laughable for sure
in a better note, my solo practice was fun as hell. my legs still feel like dead weight (picture me shaking my fists and yelling, with a slight echo, "barnnnnnnn!!!!! I'll never let you get awayyyyyyyyyy withhhhhhh thisssssssssss") but at least I could bop tonight and my hamstring didn't hurt. currently sitting on the couch with ice on both knees and my hamstring. I think one more session on monday and that's it before boston.
tonight just flowy shredded for string length and weakside
west of philly - bob
ahhhhhhhhh, what a great weekend
it was absolutely beautiful out this weekend. amazing. just the right temp, sunshine, just the right amount of breeze. (of course, right now, it's rainy and shitty out.. but who cares as long as the weekends are nice!)
brain is a little bit monday morning foggy right now, but here's my best possible recap
friday night, came home from work and hung out with the kids. after they were in bed, I put in the spliced piece of post out in the barn. And I let the barn down off the jacks and everything held beautifully. When you go up into the second story of the barn and jump up and down, the building is solid now - previously, it felt like a trampoline up there. So, I was really happy about all this. After the post was repaired, I temporarily fixed the sliding door (which had to be cut so I could do the jacking) - it will hold me for the couple weeks until floor is poured and new garage door is installed.
saturday, we took the kids to a nearby park to play on the jungle gyms and have a picnic lunch. There was no one there and we had the whole place to ourselves. We played with the kids and just had a great time. peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and goldfish crackers. Ran to the library afterwards to swap out books, and then home. While kids were having their afternoon rest time, I played footbag on the driveway. Just a coordination session, not trying to do anything much. After the session, tied up a few loose ends in the barn, and then had a couple contractors come through to go over what I want them to bid on in terms of the floor pour. I'm also having them bid on filling in an old gulley on the other side of my land. If it all comes in under $5K, I'll just do it all at once and be done. anyhow, mother in law comes over for dinner BBQ, we have nice evening playing with the kids in the yard, uneventful night just chilling.
sunday.. by now, I'm pretty tired. We decide the previous day's park/picnic adventure was so much fun, we'll do it again. Different park. Again, we're the only ones there. It was really fun. This park has a stream that runs through it, so we spent considerable time throwing pebbles off a bridge into the water. Kids are fascinated by funny things. during afternoon rest time, I mowed and did a bunch of spring cleanup. Met with one more contractor. I have 2 guys that I like so far. We'll see how their pricing stacks up. Pretty wiped out when all of this is done. Leftovers from previous night's BBQ and enjoying the yard with the kids. Watched some NBA (nice win Philadelphia!!!) and hit the hay early.
And now, I'm taking time off from all manual labor all week. No barn work (it's KILLING me not to work on it), no yard work, no 'honey do' list stuff.. nothing. All week, just going to the office, coming home and relaxing with the family. I'll shred with Brian tonight, probably do some coordination sessions tomorrow and thursday. Some pushups and situps before work each day as usual. But really, just taking it super super easy this week.
Therefore, Friday when I fly to Boston I'll hopefully be feeling great. I need my body to heal. I really have been hard on it for awhile. I'm staying with my best friend for the weekend, and we planned the visit so that I can hit Boston Jam for a few hours on Saturday (and we'll try to link up with the guys somehow else during the weekend too if possible). So that's double fun! Best friend + hacky sack jam + footbag friends - kids/wife = fun, well deserved vacation for daddy
it was absolutely beautiful out this weekend. amazing. just the right temp, sunshine, just the right amount of breeze. (of course, right now, it's rainy and shitty out.. but who cares as long as the weekends are nice!)
brain is a little bit monday morning foggy right now, but here's my best possible recap
friday night, came home from work and hung out with the kids. after they were in bed, I put in the spliced piece of post out in the barn. And I let the barn down off the jacks and everything held beautifully. When you go up into the second story of the barn and jump up and down, the building is solid now - previously, it felt like a trampoline up there. So, I was really happy about all this. After the post was repaired, I temporarily fixed the sliding door (which had to be cut so I could do the jacking) - it will hold me for the couple weeks until floor is poured and new garage door is installed.
saturday, we took the kids to a nearby park to play on the jungle gyms and have a picnic lunch. There was no one there and we had the whole place to ourselves. We played with the kids and just had a great time. peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and goldfish crackers. Ran to the library afterwards to swap out books, and then home. While kids were having their afternoon rest time, I played footbag on the driveway. Just a coordination session, not trying to do anything much. After the session, tied up a few loose ends in the barn, and then had a couple contractors come through to go over what I want them to bid on in terms of the floor pour. I'm also having them bid on filling in an old gulley on the other side of my land. If it all comes in under $5K, I'll just do it all at once and be done. anyhow, mother in law comes over for dinner BBQ, we have nice evening playing with the kids in the yard, uneventful night just chilling.
sunday.. by now, I'm pretty tired. We decide the previous day's park/picnic adventure was so much fun, we'll do it again. Different park. Again, we're the only ones there. It was really fun. This park has a stream that runs through it, so we spent considerable time throwing pebbles off a bridge into the water. Kids are fascinated by funny things. during afternoon rest time, I mowed and did a bunch of spring cleanup. Met with one more contractor. I have 2 guys that I like so far. We'll see how their pricing stacks up. Pretty wiped out when all of this is done. Leftovers from previous night's BBQ and enjoying the yard with the kids. Watched some NBA (nice win Philadelphia!!!) and hit the hay early.
And now, I'm taking time off from all manual labor all week. No barn work (it's KILLING me not to work on it), no yard work, no 'honey do' list stuff.. nothing. All week, just going to the office, coming home and relaxing with the family. I'll shred with Brian tonight, probably do some coordination sessions tomorrow and thursday. Some pushups and situps before work each day as usual. But really, just taking it super super easy this week.
