It just seems like taking it far too seriously.
Unfortunately if you're doing exercise that strengthens muscles. Even if that's not why you're doing it or even consider it exercise. Then you need Protein in your diet to help the muscles repair and strengthen.
Due to a combination of price, availability and giving me something to do with my hands. I've settled on roasted Peanuts in their shells, known as; "Monkey Nuts" in the UK. Aside from being a good source of Protein they also include a lot of Fibre and essential nutrients. They do also contain a lot of Fat. However that is good Unsaturated Fat rather than bad Saturated Fat.
With it being one of the quieter days of the week if I have a choice when to push myself at the gym I chose to do so on Sundays. Afterwards I recover with a late lunch of peanuts washed down with Guinness stout. Due to the Yeast used Guinness is quite high in Iron, which is essential for blood which, in turn, is important in helping muscles repair and strengthen.
Now you might think you want to point out that Guinness hasn't been rich in Iron since they removed the Yeast before bottling/canning back in, around, the year 2000. However I might think you want punching.
That really brings me on to another reason why I've found it's not the best idea to rush straight back to work after pushing myself at the gym. Particularly if I've been doing stuff like weight-lifting it makes me quite aggressive. The natural version of [Ste]Roid Rage. Plus by that point I'm normally also quite hungry. Apparently the gap between eating breakfast, doing a half-day's work, going to the gym then getting around to lunch constitutes; "Intermittent Fasting."
So I've found that while eating that late lunch it's a sensible idea to unwind by watching a couple of episodes of light, normally American, half-hour sitcoms. I'm currently working my way through the final season of; "The Big Bang Theory." I've got to be one of only a handful of people who still don't know if Sheldon and Amy won the Nobel Prize.
On a typical day the UK Channel 4 network will broadcast between 8 and 10 episodes of The Big Bang Theory, almost half a season per day. Each and every day. So every time you turn on a TV in the UK there's a really high risk that you will find yourself being forced to watch yet another episode of The Big Bang Theory. The result is that you quickly get so sick of watching episodes The Big Bang Theory that avoiding episodes of The Big Bang Theory becomes something of a survival instinct.
I now feel as though I have managed to avoid episodes of The Big Bang Theory for long enough that watching it now feels bearable again. Although I'm still not sure I've recovered enough to find it either entertaining or funny. Through no fault of its own.
In much of late 2023 and 2024 I actually set myself the task of working through the show; "Superstore." In the UK this is/was broadcast in the early evenings or very late at night. So just at the sort of time you might be tempted to sit down for half an hour after dinner or when you've still got a glass of wine to finish after watching a movie.
As I result I found that I'd seen some episodes, like the Golden Globes Party episode, dozens of times. Yet had never seen most episodes, like the first episode, ever before. So I set about correcting that. I've still got the final Pandemic season to go.
Superstore really began as a vehicle for America Ferrera who played the central character; "Amy Sousa." America Ferrera was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar at the 2024 Academy Awards for her role in; "Barbie." Despite everything else to do with that nightmare from the brain of Hillary Clinton being very publicly shunned.
So I'm tempted to think that America Ferrera wasn't really nominated for her role in Barbie but for her role in Superstore. Particularly since the Pandemic the rise in Online Streaming has really obliterated any distinction between TV Shows and Movies. Everyone just streams everything at home now. So nominating an actress for a TV rather than Movie role certainly makes for an Oscars talking point.
Plus the characters in Superstore do spend a lot of time talking about other TV Shows and Movies. The Dina Fox character, played by Lauren Ash, is a particularly big fan of; "Longmire." While it is something I do know from the final season. During the Pandemic Amy finally found the time to watch; "The Americans." So if you start talking about Superstore it's then really easy for you to segue into talking about all the TV Shows and Movies they talk about.
The 2024 Oscars came off the back of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Which say many members of both Unions being force to take up minimum wage jobs to make ends meet. Exactly the sort of jobs being portrayed in Superstore.
It must be said that America Ferrera is actually rather good in Superstore. Everybody's rather good in Superstore. That's despite it being the sort of show that it's really hard to look good in.
Although it might not sound like it at first that's actually intended as compliment to all those involved, rather than an insult. It is the restrictions placed on shows like Superstore which make them so hard to look good in.
For example once you take all the commercial breaks and credits out each episode is only about 20 minutes long. The stories and jokes in those episodes really have to be self-contained, so people can enjoy an episode here and there, out of order. Swearing and foul language is strictly forbidden and the jokes can't be too adult or rude. They certainly can't be too political!
Other major characters in Superstore are "Glenn Sturgis," played by Mark McKinney, the very Christian and ridiculously naive manager and "Sandra Kaluikokalani," played by Kaliko Kauahi, who is so nice and so shy she can't say no to anybody or any request.
In one episode Glenn and Sandra worry that no-one respects them because they think they're too nice and naive. So they decide to go on the offensive, suddenly acting all tough and aggressive. As being tough and aggressive just isn't in either character's nature the results are hilarious.
You may remember that back in 2017 the very Christian Neil Gorsuch was nominated for a seat on the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) by Republican President Donald Trump. The Democrats tried to block the appointment with elaborate, theatrical accusations of sexual misconduct. At the confirmation Gorsuch and his wife decided to go on the offensive, suddenly acting all tough and aggressive. Despite it not being in either character's nature.
It was exactly that episode of Superstore!
As soon as this was mentioned the network, NBC, went into a huge panic. Frantically removing all footage of that Superstore episode from the Internet. They didn't want to risk alienating any potential customers from any side by being associated with anything so controversial.
In between Superstore and The Big Bang Theory I watched Season 1 of; "Animal Control." Having to rush through all 12 episodes in about 14 days.
If I'm being honest the main thing that attracted to me to the show was Vella Lovell who plays "Emily Price." Although that is slowly forcing me to come to terms with the fact that there probably isn't going to be a third season of "Mr Mayor." Chrissy Teigan was rather funny in that. As was their portrayal of TMZ.
The premise of the show is that the Olympic Snowboarder "Fred - Shred - Taylor," played by Michael Rowland suffers an injury which ends his career. Forcing him to start a new career in the Animal Control department for the greater Seattle area. All the comedy which comes from trying to fit in with his new workmates.
One of those new workmates is "Victoria Sands," played by Grace Palmer. A supposedly single bisexual woman with a huge appetite for recreational drugs. One of the infamous; "Unicorns" from sleazy Swinger sex party slang. In the opening credits the Victoria character is shown trying to catch an actual Unicorn.
I used to work as a Traffic Warden in the UK. Which is the same sort of really low-local government law enforcement job. So the workplace portrayed in Animal Control does seem rather familiar to me. I actually remember one occasion when one of my fellow Traffic Wardens found a lost Dog. So all of the other Traffic Wardens in the entire city stopped being Traffic Wardens for the rest of the day. In order to become volunteer Animal Control officers and try to reunite this lost Dog with its owner.
I even worked with a couple of former police officers. Who really should have been disgraced by their careers with the South Africa Police (SAP), the British South Africa Police (BSAP) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). Honestly, at times it did start to resemble a really cr*ppy farce set in the Shanghai Municipal Police (SMP).
Animal Control is set in Washington State which is close to the Canadian border. In fact I think the show is actually filmed in Canada. So there are lots of jokes about; "Canadian Maths" meaning the Metric System. The Victoria Sands character is from New Zealand where they also use the Metric System.
At one point two characters are arguing about whether the office thermostat should be set at 73ºF or 75ºF. They ask Victoria her opinion and she replies;
"Yeah I don't what either of those numbers mean. And, frankly, I can't be bothered to learn."
As Animal Control officers the characters in the show spend a lot of their time being called out to deal with wild animals which have wandered into people's homes and gardens. This also struck a chord with me as I also have a lot of experience of wild animals. Specifically a family Foxes who consider my compound to be a key part of their territory.
For the most part the Foxes are either asleep or wandering around looking miserable and hungry. Occasionally though the Foxes do provide moments of absolutely brilliant entertainment.
For example this current generation of Foxes share their birthday with the Popstar and my ex-wife Rihanna. Specifically February 20th 2023 (20/2/23). So the birthday just after Rihanna had used her appearance and the Super Bowl Half-Time Show to reveal that she was pregnant with her second child. While I always thought it would be impossible for her to be happy after we divorced(!)
So there I was trying to sensitively cover Rihanna's Super Bowl performance. Deciding it wasn't worth the effort of me going shouting in her face on her birthday. When I heard what I was pretty sure was the sound of a Fox giving birth.
Prompting me to think; "Okay Universe. You're taking the p*ss now!"
It turns out the Universe wasn't finished there though!
I've come to the decision that it is a universal truth, shared across all mammals that; BABIES ARE ADORABLE!!!!
My mothers have a Dog who can be, what all Dog owners will understand as, "a bit of a pain." She's a Cocker Spaniel which is a type of Gun-Dog.
A Gun-Dog's entire purpose in life is to run into bushes and undergrowth to scare any Birds hiding there to fly up. As soon as the Birds fly up the Gun-Dog instinctively knows to sit perfectly still. While their Human blasts the Birds out of the sky with their shotguns. The Gun-Dog's purpose is then to carefully pick the Bird up in its mouth and carry it back to its Human without causing any further damage.
So Gun-Dog's are gentle to their core. One of my mothers' Dog's favourite games is to pick up a leaf in her mouth and carry it around. Several hours later she will proudly present you with the leaf, completely undamaged.
However while it would never really occur to my mothers' Dog to bite anything she's still not what anyone would describe as; "Friendly." Basically whenever she's in a pack with other Dogs she always finds herself at the bottom of the pack. So every time she encounters a new mammal she feels the need to prove she doesn't deserve to be at the bottom, this time.
