearness to the liveliness of the camp. Simmi had suggested that in time, they hold the seminars/lessons outside the camp, but still nearby, to give the training a survivalist-tinge. He adjusted his legs a little, still sitting cross-legged.
"That's the topic of a later lesson. Spoiler: you're going to want to avoid them. Even the average transhuman survivor is scary as shit, and while you can take them down easy, there are others, like the 'Not Deer', that can take a hell of a lot of bullets. And I haven't gotten into the sentient stones that can float around and fry you, or the ones that can pull you into their grasp from hundreds of meters away." He leaned back, in thought.
"If all else fails, then run. If you're unable to do that, then it's all over."
Hello again, Bees! It is I, Ox, back from the war-torn wastes of Hong--err, maybe not?
Today was the third week of the Bullmastiff program. It was a Bench Press day.
Bench Press: 125 x 7. One rep better than last time, so I'll count this as a win of sorts. I don't know if it's "cheating", but I did my AMRAP set at the start of the workout rather than several sets in... not really seeing the point in doing it after three sets, as I'll be rather tired.
Incline Press: 87.5 x 6. Still Double-Progressioning it.
Paused Shoulder Press: 60 x 6.
Overhead Rope Extensions: 10 x 8. Haven't done these in awhile. Focusing less on the weight, and more on the contraction.
Barbell Curls: 37.5 x 6. Truly using a barbell this time, and curling in the squat rack.
Also, three sets of Biomancer. This is historic, as it's the first time since the pandemic that I've done a Darebee workout...
There were a lot of people in attendance at the gym today, mostly young males. I see a lot of the young guns trying to push their limits and muscle through the reps. A lot of them don't have routines either, and bounce from exercise to exercise. Of course, this is all by-the-by, it's really none of my business either.
It's election season all over Hong Kong, and lots of candidates are jockeying for election. Everywhere you go, you can see their banners, and people passing out fliers.
Hot pot last Saturday. Om nom nom. This Saturday we're seeing my great aunt and cousin again.
@NightWolf714 @Laura Rainbow Dragon As mentioned above, I'm largely skeptical myself. And it says something about these phenomena that they're relegated to mere sightings, reddit posts, and popular fiction.
Playing: Lots of goodies!
I'm continuing with my playthrough of Drova, and liking it a lot. Usually, I'm somewhat of two minds on the Gothic series of games, (and Drova takes inspiration from them) as their gameplay and open worlds are very hard to love. But Drova threads the needle neatly with its modern touches (like a dodge button from the start). Hence, I'll stick with it.
A lesson to be learned in this game: every time an NPC offers you something gratis, there's a catch! Even if they deny it!
Played a touch of Abiotic Factor, and finally got around to using that diving suit I crafted. But still kinda stuck.
And of course, my darling, Escape from Duckov. I made my way into a dangerous secret lab with seemingly no way out: I had to consult a walkthrough. But that addictive gameplay is still keeping me fixated!
Watching: I finally got started on my watch of Psychic Vision: Jaganrei, the J-horror about a haunted idol, and it's starting to cohere nicely. I absolutely clocked the references to a certain famous horror author, too; if you read my review, you will as well. Will post a review when I'm done watching it, which may be tonight.
Edit: Finished it, so here's a review!
It's the late 80s in Japan, and pop singer idols are all the rage. A TV reporter and her crew follow the musical development of a new idol named Emi, and a new single she's recording, titled "Love Craft". Interviews with the involved staff go as planned, but the shoot is plagued by inexplicable phenomena.
Questions plague the shoot: who wrote Love Craft, originally, and what's that strange figure that shows up in camera footage? Nonetheless, the crew are undaunted and follow Emi to the shooting of the Love Craft music video, little aware of what will transpire.
I can't believe I'd never heard of this one, as I'm something of a found footage maven. This early found footage film capably mimics actual news reports and interviews with a versimilitude I haven't seen matched in, say, American works. Even the dated, 80s feel lends itself well to evoking the time and place. I'd say it's almost to the film's detriment that it's realistic to a fault (until the spooky stuff, of course). Because of this, I'd say it avoids genre cliches (ie the film crew has a real reason to be filming the weird shit going on).
The story it tells is cohesive enough. There's a haunted song, blah blah, essentially. Is it scary? Events boil over in the final third of the film, but I didn't find it particularly scary or memorable. Of course, this is before the genre defining scares of Ringu and Ju-On, so J-horror was likely still finding itself in the 80s. So this one is more of a curiosity, and considering it's only 50 mins, a unique horror snack, paving the way for superior stuff like Noroi (mark my words: I will definitely rewatch that one).
Here's the full film on youtube:
Listening to: Taeko Onuki - 4:00 AM. I was wracking my brains on what would be a good song to pair with Jaganrei. I'm not very familiar with J-music outside of Sakamoto-san, but one of the few works I do love is this amazing song. It ranks high, alongside Plastic Love, and other late night, rain-drizzled songs that remain timeless.
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GentleOx
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NightWolf714
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers
First off, so jealous of your hot pot. That looks delicious!
The way this is described reminds me a little bit of Late Night with the Devil sorta. That "unreleased video of a recording that's dated and seems realistic until it's not" kinda vibe. I enjoyed that with LNwtD so I'd probably like this one too.
Seeing the news about the huge fire in HK and thinking of you... Hope you and your beloved ones are safe.
If you've been reading world news, you may have heard that there was a terrible, absolute conflagration of a fire in Tai Po last night. A large number of people died, or are missing, and it was generally expressed that this is the biggest fire the city has seen. Mom and I are aghast; it's just a very heartbreaking tragedy. It's not much, but the people who have lost their lives and homes are in my prayers. It's an absolute horror.
Thank you kindly @PetiteSheWolf for asking after me. We live on the island of Hong Kong proper, and are safe, but my heart definitely goes to those who have lost their lives, relatives, or their homes.
I'll post a complete update for my workout later, but I thought that this disastrous event had to be spoken of, first.
Hug your loved ones, Bees.
Thank you kindly @PetiteSheWolf for asking after me. We live on the island of Hong Kong proper, and are safe, but my heart definitely goes to those who have lost their lives, relatives, or their homes.
I'll post a complete update for my workout later, but I thought that this disastrous event had to be spoken of, first.
Hug your loved ones, Bees.
"Twelve o'clock low. That's a suspicious glint." Ox, through his rifle scope, peered in that direction. "Good observing, but that's just a reflection off of the tank." Howie cursed. Ox unfurled his left hand and reached out to pat Howie's shoulder. "It's alright. We haven't given the game away. Yet." While the grass beneath his belly was soft, his plate carrier still dug into his stomach. He could stand up and take it off, but it was too late for that.
From their spot on the hilltop at the east end of the flood plains, they could see the moderately-sized industrial complex sprawled out below them. The photograph did not give them much to go on, it being a picture of a glint atop one of the silos; given that the photographer had fallen prey to the inordinately skilled Terra Reddita sniper, this was likely as good as it got. Ox did recognize the general area, and had picked his and Howie's perch accordingly. He could not casually stroll in and recce the complex as he didn't know where the sniper's vantage point was.
He heard a rustling next to him, and chided Howie. "Try to keep still. I know it's hard, but too much movement can give our position away as well." On a still day like this, he could hear Howie grind his teeth. "It's kind of hard when we've been here for three hours al--" He went silent. Ox kept his rifle still and swiveled his head over to look at Howie, who was abormally still, looking through his spotting glass. "All good?" Howie's voice was alive with excitement. "I have him! 10 o'clock silo, two stories up." Ox looked through the scope and indeed, standing on the catwalk wrapped around the silo, there was a very casual-looking soldier with an orange armband surveying the complex below him. What gave him away was the massive rifle slung to his back. Ox fixed his crosshairs on the man, and took in a breath. His finger gently settled on the trigger.
CRRRRAAAAACCKK.
And then, silence.
Hey again Bees. Even in the midst of disasters, the city rises from its slumber and life continues.
Today was a Bullmastiff week three Pull day.
Deadlifts: 150 x 12. Holy crap, Bees! This totally kicked my butt, but it's far better performance than last week. I could definitely feel it in my hips. And those wraps I bought kept me going... it's amazing how much you can just worry about moving the weight, and not so much about your grip.
Barbell Rows: 105 x 5. Nothing new, here.
T-Bar Rows: 115 x 3. This is the heaviest I've ever gone with this exercise. A very reckless choice, though. I'll lower the weight next time.
Meadows Rows: 55 x 5. Hnnnfff.
Neutral Grip Chin Ups: 25 across four sets.
+31000 steps!
@NightWolf714 I though Late Night with the Devil was an absolute slam dunk, and is much better than Jaganrei. Mockumentaries like this one and (the highly recommended) Savageland are like catnip to me!
@Fremen I had the luck of growing up with in Asian culture, so I grew up liking a lot of the foods in Hong Kong. That said, I remember when I went to Italy many years ago. The food was beyond fantastic! It was like all the pizza and pasta I'd tried growing up here was handily superseded by uncomplicated, natural, native Italian cooking. What I'm trying to say is that the interest goes both ways!
Regarding the fire, I'm astonished that it's the day after, and they're still working hard on putting it out. I'm following the news still, and it's saddening. That could be virtually any apartment complex in Hong Kong; I remember in past years that our own building has had green mesh and bamboo poles attached. Looks like they're still working on finding out why it happened, too. But the rescue comes first.
There was a nifty new exhibit for Zootopia 2 at Times Square! I snapped a few pics.
Had fried chicken for dinner. I know, I know! But it was so yum.
Stay safe out there Bees.
Playing: My game progress continues. EfD is going well, but annoyingly enough, I find myself having to frequently consult walkthroughs. I've also reached a plateau, which I won't surmount until I find better equipment.
Still exploring the world of Drova. I had no idea that there was a gender-based controversy to the game that I find too petty to repeat here. Game is still fun but I'm getting my tail kicked a lot, natch.
Re-tried Paranautical Activity, and it's still as rubbish as I remembered it being. BOOM! Uninstalled.
Should try to put in a bit of Abiotic Factor time... maybe 20 mins or so.
