First of all....hella props to you mike. I think most guys would've quit after getting these years of 'positive' comments.
Just keep doing your thing. I think if you were doing it for others...you might have quit by now.
How many hours a day do you spend posing? You should be holding the poses longer (as you already know). You have to 'practice' exactly how your going to perform on stage. When on stage the nerves will be going so you want to be on auto pilot during your poses. You will naturally resort to faster poses if this his how you practice. Also, slowing down the posing will allow you to slow down your breathing. Watching you pose makes me feel like I just did cardio.
Never heard your voice before....but damn...never would have pictured your voice with your appearance. Not a bad thing...but your voice remind me of alot of pasty white, friends that I know from MA that live their life behind the bar. (no...on the other side sitting on a stool).
In regards to your comment about how much money you spend in relation to the rewards of the contest. Well, in all fairness, alot of sports are like this. You seriously could spend thousands & finish dead last in a show. You also could spend nothing & finish dead last in a show. See where I'm getting at here? You do what you do because it's what you want to do. The end result (especially in bodybuilding) can never be predetermined. It's not like a car race where you know the clear winner because he crossed the line first. All sports (in my opinion) can spend a lot of money in prep but not everyone makes the top dollar. Lately for the last year or so, (not sure why) but I've been competing in Dog Shows. It has alot of the same bs as bodybuilding & all you do it for is passion, bragging rights, & a 25 cent ribbon. You spend hours in prep & alot of money for some judge to pick another guy because he was paid the night before in the parking lot. I just came from winning the last 5 shows to enter a show where I was beat out because of the politics of the dog show world. The best way I can explain it is my dog was the winner of like the super heavies class & was beat out by a bantam weight class in the nationals. Then especially when this guys wins, no one applauds & gets real silent. Thats when you know you've been a part of the dirty side (and wrong side) of the show. But hell, it's a passion & for me it's about competing. I took up something I knew nothing about & now know alittle to where I win about 50-60% of the shows I enter. I make nothing from this except the little gratification when the judge points to me & says 'first'.
Keep doing your thing. Hella props!
