So, while I’m sitting here and recovering from my physical training episode, I’ll go ahead a blog a little bit of the weekend’s activities.
Obviously, I just got done with a workout. I went ahead and loaded the dishwasher (reminds me of a good redneck joke I’ll spare everyone for now 
) while I was still breathing a bit heavy and coming down. Good cool-down exercise…
This was again the previously mentioned HOC (High Octane Cardio) where I did varieties of push-ups mixed with kettlebell swings (24 kg) and some run/walk recovery periods. The difference this time was I mixed in abs using the “evil wheel,” so that I would do a set of push-ups, then swings, then recover, then the wheel, then swings, then recover, etc. To get going, I started with a set of cleans/push-presses with the 32 kg bell about a half an hour before actually starting into the session.
Just as an experiment–from earlier work, and some reading that confirmed it, I’ve noticed that doing a short but intensive set of work seems to stimulate a better work-out session later. I didn’t notice too much of a difference this time, but I really didn’t hit it super hard this time, either, and I kept the work-out short, just 10 minutes. But don’t get the wrong idea, just because I wasn’t puking at the end of it, it was still intense and sweaty, with heart rate and breathing up.
I had a bit of a coughing fit at the end of it. Occasionally that happens, and I haven’t quite figured out what’s going on; if it’s a touch of exercise-induced asthma, or a little stomach acid coming up, or adrenaline making mucous come done, etc. And sorry for all the medical info–probably a bit TMI for anybody reading this. Oh, well… >:)
Anyway, earlier in the day, I went to see the band Keltish, playing down in the Louisa Arts Center. In Louisa, naturally. I’ve mentioned them before, because the fiddler is Chelle Fulk, who is also the fiddler for the Pyrates Royale. And as I mentioned before, talking with her at a couple of the places I’ve seen her play, she mentioned that she was also in Keltish and to come and see them play. So–I did.
They’re playing at the Virginia Ren Faire next weekend, I think, but I don’t think I’ll be able to make it, alas. But I looked at their site and saw that they were playing down there today, so I planned on heading down there to see them.
I did make it down there, after a little over an hour ride and missing the street that the Arts Center is on. But make it I did, about a half an hour into it.
But it was worth it. Lots of good playing, and at least one song that was cross-over with the Pyrates, although I wasn’t expecting that at all.
I recommend them, and if you are curious, you can check them out playing occasionally on Second Life. Yup. I’m not a Second Lifer, but I might attempt it for that. Or maybe just go there live while they do the live performance. If that makes any sense to you. 
I’ve only talked to Chelle a few times, but other than being a real cutie who is phenomenally talented, I have to say that she is very funny, super nice and has always been very friendly. She’s just one of those people I immediately feel a real good energy with. You know how some people take a while to warm up, and some are immediately bang on.
The other members, singer/bodhran player Lynn Cunningham and guitarist Glen McCarthy are also quite personable and most excellent players. The group’s a joy to listen to live.
Okay, that was Sunday. My Saturday adventure was going with my co-worker Nicki up to what we thought was a timeshare presentation, with the hope of winning prizes. Don’t blame me for this one. Anyway, Nicki had gotten some phone call or something saying that she was a winner for a variety of levels of prizes, but she had to come listen to a presentation to claim it. She told me about it and asked if I wanted to go as moral support. I balked at first–I’ve been to timeshare presentations with friends before, and it’s not way up on my list of entertaining things to do. But, I agreed based on her bribing me with basically half of any winnings.
Plus, it just had such a wacky adventure aspect to it that appealed to me. Okay, so I’m easy…
Anyway. So, we went all the way into Georgetown and finally found it. We walked in, and they wanted a bunch of information about us, but we both were getting a really weird feeling about it. We chugged along anyway, starting to fill out the form. But still…
We asked and found out it was a presentation for some sort of vacation getaway package, not a timeshare. We were getting less and less interested, and finally decided not to go on with it, and walked out.
So, what to do? Well, the plan had been to see/listen to the presentation, then hit a pool in Nicki’s neighborhood. Since it was about a thousand degrees F, and we were done with the whole presentation idea, we decided to head to the pool and did so. It was nice and refreshing, and afterwards went to get something to eat. After which I headed home. A fun day, and all in all, I’m just as happy not to have sat through that presentation. And I got some physical activity in, which I had been sorely missing. Good times.
