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Just Back For The Weekend

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PAX: LED, Fonzie, Doc, Finkle, Norm, Modify, H1N1, FedEx, Yosemite, Sprinkler

EC: Norm

FNGs: None

It was great to see Norm back in the gloom, even though he was just back for the weekend and heading back to training after Mutiny.

Warm Up: We did some SSH, Good Mornings, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, Arm Circles, and Overhead Claps all in cadence

The Workout: We started at the short wall under the parking lot shelter for step ups and squats. After that we went to the concession stand wall for some BTW and Shoulder Taps.  Then we headed to the parking lot behind Club Works for walking lunges into burpee to the rock pile where I told the Pax to get a medium size rock and John Cusack to the parking lot on the side of Club Works where we started with some Merkins, on each “up” we slid the rock under us to the left or right, then we bear crawled across the lot with the rock.  On this side we did Rut Rows into overhead alternating lunges and then bear crawled back with the rock to do some more sliding rock Merkins. After we bear crawled back to the other side, with the rock, we did some alternating around the world to squat to curl for the girls. Told the Pax to John Cusack back for some rinse and repeat. Before we returned the rocks we partnered up so P1 can do Merkins with a rock on his back as P2 did squats. We returned the rocks and I told the Pax that we would be heading back the way we came in so we did walking lunges into burpee back to the the parking circle.

Mary: Ran out of time

Announcements: Check Facebook and Slack

T-Claps (Recognition):  Norm and his family as he heads back to training

Prayer: FedEx’s son and co worker, who was bitten by a dog, and Norm’s friend who’s about to have a baby

 

 

Always an honor to lead you fine gentlemen!!!!  SYITG!!

10 PAX for AGS

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EC: Fonzie, LED, H1N1, Redenbacher

FNGs: None

Warm Up: Standard Mookie Warm up…light mosey around the lot and  alternating butt kickers and high knees, which then morphed into a set of carioca. Squat Hold while YHC explained the route.

The Workout:

Standard Half Marathon route from Womble to the Greenway, around Bass Lake (counterclockwise),  up through Sugg Farm, and back to Womble for YHC, Nemo, and Master Shake. Yogurt ran essentially the same route after CoT.

Bernie and Pilgrim completed their power testing at the Womble loop.

H1N1, LED, and Fonzie continued on toward Ting and back after EC to get in 9 miles total.

Oboe rucked with breathtaker +20…solid work Oboe.

Mary: Not today, we were short on time when we arrived for CoT.

Announcements: Check Slack and Facebook.

T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX for showing up to get some miles. Oboe for a solid Ruck.

Prayer: Continued prayers for Bernie and his family and all unspoken requests.

YHC took us out.

You Show Up and So Do I…

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Remember those episodes of Mr. Rodgers we used to watch as kids? They had a magic word with every episode. Later through mainstream TV in the 80’s and 90’s, shows like Saturday Night Live and Nike commercials featured Eddie Murphy and the “Admiral” David Robinson, providing parodies like Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood, where each provided comedic satire mimicking Fred Rodger’s word of the day. Well, Southwake….Today’s word of the day on this Sunday was…Ready?….ACCOUNTABILITY.

Full disclosure in this backblast in an effort to be completely transparent with PAX who continue to inspire me on a daily basis. YHC put up the pre-blast yesterday afternoon advertising a 5mi EC with a 6mi Main Event. The alarm was set for a 4:20am rise. Hit snooze twice.. Something about those 18 minutes, made YHC feel a false sense of security, knowing that I had enough time to make it to Womble in time to plant the flag and get PAX started for this morning’s run(s). As YHC finally woke, the back wasn’t feeling right. Same feeling from the week before. Surely PAX would understand if I ‘mailed it in’ this morning and decided to stretch instead of running EC. Last week I got a mile in and had Maybelline lead PAX on the designed route. In retrospect, stretching was the logical option, but after reading Aquaman’s FB post on discomfort this week, I should have planned better and ultimately would have been fine continuing on the route.

