Waffle House – Page 2

A Kiss

April 1, 2023 Lillydipper

THE SCENE: Wet on ground, windy, but the rained stopped right as we were beginning the workout. Temperature about 60 degrees.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
Bernie Sanders around the parking lot, 20 Plank Jacks, 10 Mountain Climbers, 10 Rockettes, 10 Twisties, 10 Dive Bombers, 10 Cherry Pickers.
THA-THANG:
Mosey to the pavilion to do 20 Bench Dips. Then divide up into teams of two. Mosey to the trailer behind my car in the parking lot across the street from the AO parking lot. Each team grabs two bricks out of my trailer. Mosey back to the west end of the AO parking lot. We will will be doing Doras. While one partner on a team of two runs to the other end of the parking lot and does 10 Rocky Balboas (both legs = 1) and runs back, the other partner works on the exercises listed below. Then partners switch off. Here are the exercises:

100 Overhead Presses
100 Triceps
100 Curls
100 Rows
100 Punches (where both hands = 1)
100 Wings Up
100 Wings Down
100 Wings Out

Mosey back to the trailer to put the bricks away. Bernie Sanders one time around the parking lot.

Mosey to the AO parking lot again. We will be doing a Kraken. We will be doing the exercises at each of the six cones set up in the parking lot. When finished with the exercise at one cone, each man should do a full circle of all cones before going to the next cone. Here are the exercises:

Cone 1: 20 Big Boy Sit Ups
Cone 2: 10 Burpees
Cone 3: 20 Box Cutters
Cone 4: 20 Diamond Merkins
Cone 5: 20 Iron Mikes (both legs = 1)
Cone 6: 15 Shoulder Taps (both shoulders = 1)
Those finishing first rinse and repeat until the six has finished all six sets of exercises.

Mosey back to the parking lot across the street with the trailer. We will be running up the Dragon, stopping at every other light post to do 10 Merkins. When men reach the parking lot at the end of the Dragon they will run to the street and then go down Mini-Cardiac to the parking lot with the trailer. They will then Bernie Sanders around the parking lot.

Mosey to the parking lot near the nice restroom. We will go from one curb to the others in the following manner: Hop 15 times, Bear Crawl for 30 paces, then Bernie Sanders to the curb. We will then go back to the other curb in the following manner: Do 25 El Capitan’s, Bear Crawl for 25 paces, then Bernie Sanders to the curb.

Mosey to the Playground. We will do 20 American Hammers.

Mosey to the AO.

MARY:
25 Hello Dollies (4 count), 25 Flutter Kicks (4 Count). Then we will do a minute of stretching.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
9 Men, no FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
I am not a University of Miami Hurricanes fan. But, I do like their basketball team’s coach, 73-year-old Jim Larranaga. It wasn’t until recently that I knew his name. When I watched Miami win games in last year’s March Madness and this year’s March Madness, I just called him the “Old Man.” I have since learned that he is an amazing coach who has won all kinds of awards coaching for different colleges. He was the coach of that 11th seeded George Mason team who got to the Final Four in 2006.

Now he has the Miami Hurricanes in the Final Four and his team will be playing against Connecticut today. I saw the Old Man interviewed on the basketball court amidst the hoopla after Miami beat number 1 seeded Houston to get to the Elite 8 this year. One of his players, Nijel Pack, was asked to be interviewed after the coach. What did the Old Man do before he went off to the locker room? He leaned over and kissed Nijel on the side of his head. I love seeing that kind of affection between coach and player. Later, in the locker room, the Old Man was seen dancing with his team, all of the players laughing and hooting at their 73-year-old coach with obvious love as he was doing the old man shimmy. It was a funny and heart-warming thing to observe.

A major reason I love F3 so much is that we also have that heart-warming affection amongst us. One of our new members, Voltage, joined our brotherhood less than two weeks ago. I talked to him after the workout. He has lived in Knoxville a number of years and, being from another country, has been a bit lonely. He has been looking for a group of friends that he can be a part of. I told him he has found it with F3.

