Author: hsoi

Concert – Mötley Crüe, The Final Tour (Austin, TX 2014-07-15)

/ hsoi / 6 Comments

I remember my first exposure to Mötley Crüe. It was either 3rd or 4th grade, end of the school year. The teacher was letting us have an “end of the year party”, where we got to eat outside, play games, waterballoon fight, and just other unstructured fun. One thing we were told to do was bring our favorite music to play.

His name was Palmer Sterns. His claim to fame at the time was being that kid that could flip his eyelids over and gross everyone out. Well, I remember his bring this record to the party. It had this all black cover, with a pentagram on it. It looked dangerous… and thus it was instantly much cooler. Of course, Mrs. Wilson didn’t allow the record to be played (sign of the times), and that bumped up the coolness factor even more. Throw in the days of MTV actually playing music videos, and being the dawn of that era everyone doing cheesy yet awesome videos like “Too Young to Fall in Love” and well… how the hell could a young boy not come to love Mötley Crüe?

I’ve seen The Crüe a couple times in my younger days, and when The Final Tour was announced, I had to attend – especially because Alice Cooper was opening for them. I’ve never seen Alice live, and didn’t want to miss the chance.

Headed to the show with my concert buddy, Daughter, and my friend Dave.

The event was held at the Cedar Park Event Center, which is a smaller arena housed in a suburb of Austin. It’s home to the Texas Stars, which are a feeder team for the Dallas Stars hockey team, so being primarily a hockey rink, you can get an idea of the size. Thing is, it’s big enough for good shows (I’ve seen numerous things there), but it’s small enough that there really isn’t a way to have bad seats. It’s not a 20,000 seat arena where the nosebleed seats are worthless. I bought tickets early and got floor seats. Tho a little towards the back, it was fine for the bulk of the show and extra cool towards the end.

The Raskins

We had no idea there was a 3rd band, a smaller act to open. Nothing was on the bill, but 15 minutes before the listed start time, suddenly there’s lots of noise coming from inside the arena. Seems a band called The Raskins was tapped to open. Never heard of them, not sure anyone knew who they were. But they weren’t bad, had a lot of energy and looked like they had their act together for a young band that just got tapped to open for such a huge tour. Good for them. I’m sure they earned new fans. Not sure if I’m a fan yet, but I’m willing to check them out.

Alice Cooper

Daughter was more excited to see Alice than Mötley, and I don’t blame her. I’ve never seen Alice live, and was certainly excited to see him. I expected that, given he’s Alice, a legend, and there’d be no Mötley without first having Alice, that his opening slot would still be a good show. No relegation to 45 minutes, no real set, props, or other fun things… no, this is Alice, and he’s going to deliver an Alice Cooper set.

Sure enough, he got to play a lot of music, and pull out all the good props. Costume changes, the boa constrictor, then yes… during “Feed My Frankenstein” out comes “the table”. Alice is strapped down, the pyro goes off, and Alice “transforms” into a 10′ high Frankenstein monster (puppet). It was awesome, running around the stage, singing the song. You can see a video of it from another concert here.

I was happy that “The Ballad of Dwight Fry” was played – probably my favorite Alice song. Of course, that led to the guillotine. All the props and showcase was there.

No question, a “greatest hits” set. Well run, no banter but just highly choreographed and well-oiled entertained. It ran well and was obviously the work of a veteran and professional. So damn good, and I was quite happy to have been able to experience it.

  1. Hello Hooray (Judy Collins cover)
  2. No More Mr. Nice Guy
  3. Under My Wheels
  4. I’m Eighteen
  5. Billion Dollar Babies
  6. Poison
  7. Dirty Diamonds
  8. Welcome to My Nightmare
  9. Feed My Frankenstein
  10. Ballad of Dwight Fry
  11. Killer (partial)
  12. I Love the Dead (partial)
  13. School’s Out (with a small homage to Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”)

Alice seemed an appropriate opening act, and I’m happy they let him put on a good and full show – anything less would have been an insult to Alice and the fans. But Alice knew (and obviously at this stage of his life and career he’s quite comfortable with the fact) that he’s warming everyone up for Mötley Crüe.

