When sleep is scarce.

It has been an exhausting week or so, now. And I can’t say that it’s because of that for any other reason other than my own doing. Well, that and the weather.

And it’s really the way the weather is affecting me that’s the weird part. I’m used to working on a lot of different projects at once while still holding down more than one job, so I know that’s not it. I’m sure spending the energy on working out every day might contribute to it a bit, but if anything it’s been adding to my ability to do more and not feel drained. At least for today, it feels like it has been the sun that has been tiring me out.

It’s totally strange to me. The sun, as I’ve mentioned before is a supercharger for my everyday. (Well, scientifically, for everyone’s everyday, of course.) It usually gets me pumped for the day and that combine with blue skies usually keep me energized until night rolls around. But for the past few days of glorious sunlight, it has been kind of draining.

And I haven’t even really been outside for an extended amount of time. I know getting too much sun for too long can be tiring, but that’s definitely not what’s happening. It’s just sunlight making me sleepy. I made my way through the beautiful, sun-filled day yawning and nodding off. I had to make an extra effort to not lose focus while on the road to teach out of town and also to not fall asleep on my students. (Even weirder was how the night drive back had my fully awake.)

The sun and lack of sleep, most likely are the culprits. When I hit my bed just to rest for a moment before getting dinner ready, I was in complete shutdown mode. In fact, when I opened my eyes again, it was four hours later and it was 2am.

Sleep, come back to me. You’re in high demand.

- Mickey

Board Game Night: Game of Thrones

Monday has rolled around once again, bringing with it the now slightly-more-popular-than-last-time Board Game Night. It was lovely to have my good friend, Jenna, over once again and it was just as exciting to have some newcomers to the table. And with new faces comes a new game to the rotation.

The Game of Thrones: Board Game is a round-based strategy game introduced to game night by my friend and fellow D&D campaigner, Sean. This is not a simple game. Well, it’s simple once you get into it, just like most board games, but it’s quite involved. It took us first timers nearly an hour to setup and learn before we even got to our first round, but once we were into it, it was on.

But I was definitely not on. I love these kinds of games, but I can’t say that I play to win on my first go around. I usually don’t go for the win on the first try, I just try to learn the game, play and observe the more experienced players, and get prepared for the next round. I just didn’t think this learning round would be a four-hour war. I was probably the worse for wear by the end of it all, but Jenna, in true form, almost took it all, requiring a tiebreak rule we had to look up to find out that she was only a stronghold away from a win. (She’s a natural board game talent.)

If you’re a fan of the books or the show, this game gets you into that universe, taking place completely on a map of Westeros, both on land and sea. Each player plays as one of the six houses with claims to the throne, and each house has their advantages and disadvantages. It’s pretty well-balanced, from what I could tell from that single session, but I can see people having their favourite houses to play. I was definitely smoked by a house card that prevented me from stealing a castle that would have stopped the eventual winner, and may have actually setup the total win for Jenna. But again, I was in total learning mode still through the game, so I was the definite non-winner.

I’d love to get better at this game. I love strategy games, but I’ve never been too good at them. Guess I should add it to the board.

- Mickey

The Gladstone Hotel.

Sometimes, I’m lucky enough to play gigs at The Gladstone Hotel’s Melody Bar in Toronto. Usually, it’s because I’m playing drums for Arlene there, as was the case tonight, and it’s always a good time. The stage is small, but it’s large enough to squeeze together a 5-piece band (or even more) and the room is a very nice room to play. It feels more like a lounge when you’re on stage, but I love the energy in there. It’s got some classy intimacy to it, not to mention a tasty taro burger.

I played a set on drums with Arlene, opening for a wonderful performer’s CD release party. It was a great set, a lot of fun as usual, and the crowd — mostly there for the main act — was large and energetic. It felt great. That room always has an unexplainable ability to make a small stage show in a small place feel bigger than it seems. It’s got a sense of warmth to it all, seemingly feeding off the architecture and the energy off of Queen street. It was fun to spot the odd passerby looking through the open window, trying to find out where that awesome sound is coming from.

And the main event herself was an amazingly soulful experience. The band, which included Arlene on backup vocals, was a lot of fun to watch and listen to as it was composed of some very talented musicians. (This was their second time playing together, technically, and it sure didn’t show.)

There’s just something about that place. It has kind of stood up to the test of time, almost closing down more than once through its decades of history, but someway, somehow, it has made its way through. And I’m glad it did, because every time I play there, it’s always a good time.

And I haven’t even told you about the raucous karaoke nights that go on there…

- Mickey

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY.

And I missed it .

Yes, Free Comic Book Day came and went and I was empty-handed by the end of it because of work and rehearsal (but it was a very fun rehearsal, and I love playing music so no regrets there!), but this time next year, you can be sure I’ll be in line to get my fix of graphic novel greatness.

I’ve always loved comics, I’ve just never owned a lot of them. As a kid, I was a big fan of my cousins who loved comics and introduced me to superheroes and many other cool things at the time. So, of course, if my cousins loved comics, I loved comics. In fact, my one and only visit to a comic convention was at the invitation of my cousin. It was one of the most fun experiences I remember as a kid that didn’t involve an amusement park. I don’t recall how much cosplay went on back then, but I do remember the massive amounts of posters and action figures I wanted and, of course, the mountains of comic books. I remember leaving there with a short stack of books, one of them signed, and an X-Men anniversary poster that is currently to my left as I write this blog. (I had it mounted as I did most of my posters when I was a kid. (Ah, the perks of having a graphic designer mother with access to print houses and framers.) I still have those issues tucked away in a tin box at my parents’ house and have just recently acquired more over the past year or so to add to the collection.

For a while I was a regular Wizard subscriber. I originally read that magazine for the price guides, but then I realized it was a great way to catch a glimpse of what was happening in the comic world without having to dive into the comics themselves, which required money that I did not have at the time. See, as much as I love comics to this day, my problem is that I don’t know where to start. With a lot of the classic favourites from Marvel and DC, as much as I’d love to be able to start from the very beginning, that was not really a feasible option and still really isn’t one. Yes, the digital option is becoming more and more viable — I actually own upwards of 700 digital comics thanks to comiXology’s 700 #1′s giveaway — but then I find myself stuck between collector and reader.

I think my ideal would be to own the omnibus editions of a lot of series. As much as I’d like to be a collector, I don’t know if I could stretch myself any thinner to dive into another passion like that. (Remember that problem I have where I buy entertainment and never open it? I have comics that are already in that category as it stands.) I’d rather just enjoy the artwork and the stories of a series in one bound copy, as I do enjoy having the physical book in my hands. But the sheer amount of stories I want to read and get into are surely in the hundreds. (If only I could take a year off to just read. Sounds heavenly.)

I love comics. I love superheroes. I want to read all the stories. (ALL THE STORIES.) But I have no time because I have all these other wonderful things to do, daily.

Geekiest first world problem ever.

- Mickey

Those compact days.

Time is a funny thing. We experience it so differently from moment to moment that sometimes events just blur together or inexplicably spread apart. We’ll recount things happening in different places, different dates, even with different people sometimes when we try to tell a story about it. It happens, it’s often time hilarious when it does, but it’s always intriguing and interesting how our mind can remember so many details but then mix and match them, seemingly at random, sometimes.

Today was one of those days where so many things happened that it feels like it happened over a span of a two or three days instead of just one. It was non-stop, moving from location to location, each one a different vibe and energy from the last (but thankfully all positive and awesome), and it was completely filled with things I love to do. Music recording session, theatre/dance rehearsal, an unexpected studio, friends at work, work itself, the movies, and a tough workout all happened in a span of about 16 hours. Surprisingly, it did not feel like a long day at all. I could feel a little lower in energy than usual near the end, especially through the workout, but overall throughout the day, I was feeling great.

And even though I’m a huge believer in time flying while you’re having fun, and today was a lot of fun, it didn’t just fly by. It wasn’t long, and it wasn’t short. (So it was just right, I suppose?) I’m not sure how to describe it. I guess you could say it had the right pace, overall. There were times where I felt like I had to race just a bit, but I can’t say that I ever felt the pressure of feeling rushed. It was as if I was in high-gear, but at my discretion only, and no one else’s, which would explain it never felt stressful or pushed at any time through the day.

What’s intriguing to me is that, looking back at the day now as I write it, it feels like I’m recounting my entire week. But the whole week itself was packed with interesting events. Today seems to push those events back even further into the past, but really they just happened a couple of days ago. Oh time, you’re so awesome, mysterious and weird sometimes. (Or at least my perception of you are those things, I suppose.)

