Tag: Grandma's House

  • Squats and Merks, Cardio and Mary – from Russo

    We did indeed reach down into the 60s this morning at Granny’s (67 to be more precise), where a Fantastic Pax of 4 gathered to start their day. Really good mumblechatter today revolving mainly around Cobra Kai, driver’s ed, gambling with quarters, and good Hulu shows about drugs, with a special appearance by the lunge vs. squat debate.

    Warm up (all IC, 10x)
    – Good mornings
    – Cherry pickers
    – Arm circles
    – Toe touches
    – Imperial walkers
    – Self love

    Thang

    40 seconds Tabata – taking turns among Pax choosing between “Squats and Merks” and “Cardio and Mary”, flip a coin to determine which one of the two, then roll dice to determine the actual exercise.

    Choices:
    Squats (Heads) and Merks (Tails)

    2 – Bobby Hurley’s Knerkins
    3 – Jump squats Wide
    4 – Sumo squats. Diamond
    5 – hallelujah squats Split
    6 – Deep squats Side to side
    7- Side to side squats Partner
    8 – Tuck Jump T merkins
    9 – Split squats Merkin (normal)
    10 – Narrow squats. Wild card
    11 – Wild Card Wide
    12 – In and out squats Hand release

    Cardio (Heads) and Mary (Tails)

    2 – High knees Hello Dollies
    3 – Butt kicks Box cutters
    4 – SSHs Rosalitas
    5 – Wild card. Flutter kicks
    6 – Seal jacks. LBCs
    7- Suicides Big boi sit-ups
    8 – Back pedals Wild card
    9 – Karaoke. Leg raises
    10 – Goof balls Gas pumps
    11 – Plank jacks Heels to heaven
    12 – Moroccan night clubs Circle ups

    As promised, there were no burpees and moseying was kept to a minimum (although just barely meeting the “minimum” standard after the suicides).

    COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer to close us out.

    Thanks for joining and reading. I’ll work on something even more complicated and with more props for next time.

    SYITG

  • Duck Duck Goose! – from Russo

    77 degrees to start this morning, which has YHC longing for the days when he is chastised for wearing short sleeves in 24 degree weather. Whatever God has been baking is done.

    But, after a particularly eventful last week, YHC was blessed to get a little normal in the form of a Granny’s visit, even if things were a little sideways this morning (e.g. Cowbell was on time and it was a late arriving crowd).

    Warmup (all 10x-15x IC)
    – Good mornings
    – Self love
    – Grass grabbers
    – Arm circles
    – Toe touches
    – Butt kicks

    Thang

    Duck Duck goose (T claps to Grover for first implementing the concept)

    Duck circle forms at the stage, and the Goose is picked.

    Geese mosey to the pilot house/ other side of Granny’s to perform exercise assigned at the top.

    Ducks – Plank
    Geese – 20 merkins

    Ducks – Al Gore
    Geese – 25 SSH

    Ducks – Squats
    Geese – 20 crab cakes

    Ducks – Shoulder Taps
    Geese – 5 Krakken burpees

    Ducks – Peter Parker’s
    Geese – 10 SMCs

    Ducks – LBCs
    Geese – 10 leg raises

    Ducks – Side lunges
    Geese – 15 star jumps

    Ducks – Penguins
    Geese – 20 gas pumps

    Ducks – Chill jacks
    Geese – 25 monkey humpers

    Ducks – Big boy sit-ups
    Geese – 30 scissor kicks

    Ducks – Butt kicks
    Geese – 10 kneerkins / wide merkins

    Ducks – Lunges
    Geese – 5 burpees

    Ducks – Apollo Ohnos
    Geese – 20 Apollo Ohnos

    Ducks – Cherry Pickers
    Geese – 10 Bulgarian Split Squats

    Ducks – Mountain climbers
    Geese – 20 step ups

    COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer to close us out. Reminder that Hammer’s Bible study (this Wednesday) and the September 11 5k (on 9/10) are both ongoing or approaching. Check Slack for more info.

    I’ve got Q on Saturday for a cakewalk, and there’s a very good possibility there will be a breakout IPC group if masochism is more your speed.

    Special intention for JV and his family.

    Great work today, gents, and as always, thanks for joining. SYITG

  • 3 for 11’s and 7’s – from Russo

    YHC has to wait another week to provide a weather report that doesn’t include “humid” or “hot and sticky” or “muggy”. Pax of 3 this morning at Granny’s.

    Warmup (10x to 16x all IC)
    – High knees
    – Good mornings
    – Arm circles
    – Grass grabbers
    – Butt kicks

    Thang
    I had a developed plan for next week that I debated pulling forward, but it leant itself to a larger number, so we went with a backup plan of the ever trusty 11s (or 7s in some cases), with a mosey or side shuffle between.

    Round 1 (10 and 1): ST merkins and Nut crackers (2 is 1)

    Round 2 (10 and 1): Jump squats and Apollo Ohnos

    Round 3 (6 and 1): Freak Nastys and Step ups (2 is 1)

    Round 4 (6 and 1): Big boi sit-ups and leg raises

    We wrapped it up with a minute of planking and 10 chill jacks just for fun.

    COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer to close us out. Reminder that Hammer’s Bible study (this Wednesday) and the September 11 5k (on 9/10) are both ongoing or approaching. Check Slack for more info.

    Good work, men, and thanks for joining. SYITG

  • 1-2-3 Go! – from Russo

    Surprise surprise it was hot and humid this morning for a pax of 5.

    Warmup (10x – 16x, all IC)
    – Sealjacks
    – Self love
    – Toe touches
    – Hillbillies
    – Good mornings
    – High knees

    Thang

    1-2-3 GO! (Exercise one, move up a column, exercise two, move up a column, exercise 3…), then up, around, and back down the pilot house)

    Rounds 1 and 2: Absolution

    1 groiner
    2 Mahktar N’dyiae’s
    3 chill jacks

    Round 3 and 4: 8 count body builders

    1 half burpee (ignoring the merkin)
    2 burpees
    3 plank jacks

    Rounds 5 and 6: Front and Back
    1 Crab cake
    2 Parker Peters
    3 Big boi sit-ups

    Round 7: Prey to Predator
    Crab walk one column
    Duck walk two columns
    Bear crawl three columns

    Rounds 8 and 9: Famous People
    1 Kneel Diamond / 1 Apollo Ohno
    2 SMCs
    3 Bobby Hurley’s

    No time for Mary today. COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer to close us out. Reminder that Hammer’s Bible study (this Wednesday) and the September 11 5k (on 9/10) are both quickly approaching. Check Slack for more info.

    Thanks for joining. SYITG

  • Part 1 of Super 21! – from Shooter

    Having signed up a few weeks back to Q Granny’s and the upcoming A1c YHC decided to pull out an old one from the Exicon.. Knowing that the allotted 45 mins would not be enough time for even the fiercest of competitors in Cowbell and Steve to finish YHC gave the PAX an opportunity to commit to Friday’s A1c for a to be continued Super 21…

    YHC was quite impressed with the number of men who took the 💊 on this Tuesday Gloom..
    Arriving a little early to the AO some good chatter was already occurring about the recent ISI thrown out by Zoolander.. Much kudos to HIM as he clearly exemplifies amazing leadership in the way he EHs and challenges the PAX..

    With the arrival of more PAX the time work was upon us, so we jumped into a brief warmup of 10IC Grass grabbers, Torso twists, Cherry Pickers, Arm circles forward/reverse and Imperial walkers..
    PAX then moseyed to the Treen education center where the details of the Super 21 were administered..
    Rounds 1-7 8 count body builders, plank jacks and squats.. 21 LBCs Moseyed loop around the center between each round..
    Rounds 8-14 Merkins, Mountain climbers and alternating leg lunges 2/1. 21 Crunchy 🐸..
    Rounds 15-21 to be continued….

    Most PAX ended around the 12th to13th round with Cowbell and Steve getting through the 14th..

    Moseyed back to the flag with closing of Mary.

    Plank position held with alternating left/right arm high followed by 5 each side Nolan Ryan’s, Up/down plank to chill cut and finished 10 Super mans OYO…

    Count, announce, COT

    Thanks to Fletch for the closeout in prayer..

