iamshack

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 9, 2011 -> 03:38 PM) Your bed is going to get extremely crowded shortly. Those dogs love to cuddle. Yes they do...they are gentle giants... You're going to have to keep me posted on your Jeep, because I just left the sports car market and am headed into the SUV market come summer time...

Thanks guys...I am nervous, but I feel that I made the smarter (well, probably better put as less-stupid) choice. I think I am going with the name Blur. Sounds masculine, majestic, a bit mysterious, easily pronounceable.

Well holy crap...my mother talked me into going with the Great Dane on account of the lower activity level requirements. Had to check with my building to make certain there were no weight restrictions...and there aren't. No weight and no breed restrictions, just no more than 2 dogs. Going to have to get a bigger car eventually though. I just put a deposit down on a puppy from Somerset, Ohio. Great Dane, blue male. Currently 8 weeks. Oh my, my life is about to change drastically!

I am so utterly confused as to which to get, a German Shorthaired Pointer or the Wirehaired...I fall in love with them both, just depends on which I look at more....then I have my mother trying to convince me to get a larger, yet lazier dog, such as a Great Dane or English Mastiff, which I have more experience around.... Ahhh! I love them all and want them all!

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 9, 2011 -> 02:29 AM) My opinion with regards to lifting is that you shouldn't concentrate on certain areas but instead do whatever you can to work out your entire body. There can be certain restrictions, mainly past injuries - the military press is going to be hard if you have bad shoulders, most leg activities will be hard with bad ankles or knees, and the standard squat should be avoided if you have a bad back - but I think you should work out your entire body. Part of this is due to me doing that right now while I am trying to just get all around stronger, because I've never really worked out before, but part of it is due to health too. If you overwork your quads while not getting your hamstring enough, you will end up injuring your hamstrings more often in the future due to your quad simply being much stronger than your hamstring. I would assume the same is true for biceps and triceps too, but don't quote me on that. The workout I am currently doing is actually one that was apparently used by the Arkansas football team. It's only a 4 day workout - we have it split up so that days 1 and 2 of the workout are on Thursday and Friday with 3 and 4 being on Monday and Tuesday with Wednesday being a bit of a free day. Days 1 and 3 work out legs, triceps, and biceps, but mostly focus on legs. Days 2 and 4 are pretty much entirely just the upper torso. On our free day, we work the areas that we don't isolate specifically with these workouts, as well as other areas we feel will help us the most. It goes something like this Day 1 - Squats, Front Squat, Leg Curls, Lunges, Dumbbell Squat and Presses, Towel Triceps, Preacher Curl (and usually abs) Day 2 - Bench, Pause Bench, Dumbbell Shrugs, Seated Military Press, Lat Pull Downs, Seated Rows, Pull-Up Burnout..one other too that I can't recall. Day 3 - Cleans, Overhead Squats, Roman Deadlift, Leg Curls, Dumbbell curls, Towel Triceps..one other too (and abs) Day 4 - Incline Bench, Close Grip Bench, Dumbbell Shoulder Flies, Bent Over Rows, Dumbbell Military Press, Bar Shrugs, Reverse Grip Lat Pull Downs, Dumbbell Bench Day 5 (free day) - Calves, Groin, Hip Flexor, Forearms, Pull-Up Burnout, Abs, Back Extensions And then I do some type of cardio every other day. I've been on this workout for 3 weeks now, and I have seen my bench press go from 110 to 150 (I will plateau soon enough), I've seen my dumbbells increase anywhere from 5-10 pounds and my bar (and other machine) workouts anywhere from 15-30 pounds, and I have already added quite a bit of muscle definition. I've also been hitting it really hard because I want to get bigger, but you can do variations of these exercises at lighter weights if all you are looking to do is maintain while adding definition. There are also some of these - notably the core exercises of these, which are the bench, squats, cleans, as well as the deadlift - that having a spotter, whether to help you lift or to simply make sure you are doing it right. There are several sites that have workouts set up that people do, so I would suggest doing some independent research too to see if you can find something that suits your desires a bit better as well. Hope this helps! Well, keep in mind that most people believe that the only way for muscles to repair themselves and grow is through rest. So if you're working your entire body on a daily basis you may be doing more harm than good. It's usually very productive to work certain muscles one day, and then give them at least one or two days to recover and repair themselves.

