roguemonk.com

I had Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch.

I haven’t eaten KFC in months.

Now I feel like shit.

I’ll never eat KFC again.

One of my best friends in the whole world has started the journey of a lifetime.

Greg Trevors, along with Dan Freeman, have started A Pocket Full of Phone Numbers — A trek across Europe, based souly on the generosity of others. There is no money.

They plan on talking about on the site daily and also doing a weekly video.

Greg had asked me to join him, but I chickened out. I went with something a little less ambitious (Freediving). I am a little jealous, but I’ll get my chance too.

If you haven’t seen this. Check it out. And if you’re in Europe and like what they’re trying to do, definitely send them an email. I’m sure they’d appreciate it.

You are.

• For not reading my site every day.
• For not commiting to memory every single post here. Something you could easily do on the days I don’t post.
• For not using a RSS reader to keep tabs on new posts. Something Firefox can do easily.
• For not sending a hot masseuse to work on the knot in my back
• For not shooting her an extra $20 to buy some icecream (my favorite right now is Haagan Daaz’ “Mayan Chocolate”)
• For making the Heavens weep on my day off.

Okay. So maybe your aren’t a bad person for not visiting everyday. And maybe you don’t need to memorize this entire site. And maybe the masseuse that feeds me yummy icecream can stay a fantasy (at least for a short while). And maybe you don’t control the weather.

But you can still download an RSS reader or Firefox, subscribe to the feed, and be advised of any new post automatically.

Because, we all know that unless you’re using ‘nix or a mac, you’re most likely using that piece of shit, IE. And if you are, then you really are a bad person.

… minutes… without air.

I’ve recently (as in four weeks ago) started a freediving course. Freediving is basically an advanced form of snorkelling… only, imagine ditching the snorkel and doing dives to depths of 30 metres/100 feet. No breathing device. Just you, your limits, and the loving water (I have to imagine it as “loving”. If the ocean ever wanted to take you, it could do it in as little as ten feet of water).

So far, we’ve been practicing in a pool — fin technique, proper breathing, and static apnea.

Static apnea. Hold your breath. Now do it face down in water (so you can’t cheat… you big cheater! Just kidding… there is a reason for the water. Look up “mammalian reflex”).

My personal best so far is 4 minutes. And the final minutes always feel like an eternity when your lungs are burning and it would be so easy to lift your head out of the water.

There was a great quote from “The Guardian” about knowing your limits. I’ll have to track it down later.

In the end, most of what I’m learning is about my personal limits. Understanding just how far I can push myself. How much I can better myself.

I can’t think of any better reason to do this than that.