F3 New Orleans

Tag: Grandma's House

  • Seven…seven…7…seven…7….(holds up seven fingers) 7! – from Russo

    55 degrees and chilly drizzle greeted Super Ants JV and YHC this morning for a few rounds of 7s. Plenty of Raider Pride to go around.

    Warmup (primarily IC, 15 to 20x each)
    – SSHs
    – Arm circles
    – Hillbillies
    – Toe touches
    – Cherry pickers
    – Mosey 400 yards-ish around the warehouse

    Thang
    7 was again the magic number, a biblically perfect number of reps for the 7th day of the month.

    Multiple rounds of 7 alternating exercise, with a different movement to get us from column to column.

    7 merkins
    Nutcrackers between the 7 columns
    7 LBCs (Round performed 2x)

    7 hip slappers (2 is 1)
    Bear crawl between the 7 columns
    7 gas pumps (Round performed 2x)

    7 plank jacks
    Reverse lunges between the 7 columns
    7 monkey humpers

    7 shoulder tap merkins
    Hallelujah squats between the 7 columns
    7 Hello Dollie’s

    Between each round, we moseyed around Granny’s, each round a longer mosey than the previous. YHC was often distracted by the twinkly lights for Christmas.

    After round 6, we wrapped up with a customary trip up and around the pilot house as a modified round 7 for the completest.

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

    T claps to my partner in crime JV for keeping me focused and entertained.

  • Nothing but THANKS – from Russo

    YHC is a big fan of finding little things to be thankful for every day. Something new or different. Something unexpected. Something unique. Anything to keep me plugged into how blessed we are.

    Blessings like a bathroom at Grandma’s house. Like a cool, crisp 43 degree morning. Like lunch dates with potential love interests. Like 7 HIM sharing a common experience and making themselves better. Like Zoolander’s encyclopedic knowledge of early-to-mid 90s Halloween and witchcraft movies.

    Giving thanks was the name of the game today at granny’s.

    Warmup (all 10 to 20 IC)
    – Seal jacks
    – Grass grabbers
    – Torso twists
    – Imperial walkers
    – Arm circles
    – Cherry pickers

    Thang

    Mosey around the lakefront, where we stopped intermittently to give THANKS: each exercise starting with the proper letter. T claps to Cowbell for picking up on the pattern quickest (I think).

    T. T merkins (10)
    H. Hallelujah squats (15)
    A. Apollo ohno’s (10: 2 is 1)
    N. Not-so-lazy boys (10)
    K. Knuckle merkins (10)
    S. SMC’s (10)

    T. Traveler merkins (10 in a clockwise pattern)
    H. Hip slappers (20: 1 is 1)
    A. American Hammers (25: 2 is1)
    N. Freak Nastys (15)
    K. Kraken Burpee (5) – T claps to Steve for correctly guessing what was coming.
    S. Step ups (20: 1 is 1)

    T. Twinkle toes (20: 2 is 1)
    H. Hand release merkins (10)
    A. Alligator merkins (10)
    N. Nutcrackers (10 IC)
    K. Knuckle merkins (10) – Respect to JV and Slots (and maybe others) knocking them out on the concrete without gloves
    S. Scissor kicks (20: 2 is 1) – or maybe it was flutter kicks, I can’t keep them straight.

    The mosey back ended with one minute to spare, so Pax planked until the clock hit 0.

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

    Here’s where I give thanks, not only this week, but every day for this group of (and all) HIM. Getting up before 5 to push harder with the vague goal of making ourselves better, however we want to define it, is never an easy decision, but it’s often the right one. I hope we continue to be able to take some time to give thanks for what God has blessed us with.

    Like breath in our lungs to do Hallelujah squats in a circle in the middle of Girod street, like a cult worship, without getting hauled away to jail to “sleep it off.”

    SYITG

  • Face cards prevail, unfortunately not at the Casino.. – from Shooter

    7 PAX and a visitor to close at COT graced the YHC this Gloom for some card work..The face cards were a plenty, if only that could happen at the Blackjack table..

    Warmup
    15IC Toe Touches, Hillbillies, SSH, Air presses, Cherry pickers, Imperial walkers and Butt kicks..

    Thang
    Moseyed through Mandeville utilizing 2 bus stops, OLL overflow parking area and the corridor of Granny’s..
    Each stop instructions given for each suit with called exercises. First stop included jump stairs, freak nasties, Derkins and jump ups. Second stop sprints, calf raises, alternating merkins and American hammers. Third stop jump overs, Irkins, little Manny crunches and step ups. Returned to AO for the finale including Diamond Merkins, Burpees, Flutter kicks and a Joker at which YHC offered a called exercise of 25 LBCs by Hammer..