Watching: Lots of goodies to watch. The elephant in the room is STRANGER THINGS! I may or may not binge. After all, we have to wait until Xmas to get the rest of the episodes.
Listening to: Deftones - Swerve City. Uh, no big story for this one. I was listening to it today while in the gym, and like it a lot. Gorgeous melody.
"She breaks her horses
With strange distant voices
That travel through the air
They travel through the air"
From their spot on the hilltop at the east end of the flood plains, they could see the moderately-sized industrial complex sprawled out below them. The photograph did not give them much to go on, it being a picture of a glint atop one of the silos; given that the photographer had fallen prey to the inordinately skilled Terra Reddita sniper, this was likely as good as it got. Ox did recognize the general area, and had picked his and Howie's perch accordingly. He could not casually stroll in and recce the complex as he didn't know where the sniper's vantage point was.
He heard a rustling next to him, and chided Howie. "Try to keep still. I know it's hard, but too much movement can give our position away as well." On a still day like this, he could hear Howie grind his teeth. "It's kind of hard when we've been here for three hours al--" He went silent. Ox kept his rifle still and swiveled his head over to look at Howie, who was abormally still, looking through his spotting glass. "All good?" Howie's voice was alive with excitement. "I have him! 10 o'clock silo, two stories up." Ox looked through the scope and indeed, standing on the catwalk wrapped around the silo, there was a very casual-looking soldier with an orange armband surveying the complex below him. What gave him away was the massive rifle slung to his back. Ox fixed his crosshairs on the man, and took in a breath. His finger gently settled on the trigger.
CRRRRAAAAACCKK.
And then, silence.
Hey again Bees. Even in the midst of disasters, the city rises from its slumber and life continues.
Today was a Bullmastiff week three Pull day.
Deadlifts: 150 x 12. Holy crap, Bees! This totally kicked my butt, but it's far better performance than last week. I could definitely feel it in my hips. And those wraps I bought kept me going... it's amazing how much you can just worry about moving the weight, and not so much about your grip.
Barbell Rows: 105 x 5. Nothing new, here.
T-Bar Rows: 115 x 3. This is the heaviest I've ever gone with this exercise. A very reckless choice, though. I'll lower the weight next time.
Meadows Rows: 55 x 5. Hnnnfff.
Neutral Grip Chin Ups: 25 across four sets.
+31000 steps!
@NightWolf714 I though Late Night with the Devil was an absolute slam dunk, and is much better than Jaganrei. Mockumentaries like this one and (the highly recommended) Savageland are like catnip to me!
@Fremen I had the luck of growing up with in Asian culture, so I grew up liking a lot of the foods in Hong Kong. That said, I remember when I went to Italy many years ago. The food was beyond fantastic! It was like all the pizza and pasta I'd tried growing up here was handily superseded by uncomplicated, natural, native Italian cooking. What I'm trying to say is that the interest goes both ways!
Regarding the fire, I'm astonished that it's the day after, and they're still working hard on putting it out. I'm following the news still, and it's saddening. That could be virtually any apartment complex in Hong Kong; I remember in past years that our own building has had green mesh and bamboo poles attached. Looks like they're still working on finding out why it happened, too. But the rescue comes first.
There was a nifty new exhibit for Zootopia 2 at Times Square! I snapped a few pics.
Had fried chicken for dinner. I know, I know! But it was so yum.
Stay safe out there Bees.
Playing: My game progress continues. EfD is going well, but annoyingly enough, I find myself having to frequently consult walkthroughs. I've also reached a plateau, which I won't surmount until I find better equipment.
Still exploring the world of Drova. I had no idea that there was a gender-based controversy to the game that I find too petty to repeat here. Game is still fun but I'm getting my tail kicked a lot, natch.
Re-tried Paranautical Activity, and it's still as rubbish as I remembered it being. BOOM! Uninstalled.
Should try to put in a bit of Abiotic Factor time... maybe 20 mins or so.
Watching: Lots of goodies to watch. The elephant in the room is STRANGER THINGS! I may or may not binge. After all, we have to wait until Xmas to get the rest of the episodes.
Listening to: Deftones - Swerve City. Uh, no big story for this one. I was listening to it today while in the gym, and like it a lot. Gorgeous melody.
"She breaks her horses
With strange distant voices
That travel through the air
They travel through the air"
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Nous sommes maîtres chez nous. Et nous le serons toujours. Elbows up, Canada!
I'm relieved you and your Mom are okay, Ox. My condolences to your entire community for this tragedy.
I hope the experts will find a cause soon and be able to put measures in place so that your community will no longer need to fear that, as you say, this could have happened to any complex.
I hope the experts will find a cause soon and be able to put measures in place so that your community will no longer need to fear that, as you say, this could have happened to any complex.
"It's good to see you again, Howie." Sarcasm laced the words coming from the imposing leader of the four men confronting them on the road. Ox spared a glance at Howie, who was practically frozen. "Hey Richter, good to see you too," Howie managed to get out. A hint of a smile was apparent on Richter's otherwise stony face. "Your loan has yet to be repayed. 1500, plus interest." "I'm good for it!" Howie whined. "It's only been a week." "We gave you four days. Do the math." Richter wasn't smiling at all, now. "Pay it back now, or we take a finger for each day it's late." He tapped a finger on the enormous knife strapped to his chest. Howie looked at Ox nervously, and said, sotto voce, "What do we do?"
Ox nonchalantly placed his hand on his sidearm, wishing he'd brought a long arm, or failing that, a submachine gun. One of the guns, cocksure and arrogant, piped up. "Hey tough guy, think that pistol's going to save you?" Ox didn't respond, instead watching the four men carefully. Their most obvious feature was their black fatigues, and Western-bloc weaponry. Richter was more well-armored and armed than the rest; headshots only for him.
Ox steeled himself; there was only one way out of this one.
Hey Bees. Another workout for this week, and it's perhaps the second to last one.
Today was my second Push day, focusing on my overhead press.
Overhead Press: 72.5 x 10. Pretty good! My overhead press has been consistently stronger since I started Bullmastiff.
Behind the Neck Press: 62.5 x 6. This was also less difficult than the last time I tried it.
Shoulder Raises: 14 x 8. Will go for ten reps next time.
Straight Bar Pushdown: 12 x 8. Zzzzz...
Barbell Curls: 37.5 x 6 for four sets. I'm liking the use of double progressions for smaller exercises such as this one. It's working so far.
I'm very likely taking a break tomorrow, to give my body some time to rest up, and will finish the week's workouts with Leg Day on Sunday.
The weather is cool, and the fire in the Wang Fuk estate has died down, but the damage is done. Here's hoping our city can heal.
@JCU @Laura Rainbow Dragon Thank you for your well wishes! I do wish that there was less blame going around (the internet being what it is, this has already started), and more accountability and explanation moving forward. There are thousands of buildings in Hong Kong not dissimilar to the ones which caught fire. Our own apartment is old, and has previously used the scaffolding/netting that has attracted close scrutiny after the fires.
I'm grateful that the community is rallying around the displaced survivors of the fire. Despite the reputation Hong Kong people have for prickliness, let it not be said that they won't lend a hand when others truly need it.
We've made it to Friday, Bees! Kick back and relax.
Playing: EfD and Drova have taken up my spare time. No big progress in EfD, annoyingly. Oh well.
In Drova, I was at a tavern when a seemingly friendly face lured me outside with the promise of beer. Upon doing so, I was promptly beaten unconscious and shipped off to some unknown location, absent my clothing and weapons (and coin, most annoyingly). I reloaded and am going to level up a bit before taking on this quest, as I want to be more seasoned, first.
Watching: So many choices! I may make a start on the long-awaited Good Boy, or the transgressive and exciting Meat Kills.
Listening to: John Surman - Rame Head. Quick, before it disappears off of Youtube! I've been a fan of John Surman's work for awhile, as it tends to lean on ambience, and indeed, the dignified melodies would fit square into the Ambient music genre.
I don't know if this track is particularly dignified. If I could describe it in a sentence, it sounds like someone slowly plodding away in disgrace. It is beautiful, even for all that, and kind of fits this dark time.
Ox nonchalantly placed his hand on his sidearm, wishing he'd brought a long arm, or failing that, a submachine gun. One of the guns, cocksure and arrogant, piped up. "Hey tough guy, think that pistol's going to save you?" Ox didn't respond, instead watching the four men carefully. Their most obvious feature was their black fatigues, and Western-bloc weaponry. Richter was more well-armored and armed than the rest; headshots only for him.
Ox steeled himself; there was only one way out of this one.
Hey Bees. Another workout for this week, and it's perhaps the second to last one.
Today was my second Push day, focusing on my overhead press.
Overhead Press: 72.5 x 10. Pretty good! My overhead press has been consistently stronger since I started Bullmastiff.
Behind the Neck Press: 62.5 x 6. This was also less difficult than the last time I tried it.
Shoulder Raises: 14 x 8. Will go for ten reps next time.
Straight Bar Pushdown: 12 x 8. Zzzzz...
Barbell Curls: 37.5 x 6 for four sets. I'm liking the use of double progressions for smaller exercises such as this one. It's working so far.
I'm very likely taking a break tomorrow, to give my body some time to rest up, and will finish the week's workouts with Leg Day on Sunday.
The weather is cool, and the fire in the Wang Fuk estate has died down, but the damage is done. Here's hoping our city can heal.
@JCU @Laura Rainbow Dragon Thank you for your well wishes! I do wish that there was less blame going around (the internet being what it is, this has already started), and more accountability and explanation moving forward. There are thousands of buildings in Hong Kong not dissimilar to the ones which caught fire. Our own apartment is old, and has previously used the scaffolding/netting that has attracted close scrutiny after the fires.
I'm grateful that the community is rallying around the displaced survivors of the fire. Despite the reputation Hong Kong people have for prickliness, let it not be said that they won't lend a hand when others truly need it.
We've made it to Friday, Bees! Kick back and relax.
Playing: EfD and Drova have taken up my spare time. No big progress in EfD, annoyingly. Oh well.
