Author: billbass

  • Cinco de Mayo with Party Hats

    F3, the Knoll, 5-5-2018, uphill in reverse, IMG_8181

     

    By: Money Cat

    The Scene:  The Knoll

    Conditions: 72° overcast and soon to be festive.

     

    Money Cat arrived at the Knoll for 6:30 to plant the F3 shovel along with the stars and stripes. The gringos began arriving one by one around 6:45. By 7AM everyone had arrived and it was time to begin.

    Welcome: 11 men posted.

    Disclaimer:

    “I am not a professional trainer and have never claimed to be.

    You are participating at your own risk.

    You are responsible for your own well-being.

    You are here voluntarily, and you are not paying to be here. Although you do receive payment in the gift of fitness, fellowship and encouragement.

    Know your limits and do the best you can; all exercises are suggestions and can be modified

    If you are still sore by Tuesday morning please understand that nothing is wrong….it’s completely natural to feel that way! You’ve done the workout correctly.”

    After the disclaimer Money Cat advised the hombres that today was a special day because it was his first time to Q an F3 workout and it happened to be Cinco de Mayo. Money Cat had planned in advanced to make this workout a celebration of the Mexico national holiday by pulling out his garbage bag of tricks and passing out straw hats purchased from a local party store. There was laughing and smiling around knowing what these muchacho’s would look like. Money Cat pulled out a much larger yellow hat. He felt proud and authoritative placing it on his head. He wanted his nino’s to know who was in charge. Money Cat has a special ability of ESP(N) and one of the caballero’s was thinking Money Cat looked like the tall man with the yellow hat in the Curious George books. Thankfully Money Cat chose not to publicly add to this uno gringo’s workout…but payback is coming!

    Warm-a-Rama:

    The men mosey’d to the sundial. Money Cat explained in celebration of Cinco de Mayo being a date with a 5, every exercise will be multiplied by 5. Basically everything would be 25 reps.

    Don Quixotes (old school Windmills) – 25

    Jumping Jack’s – 25

    Dips – 25

    At this time during our workout at the end of our dips an elderly man was walking through our workout. He got to the end of the sundial and collapsed. Immediately our men were attending to his need for help. The men spoke to him to make sure he was ok and there were no serious injuries. After what seemed like the longest minute or two our guys helped him up slowly. The old timer said he was ok and was good to walk. Money Cat pointed out how proud it was of the men rushing to this mans’ need for help…its what all men are called to do.

    Arm Circles Forward – 25

    Arm Circles Backward – 25 (The Money Cat in his keen sense of awareness, detected groaning’s.)

    Inclined Merkins – 25

    Mexican Dips – 25

    Cinco Quads

    Lil mosey down the hill over the walk bridge and stopped at the bottom of the second hill. Once Money Cat (playing the weekly role of the 6th) arrived he announced the workout. Money Cat really enjoyed the activity Snack Pack introduced several weeks ago to the guys. Backwards walking up to the top of the hill and mosey back down to the bottom. Five times the guys would perform this activity and at the end of each rep the guys had a choice of their exercise starting at one and building up to five after each rep. The Money Cat gladly allowed the men to lap him. Money Cat’s legs are short but his heart is that of a lion with an ocean size of courage!!! He was glad to watch these men execute the routine.

    El Grande Event: 

     

    The men were ordered to mosey over the walk bridge and climb the hill and report back to the sundial for El Grande workout. Once again the humble Money Cat let the men go first and he followed behind as the 6th. Arriving at the sundial the men were told to come closer inside the sundial to hear the instructions. Money Cat explained the next activity is actually named Cards of Death from the F3 list of exercises but Money Cat felt the name was not appropriate considering the activity promoted good health. So, the name has been changed to Cards of Health. A normal deck of cards (with extra face cards and four extra jokers) is needed for this physical activity. Each of the men are to draw a card, multiple the number cards by five and mosey to the other sundial to the right or left of the main sundial, complete the activity listed on the card and mosey or walk back to the main sundial for another card. The activity is over when all the cards have been completed.

     

    The cards are as followed:

     

    Twos – mosey to the spot, perform 10 burpee’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Threes – mosey to the spot, perform 15 merkin’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Fours – mosey to the spot, perform 20 lunges, mosey or walk back.