Arrived late to EC- about 4minutes. As I drove down Stinson across that set of speed bumps I know all too well from Cletus and Ivan EC, I had convinced myself that I’d plant the flag and tell LED and H1N1 that I just didn’t have it this morning.  They were the only PAX with an HC and a planned route that started at 5am heading into this morning. I had convinced myself that I would save it for the main event and even had a line…”You guys go ahead on your route. I’ll stay back and stretch and prepare for the PAX at 6am.” As I made the right into the Womble lot, I see the light up vests and headlamps. “Damn it, Mookie…If you can’t Q it, don’t do it.” And with that gentle reminder, YHC mumbled, “If you are showing up, so am I..suck it up” and pulled into the parking space next to LED’s truck. No more excuses… These guys were now waiting on YHC. It wasn’t just H1N1 and LED. We had Pikachu, Bernie, and Cupid, making a 6 pack for this morning’s EC run.

Asked LED if he had a route. He and H1N1 were doing the escape route to Ting for around 7-8 miles. Perfect. The remaining 4 would follow and circle back when we got to the Paradise City EC neighborhood. I think the last time I saw LED and H1N1 all morning was in that parking lot. Those dudes exited Stinson with a purpose and as we reached Jones onto Veteran’s Park, those light up vests faded to black. Cupid, Bernie, and Pikachu kept YHC honest. As I sat back in a comfortable 9:10 pace, I could still see them and knew if I kept them in sight, I’d be holding my own on the run. As we made our way out of Veteran’s, YHC lost them them on the ‘Boardwalk’ into the PC neighborhood. Light up vests then proceeded back toward YHC and at that point knew they reached the turn.

Made it back on the ‘Boardwalk’ and on to Veterans. Pikachu called an audible and indicated that we could bypass Veteran’s and venture toward Holly Springs Road by way of Rhamkatte Village. Also determined at that juncture to ride on the left side of Pikachu instead of behind, while also picking up the pace to be in front. Something was brewing inside of Pikachu and had enough wits to be above the fray instead of below…At that point, YHC’s back issues from earlier subsided. Guess its a part of getting older and just takes longer to warm up. Made our way through Rhamkatte and onto Holly Springs Road. Asked for a route confirmation… Do we go straight down Bass Lake to Stinson or do we get back to Womble via Holly Springs Road-Raleigh, Grigsby-Stinson?….

Neither. We ended up going Bass Lake to Earp, Left on Raleigh and then Grigsby and onto Stinson. All EC PAX arrived back to the lot and were greeted by an AGS regular- Master Shake. While YHC switched out Hokas, Pikachu made a pit stop, Cupid did some stretching, Bernie adjusted his earbuds.

And….then here it is.. just what in the hell is going on here at AGS?  In rolls DoubleD, followed by 187, Lipstick, SkidMark, Pablo, and an FNG UTI headlocked at Dunkin Donuts after the Saturday Dad’s Workout. Second FNG in 4 weeks at AGS.. Honestly, only in F3-Southwake do we see FNG’s showing up to first workouts getting 6 miles, having only run 3mi ever as their longest run prior. What’s even more impressive is that they keep showing up after and in impressive fashion.. Look at Master Shake- think he is on 4 straight weeks of AGS.

Walked over to greet Skidmark and mistakenly asked if he was ‘Getting 10mi this morning.’ His standard was vastly different than YHC’s standard this morning as he replied with a, “No Mook, I’m getting 18.” Yeah- note to self, next time YHC asks how many miles Skidmark, 187, Bernie, Pikachu, Lipstick, and Cupid are getting on a weekend day, just take the number YHC has in mind and multiple by 2….or in Pikachu’s case..muliple by 3. Good Lord, Pikachu…31 miles at 8:40 pace? Seriously? #Respect

6:00am hit and we were off with the following workout.

FNGs: Welcome, Juul!

Warm Up: Light jog around the tennis court lot. Circled up for Imperial Walkers X12, Hillbillies X12, Good Morning’s X12, Fazio Arms 12F\12B, Prison Squats X12, One extra Prison Squat with a hold for Morocan Night Clubs. One final squat hold to explain the route.

