Hmm

I can't say I've been extremely busy, but definitely more so than usual as of late. My uncle needed more help over at his place (and now he's gone for the winter to Florida) and the new neighbor has had me over there helping out a number of times over the past couple weeks. She's a nice lady, but I think she's a bit too deep into new age and has some questionable history. Not really sure she's an extremely trustworthy person, but I won't refuse someone who asks me for help (at least, not when I have the time to spare.)

I went to another wedding this weekend, and I somewhat regret that actually - I would think I'd have learned my lesson by now. Really loud - the guy running sound was absolutely atrocious (yes, the room had no sound dampeners and it was a concrete church gymnasium/cafeteria, but I could tell he gave little thought on his levels) and the building contained more people than I've ever seen at a single wedding before. The food was good (I ate there once before for a company Christmas party) and at least I saw a few family I don't mind seeing - but as usual, there were the ones I'd prefer not to deal with as well, and of course, the endless prodding and judgments about my current situation (which is perfectly acceptable - and actually, healthy for me - just not what most people expect out of a fellow human being apparently.) I saw an ex-coworker who had retired, and the office secretary from United greeted me from behind. She said I looked much happier than I did before - and I'll take that as me having done the right thing. I wouldn't question it now anyway - I only regret the loss of money, but I definitely don't regret feeling sick on a weekly basis and feeling I'd rather be dead than continue waking up to clock in there.

I've been keeping up with my workout schedule the past few weeks, which is great. Two A days and two B days. Squats, bench, shoulder rows and dips on A, deadlifts, overhead press and bent over rows on B, with some isolations thrown in on both. I seem to be gaining a fair bit of muscle. My weight has increased slightly but my torso is far more cut, and that probably has a lot to do with my eating habits as of late as well - basically no refined grains, and really watching my calorie intake.

I'm trying to rid myself of what bit of midsection fat I have (mostly on the sides and sides of my lower back, and a little on my abdomen.) It's a painstaking process, though - weight training with very little food beforehand is much harder than one might think. I've also had some issues with lightheadedness and slight nausea after squats and deadlifts, and I guess that's fairly normal - it's a drop in systolic blood pressure due to the increase of blood pooling in the legs. There's not a lot that can be done about it besides breathing better - so quitting smoking is a priority now, as well as reading up on proper breathing during the exercises.

I'd add more but my patience for sitting here at the moment is at its end.