That’s right, I have another new workout routine. Let’s see how long this one lasts. The previous one survived, what, three months? Probably less. ANYWAY!

Here’s the skinny. Follow along closely children.
1. I set three alarms on my phone. Each alarm should be a good 4-6 hours apart depending on your daily routine. I chose 9:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

2. When each alarm goes off, my phone says “20 push-ups”. And so (obviously) I do 20 push-ups. I can adjust the alarm to tell me to do less or more depending on how it goes.

3. The alarms go off every-day. Naturally there will be times when I can’t do it (like if I’m working) but for the most part if my phone tells me to do something I do it.

4. Depending on how the muscle groups react, I might switch one of the alarms to tell me to do something else (like bicycle crunches).

I think this idea is brilliant (naturally) for a couple of reasons. First off, it’s low impact but not LOW impact. There’s constant use everyday so it’s more of a gradual break-down rather than a huge wearing out at the gym. I chose push-ups because they work a wide variety of muscles (pecs, bi-ceps, tri-ceps, abs). Secondly, it can be easily adjusted if it ends up being too strenuous or not strenuous enough. And thirdly it’s all automated. I don’t have to worry about forgetting or slacking.

So, wish me luck! We’ll see how this goes. I’ll keep you posted if it ends up working.

In other news, I’ve been tweaking my rendition of O Canada for string quartet over the past couple days and accordingly updating the mp3 file in the previous post every time. I added a short 4 bar intro which I feel really adds a lot. Also, my good double-bass playing friend Dan Wheeler who’s in music at Western gave me some constructive criticism on the piece which made sense to me, so accordingly I broke up the constant motion of 8th notes by throwing in some 16th notes which help keep it exciting and less droning. I really appreciate good criticism, as long as it is constructive and not just someone trying to be a douche. If you don’t like something, say why. And if it’s just because you don’t like the style, then say that, but even if you don’t like it, you can still comment on the quality and form. That’s why I’m so lucky I have the friends I do, cause they get that.

I finished A Voicemail, Charlotte’s big solo number after her second run in with Kim. I’m about 97% satisfied with it. 1% is for the intro which needs more work and the 2% is for part of the verse music which I want to fiddle around with just a little bit. I really hope one of my leads on a female singer comes through soon to help me record it, so if you know anyone in London that might be interested, tell them to give me a shout.

-Travis Conrad

Don’t even say it. I’m just as disappointed as the rest of the you. It’s just so good though!

-Travis Conrad, Mothafucka

Tuesday morning rolls around and my throat ached with a pain no mortal should be made to face. I think I read about a similar infection somewhere between Exodus 7-11. If there was a molten lava spring nearby I would have drank from it greedily to sooth the pain. I examined it in the mirror to make sure a porcupine hadn’t taken up residence while I was sleeping.

Fear not! I didn’t despair and went straight into action with my 4-Step Bacterial Infection Response Strategy:

• Step One: I remove all instances of sugar from my diet. No chocolate. No jam. No candy. No sugary cereal. Sugar has been shown to depress the immune system, look it up.
  • Note: If drinking orange or other fruit juice, I dilute it 50/50 with water.

• Step Two: Always have a drink of either water or tea on hand. If I have it next to me, I will drink it, keeping precious fluid reserves high.

• Step Three: I add oregano and garlic to everything I can. For lunch I lightly toasted up some naan bread, lightly buttered it, then covered it with some chopped garlic, oregano , crushed, dried cayenne peppers and a little salt. It’s quite tasty. I also drink a basic oregano tea (oregano + boiling water), it’s incredibly soothing. Garlic, oregano and cayenne peppers have all exhibited superb anti-bacterial properties. I encourage you to research it

• Step Four: Sleep. And lots of it if you can. I got 10 hours last night and plan on going to bed right after I finish posting this. Sleep has been shown to speed healing in essentially every study done.

Unfortunately on New Years I had two glasses of champagne (high in sugar and alcohol) which was probably the worst thing I could have done. Nothing is worse for your immune system than alcohol, other than, I dunno, sucking on pocket change.

On that note, I leave you and pray for either A) a swift death, or B) recovery.

-TCR