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Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past

02-27-2015 , 09:07 AM
210 (same,+3) 70k steps
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
03-01-2015 , 10:38 AM
February Movies Grades:

Titles in red are available on Netflix Instant, blue were scene in theater, italics are re-watches.

A+
The Killer (1989) – Action/Drama (Chinese)
Upstream Color (2013) – Drama/Sci Fi

Pyscho (1960) – Horror/Thriller

A
The Raid: Redemption (2011) – Action (Indonesian)
Frequencies (2013) – Sci Fi/Drama
Coherence (2013) – Sci Fi/Drama
Calvary (2014) – Drama
Big Hero 6 (2014) – Sci Fi/Action (Animated)
Predestination (2014) – Sci Fi/Drama
Boyhood (2014) – Drama
The One I Love (2014) – Romance/Drama/Sci Fi
The Theory of Everything (2014) – Drama/Romance
Almost Famous (2000) – Drama
Ida (2014) – Drama (Polish)

Whiplash (2014) - Drama
Nightcrawler (2014) – Drama/Action

A-
I Saw the Devil (2010) – Thriller (Korean)
Spellbound (1945) – Thriller
Chef (2014) – Drama/Comedy

B+
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) – Action
Project Almanac (2015) – Sci Fi/Drama

Mirage (1965) – Drama/Thriller
Mr. Peabody and Sherman (2014) – Action/Sci Fi/Drama (Animated)
Trainspotting (1996) – Drama

All the Right Moves (1983) – Sports Drama
The Birds (1963) – Horror/Thriller

B
Earth to Echo (2014) – Action/Sci Fi/Drama
Predator (1987) – Action
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) – Comedy/Sci Fi
Focus (2015) – Drama
Runaway Train (1985) – Action

B-
Automata (2014) – Sci Fi/Drama/Action
The Machine (2013) – Sci Fi/Drama/Action

Before I go to Sleep (2014) – Thriller
Conan the Destroyer (1984) – Action/Fantasy

C+
The Two Faces of January (2014) – Drama

C
All Good Things (2010) – Drama

C-
Expelled (2014) – Comedy
Lucy (2014) – Sci Fi/Action

F
The Darkest Hour (2011) – Sci Fi/Action
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
03-06-2015 , 03:23 PM
211 (+1,+4) 56k steps
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
03-13-2015 , 08:49 AM
211 (same,+4) 69k steps

Finally got around to watching Foxcatcher a few days ago. Thought it was fantastic. I didn't know anything about the story going in and I was fascinated by it and the 3 main characters. It left me wanting more, but there's no way to tell the whole story in 1 movie. All 3 actors were superb, with Tatum surprising me the most. Definitely will make my top 10 of 2014.

I still have several 2014 movies on my list to see - Selma, Wild, Interstellar, The Homesman, Fury, The Zero Theorem, Kill the Messenger, The Hobbit 3, Unbroken, and Still Alice.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
03-17-2015 , 11:19 PM
Just watched the I Hate Christian Laettner documentary, they make you want to like him, which I can't bring myself to do, but it was definitely interesting to get some different perspectives on him, and the doc was very well made. I've only seen a handful of the 30 for 30's, but now I have the itch so I might start plowing through some on Netflix.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
03-20-2015 , 01:11 PM
211 (same,+4) 66K steps

Watched another 30 for 30, Straight Outta L.A. Really interesting, didn't know much about the Raiders/LA history going in, could've watched another hour on Al Davis's craziness and multiple hours on the hip hop culture of the mid 80's - mid 90's.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
03-27-2015 , 09:16 AM
210 (-1,+3) 85K steps
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
03-28-2015 , 01:45 PM
Just finished "The U." Favorite 30 for 30 so far, one of the things I like most about these docs is the "what if" factor, so many of these story lines wouldn't have happened with a tiny change (different coach, etc), or could've been a lot different, but I guess a lot of things in life are that way. Anyway, looking forward to "The U part 2".
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03-31-2015 , 11:04 PM
March Movie Report

Titles in red are available on Netflix Instant, blue were scene in theater, italics are re-watches.

