The One Is Simply An Anomaly.

Interesting quote there, from tonights fare, The Matrix: Reloaded. Note, stop reading here if you really really don't want to spoil it for yourself. I'm not going to say anything that spoils plot elements, but some people are paranoid.

So this is the middle one in the trilogy, which unfortunately means there are some slow parts. They have to do a lot of explaining, and there's a lot of technical sci fi terminology, especially during the last half hour or so, which leads to a ho hum ending of this portion. Note, there are some really, really cool action scenes. Of course, you saw portions of just about all of them in the preview. They strived to top the lobby scene from the original, and unfortunately failed. But given that was one of the cooler scenes of all time, that's not altogether surprising. If fighting martial arts style is your thing, you'll certainly get your fill. If car chases are your thing, there's an excellent one lodged in the middle. If you're really into sci-fi mumbo jumbo and pondering life's questions about who we are and why we're here, you'll probably rate this one very highly. Unfortunately my personal favorite action scene is almost directly after the opening credits. Also seen in one of the previews, it's one damn cool explosion. Very much like X2 in that respect, after the open few minutes I was thinking "oh yeah baby" which was later replaced with "well thank you for explaining the origin of the matrix could you go back to kicking some ass now." Who knows, maybe I was in the mood to be simple minded tonight. Then again the original was an action flick staple, and you expect at least an equal caliber in return. I was hoping to see increased usage and innovation in the technology so heavily used in the first, and while they do use a bunch, it just makes it seem even less realistic to me. Running up a wall backflipping and kicking some guy in the face three times before you land is pretty nifty, but doing a superman impersonation and leaping cities in a single bound, well, that's just a bit less realistic. Not that any of it is realistic logically, but some is even less, you know?

Hm think that's enough babbling. We'll give the sequel 4 M's out of 7, after the original earned 5. The other night I decided to watch Clerks, due to the fact my company wanted a comedy, and I'd heard it was hilarious. As usual, I was disappointed. There were a couple scenes that were downright funny. There were a couple scenes where I found myself more interested in the posters on my wall, and found myself not paying attention to paragraphs full of dialogue. I probably didn't miss much. And it's black and white, which sort of adds to the dullness. We'll go with 2.5 M's here, because I usually say 3 is the level that it's at least worth renting if you're bored, but this isn't really one I'd spend money on.

Blew out one of the air pockets on my running shoe, quite annoying. Going to have to get them replaced, which costs money. Gr.

Crunch Time.

Okay today first of all I have to give huge brownie points to one of my friends for randomly IMing me last night and deciding to come up and visit. For those who didn't know, visiting me here at UCSB is like the coolest thing a person could ever do. To date only three people (including this most recent person) have done it, and one was required, so that doesn't even really count. We're talking like two million brownie points in my book forever. I do love randomly showing up at other campuses across California and surprising people, but being visited is just as special. So yeah this person rocks.

Okay now on to the topic of the day. Starting this week, there are exactly five weeks left. On the final Saturday, I graduate. This weekend I did a whole lot of organizing/planning, figuring out how things are going to go over the five weeks. I redid my reading schedule to include everything post midterm, and have it set up so that as long as I stay on top of it I should never have books full of reading to do like usual. I'm back on my morning workout schedule, and actually felt pretty good today even though I didn't compelte the entire workout. The repetitions I did complete had quick times, with the second 800 being even faster than the first, which is basically unheard of. I did blow out an air pocket at some point, so I'm trying not to do anything to hard until I get a new pair of shoes. Shin splints haven't reared their ugly head in quite some time, and I'm loving it.

I tried a pool workout yesterday, was pondering adding that in the mornings, and that pretty much killed my eyes, going to have to invest in a pair of goggles before I try any more of that. On the one hand it adds good cardio, on the other it will tire me out so that my workout times will slow down, and I'll feel like I'm making less progress. The good news is on the bicep curl side of things I've seen drastic improvement, it's very visible. Unfortunately while sick I've been slacking on the pushup reps, so I'll probably have regressed a week or two when I start it up again.

Anyway long story short I've set various goals, that I hope to achieve by June 14th, which is the day before I graduate.


Weight: Current: 185-188 Goal: 180
2400 Time: Current: 10:21 Goal: 9:00
Mile Time: Current: 6:38 Goal: 6:00
Pushups (2 min): Current: 45 Goal: 60
Situps (2 min): Current: 60 Goal: 80
Bicep Curl (10 reps): Current: 50 Goal: 70
Bench Press (10 reps): Current: ? Goal: 145
Lateral Pulldowns (10 reps): Current ? Goal: 125
GPA: Current: WHO KNOWS Goal: Good enough to Graduate!

So there you have it. Not actually sure where I'm at in the last two weightlifting exercises, going to start adding the lat work with my bicep work on running days, but benching will probably have to stay out while I'm doing hardcore pushups workouts every other day. I figure that should improve my bench just as well anyway. Maybe I'll throw a random set in on one of those days just to see how far off I am.

The mile time is possible, although I'm still a ways off, running two 800's separately today I only managed a 6:15, although if I was trying to break 6 in a mile I could probably eek some more speed out. The 9:00 1.5 mile is a lot more of a dream, 90 second laps for that long will probably require a bunch of guys on the track with me, along with some very vocal spectators. The last day of training before I go home I'll probably run a 1.5 mile time trial, and try to not only break the 6 minute mile barrier that I haven't crossed since high school, but also sneak under the 9 minute mark at the same time, which might be possible if I do manage the first mile under 6.

Basically if I achieve all those goals I'll be in fabulous shape going into OTS. At those levels of running pushups and situps I'll be at a 359 score out of 500, not quite the 400 I'm shooting for long run, but after ten weeks of getting my ass kicked, I'm sure it's possible. Then again most people will come in hoping it will "get them in shape" having not run more than a half mile in the last few years of their life, and not even be able to pass the 140 point passing level. Sucks to be them.

Probably the hardest goal is the 180 pound barrier. I've been hovering in the high 180s for what seems like forever. Yesterday I weighed in at 185 after a normal day of meals/exercise, today I weighed in at 188 after the same. Starting this week I've gotten a lot more serious when it comes to eating though, so I should finally start seeing the number inch downwards. No more food after 8pm unless it's the apple and banana I jacked at dinner, always eat breakfast and an early dinner, squeeze salads onto the tray instead of pizza. It's turning heads, but should do be good.

Okay have I been boring enough today talking about my health, yeah I think so.

More later about the coolest video ever I downloaded.