Pie Face Game & Top Secret Project

Got a new game in the mail today.. Pie Face. I saw a video of this a while back and I knew that I had to have it. I mean who doesn't like having whip cream thrown in their face. I can't wait to play this with my niece and nephew as well as bring along to one of the NerdStrong game nights.

In the evening I headed to downtown Los Angeles to help out my friend Jes and work (PA) on her new short film. She's been talking about making this short for a while now and time after time there have been unforeseen delays. Well today it's finally happening and I'm so happy to be part of it (even if it's a very tiny part).

Of course I can't give any details on the project, but I think it's okay if I say they were shooting at night and I promised to be there from 6pm and work until around midnight, though the shoot was going to 6am, I couldn't stay the entire time as I had gym and other plans on Sunday.

As a PA (production assistant) I pretty much was craft service as well as set photographer. It was fun getting to hang out with America (who was directing) as we haven't been able to hang out much this past year. I also got to hang out with Dove (America's husband) who I adore as well.

The project is going to be pretty awesome when it's complete and I can't wait until it's released and I can share it with you all... so stay tuned!!

NerdStrong Gym - Teen Boss Fight

It's Saturday so that means Boss Fight, but today's boss is just a teenager.. not the full big boss. But needless to say it's still an extremely tough workout today. After a good warm up we moved on to our main fight. There was a 35 minute time cap on this workout.

Here's what we had to do. 460 Meter Run, 50x Kettlebell Swings, 460 Meter Run, 40x Push Ups, 230 Meter Run, 30x Goblet Squats, 230 Meter Run, 20x Burpees, 140 Meter Run, 10x NerdMakers, 140 Meter Run, 10x Burpee Pulls ups and finally another 230 Meter Run.

I am happy to say that I completed the entire thing within the 35 minutes.. I actually had a five minutes to spare. It's tough trying to find the right pacing. You want to finish the entire thing but you don't want to kill yourself doing it. My goal for this was to run the entire time as the run can't eat away the minutes... and I'm happy to say that I did. Towards the end there were times I just wanted to walk around the parking lot but I forced myself to jog, even if it was at a slower pace then before, I just had to keep moving forward.

Next weeks boss will be even worse and then the following week we take on the full boss again.. good times ahead.

Tiny Homes, Lesbian Princess & Father Knows Best

Several videos I want to share with you guys.. this first one is about tiny homes. I've just become aware of this phenomenon last year but it intrigues me, of course I wouldn't be able to buy one of these unless I did some major and I mean major downsizing. But I came across these "tiny" apartments that are mobile.. it definitely peaked my interest.

I came across this on you tube and thought it was really good. It's about Princess who kisses a frog and doesn't get exactly what SHE wants.

And then the final video I want to share with you has a great message and made me smile.

The Geekie Awards

Tonight I attended the third annual Geekie Awards. The Geekie Awards is an award show by geeks for geeks, aimed at putting the true geek culture in the spotlight as a collection of valid, respected, award-winning genres for storytelling and creation. In an industry filled with award shows for established celebrities, we honor talented, independent creators and give them the opportunity to receive recognition in front of a worldwide audience and leaders in their respective industries. We inspire creativity and hope and foster cross-market innovation. Our mission is to create a fun, action-packed, unforgettable broadcast event tailored to all of the things we geeks love: entertainment, gaming, products and art—delivered via the latest digital technologies.

I have been a judge since the very first Geekie Awards in the category "Podcasts". As one of the perks of being a judge I was given a 2 tickets to this years event. I asked my friend Lauren if she wanted to join me and she was more then happy to. She suggest that we dress "formal" cosplay. We first tried to come with a formal 'Hobbit' dress but there really wasn't enough time to make anything. I then suggested that I had Comm Badges that we could wear and I had a ST TNG tie as well. She liked that idea because she had a dress the same color as Counselor Troi.

I picked her up and we headed to downton LA as the event was happening at Club Nokia. I had never been there before so I was looking forward to it. Once we found parking ($30) we made our way to the event.

Sidenote.. the first year was horrible.. the show was great but getting in was a madhouse and so unorganized. The second year I didn't attend as we were promised tickets but at the last minute they decided to take them back and allow us to watch the show from a bar next door.

So I was expecting some craziness but as we came up the escalator there were people everywhere but we found a table labeled tickets. I went up and gave them my name and they gave us tickets and a wristband that allowed us to walk the red (well blue) carpet.

The line for the carpet was pretty crazy as they had it split into two sections, we were at the front of the second section but people kept getting into the back of the first section which was very upsetting. We waited and waited and waited and after an hour or so we moved to the back of the front section but the line wasn't moving and the show was about to start. Lauren and I didn't want to get out of line but we were both thirsty and really wanted to get to our seats.

So we made the decision after an hour and a half wait to exit and head into the venue. It was pretty cool inside.. had a very clubby feel to it. We were seated in the balcony section, so we grabbed our drinks and headed up stairs. They had a DJ playing music and it was crowded. We walked around for a bit before getting in line for a Spacey "photobooth", which was pretty cool. As it got closer to show time we made our way into the theater, greeted a few friends and found our seats... they weren't bad. We were about center stage and had a nice view of everything down below.

The show itself was enjoyable, it was time traveled themed so there was some fun skits, the host was entertaining and the presenters were hits and misses as it is with most award shows. There were a few audio issues and some hick ups here and there but overall it was good. When the show ended we headed downstairs so I could congratulate a few of my friends who won tonight.

Before heading over to the after party Lauren and I were starving so we headed next door to Smashburger. We got there right before they closed (we were the last customers). After some much needed food we headed over to the after party and made our rounds. I'm not really into parties but we stayed about an hour and mingled a bit before calling it a night and heading home.

It was a fun time overall.. the show was fun and it was great getting to hang out with Lauren (outside the gym). BTW she rocked it in her TNG dress.. she got so many compliments.

Don't know what's in store for next year, but if they ask for me to judge again I'd be more then happy to be apart of this fun event.

New MASH 4077 Podcast

Geekyfanboy Productions released a new episode of the MASH 4077 Podcast. This is episode 114, covering S5 Ep 17 "Ping Pong".

