Circle the Wagons

Buzzards gotta eat same as worms.

Sure pays to have an edge.

- Josey Wales

Reflecting

In the cowboy era wild west, when settler caravans were attacked by Indians, they’d circle up the wagons to better protect each other.  This added safety for anyone inside, but doom to anyone left out.  Circle your wagons tight.  It is easy to get ineffectively overwhelmed ruminating on the problems of the world, >99% of which are completely beyond your control.  But there’s lots that you can do about your family, work, and fitness and those things make the world better.  Protect your home life, business, and health.  Detach from the rest, at least enough to avoid exhaustion from anything that you can’t fix. Once it is too late to do something about it, let things be. As Josey Wales said,  

Training

There are no shortcuts.

Everything is reps, reps, reps.

- Arnold Schwarzenegger

What can I do with only one working knee?  I’ve triaged my priorities from least to most plausible while I recover in this order: mountaineering, jiu jitsu/MMA, trail running, CrossFit, weightlifting.  I got back in the gym with a trainer yesterday and it felt terrific to pick up something heavy.  This, for now, is my priority (I’m supposed to be on crutches and meet with the surgeon Friday for next steps).  If I need the surgery, as appears highly likely, I’ll need stuff even short of weightlifting I can do while I heal.  One plan is to focus on strongman tricks such as nail bending and playing card ripping. 

Had my follow up post-eye surgery and the surgeon said that the eyes completely healed and I now have at lest 20:15 vision (had no problems at that size font and didn’t test beyond it).  That procedure was a total success.  It will be a major benefit to all fitness efforts to not need glasses. 

Fueling

Breakfast: eggs, smoked salmon and a steak.  Steak is an underrated breakfast food. 

Supplementing

Trying Beta Ecdysterone and Turkesterone; I’m generally skeptical of any over the counter supplement offering anabolic benefits, but these are two of the most plausible.  Results TBD. 

Measuring

Bone mineral density atrophies with age.

H/t P.D. Mangan

Prioritize protein, lift weights, and get free vitamin D from sunlight to slow down this decay.  Low bone density makes fractures far worse; in the case of hip fractures, they are essentially fatal at old age.  Life expectancy for elderly hip fracture patients is measured in months.

Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body is an excellent practical book on body recomposition.  If you haven’t read it yet, you should.

Recovering

Oars + Alps is one of my favorite lines of men’s grooming products.  I particularly like their Muscle Recovery Balm and body powder.

Closing

You can always take one with you.

- Winston Churchill

I’ve been thinking about the Bielski brothers this week; if you’re not familiar with them, it is worth reading Defiance then seeing the movie.  It drives home the point that is as true today as it was in World War II – you can choose to be in danger, to hide, or to be ready to fight.  And prepared to fight requires competency with firearms.  Make sure you follow all of the rules in your jurisdiction.  Friends in Israel have recently been asking about options for their self-defense.  I am not an expert in their local laws, but would start with getting a firearms license.  The ammunition purchase limit is 100 rounds per person.  I go through thousands of rounds when I’m firearms training so this is an absurd cap, but worth knowing and abiding by. 

Which firearm to get?  I like the Israeli made Jericho 941.  However, my first choice would be a Glock.  It is common within the IDF so parts and repair would be easy to come by.  Which Glock?  I apply the following filters: 1) compact.  This is easier to conceal than the standard, but is easier to place follow up shots than the subcompact.  The subcompact isn’t that much more concealable and has more kick.  That makes it less fun to shoot, so one practices less with it.  2) Slimline.  This is more comfortable to carry.  I like it strong side inside the belt (also incentive to stay lean – I can fit it comfortably in 32” jeans, especially pants with a bit of elasticity, so works best about 2” more than your standard pants).  It is also more controllable for most women and anyone with small hands.  3) MOS Compatible.  I grew up on iron sights but red dot is more accurate.  Get a sidearm compatible with them.  And 4) 9x19mm.  This is an affordable and capable caliber that is most standard within the IDF.  The winner: the Glock G48 MOS.  Get one.  If you’re married, get two.  Standardization and simplification within a family avoids confusion and problems if anyone needs to use someone else’s weapon.

Sidearms are compromises.  They can be carried concealed so they can be a good compromise, but they are not as accurate as long guns with their more points of contact and longer sight radius.  If you can get one legally, the simplest and easiest long gun for home is a pistol caliber carbine AR-9 compatible with Glock magazines.  Quiet, little recoil, light, these weapons are easy to manage with a basic level of competence.  I would also consider owning a IWI Tavor.  5.56 rounds are more capable and relatively affordable and accessible since they are standard for the IDF.  It is more expensive, louder and heavier but still has very little kick. 

But whatever you buy, what matters is training. Owning a gun is like owning a dumbbell; a good first step but useless until you use it consistently.  As was the case in the wild west, a quick draw can be the difference between life and death.  So train with it how you carry it.  Make sure you’re comfortable clearing away the clothes in the way, drawing, and getting it facing the threat.  Have it aimed from your waist, bringing it up to eye level with it pointing down range as you raise it.  Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.