Author: Mr Rogers

  • Beatlemania, sort of

    23 strong at Circus Maximus today. That’s just another Thursday for this AO, at least as of late. Great to see pax from 8 years old to whatever Whitedeer is.

    Today was a celebration of John Lennon, as he would have turned 85 today if he wasn’t needlessly gunned down many years ago in NYC.  But he was, so he was honored today with trivia, a listening session of his best songs and general Beatlemania with Kettlebells. However, the battery-powered speaker had other plans. We got through a few songs before the speaker finally ran out of juice and then we had to switch to the phone – a poor substitute indeed.

    Circle up for COP and Beatles trivia with the penalty of Burpees for wrong answers: Introduction, Disclaimer, SSHs. Trivia question 1 for those playing along at home: What city are the Beatles from? Liverpool. Well done Pax. No penalty burpee. Deadman Hang. What year did the Beatles form or what year did they break in America starting off the phenom known as Beatlemania – either year was considered correct. No one knew either. 1960 and 1964 , respectively. The pax Burpeed. DQs. Which member infamously said the band was more famous than Jesus?  Here is where Bootleg took over and showed off his Beatles knowledge. John Lennon said it. And the quote remains controversial to this day. But what many misunderstand is that he was lamenting social decay, not boasting about his band’s success. Next up: Mt Climbers. Next Trivia question: What year did they disband? Bootleg again. 1970. No burpee. WWIIs. What year was Lennon shot? Bootleg again. 1980. No burpee. Merkins. By who? You guessed it: Bootleg again with the answer: Mark David Chapman. No burpee. Recover. Bootleg later confessed to being a self-described geek and Beatles fan. Well done sir!

    Triple check. Beatle Crawl to the end of the parking lot and run back while P2 did Press and P3 did High Pulls. Plank work for the 6.

    More Fun Facts: Light mumble chatter about the “5th Beatle” emerged. It was Pete Best. Drummer from 1960-62. He was dismissed for his drumming, or lack there of, and the band just preferred Ringo’s personality and skills. Pete Best still lives in Liverpool, created the Pete Best Band in 1988 and he collects royalties from the 1995 Beatles Anthology project.

    Back to business: Next round.  Timer runs.  1 burpee at the edge of lot.  P2 did Lawn Mower Pulls and P3 did Curls. Flutters for the 6.

    Next round.  Timer runs and again did 1 burpee at the edge of lot. P2 did Sumo Squats and P3 did Sit & Press. Al Gore for the 6. Recover.

    Line up on the Curb:
    Overhead Pulls.
    American Hammers.
    Swings. 3 rounds.  

    Circle up for Mary: Flutters with press, Box cutters, WWIIs, 60 second leg hold. Aaaaaaaaand time! Recover.

    Numbers. Names.  Announcements: Joey’s Hotdogs on 10/14 at 12pm for 2nd F lunch. Heavy Metal Kettle next week at Circus (10/16). Bring a KB and your grandma’s wig. Bootleg is leading a group to The Bridge on 10/25. Come on out. You won’t regret it.
    Prayer Requests: None. YHC took us out.
    Moleskin: Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of your self less. Go do something good for someone else today. And listen to some Beatles. They really did revolutionize popular music. SYITG!

  • The Hype Man Fartsacked

    After hyping my first Heartbreak Q, Handshake turned off the alarm, thinking he’d just rest his eyes for a minute. Soon thereafter, while he continued to wallow in the fartsack, 21 Gloom Warriors got after it. Following an introduction and disclaimer, COP started with SSHs, DQs, Arm Circles, WWIIs and Mt. Climbers. Next, while still in COP, we got the heart rate up: we ran in place, only stopping for a few firecracker jumps, burpees, merkins, etc. Recovery. Enough of that: Let’s roll!

    From QMS over to PES for a triple check: P1 scrambles up the stairs, bear crawls over to the other stairs, run down and does a lap, while P2 does Heels to Heaven and P3 does squats. Borat was jump squatting like an NBA star while Whitesnake regaled us with tales from across the pond. Done. Quick 10 count. FEBA! Let’s mosey.

    Dora time. Partner up. 100 merkins. 150 crunchy frogs. 200 SSHs. Hope we didn’t disrupt the Tomatoes too badly as we sprinted past them with sweat flying. Enough of that, back over to QMS.

    Circle up for some of Mary’s ugly step sister w/ ADHD: Core exercises, OYO, no count, no stopping, just change when the next one is called. FMs, flutters, Box cutters, V-ups, and more WWIIs. Almost done. No time for stopping now: Grab a pole. 20 polesmokers. 5 Imperial Squat Walkers. 10 Mike Tysons. All OYO. I saw Gold Digger done early. Had to keep that beast moving: Repeato was the call.

