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Post by macdiver on Sept 12, 2020 23:34:49 GMT
Wow. It is great that you are offering your house to help the kids from out of state. Not being negative or judgemental but I would assume that it will be an adjustment for both you and your wife to live together again. I know how it is for me when I have been on the road for a while. Give each other space and forgiveness. There are a lot of great things about being together again too. I'm sure you will kill the revised fitness plan.
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Post by seltzer on Sept 14, 2020 18:46:32 GMT
Very nice of you to offer your PA house.
Kick butt with the 40 day program.
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Post by phillydude on Sept 14, 2020 19:21:43 GMT
Not being negative or judgemental but I would assume that it will be an adjustment for both you and your wife to live together again. I know how it is for me when I have been on the road for a while. Give each other space and forgiveness. There are a lot of great things about being together again too.
You hit the nail on the head. Everything from sharing a bed again (we only have the guest bedroom finished, so it's both of us and a little dog in a double bed. We'll have a king in the master when it's done, but that's a few months off) to food preferences (obviously, I'm on this crazy restricted diet, and she's wanting cheeseburgers and fries - because I know a part of her feels like she's still "on vacation" since this all happened while she was indeed on vacation leading up to Labor Day) has been an adjustment.
Space and forgiveness are thoughtful words, and I appreciate your experience and advises.
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Post by phillydude on Oct 1, 2020 11:49:34 GMT
Hi guys... I'm still at it... fits and starts, as they say, but no matter how many times I fail, I'm not a failure unless I give up.
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Post by phillydude on Oct 25, 2020 23:17:01 GMT
Fitness-type stuff: Not much to report... in consultation with Dave the Trainer, we moved the planned photo shoot back to December 5th, as I entered a Kai Greene sponsored eight-week transformation contest. Within a few days of doing so, I realized that if I invested eight weeks into the house instead, the improvement in my daily existence would make it much easier to pick up our long-term plan in early 2021. So any kind of organized fitness plan is on the shelf for now, but I'm still doing a three mile walk a couple days a week, so that's something.
Non-Fitness stuff: The house continues to be a work in progress, but the new sewer lines are in place and we have completely functional bathroom facilities, as well as washer/dryer in the house. I also bought a new (to me) car... 2006 VW Jetta mkV. It's fast, its well made, and it's in really good shape for the price I paid. Admittedly, it was a spur-of-the-moment purchase, but one that was not only necessary with winter approaching, but practical as it was right up the road and I didn't have to track all over looking for something. I celebrated with an extended drive down to Atlantic City for the night on Monday, and aside from not being able to smoke indoors anymore (and of course wearing the mask thing), it was pretty much normal... drinking, gambling, eating, and walking on the boardwalk in between (where you can still smoke and don't have to wear the mask). It was very clean and I felt very safe. With that said, however, my employer INSISTED that I get a Covid test before I returned to work... the first time I have had one. Negative, of course... the people at the testing center were actually a little annoyed they were "wasting" a test on someone who didn't knowingly have direct contact with someone who was positive... since they only have 15 tests available each day, they potentially turned away people who were infected so I could have a note to give my boss.
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Post by shamie on Oct 26, 2020 13:09:04 GMT
Do they still have buffet's in Atlantic City? They were big for that, but I was thinking that may be a thing of the past, that won't be coming back.
I can see forcing employee's to get a Covid Test, especially those that deal with the customers. Nowadays, they need to cover themselves from potential lawsuits.
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Post by macdiver on Oct 26, 2020 13:46:02 GMT
My problem with the Covid test is it really doesn't tell you anything initially. From what I understand is it takes 3 - 5 days after exposure and "catching it" for a test to show positive and it is another 3 - 5 days for symptoms. So taking a test a day or two after exposure doesn't really say anything. Also exposure doesn't mean you caught it. I would thing a more prudent approach is limiting your "direct contact" with guests and wearing a mask for the first week or so then get tested if you are symptomatic.