The 8063 visits the 4077 for the M*A*S*H ping-pong finals; Cho, of the 4077, wins 21-18, to the delight of all but Frank, who bet on the 8063. Lt. Col. Harold Becket is shot in the rear echelon and his old friend, Sherman Potter, is there to give him a hard time and reminisce. Cho introduces his fiancee, Soony, to the Swamp Rats. The guys suggest the couple get married at the 4077. Potter's pal, Becket, is a DC desk jockey, bucking for promotion to full bird colonel; all he needs is 5 more days on the line for his Combat Industry Badge. One of Col. Becket's men, Sgt. Blanchard, tells BJ and Hawkeye that Becket's lack of courage and leadership caused massive casualties. The doctors know they have to tell Col. Potter.

You can Download from itunes tinyurl.com/MASH4077itunes , listen on Stitcher Radio ow.ly/iZJIz or listen and get direct download from our main website MASH4077Podcast.com

NerdStrong Gym - Building a Back Squat

Today's workout started with our usual warm up, perfect stretches, inch worms, planking and banded squats. For the "proficiency" was did 3 sets of 5x Mace Squats. We had the option on how to hold it and of course me being me I went with the toughest and held it vertical and towards the bottom of the mace so all the weight was on top. It took alot of balance and counter balance to not tip over while squating but I'm happy to say that I was successful.

For our Quest, we continued our work with Back Squats. We started with building up to heavy 4 reps and then did 7 sets of 4x Back Squats. I teamed up with Derek (my usual barbell buddy since we both are about the same height and can lift pretty much the same amount). We started with about 95 lbs and quickly made our way up to around 145 lbs and did seven sets at that weight. I did find out that I need to take off my shoes when doing back squats so I my heals don't come up off the ground. After doing that I found that my form is much better and I'm able to lift more when squating.

For the "Battle" portion of the workout we had to do 10, yeah that's 10 rounds of 4x Dumbbell Push Press' and 4x Dumbbell Reverse Lunges. Push Presses are okay, tiring but okay it was the reverse lunges that were tough, at least for me. I don't the best knee's sometimes they go out on me for no reason so going down to my knee over and over again can get painful. But if I pace myself correctly and just take my time I can get through the routine with as little pain as possible.

Overall a good workout.. can't wait to see what my one rep max will be on Back Squats when we get to that point.

ST: TNG Bags, Shannara Chronicles & Evening Pilates

Came across these pretty cool bags at Think Geek. Here are some details about the bags from their website. These Star Trek TNG Uniform Messenger Bags feature the red, blue, and gold division colors of ST:TNG along with a metal combadge affixed to the exterior. The interior features a sweet ST:TNG-themed lining and padding all around. Underneath the flap, which secures with magnets and a strap, the top closes with a zipper to keep all your stuff safe. But probably the most unique aspect of this bag is right above the organizer section under the flap - it's got pips! Each bag comes with 4 gold pips (cleverly rendered as riveted snaps) and 1 black pip so you can tell the world how you rank.

They are a bit pricey at $69.99 but they are very cool. At this moment in time I can't splurge on something like this.. but who know. Maybe in the future they'll go on sale and I'll come into money and get myself one.. And then the hard decision of while which color do I buy as I like them all. You can check them out HERE.

I saw this trailer and thought.. wow this is gonna be a pretty cool movie but then quickly realized that it's an actual TV series for MTV...  Here's some info.. Coming to MTV in January 2016, ‘The Shannara Chronicles’ is a new TV series based on the best-selling fantasy novels by Terry Brooks. Set thousands of years after the destruction of our civilization, the story follows an Elven Princess, Amberle, a half-human half-elf, Wil, and a human, Eretria, as they embark on a quest to stop a Demon army from destroying the Four Lands.

This series is right up my alley, there aren't enough "Fantasy" series out there... I can't wait for it premiere next year.

During the evening I headed to Pilates at NerdStrong Gym. This is only third time attending class but this one is extra special because I finally got my new floor mat, which I ordered a month or so ago.. it's my favorite color (green) and it worked like a charm for tonight's class. I'm really enjoying Pilates, coach Corrin really know her stuff and is teaching us all sorts of thing about our body and muscles. I'm really looking forward to Wednesday evening now... crazy CON workouts in the morning and nice relaxing Pilates in the evening.. doesn't get any better.

NerdStrong Gym - Rowing and more Rowing

Today's CON class was crazy.. they titled it "Captain Nemo's Revenge".

It started with a good warm up "Build" 230 Meter Run, 10x Good Morning, Runner Stretch and finally Shoulder Circles.

We then moved on to the "Proficiency" portion of the workout which was Squats, 2 rounds for 2 minutes each. We worked on form, keeping chest high, knees tracked over feet and weight in lateral heel. Afterwards we did some Rowing. 20 Strokes, again focusing on form, we did arms only, then arms and body only and then half pulls and finally full pulls.

After a short break we moved on to the Quest.. it was more rowing. This time we were doing 3 rounds of 200 Meter Sprints. We were to keep our form but also keep the same pace for each round which is extremely difficult when you hit the third round and your arms and legs feel like jello.

The final part of the workout was the "Battle" and this was an 8 minute AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible) 5x Nerdmakers and 20x Dumbbell Step Ups. Nerdmakers are difficult enough and then you have Step Ups.. which aren't bad but when you add a dumbbell to the mix it makes things a bit more spicier.

NerdStrong Gym - Push Ups and Planks

Today's DEX workout was a good one. For the "Build" we started with an Agility Ladder, this is fun when I'm coordinated, this morning I was not and I just couldn't get down a certain move and looked like an idiot hopping around the ladder. The rest of the warm up had to do with the arms and shoulders, arm circle, shoulder stretch and tricep stretch.

For the "Proficiency" part of the workout it was all about Push Ups. I'm happy to say that I enjoy push ups and I am pretty good at them. But these push ups were a bit different as we had to do 3 rounds of 5 sets of "Banded" Push Ups. So we grabbed a band and wrapped it around our shoulders and our hands and proceeded to do push ups with the extra resistant going up as well as keeping your form.

The "Quest" is next and this was 3 rounds of 10x Ring Rows and then :30 seconds of Backward/Forward Lean Planks. We then rested for a minute or two and then did 3 rounds of 20 Deficient Push Ups and then the last one you hold in a High Plank for one minute. A deficient push up is doing a push up but instead of having your hands on the ground you raise them (with weight plates) and drop below your hands. First round was find but it started to get a bit spicy on the second round and by the third my arms were dying.

