My first chili of the season!

Since I've been feeling the first nips of fall in the air, Mandy and I consulted and decided that it was time for my first Chili of the season!
Now readers, for those of you who don't know - I am a man who cares greatly for his chili. I have several chili recipes: ranging from the quick one I made last night to an all day affair making the sauce from scratch to a White Bean Chicken & Cashew Chili.
Needless to say, it was awesome!
We sat down, ate our chili and watched the original Halloween. A movie, I feel, that is the Gone With the Wind of Horror Films.
I really do feel that Slasher films, Independent Film (It was shot in 4 weeks with a budget of $300,000) and Horror Films in general owe a great deal of debt to this movie.
The way Carpenter sets up the scares. The fact that The Shape (Michael Meyers) is at once otherworldly and yet at the end of one kill in particular comes off as very human (which makes him even more frightening).
What also astounds me about this film is the lack of blood. He chokes most of his victims. How brilliant is that! There's the terrific opening shot which is one giant tracking shot inspired by Touch of Evil.

It doesn't get much better than that.

In fact it left me felling more than a little inspired. So, I'm dusting off my horror film once again and setting down to bang away on the keyboard today.
But after watching Halloween my own ideas seem so craptastic. Halloween was so simple: a Babysitter & the Bogeyman.

Confession; I do enjoy writing TV pilots more than film scripts. I think its the difference in the storytelling. TV is still dialogue driven and film, no matter how cool it is, has now evolved into being such a director driven, visual media. How many times have I been on a film set and they toss the dialogue away completely or let the actors and director make it up. But in TV that just wouldn't happen. Also TV allows for longer storytelling. You don't have to do it all at once.

I love how the Brits do it, six episode seasons.

Unfortunately their model doesn't make any money. But it does make me wonder. If we made 13-14 one hour episodes would the quality of the story telling increase in TV?
Does the pressure of 22 episodes under threat of seven seasons ruin the storytelling? Everyone pitches for seven season but really only comes up with five seasons worth of ideas.
So let's just be honest. Maybe our model doesn't work?
Maybe we would maintain viewership with MORE ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING? That's right. What if you had four 13 episode shows to put into that time slot? (Okay we will go with three shows at 13 weeks a season that leaves 13 weeks of do what you will time for the network.)
You could cultivate a genre for a time slot at your network.
Also it would be so much cheaper for the production companies. Think about it. Have the writers work like crazy putting out scripts. Then release them except for one or two for re-writes while they are shooting. Then shoot all 13 episodes back to back. Just tear right through them.
Yes, the TV actors would me making less money because they would be doing less episodes - but it means they would then have time to GASP - work on another show/movie/play.
I don't know - it's just a thought.

As to the ankle front . . . it's still all jacked up. I just hope it's not broken. Today I'm going to do a trial run of 3.1 miles (5k). So we shall see.
I'm back to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 3 times a week. But I fear it may be too little too late. I have a belt test coming up the week of Oct. 10th and Robson Moura is going to be here to give it. I fear I won't be ready. Between work stuff, Mom being sick stuff, injuries and traveling I haven't been able to put in the time I've needed to really learn what I need to learn.

Belts aren't that important to me . . . but I would like some color on mine.
I'll pry just end up being one of those ringers whose skill set far exceeds what their belt is. I guess I will need to start hitting tournaments in few months.

The syllabus for this test is huge and some things I've just never seen or been shown. I suppose I could pay for a private - but I don't really have the money and I sort of object to the idea that I have to take a private to be shown the curriculum for the belt test. What do I pay tuition for?

I've been doing two a days on the elliptical to keep my running fitness up. Yesterday I went to class for 2 hours then came home and in the evening did 69 minutes on the elliptical.
The day before that 40 min. body weight workout, then 42 min. on the elliptical - then in the evening I did another 42 min. on the evil machine that I hate. IF ONLY MY ANKLE WASN'T INJURED SO I COULD RUN!!!

If I do run in the half marathon (I'll decide by Tuesday) I'm trying to drop a few pounds to gain speed. The rule of thumb is drop five pounds - gain two minutes on your half marathon time.
As a result, no weights for me for the time being. Strictly body weight work. I don't think I'll lose that much strength. I just want to maintain it - and I guess more muscle endurance wouldn't be a bad thing.

Here's my current body weight workout . . .

Pull Ups 5-10
plank 10 breaths in/out
side plank left 10 breaths in/out
side plank right 10 breaths in/out
X2
Step Back Body Weight Lunges 20 each leg

Push Ups 20
Crunches (Knees raised, bent at 90 degrees)40
Wide Grip Push Ups 20
Crunches 40
"W" push ups 20
Crunches 40
Fingers Turned in Push Ups 20
Crunches 40
Knuckle Push Ups 20
Crunches 40

Pull Ups 5-10
Dips off a bench/chair 20
Walked my feet up the wall so I'm doing a handstand facing the wall and then I walk the length of the wall on my hands and back again. (This one really determines how "fit" you are!)
Dips 20
Pulls Ups 5-10
Dips 20

PLYOS
Mountain Climbers, Split-Squat Jumps, and Clapping "Plyo" Push Ups in 30 sec. on/ 30 off going through all three exercises as a circuit 4 times through.

Body Weight Squats - 50

3-5 exercises, 20 reps each, Grappling Drills. (I do 'em - they are impossible to explain without a visual.)

Finish off with . . .
25 Push Ups
Leg lifts. (Keep the small of back on the floor. Lift Shoulders off the ground as in Pilates. Only lower the leg to where your lower back wants to come the ground. If it raises - you've gone too far. Work within your limits.) 20
Crunches with legs straight up in the air. Move your fingers along your legs. Keep the fingers in contact with them and try to touch your toes - 20
Open legs into a "V" and reach across the body to the opposite foot. 20 / side.
Bring hands together and pulse right up through the middle, keeping your lower back on the floor. 20.

Burpees - 1 minutes. Go.

Stretch like crazy, re-hydrate.

Estimated workout time, 40-45 minutes.
Also this workout is not for the faint of heart or for someone's first time in the gym in six months.


And yes, here is my quick & easy, super cheap chili recipe that I made last night!

In a pan brown a cup of chopped onions, 1 TBS minced garlic and with 1 pound 90% lean ground beef. (You can also add a cup of diced green & red peppers - but Mandy hates them!) (You can also sub the ground beef with ground Turkey or skip entirely if you vegetarian.)
Season with Chili powder, Paprika, Crushed Red Pepper and Black Pepper to taste.

In Sauce Pan or Stock Pot
1 Jar Chunky Salsa (Yup,that's how I cheat!)
1 Can Baked Beans (Yup that's a secret to making chili sweet!)
1 -2 cans Dark Red Kidney Beans (One can usually does it.)
1 can Pinto beans (Optional)
1 container tomato paste or stewed tomatoes.
Chili powder to taste.

Once the Ground Beef mixture is browned - add it to the beans.

Bring it all to a simmer.

Serve! And if you haven't guessed - Chili for me is about the beans!

It's easy - takes 15 minutes to make and you know what's going in it instead of just opening a can.

Until Next Time True Believers.