Author: Gomer Pyle

  • Brisk Sologa

    YHC found himself at his first ever Broga post with a hot potato Q and very few participants. None of his stellar compatriots ever mentioned this was a 40F and above endeavor which is really strange – not sure the appeal of hot yoga. Mister Froggy never broke his deep connection with company truck seat leather to come check out the variety of stretching and yoga poses so good that any real man would sneak a peak at the other pax just to check em out. YHC took us out – prayers for those with nothing better to do than attack everyone else.

  • I wish it would suck more!

    Two Sappers gathered in the rainy, foggy and wet gloom – that frankly really could have been more spicy weather all the way around. If anyone who could pass a psych eval was out, this is what they might have seen.

    Gomer Q

    Welcome, Disclaimer, 8 Burpees – mosey to the COP
    Shoulder / Chest / Back COP all OYO: 10x DQ, 10x Turn and Bounce, 10x upper back stretch, 10x hip rotation, 10x Deadman hang, 20x ‘mer’cans, 20x wide arm, 20x Diamond, 10x fingers out, 10x fingers in, 10x fingers back, 10x chaos ‘mer’can.
    Mosey to tunnel. Gurpee at each light (burpee with mountain climber and a squat).
    AB / Legs COP: 20x WW2, 20x flutter kick. LBCs 30x reg, 30x left leg straight, 30x right leg straight, 30x both straight, 30x 45 degree, 30x 90 degree, 10x APD. 20x sumo squat. 20x split squat

    Borat Q

    Slow Mosey to the playground – 3 rounds: 8x Pullups, 26x stepups, bear crawl around the apparatus. 5 min EMoM 10x Mercans, 15x WW2, 20x Squats.

    NMS – fun discussion about Army days and the NCOs that made the world turn. Also airmobile operations and how the Nasty Guard can do more training than a active duty armor unit in garrison. Finally ADCON leaders that need to find something else to manage.

    Get some!

  • Downrange at the General

    12 Northern Virginia Redwoods made it out on a foggy morning to see what guest Q Gomer from RVA had in store. According to the teachers who (strangely) come in a little hot on the way to work at 0555, this is what went down more or less.

    Welcome. Quick disclaimer. 9 burpee start. Mosey to the parking lot. 10 mountain climbers at each lamppost (6?)

    Full disclaimer. COP all IC: 10x Don Quixote, 10x helicopter, 10x turn and bounce, dead man hang. ‘Mer’canrama: 10x regular, 10x wide, 10x diamond, 5x fingers pointing out, 5x fingers in, 10x Ranger, 10x Shazzam(R). Ab blaster: 20x WW2 setup, 15x flutter, 15x LBC, 15x LL straight LBC, 15x RL straight LBC, 15x both straight, 15x feet up, 10x APD, Tuscaloosa Trailer park twister stretch, 15x Sumo Squat, 10x Split squats both legs. 23 minute COP.

    Mosey to center lamp post for a starfish; Burpee in the center, at the corners: 15x Mercan, 15x WW2, 15x Sumo Squats, 15x Mountain climbers. Burpee when returning to the center.

    Mosey to the corner for four corners prostitute, 15x mercan, 15x WW2, 15x Sumo squat, 15x Mountain climber.

    Mosey back to the flag, Gurpee (Burpee, touch knees, touch ankles add mountain climber and extra squat) at each lamp post.

    YHC took us out. Prayers for family with cancer, loneliness, sharing our energy in the world.

    Announcements. Chili cookoff at Ramblers. Convergences coming up. RVA mild frozen triangle this weekend.

    NMS – Thanks for the hospitality, Summit for the invite, and Gherkin helping with the recon, and site particulars. YHC has been meaning to get out on my travels to Northern VA and DC, but work schedules have been challenging until today. Hopefully next time at the General we can get on the track so we can partake in the magic. Glad all passerby’s returned our greeting – though we can always use a few more burpees. FWIW YHC received his birthname at what is now Alexandria inova hospital – just escaped to RVA with university (Go SpidURs!) and decided to stay below the snowline and out of traffic. The General has some double meeting for YHC – My 2.0 Tippecanoe (CLT) went to W&L, and some of my Lieutenants and Captains I helped grow (so I like to think) are 1 and 2 bangers now. Till Next time!

    Get some!