A+
The Godfather: Part 2 (Drama - 1974)

A
Fresh (Drama - 1994)
Foxcatcher (Sports Drama - 2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy (Action/Sci Fi/Fantasy - 2014)
Dredd (Action/Sci Fi - 2013)
Edge of Tomorrow (Action/Sci Fi - 2014)

Moonrise Kingdom (Drama/Comedy - 2012)
Deathtrap (Drama/Thriller/Comedy - 1982)
“The U” (Sports Documentary - 2009)

A-
The Homesman (Drama/Western - 2014)
The Good, the Bad, the Weird (Action - 2008) (Korean)
New World (Action/Drama - 2013) (Korean)

The Outlaw Josey Wales (Action/Drama/Western - 1976)
Diggstown (Sports/Action/Drama/Comedy - 1992)
China Syndrome (Drama - 1979)
King of Devil’s Island (Drama - 2010)
Fletch – (Comedy/Action - 1985)
Never Let me Go (Drama/Sci Fi - 2010)
Open Water (Thriller – 2004)

B+
Tell No One (Action/Drama - 2006) (French)
eXistenZ (Action/Sci Fi - 1999)

I Hate Christian Laettner (Sports Documentary - 2015)
The American Scream (Documentary - 2012)
Invisible Stripes (Drama – 1939)
The Oklahoma Kid (Action/Drama/Western - 1939)
All Through the Night (Drama - 1941)
Straight Outta L.A. (Sports Documentary - 2010)

B
The Zero Theorem (Drama/Sci Fi - 2014)
“The U” part 2 (Sports Documentary – 2014)
The Dark Valley (Drama/Western - 2014) (German)
Flash Point (Action/Martial Arts - 2007) (Chinese)

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (Action/Drama/Sci Fi - 2004) (Japanese)
Jordan Rides the Bus (Sports Documentary - 2010)
The Beast Must Die (Action/Comedy - 1974)

B-
The Signal (Action/Drama/Sci Fi - 2014)
The Giver (Action/Drama/Sci Fi - 2014)
Series 7: The Contenders (Action/Drama/Comedy - 2001)
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (Action/Drama/Comedy - 2002)
Blue Velvet (Drama/Action - 1986)

C+
Conspiracy Theory (Action/Drama - 1999)
Parallels (Action/Sci Fi - 2015)

C-
The Guest (Action/Thriller - 2014)

D
Need for Speed (Action - 2014)
Man of Tai Chi (Action/Martial Arts - 2013)
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-03-2015 , 08:23 AM
212 (+2,+5) 80k steps

Damnit.

Rarely am I surprised when I weigh-in since I track calories and exercise, but I certainly wasn't expecting a +2 this week, gonna have to try to use it as motivation.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-10-2015 , 09:42 AM
212 (same,+5) 82K steps
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-16-2015 , 11:18 AM
Watched a few 2014 releases recently and saw Furious 7 last night:

A Most Violent Year
Amazing performance by Oscar Isaac and although she wasn't given as much screen time I thought Jessica Chastain was fantastic as well. Definitely a slow burn movie, and although I enjoyed it, I thought the story itself was a little lacking, basically for me it was a good movie that could have been great.

Fury
The battle scenes were very well done, and it was a unique experience to spend a good chuck of the over 2 hour run-time inside a tank. However, despite the movie centering around 5 guys I only felt like I really got to know one of them and I didn't feel strongly about any of them. More character development would have raised the film up a few notches, and overall I feel similar about this one as A Most Violent year, in that it was a good film that could have been great.

