1st time Murph in 53:28 at my old stomping grounds.

Did a mix of sweet potato, avocado, scrambled eggs, bacon and blackberries for my Pre-Murph meal.

At CrossFitWMD in Angleton on a TYPICAL rainy, humid Texas Gulf Coast day.

This is where I started CrossFit on March 22, 2014.

Definitely a different facility and vibe from Praxis.

Same old Beauty on the Bomb.

New TV display.

Warmup like a Workout.

Murph in Progress.

1st 3 guys in.

Me and the Man that started it all for me - Will Black.

My Murph tally.

Yep - I am hot and tired after Murph.

And happy to be done.

Again, I remember why I moved away from here.

Not bad for a first time Murph in a last time place.

What if there is no Life after this Life?

It's something I've thought about quite a bit for quite a while.

Almost all religions promise an After Life.

Spiritualists and Mystics espouse transforming from this Body of Life to another character in another Play of Life or to an animal that continues the journey of the previous flesh's spirit.

But what if this is it?

What if this Life is the end of Life?

Would it change how you Live this Life?

For many, the only way to maintain hope or better yet, sanity, in this Life is to look forward to the Next Life.

For reasons incomprehensible to me, they are looking forward to something they perceive will be better without focusing on enjoying what they have in the here and now.

I would contend that if all of humanity was faced with a fact and proof of No Life after Death, maybe just maybe, they would take care to do everything possible to get the most out of this Life.

That might include taking better care of the vessel they've been given for this one way journey, treating those around them better and preserving the environment around them, just to name a few things.

They might work less, play more and live and love beyond what they thought possible.

So ask yourself this question -

If I knew today that I have only One Life to Live, what would I do differently tomorrow?

Welcome to Texas!

Had to laugh at this because it is exactly where I am right now.

And speaking of where I am which is south Houston - it is f'g hot!!!

List of things I need to live my life away from home.

Set up at the Discovery Hotel!

There's no place like home but this is the best I can do till I get back there.

I Remember Everything... From a More Painful Time

Every time I get to this point in the ABQ airport, I remember how it was on April 2, 2016.

I was flying to Texas for a left knee total replacement surgery after having been through 3 months of crippling pain from that same knee.

The knee had degraded to the point where walking was incredibly painful but I thought I could make it through the airport without crutches or assistance.

I was wrong.

After exiting security, I got to this point and literally could not put any weight on my left leg at all.

I sat down in a chair at the Mexican restaurant on the left to try to gather my thoughts and figure out how I was gonna get down the long A gate corridor to my departure gate at the very end.

No big deal for someone that can walk.

But I couldn't.

I spotted a wheel chair across the aisle from where I was sitting and literally one leg hopped over to it with backpack and computer bag and started wheeling myself down that long A corridor.

I hadn't gone 50' when I heard a voice from behind me ask...

"Do you need some help?"

Now anybody that knows me knows I rarely ask for help but at this point I probably needed help more than any other time in my life.

"Yes - I am trying to get to gate A12 for my flight to Houston" was my reply.

My Good Samaritan got me there and was actually on the same flight and kept me company.

I arranged for assistance on the Houston end and the rest is History.

A year and 2 months later I am 10# heavier, almost all muscle, as my recent body composition test of 7.3% body fat confirmed.

I am happy, healthy, independent and almost completely pain free.

I am thankful that my Life of Activity and Independence was given back to me with the success of my left knee TKR but I still remember the pain I went through to get to this point and the day I couldn't take one more step.

I Remember Everything.

https://youtu.be/7G8QItjTSDA

You don't know me!

It never ceases to amaze me how un-self aware (I just made up a new word!) many people are.

They live in their own little world of experiences, priorities, principles, morals, ethics, vices and virtues and assume that the rest of the world shares and practices their values.

And even worse, when you don't they try to convince or coerce you to "see the light" of their blessed life.

The problem with this whole premise is that truth and light is in the eye of the beholder and right and wrong in human behavior is incredibly subjective.

I genuinely try to put myself in the other person's shoes and mind, thoughts and values and understand their perspectives but sometimes it reaches a point where you realize there is a gap of understanding and life principles that will not be closed.

At that point, you just have to tell the other person, you know what....

You don't know me!!!

https://youtu.be/MtfymP-R62M

Protein on a Budget

That's 6.6# of protein for $27 - Salmon, Pork Chop and Ribeye -

A pound a day should last me for 7 days so about $4 a day for 100 - 125g of protein.

That's a protein plan most should be able to afford.

Hang Snatches - Double Unders and Chorizo

I continue to struggle with the Double Unders and the 50 Hang Power Snatches with 95# didn't help.

The 5 rounds of 10 Hang Power Snatches and 30 Double Unders turned into a 27 min 33 second marathon where my heart rate stayed between 140 - 165 the entire time.

The 150 Double Unders wiped me out.

I recovered with a bowl of chorizo, sweet potato and cheddar cheese omelette.

I didn't give up today on the Double Unders.

That's either stupid, stubborn or stoic.

Regardless - quitting is not an option.

Pick your Place - Pick your Season!

Back in my hometown, you're looking at heat, humidity and precipitation.

In my new hometown, sunshine is on the horizon.

Sometimes you have to

Change your Seasons.

https://youtu.be/Jm-Kxmgrelk

Sunday Snowshoe!

And my first trip to the Mine Shaft Tavern in Madrid.

For some cool music from Cactus Slim and the Goatheads and a hot jalapeño and cucumber chile salt margarita.

And one helluva sunset.

And a late night salad with chicken thigh.

With Monday Morning front squats, power cleans and box jumps.

And a stop at The Pantry on my bike ride home for my once a month pancake breakfast.

The Seasons change and the Years roll by whether we want them to or not.

Might as well be in a place and a place in your life that you enjoy.