And for final workout, "The Battle" we teamed up with a partner and did 3 rounds of 20x Alt Mace Ballistics and 20x Alt Mace Lunges. While you did the mace work your partner a weighted plate and held it overhead.Not a difficult "battle" but a good one.

Downton Abbey S6 So Far...

Not much happening today in my life or the geek world so I decided to review the last few episodes of the final season of Downton Abbey. I've been watching them every Monday (as the air Sunday in the UK). This is the final season which makes me sad but I can't wait to see what happens next

First up is S6 Ep2 - The acid-tongued exchanges between Violet and Isobel over the hospital get sharper; Cora sides with Isobel. Mary chides Robert for offering Carson the servants' hall for his wedding reception, and offers upstairs instead; Mrs Hughes insists on a separate venue, which leads to friction between the couple. Thomas looks for another job; he thinks it's clear that people are avoiding him, and want him gone. Edith argues vehemently with Mr Skinner, the publisher of her magazine, who dislikes all her ideas. Mary takes Anna to a Harley Street doctor, who proposes an operation during her next pregnancy. Mary arranges for the pigs to be entered in the local livestock show, but unwisely takes Marigold when she goes to inspect them on the farm, which upsets Mrs Drewe tremendously. During the show, she kidnaps Marigold and takes her home; her husband persuades her to give her back, and decides it would be best if they moved away. Robert is distressed, because of their long and loyal service, but reluctantly agrees.

Another good episode, it's great to have this series back. I don't know how this fight between Violet and Isobel will end. They started off not really liking each other but then became companions for each other I'd hate to see all that gone. I use to love Carson but he's starting to get on my nerves, he's so loyal to the Crawley family that he's not listening to the women he supposedly loves. But with that said Mrs Hughes really needs to find her backbone and lay down the law with Mr. Carson. I'm happy to see Edith's continue to grow into a really strong woman. I just want Anna and Bates to be happy for once, hopefully after this episodes things will be on the upswing. Mrs Drewe taking little Marigold was to be expected but I'm glad this storyline has come to an end.. though I do feel bad for Mr. Drewe. He was just being a nice guy and it all fell apart for him. And lastly Thomas, they have slowly been making him a more likable character. I feel bad for him because he's extremely lonely and I couldn't imagine being a gay man during those times. I don't forgive him for all the bad things he has done in the past but I do wish he could find someone to love and who would love him back.

The following week I watched S6 Ep3 - Cora, told by Mrs Patmore that Mrs Hughes is unhappy with having her wedding breakfast in the hall, forces a meeting with the family so that Mrs Hughes can explain, and supports her, so Carson gives in. Violet tries to get Robert to support her view on the hospital merger; at a meeting of the Board things get nasty, and Isobel is annoyed enough to be rude to Dr Clarkson. Edith has more arguments with the publisher of her magazine, and he walks out. Fortunately, she meets an old acquaintance, Bertie Pelham, who helps her produce the next issue. Anna is pregnant, so Mary plans to take her to the doctor in three months' time. Thomas travels to be interviewed by an eccentric widower, Sir Michael Reresby in decrepit Dryden Park, but declines the position. Violet's butler, Spratt, is behaving strangely, which catches Denker's attention. When Sergeant Willis reveals that Spratt's nephew has escaped from prison, Denker is sure that Spratt has helped him, and can now hold that over him. Daisy hopes that Mr Mason can take over the Drewes' farm, but jumps the gun in believing that Cora has already arranged it. Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes are married in the church. At the wedding breakfast in the village school, Tom Branson and his daughter arrive unexpectedly from Boston; he announces he feels Downton is his home, and wants to stay.

So much happens in 45 minutes.. glad to see Mrs Hughes find our back bone and set Carson and Mary straight. Glad to see Bertie back in Edith's life. I liked him the last time we saw him during last years Christmas special and I felt the spark between he and Edith. I hope Edith can find some happiness with him.. will have to wait and see. Again bad luck for Thomas.. poor guy (never thought I would say that about that character). Don't really care about the Spratt and Denker storyline and Daisy needs to chill for a moment. I like the idea of Mr. Mason taking on the Drewes farm but shes jumping the gun. I enjoyed Mr. Carson and Mrs Hughes wedding and it was great seeing the return of Tom and Sybil. Overall another enjoyable episode.

And finally last nights episode, S6 Ep4 - Lady Shackleton visits with her nephew Henry Talbot, a racing car driver and another old friend of Mary's. Violet wants her support in the dispute over the hospital, and explains that her reason for opposing the merger is her resentment at the government taking over more and more things instead of leaving it to the locals, which rather mollifies Isobel. Lady Rosamund also visits, and is visited by Mr and Mrs Harding in connection with a women's college of which she is a trustee. Mrs Harding turns out to be Gwen, the former housemaid who left to better herself; the family are pleased for her. Sergeant Willis asks Miss Baxter to testify against the man with whom she was involved when she stole from a previous employer; she is afraid, but Molesley encourages her, and she agrees. Daisy is upset when she learns that Mr Mason is unlikely to get Yew Tree Farm, and prepares to angrily confront Cora, but she has persuaded Robert and Mary to let him have the farm, which fortunately Daisy learns before risking her job by being rude. Anna has pains, and is rushed to London by Mary, where the doctor performs the promised operation and saves the baby. Once home, Bates has guessed the problem, and is delighted Anna is pregnant. Robert keeps getting twinges of pain, but insists it's nothing. Mary meets Henry in London, and tells him that his making a pass won't work. Mr Carson and his wife, still to be known as Mrs Hughes, arrive back from their Scarborough honeymoon and move into a cottage. Edith announces she plans to appoint a woman editor to her magazine.

Glad to see Mr. Talbot back in Mary's life.. I knew we'd be seeing him again. Glad Anna is pregnant but with their luck it won't be easy. Not really caring about this whole Hospital storyline, I mean it's great seeing Cora really take on Violet. It was great seeing Gwen again, so glad to see what has happen to her. Thomas is back stepping once again, Daisy crosses the line and I really did want her to get dismissed (she's been really annoying this season). Again great to see Edith taking charge and making changes at the paper.

So four episodes have aired for this final season of 8 episodes (and the Christmas special) and I don't feel like they are tying up any of the storylines. There are alot of storylines that need to end and I hope they take the time to properly address all of them, guess will have to wait and see.

