Boot Musings

Boot Musings

QIC: Tonka

Date: 07.19.2025

PAX: Ziggy Stardust, Adobe, Zima, Ziffel, Drip, Sparky (Double Down), Van Gogh (SuperMax), Hawkeye (Supermax)

YHC has been inseparable from the boot for the last serval months. However, this week the “boots have come off”. YHC has been posting in tennis shoes and the PAX around DashPAX land have been noticing and giving their T-claps. It’s brought a bit of dissonance for YHC. I might be suffering from separation anxiety, or possibly a bit of a light identity crisis. Who am I if not “The Man in the Boot”? Is there life after boot? Will the PAX accept a bootless me? These questions and more floated in YHC’s head this week as my tethered attachment to my physical and emotional support medical device waned. I needed an outlet to “work out” this imminent departure from the life I have come to know so well. Thus, BOOT’s the word and a beatdown was crafted. This is how it went down.

YHC arrives at 0700. On. The. Dot.

Swig some water. Grab the weinke. Reach for the boot in the back seat.

“Nay, old friend. I will not be donning your illustrious armor this day. You are needed for other purposes.”

A strong set of PAX are assembled and the boot under YHC’s arm is the center of attention as we arrive. Planning “Boot Burning” parties and postulating if I had brought my “safety blanket” for my Q are tossed out as reasonings for my crustacean companion. Little beknown to the PAX, BOOT will be a word that will live on in their nightmares the coming week.

WRM

IST

Arm Swirly Things FWD

Overhead Clap

Arm Swirly Things BWD

AV

Whirlies

UWD

DWD

THANG

Speed walk/Mosey to the blocks. Get your tool and head to the pullup bars.

The weinke is placed on the boot like a canvas on an easel. The masterpiece is as follows:

The PAX execute each of the four exercises listed at the called rep count for that round. 5 total rounds of ascending and descending reps: 5, 10, 15, 10 , 5.

LADDER 1

BLOCKIES

ON YOUR 6 AMERICAN HAMMERS

OVERHEAD PULLUPS

TOE TAPS (Shout out to Draftee for this miserable activity)

LADDER 2

BENT ROWS

ON YOUR BUTT THRUSTERS (deep squat to the ground thruster)

O‘S ALTERNATING DIRECTION DC

TIRE FLIPS

No time for a 3rd ladder. Put the blocks up and speed walk/mosey back to launch for a minute man mary.

MARY

Low Flutters until…

TIME

COT

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Nelly hosted a party Sat (7/19) pm for PAX, friends and family. Unfortunately, I’m a day late getting this out, but sounded like a blast with live music, beverages and games. Nelly might be in the running for a future 2nd F Q.
• Adobe Iron Throne Q Monday (7/21)
• Rachel Ray VQ at VI Monday (7/21)
• Tonka Rural Assault Q Friday (7/25)

PRAYERS

• VG and family as they mourn the loss of his mother in law
• The VIG and family as they mourn the loss of his father
• Traveling PAX
• Injured and healing PAX

NMM

This workout was brutal. Sweat flowed like water. Tire dust and dirt covered everyone head to toe. Signs of a good time.

YHC noticed that the letter O is a much underserved member of the alphabet in our exicon and YHC’s knowledge of exercises, as the reader can tell from the “creative” o-words used. More than once, YHC thought to abandon his boot theme and find a new acronym, but sometimes one must soldier on and steel himself against the cracks of the PAX when they read, “ON YOUR SIX AM HAM”. The pain of the workout tempered their witty comments in the end.

Sparky took off right after the big reveal of the “masterpiece”. I am sure that was the exact moment he needed to leave and there were no other developments motivating his decision.

The other PAX present voiced their sudden disillusionment, “Wait, we can just leave anytime?” YHC provided some clarity, “You can leave anytime, but you can’t choose how you’re represented in the backblast.” No one mentioned leaving again.

Drip praised the Q for his eco friendly recycling of the weinke from his Flatline Q earlier in the week. YHC offered to the group the option of repeating that beatdown as an alternative. No takers.

Zima wastes no time getting to the blocks and starts setting out coupons for the whole team. This kindness and extra work did not go unnoticed.

Ziffel was very confused about the reasoning for the boot posted like a monument in the middle of our beatdown. YHC offered to let him wear it, but he declined. He rightly stated that he had worn enough “machines” during his recovery from his knee injury. Respect for conquering that long road, my friend.

Ziggy and Drip clearly displayed the wisdom of the F3 Respect Guild as they partnered up and performed the tire flips team lift style. Easy work in half the time. Respect.

In contrast, Zima and Ziffel did not get along on their tire partner work and Ziffel complained repeatedly that Zima was not letting him “have his turn”. The Q had to use his best grown up voice and remind the boys to play nicely, sharing is caring, and they should try to be more like the well behaved Ziggy and Drip duo. They do not pay me enough to do this job.

Adobe led a popup revival for the PAX, praying for the Q’s speedy recovery so that YHC can “start running again” and stop with these stationary pain station Qs. Amen to that, brother.

Ziggy Stardust and YHC wrapped up the morning with Coffeeteria at Panera where a wide range of subjects were covered from philosophy to martial arts to the various idiosyncrasies of groundhogs. Always a pleasure, my friend.

Subfloor, the keys are with the boot at the bottom of the duck pond.

Thanks for the opportunity to lead. It was a pleasure.

Tonka