     

    Fives – mosey to the spot, perform 25 Don Quixote’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Sixes – mosey to the spot, perform 30 LBC’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Sevens – mosey to the spot, perform 35 imperial walkers, mosey or walk back.

     

    Eights – mosey to the spot, perform 40 arm circles (20 forward, 20 backward), mosey or walk back.

     

    Nines – mosey to the spot, perform 45 arm forward claps, mosey or walk back.

     

    Tens – mosey to the spot, perform 50 we are not worthy’s, mosey or walk back.

    (It was suggested the 8, 9 and 10 card activities could be done while running to the spot.)

     

    Jack – mosey to the spot while doing the Al Gore, perform 11 Al Gore’s and mosey or walk back.

     

    Queen – skip to the spot, perform 12 chorus line leg kicks, mosey or walk back.

     

    King – horse trot to the spot, perform 13 Bobby Hurley’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Ace – mosey to the spot flapping arms like a bird, perform 14 squats, mosey or walk back.

     

    Jokers – goofball run to the spot, perform 15 goofballs, mosey or walk back.

     

    Mary:

    After finishing the Cards of Health the men were instructed to mosey backwards to the shovel flag. Time was creeping away from us so there was only time enough for one Mary to spell our F3 names with our legs while laying down. Someone pointed out that 2 shoes had the easiest task of writing out a #2 and holding his foot up.

    Count-o-Rama

    Name-o-Rama

    F3, the Knoll, 5-5-2018, uphill in reverse, IMG_8181

  • Soggy Bottom Boys at The Knoll

    Conditions: Mild temperatures, Wet, Damp, Humid, overcast. Although the rain stopped there was plenty of standing water so we could get our shoes and backsides soaked.

    ***Great post exercise story below too.  One new FNG on the way!***

      

     

    After getting over our disappointment that the rain had stopped we moseyed to the sundial for warmups consisting of Abe Vigodas, Austin Ass Kickers, 21’s and Bat Wings

    Following warm ups, we descended the Knoll to come up the other side doing lunges. The purpose of the lunges was to make the group look like Zombies from the Walking Dead. It worked.

    Assembling on the rugby pitch for Bearway to Heaven with Merkin Ladder, Q neglected to instruct the PAX to do a bear crawl between Burpee and Merkin intervals so the group just ran the first set. Rocket and Yes Dear were going fast and appearing to enjoy it so bear crawl requirement was reinstated for subsequent sets.

    Captain Thor Big Boy Sit Ups were next followed by a mosey down the Knoll so we could run up backwards 5 times doing the Bernie Sanders. Bern set in after rep 2

    Next, we moseyed to a spot with adequate mud and water for the Crunchy Frog exercise. Q’s cadence at this point sounded like a frog.

    Ending with an All You Got Run showed we had left it all somewhere back on the field with Moneycat’s car keys.

     

    Add-on by Worms:

    In the rain, lakes and mud Moneycat’s key fob fell out of his zipped jacket pocket somehow.  Most of the Pax had already left but the few remaining, Snackpack, Two-Shoes, Moneycat and Worms searched every inch of the park where we travelled and especially where he’d laid his jacket that morning but no luck. We called a known auto locksmith, Tigers Locksmith,  (an on-the-road key programming shop) but he wasn’t answering at the moment so I left a message.  We then called Popalock and they had someone on the way.   Then the Tiger Locksmith called back and said that “if you don’t have the fob then you still can’t start that car without the fob and the key”.   Fooey.    So I called the Popalock and said not to bother coming since Popalock could only open the car door to get Moneycat’s key but he’d still be stuck there since it was the key fob somewhere out there in those 96 acres of grassy knoll.   Popalock asked about the kind of car so they knew that but they failed to tell us that their guy could only get into the car and could not give him a way to drive the car.  I told Moneycat that we were not going to push him home while his engine was off and his transmission in park.  If it was in neutral I’m sure the 3 of us could grab that rear bumper and push Moneycat home since its only 12 miles to his home, but not with the wheels locked. I said no way.   So Drew of Tiger Locksmith showed up and he and Moneycat had a great time.  Turns out Drew Mulvanah is a Brother and is from New Zealand and he is very interested in F3.   He’s supposed to post with us soon!  Good work Moneycat for EHing the new man!  What a way to make friends other than over a beer!