In Drova, I was at a tavern when a seemingly friendly face lured me outside with the promise of beer. Upon doing so, I was promptly beaten unconscious and shipped off to some unknown location, absent my clothing and weapons (and coin, most annoyingly). I reloaded and am going to level up a bit before taking on this quest, as I want to be more seasoned, first.
Watching: So many choices! I may make a start on the long-awaited Good Boy, or the transgressive and exciting Meat Kills.
Listening to: John Surman - Rame Head. Quick, before it disappears off of Youtube! I've been a fan of John Surman's work for awhile, as it tends to lean on ambience, and indeed, the dignified melodies would fit square into the Ambient music genre.
I don't know if this track is particularly dignified. If I could describe it in a sentence, it sounds like someone slowly plodding away in disgrace. It is beautiful, even for all that, and kind of fits this dark time.
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GentleOx
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Richter turned his penetrating gaze on Ox. "Heard many things about you, Freelancer." Ox inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement. His fingers twitched at the butt of his pistol. "Not all of them bad," Richter continued. "Surprising. Your people had me trussed up like a turkey and plucked, feather by feather." Richter's hands were on the straps of his plate carrier. That was a good sign; maybe he wasn't in a fighting mood. Then again, he had three other goombas to do all the dirty work.
"That wasn't me. I'd told them you should be given a warrior's death, and shot in the head."
"You have some strange notions of honour, friend."
"I believe it's pronounced 'practical'. Speaking of honour, would you die for this worm?"
Ox glanced at Howie, who was practically quaking in his boots, and then surprised himself.
"Yes. He made some dire mistakes. We all have. The question is, can he be allowed to make recompense?"
"Him? No. What do you propose?" Bingo.
Ox slowly reached into his plate carrier's pouch and withdrew a ring with small diamond inset. He threw it to Richter, who caught it with one raised hand and then set to work appraising it on his own time. The road was dusty and the day dry. Ox's mouth was dry, too. Richter nodded his head slightly.
"This is worth more than his debt."
"Then we can go?" Richter snorted.
"That was for his debt. I need more for a, ah, 'good will' fee."
Shaking them down, in other words. He could live with that.
Ox reached a second time into his pouch and withdrew another ring, this one with a ruby inset.
"I'm going to place this down here. Then we're going to walk. And Howie is never going to place bets or borrow money from your people again."
"How can you be sure of that?"
"I'll watch him. And you know I'm good for it." Richter nodded.
"You live to fight another day, Ox. And I am a fair man." He addressed his cronies.
"Let them go."
Hey again Bees! I'm back from going to church, the gym, and then meeting with my great aunt for dinner.
Today was the end of the first phase of Bullmastiff, so we're in uncharted territory now. Anyway, it was a Leg day.
Squats: 90 x 10. Hm hm. Okay, but could've done one or two more reps, I felt.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 14 x 8. Started doing these, albeit with very light weight. Just need to get used to the movement first.
Hack Squats: 60 x 6.
Lying Leg Curls: 50 x 9.
Back Extensions: Sets of 12 reps.
Korean BBQ dinner was om nom nom out of ten.
News continues to trickle in on the aftermath of the fires. I am, in particular, moved by people standing in line to leave flowers for a memorial to the victims.
Hope your Sunday is going great, Bees!
Playing: Yesterday, l didn't work out at all. I just stayed at home like a little gnome and played Drova all day. From what I've read, I'm bumping up to the edge of this chapter. I made my way to the seemingly clean cut community of Nemeton and uncovered a conspiracy to rise up against the existing order. I took the side of the government, after a long and protracted bout of detective work. Now the big conundrum is which community to join... the ragged, freedom-loving Remnants? Or this austere, ordered community of Nemeton?
Watching: I'm a sucker for short films set in the SCP universe, and the last one by this director (SCP: Overlord) was absolute dynamite, so this promises to be just as great! Here's a link:
Listening to: At the Drive-In - Arcarsenal. Probably one of my original workout tunes as a teenager. I ordered this CD used (or new?) off of Amazon, put it in my PC, and was promptly blown away by the opening tune. It's like being dragged through space at warp-speed while a lunatic raves about things that are perfectly intelligible, and yet make no sense.
"That wasn't me. I'd told them you should be given a warrior's death, and shot in the head."
"You have some strange notions of honour, friend."
"I believe it's pronounced 'practical'. Speaking of honour, would you die for this worm?"
Ox glanced at Howie, who was practically quaking in his boots, and then surprised himself.
"Yes. He made some dire mistakes. We all have. The question is, can he be allowed to make recompense?"
"Him? No. What do you propose?" Bingo.
Ox slowly reached into his plate carrier's pouch and withdrew a ring with small diamond inset. He threw it to Richter, who caught it with one raised hand and then set to work appraising it on his own time. The road was dusty and the day dry. Ox's mouth was dry, too. Richter nodded his head slightly.
"This is worth more than his debt."
"Then we can go?" Richter snorted.
"That was for his debt. I need more for a, ah, 'good will' fee."
Shaking them down, in other words. He could live with that.
Ox reached a second time into his pouch and withdrew another ring, this one with a ruby inset.
"I'm going to place this down here. Then we're going to walk. And Howie is never going to place bets or borrow money from your people again."
"How can you be sure of that?"
"I'll watch him. And you know I'm good for it." Richter nodded.
"You live to fight another day, Ox. And I am a fair man." He addressed his cronies.
"Let them go."
Hey again Bees! I'm back from going to church, the gym, and then meeting with my great aunt for dinner.
Today was the end of the first phase of Bullmastiff, so we're in uncharted territory now. Anyway, it was a Leg day.
Squats: 90 x 10. Hm hm. Okay, but could've done one or two more reps, I felt.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 14 x 8. Started doing these, albeit with very light weight. Just need to get used to the movement first.
Hack Squats: 60 x 6.
Lying Leg Curls: 50 x 9.
Back Extensions: Sets of 12 reps.
Korean BBQ dinner was om nom nom out of ten.
News continues to trickle in on the aftermath of the fires. I am, in particular, moved by people standing in line to leave flowers for a memorial to the victims.
Hope your Sunday is going great, Bees!
Playing: Yesterday, l didn't work out at all. I just stayed at home like a little gnome and played Drova all day. From what I've read, I'm bumping up to the edge of this chapter. I made my way to the seemingly clean cut community of Nemeton and uncovered a conspiracy to rise up against the existing order. I took the side of the government, after a long and protracted bout of detective work. Now the big conundrum is which community to join... the ragged, freedom-loving Remnants? Or this austere, ordered community of Nemeton?
Watching: I'm a sucker for short films set in the SCP universe, and the last one by this director (SCP: Overlord) was absolute dynamite, so this promises to be just as great! Here's a link:
Listening to: At the Drive-In - Arcarsenal. Probably one of my original workout tunes as a teenager. I ordered this CD used (or new?) off of Amazon, put it in my PC, and was promptly blown away by the opening tune. It's like being dragged through space at warp-speed while a lunatic raves about things that are perfectly intelligible, and yet make no sense.
Howie was shaking. He slowly, unsteadily reached inside his jacket and removed a box of smokes, before dropping them. "Oh f*ck," he muttered, before Ox tapped him on the shoulder, producing his own menthol smokes. "It's okay, bud. We're safe now." Still unsteady, Howie made it as far as putting the ciggie into his mouth. Now came the hard part, but Ox calmly raised his lighter to the cigarette. Howie took a grateful puff. "Thanks, Ox." Ox sat down beside him on at the side of the road. There were no distant shrieks from any monsters nearby, but he kept an eye and an ear out, anyway.
"They would've killed me."
"No," Ox intoned. "They would have cut your fingers off and then they would've killed you."
Howie was silent, so Ox continued. "There was a chance that I couldn't have pulled us out of than one back there."
"I know, I know, I owe you, Ox --"
"No! You don't know. I can forgive the loss of the loot that I gave up; that's immaterial when the life of someone under my charge is threatened. It's that you got us into that jam in the first place."
"All my life, I've run from them." Ox didn't ask who 'them' was. "Made it all the way here, on the other side of the world. And I still can't get away."
"That's precisely the problem. When you run, you don't have to look back. You're taking on all these wagers and loans without thinking about what they entail, or the consequences. You may owe me, the Freelancers, and countless other folk around, but you're running from more than us. Howie, what do you owe yourself?"
Howie's shoulders were hunched, and he was looking at a spot on the ground. All the same, Ox knew he had to be gentle.
"Look, kid. I'm not a shrink. I'd rather get back to the camp and get in a good meal, so let's wrap this up. No promises. No pledges. Forgive yourself. And keep in mind the next time it happens might be the last time." Ox put a hand on each of Howie's shoulders. "If you need help - talk to us. That's what we're here for." Howie wasn't looking at him, but his eyes were moist.
"Thanks, Ox."
Greetings Bees! I managed to squeeze in a Push workout today that beat me to a pulp. Here's what it entailed.
Bench Press: 105 x 20. I've never done this before, and it brought me to my limits. A PR!
Incline Press: 90 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 6. Zzz...
Straight Bar Pushdown: 16 x 10. Went for the gold with this one. Another PR!
Barbell Curls: 37.5 x 7.
Christmas is coming, so mom and I got presents for the little ones when we see them on the 25th. Can't believe it's December already.
There's a lot of blame and investigation thrown around regarding the fire. I guess we'll only know in posterity what really caused them...
Drink eggnog, Bees! It's good for you. Or not.
Playing: Last night I only played Drova. I decided on the more stable Nemeton faction and officially joined their ranks, but not without cheesing the decision first (I consulted a walkthrough to decide which form of faction armour was better), 'cuz I'm a munchkin. Yeah.
Watching: Guess what: I sat down and watched canine horror flick Good Boy last night. Here's a summary, trailer, and a review!
Indy the Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever is a devoted companion to Todd, his human. Todd is not well, to say the least; suffering from an unstated sickness, he pushes away his concerned sister and moves out to their family home in the countryside for a change of pace.
This is alarming for Indy. As a sensitive dog, he is aware that his human is somehow suffering (and powerless to stop it), but is also aware of visions that reveal the dire fate of the house's previous owner. At the same time, he sees mysterious creatures appearing in the house, and must do whatever he can to protect his beloved owner.
So there's been a lot of hype around this one. I'll be brief: it's a spare, lean, haunted-house horror where the point of view is from the dog. Given that it centers around Indy's perspective, what story there is is told indirectly, and the viewer must suss out the details on their own. This is not really a problem, because this movie is all about the bond between dog and owner, and in that respect, its simplicity is a boon. Despite Indy having no dialogue, it is obvious that he is a caring and devoted companion.
Make no mistake, the genius in the film is in relying on Indy's expressive acting to carry the flick. There have been many stories told of the pains director Ben Leonberg went to capture Indy's performance (as he wasn't a specially trained dog), and the pooch delivers, in every scene he's in. I didn't think it was scary at all, despite the inclusion of some token scares. The climax of the film broke my heart and gave me chills. And at the end of the day, it's not really about the monster.
In the end, huge kudos to this ambitious and heartfelt film; it's not often that we'll see its ilk.
I give Good Boy four and a half doggie head tilts out of five.
Probably going to be bingeing Stranger Things tonight: we'll see.
Listening to: Christine - Drama (feat T La Rock). Again, I love stumbling across absolute gems on Youtube. If I'm lucky, these will come out a rate at which I could spend the rest of my life finding them, unlike with new games (which are released at a substantially slower rate).
It's like dark synth rap/disco! What's not to love?
"They would've killed me."
"No," Ox intoned. "They would have cut your fingers off and then they would've killed you."
Howie was silent, so Ox continued. "There was a chance that I couldn't have pulled us out of than one back there."
"I know, I know, I owe you, Ox --"
"No! You don't know. I can forgive the loss of the loot that I gave up; that's immaterial when the life of someone under my charge is threatened. It's that you got us into that jam in the first place."
"All my life, I've run from them." Ox didn't ask who 'them' was. "Made it all the way here, on the other side of the world. And I still can't get away."
"That's precisely the problem. When you run, you don't have to look back. You're taking on all these wagers and loans without thinking about what they entail, or the consequences. You may owe me, the Freelancers, and countless other folk around, but you're running from more than us. Howie, what do you owe yourself?"
Howie's shoulders were hunched, and he was looking at a spot on the ground. All the same, Ox knew he had to be gentle.
"Look, kid. I'm not a shrink. I'd rather get back to the camp and get in a good meal, so let's wrap this up. No promises. No pledges. Forgive yourself. And keep in mind the next time it happens might be the last time." Ox put a hand on each of Howie's shoulders. "If you need help - talk to us. That's what we're here for." Howie wasn't looking at him, but his eyes were moist.
"Thanks, Ox."
Greetings Bees! I managed to squeeze in a Push workout today that beat me to a pulp. Here's what it entailed.
Bench Press: 105 x 20. I've never done this before, and it brought me to my limits. A PR!
Incline Press: 90 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 6. Zzz...
Straight Bar Pushdown: 16 x 10. Went for the gold with this one. Another PR!
Barbell Curls: 37.5 x 7.
Christmas is coming, so mom and I got presents for the little ones when we see them on the 25th. Can't believe it's December already.
There's a lot of blame and investigation thrown around regarding the fire. I guess we'll only know in posterity what really caused them...
Drink eggnog, Bees! It's good for you. Or not.
Playing: Last night I only played Drova. I decided on the more stable Nemeton faction and officially joined their ranks, but not without cheesing the decision first (I consulted a walkthrough to decide which form of faction armour was better), 'cuz I'm a munchkin. Yeah.
Watching: Guess what: I sat down and watched canine horror flick Good Boy last night. Here's a summary, trailer, and a review!
Indy the Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever is a devoted companion to Todd, his human. Todd is not well, to say the least; suffering from an unstated sickness, he pushes away his concerned sister and moves out to their family home in the countryside for a change of pace.
This is alarming for Indy. As a sensitive dog, he is aware that his human is somehow suffering (and powerless to stop it), but is also aware of visions that reveal the dire fate of the house's previous owner. At the same time, he sees mysterious creatures appearing in the house, and must do whatever he can to protect his beloved owner.
So there's been a lot of hype around this one. I'll be brief: it's a spare, lean, haunted-house horror where the point of view is from the dog. Given that it centers around Indy's perspective, what story there is is told indirectly, and the viewer must suss out the details on their own. This is not really a problem, because this movie is all about the bond between dog and owner, and in that respect, its simplicity is a boon. Despite Indy having no dialogue, it is obvious that he is a caring and devoted companion.
Make no mistake, the genius in the film is in relying on Indy's expressive acting to carry the flick. There have been many stories told of the pains director Ben Leonberg went to capture Indy's performance (as he wasn't a specially trained dog), and the pooch delivers, in every scene he's in. I didn't think it was scary at all, despite the inclusion of some token scares. The climax of the film broke my heart and gave me chills. And at the end of the day, it's not really about the monster.
In the end, huge kudos to this ambitious and heartfelt film; it's not often that we'll see its ilk.
I give Good Boy four and a half doggie head tilts out of five.
Probably going to be bingeing Stranger Things tonight: we'll see.
Listening to: Christine - Drama (feat T La Rock). Again, I love stumbling across absolute gems on Youtube. If I'm lucky, these will come out a rate at which I could spend the rest of my life finding them, unlike with new games (which are released at a substantially slower rate).
It's like dark synth rap/disco! What's not to love?
-
GentleOx
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Last edited:
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Nous sommes maîtres chez nous. Et nous le serons toujours. Elbows up, Canada!
Rocking the PRs again. Great work, Ox!
OK, for Good Boy, I must ask.. will the dog be OK ? My tender little (enlarged, but well, still tender!) heart must know beforehand...
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Nous sommes maîtres chez nous. Et nous le serons toujours. Elbows up, Canada!
I couldn't even read the review. A dog in a horror movie? No. Just no.
Congrats 
PR cheers!!
NightWolf714
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers
Congrats on the newest PRs!
And just heard about the fires. (I've disconnected from a lot of the news lately.) I'm so sorry, but I'm so glad that you and your family are okay.
And just heard about the fires. (I've disconnected from a lot of the news lately.) I'm so sorry, but I'm so glad that you and your family are okay.
"I'm surprised that you ran into Scavengers so close to home." Ox raised his mug to his mouth and tasted the hot tea. It was good! It was hard to know the exact blend of ingredients, but it had a fruit-like, flavourful taste that warmed his bones on a cold night like this. Simmi had smuggled it in, and rapt, had insisted he try it too. "To be fair, we were on our way back to the Crossroads. You and I know that outside of the Crossroads, anything, and anyone goes." Simmi snorted. "Maybe we should increase our patrols." "No... this was a one-off thing. I had the feeling that they strayed far from their base in Metropol because they wanted to make an example of Howie." He could hear Simmi audibly sigh. The Observatory was usually quiet in the evenings, the assorted stalkers outside choosing to shelter and keep to themselves rather than spend time petitioning or bothering their Coordinator when night had fallen; after all, Simmi discouraged it. He was perched on the ledge that overlooked the landing, while Simmi faced him, leaning back against her usual table.
"I hope you're right. We already have the Insurrectionists breathing down our necks, and the NFTA raid during All-Hallowmas was a boldness I'd not seen up to that point. We need to protect ourselves, and make a statement." Ox shrugged. He took another sip from the calming mug of tea. "I'm not against it, actually. That said, I don't think we should do anything about Howie's erstwhile debtors." "And why not? You made it clear as day Howie's one of us." "Let's hope that I've sorted him out, and that's a one-off thing. He invited their response. For everyone else, we stand our ground. Incursions - so long as they don't get too close to home, we leave them as is. Let the commies and the rest battle it out. If they harm our members without provocation; then we defend ourselves." "The Ox has a mind for policy. I thought I'd be a fool before I saw the day." Said Ox let a smile touch his lips.
"What about Howie?" Ox's smile died.
"I was thinking about asking you about that. You've established and enforced the rules around here."
"As a matter of instinct, I want him out. That he endangered himself is bad enough, but he brought danger upon you too. What say you?"
"He was reckless, selfish, and completely unaware, making a boatload of mistakes that led to his predicament. But how does that make him any different from us?"
"That's true. I guess that's what sets our band of misfits apart from the rest. But he needs to be put on warning."
"Look. He could be my shadow around camp. I don't mind taking the kid on; he was pretty good as a spotter today. And having eaten some humble pie, maybe his ego's been cut down to size."
"Then it's on you. If he doesn't shape up, then you're responsible for what happens to him."
Thank you kindly for the encouragement @TopNotch @Laura Rainbow Dragon @Mamatigerj @Princess Fancy @NightWolf714 @JCU and @Fremen!
Hello again Bees! I set out to restart the cycle with my deadlifts, but things... didn't exactly go to plan.
Deadlifts: X. I was doing my second set of 120 x 5, and the weights felt terrible even warming up. On the second set, I felt this wave of pain along my lower back, and I was forced to drop the weight. This was not even heavy weight for me, so something went wrong, even before this workout.
It's been awhile since I've injured myself, and I supposed that considering how reckless and high intensity my lifts have been lately, it was past due. So I limped through the rest of my workout and cut out a few exercises.
Barbell Rows: 107.5 x 8. But not this one! This was a PR. Even injured, I'm still pretty reckless.
Meadows Rows: 57.5 x 5. And this was a PR too!
Neutral Chin Ups: 27 in total.
Wide Grip Cable Rows: 55 x 6.
Now I'm at home, and considerably more relaxed. My lower back still hurts, but at least I'm not subjecting it to any heavy lifting now. I will stop with the deadlifts for some time, and reassess when my back feels better. Otherwise, I will continue my Pull workouts. I have a feeling I was primed for injury after doing all those AMRAP sets. So for now, no more AMRAPS!
Note to self, and everyone: If you've suffered a gym injury, the best idea is to leave as soon as you can, go home, and get some rest. It was not a good idea for me to continue my workout. I was simply unhappy with having to leave it unfinished at the start, so I carried on. But it wasn't the best idea.
