Workout Update: P90X Day 2

Day 2 was the plyometrics workout. It is really the first "real" cardio workout I have had since the last round of Lift 4. It was challenging as I thought it would be, but thankfully, my cardio strength was good enough that I could make it through. I did have to do the low-impact modifications for some of the exercises, and I swapped out speed skaters for the guitar jumps because that one messes with my back, even when I was in great shape. But I was able to do unmodified versions of some exercises I thought I would have to modify. I definitely have room to improve, but I am happy with the first plyo workout of the program.

Workout Update: P90X Day 1

Today was day 1 of my original Beachbody program, and the third structured workout program I did (after Body For Life and Body Rx) when I began lifting weights: P90X. I know BODI released a new version of P90X with a new trainer, which was stupid for many reasons, including that Tony Horton recently created a new 90-day workout on the BODI platform. So I, like many people, wanted to support the original program. And, frankly, the best shape I have ever been in is after doing P90X and the original Insanity program. So that is my plan — to do a round or two of P90X, then transition to the OG Insanity.

So, today was Chest and Back followed by ab-ripper x. It is the P90X workout that uses the fewest weights. It consists mostly of variations of push-ups and pull-ups, with a few weighted exercises. I definitely found I'm no longer in "pull-up" shape, as I could only do 3-4 of each. That said, I did push-ups on my toes the entire time, and while I was only getting 10-12 per set (unlike the 20-30 that the cast were getting), I did not have to do them on my knees, and was getting lower down than I have in a long time. For ab-ripper, I did ten reps of each exercise (except for the mason twists at the end; I did twenty reps of those) and plan to increase by 5 reps each week until I hit 25. We will see how that goes. Ultimately, it was a good workout. It was tough, but it was very nice to have time between the exercises for the first time in a long time.

4K-UHD/Movie Review: The Dreamers

 

The Dreamers is a 2003 film starring Eva Green (in her first movie role), Michael Pitt, and Louis Garrel. The supporting cast included Anna Chancellor and Robin Renucci. It was directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and based on a novel titled The Holy Innocents by Gilbert Adair (who also wrote the movie's screenplay). It was also the second-to-last film directed by Bertolucci, who is probably best known for the very controversial film, The Last Tango in Paris.

The events of the film are set in France in 1968. In it, Pitt plays an American college student studying in Paris. He is a shy movie buff, and during a protest against the firing of a theater director, he meets twins Theo (Garrel) and Isabelle (Green), the children of a famous French poet and fellow film enthusiasts his age. He befriends the twins, and when he is invited to stay with Theo and Isabelle while their parents are away for a month, they embark on a very unusual friendship.

I have the imported 4k release, which is a two-disc import set containing a UHD disc and a standard blu-ray disc. The UHD disc is region-free, meaning it will play on Region 1/US 4k Blu-Ray players. The A/V quality of the UHD disc is outstanding and a definite upgrade over the DVD. The standard Blu-ray disc is region-locked to Region 2, so you need a Region 2 or region-free player to play the content on that disc. The bonus content carries over most, but not all, of the features from the original DVD release and also adds bonus material not on the DVD release. The bonus content includes a commentary track on the film by Bertolucci, Adair, and the film's producer, Jeremy Thomas. It appears that the tracks were recorded separately and jump from one speaker to another, rather than being a conversation among the three. That is the only extra on the UHD disc. The rest, which include a making-of featurette, behind-the-scenes B-roll footage, cast and crew interviews, the original trailer, and a trailer for the 4K release, are all on the standard disc. It also includes a movie poster and several postcards featuring scenes from the film. 

The film is good, but strange. The relationship between Theo and Isabelle is cringe-worthy (borderline incestuous, but not quite) and is definitely not a traditional sibling relationship. The movie is definitely not family-friendly. It was originally released with an NC-17 rating, which is well deserved because it contains a lot of sexual content and nudity. It touches on some of the political turmoil of 1968, including the nationwide general strike and student riots in France, but it is mostly in the background until the very end of the film. It also includes clips from several old movies and a very good soundtrack (especially if you are a fan of late-1960s rock and blues). So, while the movie is good, it is definitely not for everyone. It is an erotic drama with a foreign-film feel and would definitely not be made the same way in the US. It was well-acted, especially since all the main actors were in their early 20s and did not have much acting experience when it was made. Ultimately, it is worth checking out if you are a fan of Green's (who has had the most success of all the actors since the movie came out), foreign films, and/or period pieces, and are not easily offended. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 56 and Program Review

Day 56 was the final day of this workout program, which was Lift More.  Even though the final workout of Lift More was on Friday, since I have not started a new program yet, I considered this weekend (and the two recovery workouts) to be a part of that. Today, I just did the roll and recover routine from Lift 4. 