  • Dagwood Qs his first Pax with dignity. Colloseum, Perkins Road Park, 3-28-18

    Welcomed everyone to the gloom.  Many thanks to Dagwood and his first time Q!  He did a great job. I’m still sore.  9 Pax this morning

    Mosey 1 lap around the parking lot

    Butt kicks

    High knees

    Rotate shoulders front then back

    Horse Step in place

    Elbows out, touch down to opposite knee (bring knee up, works abs)

    Arms out, high knees

    Mosey

    Global warming

    Squat prayer

    Freak nasties 5 regular, 5 right leg up, 5 left leg up

    Suicide drill – side step, touch hand to ground

    Moving push-ups, 3 right then 3 left

    3 Pushups – sprint up stairs – 3 burpees – sprint down stairs – do 5x

    Mosey

    Catch me if you can

    Mosey – last in line runs to front till everyone has gone

    Mountain climbers

    Jane Fonda each side

    American hammer

    Namorama. No FNGs today. Issues and concerns. Prayer and encouragement.

  • Megadad introduces “coupons”. Ug, ug, me man

    3/3/18 F3BR Back Blast

     

    CHECK OUT THE VIDEO LINK BELOW!  Thumbnail may not be present.

     

    AO: The Knoll

    Q: MegaDad

    11 Pax: F3 BR, the Knoll, coupon throwing, VIDEO, 2-3-2018, IMG_6764

    I think CAT5 had an excuse, but fastball and the FNGs were fart sacking.

    It was a cool 49 degrees when we started, which was very refreshing. The cool weather also meant that Tiger Bait’s short shorts were not to be seen…also refreshing.

    -10 incline Merkens to start

    -Modified mosey to the sundial

        That is, once you arrive, run backwards to the 6th man and then sprint back to the sundial.

    I struggled at first at the sundial. What’s the count?  What exercise am I doing? That’s what I get for skipping Wednesdays.

    -10 side straddle hop

    -10 wall dips (freak nasty- when I dip you dip we dip)

    -15 Pistol squats

    Repeat the previous 3

    Next we did a spin on ring of fire. Pun intended. In a walking side squat, rotate in a circle until the Q gives an order (sit down, on your back, Merkin, Burpee, touch the outside of circle, touch Center of circle, change direction of rotation) then back to the squat walk. I think I milked this exercise for 10 minutes.  we finished with everybody doing one of each on their own.

    I felt better at this point and most were feeling the burn. Time for the hills.

    Modified mosey to the top of the hill

    -Down the hill (up/downs on Q count)

    -up the hill (up/downs on Q count)

    -Bear crawl or lawnmower down the hill

    -Bear crawl up the hill

    -modified mosey to the flag with Tapanga  out in front with me

    FETCH

    This is inspired by worms bringing cinder blocks and Tiger bait (who was down to his short shorts by this point) who brought logs last week.  

    -Grab a frisbee, football, basketball, or tennis ball and racket and a partner.

    -one throws/kicks/hits the thing, while the other fetches.

    -attempt to complete your age appropriate burpee count (20 – (decade of age x 2)= age appropriate burpee). Several peoples heads exploded at this point. Not that complicated though. If you’re 65, then 20-(6×2)=8 burpees. If your 24, then 20-(2×2)=16 burpees. If you can’t do your Burpee‘s before they get back, do it second time.

    Missile toes made me do it twice. I returned the favor.

    -Long mosey to the creek for fun with rocks (coupons).

    -find the rock you like and lineup

    -chest pass the rock as far as you can, pick it up and chest pass back. Six total throws

    -Right arm shotput, six throws

    -carry the coupon to the top of the hill

    -left arm shotput, six throws

    ROCK and roll

    In a line, on the count of three everybody throws the rock down the hill. Longest rock is done. Carry rock to the creek and plank or 6” until all finish.

    Everyone else carries the rock back up the hill for another round. Total 12 rounds. Bow down had a 5lb rock so he finished first. Workhouse has a 50lb triangle that wouldn’t roll but still managed to beat out several people. Snack Pack and Worms almost had to bring in the refs at one point. Double respect and respect for those two. Tapanga and rocket were the last two standing. Tapanga threw it further but rocket beat him back to the creek. Plus he is probably double tapanga’s age.

    -Mosey to benches.

