Check in #9

It's freakin' cold and my fingers are numb. Car license plate said "SUNNY". 10/4/2012 - 87.2KG (-0.4KG) - Sevy

Infection setting in

Already using Facebook more than I want. And that's only... what, 4 times this week excluding picture uploads for my charity stuff?

I'm an old and confused man, and Web 2.0 frightens me.

 

- Sevy

Check in #8

It would appear I've had a little hiatus from the blog. This wasn't planned. It's a case of random convergence of illness, a lack of any real news, busted scales and a general feeling of CBFness. Basically take the script of a really bad romantic comedy and replace the girl with bacterial infection. What a riot!

I... yes, as I've scribbled I have not been well. Which seems to be a common thread in my life any the moment. I honestly think I'm coming out of this infectious cloud that's been hanging on me, but knowing I've missed the Romp and yesterday's fun run from this thing has me pretty peeved.

That's the extent of the last 3 weeks then. Me being mopey and on the edge of depression. I'd have used "precipice" but that seems far too dramatic.

2/4/2012 - 87.6KG (on my mobile, don't know the shift)

- Sevy

Dare To Wear

Hi there,

On Friday the 30^th of March I will be getting into costume for “Dare To Wear” day to raise money for "Fitted for Work", a not-for-profit organisation that exists to help women experiencing disadvantage to get work and keep it.

I will be dressing up as this happy chappie.

 

I will be In costume all day. At the office and out that night. The amusement factor alone is certainly priceless.

If you would like to donate, please check out the link below.

My Donation Page

- Sevy

Uh oh, he's posting a video!

The good (prescription!) drugs just kicked in and I'm in a very mellow place right now. Perfect place for the video below.

I'm very jealous of this crew. I wish I had the time to plan something like this.

I'll finally have the space once I've moved into my house to set up a very old keyboard that belonged to my Nan, so in a couple of months maybe I'll have taught myself enough to be able to play Chopsticks in a duet.

A man can dream. A man can dream...

- Sevy

Edit - I'm sure this has probably been posted a million times on Facebook already and I'm way behind the curve. I don't care. It's still interesting.

Learnings

A cold can feel like you are dying. Not over exaggerating this one. I'm shaking, sweating, hot and cold, dizzy, headachey... basically go to any diagnosis website and list anything they have under symptoms.Totally have a wicked abnormal menstrual cycle too!

Learnings so far? Levels of coughing where you feel like you may choke to death also inevitably lead to an extremely sore back. Right now the muscles along my spine are protesting like the Vietnam war is on.

Tied to this in a strange but entirely logical way, the movie 50/50 starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt is great. I can't say it enough. Just a fantastic film. Though small word of caution - do NOT watch it if you currently suffer from ALL the following - 

• 27 years old
• Male
• Lower back pain
• Sick
• Mildly depressed (usually caused by being sick)
• Suffer from Hypochondria (Single most important one on the list)

Swear to String Theory, you may lose your shit. So heed my words.

See it, but maybe see the doctor first.

Lastly, do not underestimate just how freakin' amazing pharmaceutical grade drugs are. They're like candy for adults! Just... read the dang packages first. After spending the last 24 hours on Cold & Flu meds that were just not having any effect. When I went to check the back of the box to see how many milligrams of things ending in "ol" and "ate" I was taking, I was greeted with measurements for "White Willow" and "Elderberry".

I'm sorry, but screw you MediChoice! There is only one time I want to be enjoying elderberries, and it ain't with drugs.

(DISCLAIMER - Author has not actually tried watching Monty Python while on drugs. He suspects it would be 20 shades of batshit crazy)

- Sevy

Mediocre News Weekly

It's not really that newsworthy but for the first time in around two weeks I'm running on time for work. Still half an hour later than I want to start my day, but I'll take the small wins.

Also, on Monday I heard the most powerful, emotionally charged story laced with a message of raising awareness on male depression in my life. And it ended on a poop joke. I love Australia.

