(JUAN.of.a.KIND)

Squats (based on > 40 squats)

40

45

40

40

max ——> 60

(60 sec rest in between sets…yeah right, more like 2-3 minutes)

Peeping: The Lakers raping the Nuggets. So Kobes made it in. Bron, R U listenin’ (and watching)? I would be very indifferent to a Lakers/Magic final.

Well, this was a challenge. No less than 40 reps per set. My “eating an elephant” strategy definitely needed to be deployed during this session (9X5 and 6X10 for instance). And with that, Week 4 comes to a close.

Okay, time for another exhaustion test which should be completed within 24-48 hours of finishing Week 4. Hopefully you’ll be feeling much stronger now than your initial test 4 weeks ago. Make a note of how many squats you complete, and move on to Week 5.

You mean two weeks ago, since it was recommended that I start this grueling program at Week 3. Not sure if I feel stronger yet. Either way, see you Sunday, exhaustion test.

Pleasant update: After resting for a bit, I attempted to perform a max out set of pull-ups just to see if my lats and arms had regressed any from the punishment I subjected them to for almost 3 months (all boringly documented on this very site). Aaaaaand…I pulled off a NEW personal high of 21 (mostly good form) pull-ups! It’s gotta be the Vitamin Water (Formula 50 flavour this time out).

Push Ups (based on > 25 Push Ups):

25

29

25

25

max ——> 41 (a new personal high)

Behind the boards: Sports highlights (the Cavs/Magic: Game 5 was over and ended with positive results).

To be honest, I was tired going into this session, so I took 3 minute rest breaks in between sets (shoot me). And that last max set? It was 70% mental. My small muscles were fatiguing during sets 3 and 4. But I had 41 on the brain for the max set. So I took a deep breath and pumped them out as fast as I could (while concentrating on my breathing, which is very important). Second wind came at 31. I thought about 42, but was completely exhausted after 41 (shoot me again).

And halfway through, you just cannot think to yourself that you’re only halfway through or the task starts to weigh on you (which is the last thing you need). What I end up doing is dividing the set into smaller pieces (mentally), then I concentrate on completing each piece, which is something my Dad taught me (“How do you eat an elephant?”, he would ask. “One piece at a time.” FYI we don’t actually eat elephants). So another night, another session. Now off to play some Punch-Out!!M.

Your result for Candy is Dandy but Liquour is Quicker…

24% Amateur, 42% Wild, 31% Sassy, 10% Drunk, 33% Sommlier, 42% Classic, 46% Connoisseur and 13% Basic!

You are The Beer Connoisseur.

You know your beer. You love microbrews, IPAs, stouts, lagers, hefewiezens and can open a beer bottle using only the side of a table. You are an allstar beirut champion & spend much of your day either glued to ESPN or listening to indie rock. You’re fun loving, thrill-seeking and kind of awesome to hang out with. Everyone loves you, including your dog.

Your new favorite drink:

Long Trail Hefeweizen

You scored 24% Amateur, 42% Wild, 31% Sassy, 10% Drunk, 33% Sommlier, 42% Classic, 46% Connoisseur and 13% Basic!

Take Candy is Dandy but Liquour is Quicker at HelloQuizzy

It’s all about the heart-stopping free throws. And I don’t know if Jordan could’ve made that final shot attempt by Lebron (a 30-some footer from beyond). Straight up, the King needs more production from his supporting cast (how long can one man carry a team, night in night out?).

Edit: Gotta give it up to Rafer madness, though.

2 of my Top 3 favourite bands on the same show…again (N*E*R*D was also on Fallon w/ The Roots). Notes for the 2009 Memorial Day edition of Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon:

• Not non-funny opening jokes: JFK definitely hit that, Sarah McLachlan CD shields at Starbucks.
• Awesome intro beat by The Roots (is there a time when I’m not impressed?). Knuckles pointing right at the audience at home *pointing right back at ya, Knucks*
• Fallon admits he was a VW logo thief in his teen years when he first met the Beastie Boys in 1992 (possibly at a show promoting Check Your Head). ?uest also has one of those, according to some pix in an OKP post where he was stuntin’ his loot. Even if I swiped a VW logo, that would be too big to wear around my neck, I think. Now Mercedes on the other hand.
• Smooth operator segment. Girl is cute and has a long ass last name. Go navy dude (immediate update: He won. And I’m always impressed by how big that 108” TV is). Mike, Mike & Adam comin’ at cha! Edit: Whoops, I meant to say Adam, Adam and Mike. Gotta roll with them Freudian slips.
• The Roots doing a perfect rendition of MCA’s leadoff verse from The New Style. The Boys rearranging the pillows on the couch. Mike looks like he’s wearing pajamas. MCA says the Beasties toured w/ The Roots during Ill Communication in ‘94 (do you want more?!!!??!). Man, I want that sick vinyl reissue of CYH (comes with randomly selected 45’s? Damn). And I don’t even have a record player.
• The Boys seem less aloof and inside-jokey than usual. Adrock wears a Medic-Alert bracelet (and I can almost make out what it says in HD).
• MCA is so chill as usual (I shook his hand at a show, not that he remembers). Adrock always crosses his legs prim and proper and Mike D is the quirkiest looking. So nothing’s changed.
• They made an album with LL and Grandmaster Caz on a boat/ferry owned by Paul Allen? I wanna hear that too. But….
• New album September!!!!!!!! “It’s done.” (c) MCA. Hot Sauce Committee is the official name of the new LP. Love it!
• Get the new reissue of Check Your Head on Blu-ray (haha).
• “You guys wouldn’t do a song from Check Your Head, would you?” Surprise performance! OMG, if they do what I’m hoping they’ll do…Oh God.
• *opening electronic keyboard notes by Kamal* Oh God! Gaaaaaaah! I need to change my pants. Beastie-Beastie-Beastie Boys! With The Roots!!!
• …………………………
• OK, I’m back (I got off my seat to totally mark out and rhyme along with the Boys). That is officially my favourite live rendition of my favourite Beasties track (So What’cha Want) ever. I mean, come on, with The Roots on the beat? ?uest on the hard drums, Kirk perfectly recreating the classic guitar riff (that was wicked when he was straight up freaking it). Kamal and Poyser on the keyboards. Plus Black Thought inserting a well-timed “Come on!” in there for good measure. That sh!t all sounded just like the record (all-the-way-live w/ no DJ here). And the Beasties not having lost one step from the smoked out early 90’s when this track was brand new. Another great moment in Late Night. Jimmy, your show continues to impress me (and you’re not so bad yourself).
• I gotta PVR the replay for my nephew (he goes crazy for live Beasties music as do I). I was gonna write about the Kreskin trick (yes, trick), but I’m tired. But oh man, what a moment (Beasties and Roots). Good night everyone.

Push Ups (based on > 25 push ups):

21

25

21

21

max ——> 37

(60 sec rest in between sets)

Athletic Incentives: Listening to De La’s Are You In? Nike album while simultaneously watching RAW and the Nuggets vs. Lakers: Game 4, which were both scheduled for the same arena on the same night, as all you sports fans have probably heard. Nuggets organization won, WWE whined…even though they were technically in the right. But wrestling’s fake, so why should they have any contractually obligated condition honoured to them, right? (or so was the non-sensical argument from most sports fans throughout the week)

So I just kinda did this session impromptu without any mental preparation (knowing I’d probably be sitting on my ass watching the aforementioned sports and entertainment events either way). Despite that, it went well (37 on the last set is close to my all-time high of 40). *looking ahead, although I know I shouldn’t* This week looks tough.

And De La’s Good Morning takes us out of this post.