Another random blabbering post, but one that intrigues me and also makes me realize that I love doing what I do, and I don’t mind packing all of that into one day and really getting the most out of my non-sleep time. (Speaking of which, I think I need more sleep, in general. I’ve got to find that balance!)

What’s that? You caught that I wrote that I went to the movies? Nice work. This is what I saw:

- Mickey

Oh, right. Thank you, again!

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I sometimes like to write about my day somewhat cryptically, talking about things like moving, or creating things, or staying motivated and positive seemingly for no reason. The truth is, what I write is most of the time because of something that happened during the day that made me think. I don’t always mention that as the reason behind each post because I try not to just make this exclusively a daily online journal, so I’ll usually just jump right into my thoughts about the event without going into the specifics of the actual event that inspired the post.

That being said, with yesterday’s post being exactly that situation, I totally forgot to stick my pattern of monthly gratitude to you, the reader! So here we go!

Thank you again for following along on this journey with me. I truly believe that taking this third attempt at a 365 blog seriously has helped me to also stick to my fitness goals, and because of my dedication to writing here everyday has caught the attention of many people I had never known before, it has kept me motivated and accountable to get to where I am now. It all ties in together: my vision board, the habit of daily writing turning into the habit of daily exercise, the encouragement of friends and strangers enjoying my writing becoming a visible, growing (but still humbly small) community of fellow writers, fitness-minded people, and people also starting their own journeys have made this blog become one of the farthest reaching things I’ve ever done on the internet and has helped me to become the healthiest and most fit I’ve ever been.

So once again, with all my heart and soul, I thank you for stopping by once in a while to see what pops out of this unpredictable mind of mine. I’m humbled and extremely grateful whenever someone comes up to me at work, or when I’m out with friends and family, and says that they’ve read my blog and it has inspired them to make changes in their lives. I never would have thought that my simple goal of writing anything, really, would turn into something worth reading, let alone inspiring or even remotely life-changing. But as I started to give those little messages of push and inspiration at the end of a lot of my posts, I realized that this is now part of what this blog does. This is a reading place meant to keep me motivated by sharing that motivation with you. It just so happens that the result of that might mean you may feel motivated too. And I love that.

It’s hard to believe that, sometime next month, I’ll have reached the halfway-point of my first successful 365. Yes, that’s right, I’m calling it. There’s no going back now. I’m seeing this baby all the way to the sweet, sweet end (and most likely beyond.) So thank you for keeping me motivated, inspired, and accountable. This wouldn’t be what it is, and I wouldn’t be who I am, without your support, no matter how small.

You rock.

Image by ~hailthekid.

- Mickey

Moving methods.

Since moving to Toronto almost 4 years ago, I’ve helped many friends move in, out of, and around the city. And every time I’m asked I always slightly hesitate to say yes, kind of dreading the work that has to be done on their big day. But once that day arrives and I’m up early ready to join a group of rock star moving buddies, I realize it’s not so bad and can actually be fun. (Plus, it’s a bit of workout, and we all know how I feel about those, now.)

I’ll admit, it’s probably more fun for the people helping with the move than the people actually moving. (I’d say its more fun unpacking and setting up the new place than it is lugging it over.) And regardless of the level of ease and organization of the move — I’ve seen some expertly organized and some very impromptu-style moves — the fun comes with the company. I do a lot of laughing while helping with a move and it’s all because of the awesome friends also helping out. There’s always something to laugh about, and as you get more tired, everything seems funnier, and it definitely helps to keep up that kind of spirit to help with what is most likely an exciting yet stressful time for the people moving into their new place.

I also like how much problem solving has to be done during a move. I don’t like the problems in particular — the easier move, the better, of course — but I do enjoy having to think logically (and often laterally) in certain situations. Maybe it’s a couch that won’t fit through a door way one way, but when rotated can just barely make it through (or maybe it has to be lowered from the second floor with rope, true story). Often, it’s how to pack the truck and how to make real-life use of your awesome Tetris skills. (This usually carries on to the elevator if it’s an apartment move.) Sometimes, it’s the discovery that an item you’ve owned for so long actually does fold or break down into smaller, more pack able pieces or shapes than you thought. Whatever it is, there’s something new to learn and some new way of looking at things when it comes to moving.

I don’t like having to move often, but if friends are in need, and I’m not already booked, chances are I’ll be there. But the plan for me is that my next move will be into a place that I own.

- Mickey