- Sevy

Check in #7

Howdy. Sleepy Ted in no great mood for long update.

5/3/2012 - 0730 - 87.8KG (0.0KG)

- Sevy

Unco Moment

It's funny, this has the potential to turn into its own weekly update. My innate ability to screw up the unscrewupable paves the way for thousands of fables to warn children of the danger that can exist in a 1mm deep sidewalk crack.

Short story short - walked into a bin.

That was against a wall.
That has been against said wall for at least 3 months.
That was bright orange in colour.
That I saw very clearly.
That made me think "Well, that's something you don't want to walk into" as I saw it ever so clearly.
That caused "soft tissue damage" to my hand.
That continues to taunt me.

I can just imagine its friends now...

   - Sevy

Check in #6

It says a a lot when I have to scroll back through posts to find what check in number I'm up to.

Either I'm posting too much information unrelated to my recently Ninja-like battle with weight loss (Stealthy weight loss. You don't see it at all and then BAM! One day I'm skinny and hiding on the ceiling of your living room... I lost sight of my tangent...) or I've just been slack in posting these very literal weight watcher updates. It's completely the latter.

To be completely honest it's a lot like the Biggest Loser. Posting these updates, and not showing any great loss (and worse, showing a gain!) makes me feel like I'm letting you down. And by "you" I really mean me. I'm the only person I'm doing this for. And I don't remember if I've put this down on digital paper before now these are my reasons.

• Boost my confidence
• Improve my health
• Increase my fitness/endurance
• Improve my body's response to certain climates (I am being completely serious. In the mildest of humidity I'm the human equivalent of Ghostbusters' "Slimer" and it's... distracting)
• Because I enjoy exercising

I remember growing up after being diagnosed with urticaria when I was 9 (Or as I called it, the "Cold disease"). I was basically unable to do physical activity because it would cause me to heat up. This was only an issue because you eventually have to cool down, and when my body cooled I would come out in hives and more than likely enter into a state of anaphylactic shock.

I had loved to swim, but after a 1 minute dip in my cousins pool almost ended in my death it unsurprisingly changed my habits substantially. Well, all but my eating habits.

I was still a little fiend for Vegemite sandwiches, and without my previous outlet of swimming K's every second day - I ballooned. And although I was lucky enough after 18 months to no longer be afflicted by this aversion to cold, I carried that weight and... I guess a certain amount of fear with me for a long time after.

It really wasn't until I hit my 20's that the points I listed above really came back as a priority in my life. Which is a complete an utter lie. I didn't care about my health or my endurance, or discover a long forgotten joy for the outdoors. I fell head over heels in love with a girl and wanted her to notice me. There have been better and MUCH worse excuses in existence for changing ones self but... heck gee whiz, was it an effective impetus!

Any friends from back then will know... well, haha they'll know EVERYTHING because I couldn't keep my damn mouth shut about it! (I'm a bit more of a fool when I'm in love than usual. Yes, you should be afraid!) However they will know that lovely lady and I did end up together, at least for a happy while.

And while I'm fairly certain she'd say she didn't care about my weight and it wasn't a factor in her eventual reciprocation of my VERY SUBTLE signs of interest (I swear, I actually heard someone say "I call bullshit"... nice) I'd never have had an ounce of the courage it took me to even really talk to her looking the way I did.

I'll be honest. I'm a geeky guy that does not currently have the greatest confidence in himself. But every day those confidence levels increase. At work. At home. With understanding and lots of work. And from friends that have inexplicably insane belief in what I can achieve. While trying to avoid any more tangents, on my friends - you are all insane. Insanely awesome, insanely smart, insanely funny, insanely attractive (of course), insanely caring... sometimes to the point of driving ME insane but still always insanely appreciated... and of course insanely insane. I love you all mostly for that.