    -box jump 90 second challenge

    70 for yours truly.

    T clap for Rockets 50

    Tiger bait did 0, but was there in spirit.  

    Mary’s (lame attempt at it)

    -bench leg lifts, 10 straight, 8 at 45 degrees and 5 at 90 degrees. No one got 5

    All out sprint back to flag. Then we died.  name o rama and Bow Down closed us in prayer. Pray that he gets through busy week with lots of tests/papers.

    Until next time men…

    -MegaDad (David Mustain)

  • F3 Baton Rouge, AO#2. Perkins Road Park, 2-7-2018, 5:30AM

    This is our first meeting for the AO#2 in Baton Rouge.   ALL had a fine experience in the dark gloom at 0530 this morning.    Several new and exciting exercises this morning. Thanks to CAT5 for the creativity!

    Not so used to running in the dark like this but it was fun. Tried to dodge all the water puddles from last night’s monsoon season.  More rain happened shortly after we finished at 0630.  All but Worms and Gabriel had to head to work so Worms and Gabriel had coffee and donuts at Ed’s Donut shop near by. Gabriel is the FNG today.

    We had our first un-announced visitor from another AO today.   Jiffy worked out with us. He is here on business from BIRMINGHAM, AL.  THANKS to Jiffy for working out with us and giving us pointers on operating the group.  Fine young man.  He is a specialty industrial lubricants specialist and works in the Sugar milling industry and other industries.

    Exercise Cad/OYO Reps Start Time End Time Notes

    Mosey x2 Around OYO 5:30 AM Around the baseball diamond x2. End at Home Plate.

    Diamond Bear Crawl OYO Bear crawl around the bases. 1,2,3,4 Burpees at each Base.

    Ring of Fire Cad 10 In a circle, take turns of 10 merkins while others plank.

    SSH Cad 20

    Black Jack (modified) OYO 5 Cross the baseball field, 1 Merkin, cross back, 1 Burpee.

    Mosey to Parking Bars OYO

    Freak Nasties Cad 10 Dips on Parking Bars

    Incline Merkins Cad 10 Merkins on Parking Bars

    Freak Nasties Cad 8 Dips on Parking Bars

    Incline Merkins Cad 8 Merkins on Parking Bars

    Freak Nasty Cad 4 Dips on Parking Bars

    Lt Dan (“he’s got no legs”) Cad 10 10 Count – Squat, Lunge L, Lunge R, Squat, Calf Raise

    Black Snake 1 All Mosey. Last man weaves thru to Front. (like Indian Run)

    6MOM

    Mosey to Parking Deck OYO

    Homer to Marge Cad 10 Lie flat on Six. 4 Count. Lift feet 6in. Raise to vertical. Back to 6in.

    LBFC (LB Flutter Crunches) Cad 10 On Six. Lift feet. Flutter legs while doing LBC with Torso.

    Leg Lifts Cad 12 Lie flat on Six. 4 Count. Feet Up, Out, In, Down.

    Manatee (not Superman) Cad 15 Superman position. Touch left hand to left foot, alternate.

    <By Rocket> Cad 10 Rocket called a Mary exercise that I cannot remember.

    Mountain Climbers Cad 15 6:10 AM From pushup position, run in place.

  • Baton Rouge has a name! “The Knoll”

    The Scene:  The Knoll

    PAX: 12 — Rocket, Worms, Cat5, Workhorse, MoneyCat, Two Shoes, Bow Down, Fastball, MegaDad, FNG, FNG, FNG

    Conditions: 35 degrees. A lot of clouds. A little breeze. Chance of rain? Never.

    Welcome

    Disclaimer

    Warm-a-Rama:

    *Worms took a pic

    First day back after official launch. It’s Super Bowl Saturday, so we celebrated accordingly. We also celebrated global warming (cause its still cold in BR) and the winter Olympics.

    • Capri Lap – a little mosey.
    • Annie’s – 10X each arm
    • Al Gores – 10X.
    • Nancy Kerrigan’s -10x each leg. Go Merica
    • Bobby Hurley’s – 15x
    • Side Straddle Hops – 20x
    • Burpees – 5 on own – We did the clap, Hawgcycle.

