This being the last Friday of the month, we ran the usual Bro Code route (Pump to Church to Copperas to Ridgefield to Old Prescott and back to the start). For the record, Pigskin led for the first 30 yards. We were also accompanied by Wally and Lulu.
Afterwards, we finished up at Dunkin for some 2nd F.
| Twas the week before Christmas, and we in our shacks |
| Seven F3 faithful were determined, not to fart sack |
| Their workout clothes, were laid out with care |
| In the hopes it would be enough, for the chill in the air |
| The children were nestled, all snug in their beds |
| While visions of Merkins, danced in our heads. |
| Mom in her kerchief, and I in my cap |
| And me on the throne, for my pre-workout crap. |
| At Heartbreak Ridge, there arose such a clatter |
| I got out of my car, to see what was the matter |
| When what to my wondering eyes should appear |
| Seven F3 cars, but no White Deer |
| Lighthouse Frog and Atilla, are here to debate |
| Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie, but Whitesnake is late |
| Offshore Mr. Rogers and Pigskin can’t wait |
| We begin with a run, going out straight |
| Next a disclaimer, the warmup and railing |
| The carbon monoxide did not leave us failing |
| Over to the porch, and up against the walls |
| We put gravity to work, on our pair of balls |
| Prisoner getups were added, to the Jacob’s ladder |
| Then to the parking lot, but now we are sadder |
| We ran out of time, to finish the Dora |
| Maybe next time, we’ll do some mora |
| A run by the street, passing the fire station |
| To give us a chance, to admire the Christmas decorations |
| There’s be more fun this week, with the celebration of Festivus |
| It will be on Thursday, at Circus Maximus. |
| But I heard Whitesnake exclaim as he drove out of sight |
| “There’ll be coffee for all, May your kettlebell, feel light” |
The workout went something like this.
Mosey forward, Karioke left, Mosey backwards, Karioke right back to start
Disclaimer
Warmup: in cadence
Mosey to railings behind Quioccasin for 11s; Over the railings in one direction and under in the other direction)
Mosey to the wall at Quioccasin
Mosey to hill between Quioccasin and Pemberton
Mosey to wall across the parking lot at Pemberton for a Dora with
Except we ran out of time before anyone finished the Crunchy Frogs
Mosey to flag passing by the Fire Station and its decorations.
No announcements
Closeout
The gospel lesson this week included the verse from Matthew 17:20: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you”.
Mr. Rogers commented that having faith is like many things in life; it’s either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. Just like you can’t be a little pregnant, you either have faith or you don’t. A little faith is often all you need.
It was very windy today, and cold, so we immediately went over to the covered walkway and stayed there (other than the run around the Circus Maximus (bus loop).
Disclaimer: Don’t leave here with more injuries than you came with.
Warmup:
Countdown:
Partner up:
Partner up again:
Finish
Back to the flag for numberama, namerama
Announcements:
Tuesday noon: 2nd F at Firehouse Subs
COT
Many years ago, there was an advice column called ‘Ann Landers’. “Ann Landers would use the phrase “wake up and smell the coffee”. She would often use this phrase when people seemed to be denying situations that made them uncomfortable or unhappy. For example, “Dear M&L: Wake up and smell the coffee, sister. If you think this guy is going to come back to you, you’re two sandwiches short of …” (copied from Google)
Ann Landers is no longer with us. But you can still get advice from prayer.
Prayers for Gypsy, Firehouse Subs (scratch that: make it Fireman Ed, Mollie (Roger Roger’s wife) and Mary (Fudd’s sister)
Post workout coffee discussion: For two or three months, Offshore (today Mr. Rogers) has made coffee for us after the workout. There’s a percolator and we’ve found an outlet that is ‘hot’. Good discussions take place. The gender reveal for Gaudí’s second baby due around Christmas will come when the baby is born.
We decided the answer was ‘no’ so we ran to the parking deck where Dave and Buster’s is. It turns out that across the street is a really nice-looking Ford Model A(?). It is not true that I learned how to drive in that model. (I learned how to drive in a 1965 Rambler Classic.)
We started at the bottom of one stairwell with 20 merkins, ran up the stairwell, across the top level to the other stairwell, down to the bottom and back up, returning to the first stairwell and down to the bottom. I managed to get 7 ‘cycles’ in while Lighthouse did 8 and Gaudí and Whitesnake did 7.5. Then we returned the way we came back except that Lighthouse took the detour around the lake.
This is slightly warmer than the temperature outside, which was about 18 degrees.
Announcements
2nd Tuesday, 2nd F (except I will be in Charlotte for a Duke Energy retiree’s luncheon.)
The frozen tundra on the Gridiron was about 25 degrees. A great group showed up 2 days after Thanksgiving. Tater’s still got his mustache, for another week. Senor Frog is back from 4 weeks in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.
The game plan was to do 72 burpees in groups of 9 or 6. Success!
Warmup in the parking lot
Mosey to the Gridiron:
Mosey to Parking Lot on other side of Gridiron
Mosey to Wall in front of SPMS
Mosey to middle of Covered Walkway Triple Check
Mosey back to the benches beside the Gridiron. (3X)
Mosey to the parking lot for Triple Check: Timer runs around lot
Mary
Announcements
Friends of Barnabas: Gomer and I are going to Honduras next year. If you would like to contribute, 3rd F on Slack.