Therefore, Friday when I fly to Boston I'll hopefully be feeling great. I need my body to heal. I really have been hard on it for awhile. I'm staying with my best friend for the weekend, and we planned the visit so that I can hit Boston Jam for a few hours on Saturday (and we'll try to link up with the guys somehow else during the weekend too if possible). So that's double fun! Best friend + hacky sack jam + footbag friends - kids/wife = fun, well deserved vacation for daddy
Bob R.
finally had a decent session last night shredding with brian. i was still sort of uncoordinated (I'm telling you, that fever a few weeks ago really messed me up) but closer to my expected level of play. And my energy was up because I haven't worked on the barn since sunday. i'm itching to work on the barn this week, but i have to stay strong. ha ha. freaking obsession of mine.
nothing especially fun, just good pep in my step, longish strings, smooth style etc. brian said he might make a practice vid after each of our sessions together so we can see what we're doing right and wrong, so if he does that i'll post it in here.
my boss, and most of the executives are gone all week... nice. and it's a little bit of a lull period here right now. happens this time of year every year. then it picks up like crazy again in a couple weeks. and if the ecnomy ever improves, it should be more interesting to be here.
i've been using Angie's List (a "for the people, by the people" type of contractor referral website) to shore up my list of contractors for specific tasks. In some areas, I have a guy I like already. In other areas, I hate the guy. And there's some guys in the middle. So now I have people to bid against my existing sources. So I have people coming to my house all over the place in the next couple weeks to bid on electric in the barn, some excavation work, and the concrete floor. oh and pest treatment once the barn build is finished and before I start putting on the finish surfaces.
i think we decided to paint the barn... but then I argue with myself. by the time I do all the prep work, power wash/scrape/screw in loose wood siding/caulk any gaps/replace boards... and then prime/paint 2 coats... all on scaffold... shit, I might as well just slap the siding on. fuck it, I'm back to siding the building. ha ha. that's next year, I don't know why i worry about this stuff. wish i could turn the brain on "low" for awhile sometimes.
nothing especially fun, just good pep in my step, longish strings, smooth style etc. brian said he might make a practice vid after each of our sessions together so we can see what we're doing right and wrong, so if he does that i'll post it in here.
my boss, and most of the executives are gone all week... nice. and it's a little bit of a lull period here right now. happens this time of year every year. then it picks up like crazy again in a couple weeks. and if the ecnomy ever improves, it should be more interesting to be here.
i've been using Angie's List (a "for the people, by the people" type of contractor referral website) to shore up my list of contractors for specific tasks. In some areas, I have a guy I like already. In other areas, I hate the guy. And there's some guys in the middle. So now I have people to bid against my existing sources. So I have people coming to my house all over the place in the next couple weeks to bid on electric in the barn, some excavation work, and the concrete floor. oh and pest treatment once the barn build is finished and before I start putting on the finish surfaces.
i think we decided to paint the barn... but then I argue with myself. by the time I do all the prep work, power wash/scrape/screw in loose wood siding/caulk any gaps/replace boards... and then prime/paint 2 coats... all on scaffold... shit, I might as well just slap the siding on. fuck it, I'm back to siding the building. ha ha. that's next year, I don't know why i worry about this stuff. wish i could turn the brain on "low" for awhile sometimes.
Bob R.
i'm in a "I want to play every day" type of mood right now... i'm really so pumped to have the barn floor installed in a couple weeks because then I'll have my shred spot where I can play anytime, regardless of weather, time of day etc. that'll be so effing cool. i think maybe I'll have a barn warming party and invite a couple close footbagger friends
i played last night solo, and just played great. i actually had a hardcore solo shred session which hasn't happened in forever - usually I tend to practice instead of freestyle when I'm by myself. and without the barn killing me the past couple days, my legs are bouncing like crazy, I can't sit still, i feel so strong! ha ha... who knew? I had forgotten what a healthy, rested me feels like.
so it's gonna kill me to take off until the weekend in boston... ummmm, maybe i'll just shred a little itsy bitsy on thursday night.
need to make sure I don't overdo the walking/sight seeing or the drinking on friday with my buddy else i'll be dead on saturday for shredding with pete and the rest
i played last night solo, and just played great. i actually had a hardcore solo shred session which hasn't happened in forever - usually I tend to practice instead of freestyle when I'm by myself. and without the barn killing me the past couple days, my legs are bouncing like crazy, I can't sit still, i feel so strong! ha ha... who knew? I had forgotten what a healthy, rested me feels like.
so it's gonna kill me to take off until the weekend in boston... ummmm, maybe i'll just shred a little itsy bitsy on thursday night.
need to make sure I don't overdo the walking/sight seeing or the drinking on friday with my buddy else i'll be dead on saturday for shredding with pete and the rest
Bob R.
Warning: Way more sharing than should be included here, but I need to emotionally dump this stuff out of my brain.
my boston trip is in major danger of being cancelled...
my grandfather (my dad's dad) is really old (about 90) and has had declining health for a long time now. Well, he's in the hospital and had to be put on a respirator a few days ago... and the doctor's have advised that due to his living will, he must be taken off the respirator to 'sink or swim' today.. that's happening in 23 minutes. My father has to be the one to give the nod to do the deed, and he'll be alone there - his sister "couldn't emotionally be there" for the event, and he didn't want anyone else there.
So, I'll know pretty soon whether I'll be recharging my batteries (I really really really need to) or if I'll be running them down further.
And I'm already emotionally drained about this (though I haven't really posted anything here about it until now). Quite honestly, my grandfather was/is basically a mean man. He didn't treat my father fairly, was mean to my mother, disrespectful to his wife, dismissive of me etc. All despite efforts from all of us to include him in our family etc. I think he was jealous of my dad and my dad's success, and therefore blacklisted the rest of us. I don't know.
On the other hand, I can remember being a little kid.. like 3-5 years old... and I have pictures to remind me of it... I can remember him fawning over me and my sister the way a good grandpa does. Where'd that go?
In any case, because of his treatment of everyone for the past 20+ years, I'm not as broken up about this as I should be. At the same time, I'm devastated that my father's time to be accepted by his own father has nearly come to a close. It doesn't look like he'll ever get that closure. That's just not fair. I can see in his personality flaws how much my grandfather has tainted him. So, I'm in this quasi-sad/not sad place right now... getting sadder the closer the moment comes.
Sigh... I don't know. Maybe he'll hang on and improve after the respirator is removed, and maybe my dad will get his closure, and maybe then grand dad will pass peacefully in his sleep in a couple weeks the way it should be.
Life fucking sucks sometimes.
my boston trip is in major danger of being cancelled...
my grandfather (my dad's dad) is really old (about 90) and has had declining health for a long time now. Well, he's in the hospital and had to be put on a respirator a few days ago... and the doctor's have advised that due to his living will, he must be taken off the respirator to 'sink or swim' today.. that's happening in 23 minutes. My father has to be the one to give the nod to do the deed, and he'll be alone there - his sister "couldn't emotionally be there" for the event, and he didn't want anyone else there.
So, I'll know pretty soon whether I'll be recharging my batteries (I really really really need to) or if I'll be running them down further.
And I'm already emotionally drained about this (though I haven't really posted anything here about it until now). Quite honestly, my grandfather was/is basically a mean man. He didn't treat my father fairly, was mean to my mother, disrespectful to his wife, dismissive of me etc. All despite efforts from all of us to include him in our family etc. I think he was jealous of my dad and my dad's success, and therefore blacklisted the rest of us. I don't know.
On the other hand, I can remember being a little kid.. like 3-5 years old... and I have pictures to remind me of it... I can remember him fawning over me and my sister the way a good grandpa does. Where'd that go?
In any case, because of his treatment of everyone for the past 20+ years, I'm not as broken up about this as I should be. At the same time, I'm devastated that my father's time to be accepted by his own father has nearly come to a close. It doesn't look like he'll ever get that closure. That's just not fair. I can see in his personality flaws how much my grandfather has tainted him. So, I'm in this quasi-sad/not sad place right now... getting sadder the closer the moment comes.
Sigh... I don't know. Maybe he'll hang on and improve after the respirator is removed, and maybe my dad will get his closure, and maybe then grand dad will pass peacefully in his sleep in a couple weeks the way it should be.
Life fucking sucks sometimes.
Last edited by Rieferman on 22 Apr 2009 12:37, edited 1 time in total.
Bob R.
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slapdash21
- Futureless
- Posts: 4681
- Joined: 29 Sep 2004 14:50
- Location: Beantown, kidd
i know what you'll do what you need to, and im hoping for your sake that the decisions you need to make will be easy ones.warning... more over-sharing coming. feels good to write it down.
well, grandpa died in his sleep last night. held on for 9 hours after the respirator was pulled. They say he was in no pain. rest in peace
so, boston ain't happening for me this weekend (though hopefully I'll be able to get a ticket voucher and make the trip in a few weeks) which I'm really bummed about too. I know it sounds petty compared to life and death, but when I say that I really need some self time to recharge, I really mean it. Lots of stress and pressure and responsibilities... I just wanted to be care free for a little bit. Also, my footbag days aren't going to last forever and I was excited to be at a peak in my game at the same time as an event. Oh well. Guess I'll work on the barn tonight.
another piece of sucky news... my mom told me that my grandpa just recently changed his entire will so that everything goes to my dad's sister, and nothing to my dad. It's not the value that matters, it's the principal of what his action means. Let me put it this way: my dad is like the perfect son... never got in trouble, took all the responsibilities, financially took care of my grandparents for 20 years, achieved great success in business and family, goes over every week to mow their lawn and talk to them etc. etc. etc. Even helped them sell and buy their houses. My aunt.... well, I don't want to talk shit, but let's just say, she's not my dad. Well, she gets everything.
I admire my dad so much. When he heard this news, he didn't even blink, he just said "We've made our own lives, I never hoped for or expected anything from my parents when they die. Let my sister have it all." And he meant it, not in spite at all. He would never yell at someone, he would never get in a fight, he would never let someone get over on him due to losing control of his emotions. He believes in doing things the right way, and understands that when things don't seem fair it doesn't matter... you just keep doing things the right way and that the feeling you have inside from knowing how you live is more important than fairness.
so, anyways, we have to be in pittsburgh this weekend to be there for family and write the end of this chapter. I won't see anyone from my dad's side of the family until another funeral at some (hopefully) distant point in the future.
well, grandpa died in his sleep last night. held on for 9 hours after the respirator was pulled. They say he was in no pain. rest in peace
so, boston ain't happening for me this weekend (though hopefully I'll be able to get a ticket voucher and make the trip in a few weeks) which I'm really bummed about too. I know it sounds petty compared to life and death, but when I say that I really need some self time to recharge, I really mean it. Lots of stress and pressure and responsibilities... I just wanted to be care free for a little bit. Also, my footbag days aren't going to last forever and I was excited to be at a peak in my game at the same time as an event. Oh well. Guess I'll work on the barn tonight.
another piece of sucky news... my mom told me that my grandpa just recently changed his entire will so that everything goes to my dad's sister, and nothing to my dad. It's not the value that matters, it's the principal of what his action means. Let me put it this way: my dad is like the perfect son... never got in trouble, took all the responsibilities, financially took care of my grandparents for 20 years, achieved great success in business and family, goes over every week to mow their lawn and talk to them etc. etc. etc. Even helped them sell and buy their houses. My aunt.... well, I don't want to talk shit, but let's just say, she's not my dad. Well, she gets everything.
I admire my dad so much. When he heard this news, he didn't even blink, he just said "We've made our own lives, I never hoped for or expected anything from my parents when they die. Let my sister have it all." And he meant it, not in spite at all. He would never yell at someone, he would never get in a fight, he would never let someone get over on him due to losing control of his emotions. He believes in doing things the right way, and understands that when things don't seem fair it doesn't matter... you just keep doing things the right way and that the feeling you have inside from knowing how you live is more important than fairness.
so, anyways, we have to be in pittsburgh this weekend to be there for family and write the end of this chapter. I won't see anyone from my dad's side of the family until another funeral at some (hopefully) distant point in the future.
Bob R.
I am sorry for your loss Bob. My father and his mother went through a similar situation, from what I've been told, though it all happened when I was a toddler. Your father sounds like a just and good man.
I might be around P-ville in a few weeks, maybe we can kick and I want to see the progress on the barn firsthand! I'll kick it up in your absence in Boston, show em how we roll in PA.
I might be around P-ville in a few weeks, maybe we can kick and I want to see the progress on the barn firsthand! I'll kick it up in your absence in Boston, show em how we roll in PA.
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Sporatical_Distractions
- registered sacks offender
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Sorry about your loss Riefer.
All 4 of my grandparents passed on between my ages of 9 and 11, but the times we held together are some of my most powerful. Don't remember much of high school or college, but I could tell you in detail what my family did together from waking to sleeping while we were together.
Hope all is well. Footbag is a great outlet. take car Bob.
All 4 of my grandparents passed on between my ages of 9 and 11, but the times we held together are some of my most powerful. Don't remember much of high school or college, but I could tell you in detail what my family did together from waking to sleeping while we were together.
