Led Zepagain

"There was a feeling of no judgment, and as I glanced around the warehouse, I saw each person as an individual to be appreciated for just being himself or herself, dancing to the music."

Tony Hsieh, Delivering Happiness


Sing-A-Long type experience Thursday night. With Brigid to see Led Zep cover band, Led Zepagain at Yoshi's. Thought it a joke; kind of county fair Spinal Tap. And it was, in many respects. A very well executed, highly polished joke. Lead guitarist Steve Sukowski peeling off incendiary riffs with every guitar god pose in the book, these guys were players with a passion for the music. Add to that a camp loving audience spanning the spectrum from craggy gray-haired ex (or perhaps current) acid heads to suburban types with teenagers in tow to beer and cocktail guzzling twenty somethings who'd journeyed from Sacramento, from Stockton, Modesto and Oakdale to a rock n' roll sing a long. Guys and crowd committed to the music and it felt like a revival. Close of Stairway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlq52mZ_zmo. Big fun.

Sunday

Marsh walk with Rose, off day. Spotted a funny looking duck from about 75 yards away heading straight toward us. At about 50 yards saw it was an otter, a very very large one. It was not shy as it swam past and popped up chattering at us. Body still felt jacked up but by Monday am, better.

Early Monday, it's Presidents' day but need to get shit done, all kinds of shit, so:

10+10x5 16kg single arm swing warm up

Presses, 5+5 20kg, then 24kg to 1+1 32kgx2

10 twin 16kg front squats

5, then 3 neutral grip pull ups, 22lbs assist

5+5 sls x 2, body weight, then 16kg bu

3x

20x5 double swings, 12/16kg alternating sides

That's it, shut it down a little short 'cause Pradeep awaits later.

Four solid hours of billables.

Pradeep at 5:30. Yee hah.


Tuesday, three miles elliptical. Site inspection at mp house gets put off for a day which fucks up the schedule, end up at the Claremont until 6:40 playing Voice of Reason.

Wednesday. Busy all day, sneak in early for:

15/15 snatches, seven rep pace x 60. Chipped bell handle completely thrashes hands, will pay for this for a while.

Thursday

Work, but bail by 4:30 to do 60 min EH, then up to Yoshi's for Led Zepagain and feed Brigid.

Friday. AM, hands are fucked from Wednesday and don't think ballistics are gonna work, but Rif has been writing about long cycle press work and that sounds ok, so:

1-5+1-5 long cycle press ladders, 24 kg

10 + 10 single leg squats off this groovy new platform

10+10 65lb dumbbell rows

Deck squats, 10; 5 8, then 5 4.

3x.

Last time I did long cycle press ladders was August 2009.  My clean and press form sucked and I fucked up shoulders and elbows for a month.  That little wake up call is much of the reason why I sought out ct.  Better now, much.  Those ladders felt awesome and no fucked up joints from poor form.
Brigid texts me in the office from the two trough loop on Burdell.  She has Rose out in it per above for which I cannot be more grateful.  It's very simple: you are working.  You will sweat.  The dog is joyful.  Planned to return for round two late pm, meetings get canceled late and I can make it to Pradeep at 4:30, favorite happy hour.  60 minutes of om om om over 20 minutes of swings any day; sorry Pavel, but not really.
Saturday, walk with Rose and Ian, trying to pull him back from the edge.
Sunday
90 minute EH class. At 60 minutes slow roll of Trapeze Swinger comes through, that's gonna go for about nine minutes and then it's into Alexi Murdock which slays.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfJAh6hrCzw&feature=related.  There are about 30 people, I am betting most showed up cause it was her in front. She is a very very good teacher. It's better than church.
Three hours billable, then up to ct for hour class. Knock out 200 swings fast then a good mix of press, jerk and body weight work. Brave of her focusing on jerks in class setting, new sport bells at Equinox had got me doing some practice; long cycle with 28 felt really good and floor presses with that weight felt beastly, 32 for sure next time.  She busted me fast on the right knee caving in on the jerks.  I can fix this with practice.  As usual her form is perfect, she has no flexibility or mobility issues and it looks like she has been working hard.

Tonight. Biggest crowd for Pradeep class ever. May have been trying to prune for next week but brutal. Extended series on both sides followed by relentless plank work at end. Very very happily drenched.  Om om om indeed. 