    Lots of activities on the calendar…

    Till the next Gloom 👊🏼👍🏼✌🏼!!!

  • Rolling Bones – from Russo

    Way too hot and muggy for a Tuesday morning, but with the unnecessary humidity came a glimmer of hope, provided by Jose: the recently recaptured flag, signed by multiple of us and just begging for more John Hancocks.

    For those keeping track at home:
    (1) No, I did not arrive with shoes on.
    (2) Yes, Cowbell did arrive on time.
    (3) Yes, Chewy was back for what I hope becomes a semi-regular occurrence.
    (4) No, there was not a great deal of running, despite what JV might opine.

    Warmup (all 10x-20x IC)
    – Sealjacks
    – Air presses
    – High knees
    – Self love
    – Grass grabbers
    – Toe touches
    – Good mornings

    Thang

    YHC brought out the dice again to give each of us an opportunity to craft the beatdown (and in the case of JV, roll doubles constantly, which meant twice the reps).

    Relatively simple format, varying moseys, backpedals, and side shuffles between blocks, then when we stopped it was 10 reps of each exercise based on the number of the roll. A double roll? Double the reps to 20

    Roll of 2 – 8 count body builders
    3 – Monkey Humpers
    4 – Leg raises
    5 – Sideswipe merkins
    6 – Big boy sit-ups
    7 – Hallelujah squats
    8 – Gas pumps
    9 – Pew kneels – 4 count, drop to one knee, then the other, one leg up, then the next
    10 – Groiners
    11 – Merkins
    12 – Calf raises

    Pax finished the mosey just in time for COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer to close us out. Reminder that THIS FRIDAY is the A1C’s 2nd anniversary, and that both the St. Vincent 500 (August 13) and Hammer’s Bible study are quickly approaching. Check Slack for more info.

    Special prayers up for the teachers and students gearing up for school.

    If you’ve read this far, thank you. If you’ve read this far and joined this morning, even more thanks. I rarely want to pick my head up, turn off the alarm, let my feet hit the floor, and get dressed to sweat like crazy and often fight soreness and fatigue after. But every time I post, I remember why I do. Thanks, gents.

    SYITG

  • Independence Day After – from Russo

    This sounds like a broken record these days, but it was 78 degrees and HUMID at Granny’s this morning. What was new(ish) was the return of Cowbell (dare I say on time?), fresh off an amazing stretch of wedding/ national title / honeymoon, a Bird sighting, Bushwhacker and what has become his trusty walkie, and Akbar. They joined “regulars” Hammer, Steve, and YHC to close out Independence Day weekend in style with a 1776 themed beatdown. Doing a quick count of fingers, pax of 7 appeared to have all digits accounted for, so amateur firework festivities seemed to have gone well.

    Warmup (all 10x-20x IC)
    – seal jacks
    – cherry pickers
    – arm circles
    – grass grabbers
    – windmills
    – toe touches
    – imperial walkers

    Thang
    Varying exercises around the number 1776, with a mosey / back pedal / side shuffle jaunt sprinkled between every two rounds or so.

    1 8 count body builder
    7 wide merkins
    7 diamond merkins
    6 burpees

    17 merkins
    76 plank jacks

    17 jump squats
    76 shoulder taps (1 is 1)

    17 monkey humpers
    76 high knees (1 is 1)

    17 freak nastys
    76 calf raises

    17 durkins
    76 squats

    17 groiners
    76 SSHs

    17 urkins
    7/6 Bulgarian split squats
    7/6 step ups

    17 side squats (2 is 1)
    76 butt kicks

    Betsy Ross (Mary)
    17 leg raises
    76 flutter kicks (1 is 1)

    17 big boy sit-ups
    76 American hammers

    17 box cutters
    7 hello Dolly’s
    6 Rosalitas

    17 crunchy frogs
    76 SSHs

    COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer closed us out. Reminder that the Grarly Nutria (July 20) and St. Vincent 500 (August 13) are both quickly approaching. Check Slack for more info.

