To end the rapture. . .

Dateline: Yesterday. 5 June 2007. Too flippin' tired (not flipping tires) to swing in the AM so I got my 100 + 20 with old Ivan, the 88lb. bastard, at my 1830 Intermediate Level KB Class. Felt good. Hit some wheels too.

So this weekend should be cool, nice and laid back, maybe go to the lake and politely decline my friend's cream-cheese stuffed mushroom and cream cheese stuffed jalapeno-wrap Whores Ovaries. I love them but cream cheese is not conducive to rolling out a sexy body in the summer time. So I'll offend the whole family, BUMMER!

I will, however, make sweet love to a two foot hoagie on Saturday 16 June while
A: Sarah is in Florida
B: UFC 72 "VICTORY" airs on PPV at 1500, live from Belfast (that should be sick)
C: I watch "Sands of Iwo Jima" after the fights.

I pledge to make that my next dedicated Junk Food day. I have a meeting with a client tonight that may invovle a glass of vino, but I'll stay the course.

Thinking 2 sets of 50 Transfer swings today for my 100. Though I made this pledge, I might actually insert a rest day before I leave for St. Paul on Thursday 21 June. My hammies have felt tight like piano wire the last 2 days, and downward facing dog just hasn't cut it. In addition, there is a BIG event for me June 18Th, as myself, buddy Mike, and fellow trainer/client and ridiculously built mother of two Nancy McKenna take a shot at the 300 Workout at a gym in West Chester, PA (a neighboring Village wrought with popped collars and plastic mammary sacks-not cool!).

I'm not a fan of workouts like the 300, but I did mention it to Mike, which is a bad idea, cause Mike will go all out in everything, no matter what his skill level is at any event. If I mentioned a Hot Dog eating contest, Mike would be boiling brats in like 10 minutes, and calling me to ask how many "I" could eat in 5 minutes. He's an awesome competitor, as are many of my clients, who motivates me to get more. I bailed on a workout two weeks ago, and he calls me the next day asking if "this number was the slacker hot line". My balls shriveled, and then I did 100 swings to drop those bad boys down to 98 degree temperature.

So I'm psyched. Good weekends lined up all through July, and no school for another 4 weeks YEAH! And when I do start up again it's American History II in an Air Conditioned room from 0900-1130 TWR less than 3 miles from my house. I'm pledging to ride my bike there any day I can.

A quick shout out to the fellow bloggers Tracy, Christine, and Royce. It sounds like Royce and Christine are joining the belly-off club, and Tracy, a grizzled veteran of SERIOUS weight loss is mounting a supporting effort. I commend them all. Now follow my link (to your left) to Tracy's blog and see what the Triple D can do for you (Determination, Discipline, Darn good trainer for a husband who no doubt gave her all the help she asked for and more).

Sing along with me:DROPKICK MURPHYS LYRICS

"Wheel Of Misfortune"

Cowboys and coppers verse injuns and robbers,
take a guess for which side I was prone
Maniacal pleasures and a taste for misfortune,
the legacy for which I was known

Down and out, I scream and I shout.
For this man from whom I need my advice
If the price is your life son, you'd better think twice as you march to the front like a soldier

So you'd think I'd aspire for greatness, hell-Bent to make a name on my own
Genetically programmed for the Wheel of Misfortune, I'm an heir to an unwanted throne

Now they've all got their theories,
opinions and such about this man who is down on his luck
Well the offers are plenty,
my options are many, still I opt to face my problems alone.

Down and out, I scream and I shout.
For this man from whom I need my advice
If the price is your life son, you'd better think twice as you march to the front like a soldier

December Everyday

I have a new "pet" band. A.F.I. I understand that they have been around for quite some time, and I am a Johnny-Come-Lately fan, but these guys represent everything I want in music. They take elements of Cure-esque Gothic romanticism, hard, pulverizing guitar and bottom end (sounding like a more vulnerable and raw Bad Religion at times) and, to wrap it up, they drop the sweetest, most uplifting/devastating choruses I've heard since Nirvana's "Bleach". So yeah, I like them. They're from Nor-Cal, and their last CD was titled December Underground. It plays on iTunes now. You must, simply must believe me when I say you will enjoy them.