Likewise for Tater. He’s raising funds. https://m4krichmond.org/donate-to-a-grower/grattansmith
Circle of Trust
Thanksgiving services were routine in what became the Commonwealth of Virginia as early as 1607; the first permanent settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, held a thanksgiving in 1610. On December 4, 1619, 38 English settlers celebrated a thanksgiving immediately upon landing at Berkeley Hundred, Charles City. (One of Tater’s ancestors landed in 1619 with the group.)
George Washington designated November 26, 1789, as “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness”.
The Goochland contingent showed up along with some of the usual suspects. We’re dedicating ourselves to maintaining good habits during Thanksgiving week. We also listened to music.
Lyrics from “Okie from Muskogee” performed by Merle Haggard and the Strangers
“We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee.
We don’t take our trips on LSD.”
Atilla really liked this song.
Mosey around parking lot. Stopped at flag and give standard disclaimer
Mosey halfway around parking lot
Mosey back to flag in parking lot
Mosey halfway around parking lot
Used part of parking lot parallel to school for Grinders: Partner 1 goes to the ‘far end’ of the ‘track’ while Partners 2 and 3 stay put. Partner 3 is the first runner. Partner 3 runs to Partner 1. Partner 1 runs to Partner 2 at the ‘start’ of the ‘track’, Partner 2 runs to Partner 3, etc. If you’re not running, you’re doing the called Exercise.
Used part of parking lot perpendicular to school for 11s.
Mosey to the wall at the entrance to the school for
Back to the flag for
Announcements
Congratulations to Handshake for his Chili Cookoff Victory!
Convergence on Thanksgiving 7:00 AM (NOT PM) at Mary Mumford
Friends of Barnabas request for donations: Gomer (in January) and I (in July) will be going to Honduras. If you are so inclined, please contribute. For more information, see Slack, 3rd F Channel.
Circle of Trust
Sermon comment: Mixing Politics and Religion is like mixing Horse Manure and Ice Cream. It doesn’t improve the Horse Manure and it ruins the Ice Cream.
One of the strengths of this country is that we do not have an established church like many other countries. Or as Jesus said, “my kingdom is not of this world.” If you want to gain adherents in this country, you have to persuade others by your actions and your words.
Dear Lord, Guide us so that we glorify you in this world by our words and deeds.
No one signed up and so we did a ‘Hot Tater’. Everything described below is more or less correct.
Lighthouse with the warmup: all in cadence
Next, Burpee-Parking spots; 2X
Roger-Roger took over and we moseyed to the ‘bus loop’ in front of the school for a triple check
Atilla took over and we went to the soccer field in front of the school for
Johnsonville took over and we did 11s the width of the Soccer Field
Pigskin took over:
we went to the wall in front of the school for
Mosey to the parking lot for a few stretches
Announcements
Chili Cookoff
Convergence Thursday at 7:00 PM at Mary Mumford
Prayers for Mollie (Roger Roger’s wife), Mary (Fudd’s sister), Fireman Ed, Gypsy, Sherry (Piglet’s aunt), Piglet and Johanna (baby due in April!)
Pigskin with the COT
When I used to work for a living, one of the things I did was work at a nuclear station. Nuclear stations are very complicated and there is always a concern about Human Performance. (I was the Business Manager so fortunately, I was not responsible for running or maintaining the plant.) One of the programs that was implemented was STAR, which stands for
This same process can be used outside of work. For example, if you find yourself in a debate, Stop. Don’t feel like you have to respond immediately. Think. About what you’re going to say. Act. Say your piece. Review. Reflect upon how your words were received.
In honor of Mike Tyson, we did his eponymous exercise today. I’m sure he appreciates it.
We also avoided an opportunity to do BTTW exercises, despite requests from both the Pax and the Wall. Next time.
Mosey
Disclaimer
Warmup: in cadence
Mosey to Heartbreak Hill
Jacob’s ladder with
Mosey to football field goal line.
Mosey to outdoor basketball Court in back of school for 4 Corner Blimps with alternating Bear Crawl or Crab Walk on both short sides and mosey on the long 2 sides:
Mosey to benches in front of Quioccasin; 2x in cadence
Mosey to shovel flag and times up!
Announcements:
Whitesnake is sporting a new haircut.
Chili Cookoff: Handshake is the designated North of the River contestant.
Thought for the day:
Jeremiah 31: “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Prayers for Fireman Ed, Roger Roger’s M, Fudd’s sister, Gypsy
Four Horsemen
Pestilence, War, Famine and Death are the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Today, Pinto, Whitesnake, Lighthouse and Pigskin, the 4 Horsemen of WaThoHuk, invaded Whitesnake’s neighborhood. Unfortunately, the neighborhood’s sprinklers were on and there were scary Halloween decorations including a 12-foot tall Skeleton. So instead of bringing the Apocalypse, we brought 15 Merkins and 15 Freddy Mercurys to each Cul de Sac. That kept the sprinklers in their place, although they did threaten us by spitting streams of water to keep us off the lawns. Having laid waste to the Cul de Sacs, we left the neighborhood and returned to Pocahontas Middle School for some stretching exercises. In my mind’s eye, I can still see the trembling of the Halloween decorations.
Pinto, Whitesnake, Lighthouse, Pigskin
We caught Fireman Ed on 45-minute lunchbreak from making sandwiches. The tables were filled with sandwiches for Florida in anticipation of Milton. Topics of discussion included rotary dial and pay telephones, house refurbishments and Spider football.