New beginnings

It has been a long time since the last post.

My shoulder pains have subsided. I am back to 225 for behind the neck presses. Both shoulders feel loose. I can now actually get up out of bed without any pain when I push myself off to sit up. Yesterday I squeezed out 315 in the bench for 10 easy reps and another 3 reps with 365 which also went up easily. It has been over 9 months since I tried anything meaningful over 335 in the bench.

I am leaving my current employer for a new opportunity. I learned a lot but times has come to move onward. I am a bit surprised at the reaction by my coworkers - some thought I was joking while one was quite upset. I wish them all well as it has been interesting to work there. Raj, Jean and a few others have placed in context through their conduct toward me over the past few days that perhaps my presence actually meant something. I'll remember working there with fondness and likely will keep in touch.

Currently I am still reading "War Made New" by Max Boot. It seems its taking too long to complete the work, but coupled with my CMA research report, case work and other work I really have not had the time to just burn through the book in a few weekend afternoons. Next on my reading list is "The Greatest Battle" - an account of the WW2 battle for Moscow, which signalled the turning point of the war.

I'll try to make an greater effort at posting at least once per week to account for the events of the week.

July 15th

It has been over 3 weeks. I have not been in the mood.
Yesterday was Kaye's birthday. It has been over 5 years. HBLS.

Summer feels like its going by very slowly. I am looking forward to Sept when we start up the SLP again.
Spending time with friends, at the gym and going to the movies. Both Die Hard and Transformers are worth seeing.

June 24th

I have been doing a lot of soul searching lately. Time off from school has given me more time to think about where I am and where I would like to be and what steps I need to take in order to get there. Being creatures of accomplishment provides us with a drive to a greater level of self actualization. Indeed sometimes the more you know often you may not necessarily be better off. Often greater levels of awareness and knowledge lead one to a greater level of dissatisfaction knowing that certain things should be a certain way. The only thing one can do is take action steps within one's means to lead in the general desired direction. Still the open sea has its own challenges, given the safety of the shore.

This weekend - gym, uncles 50's birthday party, and follow up on Sunday.

June 13

Finally finished "Partners In Command, Marshal and Eisenhower". Next on the list is "Partners In Power: Kissinger and Nixon". There appears to be a trend to write about partnerships, perhaps they are inherently more interesting and provide greater context.

Sessions at the gym have been focused and intense. Its harder to train in the heat but we try to keep a quick pace. Backing off Smith Machine behind the back shrugs has eased off the back pain. Couple with calf training has reestablished the stability in the legs, which is esp. helpful
in the squat. 315lbs for 10 reps butt to the floor is now again no problem. If I can go back to 405 for 6-8 reps, it would be as far as I would need to go.

Proctored for Dorothy Timmermans this past weekend for her prep program for the CMA Entrance Exams. Afterward gave the students a short breakdown of how I studied last year and what I did to pass. Afterward one woman began crying saying she was going into her third attempt (and final) and felt she was not fast enough as a reader to pass. While its simple enough to provide students with study tips its quite another to try and appease someone emotionally.

June 3rd

My Internet was down all weekend. Sympatico should really improves it operational effectiveness esp in the area of call centre technical support.

I am about 60% through Partners in Command. Next Chapter is on Overlord. Narrow focus and speed. Interestingly the SLP teaches the same.

Queen's MBA? Perhaps when I finish my CMA. Someone I met recently has strongly made the suggestion. Something to consider.

Sister and baby doing well. Brother-in-law was over.

Bought Forza 2 and Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Both will take time to finish. Next games will likely be Two Worlds followed by GTA 4, Assassins Creed and perhaps Dark Sector in the fall.

May 31

End of a long month. Nearly 5 full weeks this month. Lots happened. Let's recap.

Finished SLP case and year 1 of the SLP. Sister had her baby - both are fine. Decent month at work. Training has been going well. Saw Spiderman 3 and 26 Weeks Later both disappointed . Half way through "Partners in Command". Saw some friends have not seen in a while. Finally got my XBOX 360 and finished Gears of War on hardcore and Lost Planet on Normal.

Partners In Command shapes up to be another classic along the lines of The Clinton Wars and Supreme Conflict. Another highly recommended read. Now I know that Churchill insisted that the allies attack North Africa first, that the allies really feared the Germans actually invading mainland US and that actually remained a theoretical possibility and that only the US and Britain had any real say in the war. Canadian and Polish influence was inconsequential. Britain dismissed Canada in the war yet we still pay homage to the Queen. Ignorance or lack of choice?

I noticed several historical accounts of partnerships. John and Bobby Kennedy and Nixon and Kissinger. Perhaps those will be next on the read list.

Gym today was busy. Did not really push myself hard but stayed for roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Decent session and pump.

New month is here - new goals.

May 29th Post

I actually feel more inspired to write a bit more. Quiet in the gym today. About half the usual crowd. Perhaps the warm weather draws people out into more outdoor activities. Work was quiet as well.

Began reading "Partners in Command: George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower in War and Peace" by Mark Perry. Read first chapter. Highly engaging and recommended account of the leadership styles of both men with the backdrop of history. Actually the position of the US in the early 1940's was a lot more tenuous than previously thought. Interesting that Marshall only gave general recommendations for type of action to take but also gave freedom to his officers and generals to carry out their task in manner in which he saw most fit.

Sister's baby is doing fine. Swelling has gone down. She is quiet and only cries a bit when hungry. She actually looks a lot like me at one week old.

Forza has come out for the 360 but the reviews are high but also mixed. Odds are I'll just get it as a rental. Hard to justify $69.99 when I have Burnout Revenge and NSF MW and yet to make any real inroads in either game.