Strong stuff being moved in here, Pete. Good Job and I would have done the same things with the frozen vegies…
Colin, thanks for the thorough reading of the log (shit, I just read the last post or so and comment).
Happy New Years all.
Funny, I was kinda in the dumps the last few days. For starters, Meat has confirmed in DCA’s log that I am an ugly bastard, as have all of my new training partners. But to Meat’s point there is an inverse relation to good looks and strength. Since I am immersed in studying the culture of the diminutive viewers of media (read stay at home, unemployed dad) I will label this the Shrek-factor. If I match my strength currently to my current ugliness, that means my potential for increased strength is actually quite astounding!!! So this has become a positive.
Second, fugg, first time really ever I am unintentionally unemployed. And with this economy and also this time of year, the networking ain’t doing what it should. But on the upside this has led me to train at not the old posh upscale by-work gym, but the blue collar gym, still of the same chain, in my neighborhood. So far I have met a lot of fairly serious dudes who also happen to be unemployed, or partially employed, that workout during the day. Including a couple of youngsters who are training for their first meet. So I get to train, and coach, for free, while my little one gets to play with other kids for a couple of hours. Actually a positive experience.
Also am starting to feel like a single parent. The wife tonight did what has become her usual routine on work days: she stops and buys a bunch of groceries on top of what I already shopped for, makes a bunch of food, yells at me for 15 minutes, watches the little boy for 45 minutes while I take care of the dogs, then goes to sleep leaving me antoher pile of dirty dishes to do. Come on, can being pregnant be that bad? j/k Know I shouldn’t go there.
On a side note there is one guy, 27 years old, that is training around my time now. Started chatting with him because he a) trains seriously b) owns multiple quality belts, wraps, etc. and c) is fairly strong, but open to input, and solicits it. He even asked me advice on being married, as he is a newlywed to a 30 year old woman who wants children. My advice was ‘keep your head down, smile a lot, and don’t ever expect to win an argument. Oh, and she is always right, and get those kids out of the way now because you don’t want her pregnant when pushing 40’.
I digressed, and I bitched enough for tonight. Any dark thoughts were pretty much erased by my evening. My 3 year old was stoked for new years. We had a sword fight, where I had to be Peter Pan because he always wants to be Captain Hook. Then I bundled him up and we went outside and blew dollar store noise makers and yelled out ‘Happy New Year’ to noone, as it was only 9:30. Then we had another sword fight, again he had to be Captain Hook. At ten fifteen my wife walked out from our bedroom and looked at me with that wtf look because we were having a snack together so late. At 10:30 my boy said, verbatim “I really like spending time with you”. At three years old.
Guys, and gals, it just doesn’t get any better then that. I could bitch about the last couple years of my life, I have lost a sister, I nearly lost my older son, have had financial troubles, and lost my job of the last ten years, but honestly, having the opportunity to spend time with my little boy, and be there for him 24/7, makes it all seem so inconsequential. I know very few father’s ever get to spend that much time with their kids. It ain’t easy, but it is worth it. I know it will make us stronger as father and son.
Happy New Years, and PRs to all.
Be safe, and if you can’t be safe, be careful.
Pete you are an alright dude! I mean that in the best sense of the word. You understand what is important in life and what to blow off and forget about.
oh and don’t think I didn’t catch that diet for a show for 2013 Thats 3 years of dieting LOL are you 40 then?
Happy New Year!!!
Rick
Pete… for the record, you were second in line for being the ugliest. Steve won the title for ugliest and therefore the strongest. He just needs to embrace his supreme level of ugliness to reach his potential. Once Tony gets into the 200’s and stays there he maybe in the running. Ugliness and fatness also go hand in hand.
After reading stuff like that I really wish a bunch of us guys lived closer to each other. I think we we would be the best of friends and make outstanding training partners…even if some of you are low life gear whores…
[quote]maraudermeat wrote:
Pete… for the record, you were second in line for being the ugliest. Steve won the title for ugliest and therefore the strongest. He just needs to embrace his supreme level of ugliness to reach his potential. Once Tony gets into the 200’s and stays there he maybe in the running. Ugliness and fatness also go hand in hand.
After reading stuff like that I really wish a bunch of us guys lived closer to each other. I think we we would be the best of friends and make outstanding training partners…even if some of you are low life gear whores…
[/quote]
LMAO! All my friends are uglier than me and have boats 
Great post with a lot of wisdom there, Pete. If there had been a forum like this for me to lurk around in back in my young and stupid days, maybe I wouldn’t be the old (47) and stupid fella I am today.
[quote]FISCHER613 wrote:
Pete you are an alright dude! I mean that in the best sense of the word. You understand what is important in life and what to blow off and forget about.
oh and don’t think I didn’t catch that diet for a show for 2013 Thats 3 years of dieting LOL are you 40 then?
Happy New Year!!!