    Count, namorama, and COT with Wacker slipping in with flag and walkie-talkie in tow..

    Appreciate the post gentlemen and until the next Gloom 👊🏼💪🏼✌🏼!!!

  • These go to 11…or 9…or 11 – from Russo

    A brisk temperature of 48 degrees (still not cold enough for sleeves) and a clear sky greeted a pax of 5 this morning for an organized, balanced, and repetitive beatdown that of course incorporated number patterns because that is how YHC maintains a small measure of control in an otherwise chaotic world.

    Warmup (believed to be all IC, 10x, but that’s difficult to confirm when Bushwhacker gets to talking about rookie hazing and toilet scrubbing at the firehouse)

    – Grass grabbers
    – Torso twists
    – Cherry pickers
    – Toe touches
    – Arm circles
    – Good mornings

    Thang before the Thang

    A two block mosey down Girod to the Rusty P and their outside benches to get us started, where YHC wondered how long it would take before someone figured out the secret repetition code. Answer: not long, even in the early morning hours, not with a sharp as a tack Chewy on the case.

    11 step ups were followed by 9 freak nastys, then 9 step ups followed by 11 freak nastys.

    The gig was up, but the question remained: Why 9 and 11? Despite thoughts of September 11, January 19th, calling 9-1-1 hoping Bushwhacker makes house calls, and something or other about 91, the clue of today’s date finally allowed YHC to see the bright light bulbs going off among the Pax: November 9, which is either brilliant or incredibly lazy in its simplicity. It was probably the latter.

    As we moseyed closer to Granny’s (with either 9 or 11 diamond merkins, jump squats, big boy sit-ups interspersed) the pax was briefly stopped by some “traffic”. Prayers up to that mailbox.

    Pax made it to the bus stop, where the sequence was 11 Bulgarian split squats, 9 durkins, 9 BSSs, and 11 durkins before a short mosey to begin the Thang:

    With only 2 minutes or 25 minutes left (depending on whether you were using Bushwacker’s timekeeping or YHC’s), we worked 6 rounds of alternating reps of 11 and 9 at each column, followed by a trip up and back down the pilot house:

    – 11 SSH and 9 squats
    – 11 seal jacks 9 merkins
    – 11 high knees 9 LBCs
    – 11 Apollo Ohnos 9 plank jacks
    – 11 mummy kicks 9 lunges
    – Butt kicks, hello dollys, and merkins in a 9-11-9 sequence

    Just enough time remained for a 90 second plank, and then we closed with a COT, name-o-rama, announcements, and prayer.

    As always, I’m appreciative of the opportunity to lead such a fine group of men.

    SYITG

  • O say it ain’t so coach “0”!! – from Shooter

    With chatter of the recent resignation of Coach “0” Jose 10k entertained the PAX with the grumble mumble impersonation on this brisk Gloom.. If teaching doesn’t work out Jose 10k you have a straight path to stand up with the skills demonstrated at Granny’s.. You play the role with such accurate mumbles and grumbles… It appears the PAX has another committed brethren in JV and we look forward to the next step of getting you that VQ in the near future.. 6 PAX in all committed to the red pill 💊 and I hope the YHC didn’t disappoint.. Glad to have Cowbell back out packing the muscle back on after completing his marathon last week.. No more waving as he would often pass the PAX while training for his endeavor…

    All 10IC Grass grabbers, Windmills, Cherry Pickers, self love, Hillbillies, SSH, and Butt kicks,

    Moseyed to the tunnel for 100,200,300
    P1 completed called exercises while P2 utilized Granny’s steepest elevation in proximity for some cardio.
    RD1 P1Burpees P2 Moseyed down to the flat returning backwards up the ramp.. F/J
    RD2 P2 Air squats ( one day YHC will be able to execute the incredible form illustrated by Waterpik) P2 bear crawled out 20 count then returned with the bunny hop.. F/J
    RD3 P1 LBCs P2 Moseyed down and sprinted back up. F/J

    PAX then moseyed to the bus stop. 20 jump overs OYO, 10 donkey kickoffs, 10 either side half jump overs and back to 10 donkey kickoffs.T 👏🏼 to Russo for great extension at the top of the donkey kickoffs.. Rerurned to the flag wrapping up with 20IC Cowbell Flutters and Hello Dollies…

    Appreciate the post gentlemen and following my lead.. Until the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • Streaking – from Russo

    YHC believes streaks were meant to be broken, and then celebrated. Cal Ripken wasn’t penciled in for game number 2,633. DiMaggio went 0-fer in game 57. The Patriots couldn’t overcome a miracle play from David Tyree and Ei Manning and finished the season 18-1. YHC can only eat the same lunch for 5 or 6 days in a row.