National Coming Out Day - My Story

Today is National Coming Out day, I have shared my coming out story on this blog before but it seemed appropriate to share it again on this special day.

Growing up I knew I liked boys more then girls but being a kid, boys often like boys and hate girls, so this felt "normal".

My first memory of actually liking a boy was when I was in the fourth grade. I can remember falling for this Spanish boy who use to call me his "little Bambino". I really didn't think anything of it as I was still of the age on not liking girls. I was raised in a world where a man married a woman. I had known only one gay man from my childhood who worked at a local liquor store. But I really didn't know or understand what "being gay" really meant. I remember one day a friend of mine told me that this man liked other men and looking back I think I always knew that and it might be the reason why I spent so much time there with him.

In the sixth grade I found myself playing on the gymnastic bars with the girls more then playing football with the boys. Also in sixth grade I had my first crush on a teacher... Mr. Anderson (he was my first male teacher). By the time I entered Junior High School I knew I was different, but I didn't allow myself to feel those feelings or at least express them. I remember looking a bit to long at the other guys in the changing room during P.E.

I was raised in the 70's and 80's and what I saw of "being gay" was very negative stereotypes, promiscuous, feminine, flamboyant and dying from AIDS. So I pushed my feelings deep down and got on with my life, hoping to forget about them... but of course I would never truly forget. I pretended to like girls and went on a few dates in high school but those girls always put me in the "friendzone" and I was fine with that. I remember people often asking me about a "girlfriend" and when I was going to get one, but my standard reply to that was "I'm focusing on schooling right now, but if someone came along..." I used that excuse all through high school and collage.

I fought with depression as most kids do during their teenage years, but mine had this extra layer of loneliness and confusion. I never considered suicide, or hurting myself. From the outside you would think I was just an extremely shy and socially awkward kid (and I was). I had very few friends and even among them I always felt like I was an outsider.

From age 16 on, all I've ever wanted was to be married and with kids. My goal then was to be married by 20 and have my first child by 25 and second by 27 and possibly a third by 30. I remember every year I would tell myself.. this is the year that I will find a girlfriend, I will fall in love and she will be the one. And every year I was disappointed with myself for not finding "the one". But the next year I would make the same goal.. to find the perfect woman for me and again I would fail. This was hard on me, I didn't know what was wrong with me, why I wasn't able to find that "perfect one". I would fall into some really deep depressions of loneliness. Of course I would put on a brave face for the public and my family but inside I was devastated and lost. I remember crying at night, praying to whatever god there was that I would find some one to love, to care for and to be with for the rest of my life.

My early 20's were tough, I was embarrassed by the fact that I had never had a girlfriend or been with a woman. I would lie or not bring up the topic when I was asked. I convinced myself that I was bi-sexual, I watched "straight" porn in my later teens and early 20's and enjoyed both sexes. But deep down I didn't know if I was pretending to like girls, because liking women is what I was suppose to be doing, that was normal. It was a very confusing time.

By my mid 20's I was tired of hiding who I really was, honestly I was tired a long time ago but I finally was brave enough to admit it to myself. At 25 I graduated collage and was working in Hollywood in the Entertainment Industry. The entertainment industry tends to draw a large gay community so I was working with and being friends with several gay people, this was the first time I was interacting with other gay people since the gentleman at the liquor store when I was very young. I was starting to get very comfortable with the idea of being gay. But everyday was a struggle, do I finally come out and accept who I am but in turn live a life that will expose me to hatred and prejudices or stay in the closet and be what society sees as "normal"?

My life changed forever at age 27. I spent two years working in Hollywood I was on the verge of finally coming out but what really pushed me over the edge... well are two things. First I saw the movie In and Out with Kevin Kline and it really hit home for me. If you've never seen it, it's about a man in his 40's so deep in the closet and he's about to get married until another man comes into his life and helps him understand who he really is. That was going to be, I knew that if I didn't come out that I would probably marry a woman and have kids, then later in life realize how unhappy I was and either divorce or cheat on my wife with a man. I didn't want that to happen.

The second factor was that I met someone online. Back in the day the internet was just starting up and I use to frequent yahoo chat rooms. They had a Star Trek one that I would visit often. I started up a conversation with this guy named Mat. We hit off, we would chat for hours and soon our online chats moved to phone chats. A few months into our friendship he came out to me and told me he was gay. By this time I already knew this and felt a very strong connection with him. I in turn told him that I was bi and really liked him. He asked if he could come down and visit me, he lived in Canada. I was overjoyed, this was the one, the person I have been waiting for all my entire life. There was just one problem.. I was still deep in the closet. Mat was coming down in a few weeks and was going to be staying with me for a few weeks. This was the time I had to come out, this finally pushed me to the point of no return.

I remember the fear that was building up. All I kept asking myself is what would my friends and family say. Would they accept me or reject me. What would my life be like if I lived the life of a gay man. So many questions but one thing was for certain, the door to my closet was starting to open.

One night talking to Mat I blurted out that I was gay. It was the first time I had ever said it out loud and to someone. Of course he was thrilled which actually gave me a boost of confidence. That was it, one person down.. the ball was rolling. The next day I was talking to my best girl friend at the time Renee, we were making plans to see a movie later that night. I remember telling her that I had some big news but I wanted to tell her in person. I remember getting off the phone and the panic setting in.. this was it.. there was no turning back now. I picked her up and the car ride to the theater was quiet, we chit chatted but I was slowly building up the nerve to tell her. We parked and were walking to the theater when she asked, "So what's this big news" we stopped and for an agonizing few seconds I looked up at her and took a deep breath and said "I'm gay".

It's only two little words but man what an impact they have. She stared at me for a moment and then a huge smile came across her face and she embraced me. I can't describe what I was feeling.. it was a combination of relief, panic, nausea, joy, love and acceptance all rolled into one. She said she was so happy for me. I told her about Mat and how I was in love and showed her a picture of him.

It hard to describe how I felt after coming out, it was a huge weight lifted off my chest. For the first time in my life I felt like I was me. So at the age of 27 on the verge of 28 I was finally out and ready to start living my life.

The next big hurdle was telling my family. That didn't happen until I was 31. I was out now for three years and been in several relationships. But of course now that I was out and living the gay lifestyle my family never asked me how my love life was going or if I meet any nice girls like they did for so many years. I couldn't take that next step and just tell them. I didn't want to come out close to a holiday because if things went bad I didn't want that holiday to be associated with it. Finally one day I was going to have lunch with my mom and like with Renee, I told her over the phone that I had some big news to tell her.

