Lifting last week

 Monday, 3 June heavy

• SQ: 4x5 @255
• OHP: 4x2 @112.5
• CR: 4x12

Squat was programmed for 4x5 at 255 pounds, but no. It was 4, 4, 3, 3. Same with OHP: 2, 2, 1, 1. Ugh. Tried something new with calf raises: Used the barbell and slid it up and down the squat rack. Tried it with 55 pounds. No prob. Added the 20# vest. Fine and easy. Next time will do heavier without the vest. 

Thursday, 6 June light

• SQ: 2x5 @215
• OHP: 2x5 @97.5
• DL: 275x3

Squat easy. Same with OHP. Deadlift, not so much. Only one rep. I suck. Going to have to read in Barbell Prescription what I'm to do next. 

Saturday, 8 June medium

• SQ: 3x5 @230
• OHP: 3x3 @102.5
• CR: 4x10
• Superset: chin-ups and hammer curls

Squat was only 2 sets, not 3. OHP was as programmed. For the calf raises used the barbell again and loaded 95 pounds. Could only do 10 reps. Will go till 4x15 then up the weight. Chin-ups were 6, 10, 10, 10 with varying bands. Hammer curls with 20# db: 10, 8, 8, 8. 

Lots of swimming last week too: 7.5 miles over 5 hours. Lots of chop in National Harbor this past week. Had to fight the water. 

Lifting week of 27 May

 Monday, 27 May, heavy

• SQ: 4x5 @250
• OHP: 4x3 @110
• DL: 270x5

Well, only the squat went as planned. For OHP it was 3,3,2,2. So next time I'll attempt 112.5 4x2. DL I could only do 3 reps. Next will be 275x3. I'll keep going till I can only do 2, then 1. 

Wednesday, 29 May, light

• SQ: 2x5 @215
• OHP: 2x5 @97.5
• CR: 4x12
• SS: chin-ups and hammer curls, 4x8 each

Squat and OHP went well. Calf raises with the 20# vest and 24kg kettle. Looking to maybe get a 30# or 45# plate for the vest, but they're so damn expensive. For the chin-ups I started with my second least helpful band (30#). Second set was the 40# band. Third was 48# (blue and red bands) and last was two blues giving me 60# of help. Next time will try the chin-ups with the red band (18#) and keep going till I can do all 4x8 w/o bands! Hammer curls with the 20# db.

Friday, 31 May, medium

• SQ: 3x5 @225
• OHP: 3x5 @102.5
• CR: 4x12
• SS: bb row 4x10 and monkey row 4x8. 

Squats were fine, but the OHP turned out to be 3x3. Probably that for the foreseeable future. CR as usual. Barbell row was 105# and monkey rows with 25# db. Those kill me. 

Songs this week: "Liar, Liar," by The Castaways; "I Wanna Destroy You - B Side," by Uncle Tupelo; "Seventeen Seconds," by Cowboy Junkies.

Books this week: Finished P.G. Wodehouse's The Small Batchelor and Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin. Started Cheri by Colette.

Lifting week of 20 May

 Monday, 20 May, heavy

• SQ: 4x5 @245
• OHP: 4x3 @107.5
• CR: 4x12
• SS: barbell row 4x10 @115 and monkey row 4x10 w/25# db

Everything felt pretty good although the OHP is getting heavy. Calf raises as usual: 24kg kettle and 20# vest. Have no heavier. Either buy a 35# or 45# plate or do 4x15.

Wednesday, 22 May, light

• SQ: 2x5 @210
• OHP: 2x5 @97.5
• CR: 4x12 as usual
• SS: chin-ups (4x8 w/bands) and hammer curls (4x8 w/20# db)

All easy. Did first set of chin-ups with only one band assistance and felt great. Will try first two sets w/only one band. Burns the arms.

Saturday, 25 May, medium

• SQ: 3x5 @225
• OHP: 3x5 @102.5
• CR: 4x12 again
• SS: row and monkey rows, same as Monday

Decided I'd cycle through those two SS. Also going to pause between deadlifts equal to one week plus a workout. In other words, if I had done DL this week on Monday, 20 May, I wouldn't do it again till light day next week (29 May). I just can't do it every single week. Too heavy. (Spoiler alert: Just did DL. Supposed to be 270x5, but could only do 3.)

Also managed to swim this week, including a 2-mile race. Blog post here.