    So hearing that Steve had Q’ed Granny’s for 4 or so straight weeks, I thought he might need a break and let someone else count cadence for once.

    Pretty decent weather on Tuesday morning for a Pax of 7, including a returning Bushwhacker, with temps topping out at 77 degrees, plenty warm enough to sweat profusely.

    Working in a profession that requires balance, order, and consistency, YHC carried that over to rep count.

    Warmup (all IC 15x)
    Seal jacks
    Imperial walkers
    Toe touches
    Cherry pickers
    Mummy kicks

    Thang
    With Granny’s still feeling the effects of a spruce up, remodel, and/or renovation, her benches were not available behind fence, so Pax moseyed over to the Rusty P for some work:

    At benches:
    15 freak nastys
    15 step ups
    15 derkins
    15 more freak nastys

    Some more moseying took us to the bus stop, where 15 box jumps were in order, and then more mosey to the tunnel, where we knocked out the main portion of the beat down:

    5 merkins, a mosey through the tunnel, where it was 5 more merkins in the center, and then a reverse mosey and 5 more merkins at the top, repeated 5 times.

    Heading back home, we knocked out 15 squats IC around coffee st., and then wrapped it up with some Mary:

    15 plank jacks IC
    15 LMCs IC
    15 six inch drill IC

    COT, name-o-Rama, announcements (F3 and FIA game night 10/21 at what’s left of the Mandeville Gazebo at 6:15, NOLA convergence on Saturday), and prayer closed us out.

    Thank you gents for joining and making it another good one.

    And If you’ve read this far because of the title and hoping to hear about us going streaking through the quad Old School Will Farrell style, I hate to disappoint you. But there’s always next week!

    SYITG

  • Red Light, Green Light – from Russo

    Sometimes the most fun and effective way to get some something done is to take it back to when we were kids, when it seemed like everything was simpler.

    That was the goal this morning at Grandma’s. Grover owns the “Duck Duck Goose” beatdown, and I still haven’t found a way to plan an effective “Red Rover Red Rover Send Bushwhacker On Over” beatdown in a Post-COVID world, so in the meantime a fine looking Pax of 7 took to the old Mandeville streets to play some Red Light Green Light.

    Warmup (all IC 15x to 20x)
    SSH
    Grass Grabbers
    High Knees
    Cherry Pickers
    Imperial Walkers
    Mummy Kicks

    Thang
    Very simple: mosey around, call “Red light” randomly along the way, and perform exercises of varying reps (e.g. 10 burpees, 50 butt kicks) and distance (e.g. Duck walk), call “green light” to pick the mosey back up.

    The goal was to push the pace a little, but keep it light enough to figure out what our favorite football teams would do in the fall, and if there was time left, solve the world’s problems.

    Beatdown included the following:
    – circle ups
    – merkins
    – squats
    – Apollo Ohnos
    – Bobby Hurleys
    – monkey humpers
    – gas pumps
    – plank jacks
    – shoulder taps
    – butt kicks
    – duck walk
    – murder bunnies (what’s up, IRON Pax, we’re ready)
    – freak nastys
    – step ups
    – LBCs
    – big boi sit-ups

    YHC timed it relatively well, leaving no time for Mary, but plenty of time for a COT, name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer from Hammer (thank you, sir).

    Announcements included kick ball this Thursday, Iron Pax starting up soon (register, earn points good toward nothing but pride and fellowship), and Akbar’s anny Q on Saturday.

    Thank you, gents, for joining and wishing Cowbell a safe and enjoyable trip out to Oregon this week.

    SYITG

  • Rising Up, Back On The Street – from Russo

    YHC was taught in 2nd or 3rd grade that if you want to attract eyeballs to your writing, you need a hook: a catchy title or an opening sentence or paragraph that draws attention.

    I may not always be successful, but that’s my goal with these. I had no hook for this morning: that is, until the twin muses of Eagle 98.1 and the band Survivor provided inspiration from the 80’s classic “Eye of the Tiger”.

    Good looking pax of 10 braved the heat and humidity this morning to “rise up” and get “back on the street”…literally. They did their time and took their chances, went the distance, and got back on their feet: just men and their will to survive.

    Warm-up (all IC 15x to 20x)
    – Seal jacks
    – Grass Grabbers
    – Cherry Pickers
    – Self Love
    – Torso Twists
    – Goofballs
    – Imperial Walkers

    Thang

    Tabata today, 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rest, 1 to 3 exercises per stop, mosey a block or two between stops.

