This is one of the first tunes I used for running pace..it's about 180 bpm and it's good for about a mile..lyrics are mind stickers and motivational!..Break on Through by The Doors...

1974

Another tune from my run-list..thanks for the reminder Jams

This has been a very eventful month for me to say the least. Some of you may have noticed my absence from the Bodyspace..then again most of you did not..It's amazing how you can have over 600 "friends" here and only a single digit number of inspirers acknowledge or realize you're gone?..There were some things going on in my life which demanded my attention more than social networking so I took a hiatus until they were resolved.

The beginning of April my wife's mother who was 90 and had Alzheimer's was hospitalized for pneumonia..little did we know that she had ceased to swallow and her sustenance was entering her lungs causing aspiration..thankfully she was fully conscious and aware until the day before she died, which was April 12, and we were able to say our goodbyes, and she her's..her last week was spent at a nursing home/rehab facility..sadly my job took me away and I was working 13 hour shifts at this same time..so you see our plate was full with no time for recreation or smalltalk..I did spend the day of Sunday April 7 with her and my wife..I got the nurse to help us get her onto the remote Oxygen tank and we took her outside onto the rocking chair porch there at the rehab..we sat there for a couple of hours watching the traffic pass by and enjoying the birds singing, blue skies and white clouds.. the bright blooming flowers, green trees and grass on that warm Spring day..she only spoke when asked a question..but I could see in her smile that she was taking it all in and having pleasure for a brief time..that was the last time she would see the sunshine or hear a bird sing..I was glad we had this time together..for it was our last..on Friday she breathed her last breath..it was her wish not to be sustained artificially..she simply stopped eating and drinking and nature took it's course.

The following weekend and the next week were spent making the final arrangements and welcoming family from FL into our home for her memorial services..maybe it is just a Southern thing..but with death comes many traditions and customs and ceremony..one of these is food..for some reason we look at food as a form of comfort to the family..and most of it is not the healthy kind..needless to say I overindulged in the ham, fried chicken, potato salad, endless nameless casseroles and desserts..this resulted in a post traumatic stomach virus which lasted from Friday through Sunday..I finally ate some solid healthy food this past Monday and was able to make it back into the gym yesterday on Tuesday the 23rd..

So this week I am taking off from my job to help my wife take care of some final business associated with her Mom's death and to spend some time taking care of house and yard and garden duties..next week we have a beach condo vacation which was planned months ago..it could not have come at a better time!

On a lighter note I did take off a few pounds..partly due to the virus.. I fear I might have also dropped some mass from not going to the gym..but my pants are a bit loose and I can see some ab lines that I couldn't see before..so I guess I needed to get sick in order to get my beach-body! Lol!

So now you see that sometimes our real life takes us away from our cyber friends..and for good cause..but it's good to know you are still here waiting when it's all said and done..and at the end of the day it is our family which comes first..I hope I never lose sight of that true fact.

This is an excerpt from a series of lectures I have been attending at Graceland called.. Inspire! ..We all need a hero sometimes..not a superhero..Jack is a real life hero...it is 13:51 long.. but you will be changed by his story..I guarantee it.

Strong is just what you have left.. when you've used up all your weak...

Yeah..she gives a smile when the pain come..the pain gonna make everything all right...

If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken much better care of this body I was loaned..no trade ins allowed so I get to live with the pain and celebrate my gains..one thing I have discovered in my 57 years..this too shall pass!..It does Hurt So Good!

I have a new friend..in the short space of time I have known her she has impressed me with her homespun wisdom and beauty..she resides in Scotland the land of castles and moors..her kin knew my kin possibly once upon a time..my roots are there in that land also..if you do not know this girl you are missing out on a life experience akin to The Great Awakening!..Her innocence and sincerity are timeless..yet she is so young..I only know her as epona13..you should too!

She wrote to me...

I had the week off from work so I got my workouts in a bit earlier in the day on Tuesday and Thursday..also I was able to dodge the Stalker..she's probably cruising the other gyms looking for me Lol!..

I didn't realize the gym would be so empty at mid-day..just a few lunch hour faithful, and some old geezers in the sauna..it worked great for me cause I had the run of the place..also a little worried..seems there are a lot of members leaving for the new 24/7 place..and the seniors are getting a great Silver Sneakers deal at the YMCA..my gym is the oldest in Rome and it's starting to show it's age..It is now a 24/7 gym..had to go 24/7 to compete..

If you just want a place just to pump iron and do cardio it is totally adequate..we've got some new equipment such as ellipticals n treadmills..but nothing Hi-tech like the gym that has individual flat-screens on each treadmill..no ambiance and dance floor lighting like the Gold's Gym and LA Fitness..

Got some new members but they're mostly ones that have the work insurance plans that reward you for going to gym..they last about a month and you never see them again..our owner is busy having babies and stuff so her focus has really shifted since taking the place over 5 years ago..

