BeansNBroccoli

Oh yeah, someone's loss becomes someone's gain's...especially when it comes to beers:)

 

Well, I bought a 750ml bottle of some local lager, but didn't drink it . . . a habit of mine. Felt pretty nice to wake up on Sunday with no hangover of any sort. Seems to really rip into me these days. Must be getting older. Last few times I put some beers down I could barely make it past 4 bottles before wanting to crawl in bed.

I feel you so much on this. If I'm with it enough to chug down an electrolyte drink (I like Rehydrate from Advocare) before bed that usually staves it off at least enough that I'm still functional the next day haha

However, I've got a bomber of some White Monkey (Golden Monkey aged in wine barrels) that I keep telling myself I'm going to bust into and just never quite seem to feel ready to tackle the full 750... Ahhhh somday!

Speaking of beers, we found BCBS down here by the caseload. It's ridiculous. A year ago in Chicago I wouldn't have been able to imagine walking in somewhere and just walking out with a full four pack of BCBS without having to fight someone on my way out the door haha Have you had any of this year's batch? Are you into Stouts?

I've been on this program for three whole weeks now and I only just got through the squat session all the way through for the first time this week. Tuesdays are really tough for me, scheduling-wise, and I usually end up home ~2hrs later than other days. I got through the first half, had to take a quick break to go pick my partner up from work, then got through the second half as best as I could after I had already cooled down and started to get a little sore. It wasn't the prettiest, but I got it done. Whew.

24MARCH2015

Squat

3x30.8kg

3x40kg

3x56kg

3x66.8kg

5x4x76.8kg

Bench Press

3x22.8kg

3x32.8kg

5x4x42kg

Deadlift

3x62.8kg

3x72.8.8kg

5x4x84.8kg

Box Squat

3x5x70.8kg

3 x Cluster of 5 "singles" x 76.8kg

(INTERMISSION)

Front Squat

5x5x48kg

Bulgarian SS

5x5x42kg

Leg Extension (w/2 sec hold at peak, toes pointed)

5x5x38.8kg

I must have been tired/hangry when I read that article, because I took another look and it's pretty simple. I think the website could use some work though, spatially speaking. Anyhow, glad you are enjoying the training. I have been working under German Body Composition training lately, which seems to be producing good results. Haven't really been tracking my lifts all that closely though. I really should work on that. What I have noticed is that things that were once difficult, I am able to get through with ease. So that tells me there's been progress, and maybe that's good enough for me at the end of the day.

Tracking lifts is one of the things that keeps me going most. I'm definitely able to convince myself that I've made no progress if I've got no paper trail and no videos to reflect on, so being able to look back and see that, for instance, 5x85lbs was tough for me on bench not all that long ago, keeps me pushin. This week is the long heavy week for phase 1 of Indigo, so I'm going to be dragging myself from the gym to the couch most nights this week. Oh well, I'm going to let myself eat all of the things to make up for it

23MARCH2015

Squat

3x30.8kg

3x40kg

3x56kg

3x66.8kg

5x4x76.8kg

Bench Press

3x22.8kg

3x32.8kg

4x4x42kg

7x42kg

Deadlift

3x62.8kg

3x72.8.8kg

5x4x84.8kg

Floor Close Grip Bench Press

3x5x26.8kg

3 x Cluster of 5 "singles" x 30.8kg

Incline DB Press

5x5x34.8lbs

Floor Nosebreakers (w/EZ curl bar)

5x5x22.8kg

DB Power Flies

5x5x34.8lbs

Welcome back to the forum and congrats on all your milestones!! How has it been starting things off again? What's training look like these days?

Here's the first set of my deadlifts from yesterday (16March2015). I hit all four sets at 5x196lbs easily. Weights felt like they were just flyin up after taking the weekend off. Form is feeling really good in general. Strange to think that a couple years ago I thought I basically had form down, and I'm still tweaking it hard two years later. Powerlifting is a strange and wonderful sport - I always feel like there's room for so much growth while still feeling like I'm kicking ass.