Again like with Renee, we didn't talk much in the car when I picked her up. We got to the restaurant, ordered food and sat down when my mom asked "So what is this big news?" By this time I had been out for years and have had several boyfriends so it wasn't as hard saying the words but in a way it was harder as this was my family. I chose my mom to come out to first as I figured she'd be the one that would be okay with it the most. So I said those "oh so hard to say two words" .. "I'm Gay". She asked if I was sure and that it's not a phase, she then went on saying it must be her fault as she babied me to much. I assured her that it wasn't a phase and that nurturing had nothing to do with it... I was born this way.

She asked if she could tell other family members like her sisters (my aunts) and mom (grand mother) and I told her she could but not to tell dad, that I wanted to tell dad personally. My brother already kind of knew so I didn't see the need to tell him personally. I remember getting a call from my brother not to long after I told my mom and he said.. "so you're gay... cool". And that was about it from him.. he treats me no differently. I told my mom I was going to tell dad the next weekend and my mom said something like.. "oh I don't know how he is going to take it". This actually scared me from telling him for another nine months.

Finally while visiting him one Sunday we were in the kitchen washing and drying dishes and I was agonizing over telling him for months now and it just came out. "Dad I'm Gay". I held my breath and waited for a sharp reply but nothing happened. He looked at me and said "Okay". I said "Okay?" He said "You're still my son and I love you no matter what." I was shocked and surprised. I had built up this fear of what would happen when I told him and he actually took it better then anyone else that I had told.

So at age 32 I was out of the closet to everyone and having fun. I have had some bad experience and prejudices but living in Southern California and in the Los Angeles area is probably one of the best places to live and be a gay man. It hasn't always been easy but I can honestly say, at age 44 I have never been as happy as I am now. The past 16 years have had there ups and down but I'm living the life that I was meant to live and loving every minute of it. 

 

So if your struggling with coming out... take it from me. It's the best decision you'll ever make.

NerdStrong Gym - Leg Day!!

Today Coach Christy created this "Leg" Day workout. It looks fun on the board but man was it tough.

We started with a 230 meter Indian run and then 10x Air Squats, 6x Cossack Stretch (each side), 20x Shrugs and then a nice Shoulder Stretch and that was just the warm up.

For the workout we had to do 3 rounds of Rowing, Scissor Kicks, Jump Squats, Hanging Leg Lifts and Wall Balls. We did each station for two minutes straight with 1 minute of rest/transaction to the next station. We teamed up into groups of three, I was teamed with Josh and Jess. We started with Wall Balls as I knew it was gonna be tough doing 2 minutes of them and I wanted to get them out of the way early on. After Wall Balls we moved on to Rowing and after all the rowing we have done doing two minutes isn't that bad as long as you pace yourself. Next was Scissor Kicks, which I thought were gonna be the worse but I was wrong the worst was Jump Squats. The first minute was fine but soon we had to break them down in doing five of them and then resting a few seconds and then doing five more and so on. We finished the round with Hanging Leg Lifts which aren't that bad.

The second round went pretty much the same as the first but the third row was horrible. Doing two minutes of Wall Balls for a third time was difficult but we just did a few at a time and rested a lot more. Rowing wasn't bad though our pace was a bit slower then the previous two times. Scissor Kicks were horrible but they are always horrible. But what surprised me was the Jump Squats, after doing a minutes worth my upper legs were done. They physically gave out on me and there were a few times when I though I was just going to collapse. I've never experienced any body part that had just stopped working. My brain was sending signals to my legs to squat but my legs were not accepting the signals. I did manage to finish them off but it was a struggle. We finished this workout with the final Hanging Leg Lifts and the three rounds were over... thankfully. I know I'll be feeling this workout for days to come.

Dinner With A Friend With A Little LARPing on the side

Today I watched episodes 3 and 4 of Heroes Reborn. I'm enjoying this series but it has yet to get me excited to watch it. I tend to let a few of the episodes gather before I sit down and watch but I have to admit when I do sit down and watch I get into the story and can't wait to watch the next one.

This is a slow builder kind of show.. they are laying the groundwork for something big. I just hope we don't have to wait the entire season for it (well 13 episodes). Still hating Zachery Levi's character and his crazy killer wife. He's seems to be a "hero" and showing signs of having some sort of heat power but it still doesn't make me like him any more. Also it was crazy seeing Molly kill herself to prevent from being used... so sad.

Still watching and still enjoying but definitely not "must see" TV for me.. at least not yet.

During the evening I got to hang out with my buddy Adam. He and I were "surprise" guests for tonight's Pathfinder RPG/LARPing party. I have decided to sit out this next session of Pathfinder but DM Dallas asked if would make a special appearance at the very end of the party to launch them on their next quest. I was more then happy to help out.

Adam was down from Seattle for work and we hadn't seen each other in a long while so this was a nice treat. We hung out for a bit at my place before grabbing some dinner at Chevy's, where we had some very interesting and informative conversations. Afterwards we headed over to Will's place around 9:45ish as we were to make our entrance around 10pm. Well 10pm came and went and we stood outside (in costume) waiting for our cue. Adam went in around 10:30ish and I finally went in around 10:45pm. I was dressed as my "Dash" character and only had a line or two to deliver that we end this session and leave it as a cliffhanger and set them on their way to the next adventure.

Overall it went off great (other then the 45 minute delay). Everyone was surprised to see Adam and I. When the session was over I hung out for another hour or so and visited with friends. The majority of the people who were participating in the event took off but the core group of friends stuck around and hung out.. it was a great way to end the evening.

NerdStrong Gym - Mini Baby Boss Battle

Last week we battled the "Big Boss Monster" but for today's workout we are starting from the beginning and taking on the "Mini (Baby) Boss Battle"

We started off with a nice Build, 2 rounds of 5x Wall Squats, 10x Air Squats and 5x Heavy Goblet Squats. We then moved on to our Proficiency which was 10x Weighted Good Mornings, 10x Light Dumbbell Scarecrows and then High Knees, High Skip, Butt Kickers, Quad Stretch and Side Shuffle Left and Right.