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 7, 2011 -> 08:55 PM) By the way, don't feel too worried about leaving them alone. Eventually they get used to it and crave it. Last week we had a snow day. The dog was not pleased to see that we were around to interupt his day long nap. Hah! Leaving a dog alone for too long is my worst fear, but you're right. It's not as if it is going to spontaneously combust or something if it has to entertain itself for a while. Still doing a lot of research. Thanks for all the advice, everyone!

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 7, 2011 -> 01:35 PM) I'm strange (although it should be the exact opposite) because I don't need any artificial things to give me energy. The only reason I eat or drink anything is because I like the taste. I can wake up and get right to business. It is the exact opposite. People have conditioned their bodies to react to certain stimuli and their bodies become accustomed to it. You've just never conditioned your body to be accustomed to caffeine, and so it doesn't expect or desire any.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 7, 2011 -> 11:22 AM) What about the idiots that will circle the parking lot for 30 minutes to get a close spot instead of walking an extra 30 yards? I feel like walking up to them as if I need to ask for directions or something and punching them in the nose. God forbid they burned 10 more calories. Just as was discussed in the coffee thread, where there are people who carry around Starbucks cups to be seen with them, there are people who just go to the gym to be seen or to say they go to the gym.

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 7, 2011 -> 08:01 AM) I should probably ask a direct question: have you ever raised a dog as a puppy? I know you said your mother had dogs and I'm sure you have experience with adults, but being the primary care taker to a puppy is a different deal. I ask because I went through this with my wife when we got our puppy a year ago. I had raised a dog before and I didn't want to deal with it again. She told me she had always had dogs and took care of them as puppies and knew all of the work involved. She didn't. I basically raised the dog on my own. On the plus side, I have had very few experiences that have been more fun than having a dog to play fetch with. There's something about having an animal run freely and return to you that's kinda exhilarating. Of course, then he bites my heels and I want to punch him. I have never been solely responsible to care for a dog over the course of its entire life. This would be my first dog. However, I have been raised in an atmosphere full of dogs, since I was just a little boy...I am almost 34 now. I have cleaned up their accidents, and I am talking accidents, trust me...we're talking about dogs as big as 220 lbs in some cases here. I have come in to the room where the couch or other piece of furniture was destroyed. I have been responsible for letting them outside at all hours of the day or night. I have fed them special diets, such as raw chicken, and I am talking feeding 5 - 200 lb dogs this diet for weeks because my parents were on vacation in Ireland. I have given dogs pills, whether vitamins such as Omega 3 pills or medicines because they were ill. I have taken dogs to the vet and had to make the choice of putting them down. I honestly have about as much experience with dogs as I could possibly have without having owned one myself. But no, I have never owned one myself.

Just found a doggy day care place that has extended hours. Might be smarter just to try one at first and take him to the day care on my day shifts (about 10 a month) rather than trying to get two siblings at one time to entertain one another. It's $216 a month for 8-11 visits, and you can drop them off as early as 5 am and pick them up as late as 9 pm.

QUOTE (scenario @ Feb 7, 2011 -> 12:24 AM) I think the most important consideration is to make sure you pick a dog/breed that can handle being alone for long periods of time. There are alot of dogs that simply aren't wired for that much time alone. Indeed. For this reason, I am actually considering a large breed, which might seem counter-intuitive, but larger breeds are usually lazier and sleep more. I actually found a perfect Neo Mastiff to adopt about a year ago, he was 4 years old, well-behaved, etc. The damn shelter would not let me have him because I lived in a condo. I've lived with Mastiff's before...know how they drool, how much they eat, how big they s***, etc., and they just refused to consider that. Instead the dog probably got cremated.

