This weekend, while Calfgrit5 was in his room taking his nap after lunch, I went into the office to fiddle around. While there, I saw out the front window, Calfgrit9 was sitting in the grass of the front yard.
His zip-up sweater was off and lying in a pile on the grass next to him, a plastic hoe (that he uses as a sword and a rifle) was in the grass on the other side of him, and he had some small toy in his hand. He was just sitting there, sort of staring off into space. He’d shift or move occasionally, but he seemed deep in thought more than playing with his toy.
I watched him for a minute or two, wondering what he was thinking. I got a little worried; I thought maybe there was something troubling on his mind. So I left the office and went downstairs to put on my shoes to go outside.
I walked up to him, “Hey buddy.”
“Hey Dad.”
I plopped down in the grass in front of him. “Whatcha thinking about?”
He didn’t hesitate, but stated, “About how some animals are pretty smart. They make their own homes, they form groups, they communicate. It’s like they’re as smart as we are.”
“Yeah,” I said. I totally didn’t expect that to be his thoughts. Here I was, worrying that he was bothered by something, and really he was just thinking intelligent concepts.
We chatted about animal reasoning and instincts for a few minutes, and then he wanted to show me an ant mound he had found over in the common area next to our lot. He had experimented with the ants by covering the exit holes with leaves and rocks, to see how they dealt with it, how they’d work around the obstacles.
After showing me his experiment, we walked around to the back yard, and our conversation wandered to what we’d do in the yard when the weather warmed up with spring.
I was relieved that he hadn’t been sitting in the yard fretting about something. I was rather impressed that he could just sit peacefully and think. That’s something I like to do sometimes. It’s something that I really don’t get a chance to do very often, anymore. Maybe next time I won’t disturb him.
In the week after getting my P90X material in the mail, I read the Fitness Guide, the Nutrition Guide, and watched several of the DVDs. While watching the DVDs, I tried a few of the exercises, but I didn’t actually start the regimen; I just wanted to see what was coming, and get a feel for it before hitting it hardcore.
And it is, indeed, hardcore. Extreme. “Over the top,” as my brother described it. But it didn’t look beyond my ability. (But then I may have an unrealistic sense of my ability.) In fact, it looked fun. Fun because it would be a serious challenge.
The Kenpo X workout looked very much like the exercises I did in tae kwon do. But the difference is that in my martial arts training, we did the exercises for about 20 minutes, and then moved on to the training/learning. And the training/learning time gave plenty of rest between heavy activity. The P90X Kenpo X workout is a full hour of just exercises, with very little rest time.
Saturday was my Day 0 — take the fit test, take “before” photos, take body measurements. The literature says I should be able to pass the fit test before taking on the P90X routines. Here’s how I did:
Pull-ups
Minimum for fit test: 3
My results: 1.75 (the book says to count fractions on this exercise)
It’s been many, many years (possibly a couple of decades) since I did a pull up. I never did them for martial arts, and it’s just not something I’ve ever done as part of my basic calisthenics.
Vertical Leap
Minimum: 5″
My results: 13″
This one confuses me. Granted I may be off by an inch — it’s difficult to judge it on a blank, white wall — but I can definitely beat 5″ by a very wide margin. But beating the minimum by more than double, (nearly triple), on a skill I never really practice?
Push-ups
Minimum: 15
My results: 22
I used to could do 50 on a regular basis, in my prime.
Toe Touch — sitting down, legs straight, reach forward
Minimum: 6 inches from toes
My results: 0 inches — I can touch my toes
Wall Squat — sit with back against wall, legs at 90 degree angle, as if sitting in a chair
Minimum: 60 seconds
My results: 45 seconds
Other than the pull-ups, (which I could hardly do at all), this was the hardest test. The pain is incredible in less than 30 seconds, and I wanted to scream by 45 seconds.
Biceps Curls — both arms at the same time, 20 pound weights
Minimum: 10
My results: 15
In & Out — seated with hands on floor at sides, knees bent and off ground; bring knees in to chest, then out straight, and back in to chest
Minimum: 25
My results: 30
Now, something to keep in mind with this fit test: I did the exercises fresh, and with 1-4 minutes, (by the book), breaks in between. Other than the pull-ups and wall squats, I passed the exercises easily. This surprised me. Either I’m not in the totally abysmal shape I thought I was, (and sometimes feel), or the fit test is a bit easy. I suspect the latter.
Sunday night was my first full P90X workout routine: “Chest & Back, and Ab Ripper X” — about an hour and twenty minutes of almost non-stop exercises. I did it.
Yes, it’s brutal, but I kept up and did every exercise. Now, I didn’t do as many reps as Tony and his students. If they did 25 reps, I could do about 10-12 on the first round. By the second round, they’d do another 25, but I could only get about 4-6. There’s a lot of push-ups, and by the last set, I considered doing 3 in a row a victory.
And then the ab/core exercises followed immediately after the chest and back workout. The ARX works different muscles than the C&B, but you’re already really tired by that point. I still banged out some reps for every exercise, (still less than the folks on the screen).
After the workout, I felt fan-freakin’-tastic. Honestly, that routine made me feel so good. Yes, I was worn out, but it was in a good way. I felt like I had done something great.
