Crown on the ground.

Music by Sleigh Bells.

Oi! (Haven't been able to stop saying that since Australia poisoned my mind).
It's been way too long.

The project is almost over, which I am kind of looking forward to.

This month has gone exceptionally well though, at least as far as 'doing what I told myself I would do' goes. Every day, I've been diligent in learning something new. It's not hard to do though, when you're taking an anatomy/physiology class. Every day I end up shocked that I didn't know something so simple about the body... At least I'm getting educated now. Better late than never?*

I've also been making up for the slack of last month's workouts. I started a workout program through Gym Jones (online). The men in 300 were trained under this company, so I'm excited to see what I'll get out of it. So far, I've been abused in ways like 'row 5000m for time' or 'do 100 Turkish get-ups.' It can be brutal, and this is just the foundation month. But since I love working out, I'm happily sweating away in a small corner of the gym.

On top of studying anatomy every day, I'm also in Tokyo to brush up on my Chinese. It's been so difficult with the non-English speaking teachers we have, but it's already helped my speaking tremendously. Plus, living here for the month is amazing. I'd stay in the Navy if they gave me orders to Tokyo. Checked out Tokyo's gay pride this past weekend, and it was... packed. I was pleasantly surprised by the turn out, and I even ran into some people I knew from my home base.

Tokyo has also been great for meeting people. I get to play ultimate with an awesome team (Kuru) and a smattering of other super friendly, talented people. The people are kind, the food is delicious, and the women are beautiful. I just... don't know that I need anything else in life. Oh, maybe for some of those women to be gay. And to be fluent in Japanese. That would help.

I love Japan. I love this month.
-Jamie

*Not applicable for everything.

How did I get here?

Music brought to you by ODESZA.

Wow, whirlwind week (say that a few times fast). For the last week of March, I was in Australia. Towards the end I realized my mom was having a retirement party on a date I was actually free. With my dad and sister, we organized a surprise for her.

I got back to Japan from Australia and hopped on a plane back to the states two days later. Spent the night with my sister, worked out with my dad the next morning, and surprised my mom at her school that afternoon. It was a beautiful moment; she grabbed me and squeezed my arms while looking me up and down to make sure I was really there. Then she cried, obviously.

So for the past few days I’ve been in Tennessee hanging out with my family. I got to meet my brother’s wife (absolutely lovely lady) and brand new baby girl. I saw some old friends, met some new ones, and ate comfortable American foods.

Didn’t focus very much on the project; I feel like that’s been gradually slipping since I don’t need it anymore. But I did learn something new almost every day- a few of which were debated hotly in the Fleshman household.

Overall, it was a lovely weekend; first time in four years that all the family was in one place. Crazy.

-Jamie

April: Get smart(er).

April:

Get smart(er).

- Learn something, anything, every day.
- Incorporate Luminosity.
- Research instead of accept.

Yeahyeahyeah, I get told I'm smart all the time; all my life it's been that way. Studies have shown that children are affected negatively by that praise. It's more beneficial to their development to say something like, "Oh, what great work ethic you have!" Rewarding them for working hard reinforces the habit, therefore producing a child that strives to dig at everything. Telling a kid they're smart only makes them feel the pain of failure times a billion. So they're afraid to fail and try to skate by on this natural genius they've been told they are in high supply of.

I suffer from the latter affliction.
Also, when someone tells me I'm smart, I feel like Ricky Bobby in that interview. I just don't know what to do with my hands.

This month, however, I would like to put a spotlight on learning. Every day, I'll learn something (doesn't matter by what method or from which learning medium). I will incorporate the luminosity app that promises to expand my thinking, just to see where it goes. And normally when someone says something with enough conviction, I'm quick to accept it as truth. Not this month! I will try to research things on my own accord and arrive at the meaning myself.

That's all I've got on my plate this month. Should be easy enough since I start my Anatomy and Physiology course next Monday as well as language training down in Tokyo the weekend after that. Learning should occur... or there is something wrong with my braiiiin.
-Jamie

Wildest moments.

Welllllllll, looks like March was a semi-failure. Worked out a ton at the beginning, snowboarded a lot, and generally was careful with food.

Then I went to Australia.
Vacations are not conducive to healthy eating and exercise- got it. I understand.

But I had a blast- saw pretty beaches, met a koala, stared at many gorgeous Australians, and feel like my accent is really coming along now. Overall, it was a good vacation, and I intend on going back.



As for the month of March?... meh, could've gone better. Could've eaten fewer cupcakes, drank less alcohol, and brought my heartbeat up more often.
But today I was asked, "Will your uniforms even fit anymore? You've lost hella weight."
So that's a win.
-Jamie