I'm not running it this year, but I hope next year to be able to run the "Tough Mudders" event in Phoenix.  Any takers to run it with me? 

I'd have to completely change up my training, but it's definitely a consideration. There is absolutely NO way I'll be ready for this coming February, especially given my ongoing recovery, but if I were to plan and train for next year I think it is a very real possibility.

Kudos to Knightshade, Covenant, Isgrimnr, Kato, and anyone else who ventures back in here.  Fitness isn't a once a year thing to only think about during New Year's resolutions, but a lifestyle. 

Two full weeks back in the gym following my recovery, and already I went from squatting 115 last week to 175 this morning.  Shrugs went up from 175 to 265 since last Saturday.  And while last week I had the full-body shakes midway through my workout as my body tried to readjust to the strain and my CNS had to readapt, this week I was able to do the same amount of volume I was doing prior to surgery, two warm-up sets followed by 5 heavy working sets for each exercise with only a minute or two rest in between.  Put in a 2-hour workout with no down time and feel great.  And my weight is almost back to where it should be.  I "ballooned" up to about 160 over the holidays, and hope to get back to 150 even and am already back down to 154.  Plus, my eating plan and workouts have kept me from losing strength as I lean down. 

It's good to be back.  I can't even communicate how good it feels. 

Given the full backstory on the awful, borderline racist article about his tattoos on said biceps and his initial response (kissing them in celebration after a TD the first game after the article was written), I fully endorse Kaepernicking.

Huh?

Without even checking, let me guess...Jason Whitlock?

Some nobody:  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-11-28/colin-kaepernick-tattoos-49ers-qb-start-alex-smith-stats-contract-draft

I think I had an aneurysm from rolling my eyes so severly.  I don't have to like or even support the 49ers, but this is beyond ridiculous.  Videogames must be at fault for defacing the NFL quarterback image as well.  

Wait until he finds out about the new tattooed line of pharmacists.  He's likely to completely adopt a hollistic approach to medicine.

Study chemotherapy of infectious disease.
Study pharmacogenomics.
Study the top 300 prescribed medications, including brand, generic, ADRs, and consultation.
Study medical terminology.
Cook and eat dinner.
Study pharmaceutics.
Study patient assessment/diagnosis, practice physical exams.
Study drug literature evaluation and statistics.
Research current week's case study.
Open a beer. 
Open another.
And another.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Daily.

No time for being Fabulous anymore?

Well, I am class president for the Class of 2016, I'm rather active in the Kappa Psi professional pharmacy fraternity, and I must say, no one wears their white pharmacy coat with anywhere near as much flair.  My stethoscope is also color-coordinated with the College of Pharmacy colors.

Study chemotherapy of infectious disease.
Study pharmacogenomics.
Study the top 300 prescribed medications, including brand, generic, ADRs, and consultation.
Study medical terminology.
Cook and eat dinner.
Study pharmaceutics.
Study patient assessment/diagnosis, practice physical exams.
Study drug literature evaluation and statistics.
Research current week's case study.
Open a beer.  
Open another.
And another.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Daily.

Shaved over braised short ribs. 

Incorporated into chili.

Added to coq au vin.

Mixed into homemade barbecue sauce.

The list goes on and on...

It's a shame there hasn't been any activity in here since November.  Now that my shoulder has finally healed, at least enough to return to the gym, I've been slowly building back strength in my shoulder and my neck.  Six months off from the gym following sugery and then my separeted shoulder has really set me back in terms of strength and endurance, but already with almost two full weeks of workouts under my belt, I'm already seeing a noticable improvement in both my overall strength and my endurance in adding more and more volume to my workouts.

Unfortunately I'm severely limited by availability and class schedule, but while many of my workouts have to be limited to just one hour so that I can make it to 8am class (gym doesn't open until 6am - just 30 min earlier would make a world of difference), at least on Thursdays I don't have class until 10am, and on weekends the Rec is practically empty, so I get my high volume workouts in on those days.

