Journey, Not A Destination

[Steve]

I've been known to cry when losing cars...so I can't imagine how you'll fill the void. But I'm sure you'll manage. You seem to be a very practical guy so I'm not surprised by this move. Besides...your married now. No need to turn heads. hahaha

Haha, it's a funny thing really. Just yesterday my wife and I were driving through town. It was a nice day so the windows were down. A young child walking with his mom pointed at my car and said, "mommy look, a race car." Another lady yelled to me, "nice car."

If I don't stop and think about it, it's easy to get caught up in the 'awe' of driving a bright yellow sports car and the comments and stares that come with it.

However, if I think about it another way, do I really care what others think about the car that I drive? What does the car say about me in the context of the unknowing stranger? What do I want people to 'respect' about me; is it my car or something else?

When I ask myself these questions... it's pretty easy to let go of it.

However, I might not be letting go of it just yet, which I'll explain in my update below.

 

[Steve]

In the middle of getting a mortgage is usually not a good time to make purchases. I would check with your mortgage guy just to make sure this doesn't throw any ringers.

Even though it will considerably lower my car loan and monthly payment?

 

[Steve]

All the years i lived in new york - I swore that if there was such a thing as reincarnation - I wanted to come back as a garbage truck - or a city bus.. just to be bigger and badder than anyhing else on the road and be able to run them over if I so choose... Generally I'd exercise restraint - but the fact that you COULD is oh so appealing

I know exactly what you mean, I'm just not so sure of the level of restraint I will be able to exercise.

Oh yeah and somethng else to keep in mind - my buddies at work will say that women who can drive a pick up -and not be intimidated by it - are totally hot

Haha, you sound like Krista. She said, "I will look good driving this thing." She loves big, so she's all about me getting rid of my car. She doesn't get the 'fast and performance' thing.

 

[Steve]

Update

So last night we go to meet with the realtor. On the agenda was drafting the agreement between the potential buyer of my home and myself. That was easy.

When those buyers left, it was time for Krista and I to work with the realtor to draft a preliminary agreement to present to the sellers of the home I'm trying to buy.

Here's the most amazing bit that's so hard for me to believe. At the same exact freaking time, there was another couple in the office across the hallway drafting a preliminary agreement on the same house!

There hasn't been an offer in half a year and now, on the same day, same hour, same building... there are two people drafting agreements to present to the sellers.

I thought they were trying to pull something over on me, but it really doesn't seem to be the case. I met the potential buyers and they are real, lol. I have no idea what they're offering.

But it changed things in terms of the septic. I was only going to get them to pay half of the cost to fix what's wrong with PART of the septic system which would only net out to be 3k. I wasn't about to lose this deal over 3 thousand dollars. So I'm buying the septic as is... well proposing to buy it as is.

For all I know these other potential buyers are offering much more than I am.

Only time will tell.

I am trying to view like this: Due to the enormous coincidence of these other buyers popping into the picture (they saw the house 3 months ago but the realtors haven't heard from them since until yesterday), if we don't get this house it truly wasn't meant to be. I'm trying to view these new buyers as a blessing in disguise if we don't get the house. We were so close to getting it... the price was literally agreed upon we just had to sign the papers and work out the kinks with the inspections. If these others people get the house, I'm trying to perceive it as them taking a huge headache from me.

In this light, I'm not selling my car until I find out more. The sellers have to respond to my contract by Wednesday at midnight. I was supposed to trade my car in this afternoon. But I think if I lost the house and my car, I'd be pretty down. Giving up the car and getting a badass house I don't mind. Losing the house and giving up one of my favorite 'toys' all in one or two days though... I'm not so sure about that.

 

[maleficent]

I really hope that this works out in your favor - and sometimes - the favor might be not getting the house.. but you knew that...

It's really amazing how they practically came out of the woodwork... at the 11th hour practically..

 

[Steve]

Tell me about it.

 

[edco76]

Damn. Hope it all works out for you Steve.

A have a question for ya though.

So last night at the gym I decided to see what I could deadlift. I have been doing a 5x5 for a couple months progressing 5lb per WO. I took the advice from several including yourself to start really light. I had progressed up to 160 on my DL but they have never really been challenging at all so last night I thought I would see what I could do, I have never "maxed out" at any lift and figured since deadlift was my most comfortable I would start there. I got up to 290 which I was pretty happy with. I actually think I could have done a bit more had I started heavier because since I was just adding a little at a time and had no clue what I could do so I did a lot of reps before the 290. Anyway, I have 2 questions:
1. Since I know what I can do now, should I just go back to doing 165, 5x5 my next WO, or will that be a waste of time? I know I can't do reps @ 290 but should I drop back to 190-200ish? Or just keep trucking 5lb per WO?

2. Inspired by my efforts I decided to see what I could overhead press as well, I was suppose to do 95, 5x5. I maxed out at 125 which again I am sure was effected by my DL efforts before.

That seems a little out of balance to me. Of course I know you wont be able to OHP close to what you can DL but that still seemed a little weak to me. Is it? or is that ratio pretty normal? Do you think I should add some specific exorcise to improve my OHP? Or would you suggest a different progression or set/rep combo? I know you mentioned before mixing up the reps and weight within a WO (I cant remember the term)

Ok maybe that is more than 2 questions.

Appreciate any help!

 

[Steve]

Damn. Hope it all works out for you Steve.

A have a question for ya though.

So last night at the gym I decided to see what I could deadlift. I have been doing a 5x5 for a couple months progressing 5lb per WO. I took the advice from several including yourself to start really light. I had progressed up to 160 on my DL but they have never really been challenging at all so last night I thought I would see what I could do, I have never "maxed out" at any lift and figured since deadlift was my most comfortable I would start there. I got up to 290 which I was pretty happy with. I actually think I could have done a bit more had I started heavier because since I was just adding a little at a time and had no clue what I could do so I did a lot of reps before the 290.

That's not too shabby at all.

Form tends to break even with the most experienced lifters when pushing near max weight. Would you say your form remained pretty 'tight'?

1. Since I know what I can do now, should I just go back to doing 165, 5x5 my next WO, or will that be a waste of time? I know I can't do reps @ 290 but should I drop back to 190-200ish? Or just keep trucking 5lb per WO?

What have you been increasing your weights by and how frequently, up to this point?

2. Inspired by my efforts I decided to see what I could overhead press as well, I was suppose to do 95, 5x5. I maxed out at 125 which again I am sure was effected by my DL efforts before.

That seems a little out of balance to me. Of course I know you wont be able to OHP close to what you can DL but that still seemed a little weak to me. Is it? or is that ratio pretty normal? Do you think I should add some specific exorcise to improve my OHP? Or would you suggest a different progression or set/rep combo? I know you mentioned before mixing up the reps and weight within a WO (I cant remember the term)

No.

That is a normal/good ratio.

Think about it.

OHP is really just your delts, tris and some traps.

Deadlift is everything.

Your OHP should be nowhere near your deadlift.

 

[edco76]

Form tends to break even with the most experienced lifters when pushing near max weight. Would you say your form remained pretty 'tight'?

Probably not lol. I don't think it got too bad out but I did feel like toward the top I had to put too much back into it, if that makes sense. As a confirmation of that my back is a little sore this morning. Coming up didnt feel too bad though but I am pretty sure going down was a mess.

What have you been increasing your weights by and how frequently, up to this point?

I do my DL on my B in a ABA, BAB routine. I have been progressing 5 lb per WO. I don't remember where I started though, I don't have my log with me.

No.

That is a normal/good ratio.

Think about it.

OHP is really just your delts, tris and some traps.

Deadlift is everything.

Your OHP should be nowhere near your deadlift.

Yeah I knew that it wouldnt be close, I just wanted to see if that was a "normal" ratio. I feel weak in my upper body, always have. I have always been a little out of proportion with big thighs, short legs and long arms and upper body. At 6 feet tall I wear a 30" inseam pants.

Thanks for the help Steve.

 

[Curvie Girlie]

Lucky you! How I wish to go back to Hawaii. It doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon though. Have a blast! You've been there before from what I remember but seriously soak it all in.

I seriously will! Yes, this is time #4. Thank goodness. Gonna enjoy drinking beer at the Kona Brewery when I first get in

 

[maleficent]

Sending some postive vibes and good wishes and all that in your direction that you get a good answer on the house by days end...

 

[Steve]

Probably not lol. I don't think it got too bad out but I did feel like toward the top I had to put too much back into it, if that makes sense. As a confirmation of that my back is a little sore this morning. Coming up didnt feel too bad though but I am pretty sure going down was a mess.

Yea, when I really crank it out on the DL, my back, at times, feels tweaked. As I said, form is always going to breakdown a bit when you're pushing boundaries.

When I max, I do not put the weight down in a controlled fashion. Far too much stress on the back.

I do my DL on my B in a ABA, BAB routine. I have been progressing 5 lb per WO. I don't remember where I started though, I don't have my log with me.

It's tough to say what you should do, really. It's such a 'touch&feel' process that you really need to toy around. Maybe you can start jumping up 10 lb increments. But that means some weeks you'll be adding 20 lbs to your deadlift. That's a lot, in some cases.

DL is a funny animal. Once you get strong in it, 1) you can't crank out a lot of heavy volume like you can the other lifts and 2) strength in the DL tends to hang around longer than the other lifts.

With this in mind, there are many cycles where I'm only doing one or two heavy sets of DLs per week. Sometimes less.

And where I can crank out heavy ass squats and bench for weeks on end, consistently adding weight to the bar, on DL I can't. I'll simply spend a few weeks building up to a heavy triple or even a single, then drop back down and start all over from a slightly higher base.

Yea, I know none of this is answering your question.

I'll add this though...

People usually fuck themselves by being too aggressive in the gym. Things feel light and they know they can do more so they start jumping up weights left and right only to plateau or tweak an injury a couple of weeks later.

The conservative route would be to keep doing what you were doing b/c you know it's working.

Take that for what it's worth.

 

[Steve]

Sending some postive vibes and good wishes and all that in your direction that you get a good answer on the house by days end...

Thanks Mal...

I actually supplemented the agreement with a letter to the sellers. On it, I told them that though the contract states we need an answer by day's end, we really don't. I was slightly irked simply b/c we drafted this agreement on Monday and the realtor explained that she'd be giving it to the sellers on Tuesday morning. Now I come to find that due to various scheduling conflicts the sellers will not be handed the agreement until 3 o'clock this afternoon. And they only have till midnight (by contract) to respond.

So in the letter I clearly explained that I could give two shits if they need longer... I do not want them to feel pressured.

 

[maleficent]

that realtor doesn't seem to be overly interested in making the sale.... I'd think that she'd move heaven and earth to get it done and she (i assume it's a she) had a scheduling conflict and couldn't submit something...

 

[edco76]

People usually fuck themselves by being too aggressive in the gym. Things feel light and they know they can do more so they start jumping up weights left and right only to plateau or tweak an injury a couple of weeks later.

The conservative route would be to keep doing what you were doing b/c you know it's working.

Take that for what it's worth.

Thanks Steve. I believe I will stick w/my progression cause like you said "if it aint broke" When I get to where I can't do 5x5 I will look into something else. Maybe by then I can alternate between DL and power cleans.

 

[Steve]

that realtor doesn't seem to be overly interested in making the sale.... I'd think that she'd move heaven and earth to get it done and she (i assume it's a she) had a scheduling conflict and couldn't submit something...

What I wrote above certainly does give that impression but other things she has done suggests otherwise; that she is all about putting me in this home. So it's a toss up. I think some of the scheduling conflict had to do with the sellers actually. But I figured the realtor (yes it's a she) would realize that the contract seems to be applying pressure with regards to the deadline now that things have changed.

I'm confident that my letter will ease said pressure though.

I believe they (the sellers) will be handed both agreements this afternoon. One from me and one from the other potential buyers.

 

[Steve]

Thanks Steve. I believe I will stick w/my progression cause like you said "if it aint broke" When I get to where I can't do 5x5 I will look into something else. Maybe by then I can alternate between DL and power cleans.

Sounds like a good course of action to me.

 

[Steve]

Wow...

I just got an email from the agent saying the other buyers have since backed out.

What a roller coaster ride.

 

[Curvie Girlie]

Roller coaster ride indeed!

Attached: current abs/hips. Don't mind the pink underwear, yuck Apparently beer is OK as long as you run a lot Oh yeah, and swallow raw eggs...

 

[Steve]

Looking great Val.

That's a hot lil bod you're rocking.