cesimpson

As I wrote about on Friday, my wife and I went to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater this weekend. Now, I mentioned that dance is really more my wife’s thing than mine. As such, I wasn’t really sure what to expect.

Roughly speaking, I’d divide what I saw into three categories. About ⅓ of the show was enjoyable to me, about ⅓ was not-so-enjoyable (not painful…just sorta tolerable) and about ⅓ was completely inaccessible. I simply don’t have any frame of reference or enough knowledge to even consume (much less appreciate) what I saw.

I was able appreciate much of the performance on an athletic level. Clearly these dancers are fit, agile, strong and mobile. I was even able to appreciate some of the performance on an aesthetic level. Much of it “looked pretty”. Most of the dancers were extremely graceful in their demonstration. The first piece was a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie - music I recognize and very much enjoy. The final piece - likewise - full of music I recognize, can relate to and appreciate.

The middle two pieces were music, stories and choreography I just couldn’t grasp. I don’t have enough knowledge or background to be able to understand what I was seeing.

My wife enjoyed herself and I was not bored to tears. I held her hand and smiled at her pleasure. Sometimes that’s the best one can do. =)

(A proper review, from someone presumably more appreciative of the art form than I am, of Friday night’s performance.)

Taxes

Did our taxes this weekend. Wasn’t too bad. We’re getting a refund. That’s all I have to say ’bout that.

A New PR

Work Up to 1RM Clean & Jerk

a few @ 45#

a few @ 65#

a few @ 95#

3x @ 115#

3x @ 135#

3x @ 155#

1x @ 160# (matches a previous PR)

1x @ 165# !

1x @ 175# !!

Huge! I weighed in after my workout at 160.5# - a bit heavier than I’ve been lately, but not bad. A C&J of BW+15# is just gigantic to me. I’m still a long way from my (super-ambitious) birthday goal of 200#, but a nice PR. Really set me in a good mood this morning.

Bent Over Barbell Rows - I haven’t done them in a long time, I hate them and I’m no good at them. Three perfect reasons to do them this morning.

Bent Over Barbell Rows

10x @ 115#

5x @ 135#

5x @ 135#

5x @ 155#

5x @ 155#

5x @ 155#

Ugh. I still hate them.

After that I still felt a little like pressing, so I did some dumbbell bench press w/ 65#, 70# and 75# dumbbells. They weren’t planned and I really didn’t keep count. I did 2-3 sets with each, 3-6 reps/set. I don’t know. I went until my arms felt sufficiently tired.

As excited as I am for my strength gains, I think I need to do just a bit more energy systems work. Like I said, I weighed in at 160.5#. This is the first time I’ve floated above 160# in a while. I tend to weigh in between 155# and 160# with the mode being right in the middle - 157-158. I’m OK putting on a little weight, I just want to make sure I’m putting on useful mass.

The YMCA where I workout offers one free body composition test (one of the calipers methods) per year. I am a member and have not yet taken advantage of my one free test. I’m trying to decide if I want to use it now or wait until my birthday near the end of May.

If I do it now, I’ll at least have a base of knowledge. If I wait, I’ll be more accurately able to coordinate my BF% with my birthday goals. I don’t know. I’m sort of a numbers geek, but maybe I just need to row more and swing more and forget about the numbers.