Sunday, December 20, 2020

Groups No More

© by Gerald So | 4:30 AM

The title sounds like social distancing, but it refers to the shutdown of Yahoo! Groups email, more than a year after its web-based functions ceased. I was a longtime Yahoo! Groups owner-moderator, and I'm still interested in the same topics, but not interested enough to restart my groups on another service.

I had used a Yahoo! Groups email to create the Twitter account for my weekly poetry site, The Five-Two. Rather than give Twitter a new email, I've moved future Five-Two tweets to my personal account, @g_so.

Kettlebells

© by Gerald So | 4:00 AM

Intrigued by kettlebells for years, I bought my first one three weeks ago, a used, leather-covered, sand-filled, fifteen-pound Bionic Body. Complementing my nine months resistance band work, it has really improved my balance, strength, and endurance. During last week's snowstorm, I was able to do four rounds of shoveling, each followed by recovery exercise, and had minimal spasms the next day, none yesterday.

Part of my shoveling motivation was my second kettlebell, thirty-five pounds, the starting weight recommended to average men, was out for delivery from Rogue Fitness. Though I like the Bionic Body's soft properties, its heaviest model is forty pounds. Steel competition models meanwhile range higher in weight and maintain a standard shape and handle dimensions but cost about $25 more than cast iron traditional bells. I also considered a RitFit (Chinese) neoprene-covered bell, but for slightly less money, I was able to get the non-rubberized Rogue bell, part of a new Michigan-made line that goes up to 88 pounds, enough to match my progress for life. UPS delivered it by my garage, and I farmer's-walked it to my room.

On Christmas Eve, a 4-square foot, 3/8-inch thick recycled rubber mat is due to arrive to protect my workout space. I'm glad to have studied and met my fitness goals with the right kind and amount of equipment.

A Little Christmas

© by Gerald So | 3:00 AM

With COVID-19 numbers up in New York and New Jersey, my extended family has no plans to gather for Christmas. That will be odd, but I'm sure we'd all prefer to see each other when it's safer. The vaccines will get to us eventually and numbers should dip as warmer weather lets people distance again.

Looking back on the year, to still be here with my family and friends is the best gift to have received.