The pure joy and anticipatation for our first child has kept me from putting any focus to this blog. I've been putting all my spare time and energy into caring for my now 7 month pregnant wife. We are both thrilled and excited to see our family grow.
This past weekend I decided to follow the Crossfit Games from home. I really haven't even been working out as much, so it felt great to throw up some heavy weights. My total time was 7 minutes 48 seconds.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
It wasn't me... or was it?
Last Tuesday (February 26, 2008), I took the afternoon off from work to relax. I went for my usual swim across Biscayne from Bills Baggs Cape to Biscayne National Park (BNP). While at BNP I decided to jog around to relax some.
Crap, gotta run... I'll write more later.
Crap, gotta run... I'll write more later.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Captain of Crush
I just placed an order for a set of IronMind's Captain of Crush grippers. I ordered the No. 1, 2, 3, and 4. I figure it will be a nice test of my hand strength. I did some finger curls (holding a barbell while standing, I slowly open my grip to allow the bar to roll down to my finder tips and then roll the bar back up, tightening my grip) with 350 lbs on the bar. I kept it light. I read on the gripboard that damaging a tendon in your hand would take months to heal.
I can't afford to take too many risks. I am clearly stronger than I have ever been and stronger than most people even dream of. Not only that, I'm fast on my feet. But I don't know how long this will last. I don't even really know how this is truly affecting my CNS, my internal organs, my lifespan.
I've been training Crossfit-style, but I've been keeping it light. Or at least what feels light to me. I want to incorpoate some self-defense training. However, I'm apprehensive about training with real partners. I've been digging up videos on the net to teach myself. So far I've been focusing on military-style combat like Krav Maga, Haganah, and the SPEAR.
The techniques I've learned are neat and probably effective. Thus far I've found that my background in Goju-Ryu and Judo have been sufficient during my encounters with muggers. No matter how simplistic or ineffective my technique is, I can simply and easily overpower my opponents. I want to be prepared for the day I need to rely on more than just strengh.
AM: DD, Large/Cream&Sugar
I can't afford to take too many risks. I am clearly stronger than I have ever been and stronger than most people even dream of. Not only that, I'm fast on my feet. But I don't know how long this will last. I don't even really know how this is truly affecting my CNS, my internal organs, my lifespan.
I've been training Crossfit-style, but I've been keeping it light. Or at least what feels light to me. I want to incorpoate some self-defense training. However, I'm apprehensive about training with real partners. I've been digging up videos on the net to teach myself. So far I've been focusing on military-style combat like Krav Maga, Haganah, and the SPEAR.
The techniques I've learned are neat and probably effective. Thus far I've found that my background in Goju-Ryu and Judo have been sufficient during my encounters with muggers. No matter how simplistic or ineffective my technique is, I can simply and easily overpower my opponents. I want to be prepared for the day I need to rely on more than just strengh.
AM: DD, Large/Cream&Sugar
Saturday, February 23, 2008
No Trace!
I haven't slept much during the past week. I spent many late nights looking for my wife's attackers. It's amazing how they can simply vanish without a trace. They could've fled back to Cuba for all I know. Castro did just tender his resignation this week, though I doubt the island will see any drastic changes for the better anytime soon.
I sit on street curbs waiting to see their car. It's easy enough to simply blend in with the other "borachos" in the area. I can't tell you how many times I've gone from sitting to full sprint, chasing after similar cars. It was cool to discover that not only can I catch up to a car moving at 40 mph, but I can also keep up with it for a good 200 yards. Fortunately, the streets are dark, so my identity is protected.
I do want to see justice brought on these women in the proper way. I plan on calling the police as soon as I determine their location. I picked up an old i560 Motorola at the Flagler flea market. I found out recently that old cellphones can still call 9-1-1 even though it's not connected with a particular service. All it needs is some battery life. This helps me with staying anonymous.
My 9-1-1 cell was especially useful during some public service I accomplished late into the night. The area I've been staking is prone to women employed by the world's oldest profession. In turn, these women tend to attract some of the world's less than ethical men.
I intervened in a few dozen muggings and rapes I saw out in the street. It's easy to move in quickly and disarm the aggressor. I then tie him up with whatever I can find (I lost two pairs of shoe strings doing this), call 9-1-1, and leave him on the street corner for the police. I know, I know, it's straight out of Bruce Wayne's fantasy world. But unlike the caped crusader, many of the victims don't wait around for the police; I assume some of these victims are on some wanted list to begin with. And without a victim, the guys can't be charged for crime.
AM: Dunkin Donuts, Large/Cream & Sugar
PM: Cafecito
PM: Dunkin Donuts, Large/Cream & Sugar
I sit on street curbs waiting to see their car. It's easy enough to simply blend in with the other "borachos" in the area. I can't tell you how many times I've gone from sitting to full sprint, chasing after similar cars. It was cool to discover that not only can I catch up to a car moving at 40 mph, but I can also keep up with it for a good 200 yards. Fortunately, the streets are dark, so my identity is protected.
I do want to see justice brought on these women in the proper way. I plan on calling the police as soon as I determine their location. I picked up an old i560 Motorola at the Flagler flea market. I found out recently that old cellphones can still call 9-1-1 even though it's not connected with a particular service. All it needs is some battery life. This helps me with staying anonymous.
My 9-1-1 cell was especially useful during some public service I accomplished late into the night. The area I've been staking is prone to women employed by the world's oldest profession. In turn, these women tend to attract some of the world's less than ethical men.
I intervened in a few dozen muggings and rapes I saw out in the street. It's easy to move in quickly and disarm the aggressor. I then tie him up with whatever I can find (I lost two pairs of shoe strings doing this), call 9-1-1, and leave him on the street corner for the police. I know, I know, it's straight out of Bruce Wayne's fantasy world. But unlike the caped crusader, many of the victims don't wait around for the police; I assume some of these victims are on some wanted list to begin with. And without a victim, the guys can't be charged for crime.
AM: Dunkin Donuts, Large/Cream & Sugar
PM: Cafecito
PM: Dunkin Donuts, Large/Cream & Sugar
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Helpless
Last Friday I wasn't available to help. Of all the times my newfound strength would have come in most handy, I wasn't even around.
She was hurt. She was bleeding. She was bruised. It was just my wife versus three women bent on destruction of all things humane. Not only did they endanger the life of my wife, but also that of our newly discovered 8 week child.
I could've picked up their car and held it overhead long enough for the cops arrive. But the four minutes it took between the 9-1-1 call and officers' arrival was too long for my wife.
How can I make myself more available?
AM: Dunkin Donuts, Large/Black Cinnamon
She was hurt. She was bleeding. She was bruised. It was just my wife versus three women bent on destruction of all things humane. Not only did they endanger the life of my wife, but also that of our newly discovered 8 week child.
I could've picked up their car and held it overhead long enough for the cops arrive. But the four minutes it took between the 9-1-1 call and officers' arrival was too long for my wife.
How can I make myself more available?
AM: Dunkin Donuts, Large/Black Cinnamon
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Who says I can't jump?
Just a short post today.
I ran downstairs to grab some lunch across the street.
As I was walking out of Pollo Tropical, I saw this guy walking ahead of me, ready to cross the street. He was limping a bit, favoring his left leg. He took three steps onto the street when I heard a sportscar peeling around the corner. I knew the sportscar would've hit the guy had I not intevened.
I sprinted towards the guy and threw him up on my right shoulder. There was a white car coming from the opposte direction, so I leapt over it and landed on the sidewalk (it was only a Miata, so it wasn't too difficult to gain enough vert to clear it).
Admist the onslaughter of screeching and braking from each of the cars we just cleared, I set the guy down on the ground and made my way out of sight. My car was on the opposite end of the parking lot. I made my way there and changed into a T-shirt. I waited a few minutes before returning to my office.
Later I sat down for some lunch from the vending machine (I was so looking forward to my Tropi Chop Max).
AM: Dunkin Donuts Medium Roast with Cinnamon
I ran downstairs to grab some lunch across the street.
As I was walking out of Pollo Tropical, I saw this guy walking ahead of me, ready to cross the street. He was limping a bit, favoring his left leg. He took three steps onto the street when I heard a sportscar peeling around the corner. I knew the sportscar would've hit the guy had I not intevened.
