I had a great weekend this weekend. Design, play, read, relax, thunderstorms. Who could ask for more?

Spent Saturday working on some design work. Finished Tim’s business card, and got his Corner Web Works logo up on the portfolio. I’m really proud of that piece of work. I also did a bit of work on my friend Marty Lewis‘ logo (still have a bit more to do). He’s a musician from London who is recording in Nashville right now (he’s almost famous!). Hope to have that one done by tonight.

While I was working away, I wrote a song that I did a demo recording of. I’d post it, but it sounds horrible (good old built-in MacBook microphone). It’ll be one of the songs my new band does when we start playing original shows (more on my new band in a following post). The song is about finally being over someone, and wanting to move on from that part of your life, but they just keep barging back in. It’s a real power/piano pop song. Lots of angst. It’s good stuff.

Saturday night Sara and I headed up to my family’s cottage to enjoy some relaxation. We watched my brother’s and my favourite movie, Radio Flyer. The kids in the movie remind me a lot of my brother and I growing up (though, my dad didn’t beat us). It was a good nostalgic moment.

Sunday morning I went for a 6km run/walk. That felt really good. I also started reading a book called “The Sleeping Doll.” I haven’t read a fiction book probably since high-school (and only if you consider reading the first and last chapters to write a book report “reading the book”). However, I was glued to this book. In one day I got half way through. It’s about this cult leader who escapes from prison so he can start a new “Family” (they call him the “Son of Manson”). It’s good so far, so we’ll see how it ends up.

Made a plan this week to really start squaring in on these last few pounds I have to lose. I’m at about 218lb now, but I know I’ve lost a bit of muscle as well. My plan is to start running every other day. I also want to get a set of TRX cables. I used them when I first started training, and loved them instantly.

Overall it was a really great weekend. I just wish I could stay at the cottage all week long.

Saturday June 21, 2008

1. take Sara to work
2. go home
3. finish business card design
4. export .eps file for Corner Web Works logo
5. write a song
6. record a song
7. send song to Simon for critique
8. put song on iPod for later listening
9. have shower
10. go party

In the summer of 2007, I weighed 270 lb. In December of 2007, I weighed 265 lb. Today, I weigh 218 lb. I know I’ve posted about this on my previous blog. I’ve also listed 6 tips for staying fit in the office over at atrickdesign.com. However today I wanted to share my top 4 tips for losing weight.

1. Stop eating crap.
   See that double bacon cheeseburger in your hand? Put it down. And that milkshake? Throw that out too.
2. Start eating awesome.
   See that salad? Eat pretty much as you want. And those veggie burgers? Equally as delicious (if not more) than the hamburger.
3. Get off your ass.
   You know your friends who live two blocks over? Instead of driving over, walk. You’ll save gas, burn calories, and no one has to be the designated driver at the barbecue. Also, start running/walking/biking/canoeing/climbing for fun. Yes, it is fun. See all those people on “So, You Think You Can Dance?” They didn’t learn to dance by watching “So, You Think You Can Dance?”.
4. Pay me $20 a month.
   You can pay me $20 a month to tell you a bunch of stuff you can find out for free online. I pretty much guarantee if you are overweight and do what I say you will lose weight.

What things have you tried? Any “top diets” that didn’t quite work out how you planned? (And are you surprised?)

It’s been a long while since I’ve written a full song. I’ve had lots of ideas over the last few months, but not since I was in the studio have I actually finished a whole tune.

So, tonight I’ll be sitting in front of my piano/behind my guitar with a pen in my hand and a mountain of Coke Zeros by my side.

If you’ve got any song ideas, topics, lyrics, etc. that you wouldn’t mind me stealing using, let me know!

So, I think I’ve officially decided that on the whole, cell phones suck.

I was really stoked today when I talked with a Rogers representative. Back in January, I got myself a Blackberry, however now that I’m not at Connexus and don’t use my cell phone nearly as much, I wanted to downgrade my phone and my plan. The rep helped me get some great deals on my plan, which I was super excited about. However, I also asked her if I could use my old Fido phone on the Rogers network. After asking a few questions about it, the rep said that I could use it.

Well, I’ve tried, and it doesn’t work. It looks like I need to unlock it, which could cost about $30, and provides no guarantee that it will work in the end.

So, it looks like I’m going to be buying a used phone and selling my old Krazr and Blackberry. So, if you’re interested at all, let me know. I’ll give you a great deal.

This past weekend I got to visit a lot of friends up in Barrie, and had a blast. Jon and Michelle invited me to stay at their new place, which was awesome. John B. and I got there in less than 2.5 hours, so we were pretty stoked about that!

Hung out with Justin Piercy, Smartin, Tracey, Kyle, and John B. at Wasaga Beach on Sunday. Hung out at the usual spot between beach 5 and beach 6 for a couple of hours. The water was refreshing. I took a run down to the end of the beach, David Hassellhoff style.

After that we went out to Wings Up, the best place to get wings. We then went to beach 1 where the cool kids all hang out. It was surprisingly dead, probably because of the fires that ripped through the market in the winter. Hopefully they’ll be able to rebuild and see some success again soon. There’s some pics up on the facebook if you’re my friend. You’ll even see some extra “modelling” poses featuring yours truly.

Sunday morning I went to Connexus in Orillia. It was the first time since I first left Barrie that I’d been back. There were lots of familiar faces which was nice to see. The band rocked “The Scientist” by Coldplay, so if their new CD goes multiplatinum in the first week, they have this Canadian church to thank.

Sunday afternoon was back at Jon and Michelle’s for some BBQ for Father’s Day. John B. spent some time about 30ft up in a cherry tree without a rope, cutting off dead limbs. My fear of heights kept me from joining in the fun, but the hatchet throwing afterwards was enjoyable. After J+M’s, John B. and I made an appearance at Smartin’s, and then I drove the trek back to Dorchester.

It was a great weekend reconnecting with great friends. I hope I can get back up in July!