    Mosey BTTF for a 60 second leg hold…aaaaaaaaaand done! Way to work fellas!

    Numbers. Names.

    Announcements: 1.) Saturday, 10/4, Handicap Build in Midlothian, starting about 9:30am. Get with Gomer for details. Come on out, get your hands dirty and help someone that could use it. 2.) Lighthouse, Blue Moon and YHC will table the Out of the Darkness suicide awareness walk on Sat, 10/4, in Dogwood Dell area. We aim to be set up by 7:45am. We’re hoping that there will be lots of men to speak to about the answer that F3 is to the mental health crisis. 3.) Likewise, EF Hutton plans to set up a table at Tuckahoe Little League, also on Sat, 10/4, to share the awesomeness of F3. So look out for lots of baseball dads coming to an AO near year. Get your thinking caps on and start coming up with lots of insulting nicknames.

    Prayer Requests: None today. YHC took us out.

    Moleskin: When you eventually solve the handful of problems you have today (or they just pass, as all things inevitably do), you’ll then have new problems. They will never leave. But don’t lose heart. There are a million and one things going right today. Take note of them. We are blessed to have another day to be alive. Use it. Look for an opportunity to encourage someone who needs it. Try to be a little better than you were yesterday. Try to think a little less about yourself and notice something you can do for another. Have a great day fellas! And I’ll SYITG!

  • The Venus de Milo of Workouts

    Introduction. Disclaimer. Announcement that this workout would have no arms (savin’ em for Circus). Pigskin made the witty comment, “like Venus de Milo”, and the title was solidified.

    COP done surrounding an intersection in West Broad Village with everyone on a different corner. That was a first. SSHs, DQs, Cherry Pickers, jump 1x, 2xs, and 3xs as high as you can. Recover. Done recovering. Let’s mosey to the Gazebo.

    The thang: 5 Imperial Squat Walkers, 10 Heals to Heaven, 10 single-count lunges, 10 crunchy frogs at the Gazebo and then run around the lake – rinse and repeat.

    BTTF w/ 5 min to spare: Mary was the call (LBCs, FMs, Peter Parkers, 30-sec leg hold). Recover. Mission Accomplished: No arm work at all. Nice work men!

    Numbers. Names.

    Announcements: 1.) There is no set amount of time you must be in F3 before Qing. If you haven’t Q’ed before, give it a go. Ask someone about it and get signed up. You won’t regret it. 2.) Plus One’s band, Heaviside, who rock btw, and can be found on Spotify and Apple Music, will be playing this Sat, 9/27, at Basic City Beer Co (Plus One, if i got that wrong, please correct me in the comments). First band is at 7pm. His band goes on 2nd: Not too bad for any old fogies considering going. 3.) Green Hornet, Gold Digger and Borat know how to drive. They arrived today without Roger Roger’s Clown Car.

    Prayer Requests: Prayers for Roger Roger’s FIL who is currently in the hospital. We missed you today RR – hope to see you at Circus.

    YHC took us out.

    Do something for someone else today! SYITG!

  • Wally Got A Haircut

    After Wally was complimented for going to the groomer and I was told I probably should go too, we were off. Pigskin left a little early to arrive on time and Roger Roger and Green Hornet left a little late to arrive a little late, but we all made it – except for Professor X and Tool Time and Blackout – where are those dudes?!?

    COP at West Broad Village: Introduction, totally forgot the disclaimer (send me your medical bills), arm circles, DQs, cherry pickers, recover.

    The Thang: The Pax was informed that we’d randomly stop and perform MICS (10 Merkins, 10 Imperial Squat Walkers, 10 Crab Cakes & 10 SSHs). MICS were supposed to be the main event. As a little fun aside, I declared that everyone had Executive Burpee Power and could randomly stop the Pax and demand 5 burpees. If these powers were not exercised, then all remaining burpees would need to be completed by all once BTTF. I thought it was implied that everyone could use this awesome power once. Apparently not. I believe it was Pinto that threw his weight around before leaving COP, then Tater started double dipping, it was burpee madness, I only got about 2 MICS in, my bad shoulder starting hurting, Executive Powers had to be revoked, leaving Plus One without even having used his. Roger Roger said we stopped for burpees 15 times (there were 13 of us). 5 burpees each time. Tater did some quick number crunching and let us know we did exactly 437 burpees. Job well done men!