Great songs this week: "Wow," by Beck; "Violent Times," by St. Vincent; "Hurdy Gurdy Man," by Donovan; and "Dreams," by Sjowgren.

Books this week: Rosemary's Baby, by Ira Levin; and The Housekeeper and the Professor, by Yoko Ogawa.

Lifting week of 13 May

 Great week again!

Monday, 13 May

• SQ: 4x5 @235
• OHP: 4x3 @105
• CR: 4x12

All felt good. Too tired after calf raises, couldn't do superset. CR was with 20# vest and using the 24kg kettlebell.

Wednesday, 15 May

• SQ: 2x5 @205
• OHP: 2x5 @95

All smooth. Went on a walk with the wife instead of lifting any more.

Friday, 17 May

• SQ: 3x5 @215
• OHP: 3x5 @100
• DL: 265x5

Totally f^cked up and loaded 235 instead of 215. Whoops! Will do 245 on H day next week. 265 deadlift was heavy!

Best songs this week: "Dancer," by IDLES; "Mickey Mouse," by Sparks; "Dancing Barefoot," by Patti Smith; and "Nice 'N" Sleazy," by The Stranglers.

Book read last week: Ill Met by Moonlight, by W. Stanley Moss, and The Boys from Brazil, by Ira Levin.

Lifting week of 6 May

 Another good week. And I swam! (Once...ugh.)

6 May, H

• SQ: 4x5 @230
• OHP: 3x5 @105, 1x5 @95
• DL: 260x5

Ended up doing 5,3,3 for the 105 in OHP. Next time I'll do 4x3. DL was hard, so going back to every 9-10 days.

8 May, L

• SQ: 2x5 @205
• OHP: 2x5 @90
• CR: 4x10
• SS (chin-ups and hammer curls)

Calf raises were with my 20# vest and the 24kg kettlebell. Superset was 4 sets of 8 chin-ups (with straps) and 8 reps of hammer curls, w/20lb db. 

10 May, M

• SQ: 3x5 @215
• OHP: 3x5 @95
• CR: 4x10
• SS (barbell row and monkey row)

CR as 8 May. Superset was 4 sets of 10 barbell rows (upright, 115#) and 10 monkey rows with 25# db. 

Great songs this week: "Mickey Mouse," by Sparks; and "Doused," by Diiv.

Great event this week: Our daughter's college graduation! In only three years. Congrats, girl!

Show watched while writing this: "Chopped"

Lifting last week

 Good week!

Monday, 29 Apr, Heavy:

• SQ: 4x5 @225
• OHP: 3x5 @105, 1x5 @95
• DL: 1x5 @255

OHP didn't go as planned. I did 5, 5, 3. Planned to redo 3x5 @105 today. Spoiler alert! 5,3,3. Going to do 3x3 with the drop set going forward. Probably go up by 2.5# instead of 5#. Other lifts went well.

Thursday, 2 May, Light:

• SQ: 2x5 @200
• OHP: 2x5 @90
• CR: 4x12 w/24kg kettle
• SS: Curls 50# and db tricep extension 40#: 4x10

Had to push Wednesday's L workout to Thursday as we had visitors that evening. Workout felt good. 

Saturday, 4 May, Medium:

• SQ: 3x5 @210
• OHP: 3x5 @95
• CR: ditto
• SS: push-ups (10) and bent-over row 135# (5): 4 sets

Book read last week: A Desolation Called Peace, by Arkady Martine. 

Songs I liked last week: "Bean Fields," by Shannon & The Clams; "Interlude," by Morrissey; and "Caution," by The Killers. 

Great recent news: My wife's book, Children of Cain: Love & Murder in the Age of Monsters, the #1 self-published e-book in 2023 according to Writer's Digest, is featured in the May/June issue of the magazine as well as online.

Lifting after not lifting

 Last Saturday I got back from two weeks in Florida (for work). No lifting then. Barely any swimming, even, as I had a nasty cold for three days. And was busy. 

Upon returning decided to go back to HLM. The 4-day thing was fun and all, but I need more swimming in my life. And I felt I was losing my 1RMs. So back to HLM it is.

Monday, 8 April:

• SQ: 1x5 @215#
• OHP: 2x5 @95#
• DL: 1x5 @225#

The squat was hard. Been too long. Next Monday 3x5 @215#. The DL also heavy. I'll get back soon, maybe add 10# next week. 

Wednesday, 10 April:

• SQ: 2x5 @195#
• OHP: 2x5 @85#
• Super-set:
• Curls: 3x10 @45#
• db triceps extension: 3x10 @30#

The super-set was so much fun. Arms hurt a lot after.

Saturday, 13 April:

• SQ: 2x5 @205#
• OHP: 3x3 @95#
• Super-set:
• Curls: 3x10 @45#
• Pull-ups w/bands: 3x8

Songs listened to this week: "Danzig with Myself," by The Dandy Warhols; "Promised Land," by Cold Cave; "Honey, You Know Where to Find Me," by Morrissey; and "Tears Run Rings," by Marc Almond.

Books this week: A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine and The Anglo-Saxons, A History of the Beginnings of England: 400-1066, by Marc Morris.

TV watched while writing this: From Russia with Love (Bond #2)

Lifting week of 4 March

 My new regime!

4 March:

• OHP: 116# x 1 (thought today was heavy singles. It was not. Stopped after 1)
• seated db press: w/30# dumbbells: 3x10
• pull-ups: (with blue and green straps that maybe helps me about 60# worth): 4x10
• super set of triceps extension & curls: 4x15 with 30# dumbbell (triceps) & 4x10 45# curl with my new curl bar.

5 March:

• SQ: 8x2 @ 210#
• DL: 8x1 @215#
• super set of goblet squats and kb swings: 25# dumbbell gob squat & 20# kb swings: 4x10 each
• Abs: 4 x 10 4-count flutter kicks

7 March:

• OHP: 5x1 @116#
• seated db press: 3x10 2/30# dumbbells
• pull-ups, with blue/green: 5x1
• super set of triceps extension & curls: 4x15 with 35# dumbbell (triceps) & 4x10 45# curl.

8 March:

• SQ: pause squat, 3x5 @185
• Rack pull DL, 1RM: 315#!!!
• Lunge w/25# dumbbells: 3x10
• super set of step-ups & calf raises, w/20# vest: 4x10 step-ups & 4x12 calf raises w/24kg kettlebell.

Feeling good!

Changing up the lifting

 So I'm at the start of week 2 of a new lifting regimen, called a Conjugate program. Read about it on Andy Baker's blog and thought it would be worth giving it a shot. It's a 4-day program and I've got time in my week to do this now, before swim season really starts in May. 

Monday:

Dynamic effort/volume overhead press day. First exercise is OHP, 10x3 with progressing percentage (60-80%) of 1RM. All on a 30-60 sec rest. Second comes a supplemental exercise for an OHP weak spot; for me that's from my forehead up. I do 3-5 sets of 3-5 reps. 

Those two are followed by a bunch of "body-building-like" sets: A vertical pulling movement (been doing pull-ups) 3-5 x 8-15; rear delts (face-pulls lately) 4x20; tricep extension movement  4x15; curls 2-3 x 8-15.

Tuesday:

Dynamic effort squat/deadlift. First exercise is squat, then deadlift, kind of like the OHP above, lower volume for the DL. Again, 30-60 sec between sets. Next is Goblet squats. All the way down. Those are killer. Next is a low stress hip extension exercise; I've been doing kettlebell swings. Both this and the Goblet squats are high reps. Finish with an abs workout. 

Thursday:

Max effort OHP. First exercise 5 sets of singles or doubles. Then a supplemental exercise, either press from pins or seated db press. Next up lat work, pull-ups for me. Triceps work then, probably kick-backs or triceps extensions. For rear delts it's face-pulls for me. Finally, hammer or regular curls. 

Friday:

Max effort lower body. First exercise alternates from week to week. One week squat, next deadlift. Then the second exercise would be the exercise that'll be primary next week, but in the 1-3 x 5-8 range. For instance, if this week I do competition squat first, then do sumo deadlift for the second exercise, then next week sumo deadlift I do heavy. After those two, I do lunges, then step-ups, then calf raises. 

So far so good. I managed a new 1RM of 300# for squat and 305# for deadlift. w00t!

Lifting week of 22 Jan

 Great week!

22 Jan (H)

• SQ: 3x4 @265
• OHP: 3x5 @102.5

265 is still hard, but doable. Spoiler alert: I manage 3x5 the following week.

