Book of Sand

  ChatGPT 4 Please translate: "Gracias quiero dar al divino laberinto de los efectos y de las causas, por la diversidad de las criaturas que forman este singular universo, por la razón, que no cesará de soñar con un plano del laberinto, por el rostro de Elena y la perseverancia de Ulises, por el amor, que nos deja ver a los otros como los ve la divinidad, por el firme diamante y el agua suelta, por el álgebra, palacio de precisos cristales, por las místicas monedas de Angel Silesio, por Schopenhauer, que acaso descifró el universo, por el fulgor del fuego,que ningún ser humano puede mirar sin un asombro antiguo. Por Whitman y Francisco de Asís, que ya escribieron el poema,por el hecho de que el poema es inagotable y se confunde con la suma de las criaturas y no llegará jamás al último verso y varía según los hombres... -Jorge Luis Borges ChatGPT The text you've provided is a poem by Jorge Luis Borges. Here's the translation: "Thanks I want to give to the divine labyr...

 I had been seeing Ben at least 3 times a week since the end of winter break. Finally after an unfortunate episode in which we almost ended things, brought about, unfortunately by an innocent but thoughtless and hurtful transgression by me (aided by J), we decided to make it official and became exclusive boyfriends on 4/17/2023.  Things rapidly improved after that point, and he said that even if difficult conversations, I always say the perfect thing to make him feel better.  There was a brief stumble around Memorial Day, I think when he went home for a long weekend and started browsing Grindr and became upset about something (again innocent, I swear) in my profile. We talked about it, and I think he admitted that I had done nothing wrong and it was his imagination "self-sabotaging" as he put it.  I know I am his first boyfriend and really he first actual serious relationship, so it is understandable that he can be nervous and touchy.  Overall though, I find him...

 Been reading a book called Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, very easy to read, thoughtful, well done.  Looking forward to reading more by him. Watched The Mole and Physical 100 on Netflix, also rewatched Yakuni Tatsu, which is now on Netflix called The Full Time Wife Escapist. They did a New Year's special in 2021.  Everyone looked older, except for Hoshino Gen who looked exactly the same.  Been trying to read a book called Cain by Jose Saramago and watch a Netflix show called Hot Skull about a language virus. The Last of Us in coming out now on HBO, but I am holding off until I can watch all of it. In the meantime, I found a show called The Soldiers on Korean tv, a reality competition for ex-special forces agents, that includes endurance and physical challenges but also milsim - hostage rescue, underwater bomb recovery, red-on-blue team battles. This lead me to SAS: Who Dares Wins, another UK based reality show about the SAS selection course, but this time for r...

Switching from arms/leg to an arms/legs/back-core schedule to match the 3x per week sessions. Today will focus on back and core: 4x15 lat pull down (50-80) 4x15 upright seated row (50-60) 4x15 back extender (60+) 4x15 pull-up assist (70-50 lb assist) 3x30 planks 15 min cycling

 Ben brought BBW wings and frozen fries and we watched Physical 100, #3 and 4.  Really fun time, enjoyed the delicious wings and cuddled for a bit after. Worked out at Planet Fitness, did legs: 4x15 leg press (195), extend (50-65), hams (50), adductors (36) 

 Leo (Yiming Li) is leaving town this week finally for NYC, and his new job at Circle(?).  As a farewell, he invited us to dinner at Mandarin Wok, and ordered several entrees (crunchy skin duck, chicken kaarage, fried sweet tofu and some vegetable dish, steamed spinach leaves or something, with pork. He frisnd from NY was there visiting too, and weirdly it ended up being him and I talking and the other two kind of silent, which Yang remarked on.  he said he is usually pretty quiet and has a hard time maintaining conversation in English. He doesn't have a hard time with me, although he can be a bit quiet at dinners.  After dinner we came home and had some cuddle time.  I haven't seen him in a while, he says he is busy with work and flying, although he has been grounded due to weather lately.  Also, his stomach is still bothering him, and he is avoiding spicy foods. Leo is a sweet and lovely guy, I will miss him, and hope maye see him again in spring when his...