Gents, I don’t want to embarrass you, but a reason why we come to F3 here in Knoxville is to get the kind of affection from other men that is similar to that kiss the the Old Man laid upon the head of Nijel Pack. How does that affection reach us? In all kinds of ways. It’s as simple as bros yelling out “Hey Pusher” or “Hey Drum Major” when they show up for the morning workout. It’s Crawdad teasing me about having dope in my veins and you guys persistently mentioning I must have my stimulator with me when I am somehow able to keep up with you on the mosey. It’s the ribbing Swimmies gets every time he shows up late for a workout. It’s us getting on High-Heels for getting through 25 rounds of whatever exercise in ten seconds. It’s whoever is on Q making sure we do Dive Bombers when Choir Boy is around or doing Cherry Pickers because we know that Crawdad hates them. It’s us groaning at Pluto’s puns. It’s us knowing that Waffle House is going to wear those crazy yellow mittens in the winter or that Pele is going to leave his circular sweat of integrity around his feet at the end of a summer workout. It’s giving Jinxy hell when the employees at Panera Bread screw up another one of his orders. It laughing at Lebowski with his crazy robe and Matlock leaving those hilarious posts on Slack. We are a team, a band of brothers, dropping those idiotic displays of affection on one another. I thank God for it. Now, where did I leave that stimulator.?

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for the people of Nashville and those impacted by the shooting at the school. Prayers to those in Arkansas impacted by the tornadoes last night. Prayers for safety Pusher’s youngest son who just got his drivers license. Also, prayers for Pusher and his wife as it can be stressful to see one’s child go off driving alone for the first time.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Shovel Flag making at I-Beam’s house today. Haw Ridge coming in two weeks. We need to start working on making obstacles for Hardship Hill which will be on Memorial Day.

When Does Your Name Come Up

February 12, 2023 Crispr

THE SCENE: Cloudy with a chance of character building
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER done
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH, cherry pickers, rockettes, this and thats, twisties, and more SSH
THA-THANG:
Insert information about the workout.

Paula Aboul with imperial walkers
Ring of Fire merkins and squats
Joe Louis / Iron Mikes / Rocky Balboas
Obamas and Bernies
Lt Dans
William Wallace (relay style)
Bill Murray
Jerry Rice

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
18
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
My wife was selected by KCS to go back to grad school (again!) for more education on literacy. She’s in her final course, which focuses on mentoring other teachers to become more proficient and effective reading teachers. Her school had more than one teacher selected for the program, which brings this story to life. As the professor was describing their final project, and the type of person to look for for this project, she turned to her colleagues, and they all simultaneously said, “Ms. Cooper”.

Then I asked myself the question, “When there is a topic of conversation, when does the room simultaneously say, “David”? What characteristics and behaviors do I demonstrate that people will immediately associate with me? I challenge you to consider this question for yourself. When does your name come up in conversation?

Distracted

January 21, 2023 Lillydipper

THE SCENE: Sunny, temperature about 30 degrees.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
Motivators starting with seven, 10 Windmills, 10 Twisties, 10 Rockettes, Standing Stretches.
THA-THANG:
Mosey to Lilypad.

From one curb we will sprint to the other, stopping at each of the tall light posts to lunge forward five parking spaces before sprinting again. We will then Bernie Sanders back, stopping at each light post to lunge backwards five parking spaces.

Mosey past the southern Pavilion to the perimeter trail and head south. We will go right toward the fence of the water treatment plant. We will split into teams of two men each for Doras. While one partner runs to the park bench just down the trail and back, the other works on exercises. The partners trade places when the running partner gets back. Here are the exercises:

150 Flutter Kicks
150 Baby Crunches
150 Hello Dollies

Mosey west on the perimeter trail. We will stop about halfway to do 20 American Hammers.

Mosey west again to the area near the electrical transformers and the dock. We will split into three groups to go to three different areas and perform exercises at each area. After completing the exercises, men run to the next area. The areas and the exercise performed at each are:

Area 1: Boulders near perimeter trail. Pick up Boulder and perform 20 Bench Presses, 20 Curls, and 20 Rows.
Area 2: The benches near the dock. At benches do 20 Bench Jumps, 20 Bench Dips and 20 Incline Merkins.
Area 3: At cone on perimeter trail west of the dock. Do 20 Iron Mikes and 20 Squats.
Rinse and Repeat.

Mosey back to the area we did the American Hammers at. We will do 20 Box Cutters.

Mosey to soccer fields. We will go from west to east. We will Bear Crawl for 10 Counts then Run for 30 Counts and continue this to the east side of the soccer fields.

Mosey to the Lily Pad. We will stop to do 15 Imperial Walkers.

Mosey to parking lot that is just south of the Playground. We will do 20 Bench Dips

Mosey to the Playground. We will do elevens at benches starting with 10 Box Jumps and 1 Decline Merkin.

Mosey to eastern curb of the AO parking lot. We will Karaoke left to other western curb and the Karaoke right back to the western curb. Then will will sprint to the western curb.