    Generally speaking, we take a lot of freedoms and blessings for granted, at least I know that I do. It’s easy to be distracted and go about our daily lives with its worries and chores and tasks and not take a minute to give thanks. On July 4th, I’m reminded of just how blessed I am to live in a country where, despite its flaws and fights, disagreements and ideologies, we are allowed to practice freedoms and have rights that others do not have. My challenge to all of us is that we take a minute to give thanks, reflect on how we’re blessed, and then go out and use that to provide good things for those around us.

    I appreciate each of you joining, pushing me to work harder and make myself better, and look forward to doing it again.

    Checking the notes from the pre-blast:
    1 – Minimal burpees (6, 7 if you count an 8 count bodybuilder): check!

    2 – minimal moseying, staying close to home base: check!

    3 – sweat: check!

    4 – math: check!

    5 – bats: check! (Although I only briefly caught a glimpse on the stage as we were moseying, no attacks noted)

    SYITG

  • Opposite Day – from Russo

    Fantastic Pax of 4 this morning at Granny’s, with temps slightly cooler (but no less humid). Early chatter revolved around vacations, new home projects, and various white powders. There was a tease of a theme, so YHC thought about kid’s games and how we might be able to incorporate into a beatdown to mix things up some.

    My head immediately went to “What do I remember doing or saying when I was younger?” Duck Duck Goose is still bouncing around in my brain, Tag is too much running and I didn’t want to be responsible for someone smacking their dome on a metal handrail or column, and Red Red Rover might get one of us killed when JV is sent right over.

    Moving on to phrases, “I know you are but what am I?” doesn’t really lend itself to a beatdown easily and “Takes one to know one” will be reserved for Rummel grads (Raider Pride!), but “Today is opposite day” does can be useful, so away we went with reverses and opposites, albeit very limited in creativity.

    Up Warm (All IC 10x – 20x)
    – Sealjacks
    – Windmills
    – Air presses
    – Toe touches
    – SSH
    – Imperial walkers

    Gnaht (Thang)
    Pax moseyed to the tunnel, but upon hearing “reverse”, we put it into reverse gear and back pedaled until YHC called “reverse” again.

    At the tunnel, it was 4 rounds of traversing the tunnel, side shuffles up and down, back pedal in the tunnel, with 10 plankjack shoulder taps on one side and 10 Parker Peters on the other.

    Mosey back was more of the same “reverse” game, alternating mosey and back pedal until we reached the bus stop, where Pax completed 10 IC Urkins, reversed grip to complete 10 IC freak nastys.

    A final mosey to start, where JV’s fright to simple pick between option “A” and “B” reared its head. His choice of A lead to a backwards climb up the pilot house and a backwards walk down, followed by crawl bears from one end of the columns to the other, 10 gas pumps/reverse crunches, and then reverse lunges back and ten more gas pumps. With about 90 seconds left, we planked it up until COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer closed us out.

    I gave some thought to upping the intensity of the theme by a backwards cadence (think 3…2…1 1!, 3…2…1 2!) but somewhere along the way the Spirit said “you all have enough trouble with cadence regularly, it’s best you keep it simple”.

    Thanks to those that joined, it was rather enjoyable and I look forward to expanding the theme on a future beatdown. Now: is that a true statement or a continuation of Opposite Day?

    SYITG

  • Uranus in Retrograde – from Steve

    Some weird planetary alignment threw us into an alternate universe this morning, and not a good one.

    Cowbell showed up on time (which should’ve been our first sign that things were askew), immediately souring JV’s intention to “live his life gloriously” while Cowbell was away for a week. As the smile dropped from JV’s face, it was immediately picked up by Cowbell who came frolicking (yeah, frolicking) in with a noticeable twinkle in his eye and a pep in his step. You might think this was due to his impending wedding bliss, but no – apparently there’s some sort of college baseball finals going on right now.

    Anyway, a super chatty warmorama caused YHC to abandon cadence counting for the first time in 5 years, before finally just calling it and heading to the stage for the intended circuit routine.

    Now the night before, Bushwacker had texted Jose and me that today – the first official day of summer (yeah, right) – there would be a dazzling planetary alignment: five planets in an arc, with the crescent moon situated somewhere in the middle. So, once in the grassy knoll at the foot of the stage, we looked up. But it was difficult to see anything beyond the thick swarm of bats that had suddenly blotted out the sky. Seriously, it was like Old Testament Egypt out at the amphitheater this morning.