Also, here are my squat warm ups from yesterday (4x5x176lbs). Everything feels like it's coming together. I never thought my squat would be on track to catch up to my deadlift. Clearly the extra work I've been putting into squats has been paying off, but I'm hoping that putting in similar effort to the deadlift will help keep my deadlift strong and get stronger as well.

Also this is what I look like these days when I like to pretend for a few minutes that I'm aesthetic lol lol lol

~12March2015, I think about 145lbs BW

16MARCH2015

Squat

4x24.8kg

4x34.8kg

4x46kg

4x58kg

4x5x72.8kg

Bench Press

4x22.8kg

4x30.8kg

4x5x38.8kg

Deadlift

4x58kg

4x68.8kg

4x5x80.8kg

Floor Close Grip Bench Press

4x5x24.8kg

2 x Cluster of 5 "singles" x 28.8kg

Incline DB Press

4x6x34.8lb

Floor Nosebreakers

4x6x18kg

DB Power Flies

4x6x30.4lbs

13MARCH2015

Squat

4x22.8kg

4x32.8kg

4x44.8kg

4x56kg

3x6x68.8kg

Bench Press

4x16kg

4x26.8kg

3x6x34.8kg

Deadlift

4x56kg

4x68kg

3x6x76.8kg

Deadlift off plates (~1.5" deficit)

4x5x68.8kg

Cluster of 4 "singles" x 74.8kg

RDL

3x7x66.8kg

Hang Clean High Pull

7x22.8kg

3x7x30.8kg

Strict Barbell Shrug (3 sec hold at peak)

3x7x62.8kg

Hey, so I did a bit of reading on Indigo training, and it has me a bit puzzled. Did you find a concise resource on the training style? I'm looking for something new, as I'm starting to plateau again and need something to shake things up as I go into the summer (finally!) months. This is what I found, apparently by the "creator" of the training style: http://www.t-nation.com/workouts/indigo-project. However, not only is this an unclear drafting of training instructions, it seems needlessly complex.

 

Maybe you found something a little more clear cut?

That link is exactly where I started (specifically - I'm following the Strength template). I've read a lot from Christian Thibaudeau, and I think in general he's got some really good ideas. Indigo training was designed to be undertaken while on a supplement from BioTest (Indigo3G) in order to keep their consumer trials a little more controlled. I came across it while I was looking for a good powerbuilding set up that would be easily adapted to what I have available at my home gym. I wanted a program that would let me continue squatting every day while working on bringing the other two lifts up too. I'm two weeks in, and I'm really enjoying it. Right now, with my recovery being what it is, I'm really into hitting the big three at a little bit sub-maximal weight every day and then focusing in on one specifically for the rest of the session. Even after only two weeks I feel a lot more confident in my technique both on squats and deads, which I think I can attribute mostly to just doing them every single day in somewhat higher rep ranges than I have been normally.

There are a few maybe complicated things, but at least in the Strength template usually he doesn't get much fancier than holding at the peak for a few seconds or the double contractions on some bicep curls. I think mostly the program just forces you to work in a few different rep ranges to stimulate the muscles in different ways. Also, each monthly phase incorporates different foundation and structure accessory lifts, so hopefully this will help keep my wandering eye in check when it comes to training

I'll keep posting how it's going for me, but so far I might even like it better than Starr's 5x5 which has been my favorite up until now.

If you had specific questions maybe I could answer them to at least how I'm doing it and/or how I've seen other people doing it in their Indigo training logs?

