FIELD REPORT #1

diet, icelandic black metal, borrowed time

To start off with - I’m not going to fill your inbox with a bunch of bullshit each week.
Nobody needs more of that.

Second, if you’re receiving this, you either signed up for it on Substack, or you opted into the OPWW mailing list on the main website. If you don’t want to receive these, there’s an unsubscribe button right there at the top right. Don’t let the door hit you, etc.

My plan is to deliver one weekly “Field Report,” like this one, plus updates when I put up a brand new podcast or video here. That’s it. Those will be the only emails you’ll get.

If I put up older pieces or podcasts, they’ll just quietly get added to their sections for you to peruse at your leisure.

I recommend using the app if you want to interact with all of this stuff, but if you’re only interested in reading the weekly reports/articles and getting the podcast and videos delivered, your inbox is just fine. One less thing.

One more note about the emails: when you see them in your inbox, you can see that there’s a “subscribe if this was forwarded to you” option. I’d be massively appreciative if you’d send them along to people who might appreciate them. At the bottom of the email, there’s an option for those who are logged in with the app or desktop to like, comment, and “restack” (repost) the message.

I would really appreciate this, too, as interactions drive the algorithm and increase visibility. With a message of sanity in an insane time, I need all the help I can get to boost the signal. Thank you.

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7.22.26

Intake:

• Leaning out and cleaning the diet up. There’s few things or fads I’ve ever found that work as well as the following:
  
  2-3 meals a day of a clean protein the size of your hand laying flat. Clean carb source the size of your fist (rice, potato etc). Vegetables as desired up to the size of two fists.
  
  The current industry’s protein intake recommendations are largely factored around the supplements. I think .75 to 1g of protein per pound of body weight is fine for recovery and muscle building for the average person. Take notes and adjust as needed for goals.
  

• Haven’t watched or read much of interest in the last few months, but have been listening to some pretty good albums. The new Hours of Worship (not for parties or sunny days) is excellent moody stuff, and the newest Vafurlogi (Icelandic black metal from Svartidaudhi and Sinmara alumni) caught my ear.
  

Output:

• The name of the game for this summer has been musical projects. I got back on my guitar and have been working with my friends on a few different things.
  
  Hope to share some new stuff with you soon, but the main benefit has simply been in playing and listening to music for sheer enjoyment again. A real pleasure.
  
  Would love to hear what you all are up to creatively in the comments. Link your bands, artwork or writing!
  

• Perpetual nagging injuries aside, I’ve been very grateful to have been back on the mats on a regular schedule again, grappling and teaching some classes as well (although with 4 black belts and a few terrific purple belts I’m hardly needed down at Devotion these days for that aspect!).
  
  It’s always worth reminding ourselves that none of this shit is guaranteed and we are lucky to do what we love. I saw this week that famed fantasy artist Boris Vallejo has retired at 85 due to Parkinsons - he can no longer hold steady to do what he loves so much. A sobering thought, but a good one to keep with us when the work feels like a grind or we forget to be thankful.

Takeaway:

This week, as with many others, I am reminded of how fortunate I have to be surrounded with the excellent people that I am.

Both in my immediate daily life with my wife, son, family and chosen family + friends, as well as all of you who have been along with me and supported my work and projects for so many years now (Operation Werewolf is now nearly 14 years old!).

The whole “gratitude” thing may feel overplayed or trite, but I am truly reaching a place in life, now in my 40’s, where I finally have started to understand at least a few of these lessons.

Nothing we have really belongs to us, and it’s all borrowed time. Don’t wait to tell the people you love how important they are to you, but even better, take the time today to show them. Actions will always be the true tapestry of our lives, no matter how many words we spend saying something else.

Thanks to all of you.

- Paul W.

PS: There’s still print copies of my “Kali Yuga Survival Guide” left at the shop. Only 9 remaining of “Hamingja,” which is a book of personal reflections on the runes from my own introspective and practical approach. If you don’t have a copy, you might enjoy checking them out.

Talk to you next week.