My impression of Lift More as a program is mixed. I liked the smaller cast (there were four total cast members, and only two worked out with Joel on any given day, aside from the last workout in which all of the cast members participated), so it was easier to follow what was going on. I also liked that it was a program that built upon Lift 4, but overall, I liked Lift 4 much more.

I didn't like that he increased the number of reps per set from 10 in Lift 4 to 12 in Lift More, since 8-10 reps with a heavy weight is really the sweet spot for muscle building. Nor did I like that he alternated between the LIFT/HIIT and LIFT formats every other week for each workout. I found myself constantly adjusting the weight I was using, and since there were almost no breaks and the transition time between exercises was minimal (at best), it was extremely hard to keep up with the cast. There were times when they were six or seven reps into an exercise before I had started because I was constantly changing weight. Unlike Lift 4, in which you can pretty confidently go up in weight every two weeks, that is not the case with Lift More. Also, for the most part, the HIIT exercises were more strength-based exercises meant to burn out your muscles than they were cardio-based. So I did not feel my cardio improved much at all over the course of the 8 weeks. 

For equipment, you need a weight bench (and, depending on the height of your bench and ceilings, a step platform) and a pretty vast selection of free weights. You can use adjustable weights, but as I said, the transition time between exercises is almost non-existent, so it would be very hard to keep up if you are just using adjustable weights. And, the tracking sheets are god-awful. They took the Lift 4 tracking sheets and made them even worse (which I did not think was possible). The exercises you are doing on a given day are not grouped together, and you often have to go between two sheets of paper to write down what weight you used for a particular set. And, I refer back to the lack of transition time. And you do not get all that much time between blocks, so it is not like you can use that time to do it because you have to get your next group of weights ready.

Ultimately, it is a good program, but it is very hard, and some things about it are very frustrating. It is absolutely NOT a program that I would recommend for those who are beginners to lifting. I think you need to be intermediate to advanced to be able to do it well and keep up with the video. I am glad I tried it, but it is honesly not a program that I would go back to multiple times.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 55

On day 55, I did the stretching routine from Lift 4. It went fine, no big improvement from last week that I can really report, however. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 54

Day 54 was the final day of Lift More, which was arms. It was a LIFT/HIIT workout with four blocks of superset, each one alternating between one of the biceps exercises and one of the triceps exercises. Then, you do HIIT, which brings back a "favorite" from Lift 4, triple-bear.  And, of course, you end with core and stretching. The workout was definitely tough, and I did drop-set on a few exercises. I did not try to raise the weight on any exercises, because I had pretty much been at the max that I could lift for each one last week. Monday, I start P90X for the first time in a long time.

Book Review: Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

 

The Diary of a Young Girl is a reprint of a diary kept by Holocaust victim Anne Frank. It was first published by her father, Otto, in 1952 and has been reprinted several times since. It chronicles much of the approximately two-year period between June of 1942 and August of 1944, when Anne was 13-15 years old and was in hiding in the attic of the building in Amsterdam (which is often referred to as the Secret Annex) with seven other people during the German occupation of the Netherlands. 

There are several versions of the book. The version that I have includes a foreword by Eleanor Roosevelt and is just over 240 pages long. My version also includes a 64-page supplement in the middle that provides background information and elaborates on details Frank wrote about in the diary. The book is very chilling to read, because it can go from the kinds of things you would expect to read in the diary of a teenage girl, such as teenage angst about disagreements and arguments with her parents and sister, her crush on the boy who was a couple of years older than her, whose family was also hiding in the attic, etc., to her detailing the dread and panic the occupants felt about being discovered, especially when they would hear noises from the other parts of the building, especially during the hours when it was supposed to be empty. She details a couple of instances in which the building was burglarized, and police investigated, which could have revealed the entrance to the annex where they were hiding. She also provides updates on the war and the anticipation that Amsterdam would soon be liberated by the Allies. She also wrote about her hopes and plans for her future, which ultimately would never materialize as the group was discovered in August of 1944 and was among the last group of victims sent to the concentration camps out of Amsterdam. Of the eight people hiding in the annex, only Anne's father would survive.