12MARCH2015

Squat

3x22.8kg

3x32.8kg

3x44.8kg

3x56kg

3x6x68.8kg

Bench Press

3x16kg

3x26.8kg

3x6x34.8kg

Deadlift

3x56kg

3x68kg

3x6x78.8kg

Push Press

4x5x22.8kg

Cluster of 5 "singles" x 28.8kg

Wide Grip OHP

3x7x16kg

Barbell Front Raise

3x7x8kg

Resistance Band Upright Row

3x7

DEADLIFT DAY TONIGHT I'M SO EXCITED

11MARCH2015

Kayak Row

3x6x18kg

Straight-Arm Pulldown

2x8x18kg

---BRIEF INTERMISSION (actually long intermission - 2.5 mi wander around the neighborhood with my partner to go get a snack because she decided it was too nice a night to be inside and I agreed and it was glorious)---

Straight-Arm Pulldown

3x8x18kg

Supinated Medium Grip Pulldown (2sec hold at peak)

3x8x32.8kg

Plate Pullovers

3x8x25lbs

Hammer Curls

3x8x26lbs

(superset with resistance band pushdown, 3x12)

Preacher Curls

3x8x21.6lbs

(superset with Overhead Extensions 3x10x26lb)

Seated Alternating Curls, double contraction at the bottom

3x8x17.2lbs

(superset with close grip pushups on bench 3x20

Last night was rough. I had a long day at work, hadn't really eaten properly, and for whatever reason my body was just giving out on the split squats. After I missed in two sets after barely getting started, I called it and skipped the rest of the split squats and leg extensions I had planned. Totally disheartening, but I worked a little posing afterwords to strengthen that mind/muscle connection and I'm feeling solid and ready to go again today. I don't know what happened yesterday, my body just said "nope" so I listened. Remain to fight another day.

10MARCH2015

Squat

3x22.8kg

3x32.8kg

3x44.8kg

3x56kg

3x6x68.8kg

Bench Press

3x16kg

3x26.8kg

3x6x34.8kg

Deadlift

3x56kg

3x68kg

3x6x76.8kg

Box Squat

5x40kg

5x56kg

4x5x62.8kg

Cluster of 5 "singles" x 68.8kg

Front Squat

7x48kg

2x6x48kg

09MARCH2015

Squat

3x22.8kg

3x32.8kg

3x44.8kg

3x56kg

3x6x68.8kg

Bench Press

3x16kg

3x26.8kg

3x6x34.8kg

Deadlift

3x56kg

3x68kg

3x6x76.8kg

Floor Close Grip Bench Press

4x5x22.8kg

Cluster of 5 "singles" x 26.8kg

Incline Bench Press

3x7x22.8kg (my homegym set up is really weird and kind of wrenches my shoulders doing this, might have to switch to DB Inclines)

Floor Nosebreakers

3x7x14kg (EZ-bar - probably weighs closer to 10lbs)

DB Power Flies

3x7x26lbs

08MARCH2015

Kayak Row

3x6x18kg

Straight-Arm Pulldown

3x8x18kg

Supinated Wide Grip Pulldown (2sec hold at peak)

3x8x32.8kg

Plate Pullovers

3x8x25lbs

Hammer Curls

3x8x26lbs

(superset with resistance band pushdown, 3x12)

Preacher Curls

3x8x21.6lbs

(superset with Overhead Extensions 3x10x26lb)

Seated Alternating Curls, double contraction at the bottom

3x8x17.2lbs

(superset with close grip pushups on bench 3x20)

06MARCH2015

Squat

3x22.8kg

3x32.8kg

3x44.8kg

3x56kg

3x6x68.8kg

Bench Press

3x16kg

3x26.8kg

3x6x34.8kg

Deadlift

3x56kg

3x68kg

3x6x76.8kg

Deadlift off plates (~1.5" deficit)

4x5x66.8kg

Cluster of 4 "singles" x 72.8kg

RDL

3x7x66.8kg

Hang Clean High Pull

3x7x26.8kg

Strict Barbell Shrug (3 sec hold at peak)