Hope all is well. Footbag is a great outlet. take car Bob.
Welcome to Flavortown
Kevin Crowley
Kevin Crowley
thanks for the nice coments guys
ken - I took your advice and said much of the above to my dad so he'd know my thoughts too.
trip actually was great. it was beautiful weather out, the kids were amazing, and they actually took everyone's mind off the event at hand. My parents were in all their glory showing off their grandkids to extended family and friends that showed up for the lunch after the funeral. The funeral home was very nice, and they had a kids' playroom downstairs so we were able to just tell the kids we were at church. And really, when a guy is 92 years old, the funeral is more of a reflection on their life, not a cry-fest like you get when someone younger passes away suddenly. All in all, it was a nice trip despite the circumstances behind it.
got home from the 5 hour drive around 3 p.m. yesterday. I needed to be busy and tire myself out, so I mowed and trimmed. Ate dinner with the kids, did their bath/bed routine, and then put a few hours in the barn. I'm actually planning on taking this week off from footbag mostly, this weekend too, I just need to push hard on the barn for a week and get that monkey off my back. There's a lot to do, but I can see the light at the end of the (first) tunnel. I just want to be done with structural work and the floor and garage door.. Then I can go as slow as I want the rest of the summer.
back to work today.. ugh
ken - I took your advice and said much of the above to my dad so he'd know my thoughts too.
trip actually was great. it was beautiful weather out, the kids were amazing, and they actually took everyone's mind off the event at hand. My parents were in all their glory showing off their grandkids to extended family and friends that showed up for the lunch after the funeral. The funeral home was very nice, and they had a kids' playroom downstairs so we were able to just tell the kids we were at church. And really, when a guy is 92 years old, the funeral is more of a reflection on their life, not a cry-fest like you get when someone younger passes away suddenly. All in all, it was a nice trip despite the circumstances behind it.
got home from the 5 hour drive around 3 p.m. yesterday. I needed to be busy and tire myself out, so I mowed and trimmed. Ate dinner with the kids, did their bath/bed routine, and then put a few hours in the barn. I'm actually planning on taking this week off from footbag mostly, this weekend too, I just need to push hard on the barn for a week and get that monkey off my back. There's a lot to do, but I can see the light at the end of the (first) tunnel. I just want to be done with structural work and the floor and garage door.. Then I can go as slow as I want the rest of the summer.
back to work today.. ugh
Bob R.
well, getting back into schedule is good. pushups in the morning are a form of therapy I think. The full body pain that I have 100% of the time from all the stupid shit I put myself through is back in place, and that's a form of therapy too. Ice packs and heating pads in full effect. Yeah baby. Advil til my stomach falls apart. You only live once. Well, ok, I'm watching the advil closely these days, but the rest is true.
so, no kicking until thursday night because i just need to push on the barn as I indicated before. I'm really getting close now, I can really feel it. Last night, I was breaking up the old concrete floor with a sledge hammer and pick axe. Note: If you're ever doing something like this, wear eye protection. I was wearing safety glasses, and it's a good thing - several times, sharp pieces of concrete hit the glasses. Anyhow, ripping out an old floor is really shitting hard effing work. I have to pull the concrete out before I can dig a couple holes. One hole is for a small post that will break up a long run for the center beam - the post will also act as a place to latch sliding doors to my workshop space. The other hole is by the stairs to the 2nd story (stairs which are 1/2 demolished right now because I have to rebuild them later anyways) and will hold a new cross beam to hold 2nd story floor joists - currently those joists are on a rickety, undersized, under supported, beam, and that just ain't gonna cut it.
tonight, more barn push. with concrete out of the way and dumped out front, i can dig my holes for the post footers. Thursday, I think I'll kick, and go to Lowes to pickup a couple sticks. Friday, pour concrete.
This weekend, I told my wife I need a bunch of hours on the barn. I haven't ditched the family for this project yet (and I'm proud of that.. I've accomplished a lot without short changing work, wife, or kids.. or my footbag hobby really either.. but footbag has suffered the most) and I need to this weekend to get it done.
The push this weekend will be to fix one more support post that runs on the back wall. It just needs a footer. The other posts on that wall are good, but I want to put some helper supports in 3 spots. So, 4 more dig, mix, pour, wait, install, smiles to go.
Next week, install skirt boards that will act as both floating sill plates and as concrete forms. Frame, put up plywood sheathing.
Then, dismantle old stairs, remove sliding door, store all tools etc. someplace else, get place completely empty... Crew comes in to pour concrete.
Shit, when I write it all down, it's a lot. And after all that, I still have to frame and finish all the rooms! I'll try to post a floor plan so at least there's a visual to go with it
edit:
ok, here's the floor plan that I designed (I do everything in MS Excel for some reason, so that makes it a pain in the ass to get it into picture form).
Anyhow, you can see the shred room with 3 brand new big windows. Lots of light. Insulated, heated. Cable TV, fridge, stereo.
From there, you exit through dutch doors (the original dutch doors that were used in the barn) into a vestibule area. I'll keep coats/boots etc. there.
From the vestibule you can choose to go upstairs (which someday I'll finish into a rec room) or into the workshop.
The workshop has a wrap around counter top. You'll notice the table saw location allows me to open a 4 foot wide sliding door so that I can push the wood piece through into open space. Then, the chop saw is set so that I have lots of room to my left (that's where the long part of whatever you're cutting goes) with a cart as well as the table saw and other counter to be used to support the piece that I'm cutting. I'll have the cart on casters so I can move it around as needed. In any case, you can see there's enough room for me to be able to walk through the second sliding door to get into the garage. Under the stairs, which would normally be dead space, I'll store my lumber. Window there and I think in the sliding doors will let light into the space (plus in nice weather, the sliding doors themselves will be open.. just closed in winter really).
edit 2:
good post today eh? nice and meaty.
brian just posted this vid.. i was getting back to normal here, this is pretty decent. hamstring was still hurting this day, but whatever
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV1-jB3m ... annel_page[/youtube]
so, no kicking until thursday night because i just need to push on the barn as I indicated before. I'm really getting close now, I can really feel it. Last night, I was breaking up the old concrete floor with a sledge hammer and pick axe. Note: If you're ever doing something like this, wear eye protection. I was wearing safety glasses, and it's a good thing - several times, sharp pieces of concrete hit the glasses. Anyhow, ripping out an old floor is really shitting hard effing work. I have to pull the concrete out before I can dig a couple holes. One hole is for a small post that will break up a long run for the center beam - the post will also act as a place to latch sliding doors to my workshop space. The other hole is by the stairs to the 2nd story (stairs which are 1/2 demolished right now because I have to rebuild them later anyways) and will hold a new cross beam to hold 2nd story floor joists - currently those joists are on a rickety, undersized, under supported, beam, and that just ain't gonna cut it.
tonight, more barn push. with concrete out of the way and dumped out front, i can dig my holes for the post footers. Thursday, I think I'll kick, and go to Lowes to pickup a couple sticks. Friday, pour concrete.