    – 8 Count Bodybuilders
    – Squats
    – LBCs (multiple rounds)
    – Shoulder taps
    – Scissor kicks (definitely NOT flutter kicks)
    – Lunges
    – Flutter kicks (definitely NOT scissor kicks)
    – Peter Parker’s
    – Crab cakes
    – Burpees
    – Monkey Humpers (Not at Steve’s front door desire the request)
    – Star Jumps
    – Freak Nastys
    – Step UPS

    A mosey took us back to start, where YHC could sense Shooter itching to stretch out his calves, so we did 3 calf raises at each step of the pilot house.

    Back at the bottom, a few more LBCs, a standard plank, and a chill cut wrapped things up.

    COT, Name-o-Rama, Announcements (sign up for Iron Pax, leadership meeting tonight on SS), and Prayer closed us out.

    Thanks, gents, for joining me. It’s always enjoyable, especially when we’re graced with a Bushwhacker sighting. Best of luck to you as you start your new adventures!

    It was encouraging seeing a couple newer faces (Bends and Swoll Patrol). I hope these two stick around! And the same goes for the “regulars”.

    Until next time, SYITG.

  • No Respect – from Steve

    The other day I yawned and hurt myself. If that sounds like a poor set up to a Rodney Dangerfield joke, it isn’t. More of a morality tale, really – just another true life example of what happens to your body when you stop posting regularly. Things have gotten so bad, my Garmin now congratulates me if I simply cross the 6,000 steps benchmark. To put that in perspective for you non-pedometrists (yeah, not a word, I know), Hawgcycle will knock out more than that at 11pm on his daily 10k. Anyway, point is, YHC realized it was beyond time to dip my toes back in the water and get back in the Q game.

    A lone Jose was the only man present when I arrived, listening, I’m fairly certain, to a comedy routine on his phone. (It wasn’t, unfortunately, Dangerfield.). T-claps to Teach for making it out, as today is his first day back at school and he could’ve easily stayed back in Covington. But no, not this guy. The rest of the gang rolled in – Bypass, Hogsbreath, Zoo – and we got the party started.

    Warmorama: WM, GM, IW, AC, AP, SSH, HK, BK’s (yeah, a bit of decoding to do there); all the slow ones at x10 IC, faster ones up to x20 IC.

    YHC stretched the warm up a bit longer than usual, as I was expecting a late arrival from Cowbell. Was YHC disappointed? Of course not. It’s comforting to know that, in this rapidly evolving world we live in, some things really don’t change.

    The Thang:
    With Cowbell in tow, we kicked things off with 10x Kraken Burpees (3 hand release merkins in each burpee).

    Mosey towards the tunnel, stopping two more times for 10x Kraken burpees at each stop. With the Kraken fully released and the PAX already irritated at my return to Q, onward through the (darker-than-usual) wooded path to the tunnel, where all good things happen.

    Tunnel Partner Routine:
    Keeping things simple here, one partner runs the tunnel out and back, the other performs said exercises: big boys, squats, merkins, chest presses with rocks. That’s right, there are rocks next to the tunnel. It’s kinda like the Gipper’s quarry, just on steroids. Put it this way, YHC had planned on doing curls, but the rocks are just too damn big.

    As they say, time flies when you’re having this much fun, and so it was already time to hustle back to the flag (though we were able to stop and knock out a quick set of 30x IC Freak Nasties at the bus depot).

    Back right on time for COT: countdown, nameorama, announcement (Amnesia’s Tarpon Sprint Triathlon in Houma on Saturday – DM him for details if interested!), and Hogsbreath prayed us out.

    Thanks for the warm welcome back gents, and the opportunity to lead such a great group of men. SYITG.

  • No legs workout for the runners and cyclists among us – from Amnesia

    Warmup:
    20 x SSH, MC, IW, Peter Parkers, Windmills – all IC.

    The Thang:
    EMOM – first minute, 5 reps of merkin variant; next minute, 15-25 reps of other upper body exercise, all OYO. Next round, increase merkin variant reps by 5. Got through two rounds and started the third before YHC noticed we wouldn’t have enough time. Good thing, too. YHC wouldn’t have made it through round 3, but don’t tell any of the PAX that attended!

    Merkin variants: vanilla, diamond, clerpin, derkin, Carolina Dry Dock, diamond derkin
    Others: first round was mostly overhead press w/coupon (with some chest presses thrown in there); second round was more consistent: 20 coupon curls. Third round was coupon chest presses. Since only one merkin variant was completed on round 3, the coupon chest press was rolled over to the 6MOM.

    6(ish)MOM:
    20 ab exercise reps IC alternated with 30 coupon chest presses OYO. Abs exercises were leg raises, flutterkicks, plank (chillcut, both sides, and reverse), dying cockroaches, Freddy Mercuries, and finished with crunchy frogs led by the man himself. No presses after last ab exercise.

    COT:
    Count-o-rama, Name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and prayer. Happy 3 years to YHC!