Workout Update: Lift More: Day 35

On day 35, I did the roll and recover routine from Lift 4. I was not as active today as I was yesterday, but I was putting books away and moving them from room to room. So again, even though it was an off day, I was active.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 34

On day 34, I just did the Lift 4 stretching routine. I was pretty active today unpacking and organizing books, breaking down boxes, etc. So, even though it was a rest day, I did get in a bit of a workout.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 33

Day 33 was the final day of week 5, which was arms; biceps and triceps specifically. It was a brutal workout. It consisted of three blocks of triple sets, which were not horrible, but then you had a burnout block. If the burnout had been a single set, it would not have been horrible. However, in the burnout, you do 45 seconds of triceps dips, 45 seconds of bicep curls, and 45 seconds of triceps push-ups with no break between them (you only get as much time as it takes to stop one exercise and start the next). I was spent by the end of the first set of the burnout. By the second and third, I was just holding the top of the dip position and doing micro push-ups on my knees. The core portion was tough to. So basically, by the time you finish, even doing the cooldown is hard. 

Book Review: Marilyn: The Ultimate Look at the Legend

 

Marilyn: The Ultimate Look at the Legend is a book by James Haspiel and published in 1991. It is a cross between a coffee-table book and a biography about Marilyn Monroe. Haspiel was a fan of Monroe living in New York, who ultimately became friends with her during the last eight years of her life, from 1954 to 1962. He was among a group of teenage fans who basically followed Monroe everywhere she went when she was in New York, taking pictures of and interacting with her. She befriended many of them, including Haspiel. The book contains several pictures (many of which had never been seen before the book was published) of Monroe, as well as letters she wrote to Haspiel and memorabilia she signed for him. The first half of the book contains more pictures than text, and the latter half contains more text. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 200 pages long, but because there are so many pictures, it reads very quickly. It is interesting to learn just how close fans could get to the most famous actress in the world at the time, and the fact that the authorities basically allowed them to camp outside her hotels and apartment complex. Haspiel even tells a story about punching a cop who tried to get him to stop loitering. You definitely get the idea that Haspiel, while he may not have been in the closest part of Monroe's inner circle, was very close to her and probably spent more time with her than any fan of any movie star has ever had the opportunity to since then. He did not seem close enough to her to know exactly how many pills she was alleged to have been taking, or see some of the erratic behavior that she was exhibiting toward the end of her life. Either that or just did not feel like including those details. He does mention, however, that Marilyn looked haggard the last few times he saw her. The final chapters discuss her death, and Haspiel absolutely does not believe that Monroe committed suicide. He absolutely believes she was killed, and while he does not name who he believes murdered her, it is clear from the context in the chapter in which he discusses her death who he believes did it. Ultimately, it is a very interesting book with several good pictures. It is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of Monroe's. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 32

Day 32 is the second leg workout of the week. Basically, you do all of the exercises that you did not do on Monday, so it is another "full" leg workout that works hamstrings, quads, glutes, and calves. I was able to go heavier, and because the exercises were split, I could perform the ones that required using 35 or 40 lbs with the SelectTech dumbbells without an issue, where I would need two 35 lb bells and then one 40 lb bell. It would be impossible to change the weight within the limited time between exercises without falling behind if you had to do that. This is a LIFT/HIIT workout, so after you kill your legs off, you have to do HIIT. The first move is in a high plank, doing knee tucks, and then four plank jacks. Then you do square squat taps.  At least you get to lay down on the bench for core, so there is that. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 31

Day 31 of Lift More is shoulders, and it is brutal. It is a LIFT style workout, but you are doing three blocks of triple sets and a burnout block. You do every exercise on the tracking sheet, with no rest between the exercises, or really between the sets or blocks. You get barely enough time to transition. Then, the burnout is three exercises for 45 seconds with no rest between them. And, of course, you finish with core (which is the "easiest" part of this workout) and a cooldown. This is a workout in which you should not try to increase the weight you are using. Even if you stay with the same weight you have used for the past couple of weeks, chances are you will need to drop-set one or more of the exercises. Even Joel was using 5 lb dumbbells for a couple of exercises at the end. This is probably the most challenging workout of the program so far.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 30