    BTTF: Numbers. Names. Announcements: You are allowed to sign up to Q WTH. Party at Taters for Pinto and Gypsy on Sat, 9/6, starting around 4pm. Bring a side or dessert. Left of July (Whitesnake’s band) plays at Brambly Park (I googled it, this place looks cool) at 8pm also on 9/6. 2nd F at Firehouse Subs in Innsbrook on Tues, 9/9 at 12pm. No prayer requests today. YHC took us out.

    Special shout out to the still friendly but no longer new guys: Full House and Fortran, way to keep showing up and getting after it. Great to have you guys joining us!

    Moleskin: Look for a chance to be helpful today. Try to think about others a little more and yourself a little less.

    Thx for letting me lead today gents. SYITG!

  • Welcome Full House & Tool Time

    Warm up on the bus loop with some high knees, butt kickers and karaokes.

    COP: Welcome and disclaimer, especially to Jason and Brennan, two buddies of Roger Roger from his hood. SSHs, 1 burpee OYO, DQs, 2 burpees OYO, Cherry Pickers, 3 burpees OYO, Mt. Climbers, WWIIs, 4 burpees OYO, Merkins & 5 burpees OYO.

    The Thang:
    7s at the loading dock.  We did Mike Tyson’s at the top and Flutter Kicks at the bottom. 

    Next stop by the hill under then black top.  Got the pax to select random numbers by sharing digits from their soc, year of marriage and phone number.  Ran and up and down the hill this many times.  And now I will hack their accounts. 

    East Coast Vs. West Coast 90s Rap Battle: Count off 1s, 2s. 1s (Team Biggie) go to eastern part of US map on blacktop and 2s (Team Tupac) go to the west coast.  Teams competed to finish exercises first (forget form).  Losers did 5 burpees.  Each team was permitted to have a teammate take on more of an exercise to help a slower pax.  But the correct number had to be done before saying “Done!”.   Exercises: 100 SSHs, 90 Flutter Kicks, 80 LBCs, 70 Cassius Clays, 60 squats, 50 Freddy Mercuries,
    40 Imerperial Walkers, 30 dry docks, 20 wwiis, 10 burpees. The east side won a couple. West side won a couple. I think we all won: No one got shot.   

    Moving on: 7s at the Pull Up bars: Pull Ups and Jump Squats. 

    Finish w/ a Baby Beast at the Blacktop:
    3 stops of 3 counts of Crab Cakes, Imperial Squat Walkers, Diamond Merkins, Box cutters aaaaaaand time! BTTF.  

    Numbers: 11 strong on a Monday.

    Names: Roger Roger delivered us the heroic GreenHornet from his neighborhood. And now, today he brought 2 more. Jason, who once lived in the bay area, has 3 children, 2 of which are twins got saddled with the moniker Full House. Welcome Full House!

    Roger Roger also brought Brennan. Brennan built his own home, has a new baby and I believe builds data centers. He left thinking his name is Meta. But I just dont like it – and I was the Q. So, please let him know, we’re continuing w/ the 80’s sitcom theme and he’s Tool Time. Welcome Tool Time!  

    Announcements: Labor Day Convergence on 9/1 at 7am at Dog Pile. Party at Taters on 9/6 (bring the M and a side dish and plz let him know if ur coming). Party at L Woods on 9/13. 

    Prayer requests: Roger Roger just lost a friend, his age. This family of 2 children and a wife will be left without a dad. And he has another buddy who was hit by a car while walking. This gentleman remains in a coma. Similar family make up. Please pray for both of these families. Strive to avoid our natural tendency for negative bias (to notice and focus on what’s wrong) and count your blessings. Additional prayer request made by Seymore for children/young adults going back to school.  YHC took us out.

    Thx for letting me lead. Go do something good for someone else today. SYITG!

  • Will Magnum PI Ever Return?

    With less regulars (looking forward to the return of Gypsy, Pigskin, Lighthouse, EF and Whitesnake, to name a few) and more new brothers (GreenHornet and Plus One have been getting after it daily – but where is Banjo today – not to mention Magnum PI – will that guy ever come back from Peru or is he leading a tribe of like-minded conservatives living deep within the jungle?), 6 of us headed out to battle the mean streets of Westhoe. Seems like we hit all the hills with a little Falconbridge, then Raintree, past the covered bridge with a new stop at Buffapple (this hill is no joke), up Summerside, down Glen Eagle, then back to the start, but seeing it anew, with fresh eyes, as we all learned much along our journey.

    All made it back to the flag in one piece and with the same number of dogs. Success! Nice work Gloom and Wally.

    Numbers. Names. Announcements. Bridge and Home-grown 1/2 on 8/16. Labor Day Convergence on 9/1 at Dog Pile at 7am. No prayer requests. YHC took us out.

    Look for someone that might need an encouraging word or some help today. Look for these opportunities and seize the moment. Be the man God designed you to be and step up to help.

    SYITG!

  • No Bourbon for Banjo

    14 came out for another installment of Circus Maximus w/ YHC hosting. As a few stragglers arrived, we began:

    COP: SSHs, 1 Burpee, DQs, 2 Burpees, Cherry Pickers, 3 Burpees, Mt. Climbers, WWIIs, 4 Burpees, Merkins and 5 Burpees. While we pushed hard during Burpees, Gypsy drank his coffee.

    The Thang: 15 Overhead Presses, 15 High Pulls, 15 Curls (for the cougars), 15 Sumo Squats, 15 Sit ‘n’ Press, 15 Overhead Pulls, 15 Flutters – all OYO. Take a lap. Repeat, but 12. Then 9, 6 & 3.

    Amandas (Like a Lindsay, but 20 is the magic number) on the picnic tables. We did step ups (with the KB of course) and Lawn Mower Pulls. 15-5, 10-10, & 5-15. Somewhere in there Gypsy had a fall and his left ankle immediately began to swell. If you see him around, tell him to not run on it. He’s stubborn and will need many of us to tell him to rest it.

    Triple check: Timer bear crawls about 40 ft to a light post and runs back. P2 did Curls and P3 did Overhead Press.

    And time!

    Numbers. Names.

    Announcements: 8/16 – Homegrown 1/2 and see UpChuck about a trip to The Bridge. See Fudd and Green Hornet about playing 100 Holes of Golf.

    Prayer Requests: Continued prayers for little Charlotte, Fireman Ed’s recovery, Fudd’s sister Mary and now Gypsy’s ankle. YHC took us out, asking that God, the great healer, heal our wounds, those seen and unseen, those spoken and unspoken.

    Thx as always to Offshore for providing coffee, which leads to a great chance for 2nd F. Today, some Bourbon Cream got set out by the coffee. Banjo, computer scientist slash coder extraordinaire and recent graduate of Penn State, claims he’s 22, but we all needed to see some ID so we wouldn’t get charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, while drinking at 6:15am behind the local high school. Just another day at the circus with these clowns.

    Have a great day fellas! Go do something for someone else.

    SYITG!

  • This was a wet one.

    Decided against seeking shelter and instead chose to embrace the suck, which was due to plenty of rain from tropical depression Chantel. Take a field trip and Mosey to orthopedic parking lot in Green Gate. COP: Arm circles, cherry pickers, DQs, SSHs, Mt. Climbers, WWIIs and Merkins.

    The thang: Since we were already completely soaked at this point, why not roll around the entire parking lot. We lined up at the base of the lot and Hopped to the next parking space and then did 3 merkins on each white line. To get back, lunge and do 5 FMs. Then Bear Crawl and 2 Jump Squats. Lastly, crab walk 1/2 way back, w/ 2 LBCs.

    Mosey and Grab some curb.  Toe taps in cadence. Then 10 Merkins in cadence. 3Xs.

    Time for fun on Strange’s Hill:
    Run up it.  10 AHs. Mosey down. Back up for V-ups. Mosey down. Back up for Reverse crunches.

    Next, I took a page out of Tater’s book and we did 1 Burpee at each parking space along Stranges parking lot running parallel to Broad. Tater said he took that page from Atilla’s book. Blue Moon suggested we get rid of the book. Chicharon suffered in silence.  

    Stop for an Amanda (Lindsay’s go to 40, Amanda’s go to 20) at the elbow of the parking lot. 
    15 SSHs and 5 WWIIs.   Then 10 & 10.  And lastly 5 and 15. 

    Triple Check. With an awkward 5 today, 2 people became P1, the timers, who ran about 1/2 way along the front of stranges parking lot and back.  2 more people became P2 and did squats (JS if ya got ’em).  P3 was just one person and he did Heels to Heaven. 

    Mosey BTTVF aaaaaaand TIME! Recover.

    Numbers. Names. Announcements: See Whitesnake about a trip to The Bridge on 7/19. See Tater about a workout, fun in the sun and boating at Lake Anna on 7/26. Prayers for our brothers digging deep to battle vices this Dry July. Prayers for more Patience and Understanding as we trudge forth becoming the men God intended us to be. Go do something for someone else today. SYITG!

