#Serving at Thanksgiving with Many Thanks

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With great apologies for the delay in this backblast, here is a followup to our Thanksgiving meal drive. The PAX were truly inspiring in reaching out. We are all called to serve, and can do so in many different ways.

Immediate thanks to Figaro for the turkey donations, along with the 20 men who did not hesitate and within 3 days quickly donated to the cause… and whom most have chosen to remain anonymous. Special thanks to Cable Guy, Frat Boy and Crab Cakes for helping with delivery. More details further below. And additional thanks to Crab Cakes and M Kara for followup support to one of our families!

Many of us don’t truly realize the experiences of the poor and needy  until we are able to observe in real life. Most of stay in our one station in life, but it can be a privilege to experience others’ stations. (see next full story, try to get through it all)

One of the most meaningful and deep scenes in a movie I have watched comes from one of the silliest movies. In the movie “Overboard” with Goldie Hahn and Kurt Russell, Hahn’s female character (Joanna) plays a very stuck up, rich woman who falls overboard at night from her yacht while near WA (state). She gets amnesia. She is ‘claimed’ by Russell’s carpenter character (Dean) to ‘compensate’ for her refusal to pay him for his services performed by him in the days before.

Joanna ends up living a poor life with Russell and his 4 boys for about a month. She experiences things she would never had in her rich world.  She learns humility living a life with little money. Eventually her memory returns and she returns to her yacht.  But she no longer acts like the ‘debutante’ who her mother and privileged husband so want. They think something is wrong with her.

Later on board the yacht, Joanna has an interaction with her servant butler (Andrew) who has been taking care of her his whole life with no thanks for his efforts:

  • Andrew: (Andrew hands Joanna her earrings after they’ve drank tequila shots below decks with the crew) You best not lose these again, madam.
  • Joanna: (perplexed) Again?
  • Andrew: You will forgive me, madam. (clearly mocking her) “Andrew! I seem to have lost my ruby earrings somewhere between 64th and 68th street, find them.”
  • Joanna: (genuinely contrite) I’ve behaved so badly. (Andrew raises his eyebrows)
  • Joanna: You’ve done all these wonderful things for me and I never even once said thank you. I’m sorry.
  • Andrew: (embarrassed) Apology accepted, ma’am. (he turns away and to the sink)
  • Joanna: (following him) Everyone on this boat thinks I’m crazy. Do you think they’re right?
  • Andrew: (turning around to face her) Oh no, madam. Oh no. You… most of us go through life with blinders on. Knowing only that little station to which we were born. But you madam, have had the… rare privilege of escaping your bonds for just a spell. To see life from an entirely new perspective. How you choose to use that information is entirely up to you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlHlKi2dATw

The movie ends up with a happy ending with Joanna returning to Dean and the boys.

It is up to all of us to decide how we use information we have at hand. If you are called to serve, how are you actually serving? Are you truly seeking to serve? Are you open to learning about others less fortunate than you? Even more so, are you willing to put yourself in an uncomfortable environment to learn firsthand?

Here is a quick synopsis of this year’s turkey meals donation.  We had done turkey drives before, but some of the feedback we got was, not that it wasn’t appreciated, but that it was too much of a ‘giveaway.’ Best teach a man to fish, so to speak. But we’ve been in the Paradise community over 1 1/2 years now and we didn’t want to let Thanksgiving pass without some involvement. A plan was put together on Monday, announced to the PAX on Tuesday, enough donations received by Thursday, food bought on Friday and delivered on Saturday.

Thanks were in abundance from those receiving the meals. We had a few crying in appreciation. The names of the 10 neediest families were given to us by Kim Vinisette of SON Ministries who has been working in the community for years. F3 has a strong relationship with Kim. As we shared with the families, we asked them to also share to any others that could use food for the holiday.

We gave each family a nice presentation basket of initial food along with their turkey, an F3 flyer, a holiday card from F3 and a gift certificate of varying amounts (depending on family size) to buy additional food, ie. fresh food, dessert.

We arrived at the park Saturday afternoon and the PAX helped deliver.

Lessons learned include…planning to spend more on each family roughly in the $100 range, buying all the food necessary for a full meal, starting much earlier, getting other groups involved to help support the cause. Maybe next year we can increase the # of families.

I have some pictures but not at the ready. Will get posted here shortly. I want to get this BB out.

