Little things that make you happy

[Tortoise]

Oh, good point.

A google search suggests he's been given 15 billion.

[Johnnymac]

Little weekday trip with my wife to go see Our Lady Peace and Collective Soul in concert.  Stayed at a nice hotel and ate a nice restaurant.  Took today off and spent most the day at a Nordic Spa using their different saunas, pools, and relaxation lounges.  Read some of a book and just recharged our batteries.

[Revelations]

Nice!! Nothing beats a getaway with the one you love. Two bands I honestly forgot about, off to spotify...

[Johnnymac]

Nice!! Nothing beats a getaway with the one you love. Two bands I honestly forgot about, off to spotify...

Yeah it really is nice to get away and do something special even if only for a night.  I too sort of forgot about how many "hits" Collective Soul had.

[Firm]

Nice! Sounds like a great couple days. Did something similar today; took the day off and took Mrs.Firm and Princess Firm (our 2 year old) to the outlets down in Mississippi for some shopping and a nice lunch. Good day.

Next Friday is my birthday and we're going to Nashville Friday night to see Julie Roberts (obscure country singer that I've been a long-time fan of). Booked a hotel to spend the night, as I don't want to have to drive 2.5 hours home after that, and my FIL will be in town to watch the kids.

[Johnnymac]

Nice! Sounds like a great couple days. Did something similar today; took the day off and took Mrs.Firm and Princess Firm (our 2 year old) to the outlets down in Mississippi for some shopping and a nice lunch. Good day.

Next Friday is my birthday and we're going to Nashville Friday night to see Julie Roberts (obscure country singer that I've been a long-time fan of). Booked a hotel to spend the night, as I don't want to have to drive 2.5 hours home after that, and my FIL will be in town to watch the kids.

Sounds like a good birthday get away indeed and I agree, no one wants to drive more than maybe half an hour after an evening show, it's nice just to unwind in a hotel room and have a nice morning the next day.

[Johnnymac]

Had a new goal in the gym for myself this year, figured I'm now 44 and if I am ever going to hit personal bests now is the time. 

The goal is sort of a modified powerlifting combo, squat, deadlift, and bench press.  But as my surgically repaired knee isn't exactly 100% anymore I stick to barbell sit squats.  It's around a 2/3 or 3/4 squat, meaning it's shy of 90 degree knee bend, but with a pause at the bottom as I do not want to bounce off the bench.

The goal I set was 1,000lbs combined, which really is not anything all that impressive in the powerlifting circle but it's certainly a personal best for myself.

I didn't do a baseline 1 rep max on January 1st, but I would estimate it somewhere in the 750-800 combined range.

I initial individual goals for the lifts at the end was 400 pound barbell sit squats, 325 pound deadlift, and 275 bench press. 

Haven't been training solely for those lifts but have certainly been focused on those three.  Yesterday and today I decided to do a 3 month check to see how much further I have to go. 

Yesterday was lower body lifts and was able to do 375 barbell sit squats and 285 deadlift.  Today I got 260 on bench.  Total is 920, so still some work to do.  The key is to avoid any setbacks or major injuries. 

Next 3 month goal is to add around 40 pounds combined between them.

It's been a couple of years since I had my ACL repaired and just over a year since I tore my rotator cuff in my shoulder.  So it's been a bit of a road to get back to even where I started.  But if I hit my goal it will certainly be a new personal best. 

[HannibalSmith]

Nice work. Those numbers are impressive.

I started running again last fall and have kept it up. Doing a 4 day split, but with a 3 x per week frequency, and running three times a week. It's nice to be outside!

[Johnnymac]

Nice, I bet it is nice being able to train outside again, plus it's still cool out so even better for a nice run.  Keep it up brother.

[blur911]

Crab season starting

[Johnnymac]

Last Friday I received my weekly "Top 20 travel deals' from a website that I subscribe to.  On this day there was a deal for a plane ticket from Halifax to Toronto for something like $150.

Thinking it was one way I decided to click on the deal, turns out it's for return tickets.

This got my brain thinking about doing something that my dad always wanted to do.  Travel to Toronto to see the Blue Jays play at home.  It's sort of a bucket list item for him or at least as close to one as he has.  He has been a fan of them from back when they won the World Series in the early 90's.

Issue is he turns 80 this year and his mobility is not the best.  He is not in a wheelchair or anything, but stairs and long walks are not something he can do much of.

Pulled the trigger on the plane tickets, leave on May 16 and return on the 18th.  Staying at a hotel that is around half a km from both Roger's Centre and the CN Tower, so that will give us more than enough to do for the couple of days we are there.

This morning I bought the tickets.  After taking with multiple people who have been to games recently and doing some online research it appeared that the 100 level, back row, would limit the amount of steps. 

For the first game on May 16 we are in section 134, back row, end seats, just in front of the accessible seats.  This is up behind 3rd base and the Jays dugout.

The second game on the 17th we are in section 114, back row, end seats, in front of the accessible seats.  This is up behind 1st base and the opposing teams dugout.

Both hopefully won't require many steps and be close to bathrooms for my dad.  End of row means he won't have to climb over anyone to get up.

Luckily enough both games are promotional, so if we get there early enough for both games we will have built in souvenirs, hat and Hawaiian shirt.

Funny enough May 16 is me and my wife's wedding/relationship anniversary, 16 years married and 25 years together.  She is more than fine with me taking this opportunity to take my dad on this trip.  She's a real good one my wife.

[Firm]

Nice, that's sounds like a great way to spend some time with your dad. The vibe in the city around the stadium is always really good on Jays Games, especially if the weather is nice, find a patio and take it in.

That is really cheap air fair too....

[Johnnymac]

Yeah I am really trying to make an effort to spend some extra quality time with my folks as I know they won't be around for that much longer.  Seeing as this was an achievable bucket list item for my dad it was pretty low hanging fruit.

Seems any cheap air fairs you always get dinged hard with all the extras, between the airport upgrade fees, carry on extra, and seat selection, those more than doubled the price.  But still think it was decent at around $750 for the two of us. 

At least the flight times are decent and won't require any night time driving or overnights in Halifax, which is about 3.5 hours away, give or take.  Seats are right at the front of the plane too, so with carryons it should be a quick exit from the airport to the hotel.

[RRocket]

Good times! I love the ballpark and had shared season tickets a couple of seasons.

Have a great time!

[HannibalSmith]

We're going to the rock (NFLD) for our family vacation this year! First time for all of us.