I sprinted towards the guy and threw him up on my right shoulder. There was a white car coming from the opposte direction, so I leapt over it and landed on the sidewalk (it was only a Miata, so it wasn't too difficult to gain enough vert to clear it).
Admist the onslaughter of screeching and braking from each of the cars we just cleared, I set the guy down on the ground and made my way out of sight. My car was on the opposite end of the parking lot. I made my way there and changed into a T-shirt. I waited a few minutes before returning to my office.
Later I sat down for some lunch from the vending machine (I was so looking forward to my Tropi Chop Max).
AM: Dunkin Donuts Medium Roast with Cinnamon
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I can help.
My wife and I were at the store last week. It was pouring outside all afternoon. The raindrops were of the heavy sort; each drop made "THUD" sound rather than a soft splash.
When it finally cleared up, we went outside to wipe down the glass. We were at opposite ends of the window, probably about 25 feet between us. I heard just the softest crack from up above. Within just a slip second, I was huddled over my wife while she was crouching down. The back of my shirt was torn and shredded. There was a cloud of dust rising from the ground, flowing away from the cars passing by (the street is only 3 yards from the front of the store). We open our eyes and find large pieces of plaster and stucco all around us. Most of the larger pieces were attached a rusted and bent wire frame. It was a little of over 10 feet long. There was a U-shape bend in the frame, presumably from where it landed on my back. We looked up and saw the stucco facade from the second floor of the building was gone. Where the facade once was we saw rotten, wet wood.
We quickly took several steps away from the building to avoid the path of any further falling debris. My wife then punched me in the arm and asked, "Are you okay."
"Oww!", I replied. "Of course I am. What about you?"
"I'm fine. Are you crazy?!"
"Why'd you punch me?! Crazy? Are you sure you're okay?"
"If you were standing so close to me, why didn't you just pull me away instead of jump on top of me! You could've gotten us killed!"
"Um, you're welcome?"
We hugged each other shortly thereafter. That building truly is a mess and is literally falling apart. My wife checked my back and couldn't find a single scratch or tear in my skin. She thought it was odd since there was blood on my torn shirt.
"Would you believe I was stung by a radioactive mosquitoe while at an abandoned missle silo that caused me to have both super-strength and rapid healing abilities?" I said in a sarcastic tone.
"We are not letting our kids read your old comicbooks, so you might as well sell them already," she said. "This isn't blood on your shirt. It's rust and paint from the wall."
"Oh, right. Rust and paint."
AM: Dunkin Donuts Medium Roast, Cream with Catcus Honey
PM: Cafecito
When it finally cleared up, we went outside to wipe down the glass. We were at opposite ends of the window, probably about 25 feet between us. I heard just the softest crack from up above. Within just a slip second, I was huddled over my wife while she was crouching down. The back of my shirt was torn and shredded. There was a cloud of dust rising from the ground, flowing away from the cars passing by (the street is only 3 yards from the front of the store). We open our eyes and find large pieces of plaster and stucco all around us. Most of the larger pieces were attached a rusted and bent wire frame. It was a little of over 10 feet long. There was a U-shape bend in the frame, presumably from where it landed on my back. We looked up and saw the stucco facade from the second floor of the building was gone. Where the facade once was we saw rotten, wet wood.
We quickly took several steps away from the building to avoid the path of any further falling debris. My wife then punched me in the arm and asked, "Are you okay."
"Oww!", I replied. "Of course I am. What about you?"
"I'm fine. Are you crazy?!"
"Why'd you punch me?! Crazy? Are you sure you're okay?"
"If you were standing so close to me, why didn't you just pull me away instead of jump on top of me! You could've gotten us killed!"
"Um, you're welcome?"
We hugged each other shortly thereafter. That building truly is a mess and is literally falling apart. My wife checked my back and couldn't find a single scratch or tear in my skin. She thought it was odd since there was blood on my torn shirt.
"Would you believe I was stung by a radioactive mosquitoe while at an abandoned missle silo that caused me to have both super-strength and rapid healing abilities?" I said in a sarcastic tone.
"We are not letting our kids read your old comicbooks, so you might as well sell them already," she said. "This isn't blood on your shirt. It's rust and paint from the wall."
"Oh, right. Rust and paint."
AM: Dunkin Donuts Medium Roast, Cream with Catcus Honey
PM: Cafecito
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Oddly Anonymous
To a certain extent, I want to protect my identity at the moment. Likewise, I want those who know me personally to not know about these changes I write about here.
Trying to keep this blog hidden from my family and friends has not been easy. It's often difficult to find time to write posts. "Babe, what are you doing?", my wife will ask from across the room. I'll respond with whatever I heard on the news that day... "Huh, just reading an article about some window washer that survived a fall from 47 stories."
With all the anonymity I suppose it almost seems counter-intuitive to write about everything on the world-wide web. I guess a part of me just really wants to tell someone. And maybe I'm not alone. Maybe someone can explain what's going on. Was this really caused by that trip to the silo?
I've tried to do some research on my "condition" (FYI, I now use Rock Quotes as suggested by Dane Cook). There's also been some recent news about some pretty incredible feats that caught my attention.
Alcides Moreno, a window washer in New York, fell 47 stories when his scaffolding collapsed. Moreno survived and was released from the hospital for rehab six weeks after his fall. His brother,Edgar, was working with Alcides at the time, but did not survive the fall.
There have also been stories of babies with a genetic mutation known as myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy. This genetic mutation results in above average growth of skeletal muscles, incredible strength, a warp-speed metabolism and minimal body fat.
I have found only two such cases. The first was of a German boy born in Germany in 2000. His mother was apparently a professional sprinter. The boy's identity, along with the rest of the family, was kept confidential, though a photo was released of the muscle development of the boy's legs at just 7 months.
The second case was of a boy named Liam Hoekstra. Oddly enough, Liam is also of German decent, but was adopted by an American couple living in Michigan. Liam was apparently so strong that at 5 months he could hold himself in an Iron Cross, a gymnastics move in which a male athlete suspends himself by his arms between two hanging rings, forming the shape of a cross.
I'm not sure I can compare myself to the German boys. I never displayed such strength when I was younger. Only now am I seeing such a rapid transformation in my strength and other oddities.
This past week I discovered an increased sensitivity with my five senses. It was most apparent during an interview. I was sitting in on an interview as a witness while an investigator questioned a woman in regards to suspicion of theft. For the most part, I was just taking notes. Just about every time the woman denied stealing the cash, I could almost feel and hear her pulse increase. It was as if the increased tense and speed of her pulse were literally vibrating the air to such a degree that I could detect it from across the room. The woman eventually confessed to the theft.
Fortunately, the sensitivity doesn't have an affect on my pain threshold. For example, I can hear soft sounds much better, but loud sounds don't seem to cause more pain than before.
AM: Dunkin Donuts, Cream/Sugar
Trying to keep this blog hidden from my family and friends has not been easy. It's often difficult to find time to write posts. "Babe, what are you doing?", my wife will ask from across the room. I'll respond with whatever I heard on the news that day... "Huh, just reading an article about some window washer that survived a fall from 47 stories."
With all the anonymity I suppose it almost seems counter-intuitive to write about everything on the world-wide web. I guess a part of me just really wants to tell someone. And maybe I'm not alone. Maybe someone can explain what's going on. Was this really caused by that trip to the silo?
I've tried to do some research on my "condition" (FYI, I now use Rock Quotes as suggested by Dane Cook). There's also been some recent news about some pretty incredible feats that caught my attention.
Alcides Moreno, a window washer in New York, fell 47 stories when his scaffolding collapsed. Moreno survived and was released from the hospital for rehab six weeks after his fall. His brother,Edgar, was working with Alcides at the time, but did not survive the fall.
There have also been stories of babies with a genetic mutation known as myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy. This genetic mutation results in above average growth of skeletal muscles, incredible strength, a warp-speed metabolism and minimal body fat.
I have found only two such cases. The first was of a German boy born in Germany in 2000. His mother was apparently a professional sprinter. The boy's identity, along with the rest of the family, was kept confidential, though a photo was released of the muscle development of the boy's legs at just 7 months.
The second case was of a boy named Liam Hoekstra. Oddly enough, Liam is also of German decent, but was adopted by an American couple living in Michigan. Liam was apparently so strong that at 5 months he could hold himself in an Iron Cross, a gymnastics move in which a male athlete suspends himself by his arms between two hanging rings, forming the shape of a cross.