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 10:45 PM) I've talked to a breeder about this as well as people who have bought 2 puppies at once. I have been told it is a mistake. It's nice that they socialize but they aren't going to be together at first. You will need to crate train them separately and provide obience to each. It is double the work. The breeder told us to wait six months before buying another. If you leave them alone together without supervision they going to cause trouble. I have also heard that they can bond closely and form a pack that doesnt really include you. But I tend to doubt that. Oh and I know all about that shelter rule about apartments and condos. We live in an aparent in farmland in upstate NY surrounded by trails, parks and lakes. But the shelters would not even talk to us. I get it but it's odd. Interesting. After I read your post, I did some googling, and realized that the majority of people seem to agree with you. It seems that getting two dogs at the same time, especially siblings from the same litter, can cause overbonding or excessive bonding. I guess I never really considered it because my parents have taken at least three sets of sibling Irish Wolfhounds in my lifetime, and they always seemed to be socialized/adjusted just fine. No problems with eachother or with other dogs. However, now that I think about it, that may be because there were always other dogs that we had as well, that were not from their litter, and were not their same age. Definitely going to have to look more into this. Seems like some people don't have a problem with getting two dogs at a time, however, they recommend that you get them from different sources. Of course, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that getting siblings can work perfectly fine, you just have to be willing to establish the singular identity and personality of each dog. Thanks for the heads up, GT.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 11:00 PM) Yuck. I would stop going. I always hated going to the gym for many of the reasons you guys are listing here. And it's just as bad, if not worse, here in Vegas, with all meatheads walking around this city. I hated it so much that it actually made me not wish to workout. Can't say enough about working out at home. If you have a decent size space, and you can spend a few hundred dollars on some dumbbells, you can honestly do anything you need to right at home. All these machines are just simply not necessary, unless you are planning on training for the Mr Olympia contest or something. Using your own body weight is even enough, if you just do pushups and pullups and situps. P90X is great for home workouts, as well as a workout which was featured in Men's Health recently, called the Spartacus workout, which was inspired by the show on Starz. I workout whenever I choose, without having to drive anywhere, wearing whatever I want, smelling like whatever I want, and knowing that I am the only one touching any of my own equipment. And there are no gym fees. Just my humble opinion.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 10:10 PM) If you get a dog you should try rescuing a puppy first. I have two rescue dogs that would have been killed otherwise. Definitely a consideration. Unfortunately, I have been incredibly put off by some of these rescue groups or shelters. Because I live in a condo, they seem to be very hesitant to allow me to take a dog off their hands, even though I know more about dogs than most of their own employees and volunteers. They simply are tired of giving dogs to people (and I am sure this happens ALL THE TIME in Vegas), to people who think they want a dog on a whim and then end up bringing it back because they didn't know the dog would bark, or that the dog would drop a deuce on their carpeting. I've said to them "So you are going to keep this dog in this 6 x 8 concrete enclosed area rather than allow me to have it?" I've had several conversations with this breeder and I can tell from her knowledge and experience that she has handled the socialization and development of these puppies very well, and that their mother and father are healthy and well-taken care of. I really like her. She is sending me more pictures tomorrow, so I am pretty excited. Might have them shipped out the weekend of the 18th if all goes well. Keep up with the advice...I really appreciate it!

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 09:51 PM) My brother and his wife got a Springer Spaniel a few years ago, and they lived in a 3 br house with a fenced in yard for her to run, and they took her out to the airfields on base(he is in the army) to run once or twice a week, as well as daily walks. They ended up giving her to a rescue for immediate home placement(she was placed in 3 weeks to a permanant home) because they felt that keeping her at their house was akin to keeping a bird in a tiny cage. She needed room to run, to blow off steam because she is a hunting dog. The dogs you are looking at are both known to be very high energy dogs, I have researched them because i also want to get one. So the question is, do you think you could keep not one, but two very high energy dogs at home by themselves and not expect some damage, as well as feeling guilty that you arent able to get them out as much as you would like? If you can envision a scenario where someone else is helping you and getting them out as much as possible, it may be easier. They are a lot of work, but such neat dogs. I actually have had this discussion with the breeder just this evening. I asked her if she thought they would become depressed or sad if they were not used for hunting. I also asked if they were capable of being comfortable in a condo setting, as I am currently living in. This was her response: Now obviously, she is a breeder and she sees an opportunity to sell me not only one, but two of her dogs. So I am taking her advice cautiously. That being the case, she is a single mother, and has raised many, many dogs. I trust that she is telling me the truth...and she did mention she would prefer to give me one of the females versus the other female she has because she believes the other should be a hunting dog. They are truly neat dogs though.

