the matthew Z project

I’ve decided after a long absence to try something new.  Each week I’m going to comment about something that is depicted in print, video, or commercial to be absolutely amazing, but in real life couldn’t be farther from the truth.  From fast food advertisements to models wearing jeans.  Nothing will be safe.

I’ll start this week’s new idea off with fast food.  As I was driving to work this morning I saw a billboard for a ‘trophy burger’.  It actually looked tasty.  But since I’ve given up on most fast food due to artistic differences, that being the food never looks like it is advertised and is usually more horrible than eating cardboard with salt, pepper, and ketchup, this one actually made me a bit curious.  Now all the while I’m thinking to myself, I can bet this isn’t going to live up to the presentation I want and the flavor I deserve as a paying  customer.

in print

This delightful burger starts with a third pound of  100% pure Angus beef, sure. Add some slices of cheese that actually looks like real cheese, slightly melted.  Placed between braided sesame seed buns that look like a baker just popped them out of the oven. The sesame seeds look like the hand of God placed them.  Topped with ‘fresh’ tomato, ‘real’ whole leaf lettuce, ‘crisp’ red onions and ‘crinkle-cut’ pickles. The picture leads you to believe all you have to do is sit down, roll up your sleeves, and get down to business.  And this is what I ordered…looks good doesn’t it?  My taste buds actually started to party. All that’s left is to get it and compare.

in real life

Well it isn’t the advertised piece but it isn’t too far off the mark. BUT what does it taste like? Will it be similar to the unfortunate sad, generic excuse of a burger the chain has sold for years or will it taste like a real burger? Laying my innards on the line for science I subjected myself for the good of the reader.  Although it is a step up from the economy class burger, it is hardly what I would call a premium burger.  The bun was less airy then the regular hamburger bun, but not great.  The pickles were mushy, the onions were anything but crisp.  The cheese was the usual over processed pasteurized cheese. The meat, although more ‘beefy’, was dry and similar to the highly compacted little brother burger as far as texture.  Taste?  It was a nice try, but sadly, it is far off the mark.  It left my taste buds feeling like they just encountered a chemical burn.  Salt and pepper, sure.  But this is what they put into this disaster of a burger. Read more…

Shawn and Matt

I haven’t wrote in a while because one of my best pals was recently diagnosed with a lemon sized tumor in the center of his brain. Since Friday, things have happened extremely fast. He is, as I type this, undergoing surgery to have it assessed and for the surgeons to remove what they can. He’ll be in ICU for a few days and then it’s the glorious road to recovery! Feel free to follow is recovery here. I’ll set up a page soon so that friends and family will be able to donate to help with the costs and expenses Shawn will face in the near future. Thanks for all your support! matthew Z

bring it

WOW!  Today was my eighth day of P90X and do I feel great!  Not just because I’m actually feeling better inside and out, but because I’ve actually stuck it out!  The first week was tough.  Wait, that’s not enough.  The first week was HELL!  During most exercises my muscles quivered with fatigue. Burned literally.  But I paced my self, I did the stretching, got the equipment (pull up bar, weights, etc.) and it’s paying off.  Today started the second week of the program.  I was surprised that I was actually able to do far more than I did last week.  The exercises were more familiar so I wasn’t focusing on the “how-to” as much.  My energy level has increased, I’d say, at least 10-fold.

Now, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about giving up a couple times last week.  But I stayed with it, did the work outs in their entirety and I’m glad I did.  I can’t wait for day 90 to get here to see how much I’ve transformed.  No doubt about it, if you stick with this, there is no earthly way you could not show improvement.  With such variety in the program, you’ll be happy you did it.  BRING IT!

Until next week, matthew Z

This will serve as my unofficial P90X tracking tool.  I’ll update my progression using the program and use this space as another motivation booster.  I’ll post pics, thoughts, ramblings, and what ever else is related to P90X. To start, I weighed in this morning at 140 lbs.  I’m 5’6″ tall.  I don’t consider myself overweight, but I’d like to accomplish a well-defined physique with overall nice muscle tone.  I don’t want to bulk up, but rather just lose some fat while toning what I have.  Here are my day 1 photos.  Yikes! The dreaded before pics… Read more…

Smoking with kids in vehicles....

I think all people who are dumb enough to smoke in cars while their kids are with them should be chained to poles inside transparent boxes that are hooked up to diesel generators that are expelling the exhaust into them. Perhaps with a gap between the top and sides of the box just like a window cracked in the car to let out the fumes…because that makes all the difference right? Yeah. If I smoke and crack the window, these second hand smoke fumes won’t harm my kids AT ALL. In an age where information is EVERYWHERE how can people be so cruel to kids. Isn’t there a law where it would prohibit smokers to seize this activity when kids are present in a car? You can’t smoke on federal property, or even at most places of employment, but you can force a child to breathe this toxic cloud in a car?!

Growing up with a mother who smoked Read more…