While visiting my mothers back in May of 2024 we were walking the Dog past a hedgerow when with spotted two Hares, Bunny Rabbits basically. This is normally the sort of thing that would send the Dog mad. However these two Bunny Rabbits had four of five little baby Bunny Rabbits with them. This was clearly Mummy and Daddy Bunny Rabbit taking their precious little baby Bunny Rabbits on their first adventure into the big, wide World.
Even the Dog was like; "Nope. I can respect that."
So whenever new baby Foxes are expected everything with ears and noses sensitive to know about it gets very excited. Cats travel from far and wide to confirm the rumour. The captive Dogs all beg the travelling Cats for news of the rumour.
Of course the most excitement comes from the Foxes extended families. All of the potential new aunties, uncles and cousins gather to stand guard and talk about all the exciting things they're going to do to help the exciting new babies arrive.
Like Human babies Fox babies learn motor-skills though play. Their most important skill is to use their paws and jaws to hunt and, more commonly, scavenge food. Digging is a vitally important part of a Fox's life. The ground is where the Worms are hiding.
So as they're excitedly waiting for the new baby Foxes to arrive the assembled aunties, uncles and cousins often bring gifts of toys. Anything that is small and leathery, like shoes and wallets, most closely resemble prey. So they make for the best toys.
Although it took me about six weeks to notice it in the long, wet grass it turns out in preparation for the birth of this generation of Foxes one of the extended family had brought them a leather cellphone case as a gift. It still contained the Samsung Smartphone.
In no small part Rihanna's Superbowl performance was in reference to when I found the US Popstar Miley Cyrus being firmly shoved in my direction. Amid rumours that Miley Cyrus may be a single, bisexual woman. A Unicorn. With everyone still being in Pandemic Lockdown in early 2021 I thought it would be hugely entertaining gossip for Rihanna and I to reprise our roles as a married couple. With Miley Cyrus auditioning for the third in the; "Throuple." Having to win each of us over, individually.
Obviously that performance would have involved Rihanna, Miley Cyrus and I talking to each other directly on Social Media. If things were to get more serious than that then we would need to take things offline, such as by exchanging cellphone numbers.
Unfortunately the CIA prevented us from even going so far as talking to each other directly on Social Media. Denying everyone much hilarity. Much more hilarity than they're allowed in shows like Superstore. Even Animal Control noticeably toned it down between pilot and commission.
So the generation of Foxes that share Rihanna's birthday being given a gift of a cellphone, just as we were all talking about it. That does make it appear as though the Foxes are more intelligent than the CIA.
It turns out the Universe wasn't finished there though!
The Den where I heard this generation of Foxes being born is actually beneath a shed in one of my neighbour's garden. As the back wall of this massive shed already forms a pretty effective wall I've not felt the need to build another wall or fence next to it. So the Fox's Den backs onto a, roughly 2mx2m patch of grass of my property. This is bordered with bricks laid on their sides.
Although only being about 10cm high for a newly born Fox Kit these bricks represent a completely insurmountable barrier. So previous Mummy and Daddy Foxes often decided that this is a very good place to take their precious new baby Foxes on their first adventures into the big, wide World. Leading me to dub it; "The Fox Nursery."
This means I often get to see the precious little baby Foxes on their first adventures into the big, wide World. At a time when they still don't know what their legs are, let alone how they work. Some of their eyes haven't even fully opened yet.
If you have ever seen a Puppy or Kitten when they are that young then you either breed Puppies or Kittens. Or you are an absolute monster! Who has caused Puppies or Kittens to be torn away from their mothers are far, far too young an age.
It is almost impossible to explain how cute Fox Kits are at that age! As they are seeing the World for the very first time and don't really have any concept of what they are yet. They don't even know what Humans are, let alone that they're supposed to be scared of them. So they're perfectly happy to go tumbling over my feet, being completely unable to tell them apart from an upturned brick.
Things do get a bit weird a few weeks later though when the Fox Kits realise what Humans are and their mother is trying to teach them that they're supposed to be afraid of them. Despite us all being able to remember them tumbling over my feet and me doing nothing. Their mother can normally remember tumbling over my feet herself and me doing nothing.
However this generation of Foxes decided not to use the Fox Nursery. So weeks went by without me seeing them. Leading me to doubt whether I'd actually heard the sound of a Fox giving birth of Rihanna's birthday.
Then the first Fox Kit decided to emerge. Beneath a floodlight I'd installed for security purposes. Presenting himself on a narrow strip of grass which resembles a fashion catwalk. That's variously been dubbed; "The Gaza Strip," "The (literal) Catwalk" or; "The Crease."
He decided to do this on the first Monday in May. The day of the famous Met Gala. Pregnant or not Rihanna is rather considered the queen of the Met Gala.
At around 18:45 on 25/11/24 (UK date) you can't really think this is over.
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