Mötley Crüe

Ah, with the Internet, there are no secrets. We knew the stage set was going to be impressive, with Tommy’s drum solo being a “rollercoaster”. However, it started to come out that not every show was getting the rollercoaster. Seems some venues just cannot support the structure. I guess Cedar Park Event Center is one such venue, as we didn’t get a full coaster, just an abridged one. But still, the stage set was very cool — I tried to capture some pictures, but there was so much lighting, everything just got washed out.

Backing up a bit, whenever there’s a set change in progress, it’s common to hear music playing over the P.A. system. Usually it’s just random music. I thought it was interesting that prior to Alice’s set they were playing Alice’s songs. But what was more interesting was listening to Mötley’s. At first it seemed like just random songs and you didn’t pay attention. Dave asked me if this one song sounded like The Smiths – I didn’t know as I don’t know much of their stuff. Then I heard Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and it hit me – all the songs are intentional, as they are “goodbye” songs. Ha ha. The songs then ended with the Von Trapp family singing “So Long, Farewell” from “The Sound of Music”…. which was quite funny to play, and led right into the opening of the show.

When you go to see a Crüe show, you go for the music, but you also know you’re going to get a show. They did not disappoint. From an elaborate stage setup with a large backdrop that seemed to pay homage to their beginnings, with hints of the Mad Max apocalyptic layout, pentagrams (including a massive one in the ceiling central to their entire lighting rig; and another hanging down ending in Nikki’s microphone), but tons of lights, lasers, smoke, and yes, fire. From fire spouts to fireworks, flash bombs, and Nikki’s flamethrower bass, it was a loud and electrifying event. I’ve seen shows where the light show and other effects get tired and redundant, but not so here with every song and event having a unique program with good pacing (e.g. starting off with a literal bang, letting the show pace, slow it down, bring it up, and really go into overdrive for the end).

Again, this was a massive “greatest hits” setlist. Noticeably absent was their new song, “All Bad Things Must End”, but otherwise it was a “you name it, it’s in there” setlist. I wasn’t surprised “Generation Swine” and “New Tattoo” were ignored, but one thing I thought was very cool? Tommy’s drum solo included snippets of “Hooligan’s Holiday”. I think that album with John Corabi is highly underrated and one of their better albums, and I think it was fitting for this “goodbye” to not ignore that slice of Mötley’s history; nice that they gave it public acknowledgement.

Another cool thing? Vince’s singing. Vince has been known over the years to be a less than wonderful singer live, getting gassed out, singing every third word. But at this show? He was great. There was a point before the drum and guitar solos where he was skipping words, but on the whole Vince was really on and sounded great. I even realized that as so many bands get older, they have to downtune so the singer can keep hitting the notes. That wasn’t the case here, with Vince still able to hit the high notes. Gotta give him a lot of credit for his performance.

One thing that was cool about our seats was the encore. They closed with “Home Sweet Home”, but took to “the B stage”, which was a smaller stage on a rising platform at the back of the arena. Our seats were directly adjacent to the platform, about 7 yards from it. We could see the wrinkles around Nikki’s eyes and Daughter commented she didn’t realize Vince was so dumpy. 😉 I usually don’t mark out and get all starstruck at such things, but I have to admit it was kinda cool and a little magical to see these guys up close and to be able to shout “Thank you!”  for all the years of entertainment they’ve given us, and know that they heard it.

None in our group was disappointed. Dave had seen The Crüe in his younger days too, so he knew to expect a show. A show we got. Daughter certainly can see why I like the things I like. 🙂

Is this really the final tour? Well, if I remember correctly, the contract used very specific (weasel) words, that the band known as “Mötley Crüe” wouldn’t tour after this tour was over. Who says that a new group called “Neil, Sixx, Mars, & Lee” (like Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young) can’t tour? 😉  The band isn’t over, they aren’t breaking up. Maybe they won’t tour, but “Motley Crue, Inc.” will still be very alive and well. I’m sure Vince will solo tour like he’s always done. Nikki has Sixx A.M., and Tommy might resurrect Methods of Mayhem. 😉  I do wonder if some of this may have to do with Mick’s health, which I’m sure they’ll never say (honestly, that’s bad for business), but you can’t help but wonder.

I am willing to believe them, because they’ve always done things different from the rest, so why would this be any different? They’d lose a ton of integrity too, which they just don’t come off as wanting to do (they aren’t KISS). But in the end, does it really matter? It’s just rock and roll….

