Reborn As An Early Retiree, I Now Wander America’s Costliest City: Volume 3, Chapter 8

WHAT’S ON MY MIND

The Muse, for obvious reasons. She does freelance work and she’s got a lot on her plate right now. Add in the regular stuff we all do like a doctor’s appointment, things around the house, etc… and we’re not seeing each other this weekend. Bert warned me to be patient and he knows her well, so I’ll trust his judgment. 

I also discovered we have similar tastes in a lot more things than I originally thought. It’ll make date planning a lot easier if we progress to the point where we can take day trips around Southern California with Artoria.

WHAT I DIDN’T EAT

I tried my best to cut out excess protein this week. I didn’t consume a single protein drink after my workouts and I laid back on the Think protein bars at lunch. I have some interesting results to report on this at the end of the post.

WHAT I BOUGHT

The Porch Gods delivered the Jim Plunkett jersey I’ve wanted since I was a kid, and I’ll wear it with pride. When I was 11 and faced a shit ton of racism at school, he made me proud to be Mexican-American when he won his first of two Super Bowls. 

So did head coach Tom Flores, for that matter. Both of those Raiders legends will be tied to each other forever. Viva la raza!

WHAT MADE ME HAPPY

There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover, Unless… is getting an anime next summer! It’s one of my favorite manga reads, so I’m curious to see how many manga volumes they’ll adapt for a dozen episodes.

WHERE I’M GOING

It’s time to make another trip to Barnes & Noble. I’ll pick up some new magazines and maybe a book, and then I’ll sip a coffee before the return trip home.

WHAT I LISTENED TO

Offspring’s “Americana” album while driving Miku. I giggled when I overheard “My friend’s got a boyfriend and she hates that dick. She tells me everyday….” blasting from her speakers.

I’m also listening to upbeat stuff like Wade Hayes and Shania Twain on Artoria’s stereo system. You could say chatting and texting with The Muse has mellowed me somewhat.

WHAT’S JUST LIKE RIDING A BIKE

Ironing a button down shirt. I occasionally dress up for running errands, so I’ve had to reacquaint myself with that fancy Rowenta iron I bought three years ago. I enjoy ironing so much I just might dress up more when I leave the house!

WHAT SACRED TEXTS I READ

• Oshi No Ko, Volume 8
• I Want A Gal Gamer To Praise Me, Volume 3
• What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?, Volume 6 (final volume)
• I Cross-Dressed For The IRL Meetup, Volume 2

In progress from J-Novel Club…

• The Royal Hostage Has Vanished: The Black Wolf Yearns For The Persecuted Princess, Volume 2
• The Hero And The Sage: Reincarnated And Engaged, Volume 3
• The Poison King: Now That I’ve Gained Ultimate Power, The Bewitching Beauties In My Harem Can’t Get Enough Of Me, Volume 3
• An Introvert’s Hookup Hiccups: This Gyaru Is Head Over Heels For Me!, Volume 9 
• Duchess In The Attic, Volume 2 (finished)

WHAT I WATCHED

A YouTube video featuring former porn stars discussing how terrible and traumatic the business is. I shudder to think what my twenty three year old self would have done if he were here in 2024. With no hope of landing a job in my field of study, I would’ve been ripe for the coercion back then.

WELCOME TO SLAPSVILLE…

I don’t have anyone this week. Moving on.

FIST BUMPS GO TO…

Mark “Frosty” Winterbottom is retiring from full time Aussie Supercars, and will become Cam Waters’s co-driver for the endurance events next season. He got that nickname from being the voice actor of the “Frosty” car in the Aussie version of Cars 2.

Nissan factory driver Ronnie Quintarelli is also retiring from Super GT. I enjoyed rooting for Tsugio Matsuda and him ever since I started watching the old NISMO TV YouTube channel in 2016. Hopefully he’ll still have a role with the NISMO racing program.

WHAT’S UP WITH MY WRITING

I’ve decided to focus my memoir on the two year time period right after I broke off my engagement. I have some very interesting and hilarious dating stories to tell, but once again this book is for my eyes only. I don't need The Muse to learn I was once turned down for a date because a petite brunette told me, "I don't want to become part of your harem" despite the fact I've never juggled women in my life!

WHAT’S UP WITH MY HEALTH

I’ve given myself permission to be at 260 or less for the holiday season, and today I’m at 255 on the nose. I’m officially at the lowest weight I’ve been in nearly three decades. Yay! Yay? Yay. Hmmm. Amongst that 4.4 lbs weight loss is two pounds of muscle. Ara ara!

I will up my protein intake a little this coming week to address this. Also...

I tweaked a knee last Saturday and I’ve been wearing a couple of knee braces since. One is a sleeve I wear during workouts as a precaution. The other is a heavy duty model with hinges on each side, but I only wear for a few hours a day. I suspect it’ll be awhile until I’m 100% but the good news is I have yet to skip a workout or pop any pain pills.