The Skeleton Twins
On the complete opposite end of the "caring about the main characters spectrum" is The Skeleton Twins. Bill Hader and Kristen Wig play twins brought together by an attempted suicide after 10 years without contact. Despite their glaring flaws, I loved every second with the 2 main characters. Deeply emotional and hilarious at the same time, I can't recommend this film enough. I still have several 2014 releases left to see, but this will definitely make my top 10 of the year and potentially by top 5.

Furious 7
I'm fascinated by this franchise and amazed how it transformed itself from 2 unbelievably terrible sequels into the mega action blockbuster series it is today. 7 contained jaw dropping action sequences mixed with wonderfully cheesy dialogue and classic one-liners from Dom. I loved every second of its absurdity, and on a more serious note was quite impressed by the surprisingly touching send off of Paul Walker, RIP.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-17-2015 , 10:21 AM
212 (same,+5) 86K steps
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-20-2015 , 08:59 AM
Rewatched The Godfather this weekend. It had probably been 10 years since my original viewing. Wow, just amazing how a 3 hour movie can keep you glued to the screen for every second, a perfect film IMO. Makes me want to rethink my grading scale. If it's an A+ then it just seems wrong to have so many others with the same grade. Maybe I'll start designating my very top tier movies as A++. Of course then Judgement Night would have to be an A+++.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-20-2015 , 09:24 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by scottp4braves
212 (same,+5) 86K steps
I wonder, what are the numbers in brackets?
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-20-2015 , 09:46 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by lapka
I wonder, what are the numbers in brackets?
(Change from precious week, change from start of year)
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-24-2015 , 10:50 AM
211 (-1,+4) 80k steps

I guess I've intentionally avoided thinking about it, but I haven't posted anything about my diet over the last 6+ months. That's probably because it's sucked and I don't like looking at it in print, so anyway, here's what I ate the last 7 days, which is unfortunately pretty consistent with the last several months:

Friday: Breakfast - Banana, Lunch - Turkey Wrap and Mixed Fruit, Dinner - Scholsky's Original Sandwich & Kettle Chips, Dessert - Pint of Soy Milk Cookie Dough Ice Cream (3030 calories)
Saturday: Lunch - Cheerios with Almond Milk, Dinner - 1/2 a Jet's large pep/sausage pizza & 1/2 a large Jet's bread, Dessert - 2 big chocolate chip cookies (3950 calories)
Sunday: Lunch - Cheerios with Almond Milk, Dinner - Jimmy John's Turkey Sandwich with Kettle Chips, Dessert - Pint of Soy Milk Cookie Dough Ice Cream (3180 calories)
Monday: Lunch - Banana & Belveta, Snack - Belveta, Dinner - Salad with light honey mustard & veggie chips, Dessert - 3 Weight Watcher's Bars (2100 calories)
Tuesday: Lunch - Grilled Chicken & Veggies, Snack - Banana, Dinner - Subway footlong turkey sandwich & kettle chips, Dessert - 4 Weight Watcher's Bars (2540 calories)
Wednesday: Breakfast - Banana, Lunch - Grilled Chicken & Veggies, Snack - Banana, Dinner - Amy's Frozen Cheese Enchiladas and kettle chips, Dessert - 3 Weight Watcher's Bars (2180 calories)
Thursday: Breakfast - Banana, Lunch - Grilled Chicken & Veggies, Dinner - Amy's Frozen Cheese Enchiladas and kettle chips, Dessert - 5 Weight Watcher's Bars (2260 calories)

As for exercise, I'm doing well, most days I do a "treadmill hike" (varying levels of incline) or take a long walk outside with my wife. Now that it's getting warmer we also walk the dogs several times per week. And I do a 10-15 minute "core" workout twice per week.

Basically I’m eating too much processed food and too much dessert, should be an easy fix, but I just like it so darn much.

On the addiction front, movies are the only thing I’ve been latched on too for almost a year now, one of the healthier addictions I’ve had, so I’m not too concerned.