Buckley has been sharing his experiences in Siberia. He put up this blog post, which resonates for many reasons.  http://orangekettlebellclub.net/2011/02/23/beans-and-bologna/.  Being passionate about one thing spills over into everything. I get the pleasure in simple things; taking transport to the airport, the work, the reward. The anticipation of moving iron or sweating it out on the mat improves everything up to and after; be it commute, work, or the sink full of dishes when you get home.  Make no apologies for being slow on the uptake and therefore old; I have had shit I needed to do and responsibilities to meet, and will for the rest of my time.  The others working hard in spite of their own bundle of constraints become the tribe; we don't know each other but we come together to breath and sweat or walk our dogs out in it. We are all working in our different ways, toward the same thing: be better.  It's up to you. That's the dance.
To quote John:  "You are strong, you are beautiful."
Rock on.

Blood On The Tracks

"I had a job in the great north woods
Working as a cook for a spell
But I never did like it all that much
And one day the ax just fell.
So I drifted down to New Orleans
Where I happened to be employed
Workin' for a while on a fishin' boat
Right outside of Delacroix.
But all the while I was alone
The past was close behind,
I seen a lot of women
But she never escaped my mind, and I just grew
Tangled up in blue."
 Bob Dylan

Can't let folksingers run internal soundtrack for long without getting 'round to Bob.  Owned Blood On The Tracks on vinyl, cd and now downloaded after 80 minute blowout on Thursday, during warm down in a pool of sweat, then into yoga studio, plug into sound system, swing feet up the wall, push through heels and breathe.  The last three: If You See Her, Say Hello; Shelter From The Storm; Buckets Of Rain awesome songs.  Spare, timeless.
Thursday
pushups, 20/20 10 x 8, the more careful you are the harder these get.  Last set (90-100) was brutal.
10 front squats, twin 16
10+10 65lb rows
 5+5 sls, last 5 16kg bu
3x, 10 pu last two for a total of 100.
30 24kg swings to 1+1 TGU x 5, last 32, pretty solid.
40 then 10 swings

Picking up c and b late, suggestions to take an earlier flight ignored.  Roll out of gym by 9 after great Dylan infused cool-down, Perbacco awaits.  Excellent Barbera, roasted beet salad, Tortelli; can't say it enough, god I love this town.  Sweet bartender full of knowing smiles as I drink my way through about two quarts of water and one glass of wine.  Glow dims quickly sitting in the Millbrae BART lot for 70 minutes waiting for a late plane.
Friday
60 min yoga at noon, little rocky, very late night and triceps feeling smoked.
Saturday
 Cold, pouring rain.  "Quick" drive to pick up Ronnie Law's band takes all day; but great people.  Vernell Brown, Jr. an absolute hoot, had never been to sf and was like a kid.  Can play too . . . here he is with Kenny Garrett . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHIiBewagOQ 

Sitting in car all day not conducive to good bio-mechanics.  I feel like shit but force it into gym any way for 4th circuit training session of the week.  Questionable decision goes like:
16kg swing warm-up, 10+10 x 5, straight.
Burpees to two push-ups to suitcase deads, twin 24 x 8
12 step back lunges, 18 lb. medicine ball press opposite active leg
5, 3 neutral grip pull-ups 22 lbs assist
6+6 single leg deads, 16kg
3x
none of that feels good, nervous system feels fried and body jacked up.  DOMS at triceps; swings or snatches would be a mistake; 
10 TRX rows
10 80lb bicep curls
10 delt flys, feet up, 30lbs
20 35lb skier plate swings.
3x
Delt flys feel awkward and weird over a year since I have done and it shows.  Even curls feel like crap, so much for four a week.  Feel like roadkill; rest day tomorrow.
Buckets of moonbeams in my hands.

Fractious

"1. Easily irritated; bad-tempered: "they fight and squabble like fractious children."
Some internet dictionary.

I've always liked that word.

Friday 2/11. Arm and shoulder hammering early am workout:
100 16kg swing warm up, 10+10 x 5;
20 decline pushups, feet up on bench
10 90lb barbell squat to press
10+10 65lb rows
10 deck squats , 8kg then 4kg counterbalance
3x
Coach Dos circuit, 16kg
x3

Mid thoracic spine feels mildly hinky after the 100 swing warm-up and sitting at desk all day not helping. Head to Pradeep for pm, but it does not feel there; bail after five minutes, leave it for another day. He comes up concerned; so'k, my friend.
Saturday, plan on MH 90 minutes after driving b and c to airport. But c reminds me of Ian's rehearsal sched and we did not wake him up and he has his phone off, so he will sleep right through it; have to race back. Sure enough he is still out. Roust and he gets there on time, or 25 minutes late, which seems to be the same thing. Walk ecstatic dog instead, not really instead, would have been in addition to.
Sunday
Dogwalk and watch in amazement as Ian consumed 1200 calorie breakfast. Run around, into sf for ct class. Good heavy double cleans and deck squats better still.

Monday
Back to Pradeep and this goes great; but tired, not sleeping well at all.
Tuesday
Long ass day after little sleep. Wake up stressed at 1:15 am and it's no good toss and turn.  Up at 6:20, dropping Ian in the dark.
Long day and bail to gym.
10+10 x 3 16kg warm up.
Press gets 5+5 20, 24, 1+1x2 32
5+5 sls, second round 16kg bu
10 reverse pull ups off of smith
10 deck squats
3x
60 swings and shut it down, too tired
Dinner at Kokkari w ct for her bday. Good food and company; she left the fish head.

I am not fractious by nature; it is an arrow in the quiver.  The only time I get there is if you are a dick.  We could have been business buds, chatted about the kids, gotten shit done.
But no.  You had to be a dick.  I'm gonna go get a good lunch, and bury you in a few days, when I get back around to this matter.

Looking forward to MH 5:15 all day, but phone late kills it.  Gonna be a rest day.  Catch the 6:25, pick up B at grandma's.  She feeds us, and we head back up.
Pull into wf to buy juice for am.  B wants to stay in car: "music."

Slip in GD, "I Know You Rider."

"I wish I was a headlight, on a northbound train." B in full music mode, heavy breathing, arms wide, rocking back and forth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebWm_76riIc

I love this shit; rather love you all.  Sap that way.

You're Shining; I Can See You . . .

"You're smiling, that's enough"
Shawn Colvin, Diamond in The Rough

Sing it:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdvRcFd-tGg

Shawn coopted internal dialogue this week.  Used to having a song "stuck in the head."  But for a few days after Friday she set up shop in the temporal lobes.  Rolled out the carpet, pulled up a chair, there she was in the living room between my ears.  That place is reserved for a handful on an extended basis:  Townes, Guy Clark, Gillian Welch, the Roche Sisters, Tom Rush, Steve Earle, Dave Frishberg, Pete Seeger.  And now Shawn.  Come on in; welcome, and thank you for making my skin crawl.

Sunday was a walk in the marsh, a Costco run and a dog bath. Nada mas, but the stupid bowl had to be watched. Crap food had to be eaten.  Two beers had to be consumed.   Go Pack.  The 49er's passed on Aaron Rogers in favor of Alex Smith ?   You must be fucking kidding me.


Chill, sportstalk flunky.  Monday, 90 minutes of Pradeep.  Had planned all day for kettlebells, but after 9 hours, (6.2 billable) could not resist the opportunity to be guided by someone who will make me better.  Always a sweatfest; this no exception.  Smoking combinations for 45, then dial it back, and ramp up the core work at the end.  Folks with very very strong practices laid out quivering on the mat at the end; me in a puddle.   His classes are art.
Tuesday.  Reply brief with supporting declarations in.  Done, gone, and dusted.  Gym late, still sore from Pradeep and it showed:
warmup, 100 single arm swings, 10+10x5 16kg, no breaks.
Pressfest:
5+5 20kg, 5+5 alternating 24, to 1+1x2 32.
The 32's go but are dicey.
10 twin 16kg front squats
5+3 neutral grip pullups, 22lbs assist
10 deck squats, 8, then 4kg counterbalance.  These getting much better.
3x
Swings, 20 24kg to 1+1 24 kg tgu x 5
'cept last tgu was 32.  Left side an adventure in epic fail.  Coming up shoulder clearly not sucked down and arm too far out.  70lbs comes down fast and slams into the mat; trainers had the courtesy not to look up.  Try again and fly up.  Got lucky, learned something without injury.
after 50/30/20 24kg swings, one arm work now with 24  pretty damn strong.
Today weird lunch with weird new partner.  Bail to 5:15 mh.  Waiting in line, very cute very young chinese gal starts chatting.  Model buddy next to her rolls her eyes at "oh what do you do for your upper body strength." I am old, not stupid.  I tell her kettlebells and she looks blank.  Go breathe deep and come back in ten years.  MH class is good, just the right amount of juice after Monday and Tuesday.

7:05 boat, scotch.  Get to car and Terri Gross is interviewing Rodney Crowell.  He talks about hanging with Townes and Guy Clark.  Liked him since being turned on in New Mexico, 1983 by That Woman.  Doubly so after HSB in 2006, when one of his two lead guitarists, young gunslinger Jedd Hughes, blew up the stage with black Telecaster pyrotechnics.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8euVaHyIOc&feature=related.  They did this, like Shawn, Rodney takes a cover and makes it original.  It occurs to me, late as usual perhaps 30 years or so, that there is no need to limit the talents that set up shop in your head.  The capacity to enjoy art is as limitless as the capacity to love your children (or your dog.)  It is as limitless as your ability to do things well and make yourself stronger, healthier.  It is as limitless as the universe itself, whether above you, or just part below the foot pressing hard into earth,, feeling all of it and missing nothing.