Holy hell does it feel amazing to be back at it, even despite being humbled by my strength regression.  Still, it's coming back pretty quickly and my progress can only continue to improve.

I'm one of the culprits who used to post regulary and have since faded into lurkdom.  Pharmacy school leaves little time to even see my wife with any regularity, so posting on GT has become a rarity.  I stop in from time to time to catch up on current events, the goings-on in the community, and check out different discussions, but that's all I really have time for anymore.  I do miss feeling like a regular part of the community, as I miss being a regular part of the lives of my friends and family, but since August I've become somewhat of a ghost.  I knew pharmacy school would require major sacrifices, but that doesn't make my scarcity any easier. 

Rest assured I still visit when time allows. 

As Story Notes on AMC have become a new personal favorite, adding another dimension to films, especially those I've seen 1000 times, if the second screen option offers something comarable I might give it a try.  Haven't yet, but might consider it depending on the information provided.  But I'd prefer it for movies, not TV shows, as I don't really watch any outside of The Walking Dead.

Just got my hands on the new Pendergast installment Two Graves.  After the way the prior entry ended...

This may have been me the night after my last final exam, but my memory is a little hazy.

Semester is over, home for about three weeks, so hoping to find some quality time to game.  I started the Halo 4 campaign and  , but with double-XP in Blops2 I think I might get some time in with that as well. 

Double xp weekend, maybe I'll boot it up.

Same. Just about ready to flip, so maybe I can do it right away and then make nice progress on my 2nd.

In 2013 I plan to travel to these states (preliminary):

...

Arizona (Only if Pete has recovered from his alcohol induced dialysis)

 

DONE!  I don't think this gif has ever been more appropriate:

Seven final exams down and my last cumulative final is in about 5 1/2 hours in Immunology/Hematology before officially beginning my winter break.  And then?



An all-you-can-eat sushi extravaganza with 50 of my pharmacy classmates, then binge drinking and karaoke with 100 more.  And then I'm getting the hell out of Tucson for a month.  

It has been four months and one semester completed already?  

Only seven more semesters to go.   

And then hopefully a clinical residency depending on if I qualify.   

Mere words like "thank you" aren't nearly enough to convey the gratitude and appreciation we all feel, but for now it'll have to do.   

Thanks everyone. I plan to stay busy, and also travel a little bit to drop in on some GT folk.
GamingTrend and the Military are two of my favorite communities in life, and I'm proud to be a part of both of them.

Semper Fi

When you make it back to Arizona you know where to find me.  Well, kind of, unless you go jogging and lose your way.  But I'll be sure to let you know when we're back under the moon so you can find us. 

Thank you for everything.  And know that if ever back in Arizona you have a friendly place to visit. 

One of the things I've always admired about Pete is how much he looks after his friends. Online friends, especially. Who he's played Call of Duty with. And who have trusted him with extended game loans.

I deserve that. 

I've got two finals next week and they both carry a fair bit of weight, but I'm hoping to fit in a bit of Blops2 and maybe some Halo 4 to take a break from Blops as it has been more frustrating than fun lately. 

Decided to take a break from the masses last night and played a number of private, custom rounds with papasmurff, a few of his friends, and a bunch of pharmacy peeps, and it was an absolute riot.  We mixed up the game modes, altered whether we were playing multiple teams, two teams, or a complete mosh pit, varried the weapons, etc.  We definitely have to do that again.  And since we don't need to be in a private party we can open up communication to the general lobby, allowing way more than just 8 people to participate. 

Good times.   

Son of a bitch.  Now I have to wait until February?  I hate mid-season breaks.   

Yeah. The show has so many slow episodes, but they always leave it on a high note. Next season looks good though.

 

I wouldn't say that this season, and it's only the halfway point in terms of "next season."

Son of a bitch.  Now I have to wait until February?  I hate mid-season breaks.   