On an unrelated note, I watched the 3rd Hobbit movie last night, it was better than I expected, but all it really accomplished was making me want to re-watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which I haven’t done in quite a while. It’s supposed to be a rainy weekend here so I’m looking forward to plowing through the entire 9ish hours.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-24-2015 , 03:11 PM
Do you like something healthy? I mean I also like sweets. But there is plenty of healthy food, I love. I mean if you would substitute processed food with the same amount of healthy things would that stop weight gain? Can you move the desert from dinner to lunch? That helps sometimes just to shift calories in the day.

like your blog. Have some similar battles. And liked many of documentaries you mentioned.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-25-2015 , 10:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by lapka
Do you like something healthy? I mean I also like sweets. But there is plenty of healthy food, I love. I mean if you would substitute processed food with the same amount of healthy things would that stop weight gain? Can you move the desert from dinner to lunch? That helps sometimes just to shift calories in the day.

like your blog. Have some similar battles. And liked many of documentaries you mentioned.
I do like some healthy foods, and I'm going to attempt to substitute fruit a few nights a week for my "sweets" fix opposed to weight watchers ice cream bars. I also need to get back to veggies w dinner opposed to chips and start mixing fish back in, and I actually do like the fish we cook. It all sounds so easy, it's just so hard giving up the kettle chips and weight watchers bars I "love" so much, it's sad to say and not really true when I think about it, but some part of me definitely sees eating those foods as the highlight of my day.

Thanks, and thanks for the suggestions, always appreciated. I'd like to get back to some actual blogging eventually.

On the movie front, rewatched The Imitation Game last night, as of now it's edging out Calvary and The Skeleton Twins as my favorite film of 2014, although I still need to see Selma, Wild, and a few more.

Heading to the theatre for Ex Machina in a couple hours, pretty pumped.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
04-30-2015 , 09:59 PM
April Movie Grades

Titles in red are available on Netflix Instant, blue were scene in theater, italics are re-watches.

A+
The Godfather (Drama – 1972)
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Fantasy/Action/Drama – 2003)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Fantasy/Action/Drama – 2001)
The Imitation Game (Drama/Biopic – 2014)


A
Beasts of the Southern Wild (Drama/Fantasy – 2012)
The Skeleton Twins (Drama/Comedy – 2014)
Anatomy of a Murder (Drama – 1959)
Ex Machina (Sci Fi/Drama/Psychological Thriller – 2015)
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (Documentary – 2015)
I Origins (Sci Fi/Drama – 2014)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Action/Sci Fi – 2014)
Raging Bull (Drama/Sports – 1980)
You don’t know Bo (Sports Documentary – 2012)
Full Metal Jacket (War Drama – 1987)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Fantasy/Action/Drama – 2002)
Furious 7 (Action – 2015)

A-
Adaptation (Drama – 2002)
Being John Malkovich (Drama/Comedy – 1999)
Man on Wire (Documentary – 2008)
The Imposter (Documentary – 2012)
Crips and Bloods: Made in America (Documentary – 2008)
Atari: Game Over (Documentary – 2014)
Broke (Sports Documentary – 2012)

Princess Mononoke (Action/Drama/Fantasy – 1997) (Japanese)
Dead End (Drama – 1937)
The Avengers (Action/Sci Fi – 2012)

B+
Brian and the Boz (Sports Documentary – 2014)
Lost in Translation (Drama/Comedy – 2003)
They Drive by Night (Drama – 1940)
Bad Boys (Sports Documentary – 2014)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Fantasy/Action – 2014)
The Babadook (Horror – 2014)
Scarface (Action/Drama – 1932)

B
Fury (Action/Drama – 2014)
Killer Legends (Documentary – 2014)
Analyze This (Comedy/Drama – 1999)
Cold in July (Thriller – 2014)
A Most Violent Year (Drama – 2014)
Stoker (Thriller – 2013)

B-
Cropsey (Documentary – 2009)
The Thin Blue Line (Documentary – 1988)