I'm going to cancel tomorrow's workout to get some rest, and go at it again on Saturday. Bought some yummy egg waffles for the first time in awhile just as a post workout treat. Mm... chocolate egg waffles!
And now the sun is fading from the city as the skies darken.
Stay healthy, Bees!
Playing: Um, some more time in Drova, but not much else. May resume my run in EfD, even though I haven't been making much progress in it.
Brace yourselves, I downloaded a bonanza of demos because I was in one of my rare moods: after all, they're usually dreck.
First up was a demo for an interesting FPS-Sim hybrid called Quarantine Zombies. Looks like garbage on my PC and runs like it, too. Boom! Uninstalled.
As well as a demo for a FP-Horror-Sim hybrid called Hail to the Rainbow. Not a fan of this snowy, immersive, poking-around-ruins gameplay that characterizes this demo; it's likely that this was taken from the real intro to the game.
(With a demo, your job is to give me a slice of the tastiest gameplay your game has to offer. Don't saddle me with this driving through the snow crap and immersive futzing around with gadgets that's simply busywork and a quick path to boredom - not that there isn't an audience for this kind of drudgery). Boom! Uninstalled.
Vengeful Mutant Ninja Primates! Vengeful Mutant Ninja Primates! Tried a demo for a third person Rogue/Hack 'em Up fusion (with up to four players!) that's called Cursed Blood. It's all about the plasma, baby. Spilling it from gangsters, and getting curses heaped on you as you traverse the game's environments. This one held my interest for substantially longer than most demos do: about 10 minutes. Still, it didn't really offer anything new, well-presented as it was. Boom! Uninstalled.
More promisingly, tried the demo for Labyrinth of the Demon King, which is an interesting throwback to PS1 Japan-set horror. It's obvious that it's a tightly-designed game with satisfying gameplay and a horrifying aesthetic. I like the cut of its jib. Boom! It stays.
Watching: Made a start on Stranger Things. All fun, all what you'd expect so far, and they certainly have done their best to ramp up the stakes. Will report more once I've watched more.
Regarding @PetiteSheWolf and @Laura Rainbow Dragon's concerns about Indy's fate in Good Boy, I think it's only fair to say that the dog is safe and okay by the end of the film (without giving anything about the ending away). I think that the director and cast were canny enough to know that riots would erupt all over the world if Indy were harmed in the movie.
I have watched a very different movie in which animals were harmed, and found it repulsive and disgusting. It's good that we have more cuddly and thoughtful movies like Good Boy to even out the balance. Coincidentally, it's released here in Hong Kong today, and I'm glad that this film is shared with audiences worldwide.
Listening to: András Magyari et al. - Three Dirty Dwarves Soundtrack - Streets of Bronx. This is from a little known side-scrolling brawler released on the Sega Saturn and PC in the late 90s. I think. I used to play it at a friend's house all the time, and love this scrappy little tune a great deal.
"I hope you're right. We already have the Insurrectionists breathing down our necks, and the NFTA raid during All-Hallowmas was a boldness I'd not seen up to that point. We need to protect ourselves, and make a statement." Ox shrugged. He took another sip from the calming mug of tea. "I'm not against it, actually. That said, I don't think we should do anything about Howie's erstwhile debtors." "And why not? You made it clear as day Howie's one of us." "Let's hope that I've sorted him out, and that's a one-off thing. He invited their response. For everyone else, we stand our ground. Incursions - so long as they don't get too close to home, we leave them as is. Let the commies and the rest battle it out. If they harm our members without provocation; then we defend ourselves." "The Ox has a mind for policy. I thought I'd be a fool before I saw the day." Said Ox let a smile touch his lips.
"What about Howie?" Ox's smile died.
"I was thinking about asking you about that. You've established and enforced the rules around here."
"As a matter of instinct, I want him out. That he endangered himself is bad enough, but he brought danger upon you too. What say you?"
"He was reckless, selfish, and completely unaware, making a boatload of mistakes that led to his predicament. But how does that make him any different from us?"
"That's true. I guess that's what sets our band of misfits apart from the rest. But he needs to be put on warning."
"Look. He could be my shadow around camp. I don't mind taking the kid on; he was pretty good as a spotter today. And having eaten some humble pie, maybe his ego's been cut down to size."
"Then it's on you. If he doesn't shape up, then you're responsible for what happens to him."
Thank you kindly for the encouragement @TopNotch @Laura Rainbow Dragon @Mamatigerj @Princess Fancy @NightWolf714 @JCU and @Fremen!
Hello again Bees! I set out to restart the cycle with my deadlifts, but things... didn't exactly go to plan.
Deadlifts: X. I was doing my second set of 120 x 5, and the weights felt terrible even warming up. On the second set, I felt this wave of pain along my lower back, and I was forced to drop the weight. This was not even heavy weight for me, so something went wrong, even before this workout.
It's been awhile since I've injured myself, and I supposed that considering how reckless and high intensity my lifts have been lately, it was past due. So I limped through the rest of my workout and cut out a few exercises.
Barbell Rows: 107.5 x 8. But not this one! This was a PR. Even injured, I'm still pretty reckless.
Meadows Rows: 57.5 x 5. And this was a PR too!
Neutral Chin Ups: 27 in total.
Wide Grip Cable Rows: 55 x 6.
Now I'm at home, and considerably more relaxed. My lower back still hurts, but at least I'm not subjecting it to any heavy lifting now. I will stop with the deadlifts for some time, and reassess when my back feels better. Otherwise, I will continue my Pull workouts. I have a feeling I was primed for injury after doing all those AMRAP sets. So for now, no more AMRAPS!
Note to self, and everyone: If you've suffered a gym injury, the best idea is to leave as soon as you can, go home, and get some rest. It was not a good idea for me to continue my workout. I was simply unhappy with having to leave it unfinished at the start, so I carried on. But it wasn't the best idea.
I'm going to cancel tomorrow's workout to get some rest, and go at it again on Saturday. Bought some yummy egg waffles for the first time in awhile just as a post workout treat. Mm... chocolate egg waffles!
And now the sun is fading from the city as the skies darken.
Stay healthy, Bees!
Playing: Um, some more time in Drova, but not much else. May resume my run in EfD, even though I haven't been making much progress in it.
Brace yourselves, I downloaded a bonanza of demos because I was in one of my rare moods: after all, they're usually dreck.
First up was a demo for an interesting FPS-Sim hybrid called Quarantine Zombies. Looks like garbage on my PC and runs like it, too. Boom! Uninstalled.
As well as a demo for a FP-Horror-Sim hybrid called Hail to the Rainbow. Not a fan of this snowy, immersive, poking-around-ruins gameplay that characterizes this demo; it's likely that this was taken from the real intro to the game.
(With a demo, your job is to give me a slice of the tastiest gameplay your game has to offer. Don't saddle me with this driving through the snow crap and immersive futzing around with gadgets that's simply busywork and a quick path to boredom - not that there isn't an audience for this kind of drudgery). Boom! Uninstalled.
Vengeful Mutant Ninja Primates! Vengeful Mutant Ninja Primates! Tried a demo for a third person Rogue/Hack 'em Up fusion (with up to four players!) that's called Cursed Blood. It's all about the plasma, baby. Spilling it from gangsters, and getting curses heaped on you as you traverse the game's environments. This one held my interest for substantially longer than most demos do: about 10 minutes. Still, it didn't really offer anything new, well-presented as it was. Boom! Uninstalled.
More promisingly, tried the demo for Labyrinth of the Demon King, which is an interesting throwback to PS1 Japan-set horror. It's obvious that it's a tightly-designed game with satisfying gameplay and a horrifying aesthetic. I like the cut of its jib. Boom! It stays.
Watching: Made a start on Stranger Things. All fun, all what you'd expect so far, and they certainly have done their best to ramp up the stakes. Will report more once I've watched more.
Regarding @PetiteSheWolf and @Laura Rainbow Dragon's concerns about Indy's fate in Good Boy, I think it's only fair to say that the dog is safe and okay by the end of the film (without giving anything about the ending away). I think that the director and cast were canny enough to know that riots would erupt all over the world if Indy were harmed in the movie.
I have watched a very different movie in which animals were harmed, and found it repulsive and disgusting. It's good that we have more cuddly and thoughtful movies like Good Boy to even out the balance. Coincidentally, it's released here in Hong Kong today, and I'm glad that this film is shared with audiences worldwide.
Listening to: András Magyari et al. - Three Dirty Dwarves Soundtrack - Streets of Bronx. This is from a little known side-scrolling brawler released on the Sega Saturn and PC in the late 90s. I think. I used to play it at a friend's house all the time, and love this scrappy little tune a great deal.
-
GentleOx
-
Last edited:
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Nous sommes maîtres chez nous. Et nous le serons toujours. Elbows up, Canada!
Cheers for the PRs!!
(Gentle) Hugs and prayers for your injury!
(Gentle) Hugs and prayers for your injury!
A laugh sprang up from the corner of the camp that Ox had labelled the Troublemaker's Club. Some sort of card game - probably Poker - in which real winnings and losses changed hands, unlike with the Revolutionaries, who played only for fun. Ox was pleased to note that Howie was nowhere near this area. Instead, he was seated on a crate a good distance away, glumly watching the camp go about its business. Ox approached him and the young man looked up, a little apprehensively.
"Good day for it, Ox?"
"The best there is." He gestured at the games of chance in the corner.
"Not going to play?" Howie nodded, soberly.
"I admit that I kinda want to, but I don't have the funds to. And I'm not interested in getting in trouble again." Famous last words? Ox gave him the benefit of the doubt.
"At least you recognize it, now." He cleared his throat. "Howie, Simmi and I have made a decision. We're not going to kick you out, but you do need to pull your weight around here."
Howie looked at him with an hitherto unseen intensity. "I'll do anything."
Ox grinned. "You're going to be working with me, and I'll teach you what I know. Whatever spare tasks we need to do around camp or outside of it, we're going to do together. At least until you can stand on your own feet again."
Howie nodded. "I'm with you. Let's do it."