100 swings, part TWO! The last 24 hours have been marked by scattered but voluminous thunder storms. Lots of light drizzle and then a cavalcade of sideways rain. A big ol' fat rain. So no late night training yesterday, and no outdoor man-making training until this afternoon. Yet I DID do my 100 swings with a 40kg. started off with 10 each arm, and followed with 20 instructional towel swings. Those felt awesome. Not because I was giving my grip and postural muscles a rest, but because my hips were flowing like Chali Tuna. Transfer Swings and One-Armed bastards finished my 100. Chowed down on a salad of Romaine and Cesar dressing (no cheese or croutons), and a big ol' albacore tuna club on multi-grain (no bacon, pickes, or olives). Good hearty meals. Just two appointments today, and then my two evening classes. Looking forward to getting deeper into Vonnegut's "Deadeye Dick". I wish you a day as light and happy as mine should be!

Cadence to Arms

Just returned from taking my wee mate for a stroll. I love Jack Russell Terriers. With regard to the notoriety they carry for being high strung and demanding a lot of attention, it's all true. However, our Dog is a highly intuitive and ferociously athletic lil' character. Today we made our way north to the main road, and joined a procession of fellow village dwellers bent on absorbing every moment of the Malvern Memorial Parade. Bagpipes and middle school marching bands bookended a formation colored by former POWs, firefighters, Shriner's (in adorable little vintage auto replicas), Vice Admiral Joe Sestak (USN Ret.), our congressman in PA's 7th district, and the highest ranking military officer to serve in Congress. The dog and I ran into many a Malvernite, and even a few groups from nearby towns who trekked both east and west to fill their souls with hope and even answer a call from a time when popcorn and parades shared the days with simplicity and wonder.

This morning I followed through on a pledge I tried NOT to make last night. In an attempt to reconstitute my training, the future holds multiple destinations and excursions. I want to travel around the states and beyond partaking in challenges of all sorts. Maybe a hike maybe an arm wrestling tourney in Spokane, I do not care. I feel that I MUST satisfy my wander lust with jaunts to ne'er before seen towns and cities I'm unfamiliar with.

So, my pitch to Sarah sounded something like: I should do 100 swings every morning, first thing, regardless of time/temperature, every day for the rest of the month. Using a 40kg, which is the weight someone of my body weight should be training with.
This morning, I made good. Bob the Irish Bartender told me I would get "Mad, like a donkey" if I had another diet coke. This morning, I mule kicked that 40kg into high gear for 5 sets of 20. One arm and transfer. A few pull ups, a get up, and some high knees wrapped it up. I was happy to have followed through with that. 100 swings a day until June 30. I'm attending the Level Two training in St. Paul in three weeks. But darn it all if I can't just catch an early shuttle and hammer them out prior to the start of the training day.

Yesterday I taught three kettlebell classes in the AM. Linked blogger Christine came in for an AM KB jam. Attended an extremely well executed wedding reception in the ball room of one of Conshohocken's finest establishments. The Great American Pub they call it. This place won't even reach full capacity if you had 700 adult humans distributed evenly. yesterday also saw a short smoker led by Yours at the 1030 Advanced S&C Class. Renegade Rows staggered with DBL FR SQTS. A pair of 32s. Wheels and 40kg Swings staggered at 3+10, 4+10, 5+15 and back down to the bottom rung. Monkey Bar chins, parallel grip and standard pronated. Good training gets me wantin' some more. Always.

And, to conclude this update I'll briefly describe how my dog's penchant for tormenting other dogs just lifted me out of my chair in mid keystroke. The wee rascal was sniffing around the open, but doggie gated back door of the neighboring house. Causing a loud but non-irritating yip from the restrained dogs he was, essentially, flipping off.

Tomorrow AM smells like a Mad Donkey Man Maker, or, 40kg swing x 25+ i Lap, in under 2:00 x 4.

out.