MARY:
Leg lifts.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
19 men with one FNG. Welcome new member Stubing!!
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Distracted

In our modern world we are often distracted by so many different things . . . the internet on our cell phones, social media, tv shows and tv advertisements, the daily onslaught of mail in the mail box, emails, traffic, job duties, commitments to different organizations and causes, and . . . well, I could keep on going but you get the idea. These distractions keep us from connection to our true selves and to God. These distractions leave us off kilter and lead to our worries.

I recently read the following paragraphs from the great priest, theologian, professor and writer, Henri Nouwen.

Today, worrying means to be occupied and preoccupied with many things, while at the same time being bored, resentful, depressed, and very lonely. I am not trying to say that all of us are worried in such an extreme way all the time. Yet there is little doubt in my mind that the experience of being filled yet unfulfilled touches most of us to some degree at some time. In our highly technological and competitive world, it is hard to avoid completely the forces that fill up our inner and outer space and disconnect us from our innermost selves, our fellow human beings, and our God.

One of the most notable characteristics of worrying is that it fragments our lives. The many things to do, to think about, to plan for, the many people to remember to visit, or to talk with, the many causes to attack or defend, all these pull us apart and make us lose our center. Worry causes us to be “all over the place” but seldom at home. One way to express the spiritual crisis of our time is to say that most of us have an address but cannot be found there.

I don’t think I even need to add to Nouwen’s message because it is so clear and strong. I will, however, add one more quote from Henri Nouwen about worries:

It wasn’t that the gospel proved useful for my many worries but that the gospel proved the uselessness of my worries.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers of thanks for Stubing having a baby coming soon and for two of F6’s work colleagues having recent babies. Prayers of thanks for Waffle House and his son’s safe return from Guatemala. Prayers for Captain Crunch on the recent loss of one of his parents.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Hot Toddy Triple Birthday Q at Asylum on Saturday, January 28. Today is first day of Cap’n Crunch’s five week leadership study at Panera Bread Conference Room, Bearden.

Light Pole Pictionary Trail at the Asylum

December 20, 2022 Sawdust

THE SCENE: 34 degrees & 80% humidity.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Yes, all the things.
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH, Tempo Merkins, Cherry Pickers, Tie-Fighters, Burpees, Suicide Sprints with Bobby Hurley, Mountain Climbers at the base of Baby Everest, run to the top with some Man-Makers.
THA-THANG:
Tried to figure out the pictures of the workouts between light posts on the trail.

Bearpees
Hello Dolly
Freddie Mercury
Lt. Dan
Junk Science (40 Merkins)
Big Boy Sit-Ups
Froggie Squats
Bobby Hurley
Tennessee Rocking Chair
Little Baby Crunches
ATMs
Carolina Dry Docks
Flutter Kicks
Iron Mikes
Gas Pumpers
Bonnie Blair
Jungle Boi (Jump squat with spoon arms? [Iron Pax Rerun])
V-Ups
X-Factors

MARY:
Cat Gut took us down stream with a boat and canoe.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
16 HIMs could take the cold. We left it all on the field, the sidewalk, the parking lot, etc.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
The Legend of the Candy Cane. Its origin dates to 1670 Cologne, where a choirmaster asked a candy maker to make something to keep the kids quiet during the Nativity Scene and remind them of Christ. The shape obviously mirrors the Shepard’s cane. But inverted it makes the shape of a “J” for Jesus. The sticks are white to represent the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. The red stripes (3 small & 1 large) represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his life. Those red stripes dissolve as you suck on the candy and bring the candy to pure white to represent how Christ’s sacrifice takes away our sin to make us clean.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
None to discuss this time.

The Results You Didn’t Get

December 17, 2022 Crispr

THE SCENE: 33 and glorious
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH, imperial walker, cherry pickers, this and that, rockette, runners lunge
THA-THANG:
Insert information about the workout.

In the Caribbean: 20 kneel ups + 10 downward facing merkin / 10 reverse lunges + squats
Mosey: At each island, 10 flutter kicks + 10 butterfly kicks
Mosey: Dora w/ 250 SSH, 200 Rocky Balboa, 150 calf raise, 100 mountain climber, 50 big boy, 25 burpee
Mosey: 11’s with incline merkin + bench dips

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
22 w/ and FNG! @Bomber

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
“Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get with the work you didn’t do”. As you look around your life and the goals you set, keep the results you want in perspective with the work you’re doing for those goals. Is the level of work you’re doing in line with the level of results you want to achieve? If not, re-evaluate. Could be the results you want are too high for what’s realistic for you right now. Could be you need you can put in more work and get closer to getting those results.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Convergence at Bomb Shelter Jan 7