Rick
In 2013 I will be 42. And I am only half joking there. I said I while ago to a friend I would like to do a BB show when I am 42. Not even sure why that timeframe.
[/quote]
[quote]maraudermeat wrote:
Pete… for the record, you were second in line for being the ugliest. Steve won the title for ugliest and therefore the strongest. He just needs to embrace his supreme level of ugliness to reach his potential. Once Tony gets into the 200’s and stays there he maybe in the running. Ugliness and fatness also go hand in hand.
After reading stuff like that I really wish a bunch of us guys lived closer to each other. I think we we would be the best of friends and make outstanding training partners…even if some of you are low life gear whores…
[/quote]
Thanks for clarifying that I am second in line for the ugliness factor, lol. Now, if we all hung out, that would be a lot of collective ugliness…
Pete,
I think you aren’t that bad looksing, for a silverback. Who won the sword fight? Sounds like you had a great New Year’s Eve!
[quote]PeteS wrote:
[quote]maraudermeat wrote:
Pete… for the record, you were second in line for being the ugliest. Steve won the title for ugliest and therefore the strongest. He just needs to embrace his supreme level of ugliness to reach his potential. Once Tony gets into the 200’s and stays there he maybe in the running. Ugliness and fatness also go hand in hand.
After reading stuff like that I really wish a bunch of us guys lived closer to each other. I think we we would be the best of friends and make outstanding training partners…even if some of you are low life gear whores…
[/quote]
Thanks for clarifying that I am second in line for the ugliness factor, lol. Now, if we all hung out, that would be a lot of collective ugliness…
[/quote]
i’m pretty sure there are laws against it.
Great time you’re having with the son. You’re his Dad so he doesn’t know or care if you’re ugly. Have a great year.
managed 30 minutes on the treadmill. Started with the Twilight Zone on, kid came down so switched it to the Looney Tunes.
Mathineer, I try to let the kid win all the sword fights. Harry, you have a great year as well.
[quote]maraudermeat wrote:
[quote]PeteS wrote:
[quote]maraudermeat wrote:
Pete… for the record, you were second in line for being the ugliest. Steve won the title for ugliest and therefore the strongest. He just needs to embrace his supreme level of ugliness to reach his potential. Once Tony gets into the 200’s and stays there he maybe in the running. Ugliness and fatness also go hand in hand.
After reading stuff like that I really wish a bunch of us guys lived closer to each other. I think we we would be the best of friends and make outstanding training partners…even if some of you are low life gear whores…
[/quote]
Thanks for clarifying that I am second in line for the ugliness factor, lol. Now, if we all hung out, that would be a lot of collective ugliness…
[/quote]
i’m pretty sure there are laws against it.
[/quote]
Natural laws, even.
woke up at 6 a.m. this morning and bolted for the toilet. Was pretty much stuck there for an hour and a half. Finally got some food in me and headed down for Saturday benching. Felt too weak and shitty to deal with the shirt so went RAAAWWWW.
Bench 140 x 10, 190 x 10, 230 x 5, 280 x 5, 320 x 5
2 board 370 x 3, 410 x 3
3 board 460 x 0, out of groove, and felt like shit
4 board 500 x 2, but wiggled all over the place
Floor press 5 sets up to 335 x 8
pulldowns 10 sets, 10-20 reps
laterals 5 sets 10-12 reps
30 minutes treadmill. went out to dinner last night, had plenty of excess to sweat out
Pete,
Thanks for the New Years Eve post. We are largely in the same boat job-wise and toddler-wise, although the wife and I don’t have another one on the way. My plan is to hit it hard and spend as much time with my boy as I can and trust things will work out. They always do.
I bet we will both make the most of this time and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. I am optimistic about what the new year will bring. Take care, and Happy New Year,
Jack.
Jack,
Back at ya. To quote a song, a song that talks about the music scene we both were a part of, above all else, no matter what: You Gotta Stay Positive.
squat/pull night
Was all excited because some briefs and a belt came in the mail. Shouldn’t have been so excited.
Squat, raw warm ups: 145 x 10, 235 x 5, 325 x 5, 415 x 3, all felt pretty good, knee stable.
Went to put briefs on, no go. Guy that sold them to me swore they were for a 275lber. We were all kinda wary when one of the guys, a light 220lber, said they were only one size bigger than his. Even with suite slippers couldn’t get past mid thigh. Pissed, I canned squatting and pulled instead.
DL 225 x 10, 315 x 5, 405 x 5, 495 x 3, 495 + 2 pair of chains x 2, 495 + 3 pair of chains x 2, 495 + 4 pair of chains 3 sets of 2, will up the bar weight and chain weight next week.
New belt I am happy with. Got a thinner, 10mm belt. Great for me for pulling, felt like I could get at the bar much easier than with one of my monster belts.
Heh! I’m still waiting for the day when I order my first set of gear. Hell, I’ve still got a couple of weeks before I need to think about buying a singlet. 
Nice squatting and pulling!