F3 New Orleans

Tag: Grandma's House

  • If A Tree Falls …. – from Steve

    … in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

    What is the sound of one hand clapping?

    And of course, the age old question: if there’s a Block Party at Granny’s and only one Pax posts, is it still considered a party?

    To answer that, I pose to you another question: does a bear $#@! In the woods? Is the glass half full, or half empty? Why did the chicken cross the road?

    Sorry, too much caffeine this morning. Yes, it was a solo post at Granny’s this morning, but the party raged on regardless (though the coupons stayed in the car). Sensing that YHC would likely be without company this morning, I started before the bell rang with 20 merkins and 5x calf raises up each step of the pilot house. Another 20x merkins. Step ups, step downs, Bulgarians, x12 IC each. 20x merkins. 5x calf raises up each step again.

    At this point, it was clear there’d be no late-comers, so YHC headed to the Marsh for half Murph: 1 mile run to Lakefront and back (passed Garfield’s crew, who are still out there pounding the pavement), then over to the newly padded playground for 50x pull ups, 100x merkins, 150x squats. Finished up with another set of step ups, step downs, Bulgarians, and freak nasties, x12 IC. Then one final set of 20x merkins.

    Reminder that Zoolander’s annual Marsh Madness is this Saturday.

    And one last one: if a vampire bites a zombie, does the zombie become a vampire or does the vampire become a zombie?

  • Why Do Today What You Can Put Off Until Tomorrow? – from Steve

    Well, for starters, because you’re gonna forget half your backblast. Kids, don’t procrastinate – write your backblasts as soon as you get home – not after you get off work, two days later. What I do remember… well, it was chilly! A surprising 39 degrees and you will not hear me complaining. (YHC will, however, complain and curse Louisiana in a month, once that heat hits. I agree with Pelican, we should hibernate in the summer.)

    So with just Russo and I for the second Tuesday in a row, we kept it simple: deconstructed burpees at each intersection on our journey through the streets of Old Mandeville (and back of course), and then half a Murph once we hit the Marsh.

    As is often the case with me, conversations tend to turn towards my love-hate relationship with all the various animals my family has forced upon me. A terrifying sequel to Pet Semetary could easily be filmed in my backyard with all the animals I’ve buried under our trampoline – cats, a rabbit, frogs, snakes, dwarf hamster, fish, hermit crabs. Seriously. Hopefully it’s not a sacred Native American burial ground.

    Anyway, my complaints about my cats barfing all over the house were dwarfed by Russo’s incredible story of his cat partially coughing up a piece of string that subsequently had to be pulled out by his wife – inch by never-ending inch – while birthday party guests gathered around and watched in horror. I imagine a similar scene played out in one of the Poltergeist films, but you’d have to consult our cultural encyclopedia The Hammer for confirmation.

    Anyway, Russo and I were able to solve City Hall’s fiscal crisis during our half Murph (nice new soft pad replacing the Marsh mulch, btw!), as well as come up with a 10 point plan for how to tackle the ever-growing concern of AI. It’s incredible what can be done when you set your alarm for 4:45am. Hmm. I guess I did end up remembering most of it. Maybe procrastination ain’t so bad?

    Russo, thanks for the being the rock of, not one, but TWO AO’s. You da man. Appreciate you and your steadfast commitment!

  • Bare bones backblast – from Russo

    Back to the good grind after what felt like months away this morning. Great weather in the low 50s, and good chatter with Steve as YHC jumps back into a normal routine.

    Warmup (all 10x)
    – good mornings
    – Self love
    – Seal jacks
    – Grass grabbers
    – Cherry pickers
    – Imperial walkers

    Thang
    No real rhyme or rhythm this morning, just laps around Granny’s, starting at the benches where it was 10x (mostly IC):
    Freak Nastys
    Durkins
    Step ups (2 is 1)
    BSSs (2 is 1)

    Over to the pilot house for 3 calf raises each step, then lunges from start to garbage can, followed by a short bear crawl, and a straightaway back pedal.

    Rinse and repeat 3 or so more times all of it, and you have an idea of our morning accomplishments.

    Mary (all 15x IC)
    – LMCs
    – gas pumps
    – Flutter kicks
    – crunchy frogs

    COT, NOR, Announcements, Prayer, in that order. Prayer focused on our family and friends that we continue to lift up.

    SYITG

  • The Big Man Doesn’t Disappoint – from Steve

    I had my reservations when I sent out an EH over slack and received back no biceps, no bombs exploding, no thumbs ups. (To Jose’s credit, I did receive a private GIF from him explaining his absence – see, we need a GIF / video option!).

    With heavy rain throughout the night and a few other private texts saying, essentially, negative ghost rider – things were looking bleak. But I shoulda known! You never underestimate the reliability of Mr. Shooter. With just YHC and the Big Man there, it felt like a blast from the past. Hard to believe that we’ve been working out together for nearly 8 years.