The Season 3 marathon starts right NOW leading all the way up to the mid-season finale.  If you missed out on some of this season's excellence, now's your chance.  Or, if you want to revisit it like me, studying looks like it can wait until later.   

I saw an orthopedic specialist and learned that I have between a type II and type III separated shoulder.  The ligament between my clavicle and acromion is completely torn, and the other ligament is partially torn.  I also now have a weird bump above my right shoulder where my clavicle is sticking upward and that won't ever go away.   

Never mind all that shit, let's talk about the important details...did you make the save?   

Actually, I did.  I even managed to finish the game, and in our playoff match I made two more diving saves completely laid out plus a few high shots I deflected over the goal.   

It was a pretty marked improvement from my first game to my last.   

So yet another setback.  In our 2nd to last soccer match I was kicked full in the shoulder while making a diving stop by what felt like a mule, and after waking up the following morning screaming in pain after rolling over onto my shoulder, I saw an orthopedic specialist and learned that I have between a type II and type III separated shoulder.  The ligament between my clavicle and acromion is completely torn, and the other ligament is partially torn.  I also now have a weird bump above my right shoulder where my clavicle is sticking upward and that won't ever go away.   



8 to 12 weeks to recover, although my doc said I'm only limited from workouts by my threshold for pain.  Right now anything involving my shoulder makes me see stars and I'm unable to move much for a while after.  I still played keeper for the soccer playoffs, although the following morning I wasn't very happy.

Son. Of. A. Bitch.

  

Headed out to see some in person! Samsung might be in lead at this point though.

Edit: Samsung- 40" Class - LED - 1080p - 120Hz - HDTV

I'm liking this one and for under 600...

I got the 60Hz version for my pharmacy school apartment for $400 (plus saved $200 in gift cards so only paid $200 out of pocket) and have been fairly pleased, at least in terms of gaming.  It's bright, clear, and perfect for my small bedroom.  The refresh rate stumbles a bit during sporting events and fast-moving scenes on TV, but so far it runs beautifully for gaming, and in terms of being in a college "dorm" of sorts for grad students, it's pretty legit.  I still miss my 60" Sony at home with complete surround sound, but I believe a pair of Turte Beach headphones might find their way under the Christmas tree this year, providing a little more gaming immersion (whenever I have time) once I return to campus in the spring.

Edit again: Any input on stands under 100? I saw some cheaply ones at Wally World and they probably would do the trick, but I would love input on inexpensive stands for a 42 inch. My current tv, which is a behemoth of a CRT has its own "stand". Which will be needed, obviously for it in the other room. Plus, if you take the tv off of it, well it's ugly. It's made specifically for this tv...

Have you looked at Ikea?  They've come a LONG way in terms of variety, selection, as well as quality, offering a range from the usual particle board to standard wood to more modern plastic and glass and an entire variety in between.  Plus you have a lot of options to mix-and-match, allowing you to customize exactly what you're looking for (glass doors, wood doors, sliding panels, colors, etc).  I wound up having to go to a specialty audio/video store for my stand at home due to the height of the 400-disc DVD changers I have, but for school I picked up an inexpensive "throwaway" stand from Ikea for $20, and while shopping I was surprised at how far their TV stand selection had come.  In all honesty I'd start there as you'll likely find what you're looking for and at a fraction of what you might pay at a specialty shop.  Here's a link and it looks like there's a handful under $100 with a few nice options right around that price point.

Haven't had any time to play other than a brief stint over the Thanksgiving weekend, but after today's exam I will definitely be taking a shooteyface reprieve from studying to return some semblance of sanity.  Only two weeks left.   

A pharmaceutics lecture followed by a pharmaceutical calculations final are the last things left standing in my way.  Once I finish my exam and make the trip home to Chandler, it's Blops 2 and Halo 4 weekend until my thumbs fall off. 