Day 30 marks the second day of week 5 in Lift More. Today was chest and back, again alternating the sequencing of the workouts. This one followed the LIFT/HIIT format, containing 4 blocks of two exercises. In each block, you do one back exercise and one chest exercise. And the goal is to increase the amount of weight you are using. I was able to increase the amount of weight I used for each exercise, but in the fourth block I had to drop set both the incline chest flys and back flys. The HIIT was tough today. You alternate 2x2 mountain climbers and four high knees (moving laterally) followed by four butt kicks. Of course, you finish with core and stretching to cooldown. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bewitched: Season 3

 

The 33-episode third season of Bewitched aired during the 1966/1967 TV season. It was the first season to be broadcast in color and the first season with significant cast turnover, with Sandra Gould taking over the role of Gladys Kravitz after Alice Pearce passed away during season 2. As a result, the role of the Kravitzes was significantly reduced in season three, although George Tobias and Gould appeared more toward the end of the season. The series continued to be primarily a story-of-the-week procedural, but some storylines extended throughout the season. The most significant arc this season was whether and to what extent Tabitha (who was aged between seasons and played by the combination of Erin and Diane Murphy) inherited Samantha's powers. Aside from Pearce, the other casting change was Kasey Rogers taking over the role of Louise Tate. Of course, Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Agnes Moorehead, and David White all reprised their roles. Marian Lorne, Maurice Evans, and Paul Lynde all reprised their recurring roles, and Bernard Fox made his first appearance as Doctor Bombay in the season finale.

The 33 episodes are spread across three discs. As of this writing, the individual seasons are only available on DVD. The DVD set is also a three-disc set. The blu-rays are only available in bundled sets, such as the complete series set. The A/V quality is outstanding, and the episodes look wonderful in HD, especially now that they are in color. There is no bonus material on the third season discs, but they can be played with English captions. 

The series continues to be a good, but very dated, sitcom. Some of the jokes that were acceptable in the 1960s would probably not be used in a show made today, just as some jokes that can be used in today's sitcoms would not have been used when Bewitched was made. Some of the themes and jokes can be very misogynistic, but the show used the witchcraft elements as a metaphor for equal rights for women and minorities. Ultimately, if you liked the first two seasons, this one is absolutely worth watching.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 29

Day 29 was the beginning of Week 5. The format and sequence of the workouts change this week, so today was the first of two leg days. In Phase 2, you do not separate hamstrings and glutes and quads and calves, you do exercises from both workouts each day. This one was a lift workout, but instead of two blocks of quad sets, you do three blocks of triple sets. There is one new exercise in this workout, Bulgarian lunges using the bench. You have one foot on the bench and you do lunges with your back leg elevated. I began that one using 15 lb dumbbells, but had to use no weight in the third set because I was getting too off balance. For the other exercises, I mostly increased the amount of weight I used, aside from the calf raises, but that was mostly because I was using 35 lbs for deadlifts, and I can only use the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells for anything 35 lbs or higher.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 28

Day 28 was the second rest day, so I did the two recovery routines from Lift More. I did the upper-body routine followed by the lower-body routine, which I think is the best order to do them in, since the foam rolling portion of the upper-body routine also helps loosen up your hips. I again found that I had a bit more mobility and could get a little deeper into the various stretches. And, the foam rolling felt really good as I had a lot of knots in my legs.  

Book Review: Sunrise on the Reaping

 

Sunrise on the Reaping, published in 2025, is the fifth novel in the Hunger Games series (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, and the first prequel novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) by author Suzanne Collins. It is the second if you read them in chronological order. This one is set around the 50th Hunger Games, or the Second Quarter Quell, which is the games that Haymitch (who would later become Katniss' mentor) won. It is set 24 years before the events of the original novel and details how Haymitch was selected during The Reaping, the plans to undermine the games, and the lengths President Snow would go to keep order and punish those who got out of line. It also explains Haymitch's personality and actions in the later books.

The hardcover version of the book is just over 380 pages. The style, tone, and pacing of the book are similar to the others in the series, so it will be as fast or slow a read as those if you have read the others. While the story in this book is mostly a stand-alone story you can follow without reading the other books, it does help, as the author assumes readers know the history of the games and the reason they are held, and does not rehash that part of the story. Collins does a very good job of making the story interesting and suspenseful, even though, if you have read the original trilogy, you know part of the outcome going in. Chances are, most people who will read this are already fans of the series. If you are, this is absolutely worth reading. If you are into dystopian future stories, this is also worth your time, but I would highly recommend reading at least the first novel in the series (The Hunger Games) before you read this one.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 27