3x7x62.8kg

05MARCH2015

Squat

3x22.8kg

3x32.8kg

3x44.8kg

3x56kg

3x6x68.8kg

Bench Press

3x16kg

3x26.8kg

3x6x34.8kg

Deadlift

3x56kg

3x68kg

3x6x78.8kg

Push Press

4x5x22.8kg

Cluster of 5 "singles" x 28.8kg

Wide Grip OHP

3x7x16kg

Barbell Front Raise

3x7x8kg

Resistance Band Upright Row

3x7

I've started Indigo training! It is everyday, and it is intense, and it is just what I needed and I love it so far. I set out looking for a template that would allow me to hit it hard every day while my recovery time is so good. I like using 5x5 and just adding extra stuff in, but I've been reading a lot about working sets and about how you're not really tearing down your muscles til you're in your working sets. Huh. Makes a lot of sense. So what have I been doing with the Starr 5x5, which is essentially 4 warm up sets and one working set? I could do so much more! I could get so much bigger!

I found the Indigo set up. MTRF now I'll squat, bench, and deadlift with sub-maximal loads and then focus on further bench for Monday, squat for Tuesday, isolate Lats/Bis on Wednesday, focus on overhead movements Thursday, and deadlift Friday. There's even optional sessions already programmed in for specific weak points/focus points on weekends. I'm gonna get so huge.

My timing is also shifting around a bit with my partner's job situation and trying to juggle our lives together, so I won't be getting 5am workouts in anymore - it'll be more like 7pm. I should be much more effective lifting at night. I'm ready for this.

I started Indigo last Wednesday. Even though I had hit deadlifts really hard in the morning, I came home and did Lats/Bi isolation at night. Now I've been through 5 days of Indigo programming and I really, really, really like it.

04MARCH2015

PM

Kayak Row

3x6x16kg

Straight-Arm Pulldown

3x6x16kg

Supinated Wide Grip Pulldown (2sec hold at peak)

3x8x32.8kg

Plate Pullovers

3x8x25lbs

Hammer Curls

3x8x26lbs

(superset with resistance band pushdown, 3x12)

Preacher Curls

8x26lbs

2x8x21.6lbs

(superset with Overhead Extensions 3x10x26lb)

Seated Alternating Curls, double contraction at the bottom

3x8x17.2lbs

(superset with close grip pushups on bench 3x15)

So good to see you back on here! Those are some serious numbers you're putting up there. Physique looks ripped as well - so congrats! We went up to Madison last weekend - great time! Hope you are doing well.

Thanks a lot!! I've been a lot more focused lately with the home gym, I love not having to go anywhere to work out and being able to get a session in easy in the morning before work. How are plans going for the great move out of Chicago??

Session this AM!

March04

Squats

5x34.8kg

5x44kg

2x5x54kg

Incline DB Press

5x26lbs

5x30.4lbs

Couldn't get my next sets up - must not've been warmed up enough, got frustrated, decided to deadlift angry instead of continuing to try to bench press

Conventional Deads

5x60kg

5x72.8kg

5x84.8kg

4x97.6kg (ugly, but i locked them out and probably could've gotten a fifth - but it would've decimated me for the day so i left it in the tank)

2x5x85.6kg

Reverse Grip Barbell Rows

2x12x34.8kg

2x12x36.8kg

Plate Curl

3x20x20kg

Barbell Curls

8x16kg

8x16kg, 8x12kg, 15x8kg drop sets

Whoa, it has been way too long since I logged here (thanks esqinchi for reminding me ). I've been liftin heavy, but I've mostly moved over to IG for keeping myself accountable and the old pen and pad for logging. In the past couple months I've started counting macros and re-started myself on Starr's 5x5. When I restarted the 5x5 I made the decision to jump down considerably in weights and focus hard on form. Now I'm using it a little more loosely (mainly splitting squats to the night before, then in the morning doing push/pull) and adding in extra sessions because my recovery time has been phenomenal lately. My body feels fantastic and I'm smashing PRs weekly. I thought I might throw up what I've been up to in the past week, and then try to keep myself accountable to coming on here and logging at least every few days. For the sake of ease for myself, I'm just going to record the weight I loaded on the bar because I still don't know how much my bar weighs. When I want to calculate out exact weights I usually assume the bar is 16lbs, but I'm mostly concerned with moving bigger weights every day and not what they are exactly. I have dumbbell handles now and I know their weight, so whenever I use those I know exactly how much I'm loading.