Go To The Late Show . . .

 "But I had a dream last night
Of lovers who walked the plank
Out on the edge of time
Amidst ridicule
They laughed as they rocked and reeled
Over the mining fields
Coming to rest on this ship of fools
But he just took polaroids
Of her smile in the light
Of the dawn of the menacing sky
And before they went overboard
She turned and held up a card
And it said Valentine."
Polaroids, Shawn Colvin

From: http://www.musicbabylon.com

The above looks like a decapitated At-At Walker . . . Back in SF, SOMA not NOMA but it makes no difference.  SOMA by office is blown up due to Transbay Terminal construction but it's really cool.  Road Warrior meets Class A office, glass height and no operable windows.  High speed elevators and lots of good food.  Walking around at lunch yesterday over-joyed at being here.  Three blocks from the bay.  KO so happy; this is much much better.
More office time is required which means the physical part is harder than ever.  Do nothing on Sunday, not even a dog walk.  But frankly pretty fucking sore from Saturday's blowout, which is unusual.
Monday
Pradeep's 6:30 which is 90 minutes of focused work.  We have a signing ceremony at 5:00, opt for Pellagrino not champagne.  New partner JA is there in his Stanford workout shorts and Tai Kwon Do sweatshirt, which makes me feel even better about the whole thing.  Completely drenched after Pradeep.
Tuesday
Lots of office time and then up to ct for 6:45 small group:

5 clean and press 5+5 alternating MP, 20kg, 24 for last
6+6 snatches
10+10 one arm swings 16kg
x 8
Last set up to to twins 24's and 20 on snatched and swings, should have been there the whole time
Wednesday
Two miles in am and then late MH class.
Thursday, nothing.
Friday
In early.  Week has been stressful and diet not so good, not feeling real strong.  Start with 10+10 16g one arm swings x 5.
on to main event . . .
Presses, clean 20kg, 24kg doubles and do alternating mp 5+5
1+1 32kgx2
10 front squats, twin 16kg
10 reverse pull-ups, slow slow down
10 deck squats, 8, then 4 kg for counterbalance.
3x
32kg swings 15/15, 10 reps x 5
24kg swings, fifty straight
32 kg swings, 20/10/20
24kg swings, 30/20

Better.  Long day . . .
Leave at 5:30 to go drive Shawn Colvin to her gig.  She says nothing save hello and her tour manager is a loud cheerful sort who shields Shawn through force of her own personality.  Sitting in the designated high chair, first set is a pleasant heartstabbing.
Susan S meets for second, and we are guided to seats close front off to the right.  Shawn comes out; she is in profile and we can see down the neck of her guitar.  Her hands on the strings, her lovely profile and the mike make a perfect triangle.  Set list is completely different than first set; doubling up only for a Tom Waits tune I can't remember the name of.  She is warming up and after 15 minutes she looks at the set list, makes a little face and asks folks what they want to hear.  From there on out its magic.  She picks up Tennessee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XyuzyvvyUM&feature=related, Polaroids,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TumnvSZsuTA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL Shotgun Down The Avalanche, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1PlP6_9siM&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL  covers of You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go and Talking Heads This Must be The Place http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ChC_n5JZY&feature=related.  She leans back, closes her eyes, and the songs pour out.  The audience is dead silent until a song finishes, then it erupts.  She is laying back and feeding off it, and the second set stretches to 90 minutes plus, completely different musical experience.  She finishes her three song encore on a duet with Mary Anne ? doing James Taylor's You Can Close Your Eyes.  She does not play Sunny Came Home again, for which we are appreciative.

Today, drive around all day picking up and dropping off the spawn.  Go out at dusk, for 30 minutes
15/15 16kg snatches, seven rep pace, x 60.

Late, feed Brigid and the friend.  It's 9:50 and Ian needs collection, drive down, he hops in radiant from a day of Halo and teenage conversation.  I have Shawn tripping on Polaroids, still glowing.   He listens thoughtfully for a moment:  "You mind if I put on Whipping Post"  Uh, no son.  I don't mind a bit listening to Duane and Dicky rip it up.  From there it falls to Iron & Wine and Trapeze Swinger and as usual I try to downplay the tears.
Oh,  the late  show.


I don't know no love songs, but I can't sing the blues anymore . . .