Had a blast last night, up until server issues got so bad that I'd be booted from a room, then be unable to rejoin, get booted again, then be unable to rejoin, lather, rinse, repeat.  It got so frustrating that I loaded up Halo 4 just to see if I could get into a MP game and had no issue.  Blops, why must you frustrate me so?

BLOPS2 and Halo 4.  And studying somewhere in there.  

Actually didn't get to play Halo 4, but spent pretty much all day Saturday playing Blops2.  I wasn't surprised to see friends already at level 50 or higher, but I at least made it from level 1 up to around 26 or so due to double XP.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to take advantage of double XP weekend on Sunday due to having to study for a pharmaceutics lab final.  

I'm wondering if we'll see any double XP for either Halo 4 or Black Ops 2 over the Thanksgiving break.  Either way, I'll be playing a LOT of shooteyface.

So, do I like BLOPS2 as much as MW3, or the original BLOPS? I don't know. Am I enjoying playing it? Yup

I think I have the same assessment.

...but right now I'm expanding into assault rifles. Still can't deal with shotguns or SMGs however.

I've always been an assault rifle whore, but I recently tried the Vector with red dot sight, laser sight for hip fire, and silencer (gave up secondary grenades), and I must say I'm enjoying it so far.   

FAL with fire selector (auto trigger)

The FAL has a fire selector now?  In the past I've always avoided it, but now I find myself intrigued. 

Got my copy, along with confirmation that I have a separated shoulder.  Had Kappa Psi initiation tonight so in no state for online MP at the moment, but with only two exams left before Thanksgiving it looks like Saturday is going to be BLOPS2 day.  

What platform? Sorry bout the shoulder:(.

Xbox.  And I see an orthopedic specialist on Monday, so I'm hoping the Urgent Care diagnosis wasn't entirely accurate and maybe my prognosis will be a little more optimistic.  But as Kato can attest, visting Vicodinland before loading up an FPS can only help your k/d ratio.  Or at least help you to not care AT ALL about your k/d ratio, which in either case is a plus.  

I always like this time of year. Every new CoD title makes me think of the Blue Brothers.  "We're getting the Band back together. ".

The Band, Ellwood!  The Band!  

Need some hangover chinese food and a cold one, and then shit's about to get real.  Shooteyface day!

Got my copy, along with confirmation that I have a separated shoulder.  Had Kappa Psi initiation tonight so in no state for online MP at the moment, but with only two exams left before Thanksgiving it looks like Saturday is going to be BLOPS2 day.   

BLOPS2 and Halo 4.  And studying somewhere in there. 

I passed and also survived my biochem exam (one student may actually have died), and I even had to take it with a potential separated shoulder.  Off to have x-rays as we speak.  If that isn't grounds for a giveaway, I don't know what is.   

Actually, I plan to pick up a copy in a bit if I'm not in a sling.

So how does the game compare to original Blops on the MP front?

exactly the same,IMO -only they have made the menus and customisation a tad more confusing and gimped some of the perks

So, worse then?  Or does gameplay make up for these issues?  Hoping to pick up a copy after my biochem exam, if I survive, which isn't likely.  But at least the casualties will be numerous so it should all come out in the wash at the end of the semester.   

Was somewhat disheartened yesterday when we ran into a entire team of quickscopers.

I don't understand the devs love for quickscoping.

This.

It seems like most retailers are starting on Thanksgiving night now.  If I were an employee at one of these places, I'd be royally pissed.

A number of stores did this last year as well.  I'm not sure if it's been done much in the past, but last year literally right after Thanksgiving dinner my wife, mother-in-law, and an army of my wife's friends all gathered for the hunt.  They practically live for this each year and had an absolute blast shopping together.  As long as they never ask me to go and leave me at home with the boys to watch football, play videogames, work through the remaining booze, and hit the leftovers for round 2, they can shop all they want.  And since they're doing a fair bit of shopping for us, who am I to complain?

Every additional moment I spend studying biochem is one more level I fall behind.