Awating the Cage and all to come!
As I sit here at my desk thinking about all the fun and excitement of the cage, I begin to fill the urge and the draw that the Big A banner has on me once inside. Knowing the true experience of the Cage and the ABC its so exciting to be going back once again. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be working the Booth/Cage for a second much less a whole day. I am truly honored to be a day intern this year! Being a member of the forum for a long time and trusting in Animal\Universal for a very long time, starting out in my early teens competing in bodybuilding to know being in my mid 30s still striving for more I find myself going back to the days of go hard and harder no matter the cost....Animal has provided me an outlet and a inlet for so my lifting "career" I still wear my first Yellow Animal shirt, only at home, I retired it from the gym years ago only because I'm afraid of what may happen to it being so old, and every time I put it on I feel like that young kid opening the box for the first time. The excitement of the cage is just as great....Seeing everyone from the forum, company and ABC around the globe is the best. A family reunion in a sort....A very twisted and loving family! Wanting to beat the next guy or girl but urging them on to do better every rep just so you can help out your fellow brother or sister. Getting that pic with your favorite or maybe even work in a set or two with someone. Seeing Frank and Roman posing in the corner at ABC and watching the powerlifting guys talk about the little shorts they wear, lol. A family it is and a blast we all have. Am I ready for the Cage, absolutely and it will all end to soon...But there will always be the next year. This year I get to bring a training partner I turned on to Animal with me and he will for the first time get to see it all first hand. I just wanted to see how everyone else is prepping for the weekend to come. Wish you guys all a safe trip to Ohio and if for some reason you and I don't get to see one another at the Cage or ABC, be safe going home! Enjoy your time and represent that which is ANIMAL! NPCDUSTY
Thank you for welcoming my family with open arms!!!
Had a blast at The Cage as usual.
I can't begin to say how grateful I am for everyone who opened up their hearts to my wife and kids and especially adopted my 12 year old son as their little brother. We hung out in The Cage on Friday and he walked around with manrichia, one of the brothers from the Chattanooga ABC, while I interviewed Maliek Derstine.
Then little man decided he wanted to work in The Shop so that's where we hung out, with Rob, ganderson, npcdusty, Nixor, deanna7272, ghost and of course my man, CammaRhino. Firefist took him on bathroom runs and everything. It was awesome to see.
Then Saturday night, he and I both got PRs in the deadlift. I finally got past the 551lb barrier and got 555lb for a single and Juaquin got 160x1 which is 15lbs more than his best meet PR. It was great hearing everybody cheering for him to get it like we always do for everybody else.
I realized once again that we really are a family. Sparkle Green snatched the baby away from my wife to give her a break just because she understands what it is to be a mom with a little one. MAB wanted to make little bows for her. You guys are awesome.
Can't wait to see everyone again next year.