I also recommend getting the covid app for your phone. Anytime you are within 6 feet of someone else with the app, your phones exchange an anonymous token. If you test positive you get a code that you report to the state and app. The app then notifies anyone you were in contact with that they were exposed and when. The app doesn't say who. Then you can get tested. Right now less than 250,000 people in NJ are using the app. It needs to be much higher usage to be effective at controlling the spread. Most states have the app. You should consider using Md's app.
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Post by phillydude on Oct 27, 2020 1:57:00 GMT
Do they still have buffet's in Atlantic City?
Not at this time, although I have to say the only decent buffet is at the Hard Rock. We ate in the Hard Rock food court instead and it was fine.
My problem with the Covid test is it really doesn't tell you anything initially.
Yes, that was my point to my employer... taking it just a day after going to AC wouldn't mean much.
I would thing a more prudent approach is limiting your "direct contact" with guests and wearing a mask.
I do that as a matter of course... I have learned how to read people's body language as to how comfortable they are, and adjust accordingly.
I also recommend getting the covid app for your phone.
Nope.
Made chicken thighs and wings in the smoker today. Since it's colder outside, I could only get the temp up to 200, so they took a while longer than I thought.
I did nothing to them and they were spectacular. The thighs remind me of duck... juicy and smoky and fatty. The wings just came clean off the bone (with hot sauce).
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Post by phillydude on Feb 20, 2021 1:05:23 GMT
Hi kids... thought I would drop back in here for a quick update. The house is 98% finished... all but the kitchen sink and tile (floor and backsplash). My wife has been living here with me in MD for most of the winter, and we celebrated Christmas with both the boys. Right after New Year's, the three guys (plus one of my older son's friends) did our annual road trip, this time going to Vermont to snowboard for a week. I managed to get in about 100 downhill miles over five days on the mountain, which was epic... but even better, I got to spend quality time with my kids (and hang out with men half my age and still kick their ass down the slopes all day). They are now back at college (on campus), with the older one living back in his frat house, and the younger one living in the same room he had as a freshman, but with no roommates (he did also join a frat this year, but won't be able to live there until next year, because #corona). I also went to Atlantic City for the Super Bowl again this year, although it wasn't as much fun as last year, because #corona.
On the health and fitness front, I successfully quit smoking cigars over the Christmas break, and I also cut WAY back on my drinking around the same time... once a week or less. I haven't been doing much in the way of exercise (and aborted my plan to compete in bodybuilding this year), allowing even my daily walk to fall by the wayside with the winter weather and later sunrises. In its place, I am starting a new hobby: hiking/backpacking/bushcrafting/camping. I've had a good time acquiring all of the gear I will need (and the knowledge of how to use it), and I'm heading up to the Poconos on Monday to spend a long day out in the woods on Tuesday, hopefully covering about 10k (in the snow) while carrying everything I would take for an overnight camping trip (although I am staying in a condo... it's too cold to overnight at my level of experience). Basically I'm going for a long walk while carrying a twenty pound pack (not counting my food and water, which will add about ten pounds to the load)... and I will be cooking all my meals out on the trail over a ten hour period (sunrise to sunset). I'm excited about the wide range of activities I will be able to try this year (from kayak camping to building a semi-permanent shelter in the woods) and of course, getting to spend alone time outdoors in nature... which is why I moved here to begin with.
I MAY try to shoot a bunch of video and launch (another) YouTube channel to document my exploits, but that is still TBD. Will check in when I get back.
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Post by seltzer on Feb 20, 2021 13:53:35 GMT
Nice to see you post again and thanks for the update. Lots of good stuff there!
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Post by macdiver on Feb 20, 2021 23:09:10 GMT
Have fun backpacking. Once the weather is better will you be using a tent or a hammock? I understand that the hammock has become a very popular alternative to tents. I guess they are enclosed and weather resistant but I really don't know.