The Workout: Bernie and the additional gazelles (Skidmark, Cupid, 187, Lipstick, and Pikachu) had a planned 18 mi run, which would take them down and up Stinson, with a right onto Bass Lake, Left on Salem Ridge, Left on Linksland, and down Holly Springs onto Starbucks and the U-Turn route. YHC decided to change this morning’s planned route to mirror the first 3-4 miles of Bernie’s route so that PAX could run together for part of the way. The only exception to this morning’s 6 mi route was a slight detour within Rhamkatte for a lap and then back onto Holly Springs Road to Raleigh, Grigsby, and Stinson to the lot. Kudos to Pablo and DoubleD for picking up the six throughout the 6mi route.

Mary: Stretches OYO after the run.
Announcements: F3- Family Cookout next weekend. Sign up sheet on FB and Slack.
T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX getting quality miles this morning 6-18-31 mile distances. Also to Redenbacher, Full House, and UTI for completing a preview 1/2 marathon this morning. Also T-claps to FNG-Juul on his first workout and Master Shake for making AGS a ‘thang’ this past month.

Prayer: COT was conducted before the Main Event. Continued prayers for Pikachu’s friend, Josh whose grandmother passed last week. Continued prayers for Bernie and his family. YHC took us out.

Men- Listen up. I want you all to know that every one of you, those I’ve come to know well these past 2 years and those I’ve met a few times in the gloom..Whether you know it or not, you all continue to inspire YHC. Truth be told, I had no desire to run and workout this morning and is sometimes true from week to week. In fact, as stated earlier in this backblast, I am sometimes totally reserved to ‘mail it in.’ The power of ‘showing up’ is a real thing. It’s one thing to ‘show up,’ but it’s not just a matter of ‘showing up,’ its a matter of ‘showing up’ with intent. Every one of you showed up with the intent to make each other better this morning and every morning I make my way out of the fartsack and into the gloom. It’s what I enjoy most about morning’s in the gloom. You are the first faces I see, and the one’s YHC knows will be there in those times of discomfort (including rounds of DoubleD inspired Coyote Ugly’s) whether its in the gloom or in life. The Richmond Marathon and Holly Springs Half are just around the corner…. After what YHC witnessed this morning, there is no question…F3 Southwake is ‘Showing Up.’ Always an honor to lead on Sundays and looking forward to many more in the upcoming months.

U-Turn 9/28/19 Better late than never

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FNG’s: None
PAX: Gump, Warbucks, Yogurt, Cupid, Redenbacher, AxE, Alpine, Slide Rule, Dauber, Banjo, Sassy, H1N1, Oyster, Tonka, Peeping Tom, Brexit, Double D, Emeril, Blue Hen, Bulls Eye, Dahmer

Warm Up: Side Straddle Hops, Butt Kickers, Some Stretching

Lots of options going on, several for 3, 5, and 6. Sightings of Lipstick, SkidMark, and 187 as they were getting 3 hours or 16 miles or something (heard UTI was out there but never saw him so no credit given).

Big Turn-out and tested my abilities on remembering names as there was no count off, no nameorama, no Mary, and No Cot. I should be banned for life from the Q list!
So sorry if I missed anyone, let me know and I will add you to the list, and if I gave someone credit that wasn’t there…well…you probably earned it anyway. And as always there was a great 2nd F afterwards!

Decisions…Decisions..

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For this morning’s edition of AGS, YHC sent a pre-blast full of options, which included a 5mi EC at 5am, a 6mi Main Event (complete with a Rucking Option) starting at 6am. On Sunday’s its usually a rest day for most PAX, but in late September, it becomes a redemption opportunity for those that missed U-Turn or for some, it’s an opportunity to catch up on mileage. I like to think its an opportunity to start the week off right, exchange some quality mumble, and provide some accountability. The best part about this AO is the PAX that show up. You just never know who is gonna roll in that parking lot every week. The lineup has its usual suspects with some becoming regulars, but for the most part, there are always a few surprises.

For the 5am installment, as planned both LED and Fonzie are parked and ready for their 5 (onto 7 miles). Planted the flag and as I walk back to the car for a last swig of Gatorade, headlights hit my backside. Turn around to find Maybelline, who is gonna keep me honest this morning. As I greet him, I ask, “are you getting 10-11mi today?” He replies with, “We’ll see how I feel.”