Also, Florida is a beautiful wonderland and I pretty much never want to leave.

My maxes have really jumped up in the past two weeks. I still don't have a scale or interest in one, but from general aesthetics and the way my clothes fit me I'd guess I'm still hanging out between 140-145lbs. In the past two weeks I've finally gotten past the 200lb squat mark (hit ~212lbs for a double last night!) and the 100lbs benchpress mark (~106lbs for 6 this morning!). My deadlifts have been slower in coming back from when I took almost a month off while moving, but they're still my strongest lift (hit a really clean 225 for 5 last week, which is about where I was 6 months ago but vastly improved from where I started back up 4 months ago).

Feb22

SQUATS

5x32.8kg

5x42kg

5x52kg

5x62kg

5x72.8kg

2x78.8kg

2x82.8kg

2x85.6kg

3x74.8kg

3x74.8kg

7x74.8kg (AMRAP)

Feb23

BULGARIAN SPLIT SQUATS

10x20kg

8x24.8kg

8x30.8kg

8x36.8kg

8x40.8kg

BENCH PRESS

5x16kg

5x22.8kg

5x28.8kg

5x34.8kg

5x38.8kg

3x40.8kg

4x40.8kg

4x40.8kg

BARBELL ROWS

5x22.8kg

5x26.8kg

5x32.8kg

5x38.8kg

5x46.8kg

Feb24

OHS

10xbar

10x8kg

10x16kg

10x22.8kg

10x26.8kg

PUSH PRESS

8x22.8kg

8x26.8kg

5x28.8kg

5x30.8kg

LATERAL RAISE

4x15x12.8lbs

BARBELL CURL

4x10x16kg (SS with...)

DUMBBELL OVERHEAD EXTENSION

4x10x39.2lbs

Feb25

SQUAT

5x32.8kg

5x42kg

5x52kg

5x52kg

INCLINE DB PRESS

8x26lbs

8x30.4lbs

8x34.8lbs

8x39.2lbs

8x39.2lbs

CONVENTIONAL DEADs

5x58kg

5x70.8kg

5x82.8kg

5x95.6kg

8x72.9kg

Feb26

CGBP

8x16kg

8x22.8kg

3x8x30.8kg

9x30.8kg

DUMBBELL BENCH PRESS

5x39.2lbs

7x39.2lbs

9x34.8lbs

8x34.8lbs

INCLINE FLIES

12x17.2lbs

10x21.6lbs

2x8x26lbs

BENCH PRESS

7x30.8kg

3x10x26.8kg

Ab work + 1.0mi cool-down run

Feb27

SQUATS

5x34.8kg

5x44kg

5x54kg

5x62.8kg

3x74.8kg

3x78.8kg

3x80.8kg

3x82.8kg

2x84.8kg

2x6x72.8kg

HAMMER CURLS

12x26lbs

2x10x28.2lbs

PINWHEEL CURLS

2x12x26lbs

12x21.2lbs

HAMMER CURL BURNOUTS

2x15x21.2lbs

March01

SQUATS

5x34.8kg

5x44kg

5x54kg

5x64.8kg

5x74.8kg

2x82.8kb

2x86.8kg

2x88.8kg (approx 212lbs for a double!!!!!!!!!!)

5x74.8kg

March02

FRONT SQUAT

8x22.8kg

8x30.8kg

8x40kg

3x8x48kg

SINGLE LEG EXTENSION

3x15x19.4kg

BENCH PRESS

5x16kg

5x22.8kg

5x28.8kg

5x34.8kg

5x40kg

2x6x40kg (approximately 106lbs with full comp legal pauses at the bottom!!!!!!)