Thank you for your kind words @aku-chan, @TopNotch, @CODawn, @JCU, @Mamatigerj, @Laura Rainbow Dragon and @Fremen. I do feel a bit better, but I'm not going to rush anything.
Hi again Darebee friends!
I really wanted to go to the gym today, after two days of rest, but my lower back is still feeling it, and oddly enough, when I get up to walk around after sitting down, I'm still quite sore. Nothing life threatening or dire, just persistent soreness. So today is another non-exercise update.
Helped mom around the house with some chores, and we took the recycling out. Nothing big, but that's okay. Tomorrow, we'll be meeting with my aunt and uncle (likely for the final time) after church, before they return to the States.
It's gotten a tad bit colder, and I'm glad for it.
Stay warm and cozy, Bees!
Playing: Uh, what did I play last night? Oh yeah! Sulfur got its final update, so I'm working my way back up to the final boss. Sweet revenge!
Will try to get in some Drova, or Abiotic Factor tonight.
Funny: Did, you, throw, eggs, at, his, window?!
Uh huh huh, heh heh, she said "penal" uh huh...
Listening to: The Ventures - Journey to the Stars. It's at least 60 years old, and it still kicks ass. Stone cold killer of a tune from a band most known for surf rock.
"Good day for it, Ox?"
"The best there is." He gestured at the games of chance in the corner.
"Not going to play?" Howie nodded, soberly.
"I admit that I kinda want to, but I don't have the funds to. And I'm not interested in getting in trouble again." Famous last words? Ox gave him the benefit of the doubt.
"At least you recognize it, now." He cleared his throat. "Howie, Simmi and I have made a decision. We're not going to kick you out, but you do need to pull your weight around here."
Howie looked at him with an hitherto unseen intensity. "I'll do anything."
Ox grinned. "You're going to be working with me, and I'll teach you what I know. Whatever spare tasks we need to do around camp or outside of it, we're going to do together. At least until you can stand on your own feet again."
Howie nodded. "I'm with you. Let's do it."
Thank you for your kind words @aku-chan, @TopNotch, @CODawn, @JCU, @Mamatigerj, @Laura Rainbow Dragon and @Fremen. I do feel a bit better, but I'm not going to rush anything.
Hi again Darebee friends!
I really wanted to go to the gym today, after two days of rest, but my lower back is still feeling it, and oddly enough, when I get up to walk around after sitting down, I'm still quite sore. Nothing life threatening or dire, just persistent soreness. So today is another non-exercise update.
Helped mom around the house with some chores, and we took the recycling out. Nothing big, but that's okay. Tomorrow, we'll be meeting with my aunt and uncle (likely for the final time) after church, before they return to the States.
It's gotten a tad bit colder, and I'm glad for it.
Stay warm and cozy, Bees!
Playing: Uh, what did I play last night? Oh yeah! Sulfur got its final update, so I'm working my way back up to the final boss. Sweet revenge!
Will try to get in some Drova, or Abiotic Factor tonight.
Funny: Did, you, throw, eggs, at, his, window?!
Uh huh huh, heh heh, she said "penal" uh huh...
Listening to: The Ventures - Journey to the Stars. It's at least 60 years old, and it still kicks ass. Stone cold killer of a tune from a band most known for surf rock.
Finally replying - when I saw you had Taeko Onuki as your song of the day two weeks ago my heart skipped a beat! 4AM is an absolute banger of a song, great choice! When you say Sakamoto-san I'm guessing you're referring to Ryuichi (not Shintaro or one of many other Sakamotos out there) but fun fact, he pretty much did all the arrangements for Onuki's album Sunshower (maybe you already knew that but it blew my mind when I found out). 70s and 80s music from Japan is so good! If you ever want song/artist recs let me know, but there's so many playlists/DJ sets on YouTube, it's a goldmine for finding new stuff.
Also, thank you for your recommendation of Rame Head by John Surman - your post was the first time I'd heard of him and I really enjoyed it. The little video window autoplayed another song by him afterwards (Wizard's Song or something like that) which was also really good. I'll be adding an album of his to my library very soon!
That Ventures track is pretty cool too!
Oh and congratulations on all your PRs and workouts - you know, the thing we're actually here for (I just get so excited when you post cool music!).
And get well soon, hope the lower back stops giving you grief.
Also, thank you for your recommendation of Rame Head by John Surman - your post was the first time I'd heard of him and I really enjoyed it. The little video window autoplayed another song by him afterwards (Wizard's Song or something like that) which was also really good. I'll be adding an album of his to my library very soon!
That Ventures track is pretty cool too!
Oh and congratulations on all your PRs and workouts - you know, the thing we're actually here for (I just get so excited when you post cool music!).
And get well soon, hope the lower back stops giving you grief.
"It must be Advent's End!" Howie had pried open the crate sitting atop the rest in the middle of the camp, and was peering down in excitement. Say what you would about The Broker, he made sure that your purchases arrived on time. First up was getting the kid armed. Ox joined Howie in marveling at the crate's contents. Rows of state-of-the-art Armalite-designed assault rifles were neatly stacked in a row, next to sleek, military-grade pistols. Green cans at the bottom contained enough 5.56 and 9mm ammunition to arm a small nation, and the Ox was almost as impressed as Howie was. In their last, nigh-disastrous sojourn out, Howie had been armed with nothing but a pistol, relying on Ox to do the heavy lifting. It was about time that he got some improved firepower.
Howie hefted one of the carbines, clearly excited. When he came close to flagging the rest of the camp as he waved it around, Ox swiftly grabbed his shoulder. "Remember what I told you when you first arrived?" Howie turned red. That lesson was not so easily forgotten. "Exercise proper muzzle discipline," he recited, carefully tilting the rifle so that the muzzle faced the ground. He faced the Ox, who had to admit that the rifle looked good in Howie's hands. "Are we going to the range?" "Those are for our camp sentries, patrollers, and... something else we've got in the works. You," he reached into the crate, grabbed a different weapon, and presented Howie with it, "get this."
Howie stared at the gun with a mixture of dismay and bafflement. "It's... so... old." Ox chuckled.
"It's robust and reliable: a semi-automatic battle rifle that will serve you well."
"Couldn't I at least get an automatic?"
"When you're ready for it, and you've learned more of the fundamentals of shooting, you shall. For now, this PK-52 rifle is your best friend."
Howie sighed.
"Guess I'd better get used to it, then."
Thank you @Fremen, @JCU and @agc. @agc That's right, I'm a big Ryuichi Sakamoto fan. I knew his work stretched beyond Yellow Magic Orchestra, but I'm still finding out how far. Maybe I'll take you up on that recommendation. I'm also a big fan of John Surman's work, as he's very good at bridging the gap between Classical-style instrumentation, and New Age/Ambient melodies. Also a big Ambient fan, as some of my posts evince. I always look forward to posting my music, and glad that you enjoy reading about it.
Salutations, Bees! It is I, the Ox!
Today's workout was off the Bullmastiff schedule (and who knows if I can continue with the program due to the state of my back), so I took the time to do a fun Push workout.
Larsen Press: 130 x 5. Not bad, not bad! Perhaps I'll be able to go for 132.5 x 5 next time. The reps were tough, but doable.
Incline Press: 92.5 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 65 x 5.
Straight Bar Pushdown: 14 x 6.
Barbell Curls: 40 x 6. Because I got bored of doing 37.5 and wanted to move on to the bumper plates lol.
I forgot to charge up my Octopus card before getting on the minibus to the gym, and was unable to pay the fare. Embarrassed, I admitted this to the driver, who simply raised a hand in acceptance. Kind guy - he was within his rights to tell me to get off the bus, but didn't. And I got to the gym on time, to boot!
We're going to an interesting Korean buffet place on Saturday, and it looks totally yummy! Om nom nom.
Have a great start to the week, Bees!
Playing: Sulfur has its hooks in me again. How is that possible? When games are in Early Access, you play through to their early endings, and, because my patience is limited, set them down and move on to other games. Then they update with new content, and you realize, hey, it's all coming together!
Sulfur's end game content has been released, including the final duel with the Witch. I found the spoilers in the final encounter to be a bit underwhelming; I guess the game's designers thought it would be better to have a more straightforward villain. This in contrast to the Desert Claus (I kid you not) boss whose appearance defies logic and tradition.
Watching: Watching Man Finds Tapes in drips and drabs. Spoiler: It's quite good, though the horror elements have yet to coalesce.
Listening to: Saxon et special guests - I've Got to Rock to Stay Alive. Its lyrics are workmanlike and bog standard, but that melody boasts some catchy riffs that give it more than a little punch. This song got me up and at it, ready to hit the gym again. That's not to leave out the other co-vocalists, among them, Lemmy!
"I've paid my dues, I've been around
I've had my share of ups and downs
I'll never stop, it's in my blood
I've got to rock, it feels so good
Can't stop me now, it's in my soul
I've got to play more rock 'n' roll"
Howie hefted one of the carbines, clearly excited. When he came close to flagging the rest of the camp as he waved it around, Ox swiftly grabbed his shoulder. "Remember what I told you when you first arrived?" Howie turned red. That lesson was not so easily forgotten. "Exercise proper muzzle discipline," he recited, carefully tilting the rifle so that the muzzle faced the ground. He faced the Ox, who had to admit that the rifle looked good in Howie's hands. "Are we going to the range?" "Those are for our camp sentries, patrollers, and... something else we've got in the works. You," he reached into the crate, grabbed a different weapon, and presented Howie with it, "get this."
Howie stared at the gun with a mixture of dismay and bafflement. "It's... so... old." Ox chuckled.
"It's robust and reliable: a semi-automatic battle rifle that will serve you well."
"Couldn't I at least get an automatic?"
"When you're ready for it, and you've learned more of the fundamentals of shooting, you shall. For now, this PK-52 rifle is your best friend."
Howie sighed.
"Guess I'd better get used to it, then."
Thank you @Fremen, @JCU and @agc. @agc That's right, I'm a big Ryuichi Sakamoto fan. I knew his work stretched beyond Yellow Magic Orchestra, but I'm still finding out how far. Maybe I'll take you up on that recommendation. I'm also a big fan of John Surman's work, as he's very good at bridging the gap between Classical-style instrumentation, and New Age/Ambient melodies. Also a big Ambient fan, as some of my posts evince. I always look forward to posting my music, and glad that you enjoy reading about it.
