No Swim Lessons this Year

But there's no sense not enjoying a day's swim last Saturday at one of our favorite water holes.

After some messy handyman work on fixing PVC door jambs and readjusting kitchen cabinet concealed hinges, the swim was a very much welcomed treat for me. This is especially amidst the sizzling heat of summer.

Relayouting the TV and Computer in the Family Room

After plenty of observation and thinking, I finally relayouted the computer table and TV in the family hall. Presently, there are only a couple of major activities happening in the family hall: TV viewing and computer usage.

Computer usage for the kids mean mostly homework and research during school and computer games and social media during vacation.

For me, personally, I still consider this little nook in the family hall as the home office even with this crappy little computer table. Yes, we still share. Afterall, when the kids are in school during the day, I can use the computer for my work.

Originally, the backs of the computer table and the TV were against the wall. So that means the computer user and TV viewers were facing the window. Here is the old layout with the kids milling around the computer table.

Block Rosary 2010

Last week, the Fatima statue was brought over to our house in the tradition of the Block Rosary. Brought together with the statue were 2 pairs of candle holders, a pair of vases with fresh flowers, a laminated photo of St. Peregrine, and a basket containing prayer sheets and rosaries.

It's been a long while since we had a Fatima statue brought to our home. I'll bet little Renz was too young to remember that. The last time was in March 2007 when we were still at the old house. Actually, I'm not sure if this is the same statue in 2007.

Hula Hoop for Exercise

Last weekend, the kids were with Tita Gay at Divisoria for some bargain-shopping and one of the things Tita Gay got was a discount hula hoop (sometimes spelled "hoola hoop").

Although they had some hula hoop toys before, I don't think any of the kids could really sustain the looping of the hoop at the waist. I know I can't. I've tried the hula hoop and generally quit after only three tries.

And no, I no longer try to learn hula hooping. But I'm always impressed with those (mostly kids) who could get the hoop turning seemingly at will. It's like they could go on forever.

Well, here's DH getting the hula hoop going. That's Renz cheering her on.


How to Build Homemade Squat Stands - Part 4

(This is the continuation of Part 3)

In a previous post of this article series, I mentioned choosing the appropriate lumber for this particular DIY project that will be able to withstand the heavy barbell in your exercises.


This post will discuss some of the other considerations you may need to keep in mind when building homemade fitness equipment out of wood. These are general carpentry-related tasks that can be applied to most wood projects.

How to Build Homemade Squat Stands - Part 3

(This is the continuation of Part 2)

As mentioned in a previous post, the Middle Catch of the squat stand is useful for exercises like Bench Presses and Barbell Curls. The Bottom Catch, on the other hand, is useful for exercises like the Upright Rows and Lying Tricep Extensions (French Presses and Skullcrushers).

How to Build Homemade Squat Stands - Part 2

(This is the continuation of Part 1)

In a previous entry, I briefly discussed what I considered were important in building my homemade squat stands. Shown below is one of the stands.

In this, and in the next article, I'll discuss how the squat stand is assembled and joined together - from top to bottom. Naturally, you'd be building two of these squat stands.

How to Build Homemade Squat Stands

Squat stands (or squat racks as others call them) are a necessary equipment for serious weight trainers. The squat stands allow the lifter to take the barbell on his shoulders from an almost standing position.

This is the safest way to position the barbell on your shoulder if you're doing a set of squats. Squats recruit some of the biggest muscles (lower back, quads and hamstrings) of the body and so will allow you to lift heavy weights.

Recognition Rites 2010

This year, three of the kids received recognition in their respective schools.

Renz received two awards in Grade 2. First Honorable mention in Academics and First Honorable Mention in Computer.

Easter Egg Hunt 2010

By this time, I suppose the kids (well, the bigger ones) have the idea that the Holy Week somehow starts with Palm Sunday and ends on the Easter Sunday.

Growing up, it actually took me a while to realize that! There was even a time when I thought Ash Wednesday was in the middle of the Holy Week!


But did you know there's a link between Palm Sunday and Ash Wednesday? This year's leftover palm fronds will be kept and burned next year. The ash from the burning will be used for next year's Ash Wednesday.

My Weight Training - A Brief History

A few decades ago, I had an interest on exercise equipment.

I wasn't an athlete. Neither was I the sports-minded fellow who took up ball sports (basketball and volleyball) as easily as my peers. About the only ball game that I liked to do back then was football.

And no, I'm not referring to the football where Americans don full battle gear just to play. I refer to the most popular spectator sport worldwide where the ball is passed by using the foot.

Football seemed relatively easy to me because you supposedly just ran around and kicked a ball.

My uncle who is a doctor kept reminding me about exercise so I knew the importance of keeping fit and strong. That's why I became interested with fitness equipment.

Crucifixion in Pampanga

At least that's what the picture below looks like. This was taken when I had my one-week vacation which stretched to two weeks because of foot accident.

That's Danny the Puppy being inspected for some insects that have been crawling on his skin. They're not ticks which simply latch on to the skin. I don't know what they are but they are fast crawlers (faster than ants) and don't jump.