Both of those were more of a warm up for the Mini Boss Battle. Though it's only a third of what we did last Saturday the goal is to finish in the allotted time.  For this battle we had to do a 460 meter run, 50x Kettlebell Swings, 460 meter run, 40x Push Ups, 460 meter run, 30x Goblet Squats, 460 meter run, 20x Burpees, 460 meter run, and 10x NerdMakers.

As I said it had less to do but we also had more running and less time. It was a tough workout but I'm happy to say that I finished the entire thing with five minutes to spare. These Saturday workout are to prepare us for when we re-battle the Big Boss Monster. I don't have a clue how many of these "mini" bosses we have to fight before that happens but let's hope there are a few as last week's boss was a killer and I didn't even finish.

Rebels S2 Trailer, R2D2 Extreme & Geeky Freaky Talking NerdStrong

During NYCC they released a new trailer for Star Wars Rebels S2 and it's pretty spectacular. I enjoyed season one but since they have added my favorite character Ahsoka from the Clone Wars it's gotten a whole lot better, that and the fact that the crew of the Ghost is now part of the rebel alliance or at least the beginning of it. Check out what's in store for S2

I came across this picture of a hulked out R2D2 and since he's one of my favorite character in the Star Wars universe I had to check it out even further. Come to find out that it's a custom made figure by Italian modeler Lemcat. He calls it “Hi2-D2: Enhanced astromech droid,” which began life as a Gundam model kit. You can check out more pictures HERE.

Last thing I want to share with you guys is a new video by Geeky Freaky.. they recently paid a visit to NerdStrong Gym and did a pretty good story about it. I think this is my favorite report about the gym so far. It also has alot of my buddies in it as well as my hands (playing the card game Magic). Check it out..

LARPs The Series, Season Two Begins

Season two of one of my favorite webseries has started, "LARPs the Series". Season one was so much fun and so entertaining that I contributed to their kickstarter campaign for season two and it's finally started today. They released two episodes.. well a prologue and episode one.

First was the prologue and it was extra special with some very cool special effects. I thought.. wow they really up'd their budget but then you find out it's a dream of Arthur. You also find out that he has a new character and he just made a huge mistake. I also want to point out that their new title opening is pretty fantastic.

They also released episode one, first let me say that I am thrilled that the episodes this season are longer (that was one of the few complaints I had about last season). The episode starts off with us finding out that Kat and Will have broken up but their characters are still lovers in game which makes for some awkward moments. We find out that Shane is a "Spy" of sorts, she's a reporter who has infiltrated the Larping team and is writing about them. So it's not anything horrible but the team doesn't know she is doing it (yet). Will gets a job at a coffee house with a crazy over the top owner/manager. We meet a new character Alex who is friends with Shane and knows she is writing stories about the Larping team but she's extremely excited to be joining. And through her eyes we are being taught how to larp (which I find very cool).

Everything just feels grander.. I mean I thought the acting, camera work, music and stories were great in season one but season two feels bigger and better... I can't wait for more.

NerdStrong Gym - Back Squats and Barbells

After taking an unexpected day off yesterday it was good to be back at NerdStrong. Today was a Strength day, probably my least favorite day of my workout week (with exception to when we are doing bench press').

Today's workout started with a nice Build "Warm Up". 230 Meter Run with arm circles then back in the gym for 2 rounds of 30x Jumping Jacks, 10x Air Squats and 5x Pole Squats. I was winded just after doing this small set.

For Proficiency we did a 2 minute Couch Stretch (which has to be the worlds worst stretch) and then we did 10x Dorsiflexion PVC (and I honestly don't even remember what that was.. but I'm sure it was some sort of stretching and horrible).

We then moved on to the Quest. We've been working towards are one rep max for Back Squats. Today we had to do 6 sets of 5 reps. We were working up to a heavy weight but something that we could do 5 reps without stopping. I got up to 135lbs which is far from my one rep max of 225lbs but I was able to do 6 sets of 5 in a row with a bit of effort. I have also learned that my shoes are horrible for this lift so I go shoeless when I do these back squats.

And our final Battle for today was 5 rounds of 3x Barbell Strict Press, 3x Barbell Push Press, 6x Barbell Push Ups and 20x Anchored Sit Ups. Five rounds of this was tough, especially after all the working out we had already done. But you always manage to find that last ounce of energy and push through... thanks coaches for the continued encouragement.

X-Files Poster, Jaws 19, Sherlock Trailer & My Car Is Back

No NerdStrong today.. my car is still in the shop (should get it back today). I had someone who was suppose to pick me up and take me to the gym but unfortunately he had to cancel last minute and I wouldn't find a replacement.. so no gym today.

Fox released a very cool X-Files poster for it's upcoming mini-series. I'm super excited to see this series and we don't have long to wait.

It's getting close to when Marty and Doc went Back to the Future in BTTF part 2 and if you remember the local theater was playing Jaws 19, well Universal went and made a trailer for Jaws 19... how awesome is that!!

The also released another trailer for the upcoming Sherlock Victorian Special...  It's been so long since we had a new Sherlock, though I will admit that I can watching all three seasons of Sherlock over and over and never be bored but I can't wait to see some new stuff.

Around lunch time I got a call from the Ford dealer letting me know that my car is ready for pick up. So I had a co-worker drive me over and drop me off. It took about 20 minutes but I got my car back and it not only sounded differently it drove differently. No weird gear shift movements and not grinding sounds. They did inform me that my front two tires need to be replaced and my back shock is leaking.. of course they offered to fix it for $750, but I declined as I know I can get new tired for a few hundred and my shock fixed for a less then what they were offering. So I guess the repairs are not over yet but I'm going to hold off as long as I can.. at least through the holidays. It's so nice to have my car back!!!

Campbell Soup & Teaching with Holograms

Well the far right are at it again.. Campbell's Soup released this very sweet and geeky commercial and they are up in arms and asking to boycott Campbell's. It's a commercial with two dads and their young son. What makes this commercial even better is that the fact that this is a real family, both Dads are actors and this is their real son... so dang cute!!!

The second video I wanted to share with you is this amazing thing that they have in Russia. I guess they have alot of issues with people parking in handicap parking space (and we have the same issue here as well) but they have this to teach people a lesson.

And I usually don't talk about my work much since it's work.. but I'm happy to say after eight months of work we finally delivered the first four episodes of this new Christmas series that I'm working on. I'll let you know when it's scheduled to air.. it's a pretty fun reality competition show.