    *Worms took some pictures

    The Thang: 

    The PAX moseyed to sundial. Formed circle and performed Global Warming (i.e. Al Gores and moving in a circle in unison). During movement, we also threw in 15 merkins, 20 Bobby Hurley’s, and 10 more merkins.

    *Rocket gave us a countdown. I was wheezing a little.

    Stayed at sundial and worked the pecs and tris.

    • 15 merkins
    • 10 freak nasty
    • 15 incline merkins
    • 10 freak nastys

    *Worms may have taken some more pics.

    Mosey’d to the football field. Bow Down, dressed in shorts and tee, was finally warm.

    We partnered up.

    One partner planked at goal line, the other partner did sprint/fast run 110 yds to other goal post.  Jogged back. We called them One Tens. Once back, partner switched and we washed, rinse, repeated. Our goal was 5 (each) plus 1, cause of Tom Brady’s super bowl rings.  We did 5. So, bet on the Eagles. Sorry, Giselle.  (I raced MegaDad on #5. He won. No excuses, but something wasn’t right (deflated?). I’ll get him next time.)

    *Worms met a fella

    Another mosey to warm-a-rama spot. We did tunnel of love.  Each person stands across from a partner forming tunnel with their arms.  One man bear crawls through the tunnel to the end and gets in position.  We go all the way thru until everyman has felt the love.

    *Worms took some more pics.

    Mary:

    Rocket led us for the 6 min Mary.

    • LBCs 20x
    • Jane Fondas – 10x each leg
    • ABCs – We laid on our backs with legs elevated and (tried to) write the alphabet with our feet. We did a few. But the PAX called out numbers, letters, strange grunts, and many were writing in short hand. Rocket stopped the misery.
    • Double Mountain Climbers – 10x – My ab either loved or hated this one. Hard to tell really
    • Mountain Climbers – 10x – FNG said these were Shangeauxs. Or maybe he said something else.  But it sounded like shangeauxs.
    • OOOO Marys – 10x. Thanks TP from Houston.

    *Worms definitely took some more pics. Maybe a video or two.

    Count-o-Rama

    Name-o-Rama

    Welcome – Shangeaux, Nancy the Destroyer (T-Claps for being out there with a new knee), and Gadwood

     

    COT / BOM:

    *The fella Worms met showed up for the COT. Our next FNG?

     

    Announcements:

    • We’re meeting at Kenilworth Park on Wednesday at 5:30am.
    • At Coffeeteria we named our AO The Knoll.

     

     

  • Megadad Qs us to cross-country exhaustion. Jan. 20, 2018

    Backblast.  Jan. 20, 2018

     

    Megadad the Q today gave us a run for our lives, or maybe a destiny of a really good nap that afternoon.  This was a running day and filled with a variety of new exercises blended with a couple of familiar ones.

     

    At sundial we did

     

    Side straddle hop

    Incline Mercins

    Side straddle hop

    Wall dips

    Side straddle hop

    Heismans

    Side straddle hop

    High knee jumps

     

    Then we repeated

     

    Then we did long mosie to chin up bars.

     

    We did rotations of the following stations with burpie as the cadence.

     

    Pistol squats (one leg)

    Burpie

    Incline Merican

    Pull up / let down (for those that can’t pull up)

    Step ups

     

    Everyone did once then we repeat so everyone did each station twice.

     

    Using lowest bench on the west set of bleachers.

    High knee step left

    high knee step right

    Using lowest bench on the east set of bleachers.

    High knee step left

    high knee step right

    overhang leg lift using bleachers (could use a table or a bench)

    mosey to next set of bleachers and repeat

    Mozy from the football field toward the creek but travelled in a new way.

    jog x right side

    jog x left side

    jog x karaoke right

    jog x karaoke left

    jog x high knees

    jog butkickers

    rest

    jog and back side 2 side

    jog x backward and stride

  • Backblast, Baton Rouge, Dec. 23, 2017

    12-23-17
    Josh Black Fastball
    Rocket. Dirk Higginbotham, Rocket
    Devon Lajaunie, Propeller head
    Kevin McCarty, Wizard
    Darin-Hoosier-Daddy Travis

    Mosey to central brick circle
    Shoulder tap. Get in Plank position. Rest on left hand only. Touch rt shoulder with right hand. Do left side.

