Cushioning the Dumbbell Wrist Roller

In a recent entry, I discussed the Wrist Roller exercise that gave instant relief to my tennis elbow pain. In that entry, I described how a regular spin lock dumbbell bar, some standard weight plates and inexpensive items can easily be assembled as exercise equipment to perform the wrist roller exercise.

Somebody commented that some of the spinlock dumbbell bars have threaded parts that can be too rough or too sharp for the palms. I had this same experience when I changed my old dumbbell with a longer type so I could have a medium distance grip on the bar.

Set Up the Situp Bar

The previous post discussed the considerations for a wooden weight and dumbbell rack. This post discusses in detail the Situp Bar that can be used on the rack.


How to Use the Situp Bar

The A-frame that supports the base board of the dumbbell rack shows the horizontal bar as shown below.


Notice the horizontal member in the "A". This bar is stable enough to keep your body from rocking if you perform situps on a bench. The combined weight of all the plates bearing down on rack is enough counterweight to keep you stable when doing situps.

Set Up the Weight Plate Hooks

The previous post discussed the considerations for a weight and dumbbell rack that's made from wood. This post discusses in detail the Weight Plate Hooks that hold the weight plates.

The hooks that hold the weight plates in place are heavy duty 2" long square hooks that are coated with PVC material. The hooks are actually L-shaped and have a threaded screw portion that's 1" long.

How to Build the Curling Bar Stand

The previous post discussed the considerations for a weight and dumbbell rack that's made from wood. This post discusses in detail how the Curling Bar Stand is made. This is the part of the weight and dumbbell rack that holds the EZ Curl Bar.


How to Build the Dumbbell Rack

The previous post discussed the considerations for a weight and dumbbell rack that's easily assembled with wooden parts. This post discusses in detail, how the Dumbbell Rack component of the structure is constructed.

The picture below shows the well-worn dumbbell rack with the plate-loaded dumbbells safely secured.


Build a Weights and Dumbbell Rack from Wood

When I started working out at home, the basic exercise equipment I had in mind were free weights. Free weights can be used in a wide variety of exercises for all body parts. They don't take as much space as other exercise machines that have specialized and limited use.

So I bought a couple of pairs of adjustable dumbbell bars, an EZ curl bar and an ordinary straight bar. I also started accumulating an assortment of weight plates. These aren't the Olympic weight plates but rather the standard weight plates that fit in the standard barbell and dumbbell bars.

Shown below is the weights and dumbbell rack loaded with various weight plates, an EZ-curl bar and dumbbells. Behind it are my homemade adjustable safety squat racks, collapsed for storage.


Saving on Airconditioning Energy Costs this Summer

According to PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), "Temperature in Metro Manila hit 37.5 degrees Celsius yesterday, the warmest day recorded in the metropolis since January. The sizzling temperature was recorded at 4 p.m. yesterday at the agency’s facility in Quezon City."

No wonder even my bed on the second floor of our house felt warm to the touch as I laid on it. The afternoon strong breeze that has kept our house cool has been noticeably absent for a week.

The past few nights have also been quite warm. The mosquito net solution to ward off the pesky mosquito somehow dissipates the breeze coming from the wall mounted electric fan.

First Google Adsense Check

Last Friday, I was pleasantly surprised to receive my first ever check from Google. I had the feeling that the check would arrive soon after I saw the earnings surge way past the minimum threshold amount.

I just didn't expect the check to come in about the right time, considering the reputation of the slow postal delivery in this country.

Posing in our terrace with the newly delivered Google check.


Mother's Day 2010

Mother's Day this year (May 9) was a bit different. We'd normally just stay at home or maybe eat out at a nearby mall, but for this year, we went swimming at Circle Island Resort in Molino, Bacoor, Cavite.

The campaign activities for the May 10 elections have ended and that meant no more annoying heavy traffic. And with the summer heat, we thought it was a nice time to get out and cool off.

I think the kids, especially the girls (or is that ladies, now?), were really into Mother's Day this year. The night before, after DH went to bed and dozed off, the girls all went downstairs excitedly.

I thought they were up to something but wasn't sure. I saw them preparing some ingredients and some pans and they said it was a secret. So I just left them and went to bed too.

Circle Island Resort in Molino Cavite

In the Sunday of last week (May 9), my family went off to nearby Circle Island resort. Although the resort is in Molino, Cavite, it took us only around 15 to 20 minutes to get there - and we're coming from Muntinlupa City.

This is largely thanks to the Daang Reyna and Daag Hari roads that now link San Pedro, Laguna and Muntinlupa City closer to Molino, Cavite.

Learning to Bike in Summer

Two weeks ago, we decided to revive biking lessons for my son, Renz. This was after we agreed that there will be no swim lessons this summer. The nice thing about biking in summer is there are no water puddles on the ground to contend with.

Water can make the ground slippery. Falls from the bike, which are inevitable, can become messy with the mud on a wet road.

Renz had previous attempts to learn to ride the bike last year. But these were merely "bike appreciation" sessions. Sure he rode the bike, but it was all through the aid of bicycle training wheels.