Confirmed with LED, Fonzie, and Maybelline my planned 5.0 mi route. We’d go down and up Stinson, right on Bass Lake, left on Salem Ridge, left on Linksland, left on Holly Springs Rd. Follow HS Road all the way to Raleigh St. and then back onto Stinson to the Womble tennis lot. Hills- yes, but not as many had we gone in the opposite direction. YHC and PAX proceed on the route until about a mile in. YHC is now finding it more difficult to just get up and run, now finding the importance of the need to stretch to be a necessity. For that reason, YHC held up at mile 1 feeling the back starting to stiffen up and proceeded back to the lot for some much needed stretching. Maybelline has seen the route several times and had taken the lead with LED and Fonzie to ensure they were following the route as it was drawn up.

As I walked back and proceeded to the soccer fields, a faint glow was seen in the distance. A light up vest in the pitch dark, cruising a a steady speed. Maybe Pikachu, maybe not..As 5:45am approached, Maybelline, LED, and Fonzie returned soaked. The humidity was thick this morning and was suffocating at times. LED and Fonzie proceeded forward for there final 2 miles, with Maybelline circling around the lot to get his even 5mi’s.

At that point, the 6am crew was starting to roll in. Dauber- with ruck sack, Boy George- with a breathtaker. For the 3rd week straight, a Master Shake appearance, followed by Forceps. Nemo rolling in early and then another surprise of the morning….Double D? Yep- he was there. H1N1 pulled in and then a sweaty Pikachu looking to get some extra miles with PAX. And then from the shadows emerges Yogurt for a solid 13 PAX.

6am hits and started off with the following warm-up

Warm Up: light mosey around the lot. Circle up for Imperial Walkers X12, Hillbillies X12, Good Mornings X12….”wait, why is he giving us 12 counts?” Yogurt knew why and offered that he may merlot if the Brady 12 count continued.. broke the circle and continued a light jog to the other side of the lot, with Frankensteins on the return, alternating lunge walks and butt kickers, which then morphed into a set of carioca. Circled back up for Fazio Arm Circles 10F\10B, but continued with a final set of Prison Squats X12. Squat hold while explaining the running route. Dauber and Boy George already had their rucking route solidified. Later learned it was 3.25mi filled with 4 dozen frogs and quality mumblechatter.

As YHC explained the route, LED and Fonzie had just finished up their 7 mi run and would proceed with COT following the running route description.
The Workout:

For this morning’s Main Event, we’d peel out of the lot heading left onto Stinson and then a right on Raleigh all the way to Earp St. At Earp, we’d proceed right to Bass Lake and then all the way down to the lake. When we reached the lake, we’d proceed straight up the Bass Lake killer hill and do a semi-circle around the lake and back onto the greenway until we emerge adjacent to the baseball fields. From there, PAX would proceed down Grigsby and then a right on Stinson back to the lot.

Strong paces by the lead PAX, H1N1, Maybelline (who apparently was feeling good 10mi run today!), Yogurt, Pikachu, Nemo, and Double D. Later discovered that there was a slight misinterpretation of the route and were short changed by missing the Bass Lake Killer hill. No worries though as all PAX got their 5-6mi monies worth this morning. It is also important to note another improved run by Master Shake and Forceps, who decided 5-6 miles wasn’t enough. He wanted 7 and that’s what he got. Also big shout out to Nemo, who reached 100mi mark for the 3rd consecutive month.  Great work by all this morning!

Mary: Stretches OYO
Announcements: F3 Family Cookout.
T-Claps (Recognition): Nemo 100mi mark reached for 3rd consecutive month. Maybelline and Pikachu getting 10 and 15 miles within the stale fart humidity this morning. All PAX making this morning count despite the unfavorable running conditions.
Prayer: Pikachu’s friend Josh, who’s grandmother is challenged with health issues. YHC took us out.