Salutations, Bees! It is I, the Ox!
Today's workout was off the Bullmastiff schedule (and who knows if I can continue with the program due to the state of my back), so I took the time to do a fun Push workout.
Larsen Press: 130 x 5. Not bad, not bad! Perhaps I'll be able to go for 132.5 x 5 next time. The reps were tough, but doable.
Incline Press: 92.5 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 65 x 5.
Straight Bar Pushdown: 14 x 6.
Barbell Curls: 40 x 6. Because I got bored of doing 37.5 and wanted to move on to the bumper plates lol.
I forgot to charge up my Octopus card before getting on the minibus to the gym, and was unable to pay the fare. Embarrassed, I admitted this to the driver, who simply raised a hand in acceptance. Kind guy - he was within his rights to tell me to get off the bus, but didn't. And I got to the gym on time, to boot!
We're going to an interesting Korean buffet place on Saturday, and it looks totally yummy! Om nom nom.
Have a great start to the week, Bees!
Playing: Sulfur has its hooks in me again. How is that possible? When games are in Early Access, you play through to their early endings, and, because my patience is limited, set them down and move on to other games. Then they update with new content, and you realize, hey, it's all coming together!
Sulfur's end game content has been released, including the final duel with the Witch. I found the spoilers in the final encounter to be a bit underwhelming; I guess the game's designers thought it would be better to have a more straightforward villain. This in contrast to the Desert Claus (I kid you not) boss whose appearance defies logic and tradition.
Watching: Watching Man Finds Tapes in drips and drabs. Spoiler: It's quite good, though the horror elements have yet to coalesce.
Listening to: Saxon et special guests - I've Got to Rock to Stay Alive. Its lyrics are workmanlike and bog standard, but that melody boasts some catchy riffs that give it more than a little punch. This song got me up and at it, ready to hit the gym again. That's not to leave out the other co-vocalists, among them, Lemmy!
"I've paid my dues, I've been around
I've had my share of ups and downs
I'll never stop, it's in my blood
I've got to rock, it feels so good
Can't stop me now, it's in my soul
I've got to play more rock 'n' roll"
"Ox, I've been thinking..."
"Alert the President!" Howie gave an annoyed noise.
"Where did all this come from?" He asked. Ox adjust the sling of his rifle a little, trying to gauge a response.
"I'm not a Priest, Howie."
"No, I don't mean it that way... more... the creatures, the anomalies. Why here, in Carcosa?"
"Well, many people would kill to answer that question. And I'm something of an immigrant, so I'm ill-suited to answer that question. Wouldn't someone like you know?
He wasn't looking in Howie's direction, but he could sense the young man shake his head.
"I'm just a dumb kid from New Alban who dropped out of school, ran with the wrong crowd and wracked up too much debt. This is all beyond me."
It was gently drizzling, and the clouds which blanketed the sky threatened to erupt with worse. Their back and forth was constantly accompanied by the sound of their boots padding along the dirt road. Ox was constantly on the lookout for threats, but they hadn't encountered anything as eventful as the last time they were out. "The way I see it, we've got three possibilities, though there may be more." Ox cleared his throat, and then spat onto the ground.
"The first is that there is a God, and boy are they pissed. Maybe what's going on here - I mean to say us turning into lizards and being festooned with monsters - is the start of a campaign to punish us, or wipe us out.
"Divine retri... what's the word, divine retribution?"
"Got it. The second is that this is some bizarre dream, hallucination, and alternate reality. Ever seen the movie 'The Matrix'?"
"You mean The Nootrix?"
"Uh... yeah, sure. The Nootrix. Kind of like that. Who knows how real all of this nonsense is. So kind of a disappointing possibility."
"And the last one?"
"Mankind FAFO'd." "FAFO?" Ox let out a laugh.
"F*cked Around and Found Out. Someone... maybe a scientist, politician, or some other power hungry person in power, was experimenting with... alternate worlds. For this theory, you have to subscribe to the idea that there are multiple worlds out there."
"Ah, like those Wonder Studios comics and movies."
"Umm, sure. Anyway, normally, the walls between worlds are thick and not easily breached. But someone, somehow, found out how to do it: maybe in the name of science, or money, or power. Judging by the shit-show we live in now, they got their wish, and then some." Howie was uncharacteristically silent, so he continued.
"That's why we're all lizards, that's why most people are nightmarish zombies, and that's why we have eldritch phenomena plaguing Carcosa. Whatever happened, it was here, and whoever originally did it is a part of one of the factions engaged in their petty power struggles. This is the possibility that scares me most."
"Why is that?"
"Maybe whoever originally started all this did not screw up. A few people died, a few countries collapsed, fine, they'll recalibrate and just try again. Why else continue if they didn't get what they wanted? They're continuing their experiments or incursions that originally ripped apart the boundaries between worlds. Things are getting worse, little by little. And who'll say when, or even *if*, they'll stop?"
Howie didn't have a rejoinder for that.
Hello? Yes, this is Ox.
Today was my first Pull workout since pulling a muscle in my lower back, and it went splendidly! I did take out the deadlifts. I will do them less crazily the next time I get around to it (which may not be for months).
Underhand Barbell Rows: 100 x 6. Felt pretty good.
T-Bar Rows: 112.5 x 6. The lifting straps did the trick!
Meadows Rows: 60 x 5. Love the way these feel.
Pull Ups: Total of 28, I think.
Machine Lat Pulldowns: 60 x 5.
A lot of cyberpunking around after my workout, to the tune of 28,800 steps. Yikes!
@TopNotch Hell yeah they're still around! They released an album last year, but I don't know how many more years they've got in them. All the same, I'll always treasure their blue-collar metal sound!
Getting some tasty cha chaan teng chicken curry for dinner as a treat. I figured KFC was overkill, so maybe next time.
A lot of the anxiety I have now is about moving back to Canada, eventually. But I'll be in a better space to worry about it next month, as there's too much going on in December.
On Saturday, we're going to try a new buffet place in TST that looks quite tasty. Here's hoping it measures up to the hype.
Almost to the weekend, Bees! You've got this!
Playing: Another new purchase (I've limited myself to two a month); this time was V Rising, which is the vampire crafting/action game I'd previously avoided. It turns out that apart from the crafting mechanics, you have a well-crafted, tight, and very playable ARPG campaign at its core. I'm still futzing around with the crafting, and my vampiric haven is slowly growing! As soon as I can clear out the pesky trees and rocks that are getting in the way *grumble* *grumble*.
(And, ahem, some Sulfur as well. Still haven't beaten the final boss).
Finally, after years of waiting, got to try Warhammer: Darktide on my PC. It's a team-based FPS that I had no intention of playing online. Sadly, it runs like hot garbage on my PC, so it was pretty much unplayable. Boom! Uninstalled.
Played a horde survival game with the apropos title of "Midnight Horde", which is a twist on the usual survival against endless enemies: the battlefield is a series of towers rather than a flat battlefield, and you spend your rounds crawling and parkouring around their exteriors. It's a neat concept, however, I'm not really a survival gamer, so this one's fate was pre-ordained: to wit, I got tired of it pretty quickly, and the starting weapon is just comically lacking in puissance. Boom! Uninstalled.
Also played a... uh... first person "medieval" slasher called Citizen Pain, which is one of the strangest misnomers I've ever come across in gaming. It too, ran like a two-legged horse on my system, and this was after a ten-minute wait to compile shaders. I had no idea what to make of this one. The ridiculous install size, mannequin-like models, and hackneyed gameplay... It reminded me of a Korean MMO wrapped in the skin of much better slashers. The poor framerate was just insult to injury. Total garbage, and was thus dealt with accordingly. Boom! Uninstalled.
Listening to: Futurecop! - Sweet Kisses/Returning (Home Town). Some sweet synthpop to see the day out. Sleep well, Bees.
"Alert the President!" Howie gave an annoyed noise.
"Where did all this come from?" He asked. Ox adjust the sling of his rifle a little, trying to gauge a response.
"I'm not a Priest, Howie."
"No, I don't mean it that way... more... the creatures, the anomalies. Why here, in Carcosa?"
"Well, many people would kill to answer that question. And I'm something of an immigrant, so I'm ill-suited to answer that question. Wouldn't someone like you know?
He wasn't looking in Howie's direction, but he could sense the young man shake his head.
"I'm just a dumb kid from New Alban who dropped out of school, ran with the wrong crowd and wracked up too much debt. This is all beyond me."
It was gently drizzling, and the clouds which blanketed the sky threatened to erupt with worse. Their back and forth was constantly accompanied by the sound of their boots padding along the dirt road. Ox was constantly on the lookout for threats, but they hadn't encountered anything as eventful as the last time they were out. "The way I see it, we've got three possibilities, though there may be more." Ox cleared his throat, and then spat onto the ground.
"The first is that there is a God, and boy are they pissed. Maybe what's going on here - I mean to say us turning into lizards and being festooned with monsters - is the start of a campaign to punish us, or wipe us out.
"Divine retri... what's the word, divine retribution?"
"Got it. The second is that this is some bizarre dream, hallucination, and alternate reality. Ever seen the movie 'The Matrix'?"
"You mean The Nootrix?"
"Uh... yeah, sure. The Nootrix. Kind of like that. Who knows how real all of this nonsense is. So kind of a disappointing possibility."
"And the last one?"
"Mankind FAFO'd." "FAFO?" Ox let out a laugh.
"F*cked Around and Found Out. Someone... maybe a scientist, politician, or some other power hungry person in power, was experimenting with... alternate worlds. For this theory, you have to subscribe to the idea that there are multiple worlds out there."
"Ah, like those Wonder Studios comics and movies."
"Umm, sure. Anyway, normally, the walls between worlds are thick and not easily breached. But someone, somehow, found out how to do it: maybe in the name of science, or money, or power. Judging by the shit-show we live in now, they got their wish, and then some." Howie was uncharacteristically silent, so he continued.
