The World of Scott Mindeaux

Cardiac Rehab, Stir Craziness and Torchwood

Well it has been a few days since I have posted. So this past week I started Cardiac Rehab at the Saddleback Hearth Institute and Wellness Center. Cardiac rehab is basically getting my body back up to strength thru a progressive schedule of cardio and weights training. I’m attending Cardiac Rehab three times a week. I showed up for my first appointment which mostly is comprised of an interview to assess my mental state and to discuss nutrition and what is expected. I’m generally in a good mood these days, but bored as hell! I have been home now for almost two months and going stir crazy! The only time I’m really out of the house is to do a grocery run and to do my daily 10 minute walks. My “trainer” Hilary suggested that over time I increase the amount of time I walk and to start incorporating some of the exercises on my off days (Tuesdays and Thursdays and the weekends).

My routine consists of the following to start. Over time, the time spent will increase and weights will increase. First is a weigh in, then a blood sugar and blood pressure reading. I start on the treadmill with a 2 minute warm up and then 12 minutes at a whopping 1.7 mph. During my “walk” I have my blood pressure checked while my heart is beating faster. After the treadmill, it’s the hand pedal machine. I pedal with my hands with some tension for about 5 minutes – I’m guessing that’s for upper cardio. When I’m done with that I’m then on what I :think: is called a Recumbent Seated Elliptical Machine. It’s like a standup elliptical where you are stepping but also have upper body handles that you hold on to – but you sit. See below:

I’m on this machine for about 10 minutes with a goal of 75-80 motions per minute. Then it’s another blood pressure check and then free weights. It consists of about 6 different exercises with a 5lb weight in each arm. This past Friday I was doing the shoulder shrugs and everytime I did them there was a “snap” in my left shoulder. I freaked out and they asked if there was any pain associated with it. I said no and they said it is normal. The remaining exercises each have 10 reps each. Next we move to the toning band exercises. – again 10 reps.

When we’re done with that we move to cool down stretches that target the calves, thighs, hamstrings and quads. Then I’m done! All in all about 45 minutes. Over the next 11 weeks the times and difficulty will increase. I’m the youngest one in my class. Most of those attending are seniors.

So this week is the start of some new shows for the summer season. On Mondays we have the return of Eureka and Warehouse 13 on the SyFy channel as well as a new show called Alphas which I think will be a good show. On HGTV the reality show HGTV Design Star when folks compete for their own TV show starts. The Next Food Network Star has already started and those are on Sundays. This is the show similar to HGTV’s where you get your own cooking show on the Food Network.

I’m also VERY PLEASED to announce the return of Torchwood. Technically their 5th season, Torchwood takes place here in America. Russell T. Davies is still directing. Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper come across the pond to investigate the world-wide phenomenon that no one is dying – with one exception Jack (who was forever immortal) now is mortal. It’s actually a bit gruesome with no one dying. Even those that are dismembered or burned to a crisp, seem to still be “alive” it was kinda creepy. This new season finds Torchwood on the Starz network instead of BBC, which is very bizarre to me. I don’t get Starz so I have to rely on “alternative” methods to watch my show.

New shows I continue to watch are Suits with the very handsome Patrick J. Adams and Necessary Roughness both on USA. Oh one more…Sarah Richardson has a new show on HGTV called Sarah 101. I luv Sarah! Her previous two shows: Design Inc and Sarah’s House are favorites of mine.

So to end this entry. Do you think Apple is releasing Mac OS X Lion (10.7) on Thursday? Rumors have it that the stores will be hosting an “overnight” to reconfigure the stores for Thursday morning. Do you think we’ll get new MacBook models? I’m also waiting on word of the outcome of rumors of an iPad HD and the iPhone 5. I’ve been running beta of iOS 5 and it’s still kinda buggy, but overall it is feature rich and will be a great iOS update this Fall.