  • Dutch Olympians Unite

    Having gotten the memo, 3 gloom stallions descended upon Pocahontas MS, all donning bright orange shirts. The clock struck 5:30am and like Dutch Olympians going for gold, we were off. COT consisted of some SSHs, arm circles, cherry pickers, DQs, Mt climbers, WWIIs & a 60-second leg hold while YHC defined today’s version of BLIMPS (5 Burpees, 5 Lt. Dans, 5 Imperial Walkers, 5 Merkins, 5 Plank Jacks & 5 SSHs). We went behind the school, took Wally (my dog) off the leash, did a lap and then did a BLIMPS. Then another lap. And another BLIMPS. Lap. Blimps. Lap. Blimps. Lap. Blimps. With seconds remaining, we knocked out 30 FMs. And time!

    Numbers. Names. Announcements: Joey’s Hot Dogs next week (6/10) at 12pm for 2nd F. The Summer Tour continues. Prayer Requests: Continued prayers for Mary Hart, Roger Roger’s post surgery recovery and having received his final treatment, we prayed that Fireman Ed will have a full and complete recovery. Fun fact: while enduring treatments and this entire process, Fireman Ed leveled up to a heavier kettlebell at Circus Maximus. Far out!

    Thought for the day: Each day is a gift. How often do we do something for the last time, unaware this is the case? Tmrw is not promised. Today, treat it like it’s special. Try to stay present. Be kind. Try your best.

    SYITG!

  • No FNGs Today

    Circle up for COP: Introduction, Disclaimer, SSHs, DQs, Cherry Pickers, Arm Circles, Mt Climbers, WWIIs & Merkins.  Recover. Start walkin’.

    Walking w/ the Bell: we walked towards the front of the school doing High Pulls, Overhead Press and Curls – each exercise interrupted by 5 Burpees (OYO).  We stopped along the way to do some Pull Throughs & Calf Raises on the curb. 

    Triple Check along the front of the school.  P1 runs to a tree and back.  P2 Sit & Press.  P3 Lawn Mowers. Recover. Rest the arms for moment: 20 Heels to Heaven (OYO).

    Back to walking while doing High Pulls, Overhead Press and Curls – each again interrupted by 5 Burpees (OYO).

    Next Up? “Don’t Touch My Bell Bro”:
    How to play: Step 1.) Go to front parking lot, to attract FNGs 2.) Form 2 parallel lines.  3.) Both lines do 10 AMs, then leave your Bells in place and Crab Walk to the parallel line.  4.) Pick someone else’s Bell and execute 10 AMs (those arriving first got their pick, I got stuck with the behemoth that Off Shore calls a Kettle Bell).  5.) Same idea but with Bunny Hops.  6.) Then Lunges. 7.) Lastly, Bear Crawls. 

    Start walking back towards our Coffee Club House, where no girls are allowed, while doing High Pulls, Overhead Press and Curls – each, this time, punctuated by various core exercises. 

    Regarding our walk to the front of the school, to honor Gomer on his bday week, I took his suggestion for attracting FNGs and moved the workout today. We tried to look awesome doing our reps to attract local Westhoians, but that didn’t seem to work. Next, we tried accosting people. Salt Lick took a stab at it first. He got ignored as he called out to a man running. White Deer wanted to recruit a hot lady runner, but the wisdom of the Pax got him to cool his jets. We considered it might be safer for the community to have us tucked away behind the school. Back there, we found a man walking his dog. He acknowledged our invitation, but didn’t show interest. However, I could tell, his dog wanted to join us. So, there’s hope. But for now, the coffee pot and the workout will remain behind the school. The jogging women of Westhoe can rest easy.

    On the way back, we stopped by the picnic tables for an Amanda (Lindsays go to 40, Amandas go to 20). 
    15 Step Ups on the picnic table and 5 WWIIs.   Then 10 & 10.  And lastly 5 and 15. 

    BTTF for a lil Mary (FMs, Flutters, 60 second leg hold). Done!

    Numbers. Names. 

    Announcements:
    Showing of “Join or Die” on 4/28 at 6:30am w/ OBT at The Byrd, discussion on Connection/Loneliness to follow.

    Bridge Sat Apr 26 Corned Beef.  May 10 Big Herm. 

    Csaup May 2.

    Westhoe Csaup Team Meeting after Circus Maximus next week, 5/1. Honeydo & Hutton, come join us. Offshore will make coffee just for you guys.

    Prayer Requests: None today. YHC took us out.

    Moleskin: We all want others to be patient with us, to give us grace and kindness. Let’s move into this day intentionally and make an effort to extend the same to others. Thx for letting me lead. SYITG!