Final week of IPC

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FNGs:None but 3 pax came out to check out the IPC challenge.  A little miscommunication on starting time but we got a full 45 minutes of work out in.
Warm Up:Individual stretch
The Workout:IPC week 4

3 rounds for time

100 reps of either merkins or squats

100 meter run with coupon

100 reps of either Bonnie Blair’s or kettle bell swing

100 meter run with coupon

100 reps of either squat thrust with block or walking lunges

100 meter run with coupon

Mary: a couple leg stretches
Announcements: picnic oct 12th
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: unspoken.

He Called You “Sir”!!!!!!

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PAX: Promise Ring, Hump Day, Finkle, Sprinkler, Potts, Doc, Fonzie, LED, Slimer, H1N1, 16-Bit, Noah’s Ark, Banana Seat, UTI with breathtaker, Cha Ching, Modify, Venkman, FedEx

FNG: Hump Day

EC: H1N1

Warm Up: SSH x 25, High Knees x 15, Butt Kickers x 15, Mountain Climbers x 20, Fozie Arm Circles x 10 F & R, Half Burpees OYO

The Workout: Started at the first shelter with dips x 10, step up x 10 (first right leg then left leg), Derkins x 10 and skull crushers x 10. Rinse and repeat. Then we partnered up, grabbed some coupons (thanks LED and Fonzie) and moseyed over to the playground. While one partner did floor press, ground pounders, and goblet squats with the coupon, the other partner did either squat hold or plank hold, switch, then merkins, pull ups, and mosey across the field and back together for 10 count. We continued decreasing each rep count by 1 (10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1) but had to call it half way through in order to get to Mary.

Mary: American Hammer, Low Slow Flutter, LBC, Freddie Mercury, Plank Merkins, Pickle pounders

Announcements: UTI AO bid sheet ( all proceeds goes to this month charity), Carpex Odessey Oct. 5, F3 South Wake picnic Oct. 12, check FB and Slack
T-Claps (Recognition): UTI raising money for TMF, Hump Day
Prayer:Noah Arks wife, Banana Seat’s young neighbor who fell over a zip line and landed on her head, FedEx’s wife knee surgery

I’ve Got Big Balls

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FNGs: None

Warm Up:  Wicked excited for cooler temps (60’s)!  PAX of 7 came out to the Trot for a Dauber beatdown.  Lots of great AOs happening in South Wake today.  Honored to lead these HIM in the Quay.  The Garmin glowed 5:30 and we were off for a jog around the tennis courts to the snack shack by the lower diamond.  Good mornings, SSHs, Daisy Pickers, Sir Fazios and static arm stretching got us warmed up.


The Workout:  Asked the PAX what time it was.  I said it was 12 o’clock and began clock work merkins.  Got through rounds of positions at 12, 10 and 8 with a variety of regular, wide and hand-release merkins.  Intent was to go through the remainder of the clock but it simply did not come to fruition.  Adapt and overcome.  Q had something “fun” planned in the big parking lot for the Main Event.  Headed to the wall for up/downs, 10 on each leg OYO.  Grabbed the wall for 10 count derkins, merkins and dips.  Needed some wall time so headed to the shack.  BTTW and People’s Chair 15 cadence count each (3X) back-to-back-to-back.  Mosey to the road for Frankensteins, Open doors, bear crawl.  Ran backwards and sideways.  PAX held plank once reaching the parking lot with the streetlight that went on and off every two minutes.  Dauber went to his car and grabbed his treasure he purchased the night before from Walmart:  a big yellow bouncy ball!  Batter up!  The idea was the following:  pitcher called out exercise.  PAX executed a 10 rep/count.  PAX continued with reps except for pitcher and batter.  Pitcher rolled ball to batter, batter kicked ball and then ran after it.  Once batter reached ball, PAX recovered.  Did I say mention this was a big ball?  Ever try kicking one of these?  The amount of spin and curve was cool.  Regardless, I think PAX had fun, or at least pretended to.  Lots of various exercises called by rotating pitchers including:  goblet squats, prisoner squats, lunges, jumping lunges, star jumps, burpees, diamond merkins, LBCs, Heel tappers, monkey humpers, and a few I simply forgot.  Time was running short and headed to tennis courts for Mary.