  1. Saints of Los Angeles
  2. Wild Side
  3. Primal Scream
  4. Same Ol’ Situation
  5. Looks That Kill
  6. On With the Show
  7. Too Fast for Love
  8. Smokin’ in the Boys Room
  9. Without You
  10. Mutherfucker of the Year
  11. Anarchy in the U.K.
  12. Dr. Feelgood
  13. Shout at the Devil
  14. Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
  15. Drum Solo
  16. Guitar Solo
  17. Live Wire
  18. Too Young to Fall in Love
  19. Girls, Girls, Girls
  20. Kickstart My Heart
  21. Home Sweet Home (encore)

 

2014-07-16 training log

/ hsoi

Based upon Paul Carter’s Strong-15 (LRB365)

Phase 2-3, Week 3-3

  • Bench Press – cycle goal: 245
    • bar x 5
    • bar x 5
    • 115 x 5
    • 135 x 4
    • 155 x 3
    • 170 x 2
    • 190 x 1
    • 200 x 1
    • 210 x 1
    • 180 x 12
  • Incline Press
    • 105 x 10
    • 105 x 10
    • 105 x 10
  • Machine Flye
    • 65 x 20
  • Pushdowns
    • 45 x 20
    • 45 x 20

Only 3 hours of sleep, but you still get up and go to the gym. Habit has a positive place.

The 210 felt fine.

The crazy thing? The AMRAP set. I only did 12, 13 would have happened, and 14 may have been a grinder… I basically chose to stop an leave a little in the tank. When you start plugging my AMRAP sets from this cycle into 1RM calculators, it pretty consistently calculates out int he 260-270 range. Really? Now, I don’t put tons of stock into that because it’s just a calculator plus the more the reps the less it directly equates to a 1RM. But still it’s curious enough to me and happening week after week (not just a one-off), that I am thinking when I test at the end of the cycle, I’ll hit my 245 goal, but then see how I feel. If the 245 winds up being a grinder, then I’m done. If it goes up easy, I may try for 250 or 255, and just play it by ear. Why the heck not? And same will hold for my squat and deadlift — if I hit the goal and am having a +10% day… heck, lets’ go for it.

I did feel one small downside to this Strong-15 program — it’s a strict program. One thing I liked about 5/3/1 was the “Jack Shit” template. Today would be a day that I would have loved to have taken a Jack Shit — little rest coming off a very long and tiring day, with today having to be a normal day (maybe a nap if I’m lucky). I know, horrible for recovery, thus why taking today’s session a little on the “less” side would have been useful. But I really don’t know what sort of allowance there is in Strong-15 for such things, and frankly I don’t think there’s truly much allowance in any peaking program (Strong-15 or otherwise). At least it’s phase 2 and volume is reduced anyways.

What do you recommend for… a gentle disagreement

/ hsoi

Dr. House tackles the subject of “What do you recommend for…”

In short:

In a simple sentence, I don’t.

I can’t, in all honesty and truth, prescribe anything guaranteed to fix your problems. What, “you,” need for self-defense, in terms of guns, holsters, sights, etc., isn’t like I am giving you a treatment plan to treat a specific medical condition you have. I can’t diagnose you…

Nobody else can tell you what is best for you, either. It requires experimentation. What some people recommend for others to use, or warn them against using, is frankly quite silly. It makes no sense. Me, dictating to you what to use is as idiotic as recommending you wear a certain type of eyeglasses, with MY prescription in it. Sure, it might work for you, but it probably won’t!

On the whole, I agree with him. We cannot tell you exactly what will work for you. This is because your situation and specifics will be different, and it’s quite true that what works for one may not work for another.

But where I differ from Dr. House is that this just can’t be done.

We are not special snowflakes. The simple reason much of human existence works is precisely because while we’re all different in the specific, we’re all the same in the general. We generally walk on 2 legs, have 2 arms and hands, 2 eyes, our eyesight and hearing and other senses work the same basic way, our body mechanics work generally the same. Yes there are exceptions, but they are just that and not the rule. This is why we can design cars with ergonomics of the seat style, steering wheel location, pedals, controls, where and how we do. This is why we can design “off the rack” clothing, which while it may not be as ideal a fit as a custom tailored suit, it works well enough to get us by in our lives.

