Help understanding my odd timing?!?!

O.k. I have initial set at 35 degrees. The problem is that I don't know what it's suppose to be set at? It starts to die at 25, and 45, so 35 degrees seemed "safe".

When I plug the vacuum advance back in, it stays at 35 degrees. When I go up in RPM for total, it goes up 10 degrees at 45 degrees.

Does that seem right?