    With more rain threatening, YHC set up a quick ladder of merkins, squats, LBC’s, and freak nasties so we could get to work under the covered corridor. Now, I’ve learned many things from Shooter over the years (though mastered none of it): when to get the best prices on Blue Bell (and of course, best flavors), the many uses of deer urine, how to be a good Pee-Paw once that time comes, and generally, what it looks like to be a good man. But one lesson that Shooter has impressed upon us often would not be heeded today and that is to always, ALWAYS descend!

    Instead we ascended and descended the ladder, but honestly, it wasn’t tough. With no burpees or groiners or Bulgarians, it was just enough to get a light sweat and still be able to chatter.

    Appreciate you Shooter, and I hope I get another 8 years of hitting the pavement with you brother.

  • Granny’s Mosey! – from Shooter

    And that’s about it, no warmup straight to Mosey 4.22 miles with 2 team Unitards through Mandeville..

    Till the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • Two Kings and a Joker – from Russo

    Temp was below 40 for the entirety, what YHC feels is the last bit of cold weather we’ll see for a while, but I’ve been wrong before.

    Warmup – all IC 10x

    – SSHs
    – Arm circles
    – Toe touches
    – Cherry pickers
    – High knees
    – Self love

    Thang – Deck of Death (count and exercise based on card turned over)

    The deck provided the inspiration for the title: YHC the Joker was joined by two kings:

    (1) Steve – King of making it look easy. I don’t doubt that he struggles on occasion. But you’d never be able to tell it. Effortless floating from one to the next. Smirking the entire time.

    (2) Waterpik – King of Form and perfect execution. Flawless. Even the most demanding judge is mystified by the way he fully executes. No shortcuts. Watch him jump squat. While YHC is struggling to get down to a 135 degree angle, he’s headed all of the way down and back up. Amazing.

    Back to the deck, we split the deck into 3 groups for rounds. Rounds included:
    Spades – durkins
    Clubs – freak nastys
    Diamonds – Bulgarian split squats (2 is 1)
    Hearts – leg raises

    Spades – shoulder tap merkins
    Clubs – calf raises (2 is 1)
    Diamonds – SMCs
    Hearts – Crunchy frogs

    Spades – step ups
    Clubs – Monkey Humpers
    Diamonds – jump squats
    Hearts – box cutters

    Before and between rounds, we moseyed around Granny’s to accumulate some mileage.

    Mary (all 15x)

    – LMCs
    – Gas pumps
    – Penguins
    – Heels to heaven
    – Flutter kicks

    Finally, 3 calf raises each step of the pilot house.

    COT, name-o-rama, announcements and prayer closed us out.

    SYITG

  • Jose needs PaxMiner credit – from Russo

    Some days the only thing driving YHC to get up before 5AM are the three Fs. Emphasis on the fellowship. So when a humble request went out last night to include at least some running from Bushwhacker, YHC modified what he had planned to fulfill said request, looking forward to the chatter that only he can bring. Alas, Sir Whacker decided he would rather the comfort of bed than the mosey pace of a Granny’s post. Thumbs down. But Steve and Jose10k helped YHC hold down the fort, the latter of which surprised me when his response to his miles tallied thus far was “6” instead of the normal 2-3. That bar can’t keep raising, Jose. Thumbs up.

    Warmup – 10x IC
    – Seal jacks
    – Toe touches
    – Self love
    – Cherry pickers
    – Grass grabbers
    – High knees

    Thang
    Tabata:
    – 40 seconds each with bricks, 20 seconds rest, with some moseying before and after each of the four rounds

    Round 1
    – Plankjacks
    – Cherry pickers
    – Overhead claps
    – Nutcrackers
    – Hallelujah squats

    Mosey around Granny’s to get some run Cajun run miles in.

    Round 2
    – Tricep extensions
    – Arm curls
    – Air presses
    – Squats
    – Arm circles
    – Milk maids

    Rinse and repeat rounds 1 and 2 for 3 and 4. Rinse and repeat the running around as well (creatures of habit and all).

    Mary – 15x IC
    – LMCs
    – Penguins
    – Flutter kicks
    – Crunchy frogs

    COT, with NOR and prayer before heading back to start a Tuesday. RCR is in full swing, and the Ivan is coming up on the 17th.

    Thanks for joining gentlemen.

  • Trio of Tards on this Tuesday!! – from Shooter

    Rolling up to Granny’s with just one car in sight could only mean one Tard was already getting after it.. You guessed it, Jose10k was already Moseying through the streets of Mandeville looking to get out to a BIG lead in 2024 ahead of Russo on the PAXminer report.. YHC would soon be joined by another Tard in Steve, as he rolled up on his bike out of the dark..
    We started our warmup completing Arm circles, selflove, windmills, grass grabbers, toe touches and SSH.
    Workout included a deck of cards as we went zigzagging through the streets..
    Exercise’s were ❤️8 count body builders, ♦️Merkins, ♠️Flutter kicks and ♣️Carolina dry docks. Moseyed to each corner, flipped over cards till each suit got played before moving on. First corner proved to have the luck as each time we visited 4 cards flipped and each suit played. Other corners were not as friendly..

