Latest BMG grabs:

Art Blakey - A Night in Tunesia
Henryk Górecki - Symphony #3 (London Sinfonietta, Zinman conducting)
Fates Warning - Disconnected
Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica

Currently listening to the Fates Warning. I wanted the four of those pretty much in the order they're listed. But the Blakey and Górecki are known quantities to me, while the Fates Warning I don't know much about (I've been told that it's supposed to be as good as A Pleasant Shade of Gray, and I ordered it on the strength of that recommendation, so we'll see). It's a bit more up-tempo and overtly metal than APSoG so far, but it's nice (which is more than I can say for the new Dream Theater album, though that needs more listens too). We'll see how it measures up to APSoG in the end, but it seems like a good album, and so I shouldn't regret buying it (this was one of my BMG full-price purchases... so more freebies coming soon!).

If people actually read this site, and e-mailed me, I imagine that I would get an e-mail much like this:

"Hey, Legion! So whatever happened to that daily workout thing of yours? You quit that weeks ago, didn't ya? BTW, Mogwai rocks. Later!"

Well, Mr. Imaginary Writer, you could not be more wrong. I continue to work out on a daily basis. In fact, in the two months that I've been doing so (started on October 9th, and today is December 11th), I have lost an additional 30 pounds. Oh yeah, biznatch. Furthermore, I got my Christmas present - a Soloflex - a month early. So, in addition to the stationary bike, I weightlift now. I also take a short jog to cap off my workout.

Funny thing is, my parents have been observing this (I drive down to their place usually once a weekend, so they've seen me get thinner week-by-week), and so they turned their former computer room (which was vacated after I left, because the computer went into the freshly-open bedroom) into a home gym. So now they're going to copy the Legion Super Duper Exercise Plan.

What is "the Legion Super Duper Exercise Plan", you ask? Well, an ultra-brief recap for those of you tuning in late:

The Plan:
(1) WORK OUT.
(2) EVERY DAY.

That's all there is to it. The extra daily workload will force your body to make some serious adjustments. You'll burn calories, get firmer, and all that good stuff. It's not hard. I started with just a 20 minute stationary bike ride, every day, and went from there. The first 10 pounds came off faster than I could count! Eventually, it gets harder, as your body gets in better shape and requires more to get the same effect. Still, results happen FAST, and as long as you keep it up, they keep happening. And if you can make improvements in your diet, even just slight ones, it helps too. I don't know why I didn't do this years ago.

It should then come as no surprise that I'm dating a bit more now than I was before. Of course, that's partially due to just being in town longer and meeting more people, but I know for a fact that getting in better shape has helped.

So, while this semester has been a nightmare academically, it has been pretty good on other fronts.

I know one thing - I'll be walking the beach with my shirt off this summer! Six-pack or bust! (erm, waitaminute...)

"With a hired plane,
And no names mentioned.
Tonight's the night of the flight.
Before you know,
I'll be over the water
Like a swallow.
There's no risk.
I'll whisk them up in no moonlight.
And though pigs can fly,
They'll never find us
Posing as the night,
And I'm home before the morning."

-- Kate Bush, "Night of the Swallow"

I need to review The Dreaming for Progweed.net. It just might be one of the finest albums I own. This is what prog/pop can be when it's not self-consciously trying to be "prog".

Speaking of Progweed, two new (and not very flattering!) reviews of mine have been posted... one for the mediocre Edera, and one for the atrocious Lyle Holdahl. Don't miss the Holdahl one. :)

Heh. I heard Dream Theater's "Pull Me Under" on a classic rock radio station today, while I was working out (with my Discman finally dead, I'm having to rely on radio until I can replace it).

This world is spinning around me!