NerdStrong Gym - Box Jumps & Burpees

DEX class for today's NerdStrong workout.. coach Blair teaching today's class so that means we start off with a 230 meter run around the parking lot before coming back in and doing some calf stretches, sumo squats and threading the needle.

For the Proficiency part of the workout we did 3 rounds of 10x Sprawl, 12x Heavy Dumbbell/Kettlebell Calf Raises. The sprawls aren't that bad but the heavy kettlebell calf raises start to hurt about the second round as the ankles don't get worked out very often.

The Quest for today was 7 rounds.. yeah that's 7 rounds of 1 Minute Box Jumps and 5x Strict Burpees. The first few rounds are fine but you start to feel it on the fourth and fifth and then you're just trying to get through the last two with taking a tumble over the box.

And the final part of this workout.. the Battle consisted of 4 rounds of :30 seconds of Inch Worms, :30 seconds of Planking, then :30 seconds of Frog Hops and finally :30 seconds of rest which feels like 5.

Overall this was a nice balanced workout.. I don't feel like I overworked any particular part of my body.. thanks coach Blair.

Taking a Step Down (Career Wise)

I have worked in the entertainment industry since I was 25 years old. Started as a production assistant and did various things in production like, production coordinator, backstage manager, & script coordinator, before moving over in to post. I worked my way up post, from junior assistant editor, assistant editor, editor to finally where I have been the past 11 years post production supervisor. I enjoyed being a post production supervisor, it was a very stressful job but the pay was good so when I would work nine months out of the year I had plenty of money to survive those three months of no work and still enjoy my life.

Well all that changed a few years ago 2012 when a job ended and my life was kind of turned upside down, I just got out of a long term relationship and was selling our house. It required some fixing up before it could go on the market so I opted to not work and instead focus on getting the house ready to sale. I had a decent amount of savings so I could survive for a bit without work. After being off for six months and finally selling the house I attempted to get back out in the work force but things were slim. I found jobs that would last a few weeks here or a month there but nothing substantial. For the next two years 2013 and 2014 I worked a total of four months and my saving was gone and I was living off of credit cards. I was collecting unemployment but that soon ran out at the end of 2014 and I spiraled into debt.

I had been out of the industry for over two years and my connections had dried up and I just wasn't catching any breaks. That's when my friend Andrew, who I worked with over 12 years ago contacted me and asked if I was interested in taking on the role of a post production coordinator. Now they make about half the money that a post production supervisor makes but they also have half the stress.

So I had to decide.. do I take a step down in my career and if I did how would that effect me mentally, I didn't want to feel like I failed or that I was less then. I knew deep down that I had to that the job, I needed a steady pay check and this would give it to me (for a short while). I knew if I took this job I would make enough to cover my monthly bills but wouldn't really have much to put towards my debt.

But I did it.. I pushed my ego aside and told myself that this is only temporary, once this gig was over I'll look for a post production supervisor job and get back on track. Well this gig started at the end of February 2015 and was suppose to run until August 2015, but ran long and didn't end until mid October. In the middle of September while I was working my current show Andrew came to me and asked if I wanted to post production coordinate a new game show, this new show would run until December 2015.

Again I had to take a step back.. I've been at this lower position for eight months, the money is okay but lower stress level is great. I debated with myself on continuing my current position or declining the offer and look for a new gig as a post supervisor (with no guarantee).

In the end I did accept the second job so I will be employed until sometime in December. Which is a great feeling.

But the end is in sight and it doesn't look like they will have anything on the horizon so I'll be looking for work come December time. Now the question is do I want to continue to take it easy (stress wise) and continue to be a post production coordinator or should I venture out and try and find a post production supervisor job.

I have to admit I have really loved the less stress on my life but on the other hand the less money is tough, if I didn't have this large debt I think I would do another year at this lower level. I mean I'm happy with just making enough to cover bills and have a bit of extra for some fun from time to time and as I get older my body isn't a fan of all the stress. Maybe I do a few more years of post supervising to pay down my debt and then consider taking a less stressful job.

I don't know what I'm gonna do.. I still have a few months to figure out. I guess it will depend if I can find another job as a post coordinator or a post supervisor first.. right now I'd be happy with either.

I came across several quotes that explain what I have been doing the past year... "It's okay to take a step back and breathe" and " Taking a step back sometimes means preparing for a big jump forward"

NerdStrong Gym - The Dungeon

Today's workout is the Dungeon workout. This is one of the very first geeky themed workout that coach Andrew created back when NerdStrong (aka Nerdfit) was happening out of Andrew and Marla's garage.

Of course it's updated and has a bit more stuff to do since the gym has grown. This was my first time doing this workout.

Today's workout we teamed up with a fellow warrior and moved from room to room and had to battle what was in each room for 3 minutes (in thirty second intervals, meaning I did it for thirty seconds and then my partner would do it for thirty seconds and so on until the three minutes were up). Sometimes the Dungeon Master would roll a 20 sider and if it hit 1 - 9 we fell into a trap (had to do Burpees), if it hit 10 - 20 we found the trap and didn't fall in.

My partner Jami and I started in room 3 "Barbell Squats", these weren't bad, it was our first battle so we were still very fresh and ready to kick some butt, we moved on to room 4 "Plank", again like with room 3 we felt pretty good, it's still early on in the battle, in this room we encountered our first trap door but luckily we spotted it just in time and didn't fall in. Room 5 was Barbell Push Press', we choose a decent weight and managed to do the full three minutes without stopping. Next was room 6 "Max Hold", this isn't a hard battle just a painful one as your hands really do all the work. Room 7 "Banded Pulldowns" were nice and a great way to stretch the shoulders out but we did find another trap door but this time we didn't see it in time and fell through (5 burpees together). And speaking of shoulders the room 8 "Battleropes" killed our shoulders, Battleropes are hard enough but when you have to do thirty seconds three times in a row it's brutal. Room 9 "Sled Push" was difficult, not only before you just finished battling Battleropes but yo have to push this very heavy sled over asphalt. Next was room 10 "10 meter Sprint". This was actually a break since we didn't have to use our arms or shoulders. We then moved to room 1 "Rowing". Not the best thing to have to do towards the end of the workout. We rowed for :20 seconds and then took a :10 seconds rest for the full three minutes. And our final room was Room 2 "Kettlebell Deadlifts". These aren't hard but after doing all those previous battles your arms feel like jello and I had to drop down in weight to finish the full three minutes.