    Appreciate you both for posting and until the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • 3 on the Escalator – from Russo

    Muggy and not cool this morning at Granny’s, as low 60s returned, as did the sweating for YHC. Jose was wrapping up his pre-thing run, all business-like and ready to kick some tail. Steve joined shortly thereafter. Reason number 104 to come out to Granny’s: to catch Steve coming out for the darkness riding his bike, not looking a whole lot different than when Jigsaw wanders out to tell his next unsuspecting victim “I want to play a game.” Now I will ponder what a Saw-inspired beatdown would look like: “you have two minutes to complete 20 burpees with Waterpik form, or you’ll be subject to feeling the Jose summer sweat splashdown”.

    Warmup – all 10-15x IC
    Sealjacks, grass grabbers, high knees, imperial walkers, self love, toe touches

    Thang
    I had hoped to compete what YHC calls the Escalator, 8 exercises, varying rep counts 1 through 8, total rep for each of the 8 at 36, as we moseyed in a figure 8 pattern around Granny’s. Alas, it’s a farther mosey than expected, so we were only able to complete 4 of the 8 rounds. All told, even without a fancy Garmin, my phone said we did about 2 miles, or about 3200 meters. Which is 8 times around a standard 400 meter track. Math, Jose!

    Exercises:

    8 count bodybuilders
    SMCs
    Imperial squat walkers (2 is 1)
    Donkey kicks
    Big boy sit-ups
    Wide merkins
    Kid N Plays (2 is 1)
    Murder bunnies

    Mumble revolved around Mardi Gras, leaks, appliances, episode 8s, and New Year’s resolutions.

    COT, NOR, Announcements, Prayer, in that order.

    RCR, Camping, Ivan, all coming up.

    Major T claps to both Steve and Jose for posting after Sunday’s nightmare, made all the more impressive because of Jose’s IronPax / Au Lait / Nightmare trifecta. He continues to set the bar high.

    SYITG

  • Calf Raises and… calf raises? – from Steve

    You’d think that you wouldn’t be able to build an entire beatdown around calf raises. But you know what? You’d be wrong. You’d think that the pax – which consisted of a Bushwacker still on duty, walkie in hand, and a Waterpik who did his own warmup running to the AO – you’d think, hey, these guys would be very unhappy if they got up this early, braved the cold and ice for… calf raises? But again, you’d be wrong. You might also say, but Steve, can calf raises alone keep you warm, what with arctic blasts rolling through the area and sub-freezing temperatures?

    Well, ok no, let’s be honest – no they cannot. But still….

    It started off as it always does, with measly side straddle hops, a few wimpy butt kicks, some piddly grass grabbers and lame imperial walkers. Then a warm up lap around the trailhead before we got to the heavy stuff, the real meat of the workout and, that’s right, we’re not talking about absolution or kraken burpees or even those beloved Bulgarians, we’re talking about calf raises.

    Now Russo has always maintained that 3 calf raises per step up the pilot house is the perfect amount. And I’d agree, except that I think there’s poor form on the first one, since you are stepping up to that step and probably haven’t quite settled before you begin. And of course, by that logic, there’s also poor form on the last one, as you start to jump up to the next step. So what happens in this 3-per-step scenario is you’re only really getting one good calf raise with proper form per step. Now, at 5 per step, you’re actually getting three good calf raises per step, as intended.

    Lucky for us, form was not an issue. With icy conditions, we were forced to take things slow up the stairs for fear of slipping. With so many trips up the pilot house steps, YHC had time to reflect on the mechanics of calf raises, how they engage your core, help with balance awareness, heck, maybe even improve your posture. It’s very nearly a full body workout. Nearly. And to do this for 45 minutes would probably be some sort of record, right? Is there a Guinness World Record for calf raises? If not, I’m just going to go ahead and claim that Waterpik owns this record. I mean, who’s to say?

    Ok, ok, perhaps there were other options at this beatdown, which were determined by a roll of the die:

    1- 10 derkins off stage, bear crawl to platform and back
    2 – 5 calf raises up each step
    3 – 20x freak nasties, 20x merkins
    4 – race down corridor, winner 5x merkins, losers 5x burpees
    5 – 25x burpees
    6 – Jane Fondas, pulses, and heel-to-knee x12 IC

    BUT… Waterpik did roll a hell of a lot of 2’s in a very short period of time, and Bush was rolling 6’s like nobody’s business (and then pondering how appreciative his wife might be of his sudden glute development). It was a vicious cycle of calf raises and Jane fonds for a very long stretch.

    Anyway, t-claps to these two men, who were gracious enough to get out there when even the Q didn’t want to go. Pik prayed us out with intentions for everyone to stay safe in this icy weather. Thanks for the opportunity to be out there with you gents, appreciate you guys.