    One grazed JV’s face, which prompted a quick swat and a, “Get outta here.” But when one buzzed Cowbell’s face, mid-jumping rope, he let out a howl and nearly fell off the stage. Not wanting to bring Ebola or SARS down to Key West for his wedding, Cowbell was not happy about these bats. (JV, though, happily added this incident, along with Cowbell’s tire pull efforts, to his list of ammo for those occasions when he needs to defend himself.)

    Oh yeah, and we were doing some exercises out there, too: jumping rope, curls, plank toe taps with resistance bands, freak nasties, flutters, planks, hand release merkins, squat thrusters, etc, with occasional runs hoping the swarm would dissipate.

    But bats were only the first plague that descended on us this morning. The second, and arguably worse, was mosquitos. I guess it didn’t help that we were lying around in the grass complaining instead of doing said exercises, but those suckers were eating us alive. Eventually, we had the sense to move to another area that had fans going.

    All in all, there was a lot of grumbling, and in a weird reversal that must’ve been due to Jupiter’s third moon ascending, it was everyone BUT Jose who was complaining. I’m telling you, bad omens all over the place at Granny’s this morning.

    Some things that we complained about: obviously, bats, mosquitos, proper jump rope technique (double jumps??), Bypass (ok, ok – Jose did contribute a little here), airline security lines, and Richard Simmons being the most important Brother Martin alum.

    YHC nearly went over because, apparently, time flies when you’re being attacked by nature and having a good gripe session. COT, nameorama, and Jose prayed us out, with intentions for Cowbells wedding and everyone’s safe travels down there.

    Reminder, a few CSAUP’s coming up: Goose and Paradox’s St. Vincent 500 in Thibodeaux, Hammer’s yet-to-be-named standing guard at the CPC, and, of course, the fast-approaching Gnarly Nutria. Thanks guys for the entertaining morning, always appreciate getting stronger with you all.

  • Jam Elatedly Replicating Intricate Cadences Half-Obediently – from Russo

    80 degrees or so and humid to begin the morning at Granny’s. YHC was looking for a unique way to remind folks about the beatdown and draw some attention to our mid week AOs as charged by Jose, and in doing so, Zoolander taught me a new word: acrostics. Who knew it was really a word puzzle in which certain letters in words are clues that form another word (e.g. Join Everyone Running In Certain Heat
    Outdoors) and not an acrobatic mystic or an acrylic heretic?

    Early mumblechatter revolved around dinosaur movies, cars in space, Omaha, sharknados, and JVs drinking habits.

    Warmup (all 10-20x IC)
    – Sealjacks
    – Cherry pickers
    – Arm circles
    – SSH
    – Imperial walkers
    – Air presses

    Thang
    A Shooter favorite, the Walls of Jericho
    (7 rounds of seven exercises, followed by a mosey around Granny’s)
    – 7 merkins
    – 7 squats
    – 7 groiners
    – 7 crunches
    – 7 side squats
    – 7 shoulder tap plank jacks
    – 7 American hammers

    Thang after the Thang (which reminded some of “Never have I ever”, so that’s now back on the rotation for a beatdown)

    One round of:
    – 7 Peter Parker’s
    – 7 Bulgarian split squats
    – 7 Durkins
    – 7 freak nastys
    – 7 step ups
    – 7 Urkins
    – 7 leg raises
    – Calf raises (2 on each step) up the pilot house, with a special guest on Jose’s trip (sorry about that)

    Mary
    – 25 wife pleasers IC
    – 20 LMCs IC

    COT, Name o Rama, Announcements, and prayer closed us out.

    Announcements
    – Hammer is putting together a bible study, check Slack for info and to discuss best time/day.
    – Co-Q by pickaxe and chainsaw on Saturday (Luigi’s and Boom ShackaLackas for everyone!)
    – Gnarly Nutria is July 20th at 9 – more info to come on Slack

    Good times all around, gents, thanks for joining me. SYITG