Wow, so somewhere along the way a quick and nasty post became a long and grammatically questionable one. I might as well cover off whatever other random things have happened in the past two weeks then. Let's cross our fingers this part actually is quick.

Other than what's been posted in that time I've... well, pretty boring everyday stuff really. Been to the movies a tonne with friends. And I do mean a lot. We go through three month long dry spells of not seeing films and then all of a sudden - like we've been come down with cowbell fever - we can't stop ourselves. I won't review them all because I like great movies and crap movies equally. So it will benefit no one.

Have seen some great music acts. Jess Harlen, you have a voice that could handle any genre excluding opera. One day...

I'm also on the outs with a close friend. Which... well, I'm 27 and would like to think I tend to have a bit of the word smithy to me but... it suuuuuuuuuuucks. I'd say I wasn't being an innocently inept idiot but chances are I was. My instinct is always to try and actively fix these sort of things but I think it's something that will have to sort itself out with time.Though, I will repeat... it just plain sucks.

Have been at home on antibiotics for the last 4 days. Some random infection that's made me all foggy. Which made for a super productive week at work... the drugs make me foggy too, so looking forward to finishing the course tomorrow and getting some real work done. Honestly, I can't stand being cooped up in the house.

I also just got approved for my home loan so one step closer to moving out/in. I tell ya, it's frightening and exciting in ways I never imagined. And I can't wait.

That's it. Weight update below. 'Til next time Gadget.

27/2/2012 - 0700 - 87.8KG (-0.3KG)

- Sevy

I am the tangent king!

Romp It Up

Let's get straight to the reason I asked you to click a link on your smartphones again!

Coming up in March is an event called the "Melbourne City Romp". This event is basically an Amazing Race/Treasure Hunt through the Melbourne CBD which is raising funds for the Burnet Institute. These guys are trying to tackle cures for what they call The "Big Three" - HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

When thinking about what I get up to with my friends, I realised that in the past 6 months the most energetic thing we've done is a tie between walking to a cafe for brunch (ladida!) or training for and participating in marathon drinking sessions. Not to belittle croissants or the "Sport of Kings", but I want to get out there and do something a bit... different with my favourite people.

I urge all of you to think about it.

We'd be out in the sun (it'll probably rain), running (crawling/being dragged) around the city, eating pie (can't hurt), raising money (chocolate coins ^= $$), having fun (possibly even phun) with good (great {THE BESTEST}) friends.

... then marathon drinking session after. It's just right.

Well, that's my invitation. I'll add some more specific details below. If you want to join me because of an overwhelming spiritual surge of charity that raises your humours like a highly unstable gas, or more likely just for the hell of it, send me a message on the mobile or leave a comment below.

What:     Melbourne City Romp 

When:    Sunday, 25th March

Who:      YOU? Definitely me.

Website: http://cityromp.com/

Entry:     Adults - $48

              Concession - $32

              "Family" - $98 (This is a very loose definition. If we have 6 people, we could technically try and get this...)

Zuh:       Teams are 2-6 members in size. If enough people want to join in we'll build up another team. Fundraising is via the web, from a team page I'll set up "soon". We can dress up like loons if we want too, so any ideas short of "psychotic clowns" or "bulimic Opera singers that drink tapioca pudding" has a fair chance of being accepted. Also, there are prizes and things on the day. Plus did I mention drinking after? If not... drinking after.

In closing, you have no idea how hard it was to not make a Romper Stomper comment...

- Sevy

P.S. I may have mentioned in the sms I am yet to send that I have fallen in deep like with linking to the blog rather than send giant group messages. You wouldn't believe how much time it saves! Though just because I like it doesn't mean you all do too. Feedback wise, if you find this more/less annoying than those mobile essays please let me know.

Good touch or...

Thematically this post is quite similar to another I recently posted but is stunningly unrelated.

I was reminded last night about how blinkered I can get when I want something. In this case, a bloody Kindle.

There I was all kitted up in my running gear. I'd just finished up the nights muscley wuscley exercises and was stretching out my hairy man calves when the computer caught my eye.

