Attention Rock-o-holics,

Well it's not a good as Big Rig's Big Friggin Deals but it's a close 2nd.

I work out with a small group of people every week and we would like to expand the group some more. We currently workout 4 days a week, Mondays & Wednesdays at 6:00 pm and Saturdays & Sundays at 8:00 am. Right now most of the workouts are at Lake Seminole Park in Seminole but we also do beach workouts at Ft Desoto & Pass a Grille and sometimes will use the fitness park over in Carillon. You DO NOT need to be a fitness buff to be in this group, it is for all fitness levels.

The workouts themselves revolve heavily around core training (abdominals and other muscle groups that support the spine and pelvic regions) and we also do light aerobic work and some running (usually a mile or less). Every so often we will spice things up by having an adventure race or obstacle course. The woman who runs the boot camp is a certified personal trainer and massage therapist. Normally personal trainers will cost you anywhere from $50 - $100 per hour but she is giving us a really awesome rate for the program: we can pay either $99 for 8 sessions (2X week for 4 weeks) or $140 for 16 sessions (4X week for 4 weeks). That averages out to being less than $9 - $13 per session! These are 1 hour long sessions with a certified personal trainer, you just can't beat the price. This program is a great way to lose weight, tone up or just keep yourself active. I have been training with Stacey on and off for about a year now and have lost quite a bit of weight.

I spoke with Stacey earlier today and she said that any Rock-o-holic that wants to sign up this week can get an additional 20% off their first month (that's $79 for 2X/week or $112 for 4X/week)! This offer is only good for anyone who pays for their first month by 8/31. Not sure you will like it, try it out for only $10 and then decide if it is what you want.

If you would like additional information or a flyer shoot me a message or email me at mandrew4@tampabay.rr.com

As you have probably heard by now, the FDEP has decided to close half of the Skyway fishing piers. The claim is that the east spans are old and outlived their lifespan and there is no funding available to repair them. The worst part is this announcement was made public last weekend and they plan on closing them on August 29th. They have known about this supposed problem for a few years but are just now making it public and taking action. Something stinks here and it isn't the dead fish or bathrooms. While I appreciate the fact that they are at least making it look like they care for our safety, something tells me there is more to this than they are letting on.

Anyone who has fished the skyway piers over the year knows what a great place it is to fish, especially for people who do not have the luxury of owning a boat. I have been taking my kids there for years and lately we have been making this a weekly trip. We have a favorite spot that we like to fish and as fate would have it, it is on one of the spans being closed. I took my daughter out this past weekend for what was probably our last trip to "our spot". Packing up the car was really tough that day and my daughter was close to tears when she realized it was likely our last trip to that spot.

If you are a regular to "the world;s longest fishing pier" then you know how crowded it can become on the weekends and especially on holidays. Now take away half of the parking spots and imagine how crazy it is going to be. It really pisses me off that none of the money the piers have been making over the last 12 years or so appears to have been put towards repairs! If it is part of the Florida state parks system, then why haven't they been maintained? Why wait until the last minute to announce you are closing a section of both piers? We will save the Everglades and approve a Penny for Pinellas tax for various projects but no one can seem to find the money to maintain a local landmark.

if the closing of the Skyway piers pisses you off and you would like to express your opinion to your representatives, here is a link where they can be found. I have started emailing several of the names on the list and will not stop until someone listens. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/SECTIONS/Representatives/representatives.aspx

I have even emailed the governor of Florida; not that I think this wil do any good but at least I can look my daughter in the eye and tell her I did what I could to save our favorite fishing spot!

Here is the governor's email address Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

Here is a petition that is going around please take a moment and sign it http://www.pierfishingguide.com/petition/petition.shtml