So I'm keeping my options open at the moment..just in case a quick change in gyms is necessary..I really miss the whirlpool and polar plunge..they filled them with concrete and tiled over about a year ago..So the YMCA is looking good in that regard, plus they have an indoor track and lap pool!..Downside is that it's like the mall on Black Friday in the evenings when I get off work..

I don't have a video to go with this blog..but I want an Under Armour future suit like this one!

The Celibate

Did you ever have a conversation and then once it's over you sit and think..What was that all about?..Well that happened to me at the gym in the men's locker and shower area..It's not uncommon for a guy to give a compliment when they see another guy who has got a good pump from his workout..or is just naturally ripped..so I don't have a problem at all with that..But..sometimes there is a weirdness about it and you know the guy is either gay..or he is a stalker..or you're not really sure?

So Saturday I'm headed to the showers and I see this tall  black guy coming out of the stall..I'm thinking to myself..where is your towel fella?..There he is as large as life, swinging in the breeze, and I can't look away quick enough to erase the image..I mean this guy could be the poster child for stereotypical African-American Folklore, if you know what I mean..I'm trying to be as delicate as I can so bear with me..you had to be there..I still had on my compression shorts with towel in hand making a beeline for the nearest shower stall..

So now he strikes up a conversation, still no towel, apparently he is the air-dry guy..He's surprisingly animated as he says, "You know that middle stall there has the hardest shower head but the water's not too hot cause everybody wants to use it".."Really", I said,  looking at my sandals while I hung my towel up beside the stall..

While I'm in the shower I hear him talking loudly and I think..Is he talking to me?..Nah!!..But I think he was saying something about the hot water again..I dry off in the shower and do the towel around the waist courtesy wrap that I wish this guy had used..I leave the shower stall and walk into the locker room and there he is..in his bikini briefs.

I think..please fella,have mercy!!..So now he says, "How old are you man?".."57" ,I said...He responded with,"Wow man you really look good you know..you're in real good shape..I'm just 47 and I decided I needed to get back in shape cause I was married for 10 years and now I'm thinking about dating and I want to look good ..I don't want to get married right away cause my wife treated me bad and I'm not quite ready for that just yet"..I resisted the urge to comment and just gave him the "Hmm"..He continued, "Yeah after my divorce my kids really saw their mama for what she was..she hid it from them when we were married but when they saw her after, they said, How did you ever live with her daddy?..People just don't know what's going on in a marriage till it's over you know?"...

Now how do I respond to that monologue?..All I could think was..Where is this going man? Instead I just said,"Wow"

So now the next words that come out of his mouth I've never heard a person say out loud before..

He said "I've been celibate since November..I'm going to church now and I'm trying to get my life in order."..

I had nothing.but I did glance at him and saw the biggest smile on his face.."He is crazy" I'm thinking at this point..he just confessed a private matter to a perfect stranger..and he's as giddy as a Mad Hatter!..Suddenly a couple of guys walked in talking which gave me the chance to completely ignore this guy as I had tried to do for 10 minutes..By this time the guy was dressed and leaving and he said loudly.."Have a nice day man"..I don't know if he meant me but I pretended he didn't..So what just happened here I thought..was I hit on by a gay guy?..was this guy crazy?..was I being paranoid?..Is that a normal thing to say?..I'VE BEEN CELIBATE SINCE NOVEMBER! I couldn't get it out of my head so I blogged it and I'll just leave it right here on this page..OK?

I made a reference to a gym stalker in my status post earlier..so I figured I would blog about it in a new recurring installment that I will refer to as Gym Gossip..I will be writing about various people and occurances at my gym starting with one about me, and someone I will refer to as..The Stalker!

The Stalker

So there's this younger than me..attractive.. African-American lady who I would speak to on occasion at the gym..she works out hard and has lost some weight and it is very noticeable..

One day she was on the treadmill and I said "You're looking good Sam"(not her real name)..she said" I'm not stopping till I get sexy!"..so I reply "Well you're already that!"..She smiled and said "I know!"..

WELL.. that was my 1st mistake!!..

She asked me one day about WHEN I workout, and I say "Tuesday and Thursday after work.. and Saturday morning"..

Well..that was my 2nd mistake..

She's always there every time I'm there and she's always asking me for training advice..She is watching me when I workout and if I look her way, she just winks and smiles..She a little touchy/feely too..a Bi & Tri squeezer!..I try to be polite and very matter of fact..but that doesn't seem to phase her.

She knows I'm married cause I have talked about my wife a lot..so she asked me if I ever cheated on my wife?!..I said "Never in 34 years have I ever"..she grinned and said " Well would you consider it?"..I said an emphatic "NO I would never" ..from then on I tried to avoid her as much as possible ..

But she still tries to strike up conversation all the time..I keep the earphones in and she asks what I'm listening to!..She took a bite off my protein bar once and handed it back..She told me I remind her of Patrick Swayze..I said, "The guy is dead ya know?"..At this point I'm feeling a bit like Michael Douglas in one of his stalker movies..

Then this past Saturday I went to gym late..about 3pm..my friend Blake who is a trainer and front desk guy said she asked him "Where's my Baby?..You know!..R****e".. And then she says to him, "I could rock his world!"..Blake told me this when I got there and I was thinking "she's obsessed!!"..

She is married too, but her husband doesn't workout..I have never said anything to her that I haven't said to a hundred other girls there..but she is apparently starved for affection..I'm thinking about changing gyms!!

I've tried to be civil up till now..That was the 3rd mistake I guess..she mistook my friendliness for something else..Any suggestions on how I can shake her loose??..It is getting slightly embarrassing now that she's announcing her intentions to my friends!

So next time I write.. I'll tell you about a guy who was in the locker room who gives WAY TMI !!.. Lol!

Once I met this girl..or maybe she met me..I call her Tess.

As she first approached, I noticed her stunning beauty..golden hair and flawless complexion..not pretentious..simply a pretty girl with a face that glowed as she smiled..as she stood there looking back at me over her bare shoulder, my eyes lingered for just a moment..she seemed to take pleasure in the fact that I noticed her..her body that is..for that body was crying out..”LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE
BECOME…CAN YOU SEE THAT YOU WANT ME!!?”…And it was right..something in
me was drawn to her.

She announced her interest and intention right away…be my friend?.. I was quite taken with her forward manner..I simply wondered why this lovely person had taken notice of myself?..So I proceeded with caution..my guard was up like a seasoned boxer ..after all… I was taken..I made vows…what could be her real intention?..I then pronounced to her my situation..the response came abruptly..How dare I assume!!..She slapped me hard..and with such passion..I felt the blow within myself..the slap struck a cord inside me..the notes of that cord spelled

H-O-N-E-S-T-Y

SPITFIRE..That is the description I used in my
response..That is her..She is a spitfire..with unbridled grit… My
suspicions were soon realized..She exhibited raw anger and lascivious
energy..I knew there was more to her than met my observant eye..When I
gave up my thunder..she responded with daggers of lightning..piercing my
heart… But it was a pain that I soon began to crave!..

She has a name that betrays her demeanor..Amber..a colorful name..though not truly for her..Who is this girl?..What is her name?.. As I admire her statuesque features I am reminded of a girl I knew once..a girl who was beautiful..yet dangerous..that girl had a good heart..sometimes cruel and misguided..sometimes naive..but always in control of her own destiny..nothing left to chance..always a plan..an agenda to fulfill..that girl was Lena Lutessa Luthor..also known as Tess Mercer..she has gone……Now a new TESS was born..She would be that Tess..My dear Tess…Tess and I did become friends..more than friends..a bond of respect had been forged in that first awkward and violent encounter..She was my Muse.. I was her nemesis..I was her LEX..
Her words became my meals..I consumed them with a ravenous appetite that could not be abated..She inspired..She provoked..She gave praise..She was my conscience..Her words gave flight to my spirit..Her dreams became my own..

Tess is an unlikely hero..She appears to be vulnerable..but when confronted, Tess is a pillar of steel..unafraid of consequences..walking through fire..taking flight above the unsettled world below her…

Challenge is her friend! ..Adversity is her inspiration!..The Mountain is her stepping stone!..Darkness is her playground!..the Sun, her nearest rival!

My dearest Tess…She is my friend..She is my sibling..She is my love..She is my blood..She is in my heart…Tess fills the void that I never knew was there..

Her story is timeless..it is endless….a story of love..of resurrection..of life..of transformation..of redemption..of joy..of sorrow….a comedy and a tragedy…a story of friendship..of romance..of falling..and of rising up..a search for fulfillment..a search for fame..

Her story is epic..full of uncertainty..yet full of determination..born of desperation..born of lust for life..a story of lovers..of friends..of family

Tess cannot fail..She has come too far..She has risked so much..She has invested her life in the story..a novel whose end is neither certain, nor even predictable..She is living her story..Tess is the Heroine..Tess is the Villianess..Tess will fulfill the role as she sees fit..Tess will build a LEGACY OF HOPE for those who
witness HER TRANSFORMATION!..

Thank you my dear Tess!..I love you Sis!..To the moon! YOUR LEX

THE BEGINNING

Here I am piled up on the sofa with my grandkids watching...Aquabats ?..and longing for the heyday of cartoons..if you remember these..you are either old.. or very cool!

This girl does not back down from a challenge!..One Armed Pullup?..No problem!..Endless Trillions of Deadlifts and Squats?..She thrives on it!..She has some killer biceps and shoulders, that put mine to shame!..She is also a very sweet, beautiful ,caring and motivating friend!..She Inspires Me!..Her BB name is Krisloock..Thank you Kristine! xxooxx