New Cycle and Japan

Here's an update of what's going on and will happen:

HST Cycle 3

I will start the new cycle on Wednesday (or today...I should get to sleep really soon).  It's been a...restful week of SD although I screwed myself over a little by playing too much Fire Emblem lately and staying past 3 am sometimes...horrible.  Not good for my body in terms of repairing itself.  My sleep has been better in general although I will need to work on it...if that's even possible.

This cycle, I will incorporate standing push-presses, leg presses, and standing machine calf-raises.  I'm tempted to go upper/lower split (essentially a 4-day gym week)....I will update tomorrow about my new schedule once I make it...  I will also try to nail my diet down better and consume more calories...as this is usually lacking.  I intend to eat more spaghetti (with tomato sauce of course).  And of course plenty of meat.

Japan

I have decided to attend the July term instead of the April term, as originally planned.  Enough cannot be said about Japan's current situation.  A speedy recovery is all I can hope for really.  But from now 'til July, I'm hoping a lot of things will be fixed.  Overall though, I didn't want to deal with the water shortages and electricity problems that the Tokyo area faces.  The radiation, well that certainly is a bit of a problem, but it doesn't scare me to be honest.  I will admit...I kinda wish I had applied to a school further south...this can be changed but I don't really want to for a variety of reasons, laziness being somewhere on the top of the list.

In any case, I will go there later, but try to focus on weightlifting and dieting, then I cut down fat when I get to Japan...haha.  Master plan.

Music

Practice has been slow due to my extreme gaming habits of late.  Bad.  I've started using my plastic mouthpiece again, but was pleasantly surprised that I can actually get some altissimo out of it.  I like the tone as well, though not nearly as loud as my other HR*6M that I have.  Funny story is that my high school music teacher was explaining some music theory once and after he was done, he promptly turned to me and asked what mouthpiece I was playing.  I told him, "...oh just some crappy plastic one..." to which he said, "...sometimes those are the ones..."  I understood what he meant then and now, but only now have I really grasped it.  It definitely could be the piece that gives you that unique sound.  It doesn't have to be metal nor hardrubber as long as you can achieve that sound you are searching for.  I don't know why but I keep turning back to this piece.  (A Jewel Performance mouthpiece).  I've been playing it since my first private music teacher sold me it, effectively bumping me up from a standard Yamaha 4C.

My next private teacher, whom has taught me A LOT about the saxophone, improvisation, jazz, and music in general, also asked me what piece I was playing.  My last music mentor said I had a "good tone" with the plastic piece as well.  (All of these comments were well before I bought the HR*6M).  Perhaps it is THE piece for me...?

All I can leave is with this: Parker's Mood.