Bodybuilding and Weight Training

I had to laugh at Laree. As I climbed the ladder-like staircase to our loft above the kitchen I watched her drink what looked like a large mug of fizzing beer. It was a concoction of effervescent glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM, an ample dose of psyllium husks, plus creatine and some electrolyte granules. She held the whole mess in two hands and backed away as she brought it close to her lips. Her expression was adorable, like that of a curious and determined puppy snooping about a new-found hornet's nest. She glubbed the potion down in one long, breathless slurp, nose screwed up, eyes blinking wildly and body quivering slightly. I silently rooted for her; she came up gasping. "Good job, girl," I shouted with emotion, scared the cat half to death. Poor Mugsy.

She drew the back of her hand across her chin, narrowed her eyes and I double stepped to the safety of the loft. If needed, I would jump out the window to the deck below. From there I could disappear in the thick woods and hide like an animal.

What's happening is this. Back in February of the past century, less than ten months ago, a short lifetime, Laree and I seized the challenge and innocently put up the webpage, dd.com. Why not? It's the rage. Soon Laree found herself in the middle of Mono Lake without a paddle or compass or clue. I'm used to drifting, so I playfully splashed around and encouraged her to "keep up the good work, my little net nerd." By June we were receiving 50 emails a day asking us how to get huge, ripped and powerful... fast. You remember, perhaps.

El Blinko. A light went on. We started IronOnline, our discussion group to help us help each other. It worked. Now I'm knocking myself out in the gym to keep up my image and Laree's drinking some weird stuff and chasing me out the second story window of my own house. The truth is, we all have cranked up the engines by the shear enthusiasm and inspiration of one another; the dd.com newsletter followers and the IronOnliners, active and silent. There exists a collective life that seems to exceed each ones' individually. We are all seeking, learning, supporting, failing, regrouping and succeeding together.

Where we can't in our own backyards find interested buddies, diligent partners, knowledgeable feedback, tuned-in emotional support, generosity and kindness... in sufficience, we find it in abundance on the e-lines, alive as your own heartbeat. We all see this and we are fascinated.

No big mystery. These relationships, of course, do exist in our daily lives. Yet, online we thoughtfully present ourselves, choose one another, carefully prune our vines and are free to come and go at the touch of a key, unencumbered. The written word, since it is written, is expressive and may be pondered. No facial expressions, body language, voice inflection, fists or tears to taint or accentuate what is said. No attire, no makeup, no jewels or weapons. There is, paradoxically, a freedom in the limiting form of e-friendship.

The level of solid and useful information coming across the keyboards and screens is superlative. Tons of hardcore, open-minded experience from fit, muscled and smart champions to scholarly research from generous professionals that is true and relevant. More than that, there's the heart and soul of people who hold out their hand when a hand is needed most. We carry the banner high for our friends who quit the "smoking habit," peal away the pounds and seek muscle and might. Long may you live.

Puppies and prayers for everyone. God's Speed.

CRANK UP YOUR ENGINES WITH CAMARADERIE