This is Omar’s blog

How often do you take time to think? Sometimes it feels like you’ve achieved so little in such a huge amount of time.

Mentioned here. I nearly linked to it then - well I did on my Links but you don’t look there. Mostly it’s stories from 365 tomorrows, which are sometimes a little bit incredible and thoughtful. Which reminds me that I have taken the time to read them as they appear in my reader. So I’m kind of doing a bit, taking some time to read it. Little steps…

But that first link is about Dave and Barack having a chat they didn’t realise was being recorded - amateurs!!! Then I read about it again on the BBC, which gives you some things to do to take some time back!!

I know it’s not something I that do as much as I’d like I think.

“Someone who’s desperate to do something will find the time,” he says. “Everyone can have an hour’s less sleep. It’s staying alert that’s the difficulty.

and

“If you don’t give the brain breaks, it will take them”, he says, “in the form of loss of concentration, or what we call a mental breakdown.”

I like that last one, even if it conjures unsuitable images. See, now i’m thinking about when I’m working - how it’s better to really focus for 20 minutes (or whatever) and then give yourself some time off, instead of not semi-focussing for 30 minutes. Right?

t-shirt

Here’s what’s going to happen when you wear this shirt out: A really attractive person is gonna come up to you and say “Oh, A Softer World! I read that too! Man, I wonder what the heck is wrong with that Joey guy, seriously? Who thinks up things like that? Anyway can I buy you a coffee or something — Oh my God, I’m sorry I didn’t realize you two were together! Faux pas!” And then as the three of you awkwardly laugh off the faux pas the person will slip a small piece of paper in your jacket pocket. When you get home you will notice it and unfold it. On the paper will be the following message:

YOU ARE BEING WATCHED

Secretly, I love A Softer World.

Waiting in the rain from Omar on Vimeo

(I did rotate it, but it hasn’t appeared like that. So rotate your head.)

It’s funny where we draw the line.

I was getting up about 6:40 (I just like the time in the morning I think, I could spend more time in bed and I could be more organised in the evening but I’m not). The last couple of weeks I’ve been getting up at 6:10. Going to bed anywhere between 11 and 12.

It’s funny because, getting up at 6:10 is the same as getting up at 6:40. I think I’ve just reset the baseline.

Still, I’m happy getting up at that time. Just 5:50 seems ridiculously early. 6am is early and doable and 5am or 5:55 is stupid-o’clock and should be reserved solely for special occasions.

So, I’m going to try tomorrow and get a gym session in before work. Today was a no go as I stilled ached from circuits on Sunday and spinning yesterday. My explosive power stuff is pretty good, my cardio is rubbish at the moment.

Onwards.

Surprise from Omar on Vimeo.

(better quality version now)

Mamihlapinatapai - there’s a word for everything isn’t there.

It describes a look shared by two people with each wishing that the other will initiate something that both desire but which neither one wants to start. This could perhaps be translated more succinctly as “eye-contact implying ‘after you…’”. A more literal approximation is “ending up mutually at a loss as to what to do about each other”.

via Kottke

Further to this.

1. Press ups over the top bit of a step box. So press up with one hand on the box, then move hands so other hand is on, press up again
2. Explosive squat thing with weights. So weights on shoulder - in one movement put weights in air and squat at the same time
3. Clean and press
4. Burpees except you jump across the top bit of a step box instead of up in the air
5. Get ups - lie down, get up (trying to not use your knees to pivot) - harder then it seems
6. Jump over small hurdles
7. Clean
8. Split squats - start in a lunge position, jump and swap legs. Do with weights
9. Sitting position, push medicine ball straight up and catch it
10. Two footed jumps around the studio - is about 32 small-ish two footed jumps. Horrible.

Start with five of each, except 10. Then 10, then 15, then 20.