BARBELL ROWS

5x22.8kg

5x28.8kg

5x34.8kg

5x40kg

5x48kg

Yesterday hit legs/back, which looked mostly like this

Squat

5x10x120lbs

Oblique Bends

5x12x45lbs

Rows

5x12x80

Shrugs

5x15x80

Barbell Lunges (each leg)

5x10x60lbs

Straight Arm Pulldowns

5x12x50lbs

Today hit arms, a little like this

Barbell Curls

20x32lbs

4x12x50lbs

Pushdown w/30-50lb resistance band

20xlow resistance

3x12xhigher resistance than last time

Close Grip Bench

12x45lbs

12x50lbs

3x12x60lbs

Resistance Band Curls (one arm)

3x12xhigh resistance

21's

3x21x32lbs

Bodyweight Tricep Extensions

3x12

Yeah, I agree, who needs a scale. Are you making progress with the amount of weight you are lifting? I'd say that is an more important measurement right?

Definitely making progress!! It's also a little weird lifting in the morning when for the past year I've been training in the afternoon/evening - I definitely can't push around as much weight in the AM before I've had real food or the day to warm up. But I'm seeing physical changes and I feel strong and getting stronger, so I'm happy

I'll PM you our IG names - I'm a little weird about putting stuff like that on here.

 

I love volume training so much. Really seems to work for me. Heavy weights just gets boring after even a short while, so I find that I end up combining volume with heavy weights (or at least trying to), which is typically a bad thing; just ask my back.

Happy to get to follow you both now! I think I'm going to try to mix in a power day a couple times a week and just get under something heavy, but the volume is really fun right now. It's good to change things up!

Bi/tri day today. I'm trying to keep things fun while having somewhat minimal equipment at home (not even dumbbell handles, so I'm just grabbing plates and working my grip extra whenever I want to do unilateral movements). It's fun and effective. Last night I worked on some pushup variations, too, just for fun and to burn off some steam. My typewriter pushup game is not very strong yet, but it's coming along. I really love playing with calisthenics, I think I'll be working them in more when I don't feel like pulling full sessions/am too sore to lift heavy.

Anyway, 5:30am today looked like this:

Barbell Curls

20x30lbs

3x12x45lbs

Pushdown w/30-50lb resistance band

20xlow resistance

3x12xhigh resistance

Close Grip Bench

12x30lbs

12x45lbs

2x12x50lbs

Concentration Curls

4x12x14lbs

Jump Rope

3x45sec

21's

3x21x30lbs

Bodyweight Tricep Extensions

3x12

Tomorrow more squats and rows, bigger and bigger and bigger. Holding off on deadlifts until this weekend, when I can hit them in the afternoon when I'm all carbed up from a big breakfast and then spend the rest of the day on the couch stretched out and eating. Probably bench/chest on Friday. I don't plan to take any days off until Sunday, I'm enjoying this sore as hell/ripped to shreds feeling too much.

Hey, how are things going? So, my wife and I were talking the other day about Madison, and I mentioned you . . . Turns out she follows you on instagram - small world! Training looks solid by the way. I love the motivation!

Hah, totally small world! Are you on IG? What's your wife's IG name? The vegan strength community is small but I see it gettin bigger every day. Training is going well, I'm really sore from hitting more volume this week but it's feeling good for the moment so I'm going to stick with it. I love powerlifting and hitting heavy weights but I just need a little break and this is workin for me

Shoulders today. I feel sore and excellent. I'm going to get really fucking big this year.