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Post by phillydude on Feb 21, 2021 16:29:36 GMT
For most trips, I plan to use a tarp specifically designed to create a shelter, along with an inflatable sleeping pad to get up off the ground. With that said, I also own an ultra-light tent (from my bicycle camping days) which I would use if my wife were to come with me. Hammocks have become popular, but most of the time you also use a tarp to create shelter over the hammock, so in my mind you are still pitching a tent, therefore the difference primarily comes down to sleeping preference. I haven't tried the hammock (I did buy one for my son for his dorm room, however, so I will have the opportunity to do so this summer).
At this moment, however, the day of hiking on Tuesday is under reconsideration, as I didn't account for the significant snowfall this week, specifically when it comes to being out in the middle of nowhere. After all, it's not like the park rangers went out and shoveled the trails... so there is potential for deep snow and hidden ice. Add in the the fact that I will be hiking in mountainous territory (and I'm not really good with heights) and it's an "iffy" proposition. In any event, I'm going to make the trip... I have plans to meet up with Jaer and (try) and run a mile or three with him to support his Stop Soldier Suicide ... in my hiking boots and carrying my pack (no extra water weight). Mark, have you ever "rucked" (aside from your time in the service) or run with a weighted backpack seems line something you would be interested in?
Then I plan to stop at the house in PA and say hello to the wife, pick up a few things at Walmart and REI for my pack, and then head for the mountains, arriving toward the end of the afternoon. At that point, I will let the professionals (park rangers) advise me "go or no go" for Tuesday. If I bail on the hike, conditions should be good for snowboarding, so I'll spend the day doing that instead. Sort of a trade off between deliberately sliding down the side of a mountain and accidentally doing so. I am also going to visit the nearby casino, of course, and plan to eat dinner there both nights (although if I do hike and prepare all the food I plan to carry, I will probably be full for days).
I'm actually going to post my nutrition plan in a little while today, showing what I am packing for food... I'd like some feedback on things I may have missed. All of my meals can be prepared with only boiling water, but I am not using any of those pre-packaged "backpacker" meals. The rations should be enough to sustain two full days of hiking for one person or one day for two people, should that situation arise. My ultimate goal in putting together my kit was to be self-sustainable for two people for up to three days/two nights... that should be enough of a buffer if we get into a SHTF situation. Seltzer, can you chime in with input based on your experience with Sandy?
I traded texts with M@ yesterday... he's still in a bad place, with the addition of some added stress from dealing with aging family members. He'll come back...
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Post by shamie on Feb 21, 2021 16:47:52 GMT
I give you credit for starting this new hobby in the cold snowy winter.
You are looking trim on your Avatar photo.
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Post by macdiver on Feb 22, 2021 23:28:05 GMT
No I have not run with a backpack or weights since I got out of the Army. Honestly, I didn't run with a pack in the Army often and when we did, it was sprints to the nearest "cover" during training exercises. When I was stationed at Ft Ord, I did cover a lot of miles with a heavy pack (approx 50 - 60 pounds) with gear, radios, batteries, ammo, food, shelter etc. as I was on a 4 man foot team. When I was in Korea, I was on a remote outpost on the DMZ and didn't move off the couch much. Two polar opposite experiences.
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Post by seltzer on Feb 23, 2021 13:39:24 GMT
During Sandy we were without power for ten days, but were fortunate to have had the ability to tap into a neighbor's generator so that we could keep our refrigerators and a couple of space heaters going. My biggest concern was our pipes freezing, but that never happened. I have a gas stove so I was able to utilize that and between my gas grill and kamado grill cooking was not an issue. If things really became dire I have two camping stoves I could have used so there wasn't any food insecurity.
I haven't back packed in decades and being much younger I was able to carry enough weight if we were going for only a couple of days that I never relied on those dehydrated meals. Trail mix for breakfast and snacks, jerky, and frozen protein that we would let naturally defrost and/or cured meats that could last a couple of days. Because it's so heavy our biggest concern was access to water.
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