*** An additional good experience came from this endeavor. One of the families, a single mom with 3 girls, had next to no furniture in their apartment.  Crab Cakes and his M Kara came through as we identified their needs and their rooms went from having nothing to being filled!  Awesome job!  We are now working on another similar situation. Will post that info soon!

Great thanks once again to the PAX.

Aye! Bolt

 

 

 

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KettleBell Temple Of Doom

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The temperature was below freezing, the AO is in the recon stage, but 8 brave souls came out of their fart sacks at an un-Godly hour to go to Church.  Special thanks to New River Church for allowing us to workout at their parking lot. 

After a disclaimer in which I repeated several times during the workout to modify if necessary since we would be working with weights, we moseyed around the parking lot with our kettlebells and did some toy soldiers which are much more difficult with the kettlebell in hand as the grumbling already began.  We then circled up…

COP

SSHx30

Hot Potatoes x10

Halo’s x5 each direction

Kettlebell Windmill’s x 5 each arm

5 Turkish Get-ups x5 each arm

The Thang

In my second ever Q I whipped out the Burpee Temple Of Doom, so in my first KettleBell Q I figured I would do a repeat concept but with KettleBells.  I placed 10 cones in the shape of a pyramid with exercises pasted on each cone.  Each level had progressively more difficult exercises with the pinnacle being the most difficult. 

Level 1

Cone 1- 1 Kettle-burpee/10x right hand merkins with the left hand on the kettlebell

Cone 2- 2 Kettle-burpee/10x left hand merkins with the right hand on kettlebell

Cone 3- 3 Kettle-burpee/10x right hand Kettle-thrusters(squat turning into over head press)

Cone 4- 4 Kettle-burpee/10x left hand Kettle-thrusters

Level 2

Cone 5- 5 Kettle-burpee/20x right hand kettle-swings

Cone 6– 6 Kettle-burpee/20x left hand kettle-swings

Cone 7- 7 Kettle-burpee/20x press jacks(SSH but instead of swinging arms you press the kettlebell over your head)

Level 3

Cone 8- 8 Kettle-burpee/30x right hand Kettle Snatch

Cone 9- 9 Kettle-burpee/30x left hand Kettle Snatch

Pinnacle- 10 Kettle-burpee/20x Clean and Press Right and Left Hand

We then did Lieutenant Dan’s over from the parking lot to the Church wall where we sat down to rest by doing People’s Chair while holding our KettleBells.  The outer 2 Pax(going into the middle) did…

Monkey Humpers x10

Sky Humpers(Back Bridge while pressing the Kettlebell) x10

Figure 8’s(Passing the Kettlebell between your legs in a figure 8 pattern) x10

2 minutes of Mary

10x Kettle Big Boy sit ups

12x Box cutters holding Kettlebell over head(Nemo)

20x Flutter Kicks holding Kettlebell over head(Two-Ferns)

COT

Travel Prayers for Royale and prayers for HomeBrew’s Father-In-Law whose Shell Plant is closing down.  Thanks to Two-Ferns for setting up the Church for us.

 

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Like clockwork at the Deep

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Beautiful morning after a good night’s DEEP sleep. No rain, no snow, dry ground (mostly). But had heard rumors of a double secret Lake Wylie major party being held Friday night, so was worried about DEEP attendance.

Two cars arrived and 4 PAX emerged including Nemo’s 2 2.0’s.  Captain Jack reminded me that we had played together on St. Philip Neri’s softball team a few (many) years back. Also was told the party extended DEEP into the night. Quick disclaimer especially directed at the 2.0’s, but they appeared ready to go at the DEEP. Had arrived early and set out sand bags at the stations station.

Did some stretching exercises then hit the parking lot loop. First warmup jog with butt kickers, high knees, side shuffle.  Then jogged about 10 yards apart then Indian lined it with each PAX digging DEEP and sprinting to the front. Once the PAX reached the front, he yelled STOP and we did 3 burpees.  All done with 3, we did it again with just 1 burpee.

Followed with an exercise circle and many of the standards in DEEP cadence. I wish I had gotten the 2.0’s involved at this time.

Moved on to some clockwork starting with merkins at 12:00, 11, down to,  but stopping at 6:00. Followed with DEEP squats…? And…maybe another…can’t quite recall.

To a 5 station setup in the field included: 30# sandbags with handles in place lunges, 15# sandball American hammers, burpees, 140# worm pull, squat thrusters with 30# held up. We alternated and did some improvising for the 2.0’s.

Moved over to the DEEP famous hill and did bear crawls up/jog down each time with 5,4,3,2,1 bombjacks at the top, followed by squat thrusters?, then monkey humpers by request for display to the main road.

Walked then jogged back to finish our clockwork. PAX helped clean up. Let the 2.0’s try the 140# worm on a slider on the macadem, much easier then the grass.

COT, prayers and praises, thank you to Nemo for taking us out. The 2.0’s did very well. Very good kids, Nemo!

Thanks for the opportunity, Shakespeare!

 

 

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Fill an hour at WEP…not a problem when you’re touring

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Started out the morning with a pre-ruck from YHC, Wegmans and Trucker.  Trucker let the way for 2 rookie-ruckers and pushed through the pain for 40 min.  Mileage….no clue but likely around 2.5.  After the pre-ruck, we had mumble chatter going all morning – during the disclaimer, during the warm-up, during the Thang (when the PAX could talk) and it was laughs the whole time.

Did the warmup in the parking lot right out of gate and started out with:

  • SSH x25
  • Low slow squats x20
  • Overhead presses x20
  • Moroccan night clubs x20 (deadly follow up from the overhead presses)
  • Merkins x10
  • Mountain climber x10
  • Hillbilly walker x10
  • Windmill x10

Then off we went on our tour.  We headed to the building next door (Anne Springs building) and checked out their outdoor seating area for meal time where there were chairs – which we didn’t sit in.  Instead, we used this area for the first round of fun.

  • With 1 leg on the chair, we did 1 leg squats x20 / leg
  • 15 burpees
  • Ran over to chest high wall for 15 wall-ups

Rinse and repeat.  Ran over to the building next door, long way around down 160 and stopped in front of the Engineering building to take a look at their wall and use that for the next set of fun which included some Jacob’s ladder.  For a 7’s (exercises add up to 7) we did the following:

  • Diamond merkins at the bottom (started with 6)
  • Climb / jump over the wall and up the hill
  • Donkey kicks at the top (started with 1)

Next stop on the tour was the Fort Mill Church of God…down the street a bit on the way to the golf course, past the police station.  Had to get in some running for our Kiawah brothers that were out running much, much further.  Once we made it to the church, we found a great set of stairs to take advantage of with a “12 days of Christmas” exercise of sorts.

  • 12 LBCs
  • Up and down the stairs
  • 12 CDDs
  • Up and down the stairs
  • 11 LBCs (Q-jack to double count by the PAX…good call!)
  • Up and down the stairs
  • 11 CDDs (also changed to double count)
  • Up and down the stairs
  • ….all the way down to 1’s

On the far run back to COT, we took a “shortcut”, up the big giant paved hill at the Engineering building and then back through the parking lots.  Made it to COT, counted off, name-o-rama, announcements and then finally an around the world.  Bandcamp closed us out with the prayer (voluntold style) and Twister made the final plea for coffeeteria at Panera!  Well done men!

Shady

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Aces UP for a blockparty beat DOWN

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After a quick disclaimer, we took off for the track around to park to make pit stops at each of the posts for some warmup exercises.  At each post, we started with the following exercise and then 2 burpees after each one…for a bonus.

  • SSH x25
  • Imperial and Hillbilly walkers x10
  • Moroccan night club x30
  • Squats x20, Cherry pickers x10

After warmup, we moseyed over to the playground for the Thang:

  • Merkins: 10 diamonds, 10 military, 10 regular, 10 wide arm, 10 derkins
  • Run lap around playground
  • 20 chin-ups
  • Run lap around playground
  • 50 flutters
  • Run lap around playground

Rinse and repeat…during one of the laps, we had two men down due to uneven concrete slabs during the run.  Note to self – be careful out there for the uneven terrain!

Next we found some benches for the next set of fun.

  • 40 dips
  • Run lap around playground
  • 20 step-ups (10/leg)
  • Run lap around playground

Rinse and repeat.  As time was winding down, we had time for one last circuit.  Similar to round 1, we gave this another shot with some modifications.

  • Merkins: 5 diamonds, 5 military, 5 regular, 5 wide arm, 5 derkins
  • 20 LBCs
  • 20 step-ups (10 each leg)
  • 20 LBCs
  • 50 flutters
  • 20 LBCs

Quick run back to COT to wrap up the morning for name-o-rama, announcements, prayers and praises (CSPAN style), and closed out with our prayer!  Great work men and we missed you Fire Marshall Bill…get better my friend!

Shady

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The Hive 2018.47

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So, I’m a little late on this backblast…. I probably owe someone a lot of burpees.  Anyway, here is what went down.