    Squats
    Ballerinas – Toe Squats
    Mary
    Al Gore
    Alabama butt kickers
    Mosey around the track from circle to building clockwise

    Crab walk
    Merkin
    Derkin
    Flutter kicks
    Tin snips (touch feet together)
    Scissor kicks

  • F3 BatonRouge laughs at the cold 30F

    • Coffeeteria & Bear crawl tunnel

      7 locals whip the ice, and the cinder block COUPONS!

    Pax

    CAT5
    Megadad
    Worms
    Rocket
    Fastball
    Propeller Head
    Workhorse

    Co-Qed by Fastball and Rocket.  They took the lead today and ran with it to the touchdown.

    Cool.

    Round 1. Arm Circle Forward.

    Arm Circle Backward.

    Side straddle hop.

    Forward lunge.

    Side straddle hop.

    Reverse lunge.

    Round 2. Overhead lunge with rock.

    (Rock=Block= Coupon!)

    Merkin feet on block.

    Row right with block.

    Row left with block.

    LBC with block.

    Overhead tricep with block.

    High knee with block overhead.

    Round 3 mosey.

    Squats LBC Burpee mountain climbers flutter kicks.

    Round 4 mosey.

    Burpee cotton picker Merkin ssh.

    Superman.

    Round 5 mosey to hill.

    20 Burpee total sets of 5.

    Up and down hill between sets.

    Round 6 LBC with block flutter kick with block.

    Russian twist with block.

    Tunnel of love.

    circle of trust.  All experienced Pax today

    advanced to Cofeeteria Starbucks Highland at I-10.   Fantastic events today

     

  • Backblast Baton Rouge, Dec. 30, 2017

    1 Kevin McCarty, Wizard
    2 Dirk Higginbotham, Rocket
    3 Megadaddy, David Mustain (CB&I)
    4 Hoosier-Daddy, Darin Travis
    5 Worms, Bill Bass
    6 Fastball, Josh Black (CB&I)

    Q: Worms and Darin co-leading mostly. Worms asked the group to consider being the Q and to consider exercises they would personally like to do today. Everyone had at least one suggested exercise and each man led his exercise as the Q. The various Q’s performances were exceptional. Found to be a good exercise to Q and lead the count as well. Note: Some of the exercises we did don’t follow the 1-2-3-1, 1-2-3-2… count method of many of the exercises so those exercises have to be better considered for how to count them.)

    Gave the disclaimer. Welcomed the men. Moseyed to the brick circle to begin exercises. Did 10 each of most exercises. We did a big variety of exercises today.

    Side straddle hop
    Burpee
    Derkin. (Declined Merkin)
    Mountain Climbers
    Lunges
    Regular Merkins
    Little baby crunch
    Arm rotations forward
    Arm rotations backward
    dead cockroach,
    shadow boxing,
    mayweathers,
    shoulder taps
    Mary(?) Lay on ground on back. Lift feet up about 6 inches. Spread feet apart and back together.
    Mary scissor style. Lay on ground on back. Lift feet up about 6 inches. Spread feet apart. Bring feet toward each other but let them pass each other in a scissor fashion.
    Superman. Lay face down. Extend hands forward, feet rear-ward. Lift hands and feet simultaneously and let them return to ground.

    Moseyed to the Foundry area (exercise bars)
    Divided into 3 groups.
    1 group did jumps over the squiggle bar,
    1 group did pull ups,
    1 group did step up/down onto/from round stool-looking pedestals
    1 group did inclined Merkins on the park bench
    10 each. A series of leg lifts or kicks. With the left leg, kick forward then kick out at a 45 degree angle then straight to the side and then kick backwards.  (Kicks at 12:00 then 10:30 then 9:00 and then 6:00)  Then do the right leg. Kicks at 12:00 then 1:30 then 3:00 and then 6:00) What did he call those?  Who was that who had us do that exercise? Fastball, Josh Black?

    Moseyed back to flag
    Did sit ups in groups of 2 with ankles interlocked. (Men face each other while sitting down, lock their feet together in alternate fashion. Do sit ups while your partner’s feet help hold your feet down.)

    Circle of Trust
    Asked for prayer requests
    Circled up
    Had group prayer. Each man prayed for his own need.

    Broke group. Collected flag and shovel.

    Rocket, Worms, Wizard and Fastball met at Starbucks Highland Rd. for a great time of general talk.