This weekend, I told my wife I need a bunch of hours on the barn. I haven't ditched the family for this project yet (and I'm proud of that.. I've accomplished a lot without short changing work, wife, or kids.. or my footbag hobby really either.. but footbag has suffered the most) and I need to this weekend to get it done.
The push this weekend will be to fix one more support post that runs on the back wall. It just needs a footer. The other posts on that wall are good, but I want to put some helper supports in 3 spots. So, 4 more dig, mix, pour, wait, install, smiles to go.
Next week, install skirt boards that will act as both floating sill plates and as concrete forms. Frame, put up plywood sheathing.
Then, dismantle old stairs, remove sliding door, store all tools etc. someplace else, get place completely empty... Crew comes in to pour concrete.
Shit, when I write it all down, it's a lot. And after all that, I still have to frame and finish all the rooms! I'll try to post a floor plan so at least there's a visual to go with it
edit:
ok, here's the floor plan that I designed (I do everything in MS Excel for some reason, so that makes it a pain in the ass to get it into picture form).
Anyhow, you can see the shred room with 3 brand new big windows. Lots of light. Insulated, heated. Cable TV, fridge, stereo.
From there, you exit through dutch doors (the original dutch doors that were used in the barn) into a vestibule area. I'll keep coats/boots etc. there.
From the vestibule you can choose to go upstairs (which someday I'll finish into a rec room) or into the workshop.
The workshop has a wrap around counter top. You'll notice the table saw location allows me to open a 4 foot wide sliding door so that I can push the wood piece through into open space. Then, the chop saw is set so that I have lots of room to my left (that's where the long part of whatever you're cutting goes) with a cart as well as the table saw and other counter to be used to support the piece that I'm cutting. I'll have the cart on casters so I can move it around as needed. In any case, you can see there's enough room for me to be able to walk through the second sliding door to get into the garage. Under the stairs, which would normally be dead space, I'll store my lumber. Window there and I think in the sliding doors will let light into the space (plus in nice weather, the sliding doors themselves will be open.. just closed in winter really).
edit 2:
good post today eh? nice and meaty.
brian just posted this vid.. i was getting back to normal here, this is pretty decent. hamstring was still hurting this day, but whatever
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV1-jB3m ... annel_page[/youtube]
Bob R.
ok, less meaty post here.
btw, I'd love any comments about my game based on the above video
got 2 post holes dug, and cement poured last night.. though there's other work I could do tonight, I can also convince myself that I should just wait til the cement is dry and finish that task up. So, I'm going with that because I'm one hurting pup right now.
so, i'll kicky the hacky tonight instead. nice, itching to play.
really itching because before a jam (in this case, boston jam, which I didn't actually get to go to) i generally stop teaching myself and just worry more about shredding. when i'm drilling, my freestyle suffers big time (though the drilling eventually pays off). that's why i do that. but, i really want to go into learning mode right now, I feel on the verge of leveling up on a couple of fronts.
anyhow, with that event gone, i can start drilling a little again.
basically, i devised a 40 minute practice.
warmups and some flowy/easy styling.
drill some of these concepts:
o Atomic
o Swirl / dyno
o Blur
o Weak pixie tricks
o Spins / gyro
o Ripwalk > ripwalk x10
o Weak drifter
o Weak DLO
shred, and toy around with bigger tricks
cool down
should be a fun way to practice and also allow some freestyling
btw, I'd love any comments about my game based on the above video
got 2 post holes dug, and cement poured last night.. though there's other work I could do tonight, I can also convince myself that I should just wait til the cement is dry and finish that task up. So, I'm going with that because I'm one hurting pup right now.
so, i'll kicky the hacky tonight instead. nice, itching to play.
really itching because before a jam (in this case, boston jam, which I didn't actually get to go to) i generally stop teaching myself and just worry more about shredding. when i'm drilling, my freestyle suffers big time (though the drilling eventually pays off). that's why i do that. but, i really want to go into learning mode right now, I feel on the verge of leveling up on a couple of fronts.
anyhow, with that event gone, i can start drilling a little again.
basically, i devised a 40 minute practice.
warmups and some flowy/easy styling.
drill some of these concepts:
o Atomic
o Swirl / dyno
o Blur
o Weak pixie tricks
o Spins / gyro
o Ripwalk > ripwalk x10
o Weak drifter
o Weak DLO
shred, and toy around with bigger tricks
cool down
should be a fun way to practice and also allow some freestyling
Bob R.
-
Darkshredder
- Egyptian Footgod
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: 05 Oct 2004 18:58
- Location: central New York
- Contact:
I like the breakdown of your sessions. And as for the video, definitely a lot better than the first tubed video I saw of yours. Real deep paradons, and it was great to see all those atomics worked in at the most random spots. I'd just say that sometimes it seemed your shred is one-sided and I think I narrowed it down to a not-so-big-a-deal issue: your DLOs are so slow and mastered that they're kind of highlighted in your links, but I don't think I saw too many of them sos'd. So that may have been why things seemed a bit one sided.
hope that made sense.
anyway keep up the videos!
hope that made sense.
anyway keep up the videos!Pat Thomsen
Syracuse, New York - The connecting point to footbaggers in the NE and Canada. We make pancakes and air conditioners.
Syracuse, New York - The connecting point to footbaggers in the NE and Canada. We make pancakes and air conditioners.
hey! thanks for commenting, very much appreciated
The shaved head guy is Brian, he's the one with atomics (but I'd love to have his atomic set), but I think the rest of your comments pertain to me.
