I've been asked to blog about the upcoming Ryze event on March 9th.  I'm planning on going - even though I originally responded maybe.  I enjoyed it last time - connecting with some old faces and meeting a number of new people.

Essentially, a solid networking event - and the lack of industry focus makes it a lot more fun and interesting.  Usually at these sorts of things - you hang out with people you know and talk about stuff you know.  Here it is a much richer environment.  And for those who want to extend their social networking from software/internet into the real world - this is the place.

Join the world of people who are transforming the business networking space and extending their horizons beyond the inbred group that you spend every waking moment dealing with.

Last time, a beautiful woman I had not met before (in person) recognized me from across the room and bought me a drink!  (You know who you are and it's my turn to reciprocate).  It could happen to you!  Nuff said - just show up!  And bring business cards... 

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If you were wondering - I used the craiglist posting since the non Ryze members need a way to access the information!

comment [] 230 8:16:41 PM G!.

Yesterday, I received my Weider Crossbow Platinum!

Not quite a new year's resolution - maybe a lenten resolution (the Passion of the Christ review to follow in a couple weeks time to see it at least once and digest it).  I've had a Lifecycle and have ridden it intermittently over the years.  Good stress relief, good cardio aerobic workout - but I am withering in my upper body...  Well, aeons ago, I was a swimmer - butterfly!  and now... well it is not the physique that I think I have.  Oh I'm not really fat (by American standards), but since I can never get to a gym, I needed to bring the gym to me.

By the way, after I ordered it, I learned that it is a late night advertising item - yech!  But I did not see one ad.  I was just looking for home gym equipment that was not crap.  Nor was it $8,000 for a multi-station, multi-weight-stack system that I don't have room for (I am not a small hotel).  So, after some research, it seemed that it came down to this unit, or the bowflex.  All the actual user comparisons that I read suggested that the functionality was quite similar, and the price was much lower.  Plus, while the electronic control was a bit gadgety, it allowed for 1 lbs increments in the weight adjustment.

For the purists - I do own a set of powerblocks (weight-selectable free-weights - for the uninitiated).  And while they are great, they just don't allow me to work out the way I like - I like a lat bar to pull down on!  And I wanted a rowing bench.  Almost got a Concept rower (may get it yet), but with the lifecycle, I thought I've got the aerobic thing down - what I need is a comprehensive strength training system.

Soooo....

Set it up last night - tons of parts - but the procedures are clear.  For those of you who might do this yourselves, just sort all the little parts next to the parts diagram.  There are a few typos - 31 nylon lock nuts of one type vs 21 in reality.  But essentially it went smoothly.  Did it by myself (OK my older daughter helped align a screw or two).  And, you might want to pre-start a couple screws just to deburr a couple tapped holes.

A metric ratchet set was very helpful.  The most difficult part of assembly was getting the rubber handgrips onto the squat unit.  Soapy water hardly helped.  I ended up using a vice-grip to help me get a strong enough grip on the handgrips to twist them into position.  One worked beautifully, the other suffered minor damage - oh well.

Today, I tried it out.  Feels solid, and gave me a reasonable set of excercises for the upper body routine.  Well I needed to adjust the weight, I found that it was pretty easy using the control panel.  And I actually liked that it ran through multiple sets of reps and adjusted the weight automatically (even if not quite to an appropriate level).  Give me some time, and I'll work my way up to it.

My daughter thought it was pretty cool, and she tried it out for an abs and back workout - hours later, she told me she could still feel it - and to be honest, so can I.  Well, well see how long this lasts...

comment [] 229 7:58:25 PM G!.