Day 27 was the first of the two rest days, so, as I did last week, I did the two recovery routines from Lift 4: first the stretch routine, then the roll-and-recover routine.  I did notice a slight improvement in flexibility, even on the thing where you sit with your legs stretched out and reach for your toes. I have never been good at that stretch, even when I was a kid and much more flexible than I am now. I was able to bend my back down a little without using a yoga strap, which I have not been able to do probably since about 2008 or 2009. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 26

Day 26 marks the end of week 4 of Lift More, which is the halfway point of the program and the end of Phase 1. It was the shoulder workout, which this week follows the Lift/HIIT format. I was able to start with heavier weight for each exercise, but I had to drop-set the rotating front raises on both sets two and three of that exercise. The HIIT portion was not horrible, bench skiers, and Icky Shuffle pulses. Then, of course, you finish with core and a stretching cooldown. It appears that Phase 2 changes the format of the workouts, much like the last two weeks of Lift 4 did. It will be interesting to see how that goes.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 25

Day 25 was the glutes and hamstrings workout, which was a lift-only workout. All of the exercises remained the same, and I was able to use the increased weights for each exercise. The burnout required the power loops and was the same leg-lift sequence from two weeks ago. The core portion was also the same as it was two weeks ago. The pace of the workout(s) gets easier to adjust to, but is always challenging. That is really the hardest part of the program, transitioning between exercises and not falling behind the cast.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 24

Day 24 was the back-and-triceps lift/HIIT workout. It was another challenging one, but I am getting to the point where I am used to the overall pace of the workouts and know what to expect in each one. I was able to use the increased weight for the exercises and did not have to drop-set, aside from the skull crushers. The HIIT and core portions of the workout were brutal since you had to be in planks a lot. So, it is challenging but doable.

Product Review: Brame Glass Curio Cabinet with Adjustable Shelves and Interior Lighting

 

This is a very nice-looking curio cabinet that is perfect for displaying knick-knacks, glassware, or the like. It is large (about 6.5 feet tall, 3.5 feet wide, and almost 1.5 feet deep) and heavy (just under 200 lbs). It is mostly glass framed by real wood. The front side of the back wall is mirrored glass, so it will reflect anything that is in front of it. The back side of the back wall is a particleboard-like substance, but not the flimsy stuff often used for the backing of cheaper shelves. All other walls are made of standard glass, so you can easily see anything stored in the cabinet. It has a locking door that slides left and right (it slides farther to the left than to the right), and eight glass shelves that can be spaced as desired. It has lights at the top of the cabinet interior and a power cord on the back that plugs into a standard outlet. 

It comes fully assembled (aside from the glass shelves, which are taped to the bottom to keep them secure) and will require at least two people to move. I ordered it from Wayfair, and I highly recommend choosing the full-service delivery option (especially if you live alone) so they bring it into the room you want it left in and remove all the packing material (there is a lot of it). It looked to be packed extremely well and very securely. It is a great-looking piece, perfect for a formal dining room or living room. My only complaint is that the light control is a dial on the back of the cabinet, near the top of the power cord. It would be more convenient to have a switch on the side, which is an extremely minor point. Ultimately, if you are in the market for a curio cabinet, this is an excellent option.

Book Review: Shadow of Doubt (Scot Harvath Series #23)

 

Shadow of Doubt, published in 2024, is the 23rd book in the series of action-thriller/spy novels by Brad Thor centered around the character Scot Harvath. The storyline in this one ties into the storyline of Harvath's revenge against the Russians and its fallout, which has carried over into several novels. In this one, a high-ranking Russian defector goes to Norway, where Harvath's fiancée, Solvi, becomes his handler. The CIA learns of the defection and puts pressure on Harvath to pass them information. Harvath learns that there was another Russian operative responsible for the death of his wife, and the defector is willing to provide the identity of the person, but wants something in return. There are a few side stories as well that tie into the main storyline, including a Russian conspiracy in France and the risk of nuclear weapons being used in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The hardcover version of the book is a little over 350 pages. Thor manages the storylines fairly well. My only fundamental critique is that he inconsistently jumps between them; sometimes a new chapter is a different storyline, and sometimes one storyline gets multiple chapters before switching to another. That can make things a bit hard to follow, but thankfully, the chapters are relatively short (most are five pages or less), so the storylines are not impossible to follow. The book has a good blend of action and suspense. While many of the books in the series are stand-alone and do not require reading the prior books to know what is going on, it does help to have read the novels from Spymaster onward. Ultimately, if you are a fan of action thrillers, spy novels, and/or the prior books in the series, this one is worth reading.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 23

