On a Scale of One to Ten


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Wow, time flies whether you're having fun or not. Here it is Thursday already and I'm a day late and seriously short on imagination, inspiration, humor, information and plutonium-239. I just returned from a visit with the good folks at Stanford and they gave me one thumbs up on my two incisions and pacemaker number three, another appointment in four weeks, along with a five-page bill of six figures making this B-seven-zero bomber mighty hungry, so I eight on the way home (nine-ounce cheeseburger, give or take, no bun, a salad and water for under ten bucks).

Tomorrow I go on my get-huge-and-ripped diet.

The rain's coming down in agreeable splashes after a long sultry affair with the California sun. The electricity blinked off for a split second and Laree and I looked at each other like two terrified squirrels without nuts. The lights winked, the computers balked and the TV burped like a drunk. “I hate it when the lights go out,” we said in unison.

And then we thought of Sandy, Bad Sandy, and our brothers and sisters 3,000 miles east. The mess is messier than ever, the pain and loss as inconceivable and unbearable as ever.

I count my protein and carbs (poor Davie) and mumble about sets and reps (gee, Ma) and strive for a pump and burn (life is such a struggle) and too many folks back along the Atlantic are wet and cold and roofless and facing a scary winter.

Let’s help buy some blankets for our brothers and sisters. Laree has a few unusual disaster relief suggestions, surely one of these will strike a light in you.

Laree here... with the money part...

Jersey native Jason Ferruggia came up with a clever way to round up some Red Cross donations with his Jersey Strength Package. For your $10 donation, 100% of which goes to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund, he’ll send you two 12-week training programs, both programs Yoked & Rampage, and will forward your money directly to the Red Cross. Dave’s a Jersey boy, and of course you know he’s big on upper back training, so...  you know... Get Yoked!

Our pal Zach Even-Esh has a different fundraiser in action, same concept of making a donation of any size and getting a couple of his popular ebooks.  Zach said the weather is wicked again, and with no power or heat, it’s getting dicey. Jerseyans and New Yorkers are a tough bunch, but they’re into their second week now, and physical and emotional reserves must be starting to wear thin. Your donation can lift someone’s spirit, and will certainly bring a smile to Zach and his Jersey team.

On a real local level, there are couple of women who are buying supplies off needs lists, loading up and delivering the treasures to the hardest hit areas this weekend. Here’s the commentary on Tracey’s efforts, or if you’re not interested in the Facebook conversation, you can paypal money directly to Tracey at [email protected]. Last I heard, they had a couple thousand bucks collected for blankets, cancels, flashlights, dog food and baby supplies. They’re going to need some of the guys from the gym to help with the haul after we get done.

Can you kick in some bucks to make those Jersey gym boys work a little harder this weekend?

Jersey dude Todd Durkin set up a NJ Trainers Facebook group for people to share needs and offer support. There have been a few terrific opportunities to pitch in already, and surely will be more to come the next few weeks.

And for some added incentive, check out this photography from above the Jersey shore.

Sure feels good to help, doesn’t it?

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