So can I tell you what is best for you? No, but I sure can give you a lot of good guidelines to get you close (enough) and further down the road.

Sometimes it may just be my own experience. For example, my recent experience with the Ergo Delta Grip. I think in part it may be my own problem, because of the level of discomfort I personally felt in my hand. You may not feel this same discomfort due to the nature of your hands, or a higher tolerance for pain. But objectively we cannot deny the shape of the backstrap being more pointed and thus it will direct more of the force into a single point in the palm instead of a wider backstrap dissipating the force. So we can still give general guidance here.

After years of teaching and thousands of students, you start to see patterns of what works and what doesn’t work. You start to see that guns like Glocks and M&P’s run pretty reliably and students in general have less trouble and struggle running those guns. When people bring cheap guns, weird guns, DA/SA guns, guns that are too much for them to handle (e.g. frail older woman with small hands trying to shoot a Sig P226 in .40 S&W just doesn’t end well), well… we know how the story will end – usually – and we also know how we can redirect the situation towards a more successful, fruitful, and satisfying end (e.g. give them a Glock 19). This doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions, but again, they are exceptions.

Maybe I’m just reading Dr. House’s writing the wrong way, because I do think we’re more in agreement than disagreement (thus my “gentle” disagreement). I think he’s right when he writes:

Next time someone tells you that carrying a pistol with a manual safety (like a SHIELD) or a DA/SA semiautomatic pistol will, “get you killed,” it might be wise to take everything they continue to say with an even BIGGER grain of salt. NO PIECE OF EQUIPMENT will replace skill…regardless of what the equipment may be. You can defend yourself with anything, under any condition, with preparation. PERIOD.

Because in a case like that, it’s a matter of being able to back up your recommendations with concrete and factual evidence, not Internet jackassery or gun store bravado. For example, I can back up the above example of the P226 by talking about gun fit, how the P226 is a poor fit for someone with small hands, which requires holding the gun in an awkward manner that provides sub-optimal control over the gun, recoils over the thumb knuckle (ouch!), a long heavy trigger is difficult for them to press due to strength and leverage issues, then the snappy recoil of a .40 S&W adds to the mix; then replacing with a Glock 19 (probably a Gen4 with the small backstrap) allows for a better fit, the trigger is of lighter pull-weight which their level of strength and leverages can more easily work, the milder recoil of the 9mm doesn’t present as much of a problem for their level, and so on. Can the assertion be backed up by proper reasoning?

So no, we cannot tell you exactly what formula will result in the ideal solution for you. However, it is possible to start you down a path with good footing and a solid start. You will need to experiment, you will need to discover precisely what works for you, but we can help you on your way.

 

New home defense tactic

/ hsoi

A burglar in Georgetown ran away with empty hands and an eyeful Wednesday night when he was confronted by a nude, pistol-packing homeowner.

[…]

“I have a tattoo of the grim reaper, my hair is sticking up all crazy and I’m naked,” said the homeowner, who asked that his name be withheld for safety reasons. “I’m not sure if (the burglar) was more afraid of me or the gun.”

Full story here.

So there you go. New home defense tactic. 😉

 

2014-07-14 training log

/ hsoi

Based upon Paul Carter’s Strong-15 (LRB365)

Phase 2-3, Week 3-3

  • Squats – cycle goal: 325
    • BW x 10
    • BW x 10
    • bar x 5
    • bar x 5
    • 150 x 5
    • 175 x 4
    • 205 x 3
    • 225 x 2
    • 265 x 1
    • 275 x 1
    • 280 x 1
  • Pause Squats
    • 225 x 3
  • Deadlift – cycle goal 445
    • 205 x 5
    • 250 x 4
    • 290 x 3
    • 330 x 2
    • 365 x 1
    • 375 x 1
    • 385 x 1
  • Deadlift – Back off
    • 330 x 3
  • Leg Curls
    • 40 x 20
    • 40 x 20

The weights are certainly starting to feel heavier. Not grinding, not a problem, but certainly they aren’t feeling “light” any more. That should be the case given where things are in the cycle. Next week starts the 3rd and final cycle, and stuff should be getting heavy by now.