I’m very much looking forward to continuing this system. Having done this first routine, I’m not afraid of the rest. The only thing I think I’m going to have a hard time with is the nutrition regimen. I’ve had a horrible diet for pretty much all my life, and proteins, carbohydrates, etc. aren’t concepts that my mind easily grasps. Hopefully my wife can help me with this part of the system.
In the time I was supposed to be in my office, writing up a post for today, I ended up sitting on the den couch watching TV. I don’t even remember the reason I turned on the TV. But once it was on, and I found Star Trek: The Next Generation on SyFy, I kind of got lost. Then during a commercial, I surfed around a bit and found Family Guy on another channel.
I flipped back and forth between the two, watching two episodes of STTNG and three episodes of FG, for two hours. Only when both channels had commercials on, did I think, Hey, I’m supposed to write a post for tomorrow.
But then the commercials would end and the shows would twiddle my geek or funny bone, and I’d immediately forget about writing. Well, I mean, it’s Star Trek and Family Guy — what can I do? They’re both in my top 5 favorite shows. The only combination that could equal them would be maybe Scrubs and Twilight Zone.
Only after both mini-marathons ended was I able to turn off the TV and go up to my office. And by then it was so late that I just needed to go to bed. Hey, it’s a school night. I can’t stay up to midnight.
So this is the best I can give you today. It sucks for your entertainment, but I went to bed with an entertained smile on my face.
My step-dad died of a heart attack in August 2007. I miss him.
I’ve avoided writing about missing him because I feared it would make my mom sad. I hope it doesn’t; maybe it will make her smile.
My mom married my step-dad when I was very young (around 6 years old), so I have only the faintest and vaguest of memories from before my step-dad was in my life. My real dad stayed a very close part of my life — we all continued to live in my hometown — so my step-dad didn’t replace my real dad, he just supplemented him. Most kids have one dad, (real or step). I and my brother were lucky in that we had the benefits of two dads.
My step-dad was a kind and generous man. Patient and helpful. Funny and smart. He definitely wasn’t the stereotypical step-parent, and that’s why I call him my “step-dad” rather than my “step-father.”
He was a hunter, (mostly white-tail deer), and he was often in the woods early in the morning during October, November, and December. I went with him occasionally, but I was never a good early morning person.
He was a cook. I absolutely loved his venison, and his sweets during the Christmas season put many pounds on everyone. His love of cooking is part of the reason why he got into the restaurant business — his main career was teaching heating and air conditioning repair at the local community college.
He was an occasional drinker. He’d get good and buzzed sometimes at parties and such, but he was a good drunk. Drink made him even funnier, and silly. He didn’t drink often, and his being tipsy never troubled or embarrassed me.
He was not a dancer. Oh he’d try. He’d get out on the dance floor and jig like he loved it, but good lord the man just didn’t have rhythm.
He was always there for me when I needed him. Between him and my real dad, I never had a lack of a good male role model in my life. Having two good men in my life meant I could always find advice when I needed it.
I think about my step-dad from time to time, just during normal daily life, and there’s still a pang of sadness knowing he’s gone. I’d love to give him just one more hug.
Yesterday, me and my boys were in Target together, picking up items we each needed. The Calfgrits had some saved up allowance for toys, and I had to prepare for my upcoming workout regimen.
Calfgrit9 was buying a small Lego Halo set, and Calfgrit5 was buying a new Bionacle. On the cashier aisle conveyor belt, I put a pair of weight lifting gloves, a workout mat, and a pair of yoga blocks.
When the cashier girl got to my items, she commented, “Interesting choice for Valentine gifts. Or did your wife specifically ask for this?” She was smiling mischievously.
I was kind of taken aback. First, just because I’m buying something on Valentine’s Day, doesn’t mean the something is a gift for my Valentine. Second, why the assumption I’m buying this stuff for my wife, instead of just for me?
I explained, “It’s just coincidental that I’m buying this on Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh,” she replied and finished ringing up the sale.
After the transaction, as we were walking away with our bagged purchases, I thought more about the girl’s comment. Is there something inherently female about what I bought that made her think it was for my wife? I mean, weight lifting gloves? Surely lifting heavy weights is not considered a feminine activity.
A workout mat? These things are in every gym I’ve ever been to, (including my old martial arts gym), used by both genders — I’ve done sit ups and push ups on these things many times. Maybe if this one was pink, I could see assuming it was for a woman. But this one’s a dark green.
The yoga blocks? Yeah, I’ll admit that I tend to first think of yoga as a woman’s activity, but really, it’s not exclusively for women.
After thinking about the situation for another minute, I came to the idea that maybe she just thought I looked in great shape already, and therefore didn’t need workout gear. Yeah, that’s good.
Or maybe she looked at me and figured I was in such sloppy shape that I’d never bother with a workout.
No. She definitely had to think I was buff enough, and didn’t need the equipment. I’m satisfied with that explanation. It makes the most sense to me.
Usually, this is the day when I’d post some random photograph, but I just found something hilarious I have the urge to share. So instead of spamming all my friends with an email link to this, I’ll just post it here:
