Update

Sorry it's been so long since I last wrote (though of course it could have been longer - I've seen people wait MONTHS). I've been lifting weights religiously since my last entry and as is to be expected, I have begun to put on weight. Though I'm having to learn to overcome the feelings of disgust as the scale hits ever higher numbers, I've always worried only about the aesthetics. So as long as my body fat percentage stays below a certain level (I don't know what that is, but my body-fat pinching method is usually pretty accurate), I won't worry about the weight.

And as far as my knees go, unfortunately my LEFT knee has begun to hurt in the same place as the RIGHT one. I've scheduled an appointment with a physical therapy clinic here in town for tomorrow (Wed.) and will see what they have to say. If it weren't for this pain in the other knee, I would say that McConnell tape is my best hope for getting back on the bike. My rudimentary attempt to correct the patella tracking in my right knee with hospital grade adhesive worked remarkably well; I can only imagine that super-strong tape designed to alter the patella's movement will be that much better. The only thing I need to worry about is making sure that my LEFT knee doesn't get any more out of wack.

I'll be visiting the student HR office here on UCR's campus tomorrow to see about a job for next quarter. I've already turned in an application for a job working in the Athletic Center, but probably won't hear back from them until I either call or the quarter ends and they begin to turn over staff. Any money is good money at this point (well, maybe not any money; there ARE certain things I won't do). I plan to purchase the personal training certification course materials in the next couple of days and the total will come to just under $700. I need to try to make as much money as I can, especially given the fact that I was denied the opportunity to TA over the summer here.

And for anyone reading this (I know there's probably no one at this point), I'm sorry to blather on about admittedly boring things. I could argue for particular positions on contemporary issues, but I have the sense that others have that sort of thing covered. From time to time I'll try to sneak in philosophical references when appropriate, but at the moment I'm content to fill you (whoever you are) in on the mundane trivialities of my life. Perhaps the only thing this will be good for in a couple years is personal edification. In that case, I'm sure I'll be glad that I kept a journal.

Over and out.

PS: Ishani (my girlfriend) asked a couple of weeks ago about the significance of the blog title. Anyone who knows me knows that I tend to envisage all of the potential problems that an idea or plan might have. In fact, I do this so much that people might get the impression that I see the world through crap-tinted (or should it be "smeared"?) glasses. My blog title is an attempt to demonstrate that on the inside I really do hope for the best, it's what helps me get out of bed every morning. I qualify, negate, question and doubt only in an attempt to temper an overwhelming sense of optimism about the future. The sun is just about to peek out from behind the clouds.

That was a long PS, I know, but it was something I wanted to share.