I'm not sure I can compare myself to the German boys. I never displayed such strength when I was younger. Only now am I seeing such a rapid transformation in my strength and other oddities.
This past week I discovered an increased sensitivity with my five senses. It was most apparent during an interview. I was sitting in on an interview as a witness while an investigator questioned a woman in regards to suspicion of theft. For the most part, I was just taking notes. Just about every time the woman denied stealing the cash, I could almost feel and hear her pulse increase. It was as if the increased tense and speed of her pulse were literally vibrating the air to such a degree that I could detect it from across the room. The woman eventually confessed to the theft.
Fortunately, the sensitivity doesn't have an affect on my pain threshold. For example, I can hear soft sounds much better, but loud sounds don't seem to cause more pain than before.
AM: Dunkin Donuts, Cream/Sugar
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
First WOD for 2008!
Finally! I managed to roll out of bed early enough this morning to get in my first workout of the year (and in 3 months). I warmed up with the Crossfit WOD (4 x 400m runs with 2:00 rest between each run). I then did some pullups, dips, and more sprints. It wasn't a difficult workout, but it felt great to finally get outside.
All I could think about last night was that crack down the center of my monitor. I had no idea what to tell my boss. I just kept thinking to myself, "What crack? My monitor is in one piece." It practically became my mini-mantra for the night.
Oddly enough, when I arrived at work this morning, I found my monitor was in one piece. I know that I was really upset over losing all that data, but could I have been so blinded by anger and frustration to see something that wasn't even there? It was definitely weird and not the sort of differences I've been noticing with myself that prompted this blog. I'll have to pay closer attention to such instances in the future.
AM: DD Home brew, Medium, Cinnamon
AM: Folgers, Medium, International Delight
All I could think about last night was that crack down the center of my monitor. I had no idea what to tell my boss. I just kept thinking to myself, "What crack? My monitor is in one piece." It practically became my mini-mantra for the night.
Oddly enough, when I arrived at work this morning, I found my monitor was in one piece. I know that I was really upset over losing all that data, but could I have been so blinded by anger and frustration to see something that wasn't even there? It was definitely weird and not the sort of differences I've been noticing with myself that prompted this blog. I'll have to pay closer attention to such instances in the future.
AM: DD Home brew, Medium, Cinnamon
AM: Folgers, Medium, International Delight
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Anger Management
I smashed my mouse today. I also cracked my monitor screen, I think.
I've been working on this same project for the last six months. I collected a lot of data and prepared a bunch of reports that I've been saving on my harddrive (the files are too large for my network drives). In any case, I accidentally deleted the files late this afternoon and had no idea how to retrieve them. I have Windows XP loaded on my work laptop, so I tried the System Restore feature, but that didn't help. Our Internal Computer Support Team was of even less help.
During my frustration, I gripped my mouse so hard it cracked in three places. Normally, I'm pretty calm. But the thought of having lost six months worth of work made it very difficult to be optimistic. The thought continued to boil inside my head. I stared at my computer screen and just thought of tossing the laptop across the room. At that moment, the screen cracked down the middle. With my left hand, I caught a tiny piece of glass that came flying towards my face. I just sat there, befuddled. How could I explain what just happened?
It was about 6:45pm by this time. Everyone had gone home over an hour ago. I figured the best thing to do was just go home and get some rest. Maybe I was just seeing things. Maybe screen didn't crack. I mean, how could it? I didn't even lay a finger on my laptop!
AM: DD Medium Roast with Cinnamon
PM: Cafecito
I've been working on this same project for the last six months. I collected a lot of data and prepared a bunch of reports that I've been saving on my harddrive (the files are too large for my network drives). In any case, I accidentally deleted the files late this afternoon and had no idea how to retrieve them. I have Windows XP loaded on my work laptop, so I tried the System Restore feature, but that didn't help. Our Internal Computer Support Team was of even less help.
During my frustration, I gripped my mouse so hard it cracked in three places. Normally, I'm pretty calm. But the thought of having lost six months worth of work made it very difficult to be optimistic. The thought continued to boil inside my head. I stared at my computer screen and just thought of tossing the laptop across the room. At that moment, the screen cracked down the middle. With my left hand, I caught a tiny piece of glass that came flying towards my face. I just sat there, befuddled. How could I explain what just happened?
It was about 6:45pm by this time. Everyone had gone home over an hour ago. I figured the best thing to do was just go home and get some rest. Maybe I was just seeing things. Maybe screen didn't crack. I mean, how could it? I didn't even lay a finger on my laptop!
AM: DD Medium Roast with Cinnamon
PM: Cafecito
Sunday, January 20, 2008
This is different
Lately, I've been noticing some changes to my strength. I haven't exercised in months. My diet hasn't been anything to be proud of. The healthiest food I put into my stomach nowadays is probably water and coffee. And despite this, I've actually noticed some significant strength gains; gains unlike I experienced when I DID workout. I wanted to start documenting some of the more significant strenght feats.
Just this morning, while working at the Flager Flea Market, I picked up the back end of a 17' U-Haul Truck! Well, let me clarify. It's not like I pressed it overhead. I grabbed the rear bumper and pulled it up as if Iwas deadlifting a barbell. The tires must've come up only about an inch. I think my max deadlift was about 320 lbs. I'm almost certain the truck weighs a lot more than that, but I'm not sure how that compares to picking up just the rear as I did.
I sort of do know when these changes started occuring. It was sometime after my brother and I visited the missle silo found south of the entrance to the everglades near Florida City. There was a smal barricade blocking the path of this 2 mile stretch. The barricade only prevented cars from passing, so it was easy enough for us to hop over and bring a bike along. We made it to the end of the road and found this large, abandoned warehouse. There was a huge circular steel plate (40 feet in diameter maybe) covering the ground.
We weren't there for long because there was this massive infestation of mosquitoes, flies, and other unrecognizable flying insects everywhere! The swarm looked like a thick black fog heading towards us. And each insect was larger than I've ever seen. We only had one bike with us, so I let my brother ride the bike back while I ran out of there. It wasn't until I was about 1/4 of a mile out did the massive swarm finally dwindle, sparing me enough blood to run the remaining 1 3/4 miles back. My brother escaped unscathed. I'm sure all the sugar in my blood from the coffee I've been drinking helped enticed the thirsty critters.
Hopefully I'll be able to adhere to my New Year's Resolution and begin my workout routine again. I keep reading the posts and WODs over at Crossfit.com and begin to lament over my lack of participation. I'm really curious to see how I've regressed (or maybe, somehow progressed).
AM: Dunkin Donuts, Medium Cream/Sugar
Just this morning, while working at the Flager Flea Market, I picked up the back end of a 17' U-Haul Truck! Well, let me clarify. It's not like I pressed it overhead. I grabbed the rear bumper and pulled it up as if Iwas deadlifting a barbell. The tires must've come up only about an inch. I think my max deadlift was about 320 lbs. I'm almost certain the truck weighs a lot more than that, but I'm not sure how that compares to picking up just the rear as I did.
I sort of do know when these changes started occuring. It was sometime after my brother and I visited the missle silo found south of the entrance to the everglades near Florida City. There was a smal barricade blocking the path of this 2 mile stretch. The barricade only prevented cars from passing, so it was easy enough for us to hop over and bring a bike along. We made it to the end of the road and found this large, abandoned warehouse. There was a huge circular steel plate (40 feet in diameter maybe) covering the ground.
We weren't there for long because there was this massive infestation of mosquitoes, flies, and other unrecognizable flying insects everywhere! The swarm looked like a thick black fog heading towards us. And each insect was larger than I've ever seen. We only had one bike with us, so I let my brother ride the bike back while I ran out of there. It wasn't until I was about 1/4 of a mile out did the massive swarm finally dwindle, sparing me enough blood to run the remaining 1 3/4 miles back. My brother escaped unscathed. I'm sure all the sugar in my blood from the coffee I've been drinking helped enticed the thirsty critters.
Hopefully I'll be able to adhere to my New Year's Resolution and begin my workout routine again. I keep reading the posts and WODs over at Crossfit.com and begin to lament over my lack of participation. I'm really curious to see how I've regressed (or maybe, somehow progressed).
AM: Dunkin Donuts, Medium Cream/Sugar
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