Mary:  Dauber had PAX circle up and called the following 10 count exercises with no stopping:  windshield wipers, protractors, H2M, pickle ponders, Box cutters, Supermans, leg lifts, bent leg lifts, WWIIs, cockroaches, plank jacks, mountain climbers…Last few minutes were spent doing yoga with DD, Cobra, Child’s pose and Pigeon.

Announcements:  F3 picnic – see google doc.  Only 4 people signed up so far to bring something.  Sign up.

Introduction of new AOs coming to FV (names, type of workouts, days of the week, Qs etc.)

F2 at Stickboy.  (Met up with Farva and Banana Seat)  nice surprise.  And Norm’s prayer group was rather loud this am; did they miss him already?

T-Claps (Recognition):  H1N1 for EC today – solo.

Prayer:  Unspoken and spoken; PAX with injuries; family members with illness/cancer; uneasiness at work/heavy schedule coming; marriages (ups/downs).  When called upon by others for strength, be that go-to guy. Let them lean on you; be an active listener, be compassionate, show empathy, raise someone up…Dauber took us out.

My time is running out as a co-Q at Possum Trot.  I can not tell you how much of an honor it is having you trust in me to lead you at this venue.  Thank you brothers.  -Dauber

IPC week 3

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8 pax showed up for IPC week 3 1 for EC

FNGs: none
Warm Up:OYO
The Workout:

10 pullups

15 burpees over coupon

20 coupon curls

           25 coupon squat thrusts

30 reverse crunches

rinse and repeat for as many rounds as possible for 43 min.

Mary:none
Announcements: oct 12 F3 outing.  New AO coming soon in Fuquay
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Fumunga and his wife. Norm and his travels. Fedex wife’s knee issues

What is Morning Wood?

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Another humid but not so bad soupy morning for a workout. Mutiny had cars that just kept coming in. We had 18 total PAX. Two for EC arrived just before the workout started. (Norm and Martini) Planted Cupid’s flag but no Cupid. No FNG’s. 0530 so we blasted off like this.

Warm Up:
Lap for warm up with butt kickers and high knees then snake on hill. Circle up in middle of field

Up downs x10
Mtn climbers x20
Carolina dry docks x20
Sumo squat x20
Lower body stretches

The Workout:
Partner up with like speed
Catch me if you can with morning wood on track ~ 1 mile
P1 fast mosey P2 does morning wood on each arm, then chases down P1. Tag and switch exercises.
Switch from mosey to backwards run every other time you run
*A 4 year veteran asked “What is Morning Wood?” YHC quickly responded to see the exicon.*
– This is a Turkish Get-up without the Kettlebell. Laying flat on back with one arm raised sit up and then come up into a standing position. Added degree of difficulty = don’t use other hand to push yourself up! (A Turkish Get-up without a Kettlebell is aka A Turkish Get-up.)
YHC called recover then mosey to upper field.

Suicide merkin ladder – start at center field. Shuffle or carioca to right cone 3 merkins back to center field 3 merkins, then to left cone that’s further out 6 merkins back to center 6 merkins, right cone even further out, 9 back to center 9, left cone 12 center 12, right to end of field 15 back center 15. Cones will be spaced longer as you go.
Plank for the 6
10 big boy sit ups to catch our breath
Rinse and repeat with star jumps
10 BB sit ups

Burpee plank ladder
PAX plank about 3 feet from each other. HIM at the end hops up, jumps over next guy then performs a burpee. Continue this until you reach the end of ladder then return to plank. Each HIM goes twice.

(Rapid) Mary:
American hammer 20
Box cutter 20
Freddy Mercury 20
Heels to heaven 20
Dying cockroach 20
HAND

Announcements:
FB slack, CSAUP Odyssey, Norms departure

Prayer:
FedEx M for healing, Noah’s Ark M, Shredder’s dad passed away,Banana Seats uncle passed yesterday after battle with cancer, Crab Legs always, unspoken

Always great to be in the gloom. Most guys cannot fathom waking up this early. My M says she sees a big difference in the days that I do and don’t post. The days I do post always tend to bring more energy to the day and days I don’t post seem to be slothish (probably not a word). Anywho…I appreciate all the hard work each of you put in today and every time you post. Keep pushing that rock and if you need help pushing it, let somebody know. I’m sure someone will help you!

BS Out!