Ultimately, this is a book that everyone should read. For many reasons, it is as relevant in 2026 (as of this writing) as it was when it was originally published. It serves not only as a history lesson but as a warning if history is not learned from. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 53

Day 53 is the second leg day of the week, and the final one for the program. This is a LIFT-only workout, so you have three blocks of triple sets and a burnout block that uses the resistance loops. I maintained the same weight for each exercise, except the calf raises, which I only dropped to 35 lbs since they were paired with front-loaded narrow squats, which I cannot do with 45 lbs, which is the weight I have been doing calf raises at. And, of course, you finish with core and stretching. The core does require you to be in plank, but thankfully, it is the sways, which are not as bad as some of the other plank-based core (and cardio) exercises. Next week, I am going back to my OG beachbody workout, P90X. I made a goal to do it again when I was at or below 200 lbs, which I finally am. I am hoping I can get down to 185 by the time I am finished with P90X. We will see how that works out.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 52

Day 52 was shoulders. It followed the LIFT/HIIT format. I did need to drop-set on a few exercises, but was mostly able to use the same weight from last week. The HIIT exercises were more cardio-based as they tend to be on shoulder days, and the core component was actually not bad. Overall, a good workout. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 51

Day 51 was chest and back, which was a LIFT workout (meaning three blocks of triple sets and a burnout block). It was another difficult one, but I went into it lowering some of the weight at the start, so it was easier. I still had to drop-set on a couple of the exercises, but not as many. And, of course, you finish with core and stretching. The core was not horrible, but not easy. 

Blu Ray/TV Series Review: Frasier: Season 2

 

The 24-episode second season of Frasier aired during the 1994/1995 TV season. All of the main cast members returned for season two. The series also brought in several recognizable guest cast members, including Shannon Tweed, Tea Leoni, Nathan Lane, John C. McGinley, and Diedrich Bader. The series also continued to tie to its parent series, Cheers, with Bebe Neuwirth reprising her role as Lillith, Shelly Long making a blink-and-you'll-miss it cameo appearance, and Ted Danson reprising his role as Sam Malone. The guest callers this season included James Spader, Lilly Tomlin, Amy Madigan, Alfre Woodard, Art Garfunkel, Kevin Bacon, Macaulay Culkin, Carly Simon, Rosie Perez, and Mary Steenburgen. The series remains a story-of-the-week procedural, although some events from prior episodes are referenced in later episodes. 

The blu-ray set is a three-disc set that (as of this writing) is only included in the complete series release. The A/V quality is very good, and the episodes were remastered very well. Extras include a commentary track on one episode by series creators Peter Casey and David Lee, featurettes on Roz, Maris, and Eddie, and a short making-of featurette featuring interviews with cast members and the showrunners, filmed toward the end of the series' run. The episodes can be played with English captions and played in a play-all mode. The commentary track can only be accessed from the episode-specific page. 

The series remains a well-written and well-acted sitcom. David Hyde Pierce was the standout this season, really fleshing out the character of Niles. The writing is generally very good, although some of the jokes are dated now and would be reworked or omitted if the show were made today. The writers did a great job retconning Frasier's backstory from Cheers in the episode in which Ted Danson appeared, explaining why Frasier never mentioned having a brother and said his father was a research scientist who had died. And, there were some good jokes about the characters Paul and Cliff from Cheers. Ultimately, if you liked the first season, this one is absolutely worth watching.

Book Review: The World of Ice and Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones

 

The World of Ice and Fire was written by George R.R. Martin and published in 2014. It essentially summarizes the backstory for Game of Thrones (some of which has now been adapted into live-action through series such as House of the Dragon and Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) and is further fleshed out in the novel, Fire and Blood. A little under half of the book is devoted to the various Targaryen rulers. Then the events of Robert Baratheon's rebellion are discussed, and the remainder of the book explores the various Kingdoms that make up the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.  So, it basically stops sometime before the original TV series (and the Song of Ice and Fire books pick up). 