Warmup, SSHs, Jimmy Carters, holding a low squat moving your 6 for some hip mobility.

The thang

5 burpees, 5 snatches each arm
Repeat for 3 rounds

Up to the bleachers.  The deadlifts were performed while on the lowest seat, and to go as low as possible, breaking the plane below the seat.
Deadlifts x10, Lawnmowers X10 ea, Tricep Xtends x10
Repeat for 3 rounds

Down to parking lot and partner up
One partner farmer carries bells 100yds while other does exercises till partner returns then flapjack
Shoulder taps, Flutters, Ripsticks (squat calfraises)
One partner overhead carries bells 40yds while other does exercises till partner returns then flapjack
Shoulder taps, Flutters, Ripsticks (squat calfraises)

Moleskin
It’s always fun to have someone from another region, so having Doozy join us was a joy to be had.  Congrats to Punch List for his new addition to the family.

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A Day to Remember…Showing our respect at the Hive

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December 7, 2018

 

41st President

2403 men lost

77 years ago

I had thought about what I wanted to accomplish here all week. Did I want to stay in the comfort zone? Just get through a workout on a cold morning.  I decided we needed to put in the work to honor the 2403 men, or boys, that were suddenly killed and show them the respect they deserved. Imagine yourself, lying in your bed (probably under 20) on a ship and it was suddenly bombed, and there was no way out. That is exactly how app. 1000 men died that day. I took the opportunity this week to refresh my memory on some of the facts I may have lost in last 20 or so years and look a little closer at the life of George HW Bush, our 41st President who ironically passed the same week of the Anniversary of the event that lead to his honorable service in War II.  With a lot on my mind, and the hopes of delivering the right message, now it was all up to the PAX to show up.

My goal was centered around the three numbers above- 41,2403, 77

10 PAX showed up on what turned out to be a crisp clear morning ready to work.

Disclaimer delivered- No FNG’s

Leave the KB

 

Warm-up

4 light posts were the center of this. At each light-post, we stopped for an exercise:

Post 1- SSH x 41

Mosey to next

Post 2- Moroccan NC x41

Mosey to next

Post 3- Imperials Walkers x41

Mosey to next

Post 4 (and starting spot)- Merkin x 41

10 Diamond

10 Military

10 regular

10 wide

1 Burpee

 

Recover and circle up

Low slow squat x10

Windmills x10-

Seal Jacks x10

Hillbilly walker x10

1 burpee

Total- 41

The Thang- 2403 reps was the goal as a group

Using the same light posts as the warm-up adding running in between. I liked the competitiveness for some . Nice effort men.

Round 1

First post- Tricep press x 30

Second- KB swing x30

Third – Goblet squat- x15

Fourth- two handed shoulder press x 30

Total Round 1= 1155

Round 2

First- two-hand curls x30

Second post- Snatch (15 each arm)

Third-post- KB Windmill- audible- Chest press- two hands- x50

Fourth post- lunges (15 each)

Total Round 2- 1,210 (snatch and lunges counting only as 15 each)

Total- 2,365

Round 3

First- single arm rows- x15 each arm

Second post- upright rows- x20

Third post- single arm chest- x20 each arm

 

Total round 3- 605

 

Total for post work- 2,970 reps together

 

Really nice work PAX- especially the guys lifting the heavy KB’s.

Skipped the Fourth and headed to the bleachers by the tennis courts. Each PAX grabbing a spot

Three rounds of step ups- starting with 15 each leg, then 10, then 5, followed by 10 seconds on the fence in a squat position holding the KB straight out.

Mosey to the Fourth post-

Partner up- size of the person didn’t matter, but the weight may have (Tesh)

Partner One- carrying both KB’s runs to the First original light post and back (app. 100 yds) . Switch with partner two until the exercises below are completed.

Partner Two- the number to reach of each set was 77. Significance being this was the 77th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Set One- LBC’s

Set two- American Hammers

Set Three- Flutters

Looked at my watch and it was 6:00 on the nose.

 

Everyone pushed it, and everyone got better. I appreciate all the PAX listening to me and working hard. My challenge to you is to take a look at the significance of the numbers used today and the individuals or events involved. And then imagine if you were called to this War, would you step up like George HW did and sacrifice? If you didn’t catch it this week, he lived a life that most of us can only aspire to, but will never attain. Live your best life and surround yourself with those that make it possible.