It also could be because I slept like crap… couldn’t get to sleep, slept poorly, then it was time to make the donuts. So…. who knows.

Knee sleeves feel good. They seem to make my knees feel a little better. I do think there’s something not happy in my left knee still, because while the massive pain of before is gone, there’s still something there. I notice it when I’m getting in position to deadlift. It’s very slight, but present.

Also, I think the added stretching is helping, because I am not feeling that same sharp pain when I’m in the whole while squatting. I’ll just have to keep it up.

Onwards.

Sunday Metal – Top Metal Albums 1990-2000 – #3 Megadeth

/ hsoi

When Metal-Rules.com posted their Top 30 Metal Albums 1990-2000, I thought it’d make a fun list for Sunday Metal.

#3 – Megadeth – Rust In Peace

“Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”

Violence is still golden

/ hsoi

Some years ago I came across an essay by Jack Donovan called “Violence is Golden”.

Recently, Scott Faith revisited Jack’s essay.

Violence should not be a first resort, but sometimes it is the only resort. I think deep down everyone knows this, but there are those that want to deny it. Or at least, they cannot see themselves performing violence, consider it icky, and thus others shouldn’t partake in it either. But somehow they know that violence is sometimes necessary – without it, laws have no ground, no meaning., and society has no structure. And I think everyone has a line, it’s just a question of finding it. I hear many women that go on about how they could never hurt someone else, but are very willing to get “momma bear” protective if someone tries to hurt their children. There you go, there’s your line. Let’s look at forcible rape (forcible, as opposed to statutory); this is not a time for negotiation, this is a time for violent response because it’s demonstrated that rape victims who fight back fare far better than those who do not. Is there anyone not willing to draw a line here?

Have you ever trained a dog? When training a dog, you have to think like a dog. Dogs don’t understand human, they understand dog. For example, petting a dog is an act of reinforcement. If the dog is doing something and you pet it, the dog says “hey, whatever I’m doing is good, keep doing it”. But to a human, petting can be a comforting behavior. So for example, if your dog is afraid of thunderstorms, many people will pet their dog in an attempt to soothe and comfort the dog. This is bad; that’s human-think, not dog-think. What happens is the petting reinforces to the dog that being afraid of thunderstorms is what to do, and that’s not the behavior we want. To successfully work with a dog, you have to think and speak and act dog. You have to speak their language.

And so it goes with 2-legged predators as well. There are some people out there that only understand the language of violence. They will not listen to your begging, but they will listen to a gun muzzle pointed at them. Which speaks their language? Which will they understand? You cannot apply your standards, your morals, your behaviors and modes of thinking to all people because all people do not and will not think and behave like you – if they did, they wouldn’t be violating you right now, would they? Sometimes you have to speak their language, whether you like it or not. As Faith writes:

Violence should not be, and usually isn’t, the method of first resort in man’s dealings with his fellow man. But you’ve got to talk to people on a level that they understand; sometimes the only language they understand is that of violence. This is especially true when it comes to halting violence after it has already begun. After all, when people cry out for someone to “Do something!” about places like Syria and Iraq they don’t mean send in the State Department or the United Nations; in situations where “reason” fails, you don’t send memos you send the Marines.

What really touched me about Faith’s article was his addressing of the “Coexist” bumper sticker. Every time I see one (usually on a Prius), all I can think to myself is “Great! But I’m not the one you need to be proselytizing to; tell that to the people who are trying to kill me.” Or how wonderful it is to preach that from the safety of our country, behind the laws (force, violence) and law enforcement (police, military — you know, people with guns willing to perform violence by proxy for you). Faith writes:

Coexistence is a wonderful thing, as long as everyone is an equally-committed partner in the process. But if one player in the coexistence game decides to not go along with the program, then you could “coexist” yourself right out of existence. It’s the classic Prisoner’s Dilemma; at every level of human interaction, everyone is better off with cooperation. But the incentives to cheat are such that the fear of defection of others creates incentives to be the first to leave the collective. When it comes to pacifism, anyone declining to at least maintain the capability of violence will be at a distinct disadvantage, and the first to resort to violence will likely be the one left standing at the end of any conflict between them. This is why programs like “Global Zero” will never work; it overlooks a fundamental aspect of human nature. After all, in a society of the blind the one-eyed man in king; and in a society that has beaten all swords into plowshares, everything belongs to the man who kept his sword whole… unless another man with a sword stops him first. Si vis pacem, para violentus.

Faith concludes:

So we need not like violence, but we need to acknowledge the role it plays in securing our lives, liberty, property, and way of life. More than that; we need to embrace it, and stand eternally vigilant to carry it out either individually or collectively if (when) the need arises. There will always be someone who cheats, who defects, who simply doesn’t get with the “ideal world” program. If we don’t prepare for that, we are at the mercy of those who do. And on that note, I think that the best way to end this article is the same way it began, with a quote from Violence is Golden: “It’s time to quit worrying and learn to love the battle axe. History teaches us that if we don’t, someone else will.”

He (and Donovan) are right: we need not like violence, but we need to acknowledge the role it plays. Too often people want to just look at violence as a bad thing and believe that doing away with all violence is the solution and thus the goal to which we must strive. But not everyone will share your lofty goals, and there will be those that see your lofty goals as your weakness and use it against you. And then what will you do? As Donovan wrote:

However, the willful submission of many inevitably creates a vulnerability waiting to be exploited by any one person who shrugs off social and ethical norms. If every man lays down his arms and refuses to pick them up, the first man to pick them up can do whatever he wants. Peace can only be maintained without violence so long as everyone sticks to the bargain, and to maintain peace every single person in every successive generation — even after war is long forgotten — must continue to agree to remain peaceful. Forever and ever. No delinquent or upstart may ever ask, “Or Else What?,” because in a truly non-violent society, the best available answer is “Or else we won’t think you’re a very nice person and we’re not going to share with you.” Our troublemaker is free to reply, “I don’t care. I’ll take what I want.”

Violence is the final answer to the question, “Or else what?”

We cannot have a civilized society without violence. Violence is neither good nor bad; like all things, it’s how people use it that determine it’s merit. Striving to rid the world of violence is laudable, but naive, because how else can you enforce your mandate (as ironic as that would be)? Instead, acknowledge the role violence plays in creating a civilized society, and work to enable good people with the means by which to help maintain that vein of civilization.

2014-07-11 training log

/ hsoi

Based upon Paul Carter’s Strong-15 (LRB365)

Phase 2-3, Week 2-3

  • Wide, Neutral-grip Pull-ups
    • BW x 2
    • BW x 2
    • BW x 2
    • BW x 1
  • BB Rows
    • 135 x 10
    • 135 x 10
  • Meadows Shrugs
    • 70e x 12
    • 70e x 12
  • BB Curls
    • 45 x 20
    • 45 x 20

    • These back days just feel almost useless. I know they aren’t, but the volume is so low and it’s just a lot of assistance work. Still, I know it’s an important part of the process, and I just try to ensure each rep is meaningful. All you can do.

    She avoided being mugged – Here’s what you can learn from her experience

    / hsoi

    Lynn Givens seems to have avoided being mugged, either for her electronics or her prescription drugs (or perhaps both). Lynn shared her experience on Facebook, both recounting the event and numerous learnings points. She’s fine and safe, and we’re thankful for her sharing so we can all learn.

    What follows is a copy/paste of Lynn’s posting, which she has encouraged us to share.

    I have been asked to repost this AAR to include the lessons I learned. I have done so. Share if you would like to.

    Just The Facts Please:

    Today, around 12:40 pm, I left Tom at home while I ventured out to Walmart. My intent was to pick up two prescriptions and look at their IPod selection, as mine had died.

    I parked halfway out in the parking lot; did not want a dent in the ZBULLET; and entered the store near the pharmacy area. I went directly to the pharmacy area and waited in line. As I picked up my two prescriptions, the cashier informed me that I would need to show my driver’s license for ID, because my script was a controlled substance. I gave her my license and she pulled out a 3 ring binder and logged in my name, script number, DL and date. This transaction was done right there at the check-out register. I was going to pay for it later after I was done shopping.
    I then headed back to electronics taking a very convoluted path, browsing at merchandise. In the midway, a young man came up and while standing within about 2 feet of me, started texting. As I tried to walk by him, he engaged me in conversation by saying to me, “that was my mom, she was just checking on me again.” Being polite, I said “that’s nice of her”. I then continued onto electronics.
    When I got back there, he was waiting there and kept looking in my direction. I continued to look for the Apple Products and eventually asked a salesgirl for assistance. She showed me where they were, I said thank you, and continued to look at the selection. He walks over and asks me if I ever had an IPod before. I told him yes, mine was broken. He then just loomed around in the area watching me intently. If I moved, he moved. I even left the area, he moved away but showed up again where I was. I then went to the salesgirl and asked to check if they had a particular one, she then left to get it out of some far away place that took about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the thug watched me and if I moved, he was there again. I finally, took my prescriptions out of my cart, went to another department, struck up a conversation so as to not alarm the sales women. In a discrete manner, I asked for them to call security, that a man has been stalking me in the store for the last 30 minutes and it has become unnerving. She called for security and seconds later, the stalker was within 3 yards of me again. Fortunately, I had worn my sunglasses to the store, so as I was intently watching him over the top of the glasses, he thought I was unaware of him. If I lifted my head up and looked in his direction, he would disappear for a moment behind a display.

    Finally a sales person arrived with my IPod. I told him what was going on and that security never showed up. I described the thug, took 3 pictures of him while pretending to text on my phone. The sales person saw him and got all upset. I told him to relax and just ring me up.

    He rang up my scripts and IPod and I began to head for front exit by pharmacy. It occurred to me, that there may be some assistants with him. As I reached the front exit, a young man came walking very fast paced, texting someone, and headed to the back of the store. I had already asked the front store clerk to walk me to my car, he said certainly. I gave him the description of the thug and he was headed back in to get a manager.

    Arrived home on orange red.

    He either wanted the prescriptions or the electronics, or both.
    Many lessons here. Most important one for me; having to give DL to pick up controlled substance. Anyone can watch from afar and know what you got. Makes you a huge target. Lesson learned.

    HUGE RED FLAG FOR THUGS TO TAKE PRESCRIPTIONS FROM YOUR CART OR GET YOU IN PARKING LOT.

    • I was carrying my S&W M&P 9C in a belly band with extra mags and OC.

    I owe my seeing the signs early to Tom Givens, Craig Douglas and William Aprill. Each one has taught me something that gave me the ability to see the signs early.

    FIRST, he kept showing up close to me from out of nowhere

    SECOND, overly friendly, trying to engage me to get my guard down

    THIRD, he displayed a lot of grooming behavior, stroking chin, crossing arms, rubbing forehead, pacing, constantly texting as if communicating with a partner

    FOURTH, he had on shorts, tank top, flip flops, it was quite cool in the store, but his shirt was soaked under his armpits

    FIFTH, he was walking around with nothing in his hands to buy and never stayed at any display to look at something, just followed me and kept disappearing behind displays when he thought I noticed him

    SIXTH, don’t count on anyone but yourself and what is physically on your body to handle the situation; I had already moved my purse to my left shoulder and had access to my OC

    SEVEN, THERE WAS NO SECURITY THERE TODAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED, NOR DID A MANAGER COME TO MY AID

    EIGHT, I knew there could be more than one person and not to go to my car alone

    NINE, as leaving the store, I was watching for a accomplice, and wouldn’t you know, as I left, a young man entered the store walking very fast, headed in his direction texting–coincidence–maybe, maybe not

    TEN, alertness and awareness are key. I had electricity going all through my body as this unfolded.

    ELEVEN, don’t ignore what your body is telling you. Use that sixth sense.

    TWELVE, be aware when you are picking up a script that must be signed for. I may as well been walking around with a sign on me that said, get your drugs here.

    That’s all for now.
    July 5 at 9:13pm • Unlike • 3
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    Lynn Givens Thanks everyone. I post this for others to read and learn. I have had unusual life experiences, this is fourth time in being able to navigate through possible disaster. I hope my experiences will help others to do the same.
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    Lynn Givens I think I am done.

    More lessons as I ponder today’s encounter

    THIRTEEN, I used the plastic packaging of merchandise to see down the isle where he was avoiding being seen, but he could not see me. I was trying to keep distance between us.

    FOURTEEN, I was making a plan of what I was going to do. It did include just leaving the store and giving my basket to the door greeter on the way out.
    July 5 at 9:42pm • Like • 2
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    FIFTEEN, ALWAYS PAY FOR SCRIPTS RIGHT AWAY. This way you can take your scripts and leave.
    July 5 at 9:43pm • Like • 2
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    Lynn Givens I think I am done.

    Wow. A lot to digest.

    In fact, because it’s a lot to digest, I recommend you come back and read this a few times. You just read it, come back tomorrow and read it again. Do the same again in the future. You will read, you will ponder, you will digest, and you’ll gain more from revisiting it (no, this isn’t about getting hits to my blog… save it off to your own records to read offline and carry with you, I don’t care — it’s about being able to really learn from this experience, because there’s a great deal in here to learn).

    There are a few things I want to point out.

    Point 7 – there was no security, and no one came to her aid. Your personal safety is your responsibility.

    Points 6, 14 – she was planning, always planning. In fact, I’d say this includes Point 0: already having a gun and OC spray on her person — that was pre-planning. Heck, going even further, getting some training and acknowledging events like this can and will happen to you so you can be prepared and handle them when they unfold; pre-planning.

    Be honest. If this happened to you, how would you have taken it? If some guy was being so nice to you, would it have set off any alarm bells? And even if it did, would you have acted on them? or tried to shrug them off (a lot of people do this; see Lynn’s Point 11).

    Going back to Point 14, notice Lynn’s willingness to leave everything. So you don’t get your medicine, and it’s going to be a huge hassle to get it again (it’s a controlled substance, going to probably be difficult to get it “reissued”). Whatever. Totally willing to abandon all her shopping, her basket full of stuff, whatever, because her personal safety is more important.

    Points… well, just about every other point. The common thread here is awareness. She paid attention and was constantly vigilant.  She used tricks to keep an eye on him (Point 13). She observed out of place behavior (Points 2, 3, 4, 5). She made a fair assumption there would be more than 1 thug (Points 3, 8, 9).

    But here’s the bigger point that stands out.

    None of this was solved with a gun, or OC spray, or any other sort of weapon or “hard skill”.

    It was all solved by being alert, aware, and having prior acknowledgement that bad things can happen to you so you must be prepared ahead of time to handle them. Lynn gives credit to Tom Givens, Craig Douglas (SouthNarc), and William Aprill for giving her the skills she needed to get through that encounter. Yes it was good she had her gun, yes it was good she had OC spray (and it seems she was looking to use the OC as her first line of defense, see Point 6). But the key thing that kept her safe was being able to manage these unknown contacts.

    It’s great you want to get your concealed handgun license, but I see so many people that think once they get that, they’re done and good. No, a concealed handgun license is merely your entry ticket into a larger world of personal protection. It’s the minimum entry fee, folks. Yes, you should work on hard skills to become proficient with it, but it’s more important to get these “soft skills”. You should seek out both types of instruction and training.

    It’s great you want to carry pepper spray. But have you ever used it? Some people think that buying the canister and putting it on their keychain is done and good to go. But is it really? Are you really able to handle yourself? Will you be able to catch the cues and avoid the situation entirely (the best defense, the art of fighting without fighting… whatever you want to call it), or will it all happen “out of nowhere” and be over before your mind can unfreeze itself and you begin to react?

    There’s much to learn from Lynn’s experience, and I’d like to express my gratitude to her for sharing. There’s much to learn here, but you have to swallow your pride and be honest with yourself — your life is worth it.

    2014-07-09 training log

    / hsoi

    Based upon Paul Carter’s Strong-15 (LRB365)

    Phase 2-3, Week 2-3

    • Bench Press – cycle goal: 245
      • bar x 5
      • bar x 5
      • 115 x 5
      • 135 x 4
      • 155 x 3
      • 170 x 2
      • 185 x 1
      • 195 x 1
      • 205 x 1
      • 170 x 15
    • Incline Press
      • 105 x 10
      • 105 x 10
      • 105 x 10
    • Machine Flye
      • 65 x 20
    • Pushdowns
      • 45 x 20
      • 45 x 20

    Not much to say really. Just felt like a solid day. I am trying to work on pausing at the chest, not forever, but it’s certainly not touch-and-go. Thinking like competition. AMRAP set is touch-and-go, but otherwise every other set I strive to do competition-style.

    I’m half-way through the program and am getting excited for what’s ahead.

    Really, not much else to say other than that. 🙂