C
Things to do in Denver when you’re Dead (Drama – 1995)

D
Under the Skin (Drama/Sci Fi – 2014)
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
05-01-2015 , 09:51 AM
210 (-1,+3) 101k steps

F – Cheerios w/ Almond Milk, Quizno’s large turkey sandwich w/ kettle Chips, pint of dairy free ice cream (2940 calories)
S - Cheerios w/ Almond Milk, large plate of nachos & chips/salsa, 3 cupcakes (4570 calories)
S – Frozen egg rolls & kettle chips, pint of dairy free ice cream & a cupcake (2970 calories)
M – Banana & belvita, big salad & veggie chips, mixed fruit (1320 calories)
T – Banana, cheerios w/ almond milk, belvita, baked sea bass w/ mixed veggies, 3 WW bars (1750 calories)
W – Grilled chicken & mixed veggies, banana, frozen enchiladas & kettle chips, 4 WW bars (2300 calories)
T – Belvita, grilled chicken & mixed veggies, banana, baked salmon & mixed veggies, mixed fruit & 1 cookie (1720 calories)

Best exercise week I’ve had in a very long time, 100k steps isn’t sustainable, but it was fun to try and reach that milestone. It wasn’t perfect, but if my weekly food log looked like this each week I’d be ecstatic. The next 5 weeks are going to be tough so I’m hoping this laid somewhat of a foundation, as I have the 1st work week of month craziness, followed by travel 4 of the next 5 weeks.

Looking forward to tomorrow though, seeing the Avengers 2, watching and of course betting on the Derby, playing some poker, and watching the biggest fight in decades.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
05-08-2015 , 03:45 PM
210 (same,+3) 78k steps

Similar diet to last week except we took my mom out to dinner last night and I had a steak, baked potato, couple rolls, and we split a big piece of chocolate cake. Lots of calories, but it was damn good. 1st week of the month knocked my exercise down a notch, but I'm happy with it. Goal is to weigh-in at 209 next Friday before our mini vacation to Houston.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
05-15-2015 , 10:33 AM
210 (same,+3) 94k steps

Solid exercise, usual weekend crap eating, and ate frozen meals and kettle chips all week. Silver lining, at least I kept portions reasonable enough to not gain.

Flying to Houston in a few hours for a long weekend mini vaca - staying with family, seeing a concert, and I'm not really sure what else they have planned for us, but should be a good time.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
05-22-2015 , 08:44 AM
210 (same,+3) 94k steps

Happy to make it through this week without gaining. Other than annoying flights delays we had a great trip to Houston. Spent quality time with my wife's Aunt/Uncle, saw a fantastic concert where Dave Matthews played for a solid 3 hours, and enjoyed way too much delicious food. There happened to be a major Ironman race going on a few miles from their house so we actually watched the 6-10th place competitors cross the finish line, just an amazing accomplishment that really shows people are capable of almost anything. Definitely gave me some motivation to get my knee checked out again and do some research on the injection my Dr. had mentioned previously so I can start running again (I essentially don't have any shock absorption in my right knee, but 3 years ago when I had the x-ray and met with the Dr. he mentioned there was an injection that can help).

Anyway, it was a nice mini-vacation. I've paid for it the past couple days at work, but that comes with the territory. Looking forward to a relaxing long weekend and then I'm heading to Denver on Tuesday for a 2 day work trip, not sure if I'll have time, but I'm going to try and squeeze in a little hiking and hopefully some poker as well.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote
05-29-2015 , 04:34 PM
211 (+1,+4) 133k steps

Ate an entire medium pizza last night so I'm hoping that skewed the weigh-in because I actually had a decent week. Went to Denver for work for a few days, best work trip by far since I've been in my new job. Finished work around 4:00 and had time to squeeze in an awesome 6ish mile hike both days at Red Rocks park.
Optimistic for an Even-Keeled Future after an Up and Down Past Quote

      
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