Overall I'm very happy with my performance talking the various obstacles in this dungeon. I had a great partner who continued to encourage me to push through the pain. I think this workout became an instant classic. Lots of different activities that push you to your limits... it was a great workout.

WB Studio Tour

After the workout my buddy Thomas (who's visiting from Ireland) and I went to Warner Bros to do their studio tour. I've been wanting to do that tour for years so when Thomas asked if I wanted to join him I of course said yes.

I've heard great things about this tour so I was really looking forward to it. We got there about a half hour before our tour time and sat in the lobby and waited to be called. First thing you do is go into a screening room and watch a short film about the history of Warner Brothers.

We then are introduced to our guides (our guides name was Lisa) and she was very knowledgeable about the studio. What's great is there is no script or planned tour, it's pretty much up to the tour guide where they want to take you. Of course there are certain points and places they have to hit but what this means is you can do this tour over again and get an entirely different tour.. which is pretty cool.

We drove around the lot and since it was Saturday it was pretty dead. Some of the highlights of the tour was seeing the set for Pretty Little Liars. Now I don't watch the show but these sets are complete sets.. meaning their are four walls and no audience. They also have a great Batman vehicle room where you can get an up close and personal look at the various Batmobiles and well as some other cool vehicles. We took a foot tour of their "prop" building and the WB has rooms full of props. There are some well known props like the two chairs from the Matrix movies when Morpheus is talking to Neo about the blue and red pills. We walked through room after room of amazing and some very recognizable props.

Afterwards we did more of the "backlots" and saw various houses of well known TV shows. We then stopped off a the museum of sorts. The first floor is all Batman stuff, mostly costumes from all the movies. But the second floor is all Harry Potter.. this of course is what I have been waiting for and it was amazing. They even had a guy up there with a sorting hat. I mean it's just a recording repeating itself but if you line up right you can get the house you want.. I tried for Hufflepuff but I got Gryffindor which was cool as I was wearing my Gryffindor shirt. I took a ton of video and pictures.. this is a must see of all Harry Potter fans.

After the museum we headed over to another sound stage.. unlike Pretty Little Liars this TV series I love.. we got to go on the set of The Big Bang Theory.. and when I say on set I mean in the audience area. These sets are alot different then the Pretty Little Liars sets as these are missing the fourth wall and have a live audience. It was cool see and working in the entertainment industry I always knew that the sets look a lot larger on screen then they do in real life and this was no exception.

We pulled up to the final stop and got out as the rest of the tour is guide free and at your own pace. When you walk in the building there is a cafe which is of course title Central Perk (Friends). To the right is the gift shop and to the left is the beginning of a walking tour of some cool behind the scenes of your favorite WB shows and movies. They have a costume section as well as pre-production, make up and other various parts of movie and TV making. You then get to see the mock up of Central Perk, it's a prefect recreation of the set and the best part is you can walk around in it as well as get your picture taken sitting on the couch with a nice cup of joe.. that was pretty fantastic!!!

And since it's getting close to Halloween they had a section where there were famous horror costumes and props.. like Freddy Kruger's knife glove and sweater. They had a illusion prop where you could look as though just your head is on a platter.

They had a force perceptive Hobbit table (of course this was a favorite of mine). Both Thomas and I took turns sitting in the opposite seat so he was Gandalf and I was Bilbo and then he was Bilbo and I was Gandalf.. so much fun.

The next part section were interactive. You could ride a broom, batman's batcycle or float in space (ala Gravity). This part of the tour was extra if you wanted to purchase video or a picture of what you did. But you could do all three things for free and not purchase anything.. I of course did the Harry Potter broom ride and purchased video and a picture. They had some rather crude motion capture screens where you could move a digital dobby. They also had a cool sound room where you could watch the first few minutes of Gravity and hear all the different components of audio. And then the final room had props and costumes from some classic WB things... like Wonder Woman's outfit or Superman's cape, just to name a few.

This was the end of the tour but of course you have to walk through the gift shop to exit and get on a tram back to your car.. but this gift shop is amazing and I could have spent so much money there but I spent enough on the Harry Potter video so I resisted. 

Overall I knew I would enjoy the tour but what I didn't know is how much I would enjoy it. This is an amazing tour and if you're a fan of TV or movie and want to see some cool behind the scenes stuff then check it out. It is a bit pricey at $62 a ticket but honestly it's worth every penny, especially if you're a fan of Batman, Friends or Harry Potter.

Thanks to my buddy Thomas for sharing this experience with me. And if anyone wants to go on the tour I'd be happy to join you. It really is a must see when you visit LA.

NerdStrong Gym - Boss Monster

Today's workout was the Boss Monster, this is a new thing for the month of October. Every Saturday we will be fighting a boss, this is the biggest of the bosses to see where we stand. We will fight smaller bosses for the next few Saturdays but will encounter this big boss again in the near future and see how much we have improved.

So for this workout "Boss Monster", it had a 45 minute time cap to do 460 meter run, 50x Kettlebell Swings, 460 meter run, 40x Push Ups, 230 meter run, 30x Goblet Squats, 230 meter run, 20x Burpees, 140 meter run, 10x Burpee Pull Ups, 230 meter run, 20x Head Cutters, 230x meter run, 30x Box Jumps, 460 meter run, 40x Slamballs, 460 meter run and finally 50x Sit Ups.

This was one of the toughest workouts we have done in a long while. 45 minutes of constant workout is tough. Of course you could take breaks where needed but if you wanted to get everything done within the time limit you really couldn't stop and rest to long.

I didn't finish but I got further then I thought I would. I actually got to the 30x Box Jumps and got half way through them before time ran out. This is an amazing test of endurance and pacing. It's hard to judge how fast you should go, you don't want to kill yourself at the beginning and then have nothing left in the tank at the end. But you also don't want to go so slow that you don't get to the finish line. Of course your body will tell you when you should slow down, or rest and I've gotten to the point where I listen closely to my body and when it says take a break.. I take a break.

I can't wait to see how far I can get next time when we re-do this workout in a month or so, hopefully I can finish it.. guess will have to wait and see. And a side note my buddy Thomas (who is visiting from Ireland) was the only one who actually finished the entire thing.