One of the coolest things about having a trainer has been actually keeping track of my progress through regular tests. Yesterday I had my third test since starting up with my trainer after surgery and some of the changes are pretty interesting.

In the past 3 months I've gained 8 lbs yet lowered my blood pressure and % body fat. +1.25 inches of girth in shoulders, chest, and thighs, with smaller increases to girth in pretty much all other measurements. I managed 55 push-ups in a row, which is not bad, but more impressive is 40 inclined sit-ups in 60 seconds.

Looking back to 6 months ago the changes are even more crazy, and I even started in pretty decent shape and was mostly focused on injury rehab this whole time. I guess that goes to show you the value of a personal trainer.

For those who might be interested, here's where I train ...

Devine Design Body Sculpting
3199 S Bascom Ave
Campbell, CA 95008-6728
(408) 371-5313

This past tuesday my roommate invited me out to the Elbo Room to see "a brazilian group". I didn't know anything about the group or the music, but I was down to go out that night anways and I'm glad I did!

These guys are amazing. Anyone who's interested can check out their website and keep a watch out for live performances. I still have some of the songs playing in my head :)

I haven't talked about my knee progress in quite a while.

It's now about 9 months since the surgery and a couple weeks ago I started my new lifting cycle, the squat cycle. 145 lbs x 10. whoot! actually, 145 x 10 isn't all that impressive considering that a reasonably strong person should be able to do their body weight x 10, but I'm pretty happy about it anyways. This squat cycle is basically the last step before I am all set to return to full activities and *finally* get back on the soccer field. can't wait.

Pretty impressive when you sit back and think about it. Less than 9 months after having my knee sliced open and having one of my ligaments completely removed and replaced and I can already pack 150 lbs on my back and do some squats.

Gotta love it ... all you can eat pizza mondays!

There's just nothing better than sitting down with a pitcher of cold beer and all you can eat pizza after a tough monday at work. If you're in the neighborhood then you can enjoy this too, just head on over to Goat Hill Pizza at 300 Connecticut St, San Francisco 94107 (Portrero Hill). Lines are long on Monday nights, so prepare for a little wait.

"White clouds rush under us,
cold winds brush against our cheeks,
together, up here in these blue skies,
we can fly as high and as far as our hearts will take us."

That was the closing line of the series. I had somehow found myself on a break from anime over the past months and about 3 weeks ago it dawned on me ... "hey! you haven't watched any anime in quite a while. mmm, that sounds fun."

Last Exile was definitely a top notch series which actually reminded me a lot of Escaflowne. Similar type of old world meets new world style of hybrid fantasy which i always love. Throw in a group of great characters, a solid story, and some beatuiful artwork and you've got yourself a winner.

"If you continually give, you will continually have"