Day 23 was the quads and calves workout. This one was a Lift workout, with two blocks of quad sets and a burnout block. The only good thing about this workout is that both core exercises were performed lying down on the bench. Everything else was brutal. Of course, there was little to no rest time, the transition time was short, and because it works the lower body, you should be lifting heavy (and using increased weight from the first couple of weeks). The burnout block uses power loops for one of the exercises (side-walking squats), and then you do step-up lunges with a heel lift. So, yeah, it is not fun, but it works. You may or may not swear and/or flip off the TV, however.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 22

Day 22 was chest and biceps, Lift/HIIT. It is another challenging workout, despite the superset format, because, as is the norm with the Lift More workouts, there is almost no rest between sets or blocks. I found myself falling behind on reps, even when drop-setting (and I had to drop-set several of the eight total weighted exercises).  Once you blast your chest, the HIIT portion has you doing that awful push-up mountain climber combination, too, so you will be tired by the end of it.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 21

 On Day 21, I did the lower-body recovery routine from Lift More. This one combines lower-body stretching and foam rolling, and the foam rolling targets some of the same parts of the legs as the Lift 4 roll and recover routine, but swaps rolling the hamstrings for rolling the inner thighs. So, they are good to do back-to-back. Next week, I may do both routines on the same day, then combine the stretching routine from Lift 4 with the upper-body recovery workout from Lift More. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 20

Day 20 was a rest day, so I did the two recovery routines from Lift 4. I did the stretch routine first, then the roll-and-recover routine. Both felt good, but I did not notice a big change in my flexibility from last week. But I definitely had some knots in my legs that felt good to work out with the foam roller. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 19

Day 19 was the shoulders workout, which was a Lift format this week, meaning two blocks of quad sets followed by a burnout block. Then, of course, finishing with core and stretching. I did increase the weight initially for all exercises, but did drop-set some of them in the second and third sets. As with all the workouts, the minimal rest, which sometimes seems non-existent, makes this workout a challenge. Even the exercises that require using very light weights are hard by the third set.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 18

Day 18 was the second leg day of the week, hamstrings and glutes LIFT/HIIT. I was able to increase the amount of weight for the weighted exercises and stick with it for each set. The HIIT was bench mountain climbers and pulsing (or jumping) step lunges. Of course, you end with core and stretching. The lifting portion was not horrible, but the lunges in the HIIT portion, even modifying them, were tough. It was a good Christmas workout, especially since I did not eat well today. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 17

Day 17 was the back and triceps workout for week 3, which was a circuit workout with a burnout at the end. The burnout was probably the easiest part of the workout, and it included three sets of 45 seconds of dips. I was able to increase the amount of weight for the weighted exercises, but I did have to drop set the single arm triceps extensions in the second and third sets. It was challenging, especially because of the limited amount of rest between sets and blocks, but good. 

Book Review: Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers

 

Secrets of the Clone Troopers, published in 2024, is a Star Wars canon book written by Marc Sumerak and illustrated by Alberto Buscicchio. It is more of a "coffee table" book than a novel. It is primarily a picture book (similar to Secrets of the Jedi, Secrets of the Sith, and the Han Solo Icons book). The text details the history of the clone troopers from Captain Rex's point of view, sometime after the Battle of Endor and the Rebels' victory over the Empire. It highlights events from the troopers' creation (mainly focusing on events occurring during the Clone Wars animated series) to their eventual decommissioning after the Empire was formed. The illustrations depict the various characters as live-action versions of themselves (Temura Morrison as the clones, Hayden Christiansen as Anakin, Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine, and Ariana Greenbatt as young Ahsoka), rather than the animated versions from the Clone Wars series.

The hardcover version of the book is short, just about 30 pages long. It has many pictures, so it is a very quick read. It has some fold-out pages and inserts that can be a bit of a pain, which is my only real criticism. If you have watched the Clone Wars and Bad Batch animated series, you know most everything in the book. Ultimately, it is the kind of book that most people, especially casual Star Wars fans, will flip through rather than read it cover to cover. It is not one of the must-read books, but if you enjoyed the Clone Wars and, to some extent, the Bad Batch animated series, it is worth checking out.