The hardcover version of the book is about 320 pages long. It is a very large and very heavy book. While it has many wonderful illustrations, it also has a lot of text. It is not a coffee-table book in which pictures make up a large percentage; it is basically an illustrated novel. It is not the easiest read, as there are a lot of characters, and it is hard to keep them all straight, especially when he is discussing the Targaryens, because they all have similar-sounding or identical first names. Martin does not foreshadow the ending of the Ice and Fire series when/if he ever finishes it (which is looking more and more unlikely as time goes by). For example, there is no hint at Jon Snow's lineage. Which, regardless of what he changes from the ending the TV series writers came up with, will probably not change. One thing that would have been better is a more detailed backstory on the White Walkers. The book mentions them multiple times, almost in passing, but we do not get their actual history.  Ultimately, if you are a fan of the Song of Ice and Fire books and/or the live-action adaptations, this is definitely worth reading.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 50

Day 50 was the start of week 8, which was again legs, and it again sucked. This week, the first leg workout is a LIFT/HIIT workout, so you do four blocks of supersets, followed by HIIT (alternating two exercises, one of which is completely new and requires a lot of coordination), and core. I did not try to increase the amount of weight I used from last week, since I was drop-setting nearly every exercise last week. The HIIT was leg-focused, so it was very difficult to do, even modifying, and the core had planks, which by the end of this workout were just cruel.  

Product Review: Hometopia Outdoor Faucet Covers

 

This is a two-pack of outdoor faucet covers, which is something that, if you are a homeowner in an area that has a harsh winter climate, is essential. I have one on the spigot on the front of my house and use the other to cover the end of a cord that connects to the battery pack for my robotic lawnmower. The battery pack itself can come inside, but the cord to the antenna stays attached to it, so I put one of these on the end to keep snow from damaging the connection end. They are very thick, and the strap to hold them closed has a velcro end to keep it secure. They keep moisture out and seem to protect extremely well. I absolutely recommend these.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 49

Day 49 was the Lift 4 roll and recover routine. My legs definitely had some knots, so it felt good to work them out.  

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 48

On day 48, I did the Lift 4 stretching routine. No big change from when I did it last week. I was also going up and down the stairs a lot today, so I got more activity in than I normally would on an off day.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 47

Day 47 was arms, and it was the LIFT format consisting of three triple sets and a burnout. The workout was challenging, and I did have to drop-set some of the exercises, but I was able to start with heavier weight on all but one of the exercises. I decided against using heavier weights for skull crushers because I was already fatigued by the time those came up, and I did not want to risk dropping the dumbbells on my head. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 46

Day 46 was the second leg workout of the week. It was not as bad as Monday's workout, but it was still a very challenging workout. This one followed the LIFT/HIIT format, and the HIIT was very tough. I was able to get at least one set of each exercise in at the higher weight, but had to drop-set some of them, even calves, which I have not had to drop-set at all so far. And, of course, you finish with core and stretching.  

Book Review: Star Wars: A Valiant Vow

 

A Valiant Vow, published in 2025, is a junior novel set during Phase III of the High Republic novels. It was written by Justina Ireland. It is set around the final battle between the Jedi/Republic and the Nihil. It is actually the second-to-last Phase III novel, leading up to the final adult book, Trials of the Jedi. In it, a group of Padawans and Younglings join Imri Cantaros, who is working to help people on the planet Archio, when the Nihil's Stormwall comes down. The Jedi have to deal with the Blight and Nihil scav droids, which begin attacking everything once the Stormwall is deactivated. Churro the Hutt, who was introduced in an earlier junior novel, is also heavily featured in this book. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 260 pages, but it has some illustrations that reduce the substantive page count a bit. It read pretty quickly, and can easily be finished in a day or two. Ultimately, it is an okay side story, but not one I would classify as a must-read. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 45

Day 45 was shoulders. This week, it is a LIFT format, so there are three blocks of triple sets and a burnout block. I was able to increase the amount of weight I used for some of the exercises, but I was drop setting a lot, especially in the third block. The burnout was not horrible, and thankfully, the core component did not include any planks. 

