Lately I’ve been obsessed with wanting to start social posts, blog posts, videos and anything else I write with “Aloha out there in radioland …” – a reference to Airheads, one of my favorite 90s movies – but I always take it back for fear of it sounding cheesy and stupid. I don’t want to sound like Michael Scott repeatedly screaming “Good morning, Vietnam!” Regardless, hello readers!

The first thing I’d like to share is that I’ve launched a new website! I was able to secure justin-simpson.com and that will be my home for all things as they relate to my career as an author. I’ve also moved a few of my posts over to my blog on that platform, but I have no plans of shutting this platform down. I’ve been writing in this blog for 14 years and have no desire to jump ship. Beard Hair in My Coffee will continue to be the home of my more casual writing, monthly check-ins, photography shares, etc. but justin-simpson.com is where my formalized writing will live moving forward.

With that said, I have been absolutely chomping at the bit to share this news with everyone! I have been working for weeks on figuring out on which platforms I need to be present, who I could tell in person, when, where, how … everything! It’s killing me! Big news! Big-big-BIG news! And even though I am SO incredibly excited to share it, I want to keep it at the end of this post and implore you to trudge through the usual monthly minutiae before scrolling down. Thank you. I love you.

Goals I’ve Kept Up With:

40 + Clean Eating + General Health

It’s Thursday, which means I’ve finished my next-to-last workout of the week and I’ve kept up with this religiously, as per usual. The only exception has been the week we were trapped inside during the snowstorm. I missed a nearly full week of workouts (I got in one session that week) and it resulted in me being rather insufferable to be around. Regardless, the 40 program has been okay so far. I’m going to make a big change that I’ll talk about later in this post.

I’ve been eating VERY clean with a serving of fruit or vegetables with every meal, nearly all of my carbs coming from whole grains and consuming around 200g of lean protein per day. Again, I’ll clarify later in this post, but my nutrition will be changing soon as well.

Ultimately I think I’m mostly happy with what my physique is doing, though I won’t know for sure until I take tomorrow’s progress photos.

I’ve successfully set up an appointment with a new doctor (my first appointment is tomorrow) so I’m excited to see how my numbers are doing. This new doctor specializes in working with patients who have shitty hearts so I’m hoping he can work with me on keeping that in check without being unprofessional like my former long-time doctor. I’m very curious how my cholesterol is since I’ve not been taking meds for it and have been eating so clean for over a month now.

Read 15 Books 

Off to a great start! In January, I finished Myths and Tales of the American Indians by Ed J. Bierhorst, bringing my total for the year to one. I am currently reading Lou Reed: A Life by Anthony DeCurtis.

Daily Music

We’re in the process of doing a minor renovation in the studio, which means all of my instruments have been displaced. Bad news is that my drums and microphone are currently disassembled and boxed up but the good news is my guitars, bass and banjo are all now chilling out in my upstairs office. It’s cramped in here now but I can just spin around in my chair and pluck something out even easier than I could before. I haven’t been playing much guitar lately, but I have been learning some NOFX songs on bass and can now play the basics of Cripple Creek on the banjo. Banjo has been my go-to for the last couple of weeks. My mind was recently blown when I was taught that since banjos are generally tuned to G that other major chords can be made simply by barring all the strings. I’ve been practicing my rolls by playing a variety of songs I know how to play on guitar simply by finding the correct chords in this fashion.

Continue Learning Italian

I am currently on day 87 of my Duolingo streak! Right now, I’m talking about jobs and using plurals but I recently finished clothes shopping and using possessives. Only about three months left for me to become fluent!

Saturday Night Grindhouse Project

See below.

Write My Second Book

My second book, tentatively titled Ninjas Don’t Hug, is coming right along. I’m pulling from my library of essays and actively writing some new ones. The project will be a collection of my observationalist essays that include family stories, conversations with strangers and more. Won’t be ready any time soon but it’s moving along.

Goals That Need Revision:

40 + Clean Eating

While the goal itself doesn’t need revision (my ultimate goal is to be absolutely shredded and healthier than ever when I turn 40 in December), my approach will be changing. The workout program’s Phase 1 was great and all but it was more designed for a beginner and I don’t think I’m benefitting from it like I wanted to. I’ve decided to cut Phase 1 short by a whopping 8 weeks and go right into Phase 2.

My nutrition will also be modified in that the meal plan I have been on for the last four weeks has more-or-less been a clean bulk program. I’ve been eating like crazy and while I’m not getting fat, the number on the scale is going up and it is messing with my body dysmorphia. I do, of course, want to continue getting a little bigger, but I have to be careful to not accidentally get fat. With this in mind, the sources of my calories will not change but I’m going to be a little more mindful of my overall calorie intake. Also: no more 6-8 egg breakfasts.

New Goals:

List on the Other Page

Earlier this year, I wasn’t quite ready to write this list. I am now ready. There is now a sizable list of chores/projects “on the other page” and I will, as per usual, give myself three months to complete them all. Best of luck to me.

Goals I’m Letting Go:

None Yet!

Rad Things From January:

It’s kind of cliche to talk about how long January seemed this year but it kinda has seemed like the longest month in recent memory. During this first month of the year: I learned how to play Cripple Creek on banjo and finally sold almost all of my old action figures and video games. I broke down and sold my motorcycle, grilled a pizza and had a sexy date night at Foothills Milling Company complete with a hot woman, crispy fried quail with blue cheese ice cream and duck “two ways.” I fired up the grill multiple times during the snowstorm, had a fun date day shopping for antiques out in Harriman and refined my steak recipe to the point that I would now consider it perfect.

And Now, The Big News:

My First Book is Now Officially Published!

That’s right, y’all! TUNE IN AND LOSE YOUR MIND! is now available on Amazon in both paperback and eReader formats! I absolutely cannot believe that we got here – so much time, effort, sacrifice and curse words were put into the making of this book (most of the cursing came during the formatting stage). Currently it is only available on Amazon but I do plan to get some print copies to keep around if you ever see me and are interested. Check out the rad cover art:

HOW COOL IS THAT!? It feels so awesome to finally have this project presentable and available for purchase. This industry is so fascinating. I will never forget how I felt the time I presented my first short film to my class. It was called I Love You and was based on a short story that I had written a few years prior called Makes You Do Crazy Things. Seeing this concept that I made up in my head turn into a story, then into a motion picture gave me my passion for being in this industry. Now, I’m getting to see a concept I, again, pulled out of my ass and turned into a television show now becoming my first published book! It’s an insane feeling and I’m so very proud of it.

Please consider heading over to Amazon to pick up a copy and let me know what you think! 

Anyway, that’s all. Expect to see and hear more about this book for the foreseeable future.

Ever onward,

-JS