24 Jan (L, H)

• SQ: 2x5 @215
• db BP: 3x12 w/30# db
• DL: 275x5

Continuing the dumbbell bench press with 30lb dumbbells. The DL was incredibly hard. 

26 Jan (M)

• SQ: 2x5 @230
• OHP: 2x5 @95

Not easy but not H day. 

Songs this week: "Same Jeans," by The View; "Mythological Man," by Coco. 

Books last week: Spook Country by William Gibson. 

Last week's swimming, orienteering, lifting...

 Almost did three days in the pool this week, or at least that was the intent, but weather cancelled Tuesday night's session. And Saturday's session. Of course, I wasn't going to go due to QOC running an O meet on Saturday. I was going to try my first advanced course (beige). Alas, QOC cancelled Saturday early (on Wed) so okay, I'll go swim. 

But no. Due to Friday's snow and cold temps, the rec center where we swim decided to open late Saturday, thus cancelling my morning plans. Oh well, only 2600 yards last week in the pool.

Sigh...

This weekend another O meet is sked. Unsure if I'll try the advanced or not.

But, got a lot of cold walking in (come on, brown fat). 22+ miles specifically with the wife and dog. In the cold. 

Lifting went well.

Monday, 15 Jan (H)

• SQ: 3x3 @265#
• OHP: 3x4 @102.5#
• CR: 4x15 with 24kg kettle & 20# vest

Wednesday, 17 Jan (L)

• SQ: 2x5 @215#
• db BP: 3x12 w/30# db
• CR: 4x12 (same as Monday)

Decided to mix it up on L day with respect to overhead press. Tried dumbbell bench press. Goal 3x12-15, started with 30# dumbbells. Next week I'll try 3x15 and if I do it, then I'll go up to 35# dbs.

Friday, 19 Jan (M)

• SQ: 2x5 @230#
• OHP: 2x5 @95#

Edit after I published the above: So, my wife. She's joined the Y recently. Up to this, she'd been deadlifting with a hex bar in our garage. The Y doesn't have a hex bar. So today she loaded 185#, which she can lift for multiple reps (she weighs all of 108 pounds soaking wet). She's really strong. Today she lifts and the one rep is hard. But she completes it. Then she deloads the bar, only to discover she had just lifted 205#. (Her PR from years and years ago is 210#.) My wife is incredible.

Great songs listened to last week: "The Indigo Streak," by Greta Van Fleet; "It's Saturday," by Marcy Playground; "Le Disko," by Shiny Toy Guns; "Who Put You Up to This?" by Sunflower Bean.

Books read: Finished Hyperion by Dan Simmons; Anglo-Saxon Attitudes by Angus Wilson; and an author's second book due to my editing it.

Lifting week of 7 Jan

 Great week!

Monday, 8 Jan (H)

• SQ: 3x5 @260#
• OHP: 3x3 @102.5#

Heavy but doable for squat. The OHP was heavy too, but again, doable. Intended on doing calf raises after, but wife was taking dog out so went on a 2-3 mile walk with her instead.

Wednesday, 10 Jan (L)

• SQ: 2x5 @210#
• OHP: 92.5# x 5, 87.5# x 5
• CR: 4x12

Squat easy. OHP was too much after the first set. Dropped to 87.5 pounds. Calf raises as usual with 20# ruck and 24kg kettlebell. 

Friday, 12 Jan (M, H)

• SQ: 2x5 @230#
• OHP: 2x5 @95#
• DL: 3x4 @275#

All good and a challenge, but the deadlift. Oy. So heavy. 

Great songs this week: "Bug Like an Angel," by Mitski; "Take What You Need," by Film School; "I Got the Fear," by TORRES. 

Lifting week of 31 Dec

 1 Jan 2024 (H, and happy new year!)

• SQ: 3x4 @260#
• OHP: 3x5 @100#
• CR: 4x15

Squat heavy but doable. OHP good, next H day will be 102.5# and we'll see. Calf raises as always. Need to get a heavier plate for the ruck or maybe use a backpack.

3 Jan (L and H DL)

• SQ: 2x5 @210#
• OHP: 2x5 @90#
• DL: 275# x 3

Squat and OHP no issues, but deadlift was heavy! 

5 Jan (M)

• SQ: 2x5 @230#
• OHP: 2x5 @95#
• CR: 4x15

Everything went up easy enough. 

