The Making of the Stonequest Series

Patience - the ability to believe that better things await

Well, I suppose that is not an all-inclusive definition; however, I thought of it today. Patience is the quality of waiting for a better state to come along, whether known or unknown. We can tell people to be patient as they await for their promotion. Or we can tell people to be patient as they wait at the ticket counter. In this respect, patience is rather arbitrary and relative. If a child waits to join the football team, because he is either too young or too small - that could take years. If the same child waits for Christmas, that could be a day. So what is patience?

An internet search reveals the following:

Patience is the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset, or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties.

 This was taken from Wikipedia. Is it adequate? I think not. Is it not possible to be annoyed and patient? What about those who are unjustly persecuted? Did the Hebrews have patience when they waited for Moses to lead them out of slavery? Were they not upset all that time, tiring of making mud-bricks for the reigning pharo?

Yeah, I realize this is getting a bit random. What do you expect from the Journal category? LOL I am doing my best to be patient. I believe in myself and what I do. The power to change our condition is perhaps our greatest power. We can improve our lives each day by making changes. Making changes does not mean you are impatient. It justs mean you are realigning - optimizing the conditions to help achieve your goal.

I am patient and I continue to have patience, for I feel that patience is really a matter in believing in yourself or trusting yourself. In social circumstances this means “doing the right thing” - not yelling at the uncaring beauracratic or waiting for a speaker to get to their point with interrupting them.

I believe in myself. Thus, I am patient. I am able to wait, confident that one day my goal will be achieved. I wish all of you the best of luck at attaining your life goals as well.

Dave

Dear friends and fans,

I am struggling with an illness that has forced me to abandon my work for a while. I have been in bed for the past 18 days. My main complaint is complete exhaustion. I now sleep 12 to 14 hours a day instead of the 6 to 8 I normally take. I do not know what is wrong. Hopefully, the doctor will have some answers. I have a swollen lymph node in my right leg. The last time I can remember this happening I was 16! I had mono.

I am doing my best to be patient. It is very frustrating to have to give up things you love to do. I have not been to my fencing class in three weeks, nor have I gone to the gym. The last time I was at the gym I had a record day, shoulder shrugging 425 pounds.

I will admit that I have an addictive personality. This year I have been unusually focused. Until my illness, there had not been a single day in the past six months I have not worked on the Stoneseekers. It’s true. I worked Friday and Saturday nights as well. I do not have a significant other at the moment. If I did, I never would have made such rapid progress. I have no regrets. It is a sacrifice I knowingly made. I love my story. I feel it is important.

For eight months, I have worked on my novel. I loved every minute of it, often working well past 3 in the morning. This does not mean I did not do other things. I fenced. I lifted. I went to visit my adorable nephew, little Max; however, I always returned home to work late into the evening. As I said, I loved it, but it seems I am now paying for the investment.  Well, that is one theory - my body has just refused to obey. I was using caffeine heavily to get through my workouts and to allow me long stretches into the night when I felt like I was on a roll with my writing. (Sometimes you get going and you don’t want to stop.)

I post this tale to warn others that it is important to take time for yourself. I wish I had paced myself better. Had I done this, I would probably not be in this situation. Just today I broke a sweat while grocery shopping - what a workout!  LOL

Well, these things happen. Instead of feeling upset, I realized today that happiness is a choice. I could get really upset, frustrated and angry - but this would be a waste of energy. I choose to be happy for what I have and to do as much as I can with what is available. It is a shame to be close to getting into the best shape of my life only to have to stop, yet there will be other chances. A broad view is best. When you can not do all that you want to do, you must learn to adapt.

The experience also makes me appreciate how much I do have, for which I am truly thankful.

I am optimistic. I hope next week I will feel much better. By then, the doctor may be able to tell me what is wrong.

Although there have been days where I have just watched movies, I have found that I can still proofread what I have already written. It seems even after ten drafts there are still ways to improve the story.

To those of you that have taken an interest in this site, I thank you.

Sincerely,

Dave

Today was a pretty good day. I am about ready for bed. I just had my second dinner - 8 egg whites, almonds and oragne juice. Conventional wisdom says you need to consume 1 g of protein for every pound f body weight. This is actually harder to do than the workouts!

The title is “another day”; however, I never finished this entry, and a week has elapsed. Oh well. lol

Monday I was able to do a set of 12 at 185lbs on decline bench, which I followed with 205 for six and 225 for two.

My left shoulder is okay. It is a little sore though. It always makes me worry. It is frustrating. It sometimes feels like rotten wood. I am just waiting for it to pop! lol

I love muscle soreness; it is good. However, joint soreness is scary and is very bad! If my shoulder was better I could train even harder and reach some of my goals. Alas, I fear this is not going to happen. However, I am statisfied with what I am able to do at my present condition. If I am too careless, I will cause a more serious injury, one which may force me to abandon lifting forever.

We were never meant to lift such heavy weights as far as I am concerned. My body is artificial: I work hard to put it into a condition that evolultion has not specified. I feel this is true for most weight-lifters. Serious weight-lifters - the ones who have been training for years- usually have some sort of problem. Most suffer from shoulder problems. Some get tendenitis in the joints, such as the elbow. The ones who are able to train professionally are vey lucky. They have unusual genetics allowing them to alter their bodies to a state that was never intended.

Last Wednesday I had a great biceps workout. I was able to do things I have not attempted in years. I even put 45lb plates on the straight bar and attempted to curl it - I only got one - lol. Using the 35lb plates I got 8 though.

I was also able to do seated dumbbell curls with 50 pounds. I believe I have not gone this heavy since 2005, when I injured my shoulder curling 65 pound dumbbells. I was showing off; it was foolish. You would not think that biceps would influence the shoulder, but they are all connected. I ended up aggravating my shoulder. The insertion of the bicep is actually very high at the top of the shoulder. Since that day I have not gone heavier than the 45 pound dumbbells.

 I realize this information may not be terribly entertaining for those reading it, but it is a hobby of mine and keeps me motivated. It is fun in its own way. Constructive hobbies are healthy and fun!