{"id":427169,"date":"2022-02-13T15:50:26","date_gmt":"2022-02-13T20:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.f3nola.com\/2022\/02\/13\/the-merkin-trap-episode-4-the-search-for-plutonium-from-akbar\/"},"modified":"2022-02-13T15:50:26","modified_gmt":"2022-02-13T20:50:26","slug":"the-merkin-trap-episode-4-the-search-for-plutonium-from-akbar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.f3nola.com\/2022\/02\/13\/the-merkin-trap-episode-4-the-search-for-plutonium-from-akbar\/","title":{"rendered":"The Merkin Trap, Episode 4: The Search for Plutonium – from Akbar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Admiral Gail Akbar of the Mon Calamari returns to the Northshore Mothership once again, to fight another battle against Darth Fartsack and the Sad Clown Empire. His secret mission this trip is to investigate the galactical mystery of Plutonium, reportedly found in the NOLA area by some beast named Hawgcycle. The commander of the Rebel forces knew this human was clever and dangerous – using words like isotopes, casualties, retrospect, and defecate in past correspondence about this discovery. He was at this beatdown before, maybe he would return. Key reinforcements – Baby Yoda, Bushwacker, Pickaxe, Chainsaw, and Shooter were missing. But we had new blood to make up the difference – a burly man named Cathe, with medical-surgical powers specializing in catheters, and a visiting pirate from Cape Fear named Teach. We were pleased with our chances. <\/p>\n

The Admiral received this note before his journey:<\/p>\n

\tBefore night falls on this long winter day,
\n\tA shining sword must find its way
\n\tInto your hands and out of the gloom\u2014
\n\tOr Admiral Akbar shall meet his doom.
\n\tTo begin your quest for the Sword of Light,
\n\tCall for the help of another to get right.
\n You can always depend on an F3 brother,
\n As Iron Sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another.<\/p>\n

PAX<\/p>\n

Waterpik, Dangerfield, Freon, Bubba, Moby Dick, Bean, Russo, Jose 10k, Barely Legal, Speedy, Grundy, Bird, Zoolander, Maverick, Akbar, Hammer, Junior Varsity, Cathe (FNG), Teach<\/p>\n

Conditions – 40ish, no wind, a little foggy<\/p>\n

Warm Up – Arm Circles (F\/B), Self-Love, Imperial Walkers, Grass Grabbers<\/p>\n

Thang<\/p>\n

Mosey up and down the Lakefront stopping for 2 exercises in each set, one of which would always be Merkins. 12, 8, 5 IC or 24,16,10 OYO. Each set = 50 Merkins, and most were 50 of another exercise except for a couple done Copperhead style. <\/p>\n

1 – Flag\t\t\t SSH, Merkins
\n2 – Rips\t\t\t Calf Raises, Wide Merkin
\n3 – Parking stripes\tLunge walk, 5 Merkins every 2nd stripe
\n4 – Noah Wall\t\tTempo Freak Nasties, Dirkin
\n5 – Grass Circle\t\tAl Gore\/Shoulder raise, Wide Merkin
\n6 – Wall\t\t\t Copperhead Squats, Irkin
\n7 – Grass Circle\t\tScuba Steve, Stone Mountain
\n8 – Grass Circle\t\tAl Gore\/Shoulder raise, Merkin
\n9 – Noah Wall\t\tScuba Steve, Diamond Irkin
\n10 – Rips\t\t\tTwinkle Toes, Prime Time Merkin
\n11 – Flag\t\t\tLittle Manny Crunches, Merkin<\/p>\n

Total 550 Merkins<\/p>\n

Mary – x10 IC<\/p>\n

Fire Hydrants, Leg Raises, Hello Dolly, LBC\u2019s, Lay flat on your back for 1 minute, time called<\/p>\n

Count-o-rama, Name-o-rama. Welcome FNG Cathe! Pronounced Cathy<\/p>\n

Announcements<\/p>\n

– Run Cajun Run, log your mileage
\n – Hammer, Grundy, Steve, and Tanked Up! have put together a team to support The
\n Nehemiah Project. They will run 48 miles over 48 hours on March 18th at Fontainebleau
\n State Park. Check Slack for more.
\n – Bird has the Q next Saturday<\/p>\n

COT<\/p>\n

YHC prayed us out with thoughts of words like man, father, husband, brother, friend – all verbs – and to take action this week remembering to flex our heart muscle. Don’t forget tomorrow is Valentine’s Day<\/p>\n

Alas, the Admiral did not find Plutonium, or Hawcycle, or the Sword of Light. But what he did find was a group of men who sharpened each other – enjoying camaraderie, food, and a hot cup of coffee for their efforts. Sad, but undaunted, he shall return next year.<\/p>\n

Thanks for letting me lead, and for following.<\/p>\n

SYITG – Admiral Akbar<\/p>\n

NMM<\/p>\n

Of all days to be late, YHC misplaced the keys and had to hall butt to make it there just in time to start.<\/p>\n

Great to have Teach from F3 Cape Fear make the drive from Gulfport while working out of town for a while.<\/p>\n

Bird brought Ian, a FNG who we named Cathe, pronounced Cathy, he works in med devices sales with vascular catheters. <\/p>\n

YHC had to modify pretty quickly after the Dirkins in the 4th set – in which QIC almost face planted from exhaustion. The plan was to go all the way to the playground and work my way back, but time forced a modification. We still got in around 550 Merkins in an hour<\/p>\n

Grundy showed up late, half way through, and owes 250 Merkins.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been reading a lot of Jack and Annie books with the kids, and the poem came from a Merlin Mystery novel. I have to admit, these books are great – historical fiction and mystery combined. Kids and adults alike will love them. Sometimes, the book titles become backblast titles.<\/p>\n

The Plutonium reference came from the master backblast writer himself, Hawcycle. Look back and read it, it\u2019s good stuff. <\/p>\n

Coffeeteria was great, this time including more King Cake, breakfast bowls, and my 2.0\u2019s showed up for sugar and hot chocolate.<\/p>\n