Hard Gains Hard Week

Thursday, April 20, 2023

New Job

This past week has been a lot busier for me. I picked up a 2nd part-time job finally: bartending (craft cocktails and fine wines) at an upscale, fine dining restaurant. After having done bartending school a while ago and getting my first “okay” but lackluster bartending job – this feels good landing that good job. Although I was just a contractor (hourly) at my previous bar, I did not get enough hours to build good skills and experience like I will with my new job. On the flip side, the new job is SO much new that I have been stressing myself out and not sleeping well. I have never worked in a restaurant (let alone a fine dining one) and have barely bartended. The customers are a little intimidating since they are all high-taste, rich people, which is fine but less room for error. The recipes and techniques are not impossible, but I have felt overwhelmed by their level of difficulty. That being said, everyone has been incredibly nice and friendly, and the other bartenders have been super helpful. I have been studying my ass off, writing a ton of notes, and asking a lot of questions – I am killing it (even if I do not always feel that way). I am super stoked to improve my bartending skill and knowledge, which will bolster my goal of “cultivating my creative [side]”. Life is so much more enjoyable and interesting when I more enjoyable and interesting [through building my creative endeavors].

Photography

A new friend and I went out Saturday [to a different, large city] and Sunday [stayed local]. We made a new chick friend Saturday, but she lives a few hours away (was in town for a concert). She was interested in me, but the logistics did not work at moment. I enjoyed finding someone I really vibed with spontaneously, and we had a good time swimming in the river. Good communication practice overall, and she helped make our Bros Day out at a state park. On Sunday, I took my friend out to practice my photography skills. I took almost 500 pictures and most were bad (mostly blurry foreground/subject/him instead of the background like I wanted). That being said, I learned a lot, we BOTH enjoyed it, and I was able to get him about 12 really solid pictures! I did some minor editing, and he was really stoked. I felt good during the whole process: shooting, walking around, editing, “working” with my “client” (friend), etc. I even took some impromptu pictures of me that, although not perfect, came out REALLY well (better than I ever have done before). I will make a separate post to get feedback for those. Overall, this is another skill that felt badass to walk around in public with a camera and have people “admire” me.

I enjoy the positive attention like many other people do.

WINS:

Hired for new bartending job: this is so “cool” (in my own feeling and appearance), good skills/experience, challenging/ass-kicking
Photography shoot practice: we made the practice a lot of fun… We plan to do this again, and I got my buddy 12 solid pictures and took about 9 good pictures of myself
Rest-week for Exercise: due to my fatigue and bad sleep, this week turned perfectly into a “rest” week – I stopped running temporarily, but I still bike and am doing my weighted calisthenics. I even increased my weights or difficulty with my weighted calisthenics (I make the weight harder and drop reps and then work the reps back up). Currently, pullups: 3x4x35lb + 3x6xBodyweight dropset ;; dips: same set/reps/weight as pullups ;; rows: practicing tuck rows (holding my full weight with only my hands – feet/legs are unsupported) ;; psuedo-planche pushups: 3x12xBodyweight w/ head more forward (hand closer to middle of body for eventual feet/leg lift off)
Computer job: working my min goal (12 hr/wk) to preserve this skill and make some side cash
Guitar: my teacher said that he can really tell how much I have improved, and I can really feel it as well. I enjoy playing, and my playing is starting to sound good!! I plan to make park days where I will bike to the local park and practice my guitar and photography whenever I have an off day – again, a public “cool” expression that will give me more practice and excuse to talk to more people
Journaling/Meditation: I am keeping up with journaling as needed (here and notebook). I do my meditations infrequently, but I had another loving-kindess meditation session where I cried again. This meditation is just about feeling love and sharing that love – but that feeling is so sweet. I really enjoy these.
Style: my style has improved A LOT… for me, I really like it. I enjoy looking good and feeling good. I am not settled on my look per se, but I know that I look better. I have some more experiments with this in the works or coming in the mail. My dark, edgy look (foregoing the emo side for now LOL) is something that – even if it is not my most “optimal” look for me – I believe and feel it is for the moment.

Paused:

Dance: I am pausing this creative endeavor indefinitely until my schedule clears up. I just do not have the time, brain bandwidth, or interest at the moment to work this in. I also need more time to myself anyway.