Days 8, 9 & 10--and a reunion

The rest of day 8 went well; the weather was warmer than it has been, and I managed to do everything--including the meditation--in the park. Here are a couple of the work-out stations where I normally camp out. I use the first for incline pull-ups; the second, triceps dip. Due to the slant on the bar below, I rotate sides.

As we work up to vertical, I hope to graduate up to the big leagues and start using the actual pull-up bar. More photos to follow.

I may eventually bring the meditation inside; as it gets warmer, there are going to be many more people out and about, presenting more distractions. At this point, at least, I'd prefer some quiet and calm during this time.

The diet also goes well; here is this evening's fare. Mixed greens with chopped peppers, carrots, cucumber, and zucchini, with sauteed shrimp & fresh squeezed lemon:

I do have an admission, however. I had a brief lapse on Monday.

Not the work-out; that was fine. I was once again able to get it done indoors, in my room, including jump rope.

No, the lapse was in some guacamole and, later, some hummus & veggies, during my trip to Philadelphia. But then it's not every day--or month, or even decade, really--that you get to see off a fellow PCP graduate and KFBer Jenny "The Paddle" Haddle as she heads overseas to Zambia:

And I did take a tiny, baby-sip of that high-end tequila that Jenny is hoisting, though given the octane level, I think most of it evaporated before it cleared the back of my throat.

We met at the airport, then drove down to the hotel and spent time in downtown Philly. It was great catching up to Jenny, and reminiscing about our days in Morocco as volunteers. Being in DC, I probably had more updates on our compadres then she did, though I'm glad she managed to keep in touch with a couple members of our crew. And yes, she is still in killer shape. And yes, she packed a jump-rope. Two, I believe. (Sadly, we did not pass by--or I didn't notice--any sturdy hanging bars or ledges. The pull-up showdown will have to wait until another day). What was striking was seeing how calm and collected Jenny was. Excited to be going, definitely--but somehow more at ease. Her Gonfu is still strong.

We hung out with several of the other trainees before we had to say our good-byes. Or, really, 'see-you-laters'--southern Africa is on my bucket list, and there's no better time to go than when your friends are already there with some couch (floor?) space.

I'll close out with this pic--I think it kicks ass: