My Mask, Alterego, Outlet

Kind speech attracts new friends, a courteous tongue invites a friendly response.

Let your acquaintances be many, but for advisers choose few.

If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and don't be in a hurry to trust him.

One kind of "friend" is a friend only when it suits him, but won't stand by you in your day of trouble.

Another kind of "friend" will fall out with you and to your dismay, bad mouth you to anyone that listens.

A third kind of "friend" will gladly share your table, but will bail the minute you get in trouble. When you're doing well, he'll be your second self, but if disaster falls, he's gone.

Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your "friends."

A loyal friend is a powerful defence; whoever finds one has found a treasure.

A loyal friend is beyond price, there's no measuring his worth.

A loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the LORD will find one.

Whoever fears the LORD makes true friends, for as a person is, so is his friend too.

First a shout out to Jerry Garcia. Not because of his musical contributions, although the legacy the Grateful Dead left is impressive to say the least….

Happy Memorial Day from Florida!

And as I sat there, enjoying my coffee and backyard view, my thoughts drifted to the many brave men that gave their lives for this country. Good men. Righteous men.

And maybe it's my ecclesiastical mood but this I noted and ascertained; the actions of even the good and righteous are determined by GOD!

Love? Hate? War? Peace? Man knows none of these in advance --- none of it!

Sadly, the same fate is in store for all. For the righteous and for the wicked. For the good men and the scoundrels. For the wise who are men of their word and for the fools that ramble.

That's the sad thing to me. That the same fate is in store for us all. If you're alive, well then you've got something to look forward to. Even a live dog is better than a dead lion!

But the dead? They know nothing. They have no recourse. Their loves, their hates, their jealousies? All gone! And now they have no more share to the end of time in all that goes on under the sun!

So to those reading this thought I'll tell you plainly; Go! Go enjoy your day! Eat your Memorial Day BBQ and drink your beer in joy! Your action was long determined and approved by GOD!

Enjoy happiness with your family, friends and the woman you love in the fleeting days of life that have been granted to you by HIM. For that alone is what you can get out of life. That is your gift!

And when you do go out today, and for that matter all your days, do it with all your power and might! For there is no action, no reasoning, no learning, no wisdom in death, where you are going.

For the time of misfortune comes to us all. And man cannot know his time. Like the valiant men who gave their lives for this country. As a fish becomes enmeshed in a fatal net or a large bear trapped in a snare, so men are caught at the time of calamity and war, and it comes on you without warning.

How sweet is the sun! Even if you live many years, it is best to enjoy yourself while you're alive, remembering how many days of darkness are ahead.

Follow the desires of your heart and dreams! I myself wish love, peace and full enjoyment of life to you! And banish care from your mind and pluck sorrow from your flesh. But know full well --- GOD will call you to account for all such things!

One of the most basic and important moves to master is the pull-up. Few things show mastery over your body weight than the ability to pull it up over and over. Yet I see so few people doing it at the gym. 

It works your back, your biceps, shoulders, core. In fact, just about every muscle in your body pitches in to make this move happen. And if you’re looking for results fast, this is the move. 

How you grip the bar, whether it be close, medium or wide grip is less important than executing a full range of movement. Make sure you go all the way down and all the way up with your head just barely peeking over the pull-up bar. (You’re better off doing one full range correct pull-up then letting go and trying again than you are doing 8 or 10 half-assed lame ones.)

You’ll find closer gripped pull-ups work more of your inner back while wider grip pull-ups work your outer back giving you that V shape. 

The pics of me executing the move in different stages and varying grips will give you a good idea of the range of movement needed to properly execute. 

Some core exercises in the backyard and some thoughts: 

There are only three directions your core can go: 

Up/down. (Picture touching your toes then reaching for the sky and arching your back.)

Pendulum left then right. (Picture a pendulum or grandfather clock)

Twisting left and right (picture a discuss throw type movement)