  • A few days down south fills the cup

    The January Friends of Barnabas (FOB) team headed down to Honduras mid Jan. After an early flight and connection in Miami we arrived in San Pedro Sula at 2:30p. Passports and customs were a breeze, there are definite improvements in the airport. Traffic was heavy but we made it to our base in Pena Blanca by 700p CT. A long day given the 3am ET wakeup. Sunday was team building and prep for the week ahead.

    Each day during the week, we start at 620a with a devotion before breakfast and then again after dinner. When we head to the communities and arrive by 9a, we set up the pharmacy and the medical, dental, vision, and physicial therapy stations. Deworming, vitiamins, and height and weight for children are set up next to the intake area. We see an average of 40 families and are on the road by 4p and finished with dinner, devotions, and ARR by 8p.

    This time, because of the epic storm Fern (snow is still meltling nearly 3 weeks later) we decided that the team needed to return a day early to beat the storm and avoid being stuck away from home. This was a good call as several volunteers needed time to prepare for the storm once they returned, but it also heightened everyones anxiety and the distraction potentially impacted what we could gain from the trip for ourselves.

    NMS – this is YHCs 10th trip to Honduras and 9th as the team lead. While we seek to serve others, YHC cannot get over how much serving others serves us in turn. As Hardywood said once – its not a question whether the glass is half empty or full – the real question is what are you putting in your cup. On these trips my cup is overflowing not just for the good that we do as a team, but also the interaction with our steadfast FOB amigos en Honduras, and finally seeing the experience through the new volunteers we bring. Most are shocked and moved to see such abject poverty – not too far away. While we have poor in the US, we also have services available and its rare that a multigenerational family of 5 -8 are living in a house of sticks and mud with dirt floors and a few sheets of tin or tarps for a roof. We have everything available here and many are miserable. The special people we visit in these remote communities have nothing with respect to our standard of living, but they have the happiness that we do not. I challenge anyone to make this trip and return unchanged. Till next year.

    Let me know if you want to learn more or check out: www.fobf.org

    Prayers for all to give their time an treasure to serve the world in this way: Pigskin is co leading a team in July. As part of a different org, Try Hard is leading a team to Nicaragua soon.

    Gitty up!

  • The Possum SoFl – DownRange

    Apehangers graciously went way out of his way to pick YHC up / 4x headed down I 595 and even provided a coupon in exchange for a little 2nd F cheer. Our Q solidly dealt with getting 1% better every time despite constant jeering for having a winkie inked on the palm of his hand. All in all a good workout with a great group of guys

  • Return of a Site Q Kotter

    On a <20F morning and after a bit of a break we were happy to see attendees from our targeted neighborhood – well one anyway – to join 4 regulars and surprise visit from the Whitest of all Snakes. According the lady that always scoots by in the middle of COP, this is what went down more or less.

    Welcome: Slow 8 burpees Start. Mosey to COP

    Verbal welcome, disclaimer, mission. COP: 32 mountain climbers, 10 Shazam; 10 sumo squats.

    Mosey to tunnel. Easy Dora. At each lamp. OYO 10 mercan, 20 ww2, 30 LBC: 50, 100, 150 totals.

    Plank for the 6. Pickle pounders.

    Climb the hill for Mercan Rama OYO rounds of 10: Regular, wide, diamond, chuck, Ranger, fingers in, fingers out (missed chaos and tyson)

    Mosey to wall 3 rounds: 20 dips, 10 decline Mercans, 15 crunchy frogs. 20 Squats. 10 bulgarian split squats each side.

    LBC-oRama, APDs, Straight leg APDs each side. Tuscaloosa Trailerpark Twister stretch.

    Mosey back to the flag, squats at stoping points along the way. 

    4 corners. 40 mountain climbers, 30 LBC, 20 WW2, 20 Gurpee: touch knees, ankles, drop, pushup, mountain climber, up, jump.

    Ab Ring of fire.

    Atilla took us out. Bridge on 1/24, Frozen triangle coming up.

    2F at Starbucks.

    NMS – Great seeing Borat is working to keep this thing from dying and glad that Whitesnake joined us for the first time today. This AO has surprisingly a lot to offer and its fun trying different things. Lets make it great!

    Get some!

  • Running! plus Accountabilty Dora

    13 of Westhoes finest gathered to see how far Gomer was going to run today. Acording to our Krav Maga friend and the friendly dog walker, this is what went down, more or less.

    Welcome. 8 Burpee start. Disclaimer. Move to COP.