OHS

5x10x55lbs

Oblique Side Bend

4x10x45lbs

Incline Press

4x10x65lbs

Plate Front Raise

3x10x25lbs

Lateral Raise

3x10x10lbs

OHP

3x10x45lbs

10x40lbs

10x30lbs

Arnold Press

3x10x10lbs

I've been lifting, but I haven't been recording much of anything. I was up and on the grind at 5:30am today, got through a really solid session. I'm already feelin it. All of my weights are totally approximate because I still have no real idea how much my bar weighs (I'm guessin 10lbs) and I don't have any interest in having a scale in my house so I may never really know and I don't really care much right now. I scraped my usual heavy low-rep stuff today and focused on some volume. I really hope I can find a tire sometime soon, that would be a perfect addition.

Squats

5x10x120lbs

Straight-Arm Pulldowns

4x10x60lbs

Bent Over Rows

5x10x80lbs

Shrugs

5x12x80lbs

Barbell-Loaded Lunges

3x10x60lbs

SLDL

3x10x100lbs

Hey, how was your last trip back to Madison? Any updates on gettin the hell out of Chicago? I keep hearing how rough it's been up there already this season, and I've been thinkin about ya. Hope you're staying warm and keeping your head up.

 

Best,

Jaime

 

Hey, good to hear from you. Our last trip up was kind of a bummer. The place we stayed was less than expected (kind of a dump, a risk on AirBnb I've come to realize). I was in a weird mood the whole time, so it got pretty stressful - which was a total bummer. I think I was bummed because I was thinking about how difficult it seems to get anywhere lately. Then on our last day there, my boss sends me a text message an hour before an important deadline telling me they can't find the order I drafted, which just illustrates she doesn't do her job really. Also, at the exact same time, our little dog was having seizures, and there were roofers working on the house we were staying in. So it was kind of a perfect (shit)storm. Anyhow, we did the things we like there, which was nice, but I think the undercurrent of stress and sadness kind of took over and soured the overall experience.

 

Have you noticed how relatively expensive property is there? Those homes off Willy on the isthmus, all broken down, yet selling for $350k+? That's insane. We paid only slightly more for our house here, and it's fully updated. Those places there would need at least another $50-75k just to update. It's kind of funny actually now that I think about it... It seems like those selling there are asking for gentrification, yet also complaining about the same. Kind of seems like the economy of scale theory goes out the proverbial window there, at least with respect to property.

 

As for now, I'm just trying to find a job here which is pretty slow going. Weather has been pretty cold, but no real snow yet - which is nice. I fucking hate snow in the city.

 

How are you guys doing? Everything settled in?

Yeah, I've used Air BnB a few times and it's always kind of a toss up regarding what you're going to end up with. Property actually in Madison proper is very expensive, especially if you want to live anywhere within four-ish miles of the capitol. If you're willing to go out to any of the close suburbs you can get much better deals because the property taxes aren't as insane. For instance, Fitchburg doesn't have any green space between the town and Madison, uses the same public works, school systems, buses, etc but because of lower taxes you can find a really nice place with an actual yard (difficult to find in close to the capitol or University) for more in the $200k arena. Anywhere near the capitol or near the University gets very expensive, very quickly. The condos right on the square are as expensive as anything in Chicago, that's for sure. One thing about Madison vs Chicago in the winter is I think that Madison does a better job of plowing and maintaining the streets, which can make it a much easier place to live through the cold months.

Hopefully you're able to find a new position somewhere with a boss who is actually able to manage things and keep organized, that's the most frustrating thing. I'm dealing with a bit of that at my new position down here, and it's looking like I won't be staying at this lab much longer than possible if I can find a different gig. Right now it's paying the bills though, and I haven't gone completely mad, so I'll stick it through.

Florida in general is awesome, and I really love it down here. We've been going to a lot of state parks on the weekends and taking the dogs hiking. It's hilarious that the locals think that when we hit 40degrees that it was freezing- people were literally wearing parkas. The house is mostly unpacked, we're slowly but surely acquiring furniture to replace the things that we left up in Chicago. My partner really likes her program, so everything is going really well with the exception of my own job frustrations.

I hope something new pans out for you soon! It seems like you could use a break.