COT  

 Announcements

Xmas eve Convergence

G- Fit

Praises

Our Health

Prayers

Family, Patience during this Holiday season, for those in need.

And not to be overlooked, Band Camp’s special surgery a week from Monday. Sit on the bag of pees and don’t move for atleast 48hrs.

Thanks to Band Camp for the opportunity to lead and thanks again PAX for your effort.

 

Frat Boy

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Keeping Warm At The Triangle

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With the threat of the big bad snow storm(we might get 1/2 an inch) hovering over the Charlotte metro area, 8 men got out of their warm comfy beds and braved the 36 degree weather to get their fitness and fellowship on.  As pointed out by a few grumbling members, this was a bit of a lazy Q by YHC.  I did not plan much as I just wanted to stay warm, and what better way to stay warm on a cold morning than running laps and burpees…spoiler alert, there is no better way!

I did a short disclaimer and then we moseyed around the school parking lot(still cold).

COP

SSHx30(getting warmer)

Windmill x10

Cherrypickers(or weed pullers or cotton pickers, whatever)x10

LSSx10

The Thang

The Pax then moseyed on over to the pull up bars where I mentioned that it was Pearl Harbor Day.  The day of remembrance is important in our nations history as WW2 is where the USA became the de facto leader of the world…also my grandfather was a seabee in the Navy during WW2.  Then the bad news…we partnered up and while one of the Pax ran a lap lap the other did…

100 Pull Ups (combined total, now officially warm)

200 Burpees (combined total, much grumbling by the Pax)

300 Single Count Lunges (combined total)

It turns out that the burpee portion took a gigantic chunk of time and we unfortunately did not have enough time for my planned grand finally(fortunately for the Pax) which would have been a Wave of Merkins.  We finished up with two minutes of Mary.  Nemo had us do 12 box cutters in cadence and Homebrew had us do 15 Freddie Mercuries at a hilariously fast cadence and then mercifully for the Pax, the workout was over.

COT

Mission accomplished in the keeping us warm department, as I left a sweat angel on the pavement and nobody complained of being cold(though they did complain about the burpees).  Prayers for Respectable Olaf’s mother-in-law who is battling stage 4 lung cancer and also for a family in Homebrew’s church group who is having trouble with their son who has Muscular Dystrophy.  Yogi mentioned a York CSAUP obstacle course race which sounds interesting and there is the Lake Wylie Christmas Party to look forward too.  Thanks to Homebrew for the opportunity to lead, peace.

 

 

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0.0 Pullups at the Coop

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Lucky number 7 at the Coop for 12 pain stations and a little of this and that!  Overall it was a great group with lots of 2nd F and a little 3rd F mixed in to make it spicy!

Message:  We spent time discussing with our partners the sin we see in the world and the sin we acknowledge in our lives.  All acknowledging that we are sinners and need a savior.  The bad news being we are separated from God due to our sin but Good news that we have a redeemer.

The Thang:

Mosey around the parking lot doing a variety of shuffles, karaokes, lunge walks, etc.

COP with some SSH, Merkins, Imperial Walkers

12 pain stations some with coupons some without

Bring Sally Up break with Squats as the exercise of choice

Rinse and repeat pain station.

Lots of Praises and Prayers around the circle at COT.  Aye, it was a lot of fun with the group.  Aye!

 

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2018 CLAVE BOSS 5K & CHRISTMAS CONVERGENCE

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4th Annual Clave Boss 5k and Christmas Convergence is upon us.

So many traditions but this is one that continues to get better with age, so don’t miss it.

It is for all PAX so no excuses!!

Invite your family visiting from out of town and get ready to start the Christmas week off with Fitness, Fellowship and Faith!

Details:

Date: Monday 12/24/18
Location: The Abyss – Palisades Elementary School

What: Clave Boss 5k, Pre-Ruck, Bootcamp, Ruck, Coffeerteria

Time:

  • 0600 – Pre-Ruck will launch
    • Worldwide Leader Q
  • 0605 – Clave Boss 5k
    • Top 3 runners will receive Bundt Cake!
  • 0700 – Boot Camp
    • Cake Boss & Maximus Qs
  • 0700 – Ruck  
    • Bonsai will Q
  • 0750 – COT: Namearama, FNG naming, WORDS FROM MR. CLEAN, BoM
    • Big Leadership Announcement—-Don’t want to miss
  • 0815 – Coffeerteria:  0815 at The Grid Iron (corner of 49/160 by Rivergate)

 

The Legend of the Claves lives on!

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