Songs this week: "Liquid Spells," by The Great Leslie; "Obscurity Knocks," by The Trash Can Sinatras; "Mythological Man," by Coco. 

Books this first week of 2024: Started Hyperion by Dan Simmons and Anglo-Saxon Attitudes by Angus Wilson.

Lifting week of 24 Dec

 Christmas week lifting. Since Christmas was Monday and we had family over, postponed H day till Tuesday. Then decided to skip L day to do M day on Friday, to get back on my M/W/F sked. But forgot I was giving plasma on Friday afternoon. Don't like lifting right after that so just did M day today. 

26 Dec (H)

• OHP: 1RM attempt.
• SQ: 3x3 @260#
• CR: 4x15

Good 1RM for OHP: now 125#, up from 120#. 10# shy of my 2023 goal, but that's what happens. The 260# squat was hard, but it (still) amazes me how much heavy weights which earlier would have wiped me out now feel easy, like 185# and even 205# today. 

Speaking of 2023 goals, I missed them by a total of 25#. My OHP goal was 135# (-10#); Squat goal was 265# (+10#); and Deadlift goal was 325# (-25#). Still pretty happy with my 1RMs this year, totally 700#.

30 Dec (M, and happy birthday to my sis Lisa!)

• SQ: 2x5 @230#
• OHP: 2x5 @90#
• CR: 4x12

Didn't feel the 15 reps for calf raises today. Still using the 24kg kettle with the 20# ruck on my back. The squat is 5# more than previous weeks since I've gone up on H day. OHP was easy; should I have done 95#? I think the next few H weeks on OHP will help me figure out my L and M days.

Great songs while lifting: "Traps," by Bloc Party; "When New Year Comes Around," by Sophie Madeleine; "Secret," by OMD (fav album while mowing the lawn in early '80s); "Orange Crush," by R.E.M. (about the "latest" R.E.M. that I like).

Books read this week: Destination Void, by Frank Herbert; started The Art and Science of Training, by Elaine Beich and Pattern Recognition, by William Gibson. Will probably only finish the Gibson before New Years. Am also starting my friend's new book, in a copyediting mode.

Last week's lifting

 Forgot about posting last week's lifts.

Monday, 18 Dec (H)

• SQ: 1RM attempt.
• OHP: 3x3 @100#
• CR: 4x15

Instead of 3x5 @255# decided to do a 1RM attempt. My 2023 goal for squat was 265#. Killed it with 275#. Yes! OHP following BBR. CR again with 20# ruck holding the 24kg kettle.

Wednesday, 20 Dec (L, H)

• SQ: 2x5 @205#
• OHP: 2x5 @90#
• DL: 1RM attempt.

Squat easy. Moving up to 210# for L day next week. OHP to heavy; should have been 85 or even 80#. Deadlift went great. Goal for 2023 was to get back to 325# (from 2018) but no. Happy with 300# though! 

Friday, 22 Dec (M)

• SQ: 2x5 @225#
• OHP: 2x5 @90#
• CR: 4x12

Squat next M will be 230#. The OHP is what it should be for M day. Couldn't do 15 reps for CR so 4x12 was it. 

Had a great Christmas with our oldest and youngest here. SIL and BIL came over so the day really was nice with all the conversation and noise. 

Great songs that week: "To Do List," by Blossoms; "No Future," by The Meffs; "Nothing Matters," by The Last Dinner Party; and "Agua," by Porno for Pyros.

Books in the last week: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six Others, by Roald Dahl and The Mere Wife, by Maria Dahvana Headley. Started Destination: Void, by Frank Herbert.

Lifting week of 10 Dec

 11 December (heavy)

• SQ: 3x4 @255#
• OHP: 1x5 @85#, 1x5 @97#, 1x4 @105#
• CR: 4x12

Squat was heavy but doable. The OHP was super heavy; the last one was 1x max aiming for 5. Couldn't get that fifth one up. Calf raises again were with the 24kg kettle and wearing the 20# ruck.

13 December (light)

• SQ: 2x5 @205#
• OHP: 100x5, 90x5

Decided to follow BB℞ for OHP. 

15 December (medium)

• SQ: 2x5 @225#
• OHP: 3x5 @90#
• CR: 4x12

A good medium day. Calf raises just like Monday's. 

Lifting week of 3 December

  Good lifting week!