Book Review: Edge of Honor (Scot Harvath Series #24)

 

Edge of Honor, published in 2025, is the 24th book in the long-running series of action thrillers centered around the character of Scot Harvath by author Brad Thor. Unlike most of the other novels in the series, the events in this book are set in the United States. In it, Harvath and his wife, Solvi, are thrust into the middle of what appears to be a terrorist attack near the Norwegian embassy, but it is quickly determined to be more than meets the eye. A series of interconnected attacks reveals a political conspiracy involving government officials that threatens to bring down the new President.

The hardcover version of the book is just over 320 pages. The style and tone are the same as the other novels in the series, so it will read as quickly or as slowly as those do (assuming you have read some or all of the prior books). The storyline in this book is mostly self-contained, so you can follow what is going on even if you haven't read the prior novels. However, it does help to have read the earlier books because by this point, the author does not rehash the backstories of the main characters; he just assumes readers know who everyone is. Ultimately, if you have enjoyed the prior books in the series or just enjoy the action-thriller/spy novel genre, this is worth reading.  

Product Review: Niffgaff Home Gym Storage Rack Organizer

 

This is a small rack that can be screwed into a wall that can hold lightweight fitness equipment like loops, bands, belts, jump ropes, or the like. It comes with multiple screws: one set for wood and another for drywall (along with anchors). It is very sturdy once it is mounted. The space between the extensions is not very wide, so you would not be able to put anything like a barbell or small dumbbells in it (and it is not sturdy enough to hold anything that heavy anyway). It is small, so if you have a lot of things you want to hang, you may want to get a couple of these or look for a larger one. Ultimately, however, if you have resistance bands or loops that you want to get up off the floor or don't want to hang on some other piece of equipment (or over a doorway), this is a good, inexpensive option.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 44

Day 44 was chest and back, and quite frankly, it sucked. It is a LIFT HIIT format this week, and I was flipping off the screen multiple times. I had to drop set most of the exercises, because this one stacks exercises targeting the same muscle group in each block. Blocks 1 and 3 has two back exercises and blocks  2 and 4 has two chest exercises. So, basically 24 reps working the same muscle with no rest. Then, both HIIT exercises require you to be in plank. So, yeah, it was horrible. But, I made it through (although I was totally slacking during HIIT). 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 43

Day 43 was the start of week 7, which meant the first of two leg workouts. This one was a LIFT workout, so you do triple sets with a burnout block at the end. It was brutal, but I was able to increase the amount of weight for each exercise.  

Product Review: Lauren Harold Workout Equipment Storage Stand

 

If you work out at home, chances are you have quite a bit of exercise equipment taking over your workout space. This is a very good stand that can help keep your workout area organized and clear. It is tall, with four sections: a top shelf that can hold things like yoga blocks, a back that can hold hooks that can hold small items like handles for workout bands, rubber or fabric loops, or the like, two dumbbell racks, and a bottom basket that can hold things like kettle bells, medicine balls, small weight plates, etc. It also has a basket that hangs on the side to hold things like foam rollers or rolled-up yoga mats, and a bar where you can hang bands or a towel. You can either put wheels or feet on the bottom. The wheels lock, so I think it makes more sense to put them on so you can move it more easily, if necessary.

It comes in pieces and has to be assembled. All of the parts are clearly labeled, and the instructions are easy to follow. It comes with an Allen Wrench/Screwdriver combination tool, but it will go much quicker (especially if you are assembling it without help) to use an electric screwdriver or drill. One person can assemble it (I was able to put it together in about an hour), but you will have to move it and reposition it quite a bit. So, if you have another person available to help assemble it, it will go much faster. There were a couple of issues that dropped this down a star for me. First, the screws that are supposed to secure the bar that connects the two sides of the side basket are not big enough to actually secure the bar. They screw into the bar itself tightly, but do not actually secure the bar to the side pieces, so you can just lift the bar off the sides even with the screws in place. It does not seem like this was a matter of a single bad screw, because I tried all three screws (you get one extra of each screw and bolt), and each had the same problem. It still works, but it is definitely a flaw. Second, some of the parts were very difficult to line up with the screw holes, and I had to use a hammer to get them in place, which made putting it together harder than it should have been. Ultimately, however, if you are looking for a relatively inexpensive storage option for workout equipment, this is a good option.