"That's why we're all lizards, that's why most people are nightmarish zombies, and that's why we have eldritch phenomena plaguing Carcosa. Whatever happened, it was here, and whoever originally did it is a part of one of the factions engaged in their petty power struggles. This is the possibility that scares me most."
"Why is that?"
"Maybe whoever originally started all this did not screw up. A few people died, a few countries collapsed, fine, they'll recalibrate and just try again. Why else continue if they didn't get what they wanted? They're continuing their experiments or incursions that originally ripped apart the boundaries between worlds. Things are getting worse, little by little. And who'll say when, or even *if*, they'll stop?"
Howie didn't have a rejoinder for that.
Hello? Yes, this is Ox.
Today was my first Pull workout since pulling a muscle in my lower back, and it went splendidly! I did take out the deadlifts. I will do them less crazily the next time I get around to it (which may not be for months).
Underhand Barbell Rows: 100 x 6. Felt pretty good.
T-Bar Rows: 112.5 x 6. The lifting straps did the trick!
Meadows Rows: 60 x 5. Love the way these feel.
Pull Ups: Total of 28, I think.
Machine Lat Pulldowns: 60 x 5.
A lot of cyberpunking around after my workout, to the tune of 28,800 steps. Yikes!
@TopNotch Hell yeah they're still around! They released an album last year, but I don't know how many more years they've got in them. All the same, I'll always treasure their blue-collar metal sound!
Getting some tasty cha chaan teng chicken curry for dinner as a treat. I figured KFC was overkill, so maybe next time.
A lot of the anxiety I have now is about moving back to Canada, eventually. But I'll be in a better space to worry about it next month, as there's too much going on in December.
On Saturday, we're going to try a new buffet place in TST that looks quite tasty. Here's hoping it measures up to the hype.
Almost to the weekend, Bees! You've got this!
Playing: Another new purchase (I've limited myself to two a month); this time was V Rising, which is the vampire crafting/action game I'd previously avoided. It turns out that apart from the crafting mechanics, you have a well-crafted, tight, and very playable ARPG campaign at its core. I'm still futzing around with the crafting, and my vampiric haven is slowly growing! As soon as I can clear out the pesky trees and rocks that are getting in the way *grumble* *grumble*.
(And, ahem, some Sulfur as well. Still haven't beaten the final boss).
Finally, after years of waiting, got to try Warhammer: Darktide on my PC. It's a team-based FPS that I had no intention of playing online. Sadly, it runs like hot garbage on my PC, so it was pretty much unplayable. Boom! Uninstalled.
Played a horde survival game with the apropos title of "Midnight Horde", which is a twist on the usual survival against endless enemies: the battlefield is a series of towers rather than a flat battlefield, and you spend your rounds crawling and parkouring around their exteriors. It's a neat concept, however, I'm not really a survival gamer, so this one's fate was pre-ordained: to wit, I got tired of it pretty quickly, and the starting weapon is just comically lacking in puissance. Boom! Uninstalled.
Also played a... uh... first person "medieval" slasher called Citizen Pain, which is one of the strangest misnomers I've ever come across in gaming. It too, ran like a two-legged horse on my system, and this was after a ten-minute wait to compile shaders. I had no idea what to make of this one. The ridiculous install size, mannequin-like models, and hackneyed gameplay... It reminded me of a Korean MMO wrapped in the skin of much better slashers. The poor framerate was just insult to injury. Total garbage, and was thus dealt with accordingly. Boom! Uninstalled.
Listening to: Futurecop! - Sweet Kisses/Returning (Home Town). Some sweet synthpop to see the day out. Sleep well, Bees.
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GentleOx
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"We have a gym now?" Ox and Howie eyed the makeshift setup in the corner of the camp, close by which Simmi was delivering instructions to several other volunteers. She turned as the two approached. "Hey there! Glad the patrol went well. What do you think of our new fitness center?" Ox gave Simmi a peck on the cheek, and then appraised the gym equipment, folding his arms. "It's pretty humble at the moment."
And indeed it was. A threadbare black bench with its padding leaking out was flanked by two rusted metal stands. Next to it were two taller stands, holding in place a small barbell of mean finish. Meanwhile, on the ground were scattered a pile of dumbbells, mostly with scrap metal handles holding concrete blocks together. Ox doubted whether they were evenly weighted. Simmi didn't seem deterred by the Ox's skepticism, admitting, "I know it's pretty rough going right now, but given time, and some development, we can make it an actual facility."
Howie had meanwhile headed over to the concrete dumbbells and was attempting to heft some of the heavier ones, to no avail. Finally, he found one within his limits and curled it up and down, producing exaggerated grunts. "Yeah Ma! Built like Schwarzkenner! Growing those guns for the beach," he gasped, in between repetitions. Simmi gestured at Howie. "See? Someone sees the utility of this new venture." "That makes two of you." Simmi lightly smacked his forehead in faux-admonishment. "Seriously, though. It can be a way for us to keep up our fitness, morale, and maybe down the line, it'll even save lives. Just give it time." Ox kept his reservations to himself, admitting that his partner had a good grasp on the mechanics of membership.
Time was the one thing they had more than enough of.
Hi again, Bees! Two workouts in a row.
Today was a shoulder-based Push day.
Overhead Press: 60 x 22. Gah. This absolutely beat the stuffing out of me, but I got the reps.
Behind the Neck Press: 65 x 6. Ugh. Just did not flow today, but that's alright.
Dumbbell Shoulder Raises: 14 x 12, 16 x 6. Moving up in weight, but the 16s were pretty challenging.
Straight Bar Pushdown: 14 x 6.
Barbell Curls: 6, 6, 6, 7 reps a set.
I may or may not hit the gym again on Sunday. Am supposed to, but we'll see how that pans out.
Mom wants to watch 全民造星VI tonight. I think the English title is "Every Citizen becomes a Star." It's basically one of those "Making the Band" knockoffs which chronicle the quest to form a boy group. Or is it a girl group this year? I forget.
Here's a trailer, replete with intense (bwahahaha) discussions and manufactured drama.
(Of course, I understand about 65% of what I hear, but when you're learning a foreign language, them's the breaks.)
Tomorrow, yummy Korean BBQ! I'll take lots of photos, as this is a very unique place (it's called Chef Zone).
Enjoy the weekend, Bees! You've earned it.
Playing: So, V Rising has dominated my playtime. I kind of wish there were more character/equipment customization, but I'll make up for it, when I deck out my EEEEVVVIIILL vampiric hall.
MWWAAAHAHAHA!
I guess I'm kinda glad we're getting a new Tomb Raider.
Watching: A bit of Stranger Things. I haven't resumed Man Finds Tapes, but aim to do so tonight. It's too good to put down for long.
Listening to: ZZ Top - Thug. I sheepishly admit to owning the ZZ Top album this song is from, but not listening to it in detail. It's a low-down, sleazy, scoundrel of a song with plenty of swagger.
"I haven't sat behind a wheel like this
Since that job in nineteen fifty-six
Can't wait till I can do it again
Can't keep my nose clean livin' in sin"
And indeed it was. A threadbare black bench with its padding leaking out was flanked by two rusted metal stands. Next to it were two taller stands, holding in place a small barbell of mean finish. Meanwhile, on the ground were scattered a pile of dumbbells, mostly with scrap metal handles holding concrete blocks together. Ox doubted whether they were evenly weighted. Simmi didn't seem deterred by the Ox's skepticism, admitting, "I know it's pretty rough going right now, but given time, and some development, we can make it an actual facility."
Howie had meanwhile headed over to the concrete dumbbells and was attempting to heft some of the heavier ones, to no avail. Finally, he found one within his limits and curled it up and down, producing exaggerated grunts. "Yeah Ma! Built like Schwarzkenner! Growing those guns for the beach," he gasped, in between repetitions. Simmi gestured at Howie. "See? Someone sees the utility of this new venture." "That makes two of you." Simmi lightly smacked his forehead in faux-admonishment. "Seriously, though. It can be a way for us to keep up our fitness, morale, and maybe down the line, it'll even save lives. Just give it time." Ox kept his reservations to himself, admitting that his partner had a good grasp on the mechanics of membership.
Time was the one thing they had more than enough of.
Hi again, Bees! Two workouts in a row.
Today was a shoulder-based Push day.
Overhead Press: 60 x 22. Gah. This absolutely beat the stuffing out of me, but I got the reps.
Behind the Neck Press: 65 x 6. Ugh. Just did not flow today, but that's alright.
Dumbbell Shoulder Raises: 14 x 12, 16 x 6. Moving up in weight, but the 16s were pretty challenging.
Straight Bar Pushdown: 14 x 6.
Barbell Curls: 6, 6, 6, 7 reps a set.
I may or may not hit the gym again on Sunday. Am supposed to, but we'll see how that pans out.
Mom wants to watch 全民造星VI tonight. I think the English title is "Every Citizen becomes a Star." It's basically one of those "Making the Band" knockoffs which chronicle the quest to form a boy group. Or is it a girl group this year? I forget.
Here's a trailer, replete with intense (bwahahaha) discussions and manufactured drama.
(Of course, I understand about 65% of what I hear, but when you're learning a foreign language, them's the breaks.)
Tomorrow, yummy Korean BBQ! I'll take lots of photos, as this is a very unique place (it's called Chef Zone).
Enjoy the weekend, Bees! You've earned it.
Playing: So, V Rising has dominated my playtime. I kind of wish there were more character/equipment customization, but I'll make up for it, when I deck out my EEEEVVVIIILL vampiric hall.
MWWAAAHAHAHA!
I guess I'm kinda glad we're getting a new Tomb Raider.
Watching: A bit of Stranger Things. I haven't resumed Man Finds Tapes, but aim to do so tonight. It's too good to put down for long.
Listening to: ZZ Top - Thug. I sheepishly admit to owning the ZZ Top album this song is from, but not listening to it in detail. It's a low-down, sleazy, scoundrel of a song with plenty of swagger.
"I haven't sat behind a wheel like this
Since that job in nineteen fifty-six
Can't wait till I can do it again
Can't keep my nose clean livin' in sin"
-
GentleOx
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