• December 4 (H)
• SQ: 3x3 @255#
• OHP: 1RM attempt

Squat felt really heavy. OHP attempt at 125# failed. So my 120# remains my 1RM. 

• December 6 (L)
• SQ: 2x5 @205#
• OHP: 3x3 @75#

Light day. Decided to do 2x5 on light days for squat. OHP was light recovery from Monday's 1RM attempt. 

• December 8(M, H)
• SQ: 2x5 @225#
• OHP: 4x3 @92#, 3x1 @105#
• DL: 1x4 @270#

Everything felt good. 

Songs this week: "The Rake's Song" and "The Abduction of Margaret," by the Decemberists; "The Hurting," by Tears for Fears.

Books this week: Finished The Unlimited Dream Company by J.G. Ballard and Butcher's Crossing by John Williams. Started & finished Changing Places by David Lodge. Started Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle by Mikael Lindnord (Audible) and Piercing by Ryu Murakami.

Drink drunk while writing this: Fresca with 1.5oz amaro.

Lifting, week of 26 November

 Good lifting week!

• November 27 (H)
• SQ: 3x5 @250#
• OHP: 1x3 @90#, 1x3 @102#, 1x1 @108#, 1x1 @114#
• Row: 4x6 @90#
• AP: 4x8 @25# db
• BAR: 4x8 @25#

Squat felt heavy, new PR. OHP final set was 1 x max but I could only get one rep. Row still feels heavy. Moved up to 25-pound dumbbells for Arnold press. Still using the 25-pound plate for bent arm raise. 

• November 29 (L, H)
• SQ: 1x5 @200#
• OHP: 90# x 7, 5
• DL: 1x3 @270#

Light day except for DL, which felt very heavy. Slowly creeping up to my pre-COVID 325# 1RM. OHP was 12x1 @90# but I always hate that, so do 12 reps in as few sets as possible. 

• December 2 (M)
• SQ: 2x5 @225#
• OHP: 5x3 @96#, 2x1 @105#
• CR: 4x10

Everything felt good. Again did the calf raises with my 20# ruck on and the 53# kettlebell in hand.

Songs this week: "Jacket Hangs," by the Blue Aeroplanes; "Caledonian Road," by Shop Assistants; "Beautiful James," by Placebo.

Books this week: Finished American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis; started The Unlimited Dream Company by J.G. Ballard (Audible) and Butcher's Crossing by John Williams.

Thanksgiving week lifting

 Happy Thanksgiving y'all! What a fun week (so far). We have both daughters and a daughter-in-law in town. Add to them my wife's sister and her husband, and we had a wonderful Turkey Day. 

100% random my BIL getting that glass

Lifting doesn't stop, hopefully, on holiday weeks. This week, it kinda got adjusted though. November 21, Heavy day:

SQ: 3x4 @250#

OHP: 1x3 @90#, 1x3 @102# 1x3 @108#

Rows: 4x6 @90#

AP: 4x10 w/20# db

BAR: 4x8 w/25# plate

The squat felt rough the first set, but I settled in by the third set, which felt great. OHP was doable. The landmine rows I hadn't done for weeks and weeks. The last time I did them I did 4x10 w/2 x 45# plates on the bar. Tried that Tuesday, and no, only 4x6! Arnold press was easy, may have to move up to 25# dumbbells next time. Bent-arm (plate) raise was good. Will do the 25# plate till I do 4x12 then move to the 35#.

Should have done Light day on Thursday but, Thanksgiving. Wife and I had too much to do to get ready. Therefore, I skipped L day and did Medium day today:

SQ: 2x5 @225#

OHP: 6x3 @96#, 1x1 @105#

CR: 4x10 @24kg + 20#

Squat easy-peasy. OHP wore my arms out. Programmed for 1x1 @102# but thought I'd try 105#. Went up easy. Calf raises again wearing my 20# ruck and holding the 24kg kettlebell. Theoretically today should have been deadlift vice CR, but I've found doing DL heavy once a week is wearing, so I'm floating it to every 9-11 days. 

• Songs this week: "Life's What You Make it," by Talk Talk; "Keep Me A Space," by Glasvegas; "Smog," by Indigo De Souza. 
• Books this week: Finished True Grit, by Charles Portis (#72 for 2023). Reading King Rat, by China Mieville. Listening to American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis.