Interests

This page is "what I've been up to". It includes resources, in case you want to dive deeper into what I'm studying.

1. Drums

Drumming fuels my creativity and discipline, especially within the demanding and technical nature of death metal. It’s my way to combine precision with passion. I have been jamming with a trio for the last few months and listed our song list below. The covers are to get us tight as a trio before "adding weights".

Current Songs I'm Practicing:

  • Death - Symbolic / Bite The Pain
  • Dream Theater - Under A Glass Moon / Erotomania
  • Pantera - Domination / Cowboys From Hell
  • Mastodon - Blood and Thunder / The Wolf Is Loose

My Drumming:

Resources

2. Parenting

As a father of three, I’m constantly striving to grow as a person, better understand what my kids are experiencing, and be the best parent I can be—no matter the situation. Parenting doesn’t come naturally to me. Before having kids, my life was entirely focused on self-improvement, music, and building a stable income to support my passions.

While I’ve always loved my kids deeply, learning to connect with them and adapt my behavior to show that love hasn’t always been easy. These resources have been invaluable in helping me maintain healthy boundaries while fostering an environment where my kids feel supported. My ultimate goal is for them to leave home at the right time, ready to face the world as capable, curious, and confident individuals.

Resources:

3. Weight Lifting

Weightlifting is central to my physical and mental health. I focus on building muscle through 2 PPL splits (Pull, Push, Leg) a week and making sure I have a high protein intake.

Resources:

  • App: Hevy (username: metal_drummer666)
  • Books:
  • Podcasts:
    • Huberman Lab with Andy Galpon
    • Huberman Lab with Jeff Caviler
    • Huberman Lab with Dr. Gayle Lyons
  • YouTube Channels:
    • AthleanX
    • Dr. Mike

4. Mindfulness Living

Mindfulness helps me balance the demands of life while staying present and intentional. It’s a cornerstone of my daily routine. There was a time I meditated every day, for 45 mins. I suspect there will be other periods where that will be true again. However, I can attest that the discipline of daily meditation for 3 to 6 months has given me the ability to puncture mundane moments with awareness. It's fascinating how the narratives or sensory input jerk us from one sensation to the next. Being present is a gift because it isn't as often as needed.

Currently Working Through...

I've been able to hear my naturally circulating thoughts (positive and negative) without seeing myself as those thoughts. I used to get lost in this world, purely giving my emotions to the next thought that occurred. Now I can acknowledge the thought as if it were input from someone else. Some ideas are good, some are simply venting, some are complaining, some are worried, but all are imaginary.

One of my favorite nuggets of wisdom comes from Sam Harris in his monologue Space, Time, & Attention. He addresses what I discussed above, with a deeper probe into what it means actually to pay attention.

Resources: