Day: November 23, 2019

So YHC decided it was time to bring out the metal at The Fighting Yank, something we have not done since the spring. So, with Rev Flo-Rida’s aid I picked up the gods at Atilla on Friday morning and headed over to Gaston County with a beatdown in mind, especially with the cooler temps and some rain in the forecast. Went like this:

COP:

Arm Stretches

SSH X 20

IW X 20

Plank, do foot to hand stretch

Mtn. Climbers

Mosey up to the school and Highway 1 for some hair burner action as follows:

Count off by 3s.

1s – 1st push

2s – Go to the lightpole and do squats

3s – Stay back and do plank jacks

Repeat five times, 1-2-3.

Mosey over to Heartbreak Hill for half pipes

Half pipes X 2

jump squats at top

Merkins on the pad

Monkey humpers at the Yank.

Back to the hair burners, 5 repeats.

Mosey to the corner of knowledge:

10 X 15 X 20

Dips

Step ups

Dirkins

Back to hairburners

Another 5 “repeats” per pax.

LBCs at one end

Peter Parker at the other end.

Mosey down to the Field of Dreams for Bear Crawl Slalom.

3 rolls for everyone ot get to the end of the field.

Stretch for 1 minute.

Pledge.

Done!

NMM:

YHC intended this as a beat down and indeed it was. YHC gets up @ 6-6:15 to Q this workout. Get there usually @ 6:40 am. This morning I got up, checked some emails and had one from a friend I have not corresponded with in some time out in California. We met in China in the ’80s and even climbed Mt. Shasta @ Labor Day 1987. Which was an epic accomplishment, we got it done in less than 24 hours, going up over 7,000 feet and back in that time period. Which means we effectively did 14,000 feet in elevation in one day. You build a strong bond doing that. Very Strong. His email to me informed me that his oldest (a daughter) had passed about four years ago. She was a graduate of Cornell University and went to med school (don’t know where). So she was very much a high impact person and on her way to more impact. It never happened. And it hit me pretty hard. It was apparent that they are still grieving (have two other sons) and I get that!

Then I to the news later in the day that my family’s great friend Banks Miller who was my elementary school principal and my dad and my uncle’s fishing and quail hunting partner passed yesterday. Banks was a HIM over in Huntersville, NC. A guy we would all do well to follow. Loved his pointers! Banks got a lot done over there and that hit me pretty good to although I knew it was coming.

So I think the lesson here is that it really is up to us to make the world better. And we should do it in proximity to the community we live in. One part of that is getting out and getting 1% better every day. Because when we do that we not only make ourselves better we become examples to those who will make themselves better. And that impact can be incalculable in a positive way! Getting those around us to become better is our highest calling. And that is effected by us being that example and being out there on a regular and disciplined basis.

So let’s keep it going – rain or shine! We have work to do.

Tesla

Alarm clocks failed the scheduled Q, so YHC led my first impromptu bootcamp.   Pax were told that the workout would be Turtleman style.

Warm-up:  SSH, Big boys, probably a couple of burpees

Mosey in the direction of Gastone’s hill.  Zombie walk between first and second light pole.

Continue to mosey, probably another exercise in there.  Right at pool towards Martha Rivers trail. A few burpees by the pool parking lot by request.

Take the trail to Martha Rivers, end up at the hill towards the back of the park.  Triple nickel, MC x 5 (not enough reps to do a whole lot of anything), Imperial walker squats at the top.  Lunge walk up the hill, mosey down the hill.

Mosey to the picnic shelter.  1 round of dips, step ups and derkins.

Mosey to playground for some kind of variation of Dora.  Partner up.  20 pull ups, 40 merkins, 60 squats.  Partner 1 does 1/2 of required while partner 2 does EZ Rider’s favorite, flutter kicks.  A little confusion from poor instruction.  Rinse, collect thoughts and repeat.

Mosey back to Pelican’s with an exercise or two along the way, I think…

Watts Up informed YHC that the workout was not Turtleman-esque at all.  I guess we’ll have to get the Turtleman back on the schedule if you want one of those!

announcements, COT, namerama.

Good work, Men.

Mighty sequoia trees tower hundreds of feet in the air and can withstand intense environmental pressures.  Lightning can strike them, fierce winds can blow, and forest fires can rage around them.  But the sequoia endures, standing firm, only growing stronger through the trials.

One of the secrets to the strength of this giant tree is what goes on below the surface.  Unlike many trees, they reach out and interlock their roots with the sequoias around them.  Each becomes empowered and reinforced by the strength of each others.

The secret to the sequoia is also the key to maintaining a strong, healthy marriage.  A couple that faces problems alone is more likely to fall apart during rough times.  However, the ones who interlock their lives in a network of other strong marriages radically increase their chances of surviving the fiercest of storms. It is crucial that a husband and wife pursue godly advice, healthy friendships, and experienced mentors.

Everyone needs wise counsel throughout life.  Wise people constantly seek it and gladly receive it.  Fools never ask for it and then ignore it when it’s given to them.

As the Bible so clearly explains, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel” (Proverbs 12:15).

Gaining wise counsel is like having a detailed road map and a personal guide while traveling on a long, challenging journey.  It can be the difference between continual success or the destruction of another marriage.  It is vital that you invite strong couples to share the wisdom they have gained through their own successes and failures.

Why waste years of your life learning painful lessons when you could discover those same truths during a few hours of wise counsel?  Why not cross the bridges others have built?  Wisdom is more valuable than gold.  Not receiving it is like letting priceless coins pass through your fingers.

Good marriage mentors warn you before you make a bad decision.  They encourage you when you are ready to give up. And they cheer you on as you reach new levels of intimacy in your marriage.

Do you have an older couple or a friend or a friend of the same gender you can turn to for good advice, for prayer support, and for regular accountability checkups?  Do you have someone in your life who shoots straight with you?

You and your spouse need these types of friends and mentors on a consistent basis.  The Bible says, “Encourage one another day after day … so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).  Too often we can isolate ourselves from others.  If we are not careful, we could push away the people who love us the most.

You must guard yourself against the wrong influencers.  Everyone has an opinion and some people will encourage you to act selfishly and leave your mate in order to pursue your own happiness.  Be careful about listening to advice from people who don’t have a good marriage themselves.

If your marriage is hanging by a thread or already heading for a divorce, then you need to stop everything and pursue solid counseling as quickly as possible. Call a pastor, a Bible-believing counselor, or a marriage ministry today.  As awkward as it may initially be to open up your life to a stranger, your marriage is worth every second spent and every sacrifice you will make for it. Even if your marriage is fairly stable, you’re in no less need of honest, open mentors – people who can put wind in your sails and make your marriage even better.

How do you pick a good mentor?  You look for a person who has the kind of marriage you want.  You look for a person whose heart for Christ comes first before everything else.  You look for someone who doesn’t live by his or her opinions but by the unchanging Word of God.  And more times than not, this person will likely be delighted you asked for help.  Start praying for God to send this person into your life.  Then pick a time to meet and talk.

If this doesn’t sound too important to you, it would be a good idea to ask yourself why.  Do you have something to hide?  Are you afraid you will be embarrassed?  Do you think your marriage is exempt from needing outside help?  Does diving into a river of positive influence not appeal to you?  Don’t be the captain of another Titanic divorce by ignoring the warning signs around you when you could have been helped.

Here’s an important reminder from Scripture: “Each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).  This appointment is unbreakable.  And though we’re all ultimately responsible for the way we approach it, we can surely stand as much help as others can give.  It might just be the relational influence that takes your marriage from mediocre to amazing.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.  – Proverbs 15:22

Today’s Dare

Find a marriage mentor – someone who is a strong Christian and who will be honest and loving with you.  If you feel that counseling is needed, then take the first step to set up an appointment.  During this process, ask God to direct your decisions and discernment.

ATTENTION ALL PAX (no grinches)….

Saturday, December 7 presents a unique opportunity for the PAX of Gaston County to come together to support Operation Sweet Tooth for the 4th year. OST is the organization created by F3 Olive, who lost his daughter to an illness in 2016 but out of the loss created the campaign that carries on her memory by giving to others. In this season of giving, F3 Gastonia will once again partner with the Gastonia Boys and Girls Club to make this Christmas a little brighter. This year we plan to support both the West Gastonia and Dallas Boy’s and Girl’s clubs. Below is a list of items recommended to donate. Cash and gift cards are welcomed as well.

Read more here about Christina Marie Latini and Operation Sweet Tooth. Also find out more about the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Gaston.
We plan to deliver the gifts to the Gastonia and Dallas Boys & Girls Club in person. It’s always good to have as many PAX as possible to be present to present presents (yep… I did that again!). More details to come on date and time for delivering our gifts to the kids.

Gifts will be collected at all workouts on Saturday December 7. If you can’t make the workout and want to contribute, track down Bandit. Please find some time in the next 2 weeks to do some shopping and bring your gifts to your favorite workout.

Recommended Gifts…

• Basketball, Football, Soccer Ball, (Sport Balls)
• Legos
• Fidget Spinners
• Scooter
• Learning Games Ages 1st – 5th
• Books/Reading 1st – 5th
• Math Books 1st – 5th Grade
• Anything About Science
• Ninja Turtle Toys
• Baby Dolls and Clothes, Barbie Dolls
• Nail Sets, Nail Polish, Bead Sets
• Cooking and Backing Set
• Mine Craft
• Remote Control Car
• Thomas Train
• Walkie Talkie
• Arts and Craft Sets
• Board Games
• Stuffed Animals

Contact Bandit with any questions.

It was dark. Misting rain. It was daggone wet. Extremely wet. But, unlike Shelby it wasn’t freezing arse cold.

Time to start. Sometime today Sister Act.

We pledged. We did side straddle hops in cadence with full claps on top and hips.

Mosey to tennis court to play in the puddles. On your six 50 LBC in cadence.  Since your bottom is soaked flip flop for hand release merkins. Who hates Tom Brady? 12 something’s were called. Who hates the Buckeyes? Something else was called. 50 Moroccan Nightclubs in cadence. Who hates the tarheels? 23 burpees for MJ. Who hates the Yankees? 28 SSH. Bear crawl and crab walk. Dang Q is pitifully slow and really bad form at crabwalk. Mosey back to line. Plank for Q to finish thanks Sparky. 50 Flutters in cadence. Squats. Hand release burpees. Zombie walk halfway across courts. Mosey to far end.

Somewhere around this time daybreak came and the drizzle began. Gomer appeared.

Every pax took 2 turns at calling out exercises in cadence.  Or not. MNC, suicides, Hillbilly squats, Imperial walker squats, 8 count body builders, merkins, LBC, SSH, karaoke, laps, burpees, stupid crap from Broke, calf raises, shoulder taps, BTTW, hipslappers, stupid crap from HIPAA, crab walk, and I have forgotten the others. Q fail.

Mosey back to flag, finish with monkey humpers and mercifully time expires. No that is not my prescription list Sister Act.

Prayers for Sparky family members, HIPAA mom, each other,  surely there were other requests spoken or unspoken.

Announcements SFN Christmastown 5k, Operation Sweet Tooth,  Santa Hustle,  and Christmas party.

YHC took us out in prayer. Thanks for the opportunity to Q.

No velcro shoes were harmed while performing these activities.

I like rucking.  I got a hole in my sack and my plate fell out.  I wanted to lose weight so I spent money on shoes instead of a pack and now I’m running.  I like to run.

We ran. some ran farther than others.  It was cold.  Glad the Mc’s bathroom was open.

That is all.