    All exercises in cadence. 50 Mountain climbers. 50 LBC. 10 Don Quixote. 10 Turn n bounce. Arm circles 10 small, 10 big, reverso, overhead claps, seal claps. 10 Mercans. 10 Shoulder taps. 10 waist taps. 10 ankle taps. 10 foot taps. 10 kick throughs. 10 tony hawks. Run around lot.

    15 LBC, 15 right leg straight, 15 left leg straight, 15 both legs straight, 15 45 degree legs, 15 90 degree legs. 15 flutters, 15 Hello Dolly, 15 Rosalita. 10 APD. Tuscaloosa stretch. 15 sumo squats. 10 split squats each leg. Run around lot.

    Accountability Dora, 2 pairs of 2 pax- add the smallest number from partners on each iteration. 100 decline mercans with feet on concrete barriers, 200 dips, 300 LBC with feet on wall. Sumo squats for the six and for time.

    YHC took us out. Prayers for healing, travelers, and those looking for work. Coffeeteria at Starbucks with about half the crew.

     NMS – tclaps to Fudd for showing up early AND doing a few laps to get some extra cardio in. Great to see Wojo back out.

    Thanks for letting me lead.

    GET SOME!

  • Hawt Patater with Tater

    According to the compact convertible that saw Taters orange vest before running us over, three guests of neighborhood residents did a hot potato. Gomer started off with a COP. Tater did a few triple checks. Atilla did a series of pull ups, dips, and squats. Atilla took us out.

    NMS – By official decree we resolved that if Roger Roger doesnt email Splinter we are staging a coup. The committee is happy to report that Roger Roger did the deed.

  • Let there be light

    8 Balls Deepers showed to see how many APDs were practiced last night. According to the slow drive by SUV, this is what went down more or less.

    Gitty up start: 8 Burpees. Welcome. Disclaimer. Mosey to the first circle for the CoP.

    All IC: 51 Mountain Climbers, 10 Sumo Squat, 10 Helicopters, 10 Turn n Bounce

    Arms: 20 Arm Circles, 20 Reverso, Keep em up: Hands up, Hands down, 10 Overhead Claps, 10 Seal Claps. 20 Mercans OYO, 10 Mercans, 5 Diamond Mercans, 5 wide arm Mercans, 5 regular Mercans with fingers pointing at each other, 5 Ranger Mercans.

    Abs: 25 WW2 OYO, 50 LBCs, 10 Left Leg Straight LBCs, 10 Right Leg Straight, 10 both Legs Straight, 10 Legs up 45 LBC, 10 Legs 90 LBC. Stretch the trunk. 10 Flutter Kicks, 10 Hello Dolly, 10 Rosalita 10 APD, Tuscaloosa Trailer Park Twister(r) stretch.

    Legs: 10 Split Squats each leg.

    Short Mosey to the light poles. Lazy Dora: 100 merkins, 150 WW2, 200 squats Stopping at each of 9 light poles + one bonus stop. And Tater said let there be light, and it was goo.

    Mosey back to the flag: 5 minutes of Mary, ring of fire style with a variety of ab exercises x 15. Roger Roger finished it off with some pickle pounders.

    Roger Roger took us out. Prayers for those alone, seeking healing, health for PAX and family members.

    NMS – Good mumble chatter on the lazy Dora. Had to be there.

  • Army of One

    Yes it was snowing – yes it was slippy – that does not stop folks from heading out though. The Q gave a few more minutes grace for the unexpected car clean up and then got to it. According to the geese a laying and the swans a swimming on the lake this is what went down, more or less.

    Burpee warmup. Recon the trails around Wellesley past the tennis courts, down by the basketball courts and around the lake. The decking at the clubhouse is still under construction so was not able to complete the trek around the lake and hit time when headed BTTVSF. Only one other set of footprints out there from part of the way. Quiet.


    YHC prayed for the PAX and their families in the holiday season. 2F at Einsteins with Hutton and Handshake.


    NMS – Solo posting is tough – but since no one else was out on foot – and just a few cars made for plenty of winter wonderland. It really was coming down at one point and was strange seeing ducks / geese with their backs covered in snow paddling round the lake.

    PSA – Please clean up your cars completely for visibility and safety – you are not qualified to drive a tank through a minimal periscope view and we are not in combat zone where we dont have to worry about what we run over. Further, frozen sheets flying off of VAN and SUV roofs can create driving hazards and injuries. Safety is worth the extra 15 seconds to do it right.

    Get some!