When You are Near, Music is all Around

I just finished watching the 2010 Doctor Who Christmas Special. What a delight. The song at the end of the episode is what led me to write this entry. It was very powerful to me. This year’s Christmas Special was a spin on the ol’ A Christmas Carol.

Amy Pond and Rory are in tow and yet another excellent episode. I can’t wait for the next season in 2011.

The Christmas Special is available to purchase or rent on iTunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/charts/tv-shows/doctor-who/a-christmas-carol/

When you’re alone
Silence is all you see

When you’re alone
Silence is all you’ll be

Give me your hand and come to me

When you are here, music is all around
When you are near, music is all around

Open your eyes, don’t make a sound.

Let in the shadow, let in the shadow
Let in the light of your bright shadow

Let in the shadow, let in the shadow
Let in the light of your bright shadow

2 More Days: Stargate Universe

Stargate Universe

Ok..I’m a bit behind as I haven’t been excited about the third franchise of the Stargate world. As time draws closer to the premiere on October 2nd on SyFy, I’m finding out more and more. I’m learning about how much different this will be from SG-1 and Atlantis.

I have a feeling that this is going to be something quite different and quite spectacular…

Here is a snippet of the trailer shown at Comic-Con in San Diego:

I hope that my fear that it will be Star Trek: Voyager will be proven wrong!

Still GLEEful in an SG-1 Kinda Way

So it has been 4 days since GLEE premiered on Fox and I have to admit to you that I’m still hooked. Days later I’m listening to the iTunes-available songs of Rehab and Don’t Stop Believin’. I’ve learned all of Finn’s harmony parts to Don’t Stop Believin’ . It’s crazy right? Why am I still soooo obsessed?

While watching the GLEE pilot episdoe, which is available for FREE on iTunes in HD by the way, I kept trying to figure out where I have seen male lead, Corey Montieth (Finn) before. A quick IMDB search answered my question.

Corey Montieth who was recruited for GLEE can actually sing. The entire cast was auditioned for their parts and they do all their own singing on the show. Who knew that this young “Lt. Colonel Mitchell” from Stargate SG-1 can actually carry a tune? That’s where I’ve seen him. He played a young Mitchell in the 200th episode of Stargate SG-1 where the team was re-imagined as younger versions of the actual SG-1 team.

For 27 years old, he can still pass for a high school senior. Lee Michele (Rachel) is 23 and plays a high school sophomore. We can only wish we could look that young. There isn’t much on Corey on the net. He used to live up in Canada but currently resides in Culver City, CA.

Corey as Lt. Colonel Mitchell on Stargate SG-1

Even If You’re Not a Trekker or Trekkie…

If you like Lost, Alias or Fringe you should see Star Trek. Abrams, Orci and Kurtzman have done such a great job on “rebooting” Star Trek that you have to see it.

I saw it last night at the Irvine Spectrum IMAX and it was AWESOME! From beginning to end there was action and you won’t get bored. If you’re new to the Star Trek world, its ok that you don’t know the show, the movie speaks for itself. The special effects in the movie were outstanding. It was alot to fit into a 2 hour and 6 minute timeslot.

Abrams has masterfully rewritten the original story so well, you can’t wait for the sequel. One can almost say that with this movie, he could easily spawn off new movies with the direction this movie went. I felt the actors portrayed their roles well, especially the actors playing Spock and McCoy. But Scotty and Chekov were a hoot to watch as well!

I was seated a bit too close for my comfort level in the IMAX theatre. All the good seats optimized for IMAX were taken. I was to the left of center zbout 4 rows below optimum. So I felt like there were things on the right side of the screen that I may have missed. I want to see it in a regular theater this weekend to compare the IMAX version against the regular screen.

Yes, I am wholeheartedly a Trekker – no doubt about that, so I would have seen this film regardless! The lines for the showtimes after ours were filed already for the 9:40 and 12:30 showings. Then let’s talk about the lines for the regular screen version. It was a madhouse at the Irvine Spectrum last night.