You're totally right on getting some key things both sided (it's weird because some more difficult things are same on both sides, and some easier things are way hard on weakside... actually it all goes back to weakside toe stall believe it or not). You should see a lot better both sidedness on pixies very soon, and dlo/drifter too. Oh, and spins are just about as comfortable both sides lately so I'll push that too.
thanks again!
The shaved head guy is Brian, he's the one with atomics (but I'd love to have his atomic set), but I think the rest of your comments pertain to me.
You're totally right on getting some key things both sided (it's weird because some more difficult things are same on both sides, and some easier things are way hard on weakside... actually it all goes back to weakside toe stall believe it or not). You should see a lot better both sidedness on pixies very soon, and dlo/drifter too. Oh, and spins are just about as comfortable both sides lately so I'll push that too.
thanks again!
Bob R.
my session last night was so fun.. man I worked my ass off though, that new practice style was really exhausting, but I think it will help me improve. I'm back in the itching-to-improve mindset. But I don't want to improve a little bit, I really want to get there. Time is running out! ha ha
i hit some nice atomic sets last night on both sides. weakside, i'm pretty much limited to "tap" and atomic butterfly right now, strong side will be easier to do other stuff beyond that. whatever, I'll take it after all these years. I did a bunch in runs which is unusual for me. I'm just going to force myself to include them in nearly every run from now on. They'll be run stoppers in a lot of instances, but that's how you improve.
noticed watching recent vids of myself that my strong stepping set has too much in-out emphasis (vs. up/down movement). It's fine, but inefficient and puts me a little out of balance. That was easy to fix last night. Hit 7 ripwalks b2b, new personal record on that. hit 5 b2b several times which is cool because 5 was my previous personal best.
did all sorts of weak toe warm up stuff.. mirages, pickups, legovers, symple legovers, pdx mirages, atw's.. that's worthwhile for me to do considering my weaknesses.
I don't think I missed a single spinning clipper on either side last night, and I did a lot of them in runs. the weakside is snapping around faster, the strong side is pretty much 100% never miss.
strong dyno is there now, can start doing it in runs. weakside feels comfortable, i just miss it a lot still, so more work to do there.
i made a point of starting just about every run with a series of tricks that kept leading back to weakside pixie tricks. and I rarely missed any. I just need to get over it and start doing them in runs all the time, they're fine/consistent etc. Just mental, nothing else.
worked on weakside pixie paradon for awhile. that's hittable. hit a bunch strongside pixie dlo. hit another couple whirling swirls.
went to lowes at the end to pickup a couple sticks. ready for heavy barn work this weekend. i'm pushing hard now, i can be "done" by end of may
i hit some nice atomic sets last night on both sides. weakside, i'm pretty much limited to "tap" and atomic butterfly right now, strong side will be easier to do other stuff beyond that. whatever, I'll take it after all these years. I did a bunch in runs which is unusual for me. I'm just going to force myself to include them in nearly every run from now on. They'll be run stoppers in a lot of instances, but that's how you improve.
noticed watching recent vids of myself that my strong stepping set has too much in-out emphasis (vs. up/down movement). It's fine, but inefficient and puts me a little out of balance. That was easy to fix last night. Hit 7 ripwalks b2b, new personal record on that. hit 5 b2b several times which is cool because 5 was my previous personal best.
did all sorts of weak toe warm up stuff.. mirages, pickups, legovers, symple legovers, pdx mirages, atw's.. that's worthwhile for me to do considering my weaknesses.
I don't think I missed a single spinning clipper on either side last night, and I did a lot of them in runs. the weakside is snapping around faster, the strong side is pretty much 100% never miss.
strong dyno is there now, can start doing it in runs. weakside feels comfortable, i just miss it a lot still, so more work to do there.
i made a point of starting just about every run with a series of tricks that kept leading back to weakside pixie tricks. and I rarely missed any. I just need to get over it and start doing them in runs all the time, they're fine/consistent etc. Just mental, nothing else.
worked on weakside pixie paradon for awhile. that's hittable. hit a bunch strongside pixie dlo. hit another couple whirling swirls.
went to lowes at the end to pickup a couple sticks. ready for heavy barn work this weekend. i'm pushing hard now, i can be "done" by end of may
Bob R.
Finally got around to watching your latest video. Here's my feedback.
1. First off, and most importantly, this is the best I've ever seen you play. So props. The rest of my critiques will be pretty minor stuff.
2. The ratio of tricks ending on right toe vs left toe seemed pretty skewed to your strong toe. DLO and pdx mirage especially. I think just doing more flip pdx mirages, or symp pixies, or other easy tricks ending on flip toe would make your shred look more balanced.
3. In general I'd like to see fewer BOPs in a row. Definitely never more than two in a row, but I think you can even get that down to one max. Start grooming other tricks like ducking clipper and drifter to take the place of bop.
4. You hunch over a bit when you play. This isn't always a bad thing (look at Lauri Airinen for an example), but it's something that catches my eye, and I think might make certain tricks harder. Something to be aware of.
5. The music for the video kept reminding me of this:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4gqsuww6lw[/youtube]
But yeah, I have to say I'm really impressed by your progress. I think you're playing better now than you were before your last retirement.
1. First off, and most importantly, this is the best I've ever seen you play. So props. The rest of my critiques will be pretty minor stuff.
2. The ratio of tricks ending on right toe vs left toe seemed pretty skewed to your strong toe. DLO and pdx mirage especially. I think just doing more flip pdx mirages, or symp pixies, or other easy tricks ending on flip toe would make your shred look more balanced.
3. In general I'd like to see fewer BOPs in a row. Definitely never more than two in a row, but I think you can even get that down to one max. Start grooming other tricks like ducking clipper and drifter to take the place of bop.
4. You hunch over a bit when you play. This isn't always a bad thing (look at Lauri Airinen for an example), but it's something that catches my eye, and I think might make certain tricks harder. Something to be aware of.
5. The music for the video kept reminding me of this:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4gqsuww6lw[/youtube]
But yeah, I have to say I'm really impressed by your progress. I think you're playing better now than you were before your last retirement.
hey ken, MANY thanks for the comments. And thanks a ton for the props, I nearly never get a chance to get feedback from players besides Drew and Brian, so I have a hard time judging how my progress is coming along.
Your suggestion on weak toe is dead on. I'm actually about to start breaking in my new Lavers so I'll be stupid on both feet for a little while. Good timing to really force myself to the next level in getting my weak toe caught up after all these years.
I'm really psyched that you think less bops for me - I take that (correctly I think) as a good indicator that my skill/consistency is high enough to warrant that next step.
hunching.. I've tried to correct this, and i'll continue to, but I don't know that it's something I can fix. I have this same posture in every sport I've ever played... Actually, I have that posture when I'm wood working even. But I'll try.
Brian's really good at putting clips together, but I have to agree, he needs some serious coaching on music selection. But, I don't have to make the vids, so beggers can't be choosers.
again, thanks for taking the time on this ken
----------
on that note, I didn't play any footbag this weekend. I pushed like crazy on the barn, and made it far enough that I was able to call and schedule the concrete floor job (still awaiting his return call). That's about 5-6 weeks ahead of schedule.
Basically, I told meg that I needed a good ol' fashioned work til I drop weekend. I haven't done one of them since I fenced in the yard a couple years ago. I usually work only when kids are sleeping because I don't find value in improving my home if I do it by sacrificing time with my family. But every now and again, you gotta do what you gotta do.
So, I put like 10 hours in on Saturday, and another 5 or so on Sunday. Drank so much effing beer while working. So much advil. Stomach is killing me. But, it's just one weekend. Back to healthy now.
Anyhow, here's what I did:
- Got in 2 new posts and header by stairs to 2nd floor... old header was resting right on the ground, no support.. bouncy by the stairs.. now it's rock solid.
- Got in the post that halves the span of the central beam in the building. This is sort of overkill... but it really stiffens up the 2nd floor big time, and it gives me a place later on to latch my sliding doors for the workshop.
- I took all lumber (new and old) and stacked it nicely on the basketball court. I stacked on top of some old pallets that I grabbed for this purpose. (btw, props to meg for pulling all the nails from the vintage lumber). In all, I filled 6 pallets about waist high with wood. All the new lumber is in one area, all the vintage in another (hope to use it for making furniture later).
- Got all crappy scraps of wood down to fire pit so I can burn it when it stops fucking raining for once.
- Relocated my work staging zone from the old shred platform, to the other side of the 1st floor. Had to do this so I can get to the wall near where the platform was.
- Took the shred platform apart, saved the plywood for later use. saved the 2x4's
- Btw, I'm very proud of how "green" we're being in this project. We have saved and re-used so much it's really unbelievable. It takes so much more effort to do it this way, but I really believe that it's important and that it adds character to the effort.
- The new work zone that I built was the first thing that went "easy" in this entire project (my motto so far has been "Nothing's easy" because literally everything is a pain in the ass, and the easiest of jobs takes a minimum of an hour). 2 saw horses, plywood scrap as top, plywood scrap as middle shelf, a couple 2x4's tacked in as a center leg support. ta daaa.
- Retrieved a few things from 2nd floor before removing the stairs. Got one window down because it will be easier to put one of them in while stairs are ripped out (because the stairs will run right in front of that framing)
- ripped out old stairs, broke down all lumber, saved everything I could, cut down and stacked by fire pit everything that wasn't worth saving.
- Discovered after stairs were ripped out that the cat was on the 2nd floor (in a singing voice: "SPCA....... can you hear me calling your name? SPCA!!!")
- Retrieved cat using ladder
- swept entire first floor to get nails and major dust up
edit: adding pics (I didn't get a "final" shot, so stairs are still in these pics)
To do:
- 2 more dig, mix, pours to go.. just 2 more posts to do, and neither of them is tricky or dangerous.
- wall framing on back of building
- install exterior sheathing on back of building
- door framing on side of building near back corner (this is how I'll get the mower in and out)
- install form boards so concrete floor can be poured
- clear out all tools/posessions (some to basement, some to back of meg's car, some [like the big mowers] to neighbor's barn)
- take down sliding barn door
- have concrete guys in to pour the floor
- frame for new garage door
- install garage door (or have it installed... still deciding)
- rest for awhile
Your suggestion on weak toe is dead on. I'm actually about to start breaking in my new Lavers so I'll be stupid on both feet for a little while. Good timing to really force myself to the next level in getting my weak toe caught up after all these years.
I'm really psyched that you think less bops for me - I take that (correctly I think) as a good indicator that my skill/consistency is high enough to warrant that next step.
hunching.. I've tried to correct this, and i'll continue to, but I don't know that it's something I can fix. I have this same posture in every sport I've ever played... Actually, I have that posture when I'm wood working even. But I'll try.
Brian's really good at putting clips together, but I have to agree, he needs some serious coaching on music selection. But, I don't have to make the vids, so beggers can't be choosers.
again, thanks for taking the time on this ken
----------
on that note, I didn't play any footbag this weekend. I pushed like crazy on the barn, and made it far enough that I was able to call and schedule the concrete floor job (still awaiting his return call). That's about 5-6 weeks ahead of schedule.
Basically, I told meg that I needed a good ol' fashioned work til I drop weekend. I haven't done one of them since I fenced in the yard a couple years ago. I usually work only when kids are sleeping because I don't find value in improving my home if I do it by sacrificing time with my family. But every now and again, you gotta do what you gotta do.
So, I put like 10 hours in on Saturday, and another 5 or so on Sunday. Drank so much effing beer while working. So much advil. Stomach is killing me. But, it's just one weekend. Back to healthy now.
Anyhow, here's what I did:
- Got in 2 new posts and header by stairs to 2nd floor... old header was resting right on the ground, no support.. bouncy by the stairs.. now it's rock solid.
- Got in the post that halves the span of the central beam in the building. This is sort of overkill... but it really stiffens up the 2nd floor big time, and it gives me a place later on to latch my sliding doors for the workshop.
- I took all lumber (new and old) and stacked it nicely on the basketball court. I stacked on top of some old pallets that I grabbed for this purpose. (btw, props to meg for pulling all the nails from the vintage lumber). In all, I filled 6 pallets about waist high with wood. All the new lumber is in one area, all the vintage in another (hope to use it for making furniture later).
- Got all crappy scraps of wood down to fire pit so I can burn it when it stops fucking raining for once.
- Relocated my work staging zone from the old shred platform, to the other side of the 1st floor. Had to do this so I can get to the wall near where the platform was.
- Took the shred platform apart, saved the plywood for later use. saved the 2x4's
- Btw, I'm very proud of how "green" we're being in this project. We have saved and re-used so much it's really unbelievable. It takes so much more effort to do it this way, but I really believe that it's important and that it adds character to the effort.
- The new work zone that I built was the first thing that went "easy" in this entire project (my motto so far has been "Nothing's easy" because literally everything is a pain in the ass, and the easiest of jobs takes a minimum of an hour). 2 saw horses, plywood scrap as top, plywood scrap as middle shelf, a couple 2x4's tacked in as a center leg support. ta daaa.
- Retrieved a few things from 2nd floor before removing the stairs. Got one window down because it will be easier to put one of them in while stairs are ripped out (because the stairs will run right in front of that framing)
- ripped out old stairs, broke down all lumber, saved everything I could, cut down and stacked by fire pit everything that wasn't worth saving.
- Discovered after stairs were ripped out that the cat was on the 2nd floor (in a singing voice: "SPCA....... can you hear me calling your name? SPCA!!!")
- Retrieved cat using ladder
- swept entire first floor to get nails and major dust up
edit: adding pics (I didn't get a "final" shot, so stairs are still in these pics)
To do:
- 2 more dig, mix, pours to go.. just 2 more posts to do, and neither of them is tricky or dangerous.
- wall framing on back of building
- install exterior sheathing on back of building
- door framing on side of building near back corner (this is how I'll get the mower in and out)
- install form boards so concrete floor can be poured
- clear out all tools/posessions (some to basement, some to back of meg's car, some [like the big mowers] to neighbor's barn)
- take down sliding barn door
- have concrete guys in to pour the floor
- frame for new garage door
- install garage door (or have it installed... still deciding)
- rest for awhile
Bob R.
easy night last night, just measuring, finding level from one side of the room to the other, and developing my materials list to reframe/re-sheath the back wall of the barn this weekend. I also have to build a swing out door back there. and dig 2 more holes. But last night was just mental work, no physical.
and tonight, I hacky.
tomorrow night, dig holes, mix concrete, pour concrete. that's the end of my concrete days for awhile. (might build a small deck, which would need footers, on the front of the barn, but that's for another day)
thursday night.. more hacky
friday night, materials shopping for stuff i figured out above
saturday, pickup materials with my neighbors truck. then family stuff rest of the day.
sunday, tear down old walls, prep the space, frame new space, sheathing installation, window installation, door installation... ha ha, some of that won't get done.
the following weekend... hopefully floor getting poured!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and tonight, I hacky.
tomorrow night, dig holes, mix concrete, pour concrete. that's the end of my concrete days for awhile. (might build a small deck, which would need footers, on the front of the barn, but that's for another day)
thursday night.. more hacky
friday night, materials shopping for stuff i figured out above
saturday, pickup materials with my neighbors truck. then family stuff rest of the day.
sunday, tear down old walls, prep the space, frame new space, sheathing installation, window installation, door installation... ha ha, some of that won't get done.
the following weekend... hopefully floor getting poured!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob R.
ahhhh, what a fun footbag session last night. i worked out, really got the heat rate up, really played hard. drilled hard.
whatever
i finally bit the bullet and put my old lavers away and put on the brand spanking new pair. it's time. it's been time for awhile. i was holding off until after boston jam because i hate the break in period where you're all uncoordinated in the new shoes. but, i normally level up a few practices into wearing new shoes, i've been levelling up lately anyways, and i wanted to take a step back right now and get that weak toe and couple other things caught up. so if i'm going to suck for a few practices because of new shoes, might as well do it while i'm working on weakside toe fundamentals.
so i shredded tiltless with a 80% bias towards weakside. it's been probably a year since I did that. I shredded like that for probably 20 minutes. it's really tiring actually. i did so many legovers, mirages, symple legovers, bubba, illusion, pickup, atw, and sooooo many pdx mirages all on the weakside. the good news is that i don't miss much. the bad news is that it's not 2nd nature. the good news is that since i don't miss much, i don't think it's a long leap to get to 2nd nature-ness. oh, and lots and lots of back and forth pixie drills.
then i did lots and lots of atomic. god i still suck at that. 5 years ago, i think i said the same thing. it's just like the unlearnable concept for me. so fucking annoying. but last nights version of false hope came from less jump, and more of a quick switch from supporting to dexing, really trying to use the hip for the dex, really trying not to let the set foot really do any setting, but let the momentum switch naturally release the bag. i hit a lot of atomic tricks that way last night, so maybe i'm onto something. my body isn't screaming today so i think i can try some more of that thursday night.
i'm so pumped about footbag right now. i just am so close to shred barn being ready to use (if not finished, I'll at least be able to use it for shred while i finish it) that i can anticipate being able to walk out back and just shred whenever i want. i plan to play almost every night this summer.
whatever
i finally bit the bullet and put my old lavers away and put on the brand spanking new pair. it's time. it's been time for awhile. i was holding off until after boston jam because i hate the break in period where you're all uncoordinated in the new shoes. but, i normally level up a few practices into wearing new shoes, i've been levelling up lately anyways, and i wanted to take a step back right now and get that weak toe and couple other things caught up. so if i'm going to suck for a few practices because of new shoes, might as well do it while i'm working on weakside toe fundamentals.
so i shredded tiltless with a 80% bias towards weakside. it's been probably a year since I did that. I shredded like that for probably 20 minutes. it's really tiring actually. i did so many legovers, mirages, symple legovers, bubba, illusion, pickup, atw, and sooooo many pdx mirages all on the weakside. the good news is that i don't miss much. the bad news is that it's not 2nd nature. the good news is that since i don't miss much, i don't think it's a long leap to get to 2nd nature-ness. oh, and lots and lots of back and forth pixie drills.
then i did lots and lots of atomic. god i still suck at that. 5 years ago, i think i said the same thing. it's just like the unlearnable concept for me. so fucking annoying. but last nights version of false hope came from less jump, and more of a quick switch from supporting to dexing, really trying to use the hip for the dex, really trying not to let the set foot really do any setting, but let the momentum switch naturally release the bag. i hit a lot of atomic tricks that way last night, so maybe i'm onto something. my body isn't screaming today so i think i can try some more of that thursday night.
i'm so pumped about footbag right now. i just am so close to shred barn being ready to use (if not finished, I'll at least be able to use it for shred while i finish it) that i can anticipate being able to walk out back and just shred whenever i want. i plan to play almost every night this summer.
Bob R.