What was intended to be 2 minutes of checking prices quickly shot up by a factor of 60. Spurred on by user reviews I began comparing different models, their size and weight, aesthetic tastes, touch screen vs buttons, does the bezel taste like fig jam or a plastic compound of indeterminate origin.

If there was an answer to be found, damn it, I was going to find it!

The result of this amazing waste of my time? I am yet to make a decision. As with all things I want, I've become paralysed with indecision by over thinking an extremely straight forward issue.

As ever, if I discover a way to turn my brain down from 11 and kick instinct into overdrive that doesn't involve alcohol... well. That could be an interesting day.

And wearing running gear while surfing the web? Let's just say the internet will never get so fast to make that seem "OK"

- Sevy

Sign of the month

It's like an inappropriate wink that doesn't make any sense.

Check in #5

 OK, so now this appears to be turning into Ed's weight fluctuation watch. I'll be honest with you though: this week I don't care.

In the past 5 days I've bought a house and jumped out of a plane. I'll lose the weight and track it but DAMN! Life is amazing.

13/2/2012 - 0700 - 88.1KG (-2.1KG)

- Sevy

No explanation required

I BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!

- Sevy

Watch this space...

I may have a big update tonight. I'm crossing my fingers that if it happens, the non-existent readers of this are excited.

Also, small aside - 87.8KG - Take THAT beer!

- Sevy

Check in... #4?

So, in future I might move these weekly weigh ins to Friday's. After an opulent weekend of much alcohol and a not so crazy amount of food... well, let me just say 3 days ago I was 87.5.

6/2/2012 - 0700 - 90.2KG (+2.2KG)

CURSE YOU DELICIOUS BEER!

- Sevy

I get one mildly depressing post a month. Say hi to 2012

The thing I hate about wanting things is that we get so used to the feeling. Especially as the longer we go on wanting these yearnings or dreams we unconsciously become content with the fact that some of them will remain ethereal.

But the moment a long relegated dream is given a moment, even by accident, to gain shape again; a chance to once more play vividly in your foremost thoughts; to just as quickly have it robbed from you... it's quite possibly one of the most sobering, disheartening and painful experiences to go through.

I'd estimate I've felt that 6 times so far in my adult life. The last being tonight. It was still somehow a happy hurt. But each time it happens I feel like I become a little less of an optimist. Not towards friends, but myself. I'll always believe those I love are capable of anything their hearts dare them to try their hand at.

I'll be capable of a lot. Just not anything anymore.

I hate realists...

- Sevy

Check in #3

Quick post today. Feel like crud and brain no good work.

30/01/12 - 0700 - 88.0KG (-0.2)

Bad ideas

I feel like buying a giant pair of jeans and just convincing people I've lost 80kg. I'll need a shopping cart full of bags of flour or oranges too. To really sell it.

- Sevy

Check in #2

I wish someone had told me how quickly weeks could travel once you hit 27. This last one, let alone the previous 20 have been a colour hazed blur. I can only hope I get a chance to savour some of the coming ones; good or bad.

Anyolhoooo...

WOW! What a huge amount of exercise I managed to not do this week. I think we can safely put this one down to the increased heat and not my super Greek metabolism.

23/01/12 - 0630 - 88.2KG (-0.4)

- Sevy

Mobile Post the First!

Hi there the 0 people that read this infrequently updated, questionably interesting blog.

New Years Resolutions. I have many, and plan on posting them here as a running failure tally but at this very moment I have time for only one.

By March I will drop down to 80kg.

Fair ask I know. Likelihood low you may say. Bah I say to you. Possibly even Fi. That's around 8kg of fat. And there is also $100 riding on this. Likelihood increasing...

Well, regardless of whether I make it or not I'll be using this page to track my progress every Monday morning. So, to conclude -

16/1/12 - 0700 - 88.6KG

- Sevy