So I have been considering getting a dog for a few years now, but I work long hours and so I am just really concerned about leaving the poor little bugger alone for the whole day or night... But then my co-worker suggested that what some of the guys working our shifts have done is get two...so they can entertain each other instead of being stuck home alone. I have grown up with lots and lots of dogs my whole life. My mother is a dog freak and has had several Irish Wolfhounds at a time, along with a few different English Mastiffs. I am very knowledgeable when it comes to dogs and have a lot of experience, but I still wanted to get the opinions of people here... What do you think...will getting two siblings be much better than just getting one dog, being that I am gone for long hours at a time? The breed I am looking at is a German Shorthaired Pointer or a German Wirehaired Pointer. Thanks in advance!

QUOTE (lostfan @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 09:45 PM) ^^yes. I know it's the gym and you're not going to be able to control the fact that you don't smell too clean but I shouldn't be able to smell you from 10 feet away. Seriously wear deodorant. They make it for a reason, you should not smell like that ever. And you don't get a free pass on smelling like s***, onions, feet, and ripe p**** because you're in an intense workout. GTFOHWTBS A few years ago when I first moved to Las Vegas, my then roommate and I used to go to the gym after work every day. He used to wear this green tshirt every single day. He would just take it off after the workout, and then put it back in his bag. I didn't notice until a few weeks into our workouts that he never actually washed the shirt. It started getting crusty and just reeking of absolutely awfulness when I finally said "Do you wear the same shirt every day?" And he started cracking up laughing. I am sure there are people who do this, at least to some degree, and this is why some people just smell like absolute horrendousness.

People who use the qualifier "not to be a dick, but..."

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 02:14 PM) I hate that, and I hate when people have colon on just to go to the gym. Also, the super grunters and the people drop weights to the ground. Oh and the people who don't re-rack their s***. Ok, if it's like 10 pounds or something, I ain't pissed, but I can't stand having to take off like three 45-pound weights on the bench so I can start my routine. Given the context of the sentence containing the bolded word, I was really shaking my head at this one at first...

Oh man...just being around too many people in any situations pisses me off, and that just gets amplified when people are doing vain things like working out or grooming themselves in the mirror. To avoid all of this, I just workout at home.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 2, 2011 -> 09:31 AM) Same here. I actually had tears in my eyes at the end. I've never cried reading a book before that. On another note, watched Enter the Void last night in bed on Netflix streaming during our power outage. Fascinating film. I read No Country for Old Men and it was one of the hardest books to get through for me since I read the Scarlet Letter in my freshman year of high school. I picked up The Road, but when it started off in that same writing style, I just refused to put myself through it again...is the movie watchable?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 08:30 AM) I have those beans starting for my fantasy coffee team this week. I could care less about your fantasies, Sqwert? I mean, really? Really?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 08:17 AM) Enjoying a home brewed latte right now. Cafe Umbria beans. We're happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you know they use Sumatran pregnant teenagers to harvest those beans.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 11:22 PM) GMAFB. Everything you've mentioned has versions that have Aux In/Line In that could support pretty much any device. You make it sound as if anyone with a non-iPhone can never listen to their device in a car or home stereo. And within the year most devices will most likely use wireless methods of connecting such as DNLA and right now you can via bluetooth. I don't care. It has an app that builds you an island, and then it f***ing transforms into a jet and flies you there. I don't care. I guess if you're ok using AT&T's s***ty-ass network, and if you don't mind paying out the ass for the plan and the phone, and don't mind having a brand new phone that's already behind the curve, then I can put you on our reservation list.

QUOTE (knightni @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 04:59 PM) People who don't know where the apostrophes are supposed to go. It's the '80s, not the 80's. Also, '10 stands for 2010. It is not 10'. That would be 10 feet. Wow, I totally did not know this.